The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 40
Moving mountains


They all emerged from the Pensieve, silently staring at each other. Harry and Hermione were staring at Severus. One with a blank look, and the other with a look of utter horror.
“He knew…he knew about the unbreakable vow you made with Draco’s mother?” Hermione gasped. “Then…that means that…he knew that you would…” She covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes filled with tears. Ron put his arm around her and stood with a bewildered look on his face.
“What else did Dumbledore tell you?” Harry asked. Claudia noted that a little of his anger had abated, but he was still eyeing Severus with contempt.
“If you mean the Horcruxes, yes, he told me about those as well.” Severus said.
“What’s a Horocuxes…whatever…” Chester asked.
He shook his head. “Those do not concern us now. What does concern us is what Potter is going to do with the information he has learned today? For there is more, much more.’ Severus said. “There is also the small…problem… of you Claudia.” He looked at her and she bit her lip. She had forgotten what she agreed to do in order to get close to Severus again. She had to spy for Voldemort.
“Yeah…what should I do?” She asked. He laughed at her.
“My love, you have created this little quandary. Perhaps you can tell this one.” He sat back down at the table and rested his feet on the other chair.
“The other night…when we went to that house…you talked to that man with the eyes. When Zulu killed the werewolf. What else happened Claudia?” Nick asked.
“What werewolf?” Ron asked. Claudia hesitated.
“Claudia? It is your turn now I believe. Turn about is fair play. It is time you tell your…friends what you have been up to as well.” He folded his arms across his chest and had a smirk on his face. Claudia exhaled loudly and began her story to her audience.
“The night we…no…Harry, the night I saw you at Grimmauld Place, when we spoke about the memory Severus left me, Severus came to see me then. Of course, he wasn’t in such a …good mood…as he is right now.” Snickers and laughter. “He tried to scare me a little, so I decided to scare him back. I also needed to know what side he was truly on. So I followed him to where he was hiding out with other Death Eaters and I met Voldemort.” Hermione gasped and Ron stood with his mouth open. Harry was looking at her very oddly.
“What do you mean you met Voldemort?’ He said through clinched teeth.
“I went, with the intention of talking to Severus. I really didn’t think it through that Voldemort would be there. Since I had the amulet, I knew they couldn’t hurt me, so I walked down to where they were-”
“Claudia…you are leaving out one of my most favorite parts. You see…Zulu over there,” he tipped his head to Zulu’s direction. “he killed Fenrir Grayback with his very long, sharp sword. And my lovely…Claudia brought his head as a token to the Dark Lord. I must say, it was rather dramatic and quite useful actually. He thinks you will come in useful when the time comes. He favors ruthlessness above all things.”
“I thought I was telling this story Severus?” Claudia said sharply to him over her shoulder. He shrugged and sipped tea. Claudia turned towards Harry.
“While I was there, somehow, I ended up offering my services to him in order for him to trust me. And also so he would allow Severus and I to meet. That is why Severus is here now. I assume…under orders.” Claudia looked at Severus who nodded.
“He is aware of the nature of our relationship. He didn’t expect me back. Though…now that I think about it…they will expect me soon.”
“So what? Now we’re spies?” Rod said.
“Oh shut up Rod. We have been spies for over eight years. That is what we do. This just happens to be a more…interesting situation, no?” Antonio said with a smile. Of all the people in the room, Antonio seemed to enjoy the goings on more than anyone else.
“Is that Dumbledore’s Pensieve?” Harry asked. Severus nodded. “Can I borrow it?”
“Why?” Severus eyed him with a slight frown on his face. The two glared at each other for a moment and then Hermione rushed up.
“Profes- Snape…Severus…arghhhh!…We need that Pensieve. We have to see if he left a memory there. Something we need that he showed Harry already once before. Do you have his old memories?” She asked excitedly. Claudia stifled a laugh at Hermione’s utter confusion at what to call Severus.
Severus sat for a moment and he slowly reached out and pushed the pensieve towards Harry. Claudia realized it was a small thing, but between Harry and Severus, it was moving mountains.
“Thank...erm…thanks.” Hermione was flustered and looking as if she was going to explode with excitement. Harry snatched the Pensieve from the table and turned to go. Everyone watched him as he headed for the door with Ron and Hermione in his wake.
As the door closed with a snap, everyone exhaled as if they had been holding their breath.
“Well?” Claudia asked Severus. Everyone else was sitting or standing trying to make sense of the situation they were in.
“Well…it seems that the Dark Lord wishes to know what it is the Order, or Potter rather, is up to.” Severus said.
“I really couldn’t tell you. I have a feeling the three amigos are up to something. But at the last meeting I was present for, they were not allowing anyone in on their plans. So…” She clicked her tounge and looked around the room.
“So…perhaps it would be prudent to alert the Dark Lord that nothing is amiss at the present time?” He said lazily.
“I suppose so. Unless you have any other ideas.” She said. He caught her eye and his lips twitched.
“I do indeed have ideas…but I do not think now is the time for them.” He whispered this last part in her ear and his lips grazed her cheek. She shuddered as she felt his hot breath on her skin. She gave him a sly smile and he rose from the table.
“I must return…but I ask that you Claudia make yourself available this evening. I have someone I want you to meet.” Claudia’s eyebrows raised and she nodded slowly. And with a “CRACK!” he was gone.
“Are you prepared for this Claudia?” Nick asked her. She gave him a sad smile.
“It doesn’t matter if I am ready or not. I have to see this through until the end now. For I was told once, that leaving the Dark Lord’s service is a death sentence. That can not happen, can it?” Everyone was either sitting or pacing the room, deep in their own thoughts. Claudia’s mind was racing about her upcoming meeting with Severus and another mysterious person. Everyone agreed that they needed to eat and rest before Claudia took off. For even though she was leaving in Severus’s care later that night, they were going to follow and keep constant vigil. One could never be too careful…