A RUMOR OF PEACE

          "You are afraid," Ardyn spoke softly from where he still sat, watching Roark's face as the others left the office, Severus pausing in the doorway to look back at Roark with an arched brow.  "Aren't you?" he asked, seeing his brow go up and thinking it was at his question.

          "I'd be a fool not to be at least a little afraid, Ardyn," he answered. "I may be many things, but a fool I am not."  He got up to go make himself some more tea.  "Harry and I dealt with the Terminators on Virgon, we will deal with the Lestranges in the same manner if we must."

          "No," he said as he stood, "no, Roark, you are anything BUT a fool."

          A chuckle.  "What's wrong, Ardyn?  Am I throwing you off balance?" he asked, glancing over at Severus, who was now leaning against the wall not far from the doorway, the look in his midnight eyes telling Roark he had no intention of leaving him alone.

          "You, Roark Christopher Peverell Potter, have been throwing me off balance from the moment you arrived on Aquaria,"

          Roark suppressed a laugh as Severus rolled his eyes, pretending that he was going to be sick.  "Well, we have work to do, Ardyn," he said as he picked up his mug and drank, "and it looks like Severus would like a word."

          "More than a word, brat."

          "Fine, then," Ardyn was on his feet and heading for the door as Severus pushed himself away from the wall.  As the door slid open at his approach, he paused and glanced back.  "Roark?"

         "Yes, Ardyn?"

         "Could I possibly interest you in having dinner with me tonight?"

          "I'm really not sure that would be a good idea, Ardyn.  I went down that kind of road once.  It didn't end well for either of us."

          "It's just dinner."

          He looked over, then up at Severus, hearing the sound he made, saw the way his eyes had narrowed in warning...He couldn't help it...he just couldn't.  He had to see what Severus would say when he said yes. 

         "Fine, just so long as it is JUST dinner ."

          "Great," he said with a smile, his hazel eyes taking on a look that was almost like triumph.  "Shall I pick you up around...seventeen hundred?"

          That was when Severus' dark eyes went from warning to an outright glare, and Roark decided suddenly to not tempt him further.  "How about we just leave from here?  There really is no sense in going all the home, just to turn around and come back into the city."

        'Fuck!' he thought, 'there went my chance to find out where he and the others had moved to.'  "Then I'll meet you in the Atrium," he said with a salute, leaving the office whistling.

          "Are you COMPLETELY out of YOUR MIND, young man?" came the sharply barked words as soon as the door slid closed.

          Roark gave a tired sigh, his fingers going to his temples to rub, hoping to stave off the headache that was just beginning.  "Very likely," he said softly.  "We found three informants on the team, there are six more with the Garrison and two that are secretaries."

          "I'm aware," he said.  "What's your point?"

          "Severus, information is still getting to Riddle that should NOT be as only certain people know it.  Now, either he has a very big mouth around the Garrison Headquarters, or he is a leak.  Either way, we need to start taking some chances to hopefully find out.  IF Ardyn is one of the leaks, and therefore is likely the one who murdered Kale, he is VERY good at covering his tracks."

          He shook his head.  "I don't like you taking this kind of chance, Rory, and I can tell you that Dacian certainly won't when I call him with this."

          Roark gave him a grin.  "Of course, you won't, but however good Ardyn is at covering up after himself, we can't expect him to start making mistakes now." His head tilted and he grinned.  "Though it WOULD be nice if he did."

          A snort, followed by a nod.  "Well then, if you are planning to put yourself in further danger, you had better be extra careful.  It's bad enough that Rodolphus Lestrange is now targeting you, let's not give Ardyn a free shot at you."

          "No worries there, I have too many things on my side."

          "And what would those be, Brat?"

          He smiled at him, reaching out to lay a hand against his chest, leaning up to press a kiss to his jaw.  "YOU, Severus.  I have you, Harry, and the Durin's watching out for me.  I promise, Sev, no unnecessary risks, and I will try my hardest not to be overly reckless."

          "I can live with that," he said, pulling him into him for a hug.  "Now," he stepped back, " I want you to tell me what you and Harry are hiding about your visits with the Lestrange brothers."

          "Severus--"

          "There is something about THEM that has the two of you so out of sorts, not the visits themselves.  I also know you didn't say anything because you knew we would overreact."

          "Oh, trust me, Severus, you will," he said, raising his eyes so that silver met black, then...very softly, "We're attracted to them."