Life Begins Anew

A/N I know I have offended a lot of readers in how Molly Weasley died. I told you Severus would be tested. This is the way it had to be.

Chapter 56 Ashes Buried

Ten Death Eaters Apparated the broken leaders of the Order Of the Phoenix to a dark forest.

“Where are we?” Kingsley demanded.

The lead Death Eater laughed. “It does not matter where you are. You can Apparate wizard!” The rest of the Death Eaters snickered as they Apparated away.

Kingsley lowered the tortured body of Mad Eye and placed it on the ground. Removing his outer robes he knelt down and gently wrapped the body of his friend. “You will be missed old friend.”

“Lumous” light appearing on the tip of his wand revealing the rest of the group. He watched as Lupin and Arthur lower the bodies of their witches and wrapped them.

Everyone looked to Minerva for direction.

The old witch looked to her friends. “The Order is no more. We are tracked and monitored so we cannot lead or pick our replacements to carry on. And if we go against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, he will punish our followers and not us.” She looked sadly at the bodies lying on the ground. “We have lost enough and must carry on for the future.”

Lupin growled out in anger. “Is that it? We run away with our tails tucked? Well, I’m not. I must avenge my Tonks!”

Kingsley wrapped his arms tightly against the sobbing wizard. “I have been trying to break the enchantments and there is no way around them. We are finished. Do you think that Tonks would want you to throw your life away for nothing? You must wait for the right moment.”

He felt the werewolf calm down and released him. “I promise you that that day will come. Remember Harry’s destiny.”

Minerva spoke up. “It is late and I do not want to go to the castle tonight. Arthur, I was wondering if I could stay with you tonight.”

Arthur replied “Of course Minerva. You can help me with the children. Molly’s death is going to be hard on them. Especially with Fred and George, for they loved their mother deeply. In fact everyone is welcome as I think it will help us mourn”

Everyone murmured in agreement and picked up the bodies of their loved ones and Apparated to the Burrow.

&&&&&

Lord Voldemort read the parchment as the listening spell placed the Order’s conversation. How touching. He chuckled as he put the parchment away. The Order was truly disbanded.

&&&&&

The defeated group arrived at the Burrow. Arthur looked to them. “Wait here for a moment while I break the news to the children. Minerva can you join me?”

“Of course Arthur.”

Arthur entered his home and Ginny ran to him and tightly hugged him. “Dad, I was scared for you when the Death Eaters took you and Mum away. We felt death!” He patted his daughter’s head as he hugged her.

Fred and George looked at their father, noticing his distressed look. They looked to their ex teacher and saw the same look.

Arthur removed Ginny’s arms from him and looked to his children. “Sit down. I have some news to pass to you and it is not going to be easy to tell you.”

Fred, George, and Ginny sat down on the sofa with fear.

“You were here when your mum and I were dragged off by Death Eaters. The Order has fallen, and there were some deaths. You mother was one.”

Ginny wailed out “No!” and began to cry.

George looked to his father fighting the tears. “Who else was killed?”

Arthur looked to his son. “Moody and Tonks. The deaths were to make an example to the Order and to the Ministry. We have brought their bodies back, and we need to discuss what we need to do. I will allow you to stay, but if I tell you to do something, you will immediately do it no questions. Understand?”

They nodded an agreement and watched as their dad opened the door, motioning the group in.

Lupin and Kingsley walked in carrying wrapped forms in their arms.

“Place them in Ron's room. George, please show them the way.” Arthur told his son.

Arthur walked outside and gathered his dead wife and brought her in to their home, walking up the stairs to their bedroom and gently placing her onto their bed. “Molly, I am so sorry that it was not me. I love you, and there will never be another witch in my life.” He sobbed out. He unwrapped the body to reveal her face and gently touched it. She looked peaceful.

He knew most victims of the curse froze the victim’s face in fear when they retrieved the victims of Death Eaters. Hers looked peaceful. Arthur wondered what Snape had whispered to her as he raped her. It must have been soothing last words to her.

Sighing, Arthur rose up and went to join the group downstairs.

Fred looked to the gathered group. “Tell us what happened!” He demanded.

Arthur looked to Minerva. She shrugged her shoulders and looked to Arthur and leaving it up to him.

“Not until the morning. It is enough that there was death! I will be more prepared to speak of it when I am rested.”

Suddenly a Ministry owl was tapping at the window. Arthur stood up and opened the window and the bird flew onto Kingsley’s lap.

He removed the parchment from the owl’s leg and watched as the bird flew away. He read the parchment and sighed.

“Arthur, I must go to the Ministry immediately. It seems that thirty Aurors were found dead at the Minister’s residence. I will come back as soon as I can.”

Arthur pointed to his Floo and watched as his friend tossed the floo powder in stating “Ministry of Magic!”

Arthur told everyone “It is late. I think we need to go to bed and talk in the morning.”

The group agreed and Arthur conjured up beds in the living room.

Kingsley arrived at the Ministry and made his way up to Pius Thicknesse’s office.

“Where have you been?” Pius demanded. “I have been trying to contact you for hours!”

Kingsley told him about the deaths of Moody and Tonks, leaving out the death of Molly Weasley.

Pius sighed. “So, two more Aurors to add to the list. There will be a memorial day after tomorrow at the Ministry. All employees will be in attendance to pay their respects. I have been selected to become the next Minister of Magic.”

Kingsley nodded as they began to discuss the arrangements, disturbed that he took the news of Tonks and Moody and the rest of the aurors with no concern.

He suddenly realized that Pius was under the Dark Lord’s influence as he began to talk about what to do with mugle-borns. Voldemort was in control of the Ministry now.

“Pius, I was set up to visit Sara Snape as a person of interest in the murder of Albus Dumbledore. May I go question her?” He asked.

Pious looked to him as he reached into his desk, pulling out the documents to allow a search of Prince Manor for Severus Snape. “Go Kingsley, and tell me what you have found out.”

&&&&&&&

Everyone in the tent froze as they heard voices outside their tent.

Hermione made a motion for everyone to stop talking as she placed a finger to her lips watching everyone fall silent as they listened to the voices.

“We are in control now. I do not know why the Dark Lord still commands us to look for the disgusting muggle-borns after what happened last night. After all, with this snow and cold, they must be dead by now.”

They heard a chuckle. “All the Order officers there and he took them down!”

“Yes and the death of Moody, Tonks, and the Weasley woman were priceless! I hear Snape was especially cruel.”

Harry grabbed Ron, preventing him from going outside the protective ward. The rest of the students looked to their fellow student, shocked at the conversation.

“There is no one here, let’s follow the tracks for a bit.” They heard the voices fade.

Harry looked to his best mate. “Ron, you do not know what they said was true.”

Ron exclaimed “He said a woman. That must mean they were talking about my Mum!”

Hermione walked up to Ron and wrapped her arms around him. “We must keep to our plan Ron. That is the only way we can survive. Especially after what we have heard. We are on our own if what they said is true. I think it is.”

He sighed as he looked to his best friend. What he did not tell them was that he felt the severing of his mum’s link to him. Pureblood families always knew of a death. “Right as always, Hermione.” Ron replied sadly, hiding the fact that he knew his mum was dead.

Hermione looked to Ron. She knew of pureblood links and realized that her friend was right in his thinking. “Ron…?.”

He said nothing as he walked into the room he conjured for Hermione, closing the door behind him to deal with his grief.

Harry looked to the room. “Give Ron some space and do not ask him how he knows his mum is dead. He is a Pureblood wizard. His family might very well be connected by bonds that let him know.”

The rest of the students nodded in agreement.

&&&&&&

Kingsley arrived with three aurors at Prince Manor and noticed that the gates opened up for him.

Sara met him at the entrance to the Grand Hall with her two wizards. “Auror Shaklebot, you did not give me much notice or I would have been more appropriately dressed. A Ministry summons demands immediate response. I hope you have a valid reason for interrupting me in other activities.”

He handed her the ministry order and watched her as she read it.

Sara sent her wizards away as she remained, reading the summons. She motioned the group further into the Grand Hall.

“You may search to your heart’s content for Severus Snape only as the warrant is very specific.” She looked to them, eyes flashing in anger. “I would hate to wake my barrister up so early in the morning as he would not be as understanding as I am. Assuredly I had nothing to do with the murder of the Headmaster. My brother is not here. You are only here because I share a name.”

Kingsley sent his Aurors to search the house as he remained behind.

“Sit Lady Prince while my team searches.” Kingsley demanded.

Sara sat down and waited. She could not blame the anger of the wizard. After all she also witnessed the activities of the early morning.

Kingsley watched as his team left them to begin their investigation. He pulled out a parchment and began to write. After a few minutes, he shoved the parchment to her.

Sara picked it up and read the words on the parchment. Kingsley was clever as it was a listening spell upon him and not a mind spell. She wrote back “I am loyal.” Pushing the parchment back to him.

He read the answer and wrote. “The Order has fallen. Is your Quest still valid?”

Sara read the words and penned her response. “It is.”

Kingsley read her response and wrote “Can you break the enchantments upon us?” Sliding the parchment back to her.

She penned out her response. “I can, but I dare not. The Dark Lord would become suspicious. It is a dark enchantment that he has placed upon you and can only be removed by him. He expects it to stay.” She slid back the parchment for the Auror to read.

Kingsley looked into the cold eyes of the witch as he penned his last question. “Is your brother still loyal to the Order?”

Sara looked to the parchment and penned. “He is.” Sliding her response back.

Kingsley read the parchment, snorted and destroyed it as his team arrived. After what he viewed, there was no way that Snape was loyal. The only reason he believed the responses about her was because of what happened at the Assassin’s Guild, and yet he did not trust her.

“Auror Shacklebot, we have found nothing here.” An Auror addressed him.

“Very well team. Lady Prince, reveal your left arm.” He demanded.

Sara chuckled at Kingsley’s continued distrust. “I’m afraid that I cannot do that Auror Shacklebot. It is obvious that my brother cannot hide underneath my sleeve. If you want to pursue this, you will have to wait until my barrister arrives. I use the same barrister that Lord Malfoy does.”

Kingsley studied her for a moment and then motioned to his team that it was time to depart the premises.

The team arrived back at the Ministry and wrote up their reports and handed them to Kingsley. Reviewing the reports he sighed as he put in his remarks that Lady Prince was cleared as a suspect. Placing the reports into an unsealed folder, he stamped “Case Closed” and headed for the Minister’s office to turn it in, as a replacement for the Head of Magical Law Enforcement had not been named.

Mavis announced that Auror Shacklebot wished to see the Minister and he was escorted in. “Thank you Mavis that will be all.”

Minister Thicknesse greeted the auror and bade him to sit down. “Did you find Severus Snape?”

Kingsley slid the folder to the Minister Thicknesse. “No Minister. I have determined that she had nothing to do with it, other than the unfortunate fact that she shares a name at Hogwarts.” Watching the minister pull out the reports and read them.

Minister Thicknesse looked to the auror as he sealed the folder, pointing his wand at it officially sealing the record from further review. “It would not do well at this time if word got out about us investigating Lorded and Ladied families.”

Kingsley said nothing as he recognized a cover up. “Minister, may I ask who our next Head of Magical Law Enforcement will be?”

The Minister looked pleased. “Yaxley will be my replacement. While not currently in the Ministry, he is well qualified to head it.” He looked to the door, indicating that the meeting was over.

Kingsley walked out the office and headed back to the auror department. Yaxley. He remembered that name from somewhere just recently. He pulled his notes from the interview that he held with Harry Potter after Albus Dumbledore was murdered.

After a few moments of reading, he found it. Yaxley was one of the Death Eater’s at the tower.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Arthur woke up first and began breakfast for his guest. Molly would have done this. He began to sob as continued, burning the sausages and beans.

Minerva walked up to him. “Arthur, let me do this.” She gently asked. He nodded as the old witch began to prepare breakfast.

Kingsley arrived and sat with Arthur at the table while Minerva handed him a cup of tea and addressed Arthur and Minerva. “We have a new minister and he is going after the muggle-borns. Merlin help us all as we cannot prevent it. And the new Head of Magical Law Enforcement is a Death Eater named Yaxley.”

Arthur looked to the group. “No wonder he took down the Order. He is in complete control now.”

Fred, George, and Ginny appeared in the kitchen. They had heard every word.

“Dad, I think it is time to tell us what happened last night.” Looking evenly at his dad, waiting for his reply.

Arthur arose from his chair and walked to the liquor cabinet, bringing out glasses and a bottle of Fire whiskey. He poured out a generous helping for Kingsley, Minerva, Kingsley, and himself. He looked to his children as her poured a smaller serving for them. “Before I begin, drink this. I cannot tell the tale without feeling numb.”

Just then, they heard a knock on the door and Arthur opened it wand in hand, revealing Remus Lupin. The wizard was in a sad state. He quickly motioned the wizard to join the group and poured a generous helping of the drink for him as well.

“A toast for our beloved friends and my wife, mother of my children, the only witch that I will ever love. May the Veil be kind to them and let them forget the pain that they suffered before their deaths.” He raised his glass and drank it down. Everyone else did the same and heard Ginny coughing as the liquid seared down her throat.

He waited for a few minutes, letting the amber liquid do its job, looking into the eyes of the group. He began to tell the story.

“We were taken to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Minerva was already there. Then the editor of the Daily Prophet was thrown onto the floor along with Rita Skeeter. He froze them into a chair and forced them to watch as Severus Snape brutally tortured and killed Moody. Then a Death Eater raped and murdered Molly and another produced a ball of fiendfyre and slowly burned Tonks alive, leaving her body a smoking husk. Then our wands were handed back to us and we were allowed to leave with our lives and the bodies of our comrades.” He poured everyone the same measurements of drink and indicated that all should drink again.

“Dad, why did he let some of the Order live? It would have been better for his cause if he killed everyone.” Ginny asked.

Arthur looked to his daughter. “All of us left alive serves a purpose to He-who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I am left alive as I work in the Ministry and a Pureblood. Minerva to disband the Order and to continue teaching. Lupin, as if he was killed, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would lose support of the werewolves. Kingsley, as he is one of the top aurors in the Ministry and would be missed.”

Ginny looked to her Dad in understanding. “What do we do now?” She whispered.

Arthur looked to his youngest in sadness. “We bury our dead and remember. And we continue to live, for that is what they would want of us.”

Minerva, Remus, Arthur, Kingsley, and his children stood at the far corner of the Weasley burial grounds looking into the open graves that contained Molly and Moody. Moody had no other relatives and it was agreed that it was appropriate for him to be buried next to Molly. There was a space left opposite of her for Arthur when it was his time to meet the Veil.

“I cannot say much as I know we are being constantly monitored. Molly, I loved you with all of my heart, and I will always miss you and cannot wait when we meet again at the Veil.” Arthur tossed a handful of dirt and tossed it into the grave.

Arthur addressed the group at the grave. "Alastor, we have fought together for the light and you have been a good friend. You did not deserve the way you died. You always expected to go down fighting. And in a way you did, standing up to Snape as he tortured you. Welcome the Veil and your well deserved rest, as you surely earned it.” He tossed a handful of dirt into his grave and watched as the rest of the gathered group do the same.

He waited for the group to depart and began to fill in the grave. He was the head of the family and it was his duty.

Arthur completed his task and sat down at Molly’s grave. It was several hours before he rejoined the group.

&&&&&&&&

Minerva went back to the castle and entered the Headmaster’s office. She was relieved that Severus Snape had not yet taken residence. Of course the announcement had not been named yet as she had not been officially contacted by the School Governors.

She grabbed a piece of parchment and began to write out the command to totally disband the Order to the remaining leaders to pass to their group. Minerva wrote out what had happened and urged her members not to continue against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as there was none to lead them. She whispered the incantation to send them and watched them disappear. Looking up to Albus’ portrait, she noticed that he still had not arrived. Sighing she left to go to her chambers for some rest.

&&&&&&&

A dark wizard was looking out the window of his dilapidated home at Spinner’s end when he noticed a letter flare before him, floating. He grabbed it and began to read. He realized that he would have to visit the Dark Lord. He strode from the room and went to Draco’s, handing him the parchment.

“Draco, I must visit our Lord. If you are smart you will not leave this house.” He snarled at him.

Draco looked to him. “Plan 1A?” He whispered as he handed the parchment back.

Severus looked to him. “Yes, 1A!” He spat out pressing his Mark. Draco watched as his godfather Apparated to meet the Dark Lord, glad that he did not have to go as well.

Severus bowed at Voldemort’s throne and kissed the Dark Lord’s hem. “My lord, I have verification that the Order is no more!”

Voldemort indicated that Severus should approach him and read the parchment. He chuckled and dismissed his right hand wizard.

Things were moving along just nicely.

&&&&&&&&&

Sara gathered food and supplies, reducing them and placing them into her pockets. She tapped her wand, locating Hermione. She tapped her wand and Apparated away.

She found herself in a forest deep with snow. “Hello the tent! I need to speak to Misters Potter, Weasley and Miss. Granger! If you wish to survive, I suggest you meet with me!” Sara commanded.

The entire tent became silent as they recognized the cold voice of their Defense professor.

Hermione looked to Harry. “Get Ron!”

The muggle-borns watched in fear as Harry went to get Ron. They did not trust anyone with the last name of Snape. They watched as the Golden Trio conjured up some jackets and left the tent.