#severusxtobias

Her evening had started so splendidly, she’d arrived in Hogsmeade for the festivities and planned to get a cup of tea, have some time to herself and a book, before meeting up with some friends and getting into the swing of the evening. But halfway through her tea was when the screaming started, and she’d snapped her book shut as immediately as she’d heard it. Her tea was abandoned at the tea shop patio and she was rushing to help, her heart pounding, hoping with all of her heart that it wasn’t them but knowing full well that there could be no other cause for something like this. Sure enough, it was impossible to miss the sight of the cloaked figures going up and down the streets, destroying near everything and everyone that crossed their paths. Lily had thrown herself into the fray with everything she had, fighting them back and away from innocent people. She managed to save a fair amount of people throughout the course of the night, the battle just seemed to keep going on and on. The first peek of morning light was coming over the horizon and she was still out ushering people away from the madness that was somehow only just beginning to let up. Lily had her back pressed against the side of the building she was currently huddled against, a witch and her children huddled and shaking in a line behind her, following her instructions and trusting her to get them out safely. The weight of their expectations, her need to meet them, settled heavily in her body but made her feel energized, of course she would rise to the challenge. Nothing would happen to any of them so long as she was there to do anything about it. She was peeking around the corner of the building when from behind her she heard a gasp, a terrified little squeal from one of the children. Her reflexes were just fast enough as she whipped herself around to put up a shielding charm between them and whatever it was, and she was right to. On the other end of the alley, a dark silhouette now blocked the way they had come. Lily hurried to put herself in front of the civilians, instructing the witch over her shoulder, “I saw the aurors at the end of the street- Hurry and meet with them, they’ll get you to safety!” She wouldn’t turn away from the death eater, sent a hex flying towards them in case they tried to rush her or try to stop them leaving.

Diagon was looking... distinctly un-Diagon-like. The place was usually a bustle of activity, loud shop displays moving magically, hundreds of witches and wizards flitting from place to place, getting whatever they needed for another potion or spell or even just a book. Oddly enough, Flourish and Blotts still had a few customers milling around inside; one didn’t need any magical skill to read at least. 

Dirk was here on ministry business and it had taken him a few hours to make the relatively short trip; considering the wall behind the Leaky was now just open the security there was strict. The few Wizards and Witches who could handle muggle weapons kept tabs on who came close; thankfully his ministry ID had seen him through. Luckily, the situation as a whole didn’t bother him as much, he lived like a Muggle at home anyway. But clearly Diagon had been hit hard. His work in Gringotts went surprisingly well all things considered (part of him was damn sure the goblins were revelling in Wizard-kind’s plight and give their checkered history he could understand why) and he emerged from the bank back into the alley and spotted a familiar figure loitering outside a robe shop.

It would be an outright lie to say he’d even been friends with Severus Snape, but he’d been friendly to him during their few interactions. The Slytherin was no doubt a supporter of He Who Must Not Be Named, but Dirk was a bleeding heart to pretty much everyone; his mother always told him to be kind. So, he took a breath, smiled and approached the other man. “Severus,” he greeted, voice soft but friendly, “It’s been a long time. How’re you doing? I can’t imagine the situation’s easy for you.” Someone so entrenched in the value of magic. 

It was gutting, and yet, reliving. The Dark Lord had assembled as many Death Eater’s as possible to rely the news that none of them had been able to provide him with the peace of mind he needed regarding the attacks in France; none fo them but him. In past meetings he’d been relegated to the rear of the room, along with Daisy, and preferred it. Now he was closer, nowhere near those who’d been truly loyal to The Dark Lord and held his favour, closer than some. 

In his voice, so smooth, soft yet menacing like a coiled serpent, he’d explained that it was in fact The Order who’d orchestrated the attacks, though they didn’t know who, that was enough. Peter had been able to keep that secret, though he was sure if The Dark Lord had pressed he’d have broken once again. His soft, ‘We owe young Peter our thanks.’ Had felt at once like a pardon for a crime and a condemnation of one.

With the meeting disbanded, he’d scuttled from the room, one or two of the Death Eaters even offering him nods as they left. It was jarring. Then he spotted Severus. “E-excuse me,” he said quietly, stuttering to get the taller man’s attention. “T-the uhr, the D-Dark Lord w-wanted m-me to s-speak with y-you...” Unfortunately.  

Every now and then, when the weather was right or the occasion bright enough to warrant a leave of absence from the castle, Pomona would allow herself to venture out into the world. Once she may have been an adventurer but life had changed and the world become ever the more difficult for it. By now the world outside those protective walls seemed like a bizarre alternate reality. Perhaps her plants and the confines of her greenhouse were the better alternative to a life out there.

Her thoughts occupied, she wandered. Occasionally the witch would allow herself to glance around; the scan the crowd but also the celebration all around her. For some people, so it seemed, nothing much had changed despite the chaos they all lived in. For all, but one face that somehow seemed entirely out of place. Or perhaps uncomfortable? Pomona couldn't tell either way.