Severus Snape Apparated just outside the old, looming house of 12 Grimmauld Place, his body aching from the recent ordeal with Voldemort. He paused to steady himself, wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a deep breath before pushing open the heavy door. Inside, the air was thick with tension; the Order of the Phoenix was in the midst of a heated discussion.
The familiar sight of the dimly lit hallway did little to ease the pain coursing through Snape’s body. He heard snippets of raised voices from the kitchen as he descended the stairs, feeling each step jarring through his bones. As he entered the room, all eyes turned to him, some with curiosity, others with suspicion. He could feel the weight of their gazes, but he held his head high. He took his usual seat, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his temples and the lingering effects of the Cruciatus Curse.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Snape,” Sirius Black sneered, unable to hide his disdain.
Snape’s eyes flicked towards Sirius, his voice cold and cutting. “Some of us have more pressing matters to attend to than lounging in an old house.”
The argument ignited quickly. Sirius pushed his chair back, standing up. “More pressing matters? Like reporting to your master?”
“Stop it, both of you!” Remus Lupin interjected, stepping between them. “This isn’t helping anyone.”
Molly Weasley’s voice trembled as she spoke up from the corner. “Severus is risking his life, Sirius. We must remember that.”
Upstairs, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the twins listened intently, their faces pressed against the floorboards to catch every word. The tension and bitterness in the voices below made them anxious, but they couldn’t tear themselves away.
Snape’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I am no more loyal to him than you are to your recklessness, Black. I do what is necessary.”
Sirius took a step forward, his face contorted with anger. “Necessary? You mean betraying us at every turn?”
“ENOUGH!” Dumbledore’s voice boomed, but it was too late. Snape’s legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, the room spinning around him.
Gasps filled the room. Remus knelt beside Snape, checking his pulse. “He’s burning up,” he said urgently. “We need to get him upstairs.”
The children upstairs heard the commotion and exchanged shocked glances. They rushed to the landing, peering down to see the adults lifting Snape carefully, carrying him to a spare room.
“Is he going to be okay?” Harry asked anxiously as Dumbledore emerged from the room.
Dumbledore’s face was etched with worry. “He is suffering from exhaustion and the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. He needs rest.”
Inside the room, Snape lay on the bed, his face pale and drawn, sweat beading on his forehead. He was murmuring incoherently, lost in feverish delirium.
Downstairs, the members of the Order sat in uneasy silence, the reality of Snape’s condition settling heavily over them. Sirius, despite his anger, looked troubled, guilt flashing across his features.
The children huddled in the hallway, their minds racing. They had never seen Snape like this—so vulnerable, so human. Harry’s animosity towards Snape battled with an unexpected surge of concern.
“I didn’t know he was in such danger,” Hermione said softly, her eyes wide with concern.
“Me neither,” Ron added, his voice low. “I thought he was just... Snape.”
Ginny and the twins were uncharacteristically quiet, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. They exchanged worried glances, their previous mischief forgotten in the face of Snape’s condition.
Hours passed, and Snape’s condition remained dire. He tossed and turned, muttering fragments of memories and half-formed thoughts. His fevered state brought flashes of the Dark Lord’s cruelty, the searing pain of the Cruciatus Curse, and the constant danger that came with his double life.
In the kitchen, the mood was somber. Even Sirius, who usually had a snide remark ready for Snape, seemed subdued. “I didn’t realize how much he’s been enduring,” he muttered, mostly to himself.
Molly put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We all carry our burdens, Sirius. Severus’s just happen to be heavier than most.”
Remus looked thoughtful. “He’s fighting for us, in his own way. We need to remember that, even when it’s hard to trust him.”
When Snape finally awoke, his vision blurred and head pounding, he found himself surrounded by the concerned faces of the Order. He struggled to sit up, but Remus gently pushed him back.
“Easy, Severus. You’re safe here,” Remus said softly.
Snape’s eyes flickered with confusion and pain. “I... have to...”
“Rest,” Dumbledore said firmly. “You have done enough for now.”
Snape’s mind was a haze of pain and fever, but he recognized the sincerity in their voices. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to relax, if only a little.
The children watched from the doorway, their previous animosities towards Snape tempered by the sight of his vulnerability. For the first time, they saw him not as an enemy, but as a man fighting a battle on more fronts than they had realized.
As the night wore on, Snape’s fever began to break. He drifted in and out of consciousness, the faces of the Order blurring into one another. He felt a cool cloth on his forehead, a gentle hand checking his pulse.
In one lucid moment, he opened his eyes to see Harry standing at the foot of his bed. The boy’s face was a mix of curiosity and something that looked almost like respect.
“Why do you do it?” Harry asked quietly. “Why risk everything?”
Snape’s voice was weak, but his eyes were sharp. “Because, Potter... some things are worth the risk.”
Harry nodded, understanding more than he let on. He stepped back, allowing Snape to rest.
Days later, Snape was finally well enough to leave his bed. He was still weak, but determined to return to his duties. As he descended the stairs, he was met with a mix of cautious glances and nods of approval.
“You’re looking better,” Remus said with a small smile.
Snape inclined his head, acknowledging the support in his own reserved way. He knew the road ahead was still fraught with danger, but for now, he had allies who understood the weight he carried.
Severus Snape closed his eyes, the fever still burning in his veins, but a small measure of peace settled over him. He was not alone in this fight, and for now, that would have to be enough.
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Severus Snape arrives late to an Order of the Phoenix meeting at 12 Grimmauld Place, visibly strained from his encounter with Voldemort. An argument with Sirius Black about his loyalties escalates until Snape collapses from exhaustion and the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. The children overhear the commotion and are shocked by Snape's vulnerability. Dumbledore explains Snape's condition, and as he recuperates, the Order members reflect on the weight of his sacrifices. The experience softens the children's animosity towards Snape, revealing him as a complex figure fighting on multiple fronts.