Obsidian Hearts

AU / Same world as all of my previous stories.
The world and the characters in it belongs to J.K. Rowling

AN: This story will be a multi-chapter one, I don t know how long or how frequently will I update but I will try not to finish on a cliffhanger. If you got any constructive criticism feel free to share it.

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Severus sat stiffly in the Headmaster's office, his eyes fixed on the aged figure of Albus Dumbledore seated across from him. The weight of the information he carried pressed heavily upon him, a burden that seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment.

"Severus," Dumbledore's voice was calm, but there was a keen intensity in his eyes, "tell me what you know."

Severus swallowed hard, his gaze flickering briefly to the portraits lining the office walls before returning to Dumbledore.
"The Dark Lord has tasked Crabbe Senior with planning and executing a large-scale muggle attack," he began, each word measured and deliberate.
Dumbledore's expression remained unreadable, but Severus could sense the gravity of the situation weighing upon him. "Do you have any further information?"
Dumbledore inquired, his voice betraying none of the urgency that Severus felt coursing through him.

"I'm trying, Headmaster," Severus replied, his tone tinged with frustration. "But Voldemort and Crabbe are being cautious. They're keeping their circle tight, wary of who they let in on the details."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze penetrating. "And how did you come by this information?" he asked quietly.
Severus hesitated, a flicker of reluctance crossing his features before he spoke. "Lucius," he admitted finally.
"He managed to eavesdrop on them, though the details of his methods remain... unclear."
There was a heavy silence in the room as Dumbledore absorbed Severus's words, the weight of their implications hanging palpably in the air. Finally, the Headmaster spoke,
his voice grave.

"We must act swiftly," Dumbledore said, his tone firm. "Gather whatever information you can, Severus. We cannot allow Voldemort's plans to come to fruition."
Dumbledore listened intently as Severus spoke, his expression thoughtful as he considered the matter at hand.

"Do you believe we can still trust Lucius Malfoy?" Dumbledore inquired, his gaze fixed squarely on Severus.
Severus hesitated for a moment, weighing his words carefully. "Lucius is... shady," he admitted reluctantly.
"But he is also a devoted father. Since Draco was born, he has been fiercely dedicated to protecting his family."

Dumbledore nodded, acknowledging the truth in Severus's words. "And his loyalty to the Order?" he pressed gently.
Severus sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It is... complicated," he admitted. "Lucius has his own motives, his own ambitions.
But he understands the threat that Voldemort poses, perhaps better than most. He is willing to work with us, to fight against the Dark Lord, if it means safeguarding his family."

Dumbledore's expression softened slightly at Severus's words. "And what of his role in the Ministry?" he asked.
Severus's lips quirked in a sardonic half-smile. "The Ministry has not fallen yet, thanks in no small part to Lucius's influence," he replied.
"He wields considerable power within its ranks, and he has used that influence to keep certain... undesirable elements at bay."

Dumbledore regarded Severus with a knowing look, his eyes reflecting both understanding and concern. "We must tread carefully, Severus," he cautioned.
"Trust is a delicate thing, particularly in times such as these. But if Lucius is indeed dedicated to thwarting Voldemort's plans, then we would be wise to keep him close."
Severus nodded in agreement, a sense of grim determination settling over him. "I will continue to monitor his actions closely, Headmaster," he vowed.
"And if necessary, I will do whatever it takes to ensure that he remains on our side."

As Severus turned to leave, he knew that the line between friend and foe had never been more blurred, and that the fate of their world hung precariously in the balance. But he was determined to do whatever it took to tip the scales in their favor, even if it meant placing his trust in those who were not entirely deserving of it. .

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Severus paced the dimly lit corridors of Grimmauld Place, his usually composed demeanor fraying at the edges with uncharacteristic nerves.
The weight of the impending Order meeting hung heavily upon him, his mind consumed with the thorny issue of Hermione's involvement as his apprentice.
He had never been one to second-guess his decisions, but the prospect of Hermione, a bright and talented young witch, being drawn into the dangerous world of espionage and intrigue filled him with a sense of unease. He had agreed to take her on as his apprentice, believing that he could offer her guidance and protection, but now he found himself questioning the wisdom of his choice.

What if he had underestimated the dangers she would face? What if he was leading her down a path from which there was no turning back?
Severus shook his head, banishing the doubts that threatened to overwhelm him. He had made a promise to Hermione, a promise to teach her the art of Occlumency and Legilimency, and he would not go back on his word. But the thought of her being thrust into the midst of the Order's clandestine operations filled him with a deep sense of apprehension.

As he made his way to the meeting room, Severus braced himself for the discussions that lay ahead. He knew that he would have to confront the issue head-on,
to address the concerns that had been gnawing at him since his meeting with Dumbledore.

But even as he prepared to face the scrutiny of his fellow Order members, Severus couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach.
For the first time in a long while, he found himself grappling with doubt, unsure of the path that lay before him and the young witch whose fate now rested in his hands.
As the Order members filed into the room, each face bearing the weight of the tumultuous times in which they lived, Severus observed them with a mixture of apprehension and determination. He knew that the information he had shared with Dumbledore would necessitate a united front, a coordinated effort that would require the utmost care and discretion.

When everyone had settled into their seats, Albus Dumbledore rose from his chair, his presence commanding the attention of all those present.
His gaze swept over the assembled members, his eyes alight with a steely resolve tempered by wisdom.

"Thank you all for gathering here today," Dumbledore began, his voice grave yet steady. "I have called this meeting to address a matter of utmost importance,
one that requires the full cooperation and commitment of each and every one of us."
Severus felt the weight of Dumbledore's words like a physical presence in the room, the gravity of the situation hanging heavy in the air.
He knew that the delicate balance they had fought so hard to maintain was teetering on the brink, and that their actions in the coming days could tip the scales in either direction.

"Severus has brought to my attention a delicate situation that demands our immediate attention," Dumbledore continued, his voice ringing out with authority.
"One that will require careful coordination and unwavering vigilance."

Severus felt the eyes of his fellow Order members upon him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. He squared his shoulders, steeling himself for the inevitable scrutiny that would follow Dumbledore's words.

"As we move forward, it is imperative that we work together as a team," Dumbledore emphasized, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"We must exercise caution, but we must also act decisively. Lives hang in the balance, and it is our duty to protect them at all costs."

Severus nodded in silent agreement, his resolve hardened by Dumbledore's words. He knew that the road ahead would be fraught with peril, but he also knew that they were stronger together than they were apart.

Severus stood up, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Order members, his expression grave as he prepared to divulge the delicate information that had brought them together.
"Voldemort has discovered that Hermione is my private student," Severus began, his voice steady despite the tension that crackled in the air.
"And he has tasked her with gathering information about Harry Potter."

A murmur rippled through the room, the gravity of Severus's words sinking in as the implications of Voldemort's orders became clear. Hermione,
a young witch thrust into the heart of a dangerous conflict, her loyalty torn between her commitment to Severus and the looming threat of the Dark Lord.
Severus turned to Lily and James, his expression imploring as he addressed them directly. "This is where you come in," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of urgency.
"We need your help. We need to give Voldemort true information about Harry, information that Hermione can pass to me with false information, knowledge that will protect Harry and lead Voldemort astray."

Lily and James exchanged a meaningful glance, their determination mirrored in the depths of their eyes. They had faced the darkness before, had stood on the front lines of the fight against Voldemort, and they were prepared to do whatever it took to protect their son.
"We will do whatever we can to help," Lily said firmly, her voice ringing out with resolve.
James nodded in agreement, his jaw set with determination. "Harry's safety is paramount," he declared.
"We'll do whatever it takes to keep him out of harm's way."
As James finished his sentence, the air in the dimly lit room seemed to crackle with tension. Sirius, his usually jovial demeanor replaced by a stormy expression, suddenly leaped to his feet, his voice rising with indignation.

"James, Lily, you can't seriously be considering sharing information about Harry with Snape!" Sirius's voice echoed off the walls of the Order's headquarters, each word dripping with anger and disbelief. "He's a true Death Eater, James! He'll stab us in the back the first chance he gets!"
James exchanged a brief glance with Lily, his expression reflecting both frustration and understanding. He held up a hand to calm Sirius, but Sirius was not to be deterred.
"He's betrayed us before, and he'll do it again!" Sirius continued, his eyes blazing with intensity. "The Order can't afford to trust someone like him. Dumbledore may have his reasons, but we can't ignore the danger he poses!"

Before Sirius could finish his impassioned plea, James interjected, his voice firm but measured. "Sirius, I understand your concerns. Believe me, I do. But Dumbledore trusts Snape, and that's not something we can ignore."

James rose from his seat, his gaze locked with Sirius's, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy in the air between them. "Snape may not be our favorite person, but he's working for the Order. He's risking his life just like the rest of us."
Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but James held up a hand, silencing him. "We have to trust Dumbledore's judgment on this. We can't let personal grudges cloud our judgment, especially not now. We also need to help Hermione and keep her safe."

There was a tense silence in the room as Sirius reluctantly sank back into his seat, his expression still stormy but his argument subdued. James turned to Lily, a silent acknowledgment passing between them, before he spoke again, his voice softer now but no less determined.
"We'll keep an eye on Snape, of course," James said, his gaze sweeping across the gathered members of the Order.
"But for now, we have to focus on the bigger picture. Harry's safety comes first, no matter what."

The room fell into a heavy silence as James's words hung in the air, the tension between loyalty to Dumbledore's decisions and distrust of Severus Snape palpable among the Order members. Sirius, though visibly still grappling with his reservations, nodded begrudgingly in acknowledgment of James's point.
Lily, ever the voice of reason, interjected with a calm tone that carried the weight of wisdom. "James is right, Sirius," she said, her eyes meeting Sirius's with a mix of empathy and resolve. "We may not like Snape, but Dumbledore trusts him. And if he's working for the Order, then we have to trust in Dumbledore's judgment."
Sirius's shoulders sagged slightly, the fire in his eyes dimming as he reluctantly accepted the logic of their arguments. "Fine," he conceded, his voice subdued but no less determined. "But I'll be keeping a close eye on him. If he so much as breathes the wrong way, I'll be the first to call him out."
Severus sat in silence as the tension lingered in the air, the weight of the accusations heavy upon him. He could feel the scrutiny of his fellow Order members like a physical presence, their distrust casting a shadow over the room.

Finally, unable to bear the weight of their suspicion any longer, Severus rose from his seat, his expression a mask of weary resignation. He turned to Dumbledore,
his gaze steady despite the turmoil roiling within him.

"May I be excused, Headmaster?" Severus asked quietly, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I find myself weary of these accusations, and I have no desire to subject myself to further scrutiny."
Dumbledore regarded Severus with a knowing look, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and sympathy. He nodded solemnly in response to Severus's request,
a silent acknowledgment of the toll that their mission had taken on him.
"Of course, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. "Take whatever time you need. We will reconvene when you are ready."

With a nod of thanks, Severus turned and made his way to the fireplace, the flames licking hungrily at the hearth as he stepped into the green flames of the Floo network. As the fire engulfed him, he felt a sense of relief wash over him, the warmth of the flames soothing the ache in his weary bones.
And as he disappeared into the swirling emerald inferno, Severus knew that he would return, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with renewed resolve and unwavering determination. For despite the doubts and suspicions that surrounded him, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the cause, his loyalty to the Order unwavering until the very end.
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