Chapter 1
2 May 1997
Slowly she rocked her grandchild to sleep, her gaze fixed out of the window. Worry coupled with hope were reflected in it. Next to her was her best friend, Andromeda Tonks. Her daughters had answered the Order's call to fight alongside their men. No matter how much effort they had made to convince Nymphadora and Neyla to stay here, with their children, all attempts came to nothing. Two years ago she fled here with Ted, on her husband's instruction, shortly after which all hell broke loose. Neyla came back from the USA and was caught up in the bitter reality. To this day, hardly anyone knew who her daughter's father was. But let's start at the beginning, when Neyla Glenn returned to her birthplace Glasgow and began working in the British Ministry of Magic as an Auror.
-1995-
-Neyla's view-
I had lived in the USA for four years to train as an Auror. I would have preferred to stay here in Scotland with my mum, but dad had other plans for me. A little ironic, considering he was hardly involved in family life. Well I couldn't complain. I had led a good life and he had made sure we lacked for nothing. A week ago, I received a letter from my mother saying that Voldemort was back. Within five days I had arranged everything to be transferred to England, and now I was standing here next to Nymphadora, my godmother's daughter. Admittedly Dora was the complete opposite of me and yet as children we were already one heart and soul, despite the two years difference and the fact that she was a Hufflepuff and I a Slytherin. Dad was more than proud of that, Mum would have preferred anything else. Why, she hadn't told me. I was listening intently to Dora when she suddenly dragged me into her office and condemned me to secrecy. At first I thought she was pulling my leg, but after five minutes she had me convinced. The thing with the Order sounded quite interesting. It would be a way to kick some Death Eater ass. And if I was honest with myself, I wanted nothing more than that. They would hunt my mother, so I decided to join this cause. Shortly after she introduced me to Mad-Eye Moody, her instructor at the time, honestly the guy scared me. The next meeting of the Order would take place that very evening. Actually, I had had other plans, but what wouldn't one do to have a little justice in this world. I hid the fact that I had joined the Order of the Phoenix from my mum for the time being, she would probably freak out and inform my dad and I really didn't want that. Dora seemed more and more nervous the closer the meeting got. At some point it got too much for me, I preferred to work in silence and I really didn't need an excited Metamorphmagus at my side.
"By Salazar Slytherin! What the hell is wrong with you?!", I hissed angrily. Shocked, she looked at me. Yes, normally I was calm personified, but at the moment I had enough problems of my own to deal with.
"I'm in love," she mumbled softly.
"Yes, so what?" I asked, unnerved.
"He's in the Order."
"Oh Merlin help me. Go and tell him, it can't be that complicated, can it?", I growled quietly to myself, trying to concentrate on my work again. This was complete nonsense, most Death Eaters were in Azkaban and those who were free were acquitted. Apart from the fact that no one here in the Ministry believed that Voldemort had returned and made Dumbledore and the boy Potter out to be liars. Dora sat down on my desk and prevented me from continuing my work. She couldn't be serious, could she?
"He's a werewolf and a firm believer that he doesn't deserve love."
"A werewolf? What does Aunt Dromeda say about that?" I asked in wonder.
"She's not very fond of it," Dora replied, slightly depressed.
"Who can blame her?", I murmured softly.
"He can't help it either!"
"I am already aware of that Dora. Still, I can understand Aunt Dromeda quite well. A werewolf is something else than falling in love with a Muggleborn," I tried to explain my statement to her.
"It's only once a month, after all. Besides, Snape brews the potion for him," she said uncomprehendingly.
"Snape? Professor Snape is in the Order?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Oh damn!", I cursed softly and dropped my head on the tabletop.
"What have you done? Are you afraid he'll take points off Slytherin after the fact?" she inquired with a laugh.
"I was Head Girl. Everything was going well until that spoiled little Malfoy came to Hogwarts. I probably stood in Snape's office every other day complaining about that creep. Yes my parents shoved everything up my arse too, but still I knew how to behave. He was of the opinion that he, with his ridiculous eleven years, was in charge. Maybe I'm a little embarrassed now," I told her, pained. Dora started laughing loudly.
"That's not funny, Dora!", I hissed. Oh Merlin why did he of all people have to be in the Order? I would have preferred anyone else a thousand times over, but this thing was embarrassing to me to this day. The reason was that I simply didn't stand a chance against this arrogant snob.
"Yes, I do. I mean everyone else is panicking about Snape, except Neyla."
"He's not that bad," I grumbled to myself.
"Only because you had a knack for potions." she giggled and gave me a knowing look.
"Only because you weren't interested in it and preferred to disappear into some corner with Charlie," I teased, shaking my head briefly as there was a knock on the door and Shaklebolt entered the office.
"We should get going." Dora immediately jumped off the table and was out the door less than two seconds later. Briefly I considered staying here, I didn't really want to run into Snape right now, but in the end it was the will to protect my mother that drove me to follow the dark-skinned one. I was not entirely comfortable when we entered the headquarters. Gatherings of people were not my thing.
"Neyla, I hate to say it, but there's only one seat left next to the bat," Dora whispered softly and entered the kitchen. Well, thank you very much. Uncertainly I followed the others and looked directly into two deep black eyes. Snape raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Professor," I murmured softly and sat down next to him.
"Neyla, I thought you were in the USA?"
"I was, but my mum is of Muggleborn descent
and fear for her made me come back," I answered him quietly.
"Who hired you?" he inquired.
"Dora."
"Well then, at least I'm not the only Slytherin here anymore," I heard him reply. Irritated, I frowned and looked at Dora. I had been firmly convinced that Andromeda was also in the Order, but that was obviously not the case.
"A new member, very nice. We can swap places and you won't have to sit next to Snivellus," one of the members said enthusiastically. In the corner of my eye I saw Snape clench his hand into a fist.
"I have no problem sitting next to Professor Snape," I replied calmly. I guess the guy hadn't expected that. Casually, he walked towards us and leaned against the table. I don't know why he called Snape that, but from that moment on I didn't like him, but the fact that he didn't want to accept my answer didn't suit me at all.
"Who sits freely..."
"Me! Now get lost!" I interrupted him angrily.
"Don't mess with a Slytherin Black," Snape taunted, which made me grin. I guess the fact that his last name was Black also meant he was related to Dora. Great, I could probably hear from her tomorrow how rude I wasn't after all.
"Are you sure you're in the right place, kid?" Black asked with a sardonic grin.
"Sirius! Now pull yourself together!" Oh thank Merlin!
"My place Black!", I hissed warningly, jumping up and falling around my aunt's neck.
"It's good to see you again," I whispered softly.
"You shouldn't have come back Neyla. Your father sent you to the USA for a reason," she murmured softly, eyeing me anxiously.
"Mom is more important. I have to get back to my seat before that idiot thinks he can sit there," I replied in a neutral tone.
"Get your hands off my niece!" hissed Andromeda softly behind me. Black raised his hands defensively and finally made his exit. Well, that meant he sat down in his seat, far enough away from me.
"Now there are three snakes," I smirked softly.
"And one biting harder than the other," Snape replied with a barely perceptible smile, which vanished instantly as Dumbledore entered the room. Now the name of this association, or whatever it was to be called, made sense. I didn't particularly like the fact that Dumbledore, of all people, was the chairman. Nevertheless, I listened intently, even though I was still struggling a little with jet lag. I was glad that this meeting came to a quick end, but most of the people stayed to chat. Since I was new, I didn't want to leave right away, but I didn't feel like chatting, so I retreated to one of the corners. I didn't stay alone for long.
"Seems to be a Slytherin disease," I looked up at Snape with a grin and shook my head briefly.
"Well at least Malfoy isn't here otherwise they'd have to listen to me whine about his behaviour."
"The whining as you call it was quite justified, but that is the way of the Malfoys. They firmly believe that they own the world," he replied and sat down next to me.
"That statement is quite appropriate, although Black is probably also an arrogant assface," I grumbled cynically to myself. A soft laugh came from his lips, which made me smile. Something I had never told anyone was the fact that Snape had cheered me up some days when that pest thought he was better than everyone else again.
"I thought his face was hilarious when you ran it right over his big mouth. He's not used to that, maybe he's got himself a chance of wrapping you around his finger."
"No thanks. If he doesn't manage to talk to you...excuse her, sensibly, he doesn't even have to try. This isn't playschool, is it?" I said flippantly and looked sheepishly at the tips of my shoes.
"You can call me by my first name, I offered it to you at the time, but somehow you managed to ignore it. You may be right about Black, but it shouldn't be your concern," he replied quietly, eyeing me piercingly.
"Well...um...you know I can't stand that sort of thing," I mumbled sheepishly.
"After seven years, you know your students, which is why I felt you were more than suitable for the position of Head Girl.You didn't have it easy because of your blood status, yet you prevailed." I tried hard not to grin, these words from Snape's mouth were balm for my soul. It filled me with pride and made me forget the embarrassment about Malfoy.
"As much as I would like to continue this conversation. I'm dead tired, jet lag still holding me captive. I'll see you at the next meeting, after all." Snape nodded, barely noticeable.
"Take care Neyla.", I heard him mutter softly behind me as I was already walking towards the door. I paused briefly and looked to him, but he had already disappeared. A fact I had always hated as a pupil.