Author’s Note: Keep those reviews coming!

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter (though I wish I did).

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Chapter 2

Harry appeared in the Weasley’s kitchen looking scared and determined. There were several more people there then Harry expected at the early hour. Tonks and Lupin were chatting in a corner, Bill was eating next to Fleur at the small table next to the window, and Ron and Hermione were halfway out the front door with bags in hand.

“Harry, what are you doing here?” Hermione asked, surprised. “You aren’t supposed to Apparate until you’re seventeen. This is a major breech of…”

“Hermione, there are Death Eaters at my aunt and uncle’s house.” That shut her up quickly. At these words, those who hadn’t realized that there was someone new in the room stood up abruptly.

“What Harry? How do you know?” asked a concerned Lupin. He, Bill, and Tonks had all pulled out their wands as if preparing for a fight.

“The protection I’ve had at the Dursleys ends tonight, and I think they know that. Or at least Voldemort does,” Harry said with a grim look on his face.

“Okay, let’s go.” Lupin said with an air of authority surrounding him. “Harry, I think you, Ron, and Hermione should stay here.”

“Like hell! I’m done sitting at the little kids’ table,” Harry said angrily. “I come of age in,” Harry glanced down at his watch, “four and a half minutes. I am going with you.” Not even Mrs. Weasley dared argue with him.

“Fine. But stick together and be ready to flee at any minute,” Lupin said, acknowledging defeat. As one, everyone in the kitchen turned and vanished into thin air.

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They appeared in the backyard of Harry’s summer home. Breaking into two teams, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Remus went toward the backdoor and the rest were heading to the side gate. Once they were inside, Harry glanced out the front window. He thought he saw two or three cloaks blowing in the wind, but it was entirely possible they were just figments of his imagination.

“We have the element of surprise. The Death Eaters won’t expect Order backup which gives us a slight advantage. Use any jinx, hex, or charm you can think of if necessary. If possible, we’d like a few alive for interrogation, but that’s the least of our worries,” Lupin told them as if giving a pep talk before a big Qudditich game. “No talking from now on. We don’t want to let them know we’re here.”

All three former students nodded in understanding and glanced nervously at one another.

Harry motioned at Lupin, who quickly walked over to him. “My aunt, uncle, and cousin are all upstairs. Theey’re under my invisibility cloak.”

“Good. They’ll be safe there. Now, no more talking,” Lupin told him as he jogged toward the front door.

Harry glanced back at Ron and Hermione who were looking out the window, preparing themselves for the impending battle. Harry heard something to his right. Looking over, he saw Lupin motioning toward the door.

It was time.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all walked over by Lupin and pulled out their wands. Remus held up three fingers, then two, then one. There was a loud explosion on the outside of the house. Harry could hear shouts. Lupin wrenched open the door and ran into the battle. Harry followed Lupin outside and saw what they were up against.

There were about a dozen Death Eaters. Harry recognized a couple of them. Fenrir Greyback was there, without a mask. He didn’t have his wand out, which surprised Harry. He also saw the twins. Although he couldn’t remember their names, he remember their figures from that night at Hogwarts. There was one more that looked familiar in the background. Harry stepped forward for a closer look. A spell that was aimed at him caused Harry to fall back. Determined to see the familiar Death Eater, Harry sprinted to a nearby hedge that had a clearer view of the man who looked in charge of the operation.

Snape.

A hatred, the like of which not known to Harry at this point, rose within him. Not caring at all for his health, Harry stood up slowly from his only cover and began walking toward the man who had murdered Dumbledore. Toward the man that made his life at Hogwarts miserable.

Pointing his wand at the former Potions master, Harry whispered the word that he had sworn never to say again. “Sectumsempra”.

How Snape knew the curse was coming was beyond Harry. His back was turned and there was no way he could have heard Harry’s incantation. Be that as it may, he turned on the spot, and with a flick of his wand, deflected the spell into the sky.

“Potter!” Snape hissed. “I thought our last meeting would’ve taught you that you can do nothing without closing your mind.”

Brandishing his wand like a whip, Snape caused Harry to fly upwards and back amongst the ranks of the Order who putting up a magnificent fight.

“Harry! Are you all right?” asked a concerned Lupin when Harry landed near his feet. He was ducking behind a large potted plant.

“Yeah, but Snape’s here. He’s over on the other side of the street. It looks like he’s in charge,” Harry told him. He had thought that Voldemort would be pleased at Snape’s murder of Dumbledore and it looked as though he was right.

“I see. All right. Stay here and see what you can do against the twins. They’re giving Tonks a fight,” Remus told him, “I’ve got a score to settle.”

Harry watched as Lupin stealthily ran towards his former colleague. When Lupin went out of view, Harry turned toward Tonks who was hunkered down, having to dodge a horde of curses that were being thrown at her from the two gleeful twins. Their laughter sent Harry over the edge. Rising from his bunker, he turned toward the two Death Eaters and with every fiber in his being shouted, “Stupefy!” The spell sent the Death Eater spinning into the air. When the body hit the ground it was smoking. The battle seemed to pause as the body soared through the air, everyone watching its path, wondering who could’ve caused so much damage with such a simple spell.

Tonks took advantage of the momentary daze that her enemy was in, and stunned her. Now the few remaining Death Eaters recognized defeat. Almost all of them Disapparated, all except for Snape. As the remaining Order members turned towards him, he looked upset.

“Well, it seems my friends have left. I must go. I hope to see you all in the near future.” Snape told them, a smug look on his face. Just as he started to turn in order to Disapparate, a spell hit him in his back and caused him to fall forward. Stunned, Harry watched as Lupin appeared from behind a nearby mailbox.

His mind still reeling from the sight of the fallen Death Eater, Harry realized that the Order of the Phoenix had just captured Severus Snape.

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