Frozen

Chapter 32

Julia's uplifted spirit darkened the moment she walked in the Great Hall the next morning. The palpable tension hung in the air like dark clouds. She rushed over to the ducked heads of Lucy and Eliza. "What is going on?" she whispered.

Both girls looked scandalized that she did not already know the news. "There's been a mass break out from Azkaban. Ten of the high-security prisoners escaped sometime last night." Why Eliza whispered was beyond Julia since everyone in the hall was talking about the escape. Without commenting, Julia turned her head to the staff table. Dumbledore and McGonagall were immersed in deep conversation, and Severus was nowhere to be found.

Without explanation, Julia almost ran from the Great Hall, leaving behind two bewildered and indignant Hufflepuffs. She came to a breathless halt outside Severus' office and pounded loudly. "Damn it, Sev. Open up," she muttered into the wood. Nearly a minute passed and no one answered, and she resigned herself to waiting anxiously for news.

As she traipsed up the stairs outside the Great Hall, she came level with Dumbledore and began walking alongside him. "What's happening?"

"There will be an Order meeting tonight at Grimmauld Place. I know you are an honorary member, but I would request you attend. This incident is unprecedented, and I'd appreciate your input given your situation."

"You know I can't reveal anything, and I don't think I could even if I tried. My memory is starting to fade." It was the truth. The harder she tried to remember, the fewer details she could recall. More times than she could count did she berate herself for not writing it all down when she first came to the magical world.

"I am well aware, my dear, but you are an astute witch and a member of the Order. You have a place at the meeting. We will be apparating just outside the grounds. Meet Severus at 7 in his office." The entire conversation took place in hushed tones, and if anyone passerby noticed, they would assume a harmless meeting between headmaster and student took place.

To say she was distracted would be an understatement. The day's lessons passed in a blur, and Lucy and Eliza gave up trying to engage her after the dozenth time they had to repeat themselves. Not soon enough, she was pacing outside Severus' door. At five to seven, he exited the office looking haggard and strained. He shook his head when she made to comfort him. "Not here," he hissed, and she chastised herself for forgetting the precarious state of the castle's affairs.

They made it to the secret tunnel leading to Hogsmeade without difficulty, and with her hand in his, Severus led them through the rugged path. Once outside the castle boundaries, he stopped and pulled her close. She pressed herself close, enjoying their proximity but loathing the method of transport. Several suffocating second later, they stood outside 12 Grimmauld Place. Disentangling themselves, they traipsed to the door and entered.

The Order members gathered around the dining room table. As the meeting had not started, small groups talked quietly together. With a quick glance to Severus, Julia meandered through the groups of strangers to the two she knew best. She hugged Remus and Sirius tightly. "How are you?" she murmured so only they could here.

"Exactly as you'd expect," said Sirius without his usual joviality. "It's good to see you, despite the circumstances."

She smiled faintly. "Same. How're you holding up?" she addressed Remus, whose shabbiness and ragged features radiated ill health.

"Well enough. Don't worry about me."

"Can't help it, Remus." She squeezed his arm, and with a smile to each of them, she returned to Severus who stood in stoic silence. "You ok?" She looked up at his tense face and concern pooled in her belly. It didn't take much imagination to picture what he faced the night before.

With a curt nod, he pulled her partially in front of him so her frame blocked their clasped hands. In spite of the tension, she calmed. As long as he was close, she felt an inexplicable and naïve sensation of safety.

Dumbledore entered just then and all attention turned to him. "I'm sure all of you are aware of why we are meeting. Ten of Voldemort's" – a collective shudder passed through the room and Severus flinched – "most loyal and most dangerous followers escaped from Azkaban in the early morning hours. We can safely assume Voldemort had a direct hand in the breakout."

"We know what prisoners endure in Azkaban," said Kingsley with an apologetic look in Sirius' direction, but it was waved off. "Can we safely assume we have a couple days of planning while they recuperate?"

"It's a logical assumption," said Dumbledore thoughtfully.

"To assume makes an ass out of you and me," Julia murmured so only Severus could hear. He squeezed her hand, but in humor or reprimand she couldn't tell.

"It goes without saying that security details will be increased where resources are available." A discontented yet agreeable buzz went around the room.

"Why break them out now?" asked a pink-haired Tonks.

"Voldemort cannot remain in the dark for much longer. It is only a matter of time before his presence is widely accepted. Once his return is acknowledged, the prisoners of Azkaban will not be so easily accessed." Dumbledore's attention turned to Severus. "What do you have to report?"

Severus tightened his grip on her hand momentarily and then released it to walk forward. "I was summoned to a celebration of sorts. The escapees, though weak, were joyous at their release. It will be at least two days before they regain any magical or physical strength to be of danger to the greater population. The same cannot be said for the Dark Lord. His pleasure at the breakout's success manifested in new plans, which he alluded to but did not elaborate upon." He stepped back to Julia's side.

"Thank you, Severus. With any luck, this breakout will sow the seed of doubt in the Ministry's position. The story that Sirius single-handedly broke ten high-security prisoners out from under the noses of the dementors is scattered with holes. Keep listening for seeds of discord and misgiving."

Julia sighed. "Has it been discussed to provide counseling to those students affected by the breakout? From what I could tell, there are quite a few students who are directly or indirectly emotionally and psychologically distressed by this news. The general feeling is panic. For those older students, they remember when Sirius broke into the castle, and they are worried."

"I'd like to introduce Julia Sellick. She's been posing as a student to gauge the student population's frame of mind." He turned his gaze to Julia. "I'll have the Prefects and Head Girl and Boy make it known to their houses to go to their Heads of House with any concerns."

She nodded, though she'd have to have to discuss with him about proper professionals handling the mental and emotional welfare of underage children.

The meeting lapsed into a merry-go-round discussion of Voldemort's plans and how to counter him. The Order was between the metaphorical rock and hard place. Without public acknowledgement of Voldemort's return, all the Order could do was try to sway opinions one witch at a time. Some like Remus and Severus were thrust into the dirty underbelly, and seeing Remus' raggedness and Severus' tension, it was for little reward.

When the meeting concluded, she pressed a hand to Severus' arm. "I'll be just a minute." He slunk back to the corner, doing his best to be unseen, but it was in vain as Dumbledore made a beeline for him.

She sat next to Sirius. "I know this'll be the last thing you want to here, but do me a favor. Don't be reckless." He rolled his eyes and made to counter her, but she stopped him. "No, listen. I know what it means to be cooped up. For 17 years I skipped from place to place, too scared to settle. I understand the urge to throw caution to the wind, but it's not worth your life. There will be a day, sometime soon I hope, that Voldemort will be revealed. You can have your fun then, but until that day, just stay put, please." The voice of logic turned to a desperate plea for her friend's life.

The handsome face eyed her thoughtfully. "Do you think I escaped prison to be locked up again?"

"Of course not, and you are not locked up. You can leave anytime you like, but the people that love you – Harry, Remus, me – are begging you on bended knee to stay put for your safety. I want you to come out the other side of this war and then, you can really know freedom." She stood up and put a warm hand on his shoulder. "Don't be reckless."

"I will do my best." Judging by his somber face, he'd taken her words to heart. As she departed, she could only hope they stuck with him. She'd said her piece and now could only hope. She had a couple other plans to lie in place, but this was her best chance. Their mutual love and friendship might be enough to shift fate without directly interfering. She sent a silent plea to the heavens that it would be enough.