Thanks to reviewers of chapter 50: Raven Lockwood, Amar 2, Althea 27, excessivelyperky, and to NNdaboss556 who recently reviewed and inspired me to write another chapter!

Can't believe another year has gone by since I updated this- jeez.

Chapter 51 "The Feather"

Scarlett red. The color of fresh blood.

The portkey feather's ominous color kept drawing Severus' attention no matter where he was in the room. Even when he went downstairs to do some inventory and help customers, all he could see in his mind was that feather.

Lily had gone out not long after making mugs of tea for the both of them. After bringing Sev his steaming mug, she had left her own on the kitchen counter and said something about picking up groceries before leaving the apartment.

The warm steam from the mug seemed to hypnotize Severus and he stared at it for what seemed like hours but really was only ten minutes before getting up and going about various chores. His mind was on auto-pilot, guiding his body to do what it needed to, but that red feather filled his thoughts.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lily came back some time later, a few bags swinging from her arms. Severus was behind the counter, organizing a tray of ogre toenails. As soon as she stepped through the door he knew who it was and looked up.

Not a word was spoken, there was a simply a shared glance before Lily headed up the stairs. Severus half-heartedly continued organizing the toenails while listening to the sounds of pots and pans upstairs, indicating that Lily was making dinner.

Severus sighed heavily and pushed the tray of toenails back onto its shelf before going to the front door and tapping it with his wand to magically lock it.

He did not feel like dealing with any more customers today.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The silence was killing Severus. It literally seemed like the quiet had become an actual blade that was being driven into his heart. Needless to say, he did not like it.

They had eaten dinner and hadn't spoken besides "Pass the salt" or "Can you hand me a napkin". After the dishes had been cleared and the leftovers put away, Lily sat on the couch, looking lost. They still had a few hours until the Order meeting, but she wasn't sure what to do with herself. She couldn't bear the thought of going about normal activities when, in a few hours, they might be engaged in combat with the blood-thirsty supporters of Lord Voldemort.

Severus stood behind, staring at the waterfall of red hair cascading down the back of the couch. After a minute, he sat beside Lily and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her tightly against himself. They sat like that in silence, eyes trained on the portkey feather in the middle of the room.

There was nothing more to say that hadn't already been said multiple times. They didn't know what was going to happen tonight. Would there be a duel between the Light and the Dark? Would there be more Death and bloodshed? Neither wanted to express their dark thoughts aloud again.

Severus finally croaked out after several hours of sitting and staring, "It's almost 10:00, Lily."

In unison they stood stiffly, stretching their limbs which were tight with tension and fear. Both kneeled on the ground, next to the portkey, bodies inches from each other.

Their fingers were stretched out, centimeters from the feather, waiting. Lily's slim pale ones shook slightly, while Severus' calloused one were steady.

The clock ticked closer to 10:00, each tick sounding extremely loud to Lily, like a giant's footsteps getting nearer and nearer.

"Now." Severus said quietly, and they both reached out to touch the feather with one hand, while their other hands were tightly clasped together.