"My dear Severus,

First things first, let me offer my condolences, which I suppose you would not accept, for the rejection of your application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, yet again. Dumbledore is an old fool. He knows nothing of the knowledge you possess on the Dark Arts. He knows nothing of what you are capable of.

Getting to the matter at hand, quite literally, my friend, no doubt you've noticed the mark is getting clearer by day. The Dark Lord is uprising. Igor has owled me many a day, pleading for assistance. He says he feels you are purposefully avoiding him, which I don't doubt you are. Have mercy, Severus! Igor shall get what he deserves once he faces the Dark Lord's wrath. You do remember it was he who betrayed Mulciber, Travers, and our dear Augustus Rookwood. I expect we shall have some fun with him before he, expires.

I see Rita Skeeter's polished her Quick Quotes Quill. Not that the boy-who-lived deserve any less, don't you agree? My Draco tells me Potter's been strutting around ever since he was elected the second Hogwarts champion.

We shall meet when the mark burns once more.

Till then,

Take care, my friend,

Lucius"

Severus Snape traced his jaw bone in exaggerated slowness as he reread Lucius Malfoy's letter for the fourth time since it arrived. He was well aware his colleagues were throwing suspicious glances at him. Though it was not unusual for the Malfoy family owl to fly up to the staff table after delivering Draco's weekly supply of goodies, he rarely read the letters twice before stuffing it inside his robes to reflect on later. It wasn't the high quality piece of parchment nor the equally high quality ink used that was causing frowning lines to appear on Snape's forehead. Though it would be frown-worthy if a Malfoy didn't use such first class equipment for the most basic of things.

"Severus" a clipped tone interrupted his thoughts "What on earth could make you forget the plate of breakfast in front of you? I wonder how you intend to intimidate the first years, without the energy?"

Snape looked up from his letter straight into the eyes of Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, and Transfiguration professor. Her stern eyes sometimes made Snape forget he was not her student anymore, but each time he quickly reminded himself that he was indeed her colleague.

"What would you say, Professor, if I say I've already had had my breakfast earlier this morning?" He asked with a sneer.

McGonagall, not put off, came back quickly with her own quip.

"I would congratulate you on your absolute determination never to speak the truth and your effective resolve to starve yourself"

Snape smirked at her wit and would've retorted back if he had not a letter verifying the very suspicions of his mentor, Albus Dumbledore, in his hand. He stood up saying,

"However much I would like to stay and listen to your half-hearted attempts at sarcasm, I fear I must get ready for the day's agenda, starting with your's and Professor Sprout's, I'm afraid"

With his robes billowing behind him, Snape left the staff table. The Charms professor, Filius Flitwick, leaned towards McGonagall and pointed out critically,

"He never did answer your actual question, you know"