Chapter 1

In Which Dumbledore Makes A Request

It was halfway through the summer holidays and Severus Snape was not happy. He had been enjoying his holiday at the Snape Family Estate in Spain. He didn't particularly like Spain but his mother hated it, so there was privacy, and there was an ideal potions lab. He had been quite content working on his research when the Dark Mark seared into his arm had begun to burn. That had been two days ago. Now he was hurrying to speak with Dumbledore although it was not the easiest task being a spy and being inconspicuous enough not to give away that position to his "fellow" Death Eaters.

When he had returned from the revel that Voldemort had summoned him to, there had been a letter from Dumbledore waiting for him. Dumbledore's ability to know everything that happened seemed to extend outside of Hogwarts. Snape had often wondered if Dumbledore was a seer. Snape couldn't tell from the letter if Dumbledore truly needed to speak to him or if the headmaster was just supplying a convenient reason for Snape to hurry back to Hogwarts.

Snape apparated to Hogsmeade and took his time getting to Hogwarts, stopping first to order potions supplies for the coming term, pick up a book he had ordered at Morold & Sulroth, the bookstore, and down a fire whiskey in The Hog's Head. He was now climbing the stairs to Dumbledore's office. As he approached the door it swung open and Dumbledore invited him in. As he entered he noted that there were no other Order members present.

"Severus," greeted Dumbledore. Snape inclined his head in greeting as he took his preferred seat. "I suppose you are wondering why I asked you to come in."

Snape nodded.

"Remus and Arthur will be here shortly; however I needed to discuss something with you that doesn't concern them." Snape merely grunted. "It concerns a young woman that the Order has decided to take an interest in. They are concerned about where her loyalties lie, but they have no way to find her."

"And this is my concern?" Snape asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yes Severus, it is your concern, since you know her. Sybil has taken a leave of absence for the year and I would like this young lady to teach Divination," Dumbledore paused as Snape glared at him, "There is also a minor problem with the Defense against the Dark Arts position. It seems that no one is willing to take on the position this year. Minerva and I have worked out a rotating schedule where DADA will be taught by all the professors."

"I still fail to see why this necessitated a private conversation, Headmaster."

"Severus, I know that your research keeps you busy during the holidays, but I was hoping that you would take on the search for this young lady for the Order, I know that you have kept up with her, and you would be by far the least conspicuous member of the Order to contact her."

Snape sighed heavily. "I'll try but I have no idea where to find her as we've not spoken in nearly a year."

Dumbledore just smirked as Remus Lupin and Arthur Weasley stepped through the fireplace. Severus you sly bat thought Dumbledore I know you owl her regularly, and that she sent you a reply just before term ended, and if I didn't know better I'd think you're her secret keeper.

After an exhaustive debriefing, Snape managed a few hours of sleep in his quarters. After he woke he summoned a house-elf and left instructions that his spare room be cleaned and redecorated. Then he set off for London and Diagon Alley dressed in black muggle clothing covered by his usual black robes. After a stop at Gringott's and then the Apothecary to order a few of the more exotic potions ingredients needed for the coming year, he took off his robes, miniaturized them so that they fit into his pocket and stepped out into muggle London. Since it was considered very risky to apparate directly to the airport Snape chose to take the muggle route there, and began the walk to the underground that would take him to Victoria Station where he would catch the train to Gatwick.

Once he arrived at the airport he made his way to the wizarding departure lounge. Few wizards splinched themselves but, having bits of himself on either side of the transatlantic wasn't something he fancied. When he arrived he found that a port-key would leave for Boston in 15 minutes. He spent the next fifteen minutes staring out the window watching the sun set and the muggle airplanes roar by, and wondering what had possessed him to wait the 15 minutes for the port-key to Boston rather than taking the immediate one to Chicago. He finally decided that it was because the "young lady," as Dumbledore had called her, that he was looking for was in fact bound to him with the Fidelius charm, making him her secret keeper. She had modified the charm so that he wouldn't always know where she was but could always find her when he needed to, and so that she could move around freely, traits that had proved to come in quite handy in the intervening nine years.

"8:30 to Boston," rang through the lounge and he snorted, he was, after all the only passenger in the lounge. When he reached the desk the witch handed him a glowing orb and he stepped over to the window to wait. A few seconds later he felt the familiar tug as he was pulled across the Atlantic. When he arrived in Boston, he handed the orb to the witch sitting at the desk and, checking his pockets to insure that he had plenty of cash, he stepped out into the baggage claim area of the airport and set off to find a map of Boston.

Three hours later he had found a map and using a compass enchanted with the "point me" spell, had only been able to determine that she was not at home. His triangulation made the area that she had been in over the three hours to be nearly three square miles. He decided to get dinner and try again later.

Another four hours, and three attempts later he finally had a location. Unfortunately he had no idea if it was a wizarding or muggle building, and either way most of Boston was enchanted against apparition so he would most likely not be able to apparate into it. He was enjoying exploring muggle Boston as well, although he never would have told anyone that. He was attempting to find the nearest Underground station, although he was a bit confused and really had no idea where he was. Finally with a sigh he withdrew into a small alley, cast a Concealment charm around himself and spread his map on the ground.

"Show me," he muttered pointing his wand at the map and immediately a small red spot sprang up on the map.

He was a bit surprised to find that he was in fact only two blocks from the nearest station. He folded the map and stood, dissipating the charm, and began to walk briskly to the station. Twenty minutes later he emerged from the Park Street station and began his walk across the Common to Beacon Street and the brownstone that his locating spells had pinpointed. He walked up the stairs to the door and unlocked it with a quick Alohomora. Must be a muggle building, he thought, that shouldn't have worked on a wizarding building. He walked up the small staircase, climbing to the third floor, and stopped.

He had no idea which apartment she lived in, and her name hadn't been on the call panel outside the door. He began to walk down the hall. He passed two doors before hitting a dead end and turned toward the back of the building. When he reached the third door the lock glowed a soft blue, as if inviting him to touch it. He placed his hand on the knob and it sprung open under his touch. He slipped quietly inside, and shut the door, wincing at the loud click it made. It took only a moment for his eyes to adjust to the soft light that came from what appeared to be a muggle television set. He could see a small figure with long dark hair curled up on the couch. She was obviously asleep. He moved to squat in front of her and reached up to touch her cheek with his fingers.

"Severus?" she mumbled and smiled as she opened her eyes.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE?" a male voice roared from behind him.

Snape whirled around as he stood up and trained his wand on the man.

"Kira are you ok? He didn't hurt you?" the man asked, never taking his eyes off of Snape. The woman stood up beside and slightly behind Snape.

"Alex," she said taking a deep breath, "I'd like you to meet Severus Snape. Severus meet Alexius Greer, one of my roommates." Snape seemed satisfied and lowered his wand stowing it in his pocket.

"How do I know he's who you say? How do I now you're not under the Imperius?" queried Alex, nervously fingering his own wand.

"Honestly Alex, grow up," she said rolling her eyes, "One, I didn't let him in, the ward is keyed only to the real Severus Snape, you cast it yourself, and two, you are being an insufferable git. Goodnight." She finished as she walked across the room to what appeared to be her door.

Alex lowered his wand still a bit anxious.

"Severus, are you coming to bed?" Kira called as she disappeared through the door.

Snape turned to follow her as Alex reluctantly went back up the stairs to his own room. Snape walked through the door into a pleasantly lit space that was furnished in the same style as his own quarters, semi-traditional minimalist, with drawers and a closet set into the wall, a low bed and a door that appeared to lead to a small bathroom.

Snape colored slightly as he saw that Kira was changing, and he headed to the bathroom to transfigure his clothes into something suitable to sleep in and his robes into a blanket.

"Severus, your things are in the bottom drawer, they should still fit" Kira said noticing his hasty retreat.

He swiftly altered course and opened the drawer to find a pair of black plaid cotton drawstring pants and a black t-shirt. He continued on into the bathroom and changed.

From outside Kira said "And Severus don't even think about being a gentleman and sleeping on the couch, the bed is plenty big, and the couch really isn't even long enough for me."

"I don't really think that is appropriate Kira, the couch will do nicely and I can make it longer, I am a wizard" he replied.

"Yes, well you are a wizard, as is my roommate, but somehow I think that his girlfriend wouldn't appreciate waking up and finding a very tall, very grumpy wizard on a couch that is 'magically' larger than the one that was there when she went to sleep."

"Ah," he said poking his head out of the bathroom, "Muggle?"

"Yes," and before he could open his mouth to ask his next question, "and yes, in the cupboard above the sink, the blue one."

He turned back to brush his teeth wishing that even when she could tell what he wanted she would let him ask. Then he slipped out into the dark room, noticing that she was already asleep. He slipped in next to her and wound his arm around her waist pulling her close.

"G'night Kira," he mumbled into her hair.

Hooray! Thanks for reading. Now please review. I plan to update as often as possible but since I'm a college student that might not be very often. And everyone make sure you thank my blonde Swedish muse without whom this story would never have gotten on paper…so to speak.