A/N The first couple chapters are a bit short because I wanted to build up some suspense. They will probably get longer as I go
Snape sat waiting in Dumbledore's office. This was not the first time he had been called there late at night, and the result was never good news. Each task he was assigned was increasingly difficult since Voldemort's return. Nothing was ever easy when you were the double agent.
Just as Snape was about to drift to sleep in his seat, Dumbledore walked in.
"Severus, thank you for responding to my call on such short notice. I wouldn't bother you at such an hour if it wasn't something extremely important."
The old man's words instantly confirmed Snape's suspicion.
"I have decided to grant your request for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post starting in the fall. In exchange, I need your assistance with a very important task."
"What is it you need me to relay to the Dark Lord this time Albus?" He responded in a rather uninterested voice. Snape was getting tired of being the puppet. It was a dangerous job, but it was getting very repetitive.
"It's funny you should ask that Severus. As it turns out, the task I have for you this time relies solely on you NOT telling Voldemort. It is very important for him to never know."
Shock and confusion raced through Snape's mind. His entire job was based on lying to the Dark Lord for Dumbledore. Was this seriously a task that didn't involve that rather unpleasant communication?
"So are you saying this is a mission that has nothing to do with him at all? Not that I'm complaining about a change of pace Albus, but this is starting to sound like a task better suited to one of your Order of the Phoenix lackeys." He attempted to mask this sudden interest with his all too familiar drawl.
"Actually Severus, it has absolutely everything to do with Voldemort, just not in the same fashion you are used to. I also believe you are the only person suited to this particular job, which I hope you will undertake more as a favor to me than anything else."
Dumbledore could see the curiosity hidden behind the boredom on Snape's face. He hoped it was enough to have him agree before hearing what he needed him to do. Having to explain it first would require a lot more convincing, and his participation was absolutely necessary.
"I'm assuming I wont get the job if I don't agree to whatever it is you want?" He admired Dumbledore's use of bribery. He knew how badly Snape wanted the position. "If you are so sure I'm the only one who can do it, then I guess I have no choice but to agree."
"Excellent," Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief, "Now I know you probably want to know exactly what you just signed up for, but it's getting very late. A full explanation would require a back-story, which is best saved for tomorrow when you are awake. "
With that, Dumbledore made it clear he was finished the discussion. Snape would have to withhold his curiosity for one more day. As he got up to leave, he had a strange feeling he would have been better off with another mundane double agent task.
