Author's Note: This story is dedicated to Blue Moon for giving me the blessing to go through with this story. This story is inspired the Usual Suspects, A Few Good Men and a score of other movies where a game of cat and mouse is played. This story was written because frankly I didn't like the idea of Snape being a spy was a widely known thing so this idea was formed. If I'm lucky it will leave people wondering if Snape really was the hero Dumbledore believes him to be. Read and Review.

Seek and Ye Shall Find

by: Lady Erised

The office was cramped and cluttered with every inch of wall space covered with newspaper clippings and rough artist sketches of masked goons and shadowy figures. There was a unique method to the madness of the clutter- each wall section was dedicated to the greatest nightmares of the Dark Times. Rough, vague drawings crime scenes and depictions of eyewitness accounts of the most powerful and infamous Death Eaters.

Le Entranger, the Stranger, was possible the first Death Eater ever or perhaps even the Dark Lord himself, before he had a following. Witnesses described him as deadly pale with glowing red eyes and a flat snake like face.

Then he disappeared and in his stead appeared Jack the Ripper. Five of the most influential Ministers in the MOM found murdered in the same fashion, throats slashed from left to right, and same time window, two months, as the original Ripper had over a century ago. Madame de Noche and her Valkyries appeared shortly afterwards. Women who worked like sirens that summarily executed any rivals for power. They secured the Dark Lord's power among the Dark Wizards.

And finally the one man who was perhaps the most bloodthirsty of all the Death Eaters, the Dark Prince. The scarred villain who appeared and disappeared with each passing mist was easily the most feared of all the Dark Lord's supporters. It only seemed fitting that he had been the first captured. The press proudly proclaimed that the Dark Prince had been captured and named- Sirius Black.

Damien Carius was leaning back in this cramped office, his office, not entirely paying attention to his superior officer. He was too busy focusing on the symmetry between the eyes on his latest sketch. He chewed on his tongue and drew his charcoal pencil across the page again.

"Just remember Damien, these aren't run of the mill Wizards you're after- these are the members of the Aristocracy."

"Does that make them above the law?" He muttered absently.

"In some cases, they are the law." Damien Carius stopped and regarded his mentor coolly. Victoria Hawke countered that look with one of her own. "And don't you dare look at me like that." She hissed. "All I'm saying is don't take them on unless you can prove it."

"I can and will prove it."

"Good." Hawke said. "Then get your things and let's go."

Damien pushed his pencil into his sketchbook, grabbed his notes and stood. "Lets go."

"No, not the red, it's too flashy. How about the burgundy and gold?"

Babbitt shook her head. She reached back into the wardrobe and pulled out another robe, it was dark blue with rich wine trim. "How about this one?"

Severus made a face. "I don't suppose I could just wear black?"

"Too brooding."

He sighed defeated and told Babbitt to choose which one she wanted him to wear. Severus Snape sank into his chair with a defeated sigh. It was April 1982 and the Dark Lord Voldemort had been gone for six months but the real reign of terror was just beginning. In the months following the Dark Lord's disappearance, Minister of Magical Law Enforcement Crouch had taken it upon himself to 'root out all of You-Know-Who's supporters.' What had begun with the internment of Sirius Black had resulted in the imprisonment of over dozens alleged Dark Wizards and hundreds, even thousands more suspected. But within the last few months, with the arrest and conviction of Igor Karkaroff, an influential and powerful Russian noble, the Tribunal had turned their attention to the intelligentsia of the Wizarding World.

Babbitt had presented him with dark green robes and silver on the wide cuffs of an otherwise fitted overcoat and he dressed in the trousers, tunic embroidered with silver and riding boots. When Babbitt began to slip the outer robe over Severus' shoulders, he objected saying he wouldn't need it. The House Elf was about to contest but decided not too. She raised her little head, arrogantly and returned it to his wardrobe. Severus heard her sniffle. "Babbitt, listen…"

But Babbitt wouldn't hear it. She had begun to brawl at the top of her lungs, clinging to his leg. "Master's going to Azkaban!!!"

He laughed. "I'm not going to Azkaban, I haven't even been charged. As far as I can tell, no one's even mentioned me." He paused for a moment, and then reached into the back of his wardrobe to retrieve his most prized possession. "Still…Babbitt I think we should…"

Babbitt was already ahead of him, pulling out a medium sized rosewood box. She opened it just as Severus was reaching into the overhead compartment to retrieve his face. Gingerly, he placed the perfect Death Eater's mask into the box and locking it before he could think about it. Babbitt and Severus stared at the box for a moment before she tucked it away.

"What would I do without you" Severus said softly.

Babbitt smiled coyly. "Go to Azkaban."

"Right then, let's get this finished." He said as he pulled his dark hair back into a ponytail. He walked into a parlor and smiled at the occupant. "Finish your brandy Lucius we're going…"

The courtroom would have been more adequately described as a dungeon converted too hastily to make it hospitable. The rows of spectators' seats were barely beginning to fill as curious onlookers entered the room. The press box was already alive and busy as overzealous journalist tried to get the best view of the floor. There were seven chairs on the main floor positioned in front of the bench where the Tribunal, under Minister of Magical Law Enforcement Crouch, presided. The jury box had yet to filled.

Damien could feel the excitement in the charged air. Today would be the beginning of the most important of all the trials that had been performed in this room. Today, he would be bringing down what the press had labeled "The Royal Seven." It had long been rumored of the connection between wealth and the Dark Lord but now, it would be proven. This hunt had been his obsession since he had become an Auror. He sat down at the bench on floor near the left end and waited for the seven to be admitted.

"Here they come." Hawke whispered into his ear.

The main bulk of onlookers filed in and brought with them the sound of awe and clicking cameras. Vikki Vega, the Daily Prophet's fashion columnist, could be heard shouting questions to the Royal Seven.

"Miss Conner, who are you wearing?"

Severus looked at Vega strangely. "Are you serious?"

Vega nodded eagerly. "People want to know what fashions are in this spring."

He looked at Lucius and smirked.

Amethyst Connor looked thrilled. "I'm wearing an original by Helen Ann Arbor."

"And you Mr. Snape?"

"Ah…uh…I believe it's a Gianna." Severus said shyly, throwing another look at Lucius. "Are they for real?"

"The duties of the rich." Lucius joked before he smiled at the camera. "And yes, Miss Vega, I'm wearing a Gianna as well."

"Will all the men gather together for a group photo?"

The five men gathered together and stood leaning towards the camera, smiling genteelly. A flurry of camera flashes assaulted them along with more questions.

Mad Eye Moody appeared. "If this little display is over. Crouch wants the suspects on the floor."

Severus smiled broadly. "Come here Alastor!" He shouted. "Come here and tell Ms. Vega how proud and glad you are to see us here."

Mad Eye glared at him with a look that said if he could he'd kill Snape now. Not that Snape cared, he was having too much fun with the debacle this trial was rapidly becoming. Lucius grabbed hold of Snape's arm warning him but the man didn't seem to notice. He complied however and let Lucius lead him to his seat. (The chairs did not have chains.) He sat down with great flair and then did something very odd. He looked straight at Damien, who he knew was the chief investigator, and smiled.

"But really," He said. "If you want to find the truth behind the lies, seek and ye shall find."