Chapter 1

Severus stretched his long legs beneath the table and pressed his fingers against his temples. This was getting ridiculous. Not even his brandy could calm his nerves this time. Madame Rosmerta eyed him warily but didn't comment. She knew him well enough at this point to know better. Anything she said was bound to resort in him taking out his nasty mood on her. Severus preferred it this way, when he was served well but also managed to avoid the idle, pointless, gossip of the pub's other patrons. He didn't need snide comments from random idiots in Hogsmeade. What he needed was for the notes to stop.

Every morning without fail, since he returned to his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, an owl-a different owl each time- dropped a note onto his breakfast plate. It was always unsigned, never contained any sort of magical signature, and was always threatening. Most of the threats had been angry sounding, but generic. Over the past few weeks the threats had been getting more and more specific. Whoever was sending them knew things that only someone who was watching him could know, and that unnerved him more than anything else they had said.

Madame Rosmerta sat another bottle of brandy down on his table. Before she could walk away, Severus slipped her a few galleons to cover his charges. "Thank you." He said simply, taking the bottle with him as he stood up and pulled his cloak tightly around him. Spring had brought warmer days, but nights were still cold.

"Have a good night, Headmaster." Rosmerta answered, quickly slipping the galleons into her pocket and moving on. He didn't offer a response and she didn't expect one.

Severus apparated to the gates of Hogwarts the moment he stepped outside. He didn't care for the longer walk tonight. He wanted to be safely back on Hogwarts grounds. As headmaster, he could have moved his chambers closer to his office, but he had spent so much time in the dungeons over the past several years that they felt more like home to him than the rest of the castle. Tonight, they felt safer.

His senses were on high alert, and the tension didn't leave him until he reach the grand front entrance to the castle. He could see a light on in Hagrid's cabin, and the familiar warmth calmed him. Not that he would ever admit it. Although Hagrid had initially been strongly opposed to Severus returning to his position as Headmaster, Severus' obvious dedication to the school and the well-being of the students and staff had slowly won him over. Hagrid would never be as loyal to him as he had been to Dumbledore, but he was loyal nonetheless.

The heavy wooden doors opened for him automatically and closed behind him as he made his way through the entrance corridor and down towards the dungeons. The wards guarding his own room recognized him as he approached and opened for him as well. He sat the bottle of brandy down on a small wooden table next to his sofa, but he had barely taken off his cloak when a house else appeared from his fireplace. "I am not to be disturbed after midnight unless there is an emergency." He reminded him coolly.

"Ollie is begging your pardons, Sir, but some aurors from the wizards' ministry is demanding to see Headmaster Snape in the Headmaster's office." Ollie explained shyly. Ollie's hands were clasped together in front of him and he avoided Severus' gaze adamantly. Ollie was a new house elf, and Severus had a nasty feeling that his last home had not been a very friendly one. He had decided weeks ago to make a point of controlling his temper around Ollie and being kinder to him than the others, who were accustomed to his temperament by now.

"Tell them to come back tomorrow." Severus requests calmly but firmly. He had no patience for them tonight. Their politics could wait until morning.

"Ollie has tried to tell them, sir. Ollie tells them 'the Headmaster says no guests after midnight. The headmaster is not to be disturbed. Come back tomorrow.' Then the wizards threatened to punish Ollie for his insolence, sir. The wizards said if Ollie did not follow orders, they would send Ollie away and make sure Ollie never works at Hogwarts again, sir."

"They can't send you away, Ollie." Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose to try to relieve the stress. "Only I can do that, and I have no inclination to do so. You have served Hogwarts faithfully. Do not let their threats startle you."

"Will Headmaster Snape go talk to the wizards, please?" Ollie asked nervously.

"Yes, I will speak with them. Please tell them I will be there shortly." He agreed, if for no other reason than to tell them off for threatening his house elves.

"Thank you, Sir. Ollie is very grateful, Sir." Ollie said, quickly disappearing back through the floo.

He probably wouldn't be so grateful if he could hear what Severus intended to say to them. Severus didn't bother pulling his cloak back on before stepping out of his chambers. He was going to speak with them, but that didn't mean he had to be in a hurry to do it. He would take the longer route. Several, uneventful, minutes later, Severus stepped into the moving staircase that led up to his office. Five aurors, none of whom he was familiar with, drew their wands the moment he stepped into his office. His body tensed, but he schooled his features, showing no emotion other than a raised eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

Most of them looked intimidated by him, but the one in the middle squared his shoulders and stepped towards him. "Severus Snape, you are under arrest for the murder of Hannah Knovick."

Severus's fingers slipped into his pocket, discreetly wrapping around his wand. "Excuse me?" He demanded, angry at the accusation. "I have no clue what your referring to."

"After following an anonymous tip, aurors found the body of missing teen, Hannah Knovick in your private residence tonight, Snape. You will stand trial before the ministry of magic for your crimes. We are giving you the opportunity to come willingly in order to avoid making a scene in front of the school, but one way or another you will turn yourself over to the ministry. The question is, will you cooperate or will we have to do this the hard way?" The auror demanded.

"I have not stepped foot in my private residence since the beginning of term, seven months ago." Severus objected, "I could not have possibly done what you are accusing me of."

"You can state your defense when you stand trial," The auror snapped.

Severus took a step back away from them. His heart raced, but he didn't dare show it on his face. His eyes darted between them, searching for weaknesses. He had no intention of standing trial at the ministry, not before he found out what the hell was going on, but he couldn't take the stairs. They would slow him down and lead the aurors back through the school. As Headmaster, he had the privilege of being the only individual who was capable of apparating within Hogwarts grounds, but he needed to ensure he had plenty of distance from them so he could apparate without their interference. It wouldn't do him any good to end up splinching. "I intend to come quietly." Severus answered calmly, "Let me grab my cloak."

He turned and quickly moved down the stairs. Before they could protest, he had turned on his heel, apparating away from Hogwarts.

Severus reappeared in the dark. The street was quiet and empty at this time of night. He immediately started moving, heading straight for the alleyway. He knew exactly where he was going, but he also knew the ministry would attempt to track him. He kept to the shadows, slipping down the street towards the largest house on the block. It was the only one there that looked as though it were worth anything. That fact alone made the house stand out, but Severus knew if he was going to be safe anywhere, it was with the owner of that home. He slipped inside without knocking. The wards over the home would wake the owner, but most of the wards recognized him, letting him pass without harming him.

The light from a wand appeared from the stairway. The sudden glare stung his eyes, making him turn his face away. "Severus?"

"Hello, Rabastan."