Snape's Task

Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

'What could the old nutter want now?' thought Snape as he made his way to Dumbledore's office.

'Cockroach Cluster!' he snapped at the gargoyle, who swung aside to let Snape pass.

'Ah, Severus!' said Dumbledore, on seeing Snape. 'I see you got my message.'

'Why have you disturbed me at this time of the night?' said Snape irritated.

'This time?' remarked Dumbledore, 'It is just eleven. I was under the impression that you usually stay up till about four in the night?'

'Oh, so you've been spying on me!' said Snape.

'Of course not,' said Dumbledore calmly, 'I was merely have a night time stroll and noticed that the lights were on in the windows of your office.'

'Enough of this,' muttered Snape, 'Why have you summoned me? Don't keep me waiting.'

'Yes,' said Dumbledore his wrinkled face becoming serious, 'Mrs. Figg, I'm presume you know who she is?'

'The squib who gives you reports on Potter?' said Snape raising his eyebrows, 'What about her?'

Dumbledore paced across his study. 'It seems that she has laid a very serious accusation on the Dursleys.' Dumbledore paused and stroked his phoenix, Fawkes.

'I'm waiting for you to continue,' said Snape with gritted teeth.

'She says that Lilith Potter is often abused at the place she calls home, she is starved for days at a stretch, hit when she exhibits the slightest amount of accidental magic…' said Dumbledore.

'And have you stopped to think why this report has come now? After nine years?' said Snape, 'if indeed she has been abused it might have been since she was left there. Why has Mrs. Figg now informed you of this?'

'Merely because, Lily first accidental magic occurred just last year,' said Dumbledore, 'Before that the Dursleys might have been civil with her, if not loving. You remember how much Petunia hated magic, don't you?'

'Yes,' said Snape forcefully.

'Well then, she might have taken it upon herself to wipe the magic out of Lily, by punishing her for it,' said Dumbledore.

'Doesn't she…'

'Of course she doesn't,' said Dumbledore, 'The Muggle mind works quite differently, you see.'

'How do we know for sure that Potter is being abused?' said Snape not a hint of emotion in his face. 'For all we know, she's the spawn of James Potter. She might be putting up an act to get sympathy. She's probably being spoiled by her aunt and uncle. Every one knew that James Potter was dragged up, not brought up. The same is probably true of his daughter.'

Dumbledore looked at Snape over the top of his spectacles, with his bright blue eyes. 'We must know for sure. If indeed things are as Mrs. Figg says, she will have to be removed immediately from that place. And this is where you come in.'

Snape glared at Dumbledore.

'You must go and check on Lily Potter,' continued Dumbledore picking up one of his metal instruments and examining it.

'Why can't you go yourself?' said Snape struggling to keep his voice under control. 'Or why can't you send Minerva?'

'Because if indeed she is being abused, you will bring her here, and she will live at Hogwarts with you,' said Dumbledore.

'What!' said Snape angrily, 'You can't…'

'Don't forget, Severus,' said Dumbledore raising his own voice, 'that you swore to protect Lily Evans' child.'

'Yes, but…'

'And I think saving her from her abusers comes in the category of "protecting",' said Dumbledore.

'But…'

'So,' said Dumbledore ignoring Snape, 'You will go to Little Whinging, and observe what goes on at the Dursleys. Yes, you will do this without exposing yourself. I don't need to tell you how, you can yourself think of the best way to do so.'

'But, why must…'

'If you should discover that everything is normal there, and there is no hint of abuse by any of the Dursleys, you will return as inconspicuously as you went there,' said Dumbledore.

'I don't...'

'However, if you should find Mrs. Figg's accusations to be correct, you will intervene immediately, and bring Lily Potter back here at Hogwarts. Any questions?' said Dumbledore surveying Snape with a piercing look.

'Yes!' said Snape angrily, 'First of all why does she have to stay with me if we bring her to Hogwarts? Why can't someone else go to check on her? What am I supposed to say when she asks me who I am? What if she doesn't want to come with me? And how the hell am I going to check on her, without anyone coming to know?'

'Improvise,' said Dumbledore maddeningly, 'I have already answered your first two questions. As to your third question, you can tell her the truth, that you are a teacher here at Hogwarts and I sent you. I don't think she will refuse to come here, if she really is being abused at the Dursleys. As to how to check on her without anyone coming to know, that is up to you. Disguise yourself, use Polyjuice potion, animal transfiguration, invisibility charms, the list is endless.'

'Must I do this?' said Snape.

'I'm afraid you must,' said Dumbledore smiling.

'When do I go then?' said Sanpe.

'Tomorrow morning as early as you can go,' said Dumbledore, 'I expect you to be back by noon, with or without the girl.'

Snape nodded gruffly. 'Anything else?' he said.

'Ah, now that you mention it,' said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, 'Tom, the barman of the Leaky Cauldron told me an excellent joke about a hippogriff, a vampire and a leprechaun who all went into a bar and…

Snape growled and strode out of Dumbledore's office.

'I was mad the day I started to work for this tosser,' thought Snape as he went back to his office.

Please review! Let me know your opinion.