A/N This chapter is sort of a transitional chapter, and was rather hurriedly written, so there really isn't much that happens here. For that I apologise. If you find any spelling/grammatical errors please let me know. I'll correct them when I update next. Grammar Nazis are welcome as is constructive criticism. I know it's a bit disjointed, but I really wanted to get to the fun bits in the next chapter. I suppose I ought to get a Beta...

Oh, and thanks to all who reviewed!

Chapter II: The Pure Blood Princess

Albus Dumbledore stared as his Potions Master announced his decision but he wasn't really surprised. He would have done the same. The offer was indubitably quite irresistible though the uncertainty continued to gnaw at him. Severus Snape was not a stupid man, but could he handle intrigue at the highest levels? Besides, Snape was his only spy in the Death Eater ranks. It would be impossible to replace him. Dumbledore could not deny that the idea of Severus Snape as King worried him. Besides, Dumbledore knoew that Snape had little knowledge of the machinations of the Royal Secretariat. He doubted even the Malfoys did. The Secretariat had been in absolute power for over a century. Even the ministry's powers were limited power, which was why they had been in perpetual disarray for the last hundred years. Their power had become so entrenched that the rise of Dark Lords were petty squabbles to them. Dumbledore knew through experience. He had dealt with him in '45, and even he had not come out completely unscathed. Perhaps through Snape he could gain some influence over them. That would be something. Though a pressing problem remained, as a man in authority, he would have to for one, take sides, either Dumblerore's, Voldemort's or his own. Of course Snape could, in theory now become his own man, but he doubted the Secretariat would allow him. Any of his choices could get him killed, or worse, as had happened with his predecessor. In such an eventuality he would have to ensure a smooth succession. Snape would have to appoint his heir before the world came to know. He had about twelve hours to decide. After which he'd have to get that stupid succession law changed...

Surveying the man across him, Dumbledore said seriously, "Severus, you'll need an heir. An heir known to be against Voldemort. It is the only way both sides can retain power after he rises once again. You can maintain you were forced into it by me. It wouldn't be untrue."

Snape looked at Dumbledore stunned, "You want me to get married?"

"That, Severus, is up to you. Though if I may point out, it would take at least ten years for any child of your own to gain any semblance of rationality. No, I was thinking of you adopting an heir for the time being. Naturally, any natural born children at a later date would take precedence as far as succession is concerned, but this would be quicker, easier, and for the time being, safer."

"Have you anyone in mind?" Snape asked, dreading the answer before it came. "Harry Potter," they said together. Dumbledore smiled. Snape looked murderous, "over my dead body."

"It makes sense Severus, the boy is a symbol against Voldemort, he is an orphan whose adoption can be arranged easily."

"No! I will not adopt Potter's child. I will protect him with my life. That is all. Besides, he'd have played into some one's hands before he could finish saying his own name."

"Whom would you like?"

"Malfoy," Snape stated simply even though he knew that there was no way that Dumbledore would agree. Snape wouldn't have done it either. It was merely one extreme of a bargaining position. He just wanted to reinforce the fact that Harry Potter was the other extreme as far as he was concerned. He knew both of them would put forth ridiculous ideas till they could find a compromise.

He added, his voice earnest, "his parents would be ecstatic. He is an aristocrat born and bred. He does not believe in sharing power either. The Dark Lord would have lost his most powerful follower."

"Out of the question Severus, you know it. You'd be dead within twenty four hours of naming him your heir. Longbottom perhaps. Lost both his parents, as old a lineage as they come, if you are concerned about that sort of thing, on the right side of the war, easily adopted..."

"Parkinson, smarter, no association with the Dark Lord. Ambitious but clean."

"Unsavoury associates, not too many friends. Children her age are easily swayed by the charismatic." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Snape. It was a nasty jab but not far from the truth, "How about Granger? Brilliant, definitely on the right side, not easily manipulated, the Boy Who Lived her best friend, contacts with the Weasleys."

Snape considered. Dumbledore had a point. Hermione Granger was smarter than most people gave her credit for. They merely thought her bookish. Snape knew better. It would have taken more than memorising ability, something akin to intellectual prowess, to solve the puzzle that he had set to protect the Philosopher's stone but he also knew she was Dumbledore's through and through. Just like the marauders had been. He wanted someone who wasn't as close to the Headmaster as Potter and his friends. He needed some one on his side.

"No, Headmaster, she has a family."

"They are muggles, Severus, and looking at the girl, undoubtedly want her to do well. They wouldn't mind if they saw it as a scholarship or award for intellectual achievement. She is intelligent and brave."

"I would be uncomfortable, Headmaster. Her proximity with Potter would result in a rather explosive situation. We can barely stand each other. I can't keep her away from her friends, which I would undoubtedly wish to do should I become her guardian."

Dumbledore conceded Snape's point. He really couldn't force a man into adopting a child. At the same time he hoped he would select someone Dumbledore could put his trust in. If Snape had one major weakness, it was that he let his prejudices overwhelm him too easily. It was this weakness that had caused Snape to join Riddle in the first place. Dumbledore needed to ensure that Snape's choice would not be made out of spite.

"You have some time left Severus, I advise you to think well. Let me know your choice. It would be unpleasant for all concerned should you choose unwisely." Dumbledore's eyes looked piercingly at Snape. The younger man nodded. He understood the threat. Dumbledore was capable of anything for the greater good. Snape realised that his first challenge had already cropped up, and he hadn't even announced his decision to Stumf-Hamilton. It struck Snape for the first time how complicated his life was going to become.

Snape thanked the headmaster and left his office. He needed a break, something to keep his mind off things for an hour or so before he could think objectively. For the first time in eleven years he thought of teaching as a way to straighten out his mind, especially seeing that it was scheduled to be first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. It would be perfect. No idiots sabotaging each others' potions, no exploding or melting couldrons, nothing combusting spontaneously. It would be nothing out of the ordinary. He couldn't have been more wrong.

On the bright side, after a rather interesting potions class, he did know exactly who would succeed him.

Later at lunch he told the headmaster without any prologue, "I think I'll ask Luna Lovegood. First year Ravenclaw. Rather charming girl. A bit misunderstood by her peers, which in our case is an added advantage, as a bit of a loner her friends won't be much of a problem."

"Luna Lovegood? I really don't know much of her. First year Ravenclaw you say?"

"Yes," Snape said, "the poor child lost her mother in a potions accident. Her father has never been the same. He used to edit the Quibbler. I understand it is no longer circulated. It wouldn't be difficult to secure her adoption. Officially, she can be my heir, and her father can stay with us. I have no intention of taking up any parental responsibilities."

"Loyalties?"

"I can hardly speak for the girl. She's barely eleven. It's unlikely that she has any sympathies towards the Dark Lord, or even dark magic for that matter. Though one can never say. Pettigrew got an Order of Merlin for loyalty and courage, if I remember correctly. Appearances can be deceptive. To be honest though, I find her quite extraordinary. Her parents however, if I remember a particular Quibbler article, were vehemently against the Dark Lord."

Dumbledore agreed, but he certainly did not look particularly happy about it. Dumbledore had never cared much for the Quibbler, and he really did not know the Lovegoods. He knew that after his pointed threat, Snape would not be foolish enough to make an enemy of him, but he knew nothing of this Ms. Lovegood. Dumbledore recognised the choice as a compromise.

Snape looked happier than he'd been in ages, "Thank you, Headmaster."

He just couldn't wait till Dumbledore met the girl. If eccentricity was a sign of genius, then Dumbledore would be outclassed by an eleven year old girl.

Dumbledore was rather stunned to see the ordinarily expressionless eyes of Severus Snape twinkling.

Albert Stumf-Hamilton was not having a good day. In fact, he was having one of the worst days of his life. The King was dead. The ministry could lose power, and that too to that horrible school master. A bloody teacher. A half-blood who had apparently been brought up in some muggle slum. He shuddered.

When he had read Severus Snape's profile in the files that had been brought to him he had been glad. A poor half-blood school teacher should be easily controlled. Why, Fudge had been house trained within the month, and he was a career politician. As a matter of fact Snape had seemed the ideal candidate. A teacher: supposedly meek, taught children, not particularly ambiliuous, certainly respectable...school teachers were supposed to know nothing of administration or politics. They were supposed to listen to what their more experienced advisors told them. So he had thought. Till he met the man. He realised now why the minister had looked green. The man hadn't reacted at all. Hadn't given an inkling about his real feelings, and had demanded time to think.

Albert had developed a grudging respect for Snape but could not dismiss the thought that as far as the ministry was concerned, This would be bad. Severus Snape wouldn't be a walk over. Severus Snape needed to be contained. If things went badly, perhaps dementor body guards wouldn't be amiss...the last King had been terrible at the patronus charm. There was obviously much more to this man. The idiot who had compiled the biography needed to be sacked. He had asked Umbridge to bring in a more detailed bio. He had been told that Umbridge liked finding the dirt on people. He looked at his watch impatiently. Where on earth was she? He needed to report to the Secretariat within a couple of hours. He hated meeting the people at the Secretariat. They acted all superior, though not without reason. Meeting them was always unnerving.