Author's Note: this story is slow in coming but bear with me. Please r/r

Damien took a long drink of flat soda and returned to his drawing. This one was different. The Death Eater in this picture was holding the mask away from the face, just far enough to cast shadow over the face and protect the identity. But Damien was focusing on the eyes: strong, feeling and incredibly deep. All emotion was centered on the eyes. He knew this Death Eater by heart, their dreams, nightmares, their future and their past. In fact there was only thing he didn't know and that was their identity. Damien's Death Eater was sexless, ageless, and most of all faceless. In fact he only existed on paper.

The cheap white paper on which he wrote in red ink the dates, names, addresses, and targets of his fellow Death Eaters for over four years during the Dark Lord's eleven-year reign of terror. The letters, sent by owls, to the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry meant life to countless Aurors and hundreds of innocent civilians- both Muggle and Magical. It was impossible to tell exactly how many were saved but the writer of the letters had precise details, had mapped out the plans and even in a few letters suggested a course of action. He had sent the letters up until Halloween evening, 1981. That letter had been the only one that was different from all the red inked others: it was written in black ink and was scrawled hastily. It had one line:

Get the Potters to safety, there's a traitor in the crowd.

It was the only letter signed and the name on the letter was Rouge. Damien had spent the past six months interrogating Death Eaters and questioning survivors about the name Rouge but no one had ever recognized it. Damien was certain it wasn't a spur of the moment addition to the letter, he was certain that Rouge was a clue to the spy's true self and who or whatever Rouge was: Damien would find it.

He sighed heavily and turned all his attention to the files he pulled out from his desk. Tomorrow the questioning would begin and Hawke wanted names of those most likely to succumb. It wasn't an easy task. All of the Seven believed themselves to be invincible and by far too concerned with their designer then their innocence.

Antonin Dolohov: He worked as personal aide to Karkaroff and served for a brief time on the board of Governors for Durmstang. He had friends in high places but none that would risk life and limb for him. He would either go or turn witness.

Adrien and Natalie Lestrange: Both were arrogant and single minded. That made them easy to pin. They had voiced opposition for the current Administration and decried the treatment of prisoners. Anyone who tried to help them would find themselves in the same place. They'd fall.

Rhys Macnair: Nephew of current International Wizardry Committee's President. He'd get off scotch free.

Lucius Malfoy: Current lord of the Malfoy estate and worth a few million Galleons easy. Most of that fortune was used during the Dark Times to aid various charities and save lost causes. If any of the Royal Seven were Death Eaters, Damien would bet on Lucius but money talked. He'd walk.

Amethyst Connor: Poster child for various anti-dark lord charities and probably guilty of nothing more then bad company and scandals for hobbies. She was wife of Minister of Magic hopeful Dimitri Byron. This would cost him the election and nothing more.

And then Damien came to Severus Snape. There was nothing in his file to indicate anything. The reclusive and enigmatic lord to Akel Dama and the first Snape in over a century that didn't already achieve world renown for his abilities. Highly intelligent, somewhat dark and very classified: there was nothing in his file after his completion of Hogwarts. It was like he had disappeared from the world. Or was covered up by a veil of secrecy. Severus appeared to be a curious puzzle.

"Time to lift the veil." Damien whispered.

Severus Snape had taken two steps out of the Hogsmeade's pub before he heard the soft, still voice. "Good evening Master Snape."

Severus straightened his cuffs and turned cordially. "Ah, Professor Dumbledore, good evening." He extended his left hand towards the venerable Headmaster. "I'm honored that you would feel the need to call out to me. I was just enjoying a nightcap with a few of my old schoolmates."

Albus Dumbledore took the hand and shook it firmly. "Odd, considering you never cared much for Mr. Malfoy or Mr. Avery."

"After school we are were employed by a- ah, to put this delicately- a rather eccentric miser. You'd be surprised how working for him unites someone."

Dumbledore looked annoyed and said suddenly. "Why are you doing this, Severus? This coyness doesn't suit you nor does that playful arrogance you exhibited at the courtroom today. Really Severus talking to the reporters about your designer label?"

"True, it was rather demeaning." The young aristocrat smiled thinly. "But if I were blunt, I'd be residing next to the Dark Prince in Azkaban now wouldn't I?"

"No games, Severus, not with me."

"Dear sir, there is always a game; people just choose to play or fold."

Although Dumbledore was never close to Snape and indeed his only memories of the young man were the disciplinary meetings he would have with the Heir of Akel Dama occasionally, Dumbledore liked Severus. There was something basic and profound about the boy. And there was definitely more then met the eye. Finding out what that was however was going to take patience and a keen mind.

"I hear you are employed with Holms College now, correct?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus nodded. "I am. I'm in research and development- in fact a Professor Vargas and I are about to unveil something that will revolutionize the way lycanthropes deal with their sickness." His eyes twinkled. "I probably should thank you and Mr. Lupin for the interest." He clapped his hands together. "Now dear Professor I can talk men's fashion and potions all day but that's not why you stopped me. So let's have at it."

"Where you a Death Eater."

Severus smiled. "Not if I just came out and answered that- the Aurors wouldn't get paid for all that hard work they're doing."

"Does Rouge mean anything to you?" He was fishing and badly at that.

The smile remained. "Besides the color red?"

"I think you know what it means, Severus. So why aren't you sharing it? I think you're dying to."

"Because the time isn't right, yet. And you aren't the only one I want to know."

"What do you want us to know?" Dumbledore asked. "The truth?"

"The truth is but a lie undiscovered." Then the man's face darkened. "And it can only be found on the lips of dead men."

"What game is this?"

"A dangerous one."

"Must you always dance around this?"

"I can tango if you prefer, although it might get Hagrid jealous." Dumbledore looked annoyed so Severus relented. "Alright, what do you think I am?"

"I think you were the spy and if not a spy, you were at least a Death Eater."

"Maybe I was a Death Eater spy."

"How could you be both?"

"I never said I was either." Severus mocked a yawn and began to leave. "See you tomorrow Headmaster. It was a lovely dance."