(I'm sorry for the delay. I'd like to say I was busy, but for a while I was just at a loss as to where to go with this story. I had mapped out the whole timeline up until basically the original end of the book series, but the original storyline was just too similar to the books. In order to create complete divergence, I had to think more about the consequences of certain actions and if they really were in-character. So I redid the whole story- I have the middle and end nicely plotted but I'm having a hard time writing the chapters to get there! Even then I feel like it isn't exactly right, but if I keep staying in the planning phase I'll never write. As always, I appreciate feedback and hope you will leave a review, even if this isn't your type of story. Thank you.)
There used to be a time when they would actively seek her out.
Instead, Snape was at her wits end, wondering when the Gryffindor idiots would claim their pound of flesh.
It's not that she wanted to see Potter gloating for his uncanny ability to be where he shouldn't, or Black wasting his potential on how to craft a cutting remark. She just wanted to get it over with. It's easier to tackle a threat if you know what to expect, and if anything their delight in tormenting her was predictable. Even Lupin, who liked to claim impartiality, really did enjoy seeing her squirm. Snape could see it in his eyes.
And Pettigrew almost wasn't worth mentioning. Was he there because they pitied him, or because they found some use for him. Snape only paid the faintest attention to him, which had been her undoing last week when she missed his hexes. He never really spoke other than to affirm the Potter and Black, as if they needed it. He was weak, and easy enough to take down on his own.
Snape found ways of leaving the clutches of her housemates fairly often, despite H's protests, and she was able to keep tabs on the boys. She had been able to figure out their schedules by memorizing Lily's, and picking up cues on any electives that might differ from hers. She had perfected the art of slinking through corridors undetected, a necessary skill for avoiding her father when he was on a bender, and was almost grateful for it as she followed the pudgy boy. Any time soon he would be returning from the kitchens on a late night outing, his arms full of treats undoubtedly to bring back to their Common Room. There was an alcove on the fourth floor that he would have to pass that was perfect to hide in. When he passes through, she would ambush Pettigrew and find out their plans.
Her wand ready, she waited as she heard footsteps. Today was Wednesday, so the Hufflepuff Prefects would have made their rounds on this floor an hour ago. As the footsteps grew louder, they didn't have the shuffling sound of Filch, or the scratching of Mrs. Norris. This must be Pettigrew. She sprung from the alcove and grabbed the boy by his shoulders, causing him to let out a squeal, dropping most of the snacks. She covered his mouth with her hand and cast a quick Silencing charm. Snape dragged him into the alcove, keeping her wand aimed at his throat.
"Listen carefully, because I'm growing impatient. I need you to tell them I want answers. If they're going to threaten me, they need to face me like men and give me their demands." The boy was shaking, Snape grinned.
She ran her wand down his neck to his chest. "Don't think about reaching for your wand, I'll disarm you and you won't be able to find it in the darkness."
Their eyes met and she could feel his anxiousness as sweat dripped down his forehead. Scanning his thoughts, her suspicions were confirmed, they were planning something, and she was going to be used as leverage. Leverage for what, she didn't know. It seems they hadn't informed Pettigrew yet. She looked away and sneered.
She could do anything to him if she wanted. It made her a little giddy, but she had to stay focused. Maybe one hex.
She cast the Twitchy Ears Hex and watched his face contort as his ears moved of their own accord. Maybe she'd try some of her new hexes, like the one that caused temporary spasms- not as severe as the Cruciatus, but more like a tingling similar to a full-body muscle cramp.
She undid the hex, just to make sure there was no interference and prepared to cast the charm before she saw a flash of light and felt her wand fly out of her hand.
"What do we have here? It looks like a bat skulking in the corridors," taunted Black.
"Worse. Looks like it's crusty old Scervix trying to have her way with Wormtail," quipped Potter.
Pettigrew ran out of the alcove as fast as his legs could carry him, hiding behind Black for protection. Potter grabbed Snape's arm, and in his other hand picked up her wand and placed it in his robes. Black handed Pettigrew's wand back to him.
"Not as fun when you're defenceless, is it?" asked Potter.
"I was trying to find out what you lot were planning. You can just threaten me and then think I'd forget about it," Snape spat. "How did you find us anyway?"
"You think you're very clever, sneaking around. But we've noticed you following us lately," Potter replied as he gripped her arm tightly.
"You're getting sloppy," Black added. "I honestly expected better from you Scervix, you're losing your touch."
Oh gods, she hated that nickname. It started when one of them noticed that the term for 'nape' in Latin was 'cervix,' and it certainly didn't help it also alluded crudely to genitalia. The name stuck ever since.
"I thought you came up with a new horrid nickname," she muttered.
"We were trying it out, doesn't have the same ring to it," laughed Black.
"So, out with it. I know you're planning something. And I know you're planning on blackmailing me," she hissed.
Black rolled his eyes. "It certainly isn't anything as sinister as that. Put your wand down, we want to talk."
"Like I believe you."
"Honest," agreed Potter, "Gryffindor's honor." She snorted.
"We need your help to infiltrate the boys' dorms." She stared at them. That was not what she expected.
"Couldn't you ask anyone else to do this? I'm not sure this is the best use of my talents."
Black snorted. "And what kind of talents are those? It's simple, you're a Snake, and last I checked, you're at a bit of a disadvantage here, luv."
Potter chimed in, "Plus, you'll be able to get into the boys' dorms and no one would suspect you. I mean, it's not like you're that popular with them."
"I think I'll pass," she spat.
"Fine," Potter interjected, "We'll go tell Dumbledore you were seen discussing recruitment to a suspicious organization."
"Also you we know you were the one who hexed those first years" added Pettigrew, causing Snape to jump. She had forgotten for a moment he was still there.
"Kind of apples and oranges, Pete." Potter replied.
"I'd probably get a detention at most even if he did believe you." Snape glared at them with a steely confidence that she hoped hid her uneasiness. The Headmaster had been fairly lax in terms of discipling potential recruits, but all Slytherins knew they were under strict observation because of the war and tensions were mounting as the war grew bloodier and more fervent. While it had yet to reach Hogwarts, many students had relatives who had been claimed, neighbors, or someone they knew killed by the Death Eaters.
Black sneered. "Ah, but I'm sure he'd listen to witness testimony. Your friend Pritchard would probably be willing to testify against you if it meant leniency for her. And the rest of the lot are Purebloods, they'll get a slap on the wrist. But you, Snape, will probably be made an example of since you'd be considered expendable. And then where would your friends be?"
She hated to admit it, but they were right. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Simple enough," Potter answered. "We'll give you items to place, ideally under the bed where it won't be detected. Are the trunks locked?"
"Each student usually customizes their own locks or curses to protect their possessions, if that's what you mean."
"No need to be pendantic, I was just asking a question. Well if you can't get them open you can just do that and be on your way."
Snape seethed. "I could get them open. It's practically child's play."
"You don't have to lie to make yourself look better." Potter cajoled.
"I'm not lying, and your attempt at trying to manipulate me to open their trunks is pathetic. I'll do it, but not because you made me. What do you need, and from which trunk?"
"Your friend Rosier has some letters wrapped in a paisley handkerchief. We'd like you to steal those." Potter placed his hand on her shoulder, she flinched. "It's not really for us, but we'd appreciate you helping our friend."
"And while you're at it, steal all their drawers." interjected Black. "Great way to cover your motive, and it'll be genius."
"What's in the letters?" asked Snape. The three of them shifted uncomfortably.
"It's not our place to tell you, but we overheard Rosier is planning on using them for something scummy, so we thought we'd ruin his fun."
Snape rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Ok. When am I doing this?"
"Tuesday, after the study period but before dinner. You'll duck out early and meet Remus here, he will bring what you need, and you'll plant the stuff. Then, you'll head to dinner for your alibi. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes." answered Potter.
"That's oddly optimistic of you."
"Well we wouldn't have asked you if we didn't think you could do it," he grinned, which only made her scowl deepen.
"Ok that's settled," added Black. "We best head back to the kitchens since you probably caused Wormtail to drop the treats."
"Why do you have these strange nicknames? You've been using them for the last year or so and its.."
"We have a deal then. Glad we could come to an arrangement, but as you can see we have places to be and mischief to make." Potter gave a mock salute and dragged his friends away, leaving Snape to contemplate her situation.
Tuesday crawled slower than Snape could imagine, and she spent many hours in bed thinking about what she'd have to do. It would be simple enough, she assumed. She had been breaking security charms in her mother's old school trunk for years before she went to Hogwarts, and she'd been practicing the ones she read in the old cursebreaking books in the library. Granted, they were mostly outdated, but she doubted her peers would have anything too advanced. Rosier was no slouch though, he might have a few curses on his trunk that might make it difficult to open.
She distanced herself from Honoria as the days went on. Granted, they weren't really that close to begin with, but she wondered how easily Honoria really would betray her if she was found out. She was a gossip, and Snape knew she would do anything to get in Niobe's good graces, or gain Mulciber's attention. It seems like Honoria hadn't noticed, and while it was a relief, it almost stung Snape's pride. She wondered if she ignored Lily for a few days if she'd miss her, or if she really was just staying friends with her out of pity like H.
She gripped her quill tightly as she half-heartedly finished her essay on the Imperturbable Charm, and ink pooled out the edge of the nib. She had mastered the charm years ago, and come up with a variation or her own, Muffliato. It was just something to do until 4:15. She checked her watch, another "gift" from her mother, and rolled up her essay. She started putting away her books and began to sneak out the door. Slughorn never monitored study hall, he usually shunted the job off the prefects, who gave the minimum level of attention.
"Where are you going?" Honoria whispered. "We still have another half-hour."
"Womens' troubles. I won't be long." Snape murmured. H nodded, and continued reading her Transfiguration textbook.
Snape looked over her shoulder and walked quickly to the alcove."
"You're late." A gangly sandy-haired boy emerged carrying a rucksack. It looked like he was going to fall over.
"I'm here now Lupin, there's no need to quibble about tardiness. Now what do I need to do?"
Lupin reached into the bag and pulled out a small red ball about the size of his palm. "Drop these under the bed." He placed it back in the bag and pulled out a blue ball about the same size. "And if you have time, place these in their sheets, or their slippers. The red ones are time sensitive and when they are taken out of the set they'll activate in twenty minutes. The blue ones will activate when touched. Do you have a pair of gloves?" She nodded.
"Oh good," he replied, slightly surprised. "So you're prepared then." Snape rolled her eyes. Did they think she was some sort of amateur?
Lupin handed her the bag and extended his hand. Wary, she gingerly shook it.
"Good luck, I'll keep an eye on you from outside the entrance. Oh and hold onto this." He handed her a snitch and she scoffed.
"Really? Is this some sort of joke?"
"Just take it. We charmed it so that if we need to warn you, the wings will flap and it will vibrate." She grabbed the snitch and placed it in the pocket of her robes.
"If I don't make it, I'm taking all of you down with me." Snape muttered.
"You can threaten me later," Lupin gently teased. "And you're welcome for the warning."
She glared and gave a rude gesture before putting a Featherweight Charm on the bag and placing it into her knapsack, which she had previously added an Extension Charm.
Quickly heading back to the dungeons, she now had twenty minutes to sneak into the boys' dorm, plant the...whatever these were, break into Rosier's trunk, steal the letters, and leave. No pressure.
As expected, the Common Room was empty, most students were at Study Hall. Snape glanced around to make sure no one was heading into the corridor for the boys' rooms. The dark shadows mingled with the dim green lights of the overhead lamps, making it difficult to see. The Fifth Year rooms were towards the end of the hall, so she had to hurry.
She slinked past each year's dorm, and as she was passing the Second Year rooms she could hear the door creak open. Quickly, she hid into the shadows on the other side of the hall and hunched down. The boy was in a hurry and slammed the door, seemingly oblivious to the fact someone was standing across from him. As she heard his footsteps retreat, she continued on her path.
The door only needed a quick Alohomora, and she was in. She had already put on her gloves and grabbed the rucksack, rolling the red enamel-looking balls under the beds. As they touched the floor, they briefly glowed before dimming. She stuffed the blue ones at the foot of the bed, hoping her classmate's sheets weren't too dirty and glad she was wearing gloves.
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on Rosier's trunk. She cast Alohomora, which didn't work. So Rosier wasn't an idiot.
She tapped the trunk with her wand to see if it had any touch-based curses. Nothing so far. That's good.
As soon as she thought it would be an easy job, the lock of the trunk started shooting out sharp pins. She covered herself with a Shield Charm, and vanished the pins in case they were poison tipped. She tried some other basic unlocking spells. She tried the stronger version of the spell, Alohomora Duo. Nothing. Liberare, didn't work. Dunamis, useless. Annihilare, nothing. This wouldn't be a clean job.
In frustration, she cast Portaberto and the lock splintered off the trunk and flung to the side. Snape bent down and quickly examined the contents. Nothing too exciting; books, clothes, a tuck box, shoes, but no letters. She picked up the books and flipped through them, but nothing fell out. It wasn't folded in the clothes either. She tapped on the sides of the trunk and cast Revelio in case there was a hidden compartment. Nothing. She pushed the trunk in frustration and was about to close it when she noticed that the tuck box was much lighter than she expected. If it was full of sweets, it wouldn't shift so easily.
It was unlocked, thank Circe, and it was a double layered box. The first layer was full of Chocolate Frog cards and a half-empty Bertie Botts carton, along with a packet of Marlboro cigarettes. Snape raised her eyebrows, and bummed one for herself for later. She popped the clasp and carefully opened the bottom layer, and saw the paisley handkerchief. It was of a shiny fabric, perhaps silk, and tied in a knot. She picked it up, making sure it wasn't cursed, and noticed there were a few letters inside. Not that many, maybe five? She placed them in her robes and reassembled the box.
Before she could place it back in the trunk, she felt the snitch buzzing in her pocket.
Snape swore, and dumped it back in the trunk. Haphazardly, she grabbed a handful of underwear and stuffed it in her school bag. She broke the locks on all the other trunks and started stuffing handfuls of underwear in her bag. If she hurried, she could probably make it.
Snape ran out the door and closed it shut, locking it for good measure. She adjusted her robes and walked towards the Common Room.
"What are you doing here?"
Snape stiffened and found herself face to face with Regulus Black, who had his wand in hand.
"Now Black, there's no need for dramatics," she answered coldly. "I'm just visiting."
"You're visiting the boys' dorms when no one is here?" Regulus asked rhetorically. "That's certainly not disconcerting."
"I wouldn't say no one is around. I might be visiting someone." Regulus gave her a look of disgust.
"Actually, the less I know the better. Go clean yourself up before dinner then, you look dreadful." Snape thought about wiping his memory. When whatever it was that the Marauders had planned happens, or when Rosier notices his trunk was opened, he would tell.
"Regulus, I'd appreciate your discretion." She asked demurely (at least she hoped it sounded so) "If anyone asks, I wasn't here." She batted her eyelids and pouted.
He glanced at her and frowned. "What's in it for me?" She could tell he was trying to pry into her mind and placed up her defences instinctively.
"What would you want?" She asked breathily, the way she saw in the trashy Muggle soaps her mother would watch. "I could...make it worth your while." She couldn't help but grin as he choked in horror.
"You have nothing I'd want!" He exclaimed. "Just go. Honestly, have some self-respect."
She cackled and she headed out of the dungeons. As she was heading out, she saw Rosier, Mulciber and a few of the other boys heading in. They seemed to be engaged in some discussion on Quidditch, so she snuck past them unnoticed.
"Took you long enough." She saw Lupin approach her as she headed up the stairs to the Great Hall. "Do you have any leftovers, or can I take the bag?"
She handed the empty rucksack. "Fat lot of good you were trying to warn me, I still ran into someone on the way out. But I did it, I used the lot."
Lupin grinned in anticipation. "Good. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Do you want me to tell you what they do or do you want to be surprised like everyone else?"
She wanted to be aloof and forget the subject entirely, but she was just the slightest bit curious. "Very well, tell me why we had to be so cloak and dagger about this."
"My word, I hadn't heard that phrase in a long time, I'd been beginning to miss those muggle colloquialisms." Snape blushed at her slip of the tongue.
They continued walking together, as Lupin explained their latest project.
"It's a variation on the Chinese Elemental Sphere."
"I'd heard about those, but I didn't think you could recreate them so small."
"Well, they aren't as powerful, and we added a charm to make the damage reversible after a few hours. Basically, the red ones are fire-based. They'll create temporary smoke bursts and sparks, and a have a charm to turn the fire into a dragon and chase anyone in its sight around the room."
"Like Fiendfyre?"
"What? No. The flames are harmless, they'll not even burn, just cause a bit of chaos. Where'd you learn about Fiendfyre?"
"What do the blue ones do?" Snape interrupted.
"Oh that's my personal favorite. They'll temporarily turn the enclosed area you've placed them in into a small body of water. If you put them in a bed, it will feel like you fell into the lake. Can you imagine their faces when they tuck in and find themselves drenched?"
"Would they drown?" Snape wondered.
"No, it'll only be a few inches deep, I'm guessing. But it'll reverse after an hour or so." Lupin replied. They stopped at the doorway to the Great Hall.
"And this is where we part ways. Thanks Vera, we couldn't have done it without you."
"Don't think just because I did something for you lot this one time I'll make a habit out of it." Snape muttered sulkily.
"Oh, and one more thing. Can you hand over the letters?"
Snape paused. She was hoping Lupin would forget and she could take a look at the contents. She took them out of her pocket and handed the four letters over, watching as he deftly hid them away in his own robes.
"Much obliged. Don't be a stranger Vera." He gave her a nod and headed over to the Gryffindor table.
She sat down with Honoria and chatted about the upcoming social season. Or rather, Honoria chatted, and Snape listened, glancing over at the side of the table where the boys sat. They seemed unaware of the chaos that would await when they returned from dinner. She noticed Regulus was eyeing her suspiciously, so she avoided his glance.
After they headed to the dungeons, Honoria and Niobe were continuing a discussion on whether or not Lisbeth Scintilla counted as literature. They were almost down the stairs when they heard screaming coming from the boys dorm.
"What could that be?" Snape asked with as much composure as she could muster.
"Whatever it is, it sounds like bloody murder." Niobe exclaimed. Honoria gave her a reproachful look before she too gasped at the sight of a dragon made of fire escaping from the corridor and romping through the Common Room. The older students who assumed it was something far more sinister than it was, fled the room screaming. The younger ones looked on in amazement as it scampered around, burning the rugs and tops of the chairs and doing twirls in the air before running into the fireplace and create a huge burst of flame. As soon as it had been engulfed by the fire, the flames receded to their normal state.
Suddenly, Slughorn ambled into the room, huffing with his wand out and ready.
"Where is it?" He wheezed. "Excuse me, I have to catch my breath. Where is the fire dragon?"
"It went into the fireplace," answered a First Year. "It was quite a show."
Slughorn examined the damage on the room, minimal but visible. He fixed it with a wave of his wand. "Yes, well it seems all in order and perhaps a bit overblown. I'm going to have to have a talk with some of you boys on exaggerating your hijinks! I'm all for a good story but you can't throw accusations of dark curses lightly. Now if you don't mind, I must get back. Your essays won't grade themselves you know! Ho ho!" Slughorn tried to remain jovial, but seemed mostly annoyed he was taken away from his evening sifter of brandy and his cyrstalized pineapple.
As the students dispersed, Snape and the rest of the girls headed to bed. Right when she was brushing her teeth, she had heard from Honoria that apparently she could hear splashing and more screaming coming from the boys dorms. Niobe scoffed.
"At this point, I bet they're just doing it for the attention."
Snape agreed.
Once the lights were closed, she waited until the rest of the girls had fallen asleep.
She silently cast Lumos and pulled out the last letter she had been able to hide.
She opened the letter, and poured over its contents.
My Dear Evan,
I have spent many hours counting the number of times I've thought about how much I love you. What you want me to do is wrong, but if doing the right thing means I will lose you, I can't bear it. I know I wasn't comfortable before about doing those things you wanted from me, but enclosed are the pictures you wanted, and in my next letter I will send those documents you wanted. Please write back to me, please come back.
Yours,
Joey Jenkins
Snape reread the letter and noticed there were some photos attached. She blushed when she saw they were boudoir shots, leaving very little to the imagination. While she never really interacted with Jenkins much, he was a year younger than them, he was well known around school as the Minister's son and a slightly decent Beater for Gryffindor.
Rosier must have let it slip he was going to blackmail Jenkins, and then Jenkins must have told Potter and his gang. But why? She wished she had the letters with the documents in them to know if there was anything incriminating in them, but even possessing these photos would be enough to potentially blackmail the Minister. Maybe not enough to oust her from office, but the Wizarding World was just as conservative when it came to homosexuality. They had the decency not to criminalize it, unlike the Muggles, but it was frowned upon.
She thought about Lily and wondered if she knew how she felt. She wondered if Lily would be disgusted with her if she knew.
Why was Rosier wanting to blackmail the Minister of Magic, and to what end? That was n easy enough answer, he probably wanted power and blackmail is the easiest method. And why was Potter so willing to help Jenkins? Gryffindor loyalty? It seemed unlikely. Having the ability to gloat about breaking into the Slytherin dorms to one-up them? Plausible, but they wouldn't be able to take the credit. A prank like this could result in suspension, or even expulsion. Why were they willing to help someone for no benefit of their own?
Snape would have to worry about that another time. She was resolved to give the letter to Jenkins in person. She had no use for blackmail, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was beginning to feel like the letter was a reminder of her own shame. The sooner it was out of her hands the better.
