Persephone was furious

Persephone was furious! She walked as fast as her feet would carry her. Through the corridors down the stairs that led to the dungeons and to his office.

Stopping outside the door Persephone raised her fist and pounded, announcing her presence.

"Who's there?" came the deep, annoyed reply from inside.

"It's Persephone." her own voice carried annoyance enough to match his.

The door opened to her and she stood face to face with a rather confused looking Snape. "Is something wrong?" he asked as he stepped aside and motioned her in.

Fuming, Persephone entered the room. She paced back and forth in front of Snape's desk two or three times.

"Wrong?!" she turned on him, venom dripping from her voice.

It was then that Snape noticed that her wand was out and pointed in his direction. Now, confused would be an understatement. "Persephone –," he began, but was cut short.

"Shut up and sit down." She gestured with her drawn wand to the seat behind Snape's desk.

Not knowing what else to do Snape slowly made his way to his desk and lowered himself into his chair, keeping one eye on Persephone and the other on her wand.

"Is it true?" She spat, pointing her wand more squarely at the potions master.

"Is what true?" Snape asked, never losing his calm.

"I've heard some rather disturbing news about you and I've come to find out for myself. Now, I want you to, slowly, raise your left sleeve and show me your arm."

Snape let the air escape from his lungs. This was not a conversation he had been looking forward too. Actually, he was surprised it had taken this long; his past wasn't exactly a secret.

"Persephone –," He thought he would try again to explain.

"Your arm." She stated clearly, raising her wand.

Sighing, Snape lifted his arm; he reached across with his other hand and pulled his sleeve up to reveal his forearm.

Persephone gasped. Her wand hand beginning to shake, she spoke, disbelief in her voice. "It is true. What? Are you, a spy?"

Snape had no choice; he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to have to share his story with her. "In a manner of speaking." He lowered his sleeve, not wanting to be reminded of that period in his life any longer.

"I'm going to Dumbledore." She spoke, her wand still shaking in her hand.

Slowly Snape rose from his seat. Persephone backed up a few steps. He raised his hands in an effort to show her he meant no harm. "Dumbledore knows."

Persephone's face twisted into a confused frown. "He knows you're spy? He knows you work for him?" The last word out of Persephone's mouth dripped with disdain.

"He knows that, in the past, I did work for the Dark Lord. He also knows that I no longer have any connections with him." Snape explained slowly and clearly.

"No, I know he knows that you did work for him. But, how do I know you're telling the truth about now? How do we know that you're not just pretending to work for Dumbledore and really working for him?" Words tumbled out of Persephone's mouth.

"You know, because you know me." Snape explained. "But if you must have the details in order to trust me again, I will share them with you. I only ask that you keep them to yourself and not divulge them to anyone."

Persephone's breathing slowed and she lowered her wand. "Okay, go ahead. Talk."

"Sit, please." Snape gestured as he resumed his seat.

She considered him for a moment and then took a seat on the opposite side of the desk. Snape began his very long story. Persephone listened carefully. He spoke of his days as a student and before. He talked about Lily Potter, previously Evans, and the fact that she was his first love. He told of his promise to Dumbledore, and himself, to protect Harry, if only for Lily. And he told her of the plan, should the dark lord return (which, it was becoming obvious that was soon to happen), in which he would play spy for Dumbledore.

By the close of the story she was very aware of the man sitting across from her. It was almost as though she was seeing him in an entirely new light. He wasn't just a Hogwarts Professor, no; he was, in fact, in her eyes anyway, a hero. Braver than any man she had ever known.

Persephone was sure she would never have been able to pass herself off as a death-eater while all the time working for Dumbledore. If the dark lord ever returned, this man would live in constant danger of being discovered.

"If you must verify my story," Snape's voice startled Persephone out of her thoughts. "You may inquire with Dumbledore."

"No" Persephone whispered. "I – I'm sorry, I had no idea. I won't question your loyalty again. Never."

"Thank you." was Snape's response. He wanted to relieve the tension that now existed in the room. "Would you care to join me on a walk by the lake?"

"Of course, thank you." Persephone responded. She rose and followed him out the door. She valued their walks and now she felt even more honored to count this man among her friends.