Chapter 6
Thanks to all my reviewers:
Kascade: Thanks for your support
Cardigrl (anon): I'm sorry that you don't like Hermione being in the story, but that's how I set it up. She's going to be annoying and naïve in the beginning but working with Snape will force her to look beyond Hogwarts and it will be a good change for her. I hope her involvement didn't ruin the story for you. And besides- there's no way Snape would sit back and let a Gryffindor boss him around. He's got a plan…
Jennie (anon): Sorry for the ending, it was all I could think of and thanks for your support. I'm glad that you like it from Snape's pov. I think it's the easiest way to write this story.
Shizu6616 (anon)- I'm still not sure if the story will end up being Hermione/Snape, they're just the two main characters. I'm fairly certain this won't end up as a Sirius/Sev slash since I don't think I could write that. Thanks for your advice
Excessivelyperky- Thank you so much for your reviews! They were a huge source of inspiration. Snape's relationship with Winky is different from his relationship with Dumbledore, so she's able to interact with him differently than Dumbledore could. Thanks for all your comments!
I don't think I've put this up for this story, but it's in "Hope" and I finally decided to put it in here.
Maintenance:
Thought
"Normal speaking"
"Spell"
Nonverbal Spell
"Parseltounge"
Disclaimer: I'm just a poor student who can't take her head out of the books- don't sue me
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Snape awoke around two hours before the sun would even think of peaking over the horizon. He lay still, hoping to trick his body into resting more, but knew it was useless.
He stood slowly, trying to get the cricks out of his back, and frowned. When was the last time I really stretched? He knew that he had no time, but his physical fitness was important to staying alive. He decided to remedy that and shrunk everything in the room that could be safely reduced and moved to the center of his bedroom.
He started slowly, controlling his breathing and trying to bleed his frustration and anger away. Occlumency is only good for so long until these emotions need to be released. He knew that he was well past his breaking point, and so after only ten minutes he was working himself into a frenzy, moving swiftly into martial arts stances and routines that he had drilled himself in all those years ago.
Half an hour into what used to be mild stretching, Snape was half kneeling on the floor, head down, and his long hair hiding his face. With one last burst of frustration he slammed his fist down into the hard stone floor, screaming all of his pent up anger out.
He took long, gasping breaths and cradled his hand to his chest, focusing on the rhythmic throbbing that shot through his hand. The pain helped center him, forcing him to acknowledge what was happening as the present and not an unfortunate dream.
Taking several more deep breaths, he recovered his wand from where he had placed it on the floor and cast "Engorgio" on the furniture and returned the pieces to their place. He then cast several healing charms on his hand.
Flexing his fingers slightly he winced and tried to shake the soreness out of them. He walked over to his armoire and dressed himself slowly. First his long white collared shirt, then his black pants, black vest buttoned to the top, and he methodically pulled the collar over his vest and flattened it against his neck. Since he had several more hours until breakfast and his first class he decided to forgo his teaching robes and he walked to his lab to check the potions.
All of the potions were bottled and the instructions that he had meticulously written were in his private safe. It was these that he pulled out to peruse and look for any way to combine the two potions. He settled into a chair and forced his mind to focus on the task before him.
Maybe substituting something for the sopophorous bean in the Draught of Living Death, something that would be compatible to the hellebore in the Cruciatus potion. But the Cruciatus potion is already unstable with the absence of the snake venom. The venom is what triggers the pain; the other ingredients are harmless until combined with the venom so it cannot be added at all. Damn it all!
He threw his notes down in frustration and put his head in his hands. This isn't working. I can't combine these two potions, which means I'll need to make them together as a single potion instead of looking for a common link between them. Making it as a single potion will take too long, though. I don't have the time- Black doesn't have that kind of time. I cannot continue like this.
Potions work long forgotten, he moved to grade the essays that had been piling up. It was a tedious and mind numbing job, but it was exactly what he needed at the moment and so he attacked the pile with relish.
With only an hour or so until he was needed in the Great Hall for breakfast, he began to prepare the classroom for a new week of Potions classes. Several ingredients needed to be restocked from the potions cupboard, and two of the glass stirring rods had been broken and needed to be replaced.
He completed these and other menial tasks until he deemed it an appropriate time to go to the Great Hall. Grabbing his robes and carefully completing the outfit, he strode through the dungeons, on the lookout of any students who thought to spice up a Monday morning with a prank.
Snape arrived in the Hall without incident and proceeded to his usual place, to the left of the Headmaster and next to Filius.
Filius he supposed isn't that bad. He is one of the few on the staff whom I can tolerate on a weekly basis. He does not observe the ritual chit chat with me every morning- although he has learned by now not to expect a sympathetic ear from me.
Thus, Snape was surprised when he was greeted by Flitwick in a most jovial manner. He raised his eyebrow at the older wizard, who simply smiled and looked past him at Albus.
Snape followed his look to meet the Headmaster's eye and saw the aged wizard nod slowly, as if to corroborate something that Flitwick had said.
Snape fought with his hard earned self control to keep himself from banging his head against the table as he realized what had occurred over the weekend. Filius will never leave me alone now that he's in the Order too. When I first started teaching he was convinced that I was in need of an older, wiser mentor to keep me from the tragic mistakes of my past and took it upon himself to help me in every way he could. He learned, eventually, that I was not- am not- a social person and it took some rather over the top comments- which upon reflection were rather rude- to get him to leave me alone. Now he surely knows of my role as a double agent and will smother me with pity or sympathy- neither of which I will tolerate.
But again, Flitwick surprised Snape as he leaned over and said in a hushed voice, "Lad, I don't think anyone has ever surprised me as thoroughly as you have. And I'm sorry for doubting you so spectacularly."
Then he leaned over to get some jam and began to drown his toast with it, as if nothing had happened. Snape was shocked by Flitwick's statement, and he was deeply annoyed to feel something along the lines of gratitude for the wizard sitting on his left.
He turned to the Headmaster and dropped his voice, "I have some information that must be discussed as soon as possible. You will need to see someone about keeping the murder of three Muggles out of the headlines when their bodies are found as well."
Dumbledore turned to face him, "Who?"
Snape returned his look, fully aware that the Headmaster already had a good idea of who the latest victims were, but he wanted to be wrong. Unfortunately Snape couldn't give him that relief, "Potter's relatives."
Dumbledore closed his eyes momentarily, "I had hoped the wards and their ignorance would protect them. We could not spare anyone from the Order to guard them when Harry is not there; just as several other families are left unprotected." The aged Headmaster surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on several Muggleborn students before turning back to Snape. "Very well, Severus, come to my office after your last class. I rather suspect we will have several things to discuss."
Snape nodded and returned to his light breakfast while he began to scan the mass of chatting students below. Out of habit he located first Potter, then Draco, and then several other students: Crabbe/Goyle, Zabini, Parkinson, Bones, Weasley one, Weasleys two and three, Weasley four, Longbottom, Gra-
He blinked upon seeing the girl's face turned towards his. Why is she looking at me? For it could only be him, his mind left no doubt that she had looked up at him when his eyes had searched for her. She turned her head, clearly embarrassed to be caught looking at him, but he could not think of any reason.
He watched her for several more minutes; her head popped up only once more, this time to sneak a quick glance at the Headmaster.
Something is happening. And I have been kept in the dark.
Snape turned to his right to look at the Headmaster, who resolutely refused to meet his gaze.
Fine, I will discover what is being kept from me. After all, the first class is Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth year. And I think the old codger knows that I will figure it out and be rather upset about it. Fan-bloody-tastic.
His lips curled into their customary sneer as he continued to watch the students.
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He was waiting for them when they entered the classroom and Hermione's stomach curled nervously. Stop being ridiculous, Professor Dumbledore hasn't told him yet. Just don't give him a reason to suspect anything and you'll be fine.
Naturally, Snape was doubly suspicious when he asked a question and Hermione's hand did not go up at all.
"Mr. Malfoy"
"Yes sir?"
"I must ask a favor. Please go up to one of the corridors and look outside and report back to me."
"Sir?" Being Snape's godson, Draco was used to the Potions Master's sense of humor, and knew not to take the request seriously.
"Well, the world must be ending if Miss Granger isn't raising her hand and I would like to know if it is raining fire."
Several Slytherins burst into laughter and Snape made no attempt to get them to quiet down, instead using the opportunity that presented itself when Hermione glared at him.
Legilimens Snape returned her glare for several seconds as he filtered through her memories at a furious pace, searching for anything to do with the Headmaster. Finally finding a recent one, he pulled it to the front and viewed it without really comprehending it.
He blinked, trying to process the memory of her memory, and when he finally did it took all of his self control to keep from Flooing right to the Headmaster's office and giving him a piece of his mind.
Since that was not an option, he gave Hermione the full weight of his patented glare and waved his wand at the board.
"You will attempt to brew this potion in class; I expect your homework on my desk before you begin."
As one, the class erupted into motion, desperate to begin the complicated potion to give them at least a few moments to try to comprehend what they were trying to do.
Snape went right to his desk, silently fuming. The nerve. The pure Gryffindor nerve of them! Bloody interfering old fool. He knows perfectly well that I have too much to do, and far from helping me lessen the load, now I have to babysit another Gryffindor. And the girl! She has the audacity to think she can actually help me just because she spent the summer at Headquarters and the rest of the staff fawns over her. The bloody fool! What does he think will come of having a Gryffindor Prefect, one of the Golden Trio, no less, help me. What will the Slytherins think? Bloody hell how would I explain that to the Dark Lord?
He pinched the bridge of his nose in a vain attempt to stave off the mounting headache he could feel and sent the parchments off to the side with a wave of his wand. He stood and walked menacingly through the room, overseeing their attempts at the Potion.
For fear of doing something he might later regret, he stayed away from Hermione, but found extra delight in mocking the Boy-Who-Lived and his sidekick, as well as Longbottom.
He finally got his chance when he saw the Know-It-All helping Longbottom in one of the more complicated steps of the potion.
"Miss Granger" he said loudly, causing several students to jump. She met his gaze a little guiltily.
"Detention. Remain after class." Was all he said, let her panic a little.
The rest of the class crawled by with several furious glares from Potter and Weasley, but Snape had no trouble ignoring them. When the class finally ended he was annoyed to see that they remained back with Granger.
He glared at them, "Leave. Now." They shot one last glance at their friend and then left, probably just waiting down the hall to hear all about how much of a pain Snape was.
"Miss Granger. Look at me, girl" his tone, however, made her flinch and look back down again. "I know what you and the Headmaster are planning."
That caught her attention and she looked up fearfully. "I will only say this once. I do not want, nor require, your help. Your presence would only complicate the matter and under no circumstances would I welcome your help. Am I clear?"
She nodded her head a little. "Good. Then get out." She moved to the door and paused.
"My detention, Professor?" she asked reluctantly.
He answered her tiredly, "Unless you want one I suggest you leave now."
He waited until he heard the door close and then went into his chambers and personal lab, pulling out a piece of parchment as he went.
The Dark Lord will want these potions the next time he summons me, I was lucky he didn't ask for them last time.
He began to prepare the ingredients for the potions and set up the cauldrons. Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms, he forced himself to focus on the task at hand.
The poisons would take a day to brew, the acid would require two, and damn, the Veritaserum would take roughly a month, depending on the full moon cycle, and I'll need to brew an antidote in case he decides to test me. I don't have time for this!
He finished setting up the cauldrons regardless. Of course, I already have some Veritaserum handy, but it's for the Order and by making a new batch I can delay the Dark Lord from having it for a time.
He worked relentlessly, getting everything prepared, but not starting anything since he still had a full day of teaching ahead of him.
"Severus?" he heard a voice from the Floo and walked over to see Poppy's head in his fireplace.
"Yes?" he asked, doing his best to mask his tiredness for fear that the matron would cluck over him.
"I have a list of potions that the Hospital Wing is running low on and will need to be replenished if you have the time."
He heard her silent question and answered brusquely, "Of course I have time, Poppy. Send the list through."
She didn't appear convinced, but had long ago learned her lesson about arguing with Severus, and a moment later a rather lengthy list appeared in his fireplace. He grabbed it quickly and bid her farewell.
Hell and damnation I certainly don't have time for this. But if I don't get them done then Poppy will investigate and I can't have that.
He ran a hand through his hair and set up his classroom for the next class, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw fourth years. Colin Creevey is almost as bad as Longbottom. Except that there's no one to catch his mistakes like Granger does for Longbottom.
Sighing again, he waved his wand and the instructions for the potion appeared on the board as the students began to filter in. The students, after having suffered four years of potions, had become somewhat attune to the many moods of the Potions Master, and were more subdued than usual. He credited it to the Ravenclaws, because the Gryffindors were not intelligent enough to alter their actions to benefit themselves and not anger him.
Half an hour later saw many of the potions in the correct stage, but Snape noticed, as he looked around the room from his position in the front, that the Creevey boy's potion was not even close to what it should have been. As he moved forward to berate the boy, he saw Creevey drop in another ingredient, and noticed immediately that it was not the correct ingredient, but rather a volatile look alike.
Cursing under his breath he erected a Shield Charm between the students and the cauldron only seconds before the cauldron exploded. Snape himself, however, was left unshielded and was hit with several pieces of burning cauldron and splattered with the potion. He fell to the ground from the force and lay stunned momentarily.
The room held its breath, shaken by the explosion and the Potions Master's sudden shield, as well as scared of his reaction. Snape paused to catalogue his injuries before moving to sit upright. His head was pounding and he could feel the burning potion seeping through his robes and burning his skin.
He could hear one of the Ravenclaws, the Brennan girl, calling him, "Professor?"
He bit back a groan and moved to stand, holding on to his desk for support. "Class dismissed. Fourteen inches on the correct procedure and ingredients for this potion to be on my desk for the next class."
The students left quickly, Colin was the last to leave, so stunned was he that he didn't have detention or lose any points. Instead of joining his classmates outside, however, he went to the Hospital Wing to inform Madam Pomfrey that Professor Snape might need her help.
When Creevey finally left, Snape made a beeline for his rooms and went straight to his bathroom, stripping of his ruined robes and clothes and getting into a cool shower. He remained in the cold water for only a few minutes, just to ensure that the potion was washed off and then stepped out.
Looking in the mirror he noticed that there was an angry red mark forming near his scalp and several others on his shoulders and chest. Bloody Gryffindors. These are sure to be bruises later. He put a Glamour Charm on his head wound, but left the others alone since he could cover them up.
Walking out in his towel, he went to retrieve a new set of clothes and robes and dressed himself once more before returning to his living room. He contemplated going into his lab when he heard someone calling his name. Glancing at the Floo and finding it empty, he went through a door adjoining him to his classroom and found Poppy bustling around the room.
"Severus are you alright" she asked worriedly.
"Of course" he said silkily as he began waving his wand to clean up the classroom. "What makes you think otherwise?"
She gestured around the room, "This for a start."
He just shrugged, "Potions explosions are common, Poppy. I am more than capable of handling them."
She looked furious, "Well Mr. Creevey came to me not too long ago and said that you were the only one who was injured in the explosion, so I ask again. Are you alright?"
He did not pause in his spells to clean up the mess, "Yes, Poppy, I am fine."
"Then what happ-"
"Mr. Creevey," Snape cut across her. "Added a volatile substance to his potion that had an adverse reaction almost instantaneously. When I noticed this I put up a shield charm to protect the students, but the explosion occurred before I could shield myself. I will have minimal bruising and I would appreciate being left alone, Poppy."
She smiled indulgently, more than familiar with his moods, and did not take his tone to heart. "Very well Severus. I commend your actions and thank you for sparing several of them trips to the Hospital Wing."
She turned to leave and Snape waited until the door closed before returning to his almost restored classroom. Looking at the time he decided that brewing would have to wait, and sat at his desk, pulling out a stack of essays to grade.
Despite the work he got done before, the stack of essays had piled up and he was only able to make a small dent in them before he was required to show his face in the Great Hall for lunch.
Resolved to get out as soon as possible, he sat down and helped himself to a small amount of food. The other Professors slowly filed in and McGonagall and Dumbledore came in next to last, talking in low tones. McGonagall shot a worried glance at him and he could not check his response in time to hold back a glare at Poppy who was sitting at the other end of the table. Poppy, however, did not have the grace to look embarrassed and returned his glare, though it was not as intimidating.
"Severus, I heard there was an explosion this morning" Dumbledore said carefully as he helped himself to some food.
"If Poppy had bothered to tell you the whole story, you would have heard that none of the students were injured and therefore it's not worth worrying about."
McGonagall glared at him now, "'Not worth worrying about?' Severus, she told us that you were hurt. Why didn't you let her help you?"
"The damage was minimal; I had already taken care of it when Poppy barged in." He avoided looking at the Headmaster, knowing he would most likely see through his Glamour.
Instead he looked at the four House tables, checking for the usual students, and noticing that Mr. Creevey and several other fourth year Gryffindors were attracting a lot of attention at their table, and as one, several heads turned in his direction before looking hurriedly down at their table. He snorted and returned his attention to the scant amount of food on his plate.
"Headmaster I have several things I must attend to" he said quickly, getting up from the table and leaving before the older wizard could protest.
McGonagall watched him go and turned to Dumbledore, "He needs help and I'll have none of your excuses. That man is running himself into the ground and hardly anyone is lifting a finger to help him."
"My dear, I don't know what to do. As you well know he will hardly tolerate anyone interfering."
"I don't care, Albus" she whispered furiously. "He is your spy. Not You-Know-Who's, not the Order's, not this school's, yours. You need to help him. Because Merlin knows that's the reason that he's so rundown. And he is alone. Yes it's partly his own doing, but you are more than happy to leave him be when he should forced to take care of himself."
It hurt McGonagall to see her words sinking in with the aged Headmaster, but no one else was stepping up and it was high time that someone took matters up with the Headmaster.
"Hem hem" McGonagall turned her head so quickly that it hurt.
"Headmaster," Umbridge began. "I wanted to inform you that I will begin evaluating the Professors tomorrow. I gave them a week to get into their schedules, so I expect them to be ready. I will be setting up my schedule and giving the Professors their appointment times after dinner so they won't have an excuse to not perform to their top standards."
"Of course, Dolores. I am sure the Professors will perform spectacularly" Dumbledore smiled.
Back in the dungeons, Snape began brewing the poisons and set up the beginning stages for the acid. I'll wait to start the Veritaserum until Sunday, a week before the full moon. Since he had a free period after lunch he was able to complete the brewing steps necessary for the three poisons that Voldemort had requested, and get to the second stage in the acid, which would need to boil overnight and be finished around lunchtime tomorrow.
Noticing he still had half an hour until his next, and last class, of the day, he began to set up the cauldrons for the potions that the Hospital Wing would need. He decided to brew the more complicated and time consuming ones tonight because he suspected that he would need something to lose himself in after his talk with the Headmaster.
His class of Slytherins and Ravenclaws went smoothly and he was grateful for a relatively quiet class. Unknown to most, the two Houses were usually able to work well together, since Ravenclaws valued intelligence and Slytherins prided themselves on using their intelligence to benefit themselves. Admittedly it wasn't the best relationship, but of the three Houses, Slytherins got along best with Ravenclaws.
He dismissed his class and double checked that the potions that were brewed that day were secure in the student cupboard, then he set a light ward on the classroom and made his way to the Headmaster's office.
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Sirius was pacing the room again. I can't believe I apologized to that grease ball. If I stay here any longer with no news I will finally go mad. Ah! This is so frustrating. I can't do anything to help, I've made it harder for the Order because I acted foolishly and I can't bear to imagine what they're thinking. They all shared the pain I felt when Voldemort tried to get into my mind- that damn spell is as useful as it is harmful. Snape mentioned that it's almost the full moon- I should be at Headquarters to help Remus. His transformations are so hard on him and he's been taking longer to recover after each moon. Damn it! And Harry! I hope he doesn't know that I'm a prisoner. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him because of me.
He checked his more destructive impulses, remembering that he had already broken some of Snape's things in his earlier anger. I need to speak with him again. He glanced at the clock, I can wait until later. The last thing he needs is his House Elf popping in during a class.
Sighing he sat down with his head in his hands, trying to plan what he would ask the Potions Master.
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"Licorice Wand" Snape grumbled to the gargoyle. He moved quickly up the staircase to find the Headmaster waiting for him at his desk.
As Snape opened his mouth to question Dumbledore's sanity in regards to Miss Granger, the old wizard held up his hand.
"You have undoubtedly discovered my ill concealed plan and wish to calmly explain why you disagree with my decision-" Snape snorted at his choice of words "-but I am afraid that will have to wait. We have important matters to discuss and then I will give you all the time you require."
Slipping into his role as a spy, Snape composed himself and began, "Last night I was summoned to the Dark Lord. Upon arriving, he revealed that Avery had located Potter's relatives and had brought them to the meeting. They were killed relatively quickly but they did suffer before they passed. I do not know how Avery found them, or how he got past the wards, but I don't think he was alone in this venture. He is strong, but not strong enough to break blood wards. I don't think they were overtaken in their own home, more likely they were overheard in public discussing Potter and Avery moved in to take them. Regardless, with their death the protections on the house are rendered null, so Potter cannot return there this summer."
"This is troubling indeed. I know that Harry didn't particularly get along with his relatives, but he will no doubt blame himself for their deaths and he is left alone once again. I am certain that he will be welcome at the Burrow this summer, but I think it would be safer to keep him at Headquarters" Dumbledore looked to see what Snape thought.
"Potter is not capable of spending the summer at Headquarters without whining about being left in the dark. He will insist to be included in more of the Order's business and he is not mature enough to handle that kind of information" Snape tried to leave his usual biting tone out in order to make the Headmaster see that he was serious.
"You don't give him enough credit Severus-" Snape opened his mouth to disagree but Dumbledore held up his hand again. "-but I believe you are right. Unless he proves himself ready, he won't be able to help the Order at all this summer. We will decide that later, though."
Snape nodded as the subject was closed. "I wasn't able to tell you sooner or at the meeting last Friday, but the reason I was delayed was that there was an attack on the Bones' (1)."
Dumbledore started, "I hadn't heard anything about that. What happened?"
"Amelia agreed with me that secrecy was important; we didn't want other Order members panicking and thinking that their houses were unsafe and flocking to our limited number of safe houses. I learned that night that there was to be an attack on Amelia's brother's family. I was able to stay behind, pretending that I needed to finish a potion for you. Several others remained behind as well. The attack was small and meant to be a warning to Amelia. I was able to Portkey away once I was back at Hogwarts and warn them before the Death Eaters arrived. I had to return to the Dark Lord and pretend that I had been in my rooms the whole time" Snape grimaced at having to talk so much.
"And the wound we saw that night?" Dumbledore asked. "Was it a result of Tom's displeasure at the mission's failure?"
Snape nodded,"Headmaster, we will need to stage a memory for me to present to the Dark Lord. I was lucky last night that he did not ask me about the Occlumency shields, but I fear I will not be so lucky twice."
Dumbledore pushed aside his rising sadness and unease, "What do you need?"
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Snape returned to his rooms later that night, having skipped dinner in favor of finishing the poisons for the Dark Lord. He found Oreo waiting near his fireplace.
"Oreo?" he asked tiredly.
"Mister Black would like to speak with you" the elf hesitated before continuing. "He says to tell you that it is not urgent but he would like to talk to you tonight."
Snape blinked in surprise, first he apologizes and is civil and now he's being considerate?
"Inform Black that I must finish a potion but I will speak with him within the hour." He watched as Oreo popped away and then went straight to his lab.
All three poisons were near complete; two had one more ingredient to be added before they needed to be bottled immediately, while the third had twenty more minutes of simmering before it was complete.
He bottled the two poisons, putting aside two vials to bring to the Dark Lord the next time he was summoned, and put the rest in his warded cupboard. He checked the last poison once more, ten minutes, and the acid was progressing nicely.
He decided to take a shower while he waited for the poison to finish simmering. He put his robes aside and stripped of his clothes, wincing slightly as his shirt tugged at the welts on his chest. What were only red marks this morning were now raised welts of newly bruising skin. He noticed that they broke the skin in some places and removed the Glamour on his face. Glancing carefully at his scalp, he saw that it was more of a lump than anything else, and that it too, had broken the skin.
He stepped into the shower, reveling in the warm water, and scrubbed his weary body clean. Stepping out he felt a little better and redressed himself, leaving off his vest.
Walking back into his lab, he carefully produced a special vial to bottle the acid in and Vanished the rest. He put these, and the four vials containing the poisons, on his desk near his fireplace, and then retrieved the Portkey.
Whispering the password, he opened his eyes to find himself in his rooms in Voldemort's lair. He found Black sitting on the couch in the main room and walked forward.
"Well Black, what is it this time?" He saw Sirius turn to see him and then stand. He stayed where he was on the other side of the room, but Black moved closer, sitting on the back of the couch.
What he said first was not what Snape expected, "Merlin Snape, what happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" he spat, not in the mood for Sirius' tricks.
"To start how about the huge lump on your forehead? And you look like you haven't slept in days" Black commented.
Snape swore, furious with his carelessness, how could I forget to reapply the Glamour? I need to pay more attention or it could cost me.
He waved his wand as he spoke, hiding the bruise and his fatigue behind another Glamour, "It's nothing, a student exploded their cauldron earlier."
Sirius remained quiet, having gleaned far more than Snape realized from his last comment, Snape would have to be pretty tired to not notice a student screw up that badly and then get caught in the explosion. He's obviously got too much on his plate.
"What did you need Black? I'm busy" Snape stared at the Animagi.
"I get the impression that I'm going to be here for a while. I would-" he paused and took a deep breath. "-I would appreciate if I was kept informed as to the Order and Harry."
Snape cocked his head to the side and stared at him. "What?" he asked defensively.
"I'm trying to decide who is Polyjuiced to look like Sirius Black" he deadpanned.
"Ha-ha, very funny Snape. With nothing else to do here but read and think-" he pointed a warning finger at Snape. "-don't say anything." Snape held up his hands in mock surrender.
"With nothing else to do I've realized that I haven't been entirely fair to you and I haven't exactly been a role model for Harry. And it is entirely within my control to be more civil with you" He flashed a smile. "Plus, being nicer seems to get me the information I want."
Snape just stood in shocked silence. "How-" he coughed, don't stutter! "I am not entirely convinced that you've changed your entire view of me in less than four days." He glanced at the clock. "Though I am loathe to do it, I will remain here for the next hour to ensure that you're not Polyjuiced, and then I 'fill you in' as you put it."
Sirius groaned, although he could hardly blame the man for being paranoid. His own change in outlook surprised him and admittedly, it was rather sudden. These thoughts had been constantly hounding him since he had been transferred to Snape's care, but it was seeing the spy just moments ago that made everything clear to him.
Just seeing Snape unmasked, as it were, really set everything into proportion. The fact that he looked so exhausted, as well as his apparent carelessness during the potions accident and in forgetting to apply the Glamour made it obvious to Sirius that the spy was reaching his limits, and Sirius himself was part of the cause of Snape's problems.
Thinking back, he recalled the night that he saw witnessed first hand a small portion of what Snape had to go through in order to get information for them. He remembered with shame how he had treated the man earlier, and how it was entirely his fault that the spy had left the meeting early.
"Snape" Sirius hedged, unsure if the spy wanted to talk to him or just sit in silence for the next hour.
He didn't answer but he did meet Black's eyes and incline his head. "The night of the Order meeting. What happened?"
"Just a mission gone awry, Black. The Dark Lord was displeased" Snape walked over to a chair and sank into it.
In turn, Sirius swung his legs over the couch and landed with a light 'thud.' "Will you tell me at the end of the hour? Provided I am who I say I am?"
Snape eyed him carefully, "I will consider it."
After only a few minutes of silence Sirius stood and began pacing the room.
"Must you do that?" Snape asked, although not angrily.
Sirius looked up, almost surprised to find that he was standing and halfway across the room. "I-" he threw his arms up. "Damnit Snape, I spent twelve years in a cell in Azkaban." He turned his back to the wall and slowly slid down so he was sitting on the floor, with his hands cradling his head once more.
"I spent twelve years in a cell. I barely had enough room to stretch my legs. Then I escaped, and spent that year and the next year on the run, hiding out wherever I could. I spent most of my time in my Animagus form. And then I was stuck in my family's house. I've hated that house, what it symbolized, since I was a child, and I was stuck in there. And now-" He stood suddenly and turned to punch the wall. "Now-" punch "-I'm-" punch "-a-" punch "-fucking-" punch "-prisoner-" punch "-again!"
Unnoticed by Sirius, Snape had crossed the room to stand next to him, and lowered his arm after he had punched the wall for the last time. He wordlessly guided Black to the couch and pushed him down.
He went to the cupboard in his bathroom, unwarded it, and pulled out a weak Sleeping Potion and a Pain Relieving Potion. Mindful of his previous bouts of carelessness, he warded the cupboard once more and returned to the couch.
He handed both potions to Black, "You can take them both at the same time. I would recommend the Pain Reliever first," he pointed to the blue potion. Then he sat back down in his chair.
After Black had swallowed both potions Snape spoke, "I gave you a sleeping draught as well. I don't believe you're Polyjuiced, but you're obviously in no shape to ask any intelligent questions tonight. I will return tomorrow night."
He waited and watched as Black tried to fight through the potion, but eventually succumbed to sleep. He stood and pulled out his Portkey, muttering, "You've given me more to think about than I care to admit."
He returned to his rooms, glancing at the clock, and set a charm to alert him when forty minutes had passed. Even with that rather convincing emotional outburst, I want to be sure that it's Black there. And going back when he's unconscious will allow me to bulk up the wards without him bothering me.
Forty minutes later found him sitting at his desk, staring at the same essay he had been staring at when he first sat down. Sighing he pulled out his Portkey once more and returned to his rooms.
He found Black in exactly the same position he left him, and it was unmistakably Black, it's been much longer than an hour, and there's no way that he could have regained consciousness with the potion.
He began by checking each ward, and noticed immediately that someone had tried, and failed, to break some of them. He was faintly alarmed, until he determined that they didn't break even the weakest ward, and had only tested them. Still, better to be safe he thought as he added several more wards, these designed to keep out even animals. He had designed that one with Pettigrew in mind. The last thing I need is that rat getting through and finding or hearing something that was better left undiscovered.
Satisfied with his wards he began to say his password when something- he didn't know what- made him pause. Looking over at Black, he saw the man was sitting on the couch, and thought asleep he looked rather uncomfortable.
Scowling the entire time and wondering what was wrong with himself, he used a quick levitating charm to turn Black on his side to lie on the couch. He absolutely refused to drape a blanket over him; instead he started a small fire.
Muttering under his breath, he left his rooms behind to once again find himself in the dungeons.
It wasn't until Snape lay down to finally sleep that he realized that he had never gotten the chance to talk Dumbledore out of making Miss Granger his assistant.
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What do you think? I realize that Sirius kinda changed his tune rather drastically and in a very short amount of time, but he never seemed to be someone who took his time and really thought things through. With nothing else to do but reexamine his memories and talk to Snape, I think it's only logical that several things that he had previously ignored would become obvious to him. Besides, he is solely dependent on Snape now, and it is in his best interest to act more civilly towards him.
If you really disagree with me let me know and I'll see if I can explain my reasoning a little better.
Here's the (very basic) timeline I promised:
Day 1- Friday August 29th- Order meeting, Sirius captured
Day 2- Sat Aug 30th- Sirius discovered missing, mental barriers for Order first tested
Day 4- Monday Sept 1st- First day of school, Umbridge arrives
Day 8- Friday Sept 5th- Snape summoned- takes 'custody' of Sirius
Day 9- Sat Sept 6th- brews Wolfsbane, Bellatrix tries to get to Sirius
Day 10- Sun Sept 7th- tests Cruciatus potion on himself, Dumbledore decides to let Hermione help Snape, Dursleys die
Day 11- see above chapter.
If anyone is interested I can continue the timeline with the addition of each chapter, but this was just for people who didn't want to reread the last four chapters.
(1)- If you've read 'Hope' sorry to repeat an idea, but I rather like it. Amelia Bones is unmarried, but she has a brother, Edgar, who is married to Katherine. In canon they have one known daughter, Susan, but I've added a younger sister, Kali.
Thanks for reading and I would love to hear from you!
Always,
Sinkme