Part VII

Albus Dumbledore

(i) The characters and world of Harry Potter are the property of the marvellous J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this.

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Albus Dumbledore knew that he was the smartest and most powerful wizard of his age, but he was worried. More worried than he wanted to admit. He had anticipated that Tom Riddle would send a spy to Hogwarts, one that was not supposedly a double agent, but Dumbledore had not expected Severus to find a way of evading the eventual placement the Order's own spy that Dumbledore suggested as an alternative. Dumbledore wanted to know what went on in the dungeons. As it was, the castle and Salazar's wards prevented easy surveillance.

Dumbledore often wondered, secretly of course, it would not do to drive Severus away, however real his remorse was, what kept the dark man going back for punishment at the hands of the Dark Lord. Albus could not understand Severus' courage and stoic forbearance. It was inhuman, surely. Sure, the boy still loved Lily, and Dumbledore had ensured that the guilt Severus felt over her demise never wavered, but, it was not enough. Albus could never have done what Severus was doing and so, the Headmaster continued to doubt his Potion Master's sincerity.

Besides which, the dark days of torture, humiliation and degradation were starting to tell more than ever on Severus' face. Dumbledore knew that the dark man was about crack. Severus was tired. Everyone could see that. Now that the illustrious Mrs Malfoy had stated her opinion, the Dark Lord would do something about it.

Given that state of affairs, Severus' suggestion of a Ravenclaw in the dungeons made sense. If not Miss Granger, then a neutral Ravenclaw was the obvious choice. Miss Patil was a pureblood, completely unrelated to both the Slytherins and the Gryffindors, and yet, close enough to Harry and his gang to have partnered Ronald Weasley for the Yule Ball. Now that was a bit of good luck. If she could be made either to become a Weasley in her leanings, or indeed, a spy for the Order given her sister's placement in Gryffindor, Dumbledore felt confident that they could prevent Severus from being seduced into Tom's embrace once more.

It was a pity Severus' disposition had not allowed him to fall for one of the female members of the Order. Dumbledore had tried to throw Nymphadora Tonks Severus' way, but he would see her as a student, and her clumsiness and Hufflepuff connections made her unsuitable. The fact that her father was a Muggle-born didn't help matters either.

If only Miss Granger had been a little older. She would have understood the necessity in seducing Severus. But her youth counted against her. She was smart enough that she could mitigate both her Muggle-born and Gryffindor status, but youth, even with her use of the time-turner which Dumbledore had encouraged, hadn't helped.

Now Miss Patil offered Dumbledore another opportunity. But how should he to play it? Should he lay some of his cards on the table? Dumbledore shook his head. No, he had never confided his plans and he was not about to start now. If she developed some kind of misguided loyalty to Severus, she might tell him Dumbledore's plans. Better to just see how things developed.

Dumbledore rubbed his hand down his beard and leaned back in his chair. It was nearly time for Miss Patil to arrive.

Padma knocked on the door with trepidation. She had cleared her mind and ensured that she had placed her all-important conversations with Severus in her grandfather's pensive. She was glad she'd brought it with her to school. She knew she'd have to learn Occlumency as soon as she could. The Headmaster would not often give her time to prepare for a meeting with him.

"Enter," called a voice from beyond.

Padma grimaced and opened the door. She was glad she had been expected and the spiralling stairs already visible. She found the two gargoyles who guarded the entrance a little alarming.

"Good evening, Headmaster," said Padma, walking into the room.

"Good evening, Miss Patil," said Dumbledore. He politely indicated a hand towards a chair, and Padma walked towards the table and settled into the comfortable chair that sat in front of it.

"I take it Severus has explained that he is looking for a lab assistant," said Dumbledore.

"Yes, Headmaster," said Padma. "Professor Snape said my work could use the practice. Since I am keen to improve my potions skills, I was glad for the opportunity to spend more time perfecting the preparation of ingredients."

Dumbledore smiled. It amused him to see how Severus had worded his request.

The old man didn't know, of course, that Padma was putting her own twist to Severus' words. She had thought long and hard about how she should approach the Headmaster. She had to play it right. Too much interest in the Potions Master would be a mistake. So would making any mention of his kindness or his graciousness. It was best to present him the way her twin saw him. The words she had used were the kind of thing a Gryffindor would expect their version of Snape to say.

She could see from Dumbledore's smile that her tact had been successful. No wonder the Dark Lord was running rings around Dumbledore and the not so-secret Order. If she as a fifth year student could understand and mould her conversation to pass under the radar, the Death Eaters easily could. Poor Severus, he really was fighting an uphill battle.

Padma wondered if she was going to be told about the Order. She knew that it was supposedly hush-hush, membership by invitation only and so on, but the wizarding world was not that big, and Padma knew of it through her sister-in-law's contacts with Hestia Jones. If Dumbledore really thought things were secret, he should make it a point to ensure that things were not discussed within the tight knit circles that pureblood witches inhabited.

Dumbledore nodded his head after a while. "Severus has said that you are one of his best students."

Padma gasped. It was well done. "Really, sir?" She could never imagine Severus saying something like that and she imaged how Hermione would act. It was easy from there on to pretend to a Gryffindor need to be praised; she had after all a lifetime of watching her twin in action.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, he didn't use those words exactly, Miss Patil, but I have grown accustomed to reading my Potions Master's expressions. That he finds you suitable to undertake the task means that he finds your work up to his exacting standards."

Padma blushed. She couldn't stop herself from colouring up. "Thank you, sir. Professor Snape does not give out compliments."

She knew she was being manipulated in turn, she knew the older man was trying to make her drop her guard, but she could not stop herself from reacting to his praise. He was the Headmaster. It was then that she felt it, his subtle probe into her mind, trying to gauge her feelings and thoughts. Padma pretended she was ignorant of the probe, but she was so pleased she'd cleared her mind and had focused her thoughts and removed incriminating interactions. All he would get was her love of Potions and her high regard for her Professor.

She continued to smile at the Headmaster, even as she tried to stop herself from squirming and running from the room. The bloody bastard!

Eventually he slipped out of her mind. He'd not got anything, or so she hoped.

"Have you made arrangements as to your schedule?" Dumbledore asked.

The fact that he was twinkling like a loon made Padma suspect that he had only seen her need for Severus' approval and misinterpreted it. That was alright. All Ravenclaws wanted to be seen as good students.

"No, Headmaster," said Padma, shaking. She could not stop herself from trembling with the mixed feelings that were coursing through her at his bold and blasé violation. "Professor Snape said to meet him after dinner to discuss what we would do next. I guess once we decide that I will arrange my time with Professor Flitwick."

Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you, Miss Patil. I am sure Severus will be pleased with your help."

Padma nodded. She could not speak. She, instead, ducked her head so he could not read her eyes and left the room. Kali, Durga and all the Goddesses, she'd never really had contact with the Headmaster before this, but suddenly she hated him with a vengeance. No wonder all the Slytherins detested the man. Purebloods knew when someone was trying to read their thoughts. How would they ever trust him if he acted like this?

A/N: Love it or hate it, please let me know what you think.