Chapter 10: Opportunities, An All Nighter, Raiding, and Revising

The next morning found Severus once again at the butcher shop an hour before anyone else. Rummaging about in the back storage area, he found six containers that could hold the spice mixtures. He then went through Mrs. Timolin's junk drawer and found a black permanent marker. Using it, he labeled the containers. On three of them he wrote "SSSN" and on the other three he wrote "SSSC". On the bottom corner signed his name the same way he did on the potions he made. He then wrote out how much and the type of meat as well as preparation method. Putting the marker back into the drawer, he washed the containers, and then magically dried them. He didn't want there to be excess moisture in the spice mixture, it could cause the spices to clump. Pulling out his scale, he started his morning measuring routine, just doing the measurements four times for the spices instead of once. By time Mrs. Timolin arrived, he had the containers sitting on the shelf near his table and the sausages on their display tray.

"Good Morning." He smirked towards her and the nodded to the self. "I've mixed up the spices. Hopefully Timothy can handle the mixing. I've written the instructions on the back of the containers so you would know the meat ratios."

"Thanks. Three?"

"Just in case. And then they are ready for Monday and Tuesday if nothing else."

She nodded slightly. They both looked up surprised when the door opened and Timothy entered.

He took in their amazed looks and just headed toward the front. "I'll clean out the cases and get them ready."

Raising an eyebrow, Severus looked at Mrs. Timolin. She just shrugged. By the end of the morning Sandra was sure that someone had done something to Timothy. Severus was suspecting Polyjuice or the Imperius curse.

セブルススネイプ

Severus shut the door to the classroom and watched the students. This would be his last morning here. The quartet had jokingly told him that he would be back before he knew it. They were going to make sure of it. He had smirked at them, but now behind the classroom he let himself wonder if he would. He acknowledged that even if he was, it wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be amongst them. He would be on a different hall or in a different room. The comradery he was starting to feel would not be there. Mentally shaking off the feelings, he faced the group of students waiting on him.

"You will be elated to know that Mr. Tavers will be returning on Monday." He strode to the front of the room and picked up the roster. Scanning his eyes across the room, he took attendance quickly. "Today you shall be working on a cut and paste model of a woody stem. Then you shall be writing out a descriptor for each part as well as compare and contrast chart between herbaceous and woody stems. Before you leave, you will be turning these in. The materials are where they normally are." He gestured to the edge of the preparation counter. "Get started."

Once the students gathered their materials he prowled the room. After he was sure they had started good, he pulled out an old text book and started studying while keeping an eye on them.

When lunchtime had finally rolled around, Severus had made his way through the two different chemistry books. He had found them on one of the shelves and they were of a higher level than he had access to before, so he had spent the morning watching the class and taking notes from the books. That afternoon he was going to go through the physics book that was there, too. He was grabbing his lunch when the classroom door opened. Glancing up, he expected to see Patricia Wells waiting on him. Instead it was Abigail Compton.

"Mr. Snape." She took a slightly deep breath; she had rushed downstairs to see him and had to make this quick. She had to get back upstairs as Allison could only watch her class for a moment. "Are you willing to take a long term sub position? It would be one week from now till the end of the school year."

Severus stared at her for a moment before responding. "Teaching what?"

"Chemistry. Emily Vance has to be out for the rest of the year. If you are willing to take her place, fill these out, and we will see the headmaster this afternoon. I have already cleared it with my higher ups." She held out a small stack of papers. They looked like a shorten version of an application. Noticing his puzzled look, she grinned. "Since you are already a substitute, you just need to fill these out to express your desire to be considered for the position." The bell sounded as she finished speaking. Glancing at the empty halls, she turned to leave. "I'll stop by at the end of the day to get your answer." She rushed back out of the room leaving him stunned holding the papers.

Still holding the papers he walked into the staffroom. He looked over at Ms. Vance. "You are going to be out for the rest of the year?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah, and no one has applied for the position. When Compton watched you yesterday, she was hoping that you could do it. But to be a long term substitute, you need a teaching degree unless you have special permission. By the papers in your hand, she got the permission. Will you do it?"

Patricia Wells and Alicia Patterson looked at him with wide hopeful eyes. "You'll still be on the hall with us. So we'll still be here if you need help."

Tonya Zimmerman leaned onto the table as she looked him over. "You have more potential to handle this than any of the other regulars. Sure, there are some who can handle the students. Some have even taught before, so they could do the written side of it. But you... you understand the science and can handle the students. We'll help you with the paperwork side. And you can observe Compton's class to see how to run the labs, and gather some ways to explain the material to the students. I can also help with the chemistry lab set ups. I might not be much help with biology but I am good at physics and chemistry."

Severus sat at the table while making eye contact with each one. "You knew she was doing this, but you didn't tell me?"

Emily sipped her water before answering. "We couldn't offer until she got permission, and she had to see you teach for her to want to seek permission. But we did what we could to help you out."

Severus unpacked his lunch as the shock was slowly wearing off. 'That explains yesterday and them wanting to watch me. As well as them insisting that I learn the lab safety in Ms. Vance's room, and all the other small things they had been doing. They honestly want me here.' Nodding to himself, he started eating. "You know I still have to interview with the headmaster. I haven't even met him yet."

"Headmaster Eastaughffe is a good one. Once he knows you can do it, and are willing to work with the kids, he will accept you. You might have to jump through a few hoops for him, but once you do, he'll back you up." Alicia smiled towards him. "That is how I ended up here."

Severus raised an eyebrow at that. He couldn't see anyone not wanting to hire Ms. Patterson. She was bubbly, bouncing, yet still controlled the students and passed on the information that she was supposed to be teaching. He decided not to inquire. If she wanted to explain, then she would. There was nothing he or anyone else could do to stop her when she decided. "I'll fill out the paper work next class, and then let Mrs. Compton know that I am willing. She said that we would be speaking to Headmaster Eastaughffe at the end of the day, so I might not be able to walk to the mailboxes with you."

Patricia waved that thought away. "We'll all walk you up there. The End sticks together. And if you get the position you will still be part of us. You'll just be replacing Vance instead of Tavers."

With a smirk he nodded his head and then changed the conversation. He was still feeling like smirking when he settled to fill in the paperwork. It felt nice to be wanted, to belong.

That afternoon, after the students had cleared the hall, Severus felt like he was being escorted to the Headmaster's office. He actually was, just not in a negative sense. The End as well as Mrs. Compton walked with him, talking about the day as they normally did on the way to the mailboxes. Mrs. Turner grinned and waved them towards the headmaster's office.

Headmaster Eastaughffe watched as most of his science department walked up to his office door. He knew he was supposed to be meeting with Compton and the person she wanted to take Vance's place. He even knew that the person was currently covering Tavers' class, but he hadn't expected a show of solidarity of this magnitude. There were only two science teachers not there, and they had classrooms upstairs. Even Vance was out there. There was a short knock at his door. Straightening a few papers on his desk he called out for them to come in. He was glad when it was only Compton and the tall dark haired man who came in. Part of him was sure that the rest would be lining the wall in the back of his office. As the door shut behind the applicant, he noticed that they were instead lining the wall right outside of his office.

He turned his attention to the head of the department. "Mrs. Compton, this is the young man you wished to speak to me about?"

Abigail gestured for Severus to step forward. "Yes, sir. This is Severus Snape. He is currently substituting for Tavers, and I think he will be perfect to cover for Vance."

Severus watched as the man's hazel green eyes flickered over him, sizing him up. He had to refrain from raising an eyebrow at him. His look had nothing on either Dumbledore's all knowing twinkle or the Dark Lord's penetrating glare. 'Of course he isn't as old as them either, and he hasn't been doing it quite as long.' He made sure to stand relaxed, his hands at his side, as if he was before the Dark Lord. He could show a touch of nervousness before Dumbledore, but it could be his death sentence if he did before his other master.

Eastaughffe noticed the relaxed stance. The man had confidence. Now whether it was justified he had to find out. "What are your credentials for this position?"

Severus flickered a glance at Mrs. Compton before he answered. He didn't really feel like pushing himself forward. As he said at lunch he wouldn't mind the position, but in all honesty he wasn't sure he was qualified to handle a chemistry class. Potions yes, but chemistry was very different. "I am a substitute, and I have a background in chemistry." His background was limited to what he had studied himself and what he could derive from his potions mastery.

Eastaughffe frowned slightly. "This position requires a certified teacher. Are you one?" At the man's negative head shake, he looked at Mrs. Compton.

Drawing in a breath, Abigail realized she hadn't really helped Severus prepare for this. But she had wanted to see if he could push himself forward. She hadn't expected him to be so short with his answers. "I know that he is lacking in that qualification. But no one else who could do the job has applied. No one. Not even a regular substitute. Severus knows the material. He has taught Tavers' botany class for the last four days. Not just watched them, but actually taught them. They have had lectures, labs, and completed projects with Severus. He has kept them on task and managed the classroom quite well."

Severus glanced at her, trying to keep the surprise of his face. She really wanted him for this. It was evident in her tone. Maybe he should put a bit more effort into trying to convince Eastaughffe.

Eastaughffe notice the slight surprised look that Severus was giving Compton. He looked at him. "And you didn't think that this would be something important to tell me?" He really wanted to know why the young man hadn't tried to impress him.

Severus looked back at the headmaster. He didn't care for that tone. It was almost condescending. "I was just substituting, and that was the work assigned. I could do it, so I did. Botany is a field that I could explain so I saw no reason for the students to be penalized for the absence of their teacher. Also there was no reason for the teacher to be behind because of an unavoidable absence."

He watched Headmaster Eastaughffe's face and he could tell that the man was not quite satisfied with that answer. With a mental shrug, he decided that if the man didn't want him for the position that it was fine. He had enough to do on his plate right now anyway. He would just work full time with Mrs. Timolin. Or, if he was reading Mrs. Compton and the others right, he would just be substituting for Ms. Vance on a regular bases.

Eastaughffe looked back at his department head. "Do you have the necessary permission?" When she nodded he looked back at Snape. "Mr. Snape, you said that you could explain botany, but what about chemistry? What are your qualifications in this subject?"

Severus pushed down his surprise. He had been pretty sure that the interview had been done. He was not known for his interviewing ability. Master Dankworth had kept him far away from the interview process after his third time trying. His esteemed Master had declared that he was going to have to get a position based on his abilities themselves as he would not get one from his personality. Time to fall back on what he had been telling everyone else. "I am a research biochemist. Currently I am between projects, but that will be rectified this weekend. But in my research I look up the uses of different living materials and determine what chemicals they have that we wish to use. Then we separate and purify them, mix them with others until we have what we want." He could have gone on. He could almost see the ingredients that he could be working with right now to start trying to make an anti-cruciatus potion. It was a project that was currently on the back burner, but it didn't stop his subconscious from working on it.

Eastaughffe blinked and tried to refrain from staring. He had a research chemist in front of him. One who was visibly refraining from expounding on his topic. This was a type of person who could show the students the real world application of the science. Now if he could teach it was a different story. 'But Compton says that he can handle a classroom, and was able to teach botany, which is just a small bit of his field.' A quick glance out his office window showed him that the rest of the science department had arrived, all except Tavers who was still home sick. 'They are waiting. Somehow he has in four days impressed them, enough that they want him and they are showing it.' He flicked his eyes back to the tall dark haired man. "I will let you have the position if you are willing to come in on Thursday and Friday next week to learn Ms. Vance's class rules and how she works. You would not be on payroll for those two days."

Severus narrowed his eyes as he looked at the other man. Did he have time to do this? He had a raid this weekend, potions to mix, a lab to set up, and tests to take. Most of that should be done by Wednesday, so he should be able to make it here those two days. Especially if he did not accept any other position during the week. He could feel Mrs. Compton staring at him and he was very aware of the others that were waiting outside the door. "Very well. I am willing to be here at the end of the week for the purpose of watching and learning about Ms. Vance's class."

Eastaughffe was worried that the man was going to turn him down as the dark eyes narrowed, the mind behind them obviously going over all his options. He knew that he really didn't have much of a choice. He was sure that if he didn't hire Mr. Snape long term, then Compton would just keep having him be the short term substitute until the point was moot. When Snape accepted he let a smile escape. "Then I will see you around, Mr. Snape." He stood up and shook the other man's hand. The callouses on that hand surprised him slightly. He always thought of chemists as soft handed people. "We'll sign all the paper work next Friday after school."

With a brief nod, Severus turned about and followed Mrs. Compton out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. He was fixed by all the eyes looking at him, each quietly inquiring the outcome. There were two new faces and he had a feeling that they were the other ones from upstairs. A quick glance showed him that Mrs. Compton was waiting for him to speak. "If I come to observe your classes" He nodded towards Ms. Vance. "on Thursday and Friday then I will be permitted the position."

Zimmerman quirked a smile towards him. "So we're to expect you for lunch on Thursday and Friday?"

At Severus' nod, The End cheered while the others smiled. Through the cheers he heard Ms. Patterson telling Ms. Wells that she would make sure to bring another chair into the staffroom. Letting a smirk slip out, he headed out the door. He had a lot to accomplish.

セブルススネイプ

After a quick stop by Spinner's End to gather all the books he wanted to look over that evening, he apparated to the flat. Pinned to his wall was the list of potions he still had to complete. Even the list the Dark Lord had given him. A quick glance told him that he was almost done with ASP's orders. He opened his mailbox to make sure no more had arrived. There was nothing new.

Striding off to his bedroom, he quickly changed from his muggle cloths to his wizarding one. He stepped back into his living room and transfigured the two small side tables and his last chair into large lab tables and renewed the transfiguration on his sofa and chair. Now he had six lab table, giving him twelve lab stations. He wanted to finish off all the potions on his list tonight. Running twelve stations was going to test his abilities to the maximum, but he was confident that he could handle it as long as there were no distractions. Even as he was pulling out all his old cauldrons, he felt his stomach growl. Setting the last cauldron on the table top, he strode into the kitchen, looking for something that would cancel that distraction. The cupboards and pantry were empty.

Grabbing his Gringotts' bag he strode out into the alley. There were a few ingredients that he needed to pick up and he would get supper out before he started working. He would also pick up some tea. Somehow he ended up in a lighting specialty shop looking over the lights that he wanted for the basement lab. He picked them up, and they were shrunk down to for easy carriage. His steps then had him into a used furniture store that was next door. He left with all the bookcases that they had and three long lab tables. These were also shrunk and placed into a small box which he then carried to the apothecary where he should have been this entire time. After purchasing his ingredients and a number of vials and carriers, he grabbed dinner at the Leaky Cauldron before heading back to his flat to get started.

He tossed his tea onto the kitchen counter before he spread out all his ingredients. A quick glance at his master list, he separated which ones he needed at each station. In the corner of each station he listed the potions he was brewing there. Standing in the center of his living room, surrounded by lab tables covered with the materials of his art, he ran the order of every movement he was going to make for the next several hours through his head.

Shaking his hands out, he pulled his wand and warded the door against all intrusions. A quick glance showed the brewed pot of tea and the stimulate potion sitting ready. Turning back to the circle, his eyes glowed with pleasure as he began.

Each step was choreographed by the potions he was working on. He chopped, diced, sprinkled, dropped, stirred, allow to simmer each ingredient and potion as it needed it. He allowed himself to slip into his own world, the one that was occupied by potions. It was the most relaxing place he could find.

The evening passed in a blur of potions, tea and more potions. Dawn broke through the front windows as Severus was adding the last ingredient to the last potion on his list. A knowing eye brushed over the cauldrons that were quietly bubbling away, simmering their way to completion. A quick glance under the tables showed an array of colored vials, each one shimmering in their proper shade. A tired smile slipped onto the normally impassive face as he bottled up the last set of potions.

Even as he allowed himself to feel the pleasure of a job well done, it was destroyed by the Dark Lord's summon. Grabbing his robe, mask and potions, he downed the stimulate potion and apparated away.

セブルススネイプ

He appeared on a grassy field near a small sleepy looking town. The sun was barely above the horizon. As he approached the circle, he hid the blue books that were in his mind with a black fog, and opened the brown ones flooding his brain with potion facts and trivia. He let the memories of the all nighter he had pulled mix with them. Hoping that was enough, he knelt before the Dark Lord in the second circle at his feet.

Voldemort looked over the ones he had called. His eyes rested on Severus briefly wondering how he made out with convincing Dumbledore. Since his spy was there, he knew that there was most likely a positive out come. "Malfoy, Cabbe, Goyle you are to go to this house and be sure no one leaves it alive." He passed them a piece of parchment with a street address on it. As that group left he continued assigning groups.

Severus suppressed his surprise from being split up from Lucius. They normally were partners in raids. 'He must be testing us... me especially. I wonder who I am going to be paired up with, and if there is a way I can stick to the background as normal. I doubt there will be a chance to save anyone.'

Pushing those thoughts away, he took a moment to secure the bag that he had placed the Dark Lord's potion order into. He had transfigured a handkerchief into a transport box for them and had shoved them into the bag that he had carried the ingredients in Wednesday. The vials were unbreakable, and the stoppers were charmed not to open until the counter charm was cast. The only thing left to do was secure the bag so it didn't swing about as he moved. The last thing he needed was for it to get in his way as he was casting. Resting the bag against the small of his back, he stuck it in place.

Once that was done he heard that he was grouped with two inner circle members, the elder Nott and Avery. Knowing that both of them enjoyed playing with their victims, Severus decided that he could just search the house and make sure that none escaped. Slipping his fingers over the inner robe pocket he felt the weight of the untraceable safe-keys that he had made of pebbles. They would take any child he found two hundred meters from their current location. The magic in the pebble would then dissipate, leaving no signature.

Following the other two, he slipped into the house before them at their signal. He was known for his stealth, so he was the first to go in.

As he came through the door he immediately spotted two children slipping down the stairs. "Silencio." The spell came out as the barest hiss. Pulling out two pebbles he dropped them into their hand even as they were attempting to scream and flee.

He hissed quietly to them while he held their hands preventing them from dropping the stones. "You are going to pop out of here... just like magic. I will send any other child here to the same place. Run as soon as you can and find a good hiding place. I cannot save the adults. Don't tell anyone that I helped you."

He didn't wait for them to acknowledge his orders, he activated the safe-keys and then opened the front door. Turning quickly he slipped up the stairs as Nott and Avery crashed into the house. He barely made it into the nursery before the adults rushed to see what the noise was. He blocked the sounds of their screaming from his mind as he sent an infant and a toddler away to their siblings. Even as Avery finished with the mother, Severus sent up the Dark Mark over the house.

Nott had already rushed the next house so he was unable to save anyone, and had to participate in the torture of the man of the house. The last house he was lucky enough to get the youngest ones out before Avery came into the room. The seven year old was left. Severus looked him in the eye, hoping the boy would understand, as he pulled his wand. Casting a stinging hex at the boy, he looked over at Avery. "This one is mine. Go see if there are any others."

"He is the last. Have fun." Avery leaned against the wall to watch.

Severus narrowed his eyes as he took in the older man's stance. Shifting just slightly so Avery would see what Severus wanted him to see, he cast towards a near-by desk. "Reducto." The desk shattered, the pieces pelting the boy while they bounced off a shield he had around himself. Avery was hit with a few as well. While Avery was distracted blocking the debris, Severus tossed a pebble to the boy. He hoped he would take it.

The boy's eyes widened as he noticed the pebble amidst the splinters that were flying at him. Moving quickly he grabbed it, hoping it would make him vanish like the others had done with his sisters.

Severus locked eyes with him once more, sending a wordless apology. "Diffindo." The spell sliced through the top layer of skin of the boy's arm, lacerating it. He heard Avery pulling Nott into the room. While the man's back was turned, Severus whispered the safe-key activation word towards the boy, willing him to understand and say it.

The boy clutched the stone tight as he mouthed the word the man was saying so quietly that the others wouldn't be able to hear him over the noise they were making. Suddenly he felt a pull at his navel and his room vanished.

Severus let out a growl of satisfaction that he knew the others would take as disappointment and frustration. "The boy did accidental magic." He shot a look over at Avery and Nott. "No one said that this was a wizard's house. No mudblood would have been able to do accidental magic to that level."

Avery spun about in the door that he was pulling Nott through. "What happened?"

Severus let his eyes narrow in frustration, glaring at the two who made him hurt the boy. "He apparated or something like it. He most likely is dead because he splinched himself, or tried to reappear inside of something." He slid his finger down the handle of his wand. "But my fun... was cut short." He slipped the wand into its holder. He continued, his voice a low hiss. "We do have another house, don't we?"

Nott shook his head as he watched the black eyes darken. He barely repressed the shiver of fear he felt as he was pinned with those eyes. "We need to head back to the Dark Lord."

Severus drew himself up, turned on his heel and stalked out of the house. Once outside, he apparated back to where they had started that morning, leaving one of the others to send the Mark into the air.

Voldemort noticed that Severus was upset and that Avery and Nott were being a touch wary as they stood next to him. He would get out of the other two what happened latter. Now was time to leave before the aurors arrived with Dumbledore's order in tow. "Disperse and be prepared for when I call you next."

Before he apparated away, Severus handed the Dark Lord the potions bag. He made four other stops before he appeared back in his flat. Hurtling the Death Eater robe and mask into the back of his wardrobe he headed to the shower. He needed to feel clean before he collapsed onto his bed.

Voldemort opened the bag an recognize that there was a potions carrier inside. Apparating back to his home base, he realized that Snape had already finished the list he gave him. Passing the bag to Master Ainsworth, he told the man to check the quality.

セブルススネイプ

Severus rolled over and looked at the amount of sun slipping through his window. Practice let him know that it was about noon. Sighing, he pushed his hair back out of his face and then himself out of bed. Shrugging out of his sleep shirt he had thrown on, he got dressed in robes. He had to go report to Dumbledore.

Tossing a bit of floo powder into his fireplace he sank to the floor. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office, Professor Dumbledore." Through the swirling flames he head Dumbledore grant him permission to come through. As he did, he hoped it wasn't into the arms of an awaiting auror.

Albus watched as Severus stepped out of the floo. He could see the tension in the boy's shoulder and the way his eyes flickered about the room. "Would you care for some tea or a lemon drop?"

Severus looked into the twinkling eyes and glanced quickly away to focus on the cup that was being offered to him. "Thanks."

"Have a seat." Albus gestured towards one of the chairs that were near the fireplace as he took its partner. "So, the raid was this morning. We found out the location a bit too late today. The aurors did not want to search for a misuse of magic starting that early in the day."

Severus nodded lightly as he tried to block out the memory of the last boy's eyes as he vanished, pulled away by the safe-key. He hoped someone would help the children who had escaped.

"There were, unfortunately, entire families that died. But there were a few bright spots, a few children to escape from their houses. They couldn't explain how they got out, just that they did." Albus looked at the bowed head across from him.

He would love to know how Severus succeeded in getting those little ones out of the houses. He was sure it was him, but the children's memories were clouded with fear and he couldn't quite figure out how the boy in front of him was accomplishing it. He had a feeling that the trick might save some of the Order members lives if he just knew. But he had no idea how else to broach the subject. He hoped Severus would tell him that it was him.

Severus suppressed a smirk. They had made it and were safe. If Dumbeldore had found them, they were being taken care of. Now they just had to get on with their lives and realize how lucky they were. He ran his hands down the front of his robe, passing over the pocket of pebbles. He hadn't meant to throw on the same robe he had worn to the raid, but it had been conveniently draped over the stool.

Albus waited a bit to see if Severus would tell him anything. The silence stretched and he noticed that the boy hadn't taken a sip of the tea. "Do you know how they are escaping? This is not the first time, though we have kept it quiet since we don't want to stop whomever is succeeding in saving the children. Most of the raids end with at least one child alive." Surely now he would be told.

Severus contemplated the tea in the cup. It was too pale for him. He was sure that Dumbledore had added too much sugar with the extra dollop of milk. 'Shows he doesn't know everything. I take my tea black and with one spoon of sugar.' He flickered his eyes over to the older man. The blue eyes were twinkling in a knowing manner. 'He knows it is me. Probably did that mind reading thing on the kids.' Holding in a sigh, he decided he was just too tired for this right now. Leaning back in his seat, he balanced the tea cup on his knee, using one hand to make sure it didn't fall. "Ask what you want. You know it is me who is getting them out."

"How are you getting them outside? They can't Apparate, and there is no trace of any other type of magical transport." The blue eyes took in the tiredness that was lining the face of the younger man now that he could see it.

Severus reached into his pocket, pulled out a small brown pebble and tossed it over to the older wizard.

Dumbledore caught the small stone that was sailing through the air at him. Turing it over in his hands, his eyes widened as he realized what it was. It wasn't quite a portkey. If anything, anyone who found the stone would only think it was a failed attempt at the Portus spell. That is if they thought it was anything besides a pebble. Rolling it around in his hand, he looked at the young man who looked like he was going asleep. "How does it work?"

Severus' eyes shot open as he realized that he had almost drifted off. 'To many years of sleeping in chairs near warm fires. I have to find a different chair to sit in when I report.' The Headmaster's question registered. "The same as a portkey. Just say the activation word while holding it and it will take you a set distance away. The current word is promise."

Dumbledore looked at the innocent stone in his hand. Was it that simple? His curiosity won out. Before he knew it he was mumbling the activation word.

Severus's eyes widened as Dumbledore activated the stone. He was sure that it wouldn't work here in Hogwarts. The stone wasn't even a true portkey, it had such a tiny bit of magic worked into it, he was sure that the wards would stop it. He started when the Headmaster disappeared. Grabbing another pebble from his pocket, he activated it, hoping the homing spell would take him to wherever the Headmaster vanished to.

Albus looked about trying to determine exactly where he was. He could tell it was a classroom, but which one he wasn't sure. A small displacement of air was all the alert he had that he was followed. He watched as the black eyes swept through the room before the boy nodded to himself.

"The wards shortened the distance. I would say that we are currently in the charms corridor." Severus opened the door to peer down the hall. "The far end of the corridor." His mind was still running through the significance of this unorthodox test of his safe-key spell. He words came out unguarded as he continued. "Would you please be more careful what you test where. I cannot guarantee the safety spells set on the pebbles would have worked. You could have ended up in something, or too far above the ground, or splinched."

Albus fought the smile that was trying to escape. Severus sounded just like an aggravated researcher whose project was tested without their permission. There was just enough bite to his statements to show that he had not lost the backbone he remembered the boy having. The tiredness was gone as the black eyes swept over him, determining if he was okay. "You hand them to children. I was certain that they have been thoroughly tested. Quite ingenious little things." He rolled the now simple pebble about in his hand. He remembered that one of the boys that morning tucking a pebble into his pocket. It was the only one that was hurt and the only one that refused to tell anyone what had happened.

Black eyes bore into blue. "It has not been tested inside of wards that do not allow apparition or other forms of magical travel. I would not have expected it to do anything. And just because part of the spell worked did not mean that all of them would have. For you to have activated something like this... without any prior knowledge... is foolhardy to say the least, sir." He glared at the man that was his boss.

Albus let his smile out. This was the man he wanted to work with, not the uncertain one that he had been seeing recently. "And now you know it works safely in this type of setting as well. Now, will you tell me how it works? I can tell it is not quite a portkey. That might be why the wards let it work, they can't identify the magic." He gestured the man out of the room and then stepped next to him to walk back to his office.

Severus looked at the older wizard. He wasn't upset at the way he had talked. He knew his tone was not the best, and the glares he had sent him had not been censored, and yet Dumbledore continued that conversation as if this was perfectly normal. If the man was going to let him get away with it, then he would continue. Taking a calming breath, he started to explain the series of spells that were on the small pebbles. He conveniently left out that they had all started out as a mistake.

セブルススネイプ

Severus finally pulled himself away from Dumbledore's questions and eventually made it back to his flat. A quick glance about his living room reminded him to change his furniture back to its original form. A flick of his wand had sheets of parchment changed into potion carrying containers safe for owl shipping. He quickly filled and labeled each one. He headed out to the public owlery and sent off the orders. On the way back to his flat he decided to head home. He could study there and set up his lab while his brain was absorbing and processing the information. As the Dark Lord hadn't tried to contact him about the potions, he decided it was safe to head out.

While he was in the bedroom changing back into his muggle cloths, he decided he was going to take his bed home. 'It won't fit into my old room, but I can move into my par... the master bedroom. I am the master of the house now. That will make my old room the guest room.' He smirked at the idea of having guests there as he shrunk his bedroom suite and stored it in the box with the other stuff he had bought. Hefting the box, he apparated back home. Appearing in his living room, he headed up the stairwell. 'Who needs a lorry? Just a bit of magic and a box, and you can move an entire house.'

Setting the box down outside the master bedroom door, he took a deep breath and opened it. Peering inside he steeled himself against the memory of his parents screaming at each other across the bed. It was the last memory he had of that room while his parents were alive. It was before his mother had become an outlet of his father's anger. Since that day he avoided this room. He had not entered it until he had cleaned it up the other day.

Shaking the memories out of his head, he drew his wand and entered. It didn't take much to shrink the furniture that was there. He was going to take it to the flat so there was something there just in case. He wasn't sure he could actually sleep on it, but he wasn't planning on spending any more nights there once he had the lab set up here. Picking up the miniatures he set them outside the door. Sending a cursory look about the room, he decided that it really needed a coat of paint. Something to make the room feel different. 'Might as well handle it in what is left of the afternoon. Nothing that I read will stick tonight anyway. I'll take the furniture to the flat, then pop back in town near the butchers and then pick up paint and a roller and come back. I'll paint it by hand and then dry it with magic. Set the furniture up and get some sleep. Tomorrow I can study.' Pocketing the furniture, he apparated away.

An hour later found him back in the room with a pail of pine green paint. A quick spell protected all the surfaces that he didn't want paint on including his cloths. Two hours later found him looking at the walls thinking that he should have repainted the ceiling before he began. Dismissing the idea, he set up his bedroom suite and then rummaged through the curtains that Mrs. Jameson had brought to see if there were any that would go with the new paint. It was dinner time when he was done. Looking over the room he smiled. It was his now. There were no negative feelings anymore.

The knock on his door came as he was heading for the kitchen. Opening the door, he raised an eyebrow at Thomas' muddy form dripping on his doorstep. "What happened to you?"

Thomas glanced back over his shoulder towards his home. "I was down by the river and slipped in. You know how paranoid Mom is about that. Can I ..." He trailed off as Severus waved him in through the door.

"Shower is up the stairs first door on the right. I'll get you a towel, the flannel on the sink is clean." Severus waved him towards the stairwell. "Leave the clothes in the tub when your done. I'll get you a bag to put them in."

He watched as Thomas headed towards the bath before he went to put the kettle on and start the stew that he wanted. Heading up, he grabbed a towel from the linen closet before pulling out an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt that had a chance of fitting somewhat. After a perfunctorily knock on the door, he cracked it and set the clothes just inside with the towel on top. "I put a change of clothes under the towel. I think that they'll fit okay. I'm working on dinner, so I'll see you in the kitchen."

"Thanks Severus!" Thomas' voice floated over the shower curtain."I'm almost done, so I'll be down in a minute."

"Tea's ready." With that Severus shut the door and headed back to the meal he was preparing.

Thomas followed his nose into the kitchen. As he entered he smiled at the sight of Severus carefully stirring a pot on the stove. The way he was holding the spoon made him think that this was something that Severus did often.

Severus glanced up at the sound of the door opening. Nodding a greeting to the other man, he ladled out the stew into the bowls that were waiting on the counter. "Did the clothes fit alright?"

Thomas made his way over to the counter to see if there was anything he could help with. "Close enough, and their cleaner than what I had on." He spotted two salads already prepared near the edge. "I'll take these to the table, okay?"

Severus glanced at the salads. "Do you want some type of dressing for yours? I think I have a few types in the fridge." He nodded over to the old fridge in the corner of the kitchen.

Thomas looked in and spotted a oil vinaigrette in a carafe. Grabbing it he poured a bit on one of the salads. Holding it over the other, he tipped his head in a question. When Severus shook his head no, he put the dressing back up and carried the bowls to the table. Severus followed behind him with the stew and then the rolls. They both settled in to eat neither speaking much until they were almost done.

"The place is looking good." Thomas looked about taking in the room.

"Thanks. It took a bit of scrubbing but it is coming together nicely." Severus smirked as he conveniently forgot to mention liberal use of reparo on the furniture, fixtures and counters. It had helped the place immensely.

Thomas met the dark eyes that were studying him. "You studying tomorrow after work?" When he received an affirmative, he rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. "I can lend you some of my university books to look through as yours aren't here. Shall I bring them by about two?"

Severus tapped his finger on the edge of his tea cup willing his brain to work. He was heading to bed once Thomas left. "That would be good, thanks."

Both of them collected and carried the dishes off to the sink. "Does your Mom know you are here?" When the brunette shook his head no, he raised an eyebrow at him. "I think you need to head out then before she starts to worry." He grabbed a bag out of one of the drawers and handed it to him. "Put the muddy things in here, and you can return my clothes tomorrow when you bring over those books."

With a smile and a nod, Thomas headed out.

Severus watched him go as he realized that he had a test that was going to be as bad as his mastery test coming up in a few days. He could not afford to sleep yet. Grabbing a strong cup of tea, he pulled out all the old books he had and started reviewing over both literature and grammar. He crashed at ten o'clock.

セブルススネイプ

Sunday morning found him at the butcher's with history books and notebooks stuffed in his bag. Propping the notebooks up on the windows ledge, he read and mixed.

Sandra came into a familiar scene. It had been a while since she had seen Severus studying and working, but it once was the norm for him. Especially around test time. "What are you testing for?"

Severus jerked his head up and focused on his boss. "Placement test on Tuesday." He continued when she just raised an eyebrow at him. "Mrs. Jameson didn't tell you? I was accepted into a correspondence university to get an education degree. I am teaching next school year at a private boarding school and felt it would be a good idea to have an education degree."

Sandra nodded. "Then get on with it. What are you studying today?"

"History." He passed her the tray he had just finished. Flipping the page of his notebook, he scanned his notes before he headed into the cooler to pull out the slabs of beef he needed to cut into steaks. He let the information he read roll about his mind, brushing the rust off the information, making connections to other bits to make sense.

By time he reached home, he was ready for a mental break from history. So when Thomas brought over his old university text books, he selected the science ones and started reading over them, pulling out the notebooks that he was filling in on Friday. That afternoon he focused on both biology and chemistry. Those were two subjects he could not perform poorly on for his story to hold up.

Monday rolled about and he started in on math. Pouring through the trigonometry and calculus books, he brushed up on how to work the problems.

That afternoon Thomas came over and spent a good bit of time quizzing him on the books that he had brought over. Mrs. Jameson made sure he came over to eat, and then quizzed him through out the meal. Even Mr. Jameson started in on the random quizzing. He left their house Monday evening with the orders of getting to bed on time and being ready to head out early ringing in his ears. And he did just that. He knew his mind needed to process the information, and sleep helped it do just that.