Snape was so elated from the evening's conclusion that he apparated back to Hogwarts' grounds wearing only his leather harness and thong. He was practically skipping up the path leading to the school before he came to his senses. Dammit, thought Snape, he had left his cloak at the Manor. He abandoned the path and began sulking in the shadows of the barren Forbidden Forest trying to find something to transfigure into clothing. He took off his leather harness and attempted to transfigure it into a cloak but it was too little material. The result was something closer to a leather mini skirt, which Snape put on with a shrug. Just as he was resigned to spending the rest of his life in the forest, a house elf apparated in front of him with its eyes pressed closed and its arms outstretched with a horrid sunshine yellow cloak. After Snape finished berating himself for being such a dodgy spy, and after donning Dumbledore's atrociously coloured cloak, he noticed a figure approaching him.

"Severus, lovely to see you. I would think in the future you would be a bit more careful with your attire. But never mind that! You have certainly had an eventful evening, let us adjourn to my office," said Dumbledore cheerfully.

Snape mindlessly followed Dumbledore back to his office and gladly accepted a vial of calming draught and another lemon drop. Despite the potions affect, he was still alarmed to notice Dumbledore's office had transformed into a state of insanity. All the walls were covered with intricate yarn work connecting hand written pinned notes and vials of pensieve memories. It was akin to that of a crime scene investigation.

"I did my homework while you were gone Severus," announced Dumbledore matter-of-factly.

"Evidently," acknowledged Snape as he exhaustedly collapsed into an armchair.

"First order of business Severus. Do you require medical attention?" inquired Dumbledore briskly.

"I have not been physically harmed," Snape answered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat and promoting Dumbledore to approach him like a wounded animal. Lowering himself to Snape's level, Dumbledore delicately placed his fingers on Snape's temples and assessed him with a piercing stare. "May I?" he asked. Snape nodded dejectedly and lowered his occlumency barriers.

"Legilimens," Dumbledore whispered.

After Dumbledore withdrew from his memories, Snape looked at him expectantly and cleared his throat.

"After the war is over, a great deal of psychiatric help will be in order for the both of us Severus. Unfortunately there is still work to be done so we must keep our memories," answered Dumbledore gravely.

Dumbledore became distant and thoughtful before continuing "For now, allow me to brew us some healing hot cocoa, which I believe will go splendidly with a class of drugs the muggles call amphetamines. They work wonders for improving one's concentration," concluded Dumbledore as he gestured to the mess of yarn he had littered around his office.

Against his better judgement, Snape found himself accepting a cup of cocoa and asking "Pray tell me, to what end are we getting high tonight?" as he glared skeptically at the small white pill in his palm.

Dumbledore responded from on top of his desk, perched on his toes, his arms stretched above his head to pin yarn and 'clues' to the ceiling. Despite it being past 02:00am Dumbledore appeared unusually alert, and when he stood still to answer Snape, a fine tremor ran through his body.

"Horcruxes," answered Dumbledore wildly. "I believe I have found the connection between Tom and the objects he has chosen," continued Dumbledore confidently. Dumbledore paused dramatically before jumping off his desk and striding to where Snape sat. "Think Severus, he is an orphan, what is he lacking?"

"Parents," answered Snape dumbly.

"He is sentimental Severus. Hogwarts was his only home and he has shown an affinity for the power of the four founders. Ravenclaw's diadem was stolen during his time. Slytherin's locket is unaccounted for," explained Dumbledore frantically.

"That can't be right," answered Snape bewildered. "The Dark Lord would have never selected items that could be connected that easily. It would be foolish. He would sooner make a horcrux out of a grain of sand," explained Snape frustratedly.

"There is no power in a grain of sand Severus, and I suspect he would not care if the horcruxes were found for they would be greatly protected. For instance, the diary," explained Dumbledore with a sad smile. "Besides," Dumbledore continued casually, "I have already surmised the location of Slytherin's locket."

Flashbacks to a similar conversation played out in Snape's head. A muggle bar, a dirty bathroom, and a ring that would start and end it all. With a sigh Snape nodded for Dumbledore to elaborate.

"This will be your mission while I locate the remaining horcruxes. The locket was originally held by Regulus Black and was stolen from the Black house by Mundungus Fletcher. The locket is now in the hands of Dolores Umbridge. You must obtain the locket without her knowledge and without magic. Naturally, she is being monitored by the ministry, which is infiltrated with Death Eaters. It will be prudent that your magical signature cannot be detected on her."

Snape loathed having to interact with Umbridge but he cast the idea out of his mind. "You said the objects will be greatly protected," Snape commented seriously, "how will we destroy them?"

"Four years ago Tom's diary was successfully destroyed with basilisk venom. I think that will suffice again," answered Dumbledore with a smirk as he knelt down in front of an obscured loose floor board. Pulling the floor board away, Dumbledore revealed a small cavity with hidden objects.

"I keep a great many objects that I think will one day serve a purpose," explained Dumbledore as he began excavating items from the floor. The first to appear was a stack of pornographic magazines followed by a collection of 1980's early rave music. Finally, in a dusty crocheted bag there was a handful of basilisk fangs, that is, all the basilisk fangs Snape had picked over before the Chamber of Secrets was permanently sealed.

"Very well," Snape responded curtly before taking leave of Dumbledore's office.