A fascinating potion. Brilliant- absolutely genius.

I held up the tiny vial of liquid. It defied my expectations. Gwyar's cordial is no ordinary poison. Instead of the usual poison ingredients- crisped imp skin for fiery pain, iris stamens for summoning the content of nightmares, dragon milk for counteracting other potions, I found only star spider thread, an ingredient used to silence unwanted thoughts.

Most of the components I could not identify, but there was one more I thought I could pinpoint- tears of some kind. I tested for the usual- infant, widow, water sprite - nothing. I tested for the rarer varieties- phoenix, nymph, dragon. It eluded me.

Then I found it. They were Morpheus tears.

Bloody brilliant.

I rose from my bench and walked away from this new marvel I have found, only to turn back to examine it again.

Morpheus tears had been used in the past to create potions that exchange the usual dream state for a lucid nightmare. It was prized by those who valued their control so much they were willing to sacrifice all the happiness from their dreams. Gwyar's cordial does not create pain. Instead it clears the mind and the senses and summons forth evil with which the mind must grapple with terrifying clarity, only to forget the struggle at the edge of consciousness.

A nasty little brew. I can't believe I didn't think of it myself.

My original suspicion was correct- it would in fact be impossible to create more of the same potion; Morpheus bats had disappeared long ago. Instead I could amplify the potion and add a few of my own touches to create an equally effective, if less elegant, brew.

I should finish marking essays before indulging myself in a new challenge.

Ah, right. I have no essays to grade. I have no classes to teach. No students to punish. No fellow professors to tolerate.

My, it is good to be…

"Headmaster."

Alecto. Shit. I knew there was a reason I hated this job.

How the hell had she gotten in here without my noticing? Like a child with a new toy I'd let my guard down. Idiot!

I cleared my mind and looked up. "Yes."

Alecto's stocky body settled itself into a defiant posture. "Have you anything to report on the mudblood's knowledge of order activities?"

"No. My efforts have been directed elsewhere."

"Well then Amycus and I will take her interrogation off of your hands."

That had been a poor choice of words on my part. "You will not. I have need of her."

I noted Alecto's pudgy hands clench into fists as she tried to moderate her temper. "Your mental techniques are all very well, but it seems that more traditional methods would yield results more quickly. The Dark Lord wishes-"

"The Dark Lord ordered me to make the reconstruction of Gwyar's Cordial my priority, as it could have significant consequences for our interrogation methods in general. This is about more than just Granger." I spat dismissively. "Her blood is required for my research, and I warn you Alecto," I dropped my voice and advanced on her, "if you so much as touch the mudblood you will have endangered that goal and disobeyed my instructions. And I will be most displeased."

I halted my approach less than a foot from her face. She swallowed and set her chin a notch higher, her beady eyes shifting away from mine. Was she afraid? Or defiant?

I touched a finger to my wand. Her eyes would not meet mine. "Is that understood?" She pursed her lips… finally her eyes flickered up…

Legilimens.

I expected her thoughts to be dull. They usually are. But the fervor of her thoughts was noticeable today. I peered into her mind.

A volley of curses hurtling through the air… Death Eaters moving in on a group of Aurors. Hissing, sparking, spitting jets of hexes… the dull thud of a body hitting the floor, dead.

"Severus, stop-" Lucius' voice.

The noise had stopped. Turning to see… a Death Eater, Snape by his stature, holding the last Auror to the wall by his throat. The man's legs were dangling and a gagging sound escaping his mouth in the unnatural quiet. "Oh come, Severus, let us all have a share of the fun. We can't kill him just yet."

Looking around for Amycus… he's there. Undamaged. Good.

"What enchantments guard the next room?" Severus's whispered threat… he leaned toward the auror's ear… the man shook his head…

"Tell me!" Louder. A Command.

"Kill me," the man said.

"Yes, kill him, but not before he tells us- uuh!" Lucius said. He tries to pry Snape's arm away from the man's throat, Snape knocks him in the face.

Snape suddenly lets go of the man, who crumples to the floor.

Snape stands tall, deigning to look down at the thing at his feet. The irritated jut of his chin…

"I am going to count to three. There will not be a four." Snape said. The consonants lashed out at the man.

"One."

The man tries to raise his head… slumps back.

"Two."

Lucius' eyes flick from the man to Snape and back.

"Three."

The man glares up at Snape. Daring him.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A green flash. A dark red after image.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Lucius screamed. "WE NEEDED-"

"Damn it all Lucius! We are perfectly capable of identifying and disabling a few bloody insignificant protection charms! I have little patience for…" They stride away…

Catch Amycus' eye. Do not dare Snape. Do not try his patience…

As her memory fades I withdraw into my own skin.

"Understood."

"You're dismissed."

She retreats. More quickly than usual. I sat back down on my bench. How was I going to begin? I don't recall…

His name was Gregory- the man I killed in her memory. He had been a student during my first two years as potions master. A Ravenclaw. He had a steady hand and a narrowly focused mind. A good student. As such, I was especially hard on him. Gregory had always disliked me, for no particular reason other than listening to public opinion. Then I killed Dumbledore, and he hated me.

I remember that final expression on his face- his disbelief, his inexperience, his complete lack of comprehension of that which can drive a man to do the unspeakable.

I killed him to spare him the torture that would otherwise have preceded his death. Gregory and I, we were on the same side. He was too dim to conceive of the courtsey I paid him. He could not understand. Few can- I can think of only two. The first I killed and he fell from the astronomy tower into oblivion.

And the second. I could see her now, sitting before me as if she were real, her soft, trusting gaze penetrating my disguise. Dangerous. And yet she is also my greatest ally.

I knew what would happen to her if I failed. I could imagine them tearing away that delicate white flesh of her arms, the flesh that I had so carefully tended. I could see those huge brown eyes shut tight against the pain, her eyebrows drawn up in agony, the screams…

It will only be a matter of time before my excuses run out. I need to have a plan.

I could save her the way I had saved George and the way I had saved Albus. I could kill her myself.

No. It would not work.

I couldn't. Damn. I couldn't kill Hermione.

A/N: Finally- I got to quote Die Hard! If you haven't seen Die Hard you MUST see Die Hard! You will love Alan Rickman even more than before. Yes. It's possible.

To my reviewers, I have two words for you: thank you! You guys make my day.