A/N: So…this is late. *sigh* I've already pre-written the next chapter, so either a bonus or a regular weekly chapter for next Saturday. I've been a tiny bit busy. I'd like to say it's understandable, but that might be a stretch. Forgive me.

-C

Sanna bundled her body against the cold. She had a later work session today, and while no reason was given, Sanna guessed it had something to do with the head of the Unspeakables wanting to take his wife out for a fancy lunch. She decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth, and to make the most of her half-day by stopping at a bookshop in Knockturn Alley reported to have very interesting manuscripts on her line of work.

No one else at the office was brave enough to go. Brave, or perhaps stupid. Sanna didn't know the difference.

The whole of Knockturn Alley seemed to reek of various types of smoke, pickled potions ingredients, and a layer of sweat and grime and filth so thick it couldn't have been scraped off the street or its inhabitants for all the spells in the arsenal. She held her breath as she entered the shop, ignoring the leer of the young man at the counter as she let her eyes examine the layout and determine the best possible starting point.

Matters of the soul were almost certainly under death magic, and so she started there.

Sanna had felt she was being watched since she'd digressed down Knockturn Alley, but the sensation intensified when she took a book off the shelf, carefully, taking her hand off her wand for a fraction of a moment when she did so.

"We really should stop meeting like this, Scott," Snape's silky voice said, entirely too close to the back of her neck. She shifted, not turning around as she let her fingers glide down the binding of the book. He was trying to frighten her, and she wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"You mean you're not simply stalking me?" she said lightly, about to open the book.

Snape grabbed her wrist sharply, and his voice suddenly tense as he said, "Don't tell me you're stupid enough to open a book in a shop like this without testing it."

Her spine tingled, and she said, "They wouldn't put it on the shelves without a label if it weren't safe."

He snorted, but she let him slip the book out of her hands and run some tests. Her cheeks felt hot as she realized her own naivety. A glance at the leering salesman told her there was no offense at the act, and so this must be common practice in such shops.

"There," he said, passing it back to her, and Sanna glanced up at his black eyes, her chest tightening at the amusement in them. "Safe. And I can assure you, it has what you're looking for."

She bit back a defiant snap about how he didn't know what she was looking for. By now, she knew he did. A wave of nausea hit her as she realized here in Knockturn Alley he could do whatever he wanted to her and no one, not even the leering man behind the counter, would bat an eyelash. And she didn't have a hand on her wand. As if he could see this realization behind her eyes, his pale lips curled.

"Not today, Scott," he said softly, his voice silky once again. "I want to give you time to read that book, to think on it. You know, he has libraries full of things like this at his disposal, knowledge you couldn't dream existed." Her breath caught, and she wondered what such a library might look like, how it would smell, if she could truly read whatever she wished. Her cheeks burned hotter as she thought of what such access would mean, but Snape knew the pull this had on her.

He shook his head and said, "If you want to pretend there is no pull for you, that's fine. But know if you are resistant the next time, I won't be so generous."

"Generous?" she said, snorting. "Snape, you've done nothing but hand me a book I'd already taken off the shelf."

"You know that's not all I've done here," he said, narrowing his eyes. "And what I haven't done is more relevant."

Sanna shivered, taking a step away from him, but secretly relieved he stayed and watched as the leering man sold her the book. She had the sense Snape was known here, and his presence was holding the leering man's tongue. She tried not to feel too grateful.

He didn't follow her out of the shop, but he did catch her eye before she left, and she knew his comment had been meant as a kind of threat. Whenever they crossed paths again, he wouldn't just let her walk away. He said nothing, but his dark eyes were so confident, it made her sick. Sanna tried to calm herself, forget about Snape, and she decided to go to the Ministry early.

From the Apparation point in Diagon Alley, Sanna travelled directly to the Apparation point outside the Ministry, and she went through the employee entrance from there.

The Ministry was bustling with activity, people and memos zooming to and fro, and a general positive buzz of productive and pleasant discussion. From this place, in the middle of the atrium, Sanna would never have guessed a war was raging outside the walls. Perhaps even inside the walls.

She checked her watch, frowning at how long her wait was until the window: too long to go directly there, but not long enough to truly relax. Sanna was just trying to decide how to waste a twenty minute or so span of time when she saw a smirking Mulciber approaching her with purpose. Sanna glanced around to see if anyone she knew was nearby, but she was alone in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

"Scott," he said, grinning perhaps too brightly. Was it possible he knew she'd run into Snape? No, she decided. He was just that overconfident in his own abilities and charm.

"Don't you have work to do?" she said with a sniff.

"Lucky for you, I'm on break."

Sanna bit her tongue. Sarcastic remarks would only encourage him. Mulciber seemed to take everything as encouragement.

"There's an event coming up," he said, as though she cared about the soirees of his set. "And your fortune is getting better and better."

"I'm not going to this event," Sanna sighed, "with or without you. Now, if you don't mind—"

Mulciber grabbed her arm as she tried to pass, and Sanna silently cursed herself for not having her wand at the ready, but she never would have expected to need it at work. Was this a sign of naivety, or of stupidity?

She tried to pull her arm from his grasp, but he squeezed tighter, not enough to be truly painful but with a promise that he could certainly squeeze harder if she continued to struggle. Sanna froze, taking a deep breath as she avoided looking at him, trying to think what to do.

"Don't be foolish, pet," he said softly. "You need to slow down, consider the positives. Wouldn't it just be easier to allow me to lead you to the inevitable conclusion of this struggle?"

A few short months ago, Sanna would have said with firm belief that nothing was inevitable, but her current line of research had shaken that belief. Death was largely inevitable—despite some theories designed to the contrary—and the soul's nature was greatly forged before life experience, which made a person's fate more inevitable than Sanna had ever dared suppose. She preferred to think of life in terms of choices, but the more she learned, the less she trusted in the power of those choices.

Instead, she took a deep breath and said, "If you don't let go of my arm right now, Mulciber, I am going to scream."

She expected him to let go, but he barely loosened his grip as he said, "Be careful, Scott. You might be female, and that might be enough in the Muggle world, but here my station gives me immunity you can't imagine."

She thought of Mary and she shivered. Sanna bit her tongue to keep from saying something brutal, sarcastic, or just stupid. Instead, she tried to twist herself free of his grasp. Still to no avail.

"Why don't we just play a game?" she said softly, her neck stiff. He leaned closer, clearly interested in what she might say. He should really know better by now. "How about you let go of me and leave me alone and I won't hex you."

He laughed, turning his body, trying to pull her closer, but Sanna was already working her other arm around to grab her wand.

"I do appreciate your spirit, Scott," he said, his eyes flashing, amused. "I wonder, however, when you will finally recognize your position. Whether you accept it yet or not, you belong to me. Why not just enjoy the benefits?"

Sanna snorted. He must be crazy if he thought there would be any benefits for her in the picture he'd painted. She briefly thought of Severus Snape's offer of knowledge beyond what she could currently imagine, and she felt a squirm in the base of her abdomen. No, Mulciber had no idea what to offer her.

She did a quick Stinging Jinx to get Mulciber to let go of her with a yelp of pain, and she entertained the idea of hexing him further. But the sick thing was he wasn't wrong: in their world, his word would mean more than hers, even in a crowded government atrium. Perhaps especially here, in their place of work.

"Who is your spy in my department?" she demanded, but he simply smirked at her, confirming the hints Snape had given, that someone truly was watching her everywhere she turned.

Sanna thought of Gideon, not that he was in any more danger for dating her than he'd be just in the line of his work or his Order work. They wouldn't bother targeting him to hurt her. Family, perhaps. But her sisters were at Hogwarts, except Grace. And her father and Grace were out of her hands. The Order took measures to protect them, as with all family members.

She thought of Sirius, then. She thought of how they already wanted to target him, how Snape knew how to push all his buttons, how Sirius would do the craziest things to protect the people he loved. She couldn't imagine what he would do if someone in the Death Eaters decided to pressure him to get to her. And the worst part was, if they did hurt him, she wasn't sure what she'd do to protect him, either.

Before she could think of a better way to deal with Mulciber than a Stinging Jinx, Sanna spotted Marlene over his shoulder and felt her muscles unknit. When he heard Marlene say Sanna's name, his smirk twitched, and he made a small move to grab Sanna again before she pulled her wand to a more visible place, reminding him he was outnumbered.

"Have a pleasant and productive day, Scott," he said softly as Marlene hurried toward them. "And don't forget our little chat."

Sanna said nothing, watching him leave as Marlene pulled up beside her, frowning, confused.

"What did he say?" Marlene pressed.

"The usual," Sanna said, shrugging, slipping her wand up her sleeve. She needed a sleeve holster. If she put it on her Christmas list, she figured Sirius would get her one by the next weekend.

He was terribly impatient.

"I don't suppose you're the reason his hand was bright red?"

Sanna grinned to herself, checking her watch before leading the way to the lift, grinning as she and Marlene talked about dinner at the Prewett pad, upcoming, and the dinner Sirius swore they were going to host soon.

"Is there room in your place for something like that?" Marlene asked with a laugh.

"Oh, we've the space," Sanna said, checking her watch again. "But only in the garden. I'm making him swear we're not doing any hosting until summer. He's not agreeing yet, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Marlene was curious about these tricks, but Sanna wouldn't dare speak of them. Mostly, she was thinking of how flustered and uncertain he'd been when she'd teased him a month or so ago, and she knew if she ever really needed to get him to agree to something, the best thing would be to appeal to his testosterone. Every man had his weaknesses, and most of them could count testosterone among those.

"What a way to spend Valentine's Day, eh?" Marlene said, standing in line with the other Unspeakables to punch their timecards and be admitted to the Department. She scratched her jaw and checked her watch. "Plans with Gideon for the night?"

"No," Sanna said, frowning. "He's got a family thing."

Marlene's eyes flashed with recognition, but she didn't ask questions. Family thing was the best way Sanna could say Order mission without raising suspicion at work.

"Sirius, then? Don't tell your sister."

Sanna snorted. She shook her head and said, "Sirius is out with mates tonight."

Again, Order mission. Marlene's face flashed with sympathy.

Leave it to Sanna's luck, Gideon and Sirius were put on a mission together. On Valentine's Day. Perhaps the universe was saying something to her, although she didn't know what.

"The worst bit?" she said with a small, forced grin. "I can't even work late to drown my sorrows."

"Oh, darling," Marlene said with a sigh. "I'd ask you over to do something fun, but I'm already booked with Anissa. And the reservation is only for two."

"Don't worry about it," Sanna said, waving her hand as if to bat away the sympathies. She didn't mind time alone, even though she knew Sirius was freaked out by leaving her home alone for any length of time. If it weren't for it being Valentine's Day, she might have expected him to send James her way, but she didn't think he would manage to tear James from Lily long enough for that. "I'm pretty sure Sirius has arranged someone to check on me after work, anyway."

"James?"

"No, probably Remus."

Marlene halted their shuffle forward as the line moved, and she raised her eyebrows with supposed meaning Sanna felt better ignoring.

"Is that a good idea? I mean, it's Valentine's Day."

Sanna laughed and said, "Marlene, darling, this isn't our first Valentine's Day as exes. It's not that big of a deal. We're friends. We're capable of having hot chocolate and talking about social stuff."

Social stuff, of course, meant the Order, and Marlene shrugged, not wanting to have the argument where someone might overhear and parse the meaning of their words. They inched toward the front of the line, had their cards punched and their badges checked, and entered the Department.

"Oh, you're going to the library, too?" Marlene asked, grinning. "I've been shifted there to do a big research project."

Sanna grinned and held the door open.

"I've practically lived here for some time," she said, winking. "How long is your project going to take?"

"Merlin only knows," Marlene said, and the girls quickly began creating a specious, complex code they could use in the library, just in case someone was watching them or entered, so they could discuss almost anything simply pretending to talk about books and research. As they'd been creating private codes since they were children, it was a simple task to adjust their previous syntax to the new vocabulary.

"Are you using the compendium next week?" Marlene asked.

Translation: Are you holding the fort next week?

"Probably the week after," Sanna said, checking her watch. "It's so strange, not being able to tell Sirius about work."

Translation: I don't like doing Order work without Sirius.

Marlene's lips twitched and she said, "Well, you know what Veronika keeps saying about you two."

"Merlin, don't."

"Well, she's quite adamant. Has been for years."

"She failed Divination."

"Darling, I don't need a crystal ball to suppose that boy's mad for you."

Sanna felt her cheeks go red as she thought of Sirius's kiss on a cold night in a tent, the champagne still on his lips. What would Marlene say if she knew about that? Or about how easily he melted to her touch when she teased him. Her pulse raced.

"It's in your imagination," Sanna said, her voice far cooler than she felt. "Sirius isn't interested in me, and he never has been."

"Doesn't have to stay that way," Marlene teased. "You do live together. If you showed up in his bed one night, I've no doubt he'd give in without a fight."

Her cheeks burned hotter, if possible. But Marlene was wrong. They shared a bed or a sofa every night, and nothing had happened. Sometimes she woke up with his arms around her, but that was only to be expected when people shared a bed. Natural instinct, the way she used to cuddle a pillow when she slept in a bed by herself. Now, she just cuddled Sirius.

Nothing abnormal about that.

"I thought you thought he was gay," Sanna said, snorting. She felt bad for bringing it up again, as Sirius was still very sensitive about the fact Marlene had ever asked, but it seemed the best out.

"That was before I started watching the way he is with you, when we're out."

At meetings.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Darling, there are clues. Body language, vocal shifts, even hints in how the pupils dilate. He ticks all the boxes. He never leaves your side."

"We're close, that's all."

"His body always angles toward yours. He smiles when you enter a room or say his name. His whole posture changes when you talk to him. His voice is lower when he talks to you then with other people. He leans toward you when he listens to you. And the most obvious piece is that someone could use his gaze to know where you are in a room at any given time. He watches you constantly."

Sanna didn't believe Marlene, but as she hadn't come prepared with a stack of contrary evidence, she changed the subject to Lily's upcoming hen do, knowing it was the only subject that would suitably distract her friend.

Because of all the things Sanna knew, she knew none more firmly than that Sirius Black was just her friend.

A/N: So, Severus and Sanna book shop, Mulciber's a prat (still), and Marlene and Sanna have coded girl talk at work.

Review Prompt: How long will Voldemort be patient with his minions? When will they crank up their efforts?

Q&A:

Q: How does Sanna see the relationship [with Gideon] working out? Is she serious about it? (Michand)

A: Sanna hasn't thought much about the direction of the relationship. She doesn't do a lot of long-term planning, focusing on one long-term thing at a time. For most of her school years, that one thing was becoming an Unspeakable. Now she has that, her long-term thing is the war. She is serious about Gideon, but where he is thinking in terms of relationship stages and where they're headed, she's enjoying the present, knowing the future will come or it won't, without her planning it out. If the war were to end a week from now, she'd turn her attention to the relationship and that would be her focus until she achieved whatever goal she set for it.

Cheers,

C