A/N: I was very busy in RL, hence the long pause, but it was beautiful to see that this story is still being read and appreciated, thank you so much for the reviews! They worked! Here's a new chapter, and the plot is picking up again...
Chapter 29
He couldn't believe the words on the parchment, but there they were. What was wrong with him? He picked up his quill and crossed out the last line, drawing tiny loops and wiggles over the letters until he could no longer make out her name. Not that it helped purging her from his mind, but at least the evidence had been erased.
He went back to work, translating the rest of her notes. When he read through them after he had finished, he realized that she had left out some information here and there, only referencing vaguely to the experiments she had conducted. It seemed she had used the Visibilis spell in combination with two others to observe changes in the brain, but she had not provided more details.
He could only deduce from this that what he had received had not been her full notes, but a summary that she had written especially for him. He did not know what to make of that.
He gathered the notes and set to work, adjusting his experiments according to her findings.
A couple of hours later, there was a knock at the door. Severus froze, wand in hand and cast a silent finite incantatem at the transfigured mug on his desk while he kept his eyes trained on the door.
No one knew that he was here. At least no one who wouldn't have let him know beforehand that they were coming. Slowly, silently, he made his way towards the door. Holding his breath, he softly rested his palm against the door and closed his eyes.
He sensed someone on the other side, someone whose magic held a dark nuance. Severus could guess who that might be. Holding his wand ready, he cracked open the door to reveal Doholov standing on the other side.
"Snape," he growled. "May I come in?"
He let the door swing open, and Dolohov pushed inside. His long, twisted face turned into a sneer as he swept his gaze over the few pieces of furniture. His burly frame seemed to shrink the room. Severus, closing the door silently, indicated one of the two armchairs and Dolohov settled himself into one. He did not speak until both were seated. Severus regarded him with a quirked eyebrow but otherwise bored expression.
"Snape. What a surprise to find you here in Varna."
"Indeed," Severus inclined his head, not giving anything away.
"What brings you here?"
"Research."
"About what?" Dolohov's eyes had taken on a strange glint.
"None of your business, I would say."
Dolohov leaned forward in his chair. "Maybe it is."
"Pray tell me, how did you come to that conclusion?"
"It is too big of a coincidence that you turn up here, of all places. Especially after word has been out that we were looking for you with a most lucrative offer. I think you have heard of those rumors and have come to find out what it is exactly that I have to offer."
Snape inclined his head again, conceding the point, but otherwise not replying.
They stared at each other, the tension in the room mounting.
Finally, Dolohov broke the silence. "My offer is this: In three days, I will come to this room to pick you up for a side-along apparition. We have a secret-kept house at our disposal where you will have your own rooms for the stay. You will have access to everything you will need for your research, but until you have finished, you will not leave or be in contact with other parties aside from the people living at the house. Aside from monetary endowments, you will also be granted access to whatever product you can procure using the artifact." He looked at Snape, trying to gauge his reaction, but Severus stony face gave nothing away.
"Who else is there?" Severus asked.
Dolohov grinned. "That, you will have to find out for yourself, Snape." He rose from his chair. "I will be back in three days at this precise time. If you are not here, I will presume you are not interested. But if you are, I then consider your next steps well. I want to point out that not everyone is going to trust you. We are well aware of your role as a double spy during the war, so we will take certain precautions. Be prepared."
With that, he opened the door and swept outside, leaving Severus to ponder about this new development.
Hermione sighed as she stepped out of the tub, completely relaxed after half an hour of stewing in hot water. The cold dungeon air had seeped into her bones and after her bath, she finally felt warm again.
Dressing herself in her pajamas, she picked up the coin that she had left next to the tub. She gasped as she felt the heat on her fingertips.
/ OOP business: Dolohov has made contact. I am to meet with him in three days from now. I will have to proceed very carefully as he mentioned my role as a double spy. I will take the time to review my notes and practice the spells necessary to work with the artifact. I will give a last report before he comes to pick me up. /
This was it. The next step.
Her stomach dropped as she considered the ramifications. For one, the light-hearted banter she had upheld with Severus would probably come to a swift stop. But what worried her more was that he would soon be in the constant presence of some of the most despicable human beings she had ever met. Who knows what they might do to him?
Her heart clenched in her chest. How she wished she could be there with him, but for now, all she had was the coin. That thought startled her out of her musings and she quickly sent an owl to Harry informing him of these new developments.
After the owl had disappeared into the night, Hermione slipped into her bed, trying to find some sleep but only tossing and turning in the end, all of her thoughts occupied with Severus. Finally, when she could bear it no longer, she rose and went to her desk, taking out her linked parchment.
She chewed on her lip, unsure what to write. Everything she could think of sounded wrong somehow, and did little to capture the message she was trying to convey. In the end, she settled on three simple words.
/ Please be careful. /
She watched the words slowly disappear, tracing her fingertips over the fading lines, wishing she could be touching him. With a sigh, she put it away and returned to bed, finally able to catch some of that elusive sleep.
A/N: So the story is going to pick up speed... reviews help! :)
