A/N – Sorry it's been a long gap between chapters, I had a double dose of the flu! The plus side is that I now have several chapters completely planned out and I know exactly where this story is going. I hope you all enjoy this, and as usual please review!

Chapter 5 – Some Roads Lead Nowhere

Harry looked dumbly at Snape. 'I'm sorry you want to what?'

'Shut your mouth Potter and let me in.' Snape snapped. 'You heard me perfectly. I want to help with the investigation and I certainly can't do that from your front step.'

Harry shook his head, almost as if that might clear the illusion and make Snape disappear.

'Are you going to let me in or not?' Snape asked irritably.

Harry moved aside and let him in, closing the front door behind him. 'Do you have any idea what time it is?' He asked.

'You clearly weren't asleep so stop complaining.' Snape said, taking off his travelling cloak to reveal his typical black wizarding robes underneath.

'That's not really the point you know.' Harry said, taking Snape's cloak. He felt like he was in a dream. 'How did you know where I live?'

'Kingsley.' Snape said shortly.

'You went to see Kingsley?' Harry said in surprise.

'Yes believe it or not I actually set foot in the ministry today. Are we going to stand in your entranceway all night?' Snape looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry frowned. 'The kitchen's this way.' He said, hanging up Snape's cloak in the hallway cupboard and waving him down the hallway.

Snape looked odd sitting in Harry's kitchen. There was no other way to describe it. So odd in fact that Harry felt compelled to say so. 'I never thought I'd see you of all people sitting in my kitchen.'

'You and me both Potter.' Snape said drily.

'This is very surreal.'

'Deal with it.'

'Okay.'

'I understand that you're working on the case as a consultant?' Snape queried.

'Yes. I mean I suppose. I only spoke to Kingsley about it this morning.' Harry said. 'When did you see him?'

'I went to the ministry this morning.' Snape said. 'I believe I spoke with him shortly after he returned from his visit with you.'

'I see.' Harry didn't really know what else to say.

Snape sighed. 'I see I'm going to have to do all the talking. I decided shortly after you left my cottage that I wished to help with the investigation. After attempting to talk myself out of it for several hours I instead decided to head to the ministry and discuss the case with Kingsley. Believe me this was easier said than done. When I was finally able to discuss it with him he suggested that I work in conjunction with you on a consultancy basis. He directed me here and assured me that I would be welcome.'

Harry nodded. 'You are welcome. I'm just surprised. I never considered that you'd want to help, or that you'd be able to tolerate working with me.'

'As it turns out you're not the worst company in the world Potter.' Snape said seriously. 'As for wanting to help, you could say I feel somewhat responsible. It seems to me as though my reasons for helping are far more likely than yours. This case has nothing to do with you, why do want to assist so badly?'

'I don't know.' Harry said honestly. 'Maybe because the concept of a wizard serial killer disturbs me so much, and maybe because I feel like I can help.' He paused. 'Or maybe because I'd do anything to feel alive again.'

Snape didn't comment, instead he tilted his head towards Harry's dining room, where he could see the contents of the case file laid out on the table. 'I assume that my arrival interrupted you working, despite the late hour?'

Harry shrugged. 'I suppose. I had barely started really. I'm looking for a connection between the victims.'

'Kingsley said as much. I suggest we both get some sleep and then begin with fresh eyes tomorrow.'

'You want to stay here then?' Harry asked, desperately thankful that Kreacher had cleaned his guest room since Michael had left.

'Is that a problem?' Snape raised his eyebrows.

'No.' Harry paused. 'For how long?'

Snape smirked. 'Let's just start with tonight.'

Harry nodded, and as he showed Snape to the guest room he managed to refrain from pointing out all the rooms along the way that Snape wasn't welcome in.

…

Harry woke early the next morning, hoping to wake before Snape did. However when he trudged into the kitchen to put on a pot coffee he found Snape sitting at the table, dressed immaculately and sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Harry sighed. He had literally just pulled himself out of bed. He was wearing just his boxers and a ratty old Gryffindor t-shirt and his hair looked like a bird had set up home in it. So much for cultivating a mature and adult image.

'I helped myself.' Snape said, sipping his coffee and deliberately not looking at Harry. 'I hope that's alright.' It was not a question.

Harry just looked at him, then sighed again and turned and left the kitchen. He felt Snape's eyes on him as he left, and wondered why he cared so much what the man thought of him.

When he'd showered and dressed and brushed his hair, he returned to the kitchen. 'Yes that's fine.' He said, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting at the table opposite Snape.

'That was quite the delayed response.' Snape commented. 'Not a morning person I take it?' He asked with a smirk.

'Not generally at six am no.'

'Hmmm.' Snape said, running his eyes over him.

Harry's heart skipped a beat, which annoyed him immensely. 'Why the sudden change of attitude Snape?' He said abruptly setting his coffee cup down on the table with a clunk.

Snape set his own mug down and glared at Harry. 'What on earth are you talking about?'

'Two days ago you were snarky and rude and were clearly suffering by having me in your house. Today you're practically normal. You haven't said one nasty thing and it's completely weirding me out' Harry said.

'Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a complete monster Potter. I am a guest in your home, so I'm not about to say nasty things as you so kindly put it, and what's more I'm not rude to people I respect.' Snape snapped his eyes flashing dangerously. 'However keep this pathetic and immature attitude up and my respect may just vanish!'

Harry frowned. He really didn't know what to think. Since when did Snape respect him? His attitude really had seemed to do a complete one eighty in the last few days, and he had to admit that the whole thing made him uncomfortable. And excited. Which made him feel more uncomfortable.

'You've changed too you realise.' Snape added.

Harry shrugged. 'Let's just say the respect is mutual.'

'Then can we stop talking about it and get to work please?'

Harry nodded. 'Sure.' He rose from his seat, collecting both coffee mugs and placing them in the sink. With a flick of his wand they began washing themselves up. 'I'll show you where I was up to last night, believe me I hadn't got very far.'

Snape followed him to the dining room where the case file was still spread out.

'There has to be some sort of connection between them. I refuse to believe they were targeted at random.' Harry said, picking up a photo of the first victim.

'I agree. Serial killers don't kill at random, there's always a reason, and we just have to find it.'

'So you do believe this is the work of a serial killer then? Not an anti-magic group, or politically motivated killings?' Harry asked.

'I think without a doubt there is an anti-magic element to this. It's not political, that makes no sense. Just look at this victim. Dimitri Gavrilov. He graduated first in his class at Durmstrang but since then had done nothing. He had no political affiliations, he wasn't even completing any additional study instead he was travelling around the world on his father's money. There is no way that this killing was for a political reason.' Snape said, sitting down at the table and pulling Dimitri Gavrilov's file towards him.

'I agree. However it doesn't really leave us anywhere.' Harry said. 'We still have no idea why the victims are connected.'

'We have to stop looking at them as a whole and start looking at them as individuals.' Snape said. 'You take the first two victims, and I'll take the last three. Make full and complete notes on each, and pay particular attention to your bloody handwriting. I want to be able to read what you've written.'

Harry smirked. 'I'll do my best sir.'

Snape glared at him, while Harry collected his two victim's files and retreated to his study.

'Feel free to work anywhere you like.' He called over his shoulder. 'You're welcome in any room of my house.' He added with a smile.

'Any room?' Snape called back suggestively.

Harry's stomach flip flopped again. Really this was getting ridiculous. Not only was the man not as toxic as usual, he was actually cracking jokes and borderline flirting! Determined to stay as far away from Snape as possible, he ensconced himself in his study and closed the door behind him for good measure.

When he reemerged several hours later he found that Snape had set himself up in the kitchen and had papers strewn over every inch of it, including the floor.

'Bloody hell I thought you were supposed to be super organized and tidy?' Harry commented.

'Whatever gave you that impression?'

'Your store cupboard.' Harry said without thinking.

Snape looked up from the piles of the paper and glared at Harry, his dark eyes glittering more malevolently than usual.

'Uhh' Harry trailed off completely lost for words.

'We will discuss this further at a more appropriate time Potter.' Snape spat, and Harry felt like he was an eleven year old first year again as he lowered his eyes and looked at the floor.

Thankfully that only lasted a second.

Snape sighed. 'Shall we discuss what we have both discovered over lunch?'

Harry nodded. 'Fine. Although to be honest I didn't find much.'

Neither had Snape as it turned out.

As they sat munching the sandwiches that Kreacher had prepared for them they discussed what they had found on each of the victims.

The first two victims were both Russian - Dimitri Gavrilov and Lydia Rozanov. Gavrilov seemed to be a nobody, he had been top of his class at Durmstrang but hadn't made much of himself since. He was one of two victims not killed in Britain, instead he was murdered in the back of an alley in a wizarding district in St Petersburg.

Lydia Rozanov was murdered in her room at the Stamping Griffin Inn just outside of London. She had just given a lengthy speech to the Ministry that morning on the importance of her new truth serum. Snape said that while her research was indeed brilliant it was most certainly controversial and completely unethical. Unlike Veritaserum which wears off fairly quickly Rozanov's truth serum had much longer lasting effects, and in some cases had proven to be permanent.

Harry was thankful that her murder had at least stopped the research in its tracks. Unethical was not the word he would have used for it, horrifying more like.

The third victim was a German wizard by the name of Elias Fink. Neither Harry nor Snape had a clue as to how he was connected or why he'd been targeted. The man was an 80 year old recluse who had barely been seen or heard for over twenty years. The German aurors believed that he had been killed in his house but his body was discovered in the middle of a street five miles away. One thing Snape had found was a weak connection to a wizard named Goffrey Bach, who was rumored to be the greatest dueler in Germany. Snape was eager to find out more but had exhausted the resources they had. He wanted to search the ministry archives for more information.

The fourth victim was an English herbologist by the name of Margaret Pembly. Similar to Lydia Rozanov, Ms. Pembly had recently begun work on research into growth and nutrition in Whomping Willow's. She had received a grant from the ministry two days before her death.

The fifth victim was from the United States. Robert Marley was the chief ward maker at Harvard University. Snape explained to Harry patiently (and with much condescension) that American wizards work very much side by side with their muggles. Still in secret of course but they attend the same universities, live in the same towns, and their two governments are housed in the same building. American wizards, Snape explained are all for integration between the two societies and often use Muggle technology as well as magic. Robert Marley's job was to create and maintain the wards that separated the wizards at Harvard University from the muggle students. Marley was in London presenting a conference on advanced warding when he was killed.

Harry pushed back from his chair on frustration. 'I just don't see how they're connected. We need more information.'

'More information won't necessarily help Potter. We need the right information. Not everything is connected.'

'It seems almost as if they were targeted for their recent fame, but that only applies to Rozanov, Pembly and Marley. It doesn't explain Gavrilov or Fink.' Harry added.

'It wasn't because of notoriety Potter.' Snape said scathingly. 'It's to do with magic. They were all special somehow. We just need to find out how. We need access to the archives.'

'Okay so tomorrow we go to the archives' Harry said. 'I should visit Ron and Hermione too and see if Hermione's found anything.'

'No doubt she has.' Snape murmured snarkily.

Harry raised his eyebrows in annoyance. 'Why were you so horrible to her in school? I understand why you hated me. I think it was childish of you, but I understand it. But I can't understand why you were so cruel to her.'

Snape raised his eyes to Harry. 'Why did you constantly steal from my store cupboard?'

'Uhhhhh. Never mind.' Harry said. He had just got used to Snape acting like a person and he didn't want to start an argument.

'Now who's being childish?'

Harry shrugged.

'Potter if you want answers to your questions then you have to give something in return. Quid pro quo.' Snape said.

'What?'

'It's Latin you moron. It means to give in order to receive. Ask your questions and I'll answer, but for every question you ask I'll have one of my own. And I expect honest answers.'

Harry paused for a moment to consider. 'I'll give you honest answers, but you won't like them, and I expect you to deal with it appropriately and not throw anything at me.' He said seriously.

Snape's mouth twitched a little as if he was suppressing a smirk. 'Fine then, ask your first question.'

Harry folded his arms in front of his chest. 'Why were you so horrible to Hermione? Is it honestly that you just hate all Gryffindor's, Cause I find that surprising and disappointing.'

'That's two questions Potter.'

Harry just raised his eyebrows expectantly.

'Sorry to disappoint you but I hate all students. They are annoying, immature little twits. You were too wrapped up in yourselves to notice that I was mean to everyone not just you precious Gryffindor's.'

'You weren't mean to the Slytherins though.' Harry said darkly.

Snape sighed. 'Of course I wasn't. For two reasons. Firstly I was responsible for their safety and wellbeing, secondly their successes reflected well upon me, therefore it made sense for me to praise them and give them points.'

Harry shook his head. 'You're right I am disappointed. You realize that was completely unfair.'

Snape shrugged. 'You're forgetting I'm a Slytherin and ex Death Eater Potter. We don't care about what's fair; we only care about what can get us ahead.'

Harry narrowed his eyes at Snape. 'You could have been so much more.' He said softly, staring straight into his dark eyes and holding his gaze.

Snape stared back at Harry. 'I guess we'll never know Potter. I myself rather doubt it. We are defined by our choices, and I have a nasty habit of making all the wrong ones.'

'You still have time.' Harry said quietly. 'Besides I know you've made some very good choices too, and they seem to be the ones that were the hardest.'

'Enough of this.' Snape said abruptly, breaking their eye contact. 'How many times did you steal from my store cupboard?'

'Just once. I think.' Harry said.

'You seriously expect me to believe that you only stole from me once?' Snape said incredulously.

'Well actually if you want to get technical I personally never stole from you. It was Hermione.' Harry mumbled.

'No doubt it was your idea though.'

Harry sniggered. 'Well actually it was her idea, we were so shocked that she was even suggesting it but under the circumstances it's not really that surprising.'

'And what exactly were the circumstances?' Snape's voice was getting quieter ad was taking on a dangerous tone.

'Well it was second year, and the Chamber of Secrets had been opened and everyone kept saying that all muggle borns were going to be killed. We were frightened, and the teachers weren't really doing anything.'

'The teachers didn't appear to be doing anything,' Snape interrupted. 'In fact we were doing plenty but you were too self-involved and stupid to realize that.'

'Yes probably.' Harry said. 'Shall I continue?'

'Oh please do.' Snape said in that dangerous tone.

'Everyone thought that I was the heir of Slytherin. Which of course I wasn't., although on reflection I easily could have been I guess, since I could actually open the chamber.' Harry trailed off frowning. 'I never thought of that before.'

'Get on with it Potter.' Snape snapped.

'We all thought that if anyone knew who the heir of Slytherin was it would be Malfoy, only the problem was that there was no way he'd confide in anyone except Crabbe or Goyle.'

Snape sighed. 'I'm beginning to see where this is going.'

'It was actually Hermione's idea to make the Polyjuice potion, and she did the bulk of the work too.'

'Obviously.' Snape drawled. 'Neither yourself or Mr. Weasley were up to making a potion of that level.'

'Obviously.' Harry agreed. 'She checked the book out of the library and we made the potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.' He said in a rush, feeling very much like he was about to end up in detention, or in some serious physical pain.

'How exactly did she check out the book from the library? A book with that potion in it would be in the restricted section and she was a second year. No teacher would fall for that.'

'You're forgetting who the DADA teacher was that year.' Harry pointed out.

Snape groaned. 'I'd been trying to block that memory out, thank you Potter.'

Harry grinned. 'You're welcome. So is that all? Can we move on now?'

'Not a chance in hell Potter.' Snape growled. 'How exactly did you manage to steal the additional potions ingredients you needed? Where did you get them from?'

'You promised not to throw anything at me.' Harry said furtively.

'Out with it Potter.'

'Hermione said she would do it, cause both Ron and I had gotten in too much trouble from you already that year. So she snuck into your office and stole them.' Harry said quickly, looking at the floor.

'I would have seen her.' Snape said shortly.

'It was my job to create a diversion.' Harry whispered.

'Explain.' Snape hissed.

'Remember when Goyle's cauldron exploded? And you fished a firework out of it? Yeah that was me.'

Snape looked at Harry for a few moments, and then did the last thing Harry expected. He burst out laughing.

Harry felt all the tensions inside him dissipate instantly. Although it was quickly replaced with irritation. 'What's so funny?' he huffed. 'Here I was shitting myself cause I thought you'd have killed me for that and yet you sit here laughing.'

Snape stopped laughing instantly. 'Believe me I want to kill you for that. It really is typical of you and your friends Potter. You could have killed someone you realize? I was only laughing because I was absolutely certain that it was you who had thrown it however I had no proof whatsoever at the time.'

'Why were you so certain that it was me?' Harry asked.

'Because it was the same kind of stupid careless stunt that your father and his friends would have pulled.'

This made Harry mad. 'Why must you always compare me to my father Snape? After all this time you really can't see me as a separate person can you? We were nothing like they were at school.'

Snape looked at Harry seriously. 'You threw the firework Potter.'

There was silence.

Harry didn't know what to say.

'Do you have any other questions for me?' Snape asked mildly.

'Yes.' Harry replied shortly. 'But not right now, I've had enough for one day.'

Snape nodded. 'As you wish Potter. I should make arrangements to visit the ministry archives tomorrow.'

Harry nodded slightly.

'And you should visit Miss Granger and see what she's found out.' Snape added.

Harry nodded again, scowling slightly. He felt confused, and he felt unbelievably disappointed. He had thought that Snape had started to see him as his own person finally, and not as an extension of his father. He guessed that was probably never going to happen now. Although the man had a point, he did throw the firework.

Harry decided not to dwell on it, and uncrossed his arms and stood up, gathered some of his papers into a satchel, and added the case file to it. He moved to the hallway cupboard and pulled on his travelling cloak.

'Potter?' Snape called from behind him.

'Mmmm?' Harry replied, not turning around.

'I don't think you're like your father. Not anymore.' Snape's voice was soft and calm, and curled around Harry like a soft warm flame.

Harry turned to look at him, and was met by Snape's dark eyes burning into his. 'I appreciate that.' He murmured.

Snape had also put his cloak on, obviously intending to visit the ministry. 'Shall we?' He asked, gesturing towards the door.

Harry nodded, feeling uncertain. Together they walked to the front door, and Harry pulled it open.

There was a note pinned to the front of it. Both Harry and Snape stopped in shock, and then leaned in to read it.

'Let me haunt you with these words. I'll be back, I'll be back.

Yours in murder,

Mr Monster.'

A/N – The next chapter is titled – 'Know this, I noticed.'