And there was Severus Snape, in all his greasy glory.

He was sitting at Dumbledore's old desk, scratching something on a piece of parchment, and frowning. He didn't look up when McGonnagal, Harry and Draco stepped into the room. Indeed, he kept scowling and muttering under his breath to himself when McGonnagal finally cleared her thoat and coughed softly.

He glanced up from his work and stood to greet Harry and Draco.

"The Auror Diplomats, Severus," McGonnagal said.

"Thank you, Minerva. That will do."

She turned around and left, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Snape turned to them, and though he was not smiling, there was a slighly more pleasant expression on his face. "So, you are the Auror Diplomats from the United States, correct?"

Harry nodded.

"I apologize, but I've forgotten your names. I was quite busy when Minerva told me--"

"Quite understandable. My name is Chester McLoyson." Harry reached out and shook Snape's hand, forcing himself not to wince at how cold his grip was.

"And I am Howard Brownbar." Draco smiled and shook hands, too, but Harry knew him well enough to know he was distracted. Harry tried to think why. As they were sitting down in the chairs Snape gestured them too, Harry's thoughts circled in his head.

'I don't know...maybe he sees something in here that's important...no..I dunno, but right now we've got to think of the best time to tell Snape who we really are...that's it!'

Harry had suddenly realized what Draco was doing. He was listening.

Whenever Draco changed forms, which, being a talented Auror, was quite often, he automatically put very good hearing into the requirements. In his real body, he had that same unaturally acute hearing, and used it to his advantage. Harry had tried a spell on himself before, to increase his own hearing, but all the noise gave him a headache. It was overwhelming, and Harry didn't understand how Draco could deal with it all the time.

Anyway, after he found out Draco was listening, it was a short step to figure out what for. He was, in all likely hood, waiting for the sound of the panel behind the statue closing as McGonnagal left it. Just as Harry mentally patted himself on the back for his brilliant deduction, Draco stood. He apparantly had heard what he wanted.

"Are there any recording devices in her, Snape?" he asked cooly.

"No," said Snape in surprise, "I don't allow them." He looked sharply at Draco. Harry, too, just sat watching him.

He walked quickly to the door, locked it, and placed on it a spell that prevented unlocking of a door until the caster of the spell allowed it. Draco spun around and walked back, so he was directly in front of Snape.

"Good," he said calmly. "Because we are not really Auror Diplomats. But we are, in fact--"

He paused, and took out his wand. He pointed it at himself, and muttered the incantation. Another bang, and he became once again the pale, blonde, handsome young man of 19 that he really was.

"Aurors."





a/n: aren't I cruel? I might have time for the next chapter before I'll be gone for over two weeks. sowwy. but if i can't, i'll try to do a few close together once i get back to make up.