As always, thanks to JKR for the characters and setting. Thanks also to the many people who seem so interested in this that I have to keep writing.

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Under the screams, a heavy sound like thunder reverberated. Snape closed his eyes, hoping that whatever was coming wouldn't see him, wouldn't find him. The rumbling grew louder, more distinct. It was on top of him. Unwillingly, he opened his eyes...

And found himself in his chambers, with someone banging on his door extremely early in the morning.

"Draco Malfoy, if that's you out there..." Snape growled. Probably wanted to have some smug conversation about his father's prowess at toturing women to death. He tugged on a robe thrown over a nearby chair. With a muttered curse, Snape flung open the door.

Except that it wasn't Malfoy. It was Madame Hooch, holding her broomstick ready in one hand to strike his door again.

"Finally!" she exclaimed. Confusion, annoyance and curiosity flitted across his face as Hooch pushed herself into the room. He allowed the door to swing shut.

Hooch stood in the center of the room, turning to take in the bookcases, the old polished furniture, and the empty fireplace. She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"Where have you been?"

"I hardly think my whereabouts are your concern, Madame." Snape drew the folds of her robes closely and stared with the utmost ice he could produce at this ungodly hour. Hooch hissed and stalked towards him.

"You're gone for a day and half, Dumbledore tells me nothing and you've got blood all over those clothes there," she said quietly. Snape started and she smiled a little cruelly. "I don't think all of that came from you. Would you like to explain?"

"I most certainly would not." He didn't move, not even to hide the angular scratches on his hand.

"Damn it Severus, what the hell is going on?"

"Get out. Now."

"No."

He closed his eyes, summoning up any reserves of stillness left inside.

"Hana Hooch, leave my rooms this instant before I lose my temper with you." Glittering black, Snape's eyes fixed on Hooch's. She moved forward, tension sparking the air between them, so close he could almost feel her breath.

"You still haven't told me what's going on."

"Damn it."

He grabbed her arm, intending to drag her bodily out the door if necessary. However, it didn't occur to him that he was manhandling a Quidditch player. Wood cracked at his temple, and Snape cursed furiously, digging his fingers into her sleeve. Pain blossomed brilliantly behind his eyes, and Hooch jabbed him in the ribs with the broom before he managed to grab hold of it.

"Get your hands off me, young man," Hooch said harshly, and the tone of her voice was so startling that Snape almost obeyed.

"Not if you're going to hit me again," he spat. "Now get out!" Snape almost shouted, and felt a slight tremor in his legs. Merlin's ghost, he was still so tired and brawling with Hooch was one of the last things he wanted to do right now. One more good shove and he might yet get her out the door. Wrenching the broom from her hands, Snape tossed it on the floor. Hooch made as if to backhand him, and he grabbed her wrist, jerking her arm up over her head.

"This would be funny, if it wasn't so infuriating..."Hooch's voice trailed off into a sharply indrawn breath, and her grip slackened. Following her eyes, Snape realized his sleeve had slipped up his forearm, but... oh hell, his left arm.

Leaving the professional world hadn't dimmed any of her faculties. Hooch slammed Snape into the wall beside the door, hard enough to take his breath away. He winced, head bouncing painfully off the stone. Before he could breathe again, or even open his eyes, she whipped out her wand and bound him magically. Just as Snape wondered if this was all a very bizarre dream, Albus Dumbledore walked in.

"Not interrupting anything, am I?" Dumbledore asked merrily. He carried a tray of breakfast tea and pastries.

"Albus! This man is a Death Eater!" Hooch's face was pale and she gripped her wand tightly, as if she expected Snape to burst free at any moment. Dumbledore set the tray down on a table.

"Was a Death Eater Hana, was. He is not a servant of Voldemort anymore, though the mark will remain for the rest of his life. It can not be removed." He said the last a bit sadly.

"You know about this?" she asked incredulously.

"I have known for some time," Dumbldore answered, munching on a blueberry scone. "Severus walks a dangerous path, but that is his story to tell, if he so chooses. I must ask for your discretion here, Hana. There is much at stake."

"Of course Headmaster," Hooch nodded.

"Perhaps you ought to unbind Severus too."

"Oh!" She at least had the grace to blush.

"Scones anyone? Ah, well I should check on the students and make sure the Weasleys aren't handing out those exploding muffins again. I'll leave you two to breakfast." Dumbledore grinned and left, pockets full of scones.