Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters so please don't sue me I haven't the time... or money... please don't forget that. Anyway anything I have pinched I don't own, clearly so consider all disclaimed.

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Author's Note: Chapter two is finished and I don't know when I will again have access to the net so please, please review and tell me what you think... Shall I continue?

I leave it to you to decide...

Media Nox

Among happy, drunken, smiling, teachers sat a very sullen one.

Why are they all so happy? Ode to the euphoric affects of alcohol. Thank God they weren't dancing on the tables yet, that could be really embarrassing think about it like that Severus, sure you seem boring but better to be boring than look a fool.

"Hey Snape!" Sinistra called her long blonde hair fallen out of its normal tight bun, "let your hair down for once!" She cried as the music in The Three Broomsticks changed and Hagrid staggered by dragging her off to dance again. Severus was sure she would regret that in the morning when she discovered her bruised feet under her pointy shoes. He didn't think it was possible for someone to be as clumsy as Hagrid was being...

Severus shook his head and remained in his seat. As the rest of the staff went off to make utter fools of themselves, there were two people however Severus couldn't see at all... where were Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall? Well there was one thing he could use to his advantage... he chuckled silently to himself before calling to the barmaid for a second drink.

"Same again?" She asked walking up to wearing her salesman smile.

"Very well," he hummed watching her closely as she walked off; she appeared to be listening in on everything around her. While pouring his drink he noticed she seemed to be straining to hear what everyone was saying but so that it wasn't obvious. She would walk along the bar looking busy while watching the drink like it was the most interesting thing on the planet, but it seemed to Severus that she was listening to whomever was nearest, and who ever wanted least to be heard. Nosey woman, he snorted.

There was one thing however that stood out about the people she was listening to. The two so eager not to be over head were Death Eaters, he knew them well. Lucius Malfoy and Isaac Nott, a formidable pair, one you wouldn't want to cross in a dark alley. Add to that duo Severus Snape and you have a very deadly trio, back in the days when Voldemort was most active and Severus discovered his IQ dropping about fifty points with his stupidity to believe in purity of blood. It didn't matter so much that you should be driven to kill.

Severus watched Madam Rosmerta with great interest, she appeared unaware of what she was listening in on and he could see that he wasn't the only one picking up on the extra interest that they had received.

"Are you going to take any longer!" Severus snapped narrowing his eyes as he glared at her to get her away from them.

"Be right over Professor," she said calmly though her heart had jumped in her chest, she hadn't expected to be snapped at so rudely.

"You said that about five minutes ago," he growled. Lucius turned around and looked at him, he flicked his hollow black eyes at the man with icy grey ones. Snape brushed his right hand over his left forearm and looked back more closely at Lucius. Lucius turned away and continued to converse with Nott.

"Your drink Professor," Madam Rosmerta said shortly, slamming the drink on the table in an annoyed fashion, he grabbed her wrist before she could retract it pulling her face down to his level.

"Watch what you listen to, it may get you into more trouble than you realise," he hissed.

"Is that a threat?" She said snatching her wrist back to her body.

"Just a warning," he hummed knocking back his drink going into a second coughing fit.

"I don't need your warnings!" She muttered hotly as she walked gracefully back to the bar, a second man went to slap her backside as she passed but she turned and looked at him warningly. Severus was sure there was more to this woman than meets the eye.

It didn't appear that his warning had gone in because as soon as she got back to the bar she resumed her position. Was she stupid? He shook his head as the numb feeling down his throat began to subside. Lucius though, seemed to have lost interest in Madam Rosmerta, and was deep in conversation with Nott who was slouched over the bar like he didn't have a backbone.

This got Severus thinking... he was after all a spy, what does a spy need more than anything? Someone to do the dirty work for him, or someone who would be able to give him information from different places. What a good spy needs is a spy of his own. He sat deep in thought... what would he need to do to get her to listen. He could just pump her for information; no, pumping wasn't his style. How would he able to get her to agree to tell him things she just happens to hear?

"Madam Rosmerta," he called to her in a more amiable tone, she narrowed her eyes and walked over to him again.

"What do you want?" She asked trying to smile but losing her patients with him just frowned at him.

"Could I have a word outside please?" He asked getting out of his seat.

"If it's another of your little warnings then I'm not interested..." she started.

"Oh no, not that. Please," he showed a hand to the door, she turned and looked to the young man who was helping her behind the bar.

"Very well," she said coldly, "this better be good."

He followed her out of the warmth of the pub to a temperature he was more used to. She stopped and looked at him expectantly.

"Well," she said shortly wrapping her arms around herself to show how much she didn't appreciate the cold; she leaned against the wall behind her as he stepped a little closer to her. He had the appearance of a shadow in the darkness, but the moonlight reflected off the sequins on the hem of her robes complimenting her, as the silver light began to reflect back at him from her eyes.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush; you are in the business of information, are you not?" He said coolly trying to concentrate on the back wall rather than look her in the eye.

"I run a pub Severus, I tend drinks, not offices," she said coldly. She looked down at the floor tapping her feet in a bored fashion.

"All I am saying is that you become privy to a lot of information, and I myself, need such information... you were listening to Malfoy and Nott in there, I noticed you doing it, your very good." He looked her in the eye for once to judge her reaction, to see if she was going to lie about being nosey or whether she was genuine about her not knowing anything. Of course she was going to tell him she wasn't listening to them, but if she had been...

"What are you suggesting?" She said shortly.

"Well... would you be interested in telling me anything that should pass you by that may interest a man like myself," she looked offended.

"Break bar fly to Butterbeer confidentiality?" She sounded shocked beyond words; Snape couldn't help but allow a genuine laugh to escape him, strange but rather amusing terminology.

"Now, now Rosmerta, just a few bits of information, nothing trivial, things that would be of use to say, Professor Dumbledore, or the Minister for Magic. I'm not interested in who is sleeping with who, who has cheated on who, and such. All I want know is well... the two you were listening in on earlier. Do you know what they were talking about?" She looked offended and shocked again... she's lying. "Come now, I know you were listening to them even if they didn't."

"I... I was mixing a drink, not listening," she blurt out.

"Yes my dear, and I'm the Pope," he said sarcastically as the door to the pub began to open. He pushed her closer to the wall and lowered his mouth to her ear level. It was Malfoy and Nott, he was supposed to be one of them... if they caught him, if they found out why he was questioning her? Erm... do something to distract them, what wouldn't interest them? You do this you endanger her too. Is it worth the risk? That or face Voldemort's questions...

"Remember what transpired here Nott, placing that plan into fruition will be important, don't forget where you need to be!" Lucius shouted as the two of them went different way, the stooped figure of Nott was watching Snape and Madam Rosmerta very carefully. Severus could almost feel his back burning from where Notts shadowy eyes were watching him like a hawk.

"Forgive me," Severus said quickly before he kissed her to make the scene look less conspicuous. Madam Rosmerta remained frozen against the wall as Snape's hands began to wander over her robes. Nott's attention was then drawn away as the cliffs drew nearer and then he disappeared out of sight. When he was sure the pair of them were gone he stepped back ready for the forceful slap he received on his left cheek.

"How dare you!" She spat.

"I am very sorry, however you must understand those men are not the sort you want to draw the suspicion of, it would be in your best interest to either stop listening to men like that or to help me." She stood wiping her lips and brushing her robes off. "Oh grow up Rosmerta, anyone would think I tried to rape you, it was merely a peck on the lips to disguise my trying to talk you out of what they were talking about. It's very important, I need all the information about them I can get."

"Why?" She as tilting her head to the side.

"Lets just say they owe me money," he said calmly.

"And the real reason..."

"I can't tell you that!" He snapped, she flinched. "All I can say is that it is important you tell me all you know about this little meeting of theirs... can you do that?" He asked in a less snappish tone.

"I didn't hear anything, I was too busy having you yell at me to pick up any information!" She said shortly.

"But in future, would you be willing to pass on any information you might happen to... 'over hear,' let's say when making drinks... walking past people... clearing their table when they happen to be talking? There is no risk, just lie... I'm sure you can do that. I mean you are lying through your teeth at the minute. I know you heard them. I know you know where they are going and why. I shall let it slide this time, but in future I may happen to pass something on to Dumbledore. Wouldn't it be strange to have a female Death Eater... and one that was right under your nose? Maybe I could pass it on to say... Reta Skeeter. See what she would make of it... ten times worse than it actually is of course."

"That's blackmail!" She said her tone shocked and hurt, she didn't need that kind of bad publicity, she needed the public to trust her so they would go and buy more drinks.

"You catch on fast don't you," Severus said coolly before turning around and heading back to the castle.

"Arse hole," she mumbled.

"I heard that!" He called back.

"Good!" She snapped.

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On his way back to Hogwarts, Severus, bumped into the looming shadow of Lucius Malfoy, wand at the ready.

"Nice to see you too Lucius," Snape hissed drawing his wand as well.

"What is your colour?" Lucius whispered hoarsely.

"Back to the simplicity of black and white. How I thought we had moved on from this primitive method of distinction," he pulled up his sleeve on his left fore arm showing the burning black mark to Lucius.

"So you are loyal?" He whispered.

"Well, let me think?" He spat sarcastically.

"No need to be like that," Lucius said calmly.

"My reason for not returning to the master is that I have an important job and making Dumbledore believe me would be a lot easier than having the suspicious old goat round my heals. I think that Lord Voldemort will understand that, don't you?" Snape said tucking his wand back into his belt on his robes.

There was a sound like a whip crack from somewhere far right of them, Lucius turn around suddenly. Snape pulled his sleeve down quickly before turning to face a tall black figure running at him full pelt before being thrown to the floor by a second as he was rugby tackled to the ground from behind hitting his head on the cobbles.

He could hear Lucius shouting about his treatment and how they were all going to be treated very harshly, but Severus decided it best just to keep his mouth shut and hope that he would be released. He could feel himself being dragged to his feet by one of the men then his face lifted sharply by the second.

"Black!" Snape spat giving Sirius a look of utmost hate.

"Shut up you slimy eel!" Sirius responded smacking his round the face, all of a sudden everything started to fade and Lucius' yelling stopped abruptly. Black... black... black...

"Don't you think that was a little harsh Padfoot?" said the second man who had now dropped Snape to the floor. Sirius looked down at the crumpled figure.

"Nah... I don't think so," was Sirius' response.

"But isn't he..." one of the other two men asked.

"That has yet to be proven," was Black's reply.

"I think we should leave them... he deserves a chance to prove himself, if we pick these two up now then we may not stand a chance about finding others. Lets rob them of something, pretend we were bandits, and leave them here," the second man said.

"Good thinking Moony," said Black thoughtfully, "but there is just one thing I have to do," he said kicking Snape in the stomach, his heap began to convulse though the pain.

Lupin bent down and took something from Lucius' pocket. It was a folded piece of parchment, a map of the castle, however it only showed the floors, nothing like the marauders map. One place had been ringed... the secret passage in the dungeons.

"What do you suppose?" Lupin looked at the parchment thoughtfully, Sirius looked over his shoulder.

"I think they were going for him tonight anyway," he said looking down at Snape. "Lets keep this anyway... take something else. Something worth a bit of money, it isn't like it will affect that rich git and bloody him up a bit so he has something to tell his wife." Sirius ran his fingers through his rough black hair, "I really should wash this shouldn't I?" He said a quizzical look on his face, Lupin and the other two ignored him.

"And Severus?" Lupin said looking down at Snape again.

"It isn't like he'd have anything of value, but search him anyway then leave them here... and be quick about it, I think someone is coming," Black said as all four men ran back into the shadows.

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This is not really happening,

You bet your life it is,

You bet your life it is,

Oh you bet your life.

('Cornflake Girl,' by Tori Amos.)

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Author's Note: Weird beginnings and strange ends... I haven't time to be humorous at the mo so please review ^_^

Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter. (Marie Goos, majiklmoon, Incitata, flaming squirrel, Elizabeth, PikaCheeka, Severa, Snape no Koibito, Slytherin Goddess, Andria Lynn Snape, Mrs. Norris, Puppygirl, Dauphin, Bill Weasley's Girl, Ti'ana MYST, Koneko-chan, Rosmerta, and of course Green Pig) You guys are fab!

I.C. Fire

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