Snape sat in his office for a little after Hermione left. He was amazed at
how thorough the attacker had been. Obviously, this had been planned.
As he contemplated this, his left forearm started to burn very painfully. He winced and leaned forward, holding his arm protectively against him. He regained his composure after a few moments, pried his arm away from his body, and rolled up his sleeve.
The Dark Mark stood out black against his pale skin. He rushed out of his office, went to his rooms, and collected his deatheater attire. Out of a secret passage from his rooms, he walked quickly towards the front gates of Hogwarts. As soon as he reached the perimeter of the apparition ward, he disappeared.
~@~
Snape, in full attire, appeared in a dungeon looking room. It was circular, with the Dark Lord standing in the middle. After a few moments, the rest of the group had arrived, and Voldemort began the meeting.
"Ah. My loyal followers." He said, as he brought his gaze upon everyone. "A brillian plan has been formed, and is already in progress."
Snape was not the only one confused. Many present had no idea what was going on. What plan?
"For security purposes, I cannot give all the details, except on a need to know basis." He continued. "But each and every one of you have an important role, which will be given to you when I summon you into this room." One of his reptile like fingers pointed to a doorway. "You will not discuss your role with anyone, except for those you are working with."
And with that, the Dark Lord approached the first, and guided him/her to the indicated room. One by one, each task was given out, and the numbers in the room disappeared. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Snape was called in.
"Ah, Severus. Reveal yourself."
Snape removed the mask he was wearing, took Voldemort's hand, bent down, and kissed it.
"What is it you ask of me, master?" Snape said.
"I need to use, not only your abilities at brewing, but also your connections." Snape looked up expectantly. "I need you to make some polyjuice potion, and make it so that the drinker can turn into either one of Potter's friends, or Potter himself."
'What are you up to, Voldemort?' Snape thought. But he responded, "Yes, master. Is there anything else?"
"Not right now. But I will contact you if any more instructions are needed."
Snape bowed again as he was dismissed, and disappeared from the room.
~@~
After reappearing at the gates of Hogwarts, he made his way up to the castle, still in his deatheater attire. It was better, he thought. The dark material could not be seen easily as he walked through the darkness. He had the feeling he was being watched though. He looked up and saw a figure in one of the tower windows of the castle. . . 'must be Miss Granger. What's she doing up so late?'
He quickly made his way back to his room. Dropping off his deatheater robes, he walked towards the Headmaster's office.
He approached the stone gargoyle ('ginger snaps') and quickly made his way up the spiral steps. The Headmaster was waiting. Always seemed to know when he had been called.
"What news, Severus?" Albus asked.
"I have reason to believe that the attack on Miss Granger was perpetrated by a deatheater." Snape said, bluntly.
"What makes you so certain?" The Headmaster asked, the twinkle in his eye dimmed slightly.
"At the summons tonight, Voldemort mentioned a plan. He would not give the total plan to anyone, but assigned tasks to us all." Dumbledore nodded, and Snape continued. "My 'part' of this plan was to provide the polyjuice potion, complete with DNA from Potter, Weasley, and Granger."
"So, you believe that our Miss Granger may have found out about something, or had vital information?"
"Precisely." Snape answered. "What we need to do is find out what had happened between Wednesday evening, and Friday evening."
"Ah yes. That was the only time that was banished from her memory."
"It may reveal what knowledge she possessed." Snape replied. "Or it may reveal nothing. We may never be able to find it."
"I assume you have tried a pensive?" Dumbledore asked. He knew it was a ridiculous question, but wanted to make sure nothing had been missed.
"Of course, Albus." Snape was a little insulted that the Headmaster would verify that, but he would do the same in his place.
"Luckily, the polyjuice takes time to brew. That gives us a reasonable timeframe in which to work."
"Than be off, Severus. I am sure you need your rest." Albus said. He felt a little more hopeful.
Snape nodded, and left the office. Little did he know, someone was keeping a close eye on him.
As he contemplated this, his left forearm started to burn very painfully. He winced and leaned forward, holding his arm protectively against him. He regained his composure after a few moments, pried his arm away from his body, and rolled up his sleeve.
The Dark Mark stood out black against his pale skin. He rushed out of his office, went to his rooms, and collected his deatheater attire. Out of a secret passage from his rooms, he walked quickly towards the front gates of Hogwarts. As soon as he reached the perimeter of the apparition ward, he disappeared.
~@~
Snape, in full attire, appeared in a dungeon looking room. It was circular, with the Dark Lord standing in the middle. After a few moments, the rest of the group had arrived, and Voldemort began the meeting.
"Ah. My loyal followers." He said, as he brought his gaze upon everyone. "A brillian plan has been formed, and is already in progress."
Snape was not the only one confused. Many present had no idea what was going on. What plan?
"For security purposes, I cannot give all the details, except on a need to know basis." He continued. "But each and every one of you have an important role, which will be given to you when I summon you into this room." One of his reptile like fingers pointed to a doorway. "You will not discuss your role with anyone, except for those you are working with."
And with that, the Dark Lord approached the first, and guided him/her to the indicated room. One by one, each task was given out, and the numbers in the room disappeared. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Snape was called in.
"Ah, Severus. Reveal yourself."
Snape removed the mask he was wearing, took Voldemort's hand, bent down, and kissed it.
"What is it you ask of me, master?" Snape said.
"I need to use, not only your abilities at brewing, but also your connections." Snape looked up expectantly. "I need you to make some polyjuice potion, and make it so that the drinker can turn into either one of Potter's friends, or Potter himself."
'What are you up to, Voldemort?' Snape thought. But he responded, "Yes, master. Is there anything else?"
"Not right now. But I will contact you if any more instructions are needed."
Snape bowed again as he was dismissed, and disappeared from the room.
~@~
After reappearing at the gates of Hogwarts, he made his way up to the castle, still in his deatheater attire. It was better, he thought. The dark material could not be seen easily as he walked through the darkness. He had the feeling he was being watched though. He looked up and saw a figure in one of the tower windows of the castle. . . 'must be Miss Granger. What's she doing up so late?'
He quickly made his way back to his room. Dropping off his deatheater robes, he walked towards the Headmaster's office.
He approached the stone gargoyle ('ginger snaps') and quickly made his way up the spiral steps. The Headmaster was waiting. Always seemed to know when he had been called.
"What news, Severus?" Albus asked.
"I have reason to believe that the attack on Miss Granger was perpetrated by a deatheater." Snape said, bluntly.
"What makes you so certain?" The Headmaster asked, the twinkle in his eye dimmed slightly.
"At the summons tonight, Voldemort mentioned a plan. He would not give the total plan to anyone, but assigned tasks to us all." Dumbledore nodded, and Snape continued. "My 'part' of this plan was to provide the polyjuice potion, complete with DNA from Potter, Weasley, and Granger."
"So, you believe that our Miss Granger may have found out about something, or had vital information?"
"Precisely." Snape answered. "What we need to do is find out what had happened between Wednesday evening, and Friday evening."
"Ah yes. That was the only time that was banished from her memory."
"It may reveal what knowledge she possessed." Snape replied. "Or it may reveal nothing. We may never be able to find it."
"I assume you have tried a pensive?" Dumbledore asked. He knew it was a ridiculous question, but wanted to make sure nothing had been missed.
"Of course, Albus." Snape was a little insulted that the Headmaster would verify that, but he would do the same in his place.
"Luckily, the polyjuice takes time to brew. That gives us a reasonable timeframe in which to work."
"Than be off, Severus. I am sure you need your rest." Albus said. He felt a little more hopeful.
Snape nodded, and left the office. Little did he know, someone was keeping a close eye on him.