Anne froze instantly; her heart suddenly began to race and her great blue eyes flashed. Her first thought went to the baby; taking a deep breath, she tightened her arms around her waist.

Then she remembered the potion. It was almost midnight. Fingers tightened around the vial, she made a silent attempt to secretly slip it into her pocket.

Bad mistake.

At the first slightest trace toward movement by her hand, Anne found the tip of the wand pressed deeper into her neck. Her throat emitted a shaky gasp.

"What did I tell you? Don't move." The voice was a mere whisper but Anne caught every word.

She slowly tilted her head, trying to get an idea as to the situation. She could barely make out a shadowy figure and the dark wand extended toward her out of the corner of her eye. Two onyx black eyes flickered towards hers; they watched her intently.

"The potion."

Anne reluctantly extended the vial toward the shadows. Then, out he stepped - a tall slender mass of black and a face surrounded by a halo of thick raven hair - Severus Snape.

The strange man took the shiny bottle with surprising care, while he remained shoving his weapon into her collar. Snape lifted the potion to the silvery beams of moonlight shining through the broad window and inspected it closely. Color. Then he uncapped the lid and smoothly brought the bottle to his nose. Smell.

Snape arched a brow, his dark eyes glittering maliciously, then pocket it in his black robes.

"Wait," Anne protested.

He glanced at her in surprise.

"You can't take that. You have no idea of its importance."

She was forced to recoil a few paces, as the stranger took a step nearer. The panes of the window were cool against her back. Her fear was rising. She was cornered.

"I know exactly what it is," Snape replied.

"Then you understand the urgency of its expiration time," Anne exclaimed.

"Madame," he whispered silkily.

"The -urgency- of its expiration time," she repeated.

"Madame."

Her voice hitched in her throat. "Eleven o'clock to twelve -the expiration time!"

"Madame!"

Anne's eyes widened in fear at his venomous gaze. "The man was obviously getting impatient. He wanted something, but she assumed he had yet to get it.

"Madame," the silky voice repeated again, "this," he took the potion, "is a Concealment Potion... of the advanced version, by the looks of it. The darker the color, the more potent." His eyes widened, each sparkling unnaturally.

Anne tilted her neck in an attempt to receive the slightest bit of leniency from the tip of his wand. This only made Snape step nearer.

"Why, may I ask, would a young lady like yourself need such a disguise?"

"That's none of your damn business," Anne growled.

He stepped closer. "That's where you're wrong. I'm making it my business. Now, who-the-hell-are-you?"

She pursed her lips. "I would hope, Sir, that you would know my name since you attended my husband's funeral."

His face faltered and he quickly looked away.

"Yes, that was you, wasn't it? The man by the gum tree, at the funeral."

He turned back to her, his face recomposed and steady. "Don't make me ask you again," he warned. Snape slowly lifted his wand.

A soft cry of terror escaped her lips. "Anne Emmale. My name is Anne Emmale." She shuddered involuntarily.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"I will kill you now."

"No!" Anne cried.

Suddenly, a chilling sound cut the air. The clock on the mantel hand begun to chime.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Severus's concentration was broken as he turned toward the fireplace.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Anne shrunk to her knees, her arms folded protectively over her stomach. A single tear stung her cheek.

Ding. Ding.

But Severus remained persistent, placing the wand to her head. "Who are you? Tell me now."

Ding.

She hung her head in silence. The utterance of the spell was on the tip of his tongue.

"Please, no..." she cried.

Ding.

Then, from a far off corner of the room there was a urgent cry - "Expelliarmus!"

______

A/N: ::smiles:: Well, I hoped you enjoy reading the chapter. Sorry it took so long to post, but I found that it was an especially difficult chapter to write. Feel free to tell me what you think by submitting a review! Thanks!