5. Impostor

During the supper Severus felt his Dark Mark was burning. Voldemort wanted to see him. It astonished him a bit. He was expected to submit his next report in a week and it has never occurred before that Lord wanted to see him so unexpectedly.

'Something must have happened...' Snape was meditating.

After the supper he didn't even enter his office but at once left the castle and went towards Hogsmead. After fifteen minutes walk Severus reached a broad, paved road. Here the Hogwart grounds ended. The wizard crossed the road, stopped and turned away. He was staring at darkness as if he wanted to see there some mysterious signs.

And, in a way, that was the case. To the west of the road the Dark Arts Detection System spread out. If somebody was just passing by, he wouldn't notice anything but Severus could feel the air vibrating with a powerful, accumulated magic. He also knew that if anybody tried to cross the invisible barrier without permission, he would be immediately stunned and immobilised. But how could the system identify the wizards, it still remained Vega's closely kept secret. She didn't reveal it even to Dumbledore.

Snape breathed cold air and wrapped himself in his thick, black cloak. He looked around and Disapparated.

. . .

The castle of Lord Voldemort was plunged in darkness. Severus shuddered when he realised he had Apparated among the broken tombstones. The old, rotten trees were hanging their branches over them like long, greedy fingers.

Snape passed quickly the cemetery and entered a vast yard, illuminated by the pale moonlight. He crossed the stone bridge that joined two banks of a broad moat, covered with a grey mist exhaling faint, cadaverous smell. He hardly put his foot on the highest step of the stairs when the door opened silently. The Potion Master crossed the castle threshold.

In a strip of light falling from the yard, Snape saw a figured crouched near the wall. When the man noticed him, he jumped up and Severus could recognise a pale face and small, restless eyes of Wormtail.

'Master is expecting you' he whispered with a servile bow.

Snape looked at him with an extreme contempt. He would crush this wretched creature like a worm. Pettrigiew had to read some of those thoughts from Severus face, because he crouched again and went quickly into the corridor. They climbed the stairs and stopped in front of the door of a small room. Snape looked around attentively; he has never been before in this part of the castle. Wormtail touched the door with his wand and stepped aside.

In the middle of the room there stood an oblong, ebony table. At the further end Voldemort was sitting, his red eyes fixed on the entering wizard. Snape bowed with esteem.

'Just in time, Severus' said Lord with a cold smile 'We've just been talking about the Hogwart.'

Snape entered the room, wondering who Voldemort meant saying 'we'. And then he saw a tall figure in a black cloak standing near the window. As previously, his face was deep in a shadow of the hood. Voldemort noticed astonishment in Snape's eyes.

'The time has come you get to know each other' he said, beckoning to the masked man 'That is my trusted agent. He is realising an extremely important mission...risky and difficult. That's why he must stay anonymous. You can call him Impostor.'

Snape nodded. He knew Lord didn't let him into all his plans and secrets. First of all for he could not reveal anything, even under Veritaserum. But Snape suspected something more. Even now he wasn't quite sure if Voldemort really trusted him. If he trusted anybody...

His meditation was interrupted by the cold voice of the Dark Lord.

'Severus, I called you tonight you could met Impostor. One of the very few possibilities, unfortunately. He cannot visit me too often.'

Snape nodded, asking himself inwards why he had to meet with the mysterious wizard. Voldemort waved his wand and a long parchment materialised on the table. Dark Lord unrolled it with a cruel smile. Snape gasped and clenched his hands on the chair back. The parchment was a map of Hogwart.

'Yes, Hogwart...' said Voldemort lazily, staring at the paper with a burning gaze 'People believe that as long as Albus Dumbledore protects it, even the Dark Lord will not be able to destroy it. Fools !' he laughed 'Hogwart will fall. And I will get Harry Potter.'

In the silence that fell after those words Snape could hear a soft hiss, coming from under the hood.

Somewhere outside an owl hooted. Voldemort looked at the wizards. He was not smiling anymore.

'There is only one obstacle' he said sinisterly 'Vega Starlight.'

Severus felt an icy shiver but he controlled himself perfectly. No muscle twitched in his pale face.

'I must admit,' proceeded Lord 'old Albus had a brilliant idea to bring her to Hogwart. That Dark Arts Detection System...' a reluctant appreciation glittered in his eyes 'Impostor examined it well. It will be difficult to break it.'

Uneasy thoughts were whirling in Snape's head. How does the Impostor know so much about the DADS ? Was that his important mission ? And who the hell he was ?

'Severus' the Dark Lord looked at him keenly 'You are at Hogwart every day. I'd like to know your opinion.'

And Snape told him everything Vega had explained during the first meeting with the teachers. It has never been kept secret. It allowed to understand how the system worked but didn't reveal its weak points. Only Vega Starlight knew how to break the DADS.

'You must get this information' commanded Voldemort 'And then even Albus Dumbledore will not stop me. But before...' his eyes shone coldly 'We will see what powers lurk in the heir of Slytherin.'

* * *
(October 12th, 1995)

Right after the breakfast Harry, Ron and Hermione went to visit Hagrid. They found him in a small garden behind his hut, digging vigorously with an enormous spade. Every now and then he bent and from the scarified soil he took out a small bulb the size of a tennis ball and threw it into a big bucket.

'Wait a moment, jus' finishin' he gasped out.

Two more bulbs landed in the bucket.

'What are you doing?' asked Harry.

'Lookin' fer lilies bulbs' said Hagrid lightly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world 'They love it, so I thought...'

He stopped talking abruptly and, giving the friends a confused glance, began digging yet more vigorously. But they knew Hagrid well and immediately guessed that he has just let slip something that should have remained secret. They exchanged exited glances.

'Who loves them, Hagrid?' asked Hermione innocently.

Hagrid pretended not to hear but Hermione was not going to give up so easily.

'What kind of animal can like the lily bulbs?' she was wondering loudly, observing Hagrid's reaction.

A spade handle snapped with a crack. Hagrid was turning the useless stick round, murmuring softly:

'Always think twice before open yer mouth...'

'Hagrid, we will not tell anybody' promised Ron, smiling widely.

Suddenly Hagrid cast the spade, grasped the bucket and moved towards the hut.

'It's not yer business.' he snorted.

He looked really irritated. Friends exchanged glances.

'O.K.' said Harry, trying to sound unconcernedly.

Hagrid looked at him suspiciously but a smile at Harry's face was so innocent that he cheered up.

'C'mone, have cup o' tea' he offered, opening the door.

Soon water was bubbling in the kettle and three cups and one huge mug stood on the table. When everybody had already settled themselves comfortably, tasting an aromatic tea (the Chinese one, as explained Hagrid proudly), Harry asked the question that had bothered them for over the month.

'Hagrid, where have you been?'

This time Hagrid kept so cool that they were surprised.

'Believe me, wish I could tell you. But I can't. Don' ask me more.'

Harry felt that he had enough of it. Wherever he looked, whoever he asked, he met only secrets and mysteries. Even the closest friends didn't tell him everything. First Sirius, then Hagrid. Harry felt that something important was going on and he hadn't the faintest idea what was it. He could only guess it was somehow connected with Voldemort return.

Ron and Hermione had to think the same and Harry was sure they also didn't like it. They were silent, winking gloomily at each other. Hagrid was staring thoughtfully at the bottom of his mug. The silence was so unpleasant that Harry couldn't bare it.

'Hagrid, what did you plan for tomorrow lesson?'

A sudden relief appeared on Hagrid's face, he looked at Harry thankfully.

'Try to breed gargoyles!' he said joyfully 'Wait, show yeh eggs !'

He started up and, stamping loudly, run out the hut. Ron looked both surprised and disturbed. All magical creatures Hagrid used to present during his lessons were usually a bit dangerous and difficult to breed.

'I hope they don't bite, don't scratch, don't sting...' Ron expressed a common wish.

Hermione smiled sourly.

'Hagrid was too happy it could be true...' she sighed.

Heavy steps rumbled at the stairs and Hagrid stood at the door, dragging a huge sack behind him. He approached the table and poured there out a content of the sack. Harry's jaw dropped.

'Err...Hagrid, what are going to do with those stones?' he asked astounded.

At the table dozens of rocks were lying, various sizes and shapes. Hagrid was beaming.

'These a' not stones' he said solemnly 'but gargoyles eggs.'

All the three started up from the chairs and lent over the table, watching the strange eggs with disbelief. Even from a short distance they looked like stones.

'How did you get them?' asked Ron, tapping one of the rocks with the knife blade.

'From Magnus' Hagrid was staring at the eggs with admiration 'He brough'em from Norway.'

Ron stood motionless and gave Harry a quick gaze. He had already known everything about the yesterday meeting in the Forest.

'Dou you know Mr Devilson?' he asked casually.

Hagrid looked at him astounded.

'O'course I do, why...' suddenly he tapped his forehead 'I forgot, you weren' here then.'

'WHEN?!' they called together.

Hagrid smiled.

'Ten year' ago Magnus Devilson was a teacher at Hogwart. Care o'Magical Animals he taught.'

Harry was thunderstruck. He was staring at Hagrid completely bewildered.

'Devilson worked at Hogwart?' he repeated as if he had to hear it once more to believe it.

'One year' only' explained Hagrid 'But I liked him very much that time. A grea' animals expert he is. He loves'em and manages to tame 'em.'

Harry remembered the grey, dreamy eyes of Devilson, gazing hypnotically at madly growling Sirius. He was seized again with a strange anxiety.

'But why did he work here for only one year?' asked Hermione soberly.

Hagrid sighed.

'He resigned. Jus' like that. Even Dumbledore was s'prised.' he darkened 'Maybe I shouldn' tell yeh this, but...' he hesitated and looked quickly at the door.

Harry, Ron and Hermione held their breath.

'S'pose it was through Snape' said Hagrid in a low voice 'Headmaster gave'im work year after Devilson. From the beginning was clear Snape didn' like Magnus. An' a few days later...I heard, by accident, they quarrellin'. Snape told if Devilson doesn' leave Hogwart he goes to Dumbledore. An' same night Magnus packed an' set out.'

A silence fell for a moment and then everybody started to talk all at once.

'Snape ousted Devilosn? But why?' asked Harry.

'It's just like him...' muttered Ron malevolently.

'He had to have a reason... Hagrid, do you know anything?'

Hagrid shook his head.

'And I wonder how Snape blackmailed Devilson that night.' said Hermione, looking thoughtfully at the stone eggs.