A/N Disclaimer, blah blah …Harry Potter and all related characters, places and terms belong to JK Rowling and/or (not sure which) Warner Brothers.

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Chapter 4: Enter the Lair

Professor Severus Snape sat at his desk, surveying his class. He was attempting to teach a group of seventh-year Gryffindors how to brew a very complicated antidote, and he really wasn't happy about it. Since they all remembered him from when he attended the school, they had absolutely no respect for him, and the only way he managed to control them was by taking off about sixty house points every lesson. At present, they were all still laughing at him about Potter, and that had been a week ago! Snape cursed the Auror under his breath. Potter had made his school years miserable - did he really have to do the same to his adult life?

Shaking his head, Snape turned to the class and gave them one of his most withering stares, which got them quiet for a while.

"Now" he said, "who knows what we add for the final ingredient? Anyone?"

None of the students had put their hands up. Snape sneered - now he had them.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor, then." There was a muffled sort of groan from the class. "Do not complain, you brought this upon yourselves. I told you all to research antidotes."

The smirk was suddenly wiped off Snape's face. His left forearm was burning. He walked quickly behind his desk, and tried to roll up his sleeve so none of the students would see. Sure enough, the Dark Mark tattoo was jet black. Looking at the time, he swore under his breath. There was still another ten minutes before the class ended, and the Dark Lord wasn't one to wait. Snape made up his mind - there was nothing he could do about it, and so he turned back to the class of Gryffindors.

"The final ingredient, as you all should know, is Gillyweed. On it's own, the plant is no more than a way to survive underwater, but added to an antidote, it can be the difference between life and death." He went to his store cupboard, then handed around a jar of Gillyweed pieces. "One should suffice, ladies and gentlemen. Stir it well, or your potion will not work properly."

As the hushed chatter started up again and the students completed their potions, Snape swept off to sit behind his desk. Rapping his fingers on the desk and trying to think of a reason he could give to the teachers why he needed to leave, the young Potions Master didn't realise when the bell had gone.

"Um, Professor Snape…"

"What?" he snapped.

"Well Sir," said the girl, "The bell went."

"Oh yes. That. Bottle your antidotes and label them with your names. Don't forget them next class or you will regret it. Clean up and you can go."

When the last of the students was finished and packed up, Snape walked as fast as he could down the hallway to the staffroom. He opened the door and looked around. Most of the teachers were sitting down on the chairs, talking about lessons and troublesome students who couldn't manage to do simple spells. Seeing Minerva McGonagall, Snape hurried over to her. She looked up as he approached, and put down her quill.

"Minerva, I need to go to Hogsmede for a while - I've run out of quills again. "

"Don't bother Severus. I can just transfigure you a few, it's no trouble."

Snape faltered, not knowing what to say. He hadn't thought about that. After a moment's hesitation, he came up with another idea.

"No Minerva, don't worry. I was actually hoping to stop in at the Three Broomsticks while I was there."

"All right Severus, if you insist. I'll tell the Headmaster why you aren't at dinner."

With that, Snape walked out of the staff room. He practically ran down the long drive to the safe apparition point, summoned his mask and put it on, then left to join Voldemort.

* * *

Severus appeared just outside the circle of Death Eaters in one of the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. It was quite a dark room, with only a few lanterns lit. The grey stone walls were designed to drain any hope from whoever was being held captive within it. Voldemort often used it as a meeting place, since they were unlikely to be disturbed. The Malfoy Dungeons were little heard of, and those who had happened to hear of them stayed away.

Snape took a step towards the group, and found the all the masked faces turned towards him. When Lord Voldemort turned around to face him, Severus gulped.

"Ahh Severus, nice to see you could finally join us."

"I am truly sorry my Lord, I was held up in a class…" Snape was cut off by Voldemort.

"I do not care for your excuses, Snape."

Snape was quickly absorbed into the circle, taking his place next to Igor Karkaroff. He turned his attention to the Dark Lord who was standing in the centre of the circle.

"As I was saying, our friend Wormtail here has been following Dumbledore around for quite sometime. A week ago, a prediction was made by Sybil Trelawney." Several of the faces behind the masks broke into grim smiles. Hogwarts' Divination teacher was not very popular. "It is of great importance to me, and I have reason to believe it is true. Six years ago, membership to the Order of the Phoenix was offered for the last time. I know many of you were in that year group, so one of you must know who the last to join was."

No one said anything. They found the request for information quite bizarre but knew better than to question Voldemort. Suddenly, the nervous whine of Peter Pettigrew's voice rang out into the silence.

"It was James Potter, my Lord. Our… our group was the last to be tested, and, um, Potter was the last to get in."

Voldemort had turned to face Wormtail. "You were tested as well, I assume?"

Pettigrew looked down at his feet. "Yes my Lord."

There was a trace of laughter in the Dark Lord's voice. "Did you get in, Pettigrew?"

Peter went red under his mask. "Um, no my Lord. I didn't pass the tests…"

Voldemort's cruel laughter echoed in the room. "Why am I not surprised, Pettigrew?" He turned back to the rest of the circle, and addressed the crowd at large. "Does anyone have any information on Potter?"

A feminine voice that Snape recognised as to Bella Lestrange's answered the Dark Lord. " He is an Auror, my Lord. He killed Travers three months ago in Hogsmede."

"Oh yes. I remember now." Voldemort said softly. "Potter… Well, my friends, Travers' death must be avenged, must it not? That will be all for now. Malfoy, Snape and Wormtail, you stay. The rest of you may go, unless you have anything to add."

One by one, the Death Eaters disapparated, returning to where they were previously, until only the three called upon by Voldemort were left, along with Augustus Rookwood. He turned first to Rookwood.

"I take it you have something to tell me?"

Rookwood bowed slightly. "Yes my Lord. As you know, I am working currently in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry."

"Yes…"

"Well my Lord, Potter has a wife, Lily, who works with me. At the moment she isn't coming into work very often. I heard there have been some complications."

"How so?"

"She is pregnant, my Lord."

Snape's head snapped up. Lily, pregnant?

Voldemort continued his conversation with Rookwood. "Pregnant, is that so? Well, this does prose a problem."

"How so, my Lord?"

"Well, Rookwood, a grieving widow is one thing. But an offspring running around attempting to avenge the death of a beloved father is another. We may have to do something about young Mrs. Potter."

Snape spoke up. "Do something? What?"

Voldemort turned slowly to Snape. "That's enough out of you Snape. What I do is my concern."

Lucius Malfoy took Snape's arm and steered him away. "What are you doing Severus? Are you crazy? You remember what happened last time someone questioned his motives!"

But Snape wasn't listening. He wrenched his arm out of Malfoy's grasp, and turned his attention back to Voldemort, who was talking to Pettigrew. Rookwood had already gone. Snape presumed the Dark Lord had given him instructions about Lily.

"I have a new assignment for you, Wormtail. I need you to contact James Potter, and stay in touch with him. Gain his trust and so forth, you know what I mean. Get as much information as you can, and report back to me every two days. I need to know where he is and what he's doing."

"Yes my Lord. It shouldn't be too hard." Pettigrew said, and disapperated. Voldemort then turned to Snape.

"Now, Snape. I need to talk to you about your promptness, or lack thereof. You have been late three times in the last week. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"My Lord, you have put me in a position where I cannot simply leave when you call. If I am in a class I cannot come to you until it is finished, or my activities may arouse some suspicion from Dumbledore, and I may loose my position."

"Crouch manages, and he is actually attending the classes."

"Yes my Lord, but he is a student, and can therefore excuse himself to go to the bathroom or something along that line. I, on the other hand, cannot leave the class at all."

"Very well Snape, but I wonder if you are of any value in the role I have given you. I find it curious that you have not heard of this prediction, when you should have."

"I should have, my Lord? I see no reason why. Knowing the Headmaster, he probably hasn't told any of the staff. But I can tell you one thing - James Potter was at the school a week ago, and I have reason to believe he went to see Dumbledore."

"Potter went to see Dumbledore - That is interesting news Snape, that means he probably knows about the prediction, and that muggle-loving fool has figured it out… Very well Snape, you may go. But keep your eyes and ears open."

With a sigh of relief, Snape apparated back to Hogwarts.

* * *

As he walked through the school's oak doors, Snape was met by tiny Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Looking up, Flitwick realised who was standing in front of him, and seemed to remember something. Just as the Potions Master was walking past, Flitwick called out to him.

"Oh, Severus. Dumbledore was looking for you after dinner tonight. He asked to see you."

Snape turned slowly, staring at Flitwick. He wasn't sure if he had heard correctly. "Dumbledore? He wanted to see me?"

Flitwick was unaware of Snape's apparent alarm, and nodded. "Do you know the password?"

"Yes - Sugar Quill?" Flitwick nodded again. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. Why, is there something wrong?"

"No" Snape said absent-mindedly. "I'll be off then" and he turned and walked away, leaving a very confused Flitwick behind him.

Snape was worried. He had been hoping to stay under Dumbledore's radar, and for the last three years they had managed to get along OK. But now… was he getting suspicious? Finding himself in front of the ugly gargoyle at the entrance of Dumbledore's office, Snape spoke the password and stepped onto the spiral stairs. Arriving at the door of the Headmaster's office, Snape knocked once and walked into the room. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk.

"Ahh, Severus. Sit down, will you? I have something to discuss."

Snape sat, and Dumbledore continued. "As you know, at the end of the year Professor Lomard is leaving. We will have to find a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, of course, but we will also have to find a new head of Slytherin. You were in Slytherin during your time at school here, weren't you?" Snape nodded. "Well Severus, would you be the head of house? The Slytherins seem to like you, you are an excellent teacher and you seem to be able to control your classes."

Snape sighed with relief. This was all Dumbledore had wanted him for. "Of course, Headmaster. Why not? But if you are looking for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher as well, I could fill that position."

"No Severus, that's all right. We need you more in Potions. But that's good news - you will be the new Slytherin head of house at the start of next semester. Does that sound all right?"

"Yes - if that's all you wanted, I really should be off. Thank you, and goodnight." Snape stood up and began to walk to the door, but he stopped when Dumbledore started speaking again.

"Only one more thing, Severus. Where were you tonight? I went looking for you, and Minerva said you were at the Three Broomsticks. I'm always impartial to a Butterbeer, but when I went down, you weren't there."

Snape didn't know what to say. Thinking quickly, he turned around to face the Headmaster. "I met Lucius Malfoy at the Three Broomsticks. He invited me back to the Manor for dinner."

"Oh, I see. Well, that's OK then. Off you go, Severus."

"Bye, Dumbledore." Snape turned back around again, and walked out the door, Dumbledore's eyes following him every step of the way.

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Ohh, and the plot thickens! Well, that's chapter 4 up! Hope you like it and please review, they're always appreciated.

15/10 Sorry, just updated. I realised that the first paragraph had a bit of a time problem. Firstly it was still the same day as Chapters 1,2 and 3, then it became the week after. Thanks to all my reviewers so far, Thankyou thankyou thankyou!

~*Lady*~