The kitchen door closed behind Severus with a click as the latch fell into place and he felt some of the tension bleed out from him. Enough remained, however, that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up as a Ward of Silence was raised within the room he had just left. Severus smiled grimly. There was a reason why that particular ward had been nicknamed 'The Conspiracy Charm'. Once Severus had felt irked that there was information being kept from him. "In case you're discovered," they said. "We don't trust you," they meant. But Severus didn't care anymore. 'Let them keep their secrets,' he thought, 'I've got more important things to do.'

Like divining truth from fiction.

At least he would not have to deal with Miss Granger further this night. While he would have preferred to confront her before she had time to think and plan revenge, Molly had seen to it that she was in such a sleep that only a potion can bring. Ironically Albus had advised him that he, Severus, should be the one to relate to her the full details of her family's murder. Something he'd intended to do anyway. But it would have to wait until morning, a time he could practically guarantee would see the house conspicuously empty.

Severus squared his shoulders and strode quickly down the hallway, his robes billowing behind him. Quickly, yet quietly. As he made to pass the stairs, he slowed, then stopped. Something felt...off. His eyes darted about, seeking the cause of his discomfort. Nothing seemed out of place on the ground floor. Gas lamps flickered dimly along the passage, lending a subtle light to the darkness. The light glittered among crystals hanging from the serpentine chandelier, while shadows played about the peeling wallpaper. Severus allowed himself a moment of regret for what the house must once have been then directed his gaze upward. The first floor landing was shrouded in darkness, the shadows impenetrable, while the second looked much the same as the ground floor, lamps flickering sickly in the darkness.

'Wait a minute...'

Severus returned his gaze to the shadow bound landing of the first floor, trying to pierce their depths. Apparently satisfied in seeing nothing but darkness, he called out, "If you're quite finished, Miss Weasley, perhaps you would care to come down and explain yourself." It was not a request.

After a moment's hesitation, the youngest Weasley emerged from her hiding place in the shadows and, doing her best not to look guilty, brought herself to the bottom of the stairs far more silently than most of the house's inhabitants could do. Severus found himself reluctantly adjusting his opinion of the girl. This was no longer the painfully shy little girl under the sway of a memory. No, Ginevra Weasley was far more dangerous than all the rest of her family combined. It was only a question of who she was dangerous to...

"Well, Miss Weasley? Were you spying on me for any particular reason or were you just indulging your curiosity?" Severus' tone left no doubt as to his opinion about too curious cats and Gryffindors.

The girl appeared to wrestle with her conscience for a moment. Or perhaps she was deciding which would be more useful - the truth or a lie. By the slump of her shoulders, Severus could tell that she had decided in favour of truth. "Survival."

"Spying on your betters as a means to survival, Miss Weasley? A most interesting point of view. Pray, tell me more." Severus could be likened to a cat - they both liked playing with their prey.

The prey had either yet to realise this or did not care.

"No, Professor, information is survival. The Order never tell the Trinity anything, and they tell me even less..." She broke off as Severus pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off the inevitable headache.

"Trinity, Miss Weasley? Please do not tell me that some Gryffindor has had the gall to raise those three to the level of deities."

Ginny's mouth twitched upward. "Hardly, sir. It's just a joke we've been kicking around the common room. Trinity: Mother, Son, and Holy Ghost. Hermione's the mother - she's forever telling us to study and so forth. Harry's the Son - forever whining about his parents." She rolled her eyes. "And then there's the Holy Ghost, my dear brother Ron - I don't know where he goes but almost every night he begs, borrows or steals Harry's cloak and disappears. I'm surprised you've never caught him."

Severus fought the urge to smirk at this insight into Gryffindor politics as the image of their reactions filled his mind's eye. Weasley, undoubtedly sneaking out to visit some giggling Hufflepuff would be mortified to discover that his nocturnal habits were the object of ridicule. Potter would be all bluster and indignation. And Granger...

Suddenly it wasn't funny anymore and Severus was apalled that he could laugh at her expense, especially while she was grieving. He was then irritated that it should matter to him at all and he lashed out at the nearest target, coldly rebuking his new soon-to-be informant. "As...amusing as it may be, such a moniker is highly inappropriate, given the current circumstances. You will not use it again, understood?" Ginny nodded her assent and he continued, "Moreover, you can inform your housemates that if I or any other teacher hears it being used in any form, detentions will be the least of your worries. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir!" she said triumphantly.

Severus was confused. In the near two decades he'd been terrorising students, he'd seen many and varied reactions to his treatment of students - some cried, some merely whimpered. Gryffindors like Potter glared and argued while Slytherins cajoled and bargained. There was enven one memorable occasion on which a second year Hufflepuff had lost control of his bladder after a particularly vicious threat form the Potions Master. Dumbledore had been less than pleased that day, and Severus was no longer allowed to make threats that included bodily harm.

But no one barring the insane had ever smiled as result of the infamous Snape temper, let alone as if it were some great victory. If Severus had had the time he would have allowed himself the luxury of solving this puzzle. Was it the fact that she was a Gryffindor and they were eternally infuriating or was it simply the female mindset?

And now she was thanking him.

"What the devil for?" The question was out of his mouth before he could think.

Ginny gave him a look that he had only before seen on her mother - a mixture of pity, understanding and forgiveness. "For proving me right. Goodnight, Professor."

Before he could rebuke her for her impudence, the ancient grandfather clock rusting away down the corridor rang with two deep but discordant chimes. Time was getting away from him and he had none to spare, so he merely admonished her, "Do not let me catch you spying on me again." That was a subtle enough hint that she should catch it. Watching for further attempts by her should help keep him sharp without risking his life. "If, on the other hand, you should happen to overhear something that I should know, be sure to bring it to my attention imediately."

And with that he left.

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A/N: I'm not entirely happy with this chapter but if I don't post it now I never will. Hopefully the next one won't take as long.