A/N: After the prologue I got stuck on the plot, but I'm back and the plot is also! So expect an update far quicker than this one was!!

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Revelations

Chapter 1:

"Why does it feel like night today?

Something in here's not right today.

Why am I so uptight today?

Paranoia's all I got left.

I don't know what stressed me first

Or how the pressure was fed,

But I know just what it feels like

To have a voice in the back of my head."

-Linkin Park, "Paper Cut"

-.-

One Year Earlier…

Albus Dumbledore sat at his mahogany desk sucking a Sherbet Lemon thoughtfully as he waited for Severus to arrive. When the first week of summer had passed without the arrival of Severus's annual application for the DADA position, Albus found himself worrying for his spy. Every year, the day after summer began Severus's application arrived by owl. It had ever since the end of the first year Severus had ever taught at Hogwarts.

He had oft pondered when Severus would end this yearly ritual, and now that the time had come he found that he was missing it. Yes, it was hard turning his potions master down year after year, but the man's unrelenting stubbornness had always been admired by Albus.

The door opening startled him out of his thoughts as he looked up to see Severus Snape, his customary black robes swirling around him as he crossed the room to stand in front of Albus's desk.

"You called?" he asked simply.

"Yes. Sherbet Lemon?" he replied holding the candies out to the younger wizard, as he summoned a chair across from him.

"No, thank you."

"Are you quite sure?" Albus smiled fondly at the other man.

"Yes." Severus growled, glaring at him.

"They're really very good." He could see the young man's patience drawing thin.

"Yes, yes, so you tell me every sodding time I come in here!" It had always amused him to see the other so riled up.

"Do sit down, Severus. I did not summon that chair for the view."

The potions master rolled his eyes. "Speaking of summons, I am sure there was a reason you called me here today. And as I am a pretty busy man as of late, I really would like to hear it within the next few months."

Ah, always down to the point, that one. "Of course," he replied suppressing a grin. "Would you care for a cup of tea?"

"No."

"How about some coffee?"

"No."

"Pumpkin Juice?"

"No."

"Wa-"

"I do not want any of your bloody beverages!" Severus interrupted impatiently.

Albus was now openly smiling. "Now, now Severus, there's no need to be hostile." His only answer was a glare. "How are you feeling, my boy?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose." Severus sighed.

"Has Voldemort summoned you as of late?"

"Not since my last report, no."

"Do you believe this is a cause to worry?"

"It could be, but I highly doubt it. He rarely summons all his supporters at once, and he will only call all those in the inner circle when he has something big planned. As of late he has done nothing more than the occasional raid," Severus explained.

"Ah."

"Is that all, Headmaster? I really have things I must be doing." The younger man stood to emphasize his point.

"Yes, Severus, that is all." Albus watched the potions professor sweep out of the room silently. Talking with the boy had yielded no answers, and he was loathe to go right out and ask Severus why he had not applied this year. Perhaps he had simply forgotten this year around. But Albus sincerely doubted that.

-.-

A month into summer holidays had gone by Albus still had not found a new DADA professor, or the reasons behind Severus's decision not to apply. Voldemort had been eerily silent for the past couple of months, and that had never proven to be a good thing.

Albus was certain that the dark wizard had something huge planned, yet his spy had not reported anything to that regard. Had Tom lost his trust is Severus? Or worse yet, had Severus defected?

No, that wasn't it. Severus was a good man, even if seen as a villain as most. He would never betray those who trusted him most.

So it must be the first, he decided. Tom has found reason to doubt Severus's honesty. But that was not such a great surprise; Riddle had never been one to fully trust his followers.

He sighed heavily. He just hoped that this mistrust would not prove fatal to his spy. He cared deeply for the young man, even if the other did not know. He had always seen Severus as the son he had never had.

His worries only heightened when one quiet Friday evening his spy was summoned. He wanted so badly to tell Severus not to go, to hide him away in his office until the danger of this war had receded. Severus, he knew, would never stand for that. He was a fighter to the last bone in his body, and a very stubborn one at that.

So Albus did the only thing he could do: he sent the man back to Voldemort and prayed he would come out alive this time.

He would soon have far more to worry about anyways.

-.-

Trouble came in the form of Cain Westmark, Fudge's successor as Minister of Magic. He was a rather unremarkable looking man; average size, average height, green eyes and graying brown hair. Passing him down the street would not garner a second glance, if even a first.

Yet Albus couldn't help but feel wary around the man, who seemed far too suspicious to be trusted. The man kept his wand at hand at all times, and his shifty eyes noted every detail of his surroundings. He held the air of one knowing a great secret, and fearing others were trying to wrest it from his grasp.

A mere day after Severus's departure, Albus received notice of the Minister's subsequent visit upon the grounds of needing to discuss "Official Ministry Business". What he really came for would change far more than the Headmaster could ever have imagined.

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TBC...

A/N: Sorry it's been so long and it's so short. This story has been given me some trouble plot-wise.

Don't forget to review me with your comments and opinions!

-.-

Reviewer Responses:

spitfire304645- Thank you.

Little Tigger- Thank you. Yes, I will try... Sorry for the long wait.

bluebird161221- Sorry for the long wait.

elvengirl9- Thank you. Sorry for the shortness.

Oya- Thank you. You'll find out all in good time. :)