"Longbottom, how is it that …"

            Snape trailed off as he caught Tara glaring at him. Doe eyes or not, he found the girl's stare more than a bit unnerving.

            "… Never mind." He stared at the steaming orange mess in Neville's cauldron. "Start over. The satyr's hoof is too valuable to add to that bit of soup. Pay closer attention when you simmer the lacewing on the next attempt, or Gryffindor will lose points. Is that clear?"

            "Yes, Professor," Neville said. Competent though he might be getting at fighting, he was still terrible at potions, he thought as he poured the cauldron out into the disposal. At least now Snape only provoked mild trembles in him when the Potions Master hovered over his cauldron.

            Snape glanced at Tara, whose glare had been replaced with a sweet smile. Damn that girl. This was his classroom and he taught as he bloody well pleased. At least he had, until Dumbledore insisted he accommodate her wishes so that relations between them appeared harmonious. Ridiculous. Bloody war strategy in the bloody classroom, he mentally cursed as he turned back to the other students.

            "I think Snape's got a thing for our new Deputy," Pansy Parkinson whispered to Malfoy. "Did you see how she backed him off Longbottom with a look? That's twice this week after three times last week, all with bloody Gryffindors."

            Draco restrained a groan. Snape had decided that he should partner with Pansy to reinforce their charade. On her own, she had decided to befriend Draco. He was certain it was because she believed it could benefit her that he had returned to favor with certain dark wizards, including his father. The girl was a menace, though: truly annoying and extremely dim. And she refused to stop talking to him about the most inane things. If not for the needed cover, he might have thrashed her just to shut her the hell up.

            "Snape. Pah," he spat. "Not likely, Parkinson. Now hand me the crushed beetle eyes and quiet down."

            A knock on the door gave him pause. The heavy wooden plank swung open, revealing the arrogant, blonde-haired figure of Lucius Malfoy. With the silver top of his cane, he rapped the door once more.

            "Lucius," Snape said, stepping forward and shaking the man's hand. "Welcome to my class. What brings you to Hogwarts?"

            "I'm sorry to interrupt, Severus," he said, though he sounded not at all sorry, "but I need a few private words with my son. Some … urgent family business that could not wait."

            Snape nodded his understanding. "Use my office. Take as long as you like."

            "Thank you, professor. Draco?" Draco rose and walked to the door to Snape's private office. As Lucius strode down the aisles between desks, he stopped next to Ron and Harry.

"My my, young Weasley," he said, sneering distastefully at Ron's cauldron. It had belonged to Bill and Charlie before him and appeared worse for the wear. Malfoy poked it lightly with his cane. "Isn't that one of the shoddy imports that your older brother was on about in the Daily Prophet last year? A shame your father can't even afford to impose proper Ministry standards on his own household."

            As Lucius walked away, Harry's firm grip on Ron's hand was all that kept him in his seat. Ron's ears had gone bright red, and Harry knew that he nearly had steam coming from them.

            "That son of a …"

            "Mr. Weasley," Snape said, his black cloak suddenly filling Ron's vision, "I suggest strongly that you attend to that disaster you call an Ale of Engorgement, rather than do something rash." Ron looked up at him angrily, but leaned back in his seat. "Five points from Gryffindor."

            "For what?" He bit off the words and Harry pulled harder on his arm, hoping to remind his friend who he was talking to.

            "For improperly respecting a visitor, and another five for questioning me. Now, would you care to make it twenty five and a detention?"

            "No, professor, he really wouldn't. Would you, Ron?"

            Ron mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like 'greasy git' but shook his head. "No, professor."

            "A wise choice." Snape spun and walked away, the twirl hiding his satisfied smirk from Tara's angry gaze.

            "Are you insane?" Harry whispered.

            "Damn Malfoys. I wish…"

            "Look," Harry cut him off, his voice harsh, "settle down, alright? Whatever he's telling Draco, we need to know. You getting into a duel with him in Potions won't help anyone."

            Ron gave him a sour look as he nodded. "Fine. I just hate those ruddy bastards, you know?"

            "Don't worry. We'll add a second ferret to the family some day soon."

            Despite his anger, Ron couldn't help but giggle at that.

            Lucius shut the door to Snape's office and cast an isolation charm on the room. No one outside would hear anything that went on, nor would anyone be able to open the door until he released it.

            "You look … well," he said stiffly to Draco, who stood ramrod straight on the other side of the room.

            "Thank you, sir."

            "Grades?"

            "Excellent, sir."

            "Good, Draco, very good. Your mother sends her best, of course. She wishes you would write her a bit more."

            "I'll do that."

            Lucius nodded. He set his cane in front of him, folding both hands over the silver snake head. Draco marveled at how regal his father could look when he wasn't robed and masked and sneaking around killing muggles.

            "Do you recall the talk we had at the end of your summer holiday?"

            "I do."

            "And you remain committed to offering me your assistance?"

            "Of course, father." Draco stilled the urge to shift about.

            "I am pleased to hear that." He glanced around at the ingredients and books that lined Snape's office walls. "This is a busy time for us. A great many things are happening, and the Dark Lord wishes to ensure that nothing unforeseen deters them. He has left it to me to ensure that Potter and his band of fools do not damage our pursuit of his greater goals. What would you say would be the best way to do such a thing, Draco?"

            "Distract them," he replied instantly. "Give them something to deal with that will put them off the other scent."

            Lucius's gaze returned to his son; the right side of his mouth twitched upward.

            "Very good, boy. Very good. I have been entertaining the same thought, and I have an assignment for you." Draco listened attentively as his father explained what he wanted Draco to do. "Tell me, can you manage that?"

            Draco offered an evil smile. "You have no idea how easy it will be."

            The fire crackled in Snape's hearth. Tara's brow wrinkled as she went over everything Draco had just explained. Snape paced back and forth next to her, the moving flames casting irregular Snape-sized shadows on the wall of his dormitory. Draco sat unmoving, waiting to hear their response.

            "You've brought us an interesting problem, haven't you, Draco? How do you fail without failing? Interesting," Snape mused.

            "I can't simply fail outright. I'm no good to us if I appear incompetent on my first assignment. Then there's the issue of Voldemort's agent. Whoever it is, they'll catch on quick if we use false bait."

            "M-maybe w-we should talk to Dumbledore," Tara suggested.

            "I will," Snape said, "after we've determined a course of action for young Malfoy here."

            "The first Hogsmeade visit is two weeks from Saturday. You were going anyway, right, Draco?"

            "Of course," he said. "I've gotten addicted to those damn jelly slugs," he muttered under his breath. "I can direct the attack. It shouldn't be hard to find a bunch of mudbloods to hit, not in this school."

            "Draco!" Tara shouted. "Th-that term i-i-is not to be used." He swore she growled at him. "Is that clear?"

            "Fine," Draco said petulantly.

            "Miss Maclay, I hardly think we have time for a lesson in semantics," Snape said dismissively. "How do you propose we convince your co-conspirators, who I am certain will come from this house, not to harm anyone?"

            "Tell 'em we're lookin' for a good scare, rile up the populace, that kind of thing. They'll know that severely hurting people'll only get us caught." He looked Snape in the eye. "I'll choose them carefully, so that they listen."

            "Who?"

            "Zabini. Nott. Oh, and Parkinson, of course. She'd love a chance to do dirty deeds with me." He shook his head. "We never should've gotten that dumb chit involved in anything. She's damn annoying."

            Snape looked at Draco impassively, and the boy knew he was holding in a smirk.

            "Very well. Do not tell Potter or his ilk anything until afterwards."

            "Why not?" Tara asked.

            "The point is to distract and confuse them. This way, they'll look very distracted and confused." Snape's lip curled up into a sneer. He couldn't resist toying with the Gryffindors a little, allies or not. "It has to appear authentic, does it not?"

            Tara clearly didn't approve, but she nodded anyway.

******************************

Author's Note:

            Okay, I finally have access to a computer again. For how long, who knows? I'll update as much as I can as soon as I can, but it will be erratic throughout July. I know I promised ten chapters and only posted three – I decided good was better than fast. The others are nearly ready, so sometime in the next week I'll add more. Thanks for your patience!

            One important thing – part of the delay came from me reading Order of the Phoenix cover to cover. I thought a lot about what that meant for this story since, and if you've read it you know that it shakes things up a bit. What I decided was this: for now, I'm gonna drop in minor things from it (spells, possibly gags from the Weasleys, that sort of thing). Major stuff, obviously, doesn't apply, since I'm way out in left field here. Some characters from there may appear here, as well (since they add so many to work with).

To sum up: I'll write with an eye towards those who haven't read it as much as I can, but be warned: some spoilers will appear.

            Once again, thanks for your patience. – 40