Chapter5:

"Headmaster, please, you have to listen to us," Hermione urged.

They had spent a full half an hour in front of the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office reeling off the names of pretty much all the sweets that they knew until the Headmaster, alerted to their presence by whatever hidden alarm systems he employed, had met them at the foot of the stairs. He had first eyed them seriously, and then had asked what they were doing here so late, since at such a late hour they were supposed to be in their dormitories.

Harry ignored the new coolness Dumbledore was showing towards him. He had more important things to do. "The Order and all of Hogwarts are in danger, sir."

Dumbledore intently looked at them one after another, as if he could thus determine if their concern was really as important as they claimed. Finally, he nodded slowly, and gestured wordlessly for them to follow him.

Harry could barely rein himself in until they stood in Dumbledore's office.
"Voldemort has a spy at Hogwarts." The words shot out of him.

Dumbledore looked at him questioningly. "And where did you obtain this information, Mister Potter? Did you have another vision?" A worried, but strangely suspicious expression appeared in the eyes of the old wizard.

Harry decided again to simply ignore the strange behaviour of the Headmaster for the moment. "No, Sir. But we have found out that someone has kidnapped Snape, and assumed his role with Polyjuice Potion."

For an instant, something like concern darted across Dumbledore's face, but was immediately replaced with suspicion. "That is Professor Snape, Mister Potter. And how did you arrive at this conclusion?"

Dumbledore didn't believe them, Harry suddenly realized. What if they couldn't persuade him? Or even worse, what if Dumbledore didn't believe them and then had a talk with the fake Snape about it? Then they would be in mortal danger. Even more than simply with a spy on the loose at Hogwarts. If he figured out that he had been uncovered, he would try to get them out of the way. There was nothing for it – he would have to tell Dumbledore everything.

Hermione seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion. "We were trying to play a prank on Draco," she started.

Ron added to her explanation. "A few things went wrong, and to make a long story short, Snape…excuse me, Professor Snape, found a piece of evidence that would have incriminated us, and we were trying to get it back."

"We snuck into his quarters to get it back, and found a few bottles of Polyjuice Potion, as well as signs that his rooms seem to be seldomly used," Harry finished out the story.

"We have to rescue the real professor, Headmaster," begged Hermione.

Harry inwardly thanked her. If they managed to shift attention from their transgression to Snape's fate, then Dumbledore couldn't really punish them. Indeed, he had often before turned a blind eye, and if their rule-breaking saved the day, he had even awarded them house points for that.

Dumbledore gazed at them a long time, and calmly stroked his beard. "Those are pretty serious accusations."

"But we have proof. The Polyjuice Potion, and the unused rooms…" Hermione shot back.

Dumbledore interrupted her with a lifted hand and an amused smile. "I don't mean to question your observations, child. Even if the way you obtained them is not exactly praiseworthy, and I hope that illegally entering a teacher's quarters is not something that will happen again." He firmly looked at them over the top of his glasses. "Still, you have uncovered some important points. I will immediately deal with this, I promise you."

"If we can help somehow –" The words escaped Harry before he could stop himself. He was completely fed up with always being left in the dark. This was much too important.

Dumbledore gave him a friendly smile. "I thank you, and you, too," he said as he turned to Hermione and Ron, "very much for your help. But for now, just go to sleep. It is quite late. Then tomorrow, after lessons, we can talk about everything."

This at least partially placated Harry. It seemed like Dumbledore didn't intend to keep them out of everything any longer. He exchanged a sort-of satisfied look with his friends, and got up to leave the Headmaster's office.

Harry had barely taken two steps when he heard Dumbledore's voice from behind him. "Obliviate!"

.-.-.-.

Dumbledore had spent the better part of a sleepless night in Snape's dungeon. It was seven o'clock in the morning before the painting of the crimson firedrake finally swung out, and a figure, wrapped in a black-hooded cloak, entered.

The new arrival suddenly stopped as he became aware that he was not alone, and his wand shot up so rapidly that it seemed as if its owner had to always be prepared for an attack.

"The wand will not be necessary," Dumbledore said calmly. "Come, sit down. We have to talk."

The hand with the wand sank down, and its owner entered the room and sat down hesitantly on the sofa, across from Dumbledore. With further hesitation and a deep sigh he pushed back his hood and revealed silver-blonde hair, gray eyes, and a pointed face. He threw a skeptical glance at the headmaster, before he pulled his customary cane out of the deep folds of the robe and leaned it against the sofa next to himself.

"I don't have much time, Headmaster. I still have to change. The first hour of classes is about to begin."

Dumbledore nodded. "I know, but something happened. We definitely will have to secure your rooms a lot better. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger managed to break into your quarters. They noticed that they are barely being used, and they found the Polyjuice Potion."

Dumbledore had barely finished speaking when Malfoy jumped up. "Those little maggots. I knew that they were behind the insulting advertisement. I will have them pay for that." He lifted a fist, barely managing to suppress the anger rising within him. "They wanted to steal the hairpin back, right? I knew that it had to be Granger's. We have to silence those three, or I am finished," he said angrily.

Dumbledore held up his hand in a soothing manner and stood up as well. "Please calm down. I already took care of it. They remember nothing in connection with this incident."

Malfoy stared at him a moment, and then let himself fall back on the sofa with a short, barking laugh.

Dumbledore lifted an eyebrow questioningly.

"I never thought I would see the day when the great Albus Dumbledore Obliviates a student, especially his beloved Harry Potter. Pretty hypocritical, don't you think, Headmaster? Especially since you usually reject such ideas when I am the one suggesting them."

Dumbledore's eyes lost their friendliness and took on a tortured expression. "That is unfair, and you know it," the headmaster reproached him quietly. "This particular situation is singularly more important than trivial classroom matters. That you are able to keep your position is vitally important for the war effort."

These words caused Malfoy to grow silent, and he distractedly fingered a strand of his hair as it slowly grew shorter and darker.

"The Polyjuice Potion is starting to lose effect," Dumbledore noticed, more to break the uncomfortable silence in the room than to comment on the obvious.

"Exactly according to plan. I planned everything perfectly," murmured the man, whose facial features, hands, and body slowly molded back into those of Severus Snape. "In this game, I am leaving nothing to chance. You should know that, Headmaster."

Even the voice had returned to Snape's unmistakable baritone timbre, but it suddenly sounded tired and exhausted.

With compassion, the old wizard looked at the man, who, shoulders drooping, sat bent forward on the sofa.

He walked around the small table and sat down next to Snape. "Are you having problems putting on an act for Narcissa, Severus?"

Snape shook his head and curled his lip disdainfully. "Narcissa is too wrapped up in herself and too used to Lucius being out all day with business partners to notice anything. As long as the money flows and Lucius pays her enough attention when he is home, she doesn't ask what he is up to the rest of the days, or sometimes even the nights.

"It also helped enormously that with the aid of the Time Turner both my personas can be in the same place at the same time. Nobody is suspecting anything. As long as the Unspeakables provide cover and I have free hand to break the occasional rule, and especially as long as I keep being careful, nobody will suspect anything."

"Then what is it that is distressing you?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

For a moment, Snape was silent again before he quietly said, "I am afraid that I am slowly losing track of where I end and Malfoy begins. I am forced to always exactly impersonate him. And Malfoy would never betray the Dark Lord."

"But Severus Snape would. Severus, please look at me."

The dark-haired man lifted his head and met the gaze of the old wizard.

"I understand that under the circumstances you might be forced to commit terrible deeds. But so are our liaisons in the Ministry. You would be acquitted of those deeds in a court of law, you know that."

"I am not worried about a prosecution under the law, Headmaster, you know that. And that you keep encouraging me in this isn't helping. What if the Dark Lord ever gets his hands on a student? I don't know if I will be able to risk losing my cover to help him. It is as you have said: This game is big, bigger even than the life of someone you are sworn to protect. I play this dangerous game by your orders, and I have to play to the best of my ability. I am doing the best I can - be it to gather information, to not endanger my cover, or to make Potter aware of the dangers of the situation and prepare him for the inevitable battle…and you are quite aware of my own opinion on that subject," Snape growled.

The headmaster sighed tiredly. "I know, Severus. I don't like it either, but Harry happens to be our only chance, and even if it doesn't look like it at the moment, we are at war. Young Diggory wasn't the first innocent victim. Many of the children under our protection are in danger, and, if we can't make Harry understand that when it is time, there will be many more victims. I don't like what we are doing here, and it is difficult to find the right direction and make sure that the price of victory doesn't exceed what we are willing to pay." He drew his eyebrows together thoughtfully. "To not yield to the temptation to become like our enemy or to fight with his weapons - it isn't always easy."

"That exactly is my problem, Headmaster. I haven't been able to see that line clearly for a long time. In this case, does the end really justify the means? We both know that I will even kill if the Dark Lord should demand it, only to keep my cover."

"But what do you fear more, Severus? That you might have to kill, or that you might like it?"

Snape didn't seem to have an answer for that, either that, or he was afraid to speak the truth. "What if I lose my conviction one day? What if the allure of evil becomes too strong? I am not a nice man. Never was. I like to have power over others," he finally said.

Dumbledore laid a fatherly hand on his shoulders. "As long as you still have these thoughts, you will always be able to find yourself again. I know that I am expecting much of you, and it saddens me that we have no other choice."

"The risk is too high, Headmaster." Snape pleadingly looked up at the old wizard. "Malfoy has too much power. I find myself liking this power, and the allure of the Darkness. I like it much more than I should."

Dumbledore looked regretfully into his eyes. "Malfoy is in the right position. It is exactly this influence that he yields both in society and in the Dark Lord's company that makes his position so valuable. And except for a few trustworthy Unspeakables and the two of us, no one knows that the real Malfoy has been in Azkaban all this time."

Snape balled his fists on his lap and lowered his eyes. "I just can't do it any more. Any other Death Eater would be acceptable, but not Malfoy. Even if we put aside the fact that he is strongly engaged socially and has a family, and that between his and my own life I barely have time to relax, even with the Time Turner, there is the still the matter of power. Even when I have a few hours of peace and quiet, the doubts and thoughts will not let me go, and I am barely able to get any sleep."

It was silent for a moment, and then Dumbledore sighed. "All right. Severus. I always told you that it was your choice. You have done so much for us already, and I trust you. We'll get rid of Malfoy."

Relieved, Snape looked him in the eye again. "Please believe me that I would not ask for this if I thought I would be able to safely keep on playing Malfoy's part."

Dumbledore just smiled. "I know that, my boy." He stood up again. "I will immediately contact my allies among the Unspeakables. At the next opportunity, they will 'officially' arrest Malfoy. Then we can switch your identity to another Death Eater who isn't in the spotlight so much."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Snape said, relief in his voice. "I am not going to disappoint you in my new role; that, I promise you."

Once more Dumbledore patted Snape's shoulder. "I have to thank you, Severus,for everything you are putting yourself through for our sake. I, and the whole side of the light."

And with those words, he left Snape so that he could change clothes for his first Potions class.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Fin

So, that was it. The rest of this fic and my last update before HbP. I'm so exited! Thanks to all who reviewed, to Cecelle, for translating the fic and to Lucidity for her wonderful job as a beta. Also thanks to all those who reviewed:-)

Celi, Silverthreads, Oya, Teldra, Severinus, AccioSeverus, darkdancer, duj, Pervert Bitch, lucidity, Phinea Rogue