She awoke to the sound of Snape entering her room, without even a knock to warn her. She sat up in bed, pushing her bangs back with an irritated gesture. "Oh. So it wasn't a dream." She stretched a bit and groaned.

"Get ready," Snape said curtly. He pointedly turned his back, obviously intending for Clarissa to get dressed with him in the room.

"Pervert," Clarissa muttered, but got out of bed and walked to her small collection of clothes anyway. She considered the few articles that had been brought, then decided on a simple pair of blue bell bottoms (she thought the bright colors and embroidered flowers might make her feel better) and a white peasant blouse. She tightened it especially high on her chest, not knowing what kind of men she'd be meeting and not wanting extra attention. "I'm ready," she said when she was decent, and bent down to tie her shoes.

Snape looked her up and down, somewhat disapprovingly she thought. "Tie your hair back," was all he said, though. "We'll be working the laboratory today."

This was something Clarissa understood. There was a tie in her pocket, and she grabbed a brush from her purse. She would have liked to be able to have a few minutes and brush through all her hair, as she could feel several kinks, but Snape looked impatient. Quick with practice, her blond hair was soon in a long braid that reached to her waist. She grabbed a couple pins and pulled her bangs back.

Snape gave her a curt nod. "You'll do," he said, "though you may wish for some robes later on."

"I don't think so," Clarissa muttered. She was stuck with this twisted cult for now, and would help them to stay alive, but she sure has hell wasn't going to start acting like them.

"As you wish." Snape opened the door and held it open for her. She walked through, and brushed his arm as she passed. Both of them grimaced and jerked apart. Snape followed her through and the door slammed shut behind him. Clarissa jumped.

Snape stepped in front of her and began walking. She hurried to keep up. "You are now aware of your purpose here, of course," he said.

Clarissa bit her lip. "Um, no actually. I was hoping you could explain it to me."

Snape stopped and turned to her slowly. "You read the books?" he asked.

"I did," she answered. "Well, some of them."

"Really," Snape sneered. "And still you don't understand your purpose here? Well, what can you expect from a muggle?"

Clarissa didn't say anything, but hoped he would explain. After a moment, Snape resumed walking, and Clarissa followed. "The Dark Lord," Snape began, "has a long and intricate information system. His reach extends to America and beyond. He was informed, late last year, of research that you are pursuing."

"My research," Clarrisa said flatly.

"Useless by itself, of course," Snape said, waving his hand dismissively. "However, the Dark Lord believes that when combined with certain Potions, you may well possess one of the keys to his immortality."

Now it was Clarissa's turn to stop. "You can't be serious," she said. "Magic potions? They aren't real, Mr. Snape. Neither is immortality."

"Isn't that what you seek in your studies?" he asked. "The key to immortality."

"No," Clarissa said. "I'm a biochemist, specializing in pharmaceuticals. I seek to find cures for illness and genetic disorders, not stop death altogether."

There was a silence, then Snape said, almost hesitantly, "I have a potion that can stopper death."

Clarissa laughed. Snape glared. "Stupid muggle," he said. He walked off, and Clarissa had to hurry to keep up.

"That word," she said. "What does it mean?"

"Muggle?" Snape asked. "It means non-magical. You."

"Oh," Clarissa shrugged. "It's not an insult, than."

Snape chuckled, darkly. "It is an insult. One you are obviously too ignorant to comprehend."

"Right," Clarissa muttered. "Look, if I'm so ignorant, what do you want me for? I don't know a thing about potions. I don't know a thing about immortality. I'm not trying to be difficult, here, but I honestly don't know what you expect me to be able to accomplish."

"I certainly don't have the time to teach you," Snape said. He gave her a considering look. "You'll work as my assistant until such time that you're ready to begin your own research."

"Research..."

"Into an immortality potion, as I said," Snape said, impatient. He stopped in front of a heavy oak door with a gold plated knocker. "POTIONS LAB" was engraved in a frilly, girlish hand over the door. "Here we are," Snape said, unnecessarily. Clarissa just nodded, not seeing a reason to respond.

There was another woman inside. She would have been quite beautiful if it wasn't for the pinched, rodent-like expression she wore. Her blond hair was pulled up in a loose coif, and tendrils fell in curls around her face. Her eyes were a piercing blue, with long lashes that gave depth to her pale face. Her robe, rather than being loose and flowing like Snape's, was fitted tight and stopped several inches above her knees, showing off long legs incased in black boots.

"Narcissa," Snape said. His voice was warm. "You're up early."

"You know I can't sleep when Lucius is away," she said with a slight, endearing pout. There was a genuine friendliness between them, Clarissa sensed. "I started putting things out for the day. Can't trust the muggle to do it," she said, acknowledging Clarissa for the first time with a small sniff.

"You don't need to do that," Snape said. He came up behind her and took a cauldron out of her hands. "In your condition..."

"My condition!" Narcissa laughed. "Severus, I'm only a month along. I wouldn't even know I was carrying if it wasn't for Lucius making me take that blasted test." She patted her flat belly. "It'll be months before little Morganna makes me stop working."

"A girl this week, Narcissa?" Snape asked. "Lucius insists it's a boy."

"Oh, I hope not," Narcissa said. "Boys are nasty. No offense, of course."

"I was never a boy," Snape said. "I emerged fully grown."

"Your poor mother," Narcissa laughed. Then, catching Clarissa out of the corner of her eye, she snapped. "What are you doing standing around like that? There's work to be done. We haven't much time."

Clarissa stiffened. She still wasn't used to being given orders. "I'm awaiting instruction..." her voice trailed off. She hadn't a clue what to call the woman.

Narcissa understood. "Mistress Black," she said. She laughed, a gay, twinkling sound that seemed out of place in the dank lab. She waved a hand in front of Snape's face, showing off the large, obvious diamond on her finger. "Not for much longer! A week until I'm Mrs. Malfoy." She dropped her voice. "Mother is furious, you know. If we wait much longer, she thinks people will say Lu married me for the baby. Totally untrue, of course, but we simply haven't the time what with one thing and another..." She laughed again. "Well, it won't matter what people think. They'll be too afraid to say it, anyhow. That's the beauty of marrying the second in command to the Dark Lord."

"Yes," Snape murmured. Clarissa could tell he was uneasy.

"Hmm. Well, I've got to go, darling. I'm supposed to help Bellatrix with the robes. The silly slut spends so much time making eyes at the Lestrange boy that she doesn't get a thing done." She laughed again, and kissed Snape on the cheek. Then she glided out of the room without giving Clarissa another look.

"That was Narcissa," Snape said. "Don't make the mistake of thinking she's harmless."

"I won't," Clarissa said softly.

"Hmmm." Snape looked around the room. "Well," he said, "I suppose I should get you aquatinted with the set-up here. I hope you had adequate sleep last night. You're going to need it."