Disclaimer: Now if I were to write this I believe it would be an insult to your intelligence.

Chapter twenty (WoW! 20 whole chapters… MAN! I need a life!)

Squeaky Door: Part One

Neil knocked brutally on the old oak, castle modeled door as the rest of the group stood behind him. They waited for what seemed like hours then a series of clicks and the rattling of chains erupted from behind the door before it swung open with a rather load high-pitched squeak. The six of them entered, Neil removing his cloak and gave it to one of the many brass hands that hung on the wall.

Severus blinked repeatedly, freezing in the process of removing his own outer garment. Neil was wearing a rather odd looking outfit even for Neil who seemed to tack after the fashion stylings of the former Gilderoy Lockhart. His hair was also spiked now and Severus would have sworn that it hadn't been a minute ago.

Severus spun around quickly to catch Merra and Emma tacking off their cloaks. What he saw almost caused him to fall backwards. Merra was wearing a fiery red top that had no straps and no back to it. The only thing that seemed to be holding it to her body was a series of strings in the back that were tied into bows. Her rather short shirk was black with one vertical red stripe off to the side. Her knees and part of her upper thigh was showing dispite the red knee-highs she wore and the outfit was finished off with some black boots and jewelry featuring a large pair of gold hoop earrings.

Emma's outfit was even more of a statement. It was entirely bright green and black with bits of gold jewelry including a seemingly interesting green butterfly bracelet and ring connected by a short chain. Severus swallowed hard at the sight of her green fishnet stockings and black laced boots that came up to her knees. Not to mention her normally smooth hair with was in a pair of frizzy pigtails with lime green highlights and all the drastic makeup that caked her face. In Severus's opinion she looked like some sort of prostitute that had washed up from somewhere in Knockturn Ally.

Holding his breath her turned towards where his teacher stood hoping against odds that she wasn't wearing on of those horrid outfits. As he saw her still in her black cloak he slowly let the breath of air slide from his mouth only to be caught in his throat again when Sarah, who was carefully studying the room was tapped on the shoulder by James who was in his own hideous outfit. James motioned for she to give him the cloak she wore and as Severus watched her with great intensity she pulled the drawstring of the clock letting it fall back into James's out stretched hands.

The breath Severus had been holding escaped him in a great rush of air. All of the sudden Sarah's hair, which had been in a sleek ponytail, was now hanging down in it's natural iron straight fashion with about half-a-dozen braided sections that were colored electric blue.

Her outfit is that of electric blue and black. She is the only one of the girls to be wearing pants, which are black, but have a vertical, blue stripe off to the side, yet the rest of her outfit more than makes up for it. Her top is a blue halter which leaves a gap between it's bottom and the top of her low riding pants. She has what looks to Severus like an earring in her bellybutton which manages to make Severus sneer in descust. The belt that she wears is doing nothing to help hold her pants up for it is hanging completely out of the loops of the pants and is cocked at a weird angle with a chain attached to it which serves no purpose either. However the most bizarre part of her outfit is her sleeves which are not attached to her top at all. Starting at her wrist with a whole for her thumb and ending at her elbow are what look to be some form of sleeve striped horizontally in blue and black.

Turning his gaze toward the lowed scratchy music issuing from further in the club Severus sees many similar outfits however, most were not as drastic as those of the ladies he is with.

"Severus," James whispered harshly. "Do try and act causal." Indicating the dance floor with his head James lead the small party towards the music.

Stepping forward intending on walking right past Sarah, Severus had to refrain himself from jumping when he felt her arm snake around his waist. She gave him a sideways glance her face stern at she strode forward giving Severus no choice but to move on as well.

When they had reached the dance floor the group split up. Emma and Neil walked off towards the other side of the dance floor as James and Merra headed toward a cluster of small tables. Meanwhile Sarah let go of Severus's waste only to grab his hand before she began leading him straight though the dancing couples that littered the main floor. Sarah made her way towards the bar with Severus in toe when she reached it she let go of his hand and took a seat. Severus sat right next to her trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He couldn't even think of any pureblood wizard ever actually wanting to come here and with all the people in the large room he couldn't understand how these mages expected to find the one man that could help them.

"Can I get you something?"

Severus spun around on his stool to come face to face with the bartender.

"Tonight's special is a purple flirt with—"

"A scotch on the rocks and a dry Martini." Sarah said from beside him smiling fondly at the bar tender. As he move away to get the requested drinks Sarah leaned over. "Go talk to someone I'll see what he knows."

Bewildered as ever Severus got up desperate for a place where he could sort out his thoughts. Taking a set at a booth near by Severus watched his teacher. When the bar tender returned she placed some coins on the counter and from what Severus could see she seemed to have place a far few more than needed for the two drinks. Smiling and laughing she began to talk to him, taking a casual sip of her drink.

Severus was disrupted from his observation by as waitress in a little black outfit asking his if he would like anything. From the way she put it he could tell that drinks weren't all that she meant to offer. After waving her away Severus turned back to the bar to look at Sarah only to find her right in front of him.

"That claude knows nothing." She said handing him his drink. "My guess is that this is something they keep from the public viewed staff. I think I'll have to mingle a bit with some of the older gentlemen if anyone knows something it's them. Meanwhile you try some of the female help. In case you haven't notice most of them aren't strictly waitresses. They could have heard something… in that line of work.

Severus gave her a look of decust, but not for what she was telling him about the waitresses for that much he already knew. It was the mental image of her pretending to offer herself to a sixty year old, drunken man that disturbed him. Not to mention it put him kind of on edge for reasons he couldn't explain.

However one thing still confused him. "What is it that you want me to find out?" He said irritably for he still had no idea what in gods name was going no.

Sarah who had begun walking away turn abruptly back to him. "The password." She said urgently.

"Password for what?"

Sarah slid into the seat across from him as somewhat scared look on her face. "Severus," she said quietly to him like a mother about to tell him how disappointed she was in him. "You did get my letter didn't you?"

Severus didn't answer. He hadn't gotten any letter from any one over the past week.

"It was in a large envelope it had sketches and plans… for tonight…"

This time when Severus didn't answer she turned her head and swore.

"Hello all."

Severus turned to see a very smiley Emma standing beside their table. He looked back to see the three others not far behind.

Turning to her happy friend with a face of no emotion Sarah said, "He never got the envelope."

Severus was amazed as the smile was wiped off Emma's face faster than the smiles of Gryffindors in his presence.

Emma turned around to face James who had now come up behind them. "Have you seen Caelan since last night?"

"No not since I sent him to deliver Severus's 'care package'. He's probably out hunting, why?" The mage was looking slightly worried as he said this, but he managed to keep it out of his voice well enough.

Sarah turned around to face him looking slightly sad herself. "Severus never got the package, James. He must have been intercepted." She reached out and took his hand. "I'm sure he's all right."

James pulled his hand away gently. "I woke up last night because I thought I had felt something… He's not dead," The mage said as if trying to reassure himself that his bird was okay. "I would have know… The pain wasn't that strong."

After a moment of silence Merra piped up. "Emma found the password." She said it with so much fake cheer in her voice Severus was unable to stop himself from a lather obvious grimace.

"Do I want to know how?" Sarah asked sarcastically.

Emma smiled. "Nothing to serious. I'll tell you later" She said throwing a glance in Severus's direction as a form of explanation.

"All right then I guess it's time to set this plan into motion. Severus be sure to stay close and I'll give you the information as needed." And with that Sarah stalked off towards the back of the club.

After once again being dragged across the dance floor Severus found himself in a small closed of hallway by the men's toilet which had a large 'Out of Order' sign posted on the door. Next to that was a broom closet.

"Ladies first." Said Neil with a smile as he opened the door of the broom closet. The three ladies stepped inside before Neil motioned for Severus to enter as well.

Turning his head Severus saw James with big yellow eyes like an owl standing at the other end of the hall as a lookout just before he stepped inside.

Soon at six of them were crowded in the small closet. There was a bit of shuffling before Severus heard Emma whisper 'rubber rats' to a near by bucket and mop. It was several seconds before the far wall began to simmer and then disappear.

Short crummy chapter I know! Computer problems erased the original. I'm going to write right now to stay clam and wait!