Rhyann was able to contain her anxiety about the situation for a while. Draco had assured her they would find a way and had even suggested a few things that might work. Yet those suggestions required her to think of a story of how she could tell the Weasleys what she needed to without losing their trust in her. She could not reveal to them the Dark Mark or that she had anything to do with the Dark Lord. It was going to take something much more intricate than she imagined and a month flew by before she could come up with any ideas.

She began to get distracted from her studies and found it even difficult to continue further on with her own training with Salome's book. Rhyann had found no limits to her astral projection ability. She could interact with the world as if it were truly her physical self and even do magic. She noticed, too, that her dream self was stronger with magic than if she were not projecting. If it were not taxing on her body, she would be tempted to do it more often.

The dreamer had attempted to find spells that would make it look like Ginny and Ron had died, but there were none in the library. She had heard of such powerful spells, but she did not think any of them had the knowledge or the power to do them. She had even considered just going ahead and killing them as she had been commanded. She was not concerned about their lives, but only with her own. Yet within the little group at Hogwarts there, they were too valuable to her plans.

Hermione even noticed how distracted she was acting and commented on it as she joined the Slytherin on Saturday morning in mid-March. "Rhyann? Have you been getting enough lately? You look totally out of it."

Blinking a few times and bringing herself back to the present, Rhyann peered up at the other teen as she sat herself down across from her. "Oh, it's nothing. Just so much homework to do and other things on my mind."

"The amount of work they're giving us does seem a bit ridiculous, but I haven't had any trouble getting it done." The Head Girl pulled out a half dozen books from her book bag. "It's all about scheduling. Other things worry me too..." She gave her a sympathetic nod and then made a little noise as she remembered something. "Before I forget, Professor Snape wants to see you later this morning."

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes, when Malfoy and I were with the Headmistress this morning, he was there as well. He told us whichever of us sees you first to tell you that he needs to speak with you." Hermione seemed pleased that she was the first to tell her. "I think perhaps he might notice your distracted state too. You haven't been doing all that well with the counter-jinxes in his class."

Rhyann shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She did not think that Snape would care all that much about her class performance. It was more likely that he was going to ask her if the task their Lord had given to her was set in motion. "Oh... well, it is difficult when everyone else's jinxes are stronger than my counters. I might be doing the counters correctly, but I just don't have the power to stop them."

Hermione tapped her chin as she thought about it. "I suppose that could be why. Yet I don't think anyone is sending anything really strong at you. You're just not concentrating properly. You should practice more in our meetings. You get the techniques easily enough, but all the other Slytherins have made greater strides than you."

She sat up a bit straighter, her expression hardening defensively. "Well, I know that's only because I just don't have such strong magic..."

"I don't mean it as an insult." Hermione added immediately, her voice softening. "I really just think you have too much on your mind. Is everything alright with Draco? With your family? You don't mention them much any more."

"Everything's fine." Rhyann gave a little dismissive wave of her hand. "I admit, I have been busy with different things. The professors are really pushing us this final year with our N.E.W.T.'s. I get a bit of insomnia. But not like last year!" She made sure to emphasize that.

"Ah, just stress." The Gryffindor nodded, declaring her diagnosis. "You should take a relaxing potion or maybe a sleeping draught. You could ask Professor Snape when you see him later."

"I'll do that then." She assured the other girl and went back to her history essay. Rhyann had no intention of discussing any such things with the Deputy Headmaster. If she thought she could ask him for his help in getting away with not doing the task that had been given to her by their Lord, she would do so. He might be difficult to get along with, but he was an intelligent wizard. It was unfortunate that he was a Death Eater.

There was little talk for the rest of their time together in the library. Hermione was too focused on her work. Sometimes Ron and/or Harry tagged along to study with them on Saturday mornings, but they both were absent this day. Rhyann was told it was because they were up most of the night trying to finish off a project that was suppose to be due the day before.

An hour before noon, she excused herself and headed towards Snape's office. Rhyann had worked out in her head what she would say to him when he asked her about the progress of her task. She steeled herself and knocked on his door.

"Come in."

The petite brunette opened the door and closed it behind her as she went inside. She put down her heavy book bag beside one of the empty chairs and stood facing the hooked nose wizard behind the desk. "Good morning, sir. You wished to see me?"

"Yes, sit down, Miss Rookwood." Snape did not look up from the parchment he was reading. His eyes were busy scanning it and only when they reached the bottom did he finally let his long fingers carefully roll it up, placing it inside one of his desk drawers. "You've been busy of late, have you not?"

"Yes..." Rhyann thought that an odd question coming from him.

"Along with your schoolwork, you have had other 'things' occupying your mind." This was a statement and he did not need a nod from her to know it was true.

"I have."

"How have you been handling everything? Are you managing to keep up?" It was no conversational tone nor one with any noticeable hint of concern. His voice was flat but more than just inquiring.

Rhyann gripped her hands together on her lap. Her feet barely touched the floor in the chair she was sitting in and it almost made her feel like a child being checked up on. "I have been handling it all just fine." She would not give any specific answer regarding her orders from the Dark Lord unless he asked about it first.

"You know that I do not find it acceptable that your performance has been slipping in my class."

Could Hermione have been right! Did he really just want to talk to her about her class work? Rhyann could not believe that and blinked the surprise from her eyes. "Professor, I don't think it has been slipping. I..."

"I am not interested in any of your excuses. If you have been managing to keep up with everything, you should be keeping up with my class as well. I give special treatment to no one." Snape reminded her sternly.

"I understand that." Rhyann was beginning to feel her hackles rising and fought to keep them down. She would play the obedient student. "I will put more effort into it then."

"Yes, you shall." Snape moved slightly in his chair, pulling a bit at his high collar. "Since you have been having no other problems then, I wish to ask you to do something for me. It requires one with your unique abilities. If you do not have the time, I will not expect you to do it. It is for my own personal interest. Would you be willing to help me?"

Lucius had always demanded that she do his bidding, blackmailed her, and Voldemort commanded her, put fear into her. Now the Deputy Headmaster sat across from her asking her to help him. Rhyann did not feel any sort of pressure from him to say that she would. In fact, she felt a little like he was uncomfortable bringing this to her and realized that he must be doing so because he had exhausted all other avenues. Snape was not a wizard, in her opinion, that went asking others for help. He had peeked her curiosity more than any desire to want to offer help. "What would you like me to do?"

"I would like you to go into the sleeping minds of three individuals. One of them has some information that I require. I know exactly where they are, so they will be easy for you to locate." Snape stared at her with an unreadable expression.

"That... is simple enough." The dreamer answered cautiously. It would be easy for her to do. There wasn't anyone out there who had any defenses around their mind that would be any trouble for her. "What is it that you wish for me to find out about?"

"You will agree to do it then?" Snape asked again. "I would require complete confidentiality on this. You cannot tell anyone what you discover. Not your family, your friends, Mr. Malfoy or even our Lord. I am entrusting you with a great responsibility in obtaining this information. Will I be able to trust you?"

Her curiosity gave her no choice but to continue forward with this. "Of course, sir."

Severus Snape sat silently for a moment, studying her with his piercing eyes. "I'm placing great trust in you, Miss Rookwood." He gave her one more meaningful look and then took out a small slip of paper from his robes, handing it to her. "The three names with their addresses are upon that. They are no one that you know or even heard of. The information should not be difficult to find. I am looking for a specific enchanted object. It is a shield with the crest of all the Houses of Hogwarts upon it. I'm sure I do not have to describe that to you. One of these three wizards has it in their possession and I intend to bring it back to the school where it belongs. The one that has it may call it a horcrux. Such a thing should stand out in their mind."

Taking the piece of paper, her heart skipped the next three beats. "A horcrux. Yes, that should be easy enough, sir."

"The sooner you can do this the better as well."

"I will do it this night, Professor." Rhyann slid the paper into an inner pocket in her robes without even looking at the names. A horcrux.

With a grateful nod, he stood up as if he suddenly didn't want to be sitting down at the moment. "Thank you, Miss Rookwood. I appreciate your helping me with this. You may go back to your studies now or to the Great Hall where the midday meal will be starting."

She slowly stood up and remembered her bag beside her. Her hand shot down, yanking it up and let its weight carry her towards the door. "You're welcome... I'll come to see you tomorrow morning with the information."

"Very good." Snape came over to hold open the door for her. There was a certain look in his eyes that she could not place for it seemed so foreign to his normal demeanor. He closed the door quietly behind her once she was in the hall.

He had hardly seemed like himself in there, but Rhyann knew it was because he was asking her for a favor. Not just any favor, but one that was so secret that not even their master knew about it. Snape could be just testing her by seeing who she would tell, but she didn't get that feeling. She then realized she had recognized that look in his eyes. It was fear. He had entrusted her with something so very important that he had reason to be afraid of anyone else finding out.

She picked up her pace as she headed back to Slytherin tower. He was going to have her find a horcrux for him. Rhyann was not sure exactly what such objects were like, but now, finally after all that chasing she had done in Potter's mind, she would be able to find out through another source. This favor she was doing for Snape was going to be just as rewarding for herself as it was for him.