Chapter Eight: The Thief in Darkness

Watching her fall into sleep, Snape stayed silent as he approached the witch. Her body was upon the bed, still in her robes, she slept, as if she didn't care one bit.

"Silly witch. She seems almost," But before finishing his sentence, she stirred. Snape backed away a few steps, not wanting to wake the woman who now seemed a sleeping angel. Once she lay still he approached her again, without speaking.

Her looked upon her face, and how he weakened. He knew that she would never be his, but how he dreamed she would. He noticed the curves of her figure, wanting her body to be his; his to hold and comfort, to love and to care for.

He brushed the silky, brown hair from her face. "If only you knew. But you can't. I can still see his face, full of wanting and pleading." He paused, wishing she could hear his words of pain and sorrow. "He told me to do it out of love. But I did it out of fear and obedience. It wasn't good enough. I wasn't good enough! Not for him and certainly not for you! But I wish I could meet up to your perfect standards, to be with you… But you belong to another." He whispered, still not stirring her. He leaned and kissed her forehead, bidding her good night.

Snape turned around towards her nightstand and gently placed a letter, tracing her full name in green ink, not including her middle name. Following into the fireplace he quickly pulled out his bag of Floo powder. Tossing it into the ashes, he spoke in a clear yet soft voice, wishing not to wake Sasha. "Malfoy Manor!"

His body was engulfed by green flames, sending him strait to his wanted destination to report to Lucius and his master. But as he left the room, something stayed with him, feeling it was not the time to give her what she might have wanted most.

"How could this have happened? Was I not careful about how I handled this? Have I not been a good witch for so long?"

"Sasha! Get a hold on yourself!"

"Yet here I wait for HIM! That son of a squib shall not, will not end me! I have been, for too long, pushed around, thinking that only one way is the right way! That I have no other choice!"

A hand came across my face, stopping me from pressing on.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for!" I asked enraged.

He took hold of my robes and looked strait into my eyes. "For shutting you up, that's what! Look, Sasha, you must remain calm. For all we know, he is just as harmless as he was years ago."

I groaned. "Oh great! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"

Pardon the yelling, but I was a bit angry at the moment. What with that slimly little... But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me go back, back to when this whole sad thing begins.

The morning after I found the letter on my side desk, inscribed to me.

'From Snape, no doubt.' I thought. And I was right, but I soon found myself worried stiff after I read it. My whole soul was crying out, 'Severus, please, stay strong and for Merlin's sake, LIVE!' It stated:

Sasha,

I leave you with only a warning and my blessings on your quest. I fear that you may be in danger if you contact me, so don't. I have suspicions that the dark lord might think I am a spy for the Order. Not that its true, but I fear for your life. Try your best at finding the remaining horcruxes, and be careful, for you never know you might be among you.

Watch after Potter and remember not to threaten him or his little friends. You need to gain his trust, or else you may have even more trouble.

Sincerely yours, H-B.P.

Seeing this made me think. Why would the dark lord think of Severus in such a manner? Were Voldemort's suspicions true? And if so, why not tell me about it? Was Severus planning to double-double cross me? He was a good actor, after all. But what was his motive? What on earth was he playing at? And if it were true, what would Voldemort do to him?

'He would kill him.' A voice inside told me. But most of me didn't what to think of such a thing. Yet it was still coming back, 'I wonder if Voldemort would kill him in person? Merlin, I hope he doesn't. I would just die! He is my best friend! If anything, anything at all happened to him…'

I pulled away from those thoughts at last, except for one little picture that played over and over in the back of my mind. Like an evil record player that whispered to me as it showed, 'It could happen.'

I pushed the doors to the great hall. 'How could this be happening? Was I not careful about my feeling and him? He murdered the other for Merlin's sake! Why am I even worried? Because he's the last friend I have left. Plus he saved my life. How can I ever ignore that?'

"Sasha! Come here, please." I heard Slughorn say from across the hall. I felt almost embarrassed by his outburst. But I also felt sorry for mine last night's.

As I neared him I tried to explain myself. "Professor Slughorn, I'm sorry. I truly am. I just... Hell I don't know! I'm probably just a little-''

"Ah, ah. It's quite all right my dear. I know what your feeling now, and I don't blame you. To hear his name again, and in such a manner. I should be the one that's sorry. But I would like you to know that I'm going to have to ask you a few questions that the other teachers have been wondering about, sadly."

I was taken by surprise; was he trying to interrogate me?

"Oh? What about?"

He stopped and did not answer, for the headmistress had stood and looked as if wanting to say something important towards the room filled with students and faculty. She hit her glass with a spoon lightly, allowing it to ring in the ears of the others. Everyone fell silent.

"Students. I have just been informed that we will be playing host to the guards of Azkaban once more. It appears that someone has escaped yet again. But this time, it's a lot on the lose, so we will not be taking our weekly trips to Hogsmade until they are captured or out of our area."

A few groans came from the tables, but many whispers came about as well. I turned my head to Slughorn.

"Slughorn, this wouldn't have anything to do with my questioning, would it?" I asked.

He sighed softly; in a way I could tell what he meant.

"Yes. We all knew about Severus being your secret keeper, so we thought he might have told you something. Did he mention anything at all about a big plot or something around the Azkaban area?"

"Why on earth would he even utter a word on a top secret plan that would sell him out? It would be like he was telling me he really wasn't a Death Eater! But he is! Its not as if he just going to tell me everything their going to do. Why on earth would you all even suspect me?" My temper was starting to burn and show about my face. But I kept my voice steady and calm.

"I know. I told them all it would seem unlikely, but they wanted to be sure you weren't a spy. Trelawney isn't quite sure about you, you know. She thinks that your aurora is bad or something. She always seems to be blabbering some sort of nonsense."

I was taken back at these suspicions by my fellow teachers. Once again, since coming back from my hiding place, I felt like a black sheep. Like I was a wolf in a family of dogs, and only one felt me right.

Around two months past after my finding of the letter and the dementors coming to play guest with us. Around October 28th I think, can't really remember well. During which I found it hard not to think or call upon Severus, but I also did not wish to endanger him, if in any trouble. Then one night, while doing my nightly rounds,

"Are you sure that's it then? One of those things, Hermione? You sure it there?"

I was about to turn the corner, near the library when Ron Weasley's voice rang into my ear, soon followed by the young clever witch. I stopped and quickly hid myself in the shadows and move no muscle. It was time to do what I came here for.

"I'm positive. We can even use the common room's fireplace to get there. But we must be careful, we don't know if McGonagall charmed the fireplaces or not. And by broomstick we'll never get there in time and be back here before morning."

'This is far too easy! Surely it is a trick! But how could they know? This is just too remarkable! At last I can repay Severus back by aiding him with my life. The one which he saved.' I thought. It was so perfect, too perfect. Yet I saw no flaw whatsoever! At last I could then hear Potter:

"Then we have no other choice! We have to get there, tonight! Before anyone else knows or Voldemort thinks of sending a Death Eater around."

'The brave fool.' I thought, shaking my head. If only I knew where they spoke of! I then heard the sound of footsteps, heading towards the Gryffindor tower. Silently I followed in the shadows and waited for what would happen next, not making a sound, gliding as if I were a dark night bird, waiting for its prey at the right moment.

They came to face the fat lady in pink painting and were asked the password.

"Jinxanora." They said. And as the painting slid open for them I thought to myself why was I so dark all of a sudden. Why was I acting like Snape? To remember him if he is…

The picture closed and I waited in darkness for five minutes. I walked up to the portrait and gave her the password, "Jinxanora." As she opened she spoke, "Shouldn't you be in bed young Moon?" I meekly laughed at her slight remark.

"I am not so young anymore, dear lady."

I crawled into the space and walked over to the window, next to the fireplace, waiting. My eyes looked upon the stars that gleamed and winked in and out of the sky through the stain glass window. The sky never looked more romantic. It made me feel as if I wanted the sail among the stars and fly around the moon just to see the earth in a clear view.

I waited for a while, but did not keep track. But then I heard and saw the sound of the raging flames, busting with a brooding green envy of a color. I hid, once again in the shadows of the room, not making a sound.

Three bodies emerged from the pit of fire and ran onto the wooden floors of the common room. One of which clutched something in his hand…

"O.K. Now I hate pixies too. No matter how harmless they may seem, HERMIONE!" Ron stated enraged.

"I said I was sorry! What on earth do you want me to do about it now? So I thought it was injured, could you blame me?" Hermione asked, also somewhat angry at something that had happened.

"YES! Actually, yes I can! Your little mistake almost killed me! Or at least left me handless!"

"But it was also her brains that saved you, Ron. And non of that matters now anyways." Harry held up his fist that clutched something in it. "We have it. We have it now, we just need to learn how to destroy it."

"Tomorrow, Harry." Hermione said, pulling his fist down. "Tomorrow. For now we need rest."

My inner huntress was coming out at this moment and right then I began to change form. The animal inside me could not have waited for something like this for so long to be wasted. On all fours I remained until I saw that Weasley was staring with eyes of fear at me.

He lifted his finger to point, "Huh, guys…" The others looked and saw. I stepped out into the moonlight, growling at the lot of them. Only looking at the necklace of gold in Harry's hand.

Hermione slowly took in a breath and said to Harry, without turning away from me, "Harry, I think it wants the horcruxe. Harry?"

"No! No. I am not going to give this to the paws of a wolf just because it shows its teeth."

I snarled at them all after I heard this. What was he thinking? Or was he thinking at all? In front of him was a wild creature, yet he would not give me what I wanted?

"I faced dragons bigger and deadlier then you. What makes you think I'm going to give this without a fight?" He asked me, as if I could understand. Yet I did. I growled again at him, and him alone. Smelling his dusty attire along with the scented locket. So many smells filled my nostrils, I felt like falling into sleep. But I stood, with blood shot eyes, glaring at him.

Not sure when he pulled it out, He aimed his wand at me and cried the leg locking spell. I jumped towards him and over the spell, clawing his pants, pulling him down to the ground.

"HARRY!" They both seemed to cry at the same time. The others two leaped away and watched as their friend as he was dragged to the floor, with a she-wolf lightly clawing at his throat. I made sure the other two saw this as I gently pawed his throat as if it were dirt. I leant closer to Harry's ear and made a noise like a snake, "Sy a hashi." I paused and heard his heavy breathing, wishing to myself that I would not do this, yet taking in his fear. With the moonlight gazing over us, I could see perfectly what was happening."Sy sin hesimock." Though I did not know what I had said, I let him know that I knew someone like him. He dropped the locket from his hand and did not move.

Ron tried to reach for it, but before he could even get close enough, I leaped off of Harry, grabbed the locket and rushed over towards the portrait. I looked behind me and saw Hermione and Ron helping Harry up, as I also saw how he was trying to run after me. I quickly ran out.

Once out, I rushed around the corner and down a few flights of stairs. While coming down one pair of steps, I noticed the window in view near the non-magical studies area. I pushed it open and faked my own escape…

Making sure I was in proper form and making my way up the stairs, I stashed the locket in my robes pocket. 'Now for the lamb to come before the wolf.' I thought gleefully to myself with pride. Oh how Severus will thank me! Then I can be one step closer to thanking him properly. As I made my way up the many steps, I heard the sound of quickened footing. 'Perfect. Right on time.'

I turned the corner almost ran into them all. Taking a few steps back, to try and avoid any contact with them, they bumped into each other in front of me. Hermione just stared at me a moment and found it hard to speak, at least I thought.

"Oh, Professor! We were just, just-"

"Just, what?" I asked them coolly, raising an eyebrow. They didn't speak a word. I took a deep breath and started to think where to begin.

"Now I know that curfew does not apply to the two of you." I said, waving my wand at her and Ron. "But as for Mr. Potter, I believe he should be in bed by now. So tell me, what are you doing out of bed?"

He hesitated for a moment, looking at me as I stay calm and stern. "Something was in the common room, and took something of mine. Something important! We just saw it now heading this way. I thought we could catch it…"

At least he wasn't yelling franticly or anything. "And what was it that disturbed your sleep and made you think that you could come out of your dorms without punishment?"

'Now I know why Snape tends to bark so much and seem like such a grouch at times. Its quite fun to act this way, though it does seem rude.' I thought, almost wanting to laugh at them all.

"We thought we saw a wolf. A silver one, with blood shot eyes."

I smirked at the answer, giving all the acting skills of disbelieve I had towards them.

"Please Potter, I heard enough out of you. Now get back before I even consider taking points away. Remember, I'm still a teacher."

I could tell he felt this would happen. Fake disbelief, was all it took. Now as they walked away back, I placed my right hand inside my pocket and held on tight to the locket that laid inside, waiting…

Two days past and I felt tension between Potter and I. He seemed to grow to suspect me or something. Not sure really. But I knew one thing; he felt a certain wall between us. Sometimes I would give him a few long glances, just to check his work, or see if he was looking coldly at me. Either way I would be greeted by his stare of those green eyes that had once been his mother's.

Later that night I found my self in my room, not hungry for dinner whatsoever. I laid on my bed, turning for comfort, but not sleep. I thought about Harry and my prophecy. I thought about Snape and Voldemort. I even thought about my classes and the locket at the same time. Everything seemed to fall into a place it didn't belong. Why was it only I and not my younger sister? Did I do something when I was younger for fate to choose me? Yes. I did. I did an act of goodness for another. I gave myself for another to feel free of darkness, even when he was in a house I preferred to stay away from.

As I thought about why I was even in this 'family' of mine, something happened. Green flames shot from my fireplace again. I jumped up and looked upon my mantel. Someone who I feared for for the past two months was now walking towards me with a bit of a nervous look on his face.

"Severus!" I cried getting off of my bed, facing him.

"Sasha, come quick!" He replied grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards the fire. "You must come with me. Otherwise they may think I am deceiving them after so long!"

I tried to pull him back. Resisting him I said, "Wait! Wait! What do you mean, 'they'? You don't mean the Death Eaters, do you? Severus, what have you done, what is going on here? I demand to know!"

He turned to face my and spoke in a tone of slight anger and frustration. "Demand? Now you demand to know everything I've been doing? When I have been long trying to give the dark lord more reasons to trust me, you demand to know why?"

"What are you talking about!" I cried at him. He took a heavy sigh and spoke softer this time.

"Look, Sasha. Lucius Malfoy wishes to speak with you about the mission so far. I need you to tell him that you have found non-yet. Is that plain?"

I nodded and then flinched at what he just said.

"Wait! LUCIUS MALFOY! Damn it Snape, you know how much I hate that sleazy slime ball! What does he want with me anyway? Its not like I want to get a friendly with the other sick Death Eaters. They disgust me! And he is one of the worst, even if he didn't to harm many in school. He is still Squib Scum in my eyes!"

"Well guess what? Your still coming to meet him, whether you like him or not!" Snape spat back. He pulled on my wrist again and took me in the fireplace, "Malfoy Manor!" He cried and he disappeared in the emerald flames of what seemed like hell. Even then I felt as if you could still hear my last words to him: "You can't make me do this! I'll never agree to like him! NEVER!"

(Which is now were we last left off, before going into it about… What five pages ago?)

"I still don't see what you mean by all this Sev." I replied as he started to explain it all to me, again.

"Your still not getting it? Don't you see that Lucius is trying to have you dead! Along with me as well. He wants the dark lord to know that we are really working with the order, which I am not! And right now, neither are you! If you have any of them yet he will want to know when you got them and why didn't you give it to him at once. So it would be much safer if you say you don't have any yet, for our safety."

We were waiting in the parlor for Lucius, where Narcissa told us to wait, and for certain reasons, Snape used one of his old spells he used to use during school if he wanted to talk to me during class. One that would make it so we could talk more freely, but without everyone hearing us and only a light humming.

"You know, I really did find one. Two nights ago, really. I found Slytherin's locket. It had the engraved 'S' and was hard to open. It seems to be it, I hope. But I did not want to endanger you if you were in any trouble, just by letting you know that I found one. So I waited."

He turned away from the window towards me, "At least it's a start. But now we must find the remaining two, since there are seven total." He started to pace around.

"Why two? Should we not find six more?"

He shook his head lightly, "No. Two were destroyed by Potter and Dumbledore. The seventh piece is within the Dark Lord, while the sixth piece is with him. Plus the one you found. That means that there are still two more floating about. Something of Hufflepuff's and something of either Ravenclaw's or Gryiffindor's. That's a total of seven. And with each one destroyed the master gets weaker."

I crossed my legs and proclaimed in a cocky voice, "Well, we can cross Ravenclaw off the list."

"Don't be so certain. Who knows where he could have gotten one of them. Either one of the families heirlooms could be in his possession now."

"How in Heaven's name do you know all this?" I asked astonished yet somewhat confused.

"There are many positive things about being one of the Dark Lord most trusted advisers. You have many insides about him, so you know how to protect him."

I clutched my fist as I heard these words come from his mouth. It just felt sick he would want to protect some sick bastard squib scum he called a master!

At that moment a loud bang came into our hearing, giving us a chance to ready for the vile unwanted scum ball! The doors flung open as a tall and broad man with long bleach blond hair stepped in. He clutched onto a cane with the silver head of a snake. 'Typical Slytherin bastard!' I thought violently. He looked at Severus, and then gazed upon me, sitting down.

"Severus." He said nodding once.

"Lucius." He replied returning the nod.

"Miss Moon." He said.

"Squib Scum." I replied harshly.

He glared at me with great intensity. I glared back, the same way. Finally she scoffed at 'us' acting like he used to.

He stepped forward towards me. "Funny, you haven't changed a bit. You're still so beautiful and look so young. Even if you are trying to stop the Dark Lord. But why do you hate me, have I done something to you?"

I looked up at my pursuer and answered, "Its not what you have done, but what I've heard and seen. And who says that I'm trying to stop the Dark Lord? Did you hear it from someone who thinks I can't do the job? Or have you created that stupid little lie all in your head, just so you can try a spot next to your master? Is that it?"

He remained silent for a minute before looking at Snape, whom just shrugged at his fellow Death Eater. He finally turned to me.

"Well, it good to see you still have a tongue, much less a beautiful body. I still can't imagine you, still a virgin. After all these years too."

I smirked. "Well, its simple. I stay away from slim balls like you. I prefer to find someone who's possibly…. Not a greasy little son of a squib! Such as yourself. God willing, or are you hitting on me, dear sir?" I stood up in front of him. "Because if you are I will curse your immortal soul till kingdom come, or so help me-"

"I think you have said enough, Sasha!" Cried Snape in a dangerous voice. He glared at me from a distance with much displeasure.

Lucius had sat down during my little out burst, and not even looking at Snape said, "Its quite alright, Severus. I know it's hard for this young female to hold her tongue… Unless you gave her some more of that truth serum." He replied, smirking at me.

"Well at least I'm not the one who messed up about that prophecy your 'master' wanted to see. I'm sure he must be down right pissed and should hex your sorry ass to death!"

"I'll have you know that it wasn't my fault! If it wasn't for my sister-in-law we…wait! How do you know about the prophecy?"

"I have my sources you sick disgusting bastard. Don't you ever, no. Don't you DARE question me! Am I not doing my part? Willingly might I add? Or are you just so sick of being a lapdog?"

Before I knew what had happened I was up against the wall with Lucius' wand at my neck.

"I could do it, you know. I could kill you; right on the spot, and I wouldn't dare regret it! Sure I would have to face before the Dark Lord later, but I would have at least done away with your smug little tongue!"

"Kill her, Lucius, and I'll kill you." Another voice replied behind him. It was Snape, saving my life once again, and from death! He had his wand at Lucius' neck, whispering deadly things in his ear.

"You know she belongs to the Dark Lord. You heard him yourself. Disturb her, and your dead! Either way I will see to that that you will die if you harm one hair on her head!"

"Why, Severus?" Lucius began, "If she means nothing to you, but a pawn in his plan, then step away."

"I'm not going to give into your loyalty tricks Malfoy! I know you better then that."

He laughed meekly, "So now we are on last name terms, are we Snape? Do you love this pathetic pureblood? She is on the mud-blood side, have you not forgotten? She should be with us! But she sees the world as some kind of game. Good and Evil? HA! I think not! She is a fool!"

"The only fool will be you if you so much as THINK of harming her. Now back away."

After a minute of silence and nothing happening, Lucius finally back off of me. I could still see the anger in his eyes, full of wanting and wishing me dead. Severus slipped back a few paces and into silence. Lucius straitened himself up as he spoke again. "Well, um… Have you found any? Anything at all?"

"No. Nothing. Potter is a very hard dragon egg to crack. It seems he suspects me, so I'm trying to back off and gain his trust. And before you say anything, Lucius, these things take time! We must all learn to have patience, even the Dark Lord." While speaking I made my way towards the couch again, wanting to sit down.

"It is not your place to say what the Dark Lord needs or doesn't need, dear Sasha! His word is law! We all know this, why you don't I'm not quite sure. He does not need others to tell him what he needs."

"Like you just told me what he needs now?"

"Yes!.. I mean no! Wait I just said…don't you dare twist my words Sasha! The Dark Lord may have had mercy on you, but when I have my chance, I shall not."

"That's enough!" I cried. "I know my limits and damn it, I have had it up to here with you!" I turned to Snape; "I still don't see why you of all people brought me here, of all places! And just because they thought you were deceiving them! They should know better then that! As if you would be working for the Order? HA! I think not. We're leaving!" I said. I pushed Malfoy out of the way as I walked towards the door. Slamming it closed and making my way towards the fireplace and taking a handful of Floo Powder from their pot.

But before I could slam my fist full of the ashes against the floor, a hand grabbed tight of my wrist and a voice whispered in my ear: "That was a very foolish thing you did, Sasha. How you can gamble all that I have done for you is out of my thoughts, but you are working my last nerve! You think you can do this to me?"

I closed my eyes and took a very deep sigh of aggregation.

"First of all he started it."

"You called him 'Squib Scum'!"

"But he was thinking, 'Tramp'! When he glared at me! And second of all I don't gamble, and you shouldn't be worrying about me! So why you do that is out of my thoughts! Especially if I'm working on your nerves! And what, pretel do you mean by 'this'?"

"When I say 'this' I mean telling of the others! You may be right, that I am not part of the Order, but risking your life for mine is not worth it!"

"Oh! So it's O.K. for you to risk your life for mine, but I can't return the favor and risk my life for yours? Is that it? Or are you just lying like you once did before?"

I pulled out of his grip and stepped onto the soot-covered floor.

"Good-bye, Snape… To Hogwarts!"

And with that the flames blinded my sight of my dear old friend! Taking my body towards my office/bedroom I couldn't help but think what he really meant by 'This'.

Once at my office I reached for the locket that I had hidden inside an enchanted jewelry box that lay on my vanity.

"The Moon wishes you open!" I chanted once. It unlocked and opened up on its own, revealing the fifth horcruxe.

I swiped the gold locket by the chain and tossed it on my bed. I threshed out my wand and took aim at it.

"Alright," I said to it. "I know what you contain and I know what you could do. But I need to take my chances! If I ever wish to end this war without dieing, then I must destroy you!" I paused and thought about my other options.

'What other options?' A voice in my head agued, 'you must destroy It! It is the only way!'

My hand shook slightly while holding my wand. "I can't."

'Why can't you? You are alone, aren't you? No Death Eater to stop you now! You must finish what Dumbledore started!'

"I just can't! I'll die later anyway if I do. I told Snape I had one already!"

'Then lie! Lie like he did once before. Tell him someone stole it! He lied to them, he lied to you!'

"NO! I will not stoop to his level! I would rather die then lie as he did. Besides, he is a skilled Occlumens! He can tell if I lied."

'But his feelings will get in the way. You know he loves you! Use it against him!'

"No! Never. Never will I betray my friend. Even if he did do the ultimate evil deed… Besides, I'm not even sure if he loves me still."

'But he betrayed you! Even when you thought you loved him!'

"He saved my life! Twice now! I can pay him back… I can pay him back with this… My deed of compromise towards the thing I wish I didn't have to do the most. But if I wish to pay him back… I can at least do this for him, so he of coarse won't die in this horrid war."

The voice stopped, it seemed to understand my meaning. My Wand stopped shaking along with my hand and lay on the bed now, next to the locket. And my head fell, wishing now that I had not done the right thing nineteen years ago.

As the green ember flames grabbed Sasha into it fiery depths, he lowered his head and mentally hit himself, hard on the head.

"What in Merlin's name were you thinking, Sev?" He asked himself out loud, but softly. "You lied again, when you promised yourself you wouldn't to her!" He sighed softly. "How the hell are you going to tell her the truth? I meant, how could she make me feel so weak and strong at the same time? How can she return those strange feelings stirring inside my guts again, after all these years? And to think, if it wasn't for James…I might not have met her."

He took a breath and felt the need to scream. She was so stubborn and sweet. She was so childish and mature.

"Damn her and all that she has done!" Snape cried as he held himself up against the mantel. Footsteps echoed through the hallway. Malfoy's head appeared for the door.

"So? What has she done this time? Has she played the thief, again? Or are you cursing after that scene she just finished?" Lucius asked as he walked over calmly towards Snape.

"Not now, Lucius… I am in no mood to deal with you, not now, not ever. Your little idea of a trial, just failed. If you had left her to me, none of this would have happened! But you just had to get something out of her, didn't you? You know I would never desert the Dark Lord."

"Oh, I know, Severus. I just wanted to make sure that dear Sasha knew. I still don't know what you see in her. You know you can't have her anyway. She belongs to the Dark Lord, as you have told me in front of her. And now, it seems she sees you in a different way. But since you pulled the whole, 'Life saving' stunt again, there should be no way for her to deny you now. You know the way her mind works. She has to do this for you, now."

Lucius could tell that Severus was beating himself up inside. When it came to the point of Sasha, he would always give into his feelings.

"Oh, don't be so discouraged. I'm sure she doesn't hate you for what happened here. I mean you 'saved' her again. And she doesn't know about the whole plan. She's probably just angry with me, as usual. You remember since school that we never really got along, even if you were the tie that held us together. But, really, Severus, go home, and don't worry. Its not like you can have her anyway, just get over it. The Dark Lord's word is law, after all."

He placed a hand on Snape's shoulder, but Snape just thought of what he done. And to an old friend… His onlytrue friend…

End of Chapter Eight

Hello people who are here for one reason or another. I know the date is messed up in the begginging. And my spelling sucks! But I was a little late in a few things. I have another monitor hooked up to my laptop, can you believe this. So I have two screens going but the main one is dark becuase I don't think I should risk turning it off as soon as I turned the computer on!

But the fact is now that the next chapter is being based on Halloween. Shamhein, for the Wiccans. I like calling it that. But anywho, Happy late Halloweento you all. I have to get off now so sorry, good bye.