Chapter 10

An octopus is the most intelligent invertebrate.

- Biology Class

Severus Snape is not a fool. He is not at all naïve and cannot really be tricked.

Why? Because he knows all the tricks. After all of all his many talents being a very good two face was his greatest.

That is why he created two different personas.

Severus Snape. Professor of Potions; former Student of Hogwarts; the reformed yet trusted Death Eater of Albus Dumbledore.

Then there was Black Onyx. The persona that really wasn't a persona, after all it became to be nothing but some sort of shield. His ultimate defence for Legimancy, the more than plausible tavern of the knowledge that the small Prince gathered.

Harvested rather.

Severus Snape was not a handsome child. He was not a very outgoing child. He was an unfortunate child. With no social skills to harmer his inner ambitions, he suffered somewhat when that time to create alliances came. He was irritable and harsh even when he wasn't irritated. Easily agitated and too honest with the words that came from his mouth.

For all the lessons that were taught to him in the past, table manners proper etiquette how one should present them, honesty is the best policy was the one Severus Snape chose to use. At the wrong times.

Yet even decades later Severus Snape will not allow himself to succumb to pitiful lying. After all it is the omissions and the cleverness where one may still save face.

Or at least that's what Severus Snape thought.

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In truth there are very few people in the world who Snape can honestly say that are even more repulsive as he can be. One former rat/Gryffindor is one of the few people. The small beady eyes, jumpy skin… the man makes even the air around him go clammy and uncomfortable. Snape cannot stop himself from insulting the disgusting little man, even in front of the Dark Lord who he's forfeited his life to. Though the Dark Lord laughs and agrees it is one of his cold acknowledgments.

The little house at the end of the near deserted and impoverished alley of Spinner's End looks even more shabby and broken looking in the twilight. The house itself was never very quaint; it was adequate and served its purpose.

Severus Snape could not say that he was happy there. Not while growing up with the resentment he had of his father. And resent his own father Severus Snape does. A man who loves the drink better than his own family has always angered Snape. Though he'd never be the one to admit it, but Arthur Weasley at least does it right.

Snape refuses to feel sorry for him. Mainly because to feel sorry for himself would be pointless, creating nothing as it's final product.

Wormtail. Even his 'friends' thought of him as a joke. Not that the fool would have recognized such emotions.

Severus Snape does think that Wormtail is quite a fool.

And the man proves this by stepping out of the cottage and onto the open street. Not that Severus Snape bothers to kill him at that time. Not without a wand. Fucking Potter.

Snape remembers how to get into the old house from the side and what window doesn't actually ever lock. The rust sticking into his fingers. When he manages to get into the house without any noise at all he goes for a cupboard on the other side of the room. The blackness of this room is a smart reminder of the man who slinks along its shadows. This man is a spy. This man is a traitor. This man is truly Severus Snape.

Like a spy novel. One that Severus Snape is the hero only no one knows it.

When he manages to get the cupboard and slide the small back of it. Taking out a wand that he stuck there back nearly eighteen years ago.

Once again Severus Snape is slinking along the shadows. Walking slowly to where the shadow of a short stocky man sits as the lazy slob that he is. When Snape raises his hand with the much practiced swift of his arm. The man falls without so much as a ceremony. That god awful silver hand making only a small 'thud'.

Grabbing the body and apparating to Knockturn Alley where he knows that will be the most offensive place for the Death Eaters to find one of their own. It is mainly to show those people that he may be in exile of being either evil or good but he is not going down without a fight. The symbolism cannot be missed.

Unless of course you are Goyle or Crabbe.

Manoeuvring the body so that it leaning up against the tree is something that Snape doesn't do with his wand. Creating binds to use on the body so that it may be tied up to the tree right in front of the entrance of Knockturn Alley.

Snape thinks that it will suffice of for a threat.

Or maybe a promise.