Severus Snape sat outside the pub, on the other side of the street - drinking yet another cup of coffee. It was simply what he did, while he watched and waited. He hoped that there wouldn't be a Death Eater presence here tonight. He found the thought unlikely, but in the meantime, he could pretend to be out looking for Hermione Granger. And that job would keep him from being locked up in Grimmauld Place - a house he might have liked, if only it hadn't the sheer quantities of squalling Gryffindors!
Severus Snape paused, as he saw Mundungus Fletcher ambling his way, emerging out of an alley a few stores down. Had Potter really been desperate enough to send Fletcher? Snape thought, as he scrambled for a reason to be here. As Fletcher approached, Snape scanned the crowd, finally seeing a man accepting a small packet of tea from his waitress. Perfect Snape thought, as he smiled a very crooked smile. As Fletcher approached, Snape cast a wordless, wandless Imperio, dragging the man over. He held up a finger for silence from the curious Fletcher (who knew better than to interrupt when Snape was in a mood, and, really, when wasn't the acerbic man in a mood?). "Thank you," Snape said curtly, exchanging packet for a pouch that clinked with brass knuts. Turning to Fletcher, Snape purred softly, "Wolfsbane. Londoners have the best suppliers, did you know?" Without waiting for Fletcher's response, Snape stalked off, knowing that he'd have a difficult time crossing his own path tonight. Maybe he'd better actually look for Death Eater Activity. Or at least some interesting oddity for him to investigate.
Fletcher spared not a glance at the storefronts, satisfied that Snape was doing Order Business, and was thus Not to be Disturbed. He ambled along, his mind on fags and other implements of self-destruction. Muggles had the best distractions known to mortal man.
**Yes, squal, as in storm squal.
[Both fletcher and Snape think of the Muggle world as a welcome relief from the Wizarding one. Interesting, isn't it?
Snape hasn't a scruple about Imperioing someone to give them money that they'd have accepted if asked. Just keeps it quieter this way.
Leave a Review (speaking of reviews: No, this story isn't going to be completely one conversation within the pub. That's the one I've actually finished (and that's in a cave). Read it if you like).]