Chapter 11

Snape sat alone in his office, as he had so many nights before. Tonight's task had been an unhappy one. Natasha Zaizen was one of the most vial women he'd ever had the displeasure of being around. And he'd been around many vial women. Death Eaters, hookers… just to name a few. He had no need for female company, most of the time. One thing he despised about women was their uncanny ability to become attached to him. Not that many did. But it annoyed him when it so rarely happened.

There were many things he disliked about her, but most of all was her air of superiority. She genuinely thought that she was better than everyone around her. He supposed it was confidence, but it was obnoxious confidence at that. It was as though she expected him to become her lover and give her top marks in Potions class simply because she was who she was.

An ugly look passed over his pale face. The idea was ludicrous. He hadn't taken a lover in years. And he wasn't about to now. Least of all a student. No, least of all that student. The thought of her becoming a Death Eater and having to train her all year long for her proficiency tasks in June made his pale skin crawl. He had to spend enough time with her without having to add nights and weekends to the agenda.

"It will have to be one of the other two…" he thought as he went to his cupboard and retrieved a large crystal flask of brandy. The other two weren't any better. He hadn't been lying to Malfoy when he'd told him so. It'd be immensely better if another candidate turned up. But the odds of that happening within the next two weeks were slim. So he didn't hold out much hope.

He sat down in his leather chair in front of the empty fireplace and stared into it as he sipped his brandy. He causally began to analyze the other two, looking for the most suitable candidate.

However, another thought was slowly creeping into his already overfull mind. There was something fishy about his newest pupil. Alexandra Bane was a very mysterious girl. Upon first meeting her, he'd felt as though she were hiding something from him, but had given her the benefit of the doubt. He'd had enough to be getting on with without taking up time and energy to use his Legilimens skills to penetrate her mind.

His thoughts wandered to Wednesday night's detention. She'd told him practically everything he'd asked her without deception. The only thing she'd given him the impression that she was lying about was what she aspired to do once she'd finished school. He'd taken that opportunity to try to penetrate her mind but found that it was closed. He tried twice without success. Either her mind was simply sound and impenetrable or she was blocking him out. The latter meant that she knew what he was doing and was preventing him from seeing what she was truly thinking.

That thought disturbed him. If she had the ability to stop him from entering her mind, it meant that she was an accomplished Occlumens. No student Hogwarts had produced during his tenure had ever mastered that skill while still attending the magic school. Did that mean that the United States produced superior students? Or that she was simply gifted? Or was it that she was hiding something? Only time would tell.

He was still nursing three broken ribs and plenty of torn muscles he'd suffered at Lucius Malfoy's hand. The brandy helped take the edge off. So he sipped it liberally and continued to think.

An Occlumens… a brilliant Potions maker… and no family history… and a Slytherin all at the same time… "Curious." Snape thought to himself. By all rights, he should've known her parents, or at least one of her relatives. He found himself wondering more and more about her each day. He'd also noticed her watching him intensely at times, for which he had no explanation. She didn't watch her other teachers the way she watched him. Yet it was different from the way Natasha Zaizen watched him. Though, admittedly, he would've much rather had Alexandra Bane throwing herself at him than the Zaizen girl, he was sure that wasn't it. With all of her talents, it was a shame that she appeared to be a half decent person or he could've presented her to Malfoy as their newest Death Eater candidate and probably would've received a pat on the back for bringing them such an attractive recruit, all talents and skills aside.

His ribs were screaming with pain. The brandy simply wouldn't be enough tonight. So he returned to the cupboard and perused his vials of Potions neatly arranged in the racks until he found what he was seeking; dreamless sleep potion. He took a swig, forced all of the thoughts of Alexandra Bane out of his head and retired to his personal quarters.

The week passed and soon Lexie found herself following Snape into Hogsmead the following Friday. It was something of the same routine, except this time he was speaking to Andrew Flick. The only differences from the previous week were that he wasn't being hit on and the end result was an 'Obliviate!" Lexie was stunned. Did this mean that Natasha was going to be the newest Death Eater?

Over the following week, Natasha carried herself with such arrogance that Lexie was surprised that her overlarge head didn't weigh her down. Friday evening came and Lexie prepared to follow Snape again, for it had been Fridays that he seemed to be leaving the castle for his little meetings.

She left the castle before him, hoping to get a better vantage point. She positioned herself in a nearby doorway of the same alley in which the meetings took place and waited patiently. Flies were buzzing around the dumpster around the corner and the amber streetlight made an annoying whining sound as it flickered off and on overhead. Suddenly there were footsteps approaching. Heavy footsteps. Boots. Snape's boots. He turned the corner and brushed past her. He stood waiting, impatiently. Lexie could just make out the look of nervousness and intense annoyance as he paced back and forth.

Lexie felt the very old door behind her give a bit. But she ignored it. She strained her ears, listening and wondering who the next student to appear would be. The door creaked a little, threatening to give way as she tried to remain out of the dull beam of light the streetlamp was emitting. Snape looked up. He stared right at her for a moment before looking away again.

Another set of footsteps were approaching. Smaller footsteps this time. Almost dainty. Lexie's roommate Dru turned the corner and approached Snape. Lexie couldn't hide her astonishment. She half stepped out of the doorway to make sure that her eyes weren't deceiving her. They weren't. Druscilla Sena was the third Death Eater candidate. Lexie stepped back into her hiding spot and leaned against the door.

Snape's voice reverberated through the alley as he rattled off the same speech he'd given the Flick boy the previous week.

Suddenly and with no warning, the door which was supporting all of Lexie's weight gave way and she tumbled backwards into a room filled with junk making a huge, loud commotion. A metal chair tipped over and banged loudly on the cement floor as Lexie collapsed over it.

In an instant Snape was standing over top of her. He grasped her by the front of her robes and dragged her to her feet. With the fabric he'd gathered up he slammed her against the wall. Flashbacks of the night he'd choked her in Knockturn came flooding unpleasantly and unavoidably back.

With his free hand he seized his wand from inside his robes.

"Oh damn… this is it. He's going to kill me." Lexie inwardly groaned, wondering what her funeral would be like and whether or not they'd be able to find her body.

Lexie squinted her eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.

"Lumos!" Snape said and a blindingly bright beam of light spilled out from the tip of his wand.

Lexie opened her eyes just a bit and caught the look of surprise passing over Snape's face.

"Miss Bane!" he roared, and Lexie cringed. "What in bloody hell are you doing here? And how much did you hear?" his cheeks had flushed an ugly shade of brick red and she could see the vein in his temple pulsing dangerously.

'Quick Lexie… make up a story… fast… fast!' she pleaded with herself. Then an idea came to her. A brilliant, dangerous idea. But it was the only thing she could think of, so she ploughed on recklessly.

"I heard everything. I know what you're up to Professor." She said, emphasizing the word 'professor' to add a note of sarcasm while trying to sound as cool and confidant as she could.

"What are you talking about?" he snapped back.

"I know you're recruiting Death Eaters from the school." She said calmly.

"How long have you known?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"Since this summer…" she said, going on with her plan.

A look of sudden recognition dawned on Snape's face and she could tell that he was putting two and two together. She could almost see the gears turning in his head. "It was you!" he said finally.

Lexie made no reply.

"It was you who was tailing me this summer! Why!" he hissed pressing her harder against the wall.

"Because I want in." Lexie said, struggling to inhale breath as his fist was digging into her chest and her back was pressing into the wall painfully.

"What?" he snapped again.

"I have a proposition for you." Lexie said smartly. Snape said nothing, only continued his heavy breathing. "Damn, he's so close… why does this make me so uncomfortable and give me such a rush at the same time?" Lexie wondered to herself. "Release me and I'll pitch it to you." She bargained.

Snape's fingers slipped away from her cloak and she slid down the wall a bit. He folded his arms over his chest and waited.

"I have enough evidence to go directly to the minister of magic himself and tell him what you're up to. With what I know, and my eyewitness testimony, we'll be able to haul you off in Azkaban and throw away the key. However," Lexie said innocently, seeing his fingers flexing dangerously. "I'd be willing to cut a deal."

"What kind of deal?" he asked.

"I want to become your recruit. I want to be a Death Eater." She couldn't believe she'd just uttered these words.

Snape frowned and looked shocked.

"Make me your newest recruit and I swear I'll keep your secret." She said breathlessly.

There was a moment in which they stared at one another and said nothing.

"Go back to the school. Sit in my office. Do not touch anything and do not speak to anyone!" he ordered.

Lexie nodded. She slipped past him, brushing against his arm as she went. She felt his eyes on her as she turned the corner and began her journey back to the school. She had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into. All she knew was that it had bought her some time. And for now, it looked as though Alexandra Bane was the newest Death Eater recruit.