Disclaimer: The Honourable J.K. Rowling owns the delightful magical realm of Harry Potter. Some elements of Puzo may exist below. I am just using—and abusing—their creations below. Please read, REVIEW, and enjoy. Se gap lai nhe.

Chapter X

The Eavesdropper

Headmaster Dumbledore arrived back at his office to find Severus Snape bound and bleeding on the floor. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and flicked it and his bindings, which broke as if on Dumbledore's command.

"So, Severus. Imagine my meeting you today. I hope you heard something of interest."

"You ought to know, Headmaster. It was you who sent me to listen in on the conversation."

"Indeed I did, Severus. I would imagine that you wonder why I asked you to do so. And why I would allow my brother to beat you to a pulp after discovery?"

Severus Snape did wonder why. The order had not made any sense. Indeed, Snape was regretting ever having made a deal with the Headmaster. Snape had come to Dumbledore several months ago with a problem. He had long since held a secret passion for Lily Evans. He had always fantasized about having her in his arms. However, he had never acted upon this impulse, save once. One night, Snape had been out drinking and he saw that Lily was at another area of the tavern. Snape strode over and held a nice chat with Lily, and had discovered that she was going to marry James Potter. He could still feel the fury at finding out about his beloved Lily marrying an arrogant prick like James Potter. Whether it was because of his pain, or the drink he never knew, but suddenly he passionately kissed Lily. However, this was not without a hitch, for who should see this act unfold but Regulus Black.

Snape feared that Regulus would unveil this to James, who would then proceed to kill him, so he fled. Dumbledore was the only one who could get him out of this trouble. Upon explaining this to Dumbledore, the Headmaster told him that he would get Snape out of trouble, but only if he would repay the favour one day.

Snape had repaid the favour before, by entering the Death Eaters as a spy for the Order. However, this was not enough to the Headmaster, who waved his lust for Lily in front of him as a weapon of blackmail. It was for this reason that Snape had been listening outside of keyholes tonight.

"Severus, you must tell the first half of the prophecy to the Dark Lord. It is of the utmost importance."

"But why? Why should I give this information to the Dark Lord? He could use this to justify killing more people."

"Severus, forgive me if I'm wrong, but did I not ask a favour of you?"

"Yes, but—"

"And if you don't fulfill your end of the bargain, then I could always pass on to James and his friends that you have feelings for Lily. I could always expand on it a bit, you know. Tell him that you've been having an affair with Lily."

"That's a lie! Headmaster, you can't do this!"

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, Snivellus!" Dumbledore taunted. "Who do you think James will believe? Whom do you think he'd hold responsible? You'd be a dead man for sure. Now run along and do as I say."

"Give me one night to think about it."

"Think wisely, my friend."

Snape left the Headmaster's office incensed. How dare he threaten him? How dare he threaten the Half-Blood Prince? Snape apparated to his lair at Spinner's End, where he fell asleep. His dreams were punctuated with horrible apparitions of death and darkness. He woke up the next morning to find his bed sheets sticky.

"What in tarnation is going on?" He threw off the sheets to find his mother's head under the covers. Nailed to the forehead was a note written in blood

"Next time, it will be Evans!"

Snape recognized the Headmaster's script, and screamed.