A knock was heard at the door, followed shortly by another, this time the door shaking in its hinges with the amount of force exhibited "Open up Severus I know you're home." Snape sat in front of the closed door, brows draws together, hesitating in his suspicion as the voice out in the street did not appear familiar "Tick, tock, open up." Another powerful knock rang in the air as Snape took out his wand, hand extending to turn the knob.

As the door flung open, his brows quirked as the face behind the voice was also that of a stranger, yet it appeared the person tracking mud on his door mat knew him. He did not even appear to be threatened by the wand pointing at his chest, instead taking a step ready to enter however he was met with resistance as Snape sneered "Who do you think you are?"

"Oh dear friend, let me in and I shall show you, of course you don't recognize me now, but you will as soon as this retched potion wears off." Pollyjuice potion clearly, yet Snape did not budge in his stubbornness.

"I could not care less, you aren't setting a foot in this house until you reveal your true identity." He enunciated each word clearly, the coldness in his voice evident for anyone witnessing the scene displaying.

"And if I am Voldermort himself, what then?" The man in the door way laughed, something dark and cynical underlying his voice, despite Snape not revealing anything on his stoic face "I see, well, despite there not being many in the streets of this stinking city, how about we take it up inside where you can tell me what sort of godfather you've been all these years for my dear daughter?"

The name did not tumble from his lips, however Severus's wand lowered as the guest stepped inside, door quickly closing behind him, several locks being turned with a flick of this wrist, no incantation being chanted. Checking his clock, the newcomer cracked his neck once, waiting for the potion to wear off as he taped his foot, mud detaching from his worn-out shoes "What are you doing here Constantine, everyone is looking for you?"

"And despite that no one has located me in over a month." he replied glancing over his shoulder before closing his eyes, transformation beginning as he grew in height, hair darkening under the black hat, eyes turning to cold turquoise jewels, body finally fitting properly in the otherwise large clothes concealed underneath the thin trench coat he wore. Rubbing his chin as if testing it was properly in place, strong fingers rubbed against dark stubbles before Constantine concluded all was in order "Now, how about some tea?"

Once inside the kitchen Snape had to voice out his disapproval "You shouldn't even be here, this is dangerous for the both of us."

Pinning him on the spot with his cold stare, Constantine allowed for a smile to shape his lips, however it did not reach his eyes "Do not threat, I have papers, a different identity, no one suspects a thing believe me." Pressing the back of his hand to his mouth, laughter was suppressed as he rolled his eyes "I saw her Severus, I saw Talia. She has grown into such a wonderful woman, it's almost a shame she will soon no longer be alive."

"She is not of age anymore, she is twenty-one now." The flicker of hope inside his chest died in an instant as Constantine chuckled, a low and deep sound filling the space between them, chilling the bones under his flesh.

"It matters not, she is perfect, age does not play a factor after all, the older she is, the stronger she grows." A set of perfectly aligned teeth grinned from across the table "And believe me, she is. She has tapped into so much more by being allowed to live. I guess after all said and done, I owe Dumbledore a thank you for keeping her safe. If he had not stuck his nose in my business and I would have not been caught, I would have lost Talia's heart." The last word was spoken softly, as if a tremble resonated through his body at the mention of it "Can you imagine now? It makes me feel alive."

Manic, that was the only word swimming in Snape's mind since he could not tap and read into the mans' before him. He was worse than when he was younger, barely forging the horrid plan. Leaning against the counter as the water reached a boil, he squeezed the wood under his palm for a moment of fleeing stability. The only secure thought was that he did not appear to suspect he had anything to do with the fact that Talia escaped or the wild goose chases he had sent him and his men on.

"You don't know, do you?" dark brows lifted as Constantine spoke once more "Of course not, you were still at that ghastly school and then returning to this horrid excuse of a town." He pointed towards the pot with boiling water, Snape turning the stove off as he produced a cup while continuing to listen to Constantine speak "Matters not, my point is we made a mistake taking the heart out after five years. We had few to even survive after the ritual, we lost Munday's daughter despite a promising heart, it still did not produce enough to even stay active for an hour. Then the Collin's, even worse."

"Then how did you figure the age is not important?" Snape enquired using his best calm voice as if talking about trivial matters such as the weather outside, placing the tea on the table in front of Constantine. Steams rose from within the cup, the smell of peppermint tickling his nostrils as he sniffed the content waiting for it to brew property.

"Sergey's family, they ran with their son and we caught up with them when he was seven, we tried, dumb luck really. That's when I knew I had to find her." Pointing a finger at Snape, Constantine beamed "She was already eleven by that time, all I needed to do was keep an eye on her. Too bad I was caught not long after." Exhaling, he stirred a bit of honey inside the tea "Alas, I still had my men continue the work."

Someone, someone must have figured it out, recognized her during all the years she was supposed to hide, however Snape stirred the conversation in a different direction "What about Josephine?"

Another chuckle left his throat upon hearing Snape's question "What about her? She served her purpose, provided me with a child. She got caught too soon and that is that." Leaning, he whispered "To be fair she is a tad too old for me."

Nothing, there was nothing good inside the man who owned the name of Constantine Crane. No emotions to light up his stone-cold eyes apart from a dangerous glint. He knew his purpose, as dark as it was and did not allow for anyone to stand in his way no matter the name they forged for themselves.

Even during the Wizarding War he was defiant, always managing to earn hate left and right, even Voldermort himself ready to strike him down more than once. The only reason Constantine escaped unscathed apart from a few Crucio curses, was due to his rigorous ways, as mad they might have appeared for outsiders. He was the perfect Death Eater, promising, ruthless, ready to kill without batting an eye, having taken the lives of many opposing their cause.

However the promise of immortality was what kept him alive in the end, the ritual being perfected over several Crane generations. One of the reasons for the failed marriage between Constantine and Josephine was her inability to produce him a second child, someone to carry on the family name. There were several complications with Talia as well, as if the child inside her womb was protesting, whishing to not be brought to life as if she knew what awaited her. Yet as per family custom, he was not allowed to divorce, pure blood witches were rare as they were, majority choosing to taint their blood.

Hospitals became Josephine's second home all while Constantine continued to work, test and produce enough results to ensure his survival. It was the reason he registered Talia, the reason he used her for his experiment after already having convinced several families. Due to his name alone, they faked everything, recruiting Snape due to his nature and allegiance.

"I heard a rumor Severus, something about Lord Voldermort trying to return." He tested the waters.

There was no choice other than admittance in the form of a shot nod "So Talia's heart will be provided to him." He did not ask, he was almost certain that was the sole purpose, it was too much of a coincidence, the events lined up perfectly.

Clicking his tongue, Constantine took a sip from the tea looking as if he swallowed something truly bitter and foul "No. This is personal, something fit for only a Crane." Smirking, he cracked his neck once again "With Talia's help I will outlive Josephine, remarry and have heirs to carry on the legacy."

He had to say something, he knew it well, it was not a situation that required silence "I see, well let us hope you manage to succeed before the Dark Lord returns."

A snort left Constantine "Always the same lap dog, you were then, you will be now." Pushing the cup aside he propped his elbows on the table "This Talbott boy, what is his family name?"

Discussions not held long ago surfaced in his mind, how he warned her, warned him, yet they still remained in England, in London nonetheless, thinking they were serving a higher purpose, had a mission "Winger." Snape replied calmly watching his former friend wreck his mind trying to recall the family.

"Familiar yet not, might have not been important. He is however, I understand Talia follows him around like a puppy, went and saved him." His eyes turned to dangerous slits "One way or another, I will make her break ranks away from the Aurors." Cocking an eyebrow he stopped talking "Am I boring you by any chance?"

"No, however you aren't very entertaining either." Taping his fingers slowly against the table he added "I can't help but see a flaw in your plan, how do you even know Talia's heart will fit your purpose?" tilting his head to the side slightly, Snape continued "What if you are mistaken and this ritual has never and will never work and you'd be killing off your only heir to the Crane name?"

Time appeared to stand still right then and there inside the small dark kitchen in Snape's home as both men stared each other down, Constantine in the end choosing to indulge him with one simple statement "She has been exposed, now I need her dead before she can fulfil her true purpose." Getting up he dug his hand in a pocket producing a flask "Bring me my daughter, I won't ask again, fail to do so and no Voldermort or any wizard will be able to undo what I do to you. Do we have an agreement?"

Slowly nodding his head, Snape looked at him turn back into the frail man whose identity he had assumed with the Pollyjuice potion "Goodbye Constantine."

"And a good day to you too Severus, always a pleasure to catch up."

In a few days he would have to return to Hogwarts for a new year. Closing his eyes, he buried his face in his hands sighing, a few days, it was all he had to warn her, help her one last time. Such a short time for her to run and get away.

"Please let me save her."