'Allo, 'allo, lovelies! It's been an age. Had a problem with a previous employer, changed jobs and gave in to post-university depression. Changed jobs again then got married. Now, after a year of copious amounts of marital bliss (if you know what I mean) I have returned in rare form. The YouTube idea is dead in the water. Sorry but I want to keep the story moving. Plus, I'm not sure the link actually works. I hope you enjoy and apologies for the long absence.
P.S. a word in this chapter is a magical slang term I cobbled together. Shakespurts- to shake the Wrackspurts from one's ears; similar to 'look alive'; meant to instigate into action or alert the listener
P.P.S. I have taken the liberty of giving certain Death Eaters first names where they are canonically known as, for example, Goyle Senior. This is to avoid awkward or confusing segments. I have also decided to add in obscure or unmentioned characters to better flesh out the Death Eater forces. One such character I have fashioned a name for in entirety because he is known only as "Hedwig's Killer." There is speculation as to this Death Eater's identity but I decided to make him his own character since there would need to be many Death Eaters to topple a whole government system. I hope this doesn't serve as a source of annoyance to my readers as I cherish you all.
Pansy tossed Floo Powder into the Slytherin Common Room's fireplace. "Parkinson Manor." She stepped through and into the main parlour. It was her parents' idea that she come home after classes rather than stay at Hogwarts. Supposedly it was for her protection but Pansy couldn't help but feel like a prisoner. She was terrified her parents might find out she was meeting with Ron and even more frightened if they realized the change in her loyalties.
Pansy made her way to the kitchen for a snack before starting on her homework. Miff usually kept a few sandwiches and things ready for the family to take as they wished.
"You have made me very proud, Pansy." Her father's voice startled her as she whirled around to see him leaning against the door jam. An opened letter was in his hand. She recognized Ron's handwriting on the unsealed envelope
"You read my mail?" Pansy asked breathlessly, her lungs feeling constricted in her panic. Her legs felt gelatinous and it seemed the world started to bend around the edges.
Xyllius pushed off the door frame and approached his daughter, turning the letter over to her. She took it numbly. "I was concerned at first. Making friends with a blood traitor?" He tsked an admonishment. "But I see you had more up your sleeve. You've gained his confidence and he has found you a place in the Ministry. And in the Auror's Office no less! A stroke of brilliance, daughter."
"T-thank you." Pansy attempted to sound grateful though her tongue felt heavy. What was happening?
"You'll be the first to know of any attempts to subdue us. Who would suspect a young student of Hogwarts of being an informant? But of course you'll have to be able to send us word quickly. Owl is much too slow. The Ministry will act swiftly." Xyllius anticipated. "You will need to learn how to cast a full bodied Patronus. Immediately. You never know when you might need it."
Pansy nodded dumbly. This wasn't what she had wanted. Informant? Much too dangerous. No, she had only wanted to notify her family if someone got too close. She didn't want to be a spy for the Death Eaters! A Patronus? He wanted her to learn that tonight? She still had homework.
"Come, Pansy. Eat up. Then we have work to do." Xyllius commanded.
Pansy stood in the kitchen, bereft. She had not thought her parents would ask this much of her. She wasn't prepared to act as a double agent. To put herself at this kind of risk. What would become of Bud if she were to be arrested? Where would all her educational pursuits get her in Azkaban? Forcing down her fear, she abandoned the sandwich she had taken and followed her father. Now that she was in this situation she had to learn all she could to avoid detection. She just hoped no one ever found her out. Especially Ron. That would break her heart. And hadn't it had enough breaking already?
. . .
"Shakespurts, aurors! It's a raid." Robards announced, bursting from his office with gusto. A cheer rang out as everyone leapt to attention. Robards barked orders above the cacophony. "Snape, Potter, my office. The rest of you, gather what you need and be ready in conference room one."
Everyone rushed to obey, though Ron looked a little miffed not to be included in the meeting with Robards. Harry and Severus followed Robards' example and went to stand at the head auror's desk in his office. Robards gestured to the surface of the desk. On it was a gridded bit of parchment. "Mister Potter, this is an enchanted piece of parchment that accurately records descriptions of buildings. Since you have the most intimate knowledge of the location of today's raid, I would have you relate all that you know to this parchment so we can brief the others on where they are about to go."
Anticipating the location Robards was sure to soon specify, Severus smirked, allowing himself this little triumph. It seemed his words the day before had been taken to heart.
"Where is it you would like me to describe, sir?" Harry asked.
Robards looked up at Snape and grimaced at the smug expression the Potions Master had donned. "Number Twelve Grimmaul Place." The auror growled, still eyeing a very unrepentant Snape. On the contrary, he noted the man seemed to gain perverse pleasure in his growing annoyance. Who made this tosser a teacher?
Harry was surprised. "Could we recast the Fidelius Charm on it once we're finished with it? Would I be able to claim this map as my property?"
Robards tore his eyes away from the irksome wizard and gave Harry a gruff nod. "It is your house. You can do with it as you wish when we are finished."
"I'm sure Minerva would be happy to oblige you in reclaiming your property." Snape suggested to Harry in his surely tones. Snape himself was not as gifted in charms as either Minerva or Flitwick and they would most certainly be eager to assist the young man.
Harry gave him a grateful smile that made Severus uncomfortable. "Thank you, sir."
"Yes, well, you might save your thanks until after we've captured the dark wizards lurking in its corners. Assuming we don't die in the attempt." Severus remarked sourly, returning his feelings of fondness for Potter to more familiar ground. Really, he was becoming too soft. First the insufferable know-it-all, now Potter? What was next; Weasley? Snape shuddered to think on such an eventuality.
Harry only laughed. "Alright, then. I'll start with the basement…"
After a half hour relating the layout of the old Black house and a thorough grilling from Robards as to the wards that were up on the house prior to the Death Eaters' occupation of it and any potential hiding places, the trio rejoined the rest of the aurors who were chatting amiably amongst themselves.
Robards had everyone's attention within moments. Harry, being the house's owner, gave the entire company knowledge of the buildings existence so Robards could relay all the information they had in regards to the location. Severus could very well have done the same but it was an unspoken understanding that Harry had better rapport among his co-workers.
As tactics were discussed, it was agreed upon that Harry, Ron, Severus, and Savage apparate ahead of the rest in order to draw out any Death Eaters. "If there actually happen to be any." A skeptical witch pointed out. Half a minute after the first group apparated, the rest of the auror force would arrive as back up to arrest every enemy in sight.
Just as Robards had instructed, the aurors were prepared for the raid. Part of being an auror meant being ready for any situation they might be sent to at a moment's notice. Severus was satisfied. This was what would quash the resurgent threat. Responsiveness. Quick, brutal strikes. There would be no excessive loss of life now that he could operate out of the shadows.
Harry, Ron, Severus, and Savage stood with their backs facing each other. Severus took Harry as a side along and Savage did the same with Ron so they could maintain their formation upon arrival. In a stomach turning instant they were inside Twelve Grimmauld Place. They were lucky. There was a distinct possibility that wards would have prevented them from apparating to the location, but it seemed that perhaps the Death Eaters wanted Harry to get back to his home in any way he saw fit and left any venue of transport accessible in the house.
This lax perimeter was by no means an indication of the occupancy, however. Severus was simultaneously pleased and concerned about the number of Death Eaters. But the element of surprise was a large factor in their favor. The aurors had come there for a fight. The Death Eaters had no idea when to expect a confrontation and in the preceding months they had clearly become relaxed in their stolen lodgings. The dark witches and wizards, in various parts of the house stared, gobsmacked, as they took in the presence of the two they expected, Potter and Weasley, and the inexplicable presence of Severus Snape and a complete stranger. The glorious seconds of advantage on the part of the aurors was used to assess the positions of the enemy and a clean first shot to four Death Eaters.
The portrait of Walburga Black began shrieking and that seemed to startle the remaining Death Eaters into action. There were four others who took cover and began firing hexes. Severus smothered his urge to send his more bloody hexes their way and settled for the body bind, stunner, and stupefying spells that would ensure them their time in Azkaban.
Exactly thirty seconds after their arrival, the rest of the auror force popped into the main room. The Death Eaters, realizing they had no chance of winning here, began to attempt to flee, but the sheer number of aurors made escape impossible. The final four Death Eaters were brought down and Robards instructed his forces further. "Williamson, Snape; gather the subdued here," He motioned at the center of the living room. "Then check this floor.. Savage, Trotter; basement. Potter, Weasley; you're with me second floor. Snyder, Walsh; third floor. Proudfoot, Brinkley, Niles; top floor. Move quickly."
The various groups split up to secure the area. Robards led the way past Walburga Black who was still screeching insults, and up the stairs. Each wizard took a room to investigate on their designated floor.
They found no other Death Eaters in hiding. Harry, upon getting the all clear, went immediately to force the curtains shut over Walburga Black's portrait. The aurors all met on the first floor to inspect their captives. There were eight in all.
"Casimir Crabbe. Dolan Goyle and son." Robards labeled each individual with a point of a finger on his mangled hand. "Anyone know the others?"
"Millicent Bulstrode." Ron piped up. "Blaise Zabini, and Prentice Pike. Slytherins from our year at Hogwarts."
Robards looked down at the captives thoughtfully while the aurors voiced their opinions in suspicious whispers. "Who are the other two?" Savage wondered.
Brinkley noticed something strange. "What's that rune carved into their dark marks?"
"Some kind of sick brainwashing?" Trotter speculated on the presence of the students.
"That's got to be Millicent's mum. Just look at her!" Ron said rudely. Still, Robards supposed he had a point. The woman in question was very large and bulky. More like a brawler, really.
"Label and confiscate their wands, Proudfoot." Robards said at last. "Potter, take the Floo to Hogwarts and get someone here to recast the Fidelius Charm. We'll hold down the fort in the meantime." Harry nodded and off he went in a rush of veridian flames. The remaining witches and wizards stood at attention in case any more Death Eaters stumbled across their new captured site.
To their disappointment, no enemies surfaced before McGonagall and Flitwick arrived. "Galloping gargoyles!" Flitwick started at the sight of Snape. "What is Severus doing here?"
"It's a pleasure to see you, too, Filius." Snape purred.
"He's leading us to Death Eaters." Robards explained vaguely.
Harry saw fit to elaborate. "He wants to see the work he and Dumbledore started through."
"I believe he has already seen to that." McGonagall said icily.
"Dumbledore was already dying, Professor." Harry related the story to the new Headmistress who still seemed skeptical.
"Well, there's no use in debating about where Severus' loyalties lie. Professor Flitwick has a class soon so we will need to begin casting the charm." McGonagall maintained her suspicions but Harry let it go. He knew a certain portrait she would likely speak with later might be able to placate her.
Flitwick cleared his throat as he approached his former student. "Very well, then, Harry. Would you like to be the sole secret keeper? This is what I suggest as you can bring others into the knowledge of its existence as you see fit. Though, it is important to emphasize that should something happen to you before you tell anyone, this place will never be found by anyone again."
"I understand, sir. I would like Ron to be a secret keeper along with me." Harry replied. He then looked to his friend. "If that's alright?"
Ron grinned. "Your secret's safe with me, mate."
"Very well. First I will put a number of charms and wards over the place so you will be quite safe here, Potter. Lastly, I will cast the Fidelius." Flitwick informed him before he shooed everyone out of the house and did just that.
. . .
Severus was pleased with the result of the raid. It may not have been the best find for cunning Death Eaters but they did capture some very well known names. The presence of the students concerned him. Was Hogwarts being infiltrated? Or perhaps in the pursuit of more forces they had turned to their children, pressuring them into service.
That thought still in his mind, he turned a corner to find none other than Pansy Parkinson. She was filling out paperwork in the Auror's front office. Suspicious, Severus closed in on the young woman as her head was bent over the parchment and quill in her lap. "Miss Parkinson." Snape addressed her, reverting to his intimidating drawl. He saw the girl jump in surprise. In a clear sign of uneasiness, Parkinson stood from her seat to reply to her old Potions teacher. "Pro- er- well, Mister Snape. What are you doing here?" Severus saw his own suspicion reflected back at him in the girl's eyes. How interesting. Did she know him as a defector? Was she one of the Death Eater's recruits, perhaps? Her parents were very affluent.
"I might ask you the same question." Snape returned.
Pansy gathered her bravado and fixed a sneer to her face. "I'm more likely to be here than you. Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Severus raised a brow at her impertinence. "Am I? That's news to me Miss Parkinson. Where could you have heard that, I wonder…"
Pansy scowled. She realized he was trying to bait her, but she wouldn't fall for it. The game as double agent had already started and she couldn't fail. Her family depended on her success. "Everyone's talking about it. You haven't been seen anywhere after the war."
Snape gave her points for quickness. The conversation was once more directed at him, but he had played this game for years. Some upstart wasn't about to shake him off that easily. "I'm not one for socializing." He replied. "As it happens, I'm here on business. So what, pray tell, are you doing here?"
"Oi, Pansy!" Ron stepped up to the flustered girl's side, shooting Snape a look that said 'drop dead.' "Did you get everything sent in?"
Pansy gave Ron a strained smile. "Just filling out the last of the paperwork now."
Ron looked up at Snape. "We're going to have a new co-worker."
Snape smirked. Weasley was stupider than he gave him credit for. She must have used him to get a spot here. No doubt to keep an eye on things for the Death Eaters. This certainly complicated things. The Ministry is too sure and lets a snake inside. Did Robards approve this? The daft fool. They must be very confident in their assumption that he was the prophecy-indicated threat. Well, now the Death Eaters would know for certain he was working as informant against them. Had they waited one day more Twelve Grimmauld Place would have been abandoned. It was going to be nearly impossible to look credible now if Pansy was going to report everything. And he would need to take extra measures in his security. He couldn't afford to slip an inch. The Death Eaters may want him dead more than Potter once they heard about his cooperation with the Ministry.
"Snape's made a deal with the Ministry." Ron explained to Pansy's look of confusion. "If he helps us capture Death Eaters, the Ministry will clear his name."
Pansy eyed Snape distrustfully. Here on business my foot! She thought angrily. Just what was he playing at? She already had much to tell her parents. Snape was going to be a real threat to her family and it seemed he may already be onto her. The sooner they could get rid of him, the better.
. . .
Ash fell like an insidious snow upon scorched ground. The land was difficult to tread, being made up of many small hills, as though the earth had waves like the sea. It was dusk and oppressively silent when not suddenly interrupted by the hellish streaks and pops of a wizarding duel. It was Friday, the second day of October and a report had reached the Ministry's ears of a group of Death Eaters that were going to meet at a particular house in Blockley. It appeared as though this was information given over deliberately to ensnare aurors. As soon as the aurors had arrived the Death Eaters seemed aware of their presence. They led them through the town and out into the landscape, setting a swift fire to the surrounding flora. The wizards hadn't been able to quench the fires for some time and finally were able to hasten after the offenders.
Seven figures, nearly indistinguishable from the monochromatic landscape, darted towards a treeline in the distance. Three fleeing. Four pursuing. Savage, Harry, Ron, and Severus were tired from a drawn out game of cat and mouse with the Death Eaters who eluded them. Severus was concerned by the clear advantage the land held for their enemy. They may have known they were being tailed all afternoon and led them here. Ever cautious to the point of paranoid, Severus found it all too convenient there were plenty of hillocks to hide behind or to see someone atop of and find a clear shot for a hex.
"Do not crest the hills." Severus called quietly to the others. "We'll be easy targets."
Savage gave Snape a sober nod. The seasoned auror respected Snape's skills, but wondered if he had picked them up through fiendish means. The Potions Master knew how to play dirty. Weasley, Snape; take a route bearing north-east. Potter and I will take south-east. They may not expect us to split up."
Ron made a face while Severus merely looked resigned. It was no secret Weasley trusted him even less than the others did. It was no surprise to him they found themselves in the same group. The two pairs branched off to continue their chase.
Severus and Ron stopped at the base of the last hill before the forest. There was a stretch of flat land that the Death Eaters ran across before breaking through the treeline. They fired binding spells at the dark wizards but to no avail. They didn't see any spells cast from the place where Potter and Savage should have been. Severus started to suggest they stay there until the other two appeared, but Ron ran recklessly after the Death Eaters, disappearing amongst the trees.
Merlin, give me strength. Snape pleaded silently, then followed the foolhardy young man.
Breaking through the trees, Severus didn't find Weasley, but the Death Eaters waiting for him. "Severus." Greeted a familiar voice.
"Lucius." Snape acknowledged. Where the hell was that Weasley twit?
"Trading one leash for another I see." Malfoy taunted.
Severus gave the man a nasty smile. "So it would seem."
"Why not come with us, my old friend. You could have your freedom." Lucius offered.
Severus forced out a dry laugh. "And all would be forgiven? You would all simply forget the eight Death Eaters I helped incarcerate?"
Lucius took a step towards Snape. "Of course you would be punished for your, shall we say, indiscretions. But you can make amends. Come with us, Severus."
Severus paused as though deliberating. Truly he was waiting for some type of interference from his fellow aurors. Were the three of them incapacitated? If he refused Lucius' invitation in the open against several men, he knew his chances for survival were slim. "Who holds your leash, Malfoy?" Severus returned, trying to appear as though he was assessing the situation. "Who took up the reigns after the Dark Lord?"
Lucius studied Snape before extending his hand in invitation. "Come with us, Severus, and all will be revealed."
"Expelliarmus!" Harry's voice bounced off the trees.
"Stupify!" Savage cast.
Both spells missed their mark as the pair ran up. Lucius scowled at the encroaching pair and shot Snape a glare before the three Death Eaters disaparated. Ron emerged from behind a tree only meters behind Snape.
"What was that, Weasley?" Savage demanded.
Ron was decidedly unrepentant about his choice to leave Snape alone in a confrontation against Death Eaters. "You saw it too, didn't you? They were willing to take him back. He was even considering it."
Savage glanced at Snape, distrust in his eyes, but he didn't address it here. To his credit he continued his admonishment of the Weasley boy. "There is no excuse for leaving your partner to deal with a deadly situation on their own. You will get a warning in your file for this."
Ron's jaw ticked in annoyance. He shot Severus a hateful look before marching to the edge of the forest. Harry looked between the two remaining men. Seeing that they had something to say without an audience, Harry went after Ron.
Savage waited until Harry was out of earshot. "Had we not intervened; had you been given the opportunity, would you have gone with them?"
Severus met Savage's gaze levely. "That was the opportunity, and I didn't take it. I had plenty of time to disparate with them. I was stalling. You don't have to believe me, Savage, but what you must do is retain enough suspicion to fall on more than just me. There are two snakes at the Ministry." With that, he followed the two young men's footsteps to the forest's edge, leaving Savage to think on what he had said.
After their day was over at the Ministry, Harry, Ron, and Severus made their way back to Ainsley Place separately. Hermione heard them aparate onto the lawn one at a time just as she was taking the bread out to cool. She heard an argument though she couldn't make out the words. Drawing her wand, she started towards the front door when it opened with a bang. Ron stepped in first. Harry followed, and Severus trailed behind, closing the door with deliberate decorum. "Just admit you weren't in any real danger with your 'old friend', Snape." Ron spat.
"I don't need to justify myself to you." Snape growled.
"What danger? What happened today?" Hermione demanded, her wand still drawn in her uneasiness with the situation.
Ron's temper sizzled at her concern. "Your boyfriend almost went back to join the Death Eaters."
"What are you talking about?" Hermione questioned. She was feeling dizzy with confusion. There was too much going on. Boyfriend? Joining Death Eaters? "What exactly happened today?"
"We were chasing some Death Eaters today." Ron elaborated. "Snape was alone with them at some point and he never said no to their offer to go with them. I think he would have gone if Harry and Savage hadn't started firing spells at them. Lucius even called him an 'old friend.'"
"Never mind the fact that you left me alone to defend myself against them so you could eavesdrop on whatever you thought you might hear." Snape said coldly.
"He what? Ronald?" Hermione looked accusingly at her friend.
Ron rounded on Snape. "Don't change the subject you manipulative bludger! You would have gone with them!"
"In case it has escaped your notice, I am in hiding as well as the rest of you." Snape hissed. "If I wanted to go back to the Death Eaters, don't you think I would have done so already?"
"I don't know. You look pretty cozy to me." Ron jutted his chin in Hermione's direction. "And you like playing spy. It was your idea to be an auror. How do we know you're not sending them information?"
"Your jealousy clouds your judgement, Mister Weasley." Snape was deadly quiet, his fury evident in every syllable.
Ron continued his tirade. "Oh, do I have something to be jealous about? Are you admitting you are a sick, sleazy git who wants one of his own students? That you want to-"
"That's enough." Severus snapped.
"Liar." Ron continued. "You won't even deny it."
"I don't need to deny the imaginings of a simpleton." Snape fired back.
Ron hissed through gritted teeth. "I don't imagine the way you look at her."
"Stop it!" Hermione screamed. Reflexively she jerked her wand hand and a snap resounded through the house. Ron reeled from an invisible strike. His cheek bore a bloody scratch as though it was whipped. Hermione gasped and started forward, her free hand out to assess the damage. "Ron, I-I'm sorry."
Ron touched his cheek and examined the blood on his fingers. He looked up at Hermione with a steely gaze. "Don't cry when he breaks your heart. I warned you." With that, he stormed out of the house and onto the lawn, disapparating before Hermione even had a chance to process that he was gone.
Harry stepped forward and rested a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione's mouth opened and shut several times before she could muster a sentence. "Supper's on the table." Her eyes told him to leave. She needed a moment to think. Harry nodded once, then looked at Snape before heading into the next room.
Silence reigned for long moments. "Miss Granger." Snape said at last.
"No, please." She whispered. "It's still Hermione."
Snape felt a little disgusted with himself at the surge of pleasure he felt in response. Weasley was right about one thing. He was a sleazy git. "Hermione, is there anything I can do?"
"Tell me. Tell me what happened today. Let me hear it from the beginning." She replied.
Snape related all that had transpired, including his conversation with Lucius. He left nothing out. Hermione took a breath when he finished. "You didn't say no." She acknowledged.
"Correct." Snape conceded. He waited nervously for her reaction.
Hermione's eyes met his until she came to a consensus. "I think if you had wanted to go with them you would simply have gone." Snape inclined his head. "And I hardly think you would stay to help me with my parents if you had any ill intent. That wouldn't make any sense."
Snape's eyes smoldered as he held hers. "What if I have designs on you?"
Hermione gulped under the intensity of his gaze. "Then I think I should be sensible of it." She replied breathlessly.
"Would you?" Snape practically cooed. With deliberate steps he closed the distance between them. Ever so slowly, he reached out a hand. His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek and ensnared a tendril of hair which he tucked behind her ear. Hermione's breath came more quickly as he lingered near her. Suddenly he withdrew. "Let's go and have our supper." He said quietly, retreating to the kitchen.
Hermione stood, calming the sea of desire that had overwhelmed her. She admitted to herself that she wasn't concerned if Severus had any sensual intentions towards her. On the contrary, she hoped that he did. She shook her head to compose herself. Once she felt she could rejoin the two men in the kitchen without blushing head to toe, she followed them in to partake in the meal she had prepared, forcing any dark thoughts from her mind. Mending things with Ron would need to wait for another day. Tonight she had good company and the spark of something more than friendship to enjoy.
