A/N: Hiya gentle-folks. I'm back and, as you may notice, this chapter is nice and long too. I plan on trying to put more stuff in each chapter so I don't have to write as many of them.

Anyway, me and my Beat(Jaylyn Gilfer Bustinex) who you may know as the creator of Tania, sat down and talked about it and we've decided. This story plot thiong is very complicated and we will eventually be explaining it in a series of fics all entitled "Behind a Veil of Silver and Green: Whoever" like the title of this will change to Behind...: Alex Bellmonte. each one based off a different Pure-blood's story. But that's far in the future.

Read on.

"But…they're all just potion ingredients. That is weird beyond belief."

"I believe it. Knowing Moody, though I really don't, I'd say he'd hide the directions to the potions somewhere else."

Alex sighed. "Well, that's it then. A whole bunch of nothing. But make a copy of it."

He shrugged. "Duplicate."

"A spell in English?" she shook her head as he replaced the original book to it's spot. "Never mind. I don't want to think that much right now."

"I wouldn't answer your questions anyway." Draco replied, leading the way down the stairs.

"That's why I don't want to talk about it now. I don't have the energy for a drawn out torture session." She pulled open the back door and bowed mockingly. "Ladies, and those who scream like girls, first."

Scoffing Draco preceded her. Outside the sun had already begun to disappear but there was still light in the sky.

"What's done is done," Alex said deeply, in a tongue that was right where Ancient French and Latin blended. "return it to what it was."

Beside her Draco said the same thing, first in pure French then pure Latin. It was a different kind of spell making than taught at Hogwarts. It was both more powerful and more dangerous, for it tapped directly from the magical gift of the person and could be shaped into anything the witch or wizard wanted, so long as they could focus only on the outcome…and provided they had the power. But a wizard's magic is tied to his life….

"Done and done."

"Good." Weariness crept into Alex's tone. "Let's get out of here."

"Like a cat with a new mouse. Like Alex with a new toy. Like….oh never mind." Blaise put the metal jar back on the shelf and glanced over his shoulder at Tania, prowling among the shelves of the Apothecary like a kid in a candy store, like….oh never mind.

It was almost painfully cute to watch, she had a sureness of being, a purpose, a fire about her that betrayed her. This was her element. Give Alex a puzzle or problem and she lit up the same way. Heck, give Blaise himself a new language or new Runes and he did the same. They all had their Muses and all obeyed these powerful Ladies with their souls.

Perhaps that was another part of what it was to be Slytherin?

Shaking himself free of his too-deep thoughts Blaise selected another jar and glanced at the label. Featherfern? He'd never heard of it.

Carefully unscrewing the cap Blaise peered at the grayish/green powder and then gingerly sniffed.

"Interesting, it's….it's just like-" Unfortunately Blaise never finished his sentence, a blasting sneeze obliterated it from the knowledge of mankind. Unfortunately again, the blast blew more of the ingredient, which still hovered before Blaise's nose, up into his face.

So he sneezed again….but Blaise was smart enough to remove the jar from around his face before these set in, however the fit did not abate and so he let loose a third time and a forth.

It was after the fourth, train wreck of a sneeze that Tania looked over. Sharp brown eyes took in the entire predicament and she frowned. Quickly crossing to stand in front and a little to the side of him Tania absently offered him a handkerchief with one hand while plucking the jar from him with the other.

"Featherfern?" it was a gentle scoff that blended seamlessly with her exasperated sigh. Retrieving the lid Tania screwed it on and replaced the jar on the shelf before turning her back to Blaise and walking to the far wall.

Once there she spent several long, sneeze filled moments, studying the contents of the shelves before selecting a small vial. A second later the small glass round was very nearly shoved up Blaise's left nostril and Blaise, frantically trying to breathe in and around his sneezing inhaled some quite by accident.

His fit ended as suddenly as it began. He smiled gratefully as he wiped his streaming nose and eyes with her handkerchief. Tania merely went about the business of re-corking the vial.

About to offer her the cloth back Blaise stopped in mid-motion and shrugged sheepishly. "I'll have that cleaned for you." He said as he pocketed the white square.

"You should be profoundly grateful that Miss Dethart pays attention when I teach her something Mister Zabini and that she knows that Downis counteracts the severe allergic reaction humans have to powdered Featherfern." From his place beside the counter, obviously in the act of paying for a purchase Professor Snape eyed his two students…quite nearly amused. "You, however, should know, after three years in my class, not to stick your nose in any random potion ingredient you come across."

Blaise grinned endearingly at his Head of House. "Yes sir. But you know I've always been the dull sort."

"Only when it suits you Mister Zabini." Turning his gaze from his adorably errant student to his silent one, Snape lifted one hand in beckon. "Mistress Deliney I would like to introduce to you, Miss Tania Dethart."

The thin woman behind the counter eyed the small girl who obeyed her Professor and came to join their group. "A pleasure Miss Dethart."

"Likewise." Tania responded automatically, dipping a polite curtsey.

"She will likely be as good a customer for you as I." Snape said, shattering the feminine courtesy of the moment. Belatedly Blaise walked over and joined then, leaning casually on the counter.

Deliney raised an eyebrow at Snape's comment and gave Tania a much more thorough look. The girl was small, fragile looking, but she was smart, she could listen and recall direction and she could keep her head under strange and unusual circumstances…as the experience just now had shown.

And on top of that she was self-contained, entirely within her skin…unlike the boy who currently seemed to be oozing over the countertop. Perhaps she would do. Severus tended to know what he was talking about.

"She'll also be coming to pick up packages for me from time to time, Alanna." Snape continued catching the shopkeeper's eye. "As you never tell me how much you'll be getting in, kindly let her have it even if I haven't give her enough to cover the full price of the ingredient. I'll take care of the difference when I visit you next."

It took Alanna a moment, a moment she was somewhat ashamed of, to figure out what he meant. But eventually it dawned on her. The girl was poor, sell her whatever she needed at as low a price as she'd accept and Snape would cover the difference.

"Of course. I wouldn't imagine doing anything different." She snapped, as if offended while inwardly she sighed. That man was the biggest softie on the planet, wizard or Muggle. It was a good thing the girl already had a boyfriend otherwise she would start crushing on her Professor…and poor Severus had no clue how to handle those when they came his way.

Blaise glanced out the windows at the sky. "You don't need to rush or anything but we only have maybe another forty-five minutes until curfew Tania."

"Quite." Snape added as Tania looked longingly around the store. "You'll see more than enough of this place doing my errands Miss Dethart, I assure you. But I do believe Miss Bellmonte will be finished with her project by now." this last was pointed significantly at Blaise who shot his Head of House a startled look.

Sighing but agreeing Tania began to head for the door, Blaise hovering just behind.

After they left, Snape collected his purchase. "I'm afraid I must be going as well."

"Of course. See you soon Severus." Alanna said to his back as he departed. "Ya big softie."

And if he heard her additive he never said.

"Bath." Alex moaned for the sixth time since they'd come into sight of the castle.

"Clean socks." Draco supplied. He seemed to have more energy than her and so was able to come up with different and more bizarre replies to her plea for a bath.

"Merlin, I so want a bloody bath!"

"And I want a new hair color…oh look the door." They slipped back into the castle by the same door they'd exited from, taking care as they skirted corners and slipped down hallways to avoid being seen by the first and second years still here.

Luckily most of the student body was still in Hogsmeade. They made it to the dungeons unseen. They were home free. They…

"Mister Malfoy. Miss Bellmonte. I'm afraid I missed you both in Hogsmeade today."

Alex winced and froze as Draco turned around to face their newest problem. "Professor?"

"Yes, and then I got to thinking. What could possibly draw the two of you away from the delights of the place? Well it was obvious with you Miss Bellmonte. You had a puzzle to solve. But Draco. What could have taken you from Hogsmeade? It made quite a question."

Alex sighed, too tired to be stung by the insinuation that she was predictable. "Professor Snape, please, is there a point?"

Snape looked down at the pair a forbidding something radiating from him. "Then I thought," he continued in a much softer, much more terrifying, voice. "What project could Alex have that would draw Draco away from the fun? There really are only a few goals the two of you share…only one worth missing a trip to Hogsmeade. So that makes me wonder what exactly you two were doing about your Moody Problem…"

"Professor…" Draco said again, but Snape waved him silent.

"But as you are both alive, and as long as you promise me you did nothing you will be caught for, what I do not know will not hurt you."

Alex paused, unwilling to make a promise that she couldn't keep…especially to Snape. Apparently Draco felt the same way.

After a few minutes of soul-searching and memory-combing(and glancing at each other) they nodded.

"Yes sir. We won't be caught."

"Good. I suggest you both get cleaned up. The rest of your classmates should be returning in the next forty minutes."

"Yessir."

"Thank you sir." Together the turned and began to finish their trek to Common Room.

"One thing." Snape called after them. "I won't be available for a period of time next Monday afternoon. I'm afraid I have to meet with Professor Moody right after classes to discuss the detentions of Hunter Dethart and his gang. Unfortunately the man is so paranoid he has a silence spell around his office. Nothing can get in or out. I will be entirely unavailable for half an hour at least."

With a silent sweep of his robe Snape moved away.

"D…did you hear him?" Alex whispered as they dashed down the last hall towards the portrait.

"I did."

"He just told us when to search Moody's classroom."

"I know."

"Tania," Blaise began after they crossed the threshold to the castle. Tania eyed him discretely. He was practically twitching. But of course, she thought just a little bitterly, Alex should be done with her project by now.

"May I see myself back to Common Room?" she heard herself ask quietly and then followed it with the quick cover up, "If you don't mind?"

Blaise nearly melted with relief. "Of course not. I would never impose."

Tania offered him a tiny smile and walked away towards the dungeons. Pausing at one of the corners she looked back and saw Greg and Vince had joined her companion, their heads bent close together.

So she'd been right. Draco was in on this…in fact he was probably with Alex at this moment. Tania once again found herself getting caught up in what this "project" could possibly entail. It must be something big to include that many of her Housemates.

Her mind working furiously Tania paced rapidly into Common Room. She didn't stop as she crossed the empty space…after all no one would be in here now. The First and Second years would all be out running around and everyone else was still in Hogsmeade.

Her thoughts and her body were brought to an unexpected stop as she ran into a pair of legs. A quick glance followed the thin, stocking clad extremities from were they sat propped on the low table up to where the rest of one Alex Bellmonte lay collapsed on the couch.

"Hello Tania m'dear." She drawled tiredly. "How was Hogsmeade?"

"Interesting." Tania answered safely, dying to add, "How was your secret project?"

"With Blaise I imagine," she paused and let loose a jaw-splitting yawn, "imagine it would be. Come. Sit."

Gingerly taking the seat Alex was patting, Tania tried to figure out what to say.

"Did Blaise splurge at Honeyduke's?" the older girl asked, neatly solving her problem.

Tania laughed, silently and humorlessly. "I wouldn't know. He certainly spent more money than I," she paused and rephrased, "than most of my year mates have ever seen."

"Good old Blaise. And let me guess, he insisted on buying everything you wanted…because 'you are with him'?"

Tania nodded, flushing again at the memory.

"Merlin, his bloody 'code'…thingy. Gets annoying doesn't it." Alex yawned again.

Taking advantage of the momentary break in questions Tania decided to get the focus off herself and asked, "So, how was your day?"

"Boring…yet somehow hard. I blame Alex." Draco commented dryly, plodding his way down the stairs from the boys dorm, his hair wet.

"You do that." Alex replied without a hint of a fight.

Tania made a mental note….but she wasn't about to keep up her chatter in front of Draco Malfoy.

"everyone knows everyone, yes?" Alex asked, waving a hand between the two of them. "Tania Dethart, Draco. Vice versa. Etc. So forth."

"I introduced her to you, Alex." Draco put in leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. "Oh so very long ago."

It suddenly struck Tania that he didn't look massively ill. Which meant it was a…cover story? Probably?

But if it was why was he calling his own bluff? Had someone else started the rumor? Should she tell them?

Before she could work up her nerve the faint sound of voices from the hallway outside decided her.

Before she could think,(looooooong before she could think) Tania dashed across the room and slipped her arms around Draco's waist so she was supporting him on one side. "Please, Mister Malfoy," she said urgently, "You shouldn't be up. You've been very sick all day. That why you weren't in Hogsmeade."

Draco froze and stared at her for a minute, while Tania listened to the voices coming closer. She didn't know why it was a secret, but it was important to people….people she wasn't admitting might be important to her. Blaise and Alex at least.

Understanding flashed across two faces at once and Alex scrambled up. "Bed! Go!" she hissed even as Draco started back up the stairs at top speeds.

Tania gratefully let him go, allowing herself a grin of triumph when he disappeared from sight.

As the returning crowd from Hogsmeade poured into the room Tania saw Alex mouth a silent, "Thank you." And disappear up to her own dorm.

The stillness of night was shattered, silently and unnoticed, as an even heavier blackness descended on the place. Overhead stars winked to each other in their normal dance, but this too went unnoticed in the putrid pit that was Knockturn Alley after dark.

"On the left, Master," an insignificant squeak informed.

Turning as directed the shadowy face of wizarding terror eyed the building before him. Tall enough to hold three stories, though it only housed two, it was something of an abnormality on this row. All around it storefronts leaned in over the thin strip of pavement but the seemingly eternal bookstore leaned back and away. Separate from its neighbors the storefront would have been respectable in Diagon Alley or even Hogsmeade. Yet it was this place only that held the darkest of knowledge that the Dark Lord himself sought.

Gliding silently to the right of the building Voldemort found the back stairs. They were, amusingly enough, invisible. As if such a spell would stop him. Chuckling softly, anticipation rolling through him like adrenaline, Voldemort stepped forward and walked casually up the stairs no one could see.

Down below he heard Wormtail scramble to follow. He chuckled again. If the little creature could manage it he would be much surprised.

At the top of the twisted metal steps lay the only door to the second level of this place. It too was invisible. Looking at it like it were an erring child and he it's compassionate parent, Voldemort walked through the entrance. The pressure of the wood was a fleeting pain added to all the other agonies he lived with continually.

He ignored it.

"So, this is where you live, little foe?" he asked, by this point thoroughly enjoying himself.

Jackle twisted in his dreams. Nightmares of a kind that never came to the old wizard. He had seen so much that he could not survive the memories of it like normal people could, and his mind knew this, safely locking away all of his dark dreams.

"Hello." It was spoken softly, almost kindly, lifting the old man from his tortured dreams. Jackle looked up with a half smile at the shadow-shrouded man leaning over him.

For a moment he thought it was the crawling thief from earlier, the smell was much the same, but the eyes of his visitor told him different. They were swirling irises of black, green and blood red, alight, just now, with anticipation and pure desire.

"Who are you?" he demanded, tucking his hand beneath his blanket for his wand.

"Someone who is very interested in obtaining your collection." The man replied casually. "Oh, are you feeling around for this? I found it earlier and am quiet adept at using it. Would you like me to show you?"

Lifting a translucent hand that grasped Jackle's wand firmly the man, creature, thing smiled.

Waiting, huddled against the corner of the building, for his Master to reappear, Wormtail shivered with cold. Above him, barely noticed but as a light to see his dark surroundings by, the stars passed. Night crept ever onward. Despite his fear, the cold and the awkwardness of his position Wormtail felt himself pulled once and again towards sleep.

Then, all of a sudden, the building at his back seemed to shiver with him. One big massive heave, like a breath held too long being loosed. And beside him, appeared a heavy iron stair leading up to a door high above his head.

Lurching to his feet, his legs complaining as they had, at least, succumbed to sleep, the small man moved up onto the first step. From above him the door slammed silently open and a far too familiar face peered out.

"Come!" Voldemort demanded angrily, as if Wormtail had failed him in some way.

"Is he dead milord?" Wormtail asked, dashing up to his master.

"Dealt with." Came the cold reply. "Now that I have fixed your blundering find me what I want!"

"Y-yes, Master."

A/N: Icky nasty yuck. I hate writing for Voldie. Moving on. Review.