I am sorry for the extremely long break that I had to take. But now I am back. And I also have gotten a beta who has very kindly looked through this and corrected my mistakes, and that too in a very short time!

I thank you Mischief Managed33. You're awesome!

And now…on with the story.

Vain Vanity

He wasn't known for his intelligence, or for his sacrifices. He did not have any special talents…nor did he have the quick wit and masterful manipulative tongues of his so-called comrades. But Peter Pettigrew certainly felt addled when a lanky but stern looking Potions Master threw his honeyed notes in a smooth silky drawl possible only for him.

"My lord! Though I do not wish to encumber you with ostentatious descriptions of how happy I am to see you, I certainly shall say that I find myself speechless at your arrival. It is certainly very refreshing to see you taking your rightful position in the world." He gestured at the throne.

Peter shook his head. Why couldn't Snape talk in normal English? To everyone else...it looked like a glowing encomium, but to him…it all looked like plain insults, double meaning words, which Snivellus used all the time.

Otherwise, what could the man mean by speaking so gracefully, when he said that he found himself speechless? And what could the bugger mean, Your rightful position in the world? The Dark Lord was sitting on a grave! Did Snape mean his master belonged to the grave? Peter bristled at the apparent insult. He had worked for ages to get that resurrection potion right. He'd be damned if he let Snape think that the Dark Lord belonged to the grave.

"Why don't you just answer why you did not come when summoned Snape? We've been waiting for that answer for a long time now." He said spitefully.

Snape shot him a dark look that immediately put the air out of him. Peter felt like a first year facing the intimidating teacher. He quickly looked down. If he had waited for a second more…he would have seen a tiny look of relief and triumph in Snape's eyes.

Severus almost smiled when Pettigrew interrupted his speech. He feared his flattery would not earn him a curse free afternoon, but only save his life. Now he knew what was expected of him. And he would slither his way out of this.

" I was….getting to that point Pettigrew. As opposed to you, the dark lord likes complete explanations and good results…not silly excuses." He turned to face the dark lord and met his gaze dead on…knowing that his thoughts were safe from the lousy legimizer in front of him. He let a small smirk escape his mouth. " I have been aware of the summons issued to the loyal ones to the Lord's cause as soon as the dark mark on my arm set off. But I could not have apparated directly from the Hogwarts grounds…a fact which someone as stupid as you Pettigrew must remember." He gave a small sneer in the rat's direction. " And moreover, I have never veered from the path you had set before me, my lord! I have been doing your bidding even in your absence. I have been spying on the lemon drop loving fool and weakening his defenses for the past sixteen years. I could not have destroyed all that work by flying immediately to you. He would have been suspicious."

Nott made a derisive sound. "Really Snape? You expect us to believe this cock and bull story of yours?"

Snape gave him an annoyed look. " I was under the impression that I was speaking to the Dark Lord Nott. Unless you plan to tell me that you are the Dark Lord, I'd appreciate if you kept your mouth shut." Snape said smugly. He had attacked directly on the dark Lord's weak spot…questioning his authority.

A shriek of pain was heard as Nott collapsed onto the ground. He smirked. Pick your words carefully, dunderhead! He thought.

"I am the one who will question Avery. Let this be a lessson for you. Severusss has been working for me for the past thirteen years loyally…" he turned his red eyes back onto the tall man, and smiled evilly "…..or so he saysss."

Severus's heart thundered. Did the Dark Lord not believe him? He'd have to convince the man of his loyalty. He gulped imperceptibly. One could not be too careful in front of a psycho, a powerful one at that.

"Then tell me Severusss…why did you not help Wormtail when he got free?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at the portly bumbling idiot. He smiled an enigmatic smile. "Did I not my lord?" he said calmly. Peter sputtered.

"Of course, you didn't Snivellus. You were only interested in Sirius and proving to the world that Remus is a werewolf. You didn't do anything for me, you greasy haired git…"

Whatever Peter was going to say choked in his windpipe as a silencing spell closed him. " Of course, I didn't do anything for you, Pettigrew, I did only what was necessary for the dark lord. I am, after all, his follower." Turning to the Dark Lord, he bowed his face respectfully. " My lord, if I hadn't intervened that day, Black and Potter would've caught this rat and sent him to prison, and delay your reinstatement into the World. Pettigrew here claims the laurels of bringing you back into a physical state, but the groundwork was all done by more loyal followers. It was I who helped Barty Crouch in guiding Potter through the tournament and making sure he was here for the ritual. Unfortunately, I also had to sacrifice him, lest he spills all my secrets." Snape said, diverting all attention and suspicions from himself.

He had used the Crouch Jr. as his excuse as he knew the fellow had already been Kissed. So there would be no one to deny his claims of loyalty. Glancing around the Inner Circle, he realized that almost all of them had fallen for the trap. A quick sneak at the Dark Lord's hands showed that he was safe. It was a trick Severus had discovered during his spying in past. You could always make a fair guess of the psycho's moods, or his mood swings, by seeing how tightly he held his wand.

Tighter the hold, the more danger you were in.

Severus took an involuntary breath. He was proud of how he managed to look unaffected in the face of such turmoil. This was it….the next few seconds would decide his fate. He knew that his chances of coming out of this unscathed were very slim. But he was determined to help Harry. And he'd do anything short of selling his soul to help him.

He slid down on one knee and bowed his head such that it exposed his neck. "Accept me, or punish me Master, either way, I am yours." He said in a monotone and waited. Seconds ticked and Severus felt beads of sweat forming on his face. The suspense was too much to bear. His very life was at stake and yet Severus felt oddly calm. Suddenly, he felt something slithering on his neck. It took him exactly three seconds to know that it was Nagini that was coiling around him. Dread pooled in his stomach as he felt the snake tighten around him. He was going to bloody die! All his instincts seemed to tell him to scream and run away from that infernal place, but Severus would not budge. There was this odd feeling in his stomach that told him to be brave and deal with this head on. When did I become a Gryffindor? Was the thought that went through Severus's brain before he completely wiped it blank from all emotion.

Slowly, he heard an odd hissing noise as Voldemort commanded Nagini. The reptile slid away from his body. "Rissse Severusss…" he said.

Severus rose steadily and gracefully, without the slightest waver in his body, or a hint of emotion on his face. His intellect carefully masked from envious eyes, and his disgust of the hypocrite safely tucked away under lock and key somewhere deep within the shadowy regions of his mind. "Your wish is my command my Lord…" he said.

"I am very pleased with your loyalty Severusss. I shall be taking you back within the folds of my forces. I shall require all your potion making abilities and engage your spying capabilities to the maximum extent. Now, your first assignment would be to find out the location of the Potter boy, and research about the possible breaches in the security around him. You shall report to me, within fifteen days. Do not fail me." The dark Lord spoke domineeringly.

"Of course, my Lord!" Snape said, internally cheering.

He was going to live! And if that wasn't enough, he was also going to leach this inferno of all his strength and intellect, and what is more, he could fulfill his promise!

"I must return to the castle before my absence is noticed, my lord." He said bowing again.

" Yess…leave Severusss". The evil voice said in an oily whisper. Just as Severus turned around to leave through the gate.

"Oh, and Severusss…"

He turned around.

"Crucio". Severus fell down upon one knee due to the pain. But not one sound escaped his lips. He remained on the ground, head bowed, clothes soiled, yet somehow he looked far superior to all those standing above him. He would not give this excuse of a human being the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

" Loyal or not, I do not tolerate tardiness. Let this be a refresher and a reminder for your upcoming task. Leave now." He hissed in an angry tone.

Severus bowed and disapparated without a crack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~arya~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~305~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cold that greeted Severus on arriving home was a welcome change from the atrocities committed by a mad psychopath right under the warm glare of the sun. Spinners' End had undergone some substantial changes over the years after Severus found the house empty on his seventeenth birthday. It still looked like the house could do with some renovation, but Severus was fine with the state of things. He did not have a heater, the kitchen tap was leaking a bit and the cellar looked more like a catacomb with the number of potion ingredients in there, but the house was fine. It had the aura of a home that was often missing when Severus had been younger.

Severus remembered the state of the house when he'd inherited it from his parents. Exhilarated by his newfound freedom of doing magic and an offer letter from one of Britain's pioneering Potions' Masters, he had gone to the shovel he called home to deliver the happy news to his mother. Cold silence had greeted him then.

They had left. There was a single note from his mother informing him that the house would belong to him and that he could do anything with it as he saw fit. Confused, Severus had searched the whole of Cokeworth for them. His father was found three days later, dead under mysterious circumstances. The muggle police could not make head or tail of it, but Severus had known. It was the Killing Curse.

There was no sign of his mother.

Shaken by the events, and cold with the realization that his mother had committed the murder, he wondered what had caused her to take such desperate measures. For in spite of their hatred for each other, his mother had never lifted a wand at Tobias Snape. Instantly, his hate for muggles had escalated and he did the one thing that left him regretful forever. He had taken the dark mark.

It was with Lily's death that he came back to his senses. And now he was atoning for that grave mistake by dedicating his life to her son.

Severus snapped out of his place by the window. Lily's son. That was his goal now. To keep him safe. To help him. He would not let him die.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~arya~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~305~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A tall imposing figure stepped from nowhere onto the busy pavement bordering a busier road. Black trousers, deep blue shirt with the top button undone and golden brown hair neatly trimmed to perfection, he did not attract too much attention to himself, other than an occasional appreciative glance from a waitress in the roadside inn. There were far too many fashion models these days.

Severus walked on without caring to second glance at the rows of shops that glittered (littered, actually) along the path to a more peaceful area. It was a good half an hour before he found a small coffee shop. It looked more like a rural area than a suburb. There was a variety store to his right and a bookstore to his left. A large board announced the existence of 'la Heroina Racecourse' just in front of him. Severus could see the stables nearby. He slipped into the shop and took a seat by the large French window and observed the goings-on of the people around him.

Boring slow paced old people, anxious jobless young men and teenagers, far too loud for his tastes made up the brunt of the society here. Not that Severus was interested. He had only come here to visit a nursery that surprisingly enough, had plants that were rarely found in the magical world, much less, muggle London. He had seen the advertisement in the newspapers for interested florists with a fetish for exotic plants. So that was Severus's occupation for the day.

He took out the newspaper clipping that had the address of the place. Severus desperately wanted to find the plants, buy them and be done with it. The spy he was, he did not want to cultivate any unnecessary acquaintances that helped little and poked more. But he couldn't. He wanted to investigate how muggles come in possession of those species and cultivated them without problems. Magical plants rarely cooperated with the best of wizards after all. Of course, it could turn out to be a family of squibs or an undiscovered muggle-born working with them, but Severus did not want to take chances.

He tried to draw the attention of the waiter taking orders two tables away. A waitress noticed this and came to him with a sickly sweet smile and flirty manners.

Oh well!

He quickly gave his orders and went back to window gazing. The waitress came back and handed him his coffee. He tried to casually draw her into a conversation, but this time, she had her attention elsewhere. Severus followed her gaze and discovered a gang of teens talking loudly to another boy, about five feet tall, with messy black hair.

Severus jolted to attention. What was POTTER doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be at his aunt's house, under constant surveillance, writing love letters to his dogfather? Had he escaped from there? Why wasn't the Order searching for him then? Or were they? Why didn't Dumbledore inform him then? Severus started to rise from his place. He wanted to grab the boy by his neck. Anger and irritation filled him. On one side, he was risking his life to save the boy, and here was the brat…utterly disregarding his safety, gallivanting about in London!

He stopped abruptly as the boy turned around.

Not Potter.

Thank Merlin, it was just a spooky coincidence. While they had the same build and hair, this boy had red highlights in his hair, and his eyes were brown. He did not have spectacles or the baby fat around his face. He did not have a scar on his head. And moreover, he had a careless smile that was a world away from the haunted boy of his school. Severus bowed down guiltily. How quick he was to judge! He had resolved to help the child, and here he was..suspecting him of running away!

He gazed back at the boy to divert his thoughts.

"Come on Leo! Why don't you give it a rest? We're playing Clash Of Clans at Judy's. Join us, it'll be fun!" A very muscular boy with tattoos on his hands entreated.

"Dave! I am at work! You can't skive off work like you skip classes at school. The guy is paying me! Forgive me but I'd rather not lose my job." The Potter lookalike replied. Of course! Severus thought. Every teenager's dream was to bunk class and roam around as if they owned the school.

"Hah-bloody-ha! It's not like you need the money, do you? It's just a stupid summer job. Why do you want to work in this heat and sweat like a buffoon?" Another guy commented pompously.

"Shut the hell up Richie! Nobody asked you. And who are you calling a buffoon? I am doing something useful and adventurous, unlike you living like a princess in a pink castle!"

"I'll show you princess you-"

"Oy! We're not here to fight. I don't know about you guys but I rather prefer meeting my ol' man at home rather than at the police station." This is the only sensible one in the gang, Severus thought wryly. Teenagers!

"Thanks, Jo! Now let me go before the owner comes and boots me off his stables." He began walking towards the horses.

"But Leo, what is so bloody adventurous about horses? It's plain boring! How can you refuse a game of Clash of Clans?" This short boy was speaking as if it was ridiculous to prefer work over a bloody video game, Severus thought.

The Potter lookalike turned to the short boy in amazement. "What did you just say, Sean? Horses are boring! Well, I'll be damned! You guys will be sitting in your comfy sofas playing a video game imagining armies and battles and cavalry on a stupid screen! While I will be mounting my brave stallion and save my damsel in distress like a brave soldier of the Queen. I will brag about my conquests and wars and trysts with monsters, with only my horse for company as I glide through the forests to fight my battles, while all you will be doing is get fat on the potato chips at Judy's. I will earn my knighthood before I am seventeen and wield a sword made of silver, while all you will get is a sore bottom and damaged nervous system." The Leo boy was standing straight and alert as if already on duty as the Kings guard, while his companions listened in awe and wonderment.

Severus had to hand it to the boy. How quickly had he manipulated his peers! Instead of grousing about the mean old owner who made his staff work in afternoons, he had actually managed to make them feel envious of his work! It wouldn't be long before every kid in the neighborhood joined for a summer job at the stables, he thought chuckling. Pity this one was a muggle. He'd have made a perfect Slytherin! He made it look like you'd be a knight just by learning how to ride a horse! And the stories the boy told…nobody even did that now! And yet…all those adolescents wanted to ride a bloody horse, just because the other boy said it was cool! Merlin! Was I ever this naïve? Severus wondered.

"Do you know how to ride a horse, Evan?" The Popeye of the gang asked.

"Oh yes, I do! You pick up things when you're lookin' at riders from all over the place getting onto the horses like bloody musketeers and doing aerobics and belly dance on them." The boy said chuckling.

"Would you- er- I mean-" The Popeye boy was stumbling on his words as if embarrassed to say it.

"Just ask Dave. I'm not gonna make fun of you, we're friends!" The muggle Slytherin, for that was the name Severus had decided to give him, said to his friend.

"Alright! I wanna learn how to ride a horse. And I wanna show it to Emily. So you've gotta teach me." The boy shrugged. Ah! Anything to get their crush's attention, boys! Severus thought.

"Dave, I'd have taught ya in a jiffy if I had the time. Y'see I need to…"

He was cut off as the others joined the Popeye. "Leo, mate you've gotta show us how!"

"C'mon buddy! Just one lesson, and we won't bother you or interrupt you later."

"Aww..Evan, now I don' like beggin' please…"

"Okay! Okay! Comrades! I'll be teaching you! Stop pestering me and follow. And keep it low…we don't want the owner knowing."

"Sure, boyo!"

The gang made their way to the stables as Severus discreetly finished his coffee and paid for it. He went to the bookstore and picked up a book from the rack nearest to the door. He casually carried it forward as if looking for more light and strategically positioned himself at the spot from where he could have uninterrupted vision.

Severus did not know what mood struck him, but he oddly wanted to see where this show went to. He temporarily forgot all about the nursery and plants and Order work. Strange! But this muggle Slytherin had entranced him more than anything else.

The troop made their way to the stables.

"Righto! Lads, now the first thing you need'ta know about your beautiful way to success is your horse. There are the stables, in there are the horses, as you can see. Go to each one of them and look at those beauties. Let your horse choose you, rather than the other way round." He said this and promptly went to pet a brown-maned charger with milk white markings on his face.

The rest of them trooped around the stables and after a few minutes of inspection, selection (by the horses, that is) and haggling for trading places, each one managed to find a horse except for Richie. The golden haired boy stood awkwardly before them as the others were looking admiringly at their chosen.

"Uh, they didn't choose me." He explained the obvious waving his hand towards the stables.

"Well, so it's obvious, they don't want you here. Go back to your palace princess." One of the others sneered.

"Phil! There's no need to be so rude." Muggle Slytherin said huffily and turned to Goldilocks. With a martyred sigh, he ran his fingers through the horse's hair and stepped away. "You can take my charger for today. She'll like you, don't worry."

"Oh thank you, Leo! You're a great friend."

"Right now, don't thank me yet, Phil, there's lot to do. The first thing that a rider must understand in horsemanship is their horse. It's all fine and well to have a horse of your liking. But you need to understand your horse, know her like a friend, bond with your horse because once you mount and take off, she will be your only companion."

"And to understand your horse, the most preferred method is contact."

"Leo, surely you don't mean…" One of them started skeptically.

"Get your brain off the gutter you bloody idiot. Ewww…I only meant to groom your horse!" The others shuddered and some laughed uproariously.

"Oh right! I was just asking man, that is I know you can't…"

The others started laughing again but the flustered boy plowed on industriously.

"I mean it's not anatomically possible…but I was just imagining…"

Popeye fell to the ground and was clutching hard at his stomach. "Anatomically possible…"

"Try and experiment once and then you'll know if it is…" More banging followed by uncontrollable laughter. Severus himself couldn't keep a straight face and gave way to a smile. He wasn't in his evil bat of dungeons persona anyway, so why bother hiding?

"Alright! That's enough! You want to ride or keep laughing?" Muggle Slytherin asked.

"Right okay! No more jokes." They conceded.

Over the next half an hour the boy sat on a nearby rock and guided his friends through the grooming of a horse.

He got some brushes and combs and set them before the others. "Now first you need to tie up the horse…slowly now, don't frighten her…"

And then he lead them through currying, then pushing and picking through the tail and combing the hair.

"Don't put too much pressure she'll hurt. Dave, I recommend you brush her hair using the soft one…she doesn't like the hard ones."

When one of them made a mistake, the boy visibly tensed up and made a move towards them and then, with supreme effort he'd hold himself back and say "Right! This is only your first time…It's okay, I won't take away the experience from you." And he sat back dejectedly. This made his friends all the more eager to do the grooming and looked at him thankfully. But Severus was the Head of Slytherin. He could see straight through the act. The boy was only doing this to keep his friends under the illusion of doing an enviable job, while he sat contently watching their hard work.

"And now, we're ready to put the saddle on and fly through England," he said with a flourish. He helped the people onto their seats and let them get comfortable on their own. As they followed his instructions of walking their horses, the boy went into the storeroom once more and brought out an instant camera. He then instructed them to gently nudge their horses into trotting. It was clear to Severus that they were hanging onto the horse for dear life as it started trotting faster. Maybe that was a close imitation of what they looked when they were being exceptionally brave, for the Muggle Slytherin took snaps of each of them separately. Finally, at the end of an hour, the boys stopped and got down. They were scared witless but were putting on a casual face, and failing miserably.

"How did I do, Evan?"

"Oh, Dave! That was fantastic for a first timer, and without any proper coaching too! I almost couldn't see you guys when you started going faster! You were one with the air! Awesome! You people are fantastic students!"The boy clapped merrily.

The others colored. "Well, you were a good teacher! We would've gone to Judy's and gotten fat if you weren't here! So it's all thanks to you."

The boy made to protest against the undeserved compliments when the others joined in loud proclamations of his skill at teaching Finally, he just smiled genially and let it go.

"Oh! And I almost forgot! I took some snaps of you while you were riding! How brave you looked! Show it to your Emily and Jane and others and you can come back to me if they are not impressed." He challenged showing them the photos.

The boys were delighted. They looked at their pictures and admired themselves. "I'll take it to her now!" Popeye said happily.

"Uh…Dave…I…well I…"

"Say it man! Anything for you!"

"Well, the camera's not mine. It belongs to the owner and he might ask questions about why there is no ink and acid anymore in his…"

"Oh! Okay! No worries man, I'll pay for this picture to you. We all will. Won't we? And then you can go and buy the dyes and all and replace it before he comes." The boy replied.

Everyone complied and gave their pounds to the boy. After some more chatting, all the other boys went away bragging about their horsemanship to anyone who would listen.

Severus closed the book and picked up another one as he saw the owner coming towards him. He needn't have worried, though. The man called for the Leo boy and turned to him with an amused expression on his face. "Why I never! I never thought I'd see the day when Peterson's kid would work willingly! This boy is a pure pro!"

Severus raised an eyebrow at the man as the boy came towards them. So this boy was the son of some Peterson guy who spoiled his kids with money and this one was different? But the boys had called him Evan, hadn't they? Severus wanted to solve the mystery.

The shop owner made a mock strict face as the said boy appeared and said "Leo Evan! Of all the tomfoolery you could've gotten into…you made the boys from over the hill work? Work?"

So this kid was a mastermind who made rich kids work. Severus was inordinately pleased with his muggle Slytherin.

"Tomfoolery sir? I was just teaching them horsemanship."

"Sure you were, young man! I am not one of those idiot boys. Don't you try to confound me."

"Ay, sir! You wound me! What have I done that garners such a rebuke from you?"

The man opened his mouth to say something when he saw a Spanish man coming towards them in an ancient jeep. "I'll tell you later, now there comes your owner. Go meet him and come here later."

The boy went. The shopkeeper turned to him again and whispered "Now watch how he ensnares Alfredo Lopez!" as if he hadn't been doing that already. Severus, however, bemoaned the rusting of his skills. If a half blind old man could see he was spying, then…

"Good evening ".

"Ah! Hola! Leo. cómo estás?" "I am fine sir. I've completed my task for the day."

"Caray! That was fast! How did you do it?"

"Oh! I just believe in hard work, sir!"

"Hard work, my ass! You're just very smart boy!" The bookshop owner commented to himself as Severus listened to his muggle Slytherin putting on a show. "Good! Very Good! I'll give you a bonus today." And he gave the boy forty bucks with a smile.

"Thank you, sir! That is very kind of you!"

"No no… Good workers like you are hard to come by! Only London has such respectful boys! Very good Leo! You can go home now. I imagine your grandma will be waiting."

"Thank you again, sir!"And the boy went away whistling a happy tune. Severus had by now forgotten all about the nursery with exotic plants. He followed the boy covertly, taking care the bookshop owner did not notice. The boy went into the variety store and came back five minutes later with bread, cereal, and other provisions. He stopped by the coffee shop where the waitress was still looking at Leo.

"Hello there, Caire!" "Leo! How could you do that!"

"Do what Caire? Make money?"

"No! You tricked them. You did not do a single work, and got all those rich boys into working for you freely and then took the money yourself! And you even got the boys pay for the photos you took and we both know Mr. Lopez doesn't mind!" she said reprovingly.

"Oh, Caire! Please! They called me a buffoon! I couldn't very well start a fist fight with them now, could I? SO I got my revenge in a much more subtle way, and making money was just a bonus, really!" He smiled and gave her a rose, which he produced from his inner pocket. "This is for you, my lovely lady!" The woman got flustered and her cheeks went pink.

"Thanks, Leo! You're such a charmer! Do the girls at your school notice anyone besides you?" she asked.

"Oh don't flatter me, missy! I am no Mr. Handsome. And I don't even have a girlfriend!"

"Wait a little, mister! You're just fourteen! Let me see you saying the same thing next summer and then I'll listen. And speaking of girlfriends, you challenged them that their girlfriends would swoon at the photo. What would you do if they don't?" She asked worriedly as if already thinking of how to mend his bones.

"Claire! Come on! You are supposed to be the smart one! Emily wouldn't be his girlfriend if she hadn't already been impressed with him! It will just boost his ego a little, that's all."

"But, the others don't have girlfriends. What if they show it to their crushes and get rejected?"

"Pity then. They'll have to take more lessons from me." And both of them chuckled.

"I never thought I'd see the day when Richie Peterson would be covered in mud and horse hair, and yet be proud of it! You're very smart mister!"

"Thanks, my lady! And now, I have to go. Gran will be waiting."

"Oh okay! Go on…I'll see you tomorrow handsome!"

Severus followed as the boy skipped his way to a run-down house at the end of three lanes from the village center and got into the house.

"Gran! Oh, Gran! Look what I brought for you!" Severus stood behind a tree and watched as an old lady, pale beyond comparison came out of the house with a welcoming smile.

"Ah, there's my charmer!" The boy took out a bouquet of red roses and deposited it into her hands with a flourish. She took them close to her chest and smelled at them. Slowly, she put it aside on a work bench and engulfed the boy in a hug. "Oh, Leo! Thank you so much son!"

"Do you like them?" the boy asked with a brilliant smile.

"I love them, child. You are so sweet. You remind me of…"she trailed off with a sigh and a lone tear escaped her eyes. The boy gently wiped it away. Severus had to turn away as he saw them hugging. He remembered his mother.

"It's okay Gran! It's okay!" he said kindly. She kissed him on his cheek and accepted the embrace. When they parted, she messed his head lovingly and kissed again.

"Eww..Gran, don't keep kissing me all the time!" Severus smiled at the words. That was what he used to say all the time to his mother as she fussed over him whenever he did something nice for her. His mother too had loved roses. What he would not give to be in her embrace once more!

"Of course, you'd say that young man! Why would you like an old lady when you have girls falling over themselves to have a look at you? You'll certainly forget about your Gran by next year when you have a girlfriend."She teased the embarrassed boy.

"No. I don't want any girls falling at me. They're so…"He twisted his lips disgustedly.

"Let's see if you say the same next year. You'll be bringing me a granddaughter, and say you've gotten engaged." The boy shuddered in horror.

"Engaged? Gran…Stop it, please. I'll be glad to come back alive from school. I don't want any more adventure than what seems to be my lot there." The old lady began laughing merrily. The boy brought her a chair from within and she dropped into it, exhausted.

"You have done all the chores again, haven't you? Why couldn't you have waited? I'd have helped you. See, how cold your feet are! And look, you've got cut again. Did your knife slip while making dinner?" He asked her fiercely. "I'll bring a Band-Aid." She smiled lovingly at him.

"It's alright Leo! I have been cooking for more time than your years. It's just a small cut." The boy paid no heed to her and began cleaning the wound. She gently passed her hand through his hair as he started massaging her feet.

Severus could see her face beyond her peppered hair falling out of the bun. She was pale and ill, no doubt, but there was a certain nobility about her. Her skin was wrinkled, but not too much. Severus would have called her a middle-aged woman if it were not for her eyes. They showed a gravity and hard life that far exceeded her years. And yet, as she watched her grandson tend to her fatigued body, her eyes held nothing but deep love and gratitude…and strangely enough, sadness. What had befallen this poor lady that caused her to be so intensely sorrowful?

Suddenly she looked towards where he was standing. Severus withdrew immediately behind. "Who is there?" she called. Her grandson must have looked his way.

"There is no one Gran!"

"No Leo, I saw someone."

"No Gran. There's no one." Severus began walking away.

"Leo, I say…"

"Okay let me go check. Though why would anyone hide…"he was muttering as he came towards Severus. Severus wanted to get away as soon as possible. He walked faster and deeper into the trees and making sure no one saw him, apparated to the Leaky Caldron. The last thing he heard was

"It almost looked like…." From the old lady. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~arya~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~305~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn't until Severus sat down at the inn that he remembered about the potions ingredients.

"Damn!"

He ordered a single drink and sipped at it reviewing the day. It was almost twilight time. Lights were being switched on in Muggle London. Well anyway, it was almost time for his second self-appointed task for the day. He paid for the drink and got out again. Sighing, he apparated to Surrey.

As he reached the edges of the wards surrounding Number Four, Privet Drive, he could see all the lights of the house on…twinkling merrily against the dark.

Except for a single room, that had bars on the window.

Severus knew the wards would blast him to pieces if he dared to go further. The Dark Mark would make sure to send him to the Dark Lord. Severus circled the house, discreetly and saw a white owl looking forlornly inside the room.

The room with bars on its window.

There was a single table lamp that was switched on. And Severus could see the shadow of a boy falling onto the branches of the tree sitting near it. Severus went back to Spinners End. There was work to do.

And yet the shadow of the boy and the voice of the old lady haunted him even in his dreams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~tbc~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Who is Leo? Who is the old lady? What is the work Severus has to do?
Review please…I'd love feedback.