"I hate it when you make me work with that small minded misogynist ass hat." Simon Pickens sits down in front of the desk opposite the Minister of Magic.
Kingsley Shacklebolt laughs his low melodic laugh. "Tell me it didn't work, though."
"It always works. They never pay any attention to me."
"Did you really fall out of your chair when Snape said 'Voldemort?'" Kingsley asks.
"Yes, I did. It was fucking hilarious."
"So, tell me. What do we know?"
"I pretty sure Snape survived a death curse."
The Minister of Magic visibly rocks back in his chair at this. "Are you sure?"
"Reasonably, yes."
"That brilliant bastard," the Minister says, more to himself than to his spy.
"I know right?" says the spy. "So what do you want to do?"
"Now? Nothing. Anything else to report?"
"Yes, well, kind of." Simon puts his fingers to the bridge of his nose of a moment, thinking, then. "They're hiding something else."
"Who, McGonagall and Snape?"
"No. Snape and the girl. Hermione Granger. I can't for the life of me figure out what it is. But it's something. Do you want me to find out?"
"Nah," says Kingsley to his old friend. "Let them be. Everyone has secrets. I just glad Hermione Granger is alive and we managed to keep the breakout quiet. It's a fucking miracle."
Simon nods, and disappears. Kingsley is left thinking long and hard about Severus Snape.