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It was late Saturday night and Severus Snape was roaming through the halls of Hogwarts. Against all odds there were no students wandering around. Severus would have preferred finding students out of their dormitories – just so he could stop ruminating for a second and have something else on his mind for once. The things he learned about Harry, memories of Lily, the visions of the Dark Lord, the Dark Lord himself and Draco were constantly on his mind and a headache was starting to form inside his head.

He needed to do something. But what could he do?

Draco was on his mind because he might really tell Lucius about his treatment of him and Harry. If he did indeed, he would be lucky if Lucius only came to talk to Severus about this. He would be less lucky if his old friend decided to talk to the Dark Lord about it.

The Dark Lord would eventually learn about the connection. He was a powerful and skilled wizard and by no means stupid. He would figure it out by the end of term and maybe even use it to lure the boy into the Ministry and into a trap. Which was a problem.

An at least for Severus equally troubling problem would arise, if the boy didn't fall for the trap and used Occlumency to keep the Dark Lord out. There was only one person at Hogwarts who could teach the boy this mind magic and the Dark Lord would be more than just unpleased if he found out about it. He might realize that he was keeping things from him and it would mean his demise.

He couldn't possibly talk to Dumbledore about this. This he was sure of.

But he needed to tell someone, anyone. However there weren't too many people he could talk to. The Death Eaters were out of question and so was Harry. Minerva was a possibility. She was the closest to a friend Severus had in his life. But she was too loyal, too trusting, of Dumbledore and would probably not keep this from him.

The Order members were another possibility but they did not trust him. Or did they? Lupin was a skilled member of the Order and cared deeply for Harry's wellbeing. And he had made amends last time they talked.

He didn't feel confident to trust and talk to the wolf again but he decided to contact him Sunday morning anyway as he was painfully aware of his lack of alternatives.

By the time he made it back to his quarters it was nearly midnight. With a plan forming in his mind he fell asleep quickly.

The next morning he woke up early and wanted to set his plan into motion but he wasn't sure how to contact Lupin. The wolf had been lucky Umbridge hadn't caught him when he had come to talk to him. The floo was being watched and owling wasn't safe either. Dumbledore could apparate within Hogwarts so he had had no problem coming and going without anyone noticing. Snape could leave the wards of Hogwarts and apparate to Grimmauld Place from there but he wasn't sure how he could get around Black. A patronus was another possibility but Lupin would most certainly recognize his to be the same Lily had. And he didn't look forward to explaining this little detail to the werewolf.

He spent the whole morning thinking about this until he decided to take an unusual approach and call for Kreacher. He knew the house elf wasn't too fond of Black, very loyal to the Dark Lord and the Black sisters Narcissa and Bellatrix, and would without a question help one of their fellow Death Eaters. Also the unique magic of house elves would make it possible for him to apparate to, within and from Hogwarts.

He called for him and gave him a letter that he was supposed to deliver to Lupin. The house elf happily complied, which might have been partly due to Severus indicating this was part of the Dark Lord's plan and would make the Black sisters rather happy.

In the letter he had asked Lupin to meet him in a muggle café close to Grimmauld Place. Hogwarts and even Hogsmeade just weren't safe enough at the moment.

One hour later, Snape had made it to the café and was waiting for Lupin. He was wearing muggle clothes to not draw any attention but there were hardly any people around.

He wasn't sure if the wolf would come. A letter written by Snape and delivered by Kreacher? That wasn't too trust evoking he had to admit.

But ten minutes later the wolf joined him, also wearing muggle attire.

"Severus," he greeted him friendly.

Severus nodded. "Lupin."

They sat down and ordered some coffee. Snape gave him a vial of Wolfsbane potion.

Remus took it thankfully. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about? I'm sure you didn't just order me here to give me this," Lupin began.

Actually Severus had brought the potion in case Remus wouldn't be willing to listen to him.

Now that they were actually having this conversation, however, Severus wasn't too convinced this was a good idea anymore. Telling the other that he was going behind Dumbledore's back would certainly not do him any good. Remus adored that man. Maybe Severus could communicate his proposal omitting his current uncertainty towards the old coot.

"Several things, actually," he started none the less, "mostly about Harry."

If Remus Lupin noticed his sudden use of Harry's first name he didn't show it. But he was listening intently.

Severus decided to address the more pressing matter first. "Harry has made immense progress with his Occlumency."

Remus nodded approvingly. "I knew he could do it. And thank you again for continuing to teach him."

Severus chose to ignore the interruption.

"His dreams have become less frequent. But when the connection does overpower his skills, which has happened a few times already, I fear it is worse than it was before. He is feeling what the Dark Lord is feeling and attacked a student because he suddenly became immensely angry-"

"Poor boy, how is he?" Remus interrupted him again.

Snape looked at him but didn't answer at first. "Naturally, he got detention." Remus sighed but didn't say anything. "And he worries about… turning evil."

"Maybe you should tell Sirius about this. He is his godfather after all," Remus said after a while.

Snape huffed.

"… or I talk to him," Remus added quickly trying not to upset the man in front of him.

"Do you know why he is angry?" Remus inquired then. He had other questions on his mind too but didn't voice them.

Snape glanced at him with an annoyed expression on his face.

"You and the Order know very well that he is after the prophecy. He ordered Lucius Malfoy to get it. I don't know all the details but obviously he is not making much progress."

Remus nodded and sipped at his coffee.

"I am worried that the Dark Lord will soon discover the connection and use it to lure Harry into the Ministry."

Lupin's face darkened. "This is indeed very worrisome. But why are you confiding in me and not Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore's influence at the moment is limited. He is not at the school anymore and the Ministry is looking for him. He told me to keep teaching Harry Occlumency but otherwise I am supposed to distance myself from the boy."

Remus nodded in understanding.

"Sooner or later Harry will have a vision and we both know that he will act on it." And even if he didn't his position as a spy would be revealed and his days counted. But he left that unsaid. "We need a plan."

Lupin went over all of this information in his head. There was no way Harry could keep Voldemort out of his head once the dark wizard realized the connection. He might have made a lot of progress but Voldemort could be very manipulative and he was one of the best Legilimens on the planet and teaching Harry wouldn't be enough to stop him. And he knew that the boy had a tendency to get himself into trouble.

Snape was right, he concluded. They needed a plan. One that kept Harry and Severus alive.

"What kind of plan were you thinking of?" he asked after awhile.

In the last couple of days Severus had thought of various scenarios but had come to the conclusion that involving the Aurors would be their best bet.

"I reckon it would be best if we wait until the Dark Lord notices this connection on his own and tries to use it against us."

Lupin raised an eyebrow at that.

"When Harry has a vision that might lead him there under false circumstances, we will send the Aurors there instead. One of them might use polyjuice potion in order to look like Harry. The Death Eaters won't notice. The Dark Lord will never find out. Harry will be safe and my position as a spy uncompromised," He finished his line of thinking.

Remus contemplated this. Then he nodded. "Death Eaters attacking Harry and the ministry might even be enough to convince Fudge that he is back. This is a brilliant plan Severus. I will tell the Order about it."

"They cannot know that this comes from me. Tell them it was your plan."

A few questions formed in Remus' head at that but he decided to not press the matter. He was sure the man in front of him had his reasons. "Okay. I will not mention your name."

Severus nodded.

"Is there anything else?"

Severus pondered if he should mention Harry's home life situation too. But he wasn't sure if it was the right time. If everything went according to plan, the Ministry would know about the Dark Lord by the end of the school year and Sirius would be given a trial. Then Harry could spend his summer with him and he didn't have to talk about it. He wasn't sure if he could explain why he suddenly wanted the boy to stay with his hated childhood tormentor.

Also he didn't want to talk badly about the headmaster anymore than he absolutely had to. He was sure the man had his reasons for leaving Harry at Petunia's… right? Maybe he didn't know how the boy was treated there.

"No, nothing else." He stood up and put some muggle money on the table, enough to pay for him and the unemployed wizard.

"Thank you Severus. For everything. If there is anything else, do not hesitate to contact me again."

Snape looked skeptical but nodded. He then left the café and made his way back to Hogwarts.

He was satisfied. If their plan worked, and he was sure that it would, Harry would be safe, Fudge would admit that the Dark Lord had indeed returned, and neither Dumbledore nor the Dark Lord would know of his involvement. It was perfect. They might even sack Umbridge, and what more could he ask for?

The End

AN: I am sorry to inform you that this is it. I never had any plan for more than a one-shot. Everything after the first chapter were just stray ideas that I had. And I have written all of those down now. If you would like to adopt this story, you are more than welcome to do so (a PM would be nice, though). If you want to tell me that you hate me for not continuing this, or if you want to tell me that you enjoyed the few chapters that I have written, let me know with a review. Have a wonderful day.

Mikill