The Snakes in the Grass

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 27 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Snakes in the Grass

~S~

The fire grew bigger, engulfing the house in flames, spreading to the neighbors' houses on either side. His friends raised their brandy glasses, toasting the sight of the Dark Mark as the snake undulated from the mouth of the huge skull above the flames. The head of the snake slithered through the flickers of orange and yellow flames mixed with grey and black smoke. Severus' arm burned from the searing heat of the fire, but he ignored it.

"Oh, Severus," she moaned, shifting her leg and pressing her groin to his... The heat of the fire was making his Dark Mark burn, and he inhaled sharply, trying to jerk his arm free...

He bent his arm at the elbow, and his finger brushed a mass of something warm and soft. The morning sun was shining through gaps in the curtains, the shaft of light cutting across the bed in an angle that almost touched his face. He realized that he'd left the bed hangings open, and the light would soon be in his eyes. He could feel the sun's heat and the oppressive weight of something holding him down. Groggy and still only half awake, he tried to roll away from it, but the arm across his body tightened as the leg from his dream slid along the inside of his thigh. His first thought was of Annabelle Nott, who used to sneak into his bed because she knew that her father would murder them both if he found them.

He tried to roll over onto his side and became aware that the girl in his arms was real, not a figment of his dream-muddled mind. He bent his elbow to reach up and touched... hair. Long, yes, but curly, soft hair – not the long, straight hair of Annabelle, but a mass of curls that didn't belong to her...

She moaned, her head rolling on his chest as she sighed, "That's nice," and then snuggled back against him.

He was now fully awake. The searing heat on his left forearm had only been from the sunshine. He was on his back with his arm outstretched and Hermione snuggled up to him, her foot sliding down his leg and her arm snug, as if she were hugging him in her sleep, her face nestled on his chest and her hair tickling his nose. He was so stiff, his penis throbbed. He lifted his head so he could look at her face, so serene and innocent in slumber... and so young. There was a thin scar on her cheek and worry lines by her eyes. Lines someone so young shouldn't have. His mind took note that their bodies were mostly on his side of the bed, which meant that she had rolled over to him. He smiled, reasoning out that if she was turning to him in her sleep that meant that deep down she did, in fact, have feelings for him.

She mumbled something, barely audible and turned her face into his shoulder as if to bury her head. "No, Severus..." he made out, then a soft mewing and, "please, don't leave," followed by another incoherent murmur, then, "Go. Go now. Don't want..."

She was dreaming, just as he had been. He wondered what haunted her dreams. His penis twitched again, needing her moist warmth, and nature called him, the urge – both urges – warring in importance. He knew that he had to get up. He contemplated waking her, but his mind rejected the idea, since he didn't know how she'd react to him. Her refusal for intimacy of late bothered him, but she'd been adamant that she wasn't ready. He had no idea why she wasn't ready, considering their association had been little else than sexual from the start. But something in the back of his mind kept telling him to have patience, that tiny voice that sometimes defied logical reason but had saved his life countless times in the past. So he chose to listen to it, more out of instinct than understanding.

He watched her for a few minutes, fixing the image of her in his arms, sleeping against him as if a lover. My wife. This could happen every morning if I want it. If I don't blow it.

Using the Levitation Charm, he slid out from under her and stuffed his pillow in his place as he lowered her back down. The clock told him it was after eight. He had a staff meeting at ten.

He decided to let her sleep. He watched her for a few more minutes as she held his pillow. She had a slight crease between her brows as if something bothered her. He sighed and went to the bathroom to relieve himself, wank off, and freshen up. Hermione had rolled over in his absence, still clutching his pillow in her arms.

He was frying eggs and making toast when she padded into the kitchen in the dress she'd worn last night. "Morning," she said, walking over to lean on the counter beside him.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, more for something to say than anything. She still had that sleepy softness to her, and she'd fixed her hair back into a loose braid.

"Yes, thank you," she said as she stretched.

He turned his attention to the task at hand. "Sunny side up, easy over, or scrambled?" he asked, indicating the eggs.

"Sunny is fine," she replied.

He slid her eggs onto a plate, adding two slices of toast. "Butter is in the crock on the table," he said as he handed the plate to her. He cracked two more eggs into the skillet. "I have a staff meeting today. Would you like to come? You can spend the time in the library, and then we can go shopping for..." He paused. She'd told him that she had her school supplies already. "There is a used bookshop I like."

"I have to work today," she said, but he could detect a hint of remorse in her voice that was at least promising.

"You could Floo to my office at noon. We could have lunch together," he suggested, Levitating the teapot to the table. Hermione reached out and took it, setting it down carefully. He flipped his eggs over since he hated runny eggs.

"I have an appointment in London," she said, and he hung his head. "It's with a dentist. I always get my teeth cleaned every six... I'm sorry. How about if I come around after work?"

He dumped his eggs on his toast and turned around. "I have no idea where I'll be this afternoon," he said as he carried his plate to the table. They ate breakfast together, having short snippets of conversation between bites. "I'll be very busy for the rest of the week. School starts on Monday. I'll have to pack up my things and move to the Headmaster's suite in the Headmaster's tower either today or tomorrow. Hermione, I want you to stay with me."

"But Ginny and I will share a room!" she blurted out.

He sighed heavily and looked at his plate.

"I didn't know that students could live with their professors."

He picked up his cup and cradled it in his hands. "You can if you wanted to. You are an adult and not required to return even though you chose to take your N.E.W.T.s. There are bylaws that permit a student married to a professor to cohabitate in the professor's quarters as long as that student is not in the professor's class. Had I still been teaching, you would have had an interim professor brought in to teach your lessons. But that's not the case with us. I cannot force you to, but I want you to." He took a sip and waited for her response.

She ate several more bites as she contemplated what he'd said. Severus could almost see her mulling it over. "At least come to my sitting room in the evenings and weekends," he suggested, knowing that would be a start.

"I can do that," she agreed. "I wanted to thank you."

He was taken aback, but controlled the urge to react. "For?" he asked softly.

"Last night," she replied, tearing her toast in two.

He was watching her as she broke her yoke open with her toast, making the yoke run. "You're welcome. I won't let anyone hurt you if I can –"

"Well, yes, that. I never did thank you for saving my life. Either time, and I certainly never thanked you for all the times you did so when I was a student." She looked up at him earnestly. "But I was referring to last night. I really appreciate what you did."

He was racking his brains trying to figure out what in the world she was talking about.

She stared at the cup in his hands. "The way you held me last night without pushing me into anything. It was like real intimacy – the fact that you only held me." Her gaze dropped to her plate. "I'm sorry that I ever thought that you'd... I really liked it, and I wanted to say thank you."

He was gobsmacked.

"When I woke from a bad dream, you held me. I just... thank you." She picked up her teacup and sipped the steaming hot beverage carefully.

He didn't remember her waking up or his holding her. But apparently he had. He'd had a raging case of blue-balls that morning, but he realized that last night was what she'd needed – to be simply held. Well, I'll certainly do that again if that's what it takes to get her in my bed. "You're welcome. Hermione, I don't want you wandering around alone anymore." Her head snapped up, and she opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. "You've been attacked twice now. I think they were after me the night before, but last night, that was Antonin Dolohov's cousin, Dragen Dolohov. I think I cut him, but I'm not sure. The thing is, you're not safe walking around alone. It doesn't matter where you are, you have to be vigilant, and I want you escorted, by two Aurors if necessary, until these Dark wizards are caught."

"Why are they singling me out?" she asked, sipping on her tea.

He noticed a slight shake to her hands. It dawned on him that the attacks bothered her more than she was letting on. "You aren't the only one. Potter is in Auror training, and his mentor goes with him whenever they leave the Ministry. Same as Mr. Weasley. I believe they use the Floo go to the Ministry and home, which cuts down on the opportunity for attacks. Even Mr. Longbottom, Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood, and Mr. Finnigan are being watched. But for some reason, Dolohov has a personal grudge against you. He's dangerous – I should know. He was one of the Dark Lord's thugs, a devout follower, and is a brutal killer. His specialties include a purple spell with a zigzag pattern that causes severe internal injury, a lime-green slashing spell that slices internally, and a red spell that solidifies the victim's blood. All of them are nonverbal, deadly, and irreversible. His cousin, Dragen, uses these spells, too."

Hermione's eyes went wide as she recalled the color of the spell that nearly broke through the shield.

"Exactly," he said, tucking back into his food. "Eat up. I have to go."

~H~

When Hermione arrived at George's shop, she was visibly shaken. Severus had escorted her home to change clothes and then had taken her by Side-Along Apparation to Diagon Alley. He had greeted each Auror they passed by name, which had made her stomach turn as if filled with pixies. Even Gringotts had two Aurors standing guard by the doors, next to two goblins in fighting armor.

"Remember what I told you. Someone will come by to take you home. Make sure you check their identity," he said, holding her face in his hands. He kissed her tenderly and then walked away.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Verity asked as Hermione stood staring out the door, watching the two Aurors camped out at the café across the street.

"I'm fine," she said, hugging herself. She nodded and walked through the shop to the backroom, avoiding talking to anyone.

"Hermione, Verity said you're upset. What's wrong?" George asked, entering the backroom right after her.

Hermione turned and hugged him, unable to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. "I-I want to connect Harry's Floo with yours," she said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"That's not a problem. I'll have it done today," he said, stroking her back in a brotherly way. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I k-killed someone. Dolohov's cousin is going to kill me. Severus saved me. I-I'd be dead," she stammered between sobs. "The war is over for everyone but me! Everyone gets a normal life – except me."

"Hush, it's not just you," he said, handing her a handkerchief. "Ginny, Ron, and me – we have restrictions too. Well, mine aren't as restrictive, but I'm watched, in case you haven't noticed. There are men staying at the Burrow to watch my family and here in the street. The Aurors and Order members are spread out all over the place, trying to protect the public. Every effort is being made to round up the last of the Death Eaters, but they are in hiding and good at covering their tracks. I have to do a Ministry check before we sell any defensive items, did you know that? I have to send in a copy of the receipt on everything I sell that can be used to evade capture."

Hermione looked up in shock.

"Why do you think Ron is here instead of in Auror training? Most of the new recruits spend time guarding public places likely to be attacked. Even Bob isn't merely a shop assistant – he's an Auror rookie."

Hermione backed up to lean against the worktable. "So it's everyone I know."

George laughed. "You happen to have made friends with people who stood up against Voldemort and his followers, so yes, everyone you know. We Weasleys are targets, Harry, anyone who was in the DA are all being watched and followed. Most of the surviving Order members are assisting the Aurors or taking guard duties. Diggle and Dodge are official Auror support here in Diagon Alley. And now, after your attack, things are getting even tighter. Blimey, what were you thinking walking the street after you and Snape were attacked? Cor, girl, you got a death wish I don't know about?"

"No," she said, glaring up at him. "It's a nice neighborhood. I thought it was safe enough."

George crossed his arms. "It isn't. Boy, did I get an earful from Mum. She sent me, Harry, Kingsley, and even Ron Howlers telling us to keep a better eye on you or she'd throttle us. She had one with Snape's name on it, but Persistence, her new owl, couldn't find him."

She lowered her head, feeling abashed.

"I'm really sorry about the guy you killed. I heard about it from Harry and Ron, of course. But I know you. You didn't use the Killing Curse or any curse that causes severe injuries. It was a Blasting Hex, wasn't it?"

She nodded. "Reductor. Ginny and I got really good at it... fighting. I usually use a Stunner... but I was aiming at the wall where the spell came from. I thought it would make the guy jump back and give Severus and I time to escape."

"And it did. From what I heard, you and Severus were in a tight fix," he said, putting his hand under her chin to make her look up at him. "You did what you had to. It's hard living with everything we have – you, me, everyone we love and care about, are still having to deal with the aftermath of this war while everyone else seems to be settling back into a normal life. It's not fair, but we have to make the best of it, stick together, and keep strong. Constant Vigilance!"

Hermione laughed at his imitation of Moody.

"See, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if you're only willing to laugh," George said, dropping his hand. "I think I'll make that a poster for the window. You going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she said, making one last swipe of her eyes. "I think I'd like to check the stock board to see what you're low on."

"Skiving Snackboxes."

"Oh, goody," she said, rolling her eyes. They were not her favorite things to make.

"That's my girl!" he said, turning to leave.

~S~

Everyone settled down for the meeting in the Great Hall so Firenze could attend. Tigran Avoian, the new History of Magic professor, stared at Sybill, aghast at her warning of his impending doom and then waved his hand to brush her off, mumbling in Russian as he walked away, shaking his head. Her next try was John Dawlish, the new DADA professor, as she cautioned him about something disastrous happening to him. He'd scoffed at her and yelled across the room to Professor Avoian about sharing a Firewhiskey in the pub if the crazy bat's predictions came true. After that, Sybill sat sulking in her seat with her arms folded until Severus called the meeting to order.

Severus introduced the new professors as his first order of business. He announced that Reginald Reynolds, the only other Slytherin on the staff, would hold the duties of Head of House for Slytherin. Cuthbert Binns had been incensed at having to share teaching History of Magic and was politely informed that as a ghost he didn't need to continue teaching, but that he'd be allowed to continue teaching the History of the Goblin Wars to the N.E.W.T.-level students if he liked. Each professor, except professor Binns, gave a report regarding their course curriculum and the arrival of his or her supplies. Severus collected copies of each syllabus to present to the Board of Governors at the next meeting.

Hagrid announced that the new animal pens and the new stable were in ship shape. Pomona proudly stated that the greenhouses were in fine condition and that she had restocked all the plants for her lessons and the needs of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey indicated that the hospital wing was fully stocked and ready for the start of the year.

Severus then broached the subject of discipline, assuring the professors that he wanted the approved standard of disciplines used at the school. Filch grumbled about the new restrictions regarding punishments and stated that he'd updated the list of banned and restricted items to include all the new Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes products. Severus informed Filch that the chains and shackles he kept would be disposed of if he didn't lock them away. Filch sulked the rest of the meeting.

Severus thanked Minerva, Filius, Pomona, and Hagrid on the fine job they did protecting the students from the Carrows. He likewise thanked the rest of the staff for making huge allowances in regards to doling out detentions. "All your efforts were noticed and appreciated. By now you all know that I had little choice but to maintain the appearance of adherence to Dark Lord's wishes. But this is a new year, the castle is rebuilt, and hopefully we can all begin anew," he said, and then he handed out his schedule for staff meetings, patrols, and Hogsmeade weekends.

Irma Pince handed him a file of book requisition forms, asking for many newly published tomes to update the library and to replace the books the Carrows had destroyed. He promptly handed the pile over to Minerva. "If it's reasonable, I approve," he said and moved on to new business with a satisfied smirk at Minerva's shocked expression.

The Fat Friar and the Bloody Baron informed the staff that two of the children who'd died in the battle had returned as ghosts and were trying to settle in, one Gryffindor boy and a Ravenclaw girl.

For the most part, Severus thought the meeting went well. It ran well past lunch, but Severus was pleased with how well the staff received him and accepted his authority. This year was definitely shaping up to be a much better year than his first as Headmaster. However, only a year in Hades could have been worse than that one.

Severus finished signing the requisitions in his office after the meeting and checking over the lists of supplies that had yet to arrive. "Everything seems to be in order," he said, setting the papers aside to file and looked up at Minerva who was sitting patiently in front of him. "When do we expect the rest of the potions ingredients? Did Reginald give you the confirmation letter?"

"Yes. We expect the final shipment by Monday," Minerva said, handing him another folder. "I have here the –"

Minerva was interrupted by a loud pop. They both turned to see Pepper bow and Disapparate. "Minerva if you'll give me a moment," Severus said as he rose and hurried up the stairs to his sitting room. "Pepper, where are you?"

Pepper returned, shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, holding four potion bottles in her arms. "Pepper sorry to disturb you, sir, but you says..."

"It's all right, Pepper. Show me the potions," he said, sitting down. She placed the potions on the coffee table and backed up, looking at the bottles as if they'd explode any minute. He uncorked the first and immediately moved it away from his face. "That bitch!"

"Sir?" Pepper asked, freezing in mid-shift.

"This has digitalis and narcissus," he snarled, opening the second to check it and grimacing, not recognizing the potion. "Did Mr. Prince take any of this?"

"OH NO, Sir! I sees Miss Priswell brings them just now, sir, and I takes it aways as soon as her back is turns, sir!" Pepper explained, wringing her hands together. "Pepper had to finds you, sir, but had to guess where you is, sir.

Severus tried to give the elf a reassuring smile. "Will she know they are missing?" he asked, wondering how much time he had to replace the potions.

"Miss Priswell's in the kitchen, sir, reading," Pepper said, shaking her head as if disapproving of the woman's laziness. "She will be reading for a while, sir. Pepper takes care of her master, sir, not Miss Priswell, sir. She only gives him potions and reads."

"Pepper, you did extremely well bringing these to me," Severus said, grabbing the other two bottles and rising to his feet. "I'll be back... No, come with me." He turned heel and entered his office, crossing to the door without breaking stride. Pepper obediently following behind him. "Minerva, I'm terribly sorry, but I must see Madam Pomfrey immediately."

"Is something wrong, Severus?" Minerva asked, turning in her chair as Severus opened his door. She jumped to her feet to follow him. "Is it Hermione?"

Severus took the stairs two at a time. "No, it's a relative." Without bothering to say anything to Pepper, he ran through the castle to the hospital wing, barging into the office and startling the Healer. "Poppy, I must be quick. Do you recognize this Draught?" he asked, handing her the second potion. He opened another, recognizing it as the watery puce-colored potion. The last was the dark sienna-colored pain potion.

Poppy had already dumped the contents of one bottle into a cauldron and was quickly segregating the ingredients. "I'd hardly call this a potion, young man. It's all filaments... Wait. Oleander milk? Narcissus bulb..."

"And digitalis," Severus stated. "I need to take some Pain Potion and Bronchodilator Potion, if I may. I'll, of course, replace it this weekend. I'd also like some of your infamous purple Restorative Sleeping Elixir."

Poppy waved her hand dismissively as she stirred the contents of the cauldron. "This was a Rheumatoid Potion... Why in the Goddess' name..." She looked up and nodded to Minerva. "This was turned into a poison!"

"The Pain Potion would mask the discomfort," Severus said, handing her the fourth bottle. "And this one would mask the symptoms of the digitalis and oleander, I believe."

Poppy looked up alarmed. "Where did you get these?"

Pepper made a nervous sound, but Severus spoke up first. "I cannot say at this time. I will need your assistance for a personal matter – a personal favor, actually. But first, I need you to examine these potions and make a full report of your findings. I'll need it when I press formal charges." He turned to Minerva. "I know I haven't explained anything, but would you please send a message to Kingsley, requesting that he meet with me in an hour? I must leave, but I will be back."

Minerva nodded, her eyes full of concern. Severus searched through the potions cabinet and pulled out the potions and elixir he sought. Turning his head and leaning around the doorframe for a moment to compare the bottles Pepper brought him, he found ones that were the same or at least close enough to not attract the Miss Priswell's notice. He filled them and magically replicated her labels. When he returned to Poppy's office, she was examining another potion.

"Severus this last bottle isn't a potion at all," she said, looking up. "It's only herbs, some insect parts, and... dirt."

"Thank you, Poppy. I really appreciate you doing this for me," he said and turned to leave. He stopped in the corridor. "Pepper, take these back and put them where Miss Priswell left the bad potions. I will be along shortly, but I want you to behave exactly as you did when I examined the potions the first time. Do you understand me?"

Pepper looked confused, but nodded. "Yes, sir. I is to behave irrationally, sir."

Severus hurried to his office and used the Floo to travel home, then Apparated to his great-grandfather's house from his back garden. Miss Priswell answered the door the second time Severus pounded on it. "My, this is quite a surprise," she said, moving aside to let him in. "You certainly have decided to ingratiate yourself to Mr. Prince after all these years."

"He's dying, Miss Priswell," Severus stated smoothly. "I am hoping to ingratiate myself into the will." He watched the play of emotions on the Healer's face with a smirk. "I'll show myself up." She followed Severus up to Talfryn's room. Despite the efforts of Miss Priswell, Talfryn looked somewhat better.

"Back again are you?" the old man asked. "I suppose you think you need to worm your way back into my good graces?"

"I was concerned for your well being," Severus said politely as he looked about the room, running a finger on the dresser, and examined the wardrobe doors on his way to the bedside table where the potions sat.

As soon as he picked one up, Pepper tugged on the hem of his robe like she had before. "What is you doing?" Pepper squeaked, scolding him while trying to pull him away from the bedside table. "You leave my master's potions alone. Put down! No! Master needs his potions!"

"Stop this irrational behavior at once," both Talfryn and Severus said, Talfryn falling back on his cushions with a coughing fit.

Miss Priswell was smirking from the doorway, walked into the room. "You are not to come here and bother my patient. You will leave immediately!"

"If you insist, madam," Severus said, preceding the woman out of the door. He smirked inwardly at the look of smug satisfaction on her face. He rounded on her before they entered the foyer, his robes swirling about him dramatically. Severus' eyes were hard and cold, his anger seeping from him in waves as he cornered her against the wall. "You, madam, had best watch your step around me," he snarled.

Her eyes narrowed as she glared back at him. "You don't frighten me," she spat back at him. "You cannot do anything to me. I'll tell the authorities..."

"Go right ahead, witch." Severus pulled his sleeve up and showed her the scar left from his Dark Mark, his dark eyes boring into her as if to read her soul.

She looked at his arm and gasped, then looked up at him, her eyes widened with fear. "But you're... they made you Headmaster again!"

"That's right, they did," he said, his voice cool and silky. "I walked away – free and clear, a full pardon for all my crimes. Even the ones they didn't know about." He pulled his sleeve back down, buttoning the cuff as he stared into her eyes. "I don't know who you work for or why..." He slipped into her mind easily. "But I will find out, and when I do – mark my words, you will regret crossing me." He could see images of a thick, square-jawed man handing her two potion bottles and another man, not too dissimilar in features to his grandfather. The second man appeared in another vision, and another. Miss Priswell knew this man with the ash-brown hair well. He had a long, pallid face, heavy eyebrows, and thin frame so much like his mum and grandfather. He withdrew from her mind as he leaned forward so his nose was an inch from hers. "If I discover anything untoward, madam, know that the authorities will be my last resort."

Severus turned on his heel, his robes swirling, and strode from the house. He returned to his home, traveled by Floo back to his office, and asked the portrait of a prim lady to inform the Deputy Headmistress he'd returned. He opened the cabinet that held the Pensieve and slowly withdrew the images he'd seen in Miss Priswell's mind, as well as the memory of the pictures in Talfryn's home. He sat at his desk and waited for Kingsley's arrival.

It didn't take long for the Auror to arrive.

Severus told him about his concerns and brought him up to date with his suspicions. He withdrew three memories, one of which he thought might be relevant, and dropped it into the stone basin as well. "The first is my memory; it's of some family photos. The second is the images I obtained from Miss Priswell," Severus explained.

"Do I want to know how you obtained them?" Kingsley asked.

"No, but they will be distorted and rather quick," Severus stated. "The third is a conversation with an Ashton Foulkes. I want to know if you recognize the other wizard."

~H~

At an hour before closing, an Auror arrived and walked straight up to Ron, indicating they should talk in private. Bob looked up from the Wonder Witch section, set down his boxes and followed them to the storeroom. From her place at the worktable, Hermione could see them but not hear a word. Ron's shoulders went stiff; he ran a hand through his hair and held his neck before letting his hand fall at his side in a fist. Bob leaned against the shelves, his arms crossed, his face set with a stern concentration, glaring at the floor and the wall, then glancing in her direction and back to the Auror several times. Hermione couldn't see anything but the Auror's back and occasionally his hand when he'd point either at the wall or swing his hand behind him, but she could tell that whatever he was saying, it wasn't good news. After ten long minutes, the Auror turned to leave, glancing at Hermione and nodding to her as he passed. Bob drew his wand and turned to leave, a look of what might be concern on his face, which he schooled quickly into a benign smile at the doorway before entering the shop.

Ron turned and leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed, looking at his trainers. "Hermione, I need you to stay in the shop after hours."

"What? Why? What's going on?" she demanded to know, tossing her knife on the counter. Hermione hated being left in the dark. "I'm not a child, Ronald, you –"

His head snapped up, and he looked at her beseechingly. "Will you give a bloke a chance to tell you!" he snapped at her. "I need you to stay in the shop after hours and have dinner with me and George."

She fixed him an angry glare. "Why? Severus –"

"Is with Kingsley right now," he interrupted her. "Would you listen to me and stop interrupting. I'm trying to tell you. Harry's coming over, too. A wizard was seen in the Apothecary down Knockturn Alley, trying to get a salve for a curse-made laceration. It went across his body, Hermione – it's a really deep cut, and he's hurt bad. We think it's the wizard who Severus cursed."

"But why –"

"The Aurors are going to let him go. They want to follow him..."

"Follow him!" she shrieked, falling against the worktable, feeling a bit faint. "They are letting him escape?"

"He is here! In Knockturn Alley, and he wasn't alone. The witch he was with moves like a guy, so they suspect Polyjuice." Ron looked at the door to the shop and back. "Yes, they are going to follow him. Myers said that the wizard is unable to Apparate because of blood loss. He used Borgin's Floo and walked to the Apothecary, leaning on this witch. Myers was able to place a Tracking Charm on them so they can find out where they are hiding and try to apprehend him and his friends."

"But if he's leaving then... I'm supposed to meet Severus tonight," she said, crossing her arms.

"Will you for once be reasonable?" he snarled in frustration. "I'm not making an advance here – not this time. I'm concerned for you, Hermione. I still love you." He held up his hands in supplication. "I know that you are trying to make this Bonding work with Snape. I realize that the spell didn't match us, and I'm dealing with that. That is not what this is about. Dolohov's organized the last remaining Death Eaters. We don't know how he's evading us or where he and his gang are hiding out. Even Snape and the Malfoys don't know, but Lucius has been contacted twice now. We don't even know everyone who's sided with him. So, until we get a break, I need you to be more careful."

"You're saying that the Aurors are trying to track him?" she asked, and Ron nodded. "They are wizards, pure-bloods likely, so they won't be living anyplace they can't use magic."

"We know this. We have every possible means to track places where magic is preformed. My dad's entire department, the Improper Use of Magic and the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts offices, as well as Magical Equipment Control and the entire Department of Magical Accidental and Catastrophes, are all watching for any magic used in any residence – a registered wizarding residence or not. Even hotels, taverns, and inns. All magical activity is being investigated, even young wizards playing pranks on their friends' houses."

Hermione held up one finger, her hand bouncing up and down slightly it in the air. "Cabins, cottages in outlying villages, fishing huts, highland dwellings, tents..."

"Hermione, we're monitoring all areas, even the campgrounds, forests, lake shores, and such. I didn't spend months in a tent not to realize that as an option," he said, tilting his head and looking at her with a smirk.

Hermione looked at the worktable. "What about caves?"

"Hermione!"

She gave him an incredulous look. "Mongoloths dig their own caves, and so do graphorns and some gryphons. Trolls, gryphons, and graphorns fight over the larger caves. Sometimes the trolls capture the graphorns, sometimes the graphorns win. Gryphons will also kill trolls and mongoloths and take over their caves," she tried to explain.

"Of course I remember! I had to write an essay about them for Care of Magical Creatures, remember?" he asked exasperatedly. "Of course, I was mad at you at the time, so you gave the books we needed to Harry..."

Hermione smiled and then became serious again. "Yes, but because these are magical creatures, if the graphorns or gryphons kill the trolls and take over the cave, their magical residues reside in the caves for ages, especially if these creatures have used the cave for a long periods of time, just like the mongoloth and dragon caves. And due to the way that the caves are dug, the magical signatures rebound and reflect back into the depths of the cave, not outward through the opening."

Ron's eyes widened as he caught on to what she was implying.

"Severus told me that Dolohov created curses that inflict severe internal damage – maybe enough to incapacitate one or more of these creatures?"

Ron stood up excitedly. "Of course, and we wouldn't look at gryphon, graphorn, or troll lairs!" He grabbed her arms as if to hug her. "Hermione, have I ever told you that you're brilliant?"

"Oh, once or twice," she said, laughing at him, and he dropped his hands.

"I have to go in to the office," he said, crossing the room quickly, stopping to turn around at the door. "Promise me you'll stay and have dinner with us."

"I promise," she relented, as if put out by the imposition.

"Thanks," he said and disappeared.

~L~

Lucius was about to come downstairs for dinner when a house-elf popped in to tell him that Severus and Kingsley arrived at the front door. Curious, he told the elf to take them into his study. As he approached, both wizards were standing by the fireplace, having a serious debate. "And this is the first time you've ever heard about him?" Lucius heard Kingsley's distinctive baritone voice. There was a soft muffled response Lucius couldn't quite grasp. "He's used a number of names in the past."

"I never knew about him," Lucius heard Severus say once he was closer to the door. Unfortunately, his shadow could be seen on the floor, so lingering wasn't an option. "The old man and I were never all that close when I was young. After I joined the Dark Lord, I severed all ties."

The conversation immediately stopped when Lucius appeared at the doorway. "Don't stop on my account," he said jovially, belying his curiosity of the bits of the argument he'd heard before making his arrival known.

Severus turned and nodded to his friend, and from the look on Severus' face, Lucius could tell immediately that whatever had brought the wizards here was serious. "Luc, have you ever heard of a Clemet King or a Clemet Richfield?"

"Yes, a Clemet Richfield. He's a grafter – a streetwise conman and swindler," Lucius said abhorrently. "I have never personally crossed paths with him, but I know a few who have and lost. The amusing thing is that he generally gets away with his scams. Why?"

"I believe he may be a relative, and I need to find out for sure," Severus stated coolly.

Lucius stared at him in surprise, taking in Severus' cool demeanor and his rigid stance. After a few seconds, he burst out laughing. "You're telling me that you think you're related to that gutter rat?"

Severus exhaled sharply and stood stiffly, as if insulted by the idea. "Yes, I believe I might. Luc, if I may utilize your Pensieve, this will go faster. I have a few memories I need you to see."

"I never knew you had any living relatives," Lucius stated as he walked across the room.

"Lucius, my great-grandfather is being looked after by a woman who may or may not be a legitimate Healer. She is giving him poisonous concoctions and passing them off as potions. I saw a man in her memories who bears some resemblance to my grandfather and mother and another that I have seen in my past. What I need is to make a positive identification of these men," Severus stated. He looked away for a moment, then followed Lucius with his eyes. "He is my last living relative – that I know of. My mother was estranged from her family before I was born. When I joined the Dark Lord, I severed any connection to Mr. Prince to protect him from my associations because I had no idea as to his ideology."

The last part was a half-truth, but Lucius could read the inflections in Severus' tone to know it bore enough truth to trust him. "And you believe that this relative is trying to kill off your great-grandfather?" He slid his hand on the boards of a shelf and released the concealed door. A section of the bookshelf opened, revealing a closet. Lucius withdrew his family Pensieve, then turned, closed the bookshelf with his boot heel, and carried the stone basin to the desk. He was pleased that both men only moved forward when he approached the desk. Of course, both men already knew what he kept in the closet, but the show of trust was appreciated.

Severus pulled three small vials from his pocket, telling Lucius briefly what they were.

"I recognize one of the men as Clement Richfield, also known as, Clemet King. The other man I don't know, but I have seen his face before. We are hoping you might recognize him," Kingsley said. "It's a long shot, I know, but I'd appreciate the help."

"The memory is rather distorted and rather quick," Severus stated. "The second is a conversation with an Ashton Foulkes."

Lucius' quirked an eyebrow at the name, and Severus nodded. "The same." When they entered the Pensieve, the scene swirled a few times in quick succession, but Lucius identified the man in question as being Clint Richman. The second memory swirled into focus.

A second Severus Snape wearing a wool frockcoat and robes sat a table in what was obviously the Hog's Head with a bottle of Ogden's in front of him. Moments later, a wizard in brown, ragged robes sat in the seat across the table from him. "You're choosing the wrong company. Go away," Snape sneered, holding his glass of Firewhiskey in his hand.

Mr. Foulkes nodded eagerly and rose, following Snape out the door.

What Mr. Foulkes didn't see, but that was clearly seen by the three men watching the scene, was Snape drawing his wand as he led the wizard to the side of the pub.

In what should have been an ambush, Snape quickly incapacitated the man who stood up from behind the rubbish bins and turned around quickly to hit Mr. Foulkes with a Body-Bind. "You insignificant gutter snipe."

"You were always quick in a duel," Lucius said, walking around to see Mr. Foulke's face.

"Never mind him, come look at the other man's face. Do you know him?" Severus pointed to a square-jawed, barrel-chested man with cropped sandy blond hair in a brown calf-length coat and trousers and worn out black boots.

"Yes, I know him," Lucius said with a sneer. "Ludwick Graven. You would know him as my old dorm mate, Jude Graven. Rowle and Gibbon's mate."

"Was he a Death Eater?" Kingsley asked, staring at the man until the image faded.

All three men stood up at the same time. "I had always assumed so, given his associations," Lucius stated, "but he never circulated in my social circles."

"Would you know where I might find the man?" Severus asked as he put his memories back into his head.

Lucius grinned. "Of course. He frequents the House of Rose and Thorns." Lucius smirked as Severus quickly masked his revulsion. "If you go there, have at least three or more wizards covering the back and cellar doors. You never know who might crawl out."

Kingsley nodded in understanding. "Lucius, once again, thank you."

"Just remember this at my hearing," Lucius said and asked if either cared to stay for dinner.

"No, thank you," Severus said with a wicked smirk. "I have a house of ill repute to raid."

"We," Kingsley corrected him.

Severus nodded in mock politeness. "I was hoping you'd be inclined to bring some friends along. The more the merrier."

Lucius laughed as he showed them out. "Have fun. I'd offer my wand, but alas, I'm unavoidably detained."

Severus nodded at him, his dark eyes showing his suppressed anger. "Expect me for drinks after."

"I'll be up and waiting," Lucius replied.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I want to give a great big thank you hug to MadBrilliant for combing through this and to Shug and Kallontista for helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know. I'd be ashamed to show my story to anyone without your invaluable help.