—————S—————

Severus was in her mind, trying to look for something interesting, all while being very cautious to not go too far. Hermione's mind was a minefield, and he desperately didn't want to trigger a mine. Yet there was no one else to help her test her strengthened Occlumency shields, aside from the headmaster, and neither of them were going to ask Albus Dumbledore to poke around in her head.

It was quite a pleasant experience though, danger aside. Hermione's mind was warm and full of love, and if he revisited memories of their New Year's Eve together in the very room they were currently in, well, she would have to break eye contact to stop him.

"Are you trying to find a way to improve?" she asked aloud, the question echoing in her mind.

"My Legilimency?" he asked.

"No, your performance. You seem to be going over and over the same thing. I realize that it may not have been our best time, but there's no reason—"

"Witch," he cut her off, noting the giddy joy in her mind before he gently withdrew to see her smile, "perhaps I just wanted to see what it felt like for you?"

"Perhaps, but I doubt that was your intention," she countered.

"Alright, maybe I just like reliving it in general."

"Give me a few days and we won't need to relive a memory," Hermione teased, and Severus' smirk grew. He leaned in, kissing her firmly, intending on at least getting in a damn good snogging session on his birthday, when there was a tap on the window.

Growling, Severus got to his feet to relieve the owl of its burden. He opened the panes, allowing the freezing air to wash over him and cool his ardor before taking the parchment from the bird. It hooted before flying away, vanishing from sight as the snow fell heavily outside.

"From your mother?" Hermione asked just as Severus turned it over and noticed the seal on the envelope.

His insides flooded with ice, and his heart fell into the pit of his stomach.

The Dark Mark in deep green, almost black wax, taunted him.

"No, it's not," he said, taking a deep breath and cracking the seal.

Severus,

It's been brought to my attention that today is of great significance to you. I do hope this means we will be seeing you soon, as I look forward to making you a part of our family. In the meantime, I have written to invite you to a gathering on the evening of January 29. If you cannot Apparate, please send word to Lucius, and we will send a Portkey so that you may be present.

I look forward to seeing you there.

There was no signature, but there was no doubt whom the letter was from.

He looked up and saw the worry etched on Hermione's face.

"It's from him ," he said. "An invitation."

"So soon?" she asked, chewing her lip.

"Not for the pair of us. I think ... do you know what the Death Eaters do?" Severus asked cautiously. Hermione paled; she nodded once. "I have a feeling it's something like that. A test, perhaps."

"You should tell Alastor."

"I think I need to tell the headmaster. Given the reason, I'm sure he'll conveniently look the other way while I sneak out of the castle." Severus grimaced, realizing there was one person who would be patrolling the gate, eager to catch anyone sneaking back in. "Scamander will be an issue, though."

"Professor Scamander," Hermione corrected automatically, and Severus rolled his eyes. "But there's probably a way for you to sneak out and get past the wards."

"How?" Severus asked, and then he remembered. "The bloody map."

—————H—————

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Sirius said the phrase as if he were trying to seduce the map, seemingly successful as the ink flowed to reveal it.

Hermione had asked the boys to meet them where they couldn't be found, in another abandoned classroom, far from Severus' lab. Only James and Sirius were able to come, Pettigrew stuck in detention for a late Charms essay, and Lily and Remus off doing rounds.

"Exactly why can't Snape be seen with us again?" James asked, looking suspiciously where Severus was standing under the Disillusionment Charm.

"It's something for the headmaster," Severus replied.

"What sort of thing?"

"Not something you need to know about, James Potter," Hermione snapped. "Much as I'm sure you hate to imagine, the world does not revolve around you."

She heard Severus snort in amusement as James' face went red, reminding Hermione so much of an angry Harry that her heart ached. But not as much as it once had, she noted. It had suddenly occurred to her that she had spent nearly the same amount of time with Harry's parents as she had with Harry.

How long, she wondered, before he was no longer Harry, her Harry, but her friends' son? How long before she no longer felt a connection to the Boy Who Lived because she had long outgrown him, literally and metaphorically?

"Snape, I have no idea if you can see this, so I'll point it out to Kitten," Sirius said, looking around the room before looking at Hermione. "It's not too risky, I think, to take this path here,"—he pointed to the Whomping Willow—"you can take the humped witch slide to the Honeydukes cellar but depending on why you need to get out of the castle unseen—"

"Why do you need to get out of the castle unseen?" James interrupted. "Why should we help you?"

"Probably because you left us in possession of this very map, and you still got it back." Severus was sneering, Hermione could just tell.

"I never left it with you. Never would I ever," James defended.

"Prongs, you were more than willing to go with the git at the time. What's twisted 'round your antlers that's got you in a mood?"

"Probably the fact that since that Hogsmeade visit, Snape here doesn't want to be seen with us. Or Lily, for that matter. And I heard you met up with Lucius Malfoy after we left."

Hermione's gaze shot from the map to James in warning. He glanced at her but didn't heed the warning.

"You know what I think? I think he's decided to become a Death Eater after all. Always knew he would."

"Are you purposely being an arse or does it come to you naturally?" Hermione asked.

James scoffed. "Only makes you a Death Eater's whore, doesn't—"

James' last words were choked off as he was thrown against the wall. Immobile and unable to talk, true panic formed in his eyes as a shimmering form approached James in slow, menacing steps. Sirius had his wand drawn, though it didn't look like he was going to Stun or hex anyone. If anything, he looked confused.

"Don't. Ever. Call her that," Severus said through gritted teeth.

"Let him go, Snape," Sirius said with little conviction, wand dropping to his side.

"Why should I?"

"Because maybe if he knew why we need his help, he'd understand," Hermione offered.

Severus snorted. "And trust him to keep his mouth shut?"

"We're quite good at secrets," Sirius remarked, chin raised proudly.

"Not as good as you think," Hermione said softly, amused by the wide-eyed surprise Sirius directed at her. "Severus, we could make them swear a Vow."

"A Vow?" Sirius asked. "What is going on that you would need us to take a Vow?"

"Dumbledore will know we told them," Severus snapped.

"Did he say we couldn't? And if you're really that worried, let me tell them. You're Disillusioned. Even if the headmaster peeks into their minds and sees that they know, unless he stays in their heads long enough to see the whole thing, it'll look like you weren't here. Just me finding out a way to sneak you out of the castle."

After a moment, Severus released James.

Scowling, James looked at Hermione as he took out his wand. "Alright, Granger. What does he need?"

"Uh-uh. Oath first. I think, ' I vow on my wand to never reveal what is said in this room to anyone who does not already know. '"

"I vow on my wand to never reveal what is said in this room to anyone who does not already know," Sirius recited without hesitation, wand up as a gold light wrapped around his wand. James hesitated, then followed suit, light wrapping around his wand to seal his Vow.

Hermione took a deep breath, feeling Severus' hands on her arms from behind.

"Severus' achievements in potions earned him a lot of attention. I'm sure you know that Dumbledore is fighting against You-Know-Who. Well, he—"

"Demanded. Coerced," Severus suggested lowly, though it seemed Sirius heard.

"—Severus was in the perfect position to do some undercover work, and Dumbledore thought it best they take the opportunity."

"Spying," James repeated. After a moment, he let out a loud 'Ha!', followed by, "Well, I would say it was good to know you, Snape, but that would be a lie."

"You don't think he can do it?" Sirius asked in disbelief.

"No. No, I think when he leaves at the end of the year, we won't see or hear from him again."

"If I never see you again after leaving Hogwarts, more the better," Severus retorted.

"Well, for what it's worth, you have stones, Snape," Sirius confessed, and then a thought lit his features before it faded with a shake of his head. He pointed at the map again. "Whomping Willow. If you take the Honeydukes tunnel, you won't have enough room to Disapparate until you get to the cellar, and then it might be too loud and draw attention. The Willow will lead you out to the Shrieking Shack, and from there, you'll be able to move around." He paused. "Er, when did you need this?"

"End of the month. Why?" Severus asked.

"Nothing, it's just that it's not safe certain times of the month," Sirius said with a wry smirk, and Hermione noted James smiling smugly from where he was standing a few feet away.

"Only certain times of the month? I'm fairly certain the Willow is murderous regardless of the phase of the moon," Severus said.

Sirius had a cheeky grin that made Hermione roll her eyes. He was practically screaming the secret.

"There's a knot on the tree, very obvious, and if you hit it, the tree will freeze long enough for you to slip into the tunnel. That's also obvious, and you shouldn't have any trouble with it."

"Good. Thank you," Severus said, sounding relieved.

"Just be careful," Sirius said. "Both with getting in and out and ..."

"I will."

Severus landed just in front of the Malfoy Manor gates, and there he remained until they slowly creaked open. He strode forward, confident that whatever he had to face tonight, he could do it.

"Bit of advice," Alastor had told him when they'd met a couple of weeks ago. "Look up some Dark spells that'll look impressive but won't get ya in trouble."

Severus had combed through the Dark tomes he could get his hands on, only cementing in the eyes of many that he was turning progressively darker. He noted that a few of his fellow students, after seeing him in the library, avoided eye contact.

But nothing in the texts fit what he needed. So, Severus did something he hadn't done since his third year: he created a spell.

He knew it would work, or at least it had on a few discarded tables in his makeshift lab. He assumed if he had to use it on someone, he could do some serious damage. Hermione didn't know about his plan, and he didn't want her to.

The large doors opened once he stood in front of them. He stepped through, hearing the doors shut behind him as he took in his surroundings. It was much quieter than the night of the party. An elf popped out of nowhere and held out its hand for his cloak. Severus handed it to the elf before straightening his clothes.

He had a set of robes over a crisp green oxford and a black waistcoat with subtle silver threading. His black trousers were immaculate, and his boots shined. He vaguely wondered if perhaps he shouldn't have put so much effort into an outfit; he might get blood on it.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps, and he felt the cold welcoming feel of his Occlumency shields shifting into place.

Narcissa Malfoy smiled warmly at him. "Welcome, Severus. We've been expecting you."

He bowed. "Thank you for having me."

She nodded graciously and beckoned Severus to follow her. A moment later, they were in a study, where Lucius was finishing a tumbler of whiskey, a strange black set of robes on his shoulders.

"Thank you, Cissy. Don't wait up for us, dear. There's no telling how long our evening will be."

Narcissa smiled and closed the study door behind her.

"A drink, Severus?" Lucius asked as he poured himself another finger.

"Is it a good idea?" he cautioned, making Lucius chuckle.

"It can't hurt," he said as he summoned a second tumbler and poured a finger. He handed it to Severus, who took it with a nod. Lucius grinned. "I have heard you and Hermione have finally managed to shed the disgraced Black and his tag-alongs."

Severus shrugged. "It merely took changing our routine."

In reality, they had been using Potter's invisibility cloak. Lupin, Black, and Lily would hide under it the odd times they came to his lab classroom, or the second abandoned classroom, if they felt the absolute need to include Pettigrew and Potter. If he and Hermione were meeting them, they were Disillusioned.

"Yet you spend next to no time with your fellow Slytherins?" Lucius mused.

Severus scoffed, a slight smirk on his face as he brought the tumbler to his lips and took a sip. "I am studying two years' worth of subjects to complete my N.E.W.T.s this year. Aside from Hermione, I have no use for socializing. And if she wasn't such a swot in her own right, I doubt I would be able to tolerate even that."

Lucius gave a hearty chuckle. "Well, you've certainly found a woman worthy of you and your disposition. Much better than that pathetic Mudblood you used to pine after."

Severus sneered, and forced himself to dredge up the memories of the year before to help keep the disgust on his face. He was starting to hate that word.

"She's an insipid, trite thing who thinks far too highly of herself." And then because he thought it was necessary: "Even if her blood wasn't so repulsive, I doubt she'd have held my attention much longer."

It was apparently the right thing to say, as Lucius radiated approval. "Have you chosen a Master?"

Severus nodded. "I believe Master Nikola and I have come to an understanding. He seems firm, strict, but he allows more deviation than Master Anton. And he only has one other apprentice, a man named Karkaroff."

"He is whom we hoped you would choose. He—" Lucius abruptly cut off with a hiss, clutching his left forearm. Despite the agony, Lucius grinned wickedly. "The fun is about to begin." He summoned a parcel and handed it to Severus. "Put those on."

Lucius also summoned a silver mask to put on. It was intricate, beautiful, and dangerous. Something about it made the hairs on Severus' neck stand on end.

Not to be distracted, he unbundled the parcel filled with a set of black robes like Lucius'. He swung them on, fastening them as Lucius stuck out his left hand, wand in his right.

"Side-Along with me, friend," he said behind the mask, and Severus gripped his hand just as he touched the tip of his wand to a black mark on his skin.

Before Severus could think much of it, they were sucked into the void and deposited ...

In Cokeworth?

Severus was perplexed upon seeing the old smoke stacks of the run-down factory. It was cool and damp, and the air smelled of all the rotten things the streets and river had to offer. It had been so long since he'd been here that he'd managed to forget how utterly wretched it was.

"What utter disgust," Lucius sneered, just as the sound of multiple Apparitions filled the air.

Nine people arrived and formed a semi-circle around them.

As if from nowhere, the Dark Lord himself appeared before them all, and Severus knelt alongside the others. The robes suddenly felt heavier, and kneeling felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"Severus," the Dark Lord greeted, and as Severus lifted his head slightly, the sinister man smiled toothily at him. Were his teeth more pointed than normal or was that just a figment of his imagination?

Without warning, the Dark Lord was in his mind, plowing through recent memories. Of his study sessions with Hermione, among other things. Of Professor Scamander sneering at him when he answered her question about curses a bit too thoroughly. Of his letter, and Hermione kissing him goodbye with a smile before he snuck out of the castle.

All the damning memories were safely hidden away. As the Dark Lord withdrew, Severus wondered how a man who entered a mind with all the delicacy of a battering ram could not see his shields.

"Tell me, friend Severus," the Dark Lord said as he gestured for him and the others to rise. "Do you know where we are?"

"Hard not to, my Lord. I was raised here," Severus said evenly.

"Not quite as terrible as the upbringing I had, but still distasteful. Why your mother resorted to living in such filth when she had the power to change it is beyond me. But now, she is back where she belongs. And you... I have a present for you, Severus. One I think will satisfy you. One, I think, will help you shed this place, shed your youth here."

With a snap of the Dark Lord's fingers, the stiff form of a tall man appeared.

"Do you know this man?" the Dark Lord asked unnecessarily, gesturing to the figure that was frothing at the mouth.

Severus didn't need to hide his hatred or disgust. "Why, that's Tobias, my Lord," he replied with clenched teeth.

At his words, Tobias whipped his head toward Severus and paled. Oh, yes. He had never seen Severus as a wizard because he was never allowed to dress like one in his father's company. He had never seen his son as powerful, because magic outside of school was forbidden. And more so, Tobias hadn't laid eyes on his son since he was fourteen years old. And Severus had grown taller, stronger, more powerful. It would seem in that moment that Tobias Snape had suddenly realized that, even if he had been a Muggle, Severus would be able to easily overpower him. Tobias' eyes flickered to the wand in Severus' hand, one the young man hadn't realized he had drawn.

The Dark Lord seemed pleased. "You look ready to dispatch him."

"I am, my Lord." And the scary thing was, he meant it. His mother may have left him, but that didn't erase all the bad Tobias had rained down on her for nearly twenty years.

"You want to see him dead at your feet, yes? But why make it easy for him? Why not ... make him feel pain? Why not show him precisely what you wished you could do when he made you feel powerless? Show him how powerful you really are."

He knew what was expected, exactly the spells the Dark Lord wanted him to use. It might be unwise to go against the Lord's orders, but Severus hadn't worked on this spell for nothing.

He stepped forward.

" Sectumsempra !" he yelled as he shot his wand at Tobias like a whip.

At first, it was like nothing had happened. Then a second later, the results were utterly gruesome.