A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 14 ~ Paying a Little Visit

Marcus Delaluci sat with a bored expression as he listened to Kingsley Shacklebolt give an update concerning the search for Severus Snape. About seventy-five Order members were in attendance. Basically all the black Auror had to say was there was no progress.

“Unfortunately, there have been no sightings or news of Severus Snape, or any Death Eater activity since the death of Albus Dumbledore. Apparently, the Dark Lord is lying low and plotting his next move. All we can do is continue to keep our eyes and ears open,” Kingsley said.

Marcus rolled his eyes as Kingsley gave out the month’s assignments for active members. There were quite a few Order members, but not all were on active duty. They were called up a few months out of the year. Only when there was some serious issue at hand did they appear in force. However, recruitment was up. The death of Albus Dumbledore had moved many to join the Order. However, without Fawkes to judge new members, Kingsley had to painstakingly check the records of those who approached him. Not everyone qualified.

When Marcus spoke to him at the Ministry, Kingsley was reluctant to accept him at first. He had quite a dark background. Yet, he hadn’t joined the Death Eaters and Albus thought him safe enough to teach at Hogwarts. He had a great knowledge of the Dark Arts, was a skilled fighter and had gifts that could serve the Order well. Being able to recover memories after being obliviated was a biggie as well as his Spell Breaking abilities. After about a week’s consideration and a few talks with Tonks and Remus, Kingsley decided to take him on.

Marcus cursed silently as he was assigned to watch the graveyard that Voldemort had utilized when he returned. Shit, nothing was going on there. But Kingsley believed it could be a place where the Death Eaters might meet so was keeping it under surveillance just in case.

The good thing was Marcus would soon have classes to teach, so the Order wouldn’t be giving him many such assignments. He had only joined because he thought they might have some inside information to help him locate Snape, but they didn’t seem to know squat. Well, he was in for it now.

The meeting broke up and Marcus gladly left Grimauld Place. He hated being part of an organization. Shit.

Marcus looked down at the small stone he held in his hand. It would transport him to the graveyard. Damn, this assignment gave the term “graveyard shift” new meaning. The blonde wizard walked down to the end of the block, checked for muggles, then said “Portis” and vanished.

Marcus arrived in the graveyard, his violet eyes telescoping so he could see clearly. Chipped and time-ravaged tombstones of all shapes and sizes abounded, a low-lying mist covering the ground. He could hear scuttling.

“Rats,” he said to himself, pulling his wand.

Marcus hated rats.

He slowly walked through the graveyard, checking out the surrounding area. Things were dead, as they should be. The wizard sighed and sat down on top of a small tomb that probably held a child.

“Hope you don’t mind sharing your space,” he said to the tomb. Of course there was no complaint. Marcus sighed.

“I should have picked up a hooker,” he thought to himself, “At least I could have been entertained.”

Maybe tomorrow.

Kingsley didn’t say he had to keep watch alone.

The wizard stayed vigilant, the mists swirling around him as he watched throughout the night.

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It was a dreary day in West Ealing. A young woman about the age of twenty-two or so walked up the street checking flat numbers. She was dress rather drably in neutral colors, with mousy brown hair and sallow skin. She had a number of pockmarks on her face and her hair was rather stringy. She wore a large gray sweater over her thin, straight lines. Her brown eyes studied the numbers until she located the flat she wanted.

She walked up to the door and knocked. It was almost ten-thirty. She waited for an answer, then knocked again, harder this time. There was still no answer.

The young woman looked around but the street was deserted. Most people were at work now, and the Grangers were no different. She pulled out a wand and pointed it at the door.

“Alohamora,” she rasped.

The door clicked open. Looking around once more, the woman entered, closing the door behind her and warding it.

She looked around the flat. It was very basic, a living room, dining area, a kitchen off the right a hallway, that led to the bathroom and three bedrooms. The living room was furnished with a matching sofa, loveseat, two armchairs and a coffee table. One wall covered with books. The woman walked over and examined them. Many of the subjects had to do with dentistry. Yes, Hermione’s parents were dentists which meant they used barbaric methods to care for muggle teeth, twisting wires around them and drilling down to the meat.

The woman shuddered. Magic was so much better. She continued to look about.

A huge pink toothbrush stood in the corner with bristles that looked tough enough to clean muddy tires with. It had to be at least five feet tall and was large enough to brush a dragon’s teeth. An enormous bicuspid stood on four rootlets on an end table. The top of it was hinged. A number of trade magazines rested on the coffee table. The woman rifled through them. Didn’t these people read about anything other than teeth?

She headed down the hallway and peeked into the bathroom. It smelled of antiseptic. Continuing down the hallway, she looked into the first bedroom. It held a king-sized bed covered in patchwork quilts with a brass headboard. This must be the witch’s parents’ room.

She continued, opening another room. It was filled with boxes and furniture. Hm, a bedroom used as a storage room most likely. The Grangers only had one child after all. She closed the door back and walked into the last bedroom. Yes, judging by all the books everywhere, this must be Hermione’s room. There was a full sized bed, covered in disgustingly pink frilly bed coverings. The woman was surprised that the bed wasn’t covered in Gryffindor colors.

A writing desk with quills and muggle pens in a cup rested against the far wall. It had a number of drawers with keyholes in them. Parchment and notebooks rested on top of it. The woman looked at it curiously, walked over and tried a drawer. It was locked. Once again she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the top drawer.

“Alohamora,” she rasped again, then pulled the drawer opened. Inside were a number of locked journals and a diary.

“Damn, does the chit lock up everything?” the woman thought, taking out the books and putting them on top of the desk. She pulled out the swivel chair and sat down, picking up the first journal. She touched the tip of her wand to the small locked clasp.

“Alohamora,” she said, her voice strangely hoarse.

The little strip of leather that locked it sprang open. She opened the book and the first thing she noticed was a folded piece of parchment inside. She opened it, spread it flat and studied it.

As she did so, her flesh began to bubble, her hair shortening and turning black, her body elongating and losing what female attributes she had, her features becoming angular and sharp, her nose lengthening and turning hooked as her brown eyes turned black and piercing. She didn’t even look up as she changed back into her original form, that of Professor Severus Snape.

He continued reading, frowning slightly.

Possible Reasons I Am Feeling Dumbledore’s Power After His Supposed Death

1. Albus Dumbledore didn’t really die, it was a ruse.

A possible conspiracy.

2. Albus Dumbledore created a Horcrux and hid it away.

The headmaster has killed before. He could have had a fragmented soul.

3. Albus Dumbledore was a ghost and giving off residual magic leftover from Life.


Ways to Find Out What Really Happened.

1. Question the Headmaster’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office.

2. Find Professor Snape and Question Him.

Severus stared at the paper. Was the little know-it-all actually intending on looking for him. How was she planning on finding him? He saw a little note scribbled on the corner of the parchment. He peered at it, then sat straight up in the chair.

“Look up Signature Stones.”

Dear gods. He hadn’t even considered signature stones. They warmed and glowed whenever they came in contact with the person whose magical signature they held. How the hell had she thought of that? No one would think about those insignificant stones.

Then again, Hermione Granger would. That witch was always thinking outside the box. If the Ministry or the Order got wind of this, every one of them would go to Hogwarts and get a sliver of his stone. Even polyjuiced, he’d stand a very good chance of being captured. He’d be locked down in Voldemort’s stronghold permanently if that happened, or at least he wouldn’t be able to move freely through the wizarding world. Damn the girl. She was too fucking brilliant for
her own good.

He had to find the witch and find out if she had acquired his stone. Knowing how sneaky she was, he didn’t doubt Hermione had found a way to get the stone from Poppy. He read over the list again…she believed it was possible he and Albus planned this. That was a good indication that if she did meet up with him, she might not sound the alarm immediately. She had more curiosity than good sense.

Yes, it was a plan…but Albus was dead. There was no denying that. A Horcrux? No. The old wizard would have told him if he made a Horcrux. Albus wouldn’t let him think he killed him when he hadn’t…would he?

Severus shook his head.

No. Of course not.

But Hermione claimed to be feeling the Headmaster’s power. But how could that be possible? She showed no psychic abilities whatsoever. She quit Trelawney’s class in her second year. The witch didn’t even believe in divination.

Severus opened the journal and skimmed through it. The title said: “Third Year Journal.” It was just day to day thoughts. Hm. She had done quite a few shady things. He leafed through the book stopping on a page and reading the entry.

“Harry and I helped Sirius escape by using a time turner and giving him Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Professor Snape was furious. He wanted a medal.”

What?

Why those little…

His nostrils flared, Severus opened the rest of her drawers, took out the journals from first year on, reduced them and put them in his robes pocket. He was going to read them cover to cover and find out just what the little minx was doing all her years at Hogwarts. He couldn’t punish her now, but at least he’d know for certain what she and Potter had been up to. He’d start at the beginning.

As he removed the journals, he found Hermione’s letter from Headmistress McGonagall telling her she had been selected as Head Girl and was to return to Hogwarts immediately. So that was where the sneaky little witch was.

Severus stood up, locked all the drawers back, pushed the chair in, then took out a bottle of Polyjuice potion. He drank it down, put the bottle back in his pocket and turned to look at himself in the large mirror over Hermione’s dresser.

“Oh dear gods,” he hissed as he looked at the dumpy witch that looked back at him. He was short, squat and reminded of Professor Umbridge as he looked at his reflection. His nose was red as a beet. He didn’t remember the witch looking this bad. But then again, the transfiguration was Peter’s. He wasn’t much to start with and probably colored the Potions Master’s perceptions.

Severus cast a disillusionment spell on himself. He was so unattractive, he might still attract attention. Better to move about like this for now.

Hermione’s books in tow, Severus left the flat, removing the ward and locking it back securely. The first chance he got, he apparated back to Voldemort’s stronghold.

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Both Peter and Voldemort started when Severus appeared in the throne room, the wizard just managing to dodge a stunner Peter fearfully cast at him, roaring, “It’s me you idiot!” in his own voice.

Voldemort chuckled as the fat witch glared at Peter.

”Wormtail, are you sure that victim wasn’t a relative?” he chortled at his servant, “There is a distinct resemblance.”

“No. No relation, my Lord,” Peter said as Severus approached the throne and bowed.

”A curtsey might be more appropriate, Severus,” Voldemort said, his lipless mouth spread in a smile, the tip of his forked tongue showing.

“I’m used to bowing, my Lord,” Severus replied evenly, not willing to curtsey.

The Dark Lord let it pass.

“So, how was your outing? Did you find out anything concerning Potter?” Voldemort asked him, his eyes narrowing. It was unfair to think the wizard could gather any information his first day out.

Since Hermione was safely at Hogwarts, Severus felt it would be all right to tell Voldemort.

“I tried to locate one of Potter’s close friends, a Miss Hermione Granger. She has been called back to Hogwarts early, however and is currently beyond my reach. However, most likely she will be going to Diagon Alley before the term starts. The grounds of Hogwarts are being carefully guarded, but I doubt they are guarding the surrounding areas as stringently. I believe I can safely observe the gates daily from a distance and wait for Miss Granger to leave the grounds. All I need to is take her, question her and obliviate her.”

“We could kidnap her, my Lord,” Peter said.

Severus scowled at him. Damn the little round bastard.

Voldemort looked interested.

“Yessss, perhaps torture the information out of her, then give her as a treat to my Death Eaters,” the wizard lisped.

Shit. Severus had to think fast.

“My Lord, since I am no longer at Hogwarts, you no longer have anyone for your eyes and ears. It is true Dumbledore is gone, but I am sure there are things occurring that are of interest to you. I can use Miss Granger for our eyes and ears. As Head Girl, she is privy to more information than ordinary students. She will know what protective measures are being taken. I think it would be best at this time to use her in such a manner,” Severus said smoothly, hoping the wizard would bite, “She can always be taken later, my Lord.”

Voldemort looked thoughtful

“Yes, Severus. I believe you are right,” Voldemort said to him, then made a face, “Go to your rooms, Severus. You are too ghastly to be seen.”

Peter snickered.

Severus glared at him, feeling like asking him how he liked Voldemort’s cock stuck in every orifice of his body and then some. But he couldn’t. Voldemort would punish him for such a statement.

“Yes my Lord,” the Potions Master said, bowing again then exited the throne room, his large chunky ass rolling behind him. He disappeared through the door that opened on the corridor that led to his rooms.

Voldemort shuddered, then said to Peter, “Go get a bottle of Polyjuice potion. Any woman will do. Severus just about killed my libido and I need to get it back.”

Peter bowed and walked through a side door to the lab area, scowling blackly when the door closed.

Damn Snape. This was all his fault.

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A/N: Ooh. Severus has Hermione’s journals. Wonder if she has anything in there about the crush she used to have on him? Poor, poor Wormtail. Not. Lol. Thanks for reading.