Be Careful in the Dark

At the beginning of the summer she used magic to change the very bones of her face, making herself look like a youthful male. It was painful and a huge drain on her magically but it would not break under potion or spell so it seemed wise for her first meeting with Snape. It was important that he not know who she really was.

She crept into Snape's inner sanctum and shifted herself to her human form. Then she poured herself a brandy and set herself down in front of the fire. She did not have long to wait before Snape came storming into the room. Clearly her arrival had set off some sort of alarm. He pulled himself up short and yanked his wand out of his robes.

"Who are you?" He hissed at her.

"Now, Severus, is that anyway to greet someone who has passed along such useful information? Really, I told you I'd be coming to see you." Hermione kept her voice light. She'd studied Snape over the past months and had some ideas about how to best convince him to do as she wanted. She had to play the player so he'd teach her the rules of the game. How screwed up was that?

Snape sneered at her and did not drop his wand. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

“If you aren’t careful, your face is going to freeze like that.” Hermione said and lord, but she had been waiting seven years to say it.

Now it was Snape’s turn to roll his eyes though his did stop sneering. His wand did not lower but his face became entirely impassive.

“How do I know who you are?” His voice was icy.

“Is this room secure?” Hermione kept her voice completely neutral.

“Secure?” He was sneering again.

“You’re sneering again. It makes you look like you’re sucking on a lemon. And if I recite the contents of that scroll to convince you, is there going to be anyone who can hear?”

Snape snarled, entirely baring his teeth at her.

“Do you think me a fool?”

“Do you think I’m one?” Hermione tried to enjoy the word games but she was incredibly nervous.

“Recite away then, and if you miss one word…” He grinned then, a nasty, snaggle toothed grin.

Hermione laughed and recited it word for word perfectly. Snape stared at her for several minutes after she finished and Hermione refused to squirm in the slightest.

“What do you want?” He said finally. He had lowered his wand but was still fingering it in one hand. He was clearly prepared for her to do something sneaky. How little he knew.

“You could call Lucius my first foray into this business of deception. I find that I have something of a knack for it.” Hermione paused, trying to decide if bluntness this early in the game would be advantageous for her.

“So?” Snape glared at her in a neutral way, though how he managed that she wasn’t sure.

“So I intend to continue doing it. I think I can gather a great deal of information for the Order of the Phoenix.”

If her knowing of the secret society was a surprise to him he did not show it. He just kept looking at her, waiting for her to answer his question. She made an annoyed sound and waved her hand at the chair.

“For Merlin’s Sake, Severus, do sit down. You’re too damn tall for you own good.”

Now he scowled and she felt a small satisfaction at getting him to change his expression. With a sharp movement he gathered his robes and sat down in the armchair across from her.

“Again, why do I care?” He grated out.

“Because it would be useful. And you are nothing if not a practical man. There’s just one small catch.”

Snape’s lips twitched. “And that is?”

“I need a little training.”

Severus Snape started to laugh. Roar, even. It was among the more disturbing images she had ever seen and she had to exert a great deal of effort not to let her horror show in her face. This was not quite what I was hoping for. When he finally calmed down, Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him.

“I will not waste my time training some upstart puppy. I have enough of teaching the basics during the day. Now get out.” Snape flipped his hand at her.

“I never said you had to teach me the basics.” Hermione made her voice chilly.

“Is this some kind of joke? You’re barely out of diapers. I don’t have time for this.” He curled his lip at her and looked down his nose at her.

“You think this is what I look like? Interesting.” She let that float in the air. Snape’s eyes narrowed at her and he peered at her.

“Who has trained you then?”

“Now, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Suffice it to say; what I need is a little instruction in magical options for such… activities. The rest I seem to have a grasp on.”

“I shudder to think what sort of instruction you think you’ve had.” He rolled his eyes as he said it.

“Lucius Malfoy did not die of natural causes. And he was inspired to be most helpful before I helped him along the way. I think I know a little something. Don’t you?” As she said it, she let any emotion drain out of her and showed him the part of herself that would never feel guilty for murdering that nasty man.

“Hmph.” Snape grunted at her. Then he lunged at her. Hermione snapped back, having expecting something like it. Rolling off the chair, she ducked under a bruising kick. She came to her feet swinging.

If anyone had asked her three years ago if she’d be brawling with Professor Snape in his private quarters she would have fainted dead away. Things change. He did not draw his wand though he was trying to knock her unconscious. He was taking her claims seriously. That was a good sign. He was fast. He had skill. But it was clear that this was something he considered less important than magic. She had nearly burned herself out over the past year and half training her body to respond before she could even think using a variety of potions and charms. It was possible she was better. Of course, there was no need for him to know that.

Finally, he had her pressed against a wall, his forearm braced across her neck.

“I could kill you within moments.” He hissed.

“Yes, but not before I geld you.” She snarled back, tapping him sharply between the legs with the stiletto she had pulled from her robe.

At that he let out a smile and released her. He strode across the room and yanked the door open.

“Be at the entrance to Knockturn Alley in three days. Six AM sharp.”

Then he walked out and Hermione finally allowed herself to smile. Nothing like success to start a summer.

--------------------------------------------------

She had thought training with Alex would prepare her for anything Snape could come up with. She was wrong. Snape was so completely different in temperament and experiences that to compare the two was to compare the earth to the sky. He was always cold, always demanding, always expecting perfection. It was brutal the way a snow storm was brutal…inhuman and glittering.

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The grandfather clock in the living room of her parent’s house bonged twelve times. Hermione looked up, surprised that so much time had passed. She was searching online for flats. She didn’t want roommates and she didn’t want to be in a wizard enclave. It had proved to be a difficult search than she had anticipated, particularly since her budget was miniscule.

There was another gonging sound, deeper and more demanding than the clock. Hermione turned in confusion. In front of her, the air burst into a ball of flame and a piece of paper came fluttering down. Hermione caught it, staring at.

Maya, please contact me. Alex.

Her mouth thinned into a line. That can’t be good. No fucking way. So much for a peaceful afternoon, looking for a flat.

She forced herself to wait until the sun was setting before turning up on Alex’s doorstep. As she walked up the sidewalk of his perfect little suburban home, she smoothed a hand over her hair. There was something about a transfigured appearance that just felt wrong.

Knocking briskly on the front door, she brushed her hair out of her face again. Alex opened the door, looking like a college professor.

“A tweed jacket in July, Alex? Aren’t you afraid of melting?” Hermione said with a grin.

“Maya?”

“The one and only. You called, I came.” She gave him a perky grin and a small frown line appeared on his forehead.

“So I did.” He pushed to door open wider and Hermione stepped through.

She followed Alex through the living room, the kitchen and down into the basement. It was a large room, one half had wooden floors and mirrors, the other had a comfortable living area.

“I see you’ve rearranged the furniture.” Or more specifically, he had returned it. The living room portion of the basement had mostly been empty during her stay here.

“Well, it looks better this way… don’t you think?” He smiled and walked across the room. Hermione stopped awkwardly, unsure if she should sit or not. Alex turned on a radio and classic musical boomed across the room. He motioned her with a sharp gesture to couch. “So, how have you been?” He opened a file on the coffee table.

She sat down next to him and looked down. It was a dossier on a group of mercenaries, current whereabouts unknown… London, Madrid, Istanbul… it was a very impressive list and probably incomplete.

“Well, I’ve been trying to find an apartment but that market is tight right now.” Hermione ad-libbed. Alex was clearly concerned that he was being spied on… why? He was retired and had a new identity so complete it could repel water. Who could have found him?

“Really? I might have a friend that can help you with that. Let me see if I can find his card.” Alex stood, vanishing into a small room of the main room of the basement. Hermione flipped through the pages of file, taking care to prevent the pages from crackling.

When Alex returned, he actually had a business card with him. He also had a photograph. He set both down on the coffee table. The photograph showed a much younger Alex and two men. They were all in fatigues, covered in mud, looking pleased with themselves, and the middle of a jungle. Vietnam?

“Here it is.” Alex said brightly. “Tell him I gave you his card and he’ll help you out.”

“Thank you, Alex. This is really great. Now, tell me how you’ve been.” Hermione slipped the business card into her pocket. It might actually be useful later.

Alex began to talk but it was what was whispered urgently in her ear as the conversation progressed that matter. “I’ve finally begun making those changes to the garden… I’ll have to show them to you.” I owe this man, finger pointing to the blond man in the photo. “The roses have come up beautifully this year.” They’ve taken him and they want something I cannot give them. “I’m hoping to finish the stone paths by the end of the summer.” Can you help me?

“I just love roses. It’s one of the best parts of summertime.” Yes, but I need something of his, something personal.

They chatted for a while, took a stroll through Alex’s garden. As he hugged her goodbye, he pressed something small and flat into her hand. “I’ll find him,” she mouthed in his ear.

“Good luck… I know apartments are hard to find.”

Hermione waited until she had apparated back to her parent’s house before looking at it: a dog tag from one Summers, Aidan L. She closed her eyes and collapsed on her bed, mind already whirling with plans.