Smile Like You Mean It

Here we go, another chapter up and loaded. Hope you like it. Wasn't sure what was going to happen in this, but it might give you a few hints to the future.

Who knows?

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Chapter 22 - Preparing A Strategy


"Miss Vale, a moment please. You too, Mr Malfoy."

Aera stopped on her way out of the dungeon classroom, surprise and nervousness warring inside her. She had been on edge all day, waiting impatiently and anxiously for seven that night. When she would reveal herself to her brother.

Draco was still at his desk, tidying up his notes. It had been only theory today, a new potion was on it's way Monday morning. He looked up and nodded. Aera was sure that few people would notice the tightness in his jaw as he met the professor's lipid gaze.

Aera made her way back through the winding desks to the front of the class, aware of the door closing behind the last of the students. Draco relaxed back into his seat, apparently totally at ease.

Professor Snape was sitting at his own desk, hands folded before him. "Miss Vale, I would like to ask a favour of you. And of Mr Malfoy here." He paused for a moment, choosing his words. "You are aware that we intend to start with the Dream Potions next week?"

They both nodded. It had been in their notes for the past few days, revising the different kinds of dreams and how they were influenced by potions.

"Well, I offer you this opportunity to avail yourselves of extra credit. I am in need of a Prophet's Elixir and find myself short on time. You are both skilled in this field of practical work and so I am asking if you will make it for me. You may work on it in my classes but it has to be completed by the end of next week. Extra hours will have to be put in after the school day has finished."

Aera felt a thrill of challenge shiver up her spine. The Prophet's Elixir was by no means simple to brew and this would be a perfect test for her abilities. She glanced around at Draco and another shiver ran through her, of anticipation this time. She would have a valid excuse for spending every evening next week with him without anyone else intruding.

He looked up and met her gaze, the same thoughts evident in his eyes. He gave a barely perceptible nod.

"I'd be happy to, Professor." Aera said, turning back to face Snape.

"You can count me in too, Sir." Draco added from behind her. "What do we get from this?"

Snape scowled. "You get an opportunity to test your skills, Draco. And I will be adding this into your reports . . . if you are successful."

Aera could almost see the grin on Draco's face, though she was facing away from him. The obvious challenge would be sure to ensnare him.

Snape gave a nod. "Very well, you are free to leave, Miss Vale. I would like a moment alone with Mr Malfoy."

Aera bent to pick up her bag and turned back down the lines of desks. As she passed Draco she noticed a look of apprehension on his face. Unable to ask what the matter was with the professor so close by, she made a mental note to find out what was going on, later.

Of course, 'later' brought up thoughts of what she was planning to do and her stomach rolled with nerves. She quickened her pace and swiftly left the dungeon.


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"I received a letter from your father, Draco." Snape said softly, taking a piece of parchment from the drawer under his desk.

Draco felt panic fill his head. He had completely forgotten to send his father a weekly update two days ago. That oversight was sure to make Lucius suspicious.

Snape let the paper fall from his fingers onto the desktop as if it was dirty. "He has been asking how you are and whether you have made any new friends this year. I was surprised to hear that he is putting aside his belief in House animosity."

Draco sat upright at that, sure he knew what was coming next.

Snape flipped the letter open and pretended to scan through it. "Ah yes, here he mentions his wishes to see you extend a courteous hand to a member of Gryffindor. He's heard about our new student and thinks this would be a perfect opportunity to show how his son is capable of maturity and civility." Snape looked up, an unreadable expression in his eyes. "Well, Draco? Are you capable of those things?"

Draco worded his response carefully. "I'm sure that if I were to strike up a friendship with anyone from an outside house it would not be necessary to promote it. I would do so only for my own reasons, no one else's."

Snape eyed him silently for a moment before the corners of his lips lifted slightly. He dropped the letter and pressed the tip of his wand against it. There was a brief flare of light as flames consumed the piece of paper, leaving a tiny pile of ash on the surface of the desk.

"Very good, Draco." Snape continued, completely at ease. "But I would offer a word of warning. Negligence in mollifying your father will result in his interest being peaked. You are an advanced student, after all. It would appear to him that you would have little else to do with your time here besides write to him. He does not need to suspect that there are other things consuming your time."

Draco nodded warily. He wasn't sure just how much Snape guessed at and he wasn't about to volunteer anything.

"Now," Snape said, brushing the pile of ash off his desk. "During our last meeting you asked what my admissions of my past meant. Shall we pick up from there?"

Distracted immediately, Draco nodded eagerly.

Snape wiped a hand across his forehead as if tired. "I still believe it too dangerous to try and protect Narcissa and yourself. I have spent many nights pondering what the best course of action is."

"I wouldn't have left Hogwarts anyway, Sir." Draco put in. He had too many reasons to stay now. Bright and shining at the front was Aera.

Snape gave him a strange look but continued without hesitation. "Whilst I dislike . . . perhaps that is too gentle a word, but it will do. Whilst I dislike Mr Potter and his friends, I cannot deny that he is to play a large part in You-Know-Who's future and demise. Dumbledore is hoping for a carefully planned attack that will ensure the Light's victory. I cannot agree with him on this point. I believe he has overlooked a vital point."

Draco perked up at this. He had not expected to be sitting here discussing battle plans with his teacher. He also wasn't sure at what point Snape had decided to volunteer so much information and thoughts.

"You see, the Prophet's Elixir you will be concocting next week is critical. I discovered that the Dark Lord has been using such a potion regularly over the past few weeks. It is a clever, ingenious idea. I realise that you have studied the potion in class, but forgive me for going over a few of the finer points once more. You have to understand this."

Snape stood and walked over to a cabinet by the wall. He opened the door and pulled out a flask and tumbler. Pouring a small amount of amber liquid from one into the other he resumed his seat. He took a sip, contemplating where to start.

"The Prophet's Elixir does not give us a definite outcome of the future. Our lives are made up of choices and thus each decision made leads to a new possible future. For example, Monday for me will be full of classes, yet if I was to decide over the weekend that I was to take that day off, a new series of options become available. You understand?"

"Yes Sir." This had all been covered in class.

"Well, then try to imagine what would happen if Dumbledore and his precious Potter were to decide to attack the Dark Lord next month. They would spend time planning, plotting. Their choice would be made, their assault determined. Thus, if the Dark Lord were to take the Elixir, it would show him what their plan was." Snape stopped to take another draught of the amber liquid.

Draco sat staring into the distance. He understood now, all right. A planned attack on You-Know-Who would be seen by him and could only result in disaster. He had followers of great magical strength on his side. Potter could never win in an all-out fight.

"Sir, what's the Elixir for then? To see what his plans are?" Draco asked.

Snape shook his head. "No, we are not responsible for protecting the common folk from his fury. That is the Ministry's job. Besides, a person who partakes of the Elixir can only see what is predicted regarding them. And extended use of it is damaging, just as with any potion. The Dark Lord does not value his own health like we do." Snape added with a hint of humour. "I intend on giving the potion to someone who will be directly involved in any attack on the Dark Lord. You don't need to know who. But it may give us a glimmer of what we could achieve by a particular path."

Draco felt a moment's suspicion. Was it Aera that he referred to so elusively? Don't be stupid. He doesn't know who she is, and besides, she might not be involved in any fight with You-Know-Who so she's hardly a dependable source.

"Our only option, therefore," Snape said, though he sounded somewhat unsure. "Is to launch a surprise attack. As the only person with inside information, I can source where the Dark Lord will be and how many of his followers will be with him. But Potter would never trust my information and Dumbledore refuses to allow his prized student to walk into a battle without a plan. This is where you come in, Draco."

Draco felt a mixture of fear and excitement at finally understanding what part he was to play. Suddenly there was a reason for him, rather than an expectation of a son to follow in his father's footsteps. He leaned forward eagerly.

"I set you the task of somehow feeding Potter the information when the time comes. He cannot know it comes from me. He will need to act without hesitation. Can you do that?"

"Of course, Sir." Draco replied quickly. The elation of being involved in such an immense, significant strategy made him determined to find the way. He already knew the obvious one, Aera's trust in Draco would mean she could easily pass the information on. It would be all too easy. After all, they themselves had discussed how she could be the 'spy', gleaning information from him, the enemy, and passing it to her brother.

"Then that is all for this evening. Do not forget to write to your father, reassure him that all is well. You must practice covertness for he cannot suspect that anything is amiss. I will cover for you and let him know about you working extra hours for credit in my class." Snape was obviously finished for the evening. He drained the last of his glass and set it down with finality on the table-top, standing and turning for the door to his private quarters.

"Good night, Professor." Draco said, grabbing his bag from the floor.

Out in the corridor, Draco suddenly realised that it was nearly seven o'clock. Panic made his heart hammer against his chest and he launched himself forward. He had to find a place to hide before the others got there or Aera wouldn't get her chance to reveal her secrets. That thought seemed terribly tempting but Draco fought it down. He would do what was right by Aera.

Climbing the stairs three at a time he wondered what the night's event's would bring.

All he could hope for was that Aera would come out of it satisfied. He wasn't sure what he would do if Harry hurt her but he was pretty sure it would conflict with what his Potion's Professor's wanted.


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Severus closed the door to his private quarters behind him and sat heavily in the large chair in front of the open fire. He knew he had just laid himself bare to a young man who could easily turn cheek and run back home to daddy but he couldn't make himself feel scared of that.

He had spent so many years trying to amend the mistakes he had made so long ago. He had never succeeded and knew he probably never would. But now there was a light on the horizon, something that could destroy his evil master forever. Dumbledore refused to see that his own strategy was pointless. He could scheme for as long as he wanted and Potter would still fail to triumph. There was only one alternative and Severus was determined to follow that.

It would work. But at what cost? Draco was clearly happy to help, that was a bonus Snape had never foreseen. What was digging away at Snape's mind was the fact that he was dragging the one person he didn't want to, into this.

Few people understood the connection between twins, how closely tied they were. Sharing a womb seemed to open up pathways between minds that were impossible to mimic.

It would be unlikely that Potter would take the Prophet's Elixir and report back on what he divined. But Aera could, and probably would. She appeared to be eager to help in this fight and this was a sure way to get some answers. Snape ran a weary hand across his face, covering his eyes.

He would use Aera.
And he would hate himself for it.

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Aw poor Snape!!!

Ok, I know your waiting impatiently for the final unveiling... but I haven't finished it yet so you're going to have to wait a little longer!!

Keep your eyes open, it'll be up soon!

Aera xx