Born Under A Bad Sign

Very Special Thanks to Betas Archana, Kyli, and Sharte, and Brit-Picker Ruth.

Thank-yous for reviewers Ayla Pascal, F0xyness39, and EmiV. Smilies for you all!

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- AC/DC

Draco awoke the next morning well rested. Unfortunately on checking his watch he found this was because he´d overslept once again. Resigning himself to missing breakfast, he rifled through Crabbe´s duffel and came up with a box of pumpkin pasties and some chocolate milk, which he ate on the way to Potions. Fortunately the Potions dungeon was near the Slytherin common room, and he was only a little late. Snape looked down his nose as Draco entered.

"Mr. Malfoy, I can understand you sleeping through Divination, but if you are late to my class again, I´m afraid you´ll have detention. Make a note of it." Draco ignored Snape and sat down between Blaise and Crabbe. Potions was a double class with the Gryffindors, and he was the last one to arrive, so Snape began with the lesson.

"On Professor Flitwick´s insistence, we will be making an all-purpose counteracting potion today to replenish the school´s stocks. You learned this one last year, so I expect most of you to be able to complete it satisfactorily. Although given the destructive tendencies of this particular class, I won´t be holding my breath. Yes, I´m referring to you, Longbottom, so please mind your cauldron carefully. Your ingredients are next to the wall, over there." He waved his hand vaguely. "You may begin."

The Slytherins had first pick of the ingredients, as they were closer by. While the cauldron simmered, Draco threw chokecherries at Neville. One landed in his cauldron, splashing his hand with hot liquid and causing him to flail wildly and poke Dean Thomas in the eye. Snape looked up angrily.

"Longbottom, what has Thomas done to provoke that sort of reprisal?"

Neville stuttered fearfully. "It was an accident, Professor. I got splashed by the potion, and it was hot..."

"Spare me your whining, Longbottom. Ten points from Gryffindor. One more infraction like that and you have detention."

Draco, out of cherries, sat watching the cauldron bubble, resting his chin on his hands.

"I can´t believe they started school so much earlier," grumped Blaise.

"We woulda just been just on the express today, normally," said Crabbe.

"Yep," said Draco listlessly, "it wouldn´t be so bad, except nothing interesting has happened yet. We have to do something; the first Hogsmeade weekend isn´t for a month. I'm so bored, I could almost go home. At least last year we had the Tournament to keep us occupied."

"Hey, I heard that a few of the seventh-years sneaked out to Hogsmeade a few days back," said Blaise. "Maybe we could do that." Draco was about to respond when Snape walked by.

"Mind your cauldron, Draco," he said softly. Draco looked to his furiously bubbling cauldron, and quickly took it off of the heat. "Maybe you should have stayed in bed," muttered Snape, as he turned to check on the Gryffindors.

Later that day at lunch, Draco tried to ignore Pansy Parkinson.

"That had to be the single worst Care of Magical Creatures Class we´ve ever had. I can´t believe they still let that Hagrid teach. I mean, he didn´t even tell us what those things were! He just made us feed them! For three hours, and I had to touch that stuff-"

"Pansy," said Blaise calmly,

"What?"

"Shut up. For the common good." Pansy made a face at Blaise and turned back to her food. "Hey Draco, I kept your newspaper from breakfast. Want to see it?"

"Yeah, give it here." The Daily Prophet was wrinkled, and bore the headline "More Attacks: Five Muggles, One Witch Dead in London Suburb." "Huh. How about that," said Draco with a smile, and read the rest of the article calmly. "Mother of two Christina Cauldwell, 43, and her second husband, a muggle, were found dead in their flat outside London. Four more bodies, all muggle acquaintances, were found in an adjacent room. The Dark Mark was carved into the forearms of all the victims..."

Draco scanned the Great Hall for the rest of the student Death Eaters. Danielle and Julia were laughing about something, Angus was singing loudly and playing the air guitar at the Hufflepuff table, and Arienne was snuggling with Roger Davies. "God, I hate Davies," said Draco under his breath. Blaise and Crabbe looked at him.

"Why?" asked Blaise, looking over at the Ravenclaw table. "Oh, I see. Wow, she´s-"

"I know," interrupted Draco. "I know...damn it." He returned to reading the paper.

Ever since Jenna had found out about the secret passageway to Hogsmeade, the word had spread through the older Slytherins like wildfire. The outing for that evening was well planned. The seventh-years had bribed Peeves with a pie, and he was trashing an empty classroom two floors above the passage entrance. Draco relaxed in his chair, glaring at the presumptuous first-years who had once tried to take it from him. Seeing Jenna walk by, he called her over.

"You remembered to tell Angus and Arienne about the party tonight, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, of course. I hope we can get all those people down the halls without anyone noticing."

"It´ll be fine. It´s getting all those people back in quietly after they´re drunk that I´m worried about," said Draco with a smirk.

"Hey!" a seventh-year Prefect called down the stairs, "we´re ready to go. Fifth- and sixth-years first, and stay quiet."

Draco walked with Jenna and Blaise down the corridor towards the passageway. "Why didn´t you tell me there was a party earlier?" asked Blaise, "I would´ve worn my good robes."

"I was about to, but Snape distracted me. And you´ll probably spill something on your robes anyway." They continued down the corridor.

"Wait," said Draco suddenly as they turned a corner and saw the statue, "I have to sneeze." Someone uttered a muffled curse, and Blaise immediately plugged Draco´s nose. "Joking, joking. Calm, my friends."

When they came to the statue above the passageway, they saw that it was already open. Arienne, Angus, Roger Davies and five or six others from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw stood in the tunnel, looking up at them.

"Oh, good, there you are," said Davies. "We thought this might be a Slytherin prank or something."

"A true Slytherin would rather party than prank, Davies," said Draco with a curl of his lip. "The others will be along soon. Let´s go."

Madame Rosmerta grinned when she saw the students enter the Three Broomsticks.

"Ever since you students found a way out here, business has been good. I foresee a profitable year." She smiled broadly as they sat down on the various barstools. "How about a round of butterbeers on the house? Just to get you warmed up." There was a hearty cheer from the Slytherins, and thank-yous from the others. As Draco finished his butterbeer, the Slytherin seventh-years entered.

"How about we get some Bacardi and lime juice out here, Madame?" said Erik loudly.

"Whoever´s in charge of these alcohol companies, they´re really smart," said Jenna into Draco´s ear. "Most big companies, they´ve got outlets in both the magical and muggle worlds."

"Whoever´s in charge, they´re probably Slytherin," replied Draco.

Amid the plentiful pitchers of butterbeer and less plentiful amounts of hard drink, as well as the students consuming them, Draco hunted down Roger Davies. "Roadhouse Blues", a cover of The Doors´ classic performed by Merlin, Inc. resounded through the Three Broomsticks. Angus Scott was singing along loudly, again, despite frequent shouts of "Shut the bloody hell up, Scott!" Draco waved for Roger to come over.

"Whatta you want, Malfoy?" he shouted above the noise.

"Well, I just wanted to talk, you know," replied Draco. "I spent some time with Arienne over the summer. She´s a great girl, you´re lucky to have her."

"Damn right," said Davies, swaying slightly. "And a demon in the sack."

"Mm. Good to hear. Anyway, I figured anyone she likes couldn´t be that bad, so I figured, why not try to be friendly."

"I dunno, Malfoy, you don´t seem like the friendly type to me. I think you´re...Up To Something...haha. Jus´ kidding. It´s all good."

Draco laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Here, let me buy you a drink, alright?"

While Roger downed his drink, Draco talked. "Now, if you want to really know what a Slytherin party´s like, you gotta get some women, Roger. See, I´ve got my Pansy," he waved his arm in her direction and repressed a shudder, "and then I´ve got my Jenna. And the others, yeah them too. Hey! Jenna! Over here!"

Jenna had a bottle of butterbeer in her hand, and her hair was mussed. "Whatchoo want, Drakey?" Draco winced.

"Roger wanted to talk to you. I think he likes you. Either that or his drinks like you..."

Davies looked confused. "What? I didn´t say-" he whispered, but Draco interrupted him.

"Go with it, my friend. And here, have another drink. It´s on me." Draco handed him a shot of Ogden´s Old Firewhisky.

"Ugh," winced Roger as he drank it. "That´s uhhh...strong." Jenna was staring at him, her glassy eyes wide. She moved to put her hand on his shoulder, but swayed violently and fell into his lap. Draco smiled, and stood up.

"I´ll just leave you two lovebirds to it, okay? I still have time to get roaring drunk...like everyone else." Only he didn´t. He went and searched out Arienne, who was talking to Julia and Danielle in a corner booth.

"Hi, ladies. You talking about business or pleasure?"

Julia frowned. "We were complaining about our men. They´ve all gotten drunk, stupid and smelly. At least when we´re drunk we´re still sensible."

"Speak for yourself," said Danielle with a grin. "Last party I was at, I ended up pissing in a ditch. Say, you don´t look that drunk, Draco. What´ve you been doing? Even we´re drunker than you."

"Oh, just talking. Making drunk people do stupid things. And I don´t think drunker´s a word. I was just talking to Angus..." Suddenly an earsplitting voice split the crowd.

"Well, I´m standing NEXT to a mountain, and I chop it DOWN, with the EDGE of my hand!" There was a loud crash, and Draco winced.

"He didn´t listen to me, much, though."

Madame Rosmerta, standing on a stool, seemed quite put out. "Alright, that´s enough! Everyone out, everyone out. You should go back to school, get some sleep. I hope to all the gods you know anti-hangover spells..."

As the sodden students slowly drifted out the door, Draco caught a glimpse of Jenna and Roger making out on the floor, amidst discarded mugs.

"Hey Arienne, isn´t that your boyfriend over there with Jenna?" he asked innocently.

"Where? Oh, god...he is so dead." She walked swiftly over to the Davies and slapped him hard across the face. "You...Roger Davies, you man- whore! How dare you! I don´t care how drunk you are, you will regret this. I will personally make your life a living hell..." Jenna scrambled away and clung to Draco.

"It could go on like this for hours," said Draco softly, a smile dancing across his face. "Jenna, go back with the rest of them. And...thank you." He followed at a safe distance as Roger fled back towards Honeydukes and the entrance to the secret passage back to Hogwarts, with Arienne shouting expletives at him.

Arienne saw Draco coming along behind her and turned. "Now I feel like getting drunk. Let´s go to the Hog´s Head." Draco shook his head.

"As a Slytherin, I advise against it. It is the sharp mind that plots the best revenge. Davies won´t remember a thing in the morning, just forget him. If you need any help, though, just ask. I´m here for you, I know how hard it is."

Arienne looked sympathetic, and put her arm around his waist as they walked back to Honeydukes. "Oh, you were with Jenna, weren´t you?"

"Erm...yes, yes I was. It´s hard, thinking you love someone, and finding out they don´t love you back. We Death Eaters are supposed to betray, not get betrayed. Ah, well here we are."

They stepped through a broken window at Honeydukes and walked back down the passageway.

"Well, I´ll see you at breakfast, I suppose," said Draco as they stood in the corridor.

"Yeah, breakfast should be an interesting affair," said Arienne, with a bittersweet smile. "All those hung-over people..." Draco turned to go.

"Draco, wait. Thank you for being there for me...you were very kind."

"Well. That´s something you don´t hear every day," said Draco with a grin. Arienne leaned forward and kissed him quickly.

"Thank you. I mean it," she said, then turned and walked hurriedly down the corridor to the Ravenclaw common room. Draco turned as well, and returned to the dungeons, wondering how this would all look in the light of morning.

Draco and Julia appeared to be the only partygoers unaffected by the events of the previous night. Arienne´s eyes were red; she had been crying. Roger Davies had a large lump on his forehead, and every Slytherin fifth-year and up looked to have suffered a vicious attack of insomnia. Under the headline Ministry Vows Renewed Efforts to Root Out Death Eaters, an article read Hogsmeade Honeydukes vandalized; Various Undergarments found at scene. Draco laughed out loud and pointed out the article to Blaise, but he only moaned. Crabbe´s head rested peacefully in his porridge, and he was snoring loudly. Draco looked over as Dumbledore stood up.

"I have heard some fairly alarming reports as to the events of last night. As a result, we will be performing the Sobrius Charm on every member of the student body. The charm detects any alcohol in the body that has been consumed in the past twenty-four hours. Those failing the charm will be given detention, and pay part of the repair cost at Honeydukes. While I respect the young mind´s need to be entertained, I will not tolerate the destruction of property by students of this school. And, would Draco Malfoy please come to my office. That is all."

Draco paced nervously in the corridor outside the headmaster´s office as Dumbledore walked up.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, there you are. There´s no need to be worried, someone just arrived for you, and I wanted to talk to you about it. Let´s go up to my office, shall we? Fizzing Whizbee," said Dumbledore to the stone gargoyle. Draco noticed it had a chip out of its goatee.

"Now, let´s get down to business, shall we? I´m sure you don´t want to miss out on your classmates failing the Sobrius Charm. Mr. Roland, if you don´t mind."

A tall man wearing elegant black robes and an expensive-looking white shirt and hat stood up from a beanbag chair behind Dumbledore´s desk. "Draco, this is Mr. Bob Roland. Your mother sent him to you, odd as it may seem, to act as your secretary. It is beyond me why you need a secretary, Mr. Malfoy, but Mr. Roland has already spent the money he was given to take this job on that ridiculous hat, and he insists he must work at least a week here, as per his contract. Therefore, you will be provided with Mr. Roland´s services for one week, and one week only. You may go. You too, Mr. Roland."

Draco returned to the common room, having missed most of Herbology, and found that there had been no Herbology. Rather, Snape was finishing the administrations of the Sobrius Charm when Draco walked in. Blaise was regaling all of the other Slytherins condemned to detention with a joke.

"And in the springtime, the elks come down from the hills for their annual convention and gather around the water hole. You should see them run when they find out it´s only a watering hole...what they´re looking for is an alco-hole." There were resounding cheers and laughter from all sides. Draco smiled smugly as he passed the charm. Jenna came over to him, looking upset.

"I´ve got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it, Draco. I can´t remember much of what happened last night, but what I can has me making a complete ass of myself. I´ll wager it has something to do with you, and now you go and pass this charm? You´re such a smarmy bastard!"

"Jenna, please," responded Draco. "We´re Slytherins. This is how we are. You´re just upset because I out smarmy-bastarded you."

"Erm...ok, then. But I`m still mad at you. And Davies. Bloody Davies..."

"Yes, yes," said Draco soothingly. "Always bloody Davies." He laughed, and sang softly as he went up to his dorm to get his Transfiguration textbook.

"Well, I woke up this morning, and got myself a butterbeer...The future´s uncertain and the end is always near...Let it roll, baby, roll..."

"Draco, shut up," said Blaise, coming up beside him. "You´re almost as bad as that guy at the party. What class do we have?"

"DADA," replied Draco. "Hey! Roland!" Draco´s secretary hurried down the corridor after them. "Blaise, this is my secretary, Bob Roland. I wrote my mother and told her to send me a secretary...you gave me the idea, actually." He turned to Roland. "Take a letter."

"To whom, master Draco?" asked Bob, taking a piece of parchment from the pocket of his robes.

"To my hair stylist." Draco dictated clearly, "Dear hairstylist, in regards to last month´s service, please find enclosed cheque for twenty-seven galleons. Send that off immediately."

"Erm, I´ll have to enclose the cheque first."

Draco grinned. "You do and I´ll fire you."

Roland looked slightly confused, but did as Draco asked, finishing the letter and starting off in the direction of the Owlery.

"Wait, I was joking. Send the cheque off too."

Blaise and Draco met up with Crabbe and avoided Pansy and Millicent on the way to the DADA classroom, where they sat at the back of the class. Professor Patterson was dressed, as usual, in somewhat outdated brown robes that made him look like a monk.

"Well, as I hope you all remember, we will be having a test tomorrow on the subjects we have covered so far. Therefore, we´ll have a brief review before beginning today´s lesson. Who can give me an accurate definition of the Dark Arts?" No one responded. "Mr. Malfoy, how about you? Your answer on our quiz was quite well stated."

Draco thought for a moment, trying to remember what he´d written. "The Dark Arts are classified as any spells interfering with the free will of another person, or designed to cause lasting physical harm. The term `Dark Magic´ can apply to potions and wards as well as magic done using a wand. Not all Dark Magic causes physical or emotional pain or stress to the target; likewise, magic that does so is not always dark." Professor Patterson smiled.

"Very well put, Draco. You have an eloquent manner to your work, I have noticed. Now, who can tell me some of the physical and mental effects of continued use of the Dark Arts? Miss Bulstrode?"

Millicent checked her notes. "Frequent or excessive use of Dark Magic can cause a widening of the arteries and often results in an unhealthy weight loss, inner ear dysfunction, and dulling of the secondary senses, taste and hearing. Also," she glanced down again, "depending on individual body chemistry, a number of Dark Magic spells have addictive properties, including an emotional rush resulting from use."

"Thank you, Miss Bulstrode. Remember you won´t have your notes tomorrow, though. Also you could have mentioned that the `dark rush´ accompanying certain spells results from a swelling of the brainstem. You will be required to give at least two examples of potentially addictive spells on the test." Professor Patterson left the room briefly, and returned with a large folder and a box containing several mice.

"Eurgh, mice," exclaimed Pansy loudly. "We don´t have to touch them, do we?"

"You may refrain from touching the mice if you wish, Miss Parkinson, though in some cases it may be beneficial. You are to form groups of three, and determine, within a set time, if these mice are under the influence of certain dark potions, and if so, which mice are affected by which potions. You will then spend the rest of the class writing out what ingredients these potions are made of, their effects, and how to counteract them. Malfoy, Zabini, Crabbe you may begin first. Girls, please use this time to research the potions using your textbooks."

From outside the Great Hall, Draco could hear Dumbledore´s voice giving an announcement.

"As Professor Snape is away on family business for the week, there will be no Potions classes." At this a cheer went up from the Gryffindor table, but it was quickly squelched as Dumbledore continued. "However, Professor Snape has given Professor McGonagall a list of assignments to be handed out. He tells me he expects them to be done up to his usual standards on his return." Draco wondered at this; he was aware, as few others were, that the Snape family was powerful on the wizarding mob scene.

Draco took his seat and was helping himself to Yorkshire Pudding when he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Arienne.

"Can we talk?" she asked with a smile.

"Why do girls always want to talk?"

"´Cause there´s nothing else to do, that´s why," replied Arienne. "Why do guys always want to eat?"

"Same reason," said Draco with a grin. "Fine, let´s go somewhere else. Davies is glaring at us," said Draco, and pointed. Arienne´s eyes narrowed, and she pushed Draco towards one of the staircases leading out of the Great Hall.

"So, how long do you think it´ll be before there´s another party?" asked Arienne as they walked up the stairs.

"Considering how long some of the other Slytherins are in detentions for, I wouldn´t expect anything `till after Christmas. Although Hogsmeade weekends could be interesting if we can stay away from the teachers."

"Yeah, Dumbledore wasn´t pleased about all the wreckage at Honeydukes, was he? Whatever happened to that crate of Fizzing Whizbees, anyway?" asked Arienne

"Oh, the seventh-year guys have it hidden somewhere in their dorm. They were selling them at three times the regular price, but Julia stole a bunch and started undercutting them. It´s a regular price war in our common room." Arienne laughed.

"Remind me never to buy anything from a Slytherin, okay?" said Arienne. Draco smiled.

"Speaking of that, I´ve got my hands on a new Nimbus 2002 Deluxe. I´ll sell you my old 2001 below cost if you like."

"No thanks, I´m happy with my ´93 Skylark. It´s got a much softer ride, not that I fly much anyway." Students began drifting by as lunch ended.

"Now look what you, did, I´ve missed lunch," said Draco. Arienne handed him an apple from her duffel.

"There, you happy?" Draco bit into the apple, chewed, and spat the peel over the edge of the staircase.

"Hey look, there´s Davies. He´s still glaring at us," said Draco, shooting the Ravenclaw a sadistic grin.

"Oh, is he? I´ll give him something to be mad about. Come here." She pulled Draco close and kissed him fiercely. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco saw Davies turn very red and look away angrily.

"Arienne, any time you need help getting your revenge on Davies, I´d be only to happy to oblige you." Just then Professor McGonagall cleared her throat behind Draco, causing him to jump.

"Miss Clarke, Mr. Malfoy, kindly hold such rampant displays of affection in a more private area in the future. I´m sure the student body does not want to be treated to such a spectacle."

"Well, I think the student body enjoyed it," said Arienne as McGonagall left.

"Ha, that´s `cause they´re a bunch of sad no-hopers, I´ll wager," said Draco. "I think we should take McGonagall´s advice. Why don´t we go up to the Astronomy Tower? It´s a full moon tonight." Draco blushed slightly as he spoke.

"Erm...sounds good. I doubt we´ll see the moon, though. It´s too cloudy. Still, we can howl back at the werewolves in the forest if we get bored." Draco laughed.

"I´ve got to go to class. See you tonight! I´ll bring along some Whizbees of questionable quality."

"See you," replied Arienne as she went back down the stairs to join some fellow Ravenclaws.

Reclining in his high-backed chair, Voldemort steepled his long fingers and appraised the Death Eaters seated around the highly polished oak table. The creaking of the ancient stone door roused him from his thoughts; the sign he had placed on the door clearly read "Death Eater High Council: Do Not Disturb." Voldemort looked up to see Severus Snape standing in the doorway.

"Severus," the Dark Lord said coldly, "can you not read? You are lucky I have not cursed you yet. Explain yourself."

"I told Dumbledore I had family business, and he gave me leave. I will be here for three days before leaving for my sister´s home in Brighton."

"Dumbledore let you go? Surely he knows what your family´s `business´ is, no?" said Liam Avery sharply.

"Peace, Liam," said Voldemort calmly. "We know how cunning Severus is, I have no doubt he legitimately fooled Dumbledore. He has done it in the past, after all." He turned to look into Snape´s eyes. "As you are here for only three days, make certain you catch up on our plans. Give your report on Hogwarts, and I will provide you with your assignment. Make it brief, we have a high council to finish."

"Well, my Lord," said Snape smoothly, "there really isn´t much to report. They know, of course, that you have the quill, but they still cannot think of any purpose its theft could have. A number of Slytherin students, some Ravenclaws, and one Hufflepuff were responsible for a swath of destruction in Hogsmeade; they evidently have a secret way out of the school. There is a chance we could use this passageway if we can find its location. And the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Silas Patterson, is surprisingly competent. If any of our people encounter him I would advise caution. That is all." Snape bowed low.

"Thank you, Severus, you choose your subjects of interest wisely as always. You are to inform Dumbledore that we are planning to attack muggles near Diagon Alley in the evening two days from now. What we will actually do is release a pair of giants here," he gestured to a large map projected behind him. "These will create a large amount of destruction amongst the muggles and occupy the Ministry´s attention for a significant amount of time. That is all." Snape immediately left.

"I still think you should have cursed him, my Lord," said Avery. "Such behavior, barging in here, is not acceptable, least of all for a traitorous spy."

Amanita Lestrange responded to him coldly. "We do not want either him or Dumbledore to suspect subterfuge. He will, of course, tell Dumbledore everything. This will allow us to use the distraction created by the giants to its full potential. Both the Ministry and the muggles will be involved with containing the situation, allowing for us to undertake whatever operations we see necessary. You are going to continue with the plan you proposed last week, my Lord?" she asked.

"Yes, for now. We are still ironing out the bugs, of course. Speaking of bugs, Jocelyn, if you don´t mind?" A short and very thin man stood up and waved his wand in the air.

"Speculatoris Auceps Magus!" he said in a firm voice. Nothing happened.

"Ah, excellent," said Antony Vittorio Sr., "we may proceed, then? I presume, my Lord, that you are going to move ahead with your plan regarding the-" Voldemort put up a hand to stop him.

"Check for muggle devices as well, Jocelyn. I want to be certain."

"Speculatoris Auceps Stultus!" said Jocelyn, and a silver light flickered from a crack in the floor. Avery stood up and pulled a small device from the crack.

"Let me see it," said Voldemort. Avery tossed the bug to him, and he examined it closely for a minute, then crushed it in his hand. "This device was of cunning design. I believe it could hear us, even through such heavy concentrations of magic as are in this castle. I smell the Department of Mysteries behind this...Rookwood!" A tall, formal-looking man with auburn hair stood up and bowed slightly.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Was your Department involved in the making of such devices at any time?" said Voldemort harshly.

"Let me think...yes, there was a time, shortly before I was captured, I believe...yes, that was during the years of magic-muggle co-operation just before you left us, my Lord. There was a significant amount of effort put into integrating magic with muggle technology. There was even talk of re-orienting the entire Department to deal with technologies, but I don´t know anything else about that." Voldemort smiled.

"We must be more careful. From what Rookwood tells us, I believe the Unspeakables are operating as liaisons between the Ministry and the muggle government, and probably even working in complete co-operation with the muggles´ military...we tread a thin line here. We need an agent in the Department of Mysteries. Still, we will go ahead with the plan, in time. But I will not take unnecessary risks. We will proceed cautiously, and continue to sow dissent and terror...when our power has grown, the time will come. The muggles will be removed from among us, once and for all..."

Severus Snape tossed the now-useless muggle device into the fire and listened to the electronic sputter as it melted. Three days of mixing with Death Eaters and their ilk, he thought to himself with a wince.

"It could be worse," he said to himself, "I could be teaching." There was a soft tapping at the door. Snape got up and stood so that if the door opened he would be concealed.

"I´m looking for Severus Snape," said a smooth voice. "I have a letter." Snape opened the door cautiously, and a well-groomed man in slightly outdated robes entered. Closing the door behind the man, Snape took out his wand.

"Who are you? I have not seen you before."

"My name´s Bond...James Bond. I received this letter by owl just a few minutes ago; it is addressed to you." The letter was stamped with the Hogwarts seal, and Snape broke it quickly. The handwriting was Dumbledore´s.

Severus,

I pray you are well. The man who delivered this message to you is in a similar situation as you. I advise you to co-ordinate your efforts as much as possible, I am told he is resourceful and has excellent instincts. Take care of yourself, or, as Alastor would say, Constant Vigilance!

1. Dumbledore

Snape turned to Bond.

"Have you read this? It mentions you, though not by name."

"I didn´t read it, no. Would you mind?" Snape read the letter aloud.

"Hmm, so you´re a double agent?" asked Snape cautiously, instinctively blocking the door to prevent escape if Bond was not the one the letter mentioned.

"Yes, I am. I was the one who provided that device for you to use, on my superior´s orders. I see you´ve disposed of it."

"Yes, it didn´t do much good after the Dark Lord discovered it. I take it you´re with the Department of Mysteries, then?"

"I have worked with the your Ministry in the past, but actually, I work for British Intelligence." Snape was, for once, wide-eyed.

"Then...you´re a muggle?"