In the Shadows

Chapter 1

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

No moon hung in the sky that night. It was anything but clear--clouds of deep black-grey loomed overhead. Dark anticipation and passion for power penetrated the air. Dark cloaked figures adorning white masks formed a circle. A centuries old ash tree stood behind the circle, branches spreading out, hovering over half the circle. Several magically produced balls of blue light hovered in the middle, illuminating some while casting others in shadow.

There were six of them. Six had knelt in the middle of the circle before the Dark Lord. Five had vowed their allegiance to the Dark Lord. Five swore on everything they owned, everything their ancient families owned, to rid the world of Mudbloods. Five swore on their very lives to aid in achieving this ultimate goal by any means necessary. Five had accepted the Dark Mark upon their skin. Five had kissed the hems of the Dark Lord's robes in thanks. Five new Death Eaters stood behind the last one.

Like the others, the young man was knelt in front of the Dark Lord looking at the ground. Strands of ebony hair fell across his pale face. He dared not move. The blue light shining across half his face gave it an angelic luminosity, the other half, shrouded in darkness. The leaves adorning the branches of the ash tree hanging above rustled slightly. The breeze danced across the circle. The young man watched the sand shift ever so slightly. The light wavered gently on his face.

Power.

He could feel it in the air he breathed. He could feel it caressing his skin in the breeze. Power. That is what they all wanted. Power. He was a pureblood and just as good as those that stood behind him and circled him. No longer would he live a life surrounded by events out of his control, surrounded by ridicule, surrounded by fear. He wanted the power--he was hungry for it. Soon, he would have such power to make those who tormented him whimper and beg for mercy. His power would grow with the Dark Lord. His defenses would be unbreakable. No longer would he be the cowering little boy in the corner.

The Death Eaters were all silent as Lord Voldemort hissed.

"Severus Snape."

Slowly, the dark eyes of Severus' rose from the ground looking up to the Dark Lord.

"Yes, my lord?"

"You wish to be one of my Death Eaters?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Why, Mr. Snape, why do you want to be a Death Eater?"

Severus was silent for a moment.

"I wish to offer my services in continuing the work of Salazar Slytherin. I wish to cleanse our world of all filth."

"You do have a special gift when it comes to potion making. That may indeed come in handy, but I must ask--where do your loyalties lie?"

"With you, my lord."

Lord Voldemort stood in silence watching Severus Snape. The snake like man reached down for Severus' arm. His fingers were like ice as they snaked around his wrist. Lifting his arm up, he turned it over and pointed his wand. The words were not spoken aloud, but worked just as well. Severus watched on his arm as black lines wriggled over his skin as if someone was drawing the Mark. Pain seared as it formed, burning black. A slight noise escaped the back of Severus' throat. Lord Voldemort smiled in warped satisfaction. Severus refused to let any other signs of discomfort or pains escape him. Sweat seeped from his pores intensifying the feel of the air around him. Then, the icy fingers of Voldemort reached across his skin, sending a shot of white-hot pain through his entire body and then...nothing. Severus looked down at the Mark and saw the black lines faded away. It looked like nothing more than a brand upon the skin now. He kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes before he was told to stand.

A masked Death Eater stepped out of the circle at Voldemort's command. He held robe and masks for the six new Death Eaters. From there they were given their places in the circle. Everyone stood in the circle. Lord Voldemort walked around as he spoke of tasks that were given--some completed successfully and some failed.

"Step forward."

Voldemort was raging about one particular failed task. The Death Eater in question stepped forward. Voldemort stood in front of the Death Eater and looked down at him as if he were a piece of dirt. The anxiety that circled around the Death Eaters slowly died back when the Death Eater was pointed out. Relief replaced the anxiety.

"Tell me, do I typically tolerate failure?"

The Death Eater stared at the ground not wanting to look the Dark Lord in the eye.

"No, my lord."

The Death Eater's voice was low and strangled. It seemed no one could hear the voice except for the Dark Lord.

"Then what would make you believe I would tolerate yours?" Within seconds, Voldemort raised his wand.

"Crucio!"

Severus watched the man writhing on the ground without a flicker of empathy or sympathy for him. The Death Eater let out a soft cry of pain and Severus noted the femininity in the Death Eater's voice. He coldly watched the black fabric of the robes rest against the side of the Death Eater as he twisted and turned on his side. Severus' eyes traced the Death Eater's form noticing the curves of the body. Amidst the Death Eater's writhing on the floor a strand of hair fell from the hood of the cloak. A strand of curly honey tinged brown hair fell out resting across the Death Eater's mask. Severus felt an electrical shock run through him as he realized this Death Eater was a woman. Voldemort held the curse until it would seem the woman would go insane from pain. At the last second Voldemort lifted his wand away from the woman.

"Do not do it again."

The gathering ended with a warning: there would be another one soon. Everyone disapparated back to where ever they were prior to being called. Severus disapparated back home.

He stood on the dimly lit corner of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. A dark dingy pub called the Saracen's Head stood there. Severus stood on the corner looking toward the entrance on Knockturn Alley. Looking up he saw a darkened window above the Saracen's Head over looking Diagon Alley. It appeared empty and void of anything human. He stepped onto Knockturn Alley heading toward the entrance of the pub. Looking in the window near the entrance, he could see the patrons. Many sat at the bar alone nursing a firewhiskey. A large group of wizards sat around a table with wizarding cards and the table was littered with sickles, knuts, and galleons. Two men sat at another table--one held his wand on the man across from him from under the table. In a dark corner, two wizards whispered in secrecy.

Severus caught his reflection in the glass. He stared at it for a moment. His pale skin seemed to glow in the glass. A strand of black hair cut across his face. He stared into his own black orbs. It was as if he was looking at someone else.

'Who are you,' he asked his self.

'Severus Snape, Death Eater.'

"Who are you?"

Severus Snape's words echoed in his empty dungeon classroom and in his mind. The image staring back at him was not one he expected nor was it new. He saw this exact image of himself six years ago. It was disconcerting then, though not as much as now. One thing had changed since he last saw this image. Six years ago, he did not know whom the young woman standing next to him in the mirror was. Now, six years later, the same young woman stood next to him in the mirror, but now he recognized exactly whom she was.

He did not expect to find the mirror in his classroom. He only stopped to acquire some potion ingredients before meeting Dumbledore and the rest of the Order at Number Twelve. He was stunned when he stepped into the classroom to see a large golden framed mirror sitting against the wall. If the image staring back at him was not one he previously saw he would think it a fake mirror. As he stared at the intricate golden frame, his eyes read over the inscription.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi

It was real. The Mirror of Erised had found its way back to Hogwarts and into the potions class during the summer. But why? Dumbledore had not mentioned anything about it the last time Severus spoke with him. He decided he would ask Dumbledore that evening. Severus looked one last time at the odd reflection of himself. He understood the mirror and what it showed one looking into it--this was not his reflection per se, but a reflection of his hearts desire. This is where the images vexed him so--how could this young woman be his hearts desire?

Abandoning all thought about the matter, Severus turned from the mirror. He needed to get the ingredients and go. As he walked across the classroom his shoes, hitting the stone floor echoed in the empty silence of the castle. Disarming the charms he kept placed on his stores during holiday, he entered grabbing a couple bottles before leaving. As he moved swiftly across the room to leave he stopped once again in front of the mirror. He was racking his brain trying to figure out why it was there. He and the young woman seemed to look off out of view of the mirror to something and smiled. Their eyes followed something that seemed to be moving closer. A third person ran into the picture frame, smiling at them--a small child.

He slammed the classroom door shut behind him.

~*~*~

Hermione sat curled up in a chair with Crookshanks reading. Much of Number Twelve had been cleaned since their first summer there, making it a bit more pleasant. The house still possessed a dark quality--as if it were forever night inside. In the drawing room, the fire cast the room in a warm glow accompanied with the various candelabra. It was a summer night, but still a cool breeze traveled through the house.

"Checkmate."

Harry groaned in defeat leaning back into the chair. Ron and Harry had already played four games and Ron won all of them. Hermione lowered the book slightly to look over the top. Harry's hand rose to his head and rubbed his forehead for a moment before leaning forward to start another game. Hermione lifted her book back up before she spoke.

"Have you two finished your school work?"

Harry and Ron looked up at each other and then to Hermione. Seeing the book blocking her face from view they both rolled their eyes. Noticing Harry and Ron's silence, Hermione lowered her book down into her lap. She fixed them both with a pointed glare raising her brow.

"Well?"

"I finished most of mine before I left the Dursley's."

Hermione's gaze shifted to Ron, who began to squirm.

"Hermione, I have all holiday to finish!"

"Ron, it is best to complete it all now so you do not have to worry about it later."

Ron's face lit up as if he were about to say something brilliant. Hermione knew before he opened his mouth where this was about to head.

"And no, Ron. I will not help you if you continue to procrastinate."

A snort from the other side of the room reminded them they were not the only ones in the drawing room. A table placed in the drawing room gave them somewhere other than their rooms or the kitchen to work on schoolwork during holiday. The boy sitting at the table with books open and quill in hand looked up with a mocking sneer.

"God, Weasley! You cannot even do your own homework?"

"Shove off, Malfoy."

Harry reached his hand out in front of Ron stopping him from rising from his seat. Draco Malfoy and his mother, Narcissa were newcomers to summers at the Order headquarters. In their sixth year Draco's life, as he knew it, slowly crumbled to something he no longer recognized. His father was placed in prison at the end of their fifth year. It was during that summer Hermione, Ron, and Harry found out Narcissa was a spy. Draco did not find out until halfway through the school year when his father escaped Azkaban.

Ron pointed his finger at Draco.

"You should be grateful Harry even allows you to stay here! He has every right to tell you to leave."

Draco eyed Harry curiously and then Ron.

"Why should I care if Potter wants me here or not?"

"You really are thick aren't you? This was Sirius Black's house, Malfoy, Harry's godfather--he left it to him when he died."

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Hermione saw the line of concern across his forehead. Harry had plenty of money and a house to boot, but he was not one to flaunt what he had.

"Ron...Ron, stop."

Ron looked at Harry with an apologetic look. Hermione despised the tension between the boys. Her relationship with Draco had improved to a degree, though it was not perfect, and Draco had promised he would try not to provoke Harry or Ron. She looked at Draco with a warning glare.

"Draco...," she warned him. Draco immediately closed his mouth from whatever he was about to say and set back to work. Harry and Ron exchanged amused glances and laughing, Ron made a whipping noise. This earned him the Malfoy glare.

Hermione stood up out of her chair, causing Crookshanks to jump down and make his way over to Harry for attention. She walked to the other side of the room, and looked out the window behind Draco. It was dark already. A movement on the pavement caught her eye. A dark figure in the night walked toward the house. Quickly pulling away from the drapes, Hermione crossed the room. Before she could open the door all three boys looked up.

"Was someone outside?" Harry tended to worry a little more lately. Hermione smiled reassuringly at him.

"Yes, Remus arrived not too long ago. I'm guesses there is a meeting of some of the Order and I want to get a look at who is coming in."

Harry and Ron stood up to follow her. Draco watched and started to shake his head.

"You really are Gryffindor." The three Gryffindors turned to look at him. He rolled his eyes and continued. "Hermione is already going out there. You will only draw attention to the landing if all three of you are there. Just sit your arses down and wait on her." The three stood there with their mouths agape. Was Draco offering his Slytherinish qualities as help? It would appear there was more of his mother in him than previously assumed. Slowly Draco stood realizing the amusement of the situation.

"Chess anyone?"

Hermione walked quietly from the room as Draco and Harry sat down to play chess and Ron grudgingly picked up a schoolbook to read, throwing his self into a chair.

~*~*~

Severus approached Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place cautiously. The sun had already set, blanketing the streets in black. When he turned up the walk, he suddenly had the image from the Mirror of Erised flash in his mind. He stopped walking and took a deep breath. He did not have time for such frivolous flights of fancy. He did not want to think about why the mirror would be showing him such an image. Ridiculous.

Then he felt it--something in the air, surrounding him. Severus did not know exactly what it was or how to describe it. He just knew that whatever it was was in the wind and seemed to wash over him as it breezed around him. He saw movement in a window on the first floor. Glancing upward only enough to see what it was, he saw her face in the window. It must have been warm that day because she had her hair bunched up in a clip off her neck. A stray curl fell across her face.

"Insufferable," Severus muttered as he made his way to the front door.

~*~*~

Hermione stood quietly in the shadows on the landing. She watched the entrance hall as Mrs. Weasley rushed up from the kitchen to open the door. Mrs. Black's painting had finally been removed so she no longer insulted the houseguests. Mrs. Weasley opened the front door.

"Oh, come in, come in! Professor Dumbledore is in the kitchen with Remus. Come along."

Mrs. Weasley turned from the door and the dark shadow that stood on the walk outside now followed Mrs. Weasley from the door. Hermione watched Professor Snape moving from the door following Mrs. Weasley. For a brief moment, Hermione wondered what Professor Snape was like when he went to Hogwarts. Professor Snape moved his head from side to side, as he crossed the entrance hall, as if he were looking for something or someone. Slowly he looked up to the first floor landing. Hermione stood in the dark shadows of the corner and was sure he would not see her, but now she was not so sure. It appeared he stopped walking for a moment and set his eyes on Hermione.

Hermione felt it when his eyes locked on her. He saw her, there was no denying it. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at her. The air around her seemed to change. It was as if the air had turned to ice and fire at the same time. She shivered. Professor Snape looked back down and left the entrance hall for the kitchen.

As soon as he was out of sight, Hermione ran back into the drawing room and straight to her chair. She hopped up in the chair pulling her blanket over here bare legs. The three boys watched her rush into the room as if scared for her life. They watched her waiting for some sort of information.

"It was Snape."

~*~*~

About thirty minutes later Mrs. Weasley walked into the drawing room with food. The meeting was continuing in the kitchen so she brought dinner to everyone. Sitting the large tray on the table, she looked around the room.

"Where is Ginny?"

Ron rolled his eyes.

"She's in her room writing a letter to Neville."

Mrs. Weasley nodded her head okay and pointed her wand at one of the plates of food. In a matter of seconds, the plate disappeared.

"Alright, now. It is late. Professor Snape will be staying the night here, just so you know..."

"What?" Ron and Harry looked at each other. "Mum, why? He never so much as stays for dinner."

Mrs. Weasley gave her normal disapproving look.

"That is none of your concern Ronald Weasley. Now, tuck in. Once you lot are done I expect you to go straight to bed." She turned to the door, but had one last warning before she left. "And that does not mean a detour down stairs." She looked pointedly at Ron and Harry. They had the decency to blush at Mrs. Weasley's accuracy. They ate quickly and together left for their rooms.

~*~*~

Hermione knew a storm was approaching. She could taste it in the air when she laid down to sleep. She awoke hours after the house seemed to quiet down and the storm raged. Ginny left their room window open and the spattering of rain woke Hermione. She laid there for a moment trying to remember what she dreamt about. It was no use and the sound of the rain seemed to echo in their room. Standing up, Hermione walked over to the window to shut it. About a foot from the window, she felt something warm and wet rolling under her feet and between her toes. Looking down she grimaced.

"Bugger!"

The splattering of rain had been so loud because the wind was pushing the rain in through the window. As she closed the window, lightening streaked across the sky lighting up the yard below. Something moved underneath the large tree. It was as if someone was leaning against the tree, but it seemed the rain was not wetting this figure. When the person stepped from the tree Hermione could see an area surrounding him that rain did not enter. Her heart began to pound at the idea of someone unknown walking around the yard. Turning away from the window, she looked to make sure Ginny was still asleep. Tiptoeing across the room, she grabbed a candelabrum and quietly opened the door.

The hallway was dark and quiet. Even though she tiptoed, Hermione could still hear the squishy sound of her wet toes on the floor. She stopped at Ron, Harry, and Draco's door and leaned against it listening. No sound. They were sound asleep. Looking further down the hall, she noticed the drawing room door was ajar. Slowly making her way to the door, she pressed herself against the wall. Panic hit her. What if someone or something was in the drawing room she did not want to know about? Reminding herself of her Gryffindor qualities she took a deep breath and peeled herself from the wall just enough to lean over to peak in the door.

It was dark and empty.

Sighing in relief, she turned away from the door to cross the landing hoping to peer down into the entrance hall. Once she reached the middle of the landing, something grabbed her arm. Whomever it was, not only pushed her back against the wall on the other side of the landing, but placed a hand over her mouth so she would not scream. Keeping a tight hold of the candelabrum, her heart seemed to jump into her throat. Whoever it was came out of the shadows of the landing by the stairs. They were swift and quiet. Hermione's head hit the wall as she was pushed against it. Opening her eyes, which she had closed in fear, she saw Professor Snape only inches from her.

He stared at her intently, full of rage. The firelight from the candelabrum she held danced over part of her face making it radiate light. Why was she watching him from the window? He could not figure it out. He needed to think and walk and he had done so, but to no avail. The moment he entered the back yard he saw her looking out the window through the rain. She was not supposed to be roaming around the house late at night that much he knew so what better way to stop the behavior than to scare the daylights out of her.

"Miss Granger, what exactly are you doing prowling around the house at three A. M.?"

Hermione winced, as his grip on her arm seemed to tighten.

"I-I only needed a drink of water."

"If I am not mistaken, Miss Granger, the house-elf keeps a pitcher of water next to everyone's bed." He raised his eyebrow waiting for her next lie. Hermione stared at him in shock and fear. He was squeezing her arm tighter as he spoke. He leaned even closer to her, close enough that she could smell the soap he bathed with or the cologne he wore. It overwhelmed her when she took a deep breath to try to calm herself and separate herself from the pain she was feeling in her arm at his vice grip.

"It is not prudent for a young woman to roam the house so inappropriately dressed, Miss Granger; do go to your room."

With a little bit of a shove he let go of her arm and turned for his own room at the end of the hall. He stopped at the door on the other side of the room Hermione was staying in with Ginny. He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest watching Hermione, waiting for her to do as she was told. Rubbing her arm and glaring at Professor Snape, she walked toward him, stopping only to enter her own room.

Severus stood there for a moment with his eyes closed. He heard the soft click of the door close and then another hollow click of the door locking.