Deception

Students would arrive in a week and Albus still had not returned from his secret assignment. The Hogwarts staff was abuzz at this tidbit of information. Normally the Headmaster was at the school weeks before the other teachers arrived.

Severus was about to implode from the news he had to deliver. Others had noticed this but attributed it to the Potions Master's naturally broody mood personality. Only Minerva knew about that night two weeks ago when he had so desperately sought Albus. She remembered, but did not speak to him about it. She knew from experience that when pressed about his knowledge, Severus would close up tighter than Azkaban. Not that it means much at the present, she thought wryly.

Like Azkaban, Severus would break soon. She would just wait until then.

---

With four days remaining before term started, Albus finally arrived at Hogwarts. His sudden appearance, much like his unexplained absence, was the cause of even more speculation. His right hand, usually identical to the left and not a source of exciting conversation, was blackened and lifeless. Still useful, yes, as he could still had use of his hand and fingers, but dead-looking all the same.

Whatever his hand looked like, the Headmaster was still as secretive and lively as before. Severus had cornered him within minutes of his arrival and told him the events of the past few weeks. He held back the information concerning the Unbreakable Vow, partly because the enchantment prohibited the giver of the Vow from doing anything to attempt to avoid their duties. All he mentioned was that Narcissa fully expected Draco to die trying to complete the mission and had asked him to watch over the lad.

Surprisingly, Albus was unconcerned about the news of this looming threat. "Your concern is touching, Severus," he replied dismissively, "but this is hardly news to me." Then, as if the Potions Master wasn't startled enough, Albus went on the cheerfully inform him, "And I have decided to offer you the Defense Against Dark Arts position. Should you decide to take it, I would be most grateful." With that, the old wizard strolled away.

Severus stood there for a few minutes, trying to process all that had just taken place. Albus already knew of the plan? That means he must have another double agent hidden among Voldemort's ranks. Someone of a middling high rank, powerful enough to hear the secret plans yet low enough to escape Severus's attention.

And the Defense position--that was bait, he was sure of it. It was akin to throwing a bone to a Crup. And how he wanted to take that bone...

But he could not. He must speak with his other master. He hurried to his office, hoping that Wormtail had the sense to remain in his rat form, especially if the new Potions teacher decided to take a look at his future quarters.

---

As a rat, Wormtail was crouched miserably in the corner of his cage. After Severus had swooped in and found him lying on the bed in human form, the irate professor had forced the Animagus change on the little wizard and shoved him into a charmed cage. Now Wormtail could not leave, change, or be released unless Severus opened the cage with his own hand. The rat had tried squeaking, clawing, biting, anything he could think of to make Severus let him free but all his efforts only came to a Silencing Charm on the cage.

Severus had more important things to consider. The discomfort of a rodent, not high on his list of priorities anyway, paled beside the prospect of informing Voldemort that his carefully laid plan, set in motion almost twenty years ago, had changed inexplicably.

"Morsmordre," he whispered, touching his wand to his Dark Mark. An unbelievable pain spread from his forearm, a precaution Voldemort had taken to insure his Death Eaters would not contact him for trivial matters. Severus wanted to clutch his head in agony but continued contact between wand and Mark was required. For what seemed like an eternity he waited for the Dark Lord to acknowledge his attempt at communication.

"What is it Severus?" came the voice he needed to hear. The pain lessened slightly as it was replaced by the voice, heard both inside and outside this head.

He whispered into the Dark Mark, "My Lord, Dumbledore has offered me the position of Defense Against Dark Arts."

"Did he, now?" The Dark Lord sounded amused. Well, it was ironic in a way, the Death Eater teaching students how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, but the longer this conversation lasted, the more pain Severus had to suffer.

"Yes, Master. Should I accept?" he asked breathlessly.

Silence. "Will you retain the job next year?"

An odd question. If what he feared came to pass, Severus would be dead or a wanted man by summer. "I...I don't know, my Lord. He did not tell me. But if--" He broke off, the pain almost becoming too much to bear.

"I do not like ifs, Severus. You will take the position and report to me the identity of the new Potions teacher." The pain stopped. Voldemort had cut the contact between the two. Severus rubbed his aching head while he tried to sort his thoughts. Something he had said interested Voldemort. Someone was hiding something very important but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what.

A movement caught his eye. He looked over--Wormtail was rocking the cage back and forth, squealing and scratching in complete silence. Rather than release him, Severus decided to head to the kitchens to get cheese for his furry cohort.

---

"Severus Snape, is that you?" came a booming voice from behind him. Severus turned around quickly and almost dropped his tray of food in the process. The house elves had, as usual, refused to let him leave with only a small piece of cheese. While he was steadying the tray, the person spoke again. "Merlin, it is!"

Severus studied the squat man in font of him. At first he did not recognize the fat little man. Then suddenly recognition hit him like the Hogwarts Express.

"Professor Slughorn?" he nearly gasped. It had been close to twenty years since he had seen his old Potions professor. Since he had taken the old man's job, in fact.

Slughorn chuckled, making his entire body quiver. "Now, now, my dear lad, it's just Horace now that we're colleagues!"

Severus did drop his tray then. 'Old Sluggy' grinned foolishly at him, no doubt expecting the same adoration Severus had feigned during school. He attempted to speak a few times before he could actually form coherent sentences. "You're the new Potions teacher?"

Before Slughorn could answer, Minerva appeared at the end of the corridor. As she walked towards the two men, thick book cradled in one arm, she said, "Severus, the house-elves may give out too much food but that's no reason to throw it in the floor." She flicked her wand and the food flew back to the tray, now floating at waist level, patiently waiting for Severus to take it.

He pushed it away as Slughorn exclaimed, "Minerva, I have been searching for you all day!"

The old witch arched an eyebrow. "For what reason?"

"It's about my dear friend, Harry. Harry Potter, you know. I spoke with him recently but, silly me, forgot to inquire if he would be taking my NEWT Potions class! He is, isn't he?"

Minerva frowned. As fantastic as Harry Potter was to Slughorn, he was just another student to her. She didn't memorize every student's OWL scores. However, Severus knew quite well. "He can't," he answered promptly. "He only received an 'Exceed Expectations' in his OWLs. A student must receive an 'Outstanding' to qualify for the NEWT class."

Slughorn laughed, causing the other two teachers to look wonderingly at each other. "Severus, Severus, Severus. A student must receive an O for your NEWT class, but I daresay an E would do quite fine in mine. After all, how many students would I have if I only took the top scores?"

Was this a trick question? "Enough," Severus began before he was interrupted.

"But of course we must check with his Head of House. Minerva, do you think Harry will take my class?" Slughorn inquired.

She thought for a moment. "That is a course he needs to take if he is to become an Auror. But he if doesn't know he's going to take it, he won't have supplies," she said slowly.

"Not a problem." Slughorn patted Severus on the shoulder. "Severus, mind leaving a few sets of NEWT potions materials? Just enough for a few weeks."

Minerva spoke before Severus could. "He'd be happy to," she said firmly with a significant look at the younger wizard. Severus merely grimaced at her, but did not protest. At least he wouldn't be teaching the Potter boy. Let Sluggy take care of his Potions messes.