Entry tags:

adventure, het, nc-17, ofc, omc, snape, tonks

Fic: ~The Wizard's Tale, A Continuation: Part 1~ NC-17
Title: The Wizard’s Tale: A Continuation
Pairings: Snape/OFC, Tonks/OMC, Lucius Malfoy as a villain and many others both canon and original
Rating: NC-17 ~ Action, adventure, romance, sex
Warnings: some violence, some darkish
Summary: Snape is given an assignment and a most unwanted partner. And that's just the beginning!
Notes: This story happens right after A Wizard's Tale, and while it is not necessary to have read "A Wizard's Tale" in order to follow this story, it does fill out some of the background.

In Potterverse, it starts the summer after Harry's fifth year, and continues through his seventh. It was written after OotP, and is not canon compliant after that book. Harry himself has only cameo appearances.

This story was listed in the top 25 on the Occlumency archive of Sycophant Hex before the server move.

Because of the size of the story, it will be posted in thirteen parts. Part 1 contains chapters 1-6.


Chapter 1: A Change of Plan

A few days after his visit to Tonks in the hospital, Snape was preparing for a trip he was to take ostensibly on behalf of the Order. The exact details were known only to himself and Dumbledore, as the fewer people who knew the plans, the safer he would be. The rest of the Order knew of the general plan but nothing of the exact dates or destinations. He was to go to the continent and travel to certain remote areas, trying to gather news to confirm or deny a rumor that was floating around concerning a separate group of Death Eaters meeting at different times and places than those Snape was familiar with. The last meeting Voldemort had summoned him to, there had been fewer members present and since the Dark Lord had made no comment on this, Snape wondered if the group was getting large enough that Voldemort had split them up, both for his own convenience and for secrecy.

His cover, as he traveled, was to be that he was on a trip to collect certain rare plants to be used in potion-making. He had used the cover of plant collector before to explain his presence in small remote villages and mountain towns. What only he and Dumbledore knew was that Voldemort had charged him with finding a rare plant used exclusively in Dark Magic potions. They had no doubt that Snape would then be required to mix some very special, very powerful potions for Voldemort. Hopefully, each side, should they hear of his trip, would assume he was working for them. The trip was to take as long as needed and communication was to be minimal. He would be, as usual, almost entirely on his own.

He had almost finished his preparations for the next morning’s departure when he was summoned to the Headmaster’s office for a meeting. Striding up the moving steps to Dumbledore’s office, he smiled grimly to himself as he noted that summons to meetings with Dumbledore were a bit different from summons to meetings with the Dark Lord: Albus’ head in his sitting room fire politely asking if he would be free to meet for a few minutes as opposed to the burning agony of the Dark Mark coming to life on his left arm. Not to mention the fear factor. Snape had no problem admitting to fear, he would simply never admit to allowing it to control him. Which, in all truth, it did not.

On entering the Headmaster’s office, he noted with concealed interest that there was an unknown face in the room. A woman, a few years younger than himself, if he had to guess. A bit less than average height, middling looks, but familiar to him in some way. He frowned as he tried to remember. Oh, yes; now what was her name? She grew and prepared potion ingredients on a small place ..... somewhere. Snape routinely purchased her things from a shop in Diagon Alley which she supplied and he had once met her briefly there. She also made some of her own potions and was well known and respected for her knowledge of plants and the purity and quality of her ingredients and potions. He wondered what she could be doing in the Headmaster’s office.

Albus greeted him graciously and asked if he’d like anything to drink. He declined and Dumbledore introduced him to his guest. Lillith Marshbank. Snape gave her a slight bow before seating himself in the comfortable armchair Dumbledore had provided. Placing his elbows on the arms of the chair, he steepled the long fingers of his hands in front of him and settled a look of polite interest on his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miss Marshbank studying him openly.

“Miss Marshbank was telling me that you had actually met a while back, but she was certain you wouldn’t remember her.”

Snape turned his head and met a pair of calm hazel eyes. “In the Apothecary’s shop in Diagon Alley, about 18 months ago.”

“I’m flattered, Professor Snape.” Her voice was low and pleasant.

“Well, good!” Dumbledore stared down at his desk as if gathering his thoughts.

When he spoke to Snape his tone was almost apologetic. “I’ve been telling Lillith about your upcoming trip.”

“Do you think that wise, Headmaster?” Snape’s voice was very soft.

“Yes, I’m afraid it was quite necessary, Severus, as she will be going with you.”

There were several seconds of electrified silence, then Snape’s slightly strangled voice.

“I don’t think that is wise, Headmaster.”

“I’ve given this a great deal of thought, Severus, and I’m afraid I must insist.”

Snape erupted out of his chair and clasping his hands behind his back, he stalked about the room.

“Would you care,” his voice was carefully controlled, “to explain?”

“Of course. Please sit down and are you sure I can’t get you something? I have some very fine port?”

Snape dropped in his chair again. “Perhaps I shall.” His voice was barely civil.

Dumbledore appeared not to notice. “Ah, good. Miss Marshbank, may I tempt you?”

“That would be lovely, Albus.” Snape thought he heard a smile in her voice but when he glared at her, her face was placid.

Dumbledore served the drinks and Snape used the time to try and compose his thoughts. When they were settled with their drinks in their hands, the Headmaster began again.

“Miss Marshbank has been of service to the Order on several occasions of late and comes very well vouched for. When she heard of your proposed trip, she approached me with the idea of accompanying you. Her argument is that her presence will add credence to your story as she is fairly widely known for her association with rare plants and has made ‘hunting’ trips of her own to the continent before. She argued that as your position has become more tenuous, her vouching for you may give you a measure of protection. Also, she is familiar with Muggle customs and dress from long association and she speaks several languages.”

“Truly a paragon of intellect, I’m sure.” Snape spoke through clenched teeth. “But this trip will be dangerous enough without my having to look after a woman.”

Lillith set her glass down a little too hard on the table. “I assure you, Professor Snape, I can look after myself.”

“I hardly think you are in any position to know what you may be dealing with.” He looked to Dumbledore. “For Merlin’s sake, Albus, this is not a walk on the moor! Have you explained the dangers to her? The kind of people she may be meeting up with?”

Dumbledore sighed. “I have, Severus. I don’t like the idea either but Lillith has convinced me of its merits.”

Snape’s eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms. “It’s out of the question. I work alone.”

Dumbledore regarded him over the top of his half-moon spectacles. “I’m afraid I must insist.” His voice was very soft.

Snape surged to his feet and paced again. After a few turns about the office he stopped in front of Lillith’s chair. Scowling down at her he spat, “Be ready to leave in an hour,” then turned and left the room.

Dumbledore sighed and looked at Lillith as she took another sip of the port. “I’m sorry, my dear. I did warn you.”

She set her glass gently on the table. “Do you think it is a wise plan?”

He studied her for a moment. “Yes, I do.”

She sat back and sighed. “Then I guess I’ll just have to manage.” She smiled wryly. “In my workshop, I’ve had some experience working with wild animals.”

“I’m afraid you’ll need all of that and more,” was the Headmaster’s quiet reply.

*********************


Chapter 2: The First Scrimmage


When Severus returned to Dumbledore’s office a scant hour later he found Lillith dressed in a long traveling cloak with a knapsack very like his own at her feet. She and Dumbledore were standing by the fireplace and Albus had a hand resting on her shoulder. When Snape entered, Dumbledore appeared to give her shoulder a small squeeze before dropping his hand and turning to face the tall wizard.

“You’ll be using the Portkey as previously planned to get to the forest in Belgium very near the German boarder. You will be collecting plants as you go to make your story more credible. Miss Marshbank can take care of most of that leaving you, Severus, more freedom to attend to other things.” He looked from one to the other. “Be careful. I want very much for the both of you to come back. And preferably in one piece.”

Lillith smiled; Snape scowled. “No matter what happens or how things may appear,” Dumbledore looked at each in turn, “remember always that you are on the same side.”

Lillith looked slightly puzzled but Snape’s scowl just deepened.

“All right, grab your things!” Dumbledore waved them over to a table that held an old pot. They each put a hand on it and Dumbledore, holding his wand over their hands, counted down. “Three, two, one......”

~~

The office disappeared and Lillith found herself standing in a clearing in the forest, the air cold and crisp and the star-filled sky seemed to hang lower than it did in England. She glanced around. There was nothing to indicate which way they should go. She suddenly realized that Snape, without a word, had set off with long strides for the woods. Grabbing her pack she hurried after him. Before long they came upon a small dirt road, shining in the starlight. There was no moon but the air was so clear and the stars so numerous that they could see quite well. After several minutes of trying to keep up with Snape’s long strides, Lillith gave up.

“Snape!” the word cracked like a whip.

He whirled around and stood facing her, hands on hips. “I will not be slowed down by you. This was your idea, now you’ll have to keep up.”

Lillith came up to him and dropped her pack. “OK, we might as well get this over with.” She put her hands on her hips as well and leaned into him bringing herself within inches of his chest. Throwing her head back she looked into his glittering black eyes.

“First, I am here because Albus Dumbledore wants me to be. Yes, it was my idea, but it was his decision. I suggested it because I thought my presence might tip the scales a little more in favor of success. I do not think this is going to be a fun-filled European vacation. I didn’t come with that in mind and if I was looking for something like that, I certainly wouldn’t be here with you.”

Snape’s eyes widened a fraction.

“Second, I can be of value to you if you will let me. And third, you might as well stop wasting energy sulking and scowling because I think before this is over, we’re going to need every bit of inner resource we possess just to get back in one piece. Besides, it’s also a waste of time because,” she narrowed her eyes at him and leaned in even closer, “I’m not afraid of you.”

Snape drew back slightly and studied her. She held his eyes with no trace of fear in her own. With a snort of disgust, he turned on his heel and continued down the road, albeit at a slower pace.

She shouldered her pack and after catching up with him, matched his strides easily.

“Why did you come?” He still sounded angry.

She considered her answer. “I wanted to do something to make a difference.”

“You’ll have to look after yourself. I’m not going to.” He humphed.

She laughed. “Yes, Dumbledore warned me.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “What did he say?”

“He said,” she smiled at the memory, “that I would need to take care of myself. That while he was sure you would make every reasonable effort to rescue me if that was needed, I shouldn’t expect it of you except under the most extreme circumstances. And that I should always remember that you are a Slytherin.”

Snape scowled. “What did he mean by that?”

“He meant, he told me, that while you are certainly not lacking in courage, you are very practical when it comes to protecting your own skin. He also said that if I were to need rescuing, that I should not look for you to come charging in at the front like a Gryffindor, but I should rather look to the shadows and listen to the wind.”

Snape continued to scowl in silence.

“He also said,” Lillith went on in a very quiet voice. “That if you were to give me your word about something - anything - that nothing would induce you to break it.”

Snape snorted. “Gryffindors!” He lengthened his stride and got ahead of her a bit.

They walked for a couple of hours before Snape turned off into the trees. The sky was starting to get light in the east. After walking well into the woods, he picked a small clearing on a hilltop completely surrounded by trees and dropped his pack. Taking his wand out of his pocket he slumped down against a tree and rested his forearms on his raised knees. His wand dangled from his right hand.

“There’s a village a mile or so ahead. There’s no practical way to explain our walking into town this early so you might as well try and get some rest for a few hours.” His voice sounded weary.

“What about you?” Lillith dropped her pack and sank to the ground a few feet away from him.

“I think it advisable for one of us to be awake.”

She studied him for a moment then with an, “All right” she pulled her cloak around her and lay back on the carpet of leaves. Snape watched her and was amazed when, just a moment later, her breathing was deep and even, indicating she was asleep. He sighed and leaned his head back against the tree, gazing up at the lightening sky.

What could Albus possibly be thinking to send this woman with him? All right, he could see the value she could provide; having her expertise could make the gathering part of the trip faster and easier. She could tend the plants and he could be freer to do his own work. Snape sighed deeply. At least she wasn’t some cowering, spineless, sheep. And she certainly didn’t seem to be intimidated by his bad temper. He smiled at the thought of another witch who had proved to be unafraid of him. Tonks had given him much the same look when announcing she wasn’t afraid of him. And try though he had, he couldn’t shake her. He was glad she was going to be all right. Her injuries, while severe, weren’t anything that couldn’t be healed.

Tonks had courage and character. It had been pretty stupid of him to take her the way he had but he couldn’t resist her spunk. And she had not betrayed him. Not with so much as a look or a whisper. She even seemed to like him. He shook his head. It was going to take a wizard of substance to make a match with her.

He glanced at the witch sleeping a few feet away and scowled. One whimper from her and he was going to leave her behind.

~~

An hour and a half later, Lillith opened her eyes and stretched. The sun was fully up and the birds were singing. Snape was still sitting with his back to the tree, a few feet away. Dragging her pack over she rummaged inside for a moment, then smiling at Snape asked, “Breakfast?”

He managed a condescending smile. “You have breakfast in there?”

“Of sorts,” she started pulling things out and setting them on the ground. Pouring water into a tin, she handed it to Snape along with a paper packet and asked, “Will you do the tea, please?” He looked at her for a moment, then took the tin and heating it with his wand, set the tea to steep. Lillith pulled out bread, cheese and a couple of apples. Surveying the food she sighed. “I have a feeling we’re going to be heartily tired of this sort of fare long before we get home.”

Snape poured the tea without comment and they ate in silence. After clearing the things up, Lillith went to ‘visit the bushes’ and when she came back, she made herself comfortable against a tree with her wand in her lap.

“Your turn.”

Snape, who had leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes, turned to look at her.

“Lie down and sleep,” she prompted.

“No.”

“If you don’t rest, you won’t be good for anything. I’m perfectly capable of keeping watch and I’ll wake you in an hour or so.”

He studied her for a moment. “Are you always this bossy?”

“Are you always this stubborn?”

“Yes.”

“Likewise.” She smiled at him. “Really, get some rest.”

Slowly, he sank down until his long frame was stretched on the ground. He pulled his cloak around him and she noticed his wand was still in his hand.

*******************************


Chapter 3: Meet Obadiah Slope

For an hour and a half, Lillith sat studying the forest around her and thinking. Then she reached over and lightly touched Snape’s arm. He was awake and sitting up in an instant, wand at the ready.

“It’s OK; I just thought it was late enough for us to get going.”

He nodded and in one graceful motion was on his feet. Lillith was a little slower.

“I think I’ve been here before. This is an all-Muggle village, right? By a river just on the border?”

“That’s right.”

Lillith nodded. “I was here a few years ago looking for plants. Made friends with the tavern owner.”

Snape raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Lillith ignored him. “Do they know you here?”

He shook his head.

“Do you have a plan?” A note of irritation was starting to creep into her voice.

“No.”

She waited. He didn’t go on. She sighed. “Look, I do like the strong silent type but how about a little conversation here? How do you want to do this?”

“You’re supposed to be the brains. What do you think?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t cop an attitude with me, Snape. We may not like each other but we may just end up needing each other. And there is certainly no need to go getting ourselves killed in a hurry just because one of us is sulking. So quit being pissy and start cooperating.”

His eyebrows rose to his hairline then he threw his head back and laughed.

“Yes, ma’am!” His scowl came back and he looked off into the trees. “I’m not used to this,” he said somewhat vaguely.

“I know. I’m sorry I was short with you but I don’t think we have a lot of time to work on our relationship. I have an idea.”

“I thought you might,” he smiled a bit.

“Since they might recognize me but probably not you, how about if I walk in as myself and you come as my assistant.”

The eyebrows went up again.

“Do you think you can convince anyone you are the assistant and not the one in charge?” She sounded truly doubtful.

He looked miffed. “I think I can manage.”

“Good. How about letting me do something with our clothes?”

He nodded and after thinking for a moment she raised her wand and pointed it at him. His wand was immediately up in defense posture. She sighed and dropped her hand away from him.

“Sorry.” He lowered his and she started again. She pointed her wand at Snape and with a shimmer of air, his cloak disappeared and he was clad in khakis, a lightweight black turtleneck and a safari jacket. He looked down in distaste.

“Is this necessary?”

“Yes.” With a wave of her wand, she was dressed in a similar fashion, only with a yellow tee-shirt instead of a turtleneck. She gestured toward his hair. “Can you tie that back into a ponytail?”

“What for?” He scowled.

She sighed. “I’m trying to make you look like a professor.”

“I am a professor.”

“A professor of botany visiting at Oxford, not a professor of potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here.” She handed him a piece of black ribbon.

He tied his hair back and scowled at her. “Why can’t they all be black?” he gestured at his clothes.

She rolled her eyes. “Because,” she spoke with exaggerated care, “you’re supposed to be a professor, not an undertaker.”

He looked offended. “Black is elegant.”

She shouldered her pack and gave him a crooked smile. “And you, Professor Snape, are elegant with or without black.” With that, she started off toward the road leaving a rather confused looking Snape to catch up.

~~

They had walked a few minutes in silence when Lilly startled him by saying, “Dumbledore told me you were to collect some Purple Spotted Witch’s Cloak for Voldemort.” She looked to him for confirmation. He nodded. “It’s probably not a good idea to go asking around for it.” He looked a question at her. “Well, it won’t mean anything to the Muggles, but if the wrong witch or wizard heard you were on the lookout for the plant.....”

“And you have an idea......”

She ignored the jibe.

“Are you familiar with Twining Morning Star? Muggles call it Trailing Star Flower.”

He shook his head.

“It’s also a rare plant, though non-magical. It does, however, grow in the same locale as the Purple Spotted Witch’s Cloak. In fact, I don’t believe you’ll find the Witches Cloak without the Morning Star.”

Snape nodded.

“I drew a picture this morning while you were sleeping.” Lillith reached into a pocket in her jacket and pulled out a notebook. Thumbing through it, she found the picture she wanted and held it out to Snape. He studied it a few moments then handed it back.

“So,” he drawled, “you are the expert in rare plants come on a collecting trip?”

She nodded. “And you are my new assistant, a visiting professor from Oxford.”

His face took on a sour look. “Do I have a name?”

“Yes,” Lillith looked forward to the small town that had just appeared around a bend in the road. “I think Obadiah Slope will do quite well.”

Snape stopped dead in his tracks. “W-What?” he sputtered with disbelief.

Lillith hurried ahead so he couldn’t see her smile.

“Come along, Mr. Slope!” She called cheerily, “Times a’ wasting!”

************************


Chapter 4: Old Friends, Old Enemies


They entered the town from the west at about noon. Lillith had no trouble finding the tavern in a centuries-old building. Snape had to duck to enter the low doorway. Inside was smoky and warm and there was an inviting smell coming from the kitchen. They were making their way to a table when the tavern-keeper came bustling out from the back, summoned by the bell over the door. He took one look at Lillith and threw his arms wide.

“Lilly!” His shout caused everyone in the tavern to turn and stare. She laughed and gave him a hug. The hug almost lifted her off her feet and when he finally let go, it was to kiss her on both cheeks. Snape knew some French but couldn’t keep up with the rapid local dialect. He heard himself being introduced as Obadiah Slope and grimly shook hands. The three settled at the table and Lillith and the tavern keeper continued a merry conversation. After the usual getting reacquainted talk, Lillith asked him if he had heard of any of the Trailing Star Flower, but his answer was too fast and his accent too thick for Snape to follow. They talked a bit, then the keeper rose to get them lunch. He brought them steaming bowls of stew and fresh, warm bread, then plunked down large tankards of ale and, with an apology, went back to tend his other customers.

Hungry, they tucked into the food in silence. After watching in amazement as Lillith drained half her ale in one gulp, Snape asked her what had been said. Wiping off a mustache of foam, she filled him in.

“He said he thought we might have the best luck near the German-Austrian border.”

Snape looked at her in wonder. “And how does a peasant innkeeper know that?” There was disdain in his voice.

Lillith calmly wiped up the last of her stew with a hunk of bread and popped it in her mouth. Chewing slowly, she watched Snape grow more irritated. Finally, she swallowed.

“Because that peasant innkeeper has a degree from the Sorbonne and everyone who is in the collecting business comes to him. He’s sort of a clearing house for information on rare plants in Europe.”

Snape raised an eyebrow and glanced over at the man drawing ale from the taps for a man at the bar.

“What else did he say?”

“There is a bus which will be here shortly that will take us over the border. It makes a stop in a little town about a couple of hours away, then continues to Bonn. From there, we can get a train.”

Snape scowled. “I wish we knew exactly where we were going so we could Apparate.”

“Well,” Lillith said with a smile, “we don’t, so we can’t.” She rose and picked up her pack. “Looks like the bus is here.”

They paid the fare and settled in for the ride, Lillith reading a book on Alpine plants and Snape glowering out the window. At the border they presented the papers Dumbledore had supplied for them and passed without comment. Lillith was getting a bit tired of Snape’s sullen company when they arrived at a small town. The driver made an announcement in German and people started filing off the bus.

“I could be traveling a lot faster on my own,” Snape snarled after finally getting off the bus behind an old woman loaded down with packages.

“So could I but we agreed that this was best.” Lillith’s voice was calm.

“You and Dumbledore agreed,” he spit the name.

Lillith was about to enter the small inn when Snape’s hand closed on her arm and pulled her aside. He jerked his head down the street and she followed without comment. As soon as they had put some distance between themselves and the others, Snape stopped.

“I’m staying here.”

“What?” her voice rose.

His scowl deepened. “I know people here. You go on and I’ll meet you tomorrow.” He was starting to edge away from her.

She reached out and grabbed his arm. “You are not dumping me!” she hissed at him.

He gave her a look of utter disdain and wrenched his arm free. “No. I am not; much as I’d like to. I have work to do. Alone.”

Lillith looked uncertain as Snape reached up and pulled the ribbon from his hair. He handed it to her and shook his long hair free on his shoulders.

“The Gray Goat Inn, noon tomorrow.”

Lillith still looked unconvinced and Snape drew himself up to his full height. Tilting his head back slightly he squinted down at her. “I will be there.”

Quickly reaching a decision, Lillith nodded, stuffing the ribbon in her pocket. “Be careful.” Turning on her heel, she walked back to the little inn.

Snape raised an eyebrow in surprise at her quick acquiescence then turned down an alley, his wand in hand. His clothes shimmered and the long billowing black robes appeared even as what had looked like an abandoned building disappeared and the windows of a smoky tavern showed in its place. The rest of the building seemed to form out of smoke and when he reached out a very solid door met his hand. Pulling it open, he stepped into a dim room full of wizards and tobacco smoke.

~~

Lillith had turned back after a few paces and had seen Snape duck down the alley. She considered following for a moment but with a shake of her head, turned back. She could either trust him or not and life would be a whole lot easier if she just made the decision and didn’t look back. She sighed and ordered a cup of tea and a brownie from the busy waitress at the inn. She had already made the decision, really, way back when Dori, or Tonks as everyone else called her, had asked her to get involved. Not asked, actually, more like suggested. Even that might be too strong a word.

Dori had always confided in her Aunt Lilly and last summer had been no exception. Lillith knew that Dori had spent the night with Snape at 12 Grimmauld Place, but Dori hadn’t supplied too many details. Lillith could tell she was deeply affected by what had happened but hadn’t pried. Later, Dori had told her of bringing Snape to her workshop while he had been in his bird form and of what had followed. She was concerned that Dori, with her soft heart, was falling in love with the garrulous wizard but she made light of it. While Dori readily confessed a fondness and concern for Snape, she remained firmly realistic. Lillith smiled as she remembered the conversation.

“No,” Dori had said thoughtfully, spreading jam on toast at the breakfast table. “I’m not in love with the old grump. He’s a heck of a lay,” here she blushed a bit, “but I want to get married and have kids some time. I don’t want the kids to be afraid of their father, nor do I want spend my life with a man who can sour the milk on my cereal with his ‘Good Morning.’”

She had laughed. “He’s too complicated for me. I prefer things simple.” She had looked up at Lilly and frowned. “He’s got a whole lot of something he’s keeping stuffed inside, Aunt Lilly. He scares the hell out of me sometimes, but I’d trust him with my life.” She had shaken her head. Her voice was soft when she continued. “He doesn’t have anyone to care about him - doesn’t want anyone to care about him. And while I don’t have any romantic interest in him -- I’m not even sure I like him half the time -- I sure would be upset if the bastard got himself killed.”

Lillith had raised an eyebrow at the word. Dori looked down. “Sorry. He can be a bit unpleasant, sometimes. But he’s not evil,” she defended him.

Lillith smiled at her niece. “I’m sure he isn’t, Dori. You are a very fine judge of character though you don’t realize it.”

Dori had gone on to outline the plan for Snape’s trip. She said she had even volunteered to Dumbledore to go along. He hadn’t approved of her going though he thought the idea had merit. Then she had been hurt in the battle at the Ministry and that had ended any suggestion of her going at all. She had shared all this with Lilly and so, without really knowing why, Lillith had approached Dumbledore.

He had listened, acknowledged the merits of the idea, and tried to talk her out of it. He cited the dangers. She reminded him of the dangers at home and how much was riding on the success of the venture. He spoke of Snape. She countered that she was not unacquainted with him and while she wasn’t anxious for his company, she didn’t see it as something she couldn’t handle. After hours of talk, they had come to an agreement.

When she had broken the news to Dori about her going with Snape, Dori had been most distressed.

“I don’t want you to go! It’s too dangerous; I never meant for you to do this!” She had been stricken.

“I’ll be with Severus. He’s a very powerful wizard and,” Lilly had reminded her, “I have a few talents myself. This trip really needs to succeed.”

Dori bit her lip and Lillith could see the emotions warring inside her.

Dori had gripped her hand and looked up from the hospital bed with tears in her eyes. “Please, please, please be careful. Please bring both of you back.”

Lillith had smiled. “I will.”

~~

The bus driver called them to go and with a last long look down the street, Lillith got on the bus. Over the rest of the trip, Lillith made plans.

Bonn was a city with a wizarding community of some size. If she spent all her time on the wizard streets, the chances that Lillith would be recognized were fairly good so, not knowing what Snape had in mind when he turned up, she decided to stay on the Muggle side. She found the Gray Goat Inn and while not exactly her first choice, she decided it would be safe and comfortable enough. The landlord looked rather forbidding but on closer acquaintance he turned out to be a kind man whose feet hurt him a great deal. She offered him some liniment, which he accepted gratefully and she had made a friend.

The next morning, she changed her hair and transfigured her robes into a style other than her usual and, pulling the hood up on her cloak, thought she could probably avoid recognition. She had no close acquaintances here and was able to do her shopping without seeing anyone she knew. Once, about midmorning, she had looked in the window of a shop and was startled to see a familiar figure. Standing at the counter was a tall blond wizard. His straight silver-blond hair fell well down his back and he was dressed very elegantly in black and carried a walking stick with a silver snake head handle. It was the powerful wizard that had shown up at her door last year with a man with a broken arm. When she had described him to Dori, she had said he was a Death Eater by the name of Malfoy. She turned away quickly from the window. The man gave her the creeps and she didn’t want to be seen.

*******************************************


Chapter 5: The Continued Transformation of Severus Snape


Noon found Lillith in a dark corner of the Gray Goat sipping ale and impatiently watching the door. At ten after the hour Snape stalked in, his Muggle clothes back but his hair hanging loose. As he made his way through the crowd of noisy locals, she reached in her pocket for the ribbon that was still there and passed it over the table to him. He scowled as he fixed it in place.

“Well, good to see you, too. I trust everything went well?” She lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes and no.” He signaled the waiter and they ordered lunch.

They ate in silence until the meal was half over.

“Care to elaborate?” Lillith’s tone was casual.

“No. Not here.” He scowled at her.

“I have an idea....” She couldn’t help smiling.

“I’m sure you do.” His voice was wary.

After lunch, Lillith took her pack which she had stowed under the table and they headed out. A short walk found them on the edge of town and they were soon in the woods. The air was sweet with the smell of pines and the needles were thick underfoot. In a small sunny clearing full of ferns, Lillith stopped and dropped the pack.

“I think you’re still far too recognizable.” She turned to him with her hands on her hips. “We need to change that.”

His eyebrows rose. “Another wardrobe change?” His voice dripped sarcasm.

“That’s part of it.” She beckoned him to her. He approached and she tipped her head back to look up into his scowling face. Not a bad looking face, really. “Can you smile?”

His eyes narrowed and his lips drew back over bared teeth. The effect was more like a snarling dog. “Never mind,” she quickly reversed herself. Turning to her pack, she missed the quick grin that flashed over his features.

“Will you let me change you?” She gestured toward his face.

“Into what?”

“Not into anything, for heavens sake! Just the look.” She was getting exasperated.

“All right.” He sat on the grass.

Somewhat startled by the quick agreement, she started pulling out some of the things she had purchased the day before. Tentatively, she ran a comb through his hair.

“You won’t curse me if you don’t like it?” She tried for a light tone.

“I already don’t like it, but no, I won’t curse you.” She thought she heard a smile in his voice, but being behind him, she couldn’t be sure.

She got the scissors and went to work. At the first snip she thought she felt him cringe but he said nothing. She snipped and trimmed and frowned. She painted some hair growth lotion on his face, added a streak of gray to the hair at the temples and tinted and trimmed his new beard. When she was done, his hair was still a bit long, but neatly layered and trimmed. The beard was short and neat. With some trepidation, she handed him a mirror. He studied himself from several angles before handing it back. She waited. He looked at her with no expression.

“Well?” She demanded impatiently.

He raised an eyebrow at her tone. “Not bad,” was his soft reply.

She snorted. “I think you look elegant.”

He gave a quick bark of laughter.

Just then the sound of voices came to them through the trees. Snape’s wand had been resting in his lap but even as he turned to look he felt a sharp jolt on the back of his shoulder.

Two woodcutters entered the sunny clearing, chatting amiably together and drew up short when they saw a woman sitting alone on a tree stump. She had a pack beside her and was drawing in a notebook. She called them a greeting in German and they waved and went on their way toward the town. For a few minutes after their voices faded, the woman went on sketching in silence. Then, stowing her pad in the pack she rolled sideways off the stump, tapping it with her wand as she did so. Instantly the stump was gone and a somewhat mussed and very disgruntled Snape appeared in its place.

“For Merlin’s sake, woman, what did you do that for?” He exploded.

Lillith lay on the ground giggling helplessly.

“I assure you, it wasn’t necessary.” Snape snapped and she laughed out loud. He looked furious. “Do you have any idea how much you weigh?”

“Now that,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes and scrambling to her feet, “is hitting below the belt.” She brushed grass and leaves from her clothes. “You’re very strong. I could feel you fighting it.”

A funny look flitted across his face and was gone. “You haven’t told me why you thought it was necessary.”

Her face sobered. “Well, maybe I was a little hasty but after seeing what’s-his-name --” she frowned in thought, “Malfoy, this morning, I guess I was a bit jumpy.”

“Malfoy!” The name exploded from Snape. “Why didn’t you tell me? Where did you see him?”

“I’m sorry, I was going to tell you, I assure you.” She proceeded to tell him about seeing the wizard that morning and where she knew him from.

“I wonder what he’s doing here?” He rubbed his face with his hands.

She waited and when he didn’t go on, she asked about his business of the night before and morning. It seemed the rumors were true. The information he was able to gather without raising suspicion had told him that Voldemort definitely had a second group of Death Eaters in Europe. He didn’t have details but was hoping to learn more later.

“That’s one reason I wanted you less recognizable, in case you bumped into Malfoy.” He nodded and she went on. “Shall we continue?”

“You have more in store for me?” The eyebrows were up.

“Can you limp a bit?”

“Limp?” His voice was disdainful. “I imagine so.”

“Consistently? On the same leg all the time?”

He frowned. She dug a long roll of bandages out of her pack and held it up. “If I wrap your knee, will it be enough to remind you?”

“Probably; do you think it’s necessary?”

“I think anything will help. It’s the subtle things that can give a person away as much as the obvious ones. You have a very distinctive walk and while those who know you may not realize it, they will certainly recognize it when they see it. If I wrap your knee, even if you forget to limp sometimes, it should alter your stride just enough. I hope.”

He looked at her with suspicion. “How do you know all this? Are you a spy as well?”

“I used to help Dori study.” Snape looked thoroughly confused but Lillith didn’t notice. She dropped to one knee beside him.

“OK, big boy,” she tried for a bit of a Mae West tone. “Drop ‘em.”

“WHAT?” Snape’s jaw dropped.

“I have to wrap your knee.” She looked stubbornly at that particular body part. “Drop your trousers.”

Snape’s teeth clicked shut and he thought furiously for a few seconds. This woman was impossible! Bending over, he hissed at her. “I’m not wearing any underwear!”

Lillith continued staring at his leg. “Yes you are.”

Snape’s eyes narrowed. “And how would you know?”

Lillith swallowed a nervous giggle and choked. Recovering herself, she sputtered out, “When I transfigured your clothes before....” She took a deep breath. “I peeked.” She cringed and waited for a curse to fall, feigning a fear she didn’t feel.

He stood rigidly for several seconds then in quick, jerky motions, undid the trousers and shoved them down. The loose-fitting khakis pooled at his ankles and Lillith raised slightly shaky hands to wrap the long bandage around his knee. She studiously kept her eyes down but couldn’t help noticing the hem of the snug fitting black silk boxers in the corner of her eye, nor could she miss the hard smooth muscles of his thigh and calf or how warm his skin felt beneath her fingers. She finished the job neatly and quickly and moved back. He bent and pulled the trousers up in one smooth motion and then Lillith stood.

“Clothes.” She stated, then studied him for a moment. “All right, I think I’ve got it.” She raised her wand.

Snape raised an eyebrow. “Should I turn around?”

Lillith had the decency to blush. “That won’t be necessary.”

He gave her a wicked grin as she waved her wand. Looking down, he saw slim fitting charcoal gray gabardines, a long-sleeved navy turtleneck and a tan safari jacket.

“Can’t we loose the jacket?”

“It’s very suitable for what we’re doing,” she frowned. “Walk around.” She waved her hand.

He took a few turns around the clearing while she coached him.

“That’s good,” she said finally. “Natural, but quite different from your normal walk. Does that feel all right? Can you do it without thinking about it?”

“Yes, I think so. The bandage helps.” He stopped in front of her.

She studied his face for a moment. “Your voice.”

“What about it?”

She sighed. The man really was clueless.

“Your voice,” she said as though explaining something to a small, dull child, “is black velvet in moonlight, caressed by a soft, tropical breeze. When you’re not growling. Can you change it?”

His face went slack with surprise for a moment, then he cleared his throat.

“How’s this?” It was slightly higher in pitch.

“More,” she encouraged.

“Well, Albus, I don’t know what happened to her. One minute we were standing in this clearing and she was trying to change me into someone else and ‘poof’ she disappeared in a puff of smoke.” His voice was lighter, a bit higher and with a hint of a soft country accent. She ignored what he was saying.

“Much better. Can you remember to speak that way around other people?”

“How about if I just don’t say anything. I don’t speak German, after all.”

“True, but saying nothing in public is strange in itself.”

“I usually say nothing,” his voice had a lofty tone.

“I know,” hers was sarcastic.

He scowled at her.

“And could you try to do that a little less? I won’t ask you to smile -- I don’t want your face to break -- but could you just let it relax a little bit?”

His look was murderous.

“Yes, well, that’s an improvement,” she shook her head and touched her own clothes with her wand. She was then dressed in tan slacks, a pink knit pullover and a dark green safari jacket.

“Here, wear these.” She handed him a pair of steel-rimmed glasses, tinted gray.

“Why?” He looked at them suspiciously.

“Because, Severus,” her voice was barely patient. “Everything about you is distinctive. Not the least, your eyes.”

“I think you’re exaggerating.” He sounded superior.

“Not to mention the fact,” her voice was beginning to sound frayed, “that about a third of the wizarding world has been a student of yours over the last 16 years. Do you really think that any student who suffered through at least 5 years of your classes would fail to recognize you at 300 yards? At night? In the fog?”

He looked uncomfortable. “I suppose there is that.”

She sighed with disgust and he slipped on the glasses.

“Where’s your pack?”

He reached in his trouser pockets and brought out a miniature pack and a small bottle. He dripped a couple of drops of potion on the pack and it swelled to normal size.

Lillith nodded approval then glanced at the sky. It was late in the afternoon.

“There’s a train going south at six. Shall we?”

“I welcome your guidance.” He gave her a small bow and she rolled her eyes. Then looking him up and down she said, “I think Obadiah will have to go.”

“Thank God,” he murmured. “I never did see myself in the clergy.”

Lillith was surprised. “You know Trollop?”

“Not personally.” His voice was dry as dust.

A laugh exploded from Lillith before she could stop it. Seeing that Snape didn’t so much as crack a smile, she tried to control herself and get back on track as quickly as possible.

“How about Israel? Israel Yates?”

“You are joking?”

“Not at all. Rather elegant, I think.

“You over-use that word. It diminishes the meaning.” He sounded exceedingly stuffy and she couldn’t resist teasing him.

“But when it comes to you, dear Severus, it can’t possibly be over-used.”

He snorted and scowled as he followed her down the path to the town. “You are having entirely too much fun with this!”

His only answer from Lillith was a bubbling laugh.

Since he was walking behind her and she couldn’t see him, Snape let a rare smile spread over his face. Lillith had handled the job of a disguise for him without his suggestion. She had seen the necessity, come up with a plan and put it into action on her own. She was clever and imaginative and her reflexive action when the woodcutters had entered the clearing had been nothing short of amazing. If she wasn’t so bossy, she might even make tolerable company.

*********************************


Chapter 6: Close Encounters

On the walk back to town, Lillith coached him (he called it nagging) until his shortened stride and slight limp looked perfectly natural. The stiffness in his leg also made him carry his shoulders a little differently and the effect altered the whole look of his walk.

They found the train station and purchased passes to the last village before the border. It was still an hour before the train was due when they walked back outside.

“How about something to eat before the train? I don’t think we should go back to the Gray Goat, though.” Lillith peered up the narrow street that was thick with shoppers.

“What about the Sleeping Maiden?” It was a tavern in the wizarding section of town.

Lillith’s eyebrows rose. “Wantin’ to try out the new look, are ya?”

His look was disdainful. “Of course not.” But he set off in that direction anyway.

They entered the wizard’s street and found the ancient, timbered tavern with no problem. The room was about half full and after choosing a table in a dark corner, Lillith excused herself to find the Witches’ room. On returning, she was knocked into a tall wizard at the bar by a rowdy child. She murmured an apology and glanced upward with a smile that froze on her face. It was Malfoy. She hurriedly tried to recover and forced a little more wattage into her smile.

“Excuse me, sir.” She was almost past when he held out his walking stick against her shoulder. She paused and looked up into the coldest gray eyes she had ever seen.

“Don’t I know you?” He squinted down at her.

“Oh, I don’t think so, sir,” Lillith eased a little bit of country into her voice and forced herself to smile again. “I’m sure as I’d remember you.”

He was studying her face when they were interrupted by another voice.

“Millicent! I was beginning to think you lost. What took you so long?” Snape came to her side and slipped an arm around her shoulders. His voice was the higher pitched country tone he had practiced. He looked Malfoy in the eye and extended his hand, a big smile on his face.

“Israel Yates, sir, and this is my wife, Millicent,” he nodded toward Lillith. “We’re here on vacation.”

Malfoy looked at his hand as if were a dead thing.

“Yes, well, enjoy yourselves,” he sniffed as he walked away.

Snape guided a definitely weak-kneed Lillith to the table where there was food and ale waiting. Dropping into a chair, he started to eat with pleasure. Lillith sat for a moment with her head in her hand. He couldn’t help smirking at her.

“So worried about me you didn’t think of yourself, did you? Not quite covering all the details after all.”

Lillith bristled. “Even if he had recognized me, so what? I have a plausible reason for being here. And you! What were you doing, trying to get him to recognize you?”

Snape looked offended.

“Malfoy would never expect me to approach him like that, even if he knew I was around. Besides,” Snape paused to down some ale, “Lucius is incapable of seeing past his prejudices.”

Lillith raised her eyebrows in silent question while taking a large bite of bratwurst.

“Neville Longbottom would have an excellent --” he cocked his head in thought, “well, not excellent, but a reasonable chance of defeating Malfoy, were he to try, simply because Malfoy would discount the possibility of Neville ever being able to do any such thing.”

“Neville? Wasn’t he one of the kids at the Battle of the Ministry?”

“That’s right. His parents were members of the Order. They were tortured to insanity by the Death Eaters. Neville is insecure, inadequate and inept.”

Lillith winced.

“He has also come a very long way in the last year.” Snape took a bite of his roast beef sandwich, a smug smile on his face.

Lillith waited but Snape didn’t go on.

“Because of you?” The question was tentative.

“Heavens no!” Snape laughed. “The boy hates me. But that’s not the point. The point is, Malfoy would never have recognized me.”

Confused, Lillith reverted to the former topic.

“So what is Malfoy doing here? Is he following us?”

Snape frowned. “I don’t see how he can be.” He glanced at the clock. “We’d better go.”

They left money on the table and went out the front door. There was no sign of Malfoy.

~~

All the sleepers were taken so they made themselves as comfortable as possible near the middle of the train. After reading awhile, Lillith dozed on and off, noticing that each time she looked at Snape he was awake and watchful. His head was tipped back against the seat and he appeared to be asleep but she knew he wasn’t. She finally got comfortable in the warm and stuffy car and slept soundly for an hour or two. When she awoke it was to find her head on Snape’s shoulder and his arm around her. She looked up in surprise and found he was, as usual, awake.

“Do you ever sleep?” She struggled upright and rubbed her neck.

“Occasionally.” He quirked a small smile at her.

She opened her eyes wide, then yawned. “Why don’t you try now; I’ll be awake.”

He studied her for a moment. “All right.” His voice was very soft.

He stretched out and leaned his head back. His arms were folded and she knew his wand was in his hand, out of sight of the casual observer. Lillith got up and rummaged in her pack for a book, then resettled herself in the seat facing Snape. She looked over at him.

“Am I supposed to sleep with you staring at me?”

“You can’t sleep if your eyes are open.”

He sighed and closed them. Within moments she could tell by his breathing he had drifted off. Lillith continued to look at him. She watched his face relax in sleep; all the lines caused by fatigue, worry and the perpetual scowl melted and smoothed away. It really wasn’t a bad looking face. High cheekbones, a strong chin, the nose a bit prominent, but the eye was drawn away from it by a pair of highly mobile and expressive eyebrows and his glittering, intense black eyes. Eyes so intense that, even when closed, she could imagine the effect of their gaze.

Her eyes drifted down the rest of his body. He was almost impossibly thin but his shoulders were broad and his body well-muscled. His legs were long and she knew first-hand how well defined those muscles were. She blushed and looked away, even though there was no one to see. It had been a few years since she had felt attracted to a man. Most of them just seemed too thick, too slow for her quick intellect and fiery passions.

Most of the men she knew didn’t seem to care much about anything; they were just happy to drift along taking life as it came. The men she had met in the Order of the Phoenix were different on the whole. But still, none of them were much her type though at least they had passion.

Now, Severus..... She smiled. She could see how Tonks had been attracted to him. He was the “bad boy” that attracted so many women. Severus, however, scared most women (and men) off with his bad temper and brooding ways. She knew Tonks was made of sterner stuff. Once she had worked out her years-long crush on him with an active night in bed, Tonks seemed to have put the whole thing in perspective and mostly moved on.

Lillith frowned to herself. And how did Snape feel about Tonks? She knew he had come to see her in the hospital. She also knew, from Tonks, that he was capable of kindness and that Dumbledore trusted his loyalty absolutely. She knew first-hand about his scathing tongue, but he had never made it personal. (Except, she reminded herself, that crack about her weight. But she had been sitting on him, after all.) He kept everyone at arm’s length or better, but how much did he care? She sighed and looked out the window at the darkness. She didn’t think it was a good idea to get too involved with trying to figure out Hogwarts’ Potions Master.

Just before dawn she was struggling to stay awake when Snape stretched and yawned. The long arms extended over his head, the wand laid back against his wrist. When he brought his arms down, he swung the left one over to Lillith and ran a finger down her cheek. The electric sensation startled her. He smiled a gentle smile, his face still soft with sleep.

“That felt good; why don’t you nap again?”

Slightly disconcerted by his manner, she nodded mutely and settled herself against the window. She was asleep at once.

~~

Snape sat with his arms folded, his ankles crossed and a scowl firmly in place on his face. What had he been thinking, touching her like that? It had been bad enough earlier, when she had slumped against him. Thinking to make her a bit more room, he had raised his arm to the back of the seat. She had promptly snuggled up to him like a trusting child and after a while he had dropped his arm to her shoulder purely to relieve the strain on his own. That was the only reason, he told himself. When he had woken up from his nap, there she was in the middle of this absolutely enormous yawn. Her eyes had been scrunched shut and she looked ridiculous. And he had reached out and touched her face before he realized what he was doing. His scowl deepened. He didn’t even like the woman. Yes, she was intelligent, good-natured and a lively and informed conversationalist, but she was hopeless bossy and not nearly suspicious enough for a job like this. Besides, he didn’t need any kind of relationship with anyone, other than business. Having relationships was dangerous.

And not having them is lonely, that obnoxious voice in the back of his head threw into his internal conversation. He snorted quietly. Lonely was the way of life he was accustomed to; it was normal for him and he liked it that way. Right. The voice responded. Besides, he reasoned with the voice, she does not like me.

Doesn’t she? The voice asked.

“No,” he whispered the word aloud, then, with an effort, shut that conversation off and started another. There were plans to be made and things to accomplish.

He had to admit that Lillith’s command of languages and her experience collecting was going to make this phase of the trip much easier. He figured if they concentrated on the collecting and packaging of the plants, he could finish that up and send them and Lillith home, leaving himself free to gather more information. He had already answered the main question about whether there was another Death Eater group and that was all Dumbledore had said to find out. Any more prying on his part might be noticed and Dumbledore didn’t want him to risk his safety. But he was already here … Here and with time ahead of him. If he could just find out how many were in the group and maybe who a few of them were. He had a good idea who some of them were - the ones who weren’t at the last meeting he had attended - but there were sure to be more. He could surely do a bit more investigating without raising suspicion…

Lillith woke up a few minutes before their stop. A quick glance at Snape told her his mood. She had come to think of his moods in degrees of bad. There was the “relaxed” scowl that his face wore most of the time but didn’t necessarily indicate a worse mood that usual, and there was the “active” scowl that meant it would be better to leave him alone. This looked like a very active scowl. She turned toward the window and watched the scenery. She didn’t really care what kind of a mood he was in most of the time. He was how he was and fretting at him, trying to kid him into a good mood, or sulking on her part, wouldn’t make him any better. It wasn’t necessarily personal and fighting it would only made it worse, so she just let him be. By giving him the room he needed to be how he was, he also had the room to be different. She had found that by giving him all the space he needed and not reacting to his hostility, his innate good manners usually won out over his black mood. He might not always be pleasant, but he was an alright, if taciturn, companion.

They got off at the small border town and stretched. The sun was coming up and casting long shadows across the forest and the little river that chattered on its steep run over the stones. The air was cool and crisp and smelled of mountains. They idled about the platform, waiting for the others to disperse. When they were alone, they set off into town.

“You have a plan.” It was a statement, and a rather sour sounding one at that.

“Not really,” she kept her voice casual.

He raised an unbelieving eyebrow and she couldn’t help smile.

“Maybe an idea or two.....”

She thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch although his expression remained sour.

**************************************

Continued in Part 2