I turned the dagger over in my hands. It was silver.

Nodding to myself, I slipped it into the sheath in my boot which had been empty a little too long. I took a step, then another, experimenting. The weight was right, familiar. It was suddenly as if I had never lost the old dagger, the first one he had given me all those years ago.

The one that Sirius Black broke, turned to ice in sixth year Transfigurations and simply...dropped.

Snatching up the letter, I stormed out into the hall, jogged a few doors down to where Severus resided, when he was with us. Furiously I pounded upon that door.

"Severus! Are you there? Answer me, damn you!"

For the first time I could remember in recent years, I was really and truly angry with him. I had been frustrated before- frustrated, annoyed, infuriated, exasperated, and irritated- he'd always had that affect on me. But not in years had I been honestly furious with him. Until then.

How dare he? How DARE he? Telling me what to do, as if I weren't capable of reasoning things out on my own... Implying that I'm crazy...

"Self-righteous bastard..." I hardly noticed that I'd spoken aloud, but even if anyone had heard me, the simple fact of whose door I was attempting to break down would not only have excused the remark, but explained it perfectly. Nearly everyone thought Severus Snape was a self-righteous bastard.

The fact that he was, of course, didn't change a damn thing.

I continued to pound upon the door even when I heard running footsteps on the other side of it, until the door was snatched away from my reaching fist.

"Yes?" he said, cool as ever.

I brandished the letter. "Got your note," I said furiously.

He nodded. "Lovely. Won't you come in?" And before I could say another word- probably just as well, as Merlin only knows what would have come out of my mouth next- he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room.

"Where's the dagger?" Severus asked.

I glared at him. "Wouldn't you like to know. If I end up needing it, you'll find out where I'm keeping it." I continued to glare, daring him to say anything.

Of course, it was Severus. And he would always dare. "Was that a threat?" he asked lazily.

"It's going to be a bloody promise if you don't stop acting like this. Listen to me, Severus. I am not a child, and I sure as hell have not lost my mind. Yes, I'm certain there are other ways, and probably better ones as well."

"Oh?" he asked, looking surprised. "That being the case-"

"The problem," I interrupted, "is that those other ways are going to take something we haven't got- time. While we stand around trying to figure out how we might discover who's stabbing us in the back this time, they are still party to our secrets, our plans. Lives are at stake here, Severus- not just mine, not just yours, but the lives of everyone who fights on our side." I could see the anger growing in his eyes as I spoke, and knew that I had to keep going, least he be able to get a word in edgewise. I might have started it, but I really couldn't afford for us to be fighting just then. "And damnit, you should know that. Look what's happened already. The McKinnons. The Prewitts. The Bones."

Severus winced. "That was...uncalled for," he said, and his voice was that deadly calm I remembered so well. The sort of calm that only lets you think you haven't ticked him off. The calm that lulls the unwary.

"We haven't got time to play nice!" I sighed, waved the letter again, feeling my anger drain off, wash away. "I appreciate the sentiment, Severus- you can't know how much. And I know that was a low blow- I'm sorry for it. But we have to catch whoever this is, the sooner, the better." Severus nodded, looking as if his anger had cooled a bit as well. "I wasn't going to wait for you, but I'm glad you're here. Feel like tagging along?"

He smiled thinly. "Since I wasn't doing anything that can't wait... yes, I suppose I could do that."

"Lovely. Shall we, then?"

"Why not?"

---

I honestly didn't think we would find them that night. But we needed to begin laying the groundwork so that when we did find the bastard, we'd be ready.

Neither of us wanted him to be seen with me on my rounds, not if we were going to try to convince the traitor that I was Dumbledore's spy, so Severus hid himself beneath an Invisibility Cloak. I quickly discovered that his agreeing to come along did not mean he'd given up his objections to my plan.

He was, actually, just getting started.

But then, so was I.

"How," his voice said from the thin air beside my ear, "do you expect you can pull this off? You're-"

"Yes?" I asked. "What?"

I heard a sigh. Then, "Bloody... You're Minerva McGonagall. Isn't that enough?"

I laughed, and patted his invisible shoulder. I wasn't about to tell him I'd thought of the very same thing, that I thought I'd found a way around it. If he disliked the original plan, he would loath the revised version. So he simply wasn't going to hear about it ahead of time... "And who better, Severus? Dumbledore's right hand, yes- I am that. But I ran with a group of Slytherins when I was at school, and it's not as if we don't keep in touch. Really, you should know better."

"Shh," he hissed. "If someone hears you-"

I took a careful step forward on the staircase where we had paused to speak- oh so carefully slipping my foot into the trick stair. "Damnit! Could you-?"

As I was helped out of my predicament by Severus, who was muttering darkly to himself, I caught his shoulder again, and whispered, "Trust me, lover. I want them to hear me."

I felt Severus's shoulder jerk beneath my hand; apparently I had surprised him. Well. That was a nice change.

When I stood on solid ground again, I gave him a wicked little smile.

I could only imagine his expression, but he understood what I was about, I was sure. His next words confirmed that.

"Pity they're such fools," Severus said conversationally. "The old man still doesn't know?"

I laughed. "Not a thing. He thinks the reason I've been in touch with you and the others is that I'm trying to get information for him."

I heard the swish of cloth; Severus looking quickly around the corridor. But it was empty, and he threw off the Invisibility Cloak. I saw surprise in his eyes then, and something like respect mixed with exasperation. Then it was gone, and when he spoke, his words were, again, everything I could have wished.

"I'm glad you came to your senses. Pity your brother couldn't do the same- we could have used him."

I sighed. "I know. Idealistic idiot got what he had coming to him. But listen, I can't stay long- they may notice I'm not out prowling for students out of bed..."

"Can't have that, of course," Severus said. "What do you have for us?"

"Someone really is passing information to Dumbledore, and it damn well isn't me," I said. "And I think I know who it is."

"Oh? Do tell, then." He smiled, and I realized he was coming to enjoy this. I knew I was likely to catch it later for my improvising on the plan, but there was still a part of him that found this quite amusing.

In a way, though, I was just as amused.

"I don't know if you'll believe me, Severus- I almost didn't believe it myself, come to that- but I think it's Rosier."

"Evan Rosier?" Severus asked, and I saw dawning comprehension in his eyes. Rosier had been the Death Eater who'd gotten away from the attack on the Auror families. "I don't believe-" He cut himself off. "You have proof, of course, or you wouldn't have asked me to come."

I nodded. "The Aurors knew who you were going after. Not in time to stop you, but they knew- they had to have been told by someone. And what couple lived, who would've been dead if the Aurors had arrived a minute or two later?"

He swore. "The Potters. Rosier led that team."

"And survived," I pointed out, "when the others didn't."

Severus was nodding. "Damn. Damn, damn, damn!"

"Quite. I think-"

A sound, too quiet to name, came from behind us to cut through the night air, and I stopped. "What was that?"

Severus turned, so that he stood between me and the source of that noise. It was an unmistakably protective gesture. Part of me wanted to smack him for it, but it was already too late-

There was another sound then, and this time I was able to identify it. A footstep, creaking on the landing above us. I raised my head, looked-

And caught the eye of the young man standing there.

"You!" he hissed.

It was Barty Crouch, Jr.

"Well." Severus had his wand out, aiming at the Slytherin student. "Isn't that interesting. Down here, if you please, Crouch. Slowly."

Barty Crouch descended the stairs towards us, his face going pale. He looked at Severus, his gaze occasionally flicking to me, and his brow furrowed as he took note of the way we were standing, Severus's free hand hovering over my arm as if he meant to push me aside, out of danger...

Hell, I thought. Careful, careful...one wrong step here and he'll know.

"So it's you," Crouch said. "It's been you all along, hasn't it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Severus snapped, "but I would dearly love to know what you think you're doing here. Explain yourself. Now."

The boy looked suddenly off-balanced, but he was only shaken, not quite daunted yet. He was, after all, a Slytherin, and they had never really received the brunt of Severus's ill will. Yet. "I really think this is something the Dark Lord ought to know about. Trying to set up Evan Rosier- how dare you? He's at least loyal, which you apparently aren't. I really have to thank you, though- This information is exactly what I need to rise into Voldemort's inner circle."

"What information?" I snapped.

"Didn't really change your colors after all, did you?" Crouch asked. "Gryffindor bitch. Wait till the Dark Lord hears about this, you'll-"

I didn't think, I simply acted. My hand seemed to rise up of its own accord, and I heard the slap of my palm against Crouch's cheek as if somebody else had done it.

As I drew back my hand, Severus pushed me behind him. I wanted to appreciate the gesture, but all I could do was bite my tongue and try not to swear.

"Idiot boy," Severus said flatly, "you are really beginning to try my patience. Whatever you think you know, you do not."

"Really," said Crouch. "So I don't know that one of you sold out our lord and master?"

I drew myself up to my full height; Without looking I felt Severus do the same beside me.

"Who are you to say these things? Child. Pretender. Bandying about these words, shouting our Lord's name for all the world to hear- Bloody novice, what are you thinking? But of course you're not thinking, are you? You've fallen into the school of sharks, boy, and there's blood in the water. But by all means, don't let me stop you from getting yourself killed. Keep yelling 'Voldemort'- but don't expect us to still be standing here when Dumbledore comes along." Crouch was gaping at me, open-mouthed, but I wasn't done yet. "Run along home, and stop trying to meddle in things that don't concern you."

"Oh, they concern me, alright," the boy said, seeming to get his courage back from wherever it had gotten off to before. "The Dark Lord-"

"Be silent," Severus snapped at him. "I will tell you once to do as she says- Go, and go now."

"No," Crouch said flatly. "I'm staying. You need me- clearly you're too blind to see the truth on your own."

"What are you on about, boy?" Severus asked sharply.

"Her. I don't trust her." He pointed at me.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Really. Well, that's interesting, because I see no reason for us to trust you. You come here stumbling over yourself, yelling about dark lords and serving your master- How the hell do you know we aren't the enemy?"

"I think she is!" he shouted.

"Then why isn't one of us already dead? Because," Severus answered his own question, "it's possible more is going on here than you are aware of- more than you should be aware of. If you are what you seem to be implying you are, then you know who I am." Crouch nodded slowly. "And I say- She is no more the old man's servant than I am."

"Really?" Crouch said, and with that one word his whole manner changed. He bowed to me, and stayed that way, folded over. "I apologize. I didn't mean-"

"Shut up," I said, turning my voice dispassionate, if a bit irritated. I raised my leg just a bit, till I could get at the dagger without taking my eyes from the boy, and then I pulled it from my boot. "You will be punished for your impudence," I snapped at young Crouch, advancing upon him with the knife. He started to back away, but Severus caught his shoulders and held him in place. I took a step forward, then another, and another, until I stood close enough to hold my dagger's blade to his throat.

"You want to be accepted by the Dark Lord, Barty? Hmm?" I asked, my voice soft and dangerous. "The way there lies through us. And if you listen well, if you do exactly what we tell you, perhaps you will get there someday. And if you still feel the need to question me, well- why don't you run along and tell the others, the old man is getting his information about their movements from Minerva McGonagall." I nodded to Severus, and he gave his wand an experimental flick. "Right then. You're going to wake up back in your dormitory, and you will pretend none of this happened so long as you are on Hogwarts grounds. You will not do anything to give yourself, or us, away. When we speak we will be teachers and student, no more, no less. Understood?"

Crouch nodded.

"Good. Severus."

Severus flicked the wand. "Stupefy."

Crouch hit the floor with an echoing thud. I looked down at him and shook my head, lowering the dagger I held in my hand, but not yet putting it away. "Do you think he really is-?" I started.

But Severus had already bent, and was pushing up the boy's left sleeve.

There, clear as day, was the Dark Mark, caked with dried blood and beginning to scab over. "Yes. And it's recent."

I sighed and shook my head. He was so young... It was true I didn't like him very much, but this-

"Don't," Severus advised, seeing my expression. "Don't pity him, Minerva. And don't ever look at him again and see a child. He is everything this mark symbolizes, and every bit as dangerous as the others. Less experienced, but that won't last. He is one of them now, and he will betray us in a heartbeat to get what he wants."

I nodded slowly. "What do you think he'll do with what we've given him tonight?"

"He will do as you foolishly suggested," Severus said, sounding annoyed now. "He will take it to the others, to whomever brought him into the Death Eaters. And he will ask them about you. And they will tell him-" He sighed. "You know what they will tell him, Minerva. What the devil were you thinking?"

I bent down to retrieve his Invisibility Cloak. "You're going to need this. I was thinking, Severus, that we had to tip them off somehow, or the real agent will never come near me. You-"

"What?" he interrupted. "You don't think Crouch is-?"

I shook my head. "No. He thinks he is, I'm sure, but he didn't know where the Prewitts were hiding. No one did, except-" I sighed. "No, it's one of us, Severus. One of the old crowd. And that's the one we've got to find."

He nodded slowly, and I saw again that glint of respect in his eyes. "That being the case, what is it you need from me?"

"I need you," I said, handing him the cloak, "to go to Lucius and the others. Go now, because you've got to beat Crouch to them. Tell them that you've turned me. If you don't think that they will believe it, tell them- Hell. What to-" I snapped my fingers. "Imperious. Tell them you used that, if that's what it will take."

Severus nodded again, taking the cloak from my arms. "So they will believe that we've turned Dumbledore's agent. His only agent."

"Two birds with one stone," I said. "It gets me one step closer to finding our traitor- and puts you a step farther away from danger."

He smiled a bit then. "It's almost funny, you know. You trying to protect me, I trying to protect you..."

I bent to slide the knife back into its sheath in my boot, but suddenly I found that my hands were shaking too badly. I could not stop their trembling, and the dagger hit the stair below me with a clunk.

"Here, let me." Severus set aside the Invisibility Cloak and kneeled down to retrieve the dagger. I felt him push aside the hem of my robe and run his hand along my left ankle, feeling for the sheath. Each brush of his fingers seemed tinged with electricity, sparking against my skin.

"Other foot," I whispered.

He made no reply, but a moment later I felt the dagger slide slowly home. Severus' hand brushed along my boot, and he looked up at me, a wry smile crossing his face. "That's clever. You can't even feel it."

"I can," I said quietly. "Thank you."

"I hadn't known you never replaced the old one, or I'd have done it sooner." He stood slowly and gathered the cloak again. "I will be back as soon as I can.

"I know." I threw my arms around him then, and held him tight for an instant. "Go, Severus."

He took my face between his hands, kissed me tenderly, and stepped back, pulling on the Invisibility Cloak.

"Can you manage him alright?" he asked, nudging Crouch with his foot perhaps a bit harder than was really necessary.

I nodded. "Yes."

"Mm," he said in a noncommittal sort of way. "And you are planning on telling Dumbledore about the...ah, improvising you did tonight?"

I shrugged. "Eventually. Severus-"

"I know." He took my hand, kissed it, and pulled the cloak's hood up over his head. He vanished.

"Careful, my love," I whispered.

I heard him whisper my name, and then there was a gust of chill air I knew meant he was moving quickly up the stairs, along the corridor...away.

With a sigh and a flick of my wand I got Crouch moving. I tried to focus on the carpet in front of me, the unconscious Slytherin I was transporting...

But all I could think, over and over, was that I seemed to be living in nights of perpetual good-byes.