She could have sent any of her undersecretaries to interview the man. Perhaps Cormac McLaggen, whom she had been keeping a subtle eye on. The young man had potential. But Snape was a special case. Famous, in his own way, for helping bring down Voldemort. And for killing Dumbledore. He was too important a resource to fob off on someone else. She needed to hear the intonation of his voice, see the expression in his eyes, to read every nuance of every reply to her questions.

There was a small gong by the door, and she arched a brow at it. A flower-named shop and a gong. Perhaps everything she thought she knew about Snape was wrong. She had never met him after all, only knew him through rumor and report. And no dry MLE report on his arrests and acquittals could compare to a face to face meeting.

She slipped into the shop and looked around. It looked like a typical apothecary, with floor to ceiling shelves in the space she could see. It was clean and appeared to be well organized, which was more than she could say for the shop she frequented. Snape was standing at one of the shelves, moving vials around. She delicately cleared her throat to gain his attention.

Severus heard someone clearing their throat and turned. How he had missed the door opening, he wasn't sure, but he could be certain that his thoughts of how troublesome his employees had been lately had not helped in the slightest.

"How may I help you today, Madam?" Severus' voice contained a note of resignation. He had hoped that no customers would enter the shop during his employees' break, but the fates were not kind to him in the grand scheme. Why not taunt him on the minor details of life as well? At least this woman looked intelligent and like someone who took care of herself. Too many of his customers were slobs and dunderheads.

Maria smiled as she realized that he didn't recognize her. That was an oddity these days when it seemed as if her face was constantly splashed across the front of the Prophet. She's even managed to make the front of the Quibbler a time or two, an accomplishment she looked on with amusement.

She briefly considered allowing him to remain in the dark as to her identity, but crossed that idea out quickly. Even if she could get the answers she needed from him without revealing herself, once he knew the truth she'd lose whatever trust he might have of her. Not that she expected him to trust her a whit of course.

"Mr. Snape, we've never been introduced. My name is Maria LeGrot." She stressed the French pronunciation of her surname through long habit. She had done so ever since Thineas Alfreds had made it his personal campaign to have her known as Leg Rot back in their fourth year together. Thineas had been a most unpleasant boy.

"Ah, Madame LeGrot," Severus said flawlessly, "It is an honour to have one so... influential, enter my humble shop. Please tell me how I may be of service, to yourself or to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Inwardly, Severus was groaning. He knew full well that Maria LeGrot went to an establishment that had been around since her grandfather for her potions. This meant that she could only be standing in his shop on business. Merlin, but I hate being involved in anything that has to do with Ministry business.

"I have a feeling you're just being polite, Mr. Snape." She could tell that he wanted to get whatever business brought her to the shop over with, which was fine with her. It had been too long since she had last employed a new snitch, though the term seemed overly simple for what Severus Snape ultimately was.

"I feel as if the wizarding world is too quiet, Mr. Snape. As if it were the calm before the storm, so to speak. None of my people have heard a single rumor or whisper of who or what will replace the Dark Lord. And we both know that he will be replaced eventually." She trailed off, hoping that he'd volunteer any information he might have gleaned without pushing.

Severus fixed the woman in his gaze, black eyes narrowed. He was uncertain whether to be offended that she thought he would know of new stirrings, or to be upset that he didn't know. At last he spoke.

"I am afraid I misunderstand, Madame LeGrot," his tone made it certain that he in no way thought he'd misunderstood. "I am certain you don't mean to insinuate that I would be involved in something of that nature. I was unaware that I was still seen as suspect." He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. I ought to cut this, he thought, before turning back to her. "And if I have misunderstood, well, I assure you, I have heard nothing." Although you do feel the same way, don't you, Severus. He chased the thought down, the expression on his face remaining stoic.

Damn! It really had been too long since she had done this if she had made such an obvious mistake. "You both did and did not misunderstand, Mr. Snape. I do not mean to imply that you have thrown away years of work in order to join the next megalomaniac that has an idea to rule the world. It is, in fact, those years of service to the Ministry, no matter how far removed, that I am calling upon. During your time as a spy you must have kept a careful ear out, gathering rumor and supposition. I believe that would be a hard habit to break."

"Indeed," Severus drawled, secretly flattered. "You may be correct that when I hear things, I keep them for reference. Yet, like your people, I have heard nothing of importance. There is just the sense that a storm will break soon. I am not well placed, as I was before, Madame LeGrot. Yet if I hear anything of relevance, you may rest assured I will not hesitate to share it with the appropriate faction." A smirk appeared upon his face. "And please, Madame, call me Severus."

Maria smiled, her face showing nothing but pleasure that she had won him over, at least a little bit. Appropriate faction, Merlin's saggy left ball. Still, it would do no good to call him on the phrasing of his statement. He was a proud man, one who had been beaten down by life again and again. If letting him have this small victory helped bring him to considering her the appropriate faction, then it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

"And you may call me Maria," she replied, letting her smile widen a bit. "I can only hope that this will be the beginning of a wonderful friendship, Severus."


[Summary: Underworld contacts are important, and Maria hopes she's made one in Severus.]