Why Are You Here ?
Belongs To JKR
Spying isn't easy to do. Severus Snape is a testament to that particular fact. In the past six months since pledging himself to Dumbledore's service he'd given more than his fair share of information to The Order something that did little to comfort him when he was around Voldemort. But the fact that Lily Potter, (oh how that last name grated his nerves) was safe was enough.
Today wasn't starting off particularly well for Severus, the morning he'd woken up he'd been given severe shock of pain from his Dark Mark, more so than usual. This meant that Voldemort had something important to give the Death Eaters.
Snape Disapparated from his room at Spinner's End and Apparated at Voldemort's throne room for lack of a better word to find himself completely alone with the Dark Lord. His slit eyes were alternately red and black, both signs of whatever corruption he'd done to himself. His head held a thinning shock of grayish brown hair that Severus predicted would be gone by the end of this year, his skin was pale as ebony.
"Severus" Voldemort beckoned him
"My lord" he said kneeling
"I have news that will bring great pleasure to both of us" His voice was like a bucket of icy water being poured on Severus's back
"I await with bated breath my lord" Sev said with all the false sincerity he could force
"A recent encounter with The Order has us a valuable target" Voldemort said coyly
"Who ? My lord" Severus said with a small pit developing in his stomach
"James Potter" Voldemort said with a smile
Severus was stunned
"Severus I want you to bring him to me, of course after you've had your fun that is. He'll provide valuable information about The Order we could use, he's been placed in our 6th safe house in Baldoran with several guards and awaits your arrival with bated breath"
Baldoran was a notorious piece of Death Eater territory and a safe place to hide an Order member from retrieval. Death Eater safe houses were almost always named with numbers from 1 to 7.
"My lord is unendingly gracious I shall return at once with him" Severus said. Remarkably keeping the fear he felt in his chest under control.
"I know you will Severus, you are dismissed"
Severus Disapparated immediately while trying to figure out how to handle this, and decided he'd cross that bridged once he'd arrived. Severus arrived at a small unassuming shack with a pop there were two guards outside who, once he'd removed his mask led him inside to a figure in a chair. He'd evidently been placed in a full body bind but he had been roped up and gagged to be safe.
James Potter's once famous face that made the girls of Hogwarts swoon was split with cuts and nicks, it looked like he'd taken a dive into a pool filled with broken glass. In addition he had the customary twitches of Crucio. Severus looked at the two guards.
"How'd he get captured ?" He asked nonchalantly
They both removed there masks, it was Lastor and Faran. Severus sighed, these two were some of the best and most infamous Death Eaters at Voldemort's disposal. Together they were responsible some of the worst atrocities in the war.
There's no way I can do this and stay a spy, The Dark Lord will never believe that a Cruicoed beaten wizard escaped a full body bind, the best Death Eaters available, and enemy territory alone.
"We caught him in a surprise attack at an Order outpost, we killed two but thought he'd be a better prize alive, considering The Dark Lord is still trying to decide what to do with his family." Lastor said with a nasty smile
"Who else was with you ?" Severus asked hopefully.
Maybe I can kill them and pin the blame on somebody in the attack
"Oh it doesn't matter anymore, we don't like to share the credit" They responded simultaneously
"You should be careful, The Dark Lord does detest infighting" Severus said quietly
"He's waking" Faran said
Potter's eyes flickered open and shut, his left eyelid was swollen purple. So it looked like he was twitching on that side. When he finally appeared to focus on them, he saw Snape and his mouth split open into a feral expression which looked quite unattractive on him considering his recent experiences. The bind was wearing off evidently, but he'd been tied to the chair as well and gagged.
" What should we do with him ?" Lastor asked
"The Dark Lord did say you'd have some fun with him, we made sure not to ruin him too much for you." Faran squealed eagerly.
Severus stared directly into Potter's eyes. He saw hatred and….fear ? looking back at him, not unlike the looks he'd give Severus see him with Lily. Before the Incident that is.
It'd be so easy to kill him, to take his life away, to give him pain for what him and his 'Marauders' did to me. But….Lily loves him, Oh Merlin as much as it galls me to admit it. And to hurt him would be to hurt her and I've done more than enough of that.
"Damn you Potter" Severus muttered.
Severus uttered a wordless Sectumsempra.
"What are you-" Lastor was cut off as both him and Faran's neck erupted in a red fountains, simultaneously crumpling to the floor.
Potter's eyes widened in shock as Severus cut the binds to his legs and arms. Potter stumbled up from his chair, spitting out the gag.
"Your wand is most likely in one of their pockets" Severus said calmly
"Sni- I mean Snape, what ? What are you doing ?" Potter sputtered
"Intelligent as ever Potter" Severus searched Lastor's cloaks pockets before pulling out a wand that was obviously Potter's.
I recognize it after all the times he pointed it at my face.
"Here" He handed it.
Potter snatched it away. Severus expected him to point it at his throat but instead he just stared at the wand, then at Severus.
"What are you doing ?" He asked more firmly than before
"Repaying a debt Potter" Severus said curtly.
This is also true, you can say many things about Severus Snape but he always keeps a debt.
"I don't understand, what debt ?" Potter asked confused
Is he really that stupid ? How can he not remember ?
"There's no time" Severus uttered a rudimentary healing spell for Potter's cuts, thought the Crucio effects would need better treatment.
"Come"
"Where ?" Potter asked again suspiciously
"The Order's headquarters" Snape said impatiently
"How do you know about The Order ?"
"I am a member you dullard. Now unless you'd prefer to have the company of The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters I suggest we Disapparate immediately"
"Where are the headquarters then ?" Potter challenged
Merlin, I should have let him die.
"The Ministry of Magic" Severus answered darkly
"What department ?"
"Mysteries, now do you want to leave or not ?!" Severus nearly shouted.
That seemed to satisfy him for the moment. Snape would have sent his Patronus but he didn't need Potter to know what he felt for Lily, though he had a sneaking suspicion he already did.
"Can you send a Patronus to Dumbledore ?" Snape asked Potter.
"I think so. What should I say ?"
"Tell him that I've found you and my covers blown we'll meet him at Hogwarts"
Potter sent the Patronus off, the silver white stag bounding into the distance.
"Now what ?" Potter asked
"Now we go to a safe house so we can Portkey to Dumbledore's office" Snape was getting nervous
"Where's the house ?"
"Knockturn Alley, it was for me specifically because of my company"
Potter paused.
"Alright lets go"