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1. Night in Hogwarts
Severus Snape's POV
Severus Snape walked the empty corridors of Hogwarts, vigorously waving his black robe.
He was rarely in a good mood, but tonight he was really on the edge of losing control.
The early evening meeting with the Dark Lord was admittedly brief, but intense.
The first part was businesslike and discussed the actions planned for later that night.
The Dark Lord sent a group of new supporters for a test drive. They had to pacify a small town in the north of Scotland, a hometown of one of the Ministry employees - who unfortunately for his fellow citizens, was not interested in the cooperation proposal delivered to him by Malfoy.
Once appointed to the task, the Death Eaters others left in the room were several times treated with various curses, among them Cruciatus, which though inexcusable, was one of the mildest.
Although, the Dark Lord did not have to explain himself to did however he give them reasons for got shot because they retreated too much back against the wall, the others for pushing forward, the others for being too servile, others not being servile enough.
Severus got cursed for the first time when Malfoy bumped into him after a cutting second time for not suitable reaction after the first one.
Fortunately, the meeting quickly ended. The Lord sent them away without further instructions and commands.
Severus, after his return, gave Albus after taking all the necessary potions, decided to go for a night walk through the castle.
Nothing helped his aching body and nerves, as giving detentions and taking points from , if he's lucky he might catch the Unholy Trinity of Gryffindor.
When he approached a corridor leading to the stairs on the third floor, he heard quick light steps just around the corner.
Someone was walking around the castle, at nighttime. Severus immediately felt he threw glamour and silencio on himself and walked to the corner, planning to surprise the wanderer.
Then he heard another, even quieter, faster steps closing on his potential victim and a strangled whisper.
- Mother Ruthless! What are you doing here?You were supposed to be in the Room of Requirement.
Potter! Severus smiled devilishly. His night just became much better. Potter! And on the secret date. Dear Merlin, thank you! But before he could move, he heard the answer.
- You said that you're about to come. I waited half an hour. - Dry, offended tone.
Severus froze. Oh, shit! It could not be. He peered cautiously around the corner.
Oh fucking fuck.
In the middle of the corridor stood visibly upset before him, holding him by the hips, was the Dark Lord. Potter rested his hands on his elbows, in an attempt to keep him away and whispered with obvious irritation.
- You can not just walk through the Hogwarts corridors. - He looked into the eyes of his companion. - I know I'm late, but Ron asked me about tomorrow's match and I could not immediately leave. - He gasped. - But really, you should not risk walking around like that.
The Dark Lord gave him a hurt look.
- So I should just sit politely in the Room of Requirement and wait until you kindly find the time for me?
Severus blinked.This could not be happening. He pinched himself to make sure he was dreaming, until it hurt.
He was not dreaming.
Potter ran a hand through his tousled Dark Lord used the moment to grab harder his hips and draw him closer. When the boy opened his mouth to protest, they were crushed in a violent, passionate kiss. Then he involuntarily groaned and hugged his Dark Lord shoved him against the wall and slid his hands moving them on the boys hips and thighs to finally put his legs around his waist.
Potter gave up, pushing him closer and clenching on his hips. When they broke the kiss, the boy shook his head and slammed it against the wall to regain the ability to he began feverishly trying to stand on his feet and push back the man.
- Are you crazy, someone could come here at any time. - He managed to free himself and stopped another of the Dark Lord's attempt to bring him closer by putting his hand on the man's chest. - I'll be at most taken for your victim. But you, they'll immediately throw every known spell. - The Dark Lord only snorted contemptuously. - Some of them might hit me. - The boy said, peering from under the fringe and pouting his lips.
The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips.
- Alright, let's go to The Room.
- You might consider throwing some camouflage. - Potter significantly raised an eyebrow.
The Dark Lord rolled his eyes, but before he could react, on the opposite side of corridor they heard the creak of moving stairs. He grabbed Potter to put him close, but he, again protested.
- You can not apparate in here, Dumbledore knows that only we can do that.
- So? He'll think it's you. - The Dark Lord did not see a problem.
- Sure, and soon after he will think that you too can do that and will put an even stronger barriers and detectors. - He sighed in exasperation. - Are not you supposed to be the greatest genius of all time? What's going on with you?
The Dark Lord gave pained sigh.
- You are. - He moved reluctantly. - You have no time for me lately. - He looked searchingly. - Or maybe you're already bored. The thrill is gone and Harry Potter is no longer interested. - He tried to mock, but one could see in his eyes that he was serious.
At that moment stairs clicked on the floor of the corridor end.
- Yes, I miss the excitement. - Low hiss. - Chameleon us and let's disappear.
Immediately they disappeared, and Snape quickly recovered. He stepped back out of sight and threw off his own glamor, leaving the silencio.
It was better that the Dark Lord did not think he's spying.
Silently he came around a corner and heard footsteps approaching from behind the next corner of the corridor. He prepared his might catch someone after all. It is true that he was too shocked to really put his heart into giving someone detention would at least improve his mood a little.
Unfortunately, when his expected victim came around the corner, for the second time that night he was surprised.
- Albus? I was not expecting to meet you yet today.
The Headmaster sighed.
- After talking with you, I feared that Lord Voldemort again today can haunt Harry with visions. You know that for some time now the boy rarely manages to sleep, and after that recent kidnapping... - Dumbledore shook his head. - I sent an elf to watch him, but Harry was not in the Tower. Then I tried to find him, I thought he could hide in the Room of Requirement or on the Astronomy his colleagues would not see him suffer, if the Dark Lord gets to him...
Yeah, the Dark Lord definitely got him. Snape thought mockingly, but kept a straight face.
- Do I have to send Potter to you, if I meet him, Albus?
- No, Severus. If he's fine, leave him. He needs a moment of peace and tranquility.
Severus snorted in the spirit, but loudly protested with the usual sour expression.
- You can not just favor him, Albus. If the boy keeps wandering around the castle at night, he should be punished. You can not allow him to always just do what he wants.
- Please, Severus. - The headmaster looked at him with infinite patience.
This time Snape snorted aloud.
- Well, Albus, if I meet your pet I will make sure that het is safe and I will not disturb him.
- Thank you, Severus. Good night. - The headmaster ignored his sarcastic tone nodding his head and walked toward his office.
Severus snorted he felt a light touch of material rubbing his leg.
Quickly, he pulled out his wand and looked around.
Of course he knew who that he could not know, so he hissed menacingly.
- If this is you, Potter, you show yourself. Didn't you hear that the headmaster let you to walk free at night?
No result. Severus placed his wand in his pocket and headed in the opposite direction to the Room of Requirement.
- I'll kill you, you bloody Peeves. Never mind that you're dead, I'll kill you. - He threw for the ears of any observers, suggesting that he believed he met the annoying poltergeist.
When he passed a corner, he again placed on glamor, leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
Yes, for many years he was a spy, but that did not mean that he did not react at all to the seeing the earlier meeting was stressful for him because thiscompletely changed his situation.
Prior to this, being on the side of Dumbledore automatically meant he was also with the hero of the wizarding world - Potter. Now he had to choose again.
If Potter and the Dark Lordwere together, the Headmaster did not stand a chance.
For the time being he could pretend that he knew nothing, like today. But since he knew...
Logically he should choose a stronger of protecting the kid at the behest of the Headmaster, he should protect him from Headmaster from now on, like today...
But what about the Wizarding World? What would the two of them do? Damn you, Potter. He sighed again.
Then he heard a rustling around the corner. He already had enough for today, but he could not stop himself. He looked out.
Potter was leaning against the wall, panting and red, and his shirt was moving up his torso.
Potter waved his hand. He heard a thud and a shirt the boys hands rested on both sides of his head pressed against the wall.
- Really, you can not wait even those few minutes? And why did you take the glamour off me? - The boy whined again, though his voice was breathless and amused.
- I want to see you. It's been so long. - came as breathless and hoarse answer. - Besides, I've heard, Headmaster allows you to wander around the castle, you risk nothing.
The boy tilted his head to the side, avoiding an unseen interlocutor.
- If you want to see me that much, why do you not kidnap me again? On Saturday we go to Hogsmeade. Think of something. Just not like the last time. - He shuddered. - I do not want to wait for you again, under the care of your servants.
- It certainly will not happen again, ever again. I threw at them all the curses they fired at you - and then all the worst I know, except the killing curse. They did not deserve that. - Certainly they would not dare to touch boy until he gets there.
Severus heard this and shuddered too and leaned against the wall.
He remembered that day.
Bellatrix and her brother appeared cheerful in the base pulling Potter whom they grabbed while shopping in Diagon Alley. The boy was already pretty roughed up, but did not by several other Death Eaters, they finally defeated him showering the boy with curse after curse.
Then came the Dark Lord. Glancing at Potter, he waved his wand and knocked the supporters torturing the boy to the the Death Eaters in a state worse than their in contrast, still he added a Stupefy.
He ordered Severus to take Potter to a cell and give him healing potions. After a comment that he could not give them to the boy all at once, he also got cursed.Then the Dark Lord put a spell of healing everything coma on Potter and sent him to the dungeons.
Or so he he suspected that Potter landed certainly not in a cell, but in the Dark Lord's chambers.
After the disappearance of the Golden Boy. The Dark Lord threw atthe boy's tormentors the worst curses, known and unknown to the air was filled with a faint ringing tone. By that time, the Death Eaters were reduced to quivering bloody shreds of men and women on the floor.
Then the Dark Lord informed them, in his coldest voice, that only he could torture Harry Potter and that this was their last warning. Anyone who touched the boy without his command would be treated to curses as long as it took to bring the kid back to health. Only then will he end the torment with the killing curse.
He sent the guilty out of the castle. Without gratitude to Snape's help, ended the meeting by releasing everyone else.
And then the Dark Lord disappeared. For two weeks.
After this time, Potter found himself at the gate of Hogwarts, alive and well, and with cleaned memory.
So it seemed, but judging by tonights reaction - the boy remembered everything. Also, he apparently had seen the Dark Lord before and after this kidnapping.
Of course, it was clear now. Instead of a memory spell as they believed, the Dark Lord used an occlumency spell.Shielding the boy's memories from being viewed by others. And he did it perfectly, because neither Snape nor Dumbledore noticed anything suspicious. It appears that the spell also included their other later interactions. Because, Dumbledore would still sometime watch the boy's mind,and the headmaster had no idea of their meetings.
Bellatrix and her companions at several subsequent Death Eaters meetings were still hunched and trembling. Obviously, not all of the curses had they had to wait until the effects pass.
Severus shuddered again and left the memories.
He looked up, the corridor was empty.
Sluggishly, he pulled away from the wall and walked slowly toward his chambers. He had lost all desire to catch students.
The next morning Potter was, as always late for breakfast. He wore a strong glamor, but one could see the fatigue, and when he sat down he hissed with pain.
Severus winced inwardly, without comment. But Dumbledore was clearly grieved and leaned toward him.
- Dear Merlin, the poor kid. He has not yet came back to health after the last crossing, and the bastard does not give him peace.
That night he certainly came - Severus thought - and looking at his appearance certainly more than once.
And certainly not the first time ...
However, outside he only grimaced and said coldly.
- He'll be fine, Albus. Stop being such a mother hen.
The headmaster just shook his head sadly, while Snape inwardly rolled his eyes and went back to his porridge.