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Snape followed Lucius and Narcissa into the abandoned house. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. This was where the Dark Lord currently hid. He was reminded on why he was here, and why he thought he needed to be here. Doubt crossed his mind for the first time since that night. Could there possibly be another way? Snape went through the possibilities. He could go to Dumbledore, but what if he failed to defend him? His crime was Death Eater material, if not worse. The Ministry would chew him up and spit him back out into the cells of Azkaban. But if he crossed the Dark Lord, he'd be dead. The Dark Lord would ask him to perform all sorts of things. Was covering up one crime really worth committing several more?
Lucius and Narcissa halted. Snape stood behind them, barely looking at anything other than the floor. Lucius raised his fist to the door, but a voice interrupted him.
"Bring him in, Lucius, Narcissa," said a cold, high voice.
Snape wiped his mind blank and set up barriers; he had been a natural Occlumens since the age of eight. Lucius opened the door and the group entered. Snape stopped dead at the sight. He didn't know what he expected, but it wasn't this. The Dark Lord almost didn't look human, but despite that, he had seen those eyes before. Snape forced himself not to remember where.
"You've brought Severus Snape to me, I see," the Dark Lord announced, a slight smirk in place.
The door closed by itself. Snape saw a shadow move, and caught a glimpse of Bellatrix under a hood.
"And why did you do this, Narcissa?" the Dark Lord continued.
Narcissa didn't answer immediately, but right when she opened her mouth, the Dark Lord laughed. A chill ran up Snape's spine.
"I see. Why do you trust his word?" Silence. "Inexcusable, Narcissa." The Dark Lord raised his wand. "Crucio!"
Narcissa's screams rang through the room. It only lasted a few seconds, but the sound stayed with them for hours. Snape felt the Dark Lord attempting to enter his mind. Locking gazes with the Dark Lord, Snape willed the memory of his crime to resurface. The face of Tobias rose to the top, his words and fists tore through the already-open wounds, then a flash of green light ended it. The Dark Lord retreated. A smirk still lay on his features.
"And I presume that you've already thought of going to your dear Headmaster. Wasn't it you who said you were Dumbledore's man through and through?" the Dark Lord taunted.
Narcissa and Lucius looked at Snape, scandalized. Bellatrix seethed in her corner. Snape became extremely aware that those four weren't the only ones in the room.
"Professor Dumbledore is aging too much for his own good. His judgment is failing, thus betraying himself and anyone who follows him. He can't help himself, let alone anyone else. I'm not an idiot. I know when I'm losing. I would be forever indebted, and honored, if you took me under your wing," Snape said. He just didn't know if he was lying or not.
The Dark Lord seemed to be thinking.
"If you are to become a Death Eater, you must do whatever I say, no questions asked. If you do not, I shall kill you. Understand?" the Dark Lord said.
Snape did not hesitate. "Understood, my Lord."
"If you betray me, I shall kill you."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Come here."
Snape walked closer to the Dark Lord.
"Hold out your arm."
Snape did so. Moments later, screaming rung through the house, and the neighborhood it resided in. Severus Snape, son of Tobias and Elieen Snape, became a Death Eater.
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Red Roses2: Short and maybe pointless, but I like it. Please review.