Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters or terms. Anything familiar belongs to J.K Rowling. This is pure imagination.
A/N: Please read and review. I'd like to know what you think and if you'd like me to continue this story. I already have an ending figured out, so if all goes well and people seem to like it, a sequel will follow.
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Blind On Fearless Love.
Chapter One: Grimmauld Place
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Severus Snape stumbled into the darkened entry hall of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Complete darkness concealed his figure as he wobbled slightly. His black robes felt ten times heavier as they weighed heavily against his tense shoulders. He strained his eyes, peering at one spot, hoping the messy haze would disappear and his eyes would register his surroundings. A low moan whistled between his lips as yet another stabbing pain ached through his bones. With every step, his muscles screamed in agony. Severus fell back heavily against the stair banister, banging his aching skull against a thick, mahogany pole. A distorted mumble slithered through his lips and he stumbled into a small round object. A ripping sound followed and then a loud, piercing screech.
"Half-breed! Impure, poisoned blood! Roaming the noble and most ancient house of Black!
Severus howled as the piercing shrill echoed in his ears. He fell to his knees clutching at the sides of his head, tugging the greasy locks. He felt his fingers smear the darkened trickle of blood that slithered down his left temple. His body felt like ice and flecks of water sprayed from his hair as he bent forward, grinding his teeth and inhaling deeply.
"Shut up!" he yelled back at the portrait, "Shut up you vile woman!"
His knees creaked horribly against the cracked floor boards and a wave of nausea fluttered through his stomach. Everything blurred and Severus's head swam, the dull thumping ache increasing to a violent throb. Darkness fell over him and the last thing he saw was a faint light shimmering from under a door and the bleak silhouettes of two men.
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A small light flickered in the corner of the room that Severus found himself waking up in. He kept his eyes shut, willing the vibration in his head to ease and allow him at least two minutes to register his surroundings. He could smell a faint hint of candle wax and dust swirling in the air. He prised his eyes open, blinking furiously. It was an unfamiliar setting; the room was overly large with a crystal chandelier dangling from the frescoed ceiling. Groaning slightly, he turned his head to the side. The curtains had been drawn and on the bedside cabinet, someone had left a glass of water. He felt warm and dry and noticed that someone had removed his wet, dirt covered robes and dressed him in a pair of night robes. A pang of anger flushed through him. How dare anyone undress him!
His emotions soon disappeared when he attempted to sit up in bed. He yelled loudly and gasped. A searing pain had shot through his muscles.
"Shit" he hissed, clenching his teeth and easing himself back into the pillows.
As his senses quickly rushed back to reality, he was overcome with discomfort. His head swam, his arms ached, his head spun and his face seemed numb. Quick, silent flashes flew through his head, etching at his memory as he tried to place the faces behind the masks. He remembered the swift movement of cloaks, the silver gleam of death masks, the sleek polish of a fine wand and then the writhing of his body on the grass.
A knock on the door quickly withdrew him from his memories. He snapped his head up and regretted it, his muscles contracting tightly and he shamelessly allowed a grunt of agony. The door quickly swung open and the man behind it pounced into the room, his face livid with concern. Severus groaned mentally, regretting ever allowing himself to pass out at Grimmauld Place. The wizard before him wore tanned corduroy trousers that were greying considerably at the knees. A too large jumper swung freely from his thin frame and the auburn hair, flecked with grey, danced in front of his eyes.
"Are you alright?" the wizard asked, creasing his brow in concern, "I heard something as I was passing the landing."
Severus frowned. "I'm perfectly capable Lupin," he snapped, edging his way up onto the pillows, "Where have my robes gone? I have items in there that need not be tampered with nor seen- especially by prying eyes!"
Remus pointed to a mass of dark material that hung over a wooden chair. Generosity, as it seems, was completely out of Severus Snape's understanding. Remus, although knowing the nature of the feared Potions Professor, couldn't help but allow a crease to etch at his forehead.
"I haven't touched them," he informed, "I just cast a drying spell over them. I didn't want to wash them in case you had -"
Severus easily swung the blankets from his lower body and eased his legs over the bed, touching down on the cold wooden floor.
"What are you doing?" Remus yelled, rushing to the bed side and staring down at Severus.
"Leaving," the potions master hissed, going to push himself from the mattress.
Remus put a hand on Severus's shoulder and pushed him back into the bed. "You can't leave!" he said.
Severus flung the wolfs hand from his shoulder and glared up at the scarred face. "Get you paws off of me," he hissed, narrowing his eyes and baring his teeth, "My duties are needed elsewhere Lupin. They are not needed while residing in this forsaken house, in the company of a wolf and a convict! You would do well to remove yourself from my company immediately."
Remus glared into the charcoal eyes before him. His top lip curled angrily and he took a step back from the bed. "I am not one of your students Severus," he said softly, trying to control his anger for fear of lashing out at the injured Spy, "You came to Grimmauld Place injured and I have given you a place to rest. Would you have preferred me leaving you on the floor? Cold, bleeding and injured."
Snape hoisted himself from the bed, flinching as his weakened legs struggled to hold his full weight. He stiffened his shoulders and glared down his nose at Remus, whose head just reached his chin. "Don't you dare speak to me in that tone wolf" he said in a soft, yet deep, silky voice, "I would have preferred the wrath of continuous Cruciatus than ever hold your company or actions. Do well for yourself Lupin, and leave me to dress."
A crisp crackle from the far end of the room made both men cock their heads and peer into the shadows. Another crackle hissed from the fire place and a few ruby red sparks fell onto the carpet. Severus glanced around for his wand which was nowhere in sight. He began to silently panic, his eyes darting around the room for any means of weapon. He rested no faith in the werewolf, not an ounce of faith could he entrust to a dark creature. A rumbling noise echoed from the fire place and then, in a cloud of darkened sooth, they heard a fit of coughing.
Remus pointed his wand into the sooth cloud. "Who's there? Show yourself," he commanded in a deep tone.
"A very dusty old wizard," a light hearted voice chuckled, emerging from the sooth cloud.
Remus cracked a grin and Severus couldn't help but scowl. Albus Dumbledore, dressed in large purple robes with sparkles on them and his usual long silver beard tucked into his belt, strode from the cloud and grinned around him.
"Lower your wand Remus," he smiled. He then turned to Severus and a glisten of concern flashed through his eyes, "Good Merlin, Severus, lie back down!"
Snape cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest, sneering directly at the Headmaster. "I assure you Headmaster that my condition is merely sore muscles and a headache, both of which can be settled with a potion from my own personal store."
"Both of which can be settled with rest, now seat yourself back in that bed boy," Albus ordered. He then turned to Remus, "I think a nice cup of tea is in order Remus, if you would kindly grace us with such."
Severus scowled at Remus as he nodded eagerly and dashed from the room. Narrowing his eyes, he waited for Dumbledore to put a locking charm on the door before he seated himself back on the bed, hissing again at the sharp pain that shot up through his spine.
Dumbledore drew a chair up alongside Severus and turned to the young Wizard. His eyes shone with worry and curiosity. It wasn't unusual to find Severus Snape with a bruised eye or a swollen lip. Severus's job as Spy for the light side was a difficult one. Every single day his life came under threat as he risked all for the sake of the Order. Every single day Dumbledore worried about his young Spy, he watched him eating at the staff table, his onyx eyes resting on nothing in particular as he delved into his own memories. More than once Dumbledore had seen the glisten of sadness or hatred quickly flash in the young wizards eyes. He saw the muscles in his face tense with every emotion.
"He is suspicious," Severus said, fixating his eyes on the far wall, "he fears my loyalty is under severe strain."
"What did Tom do to you, Severus?" Albus asked gently.
Severus stiffened his jaw and Dumbledore knew immediately the young man was going to dismiss the situation.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Headmaster," Severus said firmly, "he brought me forward in the circle and asked if I had more information on the new whereabouts of the Order. I informed him that you told me nothing of such tales and I put forward the option that he may have heard false winds. The Dark Lord, as head strong as he is, was convinced of my wavering loyalty. He quizzed me for a while, probing for any split end to my story. He found nothing wrong but decided I needed punishment. He called forward one of the others. I didn't know who it was because he hadn't called them my name, just motioned for them. The wand was unfamiliar when the man behind the mask pointed it at me."
Severus paused for a few moments to sip on the water that Dumbledore had handed him. He strained to pull the images from his memory but things were hazy. He remembered it was a fairly tall man, with a large build. Perhaps it had been Goyle. He knew it couldnt have been Crabbe, regardless of his sons build; Mr Crabbe was quite a slim man. The wand had been a dark wood with a deep carving pattern spiralling up to the handle.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked, eyeing the weakened man before him, "Shall I fire Poppy for a potion? Perhaps to ease the pain. Maybe some salve to lighten the bruise on your cheek."
"Of course not!" he snapped back. The last thing Severus needed right now was that infuriatingly nosey and persisting Hogwarts matron prancing around after him with silly potions. He had always found his own concoctions to be much more soothing- and better tasting. He cleared his throat and looked to Albus. "Whoever the man was, he used the Cruciatus cures twice, for a number of minutes. He then used the Morsus Infligo spell; it cast a thin strip of silver from the tip of his wand that whipped against my torso. After that it was nothing but physical body contact, the muggle way."
Dumbledore cast his cyan eyes to the floor and shook his head. "Oh dear Severus, this should not be happening my boy," he said softly, "Every meeting is getting worse. I fear your departure as I know your return is becoming less likely."
Severus nodded and allowed a slight grunt. He didn't know what to say to Dumbledore and likewise, Dumbledore could not conjure any other words. A knock on the door signalled the return of Remus. Dumbledore flicked his wand at the door. Severus crossed his arms again and drew his attention from the wolf. Remus entered carrying a tray laden with tree cups, milk, sugar and a steaming kettle. He laid the tray on the end of the bed and smiled at the two men before him. Severus narrowed his eyes to a fine slit when he saw Sirius Black enter the room. The convict glances in Severuss direction and grinned slightly. His free flowing hair tumbled onto his shoulders in fine curls and his moustache sprang into delicate curls at the tips.
"Sugar will help, Severus," Remus said, completely ignoring the glaring match that had erupted between the two enemies and he poured him a cup of tea, spooning two heaps of sweetness into the cup.
Severus glared up at Lupin but graciously accepted it. Remus then turned to Dumbledore and wrung his hands.
"Could I talk to you for a moment, Professor?" he asked, "It is a matter of importance."
Dumbledore rose from his seat and the two wizards spoke in private outside the room. Severus clenched his free hand tightly and inhaled sharply through his nose. His eyes shot to the figure of Sirius and he couldn't help but flush with rage.
Idiotic mutt, he thought to himself.
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And that concludes chappie #1. If you like the way this is sounding and if you'd like me to continue this please let me know.
Nesbitt