Disclaimer 1: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters.
Disclaimer 2: This story contains some slash. Not explicit or graphic in any way, it is only mentioned. It is SS/SB.
Disclaimer 3: This story was spawned because of the events taking place in HBP. There WILL be spoilers, so if you haven't read the book, don't read this fic.
Author's Note: I wasn't planning on writing another story until I got a little further in my other one, but the voices are slave drivers and find fiendish delight in keeping me awake all night with ideas playing rugby in my head. So anyway, here it is. It'll be a short one.
Severus Snape stands silently to the right and rear of the Dark Lord. His face is hidden behind the generic mask of a Death Eater.
The night is dark, almost suffocatingly so. The moon has set, and the only light comes from the countless millions of stars whirling above. There is complete silence as the collected Death Eaters wait for their master to speak. A heavy breeze, thick with moisture, rustles the branches of the winter bare trees, and sends a shiver of chill down the backs of the waiting wizards and witches.
A sudden sound brings them alert. Severus Snape tightens his slender fingers around the sturdy oak of his wand. His thoughts are a jumble of guilt and self-loathing. He hates the Dark Lord and everything that he stands for. Despite what his Potions students may think, Severus is not evil. He is sarcastic, sly, and is a Slytherin all the way to his soul, but he is not evil. Then why is he here? Why is he standing here amidst the greatest evil the land has seen in thousands of years? Why does he stay waiting for Wormtail to bring the Boy-Who-Lived to Voldemort? Severus is glad of the mask hiding his conflicting emotions. He is here because he has no choice. He has made the wrong decisions and now he must pay for them.
"He is here." hisses the Dark Lord, speaking for the first time in hours.
A long sigh of relief betrays the discomfort of the Death Eaters.
The Dark Lord turns to his faithful followers, a maniacal glint in his red slanted eyes.
"Finally we will have victory."
A rumble of agreement from the Death Eaters makes Severus' stomach turn over, but he makes the appropriate motions.
Voldemort's corpse like face is triumphant as a short pudgy man drags a bound unconscious figure into the center of the circle. The boy, for that is all that Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived is. He is the last hope for the light. The only one who can destroy the Dark Lord. Severus looks on the boy's slack face. Waves of guilt assail him. He is only a 17 year old boy. He should not have to face such evil and loss. The poor boy has been forced to grow up too fast. He has lost his parents, godfather and mentor in this war that he should not have had to fight. Severus forces down the tide of emotion that threatens to overcome him and bows his head. He is responsible for every one of the boy's losses. Severus allows his attention to wander and falls into memory.
"Snivellus!"
Severus turned reluctantly to face his tormentors. He tightened his arms around the large Potions tome he'd borrowed from the library. A swell of emotion rose in him.
"Black." he managed to say evenly, despite the erratic beating of his heart.
Sirius gave him a discrete wink and the ghost of a smile. Severus bit back the smile that threatened to creep across his face. He noticed the crowd of students watching behind their books. He sighed inwardly. It was a trial to have to pretend to hate Sirius Black. If any inkling of their actual relationship got out, then it would be disaster for both of them. Severus took the opportunity to give his boyfriend a thorough once over. Black was tall and lanky and had a face that girls and guys alike swooned over. His lips were perfectly shaped for kissing as Severus knew all too well.
"We owe you one." Sirius snarled and on cue James and Peter appeared next to him. Severus sighed. He was obviously not going to come away from this encounter unscathed. Despite his relationship with Sirius, Potter and Pettigrew still hated him.
"Just get it over with." he drawled. "I'm rather in a hurry."
James pointed his wand at the Slytherin and immediately Severus' hair went from black to neon green. The collected students laughed.
Severus only spat at the Marauders and turned on his heel. Once around the corner he turned his hair back to normal and headed slowly and reluctantly down to the dungeons. He knew what would be waiting for him.
Severus gives a sigh. His first mistake was made that fateful day. That was the day that his life changed forever. If only he could take it all back. But that is impossible, so Severus grits his teeth and forces himself to remember.
Severus followed his father meekly. He didn't know exactly why his father had come to collect him from the school, but he knew it must be important.
"Father," he asked, trying to sound bored, "Where are we going?"
His father only laughed.
"You'll find out soon enough."
They portkeyed to a crumbling stone house in a clearing. The clearing was surrounded by dark trees that seemed to reach menacingly for the sky.
Severus felt apprehension fill him as he followed his father to the door of the small house.
"Go ahead son." his father gave him a little push.
Severus twisted the rusty knob and stepped into the house. The door slammed behind him and a click told him that he was locked in.
"Lumos" he whispered and stepped forward. The light on the tip of his wand abruptly went out and a low laugh echoed in the confines of the dark room.
"Well, well. A Snape that is afraid of the dark."
Severus flinched away from the sound of that high voice.
"Come here."
"No."
A hissing laugh sent a chill of terror down his spine.
"Stubborn too I see."
A sudden pain filled his head and he fell to his knees. It felt as if a knife was digging through his brain and sorting through his thoughts and memories. Using all his strength Severus blocked the probe from finding his memories of Sirius. He didn't know what was happening to him, but he knew it was evil and he wanted to protect the one person who loved him.
"Honorable and Loyal." the voice murmured thoughtfully. "Sly and Clever."
Severus curled around himself clutching his aching head in his hands. Tears slipped unknowingly down his cheeks.
"You'll do. You won't be disloyal."
Severus watched in horror as a hand appeared out of the darkness and took his left arm in it's grasp. A long finger brushed his forearm and his back arched as pain shot up his arm and then down his back.
The voice laughed again.
"You are mine Severus Snape."
"Yes, master." Severus choked out. He was too terrified to say anything else.
"Now go."
And Severus scrambled to his feet and ran out the door and into the weak sunlight, tears of hate falling down his face. He had been Marked by the evil one his father served. And now he must obey.
Severus feels a tear trickle down his face. It burns and seems to accuse him of weakness. He snarls and reminds himself that he is no longer weak. But a timid voice in his head disagrees.
"You are weak and pathetic." it said.
Severus ignores it and turns his attention to the proceedings.
"Wake him." Voldemort commands.
A Death Eater that Severus recognizes as Lucius Malfoy steps forward and forces the Potter boy to revive.
Severus watches dispassionately as the boy slowly wakes and realizes where he is.
"Tom." Harry says calmly.
Voldemort shrieks in anger and levels his wand at the boy.
"Crucio!"
Severus feels a sliver of awe at the boy's bravery to call the Dark Lord by his given name. His re-erected walls start to crumble as the boy writhes on the ground still bound by silvery cords.
As the curse fades away, the Potter boy snarls and spits at Voldemort's feet.
"You murderer! You killed my parents! I'll destroy you!"
Voldemort laughs madly and sets the boy to screaming and convulsing again.
Severus turns his head, but cannot block out the screams of agony. Guilt rushes through him again. He is the one responsible for the death of the Potters.
Severus followed Albus Dumbledore up the creaking stairs, cursing the rain that caused his robes to drip and his fingers to shiver. They made their way to a crooked door and Albus turned to Severus.
"Thank you for accompanying me, my friend. Will you remain outside?"
Severus nodded, annoyance crackling in every nerve. He was wet and wanted to dry off, but no, of course he to wait out in the narrow hallway drips from the leaking ceiling falling on him.
He waited in boredom tapping his foot against the cracked wood floor.
Suddenly a crash from the room caught his attention.
He pressed his ear to the door and heard,
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."
Severus fell away from the door in shock. Had he just heard a true prophecy? About the fall of the Dark Lord? Hope filled him, but it quickly vanished. The door flew open and Albus stood there looking grave.
"I have found our new Divination professor."
Severus nodded dumbly unable to speak.
"Did you hear?" Albus asked gently.
Severus nodded, but as he opened his mouth, his Mark began to burn.
"I must go." he said harshly and dashed off. Once out of the inn, he Apparated to his Lord's side.
"My Lord." he murmured.
"Severus." Voldemort said turning from the cauldron he is watching. "I felt something from you. What did you discover?"
Severus was horrified. He had no desire to tell the Dark Lord about the prophecy. Severus wanted it to come true, and if the Dark Lord discovered it...
"Tell me Severus." the voice was cold and commanding.
"There was nothing." he managed.
"Is that so?" Voldemort purred. He drew a vial of the clear liquid from the cauldron and smiled coldly at Severus.
Severus felt his heart sink. Vertaserum. He would have to tell. He extended a hand and took the vial from his master and drained it. He floated on a cloud of calm and peace. Only distantly did he feel the anger and terror that he knew he should be feeling. Then the questions began. He answered them all truthfully hearing the distant cries of despair that his mind was making.
Then the pain began. The mind numbing pain that was his punishment for trying to lie. As the pain faded for the final time he vaguely heard his master whisper a name.
"The Potters."
Then he'd fainted dead away.
Severus braces himself against the guilt. It was a year later that he'd learned of the death of Lily and James. He remembers the relief he'd felt when the Dark Lord had been defeated by the tiny baby Harry. He'd been free of the Dark Lord's call for 14 years, but not free of the guilt. He'd caused the death of the boy's family. He'd told Dumbledore of his sin, and the man had forgiven him and tried to heal the broken man's soul. He'd never fully succeeded. Then the Dark Lord rose again, and Severus had turned spy. It was the one good choice he'd made since he was 17 and had received the Dark Mark. It was his penance for all of his many sins.
Sudden light and noise brings Severus abruptly back to the present. The Aurors have arrived.
Whew. That was more difficult than I anticipated. I like it though.
Being a Severus Snape fan through and through (he is my tragic hero), I feel that I have stand up for him. I know that many of my friends and family think that he is an evil bastard, but I disagree. I hope that this short story will change any negative opinions of Snape.
BTW- there will be 2 more chapters.
And yes, I did take the prophecy directly from book 5.