Fade Away
Don't even own the computer this is written on
Author: Aloysha AKA Solis
Fandom: Harry Potter
Genre: Alternate Universe, Slash, Drama
Rating: M/R on ffdotnet. NC-17 everywhere else.
Pairings: Snape/Ron, Lucius/Percy, Draco/Ginny, Voldemort/Fred/George, Remus/Sirius/Bill, and Narcissa/Charlie
Warnings: Sex with minors, Sex in general, Slash, Violence, Language, Torture, and BDSM.
Notes: Ahhh…my mind has been twisted lately. This is a tale in two parts. Part one (Fade Away) is Ron's life from the time he's given to Snape up until falling into the 'Light World'. Part two (Finding Home) is his struggle to get back to where he belongs.
Disclaimer: Other than that, no I'm not a really weird pervert who thinks sex with minors is okay (I'm still a minor myself at this point. July can't come soon enough…) There are laws against this sort of thing for a reason and no one with a conscious should engage in relations with someone who can't legally give consent.
Summery: Halloween 1981, Snape is given two choices. One ends in the death of the Potter family. In a world where darkness won, Ronald Weasley is given as a prize for loyalty.
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Prelude
Sins of the Master
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October 31st, 1981
Severus Snape was having a big of a moral dilemma. Or at least as moral a dilemma as a man who really had no morals to speak of could have. He'd just received two owls; one was from Lord Voldemort, megalomaniac and sociopath extraordinaire, and the other was from Dumbledore, benign puppet master and manipulator unlike any other. Voldemort knew where the Potters were and was considering letting Severus do his dirty work in exchange for an eternal place in the Death Eater Inner Circle and an 'Unmatched' reward. Dumbledore wanted to know how close Voldemort was to his targets in exchange for a clean conscious and protection.
Snape wasn't really sold on the idea of killing Lily Potter and her child, though he had no qualms about killing her husband. At the same time to talk to Dumbledore he'd have to go to Hogwarts directly, as any owl he sent would be watched due to Voldemort's vast paranoia and by the time he got there Voldemort could have grown impatient and gone on his own.
Beyond that Severus wasn't sure which was better: a redeemed soul or power.
On one hand he was a simple man at heart and power had never really appealed to him so much as having a way to defy his long dead and buried father. He found power distasteful in a sense, corrupting all those who tried to grasp it. But, at the same time, he didn't care much about his soul and wasn't sure he fancied spending his whole life under Dumbledore's thumb.
He just wasn't sure which path he was to take. He had two options, both positive while being negative. Two sides of the same coin…
There was an idea. A coin. He'd flip a coin.
He found a Knut in his pocket and looked at it. Knuts side he'd got Voldemort, numbers he'd go to Dumbledore. This way it was all up to chance and there would be no guilt involved.
It was all up to fate.
November 2nd, 1981
Chaos. The Potters were dead, the Ministry was under very heavy attack from the Death Eaters, and Hogwarts was soon to fall thanks to the help of loyal students on the inside. All in the span of 36 hours and some odd minutes. Somehow he'd thought the downfall of the side of light would take longer.
Malfoy Manor, the current Death Eater stronghold, was abuzz with life and excitement. Still a hush fell over the assembled crowd when he walked in. The savior to the Wizarding World, who'd killed the threat to their master and to their way of life
Severus was a hero.
It was a strange feeling to be sure. And to think, all he'd had to do was murder an infant to do it. It was funny how his life always seemed to work like that. He strode to the library, dragging his bound captive behind him. The guards at the door opened it when they saw him coming before bowing as he walked past.
He supposed he'd be getting a lot of that from now on.
The Malfoy's were already present; Narcissa looking as beautiful and delicate as she ever did and Lucius as cold and stoic as usual. He and Severus had been close once, intimately so, but the after Lucius had married the relationship had dissolved.
Not being of the marriage so much, as Narcissa certainly couldn't be inclined to care. Rather they'd each had responsibilities to attend to and less 'accepting' members of society wouldn't have appreciated an affair such as theirs.
"Look Lucius," Narcissa's voice was soft and almost musical. "Severus brought us a present."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Hardly. This is a gift for our Lord."
She sighed "Fine. I would have liked to play with her is all."
"Perhaps later." Voldemort said, a smile curving his lips as he strode into the room. He stopped in front of Severus and his captive, who was shrieking around her gaga almost frantically. "How nice. The young Mrs. Potter. You've really outdone yourself Severus."
He bowed slightly, showing respect he didn't really feel. It was okay though, Voldemort knew better than to think it was sincere. That had never been one of his shortcomings; Dumbledore on the other hand had thought that because Severus had spied for him that he was loyal or gave a damn. That had been his mistake and that was why he was about to fail.
He'd put too much faith in an unstable variable. It was like when trying to come up with a new potion, or modify an already existing one. All new elements were unstable variables; just because you knew what they might do in one situation didn't mean you know how they would act when exposed to a different case. Caution had to used, least a deadly mixture be formed.
"I must confess, young lady, that you quite fascinate me. I wonder what about you, a simple Mudblood, could cause your child to be the thing that could end my reign. You don't seem to be much to look at and your power, while slightly above average, is nothing outstanding." Voldemort, in spite of addressing Lily, didn't seem to really be paying much attention to her.
Green eyes, which had once been the only kind things Severus saw in his days at Hogwarts, stared up at him through dark red bangs with a cold fury in them. He shivered, finding himself hoping that Voldemort would finish his monologue soon so she could be disposed of.
There was nothing more dangerous than a female who had lost her young and Severus had no desire to be near should she…bubble over.
"I've decided to employ a Muggle tactic for finding you out. It's called…autopsy, I believe. Slicing you open and discovering what makes you so special. I would have liked to do the same to your husband, but it's hardly necessary. Now, from what I understand a person is usually dead before being opened but that seems so pointless; I'd much rather examine you alive. I imagine it will hurt quite a bit."
He expression didn't change, though she screamed some intelligible at them. Voldemort, who did bore so easy it was nearly disturbing, strode over to the couches Narcissa and Lucius were occupying.
"Now, Severus, I'm sure you've heard that Dumbledore has let the Ministry know that Sirius Black told me where the Potter's were hiding out. Lucius had informed me that before we attacked, they managed to catch him and put him in Azkaban for containment."
Lucius smiled coolly. "Yes. They were especially upset when he refused to tell them where Mrs. Potter had been taken to."
Lily shouted something else and began to thrash about on the floor. Severus blinked at her almost distractedly before turning back to Voldemort to discover where this little piece on information was about to take him.
"You're aware, I'm sure, of Black's relationship with Remus Lupin, a known werewolf. A werewolf who would be most useful in the final attack on Hogwarts."
Severus arched an eyebrow. Had the man finally slid over the chasm into insanity, or was he just getting stupider the closer to success he became? "I doubt Lupin will be eager to aid our cause, especially after killing his friends."
"Simple. I will simply inform him that Black in innocent, framed by Peter Pettigrew and then, to seal the deal, I'll offer him Black's freedom and let him in on the little fact that Dumbledore is very much aware of who betrayed the Potters."
While this made sense, Black would rather die than betray Potter or risk his godson's life as that was just the sort of stubborn fool that he was, Severus had to admit a certain amount of skepticism. Why would Dumbledore let one of his most loyal rot at a time like this? Though, it was also true that Dumbledore never left things to chance and would know who was the one guarding the Potters' secret, even if he was pretending otherwise.
The fact still remained that setting Black up seemed to serve him no actual purpose. He said as much and Voldemort smirked before nodding to Narcissa.
"Black was an…how do you like to phrase it, unstable variable, like yourself. While he seemed loyal to Dumbledore he was in truth loyal to his friends. Black had no allegiance to Dumbledore in truth and when the opportunity to eliminate him without looking bad arose he took it by naming Black as the betrayer."
Voldemort chuckled lightly, a smile quirking his lips. "I must admit, it's rather ingenious; I doubt even Black realizes what has happened. Albus has always been a master manipulator, convincing all of the good boys and girls that light and dark actually exist."
Severus nodded. That was Dumbledore's greatest lie: Good and Evil, Light and Dark Magic. There was no light and dark, simply acceptable and forbidden. What was forbidden was only forbidden because those in power, the Ministry for example, were afraid of what one powerful enough to wield such magic would mean to their precious 'balance'.
"This, Severus, is where your aid is once again required. Go to Lupin and offer him this…deal. If he agrees bring him to your family home. If he doesn't leave him in peace; give him time to think it through."
Snape nodded and, with one last look into frigid emerald colored eyes, turned to leave and track down the creature that had nearly killed him once and hope that Lupin wasn't motivated to try it again.
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"I want Peter."
It was going surprisingly well. Lupin had let him into the apartment he shared with Black, as shown by Quidditch Trophies and leather jacket in the front hall, without a word. His wand had been sitting on the table next to the couch, which was worn and had clearly seen better days, but he'd made no move to grab it.
For a moment Severus had thought Lupin wasn't aware that he was truly working for Voldemort but the man had werewolf had surprised him, asking if he intended to kill him as he'd allowed all of his friends to be killed. Severus had chosen to refrain from confessing that'd he'd done more than allow the Potter family to be killed. Instead he'd laid out the information, as Voldemort had given it to him.
Lupin's face hadn't reflected any emotion, amber eyes as dead as the moment Severus had entered his home. Finally, after a long pause, he gave his response.
"What?"
"I want Peter." Lupin repeated, tone as empty as the first time he'd uttered the words. "You want my help. Information about the Order that you never got. I want Peter."
Severus had to admit he was surprised. He leaned forward somewhat and cocked his head to the side. "Somehow I can't quite believe that you would sell your soul for a chance at revenge."
"I can count the number of friends I've ever had on one hand and the people willing to be involved with me on one finger. I've lost all but one forever and I can't change that. I won't lose everything." There was a certain conviction in Lupin's voice that Severus couldn't help but want to respect. Still he couldn't really believe that Lupin was going to give it up that easily. Not him, one of the forever golden boys who never got in trouble, no matter how much they choose to torment their fellow students.
"Is it really that easy for you? Betraying all of the goodness you stood for-"
Lupin snorted. "As if you believe in any of it."
"Doesn't matter. Your friends believed it; can you turn your back on that? Or will you betray us the moment we let you in?"
"Betray? James and Lily and Harry are dead and Peter made it so. He betrayed all of us." He looked up and an almost animalistic rage burned in his eyes and Severus swallowed. "You say Dumbledore knew and he probably did. He wouldn't let something as big as changing Secret Keepers slip past him. He's letting Sirius suffer so he can get him out of the way and so he's betrayed us. Werewolves don't betray people; it's not…something we can do. People who cross my kind don't survive.
"Besides. What do you know about souls?" An almost cruel smirk curved Lupin's lips as he said the last words. Somehow he wouldn't have though the werewolf had it in him to be so…well, nasty.
Severus was silent for a moment then shrugged. Lupin had a point. He'd allowed Voldemort to claim his soul, his humanity, years ago. He didn't even have a conscious to speak of anymore. He'd left hundreds of lives up to a coin toss and didn't regret it.
"We should go. Voldemort wants to have all of the members of Dumbledore's order by sunrise. I doubt he'll mind parting with your idiot friend to have it done."
Lupin nodded.
Severus didn't realize it then, but he'd witnessed the 'death' of a once mild tempered if not long suffering man into the future Prized Executioner of Lord Voldemort, who would hunt the Rebels of the Light with hardly a thought. All over a betrayal that Severus himself had carried out.
Not that he would have cared. Just another person giving their humanity for the sake of personal gain or revenge. Hardly even something worth noting.
