Characters: Severus
Summary: The Dark Lord is not a kind master. Snape's thoughts, while returning to Voldemort.
Pairings: None
Author's Note: The quotes in italics are taken from page 713 of The Goblet of Fire.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
"If you are ready… If you are prepared?"
"I am."
If only it were that simple.
The halls of Hogwarts are disturbingly dark and empty, the walls breathing with tiredness and the hollowness of night. Frankly, if Severus didn't know better and he didn't see the occasional shadow-that-is-not-a-shadow moving in the darkness, he would think that he was the only living thing in the castle.
He doesn't know what he's walking towards.
The Dark Lord has risen once again. Even if not for Potter's words, Severus would know from the way his arm burned—it felt like it was on fire, the agony was so intense; Voldemort has always had a taste for pain—at the very moment that it happened. There is nothing that can deny the livid, still aching mark on his left arm. Severus rolls his sleeve up briefly to look at it as he walks. He can almost make himself believe that, despite the ache, it isn't there and Voldemort's return and Dumbledore's order was just a bad dream, until he sees the Dark Mark staring back at him.
Oh, it's real alright.
And what he's doing now is real too. Terrifyingly real.
Moments assault him as the sound of his own footsteps echo him, mock him. Moments when Severus considers fleeing the way he knows Karkaroff has.
But there's a difference between Severus Snape and Igor Karkaroff. Severus Snape is not a coward, and he knows that running will not save him. He has his orders. He has no choice but to obey.
Still, he has to wonder.
The Dark Lord is not a kind master. He does not tolerate disloyalty with anything resembling gladness.
Severus can feign calm as he walks the halls of Hogwarts, not knowing what he's moving forwards. He can pretend that all is well—because Severus has always been good at pretending.
The truth still resounds.
He may not survive the night.
Severus still walks.
He knows he can still pretend he's calm, even when there's pain exploding over him, shrieking form a wand.