TITLE: In The Silence
NAME: Jack Quaker
SUMMARY: When Snape goes to what he believes to be a typical death eater meeting he is surprised to find himself caretaker of Voldemort's newest "toy"; a silent young man with the most beautiful turquoise eyes. What secrets does this man hold? Can Snape save him from the Dark Lord?
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or anything pertaining to the world of Harry Potter.
WARNING: Slash (Snape/OMC and Harry/Draco), mentions of torture and rape.
The welcoming feast was over, the children were asleep, and he had just finished his lesson plans. While Severus Snape would never admit things were good he couldn't say he was terribly upset with how the day had gone. Not that he had enjoyed the headmaster's tedious welcoming speech or that he was looking forward to yet another year of trying in vain to teach something to those miniature trolls they called students but, well, things could be worse.
As if on cue Severus's left arm was suddenly taken over with a most distressing burning sensation. Allowing himself a single self-suffering sigh he strode quickly to the hidden closet, which held his death eater mask and robes. How he despised those things. If only he could burn them, now THAT would be a good day.
Less than five minutes later the potions master had donned his death eater attire and walked to the apparation site outside of the Hogwarts gates. Voldemort was currently holding residence at Malfoy Manor, had been for the past month. Poor Draco, he must be happy to be back at school, Severus thought as he took his place amongst the other masked figures. It appeared to be mainly inner circle who were gathered today. He felt his curiosity perked as he wondered what could have brought on this meeting. It had better be something worth all the trouble I'm going through and not just another stupid raid.
"Ah, my faithful, my mosssst trussssted. Welcome." Voldemort greeted after everyone arrived. "Tonight I have a sssspecccccial treat for you." Oh this can't be good, Severus mentally groaned. He watched as Voldemort snapped his long, spidery fingers and there, in the center of their circle, appeared a man. He was huddled in a protective ball, his clothes ripped and bloodied; his dark hair caked with dirt. "Here, my friendssss, isssss a man who hasssss thriccccce defied me. Let ussssss have sssssome fun with him tonight. CRUCIO!"
Severus watched in morbid fascination as the poor man was subjected to curse after curse. It wasn't the torture so much that held his attention, oh no, he had seen that many times before. What was so fascinating was that the man never screamed. Not one plea or cry or even moan escaped his cracked lips. Never before had Severus seen someone undergo such treatment without ripping their throats with desperate cries and soul shattering screams.
"Sssssseverusssssss." Severus had not even been aware the curses had stopped until he heard his name called. Quickly he looked up to the dark lord and knelt.
"Yes my lord?"
"Ssssseverussss, you are one of my mosssst beloved. It isssss becausssse of thissss that I placcccce thisssss creature under your care."
"My lord?" What in Merlin's name is this reptile spouting about?
"It isssss imperative that thisss man livessss. I could even go ssssso far asss to sssay that it issss of the greatesssst importancccce. You ssssshall come every night to heal him and ssssee to it that he doessss not die."
"But, my lord, Dumbledore will become suspicious if I disappear every night. Besides, I am a potions master, not a healer. Surely there is someone more suited for this job?"
"Nonssssenccccce. We both know you are sssskilled in healing. Asssss for the old fool; I'm ssssure you will come up with ssssomething to tell him. You do underssssstand don't you that thissss issss a mossst important tasssssk I give to you. It is not one I would trusssst with jusssst anyone. You are ssssspeccccial."
"Yes, of course my lord. I am most honored." Severus rushed forward and every bit the loyal death eater kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes. All the while trying not to throw up.
"Very good. You may go now and ssssee to your patient. I expect you back here tomorrow at ten." Severus gave one last bow and followed as two men dragged the prisoner from the room. Eventually they came to stop at one of the many cells down in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor and the potions master found himself alone with the injured man. Might as well get this done with, I would like to sleep sometime tonight. The man was still curled into a ball, his muscles twitching in the after affects of the crucius curse. Quietly Severus kneeled down beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, intending to roll him over. Immediately the prisoner flinched away and curled tighter into himself.
"Now stop that. How am I supposed to heal you if you won't let me touch you?" Again Severus reached for the man's shoulder and again he flinched away. Severus sighed for the second time that night. "I'm not going to hurt you. Look here, see, I have a muscle relaxant and a pain reliever potion. You're damn lucky I always carry these around for an emergency."
Gently, with soft words (at least for the snarky potions master) Severus managed to coax the injured man into taking the potions. He was now lying on his back calmly watching as Severus removed his torn and bloodied clothes with anxious eyes. While examining the damage done, Severus took the opportunity to get a better look at the man. He appeared to be in his mid 20's with shaggy dark brown hair that looked black in the dim light of the dungeon. Overall he was very handsome underneath the blood and grime and it was obvious he worked out when not being tortured by dark lords; however, it was his eyes that captured the most notice. They were the most extraordinary turquoise of the Caribbean Sea and shone brightly, even in the dinginess of the cell.
"Well, I've done all I can." Announced Severus standing. "It appears you shall live another day. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that he left, shutting the door behind him and refusing to look back, not wanting to see how little comfort his words brought.
When Severus returned to his rooms he found Albus Dumbledore waiting for him with a pot of tea and a glass of scotch. It was the same as every time he returned from a death eater meeting and had become some sort of ritual for the two. Severus would come back and down the glass of scotch. Albus wouldn't speak up till that was done at which point he would serve the tea and they would discuss the events of the meeting.
Following the ritual Severus immediately downed the scotch.
"If I didn't hate you so much I'd kiss you." Said Severus. That was the closest he ever came to admitting he was grateful to Albus, another part of their ritual.
"You're most welcome my boy." Albus smiled slightly as he served the tea, remembering to put two lumps of sugar in Severus's. For being of such a sour temperament the potions master really did have a weak spot for sweet things. A secret closely guarded. "So how was your evening?"
"I've had worse."
"Oh?" Albus asked over his teacup. Patiently waiting for Severus to elaborate.
"Tonight was a 'fun' night." The younger man explained. "It seems Voldemort has found a new 'toy'. I've been assigned to keep the poor sap alive." Albus nodded in sad understanding.
"I see. Do you know what he's wanted for? It's unlike Tom to keep prisoners unless he wants something from them."
"I don't know. All that we were told is that he has 'thrice defied' the dark lord. Sounds vaguely familiar no?"
"Indeed. Severus, I'd like you to befriend this man. It shouldn't be too hard seeing as you'll be his caretaker. I need you to find out what it is Voldemort's looking for before Voldemort can extract it." Severus sighed for the third time that night. I'm getting old, he thought distractedly.
"You and I both know that I am not the best in dealing with people. I'm not exactly known for being friendly."
"Don't sell yourself short my boy. I'm sure if you put a little effort into it you could make friends no problem. And if you find that this truly is not working then I will leave it to you to get the needed information by other means." Albus leveled Severus with a pointed stare. The potion master found himself reminded why the old wizard across from him was the leader of the Order. "Oh look at the time. I really should leave you to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that the old man left Severus alone in his room and to his thoughts.
Severus didn't sleep well that night. Which wasn't surprising, as he didn't sleep well most nights. Sometimes he took a dreamless sleeping drought but considering they were addictive if used to much it was rare and only in extreme cases that he allowed himself one. Perhaps this was the cause to his crab-like personality. In any case it was an ill-humored Severus Snape who entered the potions classroom for the first class of the day on the first day of the year. And just his luck it was sixth year advanced potions. Oh joy, he thought sullenly. What a way to start out the year. From his place at the front of the class he glared at all his students, giving special attention to Granger and Potter. How did he manage to get into this class?
"As all of you should know this is Advanced Potions. If you have the wrong class, get out now before I am tempted to hex you." He glanced again at Potter but the brat merely stared back, even daring a small smirk. What I wouldn't give to wring his scrawny neck. When it became apparent that no one would be leaving he continued. "Seeing as how you've managed to get into this class I can only assume the lot of you have some semblance of intelligence. Therefore I expect nothing less than perfection on your work. If you do not get perfection on your first try you shall be returning here after classes to remake your potion until I pronounce it perfect. The same goes for any homework I assign. If you have questions on anything go ask someone else or figure it out for yourself, that's what your books are for. I have no time for the stupid. Your instructions are on the board, get working."
As the students settled in to their potions making Severus began his tour around the room. He was surprised to find that, so far, Potter had refrained from making any mistakes. Indeed, it seemed his potion could rival Grangers. Perhaps he isn't completely brainless. He paused momentarily behind his godson, Draco's cauldron and was happy to note that it was the perfect shade of blue specified in the book.
"Good work Mr. Malfoy. Come see me after class, I have some extra credit work I'd like to discuss with you."
"Yes sir."
Severus did several more laps before sitting down. By this time he could already tell that three of his seven students would be failing this potion. Surprisingly none of these students were Potter. Will the wonders never cease? He wondered silently. With a mental shrug he turned his thoughts elsewhere and began going through the next class's lesson plan. Soon the class ended and the students left though not before leaving their potions on his desk and being assigned a three-foot essay.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Severus looked up to see Draco standing in front of his desk.
"Ah yes. As your godfather, I was wondering how your summer went." Draco shrugged as he sat on a nearby desk. Something Severus would have never allowed another being to do.
"It was fine I suppose, though we got an awful infestation about a month ago and so far there are no signs of it letting up. Mum is furious about it but father doesn't seem to mind."
"Ah yes, I saw it yesterday when I paid a visit to your household. Tell me, do you think it'll be hazardous to your health?"
"I don't know though I am nervous. I've been thinking about befriending an exterminator just in case it is." Severus nodded.
"I think that would be a good idea. They're terribly annoying but dead useful and nice to have around in case of emergencies."
"Not to mention a great body." Draco added in undertones. Severus made a face.
"Do I even want to ask who you were referring to?"
"You can ask but I don't think you'd like the answer."
"Merlin's beard." Severus moaned into his hands. "Get out. I will not have such profanity in my classroom." Draco laughed as he hopped down from his perch.
"I'll see you around Uncle Sev." He called right before Severus slammed the door behind him, only to have to open it again to let his next students in. Impertinent brat, he thought fondly. Then he looked around at his class. First year Hufflepuff and Griffendor. This is going to be a very long day.
Several hours later Severus found himself back at Malfoy Manor. After a quick word with Voldemort he made his way down to the dungeons. He found the prisoner in much the same condition as yesterday, bloody and beaten, curled in a protective ball on his dingy cot. They're definitely not helping to make my job any easier. He mentally groaned.
"Alright then, roll over so I can heal you." He ordered. The man turned to look over his shoulder at Severus but made no further movement to obey. The potion master growled in annoyance. "I don't have all night," he snapped. Still no movement. He just kept staring with those amazing blue eyes of his. With his first sigh of the day Severus knelt down. "Look you ungrateful dolt, I can't leave until I've healed you so get over here this instant and let me do my job."
Apparently that wasn't what the man wanted to hear because his only response was to narrow his eyes before turning away. Severus was ready to snap.
"Fine then, we'll do this the hard way." A few spells later had the man laying flat on his back while Severus began his healing. The man's eyes, the only part of his body he could move, were glaring venomously at him. If looks could kill, Severus thought idly as he lathered ointment on yet another bruise. He knew this wasn't going far to get him brownie points with the man but at the moment he didn't care. He was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. Merlin, how he hated teaching. Soon he was done and released the spells holding the prisoner in place. Immediately the man scrambled to the furthest corner of his cell away from Severus. The potions master rolled his eyes. "I'm not the one you should be afraid of."
And with that he left, only to return the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that. Indeed, for the next week he returned only to go through the same motions of spelling the man still and healing him before leaving. Not once did the prisoner ever say a word or even utter a sound. It wasn't until the tenth day that there was any change. That night when he walked in the man was sitting on his cot, apparently waiting for Severus to arrive. Severus raised a single questioning eyebrow at the man who merely shrugged and motioned for him to sit also on the cot.
"Finally realize I'm not the enemy?" The potions master asked. Instead of answering the man turned his injured body, quite painfully by the look of it, so that he could face Severus. For several minutes he simply stared, turquoise into obsidian. Despite himself Severus began to feel self conscious, as if the man was looking into his soul. Apparently he liked whatever he saw because eventually the man smiled, and it was a beautiful smile, and laid back against the wall in an open manner. Severus frowned. "What was that?" The man just shrugged again causing Severus to sigh before getting to work. Sighing seemed to have become something of a habit in this man's presence for Severus.
This first less than hostile encounter left Severus in a better mood, if not a little confused. That man was definitely an enigma. Severus's curiosity demanded that he further investigate. Perhaps there is a chance for friendship. Unfortunately his better mood was gone by the next morning, before breakfast had even finished.
A/N: Yay, and there's the first chapter! Please review, I love feedback. Constructive criticism is welcome but flamers shall be used to indulge my pyro tendencies.