"Neville, Lad, wake up! You have to wake up!" I can hear a familiar voice in my ear and have no trouble guessing who it is .
"Fred, classes don't start for another hour," I say in more of a whine then I should have.
"I don't think that'll be a problem mate."
"Why?" I moan without opening my eyes. "Are classes canceled today?"
"Uh, somethin like that." Why does he sound worried? Normally he would be the one jumping around the room in excitement at the sound of cancelled classes.
"Why are they cancelled?" I ask while rubbing my eyes. Something is wrong. This doesn't feel like the common room or any part of Hogwarts I've ever been to. It's far too cold and when I prepare myself for the light of morning, nothing comes. When my eyes adjust to the lack of light I see that we are in a cell. If it weren't for the locked gates on the other side of the room I would say this was the dungeon by the Slytherin common room. This is a place I have never been and if my usually jolly friend is scared maybe I should be as well.
"What do you remember from last night?"
I think back to the last memory I have and what I come up with isn't good. I can see everything now, the castle filled with Death Eaters, the scattered screaming children, Voldemort in the Great Hall, and Hagrid's hut in the distance.
I urgently try to prop myself up but I can't support the weight, the pain in my arm is too strong.
"I remember all of last night but how did I end up here?"
"I was already caught when we saw you lying on the ground outside the castle. You must have hit the barrier hard cause you were knocked out cold."
"So that's why my arm is like this?"
He gives me a sober nod.
"You landed on it funny. It's a good thing he is such a good healer though, your arm was broken in a few places."
While registering the new information I notice something that peaks my interest.
"He? Who healed this for me?"
Fred pales at my question.
"Well, ah, do you remember last night how the Dark Lord said that whoever the Death Eaters catch they can keep?"
"Yes I do. But who do we have the privilege of trying to outsmart?"
"I don't think it will be that easy Nev, I don't think Professor Snape is going to let us go that easily and he is rather smart."
"Snape! If this is some kind of joke then I'll.."
"This isn't a joke, I wish it was. He's upstairs now with the Malfoys. I think it's still early though, they may be sleeping. We got in late last night so he just took us down here so he could get some rest."
"I don't remember walking down here."
"You didn't. You'd be surprised at how strong that slimy git is. He actually carried you the whole way."
"That would have been something to see," I can't believe I almost laughed at that, there is no time for that now. There is a quiet moment when we just awkwardly look around at the room around us before Fred finds something to say.
"You didn't by chance see any of my siblings last night, did you?"
"Ron was with me at the beginning but I never saw anyone else."
He sighs before looking down at the ground in a pitiful way.
"This is the longest I've ever been separated from George. I don't know how to function without him."
"We'll find him. We just need to break out of here is all. I'm sure we can find a wand, curse Snape, and the we will be out of here in no time." I wish I could believe my words. Both of us know how hard it will be to even survive this and beating our potions master is completely out of the question.
"Yeah, no time at all," Fred replies before trailing off towards the wall again.
"What did he say to you last night?"
"Who?"
"Snape."
"Not much. He just told me to follow him. I didn't want to if course but he had his wand on me, there was no choice in the matter. I walked behind him until we found you. He picked you up and apparated us all here, that's about it. Just a hint though, don't call You Know Who 'Voldemort', Snape doesn't like it."
"What did he do when you said the name?" I say out of curiosity.
"Something along the lines of, 'Don't you use the Dark Lord's name in vein in front of me again you insolent brat!'"
I cant help laughing at him. Deep voice and all he does the perfect impression of Snape.
"So something I said did resister in that thick scull of yours," A deep voice sneers from behind us. The real Snape stands by the gate, staring at us with his cold black eyes. We both jump at his words, he is no longer our teacher but an enemy.
We don't speak, just watch as he slowly advances on us, clearly taking his time.
"I propose that we go over the rules of our engagement. They are short and simple, simple enough that even you brain dead Gryffindors can understand them."
We just nod for him to continue, never taking our eyes off of his.
"Rule number one, you will address me as Master at all times. Most importantly when we are in the company of other Death Eaters or the Dark Lord himself."
I can tell that this will be broken many times each day. This man is not my master and will never be.
"Rule number two, an obvious one. Obey what I say at all times no matter how ridiculous it may seem."
Fred is just as angry as I am. It is clear by the stiff nod he gives to Snape in response to his order.
"My third rule involves what you just did Mr. Weasley, verbal communication. When spoken to I expect a verbal answer, no nods or head shaking. I know that you are intelligent enough to speak so I will expect nothing less from you. While speaking you may not in any circumstances look any of my colleges in the eye. It is a sign of dominance that you do not have the right to show. They will shoot you down on the spot."
He takes a breath before continuing.
"My possessions and private rooms are off limits to you at most times. You may only use them with my direct permission. This is for your safety and mine."
Tricky bastard, trying to make it seem as though he actually gives a damn about our safety.
"Lastly for now I would like to ask that do something for me. In times of trouble or personal stress you should come to before anyone else. As your owner it is my job to supply all of your basic needs and more. If something troubles you it is my responsibly to do what I can to resolve the issue. I cannot do this if you do not first address me, is that clear?"
This is bull and we both know it but until a plan can be made we choose to make the sensible choice.
"Yes," we both say almost in unison.
What he does next I don't expect and it takes me a few moments to understand. He opens the folds of his robes and pulls out two straps of black leather before motioning for us to come closer to him. When we hesitate he verbalizes his command but we both sit on the cold ground, waiting for further explanation.
"Come here Longbottom," he orders in a way that is not to be questioned.
Despite Fred's quiet protest I move up a few feet hoping this will satisfy him. It doesn't. Snape scowls and before I know it I am grabbed and pulled far closer to him than I ever thought I would be.
At first I think he is strangling me but he soon releases me and advances on Fred. What was the purpose of that? After the shock has worn off I notice what is wrong. The piece of leather is now tightly bound around my neck. I am about to question Snape but then I see that Fred has the same problem as I do.
What Fred wears resembles a collar like the kind my neighbors dog used to wear. It is black and it appears to be dragon hide. It's is rather plain except for the piece of metal hanging off of it but even from my distance I can see that it is shaped like the dark mark.
As soon as Snape backs off to observe his work I dart over to Fred who is clearly flustered by all of this. Before I have a chance to speak to him he explodes at Snape with a selection of his choice curse words and insults. To my surprise Snape does nothing but stand firm and watch as Fred goes off. Soon Fred leans against the wall, completely out of breath.
"Are you finished Mr. Weasley?"
Fred does nothing but he is in no condition to fight anymore. I take this opportunity to walk over to him and see what the tag around his neck is. I was right about the dark mark, one side has the markings of the skull and snake while the other was once blank. It now has small words on it, those used to identify a person.
Name: Frederick
Owner: Severus Snape
If found return to
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry.
When I finish reading I feel around my neck to find that I have one of these as well. This treatment is insane but when I glance back up at Snape I can tell there is no room for arguments. Within twenty four hours I have been demoted from a Hogwarts student to something that is considered to be the equivalent of a dog. My life has taken a wrong turn but when I hear a faint cackle that is clearly Bellatrix coming from upstairs I know that the worst is yet to come.
- please review and comment with ideas and thoughts-
Thank you to all of my readers who reviewed the previous chapter, I really appreciate it.
