Disclaimer: As far as I know, I am not J.K. Rowling - so if you recognize it, it's not mine.
A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed - Chancc, .Snape, Lottie Du Bois, HPFanGirl01. You are all awesome!
Bound to Him
Chapter 2
Ten low chimes sounded, reverberating around the stone walls of the room as the clock struck the new hour.
Severus Snape sat in his leather armchair, reading an ancient, fraying tome by the firelight. He sighed slightly as he flipped the page nearly transparent with age, hoping he would not be summoned in the coming hours.
Voldemort had already demanded an audience with the Hogwarts Potions Master twice that week. The Dark Lord had been upset with Lucius Malfoy's failed attempt to obtain the prophecy at the Ministry, and was trying to make sure his next maneuvers were nothing short of successful. He had called upon Snape to reveal to him everything Dumbledore had done in preparation for the coming school year. Though Snape had known this was to be expected, he could not help but feel there were other underlying reasons that were being held from him.
Lord Voldemort had yet to divulge any of his current dark plots in front of him, and so Snape had nothing of value to share with the Hogwarts headmaster. Albus had been more than understanding in the situation, but still Snape felt as though he were disappointing the Order. Half of them distrusted him, anyway – but he cared little for what people thought of him. He was prepared to be hated, he was ready to die – such was the life of a spy.
Though Snape was anxious to uncover more pertinent information from the Death Eaters, he was both mentally and physically drained. On the evenings that he had not attended the Dark Lord's gatherings, he had been helping Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall in an exhaustive search of the castle for any traces of dark magic.
Snape felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he let the book flip closed in his lap. He closed his eyes gently and leaned his head against the back of the chair.
He was just about to let the waves of sleep crash over him when he felt the burning sensation in his arm.
"Curses and damnation," he muttered under his breath as he stared at the dark mark on his arm. Lord Voldemort was summoning him.
Snape quickly scribbled a note on a piece of charmed parchment, and gave his owl strict instructions to stop for no one but Headmaster Albus Dumbledore himself. After sending his warning, Severus strode angrily out of his quarters to join the assembly.
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When Snape apparated at the destined meeting place, he found he was the last to arrive in the large, seemingly abandoned field.
As per usual, he grimaced. The other Death Eaters did not ever bother to hide their disapproval at his perpetual tardiness, but Severus had managed to beg off from any extra punishment from the Dark Lord by reminding him of the apparation ban whilst on Hogwarts grounds. Voldemort was most understanding of this limitation, though only after performing a legilimency spell and witnessing it for himself, of course.
"Ah, Severus!" Voldemort hissed from the center of the circle. He threw his hands in the air as a sign of welcome and moved towards the latest arrival.
"So kind of you to join us," a slimy voice murmured from beside him. "Better late than never, is that what the Muggles say?"
Severus turned his head to see Lucius Malfoy haughtily smirking, and he gave the blonde Death Eater a sardonic sneer in return.
By the time this unfriendly exchange had transpired, Voldemort was standing directly in front of the Potions Master. He clamped a cold, pale hand down on his shoulder, and grinned unexpectedly at Snape.
"So good to see you, Severus. I have much in store for you, my loyal friend."
"My Lord?" Snape raised his eyebrows in mild surprise as the snakelike man turned to the rest of the group. Voldemort rarely acknowledged his followers' great performances in front of the large assembly of Death Eaters – public humiliation in response to failures was much more common. The personal attention was worrisome to Snape. Either he expects a great amount of service from me – or he is beginning to suspect something.
"Everyone – please make our most honored guest feel welcome."
Voldemort then spoke to him over his shoulder. "Severus, if you would – accompany me to the altar."
The altar? Snape pondered this as he followed behind the dark wizard. He did his best to hide his uncertainty as he found himself under the intense scrutiny of the others gathered. He even managed not to roll his eyes when Bellatrix LeStrange cackled maniacally as he passed by her. She could be so obnoxious – his head always throbbed after spending any length of time with the woman.
As he attempted not to scowl any more than ordinary, Voldemort suddenly whisked around to face him.
"Since you are the wizard of the hour, so to speak," he cooed, his nostrils flaring in pleasure, "I have the most delightful of surprises for you."
With that, Voldemort stepped aside and gestured to the middle of the circle. Snape's eyes followed the outstretched arm and his gaze came to rest on the stone altar. Whatever was on top of it was quite lumpy and was currently covered with a black sheet.
Something caused his heart to flutter disconcertedly, but Snape hid the sentiment from the prying eyes of the Death Eaters. Whatever was under there was something he did not wish to see, let alone possess. He knew he would likely have to prove himself to Voldemort in order to keep his true mission secret. Yet again.
"My Lord?" he again questioned.
An evil smile erupted on Voldemort's face as he motioned Snape forward.
With one last glance to the pale, serpentine face, Severus swallowed deeply and cautiously stepped forward.
"Get on with it, Sevvy!" Bellatrix panted, her wand ready to remove the covering for herself.
"SILENCE!" Voldemort bellowed, pointing his wand in her direction.
Bellatrix immediately cowered to the ground, lowering her wand in the process. "Yes, my Lord."
Voldemort then returned his attention to the man standing at the base of the stone altar.
Snape reached out, catching a corner of the satiny, black fabric. He gave it a smart tug, and the sheet slowly slipped to the ground.
The exposed, pale flesh seemed to glow in the moonlight. Severus quickly stifled the strong feelings of repulsion he had first experienced at the sight of the young woman's naked body being presented to him. Her face was turned away from him, but her hidden identity did nothing to relieve the disgust beginning to churn violently in his abdomen.
Dumbledore knows not what he asks of me. Snape bit back his anger. He had a fairly decent idea of what performance the Dark Lord was expecting of him, and he was far from eager to complete it.
"May I?" Snape addressed Voldemort, remembering he still had a role to assume and a reputation to protect. When the dark wizard nodded expectantly, Severus swallowed his pride and feigned an excited interest in the offering. He allowed one hand to lazily trace the edge of the girl's ivory leg. She remained absolutely still at his touch, but he could feel that the blood was still pulsing through her vessels.
At least the girl is alive, he shuddered. For now.
"Does the gift disappoint, my faithful servent?" Voldemort called.
Severus slowly found his voice, purposefully letting his eyes linger on her form a bit longer than he would have ever wanted. "Not in the least. You are most gracious, my Lord."
Visibly thrilled by Snape's approval, Voldemort nearly danced as he exclaimed to the crowd, "Well then, she must be claimed!"
Snape could feel the excitement ripple through the crowd, and he then mirrored their sentiment.
Voldemort artfully flicked his wand in the altar's direction, and calmly cried, "Rennervate!"
The body in front of Severus instantly became reanimated, and the girl coughed as she awoke. Snape froze as she turned her head and met his gaze.
He was staring into the deeply terrified eyes of Hermione Granger.
