Author's Note – This one is really more from Severus' point of view. It's just much easier. Who really knows what's going on in Voldemort's head anyway? I know my chapters are short, so I'll try to keep things exciting for you. This is turning out way different than I had planned, but that's my muses for you. They always have secret plans for my stories. This is really becoming more of a Draco and Severus fic...I'll try to get back on the topic of Volders and Narcy if you so prefer.
Dedications – To Turtle, Cyanide and Buddy for the absolutely amazing reviews. I will do anything for you guys, seriously. Would you like a castle? A brewery? How about I just worship you? Also to shickalove324, boredlittlestudent, Mishuky, and Buddy (once again) for the favorites and subscriptions. I write for you all.
Disclaimer – If I owned any of these characters, the Death Eaters would have their own plushies, candy and perfume, and Harry would make better use of time-turners.
Chapter Two – Responsibilities
Voldemort stared back at Severus, thoroughly disappointed in the competence of the people he relied on.
"I'm sorry, Severus. I truly mourn the loss." Voldemort gave a cold smile. The only thing he was remotely sorry for was the failure of the task he had set one of his most competent wizards. "Now, would you tell me how many we lost and if anyone was caught? Maybe then I can remedy the mistake of poor Lucius and LaPointe."
Severus gave a glare (and a rather Slytherin one at that), and then robotically recited the only thing his master cared about: the setbacks. "The only one dead was Lucius, but pandemonium ensued afterwards, and we assume Aurors caught two others."
"Whom?"
"LaPointe and Teft."
"And what of the man?"
"I had Worthington kill him after the fact."
Voldemort frowned, and then waved a hand, dismissing Severus. He contemplated the matter as he sauntered upstairs to his study.
---
Severus watched the chaos unfold from aside. He was only there to provide potion aid to any Death Eater who got injured. The black cloaked group knocked on the door of the house nearest the highway, and a young woman opened the door.
Being Sunday, and around 7:00, she probably wasn't expecting a murderous group of wizards to be behind the door. She wasn't startled at first. She called back to her husband, who must've been in the next room.
"Honey," She kept a wary eye on the men. "Are these your Klan friends?"
A distant voice answered. "I told you, I had to quit when we left the U.S. There is no KKK in England."
"Mmm..." The Death Eater who had rung the bell turned back to his followers, and said in his icy, airy voice, "We're after a bigger target than non-Caucasians, aren't we?" This was Lucius.
"Avadakedavra." Lucius killed the woman, and stepped over her body. "Someone push that aside."
Two Death Eaters did his bidding, and he moved along. Severus knew the trouble was coming as soon as the husband had snuck up on them. He watched as they were each knocked unconscious by a meat cleaver. The man must've been cooking a late dinner. Severus smelled hamburger cooking.
Severus decided it was time for intervention, and made his way in the house, sneaking behind the man.
"Snape you fool!" Lucius had noticed the approaching muggle, and Severus behind him. "Kill him!"
As Severus reluctantly raised his wand to follow Lucius' mandate, he heard the incantation muttered behind him, and ducked.
Though he was confused, and had no idea what was going on in the least, the muggle had seen Lucius' startled face as he ripped the Death Eater mask off in disbelief, and heard Severus hit the floor as he ducked, and ducked also. The spell, spoken by LaPointe, hit Lucius.
With one look at Lucius' dead body, LaPointe knew he would be killed for such a mistake if Voldemort got his hands on him, and started to run for the door. Severus mind-wiped the husband, knocked him out, and grabbed after LaPointe, but just too late. He had a bad grip, and LaPointe shook him off easily, and got away.
---
That was all that Severus had told Voldemort. He made the rest up, entirely to please his lord. He had told Voldemort that Worthington had killed the husband, and they had followed procedure, which included taking a head count of remaining Death Eaters, and sweeping the house for any other survivors.
Severus, being next in favor with Voldemort after Lucius, took charge. He had first hidden the muggle man in the cellar, with a quickly written explanation that he had fallen down the cellar stairs in his bachelor pad, and that medical help would be on the way. He signed it as a rushed paramedic.
He then had rounded up the Death Eaters, and deemed a search and headcount unnecessary. They apparated away immediately, after he made the excuse that Aurors would be there any minute. This was probably true, but it only helped him to get the Death Eaters moving.
Death Eaters took the three bodies, Lucius and the two men who had been knocked out at the door, and apparated away.
They took head count after the apparition, and found that Teft was missing. No one knew where he was, or when he had been lost, but everyone agreed to report him as caught. Trouble would find them if Voldemort found out a week later that Teft had confessed all, and he hadn't even known that Teft was missing.
---
Now, Voldemort listened carefully to the house. He had found that, if he concentrated hard enough, he could hear any room in the Manor, and did so. Now, Narcissa and Severus were in the foyer, talking in hushed voices.
"Severus, what am I going to do with Draco?"
"I don't know what you mean. You won't need to do much as a parent at all; he's going back to Hogwarts in September."
"Exactly. The Dark Lord expects him to spy. Without his father as an influence, I hoped that Draco and I might--"
"Careful, Narcissa."
There was a moment of silence.
"Write him." Severus must have written a name and address down. Voldemort frowned that he couldn't see. "He'll watch Draco and make sure he does what he's supposed to at Hogwarts."
Voldemort smiled. Good. I knew Severus would enforce the need of a spy.
---
Severus entered the room. "My lord," he bowed his head. "I would like to offer any assistance I might be able to offer you."
"What makes you think I am in need of assistance?"
"Well, you must've been busy last night, or you would've accompanied your Death Eaters. Oh, don't worry. They aren't sour about it. They know that what ever it was, it must've been more important than your responsibility over their lives. But now you must be even more overloaded, what with LaPointe and Teft missing and Lucius dead."
Voldemort had frowned at the accusations Severus had been alluding. Why should he have accompanied them? That was their job, after all. He had no responsibility over them. "Actually," he recovered quickly, and took the opportunity to take advantage of Severus' offer. "Would you very much mind fetching Draco and briefing him on the responsibilities of spying at Hogwarts?"
"No," Severus smirked. "Not at all."
---
Voldemort was in his study again, listening this time to the room right next door. Severus was briefing Draco.
"Most importantly, you have to take advantage of the other Death Eater students. You have Crabbe, Goyle, and Bulstrode in seventh year, Nelson in sixth, and Karson in fifth. There are also students with Death Eater parents who don't have the mark yet. Paulson in fifth, Larson, Watergate, and Shoemaker in fourth, and Birch, Danik, Krauss, and Otto in third will all be eager ears and eyes."
There was a scratching of quill on parchment and a moment of silence. Voldemort stopped listening as he heard Severus continue on to areas in the school which would be helpful. He continued to hear bits and pieces about spells, potions and curses, framed by the scratching of Draco's note-taking as the afternoon wore on.
---
Voldemort was no Big Brother. He could only hear. Severus was a Slytherin for sure. His cunning had masked what he had told Draco that afternoon.
While he rambled detachedly on about students and spells, his real focus was on the piece of parchment between him and the Malfoy boy.
Your mother has requested this of me. Don't say a thing out loud. Voldemort is listening next door. Severus paused and let Draco read what he had written. After the boy nodded, he continued. This will be punished by death if he finds out, so if you want out, tell me now. Draco read, and shook his head, motioning for Severus to continue. Your mother wants you out of this house. She doesn't want the life of a Death Eater for you.
Draco took the paper, and wrote, in his perfect script, a reply. If that's what Mother wants, then I will go. If it would help though, spying wouldn't be so bad. That way maybe she could get out and he wouldn't notice as easily.
Severus shook his head as he wrote. No. We'll leave in two days, and you will return to Hogwarts as a normal student. It will be harder with Dumbledore gone, but McGonagall should suffice for protection. She is a competent witch. He will still think you are spying, and we'll find Narcissa a believable excuse to move out. He won't even notice that you aren't his anymore.
As he continued on about Draco's "spying", he continued to plan with Draco on paper. Voldemort should really be more responsible, huh? Draco was getting excited with the thrill of adventure.
What do you mean by that?
If he were more responsible, then it would be him "briefing" me, and not you. He should keep better track of his Death Eaters.
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Mmm...Well...Review, pleasies! I want to know if you like the way this is going, or if I should get back to Voldy-kin's childishness.
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