Author's Note: I hope to see everyone follow along with this story and enjoy it! I have sat down and worked out all the kinks in the storyline, with the help of lumosriver144, and am ready to give you guys a story unlike any of the others I have created. Please bear with me, as I am getting used to writing these characters and getting into Harry Potter fan-fiction again. Feedback is immensely appreciated, and it helps me write quicker chapters. Oh, and for the majority of the story, the chapters will switch between what Severus, Narcissa, or Draco are doing, to the next chapter being what the Death Eaters and Voldemort are doing. :D Enjoy!
Blessings!
Death Eaters lined the long table, silver goblets in front of them, wands resting in front of their cups. They all trained their eyes on Voldemort, waiting patiently for what their leader was about to say. It was always a special occasion when Voldemort called a last minute meeting- normally, it was time for someone to die, or a new plan to be formulated. They had been having a lot of meetings lately, what with Lucius betraying Voldemort's plans for the diary, and Peter cowering behind every action he was given to perform, it seemed as though their alliance was ripping apart at the seams. Though Tom would never admit it, he was frightened. His one and only goal was to kill Harry Potter and become immortal, and he couldn't do that without a following- without people to do his bidding and dirty work. The master's frail body, shriveled and demented in the small cot, let out a blood-curdling scream for quiet, and the Death Eaters that had begun talking in hushed whispers amongst themselves retreated into silence quickly.
"Well, it seems we have a disloyal member," Tom drawled dangerously, eyeing the room with disdain.
The Death Eaters furrowed their eyebrows, curious as to whom he was speaking of. Out of all the things they thought could be next to go wrong on the list of things that were not turning out their way, a disloyal member was very last. No one expected Severus, for he hardly ever attended meetings. Tom fed him every ounce of information he needed at the monthly meetings he attended, and then let him remain stationed at Hogwarts. Voldemort blamed part of Severus's disloyalty on himself- he should have seen it coming. He should have known that he was only at Hogwarts to care for Draco from the beginning, not to further his master's advances in the castle. Tom knew if anything, he should have surely caught on when Narcissa and Severus got married, and made a secret Unbreakable Vow just days after Lucius's murder. Of course, Tom couldn't blame Narcissa for being un-fazed by her deceased husband's death. Lucius was such a waste, and now that he was gone, there was much more opportunity for them.
"Severus Snape," Tom said carefully, watching everyone's expressions. As he expected, all of their eyes went dangerously dark, and some looked quite taken-a-back. "Severus seems to think he can out-smart me, but he cannot any longer. His plans to be stationed at Hogwarts just to protect his new lover's son are futile- Our newest mission is to bring him down before he gives out any vital information about our whereabouts or next moves."
Peter raised a shaky hand from all the way in the back and Voldemort eyed him dangerously.
"What, Pettigrew?" He spat out.
Peter's beady eyes bulged out of his sockets as he shrunk back in his seat, gulping. Yes, he sat idly by as the Marauders tormented Severus to no end in their Hogwarts years, but once or twice on a rare occasion, Severus had treated Peter almost kindly. The thought of killing a man he had known for the majority of his life seemed daunting and unfair. Perhaps Peter was simply afraid, of this as well as everything else. He didn't have the heart of strength and coldness the other Death Eaters had, and he had questioned when it was too late if this was the side he belonged on.
"Master, you don't mean, we're going to-to...kill him?"
Voldemort's pale lips broke into a thin, devious smile.
"No, killing him is too easy. Severus is loyal, to whatever causes he chooses as important. We simply have to make him view our little cause as important."
Waiting for any further comment, but gaining none, Tom breathed in slowly, and then added: "I have a plan already. My pawn will be Mr. Crouch."
Barty glanced up from where he had been staring at the table, eyes down and focused on the mahogany. His lips broke into a demented grin.
"I'm certainly up for the challenge. What bidding do you need me to use my hands for?" He asked quietly; eerily as his voice rung out from a very blackened part of the room.
"I need you to pay our dear friend Alastor a visit."
Barty's smile did not falter. "Oh, I see, and what will I be hoping to accomplish of that, master?"
"We are kidnapping him, Mr. Crouch. I'm going to need you to disguise yourself as Alastor and station yourself at Hogwarts."
Barty furrowed his eyebrows now, but kept his calm.
"But, master, I thought we weren't killing Severus. This makes it seem like you're going to attack him-"
"-From the inside out, yes. It will hit very close to home, I assume, when you enter Draco's name, and make sure it is drawn, in the Goblet of Fire."
Barty's eyes widened, and his smile finally faltered.
"And you want, me to do this?"
"Yes, unless you are incapable of the task- it is not one in which mistakes can be made."
Barty nodded tensely. "I will be sure Draco Malfoy's name is drawn, master. You have my word."
Bearing his Dark Mark, he stared Tom in the eyes and he nodded approvingly at his servant.
"I'll need you at Alastor's house by midnight tomorrow."
"I will be there," Barty replied quietly. "I will not disappoint."
