Chapter Three

Vows of a Different Kind

Severus watched the girl in front of him intently. The memory he had just witnessed replayed in his mind. He indeed did remember that day and did give Potter and his minions hell for it after he recovered. But now his only question was answered; who it had been that had cast the strange spell. Angorio. I have never heard if it before.

His eyes fell to his master - their master - he was holding the girl up partially. Severus had not meant to attack her so hard with Legilimens, he was merely scanning her mind when her thoughts fell on him and then he was determined to see what she knew. He admitted to himself he had lost control; it wouldn't happen again.

"Severus," Voldemort called, "if you would do the honors." Severus knew instantly that the Dark Lord wanted him to administer the Dark Mark to her arm. Once again he felt his ego swell inside him. He truly was Voldemort's right-hand man if he was asking him to do this. No one had ever placed the mark on a Death Eater expect the Dark Lord himself; he created the curse after all.

Severus nodded graciously, "Of course, my Lord." It took him three short strides to reach the girl. He summoned a chair and led her to it. She gave him a small smile in thanks.

"I will leave it to you, Severus," Voldemort explained, "I must return to the party before Bellatrix goes off on a pointless ramble." Severus smirked at his master's humor. He watched as he left and the other five left along with them.

His eyes traveled back down to the girl. She was looking at the floor; rubbing her left arm absentmindedly. He was proud to be where he was, but he still wondered what the Dark Lord meant by "I do require a bit more from you, however." Branding a new Death Eater hardly required any effort, extremely flattering, but not extenuating. Surely this was not it.

The girl coughed making Severus lose focus of his thoughts. She rubbed her nose with her wrist and remained looking away. He took her left hand and kneeled down. Her skin was tan - at least contrasting against his sickly skin - and he noticed her arms were not disturbingly skinny as Bellatrix or the other Death Eater women. Still focused, he brought his wand out and placed the tip on her forearm. He looked for her expression; she was biting her lower lip, but looking at his wand not him. Gently, this time, he prodded into her mind. She was readying herself for the pain.

"It will only burn when he calls you and not until then," he replied to her thought. He began the incantations, running his wand along her arm. Severus had been to enough initiations that he had picked up the ritual. It was most likely because he had nothing better to focus his thoughts on. The girl stayed quiet and still as he did his work. For once, Severus was not sure if he was grateful or not. Silence was not usually uncomfortable for him, in fact it was comforting. He was at a loss.

The serpent settled itself in her skin as he finished the last portion of the curse. She ran her fingers gingerly over the risen skin. With a satisfied smirk, he stood up and stretched his arms out in front of him. His fatigue returned now that the excitement was over and he yawned, not at all afraid of what the girl sitting in front of him would think. The girl remained seated, shifting uncomfortably, as if not sure what to do next.

"Come," he gently ordered. He offered her his hand and she repaid him with a friendly smile. Once she stood, Severus tucked her hand through his arm to escort her back to the main ballroom. She still remained quiet and did as he requested. Perhaps the memory has her as confused as me. However, I doubt she has realized it was me searching through her mind.

They reached the hallway in which they came beforehand. Severus took this opportunity to take the girl, this Caelyn, in. She reminded him so much of Lily. The red hair and green eyes. Her meek demeanor -at least for the moment- but she was on his side.

The evil side, as Lily so graciously put it. Severus had tried to make her understand, but that fool Potter kept getting in the way. Sometimes when he thought about the pain she caused him, he didn't regret calling her what he did. Her love towards that sadist earned her the title of "mudblood."

Sudden sadness filled Severus, the bloody wedding invitation loomed in his mind's eye, and he wished for relief. He pull away from Lily and focused on the thoughts of the girl beside him. At once, she took her free hand and rubbed her head as if she had a headache. He had never seen this reaction from one of his targets. This struck him as very interesting.

Why do I keep having these random headaches? They come and go as fast as they start, but I am starting to get sick, he heard. No, Caelyn, you cannot get sick. This is the Dark Lord's top Death Eater and imagine what he'd do if you were to lose it on his nice clothing.

Severus smiled to himself as he heard her worried mental remarks. He decided to focus on the final stage of the initiation rather than embarrass her with a comment. The double doors opened for them and they gracefully descended the stairs. There was an applause yet again making Severus inwardly cringe. He really was not the social type, nor did he crave recognition.

The next and last stage of the initiation was a task to prove your loyalty. Severus' own initiation involved creating a rare potion - a poison. He thanked his hours in the restricted section and his own intuition. Of course, it had been successful and it was used that night on a auror whom the Dark Lord required information from. This soon elevated his status as Voldemort's potion master. He had seen many other initiations in his two years by the Dark Lord's side. Initiation tasks usually varied from taking Veritaserum, torturing, or on occasion, a kill.

A circle had formed around Severus and the girl. Bellatrix's cackling could be heard amongst the crowd. Most of the Death Eaters were sickly grinning, they indeed found a pleasure in all of this, that Severus did not. He led the newest Death Eater out into the middle of the circle. The Dark Lord met the pair there and he released her, bowing as he slipped into the crowd.

He found his way to an empty table. His feet felt as if they could not hold him up any longer. I should prepare more replenishing potion. With a wave of his wand, he summoned a glass of wine. His mind began to wander to saddened things as the alcohol lessened his mental grip by the tiniest degree.

Oh, Lily. What I would give to be in Potter's place. I still do not understand what you see in him. His fist curled under the table. I'm not evil, Lily, I am not. You must understand Lilian Evans, I love you.

Severus rubbed his tired eyes in frustration. He needed sleep; he had no control over his emotions or body, for that matter, therefore Occlumency was out of the question. That was his only weakness: Lily, and he had to protect her.

The Dark Lord had began speaking and Severus found it tremendously difficult to pay attention. Fatigue began to sing in his ears and he felt all of his muscles relax against his protests. His eye lids began to get heavier and heavier, until his head dropped.

His mind slipped from the events in the Lestrange ballroom and into unconsciousness. A vision of Lily came into his mind. He called out for her, but she didn't hear him. She was wearing her Hogwarts robes, by the lake. Severus just stood there watching her. Then her clothing changed from robes to a wedding dress. He yelled out.

"Lily, please, wait! I'm sorry! Don't marry him!"

Her green eyes met his, but she appeared to be looking through him. She had her hand held out to him, and he scrambled forwards to reach her. As soon as she did, she snatched her hand back. He looked at her in confusion.

"You're too late Severus," she called her voice echoing and ghostlike.

Severus watched in horror as James Potter appeared beside her and swept her up of her feet. She didn't look back to him as the couple walked away. He fell to his knees in despair.

"...marriage to our very own Severus Snape."

Severus' head snapped up and his mind reconnected with reality. The crowd had turned around in order to search for Severus, though he was still unaware of what had just transpired. Damn it. I really need to make some replenishing potion. He sat himself up straight attempting to look as if he had been attentive the entire time. With a deep breath he stood and walked over to where the Dark Lord stood.

The girl looked at him warily, he supposed she was waiting for a reaction. Truthfully, Severus was still in the dark about the situation and could not give one, therefore he kept his emotionless scowl painted on his face.

The Dark Lord gave him a nod and continued, "Instead of a traditional marital ceremony, you will be making the Unbreakable Vow."

Severus close his eyes in realization. No, please, no. The rush of adrenaline now plummeting through his body allowed his to continue his Occlumens. The girl had her head down, apparently she was just as pleased with this as he was. However, if either refused, that person would die. Rule of thumb of the Death Eaters.

"If you would please," Voldemort ordered and Severus harshly grabbed her wrist and held it out in front of him. She gripped his in the manner, only now she had a hint of surprise and anger in her disastrously green eyes. He kept a rough grip on her arm and was repaid by nails sinking into his own flesh. They exchanged a glare before the Dark Lord continued, his wand pointing and their joined hands.

"Do you, Caelyn Lockney, swear to be faithful to Severus Snape, as you will be his wife?" he inquired in a silky, yet warning tone.

Severus watched the words settle into the girl's mind. Her face flashed fear, anger, pain, and sadness in a brief flash, and then she was emotionless. He was actually impressed.

"I will, my Lord," she retorted, showing her refusal to break down. A very pleased Voldemort turned towards him.

"Do you, Severus Snape, swear to take responsibility and protect Caelyn Lockney from harm, as you will be her husband?"

A dropping sensation rushed through Severus, as if he had just jumped off a cliff with no hope of surviving. He had only been worried about wedding invitation only ten minutes before and now, here he was, at his own "ceremony." He wanted to scream, he wanted to rush out the doors and never return, he wanted to make the girl who's hand he held disappear. Above all, he felt trapped. I am so sorry Lily.

"I will," he replied in a calloused manor.

The thin wisps of silver light surrounding their wrist disappeared and the thin lines remained on their hands. She quickly slipped her hand out of his grasp and returned to her closed off manor. He had seen emotion in her for only a minute.

For the last time, an applause erupted to congratulate the newest Death Eater and Severus wondered if she felt the discomfort he did. He shoved all thoughts of Lily to the recesses of his mind to keep on task. So this is what he was talking about.

He looked towards the Dark Lord, whom nodded with a smirk. It was Riddle's way of saying thanks. Severus nodded in return and walked to his apparent new wife. She met him with a slightly cold, but overall emotionless face. Her head bowed down and she waited for him to make the first move.

Music started up once again and Severus knew it would be expected of them to dance. He took her hand and led her once again to the floor. However, he noticed this time she was tense, not at all the free spirit she had been in their first encounter. He expected this, of course, but felt slightly offended now that it was happening.

She kept her eyes cast downward, as she had all night, and it bothered him. Severus figured his wife should look at him, but he realized she probably hadn't adjusted either. It would have to settle in.

"Thank you," she whispered, and Severus barely heard it himself. He wasn't sure what she was talking about and he raised an eyebrow in question, and she finished the thought, "for agreeing."

She bit her lip, Severus registered this as a nervous tick; a slight blush crept on her face. He nodded back, "It was not as if either of us had a choice." The intense flash of anger in her eyes sparked momentarily then vanished. Her head gave a curt nod.

Silence consumed the room as the high notes vanished and the soft roar of talking emerged. It didn't take long before she had already removed herself from his person. He took her by the shoulder and led her out the back entrance of the ballroom.

The more silent their exit, the better.

Once outside, he explained that they would get her belongings later on. Severus really just wanted to sleep. He took her hand and disapparated.

The pair both landed inside of his living room, only Severus of course could this, and he made a mental note to allow the girl transport in as well. He inspected the room, the den, it was tidy and the aroma of food could be smelled. His stomach rumbled, but he would surely fall asleep in his food if were to eat now.

"There is a meal prepared in the kitchen for you, once you are done my house elf, Grimm will show you to your room," he murmured, then he turned on the spot to head up the stairs. He didn't know if she was offended at his words or his flippant behavior towards her, but right now, at this moment, he couldn't care less. Once inside his room, he shrugged off his dress robes and cloak, throwing them in the corner. He flung himself on the bed, being thankful for his durable twenty-one year old body, and laid down. Finally he could sleep.

© Shelby Seymore 2011