Please Note: That these chapters are NOT one storyline, and many are unrelated. This is simply a mass dump of various scenes, story ideas, and miscellaneous dialogues that are not formed into a cohesive story or plot (no matter how much they may seem like they are). I post them here because they are interesting ideas, and I like to share. If there are multiple postings from the same story/plot than the chapters will be titled the same & numbers in order. Thanks.
Author's Note: Live, My Son is a one-shot posted in my library here. This is a continuation idea from that universe.
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Live, My Son – Continuation 01
By Renatus
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There comes a time, in every man's life, when he asks himself what his worth truly is. Despite years of hard work, double lives and thankless tasks, Severus was faced with such a question when he found that he couldn't have done anything to prevent what had happened, and indeed, he had little to truly offer in order to fix it.
"You haven't yet been called?"
"No, Albus." Severus said, rubbing at the mark on his arm. "There has been nothing, not so much as a twinge."
"Then, all we can do is wait."
"Wait?" Severus started out of his chair, "Wait for what? The boy's death? His body showing up outside the gates of Hogwarts? Albus, he'll be dead if you wait! We'll all be lucky if he isn't already!"
"Severus. There is nothing that I can do."
"The Order…"
"Is not strong enough to take on Tom's forces in such an attack."
"And the Ministry…"
"Would not believe me."
"Because of my word." Severus all but fell back to his chair, brooding silently on the reputation that he held due to the service he gave to the man seated with him.
"You were the only one there, Severus." Albus said, "Cornelius will not take your word for it, especially since the Ministry did not condone a watch on the location."
"What does that hair brained excuse of a Minister think happened?"
Albus shook his head sadly, "They only believe that Harry ran away from home, like a troubled teen. You know the current view of the public on the Boy-Who-Lived."
"Yes of course, the fickle mob. They adored him no less than four months ago, and now they see him only as a half mad, angst ridden teen."
"Harry did threaten to leave the Dursleys."
"No doubt why the Dark Lord took advantage of the situation." Severus said.
"Yes, yes." Albus said, "The Ministry does not believe that Death Eaters could have entered the wards placed around Harry's relatives' home."
"Idiots."
"Indeed, I believe I would have to agree with you on that point."
"You did not put up your own wards, Albus?"
"I did. Harry was not within the confines of the house when he was taken. The wards only reached so far."
"That
boy doesn't know how to…"
"He
didn't know of the extent that the wards reached." Albus
interrupted. Severus sent the man a glare, but didn't comment.
"You are our only link to him, Severus." Albus said softly, "That mark on your arm is the only way we will know where he is, and hope to find a way to bring him back."
"You had better have a lot of hope, Albus, that he isn't broken if we ever do get him out of there alive." Severus stood, and tugged the sleeves of his robe down over his wrists. "The Dark Lord will not hesitate to – play with his newest toy."
"I know, Severus." Albus said sadly. "Harry is strong."
"Is he strong enough?" Severus turned and met his mentor's eyes, "You do not know what they will do to him. I know. I will be called to pour potions down his throat, to revive him, to make sure that he will last through all their games. Is he strong enough, Albus?"
"He will have to be."
Severus scowled fiercely at him. "It has already been four days." He said, "By now, they will have tired of the mental means of torment, and will have moved on to more physical degradations. Within a week they will begin using long term magical curses on top of the rest." Severus planted his hands on the desk and leaned in close to the other man, "Is he strong enough?" he hissed.
"Harry will survive." Albus looked worn and thin. Severus didn't push the issue, as he watched his mentor look more and more his age.
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Not once in his life did Severus ever anticipate a call. Strange, how the life and sanity of one mere boy drove him to pacing, waiting, for the Dark Lord to call through his mark.
"Severus, do stop that. You're making me dizzy."
"You're a bloody painting, you can't get dizzy." Severus snapped up at the portrait.
"Perhaps, but I still remember the sensation, however faintly. What's got you in such a disposition anyways?"
Severus sent a glare towards the painting above his fireplace, annoyed that the usually pleasant conversation of the man was making him irritated.
"That blasted boy has gotten himself into a fix, again." He said.
"The Potter brat?"
"Indeed."
"What has he done that affects you so?"
"Because, Salazar," Severus snapped, "I am the only one who could possibly get close enough to him to save his bloody life, and whatever may be left of his mind after a week at their hands."
"Ah," the founder said, "I see."
"Do you?"
"I do." Salazar insisted. "You are waiting for something that you have dreaded since your graduation."
Severus stopped his pacing and stared at the portrait, irked that the blasted painting knew him so well.
"I took the…" Severus stopped, hissing through his teeth as he clamped a hand over the burning of his Dark Mark.
"He calls, then." Salazar commented as Severus gathered what he needed. "And now your wait is over."
"It's not finished, yet."
"No, of course not."
Severus didn't comment, and left his chambers quickly. It wouldn't due to make the Dark Lord wait.
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Severus had never liked the robes and mask of the Death Eater, though he quickly learned to appreciate their qualities. The mask, for instance, hid his face from his 'comrades' and the eyes of the Dark Lord.
"My Lord calls me." He said to the man at the door.
The figure was robed, but not masked, one of those who had dedicated their lives to the Dark Lord, or had them dedicated. They were then caged within the mansion to serve with their lives; all of their lives. Severus vaguely recalled seeing the man in his classes at Hogwarts; a Ravenclaw, if his memory was to be believed.
He couldn't recall the other's name.
"Enter, then." The man stated, opening the door. Severus barely paused before walking through the arch into the darkness of the interior.
He glided through the halls of the mansion, a nameless shadow among the throngs that were Voldemort's followers. The only thing that set him apart from the others was that his mask was white, the color of the inner circle.
The robed and masked Death Eaters parted before him, some cowering along the edges of the halls as he passed. He sneered at them unseen, and pitied them, and yet he felt for them.
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Severus had always dreaded the Call, and not once in his many years of service did he kneel willingly. He had always cringed behind his mask at the required obeisance and he would never bow to the man with everything.
He came close to it that day.
"My Lord." He whispered to the feet before him.
"My servant," Voldemort from above him. "Rise and take your place, Severus."
Severus repressed the shudder at hearing his name, and did as he was ordered, sliding into position amongst the gathering circle. He never knew how Voldemort recognized each of his followers, robed and masked as they were, and each time the Dark Lord unfailingly spoke his name in response to his bow Severus felt an unnamed darkness crawl up his spine.
It didn't take long for those called to take their places around the Dark Lord. It didn't do to be late, when the punishment for such an infraction was Unforgiveable.
"My servants."
Severus again felt the tell tale shiver of fear ripple up his spine. It was a reaction and emotion that he had no control over, and it never faded.
"I have great news." Voldemort continued, standing before his throne and gesturing regally with his arms. "I have Harry Potter."
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Severus had never cared much for either of the Potters he had the privilege of knowing, yet he couldn't bring himself to dislike the junior Potter once the boy was dragged into the chamber. Severus had been correct in his assessment that the Death Eaters would have graduated into more long term and magical means of torment. They, however, hadn't healed the results of their earlier treatment of the boy.
He was unclothed, utterly naked in the middle of a ring of his enemies. His bareness allowed every wound and curse to show to those gathered, a testament to his captivity, to his humiliation. Severus clenched his teeth as he identified the curses and causes of the many wounds one by one.
They had not been kind to the boy.
"You see," The Dark Lord began, motioning towards the kneeling boy. "He is nothing but a child."
Severus grimaced at the wording. He didn't know how they could do such atrocities to a child.
"Nothing more than a pathetic little boy-wizard." Voldemort sneered down at Potter.
