Day: Four A

Chapter: Three

Chapter Title: Stains on the Carpet.

Time and Date: Tuesday 8 Oct. (Harry's fifth year) 5pm.


"Do you trust me, Severus?" He asked, his voice cold and yet casual.

"Of course, my Lord." Severus intoned, bowing his head in respect as he spoke.

"Then you have nothing to fear."

"Not a thing, my Lord." The hairs on the back of Snape's neck flew up, but he kept his face tooled into impassiveness.

With all the table watching, Voldemort stood up, and swept over to Severus.

He stood behind Severus; and the man in question allowed himself a small smirk and Malfoy (in his own manor, no less) was completely and utterly ignored.

Voldemort placed a hand on Severus's shoulder, and looked to his Death Eaters.

"Go." The voice was commanding, and held no room for arguments. Even Bellatrix left with but a backwards glance.

"Severus..." The was a hiss in the Dark Lords voice as he swept around the table to sit opposite to his spy.

Snape merely watched the Dark Lord, keeping his head still and following him with his eyes.

Once Voldemort was sat opposite to him, Severus bowed his head, and smirked a little.

"Let me in, Severus." The creature opposite him was leaning forward eagerly, hands clasped in front of him (and slightly leaning on his arms in anticipation.)

Severus smirked, and raised his eyes, meeting the Dark Lord's narrow slits.

Then he closed his eyes and lowered some of his mental wards, feeling Voldemort jump into his mind.

The cover story was that Severus had mental wards to hide his activity from the untrusted members of the Death Eaters; and to hide from Albus. Severus was merely hiding his other wards with those he usually had on surface, as though to speak.

Voldemort watched with delight through the Potions Master's eyes as the Potter Boy was attacked by Death Eaters; watched how the trial progressed; got slightly annoyed when Dumbledore turned up; then smiled fiendishly when Potter was stressed out of his mind at Grimmauld Place.

"And the Potions, Severus?"

Severus recollected the evening; from the stores of Vertiserum to the Poly-juice, and the bubbling cauldrons surrounding them.

"Excellent." Voldemort went to draw back; but "Oh? What's this? Dear old Dolores?"

Severus smirked; it was no secret that Tom Riddle had hated Dolores.

"Oh?" Voldemort pulled back quickly, stinging Severus's mind slightly as he left.

"Lets tell everyone, shall we Severus?" The creature's eyes were glowing fiercely.

"M-My Lord?" Severus didn't understand.

"Lets tell everyone we're a Death Eater, shall we? That the Dark Lord is back?" Voldemort was radiating fury, and grabbed his wand from the table.

"My Lord- if I may-"

"What, Severus?" Harsh, angry. No longer the Dark Lord's pet. He was unworthy of such a title.

"I thought, My Lord; and forgive if I am wrong; it would be good to strike your name into every cowards heart. I thought, My Lord; you would want to make the Ministry scared of everything; each other; their own shadow, and you, My Lord." Severus bowed his head once more, as the Dark Lord walked around the table, trailing a finger on the wooden tabletop.

"Severus." The voice was no more than a whisper now, and playing with him.

"How many times, Severus?" The was almost a genial smile in that voice. "How many times?"

Snape dared to look up, Voldemort had a sneer that was his equivalent of a smile. Then as Snape sneered back, "CRUICO!"

He writhed in pain; but not a sound didn't he let out. His body arched and fell in his chair; convulsions and beads of sweat pearled and fell, but not a sound.

The chair was moved from under him, and he fell to the ground, exhausted, as the Dark Lord cackled and moved away.

Sighing, Severus made to pick himself up.

Nagini uncoiled from the end of the table, slithering down the table legs.

Snape heard Malfoy laugh weakly at the door, in response to something someone, probably the Dark Lord said.

"Nagini?" Voldemort called out, in a sweeter voice than was ever used on a Death Eater.

The snake eyed Severus, then moved away.

Snape turned away, watching the door. Could he go?

He didn't even see the Snake rise and bite him, only felt it when it did.

He fell in agony, watching only the snake move towards the barefoot feet by the corner of the room; and could hardly look up to see the face that was Bellatrix sneering at him.

"Now what?" She asked, pointing to the blood that stained the carpet.