To Stopper Death
Summary: When given a choice Severus Snape returns to the past with the intentions of living his life as he wishes. But then, nothing is ever so easy is it? Slash!
Pairings: Voldemort/Severus
Disclaimer: Not mine and not making money out of it either.
Chapter 4
Somewhere deep within the Amazon rainforest a tall dark man glared at nondescript brown book. If there was one thing Severus Snape had thought he would never do voluntarily it was writing in a diary.
Well, strictly speaking the book was a device that would copy and transfer everything he wrote to it's twin in the Dark Lord's possession but none the less it was still basically a diary.
With a disdainful sneer Severus picked up the book from on top of the rickety bed that occupied one fourth of his small tent. As he regarded the space that he would be living in for months to come the Potions Master flipped through the blank pages of the diary lost in thought.
The tent, though small, was still a magical one and was provided to him by Dravine. The man was also responsible of the hefty sum of galleons that would be deposited to Severus' Gringotts account monthly until their return to Britain. The sorry excuse of a bed and a small but well-equipped potions lab had come with the tent, Severus' own possessions were in a large trunk situated near the bed.
The Potions Master opened his trunk and dropped the book on top of his folded robes. Luckily for him the Dark Lord had ordered Severus to report only once a month so he wouldn't need to write that often... Severus' trail of thought got cut off abruptly when a wrinkled face with a head full of grey hair appeared between the tent flaps.
"Severus, my boy! Are you ready yet? We'll be heading out soon." Eighty-one year old Barthow Dravine asked with beaming smile as he fully entered the Potions Master's tent.
As Severus closed his trunk after retrieving his satchel containing unbreakable glass containers of various shapes and sizes and stood up he could feel his left eyebrow twitch in irritation. Even though Dravine, with his short stature and tanned skin, looked nothing like Dumbledore Severus always got irritated by the man's similar speech patterns.
Quelling his urge to strangle the horrible cheeriness out of the man Severus inclined his head in greeting. "Barthow. Yes, I am ready." The grey-haired man grinned while his eyes roamed over the Potions Master.
Severus was clad in black pants, knee high leather boots and loose dark green blouse, he had also tied his hair back. "Good, good. I must say my boy, that you look much better without those dreadful black robes of yours." While Severus stared incredulously at the visibly leering man Dravine turned to go back outside. "Come along then, we don't have much time before nightfall."
Groaning inaudibly Severus followed his current employer all the while muttering under his breath about grazy old perverts.
...s...sSs...s...
September 5th, 1980
My Lord,
After over a month of travelling by foot we have finally reached a spot that Dravine deemed good enough for a base camp. Basic inspection of the surrounding area clearly shows it's potential as a source for different potions ingredients in plants, insects and animals.
Unfortunately we won't properly begin collecting or testing anything for a few weeks yet until the necessary protections and repellents are up.
As you are aware besides me Dravine hired five others for this expedition of his. Donna and Austin Clarke are an Australian mediwitch and wizard couple who are interested in usage of different kinds of neurotoxins in healing arts.
The men responsible for warding and keeping more dangerous creatures at bay during our travels are ex-auror called Alec McKinneas and a blonde mountain of muscle that answers to name Boris.
Apparently McKinneas resigned himself from the aurors after a nasty row with one of his superiors. Boris on the other hand works for the Russian branch of Gringotts and is on a some kind of leave.
Our magical creatures specialist is Morticia Black, a very distant cousin to Bellatrix and one of Newt Scamander's few students.
As for the old man in charge of this trip... For some reason Dravine seems to be quite fond of me and has even asked me to call him by his first name.
For the time being there isn't much else to report my Lord so I shall contact you again in months time.
Your loyal Potions Master,
Severus Snape
...s...sSs...s...
Lord Voldemort was having a bad day. The doors to his study banged open as the Dark Lord stalked trough with rage flickering in his red eyes. All his inner circle Death Eaters were on missions away from Britain and he had to rely on lower ranks to complete more difficult tasks than before.
After a week of complete drawbacks what happened this morning had been the last straw. It had been a simple mission to gather information and the imbeciles had gotten caught!
The surrounding mansion trembled as Voldemort closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Red eyes opened and a china vase near his desk exploded. Not good, he wanted to slaughter someone. Several someones actually. As he turned to asses the damage the Dark Lord happened to glance at a small book sitting on his writing desk and suddenly his fury abated.
It was that time of the month wasn't it? It had been seven months since his Potions Master had left to South America. The monthly reports hadn't gotten any longer after the first one but Snape had started adding drawings and some comments about things he saw to the diary in between required reports.
Snape's sarcasm and his obvious unease about Dravine's flirtations had become a great source of amusement for Voldemort. During the past months the Dark Lord had been surprised to find himself relaxing every time he went through the diary's pages.
Opening the book Voldemort froze and thunderous expression took over his face. On the page where the next report should be was only a few illegible words smudged in ink and covering them was something that could only be a blood splatter.
A roar of rage followed by a huge crash shook the Slytherin Mansion. Lord Voldemort, the feared Dark Lord of Great Britain was most certainly having a bad day. Outer circle Death Eaters however were going to have even worse evening.
...s...sSs...s...
April 11th, 1981
My Lord,
I apologise for not contacting you earlier but after the incident that stopped my last report we have been battling with a native tribe of shamans that saw our precence here as a threat. They even managed to lead an enraged nundu to our campsite and after evacuating we had to wait for three weeks before the poison dissolved from the area completely. Yesterday we finally managed to drive the remaining natives far enough from our camp that they won't be a problem anymore.
On the more interesting note we have finally located a small colony of coatls. Unfortunately these dreatures are very fast and shy so observing their habits is quite time consuming and requires a lots of patience. Yet, I believe that it won't take too long to gather needed information on whether it is possible to keep one as a pet or not.
Your loyal Potions Master,
Severus Snape
...s...sSs...s...
September 2nd, 1981
My Lord,
Tomorrow we start our journey back to Britain, it should take about a month and a half before we arrive since Barthow insists on travelling the muggle way. The amount of potions ingredients I have amassed during past year is quite satisfying and I'm sure they will have many uses for our cause. I also have a small surprise for you, my Lord. I'm sure you can guess what it is as I have mentionet it on my previous reports.
Your loyal Potions Master,
Severus Snape
...s...sSs...s...
September 30th, 1981
My Lord,
Due to trouble with muggle transport system our return will be delayed by few weeks. I shall report to you in person at the end of October.
Loyally yours,
Severus Snape
...s..sSs...s...
Godric's Hollow, All Hallows' Eve...
Tall figure shrouded in darkness watched as deadly green light flashed in second floor window of Potter's hideout. After a moment of silence a wail of a babe pierced the night. When a rumble of approaching motorcycle could be heard in the distance the figure in the shadows turned sharply apparating away with a deep sigh. "And so it begins, yet again..."
A/N: Sorry for not updating earlier, but I had some problems while writing this chapter so it took a little bit longer than before. Anyway! I hope you like it! ;D
By the way about Voldemort in this chapter, don't read too deeply into his actions. He's just throwing a temper tantrum because things aren't going like he wants them to.
I would also like some ideas about what I should do with Harry, you have up until next chapter to offer suggestions. So feel free to do so!
And thanks for the reviews!