A/N: Welcome back to my story. Feel free to leave a review, tell me what you liked/disliked/confused you
Warning: Child abuse, mentions of torture
Thanks to my awesome beta-reader Iwillrunforever
It's Black. He's Voldemort's first Lieutenant. The words rang in Remus' head like a mocking laugh.
"Liar!"
Severus and Moody had to hold him back together, barely managing. The week around full moon was a bad time to rile a werewolf up.
"Get a grip on yourself!" the potion master hissed at him.
"He -"
"Yes, I'm not deaf! But it's neither helping us nor Sirius if you shred him to pieces. As much as he deserves it!"
Moody cuffed the still stunned Crouch when he deemed it justifiable to let go of the younger man, "Save the discussions for later - We are needed at Azkaban!"
"What happened?"
"Break out," Remus answered simply. Meanwhile Aberforth and the Longbottoms had found their way through the labyrinth that was Spinner's End, securing the four Death Eaters on the way.
"We took Nott and Crabbe out, Goyle and Avery… well, remind me to never make you angry," the younger Dumbledore-brother sounded more grimly amused than anything else.
"Severus! Are you alright? Where is Rose?" Alice somehow managed to get it all out with just one breath.
"James," he corrected without thinking, gathering confused looks. "She wants to be called 'James'. She is safe. Narcissa is taking care of her."
"At Malfoy Manor?" Moody asked further, raising Severus' suspicion.
"Why the questioning?"
"Dumbledore ordered to bring her to headquarters."
"She is safer where she is right now," he replied testily, not at all happy with the headmaster's further attempts to have his goddaughter in his field of influence again.
"You're bleeding," Remus stated lowly, as he realized that the copper-like smell came from the potions master, not (only) Crouch.
"Just a scratch." His left shoulder and side had been hit by some wooden splinters caused by the bombarda maxima, but there were more important things right at the moment.
o ~ O ~ o
Azkaban was a battlefield.
At the apparation point curses flew back and forth - Severus had to pull Remus out of line or the Order would've found themselves one werewolf short.
"Don't stay close to me," he told Remus solemnly and threw a fiendfyre in the direction of the Carrow-twins. Open battle was not his preferred form of fighting, but alas, it could not be helped right now.
He flew a short distance to Dumbledore's side. The old man was a force in battlefield, a hex from him and a group of convicts dropped to the ground out cold. "My boy, how reassuring to see you unharmed," the older wizard greeted him without missing a beat, while Severus was caught in a vicious duel with another Death Eater.
"Likewise, Headmaster".
Up to that day the prison had held over 150 criminals, not only Voldemort's followers. Some who had broken the laws about experimental magic, violent convicts, a few of Grindelwald's remaining Reapers…
And the vast majority of them stood against a decimated Order of the Phoenix and a bunch of rookie Aurors. But they had so far recaptured the apparation side and made good process towards the building itself.
"Severus, I want you to go in through the rear entrance" Dumbledore commanded. "Look for the guards, some may still be alive."
"He is not going in on his own," Moody all but growled, fixing the Headmaster with his magical eye.
"As touched as I am, Alastor," Severus bit back, firing another chain of spells, "I'll be faster and less likely to be noticed if I go alone"
"I was mainly thinking of your charge," The old Auror still glared daggers at Dumbledore, while the heart of the godfather of said charge skipped several beats.
Of course he had not forgotten about her - how could he? - But Moody's words had brought up another thought:
Dumbledore was sending him into enemy territory in the midst of battle without back-up, nothing new. But this time… had the headmaster hoped that he would get killed?
How far did he want to go to get custody of her?
Shoving such uplifting thoughts aside he spoke again (after he set fire to the robes of a wizard who threw nasty curses all around him, giggling madly), "Fair point - Fenwick, move along."
"But -"
"Now."
"Of course!" The younger wizard followed straight after Severus, who proceed to cast a Delusion Charm on both of them and moved towards the old fortress.
The potions master remembered the smaller entrance into the walls from his only visit when Dumbledore had all but forced him along. It was a shortcut to the neglected graveyard of Azkaban.
An 'Alohomora' opened the door and the entry was so void of any light it looked like a gateway to the afterlife. Or to hell itself. The stone was soaked in the vile magic of the dementors who had lived here for centuries, leaving it clammy and bleak.
Severus hated the prison down to the last blackened pebble.
The only sounds that accompanied them were Benji's hasty strides and his low curses.
"Will you be silent," the potion master hissed after a particularly loud swear as his companion stumbled. The younger wizard was about to shoot some selected words back when a bone-freezing cold crept closer, making their breath mist. Five dementors floated along the corridor, black lumps dragging over the floor.
"Damn," Benji murmured, shivering slightly. Severus was inclined to agree while he tightened the grip on his wand, thinking of happy memories. But they all paled in comparison to Lily's grey, dead eyes. The sheer amount of grief and guilt forced him to physically take a step back. The rational part of his mind analyzed how the dementors had a much stronger hold on him with the recent loss of his best friend. And that he needed to cast his patronus now, if he wanted to survive. Unfortunately the rest of him was all but drowning in ice cold agony.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Benji's voice cut through the fog and the brightness of his lioness chased the dementors away.
"Couldn't cast a decent patronus for over a month after my sister was murdered," the younger man murmured, as the other took a few shaky breaths to calm himself. "So… I won't ask how you are. But it gets better after some time."
Severus felt a whole new level of respect for the young Auror - and gratitude. "...Thank you," he said simply, moving forward along the corridor with every intention to raid the fortress as fast as they could. And get off of the godforsaken cliff.
Benji still grinned ear to ear, knowing a "thank you" from the potions master was something like the equivalent of a bear hug and tearful exclamations of eternal gratitude.
"Quit pulling a face and move it, Fenwick!"
"On my way," he answered, catching up with Severus - smile firmly in place.
o ~ O ~ o
"How many casualties?" Dumbledore asked, hours later, after all prisoners were either dead or back in the cells.
"All guards, except the commander," Severus answered while Pomona healed a deep gash across his cheek. Sloppier than she usually worked, but others needed her attention direly.
The mission had moved smoothly, save when Benji's Gryffindor bravery had gotten the better of him. He had challenging two Death Eaters to an open duel instead of waiting and taking care of them from behind, like Severus had planned. Hence the wound on his face.
But there was a more pressing matter: Sirius Black stood, surrounded by four guards, just a few meters away.
The Auror-turned-prisoner had fought alongside the Order and even his time in Azkaban had not lessened the finesse and power of the young duellist. But still, his fate was yet to be decided.
It was Severus who spoke, after a long gaze at the man who was not quite his friend, knowing that they needed the truth. And not only for their peace of mind. "A proper interrogation is in order, headmaster."
Again, Dumbledore seemed reluctant, but didn't deny the request outright, much to the relief of those present.
"We will use the commander's rooms for this. Alastor, please accompany us."
"How is Bambi?" It was Sirius' first question towards Severus.
"She got sick after the funeral, but is a lot better now," he answered, carefully watching Dumbledore's expression. There was a flash of worry and relief in the blue eyes. But also a complete lack of surprise.
"She wants to be called 'James', but I haven't had the chance to talk it though with her yet."
"It's a good, strong name," Sirius noted, but seemed as confused about that as Severus had been, "But she never used it before... Still why 'James' and not 'Acacia'?"
The potion master had wondered about that as well, but Sirius was already answering his own question, "Maybe she wants her father to live on by wearing his name?"
The idea made Remus smile, "It would be nice…"
Severus thought that their goddaughter really had enough on her plate without dragging her dead father along the way. He wisely kept that opinion to himself.
They reached a large room full of bookshelves and muggle weapons of several eras adorning the otherwise naked stone walls. One movement from Dumbledore's wand cleared a generous space of furniture, summoned a chair and equipped it with shackles - not unlike the ones used by the Wizengamot.
"Sit down, my boy, so we may begin."
o ~ O ~ o
"Headmaster, this is getting ridiculous!" Severus exclaimed, after they had questioned Sirius under two truth-telling-spells and the nearly unfaultable Veritaserum.
Every time with the same result; He did not betray the Order, nor the Potters.
What the potions master was actually saying was more in the lines of: I am starting to think that you want him in prison.
"You will allow him in James' close proximity, not knowing if you can really trust him?"
The younger man merely glared at him, his arms crossed.
Remus was frustrated as well but tried to reason, "Let him perform an unbreakable oath and be done with it!"
Dumbledore mulled over this and then turned his eyes back to Sirius, "I would like to use a sort of legilimency on you. To review your memories."
"And what will you be looking for?" he questioned cautiously.
"Memories that are key to who you are today. Should you have committed such a crime against magic as to break the Fidelius charm, we'll know."
"Which kind of spell do you have in mind, Albus?" Severus asked, face still the unfazed mask he had worn for years.
"It's called 'Memoria'" Dumbledore explained, turning twinkling eyes towards him again. "You are awfully distrusting today."
"Sorry for using my head to actually think," he murmured, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I guess Severus merely wants to know how… safe the procedure is, headmaster?" Remus asked.
At this, Sirius could not stop himself. Or his loose tongue, "Aw! Dungeon bat, I didn't know you cared!" Using one of the nicer nicknames from their Hogwarts time.
He grinned, even with the famous 'Snape's glare of certain death' aimed at him, "I changed my mind: Feel free to fry his brain, headmaster."
Sirius was awfully playing his mock-enragement, "How can you?!"
"As if the difference would be noticeable," he shoot back.
"Enough now." Dumbledore stopped the bickering that he very well knew could go on for ages, if he allowed it. "The charm is safe to use. But we might pull a few less than ideal memories up again - Do you agree with this, Sirius?"
"Who is 'we'?"
"Either Alastor or Severus as a witness and myself."
"And if the memories show my innocence you let me go? And make sure my record is clean?"
Dumbledore shoot a glance at the ministry official that had arrived in the meantime. Without a doubt he would do as he was told by the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, "Yes, my boy. No more questions asked."
Dark grey eyes were filled with determination, "Take them both along and do it!"
"We will begin then."
Severus certainly did not want to invade Sirius' mind, but Dumbledore left no room for discussion or objection, raising his wand. "Memoriae explicate!"
The first thing they saw was light, brighter than a lumos maxima and a flash of movement around them, similar to fast forwarding memories in the headmaster's pensive. It was not at all comparable to using legilimency. It was more vivid and obviously not as controlled. And emotions crushed relentlessly against their mental shields like waves breaking off a cliff.
Severus knew he saw the overdrawn experiences of Sirius childhood, despite not being able to make out something clear. The overly bright colours, or pitch black shadows at other times, along with the overall chaos was telling.
Suddenly everything came to halt and they only had a blink of an eye to admire the dark room until:
"Why can't you be like your brother?! NAIL TO MY COFFIN!" Mother's voice is hurtful, shrill and all I can see is her. She is scaring me. Her makeup cakes her face and the sickly green eye shadow clashes with her bloodshot eyes. I can smell the expensive wine on her breath. And I try not to cry. I tried to do everything right!
"USELESS BOY!"
"But -" I didn't do anything! Please! Listen to me!
As the slap came, Severus could almost feel it himself, knowing the sensation all too well.
The scene shifted again, like it had before, in a blur of movement. King's Cross was their next stop. The station was unmistakable.
I am nearly sick from the mix of excitement and terror when I board the red train. It looks so cool, and the best part is: It's going to take me far, far away from everything.
I find a compartment where a boy sits alone. His black hair is a mess. "Hey, can I sit here?"
"Sure - Make yourself at home," he smiles as he speaks, like he knows no care in the world. I think I want him as my first friend.
James and his daughter really looked alike, Severus noticed. With only five years between them it was obvious: The nose and chin, their hair had the same silky, yet untameable quality to it.
"I would rather not do that," I answer before I can properly think. I hear the slight strain on my attempt at light heartedness. I hope the other boy isn't too attentive. "But thank you"
For a moment he looks strangely at me, but then the smile is back in place, "No problem – I'm James Potter."
The son of Fleamont and Euphemia. I know their names by heart. Like I know all the members of the pureblood houses.
James' family are light wizards and witches through and through. Every since my aunts twice removed, Dorea and Euphemia, married into the family my mother has hated them with passion.
"Sirius Black." I know I just crushed a friendship before it could even form. Must be some kind of record. I wait for a violent or at least disgusted reaction, but James only hesitates for the blink of an eye, "Nice to meet you, Sirius."
Okay, what's wrong with this fellow? Did he miss the 'Who is evil?' lessons?!
"Excuse me?" A golden haired boy, silvery scars are scattered over his face, steps in our compartment. He looks younger than us, fragile even. "Is one of the seats free?" His shyness is downright adorable.
"Sure! Come in!" James speaks first, inviting grin aimed at the new boy, "I'm James Potter – This is Sirius Black."
"… My name is Remus Lupin," A small smile makes its way to his scarred face. Why am I thinking that he is too good for the harsh reality of life?
The last one to join them was Peter Pettigrew, the rat, and the Marauders were united.
This time, the blur went by quickly, revealing the familiar view of the Great Hall. Sirius Black - the child - looked shaken when Minerva called his name, his doubt and fear tangible.
Severus could see himself in the crowd of first years. And Lily smiling, right next to him.
"Back then, I was sure you would become friends." Dumbledore stated, sounding saddened.
Maybe, the younger man thought. They had much in common - enough for James to tease Sirius and for Lily and Lucius both to annoy him with the fact.
"We didn't." Severus finally said, "Why dwell on it?"
"GRYFFINDOR"
"Musings of an old man, my boy…"
Red and gold were the dominant colours from now on in the memories, quite some time must have gone by, when they saw an older Sirius. Thirteen or maybe fourteen already.
I hate Grimmauld Place more with each passing year!
The interior looks even more gruesome after living in Hogwarts Castle for ten months. My family is as unloving as ever, but now that I know what friendship feels like, it's hurting me worse.
James, Remus and Peter are my first friends and I will never let them down!
Through Remus is sometimes strangely distant towards us, but we are figuring that minor issue out once we are back. At school. Together.
"SIRIUS!" The shrill voice of mother seems to shake the very foundations of the building and still makes me shudder. It's always worse when father is on his business trips.
The old hag favours Regulus to no end and treats me like a house-elf - Without the chores and beheading-thing. At least up until now.
I curse under my breath and go downstairs to the living-room, where mother sits with a guest I have not yet met. He is an ageless man, a black braid brushing just past his shoulders, contrasting against his white skin and piercing… red eyes…
I take a step back. The sheer power he radiates… I hear the door fall shut behind me. I am trapped and every hair on my body stands on end. Whoever he is, he is dangerous, I know it.
"Young Sirius Orion Black" That smile scares me. It's not a good one, it promises pain. "How nice to finally make your acquaintance. My name is Tom Riddle, although I prefer Lord Voldemort."
The mind around them started to crack - there was no other word for it. The images bore spider webs like broken glass.
"Dumbledore…" Moody sounded wary and had a hand on his wand, even though this was clearly no battle situation.
"Crucio!" Severus barely managed not to flinch, hearing that sickly familiar voice uttering the unforgivable curse - and the screaming of a child.
"Stop it! Please! It hurts! PLEASE! STOP!"
He had to suppress the urge to cover his ears; the scene seems to go on forever. And it continued until something broke.
Severus would have never believed it, had he not witnessed it himself: The mind had broken into two; the sharp-edged borders had a rift of black nothingness between them.
His first thought was: How is Sirius still alive, let alone coherent?
The next one was spoken out load by Dumbledore, "Merlin's beard! What has Voldemort done to him?" He had never heard the usually cheerful voice so full of despair.
But all they could do was watch. As the Dark Lord 'trained' his recruit. He had apparently intended to break the child in this certain way. He called the 'other half' Sothis from that point on. It was sickening.
Sirius had no clue about what was happening to him. Cheerfully the marauders showed Remus their Animagus transformation, telling him he was not alone any longer. It was him, who hugged the taller boy as he burst into tears of happiness.
Sothis smiled as he was branded with the Dark Mark, in the wake of his first murder. The tattoo only showed on his skin. He was not even sixteen and had made his way up in the Death Eater ranks.
Sirius joined the Order of the Phoenix right after his graduation. He was there as Dumbledore presented the prophecy to the Potters and Longbottoms. Laying an arm protective around the heavily pregnant Lily, when he told them their child would likely be the chosen one.
Born to fire, born to storm,
the one equal to the Dark Lord steps from beyond the veil.
Either must die at the hand of the other,
for neither can live with the other alive.
A child to those who defied him four times.
Thriving in the mist of war, born as the seventh month dies,
Marked as chosen, scarred with the sigil.
Cloaked in darkness with eyes like death they walk,
her blood cursed with life.
Maybe Sirius had unconsciously protected this secret judging by the blank spot on Sothis'… half of memory.
Severus closed his eyes for a moment. Not only were the blurry motions getting sickening, his own mind had problems keep up with how much he was seeing. Let alone comprehending it.
The sudden laughter of a baby made him look up, already knowing what he was about to see: A not yet one day old Roslyn, happily giggling in Lily's arms.
She is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!
"You are right on that," Severus murmured to himself.
"Time to meet your godfathers, my little girl!" Lily beams at her baby, smiling at me and Snape. I guess Bambi grows up a marauder anyway, but a darn sarcastic one...
I shoot a look at the overgrown bat and I know he will deny it for the rest of his life, but he has teary eyes! I see it right now!
…Maybe he is not a bad of a choice for a godfather. But I will be her favourite! I'll make sure of that!
I know I shouldn't laugh at how much panic is in Snape's rigid posture as Lily asks him to hold Bambi, but it's just priceless! He is holding her as if she could break at the slightest wrong touch. Because babies do that, right? Have you seen how small they are?
… "What do you mean 'It's your turn'?! - NO WAY! I might hurt her!"
Karma is really working fast today.
But holding this precious girl in my arms… I hope I never get used to that feeling. Amazing and terrifying and overwhelming...
"Hello, little one. I'm Sirius. I'm the one who teaches you how to play pranks and how to scare the handsy boys away."
Severus knew he was all teary eyed again, but the older men graciously didn't mention it. He'll need a fire whiskey when this is over. And a cuddle with his goddaughter.
The next scene is familiar as well. The street where the Potters used to live.
I kneel down as my master arrives. The trembling worm I brought with me is whimpering in the snow.
"Sothis," It is a greeting and inquiry at the same time.
"Everything is prepared, my Lord. The Potters are home." I reply, happy to give him good news. His voice holds the edge of Parseltongue; it makes me shiver in awe, no matter how often I hear him speaking it. "Wormtail! So you betrayed me as well?"
"No, my Lord! I would never -"
"Crucio!"
He screams and wails, and the racket he makes might be annoying, but I so rarely see my Lord torture people himself. It is a sight to behold.
"Well?"
"I-I did as I was told! I swear! I gave her the toy with the rune stone to b-block a-apparation, the floo and p-portkeys."
Yes. He did that indeed. One task fulfilled in almost a year.
He spills his secret not a minute later and our Lord smiles victoriously as we both watch the house appear which was non-existent for us until now.
"Sothis." I know the order and do it, ignoring the pleas for mercy, "Avada Kedavra." The curse comes as easily to me as breathing, and the wailing stops.
I let my mask disappear and pull my hair back again, without being able to keep myself from smiling as I bow before him. The feeling of his magic is almost tangible.
"Very good, Sothis," my beloved master touches my cheek and I cannot help but lean into the caress. What is there to ask for but to serve him? "Thank you, my Lord – Will you allow me to come with you, my Lord?"
I look forward to her end. Really, why is Sirius so fond of the hellspawn? Powerful probably, but still annoying. Even more so than the werewolf or Sirius.
I cringe inwardly at the thought of what they did a few hours ago! First thing after getting rid of the idiot using my body is murdering that creature! And I plan to make the most of killing him.
"No - Go meet the Order or something of the like. I will need you to reach Dumbledore, when it's time to deal with the old man."
I am saddened by the answer, but do not question it. "Of course, my Lord." I kneel kiss the soft hem of his robe before leaving his presence.
"Go now – We shall celebrate soon enough."
Sothis laughed while Sirius cried over the dead body of his best friend - brother and everything but blood.
o ~ O ~ o
The effects of the Memoria charm end as swiftly as they began, leaving the three men unstable on their feed.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!" Remus was beside himself with worry, holding a deathly pale and violently shaking… Sirius? Sothis? Both or just one of them?
Same graceful way to move, same grey eyes, the very same body.
And yet they were two different people.
"Severus," Dumbledore ignored Remus in favour of collecting his thoughts, "I… presume you had no knowledge of this?" The headmaster's voice was unusually feeble. He felt weak, one of the after-effects of casting the Memoria charm.
The potions master only shook his head, not trusting his temper or tongue when he wanted to throw every curse he knew against Sothis. Avada Kedavra would certainly be the last. But he couldn't do that and he hated Voldemort and his creation even more for it. He had known how twisted the Dark Lord's mind was, but this… He felt violated by just seeing what had been done to Sirius.
The wizard in question looked shocked to his very core, "No," he whispered, tears streaming down his face, "No!"
"Love! Speak with me!"
It will hurt him beyond repair, Severus thought and a sudden wave of nausea hit him, Merlin, how can I ever explain this to Corbillat?
"What happened?" Remus let go of his boyfriend to step into the potions master's field of view, "You look like you have seen a demon!"
"Not an inaccurate guess, my boy," Dumbledore replied after a long, sad glance at his former student, while Severus remained silent.
"It'll take time to explain everything."
"What do you mean? He isn't…" Remus looked at Sirius, blanching, "You are not… Don't tell me you betrayed us!"
A humourless crackle broke the following silence, making everyone flinch. It was not the warm, barking laughter the last of the Blacks was known for.
"Would you like to contribute, Sothis?" Severus asked, forcing up every Occlumency barrier, and his mask. He could not allow this to get under his skin.
"You value your swift perception so highly, don't you, my dear master of potions?" Sothis' voice. Smooth, words deliberately chosen, upper class accent… "You should reconsider, since I managed to deceive you all those years. And quite successful I might add."
"Merlin, what -" Remus made a move towards him, but Severus pulled him back, "That is not Sirius!"
"We've been in here more than three hours; polyjuice would've worn off ages ago - Not to mention the lack of supply in this prison!"
Sothis signed in mock condolence, "Dearest, that was not what our Severus implied - Try to keep up with the rest of class, will you?"
"…Who are you?" The question came out breathless, nearly inaudible as if Remus didn't really wanted an answer.
"How discourteous of me," Lips made to smirk mischievously curved into an icy pureblood-smile, "I am Sothis Peruses Black."
They left him with the ministry official and the guard-captain. There was a lot to discuss, and preferably not in... his presence.
When Dumbledore had finished his explanation Remus had grown so pale, his scars no longer stood out against his skin, "That's…" he had no words. He wouldn't for a long time.
"The real question is what to do now, Albus!" Moody grumbled, "He has to be brought to justice!"
"And Sirius? He is innocent!"
"Another reason he would not want this manic left running around!"
Dumbledore looked very unhappy while the argument between Remus and Moody went on.
Severus pondered how and what to tell his goddaughter. He had not even managed to speak with her after she had woken up again...
"How about St Mungo's?" he asked out loud, getting the attention of the other men, "Lady Alana Flint is a mind healer, and supervises a special ward for instable patients."
It solved several of their problems at ones; keeping Sothis under lock while sparing Sirius the horrors of Azkaban. And maybe, just maybe, the mind healers could help him.
"We would have to tell them everything… But it sounds like a solution." Remus murmured, looking at the headmaster. The old wizard nodded after a long moment.
"They will need more security measures, but otherwise… Alastor, how many Aurors can you spare?"
"For an around-the-clock surveillance?" He calculated silently, "Two for daytime, one for the night should be sufficient since there are the station's own guards… But I have a condition to this: Sirius' wand is to be destroyed."
"But -"
"That's agreeable, Alastor," Dumbledore interrupted Remus' protest, "I would not have it any other way. Now," he fixed his - again twinkling - eyes on Severus, "I believe you and Lady Flint still share a friendship?"
"I'll floo her," was his curt answer and he made his the way over to the fireplace.