When All is Lost One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 6: The Catalyst

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

Note: The timeline does not fit exactly as it would in the books. This is deliberate. It's around the same year, but not the same month.


A wave of heat hit his face but he paid it no attention. He walked so fast his legs ached, and he had to be careful not to stumble as he put less attention to the way he walked and more attention into seeking an uncrowded place. He needed to disappear before Dumbledore noticed and caught him. He knew he was a Death Eater, yet he still called him for a job interview. But he couldn't worry about that right now.

He avoided the people and the children traveling up and down the streets until he found a small alley. When he was covered in shadows, he raised his wand and disappeared from Hogsmeade. When he felt the symptoms of apparating receding, he opened his eyes. He could vaguely make out the structures around him due to the heavy fog, but he knew where he needed to go.

The sound of his feet stepping in mud accompanied his steps until made his way onto the pavement and then upon a stone step. He raised his arm with haste, and knocked a couple of times on a large door. His heart hammered against his chest and he tried to calm his breathing before the door opened.

"Who is it?" a dry voice said. He was relieved that it was his friend guarding the Riddle's mansion.

"It's Severus, Lucius. It's an emergency. I seek an audience now."

"You know that's impudent for you, Severus. Why do you need an audience with the Dark Lord?" he asked when he closed the door behind him. "Also, show me your mark. You know the rules."

"Damn, I don't have time, this is urgent." He pulled up his sleeve ripping it in his haste. His eyes locked with Lucius suspicious ones and remained there until he pressed his wand on the mark. When it reacted with a reddish glow, the man put away his wand and smirked.

"You really need to buy some new clothes, Severus."

He shoved his arm out of Lucius' hold and resumed his path, trying to enter into the depths of the mansion.

"Don't stop me this time, Lucius. My audience with him doesn't concern a potion project to raise his powers," he said before the blond man could question his insolence.

When he reached the door to the room that housed the Lord and his inner circle, he didn't hesitate. He pushed the doors open and never stopped walking. His eyes remained on his Lord as he entered. He didn't falter. Not even when he heard the other Death Eaters' gasps and condemnations. Right now, he was the king of the place. He was important because of the information he held.

His legs stopped when he reached the Dark Lord's throne. He kneeled, showing that even entering with power, he was a loyal, submissive servant.

"I-I'm sorry, my lord. He didn't wait for me to—" Malfoy started to say.

"Severus, what issues bring you here? You interrupted a reunion and you know that this isn't your place, yet." The s in each word came out in a hiss that was similar to the way he talked to serpents, a discipline that only few people in the line of Salazar Slytherin possessed.

"I apologize for my behavior, my lord, but my intrusion is necessary. If you seek to punish me later, I will offer no resistance."

"No! I will punish you now. You don't have the right to be here stupid half blood." A woman's outrageous cry filled the room, and Severus fixed his eyes on her. She had her wand ready to curse him.

"Stop it, Bella. I know Severus would never defy me in this way unless it was of extreme importance." Severus eyes went back to him. "Speak."

After taking a moment to calm the rage the woman had caused within him, he parted his lips cautiously.

"As you know, I was seeking a place at Hogwarts so I could better serve you. I had an interview today. When I was in the place to meet Albus Dumbledore, a prophecy was made and it is related to you, my lord." He heard some feigned gasps and incredulous snorts. He didn't care about them. His lord had his attention fixed on him. His eyes were open and his face was perplexed.

"And what kind of prophecy was it, Severus?"

"One I fear you must see for yourself or it will be hard to believe." Severus replied as he felt all eyes on him. Those leeches wanted his glory. He was the spy. This was his information and he would be the one to deliver it and reap its benefits.

"Show me, Severus." The Dark Lord rose from his throne and looked at him. He knew what was coming and prepared the images in his mind for him to see. The Dark Lord raised his wand and pointed it at his face. "Legilimens."

A harsh pulsation attacked his brain, and he let the Dark Lord in. Even being allowed, the power he possessed felt as if it were tearing his brain apart. His jaw tensed, but he refused to cry out. As the Dark Lord looked at images of his time at Hogsmeade, his power and anger grew in an instant. The Dark Lord reviewed the images more than once, torturing him in the process with his magic and emotions.

His body slammed into the stone floor. His head throbbed, his face was numb, and he tasted blood in his mouth. He almost smiled at the palatable fear that filled the room.

"How is that possible?" he shouted. "But it's true that Dumbledore was there! This is no laughing matter. It is truth."

"M-My Lord. What it is?" he heard Bellatrix ask.

Merlin, how he was enjoying this. He put his arm on the cold floor and managed to push his body back up into his kneeling position. The blood flowed to his lips, staining them red.

"This cannot be! I am the most powerful wizard! No one can beat me!" The Dark Lord ignored the woman and continued raging. "Malfoy!" The blond man stepped forward, stumbling slightly.

Severus looked at his friend, and Lucius gave him a confused look.

"Wha . . . What do you need, my lord?"

"I need to know which children will be born at the end of July or an estimate around that time."

"It will be done. C-can I ask why, my lord?" Lucius said as he bowed deeply and moved his hand to order the task to others in the background. Two death eaters left the room.

"Severus got important information. Someone who is merely a baby now will have the strength to vanquish my power and end my reign!" The Dark Lord pointed at Severus and inhaled. "Your brother did me a great service. Now I can be prepared and exterminate the threat to us before it becomes problematic. I am proud you are one of us, Severus."

Though his pain made it less enjoyable, for the first time in decades, he felt satisfied and proud of himself. Now he was useful and earned the right to be respected. He was important and had a place to belong.

"Thank you, my lord. My wish is to serve."

"Come with me, Severus. I want to talk privately with you."

The Dark Lord's arm extended, inviting him as if he was the most privileged and important man in the room. With a bow of courtesy, Severus followed his silent steps to the oak door that led to the private room.

The room was dim with only the fire in the fireplace illuminating it. There was a polished desk and a fine armchair made of leather where the Dark Lord sat. The semi-human entwined his fingers and his posture relaxed the most Severus had ever seen it do.

He also found himself more at ease in the room. He could breathe better here since there was no one there seeking to backstab him.

"This won you my favor, Severus. Be sure of it." The Dark Lord told him after a long silence. "I know you wanted this, but you needed to prove yourself for me and the others. You are so like me that I was waiting for this moment. I'm proud of you, my friend."

"Despite the circumstances that made me reach your favor, I have to say thank you, my lord."

"The prophecy was incomplete, right, Severus?"

"I fear so, my lord. I was caught before hearing it all. I am sorry."

"You gave me a value advantage here. We will kill this obstacle and the problem will be solved." The man rose from the chair. "I want you to continue as a spy, and if you get in Hogwarts, stay there. Any information I get regarding the situation and Albus Dumbledore is appreciated."

"As you desire, my lord," Severus replied. He was unsure if Dumbledore would request his presence again. He probably already knew that he heard the prophecy.

"For now, I want you in a safe position. You could insinuate yourself in his circle and learn more about this prophecy if it's needed." Severus nodded and a soft knock reached their ears. "Enter!"

He stepped to a side when he felt the door opening and the force of the Dark Lord's anger.

"My lord, we have news." Avery said at his back, his words almost muffled by his quick breath.

"Speak."

"We found two families that fight against you that will have boys born at the end of July. One from the Longbottom family and the other from the Potters."

Severus legs shook and his eyes opened slightly wider than usual but not enough for anyone to notice anything odd. That couldn't be. He dared to look at the Dark Lord as he felt his chest tighten.

"Longbottom is pureblood. But the Potter's . . . Severus, the mother is a mudblood, right?"

His lips parted and his hands threatened to shake. Lily...Lily's kid…

"Y-yes my lord." No. This couldn't be happening.

"We found our target. Avery, inform the rest and start gathering information on the Potter's whereabouts." The man bowed and exited the room, leaving him and the Dark Lord. He wanted to escape right now before he fainted. "It must be him, Severus. He is like us, like me, a Half blood. If anyone has the power to do that, it must be someone like me."

Severus's stomach lurched. Sweat concentrated on the back of his neck, making his hair stick to the skin there. Lily . . . If he marked the Potter's kid as his enemy Lily was in danger. And because of him. He needed to...he couldn't...do something.

"M-my lord...are you sure?"

"You doubt my reasoning, Severus?" the Dark Lord said menacingly.

"It's not that…I" His voice failed. His defenses were falling and crumbling. This wasn't good for him and Lily was going to die. He knew the Dark Lord couldn't be stopped. He was too powerful. "The woman...the mother. I…" He fell to his knees. "Please, my lord, is there a way to spare her life?" He finally asked, knowing that the man he had in front of him never did favors for people. After what he did, asking and risking his life for her was worth it.

"She was your toy?"

He felt a shiver mapping his back. He couldn't tell him he was in love with a mudblood. It would be his death. He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm but he knew that the Dark Lord could smell his fear.

"I-I know she is not a pure witch but she was special, and I liked to torment her husband."

Merlin, if the Dark Lord used legilimency now…

"I see...I understand. The guilty pleasure of the forbidden." The Dark Lord smiled warmly to him and his lips parted. "Don't be afraid, Severus. Many of your brothers are guilty of the same mistakes, but you know I must kill the child."

"Of course, my lord. I would never assume otherwise," he replied fast and with no fear for the first time. "I just wanted to know if your eminency could spare the mother. I know it's an egoist plea, my lord, but she is the only one I've ever felt . . . desire for."

The Dark Lord was surely enjoying this. He had a curved smile and eyed him with interest.

"If the mother doesn't get in my way, I have no reason to kill her. She is a mudblood of course and only for that she should die, but sparing her is a simple reward for your good services," he finally said after more moments of torturing silence.

Severus took a deep breath and moved into a deep bow. He couldn't believe that the Dark Lord accepted his request. He never did that with other Death Eaters.

"That's the only thing I could ask, my lord."

"Then don't worry, Severus, you will have your toy back. Now, please leave. I need to prepare this attack with the utmost care. I know the woman won't be a problem since she is a mudblood, but her being a part of that damnable Order of Phoenix will complicate things."

"You can count on us, my lord." He stood but his head was still bowed. The tenseness in his body was dissipating since his lord promised to spare the life of the woman he loved. He looked one last time at the wizard before he left the room.

Minutes later he was outside and at a place where he could control his mind and emotions once again. A place he could let them show without fear.

It was only when he reached his dirty home that he let his body collapse. His barrier, the perfect mask of composure fell, and his body shook as if he were in the middle of winter with no protection from the cold. His throat was tight and burned. Hot tears fell from his eyes. He bit his lip, tasting the blood already there and creating new blood with his own teeth. He'd been happy that she'd been spared, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized the request had been futile. Not because he thought the Dark Lord wouldn't keep his word, but because Lily would not let him.


AN: And his doom begins along with another change of his life and mind. I have to say that I did this immediately after Severus heard the prophecy because, why would he wait? He has juicy information for his master and he is desperate to connect with something. To find his place. So it made sense to me to be this way. Anyway, let me know what you think on this chapter, and see you in two weeks!

PS: I'm going to start posting both versions on Saturday :*