Chapter Seven: Loyalties Lie
Breakfast the next morning was quiet, too quiet. Each order member who sat at the teachers table, sat with their heads hung in thought and sometime fear, as the minutes drew closer to an inevitable return. Very few managed to eat that morning and even fewer managed to actually indulge in conversation; the air was thick with fear.
The entire atmosphere that cold Tuesday morning made Severus blood boil. He was anxious enough without the melancholy attitude of others dampening his day even further. He needed normality to gather the strength he knew he needed for later on that day.
Severus' first class was his sixth year Gryffindor and Slytherins and the prospect of this only displeased Severus further. He hadn't the mental energy to contain a sense of normality and desperately needed to forego his normal nastiness and insults; that of course would ruin his feared image.
As the rabble of students stepped into his considerably bitter dungeon classroom all conversation ceased immediately when they saw the frown on their Professor's face, as he sat behind his desk glaring at them all, and tearing up paper for no plausible reason other than his foul mood.
"He seems in a lovely mood," whispered Albus sarcastically to Septima who sat down hurriedly beside him.
"I know, he does seem especially moody today."
"He's always moody Septima," corrected Albus before he pulled out his quill and the notes he needed for the day's lesson. "But just today excessively so."
Severus cocked his head towards the whispering pair and glared dangerously at Albus who shot him an apologetic look.
"It's like having your Father sat in my class all over again," snapped Severus who was still tearing up shards of paper in angst. "He too was too arrogant to listen and remain silent in my class. He too, though that he was so special that he needn't pay attention!"
"Without being rude Professor," replied Albus bravely, "the lesson hadn't actually started."
"The lesson starts, boy, the moment you step into my classroom. Ten points from Gryffindor for your exceeding arrogance and utter rudeness."
A bunch of Gryffindors sighed and Severus shot Septima a final look of dismay before standing to begin his lesson.
Throughout Severus' speech nobody dared to speak or even raise their hand to ask or answer a question, instead they all sat, hanging of his every word trying their hardest not to rile their already irate Professor.
…"so," concluded Snape, "the properties of a common healing potion are due to-" he was cut off as a burning pain ran wildly up and down his forearm and he hissed quietly at the pain. It was far worse than before and what's more, he wasn't due to be called until this evening. Severus hadn't realised but he had bent over slightly with the pain, clutching his arm tightly and mouthing quiet obscenities.
Septima quickly rose form her seat and approached her Father who looked to be in excruciating pain. She put her arm around his shoulder.
"Are you okay Dad?" she asked tenderly, hoping that he wouldn't scold her for such an ostentatious display of public affection.
"It's just a tweak in my arm, old Quidditch injury," he lied through clenched teeth.
"Do you want me to go and get Pomfrey?" she asked.
"No!" he snapped. "Just go and tell your Grandfather that I have had to leave Hogwarts early. Tell him to cover my class."
"I can't leave you Dad!" she protested.
Not caring for the rest of his classes thoughts, Severus straightened himself up despite the pain and kissed Septima on the forehead.
"I'll be fine," he lied, "just go and tell Albus, and tell your Mother I'll be home this evening."
Septima sprinted out of the classroom and Severus soon followed her leave, heading for his quarters to pick up his robes and mask.
… … …
As Severus left Hogwarts' grounds, he saw a blonde man not ten metres ahead of him touch his far arm and seemingly disappear into nothingness. With a large sigh, Severus copied the man's movements and soon found himself in the centre of a large crowd of hooded figures alongside Lucius, who looked petrified.
"And who are these two latecomers?" hissed a familiar voice from behind. Severus went to turn to face the source but felt Lucius' arm on his insisting that he stay facing forward.
The figure circled Severus and Lucius before coming to a halt before them. Though the holes in his mask Severus observed the Dark Lord's new form. He was no loner inhumane looking, and now a rather handsome young man with blonde flowing hair, the only familiar aspect of him was his red eyed and hissing voice.
Severus and Lucius bent down to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"My Lord," began Severus, "It is an honour to be here in your presence after all these years."
"Severus, somehow I doubt that you are so ecstatic to be here. Do you not wish you were at home with your Mudblood wife and children?"
"My desire is only to serve you Master," replied Severus carefully.
"Then why did you marry the woman whom sought it acceptable to fire a killing curse at me!"
"My Lord, I needed an heir and nobody else other than Granger would accept the job."
"You could have anybody Severus, any woman you desired."
"My Lord, after the war, pureblood women desired not for children and for me, but rather for their deceased husbands. I had no other option and Granger was willing."
"I understand your logic Severus," replied Voldemort casually. "However, you have your heir; you have two infact, so why do you continue to live with the woman?"
"She's a good fuck, master," answered Severus with a nasty grin. His heart sank at his words but he knew he had no other choice but to lie and deceive the man that stood before him so menacingly.
"Yes, I always thought that she might be," mused Voldemort before he turned to Lucius.
"And you, why did you not inform me that your Grandson was not the prophesized child?"
"I was going to my lord, but by the time I found out myself, you were already…dead."
"Temporarily hibernating, is the term I like to use Lucius."
"Yes My Lord."
"But Severus' kind daughter helped me awaken and young Draco provided her with the means to do so. How is my old friend Severus?"
Severus clenched his fists tightly before carefully answering. "Septima is well my Lord."
"I am very happy to hear that. Why have you not brought her here then Severus?"
"My daughter is far too young to accept the mark as you wish master."
"My sources tell me otherwise."
"How so?" asked Severus, his heat racing.
"Her prohibited use of a time turner has made her seventeen has it not?"
"Yes, my lord. But she is still not ready to join."
"Oh but she is-"
"No, My Lord, she is not!" interrupted a third voice from the crown as it stepped forward.
"Ah Marcia," hissed Voldemort to the new person in the centre of the crowd. "Why are you so concerned as to what happens to Severus' child?"
"Because My Lord, I want to see your success, and if you let a mere child into our ranks, who knows nothing of our idealisms, we will be hindered."
Severus eyed Marcia, warning her not to continue and to step back, as he sensed The Dark Lord's temper heightening.
Voldemort raised his wand ferociously and sent the Crucio curse flying at an unsuspecting Marcia, who then writhed on the floor in agony.
"Never, question my actions again Marcia Malfoy, otherwise your son and husband will pay the price."
"Yes My Lord" winced Marcia who struggled to get to her feet.
Severus wanted to intervene yet he couldn't. It was a helpless feeling.
Hermione paced up and down in her sitting room desperately waiting for Severus to arrive home. It was almost midnight and he had been gone for almost ten hours; this was especially long. Albus had told her that he was usually home after a couple of hours and even that was enough to break him. She could only imagine the state he was in now.
Suddenly there was a large bang on the front door and she rushed to it to answer.
"Severus!" she called, but soon realised it was not her husband at all.
"Hermione," panted Albus Potter. "It's Septima, you have to come quick!"
Not wasting time to ask what exactly was wrong, Hermione raced alongside Albus towards Gryffindor Tower. When they arrived there Septima was sat on the floor in the corner of the room shaking violently and staring into space. Hermione watched as Albus sat down beside her and placed a loving arm around her quivering shoulders.
"She's been like this for ages Hermione," began Albus, "just muttering things like 'get off him.'"
"Septima," began Hermione softly as she sat down in front of her daughter and took her face in her palms.
"Mum, they've got him. They're throwing unforgivables at him and Uncle Lucius and Draco."
Hermione's heart sank, she knew exactly what Septima was talking about but couldn't understand how she knew.
"I saw it Mum, in my dream. They had him and he was on the floor screaming and that man just carried on." She broke out into tears and Albus brought her into his chest.
"Septima," comforted Hermione as she stroked her hair. "It was just a dream."
"It seemed so real Mum. I want to see Dad, check he's okay."
"Your Dad's had to go to the hospital for his arm," lied Hermione, causing Albus to eye her suspiciously. "Come on, let's get you into bed."Hermione motioned to pull Septima up but Albus quickly swooped her up into his arms. Hermione smiled at him as she watched him carry Septima to her bed and lay her down softly.
From the doorway Hermione watched as her best friend's son placed a soft kiss of Septima's forehead. "I love you," he whispered to her sleeping form.
When Albus arrived back in the common room Hermione was sat on the rug in front of the fire.
"She doesn't know does she?" asked Albus as he sat down beside his Godmother.
"No."
"How could you not tell her Hermione?"
"How could I tell her? Tell her that her Father is a death eater."
"Was a Death Eater. Hermione, Severus is a good man and Septima loves him to bits."
"She wouldn't understand Albus. How could she?"
"She knows that Severus has a past, she just doesn't know what. To be honest, I think she imagines something much worse, so you'd be doing more harm than good keeping it from her."
"We all have our secrets," accused Hermione.
"You saw didn't you, just then."
"Albus your Father and I have known since you were two years old. You were meant to be."
"Then why can't I see Severus seeing it that way?" sighed Albus.
"Because he is her Father and the thought of another man with his daughter scares him."
"But I'd never hurt her, surely he knows that."
"He does. But she's his baby and he doesn't like the idea of her growing up or of him becoming a Grandad any time soon."
Albus blushed. "We haven't-"
"Whether you have or not isn't my business Albus, what is my business is that you make her happy. I love you both very much but don't want this relationship to ruin your friendship."
"It won't Hermione."
"Then good. But I also suggest you tell Severus before he finds out of someone else."
"I'll speak to Septima soon about that. See what she wants."
"Good man," said Hermione as she stood up.
"I must go anyway Albus, to wait for my husband."
Albus saw her eyes fill up with tears. "He's the most powerful wizard I know Hermione, he'll be fine."
"I hope so," whispered Hermione, "I hope so."
