"So what do I need for this immortality thing?" Severus asked, swirling his glass of wine absently. It was late, Voldemort had been reading for the last hour and Severus had been gazing into the fire, lost in his own thoughts.
The Dark Lord looked up, an amused expression on his face. "'This immortality thing'?" Voldemort quoted questioningly. "Well, you've brewed all the potions for it before, pretty much, so you should know."
"Serpens Cordial I expect then," Severus said, groaning. "I hated making that potion."
"To begin with, it will make matters easier." Voldemort paused. "You don't need Horcrux's. I've found another way. Merlin knows I wish I'd found it earlier in my life... May have saved a few problems... Though it does still have its risks..."
Severus sat up straight. "What is it?"
"A series of spells."
"You're being vague."
Voldemort chuckled. "Yes, I am. Just start with the Serpens Cordial, that bit is done then. You'll be able to speak to Nagini. She'll appreciate your sense of humour." He smirked knowingly. "You will be so much more like me. You will understand my love of the creatures, and you will see how it will help you. This magic," he tapped the book he was reading. "Was created by Salazar himself. His death was imminent by the time he learned of this magic, and I think generations of my ancestors have tried to work out how to do it... But I will be the first to succeed, since I am the most powerful."
Severus nodded. "I shall take your word for it." He stood up, and stretched. "I shall begin the potion in the morning." He moved towards Voldemort and planted a kiss on the top of his head. "I'm going to bed."
"Be there soon," Voldemort responded, but he had returned to his book, and Severus knew Voldemort would lose track of time – as usual.
Severus was surprised as he started to drift off to sleep to feel Voldemort getting into bed next to him, and slide an arm around him. "Meeting tomorrow night, by the way," he said softly, kissing Severus's neck gently, before laying down beside his husband, wondering for a second if Severus was even still awake to hear him. With a smile for his lover, Voldemort allowed sleep to take him.
x-x
The meeting had finally come to a close, but the Dark Lord had requested to speak with several people alone before they departed for the night. Lucius, Bellatrix and Rodolphus were included, along with several other lesser members of the Death Eaters. Severus had remained talking to Lucius for a while, until Voldemort called Lucius over, having finished with the group of younger men, which Severus now noticed had included Cecil. Except Cecil wasn't leaving with the rest of them, he was heading straight towards Severus.
"Sir," he said as a greeting, bowing deeply.
"Cecil," Severus responded, his tone cools. "Is there a problem?"
The lad shifted slightly, moving his weight onto his other foot. "Sort of," Cecil mumbled, his face tinged with pink. Severus looked hastily over to Voldemort, who of course wasn't paying him any attention since he had now moved on to speak to Bellatrix. He scowled, looking back to Cecil in annoyance. The boy didn't seem to have noticed.
"Well, the Dark Lord is willing to answer any questions you may have regarding your missions," Severus said, seriously hoping that this problem was work related.
Cecil swallowed his gaze on Severus. "It's not... That..." Cecil replied, his voice shaking. "I think... That is, I know... That..."
Severus glanced back to Voldemort in discomfort. Damn Bellatrix, why did she always pick the worst moments to distract his husband?
"I love you."
When Severus looked back, Cecil was staring directly at him, his cheeks flaming red. Severus cursed, before grabbing Cecil by the arm and leading him further away from Voldemort. "Are you mad?" Severus hissed angrily. "Is it your wish to be slowly and painfully killed?"
"I had to tell you!" Cecil said indignantly. "I had to! I hate the way he treats you, how he ignores you and flirts with Lestrange!" His face was still flushed, but he seemed to be slightly angry now.
"That," Severus snarled, but he wasn't angry with Cecil, he was scared for him. "Is treason. Do you have any idea what happens to those who speak against the Dark Lord?" Suddenly, he noticed that the colour in Cecil's cheeks faded, and his eyes widened, looking at something over Severus's shoulder. He took a step backwards, but hit the wall, and then he appeared to be too terrified to move. Severus shut his eyes for a moment, knowing that Voldemort was stood behind him, furious.
"He will soon enough," that dark, velvety voice said, and Severus could hear it pulsating angrily. Slowly, he turned around, facing his husband, but at the same time stepping back and spreading his arms out, protective of Cecil. It wasn't the boys fault. He didn't understand. Severus could see Bellatrix stood behind Voldemort, fairly close, her wand drawn. Lucius and Rodolphus were stood back, but Severus could see Rodolphus's hand resting on his wand holder.
Voldemort's eyes widened, and that playful smirk Severus had leant to be wary of appeared on his lips. "Defending him?" he inquired, in a sarcastically shocked voice.
"He cannot help his feelings," Severus replied quietly, his tone pleading but still maintaining a certain firmness about it.
"No," Voldemort agreed. "But I will not allow to be spoken about in such a way." His eyes were like ice, staring at Severus, his eyebrow raised as if daring Severus to speak again.
"Love such as this is enough to drive anyone crazy. I know this only too well," Severus said in a low voice, stepped forwards now, reaching out his hand to Voldemort who merely took a step back from his husband.
"Feel free to try to run away with him," Voldemort snarled, and Severus could hear a slight tone of jealousy in his voice.
"I do not want to run away with him, I just want you to show some leniency for once!"
There was silence in the room now, and Severus regretted saying that. He swallowed nervously, and Voldemort's eyes were dancing in fury now.
"What," Voldemort murmured, stepping back towards Severus now, and speaking very quietly. "And allow him to stay in my ranks? When he clearly feels animosity for me?" He reached out, and ran a long finger down Severus's cheek, very gently. "Do you suppose me to be an idiot?" he asked.
"Please don't kill him," Severus said anxiously, leaning in to the touch. "I won't hesitate to defend him."
Voldemort pulled back, his hand reaching for Severus's wrist and grabbing hold of it very tightly, his eyes flashing. He wrenched it upwards, holding it into the light so that they both could see it. "Look at that ring!" he snarled. "Look at it!"
Terror rising in him, Severus did as he was told. His bond ring was shining brightly in the light, beautiful as ever. He sucked in a lungful of air, holding his breath nervously.
"You swore you would obey me," Voldemort hissed, "You are mine! You will do as I command!" Voldemort released his hold on his husband, fury clear on his face still. Severus fell back, panting slightly, before taking another step backwards to Cecil, and standing up straight. He pulled out his wand, his hands shaking.
"I am my own person too," Severus shouted back. "You forget this! You always have! I am not a Death Eater; you will remember that you removed my mark." The room was silent now, and he noticed that Bellatrix had retreated somewhat, and even she looked nervous. "I am not your mindless servant any more, I am your husband and your consort, and you would do well to remember that." Severus felt a twinge of pain at the front of his head, and he knew it was the bonds way of informing him that he was still not equal to the Dark Lord.
Voldemort stared at him for a moment after this outburst, before his face broke into a smile. Severus scowled; he knew this reaction was not a good one. Voldemort knew it infuriated him. He pulled out his wand, and aimed it towards Severus, who mirrored the action. "You know I will win," Voldemort murmured.
"I don't want to do this," Severus whispered. "I love you."
"Fine." Voldemort lowered his wand, stepping back towards Severus. "If I raised my wand to him now, you would jump to defend him?" he asked coolly. Severus wasn't entirely sure where this was going.
"Yes," he replied, his eyes narrowed.
"Even though that is openly defying me?"
"Yes." The pain in his head flared considerably, but Severus ignored it.
"Even though that is openly defying our bond, the one that you signed, sacrificed blood and swore an oath too?" Voldemort's eyes were wide, staring and mocking.
Severus fell silent, and he knew he was defeated. He dropped his gaze down to the ground. The pain in his head vanished as suddenly as it came.
"Didn't think so," Voldemort commented dryly, but he wasn't smirking or at all amused any more. "Lucius," he said, spinning round. "If this case were to be taken to the Ministry, what would be the resulting sentence?"
Lucius swallowed, looking to Severus who was staring at his friend encouragingly. Lucius shook his head, looking back to Voldemort. "It would be a serious sentence, my Lord," he said quietly.
Voldemort turned back to Severus. "I cannot allow this sort of thing to be said. There needs to be strong discipline in my ranks." Slowly, he pushed Severus aside, and raised his wand at Cecil, who had slumped down against the wall on the floor, plainly too terrified to move.
"Please don't kill him," Severus said, pleadingly, dropping to his knees. "Please... Master..."
Voldemort ignored him. He spoke the two lethal words, and the green light his Cecil square in the chest. Severus shut his eyes, sitting back on his heels. "Dispose of the body," he ordered across the room, probably to Rodolphus. Severus was unaware of anything happening around him, except for Voldemort crouching in front of him.
"What pains me most is that if someone said those things about you to me, I would not hesitate to kill them in your honour," Voldemort said in a whisper.
Severus opened his eyes, looking into Voldemort's. "That is where we differ."
"Apparently so," Voldemort replied, and there was a smile on his lips. Severus didn't care.
"I won't forgive you for this," Severus murmured, staring at Voldemort.
"No, I didn't think you would." Voldemort paused, and Severus could see a tinge of sadness in his eyes. "But consider yourself in my position. I cannot afford to be lenient at this time, where everything is still so uncertain." Voldemort leant forward, and pressed a gentle kiss against Severus's forehead, all anger gone. "I love you." The Dark Lord stood up, and stepped back from Severus as the younger man didn't reply or move. He turned on his heel, his robes creating a wave of air that hit Severus in the face. He looked up. Bellatrix was following Voldemort eagerly from the room, Rodolphus just behind her, and Lucius seemed to exceptionally torn. He looked towards Severus, about to go to him when Severus held a hand out.
"No." Lucius stopped in his tracks, confused and Severus stood up, his wand drawn again. "Go with him. You chose your side."
"Severus, I-"
"Go!" Severus screamed angrily.
Lucius did as he was told, hastily walking from the room. Severus looked to the door as Lucius left, and Voldemort was stood, staring in at his husband. Severus raised his wand, aiming for the doorway. The light that left his wand headed in Voldemort's direction, but instead of hitting him, as Severus very much wanted to do, it hit the door, and slammed it shut with a resounding bang.
"And stay the hell out of my head tonight," Severus said mentally to Voldemort, letting him see that he was furious still.
"I will if I want to," Voldemort replied nastily.
"And! I know for a fact that Bellatrix has said things about me to you, yet she's still alive. The fact is, you could never bring yourself to kill her, you'd miss fucking her!"
Severus hissed angrily as the connection was broken off abruptly by Voldemort. He wasn't surprised, that had been a cheap shot. The pain in his head had returned, though only as a slight throb, nagging and annoying.
Suddenly his raised his wand, throwing a silent spell across the room and watching in satisfaction as the intricate mirrors smashed and fell to the ground noisily. He continued, whirling around the room, breaking everything he could in an attempt to curb his anger. The two golden statues by the door were broken, even the two huge thrones that sat on the granite dais were destroyed. Severus didn't care; he needed to vent this fury somehow.
It wasn't that he felt anything for Cecil. He honestly didn't. The fact he was dead didn't make that much difference to him. The fact that Voldemort had killed the boy because he felt love and didn't know how to handle it was the thing that annoyed him. The Dark Lord was meant to be a different man now those Horcrux's were destroyed, he was meant to have understood love since he now felt it for Severus.
He had never, Severus realised, felt unrequited love. He didn't think that Cecil was old enough to love either. The sad thing was, Voldemort always got what he wanted. He was very much in charge of everything. He would never experience the kind of pain that Cecil had, the kind of pain that Severus had for all of those years before and during Voldemort demise, and for the short time after it. Voldemort wouldn't understand how Severus had felt for most of his life, like Cecil did.
Severus hadn't been defending Cecil, though. He'd been defending himself. Voldemort thought loving someone who didn't love them back was stupid, which surely meant Voldemort thought that he, Severus, was foolish too. The anger scorched through him once more.
"I HATE YOU!" Severus screamed, looking at the ceiling as if he was talking directly to Voldemort. "I WISH I'D NEVER MET YOU!"
Exhaustion took over him, and Severus found himself falling to his knees, his cheeks wet with tears. The problem was - that wasn't true. He loved Voldemort more than ever. He missed his presence already, that mocking smirk, those dazzling red eyes, the feel of an arm around him and the hand in his hair.
And that gorgeous smile that was reserved just for Severus.
Severus fainted.
x-x
Voldemort slammed Severus roughly against the wall, a smirk present on his features. His hands wondered down the side of Severus's body, slipping under his deep green silk shirt, pressing around his torso. Voldemort removed his fingers, digging his nails in, leaving behind a trail of red marks in his wake. Severus gasped sharply at the feeling, exhaling his breath slowly. "You're killing me," he murmured, resting his head on his husbands shoulder.
"If I were killing you, I would do this instead," Voldemort responded with a dark chuckle, moving his hand to cup Severus's erection. Severus moaned loudly; hips thrusting wildly to gain just a bit more friction. The Dark Lord pulled his hand away, returning back to the warmth of Severus's flesh; moving back to devour Severus's lips with his own. The moaning continued into his mouth, and even though it was only Severus out of control, Voldemort was fighting not to turn Severus around and make love to him just yet. He needed to be in control, and he certainly didn't want Severus to know how he felt at that precise moment.
"How much do you want me?" Voldemort hissed, as the kiss broke and Severus returned his head to lean on the Dark Lord's shoulder.
"More than words describe," Severus replied, his breathing shallow and uneven.
"You'll have to try if you want it," Voldemort replied quietly, his words taunting, a smug smile on his lips. "You'll have to show me."
Severus pulled back, dropping forwards to kiss the Dark Lord once more. Voldemort bit Severus's lip sharply as a reminder that he had a job to be doing. Pulling away hastily, Severus ran his tongue over his lip, the tangy taste of blood present once more, and dropped down to his knees, his gaze still fixed on his Master's. "Please..." he murmured. Voldemort merely raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Please what?" he mocked.
Severus glanced at the bulge just in front of his face, and shifted slightly closer. "Please may I suck your cock?"
Voldemort nodded silently, his hand finding Severus's hair, slowly tangling his fingers within it, coaxing Severus forwards. Severus slowly reach up to unbutton the black trousers ahead of him, and slowly, he pulled out his husband's erection.
A few moments of sucking was enough for the Dark Lord, they hadn't had a sexual encounter for a couple of weeks, and Voldemort could feel his orgasm approaching. He moaned loudly, his hands tugging at Severus's hair, spurring him on.
Severus felt the grip on his hair loosen slightly. He thought it was because Voldemort was ready to come, though he didn't want it to happen just yet... He pulled away, expecting to hear a sound of disappointment but he didn't. Voldemort was panting, but definitely not in a sexual way. He reached out and grabbed the edge of the bed, but he still fell and hit the ground, his head landing very close to Severus's knees.
"Voldemort?" Severus murmured, leaning over him, shaking his shoulders. He reached for his wand, casting several spells to wake him. Nothing happened. The panic rose inside of him as he suddenly noticed Voldemort wasn't breathing. "Voldemort! Love, please..." He picked Voldemort up, cradling his head in his hands, on his lap. "Wake up!" Severus cried, feeling tears running down his cheeks. "Master... Wake up! I can't go out without you!" he screamed, feeling grief, pain and complete terror. "Wake up, Master... You're immortal, wake up!" ––
Severus sat up, cold sweat on his brow, shaking, breathing heavily. He realised that he was still in the ball room, the sun had now set and it was pitch black apart from the moon.
"Just a dream!" he told himself. "Just a stupid dream." Shivering, he stood up, and pulled his cloak around himself. The throne room was completely destroyed. He rubbed his cheek, surprised to find it wet with tears, like there had been in the dream.
Except this wasn't a normal dream. Severus had never seen Voldemort dead before; he'd always woken up before then. He was, for the first time, frightened. What if it meant that Voldemort truly was dead? He tentatively reached out his mind to Voldemort's, but the connection was closed. Did that mean Voldemort was blocking him, or did it mean something worse?
Severus suddenly found himself running up the staircase to their bedroom. He couldn't remember how he'd got there, but he was there, that was all that mattered. The lights were off, Voldemort was in bed. Severus jumped onto the bed. "Voldemort!" he said loudly, shaking the Dark Lord. Voldemort turned over.
"What?" he snapped, glaring at Severus. He didn't appear to have gone to sleep yet.
"I had a dream again, you were dead in it, I needed to make sure..." He trailed off, suddenly feeling exceptionally stupid. Voldemort sat up, flicking his wand. A couple of candles lit up in the corner of the room, soft, flickering light illuminating them. An expression of concern reached Voldemort's previously cold face and he reached out to the side of Severus's head.
"You're bleeding."
"I am?"
"Or have been - it's dried up a bit." Voldemort paused, looking at Severus in concern again. "Wait here." He stood up and walked into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a potion and a cloth. "What happened?" Voldemort asked, pouring a bit of the potion onto the cloth.
"I fainted... I think..." Severus winced as Voldemort began dabbing at the wound on the side of his head. "I was angry. I'm afraid you will be too when you see the throne room..."
"Relax," Voldemort murmured, feeling his husband tensing up as he spoke. "I'm not angry. Why did you faint?"
"It tired me," Severus replied, hissing as his wound stung some more. "I'm so weak now. My powers have diminished since I lost my memory."
"We'll find out what we need to do," Voldemort said, his voice comfortingly quiet. "We must. I can't have my precious husband like this anymore."
There was silence.
"This is the third one this week," Severus mumbled.
"Why haven't you told me about them?" Voldemort asked and his voice was bordering on angry.
"I don't like to worry you!" Severus replied defensively.
There was silence again.
"I..." Voldemort, for once, appeared to be lost for words. He sighed, seemingly angry with himself. "I think I was wrong earlier." He wrapped the dirty section of the cloth up, moving in closer to the wound to inspect it. "You must have cut yourself when you fell, your skulls still intact though." When Severus didn't reply, and instead stared at him, Voldemort sighed. "I would apologise if I thought it would make you love me again."
Severus rolled his eyes sarcastically and impatiently, and the gesture wasn't missed by Voldemort. "As if I could ever stop loving you."
"I am sorry anyway," Voldemort murmured, very softly. "I don't understand still though."
"Imagine if I didn't love you back," Severus replied, his voice slightly cool. "Remember, I've been in love with you since the day I first met you, when I was seventeen. I've been in love with the idea of you since I was fifteen."
"Are you angry about Cecil though?" Voldemort asked hesitantly.
"Not as much as I should be," Severus said.
With a small smile, Voldemort leant over and planted a gentle kiss on Severus's cheek. "I love you, Severus. Everything about you."
"I know," Severus replied and he was smiling. He reached towards Voldemort and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Please don't die."
"I will try," Voldemort said his voice warm. He put an arm around Severus, who yelped as a line of pain shot down his arm. Voldemort looked down, noticing a long row of rips running down the arm of Severus's robes. He caught Severus's gaze, who seemed to know that it was going to be nasty. "Robes off."
Severus did as he was told, hastily. The robe pooled to the floor, and there were random shards of glass sticking out from Severus's arm, surrounded by dried blood. "Severus!" Voldemort said his voice scolding.
"I didn't even feel it until you touched them!" Severus said hastily. He honestly hadn't felt a thing.
"You're in shock. It's alright," Voldemort replied soothingly, unwinding the cloth and waving his wand over it, cleansing it of previous blood. "This is going to sting though."
"Of course," Severus responded darkly. He yelped again as Voldemort quickly removed the first shard of glass, hastily covering it with the cloth. "What potion have you got there?"
"The one that sterilises and helps to clot the blood, you're not going to bleed to death, don't worry." Voldemort pulled out the next shard, liberally dousing it in the potion before applying the cloth. "That one was deep."
"I am capable of doing this myself," Severus muttered.
"You're still shaking," Voldemort pointed out, his tongue poking out in concentration.
Severus sighed. "I just want to go to sleep."
"You can, when I've removed bits of my throne room from your arm." He paused, yanking out the last shard. "Our throne room." He caught Severus's gaze for a moment with a small smile, in which Severus begrudgingly returned, before placing the last piece of glass onto the table, followed by the potion and the cloth. Voldemort turned back to Severus, tapping his arm with his wand. A sterile white bandage appeared, wrapping Severus's arm up snugly. At Severus's groan, Voldemort smirked. "Would you like one around your head too?"
Severus silenced immediately, standing up to remove his trousers and shoes. He slid into bed, doing his best to ignore Voldemort staring at him. "Stop staring."
Voldemort raised his hand, extinguishing the candles. He rolled onto his side, and despite himself, Severus did the same, facing his husband. "Am I forgiven?"
"I suppose," Severus replied. "Though I really want to be angry with you still."
"I thought I had lost you," Voldemort whispered after a moment of silence.
"You won't lose me. I'm yours. A thousand times over, I am yours." Severus reached out, one hand settling on his husband's waist, pulling him closer. This was only the second time he had ever had to offer Voldemort some sort of comfort.
"I wouldn't touch Bellatrix now."
"It was a cheap shot," Severus mumbled, his cheeks heating. "I trust you. I would trust you with my life."
Voldemort's hand moved to Severus's hair, stroking it gently. Severus smiled, closing his eyes. "What's happened to me?" Voldemort asked suddenly.
"You love me," Severus responded suddenly. "You've found something you've never experienced before."
The Dark Lord pressed a kiss against Severus's lips. "I promise I will never hurt you like that again," he murmured. Severus opened his eyes, and kissed Voldemort back.
"I promise I will tell you when I have another dream."
They stared sleepily at each other, both smiling, content for the moment.
x-x
Well, I read a really good HP/LV fic today which inspired me! So I've written this chapter in one day which might mean I've got my LV/SS mojo back!
Please, please review my pretties! It truthfully does make writing so much easier!
