Hey, readers. I'm currently a lot behind on Chapter 13, mostly because I had exams towards the end of last month, and I haven't been very motivated! But fear not, for here is a short little thing to keep you going until the update. Don't worry about that, either, because I'm already a little over 1k in. It'll be around soon, I promise. (Bear with me, I have a lot of important things due in school soon).

Interlude: Acolyte

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

To whom it may concern,

Severus Snape,

You have been formally chosen to become my Protégé. As I do not know how familiar you are with the culture of wizards due to your half blood, I will explain what that entails to you.

A Protégé is similar to what a Muggle military man would call his right hand; an aide-de-camp. I will train you in what I deem worthy to pass on—knowledge that no other will have access to unless they study it themselves. I hold Masteries in Transfiguration and Dark Arts, from the time when it was formally available to study, and I am also able to fly without a broom; a skill, as you know, that others do not possess.

I will teach you these things, making you a technical Master of three. It would do poorly if you refuse this offer so generously handed to you.

You may wonder what deems you worthy. You may ask, "Why have I been chosen, and not others?" The direct answer is one I will not disclose, but a fraction of it is that you have shown to me the purest ambition I have ever seen. Many in my ranks are looking for power, for glory, for money; but you. I thought you were one of the many looking to become more powerful at first, but I know. I saw the true reason. You wanted to better yourself.

Here is your chance.

Lord Voldemort.

Severus looked at James as he read the letter out loud. It was only a thin piece of parchment, with the Dark Lord's signature nearly burnt onto it. Although it didn't have any line to sign on, and this was more of a request rather than an offer, Severus felt that by saying "Yes", he was signing away his soul.

"Protégés aren't inherently bad, Severus," James said, noticing his discomfort. "He isn't making you an upgraded servant, if that's what your wondering. I think this is the closest to an equal you'd ever get with someone like him."

"So...someone on the side of Dumbledore or our third side could take one?"

"As long as you're a Master in something, then you can, yeah," James replied, taking the letter out of Severus's shaking hands and folding it back up. "When you finish your Potions Mastery, you can take one after a year, I think."

Severus thought about it for a moment, trying not to think of how he'd possibly be taught how to fly without a broom. He couldn't really fly with one in the first place. All he could do was fly in a straight line or circle. "I don't really want to do this, James. Well...part of me doesn't. Part of me knows that I should say no, but I can't. But..."

Severus waited for James to cut in, but James only waited patiently for him to finish. With a sigh, Severus continued, "But...part of me is...grateful that I can't say no. That I can't back out and slither away from such an...opportunity."

"The way I see it," James said, lightly putting his hand over Severus's, "Is that you get a lot of information, new experience, and ultimately get to further yourself. I sound like Lily when I say that, but it's true."

Severus nodded. "You're right...I just wish it wasn't with him."

"I know," James said. "I wish it wasn't, either. But you can do it, and we'll all back you, you know that."

"I know..." Severus said. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he was clay, being molded by Dumbledore and now Voldemort's hands.

Voldemort did wonder whether there were any famous sayings on molding the future with just his hand, or if he'd be the first to invent some. It didn't escape his notice that Dumbledore didn't put any initiative forward in claiming Severus Snape for his own, which, Voldemort was frankly slightly surprised at. The old man had a tendency for pitying those who looked like stray dogs in need of care, and if anyone was a stray, it was Severus Snape. As always, Voldemort saw himself at the forefront of progression.

How he did laugh at how he would teach the boy to fly.