Chapter 21
Consequences
Professor Snape often had a difficult time mastering sleep, and it wasn't from lack of need, it was from his inability to quell a restless mind.
Knowing that there was to be a meeting always prevented him from finding sleep and this was no different an occasion.
"If Lucius expects this to be interesting, that means that he foresees blood will be shed," he thought to himself.
His black eyes stared at the amber liquid as he swirled the firewhiskey around in his glass.
It was not uncommon for certain members to be aware of meetings before the fold was called and this was especially true of Severus. The Dark Lord found a way of alerting him so that he would be able to make a discrete escape from the castle. While the Dark Lord knew that the fool Dumbledore trusted Snape, he did not believe it necessary for Dumbledore to know how many times Snape was actually called.
Severus found it quite amusing in its own sick way. The Dark Lord thought he was the most intelligent of servitors, because he had been the only one to infultrate Dumbledore's trust and keep it. Of course, the Dark Lord knew that sacrifices had to be made for Snape to keep that trust and be useful. The opposite was also true for Dumbledore about Snape's usefulness as a spy for the order. He was a pawn. Albeit a very powerful pawn, but a pawn none the less.
"All started to protect the one thing that was almost instantaneously torn away from me," he thought, sourly. "Now for my own private revenge," he thought, dually.
It was empty, of course, because that revenge could not bring back the wife and child that the Dark Lord had murdered. No, it would forever remain that way, empty.
"Just like the dementors," he thought with an ascerbic mental laugh.
He downed the firewhiskey is one quick motion and the glass shattered into the fireplace, a most satisfying sound.
Staring at the fire, an odd thought passed through his mind, not very coherently, but it did surface. Something likening the dementors being found it groups to tormented people being found in groups. Although there was nothing there to say, especially in the case of the dementors, there must be some strange presence that draws them.
He scoffed, "Strange notion," as the thought fluttered away. His mind wandered back to the events of the day which caused a dark scowl to cross his face.
His bitter mood had been invariably taken out on Mr. Silver, although, to be true the boy deserved most of it.
Shaking his head, he recalled several things he had yelled that day, most in a tight succession:
"Mr. Silver, for Merlin's sake, elbows! You will certainly never become a Master if you don't follow my instruction."
"Fluidity of movement, Mr. Silver, if I have to tell you once more!"
At this point he distinctly remembered having visions of pulling the stirring utensil out of the boy's hand and beating him over the head with it he was so incensed. Was it so difficult to use your wrists and elbows when stirring?
Then…
"Mr. Silver, you will stir that potion over and over again until you do it right! If it takes hours, I refuse to watch you stir a cauldron like a small ten year old boy! I refuse to teach you anything further until you correct your technique."
Hours and many harsh comments later…
"You are dismissed, and if I ever see you stir a potion like that again you will be stirring the thickest brew I can concoct for 24 hours straight!"
Coming back out of the recollection, he pinched the bridge of his nose in aggitation. It had been a trying day and promised to be a trying night. Classes started up again in 36 hours and his Dark Mark had not yet burned black. It would soon…
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It was a familiar dank, musty smell that cut through his nostrils in the cold air. He quickly glanced around himself at the others. Black robes of over fifty men, and perhaps some women like Bella, and he knew that the Dark Lord had called all of his Death Eaters.
Nobody spoke, at least nobody spoke who was closest to him in the circle and behind. No one in the Dark Lord's inner circle would ever speak, because they were well aware of the consequences.
His sharp, black eyes focused forward to the middle of the circle where the Dark Lord was already talking to somebody. He scanned the circle for the missing spots…
Lucius. The Dark Lord was speaking to Malfoy.
He would be soon, perhaps next, to give his report.
However, that did not happen.
The red eyes of the Dark Lord found him as he looked away from Lucius, who was still speaking to his Master.
The muscles in his torso tightened, his jaw set tightly. His eyes didn't leave the two figures talking.
In a moment, Lucius was sent away with a backward wave of the Dark Lord's hand, as he was still staring the other direction at Severus.
Taking a step forward, the Dark Lord said in his hissing voice, "Lucius had something quite interesting to report, Severus."
Severus did not bother to respond, there was no need.
"Come forward, Severus."
He stepped out of his place and stopped a few feet from the Dark Lord, offering a substantial, but curt, bow.
Severus didn't move as the inhuman form circled him, calculating in a way. And Severus knew why it was that Lucius had said that it would be interesting. It would be his blood that would be shed. His blood would be shed because Lucius had seen it as his place to inform the Dark Lord that the Potions Master, who had sworn never to take an apprentice, had indeed taken on an apprentice.
It would be too late now to say anything, it would appear to be guilty in manner, so he remained silent, waiting for the Dark Lord to make his accusation.
"One of my most useful Death Eaters," he began, tapping his fingers together. "Your skill is unmatched, my Potions Master. Tell me, Severus, why have you not seen fit to tell me that you have taken an apprentice?"
The Dark Lord stopped in front of him, his red eyes narrowing, sharp breaths coming from his slit-like nose.
"I did not find it consequential, my lord," he answered, bowing his head. He knew he would not get by unscathed, but appearing calm was the key to appeasing the Dark Lord's razor temper and getting by with a less severe punishment.
"You did not find it consequential," the man yelled, pulling out his wand. He put it up against Severus' chest.
Severus did not move or flinch.
"Crucio!"
Severus' lip twitched with pain yearning to be released, it curled to reveal his clenched teeth. His hands balled up into fists. Moments later his arms pulled in towards his chest and stomach.
The snake-like man released the curse with an amused laugh, followed by minutes of silence.
"You, who had sworn that no one was worth your time to apprentice, who had no desire to have an apprentice, have finally found someone worthy of apprenticing and did not see fit to tell your Master?"
Severus evenly said, "Perhaps I was in error."
"Crucio!" he hissed once more, angrily.
Two long minutes later, it was over. Severus took a breath through his nose, and licked the blood off his lips.
The Dark Lord stood next to him, his face close, "You always were a defiant one, Severus, a strong one. You never scream." He paused, "Is this boy you apprenticed of pure blood?"
Scoffing, Severus said, "Of course, my lord."
"What is his name?"
"Silver, Osiris Silver." He said, thinking that he must be careful with what he chose to say if he was to keep his apprentice out of this.
"Silver?" He hissed, the question he was asking quite obvious to Severus.
"Illegitimate perhaps," he answered, "An unfavored union. Disowned. It is not known. But, a pureblood none the less. He went to Scyon Academy."
"And the purity tests, how many generations?"
Severus growled, "More than Malfoy," chancing a dark glare at the man.
"Interesting, my servant, and is he worthy of your tutelage?"
"No, but he will be."
"No? He must have substantial talent for you to apprentice him."
"He is headstrong, but talented."
The Dark Lord nodded in understanding, "Requires a strong hand."
"Yes, my lord," he answered, his face blank.
"And is he sympathetic?"
Severus scowled, "A delicate matter, master, as I have not wanted to raise suspicions. Especially right under that Old Fool's nose. The boy is neutral as I can tell. He does not care for muggles, nor does he care for the purebloods who persecuted him because he does not know his lineage."
"Neutral!" he hissed.
Bowing his head slightly, "It is a matter I am seeing to, master."
"Crucio!"
Severus growled inwardly after the moments passed and his limbs began shaking. He fell onto one knee on the ground, one hand bracing him. He pulled his chin down to his chest as the pain nearly became unbearable. His breathing became labored and blood came up as he exhaled and inhaled fast and forcefully.
When it lifted, Severus brought a black gloved hand to his lips and wiped his face. Slowly, and unsteadily, he stood back up.
The Dark Lord circled him once more.
Severus was grateful that he could not see the sweat that was dribbling down his back.
"I cannot pass up the opportunity to have another skilled at potions, Severus. You will bring this boy to me. Perhaps I will convince him. You will bring this boy to me by whatever means necessary or it will be your death."
"Yes, my lord," he answered.
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Osiris woke early, as was his custom, and meditated as he had been taught during his Rite of Passage.
Around 6:30 am, he wandered down the stairs, pushing the sleeves up on his shirt. Strangely, Professor Snape didn't seem to be awake yet.
Thinking that perhaps the man was already awake and working in the lab, he made his way down there. He smelled nothing being brewed before he even opened the door. Feeling something was a bit odd, he walked further into the room and looked around to see if the Professor had worked on anything the night before after he had gone to sleep.
There was a piece of parchment on the table.
Mr. Silver,
I shall be gone on business. Should I not return by early Monday morning, return to Hogwarts without me and tell the headmaster that I have gone. Continue working on testing those ingredients for the antidote and provide detailed notes of what occurred. I expect samples when I return.
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Severus woke up with the taste of blood and grass in his mouth. He rolled over onto his back and exhaled suddenly as fresh waves of pain crashed through his body. He coughed and the blood was salty in his mouth. His stomach wrenched, but he held it.
The moon was already on its way down in the sky, telling him that it was very late Sunday night, or early Monday morning, depending upon how he looked at it.
He scoffed at his own idiocy. It didn't matter.
Mentally, he took inventory of his situation. He'd been in worse, much worse. Blood, there was a good amount of blood. Nothing felt as if it was still bleeding. A good sign.
"Bloody hell," he said out loud to no one. He'd be hard pressed to apparate in this condition.
Frowning, he tried to remember how he had gotten to this state. The Dark Lord must have carried on after he had passed out with many curses.
He should have anticipated this, expected this. Anything which could be construed as hiding something was an offense easily punishable by death. The Dark Lord was naturally always suspicious about him because of his position supposedly spying on Dumbledore. He needn't feed that suspicion any more.
He was useful, but he wasn't useful enough to be worth the risk if the Dark Lord got any inkling that Severus wasn't loyal.
Severus had seen it in those red eyes. There was doubt.
He should never have apprenticed the boy. It could turn out to be a fatal mistake. He could not ask him to do this. He would not ask him to do this.
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Osiris was in the library off the main foyer, pretending, even to himself, that he was reading a book. It was 3:30 in the morning and the Professor had not yet returned. He was waiting, but reluctant to admit it to himself.
Something bothered him. Lucius Malfoy. Business. The situation his Professor kept referring to. A good reason for why he had to obey immediately. How he was gone, in the middle of the night. It was strange.
The second he heard the door handle, Osiris was up and out of his seat, running out of the library. Not caring if he looked absolutely ridiculous.
He made it to the foyer in time to see Professor Snape collapse like a dead weight the second he made it through the door.
Not breaking his speed, Osiris kept running forward, until he dropped onto his knees. He skidded to a stop at the Professor's side.
He turned the man over onto his back carefully, pulling back slightly at the sight of the blood.
"Sir!"
Taking a deep breath he felt the side of the man's neck. He let the breath out when he felt the thumping against his fingers.
"Professor…Professor Snape," he said shaking him with one hand by the shoulder.
No response.
He touched the man's face with a finger, trying something to wake him.
"Severus…Professor…" he said, trying again.
With one hand he wiped the sweat off his own forehead. With the other he pulled out his wand.
"Regeneas," he cast, carefully. Then another healing spell.
He needed help. He turned around as if he was going to get an answer by looking towards the nearest floo.
Suddenly, the Professor grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down by his face.
His voice raspy and weathered, he said, "It is not safe for you here, Mr. Silver." He took a breath. "You must go."
"Sir, I can't leave you here. Not like this. Let me-."
The man shook him by the collar, "No, Mr. Silver, obey me in this." He reached his free hand under the collar of his robe and pulled out a chain with something on it. "Take this. It will allow you to floo directly to the headmaster's office." He took another breath. "He will know what to do."
Osiris nodded and began taking the chain off.
"Rip it, and go. Now." He said.
Osiris looked at his Professor's dark eyes, which were dialated to different sizes, and knew this was serious.
"Yes, sir," he answered.
The man nodded affirmatively and closed his eyes. He had ensured that the boy would go and now he would wait.
Cringing, Osiris yanked and the chain came off in his hand.
With one look backward, he ran to the library to floo out.
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A/N
No more chappies until you all send some reviews. So if you want em, ask for em and tell me what you like/didn't like about the chapter.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW ( I generally check out your stuff if you review.smile.)
Even tho reviewing was down for 2 days, I've gotten like 5 reviews since I started posting again. This is the third chapter and things are heating up in the fic now so I need to know if you all like it and what you think. Your responses do help me write the next chapters as I try to address certain things. It helps me to know what you want to know and don't want to know.
Oihane – Thanks for all the wishes and for reviewing both new chapters. That was great since reviews were down for two days. I am glad you like Lucius, he will make another appearance soon and interact with Osiris. Perhaps Osiris will get a little revenge…Perhaps…Thanks for likeing my snape so much, that's very important to me…keeping him in character. Sage is not being abandoned but it is too hard to write them at the same time. So… sorry.
Maggie – It must be nice to be out of school! I hate it when things get in the way of my computer time, and my fanfic reading time. Sage won't be abandoned but is on hold while I finish this one. I may do a chapter here and there but no promises.
Silver to Crimson – How about updating your fic, lol? J/K. You sensed plot bunnies? There were plot bunnies. Did you pick up on any specific ones? Thanks for saying tha tmy fic has some depth. That is sometimes hard to find! Maybe I will talk to you on MSN soon.