Too Much Love Will Kill You

55 – Crime and punishment

Early December, on the first Saturday evening of the month, Severus was summoned by the Dark Lord. He knew the reason why. The matter of the young woman's pregnancy. He quickly went to his cabinet in his bedroom, pocketing vials of pain-killing potions and blood-replenishing potions, just in case things would go out of hand. One never knew with Voldemort. Death-Eaters never knew in which mood the Dark Lord was when he summoned them.

Severus made sure that his Love-Snakes ring was safely tucked under his garments. He put on his Death-Eater mask and cloak and Apparated directly from his quarters to wherever the Dark Lord was located, the Dark Mark acting like a portkey.

Once there, he took his bearings. An old house in the countryside. He entered the place. Curiously, it was guarded by only two low-rank Death-Eaters that recognized him and let him go inside.

Voldemort was sitting on a big armchair, on a dais, like a throne. His snake Nagini was coiled at his feet. Bellatrix Lestrange was sitting on the other side of the armchair, her hair petted as if she was a dog. Well, she was a bitch, in Severus' opinion. The ultimate bitch. Other Death-Eaters were there too, which he did not recognize under their masks. Only Lucius Malfoy dared appear without his mask, like the Potions Master and Bellatrix. He bowed deeply in front of the Dark Lord, as usual, hiding his thoughts deep down his mind.

"Here I am, Master. How can I be useful to you ?"

"You know perfectly well, Severus, that you had information to give me," replied the cold voice. "About that filthy Mudblood girl."

"She's pregnant, Master. Your plan succeeded."

"But her baby won't be delivered by Beltaine then ?"

Severus had anticipated that question. "No, according to my computations, she should deliver the baby a few days before Lughnasadh. Another magical date, Master."

"I know what and when Lughnasadh is, Severus !" Voldemort hissed. He was in a foul mood, which made Severus even more cautious. "Anyway, you'll bring her to me for Beltaine. Her child won't be born but I don't need it to be alive actually. Only its blood is important…" His red eyes narrowed on his spy. "I trust your medical knowledge to sever the child from her womb yourself, Severus. You have the right Dark spell for that task. Your infamous Sectumsempra."

Bellatrix cackled out her sadistic laugh. The task promised to be particularly gruesome. Despite the horrendous prospect, Severus remained unflappable, his face a total blank mask. "Yes, Master, I will. We may even use her blood then for the ritual as it is laden with her 'Earth' magic." His suggestion should give him extra credit in front of the Dark Lord.

"Indeed. An excellent suggestion, Severus. Maybe her filthy Muggle blood could be used in some of your potions ?" The question did not call for any answer. Voldemort broke out into a maniacal laugh, echoed by Bellatrix' laugh, that sent cold shivers down Severus' spine.

The Potions Master bowed again, hoping that he could leave now, having given the information the Dark Lord had wished to know.

"I'm not through with you yet, Severus."

The icy tone in Voldemort's voice warned the Potions Master at once. "Yes, Master ? How can I be of service to you ?"

"Tell me, Severus… You must have heard of that attack in Hogsmeade," the Dark Lord began softly.

"Yes, Master." At this point, Severus knew he was entering an unknown territory. He Occluded even more his mind, already heavily Occluded the second he had set foot in the house.

"A regrettable affair. You see, one of our trusted servants, Walden MacNair, was retrieved seriously wounded and carted off to Azkaban once he was taken care of. Shame."

Severus remained silent. Expressing compassion for a fellow Death-Eater in front of the Dark Lord was not considered a good attitude.

"You must know what had happened then, Severus. I'm sure," Voldemort went on, something ominous in his soft voice. "You don't say a word. Should I gather that you don't know ?" A pause. "Let me tell you then. Three Death-Eaters and two Dementors were sent to Hogsmeade. In order to find a young person that has acquired a priceless value to me. See who I mean, Severus ?"

"Miss Lorena Nottingham," the Potions Master replied softly.

"Yes, that blind, filthy Mudblood indeed ! Her person, or should I say, her womb is of the utmost value to me. You know that."

Bellatrix snorted scornfully. Voldemort's hand petted her hair and she stopped at once.

"Yes, I do, Master."

"Good. If you remember that, then you must remember the order I had given you then, on Halloween night, Severus. You had to keep watch on her, to make sure that nothing happens to her."

"Yes, I do, Master." Severus felt the net closing itself on him slowly, forming a deadly trap.

"Then, she was attacked by a Dementor and a Death-Eater. How come it is Lucius' son, young Draco, that was there to protect her, while it should have been you ?" Now his tone was downright angry.

So this was the reason behind the attack. To test me. After all, Albus Dumbledore was not too far off the mark when he had talked about Severus' position in the inner circle being threatened. The Potions Master knew that going into lengthy explanations with the Dark Lord would do no good. He tried nonetheless.

"The girl had not informed me that she was going to Hogsmeade. She's of age, there was nothing to prevent her from doing so. I was not on chaperone duty for that Hogsmeade afternoon. Only the Headmaster decides which staff goes out for this kind of duty." Severus decided to let go the story of Draco defending Lorena, while it had been pretty much the reverse, both the Patronus and the Sectumsempra spells having been cast by the young woman. Draco had just Apparated them back to the safety of the Hogwarts gates.

Voldemort seemed to consider the explanations given by his spy. "Nonetheless. You should have known. You had to keep an eye on her ! You disobeyed my orders, Severus ! You know the punishment." His voice was icy and mad with the anticipated sadism.

Severus braced himself for the Cruciatus Curse to befall on him. He Occluded his mind tighter. "Yes, Master. I accept my punishment for not carrying out your orders faithfully. I promise you that it won't happen again."

"Your promises have no value, Severus. Only your actions will speak forth, not your words. Be this a lesson for you. Crucio !"

He had raised his wand, a sadistic smile on his lips. Severus fell on his knees. Bellatrix' laughter sounded maniacally in the room. He wondered which was the worst punishment, the curse or her laughter. Fortunately, he had developed with time a resilience to the curse. But her laughter… no, nothing could be done against that.

Severus endured bravely the various Cruciatus Curses that were cast on him by the Dark Lord and Bellatrix in turns. Voldemort was in a charming mood with her and he could not refuse her one of her favorite games – tormenting Severus Snape, the Half-Blood that had managed to reach such a level of trust from the Dark Lord. Voldemort was angry after him but Bellatrix hated him and therefore her Cruciatus curses were more powerful.

The Potions Master wondered if this would not be only the beginning of a very long and painful night. Then he remembered what Lorena had told him, when he had had to meet the Dark Lord, during Summer : "Severus, I just gave you a part of my 'Earth' magic. The most powerful one. My… love. Every time you feel you'll lose control, that pain is too much for you to bear or that what the Dark Lord inflicts you will exceed the limits of your endurance, think of how much I feel for you. It'll protect you." He could still hear her determined voice then : "As long as you think about that light in you, you'll live. Because my feelings for you cannot be destroyed – not even by the Dark Lord. Do not forget it."

So, from behind his mental shields, Severus clang to this memory, focusing on her feelings for him, hoping that they would protect him and the tiny Love-Snakes he wore. But this time, there was something else. Something that he wished to conceal at any cost but that he could not deny any longer. His own feelings for her.

After about fifteen minutes that seemed like an eternity, the curses stopped. Now Severus was lying on the ground, trying to catch his breath and contain his pain as much as he could. He wondered what would come next. Better not to think about this, on second thoughts. He checked his Occlumency and to his inner satisfaction, his mental shields had resisted. His body may fail him but his mind could not. That was a luxury he could not afford, that the Order of the Phoenix could not afford. Severus was ready to redirect all his magic to Occlumency, otherwise he would be left exposed to the Dark Lord's Legilimency. So far so bad for his own body but too much was at stake.

They left him like this, believing that he had passed out. The Dark Lord dealt with other business pending, not suspecting that Severus was listening carefully to what was said, recording any tidbits of information that may prove useful to Dumbledore and the Order in his prodigious memory, already processing some of them in his mastermind for future analysis and restitution to the Headmaster.

After about two hours spent like that, Voldemort dismissed everybody. But before leaving, he turned to Severus still lying on the floor. "Rouse him !" he ordered one of the Death-Eaters. "I hope, Severus, that you will remember the lesson this time and keep it in mind that MY orders are to be obeyed whatever the circumstances." His tone was still cold.

Severus braced himself for a last curse – that did not come. "But I, being a merciful Lord, will let you go to pursue the mission I've imparted to you. You were honest enough to give me your explanations while knowing you were at fault. So now be careful with her when it comes to her protection and that of the child she carries. That blind, filthy Mudblood belongs to me now ! I am her Master as much as I am yours." The way these last words had been uttered with an obviously ominous threat, scared Severus. Not for himself but for Lorena.

Severus was dragged outside the house. Once he was sure he was alone, he drank a vial of his pain-killing potion and Apparated back to Hogwarts relatively unscathed, except for the tremors still agitating his body. The night was over with the Dark Lord but not with the Cruciatus.


That same night, Lorena could not find sleep. A deep feeling of concern, even anxiety, was troubling her mind. She perceived quickly it was in relationship with Severus. She could not know where he was, what he was up to, if he was in danger or pain – or not. So she did the only thing left to her.

She kissed the Love-Snakes and send love wave after love wave, focusing on him, hoping it would help him somehow, whatever trouble he may have found himself in.

She managed to fall asleep at the same time he was back to his quarters, the Love-Snakes on her lips.


Sorry, I know this is a short chapter... Yet, that meeting between Severus and Voldemort will condition what is to come later.

Voldemort is still his usual ol' cruel self - asking Severus to kill Lorena in the future !

Please rate and review ! Thanks in anticipation !