Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series.

Chapter Sixteen

Pensieve Memories No. 4 (Source: S. T. Snape) — The Bargain

A tall and lanky man was kneeling on the floor, his head down and his midnight hair falling over his pale face, obscuring the fear and greed in his obsidian eyes. Standing before him, with dark kempt hair and bright violet eyes that were slightly slitted, was a magnificent man with a magnitude of power in his grasp that only seemed appropriate for the gods above and not for mere mortals. But maybe he was a god, as his body was made for the sheer intensity of his power and his muscles coiled with magic that was far beyond what anyone had dreamed of. He was an otherworldly being, an extraordinary entity that escaped the watchful eyes of some forceful nature that didn't want to release him into this mortal world, knowing that he would only being destruction and chaos.

Someday, Severus thought, he would have the same power and everyone who had wronged him would pay.

"Risssseee, my faithful sssservant," the magnificent man spoke, with a face that could launch a thousand ships, his velvety voice caressing his words the same way a lover would caress their partner. "You have brought me such valuable information, Severussss. Rissssseeee and look at me."

Severus slowly rose to his feet and gingerly met the gaze of the man who had welcomed him into his circle and who appreciated his talents, his prowess, and abilities far more than anyone in his life. His heart stuttered with awe as he gazed at the man whom he called his master; his distorted and yet handsome facial features inciting fear right through him. He tried not to tremble as he spotted the large snake that slithered across the floor towards his master. He didn't know what breed it was or what it was capable of, only that it seemed larger than life itself and it didn't seem stop itself from growing. It never did harm anyone, from what he could tell, but the sheer size of the creature was daunting and could make any man quake. The snake, Nagini, was his master's familiar and he kept her zealously close to him, almost coveted her to the point of cursing anyone if they would as much looked wrongly at her.

"As your most generous Lord, I can guarantee that your services will be awarded greatly," the magnificent man spoke, with violet eyes that were tinged with red. But his eyes, despite its bright irises, were empty and blank, devoid of any feeling or emotion as though any semblance of humanity or soul in him had vanished and left a shell of a person in its wake. There was nothing there but a black hole, a void of emptiness.

"Thank you, My Lord," Severus uttered graciously, bowing his head once again despite the odd discomfort he felt at uttering his title. From the first moment he had joined their group, he had seen his associates calling him their Lord, nothing else. The man before them was Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord, and if he had any other name before the name he had fashioned for himself, Severus didn't know. Like the true Slytherin that he was, Severus had merely adapted his comrades' actions and didn't question his authority; he knew what would happen if he did. "I am forever your servant, eternally grateful of your generosity."

"As you should be, Severusss," the magnificent man spoke softly with great amusement. "After all, you would be nothing without me."

Severus flinched as though the words were a physical slap against his skin. But it was true, what he had said, that he would be nothing without him. He would have no purpose, no one to call brothers and sisters, and no one to trust although he knew better than to trust the man in front of him.

He licked his dry lips before forcing himself to utter, "You are, as always, correct, my Lord."

Severus heard a low chuckle coming from his direction and he made himself remember to breathe even as the sound has every hair on his body stand in attention. He heard a series of click as shoes met the floor before he felt a cool finger under his chin that forced him to look up into vibrant violet irises. At close, he could see the flecks of red and he tried not to shiver as he thought of the unusualness of that occurrence. He immediately looked away. Lord Voldemort was anything but natural. It seemed as though he was a walking, talking, and breathing contradiction to the natural order of things.

"So, tell me, my dear servant," the man before him whispered, "what is it that you want? What is your greatest desire?"

Severus swallowed the dryness of his throat and found the courage to speak. "There is... there is one thing, my Lord. An... an old friend of mine is part of the Order of the Phoenix. Lily... Lily Evans... P-Potter."

The magnificent man moved away, chuckling once more and looking amused at something. "Let me guess; you want me to spare her."

Severus nodded once before he realized that he wanted a verbal confirmation. "Y-Yes, my Lord."

"Hmm," he hummed, turning his back to him and Severus knew that he only did that, not because of trust, but because the snake would strike him if he betrayed its master. "I am, without a doubt, an advocate for justice and it will not be just to refuse your request. Lily Potter is a very powerful witch and a great asset in this war. It would be such a shame to waste her talents once we've won. Yes, I will spare her for you." He looked over his shoulder, violet eyes sharp. "However, you will keep her in line, Severusss."

Severus flinched and nodded his head as he heard the hidden threat in his words. "Thank you, my Lord." He bent his spine forward as low as he could before straightening.

"Answer me, Severus..."

Severus looked up to see a slow smile forming at the corners of his master's lips. It was both a beautiful and grotesque sight. There was no soul behind his smile or his eyes and Severus felt as though he was in the presence of a damned angel that had risen its way to become the devil.

"How many lives are you willing to take in order to spare hers?" There was a dark edge in his voice. "After all, a life can only be spared by another life."

Severus died a little when he saw the flash of red in his eyes and he knew that he had damned his soul.