Serpentine

Part One:

Into the Shadows

CHAPTER ONE

The menacing wizard gripped the armrests of his leather chair as he gazed, transfixed, into the blazing fire. He felt so cold, even by the flames. He always felt a cold which had settled in him long ago, from the wretched times spent at the orphanage to the very night a mere boy had nearly destroyed him.

He thought he should be used to it by now, the cold. It was his loyal companion, was the only thing that would never leave him. His followers left at times, and even his snake, Nagini, slithered off from time to time, seemingly just to be free of his company.

How foolish these people were, he thought as he tightened his grip until his knuckles shone white against the black armrests. He could vaporize the lot of them into oblivion any time he pleased, and yet they still dared to leave him, and to expect his forgiveness when they came crawling back.

If only he could find a follower who was as loyal as Peter Pettigrew had been. Peter was there for Voldemort from the beginning to the end-but only in fear. Voldemort needed a follower he could trust as much as he trusted himself, one unlike the rest of his Death Eaters. They were all old, dead, or about to be dead if he had any say in it. What he needed was someone new, someone who would be thrilled at the thought of being at the side of the greatest wizard in the world.

Too excited to remain seated, the Dark Lord jumped up and ran over to his window to look outside. The scene below was what some might term quaint with the small village nestled far down the hill from Riddle Mansion, the home he had inherited upon his father's "unfortunate" demise.

Severus Snape, his most loyal of servants, was set to spy on the old wizard in charge at the glorious Wizarding school, Hogwarts. There he taught potions to many bright young wizards. If anyone knew how to find him a new follower, it was Snape.

Voldemort threw his cloak over his shoulder and rolled up the sleeve on his left arm to expose the pale white flesh beneath. In sharp contrast, there was a tattoo of a snake slithering in and out of a skull on the inside of his forearm. He flicked his wand over it to call forth his spy.

On the night of her seventeenth birthday, not too long after the beginning of her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a young witch was abruptly shaken out of a deep sleep. The girl opened her eyes a sliver and found Professor McGonagall staring down at her with her thin lips pressed tightly together. The girl set aside The Tales of Beedle the Bard as she sat up in her bed groggily.

"Hermione Granger, the Headmaster wishes to see you in his office straight away," said the woman in an urgent tone.

"Did he say why?" she asked and pushed back a wild mane of hair to rub her sleepy eyes. Her thoughts first turned to Harry. Usually, she only ever went to see the Headmaster when her friend was in some sort of trouble.

"He said it was urgent. That is all I know, Miss Granger," said McGonagall as she headed briskly toward the door. "You must hurry."

Hermione pulled on a robe over her pajamas and followed the Headmistress out of the dormitories. Anxiety squirmed in her belly as they jogged through the corridors. Soon they came to the ancient gargoyle that marked the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"Pepper imps," McGonagall said and the gargoyle sprung to life. She turned to Hermione. "This is where I leave you."

With a deep breath, Hermione prepared herself for what she was about to face, and then pushed open the door. The golden room shone less brightly than it did during the day, but she was still able to make out the old paintings of past Headmasters and the wide variety of strange silver instruments lying about the familiar room.

Dumbledore sat behind his large desk in the middle of his office with a pensive look on his usually cheerful face. He was a wise old man with a very long, white beard, like the wizards from the Muggle books Hermione read as a child.

"Ah, Miss Granger, so good of you to come," he said in a voice that sounded as ancient as the old oak trees of the Forbidden Forest.

As she approached the huge golden desk, she noticed Professor Snape off to one side of the room. He was pacing back and forth with the usual sneer on his sallow face. A cape of long, black hair covered his eyes, and she noticed that they glanced in her direction momentarily when the Headmaster spoke.

"Professor, what is going on?" Hermione asked as she fought off a yawn. "Has Harry done something again?"

Snape paused, his shiny eyes peering intently at them.

"No, no," Dumbledore reassured her. "Harry is safely in his bed. But in a way, it is because of Harry that you are here."

Hermione frowned at him, confused.

"As you may know, Lord Voldemort regards Snape as his most loyal follower. However, Voldemort knows that Severus cannot always be by his side if he is to effectively spy for him here. Of course, in truth, Snape is one of our spies," Dumbledore began. "He has just returned from a visit to the Dark Lord, and it appears that Voldemort desires to have a new follower. He believes that Severus can find him one."

Hermione listened as Snape resumed his pacing.

"Severus and I agreed this would be a welcome chance to add another spy to Voldemort's forces."

"I don't understand, Professor," she said slowly. "Why would you tell me this? The Dark Lord is Harry's line of expertise. Did you want me to help find someone, because I really don't know-"

"No," Dumbledore interrupted her, holding up a long-fingered hand. "Through much deliberation, Severus and I have already made the decision regarding who will act as our new spy."

Hermione's face fell as Dumbledore looked candidly over his golden spectacles, straight into her eyes. She knew the answer before it came out of the Headmaster's mouth.

"You, Miss Granger."

Snape paused to see her reaction. Hermione went numb, now far from sleepy.

"M-me?" she stammered incredulously. "Why would you want me?"

Snape cast a look at Dumbledore as if asking him the same question.

"Voldemort wants someone who is young and intelligent," he explained. "You also have a great deal of experience with the Dark Arts, thanks to your brave exploits with Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter. Not to mention," he smiled kindly, "you are the most determined young witch I know."

The room collapsed in on Hermione as she felt an incredible weight in the middle of her chest. She took a deep, steadying breath and said, "But I can't. What if I'm discovered?"

"You won't be," said Snape and Hermione's attention snapped to him. "I have been undercover over fifteen years without a problem. Who knows, you may not even have to see the Dark Lord at all. His followers simply do his dirty work and report back to him."

Hermione covered her face with her hands and took a few leveling breaths.

"Of course, you understand, I can make no promises," Snape added.

"Professor Snape will be there to guide you in the beginning, but he cannot remain with you throughout your stay," Dumbledore continued. Snape nodded curtly at his words.

"But what about my schoolwork?" Hermione protested.

"You will, of course, be excused from all assignments that you miss while you are away," Dumbledore replied.

"Excused from-excused?" she gaped, shaking her head to clear it. How horrible, she thought. Her schoolwork was the most important part of her life. Why can't they find somebody who would be more willing? She tried to hide her pain as she asked, "And exactly how long do you expect me to be gone, sir?"

Dumbledore shook his head, and his beard swayed back and forth like a pendulum. "We cannot be sure of that. You may be gone several months, maybe more."

Months or more? They are going to send her to face the darkest wizard alive, all alone, for a time period they aren't even sure of? She asked quietly, "What if I am harmed?"

The two men grimaced at each other, but then Snape said with slight bitterness, "As long as you remain loyal to the Dark Lord you should be safe."

"Yes," Dumbledore said with sadness in his ancient voice. "You must obey his every command, no matter how difficult. Do you understand?"

Hermione tried to hold her head up high, to show the old man she could be confident, but she never felt so uncertain in her life. As dangerous as the task sounded, she wanted to help in the fight against Voldemort, and so she gave a curt nod in response.

She followed Snape out of the office and turned to go back to her dormitory, but Snape's voice stopped her.

"Wait," he said. "You will bring nothing with you but the clothes on your back, Miss Granger, and I will be providing those clothes for you."

"Not even my books?" she protested.

"Especially not those," he sneered. "Now go, and get as much rest as you can. You're going to need it."