Chapter Eighty-Seven
High by Dua Lipa
The searing burn that radiated out from Severus's Mark made his left hand curl and flex in a futile attempt to abate the pain. Receiving a summons always made the nerves deep within flare to life, but when the Dark Lord was angry and calling upon his followers, it felt as though the whole limb had been set on fire. He had never been known for possessing an even temper, but upon the return of the Dark Lord and the botched dark potion that brought him back, their lord had become nearly unhinged. Then when most of the Inner Circle had been arrested after the massive failure that was the Department of Mysteries retrieval mission, the Dark Lord had lost what little patience he had been resurrected with.
Gliding through the living room, he summoned his robes and mask and shrank them down to fit in the pocket of his denims. Pointing his wand at a second pile of robes, he did the same to Draco's, his things stuffing themselves into his pocket as well.
"Hurry, the longer we take the worse this will be for us," he said darkly.
"You mean for me," Draco replied quietly.
Ignoring the truth of his statement, Severus reached behind him and grasped his godson's wrist to pull him along through the manor and out the door. Hermione had warned he and Narcissa both that at the start of term Potter had become convinced Draco had taken the Mark. It had always been there in the back of their minds, as they subtly navigated him away from Lucius as much as was humanly possible. They worked tirelessly to trend a careful balance at social gatherings to control the influences from other sympathizing and Marked families. As he had gotten older, and Lucius less interested in anything more than the illusion of a happy family, Severus had begun to take his godson for extended periods of time, bringing him along on jobs throughout continental Europe and Northern Africa to expose him to as much of the magical world as possible. They had worked hard to keep the cancerous ideology from infecting Draco and to keep him as under the radar as much as possible around the older members, especially after the Dark Lord, Bellatrix, and the others had taken up permanent residence at Malfoy Manor.
In the end though they had spent too much time shaping his views of the world outside of Wizarding Britain and not enough time protecting his physical presence from the monsters that had lurked within his own home. After the colossal cluster fuck of a night that resulted in Hermione nearly dying, Theo's mind fracturing, and the round up of nearly all of the Dark Lord's highest ranking followers, one of the many balls they had been juggling in the recent years had finally fallen. Severus and Narcissa had been spread too thin, especially when Remus had to back away from them with the continuous presence of the Dark Lord, his followers, and the random attacks on their minds to seek out secrets.
He had been tasked with overseeing Hermione's care, as if he would have relinquished the job to anyone else, and had been brewing nearly round the clock to keep her in supply of the potions that were needed for her to heal. When he hadn't been tending to her, he had been overseeing Theo's recovery and aiding him in rebuilding his mind's protections, keeping them all tied to Hogwarts in the weeks following the end of term. As for Cissy she had been given the undesirable and time consuming task of keeping after the Dark Lord's health.
The potion Pettigrew had used had worked on the most basic of levels but ultimately had gone horribly wrong. Severus couldn't thank the deity that had been watching over him enough for sparing him from being the one tasked with procuring the requirements for such a dark potion. He did however often wonder in the early days of the Dark Lord's resurrection as to why he hadn't been given the task. At least if he had done it, their lord wouldn't have come back as such a warped, unhinged being, more monster than man. In a way the creature he was now was almost a blessing though. While they suffered on the front end with his return, it was only a matter of time before the madness that plagued the Dark Lord became his undoing. And all because Pettigrew had used bone dust instead of an intact shard. Even a bone as small as the stapes would have worked and spared them all the deranged monster they now served.
Fucking dunderheaded, coward, Severus snorted, making Draco look at him in confusion.
Waving him off, they crossed the gates of Glencoe, and keeping a firm hold on his godson, they disapparated in a cloud of black smoke, reappearing at the gates of Malfoy Manor. Greyback was standing watch like the barely leashed rabid dog he was, making Severus sneer at him as Draco pushed the gold plated iron open. The waste of space that was the werewolf who embodied everything wizards feared of the cursed species, stepped closer to the boy, taking a deep inhale of his scent, a disgustingly predatory snarl twisting his face in what must have passed for a smile at some point.
"Get any closer to the boy and I will skin your pelt from your body. I'm sure the Dark Lord won't even mind losing his Alpha after I gift him with the plethora of potions that can be made by using parts of a werewolf taken from them while still alive," Severus threatened in a bored manner, his hand clasping the back of Draco's neck as he guided him away from the perverted bastard.
"Watch yourself Snape, otherwise I may just have to pay that sweet little mudblood of yours a visit," he growled.
Pushing Draco up the path, Severus turned on Greyback, his wand sliding into the palm of his hand from where it had been sheathed up his sleeve.
"If you so much as look at her, I'll make you and Rabastan a matching set."
Greyback howled in laughter, his head falling back so his long, stringy hair reached down the length of his spine.
"You know for someone that's supposed to be bedding such a hot, young, piece of arse, you sure are an uptight fucker who likes to suck the fun out of everything. Maybe you should pass her around, let me and my pack break her in a little for you. What do you say?" He asked with a devious glint.
"That you clearly have more muscle than sense, you unwashed, flea infested, mongrel," he seethed, flicking his wand up at the werewolf's crotch.
A black cord shot forward from the ebony tip of his wand and circled the fly of the other man's trousers before disappearing into the fabric. A moment later, Greyback let out a pained squeak as he doubled over, his hands frantically clawing at himself.
"Get it off me!" He screamed, as Severus slightly twisted his wand, tightening the cord that was knotting around his sack.
"I think not," he drawled, following Draco into the manor to face the Dark Lord.
For the love of Salazar, we cannot get to the end of this war soon enough, he thought before shutting down the rest of his mind as he walked through the large manor's foyer heading for the ballroom the Dark Lord used to receive his visitors.
Watching his godson kneel before their lord, with Bellatrix sitting on the floor by his feet while petting her hair like a leashed tiger, Severus again cursed himself for failing Draco. Glaring at Bellatrix, who seemed incapable of adding more red to her ledger, he dropped down to one knee and waited to be addressed.
On the night while he had still been at Hogwarts tending to Hermione and Theo and Narcissa had been called upon to tend to the Dark Lord's medical needs, Draco had been taken and forced to receive the Mark. Cissy had been running a cleanse through the Dark Lord's blood stream to stay off the rotting that was occurring within him because of the dusted bones when her son had been dragged in by Amycus Carrow and Greyback, with Bellatrix leading the charge. His own aunt had offered him up to their lord like a prized goose in an attempt to regain her favor. Cissy had been forced to watch and pretend to be proud of what was being cursed into her son's arm and then thank her wretched sister afterwards for restoring their fallen honor. If given half a chance, Severus wouldn't hesitate to kill her. And that was only if her sister didn't gut her like a pig first.
"Look at me Draco," the Dark Lord commanded.
His godson was quick to raise his head and focus upon their lord, making sure he didn't dare look the wizard in the eyes or speak without express permission. When he didn't move to stand from the hard, marble floor of his family's home, Severus relaxed the tensing of the muscles in his hands, grateful for the small relief. It was a special kind of hell he had to live in during these summons. The Dark Lord and Bellatrix seemed to take great joy in punishing Draco for even the slightest of infractions whether true or perceived.
He knew why they were doing it. It kept Narcissa in line with Lucius trapped in the middle of the North Sea and it had the added benefit of sticking it to Lucius who bore the brunt of the blame for losing the prophecy. He didn't overly care for his son, but the loss of status and the public humiliation his son was forced to endure hit him where it hurt the most. The boy had become nothing more than a pawn used to control the rest of them and Severus couldn't wait for the day he could get him free even if he had to die to do it.
Regulus may have said he would live through their plan but he had learned quickly with Theo that the future was always changing and only took that reassurance with a grain of salt.
"How is your mother?" The Dark Lord asked, his voice sliding over them like rancid oil.
"She's well, my lord," he quietly responded, taking care to use as few words as possible to convey an acceptable answer.
"Do you wish for her to stay that way?"
Severus's eye twitched as he looked at the tile beneath him, the only outward sign that he had been affected by the veiled threat.
"Of course I do, my lord," Draco replied, trying to mask the tremble that was developing in his voice.
"Then tell me, why is it that Dumbledore is still alive? Do we need to bring her here to incentivize you? Do you not value your own life enough?" He asked far too casually. "It can be arranged after all. It would be no trouble for Greyback and his wolves to retrieve her come Tuesday afternoon after she's had her weekly gathering at the Briar Room. Or how about on Thursday morning when she's volunteering her services at Saint Mungos?"
"I... I... I've been doing my best, my lord. Potter has been rather meddlesome, hindering my efforts. But I assure you it will-"
"SILENCE!" He roared. "It isn't just about Dumbledore you incompetent fool. How difficult is it to restore that cabinet? You were tasked with repairing it in August. It is now January and Borgin tells me that nothing has come through, that it's as if you aren't even trying.
"Your failure will only cause your mother to suffer, dear Draco. It would be wise of you to begin making noticeable progress. We wouldn't want anything to happen to mummy now would we?"
Violently shaking his head, Draco replied, "No my lord, we would not."
"Good, very good. However... I want to be sure and so you will not escape punishment tonight. But to show you my benevolence and how merciful I can be, you will not face it by the end of my wand. Rather... I would like for your godfather to dole out your lashings so to speak. After all, he is responsible for you at school and should bear equal blame for your failures."
Severus forced himself to not try and suck in more air as breath lodged itself in his throat at the Dark Lord's proclamation. Lifting his head up, he straightened his back as much as possible and addressed their lord.
"If that is your wish my lord, so it shall be done," he said coolly, silently thanking his wife for protecting Draco tonight.
"It is indeed my wish, Severus. However, I first wish to be updated on your mudblood. Business before pleasure after all," the Dark Lord instructed, his voice taking on the lust filled tones he used to use on Regulus as he stroked his hand down Bellatrix's neck, briefly squeezing her windpipe, before bringing his hand lower to the upper swell of her breast where he dug his long nails over the pale skin, drawing blood. "Keep an eye on him, Bella. Severus and I are going to take a walk. No one is to lift a wand to Draco except Severus. Are we in understanding?"
"Yes my lord," she eagerly replied, licking her lips.
"Come now, Severus. I hope to hear that you have made progress since last we spoke at Christmas."
He swiftly rose to his feet and waited beside the Dark Lord for him to rise as well. Nodding his head to the man he had once been loyal to, he fell into step behind him, maintaining his standard two paces of distance. While Bella panted after him, her look of deranged lust making his stomach roll, Severus spared a glance at Draco, silently sending a cushioning the floor beneath his knees.
"How is Nagini, my lord? When last we met, you had concerns over her health being trapped here in the manor," Severus asked, seemingly making small talk as they had always done when in the presence of others.
The Dark Lord chuckled as they glided past two of his followers stationed at the back doors that led out to the vast lands of the manor. The peacocks that Severus had been at war with in his youth, quickly scattered from sight as they descended the steps from the home to begin the trail that would weave them through Narcissa's pristine gardens. Everything that had been beautiful about the manor that he had been able to call home for some time, looked as though it was dying a slow death. The poison of dark magic and the presence of the Dark Lord, choking the life from every living thing it came into contact with. The birds looked sickly, the shine of their feathers gone. The hundreds of roses that were protected to allow them to bloom year round had wilted and the bushes that they once grew forth from were turning brown. Even the inanimate fountains and statues had lost their gleam. The stone they were each made of turning green with algae and cracking from neglect. The Dark Lord really had become a poison and if left unchecked his cancerous presence would spread through the whole of Wizarding Britain.
"This is why I continue to favor you and grant you so many liberties, Severus. The subtly in which you please and honor me is unlike any of the others. You know that for all I have become, I still enjoy the simple things in life, such as a small chat and having one take interest in my prized pet. I am both your lord and your friend. A distinction I could not give to many others."
"My lord, you are too kind," he purred, clasping his hands behind his back as they strolled.
"I'm afraid to say, Nagini is much the same. She has become lethargic in recent weeks. She of course can roam freely about the manor and the gardens but I do not think it is enough. I think she has grown bored of this place and her lack of freedom. However if she does not improve soon I will have no choice but to keep her here for her own safety," he bemoaned.
"That is quite the conundrum you are in," Severus observed. Seeing the foothold that was being created though, he added, "It is a shame that there is not someone you could task with her temporary care. A change of scenery may after all be all she truly needs. I can only imagine that she would find the ornate gardens of the Malfoys terribly dull after her time roaming the expansive forests of Albinia."
"A valid point you make, however where am I to find a secure enough forest?"
"Aside from the one on the edges of Hogwarts, I do not know my lord. But trust I will ok into it for you," he replied, making it sound as though it would be his top priority.
"Hogwarts..." The Dark Lord mused, before coming to a stop and turning to look at Severus. "Of course... You may have just provided me with a solution. The forest and grounds of Hogwarts would be perfect for her. Though we have been unable to enter the school as of yet, that does not mean Nagini cannot go ahead of us. Yes... yes, I like this idea very much."
"Severus, you shall take her back to Hogwarts with you. She is rather large, but I have found she shrinks down well enough for travel. Just get her through the gates, she can make a home for herself easily enough. Be sure you check after her though," he warned. "She is as important to me as those long ago gifted items I handed over, which I trust you are still keeping secure."
Stopping his easy stroll to drive home the act of feeling honored, Severus once again wielded his voice in the manner the Dark Lord enjoyed so much, "You have bestowed upon me a great many privileges, my lord. I do not take your favor for granted and know that I value the trust you place within me above all else. Nagini, like the diadem, will be safe in my care."
The Dark Lord reached out and patted his cheek like a parent would to their child, a twisted smile gracing his permanently cold and ashen face. Returning the mocking affection, Severus tilted his face along the hand as was expected of him, fighting to keep his face neutral and not betray how badly he wished to gag.
"Come now, tell me of your own little pet. I haven't heard so much as a whisper about her since the Christmas holiday and that wanton little display she gave you," he promoted with a laugh as though they were old friends sharing in a round of locker room talk.
A devious smile crossed Severus's face as he sank further into his role, drawing upon the old way in which he used to speak of Hermione when amongst his fellow Death Eaters.
Raising a suggestive eyebrow, he said, "She is insatiable to say the least."
The Dark Lord cackled at all that was implied in so few words, the gleam in his red slitted eyes egging him to continue on. Knowing what he wanted Severus met his stare and allowed moments between he and Hermione over the last several days to rise to the surface of his mind.
There wasn't much he regretted in his life, choosing to leave most things about the past exactly where they belonged. However every time he had to engage in this game with the Dark Lord, he was filled with a bitter regret and anger about his misguided youth. It wasn't as though over the years he had had a change of heart and ultimately loyalty. Those things still firmly belonged to Hermione and whatever kept her protected and free. What he hated and despised was that both sides of the war asked for him to give up everything that was sacred to him to keep a sure foothold within the inner camps of both.
Feeling the darkness and rage swell up within him, he sank even deeper into the ocean of his mind to keep his truths hidden and allowed his lord to have seemingly free rein over his mind. Floating before his mind was a replay of her slamming the door open into his class. He saw again the way he shredded her blouse and backed her against the door and watched dispassionately as thrust himself into her repeatedly, her face contorted into passion as she writhed and moaned against him, urging him to take her harder. More memories flashed as they were scanned, his intruder looking for the most depraved and salacious things they had gotten up to so far. He next settled on a moment during their weekend in France where he had been reading in the adjoining sitting room of their suite while she lounged against him on the couch. She had stroked her hand higher and higher up his thigh till she rolled over and began to work the zipper of his trousers down.
She is truly magnificent, the Dark Lord commented excitedly inside his mind as he watched Hermione trace her tongue over the head and shaft of his cock before pulling his length down her throat. If such a sight to see wouldn't be so unfair to your brothers I would urge you to bring her to a meeting so you could entertain us all.
Before he could stop himself, the blinding heat of possession flared up within Severus and his mind reflexively threw his lord out. Alone in his head he began cursing himself for falling prey to such a weak and foolish moment. He had been treading carefully all evening knowing that punishment lurked nearby for him. He would have to tell the Dark Lord of the coming article tonight and he knew his nearly two decades long secret was going to get him the business end of his master's wand. Knowing he had already put himself into a deep enough hole, he remained silent till his lord spoke.
He only had a moment to harden his jaw before the Dark Lord's hand shot out and gripped his face, his long sharp nails digging into the flesh at his cheeks.
"You overstep your place, Severus," he hissed, drawing blood. "The mudblood is a means to an end, do not forget that. If I find she is no longer useful or that she is compromising your position and loyalty to me, I will not hesitate to have her killed. This time for good. I gave her to you and I can just as easily take her away."
The Dark Lord roughly shoved his face away and resumed walking the path between the gardens. Taking a deep breath through his nose and holding it in, Severus shifted his lower jaw around to dispel the stiffness. When he released the breath, he curled his fingers into his fists and resumed dutifully following at the heels of a madman.
"Now then, how are things progressing? And know that you are on thin ice before you answer, my shortage of competent followers being the only reason I will not punish you further. At least not tonight, after all I think I just found a better incentive for keeping you inline," he warned, making Severus file the thinly veiled threat away.
Working to recompose himself into the role he needed to continue to play, he spoke choosing his words carefully as he went.
"My lord, I'm sure you recall our conversation two summers ago upon your return about the possible theories surrounding her supposed death."
"I believe we settled onto an incident involving a time turner."
"Yes, we heavily speculated that the reason her body did not turn up where Bellatrix and the others had dumped her was that through a loophole of magic she couldn't die in a time that was not her own. We were correct and not just about her."
This caught his Lord's attention once more, making him whirl around in a flurry of robes as he closed the two paces between them.
"What of the baby?" The Dark Lord demanded, a manic look in his eyes at the possibilities.
Steeling himself for the irreversible road he was about to take them down on the word of a dead mean, Severus said, "Healthy and growing in her womb as we speak. This summer will be the dawn of a new era in many ways for us all."