House: Slytherin
Category: theme
Prompt: [Speech] "Care to tell me why you're bleeding?"
Word count: 2028
oO0Oo
Severus's eyes flitted from side to side. The corridor was empty. Darting across the passageway, he slid into an abandoned classroom. It was empty save for a blackboard, and the floor was covered in a thick, undisturbed dust. Perfect. No one would find him here. Pulling his Potions book out from underneath his robes, he flipped through the pages, searching for his latest experiment. When he reached it, he slowly reached for his wand, eyeing the smooth, pale skin of his forearm. The spell was meant for enemies, but he couldn't drag Potter into an abandoned classroom; he would use an animal, but the spell was meant for humans.
That meant there was only one way to test his newest creation. He would have to cast it on himself.
Severus swallowed hard, unable to tear his eyes away from the unblemished skin. His right hand trembled from the strain and indecision as it held his wand hovering over his left arm. The skin was so clean and pure… but he needed this spell. His only power in Slytherin was his ability to brew exotic potions and create spells; without it, he was nothing but a punching bag for other students. The greasy-haired, sallow-skinned, half-blood son of a blood traitor.
"Sectumsempra," he muttered, slashing down at his arm. A bright white light flashed, and then a stinging pain sliced through his arm. Severus watched as a criss-cross of cuts and wounds began spreading outwards from the initial incision, and how the blood eagerly poured from those wounds and out of his body. It had only been fifteen seconds, yet already he felt lightheaded. Quickly, before he lost consciousness and died in this abandoned classroom, he cast the counter-curse, then shakily got to his feet.
He had succeeded. Now, to finish the remainder of his Herbology essay detailing the various uses of Mandragora. Severus staggered back to his Common Room, giving the password without noting anything and luckily avoiding Filch. He walked in, and made a beeline straight to his room; however, a slow drawl stopped him short.
"Snape." It came from the couches around the fire, the low green couches that were reserved for only the most powerful in the House.
Severus stopped. "It's very late," he said mildly. He hadn't expected anyone to be in the Common Room at this hour.
"It is." Lucius Malfoy sat up and looked Severus straight in the eyes. "Care to tell me why you're bleeding, Snape?"
"I would rather not," Severus replied coldly, drawing his black robes tighter around him. "If it is no trouble to you, Malfoy, I would much prefer to return to my dormitory. It is late, and I still have a Herbology essay to finish."
"Ah, but I would quite like to speak with you." Malfoy slowly got up from the couches and walked to where Severus stood. In the dim lighting, it was difficult to see just where Lucius was looking, but Severus knew that he was giving him a once-over, no doubt noticing that his robes were encrusted with blood. Severus frowned. If he had just thought to Scourgify his robes, he would not be in this position right now. He blamed his uncharacteristic carelessness on the blood loss. He really should have brought a blood replenishing potion with him. Idiot.
"Are you quite finished?" he snapped, finally growing weary of Malfoy's silent scrutiny. "I really must be going."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Remember your place," he said quietly. "Of the two of us, who holds the respect and admiration of his House?"
"And of the two of us, who holds the ability to craft spells and brew exotic potions?" Severus shot back. "Political power is not everything, Malfoy."
"Ah, but neither is brute force," Malfoy answered. "Don't think that I do not know of your continued fondness for the mudblood Evans, even after you publicly denounced her. You have great untapped power, Severus Snape, but if you refuse to use it for the betterment of your House, then it is useless."
"I shall use my abilities as I see fit." Worry gnawed at Severus: if Malfoy knew about Lily, what else did he know about? "Keep away from me, Malfoy. Or you'll regret it."
"Ah, but you are in no position to be making threats, Snape. At some point all must sleep, and when you finally sleep, we shall be waiting." Lucius Malfoy smiled, the light of the fire casting strange shadows across his face and, for a brief moment, making him seem demoniac.
Severus swallowed hard. "Duly noted, Malfoy." He turned away from the Slytherin prefect and began to climb the stairs - but as he stood there at the door to his dormitory, he turned back around and said, "Malfoy, I was experimenting with a spell of mine. It is called 'Sectumsempra', and it is meant for enemies."
Malfoy smiled sharply, like a shark. "I am glad to hear that, Severus. Perhaps we can talk tomorrow, after breakfast. I shall meet you on the shore of the Black Lake."
Severus nodded. "I shall see you then." Then he entered his dormitory, and without rousing the others from their sleep, he slid into his bed and drew the curtains around him. There, he lay back, his Herbology essay forgotten, as he thought about the implications of his conversation with Lucius Malfoy. It seemed as though the pureblood meant to recruit him… but if so, why now? They had always known he was powerful.
As Severus drifted off to sleep, he wondered just what Lucius thought he could achieve. After all, he would not act against Lily. He had power, but he wouldn't use it against the girl who had made his childhood bearable. He wouldn't do that to her. Already she thought him a Slytherin, but he would not have her think of him as a Death Eater as well.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next morning, Severus met Lucius Malfoy besides the Black Lake. "What do you want?" he said flatly, too tired to exchange inane pleasantries.
"I wish to talk," Malfoy replied.
"Well then, spit it out, Malfoy."
Malfoy chuckled. "Tsk. Tsk, no need to be so surly. If we are to be working together, Severus, I would much prefer that you learn to use my first name. Call me Lucius. After all, Lord Malfoy is my father."
"I'll decide if we're working together," Severus replied. "I don't remember discussing that last night."
"Because we didn't," Malfoy said. "But I would suggest that you give my propositions the attention that they deserve. After all, you are a powerful wizard, Severus. But without me, without the Dark Lord, you are nothing."
"I'll be the judge of that." His black eyes were wary, and guarded.
"Well, I suggest that you align yourself with me," Lucius continued, unfazed. "Such an alliance would bring protection and status, two things that you are sorely lacking."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to join your group."
"I wasn't asking you to, not yet anyway" Lucius replied. "I am merely proposing that you begin to associate with us. After all, if will be mutually beneficial."
"But what would I have to do?" Severus said. He knew Lucius Malfoy. He knew the pureblood never did anything unless he had an ulterior motive and it was undoubtedly in his best interests. "How is my joining your group useful to you, Malfoy?"
"Well, for one thing, the Dark Lord has asked it of me." Lucius leaned forward, lowering his voice as he spoke. "I am sure you have heard tales of just how implacable and demanding a master I serve."
"I have." Severus pursed his thin lips as he considered the latest turn this conversation had taken. The Dark Lord was interested in him. That did not bode well… and he knew what happened to those who refused the Dark Lord. Especially if those people were in the House of Slytherin, where Dumbledore's protection did not reach. "I think I would like to join you, Lucius." It was the sensible option, obviously.
Lucius Malfoy smiled. "I'm glad to hear it," he said, straightening up and turning back to the castle as he spoke. "I must be going now, but I expect to see you tonight. There shall be a meeting at the edge of the Forbidden Forest."
Snape nodded. "I shall be there."
"Then good day, Severus." Lucius gave him a wicked little smirk.
"Good day, Lucius."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The sun had already set when Severus began walking out to the Forbidden Forest. The grass whispered underfoot, and a great deal of trepidation filled his heart. There was no going back from this, regardless of what Malfoy claimed. Once you were in with people like this, there was never getting out. Of course he didn't actually have the luxury of choosing to say no. If the Dark Lord wanted him amongst the ranks of his faithful followers, he would either join or die and living was the more attractive option.
The dark figures loomed ahead and Severus was pulled up, as he saw a crumpled figure on the ground in the middle of the loose circle of wizards. His blood went utterly cold.
"Ah, Severus, so kind of you to join us." Malfoy's smooth voice seemed loud in the silence, and Severus found his legs carrying him forwards automatically.
"Of course," he answered. "I could not decline such an invitation."
Malfoy smirked. "I am glad you came," he said. "We have managed to procure a muggle, and it is time for you to show your worth. After all, the Dark Lord does not accept anyone. You must prove yourself."
Severus swallowed hard. When he spoke, his voice was even. "What am I to do?" he asked, almost hating to know the answer, for he could guess what it was the Dark Lord required. Nevertheless, he didn't want to do it.
"You are a clever one, Severus. What do you think you are to do to this muggle?" Lucius laughed cruelly.
"I must kill her," Severus said. "You want me to use an Unforgivable."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Close, but not quite. I want you to demonstrate your new spell. Your skill at crafting new things is one of the reasons we want you, after all."
Severus blinked. "My new spell?" he asked.
"Yes. I know you are powerful, but I want to see your killer instinct. And don't protest - I know the Sorting Hat wouldn't have put you in Slytherin if you did not have an inclination to the Dark." Lucius looked at the other wizards who stood in a semi-circle around Severus. They, too, were Slytherins and followers of the dark Lord.
Severus swallowed and stepped forward, knowing all too well that hesitation now would see him on the ground beside the muggle, and he'd never have the chance to rise again. He turned his eyes onto the Muggle, seeing the slight resemblance to the bane of his existence, James Potter. He let himself see the man as his nemesis, and let all the rage and anger flood forward, washing away any guilt he might feel. In the end the muggle had been dead the moment he was taken. That much was certain. He could end him quickly.
He had tried to stay pure, tried to stay loyal to Lily, but in the end, it had been impossible. He had power, and when Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord took especial interest, his fate had been decided. Once he killed this Muggle, he knew none of the Light would ever look upon him in the same way. He would never be able to look at himself the same way, either. He would be ruined, corrupted by the inexorable pressure of Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord.
He raised his wand and took a steadying breath and cast. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" The muggle screamed, blood soaking into the forest floor beneath him.
He had cast off the mortal coil, and now he had no other path than that laid before him. He would join the Dark Lord, and turn his back on the Light.
It was over.