Part 12:
Lucius paced around the dorm room. For the first time he could ever recall, he was nervous. In his mind, he knew that he truly had the power over the twins because their relationship was familial. A hint, a whisper from him and they would lose it all. The respect, the position they held in Slytherin- though it had lessened to an extent. He also realized that they could care less. It was irritating and upsetting to one who was used to getting his way all the time.
But what really frustrated him was the fact that he cared about them.
Here he was, heir to everything their families had (mainly because he looked like the heir) and the center of all the action. Yet he couldn't stop worrying about his cousins. He didn't like seeing them excluded from Slytherin activities-even if he had started the process. And seeing them come in, tired from their meetings with Lord Voldemort worried him more than he liked. Was it possible that working for him was not such a blessed thing?
It simply couldn't be.
Then there was that Evans creature. True, it had upset him that they turned to a mudblood for acceptance but they were family. And, as far as mudbloods went, Lily wasn't that bad. Though he wasn't willing to go around and braid ropes of flowers for her hair or proclaim it to the wizarding world, but she wasn't that bad. There was something different about her that year, they'd all taken notice of it. She exuded an air of confidence half-breeds weren't capable of.
When his hearing picked up the tread of footsteps, he composed his features and sat down.
Severus walked in. Lucius could tell from the weariness on his face and in his movements that things hadn't gone well. Or maybe they had and this was Lord Voldemort's way of showing his appreciation for all his servants did. Again, doubt nagged his mind.
Severus saw that Lucius was waiting for him. He cursed, forgetting that he'd been agreeing to talk to him all week. Part of him had been thinking that his cousin would give it up after being brushed off continuously. Obviously, Luc was more sincere than they had originally thought.
"Is Sept all right?" Luc asked quietly.
"No." His answer was short. "The play seems to be having an averse affect on her. Though I can't say that the tensions the play evokes are relieved by the intense loyalty of the houses, especially between our house and Gryffindor."
The first words from Severus mouth sunk Lucius' heart, though it was hidden carefully. It was obvious that they hadn't given much thought to his request. Squelching down his feelings, he rose gracefully and smiled. "Please, sit down. I'll listen to whatever you have to say. Or I'll just enjoy the quiet with you."
Severus sat down on the trunk and sighed, wincing in pain. Rather than mock him for his inability to meet his Lord's standards, Lucius went to the potions container that Sev had and handed him one of them. "Thank you." He grudgingly said, almost jumping in shock when a pair of hands began to knead his shoulders.
"Relax, cousin. Strangulation is not only messy but a trifle inelegant." He chuckled.
"Again, thank you." Sev finally responded, relaxing under the firm ministrations. His eyes half closed as he leaned forward, resting his head on his arms.
"I take it things aren't well in the land of Gryffindor?" Lucius gently pried, keeping anything scornful out of his voice with little effort. He was too worried about his cousin to work up his natural distaste.
"Everything's fine there." Severus answered slowly, half asleep. "Voldemort was in one of his peculiar moods tonight. He wants to meet you." He dropped that tidbit casually.
The hands tightened in shock and he forced his cousin to look at him. "What?"
"Your hearing going, Luc?" Thin lips twisted in a smirk. "Or were you unaware that he's been testing your self-control and ability to wait on his desires?"
Much the same words Pettigrew had used, he mused. "No. I thought he'd rejected me."
Severus stood and changed into bedclothes. "You were unprepared to meet him. You have a tendency to be impulsive, flighty. And that displeased his high and mightiness." The warning was clear in his voice, as was his meaning.
"I still cannot believe that he is interested in such an impure specimen. But if this is the result of my actions, I am glad I relented."
"How lovely for you. Get off my bed, cousin." Severus snapped, pulling the covers back. With a wicked grin, he bade him a good night with a whispered. "She's as pure as you-possibly purer. Have a pleasant night."
Lucius turned and stared at him in shock. Unfortunately, his cousin already seemed to be sleeping and he couldn't question him. Severus was dangerous if one woke him without a good reason-albeit he accepted very few reasons as good ones. He was left to ponder the cryptic words in the dark. A chill filled his soul as he wondered what would happen when he meet the dark lord.
Severus smirked to himself, careful to keep his face blank. He knew exactly what he'd done to his cousin and refused to feel bad about it. Let his cousin stew in his own juices for a while, it wouldn't hurt him any.
'Sev, you're being petty.'
'And you wouldn't have done the same thing in my position?' Skeptical. 'You're such a hypocrite, scolding me for doing something you would do yourself given the chance.'
'I didn't say that. I'm just trying to bring your mind to caution. You need to be careful.'
'I will be. But you sure know how to ruin my fun.'
'Your idea of fun could run you foul with Voldemort. He will not like damaged goods.' Laughter. 'I'm also sure that you'll find some way to pay me back'
'Count on it.' A definite threat. 'Love you.'
'I love you, too. Night, Sev.'
'Night, Sept.'
Two weeks later:
(A few weeks before the end of the sixth year)
Lucius was waiting for them and silently the trio made their way to the meeting place.
"Lucius Malfoy." A voice drawled from the shadows. "So kind of you to come. I have heard much about you." And with no further warning than that, Voldemort materialized in front of the trio.
The dark lord was not what Lucius had expected to see. He was not physically impressive but there was something about him that made him bend his knees in obeisance to him. "Master."
A wicked smile twisted his lips as he studied him, reading his soul. "Your cousin is truly a beautiful specimen. Cruel. Cunning. Somewhat reckless. Worthy of his relationship with you. Would you mind if I borrowed him?"
"No, Lord." They murmured, moving to join the other death-eaters. It took all their considerable self-control to prevent wincing and to carry on normal conversation with the sound of his tortured screams in the background.
Later:
Septina and Severus half-dragged, half-carried him back to Hogwarts. Lucius was insensate with pain and delirium. At the doorway near one of the kitchens, the Bloody Baron stood, waiting. "I do not understand why you subject yourselves to this horror." He scolded as he moved to the side.
"Baron, you know you don't have to help." Severus said tiredly, falling onto the floor.
Lucius grinned at the ceiling stupidly and began to giggle. "There are cow wizards, cousins! Honestly, they're up there, trying to duel each other."
"That's nice." Septina accepted the potion from the Baron, smiling at him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Then he glared at Severus. "You are in my house, I could not turn my back on you like the other houses do. Here."
"I apologize, Baron." Sev accepted the potion from his sister. "It shall not happen again."
"See that it doesn't." He sniffed, then looked at the now sobbing Lucius. "What about him?"
"He'll be fine in the morning. Lord Voldemort was just expressing his displeasure for him taking initiative against certain people." He took a deep swig of it, the drought instantly relaxed his tense nerves.
Finally healed enough to use a little magic, they thanked the Baron again before knocking Lucius out and levitating him. With a swiftness that belied their pain and stiff joints, they headed towards their dormitory. They tucked Luc into bed, spelling it to keep out any cries he might utter. Walking down into the common room, they started their work. "Would it kill that man to give us a warning before he calls us?"
"Of course. That would show consideration for his servants. And one cannot be a dark lord when he shows any pity for his slaves." Sev responded, rubbing his forehead. "Pepper-up?"
"Please." After tossing back the potion, they were silent.
Sirius watched them from the shadows, hands clenched against the pain of betrayal. Bile rose in his throat as he fought against the tears he felt forming. He'd known, or he had assumed he knew, what they were. But to hear this, this calm acceptance, hurt more than he'd believed possible. This was not rumors that he'd often spoke of to his friends. Not rumors his father had told him or stories his mother encouraged him to believe. This was real.
How could he have been so stupid? So blindly idiotic. A few potions lessons and an easy camaraderie formed during the play and he'd let his guard down. Let it down and let them it. He scolded himself as he walked down the hallway and up to the tower.
And Lily was going to be devastated when she learned the truth.
Black eyes hardened. Siri knew that Sev was the driving force behind their actions. He'd always been more a of thinker, waiting years before he enacted his plans. Septina had been the one to actually implement them, when it was decided that action was what they needed and not just the hint of something. She was more impatient, though hid it more carefully than her brother.
How, he pondered, do I take Severus out of the equation without alerting Lily? Because she is my friend. I cannot allow anything to hurt her-even betrayal from her love. He shuddered, wondering if he should let her know about this. Then, he decided against it.
"What are you thinking about?" James asked, relieving Siri of their midnight snack.
Should I tell him? He wondered, mentally shaking his head. Better not. He'd want to tell Lily, then she'd get mad. No, I'd better handle this on my own. But how?
"Siri?" James prodded.
"Just thinking about a close call I had with that blasted cat." He answered, snagging some of the food. "How does your courtship of Lily go?"
James blushed faintly, refusing to meet his friend's twinkling eyes. "It isn't a courtship. She doesn't see me that way."
"That's not what she was telling Septina." Remus yawned, awakening at the sound of their voices. He stretched as he rose and walked towards them. "Anything good?"
"Take your pick." Siri gestured to the horde.
"What were you doing listening to their conversation?" James asked, eyebrows raised in question.
He sat on the floor, cross legged, shrugging. "I assure you it was unintentional. I was passing by and they were just there, talking. When I heard your name, I paid attention."
Walk away from this, his Gryffindor side cautioned. This is an invasion of Lily's privacy, it is wrong to pry. If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you. Oh, stuff it. "What were they saying?"
"Sept just asked how Lily felt since you seemed to be spending a lot of time together."
"And?" James was impatient and interrupted him.
Remus reproved him with a look. "Lily liked the fact that you're not pushing her. That you are patient with her until she gets more comfortable with the idea. She appreciates your friendship and that you are not ignoring that in favor of pursuing something else."
"See, you worry about nothing." Siri said, patting his back. "Keep up the good work."
James sighed. "But you guys don't see the way she looks at Severus Snape. I swear there's something between them."
"Then try talking to her about it."
"Are you daft, Siri?" He exclaimed, smacking his head. "If I do that, she'll accuse me of jealousy. Or worse."
"What could be worse that her thinking you're jealous of that slimy, sneaky, two-faced rat Slytherin?"
"How about driving her further into his arms?" James asked. "Or losing her friendship? You know how she gets about them."
"Which only goes to prove how evil he is." Siri muttered viciously.
Remus was shocked. "Padfoot, I thought you were past that."
He rubbed his head, running a hand through his hair. "Forgive me. It's been a long day."
And though his friends were troubled by his behavior, they let it pass. It was a week later that the idea came to him-the perfect way to get rid of Severus Snape. The question was, did he have the nerve to do it? Severus passed him as he was debating and he raced to catch up to him.
"You want to see something fascinating, Snape?" He questioned as he passed him. "Meet me outside the Whomping Willow in three nights."
"What?" Severus asked, but Sirius was already gone. Black wants to meet me at the Whomping Willow in three nights? For what purpose? They couldn't work on potions in the middle of the night nor did they have any astronomy classes. Besides, that was breaking the rules.
"Severus, a moment of your time." Professor Ecklebury asked.
Snape followed him into an empty classroom, curious despite his distaste for the man. There was something that he felt he should know about him. It was nagging at him. A suspicion that had formed the first moment he'd laid eyes on the professor.
"I have a special project for you." He told him, gesturing for him to sit down. Severus remained standing. Walking to his desk, the professor picked up a thick book. "Back at Durmstrang we'd began work on more archaic potions. I thought that a student of your caliber might be interested in them. You might even be able to update them with a little time and effort."
He accepted the book, flipping though it uninterested-until he found a potion that just might help his sister's visions. "What of my sister?"
"I will agree that she has an astonishing ability for potions. But she doesn't have quite your talent for this, wouldn't you say?" He rested a hand on Sev's arm, fingering the mark. "I have other plans for your sister anyway. She has potential for something more than pedantry fortune telling. And you will not warn her, boy."
Severus couldn't speak. His body was wracked with pain. But his sight became clearer and he knew who stood with him.
The professor grinned as he recognize the look in his eyes. "Took you long enough to realize who I am and that I've been here the whole time. I should think that Pettigrew will be flattered with the results of his work. He hasn't your gift for this. But I believe, my little alchemist, that it is time you took over that job for him. I want a more permanent potion, it is rather wearisome having to renew this disguise every few hours."
"Why?" He gasped.
"Because I can," Ecklebury shrugged. "That fool Dumbledore is so powerful and yet he doesn't see the threat that is living under his very nose. Plus, I need to keep my eye on certain people."
It was a warning.
Severus quirked his eyebrow, earning a crucio for his troubles. "I meant the potion, sir. Why would a person of Pettigrew's abilities make it for you."
"My little Wormatail has his uses." He sighed, resting his hip against the desk. "His potions ability far exceeds my own."
Everyone's ability surpasses your own. Severus kept that thought to himself.
But it seemed he knew what he was thinking anyway. "Yes, I much prefer teaching something I have intimate knowledge of." The professor smiled unpleasantly.
"I've been here from the start of your school year, though I have had to change my appearance regularly to avoid detection. You suspected that I was your Defense teacher, so I had to leave. Thankfully, I came back and have existed quite peacefully here every year." He paused, a sinister smile crossing his face as a thin, bony finger ran down the Slytherin boy's face. "Remind me to thank your sister for her generous gift in person."
Pushing away from him, he strode to the door and tossed something at his feet. Once there, he hissed a command. "Make that potion for me. Now!" The door closed behind him.
Severus stayed on the floor, riddled with pain from the unreleased crucio curse.
Just after Siri left Severus:
Lily was relaxing with Septina, just watching as the clouds rolled by. They were silent for a while, just enjoying the quiet. "I never noticed how different the sky over Hogwarts is." She spoke softly.
"It's spelled to protect us, much like the wards around the school." Septina told her. Then she tensed up and drew herself into the fetal position, rocking back and forth. Tears tried to escape but she held them back. "Get me away from here." She hissed through clenched teeth, barely managing to stand up.
Lily nodded, going over to her side. With one arm around her waist, the other grabbed her arm to help her balance, and together they stumbled towards the Quidditch shed. Both girls were pale, Lily had inadvertedly pulled some of the pain into herself. "Is it Sev?"
The Slytherin nodded, breathing heavily.
"Why haven't you two worked on a shielding system?" She asked, exasperation shoving aside her worry. "The two of you are smart enough to figure out the most complex things but the obvious is hard for you to see. How are you going to survive out there?"
"Lily, we've tried shielding. It only works when we are given a chance to put it up. And it doesn't hold for long periods of time." Here she looked at Lily and gave her a pale imitation of her smirk. "Well, you always wondered if we had flaws."
"Hush." She scolded, glaring fiercely. "I'm thinking."
"Going against house tradition?" Black eyes closed in pain. "Won't that be bad for the Gryffindor image?"
The redhead remained silent, immune to the jabs by now. Deeply concerned about her friends, still feeling the pain run through her body, she knew she had to help.
It was darkening when they made their way back to the school. Lucius was waiting. He nodded tersely at Lily before taking Septina in his arms. "Potter's looking for you."
An eyebrow rose in surprise. The blonde Slytherin was being nice to her? Well, not nice, she corrected. And he wasn't exactly polite, but he wasn't acting like himself. "Thank you." Giving the cousins one last scrutinizing look, she walked down the hall.
"Sev?" Septina asked, curled in her cousin's surprisingly gentle embrace.
"Looks terrible." Lucius answered, heading for the dungeons but away from their dormitory. "He's in one of the labs." He explained before she asked where they were going.
Her eyes closed wearily, letting Luc take care of her. In the back of her mind, something warned her that this was not going to last. He was not always going to take care of her best interests. She told it to be still, the future would take care of itself. And right now, she wanted to be cared for.
Lucius felt her trust in him and felt proud, as well as embarrassed by her ability to reach him. Then he was angry with himself, this was what he wanted. For her to need him like others did, instead of the other way around. Make up your mind, Lucius, either you want them to need you or you don't. How can you expect them to know what you want when you don't know?
He placed her by Severus, watching as they connected. It never failed to amaze him that they could share their powers so completely, so easily. "If you don't mind my saying this, you two need to work on your shielding." Lucius said, once he felt it was safe to speak. There was always the fear that if one spoke to soon, it would break their concentration and hurt them.
'Should I tell him Lily said almost the same thing?' Septina asked tiredly.
'I don't think that would be wise-unless you can fight him.' He responded. "We know Luc, and we have been trying-as far as Voldemort will allow us to. It may have escaped your notice, but he adores it when his minions are writhing in sheer agony."
Being tired sure doesn't dull his bite, Lucius thought. "And he prefers to have you both at his mercy."
"Double the pain, double his pleasure." She muttered, pushing herself up gingerly. With her back resting against a table leg, she turned to Sev. "So, what happened exactly?"
"Professor Ecklebury." Flat.
No other explanation was needed, at least for her.
Lucius looked between the two, shaking his head. "Every time I talk to you, I always feel left out of the loop. Is there something I should know about him?"
"Only that which I chose to tell you." A voice hissed and the windows rattled. "Crucio!" Followed quickly by, "petrificus totalus!"
Screams tore from their throats at the words. Crucio was bad enough but without being able to move, the pain was intensified.
"Be silent!"
Lips were instantly sealed, turning white from the strain.
***
The palantir suddenly started to glow, causing all three to become active balls of light. Sauron turned from his Nazgul and focus his intense eyes on it. Pain exploded in his mind. Connection, long forgotten, was reestablished. A life he'd once know. A place he vaguely recalled. There were two there who called to him.
A call that was abruptly ended for fear of what? An answer? But who would need him so much? Who would be able to call him? To reach through his layers of protection? Dark hair and eyes. Trust in them. Willing to accept all he did to them. Children. His own.
His children were in pain.
"Leave." He growled, silken voice shaken. "And see that I am not disturbed." Without question, they did what he commanded. What could this possibly mean? It made no sense. He had never been anywhere but here, in this world. Even when he had died, he had remained bound here by the ring's continued existence.
Sitting on his chair, he rested his head on his hand and stared into the palantir. "Show me all that I am missing." He commanded.
Flashes.
Light.
Color.
Disturbances.
In another part of the castle, Lily was searching for James. She wasn't trying that hard, her mind couldn't stop thinking about Septina's face when the pain hit her. It was merely a shadow of the pain that must have passed through Severus.
Professor MacGonagal watched as she passed by, worried by the lack of expression on her face. Ever since Poppy had taken her into confidence, she'd watched the trio. It had stunned her to see how normal, how real the Slytherin teens seemed to be. They weren't monsters at all.
She had then turned her attention towards others of the house and found that the younger ones were like other children. It was only as they got older that they seemed to harden, to become set on a path of destruction.
"Lily." She softly called, trying not to startle her. "Are you all right?"
Green eyes turned towards her, harsh until they saw the sympathy in her eyes. Her Head of House understood, to a certain degree, the situation surrounding the twins. "I am but..." Instantly, she stoppered her lips by biting them.
"The twins aren't." Minerva finished for her.
Fear crossed the redhead's face, afraid of what she would say. Unlike her friends, she couldn't lash out at her.
"You have no reason to fear me or them. I have been watching and thinking a lot about what I have seen. And Headmaster Dumbledore has told me about certain abilities of the young Snapes.
The Gryffindor relaxed slightly. "I know of the visions. They cause such pain to her and her brother."
"Of course." Her face was closed over her thoughts, though this was a surprise. Albus had hinted of possible empathetic abilities, not psychic ones. "Did you witness one? Is that what troubles you?"
"No. I was with Sept when she experienced some of the pain her brother was feeling. Apparently, the two share pain and have a hard time preventing it. I wondered if there was anyway to strengthen their mental shields against the invasion."
They walked down the hall, the transfiguration teacher thinking. "I would hesitate to suggest anything that interferes with another's power center but there are certain metals or charms that could help." Her hand rose in caution, silencing Lily's thanks cold. "I said could. That does not mean that they will work. No one, at least on the side of light, has ever needed to do such things. It smacks of the dark arts."
"Why?" Lily asked, careful to appear subdued.
"Mainly because doing so disrupts the balance inside a wizard by employing an outside force to control that which should be controlled naturally." Minerva answered.
Lily nodded, understanding. "What it they do it themselves? Won't it be their magic that helps them in addition to the outside force, like when we take a potion?"
"Lily, if they need that kind of help to shield themselves, they aren't strong enough to perform the spells required to activate that force." She paused, resting a hand on her shoulder. "As for a potion, that leaves your system once its work is done. But a charm or medallion to help them focus would be addictive and dangerous. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could cause permanent damage or be used to control them."
The redhead nodded. "I understand."
"You won't try to do this, will you?" She asked, concerned for her student.
"It wouldn't be a very Gryffindor thing to do, would it?" She mused softly, then smiled pleasantly. "Thank you for your help, Professor MacGonagal. I'll see you at dinner."
Minerva watched her walk away, uneasily aware that she hadn't answered her question.
They may not be strong enough but I am, she thought as she left her teacher's sight.
'Are you sure you want to do that?'
'Have I any choice?' Lily asked, musingly.
'We all have choices, Lily.'
'I may be in the wrong, aunt, but I can't let them continue to suffer when I know that I can help them.'
'Them or him?' Pointed question.
She was silent, thinking it over. 'I wish I knew.' She finally answered.
Gryffindor Common Room:
"Remus, you know metallurgy better than anyone. What metal is most conducive to strengthening one's control?" She asked without preamble, sitting by her sketching friend.
"Why?" He asked, continuing to draw in his notepad.
"Just curious." She responded, leaning back. With her eyes closed, she tried to focus on finding her canter as she'd been taught. It was harder to do with all the thoughts racing around inside her mind.
"Lily, are you in there?" James teased, tapping her on the head as he walked by.
She swatted at his hand, irritable. I was so close, she sighed.
He sat beside her, ignoring her frown when he put his arm on the back of the couch. "I've been looking for you. Where were you?"
"Studying cloud formations with Septina."
"Stud...you were watching clouds with Miss 'if I relax, I'll fall apart' Snape?" Siri was disbelieving.
Her eyes narrowed before opening up wide, a twinkle of mischief in them. "You want to know something, Siri? With the way you keep obsessing over the twins, I have to wonder if you like one of them. So, tell me, which catches your fancy? I might be able to put in a good word for you."
He choked. "Lily Evans, you take that back!"
"Why? Truth hurt?" She teased, "To my muggle born mind, your long standing interest in them indicates strong feelings." It was sharp, but playfully said. "And, as they say, there is a thin line between love and hate."
"I don't think about either of them in that way." He shuddered. What was wrong with Lily? She never used to act in such a vindictive manner. It only made him more determined to cut the twins-mainly Severus-out of her life.
Peter stared at her from his position in the corner, startled by her harshness. Was this why his master didn't interfere with their friendship though it went against his dogma? Did he see some potential for darkness in the Gryffindor girl that they had missed? He shook his head, ridding himself of such thoughts. If he was to know, he would be told.
Over dinner, Peter kept sending covert looks between the Slytherin table and Professor Ecklebury, who refused to stop watching him. It seemed like he was trying to tell him to look for something specific at the other table. Then he noticed it and could have cursed himself for being blind enough to miss it. Conspicuous by their absence were the twins and Lucius Malfoy. Once he realized this, he bowed slightly to the professor-who turned away in response.
The professor left Peter in peace once he was sure the lad had understood. He turned his attention to his dinner partner and tried to engage Professor MacGonagal in a discussion. Minerva was being most uncooperative and watched the Slytherin table with more interest than he felt necessary. It was bad enough he had that fool Dumbledore to deal with. And thinking of the old bat, he turned his gaze towards him. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he saw that he was watching that table as well.
Albus noticed their absence with a frown. Lucius' absence didn't particularly worry him but the twins were another matter. He'd been informed of certain...peculiarities in them. Peculiarities that would prove valuable to anyone who engaged the two. If the past was any indication, Voldemort now had them in his clutches. He'd be damned if he allowed them to remain there. The question resting on his mind was, how to rescue them.
The twins were prickly and trusted only one person, save their cousin: Lily.
It seemed that the words he'd spoken in jest on that night so long ago were more accurate than he'd ever dreamed possible.
Once they were dismissed, Peter excused himself. "I need to redo a potions assignment." He explained when Sirius pressed him.
"Pettigrew, my faithful rat. How are things with you?" The professor asked, leading him away from the office.
"Well." He was following after him, wondering what was wrong.
"Excellent. You'll be happy to know that I've found an alchemist to help me."
Peter gulped, seeing the double doors before him. He realized, only to late, where he'd been led. A sound of hissing from the professor opened the doors, revealing the dark room within.
"Isn't that wonderful?" He spoke, the genial facade slowly disintegrating to reveal-Tom Riddle.
"Of course." Peter pushed the doors open the rest of the way, careful to avoid the snakes that hissed at him. They disliked him as much as he feared them. He knew they only tolerated him because of his master's favor.
Tom strolled by, ignoring the writhing bodies, though they called out to him. He stood in front of a mirror and smiled grimly, waiting.
Peter closed the doors firmly and slid the bolt into place, though he knew that only his master could open the doors. Going up to him, he removed the outer robes, then slid the chair across the floor. On a table, he placed a decanter of chardonnay and a snifter before drawing him a bath.
"I suppose I should just charm myself and be done with the potion...but someone might see through it, though I did get rid of that featherhead Flitwick. Then there are, unfortunately, spells that could disrupt the illusion, wouldn't you agree? And Professor Kryton has asked for my help in teaching her class some of them." He sighed, "Curse me for my inability to refuse a lady anything. Besides, there is something so elegant about a potion that works as smoothly as polyjuice."
"You know best, master." He replied, testing the water. Once it was warm enough, he rose and helped his master ready himself for the bath.
"Yes, I do." He replied, smugly. Relaxing back into the water with a sigh of pleasure, he lazily accepted the snifter. "Pettigrew, go release my precious trio once you've finished with me."
"I obey your every whim, sir." The Gryffindor was quiet. He ignored the stab of outraged pride that had gotten him into Gryffindor in the first place. Thought I'd gotten rid of that darn thing, he mused, waiting for his next command. Everything he had, he had because of the man before him.
Orphaned.
Unwanted.
Alone.
He'd wandered from place to place, until a bit of accidental destructive magic had caught Lord Voldemort's eye. Raised to serve him, no matter the task asked of him. And he knew just what he owed the man. He owed him everything. His own life, should he ever have need of it. A life he would willingly give to him.
The deep, seemingly all knowing eyes turned to him, cutting into the thoughts. "Peter, my own, you must do something for me now. In that potions notebook of Severus', I'm sure you'll find something that can help my trio. Go on and get to work."
Peter rose to his feet and stumbled to the book, flipping through it. Written in a most elegant but strict hand were the most complex potion recipes he'd ever seen. Gulping, he found the one his master had indicated. Steadying his hands, he proceeded to follow the recipe. Once the mixture was completed, he left it to simmer and turned to help Voldemort ready for his evening ritual.
"I have no further need of you, Pettigrew." Dismissal.
Peter grabbed the potion and poured it into three glasses. It was thick, with a sickly bluish color. The smell it produced twisted his stomach in knots but he picked them up anyway.
"Use this."
The Gryffindor accepted the key with careful fingers and suddenly found himself outside a classroom in an empty hallway. Carefully balancing the shakes in mid-air, he opened a doorway through the spells surrounding the room and entered, sealing it behind him. It wouldn't do for anyone to stumble by and see this.
He looked around for them and his eyes nearly popped out of his face when he saw them. On the floor, frozen in pain, was the trio. It was truly remarkable that they were still conscious considering the amount of pain that was traveling through them and how long it had been doing so.
With a heartfelt sigh, he set the drinks down on the desk and withdrew his wand. Of all the things his master did, prolonged torture was the one Peter hated the most. He especially hated having to clean up after him. "Finite incantatum." He intoned slowly so that they wouldn't go into shock at the release.
They fell onto their backs, raspy breaths choked the air. Bile and blood escaped from their lips, no longer a healthy red color. After a long silence, they recovered enough to sit up and look at him expectantly.
"Here." He offered the drinks to them with an uneasy smile.
Severus looked at it, then up at him suspiciously. His nose detected nothing evil in the drink and he shrugged. Lifting it to his lips, he drank it slowly. The potion instantly went to work and he twitched as it relieved his aches and pains. "Most effective. I congratulate you, Pettigrew. For a Gryffindor, your skills are quite tolerable."
"It wasn't much. I just followed one of your recipes." He shuffled his foot nervously, avoiding the power and fury in their combined glares.
"Ah, yes. My most recent creation."
"Mater wants to know if you're completed his potion." He was staring at his feet now.
Severus answered flatly. "No. I have not."
Peter's eyes widened. "But he's almost out and expecting it!"
"Well, then, he shouldn't have tortured me all afternoon." Severus was dry. "I cannot work when I'm shaking and breathing is something that has to be commanded."
"You may have a point." A thoughtful voice said from behind Peter. "But I cannot allow you to be so insolent towards me."
"Yes, you can." Septina spoke authoritatively. But it wasn't her voice. With a power that wasn't her own, she rose from the floor and flung him back. "It is not yet time to puff yourself up with arrogance and conceit, boy. If you persist in this foolishness, you will fail."
"How dare you?" Voldemort rose, his wand in hand as he faced her.
"Accio!" The wand floated her way, she leveled a glare at him. In a voice of suppressed fury, and without turning from him, she jerked her hand. Peter's wand came to her. "Impedimenta!" They were frozen in place. Holding both wands idly, she stared at them. "Why do you persist in playing this game, Tommy? You know that you are no match for me."
It was the calling him Tommy that finally alerted him. Though it burned, he humbly knelt on the ground. "Sauron. I had thought you gone."
"Nothing is ever certain were I am concerned." Smirk. "And you have not answered my question."
"Forgive me my indulgence."
"Indulge yourself all you desire-on your less worthy followers. Leave my children be. They will be no good to you insensible and riddled with pain." As suddenly as he came, Sauron departed.
Lucius caught her, then handed the wands to Voldemort. "I think we'll be going now." He was terribly shaken by this. It had been scary enough to see her stand up to him, to attack Lord Voldemort. But finding out that it was Sauron doing so was terrifying.
And what had he meant, his children?
Sev and Sept lay on his bed, Luc resting between them. It was still, save the glow surrounding them as their pains were healed. An extra strong shield surrounded them. Finally, Sev spoke. "I thought you said he wouldn't come back?"
"I did."
"Then how do you explain what happened tonight?" He shifted so that he could see her easier.
"I don't." She yawned, closing her eyes. "He must be closer to us than we thought."
"Is Sauron really your father?" Luc asked, entering the conversation.
Severus sighed and touched his cousin's forehead. "Oblivate." Then he put him to sleep.
She didn't say anything. There was no need. "At least we know that father is still watching out for us."
"But for how long?" Sev asked, unable to let it rest for the night. "Once we leave this school, we need to have a strong guardian. If we don't, we will become volatile. Unstable. Uncontrollable. As of this moment, there is only one who might be able to guide us: Voldemort."
Septina was contemplative, deep in her thoughts. She opened her eyes at last to look up at his questioning expression. "Maybe that's why we have become close to Lily. As the Pendragon, she has what it takes to control us."
"She's a Gryffindor. I doubt her ability to see it as anything but evil and manipulative, though it would be anything but." He was quiet.
"Sev, this is the same woman who sees the dark arts as just magic." It was a blunt reply.
"And she barely understands what she is. How can we expect her to take us in hand and lead us?" He pressed.
"There's always Professor Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore. The wizard who cannot see the threat that is under his very nose?"
She was silent.
"Quite right." He nodded. "Voldemort it is."
Lily suddenly woke up and carefully rose, pulling on a robe. Quietly, she picked up her wand and waved it over herself. "Deletrius."
Slipping out of the tower, she made her way into the Slytherin dorm. Over time, it had become a second home to her. Up the stairs she walked and into Severus' room, frowning when she saw Lucius on the bed. But, since they were hurting, she held her peace. She listened to them talking, the frown on her face deepening when she heard Sev erase Lucius' mind about their relation to Sauron.
Once it became obvious that they were sleeping, she shook her head. 'Silly Slytherin, how do you know how I'd react to your asking for my help?' She moved Luc onto his own bed, smirking at him when he whined. Then she quickly snipped off a lock of their hair and charmed them to keep them separate before putting them in her pocket.
Going into the bathroom back at her dorm, she cut off 2 locks of her own hair. Braiding first one pair, then the other, she bound them with a whispered. "Comiugo."
'Now all I need is the perfect metal and symbol.' Lily went to bed, satisfied with her actions. As tired as she was, she barely remembered to whisper. "Aparecium."
Voldemort watched them go, shaking his head at Peter's inquiring look. Once they were gone, he turned to face him. "Incendio!" He cursed, watching the flames dance over his skin. After a moment, he released him. It wasn't the same. "Be gone, Pettigrew." He handed him the wand and watched the boy scurry off.
Torturing the twins gave him a heady sense of power. Of unquestionable authority. The fact that they could take a lot of pain also was a challenge. He wanted to see just how far he could push before they broke. But it also filled him with a charge of energy. Could it be possible that their relation to a dark lord of Sauron's power gave them an essence, an ability to turn pain into power?
Or maybe, I just kick a kick out of inflicting pain on my ex-partner's children. Sauron had spent much of their partnership humiliating him. It only made him burn to get revenge. Since he couldn't strike out at him, it made sense that he attack the ones his superior had created and left behind.
Sauron sighed as he left his daughter's body. It had been hard to cross back into that other world but his rage had given him strength and power. How dare that moronic, no talent, two bit wizard violate his children in such a brutal fashion? Did he honestly believe that he was beyond my reach?
Granted, he was but only temporarily. Soon, he'd have his ring back-or it would be destroyed. Either way, his power would return to him.
And then there would be a reckoning, the kind of which neither world had ever seen before.
Lucius paced around the dorm room. For the first time he could ever recall, he was nervous. In his mind, he knew that he truly had the power over the twins because their relationship was familial. A hint, a whisper from him and they would lose it all. The respect, the position they held in Slytherin- though it had lessened to an extent. He also realized that they could care less. It was irritating and upsetting to one who was used to getting his way all the time.
But what really frustrated him was the fact that he cared about them.
Here he was, heir to everything their families had (mainly because he looked like the heir) and the center of all the action. Yet he couldn't stop worrying about his cousins. He didn't like seeing them excluded from Slytherin activities-even if he had started the process. And seeing them come in, tired from their meetings with Lord Voldemort worried him more than he liked. Was it possible that working for him was not such a blessed thing?
It simply couldn't be.
Then there was that Evans creature. True, it had upset him that they turned to a mudblood for acceptance but they were family. And, as far as mudbloods went, Lily wasn't that bad. Though he wasn't willing to go around and braid ropes of flowers for her hair or proclaim it to the wizarding world, but she wasn't that bad. There was something different about her that year, they'd all taken notice of it. She exuded an air of confidence half-breeds weren't capable of.
When his hearing picked up the tread of footsteps, he composed his features and sat down.
Severus walked in. Lucius could tell from the weariness on his face and in his movements that things hadn't gone well. Or maybe they had and this was Lord Voldemort's way of showing his appreciation for all his servants did. Again, doubt nagged his mind.
Severus saw that Lucius was waiting for him. He cursed, forgetting that he'd been agreeing to talk to him all week. Part of him had been thinking that his cousin would give it up after being brushed off continuously. Obviously, Luc was more sincere than they had originally thought.
"Is Sept all right?" Luc asked quietly.
"No." His answer was short. "The play seems to be having an averse affect on her. Though I can't say that the tensions the play evokes are relieved by the intense loyalty of the houses, especially between our house and Gryffindor."
The first words from Severus mouth sunk Lucius' heart, though it was hidden carefully. It was obvious that they hadn't given much thought to his request. Squelching down his feelings, he rose gracefully and smiled. "Please, sit down. I'll listen to whatever you have to say. Or I'll just enjoy the quiet with you."
Severus sat down on the trunk and sighed, wincing in pain. Rather than mock him for his inability to meet his Lord's standards, Lucius went to the potions container that Sev had and handed him one of them. "Thank you." He grudgingly said, almost jumping in shock when a pair of hands began to knead his shoulders.
"Relax, cousin. Strangulation is not only messy but a trifle inelegant." He chuckled.
"Again, thank you." Sev finally responded, relaxing under the firm ministrations. His eyes half closed as he leaned forward, resting his head on his arms.
"I take it things aren't well in the land of Gryffindor?" Lucius gently pried, keeping anything scornful out of his voice with little effort. He was too worried about his cousin to work up his natural distaste.
"Everything's fine there." Severus answered slowly, half asleep. "Voldemort was in one of his peculiar moods tonight. He wants to meet you." He dropped that tidbit casually.
The hands tightened in shock and he forced his cousin to look at him. "What?"
"Your hearing going, Luc?" Thin lips twisted in a smirk. "Or were you unaware that he's been testing your self-control and ability to wait on his desires?"
Much the same words Pettigrew had used, he mused. "No. I thought he'd rejected me."
Severus stood and changed into bedclothes. "You were unprepared to meet him. You have a tendency to be impulsive, flighty. And that displeased his high and mightiness." The warning was clear in his voice, as was his meaning.
"I still cannot believe that he is interested in such an impure specimen. But if this is the result of my actions, I am glad I relented."
"How lovely for you. Get off my bed, cousin." Severus snapped, pulling the covers back. With a wicked grin, he bade him a good night with a whispered. "She's as pure as you-possibly purer. Have a pleasant night."
Lucius turned and stared at him in shock. Unfortunately, his cousin already seemed to be sleeping and he couldn't question him. Severus was dangerous if one woke him without a good reason-albeit he accepted very few reasons as good ones. He was left to ponder the cryptic words in the dark. A chill filled his soul as he wondered what would happen when he meet the dark lord.
Severus smirked to himself, careful to keep his face blank. He knew exactly what he'd done to his cousin and refused to feel bad about it. Let his cousin stew in his own juices for a while, it wouldn't hurt him any.
'Sev, you're being petty.'
'And you wouldn't have done the same thing in my position?' Skeptical. 'You're such a hypocrite, scolding me for doing something you would do yourself given the chance.'
'I didn't say that. I'm just trying to bring your mind to caution. You need to be careful.'
'I will be. But you sure know how to ruin my fun.'
'Your idea of fun could run you foul with Voldemort. He will not like damaged goods.' Laughter. 'I'm also sure that you'll find some way to pay me back'
'Count on it.' A definite threat. 'Love you.'
'I love you, too. Night, Sev.'
'Night, Sept.'
Two weeks later:
(A few weeks before the end of the sixth year)
Lucius was waiting for them and silently the trio made their way to the meeting place.
"Lucius Malfoy." A voice drawled from the shadows. "So kind of you to come. I have heard much about you." And with no further warning than that, Voldemort materialized in front of the trio.
The dark lord was not what Lucius had expected to see. He was not physically impressive but there was something about him that made him bend his knees in obeisance to him. "Master."
A wicked smile twisted his lips as he studied him, reading his soul. "Your cousin is truly a beautiful specimen. Cruel. Cunning. Somewhat reckless. Worthy of his relationship with you. Would you mind if I borrowed him?"
"No, Lord." They murmured, moving to join the other death-eaters. It took all their considerable self-control to prevent wincing and to carry on normal conversation with the sound of his tortured screams in the background.
Later:
Septina and Severus half-dragged, half-carried him back to Hogwarts. Lucius was insensate with pain and delirium. At the doorway near one of the kitchens, the Bloody Baron stood, waiting. "I do not understand why you subject yourselves to this horror." He scolded as he moved to the side.
"Baron, you know you don't have to help." Severus said tiredly, falling onto the floor.
Lucius grinned at the ceiling stupidly and began to giggle. "There are cow wizards, cousins! Honestly, they're up there, trying to duel each other."
"That's nice." Septina accepted the potion from the Baron, smiling at him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Then he glared at Severus. "You are in my house, I could not turn my back on you like the other houses do. Here."
"I apologize, Baron." Sev accepted the potion from his sister. "It shall not happen again."
"See that it doesn't." He sniffed, then looked at the now sobbing Lucius. "What about him?"
"He'll be fine in the morning. Lord Voldemort was just expressing his displeasure for him taking initiative against certain people." He took a deep swig of it, the drought instantly relaxed his tense nerves.
Finally healed enough to use a little magic, they thanked the Baron again before knocking Lucius out and levitating him. With a swiftness that belied their pain and stiff joints, they headed towards their dormitory. They tucked Luc into bed, spelling it to keep out any cries he might utter. Walking down into the common room, they started their work. "Would it kill that man to give us a warning before he calls us?"
"Of course. That would show consideration for his servants. And one cannot be a dark lord when he shows any pity for his slaves." Sev responded, rubbing his forehead. "Pepper-up?"
"Please." After tossing back the potion, they were silent.
Sirius watched them from the shadows, hands clenched against the pain of betrayal. Bile rose in his throat as he fought against the tears he felt forming. He'd known, or he had assumed he knew, what they were. But to hear this, this calm acceptance, hurt more than he'd believed possible. This was not rumors that he'd often spoke of to his friends. Not rumors his father had told him or stories his mother encouraged him to believe. This was real.
How could he have been so stupid? So blindly idiotic. A few potions lessons and an easy camaraderie formed during the play and he'd let his guard down. Let it down and let them it. He scolded himself as he walked down the hallway and up to the tower.
And Lily was going to be devastated when she learned the truth.
Black eyes hardened. Siri knew that Sev was the driving force behind their actions. He'd always been more a of thinker, waiting years before he enacted his plans. Septina had been the one to actually implement them, when it was decided that action was what they needed and not just the hint of something. She was more impatient, though hid it more carefully than her brother.
How, he pondered, do I take Severus out of the equation without alerting Lily? Because she is my friend. I cannot allow anything to hurt her-even betrayal from her love. He shuddered, wondering if he should let her know about this. Then, he decided against it.
"What are you thinking about?" James asked, relieving Siri of their midnight snack.
Should I tell him? He wondered, mentally shaking his head. Better not. He'd want to tell Lily, then she'd get mad. No, I'd better handle this on my own. But how?
"Siri?" James prodded.
"Just thinking about a close call I had with that blasted cat." He answered, snagging some of the food. "How does your courtship of Lily go?"
James blushed faintly, refusing to meet his friend's twinkling eyes. "It isn't a courtship. She doesn't see me that way."
"That's not what she was telling Septina." Remus yawned, awakening at the sound of their voices. He stretched as he rose and walked towards them. "Anything good?"
"Take your pick." Siri gestured to the horde.
"What were you doing listening to their conversation?" James asked, eyebrows raised in question.
He sat on the floor, cross legged, shrugging. "I assure you it was unintentional. I was passing by and they were just there, talking. When I heard your name, I paid attention."
Walk away from this, his Gryffindor side cautioned. This is an invasion of Lily's privacy, it is wrong to pry. If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you. Oh, stuff it. "What were they saying?"
"Sept just asked how Lily felt since you seemed to be spending a lot of time together."
"And?" James was impatient and interrupted him.
Remus reproved him with a look. "Lily liked the fact that you're not pushing her. That you are patient with her until she gets more comfortable with the idea. She appreciates your friendship and that you are not ignoring that in favor of pursuing something else."
"See, you worry about nothing." Siri said, patting his back. "Keep up the good work."
James sighed. "But you guys don't see the way she looks at Severus Snape. I swear there's something between them."
"Then try talking to her about it."
"Are you daft, Siri?" He exclaimed, smacking his head. "If I do that, she'll accuse me of jealousy. Or worse."
"What could be worse that her thinking you're jealous of that slimy, sneaky, two-faced rat Slytherin?"
"How about driving her further into his arms?" James asked. "Or losing her friendship? You know how she gets about them."
"Which only goes to prove how evil he is." Siri muttered viciously.
Remus was shocked. "Padfoot, I thought you were past that."
He rubbed his head, running a hand through his hair. "Forgive me. It's been a long day."
And though his friends were troubled by his behavior, they let it pass. It was a week later that the idea came to him-the perfect way to get rid of Severus Snape. The question was, did he have the nerve to do it? Severus passed him as he was debating and he raced to catch up to him.
"You want to see something fascinating, Snape?" He questioned as he passed him. "Meet me outside the Whomping Willow in three nights."
"What?" Severus asked, but Sirius was already gone. Black wants to meet me at the Whomping Willow in three nights? For what purpose? They couldn't work on potions in the middle of the night nor did they have any astronomy classes. Besides, that was breaking the rules.
"Severus, a moment of your time." Professor Ecklebury asked.
Snape followed him into an empty classroom, curious despite his distaste for the man. There was something that he felt he should know about him. It was nagging at him. A suspicion that had formed the first moment he'd laid eyes on the professor.
"I have a special project for you." He told him, gesturing for him to sit down. Severus remained standing. Walking to his desk, the professor picked up a thick book. "Back at Durmstrang we'd began work on more archaic potions. I thought that a student of your caliber might be interested in them. You might even be able to update them with a little time and effort."
He accepted the book, flipping though it uninterested-until he found a potion that just might help his sister's visions. "What of my sister?"
"I will agree that she has an astonishing ability for potions. But she doesn't have quite your talent for this, wouldn't you say?" He rested a hand on Sev's arm, fingering the mark. "I have other plans for your sister anyway. She has potential for something more than pedantry fortune telling. And you will not warn her, boy."
Severus couldn't speak. His body was wracked with pain. But his sight became clearer and he knew who stood with him.
The professor grinned as he recognize the look in his eyes. "Took you long enough to realize who I am and that I've been here the whole time. I should think that Pettigrew will be flattered with the results of his work. He hasn't your gift for this. But I believe, my little alchemist, that it is time you took over that job for him. I want a more permanent potion, it is rather wearisome having to renew this disguise every few hours."
"Why?" He gasped.
"Because I can," Ecklebury shrugged. "That fool Dumbledore is so powerful and yet he doesn't see the threat that is living under his very nose. Plus, I need to keep my eye on certain people."
It was a warning.
Severus quirked his eyebrow, earning a crucio for his troubles. "I meant the potion, sir. Why would a person of Pettigrew's abilities make it for you."
"My little Wormatail has his uses." He sighed, resting his hip against the desk. "His potions ability far exceeds my own."
Everyone's ability surpasses your own. Severus kept that thought to himself.
But it seemed he knew what he was thinking anyway. "Yes, I much prefer teaching something I have intimate knowledge of." The professor smiled unpleasantly.
"I've been here from the start of your school year, though I have had to change my appearance regularly to avoid detection. You suspected that I was your Defense teacher, so I had to leave. Thankfully, I came back and have existed quite peacefully here every year." He paused, a sinister smile crossing his face as a thin, bony finger ran down the Slytherin boy's face. "Remind me to thank your sister for her generous gift in person."
Pushing away from him, he strode to the door and tossed something at his feet. Once there, he hissed a command. "Make that potion for me. Now!" The door closed behind him.
Severus stayed on the floor, riddled with pain from the unreleased crucio curse.
Just after Siri left Severus:
Lily was relaxing with Septina, just watching as the clouds rolled by. They were silent for a while, just enjoying the quiet. "I never noticed how different the sky over Hogwarts is." She spoke softly.
"It's spelled to protect us, much like the wards around the school." Septina told her. Then she tensed up and drew herself into the fetal position, rocking back and forth. Tears tried to escape but she held them back. "Get me away from here." She hissed through clenched teeth, barely managing to stand up.
Lily nodded, going over to her side. With one arm around her waist, the other grabbed her arm to help her balance, and together they stumbled towards the Quidditch shed. Both girls were pale, Lily had inadvertedly pulled some of the pain into herself. "Is it Sev?"
The Slytherin nodded, breathing heavily.
"Why haven't you two worked on a shielding system?" She asked, exasperation shoving aside her worry. "The two of you are smart enough to figure out the most complex things but the obvious is hard for you to see. How are you going to survive out there?"
"Lily, we've tried shielding. It only works when we are given a chance to put it up. And it doesn't hold for long periods of time." Here she looked at Lily and gave her a pale imitation of her smirk. "Well, you always wondered if we had flaws."
"Hush." She scolded, glaring fiercely. "I'm thinking."
"Going against house tradition?" Black eyes closed in pain. "Won't that be bad for the Gryffindor image?"
The redhead remained silent, immune to the jabs by now. Deeply concerned about her friends, still feeling the pain run through her body, she knew she had to help.
It was darkening when they made their way back to the school. Lucius was waiting. He nodded tersely at Lily before taking Septina in his arms. "Potter's looking for you."
An eyebrow rose in surprise. The blonde Slytherin was being nice to her? Well, not nice, she corrected. And he wasn't exactly polite, but he wasn't acting like himself. "Thank you." Giving the cousins one last scrutinizing look, she walked down the hall.
"Sev?" Septina asked, curled in her cousin's surprisingly gentle embrace.
"Looks terrible." Lucius answered, heading for the dungeons but away from their dormitory. "He's in one of the labs." He explained before she asked where they were going.
Her eyes closed wearily, letting Luc take care of her. In the back of her mind, something warned her that this was not going to last. He was not always going to take care of her best interests. She told it to be still, the future would take care of itself. And right now, she wanted to be cared for.
Lucius felt her trust in him and felt proud, as well as embarrassed by her ability to reach him. Then he was angry with himself, this was what he wanted. For her to need him like others did, instead of the other way around. Make up your mind, Lucius, either you want them to need you or you don't. How can you expect them to know what you want when you don't know?
He placed her by Severus, watching as they connected. It never failed to amaze him that they could share their powers so completely, so easily. "If you don't mind my saying this, you two need to work on your shielding." Lucius said, once he felt it was safe to speak. There was always the fear that if one spoke to soon, it would break their concentration and hurt them.
'Should I tell him Lily said almost the same thing?' Septina asked tiredly.
'I don't think that would be wise-unless you can fight him.' He responded. "We know Luc, and we have been trying-as far as Voldemort will allow us to. It may have escaped your notice, but he adores it when his minions are writhing in sheer agony."
Being tired sure doesn't dull his bite, Lucius thought. "And he prefers to have you both at his mercy."
"Double the pain, double his pleasure." She muttered, pushing herself up gingerly. With her back resting against a table leg, she turned to Sev. "So, what happened exactly?"
"Professor Ecklebury." Flat.
No other explanation was needed, at least for her.
Lucius looked between the two, shaking his head. "Every time I talk to you, I always feel left out of the loop. Is there something I should know about him?"
"Only that which I chose to tell you." A voice hissed and the windows rattled. "Crucio!" Followed quickly by, "petrificus totalus!"
Screams tore from their throats at the words. Crucio was bad enough but without being able to move, the pain was intensified.
"Be silent!"
Lips were instantly sealed, turning white from the strain.
***
The palantir suddenly started to glow, causing all three to become active balls of light. Sauron turned from his Nazgul and focus his intense eyes on it. Pain exploded in his mind. Connection, long forgotten, was reestablished. A life he'd once know. A place he vaguely recalled. There were two there who called to him.
A call that was abruptly ended for fear of what? An answer? But who would need him so much? Who would be able to call him? To reach through his layers of protection? Dark hair and eyes. Trust in them. Willing to accept all he did to them. Children. His own.
His children were in pain.
"Leave." He growled, silken voice shaken. "And see that I am not disturbed." Without question, they did what he commanded. What could this possibly mean? It made no sense. He had never been anywhere but here, in this world. Even when he had died, he had remained bound here by the ring's continued existence.
Sitting on his chair, he rested his head on his hand and stared into the palantir. "Show me all that I am missing." He commanded.
Flashes.
Light.
Color.
Disturbances.
In another part of the castle, Lily was searching for James. She wasn't trying that hard, her mind couldn't stop thinking about Septina's face when the pain hit her. It was merely a shadow of the pain that must have passed through Severus.
Professor MacGonagal watched as she passed by, worried by the lack of expression on her face. Ever since Poppy had taken her into confidence, she'd watched the trio. It had stunned her to see how normal, how real the Slytherin teens seemed to be. They weren't monsters at all.
She had then turned her attention towards others of the house and found that the younger ones were like other children. It was only as they got older that they seemed to harden, to become set on a path of destruction.
"Lily." She softly called, trying not to startle her. "Are you all right?"
Green eyes turned towards her, harsh until they saw the sympathy in her eyes. Her Head of House understood, to a certain degree, the situation surrounding the twins. "I am but..." Instantly, she stoppered her lips by biting them.
"The twins aren't." Minerva finished for her.
Fear crossed the redhead's face, afraid of what she would say. Unlike her friends, she couldn't lash out at her.
"You have no reason to fear me or them. I have been watching and thinking a lot about what I have seen. And Headmaster Dumbledore has told me about certain abilities of the young Snapes.
The Gryffindor relaxed slightly. "I know of the visions. They cause such pain to her and her brother."
"Of course." Her face was closed over her thoughts, though this was a surprise. Albus had hinted of possible empathetic abilities, not psychic ones. "Did you witness one? Is that what troubles you?"
"No. I was with Sept when she experienced some of the pain her brother was feeling. Apparently, the two share pain and have a hard time preventing it. I wondered if there was anyway to strengthen their mental shields against the invasion."
They walked down the hall, the transfiguration teacher thinking. "I would hesitate to suggest anything that interferes with another's power center but there are certain metals or charms that could help." Her hand rose in caution, silencing Lily's thanks cold. "I said could. That does not mean that they will work. No one, at least on the side of light, has ever needed to do such things. It smacks of the dark arts."
"Why?" Lily asked, careful to appear subdued.
"Mainly because doing so disrupts the balance inside a wizard by employing an outside force to control that which should be controlled naturally." Minerva answered.
Lily nodded, understanding. "What it they do it themselves? Won't it be their magic that helps them in addition to the outside force, like when we take a potion?"
"Lily, if they need that kind of help to shield themselves, they aren't strong enough to perform the spells required to activate that force." She paused, resting a hand on her shoulder. "As for a potion, that leaves your system once its work is done. But a charm or medallion to help them focus would be addictive and dangerous. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could cause permanent damage or be used to control them."
The redhead nodded. "I understand."
"You won't try to do this, will you?" She asked, concerned for her student.
"It wouldn't be a very Gryffindor thing to do, would it?" She mused softly, then smiled pleasantly. "Thank you for your help, Professor MacGonagal. I'll see you at dinner."
Minerva watched her walk away, uneasily aware that she hadn't answered her question.
They may not be strong enough but I am, she thought as she left her teacher's sight.
'Are you sure you want to do that?'
'Have I any choice?' Lily asked, musingly.
'We all have choices, Lily.'
'I may be in the wrong, aunt, but I can't let them continue to suffer when I know that I can help them.'
'Them or him?' Pointed question.
She was silent, thinking it over. 'I wish I knew.' She finally answered.
Gryffindor Common Room:
"Remus, you know metallurgy better than anyone. What metal is most conducive to strengthening one's control?" She asked without preamble, sitting by her sketching friend.
"Why?" He asked, continuing to draw in his notepad.
"Just curious." She responded, leaning back. With her eyes closed, she tried to focus on finding her canter as she'd been taught. It was harder to do with all the thoughts racing around inside her mind.
"Lily, are you in there?" James teased, tapping her on the head as he walked by.
She swatted at his hand, irritable. I was so close, she sighed.
He sat beside her, ignoring her frown when he put his arm on the back of the couch. "I've been looking for you. Where were you?"
"Studying cloud formations with Septina."
"Stud...you were watching clouds with Miss 'if I relax, I'll fall apart' Snape?" Siri was disbelieving.
Her eyes narrowed before opening up wide, a twinkle of mischief in them. "You want to know something, Siri? With the way you keep obsessing over the twins, I have to wonder if you like one of them. So, tell me, which catches your fancy? I might be able to put in a good word for you."
He choked. "Lily Evans, you take that back!"
"Why? Truth hurt?" She teased, "To my muggle born mind, your long standing interest in them indicates strong feelings." It was sharp, but playfully said. "And, as they say, there is a thin line between love and hate."
"I don't think about either of them in that way." He shuddered. What was wrong with Lily? She never used to act in such a vindictive manner. It only made him more determined to cut the twins-mainly Severus-out of her life.
Peter stared at her from his position in the corner, startled by her harshness. Was this why his master didn't interfere with their friendship though it went against his dogma? Did he see some potential for darkness in the Gryffindor girl that they had missed? He shook his head, ridding himself of such thoughts. If he was to know, he would be told.
Over dinner, Peter kept sending covert looks between the Slytherin table and Professor Ecklebury, who refused to stop watching him. It seemed like he was trying to tell him to look for something specific at the other table. Then he noticed it and could have cursed himself for being blind enough to miss it. Conspicuous by their absence were the twins and Lucius Malfoy. Once he realized this, he bowed slightly to the professor-who turned away in response.
The professor left Peter in peace once he was sure the lad had understood. He turned his attention to his dinner partner and tried to engage Professor MacGonagal in a discussion. Minerva was being most uncooperative and watched the Slytherin table with more interest than he felt necessary. It was bad enough he had that fool Dumbledore to deal with. And thinking of the old bat, he turned his gaze towards him. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he saw that he was watching that table as well.
Albus noticed their absence with a frown. Lucius' absence didn't particularly worry him but the twins were another matter. He'd been informed of certain...peculiarities in them. Peculiarities that would prove valuable to anyone who engaged the two. If the past was any indication, Voldemort now had them in his clutches. He'd be damned if he allowed them to remain there. The question resting on his mind was, how to rescue them.
The twins were prickly and trusted only one person, save their cousin: Lily.
It seemed that the words he'd spoken in jest on that night so long ago were more accurate than he'd ever dreamed possible.
Once they were dismissed, Peter excused himself. "I need to redo a potions assignment." He explained when Sirius pressed him.
"Pettigrew, my faithful rat. How are things with you?" The professor asked, leading him away from the office.
"Well." He was following after him, wondering what was wrong.
"Excellent. You'll be happy to know that I've found an alchemist to help me."
Peter gulped, seeing the double doors before him. He realized, only to late, where he'd been led. A sound of hissing from the professor opened the doors, revealing the dark room within.
"Isn't that wonderful?" He spoke, the genial facade slowly disintegrating to reveal-Tom Riddle.
"Of course." Peter pushed the doors open the rest of the way, careful to avoid the snakes that hissed at him. They disliked him as much as he feared them. He knew they only tolerated him because of his master's favor.
Tom strolled by, ignoring the writhing bodies, though they called out to him. He stood in front of a mirror and smiled grimly, waiting.
Peter closed the doors firmly and slid the bolt into place, though he knew that only his master could open the doors. Going up to him, he removed the outer robes, then slid the chair across the floor. On a table, he placed a decanter of chardonnay and a snifter before drawing him a bath.
"I suppose I should just charm myself and be done with the potion...but someone might see through it, though I did get rid of that featherhead Flitwick. Then there are, unfortunately, spells that could disrupt the illusion, wouldn't you agree? And Professor Kryton has asked for my help in teaching her class some of them." He sighed, "Curse me for my inability to refuse a lady anything. Besides, there is something so elegant about a potion that works as smoothly as polyjuice."
"You know best, master." He replied, testing the water. Once it was warm enough, he rose and helped his master ready himself for the bath.
"Yes, I do." He replied, smugly. Relaxing back into the water with a sigh of pleasure, he lazily accepted the snifter. "Pettigrew, go release my precious trio once you've finished with me."
"I obey your every whim, sir." The Gryffindor was quiet. He ignored the stab of outraged pride that had gotten him into Gryffindor in the first place. Thought I'd gotten rid of that darn thing, he mused, waiting for his next command. Everything he had, he had because of the man before him.
Orphaned.
Unwanted.
Alone.
He'd wandered from place to place, until a bit of accidental destructive magic had caught Lord Voldemort's eye. Raised to serve him, no matter the task asked of him. And he knew just what he owed the man. He owed him everything. His own life, should he ever have need of it. A life he would willingly give to him.
The deep, seemingly all knowing eyes turned to him, cutting into the thoughts. "Peter, my own, you must do something for me now. In that potions notebook of Severus', I'm sure you'll find something that can help my trio. Go on and get to work."
Peter rose to his feet and stumbled to the book, flipping through it. Written in a most elegant but strict hand were the most complex potion recipes he'd ever seen. Gulping, he found the one his master had indicated. Steadying his hands, he proceeded to follow the recipe. Once the mixture was completed, he left it to simmer and turned to help Voldemort ready for his evening ritual.
"I have no further need of you, Pettigrew." Dismissal.
Peter grabbed the potion and poured it into three glasses. It was thick, with a sickly bluish color. The smell it produced twisted his stomach in knots but he picked them up anyway.
"Use this."
The Gryffindor accepted the key with careful fingers and suddenly found himself outside a classroom in an empty hallway. Carefully balancing the shakes in mid-air, he opened a doorway through the spells surrounding the room and entered, sealing it behind him. It wouldn't do for anyone to stumble by and see this.
He looked around for them and his eyes nearly popped out of his face when he saw them. On the floor, frozen in pain, was the trio. It was truly remarkable that they were still conscious considering the amount of pain that was traveling through them and how long it had been doing so.
With a heartfelt sigh, he set the drinks down on the desk and withdrew his wand. Of all the things his master did, prolonged torture was the one Peter hated the most. He especially hated having to clean up after him. "Finite incantatum." He intoned slowly so that they wouldn't go into shock at the release.
They fell onto their backs, raspy breaths choked the air. Bile and blood escaped from their lips, no longer a healthy red color. After a long silence, they recovered enough to sit up and look at him expectantly.
"Here." He offered the drinks to them with an uneasy smile.
Severus looked at it, then up at him suspiciously. His nose detected nothing evil in the drink and he shrugged. Lifting it to his lips, he drank it slowly. The potion instantly went to work and he twitched as it relieved his aches and pains. "Most effective. I congratulate you, Pettigrew. For a Gryffindor, your skills are quite tolerable."
"It wasn't much. I just followed one of your recipes." He shuffled his foot nervously, avoiding the power and fury in their combined glares.
"Ah, yes. My most recent creation."
"Mater wants to know if you're completed his potion." He was staring at his feet now.
Severus answered flatly. "No. I have not."
Peter's eyes widened. "But he's almost out and expecting it!"
"Well, then, he shouldn't have tortured me all afternoon." Severus was dry. "I cannot work when I'm shaking and breathing is something that has to be commanded."
"You may have a point." A thoughtful voice said from behind Peter. "But I cannot allow you to be so insolent towards me."
"Yes, you can." Septina spoke authoritatively. But it wasn't her voice. With a power that wasn't her own, she rose from the floor and flung him back. "It is not yet time to puff yourself up with arrogance and conceit, boy. If you persist in this foolishness, you will fail."
"How dare you?" Voldemort rose, his wand in hand as he faced her.
"Accio!" The wand floated her way, she leveled a glare at him. In a voice of suppressed fury, and without turning from him, she jerked her hand. Peter's wand came to her. "Impedimenta!" They were frozen in place. Holding both wands idly, she stared at them. "Why do you persist in playing this game, Tommy? You know that you are no match for me."
It was the calling him Tommy that finally alerted him. Though it burned, he humbly knelt on the ground. "Sauron. I had thought you gone."
"Nothing is ever certain were I am concerned." Smirk. "And you have not answered my question."
"Forgive me my indulgence."
"Indulge yourself all you desire-on your less worthy followers. Leave my children be. They will be no good to you insensible and riddled with pain." As suddenly as he came, Sauron departed.
Lucius caught her, then handed the wands to Voldemort. "I think we'll be going now." He was terribly shaken by this. It had been scary enough to see her stand up to him, to attack Lord Voldemort. But finding out that it was Sauron doing so was terrifying.
And what had he meant, his children?
Sev and Sept lay on his bed, Luc resting between them. It was still, save the glow surrounding them as their pains were healed. An extra strong shield surrounded them. Finally, Sev spoke. "I thought you said he wouldn't come back?"
"I did."
"Then how do you explain what happened tonight?" He shifted so that he could see her easier.
"I don't." She yawned, closing her eyes. "He must be closer to us than we thought."
"Is Sauron really your father?" Luc asked, entering the conversation.
Severus sighed and touched his cousin's forehead. "Oblivate." Then he put him to sleep.
She didn't say anything. There was no need. "At least we know that father is still watching out for us."
"But for how long?" Sev asked, unable to let it rest for the night. "Once we leave this school, we need to have a strong guardian. If we don't, we will become volatile. Unstable. Uncontrollable. As of this moment, there is only one who might be able to guide us: Voldemort."
Septina was contemplative, deep in her thoughts. She opened her eyes at last to look up at his questioning expression. "Maybe that's why we have become close to Lily. As the Pendragon, she has what it takes to control us."
"She's a Gryffindor. I doubt her ability to see it as anything but evil and manipulative, though it would be anything but." He was quiet.
"Sev, this is the same woman who sees the dark arts as just magic." It was a blunt reply.
"And she barely understands what she is. How can we expect her to take us in hand and lead us?" He pressed.
"There's always Professor Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore. The wizard who cannot see the threat that is under his very nose?"
She was silent.
"Quite right." He nodded. "Voldemort it is."
Lily suddenly woke up and carefully rose, pulling on a robe. Quietly, she picked up her wand and waved it over herself. "Deletrius."
Slipping out of the tower, she made her way into the Slytherin dorm. Over time, it had become a second home to her. Up the stairs she walked and into Severus' room, frowning when she saw Lucius on the bed. But, since they were hurting, she held her peace. She listened to them talking, the frown on her face deepening when she heard Sev erase Lucius' mind about their relation to Sauron.
Once it became obvious that they were sleeping, she shook her head. 'Silly Slytherin, how do you know how I'd react to your asking for my help?' She moved Luc onto his own bed, smirking at him when he whined. Then she quickly snipped off a lock of their hair and charmed them to keep them separate before putting them in her pocket.
Going into the bathroom back at her dorm, she cut off 2 locks of her own hair. Braiding first one pair, then the other, she bound them with a whispered. "Comiugo."
'Now all I need is the perfect metal and symbol.' Lily went to bed, satisfied with her actions. As tired as she was, she barely remembered to whisper. "Aparecium."
Voldemort watched them go, shaking his head at Peter's inquiring look. Once they were gone, he turned to face him. "Incendio!" He cursed, watching the flames dance over his skin. After a moment, he released him. It wasn't the same. "Be gone, Pettigrew." He handed him the wand and watched the boy scurry off.
Torturing the twins gave him a heady sense of power. Of unquestionable authority. The fact that they could take a lot of pain also was a challenge. He wanted to see just how far he could push before they broke. But it also filled him with a charge of energy. Could it be possible that their relation to a dark lord of Sauron's power gave them an essence, an ability to turn pain into power?
Or maybe, I just kick a kick out of inflicting pain on my ex-partner's children. Sauron had spent much of their partnership humiliating him. It only made him burn to get revenge. Since he couldn't strike out at him, it made sense that he attack the ones his superior had created and left behind.
Sauron sighed as he left his daughter's body. It had been hard to cross back into that other world but his rage had given him strength and power. How dare that moronic, no talent, two bit wizard violate his children in such a brutal fashion? Did he honestly believe that he was beyond my reach?
Granted, he was but only temporarily. Soon, he'd have his ring back-or it would be destroyed. Either way, his power would return to him.
And then there would be a reckoning, the kind of which neither world had ever seen before.