P.S. In this chapter I've used some motifs from our first RPG, so don't be confused with details.
Chapter 6: Blade of Basilisk.
Blood trickled down Snape's chin when he smiled.
"Oh yes, Excalubur, how could I forget! What else? Secret of immortality, may be? Recipe for world-best 'Mother Morgan' cookies? Don't be shy, Lucius, share with me all fascinating achievements of your Master"
"You shut up, whining brat! " spluttered Lucius and aimed a next blow, but then thought better about it and smiled crookedly.
"What, got tired already?"
"Don't provoke me, Severus, it's you last chance"
"It seems to me that I missed something"
"Excalibur, Blade of Glory, device to rule the world", continued Malfoy with fanatical glow in his eyes.
"Excalibur, old fairy-tale for young imbecilic wizards with crack about world domination", echoed Severus flatly, weighting his chances against mad wizard and two dementors. The chanced were ridiculously small, but what actually he had to lose? Four-five days of life at the best.
"You are not the one to laugh at it, Severus" answered Lucius with unexpected serenity in his voice.
"Why not?"
"Because in the scroll was written that ancient blade had been splinted, to give birth of twin swords, that belonged to the greatest wizards of the age"
"Let me guess. Your smart mentor decided, of course, that it speaks about Sword of Slytherin and Sword of Gryffindor? So much for him"
"I said don't provoke me, Severus. My master has the Sword of Gryffindor already…"
"Stolen from Dumbledore's office"
"Taken from the office of wizard who couldn't even protect his possessing. But I haven't finished yet"
"I'm all attention"
"Now he need only the second sword to complete the spell"
Severus felt suddenly as cold rises in the pit of his stomach. He dropped his sarcastic tone and looked intently in Malfoy's pale eyes.
"Listen to me carefully, my friend. You will never-never-get hold of it. And even if you get the sword…"
He instantly silenced, surveying passionlessly small rivulets of blood, oozing down his scratched and scorched hands.
"Go on" hissed Death Eater, bending over him.
"Even if you manage to get the sword, the thing you'll create won't be the Excalibur. It will be the Blade of Basilisk, also known as the Blade of Death."
"Now we had came to the point", grinned Lucius, obviously unwary to the strange notes, sounded in Snape's voice.
" Master said that he had encountered the sword once, and that it should be hidden somewhere at Hogwards. And more then that-he said that you are the exact person to question about its whereabouts. At first I was surprised, but now I'm starting to believe that he was right. As always"
"As always" muttered Snape and closed his eyes, driven suddenly by the
tidal wave of memories deep in the past - about twenty-five years ago.
***
Stench of rotten moss, moisture and mould filled the dark underground chamber. Young boy froze in the center of immense hall, his hand gripping at the hilt of ancient sword.
Several other kids were scattered among the stone columns. Twisted,
tangled snakes were carved into the gray stone, their eyes glittering maliciously
in the light of single lantern, which was held by a tall thin man with
chalk-white face and glowing red eyes. Man was looking greedily at the
sword in boy's hands.
"Give it to me" hissed he, still eyeing ancient weapon avidly. Then
his gaze slid up to kid's face, and boy flinched involuntary under this
dark, rotten glance.
"Give it to me, boy" repeated he, high-pitched note drilled the silence of dungeon.
"Shall I?" slow green crept through kid's lips. "Tell me why"
"I'll make you my closest servant, first among the faithful ones"
"Servant? Why should I be a servant? Not too promising career"
Now the boy was sneering openly in pale man's face.
"You don't know even how to use the sword"
"Don't worry about it. I had been trained to handle such a things back in my dad's manor. Only you killed my dad and now I cannot proceed with training, but I've learned enough"
He raised the weapon a little, and red light glinted on it's long blade, ran along the line of ancient runes, engraved in dark steel, and at last reflected in tiny eyes of two snakes wrapped over the hilt.
"You don't understand" said the man with deliberate stillness, but threatening note sounded in his shrill voice. "Whoever use it will be the subject of Slytherin's curse. It won't bring you fame and glory, boy-only grieve, and loss, and painful disgraceful death"
"That's why you are so eager to use it" merely stated the boy, tightening his grip on the hilt.
"You cannot even read the runes" continued pale man, without heeding to boy's words.
"I cannot, but Melian did it for me. It says "Not to kill, but to separate". I wouldn't say that I fully comprehended it but I reckon if I separate your head from your shoulders the deal will be done"
Suddenly the man smiled, and stepped forward, almost touching the blade with his black-robed hand.
"Yes, my boy. Do it. I bet you fancy yourself already as the great hero, rescuer of innocents, Muggles champion, vanquisher of Lord Voldemort. Do it, but first I want to show you your coming glory, your brilliant future. Look!"
Boy gasped, his eyes open wide, glassy and full of terror.
…Empty house of Melian, scattered pictures on the floor, wind, caressing white curtains on the window…
…Tehhie, disappearing in flash of green light, green light emerging from his own wand. Silver ghost floating over the dead body with silent reproach in its huge eyes…
…Lily, shouting something, bent over the little crying baby in swaying crib. Tears on her emerald eyes. Green light, devouring her slim frame…
…Lucius, his eyes cold and menacing, pointing wand at him and hissing "Crucio!" Surge of overwhelming pain…
…And he, grown-up man in black robes, kneeling in front of Lord Voldemort, soundless words escaping his lips "Yes, Master"…
The boy came back to reality, something awakened him from his hallucinations.
Was it somebody's cry? And now again "No, Severus!" It was Tehhie, she
cried desperately from behind.
He looked up. He looked up and realized that he was standing on his
knees, in front of towering figure in black, handing him the sword. Without
thinking, he lunged forward and plunged the blade in man's stomach. Shrill
cry echoed in the dungeon, black blood gushed from open wound and washed
boy's hands. And then it all was gone…
***
Hard smack down his ribs snapped Severus back to reality, and in the first time in his life he felt grateful for beating. He tossed bloody hair off his face and squinted at grinning Malfoy's face.
"I see" chortled Death Eater. "Now, I'd like also to hear-where exactly are you hiding the sword?"
Suddenly, Severus felt speechless. Lucius…He also had been here, in secret Slytherin's chamber. Of course, he had been put under Memory Charm and remembers nothing. Actually, Severus was only one with his memory unmodified, thanks to Dumbledore. But seven years at Hogwarts, when they have been bosom friends, does it mean nothing? The only friend he ever had. It was childish, he understood, but in response on Malfoy's question he merely spat on the floor. Actually, he aimed at Malfoy's face, but missed, which gave him unexpected dissatisfaction.
"You…You" choked Malfoy, but he hadn't finished. The door blasted in cloud of dust and splinters, and Melian, accompanied by Harry, Hermione, Ron and panting Tehhie, burst into the room.