Disclaimer: All the things you recognize belong to JKR, the plot is mine
Back at the castle, Snape retreated to his office, and began to look fervently through his books.
"Damn it! I must find SOMETHING!"
Severus heard a 'pop' and looked up to see Dumbledore's head in the fire again.
"What was it, Severus?"
Snape sighed, "Voldemort summoned me to officially announce Draco's induction," he said bitterly.
"And Draco?"
"Looked like I did, Albus."
Dumbledore noddod, "Very well. I'll let
you get back to your work then. We'll
speak later. Good bye." His head vanished.
Severus looked down over his notes and texts. He propped his chin up on his hand, and gazed over all of the words he'd collected, and slipped back in time.
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"Severus! Severus, I have called you five times!" came a voice from behind him. He turned to face his only friend.
"Hi Cissa," he greeted her apprehensively.
She sized him up instantly, "What is it, Sev?"
Severus looked down at his feet, "It's nothing, Narcissa, why do you always overreact?" he growled.
She grabbed his arm, "Don't pull that with me, Severus, you know I'm not going to cower under you like most other people do. Don't you dare underestimate me, Severus Snape, you and I know better than that."
Snape glared at his best friend, "It's none of your business, Narcissa," he told her, though not so much harshly, but as if explaining a reality.
She looked at him right in the eye for a solid 30 seconds, and let out a tiny gasp.
"Your induction."
Severus pursed his lips, and stared her down for a moment. "Yes."
"Sev, are you…"
"Of course I'm sure, Narcissa. They're the only ones who will accept me," he spat.
"I accept you," she muttered. "And you know if would whether or not you were a Death Eater."
"Well, that doesn't cut it," he replied curtly.
"Gee, thanks, Sev," she said, unable to hide the hurt look on her face.
"Look, you'd better get going, Lucius doesn't like it when you talk to other guys, you know that. I'm fine, Ciss, I can't wait for the ceremony, really."
"OK, I'll talk to you later, Sev." And she walked away.
'I can't believe I just did that. I've never lied to her before.'
The next few hours passed like seconds, and Snape found himself sneaking out of Hogwarts with Lucius, who'd been inducted a week earlier. They went via portkey to the old Riddle House in Little Hangleton.
Lucius led Severus into a small room into the back. By the light of the fire under the cauldron, Snape could see several cloaked, hooded figures standing in a line.
"Severus Malcolm Snape, you have been summoned by his Eminence, Lord Voldemort, please approach the cauldron," came a deep voice from among the hooded mass.
Snape cautiously approached the steaming pewter cauldron, and he could suddenly see Lord Voldemort's figure through the vapors of the brewing potion.
"Severus Snape, are you prepared to be initiated into the formidable ranks of my Death Eaters?" hissed Voldemort.
Severus found his voice, "Y-yes, my Lord," praying to God that Voldemort wouldn't notice the look of fear and revulsion that betrayed his words.
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Severus broke from his reverie with a snap, not wishing to recall the emotions and pain that was to follow from there. He took another look at his books and scrolls, and pushed his chair out and stood up.
"Might as well see how she's doing," he grumbled.
He exited the dungeon, and walked up to the main entrance. The large doors swung open in front of him, and sunlight and the fresh air imbued his senses. Grumbling and squinting, he walked out, and across the grass towards the greenhouses.
Snape stuck his head in the first four houses, looking for Professor Sprout, and finally found her in the fifth.
"Good afternoon, Margaret," he greeted her.
"Oh, Severus, how long have we worked together? Call me Maggie for goodness sakes!" she chided him, looking up from her Spiny Palmwood plant.
"Yes, Maggie, of course," Severus said, mildly irritated. "Have you made any progress on the Augmen Serpentis plant?
"No, Severus, I'm sorry. The stipulations the Ministry have on it are just ludicrous. I don't know why they'd give us problems. We are registered with the Committee for Posession of Dark Plantae. It's Fudge, that oblivious fool, wouldn't believe Voldemort's return if he got down on one knee and asked old Cornelius to marry him!"
Snape allowed himself a small smile at this remark, "Well, one day soon, we're going to see what Fudge is truly made of, and hopefully he'll prove his worth. But, it's truly imperative that you get that plant as soon as possible, we're going to need it. If we don't have it before October, there could be fatal consequences."
Sprout nodded solemnly, "Of course, Severus, I'll inform you if I get any news."
"Excellent, thank you for your help Mar- er, Maggie. Good day." He turned swiftly and left the warm greenhouse.
Severus re-entered his dungeons, and glanced around helplessly.
"Well, I haven't anything to do but WAIT. This is ludicrous," he muttered.
He plopped down in his armchair by the cooled fire, and looked briefly at his Crime & Punishment, before deciding simply to give his eyes a rest. However, as soon as he'd relaxed and shut his eyes, he felt a nagging feeling, as if he'd forgotten something. He couldn't put his finger on it.
Severus's eyes flew open, and landed on the sole picture gracing his mantle. He drew in a sharp breath.
"Fuck! I'm late!"
He stood and thought frantically for a moment, and his mind landed on a solution.
He walked over to the fireplace, and pointed his wand at it.
"Temporario Flooum!" he stated, exercising a special spell that all faculty of Hogwarts were taught, to make a fire temporary a Floo, in cases of need. Grabbing some powder, he flung it into the fire.
"Saint Mungo's Hospital," he yelled, and stepped in.
He swiftly approached the front desk, where an impatient-looking witch was sitting, filing her nails.
"Severus Snape," he said breathlessly.
"Ah, Mister Snape, we were wondering if you were going to show or not." She looked up at him over the horn rims of her glasses, "You're not usually late."
"Well, I can not turn back time, so better late than never! Now, may I go in?" he asked exasperatedly.
"Well, visiting hours are almost over, sir," she replied nasally. "But, I suppose you can go."
He looked scathingly at her, "Thank you," he said icily, and swept past.
Severus walked quickly down the hall, to Room 1303. He paused in front of the door, took a deep breath and walked in.
He slowly approached the bed, the five steps he'd taken many times, but that never got any easier. He looked down over the solemn face which never seemed to change.
"Hello, Annie."
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed Chapter 1, I'm glad you're enjoying it, I'd just like to say don't jump to conclusions too quickly!! ~wink~ Please R/R, it really means a lot to me!!