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Redemption Has a Price



Chapter One: Where Do Your Loyalties Lie?

It was a dark, cold night out. Black thunderclouds rolled across the sky, threatening to explode in a downpour at any moment. A dark figure hurried furtively down a weather-beaten path. The figure kept looking over its shoulder, as though afraid it was being followed. A dark shadow loomed over the landscape as Severus Snape approached the "abandoned" Riddle mansion. He had the most unpleasant look on his face as though he walked up the steps to the front door, as though he had swallowed a lemon. Out of nowhere, another figure in similar clothing appeared on the doormat.

"Severus. I'm surprised you came. Master is not very pleased with your absence." The sneering voice came from a man with a pale complexion, who also had a nasty grin on his face. Professor Snape gave the man a cold look.

"Still sticking your nose in places it doesn't belong, are we Lucius? I see things haven't changed much." The sallow skinned, hook-nosed Potions Master's voice was dry and withering. Without waiting for a response, he stepped around Lucius Malfoy and entered Riddle Mansion. It was dark inside, with strangely-shaped shadows creeping up the walls. A group of black-robed wizards and witches were conversing in a corner of the room, and their facial expressions changed from surprise at seeing Snape to nasty grins. Ignoring this, Severus headed straight for a room where the flicker of candlelight could be seen underneath the door. He raised his hand to knock, and, for the first time, saw that he was trembling. Forcing his fear back under his control, Professor Snape knocked on death's door.

"Enter." The voice was cold as ice and utterly emotionless. Without hesitating, Severus opened the door and stepped into the room. His attention was immediately drawn to a figure dressed entirely in black, his back to Snape. A large snake was curled up on the floor near the figure, and it lifted its head to hiss at the Professor as he closed the door behind him.

"Master..." Snape began to speak to the figure, but he was cut short when it interrupted him in that same bone-chilling tone.

"Master, is it, Severus? Severus Snape, whom I thought was one of my most loyal Death Eaters, deserted me for years. He worked under that Mudblood- loving fool Albus Dumbledore. And yet, he returns, and addresses me as Master." The figure had not yet turned to face Severus, and he was glad for that. At the moment, he was having some trouble controlling the spasms of fear and hatred that kept contorting his features. Stretching the limits of his self-control, Snape forced his face to remain emotionless, pushing down the hatred and fear. He couldn't let that interfere, not now, especially not now.

"Master, I was loyal to you all along, I swear it. The fool Dumbledore believed me to have turned a new leaf, to have converted to their side. But I am faithful to you, Master. I have gathered information for years, working from the inside to better our cause. And now, I return to you, Master, now that you have regained your body and your powers. I return to you because I know that the time is nigh for us to crush Dumbledore and his followers once and for all." Snape's tone was no longer the dry, disrespectful one he had used with Lucius. Now it showed reverence and fear. However, the amounts of both were perfectly controlled by Severus. He had long ago learned that controlling one's emotions could mean the difference between life and death, and had since refined it almost to an art. The figure was silent for a few moments before speaking in a low tone.

"We shall see where your loyalties lie, my dear Severus. In due time, Lord Voldemort will know all." Suddenly, without any warning, the figure turned. The face was human, but barely. Snakelike features dominated the evil sorcerer's face, and intense hatred crossed his face as he pointed his wand at Snape and uttered one word. "Crucio!"

White hot pain seared across Severus Snape's entire body. He felt as though he were being pierced by a million needles straight into his nerves. The pain was so great that it took Snape a few moments to realize that he was writhing on the floor in agony. However, through it all, he kept his mouth shut, not uttering a sound. He tasted blood as he bit his tongue to keep from crying out. The merciless pain continued for several excruciating minutes before it disappeared.

"That is merely a taste of what you will receive if you did indeed betray me, Severus. Now, get out. I have no need of you at the moment. You can prove your loyalty by continuing your spying. Go." The figure turned back to the fireplace, clearly dismissing Snape, who got up slowly, bowed, and murmured, "Thank you Master, you are so kind," and hurried out of the room.

The snickers of the other Death Eaters were everywhere as Snape exited the mansion. Lucius Malfoy gave him an I-told-you-so smirk, which the Potions Master did not feel he needed to dignify with a reply. Severus Snape headed back to Hogwarts, where he would go about his day as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.