Comments: I know I haven't updated in a long time, but now that school's
out I hope to update more often. Thanks for the peeps who reviewed for me.
Sorry if this chapter's kinda condensed, I wanted to get to fifth year
quickly. Oh yeah, I don't own anything related to Harry Potter, 'cept for
this story, which I wrote. Yeah. Read and Review, pleeeeeeease!
Chapter Two: No Rest For the Weary
Long after the last student had left Hogwarts for the summer, Professor Snape stayed behind in his dungeons. Not many teachers chose to stay at the school, either going to visit relatives, friends, or merely have a vacation on their own. But because of both Snape's character, and the circumstances of the times, he always remained behind. Dumbledore, of course, stayed as well. The old wizard knew how much the Potions Master had come to depend on him. Countless times after the Dark Mark had called Severus away, he had returned in dire need of medical care. Madam Pomfrey took care of him during the end of the school year, but during the summer months Albus Dumbledore was the former Death Eater's only source of help. While the Boy- Who-Lived was busy with the Dursleys, and the other students were enjoying their freedom, the two Hogwarts staff members were continuing to wage war on the Dark Lord.
Sunlight. Bright sunlight. Severus Snape grimaced as the yellow beams shot through the single window in his room. Accustomed to the dark dungeons, the sallow-skinned Professor didn't like the rays. Although some mistook this dislike as reason to accuse him of being a vampire, it was a much more simple reason. For most of his life, the Slytherin Head of House had resided in darkness. Growing up with parents who supported the Dark Lord's ideals, joining Voldemort in a brash move in his youth, and now here, at Hogwarts, as a Potions Master in the dungeons. The darkness made it easier to hide emotions and feelings. Within the shadow's folds, Severus felt safe. Of course, in reality, he was nowhere near safe.
Lord Voldemort's summonings were becoming more frequent, and each time Snape returned more battered than before. The Dark Lord seemed to take special interest in the Hogwarts teacher, no doubt wanting to be sure that he was loyal. Each visit would begin with the usual circle of Death Eaters bowing to their Master. Then, he would question each one of them on their doings. Severus was normally last, as his spying job at Hogwarts was deemed very important. After giving a report, the evil wizard would often subject Snape to the Cruciatus Curse for a time, as a reminder of what he would endure if it were found out that he was not entirely on the Dark Lord's side. Dumbledore saw how this was slowly destroying Severus from the inside; how each time he returned, he seemed more and more distant, less and less human. It disturbed the Headmaster, but he knew that to recall Snape now would mean death for the Potions Master. And so, the missions continued.
The summer came to an end, as all summers do. It was a mercy to Severus, as Voldemort was careful not to take Snape away from his Professor duties too much during the school year, so as not to attract attention. The Dark Lord didn't realize that every meeting was known to Dumbledore and a select few who were a part of the resistance effort. What even Snape didn't know was that Voldemort had decided not to wait until he had decimated the wizarding world to exact revenge on Harry Potter. No, with his old Death Eaters to support him, and his powers back in full force, the Dark wizard planned to put his spy at Hogwarts to good use in Potter's fifth year.
It was the day before the first day of school, and Professor Snape was busily making a few last adjustments to his teaching schedule for the year. Then it happened. The burning pain on his forearm, intense clearness of the Dark Mark. He had been called again. Quickly, the Potions Master stepped out of the dungeons, heading up a stairwell. Minerva McGonagall was standing just outside her classroom, discussing something with Professor Flitwick. When she saw Severus clutching his left arm, she didn't ask any questions. With a barely noticeable nod, she indicated that she would inform Dumbledore. Flitwick was oblivious, his back to Severus. Without a word, the Head of Slytherin Apparated to meet his Master.
This time the meeting was not held at the Riddle mansion. No, it was a forest somewhere that Snape was not familiar with. As soon as he got his bearings, Severus went down on his knees, forehead touching the ground. The Dark Lord stood directly in front of him, looking down on his Death Eater. Oddly, Snape had noticed that he was the only servant present. That was not a good sign. "I heard your call and have answered, Master." The words were spoken in a low, respectful tone. Although it didn't show outwardly, Severus's muscles were tensed, expecting a punishment for something or other.
"Get up. Now." The voice was a voice that had haunted Potter's nightmares and Snape's nightmares as well. A voice that he knew could, if it desired, exact the death curse on him in an instant. Snape got to his feet, keeping his gaze on the ground.
"Give me your report." Voldemort spoke in an almost bored fashion, as though he really didn't care to hear what his servant had to say. Snape answered promptly.
"Nothing of true importance to report, Master. The Hogwarts Professors are all present and accounted for, save a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I believe they have yet to find a replacement. Until they do, Dumbledore has informed the staff that he will be filling in. I am still teaching Potions. No one suspects of my true motive." Snape fell silent. Actually, he knew very well who the new DADA teacher would be, but he also knew that revealing it to Voldemort was not a good idea.
"Good, because it is time that you did more than gather information, Severus. It is time for you to prove your true loyalty to me, to my cause." Voldemort paused, as if to observe the Potion Master's reaction to this. Wisely, Snape kept his face devoid of emotion, his gaze low.
"You will be the key instrument in the downfall of Potter and Hogwarts. You will deliver to me what I so deserve. Revenge. And if you do so, Severus, the reward will be more than you can imagine. But, if you fail me, you will never see the light of day again. The reminders I have given you will be nothing compared to what I will do to you if you do not follow my orders. I will contact you at a later date to give you details, Severus. Now…speaking of reminders...Crucio!" White-hot pain that was becoming all too familiar hit Snape like a ton of bricks. Falling to the ground, he rolled around in agony for several minutes before it stopped. When the pain had subsided enough for the Professor to look up, the Dark Lord was gone. His breathing ragged and his soul a little less than it was before, Severus Snape forced himself to get to his feet and Apparate back to Hogwarts. Half walking, half staggering, he made his way to Dumbledore's office.
Chapter Two: No Rest For the Weary
Long after the last student had left Hogwarts for the summer, Professor Snape stayed behind in his dungeons. Not many teachers chose to stay at the school, either going to visit relatives, friends, or merely have a vacation on their own. But because of both Snape's character, and the circumstances of the times, he always remained behind. Dumbledore, of course, stayed as well. The old wizard knew how much the Potions Master had come to depend on him. Countless times after the Dark Mark had called Severus away, he had returned in dire need of medical care. Madam Pomfrey took care of him during the end of the school year, but during the summer months Albus Dumbledore was the former Death Eater's only source of help. While the Boy- Who-Lived was busy with the Dursleys, and the other students were enjoying their freedom, the two Hogwarts staff members were continuing to wage war on the Dark Lord.
Sunlight. Bright sunlight. Severus Snape grimaced as the yellow beams shot through the single window in his room. Accustomed to the dark dungeons, the sallow-skinned Professor didn't like the rays. Although some mistook this dislike as reason to accuse him of being a vampire, it was a much more simple reason. For most of his life, the Slytherin Head of House had resided in darkness. Growing up with parents who supported the Dark Lord's ideals, joining Voldemort in a brash move in his youth, and now here, at Hogwarts, as a Potions Master in the dungeons. The darkness made it easier to hide emotions and feelings. Within the shadow's folds, Severus felt safe. Of course, in reality, he was nowhere near safe.
Lord Voldemort's summonings were becoming more frequent, and each time Snape returned more battered than before. The Dark Lord seemed to take special interest in the Hogwarts teacher, no doubt wanting to be sure that he was loyal. Each visit would begin with the usual circle of Death Eaters bowing to their Master. Then, he would question each one of them on their doings. Severus was normally last, as his spying job at Hogwarts was deemed very important. After giving a report, the evil wizard would often subject Snape to the Cruciatus Curse for a time, as a reminder of what he would endure if it were found out that he was not entirely on the Dark Lord's side. Dumbledore saw how this was slowly destroying Severus from the inside; how each time he returned, he seemed more and more distant, less and less human. It disturbed the Headmaster, but he knew that to recall Snape now would mean death for the Potions Master. And so, the missions continued.
The summer came to an end, as all summers do. It was a mercy to Severus, as Voldemort was careful not to take Snape away from his Professor duties too much during the school year, so as not to attract attention. The Dark Lord didn't realize that every meeting was known to Dumbledore and a select few who were a part of the resistance effort. What even Snape didn't know was that Voldemort had decided not to wait until he had decimated the wizarding world to exact revenge on Harry Potter. No, with his old Death Eaters to support him, and his powers back in full force, the Dark wizard planned to put his spy at Hogwarts to good use in Potter's fifth year.
It was the day before the first day of school, and Professor Snape was busily making a few last adjustments to his teaching schedule for the year. Then it happened. The burning pain on his forearm, intense clearness of the Dark Mark. He had been called again. Quickly, the Potions Master stepped out of the dungeons, heading up a stairwell. Minerva McGonagall was standing just outside her classroom, discussing something with Professor Flitwick. When she saw Severus clutching his left arm, she didn't ask any questions. With a barely noticeable nod, she indicated that she would inform Dumbledore. Flitwick was oblivious, his back to Severus. Without a word, the Head of Slytherin Apparated to meet his Master.
This time the meeting was not held at the Riddle mansion. No, it was a forest somewhere that Snape was not familiar with. As soon as he got his bearings, Severus went down on his knees, forehead touching the ground. The Dark Lord stood directly in front of him, looking down on his Death Eater. Oddly, Snape had noticed that he was the only servant present. That was not a good sign. "I heard your call and have answered, Master." The words were spoken in a low, respectful tone. Although it didn't show outwardly, Severus's muscles were tensed, expecting a punishment for something or other.
"Get up. Now." The voice was a voice that had haunted Potter's nightmares and Snape's nightmares as well. A voice that he knew could, if it desired, exact the death curse on him in an instant. Snape got to his feet, keeping his gaze on the ground.
"Give me your report." Voldemort spoke in an almost bored fashion, as though he really didn't care to hear what his servant had to say. Snape answered promptly.
"Nothing of true importance to report, Master. The Hogwarts Professors are all present and accounted for, save a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I believe they have yet to find a replacement. Until they do, Dumbledore has informed the staff that he will be filling in. I am still teaching Potions. No one suspects of my true motive." Snape fell silent. Actually, he knew very well who the new DADA teacher would be, but he also knew that revealing it to Voldemort was not a good idea.
"Good, because it is time that you did more than gather information, Severus. It is time for you to prove your true loyalty to me, to my cause." Voldemort paused, as if to observe the Potion Master's reaction to this. Wisely, Snape kept his face devoid of emotion, his gaze low.
"You will be the key instrument in the downfall of Potter and Hogwarts. You will deliver to me what I so deserve. Revenge. And if you do so, Severus, the reward will be more than you can imagine. But, if you fail me, you will never see the light of day again. The reminders I have given you will be nothing compared to what I will do to you if you do not follow my orders. I will contact you at a later date to give you details, Severus. Now…speaking of reminders...Crucio!" White-hot pain that was becoming all too familiar hit Snape like a ton of bricks. Falling to the ground, he rolled around in agony for several minutes before it stopped. When the pain had subsided enough for the Professor to look up, the Dark Lord was gone. His breathing ragged and his soul a little less than it was before, Severus Snape forced himself to get to his feet and Apparate back to Hogwarts. Half walking, half staggering, he made his way to Dumbledore's office.
