Snape felt a sharp pain in his neck when he was pulled back to his feet by two of the hooded figures. He didn't try to fight them but allowed them to drag him along and down the stairs. From the hall he heard a familiar voice. Griffin Haley. He had been trying to play up to Voldemort for quite a while, capturing the traitor might actually buy him his ticket into the Dark Lord's inner circle. And Snape knew this meant they probably wouldn't kill him right away. He tried hard to regard this as good news.
One of the men opened the door that lead to one of the cellar rooms while the other one still held him in a steady grip. They both hadn't spoken yet so he had no idea who they were. He doubted he even knew them, Haley had never surrounded himself with any of the more powerful and well-known wizards. The man pushed him into the room with enough force to make him hit the cold stone wall while the other man closed the door.
Scared, traitor? One of the Death Eaters hissed.
Snape replied calmly. He was a little surprised when he noticed he actually wasn't lying. So they would kill him. It had only been a matter of time really and he had known that, so no reason to make a fuss about it now.
The hooded wizard stepped closer and stood right in front of him, staring into his eyes. You should be. He whispered. Before Snape could react a strong punch hit him in the face and his head was thrown backwards hard against the wall. The next one hit him in the stomach and he bent over, gasped for breath and dropped to his knees. Although that guy was a wizard he sure knew how to fight with his bare fists.
He heard a low cracking sound when the man kicked him. A broken rib probably, he thought, wondering while he didn't feel any pain. He wasn't going to fight them, not now. Patience was something he had had to acquire over the last years and he knew that right now he didn't have a chance, the more he fought them the worse he would have to pay for it. For now he would simply bear it.
The Death Eater knelt down next to him, grabbed him by the hair and pulled up his head to look into his face. You should be. He whispered once more before he stood up again and walked towards the door.
Our lord will be very pleased. One of the men said. Lupin's sharp ears made it easy for him to understand every word they spoke.
Griffin, why can't we just kill him?
The first man - Griffin - grabbed the other wizard by his collar and smashed him against a cupboard. Because we are following the Dark Lord's will. No killing, no torturing, no dark magic at all. He said slowly, stressing each word. Now go and inform him about... our success. The other man nodded and quickly walked out of the room as soon as Griffin had let go of him.
Lupin stepped aside to stand behind the door, his back to the wall. There were at least five of them. One of those who had taken Snape to the basement hadn't returned, he had probably been left down there to guard him. The other one had just left to inform Voldemort. One was still standing in the entrance hall with the man called Griffin so this meant there was probably only one left about whose whereabouts Lupin didn't know. This might be the best chance he would get. He leaned over to catch a glance into the entrance hall. Griffin had settled himself on a sofa in the corner of the room, the other man was standing besides him with folded arms.
Don't just stand there and stare, rather see if you can find me a bottle of wine or something... Griffin muttered and the other wizard nodded and set off towards the living room. Lupin quickly took a step backwards to hide in the shadows behind the door again.
The wooden floor boards made a low creaking sound under the Death Eater's steps. He walked across the room, looking up and down the shelves. Then Lupin heard him slowly approach the door leading to the library. He could feel his heart beating faster. The dark wizard pushed the door open and stopped in the doorway, glancing into the room. He was so close Lupin could hear his breathing.
The Death Eater muttered under his breath, turned on his heel, pulled the door closed behind him and quickly walked back to the entrance hall. Lupin sighed inaudibly and closed his eyes for a moment. Close shave. He thought to himself and opened his eyes again. It definitely was now or never. There had to be another staircase leading up to the first floor. He wished he would have asked Snape to show him around the house. Carefully he opened the door, had a look into the living room and noticed the door leading to the hall had also been closed. To his left there was another door. It was hidden beneath a tapestry but he knew it was there because he could smell the stale air from an adjoining room. He walked across the room, pulled the tapestry aside, opened the door and smiled when a dark spiral staircase was revealed. It would have surprised him not to find some secret stairs and passages in an old wizard's mansion like this.
It was completely dark in here, there were no windows and he didn't dare to light any of the torches on the walls. The stairs were covered in dust, they obviously hadn't been used for quite a while. He kept his left hand at the wall while walking. He couldn't see a thing and could only feel the door that was supposed to lead him onto the first floor. With his fingers he traced the edges of the wood that was embedded in the cold stone wall and then took a moment to listen. His sharp ears didn't perceive a sound so he gave the door a gentle push, hoping his senses hadn't betrayed him. He was relieved to see that the room behind the door really was empty. Turning around he noticed that this door was actually a bookshelf. He pushed it back in place between the other shelves and surveyed the room. There wasn't much in here and definitely nothing he could have used to take out those Death Eaters. There were shelves stuffed with old books - someone in this family had to have had quite a faible for reading - a large desk and a telescope. Throwing books at the dark wizards didn't sound like much of a promising idea to him. Looking out of the single large window he could see the bright half moon.
Now where's that full moon once you need it... He whispered to himself and walked over to the door.
Aidenn Thistle didn't hear him. He was too busy with strolling along the corridor, kicking doors open, knocking the portraits off the walls and imagining his dark leader's reaction to their success. They had caught the traitor after all. Many had said it would be hard, some had said it would be impossible because he would be hiding in the safety of the walls of Hogwarts. But they had made it. Voldemort would be pleased. And they would be rewarded. He managed no more than a low croaking sound when Lupin grabbed him from behind, put a strong arm around his neck and pulled him backwards into an adjoining room. The Death Eater struggled hard but Lupin held him in a steady grip until he finally lost consciousness, dropped his wand and collapsed to the floor.
When Lupin picked up the wand he immediately felt that it didn't suit him at all. But still it was better than nothing. He hoped so at least. It took him three tries to put a simple Petrificus Totalus spell on the Death Eater and he realized he really had to get his own wand, he wouldn't stand a chance with this one.
There was nobody else on the first floor, he made it back to the guestroom without meeting anyone. As soon as he had his own wand back he snapped the one he had taken from the dark wizard in two. He stopped in the doorway when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Thistle, where the hell are you! The footsteps had reached the top of the stairs and were now coming closer along the corridor. Lupin raised his wand and waited. It was the same man who had nearly found him when he was hiding in the library. He heard the voice again, very close this time. The man slowly walked along the corridor and past the guestroom. Lupin waited another second before he jumped out onto the corridor and pointed his wand at the wizard, ready to cast a Petrificus Totalus. Before he could say the words he heard a loud from behind him, his wand jumped out of his hand and he was thrown backwards against the wall. That man they called Griffin jumped forward and placed a knee on Lupin's chest, pinning him down to the ground. The other Death Eater was simply standing there, still staring dumbstruck at Lupin.
Now who the hell are you? Griffin hissed, glaring down at him.
Snape's twin brother of course, thought that was quite obvious. Lupin replied with a cheeky grin.
Griffin grabbed him by his hair and smashed his head down onto the ground. Better show some respect! He spat.
Lupin tried not to pay attention to the pain. Show respect? Towards you, Griffin?
The Death Eater was obviously annoyed by the fact that the stranger knew his name. Well, whoever you are, you'll be joining the traitor for now, I'll leave it to the Dark Lord to decide what to do with you. He muttered and got up.
Lupin wanted to do the same but as soon as he was halfway up Griffin kicked him into his side, sending him back to the ground. He felt another kick into his stomach and one aimed at the back of his head before Griffin grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. I see you're not smiling anymore, bastard. He hissed at him and then dragged him along the corridor towards the stairs.