It was two weeks before Severus could breathe normally, without pain except when he took in deep gulps of air. Whenever it wasn't obvious, he would wrap his cloak tightly around himself to disguise his slightly hunched-over form until he could stand straight again. His ribs healed crookedly, and he had found some loose teeth, but that couldn't be helped. Physical inflictions all healed with time. He didn't dare go to the infirmary, not for the load of teasing he would likely get from them.
Two weeks later, Severus discovered the solitude of the winter, wandering about the outdoors more and more. The bitter winds kept most students inside, and he yearned for nothing more.
Students were preparing to leave for the holidays. Severus had sent an owl home telling his parents he would be staying at Hogwarts, catching up on homework. There had been no reply. Not surprising – he would stay.
Dwelling on these thoughts only made his ribs ache dully again. Really, he couldn't wait until he was free of school and his… parents. Life, on his own, would be…
A bloodcurdling scream tore through the silence. Apparently he was not the only one out today. Realizing the scream came from within the Forbidden Forest, and blindly ignoring school rules, he set off in search of its source.
It was oddly calm inside the Forest. The trees blocked out the wind, resulting in an eerie, silent surrounding. Severus didn't have to look far before he came across a rather still form, a blonde girl wearing Hufflepuff robes. Kneeling beside her, he only regretted that it wasn't that damnable Sirius Black lying here instead. Shaking his head, he drew his wand.
"She's not dead."
A voice like cold melted butter made Severus jump and spin about, eyes searching warily. It laughed; not a pleasant sound. The high pitch made it sound like screeching.
"My dear Severus. Always sly… never trusting. Though we must work on the poor fighting; but that's not a problem.
"Not afraid of pain, willing to turn on your own kind… I do believe that's what your little Slytherin scuffle was about, was it not?" Still laughing, taunting, the voice grew closer. "Yet, still, there's something missing."
A tall form with long white fingers materialized in front of Severus, who stepped back. Icy red eyes stared at him. They seemed to be taking in every aspect of his very soul. Severus's face was a mask of mixed curiosity and angry realization. "I am Lord Voldemort, dear boy," the figure chuckled. "Are you not happy that I have chosen you? You will follow me – learn obedience and strength, away from these Muggle-loving fools and mudbloods." He laughed again, that icy high-pitched screaming laugh that made Severus shudder.
"Are you afraid of me, dear boy? That's the spirit." Voldemort raised his wand suddenly. "Crucio!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The spells hit in midair, crackled for a moment, and exploded. Severus received the full power of it and was thrown backwards. His arm snagged on a tree root sticking up out of the ground. It clawed through his robes and ripped a gash in his arm… but Snape kept a firm grip on his wand.
Kneeling and clutching his arm, Severus glared defiantly at Voldemort, as if daring him to do that again. Tears of pain etched down his cheek. Blood dripped down over his hand, staining his furred green robes and turning the frost on the ground red. Voldemort chucked again.
"How very brave of you. I find it amusing that you can resist me… I offer fame and power. What more could a Slytherin want?" Lifting his wand again, Voldemort whispered:
"Crucio."
Severus felt as though his entire body was on fire. Small things seemed to have crawled beneath his skin, biting him. He twitched and writhed in agony, on the ground; his wand lay forgotten next to him. Burning and shooting pains as though his bones were breaking one by one and oh! Was that death welcoming him in the darkness he saw?