Part One:
Voldemort sat on his chair, contemplating the space between his fingers casually. Before him knelt his usual entourage. "Wormtail, why do you suppose our Severus has not answered my summons lately?"
Peter trembled as he crawled closer. "I know not, lord."
"Of course you don't." The voice was cold. "If you did, then you would be my equal. And for you to presume such a thing is not only preposterous but arrogant and presumptuous."
"Yes, lord."
"Lucius, Crabbe, Goyle, have you heard anything from your boys?" Those blood red eyes searched each of the three, who shook their heads slowly, not bothering to hid their fear. "I am very disappointed in you three. And the rest of you?"
"Nothing, lord."
"Am I to believe that there has been no communication between you and Hogwarts on the nature of my most faithful?"
Lucius raised his head and looked at Voldemort. "It is possible that Severus is not quite as faithful as you believe."
Two fingers pinched together and Lucius found himself gasping for breath. "Are you daring to question me, Malfoy?" His head shook, relieved when he was able to breathe again. "I know exactly where Severus Snape's loyalty lies. That is why I allow him more leeway than the rest of you."
"Forgive me for questioning you, master." Lucius pleaded.
"Don't let it happen again." Voldemort dismissed him from mind, turning to Peter. "Wormtail, you can get into Hogwarts. I desire that you do so. Find out what my little potions master is up to."
It was not a request. Peter transfigured with a silent sigh and scurried off into the night.
Hogwarts Infirmary:
"Severus, you have to go to class. If the Slytherins suspect something's wrong with you and it got back to Voldemort, both of you could be in trouble." Professor Dumbledore said gently.
Severus turned to look at him, his black eyes were weary. His hand rubbed his left arm absently, the dark mark had been more active lately. It was his personal opinion that his 'master' suspected something. "They already do. I have had a visit from Draco. He has been instructed to inform the rest of the house that my sister has returned."
"Are you sure that is wise?"
"Yes. Voldemort will find out, I know this is the best way." What went unspoken that Draco wouldn't dream of letting the world know that Septina was back among the living. Contrary to everyone's impression, he was not his father's puppet. They all had roles to play in this war, Draco's was to act as though his father controlled his every thought. "I could not tell him myself, I would choke on the words."
Dumbledore was about to respond when Remus and Sirius entered the room. "What is going on?"
"Keep your voice down, Black." Severus snarled, seeing his sister whimper in pain.
"Your pardon then." Black sarcastically replied. "Well?"
Severus stood up, squeezing his sister's hand. "Albus will explain. I have a class to teach." Robes swirling around him, he disappeared out the door.
Voldemort sat on his chair, contemplating the space between his fingers casually. Before him knelt his usual entourage. "Wormtail, why do you suppose our Severus has not answered my summons lately?"
Peter trembled as he crawled closer. "I know not, lord."
"Of course you don't." The voice was cold. "If you did, then you would be my equal. And for you to presume such a thing is not only preposterous but arrogant and presumptuous."
"Yes, lord."
"Lucius, Crabbe, Goyle, have you heard anything from your boys?" Those blood red eyes searched each of the three, who shook their heads slowly, not bothering to hid their fear. "I am very disappointed in you three. And the rest of you?"
"Nothing, lord."
"Am I to believe that there has been no communication between you and Hogwarts on the nature of my most faithful?"
Lucius raised his head and looked at Voldemort. "It is possible that Severus is not quite as faithful as you believe."
Two fingers pinched together and Lucius found himself gasping for breath. "Are you daring to question me, Malfoy?" His head shook, relieved when he was able to breathe again. "I know exactly where Severus Snape's loyalty lies. That is why I allow him more leeway than the rest of you."
"Forgive me for questioning you, master." Lucius pleaded.
"Don't let it happen again." Voldemort dismissed him from mind, turning to Peter. "Wormtail, you can get into Hogwarts. I desire that you do so. Find out what my little potions master is up to."
It was not a request. Peter transfigured with a silent sigh and scurried off into the night.
Hogwarts Infirmary:
"Severus, you have to go to class. If the Slytherins suspect something's wrong with you and it got back to Voldemort, both of you could be in trouble." Professor Dumbledore said gently.
Severus turned to look at him, his black eyes were weary. His hand rubbed his left arm absently, the dark mark had been more active lately. It was his personal opinion that his 'master' suspected something. "They already do. I have had a visit from Draco. He has been instructed to inform the rest of the house that my sister has returned."
"Are you sure that is wise?"
"Yes. Voldemort will find out, I know this is the best way." What went unspoken that Draco wouldn't dream of letting the world know that Septina was back among the living. Contrary to everyone's impression, he was not his father's puppet. They all had roles to play in this war, Draco's was to act as though his father controlled his every thought. "I could not tell him myself, I would choke on the words."
Dumbledore was about to respond when Remus and Sirius entered the room. "What is going on?"
"Keep your voice down, Black." Severus snarled, seeing his sister whimper in pain.
"Your pardon then." Black sarcastically replied. "Well?"
Severus stood up, squeezing his sister's hand. "Albus will explain. I have a class to teach." Robes swirling around him, he disappeared out the door.
