Severus gained an answer to his question whether Voldemort was sleeping with Harry a few weeks later. Term had started and curtailed heavily on his time with the Dark Lord and his young charge, although Voldemort still summoned him every weekend for nearly the entire day and most evenings for a few hours. Severus had taken to bringing along his students' papers to grade in order to be able to finish them.
It was a Saturday evening, four weeks into term, and the four of them, Voldemort, Harry, Nagini, and himself, were sitting in the library. Severus sat at the desk grading the third year papers, feeling a vicious glee as he used his red ink in abundance on the impostor's paper and all the other annoying Gryffindors. Occasionally he would look up to escape the dismal attempts of his pupils, and he watched the others in the room.
Nagini was coiled in a tight ball in front of the fire; the temperature had dropped and it was promising to be a cold winter. Voldemort was sitting, if practically hanging in a chair could be called sitting, in one of the comfortable armchairs while he read an ancient tome in parseltongue, written by Slytherin himself. One arm hung over the armrest and he was carding his fingers through Harry's hair absentmindedly, occasionally massaging the boy's neck as Harry sat on the floor and worked on the six feet long essay Severus had him writing on the properties of different variations of Polyjuice.
It was getting late and it was obvious Harry was nearly falling asleep over his parchment. They'd spent nearly the entire day experimenting with the Wolfsbane potion and Severus felt he could use some PepperUp himself.
When Harry yawned for the third time Voldemort looked up from his book and tugged on the boy's hair to get his attention.
"Time for bed, Harry."
"But, Tom –"
"Are you telling me you're not tired?"
"No, Tom. It's just, I'm nearly finished."
"You can finish it tomorrow, I'm sure Severus won't mind."
"All right." Harry started packing his things together, made a neat pile on the floor, stood up, and moved into Voldemort's outstretched arms. He gave the Dark Lord a quick hug and Voldemort pressed an affectionate kiss to the curse scar.
"Goodnight, Tom."
"Goodnight, Harry. Take Nagini with you, I'll join you soon."
Severus froze, his hands clenched so hard he was surprised the quill in his hand didn't snap. He didn't know whether the sudden pit in his stomach was caused by envy or disgust at the overwhelming intimacy between Voldemort and the boy.
After the boy had left, hissing to Nagini in deep conversation, Voldemort returned his attention to the book in front of him, but he must have noticed the look on Severus' face because he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
Hastily Severus schooled his features as blank as he could.
"Nothing, my Lord."
Voldemort narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing? Are you sure?"
"Yes, my Lord." Severus could feel his hands starting to sweat.
"Don't lie to me!" the Dark Lord snapped and he closed the book in his lap, set it aside on one of the small tables next to him.
"What is on your mind, Severus? Tell me."
"I – My Lord –"
"Now, Severus!" There was no disobeying that tone and Severus found himself blurting out his thoughts.
"You sleep with Harry?" Severus cringed and closed his eyes as he braced himself for his punishment.
Voldemort went very quiet and Severus chanced a look at the Dark Lord. The eerily calm look on the other man's face scared Severus more than Voldemort ever had before. When Voldemort spoke it was soft, almost contemplative, as if he were talking to himself.
"Yes, I sleep with Harry. We, Harry, Nagini and I, we share the same bed. When Harry was left here he chose my bedroom to sleep in. What can I say? The boy has taste. After I returned, well, I was hardly going to sleep anywhere else than in my own bed. And it was Harry's now too, room enough for the three of us, no need for him to leave his room, his bed."
Bright green eyes looked up and pinned Severus where he sat, a green to rival that of Harry's eyes.
"Why, what are you suggesting, Severus?" Voldemort hissed and Severus shook his head in denial.
"N- Nothing –"
"Don't lie to me!" Voldemort was across the room in a flash, his hand gripping Severus' hair painfully and pulling Severus out of the chair so their faces were close.
"Are you suggesting I am sleeping with Harry?" he hissed in Severus' ear, his grip so tight tears came to Severus' eyes.
"No, my –"
"Are you suggesting that I would betray a child's trust, that I would betray Harry's trust so by using him for sex? The boy is only thirteen!"
Voldemort flung him across the room and Severus scrambled to get away in fear as he saw the Dark Lord raise his wand. Instead of unsurmountable pain, however, Voldemort cast a locking and silencing charm on the room and pocketed his wand again before advancing on Severus.
"How dare you suggest that I would abuse Harry so! How dare you imply that I, that I would do such a thing!" He grabbed Severus' arm and hauled him upright, pulled him across the room back to the table.
"I would never harm Harry!" He threw Severus against the table, bending him over it as he pressed up against Severus' back and hissed in his ear. "If I want someone to fuck, I summon you."
With that he pushed Severus' robes up and tore away his trousers, forcing Severus' legs apart, and Severus' limp member was pressed hard against the wooden table. Severus closed his eyes and fought to relax, his pelvis ached from where it had been slammed into the table edge, he knew there were bruises already forming there and on his arm.
He heard a muttered lubricating spell behind him, knew that Voldemort was only coating himself enough to make sure this would not hurt him. Then those hands were on his hips and the Dark Lord was forcing himself inside Severus. Severus' eyes were clenched shut and he bit his lips to not cry out against the burn that seemed to travel all the way up his spine. He was adept enough that the Dark Lord could do this to him without tearing him up, but his body still fought the violent intrusion and the pain was no less. Voldemort made sure Severus found no enjoyment whatsoever in this coupling.
Voldemort let go of one hip and reached around to grasp Severus' limp prick that had been slapping painfully against the table's edge in time with Voldemort's rough thrusts. When Severus recognized the spell he started pleading no, but Voldemort was relentless and didn't pause in casting the dark hex. Severus felt himself grow hard, painfully so, and when Voldemort climaxed he did as well. It felt like acid being forced out of him and he cried out in agony as his pink tinted release splattered across the third year papers.
Still half hard Voldemort pulled out and stepped away as Severus slid off the table onto the floor. The Dark Lord knelt down next to him. He gripped Severus' chin and forced Severus to look into those bright green eyes.
"F- Forgive me, my Lord," Severus choked out, tears trailing down his cheeks.
"I do not forgive, Severus, I will not forget," he replied and his eyes travelled over Severus' form and the third year papers, both in disarray. His lips twisted in disgust. He released his hold and stood up.
"Clean up this mess you've made. I will summon you when I have a need for you again."
With shaking hands Severus tried to salvage what was left of his students' work as he heard Voldemort leave the library.
*~*
At Hogwarts time passed even more stressfully than normal for Severus. The year had begun bad enough with Remus Lupin as the new DADA teacher, but even Severus had to admit that the man was competent. He still didn't like the idea of a werewolf free around so many children though, and he made damned sure that Lupin had his dose of Wolfsbane every month.
The impostor Harry Potter, or Potter as Severus still thought of him, had sighted Sirius Black just before the year's beginning, and more sightings followed throughout the year. The Ministry had Dementors posted at the school gates and Severus was grateful Albus did not allow them onto the grounds. Those few days in Azkaban when Voldemort first fell had taught him to stay as far away from the wretched things as he possibly could.
Severus found himself watching Potter more than he had the previous two years. Then it had been to protect the boy, now he glared hatefully at the unknown Death Eater, trying to figure out who it could be. It was uncanny how much Potter reminded Severus of James and his three friends, the same arrogance, the same blatant disregard for rules, and Severus wondered what would have happened if Harry had come to Hogwarts instead of Potter.
Potter didn't seem at all phased by the Potions Master's glares. He glared back just as hard, and Severus wondered whether and how Voldemort kept in contact with 'his most loyal servant'.
The Headmaster had said he would take care of Potter, and Severus did notice that Potter was called to Albus' office regularly, but he had no idea what the two of them talked about. He didn't think Albus had revealed that he knew of the deception; Severus was pretty sure if he had then Voldemort would know and then…
Albus had Lupin tutor Potter in extra defence, and if this had been the real Harry Potter Severus would have agreed, but why train an impostor, why train a Death Eater? It didn't sit well with Severus, but the few times he voiced his concern to the Headmaster they were waved away. Instead Albus would take out the pensieveritaserum and insist on checking Severus' memories of his encounters with Voldemort, no matter their nature, for more clues.
At least the continued threat of Sirius Black seemed to knock the arrogant blight down a few pegs, although that didn't quite make sense either. Potter should know that Black was a Death Eater as well; and if Black were after the real Harry Potter and didn't know that the one at Hogwarts was a fake, why didn't Voldemort call him off?
When the Christmas holidays came round Albus sent Potter home with the Weasleys, which didn't make any sense at all. Severus and Lupin both protested this, Lupin because he feared that Black or Voldemort might easily get their hands on Potter there; Severus because he didn't trust the boy with the Weasleys, Virginia Weasley in particular.
Voldemort's body might be sixteen, nearly seventeen, but his mind most definitely was not; there was no doubt in Severus' mind that Potter's young body was also only a disguise for an adult, and the looks Potter and Virginia had been sharing the past few months did nothing to reassure him. The way they stood close together, touching, the Weasley girl's blush when they returned at the holiday's end, told Severus his fears had been correct.
Severus himself spent Christmas at Riddle Mansion with Harry, Voldemort, and Nagini. Voldemort gave Harry a set of very obscure and rare Potions books. The Dark Lord winked at Severus when he said it was also for Severus a little, considering he'd get to read them too, but that Severus' real gift would have to wait until Harry went to bed. Harry blushed and Severus tried not to show how uncomfortable he was; Voldemort was gradually becoming more open about his activities with Severus in front of Harry. Severus feared what that might mean.
Harry gave both Voldemort and Severus each a flask of Sweet Dreams, an extremely complex potion that guaranteed the drinker a restful night's sleep filled with pleasant dreams and that had none of the negative side-effects most sleep potions did. Severus had thought long and hard about what to give Harry, and in the end he presented the boy with a delicate glass cauldron, the very one that had been given to him by Voldemort when Severus had achieved the title Potions Master. Harry was ecstatic and insisted on using it right away, while Voldemort seemed pleased as well. He certainly rewarded Severus later that night when Harry had been coaxed out of the potions lab and into bed.
As the school year progressed further and Black was even able to break into the Gryffindor tower, Severus began to wonder whether Albus was even going to consider rescuing Harry from Voldemort. After one particular episode in which Voldemort took him in his own bed while Harry was sleeping in it Severus knew it was time to get Harry away from the Dark Lord. He didn't care what Voldemort had said at the end of summer, he recognized those looks. The boy would be turning fourteen in a few months: still far too young for that kind of thing, but would Voldemort continue to see it that way?
Severus pleaded with Albus, tried to impress the Headmaster with the need to get Harry out of Voldemort's hands, but Albus again waved away his concerns. He was beginning to suspect the Headmaster would rather keep the Potter he had already trained, than exchange him for the real thing.
The only possible ally Severus could think of was Lupin. The werewolf was perceptive, and Severus had overheard him speaking to the Headmaster about Potter, saying that he felt there was something 'off' about the boy, something wrong he just couldn't place. But he couldn't risk revealing the truth to Lupin, Voldemort would kill him if he found out, and Albus would not be pleased either.
No, Severus had to find a way to expose Potter and reveal the whereabouts of Harry at the same time. And he had to do it in a way that would in no way point back to him.
*~*
It was the eve of the full moon and Severus was looking for Lupin. The werewolf hadn't taken the Wolfsbane potion yet. It annoyed Severus to no end, Lupin's carelessness; and that while Harry and he had improved the formula, making the potion more palatable and the change less painful!
After searching the castle Severus finally found Lupin on the grounds, near Hagrid's Hut.
"What are you doing here, Lupin?"
The werewolf smiled at him and nodded his head toward the cottage.
"I'm waiting for Harry and his two friends to return from Hagrid. The Headmaster told me to expect them trying to see Hagrid before Buckbeak's execution. He wanted me to make sure they got back safe to their dorms. He also said no points were to be taken."
Severus sneered at Lupin's grin, and he opened his mouth to tell the werewolf to drink the Wolfsbane potion he was holding. However, suddenly the other man went ash-white and his eyes widened in what could only be called horror.
"Oh, Merlin, it's Padfoot," he heard Lupin whisper and he followed the werewolf's gaze.
There, in the distance, a black dog bounded over the grass toward the Whomping Willow, dragging Ron Weasley by the arm. Severus had his wand out and was running after them the very next moment, Wolfsbane potion falling forgotten to the ground. He was aware of Lupin running beside him, but by the time they reached the tree and its flailing branches there was no sign of either dog or boy. As they frantically searched for a stick to press the knot of wood in the Willow's trunk Severus came across Potter's invisibility cloak. Lupin blanched even more.
"He's taken them to the Shrieking Shack."
Severus didn't bother asking who 'he' was.
They ran through the long tunnel and Lupin was ready to burst wand first into the shack, but Severus forced his colleague to calm down.
"We'll use Potter's invisibility cloak, that way we can surprise them."
Lupin nodded and impatiently lengthened the cloak and then swung it around the both of them. They crept through the dusty and destroyed rooms, paused at the foot of the stairs. From above they could hear voices shouting; Severus recognized Potter's, he could hear the Weasley boy's moans of pain, and the panic in Granger's normally calm voice. There was a fourth person up there as well, a man, his voice hoarse and rusty from disuse.
Severus put his hand over Lupin's arm, stopped him from going any further. Things were starting to fall into place, were beginning to make sense.
"Lupin, wait. Does the name Wormtail mean anything to you?"
Lupin gaped at him.
"How did you know –" His face became guarded. "Why do you ask?"
Severus gripped the other man's arm tighter. He was taking an enormous risk, but this might be his only chance.
"Lupin, when we're up there I need
you to do something for me. Cast the strongest dispel you can on Potter.
Please, trust me, if you care for Harry at all, do this."
Lupin looked at him a moment and then gave a curt
nod. Relieved, Severus managed a tight smile and they hurried up the stairs.
The scene they found in the bedroom was one of utter chaos. Ron Weasley lay slumped on the floor, one leg obviously broken, his face twisted in a grimace of pain. Hermione Granger was at his side, sobbing. In the centre of the room Potter stood, screaming at the room's fourth occupant.
Severus' breath caught as his suspicions were confirmed: Sirius Black. But a Sirius Black nothing like the handsome and arrogant youth Severus remembered. His face and body were gaunt, his once sparkling blue eyes dull. His hair was long and matted, he looked miserable. Severus even found himself pitying the man he had hated for nearly two decades.
Black was holding all the children's wands, had them pointing at Potter, but his hand was shaking and there were tears running down his cheeks as he begged.
"Please, Harry, listen to me. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but you have to listen to me. Nobody knows, you're not safe, it wasn't me, it wasn't me, I had to warn you, he's still out there, it wasn't me."
"How could you, Sirius? How could you? You killed Lily and James, you killed them! You're a murderer! I won't listen to your lies!"
Beside him Lupin had stiffened and there was a look of dawning horror on his face. The knuckles of his wand hand turned white. With a controlled tug he pulled the cloak off them both.
"Professor Lupin! Professor Snape!" Granger cried out in relief and Potter spun around to face them.
"Remus, thank Merlin you're here! He's trying to kill me! Sirius is trying to kill me!"
"No, Harry, no! I would never hurt you, please believe me! It wasn't me, we switched!"
Potter must have noticed there was something wrong from the look of horrified suspicion on the werewolf's face. He stopped babbling and took a step backward away from the DADA professor.
"I hope to Merlin that I'm wrong," Lupin whispered in a hoarse and raspy tone as his wand started making circular motions in the air. "But if I'm right, I swear to Merlin I'll kill you myself. Revelatio!"
For a moment Potter glowed brightly blue, and then in slow motion his appearance changed. Bright green eyes changed to brown; unruly black hair gave way to a thinning dirty blond; years were added, features changed, and finally a short, middle-aged, rat-like man stood where moments before Potter had been. Blue light flickered and superimposed Potter's image, fading and returning as the doppelganger spell fought to reassert itself.
Dead silence ruled the room for a second as they all stared at Peter Pettigrew in disbelief.
Black was the first to snap out of it. His face contorted in rage and hatred, and he launched himself at his former friend.
"Traitor! It was you! What did you do to Harry? I'll kill you!"
He knocked the smaller man to the ground and fastened his skeletal hands around the impostor's throat.
"Sirius, no!" Lupin fought to pull the enraged man off Pettigrew. "We need him to tell us where Harry is!"
Black twisted and turned, trying to escape the arms restraining him. Without warning he transformed into a huge, black dog and with jaws snapping he lunged at Pettigrew again.
"Ligamentum!" Severus shouted. Ropes flew from his wand and bound the ferocious animal. As much as he would have enjoyed seeing the impostor torn from limb to limb he couldn't afford Pettigrew dying just yet: the rat had to reveal Harry's whereabouts to the others first.
Pettigrew was a miserable heap on the floor, crying and snivelling, and he looked up at Lupin and Severus gratefully.
"Thank you, thank you! He was going to kill me!"
Lupin still had his wand levelled at Pettigrew, who was transforming back into Potter before their eyes. The werewolf's face was a mask of loathing and his voice a soft and deadly whisper when he spoke.
"Where is Harry, Peter? Tell me now and I might make it quick. What did you do to Harry?"
Pettigrew's eyes widened and he shook his head.
"It wasn't my fault. I didn't want to tell him."
"I don't care! Where is Harry?!" the normally gentle man shouted and he made a
slashing motion with his wand. Pettigrew was thrown against the wall. He
crumbled into a heap, sobbing pitifully. The frantically barking, black dog
struggled against its bonds. Weasley and Granger were huddled together against
the bed as they watched the scene unfold in horror.
"Where is Harry, Peter?!" Lupin raised his wand arm again and Pettigrew cowered, raising his arms to protect his head.
"I don't know! I don't know! You-Know-Who took him when we made the switch! I don't know! I didn't want to, it wasn't my idea, He made me do it! I didn't want to; He forced me to betray James and Lily!"
"How long, Peter? How long have you been parading around as Harry?"
"Three years, we switched just before Hagrid came. It wasn't my fault, I didn't want to but He made me do it!" Pettigrew was snivelling. Severus looked at the coward in disgust.
Lupin was eerily calm; he ignored Black's barking and pointed his wand at Pettigrew.
"You should have died before betraying your friends. It is what we would have done for you. Ava-"
"No! Remus, no, please! I didn't want to! He made me," Pettigrew made an aborted move toward the snapping dog and then turned to the other two Gryffindors.
"Ron, Hermione, don't let him kill me! You're my friends, we're best friends, don't let him hurt me!"
Granger and Weasley pulled away from Pettigrew, who had by now reverted fully to Potter.
"I don't know who you are, but you're not our friend."
Potter reeled as if slapped, then turned to Severus, clutched at the hem of Severus' robes.
"Snape, you're a teacher! You can't let him harm a student!
Help me, he's a werewolf! You hate Sirius! Help me!"
Severus' lip curled. It was disconcerting to see Harry's face on that wretch,
but he knew what lay beneath that deceptive exterior.
"Don't let him kill me, please."
Severus gritted his teeth; he couldn't let Lupin kill Pettigrew. Voldemort would know if he didn't do his best to protect 'his most loyal servant'.
"Wait, Lupin. We need to take him to Albus. Let the Headmaster see him, maybe he can find out more on Harry."
Lupin hesitated and then nodded, slowly lowering his wand.
"Yes, take me to Albus, please don't hurt me, take me to Albus."
Severus didn't like Pettigrew's familiar use of the Headmaster's name; just what had Albus revealed to Potter, what had he promised him?
"We'll have to take Black along too, now that he's innocent."
And wasn't that a turn for the books, him proclaiming Black's innocence.
Lupin nodded and knelt next to the still barking dog, running his hands through its fur and calming it. He untied the ropes and Black reverted to his human form. He glared hatefully at Pettigrew and Potter cowered against Severus.
"I'll take care of the traitor."
"No, don't let him near me!"
"Shut up!" Severus gripped Potter by the arm and pulled him upright. "I'll keep an eye on Pettigrew. You two help Granger and Weasley. Let's get moving."
The two Gryffindors both looked fearfully at Black; not surprising considering the man had apparently somehow broken Weasley's leg. However, they let themselves be led down the stairs and into the tunnel by Lupin and Black. Severus followed behind. Black kept casting suspicious look back.
"Professor Lupin," he heard Granger speak softly ahead of him. "Is Harry really Peter Pettigrew? Wasn't he killed by –" She stopped and Black growled in reply.
"Traitorous rat escaped and set me up," his blue eyes
returned to rest on Potter again, and he glared maliciously. "But he won't
escape justice this time."
Potter snivelled and practically clung to Severus.
"Take me to Albus."
Severus was somewhat surprised Potter didn't plead for Severus to let him escape, to let him return to Voldemort. Although, on second thought, the Dark Lord had never been very forgiving of failure.
It still did worry Severus that Pettigrew seemed so eager to see the Headmaster. With the doppelganger spell still firmly in place… But no, Lupin and Black would never allow it. Now they knew the truth there was no way they'd leave Harry with Voldemort. No matter what Albus said.
They emerged from between the Whomping Willow's roots and ducked between the branches. Their small group continued over the grounds to the castle until suddenly Lupin froze and looked up at the sky. Severus felt his stomach drop at the same time as he heard Black swear.
"Lupin, you idiot! You never took the Wolfsbane!" Severus shouted, but Lupin was already transforming.
Severus let go of Potter as he fought to point his wand at the werewolf, but the two children were too close, he might hit them instead. Then Black dropped Weasley and transformed into the black dog. Just as the wolf turned to attack the two students the dog closed its jaw around the wolf's neck and violently pulled it aside, toward the Forbidden Forest. The wolf fought itself free, but the dog chased it away, both animals bounding over the grass toward the forest.
Relieved Severus turned his attention to Granger and Weasley. Weasley was pale white and looked ready to vomit, but he shook his head and shakily pointed behind Severus.
"He's getting away."
Severus spun around just in time to see a rat running in the other direction, towards the Lake. He cursed and set off after it, only to lose sight of the small creature when clouds moved in front of the full moon again.
"Lumos!"
As Severus looked around, searching, tendrils of cold seemed to snake into his soul. He cursed again. This night was just getting better and better.
He heard a cry of distress ahead, then 'expecto patronum' called again and again in a faltering voice. Clutching his own, glowing, wand Severus ran to where Potter's voice was coming from.
He found the Dementors closing in on Potter at the Lake's edge. Potter was clearly exhausted and faint wisps of silver smoke came from his wand; half-formed images of Granger and the youngest two Weasleys. They dissipated in the cold night air and before Severus could intervene one of the Dementors swooped down on the small form.
Severus could only watch in horror as Pettigrew was kissed, his soulless body falling to the ground where it was discarded: an empty husk. The doppelganger spell faltered, and the body flickered between the image of Harry and Pettigrew.
There was no time to be shocked, to think. The Dementors had sensed him and were now advancing on him. Backing away, feeling the familiar waves of anguish, Severus pointed his wand at the Dementors as steadily as he could. Merlin, he hoped it worked; he'd never been able to conjure a proper Patronus.
"Expecto Patronum!"
The bright silvery image of Harry stirring in a cauldron shot from Severus' wand tip and the Dementors fled.
*~*
Albus looked down at Pettigrew's body where it lay on the hospital bed. Blue light flickered on and off, the doppelganger spell slowly dissipating. He looked up at Severus gravely.
"This is very unfortunate."
Severus straightened and met the Headmaster's gaze without flinching.
"I was too late to stop the Dementors. But at least we now have proof of the deception. We need to get Harry away from Voldemort."
Albus looked at him, his piercing blue eyes pinning Severus where he stood. He knew the Headmaster was aware of the part he'd played, knew Albus was disappointed. It hurt, but this had been necessary.
The Headmaster sighed and nodded.
"Very well, it seems we have no other choice. He is calling you now?" Albus' eyes darted to Severus' left arm that the Potions Master held stiffly against his chest. The mark had started burning immediately after Pettigrew had been kissed but Severus had ignored its call. He had to protect Granger and Weasley, had to get the body back to Hogwarts first. Voldemort would just have to wait.
Severus nodded and grimaced as the burn intensified.
"Go then. Be careful, we will discuss this when you return." The Headmaster sighed again. "I'll talk to the Minister and see if we can't keep this quiet as long as possible."
On his way out of the infirmary Severus was suddenly pulled into an alcove and shoved against the wall by Sirius Black. Poppy had tended to the wounds Lupin had inflicted, but the man had refused to take any sleeping draught or rest.
"You're going to Him now, He has Harry?"
Severus nodded.
"Yes, Black."
For some reason overcome by compassion for this ruined man, this entirely unexpected ally, Severus gripped the other man's skeletal hands in his own.
"Don't worry, Sirius. Harry is a fine young man, he's all right, and we'll get him out of Voldemort's reach so he stays that way. I promise you."