Chapter 34B - The Interlude

~*~ Yeah, im getting my old readers back, woohoo! I had an idea, every time I write a chapter its usually to a loop of music, and I'd write which one it was down below like so: Song of the update: Bal-Sagoth - Callisto Rising I have no idea who thought up the excellent idea of the Dark Revels, but I pay homage to that person as I include a form of this in this chapter, whoever's idea it was, I salute you (

~*~

"Disrespectful." Severus smirked as Draezyc tugged the creases out of her green robes. "But so wonderfully Slytherin. Which to choose." He took her hand and twirled her around. "I'd rather have the beautiful Slytherin."

Draezyc laughed. "And yet you showed the utmost respect at dinner tonight."

"Not out of choice, believe me my love." Severus sighed. "Black is my colour."

"And it becomes you so very well." Draezyc raised a sultry eyebrow. "And so, the night is young, do you have work to do?"

"None that cannot be postponed for the sake of you."

"I rank higher than Third Year test papers, I feel so honoured." Draezyc pulled a length of black silk out of a cupboard, swirling it around her shoulders. "Will you come with me tonight?"

Severus looked thoughtful, then nodded curtly. "Yes. Is Pytheus alright by himself?"

"Pytheus will be fine, and if he has anything to worry about he knows where Remus can be found." Draezyc slipped her Death Eater mask out from under her pillow and tucked it into a side pocket, "Yours?"

Severus picked his up from an open drawer, "By my side, as ever." He straightened his collar and placed his wand in his pocket. "Portkey, Apparition or Mark?"

"I feel like a walk, lets apparate from Hogsmeade." Draezyc flicked her wand and the laces of her corset untied themselves and retied tighter than they had been at dinner.

"Don't do that."

"Why?"

"You know very well why." Severus raised an eyebrow at Draezyc's seemingly innocent face. "Not only do you have me, but Malfoy and all the others salivating over you all the way through the meetings, it's bad enough watching Malfoy do it, but when its Voldemort himself and I can do nothing about it."

"Ooh, jealousy." Draezyc kissed Severus' palm. "And you have little to worry about, you know it and so does everyone else."

"I have every right to be jealous. You're a beautiful woman and you're also my wife."

"Who will never stray from your side as I hope you know." Draezyc rested her head on his shoulder, "Come, or we shall be late, and punctuality is one of your strong points."

~*~

The evening breeze blew Severus' long black hair away from his face, highlighting his pale features in the sunset as they walked out of Hogsmeade and into the surrounding countryside. "So tell me, what is the agenda for tonight?"

"The same as it has been for days, DuCruet, DuCruet and nothing but DuCruet." Draezyc frowned, then stopped short and spun around, looking intently into the darkness for something. "What was that?"

"Stealthy," Severus sighed, "Bennett, what do you want?"

Draezyc rolled her eyes as David walked out from the shadows, "Oh."

David smirked, "Not as observant as you used to be." He looked questioningly at the Snapes, "Nice evening for a walk, you going somewhere?"

Severus shot a sour look at him, very well aware he was an Auror, but knew exactly where they were heading.

"As a matter of fact we were planning on apparating somewhere a bit more pleasant than a damp underground cell of an office. Maybe a glass of wine or two.." Draezyc gestured with her hand to Hogwarts Castle in the distance. "It may be to some people's tastes but its not my ideal setting."

"Why Severus," David chuckled, "I never knew you had such a thing for romantic women."

"I think you will find, theres a lot of things you don't know about me or my wife." Severus replied quietly, "And if you don't mind."

"Of course of course, go." David waved them away, "I might head back and check on Devin's transfiguration project. he wanted to turn Dexter into a sieve."

"Oh dear." Draezyc looked worried, "Good luck with that."

"I'll need it." David turned away and walked back down the track to Hogwarts.

"What was he doing, nosing about like that?" Severus scowled, "I don't care if he is a friend and fellow Slytherin, he staked his flag to the Auror mast and it'll never leave him now."

"Shh," Draezyc placed a silencing finger on Severus' mouth. "There are times and places less open than this for savagery."

"It wasn't savagery." Severus raised an eyebrow "it was factual statements. Now, let us get going before we are late."

Apparition to the Dark Lord's castle was difficult under normal circumstances, and impossible without a Dark Mark, which burned a searing painful heat for the brief two seconds of transportation. It was common for the newer, more vulnerable recruits to pass out from the pain upon arrival, but the Snapes were neither vulnerable nor new to the crowd, they knew what to expect, and it came to little surprise to those gathered when two black robed figures arrived with little more than a flinch or sharp intake of breath.

"Ah, Severus and Lady Snape. What a welcome arrival indeed." Voldemort stopped addressing his Death Eaters to welcome the two. " We were discussing a matter of some importance."

"DuCruet again?" Draezyc raised an eyebrow. Snape gave a short glance at his wife for her impertinence towards Voldemort, who simply laughed in reply

"You are well informed." Voldemort gestured to their places in the circle of Death Eaters. "I want to dispose of her, and soon. I cannot extract information from her, and she has outlived her usefulness."

"You do not think she could be used as bait for Potter?" Malfoy asked cautiously

"I have given the matter some thought." Voldemort acknowledged, "But I prefer to not risk the chance of her escape and simply kill her outright." He gestured to Draezyc, "So poignant in the shadow of death. I wish for you to kill her. It would bring you great joy, no?"

Draezyc's face betrayed no emotion "When?"

"As soon as you wish." Voldemort laughed, "Impatient are you?"

"Not in the least, I wish to formulate a well thought out plan for it. Suffering is the key."

Voldemort nodded and returned to addressing the circle of already met Death eaters, most of who had been feeling relieved that the attention had been taken away from them since the arrival of the Snapes. "With DuCruet out of the picture, it will be easy to focus on my main target in this time. Harry Potter. Yes, he may well be better guarded now than ever before, but that wretched DuCruet will no longer be able to protect him in battle."

There were some strains of cruel sycophantic laughter from the Death Eaters at this. Draezyc included.

The meeting lasted well into the evening, every motive was dissected, discussed and recorded down as an eventuality. The Death eaters stood, often in a respectful silence listening to Voldemort's narration, only offering advice when it was called for. The most prominent voices from the crowd were Malfoy Snr, Draezyc and Pettigrew, who more often than not, reduced into a whimper at Voldemort's most menial demands. By the end of the meeting, Voldemort called for a Death Eater Revel, to celebrate the impending doom of Potter and DuCruet, the Order of the Phoenix, and Dumbledore.

"Shall we stay?" Severus asked Draezyc quietly, "It might look suspicious on Potter's Map."

"Everything on that map looks suspicious." Draezyc smirked. "I want to stay for a while, not necessarily all of it, depends if this Revel is anything related to the old ones we used to go to."

"I doubt it." Severus sneered. "Too risky, and the Ministry are more accustomed to searching us out."

"True." Draezyc nodded in agreement. "You do not wish to stay? You realise how that will look to Him?"

"I realise it all too well my love, but I also have the excuse that I am under Dumbledore's nose. Any absence, whatever the brevity, will look suspicious, and He understands this." Severus smiled slightly. "And as my wife you are expected to follow my example and leave with me."

"How. enchanting." Draezyc laughed derisively. "Interesting example to be following."

TBC