Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR and her various publishing companies.

AN: I know it took too long but I try to make better in future.

Tale of the Great Ferret, Part One

Malfoy's Heir

Chapter 8

Snape's Fate

Draco Malfoy strolled impatiently in the garden of the Malfoy Manor. He was waiting for his mentor and godfather, Severus Snape. Where did he dawdle? Draco was more annoyed by every passing minute. This was really important. Finally Snape apparated to the grounds.

"Where have you been?"  Draco asked, "I have been waiting for you ages and I have something really important to tell you."

"I couldn't make it earlier. What's the rush? Have you found out something vital?"

"Yes, indeed I have. There is a leak in the Order!" Draco almost shouted.

"Are you sure?" Snape sighed, "I have feared this and have had some suspicions lately, but nothing certain."

"Well now it is. Dark Lord told Wormtail that they have got some inside information and information seems accurate. It's nothing crucial yet but it's positively real." Draco cried.

"Shhh! Be quiet. This is quite safe place but there can be too many ears here also." Snape snapped.

Snape pondered few minutes. "You have nothing to worry about. No one knows your identity save Dumbledore and me. We should…"

Draco cut him short hastily. "I'm not worried about me. But every Order member knows you. Who ever the traitor is, he is going to reveal you. And you know how Dark Lord handles traitors!"

"Manners, Malfoy! Don't interrupt me. As I was saying, we should try to locate the leak. And don't You worry about me. I can take care of myself." Snape snarled. "Just listen carefully all Dark Lord speaks about the Order but don't do anything suspicious."

"I apologize. I will do as you wish." Draco stated slightly offended. 

Snape sighed again and grabbed Draco's shoulders. "Listen to me, Draco. You are our only real inside source and it's crucial to us that you don't endanger your position. And it's crucial to me also. I don't want you dead. If you start pulling stupid stunts you are going to get caught. That is the last thing I want."

"You have to promise me that even if I get caught you don't do anything stupid. Do you understand?" Sanpe continued. "You have to understand that you are much more important than me in every way. Promise me, Draco!"

Draco dangled his head and didn't look to Snape's eyes when he answered softly, "Yes, Sir."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

OotP meeting:

"We have a problem here. There is a traitor in our squad. I don't know who or even where but we have it." Snape cut out chattering immediately after all most trusted members were present in the Orders meeting room.

"What? Can't be. There are only trustworthy members in the Order. We have chose…" Started Tonks but rest of her clause was lost in the astonished protests.

 Shocked arguing continued until Lupin said in quiet voice. "We have undergone treachery before. It's possible now also. But are you really sure about this Severus?"

Every one turned to look at Snape who glowered to Lupin but answered: "Of course I'm sure.  Somewhere there is a leak. Voldemort knows too much about us. Now he has even stated that he indeed has a spy in our forces."

"And how can you know that?" Asked Tonks, "Did he tell you that?"

"I know it. My ways to find it out are not your business." Snape snapped.

"All right. Let's not argue now about that. This is really bad news. We need to know where the leak is and we had to put it down." Dumbledore interfered in conversation before it turned to the full quarrel. "Severus, what do you think, is it safe for you to go back to Voldemort or is leak have been so bad that your status has revealed?"

"Of course I can't be sure but probably I have not yet been uncovered. It seems that who ever the traitor is he has just started to sell the information."

"In that case you can go to Voldemort then he summons you next time and try to find something more about the traitor. It's vital that the leak is stopped." Dumbledore said. "But please be careful Severus."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Professor Snape was chopping ingredients to Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin when his Dark Mark started to burn. He immediately left dungeons and walked outside Hogwarts grounds to disapparate. Still he was one of the last to arrive. This was clearly very big meeting. It was seldom to have so many Death Eaters together. Voldemort didn't appear often to his lower servants. Low ranked Death Eater usually met only one of the higher ranked once to get his commands. But now field was full of Death Eaters from all ranks and levels and still all the Dark Lords generals were also present. Maybe this meeting was intended to raise spirit among Death Eater ranks. Finally also Voldemort arrived. Draco Malfoy was with him. This really was something special Snape thought. Voldemort didn't let his lower servants see his toy boy lover often. He was high-priced and guarded possession and not showed often to the lower ranks.

Meeting started as good spirit raising meeting should. Voldemort's generals gave their reassuring reports about late success. Dark Lord called some lower Death Eaters by name and praised their actions. He even promoted few to the higher level. There were also some new members to be dark marked. After that it almost seemed that the meeting was over but as an afterthought Dark Lord spoke.

"Snape, come here" He commanded.

Snape was worried but tried not to show that as he obeyed. He knelt and touched Dark Lord's hem with his lips. "Yes, My Lord."

Voldemort pointed him with his wand and smiled before he cried "Crusio!"

Pain shot through Snape's body but he hold his screams. He knew he could take 5 minutes of cruciatus before he started to scream. During his agony he felt that someone took his wand away from him. He realized that he had got caught. The traitor from the Order must have betrayed him. Snape almost could appreciate irony of that. The traitor had been betrayed by other traitor.

Voldemort waited until Snape let out his first screams and then lifted up his wand. "This man here has betrayed me. He has done it twice and he shall pay for it. His death will be long and painful and you shall all remember what happens to men who betray me and quail than you remember his fate."

"Take him to my dungeons, he will not get the mercy of quick death." Voldemort ordered two of his generals, Avery and Nott.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco walked nervously circle in his room. He was near to panic. Professor Snape had been exposed and they tortured him at that moment in the dungeons. Dark Lord had forced Draco to watch some time than Death Eaters beat up his godfather. It had been almost impossible to hide his fright but he remembered his father's glance from the meeting place then Voldemort had revealed that Snape was the spy. It had strictly warned not to say anything and not even show any feeling. Draco knew his father was right. It would be too dangerous to show anything more than contempt to his old mentor. Still it was difficult. And for the moment Draco was sure that it was difficult also to his father. There had been so much sorrow, weariness and self-contempt in Lucius eyes that Draco had almost exclaimed. Then Lucius Malfoy had set his face carefully blank and Draco wasn't sure if he had only imagined it all.

Draco tried to find out ways to save his old professor but he couldn't think of anything. There were just too many Death Eaters around and Snape was guarded too tightly. Only thing he could do was to inform the Order and there was nothing they could do. It was also little difficult to find way to inform Dumbledore. He certainly couldn't send owl or make a floo call.

It took him two days before he could make an excuse and go to Malfoy Manor and Diagon Alley and at the same time find Dumbledore. Snape was still alive but his condition wasn't great. When Draco finally reached Dumbledore he had already guessed what had happened.

"Draco, please tell me what happened? Is Severus dead?" Haggard headmaster asked.

"No he is not, but he will be soon. Voldemort had got information about professor Snape's traitorousness and decided to punish him. He made him an example what will happen to traitors. Professor Snape is in the dungeons and he is tortured constantly. I don't know if he is sane anymore." Draco told.

"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do. We don't have enough force to attack to Voldemort's strong hold right now. I'm afraid that he will be one of the victims of this war and there is nothing to be done." Dumbledore said tears in his eyes. "Draco don't you do anything stupid. You can't help him. And our Cause needs you. Professor Snape was ready to sacrifice himself to the Cause; don't spoil it."

"You just abandon him like an old sock when he is no more useful to you. Well I expected nothing more from you. He isn't one of your golden Gryffindors so it's quite obvious that he is one to  be sacrificed without remorse."  Draco spat.

"Draco, don't…" Dumbledore cried but before he got to say more Draco Malfoy disapparated with the pop.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Order meeting in that evening was one of the gloomiest ever. Severus Snape wasn't maybe the most liked Order member but at least he was very respected. There were also few who had really liked the guy. Professor McGonagall was in tears and really grieved her fellow workers fate. They had created peculiar friendship during the years. They competed with each other but there was also sincere liking and respect between the two.

Also Remus Lupin seemed to mourn more than just his Wolfsbane Potion's source. They had been enemies in past, but Lupin really was sorry how they had treated the poor guy in the school. He had tried to make their relations better but Snape wasn't willing to give up his embitterment. Still he was one of the last links still left to Lupin's happy school days. His friend's were dead or worse and now their rival was also lost. Lupin felt that he was now very alone in the world.

Still the most stricken was Albus Dumbledore. He had lost one of his boys. The one he had also felt he was most in dept for. First he had been unable to protect the boy when he was a child, he had betrayed him then so many ways. It had felt like a miracle then he had come back. But even after that he had to push him into most dangerous job. He didn't have any choice but still he felt that he had demanded too much and gave back too little. Severus Snape's destiny was one he would be carrying in his conscience rest of his life. Still he tried to ease others pain and spoke to the others.

"Severus Snape was one of the most courageous and dutiful persons I have ever met. He wasn't always the most delectable chap but he certainly was one of the most loyal and brave. I'm sorry that we can't do anything to his help but we have to remember that he was ready to sacrifice himself to our Cause. He knew what were the risks in his actions and he knew he would maybe not survive. He knew that his decision to go to spy Voldemort would give him pain and that he would probably not die in peace. Still he didn't ever scruple. He knew what he was doing and thought it was worth it. We should honour his choice with taking our Cause to the end."

There was heavy silence in the room after Dumbledore's words.