Title: Venomous

Author: Phinea Rogue

Rating: PG-13 for now, can be R later, not sure yet…

I don't own anything, don't sue me, they all belong to JKR . . .

Another chapter is here, which I spent quite a lot of time fighting on and still I'm not 100 satisfied with it, but it's much, much better from the previous version. Anyway, I have to tell you that I'll try update this story at least once a week, but I also need to work on my master thesis and therefore it's possible that sometimes you'll have to wait a bit longer.

Chapter Three

That night Severus couldn't get much sleep. He had found Lucius Malfoy in the guestroom seriously injured and as his idiot of a father had done nothing to help him while he was gone, Lucius's condition worsened, high fever consuming his weakened body. Severus had done everything he thought could help – from various potions to simple Muggle techniques like wrapping him in cold wet towels – and yet Lucius remained unconscious for a long time. Never before had Severus felt so exhausted, the previous day had been difficult for him. Finally, when the first rays of sun penetrated into the dark room and a light breeze brought in the salty aroma of sea, Lucius opened his eyes.

A tired, but relieved smile greeted him. He wanted to move, to sit up, but the everywhere present pain pinned him to the bed. Severus sighed, 'I can't give you more potions, Lucius, I don't want to overdose you. Be still, don't move, and don't concentrate on the pain.'

Lucius moaned in despair. 'It's unbearable, Sev, do something!'

Severus smiled when he saw him glaring at him. The spoiled, pampered Lucius had never been good in bearing pain. He needed to take away his attention from it, so Severus brought a book and made himself comfortable in a chair.

'Close your eyes, Lu, and listen to me. Focus on my voice, on nothing else.' And he began to tell a tale in his enchanting, soft voice. 'When Narcissus died, the flowers of the field were stricken with grief, and begged the river for drops of water . . .'

'Why Narcissus?' the complaining voice interrupted him. 'I don't want to think about Narcissa. Give me some potion, will you?'

'I won't,' replied Severus sternly. The man really got on his nerves sometimes. ' . . . for drops of water that they might mourn for him.'

'And I beg you for drops of pain numbing potion,' interrupted Lucius again, not noticing his friend's growing annoyance. Snape closed the book so loudly that Malfoy almost jumped.

'Stop snivelling, Malfoy! Can't you see I've done everything I could?'

Snape's lips were trembling in anger and that Lucius finally saw. Realizing how he had managed to infuriate his friend, he asked him quietly,

'Will you continue? Why did you choose this story?'

'It's about you,' snapped Snape and stood up, studying the Death Eater for a while. 'I guess you're feeling better, no need to watch over you anymore.'

'Did you watch over me all night long?' asked Lucius, guilt evident in his tone.

'I did. If you need anything, call Mimi, our house elf. I have more important tings to do than listening to your complaints!' he almost spit the last sentence at Malfoy who looked as if he wanted to hid under the covers, and didn't resist to close the door with a loud band. Ungrateful bastard! He should have left him die or poison him. Dark Lord would believe he died of his injuries. But he would question him and Severus didn't need to give him any more reasons to suspect him.

§§

After getting his well deserved sleep, Severus had gone to meet the members of the Order of the Phoenix to the Grimmauld Place. Snape Manor had always been a gloomy place, but compared to the ancient house of the Blacks, it was bright and cheerful. He tightened his robe around his thin frame, took a deep breath and entered the kitchen. Only few members were present. Lupin greeted him with a warm smile (Why was he always so kind? The damned werewolf!) and beckoned him to join them at the table for dinner. Hagrid grinned too, although it wasn't his usual happy smile; Bill Weasley frowned at him and Moody's eyes (both) bore into his in clear suspicion and indignation. Kingsley Shackelbolt sat in silence, his eyes betraying nothing. Lupin filled his plate and Severus realized he hadn't eaten anything in a while. But how can he hold a knife in his injured hand? Remus seemed like he wanted to help, but Severus sent him a threatening gaze warning him not to try anything helpful. He wondered what was the point of this small meeting and felt he wouldn't like it.

Moody's question, 'I know that Albus hasn't arrived yet, but tell me, Snape, why didn't you warn us of Death Eaters' breakout from Azkaban?' interrupted the suspicious heavy silence.

The knife fell from Severus hand with a bang. Would they once again suspect him of being loyal to the Dark Lord? Moody's distrust couldn't hurt him, the man in his paranoia trusted no one, but why was Weasley looking at him like that? And so did Kingsley and even Hagrid who had always stood behind him, never wavering in his trust. Severus's dark eyes studied one after another desperate to find someone who would believe in him. His gaze stopped when it reached the familiar blue colour that had always comforted him. Severus released the breath he wasn't aware he was holding and sighed in relief. Dumbledore had arrived.

'Alastor, why don't you leave him alone?'

'Because I don't trust him, Albus, and neither do the others. We can't work like this. Our lives may depend on someone who was once a Death Eater and where's the proof he has changed sides? Which side he's on at the moment? We want to question him.'

Kingsley put a small vial on the table, which Severus at once recognised as Veritaserum. He shuddered, remembering its bitter taste when he had been questioned with it in Azkaban. Lupin's eyes betrayed his sadness when their gazes met. Why in hell had he been gazing at him?

'I won't allow you to use that on him! I do trust him!' exclaimed Dumbledore in his anger as he moved to stand behind Severus, putting his hands on his shoulders reassuringly.

But Moody didn't give up. 'Most of our members agreed with it, Albus, they want it.' He handed a parchment over to Dumbledore. Severus couldn't see his face and reaction, neither could he see the signatures. So Veritaserum, how lovely! Almost like the unforgivable Imperius. If he was supposed to be hurt or saddened, then his feelings didn't function properly. The only thing he felt was emptiness as if he was just a shell without feelings. But after all, he was, wasn't he? And why was that bloody werewolf looking at him like that? As if he cared . . . No one had ever cared, except Dumbledore, no one else.

'If it pleases them, let them do it, headmaster,' he spoke calmly. 'It might be helpful.' The question in his sky blue eyes was clear and Severus nodded. He was sure.

The taste of the serum was as bitter as he had remembered. Severus closed his eyes, not willing to see the faces of those who were to question him. Would it be only Moody or all of them? The emptiness he had felt was slowly disappearing as the potion penetrated his veins and brain. Now all his deep hidden emotions, even those hidden before himself, floated to the surface. He felt betrayed, hurt and sad, he was angry and disappointed and he knew he deserved it all. He would deserve to rot in Azkaban and not to work for the Light.

'Your name?'

It was Moody's voice.

'Severus Tarquinius Snape.'

God, he hated his middle name!

'Where were you yesterday during the breakout?'

Still Moody's voice.

'At a Death Eaters meeting and then at Hogwarts.'

'What happened at the meeting?'

That hurt. Severus wanted to lie, but the force of Veritaserum held his mind in a painful grip as he fought it.

'The . . . the Dark Lord . . . suspects me and . . .' Severus winced, biting his lower lip. How ridiculous, wasn't it? Both sides were constantly suspecting him, only their used different means by getting the truth out of him. ' . . . he tortured me with Cruciatus. He broke my wrist.'

Someone stroke his hair gently, must have been Dumbledore trying to console him.

'Are you loyal to Voldemort?'

Severus flinched. The Name. He hated and feared even the simple name of the Dark Lord!

'No.'

'Who are you loyal to?'

'To Albus Dumbledore.'

'Albus Dumbledore? Only to him?'

'Yes.'

He shouldn't have told that.

'If Dumbledore dies, will you go back to Voldemort?'

Severus's hands flew to his head. He wanted to tell them he would never, never return. But if Dumbledore . . . Oh, this hurt immensely! Bloody potion!

'I don't know.'

A quiet murmuring broke out in the kitchen.

'Why?'

'I don't know if I'm strong enough.'

Someone grabbed his hair forcefully and Severus could hear Dumbledore's warning, 'That's enough, Alastor!' He opened his eyes and found Moody's horrid face inches from his.

'And me?' he growled.

'I hate you.'

'You little bastard!'

But suddenly, Moody was gone. Severus turned his head and found him lying on the floor with furious Hagrid towering above him.

'The headmaster said enough!' he yelled. 'Leave 'im alone, the boy said everythin', it's bin enough!'

'How are you feeling, Severus?' asked Dumbledore softly.

Snape didn't want to answer that question. He buried his face in his hands, fighting the damned potion, but it was too strong and no one could do anything against it. Well, someone had brewed this perfectly well.

'Hurt and . . .' No, he definitely didn't want to answer! Dumbledore stroke his hair again.

'No, don't answer, you don't have to. But do you know how Malfoy and the others escaped?'

'Father told me they escaped on their own, no one from outside helped them. Oh, shit!'

All the eyes turned to him, not understanding why he had cried out. But then the blood in their veins froze when Severus rubbed his left forearm, his dark eyes wide in panic. Remus ran to him looking totally petrified.

'He's summoning you!'

'Don't stare at me, you dimwit, give me an antidote!'

Kingsley fished out the vial from his bag and handed it over to Snape. Severus knew its full effect will come in several minutes and really hoped that the Dark Lord wouldn't start questioning him right after his arrival. Dumbledore wished him good luck and told him to come to Hogwarts as soon as possible, he was going to see Harry in the meantime. Lupin's worried gaze was the last thing he saw before leaving the Grimmauld Place.

§§

Don't be angry on Moody, he's just slightly paranoid, he always is. Thank you all for your reviews. Harry's going to show in the following chapter, I haven't forgotten him, although this story focuses more on Severus than him. Anyway, the tale Severus wanted to read to Lucius is Oscar Wilde's 'Mirror of Narcissus'.