Title: Venomous

Author: Phinea Rogue

Rating: PG-13

All the characters belong to JKR . . . (but Tarquinius is a bit of my creation).

Here I am, with another chapter. I know it took me a bit longer, I had it written earlier in paper and lost it. And then I had problems with mom. Not nice times are awaiting the two Snapes . . ..

Chapter Eight

'Are you insane or what? Why are you trashing on the floor like a bloody lunatic?'

Tarquinius knelt down to Harry and shook him so violently his glasses fell from his nose.

'Snape . . . Snape . . .' panted Harry, struggling for air, an action which wasn't helped any bit with that shaking. Tarquinius rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

'Adolescents should be imprisoned and set free only after they're at least twenty-one. Will you tell me what are these tactics of yours, Potter?'

Glad that he was Potter once again, Harry shouted, 'My tactics? And what about yours? What do you want from me, sir?'

'I've saved your life, Potter, you ungrateful half-blood! The Dark Lord would have killed you!'

Harry's jaw dropped, for that was an answer he hadn't expected. What did it mean? He had thought Tarquinius Snape one of the Death Eaters, he was dressed like them, but now here they were, no Death Eaters around . . .

'I don't understand you,' he whispered, 'but your son is at the moment in Voldemort's hands and Voldemort . . .'

'WHAT?' screamed Tarquinius, startling the boy, who covered himself slightly.

'Voldemort is going to kill him because he thinks you have betrayed him.'

Harry had never seen a face as white as Tarquinius Snape's had become. 'Kill him?' he moaned, not wanting to believe, 'He can't kill him for my betrayal! Severus is a faithful Death Eater, he won't kill him, he needs him, he can't . . .'

'Err . . . sir . . .' fidgeted Harry for a moment, 'I . . . I think you don't know . . . your son.'

The older Snape frowned at him threateningly. 'Why do you say that?'

'I can't tell you,' whispered Harry, cursing himself. Why did he have to start with it? He couldn't know whether this Snape was or wasn't a Death Eater. Then again, Voldemort made it clear he wants to punish him for a betrayal.

'Are you a Death Eater, sir?' asked Harry as carefully as he could. No matter how he hated his Potions teacher, he hated him alive; he didn't want him to die.

'I am. Was. Hell, I can't free myself from the Dark Lord, that's impossible, it's life service or death . . . but giving you over to him, that would . . .' he mused silently. To hell with Tom Riddle and his suffocating darkness! It has taken over me and over my son too!

Harry took a deep breath, aware that he was taking a huge risk, but he saw no other way out. 'Sir, Snape is . . . Dumbledore's spy.'

Tarquinius's pale eyes froze.

'He isn't a Death Eater, he's a spy! You can't let him die there, Dumbledore and the others need him! Please, sir, help him!'

But before Harry could tell more, Tarquinius was gone.

§§

It was only him, the Dark Lord and Lucius Malfoy in Snape Manor when his father arrived – without the brat. Severus shivered. Where was Potter? What had he done to him? And his father, he was so strange, so not himself. His eyes shone with worry, Severus had never seen him worried. Worried for him? He turned slightly to seek out Lucius's gaze, but he was as puzzled as he was. However, the Dark Lord was furious.

'You didn't bring Potter with you, Quinn,' he hissed venomously.

'Let my son go. I failed you, not he, master. Let him go.'

Tarquinius surveyed his surroundings. One angry Dark Lord, one chained Malfoy (What if he would want to help him friend?) and Severus, his Severus, half-laying on the floor in a pool of blood. Laying there like back then, on a day long gone, when he had beaten him senseless for the same mistakes he had once done, for weakness, his weakness and failure. He can't fail him now. He dropped to the ground and gathered him into his arms.

'Severus,' he whispered, so that the Dark Lord wouldn't hear him, 'I'll bring Potter, don't reveal yourself.'

But Severus whispered back urgently, 'No. If you bring him, I'll never forgive you.'

Tarquinius looked into his son's dark inky eyes. So much like his mother's, he thought. But they were glaring at him, threatening him not to try to save him. That brat Potter needs to be saved.

In a moment so quick he could hardly notice, Tarquinius was thrown into a chair and bound. 'See how I reward traitors!' hissed Voldemort, his red eyes flashing maniacally.

He knelt down to Severus and turned his face to him, tracing his features with his cold skeletal fingers. The younger wizard's eyes were cast down, long eyelashes strikingly black against the paleness of his skin. Gently, Voldemort brushed them with his thumb. 'What would your father hurt the most?' he asked softly, his voice sweet as if talking in syrup, 'Should I use Cruciatus to destroy your sanity, your brilliant mind, Severus? Should I beat you? Kill you slowly? Break you?'

Slowly, his bloodless lips kissed Severus's forehead. Voldemort smiled when he felt him tremble slightly. 'Don't be afraid, my child, it's an honour to die in my services.'

The Dark Lord stood up, pondering how to kill Severus to make it most painful to his father. Toying with his wand he glanced at Tarquinius, but the man didn't seem like changing his mind. Lucius held his head proudly, but he could see tears threatening in the corner of his eyes. The two men had known each other since they were babies; he would have to give him something to ease his pain over Severus's death. Not that he would question him or protest, Malfoy was too loyal to question any of his actions.

A slash of wand cut through the air and a deep wound appeared on Severus's body. Severus gasped, but didn't cry out. Are you going to defy me, Severus? I need you screaming, I need you to be frightened. You understand it, don't you?

Furious, Voldemort made another slashing movement and then one more and again and again, watching with satisfaction how hard Severus fought not to scream as his skin was cut brutally. You have such a sensitive skin, don't you, my child? Does it hurt much?

Again he knelt down to him and traced one deep wound on Severus's chest, making him moan quietly in pain. Slowly he lifted his hand into light, watching with fascination how blood trickled down from his fingers. Sneering evilly, he showed it to Tarquinius, who began to trash in his chains.

'You bastard! I'll kill you! I swear I will!'

Laughing, Voldemort turned his attention back to Severus. Why are you looking at me like this? Why that defiance, my child? Scream!

But Severus didn't scream when the knife-sharp curses cut him again. Voldemort shook his head and conjured a dagger, a beautiful ancient thing, deadly sharp. He grabbed Severus by his hair and plunged the dagger deep into his side. Tarquinius winced when he cried out, making the Dark Lord laugh in triumph. Severus struggled in his arms, his blood flowing onto Voldemort's chilly hands, warming them. Scream more! 'Crucio!'

§§

Harry dragged himself weakly to the fireplace, looking for Floo Powder. Whole his body ached as if Voldemort had tortured him, not Snape. He felt every sharp cut caused by the wand, every single one. 'Grimmauld Place 12,' he muttered.

§§

Remus Lupin jumped to the fireplace and gathered Harry into his arms. Harry's arms tightened around him, he clung to him like a frightened child.

'Everyone's looking for you, Harry. Where's Severus?'

'Vol . . . Voldemort,' sobbed Harry, heavily trembling, 'he . . . wants to . . . to kill him . . . to punish his father!'

Lupin ushered Harry into a chair. 'Where are they?'

'At Snape's.'

'Stay here, wait for the others, I'm going there!'

And in a moment he was gone, leaving Harry alone in the empty kitchen.

§§

He had no more strength left to scream, life was flowing from him in rivers of blood. Why had the Dark Lord had to use the cutting curse and dagger? Undoubtedly it looked more frightening than clean Cruciatus, more of an exhibition. Severus tried to move, but an agonising pain shot from his chest. Broken ribs. The sound of bones breaking - that was another part of the show. Cuts and bruises covered his whole body, he felt as if they were on every inch of his body. Obviously, the Dark Lord would let him die slowly now, in pain. Indeed, he brushed his hair away from his cheek and said calmly,

'I'm not a monster, Tarquinius. You've failed me, but I'll let you say goodbye.'

You'll let me die in his arms, to make it all the more painful for him, you bastard!

When his father's arms touched him, gently gathering him into his embrace, Severus moaned. Oh, it hurt immensely; every inch of his body was on fire, burning in excruciating pain. His father's hand soothed his hair and at least that touch didn't hurt. A sob reached his ear. Lucius? Or his father? If he could see Dumbledore's face once more, just a glimpse of it would be enough! He had told him he was no better than the Dark Lord! How could he have said such a horrible thing to him? Forgive me, Albus. The arms around him tightened.

'No one will ever hurt you, Severus, no one. I won't let any harm be done to you. I'll free you from this pain, from this stinking world of darkness. We'll be together, my son, forever.'

When he was lifted from the ground, he finally surrendered to the darkness and lost consciousness.

§§

Well, poor Sev, I've hurt him quite a lot now . . . Thank you so much for your reviews, I love you all!