In Every Darkness
Chapter Forty Eight: Assignment
4.9.1996
Severus sat in his chambers, a book open on the desk before him, but his attention not on it. This isn't good, Lupin noted.
You have a talent for stating the obvious. Quite probably the only one you possess, Severus returned darkly.
He replayed his last moments with Voldemort.
"Crucio," the dark lord had whispered, catching Severus by surprise. He had screamed then, loud and long, until the dark lord lifted the curse. "That was for coming too close to questioning me, Severus. But the potion … the potion is for two men, Severus."
The names he had spoken next chilled Severus to the bone.
"Albus Dumbledore, Severus, though I am sure you already expected that," Severus nodded stiffly, trying to recover from the after-effects on the Cruciatos Curse.
"Is this other the Potter boy, master?" Severus asked, trying to keep his fear from his voice.
"Of course not fool!" The dark lord had snapped then, surprising Severus greatly. "Harry Potter may only be killed by my hand, and I suspect that it must be the Avada Kedavra curse that will kill him, as I can only die by his."
"The prophesy, lord?" Severus asked, though he knew that could the only answer.
"There are more spies than you, Severus, and one of them was able to hear the end of the prophesy, as you never could," Voldemort had stated. "No, the other is not Harry Potter, it is that idiot Cornelius Fudge."
"But, master, why Fudge?" Severus asked, confused. Certainly, the Minister had been against Voldemort's wishes, but he had rarely done much by the way of actively opposing him.
"Because the man was fool enough to believe that I was dead and gone beyond recall. For his insolence he will die, slowly," Voldemort had replied. "Only a drop will be administered to him … his death will be slow, and painful. And it will be thanks to you, my loyal servant."
Severus had left soon after, he didn't really recall any further instructions.
He did say that you could try and key the potions to specific people, if it would quicker and less likely for mistakes to happen, Lupin pointed out.
So you said, Snape growled in response. I am not an imbecile, Lupin, and I can remember something once it has been said.
Are you sure about that? Had been the only – infuriating – reply.
Now he was studying a large tomb of dark potions that he had discovered in Voldemorts library. It was really a work of art, one that Severus had never seen before.
This is amazing, he thought. He'd never seen anything like this. He would be happy enough to have read through all of it, but he did not have time now. He had a potion to find… If only there was someway he could warn Dumbledore of what was to come.
There might be, Lupin… Again. Could that man not take a hint? How many times did he (Severus) have to tell the man to shut – wait?
What did you say?
There might be a way to get a warning to Dumbledore, Lupin replied.
How? Severus demanded quickly.
Tut tut, you really should practice your manners Severus, Lupins was voice was somewhat taunting.
Please tell me how? Severus demanded, wishing that the other man was alive so he could throttle him.
I'm sorry, that's a secret, Lupin replied, his laughter echoing in Severus's mind.
Damn you Lupin, Severus snarled, but received no answer, and so returned to looking at the potions book, finding the chapter on the Caducus potion.
There was more information in this book, Severus was pleased – or was he disappointed? – to note. The ingredients would take a long time to gather, he could see from simply looking at the list…
There were so many ingredients – this potion was almost impossible to create, simply because finding the ingredients was so damn difficult. Well, Severus thought, I'd better report my findings to Voldemort and hear what he thinks I should do next, I suppose. At least I have some sort of success to report – less likely to get a Cruciatos curse …
You sure about that? I thought he just did that for fun? Lupin butted in again.
Lupin, SHUT UP! Severus snarled, leaving his chambers, the tomb of potions tucked under his arm, trying to ignore a certain deceased werewolf's remarks.
It wasn't easy, Severus quickly discovered, as Lupin was very insistent that he respond. It was almost a blessing to reach the door to Voldemorts lair – at least Lupin would shut up now Severus had a reason to tell him to do so.
Severus knocked on the door gently, this time he had not been summoned, so he did not want to walk into the chamber without announcing his presence – Voldemort didn't like that.
"Enter!" A voice rapped out. Severus pushed the door open carefully with one hand, and saw Voldemort ahead of him, lounging on his throne. "Ah … Severus. I trust you have some success to report?"
Severus bowed deeply. "Some, my lord," he replied, honestly. "I have found the potion, the instructions for its making and the ingredients."
"You will begin making the potion," Voldemort decreed.
"My lord, excuse me. I said I had some success to report. While I have discovered what I need to eventually make the potion, getting the ingredients to do so is a completely different matter," Severus said, praying that he wasn't about to get cursed.
"What sort of difficulties have you encountered?" the dark lord sounded very bored.
"My lord, there are many ingredients to this potion, very few of them are common ones, and there at least twenty ingredients that must be fresh, gathered at a particular time. Obviously, most ingredients are illegal," Severus replied.
"Show me," the dark lord ordered. Severus offered him the book, carefully.
The Dark Lord took the book and looked over the contents of the page that Severus had been using. "Yes, Severus, I can see your difficulties. I will set my Death Eaters to searching for the ingredients that you require. Go now, I will summon you again soon."
Severus bowed deeply and backed away, holding the position until he was at the door, then turning and leaving.
Well, I didn't get cursed, so that's a good thing, he thought.
I suppose you could call it that, Lupin agreed airily. You may celebrate, by the way, I'm leaving for a while, I'll be back soon though, so don't get too comfortable.
Oh joy, Severus thought, but received no reply. He decided this meant that Lupin had left, for the time.
Walking back to his room, Severus thought over the last few days – he didn't like being here, doing the Dark Lord's dirty work, but at least it gave him a break from idiotic children … So this place wasn't without it's benefits.
Two mornings later, Severus woke up to the dark mark burning on his skin. He rose immediately, dressing himself with a quick spell, then leaving to hurry to Voldemorts chambers.
When he arrived, he quickly noted that there were more Death Eaters than he present. A full meeting then. Severus quickly joined the 'Inner Circle' and he was quickly aware that even after the last meeting, there were more people here. Not that many more, but a few. So, there were still idiots who thought that joining the Dark Lord was a good idea.
Well, he had been the same … once.
"My loyal Death Eaters," Voldemort began, looking over them coolly. "Your ranks are growing once more. It is time to show the world that we are back! The Ministry believes itself secure, it believes that I am weak, that my ranks will take a long time to grow to a point where they will be threatening. It believes that by arresting my Death Eaters, it will weaken me even more.
"It is time for the Ministry to realise the truth – that I am back, and I am more powerful than ever before! In three days you will leave here. You will not yet attack wizarding settlements, but rather single out Mudbloods and halfbloods, kill them, and their neighbours. Show the Ministry that we are back, and we will not be ignored!"
The Death Eaters cheered then. Snape felt sick, but he cheered also. These people, would they have fun at first, and then get asked to do something like kill someone who might have been close to their family, and try and back out again? Like Black's younger brother? He wondered sometimes, how long people would last…
"Severus Snape – you will be in charge of this."
***
Well, I'll leave it there. Sorry it took me so long to update … I don't have an excuse, other than that this chapter took a bit longer than it was supposed to. Yay! I got 53 reviews for the last chapter!! Next chapter dedicated to reviewer number 1900!! Only another 27 till I get there, and I'll update at some point afterwards – not sure exactly when though.
~WolfMoon~