Chapter 8
Disclaimer: The whole world of Harry Potter is not mine, not even a single piece :)
A/N: Thanks to Thegraylady. Thanks to my beta Lis and Shelly (you help a lot) and to all of your readers and reviewers.
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After he had informed the head master of Voldemort's summoning, Snape started his way out of Hogwarts quickly. As soon as he was out of Hogwarts' grounds, he Apparated and his dark mark made its job of bringing him to his master.
The Potions Master landed safely on the edge of an unfamiliar dark forest.
Snape looked around his surroundings cautiously. He had to be careful on each deatheater meeting, and even more careful with an abnormal scheduled one liked this one. When he was sure no one was following him or had he been watched, Snape Apparated again. This time he reappeared in the middle of the deep forest. The only light that enlightened the forest was the sunlight that filtered through deep leaves.
Snape looked out from his mask's eyes holes; in front of him was a plain field and there, Voldemort was standing smugly circled by his deatheaters.
The newly come deatheater made his way to his master and at the same time attempting to clear all his emotion out of his mind.
Now that he was standing just an inch from Voldemort, Severus Snape bent down kissing the hem of his master's robe.
Voldemort hissed, "It is good of you to join me Severus, though I won't tolerate any tardiness of any of my deatheaters because of serving other Masters, Severus."
He looked straight into Snape's eyes. He knew it was to come but he didn't break eyes contact with the dark lord. He concentrated on the images that would please his master, which in this case didn't have much.
Unsatisfied, Voldemort broke his eyes off Snape's. He spoke in a deep, cool voice. "You will be punished for your misbehavior."
His eyes stilled on Voldemort but he knew full well that the other deatheaters were watching the scene, delighted.
Voldemort raised his wand, "Crucio!" His voice raged in the silent heart of forest like thunder in dark night sky.
Snape's body wrenched painfully but he refused to let a sound crossed his lips. Then Voldemort seemed to remember something; he unexpectedly lowered his wand. Snape felt the pain released but his body was still sore.
"Rise." Voldemort commanded.
Despite all the pain, and with his body protesting, Snape rose. "Thank you, my lord." He backed up to stand amongst his peers.
Voldemort turned his attention back to his followers. He announced coolly, "My faithful servants! I know you have been curious of my serenity. A new circumstance has arisen, which has to be dealt with without anything to wreck my plan and I expect my servants-" He paused, glancing around his deatheaters, "to behave yourself!" He finished fixing his eyes directly at Malfoy who stood uneasily next to Warmtail.
The dark lord went on, "Now is there any new information you have to inform me?" He turn to the potions master, "Yes, Severus?"
A second of tension felt like eternity as all the deatheaters waited quietly for Snape to speak. Then he decided to use information to lure information. Well, it worth a try; his body could afford another round of Crucio.
He looked up at Voldemort and said in a low, respectful voice, "A few days ago the old fool had told me that a student had gone missing from her house without leaving a trace," He paused, studying Voldemort's reaction, but he merely stood still holding an indifferent expression. He continued, "The student is one of Potter's sidekicks and is the resident Gryffindor know-it-all, Hermione Granger."
Snape saw the corner of Voldemort's eyes glinted as the girl's name was said but there were no further reactions to be seen as Voldemort spoke with a mixture of amazement and mockery in his voice, "So Dumbledore and Potter knew and didn't do anything at all?"
If it weren't for the masks, Snape was sure that every deatheaters who presented were wearing the same confused expressions right now.
He smirked behind his mask, "No, my lord. Potter doesn't know of the matter yet. The old fool is still adores him and I'm sure he is willing to sacrifice anything for Potter."
It wasn't far from the fact and Voldemort seemed convinced seeing the look on his face, disgusted. The dark lord distasted every feeling of human being, excepted hate, which was a well-know fact.
"And what about Dumbledore?" Asked Voldemort, loathing was clearly in his voice.
"He has not done any thing yet," replied Snape, "I think it was because he was unsure of the situation and he thought it can be dangerous to act out of curiosity."
Voldemort looked thoughtful. He mumbled to himself, "Still the same dangerous creature."
Snape remained quiet waiting for Voldemort to said some thing but he was still lost in his thought, so he cleared his throat and organized his voice prepare to ask his question but before he could breathe a word Malfoy interrupted.
"My lord, why didn't you let us do it? I would have been glad to teach the mudblood a lesson for her poor behavior towards us pure bloods." Malfoy protested. Once again, Malfoy's speaking out of turn saved Snape from raising Voldemort's suspicions. It seemed the lack of calling had had a very great affect on Malfoy quit a lot lately.
Voldemort turned swiftly to Malfoy who stood proudly, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight. However, upon seeing the look on Voldemort's face, the glint in his eyes dissipated.
The dark lord took a step towards Malfoy. The blonde wizard trembled slightly when he realized he had just questioned his master's judgment.
"Please forgive me, my lord." Malfoy stammered. He knew the punishment the dark lord used for those of his deatheaters who dared question him.
"Yes, I forgive you, Malfoy." Said Voldemort with pure malice, "But I feel the need to punish you in the other way." He didn't wait for Malfoy to say another word; he raised his wand a second time in one day as he shouted, "Crucio!"
It was priceless to see Lucous Malfoy writhing under the dark lord's cause. But Snape didn't enjoy the scene much; there was still a mystery to solve- the matter on hand. His instinct kept telling him that there was more to Voldemort words rather than teasing Malfoy.
When Voldemort finally took a step back and lowed his wand, Malfoy was barely conscious. He turned to the horrified deatheaters crowd, most of them considered Malfoy to be Voldemort's favorite servant and didn't expect to see him using the cause on the now unconscious wizard at all.
Voldemort stood straight; he announced in a loud warning voice to his deatheaters, "Never you dare doubt my motive! Keep in your minds that I am your master!"
All the deatheaters included Snape were on their knees, heads bowed to the dark wizard who stood with his arms spread and evil smirk on his face. After a moment he laid his arms down and dismissed all his servants, but when Snape was turning his heels, about to Apparat back to Hogwarts, the dark lord called out.
"You shall remain." At the sound of the Lord Voldemort's voice, all actions were stilled. They turned to their master once again but Voldemort held his hand out and said, "Severus remain."
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Severus Snape was known as the most feared and hated teacher at Hogwarts. He was renown for intimidating other people, and no one could frighten him. However, at that moment, he couldn't help it as his heart started beating fast. 'Is this the end?' He thought gloomily to himself as he went back to his master again and straightened his mind.
The other deatheaters Apparated back to their places. Two of the deatheaters whom he recognized as Crabbe and Goyle senior were also trying to Apparate the unconscious Malfoy back to his house and out of the corner of his eyes, Snape could see Warmtail was standing behind a tree looking oddly at him. His face was unreadable before he hesitantly Disapparated.
The remained deatheater bowed his head and inquired courtly, "My lord, have you anything to admonish me of?"
"Take your mask off, Severus." The dark lord instructed. Snape was taken aback on the softness in Voldemort's voice. He removed his mask slowly under the dark lord's intense gaze; finally meeting the two red eyes fully.
"Severus, I have an assignment for you to prove yourself to me." Said Voldemort in a sweet tone, which Snape knew full well meant that said assignment would be extremely important and if he were to fail him, the only result would be a miserable dead. The potions master was both relieved and worried. He had expected Voldemort to question his loyalty or at least ask him about the on going situation at Hogwarts or the Order. But to think it over again, proving his loyalty could be far worse than the first option. He had no idea what the dark lord had in mind.
"Yes, my lord." Snape answered smoothly.
Voldemort put his hand into his robe pocket and withdrew a small piece of parchment; he handed it to Snape. The potions master held the parchment in his hand, examined it closely and realized it was a potions recipe.
He looked up at Voldemort, but the dark wizard was staring at the paper in his hand, lost in thought. Snape cleared his throat, "My lord?"
Voldemort cut him off, "You don't need to know the potion, all you have to do is brew it- and make sure it come out perfectly." He looked into Snape's eyes and added, "And you know I won't tolerate even a slightest mistake. You have a week to brew this. You are dismissed."
With that he turn his heel and vanished.
Snape remained still for a moment before thrusting the potion recipe into his pocket and Apparating back to Hogwarts.
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A/N: Thank you for reading!