Title: Hotel California
Chapter: Six
Main character(s): Severus Snape
References: 'Hotel California' by the Eagles
Rating: Restricted, for use of language, theme, suggestions of consensual
intercourse and adult theme.
Disclaimer: Sophie & Tara Snape were created by the author, and may not be
used without the authors permission. Severus Snape, James Potter, Lily
Potter and other mentioned Harry Potter characters were created by JK
Rowling and are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988, infringement of copyright acknowledged. No money is being made from
this story.
Chapter Six
Severus Snape found himself in a dank room of a large house in the middle of nowhere. In front of him stood a tall man wearing a dark robe. Surrounding him were similar figures in a similar dark robe. Severus knew he was standing in front of the Dark Lord Voldemort, the man who had been an ever-present threat to the wizarding world since 1971. He had known something like this was going to happen, ever since he had started work for Lucius Malfoy six months ago.
Voldemort beckoned Severus closer "kneel." He commanded. His voice was icy and snake-like. Severus obeyed.
"Ah." Voldemort said with a faint flicker of a smile, "so I finally have the opportunity to meet Severus Bastiaan von Snape." Severus didn't know how he knew this, he didn't know how Voldemort knew his surname was von Snape, and even Malfoy didn't know that. Severus remained silent.
"I have heard a lot about your abilities." Voldemort mused, "perhaps your talents are wasted with my dear Lucius. Oh he means well but I am certain that he doesn't understand you... immense abilities."
Severus forced himself to look into Voldemort's cold red eyes.
"I understand people like you, Severus. Never trusted at school, made to feel every inch of an outsider rebuked and rebuffed just because you have an ounce of intelligence." Voldemort touched his chin his hands were ice cold. "Your father was a great man."
"My father was a drunkard." Snape spat.
"But a great man. You were too young to realise the changes he was making."
"You condone a man who beat his child?"
"Can you trust people who drove your father to beat you? Was your father ever given a chance to defend himself? It was people like Jonathan Potter who drove your father to drink."
Jonathan Potter had been the minister in charge of immigration when Snape and his father head fled to the country. He had made sure that Adriaan von Snape was never given the opportunity to work in a job that was justified his talents. Due to that, Adriaan Snape had been forced to work for the muggle post office, long hours and little pay.
Severus knelt quietly, whilst Voldemort continued. "I understand everything you've been though." He said quietly, "the humiliation, the sadness, the drive to prove yourself. I can offer you a chance to prove yourself, to rise above the bastards who have made your life hell."
Severus found himself believing ever word that Voldemort was saying; it was as though he was hypnotised by his voice, drawn in and willing to believe anything.
"Severus think, I can offer you any opportunity to research potions, to try out potions without regulations and restrictions. To prove yourself." There was a twinkle in his eye, "what do you say?"
"I say...yes."
"I thought you might."
Two of the robed figures seized Severus and forced his sleeve up. Voldemort smiled softly, "this will only hurt for a moment." He lunched forward and seized hold of Severus' left forearm. Severus screamed in agony as something burnt his skin. The room began to spin and swirl in front of his eyes.
He found himself in a small dark bedroom. The walls were bare and the threadbare carpet was stained. There was a terrified boy lying in bed, the covers pulled up to his neck. With a sick feeling Snape realised that he was witnessing some of the most horrifying memories he had.
There were heavy footsteps outside the room; Snape instinctively stepped into the shadows. He heard the door creep open and then close. There was the almost overpowering stench of alcohol and stale tobacco now in the room.
"C'm here boy." He heard a man command.
Snape watched as his younger self crept out of bed towards his father.
His father seized his arm, "you're a cunning, sneaky little bastard." The man spat, "no one can stand to be around you, and you're going to do what your bitch of a step mother should be doing."
Snape closed his eyes unable to watch his younger self subjected to his fathers sexual lusts; he couldn't block out the grunts from his father or the terrified sobs of the child. He forced his eyes open and found himself standing in the Slytherin dormitory, back at Hogwarts. His best friend, Alastor Daker was sitting on a bed near the window, staring bleakly into space.
"Hey, Alastor, can you help me with my Arthimacy homework?" Fifteen-year- old Snape said walking into the dormitory carrying several textbooks. "Alastor?"
"I need to talk to you Severus." Alastor was a quiet boy who never spoke much, but when he did he had a soft gentle voice. He was a big lad, but he would never hurt a fly and he was exceptionally gifted with numbers. "What's up?" Severus asked crossing the room and putting the books down on the bed.
"You asked me last term if anything was wrong and I didn't tell you. I'm scared Severus..."
"Of what?" Severus sat down next to his best friend, "you're not exactly making sense..."
Alastor lent over and kissed him full on the lips. Severus didn't resist, he simply allowed Alastor's tongue to explore his mouth.
"Oh." Severus said when Alastor pulled away.
There was a pregnant silence.
"I'm not angry with you." He eventually said softly.
"You should be." Alastor replied meekly.
"Why should I be?"
"I just kissed you."
"And I should be angry with you?"
"I'm gay, doesn't that bother you?"
"No, should it?"
Alastor flung his arms round Severus; "thank you," he breathed joyously; "I was so scared, I didn't know how to tell you or how you would react..."
"Homosexuality is the last thing that bothers me."
"But didn't your father..."
"Yes he did." Snape cut in, "but this is nothing to do with my father. You're my best friend and... I love you as a friend, but no more than that."
"I understand."
"I know it's not my place, but I don't think you should tell anyone else."
Tears rolled down the older Severus' face, he knew what was going to happen next as the scene changed to the Hogwarts grounds.
"Did you find out what was up with Alastor?" Lily Evans asked as she and Severus walked through the grounds towards their herbology class.
"Yeah, but I can't tell you."
Lily stopped, "oh."
"If I could, I would... but it's not the sort of thing you repeat."
"Oh." She caught up to him; "is it about him being gay?" She asked in a hushed tone
"What? How do you...?"
"I worked it out." Lily said curtly.
"Oh, right...well...yes."
If only they had stopped to see whom else was listening to their conversation, if only they hadn't been discussing it in a public place. Peter Pettigrew, the ever-present spy raced off to tell Sirius Black his news.
The watching Snape braced himself; he couldn't keep relieving this, what was happening? Why was he reliving these events? The scene changed to dark corridor within the castle.
"Hey, Daker! Got anything stuck in a dyke lately?"
"Fuck off!" Alastor yelled after the laughing first years.
"Ignore them." Severus replied.
"What do you think they meant?" He stopped suddenly, "oh no..."
"Well a dike is like a dam and there's a Dutch story about a..." He turned to look back at Alastor; "Alastor?"
"They didn't mean dike as in dam... they meant dyke."
"I don't understand."
"It's a derogatory for gay... well lesbian, but it means the same."
"Your being paranoid, look it could be something to do with me being Dutch and you being my friend, just ignore it."
"Maybe."
The snide marks didn't go away and soon he hadn't been able to explain away the reference to homosexuality. They got worse, it seemed like the whole school knew. Even the teachers were giving Alastor dark looks!
The older Snape closed his eyes; he couldn't live through what happened next again. He saw it in his dreams; he saw it every time he closed his eyes. He couldn't. His mind began to plead; "please" he sobbed "I can't." but no amount of sobbing could stop him seeing the next events.
Someone screamed. Several people looked up from their work, puzzled. They screamed again. Immediately the prefects jumped to their feet, the cautioned everyone to stay in the common room and they cautiously made their way up the stairs. Even though he was not a prefect, Severus pulled out his wand and followed as well.
"Severus, stop..." One of the prefects said catching him, preventing him from getting any closer to the dormitory.
"What?" Realisation hit him, "oh my god." He pushed the prefect aside and stared with horror. Alastor Daker was hanging from the pipe in the ceiling; he had used his school tie to form a noose. His face was deep red and his body limp. Severus tried to get to him, but the prefect stopped him again.
"There's nothing you can do." He said softly.
"Oh god, he can't be dead..." Severus struggled against the prefect, "we have to help him!" He looked up his eyes tearful, "we have to..."
The watching Snape watched the room fuzz and distort. He was watching himself this time the same age. He was in a pub talking to a stunning woman, he watched as she kissed the other Snape and took his hand. The room spun and he was standing outside a dark blue Ford Fiesta, the windows were steamed and the car was rocking. He knew what was happening, he was watching his infidelity; he didn't need to see himself fucking a woman in the back of her car. He closed his eyes, desperate to block out the sounds and the pictures.
It sent silent and he opened his eyes again. He was standing in a white room, there were two detectives in the room with him and Lily was sitting in the corner holding Tara's hand, Tara wasn't looking at the silent Snape staring at the floor.
"Mr Snape? Would you come this please?"
He followed the detectives and the medical examiner into a small chapel. There was a window in the chapel covered with a deep velvet curtain.
"Now, I must warn you Mr Snape... after the crash the car was engulfed in flames. Just be aware that there is only so much we can do to cover injuries like she sustained." The examiner stepped forward and pulled the curtain cord.
His beautiful wife lay in a velvet-lined coffin; she was wearing a neat white gown. Her gorogeous hair was almost gone, only a few whips remained. Her skin was burnt and red-raw, part of the face was covered in heavy bandages.
Both Snape's broke down. The watching Snape felt a cold hand on his shoulder and the scene began to slowly fade out, leaving him knelt on the cold hard floor of a decaying house in the middle of nowhere. Severus looked up into the cold eyes of Lord Voldemort.
"Why?" He asked meekly.
"To show you."
"To show me what? To show me that I am responsible..."
"No. To show you what other people were responsible for. You didn't cause your father to rape you, you didn't make Alastor gay and you didn't make him commit suicide, you didn't cause your wife's death. Other people did."
"But why did I have to see all that again?"
"Because you had to see. You had to stop blaming yourself before I could even consider you for the position of potions master."
Severus looked at his forearm; an ugly dark mark was forming over the reddening area.
"That is my mark, Severus, when I need you...." He left his sentence unfinished, but Severus knew what he meant. He was now a slave to the dark Lord, there for his every beck and call. "Lucius will continue to pay you a salary and he will continue to fund your education, but you are now working for me."
Chapter Six
Severus Snape found himself in a dank room of a large house in the middle of nowhere. In front of him stood a tall man wearing a dark robe. Surrounding him were similar figures in a similar dark robe. Severus knew he was standing in front of the Dark Lord Voldemort, the man who had been an ever-present threat to the wizarding world since 1971. He had known something like this was going to happen, ever since he had started work for Lucius Malfoy six months ago.
Voldemort beckoned Severus closer "kneel." He commanded. His voice was icy and snake-like. Severus obeyed.
"Ah." Voldemort said with a faint flicker of a smile, "so I finally have the opportunity to meet Severus Bastiaan von Snape." Severus didn't know how he knew this, he didn't know how Voldemort knew his surname was von Snape, and even Malfoy didn't know that. Severus remained silent.
"I have heard a lot about your abilities." Voldemort mused, "perhaps your talents are wasted with my dear Lucius. Oh he means well but I am certain that he doesn't understand you... immense abilities."
Severus forced himself to look into Voldemort's cold red eyes.
"I understand people like you, Severus. Never trusted at school, made to feel every inch of an outsider rebuked and rebuffed just because you have an ounce of intelligence." Voldemort touched his chin his hands were ice cold. "Your father was a great man."
"My father was a drunkard." Snape spat.
"But a great man. You were too young to realise the changes he was making."
"You condone a man who beat his child?"
"Can you trust people who drove your father to beat you? Was your father ever given a chance to defend himself? It was people like Jonathan Potter who drove your father to drink."
Jonathan Potter had been the minister in charge of immigration when Snape and his father head fled to the country. He had made sure that Adriaan von Snape was never given the opportunity to work in a job that was justified his talents. Due to that, Adriaan Snape had been forced to work for the muggle post office, long hours and little pay.
Severus knelt quietly, whilst Voldemort continued. "I understand everything you've been though." He said quietly, "the humiliation, the sadness, the drive to prove yourself. I can offer you a chance to prove yourself, to rise above the bastards who have made your life hell."
Severus found himself believing ever word that Voldemort was saying; it was as though he was hypnotised by his voice, drawn in and willing to believe anything.
"Severus think, I can offer you any opportunity to research potions, to try out potions without regulations and restrictions. To prove yourself." There was a twinkle in his eye, "what do you say?"
"I say...yes."
"I thought you might."
Two of the robed figures seized Severus and forced his sleeve up. Voldemort smiled softly, "this will only hurt for a moment." He lunched forward and seized hold of Severus' left forearm. Severus screamed in agony as something burnt his skin. The room began to spin and swirl in front of his eyes.
He found himself in a small dark bedroom. The walls were bare and the threadbare carpet was stained. There was a terrified boy lying in bed, the covers pulled up to his neck. With a sick feeling Snape realised that he was witnessing some of the most horrifying memories he had.
There were heavy footsteps outside the room; Snape instinctively stepped into the shadows. He heard the door creep open and then close. There was the almost overpowering stench of alcohol and stale tobacco now in the room.
"C'm here boy." He heard a man command.
Snape watched as his younger self crept out of bed towards his father.
His father seized his arm, "you're a cunning, sneaky little bastard." The man spat, "no one can stand to be around you, and you're going to do what your bitch of a step mother should be doing."
Snape closed his eyes unable to watch his younger self subjected to his fathers sexual lusts; he couldn't block out the grunts from his father or the terrified sobs of the child. He forced his eyes open and found himself standing in the Slytherin dormitory, back at Hogwarts. His best friend, Alastor Daker was sitting on a bed near the window, staring bleakly into space.
"Hey, Alastor, can you help me with my Arthimacy homework?" Fifteen-year- old Snape said walking into the dormitory carrying several textbooks. "Alastor?"
"I need to talk to you Severus." Alastor was a quiet boy who never spoke much, but when he did he had a soft gentle voice. He was a big lad, but he would never hurt a fly and he was exceptionally gifted with numbers. "What's up?" Severus asked crossing the room and putting the books down on the bed.
"You asked me last term if anything was wrong and I didn't tell you. I'm scared Severus..."
"Of what?" Severus sat down next to his best friend, "you're not exactly making sense..."
Alastor lent over and kissed him full on the lips. Severus didn't resist, he simply allowed Alastor's tongue to explore his mouth.
"Oh." Severus said when Alastor pulled away.
There was a pregnant silence.
"I'm not angry with you." He eventually said softly.
"You should be." Alastor replied meekly.
"Why should I be?"
"I just kissed you."
"And I should be angry with you?"
"I'm gay, doesn't that bother you?"
"No, should it?"
Alastor flung his arms round Severus; "thank you," he breathed joyously; "I was so scared, I didn't know how to tell you or how you would react..."
"Homosexuality is the last thing that bothers me."
"But didn't your father..."
"Yes he did." Snape cut in, "but this is nothing to do with my father. You're my best friend and... I love you as a friend, but no more than that."
"I understand."
"I know it's not my place, but I don't think you should tell anyone else."
Tears rolled down the older Severus' face, he knew what was going to happen next as the scene changed to the Hogwarts grounds.
"Did you find out what was up with Alastor?" Lily Evans asked as she and Severus walked through the grounds towards their herbology class.
"Yeah, but I can't tell you."
Lily stopped, "oh."
"If I could, I would... but it's not the sort of thing you repeat."
"Oh." She caught up to him; "is it about him being gay?" She asked in a hushed tone
"What? How do you...?"
"I worked it out." Lily said curtly.
"Oh, right...well...yes."
If only they had stopped to see whom else was listening to their conversation, if only they hadn't been discussing it in a public place. Peter Pettigrew, the ever-present spy raced off to tell Sirius Black his news.
The watching Snape braced himself; he couldn't keep relieving this, what was happening? Why was he reliving these events? The scene changed to dark corridor within the castle.
"Hey, Daker! Got anything stuck in a dyke lately?"
"Fuck off!" Alastor yelled after the laughing first years.
"Ignore them." Severus replied.
"What do you think they meant?" He stopped suddenly, "oh no..."
"Well a dike is like a dam and there's a Dutch story about a..." He turned to look back at Alastor; "Alastor?"
"They didn't mean dike as in dam... they meant dyke."
"I don't understand."
"It's a derogatory for gay... well lesbian, but it means the same."
"Your being paranoid, look it could be something to do with me being Dutch and you being my friend, just ignore it."
"Maybe."
The snide marks didn't go away and soon he hadn't been able to explain away the reference to homosexuality. They got worse, it seemed like the whole school knew. Even the teachers were giving Alastor dark looks!
The older Snape closed his eyes; he couldn't live through what happened next again. He saw it in his dreams; he saw it every time he closed his eyes. He couldn't. His mind began to plead; "please" he sobbed "I can't." but no amount of sobbing could stop him seeing the next events.
Someone screamed. Several people looked up from their work, puzzled. They screamed again. Immediately the prefects jumped to their feet, the cautioned everyone to stay in the common room and they cautiously made their way up the stairs. Even though he was not a prefect, Severus pulled out his wand and followed as well.
"Severus, stop..." One of the prefects said catching him, preventing him from getting any closer to the dormitory.
"What?" Realisation hit him, "oh my god." He pushed the prefect aside and stared with horror. Alastor Daker was hanging from the pipe in the ceiling; he had used his school tie to form a noose. His face was deep red and his body limp. Severus tried to get to him, but the prefect stopped him again.
"There's nothing you can do." He said softly.
"Oh god, he can't be dead..." Severus struggled against the prefect, "we have to help him!" He looked up his eyes tearful, "we have to..."
The watching Snape watched the room fuzz and distort. He was watching himself this time the same age. He was in a pub talking to a stunning woman, he watched as she kissed the other Snape and took his hand. The room spun and he was standing outside a dark blue Ford Fiesta, the windows were steamed and the car was rocking. He knew what was happening, he was watching his infidelity; he didn't need to see himself fucking a woman in the back of her car. He closed his eyes, desperate to block out the sounds and the pictures.
It sent silent and he opened his eyes again. He was standing in a white room, there were two detectives in the room with him and Lily was sitting in the corner holding Tara's hand, Tara wasn't looking at the silent Snape staring at the floor.
"Mr Snape? Would you come this please?"
He followed the detectives and the medical examiner into a small chapel. There was a window in the chapel covered with a deep velvet curtain.
"Now, I must warn you Mr Snape... after the crash the car was engulfed in flames. Just be aware that there is only so much we can do to cover injuries like she sustained." The examiner stepped forward and pulled the curtain cord.
His beautiful wife lay in a velvet-lined coffin; she was wearing a neat white gown. Her gorogeous hair was almost gone, only a few whips remained. Her skin was burnt and red-raw, part of the face was covered in heavy bandages.
Both Snape's broke down. The watching Snape felt a cold hand on his shoulder and the scene began to slowly fade out, leaving him knelt on the cold hard floor of a decaying house in the middle of nowhere. Severus looked up into the cold eyes of Lord Voldemort.
"Why?" He asked meekly.
"To show you."
"To show me what? To show me that I am responsible..."
"No. To show you what other people were responsible for. You didn't cause your father to rape you, you didn't make Alastor gay and you didn't make him commit suicide, you didn't cause your wife's death. Other people did."
"But why did I have to see all that again?"
"Because you had to see. You had to stop blaming yourself before I could even consider you for the position of potions master."
Severus looked at his forearm; an ugly dark mark was forming over the reddening area.
"That is my mark, Severus, when I need you...." He left his sentence unfinished, but Severus knew what he meant. He was now a slave to the dark Lord, there for his every beck and call. "Lucius will continue to pay you a salary and he will continue to fund your education, but you are now working for me."