Part Six – The Truth

The door to the dungeon opened with a creak and Severus walked past Voldemort and into the dimly lit and damp room.

A simple wooden table with two wooden benches were the only items of furniture in the room and the only light was from a single torch on the wall.

Severus looked in shock at his mother and grandfather where they sat at the table.

"Leandra," Voldemort greeted her as he followed Severus into the room.

Leandra leapt from her seat with an agility and speed that amazed her son as she flew at Voldemort.

"Daughter, no!" he heard his grandfather shout as he tried to pull her back.

Bellatrix had followed into the room behind their master. "She is volatile. Might I suggest we just dispose of her now and leave the mudblood to Severus?"

Severus looked at the woman in shock. He had known her since he was at school. She had always had a vicious streak and he recalled with ease the times she had turned her attention to him. She was an expert at causing human suffering and he had known this for many years. But somehow it was still a shock to find her speaking so casually about the idea of murdering his mother.

"In good time, my faithful servant," Voldemort replied. "In good time."

"Good!" Leandra screamed. "What do you know of good? You're a monster!"

"Maybe I am." Voldemort seemed to contemplate the idea. "But monster or not, I am the one in charge here and you will obey me or die."

"Never," Leandra spat.

"Very well." Voldemort stepped to one side. "Bellatrix, feel free to, er, dispose of her."

"No," Severus spoke in a quiet hiss. The shock was beginning to wear off.

"Don't interfere Severus," Voldemort warned. "She has betrayed us all by helping to hide this mudblood."

"But..." he started.

"Crucio," commanded Voldemort, cutting off Severus's argument. Falling to the floor in agony Severus was only dimly aware of Bellatrix pointing her wand at his mother. The flash of green was only vaguely comprehended before he felt the pain lessen as Voldemort lifted the curse from him.

"Mum?" Severus whispered as he looked across the floor to where she lay. His grandfather still sat at the table and from his vantage point on the floor, Severus could see that he was chained to the wall. They had obviously had trouble with him on the way.

"I know this is hard for you," Voldemort said as he reached to help Severus from the floor. "But sometimes sacrifices have to be made. You will come to understand. I have faith in you."

"Faith?" Severus repeated numbly.

"Bellatrix, remove her," Voldemort ordered and Bellatrix and her husband moved to carry Leandra from the room.

"What are they going to do to her?" Severus asked.

"Nothing," Voldemort replied. "You are one of my loyal supporters. You may bury them as you see fit."

"Thank you," Severus whispered, unable to take his eyes off his mother's limp body.

"Now, I'll leave you to deal with the mudblood." Voldemort turned to follow out of the door. "I'll be back shortly," he said as he shut the door behind him. Severus heard the unmistakable sound of the key turning in the lock.

"Grandpa?" Severus asked, turning to his grandfather.

"Yes Severus, it's me."

"You're supposed to be dead," Severus accused, his voice rising.

"I might as well be now," he replied with a bitterness Severus was more used to hearing in his own voice than in that of his grandfather's.

"Why did you lie to me?" Severus accused again.

"I didn't know she had told you we were dead until today."

Severus looked sceptical.

"I swear your mother only told us tonight." Jack's voice cracked and he dropped his head into his hands.

"But why?"

"She thought it would be safer for everyone," Jack sobbed quietly.

"Is it true you're a mudblood?" Severus hissed.

"Muggle-born," said Jack through gritted teeth as he finally looked up. "I thought we taught you better than to use that term. And yes, I am a muggle-born."

"And you never thought to mention this in the last twenty years," Severus felt his temper rising as his grandfather looked at him with disappointment and something else he could not place.

"We thought it best. We knew the troubles that were coming. The signs were there since you were a child. As you grew older it became harder and harder to bring ourselves to tell you. We couldn't do it in a letter, and we were away for so long, never returning for more than a flying visit..."

"You lied," Severus shouted. "All my life, you've lied to me!"

"I know," Jack said in a quiet tone. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, grandpa," Severus sank down onto the bench beside him. "I've made such a mess of everything haven't I?"

"Can't argue with you there, lad," Jack replied in a rueful tone.

"The Dark Lord's going to kill us both," Severus said as he realised that fact.

"He seemed to like you," Jack pointed out.

"Only because he thinks I'm going to kill you," Severus replied.

"I take it that means you're not?" Jack asked casually.

Severus looked up in horror. "You think I would murder you?"

"No," Jack shook his head. "Whatever you've done in the past few years, I know you wouldn't do that."

"Which means we're both dead."

"Not if he comes back and finds me dead."

"Never," Severus jumped up and began to pace the room as he realised what his grandfather was suggesting.

"Hear me out, lad," Jack said as he gestured back to the bench. "I've had a good long life. Until tonight it has been filled with a great deal of happiness, much of it due to you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you," Jack grinned. "All those drawings you used to send made me very proud and each time one arrived my day was brightened. Do you still draw?"

Severus shook his head and unconsciously gripped his left arm. He had not sketched a single thing since the day the Dark Mark had been burned into his arm.

"Will you draw me something now?" Jack asked.

"Now?" Severus looked up surprised. "We're going to die and you talk about drawing."

"Yes," Jack shrugged. "I am going to die tonight and I would rather the last thing I see be one of my grandson's sketches than the body of my only daughter."

"I don't have any parchment or pencils," Severus mumbled.

"Now surely you haven't forgotten that I always carry both?"

Severus smiled and remembered every time his grandfather had pulled the pencil and parchment from his robes to sketch a scene or person they had come across when out on one of their day trips. The next thing he felt was his grandfather tapping his arm and he turned around to see that the table now had a blank piece of parchment on it and a pencil resting across the top.

"I don't know what to draw," he admitted after a moment.

"Then draw me your mother and grandmother, as they were the last time we were all together."

Severus thought back to the summer after he had graduated from Hogwart's and the surprise visit from his grandparents on the hot summer's day. As soon as the image came into his mind he relaxed and his hand began to fly across the paper. In what seemed like no time at all he was done and he turned to his grandfather to see if he approved. The tears in his eyes told Severus that he did.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "But it still doesn't change the fact that I just can't kill you. I can't look at you and administer the killing curse. I just can't."

"Is there another way then?" Jack asked as he continued to study the drawing.

"Like what?" Severus asked.

"I don't know, something else, another curse, a knife or muggle weapon, poison, anything."

"Poison?" Severus whispered as his hand went reflectively to the pocket of his robe where the potion he had bottled earlier still lay.

"Severus?" Jack questioned as his sharp eyes caught the movement.

"No," Severus shook his head.

"It's the only way," Jack argued, holding out his hand.

"But I don't want you to die," Severus cried as he stood up and backed away out of his grandfather's reach.

"I've had a good life," Jack told him again. "I want you to have one too. Let me die now and then escape from this evil place."

"Escape?" Severus laughed bitterly. "There is no escape from the Dark Lord, his followers are everywhere."

"There must be someone who can help you, keep you safe. Don't you have any friends."

Severus shook his head. "None that aren't Death Eaters."

"Then go to Hogwart's," Jack advised. "Albus Dumbledore will help you."

"Why should he help me?" Severus asked bitterly, remembering all the times the Headmaster had turned a blind eye on the activities of James Potter and Sirius Black.

"Albus Dumbledore stands for everything that is the opposite of him."

"But..."

"Go to him, tell him what's happened, tell him everything."

"Do you really think he would help me?" Severus whispered. "I am a Death Eater."

"He will. Now give me the vial you have in your robes."

Severus reached into his pocket and pulled out the bottle but did not move forward.

"It's the only way Severus," Jack insisted. "This way at least one of us lives."

"Isn't there another way?"

"You're smart enough to have thought of one if there was. Now please give me the bottle."

Severus took a reluctant step forward. Jack reached out his hand again. "If you don't you know he will come back and kill us both any time now."

Severus nodded and handed his grandfather the poison. Jack uncorked the bottle and brought it to his lips. He hesitated a moment.

"It's quick," Severus assured him before reaching up to give his grandfather an impulsive hug, something he had not done since he was ten years old. "I'm sorry, grandpa" he whispered.

"Shhh," his grandfather replied as he hugged him back. "It'll be all right." Sitting back down on the bench Severus watched with tears he had not shed for years in his eyes. The small bottle was empty in a moment. Reaching behind him Jack picked up the drawing from the table and studied it until it fluttered from his hand. Severus reached forward to hold his grandfather as he fell forward. Resting his head gently on the table he tidied his hair and picking up the drawing he tucked it into his grandfather's robes.

He waited a few minutes in silence before turning to knock on the door and ask to be released.