Chapter 42

Suspicions of the Dark

AN: I don't own HP

And I'm getting back into the habit of updating every Sunday.

EVERYBODY'S happy, except me, because I WANT to own HP... /pouts/

Voldemort tapped his fingers impaciently against the arm of his chair waiting as his followers arrived after summoning them through Wormtail's Dark Mark. He had found out something interesting that past weekend and wished to discuss it with the few Death Eaters who managed to be able to string three coherent sentences together within five minutes. He knew the majority of his followers were nimwits, which was why they were expendable on raids.

After the last Death Eater apparated in, nearly tripping over Nagini in the process, causing the serpent to rise and hiss threateningly at the man causing him to stumble back from the Master's most trusted guard, the Dark Lord said. "I've heard the most interesting things that are occuring at Hogwarts this year..."

Silence blanketed the room as Voldemort stalled, waiting to see if anyone would take his prompt. Satisfied that no one was going to speak out of turn he continued, "I have heard that our friend Potter has been having an unusual ammount of accidents this year. Would anyone care to explain? Lucius!"

"Yes, my Lord?" asked the Death Eater bowing as he addressed his superior.

"Your son was the one to give this information to relay it to me, true?" Voldemort asked.

"Yes my Lord," Lucius confirmed.

"Tell your son he has given me invaliuable information and shall be rewarded when he fully joins our ranks after he graduates Hogwarts," Voldemort said almost carelessly, Malfoy graciously returned to his feet with an air of smugness radiating through his mask which hid his aristocratic smirk. "Severus."

"Yes my lord?" asked the potions master, bowing beside the patriarc of the Malfoy family.

"Why did you not think to bring this to my attention?" the Dark Lord hissed quietly.

"Forgive me my Lord," Severus stated calmly. "I did not believe it to be important that Potter is exceptionally clumsy in school."

"Did it ever occur to your dimwitted brain that it might have been more than clumsiness?" Voldemort casually, then suddenly pointed his wand at the kneeling man shouting "Crucio!" in a fury.

Snape silently fell to his side and twitched for the three minutes Voldemort had him under the curse.

"Now, why did you not think it important that the boy was having far more life threatening accidents this year than in the past?" Voldemort pressed as soon as Snape stopped twitching.

"My Lord," Snape said a bit shakidly. "Potter always gets into dangerous things, I have become immune somewhat to the stupidity of his actions throughout the five years I have taught him."

"That is inexcusible," Voldemort spat and put the Crucatius curse on him again. When he stopped for the second time he continued his lecture. "I need my spy to remain sharp. You have the trust of the fool Dumbledore and I while I would prefer not to loose that if you continue slipping in your duty I will just have to get over the fact that you will be confined to the Malfoy dungeons to provide your services of potion brewing to me until I am no longer inclined to kill you on sight. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, my Lord," Snape said bowing his head, having returned to his kneeling position during the Dark Lord's little rant.

"Do you at least have any information for me?" Voldemort sounded almost bored as he began to pet Nagini who had slithered over sensing that her master was enjoying himself and wanted to join in as well.

"Yes, my lord," Snape replied softly. "Albus Dumbledore has been gathering more Aurors to his side who are exclusively loyal to him and Fudge has only phantom control over them. Also he has been discussing things late into the night with the insufferable werewolf Lupin about things I'm afraid I have not been able to discern. I have tried to come into their confidence but I believe Lupin is discouraging my joining their discussions."

"Is that all Severus?" the Dark Lord said lazily continueing to stroke Nagini's head.

"I am not sure if this is significant my Lord but," Snape said hesitantly. "The Potter boy seems to be wary of touch lately."

"Indeed?" the Dark Lord seemed ammused. "Do you have any theories on this Severus?"

"Unfortunally no, my Lord," Snape said regrettably. "It just stuck me as curious. He has shied away from touch in several different incidences, once during my class and several times during the meals in the Great Hall."

"How intersting," Voldemort said quietly. "Julius Clarmont, you work in Saint Mungos do you not?"

"Yes my Lord," Clarmont said bowing.

"What are the possible reasons for the boy pulling back from touch?" Voldemort inquired.

"My Lord, there are several reasons this might happen," Clarmont said. "The boy could have taken potions to highten his senses and any touch would be painful. He could have been abused as a child. He could be afraid of you, my Lord, the last time you met could have shooken him so badly he now reacts like this. He could have been raped. Although since there has been no previous mention of this behavior I believe only the theories that could have occured within the past few months are viable."

"Severus," the Dark Lord turned to his potions master. "Do you think Potter is capable of making such potions?"

"My Lord, the stupid boy can not even make a simple sleeping draught let alone the complex potions to highten senses," Snape sneered bowing his head.

"Of course," Voldemort acknowledged. "Everyone is dismissed except for Severus and Wormtail."

There were echoes of "Yes My Lord"s and the pops of disaparation throughout the room.

"Severus," Voldemort said calmly as soon as the echoes dispersed. "You know the signs of depression rather well do you not?"

"Yes, My Lord," Snape said neutrally.

"Tell me, do you think the boy could possibly be depressed?" Voldemort said conversationally.

"My Lord, he does not show the signs, his grades are all the same, he laughs too much for his own good, and is still just as arogant as ever. As far as I can tell he just does not like to be touched anymore," Snape said summittingly. "However he did mope around after his mutt godfather was killed last June. Although I doubt it, this year could be an act to fool those around him."

"If you suspect that it is truely an act and Dumbledore asks you about it, lie and come straight to me, I have an interesting idea I would like to try," the Dark Lord commanded.

"Yes, my Lord," Snape said softly.

"You are dismissed," Voldemort said and then turned his attention to Wormtail.

"I have a job for you," Snape heard right before he disapparated.

AN:

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