Eye of the Storm

Chapter 13- Where Loyalties Lie

"Lucius come here."

The death eaters were gathered together in an abandoned building circled around Voldemort. It was a small gathering however, only about twenty members.

"Yes my Lord?" Lucius asked, his voice steady as he walked toward the evil wizard.

"I have been given very disturbing information. It seems," he started looking around at each of his followers, "that there is a traitor in our mist. I have my oun suspicions."

Lucius knew what the dark lord was implying and he stood his ground. "Do you my lord? Who is it you suspect?"

"You Lucius."

At that the elder Malfoy started to shiver in fear.

"I assure you my lord I am faithful only to you. How can I possibly proove it to you?"

Voldemort was silent for a long time before he pointed his wand at the death eater, "Crusio."

The curse went on for three long minutes until Voldemort began to get tired of Malfoy's screams.

"Now Lucius, I will tell you what you can do for me. If truely you are not decieving my you will find who is. Furthermore, if you come across the boy, don't hesitate to curse him, no matter who he is with. If you fail in this, your fate will be decided by me."

Lucius struggled to get up, when he was on his feel he bowed to his master.

"I will not fail you my lord."

"For your sake, I hope not."

Voldemort dismissed his death eaters then traveled to another small area where he would call others.

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Harry was getting ready for bed when he heard Snape's bed room door open and shut. Opening his own, Harry saw his professor walk quickly toward his study. Waiting a few minutes, Harry didn't hear or see Snape so he walked carefully, not wanting to make any noise. The study was empty.

A perplexed look crossed Harry's features. 'Snape wouldn't leave me alone would he?' He asked himself. He was about to get his answer.

The fireplace came to life with a flash of green fire. Not knowing if he should be in there, Harry walked out into the hall and saw a man with long blonde hair step out. The man reminded Harry strongly of someone, but he couldn't place him.

Deciding Snape probably wouldn't want his 'friends' to know he had to take care of the-boy-who-lived, Harry went back in his room and shut the door quietly.

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Lucius stepped from the fireplace in Severus's study, instantly his sences were hightened. There was nother unfamiliar or different about his fellow death eater's house, but something didn't sit well. Lucius walked around the study looking in cupboards and checking in drawers, not exactly sure what he was looking for.

A click of a lock brought Lucius's suspicins up. Then he noticed it. The silence. It was indeed quiet in the house but he felt another persence. He almost instantly dismissed the idea of it being a house elf.

Steping out of the study he walked in the direction of the bedrooms. Lucius knew Severus lived alone and would never allow company if it could be helped. 'Maybe it can't.' Lucius rationalized.

Stopping short of Severus's private rooms he looked acreoss the hall to the three spare bedrooms. Checking all of them he found two unlocked, the other however, was locked.

Taking out his wand Lucius mutter a spell.

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Harry locked the door and went to look over some of his summer assignments. The only teacher who didn't give them summer work was Quirrel, for obvious reasons. Taking out his quill and a piece of parchment he made a list of the most important classes starting with Potions and ending in Charms.

Hearing the door open and close a few rooms away Harry quickly pushed his stuff off the desk and covered it with his invisibility cloak before hiding under the bed. Harry wasn't a minute too soon as he distinctly heard someone whisper 'Alohamora' and open the door. It was the same man from the study.

Harry instantly got suspicious, maybe this man wasn't supposed to be there, after all, Snape was gone. The man spied Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage and looked around the room. Harry had a feeling that the man was trying to hear or even smell him. A fearful shiver ran down his back when the man started in his direction.

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Severus was standing among other death eaters in a very dense part of a wood. After giving his report on the happenings within Hogwarts and the order, Severus gave Voldemort the potions that he was required to make. Two of them the dark lord drank, the other three was tested on a muggle who had been captured by Stanley Lastrange.

The muggle, a young female about twenty years old, stood shaking among the dark wizards. The vials were shoved in her hands and she was forced to drink them.

Severus knew what was about to happen. The first one sent a burning sensation through the body at a relatively slow pace. The second was a paralyzing drug that worked instantly. The third Snape thought was the worst, it was a nerve intensifier, the body would respond unnaturaly to the slightest touch.

The death eaters watched in sick satisfaction as the muggle woman screamed and begged for her life. Voldemort laughed as he watched her suffer before muttering the killing cuse almost unconsciusly. He was still laughing when he called for Severus. The potions master approached him.

"Well done. You may go early to prepare me more potions."

Severus put on a mask of pride and bowed to the dark lord. "Thank you my lord. Your potions will be ready within the month." With that he left.

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Lucius was sure he heard something move around the bed as he stared uninterested at the obvious adolecent objects around the room.

"Come out come out wherever you are."

Harry didn't even breathe.

"Lucius."

The blonde wizard spun around, surprise on his face. "Severus, I thought you were summoned by our lord?"

Snape didn't say anything he simply looked around the room.

"Well, do you ignore him? Whose side are you on Severus?"

Snape narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze to the other wizard. "How dare you ask me about my loyalties. I do all I can for our lord. What do you do?"

Now it was Lucius's turn to look offended.

"I will be second in command as soon as I find the traitor."

Snape mentally flinched but showed nothing on the outside.

"Well I wish you luck on finding someone to frame for your unfaithfulness Lucius."

Malfoy took out his wand but Snape was faster.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry watched under the bed as Snape cursed Lucius Malfoy. He didn't know which was telling the truth, but he did know he had to contact Dumbledore.

"Severus this is idiotic, we're not two year olds."

Snape still had his wand out, pointed at Lucius.

"If we are on the some side Severus, tell me where Dumbledore hid Potter."

"Don't be dense Lucius. Albus doesn't trust me that much. I do know where the Weasleys are however."

Harry held his breath, he coudn't believe what Snape was about to do.

"What would I care?"

"Ron is Harry's best friend. Perhaps the boy would want, revenge."

A sly smile crossed Lucius's face. "He would fall right into our hands."

Snape grined.

"Severus I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Where are they?"

"Egypt. Come into the study and I'll give you the direct coordinants."

Harry watched the exchange from under the bed and he had the distinct feeling Snape knew he was there.

Waiting a few minutes, Harry crawled out from under the bed and felt his stomach clench. He was being protected by a death eater.

TBC