Just to clarify, the italic text is Hermione's point of view… the regular font is Snape's…

I keep having to pinch myself when I read reviews… I hadn't imagined getting this many… thank you…

The Dark Lord's Servant

Darkness… sweet darkness… The girl was curled up next to him, one arm draped limply across his chest. He allowed a small smile to play across his lips, confident that no one would see it -

Dimly, he registered a searing pain on his arm that brought him sharply back to attention, having been drifting in a stupor…

The girl tensed and moaned as he lent over and gently shook her shoulder… she jerked awake and frowned slightly 'W-what?'

'We've been summoned…'

The air was thick with tension, though he was glad that for once the girl had enough sense to keep her head down and her mouth shut as they entered the circle, taking their places side by side -

'It seems we have a leak…' Voldemort's icy cut through the silence like a knife, Severus suppressed the shudder that ran around the circle… he was not foolish enough to show signs of such weakness -

'I suspect there are some among you that know indeed of who'm I speak of. I wonder, what shall we do with this leak?' Scarlet gaze fixing on each of his followers in turn, Severus noted the Dark Lord's slight pause on the girl beside him, perhaps taking in the draped hooded robes and resolute stance -

'Put a plug in it!' someone yelled vindictively, and a chorus of jeers broke out in unity of this statement.

'Ahh… I see old tricks die hard Merric. Well, that was as I intended… but perhaps measures would not be so harsh if the leak were to come forward and confess…'

For a moment stony silence surfaced once again -

- then -

- 'I… I am sorry master. I d-didn't m-mean to do it' hooded and masked though the Death Eater was, Hermione could sense the quavering fear in his voice as he stumbled forward -

'Dear dear… such a shame… I had hoped for better loyalty than that Rivelle'

At the Dark Lord's words two Death Eaters had flanked the young Rivelle's sides, clamping his arms and forcing him to kneel before Voldemort, whose icy features bore no sign of emotion as he stared at the pitiful, struggling figure -

'I think we should give this honour to our newest member… I wonder, would Miss Granger care to demonstrate her own brand of Mudblood Magic…'

Severus had braced himself, prepared to step forward and take the duty instead of his… girl? His girl? Where had that come from?

But the girl had strode forward with purposeful intent, inclining her head with utmost carefulness, drawing her wand silently and facing the quivering figure -

Without moving her lips beneath her mask, without even uttering a sound… she conveyed the curse through force of mind -

Deafening shrieks ripped through the air, Severus clenched his teeth and tensed his shoulders, hands balling into fists beneath black sleeves of his robes -

'Enough' Voldemort commanded, after endless bloodcurdling screams emitted the young mans body -

Hermione brought her wand up with a jerk and slowly turned to face the Dark Lord… resolute in her actions and feeling blood pound in her ears, pulsing through her body, palpitate in her heart -

'Interesting…' his scarlet eyes bored through the slits in her mask, but she forced her mind into a closed numbness, her eyes unfocused with the effort of barricading her thoughts - Severus had done well to teach her…

'… well, well. I think that should suffice… for now' the Dark Lord turned his gaze upon Severus… 'I suspect you have shared more in your absence than mere thoughts' Severus gave the slightest nod -

A general guffaw had broken out amongst the circle that surpassed Hermione without much thought… she was intent on displaying her full attention to the Dark Lord, to communicate with him on a level only he could understand -

As his scarlet gaze fell upon her again she delved deep into that fathomless stare, willing him to accept her…

'I suspect you are aware of what information Rivelle let out-'

'I am master' Severus uttered quietly -

'Then you will go with intent. I have no doubt that I will see you again… both of you…'

'Why… here?' Hermione managed to ask as she stumbled in the darkened closure of trees -

'The Order… Rivelle gave them the information leading straight to y- to us'

'What must we do… Severus… I can't fight them-'

'You will if you wish to stay alive. Hermione, the Dark Lord will acknowledge your fight -'

'Severus I… you know I can't…'

'Quiet! Remember what I told you. You are the Dark Lord's servant. You will do well to serve him…'

Before she could reply, her dark lover had swooped on her, pulling her close for a meaningful kiss - then, as quickly as he had caught her she was released -

He headed toward the house… It took a few seconds for her to register that he was leading himself into danger and strode after him -

Remus closed his eyes for a second as he heard the sound of shattering glass sounded somewhere below -

He motioned for the others to follow and edged along the line of shadow, careful with each precarious footstep -

He saw the tall silhouette waiting for him on the landing, motionless and edged in dazzling moonlight - it was him.

Both men stiffened in recognition… then, very suddenly, simultaneous bursts of light shot from each wand, meeting and deflecting -

But Lupin's wand was not the only one to fire, and though Severus was skilled in duelling, no wand could take impact of sudden attack unless in the hand of an elder… an elder like Dumbledore…

'No..!' Remus whirled to catch sight of a hooded figure launching at him from the shadows… he miscalculated and fell backward as the figure lunged at him -

Her legs clamped his waist and pinned his to the floor as a hand fastened around his throat -

Bursts of sparks ricocheted around them, illuminating her face as her hood fell back -

Ashen faced and breathing heavily as he fought and grappled with her, both their wands dislodged in the fall and scattered somewhere in the shadows, she froze in mid-motion as recognition hit her like a ton of bricks -

Remus took advantage of the stunned moment to shove her hard, pushing her off of him and…using all of his brutal strength to overpower her -

She screamed in frustration, trapped as his weight fell on her in a most precarious position… her legs still wrapped around his waist-

'Ssh… Hermione it's ok… calm down baby'

I shall update soon… whenever I get the time…

XxPeridoxX