Chapter Four

Severus let himself be led, not trying to free his hand from Voldemort's. Why hadn't his father listened to him? No, he had had to leave Hogwarts and got himself caught! As if he didn't want him only well, no, he hadn't listened! And Snape knew that whatever condition his father was in, he couldn't show his emotions, nor could he help him. The Dark Lord would certainly want information in exchange for his life. Would you choose your father or Dumbledore to live? Two faces flashed in his mind. His father or Dumbledore? But the right question was – the Order or his father? Lost deep in thoughts, Snape almost bumped into Voldemort's back when he stopped and opened the door to a dark, earthy cell. The Dark Lord put his arm around Snape's thin shoulders and entered with him.

When his eyes got accustomed to the darkness, Severus noticed several prisoners on the dirty ground, two of them being in dim light – his father, bruised and unconscious, and a young man whom he recognised as a healer from Hogsmeade. Bellatrix Lestrange was leaning leisurely against the wall, fingering her wand and smiling contentedly. Though he could barely keep himself conscious, the young healer's gaze was filled with hatred and defiance. Bellatrix poked Tarquinius's unmoving form with her feet glad in elegant silver sandals and he moaned as their pointed front connected with his ribs not too gently. She laughed quietly and watched with amusement how he attempted to sit. His hands shook uncontrollably when he tried to support himself and finally he succeeded in his task and seated himself against the wall. His eyes were rising slowly, taking in the black shoes, black robe and then black eyes of his son. Severus's face remained cold and detached as if Tarquinius was someone he had never seen before. His dark eyes glittered in the badly lit cell and showed nothing of his soul.

"You said you have no one you can call a father," spoke Voldemort softly, observing how Tarquinius flinched and how his grey eyes betrayed his hurt. He looked at Severus whose face showed no sign of interest and met his gaze unflinchingly.

"I assure you, my Lord, that this man I hardly consider my father," said Snape smoothly, looking at Tarquinius with an expression of complete indifference. "As it is, he has already found himself another son."

Tarquinius's face turned red as his heart began to pump faster. "Bastard!" he roared.

Snape gave him one of his trademark sneering smiles, narrowing his eyes malevolently. Voldemort laughed, moving to stand behind him. "Such a touching family reunion!" he whispered into Snape's ear and his long-fingered white hand brushed the raven hair from Severus's neck. Panic was beginning to rise in Snape's chest as the Dark Lord spoke aloud, "But we'll see whether you consider him a father or not."

Bellatrix licked her lips in anticipation and pressed her want to Tarquinius's throat.

"Unless you do what I order you to, he'll be cursed."

Ignoring the Dark Lord's closeness as much as he could, Severus surveyed his father through narrowed eyes. How much would he be able to take?

"Sev, don't . . ." pleaded Tarquinius quietly, but a gesture from Dark Lord cut the sentence and he screamed under Bellatrix's powerful Cruciatus. He fell to the floor, writhing and crying in agony.

Although he had flinched, Severus regained his calmness, watching the trembling figure of his father without any visible emotions. How much could he bear? How much could his mind bear?

Bellatrix frowned at him, lifted the curse off the groaning man and looked questioningly at the dark wizard. Voldemort grabbed Snape's arm and spun him around to face him. "My, my," he hissed through his clenched teeth, "Are you truly this cold or are you acting?"

He shook him violently several times as if wanting to shake the answers out of him. "You're a good little liar, aren't you? I advise you not defy me, Severus. Now together, Bella!"

Both Voldemort and Bellatrix pointed their wands at Tarquinius who shrieked under the double Cruciatus. His screams filled the small cell, echoing loudly and Severus found himself unable to act any further. Blood started to flow from Tarquinius's mouth and Severus backed from him in horror. His hands flew to his ears and knowing that his father wouldn't stand much, he cried out, "Stop it!"

Only Voldemort stopped, smiling in triumph, when he noticed how deadly pale Severus had become. The younger wizard threw himself to his feet, clutching at his robes and pleading earnestly, "Stop it, you'll kill him! I beg you, master . . . his sanity . . . don't torture him . . ."

Severus's voice broke when the screams weren't stopping. Why didn't he make Bellatrix lift the damned curse? Every scream was sharper than the one before, stabbing his heart brutally while Tarquinius trashed on the ground. What more did the Dark Lord expect from him? He was down on his knees, pleading with him . . .

"Please, I beg you!" cried Snape desperately.

But Voldemort was enjoying himself greatly, the pleasure of being dominant flooding his veins sweetly, making him feel alive again. He reached out to Snape, wiping away a lone tear and stroking his hair. 'Beg more, dear child.' How delightful to have the proud Potions Master kneeling before him! It made him feel powerful; it was a filling feeling, strong and almost frightening, yet utterly delicious. Tarquinius's shrieks were music in his ears and a precious instrument to Severus's heart. Oh, he did know his heart well! He had known him already as a baby, had woven a net of darkness around him since his cradle. And the coldness inside the unloved child had welcomed it, had embraced it tightly. Severus had always been his.

He smiled proudly at seeing Snape's white face and widened eyes. He gestured to Bellatrix and the screams vanished, leaving Tarquinius panting heavily. Severus's heart was beating wildly in his constricted chest and he gasped, struggling to breathe normally. He didn't want to think about what might follow. The white hand of the Dark Lord caressed his cheek and his thumb brushed his lips, not drawing back. For a moment Severus hesitated thinking about Dumbledore, then bent to kiss the hand lightly.

"Thank you, master," he murmured, guessing what would he want from him now. Information?

"Stand up, Severus."

Severus obeyed and rose to his feet, facing the Dark Lord. Slowly he was turned around and the white arms came circling his waist, embracing him and Voldemort whispered his wish, "Kill the healer. Just kill him. Use your dark powers, your coldness. Do it, quickly, do not hesitate."

Tarquinius had no strength or voice to protest and the healer was shocked into silence after he had watched Bellatrix' Cruciatus and Snape's pleas. Unable to do anything, he only looked into the dark eyes of Dumbledore's spy.

"Do it, Severus. Two words, fast death, clean, no pain . . ."

The dark eyes were devoid of any feeling. Distancing himself from the man, Severus pointed his wand at the healer and took a deep breath, hesitating. Why the healer? He was torn between gratitude that it wasn't his father and assumption that Voldemort could use him again later. But the choice – his father or the healer – was simpler. No pain, no suffering, fast death, good death.

"Avada Kedavra," he said, his voice smooth and expressionless. Tarquinius closed his eyes when the green light filled the dungeon. Severus's eyes, on the other hand, were wide open as the curse shot from his wand and hit the healer straight into his chest. For a tiny flicker of time he froze, staring at his murderer, while his eyes lost their light and he collapsed to the floor dead. In the silence that followed, falling wand hit the ground noisily and Severus buried his face in his hands after he had thrown his wand away. The feeling that struck him after releasing the curse was power; pure sweet power based on the ability to take life using magic. He fought with it, unwilling to yield. 'Dumbledore, remember Dumbledore!' he was telling himself, picturing the headmaster's kind face, but instead Moody's came to his mind and faces of others, shaking their heads and telling him, 'We knew it, Snape!' And Sirius Black laughed, 'An improved Death Eater? I knew not to trust you!'

"Very well, Severus, well done," whispered the Dark Lord, his arms around his waist supporting him. "Isn't this better than terrorising students? Bella, be sure to give Mr Snape as much water to drink as he wishes. He must be thirsty from all that screaming."

Severus looked at his father who returned the look; his icy grey eyes mirrors of his condemnation, making him shiver. Often had he been looking at him in this way when he had followed Dark Lord's orders. Bellatrix put a glass of water to his lips, but Tarquinius turned his head and said in a hoarse voice, "I want no such water."

His robes whirling, Severus spun around and bolted out of the cell, not knowing where he run, but he did, running up the stairs, higher and higher, taking no notice of his blurry surroundings. The elegant black robes billowed behind him as he run, resembling a dark ghost unable to find his way to the other world. "Stop him!" cried the Dark Lord and Severus sensed fear in his voice. Fear, worry, and surprise? Hands brushed his robes, but none were quick enough to catch him. Running away from his own consciousness, he was faster than anyone else was. Higher and higher, to the highest terrace, he ran for his death. It had been a good idea of his father when he had attempted to kill them both. He deserved to die; he was nothing more than a murder. Again. He was afraid that having his father in his hands, Voldemort would force him to do anything. Finally he reached the terrace, but all his hopes were shattered when someone caught him. A man jumped at him and together they fell hard to the floor. When the man pinned him to the ground, Snape ceased struggling and stared up at him, feeling dread wash over him.

"Good morning, professor," grinned the man at Snape, "What did you want to do?"

The one who had stopped him was no man and Snape knew well what kind of a dark creature he was – a vampire, holding his wrists down in a painful grip, his eyes shining in hunger. "Let go of me, you filthy . . ."

The vampire clapped a hand over his mouth, shaking his head. "Now, now, professor, you don't want to finish that sentence. As much as I would love you to be my dinner, do be polite, the Dark Lord wants you alive. Pity for me, but if you ever anger me, I can't promise to control my nature and forget his orders."

He seized Snape's wrists even tighter and pulled him to his feet. "Now let us return to your tower, I believe you have some thinking to do, dear professor."

Author's notes: My internet connection isn't working well, I hope I manage to put this chapter online. I've made Snape kill someone . . . hides from the reviewers My sister said I should have made him kill Tarquinius, but he's a pretty useful tool in Voldemort's hands, can't get rid of him so soon. In the next chapter there won't be Severus, only Dumbledore and some others.

One question. If I kill someone, is GP-13 rating enough? Isn't it too violent for that? I don't know much for these ratings, we use other system, so tell me what you think about it.

Thank you very much for reviews, they're truly appreciated.