Chapter Six

"Wake up, my Lord," whispered Bellatrix softly and hesitating, she touched Voldemort's shoulder lightly. Sitting on the ground and half lying on bed must have been uncomfortable, and indeed he groaned in discomfort when he opened his eyes. Stretching out his stiffened muscles, he groaned again and glanced at the man in the bed. He could tell that there was no change, Severus was burning in fever, his breathing ragged and shallow. At his feet Nagini slept, huge and motionless. Voldemort gently touched Snape's forehead and startled at how hot it felt while Severus tossed on the bed, trying to escape the touch. Slowly he turned his head to the side and moved his hand, searching for something, someone to hold onto and when he found the Dark Lord's fingers, he grasped them weakly.

Voldemort smiled at the sight of their entangled fingers and pressed a cool, wet cloth to Severus's forehead. "What do you want, Bella? I told you to help Arenwald with brewing the antidote!"

Though his tone was icy, no longer was he angry. In the end the poisonous little rose may be valuable; Severus was holding onto him like a desperate, vulnerable child. He should have poisoned him earlier and then took care of him like Severus's father had never done, to persuade him that he thought him special, important, that he was valued. A sly smile illuminated his ghastly face as he leaned closer to him and whispered, "I'm with you, dear child, never fear."

A low groan escaped from Snape's parted lips followed by a weak sight, "Albus."

The Dark Lord frowned, longing for cursing him, but instead he took a deep breath, regaining his calmness. Severus could be calling for Dumbledore, but it was his hand he had grasped for comfort.

"Why don't you just kill him, master? Why do you want to save this bloody traitor?" asked Bellatrix angrily.

"Don't question me, Bella!" hissed Voldemort, "Why aren't you helping Arenwald as I told you?"

"The vampire," she spat in disgust, "sends you this potion and says that it takes longer than he previously thought to brew the antidote. Strong poison, you know . . . But this potion should strengthen his immune system and help him to live through the night. I believe he would not survive it without this."

Irritated, Voldemort snatched the vial from her hand and glared at her menacingly, "How can someone be so idiotic as to grow such stupid roses without having the proper antidote at hand?"

Bellatrix blushed and bowed her head, leaving the room quickly. She felt his gaze on her back, following her to the door where she stopped and whirled around to meet his fiery red eyes before leaving. "If he dies," he smirked, "I'll bury you alive with him. Therefore I advise you to help with the antidote as much as you can, I would loathe to be rid of you so soon."

She left hurriedly and Voldemort laughed quietly, running his fingers through Snape's raven hair. Severus shook his head weakly, breathing out the hated name again, "Albus."

"Why do you think that Dumbledore cares, dear Severus?" asked Voldemort softly, watching how the dark eyes opened. They were looking at him hauntingly, filled with sorrow and pain, and he wasn't sure whether Severus was aware of his surroundings or was caught in a web of feverish nightmares. Either way, his mind was at its most vulnerable point – unguarded and weakened by poison. A perfect moment to . . . There was no way that Severus could fight him in such a weakened state. Pulling out his wand and looking deeply into the dark eyes, Voldemort uttered the spell, "Legillimens!"

Snape winced and gasped when his hidden old memories were uncovered.

There he was – a young Death Eater, recently turned to light, kneeling in front of the Dark Lord and hoping he wouldn't notice the change . . .

Dumbledore, sitting in his office, was listening intently. "He wants the Potters, he'll kill them."

Concentrating hard, Voldemort pushed further. More recent memories, those he wanted – Order headquarters, its members, their plans . . . To his surprise, Severus began to fight, attempting to push him away. The Dark Lord let him struggle in order to be drained even more, and be too exhausted to hid anything from him. He was holding the spell, never letting go, witnessing various "safe" memories in quick succession. Tears sprang to Snape's eyes and he pushed further, penetrating his mind with brutal force, making the weakened wizard cry out in pain.

A dark kitchen . . . long table and Dumbledore talking . . . Lupin, McGonagall, Moody, Tonks, the Weasleys . . .

The Dark Lord laughed in triumph. When the onyx eyes began to glitter with unshed tears, he gathered Severus to himself, stroking his hair tenderly and rocking him slightly. How foolish of Dumbledore to trust a spy and let him into the meetings! But the feverish wizard in his arms was making him worried. This was not his time to die, not before he finished everything he had planned for him. Worried by the heat coming from Severus's body, he run his hands over his back, murmuring incantations to cool him down. Then he forced the potion down his throat and after a coughing fit, Severus collapsed against him. Voldemort felt his body yield and alarmed, he scanned him for any unwelcomed reaction to the potion. Fortunately Severus had only fallen asleep, exhausted from the high fever and struggle with legillimency as well as from the potion's calming effect.

Voldemort lay him back onto the bed, rolled up the left sleeve of his black satin pyjamas and touched a finger to his Dark Mark. Severus groaned in his sleep and cringed against the sudden pain, but didn't wake up. "I think it's time to send another message to Dumbledore. What do you think, Severus? Seems like some people don't know it's dangerous to go against me. I wonder when do they learn that the power is in my hands?"

Nagini hissed in agreement and slid towards the sleeping Potions Master, entwining his arm. After the Dark Lord had left, she rested her head against Snape's chest and watched him, ready to prevent any attempt of escape.

§§

Harry screamed and jumped out of his bed, falling heavily onto the floor. In a vision he had just seen . . . No, it couldn't have been a vision, it had only been a bad dream, nothing more, nothing . . . Yes, he had eaten too much before going to bed, that was it. But . . . not only had he seen an attack by Death Eaters, Voldemort had also spoken to him. He had laughed and his words "Say hello to Dumbledore from Severus" had frozen him to the marrow of his bones. Snape . . . Snape couldn't . . . But why not? He had killed that healer, hadn't he? Frustrated, Harry hit the floor with his fist, shaking in helpless anger.

A voice startled him from his thoughts, "What happened?"

The teen looked into the tired face of his former teacher. Remus Lupin, on Dumbledore's orders, had taken him to the Grimmauld Place after Snape's disappearance. As much as they both hated the house, the Fidelius Charm kept it safe. No one dared to think of what Snape might do if he had really turned back to Voldemort. Harry didn't know what to think about it as everyone held a different opinion. Dumbledore mourned at Hogwarts as if someone had died, communicating with Moody only. Hagrid pitied "the boy" for being "swallowed by darkness". Moody, though he had never trusted the Potions Master, wasn't glad that his words came true. Tonks was furious, the young healer, Tony, had been her schoolmate. Lupin, on the other hand, reacted differently than the others. Harry looked into his eyes and found them sorrowful again.

"Was it a vision, Harry?" asked the werewolf in a quivering voice.

"Yes, professor . . . I . . . I saw Voldemort and he told me . . . to . . . to say hello to Dumbledore from Snape as if giving him a message . . ." Harry trembled, remembering what the message had been, feeling the heat of its flames.

"What was the message?"

"The Burrow!" cried out Harry, "The Death Eaters attacked the house, burned it down! Snape must have given the Weasleys away to Voldemort!"

Not able to continue, Harry buried his face in his hands, sobbing. What did he care that he was crying in front of his teacher, the Burrow was probably nothing but ashes by now! Voldemort's frosty laughter was ringing in his ears and although never had he heard Snape laugh, he could easily imagine him laughing with him. It sent shivers down his spine and he shuddered, picturing the two together – the traitor and his master – laughing while the home of his best friend was swallowed by fire. "I hate him," he sobbed.

One day – and that day would come – he would have his revenge on the traitor. No mercy would he show, he promised to himself. Snape would pay for everything – in his blood.

Remus bowed his head, saddened by Harry's grief and words, hiding his own tears. However, Harry's misery didn't have such a great impact upon him as Snape's or rather Voldemort's "message". He had never been a friend of Snape, though when they had met at Hogwarts after many years, he had been willing to forget their old enmities. Deep inside his heart he felt that what was happening was far more serious than a betrayal. Tarquinius hadn't been seen since Snape's disappearance and that, in Remus's eyes, meant a disaster for both Snape and the Order. The only person Severus would never betray was his father and Remus didn't want to think of the consequences if he was in Voldemort's hands too. Chewing his lips nervously, he rushed to contact the headmaster.

Great was his surprise when he found Moody sitting in the kitchen, deadly pale and visibly exhausted. Without a word he sank into a chair, trembling in anxiety. A heavy sigh came from the former Auror who nodded gravely, confirming Lupin's deepest fears. "Snape. He gave out the Weasleys."

Remus gasped in horror, closing his eyes tight, and heard Moody spit the word, "Traitor!"

§§

Author's note: This chapter is probably shorter then usual . . . I do hope that there aren't too many typos, because I don't know what's wrong with me today, but I keep on confusing the simplest English words. For example, I wrote "bad" instead of "bed" or "a coughing git" instead of "a coughing fit". Thank you very much for your reviews, I love you all, they're truly encouraging.