Chapter Eight

Walking through the Ministry corridors, a feeling of profound sadness was gnawing at his chest, savagely tearing his heart apart. He had decided against a visit to the Order Headquarters even if he knew he had been expected. Instead of himself, Dumbledore had sent a note and some instructions, unable to face anyone. The Weasleys had been contacted and were on their way back from holidays while Remus and Harry had been told to prepare bedrooms for them at Grimmauld Place. Bill Weasley had been with Miss Delacour during the attack and had been instructed to come to the Black House at once. Kingsley Shacklebolt was to get a copy of Aurors' search in Snape Manor and Dumbledore hoped that Severus hadn't kept any dark arts items there.

A weary sigh issued from his mouth as he felt every single of his 150 years. Many losses had he already encountered; yet there was no way he could ever get used to them. Tom loved to play, but why had he chosen Severus? Of course, Dumbledore knew the answer. It was to prove him that he was the more powerful one, that he could lure Severus back into darkness, that he could turn someone whom he considered a son against him. He wanted to see him crushed, down on his knees . . . And although he hadn't defeated him, Riddle had succeeded in something. At that very first moment, when he had found the healer's body at the edge of the Dark Forest, he could have killed Severus in his wrath. There had been a wand on the dead man's chest, Severus's beautiful ebony wand, as ancient as the Snape family for it had gone from father to son through many generations. When the Priori Incantaten revealed the last curse used, he had broken it.

Eventually, the anger had died away and Dumbledore had taken the wand to Ollivander's for repair. What feeling was coming forth now was fear and worry, he was afraid of what would become of Severus in Tom's hands. A monster of a Death Eater? No, Severus's conscience was far too strong to leave him in peace. The former Death Eater would suffer greatly and in the end, Voldemort would kill him, in the moment when Severus would join the dark side again. No, Tom Riddle would never forgive a betrayal, but before the punishment he would use him to his ends. No matter how much disappointed he was, he knew they needed to get the Slytherin out of his captivity as soon as possible, for Severus's and Order's sake. He didn't want to think about what was to remain of his friend in Severus.

For the beginning, there was a person who could help. Deep in thoughts, Dumbledore followed an Auror leading him to the Ministry's prison. With money and connections, even in times like these, one could escape Azkaban. 'At least he wasn't set free,' smiled the headmaster while Auror Dawlish unlocked the heavy iron door guarding a small cell. The prisoner had been asleep and only slowly was waking up, blinking several times to clear his vision. In an old frayed tunic and with tangled hair, Lucius Malfoy looked deceivingly vulnerable. Yes, Lucius was a Death Eater, an evil, arrogant men, selfish and prejudiced, but as Severus's friend, he may be of help. Yes, Lucius Malfoy would help them, willingly or not. With that in mind, Dumbledore smiled widely at the blond Death Eater.

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Tarquinius was limping upstairs, following Bellatrix obediently. He knew what had happened to his son, but had no other news on his well beings. When he had been told that Severus wished to see him, he had become worried. A chill went down his back, a shudder of real fear.

Bellatrix opened the door for him and pushed him in. The Dark Lord was the first one whom he saw, impressive in his dark robes and with those red eyes.

"I'll leave you alone with him, Quin, but mark my words. If you hurt him in any way, you'll experience what my definition of a slow, painful death means."

With those words he left and Tarquinius relaxed. An oppressive silence fell upon him. Severus was sitting on the bed, his legs drawn up and slender arms wrapped around his knees. A gentle breeze coming from the open window was playing with his loose, raven locks. How much he wanted to reach out, to touch him, to verify to himself that Sev was alive! But instead, as if of their own accord, harsh words poured out of him, "What have you done?"

They flashed through Severus, sharp like a knife blade. Tarquinius watched him flinch and cursed himself for the pain and despair he saw in his son's eyes. How he longed for healing all at pain and bring laughter into those dark eyes!

"I'm sorry," he apologised.

Severus smiled a ghost-like, hardly noticeable sad smile. Had he ever smiled happily? He lifted his hand and beckoned him to come closer. With fast strides, Tarquinius rushed to him and suddenly; he was holding him tight, almost crushing his son in his arms. Severus's face was turned in, against his chest, his hands clenched in Tarquinius's robes. He kissed his dark hair and felt him tremble. He seemed so fragile in his strong arms; he couldn't have recovered completely yet. Why did he want to see him? And how come that the Dark Lord had allowed it?

Severus drew away and framed his father's face in his hands. Tarquinius thought that it was as if he was studying him, storing every detail into his memory. Why? What was he planning? Whatever it was, Tarquinius didn't like it. And when Severus kissed his forehead, he was absolutely horrified. Never in his life had Tarquinius seen his son kiss anyone. Except his mother, of course, that was an exception to a rule and he had been a small boy then. His blood froze.

'What are you planning?" he asked a bit more harshly than he intended to. Severus lowered his eyes and for a moment Tarquinius was enthralled by shadows cast by his long eyelashes. As dark, thick and beautiful as Sophie's. Though Severus looked so much like him, he had his mother's grace, her slender form and most of all, her lovely dark eyes. "Don't do it," frowned Tarquinius, lifting Severus's chin and forcing him to look up. "Don't play an innocent with those eyes, I won't be fooled. You're up to something."

"Father," spoke Snape softly, for the first time since Tarquinius entered the room.

"What is it, Severus?" he urged him, wishing to get an answer from his mysteriously acting son.

Without success. Severus lay down onto the bed, looking very pale, his pallor being intensified by his black hair and dark eyebrows. A wave of dizziness passed through him as a soft moan broke from his lips. Though he was no longer burning, he felt horribly exhausted and had a slight fever.

"Do you hate me? Have I disappointed you?" he asked, searching the truth in Tarquinius's grey eyes.

"You are planning something, Severus. What is it? You aren't trying to say good-bye, are you?"

"Answer me," said Severus calmly, oblivious to his father's distress.

"How can I hate you? I'm sorry if I hurt you sometimes, I know I need to learn to control myself."

Severus watched his father tremble and he smiled gently, unsettling him all the more. "You may hate me later, but . . ."

The sentence was cut by Tarquinius who grabbed Severus's shoulders and shook him roughly. "What are you planning to do?" he yelled, not letting go of him. "You're doing it again, putting up walls and leaving me outside, you don't trust me. What do you want to do, Severus?"

He knew that he was hurting him, he couldn't help himself, he wanted answers and was afraid, truly afraid. Severus groaned when his head collided painfully with the headboard, but didn't fight him. Voldemort must have been eavesdropping, for at the sound he rushed into the room, snatched Snape from his father's arms and pulled him into an embrace. With a mocking smile he glanced at Tarquinius who struggled in Grabbe and Goyle's grip. Kicking and shouting, he was carried out of the room while Voldemort was stroking his son's hair, a satisfied smirk plastered on his snake-like face.

The Dark Lord laughed when the door closed and Severus slipped from his arms, turning his back to him.

"Your father is an amusing man. I'm sorry if he hurt you again."

The dark-haired wizard shook his head and bit into his lower lip. "He didn't hurt me," he whispered.

"Welcome back," smiled Voldemort, brushing away the dark hair to reveal Snape's pale cheek. "You made me worried, dear child, you almost died."

"I should have died," mumbled Severus into a pillow, "How come that I'm alive?" he asked, hating how weakly his voice sounded.

"I've saved your life by giving you from my strength."

"How touching," sneered Severus. "Add your name to my 'life-debt list' then, couldn't you have used other means if you so much wanted to save me? Some ordinary healing means, not your strength."

"There was no other way, you were dying. Severus, look into my eyes," ordered Voldemort softly and Snape obeyed, turning his face to him. The red eyes bore into the dark ones. "Severus, I do care about you greatly. If I ever thought of someone as my son, it's you."

He sounded so earnestly that Severus almost believed him. Not only his voice was honest, his face and eyes also appeared to be telling the truth. There were dark shadows under his eyes as if he hadn't slept at all, his clothes were the same as the last time he had seen him, wrinkled.

"You've been all this time with me," whispered Severus, astonished. It was a statement, not a question, he knew that the man who had been at his bedside was the Dark Lord.

"Yes," nodded Voldemort.

"But you also used by weakness, my fever, I couldn't fight you," accused him Severus.

"I did. We're in war, in a war I want to win."

"Dumbledore must hate me now," sighed Severus.

"Oh, I believe he does, my dear and not only him."

"Why do you say that?" frowned Snape. "What did I tell you?"

"You don't remember?" wondered the Dark Lord, surveying Severus through narrowed eyes. Snape shook his head. "Well, you don't remember. You gave me some very useful names, dear boy."

"Names? What . . . what happened? I know that something bad happened . . . but . . . but I don't remember what. What did I tell you?"

Voldemort almost laughed at Severus's distress. The man clearly didn't remember much from his fever. "The Weasleys, my dear, don't you remember them?" he asked gently.

"What happened to them?" whispered Snape.

"They are dead, they died in an attack from my Death Eaters. They really had no chance. Aren't you glad to be rid of that stupid little Griffindor? Ron or what his name was?"

Severus shuddered. No, the Dark Lord was lying, they weren't dead, no . . . impossible . . . "You're lying!" he exclaimed and his eyes bore deep in Voldemort's. "Tell me the truth, don't lie to me!"

"I'm telling you the truth," said Voldemort as seriously as he could.

Severus gasped and his hand reached out to grab the nearest thing he could find. For a moment he sat there, a glass gripped in his hand, fighting the urge to fling it at Voldemort's calm face. He was frozen in place and staring at him wordlessly, angry both with the Dark Lord as well as himself.

"If it will make you feel better, throw it," the dark wizard said softly and he peered closely into Snape's eyes, "However, I do believe that you wish to tell me something. What is it, Severus? You have a deal for me, don't you?"

The glass flew across the room and shattered against the stone wall. The silence following the sound was heavy, filled with expectancy from Voldemort's side. Severus nodded.

TBC

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Author's note: ObscureTwin got it right, the Weasleys were in France for holidays and therefore couldn't have been hurt in the attack. What Voldie says to Snape isn't true, none of them died. Actually, I planned to kill one Weasley, but only Bill remained didn't go to France and I didn't want to kill him.

Well, I hope that you like this chapter, though the end may be a bit of a cliffhanger, sorry. I've got some news for you – bad or good? Depends on the point of view, rather well for me, but not that good for the readers. The next up-date will come only sometime after August 22nd, because I'm off to holidays in less then a week. I'm going to Greece (to the island of Crete) with my family and friends for nearly two weeks. And during this one week I have, I need to work on my thesis again.

Thank you very much for your reviews, all of them are most appreciated. :-)