Chapter Twenty
It was nearly midnight when Auror Dawlish sat in a chair in dark corner watching the prisoner sleeping in his sickbed. He could tell that Snape's sleep wasn't peaceful, he must have been troubled by nightmares and his conscience. There was a frown settled in his face and he appeared to be changing his position in sleep way too often for an untroubled night. Dawlish's eyes fell upon a slender hand lying opened next to Snape's face. It seemed to thin and delicate for a murderer, too unreal. Actually, as he was studying him, the whole Snape appeared to be undoubtedly very thin. Was it because of Azkaban or had he always been like that? When he had accompanied Cornelius Fudge to Hogwarts after an illegal student organisation had been discovered there, he hadn't met Snape. There had been only Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall present in the headmaster's office, no other teacher. Well, Snape could have been plotting something with Him-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named…
"I'm sorry."
Dawlish startled and blinked, seeing Snape looking at him. His eyes were glittering strangely in the semi-darkness as if his fever got high again.
"What did you say?" asked Dawlish in an astonished whisper.
"I know… I know it's not enough, but I'm sorry… for your son's death," said Snape quietly, apologising. That was one thing he rarely used to do.
"You're right, it isn't enough," replied the Auror coldly while Snape closed his eyes with a sigh. "He won't be resurrected by some pitiful 'sorry'. Unlike filth like you, my son was a good man whose only crime was that his blood wasn't 'pure'."
"Wouldn't you do the same?" whispered Snape, his dark eyes piercing to the bottom of Auror's soul, "For me it was to have my father killed or… to kill your son. Tell me that you would choose your son's death and save the man you don't know, whom you've never seen before, a complete stranger. Tell me, I want to hear it. Tell me how noble you are, Gryffindor."
Dawlish took a deep breath. "Right, Snape."
He was deceivingly calm after hearing Snape's words. "I was willing to call a healer to you. I agreed to have you in the hospital wing away from the Dementors in order to have you regain your strength needed for healing, but you…" he stopped to take another deep breath, his voice turning icy, "you're an ungrateful bastard. You won't try my patience again, Snape. You're going back to your cell. NOW!"
A lift of an eyebrow was Snape's only reaction to Auror's outburst. Dawlish strode quickly towards his bed and grabbed Snape's jaw upon which he flinched.
He flinched… at his touch.
Dawlish's brows furrowed as he watched Snape's eyes widen in… fear maybe? Shock? In his mind a memory of the Snapes' files resurfaced… He had studied every single sheet in them - from Tarquinius Snape's stay in Azkaban through Snape's act as a spy to his capture and therefore he could connect his reaction to them quickly. He felt a shudder rip through the Death Eater's body as he moved closer into his intimate zone, caressed his cheek and grabbed his hair. Snape trembled even more, obviously hating the unwelcomed touches. A sweet feeling of victorious power filled Dawlish's heart until Snape's words didn't shatter it.
"Tell me, Mr Dawlish, are you aware of what you're doing?" came Snape's question quietly in his low, sneering voice, "You have just discovered how much I detest being touched in this way and you are using this knowledge against me. Your behaviour strongly resembles that of the Dark Lord."
Dawlish wrenched his hand away as if he had been burnt. The seductive feeling of power had taken over him for a while but he recovered, angry both with himself and Snape. He grabbed the Death Eater's arm in a tight grip making him wince and dragged him back to his cold cell. Apart from a failed attempt to free his arm, Snape didn't protest much. His mocking silence was enraging the Auror whose grip on Severus's thin arm intensified and pace quickened. When they reached the cell, Dawlish threw the prisoner unceremoniously in and delivered a malicious kick into his ribcage. Snape slipped down to the ground, coughing quietly, while the Auror smiled.
"You'll learn not to disobey me quickly, I believe," he said and with that left the Death Eater on his own. Before he went away, he summoned a Dementor to keep Snape a company.
§§
Lucius's long platinum hair was brushing the smooth mahogany surface of the desk he was sitting at, his face hidden in his hands. If there had been someone standing in front of him, he could have seen his fine fingers trembling. But from where he stood, the Malfoy Lord knew that Voldemort couldn't see his expression, though he had no doubt of him being aware of his distress. The Dark Lord knew everything. Everything. Besides, it was his Lord who had put him into this situation, the Dark Lord who was asking horrific things from him.
A picture of a few hours ago attacked his mind again, making him shudder. Draco, his only child, his beloved (though he had to admit he was often a strict father) son, on his knees before the Dark Lord whose spidery fingers ruffled Draco's hair gently and whose piercing crimson eyes commanded Lucius to obey or … He closed his eyes tight, shivering violently while a cold hand gripped his heart and another image came to him. This time it was Severus. Severus who had betrayed him and the Dark Lord, alone in some cold cell of Azkaban, his soul slowly being eaten away by Dementors. His sharp-tongued cousin, vicious and clever… a traitor. Severus, Severus, Severus.
The Malfoy Lord flinched when a hand descended upon his shoulder. Though thin and bony, the hand weighed unpleasantly much, causing him to tremble more and more. Lucius found himself unable to compose himself and hide his distress. Time seemed to him to be crawling with feet of lead. After a strained moment of silence, the Dark Lord's hand brushed Lucius's hair behind his ear. The movement of hit was painfully slow, the soft pads of Voldemort's chilly fingers sending unpleasant shivers down Malfoy's spine. The Dark Lord bent to his revealed ear and said, very quietly, "There's no need to be so upset, Lucius. I am awfully sorry for you, but I can't help myself. I am forced to involve you in this, for you highly difficult, matter."
A look of pity came into Voldemort's eyes as he turned Lucius to face him and continued, "Think of the position I am in. Think of your position and your questionable loyalties. Prove to me where your loyalties lie."
Lucius's face paled ghastly. "My Lord," he whispered, "I am and always will be your faithful servant."
"My ssssslippery friend," hissed Voldemort, his skeletal fingers caressing Malfoy's cheeks lightly, "I am so sorry. You promised to do anything, do you remember? Anything," he repeated, stressing the word. "You promised to kill him, to torture him, to do anything to him while sparing your life."
Laughing, Voldemort's finger touched Lucius's neck where Arenwald's dagger had left a mark, momentarily enjoying the feeling of power when Malfoy was cringing from him. It wasn't a sight he had seen often before. However, seeing one of his most trusted favourites like this - weak and whining - sent a rush of poisonous rage through his veins. His eyes flashed as he grabbed Lucius's silky hair.
"What have I told you before?" he asked and then shouted, "What have I told you?"
"Have mercy upon me, my Lord!" cried out Lucius, pleading, "Leave me out of it, I beg you."
Voldemort's gaunt face loomed over his as he yelled, "Mercy?"
"Mercy."
He clapped one of those chilly hands over Lucius's mouth.
"No more of that in my presence or I'll feed you to Arenwald. You disgust me."
The hand moved to play with Malfoy's hair, lifting up the shiny strands and letting them drop.
"I beg you, master…"
Voldemort's mouth curled cruelly in rage. He struck Lucius hard across his face and the Death Eater fell to his knees, horror-stricken. Never before had he been the one cursed or hit by his master. Threats yes, even those more threatening (with that vampire scum), but… The Dark Lord had struck him as if he were a disobedient child and not Lucius Malfoy, the loyal Death Eater. In his mind he cursed his wayward cousin for staining his impeccable image and throwing him into such a critical situation. He groaned and that made Voldemort laugh.
"Stop deluding yourself, my friend, don't pity yourself so much or you'll be welcomed to experience my real wrath."
A groan broke from Lucius's trembling lips again which was followed by angry yanking at his hair. The Dark Lord pulled him to his feet and spat, "Stop whining! We both know that this is not the time to be merciful and we both know that you will do what I ask of you, so cease this disgusting snivelling. Don't delay, you have no other option. Go and get Severus."
"As you wish, my Lord," whispered Lucius, smoothing his hair.
"You might want to take some Death Eaters to help you. Take as many as you need."
The Malfoy Lord bowed gracefully though his hands were still shaking badly. "Thank you, master, you're generous."
As he exited the room and descended the stairs, his eyes fell on the face half-hidden in shadows. The sneer marring the white mask-like face reminded him of Severus, but Severus had never looked at him with as much hatred as Arenwald. Lucius halted his steps in front of the vampire and his gaze travelled up his figure with disdain. However, Arenwald managed to put as much contempt into his eyes as Malfoy.
"Going to dress up for a kill? Don't forget to brush your hair."
"Shut up, that's no business of yours, vampire."
"I might be of help, Malfoy. Me and my brothers are immune to Dementors."
After a moment Lucius nodded and gestured for Arenwald to follow him.
"I suppose that you're looking forward to a magnificent feast which Azkaban will provide. But do not forget to leave Severus to me as our master wishes."
"Very well, Malfoy."
Lucius took a deep breath to regain his composure. He knew that what he was going to do was dreadful and it filled his eyes with infinite pity. But sacrifices and difficult choices had to be done one day and he realised how right the Dark Lord had been. What he required of him was painful, but duty was hardly ever desirable. Of the choices given, this was the one he had to do though deep inside his soul he was weeping.
§§
"How are you feeling, Remus?" asked Albus Dumbledore, looking at the werewolf without the famous twinkle in his eyes. Lupin had left the St Mungo's hospital for Madame Pomfrey's care and although he was now feeling better, he felt that Severus's damned potion was still working on his body.
"I'm fine, thank you, headmaster. With Madame Pomfrey we were searching for any notes on that potion in Severus's quarters, but there's nothing."
For a moment Dumbledore looked pensive, then nodded thoughtfully, "It doesn't surprise me. The Aurors haven't found anything illegal in either the Snape Manor or here in Severus's rooms. I believe he must have some other hiding place for them or he might have all the illegal ingredients in Riddle's place. The country house we've found you and Severus in is being searched now too."
"You haven't seen him, have you?"
"No," sighed Dumbledore as his eyes saddened, "No one can visit him but Aurors and family."
"Fudge must be afraid of you then."
"Yes and the elections are coming close. I fear that he'll use Severus in his campaign."
They both fell silent, contemplating. Remus was beginning to be perfectly horrified. Seeing Dumbledore like this, trying to help, trying to do something when they could not think of any possible plan (except for waiting for the trial) was dreadful. It filled him with a sense of insecurity and deep worry.
"Remus, I'll do everything in my power to save his life," Dumbledore assured him, but still there was no twinkle in his eyes, only sadness and worry. For the first time in his life Remus doubted Dumbledore's hopeful words. If the headmaster had noticed his doubts, he couldn't say anything more for suddenly the doors to Dumbledore's office flew open and in rushed a panting former Auror - Alastor Moody.
"Your pet Death Eater has maddened Dawlish again," was the only thing he said.
§§
Author's notes: Well, well, well… this took me a while, but I can tell you that my vacation was just perfect, I had a wonderful time! There was still plenty of snow and I was having lots of fun with my boyfriend. But back to the story… Severus was being difficult this time; I had to struggle with him for nearly two weeks. And then suddenly, it all came to me in a rush on Monday - I wrote it down, edited and now here you are, the next chapter. I hope you'll like it. Thank you VERY much for reviewing.
Unfortunately, doesn't allow individual review responses anymore, but I may reply to you via e-mails. I'm off to work on the next chapter (feeling inspired this week…) and I need to replace the previous chapters (remove the review responses).