A/N: Here we go again! Actually, I have a bit of bad news. I am back at
school now and find myself staring down several classes starting this
Monday. I'm sure that you all know what this means. Fewer updates. I
will probably go down to maybe one a week. I hope that none of you will
lose your minds between updates, seeing as how most of you demand another
chapter directly after I post one. I will continue with the story, I'll
just post less often. To make up for this, they will probably be longer
chapters. Does that help? I hope it does. Here's a six pager for you
all.
Snape Apparated into a graveyard. He looked around with a slight sneer, wondering why in the world Voldemort had them Apparating into the graveyard. He shrugged and headed towards the house where he had seen another Death Eater enter as he had Apparated into the yard. The house was well kept and neat, making Snape wonder exactly who was taking care of the house that Voldemort had claimed as his residence. He went down the hallway towards the open doors at the end, light spilling out of the room as though fleeing the evil that had resided there.
He entered the room and dropped to his knee, waiting for Voldemort to motion him up. The man did indeed look wasted and weak, as Malfoy had said in his letter. There was something else different about him, but Snape could not place it right away. He pondered this as he rose when signaled. He moved aside and allowed other Death Eaters to enter. He did not have to wait long for Malfoy and his followers to appear. They all bowed and dropped to a knee as needed, but Snape could tell that they were not happy at being summoned, just as they had prepared themselves to attack another Muggle village. Malfoy rose when motioned to, and took his place next to Snape. Other Death Eaters entering the room distracted Voldemort's attention, allowing Malfoy to speak to Snape.
"I missed your answer, Severus." He said in a whisper.
"It must have slipped my mind, what with all of the students I have and trying to keep my dungeons in one piece." Snape answered behind his hand, watching Voldemort for his inattention, waiting for the time he could kill him. It had to be tonight, and there might be more than one murder if Lucius didn't desist in his stupidity. Severus prepared himself for the inevitable, for Malfoy would continue on until stopped, this much he knew from his days at school with the blond man. Voldemort raised himself to his feet, assisted by a Death Eater that Snape did not recognize. He thought that he knew all of them and how they moved. But now, there was one that Snape did not recognize at all. He gritted his teeth and wondered who it could be and how he did not know him.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why I called you here tonight. Perhaps some of you anticipate a Muggle attack, or even a new plan revealed." Nods of assent ran around the circle. Many Death Eaters had been looking for the Muggle prisoners as they had come in. "I regret to inform you that that is not the case. I have summoned you all here on much more important business." He told them. Few reacted. Doing so could mean death, and few wanted to risk it. "There is a traitor in our midst." Snape froze and tried to keep his breathing in order. They knew! He began to look for a way out beneath his mask, knowing very well that there was only one way in and out of this room. He wondered momentarily about Dumbledore and how he would explain his disappearance, and then who would take over his classes. Snape wondered if this was how everyone thought when he or she was about to lose his or her lives. "Malfoy!" Snape jumped and turned to Malfoy, backing up in apparent disgust. So the Dark Lord knew. He wondered how. Snape stole a look at Voldemort, and the Death Eater hovering at his side. Who in the world was that?
"Yes, my Lord?" Malfoy said, bowing to the Dark Lord.
"You are traitorous to me, and to your fellow Death Eaters. I know that you have been making attacks on Muggle settlements and using my Mark as your own." Voldemort paused. "How to punish you?" Voldemort wondered. Snape silently cheered for at least the Imperius Curse, wondering what Malfoy looked like doing cartwheels and back flips. Or maybe the Crutacius, considering how many times Malfoy had used the curse on Severus for the Dark Lord, to prove Severus's loyalty. Malfoy stood there still. Voldemort glared about the room, taking a survey of the people standing there. "Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Lestrange, McNair, join your leader." He barked, knowing who had joined Malfoy and who had not. Snape wondered how he knew and then pushed the thought out of his mind. At least his own name hadn't been called. Malfoy looked to his left and then right, catching the eyes of his followers. They were ready.
Malfoy took a step forward, he and his followers pulling their wands out at the same time. They spoke together, "Avada."
"Expelliarmus!" a shout came from the side of Voldemort. It was the strange Death Eater, Snape noticed with surprise. That wand looked familiar. The man deftly caught all of the wands and presented them to Voldemort. Malfoy raised his walking stick. The Death Eater turned and eyed him. The Death Eater knew he had a wand concealed there! "Stupefy!" he said, throwing the curse at him as only an expert could. Snape wondered who this person could be again as Malfoy fell to the floor. The Death Eater kept his wand trained on the others in front of him, focused on the group.
"Expelliarmus!" came from behind Snape. It seemed that Malfoy had smuggled a follower of his in that Voldemort. The wand flew out of the mysterious Death Eater's hands. He regarded the others as Lestrange pulled out another wand. Snape was surprised. Few wizards kept two wands. Lestrange pulled off her mask as she pointed the wand at her opponent.
"Avada Kedavra!" she said gleefully, throwing the Unforgivable at the Death Eater. He dodged easily and raised a hand.
"Expelliarmus!" Lestrange dodged and faced him again.
"Stupefy!" Snape watched as the Death Eater raised a hand and deflected the curse! Snape did not know of any other wizard who could actually accomplish such a feat. It was supposed to be impossible.
"Serpensoria!" He said, waving his hand. A snake appeared in front of Lestrange. Snape ran through what he knew about snakes. This wasn't right. It did not look like any snake that Snape had ever seen. The Death Eater said something to the snake in a language. Parseltongue! Murmurs around the group sounded. The only parseltongue they all knew of was their Lord, and here was another one standing next to him. Another command from the Death Eater found the snake wrapped around Lestrange's foot, sinking its teeth into her leg. Another hissed command led the snake to attack the others. Snape had to admit, the idea was rather good. Use a snake to do your work for you.
After all of Malfoy's followers had fallen, the snake bit Malfoy himself, and then slithered up to the Death Eater standing next to Voldemort and bowed. A hissed command sent the snake into the crowd. Snape was pushed aside as a Death Eater made for the door. It appeared that the other traitor had given himself away. The snake and the other Death Eaters were too quick for him, though. He was bitten and fell to the floor. "Let this all be a lesson to you as I give you my final command." Snape looked up. His final command?
"I have decided to disband this group. I know many of you returned to me out of fear of retribution." Voldemort told the group. "I am old and have no wish to spend the rest of my days bathing myself in Muggle blood. If anyone dislikes this order, I will send my friend here to see you." He said, putting his hand on the unknown Death Eater's shoulder. "This group and its functions are disbanded. I know many of you have families now. Go home to them and raise them. Cease attacks on Muggles. This is my last command." The snake had slithered its way up to the shoulder of the Death Eater and hissed menacingly from there. Some of the Death Eaters bowed their way out of the room, while others just left, leaving their masks and robes behind them. The unknown Death Eater stayed by his master's side, not moving.
"Snape." Voldemort said as Severus hit the door. "I was wondering if you could stay. I have need of your talents." Voldemort said. Snape bowed.
"At your service, my Lord." Voldemort smiled.
"No, Severus, I am afraid that you have not been at my service in a long time, spying for the Light. Not that I care." Snape had frozen at the sound of his first name being pronounced by Voldemort, but the Dark Lord admitting that he knew Severus was a spy was too much for him. He couldn't even talk. Death was coming, probably in the form of a snakebite like the others had received.
"I was wondering if you still carried that poison antidote with you?" Voldemort said. Snape managed to nod. He checked the door and found a Death Eater guarding it. "Could you use it to revive our friends on the floor, please?" Snape's eyes grew wide. Voldemort was acting human! Snape found it hard to believe.
"They are not dead?" He asked, moving to the first person. Voldemort shook his head.
"No. Michael here was able to formulate a special poison for his snake that he conjured." Voldemort told Snape, motioning towards the other Death Eater who had now taken a seat next to Voldemort's chair, playing with the snake the way a child would. Snape nodded at the information and poured some potion down the throat of one before moving to another. He figured that if he could talk to an animal and no one understood him, he would play with that animal too.
He moved to the unknown Death Eater and pulled off the hood. Draco! The Death Eater identified as Michael gasped at the same time as Snape. Well, he was obviously surprised to see a child. Snape rolled Draco over and uncorked another vial. He opened Draco's mouth and poured it in. "I'll take him back to the school with me, if you wish to release him, my Lord." Snape said.
"Stop with the 'my Lord's, Severus. I can't stand it. They are all free to go as soon as they can stand on their own." Voldemort said. Michael looked up to Voldemort and whispered something. "Ah, yes. Michael reminded me to tell you that your life is not in any danger, Severus. In fact, your Dark Mark should be gone now." Snape stared at him, moving his sleeve up when motioned to do so. The Dark Mark was gone. Severus looked up.
"I meant it when I said the group was disbanded. It is. No more Death Eaters." Voldemort said. Snape stared at his arm in shock. He was free. Really free. His eyes started to tear up. He didn't want to cry. He never cried! He blinked them back and looked back to Voldemort. "Thank you." He said sincerely to the man sitting there.
The man nodded. "Thank you for stopping me on many attacks, Severus. Without you, many people, more than already dead, would have lost their lives." The man actually looked regretful at the loss of life. The Death Eater that had been called Michael raised a hand and took Voldemort's. Snape shivered a little. He was even more surprised when Voldemort reached down a hand and knocked back the hood. The man ruffled the boy's, for that is what had beneath that robe, hair until it no longer had a hairstyle. Snape studied the boy as he lifted Draco with a spell. Blinding blue eyes, long black hair, very pale face, and a scar on his forehead. An unfamiliar scar. "Michael, put your snake away. We don't want anyone else getting bitten." Michael looked up at Voldemort.
"Okay, Uncle Tom." The boy said, waving a hand. The snake disappeared without a word and without a trace. A screech from somewhere in the house was heard as Snape started to maneuver Draco towards the door.
"Michael?" Voldemort said. A very upset house elf appeared in front of the pair, holding the snake out at arm's length.
"Master, he did it again. Nellie has said over and over that Master's nephew should not be having a snake for a pet." Michael reached out and took the snake from her, listening to her rant and rave with a smile. "Just make sure that the snake does not appear in Nellie's kitchen, or we will have snake stew." Snape laughed as the elf disappeared.
"Your nephew?" Snape said, motioning towards Michael.
"Yes, the scamp came to me earlier this summer and has been here ever since. Brightened this house a bit. Never knew the other side could have magic as well, but it appears that Michael is able. Trained him myself." Voldemort said with pride. "And not the dark arts, either. He is all Light and brought me to it." Snape raised an eyebrow and turned towards the boy.
"Then the entire wizarding world thanks you." Snape said. "Why have you not sent him to Hogwarts?" Snape questioned.
"Circumstances." Voldemort said cryptically. "He has done very well here, and is almost ready for his N.E.W.T.S." The boy let out a shudder. The other Death Eater that had been guarding the door moved aside.
"Tom, I think that Michael needs to go rest." Michael sighed.
"Pick on the little guy." The child grumbled.
"The little guy who did the work of a full-grown wizard." 'Tom' said. He motioned towards the door. "Go on, you have a game tonight." Michael nodded and started towards the door. Snape stopped him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Michael." An odd smile played about the boy's face as he shook the professor's hand. Michael disappeared up the stairs as Snape left, heaving a sigh of relief.
"Oh, Severus." Snape turned to find Voldemort coming up to him. "I just wanted to let you know that if you see strange behavior coming from that child, do not be alarmed. The potion that Michael used as the snake's poison stays in the body. It acts a deterrent. Michael said something about 'shock therapy' for Muggle abuse." With those words, Voldemort disappeared into the house. Snape stared at it, took in the town surrounding it, and then Apparated back to Hogwarts.
Snape appeared outside the wards of Hogwarts and walked back to the castle, leading Draco with his wand. What had happened? How had it happened? He started at his now bare left forearm, wondering if it were all a cruel trick and Voldemort had been using it to find out who was faithful and who was not. Snape shook his head and entered the castle, taking Draco to the hospital wing. Pomfrey questioned what had happened, and Severus smirked at her. "Snake bite. He's already had an antidote." With those words, he left the hospital wing and went up to Dumbledore's office, rolling up his sleeve as he went. Albus had to see it.
"Severus?" Dumbledore said the minute the Potions professor appeared in the doorway. "Are you all right?" Snape nodded and sank into the chair opposite from the headmaster and held up his arm for the man to see. Dumbledore stared at it for a full ten seconds. "Is he dead?" The man asked. Snape shook his head.
"No. He said that he has disbanded the Death Eaters. The group is no longer active." Dumbledore stared at him.
"Please, Severus, tell me the whole story, from the beginning." Albus said, ordering tea for the pair of them. He pushed a cup into Severus's hand and motioned for him to drink and begin his tale.
"When I arrived, there was the usual bowing and scraping to him. He stood and mentioned something about a traitor. I thought that I was done, Albus, that he had finally caught me. Instead, it was Malfoy and his followers. Voldemort called them all out and exposed them. When they tried to attack, a Death Eater that I had not seen before stepped out and defended Voldemort. When he was hit with a disarming spell, he continued using magic without a wand." Albus sat up at that.
"Did he, Severus?" he questioned. Snape nodded and went back to his story, talking about the snake and the special potion substituted for poison in the fang and "shock therapy" about abusing Muggles.
"Apparently, the boy's name is Michael, Voldemort's nephew. I did not recognize this boy, Albus, but he was very skilled at dueling and potions, from what I have seen. Voldemort said that this nephew led him to the Light." Snape finished and looked at Albus. The man's face made Snape's lips twitch. The twitch changed into a smile, then a small snort, and finally a full-blown laugh. Albus looked up at him.
"Severus, what is it?" Dumbledore asked, wondering what this man's mirth was all about.
"I'm free, Albus. Free." Snape continued laughing for a few minutes, Albus joining him when the laughter started to become contagious. "Free." He whispered to himself. He had that boy to thank. He settled back into his chair and snagged a biscuit from the tray and savored the flavor. Free.
Three weeks later.
Harry thundered down the stairs, somehow managing to pull on one of shoes while continuing downwards movement. Tom marveled at the talent required for such a feat. Harry was back to being Harry, looking just like he had for years, except for his hair, which the boy had decided he liked long during his masquerade, so much so that he wanted to grow it out. He even employed a hair-growing potion that he had found in a book. The result was hair down to his shoulders. Tom didn't mind as long as it didn't get in his way during a Potions lesson. Harry dropped his bag at the foot of the stairs and went down the hallway to the kitchen, where Nellie had prepared a water bottle for the game.
It was the championship game, and Harry and Matthew had finally convinced Tom to go to a game. Matthew had found suitable Muggle clothes for Tom and Harry roundly approved. Tom figured that his young charge just wanted another person to cheer for him at the game and would stoop to flattery to get it. A smile appeared on his face when he heard Harry and Nellie arguing over Harry eating something before he left for his game. It sounded like Nellie was winning. Harry reappeared carrying his water bottle and an apple. "Not a word." He grumbled to Tom. Tom smiled and shook his head, not wanting to say anything to incur the boy's wrath, remembering the last time. Harry had slipped both he and Matthew something that caused the two men to speak in girls' voices for at least an hour. It had been over whether or not Harry could set his own bedtime. Tom had learned then that Harry was fiercely independent and not much of a child.
Matthew clumped down the stairs, decked head to toe in green and silver, in support of Harry's team, trying to match Harry's uniform as much as possible. Harry and Tom stared at the man, whose hat was currently blinking threatening messages to the other team. Harry recovered first. "Lose the hat and anything else magicked. We're going to a Muggle football match, not a Quidditch game." Matthew laughed and threw off the hat, coming down the rest of the stairs to stand next to his "little brother".
"Are we ready?" he asked, trying to mess up Harry's longer hair.
"Yes. Do you swear that you have nothing else magical on you?" Harry questioned. Matthew nodded.
"Just my wand and yours." Matthew told him, pointing to his sleeves on either arm. Tom carried his own wand. "I know, we don't need 'em, but just in case." He said, throwing an arm. "Let's get to your game before your coach has a heart attack from tension. He can't play without his goalie." Harry smiled as Matthew tore the headband off Harry's head. Harry grabbed it back as he threw his gym bag onto his shoulder and followed the two men out the door.
"Riddle, do you enjoy scaring me?" the coach demanded as Harry and company came up to the field. "The other team just got here and already mentioned the word 'forfeit'. Get out there!" Harry adjusted the his headband that hid his scar and ran out onto the field, taking his place in the goal. He pulled his hair back with another band and readied himself. His team lined up for goal practice. Harry grinned. It was like catching Bludgers. The opposing team saw his grin right before his team starting shooting balls his way. Several members of that team stopped their own practice to watch as Harry jumped, dove, and caught almost every single ball hit his way. The only times he missed was when there was more than one ball entering the goal at the same time.
"You're slow today, Riddle!" the coach shouted from the sidelines. Tom fingered his wand before Matthew stopped him.
"Did you see the other team?" He asked. Tom turned and looked at the other team, who was currently standing and staring at Harry's fast reflexes. "The coach will usually work Harry out hard during practice, allowing the other team to see how good he is. They are now afraid of him. Intimidation is part of the game." Matthew told him. Tom smiled as the other team drew back a bit and started whispering to themselves when Harry finally managed to block two at one, using hand and foot behind the balls. Tom nodded his approval, settling in to watch the game. He found it was very close to Quidditch, the positions and the actions almost the same, but not quite. Matthew explained as they went along.
The game ended with a tie. A shoot-out was set up. Harry's team got to kick first and scored only one goal. The other team, bright orange, lined up for their three shots. Harry grinned at the first boy, who faltered and kicked wide. Tom laughed to himself, knowing what Harry had done. The second was a girl. She kicked well, but Harry blocked it. The third was a boy, and he seemed confident that he would get the ball in. He kicked. Harry tracked the ball as it went up in an arc and started down. He placed himself in front of it and hit at it with his right hand. The ball soared away from the goal, causing Harry's coach to fall to his knees in thanks. Tom and Matthew cheered along with the rest of the crowd while Harry stretched out the hand he had abused. The kicker moved forward to congratulate Harry on an excellent block.
Harry pulled off his headband and stretched out his hand. That last block had hurt. He hoped that he didn't break anything. The last thing he wanted was a bone-knitting potion. Bleech! He looked up at the kicker. It was Seamus Finnegan from Hogwarts! Harry hoped that his long hair would throw off the boy and kept his head down. He held out his hand and shook the other's. "That was an excellent block!" The boy complimented. He squeezed Harry's hand too hard, causing Harry to suck in breath and raise his head. "I couldn't believe that.Harry?" Seamus froze, still holding onto Harry's hand with an even harder grip than before. "Harry Potter, is that you?" He questioned.
"You must be mistaking me for someone else." Harry told him, trying to get his hand back. "My name is Michael, Michael Riddle." He pulled his hand from Seamus's grasp and shook it out a bit. "It was nice to meet you, though. Nice kick."
"Riddle! Get in here so I can hug you, you beautiful goalie you! What a save!" Coach Cooper screamed from the sidelines where the rest of the team was currently celebrating. Harry started to move forward when Seamus grabbed him and lifted the long hair out of his way. There, on Harry's forehead, was the damning scar that could identify him to the wizarding world.
"You are Harry!" Seamus shouted.
From the stands, Matthew and Tom watched the scene unfold. When the other boy had shouted Harry's name, both men leapt to their feet and started onto the field. Matthew reached Harry first.
"Let go of me! My name is Michael!" Harry insisted, pulling out of the boy's grasp. Matthew put a hand on Harry's shoulder
"Is your hand hurt, Michael?" He asked, putting himself between the two boys. Seamus looked at Matthew suspiciously.
"You're that man from Diagon Alley." Seamus said as Tom came up. Tom fingered his wand through his sleeve, wanting to hex the boy into next week.
"Dia what?" Matthew asked absent-mindedly as he looked at Michael's hand. "This looks hurt, Michael. Let's go have Coach Cooper look at it." He put an arm around Michael, protecting him from the other child wizard playing a Muggle game. When Michael was presented to the coach, the man took his time looking at the injury. Seamus, in the meantime, had gone over to his parents and told them of his suspicions about Michael Riddle being Harry Potter.
"He's got the scar, Mum. And that man there is the same one who had him in Diagon Alley!" Seamus looked over at Harry. "His hair is longer. That's the only thing that changed." He watched as the two men, one whom Harry had addressed as "Uncle Tom", led the boy away. Seamus's mother watched the blatant care the two men gave the boy's injured hand.
"Write your headmaster when we get home and explain what you have seen. It may be that you made a mistake, but if not, you have found someone who has disappeared." She told him. Seamus nodded and made sure that he knew how to spell the name of the town correctly, already starting a letter in the car on the way home. He posted it as soon as he could and received a reply a few hours later. The reply consisted of seven words and a signature.
Someone is on their way to investigate.
Dumbledore
Snape Apparated into a graveyard. He looked around with a slight sneer, wondering why in the world Voldemort had them Apparating into the graveyard. He shrugged and headed towards the house where he had seen another Death Eater enter as he had Apparated into the yard. The house was well kept and neat, making Snape wonder exactly who was taking care of the house that Voldemort had claimed as his residence. He went down the hallway towards the open doors at the end, light spilling out of the room as though fleeing the evil that had resided there.
He entered the room and dropped to his knee, waiting for Voldemort to motion him up. The man did indeed look wasted and weak, as Malfoy had said in his letter. There was something else different about him, but Snape could not place it right away. He pondered this as he rose when signaled. He moved aside and allowed other Death Eaters to enter. He did not have to wait long for Malfoy and his followers to appear. They all bowed and dropped to a knee as needed, but Snape could tell that they were not happy at being summoned, just as they had prepared themselves to attack another Muggle village. Malfoy rose when motioned to, and took his place next to Snape. Other Death Eaters entering the room distracted Voldemort's attention, allowing Malfoy to speak to Snape.
"I missed your answer, Severus." He said in a whisper.
"It must have slipped my mind, what with all of the students I have and trying to keep my dungeons in one piece." Snape answered behind his hand, watching Voldemort for his inattention, waiting for the time he could kill him. It had to be tonight, and there might be more than one murder if Lucius didn't desist in his stupidity. Severus prepared himself for the inevitable, for Malfoy would continue on until stopped, this much he knew from his days at school with the blond man. Voldemort raised himself to his feet, assisted by a Death Eater that Snape did not recognize. He thought that he knew all of them and how they moved. But now, there was one that Snape did not recognize at all. He gritted his teeth and wondered who it could be and how he did not know him.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why I called you here tonight. Perhaps some of you anticipate a Muggle attack, or even a new plan revealed." Nods of assent ran around the circle. Many Death Eaters had been looking for the Muggle prisoners as they had come in. "I regret to inform you that that is not the case. I have summoned you all here on much more important business." He told them. Few reacted. Doing so could mean death, and few wanted to risk it. "There is a traitor in our midst." Snape froze and tried to keep his breathing in order. They knew! He began to look for a way out beneath his mask, knowing very well that there was only one way in and out of this room. He wondered momentarily about Dumbledore and how he would explain his disappearance, and then who would take over his classes. Snape wondered if this was how everyone thought when he or she was about to lose his or her lives. "Malfoy!" Snape jumped and turned to Malfoy, backing up in apparent disgust. So the Dark Lord knew. He wondered how. Snape stole a look at Voldemort, and the Death Eater hovering at his side. Who in the world was that?
"Yes, my Lord?" Malfoy said, bowing to the Dark Lord.
"You are traitorous to me, and to your fellow Death Eaters. I know that you have been making attacks on Muggle settlements and using my Mark as your own." Voldemort paused. "How to punish you?" Voldemort wondered. Snape silently cheered for at least the Imperius Curse, wondering what Malfoy looked like doing cartwheels and back flips. Or maybe the Crutacius, considering how many times Malfoy had used the curse on Severus for the Dark Lord, to prove Severus's loyalty. Malfoy stood there still. Voldemort glared about the room, taking a survey of the people standing there. "Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Lestrange, McNair, join your leader." He barked, knowing who had joined Malfoy and who had not. Snape wondered how he knew and then pushed the thought out of his mind. At least his own name hadn't been called. Malfoy looked to his left and then right, catching the eyes of his followers. They were ready.
Malfoy took a step forward, he and his followers pulling their wands out at the same time. They spoke together, "Avada."
"Expelliarmus!" a shout came from the side of Voldemort. It was the strange Death Eater, Snape noticed with surprise. That wand looked familiar. The man deftly caught all of the wands and presented them to Voldemort. Malfoy raised his walking stick. The Death Eater turned and eyed him. The Death Eater knew he had a wand concealed there! "Stupefy!" he said, throwing the curse at him as only an expert could. Snape wondered who this person could be again as Malfoy fell to the floor. The Death Eater kept his wand trained on the others in front of him, focused on the group.
"Expelliarmus!" came from behind Snape. It seemed that Malfoy had smuggled a follower of his in that Voldemort. The wand flew out of the mysterious Death Eater's hands. He regarded the others as Lestrange pulled out another wand. Snape was surprised. Few wizards kept two wands. Lestrange pulled off her mask as she pointed the wand at her opponent.
"Avada Kedavra!" she said gleefully, throwing the Unforgivable at the Death Eater. He dodged easily and raised a hand.
"Expelliarmus!" Lestrange dodged and faced him again.
"Stupefy!" Snape watched as the Death Eater raised a hand and deflected the curse! Snape did not know of any other wizard who could actually accomplish such a feat. It was supposed to be impossible.
"Serpensoria!" He said, waving his hand. A snake appeared in front of Lestrange. Snape ran through what he knew about snakes. This wasn't right. It did not look like any snake that Snape had ever seen. The Death Eater said something to the snake in a language. Parseltongue! Murmurs around the group sounded. The only parseltongue they all knew of was their Lord, and here was another one standing next to him. Another command from the Death Eater found the snake wrapped around Lestrange's foot, sinking its teeth into her leg. Another hissed command led the snake to attack the others. Snape had to admit, the idea was rather good. Use a snake to do your work for you.
After all of Malfoy's followers had fallen, the snake bit Malfoy himself, and then slithered up to the Death Eater standing next to Voldemort and bowed. A hissed command sent the snake into the crowd. Snape was pushed aside as a Death Eater made for the door. It appeared that the other traitor had given himself away. The snake and the other Death Eaters were too quick for him, though. He was bitten and fell to the floor. "Let this all be a lesson to you as I give you my final command." Snape looked up. His final command?
"I have decided to disband this group. I know many of you returned to me out of fear of retribution." Voldemort told the group. "I am old and have no wish to spend the rest of my days bathing myself in Muggle blood. If anyone dislikes this order, I will send my friend here to see you." He said, putting his hand on the unknown Death Eater's shoulder. "This group and its functions are disbanded. I know many of you have families now. Go home to them and raise them. Cease attacks on Muggles. This is my last command." The snake had slithered its way up to the shoulder of the Death Eater and hissed menacingly from there. Some of the Death Eaters bowed their way out of the room, while others just left, leaving their masks and robes behind them. The unknown Death Eater stayed by his master's side, not moving.
"Snape." Voldemort said as Severus hit the door. "I was wondering if you could stay. I have need of your talents." Voldemort said. Snape bowed.
"At your service, my Lord." Voldemort smiled.
"No, Severus, I am afraid that you have not been at my service in a long time, spying for the Light. Not that I care." Snape had frozen at the sound of his first name being pronounced by Voldemort, but the Dark Lord admitting that he knew Severus was a spy was too much for him. He couldn't even talk. Death was coming, probably in the form of a snakebite like the others had received.
"I was wondering if you still carried that poison antidote with you?" Voldemort said. Snape managed to nod. He checked the door and found a Death Eater guarding it. "Could you use it to revive our friends on the floor, please?" Snape's eyes grew wide. Voldemort was acting human! Snape found it hard to believe.
"They are not dead?" He asked, moving to the first person. Voldemort shook his head.
"No. Michael here was able to formulate a special poison for his snake that he conjured." Voldemort told Snape, motioning towards the other Death Eater who had now taken a seat next to Voldemort's chair, playing with the snake the way a child would. Snape nodded at the information and poured some potion down the throat of one before moving to another. He figured that if he could talk to an animal and no one understood him, he would play with that animal too.
He moved to the unknown Death Eater and pulled off the hood. Draco! The Death Eater identified as Michael gasped at the same time as Snape. Well, he was obviously surprised to see a child. Snape rolled Draco over and uncorked another vial. He opened Draco's mouth and poured it in. "I'll take him back to the school with me, if you wish to release him, my Lord." Snape said.
"Stop with the 'my Lord's, Severus. I can't stand it. They are all free to go as soon as they can stand on their own." Voldemort said. Michael looked up to Voldemort and whispered something. "Ah, yes. Michael reminded me to tell you that your life is not in any danger, Severus. In fact, your Dark Mark should be gone now." Snape stared at him, moving his sleeve up when motioned to do so. The Dark Mark was gone. Severus looked up.
"I meant it when I said the group was disbanded. It is. No more Death Eaters." Voldemort said. Snape stared at his arm in shock. He was free. Really free. His eyes started to tear up. He didn't want to cry. He never cried! He blinked them back and looked back to Voldemort. "Thank you." He said sincerely to the man sitting there.
The man nodded. "Thank you for stopping me on many attacks, Severus. Without you, many people, more than already dead, would have lost their lives." The man actually looked regretful at the loss of life. The Death Eater that had been called Michael raised a hand and took Voldemort's. Snape shivered a little. He was even more surprised when Voldemort reached down a hand and knocked back the hood. The man ruffled the boy's, for that is what had beneath that robe, hair until it no longer had a hairstyle. Snape studied the boy as he lifted Draco with a spell. Blinding blue eyes, long black hair, very pale face, and a scar on his forehead. An unfamiliar scar. "Michael, put your snake away. We don't want anyone else getting bitten." Michael looked up at Voldemort.
"Okay, Uncle Tom." The boy said, waving a hand. The snake disappeared without a word and without a trace. A screech from somewhere in the house was heard as Snape started to maneuver Draco towards the door.
"Michael?" Voldemort said. A very upset house elf appeared in front of the pair, holding the snake out at arm's length.
"Master, he did it again. Nellie has said over and over that Master's nephew should not be having a snake for a pet." Michael reached out and took the snake from her, listening to her rant and rave with a smile. "Just make sure that the snake does not appear in Nellie's kitchen, or we will have snake stew." Snape laughed as the elf disappeared.
"Your nephew?" Snape said, motioning towards Michael.
"Yes, the scamp came to me earlier this summer and has been here ever since. Brightened this house a bit. Never knew the other side could have magic as well, but it appears that Michael is able. Trained him myself." Voldemort said with pride. "And not the dark arts, either. He is all Light and brought me to it." Snape raised an eyebrow and turned towards the boy.
"Then the entire wizarding world thanks you." Snape said. "Why have you not sent him to Hogwarts?" Snape questioned.
"Circumstances." Voldemort said cryptically. "He has done very well here, and is almost ready for his N.E.W.T.S." The boy let out a shudder. The other Death Eater that had been guarding the door moved aside.
"Tom, I think that Michael needs to go rest." Michael sighed.
"Pick on the little guy." The child grumbled.
"The little guy who did the work of a full-grown wizard." 'Tom' said. He motioned towards the door. "Go on, you have a game tonight." Michael nodded and started towards the door. Snape stopped him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Michael." An odd smile played about the boy's face as he shook the professor's hand. Michael disappeared up the stairs as Snape left, heaving a sigh of relief.
"Oh, Severus." Snape turned to find Voldemort coming up to him. "I just wanted to let you know that if you see strange behavior coming from that child, do not be alarmed. The potion that Michael used as the snake's poison stays in the body. It acts a deterrent. Michael said something about 'shock therapy' for Muggle abuse." With those words, Voldemort disappeared into the house. Snape stared at it, took in the town surrounding it, and then Apparated back to Hogwarts.
Snape appeared outside the wards of Hogwarts and walked back to the castle, leading Draco with his wand. What had happened? How had it happened? He started at his now bare left forearm, wondering if it were all a cruel trick and Voldemort had been using it to find out who was faithful and who was not. Snape shook his head and entered the castle, taking Draco to the hospital wing. Pomfrey questioned what had happened, and Severus smirked at her. "Snake bite. He's already had an antidote." With those words, he left the hospital wing and went up to Dumbledore's office, rolling up his sleeve as he went. Albus had to see it.
"Severus?" Dumbledore said the minute the Potions professor appeared in the doorway. "Are you all right?" Snape nodded and sank into the chair opposite from the headmaster and held up his arm for the man to see. Dumbledore stared at it for a full ten seconds. "Is he dead?" The man asked. Snape shook his head.
"No. He said that he has disbanded the Death Eaters. The group is no longer active." Dumbledore stared at him.
"Please, Severus, tell me the whole story, from the beginning." Albus said, ordering tea for the pair of them. He pushed a cup into Severus's hand and motioned for him to drink and begin his tale.
"When I arrived, there was the usual bowing and scraping to him. He stood and mentioned something about a traitor. I thought that I was done, Albus, that he had finally caught me. Instead, it was Malfoy and his followers. Voldemort called them all out and exposed them. When they tried to attack, a Death Eater that I had not seen before stepped out and defended Voldemort. When he was hit with a disarming spell, he continued using magic without a wand." Albus sat up at that.
"Did he, Severus?" he questioned. Snape nodded and went back to his story, talking about the snake and the special potion substituted for poison in the fang and "shock therapy" about abusing Muggles.
"Apparently, the boy's name is Michael, Voldemort's nephew. I did not recognize this boy, Albus, but he was very skilled at dueling and potions, from what I have seen. Voldemort said that this nephew led him to the Light." Snape finished and looked at Albus. The man's face made Snape's lips twitch. The twitch changed into a smile, then a small snort, and finally a full-blown laugh. Albus looked up at him.
"Severus, what is it?" Dumbledore asked, wondering what this man's mirth was all about.
"I'm free, Albus. Free." Snape continued laughing for a few minutes, Albus joining him when the laughter started to become contagious. "Free." He whispered to himself. He had that boy to thank. He settled back into his chair and snagged a biscuit from the tray and savored the flavor. Free.
Three weeks later.
Harry thundered down the stairs, somehow managing to pull on one of shoes while continuing downwards movement. Tom marveled at the talent required for such a feat. Harry was back to being Harry, looking just like he had for years, except for his hair, which the boy had decided he liked long during his masquerade, so much so that he wanted to grow it out. He even employed a hair-growing potion that he had found in a book. The result was hair down to his shoulders. Tom didn't mind as long as it didn't get in his way during a Potions lesson. Harry dropped his bag at the foot of the stairs and went down the hallway to the kitchen, where Nellie had prepared a water bottle for the game.
It was the championship game, and Harry and Matthew had finally convinced Tom to go to a game. Matthew had found suitable Muggle clothes for Tom and Harry roundly approved. Tom figured that his young charge just wanted another person to cheer for him at the game and would stoop to flattery to get it. A smile appeared on his face when he heard Harry and Nellie arguing over Harry eating something before he left for his game. It sounded like Nellie was winning. Harry reappeared carrying his water bottle and an apple. "Not a word." He grumbled to Tom. Tom smiled and shook his head, not wanting to say anything to incur the boy's wrath, remembering the last time. Harry had slipped both he and Matthew something that caused the two men to speak in girls' voices for at least an hour. It had been over whether or not Harry could set his own bedtime. Tom had learned then that Harry was fiercely independent and not much of a child.
Matthew clumped down the stairs, decked head to toe in green and silver, in support of Harry's team, trying to match Harry's uniform as much as possible. Harry and Tom stared at the man, whose hat was currently blinking threatening messages to the other team. Harry recovered first. "Lose the hat and anything else magicked. We're going to a Muggle football match, not a Quidditch game." Matthew laughed and threw off the hat, coming down the rest of the stairs to stand next to his "little brother".
"Are we ready?" he asked, trying to mess up Harry's longer hair.
"Yes. Do you swear that you have nothing else magical on you?" Harry questioned. Matthew nodded.
"Just my wand and yours." Matthew told him, pointing to his sleeves on either arm. Tom carried his own wand. "I know, we don't need 'em, but just in case." He said, throwing an arm. "Let's get to your game before your coach has a heart attack from tension. He can't play without his goalie." Harry smiled as Matthew tore the headband off Harry's head. Harry grabbed it back as he threw his gym bag onto his shoulder and followed the two men out the door.
"Riddle, do you enjoy scaring me?" the coach demanded as Harry and company came up to the field. "The other team just got here and already mentioned the word 'forfeit'. Get out there!" Harry adjusted the his headband that hid his scar and ran out onto the field, taking his place in the goal. He pulled his hair back with another band and readied himself. His team lined up for goal practice. Harry grinned. It was like catching Bludgers. The opposing team saw his grin right before his team starting shooting balls his way. Several members of that team stopped their own practice to watch as Harry jumped, dove, and caught almost every single ball hit his way. The only times he missed was when there was more than one ball entering the goal at the same time.
"You're slow today, Riddle!" the coach shouted from the sidelines. Tom fingered his wand before Matthew stopped him.
"Did you see the other team?" He asked. Tom turned and looked at the other team, who was currently standing and staring at Harry's fast reflexes. "The coach will usually work Harry out hard during practice, allowing the other team to see how good he is. They are now afraid of him. Intimidation is part of the game." Matthew told him. Tom smiled as the other team drew back a bit and started whispering to themselves when Harry finally managed to block two at one, using hand and foot behind the balls. Tom nodded his approval, settling in to watch the game. He found it was very close to Quidditch, the positions and the actions almost the same, but not quite. Matthew explained as they went along.
The game ended with a tie. A shoot-out was set up. Harry's team got to kick first and scored only one goal. The other team, bright orange, lined up for their three shots. Harry grinned at the first boy, who faltered and kicked wide. Tom laughed to himself, knowing what Harry had done. The second was a girl. She kicked well, but Harry blocked it. The third was a boy, and he seemed confident that he would get the ball in. He kicked. Harry tracked the ball as it went up in an arc and started down. He placed himself in front of it and hit at it with his right hand. The ball soared away from the goal, causing Harry's coach to fall to his knees in thanks. Tom and Matthew cheered along with the rest of the crowd while Harry stretched out the hand he had abused. The kicker moved forward to congratulate Harry on an excellent block.
Harry pulled off his headband and stretched out his hand. That last block had hurt. He hoped that he didn't break anything. The last thing he wanted was a bone-knitting potion. Bleech! He looked up at the kicker. It was Seamus Finnegan from Hogwarts! Harry hoped that his long hair would throw off the boy and kept his head down. He held out his hand and shook the other's. "That was an excellent block!" The boy complimented. He squeezed Harry's hand too hard, causing Harry to suck in breath and raise his head. "I couldn't believe that.Harry?" Seamus froze, still holding onto Harry's hand with an even harder grip than before. "Harry Potter, is that you?" He questioned.
"You must be mistaking me for someone else." Harry told him, trying to get his hand back. "My name is Michael, Michael Riddle." He pulled his hand from Seamus's grasp and shook it out a bit. "It was nice to meet you, though. Nice kick."
"Riddle! Get in here so I can hug you, you beautiful goalie you! What a save!" Coach Cooper screamed from the sidelines where the rest of the team was currently celebrating. Harry started to move forward when Seamus grabbed him and lifted the long hair out of his way. There, on Harry's forehead, was the damning scar that could identify him to the wizarding world.
"You are Harry!" Seamus shouted.
From the stands, Matthew and Tom watched the scene unfold. When the other boy had shouted Harry's name, both men leapt to their feet and started onto the field. Matthew reached Harry first.
"Let go of me! My name is Michael!" Harry insisted, pulling out of the boy's grasp. Matthew put a hand on Harry's shoulder
"Is your hand hurt, Michael?" He asked, putting himself between the two boys. Seamus looked at Matthew suspiciously.
"You're that man from Diagon Alley." Seamus said as Tom came up. Tom fingered his wand through his sleeve, wanting to hex the boy into next week.
"Dia what?" Matthew asked absent-mindedly as he looked at Michael's hand. "This looks hurt, Michael. Let's go have Coach Cooper look at it." He put an arm around Michael, protecting him from the other child wizard playing a Muggle game. When Michael was presented to the coach, the man took his time looking at the injury. Seamus, in the meantime, had gone over to his parents and told them of his suspicions about Michael Riddle being Harry Potter.
"He's got the scar, Mum. And that man there is the same one who had him in Diagon Alley!" Seamus looked over at Harry. "His hair is longer. That's the only thing that changed." He watched as the two men, one whom Harry had addressed as "Uncle Tom", led the boy away. Seamus's mother watched the blatant care the two men gave the boy's injured hand.
"Write your headmaster when we get home and explain what you have seen. It may be that you made a mistake, but if not, you have found someone who has disappeared." She told him. Seamus nodded and made sure that he knew how to spell the name of the town correctly, already starting a letter in the car on the way home. He posted it as soon as he could and received a reply a few hours later. The reply consisted of seven words and a signature.
Someone is on their way to investigate.
Dumbledore