Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine and I - sadly enough - don't own Harry Potter. (sigh) And also part of my summary is credited to a wonderful quote by von Geothe.

Dear Readers,

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Everybody's favourite Slytherin will be in this one. :P

Enjoy. ;)

Pint of Stella.

– CHAPTER TWO –

Before the Throne

July 1, 1997

Severus Snape tried his best to keep his breathing steady and under control, while Voldemort watched him with a scrutinizing gaze. The army of Death Eaters standing around the pair looked on with curiosity, some craning their necks to get a better view. They wanted to know if the rumours were true; if Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts, was in fact, dead.

And murdered at the hand of Snape, no less.

After a moment, the Dark Lord nodded slightly from his seat at the forefront of the hall.

"Well then Severus, I am very pleased indeed."

Excited murmurs erupted throughout the room, and several Death Eaters cast astonished glances at Snape. From behind her mask, Bellatrix scowled.

The potions master bowed slightly. "Anything to serve my Lord."

Voldemort stood from his elevated throne, allowing his piercing red eyes to survey his group of followers. After sniffing the air, he acknowledged them. "Tonight, our legion has had a tremendous victory. However, it is very unfortunate that amidst this triumph, we must also address a failure."

The voices died down instantly, and silence reigned once again.

Voldemort smiled coldly. "Bring in Mr. Malfoy."

The massive doors at the side of the hall flew open, revealing a haggard-looking, ashen-faced boy, and two masked Death Eaters gripping his arms at either side. They forced him roughly into the hall, and brought him before the Dark Lord. In an instant, he fell to his knees.

"You BLOODY BACK-STABBER!" He bellowed at Snape. "You had to take all the glory for yourself, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU!"

"You should calm yourself, Draco." Replied Snape evenly. Though he was masked, Malfoy could easily imagine the man smirking at him.

"NO! You interfered! You took all the glory by killi– ARGH!" Suddenly, Draco fell to the ground, squirming, face contorted in pain. His screams echoed throughout the chamber, and the other Death Eaters cringed inwardly.

"Finite incantem." Voldemort hissed.

The curse was broken – and the young Slytherin lay still, gasping for air.

"I do not enjoy theatrics, Malfoy." The Dark Lord glared down at him, warningly rolling his wand between his fingers.

Draco looked up angrily, but said nothing. After a moment, he bowed his head, but continued determinedly, "I'm telling the truth. He barged in when I was about to kill Dumbledore. He saw what was happening and - "

"What I saw," interrupted Snape softly. "Was a boy unable to finish his task."

"How could you tell!" Cried Malfoy. "How could you tell if you just barged in and killed him! I was going to finish it! You INTERFERED!"

"The boy's lying." Shouted a voice from the crowd.

Voldemort's blood red eyes drifted from the horrified face of the young wizard to the watching Death Eaters.

"Come forward."

A Death Eater did so, stumbling slightly as he pushed through the bodies blocking his path.

"Speak, Amycus."

"I was there, my Lord." The man continued eagerly. "He couldn't do it. His arm was shaking out of control – he couldn't have aimed a proper Jelly-Legs jinx!"

Voldemort raised an eyebrow.

"You're LYING!" Draco hollered.

Snape's still figure turned to him, narrowing his eyes in warning.

Unfortunately, Draco paid him no attention. "He's lying!" He shouted. "He's doesn't know what he saw! He didn't know what was happeni- " Once again Draco fell to the ground, though trying, with all his might, not to cry out this time. He bit down on his lip hard, tears stinging at his eyes as the Cruciatus curse surged through his body.

After several moments, Voldemort again ended the curse.

"Continue." The Dark Lord drawled.

Amycus smirked triumphantly. "The brat had more than enough time. When we arrived – he had the old bastard cornered, but he didn't do anything. Too much of a coward!" He spat the final word with glee, staring down at the Slytherin boy, as if daring him to deny it.

Voldemort turned his eyes back to the Draco, who clenched his jaw tightly under the piercing gaze.

"Is this true, Malfoy?"

Without hesitation, Draco shook his head.

Voldemort sneered. "Is that so?"

"It IS true!"

Another Death Eater pushed through the crowd, and fell reverently at his feet. "I was there as well! I SAW!" It was a woman's voice this time that spoke defiantly. "He had his wand raised but didn't dare mutter the spell. He's a traitor! He deserves to be KILLED!"

Murmurs erupted throughout the hall.

"Shut up! Shut UP!" Draco shouted. "I worked tirelessly for a BLOODY year to get all of you into the castle – and you couldn't do away with ONE BLOODY STUDENT! And yet you dare insult ME!"

The murmuring increased ten-fold. There were several cries of angry protests, and arguments broke out amongst the followers.

"Quiet."

Everyone fell silent and looked expectantly up at their master.

He stared back at them with a malicious glint in his eyes. "This is a very amusing indeed." He drawled. A sudden, evil smile formed on his lips. He turned to the silent figure, standing at his side.

"What say you, Severus?"

Draco looked up in shock, and turned to his former professor, who had his white mask turned towards him intently.

After a brief hesitation, the figure bowed deeply. "I admit," he began in a low voice, "that I had not allowed Malfoy much time after I had arrived, to fulfill his ... duties. I stepped forward and almost immediately performed the Killing Curse for the sole reason that several members of Dumbledore's Order were growing dangerously close to making it to the tower. Malfoy's plan… " Here, he sneered at the young wizard, "…was so – effectively concealed – that even I were unaware of the of the situation until Potter's own friends came to beg for my help."

Draco's pulse quickened. He turned and stared at the ground anxiously while he awaited the Dark Lord's reply. It made no sense - was Snape trying to defend him?

For minutes, there was nothing but silence. Nothing - except an intense duel of the minds, between the Dark Lord and the potions master.

After a moment, Voldemort looked away and turned to the crowd of Death Eaters.

"It seems…" he began quietly. He turned to glare at Malfoy – wand twirling about in his hand. "It seems that the otherwise clear indication of whether or not you've failed your task has been – conveniently – botched by conflicting opinions within the ranks." He scowled. "As your punishment, you will be imprisoned the dungeons."

Inwardly, Draco gasped in relief. He didn't dare believe it, but somehow Snape had saved him; if only for the moment.

The crowd of Death Eaters were whispering amongst each other once again, their voices echoing throughout the hall. Amycus and Alecto, the ones who had spoken out defiantly against Malfoy turned their hateful glares at the boy.

"Quiet."

Voldemort's followers eagerly turned their attention back to the scene.

"Nott!" Their master barked authoritatively.

A large, hooded man stepped forward.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Nott – you will find Narcissa Malfoy, wherever she is hiding." He sneered at Draco. "And you will murder her."

In an instant, Draco was on his feet. Unfortunately, Snape already had his wand out, pointed threateningly at his former student. A cry of indignation was heard from Bellatrix among the crowd.

"One word, Mr. Malfoy," Voldemort sneered. "And I will see to it that Lucius dies with her."

The young Slytherin stood rigid, wearing an expression of complete and irrefutable rage. Even Snape eyed the boy cautiously, waiting to see how he would react.

However, Draco did nothing more than turn away, head hanging in defeat.

Voldemort gave a twisted, one-sided grin and gestured to Avery and Lestrange.

"Take him to the dungeons."

The Death Eaters instantly obeyed, and dragged Draco from the hall as angry tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

After the trio had departed, Voldemort signaled the dismissal of his followers from the meeting and pointed a finger at Snape, informing him to stay behind.

Speaking now loudly amongst themselves, Voldemort's servants departed, group by group. When they had gone, only Severus Snape remained, standing at Voldemort's side. The thick silence between them was impenetrable.

The Dark sat back on his throne and turned to his servant. "I have a mission of most importance for you, Severus."

Snape bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"But first – it involves a bit of a story." Voldemort paused, eyes glinting in amusement. "When Salazar Slytherin was very young, he was intrigued by his ability to communicate with a certain – creature – that was feared by the rest of his family. The serpent." He sneered. "A deadly, cunning animal, truly. There was one species, in particular, that greatly intrigued him for a better part of his childhood. Can you guess what it was?"

Snape remained silent. The formulas for various anti-venom serums played across his mind.

Voldemort continued. "The cobra. The group of deadly, venomous snakes that he idolized for their ferocity. During his youth, he became very good friends with an African prince, who understood just as much about the very creatures as he had. Together, they designed a shrine on the banks of the Red Sea to pay homage to this animal." The Dark Lord stood and began to pace around his follower.

"In my own youth, I paid the fortress a brief visit. And, up until recently, I had forgotten that I'd left something behind." He paused and turned to Snape, who stood as still as ever; eyes fixed and analytical.

"Your task as leader, is to choose a group of sixteen of my followers – and guard the fortress until I arrive. I plan to make it a new stronghold for my army."

The potions master bowed. "It shall be done."

But inwardly, Snape's mind was racing. There was more to the story than what he was being told, as far as he could tell. Yet Voldemort knew he was prying, and blocked him out easily.

Both wizards stood in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Then suddenly, Voldemort's eyes flashed dangerously, and he spoke out in a mere whisper. "I find it most endearing what you tried to pull tonight, Snape."

The potions master kept his expression forcefully blank, but his pulse tripled in panic.

Voldemort sneered. "If it weren't for your hand in Dumbledore's death, I would have punished you severely for lying to me."

Snape's mind reeled in shock. He was certain he had won earlier; the battle between of Legilimency and Occlumency. Without second thought, he doubled the walls around his mind.

"There is nothing wrong with your abilities as an Occlumens, Snape." Hissed the Dark Lord. "It is your words that are transparent. You were clearly attempting to tip the scales in Malfoy's favour. To perhaps, lessen the boy's punishment?"

Snape remained speechless, not daring to contradict him.

"Since you deem yourself capable of interfering with the boy's well-being, I will say this: fail you mission at the fortress, and young Mr. Malfoy will die. And surely, that is not what you meant to accomplish, correct?"

Voldemort stepped away sneering, and disapparated from the room without another word, leaving Snape standing alone in the empty hall.

Thank you, reviewers! I love you, I love you, I love you. (curtseys)