Bitterly Unrequited
Chapter 9 - The Assignment
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, etc. No profit is made, and so on...
A/N: This chapter is quite short, which I'm sorry about, but I have several really good chapters in the near future of this that have already been written. I'll try to hurry the story on along, I just haven't had too much writing time lately. Hope you enjoy, and as always, I appreciate reviews!
It had been nearly a month since the fiasco that incurred from Severus's Polyjuice potion plot, and Snape found himself more desperate to gain Lily's affection than ever. She herself had said that she preferred the "new James" much more than the real one, which revealed that she truly favored Snape's personality far above James'. Of course, it was all too strange and confused, and Severus knew that Lily could not soon know that it was really him.
But his mind was soon overrun with more urgent matters: the Dark Mark emblazoned on his left arm began to burn, and Severus knew that he had to go to the Death Eater's headquarters quickly. He went to Professor Slughorn immediately, explaining to him about a sick aunt who could possibly be dying. Slughorn wholeheartedly believed him, telling him that he would explain to Dumbledore, and allowed him to Floo out of the castle. Snape used Floo powder to get to the nearest fireplace in Hogsmeade, then Apparated to Voldemort's head quarters.
Lucius Malfoy was awaiting his arrival when Snape got there. "The Dark Lord wishes to speak to us, Snape," he said, a feverish light in his pale eyes. "They say he has a mission for us."
They walked together to the dark but luxurious parlor that Lord Voldemort inhabited. He sat in his large leather armchair, tall and pale. He spoke as they entered the room and knelt before him, his high, cold voice ringing. "Lucius, Severus...welcome, my most loyal Death Eaters. I have tasks for both of you, tasks that will prove crucial to our cause."
He turned and looked at Malfoy first. "Lucius, you are a master of persuasion. I have seen you at work, and your smooth tongue and convincing abilities are perfect for this mission. You are to recruit the Pureblood aristocracy to our cause, those of them that have not already joined us, anyway. All of them – the Blacks, the Prewetts, all the Pureblood families. It is essential that you get to them before Dumbledore convinces them with his dogmatic views of Mudblood and Pureblood equality.
"As for you, Severus, did I not tell you that you could serve me best at Hogwarts? You must get as close to Dumbledore as you can, and when the moment comes, you will confess and repent of your Death Eater ways...or make him believe you do. You are quite the actor, Snape, and Dumbledore's greatest weakness is his inability to see all sides of a person, including the 'bad,' as they label it. Dumbledore's a trusting old fool, and it will be more than easy for you to fool the dotard. Just put on a good show of repentance, and he will more than welcome you."
"Yes, my lord," murmured Snape softly.
"No one else will know that your repentance is not genuine, Severus, not even your fellow Death Eaters, besides Lucius, obviously. That is another reason why I'm assigning my role of spy to Dumbledore to you, Severus. You will possibly suffer persecution for 'abandoning' me by your fellow Death Eaters. But I trust your ability to defend yourself.
"Now, both of you go, and begin these tasks as soon as possible. Your work on these assignments could determine the outcome of this whole ordeal."