Disclaimer: I don't take credit for anything associated with Harry Potter. No financial profit is being made.
Chapter 2
A crackling fire illuminated the study in a warm golden glow, casting long shadows on its burgundy walls. A thin man sat behind a polished onyx desk, its surface shining like black liquid mercury in the light.
The man at the desk was of an undeterminable age. His jet black hair bore no sign of gray, and was indicative of a man still in his prime. His locks hung just above the nape of his neck, with shorter strands curling around his ears.
His high cheek bones and straight nose were the patrician features of a high born lord. He would have been handsome, had it not been for the sickly white pallor of his skin and the unnatural color of his irises.
His skin looked as if he hadn't seen the light of sun in years. It was as if the man was stricken with some sort of anemia. No healthy mortal could have that white of skin.
The man sat reading through several sheets of parchment, a short glass of liquid in his left hand.
A soft yet firm knock sounded from behind the room's oak door.
"Enter," the man called out, with more than a hint of a rasp in his voice. He looked up from the report he had been perusing and the firelight reflected off of his irises, their color an unnatural mixture of brown, garnet red, and crimson.
Another man entered, dressed in a black turtleneck and dark jeans. He too had long black hair, his, curling just above his shoulders. His eyes were such a dark brown, they were nearly black.
Unlike the man sitting behind the desk, this newcomer had warm toned skin. Though past his youth, he was a man who aged well. And the lines around his eyes and mouth that revealed his forty years of age were faint.
"You came quickly," the man behind the desk remarked.
The other man nodded slightly.
"I was not far away, milord."
"With you unable to perform magic while the Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix are still in hot pursuit of you for murdering Dumbledore, I expected you to take much longer,"
"Muggle transportation isn't as inefficient as some of our kind like to think," the man in the turtleneck replied.
"I suppose not. Though I am curious, how did you manage to get here so quickly?"
"I simply rented an automobile."
The man behind the desk raised a brow.
"I wasn't aware that you'd learnt how to operate an automobile, Severus,"
"It was something I learned after the incident in Godric's Hollow, milord. As a precaution to allow me to slip into the Muggle population unnoticed if the Ministry was after pursuing Death Eaters more persistently."
The man behind the desk nodded.
"Have a seat, Severus. There is something important I wish to discuss with you,"
Severus pulled out the leather chair in front of the fire and sat down.
The pale man fixed his gaze on Severus's eyes.
"Potter knows about my horcruxes, Severus. I can sense it."
"What would you have me do, milord?"
The pale man's thin lips broke into a tight smile.
"Obviously I cannot have him go gallivanting about in search of the remaining horcruxes, especially the new ones I created to replace the first few that were destroyed. I must find a way to keep him close to home."
"Not an easy task, if I may say so milord," Severus said to him.
"No. No it's certainly not. But . . ."
The man took a sip from the glass he was holding, before he continued.
"Potter does have certain attachments to a couple of his female peers, does he not?"
"Yes, milord."
"What do you think he would do if something happened to one of the chits?"
"What exactly are you thinking of?"
"Kidnapping and extortion," the pale man said with a kind devilish excitement in his tone.
"If you have one of Potter's friends, you will succeed in forcing him to comply with your demands. The idea sounds plausible," Severus told the man before him.
"I'm pleased you agree. I wanted to ask you which girl would be the most appropriate choice,"
Severus did not reply for a period of seconds.
"There are two girls Potter is close to, milord. Genevra Weasley and Hermione Granger. The Weasley girl's abduction would attract a great deal of attention at the Ministry and getting her would take a great deal of effort. Granger is a muggleborn, and though she is extremely clever, I would choose her instead as the Ministry won't respond as forcefully to her kidnapping. Getting her here wouldn't be that difficult, I don't think. Her house won't be warded, either."
"Good. I was hoping you would be able to provide a suggestion. Do you know the Granger girl lives?"
"Of course milord. I taught the girl for five years, and due to her unusual aptitude at potions I read her file just a few weeks after she started at the school."
"Excellent. Would I be going too far in assuming that you would be able to bring her here, yourself?"
Severus exhaled and briefly considered the man's question.
"I am confident I could do it. But how long are you going to give me to complete the task?"
"I want her here as promptly as possible."
"Of course, milord."
"Certainly a man of your cunning and knowledge won't need more than a week to do as I've asked?"
"No, milord. A week should be an adequate amount of time."
"Splendid," the said softly, his voice unnervingly sinister. He gave Severus a villainous grin.
"Perhaps, I can add a bit of an incentive for you to work quickly. If you can get the girl here before this time next week, you may keep her for your enjoyment," the pale man told him with a dark glint in his eyes.
Severus eyes lit up with interest.
"You'd let me use her whenever I wanted?"
"Yes. Call her a reward for getting rid of Dumbledore for me."
"You are too kind milord,"
The pale man laughed darkly.
"You may take your leave. Surely you have plans to make."
"Certainly, milord." Severus said a close-lipped smile.
He pushed back from the desk and bowed formerly to his master. The man sitting at the desk had gone back to reading and didn't watch as Severus Snape exited his personal study.
Lord Voldemort had other pressing matters to attend to.
It was dusk by the time Severus arrived at the lower middle class flat in London's wizarding quarter. He rapped smartly on the green door, hoping the flat's occupant would be at home and answer.
A minute passed and then two. Severus knocked again, this time all but banging on the door in his desperate desire to speak to the flat's owner. He waited another full minute before deciding to give up. Severus was just about to turn around and head back to the car park a block away where his black sedan sat. But a split second before he moved to turn away the door to the flat opened, to reveal the shirtless and slightly disheveled form of Remus Lupin.
There was stretch of silence before either of the men said anything.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Remus demanded in a tone that was more surprised than angry. "We agreed that you weren't going to come here,"
Severus was about to open his mouth to answer when a female voice called out from inside the flat.
"Remus, who is it?"
It was the voice of Nymphadora Tonks. Severus swallowed. Apparently he had caught the werewolf at a really bad time. But then, what else could he have done?"
"It's urgent I speak with you, Remus." Severus told him imploringly.
"I suppose you want to come in?" Remus asked.
"I think it would be best,"
Remus nodded. He held the door open for Severus to enter the flat.
"This had better be important," Remus almost growled at him.
"I assure you, Remus, it is." Severus said to him before crossing the door's threshold. "I need your help now more than ever."
A/N: Sorry for such a long wait! I know this chapter is kind of short, but I think you'll enjoy it. I'll definitely be updating monthly as I'm starting college, but I will try my hardest to update more frequently than that if I am able. Please leave a review as they are all greatly appreciated.