Disclaimer: They aren't mine. Not now…not ever. Anything recognizable belongs to JKR and Company. Anything else is simply me having a bit of fun!
A Tense Situation
~Chapter Four~
Severus Snape sat in one of the overstuffed chairs facing the Headmaster's massive ornate desk. While most would say the desk was an impressive piece of artwork, truth be known, the gilded edges were far too flashy for the Potion Master's conservative taste. And yet, somehow it seemed to suit the brocade-robed Wizard ensconced behind it. A Wizard who, at this very moment, sat with fingers tented, staring intently from a pair of vivid blue eyes that held more than a fair hint of worry. Severus, suddenly having the distinctly uncomfortable feeling of being little more than an insect under a muggle microscope, resisted the almost overpowering urge to squirm in his seat like a small boy.
"Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore offered, always ready to observe the niceties that such interactions dictated.
Snape turned his attention to the Headmaster and raised an eyebrow in an expression of disbelief. "Surely, Albus, you don't mean to tell me that you think that solidified bundle of sugar is going to assist in alleviating the seriousness of the situation before us?"
"Never discount the small things, Severus, for sometimes they bring us inspiration where before there was none," Dumbledore remarked tiredly, withdrawing his extended arm and returning the tiny dish to its rightful place.
An elegant snort and a raised eyebrow were the Potions Master's only responses to yet another one of the Headmaster's cryptic philosophical ramblings.
"And given the information I obtained from Mr. Potter earlier this afternoon, I would have to say that I don't see as to how it could hurt," Albus said, popping one of the small candy concoctions into his mouth. He allowed the object to roll across his tongue, contentedly savoring the tartness of the candy when combined with the sugary coating. Leaning back ever so slightly in his chair, the Wizard calmly noticed the manner in which Snape's eyes flashed at the mention of the celebrated youth.
"What does Potter have to do with any of this?" Severus snapped. 'If that fraud of a Witch, Trelawney, has spouted yet another prediction…'
Albus smiled at the customary acidic quality that entered the Potions Master's voice whenever Harry's name was introduced into a conversation. 'At least there is one constant in this seemingly endless chaos that envelops us.' This time however, he noticed that a tired, almost pained note underlined the familiar sarcasm. Intuitively, the Headmaster realized that his friend's unplanned meeting with the former Tom Riddle had been much more taxing than Severus would have him believe. Harry had mentioned that Snape had once again suffered under the Cruciatus and although Albus recognized, and even applauded, the Potions Master's steely resolve in such matters, he knew that continued abuse would soon exact a toll that even Snape would be unable to satisfy.
"It seems that Mr. Potter's scar began to cause him pain earlier today soon after your Gryffindor-Slytherin potions class ended," the older Wizard answered. "If memory serves me correctly, I believe that coincides with the time you were summoned."
"Potter is always experiencing delusions of pain," Snape snapped uncomfortably. "It is nothing more than mere coincidence."
"Perhaps," the Headmaster acknowledged thoughtfully. "Although I hardly call the fact that he observed the details of your summoning through Voldemort's eyes a coincidence."
The Potions Master struggled to school his facial expression into the habitual blank stare, which he so often hid his true emotions behind. 'Leave it to Potter to witness the one thing I would rather he did not,' Severus thought, thinking back to his moments under the extended Crucio. 'Oh how the meddlesome brat must have loved seeing that!'
"And I suppose he could hardly wait to inform you, in exquisite detail no less, of that which he witnessed?" Snape spat, perhaps a little more forcefully than he had intended.
"As a matter of fact, Harry seemed less than happy to share his experience with me," the Headmaster responded quietly. "In fact he seemed so reluctant to do so that I am convinced, at one point in our conversation, that he was less than truthful in regards to the scene he may have witnessed."
That tidbit of information confused the Slytherin and he quickly replayed his encounter with the Dark Lord in his mind. 'What happened that would make Potter hesitant to speak with the Headmaster? Who is the boy trying to protect?' And that's when the final piece of the puzzle snapped into place causing Snape to groan out loud. 'Of course, Potter, being the epitome of true Gryffindor heroism, would try to keep the news of Voldemort's orders to himself so as not to worry his friends. Being the loyal sidekicks he knew them to be, they were probably present during his conversation with the Headmaster.'
Severus sighed and looked at the man who sat patiently across from him "So what exactly did Potter tell you?"
"He mentioned, that for some inexplicable reason, Lord Voldemort seems to have come up with the idea that you have betrayed him and that, as a result, you were questioned repeatedly concerning your allegiance to myself and the Order while under the influence of the Cruciatus."
"Did he mention anything else?" Snape asked, wondering if Dumbledore was aware of the impending deadline to bring Harry's two best friends before Voldemort.
"He did mention that Voldemort had assigned you a task that, if carried out to his expectations, would prove your loyalty to him once and for all."
"And that is all he revealed on the matter?" Snape questioned intently, his suspicions as to the boy's motives all but confirmed.
"Yes although, given the expression on his face at the time, I'd say that your task involves either Mr. Weasley or Miss Granger."
Snape briefly nodded and almost instantly regretted the movement as a wave of dizziness swept over him. The repercussions of the past twenty-four hours were beginning to catch up with him at break-neck speed and he desired nothing more than the solitude of his dungeons. He gazed earnestly at the man sitting across from him, "Albus, we have a problem…"
/^\^/^\^/^\
A smug look of satisfaction swept over the refined features of the aristocratic man as he meticulously pulled off his gloves, one finger at a time, savoring the sensuous feel of the Kneazle fur lining as it delicately caressed his skin. He enjoyed the way the light of the fire caught the soft sheen of the black leather and the shimmering reflection of quality that exuded a subtle hypnotic power.
'Subtle,' he thought, mulling over his recent meeting with the Dark Lord. 'Yes, I must be subtle if I want to achieve my prize.'
And he very much wanted to achieve this particular prize for it would finally assure him the coveted position of Voldemort's most trusted servant. His nose wrinkled at the thought of being labeled as a servant, regardless of the context in which the word was used. However, if he wanted to succeed in obtaining his ultimate goal then he would have to temporarily overlook such annoying details in favor of the bigger picture.
Discarding the gloves as well as his finely tailored cloak and silver tipped cane on a nearby chair, he strolled casually to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. He had been surprised when Voldemort had summoned him earlier and even more surprised upon arriving to the sight of his seething Master. Not that it was unusual to encounter the Dark Lord in a state of anger, but the degree to which the creature had worked himself up to had been quite spectacular indeed. Lucius Malfoy, being the arrogant Wizard that he was, couldn't help but privately admit to being more than a little pleased with himself as he was the true reason behind his Master's ire. 'It's simply such a shame that no one will ever know the true genius behind my plan.'
It had taken months of careful plotting on the part of the patriarch of the Malfoy Family to implement the initial stages of an agenda that would all but assure him of becoming the Dark Lord's most trusted and favored advisor. He smiled to himself. Yes, he much preferred the title of 'Advisor' to that of 'Servant'. The long desired position was currently held by Severus Snape and despite Lucius' best efforts, he had thus far been unable to discredit the Potions Master and claim the honor for himself.
"Until now," he softly murmured, knowing that he would have gladly paid countless galleons for the pleasure of witnessing Snape's reaction to Voldemort's accusations. A vengeful gleam filled his eyes as he thought about the sole heir of the Snape Family. Try as he might, Lucius simply could not understand the Dark Lord's preference for the sarcastic Potions Master. After all, Severus was a Wizard that deliberately went out of his way to be unpleasant and condescending to just about everyone he met, preferring to lead a solitary life surrounded by books and cauldrons. How could his Master choose such a forbidding figure over the elegance, connections and financial status that the Malfoy family could offer? It simply made no sense.
'Soon it won't matter. I will step forward and take that which should rightfully be mine and Severus will be out of the picture completely. Let it not be said that a Malfoy does not accomplish a task once he puts his mind to it.'
It had taken much planning, many galleons and more than a few threats until Lucius was finally ready to set his plan into motion. He had searched for quite some time until he finally found the perfect person to accuse Snape of being a traitor: a person who had too much to lose should they not cooperate. It was this person that had approached Voldemort to accuse Severus of serving both Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. And although this newly found 'friend' couldn't offer specific details, the information that was given was sufficient enough to sow the seeds of doubt in the Dark Lord's mind.
"Oh, Severus, how the mighty have fallen!" Lucius laughed. "Let's see you pull yourself out of this mess, dear friend."
The Master's request had been surprising and the blond-haired man was disappointed that Snape had been given any chance at all to prove his loyalty. In Lucius' opinion, a nice painful torture session followed by the customary Avada Kedavra would have sufficed nicely. Although, if the Slytherin were actually the traitor that Lucius believed him to be then there would be no chance he would bring the meddlesome duo of Weasley and Granger before the Dark Lord. The corners of his mouth twisted with exaggerated distaste at the thought of the Weasleys. Arthur Weasley had caused him more than enough trouble in the past with his penchant for raiding Malfoy Manor in hope of finding illegal dark artifacts. The Muggle loving Wizard would never know how close he had come on more than one occasion to finding that which he so fervently sought and Lucius still bristled when he reflected on the numerous magical items he had been forced to liquidate.
Yes, it would be nice to see at least one of the Weasley's eliminated from the Wizarding World and it was certainly no great loss. Unfortunately Snape would never carry out the Master's orders. Pity really, as the demise of Hermione Granger would have been especially gratifying. The nerve of the Mudblooded wench to consistently outscore not only his son but also all of the pureblooded students in her year was unbelievable. The chit really needed to learn her place. Perhaps after Saturday, he would take it upon himself to seek her out and personally continue her education by teaching her the real role her bloodline entitled her to.
Standing up, he sat his glass down where it would be removed and cleaned by one of the numerous House-Elves owned by the Malfoy Family. It was time to check on his wife and extract a bit of a reward for his hard won victory.
/^\^/^\^/^\
"Now I see why Harry was reluctant to answer my questions while Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley were present," the Headmaster said softly, thankful that he had not tried to press the boy into further explanations.
"Yes, although it is most surprising that the boy was able to keep such news to himself," Snape jeered. "I would have imagined he would have informed Weasley and Granger immediately so that they could begin secretly making plans that would once again garner havoc throughout the castle and merely serve to place them in greater danger."
"That will be enough, Severus," Dumbledore admonished firmly, giving the Potions Master a quelling stare. "While I must admit that their plans have always been a little unorthodox, you cannot deny that they usually succeed in accomplishing what they set out to do."
"That, Headmaster, is nothing more than an exercise in sheer blind luck. Not to mention a Gryffindor penchant for stupidity in so far as not knowing when to retreat and tackle a problem from a different, more acceptable angle."
Dumbledore didn't bother to answer the Potions Master or even reply to his derogatory remarks regarding the intelligence of Gryffindors. Instead he remained quiet, obviously deep in thought as if trying to figure out the answer to a very complex riddle. "Harry didn't mention anything about a third person being in the room," he finally spoke and it was obvious that this particular piece of the mystery was bothering him greatly.
"Potter was observing the events through the Dark Lord's eyes," Snape reminded him, thinking back to the placement of every item and every person in the dimly lit room. "The person that Voldemort has claimed as his latest spy was either standing behind him or in shadow the entire time. Potter would not have seen this unless Voldemort were to have directly looked at the figure, though I am surprised that he did not sense the presence of the third person. I am certain that I remember seeing the Dark Lord glance in that direction on more than one occasion."
"Occlumency can be disorienting when utilized in such a manner," the older Wizard noted. "Perhaps this has some bearing on Harry's perceptions of how the events took place?"
"Perhaps," the Slytherin conceded grudgingly, the need for sleep threatening to override both his mind and body.
"And you have no idea as to who this person might have been?" Albus questioned, worry clearly evident on his wrinkled facial features.
"None. The person in question always lowered their head whenever I glanced their direction," Severus replied. "There was something about the gestures that seemed familiar but I have been unable to determine even the slightest of possibilities as to their identity."
"Do you think this person is a member of the Order?" Dumbledore inquired, his heart heavy with the thought that the resistance might have been betrayed by one of its most trusted members.
"I consider it to be the most likely conclusion," Snape answered honestly. "Although, I doubt they are too closely connected with the Order. That in itself may be useful."
"What makes you say that?" the Headmaster wondered, leaning forward in anticipation of his friend's reply.
"I simply base my theory on the questions directed at me by the Dark Lord. For example, he wanted to know what location the Order used for its base of operations. He seemed to accept my supposed ignorance on the topic when I insisted that you Apparated with me directly during my 'handful' of visits. Anyone closely associated with the Order would know this location and would have certainly given such information to Voldemort by now. If we could discover the identity of this traitor, perhaps we could 'leak' erroneous information back to Voldemort in the hopes of gaining a greater tactical advantage."
"I see your point," Albus agreed. "But that still leaves us with the very real and unnerving suspicion that someone whom we trust may be working against us."
"Indeed," he quietly conceded. "There is of course the more immediate matter of Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley. You do realize that my true loyalties will become public knowledge amongst Voldemort and the Death Eaters when I fail to deliver them as instructed?"
"Yes."
"Obviously they will need to be protected," Snape continued, disturbed by the peculiar expression on the Headmaster's face.
"Yes."
Severus had just about had enough for one day and the Headmaster's enigmatic answers were proving more than he could handle considering the current physical state of his body and the increased pounding between his temples. To top it off, he was going to have to sacrifice his role in the Order and very possibly his life in an effort to protect Potter's annoying friends. "Merlin's robes, Albus! What are we going to do with them?" he practically shouted, rising from his chair and placing his hands flat on the desk in front of him.
A mysterious smile settled on Dumbledore's face and Snape didn't dare imagine the nature of the thoughts currently playing through the Wizard's mind. Seconds later, the Headmaster calmly answered the Potions Master's impassioned question. "It's really quite simple, Severus. Come Saturday night, you're going to take Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to Voldemort."
/^\^/^\^/^\
TBC
Author's Note: And the plot thickens…. (ominous music plays in background G). A special thank you to Ozratbag2 for taking the time to beta this story. Her suggestions and eagle eye have truly enhanced it! I hope that you all have enjoyed this chapter and the introduction of Lucius Malfoy to the storyline. Thanks to all who have taken the time to read and a special hug to those who have left comments/reviews.
~Jules
