AN: Things are beginning to come to a head now, so this chapter has several scene changes, each scene having a different POV.
**********
Chapter Nineteen
**********
Minerva strode into his office, her face set in stern, unhappy lines.
Albus rose as she approached, his customary jovial expression all but gone. "Did you locate Sybil?"
"No," Minerva replied shortly. "She's not in the castle, Albus. What is this about?"
"Very bad things, Minerva, very bad things."
Sinking into the chair across the desk from him, Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you should fill me in?" she replied softly. "Are the children in danger? Is Sybil?"
**
Hermione wandered slowly back to Gryffindor tower. She was . . . confused. The meeting in Professor Snape's office had not gone like she'd expected at all. In fact, he too seemed bewildered by what all had happened. Of course, she couldn't be certain; she had never really understood the taciturn Professor.
He certainly hadn't seemed angry at her presumption, and the kiss to his cheek in the library had been just that, she knew very well. Quite the opposite, or so it seemed to her. He seemed uncertain what to make of it. Surprisingly, Hermione had come away from the awkward meeting seeing Professor Snape as someone more than the 'greasy potions professor', more than someone to be feared. His very uncertainty made him seem far more human than she'd ever considered before, and for the first time, Hermione was realizing that he wasn't simply the bitter potions professor they had all come to hate. No, he was much more than that. He was also a man, one with hidden feelings just like the rest of them. It was an unsettling realization.
Hermione shook her head, snorting as she approached the Gryffindor common room entrance.
"Bouncing ferret," she murmured and the portrait swung open.
It wasn't like she'd thought he was some kind of non-human before now, just that she had never really thought about it at all. He'd been someone to avoid when she could, endure when she couldn't.
"Are you alright, dear?" the fat lady asked gently.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she over looked a lot of things consciously, but certainly hadn't seemed to miss them subconsciously. She knew he was an intelligent man, despite his obvious prejudices, his skill with potions was evidence enough of that. She could even think back to demonstrations he'd given, and watching his hands as he worked; long, slender fingers, confidently, gracefully performing the precise--
"What? Oh, yes. I'm fine. Just tired."
A suspicious, "hmmm," was the only response as Hermione disappeared into the Gryffindor common room.
She didn't have time to analyze her thoughts once safely inside, however. Her two best friends descended on her instantly.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron exclaimed, nearly the instant they saw her.
"Where have you been?" Ron asked, worried.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked, equally concerned.
Hermione jumped, blinking in surprise at the sudden questions. "With the headmaster and then with Professor Snape," she replied to Ron. "And yes, I'm fine, confused, but fine."
"We heard about what happened earlier and we've been going out of our minds since!" Ron said, his words sounding frantic.
"We looked, but we couldn't find you anywhere."
**
Severus shuddered. He absolutely loathed answering summons -- for more than the obvious reasons. It required blind apparating and that was something he could do without at the best of times. It left him feeling vaguely disoriented, which was never a good thing when dealing with the dark lord.
It was dark around him, heavily forested, so even the night's moonlight wasn't reaching him.
"Lumos," he whispered, absurdly grateful for the tiny light that spell provided from the tip of his wand. Directly in front of him, a path led deeper into the trees. He snorted, rather obvious . . . if not ominous, he thought sourly. Before taking that 'obvious' route, however, he slowly turned a full circle, deliberately memorizing the details of his current location.
The clearing was blatantly bare, surrounded on all sides, but one, with trees and heavy foliage. "That answers that question," he muttered, striding forward and onto the path. A mere 50 metres later, Severus stepped off the well-worn path and into a larger, but otherwise identical clearing. This one, however, was not unoccupied.
Three people, gazes all locked on him, waited. Only one was seated. Lord Voldemort. The presence that surprised him was not Lord Voldemort, nor was it Lucius Malfoy; it was Sybil Trelawney.
**Stupid bat!** he thought viciously. **She's signed her own death warrant showing up here before the deal is done.**
Without visible hesitation, Severus strode directly toward the seated dark lord and made his obeisance, bowing low. "My Lord," he said clearly, infusing his words with as much reverence as he was capable, his mind whirling, trying to figure out what, exactly, Sybil Trelawney thought to gain by all this.
"Severus," the dark lord replied, "rise."
He did so with growing trepidation, the sadistic smirk on Malfoy's face, the smug expression on Sybil's, and the angry one on Lord Voldemort's all combined to leave him with a very bad feeling, and a very sour taste in his mouth.
"I am at your service, My Lord," he said softly, outwardly betraying none of his concerns. He looked neither right, nor left, apparently paying no attention to anyone present except the dark lord.
"Why do I grow to doubt that?" Voldemort asked, his words a hiss of anger.
"I would not presume to guess as to your--"
"Crucio!"
Severus gasped as the spell hit, crouching over as the instant ravaging pain coursed through his body. It was unendurable, no matter how many times he suffered through it. Thankfully, it didn't last long, allowing him the dignity of remaining on his feet, and relatively silent.
"I find I tire of your polite but meaningless phrases, Severus. They tell me nothing."
"Forgive me, My Lord," Severus ground out through clenched teeth.
"No, I do not think I will," Voldemort replied.
**So this is it, then,** Severus thought. **I'm dead.** Steeling himself for the inevitable, he realized he wondered who, if anyone would mourn his passing. **Albus will,** he thought, though some small part of him couldn't be sure of even that, despite the headmaster's words of reassurance. He surprised himself by wondering if Granger would, considering her rather shocking vehemence both in the headmaster's office and in the hallway of Hogwarts a mere 7 hours ago. He shook himself, jerking his attention back to the current situation as Lord Voldemort continued.
"I wonder why I had to find out from Lucius that your so-called bride-to-be is a mudblood, and *not* from you."
"Perhaps because I, unlike *some*," Severus began bitterly, tired of the games, of the one-upmanship, "have duties I must perform to maintain my cover."
"Crucio!" Voldemort spat out and once again Severus found himself writhing in pain. This time, however, it was not as mercifully short. He was on his knees, ready to scream, to beg forgiveness before the agony ended.
**That was incredibly *stupid*!** Severus berated himself. **You're not an impulsive Gryffindor to speak before you think!**
"Your first duty is to *me*!" Voldemort snapped.
"Yes, My Lord," Severus replied automatically. **Just bloody well kill me and be done with it,** he snapped silently, knowing it was a vain hope that his death would be that swift or that painless. Those 'followers' who displeased the dark lord did not escape his service without suffering his wrath first.
"I think it's all a ruse, My Lord," Lucius said, and Severus snapped his head up to glare at his former comrade.
**Spiteful son of a bitch!** Severus thought angrily, almost smirking at the dark look Lord Voldemort shot Lucius for his impertinence. "Unfortunately," he replied, injecting his words with as much venom as he could, "it is not. My *mother* and the Grangers signed the Marriage agreement. I was not consulted."
Wincing as Voldemort once again raised his wand, Severus was surprised to see a look of speculation enter the dark lord's eyes. He was uncertain whether he should be wary of it, or grateful for it. In the end he decided he felt a little of both.
"I expect you to get out of it, Severus," Voldemort ordered. "Surely *any* mother would understand if her son had developed a. . . ." He smirked before continuing, his red eyes flaring briefly. ". . . .tendre, especially if the new woman in question outranked the old in every conceivable way."
**Not on Miss Granger's worst day, and Sybil's best!** Severus thought, then blinked as he realized he truly believed that. He nearly groaned aloud. He bloody respected the Gryffindor 'know-it-all'. That was something he would have considered laughable less than a day ago. When the hell had it changed?
"I will try, My Lord," he replied evenly, his thoughts in chaos. How the hell was he supposed to prove he'd tried without actually 'getting out' of it? He shuddered, knowing full well the consequences should he actually 'get out' of the agreement.
Being brutally honest with himself, he knew without doubt that he would far rather be tied for the rest of his miserable existence -- how ever long that may be -- to Miss Granger, than spend even *one* day tied to Sybil Trelawney. The former, while disruptive and . . . unsettling, was better than the latter, which he found utterly repugnant.
"You will do more than *try*, Severus, or you will regret it!" Voldemort snapped, rising to stand above him. "I will not tolerate my followers being married to filth!
**Hypocrite!**
"This so-called *agreement* comes at a time to inconvenience me considerably, Severus. You would do well to consider that." Voldemort paused long enough that Severus brought his gaze up, his thoughts on fast forward, what *had* Sybil Trelawney offered the dark lord that he so obviously valued? "If your *mother*," he sneered, "cannot be convinced, I can, of course, find another . . . solution to her obstinacy."
Severus barely contained the gasp at Voldemort's implied threat. The danger had expanded and now included his mother. "I understand," he replied evenly, though inside he was seething.
"I hope you do, Severus," Voldemort hissed. "I expect to hear the good news that you are free to marry *my* choice *soon*. Now, go away."
Nodding, Severus rose quickly. Ignoring Sybil completely, he cast one last venomous glare at Lucius Malfoy, his mind already plotting as he strode away, wanting nothing more than to already be gone. Unfortunately, he could think of no plan that didn't end with someone dead; though, the fact that he was actually leaving this meeting alive *did* surprise him. It made him wonder even more just what it was that Sybil had that Voldemort wanted so badly. He could think of only one thing, and if he was right, it really didn't bode well for the success of The Order's plans.
Much as he discounted Sybil Trelawney most days, Albus was right about one thing. When she got something right, she *really* got it right. Fighting a feeling of impending doom, Severus apparated to just outside Hogwarts' grounds the moment he entered the smaller clearing. He had to see the headmaster as soon as possible.
TBC
Kiristeen
Feedback: Please review, it's inspiration at its finest. : )
Kiristeen@kiristeen.com
**********
Chapter Nineteen
**********
Minerva strode into his office, her face set in stern, unhappy lines.
Albus rose as she approached, his customary jovial expression all but gone. "Did you locate Sybil?"
"No," Minerva replied shortly. "She's not in the castle, Albus. What is this about?"
"Very bad things, Minerva, very bad things."
Sinking into the chair across the desk from him, Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you should fill me in?" she replied softly. "Are the children in danger? Is Sybil?"
**
Hermione wandered slowly back to Gryffindor tower. She was . . . confused. The meeting in Professor Snape's office had not gone like she'd expected at all. In fact, he too seemed bewildered by what all had happened. Of course, she couldn't be certain; she had never really understood the taciturn Professor.
He certainly hadn't seemed angry at her presumption, and the kiss to his cheek in the library had been just that, she knew very well. Quite the opposite, or so it seemed to her. He seemed uncertain what to make of it. Surprisingly, Hermione had come away from the awkward meeting seeing Professor Snape as someone more than the 'greasy potions professor', more than someone to be feared. His very uncertainty made him seem far more human than she'd ever considered before, and for the first time, Hermione was realizing that he wasn't simply the bitter potions professor they had all come to hate. No, he was much more than that. He was also a man, one with hidden feelings just like the rest of them. It was an unsettling realization.
Hermione shook her head, snorting as she approached the Gryffindor common room entrance.
"Bouncing ferret," she murmured and the portrait swung open.
It wasn't like she'd thought he was some kind of non-human before now, just that she had never really thought about it at all. He'd been someone to avoid when she could, endure when she couldn't.
"Are you alright, dear?" the fat lady asked gently.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she over looked a lot of things consciously, but certainly hadn't seemed to miss them subconsciously. She knew he was an intelligent man, despite his obvious prejudices, his skill with potions was evidence enough of that. She could even think back to demonstrations he'd given, and watching his hands as he worked; long, slender fingers, confidently, gracefully performing the precise--
"What? Oh, yes. I'm fine. Just tired."
A suspicious, "hmmm," was the only response as Hermione disappeared into the Gryffindor common room.
She didn't have time to analyze her thoughts once safely inside, however. Her two best friends descended on her instantly.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron exclaimed, nearly the instant they saw her.
"Where have you been?" Ron asked, worried.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked, equally concerned.
Hermione jumped, blinking in surprise at the sudden questions. "With the headmaster and then with Professor Snape," she replied to Ron. "And yes, I'm fine, confused, but fine."
"We heard about what happened earlier and we've been going out of our minds since!" Ron said, his words sounding frantic.
"We looked, but we couldn't find you anywhere."
**
Severus shuddered. He absolutely loathed answering summons -- for more than the obvious reasons. It required blind apparating and that was something he could do without at the best of times. It left him feeling vaguely disoriented, which was never a good thing when dealing with the dark lord.
It was dark around him, heavily forested, so even the night's moonlight wasn't reaching him.
"Lumos," he whispered, absurdly grateful for the tiny light that spell provided from the tip of his wand. Directly in front of him, a path led deeper into the trees. He snorted, rather obvious . . . if not ominous, he thought sourly. Before taking that 'obvious' route, however, he slowly turned a full circle, deliberately memorizing the details of his current location.
The clearing was blatantly bare, surrounded on all sides, but one, with trees and heavy foliage. "That answers that question," he muttered, striding forward and onto the path. A mere 50 metres later, Severus stepped off the well-worn path and into a larger, but otherwise identical clearing. This one, however, was not unoccupied.
Three people, gazes all locked on him, waited. Only one was seated. Lord Voldemort. The presence that surprised him was not Lord Voldemort, nor was it Lucius Malfoy; it was Sybil Trelawney.
**Stupid bat!** he thought viciously. **She's signed her own death warrant showing up here before the deal is done.**
Without visible hesitation, Severus strode directly toward the seated dark lord and made his obeisance, bowing low. "My Lord," he said clearly, infusing his words with as much reverence as he was capable, his mind whirling, trying to figure out what, exactly, Sybil Trelawney thought to gain by all this.
"Severus," the dark lord replied, "rise."
He did so with growing trepidation, the sadistic smirk on Malfoy's face, the smug expression on Sybil's, and the angry one on Lord Voldemort's all combined to leave him with a very bad feeling, and a very sour taste in his mouth.
"I am at your service, My Lord," he said softly, outwardly betraying none of his concerns. He looked neither right, nor left, apparently paying no attention to anyone present except the dark lord.
"Why do I grow to doubt that?" Voldemort asked, his words a hiss of anger.
"I would not presume to guess as to your--"
"Crucio!"
Severus gasped as the spell hit, crouching over as the instant ravaging pain coursed through his body. It was unendurable, no matter how many times he suffered through it. Thankfully, it didn't last long, allowing him the dignity of remaining on his feet, and relatively silent.
"I find I tire of your polite but meaningless phrases, Severus. They tell me nothing."
"Forgive me, My Lord," Severus ground out through clenched teeth.
"No, I do not think I will," Voldemort replied.
**So this is it, then,** Severus thought. **I'm dead.** Steeling himself for the inevitable, he realized he wondered who, if anyone would mourn his passing. **Albus will,** he thought, though some small part of him couldn't be sure of even that, despite the headmaster's words of reassurance. He surprised himself by wondering if Granger would, considering her rather shocking vehemence both in the headmaster's office and in the hallway of Hogwarts a mere 7 hours ago. He shook himself, jerking his attention back to the current situation as Lord Voldemort continued.
"I wonder why I had to find out from Lucius that your so-called bride-to-be is a mudblood, and *not* from you."
"Perhaps because I, unlike *some*," Severus began bitterly, tired of the games, of the one-upmanship, "have duties I must perform to maintain my cover."
"Crucio!" Voldemort spat out and once again Severus found himself writhing in pain. This time, however, it was not as mercifully short. He was on his knees, ready to scream, to beg forgiveness before the agony ended.
**That was incredibly *stupid*!** Severus berated himself. **You're not an impulsive Gryffindor to speak before you think!**
"Your first duty is to *me*!" Voldemort snapped.
"Yes, My Lord," Severus replied automatically. **Just bloody well kill me and be done with it,** he snapped silently, knowing it was a vain hope that his death would be that swift or that painless. Those 'followers' who displeased the dark lord did not escape his service without suffering his wrath first.
"I think it's all a ruse, My Lord," Lucius said, and Severus snapped his head up to glare at his former comrade.
**Spiteful son of a bitch!** Severus thought angrily, almost smirking at the dark look Lord Voldemort shot Lucius for his impertinence. "Unfortunately," he replied, injecting his words with as much venom as he could, "it is not. My *mother* and the Grangers signed the Marriage agreement. I was not consulted."
Wincing as Voldemort once again raised his wand, Severus was surprised to see a look of speculation enter the dark lord's eyes. He was uncertain whether he should be wary of it, or grateful for it. In the end he decided he felt a little of both.
"I expect you to get out of it, Severus," Voldemort ordered. "Surely *any* mother would understand if her son had developed a. . . ." He smirked before continuing, his red eyes flaring briefly. ". . . .tendre, especially if the new woman in question outranked the old in every conceivable way."
**Not on Miss Granger's worst day, and Sybil's best!** Severus thought, then blinked as he realized he truly believed that. He nearly groaned aloud. He bloody respected the Gryffindor 'know-it-all'. That was something he would have considered laughable less than a day ago. When the hell had it changed?
"I will try, My Lord," he replied evenly, his thoughts in chaos. How the hell was he supposed to prove he'd tried without actually 'getting out' of it? He shuddered, knowing full well the consequences should he actually 'get out' of the agreement.
Being brutally honest with himself, he knew without doubt that he would far rather be tied for the rest of his miserable existence -- how ever long that may be -- to Miss Granger, than spend even *one* day tied to Sybil Trelawney. The former, while disruptive and . . . unsettling, was better than the latter, which he found utterly repugnant.
"You will do more than *try*, Severus, or you will regret it!" Voldemort snapped, rising to stand above him. "I will not tolerate my followers being married to filth!
**Hypocrite!**
"This so-called *agreement* comes at a time to inconvenience me considerably, Severus. You would do well to consider that." Voldemort paused long enough that Severus brought his gaze up, his thoughts on fast forward, what *had* Sybil Trelawney offered the dark lord that he so obviously valued? "If your *mother*," he sneered, "cannot be convinced, I can, of course, find another . . . solution to her obstinacy."
Severus barely contained the gasp at Voldemort's implied threat. The danger had expanded and now included his mother. "I understand," he replied evenly, though inside he was seething.
"I hope you do, Severus," Voldemort hissed. "I expect to hear the good news that you are free to marry *my* choice *soon*. Now, go away."
Nodding, Severus rose quickly. Ignoring Sybil completely, he cast one last venomous glare at Lucius Malfoy, his mind already plotting as he strode away, wanting nothing more than to already be gone. Unfortunately, he could think of no plan that didn't end with someone dead; though, the fact that he was actually leaving this meeting alive *did* surprise him. It made him wonder even more just what it was that Sybil had that Voldemort wanted so badly. He could think of only one thing, and if he was right, it really didn't bode well for the success of The Order's plans.
Much as he discounted Sybil Trelawney most days, Albus was right about one thing. When she got something right, she *really* got it right. Fighting a feeling of impending doom, Severus apparated to just outside Hogwarts' grounds the moment he entered the smaller clearing. He had to see the headmaster as soon as possible.
TBC
Kiristeen
Feedback: Please review, it's inspiration at its finest. : )
Kiristeen@kiristeen.com
