Quick A/N: Someone asked me where Harry Potter was in this story or why he wasn't there...Please look back at (andplease read)the author notes in the very first chapter (prologue) and chapter two will explain Harry's position, even mentioned againin later chapters but he is not in this story...he will be mentioned in dialogue among a couple characters
Chapter Four
"Where are we heading?"
Severus pointed towards the distance with trembling fingers, showing them a huge, rocky structure, pulsing with a reddish glow. The same glow that happened to be lighting their path, allowing them easier strides instead of stumbling in the dark with little wand light. "It is Nightmare Rock."
"Halt! No further, intruders!" Wands were whipped out, facing several yelling skeletal guards whosuddenly appeared. But they barely held ontotheir little protection when furious screeching exploded above them. Seven feathered females, wings where their arms should be, fluttered around them, chattering furiously to themselves as their talon-like toes flexed in anticipation.
"No." Severus struggled with the shreds of his robes, knowing these guards wouldn't hesitate to kill first and then ask questions. But a fragment of a memory told him that he could stop it. As did the fleeting mental whisper, You are Marked. You are my mate. My mate.
Those whispered thoughts began to unjumble a few more lost memories, My mate. "Leave them!" His voicetook on a pleading tone, demanding at the same time, "I beseech the Shadow Lord!"
One guard turned slowly towards Severus, his wickedly shaped sword inching forward, barely resting against the pale neck. "And who are you to demand Sir's attention so pleadingly, intruder?"
Severus bowed his head, forcing the blade's edge to touch his chin. Then he finished popping free the last button, dropping the robes to the ground. With embarassed shame etched tightly upon his features, Severus took one deep breath to prepare himself and swiftly turned his back to the questioning guard. At the sight of his back the guard dropped his sword, following it to his knees. The others, even the feathered females, fell to their knees as well. "Sir's mate!"
Dark eyes could see the confusion upon his fellow Order members' faces. Saw them grow even more confused when a mysterious voice called out, "My mate. And the rumor does have truth."
Severus tensed, fists clenched tightly as he fought back a low whimper, wishing he could redress. "Shadow Lord?"
All eyes were pinned upon the predatory figure gliding from the untouched shadows, dancing around the path of light. His feline shaped eyes glittered as they raked across the scarred back. "Take our esteemed guests to the castle. I shall follow. And dress him before youleave." Severus could only close his eyes, fearing that his mate was refusing him. All he could do was listen to the scurrying of feet as his fellow members were led away and dutiful hands covered his naked flesh with his tattered robes.
-----------------------------------------Nightmare Rock----------------------------------------
"Welcome to my home." The seated Lord smirked as his guards finished chaining his guests to the floor, forcing them to their knees.
"You degrade your guests! What kind of Lord are you!" Hermione never thought someone would be this disrespectful to those they hadinvited. Not even Voldemort. He simply held them in the dungeon and then brought them out, allowing them to stand on their own two feet. Only punishing them when they done something wrong.
Booming laughter echoed, "I am the ruler here. The new Lord and God of the Underworld. You, on the other hand, have trespassed my boundaries. I could have you all flayed. If I so desire."
"My Lord." Never hadthe captives heard such a soft and shy Severus.
But this Lord had. And he missed that part of his mate dearly. "Come to me, Severus. Explain it all. You were clearly marked. And claimed. Yet you allow such violations."
Hermione couldn't stand to see her ex-professor be so degraded, "He didn't! I can prove it!"
A harsh hand yanked her head back, forcing her chains to tighten their grip. She screamed painfully as her neck stretched. "Do tell, Ms. Granger. I've been awaiting such truths for several weeks now."
"Malfoy!"
Lucius and his heir, Draco, smirked at the breathless biting tone of the kneeling witch. "Ah, my Dragons."
Both pale blondes willingly bowed, although Lucius had forced Hermione to touch the floor since he still had a hold of her hair. "Master. We've come as bid. Your Faithful searches for the rat. He collects the pieces we do not possess."
"And succeeds in delivering." A familiar voice respectfully murmured to the seated Lord.
"Siri!" Remus struggled against his bonds, "Sirius. Oh, Siri."
"Ah, yes. You must be the werewolf. Your Sirius has served me well over the lastfew weeks. Although, he has truthfully served longer."
And Remus knew. "Those disappearances! All through school. Even when James died."
Sirius said nothing. Denied nothing. "Come, my Faithful." A stunned rat fell into the Shadow Lord's outstretched hand as the other hand stroked along trembling flesh. "Release him."
Before all eyes Peter Pettigrew regained human form. "Eep!"
"You can't run, Peter. I refuse it." Chains flowed around the struggling male, holding him in place.
"My...my Lord?"
With a careless flick of a wrist, Peter was pulled forward, his face barely missing the sudden swiping of claws. He whimpered pitifully as he was forced to look upon his Lord's face, predatory eyes glimmering as they bored into his in a hypnotic stare. "Tell me of your Master's pet."
The seductive purr relaxed Peter's body as the stare held, pulling forth the knowledge its owner desired. "He...he has no pet."
"Tell me. Did you touch him?"
"Cleansed him. Dressed him. Led him." His voice droned on the longer the stare, losing its stuttering normalcy.
"And the others?" A soft, delicate brush of air caused the human's body to tremble.
"Few. Some refused. Master lusted after him, always."
"And no one heeded the Mark?"
Peter whimpered in fear, trying to turn his eyes but his Lord wouldn't let it happen. "I tried! I tried! I told! I left the books! I left pictures! I left clues! They didn't heed!"
He was released from the hypnotic grip, falling to the floor in wrenching sobs of fear. "Return the worm to its nest. I will deal with him later. See to their comfort." The Shadow Lord started to rise from his throne before something fluttered across his mind. "But first."
Hermione froze as those hypnotic eyes turned her way, "What?" She fought to keep from trembling.
"Your proof, child. Then your comfort. Search her!"
She shrieked as bony hands, uncaring ofher comfort and privacy, began ripping at her clothing, searching for her proof. "Stop! Stop! My front pocket! Please!" And there the hands stopped, ripping out the small book.
"Very good, child." He seemed quite amused by her predicament, even more amused by the shedding of her tears at the violation of touch. "Take them to Mother's wing." His deep chuckles echoed around as several glares were tossed his way in the treatment of such a wilfulfemale. "Read the book, my Dragons. Compare with my Faithful. I expect a plan of action by my next rise. Am I heard?"
Three voices spoke as one, "Yes, my Master." "Yes, my Lord."
"Come, Severus. Our time is much over due. We must rectify that."
