A/N : Okay, I'm going to apologize one last time for not being to able to update one chapter per day as promised. No more flags from now on, but I'll still try my best to update as fast as I could. Reviews and feedbacks might help motivate me to write faster though. (Yes, here's a blackmail.)
A/N 2 : This chapter occurs simultaneously with the last. I hope you won't get confused with the timeline.
Chapter 13 : Living Hell (2)
"My Lord, they know we are coming. It's impossible to get past so many Aurors!" Bellatrix shouted frantically. Light of every color was shooting all over the chamber. The Death Eaters were doing their best to fight back but they were outnumbered three to one by Aurors and most importantly, Dumbledore. The Dark Lord accessed the situation quickly, and decided to retreat. A few of his Death Eaters were already badly injured, and things were bound to get worse with time. With a click of his hands, the Death Eaters apparate away simultaneously.
Snape received Harry's letter which was forwarded by Dumbledore. One week into the holidays and the thought of Harry was constantly lurking at the back of his mind. He had to remind himself that Harry was now an almost fully-grown wizard, with more than one means to protect himself should anything bad happen. Never did he realize that just as he was having these thoughts, Harry was suffering from the very man that had abused him since young.
Oblivious to the unnerving fact, Snape forced himself to focus on his current job. He had just received an order from Voldemort to brew a variety of potions needed for Death Eaters injured in various conditions. It wasn't any important potions though. Healing potion. Blood replenishing potion. Calming potion. True, the Dark Lord couldn't lay his hands on these potions easily, especially when most of his Death Eaters were being monitored. However, it was still underusing the Potions Master.
Since Snape's failure to fulfil the Dark Lord's request to obtain the full prophecy, his ranks within the Death Eaters was undeniably compromised. The Dark Lord had been furious, and all his Death Eaters was tortured mercilessly. This pissed Bellatrix Lestrange, who since long ago doubted Snape's loyalty. As the result, her repeated 'reminders' to the Dark Lord caused him to distance Snape.
Just as the final cauldron of Healing Potion was poured into a vial, Snape felt his Dark Mark burn. He hissed in pain, panic threatening to engulf him. Previous memories of being tortured by the Dark Lord wasn't exactly pleasant. However, Snape had survived years as a spy not for nothing. He quickly calmed himself, and sent a patronus to Dumbledore, informing the summons by the Dark Lord before apparating away.
Once he arrived beside the Dark Lord, he sensed something terribly wrong. Only a few Death Eaters with higher ranks were present, namely Lucius, Bellatrix, Antonin, Augustus and several more. They were all eyeing him with utmost displeasure. Resisting the urge to grab his wand and defend himself, he bowed to the Dark Lord, who was scrutinizing him with unmasked curiosity.
"Severus. You are finally here. I guess you realized that you are late?" Again, the Dark Lord sounded like he was talking softly to a child, but Snape didn't fail to recognize the malice behind the calm voice. "My Lord, I'm sorry for the delay. I happened to be brewing the potions you requested when you summoned. It was almost done, and I thought my understanding Lord will forgive me." Snape sank lower to his knees.
"Forgiving is it? I could, but my beloved Death Eaters aren't." Bellatrix cackled madly, as if agreeing to the Dark Lord's word. "Tell me, my boy, any idea how Dumbledore knew our scheme at the Department of Mysteries?" "I'm not sure my Lord, but I can make a guess. From what I know, Potter had been having dreams about the Department of Mysteries lately. Dumbledore might have derived something out of it."
"Dear, dear. Severus, you have lost your rationality to fear, is it? Suspicions, leading to a full force guarding that area? Nagini never reported more than two guards each day." Snape sighed. Thank goodness he had discussed a cover up with Dumbledore beforehand. "My Lord, they actually arrived moments after us. After the incident, I talked to Dumbledore and he said he and the Aurors happened to have a meeting on level above. It was my mistake, not making sure the coast is clear before operation. I'm willing to be punished for that."
The Dark Lord couldn't rebuttal the logic of it, despite his looming suspicions towards Snape. Instead, he could only content himself with the punishment Snape offered. "Crucio!" Snape twisted in agony, but as usual, he did not scream. "Join in, Lucius, Bellatrix." Snape swore his heart stopped for a beat, upon hearing that command. "Crucio!" "Crucio!" The pain was devastating. In mere seconds, Snape was unconscious. "Stop. Tie him up."
When Snape regained consciousness, he was gagged and bound, alone in a dungeon. Not for long though. Bellatrix entered the dungeon with a mad smile on her face. "My, my, traitor. Not in a good shape? Does it hurt?" She dug her nails into one of Snape's wounds. Snape flinched. "Why am I here?" he asked. "Oh, we are planning to catch Potter, and we simply don't trust you. You will stay here for a week. Rest assured, we will provide you with nutritious food and water." She cackled again. "This is your first meal." And she poured the contents onto the floor. Snape closed his eyes. Minutes later, he heard Bellatrix leaving.
His heart was thumping fast, his worry for Harry's safety overwhelming. He willed himself to calm down. But try as he might, he couldn't think of a way to get out or even send a message to Dumbledore. His wand was thrust at the entrance of the dungeons, about twenty metres away. Wandless magic was beyond his ability. He was trapped and had to admit defeat.
After one whole day racking his brains to no avail, Snape fell asleep in an awkward position, panic, hungry and exhausted. He felt his stomach growling but tried his best to ignore it. Bellatrix had poured all his three meals away.
"Severus, wake up." He was rocked by a hand. Opening his eyes, he saw Lucius kneeling in front of him. "Here's your breakfast." Snape gobbled up the food in the most dignified way he could muster. "Bellatrix had not been treating you well, is she? Just bear with it, I will try to come at least one each day." Snape nodded. "Thanks, Lucius." Lucius produced a grim smile before leaving Snape alone in the dungeons again.
Snape lost track of time. He was devastated. He had failed Lily, and now he would fail Harry. If anything happened to Harry, he would never forgive himself. Not that he had forgiven himself for Lily's death. In fact, all these years, he had been living in remorse, risking his life for the Order, hoping to get atonement. If Harry died, all was lost.
Immersed in his grief, he had not noticed the entrance of the Dark Lord. "Severus, are you alright?" Snape's head snapped up in shock. After a moment of blankness, he fell to his knees. "My Lord, I'm content with any punishment you deemed suitable for my lack of capability. It is my honor to serve you. However, I assure you that my loyalty lies with you solely." The Dark Lord simply nodded. "Prove it." With that, he swept out of the room.
Few moments later, Lucius entered and released Snape. "Severus, you can leave now. Just, don't cross the Dark Lord anytime soon, and don't disappoint me. Snape nodded his thanks, grabbed his wand and left without a word. He wasn't going to miss precious time. There's still a chance that they hadn't got Harry.
After exiting the Dark Lord's ward, Snape disillusioned himself before apparating to Privet Drive, Surrey. Just as he was pacing up the street, he heard a loud yell "No!" that sounded extremely like Harry. Rushing towards the sound, he saw a black nest of hair running into the hands of two masked person, Death Eaters.