Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor have I mey a Scary Otter.
Chapter 9: Memories of the Devious
It was when Snape pulled his head back that Tonks realized they were back in his living room. He still had her pinned to the floor with the chair that she had been bound to upside-down next to them. Neither said a word; they just stared at each other, neither knowing what to do or what to think. Tonks, frankly, was in shock. A million emotions ran through her head, each contradicting the previous. If Tonks could read minds, she would have found Snape to be in the same condition as her.
"I am going to be scarred for life!" said a voice suddenly, shaking Tonks and Snape out of their reveries. Snape quickly got up off of her and grabbed his wand. Petrifying her, he ordered that Draco tied her back in her chair. Snape then haughtily swept out of the room.
Tonks had never been so conflicted in her life. She could not believe that she had kissed him. He was the most infuriating, greasiest, cruelest, condescending bastard that she had ever met. And she had kissed him. Furthermore, she could not believe that she had enjoyed that kiss. That was just plain morally wrong. She was disgusted with herself. She had enjoyed a kiss with the Death Eater who had betrayed the Order, killed Dumbledore and was keeping her prisoner. It was wrong.
Yet, the thing that had confused Tonks the most was that he had kissed back. That was by far the strangest thing she had ever experienced. She had always thought that Snape was incapable of such a thing. Not just because he was a spiteful creature, but she just had always thought that he was incapable of doing anything that was associated with affection of any type. Well, at least not affection towards anything human. She knew he felt affection towards the dark arts and possibly towards the Giant Squid.
Not that she held any affection toward him, though. She shuddered at the mere thought. He was despicable excuse for a wizard. Okay, so he happened have pretty eyes and happened to be sexy in an odd way—No! Bad thoughts! Tonks was so conflicted that she was earning herself a headache.
Tonks was sure of one thing: she had to get out of that unpleasant place before she went absolutely mad. She fell asleep then, exhausted by the morning's events.
This wasn't any normal sleep and Tonks was quite sure that this wasn't a normal dream. She was standing in a dim lit living room. It appeared to be that of a Muggle. A floral couch faced a television and there was a small assortment of toys in a corner. In spite of the cheerfulness of the floral pattern on the couch and the brightly colored drapes, the room had a sense of foreboding about it. It was not a happy place.
Yells sounded from the next room. Tonks shrank back as they became louder and closer. A woman with thick black hair and pallid skin entered the room with a tall, stringy man with a hook nose. Tonks could not make out what they were yelling about, but it seemed to be one ferocious argument. Vulgarisms flew through the air with a deafening roar.
Tonks was sure this was a memory. Neither of the two persons noticed her, although they may have been too preoccupied with their fight. Just below the noise of the yelling, Tonks heard a low whimper. She looked behind the couch to see a small boy crouch there. The boy had the hook nose of the man and the black hair of the woman. Tears ran down his face as he trembled. Tonks wanted to help the boy. He didn't deserve this.
"Severus!" shouted the man. "Boy! Get out here and pick up this crap!"
The boy gave a strangled expression and slowly crept out from behind the couch.
The memory faded. Tonks knew this had been a memory. Some how the potion that Snape gave her had weird after-effects. She now had a turn to see into his memories.
She was in Dumbledore office, once again. Fawkes stood right in front of her staring towards the doorway where a student walked in.
"You wanted to see me headmaster?" said a young Snape.
"Yes, Mr. Snape. Please sit down. Lemon Drop?" said Dumbledore with a soft smile.
"No thank you." Snape's reply was stiff and acidic.
"I know you have been going through a lot in the last few weeks, but to be frank, I am quite worried about your recent behavior. Before I go into that, I want to ask, if there is anything you would like to get off your mind?"
"No, Professor." The answer was curt, but Tonks was sure that she saw a brief glimpse of sadness in the boy's eyes.
"Well, if you are sure, we will move on. You have been in three conflicts with other student this last week. Two have been with Mr. Potter and Mr. Black. I know you three have never gotten along, but from what I saw this week all of the actions that you three have taken have been out of line.
"As I have said, I know you have been going through a lot, but I cannot overlook your behavior. You will have to do detention with Professor Slughorn tomorrow night."
Snape nodded, not saying a word. His face was almost expressionless. Dumbledore looked at him with a sad look, not quite of pity, but of caring and concern.
"I knew your mother. She was a very bright witch. I am sorry things have turned out this way for you."
"I don't care, I am glad she left."
"I understand that your life at home—"
"No, you don't understand! I may be glad she left, but she left me with him!"
Dumbledore nodded knowingly. "I am sorry. I wish I could do something for you, but as the matter stands there is nothing. As you go home this summer, please do keep in mind, if anything happens owl me right away. If anything happens I may be able to help you then, Severus."
Snape looked caught between his anger, an onslaught of tears and his attempt to keep a neutral expression. "Thank you, Professor."
Tonks watched Snape's face as the memory faded. There was a look of trust and gratitude upon Snape's face.
She was face to the floor in a large, cold room. The slightest waft of breeze made the curtains to her left rustle. The candles floating all over the room cast a soft and eerie glow. There were many other figures in the room. Tonks got up to observe them.
Whispers hummed, but none disturbed the morbid peace that entwined each and every entity.
Tonks recognized many of the figures in the room; many of them were of her own blood. Her aunt, Bellatrix stood black robed speaking to her husband Rodolphus Lestrange. Her uncle, Lucius Malfoy stood tall and proud near the front of the assembly. She spotted her cousin Regulus Black standing in a corner with two other familiar people. She recognized Igor Karkaroff, the former headmaster of Durmstang, and none other than a young man named Severus Snape.
The whispers stopped as a tall, thin man with black hair and gleaming eyes appeared in front of the assembly. A spark of fear ran down Tonks' spine as the man spoke.
"I welcome all here, on this dark evening. To my returning faithful, let it be known that your deeds will not go unrewarded. To those few who are seeking my guidance and seeking solace in a world that is not justly fit for the exceptional and the great, I welcome you as well.
"Tonight we embrace two new wizards into those who feast upon death. Severus Snape and Igor Karkaroff, if you will please come forward, for tonight is yours."
Snape and Karkaroff both stepped up into front of Voldemort. Tonks could feel suppressed fear radiating from the memory. She felt the fear herself. She paid rapt attention; she was probably one of the few members of the Order of the Phoenix that had witnessed anything like this.
"Severus Snape, do you vow to uphold the ideals of the Death Eaters, to get rid of those who are unworthy, that taint this world? Further to swear you allegiance to me and none other?"
"I do, My Lord," said Snape, not flinching under Voldemort's piercing stare.
"Extend your left arm."
Voldemort put the tip of his wand to Snape's forearm. He whispered an incantation and a glow of sickly green light burned from the connection point. Again, Snape did not flinch.
Voldemort turned to do the same with Karkaroff. Karkaroff on the other hand looked nervous. When the time came that the incantation was made (Tonks assumed that this was the issuing of the Dark Mark) he blanched and showed that he felt pain.
Voldemort spoke once again. "Karkaroff, your first assignment will place you close to the ministry. Watch Alastor Moody closely.
"Snape, you are to concentrate on Dumbledore. Also, keep all ears open for signs of the Potters. But first, I have a special assignment for you. As I am very sure you know, all these filthy Muggles taint this earth. I am sure you know that above many of the others." Voldemort's voice dropped to a whisper, Tonks strained to hear. "Your first assignment is to kill Tobias Snape."
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A/N: Well, less humor in that 'un. As always thank you to everyone for reading and a extra special thank you to everyone for reviewing. A few quick replies:
BohemianMalfoy: I hope the length of this chapter is more up to your standards. I believe, to my satisfaction, that it is about seven hundred words longer.
Red-Devil15: You will see more in future chapters of Snape's true nature. Evil, perhaps, but maybe not. You will just have to wait and see!
Thanks again!
---Perplexity
