Riddle's Estate
A severe cold pressed air through the lungs when Severus' wand touched the Dark Mark and the spell transported him to the destination of the reborn master. He looked around. His magic wand pointed aimless into the surroundings of the secluded manor. The balmy breeze of the summer evening waved grass and trees slowly. The landscape showed mild and pleasant hills above a valley of grassland. It was all the same; it couldn't kill the strain. Nerves and mind concentrated by sheer determination. The estate gave a deserted impression although the garden wasn't neglected for too long. The mansion stood in the shadows; the large entrance with the golden door knocker was just thirty feet away. A faint light from the hallway illuminated the stairs. The warm appearance was almost friendly. No sign exposed the crimes planned inside. Severus seized the ebony wand waiting for the door to open. It took less than a minute until no other than Wormtail peered into the night to let the late arrival inside.
Severus walked with steady steps into the mansion. He did not even greet the rat. Pointing the black wand silently into the ugly face resulted in a pathetic whimper. Severus swallowed seeing the murderer and continued through the dimly lit corridor into the parlour at the opposite side of the entrance. He flung the door open to see Lucius Malfoy in a kneeling position surrounded by faithful Death Eaters before kneeling down himself. Severus did not speak nor dare to look at his lord. A murmur went through the crowd followed by a swish of clothes and hushed steps. Lucius returned into the circle obviously relieved to leave the place of interrogation. Silence fell.
Severus' mind was blank, his eyes fixed on the floor. The Dark Lord taunted him by circling the defenceless applicant; it was the same game as fourteen years ago. When Severus asked to spare Lily Potter, it resulted in the same unnerving circles. Voldemort agreed much later to reward his inferior with the woman. It was only when Dumbledore offered a teaching post. A spy was valuable to both sides, more valuable than a complaining Slughorn in the potion's classroom. The Dark Lord controlled the school through Severus, at least he believed in it. And Dumbledore — had another pawn under his wings, like the creatures in the forbidden forest. Hagrid and Remus were always in the old man's mind to pacify fringe groups. Planned Dumbledore to make use of them in the new war? Severus didn't want to be a pawn, but the feeling never left the whole year. The evil presence closed in on Severus. The Dark Lord would have the first word. Severus remained in the uncomfortable position. He didn't whine. He didn't pray. Time elapsed.
"Get up!" The Dark Lord emphasized the demand with a silent 'Crucio'. Pain shot through Severus, less than a second, but enough to make his moves awkward and slow. A cold laugh filled the room, followed by an insecure laughter of the watching audience. Oh, yes, they all hoped to be spared! They all feared those quick merciless spells; the twitch of the long thin fingers showed the rotten rebirth.
"What gives us the pleasure of the late visit?" mocked the master's hissing voice after another pause.
"I request to return to your service, my lord." Severus looked straight into Voldemort's face. The red snake-like eyes gave a disgusting contrast to the greyish-white robes and skin. Severus suppressed the urge to throw up. Voldemort bathed himself in the fearful tension floating through the dust-laden gaunt room. Only the light swishing of fabric filled now the silence.
"Indeed. And why would I accept it?" The evil wizard flicked his wand twice. All Death Eaters retreated quickly while Severus dropped to the floor once again. The Dark Lord spelled the 'Unforgivable' precisely.
"Wormtail, help him up!" said Voldemort sarcastically, but Severus was already back on his feet addressing the Dark Lord again. The rat wouldn't touch him. Severus spoke with a steady smooth voice and his eyes never left the red ones.
"My lord, I provide you with fourteen years of information. Dumbledore trusts me and believes that I'm only here on his orders."
"Tell me about Harry Potter!" The high-pitched voice of the master carried a fatal calm. Voldemort's eyes never left Severus' gaze either and Severus felt a headache building up. Emptiness wrapped itself around his mind like a cold, tight steel band.
"A mediocre student, arrogant like his father by getting all the attention from school and press. His magic is no match to you, my lord. He trusts his luck or seeks the help of more powerful wizards." Severus didn't need much effort forcing his mind into talking snidely about Potter. He just needed to see messy hair and glasses and the facts sounded genuine. He'd never thought that Harry or his father were great wizards anyway; just popular and well off with everything.
"Indeed."
"Barty Crouch Jr helped him solely through the tournament, or he wouldn't have made it," added Severus confident.
"'The Chosen One' is nothing else than a nasty child?" mused the Dark Lord. "Lucius gossiped about the same. I had the impression of a slight jealousy, hadn't I?" Another quick wand movement and Malfoy's legs twitched painfully. It was uncomfortable to have the lord's attention.
"My lord, Potter is pampered through and through," said Severus levelly. Lucius Malfoy straightened by listening to the insult. Obviously, it helped him to forget that Hermione Granger beat Draco every year with her grades and that Potter's head appeared on the title pages of the Daily Prophet regularly.
Voldemort started circling the room again to stop at the cold fireplace. The Death Eaters didn't even breathe and only stared at Severus, avoiding the alien sight of their master. A small belief grew in Severus. Voldemort wouldn't kill or torture him too much today; he'd use him. He took a bite of information and Severus needed to pass more meaningful pieces of it. It helped to survive, at least for a while. The shield of Occlumency worked; the Dark Lord valued the information higher than the certain mistrust. Voldemort felt strong enough to control everybody and certainly a spy. The Dark Lord returned with the unmistakable vastly superior magic into this world; wheresoever Voldemort hid for about fourteen years.
"Out. You have your orders." Voldemort's voice sounded detached, almost like a purr. "Severus, I summon you based on my needs. Be on time!" He lost all interest in the followers and everybody moved out; nobody wasted another glance towards the towering non-human frame in front of the hearth.
The group of Death Eaters strode out into the darkness. Wormtail simpered, closing the door quickly when the last person left the hall.
"Snape, what a pleasure to have Dumbledore's puppet here tonight. Where have you been? Where was your brilliant mind when Potter fought our master?" drawled Macnair sickeningly pointing his wand to Severus' back.
"Walden, you are only a threat if your victims are handcuffed and unconscious, aren't you?" said Severus coolly.
"How is it to be crawling under the muggle lover?"
"Take your wand down!" replied Severus with the usual indifferent frown.
"Why?"
"Go on, if you believe our Lord will abstain from valuable information. What can you offer to him? An escaped Hippogriff?"
Macnair backed away. Goyle and some others snorted.
"We go for a little celebration tonight. I heard red Zora is still your favourite. She mentioned you tried shagging her oblivious recently, unsuccessful—"
"Did she? She's too smart to count on you," shrugged Severus. He took his wand preparing for apparition.
Macnair seized him by the robes, an ugly grin on his face. "Zora is mine," breathed the Death Eater into Severus face. And your friend Lucius will watch! He'll tell you every bit of the pleasure! She's waiting for a real member!"
Lucius flinched at the mention of his name. Severus narrowed his eyes; calculating if the blond wizard obeyed or not. It was Lucius' turn to take sides.
"I have my orders," replied Malfoy. "There are more important things to do than shagging a filthy prostitute."
Lucius nodded to Severus and both disappeared on the spot. Severus landed in a dark corner in Hogsmeade nearby the grimy tavern; Lucius still in tow.
"I thought you would come here. Still, the same spot avoiding being seen. Anyway, another prostitute near the school? Anything in for me too?" Lucius grinned obscenely. The dim light of the Hog's Head Inn illuminated the street next to nothing.
"Think of Narcissa. She's already afraid enough. She doesn't need you cheating on her," hissed Severus coldly.
"Says who?"
"I'm not married and pay for the service." Severus wanted to add 'unlike the scum we just met' but bit his tongue.
Lucius looked guilty. "Let's go for a drink at least to celebrate."
"The walls of the pub have ears. Be careful if you cannot resist it. I've to return to Dumbledore. He mistrusts me enough; cannot risk being late. The Dark Lord wants information."
Lucius Malfoy shook his head in disgust. "You are really a lap dog. You've always been picky when it came to hail something." He was gone with those words. Likely he bragged about Voldemort and 'his orders' until Narcissa closed his mouth with kisses. Lucius slept well; his family was whole. The Malfoy's should pray that the Dark Lord found enough followers, or he recruited Draco.
Severus walked quickly through the village and send a Patronus once safely behind the Hogwarts gates. The silver doe hurried into the night finding a destination in Diagon Alley; hopefully not too late. Lucius senseless talk costed important minutes.
XXX
Leonor yawned. She woke with a crick in the neck. The shoulders ached and the legs were stiff. Her sleep had been restless and uncomfortable and still she woke only when the daylight shone through the little porthole. She cursed herself. Some Durmstrang boys sat in silence, clutching hot cacao and stroking the owl. Leonor patted them on the back and left them alone with some more consoling words.
The morning sun shone brightly over the hilltops. The lake would soon radiate a silvery brilliance. Dew wetted the blades of grass and the daisies woke slowly to create a field of white dots. Leonor didn't see the innocence of the morning. Closed eyes dispelled awful ideas and her feet found Severus' office without recognizing the way. Some torches sprang to life when she passed the dark dungeon passage on a very early morning. Leonor unlocked the door trying different spells. She sighed when the lock opened. Severus secured the door with a password; Leonor guessed and entered after few attempts cautiously. What if she was too late? Desk and workbench were straight. Dying embers sent no orange glow and the room was tinted into a sparse greenish shimmer. Leonor believed the office empty and it compressed her chest that it made moving almost impossible. She told herself that there was still the private chamber. And then she heard a low groan from behind. She turned and saw Severus in the armchair, sleeping. Relief made Leonor tumbling backwards finding a grip on the desk. Severus looked healthy, even though moving nervous and twitchy in the sleep. Leonor just looked at the pale face framed by the bluish black strands of lanky hair. She didn't dare to wake him; the insight that he was generally fine mingled quickly with fear to be rejected.
Leonor sat on the desk, waiting, thinking. She had been in belief that Severus nursed an interest in her, that his passion was more than a sexual urge. It wasn't even that! Was he really so full of being a spy that nothing else mattered? Leonor wasn't able to read him anymore, not since he left her upset after the guild's celebration. Her pride worked already against him. She didn't need a man, did she? And there was the password! Leonor hated herself for guessing correctly, for being right. Some truths stayed better a secret.
She reached for a small flask at the edge of the desk. She smelled the Crutiatus Potion. The little bottle held still enough liquid. Severus turned in his sleep. Leonor sighed again. She was number two, if any number at all. He only asked to be friends; but he kissed like more. He would never kiss his eternal love; Lily wasn't his own. She'd chosen James Potter. No password and nothing what Severus did to keep Harry save changed the choice. The beautiful smart Lily — had Severus been involved with her? The stolen memory of the half-naked ginger woman replayed again. Was that the reason to cling to her after all those years? Did he expect Leonor to compete with the perfect girl?
Leonor hated being perfect; she had so little of it. The witch played unconsciously with some items in her pocket until she decided to leave the office slowly; the memories of working and training together flowed to the mind. She sat in the same armchair reading Draco's book after Rose was cursed. She'd liked that place, just the shelf with all the books behind and the possibility to reach for every title without giving up the comfortable position. Leonor felt Severus' temperature, moving her hand over his forehead and cheeks. All was normal. He moved getting closer to the touch. It drove Leonor quickly out of the room. She'd done the healers' duty by making sure he was alright. The door closed noiseless and the protective enchantments were replaced; the flames of the torches flickered from the whiff created by a billowing cloak.
XXX
Severus felt a suppressed triumph over the last night; he'd acted well. Dumbledore was pleased and full of kudos. Severus sent a message before isolating himself in the office. The headmaster appeared only seconds later in the fire and if Severus had liked he'd started counselling. Anyway, Severus felt confident about what to tell Voldemort next. The after-effect of torture was completely gone when Hattie served a steaming hot coffee and woke him early enough to have a convenient start to the day. The elf sensed that Severus needed it, though both preferred to be silent about any detail. Severus hated sentimental questions. Nevertheless, she remembered the strong black liquid, the one Severus requested after returning from nightly summons in the first two months after moving into the dungeon office.
Severus opened the eyes only briefly to take the mug from the old elf while muttering a confused 'thanks, you may go', then he sank back into the armchair. There had been a dream. Gentle fingertips touched his face without knowing what it started. He leaned into soft hands. She sat on a workbench. Her legs were slightly parted, like a welcome, and he moved closer. His fingers brushed her jawline to move quickly further down. He did not look into her eyes, he couldn't. His hands touched her breasts, softly and then harder. He moved his fingers across the soft body. His thumbs massaged over covered nipples. He wanted more. She leaned against him; her lips searched for his neck. Severus shoved her away creating space to unbutton the formal blouse. The flowery scent of perfume emitted more intensely from the naked skin, maybe it was also the rising temperature. The white piece of fabric landed on the floor. Severus wasted a 'thank you' to the muggles for inventing a brassiere with a zipper in front. He was hungry and she pressed herself closer. They didn't stop. Severus dived deeper into the dream and felt soon relief drifting into a steady sleep after meeting evil.
Hattie had left and Severus tried remembering details, but the bliss was gone. He relaxed and blamed it to the intensified use of Occlumency. Dreams became stronger when the mind escaped the magical boundaries. Macnair reminded him of dirty sex last night and that was the result of it, just that, nothing else.
Severus drank the coffee quickly down to get up for a shower and a change. He picked a small item from the floor and considered it carefully before using the floo to his chamber. There was something he missed last night. The item had not been there when he left.
XXX
The Great Hall filled with students and teachers. Severus observed Harry. Of course, the boy ate nothing. Weasley and Granger tried, but they had enough sense to leave Harry to himself. The bossy red-haired teenager reminded him of Lily, muggle-born, brilliant, a know-it-all, but she was very patient with the behaviour of her friends. Lily tried constantly to change people; not only him. Severus doubted Lily succeeded, it was only her perception that James Potter changed for good. Potter's father never stopped hexing Severus; he even tried on their final ride in the Hogwarts Express. Severus' resented it even after all those years. Things would be different if Lily had recognized it, but she didn't.
Harry's green eyes considered Severus from the distance. Obviously, Potter was smart enough to feel the gaze. The question about the potions master true alliance was imprinted on Harry's forehead like the lightening-shaped scar — still the boy had no clue, that Severus wanted him to survive. It needed to remain that way. The trio gave the perfect reason to insult Gryffindor unfairly, it made Slytherin happy. It was part of the war. It was revenge.
A billowing dark cloak attracted Severus attention next. Leonor was dressed in dark green robes, it looked good on her. Her appearance attracted no attention. It was too modest and the beauty hidden underneath. Dark green emblematized only a colour; Leonor chose it because it suited her well same as any other dark robe. She walked slowly along the aisle between the house tables and hugged some students to exchange few words before finding a seat next to Severus at the staff table. It became a habit of Minerva to leave the seat between the deputy headmistress and Severus unoccupied. Leonor was uncomfortable sitting close recently. He neither overlooked the tension nor the questions about last night behind small shy glances. It was the witch's last meal at Hogwarts; everybody was about to depart soon. Leonor would survive his presence; Severus grinned wryly. She needed to do him a favour. Severus waited for the owls delivering an anonymous note tied with a hairband. He leaned back in the chair, crossed the arms and watched the hall again.