SEVERUS SNAPE:

Severus Snape was playing his role as a loyal death eater well. He had a firm grip on the precious Boy-Who-lived as they marched down one of the long corridors in Malfoy Manor. Towards double large doors that lead into the dining room. Or, as it was referred to whenever the dark lord occupied the manor, the torture room.

Delightful. Isn't it?

Severus's long life made him have the unique ability to be completely closed off. Even to people who knew him well. Which, at the current moment, only consisted of Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore. They were both extremely powerful wizards so he didn't worry too much about being discovered from the information they possessed. So his expression was stone. Reflecting he didn't care that the precious boy who lived was being marched to his death by his own actions.

Inside, he was having a mental crisis. He was desperately trying to figure out how to get out of that current situation without getting Harry killed, caught as a spy for Dumbledore, or failing completely and being tortured until his mental shields fell and all broke lose. As if the other options weren't already motivation enough not to fuck up. So far, he wasn't reaching any good conclusions. Or any conclusions actually as each of his plans had some sort of fatal flaw so it wasn't going to work no matter how he twisted the damn matter.

Now he was insulting Harry in his mind. He didn't quite hate the brat but he didn't like him either. The Dunderhead hadn't thanked him once for keeping him alive so long. Just snarled and sneered. Granted, Severus wasn't helping the matter because their first meeting ended rather disastrously and he was referred to as a "bully." Maybe he was, Maybe he wasn't. They weren't at Hogwarts so it didn't matter at that moment. What mattered is that Harry, because he was BORED decided to go on a nice little walk away from Privat 4 drive. The Order lost sight of him. As he wanted to be completely alone so he outmaneuvered whichever idiot was on duty. Instead, a death eater found him, knocked him out, and now Harry was being marched to his foreseeable demise.

Severus had one hand on Harry's shoulder. The other wand held his black wand that was digging into Harry's back with force. Harry occasionally hissed in pain when the pressure was increased. Much to Bellatrix's delight, who was closely following behind them with a big killer grin.

Did Severus care he was digging his wand so much to cause pain? No. If they somehow managed to get away, Harry better is happy he got away with only a bruise. The dunderhead seemed to almost actively look for danger, dragging Severus along with him because Severus was an idiot as a child, a younger adult, and finally during his current age. Because he was still bothering to go along with this little scheme that Albus concocted.

He could have moved the country years ago. He could have moved to...Canada? Yeah, Canada. Granted, they are annoying for apologizing all the time but it is a small country. Small population. To his knowledge, no dark wizards lived there yet. But, no. He stayed because he was familiar with Britian.

Now he was dealing with promises, blackmail, idiot dunderheads, and exploding cauldrons, torture, the idea that he could die every day, the pressure of Albus insisting he was unreplaceable in the war (Which he seriously doubted.), and torture.

He really should have moved.

They came to a stop in front of the double doors. Severus cast a knowing look at Bellatrix. Who nodded and slipped through one of the black doors. Leaving the pair alone. Allowing Harry to express his misguided...OK, maybe he wasn't completely wrong, suspicions and anger at the Potions Master.

"You traitor!" Harry hissed. Getting a harder jab from Severus. Making him yelp in pain. "You are a coward! I knew you couldn't be trus-"

"Will you do me and everyone who has to ever hear your voice, to shut up." Severus interrupted. "Let us not forget that you willing left Order protection and got caught. Without a wand. I am trying to figure out how to get us out of this without both of us dying in the process. Your idiotic words are numbing this process. So, if you are content on dying today, then, please. Continue to insult your potions master who has complete control of your grades and has your life in his literal hands."

That shut up precious Potter fast.

Bellatrix reopened the door slightly. Gesturing inside. She pushed the door open further. Severus roughly pushed Harry forward into the dim black room. Barely illuminated by the large fireplace at the back of the room.

The dark lord, Voldemort, sat in a fancy throne-like chair at the head of a long table. Death eaters from all ranks, mostly the upper ranks sat at the table with masks on. A few, like Lucius, Narcassia (Who wasn't exactly a death eater but whatever.), the Carrow siblings, and a few unnoticeable ones that had hidden their looks in the shadows of the room. Not finding a spot at the table and leaning against the sidewalls, wasn't wearing the traditional death eater masks.

Bellatrix almost skipped to her place at the spot next to Voldemort. She sat down and got a nod of acknowledgment from the dark lord. She gave him a bright smile back that reflected insanity. Voldemort's red eyes quickly snapped back to Harry. Standing in front of Severus with a...pout.

Severus took a step back. Towards the side to be able to see the death eaters and Harry. Why in Merlin's name was he pouting? Where was the stupid Gryfindor confidence and bravery that he had on his face during these moments? Is it because he didn't have his wand? Which was currently in one of Severus's cloak pockets. Is that why he was pouting like a child? He can't just give Harry the wand! Maybe he lost a few brain cells when he was knocked out...?

Voldemort took this pout as the look of depression and giving up. He gave a sick smile with his noseless, snake face of victory.

"Harry Potter. The Boy who lived. Come to die."

Severus almost had to physically stop his eyes from rolling. How long did it take him to come up with that one? All night? He rose from his chair and braced his hand. Pushing his weight on lean a bit forward to seem more intimidating.

"You, stupid, stupid boy. You willingly left the protection over the order and came willingly into our embrace. I honestly thought it would be much harder to kill you based on our previous encounters. It seems as the years go on, you become less and less compliant. The savior of the wizarding w-"

Severus began blocking Voldemort's monologue out. It was boring. Truly it was. He went on and on each and every time. Does he really need to rephrase the same speech about death over and over again? We get it, Harry is going to die. Just do it already. Or, in a more realistic case, try to do it already.

"Now, no one is coming to save you. You will die alone. You will die far more painfully. Knowing that you failed your friends, your pathetic muggle loving parents, and everyone who depends on you-"

Harry let out a deep sob. Severus gave a slow blink of disbelief. Five seconds ago, Harry was pouting about something. Now he had large tears going now his cheeks like the world was ending. Which, in a way, it was. But surely he had more confidence in the world than simply giving up. Right...Right?


HARRY POTTER:

People who didn't know Harry Potter well didn't know that he could cry on command. He was standing in front of Voldemort. Desperately missing his wand who was currently with his Potions teacher, Severus Snape. Standing a bit to his side with a faraway look. He didn't have any chance of getting it back. He didn't trust Snape to give it back. He didn't trust Snape to get them out of this either since he could have just knocked Bellatrix out in the corridor on the way there and run to the nearest floo fireplace like hell. Instead, he leads him right to Voldemort's snake eyes and was staring off into space!

Maybe he was planning? Harry stifled a laugh. Good, he hid it well. Not that it was hard. As mentioned before, Snape was staring into a black void of probable depression. The Deatheaters were chuckling into their masks or sleeves like little children who just heard something naughty. Voldemort was waving his wand threateningly at the head of the table as he droned on and on about how weak Harry was. How he failed. Blah, blah, blah...

If anyone needed to be quiet for 10 minutes, it was Voldemort.

"Now, no one is coming to save you. You will die alone. You will die far more painfully. Knowing that you failed your friends, your pathetic muggle loving parents, and everyone who depends on you-"

Here comes the waterworks. Here comes the perfect actor hid deep within. Comes out in the toughest situations. Like when he didn't study for an exam and needs Hermione's notes to not completely fail. He won't stand here and listen to this 'dark lord' go on and on about what a failure he was.

So he sobbed. Hard. Tears came down his cheeks. He really had to pull out all the stops for this one. He never really cried in front of Voldemort. He had no other option actually and simply needed him to shut up!

"I-I-I know! I know I am an f-failure!" Harry sagged as deep sobs racked his body in deep emotional despair. He looked to the side. Snape was brought back to reality and was slowly blinking. A rare moment of emotion showed of being caught completely off guard on his face. He wiped it off in a matter of moments and looked away with a scowl. Deep confusion still swimming in his eyes. "I-I am sorry!"

"You...You're..." Voldemort, for the first time in his life, was speechless. "You're...What?"

"Huh?" Bellatrix sounded normal for a moment. Her eyes grew wide and she looked to her sister for answers. Narcassia looked to Lucius. Signaling for him to do something. Lucious looked back with a silent question of what exactly she expected him to do. The rest of the death eaters straightened their backs and didn't dare move. Scared or confused? Maybe both?

"What exactly are you sorry for?" One of the death eaters called out. Getting glares from a few in the room.

"T-That I am not-" Another heart-wrenching sob. "-Po-Powerful enough! I-I just want to be a normal kid and- I am nothing but an f-failure!"

"What the fuck is going on?" One of the death eaters harshly hissed to a comrade beside them at the table. The other death eater shrugged and mumbled a response Harry couldn't hear. Voldemort was looking around. As if expecting someone, other than him, to deal with it. That's not how being a dark lord works. He should know that by now.

"I-I ju-just want to be normal! My Aunt and Un-Uncle hate me! Why c-can't someone love me for once!" Harry cried out with sorrow. As if the stress of life was becoming too much and he was having a full-on breakdown. Bellatrix looked sick and buried her head in her hands. Shaking her head back and forth.

Narcassia jumped up with tears in her eyes and a strangled voice, full of emotion.

"I need to see my son!"

She ran out after that. Her priorities quickly jumped.

"W-Why don-don't they like me? I-I do all the chores! I-I make their food! I ju-just want someone to like me!"

"B-but your...ugh...friends?" Voldemort finally spoke up. He seemed 'human' for a moment as he was unsure of how to deal with the situation. Harry gripped his shirt and shook his head.


LORD VOLDEMORT:

As the dark lord, he had tortured muggles, mudbloods, half-bloods, and pure-bloods. He had dealt with countless crying over the years. Pleading, begging, pouring their souls out. He had to wait so long to see the Boy-who-lived begging on his knees. Being absolutely pathetic as he begged to live.

So why was this so...Why did this make him pause and reconsider his entire stance on that matter? Good question. He would like to know that question as well.

"W-Why don-don't they like me? I-I do all the chores! I-I make their food! I ju-just want someone to like me!"

That brings up the obvious question of, what about his pathetic friends? They like him. He has adoring fans everywhere. What about his damn friends? Alright, he will bite. Once he brings Potter back to the reality of all he has to live for, then he can go back to crushing him. After he does that he will have to kill have the death eaters in the room for showing such weakness.

"B-but your...ugh...friends?" Voldemort finally spoke up. He seemed 'human' for a moment as he was unsure of how to deal with the situation. He hated himself for that. He didn't have a heart. He didn't have a damn heart. He didn't care about some sob story about a boy who lost his parents and was raised by filthy pathetic muggles. It certainly didn't remind him of his own experiences with the mugglewor...Shit. Harry gripped his shirt and shook his head.

"Al-All they ca-care about is me being f-famous! R-Ron has abandoned me m-more times than I can-can count! I a-m so alone! Pr-Professor Sn-Snape was always right! I am an aw-awful person!"

'Oh hell..." Severus looked to the ceiling. "You have got to be kidding me right now, Merlin."

"Severus!" One of the death eaters closest to the pair snapped. "How could you? He is just a boy!"

OK, that death eater is going to die.

"A boy, need I remind you, you were happy to see him die mere hours ago?" Severus snapped back. The death eater slumped and looked back to the table. Their face was hidden behind the mask but there was practically guilt radiating from the follower in waves. Affecting all those around them.

"Touché..." A few muttered who heard the snapping comments back.

"W-Why can't I live a normal life? I-Is that too much to ask? J-Just one n-normal school year! I-It was only a short week away. J-Just one normal year!"

Voldemort was swearing a lot in his mind. He was actually considering letting him go just for one year. What was happening? Was this some sort of sick manipulation magic? He needs to know that sp-

Shit. Shit, now he couldn't bring himself to attack the boy's mind to figure out what spell he was using. He felt bad. What was going on? This was all wrong. Damn it, he wanted him to get away now. For one year. It couldn't hurt, could it? All his Horcrux's were safe. He was gathering new followers every week. Dumbledore was getting more and more stupid as the minutes ticked on. Would it really be that bad?

"Just get him out of my sight! Pathetic! Severus, get him out now!"

It's official. Harry Potter has won another fight. He was already regretting it. But...Some of his followers had a few flickers of smiles on their stupid faces. That's it. Put them in a false sense of security that he is being nice. Then, when they least expect it, enact full revenge for even daring to think he was showing humanity. Because he wasn't. He really wasn't. He was a cold master manipulator who wasn't at all feeling sympathy for a boy who was also mistreated by disgusting muggles who didn't deserve to live.

Severus seemed dazed. But, he was the one follower Voldemort could depend on not to crack under the pressure of a sob story. He scowled at the well-deserved hatred directed at the arrogant boy. Still sobbing. Clutching his stomach. His body shaking over the distress of his life. Severus grabbed the trembling boy and roughly dragged him out of the room without a word.

One of the death eaters, still affected by the strange sympathy magic, had the guts to look to his comrades.

"Are we really going to let him leave with Snape? You heard what he said! Sna-"

Voldemort pointed his wand to the follower before anyone could react.

"Avada Kedavra."

A green light shot out of his wand and hit the former follower in the chest. He slid out of his chair and dropped to the floor. Dead. He deserved much, much, worse. Bellatrix didn't bother to look up and was still shaking her head. Muttering curses and confused mumbled jumbled phrases under her breath.

He knew Snape and Potter had already left the complex by now. Voldemort looked over his followers. Considering who should die the most. Mostly the younger levels admittedly but that didn't stop him from considering Lucius as an option for his considerable weakness. Showing how weak the higher members of his followers were. Bad role model, really. Not to mention his wife's behavior. More weakness. The Malfoy's really had fallen.

"What type of magic was that?" Voldemort hissed. He slammed his fists on the table. Making everyone, even Bellatrix jump slightly in their spot. The Death eaters on the sides of the room were attempting to pretend they didn't exist in the shadows. But he knew they were there. He knew. "What type of fucking magic was that!? Go! Find the answer so it may never happen again!"

Everyone practically pushed each other through the double doors in a mad dash to the large Malfoy Library, Knockturn Alley, and Diagon Alley to buy rare books that might have the answer.

They never did find an answer because one didn't exist. Forty-nine death eaters lost their lives over the next couple of weeks as their search for an answer became hopeless. Because again, there wasn't one. And Voldemort just couldn't accept that Harry Potter got away on a sob story. And as the days went on, neither could the death eaters.


SEVERUS SNAPE:

Severus returned Harry to the Durselys mere moments after they left the manor. Harry stopped crying the moment they dropped onto the street. Severus pushed this away for another time as he needed to focus on one goal. Getting Harry the hell away from him. Severus shoved Harry's wand back to the boy as if it was cursed. They quickly walked over to the needed house and knocked on the door. Soon Petunia and Vernon Dursely stood at the door. As Severus looked between the ugly woman Petunia had become, not that she was ever good to look at but she somehow got worse on the beauty department and was carefully inspecting him. Trying to pinpoint why she knew him but just wasn't connecting the dots and her whale of a husband who was changing a shade of purple. Looking like he was ready to throttle the life out of Harry, who stood beside him with a look of embarrassment and had apologies for running away for a good two days (Most of the time was spent laying knocked out on the floor of a dark dungeon with his face against the cold stone because a death eater was a bit too gitty.) sprouting out of his mouth in a mad dash.

Severus didn't doubt for a minute that Harry was actually being truthful in his apology. He also found that he wasn't even bothered by that. That realization bothered him in return. Now he was annoyed with himself and want to hex Petunia because she wouldn't stop looking at him. He knew she was trying to figure him out. Her stupid husband thought she was developing a crush on Severus and was no longer paying attention to Harry's groveling.

"Just get inside, freak!" Vernon finally spitted out. Having given up watching his wife "fall" for the dark wizard with an ugly face that screamed depression and greasy hair that didn't seem to have been cleaned since the day he was born and was intent on separating her from him in the quickest manner he could. He grabbed Harry and pushed him into the house.

Petunia's eyes grew wide as she finally connected the dots. She looked towards him in a combination of fear and disgust. Yeah, that seems about right. Before she could go off on a screeching complaint that would surely make his ears bleed, Vernon Dursely slammed the door shut with a loud click of a lock to follow.

Severus wiped out his wand with a smirk of planning revenge. Would it really be so bad if they starting having issues? Broken faucets. Flickering lights. No evidence that anything was actually breaking but light bulbs that mysteriously never turns on. No matter how many times you replace the light? Someone certainly thinks not.

Oh, with the added bonus that they couldn't ask Harry to fix it as whenever they would try. They mysteriously couldn't find the words. Couldn't bring themselves to make him do it with actions.

Severus muttered a few spells and hexes under his breath. His magic went unseen through the front door.

"MOM!" A loud scream yelled out from the house. Somewhere inside. A boy's voice. Not Harry's of course. "DAD! The TV is broken! FIX IT!"

Severus disappeared in a crack of magic as the front door opened to Petunia. She had her husband distracted by her son trying to fix the television, intent on confronting that horrible Snape boy. She looked like she was going to burst a vein when she noticed not only was he gone. So her revenge wasn't satisfied. But she heard the fire alarm go off and Dudley screaming the TV was trash and they needed a new one. He wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Severus reappeared across the street from the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Also known as the Black family residence. Also known as 12 Grimmauld Place. He quickly did the secret password to enter the building. Making it past the wards that kept that building hidden to anyone who didn't know of its existence and wasn't an Order member.

The reality of what had taken place was running in his mind. He couldn't make sense of it. He couldn't even begin. He slammed open the black front door to enter the house. He ignored how Sirius, Albus, and Remus, who seemed to be in deep discussion with someone using the Floo Network in the living room, jumped up and immediately snapped to attention upon noticing he arrived.

"Severus, my boy?"

"Severus? Wh-"

"Snivellus?! Hey! Get back here!"

He ignored them. He ignored Minerva who was drinking fire whiskey in the kitchen. He plucked it out her hand before she could even demand where the hell he was for the past three days and where the hell Harry was as a follow-up question because the first one was stupid. He was with the death eaters obviously.

The rest of them piled into the room as Severus took a swift gulp from the bottle and sat down in a dignified manner. Not collapsing. Not being dramatic. Just sitting down like nothing was wrong and staring at the bottle he held out in front of him.

"Severus?" Albus called out again. Viable concern on everyone's face. Although Minerva was quite annoyed Severus just plucked her best bottle of whiskey out of her hand. "We just received word from Arabella Figg. She said you dropped Harry off a few minutes ago. What happened? Are you and Harry alright?"

"Potter and I are physically fine. As of what happened during his incarceration...As of what happened when we were in the death eater meeting..." Severus paused. He didn't even know how to begin to explain what just happened. Minerva was on the edge of her seat with anticipation. Sirius was getting more agitated as the milliseconds passed and Remus was just concerned. He took another long gulp.

His thoughts weren't being any more clearer.

"Just spit it out already!" Sirius roared.

"As of what happened..." Severus trailed off. He looked up at them with very conflicted eyes. "That is a loaded question. I am the wrong person to ask."

-THE END-