Severus stood up from where he sat in the kitchen and turned the door, watching the Order members walking in with dejected expressions. Granger walked in after Weasley, both radiating misery while Draco walked in pale as snow after them.
It dawned on him as everyone sat down that Potter was not about to walk in through the door. "Where the devil is Potter?" He demanded from Lupin, who was pathetically encouraged to sit by the metamorphmagus. "Where is Black? Lupin what happened?" Severus demanded.
No one answered at first and Severus felt an itch to hex them all where they sat. "Sirius is dead. Bellatrix used the killing curse… and he fell into the veil… right in front of Harry." Lupin's whisper was only audible because of the deafening silence in the room.
Severus clenched his fists. Just perfect. More grief thrust upon that child's shoulders. The stupid dog couldn't even keep himself alive for him could he? Useless, stupid Black! "Where is Potter? Is he with the headmaster?"
"No." Granger replied.
"Harry ran after Bellatrix… when we caught up with them…" Weasley started.
"The Dark Lord possessed Potter… he must have done something because when he escaped he called for Potter… who just ran to him. Just like that." Draco said.
Severus sat down slowly, his heart was already beating rapidly and his ears started ringing from just trying to stay calm. That stupid boy… he prayed to the fates to protect him. But he couldn't just leave this to them.
Dumbledore walked in then and Severus stood up immediately. Where had the other been? Once more the headmaster failed in his promise to protect the only person Severus cared about. First Lily… and now that insufferable brat that he was currently panicking about.
"I have explained to the ministry that Voldemort had managed to possess Harry… there was nothing we could have done… Harry let himself be possessed."
"What? How is that possible?" Everyone on the table asked while Severus never took his eyes off the headmaster, who was pointedly avoiding eye contact until then. He looked straight at him and said the words that utterly destroyed him.
"He did it to protect a person important to him."
Harry had occluded. To stop the Dark Lord from seeing Severus helping him, comforting him, caring for him. What had he done? This was all his fault. He should have stayed far away from the start.
"As it stands, you Severus are the only link we have to Harry at this moment in time." Dumbledore said.
"Great…" He heard the Weasley boy mutter sarcastically. He ignored it, it was a tense moment for all of them.
"If he didn't tell me about this plan… He may not want me to know." Severus admitted, clenching his fists. Normally he would have this conversation alone with the headmaster alone but at the moment he didn't give a damn on the setting. He needed the boy back. He needed to know that he was safe.
"Bellatrix seemed rather surprised when he called for Harry, if this was a plan he had kept from everyone, it's likely he's ready to tell his followers about it now that he has succeeded." Dumbledore said.
"Then Snape can bring him back right?" Weasley asked. The headmaster sighed and shook his head.
"It's not so simple, Ron… Snape is still a spy…" Hermione mumbled. Severus clenched his jaw tightly.
"Headmaster… a word. Please." Severus said, walking into the next room.
"Severus… I know what you're going to say but there was nothing I could have done." Yes. Because it was Severus' fault. The brat let himself be controlled in order to protect Severus from getting found out.
"What do you want me to do headmaster? When he does call?" He asked.
"Don't do anything rash. Analyse the situation and report to me… nothing more."
"What if they're hurting him?" Severus whispered clenching his hands into fists. The terror he felt when the Dark Lord targeted Lily returned ten-fold. He'd imagined how they would torture her before they killed her. Her quick death was the only comfort he had in those dark days after the Dark Lord's demise.
"Then you occlude my boy."
Severus met the old wizard's saddened eyes and had to look away. He went straight to the fireplace and disappeared into it.
Once in his rooms he stood just outside the fireplace and stared at the quiet quarters. He sat down slowly and rolled up his sleeve, staring at the dark mark. No matter how much he stared at it, it wouldn't call for him.
"Damn it!" He kicked the coffee table hard, sending its contents to the floor. He resisted the urge to take out the rest of his anger on the furniture. He took in a shaky breath as he remembered how he reprimanded Potter for the same offense.
Severus reached forward to pick up what had fallen off. It was a package. His throat tightened remembering what he had ordered. He opened it to see the uniforms he'd gotten the boy.
He'd allowed himself to get too close… and now Potter was in the demon's den because of it. He sat back on the chair, the new uniforms haunting him as the hours passed. He never thought he would find himself eagerly waiting for the mark to burn.
His prayers were answered at three in the morning. The witching hour. He stood up straight and straightened his robes, going straight to Malfoy Manor.
When he arrived the same empty green eyes he never wanted to see greeted him.
oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo
Harry looked up at Snape's arrival from where he sat on a shorter chair by Voldemort's side. It ensured that different stations were not confused. He wore heavy and expensive robes as ordered by Voldemort.
"It seems everyone is here." Voldemort said proudly. Harry looked away from Snape and turned to the Dark Lord as he stood up to lead them to the dining room. "Come Harry. Come Nagini."
Harry and Nagini both walked and slithered respectively, side by side, behind him. "Yes master." Both replied in parselmouth.
There was a pause from the death eaters and Harry stopped to look at them over his shoulder. "You too." He said and turned to run ahead, to catch up with the large snake.
oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo
Severus felt a chill go up his spine when he heard the boy talking. So he wasn't completely under an eternal sleep?
The deatheaters present started making their way to the dining room where Voldemort sat at the head of the table. He motioned for Harry to lower his head which the boy did. The Dark Lord whispered something in his ear and Potter nodded, remaining on his feet while everyone sat.
"My loyal followers. May I present to you Harry. I have taken him in." He said. "He has accepted and joined my side after he realised that the muggle treatment he's received is nothing but aberrant." He said.
Severus looked at Harry who stared blankly ahead.
"Harry."
"Yes master?" The boy responded, turning to look at the Dark Lord.
"You may retire for the night."
Potter nodded slightly and turned to leave, Nagini watching him go before settling where she lay. Severus watched him go. No one spoke, no one knew what to say.
"My lord, what a victory, to have Harry Potter in your grasp." Alecto Carrow was the first one to speak.
"Yes, it is quite a victory." The Dark Lord said.
"What is your plan for him?" Augustus Rookwood asked. Severus remained quiet, allowing the deatheaters to do ask his questions for him.
"I have a very important plan for him… however, only a few of you will have the honour of knowing it. I have called you all to use your influences to ensure Harry is portrayed as a… victim, kidnapped and unwilling to come to my side." He said.
"He came to you voluntarily?" Bellatrix asked.
"Either way he will never break free of the hold I have over him. However, if we make people believe their saviour is being held hostage it makes them… more trusting of the boy."
Yes, that was clever. If his control over Harry was really as strong, he could end up sending him to do vile things without Harry being initially suspected.
"As such I want you all to use your influence to make it seem like he is an unwilling prisoner… it will make my plan all the more satisfying when it reaches completion." He smirked. "Bellatrix, Severus, Lucius, Avery, Nott and Rowle. Stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed."
Severus felt a weight leave his shoulders as he was chosen to remain.
"My Lord? Do we have the honour of knowing your plans for P-Harry?" Bellatrix said sighing softly as she spoke to him, completely devoted to him.
"Yes you do. I have chosen all of you to assist me in the training of Harry."
"Training?" Lucius asked.
"Yes. I want him trained in the various specialties of dark arts that you each specialise in."
Severus' stomach twisted in revulsion. He was going to make Potter learn dark magic. What could he possibly do to stop the boy from falling into its addictive trap? Especially now that he seemed to have no notion of consequences. Maybe he won't remember anything when he does snap out of it? Somehow Severus doubted the possibility.
