CHAPTER 24 - A Higher Price

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Dawn was met in Raven's chambers by a peculiar scratching on her window. Having already showered and dressed, Raven was deep in meditation and didn't hear the persistent noise for a good minute. Slowly, she resurfaced from the recesses of her mind in irritation at the disruption and lowered her feet to the ground to investigate the source.

Outside the window, a tiny, puffy, snow-white owl struggled to remain level outside the glass as it tapped with its foot and beak. The pale sorceress paused in almost amused confusion at the sight of the little bird ramming itself into her window, and wondered why it so persistently desired entry to her room. Then she noticed the scroll held in its beak, and she realized it was acting as a messenger.

Crossing the room, Raven unlatched the lock and swung the heavy glass window open to allow the flying fluff ball inside. The owl, no bigger than a grapefruit and whiter than a cloud, tumbled inside and dropped the scroll on the floor. Regaining its feet, the tiny bird hopped around, hooting softly as it searched for food. The demoness couldn't help a small smile from crossing her face as she stooped over to retrieve the message. The thing was adorable and reminded her of a plush toy.

Indignant at not finding any treats, the round floof of feathers emitted an angry squeak and flapped out.

Raven turned her attention to the scroll and read the swoopy cursive script.

My dear Miss Roth,

I would be most pleased if you would join me in my office for

breakfast this morning, as there are some last minute details

and words of advice I would like to impart. Professor McGonagall

has graciously agreed to escort you and shall collect you from

your rooms at eight. We look forward to seeing you then.

~ Albus Dumbledore

Her lips flattened skeptically. "We?" she noticed the pronoun change. Did he mean McGonagall would remain for the duration of the meeting? If the "details" and "words of advice" at all pertained to the upcoming Revel at Malfoy senior's residence, she doubted Minerva would be openly invited to discuss Order matters. She shrugged it off and resumed meditation.

Inside her mindscape, Raven reassured her dormant personalities that she would be in control at both meetings, and could handle herself without their assistance.

Yellow Raven pushed her glasses further up her nose dubiously. "I do apologize for my insistence, but I have serious concerns over her sudden reappearance and the implications of such a return. Have you calculated the risk? Because I have, and they're quite..."

Logic was interrupted by Bubblegum Pink Raven with a dramatic eye roll. "Oh my GOD calculations shmalculations! Can't we just agree that it's awesome to have her back? I don't give a flying fartcycle about whatever 'implications' you're talking about...we're happy for once in our lives, so you can suck my lady-dick."

"Calm down," Blue Raven sighed.

"Calm down? More like turn down! ...FOR WHAT! EYY-OOOOHHHH!" Green Raven fist-bumped the air enthusiastically. "Seriously bitches, I don't see what the big fuss is: We show up. We kick Voldy's snakey ass. We save the goddamn Wizarding World! Heroine gets the guy..Happy endings all around!"

Magenta Raven suggestively licked a banana through hooded eyelids. "And you know how much we'd love to give Professor Severus Sexy... several happy endings..." She had the audacity to wink.

Blue Raven blushed and shook her head. In desperation, she turned to the long-absent personality in question for guidance. But, to her dismay, Teal Raven simply stood off to the side and observed quietly. "Teal? Any thoughts?"

Aquamarine simply glanced at her and held her gaze warmly. She smiled just a little and gave her a small nod as if to say 'Many.'

Grey Raven stepped forward to stand beside Teal. "The time is coming for you to make a choice. I only ask that you listen to her when the time comes, or you will not have such a chance again."

Blue Raven frowned. "You don't have to be so cryptic, Wisdom...this is me you're talking to."

"It is for precisely that reason I must be."

"Whatever. It's almost time for me to go," she turned to address the group authoritatively. "I expect cooperation from you all, today of all days. It's come down to this."

The multitude of colors bowed slightly in unison and dispersed without further comment, and Raven returned to the world in time to hear the knock. She quickly stowed her meditation hand mirror in the alternate dimension she kept all her most private things and answered the door.

"Good morning to you, Miss Roth. I hope you received the Headmaster's letter, or this would be highly irregular."

"And to you, Professor. My introduction to owl mail was successful, if a bit confusing initially. I'm ready to go."

The walk to Dumbledore's office was relatively uneventful, though as they rounded the turn that led to the gargoyle staircase, Minerva broke the silence in which they'd thus far been traveling. Her tone was uncharacteristically maternal, as if she were offering mentorship to one of her Gryffindors. "No matter what he says, dear, just remember that you don't owe him a thing."

The sorceress sent her a quizzical glance as they approached the statue. "That's not altogether true, Professor. He granted me shelter in my time of-"

"Aye, but it's up to you to determine how much he can justifiably ask for in recompense." She turned to the stone gargoyle. "Skiving Snackbox." The large statue groaned and began spiraling upward.

Raven boarded the steps and began the ascent.

McGonagall gave her a meaningful look before she turned to go. "Weigh it carefully, girl."

The hooded demoness nodded courteously, still confused.

The stairs seemed to rise extra slowly that day, giving Raven time to question the words McGonagall had impressed on her, as well as mentally prepare herself for whatever it was Dumbledore wanted to say. Depending on how controlled she could keep herself, there were plenty of things she'd like to say to him as well, considering last night's little fiasco. She resolved to stow everything of that nature until her first meeting with Voldemort was complete and she had a standing to ground herself on before challenging the Headmaster again.

It occurred to her, just as the stairs began to make their final rotation, that McGonagall hadn't accompanied her. So who was this "we" Dumbledore had written of in his missive?

She soon found out as the office came into view, and the familiar black robed, painfully slender wizard came into view standing to the side of the main desk. Albus himself was standing on the other side. Both men were apparently waiting for her arrival - the latter wearing the blissful smile of a doddering old man and the former quite expressionless.

Albus' smile widened affectionately as he raised his arm out in greeting. "Raven! So good of you to join us on such short notice. I've taken the liberty of sending for a sampler of Hogwarts' finest breakfast selection. Do sit down. Do you take coffee, or tea?"

The girl approached easily, but remained guarded with her hood up. "Tea, thank you sir."

"Excellent choice. Severus, do sit! You'll need your strength to last you through today's revelry."

The Slytherin didn't even look at the old man, nor did his face show any reaction. He merely sat as instructed.

As she sat, she shamelessly sent an empathic probe toward him to gauge his status. The sorceress sensed increased feelings of betrayal, resentment, and...oh dear, she identified...surrender. The Potions Master had yet to look at either of them, instead keeping his eyes trained on the floor in front of him. This wasn't good.

Raven spoke quietly, infusing as much warmth into her voice as she could. "Good morning, Severus. How are you feeling?"

Snape allowed his vision refocus and rise to look at her. "Well enough to do my job. I hope the same can be said about you." His voice acidic. Harsh. His expression remained flat, but his eyes... Raven's breath almost caught. Those eyes held such emptiness that the empath was almost enveloped by it.

The Headmaster coughed slightly, regaining her attention just in time for the trays of food to pop onto the desk in front of them. The old wizard clapped his hands together and rubbed them in anticipation. "Ah! Toaster strudels! A Muggle indulgence of mine the house elves keep in stock for me. I insist you try one."

Raven declined wordlessly and instead sipped on her tea, while Snape simply sat dutifully in his chair waiting for the actual meeting to begin.

"Headmaster, if you would please get to the reason for this gathering, I would be much more inclined to join the informality."

Dumbledore's face fell just a little as he chewed his pastry, disappointed his diversionary tactics were so carelessly dismissed. Sometimes, he just wanted to enjoy breakfast first...

"Alas," Albus lamented, "down to business it is, then." The bearded wizard then stuffed the rest of the strudel in his mouth and took his time chewing it before proceeding. Raven fought hard not to sigh impatiently. "Today, you make contact with Lord Volde-"

"Let's dispense with the foolishness, Headmaster," Raven cut him off with a flourish of her hand, even as Severus let out a silent breath. "We both recognize the imperative need for prudence and the potentially deadly risk of underestimating our enemy. Don't do me the disservice of lecturing me on caution while you exercise flagrant indiscretion to my face."

She felt a sidelong glance from the spy next to her, but was too preoccupied by the entertaining reaction from the old man in front of her. If he had been any lesser wizard, he'd have started sputtering and spitting in outrage. But, being the wise old sage that he was, he merely pressed his lips together and lowered his steely blue eyes over his spectacles at the insolent young girl.

"Miss Roth, indiscretion comes in varying degrees, and someone my age with my level of experience has developed the ability to accurately calculate the risk-to-benefit ratio of each action. Nevertheless, I will respect your feelings on the matter and overlook the interruption. In fact, I shall forgo normal pleasantries and skip directly to why I've asked you here."

Raven didn't need words to convey her thoughts: 'Finally.'

"I cannot press upon you how important today's meeting with Tom will be. I hope I have made it clear that my entire organization depends on his downfall, and there is no price too large to pay for the safety of the Wizarding World. You can understand just how painful the cost of victory can be...sometimes sacrifices have to be made."

The sorceress tilted her head in preparation for The Point.

Albus continued. "To summate, this war between Darkness and Light outweighs your feelings for Professor Snape, and I want to reemphasize that your attachment to him must not interfere with your mission."

Raven simply stared at him, her face blank.

Her lack of response unnerved the Headmaster a little. "I'll clarify. While I am pleased you've temporarily found a happy diversion in each other, your priority is subverting the Dark Lord - not your newfound romantic interest. Professor Snape has been reminded of his mission parameters as well. It is common for Tom to use...inhumane methods to punish infractions committed by his Death Eaters, and although tempting to intervene, your directive is infiltration. Is that clear?"

After what felt like a minute, the demoness' eyes narrowed. "I understand. Perfectly."

At once, the Headmaster's demeanor transformed into the giddy old grandfather the students were so fond of - eyes twinkling and eyes crinkling mirthfully. "Wonderful! Now please try one of these Toaster Strudels before they get cold."

Raven merely stood up and swept down the few steps toward the stone gargoyle. "I don't do breakfast."

Dumbledore's forced joy faltered. "Alas. Go on Severus, and good luck. You'll know where to find me for your after action report."

The Potions Master gave a single nod and strode after the retreating girl, leaving Albus to seize the remaining two glazed pastries for himself.

The pair rode the stairs down from the Headmaster's office together in tense silence.

His face remained neutral, carefully Occluding his thoughts to project nothing more than professionalism they came to a stop. "We will be traveling by side-along Apparation to Malfoy Manor, so it would behoove us to get a move-on. It takes a lengthy walk to reach the Hogwarts gates from here."

The young empath didn't argue or suggest teleportation. She rather fancied the idea of another walk with him before they could no longer speak freely together. Not that they could now, she remembered. Raven sighed. No less drama in the Magical realm than the Muggle one...

She nodded curtly and swept down the hall, allowing him to catch up and match her pace.

Few students were about - it was a Hogsmeade weekend, so the few left at the castle were either outside, in the library studying, or simply in their common rooms. The demoness appreciated the relative privacy as they walked, though neither of them had said a word since leaving the Headmaster's office, or indeed even cast a glance at the other.

With some effort, she managed to stifle the bubbles of emotion threatening to belay her outwardly ambivalent appearance. She wished he would say something. Dumbledore had obviously rebuked his young spy very effectively, and she half-wished she had been more terse with the Headmaster. But, it wasn't her place to come between Snape and Dumbledore. It was blindingly evident they had plenty of issues already, and she was merely the newest among them.

Still, in this particular scenario, wasn't it more a case of Dumbledore coming between Snape and herself? Given of course that his first concern was the war effort, she could partially understand his meddling in the affairs of his two most valuable assets. That didn't justify his abuse of authority in their lives, however. Simply because Severus had sworn (quite literally on pain of death) obedience to the old wizard, it did not give him carte blanche to dictate every facet of his life. Until this Dark Lord was defeated for good, Raven had little optimism that Severus would be free to live his life how he saw fit. As long as he was still under the Unbreakable Vow all Order members were forced to submit to, there was no chance for anything more than existence as a slave.

Raven's eyes hardened as she walked.

"So tell me Severus," she finally spoke, her voice strong and confident. "What is your theory on why Dumbledore insists I infiltrate this terrorist organization rather than simply destroying it outright?"

He emitted no sound, but perhaps for the first time in his life, the Slytherin stubbed the toe of his boot on the carpeted stone and stumbled a few steps forward before catching his balance. Humiliated by his graceless display in response to her blunt observation, Snape sniffed deeply and carried on as though nothing had happened. He looked down his protruding nose at her angrily, as though she were personally responsible for tripping him.

"Perhaps the Headmaster does not wish to overestimate your abilities, as you so patently do," he sneered derisively.

Raven ignored his venom and merely responded to the core idea of his reply. "A prudent choice from an imprudent leader. I can't help but wonder if that's the extent of his motivations."

Snape raised an eyebrow despite himself, but his mouth stayed in its contemptuous twist.

She shrugged innocently to his probing expression. "I find that power is power, regardless of side. Few men possess the desire or the fortitude to remove the crown once the battle is won."

Her companion said nothing to this, but his gaze shifted to some point ahead of them. His eyes remained unfocused in the thousand yard stare as they progressed through the Great Hall and made their way to the main entrance.

Arriving at the iron gates on the border of Hogwarts grounds, the Potions Master swung them open with a wave of his hand and the pair stepped through. The heavy doors clanged shut and Raven held her hand out expectantly.

Something passed over Severus' face as he took her fingers in his. In a moment of weakness, he let his guard drop just enough to allow him to gently caress her hand with his thumb.

Raven's violet eyes flicked to his in wordless surprise. She squeezed his hand in response and Snape took a steadying breath.

"Very well then," he spoke softly. "We go."

As they Apparated away, the dark empath was rendered speechless when the outwardly stoic man threaded his fingers through hers for the journey.


Malfoy Manor was even more impressive from the outside. The long gravel drive passed by a large fountain featuring large, animated stone swans shooting water from their beaks. She could scarcely believe the sprawling French-inspired chateau harbored one of the darkest wizards of the century. It was entirely too cheery, what with its buttery-yellow color and bright white trim. Not to mention the multitude of actual peacocks strutting about the immaculately landscaped lawn. Raven stared with half her mouth pulled up almost in a cringe as she surveyed the massive rose bushes crawling around the side of the mansion and the expertly trimmed hedges in the shapes of swans. Even more cringe-inducing was the enormous monogram "M" laid on the front lawn in flowers.

"Lucius has a taste for presentation," Snape said wryly as they neared the front doors. They had long-since dropped hands.

With a mental shake, Raven rearranged her face into what she hoped looked like polite indifference as the Slytherin used the iron knocker to announce their presence.

Immediately, the door opened and the two guests were greeted by what Raven now recognized to be a house elf wearing a loincloth. The sorceress was appalled when she saw the state this one was in. One eye was swollen shut, and the fingers on one hand were wrapped in gauze.

"Welcome to House of Malfoy, honorable sir and madam," it squeaked in terror. "Vermin is taking your coats now and is seeing you to the drawing room with the master."

Raven stooped over to get a better view of the creature's injuries. "What happened to you?" she asked.

The thing shied away at her sudden movement and looked away shamefully. "Vermin was a bad elf. Vermin does not deserve the privilege of serving house of Malfoy."

She snorted. "I sincerely doubt anyone does. Hold still." The empath stretched out a hand, rolling her eyes at the elf's predictable flinch and proceeding to heal him anyway.

The elf began to hyperventilate as it held up its hand and inspect it with both normal - if buggy - eyes. "No, no no no no no no, no!" Vermin frantically shook its head, backing away slowly. It suddenly popped out sight.

Raven looked to Snape in askance.

The Potions Master shrugged. "There are still many aspects of Magical culture you have yet to learn...House Elf behavior and psychology being one of them. Do not dwell on the matter - we are here for a bigger purpose."

His quiet words were cut off by clacking of boots on the marble floor approaching the entry hall...the same marble flooring with the same monogram "M" seal she had witnessed in his' pensieve memories. Gods, that felt like weeks ago. "Severus? Miss Roth?"

The two guests stepped fully into the house onto the giant scripted "M" and the heavy double doors closed behind them automatically just as the wizard of the house rounded the corner. Lucius was dressed immaculately in light tan trousers bloused over black riding boots, which complimented the rich emerald green jacket with coattails. His shining platinum blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that reached just between his shoulder blades: longer than Snape's hair that not quite brushed the tops of his shoulders.

The cold grey eyes projected a surprising amount of charisma as he smiled and shook both their hands. "I do apologize on behalf of my house elf...it knew better than to abandon you on my front stoop like this. Please come inside! I have others waiting to welcome you with mimosas and and fruit trays. I even ducked down into my cellar to retrieve my finest cheeses." He added that last bit with a conspiratorial smirk while they walked through the dining room and into the grand ballroom.

Raven was caught totally off guard by the number of people already present, and it seemed Snape was as well. She had expected to show up and then wait for Voldemort to arrive while suffering Lucius' relentless attempts to woo her with his riches.

It appeared to be the opposite scenario. At least twenty witches and wizards, all professionally dressed, stood mingling about with glasses of sparkling champagne or some other treat. As they entered, the group looked expectantly, but didn't fall silent - no, rather they simply acknowledged her presence with raised glasses and smiles and resumed their conversations. It was surprisingly...acceptable...at least in terms of her own discomfort in large groups. They didn't crowd her, or shift the focus of the event on her, and yet they hadn't been rude by flat-out ignoring her. So far, so good.

"Come come come!" Lucius refrained from touching her elbow to guide her and instead waved her to follow him. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

They easily navigated through the crowd, and while the chatting company didn't part like the Red Sea for them, the guests effortlessly made room for them as they approached. With a heartbeat's moment of panic, Raven looked back and realized Snape wasn't accompanying them. He remained in the back of the room, but gave her a single, supportive nod which gave her confidence to not look back again.

On the other side of the ballroom, standing at the fireplace looking into the flames, was none other than Lord Voldemort himself. He cradled a glass of red wine - A little early to hit the sauce, isn't it? - and was laughing at something the witch standing opposite had said. She had frizzy, untamed black hair that went very well with her wild, undomesticated face. To the sorceress, she resembled what the Wicked Witch of the West would have looked like as a pasty white girl in her thirties, minus the bulbous warts.

Merely the sight of that reptilian figure chuckling amiably struck Raven oddly, and she struggled to name the sensation - like petting a cat the wrong direction? But before she could devote a second's thought more to it, the Dark Lord noticed her approach and turned to face them.

"Ahh! Raven Roth at last." He smiled, and though it felt sincere, his unnaturally wide mouth gave it an unnatural element. He made no move to shake hands or touch her, and instead bowed just a little in formal greeting.

Raven returned the bow with a generous nod. "Tom Riddle, or do you prefer Voldemort?" She expected to provoke a reaction, but didn't get one.

"If you feel uncomfortable using my name, I will accept the old one." With a swish of his fingers, he dismissed the black haired witch beside him. She shot the newcomer an envious, hateful look before stalking away. The Dark Lord nodded to Lucius, who also retreated back into the crowd.

His attention returned to the demoness. "I have worked hard to arrange this meeting. Ssso glad you accepted my invitation. Or rather...sso glad Dumbledore did on your behalf."

The Azthranian gave in and let the smirk appear on her face. "You're well informed."

"In my position, I have to be. Though in this cassse, it's mostly because I know Dumbledore."

"To be fair, he's pretty straightforward. Hardly a challenge."

"While I do like a challenge," he said meaningfully before continuing, "I appreciate all the ssoft balls I can get. It's not easy running a revolution."

"So I've heard...and seen," she said pointedly, knowing he'd understand her implication.

Sure enough, the Heir of Slytherin sighed through his slitted nostrils and pressed his flat mouth together. "Yess, I am very ssorry your first impression of me had to come from a second-hand memory painting me in..." he hesitated to select his words ..."not the most complimentary of lights. Everyone in positions of leadership is, at one point or another, faced with difficult decisions that will undoubtedly be perceived as wrong by ssomeone. I happen to be lesss bothered by blood than others, and my rival happens to be lesss bothered by deceitful manipulation than me. I choose to enforce my authority transparently and yess, sometimes harshly...while Albuss prefers to play puppet master behind closed doors with unwitting - and occasionally unwilling - participants."

He took a sip of his wine.

"Tell me Miss Raven. How did he blackmail ssomeone of your power and intellect into sspying on me?"

This guy was good. The sorceress vehemently rejected the idea that she was enjoying this, and instead tried to remind herself that this thing very nearly murdered Severus simply because he hadn't told him about her.

The empath, seeing Draco Malfoy resentfully carrying a silver tray through the crowd in her peripheral vision, reached a hand out and scooped up a mimosa. Draco grumbled at the humiliating role his father had placed him in and straightened his white suit before hurrying away from the Dark Lord. Raven indulged in a luxurious sip before answering.

"Respectfully requested is a more appropriate description. With not-so-subtle reminders of the favors he's given me. But I agreed on my own terms, mostly because I have a vested interest in the welfare of the Magical World."

"Indeed you do, as do we all. I would not be here if I did not, but that's merely observing the obvious." He raised a scaly finger to rub the bottom of his lip contemplatively. "I must confess I am curious though...essspionage? Why sssquander such a vasst, untapped resource on a tassk any number of wizards could attempt?"

"I have my theories," Raven answered candidly. "It may be due to the fact I'm an unmanageable asset he fears could pose a separate threat if I exercise too much force without his control."

His red, snakish eyes lit up. "You did not take the Unbreakable Vow. Your intelligence has been understated in my reports."

Raven continued, ignoring his flattery. "And I will not insult yours by pretending I haven't considered excessive force."

Voldemort lowered his head in a demure nod, uncharacteristically submissive for the megalomaniac. Raven's guard rose at his apparent humility. "You might find that killing me is not in your best interest, Raven Roth."

Her purple eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Yess, I believe you could," he answered her unspoken query. "I may be powerful, but I am not so blindly arrogant in my own sstanding that I wouldn't do my homework on you. Something I sssincerely doubt Dumbledore ever did."

The empath kept her face neutral. "You've tortured and murdered people. You're striving to take over Wizarding England...at least to start. You plan on conducting a type of ethnic cleansing to purify the Magical Realm of those you deem inferior. Please, enlighten me why it's not in everyone's best interest that I don't tear your body apart and cast your soul into Hell right here and now."

To her latent surprise, Voldemort merely smiled a toothy grin. "Obviously it would be in the best interests of those I plan to eliminate, but the ssame could be ssaid by rats of the pest control man. I mean in your best interest. You'll find I did my homework."

"You invited me all the way here, so go ahead," she responded impatiently.

The Dark Lord lifted a single bony shoulder. "Initially, I offer the same hosspitality that Dumbledore gave to you: Asylum. But without the ssubtle reminders. Without the hidden favors, the ssstipulations and resstraints. No ssstrings attached."

She snorted in amusement. "I didn't insult your intelligence, Voldemort. Do me the courtesy of not insulting mine. What is it you want from me?"

Tom Riddle emitted a hissy chuckle. "I ssaid 'initially,' if I recall. When you've adjusted and made yourself comfortable, I want to offer you a partnership. With a country to run, I will need ssomeone by my side who is free from the obligation to tell me what I want to hear. Free of the Mark I'm sure you've learned that my followers wear. Free of any Unbreakable Vow or otherwise binding arrangement that would enssslave you to my whims."

Raven's expression was so flat, it was almost comical in its sarcasm. "Your partner."

"My equal," the snake rephrased.

"In your quest for world domination," her voice just as flat.

"Not during," he corrected. "After. This is my dream, and I would not force that upon you. Once the revolution is at an end, you will be free to live however you sssee fit, hopefully by my sside."

"Wow," Raven deadpanned. "Tempting." She took another sip as she registered the lack of anger on Tom's reptilian face. "Your homework gets an F if you think I'm at all interested in ruling, or power in general for that matter. And even if you thought I was, haven't you considered the possibility I'd simply take over your little organization and reign over the Wizarding World myself?"

Still not showing signs of frustration or disappointment, the Dark Lord winked and drank from his wine goblet. "I had, actually." He sat his empty glass down on the mantelpiece and it automatically filled itself. "My offer of asssylum will stand even when you no longer possess your powers."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously into slits no wider than Voldemort's nostrils. "Come again...?"

He smiled in amusement. "You really would be insulting my intelligence if you believed asylum and a job were the only things I'd offer. You've been sspending too much time with Albus. You'll find that he and I are very different in how we achieve our goals. He moves pawns around a chessboard and I, well... I give people what they want."

In one fluid motion, Tom Riddle stepped to the side of Raven, reached out a long and spindly arm, and pulled an alarmed Severus Snape toward them seemingly out of nowhere. The Potions Master appeared to be just as startled as she, and he stood there beside her stiffly. "My lord...?" he offered timidly.

Voldemort waved away his question and instead focused his attention on the confused sorceress.

She looked from Slytherin to Slytherin cautiously. "I'm not quite sure I follow. Am I to understand you're gifting him to me?"

The Dark Lord laughed in hissy breaths. "I do not treat my followers like possessions - I take care of my own. No, I'm gifting you each other. I undersstand you two share a common desire that in your current sstate you cannot realize."

She coughed, grateful her hood was up to conceal her blush. Snape swallowed silently and scarcely breathed.

"You are well informed." Lying would serve no purpose here.

For the first time, Voldemort leaned in closer to her, skimming the edges of her personal space. Just enough to make her uncomfortable, but not enough to actually be invasive. "I can give you a life free from such torment."

Raven stood still as a statue, all color draining from her face.

"Wh...what?"

The smile that crossed Tom Riddle's face was the most genuine warmth she'd seen him express. "It doesn't take the Mirror of Erised to sssee your heart's desire. A life without your father. And that is what I offer."