AN: So, I'm back from Europe and just about back to normal time. My trip was a blast although there wasn't much time for fanfic writing. Luckily, this chapter is done and ready for postage. Huzzah!

Harry Potter and the Snake's Veil

Chapter 12: Released into Confinement

In the small dining room of Grimmauld Place, the fifteen survivors of what the Daily Prophet came to call "The Boxing Day Massacre" sat around the table in silence. At the head sat Moody; next to him a bound Snape. It had been two days since the battle and the first time they had allowed Snape of his room. They needed answers.

McGonagall spoke first, "Severus, I want the truth; Albus trusted you and after putting us all in danger by setting us up… It is a miracle that there is even an Order left. You betrayed him and us. Albus is dying and quite frankly it's your fault."

Snape winced at the blunt accusation. "Do you think the Dark Lord sets out a weekly planner for us so we can clear our agendas? We are told, at most, a day or two beforehand if we're going to attack. I can't tell you most of what's been going on," Moody opened his mouth, but Snape continued, "because the Dark Lord is not stupid. If I were to tell you everything, the Order would lose its only spy."

Kingsley spoke up, "The Ministry has 'bout twenty spies…"

"All dead."

"What can you tell us then? That the Dark Lord likes crumpets with his tea or that he likes to play crochet in the backyard?" Moody growled. "What can you tell us?"

"I need to get back to the Dark Lord. I need to save him…"

In the dankest, darkest, and dreariest cell, Harry sat in nothing but his thin pants. He shivered as the cool winter air filled the room. Dried blood flaked off his face and he still had trouble breathing. His right arm remained useless. He was so tired.

The door slammed open, causing Harry to jump. Voldemort strode over to Harry and with a wave of his wand had Harry floating in front of him. "Since my dear Potions Master seems to be occupied with your Order, I just thought I'd borrow this," he shook a vial of potion, "from him and he can brew me something special for you." He forced Harry's mouth open as he dug into the broken bone with his free hand. He poured the liquid in and dropped the teen.

Harry sputtered and coughed as the potion's effects immediately took affect. It burned every fiber of his being: his bones, his organs, muscles, and skin. He cried out in agony and withered on the floor.

The Dark Lord stood over the teen in pure ecstasy. Ruefully, he said, "I told you once Potter, the only way to turn back is death. Since you decided to take it, I'll make sure it's a burdensome pathway."

When Harry thought it couldn't become any more painful, Voldemort pulled out his wand again and muttered, "Crucio!"

Harry screamed until his voice was hoarse and still managed to gurgle out some noise. Voldemort released the spell but the potion was still in effect. "Where Sirius?" Harry miraculously mumbled. He hadn't seen his godfather for so long.

Voldemort just laughed and left the teen twitching on the floor. Harry crawled back to his original corner he was sitting in. Curling up into a ball, Harry couldn't help but shed a few tears. The pain didn't succeed for another few hours when a tired Harry fell into a restless sleep.

The Order stared at the traitor. No one had responded to Snape's comment. They knew immediately who he was talking about.

Lupin was the first to speak, "Harry's alive?" Snape looked away, saying nothing. Frustrated after these months of hearing nothing, Lupin got up and strode to the chair Snape was sitting in. He pushed it over, satisfied at the resounding thud. "Is Harry alive?" Silence. The wand came out as did the wolf inside Lupin. He levitated the chair and sent it crashing back down to the ground. The chair cracked and the wooden floor scuffed. Snape winced as the back of his head connected with the floor. Lupin pulled Snape up by the front of his shirt and snarled, "You bastard, you had better explain what the hell you meant by that comment." He dropped the wad of cloth.

Snape exhaled as he connected with the floorboard, hard. "Of course he's alive! If he was dead, the Dark Lord would have let you know." That was all he offered to the group.

Lupin growled and launched himself at the Death Eater before being stopped by Tonks, "Let me at him, I'll rip him to pieces."

"He's not worth it, my Pup."

With an ever increasing headache, Snape snarled, "I can't tell you anymore information! This is where it's hard being a spy. If I tell you everything, Voldemort will kill me and Harry will die."

"Why isn't he already dead?"

Snape sighed. The headache was becoming a nuisance and not making the Spanish Inquisition style questioning any better. He had had worse though, but his arms were starting to fall asleep.

The wolf growled from the corner, "Answer the question."

Tired, frustrated, and a bit thirsty, Snape responded in a voice usually saved for Harry, "Because he's a Death Eater!"

The second time today, the room was left in silence. Snape was sure he would hear a feather fall. 'That or my throat being ripped out by the werewolf,' he mused.

Then Moody stood up, "Do you think we're blooming idiots?"

Actually, Snape did think that but didn't have the heart to inform them; he couldn't waste anymore time being stuffed into another broom closet. Now that they knew about Harry, Snape had to finish it and prayed that Voldemort would not kill him on the spot when he returned. "He became one a few weeks before Halloween and he's been at many Death Eater activities…" Snape paused as his left arm burned. "I need to go."

Moody walked over to Snape and undid the binds. He didn't bother to offer Snape a hand up. "Bring Potter back to Hogwarts. You have two weeks."

The cell was absolutely freezing. Harry was curled up trying to conserve energy. He felt lethargic and his joints weren't willing to work. He coughed deeply, wheezing to catch his breath. The bump of his arm had evolved into a sizeable lump. It twitched more frequently.

The door opened and Harry could barely muster up the energy to protest the arms that dragged him from the cell.

They took him to a warmer room and dropped him on the rug before the fire. Harry rolled over, sniffing out the Dark Lord. The heat from the fire instantly began warming his blood and started to lift the cobwebs.

"Potter, Potter… how much you've fallen from my graces. It saddens me greatly that I will have to kill one of my greatest works."

Harry picked his head off the floor. "Then be done with it. Kill me."

Voldemort chuckled and approached the teen. "The Dark Lord does not give in to pleas of mercy." He grabbed Harry's left arm and began to inspect it. The large lump wiggled beneath his long fingers. "But then again, perhaps my heir will come back to me. We'll have to make sure it stays warm though, if we want the egg to hatch.

Harry struggled to distance himself form the Dark Lord. "Get away from me."

The grip on the arm never wavered. "You know Potter, I am being very generous with keeping my thoughts out of you." As he said this, Harry's scar began to prickle. "Behave or I'll give you a migraine."

The door to the study flew open, startling Harry. For one fleeting second, he believed he was going to be saved. Two inhales told him differently. 'Filthy rat. Filthy traitor. Kill them both.' "Shut up!"

Voldemort smiled and got up to greet the two newcomers. "Severus, you escaped?"

Snape strode forward and shakily got onto his knees. "My lord, how great it feels to be in your presence again."

"Rise my dear Severus." Voldemort moved to the sofa and motioned for Snape to sit down. "You look more dead than usual. Wormtail, fetch us some tea will you? I'll take some lemon with mine. Severus, perhaps an infusion of blood?" Snape arched an eyebrow. Voldemort smiled, "Just checking, Bella heard from some of your students that you're a vampire and I just felt left out of the loop if it was true." Wormtail threw a sour face at the love Voldemort was showing Snape. "Wormtail, the tea?" Wormtail mumbled something about "house elf" and shuffled off. "Oh how I long to be rid of that worthless creature. Now Severus, tell me about your escape."

"They let me go. I told them I was on the verge of learning where Potter was kept hidden and they let me go."

On the carpet, Harry let a single tear fall. The Order still thought he was worthy to be saved. 'How wrong they are…'

Voldemort laughed. Wormtail came back with the tea. "Severus, I must say, your return is impeccable. Harry here has been naughty, and I really need some good torture lessons to right him. I need you to brew me some potions."

Using Harry's personal cell, Voldemort and Snape met every day for a new test. Snape would hand the freshly brewed potion and Voldemort would pour it all into Harry. Each day brought new agony to Harry.

Finally on the seventh day, Harry had had enough. As the two entered the cell, Harry faintly mumbled, "No more potions, please no more."

"Come now Potter, it is only a few weeks before my heir returns. Severus, the potion please." Snape handed Voldemort the teal potion. Voldemort forced the weakened Harry's mouth open and emptied the vial.

Harry twitched on the ground as memories flashed in his mind. His parent's death, Cedric's, Sirius, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, the Muggle couple. Over and over again he had to relive each painful experience. "No… no more please…"

Voldemort laughed. Turning to Snape, he murmured, "I could inflict as much pain on Potter and he'll never complain. Once it's shifted to someone he loves; he caves in on the spot. It really is quite disgusting."

"I like to call it the Gryffindor flaw, my lord," Snape responded. He turned back to Harry, who was still restless on the floor. 'Merlin, what have I done to the boy?'

"No more."

Snape tilted his head. Harry had stopped visibly shaking and he turned his head toward the two. Although his eyes remained close, Snape knew he was being stared into. Suddenly, the floor beneath him turned liquid and he rapidly began descending through stone and molten rock.

Harry had picked himself up and glowed an eerie red, as if he was on fire. Snape had stopped sinking and now only from his nose and above and his outstretched arms remained above ground.

"Well, well who's putting on the show now? No glass blowing demonstrations this time?"

"Shut up!"

Snape was shocked to see Voldemort paralyzed in – dare he say it – fear.

Harry flicked his left hand out; Voldemort's wand flew to it. "I'm leaving."

"How did you get through my barrier? I blocked your magic."

Voldemort's tirade ended as an invisible hand lifted him from the ground, choking air from his lungs.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Where will you go Potter? The Order won't have you when they find out you're a Death Eater," Voldemort managed to say.

"I have Sirius. Where is he?"

"Dead."

"No, no… You lie!" Harry started walking away, his hold on Voldemort dwindling. "No…"

"It's your fault he's dead. You saved Weasley, I killed Black. An eye for an eye, eh Potter?" The hand on Voldemort was completely gone and he had almost reached the floor. "You have no where to go."

"No, no. You lie, you lie about everything! Bring him here! Sirius!" Harry fell to his knees and dropped the wand. Tears leaked out from behind closed eyes.

Feet planted, Voldemort wandered over, collected his wand, and pocketed it. Then he cupped Harry's face in his hand, "You see my son, we're your only family left. This is your home." He walked a few steps away from the teen. "Crucio."

As Harry's screams echoed, Voldemort pulled Snape out of the floor. Voldemort removed the spell from Harry. Then, he motioned toward the door but a crackling noise distracted them. Voldemort returned to Harry gripping his left arm. The large lump was gone; in its place hundreds of little wiggling things scurried up Harry's arm into his body. Voldemort smiled, "Not too long now." He turned to the door and Snape opened it.

As Voldemort exited, he called out to Harry, "I was only joking about your godfather."

-Anaticulapraecantrix