Summary: Picking up from last time…
Chapter 12
Lucius' breathing gradually slowed and steadied itself. Severus remained on the floor with his upper body twisted toward the stone flooring for a few moments before turning himself onto his back. A smear of blood originating from his lip onto his chin stood out against his pale complexion.
"Feel better?" Severus said spitefully.
Lucius sighed, his breathing finally back to its normal pace. "Severus, I'm sorry," he said with a little more contrition in his tone than he customarily allowed from himself.
Severus, now using his elbows to support his upper body, waved a hand dismissively, aware that he was somewhat disserving of the other man's ill will.
Slightly lowering himself, Lucius offered Severus a hand, "Here then," he said shortly.
Severus accepted the extended hand and pushed himself up with his free arm while Lucius pulled with his. Once the dark man was back on his feet, a spout of blood began seeping from his nose. Instinctively, Severus quickly drew a hand to his face in a vain attempt to stop the blood from spilling everywhere.
Lucius, also reacting quickly, pulled a white handkerchief from one of his cloak's pockets. He took the other man's unengaged forearm and led him to back to the bed.
Severus, in no position to put up any struggle, allowed himself to be directed to the bed. He sat on the edge and was shortly followed by the other man.
Once seated, Lucius coaxed Severus' hand away from the hemorrhaging nose and replaced it with the cloth.
Severus placed his hand over the cloth and lowered his head between his knees to keep the blood from flowing down his throat.
For a few tense moments, the two men sat in silence. Lucius finally broke the silence, taking advantage of the fact that Severus would be unable or at least unwilling to speak until the blood ceased to flow.
His voice was soft as he spoke, "How long?"
The inquiry was simple and there was no question in Severus' mind what it had meant, but still, he chose to remain silent.
"How long?" Lucius repeated with a stronger voice. "Were you always Dumbledore's spy? Or did you change allegiances after you swore to the Dark Lord to serve him?" His accent deepened with growing anger.
Severus could feel the blood flow lessening slightly and it was enough to allow him to raise his head up so that he could look at Lucius' eyes while he spoke. "What does it matter?"
Lucius pushed himself up from the bed, leaving Severus' side. "I was just wondering how long you had kept your true colors from me," the blonde man said hotly.
Severus' eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Lucius-"
"No, Severus. How long?"
Severus looked back toward the stone floor. "Almost seven months before his fall." He waited for Lucius to say something but no response came so he continued. "I couldn't do it anymore. I could not justify to myself what we were doing," he said softly, but with sincerity.
"You couldn't do what? Just what was it that you could not justify to yourself?" Lucius said acidly.
Severus looked up to the man, his eyes were still narrowed but it was out of desperation. "Murder, Lucius. We… I helped murder innocent people all for a cause that had no more bearing then as it does today."
"And what cause would you suppose that to be?"
"Power, freedom from the Minisrty," Severus' voice was becoming stronger as he felt the hemorrhage lessen more and more with each minute.
A thin smile crept up one side of Lucius' lips. "Those causes are the most worth fighting for."
"Really, Lucius?" Severus replied angrily. "Tell me, how much more power you have now than you have ever had before."
Lucius made no counter.
Severus stood from the bed, taking away the cloth that Lucius had given him. The blood that remained on his face had dried. "You have no power. You have even less freedom because you have to hide everything that you do from the public eye."
"It won't be like that forever, Severus," Lucius said confidently.
"Oh no?" Severus said as if he were attempting to explain something of complexity to a child. "Are you so disillusioned to think that the Dark Lord will share power? Are you so bold as to assume that you will be alive to see that day?"
"What is your point, Severus?" Lucius said impatiently.
Severus' angry expression melted into one of remorse. "There is only death to be found in the Dark Lord's service, if not from the Ministry, then from the Dark Lord himself. You have seen first hand how he repays even the slightest failure."
Lucius eyed the dark man for a moment before speaking. His voice had softened slightly. "And what do you make of the Dark Lord allowing you a second chance?"
Severus shook his head. "Perhaps he sees a way to get to Dumbledore through me."
Lucius turned away from the man. The answer made sense though it was not the one that he had wanted. "When the Dark Lord is in power, there will only be room for those who helped him to obtain it," he said in a tone that made Severus suspect that he was trying to convince himself of that more than Severus.
"I know what it's like to be his servant, Lucius. I remember the fear that rises in you every time that you are summoned. I remember-"
"Perhaps what you remember is due to the fact that you were a traitor and your apprehension was the discovery of your little secret," Lucius interrupted.
"Do not forget that I was a loyal servant of his for a time," Severus interjected. "I remember, Lucius. If, out of your stubbornness, you cannot bring yourself to admit what you feel everyday, then think of Draco."
Lucius spun to face the man. "What about Draco?" he snapped.
Severus sighed. "I see him everyday. Everyday he resembles you more. He's following into your foot steps. The same things that you feel, the anxiety, the fear, the dread. All of that will be his one day."
Lucius swallowed and Severus knew that he had hit a soft spot.
"If you won't think of yourself, then think of your son," Severus concluded.
The two men were silent for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the silence was broken by Lucius.
"He won't allow you to refuse his offer, Severus," he said softly.
"I know."
"He'll use you until he gets what he wants and then he will kill you."
"And what about the boy?"
* * * * *
Minerva stood in Dumbledore's office with Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Hagrid, and a few of the select number of the Hogwarts staff that believed that Voldemort had returned. Among them were Pomfrey, Sprout, and Flitwick. Dumbledore had only just related to them Ron's story of the kidnapping. Minerva's lips thinned into a pencil thin line. Hagrid, already knowledgeable of the situation, stood quietly behind the group. Remus sat in a chair looking at the floor gravely. And Sirius was standing beside his werewolf friend, breathing hard, his face extremely pale. The other staff members were a bit weary of the presence of Sirius as they had not been informed of his alleged innocence until recently.
"Why- How, how could this happen?" Sirius said, finally able to form words.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I am sorry Sirius, but I do not have the answers to your questions. I only know what I have just told all of you. Harry and Severus have been abducted on Voldemort's orders."
Sirius, still taking in harsh breaths, sank into a chair and buried his face into his hands. Remus put a comforting hand on his shoulder but neither looked at him or addressed any comforting word to him.
Minerva took a few steps forward toward the old man. "Albus, what are we going to do?"
Dumbledore turned his attention to his deputy headmistress. "There is nothing that we can do, Minerva, but wait for any sign of hope."
The group exchanged grave looks with one another, each conveying that very little hope remained for either of the two victims.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Do not give up hope yet. Both Severus and Harry have proven themselves formidable adversaries." His words were spoken with a bit more conviction than he felt but he would not give up entirely until irrefutable proof was given that his two charges would not return to him.
* * * * *
Harry looked up suddenly from his seat on the stone floor in the cell. The door had been flung open and two figures entered into the dungeon. One figure was considerably larger than the other who was struggling against its hold.
Harry finally made out the two figures. The larger belonged to Goyle and the smaller, to his Potions professor.
The bars were swung open and seconds later, Severus' body was thrown into the cell. Harry stood instinctively, moving quickly to the man's side as Goyle sneered at him then walked away.
"Professor," Harry began as he attempted to help the man up, "Are you all right?"
Severus, who had landed on his hands and knees, was pushing himself up. "Fine, Potter," he said getting to his feet and dusting himself off.
Harry backed away from the man, eyeing the blood staining his cheek and chin. After an awkward moment spent in silence, he hastily unwrapped the cloak from his shoulders and held it out to the man. "Um, here's your cloak, Professor. Thanks for letting me use it." His voice was low and uncomfortable.
Severus glanced at his garment. "Keep it, you'll need it more than I will," he said shortly.
Harry lowered the arm holding the cloak but did not drape it across his shoulders. "What did Malfoy want with you?" he questioned with more confidence in his tone than before.
"Mr. Malfoy, Potter," Severus corrected irritably.
Harry rolled his eyes. He didn't quite see the importance of using proper addresses in this situation. "I'm sorry, Sir," he said, not feeling sorry at all, "What did Mr. Malfoy want with you?"
"Be quiet, boy. I need to think," he snapped.
Harry looked at the man and waited for further explanation but received none. "Professor, what do you need to think about?"
"What do you think I'm thinking about?" Severus was now pacing in a small circle with his eyes closed and rubbing his temples.
"I wouldn't know," Harry said with defiance, "I don't associate with Death Eaters."
Severus ceased his pacing and turned to look at the boy. "Potter, I don't know how much time I have left before I am killed. The only duty that I have left to fulfill before my death is to find a way to get you out of this miserable place. Now, for once in your life, do as you are told and be quiet."
* * * * *
Author's Note: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them :-) Hope that you're still enjoying the story. Let me know what you think! Also, let me know if anything that I wrote was confusing at all. Sometimes I don't convey complete thoughts so what makes sense in my head doesn't make sense on paper… Anyway, let me know :-)