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Chapter 13
Crucio
After the Headmaster's usual pleasant greeting, Snape was quick to fill him in on what had transpired that day. Severus thought he saw the older wizard's expression harden briefly when he first mentioned Potter's presence at the Burrow, but then the look was gone. In an effort not to mention the hiding he'd given the boy, Snape inadvertently made Potter's actions seem well thought out and reasonable. And in view of the effect those actions had on the Dark Lord, it was hard to fault the boy's conduct.
"Perhaps I should end the Dark Lord now, Albus," Snape suggested. "We may never have another opportunity like this.
"That was not to have been your role, Severus," the Headmaster said after a moment. "The prophesies are quite clear."
"It would be so simple with a potion, Headmaster," Snape couldn't quite give up on the idea.
"Would he not make you test the potion first, Severus?" the Headmaster asked. "He normally does as I recall."
"I'm sure he would," Snape admitted. "But that would be of little consequence, Headmaster. Afterall the prophesies say nothing of that."
Snape remembered the evening he had heard Potter's prophecy, approximately eleven years after hearing of his own. Severus had come to the Hog's Head Inn because he had heard the Headmaster was to be there, and he wanted to try to apologize again. But when he realized Dumbledore meant to visit Sybil Trelawney he changed his mind. Severus knew that Trelawney's great-great grandmother had made his own prophecy many years prior. When Dumbledore went up the stairs to meet with Trelawney, Snape thought she might be passing on information that concerned him, and decided to listen in.
As he crouched uncomfortably by the keyhole of his future colleague's hotel room, Severus quickly realized that he was listening to a fairly boring job interview. Then, as he turned to go, something in the woman's voice changed, and Severus realized he was hearing a prophecy. However, it was not his prophecy, but rather that of another child and the Dark Lord. Again he decided to leave, wishing he had never come, and incredibly nervous about the Headmaster's reaction if he were to be found out for having listened in.
When Snape had turned to go the second time, he realized that someone had a firm grip on his collar. The ensuing scuffle brought the door open, and Snape found himself face to face with the Headmaster. Not a word was uttered aloud. But when Snape made eye contact with the angry blue-eyed wizard, the Headmaster began to severely upbraid him via their Occlumency pathway.
"How dare you, Severus," the Headmaster scolded silently along the link. "I am thoroughly disappointed in you. Leave my sight this instant."
Snape had a bit of help with the order to leave the Headmaster's sight. The man who had hold of his collar began to drag him down the stairs and promptly threw him out the door on his arse.
Sitting in the street, the Headmaster's words rang in his ears. This had been just one incident on the list of harsh disagreements that had passed between the two in recent weeks.
Things had come to a head when Snape had complained a few weeks prior, after an Order of the Phoenix meeting, that he was fed up with the Marauder's constant abuse. He claimed the Headmaster let their deplorable behavior go unchecked at the meetings, just as he always had at Hogwarts.
"I am risking more for you than any of them," Severus had. complained in a hurt, angry tone. "I'll eventually have to take the Mark, Headmaster. And you let Black and his merry band of thugs treat me like dirt and call me disloyal, and coward. If you would only tell them of my true role, Headmaster..."
"You are not risking anything for me, Severus," Albus had cut across him gently. "You are working for the Light. You are doing your duty according to prophecy. You are completing responsibilities you have been training for since the age of eleven."
Snape had reacted in anger. It always came back to the bloody prophecy. He spoke without really thinking, lashing out in frustration from years of the Marauder's abuse. The Headmaster always stuck up for them, though he claimed to love Severus like a son.
"To hell with the prophecy, Headmaster, and to hell with you," Snape had screamed in barely controlled rage. "I get more respect from the Dark Lord. Perhaps I shall join him in earnest."
The hand that rose to strike Severus across the face was lightening fast. But then, when the Headmaster had trained him, he had demanded his reactions be lightening fast as well. Severus caught the Headmaster's hand just before it made contact with his pale cheek.
Severus stared at the hand, which had never before been raised against him with any intent save gentleness. Severus shamefully replayed his own words in his mind. He had yelled at Albus. He swore at him. He had threatened to join the Dark Lord in earnest, not just as a spy. With a sickening sensation, Severus wanted nothing more than to fall on his knees kissing the gentle, old hand and beg the Headmaster's forgiveness. Before he could however, the hand did make gentle contact with his face.
"Go, Child," the Headmaster had ordered firmly. "Join your Dark Lord if you find more respect there. Come back to me when you come back to yourself. Come back to me when the fact that I love you like my own is enough to withstand the petty torment of others. Return only when you are man enough to fulfill your responsibilities."
And Albus had turned his back on him
Snape had come back many times and tried to apologize. Each time Albus had informed him that he did not yet seem ready. He felt the Headmaster was punishing him, and could not argue that he didn't deserve it. For months he drifted and eventually took the Mark. He would have had to at any rate. He did terrible things. Things he didn't think Albus could ever forgive. It was not until after the Potter's had been murdered that Severus arrived and looked the Headmaster in the eyes. He said he was ready to fulfill his responsibilities, and begged to be allowed to do so, and Albus embraced him and welcomed him home.
It was during one of these early failed attempts to apologize that found Severus at the Hog's Head, hearing Potter's prophecy, and thinking about his own. Neither prophecy said anything about Snape's survival being a necessary requirement.
"It would be of little consequence if he makes me test the potion first, Headmaster," Snape argued the point of poisoning Voldemort while he was still in a weakened state from the loss of Nagini. "There is nothing in my prophecy that says I am to survive. It would give Potter a chance to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes.
"I believe Harry will still require assistance in finding the remaining Horcruxes at any rate. And your life is of immense consequence to me, Child," Albus said firmly via the Angelth. "We'll have no more of this particular argument if you please."
"What are your orders then?" Snape sighed audibly, but knew better than to argue when Albus took that tone and called him child.
Albus advised that he was to brew a restorative potion and they were to proceed as they had always planned. When Snape confided that Draco's life might be in danger regarding Nagini, and that the young man had expressed a desire to leave Voldemort's service, Albus told Snape to do all he could to preserve the boy's life. He said that he had every faith in the man before the Angelth closed.
Later that night after the restorative potion had taken affect, Voldemort had taken his usual seat in the center of The Throne Room. The Death Eaters were ordered to assemble in full regalia. Snape noticed that Wormtail, who had exited chambers with Voldemort and Bella, looked a bit misty eyed, behind his mask. Though whether it was from missing his master or fear of punishment was anyone's guess.
"Where is Nagini?" Voldemort addressed himself to Draco in voice that was menacing, despite his earlier weakness.
"Master," Draco said falling on both knees before the throne and removing his mask. "I regret that your pet has been stolen," the blond boy had barely gotten the words out completely before the Dark Lord uttered.
"Crucio," his voice was full of anger.
Malfoy's reaction was delayed and may have been comic given a different situation. Still kneeling, head down, he brought his pale brows together and inclined his head almost imperceptibly toward the Dark Lord who sat above him. Then he looked out of the corner of his eye at Snape. The boy wore a barely perceptible smirk that was suddenly full of Slytherin cunning. Severus' heart began to beat rapidly.
"I'm sorry my lord," Draco said in a voice that Snape recognized from long familiarity as mock innocence. "It was Potter, My Lord. Potter stole Nagini,"
Snape's head shot up at that. What the devil was the fool boy playing at? He had eliminated Draco's memories as to Potter and the snake. Snape shot his godson a warning look, and the color began to rise to the Dark Lord's face.
Draco continued rapidly, as Snape scanned the surface of the younger wizard's mind. The only thing he could detect was an intense loathing for Potter that was genuine. Snape scanned the circle of Death Eaters. Draco must have spent significant time spreading this story during the afternoon, because everyone Snape focused on had a convincing image of the Potter stealing the snake.
"He was disguised as an old woman, and then he transfigured. He hit me from behind with a stunner, My Lord," Draco continued, as Voldemort's breathing became a bit distressed, and Wormtail looked on in dumb confusion.
"Wha'..?" the rodent said, as though he couldn't believe he had missed that.
"I immediately alerted Wormtail, so he could transfigure. But Wormtail didn't want to chase Potter, My Lord. He said it was too risky."
"Wha..?" Wormtail sputtered again. "I did not, Master. He's lying," the rodent looked at Snape for confirmation. "I don't remember..." he began, then clamped his mouth shut.
"You did so, you coward," Malfoy insisted in convincing anger.
"Did not!" Wormtail denied, looking confused and slightly desperate.
"Did too!"
"He did, Master," Snape put in finally, taking a step toward Draco. "He admitted it just prior to our return.
Voldemort threw out two Cruciatus in succession, hitting both Snape and Malfoy. And then quite unexpectedly he threw his head back and began to scream Potter's name. The sound was blood curdling, but gave Snape and Malfoy an opportunity to exchange a significant look regarding the Cruciatus they had each been dealt. It was as though they had been cursed by a feeble, aged grandfather, who while meaning the rebuke in earnest, hadn't the strength to raise even a tickle. Voldemort was severely weakened, Snape realized as he watched the man. He wondered if he knew himself how diminished his magic was.
The question was answered in the next few moments when the Dark Lord brought his head forward. The man's eyes were slightly glossy and distant, Severus noted. They looked as they did when the Dark Lord was attempting to posses someone.
"Now my faithful servantssss," Voldemort hissed nastily. "I shall give you the pleasure of punishing this incompetent young fool who has failed me yet again."
"But what of Wormtail, My Lord?" Draco was emboldened to ask after the weak Cruciatus. "He is as much to blame as I, perhaps more so."
There was a ripple of agreement among the Death Eaters Snape noted, though they only had Draco's word to go on. The boy had planted that seed well the man thought with pride.
"Silence," Voldemort shouted, though he threw no curse. This meant either he knew his curses were weak, or using them was weakening him further, Snape decided.
"I beg My Lord's indulgence," Snape began with care. Voldemort adored a fawning subservient address. "But should Wormtail not be punished also?" Snape questioned with mock concern. "I pray you forgive my impertinence, My Lord. But I am deeply angered by the incompetence of both these wizards?"
"Ah Ssseverusss, my faithful, Wormtail is to be chastised privately," he said with a wicked sneer. "We have already begun, have we not, my sweet?" the Dark Lord addressed Wormtail who flinched slightly.
"Your obedient servant, My Lord," the rodent said in a quailing voice.
"But with this worthless young whelp," Voldemort indicated Draco with a curt gesture. "I wish you all indulge your greatest appetites, and amuse me. Pleassse Ssseverusss, do take your place in the circle," the Dark Lord bade him take a step back. "Begin," the Dark Lord commanded Bella, from her place nearest the throne.
With a look of pure glee, she raised her wand a sent a curse at Draco that made him fall to the floor writhing in pain. It seemed an age before she lifted it, and stepped back with a satisfied giddy smirk that made Snape want to slowly crush her wind pipe.
Snape's turn would come all too soon, yet he would not curse Draco. He could not. Damn Albus for always insisting he do the impossible. Severus tried to numb his mind to the boy's screams and formulate a plan. After seven more Death Eaters had their way with the boy it would be his turn to act. But act how? Do what? Draco's screams were becoming more intense. Severus just stood there willing something good to happen. It was a game he often played as a child.
All of a sudden, Severus began to feel a faint rippling of magic surrounding him. It grew stronger until it reached a kind of crescendo, and then, as though in answer to what he had hoped, there before him stood Harry Potter. The boy was shirtless, barefoot, and wearing baggy pajama bottoms. Severus noticed that his scar bled freely, as the boy quickly spun away. Potter ran and slid along the stone floor on his hip and arse toward Draco as muggles do in baseball. Snape couldn't help but think that this maneuver had to smart a bit given the treatment the boy had received earlier. If it did however, Potter gave no indication as he arrived at his target and enveloped Draco in a sort of loose embrace.
The assembled Death Eaters didn't know what to make of this half naked apparition.
But for Snape's part, and this did shock him greatly, he thought Potter looked rather like an angel as he wrapped his pale, strong arms around Draco pulling them both into a standing position.
"The Dark Lord is weakened," he sent out to Potter via his mind, though there was no link between them, and he wasn't sure if Potter would hear it. Yet if the boy did hear it, he was uncertain what he wished him to do with the information.
After a moment it was clear Potter had heard him, as the boy fixed his clear green-eyed gaze upon the Dark Lord. At first, Snape was both horrified and impressed that the boy would think to do such a thing. Holding Draco firmly in his arms, Potter sent out a wave of love for this boy who was his enemy, directly into the Dark Lord's mind.
And as Potter and Malfoy apparated away, Lord Voldemort began to howl.
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