I apologise for my absence, but I am back for a little bit now! Thank you all for your patience! Updates over the next few days - the Long Road is next! ~ SS19

Chapter Five - Twisted Truths

"Well, well. What have we here?" Lord Voldemort's tone was dangerously sarcastic. "I did not think the Headmaster of Hogwarts would grace us with his presence, yet here you are." He paused, rising from his throne, "I read the Daily Prophet article with great interest, Headmaster. Tell me, Headmaster, how does it feel?" He drew his wand, "Your title means nothing here, Headmaster - on your knees before your Lord."

Severus dropped to his knees when commanded, not used to being humiliated in such a way and feeling a flush burn his cheeks as he almost heard the smirks and sniggers from the other Death-Eaters gathered. But he still did not speak - Lord Voldemort was clearly angry, and his rhetorical questions were not to be answered, unless one wanted to lose his life. He kept his head bowed, eyes on the carpet in front of him, remembering the last time he had been tortured here and had coughed blood onto this very material. He was probably kneeling on the stains now.

Voldemort came nearer, "I have read Albus Dumbledore's will, Severus. Oh, and our dear departed spoke so very highly of you - did he not? What was it?" He pushed his wand under Severus' chin and forced their eyes to meet, "Prompt me."

"He wanted me to be Headmaster, my Lord." Severus murmured, not willing to repeat the words of Albus in this company. He kept his eyes on the Dark Lord, who was watching him just as carefully. "But what did he say about you, Severus - tell me - I want to hear it from you."

"I believe he referred to me as a son, my Lord." Severus replied, tasting those words and remembering that rush of heady emotion - some sort of pride, and the grief that had clouded his gaze as he had realised that he had looked at Albus in the same way - family - a father -

"Indeed. A son. Which begs the question, of course - why would he hold you in such high esteem?" He did not let Severus answer, "Did you promise him something? Did you pander to his every whim, Severus?" Voldemort crooned softly over the snickers of the other Death-Eaters, "Now, now, my friends - let us not mock Severus - I am sure he has a perfectly good reason -" His voice turned deadly cold, "For why Albus Dumbledore referred to him in such a way."

"My Lord knows that I have served Dumbledore as I would serve you, to carry out my Lord's orders." Severus answered calmly, as if the threat of the Dark Lord did not alarm in the least, as if his heart rate had not increased, as if his stomach was not churning…

"Yes, yes, I know this. You tell me this so often, Severus." Voldemort was impatient now, "In fact, I think I have heard it too often. You were probably with Dumbledore when he died." Voldemort turned away with a sharp laugh, "I can imagine you, kneeling at his side, holding him close, begging him to stay - because you cannot do this alone - how could you possibly defeat the Dark Lord without me - why did he have to be the one to be killed - why couldn't Fate have chosen you instead…"

"My Lord is correct."

Silence.

Voldemort repositioned himself to face Severus. "I beg your pardon?"

"I was with Dumbledore when he died. I did kneel at his side, and yes, I did cradle him in my arms. I did beg him to stay, and I did offer myself in his place - and I certainly told him that we could not win the war without him, and that I could not possibly cope. I even gave him a potion."

Voldemort looked down at the kneeling Severus, knuckles clenching around his wand. "You attempted to save him?"

Severus did not flinch. "Dumbledore believes I did."

Voldemort hesitated, processing this information. Severus took that as his cue - he pushed himself back to his feet, "And I am now Headmaster of Hogwarts. I am practically in charge of the Order of the Phoenix. I have complete access to the Ministry of Magic. And yet - it seems - I am also your advisor. My Lord."

Voldemort shook his head, just once, "No - I refuse to believe this - this is too scheming, for you, Severus."

Severus let a little of the vehemence show on his face, "My Lord - I happen to be a Slytherin - do you think I would let such a situation as Albus Dumbledore dying go, and not use it to my advantage? Yet here I am."

"You expect me to believe that you killed Albus Dumbledore, knowing that his will would state you were to become Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Voldemort murmured, searching Severus' eyes for any hint of untruth.

"I…helped him on his way. I did not outrightly murder him - that was a curse." Severus corrected, allowing the examination - and a few moments later, allowing the brush of cold fingers against his cheek, "You amuse me, Severus."

Severus raised one eyebrow, "My Lord?"

"You could have told me this in the first instance and I would not have threatened you with torture - or anything else remotely unpleasant - yet you leave it to me to drag the information from you - the knowledge that you helped to destroy my greatest enemy?" Voldemort half smiled, "You certainly are peculiar."

"I know that is how the Dark Lord likes to find things." Severus replied, "I would prefer that this information did not reach the Ministry, though - I would hate for my career to be cut short."

"You must tell me what it felt like, Severus - I always wanted to see his end - yet it seems you have bested me in that - did he plead?"

White hot anger, something that Severus hardly recognised such was its ferocity, shot through his nerves and straight to his brain. But he managed to swallow - "He was rather graceful - as always - as if he had been expecting it."

Voldemort seemed almost disappointed by this, "That is a shame - I had hoped he would show himself to be a coward at the end. You may go, Severus, I am satisfied. When I call for you again - which will be soon - we can talk more."

Severus bowed his head.

"And Severus - it strikes me that you are a very good liar. Make sure you have chosen the right person to spin your tale to." Voldemort called after him, "It would probably be wise to choose the side of the living - not a dead martyr."

"Severus!" Albus was jolted awake from his portrait chair by the slamming of the door. He got to his feet when the windswept black figure crossed his new office and headed for the adjoining bedroom. "My boy? What did you tell him?" He had clearly managed to convince Voldemort, but at what cost?

Severus stopped in his path, but did not turn to face Albus. Albus watched him for a long moment, "What did you give him?"

"Nothing." Severus answered, voice cold. "I gave him nothing."

Albus could detect emotions underlying those syllables, "Severus…" He murmured, "Speak to me. What did it cost you?"

Severus turned to look at him for the shortest of moments. "I am now your murderer."