A/N: This chapter will be presented in three parts. Part A & C are appropriate for all readers. Part B should be considered appropriate only for mature readers. A summary of Part B will be given in Part C.
On a side note, this story has reached 11,000 hits, with 72 reviews and 10 people who have added it to their favorite story lists. I would just like to thank all of my readers for sticking with me through this. This chapter was the hardest onefor me to write, but it is probably the most important chapter thus far. Thanks again to all of my reviewers. Your words of praise (and criticism) are always welcome.
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Severus grumbled to himself as he strode purposefully away from the castle. The summons from his 'master' hadn't been much of a surprise since it had almost been two weeks since he'd last been summoned. If Voldemort was anything, he was predictable. He hoped that, whatever his 'master' wanted, that it would be brief as Severus had been on his way to his last dinner in the castle before he would leave for the summer, at the time of his summons.
Reaching the gates to the castle grounds, and hence the anti-apparition wards, he donned his Death Eater mask. Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he pulled his left sleeve up, exposing the ugly skull and serpent tattoo upon his forearm. Tapping his wand to the mark, he felt the pull of apparition as the magic embedded in the mark drew him to the Dark Lord's location.
Glancing around as he felt solid ground beneath his feet, he recognized Malfoy Manor. Realizing where he was, he speculated that he was probably here for a 'dinner party'. 'Joy of joys,' he thought as he stalked towards the building, his cloak swirling around his feet. Dinner parties with the Dark Lord generally consisted of a meal with all of the simpering members of the inner circle. Following the meal, there would be 'entertainment' of some sort. Of course, the 'entertainment' all depended upon the night. Some nights the torture would be of Death Eaters who had failed something. Other nights, there would be the rape, torture, and eventual killing of a muggle or two.
Opening the door to the Manor, he was greeted by one of the Malfoy's house-elves. "Noddy is to take your cloak and mask. You is to go into the Dining Room."
Imperiously, he removed the mask and cloak and carelessly dropped them to the house-elf. Ignoring the creature, he turned to his left and quickly strode to the open doors of the dining room. He entered at one end of the long dining table. The table was large enough to comfortably seat twenty, but tonight held only a fraction of that. Quickly glancing around, he took stock of those present.
The Dark Lord was seated at the center of the table. A hooded figure knelt at the man's feet. He gave no attention to his Lord's pet, knowing it could be anything from a newly marked Death Eater to a muggle who would find their death tonight. Seated to the left and right, respectively, of the Dark Lord were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Across from Lucius sat Antonin Dolohov. Sitting across from the Narcissa was Bellatrix Lestrange. There was an open seat, with a place setting, to the right of Bellatrix (directly across from Voldemort), which Snape knew was for him. He wasn't very surprised to see Lucius or Dolohov since Dumbledore had told him of the recent defection of the Dementors and the escape of the Death Eaters from Azkaban.
He bowed to the Dark Lord as the man became aware of his presence.
"Ah, Ssseverusss," Voldemort hissed, gesturing to the open chair. "Come, sssit!"
"Thank you, My Lord," Severus said, gracefully moving to the open place. As he sat, he gave silent nods of greeting to those around him.
Severus relaxed as appetizers appeared on the table. It was not the Dark Lord's habit to torture those he dined with, so he could safely assume that his cover was safe. Glancing over the table, he noted the presence of oysters. Again, the predictability of the Dark Lord was demonstrated. Anytime oysters were served, a rape would invariably be part of the 'entertainment'.
The conversation was casual and relaxed as those present were the most highly trusted, and with the exception of Severus, the most loyal of all the Death Eaters. They had all earned their place around this table and they all knew that it would take something very serious to lose it.
Lucius insisted on discussing Draco's marks, something which angered Severus – not that he would let it show. He knew that Lucius would do anything to get his only son into the Dark Lord's good graces. Severus could see his 'master's' thinly veiled interest in the conversation, so he feigned his own pride in his godson.
"Mmm, yesss, Draco…" Voldemort hissed at the conclusion of their 'discussion' of the boy's marks. "I will want to meet with him sssoon."
"Of course, My Lord," Lucius replied, grinning.
Severus mechanically ate as other conversations sprang up around him. He didn't even pay much attention to what was being served as the courses changed. A couple times he noticed the Dark Lord's hand disappearing beneath the table with items of food, so he was able to rule out the pet being a muggle. His 'master' never bothered to feed muggles before they were killed. Again dismissing the pet as inconsequential, he turned to Bellatrix who was trying to engage him in a discussion of new combustion potions.
Speaking to Bella about potions was like trying to talk to a plant about sunlight. The plant used sunlight and didn't care about the details of it. Bella was the same. She simply desired to know the final results but had no appreciation for the skill required to make them.
"Yes, Bella, the effects have been amplified in the newest version of the Cumbustora potion, but the time and materials needed to brew it make it extremely inefficient. You would be better off simply making greater quantities of a previous, less-costly version."
"But where's the fun in that," she pouted.
"It may, perhaps, be less… fun," he remarked, "but whereas your brother-in-law has large amounts of resources, some of us are not so lucky."
"They never did release all of your funds sixteen years ago, did they?" Lucius asked softly.
Severus shrugged, trying to give off an air of unconcern, "It doesn't matter. I still hold Spinner's End and Prince Manor. While the ministry ransacked Spinner's End, Prince Manor was hidden well enough that they never discovered its existence. I was able to put aside enough money for the upkeep of the manor for many years to come."
"And yet you still spend all of your holidays at that dilapidated shack," Lucius rejoined.
"I have no desire for Dumbledore to discover the Manor. There is no knowing what he would do if he knew most of my family artifacts are squirreled away there," Severus responded, putting as much scorn as he could into Albus' name.
"Quite prudent, Ssseverusss," the Dark Lord interjected into the conversation.
Severus bowed his head in acknowledgement of the compliment, "Thank you, My Lord."
The meal slowly came to a close, ending with a desert course of chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. 'Most definitely the night's entertainment would be of a sexual nature,' Severus thought, nursing his alcohol.
"If you will all adjourn to the other room, I will join you in a moment," the Dark Lord said.
Severus rose with the others and followed the Malfoys into their sitting room. The room had been converted, he noted as he entered, most probably for the 'entertainment'. The matching black leather sofas had been moved against opposite walls. In the center of the room there stood a large marble slab roughly two meters by a meter. The slab sported two pairs of manacles, one pair at each end of the slab.
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A/N: The next part of this chapter contains material that is not suitable for everyone. There are graphic descriptions of non-consensual sex (rape). Please do not read part B of this chapter if you are underage or if you are bothered by such topics. A Summary of part B will be included in part C of this chapter.