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Most Evil Plan
Chapter 5
Preparation
How was he to move the Amevi potion back more than two weeks was a mystery to him, Severus thought as he stared at the syllabus. At least the class was unaware of the syllabus so no questions would be asked when things were changed. Severus could almost hear Miss Know-it-all asking why things had changed and complaining since she already did the prep work ahead of time.
It was challenging enough to find a way to teach these potions in the original sequence that the Dark Lord indicated, but to revamp the course again a month into the school year? The Dark Lord was insane. Of course, that was no surprise to the potion master, after all, his latest 'plan' proved it.
Snape groaned as he thought once more about the Dark Lord's latest 'foolproof' plan. How on earth did the Dark Lord conceive this plan , Severus wondered. He must have had too many firewhiskeys, he answered himself, silently wishing he had a few to get him through this semester. The potion master had a feeling he was going to need them, especially once the plan was implemented.
Severus shook his head to clear it. Plenty of time to worry about the plan, for now he had to reorganize the curriculum to make it possible.
Severus snarled as he realized what he had to do. The only thing he could do was to make that week into a 'review' session. Except for the classes before OWLS and NEWTS Snape never reviewed in class. That was something that was the students' responsibility. Merlin, just by having a review session it was going to raise suspicion. There had to be something else.
Severus smirked as another thought came to him. A week of tests. Yes, it just might be possible, he thought as he glanced once more at his lesson plans. Severus silently went to work, pulling a potion from each week and moving it to the last week of October.
Three 'tests' in one week and they can thank their golden boy for it, Severus thought with a smirk. At least Miss Granger might be happy. Perhaps something good will come from this plan after all, Of course, Severus realized, if this did work out he just might have to thank the Dark Lord for presenting him with a new opportunity to torment his students.
After the syllabus was 'approved' by the headmaster, Severus ensconced himself safely in his lab, where he put himself to work trying to find a way for the Dark Lord's plan to be executed.
Amevi was considered a 'secure' potion by the Ministry of Magic. The results were never contested, since, like veritaserum, no one has been able to find a way to interfere with the potions results.
Severus, however, as a potion master, knew that all potions had an antidote, so to speak. It was just a matter of combining the right ingredients in the right order and quantity to discover that antidote.
Every spare moment Severus had was spent fiddling in his lab trying to concoct a potion that would give the results the Dark Lord desired. Luckily he hadn't been summoned in the last week and was able to give the matter his full attention.
It was a long, tedious process. One that Severus often wished to abandon, particularly since he didn't want to be able to produce those results. In fact, he still hadn't given up on finding a way to escape his role in the Dark Lord's plan.
Severus cursed as he dropped the vial he was holding as the dark mark on his arm flared to life, signaling that he was needed. Although the diary worked, apparently his 'master' preferred the old means of communication and wanted to use it while it was still available.
"Severus," Voldemort inquired from his throne, "Have you found the solution to your problem yet?"
"No, my lord," Severus stated quietly. "However, I feel that I am close."
"Close is not good enough," Voldemort said before sending a curse in Severus's direction. "We have less than a month till Halloween. This plan will not fail because you did not do your part. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lord," Severus answered, hiding his resentment, once more grateful that the headmaster insisted he learn occlumency. The only positive thing he could find in the 'plan' was that once it was put into effect he would be communicating with the Dark Lord via the journal. As far as he knew, there wasn't a way to send curses across the parchment.
After briefing the headmaster on the latest meeting, Severus once more went to work in his labs.
At this point he was grateful that the Dark Lord had moved the plan to Halloween. Originally it was to take place next week, two and a half weeks before that holiday, yet Snape wasn't even close to producing the results the Dark Lord wanted.
Of course, part of that might be the fact that he hoped it was impossible. Why did he have to tell the Dark Lord that it was possible? He should have lied until he found out exactly what the plan included, then he wouldn't be in this mess.
Perhaps it wasn't too late to have the Dark Lord change his mind, Severus thought.
"My lord," Severus said as he bowed before Voldemort.
"Severus, any progress?"
"Very little, my lord," Severus replied, bracing himself for a curse.
"And why is that?"
"The Amevi potion is a challenge, my lord. You are asking something that no one has been able to do."
"Wasn't it you who said that your skills in potion were one of the best in the country?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then this is your opportunity to prove it," Voldemort stated quietly, "to me."
"Yes, my lord," Severus repeated, lowering his head.
"Any other concerns?"
"My lord," Severus began tentatively, "This isn't the easiest of potions to brew, and as you know, Potter's s-"
"Harry's," Voldemort corrected. "If this plan is to work, you must learn to call him by his first name."
"Harry's," Severus repeated blandly, "skill is not the best. I am afraid that he will most likely make a mistake and disrupt your plans."
"That is one of the reasons why I told you to partner him with young Malfoy that day. Did you not tell me that Malfoy was skillful at potions, one of the best in his year, in fact?"
"Yes, my lord," Severus replied, at least now he knew why that pairing was ordered. "However, the two tend to mix like oil and water. I can't imagine them able to brew a potion without a mishap."
"Then you best do what you can to prevent it. If this plan doesn't come off as desired, I will hold you responsible," Voldemort threatened, stroking his wand meaningfully.
"Yes, my lord," Severus agreed, before reflecting on what else the Dark Lord had said. "My lord, might I inquire as to another reason why you wanted those two paired together?"
"Young Malfoy would make a credible witness. Not only could he vouch for the accuracy of the potion, but his shock over the results would leave everyone curious."
"I see what you mean, my lord," Severus reluctantly agreed. "If Potter wa-"
"Harry," Voldemort corrected again, this time casting a curse at Severus to help him remember.
"Harry," Severus echoed, once he was able to speak. "Was paired with a friend, the two might easily accept zeroes on the assignment rather than divulge the results."
"Severus?" Albus asked for the third time, once more receiving no response from the potion master. "What happened? Does he suspect? Are you injured? Should I get Madam Pomfrey?"
"No," Severus whispered quietly.
"What happened, my child? Surely it couldn't be that terrifying?"
"Worse," Severus muttered, once more wishing for a bottle of firewhiskey.
"Please tell me. I can't help if I don't know the problem."
"He wants me to call Potter Harry," Severus answered, the last word spoken with all the hatred and revulsion his voice could hold.
"Is that all?" Albus replied, eyes twinkling brightly. "That is excellent news."
Severus looked at the headmaster in surprise. "Excellent?"
"Of course. I've been trying to get you to call him Harry for years now. I tip my hat to Voldemort for accomplishing that goal," Albus stated before doing just that.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Severus asked in disbelief. "You enjoy seeing me suffer like this."
"Severus, no," Albus denied. "I would never enjoy seeing you suffer. However, I have to admit, that I am most excited about Voldemort's recent plan."
Severus stood up in shock, "You say you don't want me to suffer, yet you are agreeing with him. How do you expect me to believe you?"
"Severus, please sit back down. I admit that I have high hopes for Voldemort's plan. I hope that you and Harry will be able to put aside your differences and learn to get along, for the sake of the war if nothing else."
Severus grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the headmaster before taking his leave. Of course if he had waited a few more minutes, he might have heard the headmaster proclaim, "That this could just be what the medi-witch ordered."
Immediately upon his return to the dungeon, Snape took up residence in his lab. He resigned himself to the fact that there was no way out of this plan, except of course death. Either his or Potter's, at this point. Truth be told, Severus truly didn't have a preference. However, he knew that the headmaster wouldn't agree, so he firmly set to work, trying to find a way to skew the results of the Amevi potion.
"I trust you have good news for me, Severus?"
"Some, my lord," Severus stated quietly. "I have found a way to manipulate the results, now I just have to modify that potion to provide your required results."
"And will the results be consistent if the test is done over a period of time?"
"That will be the next stage, my Lord," Severus answered. "Once I know how to obtain the desired results, I will continue to improve the potion until I reach the maximum time frame available."
"Very good," Voldemort said approvingly, "This is why I keep you alive. I don't know of anyone else that would be able to accomplish what you do."
Severus paled. No one liked to hear that they were only alive due to their skills. For the minute someone of equal or greater skills were discovered, they would be dispensable.
"Now, now," Voldemort cajoled, "No reason to be fearful. As long as everything goes according to plan, your life is safe."
Severus nodded, "Yes, my lord."
Another weekend, Severus thought as he barricaded himself in his lab. At least there would be no dunderheads to distract him.
Normally, he would be happy to experiment with new potions, especially when it involved doing something that was never done before.
Severus sighed as another attempt failed. Maybe he should give up and offer himself to the Dark Lord as a consolation to manipulating the potion. After all, Severus thought, death was surely better than Voldemort's plan.
At the realization of that thought, Severus decided that something had to be done. He would not ruin his life by falling in line with the plans of a madman. With a wave of his wand his lab was spotless. Severus Snape had had enough.
After muttering the inane password, Severus stormed into the headmaster's office.
"Death," Severus said succinctly.
"Death?" The headmaster echoed as he pulled out a tin of lemon drops.
"No, I do not want any lemon drops," Severus snarled before the old man could offer him one. "I finally found a way around the Dark Lord's plan. Death."
"Whose death?" Albus asked.
"Mine, of course. Boy wonder has a destiny to fulfill before he can be released from this life."
"Unacceptable."
"It's perfect," Severus countered.
"No. I did not save you only to lose you now."
"But you won't," Severus argued. "I'm telling you, it's perfect."
"You dying is not perfect," the headmaster said angrily. Automatically, Severus took a step back. He hadn't heard the headmaster use that tone since he found out that Crouch was impersonating Moody.
"But I won't die." At the headmaster's inquiring gaze, Severus clarified, "If Pettigrew, a wizard of little to no talent can fake his death and make others believe that he is gone, why can't I do the same? I wouldn't even have to disguise myself as a rat. I can use polyjuice, an appearance altering charm or potion. I could even continue to stay here at Hogwart's. After all, you would need a replacement potions professor. No one would know."
"That won't stop Voldemort," Albus said quietly.
"No, but it would stop me from being involved in his plan," Severus said cheerfully, or at least the most cheerful anyone has ever seen him.
"And Harry?"
"He'll still be alive," Severus said, a quiet "unfortunately," muttered under his breath.
"I meant that you dead would not necessarily make Voldemort cancel his plans. Instead of you fulfilling that role, he will appoint another."
"Ah, but you know the plan, so you can stop it. Besides, I am probably the only one who could manipulate the Amevi potion. Without me the Dark Lord would have to abandon this plan."
"In favor of another," Albus pointed out. "One that we wouldn't know. One that could cause harm to Harry and other students."
Severus went silent as he processed the headmaster's words.
"Without you we are truly in the dark against Voldemort. You are one of the greatest weapons we have."
Albus paused as he turned his blue eyes to his former student, "Can you really abandon all those people? All those lives that would be lost?"
Severus didn't say a word as he stood up and left the headmaster's office.
Severus stormed back to his lab. Why wouldn't the headmaster listen to him? It was a perfectly valid plan. Perfect! Everyone would win, mostly him, Severus thought. In fact, this was the only way he wouldn't have to be nice to Potter.
Severus sighed as he went to work. Hopefully he could convince the headmaster of the brilliance of his plan, until then, well, best to follow the Dark Lord's orders just in case.
END CHAPTER 5
Will Severus give up his plan and let fate take its course?
WOW…a lot of you figured out what Voldemort's plan was…brilliant…I am curious to know what you think of it, if you hadn't mentioned it already….
Chapter 6: Happy Halloween (and it should be long… 'Halloween' alone is over 1500 words, unless of course I break up the chapter again-LOL)
A/N: for those of you who thought Severus would protest more…you were right…Of course, even I wasn't expecting him to complain this much, or to come up with so many radical plans just to get out of being nice to the boy who lived…
8-13-05