Disclaimer: Not mine. Be nice if it was. Actually, JK can keep most of it, I just want Severus.

Well, here is Chapter six. Turned out I did have a little time to write and finish off the chapter. But now they're really going to slow down. First exam in three days. Really should probably study. In the meantime, have this chapter.

"Snape."

Severus looked up from his book, and saw Avery standing in the doorway to the dormitory, with Jenkins and the other couple of sixth year boys, Rickard and Bradley, standing just behind him.

"It's time."

Severus got up. He was prepared. Well, as prepared as he ever could be. As he walked out behind the other boys, he looked at his left forearm, thinking that it could probably be the last time it was bare. Avery had never said if they would be taking the Mark straightaway, or, indeed, if they were taking the Mark at all.

The castle was practically empty as the five of them strode through the halls, as most students had gone home for the holidays. Their first minor obstacle came in the form of the front doors of the castle, which was easily overcome by a few flicks of Avery's wand. They continued to the gates at the edge of the grounds, where they were able to Apparate from.

Avery took hold of the upper arms of two Rickard and Jenkins, leaving Bradley standing by himself.

"Snape, would you - ?" asked Avery, nodding at Bradley. Severus inclined his head, taking Bradley's arm, and shortly after, he had tracked Avery's apparition, and they were standing outside an abandoned warehouse.

"Here?" asked Rickard, incredulous.

Avery snorted. "Not what you were expecting? I'm not surprised. The Dark Lord does prefer more extravagant locations for his hideouts, it is true, but the Order of the Phoenix knows that. It is best to stay away from such locations if that is the case."

The other four boys nodded. It made sense. "Come," said Avery shortly, leading them inside.

As they approached the door, there was a loud cracking noise, and a wizard a few years older than Severus appeared in front of them. He looked vaguely familiar, but he could not place it.

"Ah, Avery. He's waiting for you and your recruits in there," said the man. Severus was staring at him, frowning, trying to match the long blonde hair and general elegance of this man somewhere in his memory.

The man saw his staring and frowned, but turned back to Avery, who spoke. "Thank you, Lucius. Just leaving?"

"Yes, I have to get back to Narcissa. The whole pregnancy thing. You know."

Avery nodded. Suddenly, a light when on in Severus' mind. Lucius. Narcissa. This man was Draco's father. No wonder he looked familiar. So, was Narcissa pregnant with Draco? He did a quick calculation. No, that wouldn't work. It was three years too early for Draco to be born. He shook himself mentally. New timeline, idiot. Draco probably won't be born. Because you sure as hell won't be.

Five minutes later, he found himself in front of the Dark Lord, and he was every bit as ugly as Potter Junior had said. He looked to his left, and he saw Bradley walking forward towards the Dark Lord, stopping about two metres away.

"Name?" hissed Voldemort.

"Dean Bradley, my Lord."

"Lineage?"

"Pure blood, my Lord."

"Your parents...?"

"Michael and Jane Bradley, my Lord."

"Occupations?"

"My father worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry, and my mother was unemployed for the most part, my Lord. They are both dead."

Voldemort showed no sign of compassion for the boy, and asked of his and his parents houses, and who he lived with during the holidays.

"Myself and my father are Slytherins, my mother was a Ravenclaw. During the holidays I live with my aunt, my father's sister, my Lord."

He dismissed Bradley, inviting the next boy forward.

He repeated his first question, getting "Richard Jenkins, my Lord," in reply.

Voldemort expected to hear that Jenkins was pure blood, but was mildly surprised to hear "Half blood, my Lord," as the answer.

"Do explain," hissed Voldemort. Jenkins flinched just a little bit.

"My mother was Muggle born, and my father a pure blood. They were both Ravenclaws. My mother has since passed away from illness, my father is still alive, he now owns the apothecary in Diagon Alley, my Lord."

Voldemort sucked in a breath, then said "You may be half blood boy, but you can still be useful to me. I expect access to ingredients from your father's shop from time to time."

"Yes, my Lord."

Severus was next. He covertly drew a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Name?"

"Severus Snape, my Lord."

"Lineage and parents?"

"I am half blood, my Lord. My father is Tobias Snape, a drunk, good-for-nothing Muggle, and my mother is Eileen Snape, formerly Prince, a pure blood Slytherin."

"Prince?" asked Voldemort, mildly surprised. "You come from good wizarding stock, boy. It's a shame about the Muggle blood, but there's nothing we can do about that. Tell me, boy, what areas do you excel in?"

"I appear to have an aptitude for Potions, my Lord."

Voldemort smiled. Well, Severus assumed it was a smile. "I thought as much. Your mother did, too. I will have you working closely with young Jenkins, if that is the case."

Severus stepped back into line, muttering "Yes, my Lord," as he retreated.

Voldemort repeated similar questions with Rickard, also finally deeming him worthy of becoming a follower with the other three.

Voldemort sank back into his seat, smiling slightly. "You four boys have proved yourselves to me. Dolohov, if you will..."

Severus looked to one side to see a man wearing the Death Eater mask walking toward them, wand drawn. He pressed the tip to Bradley's left forearm and muttered an incantation. A yell was ripped from Bradley's mouth, and he collapsed to the floor, clutching his forearm while writhing in pain. Severus' eyes widened. He wasn't prepared for pain. The process was repeated for Jenkins, then Dolohov turned his wand on Severus.

The cold tip pressed lightly into Severus' skin, and he mentally prepared himself for the pain, clenching his teeth. He vaguely heard Dolohov mutter the incantation, and pain shot through him, starting at the point of his arm where the wand was, running right through him. His preparation was practically pointless, as the pain was almost unbearable. It seemed to be getting worse, and he couldn't stay quiet any longer. He let out a roar of pain, almost in synchronisation with Rickard, who had cracked earlier than Severus.

As soon as the yell left his mouth, the pain began to dissipate, finally fading away into a dull ache in his left forearm. When he looked up, he saw Voldemort, Dolohov, and other Death Eaters were gone, leaving him and the three sixth year boys in the room. He looked over at Jenkins, who was gripping his forearm, staring at it. Severus looked down at his own, and saw lines beginning to form over it. He watched for a minute or two, and by the time it has finished the pain had completely gone, and was left with a reminder of the pain: the Dark Mark permanently etched into his skin.

They returned to Hogwarts, and as Severus fell asleep he dimly considered flashing his Dark Mark at Potter the next time he hexed him, but decided against it. Avery had said it was to remain secret, for now, at least.

The rest of the year moved slowly for Severus. The ache he felt whenever he saw Lily and Potter together was still strong, even after months. When the two had gotten together, the gossip spread like wildfire throughout the school, and Severus was furious, although he tried to not let it show. Part of him wanted everyone to shut up about it, for Lily's sake, to respect her privacy. Another, however small, part of him wanted everyone to shut up, just so he could stop hearing about it. Another, slightly more dominant part wanted to start a rumour or two about them, mainly for Potter's sake. The rest of him tried not to care.

The end of the year drew near, and Severus took his NEWT exams along with the other seventh years. He still tried to get the highest marks possible, even though it was rumoured that the Dark Lord didn't really care what kind of grades they got as long as they were loyal. Severus felt that considering his loyalty wasn't exactly with the Dark Lord, it didn't really apply to him. Not that he told anyone. He didn't know what would happen if he did, and he didn't really feel like finding out firsthand.

After the Leaving Feast, he travelled back to his parents house. Upon his arrival, he greeted his mother, ducked an empty beer bottle missile thrown at him by his father, and retreated to his bedroom to prepare for what was coming next. He was being relocated to Malfoy Manor along with Avery. It turned out that Lucius Malfoy's parents had moved to the continent, leaving the Manor in Lucius' possession. They were being moved there in order to have easier access to the Dark Lord, and during the holiday breaks Jenkins, Rickard, and Bradley would be staying with them, along with any other Slytherins they managed to recruit during their seventh year.

After about three weeks of staying at the Manor, Avery's and Severus' NEWT marks were delivered to them. Severus had been both looking forward to and dreading this. He was looking forward to it because he simply wanted to know how well he'd done, and he was dreading it because he didn't want the others to know he'd actually tried. Nonetheless, he opened the envelope just as Avery let out a crow of delight.

"All Acceptable, except for Exceeds Expectations in Potions! Brilliant! How'd you do, Snape?"

Severus pulled out the sheet of parchment and studied it for a moment.

Potions: Outstanding
Defence Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding
Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations
Herbology: Outstanding
Charms: Exceeds Expectations
Arithmancy: Outstanding

"Not bad," he replied, passing over his results.

"Not bad? Bugger me, Snape, you got four Outstandings! That's pretty damn good. And you didn't even try, like I said?"

Severus smirked. "No," he lied.

Avery grinned. "Anyway, come on. The Dark Lord wants to see us soon."

I think my Voldy was a bit OOC. I always imagine him to be a bit harsher, I suppose. But anyway.
Please review! Kthxbye