A/N: More thanks and chocolate-covered Slytherins for my dear beta, anogete! Thanks also to my readers and reviewers; I love hearing all of your theories!

Obligatory: None of these things belong to me; they all belong to JKR. I just like to have a bit of fun with them, and no profit is desired.

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Over two months at the Death Eater manor had left Severus restless and moody. The lesser Death Eaters knew to steer clear of him at meetings, and only Lucius dared to dine with him. Not many counted his withdrawal as much of a loss to anyone, however, as he had never been active in the social life of Voldemort's followers.

Severus knew that his behavior was not endearing him to anyone, but he didn't care. He had been on house arrest since his return to the Death Eaters, despite the fact that he had ostensibly been forgiven by the Dark Lord and even promised a boon for his actions in killing Dumbledore. Some boon this was! The magical wards of the manor seemed to allow others relative ease in exiting and entering, yet any time Severus tried to Apparate out, he found that he was unable to. He was able to perform all other spells, but all roads of departure were closed to him. He did not appreciate being a prisoner.

One late morning in November, Severus decided that he was going to go for a stroll around the manor, as he could no longer tolerate hiding in his room. Perhaps a sign that he was making some effort to be social would go a little way in allowing him access to greater freedoms.

His feet carried him through the halls, and before he knew what his desired destination was, he found himself standing before a familiar wall, a wall behind which he knew stood The Cell.

He had heard much about The Cell from Lucius, as the most prominent inhabitant of said prison was his son. Normally, people who were taken prisoner by the Death Eaters would be killed, but, for some reason unknown to Severus, Voldemort had decided to keep a few of them around. Whether it was simply for amusement or some other purpose, no one was certain, but it was clear that the other Death Eaters were getting their jollies by torturing the defenseless detainees.

Lucius' enjoyment of the captives was the most disturbing, particularly since Draco was one of them. Severus had never witnessed it, but Lucius would tell him in great detail how he would go into The Cell to inflict the Cruciatus or some other unpleasant spell on his son. Sometimes he would perform some more Muggle violence on the other males or make lascivious advances towards the females, but whatever he chose to do would delight him endlessly.

Severus would sit and listen to these tales with feigned interest, but inside he was unmoved. He could not help but be distracted by a voice in his head that told him to have concern for the fate of his former student. After all, he had played a part in getting him into this mess, hadn't he? And Lucius, noble father that he was, had been the entire driving force behind the incident. Draco had done what he had done to save his father from Voldemort, and yet, in his moment of need, Lucius deserted him and used him as an outlet for his negative energies. Even the darkest and angriest parts of Severus could not accept what Lucius was doing, but there was little Severus could do. To show opposition to the elder Malfoy was folly for a Death Eater on the shaky ground on which Severus found himself presently.

Still, standing before The Cell, removing its wards so that he could enter, he felt that perhaps it wouldn't do much harm to see the boy, at least. Perhaps seeing him would put his mind at ease.

"Lucius has already been in to torture me today, Godfather, so you needn't bother," spat Draco from the floor.

"Manners, Draco," Severus warned, conjuring a chair and sitting down to regard the boy through the bars.

It was clear that the young man before him was a mere shell of the ruthless, brilliant student he remembered. As a close friend of the Malfoy family and godfather to its only son, he had seen Draco grow for nearly two decades, and a sentimental part of Severus was pained to see the boy like this, though he pushed those thoughts away as the byproduct of hanging around Gryffindors too much.

"I am not here to hurt you," Severus finally managed.

Draco lifted his eyes and looked at his former teacher with disgust. "Well, you aren't here to help me, so whatever your intentions are, I'm not interested."

Severus pulled himself up in the chair and brought himself into his full professor mode. "You are a Slytherin, Draco. You do not require the help of others, only your own cunning."

Draco cackled. "Is that what we were doing all those weeks on the run, eating rats and hiding in smelly shacks? Using our cunning?"

"You blame me for your circumstances," Severus said after a few moments of probing around Draco's mind. "I know there is nothing I can do to assure you that I did not turn you in."

"And yet, here you are, free to go wherever you'd like, and I'm locked up like some criminal, suffering the curses of my father. Forgive me if I don't feel like forgiving you." Draco's voice lacked much strength or conviction, and his exhaustion was written all over his face and body.

"I do not expect you to forgive me. I am merely telling you the truth. I am not as free as you think I am, however. I am restricted to the grounds."

Draco laughed bitterly again. "Well, poor Snape. I expect they have you locked in your room making potions from first year, eh?"

Severus raised his eyebrow. "And just how would you know that?"

"You'd be surprised what's said in front of us." Draco motioned to the other occupants of The Cell. "We're going to die soon, so no one really cares what we hear."

Severus' curiosity was piqued, but he didn't dare ask Draco to expound on his claim. "I do not think that your father would really allow you to be killed."

"Then you don't know my father as well as you think you do, Snape. The charge of using others for your own ends as a Slytherin does not exclude one's family. But then, you would know all about that, wouldn't you?" Draco shot Severus a murderous look.

Unsure of what to do or say, Severus stood, and his chair disappeared. "I must be going, Draco. I do hope that you manage to keep yourself alive. Talents like yours will be wasted if you rot in here indefinitely."

"I'm touched by your concern, really, Godfather, but you needn't bother. I will be killed. It's just a matter of when they do it. Once I am no longer of use to anyone, they'll dispose of me. Who knows, perhaps you'll be given the job!" Draco reclined back on the floor with a sigh.

"Be well, Draco." Severus left The Cell and replaced the wards on the wall that concealed it from view.

"Ah, Severus, getting some enjoyment out of the prisoners?" Lucius' mocking voice sounded behind him. "And about time, too!"

"Just having a look 'round, old friend."

"Well, I am glad that I ran into you. The Dark Lord wishes to see you immediately." Lucius motioned for Severus to follow him, and they began walking down the corridor. "Do not feel too badly for Draco, Severus. His own weakness is what got him into his position. He had not the courage to perform his task, and he is being punished for it."

"What makes you think I feel badly for your son?" Severus raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

"Not many would notice the ways in which you betray your emotions, Severus, but I know that flicker of pity in your eyes. It is understandable. You were bound to our family and his safety by becoming Draco's godfather, so it is natural that you should feel some compulsion to help him. Fear not; I know that you will not, and the Dark Lord will not hear about your soft spot for the helpless from me!" Lucius patted Severus' back as they approached the door to Voldemort's audience chamber.

"Thank you, Lucius. I shall endeavor to suppress said soft spot." He flashed the blond wizard a wry smile, and they entered the room.

What they found when they entered nearly startled Severus, as he was completely unprepared for it. Lucius seemed rather nonplussed, so Severus assumed he just hadn't been hanging around any Death Eater hideouts long enough to witness such things.

Voldemort sat, as he usually did, in his throne-chair. However, today, his robes were open, and Bellatrix Lestrange was kneeling before him, her head buried between his legs, presumably performing fellatio on the fearsome Lord, her wild black hair bouncing up and down. Voldemort's face was unmoved by the act, as he simply sat with his red gaze focused on the wall, his thumb and index finger resting on his gaunt chin.

Taking a cursory look about the room, Severus eyed Bellatrix's husband, Rodolphus, observing the scene with pride. Three other Death Eaters viewed the scene, one of whom was holding the body of a snake.

With just a hair's breadth of hesitation, Severus followed Lucius and knelt before Voldemort, their robes rippling behind them. Not daring to show his disgust, Severus mirrored Lucius' deep bow and kiss of his Master's robe hem, trying to stay as far from Bellatrix as possible while still displaying his servitude.

Out of his peripheral vision, Severus watched Bellatrix increase her sucking rhythm, her hand hidden somewhere inside the robes of the subject of her enthusiasm, and bring Voldemort to a quietly gasped climax down her throat before wiping her mouth, refastening his robes lovingly, and moving to stand beside her husband. Rodolphus was nearly jubilant at his wife's accomplishment.

Finally, the Dark Lord acknowledged his recently entered followers who remained prostrate before him. "Rise," he commanded with a raspy and weary voice.

"My Lord," Severus and Lucius replied in unison.

"We have had some dire news, my friends," Voldemort began with a sigh. "Nagini has been murdered."

Lucius gasped in disbelief. "Who would commit such a dreadful act, my Lord?"

Voldemort motioned for the masked Death Eater to hand him the headless body of his once beloved snake. "Potter," he spat, glaring up at Severus.

"Potter was here?" Severus replied, his voice as deeply incredulous as Lucius'.

"Of course not, you fool. Nagini went to Hogwarts to see the condition of the Chamber of Secrets, and somehow Potter found her and removed her head! I want vengeance!" His eyes danced with a wild fury.

"And you shall have it, My Lord," quipped the Death Eater who had been holding Nagini's body. The voice was familiar to Severus, but he did not have time to ponder to whom it belonged.

"Yes, in time, I shall. I shall have my vengeance for all the wrongs done to us. But we must have patience, though I have called you here to instruct you all to redouble your efforts. You all know the tasks you have been assigned, and you must pursue them now with haste and diligence." He closed his eyes, and Severus heard his voice in his mind. "Severus," the voice hissed, "I want you to continue with the healing potions, as well as a goodly supply of the Wolfsbane potion for our werewolf allies. Soon, I shall give you your reward for your services to me."

Meetings were often conducted in this way. Voldemort never allowed too many Death Eaters to know what the others were doing, least of all Death Eaters in the dubious standing of Severus. All would receive their orders in their minds through Silent Speech, and only Voldemort knew at all times who his followers were and what they were up to. This paranoid method of rule assured his followers of his power and asserted his absolute control, efficiently ensuring that no plans were ever compromised, and no one knew enough to enact true damage. It also had made Severus' job of giving novel information to Dumbledore difficult in his spying days.

Finally, all of the assignments were seemingly given to each Death Eater, and they all bowed before him before making their exits.

Now, it was time for the socializing, and though Severus normally skipped this part of an audience, for the sake of his attempts to gain more liberties, he decided to stay and engage in the usual banter of some of his only acquaintances. He could not even bear to call them friends.

Lucius approached him with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Aren't you going to run to retreat to your rooms, Severus?"

"I thought I might see what you have all been up to. After all, I have no place else to go." Severus stared intently into his eyes, trying not to let his anger at his imprisonment show.

"Oh, Severus," Lucius chuckled. "How could I have been so thoughtless? You've been trapped here at the manor, haven't you?"

Severus relaxed instantly. "Indeed."

Lucius laughed again and turned to Rodolphus. "Lestrange, you have failed to release Severus here from house arrest. Surely the Dark Lord ordered you to provide him with absolute freedom?"

Turning from his conversation with Bellatrix, Rodolphus eyed Severus. "I was just worried about him, that is all. The whole bloody world is looking for him, and if he goes traipsing about the countryside, he may lead the Aurors straight to us."

"Are the Aurors not looking for you lot, also?" Severus smirked, a mocking glint in his eye.

"We may be right bastards, Snape, but none of us killed Albus Dumbledore. With you to look for, they are certainly less concerned with us." Rodolphus exchanged a tense but almost unreadable look with Lucius.

"Release his wards, Rodolphus. Severus has been imprisoned long enough." Lucius stared him down hard, and Severus got the uncomfortable feeling that this conversation had been staged. Why he got that feeling, he couldn't quite say.

"Of course, Lucius. As the Dark Lord commands."

"Wonderful," Lucius relied. "Now, enough business. Let us retire to my rooms for some brandy and conversation. After all, we've hardly heard a word about from you in these many weeks, my friend." Lucius patted Severus' elbow, and Severus knew that his time here was to be very long and unpleasant indeed.