Chapter 12
Severus spent weeks in his lab, hardly coming out; Dumbledore had visited twice. They were both getting annoyed; the Dark Lord had not called in weeks. Something big must be happening, was all Severus could think. But the Dark Lord had not even called his inner circle; they are usually called in on something big. He just hoped nothing happened.
Quite unexpectedly, the mark burnt during a Order meeting, but to everyone's horror, Peter Pettigrew clutched his arm as if he had the mark, too. Dumbledore stunned the man before he could turn into his Animagus form.
"I have to go" Severus said to them quickly through clenched teeth.
"Go Severus, be careful and come back," said Dumbledore almost fondly. He had loved Severus as a son; when he had come and asked to spy, Dumbledore could not have been more proud of the boy, and to his shame, he said yes. But he knew that there was no way around it, it was spying or death, and of course he would rather Severus spy than die.
Severus left and apparated to his Lord's side, wondering what had put him in such a good mood; the mark had not hurt that badly. It was obvious he was not angry, if anything he was happy. Knowing he would have to tell his Lord that Pettigrew had been caught. Someone he had not known about, that was for sure; he was glad he had given all he knew in Order meetings. Otherwise he would be an dead man, a very dead man, six feet under.
"My Lord, I have urgent news," said Severus bowing.
"What is it, Severus, my Second?" hissed Voldemort. Severus nearly gagged. The Dark Lord playing affectionate did not look or sound all that good, the man was totally hideous. (A/N: Now that's not very nice, it's just a Donkey, oops, I mean a Dark Lord.)
"Peter Pettigrew has been caught, my Lord!" Severus exclaimed sounding as sad as possible, but on the inside, he was practically beaming. He was rid of Peter Pettigrew at last.
"How dare that idiot get himself caught?" Voldemort hissed angrily. "Join the circle Severus, is there any other news?"
"Yes, my Lord" said Nathan stepping forward.
"And that is what?" asked Voldemort. He was still not happy with the man who had fouled up his plans.
"You have another loyal Nott heir on the way my Lord, Jade Avery became pregnant two weeks ago," said Nathan.
"Really? Well, that's great, another heir," hissed Voldemort looking excited.
"I thought so, too," said Nathan.
No one paid the least bit of attention to Severus Snape, who had suddenly gone white. Two weeks? 'The child could be mine,' was all that ran through the man's head. Looking over, Jade caught Severus' eye for a second, and he could see the hope that the child was his shining in her green eyes.
"Step forward Jade," hissed Voldemort.
When she did not move, Nathan forced her forward. They brought out a Muggle and put them in the center of the circle. Voldemort looked as if he was looking forward to something. Severus closed his eyes in despair, he knew what was going to happen, and just hoped that Jade recovered from it. They had made him hurt and kill an innocent woman.
"Curse him," hissed the man to Jade.
She never budged an inch, she would not hurt this child if it was the last thing she did. Voldemort became angrier by the minute as Jade ignored the order that he had given her.
"Curse him, Jade! Now, or you will know all about it when we get home!" Nathan Nott hissed angrily at Jade as she disobeyed the order the Dark Lord had given her.
"No," was all she said. She watched the scared child, not wanting to hurt the innocent being.
"Imperio!" Dread filled her as she felt the curse hit her, and tried to fight it. 'Curse him,' she heard Voldemort demand in her head. 'Curse the boy!'
'No! Don't hurt him, don't want to,' she thought trying to fight against the curse.
'Curse him!' Voldemort demanded again.
His curse was far too strong, Jade lifted her arm, her eyes blank, she shouted, "Crucio," and the little boy withered on the ground.
'Curse him with the cutting curse,' demanded Voldemort.
'No! He's just a child, don't hurt him,' Jade mentally screamed to herself. She didn't want to, but her body moved like it was on strings.
'Curse him!' Voldemort said. She could fight it no longer.
"Sectumsempra!" Jade yelled, eyes blank as everyone around her cheered her on, and enjoyed themselves. Even Nathan was enjoying it, Jade could break his Imperius, but not the Dark Lord's, and for that he was thankful.
The child's shrieks escalated more than before. That seemed to wake Jade from the haze she was in. For the first time that night, she over threw the curse and was out of it. Grabbing a stone, she quickly made a portkey before chucking it at the boy, who disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Nathan, take the bitch away before I kill her! After she has had the heir, she will be presented for killing," demanded Voldemort.
"Yes, my Lord," said Nathan.
'Fuck!' was all Severus could think. He was only nineteen years old and the one he loved was pregnant, married to another, and he didn't have a clue whether the child was his or Nathan Nott's. All Severus could think was, 'This really, really sucks!'
"Severus, stay behind," said Voldemort.
"Yes, my Lord?" asked Severus.
"Severus, anything from that old fool?" asked Voldemort.
"Nothing much my Lord, the new Dark Arts teacher is a fool, and there is a new Defence teacher needed for next year. Trek has handed in his notice, the old fool has finally decided someone new is needed. The Potions teacher is gone, too," said Severus. He had read it in the wizarding newspaper; apparently the teacher was packing in his job and leaving after the new year. As a favour to Dumbledore, he stayed to give Dumbledore time to find another Potions teacher.
It was well known among the Death Eaters that Severus was pretending to get to know Dumbledore, and they thought that he was on their side, but they were wrong, Severus was on Dumbledore's side.
"Very well, Severus, try and get the job," said Voldemort.
"But sir..." said Severus.
"No buts, Severus," hissed Voldemort angrily.
"I want the Defence position, my Lord," said Severus through gritted teeth.
"Don't you like Potions?" Voldemort hissed.
"I do not want to teach it to a bunch of dunderheads, no matter how much I like the subject," said Severus.
"You will take the Potions position, Severus, and spy on the old fool," said Voldemort.
"It won't be until next year, my Lord," said Severus.
"Why is that?" Voldemort hissed.
"Because the teacher is staying on another year, as a favour to Dumbledore so he can have time to get another teacher," said Severus.
"Very well," bristled Voldemort. His plans were going to be delayed; he needed Severus to get close to the old man. "Get in the old fool's good graces, I want more information, Snape," hissed Voldemort. He needed more information, otherwise he could very well loose this war.
"Yes, my Lord," said Severus, meanwhile thinking, 'the day I betray Dumbledore for you, is the day hell freezes over'.
"Good, you may go," said Voldemort.
"Thank you my Lord, thank you," said Severus, bowing and scraping to the man he hated. He hated the man for many things, one for making the one he loved suffer more than she already was, and making him hurt her. With a sigh, he apparated away with a pop.