A/N: an update? from me? -gasp- I've got three tests to study to! I should be doing that instead of writing! ;D ah, well, hope you like it...review?

Wake Up

Chapter 8: Rain and Thunder

It was cold outside. The wind wailed harshly through the streets, and the heavy, dark clouds covered the sky and strangled whatever light there might've been at this hour. Window panes rattled, wood squeaked, dogs barked…the atmosphere was growing thicker by the moment. The shadows that moved along the rows of old terrace houses, sneaking up and gathering around a particularly old and worn house, was of two men. They weren't seen, except for their shadows, but you could hear their breaths in the silence, and the sound of fabric flapping around wildly because of the wind.

But something more was moving in that peaceful bit of England. Too bad it, or rather they, were a bit late.

The wind picked up more speed, if possible, and a doorbell rang. The sound cut through like a knife, but was silenced abruptly. A figure. Dark, tall. And an outstretched hand, denied, followed by movements.

Moments ago you could taste the autumn when you breathed in the air. Yes, minutes ago the wind had been caressing a stray cat's fur. A mere breeze. But that was before. That was in the past. Nothing but the weather, and someone's plans, had changed. Everything else remained quiet.

Until the figure disappeared. Followed by a shadow. And the thick, almost electric, air thinned while the rain started to pour down the shaky windows.

It's strange how fast something can turn. How painfully obvious the end could seem all of a sudden. And it's amazing that a flame can be blown out by a mere breeze.

Nymphadora bit her lip. Her hands hadn't left the cool wood of the door. Her words rang in her ears; echoed on the walls around her. Emotions clouded her mind, made her heart ache, and kept her breathing. She knew a respond would be to ask for too much. She knew she would be forced to stand here an eternity before he said what she wanted to hear. What she needed. He must believe she was crazy. Insane. Mentally and emotionally instable. Which she was, no doubt. But some part of her brain, some weird, comforting voice, kept telling her only he could patch her up. Only he could heal the damage caused by his wand and tongue.

"I don't want to leave yet," she mumbled, lips pressed against the door. "I need more time to think. More time with you. More opportunities to steal your warmth. More. More, more, more."

Her tender skin tingled and hair rose as a chill went up her spine. His mouth on her neck. His hands on her breasts. Him in her mind, her dreams, her thoughts.

"This isn't insanity," she suddenly hissed, backing away from the door. "This is obsession!"

The room seemed to shrink into a frightening box that embraced her roughly. She stopped and blinked, trying to even her breathing. She decided then and there to let his words guide her shattered mind. It's a nightmare. It's wrong. It's insane. It's…it's life.

"I'm broken, you've brought me into this nightmare to save me from death, you've brutally beaten every part of my soul and body….I'm obsessed and I don't know what I'm feeling because of you. When this is all over, I will return scarred but alive. You will return as the same old bastard you were before. This'll be forgotten. You'll never cry at night because of me, like I will cry for you. You're not even listening. I don't even understand. I love you," she told the door firmly. Her voice was stern but shook. Her skin was pale and bruised, and her eyes were like amber; leaking salty tears.

It was then a bell rang, making her snap out of her trance and jumping backwards in fright. She ran over to the bed, curling up into a ball while amber turned into a striking colour of light-grey.

"What the…" a silky voice growled from somewhere near the darkened room Nymphadora occupied. "What do you want, Greyback?"

A man who looked worn and tired entered a room. His name was Remus Lupin, and he was in that room for a meeting. A special meeting. A meeting concerning a certain woman's escape from the clutches of darkness.

It was, in other words, about Nymphadora Tonks and Severus Snape.

Not being the one to hold grudges, he didn't really think Snape was evil. But the man had clutches, and he was like the darkest of nights. During winter. When it snowed. Preferably a snowstorm.

Lupin sighed. He, and everyone else, had been worrying sick about the clumsy Auror. It didn't help that Snape was the one who held the power over her welfare. Harry Potter had been even more sceptical about the whole 'plan' the Headmaster and, apparently, Snape had lain out, than most. Well, sceptical was too mature to use in the same sentence as Harry Potter, but right now, Lupin's tired mind was busy shaking itself mentally to search his vocabulary for a better description.

"Well, now that everyone is here, let us begin," Albus Dumbledore's voice stated when Bill Weasley finally arrived; clothes dripping wet. His mother scowled, but only received a shrug and a grin.

"The rain's pouring down out there," he said. "I almost got flushed away."

"It's the rain you're taking about, not the toilet," one of the twins said taunting.

"Yeah, well, at least we hope so," the other filled in, grinning. More people would've smiled, if it weren't for the tense atmosphere. It seemed like Dumbledore was just about to speak up, eyes twinkling yet stern, when he suddenly froze. All eyes rested on him as his blue eyes thinned and a flash of anger crossed his face.

He stood, faster than anyone would've thought possible, and hit the table with his fist.

"We are too late. Voldemort have summoned Severus," he said, hands clenching. "I'm afraid Miss Tonks was left behind."

Silence.

The forest was still. It always seemed to be still nowadays. Not that many people noticed this, since there was no one near to observe. Only the animals suffered through the changes of temperature and season.

This day, the weather had changed raptly. It had started out as a mild day. Breezes brining new scents to the older part of the forest, making some little bunny stop and sniff around. But the wind changed into a whip, and hit the younger trees until they bent to their knees. Only the tall and old trees seemed to resist its power. Now it had calmed down a bit, but rain had started to fall from the darkened sky. The leaves became slippery, and the ground turned into mud. Drops bounced off of black fabric, and soaked the clothes underneath. The quiet forest screamed out in pain. At least, it would've been nice if it'd done so, but it didn't. It was someone else's. And it told us of unbearable pain.

"ANSWER ME!" Red eyes glowered at black. Thin lips turned upwards, slightly parted after letting a scream pass, and rain washed away some of the mud in a pale face.

"Severus Snape, as cold as always… But, my dear servant, you are not anymore. I command you once more, to answer me! How did this filthy woman get to you, my most loyal Potions Master," came a sneer "my only Potions Master?"

Denials. Lies. It was a waste. Pale lips closed together. Mud soaked black hair and robes. He tried to pull himself up onto his knees.

"Master." Teeth bared but eyes indifferent. "I had to conjure up memories for Dumbledore to read. I had to base my lies on half-truths. He is skilled in detecting a lie, and any sign of subtle tries to make her stay more comfortable would strengthen his trust in me, my Lord."

The glowering, red eyes thinned and the white skeleton stopped in his tracks. Thoughts and musings moved behind his inhuman eyes, and soon it settle into a cruel amused glint.

"You are good, Severus, very good. Not many can manage to collect enough wit to stand up for their actions before me. You are a few steps from perfection, Half-Blood Prince, and it would only benefit me to shape the last part of you. Your weakened heart, your loosened grip of control…it all comes back to Dumbledore and that woman. Now, now…let's see," he hissed, staring to walk in circles around the man struggling on the ground named Severus Snape, "how to proceed?"

Severus heaved himself up, and landed on all four. He breathed in, eyes wide. The black curtain of his hair hid his face, and he couldn't make himself look up from the ground yet. He needed to calm down; needed to push away the pain and clear his mind. His Lord's words barely registered before new ones came.

"Right now, Nott and Malfoy are taking care of that Auror of yours. She won't be killed yet. I want to kill her. While you watch. That is my first approach," he drawled, stopping before the kneeling man and bending down to take his chin in his cold hand. Forcing him to meet his red eyes, Voldemort smirked.

"Dumbledore will be more of a challenge. I have two choices. Either I make Potter come to me, again, and face the old man off when he comes to rescue his little boy or…I simply have to find you something else to do than spy. Hmm…what do you prefer, Severus?" His name was caressed like a smooth hiss, and nothing could stop him from shivering. The disgust, the hatred. It was deeply buried. But the shiver slipped through his grasp. Voldemort threw his head back and laughed a high-pitched laugh. Severus' reaction clearly amused him. The dark wizard silenced a growl when the pale fingers of the Dark Lord left his chin. Standing up, the skeleton sneered down at the pathetic sight of his servant on his knees.

"You need to answer more quickly, Severus," he said before raising his wand once again. Another scream filled the air, but this time it was muffled by a lightening bolt. Thunder kept his screams faint from then on, but it didn't stop when his voice died. Something clearly had angered the weather this day.

A/N: I was about to end this chapter after Dumbledore's talk and the 'Silence.' thingy, but...I've already made you wait so long for an update...so...yeah.. ;)