Severus entered the Great Hall on the day before the students were due to return to Hogwarts. The teachers met here annually for start of term notices, to meet new teachers and to generally get back into the swing of things. He quickly realised that he was the last one to enter. He could hear the buzz of aimless talking amongst the teachers, and wished suddenly that he was anywhere apart from here. More specifically, somewhere with the Dark Lord.
"Ah, Severus," Dumbledore said loudly as he noticed the Defence teachers presence. Severus forced himself to smile, though he knew it wouldn't quite be reaching his eyes. "Let me re-introduce you. This is Horace Slughorn."
Severus nodded to his old Potions Tutor. "Professor Slughorn," he said coolly.
"Ahh, Severus, my boy!" Horace boomed. Severus inwardly cringed, but kept a smile on his face. It had been a long time since he had been called a boy, even by Voldemort. "Haven't you done well for yourself? Wonderful position, glad I inspired you to become the Potions Professor all these years!" Severus wondered why Slughorn assumed that he had been the one to do the inspiring, but didn't comment. Instead, he nodded and moved over to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, may I have a moment?" he said once Dumbledore had finished speaking to Professor Flitwick. The Headmaster nodded, and together they walked towards the chamber at the back of the Great Hall. "The Dark Lord is making plans to attack Potter's relatives house."
Dumbledore nodded, with a small smile. "I had anticipated that."
"Then if you have anticipated it, does the house have protection?" Severus asked, as if he was deeply concerned with the safety of his students family.
Dumbledore's triumphant gleam had returned. "Yes, of course, Severus. I wouldn't leave Harry alone with no protection." The Defence teacher could suddenly detect a glimpse of sadness in Dumbledore's eyes. "It isn't going to last for much longer. As soon as he is seventeen, he will have to protect himself."
Severus was silent for a moment. He was about to excuse himself, when his mark burned. He gasped loudly, hand gripping his forearm tightly, his hold so hard his knuckles turned white. "He calls me, Albus," Severus said, panting for breath slightly. He bend over, cradling his arm into his body as hard as he could. Very slowly, the pain subsided, and he noticed Albus's hand on his shoulder, the old man looking very concerned.
"I am sorry you must put up with this," he said quietly. "It won't be for much longer now." Dumbledore stepped back slightly. "I take it you must leave?" Severus nodded slowly. "Then I shall not stop you. I shall make your excuses."
Severus thanked the Headmaster, and turned and ran towards the door that led straight into the grounds, ready to Apparate to wherever the Dark Lord was calling from.
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The first thing that Severus could smell when he reappeared was the sea. When his vision became clear, he realised that he was on a beach. The sky ahead of him was almost black with clouds, the sea was dark and choppy, and the wind was howling. Shivering slightly, he looked around, and could see the Dark Lord slightly ahead of him, staring into the sea, robes flying around him, giving him the illusion of being inhuman.
"My Lord?" Severus called hesitantly, walking forwards. Voldemort turned around, and greeted Severus with a cool smile.
"Severus."
"Why… Why are we on a beach?" The words had failed for a second. Severus couldn't understand for the life of him why he had to be here on this cold, lonely and desolate beach.
"I have killed two followers already today for nearly no reason, and so, I thought it would be best if I came somewhere like this – where there is no one to kill." Severus swallowed lightly. The Dark Lord was in a truly foul mood. He wondered just what had instigated it.
"I had to leave the Professors gathering – I was worried something was wrong."
The Dark Lord cursed under his breath. "I forgot. Did you speak to Dumbledore?"
"Yes." Severus walked slightly closer. "The protection will be gone on his seventeenth birthday." Cautiously, Severus reached out for Voldemort's hand. He noticed the ring still gleaming brightly on the mans finger.
"Good," Voldemort replied sharply, his eyes gleaming equally as much as the ring. Severus could have sworn that his Master licked his lips in anticipation. "I suppose you want to go back to the Manor now."
Severus wanted to say yes very badly, but he wanted to get Voldemort into a slightly better mood first. He wasn't going to be able to stop his Master if he wanted to kill his followers, nor did he want to get in the way of his wand. "No, we can stay here for a while if you want."
The Dark Lord made a slight noise, and turned to face the sea again. Severus took in his surrounding properly, and noticed that they were standing below a huge cliff, and that there was a dark cave nearby. He shuddered again. "Voldemort, why did you choose here?" Severus asked softly, putting his arm gently around the taller man's waist. He felt the Dark Lord shift so he was slightly closer to his lover, but that was the only reaction he got.
"That cave over there," Voldemort began. "Is where I first did dark magic. I was ten, if I am correct. Of course, at the time, I had no idea what I was doing. The effect was catastrophic for those two Muggles." A small smirk appeared on his thin lips. "Come here, Severus." Voldemort pulled the Defence teacher closer into his body, his lips millimetres away from Severus's.
"My Lord?" Severus murmured, his breathing slightly heavier then normal.
"You are cold." Voldemort's arms drew around Severus's thin body tightly, and Severus felt cold lips on his own, kissing him deeply and passionately. The Half Blood Prince could feel his stomach somersaulting. When they pulled apart, he noticed that they were no longer on the beach, they had returned to the Manor, and were standing on the grass outside the house kissing passionately.
"Someone could be looking out of the window!" Severus whispered to the Dark Lord.
"Let them," Voldemort responded shortly. "You're mine. They cannot touch you." Severus nodded lightly, feeling numb inside. He felt a small trail of heat spread through his ring finger, as if the heat from Voldemort's words was inside the ring.
"Yes, Master,' Severus said absently. He felt Voldemort's grip on him tighten once more, as he led his servant into the Manor. Severus felt a wave of warmth hit him, and spread over his body. The Death Eaters in the foyer looked slightly shocked at the Dark Lord's physical contact on Severus, who was just relieved that no one had seen the kiss. Glancing to Voldemort, Severus could see that he was about to blow over again, as the Death Eaters started to come towards him. Quickly, Severus took charge.
"The Dark Lord will have no company, except my own, until tomorrow evening," he announced officiously.
The Death Eaters didn't look so happy, but they all bowed respectfully as the Dark Lord started to mount the staircase, sweeping past them. Severus followed, smirking around him at the outraged glances and glares he was receiving. "You are going to earn yourself some enemies if you are not careful," Voldemort said softly, as they reached the top of the steps.
Severus's smirk widened. "Those men continue to mean nothing to me. They shall never rise to my position and they know it."
"And the only person that shall decide their positions is myself, Severus," Voldemort reminded him. "You would do well to remember that."
Severus quickly opened the door for his Master. "Of course, my Lord," he responded, almost in a whisper. "I shall await the day that you name me as your first commander, then."
The Dark Lord chuckled coolly, but Severus knew he was right, and that would happen. "Indeed," Voldemort said as they entered his rooms. "As of now, you would make a very bad first commander as you are hardly ever here."
"Though, for your spy, I am here too often."
The Dark Lord tapped Severus firmly on the shoulder, turning him around to face him. "I hope that is not a complaint, Severus," he said sharply.
"Quite the contrary," Severus responded softly. "I would sooner be here then at Hogwarts."
Voldemort seemed to relax slightly. Severus could tell, as the Dark Lord's face had lost it's visible tension "I hope you are not having any doubts on our agreement." He held out the hand with the ring on it to Severus, who slowly took it in his own.
"I made a promise, a promise I will never want to break," Severus replied. For the first time in a while, he made the first move. Squeezing the hand lightly in his own, he reached up and kissed Voldemort hard on the lips. He felt the Dark Lord tense again for a moment, before fully relaxing and deepening the kiss.
As the kiss broke, Severus pulled his lover backwards, landing himself on the sofa, with Voldemort on top. The Dark Lord was smirking. "I see someone is feeling very eager today," he said, as he slowly started to unbutton Severus's robe, kissing the new exposed flesh.
"I am here to serve," Severus responded ironically, with a flash of a smirk, and started to unbutton the Dark Lord's robes. "And I can see that my Master needs my service."
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Sorry about the delay and the shortness of this chapter, but it is an update and there is a nice little bit of Voldemort/Severus goodness in there! Please leave a review, let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see in the plot.