Chapter 29 – Point and Counterpoint

Narcissa and Lucius looked up, calculating interest on their faces and wands in their hands as the Floo turned green and a figure stepped out.

With his wand pointed at the man's heart, Lucius said "What does my son's bond mate call him and in what language?"

Severus smirked appreciatively at the question. "Potter calls him sia'thurirl from the Elder Dragon language."

Lucius relaxed minutely and nodded to Narcissa for her question. She looked at Severus and gave the merest hint of a smile. "What was your response when Lucius and I asked you to be Draco's godfather?"

The Potions Master paused as he searched his memories and his cheeks flushed slightly. "I asked if you were sure you wanted me to raise your son and heir if something happened to you."

Wands disappeared into their sleeves and the husband and wife both relaxed. With a warm smile Narcissa replied "We were sure then and that decision has only been reinforced over the years, Severus."

Lucius waved his old friend to the man's favorite chair and snapped his fingers. A house elf immediately appeared and bowed low asking "How many Talle serve the Master?"

"A glass of the Remy Martin Louis XIII for Master Snape please, Talle" Lucius replied, smirking at Severus' surprise. The house elf nodded and disappeared with a quiet pop. "I assume from your demeanor that we might have something to celebrate" Lucius added.

"Indeed." He waited for Talle to return with a glass of the rare cognac and warmed the glass in his hands, then inhaled the wood-scented fruity aroma. He sipped the golden liquid and his appreciation of the vintage was evident as he savored the flavor with his eyes closed.

Lucius and Narcissa waited patiently, knowing that their old friend would tell them his story in his own time.

He opened his eyes slowly and his lips twitched in a trace of a smile at his friend's restrained curiosity. "I was polyjuiced as a random Muggle and was able to get close enough to MacNair on the street to Imperius him when he left the Ministry for the day. I took him to an alley a street away, and cast a Notice-Me-Not, an area Repello, several wards and more than a few privacy spells. Needless to say, I did not wish to be interrupted." Lucius and Narcissa smirked in approval. "Once I was certain we would not be disturbed without advance warning, it was merely a matter of finding the memory.

Voldemort sat on his throne, still with the pedestal displaying Bulstrode's bollocks beside him. He had taken to stroking the glass container as he considered punishments for his servants, adding another layer of fear to what they already knew.

Only MacNair, Avery, Crabbe and Goyle were there from the Inner Circle, with several lesser followers surrounding them. Voldemort was discussing how they were to "recruit" additional Ministry workers to his cause when his scarlet eyes widened and his body became rigid. He spun around to look behind him, and then began casting revealing spells around the room. MacNair had his wand out in his hand, prepared to defend himself or his Master as needed, but he could see no enemy. The other Death Eaters were confused but also drew their wands, assuming that the Dark Lord was under attack by an unseen foe. It was unnerving to see their Master casting randomly, as if he was hallucinating.

After what seemed like hours, but was likely only a few scarce minutes, Voldemort collapsed in his throne-like chair, shaking with fury. He beckoned to MacNair who was the nearest Death Eater. The man stepped forward immediately and knelt before his Dark Lord, who pushed his sleeve back impatiently, and jabbed the yew wand roughly against the Dark Mark. MacNair grimaced as pain exploded in his arm at the general summons. Voldemort held the summons for several excruciating minutes, making sure no one could ignore it.

Figures began almost running into the room, some still fastening their robes as they entered, not having taken the time to do much else due to the intensity of the summons. MacNair remained kneeling at his Master's feet, not having been dismissed; his arm still outstretched. Voldemort seemed to register each person entering and waved them to a position, silencing anyone foolhardy enough to open their mouth with a livid glare.

After twenty minutes, two places were conspicuously empty in the small Inner Circle nearest the throne. Voldemort grasped McNair's arm again and thrust viciously at the Dark Mark. McNair bit his tongue to avoid gasping at the pain. After several long minutes, the tall and cadaverous Dark Lord stalked back to his throne, waves of power and rage filling the room.

"I want to know if the Potter and Malfoy whelps are still at Hogwarts. If they are, I want young Malfoy killed and Potter brought to me alive. Lucius Malfoy, his wife and Severus Snape…" the thin lips sneered around the names with loathing "…are to be killed on sight and proof of their demise is to be brought to me within the week. If you have a child at Hogwarts, I expect them to be willing to sacrifice themselves to ensure the Malfoy spawn and Snape die."

MacNair was shocked. What had Malfoy and Snape done? They were part of the Inner Circle. And yet, they had not responded to the Master's summons. The torment the Dark Mark would cause if they didn't respond would cripple them – nonetheless they weren't here. He was startled out of his thoughts by the Dark Lord's scream.

"What are you waiting for? Go! I want to see proof of their deaths and Harry Potter cowering before me within a week or you will all feel my wrath!"

MacNair jumped to his feet and turned to leave, realizing he had turned his back on his Master a split second before the Cruciatus sent him writhing to the ground in agony.

Severus sipped his cognac again appreciatively. "I had hoped He would be incapacitated by the removal of our Marks, but apparently he just felt the loss without initially understanding what was happening. I was surprised that he didn't know who had left him but that he needed a general summons to identify us. I surmised that he would have been able to see or feel exactly who we were."

Lucius inclined his head in agreement. "One would imagine the spider knew what he held in his web and what morsel was missing." He waited until Severus finished the cognac before asking "Are you certain you want to speak to Dumbledore alone? You know I will join you; no one should have to face that controlling old coot alone."

Severus chuckled, the low rich baritone sound that was rarely heard. "I am actually looking forward to the conversation, Lucius. I will be sure to share the memory with you and Narcissa."

Lucius attempted to sneer as his desire to watch the old man's reactions to the disclosure were seen for what they were, but smirked instead. "I will hold you to that, Severus."


Severus glared at the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office. He was sure the old man deliberately chose these passwords to irritate him and to a lesser degree, Minerva. "Canary Cremes" he muttered.

The gargoyle slide aside revealing the moving stairs. He climbed them himself, disdaining being brought up as if he was incapable of climbing. The only days he ever used the moving stairs was when he was reporting after a meeting with a Dark Lord and had been under multiple Cruciatus curses.

He didn't bother knocking as he knew Dumbledore knew he was there. Sure enough, a cheery "Come in Severus" came through the door.

The Potions Master glided across the floor and inclined his head to the Headmaster. "Sit down, my dear boy, sit down. Would you like a lemon sherbet?" Severus declined as he always did, and then declined the subsequent offer of tea.

The Headmaster smiled benignly over the top of his glasses at the Potions Master. "What brings you to me today, Severus?"

"The Dark Lord summoned all of his Death Eaters today, Albus. He ordered his followers to kill me, Lucius Malfoy and Draco Malfoy upon sight, and ordered that Harry Potter be brought to him within a week."

The older man leaned forward in his chair and locked eyes with the younger man. "What caused those orders, Severus?"

The Potions Master was reminded why it was that the Dark Lord hadn't been able to defeat Albus Dumbledore when the older man's aura flared and power filled the room. Only years of training kept him from flinching at the display. Fawkes began to trill a soft refrain from his perch and both men relaxed minutely at the uplifting and encouraging song.

"Lucius and I resigned from the Dark Lord's service today." He kept his face impassive at the shock that raced across the elderly wizard's face as he pushed back the sleeve of his robe and began to roll up his shirt sleeve. He displayed his inner left arm where the Dark Mark no longer resided.

The Headmaster took a deep breath and leaned slowly back in his chair, templing his fingers. "Would you bear with an old man and start at the beginning, Severus?"

"My apologies, Headmaster. Lucius and I weakened the connection to the Dark Lord through a potion and then overrode the Dark Mark by imposing a greater bond over it. We are now blood brothers. I bear the Malfoy family crest on my arm while he bears the Prince crest on his."

He saw the other open his mouth and continued before any questions could be asked. "The Dark Lord felt our removal from his web of followers, but apparently couldn't identify who we were. He called a general summons and our absence was noted. He demanded the death of Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and me, and demanded that Harry Potter be brought before him alive."

Severus had expected annoyance, resentment or even anger from the elderly wizard, but he wasn't prepared for the hurt and disappointed look he found in the sad blue eyes. He waited for the questions, but none came…only that look of betrayal and disappointment. The Potions Master recognized the technique; he used it with his own students often enough. Silence until the perpetrator was squirming under the weight of it and either admitted to their wrong-doings or slipped up and said something he could use.

He sighed mentally. He didn't want Albus as an enemy and he was both his employer and Head of the Order. "I did not ask your permission or your blessing because I was not willing to be persuaded otherwise. I have been a marked slave for nearly twenty years, Albus. I have paid for my crimes many times over. I've paid in blood, in countless Cruciatus curses, and in nightmares that would drive any man insane. Both Lucius and I have withdrawn our support from the Dark Lord. He will no longer have a Potions Master and will lose the political and monetary advantages of the Malfoys. That will have a significant effect on his activities."

The blue eyes never wavered from his own, but he felt no brush of Legilmency against his shields, only a softly asked "What about Harry and Draco?"

"The choice is yours, Headmaster. I've identified the loyalties of every Slytherin in the school, as well as listed the children of known Death Eaters outside of my own House. You can either isolate, neutralize or expel them, or you can isolate Draco and Harry. I should warn you though, that the Dark Lord commanded that the children of his followers sacrifice themselves to get an Avada Kedreva off on me or Draco. Therefore, it would be easier to isolate the three of us rather than attempt to neutralize the children of the Dark Lord's followers."

The Potions Master reached into his pocket and removed a packet of papers and slid them across the Headmaster's desk. "There are the names and references of three competent teachers who all received Outstandings on their N.E.W.T. Potions. Two are Journeymen studying to be Masters, while the third is more devoted to research. Each is from a neutral or light family outside of the country with no ties to the Dark Lord, and each is willing to assume my teaching responsibilities immediately."

"Lucius and Narcissa are safe behind the Malfoy Family wards. You will remember that Filius spoke at one of the staff meetings last year about the potential of placing mirrors in the classrooms to permit students to watch their classes while recovering from illnesses. That suggestion could be tested for Draco and Harry, or they can leave the school and take refuge under one of their warded and unplotted properties."

Severus leaned back, suddenly tired and waited for the Headmaster's reaction.

"You've thought of everything, apparently" the elderly wizard said thoughtfully as he opened the papers on his desk. "Except how to replace you in Voldemort's meetings." Severus refused to flinch at the mild accusation. He looked up again at the Potions Master. "Will you tell me why, Severus?"

The younger man closed his eyes and answered the question that was really being asked. "Because I will do anything you ask me to do" he said softly. "And I didn't want you to ask me to continue." He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see the older man looking ashamed of him.

"Oh my dear boy" the Headmaster replied in a tone so tender and regretful that Severus' eyes snapped open in surprise. "I am so sorry. I've asked so much of you, caused you to be so wounded…." His voice cracked and he took a deep breath. "I understand fear, my dear boy. I'm sorry that I was the cause of that concern."

He stopped talking and looked at Severus tenderly, shaking his head. With a wave of the Elder wand, he summoned a tea tray and then opened a drawer, removed a bottle and poured a good measure in each tea cup, levitating one over to the younger man. "Aberforth always gives me a bottle of fire whiskey each Christmas" he said fondly. "Sometimes it's just the thing to flavor the tea."

Severus took a deep breath and accepted the tea cup and saucer that was floating gently in front of him. "Thank you, Headmaster" he said quietly.


Author's note: I wasn't satisfied with the third scene of this chapter, but since I had promised several readers to have the next installment out this weekend, I will publish the two completed scenes and add the remaining segment to the next Chapter.