In the Head of the Snake
Chapter 4: Multiple Observations
"My Lord," Snape bowed low before the Dark Lord, his black cape swallowing up his expressionless face.
"Severus," Voldemort whispered. His teeth shone in the candle light in what Snape had learnt was a smile. Good. He was happy to see him. He was safe…for now. "Come, up, up. What good are you to me on the floor?"
Snape obediently stood and faced the vile creature. Emotions bubbled inside him but he suppressed them. Taking his truth into his hands, Severus bundled up his memories, hopes and dreams and quickly shoved them away from Voldemort's gaze.
"I need to see what you have been up to, my loyal servant," Voldemort was hardly paying attention to what he was saying. Snape was the last person who would cross him, but that was no reason to keep an eye on him.
"Yes my Lord," Snape nodded. Voldemort stood slowly, and, with head cocked to one side, hissed.
Images swirled through Snape's vision. It took a lot more energy this time to steady himself and to not automatically put up barriers. He noticed it was getting harder to let the Dark Lord into his mind. He watched idly as Voldemort sifted through memories of classes filled with working students…morning breakfasts in the great hall…staff meetings…the night-time watch. The night-time watch.
Powerless, Snape let Voldemort witness his talk with Ginny.
With a sigh, Voldemort left Snape's mind.
"And who is the girl?" enquired Voldemort softly. "And why such interest in her?"
"My Lord," frowned Snape – didn't Voldemort know who Ginny was? – "her name is Ginny Weasley."
"One of the Weasleys? The blood-traitors?"
"Yes, My Lord," Snape didn't like that tone of voice. He had to explain himself quickly. "But, My Lord, there is something different about this Weasley."
"Ah, there is always a black-sheep among the countless white. Why does this girl stand out for you, Severus?" Voldemort was not particularly interested, but Snape was not often wrong about these things.
"She is at the stage of her wizarding life where levels of power are beginning to even out. However, there is something very strange about her in that she wields an uncanny amount of power. She is exceptionally strong."
"There are many who are exceptionally strong, Severus. Get to the point."
"All of her other siblings are weak, My Lord. They know nothing of the power of the Dark Arts, and yet she masters them without a second thought. I have a theory that when she was taken to the Chamber of Secrets – "
"She WHAT?" Voldemort snapped upwards. So this was the girl who had helped to destroy his beloved diary? So this was the girl who could have given him life so many precious years earlier? What if she knew? What if she had even a glimmer of the truth?
"Speak quickly, Snape. I must hear this theory of yours!"
"I merely think," Snape stressed the word. He hadn't thought that Voldemort would take such a reaction to this news, but obviously Snape knew less than normal. As per normal. Without rolling his eyes, he continued, "I merely think that while she was down in the chamber, some of the magic that went on infused itself with her, and that magic now gives her the sudden strength that she has."
"What type of powers does she wield?"
"What I have seen of her is mainly her ability at potions. I have noticed a profound difference in her skills at – forgive me – 'good' potions compared to 'bad' potions. The darker the intent in the potion, the faster she masters it. In her second year, being taught by that werewolf, she received top grades. That, compared to her first year's performance…well, the difference is profound."
"And why have you taken an interest in her now?" Voldemort's eyes were not leaving his. He was looking for any hint of something deeper than what Snape was saying.
"She has been used against Harry Potter before," Snape shrugged.
"You believe she has a connection to Dark Magic? And that is why she is so much stronger than others her age?"
"It cannot be talent, My Lord – look at her talent-less family."
The Dark Lord waved Snape into a chair and with long-nailed fingers, stroked his pale chin in thought. Was it possible that, in being destroyed, his diary had tried to stay alive through this girl? Did that mean that his first Horcrux was still alive in Ginny Weasley? He looked hard at Snape. No…he couldn't tell the man. Voldemort trusted no one with his biggest secret. But, the teacher did know the traces of black magic. Maybe he should…yes. He would.
"Severus," Voldemort said in conclusion. "Watch her. Those are my instructions to you. Observe her for any oddly powerful behaviour on her part, and then try and pinpoint that power's location. It may just be a strong wand that she wields," Voldemort quickly kept quiet. Snape didn't need to know about that either.
Oblivious to the thoughts in Voldemort's head, Snape said, "Yes, My Lord. As you wish," before standing up, bowing low once more and walking out of the cold room.
Once safely in the grounds, he let a shiver course violently through his body. Voldemort was getting too strong, and he was getting impatient too. He wanted Harry Potter dead now and he wanted to rule the wizarding world now as well.
Snape reached a round pond and stepped into it. The black water hid his feet from him but did not wet them. Silently, he turned on the spot and disappeared.
He reappeared in a room in the Hogshead. He looked about the room distastefully. He had bad memories of it, but it was what Dumbledore had assigned him to disapparate in and out of. He couldn't be seen away from the Hogwarts' area for too long without a proper alibi, so Snape had a "getaway room" for when he was "feeling a bit on the dark side." He hated how Dumbledore chuckled at his own words.
His mind running with thoughts, Snape made his way out of the Hogshead and towards the castle. Things weren't looking too good in the castle. The ministry was turning a blind eye and the Frog Woman was doing everything in her perpetually-developing-power to keep it that way. The children were miserable. He couldn't blame Harry Potter for sneaking out at night.
Once in the castle, Snape made his way to his special room. He needed sleep. His arm was prickling uncomfortably and his conscience was worrying – actually worrying? – about what situation he had just put Ginny Weasley in.
As he slumped gladly down onto his bed however, a silver phoenix erupted in the air.
"Requesting time to talk," Dumbledore's voice echoed about the room.
Sighing, Snape said, "Request granted."
The phoenix changed shape slowly to mirror Dumbledore's tall image. His hands were behind his back and his eyes twinkled serenely through his half-moon spectacles.
"Sir, what would you like to talk about?" Snape sighed. He felt like a child being summoned to the headmaster's office, being asked to have tea with him.
"I'm bored, Severus," pouted the ex-headmaster. Snape raised his eyebrows.
"Surely you have something to do? Some secret mission you are trying to accomplish?"
"Oh yes," nodded Dumbledore sadly, "however I have hit – quite literally – a dead end."
"If you told me of what your mission was about…" trailed Snape, but he knew it was no good.
"You can be of little service to me as I am now, my friend," smiled Dumbledore sadly. The words 'my friend' stuck with Snape. He was as much a prisoner of Voldemort's as he was of Dumbledore's, but when Dumbledore said 'my friend', he believed it more than he did when Voldemort said 'my alli'. "But come, I want to know, are how things in the castle?"
"Miserable," shrugged Snape. He was not going to lie to the man and tell him it was all daisies and lemondrops. "After you were rushed out, Potter and his group of friends have been in a permanent detention."
Dumbledore laughed.
"Why so miffed, Severus? Because it was not you who gave the boy detention for once?"
Rolling his eyes in apparent exasperation, Snape said, "I don't care how many detentions he gets, or from who, but I do care about the means of those detentions. Torture is not my idea of positive punishment."
"Ah yes," Dumbledore nodded sadly. "I have heard of the quills she has been using on the children. Stock up on some ingredients for them – I'm sure they've been helping themselves to your storeroom cupboard."
"It's not that easy, you know, to get ingredients these days – unless I pay for them myself. The toad wants proof of what happened to the previous ingredients."
Waving his hand as if this was a minor barrier, Dumbledore then said, "And what other news have you for me?"
Snape squirmed on the edge of his bed. He knew that Dumbledore wasn't going to like this.
"I have been, er, following Ginny Weasley around the castle," he said slowly.
Dumbledore nodded politely for Snape to continue.
"I have a theory about her, and I wanted to prove myself wrong. But…"
"Ah," the visage of Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "Our dearest Tom has seen your interest in her?"
"Yes."
"And what is this theory of yours?"
Snape explained again how he thought that Dark Powers had merged with Ginny during her brief experience of them in the Chamber of Secrets. Dumbledore merely smiled. Snape knew that smile – it was what Dumbledore gave when he was impressed…or worried.
"And what has the Dark Lord ordered you to do?" he asked politely when Snape was done.
"To observe her."
"He finds her of interest too does he?"
"Why? Do you also have an interest in her?"
"I am merely suggesting that many people are keeping an eye on the Weasley family, that is all."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I think the results of your observations will be most intruiging. Do what the Dark Lord says. Watch over her. Do what you have not done for years; befriend someone."
Snape stared in utter disbelief at the silvery man.
"Befriend her?" he spat. "She's – she's – "
"Very similar to someone you once knew," Dumbledore's eyes glittered, before he snapped back to business. "Now, about Harry. I understand that his Occlumens lessons haven't been going as planned?"
"As if we expected anything else. The boy hates me."
"As do you of him."
"That isn't true, Dumbledore, and you know it!"
"Ah yes, you hate everything that resembles James… quite unfair for the boy considering he is the very image of his father."
"Except his eyes…" whispered Snape. "Do you know," he said sourly, "that I am having just as much difficulty during these lessons as he is? Every single time the boy doesn't block out his mind, I hear her screaming. I hear her dying. And I know that it is my fault!"
"Actions have consequences, Severus," said Dumbledore gravely. "Some of us have to learn that the hard way."
Snape stared hard at Dumbledore.
"Are you suggesting that Harry…"
"I am just implying that Harry needs to learn that lesson too. Watch him too Severus. Don't let him do anything too rash. You know how he is."
"Yes, he got that from James too."
Dumbledore laughed quietly, "Not as much as you'd think. Now good night Severus. Get some rest; you look terrible."
"You too," Snape actually smiled as he watched the image of Dumbledore turn back into a phoenix and then dissolve into the air.
...
(A/N: Hi all, WonderwhiteRabbit here. Just want to say thank you to all of you fabulous readers and writers for doing what you do best. I don't like to beg, but I will just say; any reviews are welcome and, if anything, encouraged. I especially love to hear of any other theories or suggestions, even critisism. Just a quick note; my timeline has gotten awefully mixed up since I haven't read the 5th book in ages, so sorry about that, I am trying to make amends. Otherwise, Keep reading ^^ )