Hermione was sleeping in her room, leaving Severus to pace in front of the fireplace with a glass of Firewhiskey in his hand.
He swirled the glass, watching the liquid slosh up along the sides and the ice cubes click against one another.
Should he tell Albus?
He took a sip, revelling in the burning sensation as the liquid devoured the lining of his throat.
Bloody fucking Albus.
The man was a nightmare. Severus still hadn't decided who and what was worse - The Dark Lord and his physical torture or Albus and his mental torture and manipulation.
Right now, he was thinking the latter.
Albus had made him his spy, made him servant to two masters, made him subject to twice as much struggle and stress and pain as any normal person in the war was exposed to. The Light's success was dependant on Severus's success, and that was difficult enough without Albus making it even more of a struggle every chance he got. Severus was always left in the dark, left without crucial knowledge that would surely make the progression towards winning the war much quicker and easier. But no, Albus didn't trust Severus. He assured Severus that he had the utmost trust in him, that he trusted Severus with his life, but did he? Did he really? Oh, no. He didn't. Albus didn't trust anybody, didn't care about anybody but himself. He was the master manipulator but he got away with it because of his "innocent old man" routine. It made Severus's stomach lurch with disgust.
Would telling Albus Hermione's theory about Potter and the Dark Lord help or hinder?
He drank the rest of the firewhiskey and slammed the empty glass down on top of the fireplace.
No. He wouldn't tell Albus. Finally Severus knew something that fucking Albus didn't, and he wasn't about to hand that over. Trust Albus to take the information and tell Severus to never speak of it, to keep it secret, hell he'd probably try to obliviate it from Severus when his back was turned.
It wouldn't do to tell him.
He wouldn't do anything about it anyway, now would he? He'd known that Potter was going to play hero and try to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, so what did the old man do? He made the Professors add protective spells of their own so Potter could have some challenges to overcome to stoke his ego. He'd known Potter would go after the Weasley girl in the Chamber of Secrets, and he'd let him. Oh yes, Albus knew about all of that, knew it before even Potter knew the actions he would take. Albus controlled everything, and he revelled in it. He loved nothing more than moving his own little players on his chess board.
Severus would address this development on his own.
He shook his head.
No, not alone.
He had Hermione now.
They would address this issue together, and solve it.
But first, there was another problem to overcome.
The other Professor's had failed miserably at finding a countercurse to release Hermione from her Animagus form. Severus was done sitting by and watching them fumble around aimlessly.
He would revert Hermione back to her human self and they would address this Potter issue together.
Severus was jolted from his thoughts by a searing pain in his arm, and he started, sprinting to his quarters to grab his Death Eater robes and mask. There was no time to warn Hermione where he was going.
He ran from his quarters and down the halls of Hogwarts to beyond the gates, disappearing with an audible snap to meet with his Lord.
"Ah, Severus. How nice of you to join us,"
"Of course, my Lord," Severus responded, bowing down to kiss the hem of the slimy wizard's robes.
He straightened as Voldemort gestured with a wave of his hand for his servant to stand, and then he gestured broadly to the room behind Severus.
Severus turned, his expression and mind carefully controlled, to see the entirety of the Malfoy and Lestrange family seated at a long table.
"We have a special meeting tonight, Severus. Please, be seated,"
Severus bowed his head respectfully and took the empty seat at the left of the head of the table. Voldemort followed and sat himself in the decorated throne. His hand fell below the table, and Severus felt Nagini sliver over his dragon hide boots to be stroked by her master.
"Severus," Voldemort started, his attention still focused entirely on his pet, "Our Draco has been given a mission. Are you aware?"
Severus shook his head slightly in the negative and said slowly,
"No, my Lord."
Voldemort raised his slit eyes and cast a look over to the Malfoy's, hissing with pleasure.
"Very well. You will be made privy to the details now, my faithful servant,"
Severus bowed his head again, "It is an honor my Lord,"
Voldemort lifted his hand from Nagini's head and set it on the table, sliding it over the polished top towards Severus.
"Draco has been given a very important task," he paused dramatically, his eyes locked with Severus's, probing into his mind to seek out any information while he waited to gauge Severus's reaction. Severus kept his expression trained to respectfully curious while bringing forward altered memories of conversations with Albus regarding Order activity. There was nothing to report, but Voldemort hadn't been expecting anything, so he ripped himself from Severus's mind and said,
"He's been assigned to murder Dumbledore,"
Severus remained absolutely still except for the raising of one eyebrow and to lean forward, clasping his hands on the table.
"I'm sure Draco will not disappoint, my Lord,"
An evil smile grew on Voldemort's serpent-like face.
"No, no he will not," The voice held a strong undertone of a threat, but Severus did not allow himself to risk a glance in the Malfoy's direction. He knew what he would see - the palest of pale complexions and a forced mask of pride that Voldemort could see through with ease. The Malfoy's were petrified for their son. Voldemort turned his attention back to Severus.
"You will play an important role in his success, Severus. He must find a way to get Death Eater's into the school, and you must protect him and keep his activities from being discovered..." He paused, narrowing his eyes. " Also, when the time comes for the old wizard to get what he deserves, I expect you to be present and ready to take over should Draco fail,"
Severus nodded, keeping his eyes locked with his dark master's.
"Of course, my Lord,"
Voldemort pressed into Severus's mind again, feeling ruthlessly for any false emotions, but finding none, withdrew, and gave Severus a crooked grin.
"Very well. You may take your leave,"
Severus stood and bowed deeply to his Lord before turning and nodding briefly to the Malfoy's, giving Bellatrix and Rodolphus the slightest glance of recognition before moving towards the door at the end of the table.
Just as he reached the threshold, Voldemort's voice called out through the room, sending a shiver down Severus's spine.
"It will be done in no less than a month, Severus,"
Severus turned back,
"Of course, my Lord,"
and left.
"Ah, Severus. I see you got my Patronus?"
"Yes. Lucky for me, I had just arrived at the edge of Hogwarts gates before it came. It would not have been a welcome sight at a Death Eater meeting." Severus said snidely, glaring at the Headmaster. As Severus's eyes rested on the old wizard, they widened and Severus strode forward, wand out and ready.
"What happened?!" he demanded, rolling up the sleeve of Albus's cloak. Albus sighed, and gestured to a ring on the desk in front of him.
"It was cursed," He stated simply. Severus felt rage threaten to overwhelm him and forced his walls down, drowning the emotion.
"And you put it on?" He stated through grit teeth, turning Albus's arm in his hands to assess the damage.
"I am a fool, Severus. Sorely tempted," Albus looked at Severus with a sad smile, but Severus ignored it. He had no time for Albus's mistakes and resulting self pity. He knew where it stemmed from - Albus was a selfish bastard. The ring on the table was no ordinary ring, not just because of the dark curse, but there was something else - a palpable power and strong magic that Severus could sense just by looking at it, and Albus had wanted that power for himself.
Severus began chanting, waving his wand in intricate patterns over the still blackening hand and arm of the man sitting before him. He worked diligently for just under an hour before finally straightening, sweat dripping from his face, his black hair lank and plastered to his pale skin.
"It is a powerful and dark curse, Albus. I've managed to temporarily contain it in your hand for the time being, but it will not last. This curse is designed to kill, and it will succeed,"
Albus nodded his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"I figured as much," He took his left hand and ran it over the skin of his right, which was now blackened and severely wrinkled.
"How long do I have?" He asked, attempting to flex his withered hand. He winced in pain and Severus waved his wand, summoning a pain relief potion from his stores.
"Maybe a year," Severus said after a moment. Although Albus was an older wizard, he was an extraordinarily strong and powerful one, and he wouldn't go down easily. The curse would remain restrained for a short time, maybe a month or two, but then it would begin to spread and Severus might be able to slow it, but he could never stop it. The curse was exceedingly powerful and dark. The only true way to avoid death at the hands of this curse would have been to avoid receiving it in the first place. Albus remained silent in response, still observing his now useless extremity with curiosity, before finally looking up at Severus, who now had a potion vial in his hand. Severus held it out and Albus took it, drinking it gratefully.
"Thank you, Severus," He said, his voice now stronger and his complexion brighter than it had been moments prior. "Now, what was this meeting about tonight?"
Severus took the empty vial and tucked it in his cloak before moving around the desk to sit in the chair on the other side, clasping his hands together and propping them under his chin in a prayer like pose.
"He has ordered Malfoy to execute you," He said, watching closely for Albus's reaction. He merely sighed and adjusted his position in his chair, placing his blackened hand gingerly in his lap.
"I feared as much."
"Did you?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Draco has been balancing on the edge, and we both know Riddle would only tolerate that for so long. With Lucius's recent failure at the Ministry, the Malfoy family has been due for punishment, and now it's being served. Draco has a chance to prove his loyalty to Riddle and Riddle has an opportunity to make Lucius and Narcissa suffer. They're now in constant fear for their son. It's worked out perfectly," Albus explained, gazing off into a space to the right of Severus's shoulder.
"I've been ordered to act if he should fail," Severus said slowly, drawing Albus's eyes back to meet his. Albus blinked slowly before stating simply,
"And you shall,"
Severus leaned forward in his chair, brow furrowed, his hands shooting down to grip the armrests of the chair.
"What?" Fear rose up inside him but he could do nothing to stop it.
"You must be the one to kill me, Severus. Draco cannot do it. He will, he must fail,"
Severus was so stunned he didn't know what to say. He rose from the chair and stalked towards Albus's desk, planting his hands on the glossy wooden surface, leaning over towards the great wizard.
"Why?" Severus forced the first word that came to his mind out between his clenched jaw.
"Oh, Severus. You know why,"
No. No.
"I can't let Draco ruin his soul,"
The fucking bastard.
"And what about my soul, Albus?" Severus's voice was dangerously low, menacingly soft.
Albus's eyes twinkled and he gave Severus another one of his sad smiles. A growl rumbled from within Severus's throat, but Albus didn't say a word. He didn't need to. It was all perfectly clear to Severus. He would be the sacrifice, oh he would. He would be the one to kill Albus and suffer every single bloody fucking consequence that came with it. Severus focused on his breathing, fighting to calm his racing heart and desperate lungs, slowing his respiration back down to it's normal rate. He focused every ounce of energy into the glare he was fixing on Albus's bright blue eyes and spat,
"What then, Albus? What happens after you die? What happens after I raise my wand and utter the words that stop your heart? What happens after the world sees that I am a loyal servant to the Dark Lord? What happens then? What happens to your precious Order? I won't be able to tell them a word of the Dark Lord's plans. What happens to the school? You haven't thought this through, Albus. No. This won't work," He spoke slowly, pointedly, his voice as deep as it ever got, as intense as he could possibly make it, but as he went on he spoke faster until he was practically spitting his words into Albus's prissy little face. The blasted man didn't move a muscle, let Severus make a fool of himself by losing control, before holding up a hand like a Muggle traffic man.
"Enough, Severus. I have thought this through. Yes, you will be seen as Riddle's loyal spy, traitor to the light and traitor to me. But it is necessary, Severus. After you kill me you will be Riddle's most trusted Death Eater. He will have no doubt of your loyalty. He will put you in charge of the school, and you must accept. It is the only way that the students will be protected,"
"Wha-?" Severus's voice cracked. "What?!" He was breathing heavily again. He was shocked, absolutely stunned at the way this was going. This was not what he had anticipated, he could not wrap his mind around this.
"How am I supposed to protect the students? The staff will hate me! The Dark Lord will order me to torture them! To convert them to his ways! This will not work out the way you think it will, Albus. It won't. It will be a bloodbath,"
"It won't be, Severus," Albus's eyes were no longer twinkling, and he stood, his voice hard and face stony. "You will make sure that this school is safe for the students. You will put me out of my misery, Severus. This curse will kill me anyway, and in the most humiliating and painful way possible. You know the history of Avada Kedavra. It was invented for Healers, to give their patients a quick and painless end. You will give me that end. It is not an option, it is an order. And I order you to become Headmaster of Hogwarts and to protect the students and to find a way to send valuable information to the Order. You will do all of this."
Severus's mouth was dry and it felt like there was a weight in his stomach. His head was spinning and there was a hurricane of emotion that had slipped through his walls and were ravaging through his body; fear, fury, hate, confusion, shock, disbelief, more fury.
The fucking bastard.
Severus nodded his head, the slightest of movements, before turning, his cloak billowing out behind him. He slammed the door of Albus's office with a flick of his wrist before striding down the halls of Hogwarts towards the Dungeons. The echoing of his dragon hide boots hitting the stone floor was the only sound in the stillness of the black night.