A/N: To be honest I hadn't really intended on updating this today since I'm aware that my other stories need some serious attention. But I started just writing a little on this and then I ended up finishing the chapter, so I figured I might as well post while I have the time.
Thanks for all the reviews, I really appreciate them.
Usual apologies
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Severus walked down the vacant hallways. It was late maybe ten o'clock, definitely passed curfew so the potions master decided to start his rounds early so he could get back to the dungeons and get started on marking those third-year essays he didn't get around to the day before.
There are about a million other things he'd rather be doing to be honest, but he unfortunately didn't have the luxury of getting any time to himself. He hasn't had much time for anything as of late. If it wasn't his classes, it was Albus and when it wasn't Albus it was the Dark Lord and then when he wasn't dealing with all of that; he was constantly trying to keep the Potter brat alive since he clearly has no self-preservation skills whatsoever. And then on top off everything else Albus expects him to start tutoring the brat in Occlumency soon. Severus has been trying to put it off for as long as possible, but he knows the old coot plans on informing the brat on the newest addition to his lesson plans and then he won't be able to avoid it any longer.
Merlin, it's all such a headache.
Moments like these are a godsend. Moments where he can just wander the halls alone to think and just be in his own thoughts, without constantly needing to put up walls to keep out Albus and keep out he-who-must-not-be-named and anyone else that might be a threat.
If he'd known all those years ago that this is what it would all lead to, then he never would have gone to Albus for help in the first place. He never would have taken the mark. He never would have let Lucius seduce him into desiring everything that the Dark Lord offered.
He never would have fallen in love the way he did.
That's really where his problems started. He fell in love and then he got his heart broken. That broken heart festered and oozed shame and regret into his soul. It made him feel angry and betrayed. So angry and betrayed that he let Lucius seduce him into desiring everything that the Dark Lord offered. Which led to him taking the mark, which led to him making all those mistakes that ended with him going to Albus for help. Now he's stuck in this inescapable tug of war between two masters, both of whom took advantage and used him in whichever way they saw fit and Severus had no choice but to stay bound between them. He was bound to Voldemort because of the mark and he's bound to Albus because of the he vow he made to protect Lily and James' son. The same brat who insisted on making everything infinitely more difficult than it all needed to be.
Really, sixteen years and he's still being tormented by a Potter. It might not have been so bad if the brat wasn't a spitting image of his bastard father and if he didn't have Lily's eyes. Severus really could have done without having a living, breathing reminder of all his life's mistakes constantly in his presence.
But fate has never been kind to him, so he probably shouldn't be surprised things are turning out this way.
Truthfully, he doesn't expect to survive any of this much longer. He's always waiting. Waiting for the Dark Lord to discover his deception and finally end his life. Waiting for Albus to finally send him on a mission that would end his life. Waiting for the day when the Potter brat did something more idiotic than ever and ended up getting himself killed, which would simultaneously end his life since he made a vow to keep him alive.
He's always waiting and, in some ways, he's almost praying for death to come. He's just so tired of everything. He was neglected and abused as a child, despite his mother's best efforts to protect and provide for him. He was bullied and tormented during his days in school, had his heart shattered in the cruellest way. Watched the only people he truly cared about die and now he finds himself the pawn in a tug of war between forces of the light and dark.
Severus is tired.
But you know what they say, there's no rest for the wicked.
So, he'll get up every morning and do it all over and over again. What other choice does he have? He doesn't really have anything else to live for, no life he could even attempt to build. What would be the point? His lifestyle isn't really accommodating toward even attempting to live a normal life. There's no point in building a career, no point in even attempting to build relationships of any kind. He may not live long enough to see any of the fruits of his labour and he certainly didn't have an heir that he needed to provide for. Getting involved with anyone personally let alone romantically would be too dangerous, he doesn't want to involve anyone else in the mess that is his existence. He's not wasting another life.
All he has now are his missions as a spy, his career at Hogwarts… and the Potter brat.
How utterly depressing
Severus let out a sigh at the thought, looking up through the windows as he passed them to look up at the sky outside.
He kept walking absorbed on his thoughts. So, absorbed in fact that he almost didn't noticed the raven-haired teen that came rushing towards him. But of course, that didn't last long.
Severus made sure his features were schooled into cool indifference as the teen approached and was prepared to reprimand whichever idiotic simpleton thought they could simply walk passed him without repercussions after curfew.
The moment the potions master realised that it was the Potter brat he almost let out a sigh of frustration, because of course it's the Potter brat. Severus stopped right where he was and spoke causing the teen approaching him to stop in his tracks.
"Mr Potter, care to explain what you're doing outside of your dorm room this late after curfew?"
The brat didn't say anything for a moment, he only glanced up at his professor for a brief moment before looking away, "I'm sorry sir, I didn't realise it was so late."
"Of course, because it is so difficult upholding a simple rule that you've known for the past six years." Severus drawled out, "Perhaps your memory will improve once I deduct twenty points from Gryffindor."
Potter's jaw clenched, he didn't say a word. Severus arched a brow at the boy, "You have yet to answer my question as to exactly why you're out at this time Mr Potter."
Harry's hands clenched into fists as the potions master continued, "Then again I suppose it doesn't matter what your reasons for disobeying school rules are. The infamous Harry Potter clearly has no reason to bow down to societal conventions of discipline like the rest of us mere mortals."
Harry looked up at him and glared, Severus almost gave a snort, "Still no answer, well then perhaps detention tomorrow night will help refresh your memory. Get to your room."
The raven-haired teen was seething, Severus' head gave a tilt.
"I won't repeat myself."
Harry turned around and stormed down the hallway, Severus allowed himself a snort of amusement as he went.
Meanwhile on the other side of the castle a young witch slipped unnoticed through the halls. Until she came to the gargoyle and stopped.
"Caramel toffee."
The stone sculpture moved aside and she quickly slipped in, taking care to make sure there wasn't anyone near to see her. She went down the stairs until she got to the large cluttered room and saw the headmaster sitting behind the desk, tinkering with one of the many magical objects constantly moving about his desk when the man caught sight of her and gave her a brief smile.
"Ms Granger, how lovely to see you." Albus said setting the gold trinket aside as he turned in his seat to face her, before reaching for a bowl of candies near the edge of the desk, "Lemon drop?"
"No thank you sir." Hermione said sitting in one of the seats in front of the desk and the headmaster frowned, "Well then how can I help you? It's a bit late for a visit isn't it? Past curfew."
"I know that sir but this couldn't wait till morning." The bushy haired witch let out a heavy sigh as her hands wrung together nervously before she spoke, "I'm sure you'll be informed of this soon but, in the off chance that you aren't I felt the need to tell you as soon as possible. It's about Ron."
"What about him?"
Hermione sighed again, "There's a problem."
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Madame Pomfrey let him leave a few hours later, after she explained everything that that he could expect to experience in the next nine months before giving him a book on pregnancy just so he could refresh himself if necessary. The boy looked mildly horrified during her explanations so she figured that he might need some time to just sort through it all himself. It was late by the time she deemed him ready to leave so he wasn't forced to face the headmaster that night, the medi-witch made it clear that she wanted him to get some rest. But she also made it clear that he should expect an audience with the headmaster the next day, one where his parents would most likely be in attendance as well seeing as how he's a minor and all.
Ron was already feeling sufficiently depressed when he realised that he'd be dealing with his parents along with the headmaster the next day, but then he felt like crawling into a hole and dying when she informed him of the fact that he'd need to go see professor Snape the next morning as well.
"The potions I have here are good for pregnancies. They help with nausea and pain but, we haven't had any pregnant students at Hogwarts in quite some time. I don't really have anything specifically geared towards pregnancy." The woman explained, "But I'm sure I don't need to tell you that professor Snape is quite talented in the art of potion making, better at it than professor Slughorn. There's a potion he developed some time ago that deals specifically with pregnancy, it takes care of most of the symptoms without affecting the foetus or the hosts core. Unfortunately, from what I understand the ingredients for this potion… it takes a very skilled hand to handle the ingredients in such a way that they create the right potion and while professor Snape is very capable of brewing it, the amount of effort it takes…" Pomfrey sighed as she started writing on a piece of parchment, "He won't agree to brewing it without knowing who it's going to. You'll have to take this and give it to him yourself. He'll instruct you on how it's to be taken. He'll also be able to make you a few prenatal supplements to help with the baby's development."
Snape. Why did it have to be Snape?! Ron wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Honestly the night before, he'd planned on not going to Snape and just putting up with the symptoms himself. It's just nausea and a little pain. I mean, how hard could it be? And he's been fine so far, up till the point that he fell of his broom that is. Ron figured that it would be fine and it was fine.
Until the next morning.
It's almost like the baby knew exactly what he planned on doing and decided to punish him for his stubbornness. He was up at six in the morning, emptying his stomach repeatedly while the most excruciating migraine hit him right in the back of his head.
He had no choice but to go see Snape. Especially after Neville found him on the floor in the bathroom. Neville liked to get up early to the Greenhouse to check on a few of the plants that he'd been helping professor Sprout with. By then the entire situation had finally sunk in and settled.
He's a sixteen-year-old boy, in school and pregnant with the child of one of his enemies. He's pregnant with the child of a Slytherin, a pregnancy he couldn't get rid of without getting himself killed in the process. When he got to the dorm room the night before, his best friend wouldn't speak to him and Hermione had completely disappeared. His parents would be finding out about his pregnancy very soon if they haven't already and madame Pomfrey had made it very clear that he wouldn't be able to play quidditch in his condition. And then to top it all off, the morning sickness was killing him.
By the time that Neville found him, Ron was having a full-blown panic attack.
It took the raven-haired boy sometime before he could get Ron calm enough to just talk. Neville was outside of his element, Ron could tell, but he tried so extraordinarily hard to help his friend that Ron put in the effort to calm down as well. He didn't want to tell Neville about his situation, Ron honestly just wanted to shut the whole mess away and take it with him to his grave. But he couldn't. He needed to talk to someone before he lost his mind. But Harry wouldn't talk to him and Hermione's reaction the night before wasn't encouraging. Madame Pomfrey just didn't seem like she really got it and Ron wanted to avoid Dumbledore's office for as long as humanly possible.
Neville was looking at him in concern, looking like he was fighting against a panic attack of his own since his friend was clearly freaking out and he didn't know what to do. Ron let his walls come down completely and told the raven everything.
And I do mean everything.
"Oh." That's about all Neville could manage.
They were both sitting on the floor by then, Ron had stopped freaking out for the most part but he still felt upset. Neville was just staring at him and Ron's brain was filling with all kinds of possible reasons as to why. Was he shocked? Confused? Disgusted? Did he think Ron was an idiot for getting himself in the situation that he's in? Was he going to tell anyone? What would happen if the school found out? Would they label him a freak for being a boy and still getting pregnant? A slut for sleeping with a guy he'd barely spoken to? A guy that was supposedly one of his greatest enemies? What if Blaise denied everything and called him a liar?
Ron was starting to freak out again
His parents are going to know. Molly's going to find out and she's going to be furious. His brother's will find out. He'll be disowned, Harry and Hermione will never speak to him again. He'll never be able to look any of his housemates in the eye again. What if he's forced to leave school? He'll have to take care of a child with nowhere to go and no one to help him.
Why did he have to be such an idiot? Why couldn't he have just stayed in the fucking bed-
Ron's eyes went wide when Neville suddenly hugged him, wrapping his arms around the redhead's form to pull him close. Ron blinked once and then twice and the tears started to run down his face but he barely noticed.
Neville took a deep breath, "It'll be alright. You… We'll think of something."
Ron slowly lifted his arms to wrap around his friend and turned his head so it was buried in Neville's neck, sniffing briefly as his arms tightened.
"Thanks, mate."
"You're welcome, although I have to say. I never thought Zabini was your type." Neville started with a shrug, Ron gave a snort. "Not that… I mean, he's bloody handsome its just, I thought you and Hermione-"
Ron sighed, "I don't know… I don't know why I did it he was just." The red head pulled back and Neville's head gave a tilt as Ron continued, "Right then, it just felt so right and he's, he just didn't seem like the typical Slytherin bastard, you know? I mean he was still an arrogant prat but for a moment I almost forgot about all this." Ron said as he gestured around himself. "And it felt good just not thinking about it."
Neville gave a nod, "I think I understand."
"Believe me if I knew this would happen I wouldn't have gone near him."
"And you wouldn't have a baby."
"Exactly."
"It's a little exciting though right? You always said you wanted children."
"It's terrifying. It's too soon for all this. Nev' I don't know what to do."
"Its strange that you didn't know you were a carrier though. Shouldn't they have been able to pick up on that?" Neville started with a frown and Ron just shook his head as he dragged a hand through his hair.
"I don't know, does it even matter? I'm… pregnant. Knowing now doesn't mean anything."
Neville nodded, "When are you going to tell Zabini?"
"I'm not going to tell him."
"Ron-"
"How would I even-No no one knows about this."
"You can't keep it a secret forever though. What if you start showing? Your parents are going to want to know too."
Ron shut his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, lifting a hand to his throbbing head. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if his mother just up and confronted the Slytherin about it.
"It's his baby too. Zabini has the right to at least know."
"I want to die."
"No you don't, l-like I said. We'll think of something." Neville took a deep breath, Ron opened his eyes-
"This isn't your problem Neville."
"But you are my friend. I won't abandon you and as for Harry-" Ron looked away and Neville paused, "I don't understand why he's so upset but he'll come around."
"I hope so." Ron finally noticed the tears and wiped them off with the back of his hand as he flushed just a bit, "it isn't even here yet and I'm already blubbering pathetically."
"You're pregnant mate, I think blubbering is kind of mandatory at this point." Neville said as he got up off the floor and Ron made to stand as well only to falter when his stomach gave a turn. Neville reached out a hand to help him up.
"Are you alright?"
"No." Ron said shortly as he got up on his feet, "If I had any doubts about carrying a Slytherin baby they're gone now. Not even born yet and she's already tormenting me."
Neville gave a snort before looking up at the redhead with a quirk of his lips, "She?"
Ron flushed and looked away, "I just, last night I was thinking, I'd like to have a girl. But there are bigger things to worry about right now."
Neville smiled as he stepped back, "We should get you to Snape. The sooner you get that potion the better."
Ron groaned, "I want to die."
"No, you don't. C'mon let's go get dressed."
It was about thirty minutes later when they got to the dungeons, they managed to get dressed and leave the dorm rooms before anyone else woke. Ron wanted to tell Harry. He wanted to talk to his best friend so badly, but after what happened the night before he decided that maybe they both need a bit of time to process this.
Ron got sick again, although he wasn't sure if it was because of the baby or if he was getting sick at the prospect of telling Snape that he was pregnant.
Neville was right there with him, he said it was to keep him company but Ron was sure the raven was just trying to make sure he didn't chicken out or end up passed out on the way to the professor. When they got to the potion's classroom, Ron had expected to find it empty. He was hoping to find it empty.
But fate isn't on his side these days.
Neville knocked on the door and opened it.
"Professor?"
They both stepped inside and found the potions master at the head of the class, standing over a cauldron as he stirred a potion with what looked like a crystal stirrer. It smelled sweet and earthy. Ron felt the pain in his head almost ease and his stomach settle just a bit. The redhead shut his eyes to take in the smell only for a voice to break him from his trance.
"Though you knocked, I don't quite recall giving any permission to enter." The older man drawled out and resisted the urge to sigh in frustration. They haven't even said a word yet and the snarky bastard is already making it all so difficult.
Neville glanced over to his friend and took a hold of his arm as he stepped inside.
"I-uhm…We're sorry to disturb you sir but-but we needed to speak with you about something."
"I can only imagine what that might be." Snape said before glancing up at the teens and looked like he was resisting the urge to roll his eyes, "Well? Get on with it. As you can see, I'm quite busy."
Ron glared hard only for Neville to nudge his arm and nod to the older man. The redhead sighed and Snape looked up at the sound, frowning at the teen. He stepped forward, searching through the pockets in his robe to find the parchment madame Pomfrey gave him the night before and handed it to the potion's professor.
Snape arched a brow at him in question but took the note, setting the crystal stirrer aside as he paused to open the note and read it. The potions professor was silent for a moment before he carefully folded the note and set it down beside the cauldron. He looked up at the redhead.
"I see. Madame Pomfrey already informed me that a student in your, condition would be coming to see me, thought she never told me who it was." And then his gaze moved over to Neville, "I assume that since he decided to accompany you this early in the morning that Mr Longbottom is the other party involved in your predicament?"
"No!" Both teens said simultaneously and Snape arched a brow. Ron started to flush.
"No, he's not. He just… came as a friend."
Snape turned back to the potion and picked up the stirrer and started stirring again. "In that case, Mr Longbottom, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is a discussion I have to have with Mr Weasley alone."
Ron's eyes went wide, "But-"
"I don't like repeating myself."
Neville gave Ron a sheepish smile as he turned to leave the room, "I'll wait outside."
The door shut and Ron sighed for the millionth time that day.
"Tell me Mr Weasley, isn't it a bit early to start infesting the world with your very own litter?"
"Of course." Ron glared hard and turned to leave, "I should've known you'd just use this as an opportunity to mock me-"
"I'm asking you a genuine question." Snape said glancing at the teen but didn't stop stirring, "I want to be sure you understand exactly how difficult this is going to be. You're much too young to be having a child when you're only a child yourself."
Ron paused taking a deep breath, grateful for the relief provided by the potion brewing in the room.
"I know."
"Do you? I'm sure madame Pomfrey has informed you of the fact that you won't be able to have an abortion."
"She has."
"What do you plan to do once the child is born?"
Ron looked away, "I'm not sure."
"The best solution would be for you to give it up for adoption."
"I can't."
"Why not? If you're worried about your mother, I'll ask you to remember that she shouldn't be the one to be burdened to raise this child. It's your responsibility but certainly not a responsibility to take if you're not sure if you could."
"It's not that-"
"Then what is it?"
"I just… I'm not sure if I want to."
Snape glanced over to the redhead and saw him place a hand over his stomach, "There's still some time before you have to make a final decision. But I'm going to have to ask you to remember what's at stake. A child isn't a toy. If you plan on keeping it, you need to be completely devoted to your decision. Do you understand?"
Ron nodded his head, still clutching his stomach, "Yes sir."
Severus gave a nod of his own before as he stirred the potion one more time, "Sit down."
Ron turned and sat down at one of the desks just as the man continued, "If Longbottom isn't the father of your child then I assume Mr Potter is the one that got you in this position."
Ron's eyes went wide, "No! Harry… He's my best friend, we would never."
Snape paused to look at him before reaching out to take a large crystal flask he had set near by and took a crystal ladle to pour the potion he was brewing.
"Really, then I could only imagine who it could be. Care to enlighten me?"
"I'd rather not."
"It would help-"
"For the last time, I don't need his help! Why won't anyone listen to me?" the redhead suddenly snapped and Snape looked over to the teen.
"I don't appreciate being interrupted Mr Weasley. As I was saying, the identity of the father would help with the prenatal potions I'm making for you. Male carrier pregnancies can be a bit touch and go in the first trimester. His medical history and some of his DNA would help create potions specifically suited to the baby."
Ron resisted the urge to sink down in his seat, "I… I can't."
"If you insist on keeping the identity of the father a secret I certainly can't force you to reveal it, however I think it's necessary that you know I make better potions when I have more information. If you really plan on keeping this child then wouldn't it be best to put their needs before your pride?"
He was being lectured. Ron wanted to growl in annoyance and he probably would have if Snape wasn't essentially right, like he always is.
"You wouldn't believe me anyway."
"I think you should let me decide what I'll believe."
"You have to promise you won't tell anyone. Not even him."
Snape shrugged, "I have no reason to tell anyone but if it will put your mind at ease then fine, I give you my word."
Ron sighed, looking down at the desk in front of him with his hands clenched before he blurted out.
"Blaise Zabini."
A loud shatter rang through the air and Ron looked up to see that the stirrer Snape had been using was on the floor in broken pieces. The potions master was staring at him in shock and Ron's cheeks flushed as he spoke.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me."
Snape just stared before shutting his eyes as he placed a hand on his forehead, "As much as I'd love to believe that you were trying to deceive me Mr Weasley, I can't for the life of me fathom why you'd lie about something like this."
"So… you do believe me?"
"When did this happen?"
Ron raked a hand through his hair, "Two weeks ago, after curfew. I didn't… It just happened-"
Snape raised his hand to silence him as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration with the other, "And he doesn't know?"
"No."
"You have to tell him."
"But sir-"
"I've known the Zabini's for twenty years. If you have this child and Lady Zabini isn't informed it won't end well for anyone involved. Tell him." Snape said as he took the flask he'd filled and closed it with a stopper before casting a cooling charm on it. "When did Poppy say she'd be informing the headmaster of this?"
"She said to expect him to speak with my parents today."
"I'll have to speak with Albus to call Lady Zabini as well." Snape then set the flask in front of the teen along with three others holding a velvet bag.
"You take this potion twice a day before meals and then you take these once a day before bed. Come back for a refill once they're empty." The potions master explained as he put each potion into the bag and pulled it shut with its drawstring and then he let out a sigh, "And for Merlin's sake, tell Zabini before his mother rains hell down on this school."
Ron looked away, "I can't."
"You have to." Snape hissed in frustration before letting out another sigh as he looked down at the teen. "I know this must be unbelievably difficult for you, but he'll find out eventually, at least this way he'll find out from you."
Ron didn't say anything and Snape reached out to lift the teen's chin to look up before releasing him, "Carrier pregnancies are incredibly rare, considered to be precious in our world. Even if your parents become upset they will accept it eventually. And to be frank, you could have done much worse than Blaise Zabini."
Ron couldn't help but give a snort as the man continued, "Do you know why carrier pregnancies are so rare?"
"No, not really."
"Even if you are a carrier that doesn't guarantee your chances of carrying a child. It requires a deep connection between both parties involved, a very particular kind of compatibility. I'm not sure what happened that night and rest assured I have no intention of asking you what happened, but whatever happened, whatever emotions were shared between you two manifested themselves into this child. Its something special and nothing you should be ashamed of. I know you don't have much of an opinion of Slytherins and you fear how Blaise will react to the news but… tell him, I think he might just surprise you. Do you understand?"
Ron just stared back at the potion's professor, feeling like he's seeing him for the first time and he could almost feel the tears stinging his eyes. Only to jump when he felt a hand on his face as Snape brushed a tear away.
"Hormones, you'll get used to it. The potions should help you get settled."
"I-" Ron swallowed hard, "Thank you sir."
Snape stood up straight and pulled back, "You're welcome Mr Weasley. Now it's time you left, we both have a long day ahead of us."
The redhead took a deep breath as he picked up the potions and got up to leave, "Yes, professor. Thank you again-"
"Spare me the sentimentalities Mr Weasley." The man said waving him off and Ron couldn't even find it in him to get upset. "Out."
"Yes sir."
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He thought about it all night. How to handle the interview the next day. That afternoon it went about as well as he thought it would, it went better than he suspected and he managed to leave Azkaban unscathed with a minimal amount of insults directed towards him. It actually went quite well all things considered. But today he wanted to make things different. Lee wanted to make it clear to the Death Eater that he wasn't afraid and he wouldn't allow himself to be intimidated. He also needed to get Rabastan's defences low enough that he could get some real answers out of the older man with a minimal amount of mind games.
Now he stands in the door way of the same room that they led him to the day before. Rabastan sat staring right at him like he did the day before. Lee took in a deep breath, his hand clenched around the notepad in his hands before he spoke.
"Let him go."
The guards beside him frowned until the one on his left spoke. "What?"
"Take off his restraints."
Even Rabastan started to frown as his eyes narrowed down at the younger man in suspicion. The guard cleared his throat.
"Mr Jordan, I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"It's fine."
"But-"
"You guys are right here in case you need me, right? And besides, he can't touch me anyway. The chains are unnecessary. Take them off."
"I-"
"If the warden has an issue with it then I'll speak with him myself." Lee stepped inside, taking in a silent breath as he set his things down on the table, "Take them off."
The guard hesitated until he eventually stepped forward with another. They went to Rabastan's sides and started taking off the chains and shackles.
Lee sat down, flipping through his notes and set out his ink pot and quill. He ignored the sounds of the chains clinking softly and that unyielding stare he could feel burning into his head until the guards left the room.
"If you need anything-"
"I'll be sure to tell you."
The guard hesitated again before he shut the door.
Lee looked up at the Death Eater and found him staring with his eyes still narrowed in suspicion and he cleared his throat.
"Lord Lestrange. Are you ready to continue with the interview?"
The man leaned back in his seat, "Yes."
So far so good.
Lee had half expected the man to try and lunge out to attack him at this point, but so far, he hadn't even lifted his arms from the arm rests on his seat.
"When was the first time you went on a mission as a Death Eater?"
"When?"
"How old were you?"
Rabastan's head gave a tilt, "Fourteen."
Lee's eyes went wide, "Four-"
"The same year I took the mark, yes."
Lee swallowed hard as he looked away, "And what did that mission entail?"
Rabastan gave a humourless snort and looked off to the side, Lee looked up and found the man with an indefinable look on his face as he spoke, "Lestrange-"
"Tell me, the first time you did magic in front of your parents, how did they react?"
Lee frowned at the sudden change of subject, "I already told you-"
"I meant after you started at Hogwarts, the first time you truly did magic."
"Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't."
"Then why-"
"Tit for tat." Rabastan said bringing his gaze back to the boy, "Remember?"
Lee shrugged, "They were happy."
"Happy?"
"They were proud of the progress I made, but mostly they were happy that I was happy…" Lee took in a deep breath, "You haven't answered my question-"
"Does anyone else in your family know that you're a wizard or are they keeping it a secret?"
"I'm a muggleborn, remember? They aren't allowed to know."
Rabastan didn't say anything to that, he suddenly just got up from his seat and started walking around the room. Lee tensed at the sudden movement but tried to take deep breaths to calm down, he tried to remind himself that Rabastan couldn't touch him. He's perfectly safe.
He won't let the older man intimidate him.
The boy resisted the urge to track the man as he moved and instead looked down at his notepad to ask his question again. "What did your first mission as a Death Eater entail?"
He heard the man speak somewhere to the side, "Punishment of a threat to the Dark Lord's cause."
"Punishment?" Lee asked as he finally looked up and found Rabastan near the wall on the left.
"I suppose you'd refer to it as torture."
Lee swallowed hard, "Did you know the victim's name?"
"Name." Rabastan gave a scoff, "We both know it doesn't matter who it actually was. If you don't have an idea of who it could have been then they clearly don't matter."
"I-"
"What matters is what I did to them. That's what you really want to know isn't it?" the dark wizard walked till he was in front of him again.
Lee tried to keep calm, "We aren't all turned on by violent depravity."
"How do you know it as violent and depraved?"
"According to your records, you're prone to violent acts."
Rabastan chuckled, "But you want to know what happened, don't you?"
Lee looked up, arched a brow at the older man and Rabastan smirked as he walked around the room. "Who was it?"
"It was a wizard."
Of course he won't give a name.
"What was he being punished for?"
"Tracheary. He tried to betray the Dark Lord. Rodolphus and I were sent to execute his punishment."
Lee took a deep breath, "What did you do?"
"The same thing I did to most of them. It's almost customary to cast a cruciatus first. It sends a shock through the body's nervous system. Makes them more susceptible to suggestion. Confringo to burn the skin. Spells that create cuts deep enough to hurt but not actually kill, it's important to make sure you don't hit any major arteries so they don't lose consciousness too quickly. Body binds go a long way in keeping them still, all that squirming gets annoying after a while, makes careful aim difficult." Rabastan disappeared behind him. Lee had to resist the urge to look back. "They all got the same treatment, except the mudbloods of course."
"And what did you do to the muggleborns?"
The man suddenly moved in behind him, placing one hand on either side of the younger man on the table as he leaned over him. Lee jumped and tensed tremendously when he felt Rabastan's breaths against his cheek. He could smell sweat, blood and grime just like the day before.
'Don't let him intimidate you'
"You mean, what would I do to you?" the older man said tilting his head so he was looking down at the boy's profile, Lee shivered when he felt the phantom touch of a hand glide against his cheek. Ten seconds of absolute silence somehow felt like an eternity before the man finally spoke. "For a mudblood you aren't entirely repulsive. So pretty, how lovely you'd look with a few marks on your skin."
Lee felt a shiver run down his spine and had to keep his breathing steady, "And how would you do that?"
Rabastan chuckled, deep and slow as he pulled back and walked around the table to sit in his chair, Lee took the moment to breathe deep and collect his thoughts when the older man suddenly spoke.
"I'd hate to ruin the surprise."
It was a clear threat Lee tried to pretend like it didn't affect him, carefully keeping still. Then he looked at the older man with the slightest frown on his lips when a thought suddenly came to mind.
"Cuts, burns and bruises. You made sure to leave scars on all your victims?"
"Yes."
"All of them?"
Rabastan smirked, "How else are they supposed to remember our time together?"
Lee's head gave a tilt, "Then who attacked Alice and Frank Longbottom?"
Suddenly something in Rabastan's eyes changed though he didn't make a single move as the boy continued, "According to medical records, the only spell used against the Longbottoms was the Cruciatus curse. It was cast repeatedly until they went insane."
"And?" the man asked in a flat tone and Lee continued
"From the way you talk, you sound possessive, passionate with your violence." Lee said leaning forward a bit to lock his gaze on the older man, "You like marking your property, having your actions visible for all to see. As an unforgivable Cruciatus curse causes unbelievable pain but it doesn't leave marks. No scars, no blood, no bruising, no burns. My point is that it seems a bit… clean for your apparent tastes."
Rabastan arched a brow, stared unblinkingly at the boy as he spoke, "Don't tell me you think I'm innocent? Going soft, little mudblood?"
He was being baited again but he wouldn't let himself be distracted, "I have a name and I never said you were innocent. But they never got any individual statements regarding the events of that night. Your sister in-law practically bragged about it. She kicked up such a fuss during the hearings that you were prosecuted without much investigation."
Rabastan gave a snort, but there was no amusement behind it, no emotion whatsoever. He just stared at the boy and Lee held that dark gaze.
"Insanity by cruciatus seems a bit, clinical for you. I doubt you'd ever actively try to drive anyone insane."
"Is that so?"
"You like playing mind games I can tell, but what's the point of mind games with someone that can't play with you? If you had tortured them that night, you wouldn't have stopped with the cruciatus curse, you would've killed them rather than let them live and even if they did survive to go insane you'd make sure to leave your mark so they never forgot you. A Crucio's too clean, too clinical. Like you, the records say that Rodolphus has a similarly violent track record, known to kill his victims rather than leave them to live for any reason. Bartimaeus Crouch Junior insisted on his innocence even after he was sentenced but he was ignored. Witness statements claim Bellatrix has always been unstable, spreading insanity seems to fit for her perfectly. But everyone else… it doesn't seem to make much sense to let them live even if they were insane. Perhaps you'd like to clear this up for me."
"If you read the records then you already know what happened that night."
"The records claim that you seemed to be nervous during the trial. Neither you nor your brother said a word. But now…" Lee said clearly not looking away for a second, "You seem to enjoy gloating about the details of your depravities, so why not back then? Wouldn't you have proven your loyalty and devotion the same way that Bellatrix did? Why gloat about your crimes to a mudblood years after it matters about everything but the crime you were convicted of, but keep silent in the face of a trail. Bellatrix certainly didn't see the need to keep quiet."
"I never denied anything about what happened that night."
"You didn't acknowledge it either, neither did your brother and Crouch insisted on his innocence."
Rabastan's voice stayed flat, "I fail to see your point."
"Something else happened that night, didn't it?" Lee's gaze hardened. "Tell me what happened to the Longbottoms on the night of October 31st, 1981."
"You already know what happened."
"Do I?"
Rabastan stared back at the boy in silence and Lee was about to repeat his question when the other man suddenly spoke first, "Yesterday you asked if the Dark lord returned?"
Lee blinked in surprise at the sudden change in topic, "That was yesterday-"
"So, you don't want to know?"
"Are you willing to answer my question now?" Lee asked after taking a deep breath and Rabastan smirked.
"Yes."
"Fine, has he-who-must-not-be-named returned?"
"Yes."
Lee's eyes went wide at the blatant admission, "Do you have any proof to-"
Rabastan suddenly barked a laugh startling the boy before he spoke, "You say that like you think anyone will believe you."
"Why wouldn't they?"
Rabastan leaned forward still unblinking as he looked right into Lee's eyes and whispered, "Why didn't they believe Barty?"
Lee frowned when the door to the room suddenly opened.
"Times up."
Lee didn't move, he only held Rabastan's gaze.
"Mr Jordan?"
He looked up at the guard to find him frowning in confusion, Lee nodded his head as he collected his things and got up to leave but not before pausing by the entrance, "We'll continue our discussion some other time Lord Lestrange."
"Mr Jordan." Rabastan said still smirking at the boy as he left the room.
A/N: Please review