Dedicated to veteran reader/reviewer Mayamelissa, as promised:
The summon took him to an unfamiliar place, and for a moment the Potions Master stood blinking on a random knoll near a grove of windswept trees. He quickly picked out the neat hedges of Malfoy Manor on a distant hill, almost hidden by the morning fog.
'I sought to escape the Malfoys,' the cold, familiar voice explained from the darkness behind him, 'I require silence when reading.'
Severus turned to see the Dark Lord casually sprawled on a bench overlooking a mist-filled valley. He was not looking at Severus and stared instead at the churning fog. A thick leather-bound book was cradled in his lap.
The lookout seemed thoughtfully chosen.
He comes here often.
'Then I fear I too shall disturb you, my Lord,' Severus said, bowing deeply.
A chuckle.
Then the red eyes pierced his own and Severus reflexively threw up his shields.
'On the contrary, you are a welcome sight, Severus. I require someone competent for a — ah — task.'
The Potions Master breathed deeply for the first time since apparating. His Master's mood was not unpleasant, but there was unmistakable frustration etched in his tone.
'Let us walk,' the Dark Lord stated, rising to his full height and making his way down the hill to where Severus stood, head bowed in waiting.
A part of him was compelled to hold the Dark Lord with renewed respect now that he knew what exactly the wizard had managed with regards to the Horcruxes. Seven splits was an unheard-of feat. Horrible, yes. But brilliant nonetheless.
He obediently fell into step beside his Master. His face carefully passive, Occlumency shields strong. He thanked his stars for being well-rested.
Merlin knows I need it.
The Dark Lord led him on a narrow path leading into the trees. He spoke only when the trees thickened into the forest and the last birdsong died away.
'I hope I did not inconvenience you on this fine Yule morning,' the Dark Lord mused. Perhaps he thought Severus had had nothing planned. But he had a feeling the Dark Lord hoped to have inconvenienced him either way.
'Never, my Lord. I was just about to play a game of Wizard's chess.' A half-truth is always better than a lie.
'Excellent, I ask a favour of you.' He turned to face Severus, forcing him to cease walking too.
'Anything, my Lord.'
The Dark Lord smiled, his snakelike nostrils flaring momentarily. Red eyes burning.
'I seem to have a problem,' he studied his long nails for a moment, 'concerning Holly Potter.'
Severus waited patiently for him to continue, face and mind blank.
'I have been meditating on her dreams and made great progress. Until recently. I have been blocked from her mind… I expect Dumbledore is aiding her,' his face momentarily contorted with thinly veiled rage. 'However. All is not lost,' he smiled again. 'I have revised my plans and need you to brew a potion. It is complex, and needs your utmost attention and priority.'
'Of course, what is it, my Lord?'
'It is known by its ancient name: Mutatio anima,' he opened the book after almost lovingly stroking the spine and turned it for Severus to see.
A recipe, handwritten in tidy red letters. So it was a journal. Perhaps that of a powerful practitioner, judging by the way the Dark Lord handled the tome.
Severus scanned the ingredients.
'I shall supply you with all necessary ingredients,' he said smoothly, reading his unguarded thoughts.
'When will you require this potion, my Lord?' Severus inquired, nodding.
'About four months from now.'
Walpurgis.
'Might I ask your reasoning, my Lord?'
'It would be bold,' he stared Severus down. 'But I am a leader, unlike Dumbledore. I do not hide my plans and knowledge from my followers,' he paused, considering. 'Not from those deserving.'
It was true, the Dark Lord praised his Death Eaters by imparting spells and information to those he deemed worthy. It was the very reason many joined his forces. Why, it was the reason Severus sought out the Dark Lord all those years ago.
The Dark Lord sighed, tilting his sharp chin.
'I have learned from my rather unfortunate series of mistakes. And now have a superior plan,' he smirked, revealing pointed teeth and sending a chill down Severus's spine. 'This body is not ideal, it has been wrecked by powerful magics.' His mouth twitched, 'Wormtail did not perform the graveyard ceremony to my standards. I want to start fresh. And I have found a way.'
'The news is most welcome, my Lord,'
'Indeed,' he whispered, considering Severus for a moment. 'Mutatio anima is an ancient, soul transferring potion. I shall be born anew,' he spread his hands, 'with the protection of Lily Potter in my veins — and a similar genetic composition.'
The child.
'You will embody a new vessel?' Severus said, beating his will into submission.
'Yesss,' the Dark Lord hissed, eyes dancing. 'I will father myself a new body,' he said softly, grinning maniacally.
'Genius, my Lord,' Severus said with all the conviction his leather tongue could manage. 'Potter will be the mother then?' he asked, keeping his hair in his face to hide his immense concentration upon his Occlumency shields.
'So it shall be,' his Master said, turning and walking on, hands clasped behind his back.
No more questions then.
Severus caught up.
'You may borrow the book,' he said dismissively, thrusting the tome toward Severus.
'I will keep you updated, my Lord,' Severus replied, tucking the book under his arm.
'Good,' he answered softly. 'Do not fail me, Severus.' 'I do not have to tell you what will happen if you do.'
'Never, Master,' Severus said, not missing a beat.
The Potions Master threw up against a gate pillar outside Hogwarts. The Dark Lord's book lay hastily discarded in the snow. Afterward, Severus stood over the mess, hand shaking and wondering how he was supposed to look Holly in the eye.
To tell her she is doomed.
And how — or even if — he was to alert Dumbledore of his summon and the Dark Lord's plan. After a long time, he wiped his mouth on a sleeve and scraped together the courage to amble up to the castle.
Severus stuffed his traitorous shaking hand into a pocket of his cloak when he reached the invisible staircase.
He took a moment to compose himself outside, forehead resting against the door.
The atmosphere inside his rooms was starkly contrasted to his mood. The rotund chamber seemed almost unfamiliar bathed with bright light from a dangerously large fire popping and crackling in the hearth. Two pine branches with baubles lay crossed on the hearth, a Christmas stocking hung from one.
The witch had also taken the liberty to light several candles around the room. It smelled lightly of smoke, pine needles, cooked meat and fresh bread. The source of the latter smells were the steaming plates of shepherd's pie, ham sandwiches, roasted vegetables, blancmange with blackberries, and cream-filled ginger snaps on the trunk by the bed. A pitcher of pumpkin juice, a butter bell, and an entire baguette was also crammed onto the tray.
His stomach turned at the sight. Although grateful for her presence, he was unnerved by having someone in his private chambers without his presence. Not even the elves were allowed in his sanctum.
Severus ducked out of his travel cloak and tossed it over the back of a chair, searching for the source of the soft music playing on a hidden radio. A female voice sang along with a slow piano. Distinctly muggle.
He heard Holly's laugh resound from the bathroom. 'I'll let you know. Thanks, Big D, cheers.'
Water splashed.
His eye twitched.
Already warmed up, Severus Occluded what he could and made his way to the bathroom. Steam billowed about him when he pushed the door in.
'Who the fuck is 'Big D'?' he asked, hoping to convey the violence he felt.
'You're back!' The witch sat on the edge of the large, sunken tub she was filling with hot water.
She wore a small, satin nightdress and held a small plastic device of muggle making.
'Just a voice note to Dudley,' she defended, clearly taken aback.
'Petunia's boy?'
'Yep.'
'Oh…'
'Don't be jealous,' she teased, wiping at her fogged-up glasses.
'I am not jealous,' he spat, crunching the door handle.
'Woah, please,' she threw up her hands as if held on wand-point. 'I didn't mean anything by it, Sev.'
The way she cringed made him feel like his father. He slowly retreated, feeling a fool.
He heard her wet feet on the floor as she came after him.
Holly
'Hey, look, I'm sorry, I wanted it to be a nice surprise,' she pleaded, bursting through the door and almost bouldering into the dark wizard.
His face was even whiter than usual, dark eyes wild and mouth tightly folded as he continued backing away from her.
'What's wrong, Severus? What did he want?'
He hit the bedpost, almost without noticing.
Holly hovered at arm's length, uncertainty creeping into her mind. 'I'll go if you want me to,' she said, fighting to keep her voice stable.
'No,' he said resolutely, his stoic expression crumbling into something else. Something like fear.
Holly reached for the hand that wasn't hiding in the pocket of his frock coat. His skin was ice cold.
'Are you hungry?' she asked, trying to be gentle. 'It's also okay if you're not.'
He closed his eyes briefly and leaned his head back against the post, 'Perhaps later… Princess.'
'I'm sorry,' she repeated. 'I was bored. And anxious. So I tried to make it more . . . homey.'
'You did,' he said slowly, regarding her with a strange look in his eyes. 'It is I who should apologise. I was jealous. I cannot bear the thought of… someone else.'
Holly edged closer, 'it's only you, Severus,' she touched his chest but drew away when pain crossed his face.
'What did he want?'
'He wants something brewed,' he said, staring past her shoulder.
'Why?' Holly pushed on bullishly.
'For Walpurgis,' he said softly.
Holly felt her belly flip, 'What is it?'
'A transference potion. He wishes to… take the child as host. To heal his torn soul and gain a new and more powerful body. One with both Lily's blood and his own.' Severus said robotically.
'That's so fucked up,' she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. 'I don't want to, Severus.'
'We will find a way, Holly. We have to.'
AN: Dearest friends, thank you for following and reviewing. I love every one of you. Extra special thanks go to Mayamelissa, Lemaris, Promise2460, tpaturi5, and DarthLeia19 for reviewing like champs time after time!
Some of you may be pleased to know that I put a deadline on this behemoth of a fic - as I'm completing it during this year's NaNoWriMo (If anyone else here is also participating, send a DM and we can buddy-up!)