Summary: Death Eater meeting

A/N: Why, yes, Mr. Voldiemort, I do want to join your organization. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Chapter 8

"Snape, where have you been?" Draco asked as his eyes narrowed at the other man.

"I was studying, like always, Draco. Did you need me for something?"

"I went to the library, and you weren't there," Draco retorted.

Severus regarded Draco. He tried to disguise a facial tick as he prepared the story he'd already created to cover his absence.

"I usually find the books I want and study in an empty classroom. I like the silence."

"Isn't the library quiet enough?"

"Not always. I sometimes need to spread out my books and notes as well, so having somewhere to do so is essential for my research," Severus explained. "What did you need?" he asked quickly, trying to divert the other young man's curiosity.

"I wanted to make sure you're ready for next weekend."

"I believe I am. Do I need to do anything specific to prepare?"

"No, but I did want to talk to you about how to behave during the meeting." He looked around. "Let's go to my room so we can have some privacy."

Severus nodded and followed Draco out of the Common Room and over to Draco's Head Boy dormitory. Severus had never seen the room, so he looked around as he entered. There was a bedroom straight ahead, but the entrance of the room opened to a large gathering room with many couches and chairs scattered around.

"We meet here or in Susan Bones' room with the prefects. That's why this room is so large," Draco said offhandedly.

"It's somewhat ostentatious," Severus commented.

Draco shrugged. "You get used to it."

They settled into his settee and faced one another.

"At the meeting, don't say anything to the Dark Lord unless he addresses you first. He'll want to talk to you to measure your abilities and how you'd fit into the organization, but he hates it when he is addressed before he speaks to someone."

Severus nodded.

"He'll probably let you know what he expects. Before he talks to you, the entire group will meet together. We usually converse with one another until it's near time when the Dark Lord will appear. Then we stand in a circle awaiting his arrival. He Apparates in and then speaks to us all as a group before he seeks out certain people to discuss items with."

Severus found it ironic that he'd left his own time to avoid a meeting similar to this, but here he was preparing to meet the Dark Lord anyway. Some things just couldn't be avoided, he assumed.

They discussed everything else he needed to know, ensuring he'd be ready for the night to come before Draco dismissed him.

oooOOOooo

The week had gone by quickly and Severus found himself at the gates of Hogwarts with his fellow Slytherin Housemates. Draco removed a bent can from his pocket.

"The Dark Lord supplied a Portkey so we can all arrive together."

He held it out and everyone touched it. Within seconds, they were transported to Malfoy Manor. Severus recognized it right away from when he'd visited in his time. He looked around and saw several people standing around talking. As they moved into the room, several other people teleported in. Lucius Malfoy descended the stairs proffering an elegant cane with a snake head on it.

The man hadn't changed much in all the years since he'd seen him. He was older, yes, but he was still remarkably handsome with his long locks. He did have an air of superiority that he hadn't had as a young man. Well, at least not quite that superior.

Lucius eyed everyone in the room until his eyes fell upon Severus. A startled look came over his face, which was quickly hidden away. He greeted someone at the base of the stairs and made his way to Severus.

Severus braced himself for whatever Lucius would say. His story was well established, growing more in-depth the longer he spent in this time, so he just needed to stick with it.

"You must be Severus Snape. I knew your father, and to be honest, you are the spitting image of him."

No one would suspect time travel. It's just a coincidence, Severus thought before answering.

"He's told me that, and I've seen the pictures. We are definitely similar in appearance," Severus acknowledged.

"Walk with me," Lucius ordered, not giving Severus a choice as he grabbed his arm and led him away from the crowd.

Severus frowned as he followed the other man. When they had reached a corner of the room, Lucius turned and looked at Severus with narrowed eyes.

"Your father was set to take the Mark before he disappeared. No one knew where he went, and we all just thought he was a coward."

Severus bristled but showed no emotion. "I assure you, my father is no coward."

"Then why did he run?" Lucius asked tersely.

"He didn't," Severus answered. "From what he told me, he was forced to move when his father got a job in Germany. My… grandfather… was not a nice man."

"I do remember him saying that, but you told Draco that he chose to move on his own."

Severus looked around and got slightly closer to Lucius. "To be perfectly honest with you, at the time I didn't know Draco at all. I knew of you, of course, but nothing about your son. I wasn't about to tell the tale of a beaten boy who was forced to move out of the country to someone I'd barely met."

Lucius arched a brow at him. "Of course, that makes sense. So, your grandfather forced Severus to go?"

Severus nodded. "He didn't care for the magical world at all, basically telling my father that either he moved with the family or he would be forever excommunicated from it."

"Surely he knew we would have helped him had he chosen to stay?" Lucius asked.

Severus shrugged. "I don't know. He doesn't talk much about his situation when he lived here. He, of course, has mentioned you as one of his closest friends."

"Then as his friend, why didn't he tell me what was going on?"

Severus looked into Lucius' eyes. "He was ashamed that he'd been duped by a Muggle. He hated his father and distanced himself from him as soon as he could, but unfortunately, he just wasn't old enough to disobey him. I think he felt you would be disappointed in him had he let you know where he was going."

"Did he not know me at all?"

Severus shrugged. "He always spoke very highly of you. When he knew I was coming to Hogwarts, he said that I should seek you out and send his regards."

"Well, I'm glad your father is doing well. Tell him we should get together sometime."

"I will do that."

Lucius motioned to the center of the room.

"We should get back. The Dark Lord will be here any minute," he advised.

"I look forward to meeting him."

They moved back to the crowd, which was starting to form the circle that Draco had told him about. Severus took his place in between Draco and Blaise, settling in to wait. It took no time at all for the Dark Lord to Apparate into the center of the room.

"Ah, my friends, welcome! We are making great strides in taking over the Ministry. Before long we will control the government." He motioned to a man standing near him in the circle. "Pius Thicknesse has infiltrated the Minister's office and Rufus Scrimgeour will soon be overthrown."

Everyone clapped, and there was murmuring around the room.

"As a member of the Board of Governors, Lucius is working to get close to the Potter boy while at Hogwarts, and our raids around Britain have frightened all and shown them that we are not to be trifled with."

He eyed everyone in the circle, turning his body as he looked at every single person. When he looked at Severus, he felt the Dark Lord's mind caress his. If he wasn't familiar with Legilimency, he wouldn't have even noticed.

Voldemort finished his circle and waved his hands at everyone.

"We will meet again in two weeks. I will alert you to the location."

He made a beeline for Lucius and began talking to him. Severus knew no one was dismissed until Voldemort took his leave. He turned and made small talk with Draco and the others. He chose not to introduce himself to anyone else as his membership in the organization was still to be determined.

"Fine home you have here, Draco," he said.

"Thank you, Severus. It's lovely, isn't it? What did my father want of you?"

"He wanted to talk about my father."

"Ah."

"Draco, a word?" Lucius said from behind him.

"Of course, father."

They moved off, and Severus turned and gazed around the room. Looking around, he spied Mulciber and Avery, his old friends. They had looked at him curiously earlier in the meeting, but neither had approached him. As he eyed them, he noticed they looked much more hardened and intimidating than they had when the three of them were schoolmates. He figured if he'd stayed in that time he'd look much the same as them, and possibly feel much the same as they did. He hoped that had he stayed, he'd have come to his senses, but even if he had, he knew there was no escape from the Death Eaters once one joined them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Voldemort coming toward him and prepared himself for whatever was to come.

"You are Severus Snape?" Voldemort asked.

Severus gave a small bow of his head.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Am I?" Voldemort asked. "Your Lord?"

"I hope that I will be able to join your group. I want to be your follower, my Lord."

"And what is it you have to offer, Severus Snape?"

"Loyalty. Intelligence. I am also adept at Potions. I have an affinity for creating new ones."

"And what is a Potion you have created recently?"

"I have been working on one since I transferred here. It is an invisibility potion, but I am still working out the kinks. When I was in Germany, I created a solution that calmed the stomach when one has… overindulged."

Voldemort grinned, and Severus bit back a grimace at the evilness of it. Voldemort eyed him and said nothing for several seconds before determining what he wanted to say to him.

"After your graduation, we will induct you into our organization," he explained. "For now, though, I have a mission for you to prove your worthiness."

Severus was somewhat surprised but showed none of that. "How may I serve, My Lord," he asked with another slight bow of his head.

"All of my Slytherins are well known by the Potter brat. You, however, are an enigma. You haven't been here long, and you could get close to the boy."

"My Lord, I could, but I must advise you, I have already badmouthed him and his friends. I'm not sure if he'd trust me."

"I will leave that up to you as to how you can get him to do so. You will become friends with him. The Slytherins will shun you in public because of it to make it look more genuine. You will report to Draco anything you learn from him. With you spying at Hogwarts, my victory over the brat will be assured."

Severus nodded. "It is my pleasure to serve, My Lord. You will have him soon."

"That's right, young Severus. Carry on."

With that, the Dark Lord turned and moved to his next victim. Severus breathed a sigh of relief that the encounter was over. He mulled over his assignment. He would have to plan with Potter how to make their friendship look authentic. In essence, this was a good thing. He would now be able to be seen with the trio, and no one would think anything about it.

The Dark Lord soon finished and bid everyone a good night, Apparating away. Draco nodded at the other Slytherins, and they gathered and used the Portkey to return to the gates of Hogwarts.

Everyone chattered about the encounter as they returned to the castle.

"That was great," Goyle said. "I want to be just like my dad. Did you see him talking with the Dark Lord?"

"Yes, but many people talked with the Dark Lord," Severus said.

"Yeah, but my father is important to him."

Crabbe piped in. "My dad is important too!"

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Gentlemen, everyone is important in their own way. There would be no progress without all of them in that room."

"All right, enough. Let's get back to the Common Room. Snape, I need to talk to you for a minute."

The others moved into the castle as Draco and Severus stayed behind. Draco looked around and cast a Muffliato.

"The Dark Lord told you what your mission is?"

Severus gave a clipped nod.

"I will address the Slytherins in the Common Room and advise those in our year and the sixth years that once you start hanging around Potter, they are to ignore you and sometimes attack you for being a traitor. Be ready for that."

"Understood."

"Once you get close to Potter, let me know anything that he says that might help the Dark Lord in defeating him."

"I will."

Draco grinned then. It wasn't a pleasant grin. He clapped Severus on the shoulder.

"I knew you'd be valuable to the Dark Lord. I can't wait to see Potter's lifeless body after he's finished with him."

Severus grinned back despite the ball in the pit of his stomach. "It will all be worth it then, right?" he agreed.

The two men moved into the castle and headed for the dormitory. It was close to curfew, so Severus went up to his room and got ready for bed. Once everyone was asleep, he would sneak into the Headmaster's office and report on what happened during the meeting.

He sighed as he settled under his covers. A double spy. That wasn't anything he'd been expecting. But he had wished to make a difference. Hopefully, he could do so.

oooOOOooo

Severus sat across from Dumbledore. He'd just reported everything that had happened at the Death Eater meeting. Dumbledore stroked his beard as he thought.

"This is good, Severus. You can garner Tom's trust and not have to hide your association with Harry and his friends."

"That's what I thought as well."

"Have you thought about how you will become 'friends' with Potter?"

Severus mulled it over for a bit. "I will talk to Draco and have him or one of the others attack Potter in my presence. I'll defend him instead of sticking with the Slytherins. That might work."

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, showing him you're against the Slytherins would definitely be something that Potter would normally accept. It would look natural. But don't hang out with him right off. Give it a week or so."

"I was planning on that."

"Good. You seem to take well to this spy work, naturally knowing how to proceed without direction."

"Thank you," Severus acknowledged.

"This will also allow you to cement your relationship with Malfoy."

"Speaking of which, Lucius Malfoy asked me about my father. I told him the story that we created. He seemed to accept it."

"Good. It's much easier to accept a story like that instead of the possibility that someone traveled through time."

"That's true."

Dumbledore stood, quickly followed by Severus.

"Thank you, Severus, for being willing to do all of this."

He acknowledged Dumbledore with a tilt of his head, turned, and left the office.