Across the Quidditch Pitch

Please review! Sorry I didn’t update in awhile. I was working on other projects such as my story, “The Dark Gryffindor” which I finished! I might decide to finish this story soon. This is going to be the focus now. Yet for all its drama, unfortunately it only comes to me slowly. Anyway this is the climax of the story below. Snape comes to a turning point here.


Chapter Thirteen: Dark Wanderings




The boys found the journey back to school much longer than it was going in. There was no longer the blue glow of twilight that had made their shadows visible like before. Now the Dark Forest was pitch-black. Even as they skimmed the treetops on their brooms, and enjoyed the cool caress of the windy night air, they were filled with inexplicable fear. Perhaps it’s origin lied in meeting Lord Voldemort.

They had no other choice but to enter the grounds on foot. The risk of being seen was something that must be avoided at all costs.

The hooded forms of Regulus, Avery, Mulciber and Snape carried on as fast as they could. But even under cover of darkness they felt they might attract attention if they moved too swiftly.

Snape lagged behind the rest and merely observed his cohorts with his usual detached reserve. They were coming out of the last bit of forest; a silvery glade that shone under the crescent moon.

Avery poked Mulciber’s shoulder in a brotherly fashion. “What the heck was that like, being turned into a jack-ass? Huh?”

The boys chortled at bringing up the most humorous aspect of the encounter. Even Snape from the sidelines clearly depicted a smirk and he snorted. The boys continued to laugh almost crazily. Mulciber turned slightly red as he felt his dangerous temper rise.

“You asked him to perform an impossible feat!” Exclaimed Regulus, who was younger than all of them, as he was a third year. “It served you right to be humiliated for it.”

“I was only testing the boundaries. I want to know how far he’s gone!”

“Further than any wizard,” answered Regulus automatically. Regulus was already impassioned. It was obvious he was going to be a great supporter.

Avery added, “I thought Voldemort was interesting. Interesting name for such a strange bloke. Don’t ya think?”

The boys continued to foolishly laugh at his name. It did not inspire the fear it would one day generate, not yet. And they wondered things about the Dark Lord. Where had he come from? Had he ever been a boy like them? Probably but quickly they came to the conclusion that it was almost impossible to imagine Voldemort’s youth.

Only Regulus and Snape were more subdued. They kept their thoughts to themselves. Snape was evidently brooding over something, keeping his head down. Regulus was lost in his selfish plans for how the Black family would benefit from his joining the Death Eaters. Avery and Mulciber for some reason or other could not stop laughing.

They were trudging up the hills towards a convenient back entrance when Regulus and Severus had an argument. Casting a critical eye on Snape, Regulus spoke airily of a very uncomfortable truth. “Severus may be talented but he failed to make his mark on this occasion. I doubt the Dark Lord will remember his name.”

Mulciber and Avery gaped at Regulus. Clearly Black didn’t understand the trio’s dynamic.

Snape felt a twinge of anger and extreme vexation towards the Pureblood.

“And what makes you so sure of it?” Snape asked icily. His black eyes flashed down at Regulus condescendingly.

Regulus did not quail under the sharp gaze of the upperclassman; Snape’s hooked nose pronounced even then. “Well your mother married a muggle. That’s trash in his mind, of course. For any Pureblood really, marrying a muggle is synonymous with creating nothing.”

Snape’s hands closed around his wand in his robes. He didn’t like Regulus insulting his mother AND he alluded to his own existence as meaningless. And yet that wasn’t what Regulus had intended, it was just a unilateral truth for him. He hadn’t meant it as a vicious remark. He was blinded by the prejudice instilled in him since birth.

Shadowy clouds past over the moon, obscuring the last sliver of light. Snape was squaring up to Regulus now as he considered which hex would teach him a lesson most effectively, and hopefully squash his excessive Pureblood pride.

“I challenge you to a duel Black! Here – now. I’ll make…” Snape sized up his two best friends. “Mulciber my Second. Get ready! We’re gonna find out who’s really the better Wizard on skill alone. No regards for purity of blood!”

Snape was sure he’d win and so, wanted Regulus to take the bait. Mulciber went to stand beside Snape. But Mulciber behaved most surprisingly of all. Grabbing Snape’s forearms, he held them from behind Snape’s back. Snape tried to resist but found Mulciber to be much too strong.

Mulciber said, “Mate - It’s not worth fighting over. Us and Regulus - we’re on the same side. We’re all friends here. Through Black’s means we can get in much easier. We’re all going to be Death Eaters right? Let’s not be in-fighting before we’re even chosen for the Mark!”

Regulus was caught off guard by Snape’s offence and wasn’t ready to duel at all. The insensitive aristocrat really was shocked by Snape’s reaction and he was not one to make a rash decision.

Too nervous to even draw his wand, Regulus held his hands up in appeasement. Sounding polite he added, his voice soft and diplomatic, “I meant no harm by it, Severus. Whatever it is that caused you such distress….I frankly do not understand. And….you’re a brilliant wizard. Shake on it like old chaps then?”

Mulciber released Snape’s hands. Slowly Snape stowed his wand away and then shook hands weakly with Regulus who still wore that clueless smile. Snape’s face remained fixated in a dark scowl.

The boys went on once again chattering excitedly about meeting the likes of the Malfoys. Snape lurked behind once more, with the ever-increasing realization that he was an outsider. It made him worry that he’d be an outsider with the Death Eaters too.

Regulus was dominating the flow of conversation. “My cousin has an arranged marriage with Lucius…So even before she gets out of Hogwarts, Narcissa has her place made for her! And my other cousin – she’s a lot older. Cousin Bellatrix is already a Death Eater. A girl! Can you believe that?…Yet I hear she’s one of the best. I should seek advice from her. She’s proven herself and definitely supports Pureblood supremacy and all that….”

Regulus lingered suddenly. He was looking thoughtfully at Snape, debating whether to say whatever else was on his mind. Avery and Mulciber watched.

Avery added, “You know, when Voldemort comes to power…It will only be us Purebloods that matter. Hopefully we’ll have it like the old days and keep the Mudbloods out of Hogwarts.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Avery,” said Regulus.

Mulciber smiled slyly. “Snape might disagree. He’s been hankering after that Evans girl for years now. Haven’t you?”

Mulciber’s eyes slanted, roving sideways to look at Snape peripherally. There was that annoying look of awareness on Mulciber’s ruddy face.

Snape said nothing, knowing it wasn’t something he could deny. Yet he couldn’t bear to admit his crush just now.

“The Dark Lord won’t understand the desire for her,” stated Avery candidly.

Snape finally spoke. “I believe even Voldemort can make an exception. I should be able to persuade him. Slughorn says Lily’s talented so perhaps the Dark Lord will accept her!”

The boys laughed at this very unlikely possibility. It sounded so harsh. From Snape’s perspective they were taunting him and it bothered him that they thought the idea so ludicrous. Snape did not.

The boys’ laughter died out as soon Snape started speaking again. “Lily might see me as an adventurous sort….a hero. Once she realizes the power Voldemort has and that I’m on his side….”

But Avery and Mulciber snorted skeptically. For once Snape was wrong and they were right.

Regulus meanwhile was looking at Snape with almost disdain now. Regulus said reprovingly, “The Death Eaters are dedicated to the cause, Severus. In other words the cause against the lesser kinds. Accepting a Muggle-born would ruin everything. But if YOU favour one of those unworthy Mudbloods…It will spell disaster for the entire group! And…Ruins your chances, I’d think. I suppose you don’t want to join Voldemort.”

“I know my own mind Black! I shall be joining him sooner than you.” And Snape suddenly turned on his friends. “And I will no longer help you attack Mary. Never again, Mulciber.”

“What?” said Mulciber, hotly denying what he just heard. “What!”

“You heard me.” It was taking tremendous courage to say this. Besides them rejecting Snape’s desire of having Lily and snubbing and laughing at him all night, Snape also had a grievance against Mulciber for refusing to help him when he needed it. Why couldn’t Mulciber have returned the favour and help him best Regulus in a duel?

Snape fled in a rage of inner turmoil burgeoning within the interior haven of his mind. Distantly he heard Mulciber’s shouts to come back. Obviously he was disappointed Snape wasn’t going to plan the next attack and was leaving Mulciber on his own.

Raindrops started to fall, stabbing Snape’s cheeks. Snape carried on alone up to the castle. He felt more alone than ever. There was no comfort anymore. His friends were ultimately useless, Lily had rejected him and Dumbledore was just an old man who couldn’t stop the Dark Lord’s ascension. Only the starlight offered solace. For a second Snape looked at the sky in almost supplication. He wished the stars could guide his destiny. A map to in which somehow it would lead him to his heart’s true destination: Lily, and simultaneously linking him to the Death Eaters.

As Snape jogged alone, his schoolrobes billowed and he could feel his identity fading again. After meeting Voldemort he was troubled by what being in his service meant. How could he live and choose to die by Voldemort alone? To serve him and nothing else, even to forget about Lily? To thrive on pure power.

His heart wrenched and ached for Lily. He longed to feel strength yet Snape was weakened by the night’s events. For the next few days he withdrew from his friends. There was so much left to defend. “I would defend her even if she’s…. Muggle-born. She’s a special case. It wouldn’t matter.” These were Snape’s determined thoughts, and he made sure to keep them from Mulciber and Avery.


NOTE: Originally I wasn’t expecting this to be so long. I personally love how Regulus came to have such a large purpose in the story. I didn’t foresee that conflict coming until I was writing the scene!