The World of Snape

Severus was returning from the Potions lab when he could hear Voldemort's voice from the end of the corridor. As the Dark Lord rounded the corner, Severus noticed he had several flabbergasted Death Eaters behind him, hastily scribbling things down, and behind them Bellatrix, who was coolly following with a smirk on her features. “-every single person that works in the Ministry!” Voldemort shouted at the man next to him. “Why is that so difficult for you idiots to follow?” Then he noticed Severus observing from the end of the corridor. “Where have you been?” he snapped icily.


“In the lab, like I said,” Severus replied coolly.


“What for?” Voldemort asked coldly, stopping the procession behind him.


“You bloody know what for,” Severus bit back, wondering what had put Voldemort in such a foul mood. The Dark Lord knew that he had asked Severus for the strengthening potion again.


Voldemort grunted, and grabbed Severus's wrist, pulling him alongside of him. “I want Yaxley here right now,” he snarled over his shoulder at Bellatrix, who nodded, and took the next corridor on the left to find the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. “You!” Voldemort said, pointing at the man next to Severus who'd been taking most of Voldemort's anger. “Who are you?”


The man stuttered and turned red. “M... Marcus Gallagher... My Lord... Assistant to... to Mr Y... Yaxley...”


“The rest of you, go,” Voldemort hissed at the other men. Hastily, they scattered, and Gallagher looked even more scared then he had before. “Gallagher, I want you to tell me if Yaxley is doing anything I might not approve of, anything secret, can you do that?”


Slightly surprised, the man nodded at Voldemort. “Good,” Voldemort replied shortly as Yaxley appeared around the corner.


“You sent for me, my Lord,” Yaxley said, bowing.


“Yes,” Voldemort responded. “I have said this to your people already, but they seem to be incompetent, so I shall say it to you. I want every person that works at the Ministry to write why they want their jobs, I want their names, family trees two generations back, if their blood isn't pure enough then it's for Bellatrix to sort out, give her those names, and then if people's reports don't seem right, send them to Severus, clear?”


Yaxley nodded. “Yes, my Lord.”


“I want every single mudblood out of the Ministry. Work with Bellatrix about a new law, making it illegal for Wizards and Witches to marry muggles,” Voldemort added. “And inform Lucius that he might be having a lot of new cases on his hands, and tell Umbridge that the committee needs to be even stricter then it was before. You are dismissed.”


Severus watched as Yaxley walked back where he'd come from with Gallagher, and then turned back to Voldemort. “Trusting, aren't you?”


“I have no reason to be,” Voldemort snapped. “You know that.”


Severus sighed lightly. “So. What upset you?”


“Incompetence,” Voldemort responded. “How are you feeling today?” he asked, as they stepped into their joint office.


“Fine, why should I not be?” Severus replied wearily, hating how weak everyone seemed to think he was just because of some stupid dreams.


Voldemort shrugged. “We're going to St. Mungo's later, by the way,” he said as he sat down.


Severus frowned, his head began to pound mercilessly. “What for? There's absolutely nothing wrong with-”


“Not for you,” Voldemort snapped, cutting in. “Though I can't help but think it would be a good idea for you to go. We have a meeting with the Board of Directors, the Chief of Treatments, etcetera.” Severus sat down hastily, his head spinning, the reminder of the dream he'd had last night hitting him-


Voldemort's moans of pleasure turned to screams, his face grew white and he began bleeding through his nose and mouth, gargling in so much blood he had to spit it out onto Severus's pale, bare chest. Severus reached up, cupping his lovers face, trying in vein to stop the bleeding.


“Severus!” Voldemort screamed-


“Severus!” called Voldemort.


Severus opened his eyes, and realised his hands were on Voldemort's face, just as they had been in the dream. Voldemort was leant over him, they were suddenly on the floor and Severus couldn't remember how he'd got there.


“What happened?” Voldemort asked, concern showing on his face and he helped Severus to sit up. “You were crying.”


Severus turned his back to Voldemort as he stood up, wiping away the tears that had fallen down his cheeks during the dream. Last night, the dream had started with love-making, and had ended with that. And now, during the day when he'd been fully awake, he'd had a flashback of last night's dream. Merlin, he needed to get a grip on himself.


“Love?”


He felt Voldemort's arms around him, holding him tight, kissing down the side of his neck. “I'm alright,” Severus finally managed to reply in a quiet voice. “I'm alright.” Voldemort's arms tightened, Severus could feel Voldemort's heart beating rapidly against his back. “I... Can we... Can we go to lunch, please,” said Severus, his voice shaking. That wasn't all, his hands were going crazy with shakes too.


“Yes, of course,” Voldemort replied, putting his arm around Severus. For the first time, they walked through the crowded house with their arms around each other, not caring about the Death Eaters being present. Voldemort reached across, and planted a kiss on the top of Severus's head. “Love you,” he murmured, and Severus relaxed fully into Voldemort's arms.


“Promise you won't worry about me,” Severus muttered randomly. Voldemort nodded, but knew he would break his promise all the same.


“I promise, love,” he replied, and could see all tension drop from his lovers face instantly.


“Thank you, Master,” Severus sounded weak, Voldemort was anxious to get some food inside of him before something worse happened.


“You know you don't have to bother with that all time time,” Voldemort said quietly as they reached their dinning room. Severus frowned as Voldemort helped him into a seat, and carefully sat down next to him.


“You always demand such respect,” Severus responded, watching as his husband filled a plate with cheese, crackers and fruit and placed it in front him.


“You've always shown it,” Voldemort said, and then a small smile reached his lips. “Nearly always, at least...” Severus chuckled softly, and Voldemort could hear he sounded better from just a couple of mouthful's. “We're in a relationship, we have to make it work. I don't want you to be perfect and polite and respectful all the time. We'd be bored stupid.”


Severus nodded. “I know. It's just you can be so darn unpredictable at times, even I don't know what you're going to do.” He looked at Voldemort, and then smiled. “I love you though. And many others will continue to address you as Master, but I'm the only one who can truly do it.”


“I'm not surprised you enjoy thinking such things,” Voldemort replied with a laugh. “You are quite correct, however. Especially since, you are the only one devoted to me, body and soul.”


“I am,” said Severus simply as they both finished their meals. Simultaneously, their lips met in a slow, loving kiss.


“Come,” Voldemort murmured, wrenching himself away before the kiss progressed onwards to something very distracting and worse. “We need to head out.” Severus nodded, and summoned their cloaks wandlessly to his hand, smiling triumphantly at his lover. “No need to prove that you're strong still, Severus,” chided Voldemort, accepting his cloak from Severus and putting it around his shoulders. Severus smiled, and took his hand, and together they walked down the stairs. Voldemort didn't seem to care that they were doing so in public, so Severus didn't see any reason why he should. As they reached the front doors, a girl with long black hair came through them. A moment later, Severus realised it was Ginny.


“What the hell have you done to yourself, girl?” Severus demanded as she saw them.


Ginny grinned. “Not such a Weasley anymore, am I,” she said, with a demure wink at Voldemort.


“You should have gone blonde. You'll never marry a Malfoy with anything but,” was all he said, but a pink tinge reached Ginny's cheeks nonetheless. Severus smirked.


“Where are you two going?” Ginny asked them, hastily changing the subject.


“We have a meeting at St Mungo's,” Voldemort replied. “And we're in a hurry,” he added pointedly.


Ginny smiled again. “Can I come?”


Voldemort looked to Severus questioningly, who rolled his eyes. “Oh, if she must,” he snapped, and began walking towards the grounds. Voldemort grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly, but he was looking to Ginny. He placed his hand on her hair, smoothing it out carefully.


“It does suite you, Gin,” he said after a moment. “Have you been around Bella?”


“We're quite good friends, to be honest,” Ginny replied. “I think she's very funny, and we have a lot in common.”


“She'll be turning into Bellatrix Lestrange if we aren't careful,” Severus said quietly. Voldemort stifled a laugh.


“You're meant to be friends with her,” Voldemort reminded him.


“Oh, it's all for show, neither of us mean it,” Severus replied as they reached the bottom of the grounds to disapparate. “Besides,” he continued as the three landed outside of St Mungo's. “I heard her bitching about me to Narcissa the other day. She said that I needed to stop being so grumpy all of the time.”


Ginny bit her lip to stop her laughter, and thankfully only Voldemort noticed.


They entered the building, and were greeted enthusiastically at the front desk. “My Lord!” a short, fat man stepped forwards, and bowed repeatedly. “I am Augustin Acker, Chair of the Board of Directors.”


“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Acker,” Voldemort replied, with a smile stepping forwards to shake the man's hand. “If we may retire to the meeting room to finish the introductions?” Severus couldn't help but notice how the women were all staring at the Dark Lord hungrily. This certainly had never happened in his presence before, and now it was happening more and more. Funny how looks could change anything. In the Dark Lord's state before, people were repulsed by him. Voldemort flashed Severus a smile, as if understanding what he was thinking.


“Of course, my Lord,” Augustin replied, and they were shown into a large room, through a door at the end of the foyer. There was a long, wooden table, plenty of chairs, and light refreshments and drinks on the table. Voldemort was seated at the top end of the table, Severus to his right and Ginny to his left, the other people sitting down from then on.


“This is Severus Snape, my husband and deputy,” Voldemort said, gesturing to Severus with his hand. “And this is Ginevra, my protege, about to enter her seventh year of school.” Ginny smiled down the table, glad that Voldemort hadn't mentioned her last name.


The three were then introduced to the rest of the table, the room consisted of the twelve members of the Board of Directors, the Chief of Treatments, and senior medical and surgical consultants. Finally, they got down to business. “I am anxious for things to remain the same as they have always been,” said Voldemort carefully, looking down the table. “I believe there is a need for some area's to be refined.”


“If I might, my Lord,” the Chief of Treatments, Mr Hackett cut in. “We have never been given enough funding, or enough time from the Ministry of Magic.”


“I am aware of this,” said Voldemort, nodding seriously. “This is one of the area's I think needs to be changed. I want to have a much better input into our new society, I believe that it is in the country's best interests to keep our magical people alive and well, no matter how much of a sacrifice there are to other area's of less importance. There is little and no point in keeping all of these laws policed well if our healthcare is atrocious. St Mungo's is going to be one of my largest projects of all.”


There were genuine looks of surprise down the table, many had no idea what to be expecting from the Dark Lord, and all were impressed and pleased.


“If the medical team would not mind letting me know precisely what they need, and if the Directors would inform me of what funding and resource there has been in the past, I can arrange a new fund,” said Voldemort, looking around the table. “Is there anything anyone would like to suggest now?”


One of the medical staff spoke. “We're always running out of beds, my Lord, we've always tried to get a new building, perhaps for one or two specialist area's,” she said, and as soon as she's spoken her cheeks flushed pink.


Voldemort smiled at her. “A brilliant idea, I shall see to that immediately.” He turned back to Augustin. “Is there money for that?”


Augustin made a face. “In all honesty, my Lord, there's about enough money left for this months wages, the Ministry all but gave up on us after Fudge was sacked, and even during his time there was hardly anything.”


Severus could see Voldemort getting increasingly angry at the state the hospital had been left in. “Perhaps we could do with a Department to handle this, in the Ministry,” said Severus softly. There were nods of agreement down the table. “It could be a mixture of the directors and some of the medical staff.”


“Excellent idea,” said Voldemort. “Perhaps we should adjourn here while the necessary arrangements are made for the new Department, and while you have time to think up what needs to be done.” He stood up, followed by the rest of the table.


Augustin showed them out of the hospital, all smiles. Severus thought that he was probably surprised with the outcome of the meeting, and was now realising that the Dark Lord didn't have any intention of destroying the magical world, only make it a better place. St Mungo's hospital was going to be a helpful Ally .


“You could have thought up a title a bit more exciting then protege,” Ginny grumbled as they walked back up the lawn.


“You might well be some day,” Voldemort replied, with a smile.


“I wasn't aware you fancied yourself to be a teacher,” she replied sarcastically. Severus hated to admit it, but she liked this young girl an awful lot more then he let on.


“I trained Severus and Bellatrix,” said Voldemort as they walked into the house. “And there is a reason why you've never kept the same Defence Against the Dark Art's teacher for more then a year. Which reminds me, I need to remove that curse before Amycus dies a sudden death.”


Severus laughed. “So that why you always look so pleased with yourself whenever you mention it!” He couldn't help but notice Voldemort's triumphant smirk. “Tell me then, why did you do it?”


“Dumbledore refused to give me the Defence job,” Voldemort replied, his expression darkening slightly. “I thought, if he won't give it to me, no one should keep it. Of course, I've moved onto better things since then.” His gaze lingered on Severus for a moment, but was distracted as Draco came into sight. Ginny turned slightly pink and slowed down a little bit, trying to hide behind Severus.


“My Lord, Severus,” Draco said, bowing his head to them. He saw Ginny, and nervously bit on his lip. “Weasley,” he said softly.


“Malfoy,” Ginny responded, her eyes fixed on the floor. Severus nudged Voldemort in the ribs, and together they moved on, smiling to each other.


“My Mother was wondering if you wanted to come to the Manor for supper,” Draco mumbled as Severus and Voldemort walked away.


“They are meant for each other,” Severus murmured as they mounted the stairs.


Voldemort chuckled. “If you believe in such things.” He slid his arm possessively around Severus's shoulder, and kissed the side of his head. “What shall we do tonight?”


Severus smiled. “How about, we get some wine, fly to the island in the middle of the lake, and then shag in the moonlight?”


“It needs to get dark first,” said Voldemort with a smile. “But that sound's nice all the same.” The Dark Lord stopped just outside of their rooms, and pulled Severus into a close embrace, hands playing with his hair. “You've no idea how much I wish I had let this be public before,” he murmured.


“It would have been impossible,” Severus replied. “It would have got back to Hogwarts somehow.”


“I want to spend the rest of my life showing you off,” Voldemort said softly, kissing Severus on the lips for a moment.


“You're the gorgeous one,” Severus reciprocated with a smile. “I want to show you off.”


Voldemort chuckled. “I love you, brat.”


“I love you too.”