Sub Rosa

Chapter 21 – Burning Bridges

Severus smiled at the boy as he sat stirring the potion with perfect concentration. He was behind Draco, where he couldn’t be seen, or he would never have allowed the softening of his expression. They had sat there for hours working quietly and darkness was just beginning to fall over the grounds. Severus was wondering idly where Kathryn might be. He missed her.

Despite his conviction that Draco would finally choose the path of Light, there was still great danger in trusting him too much. The boy still had his love for his parents and his loyalty to his family balancing out his loyalty to Severus and his newfound liking for Kathryn. In the end, the choice would be painful and the outcome agonizing for a sixteen year old boy to face.

He knew that he would be unable to protect Draco from the consequences of his choices, just as he could not protect Lucius from his blindness and arrogance. Still, today was free of anguish and choice. Today was a peaceful oasis in an otherwise miserable series of events.

The Dark Mark on his arm began to burn painfully and he grabbed it in a futile attempt to ease the anguish. So much for his peaceful oasis, he groused to himself.

“Sir?” Draco had spun on his chair and was looking at him in horror. Severus hadn’t realized he had made a noise, but Draco was staring at him pale-faced.

“Draco, I have to go.” He didn’t even realized he had used the boy’s first name as he cast a suspension charm on the cauldrons to preserve them till he returned. “I will be back soon.” Rushing to his private chambers, he left a wide-eyed boy who dreaded the day when he would be the one being dragged by chains of pain to a twisted master.

Severus grabbed a small box from his mantle and shoved it into his pocket as he ran past the fireplace headed for the back door of his chambers. He strode out from the dungeons across a small stretch of grass before plunging into the Forbidden Forest. He pulled the box from his pocket and flicking it open pulled his Death Eaters robes and mask from within it. They enlarged as soon as they were removed from the enchanted box and he swirled the cloak onto his shoulders. He fastened the mask to his face, the familiar tang of the metal invading his nostrils and the claustrophobic feeling of it overtaking him once again. Once he was outside the wards he apparated to the Dark Lord’s side.

He found himself in a building -- some kind of Muggle warehouse, he guessed. It was filthy and the windows were so grimy that little light could penetrate the thick gloom of the place. Rusting machines and a cement floor that sent chills through the soles of his shoes were the hallmarks of Voldemort’s latest meeting spot.

A circle of Death Eaters was assembling and Severus quickly and silently took his position. Soon seventeen Death Eaters were assembled, still, silent and attentive. The icy cold was seeping into Severus’ bones but long inured to physical discomfort, he pushed it away and concentrated on the Dark Lord’s words.

“My loyal ones, I have an errand for you.”

“We obey, master.” They chorused, their voices mingling in the chill air.

“This evening, we shall continue to show the Muggle-lovers at the Ministry of Magic that we are not going to allow the destruction of the Wizarding way of life.” Voldemort paced forward, moving between his minions, his red eyes searching the masked faces.

“Our target is small and should be relatively easy to destroy.” He paused before Severus, his nostrils flaring slightly, taking in the scent of the potions that Severus had been brewing. “There is a small shop in the town of Ely, called “the Bridge Between the Worlds” that caters to Mudbloods and Half-bloods. You shall destroy it, kill the owners and return here.” He spun and stared at one of the others. “You have an hour.” He hissed.

“We obey, Master.” Voldemort moved away from them and vanished into the darkness of the building. The others drew together and Bellatrix began to speak.

“You will all follow me as I apparate to the site, then we split into our teams and go from there. Any questions?” They all knew their jobs and positions from countless other raids and the extensive training the Dark Lord had put them through. They were the best of his Death Eaters, these seventeen silent figures. Together the group was a well-oiled machine capable of terrible devastation.

Stepping into formation, Bellatrix touched her wand to her Dark Mark and apparated, dragging the others with her. They appeared in an alley, cloaked by darkness. Swiftly and without a word, they spread out and vanished into the night. The cobbled streets of the Wizarding district of Ely were bumpy under their boots and the twilight gave them enough light to see by while still providing sufficient cover.

Severus, with his usual partner Shiv Quicken, strode through the night, allowing his body to fall into the familiar movements as he quietly detached his mind from the coming harm. He knew it was likely that come morning he would be retching in his bathroom, guilt and anguish consuming him, but tonight -- now -- he would do what he had to do to survive. If the gods were feeling kind he could maybe even do some good.
Shiv gestured to him and they cut off to the left, circling the targeted building. The pair slipped round to the back door to keep anyone from escaping. Bellatrix, he knew would be going in. She loved the close-in work of torture and death.

Green light flared and the back door was flung open. A small figure was silhouetted in the door and Severus grabbed and pulled in a swift motion. The gods were with him this evening; the girl screamed and that gave the opening to force the potion down the child’s throat.

Using the need to cover her mouth to hide the vial of Sleeping Death, he poured it with ruthless quickness, and then made a motion that in the fading light made his blade flash in what looked like an arcing descent.
A second vial was palmed and blood pooled on the child, dripping to the ground as she collapsed into a small heap. Severus faked wiping his blade on the child’s clothing, checking her pulse with that movement and stood. It had taken less than a minute to fake the death and Shiv had seen only what Severus wanted him to.
Nodding to him, they waited a moment more, till the Mark rose above the building then they scattered, apparating in pairs back to their Master’s side.

Once there, Bellatrix debriefed them and Severus nodded coolly as he was congratulated on his
ruthless efficiency.

Voldemort gave a speech in praise of their actions and mapped out what he had planned for the coming weeks, promising them more bloodshed and perhaps even other darker pleasures. Severus sighed, wondering whether the others ever tired of raping Muggle women but from the fevered eyes that glittered behind the masks around him, he doubted it.

Ten minutes later he had returned to Hogwarts and was calmly making his way to the Headmaster’s office.