Death Eater Takes a Holiday

Yeah, you had to wait, but this is over 6500 words long






"There's a terrible scar that seems to wrap around his whole head, and
you don't think he should have gone to the infirmary?"  

Severus didn't see Harry wince.

Chapter30  There are worse marks you could have

Gwen looked from him to Harry, unsure of what to say. Her lip quivered,
"I ..." she paused, squared her shoulders, and took a deep
breath, "when Harry tried to catch something that was falling into my
potion, his hand was submerged, and was burned. I used the proper burn paste,
and was sure he would be fine." She said. Severus closed his eyes and
nodded in understanding. Gwen looked back to see if Harry was still asleep.
Harry was not asleep, but now walking over to her side. He held out his hand,
turning his wrist to give them a full view of both sides.

"Good as new," he said with a tired smile. Harry gave Severus the
once over, looking for signs of Cruciatus. "Did your errand go smoothly,
Professor?" Harry asked. Severus knew what he was alluding to, but his
mind was busy making observations, processing the information. He looked at
Harry, and then at Gwen. Her mole was back. Had they both taken the potion?

Gwen was uncomfortable, and needed sleep. "Sir, would you like to look
over the potions before I pack them up to be sent out?" Severus looked
over the bottles on his desk. The potion would be tested in five different
ways. There were six vials on the desk. He held up the only one not labeled for
testing. She explained that she had already finished her first potion, tested
it on herself, and put a second vial aside when the accident happened. She
didn't go into details of the accident. As mad as she had been with Colin
Creevey, she didn't want him to have to bear the wrath of Severus Snape.

The Potions Master examined the potion while Gwen pulled Harry aside.
"Harry, I don't know how I could ever repay you for all your help
tonight." She hesitated for a moment, and pulled him in for a hug.
"I'm so glad I had a chance to get to know you a little before we left
school."

"Maybe you'll save me a dance or two tomorrow
night," he said with a smile. She was lost for a moment in eyeseyes, and
his bright smile that lit the room. Scar or not, Harry was gorgeous. He looked
slightly up at her, and stood up on his toes. "My dress shoes give me a
little more height," he said humorously, she blushed, promised a dance,
and hurried out while the mood was still light.

"See you tomorrow," she said over her shoulder.

Conscious of the now visible scar, Harry tentatively turned around to face
Severus; his fingers unconsciously pushed a strand of hair behind his right
ear. It was a habit he'd had for years now. If he couldn't feel the scar while
his fingers brushed behind his ear, he knew the concealment charms were in
place. He was surprised to feel the marred flesh even though he knew it to be
exposed. It had been a long time since anyone besides Poppy had seen it. He
felt somewhat exposed.

Severus watched Harry turn around. He looked for the
beautiful green eyes, but they were not meetiis. is. He felt like a heel,
fairly sure Harry heard his comments regarding his scar. Harry looked down,
brushing his hair back behind his ear. Severus noted it was a familiar
movement. He hadn't mentally registered it before today, but was sure he'd seen
Harry do that very same thing many times before. He watched as Harry's
fingertips brushed over the start, or was it the end of the scar, and slightly
flinch as the tips of his fingers stoked back his dark lockshat hat had
happened to his Harry'?

"I was burned; it was too old to heal by the time I returned to
school," said Harry, as if that explained everything. Severus took a step
closer to him, noting Harry didn't move up himself. He hadn't backed away, but
clearly was making no move closer to Severus.

"How long have you been concealing it?" Not
accusatory in tone, but curious.

"A few years." Harry shifted on his feet. He was obviously tired.
Severus had gotten up early to fetch a few plants from the forest while the dew
still glistened on the grass, and he'd seen the Gryffindor Quidditch team
practicing. It had been a long day. "If you wanted to see what potions
Poppy used, you’re welcome to have a look at my files." Harry paused, and
picked up his bag. "I'm tired, and to be honest, I'm feeling a little
vulnerable right now. I promised my shrink and myself that I would be mindful
of my needs. I would rather we talked about this after some sleep, and when I'm
more comfortable having the concealing charms off."

Severus nodded. "I understand. Thank you for helping Miss Jennings with
her potion." He hadn't planned on Harry making such a sacrifice when
asking him to stay with her. He trusted Harry to do as he asked, but knew Harry
would have stayed to help her even if he hadn't. Sev had a ton of questions now
for him and the scar that marred his perfect skin. It occurred to him that his
own body had many more marks since Harry last saw him undressed. One in
particular he didn't want exposed. How would Harry react to seeing the mark up
close? Severus knew exactly how Harry was feeling right now, being forced to
bare his scars to the world. It would be similar to someone forcing him to wear
a short sleeve shirt; only Harry didn't have a choice. He'd wished things had
gone differently when he found out Harry's secret. Wished he was still
there, and was in his arms, and that he had told him how beautiful he was. That
evening the man changed for bed, stopped, and took a long look in the mirror
before donning his bedclothes. The first thing that always caught his eye was
the Dark Mark on his arm. It made the other areas of marred skin less
conspicuous. Like many people do when looking at themselves in the mirror, he
saw only the flaws.

 

In another part of the castle, a seventh year Gryffindor dreamt of the
Formal he would soon attend. Dreams of dancing with that someone special,
feeling his breath on the side of his face as they danced slow, hearing that
voice whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He dreamed of those and many other
things he wouldn't remember by morning. He woke with a vague memory of pleasant
dreams. As he passed through the fog from sleeping to almost awake Harry
thought back to the night before. He’d learned to make the potion for pain,
kissed Sev, helped Gwen, and Sev had seen his scar. Harry lightly traced his
scar along the side of his neck, and a trailed his fingers to his lips. 'He
kissed me.' Harry closed his eyes, remembering. Severus Snape had kissed
him. He pressed him up against the counter in the supply cupboard and kissed
him hard. Harry had thought 18-year-old Sev was a great kisser, but this was
Severus. Apparently the years of experience did make a difference. Wow.

It was time to get up and now he had to will his hard-on away. He used to
think about his friend Neville in riding chaps and nothing else, with his pudgy
bottom sticking out the back, but Neville had a growth spurt last year, and his
newfound height had balanced out his body nicely. He was no longer a surefire
way of killing off morning wood. 'I know, Nev's Gran in short shorts. Yup,
that did it.' His problem was gone, although now he wondered if he could
ever get it up again with that picture in his head.

Ron was half asleep, but noticed Harry's scar right off. He
didn't mention it until Harry was leaving to take his shower.

"You going to..." Ron trailed off, waving his hand vaguely in the
area of his neck. Harry shook his head.

"Long story. I'll tell you when we see Hermione.” he said, before
heading out the door. Both boys, having showered and dressed, were about to
leave the dorm when Neville stopped Harry.

"I think you forgot something, Harry, " Neville said, while trying
not to look in his direction. Harry kept his face void of emotion. 

"I didn't forget. Thanks, Nev." For a moment everyone was silent.
No one else had wanted to say anything about it.

"You mean you want to have your pants unzipped?" asked Neville
incredulously. Harry snickered and the whole room burst in to a fit of
laughter. Having zipped his pants, he and Ron headed down to meet Hermione.
Harry barely heard Ron's comment of 'Keep it in your pants, mate' when Hermione
pounced on him. Harry pulled a handful of hair from his face as his friend
squeezed him in a big hug.

"You are so wonderful," she said rather loudly, then finally let
go. "Word around the Prefects bathroom is that you saved Gwen Jennings
from the summer from hell. Thanks to you she gets to spend the summer in Paris
relaxing before she starts to study Potions in the fall. She would have had to
wait until September just to reapply, and then have to wait until January to
begin." Hermione was talking so fast the boys could hardly understand what
she was going on about. "Tell me all about it; how did things go before
Professor Snape had to leave?" she asked and poked him, as if to say 'you
better tell me everything'.

The trio sat on the sofa in the common room before breakfast. Harry told
them about the potions and Colin, and Severus having to leave. Ron didn't
notice Harry had nudged Hermione while he told them about the evening.

"The potion lasts for a few days. I knew what I was getting into when I
drank the potion; but who else could she get to help her at that time of night?
I thought she was going to freak when she saw the scar. When it occurred to her
that I'd have to go to Formal like this, she practically hyperventilated, apologizing
profusely. A few months ago, I don't think I could have done it, but after
being outed to the school via Malfoy and the Daily Prophet, this doesn't seem
so big a deal. I'd promised Dumbledore I'd do it when we got out of school
anyway." Hermione threw herself at him for another hug, and told him what
a great guy he was. Harry realized that he was comfortable with the sudden
closeness with Hermione and he hadn't flinched aws hes he'd done after the
attack.

Harry saw Colin Creevey heading his way, looking extremely
apologetic. "Ron, run a diversion on Creevey while I talk to Hermione for
a minute." Despite his good mood Harry didn't want to see Colin right now,
plus he had to talk to Hermione. The only person he could talk to.

"What was the nudge for? Something juicy? What, what, what? Did he get
called to a meeting?" Hermione said too fast to be allowed by humans.
"You nudged, that means something you can't say in front of Ron," she
said, giggling. Harry slowly nodded with a big grin.

"I felt", he said touching his forehead, "and
he felt. He looked into my eyes; I'd thought I'd get lost in them." he
sighed. "Next thing I know I'm helping him get supplies to take with him.
It happened so fast I didn't see it coming." He paused and Hermione looked
like she would bust. "He kissed muot;uot; whispered Harry, Hermione
screamed.

Ron had been keeping Creevey at bay when he heard the scream. "OH MY
GOD!" she squealed.

Harry almost covered her mouth with his hands, but he loved
when he got to tell her stuff he couldn't tell anyone else. So many times he'd
been bursting to have someone to talk with. Her reactions were usually fun,
too. Now that it was Severus, it felt more private, and he had the feeling he
wouldn't be telling her too much more as time went on. Harry had on a grin from
ear to ear, and was blushing. With a plea for details, he filled her in. When
he was finished, her eyes were glazed over as if she'd been kissed herself.

"Oh Harry, it's just so romantic," she whispered this time,
holding his hands.

As the day progressed, Harry got various looks and people
gawking at his now visible scar. By the end of lunch many people knew what he
had done for Gwen and at least tried not to stare. Some others however must not
understand how rude it is to just outright stare at a person, studying the
unsightly mark up the side of his neck as if he were one of Hagrid's beasts. By
the time the day had passed and the boys were getting ready for the Formal,
most people had stopped asking about it, and Harry was surely used to having
people look at him. He could ignore them easily.

"It feels like September again with the first years' staring at me all
the time," Harry said to Ron as he put on his dress shoes. Ron was combing
his hair. He could see Harry from through the mirror.

"Tonight they'll all be too busy looking to see what
everybody's wearing and who's dancing with who to care much about it. You'll
see," said Ron. Dean, Seamus, and Neville confirmed that most people
assumed he'd gotten the scar when the Death Eaters attacked Privet Drive, so
hardly any one was asking questions about how it happened. Since Privet Drive
was Voldemort's 'coming out party' as it were, more people were acknowledging
that Harry had seen Voldemort after the Tri-Wizard tournament, and thought the
scar may have been from then.

"Have you seen Hermione this afternoon?"

"Nope, she and most of the girls have been fussing for
the last two hours on hair and whatever else girls fuss over." Ron said,
as he pressed his robes out with his hands. "Is that what you're wearing
under your dress robes?" he laughed.

Harry flashed him a grin.

Hermione's eyes were wide when the two dashing young gentlemen met her in
the common room. She was proud to be escorted by Ron. His attitude was much
improved since the last dance he'd been to, now that he had her at his side.
Had it not been for Malfoy, Ron would be best dressed in the hall. Harry
wore blue robes. Simply cut, light fabric flowed over his form,
occasionally showing his muscles nicely. Harry had tried to spell his hair to
calm down, but the potion he tested for Gwen was preventing any spells from
calming it. Finally he tried to use a hair growth spell. It was only helping
along something that happened naturally, so the potion hadn't prevented it.
He'd been tempted to pull his hair over to one shoulder to hide his neck, but
Hermione talked him into wearing it back. She transfigured a hair tie to match
his robes.

"With your hair back and your contacts in, you look so much older.
Wow... you should wear contacts all the time!" exclaimed Hermione.
"You look hot! " she whispered in his ear.

"Contacts!" said Ron suddenly. "That's what's
different."

"Honestly Ron, get a clue," chided Hermione. "How could you
not notice?"

"I noticed something was different, but I was trying
not to stare." He said the last part at a nearby second year that hadn't
taken his eyes off Harry since they'd entered the common room.

"I wish I could wear them all the time," said Harry, watching the
second year boy run from Ron's glare. "If I get a speck in them, it feels
like a rock in my eye. It's not practical in a confrontation, it's like
impossible to floo with these things on, and at least if my glasses get broken,
I can repair them with my wand. I can't even put these in without a mirror
yet." Harry patted his pocket to assure that his glasses and wand were
there. "Creevey alert," he said when he spotted the photo-happy boy
approaching.

In a great plea of apology, Colin Creevey took photos of the trio in their
best-dressed. They posed for several pictures and Colin offered to show Harry
his full collection from over the years, to make up an album to remember his
years at Hogwarts by. Harry agreed that they would get together just after
school finished when Colin would have them ready.

 

 

The Great Hall was a sight to see. The usual sea of black robes was replaced
with wave of multi-colored fabrics flowing through the hall like wild flowers
in the breeze. The mood was so much different than what the Yule Ball had been.
They would all be out of school soon. Harry was having a blast. He didn't have
the stress of a date; thrilled that no one had to open the ball with a dance,
and that he was not the center of attention. Some still looked at him and his
seemingly newly acquired scar, but that would not bring him down. He danced
with Hene ane and a few others. Whenever he had a chance, Harry would scan the
room looking for someone special, but to no avail thus far. The dance was
already forty-five minutes started and Severus was nowhere to be seen.

In another part of the castle, Severus Snape neared Mr.
Filch's office. He'd gone there almost every night the past weeks. Severus
silently passed the caretakers office, approaching the long since abandoned
torture room. Its only purpose now was to look intimidating and get polished by
students during detentions. Severus smirked. He watched Nott, who was
completely unaware of his audience. His tall, dark form blended with the
shadows. Nott hadn't once noticed his arrival these past weeks. Sev wondered, 'What
would it be tonight... a large blade suddenly flying from its place on the
wall, just missing the boys face?' That one had been fun; the boy wet selfself that night. Perhaps a whip could snap unexpectedly. The first time was
ok, but the second time had an unexpected added bonus. Who knew the boy would
turn around at that moment? 'I did warn him to be careful; the castle's
alive with magic, my magic.'  He wanted this to be a good night for
Harry. The seventh year formal was meant to be a fun time, without care. Who
would want to share the dance floor with a boy who molested you? Severus waved
his wand with a flourish, and soon the cuff Nott was polishing closed tight on
his wrist. There he stood against the wall with his wrist snagged in this cuff,
connected to the wall by a big heavy chain. Filch would eventually find him,
but without the use of magic he would have to go find a member of the staff to
help unchain him. There had been a few times Nott needed to be helped out of a
piece of torture equipment, but for some reason, despite his knowledge of every
shortcut in the castle, this time it took Filch a very long time to find
someone to help him, and then the professor he found had been too busy to run
right off to get the boy free, thus doubling his detention time. As if an
unspoken agreement was understood between faculty members. Most thought Nott
and his friends should have been expelled, and weren't going to let them off
easy.

In the Great Hall, Dumbledore was having a chat with Prof. McGonagall. He
smiled, seeing Severus enter the hall through a side door. "I see our lost
sheep has found his way," Albus said with amusement.

"You mean the black sheep," Minerva joked. Severus
had a sharp retort, but Albus cut him off.

"Speaking of strays, where is Mr. Nott this evening?"

Severus winced at the pun. "Rotting in
Azkaban?" 

"Now Severus, you know I'm referring to your student, the younger Mr.
Nott. Shouldn't he have finished his detention by now?" inquired Albus.

"Perhaps he couldn't get a date," Severus said
silkily. Minerva leaned over so only Severus could hear her.

"Or she broke free while he was in detention," she said with a
gleam in her eye, much like her cat form.

"You could lend him your handcuffs, Minerva," he
said with a wicked grin. She stormed off as if affronted, but Severus knew she
was smiling as he watched her retreating back. She was soon lost in the mix of
students mingling in the hall.

 Severus scanned the crowd, looking for Harry, though he didn't appear
to be looking for someone, merely bored. With no sign of Harry on the first
casual glance, he decided to look for Ron. He was much easier to spot in a
crowd, and the rest of the trio was never far away. Sure enough, the carrot top
towered over most, as he'd grown tremendously the past year. Nice robes, he
thought as he spotted the youngest of the Weasley men carrying two glasses from
the refreshment table. Just ahead of him was a table with several empty seats,
and Neville Longbottom nursing a drink. A quick scan of the immediate area, and
bingo, there was Harry dancing with Hermione Granger. Severus almost didn't
recognize him with longer hair, and didn't he look fine without the glasses?
They danced well together. It was a slow dance, and Hermione looked very
comfortable with her head on his shoulder. Severus exhaled forcefully, waiting
for Weasley to cut in, but he was sitting with Longbottom chatting away.

Some annoying person started speaking to Severus, making him
loose track of Harry for a while. Just as well, since he didn't want to appear
to be preoccupied with the Boy Who Lived. Thirty agonizing minutes later
Severus found a seat and returned to his watching. Who was he dancing with now?
Severus saw the beautiful blond in Harry's arms, and almost didn't recognize her
as Gwen Jennings, his best student. She was wearing more makeup than he was
used to seeing her in, and she usually wore her hair in a tight bun to prevent
it from getting in her cauldron, but tonight it flowed loosely around her
shoulders. Severus thought for a moment of his own slightly greasy hair. He
consoled himself with the notion that he really never knew when he was going to
have to brew a potion. Harry was about eye level with Gwen, but he looked
confidant regardless, and seemed to be having a great time. Gwen did not have
the comfort level Granger had with Harry; she danced a little stiffer, and with
the proper distance between them. For a second he thought Harry was going to
kiss the girl when he reached up on his toes, and whispered something in her
ear. She laughed, and they went back to the table where his friends were.
Severus decided to give the 'Harry watching' a break, and see what his
Slytherins were up to.

Harry introduced Gwen to everyone at the table with the exception of
Hermione, who she already knew. The girls immediately began chatting about
continuing schooling and her summer plans for Paris.

Harry excused himself and strolled out of the Great Hall. As
he entered the boy's washroom he heard a distinct voice. Malfoy.

"Figure it out Goyle, you have to pick what you want. I'm not making
you chose between Crabbe and me. Do it because that's what you want to do for
the rest of your life, but don't do it just because Crabbe is." Malfoy
turned away from Goyle to face Harry. Harry was standing in front of a mirror
squeezing a few saline drops into his eyes to moisten his contact lenses. He
faced Malfoy. Draco had long hair like Harry's. Unlike Harry, Draco had been
growing his for a while now. With his blond hair loose, it was frightening how
much he looked like Lucius; only this was Draco, and Harry was not frightened
of Draco.

The blond stepped close to Harry, very much so in his
personal space. He brushed back Harry's hair that had come loose from dancing,
and took a good look at the scar on his neck. Harry was eerily reminded of the
first time he met Lucius in the bookshop when the man examined the scar
Voldemort gave him. Draco was suave, he moved smoothly, and spoke slowly with a
pause after each sentence.

"Does it continue down your back, or does it wrap around your neck like
a noose?" Draco asked with a true hint of curiosity. Harry held his head
up high, his face void of emotion.

"Around," he paused. "Like a noose,"
said Harry, as casually as discussing the weather. Draco tilted his head in a
form of shrug.

"There are worse marks you could have," said Draco evocatively.
Harry didn't reply.

He knew the two Slytherin were talking about taking the Dark Mark. He'd always thought Draco would follow in
his father's footsteps. He still supported the Dark Lord, but apparently his
Mother got her way, Draco had no intentions of taking the Mark. As he left,
Harry thought about Severus. He would be happy to know Malfoy's intentions, but
then he probably already knew.

An hour of dancing and socializing later Harry found himself sitting at the
table talking with Neville, Dean, and Dean's date, whose name he couldn't
remember to save his life. Ron and Hermione were also at the table, but were
too lost in each other's eyes to partake in conversation.

"Son of a bitch," exclaimed Harry at the sight of his ex-snogging
partner dancing with another boy. They had both been so careful not to out each
other, and now he was at the seventh year formal dancing for all to see.
"That's what I get for being a bastard to him when he almost outed me that
day."

Dean and Neville didn't really know what Harry was talking about, but knew
he was referring to the two boys dancing. It had caught everyone's attention to
see them dancing. "I guess if Harry Potter can come out, it makes it
easier for the rest," said Dean's date. What the hell is her name?

"Great, just what I need, to be the gay wizard's poster boy,"
grumbled Harry. He was feeling down that he couldn't dance with whom he wanted
to most. He wanted nothing more than to move to the music without a care in the
world, resting his head on Sev's chest, breathing in his scent. He sighed,
looking around for Severus in the crowd. He not only found him, but also
spotted those obsidian eyes looking back at him.

Severus watched Harry again. He looked annoyed. No doubt why, as he was
watching the two boys on the dance floor shamelessly pressed against one
another. Severus realized one of them must be the boy Harry had been seeing. He
felt a pang of jealousy knowing Harry was bothered by them, but soon the
feeling was gone, as he noticed Harry's annoyed look was replaced with a sigh,
and look of longing as he watched all the couples dancing. Harry did
seem to have a lot of fun this evening, but still it was clear that he longed
to be dancing with someone special, not just Hermione, and other girls he had
acquaintances with. Sev continued to watch and realized he was being watched
too. Eyes locked with Harry's across the room, he wanted so much to pull him
into his arms. Actually after watching him in that robe, he wanted to pull him
under the punch table and shag him senseless, but he was Severus Snape, so he
stood, continually looking bored. Severus made a quick glance around to see
that no one was paying him any mind, and shocked Harry with a wink.

Harry had been making eye contact with the man, hoping to see something,
anything of the man that kissed him, when Sev winked at him. Harry sputtered,
making his drink spray a little. Severus looked away with a smirk. Harry
blushed, but continued to watch Severus subtly; he didn't want anyone to
notice. He knew how important it was to keep their relationship quiet. Whatever
it was you could call their relationship. Harry grew concerned when he saw what
looked like a grimace on the man's face. Quickly enough the mask of
indifference was up again, but Harry had seen it. At that same moment a yelp
could be heard by a boy a few tables over. It was a Slytherin table. He and
several others from the same table stood up and left abruptly. Harry saw Goyle
watching his friends leave, as he seemed to want to go along. Malfoy sitting
beside him grinned and put his arm around his date. He wasn't going to have his
night interrupted. Harry looked away from Malfoy in time to see Severus slip
out the side door.

Was there a Death Eater's meeting again so soon? Were all those other
guys that left also Death Eaters?

Suddenly the thought of the boys that had been dancing together seemed very
trivial. Harry remained relatively quiet for the rest of the evening. Many of
the couples were walking about the grounds on this warm night, looking for
secluded places to be alone. There would certainly be a party in the common
room tonight. He did attend the party for a while, spending most of the evening
looking around for something, or someone. When the party settled, the lights
dimmed, and most the couples were kissing. Only a few diehards were still
drinking butterbeer, celebra the their impending departure of Hogwarts. Harry
took his leave, heading back down to the entrance hall.

Sitting obediently in a windowsill was Dobby the house elf. "Professor
Snape is not be returning to the castle yet."

"Thanks for keeping an eye out for me Dobby, I appreciate it,"
said Harry sincerely. The elf smiled wide, explaining how much he likes doing
for Harry and didn't mind getting out of cleaning up after the seventh years’
parties. He also put in a plea to go with Harry when he went to live alone, but
Harry declined as kindly as possible. Long after Dobby left, Harry sat in the windowsill
as the elf had before him. He remembered how big the window seemed when he sat
in the window in his dorm room the first year. Everything was so big and new.
It all seemed like so long ago now.

Through the stained glass window Harry could see little fairy-like creatures
lighting up the bushes in the gardens. It was very romantic. He thought about
what a romantic fool he was. Did he think a man that was a Death Eater would
romance him? No, maybe not, but Sev had many great qualities he wanted to become
more acquainted with.

"Is there not a party you should be celebrating at?"

Harry startled, and smiled at the man beside him. "Hello, Albus,"
he said quietly, as if he didn't want to wake the creature depicted in stained
glass. "How many Formals does this make for you?"

"Too many to count my boy, too many to count," he said with a
smile. "Why are you not celebrating with your friends, Harry?"

"You know exactly why. Besides, the celebrating has turned from dancing
and drinking to snogging and drunkenness. I'd feel better if I knew Severus was
back." he received an understanding nod from Albus. "Is it common for
Voldemort to call them two nights in a row?" Harry asked, concerned for
Severus.

Albus ensured he hall was void of others listening. "It is not unheard
of, but what is more likely is that not everyone was called both last night and
tonight. Severus is commonly called to brew potions. He may have been one of
only a few called last night, and tonight it looked as if the whole group was
called," Albus said wearily. Harry wanted to ask why Albus didn't just
check for the dark mark on everyone and turn in the D.E. students in to the
ministry, but Albus had a reason for everything, and Harry was determined not
to put his nose where it didn't belong. "I know that you will be out of
here and on your own soon enough Harry, but I'd like to ask you not to leave
the castle tonight. We don't know why the Death Eaters were called, and I would
feel better knowing you were safe in the castle tonight." Harry agreed to
his request. He would wait for Severus inside the castle.

Harry sat behind the window, alone with his thoughts, while far off in an
old house; Severus brewed a potion for the Dark Lord. The Potions Master had an
uneasy feeling as he stirred in the same ingredients as he had the previous
night. Why was he making the same
potion so soon? He'd made a very large cauldron full, they couldn't have used
it all already unless Voldemort was planning something big. When the potion was
near finished, the door to the lab opened. Voldemort entered with someone who
must have been a recent recruit, obviously a teen. He would bet he had seen the
boy that very night at the Formal. Sure enough, the boy removed his hood at the
Dark Lord’s order. Severus remained impassive, as if he wasn't surprised when
he saw one of his better students standing by Voldemort's side. 'Damn'
he thought, as he hadn't expected this boy to be considering the dark side.

"Almost finished, Snape?"

Shit, he never calls me Snape. This can't be good. "Yes, my
Lord."

"Terrance will be assisting you with potions." Voldemort took a
vial out of his pocket. Severus recognized it as the poison he had brewed last
night. "Tell me Terrance, what is your opinion of this?" The boy
examined the potion, and stated that is was abundantly aromatic, and would be
recognizable by most wizards. The boy spoke as if he'd been reading from a
script. Either he had been told
verbatim what to say, or he conveniently overheard a conversation tipping him
off as to what the Dark Lord wanted to hear. Likely the latter; new recruits
were willing to please him, and Voldemort liked to let the new recruits feel
like they had a sense of control. Terrance was instructed to finish cooling and
bottling the potion as Severus was led to a larger room. In the room were the
usual group of hooded,ck rck robed figures, but also a small group that must
have been the seventh years Severus had seen leave the hall when he felt his
mark burn.

"Tell me Severus, did you make the potion badly because your loyalties
are not what they should be?"

"No my Lord. I am loyal only to you," Severus bowed deeply.

"Then perhaps your mind was elsewhere? Does it bother you that I give
Lucius gifts such as the truth crystal? Do you think your performance warrants
rewards? You will get what you deserve. Crucio."

Severus fell to the floor in a pain that was rivaled by no other. He
writhed, teeth clenching for as long as he could hold out before the scream
escaped. The young Death Eaters watched on. Some were enthralled, while others
watched the floor instead of the man screaming in pain. There feet shuffled
about nervously as they watched.

When the pain stopped, Severus knelt in front of the Dark Lord. He couldn't
have stood up if he wanted to. Voldemort ordered the young followers to teach
their professor a lesson for making an inferior potion. It was ironic to say
the least. While Severus was being punished, the new recruits were being
tested. By the strength behind the blows and hexes, it was apparent which of them
were torn between their new Lord and the Head of House they had come to respect
over the past seven years. Not all were so torn, some were only too happy to
pay back the potions professor for his tyranny. Did they have any idea Snape
would seem like a walk in the park when compared to Voldemort? They would know
soon enough.

Severus was relieved, but concerned when Voldemort called the beating to a
stop. It hadn't been as long as he expected. As the red eyes came closer in
view, and then out of view while he moved to whisper in Severus' ear, he knew
the man wanted to add a personal touch to his punishment. "Ssseverusss,
you've become too comfortable. I think you spend too much time in close
proximity to Albus Dumbledore." Severus kept his breathing level. He
suppressed the shiver that was trying to run the length of his spine, hating
when the man drew out his name like that. It sounded like a poor imitation of
Parseltongue, and it intimidated many, but annoyed Severus. The Dark Lord of
course knew this, and took the opportunity to annoy the potions maker. "No
one outlives their usefulness here. out out your excellent skills, I have no
other reason to see that you live, Ssseverussssss," he said in a whisper
in his ear, finishing his sentence with a lick to his earlobe. He couldn’t stop
the shudder that ran through him at the feeling of the snake’s tongue on him.
His ever-strong face of impassiveness would save him from showing the look of
disgust he was feeling.

A white, bony hand pulled an all too familiar dagger out of its robe pocket.
He slowly and methodically cut open the robes on Severus’ chest, exposing some
scars. The dagger traced an old scar over Severus' heart. "You see what I
do for you Ssseverusss? I have a gift for you, a gift of enlightenment. I did
enjoy giving you this gift once before. Do you remember Ssseverussss?"
said Voldemort, mocking him. Severus remembered, all too well, what the
enlightenment had been. It was quite a learning experience. He gnashed his
teeth as the blade cut through his skin, blood spilling down onto his
robes. The red eyes were nearing again,
and dipped out of sight when the man, if you could call him a man, darted out
his tongue at the flow of blood. When the eyes returned there was a trail of
blood on his chin making him look like a vampire after a kill. Before Severus
knew what was happening he found himself in the dark forest. He had been
disposed of for the evening, while the rest of the followers would celebrate.
Severus quickly transfigured his hood into a bandage, and spelled his robes
clean before he attracted unwanted attention with the smell of blood on him.
His injuries made for a long, slow walk back to the castle. His mind went back
some 15 years or so when Voldemort first gave him the incision over his heart.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Severus stood in front of his father; both were wearing Death Eater robes.
Severus clutched his chest to slow the bleeding. He knew it could be healed,
but not by just anyone. "Son, you have angered our Lord, it is your
responsibility to find a way out of this. As a follower, I should not help you.
Why don't you go see Val, or Vance what ever his name is."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Severus continued walking to the castle, his thoughts on that fateful night
so long ago. He had been crushed to learn that his boyfriend Vincent had not
been able to heal him. He later realized his father didn't help him, not
because Severus needed to help himself, but because his own father didn't have
the ability to save him. Eventually, he learned it was Albus Dumbledore that
was the one who could say the healing spell to mend his wound. It was as
Voldemort had said, an enlightening experience. That was not the case now.
Severus knew Albus had the power to do it again, and he would waste no one
else's time in pointless attempts.