Into The Long Dark

DISCLAIMER: Not my characters, never will be, making no money from this.

SPOILER WARNING: The events in this fic take place immediately after Book 6!!!

Thanks to Evil Auntie Snape for the Beta work!

~~~~~~~~THREE~~~~~~~~~~\"PATIENCE\"~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Snape was in a foul mood, even for him. Malfoy had missed the meeting last evening. Snape had barely tolerated the condescending questions about the boy\'s whereabouts. Over-confident as well as careless; a dangerous combination, he thought resentfully.

Did they expected him to act as Draco\'s nanny? The boy was seventeen now. Snape could only compare Malfoy\'s progress to his own at that age. This analysis failed to improve his mood. Instruction does not always flow into comprehension, he reminded himself. \"Bah!\"

Egotistical, insolent brat! he fumed silently. Arrogant, spoiled know-it all! If it weren\'t for the Unbreakable Vow Snape had made with Narcissa to prevent any harm from coming to Draco, he most likely would have cursed the little cur himself.

\"At least I know he\'s still alive\" Snape murmured to himself, taking another sip of brandy. Because I am still alive as well.

While it was certain Draco was still breathing, the brat was obviously being harmed; the skin around Snape\'s wrists had turned bruised and very sore. The bruising was getting worse, and he took note of the first miniscule traces of blood beginning to appear on the gauze he had wrapped there.

There was also a large circular bruise in the middle of Snape\'s chest. That too was worsening, and the skin there was turning red and beginning to blister. No doubt Draco had become acquainted with the Cruciatus Curse, and more than once at that. Splendid! Keep up the good work, whomever you are. Snape\'s lips formed a satisfied little smile.

He could take these annoying little discomforts. Snape was fairly certain that whomever had Draco wouldn\'t kill him or maim him severely. \"Pity, that,\" he sighed, and took another swig of his drink, emptying the snifter. Some lasting scars might teach dear Draco to be more careful in the future. More likely Draco\'s captors would try to use Legilimency on the boy, for all the good that would do, and then perhaps cover it up with some simplistic Memory Charm.

Fine. Let them have their fun. Enjoy your \'detention\', Mr. Malfoy!

There was a muffled sneeze and then an anxious shuffling just beyond the doorway. Snape again sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

\"Wormtail!\" bellowed Snape.

Pettigrew nearly fell into the study, having stumbled on the threshold, almost pulling down the ragged curtains that hung in the doorway in the process. \"Yes, Severus? What is it?\" Pettigrew stood hunched over just inside the study, his hands clasping and turning over each other nervously. All the years spent as a rat had taken their toll on him, as his features had taken on distinct, rodent-like qualities. His tongue wet his lips continuously, and his beady eyes darted in every direction, as if fearful a large cat was about to pounce on him. It was difficult to believe that he was the same age as Snape. He looked decades older.

No doubt the company you keep. Snape noted to himself. Always took the easy way out, eh, Peter?

\"I should think you had better things to do with your time than hover in doorways eavesdropping like a teenage girl at a cotillion.\" Snape\'s tone literally dripped with disdain. \"No wonder the Dark Lord has seen fit to enhance my life by saddling me with your scintillating presence.\"

Pettigrew\'s eyes flew wide, and his hands spread in an expansive gesture. \"Severus, no! No, I was merely coming in to see if you needed your glass refilled!\" His hands came back together and began turning over each other again, this time even faster. His bottom lip was trembling. \"I assure you, I wasn\'t eavesdropping!\" he finished hopefully.

It was all Snape could do to keep from bursting out laughing. He maintained his stone faced expression. This was quite amusing!

Snape leapt out of his armchair and whirled on Pettigrew.

\"Liar! Spare me your senseless prattle! Did you think I wouldn\'t overhear you in the hall, snuffling and hacking like an asthmatic old hag? Look at yourself! You are a disgrace!\" boomed Snape.

Pettigrew actually backed up a few steps, hunching down even more, bringing his hands up to his chin, as if to protect his face. Snape noted with supreme satisfaction that he was visibly trembling all over, and his bottom lip seemed to have a mind of its own, working up and down like a fish\'s. The only sound that escaped from Pettigrew\'s mouth was a strangled gasp, which turned into a wretching cough. Spittle flew in all directions. He turned his gaze back to Snape, whimpering.

Snape stood frozen for many moments, savouring the other man\'s discomfort. Pettigrew quivered violently, his hands fumbling with each other in some mad dance. He had cowered still lower, nearly doubling himself over.

This little drama was swiftly losing its appeal, thought Snape. He thrust the empty glass at Pettigrew savagely. \"Fill it then, what are you waiting for?\"

Pettigrew smiled weakly, and nodded and bowed his way over to Snape, just close enough to reach up and snatch the empty snifter. He spun around and headed through the doorway to the hall, banging his shoulder against the doorframe as he stumbled through it.

Snape crossed his arms and sighed wearily.

In a moment, the sounds of Pettigrew\'s shuffling steps approached the study once more. Snape drew himself up, and glowered imperiously down on the hunched form as it swept into the study in a flurry of dirty robes. Pettigrew glanced up briefly at Snape, and then lowered his gaze and offered up the refilled glass of brandy.

Snape took the glass.

Pettigrew spared a look upward, and attempted a smile. His reward was a swift splash, as the contents of the snifter were flung in his face. To his credit, Pettigrew\'s only response was a sharp intake of breath, otherwise, he just froze, the brandy dripping off of his face and onto the threadbare carpet.

Snape lobbed the empty glass, and Pettigrew fumbled for it, but the glass slipped through his dirty fingers and landed on the floor with a muffled plink. Both men stood silently, Pettigrew looking down at the broken glass, and Snape looking down on Pettigrew.

The fire crackled weakly in the hearth, while a gust of wind rustled by outside, causing a clattering of loose window panes.

\"Get out! Get out, now,\" Snape drawled, his tone low and threatening. He took a slow, measured step towards Pettigrew.

\"I don\'t want to see your loathsome countenance in this house again, you detestable scrap of worm-ridden filth!\" Snape advanced once more toward the other. Sort it out, you prat! Get on with it!

Pettigrew simply closed his eyes, and with a soft POP, disappeared.

Snape smiled. Finally. At least I\'ll have a few hours peace without that half-wit shambling about scrutinizing my every move. But he knew that Pettigrew would return to Spinner\'s End. He always did. Not as if he has anywhere else to go, Snape thought. While it was possible that Voldemort was using Pettigrew to keep a watchful eye on him, it was more likely that the Dark Lord had no further use for the former Marauder.

Snape smiled still more at this, while he flicked his wand at the broken glass. It immediately repaired itself, moved back to the chairside table, and refilled with brandy. How the mighty have fallen. Two down, two to go.

Snape pulled an envelope out of his robes as he seated himself in the shabby armchair. More like 2 1/2 down! he mused, actually allowing himself a small chuckle as he thought of Pettigrew.

He turned the envelope over in his hands, noting the Malfoy family crest and the overdone hand of Narcissa.

Bloody vacuous bitch!

Narcissa had actually sent an owl to Spinner\'s End. An owl! Snape envisioned strangling the pompous twat with her own pearls. True, the Ministry of Magic couldn\'t find its own arse with both hands, but using an owl? And using the family crest on the damned envelope? Fucking vapid, spoiled tart!

He tore the expensive parchment envelope open, and scanned the note. Snape\'s mouth twisted into a satisfied grin, and then he crumpled the message and tossed it into the fire.

\"Such the concerned parent you are, Narcissa,\" he murmured as he once again took a sip from his glass. So concerned you sent a NOTE! Probably busy spreading your legs for your latest conquest! Free to play with Lucius gone, eh?

Snape considered how perhaps he was the only one who actually held any sort of concern for Draco. The spoiled young wizard had been a member of his House at Hogwart\'s, was rather gifted at Potions, and, not so very hard on the eyes at all. I suppose that I could simply sweep into Grimmauld Place and pluck him out of there. Briefly turning that thought over in his mind, he swirled the drink lazily in its glass.

Taking another sip of his drink, Snape contemplated the dying fire as the wind rose again, rattling the windows of the small house before continuing on its way through the dead and deserted street.




A/N : Any comments or reviews would be greatly appreciated!