Sub Rosa

Chapter 40 – Tending the Home Fires

Severus felt the burning of his Dark Mark not more than a half an hour after Kathryn’s departure. He wondered if this was going to be a regular occurrence, she goes out somewhere with Potter and he ends up having a heart-to-heart with Voldemort. If so, he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight with that boy for a while.

Pulling down the charmed box from his mantle he tossed floo powder into the fireplace, informed the headmaster of his summons, and headed off to the Forbidden Forest. He threw his Death Eaters cloak around his shoulder with no little irritation. Heembeembered a time when the mask he was putting on was a mark of pride. Now it felt like old clothing he had long since outgrown.

This time his apparation brought him to a ruined castle. He was standing in the remains of the Great Hall, sunlight shafting in beams through the shattered roof. He thought he might be in the south of England, it was somewhat warmer here, though the snow still lay heavy on the ground. The Dark Lord stood framed by one of the archways of the Great Hall. He looked dramatic framed by the crumbling arch, wind fluttering his robes, which was no doubt his intention.

It was his penchant for melodrama that had driven Severus from him in the end, even more than his thirst for blood. It was the knowledge that everything he did, every emotion he displayed was there for effect that had broken the bonds of loyalty for Severus. Albus might be aggravating, but he was genuine at all times. There was no pretence.

Severus dropped to his knees before the man he once called master and bowed his head in mock submission.

“My master.”

“Severus.” Voldemort walked towards him and patted him lightly on the head, as if he were an obedient dog. That was the other reason he had been unable to continue being Voldemort’s servant. Aside from teaching, Albus, at least, left him his dignity. “Thank you for your prompt report on the Elders that you sent me.”
Severus merely nodded; knowing that there was no way that Voldemort could have brought him all this way just to thank him.

“How fond are you of the Leblanc woman.” Severus’ heart sank, but he merely shrugged.

“She is good in bed, my master, but so are whores.” His reply brought laughter from the surrounding Death Eaters. Mentally he apologized to Kathryn for the insult.

“How fond of you is she?” Voldemort’s questions were frightening him a great deal, but he could do nothing but answer as best he could.

“We have never spoken of such things, my master.” He shrugged again, trying to make it seem as though what they had was purely physical.

“Her family is powerful, her grandmother especially.” The Dark Lord paced away from him, turning abruptly in a fashion designed to make his cloak billow. The light fell on him just so, making the pale skin seem to glow, and Severus wondered if he had used a charm to enhance the effect.

“Yes, my master, but not so powerful as you are.” A little flattery was always advisable when dealing with the narcissistic maniac.

“True, Severus, but they would make better allies than enemies.” When hell freezes over, the potions master thought. “Marie once had a fondness for me, we can play on that.” Severus wondered if the Dark Lord had lost his mind. Play Marie Laveau? He had to be joking.

“How would you suggest proceeding, my master?” Kathryn had shown him a copy of the Star Wars trilogy and the parallels, between his life and the movie, had grimly amused him. Since then he had adopted some of Vader’s mannerisms as his own private joke, knowing that none of the other Death Eaters had seen the muggle films. Unsurprisingly, Voldemort had seemed gratified by the subservience he was showing.

“The girl must be brought to love you somehow.” There was a dubious snort from one of the watching Death Eaters and Severus was angered by their assumptions. He remembered a time when such a response would have shamed him, but knowing that Kathryn thought him attractive changed everything for him.

“As you command, my master.”

“You may have to use Imperious.” Muttered someone, Shiv, most likely.

“Now Severus, another matter. You did not serve me well by allowing the Leblanc woman to bring such aid to the castle.” Severus nodded and hung his head, trying to look despondent at his failure. “I know that you had little opportunity to stop it, but I cannot allow, even one as loyal as yourself to go unpunished”

Severus braced himself for what was coming. He remained kneeling as Voldemort and the others began to file out, after all it meant less distance to fall if he passed out from the pain. The curses they cast as they left were sent with a casual air that he found more insulting than the curses themselves. Even Voldemort’s final “Scutica” curse was tossed off with an almost bored demeanor.

Lying on the icy stones, left to the mercy of the cold, Severus tried to get enough energy together to apparate back to the Forest. The blood trickling down his scored back was the only warmth he could feel and he used the sensation to center his mind.

The disorientation of disapparating churned his guts and he heard the crunch of snow beside him.

“Oi! There ya are, Professor Snape, sir.” Hagrid’s welcome voice rolled over him. “I’ll just be gettin’ ya to Madame Pomfrey now, sir.” He was raised up in the half-giant’s arms as he had been so many times before.

“Thank you Hagrid.” He murmured as consciousness stole away from him.

Had there been anyone to see it, the sight of Hagrid, covered in furs and leathers against coldcold, removing the mask and cloak of a Death Eater from Severus, careful not to hurt the smaller man, and then cradling him against his massive chest would have been quite shocking to them. Less shocking was the sight of the compassion and affection on the bigger man’s face as he carried Severus with tender care to the secret back door of the dungeons. After all, Hagrid had always loved monsters.

When Severus awoke to the far too familiar sight of the hospital wing’s ceiling, he groaned.

“Severus?” Poppy was peering down at him in concern and he managed a small wry smile at her.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” She grinned at him, it was an old joke between them and he knew she had been worried. Making her smile was a small thing, but then the best parts of life were the small things.

“You had lash marks across your back, three broken ribs and were the recipient of at least three different castings of Cruciatus.” She reported to him.

“Some of the Death Eaters just aren’t that creative. I’ll ask them to vary the repertoire a bit next time, shall I?” He cocked an eyebrow at her and she sighed.

“Can we skip the whole thing and not let there be a next time?”

“And take all the fun out of the Dark Lord’s life, Poppy, you kill joy.” His words were bitter, despite the lightness of his tone. He looked around the room, wondering suddenly where Kathryn was.

“They aren’t back yet.” Poppy answered his unspoken question. “You have actually only been unconscious for five hours.” Severus nodded, so not very long.

“I need to talk to Albus.”

“He’ll be along soon, the Minister of Magic heard about the elves somehow and has come to harangue Albus about dangerous foreign creatures being harbored at Hogwarts.” Poppy rolled her eyes in disgust and Severus groaned.

“Good gods, doesn’t that man have anything better to do?”

“Apparently not.”

“How about going after the Dark Lord?” His sarcastic delivery brought a glint of amusement to Poppy’s eyes.

“Perhaps you could suggest that to him.”

“I have, he was not…receptive.” Severus sighed, rolled over onto his side and started to drift back off to sleep. “Wake me when Albus gets here.” He muttered and Morpheus claimed him.