Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 43

Snape inhaled deeply on the pipe holding the sweet smoke in his lungs as he passed it on to the other masked figure sitting beside him. Slowly Snape let the smoke dissipate from between his lips the hallucinogenic drug doing little to him except relax his limbs a little. The drug they were currently smoking helped to break down barriers in their minds making it far easier for the dark lord to penetrate their thoughts through occlumency. Most knew as soon as the pipe appeared that something or someone had crossed his lordship and it was the purpose of the meeting to discover and punish whoever it was. Snape knew this though and had built up quite a tolerance to the noxious weed. He was also one of the most skilled occluments in the country and could easily block out Voldemort attempts at breaking him even in his current state. Usually Snape had only himself to worry about but now he had Lucius who was not as skilled and easily broken. The Malfoy knew Snape’s secrets and if Voldemort pushed they would all come spilling out, something Snape didn’t need.

“I have heard reports of a creature preying on the raiding parties of Auror’s coming up from the underground.” Voldemort sat reclined superiorly in his plush armchair his body restored to the near perfect reproduction of the 23-year-old Tom Riddle. His ring adorned fingers tapped impatiently on the wooden arms of the chair as his narrowed snake like eyes scanned the group sitting before him in a semi circle. There was silence from the group before Voldemort locked his gaze on a masked figure on the far side of the half circle. The figure wreathed uncomfortably for a moment his breathing labored beneath the mask before finally Voldemort had the information he needed and broke the connection. The figure slumped exhausted on the chair after the intrusion into his mind but no one offered him aid as Voldemort scanned the group again. “Why was it not brought to my attention that the ministry concluded another Elith-furatu had killed the one stalking around Hogwart’s in December?” Snape swallowed calmly closing his eyes and concentrating on his inner wall as Voldemort’s gaze swept around the circle over to him. “My alchemist surely the fool of a headmaster had concerns about this, did he confide in you?”

“No my lord.” Snape replied coolly keeping his voice monotone as not to betray any emotion the dark lord might exploit. Snape felt the familiar prodding of Voldemort trying to access his thoughts but Snape kept him at bay.

“Indeed even the fool would not dare interfere with the unforgiven. It seems of late the creatures no one speaks off have begun to creep out into the light could it be they are seizing the opportunity I have provided them with? Lucius?” Voldemort’s gaze focused on Malfoy and Snape watched out of the corner of his eye as Lucius began writhing in his chair attempting but failing miserably to keep Voldemort out. Snape could see a sick smile forming on Voldemort’s twisted lips a sure sign he was breaking the blonde beneath the mask. Desperate to keep his secret Snape closed his eyes and focused on Lucius’ mind, if Lucius wouldn’t help himself then Snape would just have to. Snape fell easily into the turmoil of Lucius’ memories, Voldemort already having penetrated them enough to see Snape entering Malfoy manor two weeks ago, two cloaked figures at his side. The image skipped then to the study and Snape panicked when he saw himself reach for Harry’s cloak hood ready to reveal him. Gritting his teeth Snape focused on pushing Voldemort out not realizing he was screaming out loud until a curse hit him in the chest and he was rocketed across the room slamming into the stonewall with a sickening snap. Snape was shaking when he opened his eyes and pulled off his mask to try and breath properly. Malfoy was slumped in his chair, his own mask hanging off revealing a thin trail of blood dripping from his nose. Voldemort was sat in his armchair still but with his wand was pointed directly at Snape and his eyes burning red in anger. Snape dearly hoped he had prevented Voldemort from seeing Harry’s face in Malfoy’s memory but in any case Voldemort now knew about him.

“I was sure Lucius was not getting his research from books.” Voldemort hissed as he rose from the table and began advancing on Snape. “He had to have had contacts, or at least a test subject on which to base the things he was telling me.” Still shaking with the effort it had taken to throw Voldemort from Malfoy’s mind Snape slowly tried to get to his feet. He was at a distinct disadvantage sitting down especially when Voldemort continued to approach him. “You have secrets my alchemist.” Snape froze when he felt the hot tip of Voldemort’s wand push against his neck pulling out the chain and the claw pendant from within the confines of his robes. Voldemort eyed the pendant wearily before pushing his wand back into the hollow of Snape’s neck so that the hot end burnt a black mark on Snape’s skin. “Show me.” Voldemort whispered dangerously, although Snape could see the wizard was being cautious. Voldemort was no different from the rest of the wizarding world he feared the Elith-furatu and their power. Closing his eyes Snape breathed out calmly letting the familiar senses take over his body. When he opened his eyes again they were shadowed with the familiar indigo hue. Consciously Voldemort took a step back away from Snape who stared coldly into the wizard’s gaze. “So you are one of them. I knew you were special my alchemist, from a child you showed unnatural skill but who might have guessed you were hiding this, and right beneath my nose the entire time.” Voldemort eyed Snape dangerously, the wizard merely staring back coldly into Voldemort’s snake like gaze. “I had wondered Severus, why you unlike the others among my fold did not take a wife when offered one. I see now why not, they are all beneath you, what you desire is an equal.” Snape frowned a little wondering where this turn in Voldemort’s questioning had gone. Severus had suspected for some time that Voldemort wanted the power of the Elith-furatu for his own but had never succeeded having never discovered one of the rare creatures willing to join him.

“What do you want?” Severus whispered frostily having had enough of Voldemort’s cryptic comments.

“I thought that would have been obvious my alchemist.” Voldemort hissed a dark laugh before being specific. “You.” Voldemort finished. Severus eyes darkened so that the purple hue turned black in his gaze.

“To what ends my lord? I already serve you to the best of my ability, and you know enough of my kind that I work alone. It is only through mutual benefit that I see fit to grace your ranks at all.” Voldemort sneered at Snape’s cutting comment, the superiority in his tone portraying the power difference that separated the two of them. Whatever Voldemort said Snape knew he had the upper hand. Like the popular consensus Voldemort still feared the Elith-furatu and their power and Snape was counting on the reputation to save himself.

“Mutual benefit?” Voldemort scoffed angrily taking another step away from Snape who had relaxed a little with the space between he and the dark lord.

“Indeed, even you must realize that in a war such as this creatures such as myself will secure certain alliances in order to gain the best chances of survival. I am sure there are many among your ranks that serve two masters, on either side of this war.” Snape tilted his head suggestively to the side watching as the dark lord glanced pointedly over his shoulder at the semi circle of death eaters.

“You speak as if there is something in your life worth surviving for Severus. I was under the impression that neither sides of this war are sympathetic to Unforgiven bastards such as yourself.” Voldemort narrowed his gaze dangerously at Snape daring the wizard to continue insulting him. Snape rose to the challenge and stepped forward away from the wall that up until now he’d been using to support his shaking body.

“Ah, that is where you are wrong. You have not five minutes ago just stated that what you wanted was me! Obviously there is something you need me for after all my lord, even if I am the bastard spawn of the Unforgiven.” Snape’s eyes sparkled in the torchlight and Voldemort turned around hastily casting Cruiatius curse on the 15 death eaters still sitting in the semi circle. Voldemort let out a roar of rage over the sound of the masked wizards screaming in agony at the extended curse. Letting out his frustrations Voldemort ended the curse with a flick of his wand and with an angry glance over his shoulder stalked back to his chair and sat down heavily in it. Voldemort knew better than to challenge an Elith-furatu and knew he’d been beaten. Snape had surprised himself at his level headedness in the situation and silently congratulated himself on buying himself a little more time.

“The other one, the wanderer that tormented Hogsmeade in December it was you who killed him.” Voldemort breathed out irritably as Snape stepped over the lifeless body of one of his colleagues and sat down casually beside the dark lord at the table.

“Yes. Are you upset that I beat you to him? That was after all your intention of anonymously tipping off the bounty hunters, and offering to double their reward should they succeed in finding him before the Ministry did. I had wondered why your interested had increased in our kind again. Did you hope he would join your ranks? I assure you he would not have done so, a wild one like he was only thinks of himself and would have killed you while you slept rather than serve you.” Snape finished calmly smiling as Voldemort tightened his hold on his wand, which he was still clutching protectively in his hand.

“You are more intelligent that I gave you credit for Severus, do you know everything that goes on in this world.” Voldemort challenged calmly watching as Severus laughed dangerously.

“I do not profess to know everything my lord, only that which I consider important to myself.” Severus finished calmly as he reached across the table and poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher in the center of the table. Voldemort watched him acutely and Snape could tell the wizard was contemplating what it would take to kill him.

“You are not wild like the wanderer then? You serve me.” Snape looked up pointedly from over the rim of his water goblet as he sipped from it casually, the water quenching his parched lips.

“Nay, I tolerate you my lord to serve my own means. I am still quite capable of taking from you what I want should I desire it but at present you serve a purpose to me and thus I tolerate you.” It was obvious Voldemort had never been spoken to like that in his life and immediately stood up flicking the water glass from Snape’s hands and aiming his wand directly at Snape’s forehead in silent threat. Snape calmly looked up at the dark wizard who despite his impressive figure still made a shiver of fear. “If you dare I will show you things only your nightmares are made of.” Snape breathed out darkly watching as Voldemort reluctantly lowered his wand. “As yet I am no threat to you Tom, and will remain neutral in this war until such time as I feel the need to intervene. Now I believe Malfoy said you have a gift for me.” Snape stood up so that he was eye level with Voldemort and held out his palm. Voldemort hesitated obviously reluctant to give over what he had in his possession. “Come now Riddle, we both know I played my part these last few years give me it.” With a growl low in his throat Voldemort removed a silver key from inside the folds of his lavish robes and slapped it painfully down into Snape’s hand. Snape smiled and closed his fist tightly around the key protectively.

“I will kill you Severus Snape even if I must do it myself I will have your traitorous head at my feet before this war is over.” Voldemort hissed as Snape strode away from the table towards the apparition point that would take him back to Malfoy Manor.

“Then let us hope you win my lord, so that I might be the one who sees you removed from your short lived victory…”

“Only Potter can do that…”Voldemort spat before Snape smiled knowingly at him.

“Yes I know, that is why I know I will see it done.” With a nod of his head Severus apperate away to the sounds of Voldemort screams of fury.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..