E Pluribus Unum

A/N - Sorry that I am a little late posting today, I overslept. Which apperently causedme to post this chapter before it was Beta\'d!! OOPS!! So here is the corrected version with the correct Severus, because I guess I mixed this one up with the one from Terrible Temptation. DOH!

JCC - Patience is rewarded.

Deeble - Kat hates being powerless, drives her nuts and yes when Severus is summoned she most certainly is powerless. The knives are cool, neh?

Helen - I too love th eknives, wish I had my own set as well.

Irish RavenX - I don\'t know where all the story will go myself, so we will find out together.

Chapter 44 – Death Eaters Dilemma

There was an old expression about the rock and the hard place. Severus understood it very well right now; Scylla and Charybdis came to mind too.

Voldemort had chosen an old cathedral for tonight’s . He. He had framed himself in front of staistained glass with the altar behind him, an obvious “mandate from God” ploy that shouldn’t have been effective on children let alone grown men and women that should already know better. Yet, there they were, the faithful, lapping up the usual drivel as though it were all brand new.

The priest and cleaning lady were tied up in a back room and Severus wondered if they would be expected to torture and kill them. The priest had been a rabbit-like man with watery eyes and a look of perpetual surprise; he had reminded Severus forcefully of Colin Creevey. The cleaning woman had been a rather pretty Hindu woman, her apron tied over her sari and her red caste mark on her brow. Severus really hoped they would survive the night but he strongly doubted it. He returned his mind to the raving psychopath before him and tried to look attentive and eager.

“My chin, tn, the world has labeled us mad but all visionaries have been called mad!” Voldemort was saying. Of course, thought Severus, many genuine lunatics were also called mad, but he didn’t mention that. “We are ushering in a bright new future for the wizarding world, a future where bloodlines are sacrosanct, where purity is revered and where the lesser creatures are shepherded anotecotected by those of us who are wiser and more able.

“I have watched the deterioration of pureblooded influence and the dilution of our once-great blood. I have watched our culture and our ways being destroyed by the unthinking cattle that dare to think themselves our equals. I have watched and it has sickened me. I chose to act, to try to save our world, our culture and our great heritage from annihilation.

“For if we don’t act, my children, if we do not fight the mindless bureaucrwho who would legalize our extinction and the ignorant primitives who would usurp our positions and our might, then we will deserve whatever dark fate they have in mind for us.” Cheering and stomping answered himhis his audience responded and Severus joined in the applause and cheers.

He glanced about at the other people who had crowded into the cathedral to listen. There were all types, from businessmen to housewives to aristocrats like Lucius, but they all had one thing in common: they were all purebloods. Severus wondered if, after Voldemort was dead, the Muggle-borns and half-bloods would kill all the purebloods just to be certain that nothing like this could happen again.

Severus remembered a time when he had been proud of his heritage; of his lineage and heritage of his family. There was a time when he had believed all this drivel.

Now, he looked around at his so-called peers and felt ashamed of their narrow-minded bigotry and shortsightedness. He wished he were back with Kathryn and that all this was over.

“Woolgathering, Severus?” Lucius asked with deadly softness from behind him. Severus turned to him with a smile that heled led on as an actor dons a costume.

“I am afraid that I was trying once again to think of a way to get the Potter brat away from Dumbledore long enough to kill him.” Severus replied placing a regretful expression on his face. “I feel so frustrated by how close we came.”

“It’s hardly your fault that we missed him in Hogsmeade, Severus.” Lucius shrugged and patted him on the shoulder. “If Shiv hadn’t panicked we might have had them.” Severus nodded, interested by that spin on things. Was Shiv out of favor now? That would make his own life far easier.

“I cannot blame him for wishing to protect you, Lucius.” Severus replied and smiled at his old friend with feigned relief. “If anything had happened to you, our Lord’s cause would have been set back.” See, I am a loyal little servant, watch me dance, Severus thought with a touch of bitterness.

“My life means little, except that it serves the Dark Lord.” Lucius returned with an airy wave. Severus could see his gray eyes un-focusing and the once sharp mind starting to blur. “The loss of Gideon came as a blow to the Dark Lord. I wish I knew how it came about.”

“As do I.” Severus made a show of worrying his thumb with his teeth as though he were both thoughtful and concerned. “Could the old bastard have some new secret weapon he hasn’t told me about?” Severus mused aloud.

“I hope not, Severus.” Lucius’ eyes focused again like drill bits. “If Bumbledolt {lol}ceases to trust you, your usefulness will come to an end. I would hate to see that happen.” Lucius added with an icy tone that caused a genuine shiver in Severus.

“What did Fenchurch say?” Severus asked, turning the discussion away from himself.

“He thinks that either an angel attacked or that there is a demon hunter in the vicinity.” Severus’s look of surprise was not faked; an angel was an explanation he himself would never have thought of.

“What of Miss Mangle?” Severus wondered aloud. “Did she sense nothing?”

“Apparently not, which is why Fenchurch is leaning towards the divine explanation. It seems his kind cannot see angels if they don’t wish to be seen.” Lucius looked amused by the thought.

“A problem for them, indeed.” Severus murmured. An interesting revelation as well; he turned the thought over in his mind, wondering how he could use it. If only he had access to an angel. Wait -- didn’t Lady Freddy say that an angel grew her? He? He would have to write to his Great-Grandmother and find out more about angels.

“Yes, a flaw that Fenchurch had not bothered to inform the Dark Lord about; our Lord was most displeased.” The two men shared an entirely genuine smile at the thought of Fenchurch discomfited.

“How is Narcissa?” Severus asked casually. He knew that Voldemort was back on his eugenics kick right now. Bellatrix’s death had made recruitment and breeding a high priority again.

“We are trying for a second child.” Lucius said with grim tones that made Severus raise a brow in surprise. Lucius slipped an arm through Severus’ and led him aside. “She has been complaining incessantly about becoming pregnant again.” Severus nodded; he remembered Bella’s constant whinging all too clearly.

“It is hard on the ladies.” Severus said atheathetically. “However, her duty is clear. The Dark Lord has commanded.”

“Indeed, you did yours quite uncomplainingly the Dark Lord has informed me, despite your completely understandable distaste.” Lucius and Bella had never got on well; Lucius thought his sister-in-law was an unmannered barbarian and she thought he was an effete snob. Their mutual loathing had been amusing to watch, as long as you didn’t get between them.

“I have received a great deal from our Lord; it was a small thing that was asked of me.” Severus shrugged modestly. “I would do far more than that if he asked it.” Lucius nodded in total agreement.

“Speaking of which, I have yet to meet the child. I am curious about him. Will you bring him by the Manor? Perhaps with your lady, for I have not met her either.” Lucius was being gracious and Severus nodded.

“She and Narcissa seemed to get on well and she dotes on the child.” He nodded in agreement, making sure his voice had none of his own affection for Orion in it. “When would be a suitable time?”

“The Aurors are always about searching in the days to see if I am hidinere,ere, so try to come in the evening; they are less likely to poke their noses in then.” Lucius was tapping his cane against his boot as he thought. “Say Friday night? Even such as the Aurors must go out on Friday nights.” The last bit was added as though the Aurors were alien creatures that could not be depended on even to realize that there were rules to the game, let alone follow them.

“Very well then.” He agreed, hoping that Kathryn would have one of her anti-Legilimency devices about for her own use.

“My children! The entertainment has arrived.” Voldemort called the assembled to attention. Franco dragged Shiv on stage while Nott carried the pretty cleaning woman. Nott tossed the struggling and terrified woman onto the altar while Franco pulled back Shiv’s head and poured a vial with a dark green potion in it down Shiv’s throat.

“A prolonging potion.” Severus muttered to Lucius, who had given him a curious l “Fo “For men with a problem with timing.” He added delicately. Lucius chuckled evilly at Severus’ explanation.

“How long can it keep him from coming?” Lucius asked with clinical interest, but also cruel amusement.

“As much as they gave him, it could be hours before he can find release.” Next a blue potion was poured down the trembling Shiv’s throat. “A potent aphrodisiac.” Severus commented, as though he were watching a rather dull Quidditch match.

“So he will be mad from desire but unable to finish the job.” Lucius was amused. “The Dark Lord is ever ingenious.”

“Indeed he is.” Severus used a tone designed to denote pride and certain smug pleasure. Inwardly, he was thinking not about Shiv, who deserved whatever foul end he would eventually come to, but the Hindu girl, screaming on the altar as the now maddened Shiv tore her clothes off and began raping her. The audience shouted either disparaging comments about Shiv’s technique or encouragement, but Severus was fixated on the face of the woman, her black eyes wide, her dark skin covered in sweat and soon blood as Shiv clawed at her.

“She is pretty.” Lucius commented seeing where Severus’ eyes were.

“Do you think Shiv will leave any for the rest of us?” Severus managed to make his voice sound casual, as though he were not bleeding inside for the terrified woman.

“Doubtful, but not to worry, I brought more.” Lucius patted him on the shoulder and Severus prayed he could get through the night without vomiting.

He stopped to thank Merlin that it was Shiv on the Dark Lord’s shit list right now, otherwise the entertainment could very well have been Severus tonight and he doubted he could have kept himself from showing at least some of his revulsion. Even he had his limits.