The World of Snape

I think some readers may have a problem with this chapter... I don't know, it's just the impression I get from writing it. Don't worry, it's nothing to do with any warnings. It's just a major plot twist.

Also, this chapter is pretty short. Don't complain. You're all lucky you're getting one as I am VERY uninspired at the moment. If someone could write something amazing in this pairing, I would be. But no one really does!

x--x

Severus was seated at the back of the Ancient Runes classroom, waiting for the class to arrive. Draco was seated nervously behind the teachers desk. Voldemort had decided that he wanted to sit in a lesson of every teacher to review their teaching, something that would now take place every term. Severus had convinced the Dark Lord that it would be best for him to go to the main majority of the lessons, and especially Draco's first lesson. The Dark Lord would be going to the Carrow's lessons, Mulciber's and Jugson's too.

“Which class is this?” Severus asked Draco, looking up.

“Seventh years,” Draco replied, his voice tinged with slight annoyance. “Just my luck I would have Weasley.”

Severus smiled. “She will behave. I expect she will spend half the lesson distracted by my presence, showing off to her friends.”

Draco chuckled. “And I expect her friends will be distracted by their silly crushes they have on me.”

“Friends.” Severus snorted. “If you can call them that.”

Draco nodded. “Indeed, I have warned her, I think that you and I know Slytherin's best of all.”

“Very true,” Severus responded. “I think I know best. I did marry his heir, after all.”

The door opened, and Ginny entered. “You're very early, Miss Weasley,” Draco said, after she was half way in the room. Ginny grinned, and walked towards him, placing a light kiss on his lips.

“The Dark Lord was assessing Carrow's lesson, so I convinced him to let me go early.” She glanced at Severus. “Be nice to him, Severus, it's his first time.”

Severus chuckled. “When am I not nice?” he asked, sarcastically. Draco and Ginny exchanged glances before Ginny wound her way around the chairs, and sat down on the table next to Severus.

“Don't worry, Drakie, I will keep my head down during this lessons and hand my homework in on time,” Ginny said, a mischievous grin on her face. “Though Detention's are more than welcome.”

Draco rolled his eyes and actually seemed thankful when the classroom began to fill up. Ginny nudged Severus a moment later. “I don't think Master seemed very happy with Carrow, either,” she whispered.

“Which one?” Severus murmured back.

“Since when did I take Muggle Studies?” Ginny asked, smirking. “Dark Arts. I was sat next to him all lesson, I already know most of the spells Carrow was teaching.” She paused. “You know, he is incredibly immature.”

“What did he do this time?” Severus asked wearily. Ever since those Horcrux's had been destroyed, Voldemort had occasional moments of acting like a child.

“We were writing notes to each other.”

“What was he writing?”

Ginny smirked. “He was telling me all about your sex life.”

Severus sighed. “Of course he was. Well, I hope you were very well educated.”

“I was,” Ginny responded with a grin. “I know how to keep Malfoy in check now.” She paused for a moment, as Draco began to take the register. “Do you think having the sort of relationship that you two have changes anything between you?”

“It's harder to win an argument,” Severus replied quietly. “It's much harder to get what I want if he doesn't want it.”

Ginny shook her head. “I don't know how you do it,” she whispered back. “Yes, Sir,” she replied hastily as Draco called out her name and closed the register. She blinked. “It feels weird, actually, calling him that,” she murmured.

“That's one thing I've never really had to get used to,” Severus muttered as Draco began the lesson. “The name.”

Ginny chuckled. “Well, I suppose it isn't for long now,” she said, slightly louder than she should have. Draco stared at her, and for a moment he looked just like his father.

“Miss Weasley, are you here to listen to my class or to sit there and talk?” he asked her, his voice silky smooth.

Ginny swallowed lightly, and turned a shade pinker. Severus suddenly understood why she fancied Draco so much, he did look genuinely hot when he was staring at her like that, his eyes burning with icy fire, and yet beyond all of that, Severus could see that the way he was looking at her was pure love.

“I am here to listen,” Ginny replied, her voice equally smooth. “Sorry, Professor.”

A few moments later, she passed Severus a note hastily across the table.

“Punish me, Professor Malfoy!”

Severus wished he could have laughed out loud. He caught Draco's eye, and for a moment Severus saw the icy defence drop as Draco tried not to smile at his friend.

x--x

“And what, exactly, have you been telling Ginny about our sex life?” Severus asked Voldemort as they sat at dinner.

“Oh, nothing much.” Voldemort's smile was a little too innocent for Severus's liking. “Carrow isn't up to scratch.”

“Of course he isn't,” Severus snapped. “He is retarded.”

Voldemort drank down most of his wine. “Why do I put up with this? These idiots... Why can't everyone be a bit more like you?” He paused, taking another sip of his drink as he left Severus to ponder what he meant. “You know. Intelligent and good looking.”

“Good looking,” Severus scoffed. “You must be delusional.”

“Or blinded by love,” Voldemort added on darkly.

Severus was silent for a moment, keeping his gaze down on his plate of food.

“I love you.” Voldemort's voice was sort of quiet, and when Severus looked up, he could only see his husbands bright eyes staring into his own. “I realise that I haven't been telling you this as much as I should ever since the day of that meeting and your argument with Bellatrix...”

Severus nodded. “I have never doubted it. I love you. More than you could ever imagine.”

The Dark Lord leant across the table, and placed a kiss on Severus's cheek. “You're my beautiful man, and nothing will ever take you away from me,” he murmured, lovingly. Severus sighed in contentment, and the pair hastily finished their meals so that they could retire to their rooms and make sweet love, something that they had not done in a very long time.

x--x

Voldemort was deep in conversation with the several dozen snakes that were all coiled in front of him when Cecil came over to speak to Severus. The meeting had been paused for a few moments while the snakes were given their orders, and Severus had been talking to Lucius about Draco's first lesson as a teacher. Lucius hastily excused himself to speak to Yaxley, knowing what Severus thought about Cecil. Severus could have easily killed Lucius at that moment for leaving him alone with the boy.

“Do you think this is going well?” Cecil asked, gesturing to the snakes.

“I would assume so,” Severus responded coolly. “I am not receiving any angry waves from our Lord.”

There was a short pause, before Cecil replied. “Isn't it hard, having that close a connection with each other?”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “It is perfectly acceptable,” he responded lightly.

He was most relieved when the snakes all turned around, and slithered out of the room, and when the Dark Lord smiled triumphantly. “We have success, my friends,” Voldemort announced as the room quietened once more. “But this will be a slow process. It is to be expected.” He returned to his throne, and began petting Nagini. “Thank you for your presence, my friends,” Voldemort continued, dismissing them with a wave of his hand.

Quickly, Cecil leaned towards Severus. “He is very lucky to have you, Sir,” and there was a tad of jealously noticeable in his tone of voice. Cecil bowed deeply, flashing his usual Lockhart-ly charming smile, before catching up with his friends.

Wide eyed, Severus watched as the Death Eaters left the room. His expression was not noticed by anyone for a moment, until Voldemort glanced at him, then raising an eyebrow.

“Why do you look as if you have just watched me torturing a child?” the Dark Lord asked, staring at Severus coolly.

Severus hastily removed the expression from his face. “Well, that just confirms it,” he said, slowly tilting his head to look at his husband. “Cecil is in love with me.”

“Don't be absurd,” Voldemort responded, reaching out to stroke Nagini. “He is but a child.”

“He is eighteen. Do you not remember being in love at eighteen?”

Voldemort merely stared at him.

Severus sighed. “No, I suppose you wouldn't.”

“And what is that meant to mean?” Voldemort asked, half smiling, standing up, holding his hand out to Severus.

Severus took the hand. “Merely that until a year ago you were a cold, loveless bastard,” he responded, with a smirk.

“I think it's time for some more punishment,” Voldemort responded, squeezing Severus's hand.

“Please,” Severus replied, chuckling. “You know how much it turns me on.”

Voldemort's features returned to a smirk as he caught Severus in his arms and pulled him close. “So you are convinced of the little brat's love?” Voldemort asked, and Severus could feel Voldemort's breath tickling his ear.

“Yes,” Severus replied, shivering slightly, even though the room was warm. Voldemort's touch still gave him butterflies in his stomach.

“Perhaps then,” Voldemort continued in the same, soft, smooth voice, close to Severus's ear, “You should send him to my office.”

“Indeed; but you will only hurt him and I would not wish for that,” Severus replied, tilting his head back to look into Voldemort's eyes.

“I won't tolerate this behaviour from him,” Voldemort continued, as if Severus hadn't spoken.

“Darling, please,” Severus whispered, catching Voldemort's gaze with his own. “He means no harm. I see women, and men, all over you every day and you enjoy it very much-”

“I am the Dark Lord!” Voldemort responded, in more of a snappy, commanding voice then before.

“And I know how you feel about this, I feel the same way every bloody-” Severus trailed off, noticing a long, deep gash suddenly appear down Voldemort's cheek. Voldemort didn't seem to have noticed, he stared at Severus, waiting for him to continued.

“Every bloody what?” he asked sharply. “Are you going to finish what you were saying or continue to stare at me like a fish?”

Severus moved closer to Voldemort, putting one arm around him. “Love... Your cheek...”

“What about it?” Voldemort snapped angrily, pushing Severus away. “What's the matter now?”

“You're bleeding, your cheek is cut...” Severus murmured weakly, feeling his knees buckle a bit.

Voldemort turned and looked into one of the many golden mirrors adorning the room. “No it's not at all,” he snapped, turning back to Severus. “What is the matter with you Severus; what are you talking about?” he continued, his voice sounding angrier by the second. “That's it, get on your knee's, I've had enough of you today.”

Severus suddenly was feeling very light headed, he could see tiny specks of white around him, his head was spinning rapidly and as he tried to get to his knees before the Dark Lord, he found he had lost all control of his limbs. He vaguely remembered hitting the ground on his knees before blacking out completely.

x--x

When Severus awoke, it was dark outside. His head was pounding loudly and he felt sick. There was a single candle burning on the table next to the bed, and the light coming from that was too much for him. A moment later the door creaked open, and someone stepped into the room, their footsteps light taps across the wooden floor. Severus groaned at the sound, it wasn't helping his headache. A cool hand lightly touched his head, and Severus felt his eyelids flutter closed once again.

“What happened?” he mumbled to the unknown person.

“I'm not sure,” the voice replied softly. It was a warm voice, a nice voice, very familiar... Severus lifted his eyelids for a moment, opening them wide when he saw who it was. The man was handsome, dark hair, creamy skin and bright blue eyes-

-”My Lord?” Severus croaked.

The Dark Lord looked surprised. “Since when did you call me that?” he asked, his voice slightly louder than before.

Severus was genuinely confused. He closed his eyes, and was silent for a few seconds, before he finally spoke again. “Always, my Lord,” he mumbled, wondering if he had been incredibly rude recently and had been tortured by the Dark Lord into unconsciousness, which was why he was now in bed feeling like death warmed up.

“Sev...” Voldemort said, frowning, sitting down next to his lover. “Stop playing games now.”

Severus opened his eyes once more, and he saw that Voldemort's face had it's guard let down, he looked scared. Severus couldn't remember ever seeing his Master look this way, and wondered why he was now. What had happened.

“My Lord, forgive me... I don't understand,” Severus responded quietly, trying to sit up. Voldemort placed a hand on his chest, as if ordering him to stay still. Severus complied. “What happened?” Severus repeated.

“We were arguing and you kept saying my cheek was cut when it really wasn't, and then you passed out, cold, and have been for hours... Is it coming back now, love?” Voldemort asked, his hands reaching out for Severus's silky hair.

Severus jumped, and flinched away, but his mind was reeling. “We argued? My Lord – Forgive me for whatever I said. I must have been rude, I am sorry...”

Voldemort frowned again. “Severus, what are you talking about?”

But Severus wasn't listening. He was suddenly aware of how Voldemort had just touched him, and how he was calling him love. It wasn't making sense to him. Severus sat up, and this time Voldemort didn't stop him. “My Lord, I should return to Dumbledore, he will be anxious to know I am well, and I have lessons to teach in the morning...”

“What are you talking about?” Voldemort sounded slightly hysterical now. “Dumbledore is dead.”

“Dead?” Severus asked, shock clear in his voice. “When did he die? Why didn't I know about it?”

Voldemort stared at him, disbelief in his eyes. “You killed him... Three years ago, you killed him... Don't you remember?”

“What do you mean, I killed him? Why would I do that?” Severus paused for a moment, shutting his eyes. “Then who is Headmaster?” he burst out, curiously. “Why didn't I know?”

“You were Headmaster for a year after he died, and now I am Headmaster and you are Deputy.” Voldemort buried his face in his hands for a moment, before standing up restlessly. “Oh, Severus, what has happened to you!”

“I don't understand,” Severus murmured. “Why am I here? Why did you call me your love? You never loved... Never... You only ever wanted me for the sex...”

Voldemort stared at him for a long while, before he turned, and headed for the door. As Severus glanced down, he noticed a bright black stone on his wedding finger. “Who am I married to?” he asked, in a small voice. Voldemort stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Severus over his shoulder.

“You're married to me,” Voldemort replied, in a cold, hollow voice. “You live here with me. We rule the Wizarding World together. You are my consort.”

With that, Voldemort turned away, and continued to walk, shutting the door to their rooms behind him with a soft thud. Severus fell back onto the bed, his forehead creasing with this news. He didn't understand. The last thing he could remember was -

And suddenly, Severus realised he had no idea.

x--x

Oh dear, is this a bit of a cliffy?

-Chuckles-

Well, don't forget to review!

Excessively Complex