Daunted Death

Okay, I take it back. I can't help it.
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Harry found it hard to concentrate on simply sitting, much less homework. Of course, Hermione noticed. She badgered him constantly until he finally snapped.

“Hermione, please! Leave me alone! You want to know what’s up, I get that, but I can’t tell you. I promise you will know at one point, but not now, so drop it.”

She relented for the time being.

In potions, Snape was indeed hiding it poorly as well.

Ron gasped, “Did he half smile at a Ravenclaw? Bloody hell, the entire world just froze over!”

Snape paced back and fourth in front of the his desk, zoning in and out the entire time, except when he paused to write something on a piece of parchment.

Boom!

Yet again Neville’s cauldron exploded, its contents dripping from the ceiling and covering Dean head to toe.
Snape groaned and said, “Granger, would you kindly assist Longbottom in this potion he seems to have less aptitude for than normal.”

He resumed his walking as Hermione ran over to Neville.

By nightfall Harry was going mad. Around two in the morning Dobby appeared on top of Harry’s stomach.
Frantically and quietly the elf told him, “Professor Snape sends Dobby to tell Harry Potter, and only Harry Potter, that Professor Snape was called to leave the castle.”

Harry’s heart skipped. Snape was summoned to Voldemort. His Dark Mark had burned. Why? Harry took out his invisibility cloak and dashed to the dungeons.

A very dark stiffly moving figure appeared outside the large and ominous Malfoy Manner. Forcing himself to go even slower than usual so as not to look anxious. He'd been here a hundred times before, but now it could not be more different. Down the perfect stone path, through the double doors, up to the third floor, and sat down in his designated spot across from Bellatrix, just around the side of the table next to the Dark Lord.

“The old man did not give you trouble, I hope, Severus?” Voldemort said.

“No, not this time, My Lord,” Severus answered.

“Good, now is there anything you need to share?”

“Only that I am concerned for Hogwarts, My Lord.” Snape answered.

“What do you mean?”

“With all the people we are purging, parents are not sending their children and neither are the relatives of the dead. Our student number is continually declining, Master.”

“Do not worry. When I control the school we will force all of them except the mudbloods of course, to come to school. If that is it I need volunteers for a mission I will set up in due time. It will probably amount to nothing but I want to investigate just the same.”

“I will do it, Master,” Yaxly said.

“As will I,” Crab agreed.

“Good, good, I will give you more details when the time comes. The rest of you may go for now, but, Severus, I would like you to stay.”

With bows and thank-yous, the Death Eaters left hurriedly. Snape waited, hardly breathing.

“Come with me,” Voldemort said, rising and pulling out a wine bottle, a portkey.

Snape stood, keeping his eyes down, and touched the portkey.

~

“I assume you remember when you asked me not to kill your mudblood lover? I told rightly that it was disgusting and shameful,” the Dark Lord said wistfully.

“Yes.” Snape could have kicked himself for the unusual breathy highness of his voice.

Voldemort smiled horribly and stated, “You think about it often. Could you not find sex as pleasing?”

“I miss her,” Severus whispered.

“Would you do anything to change her fate?”

“I would, yes.”

Again the Dark Lord smiled. Only then did Snape notice where they were standing: in the dark, rotted kitchen of the Riddle House. Behind the evil wizard stood a door buzzing with translucent enchantments and protective spells.

“Follow me,” Voldemort said, turning to dismantle or temporarily suspend the spells on the door. It swung open with a loud creak.

Severus followed, his heart beating faster than he could ever remember, his breath barely changing. His body trembled without his knowledge, his mind far from keeping up his appearance. The steps creaked loudly, but he couldn't hear. His master was not moving fast enough. At the bottom in front of another buzzing door, Voldemort stopped and turned around. Snape froze.

“You have been faithful and helpful, however, I feel you pulling away. I think it is time to give you more of a push to do your duties since physical punishment could get no more severe. I believe this will help.”

He opened the door and entered, standing aside just enough to let Severus enter, lighting his wand.

Snape froze, his eyes locked on the huddled, crouching figure in the corner. Half of him wanted to run to her and hold her, but there was a large section of him that couldn't have moved if her was allowed.

“Go speak to her.”

The order was strong, but Severus remained where he was. Finally something snapped, and he dashed across the dark room to her.

As he knelt in front of her, she cried, “No, no, don't touch me! Go—go away.”

“No, Lily, I won't hurt you,” he pleaded with her, “Please, look at me.... Do you remember me?”

She pulled away even though he didn't touch her.

He whispered, “Lily, please, look at me.”

Very slowly she lifted her head just enough so her eyes could glimpse him.

“Do you know who I am?”

She kept her eyes on him, either thinking about the answer or debating to speak. He held his breath, heart pounding so loudly he was sure it would echo in the empty room.

“Severus.”

He let out a painful breath. Her voice was weak and cracked and very hesitant.

“Yes,” he answered, very lightly brushing his fingertips over her blood-encrusted hand. She watched his movement, and her hand twitched at his contact.

“Severus,” she whispered again.

Slowly she lifted her arm, making the chain rattle. She had almost no muscle but managed to lift it and gently touched his cheek. Her fingers moved over his nose. She smiled and brushed his lips. He took her hand and gently pressed his lips to it.

“No!” she yelled, snatching back her hand into her chest, “No, you can't!”

“Lily--,”

“Shhhh!” she hissed, pushing her hands over his mouth, “No, no, he—he'll make you! Don't do it—don't listen!”

“Shhh,” he said back to her, taking her trembling hands, “There's nothing for you to worry about. Stay calm.”

“No, no, no, he's trying to make you do it. Run away!” Tears welled in her eyes. “Go, run.” He took a chance and pulled her entire tiny frame into him. “Run away... please....”

She dissolved hysterically.

Snape turned his head towards his master still at the door and asked, “Can I give her something to eat or drink, please?”

Voldemort walked right over to them. Lily didn't notice, but Snape drew her further into his chest, scraping the chains along the stone floor.

“You may give her nourishment now and from then on only if you do well. If you continue to do poorly she will starve to death,” Voldemort hissed.

“May I release her?”

“Not yet. You have only minutes more.”

With that the Dark Lord took his time returning to the door.

Severus conjured a narrow glass. Letting go of her a little, he filled it with tomato soup.

“Lily, Lily, calm down and look at me. Deep breath, alright? That's it.... Just concentrate on me.”

She sat in his lap, shoulder to his chest, with one arm around her. She focused on the breast of his black shirt.

“Here, this will help you feel better. Drink a little at a time, there you go....”

He continued to mutter encouragements, resting his forehead on the side of her head. He could tell by her reaction to the first sip that is scalded her mouth even though it wasn't all that hot, yet she drank deeply.

Far too soon Voldemort was calling him.

“Severus, now.”

“Lily, I'll be back, I promise. I'm going to take care of you,” Severus whispered.

He sat her down in front of him and quickly unbuttoned his shirt, whipping it off. His chest was pale and scarred, and he was extremely self-conscious, especially around his Master, but then he wasn't even close to thinking about that. He draped it over her shoulders and tied the sleeves loosely over her chest, snuggling her into the corner with his cloak. She let his move whatever way he wanted, trying to help when she could. He refilled the soup glass and handed it to her.

Resting his hand on her face, he told her, “I'm coming back. This will all get better. I'll make sure it will.”

Painfully, he drew back and forced himself to the door with a longing look back at her, who was staring at him, holding the soup in one hand and clutching his shirt to her with the other. Voldemort pushed him out of the room and slammed the door.

“When I say leave, you will leave,” he said sharply, sealing the door, “You will not leave her anything. If I view as defiant, she will suffer in many ways. Goyal, I am sure, would have fun with her. You know how he likes the small and weak.”

“Has he touched her?” Snape asked immediately, following the Dark Lord up the steps, “Has anyone?”

“Oh, yes, she was very irritating at first. It was the only way to silence her. She was overconfident, too. She refused to believe you were a Death Eater, but I think when she finally started to believe it, I told her she was my leverage for you, so now she thinks you are innocent and being forced into my service.”

Snape's heart skipped, and shattered on the floor of the next story. She wasn't just locked-up, beaten, and starved; she was violated again and again, and he had done nothing to stop it.

I didn't know, he tried to reason.

It doesn't matter. I should have known.

“When may I see her again?”

“That depends on information and obedience. I wish for you to make me Noxious Poison. When it is complete and meats my approval you may see her.”

“My Lord, Noxious Poison takes six weeks to make. She could die in that time,” Snape told him hurriedly, “Please, Master, if I may see her sooner it would have no reflect on the poison. I serve you as you will, just please do not let her suffer anymore.”

Voldemort surveyed the man. He was usually an impassive rock, but this mudblood had him all twisted. Finally he said, “You will see her every other day to keep her alive. If you screw up in any way she goes a week without nourishment, and the others will have their way with her. If she were to die I will make her corpse and infuri, and then her body will be your punishment.”

Severus swallowed. He was a complex situation. At the moment he could not see a way out of it, but he would never change it. He would save her and give her the perfect life, a life that didn't include him.

“Go, I will summon you.”

Snape bowed deeply and apparated out.