In the Lurking Darkness
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
4,090
Reviews:
6
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
4,090
Reviews:
6
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Eight
~*~
Severus had just crawled into bed, not bothering to undress, when pain shot through his left arm. He gasped sharply as the pain ran up his shoulder and into his chest, closing like a tight fist around his heart. The Dark Lord was angry, though whether at him specifically or not, Severus couldn’t be sure.
He reached into his closet to retrieve his cloak and mask as the initial pain of the call subsided to a dull, but constant ache. He quickly filled a bag with potions he had been directed to make since the last meeting and warily made his way out of the castle and past the wards to the apparition point. His shoulders drooped and his head hung low, too exhausted to carry himself with any sort of dignity.
As he dragged his cloak across dusty floors, then dewy ground, he wondered vaguely if this would be the night. Would his Master finally end his misery? Would he ever return to Hogwarts to haunt its halls again? Closing the gate behind him, Severus glanced one last time at the castle, its grounds, and finally the lake. He sighed, remembering the kindness Harry Potter had shown him twice now. He couldn’t remember if he had thanked the young man. He decided, that should he awake the next morning, he would be sure to thank Harry properly.
He turned away from his home and donned his long black cloak, settling the mask in place and pulling the hood over his head. Without another thought, he aparated away.
~*~
Severus knelt on a stone floor amongst half a dozen other Death Eaters. He barely heard a word that was said, so intent was he on just breathing. From the moment he had arrived he felt nauseas and weak, the smell of death and degradation strong in the overly warm air. It didn’t help that Lucius was beside him, his hand sneaking out to caress Severus’ cotton covered arse every time the Dark Lord turned to torment someone for their failures. He knew he was in for a very long night.
Severus jumped when his name penetrated the thick fog surrounding his mind. He glanced up to see his Master glaring down at him from his throne in the center of the spacious ballroom. He swallowed hard as a long, dark, talon-like finger crooked at him, beckoning him forward. He rose to his feet unsteadily, removing the white mask, as he willed his mind closed, shutting out any attempt the Master might make to read his thoughts.
He kneeled at the creature’s feet and kissed the hem of his robe. He tried to lift his head, but a weight was dropped upon it. His heartbeat quickened at the touch of his Master’s hand.
“Severus, I am disappointed in you. You have been most inattentive this evening. Is there something on your mind that I should be aware of?” The silky sibilant voice sent shivers of dread down Severus’ spine.
“No, my Lord,” Severus managed to say with a reasonably even voice.
Voldemort’s hand slid down the side of Severus’ face to cup his chin and forced him to look up. He seemed to search Severus’ dark eyes with his own glowing red ones for a moment.
“Then what is wrong, servant? You are not known for being so quiet.”
“I am sorry, my Lord,” Severus whispered nervously, forcing his eyes to remain focused on those in front of him. “I am… tired, my Lord.”
“Too tired to fulfill your duties?” Voldemort asked with a hint of anger.
“No, my Lord. I have the potions you have asked for, except for the Twist Potion.” Severus cringed internally as his Master’s eyes flared angrily.
“Why do you not have the Twist Potion ready? You’ve had 2 months to perfect it! Perhaps it is time to find a new Potions Master!” There was a crackle of magical energy as the Dark Lord’s anger rose to powerful levels.
“Forgive me, my Lord. The potions is being difficult,” Severus uttered quickly, hoping to get his words out before the inevitable curse struck.
“Difficult?” the Master asked tartly.
“Yes, my Lord. It smells too strongly. Even a muggle would notice it, my Lord.”
Severus hung his head as though in shame. He didn’t want the Dark Lord to see in his eyes that in fact, he hadn’t really worked on the potion much. It was to be designed as a method of torture on unsuspecting victims. It would twist a body grotesquely from the inside, rearranging muscle, tissue and organs slowly and painfully. He knew he could make the potion, and even make it taste and odorless, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it just yet.
“I see,” the Dark Lord hummed. He again lifted Severus’ face to peer into his eyes, searching. Seeming satisfied with what he saw, he rubbed the side of Severus’ cheek in a scratchy caress. Knowing the reaction expected of him, Severus closed his eyes and leaned into the rough hand.
Voldemort pulled Severus’ face until they were just inches apart. He leaned in and purred into Severus’ ear, “I will give you one last chance, Severus. You will stay tonight, though, and receive your punishment for disappointing me.”
“Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord,” Severus said calmly even though his insides were twisting up without the aid of a potion. Everyone knew what staying the night with the Dark Lord entailed. He could almost hear Lucius snickering about his fate.
~*~
Severus had just crawled into bed, not bothering to undress, when pain shot through his left arm. He gasped sharply as the pain ran up his shoulder and into his chest, closing like a tight fist around his heart. The Dark Lord was angry, though whether at him specifically or not, Severus couldn’t be sure.
He reached into his closet to retrieve his cloak and mask as the initial pain of the call subsided to a dull, but constant ache. He quickly filled a bag with potions he had been directed to make since the last meeting and warily made his way out of the castle and past the wards to the apparition point. His shoulders drooped and his head hung low, too exhausted to carry himself with any sort of dignity.
As he dragged his cloak across dusty floors, then dewy ground, he wondered vaguely if this would be the night. Would his Master finally end his misery? Would he ever return to Hogwarts to haunt its halls again? Closing the gate behind him, Severus glanced one last time at the castle, its grounds, and finally the lake. He sighed, remembering the kindness Harry Potter had shown him twice now. He couldn’t remember if he had thanked the young man. He decided, that should he awake the next morning, he would be sure to thank Harry properly.
He turned away from his home and donned his long black cloak, settling the mask in place and pulling the hood over his head. Without another thought, he aparated away.
~*~
Severus knelt on a stone floor amongst half a dozen other Death Eaters. He barely heard a word that was said, so intent was he on just breathing. From the moment he had arrived he felt nauseas and weak, the smell of death and degradation strong in the overly warm air. It didn’t help that Lucius was beside him, his hand sneaking out to caress Severus’ cotton covered arse every time the Dark Lord turned to torment someone for their failures. He knew he was in for a very long night.
Severus jumped when his name penetrated the thick fog surrounding his mind. He glanced up to see his Master glaring down at him from his throne in the center of the spacious ballroom. He swallowed hard as a long, dark, talon-like finger crooked at him, beckoning him forward. He rose to his feet unsteadily, removing the white mask, as he willed his mind closed, shutting out any attempt the Master might make to read his thoughts.
He kneeled at the creature’s feet and kissed the hem of his robe. He tried to lift his head, but a weight was dropped upon it. His heartbeat quickened at the touch of his Master’s hand.
“Severus, I am disappointed in you. You have been most inattentive this evening. Is there something on your mind that I should be aware of?” The silky sibilant voice sent shivers of dread down Severus’ spine.
“No, my Lord,” Severus managed to say with a reasonably even voice.
Voldemort’s hand slid down the side of Severus’ face to cup his chin and forced him to look up. He seemed to search Severus’ dark eyes with his own glowing red ones for a moment.
“Then what is wrong, servant? You are not known for being so quiet.”
“I am sorry, my Lord,” Severus whispered nervously, forcing his eyes to remain focused on those in front of him. “I am… tired, my Lord.”
“Too tired to fulfill your duties?” Voldemort asked with a hint of anger.
“No, my Lord. I have the potions you have asked for, except for the Twist Potion.” Severus cringed internally as his Master’s eyes flared angrily.
“Why do you not have the Twist Potion ready? You’ve had 2 months to perfect it! Perhaps it is time to find a new Potions Master!” There was a crackle of magical energy as the Dark Lord’s anger rose to powerful levels.
“Forgive me, my Lord. The potions is being difficult,” Severus uttered quickly, hoping to get his words out before the inevitable curse struck.
“Difficult?” the Master asked tartly.
“Yes, my Lord. It smells too strongly. Even a muggle would notice it, my Lord.”
Severus hung his head as though in shame. He didn’t want the Dark Lord to see in his eyes that in fact, he hadn’t really worked on the potion much. It was to be designed as a method of torture on unsuspecting victims. It would twist a body grotesquely from the inside, rearranging muscle, tissue and organs slowly and painfully. He knew he could make the potion, and even make it taste and odorless, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it just yet.
“I see,” the Dark Lord hummed. He again lifted Severus’ face to peer into his eyes, searching. Seeming satisfied with what he saw, he rubbed the side of Severus’ cheek in a scratchy caress. Knowing the reaction expected of him, Severus closed his eyes and leaned into the rough hand.
Voldemort pulled Severus’ face until they were just inches apart. He leaned in and purred into Severus’ ear, “I will give you one last chance, Severus. You will stay tonight, though, and receive your punishment for disappointing me.”
“Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord,” Severus said calmly even though his insides were twisting up without the aid of a potion. Everyone knew what staying the night with the Dark Lord entailed. He could almost hear Lucius snickering about his fate.
~*~