E Pluribus Unum

A/N - So from this point on we start to get a little darker. I will put warnings in chapters for any disturbing material. Kate is my beta and also my barometer for \'ick\' factor. :) btw - Non Omnis Moriar refers to both Voldemort\'s desire for immortality and the particular immortality that parents have, knowing that their children will continue on after them.

Droxy - You are right, Severus\' reputation is most certainly going to be changing,
Dave - Thank you sir, I am flattered by your continued interest in my humble tale.
Alicia - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!
Lady Aidil - you know I love your reviews, they are always thoughtful and filled with understanding. You are right about Severus, he is experiencing all sorts of feelings he has never had before.

Chapter 8 – Non Omnis Moriar

Severus departed from the Welcoming Feast with a sigh -- another year, another batch of new Slytherins. He made a leisurely journey down to the dungeons for he knew the older members of his house would be busy acquainting the younger ones with how things worked in Slytherin. He liked to give them time to thoroughly intimidate the first-years before he came in and finished the job.

He paused outside the Common Room door and listened to the sharp yelps and stuttering of the terrorized children. The older Snakes knew better than to harm any of the younger years; he did not tolerate actual abuse, but running a house full of arrogant, sneaky, strong-willed adolescents sometimes required rather draconian tactics. Speaking of whom, -- ah yes, there was Draco’s voice, giving his own little speech.

“Slytherin House is for the elite of the Wizarding World. We aren’t stupid show-offs like the Gryffindors, or cowardly quivering lumps like the Hufflepuffs, nor do we have our heads stuck in books like the Ravenclaws.
We are the future leaders of our world; the politicians, the businessmen, the masters of all the others. Because of this, we do not tolerate mediocrity in this House. You will perform to the highest standards and you will NOT lose us House points.” There was a pause and Severus wished he could see the stare Draco was giving the younger years.

“You will be respectful to all teachers, no matter how they behave towards us. Anyone who loses House points for us by talking back to a teacher will answer for it. Is all of that clear?” When the ragged murmurs of assent had been given, Severus slammed open the doors and stormed into the room, robes flapping and scowl firmly in place.

The Common Room was a dark oppressive place, with a huge fireplace and windows that showed the underwater world of the lake. Fish swam by and occasionally the giant squid could be seen to float past. Salazar Slytherin had designed it to look impressive and grand and it succeeded admirably in that respect. It was, however, neither friendly nor welcoming. Over the centuries, little touches had been added by Heads of Houses, tapestries, paintings, comfortable couches, all in an attempt to soften the natural severity of the place.

Severus liked the cold austerity of the room, but he had not stripped it down when he had taken over as Head of House; these homey touches served two purposes. They illustrated that the Slytherins were a façade of elegance and comfort over a stony reality of implacability and it lulled the more gentle of the students into imagining that there was some softness in the house and he chose to foster that illusion. It made them easier to handle with fewer emotional outbursts.

In a secret part of his mind, he remembered the comfort he had taken as a trembling first year in the framed portraits and throw rugs, but that had nothing to do with his choice to leave them, of course.

He sneered at the assembled students and made Draco seem a gentle friend by comparison. Draco and Severus had the routine planned -- their discussions over the summer had led to what the Muggles would have called a ‘good cop, bad cop’ scenario. Severus would discipline and Draco would comfort. He planned to use Minuet for the job next year, after Draco graduated.

“So you are the sorry lot that Hat has saddled me with.” Severus snarled at the first-years, who quailed in terror. He walked up the line, past the older years, nodding to the favored few that had earned the right to be acknowledged.y sty straightened and beamed as he passed them and he let his gaze pass over the unworthy, who slumped.

He spun on his heel and swept down on the first-years again. “I am Professor Snape.” He hissed at them. “I am your Head of House. You may think that being in Slytherin makes you special, but I am here to tell you that you are nothing until I am convinced you have some worth!”

Another quick spin, his robes snapping behind him as he moved, and he was standing before Draco. “Get them sorted out, Mr. Malfoy.” With a parting sneer at the trembling children he swept from the room before he lost it and started to laugh, making sure he couldn’t be heard as he leaned against the wall. Still chuckling, he slipped into his own quarters, activated the dormitory alarm spells and went to check on Ryan.

Winky was sitting quietly by the fire as Severus walked in. Albus had removed the chrome and glass furniture that Kathryn had put in and replaced it all with soft green leather couches and rounded tables in black lacquer. A plush carpet covered the floor in black and the room was accented with more Slytherin green and silver. It was baby-proofed with spells and charms that the Headmaster had cast himself.

Ryan was asleep in his bassinet, pink face turned up with an expression of heartbreaking sweetness. Severus leaned over the sleeping child and stroked a tiny fist with a tenderness he would allow few to witness.
“He went down for his nap alright?” Severus asked Winky softly; his gentle tone would have sent many of his Slytherins into shock.

“Yes Professor Sir, Winky fed him and changed his nappy as well. Master Ryan is a very good baby, Professor Sir, he never gives Winky any trouble.” Winky blinked happily from her seat by the fire. Since Ryan’s arrival she had had a complete reversal of personality; she had gone from hysterics and despair to a calm and happy creature. It was as though she was at peace only when she had a child to care for. Severus wondered if he could keep her supplied for a while.

Severus thought about the future; Kathryn had said she would marry him when the war was over. Would she want children with him? He was finding the whole baby thing strangely enjoyable and he still did want a daughter. Lisle had been so very dear and despite her lack of proper training, he had found himself allowing her liberties he had never allowed anyone.

Children were softening him, easing the constriction around his heart. Kathryn had started the process with her trust and courtesy, but Ryan was doing things to him that he never imagined possible. He was becoming greedy for the moments he could spend with his son, the quiet interludes in his painful routine.

His arm began to burn gently and he bit back a curse. He told Winky to watch the baby and inform the Headmaster and he was away. He strongly resented the time away from his son but that would hardly be something he could complain about to Voldemort. ‘Sorry, my Master, but your world domination will have to wait; I want to play with my son’s toes.’ The smile that graced his features briefly as he settled the mask on his face would have made Voldemort rather nervous.

Severus calmed his mind, drawing on his years of Occlumency training to allow him to come before Voldemort in relative safety. The blind apparation found him in an underground chamber. Rough-hewn walls, that looked as though they haen cen chipped from the stone by chisels and hammers, and a r sor so smooth that only magic could have shaped it made for a strange juxtaposition. Water dripped from the walls and torches flickered. Voldemort was seated upon a stone throne as roughly made as the walls, with Pettigrew hunched beside him in the heavy shadows. Severus was the first to arrive and he moved forward, dropped and crawled to kiss the Dark Lord’s hem.“My “My Master.” He murmured in a servile tone.

“Severus.” Voldemort waved him back and Severus took his usual place, waiting for the others to come and form the rest of the circle. They arrived hurriedly, apparating in, making their obeisances to the Dark Lord and then taking their positions.

When the circle was complete and twenty Death Eaters stood at attention, waiting to spring to action at his command, Voldemort rose and walked through the circle.

“I have received grave news, my loyal servants. My second in America, the man known as the Wolf, has disappeared.” There was some rustling of robes and shifting of feet, but no word was spoken by the circle. “I fear he has been killed by the Americans, though I cannot know for sure without a body.” Voldemort gave a little shrug, as though it was of no importance. “Still, I will need someone to take over the American Project.” He stalked among them, eyeing each in turn.

Severus had no concerns, as he was far too important in his position at Hogwarts to be removed. There were many here that would kill for the opportunity being presented though.

“Shiv you have been very loyal, as has Franco, but sadly I need you both here too much.” Voldemort shook his head regretfully as the two men simply nodded, though their disappointment was palpable. “Travers, you have always served me faithfully and you are too well known here now. America is large enough to hide you and yet allow you to continue to serve The Cause.” The older man bowed, his robes swishing with the movement.

Severus noted the information to pass on to the Order and waited for the real reason they had all been summoned.

“I have acquired some new allies for us as well.” ‘Ah, here it comes,’ Severus thought. The Dark Lord waved a hand and from the dim shadows behind the throne, three very peculiar people stepped forward.

The first was a tall cadaverous man with staring blue eyes and wispy blonde hair circling his head like a halo. He had the face of a priest and the hands of a surgeon, but his eyes were filled with the kind of hungry insanity one sees in rabid dogs. He was dressed not in robes, but in narrow black trousers, white shirt, dark green vest and a black frockcoat. There was the feel of a clerk or a shopkeeper about the outfit, except for the rich fabrics of the vest and heavy wool of the trousers.

The second was a young girl, perhaps ten or eleven years old, with china doll features and golden ringlets; she was pale and perfect, from her starched white pinafore to her black-strapped shoes; sookeooked like a doll brought to life. Her eyes, also blue, were too bright and fevered for so young a girl and there was something very disturbing in how her gaze rested on you as though she was trying to decide whether to cook you or to eat you raw. She was like a dark and twisted Alice in Wonderland and he shivered at the sight of her.

The third was a plain-faced woman, with dun brown hair and flat brown eyes. She appeared so average, like any middle-aged house-witch, that her very normality made her seem horribly wrong in this setting. It was as if she had wandered from her kitchen in Brixton to the mouth of Hell. It was like Molly Weasley as a Death Eater.

“These three fine folk have agreed to help us in the coming war.” What price did he pay for this, Severus wondered. These three radiated a strange dark power that was terrifying; if the Dark Lord thought he controlled them, he was very wrong. “We have struck a deal that pleases both sides.” Voldemort exchanged a look of predatory satisfaction with the tall man.

Ah, he has bargained with Dark powers -- this will turn out badly. Severus knew the ways of the Dark Ones and there was nothing they could give you that was worth the price asked for it. Voldemort’s madness was worsening if he thought he could come out ahead in this.

“Mr. Fenchurch, Madam Gideon and Miss Mangle will be working closely with us. I hope you will all make them welcome.” There was a ripple of nods and an uneasiness settled into the Death Eaters. Severus stayed perfectly calm and still but kept his gaze on Voldemort, trying not to look too long on the trio. The names were pseudonyms of course; Severus doubted they had real names at all, whatever they were. They were certainly not human, or not entirely so.

This was all very bad, very bad indeed.