Zigzag

Zigzag

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Chapter 4

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"Come on, Lucius," said Dark Severus, being the first one to move as he grasped Dark Lucius's hand and began to drag him towards the corridor. "We'd better get going already." A couple of people casted curious glances at the signs tied around both of their left arms, a black skull on a white cloth, but a stern glance from the vampiric man silenced them.

Some more curious ones approached Dark Remus about this. His arm, too, bore the mark of a skull. The werewolf shrugged slightly. "Our Fudge has gone absolutely insane," he said quietly. "He wants to mark all Dark creatures, or even partly so -- even those whose blood is only a quarter Dark will have to bear the mark. Soon he'll surely start murdering us."

Some casted sympathetic glances at him. "Well, for once I'm happy that Fudge isn't our universe's Minister anymore," Remus Malfoy murmured. Casting then a quick glance at Cane Lucius, who was still standing on his side, he said, "Come on, Lucius. I think we both could use some rest right now."

"I think you're right," Cane Lucius replied, then started to limp on his side towards the corridor with the rooms. The remaining Luciuses again winced at this sight -- only Wheelchair Lucius did not seem startled by this sight. "Severus, are you coming?" he asked then, casting a glance over his shoulder at Severus Black.

"Nope," said the man, sighing. "I have to tell Albus to be prepared when Sirius arrives." At this, the two other people of his universe nodded in understanding. As the others looked confused, however, he sighed again and explained, "My dearest husband was driving on his blasted motorbike, and then something happened -- he managed to get himself into a coma. There are little hopes of him waking up."

The others nodded slowly, some slower than the others. "This Author seems to have a liking to dark and sad events," muttered Dark Remus, getting several sounds of agreements from around him. Some looked almost fearful.

So, they all began to slowly move towards the rooms, casting careful glances at each other. Suddenly, however, Father Severus stopped on his steps and smirked. "Oh, revenge is truly sweet," he said. Seemingly something had happened in his universe that caused him to say this comment, even thought it gained him some weird glances.

"So what did he do to them?" asked Remus Snape, rolling his eyes. "I forbade killing them, remember?"

"Of course I remember," his husband replied mock-innocently. "I just turned the whale of a man into a boxing bag -- which I'll soon send to his son, the brat's already beaten his old one to its end. And as for the hag, well, I turned her into practically a madwoman with the Brew of Dreams and abandoned her into some big city -- can't remember which."

"Brew of Dreams?" Severus Black's eyes shot up to him. "It exists in your universe, too? Are you a Seer?"

"Hardly," snorted the other man. "But yes, it does exist, and being a Potions Master, I of course know it. Why so? Are you possibly a Seer, then?" he asked, his tone mocking. Obviously he did not think highly of that kind of people.

"As a matter of fact, I am," replied the other Severus, raising an eyebrow. "One of the strongest kind, even."

"Well, this is all interesting and stuff," came an irritated voice behind them, "but could you just get going? This blasted chair is a menace even otherwise, I certainly don't need you blocking the way," finished Wheelchair Lucius.

"Calm down, Lucius," Blind Severus said with a snort. "It's not like you were in hurry or anything."

"Shut up, Battie," the older Slytherin replied. "I'm maybe not in a hurry, but I certainly am annoyed!"

"Well, you're still not getting ahead the others," Remus Pettigrew said ever-so-patiently. "Now shut up and wait for your turn to enter the corridor. The others have just as great a right to enter it as you." This, of course, gained him a rather dirty glare, but being the calm and collected Remus he was, he simply ignored it.

"Oh, by the way, Severus," Remus Shacklebolt said to Severus Potter as they waited for their turn to enter the narrow corridor, "did Remy already tell you that he's a Prefect? The previous one misbehaved, and, well, Remy got the badge."

"Well, he hasn't told us already," replied the Slytherin dryly. "Seemingly there was some incident we chose to forget, since all I can remember is taking some Samarian Solution, then chattering until you and Harry came. He probably forgot it also -- although how we all could ignore the badge on his robes, I cannot even imagine."

"The Samarian Solution is known for making one pretty inattentive for some time," another Severus said -- Severus Shacklebolt, it seemed. "Surely you know that, or aren't you a Potions Master, too?"

"Well, I am," snorted Severus Potter. "But, as you just mentioned, I'm rather inattentive right now -- at least until I get another update from my universe. Who do you think Albus will manage to summon, by the way," he then continued talking with "his" Remus, "Remy, or the current Harry Potter? Or both?"

"Merlin save us all if it is the both," the Remus sighed. "One is certainly more than enough. I'd figure that Remy's more useful, though," he then added, "but if the spell is based on the name, it's probably Harry who'll come."

"I'm not even trying to understand," Severus Junior muttered. "And besides -- oh, Merlin." His eyes widened in shock.

"What is it?" asked Remia worriedly from her friend. "Has something happened? All I got updated on is some PMS..."

"No, nothing's happened," the other teenager muttered. "Just the little fact that I've managed to knock up Peter..." Ignoring the several shocked gazes, he continued, "And before you even ask, yes, he is keeping it."

"Merlin," muttered Remia, shaking her head in wonder. "I wonder how you're going to deal with that."

"Well, I don't think it's that bad," Father Remus said, shrugging. "Sure, it certainly isn't easy to be a teenager parent, but hey, I've survived, haven't I? And last time I knew, Sirius had survived, too." Glancing warily around, he added, "I don't know if we survive it all, though... Our Author seems to be truly fascinated with dark themes."

"Just hope that even your baby will survive," muttered Severus Lionsnake. "Not everyone is that lucky." From the dark expression on his face the others knew that it was better not to ask further about the topic. Then the corridor was again empty for some time, and he left, Remus Lionsnake close on his heels.

"Come on now, Lucius," Blind Severus muttered. "You were just so hasty to go!"

"Wait a minute," said the blond of his universe calmly, eyeing somebody in the other side of the crowd of Severuses, Luciuses and Remuses. "In fact, I think I'll still stay for some time. I have some... things that need to be cleared out."

"Well, suit yourself," muttered the blind teenager. "Come on, Remus. I need somebody to show me which rooms are empty." The werewolf obediently followed him, leading their way further into the corridor. Each occupied room had a strange glow on its door, the face of the occupant being formed with the light to the wooden surface. It was all clear and well to the others, but Blind Severus, being, well, Blind, could not make anything out of it.

Soon enough, most of them had got settled into their rooms. The person who'd stayed in the back of the crowd -- the still nameless Severus -- started to make his way to the corridor as well. However, he did not get that far.

"Hey, you," called Severus Black after him. "The nameless Severus. Do not go yet."

The addressed man froze on his footsteps. Then he turned slowly around. "What do you want?" he snapped, his gaze going around the room. He noticed that other people had stayed, too -- Severus Potter, Severus Baby-Black, Wounded Remus, Remus Black, Father Remus, Wheelchair Lucius, and Lucius Lionsnake were all watching him.

"We want some explanations," Severus Potter said rather sharply. "And we want them soon -- preferably right now." At his words, the other Severus flinched a bit. Seemingly he wasn't exactly emotionally stable at the moment.

Now, Father Remus started to speak. "Don't take us wrong," he said quietly. "I, at least want nothing but to thank you for convincing Albus of the fact that he should summon the Siriuses here. However, I'd also like to know... How did you manage to do that? What exactly did you say that made him decide?"

The nameless one casted his eyes down at the floor. "I will tell," he said quietly, "but I will not tell it to you."

"What?" asked Wounded Remus, raising an eyebrow. "Who are you going to tell it to, then?"

Even this Severus whom they did not know what to call seemed to have the same mask as the others, even though something was obviously weakening it. Closing his eyes and raising one hand to his temple, he managed to say, "My universe's Remus and I -- well, we were in a relationship. Then, he died. It's hard enough for me to stay calm with you all circling around, but I most certainly will not be telling my secrets to you. I'm not maybe as cool as some of my replicas, but I'll still die rather than..." 'Rather than break down,' the unspoken words echoed in all of their ears.

The Remuses all nodded in unison, seemingly understanding. "I understand," Remus Black voiced all of theirs thoughts. "And, even though I would want to know what makes your Sirius so necessary, I will not press further." And with this, they all left, heading to the corridor to find some empty rooms.

As the remaining people still watched him, expecting him to speak, the nameless Severus continued, "Do not dream of it. I do not know what experiences that scared Remus had, but I'll bet they aren't half as bad as those I have with Malfoys. I will only talk to... myselves." He raised an eyebrow with a bit sad smirk.

Wheelchair Lucius and Lucius Lionsnake both raised an eyebrow as well. Then, however, they indeed left, although not without glancing at the remaining Severuses in a way that told that they were certainly going to pull the secret from them.

"Very well," Severus Black said dryly as only the four Potions Master replicas were present. "Could you now present us our secret, o great and mighty one? Or are you going to claim that you're not mad enough to talk to yourself?"

"If you knew what I'm mad enough to do, you'd be surprised," muttered the nameless one. "I don't know if these mean the same in your universe, but, well... This is my reason." He pulled back one of his long robe sleeves, then the shirt sleeve underneath it. The other Severuses stared in horror at the tribal tattoo going around his wrist.

"I thought there hadn't been slaves in centuries," breathed Severus Baby-Black. "Not at least in my universe. Merlin... Just how dark can your universe be?" he then asked in disbelief, wrapping his arms around his far-too-thin body.

"Very dark, at least in this aspect," replied the other man, quickly covering his wrists again. "I take it I don't have to explain you the meaning of this." A quick glance at the others only brought him nods, so he continued, "My Master is Black. He inherited me from Malfoy, who seemingly thought that fun. And as in this universe, my previous master lives while the current one is dead, well, the bond is getting confused." With a sigh, he added, "Even now, I have to fight against the urge to call every Malfoy 'Master'. And if one of them decides to use my bond on their advantage and take me as their slave, it certainly will not be one of these so-called 'decent' ones. So, as you see, it's pretty necessary that I get my true Master here. Even though there'll be many Blacks here after that, I do think the bond will only work for him." With a very quiet voice, he added, "At least I hope so. I don't think they all would be as decent as 'my' Black."

"Merlin," muttered Severus Potter. "I do understand now why Albus was so ready to summon the Siriuses."

"Neither do I," said Severus Black. "I take it you want us to keep this in secret, then?" he asked after that.

"At least until the Siriuses arrive," the slave replied, nodding slightly and sighing. "I don't think I'll be able to hide it after that, it's hard enough in our universe, where only a few even know of Black being alive, leave alone having seen us both at the same time. Here it'll be impossible, but even a moment more without somebody's pity is precious to me."

"Then we will not speak a word," Severus Baby-Black said. The other two nodded in silent agreement.

"I thank you for that," muttered their nameless replica, then turned around and headed to the corridor. After a moment of silently watching his retreating back, Severuses Baby-Black and Potter also went to claim their rooms. Severus Black, however, stayed behind, staring at the door on the opposite wall, wondering what was going on behind it.

*

"Well, now," said Albus as he stepped into the newly created room, "I'm quite hoping you could offer me some explanations." With this, he glanced at the Severus there, who gave him a cool gaze, and at the Remus, who had peacefully fallen asleep on the couch, his head resting in the Potions Master's lap.

"Very well," snapped the Snape. "Voldemort captured him some time ago." As Dumbledore nodded, encouraging him to continue, he then said, "The Dark Lord did not want to kill him. Instead, he had other plans. All Death Eaters as witnesses, he had Lucius Malfoy repeatedly rape Remus." At the Headmaster's shocked expression, he merely raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Lucius Malfoy. The same person you currently have locked up -- along with the other Malfoys, minus those who've been claimed decent enough to be let into other people's presence. I truly hope you've got them locked up for sure, there's no telling what some of them could do." With a sigh and a glance down at the werewolf, he added, "Of course, the Dark Lord wasn't satisfied with a simple rape. No, he casted an impregnation spell on Remus."

Now, the Headmaster was even more shocked. "You don't mean he's --" he started disbelievingly, then, unable to finish his sentence, just shook his head. "Just tell me he isn't --"

"Pregnant to Malfoy? Thankfully, no," the Slytherin calmed his nerves. "His werewolf magic refused to carry his rapist's child. So, turning to the nearest person with friendly intentions, his body chose me as a suitable father." His dry tone never faltering, he continued, "So, now I have in my hands a pregnant werewolf with a tendency to panic, and Voldemort planning to sacrifice my child as soon as it's been born. As you can imagine, I don't have very easy time."

"Really, you don't," muttered Albus. "Would you be satisfied to have this room, and a couple of others, as your living quarters? You needn't go out to where the others are all residing, and I can charm the door leading to the hall so that none of the Luciuses can enter. And those I've got imprisoned will immediately be transferred into some safer location," he added hastily as he saw the Severus's frown.

"Very well." The Potions Master sighed, then glanced down at the Remus in his lap. "I think he'd like some company, though," he said. "He'd probably be able to trust the other Severuses enough to talk with them -- in our universe, he panics if anybody else but I goes too near to him. I'm not entirely sure if some of those Severuses are healthy company to him," he then added dryly. "As for the other Remuses, well, we'll just have to see about that."

"You're right," admitted Albus, nodding slowly. "We'll have to see."

Then they both fell completely silent.

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