1981

1981

by Iva1201

Chapter 5: The Damned Prophecy

A/N: Betaed by cardigrl; thanks for helpful comments to Esmestrella. (-:

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

May 1981

Severus Snape returned to his old school like the legendary prodigal son. While the greetings from the majority of the staff were guardedly neutral - or more or less cautious - he was to be warmly welcomed by the school nurse, who had overseen his seventh year's "detentions" and apparently had grown to like the boy back then, as well as the benevolent old Headmaster, in whose eyes the insufferable twinkling had reappeared.

Hardly aware that the twinkling had returned immediately after what should have been his job interview (but in fact had changed into a very much needed reunion of two brilliant minds whose cooperation could very well mean the turn in the war), the young man accepted the change in the aging Headmaster with the same caution he had lately used when entering the Death Eater meetings.

He brought very little with him. There were only two months left until the school closed its gates for yet another summer. The summer was also what worried him most. Spying on Dumbledore was expected from him during the school year; neither the Dark Lord nor Dumbledore had informed him what his summer would be like. Not that Severus didn't have his own plans and dreams; these had to wait, however, until this mess was over or he dead. No, he didn't want it to end this way. He was far too young for that, and could still atone for the crimes he had committed in the name of the Darkness.

Until he had overheard that damned prophecy that had recently brought him to thisdangerous game, Severus had merely worked in the laboratories Lucius Malfoy's father had rented a couple of years ago. He had not asked questions and brewed what he was told. Mainly it had been healing draughts; not only Aurors were suffering injuries in the war.

Potential deadly potions, Veritaserum and Polyjuice Potion had come later and -- at first -- infrequently. Voldemort's Death Eaters enjoyed torturing by their own devices far too much. Severus, widely known to despise that kind of pastime, had been left to the research projects for his apprenticeship. Real work could wait until he finished his schooling. That much had been promised to him when he had started to work for the Malfoys.

Snape had been told he worked for other partners of Abraxas Malfoy as well. Names hadn't been mentioned but Severus had known it meant in all likelihood the Death Eaters. Angry as he had been, he hadn't cared back then. And he probably wouldn't have cared for quite some time, had he not been introduced to the Dark Lord, asked if he would like to work for him, and encouraged to take the Mark.

Still angry with the world favouring the golden Gryffindors (especially after "accidentally" meeting Black and Potter in Diagon Alley), the young Slytherin had taken the Mark and had had no reason to regret it until the Dark Lord had decided the young Potions prodigy might have a good chance of obtaining a job in Hogwarts. Waiting for his own interview in the Hog's Head (or rather a chance to speak with Dumbledore about the Headmaster's reasons for refusing him), Snape had overheard the prediction Sibyll Trelawney had delivered. The damned prophecy had made all the difference...

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Voldemort's Lair

Late March 1980

For once in his life the boy was really scared. As a Half-blood, he had never intended to join the fold during his school years. The rumors about the so-called Death Eaters' activities had been nasty already back then. He may have dreamt about revenge on the infamous Gryffindor four, but when Dumbledore had repeatedly approached him with warnings about the dangers of Dark Magic, he had silently laughed because he had not been one to enjoy causing harm. He had seldom started the fights in all the years of his grudge with the Gryffindor quartet. Anyway, when he had first struck back, he had been good; so good that he had first emerged as the group's favourite target and was soon the last interesting one.

His ambition had never been to become a follower of the powerful but hated Lord Voldemort. Once he had joined the fold, however, he grew determined to excel in everything asked of him. After all, he had not yet been ordered to do anything against his better judgment. He had failed his "employer" for the first time earlier today, and he was afraid Lord Voldemort wouldn't be happy with him.

The Sorting Hat had told the boy years ago he would have fit in all the Houses. Clever enough for Ravenclaw; as loyal as a Hufflepuff, if he wanted to be; brave without the recklessness significant for Gryffindor but more than welcome in that House as well. And sly and cunning as a real Slytherin. When the Hat had asked him where he would prefer to be sorted in, the boy had whispered back: "Not Gryffindor," because that was the House into which his "enemies" had been sorted only moments before.

Silently he had added for himself, he wanted to show the Black and Potter boys he had met earlier on the train, he was better than they; that he wanted to silence all those mother's relatives who had accused him behind the closed kitchen door of being incompetent and weak. Through his head had run an image of his slightly nicer great-uncle who had left him his complete library and the boy had prayed he would be able to live up to the man's expectations. Then Severus's mood had darkened and he ended with: I wish to be able to help Mother more the next time something bad happens. The Hat had sensed the ambition and thirst to prove himself as well as the boy's anger, and had sorted Severus to Slytherin; but the boy kept his loyalty and intelligence, as well as courage.

Summoning all the bravery in him to help him through the next couple of minutes, the boy recalled the Sorting with nostalgia now. Life had been so easy back then! With this thought, Severus hesitantly entered the throne chamber.

"Approach, Snape," the very pale and very thin figure clad in expensive black silk whispered from its seat, playing with his wand in a silent threat; they were alone. Severus couldn't decide if it was a good or bad sign.

He knelt in front of the chair, eyes directed to the floor. "My Lord," he acknowledged the other man.

"Look at me, Snape!" Voldemort ordered, his voice low.

With all the courage he possessed, Severus raised his eyes.

"Have you spoken with the old fool?" The Dark Lord demanded.

"I have, my Lord," Snape confirmed quietly.

"But?" Voldemort's voice rose, as he sensed Severus was not saying everything.

Snape's eyes were directed down once again. "Not about the Defence position, my Lord," the young man whispered back, almost inaudibly.

"NOT ABOUT THE POSITION?" Voldemort yelled in disbelief, annoyance filling his voice. The Dark Lord stood abruptly and hissed: "Snape... I have ordered you to obtain the position and you haven't seen fit to even speak about it with a man who desperately wants you to return to his side and would do anything to get you back? ... I know the old fool, Snape. He acts far too friendly to show you the door... What have you spoken about?" Suddenly, his wand was in his hand and he directed it at his young follower. "Legilimens!" he shouted.

Glimpses of events from Severus's past shot through the young wizard's head...

A slightly younger Snape sitting at the highest bank of the Quidditch pitch, a red haired witch with green eyes speaking to him quietly and laughing at his answer...

The same young witch and he walking around Hogwarts lake, he definitely angry and she trying to console him, an unsympathetic fat girl approaching them saying: "Evans, don't waste your time with him. I saw him snogging Florence behind the greenhouses last Thursday. No need to be the third there!" Snape, angrier than before, casting some cutting curse on the girl...

The corridor in front of the Great Hall and Dumbledore in a festive robe spotting Snape. (Clearly this was one of the memories the Dark Lord was interested in, as he spent a long time holding on it.) Dumbledore annoyingly smiling in a greeting and then proclaiming: "Severus, what a lucky chance! May I ask, if you have changed your mind? The offer of the apprenticeship still stands. Remember, Nicolas and I may not be Potions Masters per se but we both would have much to offer even such a bright boy as you are. Think about it!" Sirius and Regulus Black walking around, arguing as always, and young Snape shouting back his answer: "Suddenly you care, do you? You think that this poor little Slytherin needs your help now? You are gravely mistaken, Headmaster! I don't give a damn about your hot chocolate and kind smiles! I have sworn to keep your secret and I will..." Severus smirked in Black's direction. "But nothing more. You can't buy me..."

And then, finally, the memory Voldemort was looking for...

Nervous Snape pacing a rather dark corridor at Hog's Head. A strange noise from one of the rooms and clearly worried Dumbledore's voice asking: "Miss Trelawney, are you feeling well?" Snape involuntarily coming closer to the door and hearing in harsh, hoarse tones: 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...' And then a heavy hand on Snape's shoulder turning the young man to the local barman and back from the door so that Snape missed the rest of the prophecy: "Spying, were you? No longer, I should think." ... The door in front of them opening with a crack, the young witch and Dumbledore evidently surprised by their arrival...

Voldemort could feel the boy fight him. "NO!" he commanded and increased his touch on the young man's mind. Only those most talented in this field could view whole memories - and even then the lengthier ones posed a problem. But this time the Dark Lord succeeded.

"This one has been eavesdropping, Albus," announced the barman; Snape was thrown in the room, the barman's wand now pointed at him. Snape's and Dumbledore's gazes briefly meeting; Dumbledore's eyes disappointed, Snape fuming with anger about how he was treated.

"I will bring him down, Albus. He says he came to speak with you anyway. But I think he needs a keeper." Dumbledore slightly nodding, his eyes never leaving Severus. A harsh "Come!" and a pull on Snape's upper arm guiding him away from the room. Snape stuttering: "I will find my way out..." And a rough answer: "You wanted to speak to the Headmaster, didn't you? We will fulfill your wishes, boy." The boy part sounding as a threat.

Dark cellar room, a key turning in the lock... And then light again and Albus Dumbledore entering the room, looking very serious. "Severus!" Exclaimed in a strange mixture of surprise, worry and anger. A hand catching his both, another hand forcing his chin up and Dumbledore's gaze searching the boy's eyes. Anger the boy felt. And - was it a bit of shame? No, anger, deep and hating anger. Dumbledore with a pained expression quietly saying: 'You may go now.' and then pull of the boy's mind...

Could he be talented in Occlumency? It had taken long enough, but at the end Snape managed to throw out the presence of the Dark Lord. And Legilimens cast by Lord Voldemort was strong. The dark wizard knew it well and observed with curiosity his young follower, sent to the floor by the spell's intensity. But then he recalled the prediction - because there was no doubt about the nature of the strange sequence delivered to Dumbledore - and shouted another spell. "Crucio!" Being his first and an intense one as well, Snape cried out in pain as his body twitched in spasms.

Lying helplessly on the floor, Severus heard Voldemort shouting for Lucius. A moment later he felt himself being lifted. Supported by his older companion, Snape limped blindly out of the throne room. He supposed Lucius to be furious with him as well - but to his greatest surprise young Malfoy took care of him.

Strangely, this was the night when their friendship was established. Snape was in a way made a real Death Eater and therefore Malfoy's equal; Lucius suddenly could see more than a very gifted and rather lonely younger schoolmate in him. The Cruciatus and the way Snape silently suffered through the after effects changed the boy Severus in Lucius's eyes into an adult. A rather brave and intelligent adult worth not only his money, but also his personal interest.

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Malfoy Manor

Early June 1980

"Severus, welcome! What a pleasant surprise! Come, come, we have much to celebrate!" Lucius Malfoy greeted with a wide, genuine smile. He forced himself to keep quiet while he seated his guest in the study and poured him a drink. Handing it to Snape, he however burst out: "It's a boy, Severus! I have an heir!"

"Congratulations, Lucius," his friend said in the now familiar silky voice, joy for the Malfoys apparent in his otherwise neutral expression. "And Narcissa?" Snape asked. He knew Lucius's wife rather well already from their school years, but they had never been more than Housemates. Despite that, Severus had attended the Malfoys' wedding a year ago; that time invited solely as a formal guest like several other (higher positioned and publicly unknown) Death Eaters and the major part of the Malfoy industries' senior staff members. Severus had been neither at that time but accepted the invitation anyway.

Being a regular visitor of the Manor now, Snape had grown fond of Narcissa. Unlike her sister Bellatrix, Narcissa had never followed her husband in joining the fold. And while she may have been proud of her origins and her present social status, she had never been unfriendly to Severus, although she knew he was a half-blood.

Lucius frowned at Severus's question. Not even St. Mungo's was perfect - be he the heir of one of its most important donors or not. "There were some complications; she will probably never have any other children..." Malfoy mumbled and splashed his mood down with a sip of the golden liquid from his glass.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Lucius," Snape said quietly, sensing that anything else would sound meaningless.

"I know. Thank you, Severus," Lucius smiled gratefully in Snape's direction, nursing his drink. "You may still persuade the old fool to give you the teaching job. I am sure both Narcissa and I would be delighted to have you teach our child. Hopefully, Dumbledore will be away from Hogwarts by then. Or I will have to send the boy to Durmstrang... And Narcissa would kill me." The blond wizard shook his head, hiding a smile. "Would you believe that I, Lucius Malfoy, one of His most trusted followers, would have to be afraid of my own wife who is not even a Dark witch?" He laughed. "He will be baptized next Sunday. Narcissa wants to name him Draco. Sounds noble, don't you think?"

"Certainly." His companion delivered a smile of his own.

"Narcissa wants you to become an unofficial godfather of the boy. We can't make it official, as I am sorry to tell you, but there are traditions to be kept in families like ours. Under normal circumstances, her oldest cousin would be asked first, but you know what he has become." Lucius's face darkened and for a fleeting moment his eyes revealed the hate he felt towards Sirius, the one feeling he had shared with Severus for many years now. Malfoy continued, the frown still in its place: "Therefore, it has to be Regulus. And Narcissa assumes - quite correctly, if I can tell - that the boy is not even responsible enough to look after himself. In all likelihood, he will get himself killed by any one of the sides before this war is over. Being friends with your House Elf and making it a public knowledge? Merlin's beard, if that wasn't the most idiotic move!" Lucius scowled. "You, on the other hand, have enough brains to survive all of us... I still don't get how you could have become one of His most favoured only a week after that Cruciatus that almost killed you." Seeing Snape wanted to answer, Lucius hold his hand up. "Not a word, I know you have been sworn to secrecy. But you got out of it very lucky, trust me."

Snape grimaced at him and Lucius laughed: "You are not enjoying your reward? For it is really a reward, my dear friend. Bellatrix has recently complainedit was not fair to let you torture the first one - especially as you seem not to enjoy it. But - He has his reasons for everything He does and if we want this war to end to our favour, we have to follow Him in it."

Malfoy smiled in Snape's direction, clearly trying to console and in the same moment calm down the younger man: "He still lets you brew most of the time, Severus. Regulus has it much worse. Don't complain and I would be very surprised if you don't get some subtler task soon. He understands your talents are as good as your Belby, Slughorn or the old fool... Speaking of whom, the Dark Lord was rather amused by one of your memories. Did you really tell Dumbledore off in front of your classmates? Splendid! I have never allowed myself to do that. And trust me, there were moments I dreamt of nothing else..."

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Voldemort's Lair

September 1980

"Severus, come closer," Voldemort whispered. It was strange to hear his given name from the Dark Lord's mouth, Snape mused as he approached the throne. He knelt and bent his head, but apparently it wasn't what Voldemort wanted him to do. "Look me in the eyes, Snape!" Severus did as he was told. The Legilimens was cast silently this time...

The Whomping Willow, full moon, James Potter's voice crying his name. The dark tunnel under the tree, a strange howl and Potter grabbing on his collar and pulling him out while he stood stunned and frozen, gazing in the direction the noise came from, recognizing the sound. A furry creature almost catching them before Potter managed to get them out of the hole...

Snape's father shouting at Snape's mother, the boy Severus crying in the corner. "A wizard, what nonsense is that, Eileen? There is something wrong with the boy. He's probably not even my son! I wouldn't have fathered a creature able to shatter all the windows in a room with a simple look! He is possessed, Eileen! The boy is dangerous!" The man slowly approaching Severus, his hands prepared to stop any possible attack; the previously cowering woman jumping up and hastening to protect her child: "I am a witch, Tobias! I am to be blamed! Let the boy be!" A wand suddenly appearing in the woman's hand...

A man standing in a small kitchen, a knife in his right hand: "Give me all the money you have!" shouted in Snape's mother direction. Big eyes of a small boy looking scared from behind her. The wallet thrown on the floor and a displeased shout: "Pick it up, you bitch! Move! ... Now! Or I will harm your precious son!" The woman bending to the floor, the man grabbing her around the waist trying to kiss her. Shattered glass all around... Severus crying and then suddenly a wand in the woman's hand and a hex fired in the direction of her attacker...

The same man, older than before, drunken and stinking on the floor of a pub, Snape above him with hatred and a scowl on his face and wand in his hand. "Avada Kedavra!" and a flash of a green, blinding light. A feeling of accomplishment and power running through Snape's veins, desire to feel more of it... Cruciatus curse repeatedly used on the Muggles settled in the village, the spells more vicious than curses fired by Bellatrix Lestrange... A triumphant smile lighting the young man's face under the mask when the Aurors finally arrived to stop the raid...

And then Severus, still kneeling, proudly looking straight in the eyes of the Dark Lord. He could have thrown this Legilimens off much sooner, if he had wanted to. But he had wanted the Dark Lord to see his final descent into the Darkness. After months and even years of struggling to become the powerful wizard Snape had always dreamt of being, the young man felt he was in reach of his aim.

"Finally," the Dark Lord whispered, apparently satisfied himself, and dismissed his followers.

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