Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch8: Strength

Severus didn't leave Lily's room after she left for her Order of the Phoenix meeting. He leaned back on her bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating things. Why shouldn't he have what he wanted? Why was what he wanted so wrong to begin with? Why did the Dumbledores and Lord Voldemorts of the world get to call the shots?

It was in that moment that he felt his Dark Mark burn and he hissed in pain and frustration. Trust the Dark Lord to unknowingly intrude upon introspection that would lead to his eventual downfall. Wasn't the prior evening, Walpurgis Night, enough to keep him happy for a while? However, as much as Severus hated the Dark Lord, even he had to admit that it had been a fun revel.

With a wave of his wand, Severus was garbed in his Death Eater robes and mask and then Apparated to the Dark Lord's side.

In a way, Lucius and Regulus had been correct. Severus did have a reputation for being a zealot. Given the right motivation, he was sure that his efforts would have shamed even Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch. He was still good friends with Rodolphus Lestrange, Evan Rosier, and Wilkes, after all, and they were no slouches when it came to being loyal Death Eaters. Lily herself had often derided his choice of friends and spewed the rubbish that people were like the company they kept. Which, as he often pointed out to her, begged the question of what that made her since she was hanging out with him too?

Hopefully this wouldn't last too long as he needed to find out what information Lily had been able to uncover.

The Dark Lord had a particular fondness for graveyards. He seemed to find them amusing, which made more sense in light of the fact that Severus now knew he fancied himself immortal. Everything was a very dramatic production and was set up so that each Death Eater would Apparate into a precise place within the circle. It was the subtle ritual that intrigued Severus. He could certainly appreciate the effect it had on everyone. If he were to have set up the Death Eaters, he certainly would have instituted the ritualized aspects himself.

Severus took his place and bowed his head when the Dark Lord looked directly to him. It wasn't a true show of respect on his part as he was protecting his mind.

"Severus."

"My Lord."

Severus made a full prostration at the Dark Lord's feet and held his hands out for his blessing. Yes, the Dark Lord certainly knew what he was doing with his rituals. The older wizard had cultivated an aura of power that was hard for Severus to resist basking in, even now.

"My newest Death Eater. Rise. Lord Voldemort has a mission for you."

"I live to serve, my Lord."

"There is a certain Auror and protégé trainees that have been causing us particular trouble and I want you to lead a small team to cause as much havoc as you can with them. I'll be especially pleased if you manage to capture one or two to interrogate."

The Dark Lord paused slightly and looked to Severus who nodded his comprehension.

"Of course my Lord. Which Aurors did you have in mind?"

"I believe you are acquainted," the Dark Lord said slyly.

Severus looked up sharply and Voldemort smirked.

"Yes, I'm referring to Sirius Black, James Potter, and Alastor Moody- if you can find him."

Severus really didn't need a reason to go after Black and Potter. This mission would be no real hardship, except for Moody. He was a true menace. However, the Dark Lord had given Severus the perfect opportunity to further their plan of bringing him down. Severus was sporting a nasty smile behind his mask.

"Take Regulus. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see his brother again. The other two I'll leave to your discretion."

"Lucius and Igor," Severus said promptly.

The Dark Lord started laughing gleefully.

"Ah, you're more magnanimous than I am, Severus, to take such a waste of a Death Eater with you!" He turned his red eyes onto a figure who had the least prominent position in the circle. "It looks like you'll have the opportunity to redeem yourself, Karkaroff. Do not fail me this time."

The other man wasted no time in groveling and Severus couldn't help but feel a stab of revulsion at seeing him. His lip curled in derision.

"Pathetic isn't it?" Lucius Malfoy's cultured voice asked next to him.

Severus could only nod.

"This will be fun," Lucius continued softly.

"Brilliant, is what it will be," Regulus stated from the other side. "This is too perfect."

"Indeed. I have a few ideas," Severus stated pensively.

If Severus could have seen their faces, he knew they would be wearing identical smirks. His biggest idea was risky but could ultimately give them more results if they were successful. It was just more dangerous. It was also the ideal way to draw out Gryffindors who wouldn't be suspecting it.

"If I were an obnoxious Gryffindor with a pretty fiancée, I wouldn't be too happy if a bunch of Death Eaters showed up and paid her a visit, would you?"

Regulus let out a whistle of appreciation. "You're a twisted fuck, Severus."

"You flatter me too much, Regulus."

Lucius was laughing.

When he ambled over to them, Igor Karkaroff was met with Severus' wand in his face.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say that you'll be perfectly cooperative. We'll have no trouble killing you if you ruin our standing with the Dark Lord by your ineptitude," Severus whispered menacingly.

"Ah, my friends! I would not dream of making trouble for us."

Karkaroff's falsely cheerful demeanor fooled no one. It made them loathe him all the more.

"I'll return shortly. Wait here for me," Severus instructed.

He then Apparated directly from the graveyard into Lily Evan's bedroom. It appeared that she was asleep. Severus lost no time going to her and shaking her awake. Her shoulder felt hot to the touch.

"Lily. Wake up," he said urgently.

The witch stretched languidly and caught more of Severus' interest than she should have at that moment. He swallowed hard. She opened her eyes, took one look at him, and screamed.

"Get away from me!" she pleaded.

It then occurred to Severus that he still had on his Death Eater robes and mask.

"Lily, it's Severus."

"Severus?"

He didn't remove his mask. He didn't have time.

"Remember when you said earlier that you trusted me?" he asked hurriedly.

"Against my better judgment," she muttered.

"Well, I'm going to hold you to that tonight. Remember, that no matter what happens, it's all going to help us defeat the Dark Lord."

She was wide-eyed and her hair was mussed. She looked beautiful. She nodded hesitantly.

"You might want to put on a dressing gown."

She had the grace to blush. No, beautiful wasn't an appropriate way of phrasing it. She looked beyond beautiful.

"I thought you weren't going to come back."

"When have you known me to lie to you?"

Her brow furrowed a little and she looked to him calculatingly. He growled at her.

"It's not a trick question," he said sullenly.

She ignored his tone and changed the subject.

"What's going on?"

"You won't like it."

Her pout looked much more alluring than Petunia's.

He sighed.

"My friends are coming over. We're going to try to capture Potter and Black."

Lily crossed her arms and glared at him.

"You're insane. No, scratch that. I must be insane for even listening to you."

"Lily," he said placatingly.

"I can't believe your audacity! This is my fiancé we're talking about!" she paused slightly. "Sort of."

"I promise I'll explain everything to you later. I just need you to go along with it for now. We won't kill your precious Potter."

She looked like she was having an internal struggle of some sort. Her fists were clenched and had a death grip on her blanket. When she spoke she looked resentful.

"You owe me for this, Severus Snape," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I'm only doing this because I want the Dark Lord gone as much as you do."

Severus couldn't fathom why she listened to him either. However, that didn't stop him from having a victorious look of superiority in his eyes as he Disapparated. She not only decided to trust him, she was choosing him over Potter. She really must have been tired and not in her full mind, or she didn't see it that way. Severus wasn't complaining either way.