Betrayals And Trusts

Chapter 12 3/4

It had gone worse than he could have imagined at the Halloween meeting with the Death Eaters. There had been quite a few new recruits, all wearing the traditional black Death Eater cloaks, hoods drawn up and masks worn to conceal their identities from each other. Severus could tell who most of the Death Eaters were, but the new ones he had no clue of, and was no longer close enough to Voldemort to be able to learn their identities yet. There was one, who appeared to be a tall and thin male, and Severus guessed from his stance that he was young and a bit sure of himself. The other man was shorter and rounder, and by the way he carried himself Severus guessed he was middle aged. The other newcomer was almost certainly a woman, who was in Severus's opinion, far too skinny. She remained at Lucius's side the entire evening.

Voldemort had gone to each individually, talking quietly about their upcoming duties, and putting a silencing charm around so that only the Death Eater he was addressing would hear what was said, to avoid traitors turning each other in. He wanted to start making it known that he had returned, and was instructing each one on tasks to complete. Severus was very apprehensive as Voldemort approached him.

"So... Severus," He said quietly, looking into his eyes, and Severus held his gaze, not wishing to show his fear. "I shall be testing you on your loyalty tonight. I will give you no other duties, as this one will greatly satisfy me... for now." He remained for a moment longer, his penetrating eyes still challenging Severus, then broke the gaze and walked over to Lucius.

After he had completed his rounds, he went to the circle's center, speaking to the entire group. He then pointed his wand at the ground by his feet, and uttered a curse. A man appeared, trembling and pleading to be released. Severus could tell who the man was, though his back was turned to him. He was tall and thin, with silver hair that matched the furs he wore. It was Igor Karkaroff, who he had seen only last year as the Headmaster of Durmstrang. Severus began to feel terrified, as Karkaroff had been the only one to have discovered what he had been doing years ago, spying and informing the Order of Voldemort's movements. Seeing as he had been so quick to name Severus to get himself out of Azkaban, it would be a matter of time before he did the same to escape death.

Karkaroff kept making attempts to speak, his voice was raspy and short, as though he had been deprived of water for a days. Voldemort would use the Cruciatus on him on, pause, giving him time to regain composure, then use the curse on him again. Voldemort then turned and looked around the circle, stopping at Severus, and motioning for him to enter the circle. Severus was terrified. Had Igor already exposed him?

Voldemort looked at Severus, a twisted smile on his face, and walked to him. "Kill him, rid us all of this filth. Show everyone what becomes of traitors." He whispered.

Severus could hear his own heart beating madly with fear as he walked towards Igor, and wondered absently if the others could hear it too. He knew he had no choice, as he would be killed if he refused, and all of his work would be ruined. Killing Igor to prove his loyalty must be done, as he was trying to help Dumbledore to end Voldemort's reign before it got worse. One life to spare many more, he reasoned as he raised his wand, standing over Karkaroff and looking into his eyes. He could see recognition in his eyes, Igor knew exactly who he was, and was scared out of his mind. "Avada Kedavra." He whispered, and watched as the terror in Igor's eyes left as he fell backwards to the cold floor, completely lifeless, eyes still open and staring up into nothingness.

Severus stood there for a moment, trembling with both shock and a feeling of satisfaction he had not anticipated. Voldemort was looking at him approvingly, and he felt himself smiling slightly from behind his mask.

The rest of the meeting had been somewhat of a blur to him, as he listened inattentively. It always happened on Halloween, that Voldemort would kill people. That was the night he had apparently killed Severus's mother, shortly after he had been born. After Voldemort dismissed them, Severus strode off, about to Apparate to Hogsmeade, so he could walk to Hogwarts, when he heard Lucius's cold drawl from behind him.

"A - er - twit that cannot keep his wife in line, eh Snape?" Severus stopped dead in his tracks. He had forgotten about that letter. He could feel Lucius's breath on the back of his neck, and they were far enough away from everyone else to not be heard. "I would like to have a meeting arranged with my wife." His tone was threatening, and Severus spun to face him. He could see that the woman who had been next to Lucius in the circle was behind Lucius, but far enough back so as she could not hear.

"Looks as though you've moved on, Lucius... What could you possibly want with her?" He tried to sound as bored as he could, hoping that Lucius would back off.

"You had - er - a bit of a fancy for her didn't you... in school?" Lucius sounded very amused. He pulled his mask off and was now mocking Severus. Severus in turn removed his mask too, glaring defiantly at Lucius.

"We were only friends." He felt his hand tightening on his wand, hoping for a chance to do what he had always wanted to do to him, since he had first learned the Deadly Curses from his father. He smiled nastily at Lucius.

"Of course that is all there was," He was smirking. "I would never think she'd actually go near you, as she worshiped me. Really, I give her far more credit than that. I don't know which would put her off more, your face or your um, teacher's salary."

"Indeed?" Severus replied in a very soft voice, stepping up to Lucius. "I really found that tattoo on her hip rather exquisite, didn't you?"

Lucius's eyes widened at this, obviously surprised, but he then smirked. "Well, she's always been something of a slut..."

Severus realized too late that Lucius was goading him. He knocked Lucius down and landed on him, delivering hard blows to Lucius's face with his fists.

"Crucio." He heard the woman whisper the curse before he fell backwards off of Lucius, screaming. It felt as though ever bone in his body was on fire, and he closed his eyes trying to hold back any more screams, as he didn't want them to feel the satisfaction. She finally ended the curse, Severus lay there for a moment shaking, and watching them. Lucius was looking at her with approval. "Very impressive! Thank you for that bit of entertainment." She nodded and walked back a ways, almost as though she knew that Lucius wasn't finished. He then turned to Severus, wiping a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth. "So you are fucking my wife. I really did not expect her to sink so low so quickly. I still expect to meet with her, and ... and if you don't help arrange it... well... you will just have to see, won't you?"

Lucius laughed cruelly, then walked off to join the woman. Severus, weak and trembling from both the pain, and the thrill of the kill earlier, stood up and then apparated to the castle.

He was now lying down in Narcissa's bedroom, figuring that the next time he were to be summoned it would be wise to avoid her altogether after, as he seemed to be leaving those meetings more and more angry, and more like his former self, the person that his father had worked so hard at making him be. When he had gone to her after, he had been far more forceful than he ordinarily would, and he had likely frightened or even hurt her. What worried him more was what he had done just before they had finished their little tryst, almost instinctively he had pressed his fingers hard against her abdomen, quietly whispering a hex. He doubted that she had heard him, nor would she have known what he had done, as it was dark magic that she would have been unfamiliar with. Now that he had been back for a while, and he was beginning to feel normal again, he realized what he had likely done, and hoped for her sake that he had uttered the hex too late, or did it wrong.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

He woke early the next morning completely blinded from the sunlight blaring from the window. He wasn't used to this, as his rooms were in the dungeons. He sat up painfully, feeling sore and weak from the cruciatus still, and ill from the realization that he had murdered Karkaroff. It also dawned on him that there would likely be an investigation as to Lupin's Wolfsbane potion today. He knew he would be cleared, as he had nothing to hide, but Narcissa... he wasn't convinced that she had not done it. Although he was fairly certain he could argue that it wasn't illegal, as Wolfsbane isn't mandatory for Werewolves, and many skilled potion makers still refuse to make it. If anyone should be charged it should be the Werewolf. That moron shouldn't be here anyways.

He looked over at her and decided to leave before she woke up, as he needed to see Dumbledore. He quietly dressed and left her room, locking the door from inside before shutting it. He stood there a moment looking at the door thinking, feeling sick at the realization of everything he had done the night before, and wondering what he should tell the Headmaster. He was still feeling weak and lightheaded from the Cruciatus curse that bitch put on him too. He turned from the door to walk to Dumbledore's office and nearly jumped out of his skin. White was standing there, clearly amused. "Bit early to be in this part of the castle, wouldn't you say Snape? Seeing as you're rooms are in the dungeon." His gravelly voice held a hint of sarcasm.

"Is there a point to this, White? If so, get to it! I have better things to do than stand here listening to your incessant nonsense." His head was actually pounding.

White seemed not to have heard him, that or he was ignoring him. He walked around Severus, then returned to step directly in front of him. "You seemed to disappear rather quickly last night after that happened with Remus, care to explain? You certainly look ill, perhaps you should be up in the Hospital Wing, joining Lupin?"

It was far too early for this, Severus thought. He grabbed White by the collar and slammed him back hard into the wall. "I had nothing to do with what happened to that fucking moron!" He hissed through his teeth. "I do my duties as the Headmaster instructs me to, including making the Potion without flaw - you are in no position to question me about where I go in my personal time, and believe me, you do not wish for me to become your enemy." He let go of White and backed away, glaring hatefully.

White just smiled and nodded, obviously amused. Dumbledore then came around the corner, wearing a very grim expression.

"Severus, I'm afraid there will be an inquiry today as to Remus's potion, can you tell me if anyone else had handled it, to your knowledge? I will need them for questioning as well."

Severus looked down, not wanting to say this in front of White, seeing as he seemed to be taking a personal interest in it. Who the hell was he anyways? Why did Dumbledore trust this man so much? Then again, people said the same about him. He rubbed his temples, the headache becoming worse. "Actually, I didn't deliver the potion to him myself, Nar... Malfoy had taken it to him for me. And I made the potion during a detention, with Potter, Weasley, Granger and Longbottom, they were in the room the entire time I was making the potion." He was never able to lie to Dumbledore, even if he had tried. He hated to think what those four students might say to spite him and possibly get him sacked.

"Thank you Severus. Please wait in my office, I'll talk to the students, and Narcissa, and have them all meet with us there."

Severus walked off towards the Headmasters office, hoping that Narcissa would somehow not be implicated, though it looked doubtful. He said the password to the Gargoyle and took a seat by Dumbledore's desk.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Fairly soon after, Dumbledore had returned to the office with White, who took a seat next to Severus, and The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, who was followed by his assistant, Percy Weasley, the pompous Head Boy from a couple of years ago. Severus smirked to himself, thinking how ironic that the former Head Boy was now virtually a lap dog. Fudge and Weasley sat themselves at chairs on the other side of the large desk.

Soon the four students walked in, looking nervously around at them all.

"Where's Malfoy?" Fudge asked angrily. Severus had actually been wondering the same thing.

The door opened, and Narcissa walked in, looking very pale and terrified. She nervously took a seat next to White.

Fudge got up and took statements from each student, then confirming everything over. He asked them repeatedly if they had seen sugar or anything resembling sugar near Snape's desk. They of course hadn't, Severus was relieved that they didn't try to say otherwise. Percy was listening intently and scribbling it all down. Fudge paced back and forth, then stopped in front of Severus. "Last year you had shown me something interesting about yourself, Severus. Any testimony you give will be discredited." He then walked over to Narcissa. "And you, while I have a high respect for your husband, he has told me things about you over drinks the other day. Show me your arms."

Severus couldn't help but to glare at him. Narcissa stood up, slightly shaking, and rolled the sleeves of her robes up to expose her bare arms. Obviously, Lucius was trying to spread his word around to everyone and painting Narcissa to be the villain. "See? Nothing. Now why don't you check what's up my husband's sleeve?"

Fudge looked shocked at her sarcasm. "Listen, Lady, your husband has just made another very generous donation to St. Mungo's Hospital, and he had told me a lot of things about you and seeing as you are here, I will take his word over yours, he is a very kind man, to make such a contribution."

Narcissa stood up, and glared defiantly at Fudge. "It is called a payoff. Why not ask him why he's so eager to please the staff at St. Mungo's?" She took her seat again. Fudge's face was brick red with anger, Percy looked disgusted. Dumbledore seemed to have a very amused look to him. "Cornelius? Why not try a different approach, I feel that neither of them are guilty, but why not use Veritaserum? It could prove someone's innocence or guilt. Severus, have you any in your office?"

Severus was about to tell Dumbledore that he did, in fact, but was cut off by Fudge. "I took the liberty of bringing my own. I feel that using a potion of his may not be wise." He put two small bottles on the desk, and looked at Severus. "You first."

Severus looked at Dumbledore, who nodded at him, and he lifted the bottle to his lips and drank it. Fudge walked over and stood in front of him. He hated the felling that he got from this, but knew it was best to only answer questions with simple answers, and to not volunteer any information. He wondered if the Minister may attempt to take advantage, and ask things of his past.

"Do you hate Remus Lupin?"

"Yes." There's a stupid question, he thought to himself. Difficult to see how this idiot made Minister.

"Did you make his Wolfsbane potion."

"Yes."

"Did you sabotage it?"

"No."

Fudge seemed to be thinking of what to ask, that was clearly not the answer he had expected. The room was silent, except for the scratching of Weasley's quill.

"Did you leave the Wolfsbane at all while you were making it?"

"No"

"Who brought it to Lupin?"

"Narcissa Malfoy." He tried hard to fight saying her name, though he had already told Dumbledore.

"That is all from you Snape. Malfoy, your turn." Narcissa nodded and then took the potion. Fudge then asked her similar questions.

"Do you hate Remus Lupin?"

"No."

"Did you deliver him his potion?"

"Yes."

"Did you stop and talk to anyone? Did you put it down at all?"

"No."

"Did you put sugar in it?"

"No."

Severus felt relieved. The room was deadly silent. Fudge paused, then asked her another question.

"Why are you here at Hogwarts instead of at the Malfoy Manor?"

Severus's head snapped up in shock, but knew not to speak, as he was still affected by the potion. Narcissa opened her mouth to speak up, but White threw his hand hard over her mouth, and helped her to her feet and out of her chair. He looked incredulously at Fudge. "That is not what this hearing is about, and that was totally uncalled for. Dumbledore, is she done?" Dumbledore nodded at him. "Alright then!" He hurried her out of the room. Severus watched them leave, wondering why White had suddenly stepped in like that, making him trust him even less.

"Well then, Cornelius? I think you have heard all you need to know? I assure you there will be a full investigation as to who had done it, and I will allow you to return and deal with them." Dumbledore walked over to the door, holding it open.

"I will still have an inquiry with the board about your hiring policy, as I see the appointing of a Werewolf as a teacher to be very irresponsible, come on Weasley." Weasley leaped to his feet and followed Fudge out the door. Dumbledore looked at all of the students, smiling. "I'd like the four of you to understand that everything you saw in this room, is to remain in this room. You may go."

The four walked out, and Dumbledore locked the door behind them, then took his seat at the desk and looked over at Severus. "Judging by your appearance, I think it's safe to assume you met with them? Though I want to hear about it, I believe it's essential to clear this matter up, before they insist on me finding a replacement for Remus."

Severus thought for a moment, thinking about the Potion, then thinking about the woman with Lucius... A thought occurred to him. "Dumbledore, sir? I think I need to speak with someone, if that is alright with you."

Dumbledore nodded, and Severus could see that he knew he was onto something, but fortunately Dumbledore was willing to let him handle it his own way. He said goodbye, and walked out of the office, and over to the Divination tower.