Reconstruction of a Death Eater

Chapter 27 - Real World Looming

"Listen up, ladies and gentlemen," Alastor called, tinkling a knife against the edge of his glass. The noise level dropped as the group turned and faced the older wizard in expectant silence. "As tonight is the last night, we are going to have a party of sorts to congratulate you all on the fine work you have done over this year. I am proud of all you have accomplished and only wish we had time for more. I believe all we teachers can honestly say we have never had a better group of students to work with."

From Alastor Moody this was high praise indeed and everyone felt almost involuntary smiles creep across their faces. Before they could enjoy the moment, the old man told them to shut up he wasn't finished, making them laugh and Professor McGonagall splutter indignantly. "Tomorrow, when we go back to 'the real world' there are a few things you must all remember. This year did not happen, it will be the 7^th of January and you will all be sixth year and seventh year students, not adults and Auror trainees. You will once again be subject to school discipline, house pressures and rivalries and you must not forget that! For some of you it will be harder than for others," his eyes sought out Malfoy and Granger then slid over to Thomas and Finnigan. Amazingly, he also singled out Lupin and Snape in his not unfriendly glare. "So, make the most of the evening and be prepared to rejoin the school population at two pm tomorrow. That's all, food, drink and dancing in the gym this evening."

"You know, only Mad-Eye Moody could make a party invitation sound like a dangerous assignation," Draco murmured in Hermione's ear as he buttered toast and placed it on her plate.

"I need a word, guys," Harry leaned over to mutter before smiling at Ginny and nudging Ron to pass the jam. "Drop by my room after breakfast, will you?"

"Sure," Hermione nodded, pouring tea for all five of them. "Did you notice Vincent making eyes at Lavender yesterday evening? Think it's a go?"

"There have been stranger combinations," Ginny mused, glancing at the huge Slytherin who was totally absorbed in watching Lavender who was calmly eating her breakfast and very pointedly ignoring him. "Think she realises?"

"Oh yes," Hermione grinned. "No one gets to ignore someone that hard without realising there is something to ignore."

Draco shook his head slowly. "I wonder if Crabbe even realises he is staring?"

It was a typical breakfast time for the group, lazy gossip and speculation mixed with deep discussions and silly jokes. As they cleared the table and left the kitchen, Malfoy signalled to Crabbe to go get Lavender then slipped away to enter Potter's room as silently as a ghost. He was almost shocked to see both Professor Snape and Remus Lupin already seated at the study desk. Nodding acknowledgement of his head of House and godfather, he slipped into place behind Hermione and prepared to wait for enlightenment. Potter loved melodramatics and he was beginning to appreciate the quality as it was one he could finally admit they shared.

"Right, I have something to tell you unless you want to tell them, Professor?" Harry began, nodding deferentially to Snape. "Okay, okay, we are on the right track with Professor Dumbledore. His tomb is a timeless bier and the phoenix around my neck is the key to opening the tomb but it has to be done in the presence of his bloodkin, so we need Aberforth to be present when we are doing the opening. Have you remembered any more, Professor Snape?"

Snape stirred irritably. "Something came to me, we will need Fawkes but when Dumbledore died he disappeared. I know where he went but I can't actually remember at the moment, which is so frustrating! The whole ritual is in High Court magic but again, it has gone clean out of my head and I can't remember!"

Remus stroked a hand down his back to calm him. "Perhaps if you were to relax a little? One of your potions might ...," he suggested only to be silenced by an incredulous look.

"For Merlin's Sake, Werewolf, don't you think I am immune to my own potions? One of the first and simplest precautions I took was to make sure my own concoctions couldn't be used against me."

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking." Remus winced at the concentrated disgust in his mate's voice.

"What about Legilimency, can someone get in to read your mind?" Draco asked quietly.

Severus made a disgusted noise. "Not likely. I am the best Legilimencer and Occlumencer around here, better than everyone else I know, except Tom Riddle and Dumbledore and quite frankly, I think I could keep them both out at once if I had to." There was no bragging in the tone just a plain statement of fact.

"Granted," Harry said thoughtfully. "However, you might be able to unwind enough to let someone you trust in to assist you, if you were relaxed enough."

Snape opened his mouth to snap then closed it as a thoughtful look crossed his face. "Possible. However, allowing myself to relax that much would be a difficult assignment in the first place and I don't trust many people." It was a sad confession but said without self-pity or pathos, just a statement of fact. "I suppose enough alcohol might do it but it would have to be a fair quantity."

"Where can we get some books on High Court magic?" Hermione asked rather predictably making most of the room's occupants snort slightly but oddly, Snape gave it some real thought.

"Probably at Snape Manor, not the safest location in the world. Definitely a place to start though, I'll go and look tomorrow."

~~*~~

The party was in full swing, the members of the Auror group enjoying their night to howl. Crabbe finally managed to ask Lavender to dance and was doing a creditable job of it despite his bulk. Draco and Hermione occupied a quiet corner, simply being together and enjoying each other's nearness while they had the chance. Severus looked across and sighed deeply, knocking back yet another firewhiskey as if it was water.

"You look pensive," Minerva murmured as she slid into the seat beside him and set her own glass down gently.

"The boy is going to get into such trouble," Severus murmured, his glass automatically refilling. "Merlin, if Lucius or Narcissa ever find out then the jig will be well and truly up. They will kill him slowly and painfully; regardless that he is their one and only heir. Damn it, why couldn't he have fallen for the Parkinson girl? Admittedly Simon Parkinson is a slimy little git but at least he is a pure-blood little git and his daughter is very much on the plain side but still, she should breed well. Lucius did try to make a contact with the Nordstrom woman for the hand of her first daughter but she wouldn't commit to anything until our current dilemma was sorted out. I think she just didn't want her daughter mixed up with Family Malfoy, especially as Narcissa would be her mother-in-law, malicious piece Narcissa. Mind you, if she had to go up against our Miss Granger, I would be hard-pressed to say who to put the galleons on."

"I thought you liked the Malfoys," Minerva teased gently, turning to face Severus and grinning when he pulled the most horrendous face she had ever seen. Perhaps the alcohol was working after all.

"Not particularly. Oh, Lucius was a good screw and a good political contact but Narcissa... never got on really well with Narcy, was fucking her husband so it sort of made friendship a bit sticky, do you see?" he sighed, blinking when Minerva's eyes widened.

"Good Lord, I always wondered if you were er...,"

"Fucking my way to the top? Already did that." Severus sighed morosely and emptied his glass again, ignoring her slightly scandalised snigger. "Oh, don't worry Minnie, I am trying to make my mind a bit more open, get drunk and open my mind but it's not working. Besides, the fact that Tom and I were lovers for years before his first fall is no secret in Death Eater circles, or that Lucius and I were lovers either for that matter."

"And does young Mr Malfoy know?"

"'Course he does," Severus blinked at her question. "Lucius gave him to me even before he was born, Draco that is, to be my godson. Minerva McGonagall! I am not a paedophile, no matter what other sins can be laid at my door. No, he gave me Draco 'cus I won't be populating the world with my get. The thought is abhorrent, believe me." He gave an artistic shudder and emptied his glass again. "You know, I think this may be working a bit. Where's the werewolf?"

"His name is Remus," Minerva snapped huffily.

"Remus John Lupin, good name but can't use it or I might give him away by accident. Best to create an observable distance, better to call him 'werewolf', safer, do you see? He's got a nice arse though, and he doesn't mind if you get a bit sentimental with him, likes his balls rubbed, too."

"Do I really want to know that?" Minerva muttered, hiding her chuckle in her glass.

"Probably not, wouldn't do you any good, anyway," the younger man shrugged carelessly, slopping a little of what appeared to be his fifth whiskey in the last ten minutes. Minerva blushed even brighter when Remus came up behind him and laid a hand on the back of his neck. Severus turned and glanced up then smirked a little. "Don't you?"

"Don't I what?" Remus asked, looking from one to the other, puzzled by the odd look on Minerva's face.

"Like your balls rubbed," Severus stated matter-of-factly and Remus blushed vividly while Minerva giggled like a teenager.

"I think, Sev, you are completely waz-arsed," he spluttered, wondering why there was nowhere to hide when you needed it.

"Humm, well, that was the intention, but it's not working really well. You said yourself I was supposed to relax and open up a bit," Severus smirked, snaking an arm around Remus' waist and pulling him into his lap.

Remus shook his head and smiled apologetically at the older woman who was grinning knowingly at them both. "We were wondering if we could get inside his head earlier."

"I don't think it's his head he plans to get into," Minerva replied and tried not to giggle and choke on her drink as Remus gulped and caught at Severus' wandering hands. "You should take him to bed while he's in the mood," she remarked and spluttered another giggle when Severus stood up and dumped Remus on the floor on his bum.

"What are you doing down there?" he asked puzzled, shaking his head as he offered a hand to pull the smaller man up again. "You want to go somewhere quiet and get naked?"

"Severus Snape, you are so dead tomorrow," Remus muttered but Minerva noticed he didn't say no. Still grinning, she toasted them with her glass and watched as they wandered away, Severus staggering slightly.

"Snape seems to be somewhat drunk," Alastor remarked curiously as he took the vacated seat at her table having noted her blushes and giggles.

"Severus Snape is totally legless," Minerva remarked with a laugh, as she shared a toast with her old friend.

~~*~~

Remus shut the door after them with a decided snap the turned to stare at Severus, wondering if he should be angry or amused as the taller man bent to poke the bed springs curiously.

"So why the attempt to drink yourself into oblivion?" he decided to ask finally.

"Over the years I have noted that good Firewhiskey always tends to loosen my tongue somewhat so I am usually careful how much I drink. After this afternoon's discussion I thought it might be the perfect time to experiment, and you know, I think it might be working. I had a think about it and decided there had to be a few conditions fulfilled before I could possibly allow someone into my mind after the last time."

"And what happened last time?" Remus asked quietly so as not to disturb his mood.

"I slipped Tom a potion and discovered he didn't really love me, he just wanted my knowledge and my magic. It was a nasty let-down, a blow to the ego and I ... chose to leave him for the Light after that." The sigh was gusting, a single tear escaping, much to Remus' shock. "Made me violently ill for nearly a week, but as we had been eating oysters, I had the perfect excuse."

"So your experience with being a caring, sharing sort of guy is not salubrious," Remus remarked softly, sitting down beside Severus and stroking his back gently.

"Humm, you might say that. So, when I was thinking, I decided I needed a partner who was at least grounded in Legilimency...,"

"That would be Moody or Shacklebolt," Remus interjected, leaning over to grab a notepad and quill.

Severus snorted. "Perhaps but they also have to be intelligent enough to ask the right questions."

"Again, the two Auror fulfil that criterion too, but so does Minerva or I, I suppose...."

"Whom I thought was trustworthy."

Remus opened his mouth to make a comment but Severus clapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head in disgust. "Shut up, werewolf! The last qualification is someone whom I would consent to have physical contact with and...,"

Remus swallowed hard then sniggered. "That lets out Minerva then," he managed around the long, gagging fingers, making Severus snigger too.

"Wouldn't mind taking on Shacklebolt but never Moody, or Minnie, not even on a bet! So, that leaves you as the best pick, even though you are shite at Legilimency," Severus finished logically then sniggered. "Besides, like I told Minerva, you have a nice arse."

"You didn't? Oh Merlin, Sev, how am I supposed to face the woman again? Damn it all, Sev, you are the living end at times, aren't you. Did she blush much?" he added curiously as Severus nuzzled his neck and began to remove his cardigan.

"Like a beacon," Severus told him with relish. "I think we can do it, between us, if I grab your mind then pull you into mine and if I am buried in your body it will complete the circuit, if you get my meaning. As for the questions, I need to remember the key word I used to parcel up the memories of what I had done to Dumbledore. You need to help me look for places I can't see any more. Oh, don't worry about it; you'll see what I mean when we get to it. In the mean time," he almost purred as he drew Remus closer to his body. "Let's get to it."

Remus laughed but complied, helping his partner strip away their clothes. Remus was no stranger to sex having had more than his share of partners. Unlike his expectations, Severus seemed determined to make love to him, not simply shag for an ulterior purpose, no matter what he implied, and Remus knew the difference intimately. After Sirius had been taken to Azkaban Remus had, to use the words if his Alpha, 'fought and fucked his way through most of the packs in Great Britain.'

Easing the smaller man back, Severus made a determined effort to memorise every scar and hair whorl through his lips and hands, stroking and tending every inch of Remus until he felt as if he would explode despite Severus never touching the most aching parts of him. He knew he begged and whimpered unashamedly, tangling his fingers in that fine, dark hair and trying to pull his head up to where he wanted it but Severus merely snickered and resisted his urging until he felt it was time.

Sliding up Remus' body, he boldly captured his mouth, caressing his bottom lip teasingly until the werewolf opened his mouth. Severus introduced his tongue in one firm thrust, timed perfectly with the thrust of his hips that made Remus arch and cry out, the sounds caught and swallowed by Severus' mouth. After the initial thrust, neither moved as Remus adjusted to the painful intrusion, so shockingly unexpected after Severus gentle and sensual build-up. Panting, Remus tentatively moved his hips, willing himself to relax and accept the invasion while Severus lifted his head and smiled in sly satisfaction at the last remnants of pain still caught in his partner's eyes.

"Why?" Remus asked, biting his lip as his partner's weight was settled more firmly onto his hips.

"Sometimes we all need a little reminding that there is always a price to pay for what we receive. I have invaded you, and in return, you will invade me, that is how the game works."

"I would never deliberately hurt you, Severus," Remus protested and gasped as Severus withdrew only to plunge again.

"You will, whether you know it or not, you will. Wrap your legs around me, Remus, and hold on, this may be a bumpy ride." Severus bared his yellowed teeth and pumped slowly, the long languid strokes so different to his initial attack.

Remus shuddered and relaxed, realising his partner was playing Slytherin games with him again. Not once did Severus lose eye contact after the initial thrust, his black eyes dancing onyx flame until all Remus could see was that black gaze devouring him, caressing his mind and stealing his soul. Since Severus already possessed his soul, he did not mind the fall and was content to enjoy the oneness the taller man was creating. Tentatively, he slid his hands down over Severus' long back, feeling the muscles of his backside and thighs flex with every smooth, slow, stroke. There was no hurry in the man now, the rhythm as slow as Sunday and he moved as if he had all day. Charmed, Remus raised his head a little to capture the thin pale lips, noticing as he moved up, the eyes came closer until he could see nothing except those black on black eyes.

The space was black, only a pair of dancing flames shedding any light on the scene, a cobbled path under his feet. He stumbled a little over the uneven ground as he moved toward the torches only to realise they were held by two shapes. The two cloaked figures were similar enough to be brothers, standing side by side but Remus knew Severus had no siblings so he wondered who they were until the one on the right raised his torch and smiled slyly.

"You always were smarter than the rest of the crew," he remarked in Severus' voice. "You can call me Snape, that's Severus, he doesn't speak much. Come on, let's see what we can see. Have you thought of the questions yet?"

"What ... what do you mean? Questions? Oh, oh I see, to find the information. Alright, let's think. You hid the information in a box or a parcel, yes? How do you do that?"

"What do you mean, how do I do that?" Snape mimicked cruelly. "I thought you were bright?"

"Behave yourself! How can I know what to look for if you don't tell me," Remus reprimanded firmly, making Severus smile and sidle up to his side, running a long hand down his arm suggestively.

"Quit that! We have a serious problem, no time for hanki-panki," Snape snapped in disgust. Severus stopped with a shrug but tipped Remus a wink as he moved away a little. "Very well, I choose the information I want to keep safe then I imagine it is all stuffed into a rememberall with a word lock on it. Then I hide it away somewhere in my mind, simple really."

"So, we are looking for a rememberall," Remus mused. "Where do you usually store stuff like that?"

Huffing in disgust, Snape seemed to lead the way through corridors and darkened rooms until he came to the library, a vast vaulted space with books and scrolls shoved into every corner. "As you can see, it is an extensive collection," he said facetiously, waving a hand around behind him.

Remus was impressed, wandering over to read a title here and an illuminated letter there, Severus right behind him, touching every few seconds. It was both disconcerting and amusing as the Potions Master was not a demonstrative person at the best of times but this inner part of him was hungry for human contact. Snape, who obviously represented the intelligence, was not amused and refused to even acknowledge that his counterpart was behaving in such a shameless fashion. "Is there any sort of order in here?" Remus asked, slipping an arm around Severus and giving him a hug.

"Of course there is! That section is school, that section is College, that section is research, that section is people, that section is events." A dismissive wave accompanied each bitten off statement.

"And that section there?" Remus asked, pointing to a narrow crack in the stone wall. His attention made Severus stiffen and Snape to snarl.

"Bad stuff," Severus murmured with a shiver.

"Can we go in?"

Both manifestations of Severus Snape looked nervous but then the Snape straightened and nodded decisively. "Come on, there's a lot of nightmares locked up in here. Be careful they don't get you!"

Remus thought he knew what nightmares were but walking into Severus' was horrifying. Coming face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange in her own dungeon, blood dripping from the flesh she had just excised was horrific. A whip wielding termagant tried to drive him away, the stinging lash cutting across his two guides making them both flinch and howl until Remus cast a banishing spell over it, causing it to fly away from them. Other things tried to attack, sneaking, howling, flying, crawling until Remus was almost exhausted from holding Protego over his companions. Snape didn't say much but he consented to press as close to Remus' small figure as his counterpart Severus.

Finally, the horrors stopped attacking; their numbers falling back almost as if they were baffled by this new player in the game of mental torture but as they withdrew a new phenomenon emerged, a pale light in the distance that seemed to grow closer. On a pillar of rock in the middle of a cleared space, a rememberall was almost enshrined, glowing with a compelling light that drew as well as repelled. Remus and the two aspects of Severus Snape had trouble approaching even thought they yearned to pick up the small ball and peer into its depths. Remus managed to overcome the spells, and the reluctant dragging of his two companions, to lift the sphere to eye-level. It held a scene, a sunlit scene of calm and pleasant aspect but it made Severus keen softly and Snape stiffen away from them both. Curious, Remus peered forward and gasped as Professor Dumbledore and Severus stood under a tree talking. "You cannot ask that of me!" The image of Snape yelped, horror written large upon his face.

"I cannot, and yet I do, my son. Think like the Slytherin you are and not the Gryffindor you might have been. If my death will forward your position then you will kill me with not a thought to the consequences, do you understand. Reclaiming your place at Tom's side is vital to the war effort and I will have your promise Severus, I will have your word you will take the chance if it becomes necessary without baulking at the final hurdle."

"Headmaster... Albus... you can't ask that of me, I beg you!"

"Remember your promise, Severus, dharicz caz, to venture's end." Albus pressed without hesitation, and the potent phrase wrapped them both in the spoken promise.

Snape and Severus let out a horrifying screech of loss, pain and desolation, making Remus jump and clutch his chest to stop his heart pounding free. Something large and unseen grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and tossed him out into a body that was in the process of orgasming convulsively, even as Severus hovering above him tossed back his head and let out a shattering cry mixed of ecstasy and agony, his own orgasm taking him hard.

Panting and gasping, Severus collapsed over Remus, only the shudder of sobs marking him as still in the land of the conscious. Wrapping both arms around his partner, Remus gently rolled them to the side and disengaged carefully, summoning towels and warm damp cloths to clean and freshen them. Finally, what seemed like hours later, Severus moved of his own accord and raised a shaking hand to brush the hair from Remus' eyes, placing a careful kiss on his cheek before dropping his head back onto the pillow again.

"That God-damned promise, that accursed and benighted promise, I should have known."

"Want to tell me about it?" Remus asked gently, returning his salute with equal gentleness.

For a moment he thought Severus would not reply then the man drew a deep, shuddering breath. "Years ago, when I first left Tom, I went to Dumbledore and pledged my help. The promise we used was dharicz caz in High Court tongue it means the promise holds until the venture is ended. When Tom was defeated, I thought it was over but then he returned and the venture was not complete so the promise reasserted itself in full force. Of course Albus held me to it, even in the most abhorrent of circumstances; he made me keep my promise. It was as if he knew I would have to kill him at one point or another and he made me also promise that I would use it to my full advantage, without fear or hesitation. And I did Remy, I did. I spat the curse at him without fear or hesitation but I also cast Protego, my own version of it, wandless and wordless and more effective than any of you loyas khyk realised. Thus he was killed but not dead, merely suspended in a kind of limbo where the vampires go to rest and regenerate after centuries of life."

"Do you know how to undo it now?" Remus asked trying not to seem too eager.

"Yes, I do."