Lifelines

High, cold laughter.

I thought I warded the house against Apparation. Severus hesitated in the dark shadows of Spinner's End, frowning at the dim firelight flickering through the front window of his house. The laughter continued, mirthless but exultant. Something touched his arm--Draco Malfoy, huddling close as if for protection.

"Did you know he would be here?" Draco whispered.

Severus gave his head a quick shake. "But it will not do to keep him waiting. Come." He started forward. Draco followed, but on the doorstep he halted.

"If he knows--if he knows I didn't do it--my parents, I--"

"The Dark Lord has scored a great victory tonight," Severus replied. "I would be surprised if he gave much thought to the manner of its accomplishment. He will not be angry with you, Draco, at least not yet." He left unsaid that he had been hoping for more time to compose himself. He was in no state to practice successful Occlumency, should it be needed. But there was nothing else for it. He tapped the doorknob with his wand and it swung open.

Severus stopped short in the doorway, and Draco remained behind him. The room was crowded. A quick glance revealed the Dark Lord at once, standing by the fireplace and still uttering that inhuman laugh; Fenrir, Amycus, and Alecto gathered around him; Wormtail standing in a corner alone; Bellatrix Lestrange lounging on the arm of a chair--then Narcissa Malfoy gave a strangled cry and threw herself towards the door.

"Draco! Draco! Are you all right? You're not hurt? Thank you, Severus, thank you, how can I ever--"

"Come here, Severus." This voice was colder, but one he dared not disobey even in its current good humor. He made his way across the suddenly silent room to the fireplace, bowing his head so as to avoid both disrespect and eye contact.

"Amycus tells me you have taken liberties with my orders, Severus. Did you think such presumption would gain you favor?"

Severus kept his head down. "I thought it most important that the task succeed, Master. I may have sacrificed my position in the Order of the Phoenix, but the Order itself will be left in chaos after tonight. There are none left to challenge you, my lord." He risked a glance upward. The Dark Lord was smiling.

"Give me your wand, Severus. I must see this for myself." The Dark Lord extended a hand, took the wand when Severus offered it, and flicked it upward at the ceiling. "Priori incantatem!"

All heads turned to watch. The first spell out of the wand was the one Severus had used to open his front door. The Dark Lord impatiently flicked the wand again. The second spell emerged as a thin arc of light in a whipping motion. Severus remembered firing that one at Potter in a fit of rage. He held his breath, hoping fervently that he hadn't used any spells that would raise awkward questions. The next flick revealed a simple disarming charm, followed by a long succession of shield charms, one after the other. Bellatrix glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. Severus ignored her. He had an excuse ready--after all, who could fault him for wanting to make a quick escape?--but it would be unwise to display a need to justify his actions at every turn. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, a green flash momentarily illuminated the dim room. Several of the Death Eaters jumped in surprise, and Bellatrix gave a drawn-out gasp as something white emerged from the tip of the wand. It looked like a Patronus at first, but as the Death Eaters nearest the hearth backed away and the figure rose towards the ceiling, there could be no mistaking it.

The translucent image of Albus Dumbledore peered down at them through wispy half-moon glasses. "We meet again, Tom," it said calmly. Severus felt a twist in his gut, but couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene.

The Dark Lord laughed again. "And well met, I must say. I have dreamed of this moment for years, you know, and I thank you for obliging me at last. Tell me, Dumbledore, what do you think of your 'next great adventure' now? Changed your tune a bit, have you?"

"Alas, I am in no position to share such information with you, Tom. My perspective on the matter may have changed, I admit, but my opinion remains the same. As will yours to the end, I fear--too often we see only what we expect to see. Severus--"

Severus gave an involuntary start. Why did Dumbledore have to draw attention to him?

"I see you have finally proven where your true loyalties lie." An act, Severus reminded himself, where would I be if I did not know how to act? He met the white shadow's eyes.

"So it would seem," he managed, making an attempt at his usual sneer. It must have come off acceptably, because one or two of the other Death Eaters sniggered.

"May you serve your new cause every bit as faithfully as you served mine," Dumbledore's shade continued mildly. This made the onlookers fairly hoot with laughter. That wasn't fair. How do I answer that? What was the nature of this apparition, anyway? Would Dumbledore, beyond the Veil, know or care what he said next? And what cause was he referring to? Potter. He means Potter. He asks too much of me.

"My faithfulness was established long ago. You are more foolish than I imagined, if you believe this to be a new cause--Dumbledore." He'd been that close to saying 'Headmaster.'

"I have failed you, Severus. You should not have felt the need to do as you did, and for that I apologize. It pains me to see you come to this."

"Really? Why, then, did I get the impression I was never more than a pawn?" He regretted that as soon as he'd said it. It wasn't something he'd wanted Dumbledore or the Death Eaters to hear. This conversation needed to end. Now.

"I'm finished with you, Dumbledore. There is a war to be fought, and as you've so thoughtfully reminded me, I have a cause to serve. I think even you will find my dedication... admirable." I'll do it, but I don't have to like it.

The white figure bowed its head and dissolved into mist.

"So," the Dark Lord whispered. "So, even now, he refuses to acknowledge his error... his many errors... still, it hardly matters. My friends!" He tossed Severus's wand back to him and raised his voice to address the entire room. "We ought to raise a toast to the memory of such a notable wizard, don't you agree?"

"The Leaky Cauldron closes at dusk now," Bellatrix called. "That's bad for business. Suppose we give it some custom?"

"The Leaky Cauldron, then." The Dark Lord vanished abruptly. Several small pops could be heard in quick succession, and the room was suddenly empty. Severus sank immediately into the nearest chair, resting his face in one hand. He extinguished the fire with a nonverbal spell, leaving the room lit only by moonlight through the windows and a streetlamp's glow through the door, still wide open.

He heard the floor creak behind him. Then again. Slow footsteps. He ignored them until he could see Draco approaching out of the corner of his eye.

"Leave me be."

"Professor Snape? Severus, I mean? I--"

"Leave me. Go with your mother before she starts to worry." Draco didn't move. Severus twisted in his chair to face him. "What do you want?"

"I-I wanted to thank you for--"

"You have no idea what I did for you. None. Now get out." He was saying too much already.

"I don't understand, sir," Draco pressed on. "You've accomplished what no Death Eater ever could. You've won yourself a great honor. You'll be rewarded--"

"Rewarded? Pray tell, Draco, since you have such experience in this matter. How does the Dark Lord reward his followers? What reward did he offer you for the same deed?"

Draco looked uncomfortable. "He didn't kill my parents, for a start--"

"He didn't kill your parents!" Severus had no trouble sneering now. "He didn't kill you, either. How generous of him. Never let it be said that the Dark Lord does not reward his devoted followers most richly. He doesn't kill their families. At least not often."

Draco's frown deepened. "Why are you talking like this? You, who are the Dark Lord's most trusted supporter--"

"Let me tell you something about your master, Draco. He trusts no one. He cares for no one. Remember that, if you value your life. This is not Hogwarts. You and I were safer there, even under Dumbledore's nose. Dumbledore never used an Unforgivable Curse as a means for punishment or convenient disposal. What's more, your new compatriots are as frightened for their own safety as you have every right to be, and not one of them save your mother will ever risk their necks for you. You're alone. And don't think your pure blood will save you, either. Much good it did your father. No, there's nothing protecting you now but your own behavior, and even that can fail you if he becomes displeased. Keep your head down, do as you're told, and avoid the Dark Lord's attention whenever possible. Do all this, and you may survive his service."

Draco's expression had turned from concern to one of alarm. He stared at Severus for a long moment before speaking in a hushed voice. "Don't say that. If the Dark Lord should find out--"

"If he should hear that I speak ill of him, my recent rise in his estimation will count for less than nothing. Perhaps now you understand my lack of enthusiasm on the subject. Now kindly leave my house."

"Sir--"

"Go!"

Draco took a few quick steps backwards, turned, and Disapparated. Severus sighed heavily as he finally released the tight hold he'd been forced to keep on his emotions. He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands again, suddenly too exhausted to do more than sit still in darkness and numb silence. Somewhere far away, on the edge of his mind, he almost thought he heard a phoenix sing.