The Darker Edge

    Severus was hanging upside down, his robe falling around his hips, exposing grey underpants. The crowd surrounding him was laughing, pointing at his legs. He could see Lily Evans stomping away, hurt. She turned to him, her face a mask of fury, and shouted –

    “Severus! Get out of bed! You’re late for breakfast!”

    Severus opened his eyes. Everything was blurred. Rubbing at his eyes, Severus sat up. Standing beside his bed was Lucius Malfoy. Malfoy was, as always, in fine condition, looking as though he had been awake for hours. His hair was perfectly straight and shiny. His robes looked as though he had performed a fresh smoothing charm on them, which Severus knew to be the case. Lucius was fastidious with his clothing.

    “I said get up. You’ve done enough sulking,” Lucius commanded.

    Severus sat up and looked around. The sun was shining in the windows, looking cold and frosty as it always did. Slytherin house had a way of making everything look cold. The candles he had charmed the night before were almost entirely melted; bits of flame flickered wearily. Severus pinched the flame out, not even wincing at the burn.

    “You could use magic,” Lucius reminded him, sounding exasperated. “Honestly, do you have to be so obstinate? Get out of the bed, you’re late. You’ll miss class if you don’t hurry.”

    “Oh.” Severus climbed out of bed, gathered his robes from the previous day and made towards the bathroom. Lucius stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

    “Not those, they aren’t even clean. No wonder no one finds you attractive!” He bent down into the dark trunk beside Severus’s bed and withdrew a clean robe. “Here. And underclothes, Severus! Merlin’s beard, you aren’t wearing those miserable ones from yesterday? Are you sure you’re pureblood?”

    Severus ignored the questions and instead gathered himself an assortment of clean items. He rushed to the bathroom with Lucius at his heels.

    “Are you planning to watch?”

    “It’s a public loo, Severus. Get on with it.”

    Severus resigned himself to an audience as he showered briefly in cold water – Slytherin never had hot – and donned his clean underclothes, slacks, shirt and robes. Abandoning the tie he normally wore he turned to Lucius. “Good enough for you, or shall I do it slower this time, with a bit of music?”

    Lucius rolled his eyes. “As if you are unaware, I have many a young woman, and the occasional man, at my beck and call. You should be honored that I’m even providing you this attention.” He stood a bit straighter, quite proud of that fact. Having lovers of both sexes was a Slytherin tradition. “Now then,” he raised his wand. “A bit of detail.”

    He waved his wand and performed the smoothing charm on Severus’s clothing, making them crisp and uniformly neat to match his own. “You might do something about that hair hanging limply in your face,” he added.

    “Like what?” Severus asked, having never bothered to style his hair.

    Lucius waved the wand again and Severus’s hair was dry. A comb swept through it, leaving it looking much more like Sirius Black’s normal style then Severus’s own.

    “Lovely!” Lucius exclaimed, seeming quite pleased. “If you are ready then, we’re off to breakfast before the rest of the boys crowd up the place.”

    “How could they? They’ll be gone to class. You said we were late.”

    Lucius shrugged. “I lied,” he answered simply. “Come now, let’s make an entrance.”

    “An entrance how?” Severus asked suspiciously. “I don’t want to be the center of attention, Lucius. I’d prefer to just be alone.”

    “Nonsense! The proud Slytherin never shies away from fame.” Lucius beamed. “You must demonstrate proper wizarding pride, for once in your life.”

    “Lucius, I...”

    “Now, Severus,” Lucius said in a voice that suddenly turned steely.

    Severus shrugged and complied, hunching over in his characteristic fashion. He felt like a complete failure and desperately wished that Lucius would find someone else to be a project. What was the point in trying? It would never make a difference.

    When they reached the Great Hall, Severus was horrified to see that it was already crowded. Normally he waited until the last minute and ducked in, so as not to face the stares and teasing of his fellow students. Eating in public made him feel nervous; he was always expecting to spill jam on himself or to knock over his goblet of juice. The fact that these mortifying incidents happened to all of the students did nothing to lessen his fear.

    “You bring it on yourself,” Lucius was saying. “This attitude you have, as though you expect to be humiliated, it makes everyone believe that you deserve to be treated this way. If you exhibit a little bit of confidence, Severus, everyone will view you as being worthy of decency. No one wants to help the underdog.”

    Severus cringed as Lucius guided him inside the Great Hall. “Confidence,” Lucius was whispering under his breath, beaming at his Slytherin table.

    Severus said nothing and allowed himself to be guided over to the Slytherin table, over which flew a banner of green and silver. Lucius walked with a confident, quick stride, and his arm around Severus’s shoulders forced Severus to keep up the pace. After a few running steps, he was able to keep up with Lucius, although his gait was not nearly as smooth.

    As he seated himself, Severus caught the surprised looks of his fellows. Obviously, they had expected him to stay burrowed up in his bedroom. That was in fact what Severus wanted to do, but Lucius was obviously not going to allow it.

    “The key to feeling pride is convincing yourself that you should be proud,” Lucius explained, sounding much like a motivational speaker. “For instance, Severus, say you are tempted to feel embarrassed over the incident yesterday. If you give in to that feeling you will spend the day moping, and hence be ashamed. However, if you refuse to give in to shame and hold your head up high, the pride will follow.”

    “You should write for the Quibbler,” Severus commented, referring to a new tabloid that had recently come onto the market.

    “Do you think so?” Lucius asked, surprised.

    “Of course. They print nothing but worthless lies, you would fit right in.”

    “Severus, must you refuse every offer of goodwill on my part? I’m trying to help you!”

    “You’re only doing it so that your precious Slytherin house isn’t humiliated,” Severus answered through clenched teeth.

    “For whatever reason I do it, you should be appreciative,” Lucius reprimanded. “It’s the first time I’m aware of where anyone took an interest in you.”

    “Is this still part of the motivational speaking?” Severus asked innocently.

    Lucius opened his mouth to speak and then changed his mind and turned away. Severus filled his plate with bacon and eggs, wishing he had brought a book to read. It was lonely, sitting amid the sea of students who hated him. He crunched the bacon loudly, trying to drown out the thoughts in his head.

    There was a swooshing sound and owls started to fly into the Great Hall with mail clutched in their talons. Severus did not bother to look up. He never received post from home, and had no friends to write to him.

    An eagle owl landed beside Lucius, bearing not one but four letters, all on fancy parchment with wax seals. Lucius removed them from the leg of his owl smoothly and stroked it once. “Ah, letters from home. Oh, and I’ve been expecting this one.”

    He flipped through the letters and pulled out a black envelope. He opened it quickly, giving furtive glances around. The letter inside was written on black parchment with red ink. Severus looked over. “What’s that?”

    “A secret society of sorts, Severus,” Lucius explained airily as he hid the letter in his robes. “Perhaps, if you brush up a bit, I might introduce you.”

    Severus doubted that he would have any interest in joining any organization Lucius was involved in. He had always found his parent’s clubs and gatherings to be exceeding boring. Everything required the most formal dress, and guests were always mingling around, laughing in false, high-pitched voices. In the evening the talk always turned to murder and bloodshed, especially the killing of Muggles. Severus’s parents were obsessed with Muggle killings; they considered it sport, as did many of their associates.

    “Severus, your owl,” Lucius spoke up, nudging him.

    Severus turned. Perched beside his plate was a large tawny owl, eyeing him suspiciously. Attached to its leg was a red envelope. Severus cringed. “Oh wonderful, a Howler!”

    He withdrew his envelope and shooed the bird away angrily. As if he needed any more humiliation, the envelope started to smoke. The corners curled up.

    “I suggest you open it right quick,” Lucius recommended, scooting a bit away from Severus..

    “Do you now? Don’t suppose you have any idea what this is about?” Severus said fiercely.

    “Now Severus, I’m only in my proper place as a Slytherin prefect. I have an obligation to inform your parents of misdeeds and problems you are having in the school. It’s for your own benefit,” Lucius declared, holding his head high.

    Severus bared his teeth. He made to pick up the smoldering envelope, but it burst open before he could touch it, scattering sparks across the table.

    “SEVERUS SNAPE! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ASHAMED IN MY LIFE! TO THINK I EVER CALLED YOU SON. YOU ARE A COMPLETE DISGRACE, AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE FAMILY AND A SHAME TO THE WIZARDING WORLD AS A WHOLE. YOU AREN’T FIT TO LICK THE FILTH FROM A SQUIBS BOOT! I WOULD RATHER MY SON WAS A MUGGLE CHILD. I CONGRATULATE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL IN THE PARODY THEY HAVE MADE OF YOU, YOU PATHETIC FOOL. YOU ARE UNFIT TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY AND ARE HEREBY DISOWNED! “

    Severus watched as the fuming red envelope proceeding to rip itself to shreds. His face was red with embarrassment and he could sense the entire Great Hall staring his way.

    Lucius put a hand on Severus’s arm. “Now, don’t get all emotional, Severus. I had to inform them of your behavior. Aside from being a prefect I am an old family friend and am duty bound to live up to that title.”

    Severus shrugged Lucius’s hand away. “That was a great help Lucius, thanks. You just screwed your Slytherin pride bit.”

    He left the Great Hall, fuming, his robes swirling around his legs. It wasn’t the first time he had been disowned by his mother, but nonetheless it was quite embarrassing to have the entire school hear about it. To think, he had once considered her defenseless and actually felt pity for the abuse she suffered. She deserved it. Everyone deserved the worst they got.

    “Severus?”

    “Do you need to poke more fun at me? Wasn’t that enough?” he demanded, turning.

    Lily Evans stood before him, her eyes full of compassion. “I just wanted to say...I’m sorry about what James did. He’s an idiot. He doesn’t think...” She broke off, looking discouraged.

    “That didn’t stop everyone from laughing, did it?” Severus demanded harshly.

    “I didn’t laugh,” Lily replied, staring at the ground as though afraid to meet his eyes.

    That was true. Severus turned without replying and started to walk away, seething with hatred.

    “Severus...”

    “What do you want, Evans?” he demanded roughly, whirling around to face her. “Can’t you just leave me alone?”

    “I want you to understand. I’m not like that,” she answered, biting her lip. Severus could see her hands shaking slightly, as though she was dealing with a chimera instead of a Slytherin.

    He shrugged. “Smashing. Now if you’ll let me continue on to classes...”

    She nodded and ducked back into the Great Hall. Severus watched her go, certain that she was off to giggle with her friends about something, even though she never did that. He narrowed his eyes. Who needed her apologies? Lily Evans would never experience the same pain he was feeling. Severus clasped his hands into fists. The arrogant Mudblood bitch.

    He stormed off in the direction of History of Magic, which was taught by Professor Binns. Although most students hated the Professor and though him dry as dust, Severus liked the class. Binns was so caught up in lecture that he never noticed in Severus read a different book or drew absentmindedly on his parchments. Besides, the history of magic was fascinating.

    “You needn’t get so upset,” Lucius declared forty-five minutes later, nudging Severus. “Your mother adores me. Can I help it if I prefer to stay in her good graces?”

    Severus resolutely ignored him, keeping his eyes on Binns, who was lecturing about Goblin revolutions. Half of the students were asleep; they were all experts are performing the charm that allowed their eyes to stay open, even blinking, as they slept. The rest looked desperately bored. Theodore Lestrange was making flying airplanes under his desk, which he threw at the girls when Binns turned his back. Severus considered every one of his peers idiots, and glared at them through slitted eyes.

    “Severus, you really have no reason to be so stubborn.”

    “Leave me alone,” Severus hissed back at Lucius.

    “You’re so dramatic Severus! There is nothing to get emotional about. What do you care if your parents are furious with you? You hate them anyway.”

    “Good point,” Severus whispered. He glanced over at Lucius. “Why do you care so much all of a sudden? I’ve known you all my life and you’ve never cared what I thought of you.”

     “That’s true. To be honest, I’m interested in recruiting you for something, but I want to be certain you support our mission.”

    “Which is?”

    Lucius smirked, ignoring the annoyed glance Binns shot his way. “Everything a fine, upstanding pure blood like yourself ought to value. Prove to me that you can make an effort, and I’ll consider you.”

    Severus shook his head his amused disbelief. Lucius had some ego. Severus turned away, focusing back on Binns. The Goblin Revolution was growing bloodier and the death toll was approaching one thousand a day. Goblins could be powerful, if they wanted to be.

    “You want to hurt them, don’t you,” Lucius whispered.

    “Hurt who? The goblins?” Severus asked, confused.

    Lucius sighed. “No, Squib, the people who hurt you. Idiot fools like Potter and Black, who will associate with the worse kind of scum, who don’t have proper respect for pureblood authority. Would you not love to make them suffer for the humiliation they have caused you?”

    “Obviously, Lucius, I would love to skin Potter like a shrivelfig. The problem is, I can’t. I’d be expelled at once, not to mention tossed in Azkaban for a good long while.”

    “You know more dark magic then anyone I’ve met,” Lucius said. “I’m serious!” he added at Severus’s skeptical glance. “You would be a valuable asset.”

    “In doing what?”

    Lucius sighed. “You questioned me about the letter I received at breakfast. I told you it was from a secret society, which it is, but here is the secret. Someone new is working in the wizarding world, someone who operates outside of the Ministry. He supports pureblood wizardry, and many other things I believe you support as well.”

    “Who are we talking about here?” Severus questioned. His parents were always talking about overthrowing the Mudblood run Ministry, but as far as he knew, no one had ever tried.

    “Lord Voldemort,” Lucius told him.

    “Voldemort?” Severus asked, rather loudly, uncertain he had heard Lucius correctly. He had never before heard the name.

    “I’m sorry, Mr. Snape, but the goblin revolution was not sparked by any Voldemort. It was Volengrad,” answered Professor Binns. “Are you sure you read the chapter?”

    Several girls started to laugh and quickly covered their mouths with their hands when they noticed Severus glaring. He was well known to be an expert at curses.

    Severus turned back to Lucius, who was smirking. “What exactly do you want from me, Malfoy?”

    “Lord Voldemort is seeking to gain supporters, Severus, people who support his aims and want the wizarding world under the power of someone with pure blood principals. If he succeeds, you will never have to contend with abuse like Potter gives you.”

    “I don’t have time for fantasies, Lucius, especially when it concerns some madman calling himself a lord,” Severus said. He nodded towards Professor Binns, who was describing the formations goblins used in attack. “I’m trying to take notes here.”

    “I don’t know why you bother,” Lucius said, rolling his eyes. “We learned all this already. It’s just review for O.W.L.’s. Besides, what does it matter what goblin did what? They’re all the same to me.”

    Severus sighed. What had he done to earn Malfoy? “I, unlike you, am actually in school to learn. I’d like to get a decent job when I get out of here. I can’t very well expect my parents to support me.”

    “I, unlike you,” Malfoy hissed, winking, “have a life. Come on, Severus, here I am offering you the opportunity of a lifetime, and you’re obsessing over goblins.”

    Severus tossed the quill down on the desk and shot an exasperated look at Malfoy. “Okay, okay, on with the sales pitch. Make it quick, I’d like to spend some of the class time learning.”

    “Attitude, Snape,” Lucius declared. “I’m telling you, this is a dream come true. Working for Lord Voldemort, you would be royalty as a pureblood, your power equal to a god.”

    “Volde-who?” Severus asked under his breath for the express purpose of annoying Lucius further. He turned slightly in his seat, keeping his eyes carefully on Professor Binns. He was not accustomed to making a fool of himself in class, on the contrary, it was where he felt the most appreciated.

    “Lord,” Malfoy hissed impatiently. “Voldemort.”

    “And,” Severus continued, “exactly who is he?”

    Lucius glanced around, his eyes narrowed as if making sure that no one was eavesdropping. Then he leaned closer to Severus and dropped his voice to a whisper. “He’s someone who is making changes in the Wizarding world. Someone who unlike most of the Mudblood loving fools in the Ministry actually sees things from our point of view.”

    “A political candidate?” Severus questioned.

    Malfoy gave a very discreet nod. “To a point, yes, but Lord Voldemort is so much more then a mere politician. He will be the one to topple the Ministry, to bring about an entire new system. A man of action, he is, not idle like so many before him.”

    “A revolutionary,” Severus mused. He felt the Professors eyes upon him and drew a few scribbles on his parchment, to make it look as if he was taking his usual copious notes. The Professor nodded and turned away to the chalkboard, where elaborate diagrams of battlegrounds begin to draw themselves.

    Severus turned back to Malfoy. “And why have I not heard of him yet?”

    “He is not your typical revolutionary, Severus. He does not burst forth without plans and adequate support. That is what I am telling you, we are recruiting support now.”

    “There is a reason why I would be interested in all of this, I’m sure,” Severus whispered sarcastically. He felt a moment of deep disappointment, a difficult emotion for someone who had long abandoned hope. Malfoy’s words about being royalty, being godlike, had stirred something within him. He had a deep need for power, but Malfoy’s man seemed to be nothing but a Ministry hopeful.

    “In fact, there is,” Malfoy replied, undaunted. “The Dark Lord has powers beyond the imagination of many of his contemporaries. If anyone will succeed in overthrowing the Ministry it will be him.”

    “You know I care little for politics,” Severus reminded him. “I’m not interested.”

    “And as I told you, Lord Voldemort is nothing like a politician. He is a man of action and incredible skill. He does not want only to change the Ministry, he wants to have power over the entire Wizarding community. Do you not yet see where this would help you? As a willing supporter you would grow in the ranks, you would have virtually limitless power when Voldemort achieves his goal.”

    “If he achieves it,” Severus stressed.

    “I tell you, he shall,” Lucius snapped, not bothering to keep his voice down. Professor Binns gave him a sharp look, which Lucius ignored.

    “Others have claimed that they will change the system, bring it back into the exclusive power of pureblood wizards, and nothing has happened.”

    Lucius sighed. “Nothing of the sort will happen in this case.”

    “Where would I come in? What would he want with me?” Severus asked, twirling his quill between his fingers.

    “Oh, you must know yourself well enough to know this,” Lucius exclaimed. “But if you insist, I’ll flatter you. You are a master at potions, you are superb at curses, not to mention you have no moral code to interfere with the work we need done.”

    “I’m flattered,” remarked Severus, who was. “Although I’m confused on the morals bit. What would I have to do? Lobby?”

    “Lord Voldemort does not lobby,” declared Lucius, who seemed personally offended by the thought. “He forces. You would force. You would use your skills and powers for a cause that allowed you free rein. No restraint, Severus, no laws or authorities to stop you from doing anything you want.”

    “Murder?” Severus asked, half joking.

    “If it is in the job description,” Lucius answered, deadly serious. He looked Severus in the eye. “If you follow Voldemort there is nothing you cannot do.”

    “I shall think about it,” Severus said, rolling up his parchment as the class lecture came to an end. “I’ll let you know.”

    “Fine. Keep in mind, however, that this position is a perfect compliment for your powers. With Lord Voldemort you will be able to fully exercise your will. No life inside the system will afford you such freedom. You’ll rot as a potions teacher if you decline this opportunity.”

    “I hardly think it will come to that,” Severus remarked, smirking.

    “One never knows,” Lucius answered ominously. “You give this serious thought, Severus. I would not approach you if I thought you unworthy of such a magnificent and powerful post.”

    “Working for an unknown wizard,” Severus snapped back. He hated it when Lucius bragged and furthermore he was completely unconvinced. The man, Voldemort, sounded quite interesting but Severus had long bid farewell to hope. It seemed impossible that such a golden opportunity should come his way. “I shall let you know.”

    Professor Binns set down his stack of lecture notes and dismissed the class with a wave. The few sleeping students were shoved awake by their peers and exited the room in a loud, pushing crowd.

    Without a word Lucius stood and picked up his books and unused parchment. Severus remained in his seat and watched as Lucius swept elegantly out of the door, talking amicably with a pretty girl with green ribbons in her black hair.

    “Swine,” Severus muttered under his breath, trying to push away the jealousy he had for Malfoy. He hated and envied the easy way that Lucius could approach both women and men. He had only to flash his pearly smile, to stare at them with his emerald eyes, and they melted. Severus could hardly force out words when confronted with another wizard or witch.

    “Any questions, Mr. Snape, over the lecture?” asked Professor Binns, who was filing away his parchment.

    “Not on the lecture, no,” Severus replied. “However, I was wondering if you could answer another question for me.”

    “I would be happy too,” Binns said, beaming. Severus was one of his favorite students, in part because Severus bothered to read the texts and study, unlike nearly every other student. Binns enjoyed teaching but was frustrated with modern students. They rarely asked him anything, and he knew that they never paid attention in class.

    Severus looked Professor Binns closely in the eyes, his expression serious.

    “Who is Voldemort?”