Deception

Chapter 1

The pain was fading. The man twisting and writhing on the floor could think again. Determinedly, he crawled inch by inch to the cause of his pain. "Master," he gasped. "Master, I beg mercy--"

"Mercy, Severus?" The Dark Lord's thin lips parted in a cruel mockery of a smile. "You allow that--that boy to walk right into the Department of Mysteries and smash the prophecy. You've taught him for five years, Severus, surely you know by now that Potter has a habit of ruining the most precise of plans unless his steps are carefully guided. You should have stopped his little friends from following him. You should have gone with him to the Ministry. If you had followed the plan then he would be dead, the prophecy would be mine, and I would have regained my full power by now. Crucio."

Severus Snape shrieked in pain. Even after months of continued torture, the Cruciatus Curse still hurt as much as it did the very first time. Fortunately, Voldemort tired of the screaming soon. He raised his wand and Severus felt the unforgiving band slowly squeezing his heart out of his chest loosen. When he could breath again he tried to explain his actions. "After I left Dolores's office...after Potter and Granger had lured her to the forest..." he wheezed, not finding enough air to fill his lungs, "Filch found me...told me there were students...Stunned in her office. I had to...help otherwise the other teachers...would be suspicious. Then later I was watched by the Order...just to make sure I didn't..."

Voldemort laughed, cutting him off. Severus shivered--the Dark Lord laughing was often an indicator of a quickly shortened life. "You hid at Hogwarts because you were afraid those fools would be suspicious? That some insignificant member of the so-called Order of the Phoenix would tattle on you?" Severus cowered at the feet of the snake-like creature. "Yes, I can see that. How very unfortunate for you, that you were forced to remain at Hogwarts while my loyal followers were fighting for me in the Department of Mysteries. You must have been furious."

Daring to look up, Severus saw that Voldemort did not seem intent on his immediate death. Instead, he saw red eyes weighing him. For what, he was afraid to even imagine. "Master," he breathed.

"You are acquainted with the Malfoy boy, are you not?" snapped Voldemort.

Severus winced before he realized he was not in pain. However, if he kept his Lord waiting for answers much longer, he would be. "Yes, my Master. I have known him since his birth and I have taught him for five years."

"And Lucius? What of him?"

"Yes, Master. I attended school and joined your ranks with him. But I'm afraid with his recent...imprisonment, I have not spoken with him in many months."

The Dark Lord waved his excuse away as if the answer was not important. "You have no loyalty to either?" he demanded.

Severus shook his head violently. "My only allegiance is to you, my Lord. To you and no other." The Death Eater mantra spilled out of his mouth like it had so many times before. However, this time, with the Dark Lord's attention directly on him, even hints of betrayal passing through his mind could be deadly.

The serpentine man nodded. "I can see your loyalty in your mind. Nevertheless, I feel I must test it, especially after recent events. I have set a task for the young Malfoy." With sadistic precision, Voldemort explained the task he had forced upon Draco. Severus listened intently as his heart grew heavier. Poor Draco would have a rough year ahead of him.

"See to it that the task is completed at any cost." Severus opened his mouth to object, momentarily forgetting who he was speaking to. "Crucio!" When the pain ended, Voldemort added softly, "Any cost. If he should fail, I will hold you responsible. Wormtail!"

Severus jumped as the small man stepped from the shadows. Sometime between the torture and the questions, the former Marauder had entered the room. "Yes, Master?" he squeaked, much like the rat he often was.

"You will go with Severus and make sure he follows orders. Ensure that I receive regular reports." With that final command, Voldemort turned away, signaling the conversation was over. Severus and Wormtail quickly backed out of the room.

---

Inside the house on Spinner's End, Severus sat rubbing his eyes. He was afraid to open them. He knew if he did, he would still see the remnants of the Unbreakable Vow lingering on his skin. It mocked him, promising death and duplicity in the future.

He still couldn't believe he allowed Bellatrix to unknowingly goad him into taking it. Hinting to Narcissa, an old friend, that he could help was all very well, but he had no intention of taking a Vow to do so. A moment of foolishness and he ordered Bellatrix to be their Bonder. Once the words left his mouth, he knew he couldn't take them back; he couldn't remove Bella from the job. If he had tried, she would have leapt on this as a sign of betrayal against their Lord.

It was the third Vow that bothered him so. Watching and protecting Draco was something he had done for the last fifteen years. But Vowing to complete Draco's task if he should fail...

The Vow made it final. He knew the Dark Lord expected him to complete the deed or face the punishment, but he could escape Voldemort's wrath if worse came to worse. But no one had ever escaped an Unbreakable Vow. The consequence if he refused--death. Dumbledore may believe that death was merely another adventure, but for Severus Snape, it was the end.

Enough. If he worried any more, he would have a mental breakdown. Or worse, his Legilimency skills would be weakened to the point Voldemort would be able to see his mind clearly. Then he would surely die, after several others died because of his knowledge.

Not that people had not died already. He felt a slight pang thinking of Emmeline Vance. She never trusted him (but then again, few did), but that was no reason for him to reveal her location. It was Amelia Bones he really regretted, even though he was only indirectly responsible for her death. She was Head Girl when he started Hogwarts and often stopped others from bullying him.

It never occurred to him to express grief over Sirius Black's death. As far as he was concerned, Black got what he deserved--better, in fact. Severus wouldn't have lifted a wand to help Black from receiving the Dementor's Kiss after several more years in Azkaban. Falling painlessly into the Realm of the Dead was a coward's way out...but Black never was brave. That particular quality was mutated in Potter. Both Potters, in fact. It seems foolhardiness (often confused with bravery) was hereditary.

Harry Potter. He just didn't know what to do with that Potter. As he told Bellatrix, Dumbledore's wrath would be terrible if he killed, or even watched the death of Potter. But the Dark Lord would also punish him if Potter lived much longer.

The trouble with obeying two masters is that orders will eventually conflict.

"Wormtail," he snapped loudly. He did not bother to leave the room to do so, even though the other man's room was up two floors in the attic. Wormtail stumbled through the hidden door far too quickly to have been sulking in his room. Once again, the rat man had overstepped himself. Severus would have to teach him to respect privacy soon. Sadly, there were more important matters at hand.

"What, Severus?" Wormtail snarled. Apparently being sent for wine like a house elf still rankled him. Severus ignored this, much like he ignored almost everything else about the twisted little man.

"We're almost out of food. Go to the village and fetch us some."

"I'm not your slave!" the little man protested shrilly.

Severus stood slowly. With deliberate steps, he approached the other wizard. "I dislike repeating myself. The Dark Lord sent you here to assist me. Therefore, you do what I say. You disobey me, you disobey our Lord. You'd never want to do that, correct?"

Wormtail opened and closed his mouth several times before shaking his head vehemently. "Then go," Severus breathed. With a loud pop Wormtail Disapperated.

Finally. Spinning on his heel, Severus strode to the dusty fireplace. After one quick look around, just to make sure he was alone, he pulled a vial of glittering powder from his robes. "Headmaster of Hogwarts' office," he stated clearly as he stuck his head into the suddenly dancing green flames. He had many things he must tell Dumbledore.

---

"What do you mean, he's not there?" snapped Severus.

Minerva McGonagall shifted uncomfortably. She had been preparing for the upcoming term when a Sensoring Spell alerted her that someone was attempting to contact Dumbledore. Now she was squatting in front of a fireplace the Headmaster's office, trying to calm her colleague. "It's a simple concept, Severus. Albus has business elsewhere. He will be away until the start of term."

The head in the fireplace scowled at her. "I need to speak with him now. I can't owl him--"

The Transfiguration professor laughed dryly. "I should say not. He's blocked all owls to him, from me or otherwise." She frowned. "Why do you need him so desperately now? You've been avoiding him since the beginning of holiday."

"It's nothing," Severus finally said. As Minerva started to argue, Severus pulled his head out of the fireplace, effectively ending the conversation.