CHAPTER SIX
Shadows and Stone
Footsteps echoed in the rock cut stairwell as two figures walked down. They moved slowly, down farther into the depths. Water droplets fell from the ceiling as underground waterways passed above. Farther into the darkness below the two men moved, the lantern held by the taller one swaying about. As they reached the bottom landing, a wooden door appeared out of the darkness.
The shorter blonde haired man was shivering in fear as he stared at the door, and glanced quickly up the stairwell. The tall man knocked heavily on the door, the sound reverberating up the stairwell. The door creaked open slowly, and the two entered.
`Ah Severus. You finally decided to come. And look, you brought Draco, excellent. The Dark Lord is eager to see the two of you' smiled a dark haired, hollow faced woman, as the two men entered the stone antechamber.
Bellatrix lead the way, as Severus and Draco followed across the chamber. Water droplets continued to fall, echoing in the darkness as the three reached another wooden door, with a silver snake door knocker. Bellatrix knocked on the door, and it creaked open. Bellatrix smiled evilly, and Serverus and Draco entered the dark room.
It was high ceiling stone room, with torches, bracketed to the walls, lighting the room dimly. On the far wall, a wooden chair stood on a raised platform, and as the two men entered the room, Bellatrix followed behind. A tall man stood from the chair, and with a flick of his hand, closed and locked the door. Snape looked around the room, and was unhappy to notice it was the only way out.
`Severus. It's been quite some time. Come, you have many questions to answer' said the man calmly, as he motioned Snape towards the front of the chair. The man waved his wand, and two chairs appeared. Draco hesitated to sit, however was pushed by Snape to the right chair. As Snape sat in the left chair, he made sure to keep his Occlumency strong, just incase. The tall man sat down quietly, his eyes glaring red in the torchlight.
`But first, let me deal with dear Draco' said Voldemort slowly. With an evil grin, he looked to Draco. His wand moved slightly, making Draco quiver in fear.
`You failed in your task young Malfoy. Yes, you managed to allow my Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts, but you were too weak to finish the task. Tell me, why should I let you live?'
Snape knew Draco's chances of living where small. He had failed to kill Dumbledore, and he knew the Dark Lord wanted to show his unhappiness. He could see Draco sweating as he was no doubt trying to formulate an answer to an impossible question. Draco looked to the Dark Lord, and responded, his voice shaky and quiet.
`I know I failed to kill Dumbledore, but he's dead, and isn't that what matters?' said Draco. Snape knew the answer was not good enough, and was not surprised to see the Dark Lord raise his wand, Draco shuddering in fear again. Voldemort grinned wider.
`It does matter. I told you to kill him, and you failed. I do not tolerate failure.' He pointed his wand at Draco's chest.
`Crucio'
Draco fell to the floor screaming in pain. He was twitching and convulsing as the pain moved through every part of his body, his screams echoing in the large chamber, amplifying the sound. Just as the pain became almost unbearable, Voldemort raised his wand, and the curse was lifted. Draco lay silently trembling on the stone floor, breathing heavily. Voldemort stood from his chair, and moved towards Draco. Snape knew better than to get up, and remained in his seat.
`You, like your father, have failed me. Your father is a fortunate fool, and landed himself in Azkaban. He will soon he will face me though, and receive his fate.' Voldemort walked around Draco, who was still lying silently on the stone ground. He continued at a painfully slow pace, dragging out the punishment.
`You, on the other hand, will wait for death. I want your father to watch you die, to see how his son is as much of a failure as he is. So for now, you will live. But, do not think I am letting you live out of mercy' he said darkly. Draco looked up fearfully, to see the Dark Lord point his wand at Draco again. Snape saw a look of utter horror on Draco's face, as the Dark Lord gave another evil grin.
`Crucio'
Draco again writhed in pain as the curse spread through his entire body. He felt like it lasted forever, but the curse was finally lifted, and he stayed lying on the cold floor, more than believing he was smoldering. Voldemort gave a look of disgust at the heap of a man on the floor, and motioned to two Death Eaters, who appeared from a dark corner, to come over. They picked Draco's limp body, and took him from the room, through the door. Voldemort moved into a corner, and looked back at Snape, who was still sitting on the chair, Occlumency still working hard. The Dark Lord's eyes, Snape was sure, were glowing red.
`So Severus' said Voldemort, pacing back to the chair slowly, and sitting down, `explain your actions. It will take much to prove why I should let you live' said the Dark Lord, his long fingers stretching over the arms of the chair. Snape had thought over this answer for a while, ever since he took the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa. He gathered his thoughts, and looked up confidently to the Dark Lord.
`My Lord, I admit, when you were lost, I believed you to be defeated. I followed your last orders, and kept my post at Hogwarts. I stayed there, gaining Dumbledore's trust, and learned his secrets, and those of the Order of the Phoenix. I returned to you three years ago when you came back, and I have remained a faithful servant, and loyal Death Eater since' he finish. He looked up to see any reaction, and was worried when the Dark Lord simply continued to stare at him.
`Explain,' said the Dark Lord, `why you felt it should be you to take care of Dumbledore?' Snape shifted slightly in his seat, and thought through a viable answer. He could hear a shuffle behind him, near the doorway.
`I felt you had meant me to do it in the end. I saw that Malfoy was unable to complete his task, and took care of it. I thought you would enjoy knowing the Dumbledore was killed by someone he had trusted, and felt betrayal before he died' said Snape, hoping for anything but a negative response. Voldemort pondered this answer for a while, and stood up slowly, moving towards the greasy haired man.
`Know this Severus. I am pleased that Dumbledore is dead. I would have enjoyed killing him myself, however I will settle with his death. As for you,' he said, pacing around the dark stone room, his footsteps echoing into the darkness, `I will let you live. You have outlasted your uses in Hogwarts, however there are other matters I need attended to' he said, coming back to the chair. `For now, you may leave. I will call for you when your . . . talents, are needed.'
Snape stood up steadily, bowed to the Dark Lord, and moved to the door. Bellatrix gave him an evil look, and just as Snape opened the door, Voldemort had one more detail to say.
`And Severus, if you show any disloyalty to me, you will face the same end as Malfoy' revealed Voldemort. Snape looked back to the door, and exited into the antechamber. Bellatrix was frustrated at the Dark Lord's decision, and strode from the darkness.
`My Lord, I think you should reconsider. This slime of a man has deceived many, and is still doing it now' she stormed, moving towards the centre of the room.
`My dear Bellatrix, do you believe I actually trust him? Do you question my power?' stated Voldemort, giving Bellatrix a malicious look. Bellatrix suddenly realized what she said, and corrected herself, replying rapidly.
`No my Lord, your power is inexorable, and no one can stand against you. I just wished to post my concerns to you about Snape.' She hoped her comment had not to enraged the Dark Lord. He took a deep breath, his eyes flaring red slightly.
`I know your concerns Bellatrix, but they mean little to me. I know full well what Snape's intentions are, and I plan to use them to my advantage. Now, forget this matter, and bring in Lesath, I have work for him to do' he finished, motioning Bellatrix to go. She bowed, and left the room hurriedly.
She returned within minutes with a tall, slender man. Hard to see in the inferior light, the man had short russet hair, light silver eyes, and wore dark robes. He approached the Dark Lord, and kneeled before him silently.
`Leave us' addressed Voldemort to Bellatrix. She bowed, and left the stone room, closing the door behind her.
`Sit' he said, motioning Lesath to the chairs Snape and Malfoy had just vacated. He sat down in Malfoy's chair,
and looked to the snake like man in front of him.
`My Lord, what is it you wish of me?' he asked, his raspy voice subdued.
`Lesath, you are a new Death Eater, and I wish to test your loyalty. I have been told that your skills are impressive, and I am going to put them to work. Your task is Azkaban.'
*
Snape sat in a room just off the antechamber. It was dark, like everything else down in these cavernous rooms, but smaller in size, with a bench and small wooden bed in a corner. He could not wait to leave this place, however he had to stay now, especially after what happened to Malfoy.
His Occlumency saved him from the Dark Lord's mind, however he knew Malfoy had failed to keep his. He could tell the Dark Lord knew what was running through Draco's mind while waiting to kill Dumbledore. Snape knew why Draco had not killed Dumbledore. Now the Dark Lord knew also, and was going to punish Draco for such thoughts.
Snape had a plan however. He knew it would be difficult, however he needed to succeed, in order to get his task done. He told Draco nothing of it, incase his small ability to use Occlumency would not be able to stand against the Dark Lord. He was definitely glad he said nothing now.
The door of the room opened, and Bellatrix entered violently, looking thoroughly angry. She slammed the door behind her, and faced Snape.
`I know the Dark Lord trusts you, but I never will Snape. You are a deceiver and are working for the Order of the Phoenix. You may be able to lie your way to the Dark Lord, but I know better. Be warned, I will be watching you' she snarled, opening the door, and preparing to leave.
`I thought' said Snape calmy, stopping the door from closing, `we discussed this last year, yet you continue to fester over it. Are you so worried to find out the Dark Lord has other favourites?' asked Snape. The look of anger on Bellatrix's face turned to rage, and she moved around the door, brandishing her wand.
`I'm warning you Snape, stay out of my way. I am the Dark Lord's most trusted, most valuable follower, and I will not let you deceive him for long' she fumed, turning and slamming the door behind her.
Snape took his head, and buried it in his hands. He was getting tired of playing these games with both sides. It had caused so much trouble for him, and seemed to have magnified since the Dark Lord returned. He wished he could announce the side he was truly on, however that would destroy his purpose. Both sides believed, up to now, that he was working for both, spying for both. It seemed that caused him little room for pleasantness with either side, however he did have fun using his intelligence to manipulate people, especially those he disliked.
The past year however had caused more than normal problems for him. Having this project for Draco caused many of the lines to become blurred, and made people question his loyalties on both sides. He knew he would face this, but with the death of Dumbledore, it made it obvious to people which side he was on.
`They have no idea' he thought, as he laid down, and rested on the uncomfortable bed.
*
Meanwhile, back in the chamber, Voldemort was finishing with Lesath. The Death Eater rose, and bowed to the Dark Lord. `I will not fail you my Lord.'
`You should hope not. Send Bellatrix and Wormtail in' said Voldemort. Lesath gave another deep bow, and exited the room. The door remained open, and the short round figure of Wormtail came into the room, lead by Bellatrix. The two of them bowed before the Dark Lord, and sat in the two chairs, which still remained.
`I have sent Lesath on an important task. Once he has completed it, it will be time to increase our movements. Terrorizing Britain is becoming less appealing to me, and I have a more important matter to attend to: Harry Potter' said Voldemort. The two Death Eaters gave looks of disgust at the name.
`What do you plan to do my Lord?' asked Wormtail. Voldemort gave a harsh, evil laugh. Wormtail worried, and quivered when the Dark Lord turned towards him, fearing punishment.
`Now Wormtail, you don't seriously expect me to tell an imbecile such as yourself my plans now do you? I know how poor you are with secrets all to well. No, I brought you in here to give you tasks. Very simple tasks, but important none the less' said Voldemort.
`Whatever you wish of us, we will follow you' said Bellatrix obediently. She was eager to prove herself once more as his favourite.
`You will gather information about Potter. Find out where he is living, if he is going to back to Hogwarts, everything. Do not approach him, or try to capture him, just find out information. I have already had two attempts to capture the boy foiled by stupidity, and I will not see it done again. Unless you wish the same fate as those who failed before. Do you understand?' he asked sharply to Bellatrix and Wormtail.
They both nodded vigorously, and Voldemort motioned them to exit the room. Once they where gone, the wooden door closing with a thud, Voldemort sat back in his chair. An odd hissing sound filled the room, and a black snake slithered from the shadows. Voldemort put his hand to its head, and lightly caressed its skin.
`Soon the Prophecy will be fulfilled, and Harry Potter will be no more' he said victoriously in parseltongue, the snake hissing in agreement.
Spell / Name Meanings:
Lesath - A star in the constellation Scorpio, comes from Arabic meaning "sting of a poisonous
animal." It's thought however this was a mistranslation from the original Greek meaning "foggy."
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