A cold drop of sweat slithered down Severus's spine, leaving him shivering in the chilly March air. He cast a warming charm over the folds of his cloak, deciding to remain outside for a few more minutes. As much as he longed to see Lily, to feel her reassuring warmth as he held her close against his heart, he couldn't bear for her to see how shaken he was.
"Where is our lord?" he'd barked at Alecto when she'd taken a turn he didn't expect.
"Dungeons."
"Oh?"
She'd jerked her head, her expression smug.
Really, he should've known what was coming. Pathetic in its predictability, certainly no cause for alarm. The Carrows had lodged another complaint against him, claiming as they always did that he was too merciful. A useless endeavor, though …show more content…
"Nonetheless, my lord, she was properly punished. I saw to it personally."
"Show me."
Patiently, Severus had endured the Dark Lord's invasion, his private thoughts tucked safely behind his shields. Locating the falsified memory, he'd pushed it forward, sensing Voldemort's growing approval as the scene unfolded. It was an image of Severus scorching the girl with a nasty burning hex, his lips twitching in response to her agonized screams.
"Very appropriate." Voldemort murmured as he withdrew. And then to the Carrows, he'd said, "You're wasting my time with these petty complaints. I will not allow you to do so again."
"But my lord…"
"Silence, Alecto! This is precisely why I chose Severus to be my headmaster, where the two of you were never considered. His methods are subtle, nuanced, always prioritizing what is best for our cause. He doesn't allow his temper to get the better of him, nor would he risk alienating valuable allies through random acts of vengeance."
"Thank you, my lord," Severus said, dipping his head in a respectful bow. "I only seek to honor you with my service."
"And you do, Severus. You do. I trust you will continue to do so?"
"Of course."
Voldemort nodded. "Very well. This subject is …show more content…
Yes, there was this secret weapon business, too. He knew he should wake the old man up, interrogate him all night if that was what it took. But he didn't have it in him to face another confrontation, especially when he knew how this one would go. Dumbledore would be evasive, no doubt, nattering on about putting his eggs in one basket or some such nonsense. And in the end, would he yield any answers?
Shaking his head, Severus trudged over to the tapestry. Tomorrow, he'd face the world again, setting his fears aside as he prepared for the inevitable end. Tonight, he only wanted comfort, as much as it pained him to admit it. He needed to see Lily, touch her, reassure himself with his own five senses that it wasn't too late to do so.
He didn't have to wait long. As soon as he slipped through the door, she was in his arms, letting out a shuddering breath as she pressed her face against his neck. And then just as abruptly, she released him, her expression full of concern.
"What happened?"
He shrugged, sweeping off his cloak. "Just a routine
"Where is our lord?" he'd barked at Alecto when she'd taken a turn he didn't expect.
"Dungeons."
"Oh?"
She'd jerked her head, her expression smug.
Really, he should've known what was coming. Pathetic in its predictability, certainly no cause for alarm. The Carrows had lodged another complaint against him, claiming as they always did that he was too merciful. A useless endeavor, though …show more content…
"Nonetheless, my lord, she was properly punished. I saw to it personally."
"Show me."
Patiently, Severus had endured the Dark Lord's invasion, his private thoughts tucked safely behind his shields. Locating the falsified memory, he'd pushed it forward, sensing Voldemort's growing approval as the scene unfolded. It was an image of Severus scorching the girl with a nasty burning hex, his lips twitching in response to her agonized screams.
"Very appropriate." Voldemort murmured as he withdrew. And then to the Carrows, he'd said, "You're wasting my time with these petty complaints. I will not allow you to do so again."
"But my lord…"
"Silence, Alecto! This is precisely why I chose Severus to be my headmaster, where the two of you were never considered. His methods are subtle, nuanced, always prioritizing what is best for our cause. He doesn't allow his temper to get the better of him, nor would he risk alienating valuable allies through random acts of vengeance."
"Thank you, my lord," Severus said, dipping his head in a respectful bow. "I only seek to honor you with my service."
"And you do, Severus. You do. I trust you will continue to do so?"
"Of course."
Voldemort nodded. "Very well. This subject is …show more content…
Yes, there was this secret weapon business, too. He knew he should wake the old man up, interrogate him all night if that was what it took. But he didn't have it in him to face another confrontation, especially when he knew how this one would go. Dumbledore would be evasive, no doubt, nattering on about putting his eggs in one basket or some such nonsense. And in the end, would he yield any answers?
Shaking his head, Severus trudged over to the tapestry. Tomorrow, he'd face the world again, setting his fears aside as he prepared for the inevitable end. Tonight, he only wanted comfort, as much as it pained him to admit it. He needed to see Lily, touch her, reassure himself with his own five senses that it wasn't too late to do so.
He didn't have to wait long. As soon as he slipped through the door, she was in his arms, letting out a shuddering breath as she pressed her face against his neck. And then just as abruptly, she released him, her expression full of concern.
"What happened?"
He shrugged, sweeping off his cloak. "Just a routine