Chapter 11
Tom hurried towards the entrance to Hogwarts, Severus on his tail.
The Fat Lady hadn't been the only one attacked. Dolohov had tried to get past the Ravenclaw eagle doorknocker, but couldn't solve the riddle, and then had attempted to curse it but failed. Rabastan Lestrange had tried to enter the Hufflepuff common room but had been attacked by house-elves. Rodolphus Lestrange had attempted to enter the Slytherin common room but had been repelled, as well.
The doors were wide open when Tom and Severus arrived at the entrance, but no one was there. Tom rushed forward and cast a spell out the door.
Nothing happened. The grounds were empty. Tom cursed.
"Shall I check the Shrieking Shack?" Severus asked Tom.
"Not without me," Tom replied, hiding a smirk at the light blush on Severus' face. "One moment. Expecto Patronum!"
Instead of the usual kingsnake, a huge silver panther flew from his wand. Tom blinked, and then saw that Severus had gone bright red.
"Tell Remus and Sirius that Severus and I have gone to check the Shack," Tom told the panther. "Don't let anyone else see you."
The panther disappeared.
"Is that your animagus form, love?" Tom smirked at Severus as they hurried over to the swaying tree.
"Shut up," Severus muttered under his breath, flustered.
"Immobulus!" Tom chanted, and the tree froze. The two men clambered into the hole.
"Blood," Severus said, pointing at the earthy ground. Tom flicked his wand at the spot, and a paper appeared.
"Rabastan," he said, vanishing the paper. "He's clearly wounded."
They headed down the tunnel as fast as they could, but it was difficult, as they had to crouch most of the way. Finally, they reached a ladder, and Tom climbed up first.
The trapdoor opened into a dusty kitchen. Rabastan Lestrange was slouched at the table, pointing his wand at a bleeding arm. He tensed when he saw Tom.
"Found one of them," Tom called down to Severus, climbing out of the tunnel. He removed his glamour, causing the wounded Death Eater to gasp.
"Master?" Rabastan whispered. "You look..."
"Normal?" Tom drawled as Severus climbed up after him. Rabastan immediately pointed his wand at the Potions Master, scowling, and Tom said icily, "That's my lover you're threatening, Lestrange."
The color drained from Rabastan's face as he lowered his wand, and Severus went a little red. "I can take care of myself," he grumbled to Tom.
"Where are the others?" Tom asked Rabastan, flicking his wand at the man's arm. The wound closed up. "I know where Dorus is."
"They're not here, my Lord," Rabastan answered quickly. "They were, but they decided to go elsewhere."
Tom nodded slowly. "What was your role in the Longbottoms' attack?"
"I was the lookout, Master," Rabastan said cautiously. "My brother, Barty Crouch, and I were supposed to keep an eye out for the Aurors. Bellatrix was better with extracting information, anyway. I didn't know she would torture them to insanity."
"Good," Tom said bluntly. "Because Neville Longbottom is friends with Harrison Potter-Black, who is my apprentice, and a Dark Lord in training."
Rabastan's eyes bulged. "He -- what?"
"The Potter-Blacks and their friends are off-limits."
"Yes, my Lord," Rabastan said quickly. He blinked rapidly and swayed in his chair.
Severus strode forward and pulled a small vial out of his pocket. "Blood Replenisher," he said shortly.
"Thank you, pet," Tom said lazily, enjoying the blush on the man's face. Rabastan's lips twitched as he took the potion.
"If I may say, my Lord, Severus -- it's about time," he said.
Severus spluttered, and Tom laughed.
Bellatrix was screeching in fury and frustration, cursing every inch of the cave they were hiding in. Antonin ducked when a Killing Curse shot in his direction. "Be careful where you're aiming, bitch!" he snapped. He immediately cast a shield to block the Crucio.
Rodolphus was frowning. He was angry that they'd left his brother behind. He could have gotten captured! But he didn't dare go against his insane wife, so he kept quiet.
"We're going back next week!" Bellatrix snarled. "We're not stopping until we kill the brats! I don't care how many we have to kill to get to them!"
Fuck. The Dark Lord had rules about children, and Bellatrix was breaking half of them.
"I'm going to get us something to eat," Rodolphus said quietly, once Bellatrix was done screaming. He transformed into a black fox and slunk out of the cave.
He wasn't hungry in the least, though. He was going back to his brother, and he was going to find the Dark Lord and tell him what his wife was planning.
Rabastan was alone when his brother entered the Shack, as Tom had decided that his place was the safest place for him to be, for now. He did have a Portkey to Slytherin Manor in case of an emergency, though.
"Rod?" Rabastan blinked when he saw the black fox. "What are you doing? You could get caught!"
The fox transformed into Rodolphus Lestrange. "Looking for you," the man said. "I want to find the Dark Lord now, not the boys. Bellatrix doesn't care how many children she hurts or kills to get to the twins."
Rabastan lit up. "The Dark Lord was just here, with Severus Snape," he replied, and Rodolphus looked incredulous. "The Dark Lord healed my arm and Severus gave me a Blood Replenisher. You don't have to worry about the twins -- one of them is a Dark Lord in training and the Dark Lord's apprentice."
"Did you hit your head, Rab?" Rodolphus asked, blinking.
"No," Rabastan retorted. "If you stay here, you can talk to him tomorrow night; he's coming back then."
"I have to get back to Bellatrix," Rodolphus decided after a pause. "I don't want her to be suspicious. I will meet the Dark Lord then, though."
"Don't tell Dolohov or Bellatrix about this," Rabastan warned as his brother turned to leave.
Rodolphus snorted. "I'm not stupid, Rab. I won't say anything." He transformed back into a fox and darted out of the Shack.