The Novices of Death
Schloss Selwyn
Lincolnshire, England
28th August 1973
It had been a taxing journey on the wizarding Knight Bus, but Severus had finally arrived at his destination. Before him stood an old house, made of the finest coarse limestone, and it was as imposing as the family that lived within its walls.
It had been nicknamed Schloss Selwyn many years ago by Irmgard Selwyn, the grandmother of his good friend Cronus Selwyn. Sauntering up the gravel path, Severus couldn’t help the malevolent sneer that slipped upon his waxen face. The Selwyn family home was a bastion of the creed he so fanatically participated in and had been so far accepted as one of them. Here, he was not alone in his dogmatic beliefs and rigid vision of Pureblood supremacy and the might of Wizardkind. Here, Severus was accepted, lauded and respected for the first time in his life.
Knocking on the heavy front door, Severus stood. Internally, he was extremely eager, but as a dirty little bundle of rags pulled open the door, Severus scowled and looked degradingly down at the thing. A House-Elf, a creature that was useless and Severus saw no need for, other than for it to wait hand on foot for wizardkind. With large ears as if part bat, its worrisome blue eyes stared up at the young wizard.
Luckily, Severus did not have to say a word to the house-elf as a curse flew down the hallway and launched it high into the sky before landing hard on the wooden floor where it curled up miserably as it shook in fear. Yet another curse hit the house-elf and Severus stood in silence, not offering any help or assistance as his friend Cronus appeared, a menacing smirk cracked upon his dark lips.
“This little bastard causing you issues, Severus?” asked Cronus as he pointed his wand at the house-elf as he levitated it around and smashed it into the ground and walls with glee. “Ekky should know better than to act out of order, to follow the orders she’s given by her masters, shouldn’t you Ekky?” added Cronus as he finally slammed the small being into the foot of the stairs. Shaking violently, Ekky nodded vigorously towards Cronus.
“Y-Y-Yes, Master Cronus!” squeaked Ekky as she pulled her large head off the floor. She was already starting to bruise. “Ekky exists to help, serve you Master Cronus, Master Otto-Klaus and Mistress Wanda!”
Cronus scoffed at Ekky and pulled Severus down a dark corridor. “Sorry you had to be near that thing, Severus,” said Cronus as he slipped his wand into his robes. “Everyone is awaiting your arrival, you’ve created quite a bit of anticipation,” he added.
Severus hummed lowly. “Is that so?” replied Severus, puffing out his chest. He knew that he had enviable skills, and his prowess in certain areas was well beyond his years. Cronus nodded as they passed the medieval portraits lining the walls, each individual within dozing in the gloomy hall.
“Your skills have attracted attention, that is for sure, my friend,” grinned Cronus as the two strolled along another shadowy corridor, their steps creaking on the ancient wood floors. “You will be a great asset to the cause.”
Severus nodded, elated that he was being held in such high regard. “Morloch said his father would pass my name on during Christmas break last year. Apparently, his father was quite impressed with my aptitude in the area of ours.”
“Ah yeah, Mr. Mulciber is high-ranking and one of the inner circle,” stated Cronus as they stopped not far from yet another heavy door. “We might not be members yet, but we are novices eager to serve and do our duty!” he added as he pulled open the door.
Stepping into the room, Severus was unsurprised to find it as darkened as the rest of the Selwyn home. However, what was different was that there were six figures either sitting or standing around the room, all cloaked in black robes.
“Severus!” rasped Typhon Avery as he pulled himself up from a leather armchair. Severus noticed that the feet of the chair seemed to be troll feet. “Glad you found your way here,” he said, standing before Severus and Cronus.
Severus crossed his arms. “Wouldn’t miss this for anything, Typhon,” said Severus dryly as he looked over to find Morloch Mulciber stretched out on the couch with his feet up. Two other figures were silently playing Wizard’s Chess in the corner next to an assortment of skulls. However, as Severus looked at the two other figures, he didn’t recognise them from their heavy hoods.
The male figure who was inspecting a stuffed Centaur leg suddenly strutted over to where Severus stood beside Cronus. “Oi Selwyn, are you not going to introduce us to your little friend?” he asked, looking Severus up and down as if inspecting him.
Cronus nodded. “This is Severus Snape, the one I was telling you all about,” he said, looking not just at the man before him but the other two figures in black. “He will be an enviable asset to the cause.”
The man nodded, still looking at Severus as if he could read him just by body language or how he was dressed. Much like the others, Severus was dressed entirely in black and did not look out of place. “Hm, so you’re the potioneer and curse aficionado?” asked the man to Severus.
“Yes, I’ve created numerous potions and curses of my own for years now,” stated Severus, unflinching.
The man nodded again. “I think you will be very invaluable, young man,” he replied. “I have heard much about your work and your passion for what we do, and you will be greatly rewarded by the Dark Lord for it all.”
“I wish nothing more than to advance the Dark Lord’s cause,” said Severus vehemently, never once taking his eyes away from the man before him.
“You are a fine wizard, Severus Snape. My name is Rabastan Lestrange, I am a few years ahead of you at Hogwarts.” replied the man who was Rabastan. He stretched out a scarred hand towards Severus and the pair shook hands there and then.
Rabastan pulled Severus over to the seating area, pointing at him to sit down on the leather couch. “So are you one of them?” asked Severus with intrigued enthusiasm.
“Yes, I am a Death Eater,” stated Rabastan as he pulled out a deformed flask from his robes. “Wicked little thing, isn’t it? It’s a real shrunken Mudblood head this is!” he added, his eyes watching as Severus stared at the fleshy flask.
One of the figures who had remained unmoved gagged loudly and Rabastan rolled his eyes. “Ignore her, she’s just my sister-in-law and witches are good for nothing,” he told Severus before taking another swig.
“Ignore her? Ignore me? You have some gall, Rabastan!” cackled Rabastan’s sister-in-law as she sauntered over to join the group. Each step she took was precise, as if a venomous spider stalking its prey. “I am the Dark Lord’s right-hand witch, and you shall pander to me, dear brother-in-law.”
Severus watched further as the woman yanked the shrunken Muggle head flask from Rabastan’s grasp before she threw it in the roaring fireplace. It was as the fire ignited from the Firewhisky that she turned to face Severus himself.
“My name is Bellatrix Lestrange, and I have a job for you, Severus Snape."