Chapter 5 - Together Apart
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Although Lily remained unaware of Severus’s dangerous side job as one of Voldemort’s quickly rising officers, her affection for her dear friend grew with each passing day.
That encounter at Three Brommsticks the couple had shared became a biweekly occurrence, with Lily traveling to Hogsmeade wearing her best lipstick and Severus nearly falling over himself to race out of the castle and down the hill towards the magical village to meet his darling.
Romance was not often alluded to during their lengthy, sprawling conversations, yet the glimmer in Severus’s dark eyes was as apparent to Lily as her impish grin seemed to him.
Her beauty remained as bright as ever, her face soft, skin unwrinkled, figure lithe and beckoning.
Severus never imagined their meetings could put Lily in any real danger.
Should any of the Dark Lord’s other followers inquire about Severus’s companion, he decided he would simply make an excuse by mentioning his profession, as he did late one evening, while he sat at the Malfoy’s’ elegant dining table.
Lucius and Narcissa were engaged in deep conversation with two particularly menacing-looking wizards while Severus found himself struggling not to squirm under Bellatrix Lestrange’s scrupulous scowl.
The black leather of her corset creaked as she leaned in while she reached over Severus to grab an apple that sat waiting in an elegant, pewter dish.
The words fell from her lips in a dangerous whisper, “I don’t trust you, Snape….I don’t trust you at all.”
Severus held his nerve, although he watched her movements very carefully, as if he expected an attack at any moment.
“I know you’ve been seeing that mudblood…..They talk about the two of you in the streets.” Bellatrix mused as she took a bite of the bright, red apple and narrowed her eyes at Severus, as if he were a great puzzle she desperately attempted to solve, “Fancy her, eh?”
“It is part of my duties as Potion Master to tutor anyone who requires additional resources regarding the delicate art of brewing.” Severus nodded, “Should I perform less than adequately in my position, it would arouse Professor Dumbledore’s suspicion and what help could I offer the Dark Lord then?”
Bellatrix leaned in so closely that Severus found himself scowling as he leaned back.
He became so preoccupied at avoiding his enemy that he failed to notice the grin that manifested on Voldemort’s face as he glanced over and watched their interaction.
“I wanted to accuse you of shagging her…..” Bellatrix began as her dark eyes flickered over Severus before she met his black gaze, “But you smell clean, not a drop of dirty blood on you yet.”
“A student.” Severus flatly insisted as he grimaced at Bellatrix, “.......Nothing more.”
The words he rumbled in his low drawl failed to convince her.
Instead of leaving him to his thoughts, Bellatrix gazed at him in disgusted awe while she finished her apple.
Fortunately for Severus, his Occlumency skill far outmatched her attempts at reading his thoughts to determine the truth of his claims.
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Once the meeting had finished for the evening, Severus was amongst the last to leave.
He was wise enough to realize that if he wanted Voldemort’s help, he needed to first earn his favor.
Blind, patient, undying loyalty was one of the best ways to win Voldemort’s appreciation, Severus had already learned that.
He walked across the marble floor of the corridor that led to Malfoy Manor’s front entrance, intent on having a breath of fresh air before he returned to his home, when a sudden hand on his shoulder brought him to an abrupt stop.
Like a child facing a nightmare, what little colour Severus’s face held vanished as he looked up and found himself gazing into Voldemort’s glowing, red eyes.
“My lord……” Severus managed to whisper.
“Ah, Severus, I was hoping I’d catch you before you left for the night….” Voldemort chuckled.
“Have I done anything to displease you, my lord?” Severus asked in a voice so low it became hardly audible.
“Not at all!” Voldemort grinned, “In fact, Severus, I sought you out with the hopes of making a sort of…..exchange.”
“An exchange, my lord?” Severus asked.
“That’s right.” Voldemort grinned, “I saw the look on your face tonight…….When Bella approached you.”
For a single second, Severus uncharacteristically lost his guard and scowled at the nauseating suggestion that he and Bellatrix Lestrange would ever be more than bitter enemies.
“Ah……If not her, then who, Severus?” Voldemort asked, “I’ve seen that look on men’s faces many times, your heart has been ensnared by some seductive temptress, has it not?”
Severus nodded as he collected himself and replied, “Forgive me, my lord, no area of my personal life will affect my dedication to you and our great cause.”
He nearly gagged on the lies that fell from his own mouth.
Voldemort never suspected anything less than obedience as he chuckled and replied, “But permit me to reward you, my dear and loyal spy! Bring me a single piece of deliciously useful information from the castle, no more plans for improvements to this, or shopping for that…..Something truly unique and I will do everything I can to facilitate…..your heart’s desires.”
A sense of sickly unease slipped over Severus’s shoulder like a clammy wave of dreadful illness as he forced a small smile on his face as he nodded, “I shall do my best. Thank you, my lord.”
At last, Voldemort withdrew his long, pale hand from Severus’s shoulder.
While he walked away, he couldn’t help but notice he had heard no footsteps, no incantations, no signs of retreat whatsoever from his dark master.
As Severus reached the front door of Malfoy Manor and turned around, he realized to his horror that Voldemort had stood still and watched him, his red eyes shimmering like hateful flames in the darkness of the hallway, his long nails clicking against each other as he rubbed his fingers together while he looked down at his most favourite recruit.
It took Severus several weeks to lay down and close his eyes at night without imagining waking to find the Dark Lord standing in the dark corner of his bedchamber with that same aura of eerie foreboding.
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Dear Lily,
I hope all is well and that your week ends on a positive note. You are correct, with the winter recess, assignments will begin to accumulate, but have no fear, I hold no intention of halting our usual meetings.
Your friend,
Severus T. Snape
Lily didn’t quite understand what exactly it was, but as she reached out and touched the words on the page, her heart leapt in rapt admiration of the exquisite cursive her darling friend had produced.
She sighed as she flopped back on her bed and held Severus’s letter in her hands with a smile on her lips.
The week before winter recess surely had to be stressful for Hogwarts’ faculty.
A hopeful giggle escaped Lily’s throat as she wondered about all the many things she could do to relieve Severus’s worried mind.