The Order's New Spy
-September 4 1991-
“The Dark Lord has no weakness.”
Severus sighed. It’d been close two and half weeks since his meeting with the Order and he was still thinking about it. After he had refused to share the Dark Lord’s weakness, he’d been tasked with finding something, anything, that could bring the Dark Lord down. Severus had accepted the assignment with a grim nod before he flooed home.
He’d been sending the Order short notes, each one declaring the same thing; The Dark Lord has no weakness. It was an easy enough lie to believe---most of the Order considered the Dark lord to be untouchable, not human. It wasn’t hard to believe that someone like that would not have a weakness.
But damn if Albus did. The old coot refused to accept such an answer, and continued to send Severus out on what the rest of the Order believed to be a wild goose chase. Severus wasn’t complaining, however, as it gave him more time to try and warn the Dark Lord.
Severus was a Slytherin through and through; he was cunning, he was resourceful, but most importantly, he was as self-serving as they come. When the Dark Lord’s raid inadvertently killed Lily, he had, in a moment of weakness, turned to the Order. He regretted it more than anything, and wished for nothing more than to betray them and return to the dark. But he couldn’t. Why?
Because of Albus bloody Dumbledore.
The old man, while ridiculously optimistic and rumored to be senile, was a smart bastard. When Severus had turned to him in his moment of weakness, he was not turned away. Rather, he was welcomed with open arms. But the welcome was conditional. Dumbledore was smart enough to realize that he was in the middle of a war. Just because the battles had ended, did not mean that the war had stopped being fought. And Dumbledore wouldn’t let just anyone into his ranks.
And that was when the oath came into play.
Severus had accepted the oath that bound him to Dumbledore’s cause, and because of it, he was unable to betray them nor warn the Dark Lord that the Order was searching for his weakness. Not without losing his life and magic.
So Severus was stalling.
He didn’t want to lose his magic or life, but he couldn’t let the Order get their hands on Little One. Putting aside the obvious destruction the Dark Lord would cause if he lost his Inferius, Little One was too innocent, too precious to expose to the monstrosities of war.
Severus thought about the adorable Inferius. He had first met Little One during the Yule of 1987. The Dark Lord had introduced the inferius to his inner circle and closest Death Eaters during the celebration feast. He had brought the child in and informed them that Little One was to be protected as his life was most precious.
The members of the feast had looked at each other in shock and confusion, but it was all collectively agreed that the child Inferius in front of them would be protected. They had noticed their Lord was acting more and more sane lately, and they had all wondered about the cause of such a feat. When the Dark Lord introduced Little One, crimson eyes shining with such a deep fondness, it was obvious who was responsible for their Lord’s sanity.
Little One had smiled at them silently, and Severus had been unable to hide his surprise when the Inferius walked around the table and handed everyone a personalized flower. They had looked at their Lord for guidance, but he had only nodded at them, so they accepted the flowers.
When Little One had approached Severus, he tilted his head at him, and the stitches on his neck were put on broad display. His eyes were an uncanny hue of green---glowing like that of the Killing Curse---and Severus’s jaw dropped as the Inferius handed him a single lily.
Severus was stuck silent at the flower, and his hands trembled ever so slightly as he took the flower from him. Severus was silent for the rest of the feast, moving only to eat the food prepared for him and to lightly twist the lily in his hand.
The rest of the Death Eaters were introduced to Little One over time, and eventually, the sight of a toddler Inferius walking around the Dark Lord’s castle became the norm. No one dared to question the child, and no one was suicidal enough to harm him. Not only would they face the Dark Lord’s wrath, they would also face the wrath of the Inner Circle, who fancied themselves Aunts and Uncles to the Inferius.
Severus cursed and slammed another book shut, throwing with anger at the wall. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing about breaking an Unbreakable Vow. The name was truly self explanatory. Severus had hoped that a ritual, or perhaps a potion… But no.
Severus growled, hating the feeling of helplessness that surrounded him. Severus could not let the Order take Little One, but his hands were tied. There was only so much time Severus could stall for. The only reprieve that Severus felt was in the knowledge that without Severus’s help, the Order would not find out about Little One.
Eventually, Dumbledore would have to give up. The Order would convince him to stop searching for something that didn’t exist, and instead convince him to choose a new tactic. Severus just needed to wait until they gave up hope.
Suddenly, a lynx patronus burst into his kitchen. Kingsley’s voice boomed over the silence of the small room. “Order meeting. Grimmauld Place in ten minutes.”
Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.
Severus groaned in annoyance, and began to clean up the mess of papers and books scattered about his kitchen table. He would have to attend the meeting, but when he returned he would continue to research ways to get out of his oath.
Hopefully this doesn’t take too long.
“My friends, I come bearing good news,” Albus said, his trademark grandfatherly smile resting on his aged face. Severus resisted the urge to sneer. This should be good. “My second spy has come forth with the Dark Lord’s weakness!”
Severus felt his insides freeze.
“Second… Second spy?” he choked out, forcibly holding his mask in place. “What second spy?”
Albus’s blue eyes twinkled and it made Severus want to curse him. “You are not the only spy in the Dark Lord’s ranks,” he said simply. “I saw no need to inform you of him, as it would risk blowing your cover.”
Bullshite. Severus knew right then and there that Albus was beginning to doubt Severus. That wasn’t good. If he doubted Severus then he would have a much harder time protecting Little One and getting out of the Order.
“What’s the weakness?” Molly Weasley asked. Severus was hopeful, though. If there was another spy in the ranks, then there was no way they wouldn’t know the severity of the consequences they’d face should they reveal Little One.
“It appears the Dark Lord has an Inferius.” Albus said, and choked gasps were heard all around the table.
Shite! Severus was frozen to his chair, his eyes wide with disbelief. Whoever this spy was, they were either suicidal enough to dare to reveal Little One, or were ridiculously determined to the cause that the consequences didn’t matter.
“An… Inferius?” Lupin asked, his hand squeezing Black’s. “I don’t… How… Why is the Inferius the weakness?”
“Unfortunately, the spy is not high up in the ranks. They only just received word of it,” Albus said, and a part of Severus felt relieved, the spy didn’t know what he’d just done. Another part of him, though, felt enraged. The spy didn’t know what they’d just done! “However, the Inner Circle and older members have known about the Inferius for years.”
Suddenly, all eyes were on him. Albus, you bloody bastard. Severus glared at them, incorporating his best ‘Dungeon-Bat Glare’. He may not be a teacher at Hogwarts anymore, but his reputation preceded him.
“Were you aware of the Inferius, Severus?” Albus asked. Severus felt his chest give a tug and realized that Dumbledore was pulling on his bond. The bastard was using the oath against him!
“I was.” Severus bit out.
“And you didn’t think to tell us, Snivellus?!” Black snapped. Severus glared at him.
“I was not suicidal enough to try!” Severus snapped back. It appeared there was no way out of telling them. Perhaps, Severus could still save the situation. If he stressed just how dangerous taking the Inferius away could be, they wouldn’t attempt it.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Black sneered.
Severys sighed. “The Dark Lord… The Inferius is most precious to him. To tell the Order about him would mean instant death.”
“Why is he so precious?” Lupin asked. “Who is he?”
“No one knows,” Severus said with a slight shrug. “Only the Dark Lord.”
“Then why is he so important?” Molly asked, crossing her arms over her ample bosom. “Is he dangerous? A weapon?”
Unbidden, a smile spread across Severus’s face. The Order looked at him in shock, having never seen a smile on the man’s face. “No.” Severus said with a shake of his head. “Little One is not a weapon. He’s completely harmless.”
“Little One?” Kingsley asked.
“That is what he is called,” Severus said. “No one, apart from the Dark Lord, knows who he is, what his name is, nor the connection he has to the Dark Lord. He is called Little One, and is loved and protected by all who meet him.”
“How can that be?” Kingsley asked.
Severus shrugged slightly once more. “Little One appears to be about four or so. The ritual used to bring him back to life was done perfectly, and he is intelligent. He doesn’t speak, but he has the ability. He is… He acts like a regular toddler.”
It was silent around the table as the Order took in Severus’s words. Incredulous looks rested on everyone’s face as they processed the new information. Finally, Molly spoke.
“If he’s not a weapon, why is he precious to the Dark Lord?” she asked. Judging from the way everyone else leaned forward, the rest of the Order was thinking the same thing.
Severus sighed. “The Dark Lord… is very paternal towards the child.”
Everyone gasped once more, and Molly’s eyes widened. No one seemed to know how to react to that. Severus sat still, anxiously waiting for their reactions. He needed to convince the Order not to take Little One. It was crucial that the Dark Lord keep his Inferius, lest the entirety of Magical Britain suffer for it.
Finally, Black spoke. “You’re telling me the Dark Lord has an Inferius son and you didn’t say anything sooner?!”
“I saw no need to bring a toddler into this!” Severus hissed.
“How do you know he isn't already in this?!” Black exploded, throwing his hands up in the air in agitation. “You know nothing about the thing! How do you know the Dark Lord didn’t kill him?”
The idea that the Dark Lord killed Little One was so preposterous that Severus scoffed. “We’re talking about a man who tortured one of his most prized followers for days after he made Little One cry!” he snarled. “The Dark Lord would never hurt the child!”
“This is most concerning,” Albus cut it. Severus sat back in his chair, his attention solely on Dumbledore now. “Inferi requires serious dark magic. Are you certain the Inferius is not controlling the Dark Lord.”
Severus shook his head. “I don’t think the child even knows what the Dark Lord does. He is very sheltered.”
“I suppose that is a good thing,” Albus said. “It will make bringing him here a lot easier.”
Everyone began shouting over top of each other, each one trying to make their opinion clear. Severus, however, was frozen to his chair. Bringing Little One to Grimmauld Place? That could not be allowed.
“Albus.” Severus said, his sharp voice cutting over the other yells in the room. Everyone turned to look at him. “That is the worst idea you’ve ever had in existence.”
“Surely, my boy, rescuing the Inferius---”
“He does not need rescuing from the Dark Lord!” Severus snapped. “Listen to me, Albus. The Dark Lord is protective and possessive of the child to the point of obsession. We can not take him from the Dark Lord.”
“If the Dark Lord is as obsessed as you say, taking the Inferius from him will weaken him.” Albus pointed out. “It would be the perfect time to strike.”
Everyone who had been hesitant about taking the Inferius before seemed to agree with that statement. Severus was afraid of this, but he knew this would happen. “Albus,” he said seriously. The old man looked at him with his grandfatherly smile. “If we do this...there will be a bloodbath.”
Everyone in the order winced at this, shifting uncomfortably. “Surely it will not be as bad as you think, my boy.” Dumbledore said, trying to ease the members.
Severus shook his head, desperate to get his point across. “If we take Little One from him, he will not stop until he is returned. I urge you to think about this carefully. This is the one weakness that the Dark Lord will not lose.”
Albus looked weary but determined, and his silence gave the answer that Severus was dreading, yet expecting. He sighed.
“Very well. I will bring him when I can.” he said with a regretful tone. Better he do it, then this supposed spy. If they were suicidal enough to inform the Order of the Dark Lord’s pseudo-son, then who’s to say he wouldn’t harm Little One in the process? No, this way, Severus could keep Little One safe, and keep an eye on the Order all at once. And this way, he wouldn’t be breaking that damned oath he’d been forced into.
Hopefully, Little One would be returned before the Dark Lord destroyed too much of Britain.