Dancing in the Dark - A Severus Snape Love Story

15 | The Request

"Miss Cross." Voldemort hissed from the head of the table.

"We finally meet... Lucius has told me lots about you." I shot a look of disgust towards Mr. Malfoy who was already staring at me. A blonde streaked witch seated next to him shot a suspicious look as she noticed the exchange.

"Sit, please." Voldemort said as he motioned his bony hand to a chair to the left his.

Walking towards him, I felt the eyes of all the Death Eaters pierce into me like hot flames. My breath got shaky as I neared closer to the Dark Lord. Everyone had heard the stories and speculated about what they thought he might be like. But being right next to him was a feeling I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. He looked like a snake that could strike me at any moment. Moving my gaze to the floor I noticed a large, green coil resting at his feet.

Great, an actual fucking snake.

"Nagini, yes." Voldemort hissed. Swallowing hard, I sat down in my seat. I kept my gaze on the table as the dark wizard sat back in his chair and took a moment to look me over.

"I understand you have feelings for our friend, Severus?" He said, his voice seething with danger. Unable to look up, I simply nodded my head. "I didn't hear you, Miss Cross." Voldemort said harshly. Inhaling sharply, I looked up and uttered a quick "Yes." Voldemort suddenly broke out into a sinister laugh, the rest of the Death Eaters joining in one by one.

Except for Snape.

As the laughter died down, Voldemort stood up and walked behind my chair. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I felt him looming over me. "How sweet." He mocked, earning a few more snickers from various members at the table. "If what you say is true, Miss Cross, you should have no problem with my request." Voldemort continued.

"And what would that be?" I asked, fear bubbling in my stomach.

One by one, his grey fingers spidered down onto my shoulders. It took everything in me to not shriek at the feeling of his grasp. "I'm sure you are aware of the students currently attending Hogwarts." He said, waiting for my response.

"I am." I said plainly. Trying not to make eye contact with the curly haired witch who was sneering at me from across the table.

"Good. I am looking for a very specific student, do you know who that is?" He spoke, his voice lowering as he gripped me tighter. Sighing, I nodded. His grip became painfully tight as he raised his voice at me. "DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?"

"Harry Potter." I boomed. Fighting the tears that were welling uncontrollably in my eyes.

"Excellent." Voldemort said softly as he removed his hands from my shoulders. "You're going to bring him to me, Miss Cross." He continued, eliciting a gasp from Snape who was seated several chairs down from me.

"What!?" I said, turning in my chair to face Voldemort. "What makes you think that I can?"

"Because you are who he leasts expects. How could the boy possibly suspect you? An apprentice. A nobody." He said through an evil grin.

I was so sure I had heard someone swearing, but it appeared no one else had. Surely there would be an uprising in here if someone spoke out against Voldemort. I really must be losing my mind. But can you blame me?

I sat in my chair, unable to speak as I tried to process exactly how he thought I may pull this off. Finally, I thought of something to say.

"When?"

Voldemort paced behind me for a moment as he decided. "By the end of the school year. By June." He said calmly. "That should give you time enough to find a way to get him to me, yes?" He asked, his voice eerily close to my left ear.

"And... what if I can't?" I said slowly, fearing what the answer may be. Voldemort backed away from me and reached into his grimy robes to pull out a gnarled wand.

"CRUCIO!" He yelled. I closed my eyes, bracing myself against the incoming pain. I knew full well that this curse was supposed to be a horrible torture. But I never felt it, there were only screams filling my ears. Horrible, loud screams that seemed to shred through the large room. But they weren't mine...

They were Snape's.

"No!" I screamed, tears welling in my eyes once more as I saw my love doubled over on the floor. Crouching next to him I tried to comfort Snape through the pain. But it was no use. The Death Eaters were completely silent as he writhed in pain. It seemed very clear that they knew it could be any one of them next. What kind of leader rules through fear?

"Stop! Please, just stop!" I begged. Voldemort stood there smiling as he continued to unleash a great and terrible pain on Severus. His eyes were full of agony as his body convulsed with wave after wave of pain. His voice had become hoarse quickly as his screams ripped through his throat.

"Please, I'll do it! Just stop!" I couldn't bear this sight any longer. The moment those words left my mouth, Snape stopped screaming. Gasping for air, he reached out for me and pulled me into his chest. Ignoring the laughing and mocking that was thrown our way by the other Death Eaters.

"Swear it." Voldemort growled. I turned my head to him in shock. Surely he wouldn't have to go to that extreme?

"I said I'll do it, I know full well what you're capable of. Please, just let us go." I pleaded. The dark wizard shook his head and crouched down to face me.

"I have been more than generous to give you time to make this happen. But don't think for a second that I trust you to follow through on it." He spoke as if I were a child. "Give me your hand, Miss Cross." He said as he extended his cold, grey arm. I froze in fear. My hazel eyes bore into his dead gaze as I searched for any possible alternative. It seemed as if Voldemort was reading each though that raced through my mind. A pitiful smile took over his face as he shook his head.

Knowing there was no way out of this, I hesitantly placed my hand in his. "Severus, would you do us the honour?" Voldemort asked through a sinister smile. A great sigh emitted from behind me as Snape moved. My heart was beating a mile a minute as he placed his wand on our hands.

"Will you, Katie Cross, do everything in your power to bring Harry Potter to me by the end of June?" Voldemort asked plainly. Swallowing my fear I replied, "I will." A strange light swirled over our arms as I made an unbreakable vow with the Dark Lord.

"Good girl. You are both free to go." Voldemort hissed as he let my hand go. Pulling it back to me, I stepped closer to Severus. He placed his arm around my waist and walked with me to the large, wooden doors as Voldemort made his way back to the head of the table. As we were walking through the doorway, he called out to me.

"You do understand, I hope, that if you do not live up to this promise... you will die." A knot formed in my stomach as this reality set in. Turning to face the Dark Lord one more time, I nodded. "Until then." Voldemort said with a sweet tone.

Letting out a furious sigh, I slammed the door shut.