The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 107: The Truth

*CW: EXTREME VIOLENCE, Gore, & Mentions of Sexual Assault*

Disclaimer: Scenes including the underlined content warning(s) have the first and last words bolded. Please read at your own risk.

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November 1979

"I'm sorry, sir... You want to do what?"

One moment I was falling, and then the next I landed in what looked like some sort of manor. Although, it was unlike Malfoy Manor. Despite Malfoy Manor's dark demeanor, it was the cleanest place you'd ever step foot in. This place was covered in dust and filth, like someone hadn't lived here in years, or the person that lived here didn't care to clean it.

The first thing I noticed, apart from the growing filth, was two men conversing in the middle of the room. One of them was evidently older than the other, but both seemed vaguely familiar. The younger man had long hair that reached his shoulders. The skin in his face tightly hugged his bones, giving him a defined jawline and cheekbones. He wore a dark cloak, giving me the impression that he was a deatheater. The older man, however, did not wear a cloak. Instead, he wore a gray collared shirt and dark pants. He looked slightly pale and sickly, but that could've just been because of the weather since the room was freezing — it was definitely winter. The older man had dark hair that nicely framed his face, and a beard that did the same thing. Unlike the younger man, the older man had a darker demeanor to him.

"I want to create another horcrux," the older man said, "Except this time it'll be a human."

Hearing those words confirmed the identities of these two men. The older man was Voldemort when he was younger... Or still human, per se. The younger man was Severus Snape. I suppose it made sense; I was in Snape's memories.

"But, my lord, you have already created five..." Snape protested, "Haven't you noticed that you're beginning to grow sick?"

Voldemort rolled his eyes, "This body I reside in is merely a vesicle, Severus, why have you not understood that yet? If I die... Oh well, my soul rests in five other places, so why not give it another? And besides, this horcrux will be different from the rest."

"How so?" Snape asked, "Because you'll be placing a piece of your soul into another human?"

"No, because I'll be placing it into an heir." Voldemort said coldly.

Snape gasped, shocked by the words coming out of Voldemort's mouth. However, I was not. That piece of information was so last year, so nothing about this memory came as a shock to me.  So, why was it being shown to me? Maybe Snape didn't know what happened in the cave that night. I mean... My own mother didn't at first. But then again, I also didn't know that Snape knew anything about the horcrux plan, and this vision confirmed that Voldemort initially came to him about it.

"An heir? I wasn't aware that you had an heir, my lord!" Snape gawked.

Voldemort rolled his eyes again, "Well, of course not... Not yet anyway. I have someone in mind for the job. I reckon she'll say yes, considering how desperate she was to get into my ranks."

"Whom may I ask?" Snape asked.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Voldemort grinned, "All I'd have to do is mention it to her, call it a special mission, and she'll say yes. And if not, a bit of sleeping draught and persuasion shall do the trick. But I doubt we'd ever make it to that point."