The Return Of Snape [Voldemort X Severus Snape]

chapter 17

Severus was sitting lazily on the bed, watching Voldemort sleep. He'd been up all night worrying, and Severus was getting concerned. Voldemort had been more tired then ever recently, hardly eating, hardly sleeping, and even a brilliant strengthening potion wasn't going to deal with that sort of thing. Just guessing, Severus thought this was the first time his lover had been asleep for over three hours in a month.

There was a quiet tap on the door, and Severus hastily rose, and walked through to the main chamber, and pulled the door open. Yaxley was stood there, with Lucius and with Bellatrix just behind him. "The Dark Lord is sleeping," Severus said, softly, upon seeing them all. "I do not wish to wake him just yet." Yaxley's eyes narrowed in confusion, only Lucius and Bellatrix understood why he had the authority to wake the Dark Lord.

"Of course," Yaxley replied, vaguely. "He ordered us to report to him as soon as we returned from our attacks."

"He did," Severus replied, absently. "I shall give him the news when he awakes."

Yaxley didn't look impressed. "I will wait and tell him myself."

"Are you questioning my authority?" Severus asked, silkily, as if he was talking to a student, glaring. Yaxley glared back.

"You should return to the Ministry, Yaxley," Lucius cut in, smoothly. "You need to find out who will be replacing Pius Thicknesse in his old job."

A couple of seconds later, Yaxley broke his gaze from Severus, and strode off, back down the corridor. "Come in, you two," Severus said, a smirk forming on his lips. They seated themselves down in the sitting room, talking in hushed voices. Bellatrix was amazed with how comfortable Severus seemed in this environment, but realised after a moment that it was his home, this was where he lived. "What happened? I assume Scrimgeor is dead."

"Naturally," Lucius replied coolly. "I expect Yaxley to be made Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. No doubt then we will have some strong laws made on the Mudblood restraining subject."

Severus nodded. "The Dark Lord will be pleased." He suddenly heard the door open behind him, and he turned around to see Voldemort walking through, buttoning up his robes. As the Dark Lord looked up, Severus saw his eyebrows raise.

"You did not wake me, Severus, I told you to wake-"

Severus held up a hand. "I have already told you of my concerns once today, you know why," he replied, an affectionate smile on his face. "Lucius and Bellatrix have good news for you."

"Indeed?" Voldemort asked, sitting down next to Severus, and draping an arm lazily around his shoulder.

"I killed Scrimgeor," Lucius said, softly, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"That was only half of the plan," Voldemort responded, his tired mood showing clearly on his face. Severus buried his head in Voldemort's shoulder, rolling his eyes. The Dark Lord's hand came to rest absently in Severus's hair, twirling random strands around his fingers before letting go of them.

"Of course... We then went to the Weasley's, the wedding was happening, as we were told, but there was no sign of Potter or his companions," Lucius continued.

"In all likelihood to be because of those on their side at the Ministry," Bellatrix added on after a moment.

"Interesting..." Voldemort murmured, looking down onto the top of Severus's head with a smile. "Where has Yaxley gone?"

"Back to the Ministry, my Lord," said Lucius.

"Let us hope he will have his promotion, now Thicknesse is the new Minister..." He gently pushed Severus back from him, and stood up, walking towards his drinks cabinet. "Let us see..." he said, opening the glass door. "Whiskey," he said, taking four glasses and pouring a large amount into each one. "In the future," he said, as he turned around, handing the glasses out. "I think I shall keep Yaxley as head of that Department. I can imagine him doing well there."