The Return Of Snape [Voldemort X Severus Snape]

chapter 19

Severus was about to summon a house elf to his side to order lunch, when there was a knock on the door of his office. It was a sunny day, and he'd been hoping to drag Voldemort out of his darkened library or sitting room for a nice fly, or walk, out in the sun, straight after lunch. He sighed, knowing he shouldn't have expected something as lovely as that to go as planned. "Enter."

The door opened, and Amycus Carrow came in, followed by Longbottom, the Creevey brothers, Lovegood and Macmillan. Severus narrowed his eyes. "What is this, Amycus, you couldn't handle them all that once?" he asked coldly, standing up and walking around the desk.

"'eadmaster," Amycus began. "The kids wanta speak t'ya, Sir-"

"Do you really think I have time for this?" Severus snapped, waving the stupid man away. "Leave. I shall send these to you when we have finished speaking." Amycus fled from the room hastily. He'd worked out how close Snape was to the Dark Lord of his own accord, and didn't want to push anything in the direction of him being punished. Severus surveyed the group coldly. "So?"

"Professor Snape, we were just wondering what happened to Ginny Weasley..." Longbottom said, and Severus couldn't help but notice the Gryfindor bravery finally making an appearance in the boy.

"I do not believe that has anything to do with you, if Miss Weasley wished to inform you where she has gone, she would have written," Severus responded, making sure he kept cool. He certainly didn't want the kids to know that there was something to worry about. "It is a deeply personal matter which has nothing to do with you whatsoever." He stood up, and walked around the desk once more. "I suggest you stop getting involved in matters that do not concern you, for your own safety. Now get out. You are expected in Professor Carrow's office." His voice had remained indefinately calm, his eyes staring into Longbottom's, as if asking him to question his authority. He was surprised when the five of them turned and left without so much as a comment, but he could see the Creevey boys shaking with fear.

Severus smirked. He clearly wasn't loosing his touch, after all.

Forgetting lunch, he dove out of the window of his office, soaring speedily towards the gap in the wards. Once outside, he disapparated, and appeared at the bottom of Voldemort's lawn. Humming to himself, he walked speedily up the slope, casually opened the front door, and mounted the stairs, ignoring anyone in his path. Of course, they all jumped from his path anyway, as Headmaster of Hogwarts because the Dark Lord wanted him to be, Severus had more power than the average Death Eater. He reached Voldemort's rooms, and entered, not knocking, and ignoring the scandalized glances from people who had been hovering outside the Privy chamber in hopes to speak with the Dark Lord. Really, Voldemort did like to keep his followers waiting around.

From the sitting room, he could hear raised voices. As Severus entered, he saw Voldemort, Lucius and Bellatrix. The woman's face was flushed in anger, and Lucius didn't look so pleased himself, the usual calm façade broken, his hair slightly dishevelled. Voldemort was the only vaguely calm looking one. The pair silenced as Severus entered.

"Hello..." he said, feeling awkward suddenly, as three faced turned to look at him.

"Bellatrix and Lucius were just debating over who should be Head of the Control of Magical and Muggle Objects," Voldemort said, and Severus couldn't miss the smirk on his lips. "They've been at it for too long now," the Dark Lord continued, mentally. "I'm considering murder."

"Ahh, Bellatrix, please," Severus replied, a smirk on his features as he sat down. "I see," he said aloud. "And have we reached an agreement?"

"Not yet," Voldemort responded. Their short conversation seemed to have calmed Lucius and Bellatrix down to a more agreeable mood - Lucius sat down next to Severus, and Bellatrix slowly lowered herself into the seat opposite them, next to Voldemort.