The Return Of Snape [Voldemort X Severus Snape]

chapter 22

Severus entered his rooms just past ten at Hogwarts, with a long sigh. It was week four of his never ending stay at Hogwarts, and he hadn't seen Voldemort for over a week. It was getting to him now, he hoped with every fibre of him, at every moment that Voldemort would have some free time to see him. He poured himself a drink, knowing that this might not be the case for another month if Potter didn't show. Downing the drink, he poured himself another, and then walked into the bedroom. Voldemort wasn't naked in his bed, as Severus had hoped. There was no sign of him. Sighing, he slammed the bedroom window he always kept open to a close, and shut the dark velvet curtains. As he got into bed, he felt someone new enter the school. And another. And another. He sat up, and hastily got out of bed, wondering if this was the night the battle would begin.

He pressed his fingers urgently to his mark, knowing Voldemort would arrive as soon as he could. In the mean time, Severus needed to find out if it really was Potter. Carefully, he stepped into his office, and down the main flight of stairs, and opened the door. From down the corridor, he could hear voices, getting louder. It was the Carrow's.

"Headmaster," Alecto began as they arrived closer to him, they were both gripping their right forearms tightly. "Our marks burnt-"

"Quiet," Severus snapped, glancing around them. He looked back to the pair, eyes narrow slits. "Potter has a need to be in the Ravenclaw common room. Tell Professor Flitwick I said you are to be let in," he continued, his voice low and quick.

"And if we catch him?" Alecto asked.

"You bring him to the Dark Lord. He shall be in the Forbidden Forest clearing you were shown. If he escapes you then take yourselves to the clearing, but I wouldn't expect a warm welcome." Severus smirked as the brother looked at the sister with a look of horror. From around the other side of the corridor, he heard more voices. "Go," Severus whispered to them, stepping behind the statue to hide. The Carrow's fled around the corner, and just in time.

This time the voice was McGonagall's.

"Who's there?" she called as she got closer.

"Severus?" Voldemort's voice filled his mind, but he couldn't be doing with that as well as McGonagall. Wondering if he'd been breathing too loud, and stepped out. "It is I." To his surprise, there was no one with her. His eyes narrowed for a moment before he relaxed.

"Severus, are you going to answer me?"

"The school is under attack, Headmaster," McGonagall said in her crisp, cool voice.

At that moment, Severus's bond mark burnt angrily, and he grabbed his arm instinctively, wincing from the pain. Voldemort must have been trying desperately to get through to him for it to hurt like that.

"Ah yes," McGonagall continued dryly. "You Death Eaters have ways of communicating."

Severus's eyes widened slightly, no one throughout the whole year had dared to say anything like that to him. But then, it probably meant that she was exceptionally angry, and was past caring. Slughorn, Sprout and Flitwick all rounded the corner panting, as if they'd been running, each slightly surprised at the scene in front of them.

"Minerva!" Flitwick squeaked. "The Carrow's have just gone crazy, they began torturing the students for no reason!"

McGonagall turned and looked at Severus, and suddenly the Headmaster knew this was going to become dangerous for him. Four angry gazes were turned onto him. And he smiled. Because he knew that this was the last moment he would be in this situation, for either better or for worse.

Hoping now to surprise them further, he turned, and jumped through the window, closing his eyes and covering his face to protect himself from the shards of glass, and flew off into the distance of the darkening sky. "I was preoccupied. I am on my way to the clearing."