The Return Of Snape [Voldemort X Severus Snape]

chapter 23

Voldemort and Severus has opted for a night of quiet celebratory drinking, in preparation for the bonding ceremony the next day, and the grand masquerade ball that had been arranged. The meeting had gone well, the new recruits had been marked, everyone else knew precisely what their positions were and what was going to happen next.

The couple were close together on the sofa, relaxing with several bottles of wine after a long, tiring night of battle, however, neither could sleep.

Severus was about to suggest that they tried, as the bonding ceremony was going to begin in ten hours, when there was a quiet tap on the door. "Come in," Voldemort called, sitting up.

The door was pushed open, and Ginny Weasley entered. Severus realised that she was dressed completely in black velvet, a long sleeved, tight fitting dress that flared from the waist down. She wore a black net veil over her face, and Severus could see black adorned eyes underneath it. To both men's surprise, she swept them a deep curtsey. "I hope you don't mind," she murmured, stepping closer to them. "I had an elf bring me here."

"Not at all, my dear," Voldemort replied, hastily standing up. "Come and sit down."

"I have something I wish to ask you, my Lord," she responded as she sat down.

Voldemort cast Severus a furtive glance; clearly he wasn't in the mood to inform Ginny that her entire family were dead. He sighed. "I have something that you need to know first, Miss Weasley."

Ginny shook her head. "No, you don't," she said swiftly, very much to Severus's surprise. "I know my family are dead." Voldemort's eyes were wide open in shock. "I am sorry for their loss, of course I am." Her eyes were downcast for a moment as she took in a deep breath. "But this is where I wish to be. I understood that if you were to win, they would die."

"And you still want this?" Voldemort asked her, his tone slightly disbelieving.

"Yes," Ginny replied softly. "You know I've always wanted this. You saw it in me, only then I didn't see it." Slowly, she extended her right arm towards him. Voldemort grasped her forearm tightly in his hands.

"No," Severus interrupted. "Not the Mark." Voldemort looked towards Severus, and as their eyes met, he nodded.

"Not the Mark," Voldemort repeated quietly as he looked back to Ginny. Instead he brought her hand to his lips, and placed a soft kiss onto it.

"Why?" the young girl asked, a confused frown on her features. "Surely I need the Mark to join you?"

Severus stood up, and began to walk towards the drinks cabinet. "You are too good for the Mark. Too innocent, certainly," he said as he took out a clean crystal goblet and poured wine into it. As he turned around, he continued. "You don't need to be corrupted by the Death Eaters." He handed Ginny the glass. The girl stared at it wondrously; clearly she'd never seen wine before, let alone a crystal goblet. "And believe me, they would try." As Severus sat down, he laced an arm loosely around his lover. "She'll be like me," he added, looking to Voldemort.

Ginny, still having not taken a sip, looked up. "Like you, Professor?" she asked, natural curiosity in her tone.

"Severus has always refused to partake in punishments, unnecessary killings, torture, rape and whatever else there is," Voldemort said quietly. "He isn't like the rest of the Death Eaters, who seem to thrive off of it." Ginny's eyes widened, she hastily looked back down to the wine as if she suddenly regretted her choice. "He's certainly the least likely Death Eater I've ever known, but he's become the most powerful."

"Only because of you, love," Severus said quietly. "I never would have done it by myself..."

"Severus, you did it yourself," Voldemort chided, smacking his lover hard on the thigh. Severus winced. "Why don't you show Ginny your arm?"