Determination

LXII: Climax

August 1995

Severus narrowed his eyes in thought as the two Black women left his home. He could hear Pettigrew scurrying around the house, no doubt trying to find something worthy enough to take back to the dark lord, labeling him a traitor. Severus wasn't sure if he made the right move, making an unbreakable vow with Narcissa. Realistically, he only did it because he owed the woman a debt, one she was undoubtedly aware he was aware of.

Severus remembered what Meae had told him the first time she was taken. A girl tasked with feeding her and assessing if she was ready to trade sides had helped her escape. A girl had secretly helped her learn enough apparition during her imprisonment to allow Meae the chance to escape. He had seen the way Narcissa looked at the girl upon their return to Hogwarts that following year. He noticed the older girl's shame and worry. He noticed how she'd always kept herself busy or uninvolved when the other Slytherins had preyed upon the muggleborn students. He knew Narcissa had helped Meae escape back then. Narcissa knew that he knew; that's why she had come to Severus in the first place. He owed her. He could feel the weight of that acknowledgment between them during this impromptu meeting. He had felt that all-knowing burden land in his lap the second the dark lord had proclaimed this task for Draco.

His mind wandered to Meae. She was still in St. Mungo's, last he heard, with the school year rapidly approaching, Severus figured it was about time he visited and woke her up.

Mind made up, Severus went in search of his lesson plans. He'd need an excuse to get out of the house now Pettigrew was living there, per the Dark Lord's orders. Severus had been particularly miffed by that order, but there was nothing he could do. Punishment, he supposed, for not coming to the Dark Lord right away, or for his continued presence in Meae's life. Either would have been enough.

He grabbed the darkest cloak he owned before making his way to the door. The floorboards behind him creaked, alerting him to Pettigrew's presence.

"Where are you going?" Pettigrew asked him.

This was something that had always bothered him about Pettigrew's presence; he always thought himself of a higher status than he was. The man had gotten it into his head that he was here to keep an eye on Severus for the Dark Lord. He wasn't. The man was nothing more than a pest, and because Severus was low on the totem, he had been saddled with the headache of keeping the overgrown house pet.

"Not that it's any of your business," Severus growled out. "But I have supplies I need to gather for the upcoming school year. I'll be gone a while, don't wait up."

Severus quickly exited the small place he was supposed to call home and slammed the door behind him.

He'd only have a few hours at most, so he'd have to try and get as much done as quickly as possible. When he found himself in a secluded alley, he quickly apparated himself to his destination. In front of him stood the wrought iron gates of the Gothic home he visited every summer. The doors ahead of the walkway stood around fifteen feet above him, with gold knockers in the shape of snarling wolves. Severus didn't bother knocking as the desolate home stood in his name. The building was riddled with such old and treacherous magic that not a person alive wanted to enter its premises for fear of their lives.  He had offered the use of the home to the Dark Lord, and not even he had wanted to bother with it. It was the perfect place to hide something you wished not to be found. Severus carefully stepped over the threshold and was greeted warmly by its only conscious inhabitant, Libby.

"Good morning, Master Snape." The house elf greeted.

"I am not your Master Libby." He recited as he had done every time he entered the premises.

"Our guest is well, though still in slumber," She told him as she had every time. "You are later in the year than usual. I took the liberty of picking up any news clippings I could throughout the year, and they are gathered in our guests' chambers as usual. Will you be needing Lunch today, sir?"