Eleanor Snape- Book 2

Looking In the Pensieve

A younger, late-twenty something version of my Uncle slowly walked down a dark, shadowy hallway. He looked nervous, almost scared, as he finally found himself in front of a simple door. Standing beside of it was also a younger Lucius. His hair was trimmed to right above his shoulders, but it was still a glorious white-blond. My uncle stopped as Lucius nodded.

"You made the right choice, Severus." He put a hand on his shoulder. "The Dark Lord will lead you in the right direction."

"Yes," Uncle Severus replied, but he didn't sound so sure. Again, Lucius nodded and my Uncle opened the door.

The room it led into was as dark as the hallway. Shadows engulfed every corner. The room was completely empty except for a huge, throne-like silver chair. Worst of all was who was sitting in it, if you could ever call him a who.

He was tall and pale with small features. His eyes were flickering from a dark brown to deep red. Like his eyes, his nose seemed to change as well, depending on how you looked at it. At one moment it was a normal human nose, and the next it was replaced by two snake-like nostrils. The dark, black hair on top of his was thin, far enough to say balding. There was no questioning who this creature was... The Dark Lord.

"Severus Snape." The man said in a cold, high voice.

"My Lord," Uncle Severus stammered before dropping onto one knee and kneeling.

"Get off the ground!" You-Know-Who commanded. My Uncle quickly pulled himself upright. "You wish to have the honor of joining my Death Eaters," He paused, glaring at Uncle Severus, who stayed fearfully silent. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named coughed, signaling for him to speak..

"Yes...my Lord." My Uncle relied.

"You have been doing my bidding for some time now, Severus. I have great trust in you now, but don't let that make you foolish. I have decided to let you into my inner circle. Are you ready?" You-Know-Who looked down upon the man cowering in front of his throne. Uncle Severus paled. He looked reluctant.

"Yes, My Lord. Thank you...My Lord."

"Approach me, Severus, and reach to me your left arm." Doing what he was told, my Uncle approached the man, holding out his left forearm.  Once he was beside him, the Dark Lord grabbed his arm, pulled up the sleeve, and put the tip of his wand to it. "Severus, do you know what it means to be a Death Eater?" My Uncle stiffened.

"Yes, My Lord."

"Tell me." You-Know-Who demanded.

"To purify the wizarding community, demolish the Muggle, and to service you on your way to higher power." The Dark Lord smiled and eerie, mysterious grin.

"You still haven't seemed to disappoint me. I think that giving you my mark is the right decision."

Suddenly, the tip of his wand started to to glow a bright red. Uncle Severus's face morphed into one of pure pain. Sweat started to form on his forehead as a dark tattoo started to engrave itself on his skin. No. Not a dark tattoo... a dark mark. The Dark Mark.

A couple seconds later it was as vibrant as black can be. You-Know-Who pocketed his wand. My uncle swayed, barley able to stand.

"Congratulations," You-Know-Who said, "Now, leave."

"Yes, My Lord." Uncle Severus nodded and clumsily stumbled through the door, closing it when h was out of it. He face showed that he was still in horrid pain.

"You did it." Lucius grinned, pulling up my uncle's sleeve. "He'll give you power, Severus, if you do what he what correctly. Power beyond measure. But one thing you need to remember is that if the Mark every burns, he is requesting our presence. He wants us near."

"Yes..." My uncle weakly replied, before finally loosing his stance all together and fainting, bringing the memory to an end.

I looked up from the Pensive, realizing what all this recent Dark Mark business meant.

When I had written Lucius about why Uncle Severus was acting so weird about his Dark Mark, his response was cryptic. All he told me was that the Marks were burning and something big is about to happen. With the aid of my Uncle's memories, I now knew why.

The Dark Lord was returning. I had no clue when or why, but I was absolutely certain it was true.

So that's what my father had been trying to tell me. 'He is coming back'. For months I had been trying to figure out who 'he' was, but now I knew who, or You-Know-Who, rather.

Another realization popped into my head. If he was coming back, then soon everyone will have to pick a side. There wasn't a question in my mind of who I'd join.

I wanted power. If my father risked his life for it, then it must have been pretty great. Uncle Severus has picked power, my father, Lucius....I'm sure a bunch of other adults that I know had also.

"Eleanor?" I jumped, surprised. There was no mistaking that voice.

"Uncle Severus!" I whipped around. To my disappointment he looked outraged.

"What, may I ask, are you doing with my pensive?" I took a deep breath. There was no use for me to lie to him.

"I know he's coming back." His face went pale.

"Stop this nonsense!" He demanded.

"It's not nonsense! Lucius told me it was burning! In the memory he said it only burns when You-Know-Who wants the Death Eaters. He has to be coming back!"

"It is none of your business!"

"Yes it is! If he comes back I want to join hi-"

"If he comes back, I will assure your protection!" He yelled over me. "Now, go to the Common Room, and tell no one of the information you just learned, or there will be huge consequences, and not just by me, but , if they find out, by the Ministry."