Second chance a new choice

The Dark Lord

Severus and the Death Eaters reappeared outside a mansion.

A Death Eaters gripped each arm. They shoved Severus ahead, wands pointed at him. He walked silently, emotionless, back straight as a pillar. He almost didn't even blink.

"All right, boy," one Death Eater hissed in his ear. "We're here. Time to freshen up before you face the Dark Lord."

I suppose it can't be helped. A chill wriggled down Severus' spine, but he showed none of his anxiety. "Why am I here?" he said, voice smooth, calm.

"Because we could use someone like you," said Bellatrix. She walked closer and continued in her honey-sweet voice. "So much talent. Even I could sense it in our short fight together."

"And you don't even have to do much," said the other unnamed Death Eater. "Just give us what we want."

"What could I possibly have that you would want?" Severus said, eyes fixed straight ahead, voice void of emotion. "I'm just a student."

"That amazing potion of yours, of course," Bellatrix whispered in his ear. "It's quite complicated, but ever so useful." She snickered. "Not to mention there are... other uses for you." She playfully slid a hand from his shoulder down his arm. "So young and powerful." Her voice turned seductive. "I like that."

The pieces clicked into place. "You want me to brew the Wolfsbane potion for you?" Of course! That's what sparked their interest over the summer holiday! That's the one glaring difference between last time and now! They want to use the Wolfsbane potion—not just to convince werewolves to join them—which the Ministry already made easy—but also to make them controllable during the full moon. They'll have an army of dangerous, venomous beasts under total control. They can create more werewolves as they please. All it would take is one bite. With a weapon like this, they could threaten the world—or take it over—wizard and muggle alike... Horror grew like blight in his heart. My own good intentions, turned against me... again...

"Clever boy!" Another Death Eater, voice sickeningly cheerful, approached from the mansion's great door. "I do believe he could become quite the valuable servant."

Severus kept quiet as he tried to form an escape plan.

"The Dark Lord is away momentarily," said the new Death Eater. "He had... something to take care of and will return when he's finished."

"What do we do with him in the meantime?" said Bellatrix brusquely as she grabbed Severus' arm from one of his two guards.

"Put him in a cell with the other prisoner," said the Death Eater from the mansion. "It'll probably do them some good to remember what they stand to lose. After all, we only need one of them."

Severus' attention snapped to the new Death Eater. What does he mean by that? Who's he talking about? Everyone I care about most is at Hogwarts.

The answer arrived all too soon as the group of Death Eaters led him into a cellar and unlocked a heavy wooden door. One Death Eater yelled, "Hey, gramps! You should feel lucky today. You get to have a family reunion."

"Wait!" Bellatrix said before Severus could take one step. She plucked his wand from his sleeve. "Now throw him in."

His guards flung him into the dark cell and slammed the door, leaving Severus with nothing but darkness.

"Who's there?" said an old voice. "I'm afraid I didn't quite manage to get a look at you before they closed the door."

"No matter," said Severus. "Here." He held out a hand and a few flames sprang to life in his palm, lighting up the small cell.