A Potion For Everything (Severus Snape x Oc)

Vision

It all can change so quickly. Who we are one moment. Is not necessarily who we need to be to survive. The couple quivering in the woods, embracing eachother for what they would prepare to be the first and last time, knew this truth all too well. That the moment they are through the gate of Malfoy Manor. They would be two entirely different people.

There was no room for emotion. There was no room for their new found fondness of eachother. There was no room for the truth that they shared. That they were not. Nor never have been. Loyal to the person they called lord and master. But they had to be. For when they walked through the gate. There was no room for fear. Or signs of weekness in affection for eachother.

And yet Viola held onto the man's hand for as long as he would allow it. And in return. Severus did not storm his usual strut. He walked with her. Side by side. Calm, was the feeling. Despite everything. They had to believe this night would go smoothly. If they had both been lying to the dark lord. They had been doing it concideribly well. So there was nothing to worry about.

Severus thought back to what his wife had told him. Whatever he sees, whatever he hears, it was all part of the act. But, what did she mean by this? Aside from the outspoken and childish way she treated the situation. Aside from the air of absolute devotion she showed the dark lord. All things Severus saw the first day they met. What more was there?

And as they entered the hall with the long table. The first peice was moved. And the chess game began. Viola ran, smile on her face to the Dark Lords side. "Viola!" He called to her. Equally happy to see her it seemed. Severus watched and listened as he took his seat. There was no other empty one beside him. Or throughout the table. He thought it odd.

Viola kneeled at the feet of her master and clung to his robes. A twisted smile on her face. Severus smiled slightly. Oh, she was good. The dark lord placed his hand on the mad girls head in reward. "It looks as though Severus has been treating you well." He said. Looking over the girl. Possibly for bruise marks. Indeed, the dark lord was very protective of this one. "How do you like him?" Severus froze at the question. This.. these five words. In a matter of seconds, depending on her answer, Viola could sentence the potions master to death.

The air was still. And Viola thought for a moment. Careful, the choice of words had to be. The Dark Lord loved word games as much as he did mind games. And Viola was not as skilled in them as she was in the mind but. She knew her way around a sentence. "He's terribly boring my Lord!" She pouted like a child. "All he does is work. And all that's in his head is how to better serve you."

Good girl. Severus thought. And Viola heard him. Snapping her head to face him. Light sparking in her eyes. She loved praise. Drank it in like a Drought of Euphoria. And that was the first time, she recived true, genuine, praise. It fueled her. It gave her just the right amount of drive to keep up this sharad. She looked back to her Lord. Who began to laugh.

"Oh yes my child, Severus can be quite dull. But he's never wrong. And his hard work has brought us to where we are now." He waved his hand. Motioning for her to stand. "My dear. I wonder if you may grace us with your gift. I want you to show my followers. Just exactly what we are dealing with..."

There it was. The real reason why she was there. She moved to stand on the table. Looking around her. The faces of the opposition were... Frightened. None but a few ever looked as though they truly belonged. As if they truly believed in their cause. It was sad really. How many desperate souls were forced through selfish gain or self presentation. And she was among them. She was no different.

She looked once more to her husband as the Dark Lord spoke. "I have been, keeping this gift to myself. The power of the Grindelwald line is... Unmatched. And I want to show you. The future."