Initiation -- Challenge #27
Title: Initiation
Rating: R for adult themes
Characters: Eileen Prince, Severus Snape, Voldemort; references to Sybill Trelawny and Albus Dumbledore.
Pairings: None
Author's Notes: #27 -- Pastfic, option #1: Someone uses an unforgivable curse. This takes place a few hours before Dumbledore warns the Longbottoms and the Potters that Voldemort may really have it in for them now.
Severus Snape's mind was working furiously as he hurried out of the pub. Initially he had been there to discover how the Headmaster evaluated prospective faculty. As the son of a muggle in the increasingly hostile world, he had resigned himself to the idea of returning to the one place Voldemort's followers had not made a presence. The idea of having to ask for Dumbledore's protection galled him; he was a Slytherin, and Slytherins don't snivel (the word still made him cringe) or beg.
Everything had changed in those few moments. He now had some information which, even if it could not get him a coveted place among the Death Eaters, might still make the Dark Lord consider Snape to be useful enough to keep around. It was an open secret which of his Slytherin classmates were now in Voldemort's inner circle, and he risked contacting one of them. Within a few hours he received a note and a portkey, commanding him to report immediately.
There was no way he could turn back now, so Severus took a deep breath and activated the snake charm. He arrived in a room full of masked people. Even without seeing their expressions, Snape had a palpable sense of the loathing and predatory anticipation the Death Eaters felt. As Voldemort walked in the Death Eaters knelt and stood up. Not being stupid, Severus knelt and stayed put.
"You claim you have some news for me. Be aware that if I decide you're wasting my time, I will allow my followers to toy with you before you die."
Although Snape's schooled expression didn't change, his normally sallow skin involuntarily paled. Wasting no words he told Voldemort the prophecy. The Dark Lord considered it for an agonizingly long minute, than asked Snape how he came by this prophecy. Severus answered truthfully, for the most part, saying he was seeking a position at Hogwarts, but prudently omitting the underlying reason for doing so.
After several more eternal minutes, Voldemort finally said "This is indeed useful information, and you are braver than many purebloods in reporting it to me. However, you are a mudblood. If I allow you to live, you might someday taint the blood of a true house. I cannot allow that to happen."
At that Voldemort pointed his wand directly at Severus and incanted a spell Snape had never heard. There was no flash, no pain, no change that he could feel, but Voldemort smiled unpleasantly. "There. The Prince line has ended." Allowing a few moments to allow this to settle in, with sniggers from the masked figures around, he continued, "You may wonder why I wasted such a spell on a mudblood instead of simply killing you."
Snape kept his composure, barely whispering "Yes, lord."
"You were a vexing problem to me from the moment I was made aware of you. You are an abomination, yet you were sorted into my ancestor's house -- something that could not have happened if you were not worthy of his name. And you show great potential with potions. I've even heard it said you rival my potion-making skills when I was your age." Severus must have accomplished the proper expression of "I never would have dreamed of making that comparison", since he lived to hear "Which, to be honest, bore me in light of my other duties. And so I believe I have come up with a solution. Now that you are no threat to the purity of the remaining families, I am willing to allow you to serve me as a Death Eater, equal to those who are truly your superiors. Do you accept?"
Snape had, once or twice, touched upon this as an impossibly ideal situation, and it was all he could do to manage a dignified pause before saying "Yes, my Lord." In a few moments the dark mark had been burned into his skin, while Snape stoically refused to even wince at the carved heat.
"And now, my newest follower, there is only one thing left; one small token of your loyalty. Stand up."
Voldemort watched as Severus obeyed. The next part would happen very quickly, as much so as the invitation. He had to ensnare the newest minion's loyalty before the young man had a chance to think. The hooded prisoner had been brought in and forced to kneel, facing Snape, as Severus was being marked. The hood was removed, and Voldemort briefly enjoyed the stunned, and confused, look on the face of the prisoner's son.
"Your mother has betrayed the wizardly race, allowing her blood to be muddied by the most vile of beasts, a muggle. She has forever relegated you to the existence of one who needs my protection to survive. Kill her."
Eileen Snape looked up at her son, her face no longer sullen in lieu of raw fear. "Severus, please." She said.
His mind was racing yet time had stopped. His life depended on this decision, and he could not forget that his mother had been the one steady influence on his otherwise tumultuous life. It was only a split second in real time before he raised his wand and began chanting a killing spell. Before he had spoken the second syllable, Voldemort said sharply, "Stop."
Snape did so, allowing himself to hope for a brief moment that he had passed the test and would not need to kill her. His hopes were dashed immediately. "Not that spell. The weaklings who are now in charge may call it an "unforgivable" curse, but the Avada Kedavra is the birthright of all wizards. You will use it when you serve me."
And now Voldemort was watching carefully. This was one of his most brilliant ideas for ensuring loyalty; once an inductee used the Avada Kedavra he could not run to anyone in the so-called wizarding world. They were so concerned with what spell was cast that they did not see the true problem -- the diluting of the wizard race.
Snape kept his expression blank and pointed his wand at his mother, in his mind the only person who had ever shown him any hint of compassion, and said evenly "Avada Kedavra". The green light, so very familiar to all of the masked figures and their master, shot out of the wand and Eileen Prince-Snape crumpled, undignified, to the ground.
A tension which had been holding the room seemed to be released in that moment. Voldemort produced a mask identical to those worn by the others in the room. "Beneath this mask, and in my circle, you are now equal to those most loyal in my service. Wear it proudly, Severus Prince."
Rating: R for adult themes
Characters: Eileen Prince, Severus Snape, Voldemort; references to Sybill Trelawny and Albus Dumbledore.
Pairings: None
Author's Notes: #27 -- Pastfic, option #1: Someone uses an unforgivable curse. This takes place a few hours before Dumbledore warns the Longbottoms and the Potters that Voldemort may really have it in for them now.
Severus Snape's mind was working furiously as he hurried out of the pub. Initially he had been there to discover how the Headmaster evaluated prospective faculty. As the son of a muggle in the increasingly hostile world, he had resigned himself to the idea of returning to the one place Voldemort's followers had not made a presence. The idea of having to ask for Dumbledore's protection galled him; he was a Slytherin, and Slytherins don't snivel (the word still made him cringe) or beg.
Everything had changed in those few moments. He now had some information which, even if it could not get him a coveted place among the Death Eaters, might still make the Dark Lord consider Snape to be useful enough to keep around. It was an open secret which of his Slytherin classmates were now in Voldemort's inner circle, and he risked contacting one of them. Within a few hours he received a note and a portkey, commanding him to report immediately.
There was no way he could turn back now, so Severus took a deep breath and activated the snake charm. He arrived in a room full of masked people. Even without seeing their expressions, Snape had a palpable sense of the loathing and predatory anticipation the Death Eaters felt. As Voldemort walked in the Death Eaters knelt and stood up. Not being stupid, Severus knelt and stayed put.
"You claim you have some news for me. Be aware that if I decide you're wasting my time, I will allow my followers to toy with you before you die."
Although Snape's schooled expression didn't change, his normally sallow skin involuntarily paled. Wasting no words he told Voldemort the prophecy. The Dark Lord considered it for an agonizingly long minute, than asked Snape how he came by this prophecy. Severus answered truthfully, for the most part, saying he was seeking a position at Hogwarts, but prudently omitting the underlying reason for doing so.
After several more eternal minutes, Voldemort finally said "This is indeed useful information, and you are braver than many purebloods in reporting it to me. However, you are a mudblood. If I allow you to live, you might someday taint the blood of a true house. I cannot allow that to happen."
At that Voldemort pointed his wand directly at Severus and incanted a spell Snape had never heard. There was no flash, no pain, no change that he could feel, but Voldemort smiled unpleasantly. "There. The Prince line has ended." Allowing a few moments to allow this to settle in, with sniggers from the masked figures around, he continued, "You may wonder why I wasted such a spell on a mudblood instead of simply killing you."
Snape kept his composure, barely whispering "Yes, lord."
"You were a vexing problem to me from the moment I was made aware of you. You are an abomination, yet you were sorted into my ancestor's house -- something that could not have happened if you were not worthy of his name. And you show great potential with potions. I've even heard it said you rival my potion-making skills when I was your age." Severus must have accomplished the proper expression of "I never would have dreamed of making that comparison", since he lived to hear "Which, to be honest, bore me in light of my other duties. And so I believe I have come up with a solution. Now that you are no threat to the purity of the remaining families, I am willing to allow you to serve me as a Death Eater, equal to those who are truly your superiors. Do you accept?"
Snape had, once or twice, touched upon this as an impossibly ideal situation, and it was all he could do to manage a dignified pause before saying "Yes, my Lord." In a few moments the dark mark had been burned into his skin, while Snape stoically refused to even wince at the carved heat.
"And now, my newest follower, there is only one thing left; one small token of your loyalty. Stand up."
Voldemort watched as Severus obeyed. The next part would happen very quickly, as much so as the invitation. He had to ensnare the newest minion's loyalty before the young man had a chance to think. The hooded prisoner had been brought in and forced to kneel, facing Snape, as Severus was being marked. The hood was removed, and Voldemort briefly enjoyed the stunned, and confused, look on the face of the prisoner's son.
"Your mother has betrayed the wizardly race, allowing her blood to be muddied by the most vile of beasts, a muggle. She has forever relegated you to the existence of one who needs my protection to survive. Kill her."
Eileen Snape looked up at her son, her face no longer sullen in lieu of raw fear. "Severus, please." She said.
His mind was racing yet time had stopped. His life depended on this decision, and he could not forget that his mother had been the one steady influence on his otherwise tumultuous life. It was only a split second in real time before he raised his wand and began chanting a killing spell. Before he had spoken the second syllable, Voldemort said sharply, "Stop."
Snape did so, allowing himself to hope for a brief moment that he had passed the test and would not need to kill her. His hopes were dashed immediately. "Not that spell. The weaklings who are now in charge may call it an "unforgivable" curse, but the Avada Kedavra is the birthright of all wizards. You will use it when you serve me."
And now Voldemort was watching carefully. This was one of his most brilliant ideas for ensuring loyalty; once an inductee used the Avada Kedavra he could not run to anyone in the so-called wizarding world. They were so concerned with what spell was cast that they did not see the true problem -- the diluting of the wizard race.
Snape kept his expression blank and pointed his wand at his mother, in his mind the only person who had ever shown him any hint of compassion, and said evenly "Avada Kedavra". The green light, so very familiar to all of the masked figures and their master, shot out of the wand and Eileen Prince-Snape crumpled, undignified, to the ground.
A tension which had been holding the room seemed to be released in that moment. Voldemort produced a mask identical to those worn by the others in the room. "Beneath this mask, and in my circle, you are now equal to those most loyal in my service. Wear it proudly, Severus Prince."