Ficlet: Angel of Death
Title: Angel of Death
Author: lemondropseven
Pairing: None
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 355
Warnings: *Minor OC character death, slightly dark*
Summary: Voldemort has an assignment for Severus.
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter and company. Betaed by whitecotton. Thanks, darlin’.
“Severus, I have a task for you.”
The high-pitched, sibilant voice of the Dark Lord raised gooseflesh on Severus’ arms. His instincts shrieked in warning, his heart raced, and his palms grew sweaty; but nothing of his anxiety showed on his face as he calmly answered, “Yes, my Lord. How may I serve you?”
The plan was simple, and when the time came, Severus slipped the potion into the wine glass on his left without detection. It wouldn’t take long to work, he knew, but he could feel the seconds ticking by, slowing down as he waited for Jamison to pick up his glass.
Finally, he drank.
The man didn’t choke, his eyes didn’t pop out and blood didn’t trickle from his mouth. One second he was laughing, talking, drinking, and the next he was slumped over the table, dead.
Voldemort nodded imperceptibly to Severus, a smirk on his thin, lipless mouth. Severus respectfully inclined his head, swallowing bile. No one noticed the byplay, too busy staring in stunned silence at their dead comrade.
Severus heard the whispers floating around Malfoy Manor the next day-indeed he’d helped to start them, as ordered. It was clear to all that the Angel of Death was among the Death Eaters, weeding out those not loyal to the Dark Lord.
Voldemort had declared Jamison a traitor, a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. There had been no questioning, no opportunity for Jamison to defend himself or prove his faith, and the warning was quite clear: there would be no second chances.
Only Severus knew the truth.
The Dark Lord was paranoid in the extreme and had started questioning where Severus’ loyalties really lay. Severus’ position as Dumbledore’s inside man must be protected at all costs, so he’d planted lies in order to turn suspicion away from himself. The man, Jamison, was a murderer and, ironically, an ironclad believer in Voldemort’s cause...he deserved to die.
Severus had no desire to be the Angel of Death, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time he was asked to kill. It seemed to Severus that the Angel of Death desired him.
Author: lemondropseven
Pairing: None
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 355
Warnings: *Minor OC character death, slightly dark*
Summary: Voldemort has an assignment for Severus.
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter and company. Betaed by whitecotton. Thanks, darlin’.
“Severus, I have a task for you.”
The high-pitched, sibilant voice of the Dark Lord raised gooseflesh on Severus’ arms. His instincts shrieked in warning, his heart raced, and his palms grew sweaty; but nothing of his anxiety showed on his face as he calmly answered, “Yes, my Lord. How may I serve you?”
The plan was simple, and when the time came, Severus slipped the potion into the wine glass on his left without detection. It wouldn’t take long to work, he knew, but he could feel the seconds ticking by, slowing down as he waited for Jamison to pick up his glass.
Finally, he drank.
The man didn’t choke, his eyes didn’t pop out and blood didn’t trickle from his mouth. One second he was laughing, talking, drinking, and the next he was slumped over the table, dead.
Voldemort nodded imperceptibly to Severus, a smirk on his thin, lipless mouth. Severus respectfully inclined his head, swallowing bile. No one noticed the byplay, too busy staring in stunned silence at their dead comrade.
Severus heard the whispers floating around Malfoy Manor the next day-indeed he’d helped to start them, as ordered. It was clear to all that the Angel of Death was among the Death Eaters, weeding out those not loyal to the Dark Lord.
Voldemort had declared Jamison a traitor, a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. There had been no questioning, no opportunity for Jamison to defend himself or prove his faith, and the warning was quite clear: there would be no second chances.
Only Severus knew the truth.
The Dark Lord was paranoid in the extreme and had started questioning where Severus’ loyalties really lay. Severus’ position as Dumbledore’s inside man must be protected at all costs, so he’d planted lies in order to turn suspicion away from himself. The man, Jamison, was a murderer and, ironically, an ironclad believer in Voldemort’s cause...he deserved to die.
Severus had no desire to be the Angel of Death, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time he was asked to kill. It seemed to Severus that the Angel of Death desired him.