Snape's on a Train
Summary: October 1981. Two Death Eaters have a meeting. 1650 words. Gen. PG-13.
Snape's on a Train
Pausing for a moment at the final door, he bent his head and listened. Only the easy rattle of the iron wheels, the rhythmic clicking of the sleepers as the train passed over each one in turn. He nodded. Everything was as it ought to be. There remained only one last check.
Video. A froth of mist swirled on the mahogany panel, shimmered, condensed into glass. He frowned into the mirror: ginger hair drawn back into a high ponytail emphasising sharp cheekbones; his eyes were a piercing blue. The teeth were white and even, the nose symmetrical, the skin perhaps a little dry. The black velvet coat looked well on him. It had obviously been made for its owner, the shoulders carefully tailored to add definition to the upper body, the tails sweeping down to brush against his calves.
It was enough. Severus nodded curtly at his reflection. Pushing the door open, he stepped through to the viewing platform at the rear of the train. At once the freezing wind whipped against his cheeks and blistered his lips. He muttered a quick warming charm, then gripped the iron rail as the train swayed, and stared along the track.
The unseasonal snow had left a biting chill in the air and he was glad that he had thought to bring gloves. The sky was a midnight blue and the temperature had not risen above freezing all day. To the east he could see the first few stars in Orion, and the bloody glint of Mars. There was no moon. On either side of the dark stamp of the track, the pine forest clustered, stretching back as far as the eye could see.
--
He heard a creak from behind him and turned. His right hand shifted fractionally on the rail and his wand slid a few inches down his sleeve towards his palm.
The door opened. A man stepped through from the compartment, bringing with him a gust of warm air that swirled around Severus' legs.
'It's getting dark early,' he grumbled. He was of a similar height to Severus. Black dragonhide boots gave the lie to his unexceptional robes and hood, and his brown eyes glittered in the darkness.
Severus nodded. 'Dark indeed,' he agreed, and saw the newcomer relax. 'You have information for me?' His eyes searched the stranger as he spoke, scouring him for any clue to his identity.
'I rather think,' his companion said, 'that you have information for me.' His gloved hands rested on the rail.
'Not for you. Unless, of course, you are -'
'No.'
'I thought not.' Severus realised he was staring at the gloves. He turned abruptly and scowled along the track. 'I shall be glad when these travel restrictions are lifted.'
'What do you expect? The Ministry is run by cowards and fools.'
'Even so. Trains are for children.' Severus' laugh was derisive. 'Every time we round a corner I expect to see Hogwarts.'
'Hogwarts,' his companion mused. 'I haven't thought about Hogwarts in years.'
And now Severus was certain. 'Strange,' he said delicately. 'After all, you are a governor there.'
'Am I.' His companion turned to face him and the steel in his eyes belied the lightness of his tone. 'I wonder what would make you say that.' A hand twitched beneath the robes. So the wand was on the right, Severus thought. Useful to know.
Severus met his gaze squarely. 'The gloves are your own. The third finger on the left hand has stretched slightly, where the signet ring should be. But you're not wearing it, are you, Lucius?'
'No.' Lucius Malfoy stretched like a cat, breathing out in a long sigh. 'And now I think you have the advantage of me. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves?'
No gain without risk, after all. Severus nodded. 'Veracis.' He had the satisfaction of seeing Lucius' eyes widen in surprise as the effects of the Polyjuice momentarily dissolved. An instant later, both men had their masks firmly back in place.
'So the Dark Lord's secret informant is Severus Snape. How - interesting.' Lucius' eyes were speculative. 'It seems I underestimated you, Severus. A dark horse, indeed.'
Severus shrugged, ignoring the compliment. 'Your Polyjuice. Whose is the body?' Not a Death Eater. I would have recognised that.
'Some Ministry lackey. I transfigured the corpse into a security pamphlet. You?'
'A Mudblood.'
'Really, Severus.'
'I liked the coat.'
'It does look well on you,' Lucius agreed. His eyes rested on Severus again, but this time filled with a different kind of speculation. Severus felt his cheeks go warm. Did this body blush? 'And now to business. I have a message from the Dark Lord, and a gift. '
'Go on.'
'You are -'
A medley of shrieks and howls erupted from towards the front of the train, followed by a tremendous crash. The train juddered to a halt, flinging the two men to the ground.
'Wands out, I think,' Lucius murmured. His hand fumbled inside his robes. 'How interesting. I appear to be left-handed.'
Without waiting, Snape leapt over the guard rail and crouched low to peer around the corner of the carriage. The train had rounded a bend and he had a clear view along the line ahead. The engine lay on its side, belching steam. Dark figures, wands out, were converging on one of the front carriages. The people in the carriage were evidently aware of this: jets of red and green flashed from a broken window. One of the attackers fell to the ground, screaming. Another laughed. Raising his wand above his head, he sent a burst of green light high into the air. It shot upwards like a flare, blossoming into an enormous skull with a snake for a tongue. Severus' mouth went dry. The Dark Mark.
From the hills around them flowed a line of dark shapes, streaking towards the carriage. Wolves. The Dark Mark cast an eerie light on the scene, painting the figures an unearthly shade of green.
Severus turned to Lucius. 'Perhaps,' he said, his voice cold with fury, 'you could tell me why there are Death Eaters attacking our train.'
But Lucius shook his head. 'I know nothing of this. There must be someone important on the train. The Dark Lord would not have jeopardised our safety otherwise.' But Severus saw the doubt in his eyes and knew that it was reflected in his own.
'When I find out who is behind this,' Severus' voice was soft, 'I will kill them. The whole place will be infested with Aurors any moment now. We cannot be found.'
'Agreed. On both counts.' Shrieks and catcalls came from the front of the train. Risking a glance, Severus saw that the first three carriages were in flames. A huge werewolf raised himself up onto his hind legs and howled in triumph. Lucius edged Severus aside. 'Stand back.' He sighted along his wand. A ball of purple flame erupted from it and shot towards the werewolf.
'Lucius -'
'Merely settling an old score, Severus.' Lucius glanced back at the melee; involuntarily, Severus followed his gaze. The werewolf's whole body was on fire now; he beat frantically at the flames, but only succeeded in fanning the fire. Lucius sighed in pleasure. 'They do burn nicely. Stupid creature. I had to stand next to him at a meeting last month; he stank to high heaven.'
'Greyback?'
'Unfortunately not.'
The werewolf sank to the ground, rolled over and was still. A stink of burning flesh and hair hit Severus' nostrils and he realised he was hungry.
'Put down your wands!' Mad-Eye Moody's voice rang through the freezing air. Severus jumped back out of sight. A succession of squeaky pops followed the announcement; the Aurors had arrived.
'Let's go.'
'One moment.' Taking careful aim, Severus whispered 'Stupefy.' A burly fair-haired Death Eater collapsed as if he had been hit by a stone. Severus smiled.
'Impressive,' Lucius whispered as they bolted for the cover of the trees. 'But what have you got against Yaxley?'
'I'll tell you someday.'
'I shall look forward to it. Is he dead?'
'No. A present for Moody. He doesn't know anything that could be a threat to us.'
'He never did.' They were deep in the forest now; Severus turned and flicked his wand towards their footprints. At once the snow was as unmarked as if no one had passed that way for days. He blew on his gloved hands to warm them. 'Wretched weather. It's not even the middle of October.'
Lucius' laugh was like the tinkling of sleigh bells. 'Oh, my dear Severus. You don't mean to say you think this snow is natural?' Severus gaped at him. 'Don't underestimate the Dark Lord's powers. The country is demoralised and the Ministry can do nothing. Now then -' his voice became brisk '- to business. I am instructed to ask you if you have found what the Dark Lord seeks.'
'I have.'
'The Potters.'
'Yes.'
'In that case -' Lucius dropped a toy rat into Severus' hand. 'The Portkey will take you to the Dark Lord at eleven p.m. precisely. Be ready.' Severus nodded. 'One more thing -'
'Yes?'
'What made you choose to reveal yourself to me?'
Severus hesitated. He said, choosing his words carefully, 'Things are coming to a conclusion. Very soon, the world as we know it will be turned upside down.'
'Whatever happens.' Lucius' eyes were calculating.
'Yes.'
Lucius nodded. 'Malfoys are dangerous enemies. I like to think that we can sometimes be - good friends. Until the next time, Severus.' His eyes swept up and down the borrowed body and this time Severus felt his face burn. Then Lucius smiled a cat-like smile and was gone.
Whatever happens. Severus stuffed the toy rat into his pocket. Typical of the Dark Lord, to choose such a thing. But one day -
A moment later, he too was gone.
--
Notes: Written for leni_jess as part of harry_holidays and posted there on 9 January 2010. One word changed in this version - 'bellowing' to 'belching'. Thanks to kennahijja for the beta - and for refusing to let me change the working title. She was right :).
Snape's on a Train
Pausing for a moment at the final door, he bent his head and listened. Only the easy rattle of the iron wheels, the rhythmic clicking of the sleepers as the train passed over each one in turn. He nodded. Everything was as it ought to be. There remained only one last check.
Video. A froth of mist swirled on the mahogany panel, shimmered, condensed into glass. He frowned into the mirror: ginger hair drawn back into a high ponytail emphasising sharp cheekbones; his eyes were a piercing blue. The teeth were white and even, the nose symmetrical, the skin perhaps a little dry. The black velvet coat looked well on him. It had obviously been made for its owner, the shoulders carefully tailored to add definition to the upper body, the tails sweeping down to brush against his calves.
It was enough. Severus nodded curtly at his reflection. Pushing the door open, he stepped through to the viewing platform at the rear of the train. At once the freezing wind whipped against his cheeks and blistered his lips. He muttered a quick warming charm, then gripped the iron rail as the train swayed, and stared along the track.
The unseasonal snow had left a biting chill in the air and he was glad that he had thought to bring gloves. The sky was a midnight blue and the temperature had not risen above freezing all day. To the east he could see the first few stars in Orion, and the bloody glint of Mars. There was no moon. On either side of the dark stamp of the track, the pine forest clustered, stretching back as far as the eye could see.
--
He heard a creak from behind him and turned. His right hand shifted fractionally on the rail and his wand slid a few inches down his sleeve towards his palm.
The door opened. A man stepped through from the compartment, bringing with him a gust of warm air that swirled around Severus' legs.
'It's getting dark early,' he grumbled. He was of a similar height to Severus. Black dragonhide boots gave the lie to his unexceptional robes and hood, and his brown eyes glittered in the darkness.
Severus nodded. 'Dark indeed,' he agreed, and saw the newcomer relax. 'You have information for me?' His eyes searched the stranger as he spoke, scouring him for any clue to his identity.
'I rather think,' his companion said, 'that you have information for me.' His gloved hands rested on the rail.
'Not for you. Unless, of course, you are -'
'No.'
'I thought not.' Severus realised he was staring at the gloves. He turned abruptly and scowled along the track. 'I shall be glad when these travel restrictions are lifted.'
'What do you expect? The Ministry is run by cowards and fools.'
'Even so. Trains are for children.' Severus' laugh was derisive. 'Every time we round a corner I expect to see Hogwarts.'
'Hogwarts,' his companion mused. 'I haven't thought about Hogwarts in years.'
And now Severus was certain. 'Strange,' he said delicately. 'After all, you are a governor there.'
'Am I.' His companion turned to face him and the steel in his eyes belied the lightness of his tone. 'I wonder what would make you say that.' A hand twitched beneath the robes. So the wand was on the right, Severus thought. Useful to know.
Severus met his gaze squarely. 'The gloves are your own. The third finger on the left hand has stretched slightly, where the signet ring should be. But you're not wearing it, are you, Lucius?'
'No.' Lucius Malfoy stretched like a cat, breathing out in a long sigh. 'And now I think you have the advantage of me. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves?'
No gain without risk, after all. Severus nodded. 'Veracis.' He had the satisfaction of seeing Lucius' eyes widen in surprise as the effects of the Polyjuice momentarily dissolved. An instant later, both men had their masks firmly back in place.
'So the Dark Lord's secret informant is Severus Snape. How - interesting.' Lucius' eyes were speculative. 'It seems I underestimated you, Severus. A dark horse, indeed.'
Severus shrugged, ignoring the compliment. 'Your Polyjuice. Whose is the body?' Not a Death Eater. I would have recognised that.
'Some Ministry lackey. I transfigured the corpse into a security pamphlet. You?'
'A Mudblood.'
'Really, Severus.'
'I liked the coat.'
'It does look well on you,' Lucius agreed. His eyes rested on Severus again, but this time filled with a different kind of speculation. Severus felt his cheeks go warm. Did this body blush? 'And now to business. I have a message from the Dark Lord, and a gift. '
'Go on.'
'You are -'
A medley of shrieks and howls erupted from towards the front of the train, followed by a tremendous crash. The train juddered to a halt, flinging the two men to the ground.
'Wands out, I think,' Lucius murmured. His hand fumbled inside his robes. 'How interesting. I appear to be left-handed.'
Without waiting, Snape leapt over the guard rail and crouched low to peer around the corner of the carriage. The train had rounded a bend and he had a clear view along the line ahead. The engine lay on its side, belching steam. Dark figures, wands out, were converging on one of the front carriages. The people in the carriage were evidently aware of this: jets of red and green flashed from a broken window. One of the attackers fell to the ground, screaming. Another laughed. Raising his wand above his head, he sent a burst of green light high into the air. It shot upwards like a flare, blossoming into an enormous skull with a snake for a tongue. Severus' mouth went dry. The Dark Mark.
From the hills around them flowed a line of dark shapes, streaking towards the carriage. Wolves. The Dark Mark cast an eerie light on the scene, painting the figures an unearthly shade of green.
Severus turned to Lucius. 'Perhaps,' he said, his voice cold with fury, 'you could tell me why there are Death Eaters attacking our train.'
But Lucius shook his head. 'I know nothing of this. There must be someone important on the train. The Dark Lord would not have jeopardised our safety otherwise.' But Severus saw the doubt in his eyes and knew that it was reflected in his own.
'When I find out who is behind this,' Severus' voice was soft, 'I will kill them. The whole place will be infested with Aurors any moment now. We cannot be found.'
'Agreed. On both counts.' Shrieks and catcalls came from the front of the train. Risking a glance, Severus saw that the first three carriages were in flames. A huge werewolf raised himself up onto his hind legs and howled in triumph. Lucius edged Severus aside. 'Stand back.' He sighted along his wand. A ball of purple flame erupted from it and shot towards the werewolf.
'Lucius -'
'Merely settling an old score, Severus.' Lucius glanced back at the melee; involuntarily, Severus followed his gaze. The werewolf's whole body was on fire now; he beat frantically at the flames, but only succeeded in fanning the fire. Lucius sighed in pleasure. 'They do burn nicely. Stupid creature. I had to stand next to him at a meeting last month; he stank to high heaven.'
'Greyback?'
'Unfortunately not.'
The werewolf sank to the ground, rolled over and was still. A stink of burning flesh and hair hit Severus' nostrils and he realised he was hungry.
'Put down your wands!' Mad-Eye Moody's voice rang through the freezing air. Severus jumped back out of sight. A succession of squeaky pops followed the announcement; the Aurors had arrived.
'Let's go.'
'One moment.' Taking careful aim, Severus whispered 'Stupefy.' A burly fair-haired Death Eater collapsed as if he had been hit by a stone. Severus smiled.
'Impressive,' Lucius whispered as they bolted for the cover of the trees. 'But what have you got against Yaxley?'
'I'll tell you someday.'
'I shall look forward to it. Is he dead?'
'No. A present for Moody. He doesn't know anything that could be a threat to us.'
'He never did.' They were deep in the forest now; Severus turned and flicked his wand towards their footprints. At once the snow was as unmarked as if no one had passed that way for days. He blew on his gloved hands to warm them. 'Wretched weather. It's not even the middle of October.'
Lucius' laugh was like the tinkling of sleigh bells. 'Oh, my dear Severus. You don't mean to say you think this snow is natural?' Severus gaped at him. 'Don't underestimate the Dark Lord's powers. The country is demoralised and the Ministry can do nothing. Now then -' his voice became brisk '- to business. I am instructed to ask you if you have found what the Dark Lord seeks.'
'I have.'
'The Potters.'
'Yes.'
'In that case -' Lucius dropped a toy rat into Severus' hand. 'The Portkey will take you to the Dark Lord at eleven p.m. precisely. Be ready.' Severus nodded. 'One more thing -'
'Yes?'
'What made you choose to reveal yourself to me?'
Severus hesitated. He said, choosing his words carefully, 'Things are coming to a conclusion. Very soon, the world as we know it will be turned upside down.'
'Whatever happens.' Lucius' eyes were calculating.
'Yes.'
Lucius nodded. 'Malfoys are dangerous enemies. I like to think that we can sometimes be - good friends. Until the next time, Severus.' His eyes swept up and down the borrowed body and this time Severus felt his face burn. Then Lucius smiled a cat-like smile and was gone.
Whatever happens. Severus stuffed the toy rat into his pocket. Typical of the Dark Lord, to choose such a thing. But one day -
A moment later, he too was gone.
--
Notes: Written for leni_jess as part of harry_holidays and posted there on 9 January 2010. One word changed in this version - 'bellowing' to 'belching'. Thanks to kennahijja for the beta - and for refusing to let me change the working title. She was right :).