13. Chapter 13

I finished the game and I am back in business! I hope you all don't consider me too evil. I wasn't gone that long, really. Well, enjoy!

Chapter 13

It only took a few seconds for Snape to determine just how much trouble he was in. They had landed in a clearing in the middle of a forest. On impact, Rabastan had immediately snatched Snape's wand away from him, releasing his arm when it posed no more threat. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Greyback had joined instantly after Snape's forced side-along apparition. To his dismay, a young girl – not even old enough to be attending Hogwarts yet – lay on the ground a few feet away. She was not dead but she lay very still, her eyes fixed on something in the distance. She was not bound but then again, that hadn't been necessary by the looks of it.

Carefully, he eyed his former colleagues, trying to find an opening. Perhaps he could figure out their plans for him and perhaps he could still get out of here. If he was fortunate enough, he would be able to take that girl with him as well. When his eyes met Bellatrix', she grinned maliciously.

"Aww, don't look at me like that, Sevvie," she teased as she wiggled her index finger in front of his face. "I know what you're thinking! Dear old Bella must be involving me in some nefarious scheme! If I can figure out what that is, I can still escape." She laughed at her own deduction. "But alas, Snape," she spat, "My goal today is nothing but your pain and death. Except maybe to lure that Potter boy to your rescue just in time to see you die."

"There's no way he would come willingly," Snape growled, his eyes darting around the scenery. Perhaps if he found a large branch or sufficiently big rock, he could get rid of at least one of his four adversaries. Perhaps even two, if he took advantage of the stunned confusion that would surely follow."

"Oh, please," Rodolphus said, "You seem to be forgetting that the boy has a Gryffindor heart. Have you already forgotten how readily he charged into danger to try and save that godfather of his? I have no doubt he would do it again."

Snape's heart clenched tightly in his chest. Of course Rodolphus was right, and of course, Snape knew this. He had only hoped that this band of randomized death eaters might not be intelligent enough to solve a crossword puzzle together, let alone understand what was in Harry's mind.

Maybe a change of subject would leave them all sufficiently distracted. "I take it that it was the four of you who were behind the muggle attacks?" he asked smoothly, taking a few steps away from Rabastan. The man did not follow. Yet.

"But of course!" Bellatrix replied, "It was all in good fun really. And when Rookwood let slip that even those filthy muggles were celebrating the Dark Lord's unfortunate death – a brilliant man of whom they knew nothing! – I just couldn't control myself."

Snape frowned. "Rookwood is behind all this?" he asked. If that was the case, Snape was in even more trouble than he had already realized.

"No," Bellatrix said in annoyance, "But he cares enough about the wellbeing of his brothers and sisters in arms to stop by every now and then. Unlike some traitors." Her eyes glinted menacingly.

Snape took another step towards a rock he had spotted. Its edges seemed delightfully sharp. He might even be able to throw it to save himself some precious seconds. If his aim was true, perhaps he could even kill.

"You realize he's playing you, right?" Snape said casually, "There's no other reason for him to still come and find you."

"You're the only one here who plays those sorts of games, Sevvie," Bellatrix cooed. Snape suppressed a snort. How daft was she really?

"Tell me, Snape," Rodolphus now said, '"Had you always been planning to betray the Dark Lord or was it a spur of the moment thing?"

"You must think very little of me to even entertain the thought of me being so impetuous," Snape replied easily. "I was never his. Everything I did was for the light."

"So instead of the Dark Lord's servant, you were Dumbledore's," Rodolphus continued, "Not a very big difference is there?"

"I don't think you will ever understand," Snape sneered, "since the four of you clearly enjoy torture and murder." He gestured towards the little girl angrily.

"Oh, her," Bellatrix said, as if she was only now reminded of the crumpled heap of human that she had no doubt positioned there herself. She turned towards the girl and Snape took his shot. He picked up the rock which was now located near his right foot and drew back his hand, ready to throw the blasted thing at Bellatrix' snide face.

"Crucio!"

Snape's body spasmed in pain he hadn't felt in a very long time but had never quite forgotten. His legs were suddenly unable to carry his weight anymore and his knees buckled, dropping him to the ground. He was only vaguely aware of the sound of his own screams. The feeling of his nerve ends burning with all the pain of a fourth-degree burn was more of a priority to his mind. His legs contorted beneath him and unwillingly, his body curled up on itself.

And then it stopped. A small trickle of blood made it past Snape's lips and he realized he had bitten the inside of his cheek at some point. He panted and tried to push himself upright again on trembling arms but a heavy foot positioned itself on Snape's back and pushed him back down.

"You didn't really think you would be able to lay a finger on any of us, did you?" Snarled Greyback. "In case you've forgotten how to count, there's four of us and only one of you."

Snape laughed bitterly. "It would appear that it's not me who has forgotten how to count."

His blurry vision was starting to become clearer when he noticed that Bellatrix sat hunched in front of him.

"Oh?" she said, "Are you delusional enough to think anyone is close by enough to help you out? Or did you think that this girl was going to throw a surprise killing curse at one of us?"

"It's the four of you – well, I suppose five if you count Rookwood – against everyone else. That's why you're skulking around like rats, isn't it? That's why you pick off muggles instead of lashing out at the wizarding world. Because you have no one left and all you can do is run. I know that you know this."

"My dear old friend," Bellatrix purred. She took out her wand and moved it slowly along Snape's cheek, a deep cut appearing as she moved. "You can try to provoke me into killing you all you want but it won't work. You see, while I do want you dead, I have longed to cause you a great deal of pain for a very long time."

Snape scowled at her, not allowing himself to react to the fresh wound being inflicted to his face. He could feel the blood trickle down his neck and could smell copper.

"It's an honour to be the most important object of your thoughts, Bella." Snape drawled, "Though I do realize just how infrequent a thought is able to occupy your diseased mind, it's still quite the compliment."

"Don't talk to her like that," Rodolphus growled, punching Snape square in the face. Snape glared icily at the man.

"What's this, Rodolphus?" he asked snidely, "Protecting your wife? Why, last I remembered, you were talking about how insane she was and how you wish she would just get herself killed already."

"That's not – He's lying, my love!" Rodolphus said panic-stricken.

"Am I?" Snape smirked, "Just peer into his mind and you will see that I'm correct."

Bellatrix smiled sweetly down at Snape and twirled her wand in her hand. A sign of uncertainty, Snape knew. "He's just trying to bring a wedge between us, pet," Bellatrix said evenly, "Rookwood warned us about this."

"You've certainly traded in for a new 'Dark Lord' rather quickly, dear Bella," Snape purred, "You must not have truly loved Voldemort very much."

Snape knew he was pushing it but was still surprised when Bellatrix' boot connected firmly with his jaw, sending him sprawling once more.

"Don't you dare speak his name!" Bellatrix roared, "Don't you dare talk about him. You shouldn't even be thinking about him after what you've done."

Snape's jaw ached terribly but he ignored the urge to bring up his hand. He wanted to show as little weakness as possible.

"I loved him more than anything," Bellatrix continued, "He was my world and you and that Potter child tore him away from me. I can never forgive you for that!"

"Oh, that poor husband of yours," Snape said, trying his best to nor slur his words because of his aching jaw. "It's no wonder he sought a way out."

The satisfaction that came over Snape when he saw the flash of anger in Rodolphus' eyes helped alleviate the pain a little bit. Especially when he realized that the anger was not entirely meant for him.

"Have you noticed, Rodolphus," Snape continued, "That while you call her love, she calls you pet? It is a rather telling sign of what you mean to her, is it not? Tell me, do you believe yourself above or below the werewolf when it comes to rank?"

"That is enough out of you!" Greyback suddenly roared. He picked Snape up as easily as he would a rag doll and slammed him into a tree. Snape managed to allow himself only a grunt.

"You. Talk. Too. Much," Greyback spat word for word, allowing a pause between each one to let his fist collide with Snape's face. The third or fourth one definitely broke Snape's nose and he found himself appreciative of the werewolf's lacking vocabulary.

Snape spat out the blood that filled his mouth, already partially seeping through his lips and turned his determined gaze on Greyback.

"She's using you, you know," he grunted with more difficulty than he cared to admit.

"One more word and I will tear your lips off with my teeth," Greyback hissed.

Snape knew that the werewolf was not kidding and wisely shut his mouth. They stared at each other for a few more seconds before Greyback released Snape, allowing him to fall to the floor and turned his back on him.

"I suggest you do something about that mouth, Bella," Greyback growled, "Before he sways one of them –" he inclined his head meaningfully towards the Lestrange brothers "- to betray you."

"You're right, of course," Bellatrix admitted, "Though I do so love to hear him scream. How about one more Crucio and then I seal those lips?"

"You're the boss," Greyback shrugged.

Bellatrix laughed gleefully and pointed her wand squarely at Snape's chest. The Potions Master braced himself but couldn't stop himself from screaming through the agonizing curse that took hold of his body. He wrapped his arms around himself to try and stop them from flailing but Bellatrix didn't release the curse until they did.

When she had gratified her sadistic urges, Bellatrix kneeled before Snape and cupped his chin gently with her left hand. Snape wanted to slap it away but could barely lift a finger. Instead, he groaned.

"Hush now," Bellatrix said gently, "It will all be over soon. For today anyway. We still need to alert a certain somebody to your whereabouts."

Before Snape could react, Bellatrix leaned forward and kissed him long and hard. When she pulled back, her mouth was smeared with his blood. She licked her lips in delight and Snape had to do his best not to empty his stomach.

"Suturis," Bella whispered.

Snape thought he couldn't move anymore. He had been convinced that his body had been broken and that he would be unable to react to any more torture that day.

He realized just how wrong he was when he felt the invisible needle impale his lips up and down, up and down, until a magical thread sealed his mouth shut. His brain screamed at him, telling him to stop the agony however he could and soon he found himself scratching at his face, attempting to stop what he knew he could not.

And Bellatrix had taken her sweet time, that sadistic witch. She relished in Snape's agony as was evident by the ecstasy on her face.

When she was finished, she took out what seemed to be a chipped cup and held it under Snape's chin, gathering some of the blood that was dripping down at an unsteady pace. Soon, the hand she used to hold Snape's face in place was covered by the red substance but she clearly couldn't care less.

"You'll have to forgive me," she said when she saw Snape's cold stare. "But we don't exactly have any inkwells in this forest. Your blood should do nicely though. Did you have anything you wanted me to tell Potter?"

Snape narrowed his eyes and glared to the best of his abilities.

"Oh, you want me to tell him to come to rescue you?" Bellatrix said in mock pity, "Don't you worry. I'll tell him you said just that."

Snape would've lunged forward had his body not been so heavy but even if he could have done just that, it would've amounted to nothing.

"Rabastan, watch the prisoner," Bellatrix ordered, "I have a message to write, and I don't want to be disturbed by any moaning or flailing."

"Yes, Bella," Rabastan agreed flatly. The witch disappeared out of sight, followed on her heels by Greyback. Rodolphus occupied himself by staring at the small girl that still lay motionless on the floor. Snape shook his head in dismay. The monsters.

"You don't know what it's like out here," Rabastan told him. Snape glared at the man.

"You were regarded a hero because you were on the right side of history," Rabastan continued, "And we now hide away like common thieves, scrounging up food wherever we can."

Snape grunted and inclined his head towards the girl. Rabastan followed his gaze and grimaced.

"One would say she was a necessary evil," Rabastan said after a while, "Others would say that luring you into a trap was not necessary at the least but simply a dangerous act to get revenge on you."

Snape nodded in agreement to the second.

"It's not like I have that much choice, you know," Rabastan said quietly, "I know what I can do and surviving on my own out here is not it. It's either this life or Azkaban – oh don't look at me like that. Azkaban would be infinitely worse."

Rodolphus glared their way before moving to the campfire, throwing in some more wood.

"You're right about one thing though," Rabastan shared willingly, "Rodolphus does not like to be around his loving wife at all. She's insane."

Snape couldn't help but wonder why the man next to him was spilling thoughts as if he drank Veritaserum and questions were asked that only he could hear. On the other hand, perhaps he needed a sounding board and what better use was a man whose lips were literally sealed.

"One day she'll kill us," Rabastan continued, "I know that. I'm not stupid. She'll get me first. Probably after I disagree with her on something stupid. She'll have had enough and she'll kill me. I can only hope it will be painless. As for my brother – well – that all depends. If he reacts too strongly to my death she'll kill him right after. Otherwise, it'll probably be a few months. Unless he escapes before that time."

Snape couldn't help himself. He shot Rabastan an incredulous look that he normally saved to stare at the work of his most dunderheaded students.

"Oh, and where would I go if I ran now?" Rabastan answered his unspoken question. "Go to Rookwood? He doesn't want company and quite frankly, he uses people."

Snape glanced at the little girl and back at Rabastan.

"Yes, Bella uses people as well. I know!" Rabastan replied. The volume in his voice was increasing and Snape became worried that Bellatrix might hear him. "But at least she's upfront about it. There are never any surprises. She means what she says and her orders are straightforward."

Snape tried to smirk but found that he couldn't. Pain was his only response to the attempted curling of his lips. He suppressed a groan and tried to move himself into a better position. Rabastan regarded him carefully.

"You look pathetic," he said, "You know that, right?"

Snape rolled his eyes. What had they expected cornering him four against one? He didn't know what Rabastan was trying to provoke with his childish taunting but he should realize that Snape was unable to answer, even if he wanted to. So Snape motioned across his mouth and looked darkly at Rabastan.

"I know you can't speak," Rabastan said, "That question was rhetorical, you know."

He eyed Snape again and added: "Something tells me that the old Severus Snape would never have allowed himself to be ambushed like that. Have you gone soft or simply careless?"

Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow. That question was definitely not rhetorical.

"A bit of both, I suppose," Rabastan answered for him, "That's what you get when you're lounging about the impenetrable safety of Hogwarts. You have a warm bed to sleep on, good food on your table morning, noon and evening and you even have company that doesn't look at you as if you were a cockroach."

Snape snorted at that last addition. Perhaps not anymore but once most of his colleagues had regarded him exactly so. Now only a very small minority still did. And even that seemed to be ebbing away with every time Snape went to watch one of Harry's matches; every time someone caught him looking at the boy with a sense of pride. Maybe he had gone soft.

"Well, if you do it's your own fault entirely," Rabastan said, "You don't exactly have the most pleasant personality. It's really off-putting."

Snape frowned at the man in front of him. That was certainly a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

"Don't give me that look," Rabastan chided, "I didn't lay a hand on you except to bring you here. Nor did I torture that little girl. I don't relish in violence the way Bella and Greyback do. For a long time, people actually found my company rather delightful."

Snape snorted again.

"Don't laugh," Rabastan said, "It's true. But now – well – when you walk with trash, you end up smelling the same."

Snape nodded solemnly. This was good. He could use this. Rabastan clearly wanted out of this little arrangement. If only he could speak, he would be able to offer terms. He could offer to talk to Dumbledore about granting them clemency. Not that the old man would be able to hold off the righteous judgement that hung over their heads quite like the sword of Damocles, but Rabastan didn't need to know that.

Snape grabbed a twig and started writing in the sand.

I could help you.

Rabastan laughed heartily as if Snape had just told him a hilarious joke. But the glint in his eyes had been unmistakable. Snape erased the sentence and looked at Rabastan expectantly.

"And how would you be able to help me?" Rabastan said softly, "Not to mention, why?"

Snape exhaled strongly through his nose in exasperation with being asked two questions at once and picked up his twig once more.

He wrote a number one in the sand with next to it the word 'Dumbledore' and below that he wrote the number two and next to that the word self-preservation. He then looked up meaningfully.

"If self-preservation had been anywhere on your list of personal goals, you would have never become a spy," Rabastan noted cleverly, "What changed?"

Snape erased his previous writing and wrote 'Harry'.

"You have got to be kidding me," Rabastan sighed, "You loathed the boy so strongly for all those years but now you would help me stay out of Azkaban for his sake? It must be a cold day in hell."

Snape erased Harry's name from the sand and fixed Rabastan with a piercing glare as if to say 'well?'

Rabastan seemed to be in doubt but shook his head. "Let me think on it Snape," he said, "For one, I don't think I could leave my brother behind. If I disappeared, Bella would surely kill him in her rage."

More would have been said but Bella re-emerged from the trees, with Greyback on her heels. Privately, Snape wondered if they had been doing more than letter-writing in the thicket but quickly erased that vile thought from his mind.

"Oh, Snape, isn't this delicious?" Bella said, "By tomorrow, I am sure we will have Harry Potter in our grasp to suffer as much as you will. Surely, you're looking forward to his company?"

A deep noise crawled its way up Snape's throat. No words could be distinguished but the threat was clear. Bella simply laughed.

"Do you honestly think you scare me?" she said, "That you scare any of us? You are a dead man, Snape. You just don't know it yet."

She whistled once and a large barn owl swooped down, landing on a low-hanging branch in Bellatrix' reach. It proudly extended its foot and she gleefully tied the letter to it.

"Bring this to Harry Potter," she ordered. The owl hooted once and flew up, its strong, wide wings carrying it across the sky in a swift manner.

"Don't worry, Sevvie!" Bellatrix said when the owl had disappeared from sight, "We have not forgotten about you. In fact, we have cleared our busy schedule just to have a bit of fun with you."

Snape narrowed his eyes at the disturbing woman in front of him, his decorum not faltering when she revealed a large knife.

"Now, what fingers would you mind losing the least?"

Harry had had a very confusing day, yesterday. He had known that Snape was out buying potions ingredients with Professor Bell but neither of them had returned yet. And sure, it had been a Saturday, so there wasn't really a reason for either of them to be back on time but this was very uncharacteristic for Snape.

What was even more confusing, was the message he had received on his cuff around three in the morning. It had nearly disappeared by the time he was awake enough to understand what was happening but he had still been able to make out the words.

'Ignore the letter you will get this morning. Do not test me on this.'

The penmanship had obviously been Snape's even if it had been less neat than usual. Perhaps a side-effect from writing a message in the middle of the night. Maybe Snape had indulged in too much fire whiskey. Perhaps, he had sent Harry an embarrassing message that he didn't want repeated.

He hadn't even bothered writing anything back because he was too tired but now – as he sat down at breakfast, noticing that Snape was still not here – he wrote him a message.

'Where are you? And where is Professor Bell?'

Ten minutes later, he still hadn't gotten a reply so he just shrugged and dug into his breakfast. There were croissants today.

The answer to Professor Bell's whereabouts was answered at that moment. She barged into the great hall, looking severely dishevelled as she hurriedly made her way to the high table, not even regarding Harry with a passing glance.

Harry watched her approach Dumbledore, whispering hurriedly with her head bowed closer to his. Curious and slightly worried as he was, his attention was soon disturbed when a large barn owl landed right next to his plate and extended his foot. Glancing at the high table once more, Harry removed the attached letter and absentmindedly shoved some bacon and eggs towards the owl. He opened the scroll and gasped slightly when he saw that the message was written in blood.

"Everything alright, Harry?" came the familiar drawl of a certain Slytherin blonde. Ron and Hermione weren't down yet seeing how it was Sunday, but Draco never skipped breakfast. "Wait, is that –"

"I think so," Harry frowned, allowing his eyes to scan the parchment as his expression grew darker.

My dear Potty,

I would like to cordially invite you to a party that I know you can't wait to attend. Sevvie – for one – is simply dying to see you. Quite literally in fact! I'm sure you wouldn't want to prolong his agony so I want you to come to Hogsmeade as soon as you can. One of my party guests will be there to pick you up! If you want to bring a plus one, you are welcome to. A girlfriend perhaps? The more, the merrier! Just don't bring anyone over the age of twenty. We have enough of those already, you see. If you do, my guest will be forced to leave prematurely and will not come back until the next day.

Since you will be dearly missed if you refuse to show up, we will send you a present every day. We simply can't carry on without you, you know? Today, you will have to be satisfied with the blood Sevvie has quite unwillingly provided to write this letter with. Tomorrow, I think I might send you a finger.

Don't run late! We might run out of body parts if you do.

With much love,

Bellatrix Lestrange.

Might I kindly ask you lot to provide me with some reviews? It would be much appreciated, you see. I'm anxious to see what you think and yes, I know. I'm evil for this new cliffhanger. The next one won't end on one, I promise!