Death Whispers

Chapter Eighteen - Diabolus Quies

With Voldemort, August 1st 1980

"I was meeting with Dolohov, my Lord, when they stormed in. The camp has been stormed by Aurors, Blair didn't have a chance. I don't even know how I managed to get Apparation point..."

"We have a spy!" Voldemort was furious, his eyes flashed dangerously and tongue flickered like a venomous snake. He was stalking back and forward and Severus pushed his hands into his pockets - they were covered in sweat.

xxxxx

Elsewhere, in a well lit English study Lucius Malfoy read a very interesting letter - and as it would turn out it was the last letter ever written by Blair Dolohov.

xxxxx

Diabolus Quies, Knockturn Alley

The patrons of Diabolus Quies were a lot different from the ones that hung at The Leaky Cauldron. This bar was set down the dirtiest bends of Knockturn Alley. The dark oak furniture and low lighting gave the pub a bleak and daunting atmosphere. Sitting hunched in a small corner were Malum Avery, Ivan Rosier and Pravus Wilkes and they were by far the youngest members of the bar. Other people also sat in private groups and a tall black barmaid walked between them magicing drinks.

Ivan Rosier was looking forward to this evening. He had not seen his school friends since they had left Hogwarts as the boys had been busy with their separate tasks working for the Dark Lord. For a Death Eater Ivan was rather shy, he worked the hardest of the four, he had only one striving ambition, to live up to his father's expectation. Rissum Rosier was a ruthless powerful Death Eater and a violent father. Ivan found the last years painful and difficult, working with his father and his fathers' connections. He used to be quite childish even in his later school years and missed that freedom. He was just having a difficult time growing up.

With a deep sigh Ivan put his glass down and turned to look at the door. They were waiting for Severus.

"Where's Snape?" Wilkes demanded.

Wilkes was the leader of their group, and not known for patience. He was strong, a large boy, broad and full of muscle. He and Severus were the closest. With Severus as the brains of the group and Wilkes as the muscle, during school, the two were unstoppable. Wilkes followed Severus' keen fascination of the Dark Arts right into being a Death Eater. And while he enjoys his Death Eater activities he felt anger that Severus had left him.

"He thinks he's so good because he is in the Silver Circle," spat Avery, already on his sixth glass.

Avery was bitter. His eyes were different colours and he was thin and pale. During sixth year Avery changed, the changes were dramatic, some joked he was even under Imperius. He wasn't. It was because his father, his father was murdered in sixth year. Oddly Avery then became close friend's with Lucius Malfoy, his mothers lover. He used to be gentler, had a crush on Lily Evans, joked with the others, now he hated Mudbloods, taunted instead of joked and had developed a steely set of nerves.

"Something must have happened," reasoned Ivan.

"Hmmp!" Avery made move to leave.

"No, wait," begged Ivan, "I want to know how you've been?"

Wilkes looked at him and smiled. "You talk like a woman."

"He talks like a spy," growled Avery, but he sat back down. The group laughed and ordered another round. Talking about their missions it was almost as if they hadn't been apart. Wilkes was crude he talked off all his accomplishments, in detail.

"So does anyone know what Severus is up too?" asked Ivan. The others shook their heads, by this time they were all fairly drunk.

Wilkes began waving about his pitcher about to start a diatribe.

"You've had too much mead!" Ivan joked as beer sloshed over the table. It was disturbing how young the boys were. How young, and how human.

The three were laughing, a full three sheets to the wind when the strangers entered the pub. Patrons looked up as the new guests entered the room.

A man, with thick black hair stormed up to the Slytherins table, his face messed with fury. Two other men were holding him back. James Potter was tall and good looking and his friend Remus was worried and had sandy brown hair. They were trying to hold Sirius Black who was so filled with fury that as he stormed across the bar the others came with him.

You could almost be forgiven for missing the fourth man that entered the pub. Mousey and short the chubby man brought up the rear of the group frantically holding on to Sirius's coat.

The Slytherins stared up at the Gryffindors who had just fallen about their table with so much fury it was platable. Others who where watching the scene made move toward the doors and left the pub, chairs scraping and tables falling over in the scurry. James and Sirius stood at the front of the group side by side in Aurors robes. This alone was enough for anyone at the Diabolus Quies to flee and those that hadn't moved closer to the group to see what was happening.

"What do you boys want?" threatened Wilkes, he was still in Death Eater clothes but without his mask they looked like ordinary black robes.

"We want Avery," growled Sirius. James held him back, "But don't worry, we'll be back for you two as well."

"On what grounds?" demanded Avery.

"I'm going to kill you," threatened Sirius his wand still drawn and bobbing in front of Avery's face.

"There's no need for wands," said Remus gently holding Sirius' arm and pushing it down. "Don't do anything you'll regret," he cautioned.

"I won't regret it. This bastard murdered my brother."

Avery had the audacity to smirk.

"We just want to ask a few questions. In private," Remus said politely and shot Avery a meaningful look.

"I have nothing to say," Avery said softly settling back at the table, the others still standing en guard, wands drawn.

The group was interrupted as a small man Apparated into the pub. He fell beside the table with a thud.

"Marcus?" Wilkes asked kneeling next to the young Slytherin. The group had turned and Avery took this to throw a punch at Sirius. The two fell to the floor in a brawl. Both the Slytherins and the Gryffindors were shouting and trying to pull one from the other. Suddenly Avery's arm burned and he rolled away from Sirius and looked to the Slytherins who seemed to be facing the same predicament.

"Please guys, it is Severus. He is in big trouble," Marcus squealed.

Suddenly realizing that they were going to make an escape James pulled out his wand. Peter stumbled into him, and the three Slytherin's saw their opportunity and quickly Dissapparated.

"Sorry James," Peter cried.

"Damn!" cursed Sirius, cautiously touching his face to examine the damage.

"You didn't really expect him to talk did you?" asked James.

"He killed him James, I know he did," said Sirius his voice filled with pain, "I should have just cursed him!"

"What would that have achieved?" asked Remus rubbing Sirius' back. Sirius was still in grief - his brother Regulas had been slaughtered.

Suddenly, Sirius started laughing maniacally and the group shot each other worried looks. Sirius was laughing and crying at the same time and the people who had stayed to watch the confrontation backed away as if he had gone mad.

"Sirius...." James asked quietly, kneeling and holding the mans hands in front of him. Sirius was not quite himself.

He continued laughing till he was gasping rapidly for air.

"Sirius, please," James pleaded.

With a manic grin Sirius wheezed, "Snape is in trouble!"

xxxxxx

Voldemort contemplated the information as others appeared in staggered intervals bloodied from battle. Slowly the guards from the camp were reforming around Voldemort. Severus wondered if they had seen anything, heard anything, he wished that he had of drunk the poision. He was foolish to think he would get away with this and the death Voldemort had planned for traitors would be insufferable. Everything slowed down, he felt his life hanging by a thread, it was a surreal out of body experience.

"I killed an Auror," exclaimed one guard.

"I killed two," argued another. The group was rowdy and angry.

"Quiet!" Voldemort barked. "We have a traitor! Do you know the punishment for traitors?"

"Crucio," he cried and Severus fell to the ground in pain. Wild thoughts ran through he head and this time he screamed like he had never screamed before. It was only after Voldemort lifted the curse that he realised the whole camp had been under the spell. Others were already trying to get up on shaky legs, Severus remained on the ground, gasping for air and hardly believing his luck.

"Who is missing?" The Dark Lord asked the group.

"Dolohov," called one.

"Blair was murdered," Voldemort answered, "his death will be avenged, he was one of my favoured loyal servants."

Nobody contradicted the Dark Lord. His secret was safe. A few other names were called and confirmed missing or dead. Voldemort nodded slowly obviously processing the information for later.

"Get out of my sight."

"Severus, wait." A small man lingered for a while trying to eavesdrop but quickly disappeared when he saw Voldemort's eyes flashing.

"You're lucky I don't remove you from the Silver Circle!" Voldemort growled. Severus tried to look scolded and hide his relief at the same time.

"My Lord," Severus muttered bowing to Voldemort's feet. The Dark Lord's anger ebbed as he reassessed the situation.

"Well, what to do with you? You have been very loyal Severus, and for that I am willing to allow you to continue in my service. I have a new task for you," Voldemort whispered quietly.

"Anything, my lord," Severus said looking up to the Dark Lord. Voldemort's face was shaped with skin like plastic. He looked unnatural and his eyes were flickering a dull red as he thought.

"We have spies amongst us. And despite our efforts we fail to get closer to our goal because of that fool Dumbledore," Voldemort said thinking aloud something he would only do infront of those from the Silver circle.

"My little Severus," Voldemort smiled, "I would like you to become our spy and pay your friend Dumbledore a visit."

"Surely he will not fall for that," Severus asked. Voldemort looked down on him as if thinking about punishment for defiance but Severus flickered in fear and this amused the Dark Lord.

"Go to him, I understand the two of you share a secret, you are smart Severus, surely you can think of a way."

Severus' brow furrowed in confusion. He had in the darkest and most unnerving hour of his life seen a way out. A way he could live with. He had been offered his shot at redemption -and a cover for it.

Severus had decided. His choice was final, it was not about Lallie anymore. This was his decision and he bowed his head closely to the ground to hide his relief.

"You will be pleasantly surprised, my Lord," Severus whispered at the Dark Lord's feet, then he quietly Dissapparated.

xxxxxx

Severus hurried to his small home. His high school friends were all standing anxiously in the kitchen and cheered as he appeared before them.