As Mad as a Cut Snake

As Mad as a Cut Snake

Disclaimer: It's going to get messy. I could take them all home and keep them out of trouble.

A/N: I dedicate this chapter to my Moravian friends, who will be losing their jobs when RAF Kinloss closes (see chapter 7).

Telling Voldemort about the prophecy was the easy part.

The tall wizard listened intently as Severus talked. Leaning forward from his raised seat, he observed the younger man closely. "So it's about a young boy, is it?"

Severus nodded in response.

Steepling his fingers, Voldemort continued. "I wonder why you are telling me this now, and why you appear to be so upset, Severus." He touched his fingertips to his lips as he mused. "Could it be you know which boy this prophecy is referring to? Hmm?"

His gimlet eyes caught the slight shift in Snape's expression. "Aah! I'm right, aren't I?" The edges of his lips moved a fraction in what might have been a smile.

He beckoned to the wizard standing behind him. "Malfoy, tell me which of our opposition have recently produced offspring."

The platinum haired wizard leant down and murmured in Voldemort's ear.

"No, not the Lovegoods, they had a girl, and too young. The Potters... Interesting... Indeed. Thank you, Lucius." Voldemort waved him away. "It appears, Severus, I have no choice other than to annihilate everyone in the Potters' house. That should avert the problem, don't you think? Oh, don't look so shocked. What did you expect me to do?"

"Let me go there first, my Lord, and remove any innocent bystanders."

"You wish to save the witch you had a teenage crush on?"

Severus nodded, avoiding eye contact.

Voldemort tittered girlishly, then leaned forward in his seat. "Let me tell you something in confidence."

He spoke quietly, so only the two of them could hear. "The Potters' house is Secret Kept, and I know the address. Your information has been invaluable. We will attack later tonight, after the revels. I want you to be there, Severus. You must come to..." He bent his head and whispered the address in Severus's ear. Sitting back, he smiled again.

"Now, run along and prepare yourself for the fun, my boy."

*

Telling Dumbledore was harder.

"Shit! Charmaine!" Albus could protect the Potters, but who would protect Charmaine? That was his job.

*

Telling the Potters wasn't so easy either.

"What do you think you're doing, Snivellus, turning up at my door uninvited?" James Potter sneered at the dishevelled wizard, standing dripping on his doorstep.

"Let me in, Potter. This is important."

"You're not coming into my home with my family, you Death Eater scum."

"Please, let me explain."

"I don't want to hear anything from you, Snape." James tried to slam the door, but Snape's foot stopped it.

"Who's at the door, James?" a woman's voice asked from inside the house.

"No-one important, my gilded Lily," James called back in reply. "He's just leaving. You stay inside in the warmth, sweetheart."

Lily's face appeared briefly in the hallway behind James. She gave Severus a quick smile and a wave before disappearing back into the house as the sound of a crying infant increased.

Severus pushed his point. "Don't you realise, if I'm here, your Secret Kept address is no longer a secret. You're in real danger, Potter. If you won't listen to me for your own sake, at least hear me out for Lily's sake... and your son's."

James crossed his arms. "Go on and be quick."

"Someone has betrayed you, and Voldemort knows where you live. He..."

"Do you think we're unprotected, Snivellus?"

Disdain spread across Potter's face. "Our most powerful wizards and witches have been working to safeguard us, your beloved, ex-professor Charmaine among them."

"Charmaine... Is she here?"

"And why do you want to know?"

"May I speak with her?"

"I'm sure she's not interested in speaking with you."

"Please."

"Oh, for goodness sake, I'll get her. You stay here. Don't even think about trying to come into my house." James tried to shut the door, but Snape's foot remained resolutely in the way. Potter huffed. "I'll send her out to you, and then you will leave. I don't want to see your face at my door ever again."

*

There was no need to tell Charmaine. Somehow, she seemed to know.

"Take me to Voldemort."

*

Charmaine telling Voldemort was the worst.

As soon as they arrived, Severus regretted bringing her. Death Eaters' revels were underway, and the nauseating mix of laughter and screams jangled his nerves. What had started as fun events had deteriorated, over the last year or so, into gut wrenching torture sessions led by the Lestranges.

It was with a sense of pride that he watched Charmaine close her eyes, take a deep breath, square her shoulders and raise her chin defiantly. "I've faced him before, I can do it again," she muttered under her breath. Opening her eyes, she gave him a brief nod. "I'm ready. Take me to him."

She followed close behind him as he led the way.

As usual, Voldemort was not in the main hall where the revels were taking place, but in an adjacent room with a magically enhanced window, which allowed him to view the revels when he wished or to have a scene of his choice play across its enchanted surface. Tonight, he was watching sea-snakes swimming in azure waters.

"Ah, Snape. You have returned in time for our visit to the Potters. How appropriate you should join us."

Charmaine stepped out from behind Severus and drew herself up to her full height.

"Severus, you have brought a pretty witch for me, too. No, wait. This is the Poisons expert, isn't it?" Voldemort eyed her speculatively. "Come closer, so I can get to know you a little better. I could use a bright little witch like you."

Charmaine walked right up to his raised seat, stopping directly in front of him. Voldemort reached out a skinny finger and lifted one of her curls. "Yes. I think I might like this one."

She smacked his hand away. "Don't touch me."

"How dare you?" He drew his hand back to slap her, but she caught hold of his wrist as it descended.

"I dare... because I know you, Tom Riddle."

His features blanched slightly. A tight, high laugh escaped his lips. "And what do you know, Miss Know-it-all?"

"I know what you are planning to do tonight."

Voldemort glared at Severus. "Did you share this with her?"

"No, my Lord." Severus bowed his head, but kept watching Charmaine in his peripheral vision.

"No-one told me what you are going to do tonight. I know. I also know what will happen to you afterwards. I know... because I have seen it."

"What are you? A Divination expert? A Seer?" Voldemort's tone was disparaging.

Charmaine lifted her eyes to his and fixed him with a challenging gaze. "Do you want to know what I know, see what I have seen? Look into my mind, Tom Riddle."

Severus grabbed her hand, jerking her round to face him. "No, Charmaine! He is a powerful Legilimens; you can't occlude him."

She smiled wanly and laid a soothing hand on his cheek. "I know, Severus, but I have to do this." Turning back to Voldemort, she looked him straight in the eyes, pushing the images she wanted him to see to the front of her mind. "Go on then, Snake Face," she muttered.

Severus watched Voldemort hold Charmaine's gaze. Long fingers gripped her chin as Voldemort whispered a quiet Legilimens.

Snape could almost feel the force of the probing as the mental connection was made. Charmaine shuddered, her pupils dilated and her breathing became harsh and rapid. Severus kept a tight grip on her hand.

Suddenly, Voldemort broke the connection. "You are lying!" he shouted.

"Why would I lie?"

"Crucio!" Voldemort's curse was so forceful, Severus felt the violence jolt through her and into him. Charmaine crumpled to the floor, her hand jerking out of Snape's grasp.

A second Cruciatus was aimed at Severus, who fell to the floor, writhing in agony.

Charmaine's lips pressed tight as if suppressing a scream. When Voldemort lifted the curse, a short breath passed across her lips.

Voldemort hissed at her. "You're wrong, you filthy little Mudblood."

Charmaine's teeth chattered together as she struggled back to her feet. Her muscles, still cramping in spasms, scarcely held her upright. She lifted her head, brushed her wayward hair out of her face and stared at Voldemort, challenging him. A trickle of blood ran down from her nose and over her top lip. She wiped it with the back of her hand, smearing blood up her cheek.

"You're pathetic, Tom Riddle. You're a little man with a big complex. I have nothing but contempt for you. I know you will be reduced to nothing. I have seen you destroyed. You may kill me, but..."

"Enough!" shrieked Voldemort, raining vicious curses down on her. Charmaine was flung backwards across the room. Crashing against the wall, she slid to the floor. Voldemort stalked over to her. Savagely, he kicked at her limp body. "You know nothing, you stupid witch!" he shouted, punctuating each word with a solid swing of his booted foot.

Gradually, his fury abated, and he stood breathing heavily. Without looking at Severus and with a voice dripping with venom, he said, "Get rid of her... permanently."

Voldemort strode towards the door. "I am going to deal with the Potters. I expect you to be there, Snape."

Fear swept over Severus. Kneeling at Charmaine's side, he pushed her hair off her face. Her eyelids flickered open, and she ran her tongue over her bleeding lip. "Severus?" Her speech slurred.

"Gods, Charmaine, how badly has he hurt you? I thought he was going to kill you, and I was completely useless." His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. "He... he wants me to get rid of you."

She raised a hand shakily to his tear-streaked cheek. "I think I'm badly injured. This feels worse than last time. You've got to do it, Severus."

"No! Don't ask me to kill you. That's not... that's not a fair thing to ask of anyone."

Her smile was barely a twitch of her lips as she patted his chest pocket. "I know. I'm not asking that of you. Just... send me away."

Understanding dawned on Severus. "The Portkey."

She nodded slightly.

"Charmaine, I desperately want you to stay with me. I don't want to send you away, knowing you will never come back."

Her breathing was becoming more ragged. "Severus, I may not survive."

Making up his mind, he pulled the handkerchief from his pocket. "I need you, Charmaine, but right now I need you to leave even more."

He looked at the small scrap of material. "Where will this take you?"

She shrugged. "Don't know."

"Will there be someone there to look after you?"

Another small shrug. Her hand crept up inside his sleeve, and she pressed her thumb gently to his Blaze. Warmth and bittersweet emotions ran through him.

He held the handkerchief out towards her. "Here, take it."

"Such a charming gift for your beloved professor," she murmured, her head lolling back and her eyes closing.

"Charmaine! Charmaine!" Severus shook her gently, but there was no response. He hugged her limp body to his chest, kissed her hair and her blood smeared cheek. "No! Don't die! Don't leave me!"

Realising he still held the hanky clenched in his fist, he tucked it into her hand and curled her lifeless fingers around it.

And then she was gone.

*

Dumbledore had to be told.

Slowly, Severus regained his composure. "Very well, I will do as you ask, but you must never tell anyone."

*

Telling Lupin broke his heart.