Dark Master

Severus Apparated into the usual clearing just outside the hidden meeting place. He nodded knowingly at the hidden Death Eaters who stood guard around the clearing as he pulled his mask out of his pocket and slipped it over his face. As he walked to the hidden cellar door that led to the bleak and depressing dungeons of a long-forgotten castle, he focused his mind on his Occlumency shields, making sure to plant the "useful" information in front of the shield, should the Dark Lord try to read his thoughts. He could never be too careful about such things. As he made his way down the slippery staircase and through the moist hallways of the dank dungeon, he thought briefly of his "conversation" with Hermione earlier. He knew she was right...he really needed to show her the proper ways and the right locations for harvesting the special ingredients, but he also knew that it would have to be planned carefully. Suddenly he cringed at the knowledge that he'd left his "Dark" journal on his desk without warding it. He could only hope that, especially after that particular conversation, she would not notice its presence. Unbeknownst to her, it was the journal that he used in his Death Eater persona. He had to have extensive proof of his "hard" work for the Dark Lord's cause, and he made sure that it appeared to be every bit a journal dedicated to the Dark Lord's purposes.

He had, of course, a real journal that housed his real work, including the antidotes to the horrible potions he was forced to brew during his subterfuge. He started to worry when he remembered how easily she'd let their "conversation" go to continue her assigned work. A little too quickly, as if she was going to put thought into the situation despite my instructions to the contrary. I know her Gryffindor ways all too well; if she ever got hold of the "Dark" location map, she would walk straight into Voldemort's hands, he thought with increasing worry. As he approached the main chamber for the meeting, he cut off that line of thought. He couldn't risk worrying about that now. Shields and proof of "devotion" in place, he pushed the door open and walked forward, crawling the last few feet to kiss his Dark master's robes.

"Rise, Severus. Take your place beside me. We have interesting news to celebrate this evening," the snake-like man hissed at him. Once Severus was standing in his place, looking devoted and important as one of his rank should look, Voldemort turned to his many Death Eaters who were gathered that night. "My friends, it seems we have reason to celebrate this night," he commented as he felt the anticipation rise from his most loyal and high ranking Death Eaters.

Severus observed briefly that there were only eleven at this meeting, which meant it had to be big news. Severus turned his attention back to Voldemort.

As he started walking around the circle, he said, "It seems your dear brother Lucius has finally cracked the Head Unspeakable. Very soon we shall see what meagre plans the Ministry have against me. You should all congratulate Lucius for his well planned and powerful Imperius, which will soon reap great rewards...and I daresay fun...for you all." Voldemort smiled a sinister smile that evoked a very strong feeling indeed at this news.

Revulsion.

But Severus bowed his head and projected happy thoughts like the rest of the mindless monsters who filled the room.

Voldemort took a moment to randomly read his servants' minds, conveniently skipping Severus as he chose his prey. Once he was satisfied that the few he checked were truly excited at the thought of the revels that lay ahead, he slithered back to his chair, which might as well have been a throne for the grandness of it. He clapped and motioned with a mere flick of his hand for those who were present to depart, saying, "Join your lesser brothers in the hall, if you will. Macnair was so kind as to gather a few pieces of entertainment for you. Enjoy," he cackled as they made their way to the great hall across from the main chamber. Severus started to follow the others so he could make his rounds. He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. He was nearly to the door when his Dark master called for him. "Severus, come here for a moment," he called.

Severus walked back toward Voldemort and started to kneel to kiss his robes once more, but Voldemort signalled that it wasn't necessary. "How may I be of service, my lord?" Severus asked with measured reverence.

"You have not informed me of the Depreciare Potion's progress of late. Tell me, how is it going?" Voldemort asked him with a penetrating look as he casually invaded Severus's mind.

Severus, knowing he was supposed to pretend ignorance at this invasion, spoke clearly as if he didn't know what the Dark Lord was doing. "It's coming along well, I think. I've tested it several times on the wands you so graciously procured for me. There's a hitch in the sequencing of the ingredients, unfortunately, so I have to take it step by step, testing the possible variations in the order in which the ingredients should be added. I'm confident I have the right ingredients; it just needs to be perfected as far as the steps go. I'm sorry I haven't accomplished this sooner, my lord," he said, starting to kneel as if really ashamed. He knew, though, that his act was perfect.

"No need to kneel before me, Severus. I'm quite pleased that you've figured it out thus far. I know that you are truly close...I can see it. It's something I admire in you, this need for perfection. I would expect nothing less from my Potions master. Let me know if you need any more of the ingredients; I daresay you might have depleted your stores quite a bit in this perfecting," he said.

Severus bowed his head respectfully. "I am low on a few things, my lord. But I would rather gather the ingredients myself, if I may. I mean no disrespect, but the flux-weed Lucius brought me last time was not picked at the right hour. It's best picked at midnight, at the full moon. That pouch was quite weak and set me back a few tries; I believe it was picked an hour or so too soon," he said humbly, bowing and kissing Voldemort's robes anyway. It was always a dangerous thing, to accuse a fellow Death Eater of any sort of lack, especially one of the same rank.

Voldemort assessed him a moment before saying, "I understand, Severus. I shall not leave the important ingredients to him any more. From now on, if you wish someone to help you, tell them your instructions. I give you leave to order whomever you need to gather what you need. Be sure to tell me if they fail to do so correctly." Severus bowed and thanked him graciously. With another flick of his hand, Voldemort indicated that he was done with him. Severus kept the happy bounce that his feet wanted to do out of his walk as he thought of the punishment that bastard Malfoy would get for this. He knew damn well that Lucius knew better than to pick something like that too early. He also knew that Lucius would think him too cowardly to bring Lucius's lazy vindictiveness to their Dark Lord's attention. This would be a fun night indeed. He might stay a little longer than usual.

As excited as he was over the punishment Lucius Malfoy would obviously receive, he forgot momentarily about the journal and Hermione.

~{}~

Hermione paid the shopkeeper for the basic ingredients she had picked out as carefully as if Severus had been hovering over her shoulder the whole time. She shrank the package instantly and carefully placed it inside her knapsack. She had re-read a few chapters that explained the basic points of harvesting as she waited to see if Severus would return soon. Usually he was either gone for a few hours or, if he didn't return that soon, it was usually a day or more before he did. She assumed he would arrive tomorrow when she heard the clock chime three hours later. Hermione walked quickly to the kitchen and told Remus where she was going. Since it was around three in the afternoon, he had no reason to assume she was lying when she said she would be back in a few hours from her errands in Diagon Alley.

Leaving the apothecary shop, Hermione walked swiftly to the Apparation point near the back door of the Leaky Cauldron. Closing her eyes, she envisioned the creek bridge that she knew was a short walk from the meadow where she would find Severus's hidden cache of nature. The second she appeared on the bridge she swiftly pulled her wand out of her sleeve and cast a Disillusionment Charm. She was not stupid, after all, and at least if she was lectured later about her impromptu harvest trip, she could say she took precautions. She looked around her to see which direction was generally northwest of this point, and having calculated the sun's position, she set off on a fast-paced walk through the woods. Of the many books she had read, half of them were Muggle-related. As she listened closely to her surroundings while she walked, she thought of the Muggle self-awareness colour system. Basically there were certain colours that reflected dangers and the need for caution in every situation. Out in the middle of nowhere, alone, walking through these woods with which she was unfamiliar, she knew her colour would be at least orange. Thinking of that colour, the information flashed before her eyes.

Orange...Outside of your comfort zone, in an unknown area. Be aware. Keep a keen eye on your surroundings.

So, gripping her wand more tightly, she continued to trek through the woods for another fifteen minutes until she finally saw a clearing ahead. She slowed down and stopped behind a large tree, carefully looking the whole area over, listening for any sound, any movement. Anything. After several tense minutes of silence, she felt it safe to start her search of the meadow for the essential ingredients. Right away she spotted a patch of white willow. She smiled happily as she pulled her knapsack off her back and felt around for the special clippers she had brought, along with the pouches for her harvested herbs. Carefully, with her wand now back up her sleeve, she started harvesting the white willow as she remembered seeing it done in the moving pictures of her book. She smiled to herself again as she clipped the last stem. She knew there was no way Severus could criticise her work. It was textbook-perfect. While Muggle white willow was from a tree, magic white willow was a small weed that glowed with a white mist during the short time each month when there was no moon.

Hermione walked on and contained the urge to squeal when she spotted the red clover. This was a powerful natural ingredient, very delicate in nature, that was the main stimulant in Blood-Replenishing Potions. She was so excited at the large amount of these flowers that she dropped her guard completely. She knew it was very hard to find these, and also difficult to harvest them without damaging their potency. She hardly breathed as she concentrated on carefully taking the clippings, placing them reverently in a special pouch that was spelled to cushion, thus retaining the natural shape of whatever ingredient was placed in it.

~{}~

Alecto Carrow signalled to Amycus Carrow the second she noticed something unseeing, clipping some weeds and then they would disappear. She knew that someone was in the meadow this time, and it wasn't Snape. Snape wouldn't hide himself if he were here as they'd been told he would be. Whoever was in the meadow was Disillusioned. And after watching closely for a few minutes, it was clear that someone was there.

Amycus cussed as he made his way over to his sister. This was the fourth time she had signaled him this evening, and he was getting bloody tired of her jumpiness. As he walked up to her quietly, he was about to start cussing a blue streak when she slapped her hand quietly over his mouth and turned his head toward the meadow in front of them. He nearly bit her hand when he finally saw what she was calling him about. Carefully removing her hand he leaned over to her ear, still watching the Disillusioned stranger clipping away at the weeds, and said, "It's not Snape. But it's got to be someone he knows. He found this place, and besides himself, Lucius, and the Dark Lord, we're the only ones who know of it." He paused for effect before adding, "Unless he told one of his Order pals."

Alecto smiled hugely as they both prepared to capture this unknown person. Lucius Malfoy had "asked" them, meaning paid them a great deal in Galleons, to watch this place and see if they could catch Snape, claiming that Snape was not their master's spy but truly a spy for the Order. Lucius wanted proof that what he knew himself was true. He would be Avada'ed as quickly as he could blink if he didn't have said proof when he brought this to the Dark Lord's attention. The Callows were told that if Snape was not doing anything that could implicate him, they must find a way to ruin his ingredients; that way he would at least be punished and lowered a peg or two in the ranks if he screwed up the Debasing potion, which they knew nothing about, of course. Both of them smiled at the thought of the additional Galleons that had been promised if they caught whoever it was.

They approached quietly from two different directions toward each other and their prey. When they were both close enough, they slowly raised their wands together and gave a sudden shout that made Hermione drop her knapsack. She heard the word "Stupefy!" seconds before she felt the impact of the twin spells.

As the powerful jets of red light hit her from both sides at once, Hermione gasped loudly. She felt as if she were being squeezed through a vise-like grip, and then the pain became too much. As she fell to the ground, she wondered briefly if Snape would be able to find these herbs she'd collected for him, and then she knew nothing but blackness.

A/N: I hope you liked this update. More to come soon. Please read and review! *HUGS*