Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Sevenus Snape x Regulus Black-- 7 Spells Cycle	By : bitterfig Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 1324 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
Author: Bitterfig

Title: Not For You and Me

Pairing: Severus Snape/Regulus Black

Other Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange

Summary: Regulus� death, the events leading up to it, and its aftermath as seen through the eyes of his lover, Severus Snape.

Beta-Reader: Nzomniac

Word Count: 3241

Rating: R

Warnings: Implied slash, violence, character death, suicide, angst, termination of pregnancy. Implied non-con.

Author�s Notes: This is the seventh and final story in a series of seven stories on Regulus Black/Severus Snape done for 7spells for prompt set 5 #5: Ribbons. Click here to view the complete listing of stories for this series. The song Voldemort sings is a traditional song called �The House Carpenter or James Harris the Daemon Lover.� This song is #243 in Francis J. Child�s Ballads. The Lady Macbeth speech Bellatrix quotes is from Shakespeare�s Macbeth Act I scene V.

Not For You and Me

            When Severus Snape graduated from Hogwarts, he�d left the school embittered, intending never to return. Now, less than two years later, he found himself back in the hated place before the man he believed to be largely responsible for the years of misery he had endured there�Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

            �I must admit, I�m most surprised to see you here, Severus,� Dumbledore said with false courtesy. �Most surprised � though delighted, of course. If I might ask, to what do I owe this visit�?�

            Snape gritted his teeth. How he loathed people. Hated, loathed and despised them. Potions boiled everything from luck to death down to its essence, but people, cursed people with their hypocrisy and their delusions of what they were, insisted upon dancing around the essence, feigning politeness, chattering idly. He didn�t have time for such nonsense. The life of the only person he did care about, one Regulus Black, was at stake. Snape had come prepared to debase and humiliate himself, to grovel like a dog for Regulus� sake. He could do without the small talk.

            �I�m a Death Eater,� Snape said flatly. �I expect you already know that. I killed Benjy Fenwick in a duel. As deaths go, it was clean enough.    It wasn�t like that for Marlene McKinnon. I tortured her daughter in front of her. She talked; she would have had to have been some kind of a monster if she hadn�t. After she told us everything about your Order, I killed the little girl. McKinnon tried to come after me, but Lestrange snapped her neck. Are you still delighted to see me? Is my visit still a pleasant surprise?�

            Dumbledore�s wand was in his hand. His phoenix glared down from its perch.

            �Why are you here, Severus?� the headmaster asked. Now came the part Snape was dreading. He thought of Marlene McKinnon and of how she had been forced to watch the child she cherished be hurt. He was weaker than she was. Just the thought of Regulus in pain, in danger, was enough to make him talk.

�Help me,� Snape said.

            He told Dumbledore everything�

Without emotion, he told how Bellatrix Lestrange had approached him in his seventh year with promises of power. He had wanted what she offered. He was for some months her prot�g�e. She groomed him, taught him the social skills he was lacking, saw that he had stylish clothes and good haircuts. She had groomed him to take his place among his betters, the wealthy and pureblooded.

It happened, but it didn�t happen.

Voldemort had taken one look at Severus Snape and known what he was, what to do with him. The Dark Lord had proceeded to violate Snape, body and soul. His assaults were crushing, without mercy, but they were also without malice. It was nothing personal, simply a means to an end.

�I thought I would die,� Snape said simply and coldly. �I wanted to die, but when it came down to it, I wanted to kill more.� From then on, he was Voldemort�s servant. He told Dumbledore all he had done in this capacity and all that he knew.

�But why are you here, Severus?� Dumbledore repeated. �How can I help you?�

�Regulus Black is a Death Eater like me,� Snape said. �Unlike me, he�s still a human being. Yesterday, Voldemort ordered him to kill his brother. Regulus isn�t going to do it. I begged him to do it; I offered to do it for him. Believe me, I have no problem with Sirius Black being dead, but Regulus does.   He�s willing to disobey the Dark Lord for the sake of his bastard of a brother, and he�s going to be killed. He needs your protection��

�You expect too much from me, Severus,� Dumbledore said. �I can�t protect my own people, much less Voldemort�s. There is nothing I can do for Regulus. He made his choice as you did. You both have to bear the consequences.�

Snape�s anger flared through the layer of dead coldness that seemed to lie over him.

�I became a Death Eater on your watch, old man,� he snarled. �Bellatrix Lestrange walked into your school to claim me, and you let her. You let me go.�

�I can not be held responsible for every student in my care��

�And you didn�t care. You claim to be a fair man, but you�re not. Black and Potter abused me for years. I was almost killed and you never did a thing to stop it all because you liked them and you didn�t like me. You were supposed to be responsible, but you weren�t. You were supposed to protect me, and you didn�t. You owe me � you owe me Regulus��

�Surely, Severus, you of all people understand that the world does not work that way,� Dumbledore said wearily.

Snape broke.

Clawing his stringy hair in front of his face in a last effort to hide the shame of his weakness, he wept without pretext of control. He was only dimly aware of Dumbledore�s hand resting soothingly on his shoulder, the drone of the older man�s voice, muttering empty words of reassurance. Snape himself wept without words.

When at last Snape was still, Dumbledore spoke.

�You admitted to cold-blooded murder; you say you�re no longer a human being, but I think it might still be possible to salvage you,� Dumbledore said. �I can�t help you, Severus, but I can use you.�

*****

            Regulus had agreed to wait while Snape went to Scotland to enlist Dumbledore�s aid. Snape had not succeeded in his efforts, and apparently Regulus had not waited.

When Snape arrived at Regulus� flat, no one was there. The place had been torn apart. Books were scattered, clothing shredded, and furniture overturned. Everything was covered with a layer of shattered glass.

A burning sensation coiled around Snape�s forearm like a snake of fire. The Dark Lord was calling him.

Voldermort saw him alone in the vast parlor of the decaying manor house he had commandeered for his headquarters. The Dark Lord sat at the piano. He did not acknowledge Snape but continued to play and softly sing, as if to himself.

�What hills, what hills are those, my love

That are so bright and free?

Those are the hills of Heaven, my love

But not for you and me.

What hills, what hills, are those, my love

That are so dark and low?

Those are the hills of Hell, my love

Where you and I must go.�

Each note from the out of tune instrument seemed to drive a nail into Snape�s head till the room spun. At the song�s end, Voldemort stood, eyes glowing red, and greeted his visitor.

�Your mind is quite closed to me. How long have you been practicing Occlumency, Severus?� he asked smoothly then raised a hand. �No need to tell me lies. I�m sure it�s something you learned from the younger Black. The two of you have been inseparable these past few months. I had considered it harmless, even rather amusing given your history with his older brother, but now I have to wonder just what you two have been up to. You see, Regulus Black has turned against us.�

�What � what happened?� Snape stammered. �Has he been�? Is he�?�

�He came to his cousin Bella last night and tried to convince her to run away with him. Bella cursed him, but he escaped,� Voldemort said, smiling. �The others are searching for him as we speak. He will be found soon enough and dealt with.�

Against his will, distress wrote itself on Snape�s face. Voldermort laughed breezily.

�You look frightened, Severus,� he said. �You needn�t despair. It will be a minor loss to the cause. Regulus Black is inconsequential. I only allowed him to join the Death Eaters as an indulgence to Bella. I never imagined him capable of killing his brother. I was only hoping to use him to draw his brother in. The older Black is much more suited to my service.� His voice dropped to an intimate whisper. �Bella assures me of an unnatural bond between the brothers. They�re all perverted, the Blacks, the whole family of them. Incest and madness--that�s the legacy of their pure blood. But their name matters. There�s power in their name.   Still, Regulus will be no loss to me, but what about you, my pet? It bodes ill to have your lover turn against your master.�

�I didn�t know�� Snape protested, flushing at the transparency of his lie even as he spoke the words.

�Regulus told Bella you were uninvolved, completely unaware of his plans. I don�t believe that and I don�t believe you but that doesn�t matter. I�ve invested a great deal in you, Severus. Whatever there was between you and Regulus Black, I can overpower.� Voldemort�s fingers twined a strand of Snape�s dark hair. �Did you love him?�

Snape lowered his eyes, refusing to meet Voldemort�s gaze.

�Answer, little spider,� Voldemort snapped. �Did you love the boy?�

�Yes,� Snape muttered.

�Then it will be easy for me. You can only hate. In you, love will only ever be a stillborn thing�

He ran his fingers along Snape�s side, feeling the ridges of his ribs. The young man trembled openly at his touch.

�You�re thinner than ever, Severus, if that�s possible,� Voldemort purred. �These next days, while we search for Regulus, I�m going to keep you by my side. It�s really more of an honor than a punishment. You will eat at my table, sleep in my bed.� He drew Snape to him, whispered in his ear. �He did this to you��

*****

For what seemed like a lifetime, there was only Voldemort, inch by inch, reclaiming what was his. It seemed like a lifetime, but it was only three days.

Regulus Black lasted just three days.

*****

�Severus.�

His vacant brain became dimly aware of someone, someone who was not Voldermort, calling his name.

�Severus, can you hear me?�

�Yes,� Snape answered.

�Drink this.�

Snape took the cup he was offered, swallowed its contents. It was sweet, alcoholic, warming. He could feel his body again; he would rather not have.

�Who am I?�

White blonde hair, cold grey eyes, delicate hands stronger than they looked.

�Malfoy,� Snape numbly replied.

�Good,� Malfoy said. �You are still there.�

Malfoy bathed him. What did he wash away--blood, venom, semen? Snape hardly knew, did not care. He felt no shame; he had none left.   Malfoy dressed him, combed out the tangles of his hair.

�Where is Voldemort?� Snape asked.

�The Dark Lord is waiting,� Malfoy said. �He has a task for you.� He placed Snape�s wand in his hand, closed the younger man�s fingers around it. �You will need this.�

�Regulus has been captured, hasn�t he?�

�Yes, he has.� Malfoy�s voice dropped. �I spoke on your behalf, Severus. I did all I could for you.�

�Thank you,� Snape said blankly. Malfoy raised his hood, lowered his mask, then took him by the arm, guiding him from the room, down stairs and hallways to the darkened ballroom of the decrepit manor house.

All was silent in the room except for the painful rasp of someone gasping for breath which echoed off the old stone walls.   Perhaps a dozen Death Eaters were gathered there, masked and hooded. They stood around a single, huddled figure enveloped in a dark cloak. Malfoy separated from Snape, taking his place among them.

Snape knew who it was, crumpled at the heart of their circle. Still, he moved forward, like a sleepwalker. He knelt beside the broken form, turned back the wet, heavy folds of the blood seeped cloak. He looked on Regulus Black�s ruined face, one eye still violet, the other a dark hole, his mouth torn. Regulus� remaining eye fixed on Snape, holding him, reaching out to him.

And Snape found he was not empty after all but full of anger--anger at Regulus for causing this, at Voldemort for seeing it through, at Dumbledore for failing to stop it. Anger most of all at himself for being weak enough to believe he could love or be loved, for being weaker still and betraying that love.

Snape knew what he was going to do, even before he felt Voldemort�s breath on his neck.

�Kill him,� Voldemort commanded. Regulus� eye closed; he hung his head. He also knew. Snape rose to his feet, stepped back and raised his wand. He mouthed the words, �Forgive me,� then uttered the fatal curse.

�Avada Kedavra.�

*****

            The body was carried away, and Snape was free to go.

            He went to Spinner�s End; there was no where else to go. His anger was spent, and he was empty once again. Voldemort�s empty vessel. Voldemort�s hollow vassal. Regulus was gone, and with him, the hope of ever being anything more.

            Snape sat down at the table in Spinner�s End. He pushed up his sleeves and extended his arms before him. On one forearm the Dark Mark blazed.

            �Sectumsempra,� he said, and the Dark Mark was split by a bone deep gash. He didn�t need a wand, only force of will. �Sectumsempra,� he said again, and the unmarked flesh of his other wrist opened wide. Twice more he spoke the word, cutting ragged x�s across each forearm. As his blood spread outward on the surface of the table, darkness closed in upon his field of vision.

            Dumbledore had told him he could be salvaged. He could not be salvaged. He would not be of use to anyone any longer.

*****

            Snape started back to consciousness; he was still alive. Bellatrix Lestrange sat across the bloody table from him. Her dark eyes were rimmed in red, but they glittered. His wounds were gone; she had turned them to scarlet ribbons that twined around his wrists.

            �Whatever else you are Bella, you are a brilliant witch,� he snarled.

            �One of my recruits has already abandoned the Death Eaters. It would reflect badly on me if we were to lose a second,� she said coldly.

            �You killed Regulus,� Snape said. �He was your blood, and you whored him to Voldemort for whatever favor it brought you. You must have known he didn�t belong.    His leaving would have been no loss to the Death Eaters. You could have let him quietly disappear. Voldemort might have never noticed� He could have lived, but you betrayed him��

�Shut up,� she shrieked. �You know nothing, Severus, nothing. I loved him. I loved him before you knew he existed. I saw him born; I thought he would see my child born.   I brought him to the Death Eaters because I wanted him with me. I loved him more than you can ever know, but I did my duty to the Dark Lord. And unlike you, I did it without coercion.�

He was dizzy from the blood he had lost. He wanted to sleep and forget everything. Sleep and never wake up.

�You win, Bellatrix,� Snape said. �You are superior to me in all ways. May I die now?�

�No. You may not. The Dark Lord still had use for you, and so do I. I have something to tell you. I will only ever say it once. You were right. I mocked you once, for your grim devotion, your Spartan, joyless life of service. I thought the Death Eaters could be one of my pleasures. It was a game to me. It was a game to me when I brought you in, when I brought Regulus in. I see now you were right, and it can not be a game. Serving Voldemort must be the only thing. You knew that once, but Regulus made you forget. It was right that he died. He came between you and the Dark Lord.�

She was changed. He was fascinated by the change in her. Before, she had been all calculation, seduction, and charm. Now she burned with a single, dark flame. He envied her. Had he once been like that, as she said? No. He had never been so pure. Not in hatred, not in devotion, not in love. He had only ever been a mire of need and desire, anger and fear.

�You said you had use for me,� he said. �What do you want?�

�When Regulus came to me, he asked me to abandon Voldemort and come away for the sake of the child inside me,� she said. �I love this child, Severus. I feel it growing each day. I want it to be happy, to be safe, to be loved. I want for my child everything Regulus begged me to give it. I want my child to be free.   It poisons me against the Dark Lord. It makes me weak. Make me a potion. Make me a potion to end my pregnancy.�

�It�s simple enough. A witch of your brilliance could easily do it.�

�It should be you,� she said.   �Between us, we killed Regulus. Between us, we will kill my child. Then we will serve, and nothing will stand in the way.�

He rose unsteadily to his feet. He went to the cupboard and took out a vial of glowing green.

�There is no need for me to make the potion,� he told her. �I�ve made it already. I made it the day I learned of your pregnancy. In these times, it would be wrong to bring a child into the world. It would be especially wrong for you to bring a child into this world.�

�You are cruel, Severus,� she said. �I would be cruel as well.�

She took the vial he offered, tipped it to her lips, and drained its contents.

�Unsex me here,� she said, reciting the speech of Lady Macbeth. �And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse, that no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between the effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, and take my milk for gall.�

She took his hand.

�It had to be this way, Severus,� she said. �There can only be the Dark Lord.�

She was right. She was wrong. There was something else, though not for them, not for Regulus, not for the child that would never be born. Perhaps for other children, what Dumbledore believed in, the hills of heaven.

Dumbledore was wrong; he could not be salvaged. Yet, Voldemort had lost him.

He unbound the ribbons from his bony wrists. When Bellatrix had come to him in his seventh year, she had offered him the thing that had always evaded him. She had offered him a place to belong. Yet, he had never belonged, could not belong. Not to either side. Regulus had been like that as well--without a home, without a place in the world. It was a dangerous way to be. Regulus had died. Snape would probably die as well � though not tonight, not by his own hand.

He let himself feel Bellatrix�s madness but not her devotion. He let himself feel hatred in its place. Hatred, because in him love could only ever be a stillborn thing.

Hatred for both sides--for Voldemort and for Dumbledore. If they both had use for him, he would let both of them use him as they pleased. In the end, it would probably kill him, but if he was clever and cruel, if he was lucky, he would have a chance to watch them fall.
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Sevenus Snape x Regulus Black-- 7 Spells Cycle