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Weapon	By : uqui Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 105432 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 26
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.

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24/08/2012

Thank you to SuryaPrakash for the betaing. If there are mistakes, they are my fault.

Thank you to everyone who rated. I'm very happy that people are enjoying the fic, and I fervently hope that they continue to enjoy the fic.

Thank you to EvilDime, Unneeded and Snapelust for the reviews! Enjoy.

Weapon LXXIX Acquisitions

Sirius resisted the urge to curse the creature in front of him. It would be in character but it would not get him answers. Currently he was standing in an Apothecary. It was the sixth Apothecary he had been to today. The Shadows needed the ingredients for Wolfsbane potion and they needed it in large quantities delivered every month. Once anyone got records of what was being supplied, they would know what was being made. They Shadows didn't care but they weren't going to make it obvious, so each Apothecary had an order for a different ingredient. It was a flimsy enough security measure but it was all they could do.

Except of course, they now had Apothecaries trying to rip them off. He was currently in disguise as the Shadow agent which had been sufficient to intimidate some but this one was apparently made of sterner stuff. Of course, he did run one of the dingiest, dirtiest places in Knockturn Alley so he would have to be tough. It didn't do Sirius any good though. He simply wanted the potion ingredients, a supply for now and an ongoing monthly delivery. All of which he was prepared to pay for handsomely; some extra commission was not unexpected for them to keep their mouths shut, but he was not prepared to be blatantly ripped off.

"If you are incapable of providing what I need," Sirius said with an over exaggerated amount of reasonableness, "then there is no shame in telling me and I will move on."

"Oh no, no, I can get your stuff... It's so rare that someone wants just one ingredient in such quantity so I'm curious as to why."

"You don't need to know why," Sirius said shortly.

"You see, this is where we have a problem," the Apothecary said, trying to sound sure of himself. "I make it a policy not to sell such large quantities of what is a very dangerous ingredient without knowing my customer. In fact, it's not just my policy, it is Ministry policy. And you aren't prepared to leave a name, though your face is known well enough. Perhaps I would be better off just reporting you."

Sirius smiled, and though the Apothecary could not see it behind his mask, he definitely saw the change in his eyes. Oh... he did so hope that the man would call the Ministry. That would make things so much easier, though perhaps it wouldn't get him the ingredient, it would make him feel a lot better. "Please," Sirius invited. "Call the Ministry; that will make things so much simpler."

"Oh, I'm sure you can kill me, or rough me up or any number of unpleasant options but it's not worth your time. My little security camera, a very nice Muggle invention has already spotted you and if anything happens, then that picture will be sent to the Aurors and to a fair number of others. I know you don't fear the Ministry, but those others will cause you problems, no matter how powerful you are. Just pay my price and things will be easy."

:Can you do something?: Sirius asked the Shadow's silently.

:We already are doing something,: they said with a note of anger in their voice. :You aren't our only agent Sirius, just you are our only helper at the moment. The others have just received orders to destroy this... hindrance.:

Silently Sirius chuckled. :You really don't take annoyances well do you?:

:The amount we are prepared to pay is more than generous. This one is just being greedy.:

:Can I walk out?:

:Pay for delivery for this month, but we will get someone else for the future,: the Shadow's spat.

Black eyes burned as Sirius glared before he threw a bag of galleons on to the counter. "The ingredients," he ground out.

"You see how easy it is?" The Apothecary said, grabbing for the bag.

Sirius slammed his knife down between the Apothecary's fingers. He didn't cut skin but it was enough to get the man's attention. "Don't be stupid," the man said.

"I'm not the one being stupid," Sirius said happily. "I am prepared to pay generously but now I'll walk away and while I'm sure you can call your others to attempt to deal with me, I think you will find yourself a little busy. You know who I am and while you don't know who I work for, you should have known enough not to deny what is our very generous offer." With a harsh yank, Sirius pulled his knife back, flicking it around one finger before he resheathed it, stepping back slightly to allow the Apothecary to pick up the bag.

"Whatever makes you feel happy," the man said without concern, pulling the bag of galleons to his side of the counter. He stepped back and turned to the shelves behind him, rummaging around for a moment or two before he turned back and placed a jar on the counter. "Your goods," he said Apothecary said happily.

"Thank you," Sirius said, taking the jar and tucking it into one of his pockets before turning to leave. :How many more Apothecaries?: he asked as he walked out the door, pulling it firmly closed behind him.

:Not many,: the Shadows said.

:Is there any reason why you insist on buying all the ingredients?:

:Is the Ancient and Noble Lord feeling poor?:

:No, but surely at least some of these ingredients can be grown?: Sirius felt the Shadow's pause and if they had eyes they would have been blinking them in surprise.

:No one we control is the farming type,: they eventually said, though they didn't dismiss the idea outright.

:That might be true,: Sirius said, glancing behind him. Ah... some people were so predictable. The Apothecary had sent some thugs after him. :I'm sure the werewolves would probably have a few who can farm, and even if they don't, for a wage, they'll learn.:

Once again the Shadow's seemed to consider it though the canine animagus already knew that he was right. Some of the ingredients could be farmed, or collected. Maybe not enough for all the werewolves, but at least it would help, and if they were paying the werewolves then that would help towards keeping them safe. In the last month or so Sirius had gone over everything Remus had ever hinted or implied about werewolf society. The fact that they all helped each other out when necessary loomed pretty large in all their discussions. So employing werewolves was all for the good. :We will see what can be done,: the Shadows said before they seemed to look at him again. :Did you want to avoid these ones or indulge?:

Sirius chuckled. :You have to ask?:

:Duck down into that alley,: they instructed and Sirius obeyed easily, noticing that the path they had directed him to was covered in shadow... but it also stank. It was a good thing he wasn't in his dog form or he would have been overpowered by the smell alone. Oh well, at least it was private. Though he suspected he probably could fight them in Knockturn Alley and no one would really mind, so long as he didn't damage any property.

:Now the one thing we will do,: the Shadow's said with a laugh, :is wrap around you so that when you stand in darkness you will be hidden.:

Sirius looked around and spotted a box. It looked somewhat clean and fairly sturdy so he sat on it, drawing his wand to await developments. It didn't take long for the thugs to follow him, though they were cautious enough to place a guard at the entrance. "So, are you here to kill me, rough me up, or just find out who I am under this mask?" Sirius grinned as he asked the question, knowing that his voice probably appeared to come from nowhere. He looked the men over.

They were wizards though they seemed to be the type who relied on brawn more than their magic, but Sirius knew from experience that they were probably adept in at least a couple of curses, which they wouldn't be shy about casting. Their robes were none to clean but appeared to be of good quality but that didn't matter. What he had to decide was if he wanted to kill them or just knock them out.

One of the men laughed. They thought him trapped. How little they knew of the Marauders. "Do you have any idea how much your identity is worth? The Ministry will pay, the Dark Lord, the Vampires... Oh Merlin... will they pay!"

"It's so nice to be appreciated."

"Ya, it is and make no mistake Mister, we do appreciate you."

:Could you make it look like a vampire killed them?: the Shadows suddenly suggested and Sirius felt himself smile. It answered his question on knock out or kill, but it also added another aspect to the game. The Vampires currently enjoyed a fair level of public support. There were those who would never back them but in the interests of the ‘Greater Good’ they were keeping their concerns to themselves but on the whole the Wizarding Public was being told how helpful they were being in trying to fight the Dark Lord. They were also being extremely careful about how they fed. Xeoaph had them on a very tight leash and now that the canine animagus thought about it, he suspected the vampires were preying on any Muggles in the area. Most wizards wouldn't even consider that a problem; what were a few Muggles after all?

“That’s nice,” Sirius murmured, throwing a charm forward as he stood and moved forward. He threw the first punch, chopping into one of the wizards’ throats with a blow that left them gasping on the ground. Most would call it a dirty move but he didn’t care. In a fight like this it didn’t matter. Actually in any fight it didn’t matter. You fought to win, nothing more. He knew first hand that history was written by the victors and they could put in any lies they wanted about honourable battle.

He’d taken the initiative from the wizard thugs but they were quick to react and Sirius jumped back as several rather nasty hexes landed where he had been. He smiled and spun, punching one heavily in their stomach before kicking another between the legs. With a strangled howl of agony they went down, clutching their genitals. The rest of them were shouting that they couldn’t see him. Sirius drew his wand, snapping off charms with a speed he’d learnt during the war. He was not the best dualist but he was no slouch and he was definitely good enough to take out a bunch of ruffians.

:Wait! Not that one!: the Shadows yelled as he was about to turn his wand to one of the last standing thugs.

Sirius’ showed no reaction but altered the charm to a stunner before he took out the other few. The canine animagus rolled his eyes as the last of the thugs fell. “Well that was easy,” he muttered, idly twirling his wand between his fingers.

:Quality thugs are so hard to find,: the Shadows quipped before they turned serious. :Cast a blood draining spell and leave them here.:

“What about that one?” Sirius indicated towards the one they had told him to stun as he drew his dagger with his left hand.

:That one is a Death Eater,: they said disgusted. :We can’t have him left dead with these ones, or no one would care. Killing Death Eaters won’t incite the public, no matter who did it.:

Sirius nodded. It made a lot of sense. “So I just dump him back on the Dark Lord?”

:Something like that,: they said easily.

The thugs he’d physically hit, he’d knocked unconscious with a charm, leaving all of them laid out. He bent over each of them, pricking their necks with two little marks before he cast the blood draining spell. It was a common enough medical spell which could in this situation be used to kill. Though this time it would drain enough blood out of the thugs and most would think that vampires had killed them. Any Auror worth his salt would be able to work out that it was a set up, but if some member of the wizarding public found them the rumour would run rampant. And that would suit the Shadows all the more.

Sirius whistled a tune, picked up the unconscious Death Eater, and apparated out of the alley. Just a few more Apothecaries and then he would begin setting up the lab. He deliberately turned his mind away from the fact he’d most likely be chaperoning the Shadow’s Potion Master, at least for a few days though he was kind of looking forward to Snivalus’ reaction to two things. One, what they had done to his personal Potions Lab in his house and two, how badly he’d freak when he saw who he had to work with. The Shadows had at least given him a little time to get used to the idea.

Sirius chuckled as he dumped the Death Eater on the door step of a house the Shadows assured him was Dark Lord controlled. Things were about to get interesting.

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Deep in his mind, Severus suppressed his hiss of pain as the assault on his shields was renewed. By now Dumbledore would have noticed that he was absent. They had agreed many years back that before any alarm was raised that three days would pass just in case the Dark Lord had any longer mission. Three days was long enough that he could send word if there was need. He was mildly surprised that he was still relatively all right. The Dark Lord had not spent as much time with him as he had expected. The dark haired man had no illusions about his Occulmeency under the brunt of a dedicated assault from the man he had called Lord.

He just hoped that the Phoenix contacted him before the Dark Lord wore away his shields. It had been years since he'd had to face such a focused assault on his mental defences and he could feel that the Dark Lord had gotten stronger. His Legilmency was somehow more focused as he bent to the task. It was a sobering thought. Sixteen years back when the Dark Lord had been defeated, he'd been thought to be close to invincible; how could he be stronger than that time? And it wasn't as if Snape had learned nothing. He had been preparing for this day for years but his defences were fast falling. Some caused the Dark Lord pause, some he didn't even seem to see as he ripped them apart and Snape retreated further into the depths of his mind, reinforcing those shields he could.

"Severus," the voice whispered to him and he closed his eyes, feeling warmth wash over him. Lily's voice always calmed him but the presence of the memory was worrying. That was one of his most well protected memories, hidden deep in his mind in a place where it could not be damaged, in a place where it was cherished and would be safe for all his life. If he had retreated this far already or that much damage had been done then he couldn't hold out much longer. Without thought he diverted some of his attention, reinforcing the barriers about his most precious memories. The memories of fear, the memories of hatred, the Dark Lord could have them. These soft, gentle memories of love, of the warmth he always felt when he thought of her, he could NEVER be allowed to touch them.

"Severus," another voice sounded in the depths of his mind. It was harsh and cold and he recognised it at the Dark Lord's. He hadn't really reached that far into him, not yet but he was getting closer and the Occulmency barriers Snape had were being unravelled. Even in the depths of his mind, he could feel the sheer force of the dark magic surrounding him. He ignored the call and went back to reinforcing his shields.

"Severus."

"What!" Snape snarled, turning towards the noise. It was getting crowded in his mind. "Oh... Fawkes."

The phoenix was a single flame manifested on a dull grey plain. While the bird had no eyes somehow he seemed to look around and see the damage the Dark Lord was inflicting. "Finally," Snape said. "It won't be long before he breaches the defences."

"I can see that. How were you captured?"

"It doesn't matter," the Potion Master shook his head. "You have to know, there is an attack coming, on Hogwarts, sometime around Christmas."

The flame that was representing the Fire Bird dipped slightly in recognition of the information. "Anything else?"

"Nothing of importance. He's still courting the werewolves, most of the Death Eaters have fully recovered and he doesn't yet have a way to stop the Ministry's tracking. He will soon though. I don't know how, I just know it will be soon."

Severus smiled. He had done his duty and agreement had already been reached about options in this situation.

"No."

The Potion Master frowned. "No? What do you mean no?"

"I can't."

"It was decided," Snape snapped. He didn't need to be in a situation like this. The consequences had already been discussed and his freedom guaranteed. Now the Fire Bird was refusing... Had the bird lost his nerve?

"I can't."

"You mean you won't."

"It doesn't matter. You need to live."

"Then you have to get me out of here."

"I can't."

"Then you want me to suffer?"

"I want you to live."

"Then do something. You can track me, or you should be able to, so you can get me out of here. If you want me to live, then you are going to have to do something. Else fulfil our agreement for this situation and end it. I'm ready."

"You expect me, a being of Light, to kill you?"

"I expect you, a being of Light to honour your word. You assured me you could do it. You assured me you would do it. I knew the risks, I accepted the consequences and you agreed to give me freedom in this situation. If you won't do that, and you won't come to get me out, then do not demand that I live. Do not demand anything from me. You took my word, you took my blood and abilities, yet you won't take my life? Do not dare to betray me that way!"

"I cannot save you," the presence of Fawkes whispered to Snape but he was almost beyond hearing.

"You owe me!"

"And I cannot do what you wish," the Firebird's presence faded in his mind.

"Traitor!" Snape screamed with uncharacteristic emotion. He'd been holding on to give Fawkes the information and because of the deal he'd worked out with Dumbledore and the phoenix. If he was trapped, truly trapped and unable to be freed or to escape, with the Dark Lord hounding him, then they would grant him a clean death. And now the phoenix had reneged. He was a being of Light, Severus knew that but killing him in this situation was not an act of evil; it was a mercy. Those were the words the Phoenix had used when he'd questioned Fawkes about his ability to kill him in this exact situation. It appeared the so called being of light could lie.

"There you are!" A voice proclaimed with true satisfaction and a massive force pressed down on Severus with the announcement. He became aware of his last defences shattering. In his mind, the Dark Lord materialised, red robes perfect and the sense of his presence almost overwhelming.

Red eyes flicked around and the Potion Master felt himself tense. It might be futile to try to defend the memories around him against a man who had already stripped away all his defences, but the Potion Master would try. "Ah, I see," the Dark Lord murmured and Snape felt sickened that in all likelihood the Serpent Lord probably did understand completely what this place and the memories that remained meant to him. After another moment Snape watched as his former Lord frowned. "I expected to find the Phoenix somewhere. Did I miss him?"

Severus spat.

"Ahahahaha, he left you. How like those who purport to be Light! Very few have the courage to keep their word when the going gets tough. Ah Severus... I did so wish I was wrong but I knew the instant you denied nothing that I was right, you had made your choice. A pity, for I have always respected your ability as a Potion Master and that alone was almost enough to spare you but you have given me no choice." The Dark Lord turned and Snape felt a tug at his consciousness. "Come along, I would leave this place as it is, to honour the woman."

All at once, Snape felt himself rising through his mind. His surprise that the Dark Lord had left his most cherished memories whole and protected in his mind was instantly killed by pain as he regained consciousness. Severus felt his breath ripping through his throat as he laboured to draw air into his lungs. How was it that the Serpent Lord, the epitome of evil had shown him more respect in a few words and in his actions than the phoenix, a being that was meant to be pure light? The pain in his throat was dulled by the rising feeling of sickness.

As the pain faded slightly and Snape forced himself to look around. The world was upside down, but that was because he was lying on his back, his head tilted to stare up at the Dark Lord who was seated in his throne. That explained where he was. The stone of the floor was freezing and as he groaned he rolled over, breaking eye contact with his former Lord. He looked down to see that the stone was still the smooth red he remembered when he had been brought before his Lord after being captured.

"You've redecorated," he choked out and immediately felt like an idiot. He was not some punk bravado, yet he was acting like one.

"Do you like it?" There was a smirk in the Dark Lord's voice. "One of my allies decided that some colour co-ordination was needed, though I admit, I still don't quite know what charm they used to freeze it. I will have to ask them. Now that you've joined us properly, I suppose I can get on with punishing you."

There was the Lord he remembered, the merciless wizard who cared for nothing but his own power. Severus almost smiled at the predictability of it all as the air distortion that was the Cruciatus Curse flew towards him. Then it was all he could do to not scream in pain. With his mind shattered and his ability to hide behind any mental shields gone, he knew his defiance would not last for long.

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few minutes the pain faded and Severus found himself gasping, feeling aches in his limbs from where they had repeatedly hit the floor. The phantom pain slowly leaked from his extremities but he felt weak and lethargic. There were a few Death Eaters lining the walls but they appeared just to be watching. As usual a few snakes were wound around the throne and Snape could feel a Dementor close by but he couldn't see it. Silently he questioned himself. Why was he even looking? He already knew he could not escape.

"And again, maybe this time you will scream." The Dark Lord waved his hand again and once more the Cruciatus curse sprang forth. The fact that he could perform it wandlessly was not lost on Severus but he had no time to appreciate as once again his entire body seemed to burn, even while it froze. He arched back, his limbs slipping from his control as they convulsed, hitting the hard stone harshly. He twisted and turned, trying to seek relief, all the while knowing that there was nothing that could stop the pain of the curse. Even his breath hurt and he felt his eyes widen as he screamed and screamed and screamed.

There was no end to the pain.

And with another wave of the Dark Lord's white hand, the curse was cancelled and he could suddenly breathe again. He collapsed to the ground, as his back unarched and his limbs felt like lead. Instinctively Snape dragged in great lungfuls of air as he tried to recover.

:Well, have you remembered our offer yet?:

"Sh..." Severus choked as spit pooled in the back of his throat and it hurt too much to swallow. "Shut up," he ground out the words. He hadn't remembered the Shadows offer until the instant he'd recognised their whispered voice in what was left of his mind and then the knowledge had flooded back to him. They had bid him remember in exactly this situation. He was screaming on the cold stone floor, his muscles were cramping, his bones ached and his blood was boiling in his veins. Fawkes had rejected him and he was lying, broken and bleeding before the Dark Lord.

"No!" Snape recognised his former Lord's voice, raised slightly in anger. Apparently he recognised who the Potion Master was talking to. "He is not for you!"

:Only you can decide that Severus... Will you take the redemption we offer Or will you take the pain the Dark Lord will give you?:

"No... no children..." Severus swallowed against the pain. "No... Ord... Order... No... no... no..."

"You cannot have him!" The Dark Lord said again, glaring at the gathering Shadows.

:No children, no Order, no Dark Lord, no vampires, not even our Master. Nothing will matter Severus, nothing but the brew of a potion. We promised you that, and you know we keep our promises.:

"Crucio!" This time the Dark Lord said the curse and Severus drew breath to scream, "I accept"! And then he knew no more.

In the throne room of the Dark Lord, there was an instant of total darkness. It was less than the blink of an eye but in that time the prisoner vanished. Voldemort snarled, readjusting the warding runes he'd deliberately loosed earlier, before he looked at the Shadows that were moving restlessly in the rafters, suddenly completely calm. "That went better than I had hoped," he mused.

:He was stubborn, we will grant him that.:

Voldemort chuckled. "If he wasn't stubborn, you wouldn't respect him," he said easily before his expression turned more reflective. "After all this time, he still loves her."

:And how long will you love our Master?: the Shadows asked.

The Dark Lord was thankful only he could hear them but he saw their point. He would love Harry forever, even if they were apart, though the world would most likely die screaming if anything happened to his beloved. "What will you do with him now?"

:After he recovers, we have quite a few potions we want him to make. You might even see one or two of them. Apart from that though, his efforts in this war are over. He won't be appearing on any battlefield.:

"Then I suppose I feel satisfied by his punishment," Voldemort said softly.

:You should, you had him for longer than we thought you would.:

"As you say, he's stubborn," the dark wizard snorted. "Are my children still safe?" the voice was Xatarass'.

:They are. You can collect them at any time.:

"Then I suppose I had better make plans," Voldemort sighed, rising from his throne and striding to the door. No matter that Severus was now in the proverbial hands of the Shadows, he did have a very busy month to plan and wasting time over a prisoner he always knew he was going to lose was not how one won a war.

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I highly encourage everyone to go read my new fic 'The Forever Game'.

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