Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
$Parseltongue$
Chapter 58: Snape receives a call
Two weeks after the start of the year, Dumbledore's office
A very ragged Severus Snape made his way into the Headmaster's office and sat down with a painful grunt.
"Do you want me to call Pomfrey?." A worried Dumbledore asked.
"No…side effects of the Cruciatus, there is nothing she can do. I already took a potion to lessen the effects." Snape said with obvious difficulty.
"You can make your report when you are feeling better my friend." Dumbledore offered.
"No, this is important!." Snape raised his voice.
After learning of Voldermorts return last year. Snape and Dumbledore have been waiting for him to be called back.
But after waiting for weeks and then months…nothing. Snape was beginning to think that Potter had just made up the whole thing despite Dumbledore's reassurances of the boy telling the truth.
It was either that or the Dark Lord has completely lost faith in him. But finally, his dark mark activated, he was being called.
"Very well. Then tell me everything." Dumbledor's voice sounded very grave.
"The place where I was called was Malfoys manor. I saw many familiar faces there. All of the escapees from Azkaban were there, except for Black. Crabble, Goyle, and Nott were also there. And…of course…He was there."
Snape took a few seconds to put his thoughts in order and Dumbledore waited expectantly.
"He did not look like I expected. He looks so young now, between his late teens and early twenties. He also seems…" Snape was looking for a way to express it.
"He seems a bit more composed. By the end of the last war, the Dark Lord was always restless, almost deranged. Some believe that the Lord was losing his mind because of all of the rituals He performed on his persona. But now…He just seems back in perfect shape." Snape finished his exposition.
"That's bad news. A clear mind is always more dangerous." Dumbledore commented. "Did you discover how He managed to come back?".
"No, I was in no position to ask questions, He was not happy with me, that's for sure. He accused me of being a traitor like Karkaroff. I explained to him that this was the only way for me to avoid prison and I also told him that I was still loyal to him and I was willing to spy for him."
"Considering that you are still alive, he believed you," Dumbledore stated.
"Hmph, I doubt He completely believes me, but He may think I can still be of use, given my position at Hogwarts. And there is another reason for needing me" Snape said.
"Another reason?." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "What reason is that?."
Snape stood silent for a moment before answering.
"For the next part of the conversation, He asked everyone in the room but myself to leave" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at that.
"Then He questioned me about potions that can be used to extend and protect someone's life." When Snape said those words,
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"He what? But that doesn't make any sense, He already has the…nevermind, continue." Dumbledore stopped before He could say too much and Snape gave him a glance.
"The Dark Lord has always been worried about mortality, that's no secret among its followers. Of course, no one would dare to comment on it in His presence." Snape glanced upwards, like trying to recall old memories.
"I know that He did something to keep himself protected in the past. That's probably the reason He is once more among the living, but whatever the case, I can tell you that right now, He is looking for ways to protect his life."
Dumbledore looked at Snape intensely.
"And…how did you answer him?."
"I told Him the truth. I only how to make one potion that can extend someone's life, its main ingredient is unicorn blood and the side effects of that potion are so severe that most people would rather die instead. The only thing I know that can grant something akin to immortality is the elixir of life created by Nicolas Flamel." Snape concluded.
"He is not going to have luck with that. The Philosopher stone was destroyed two years ago and Nicolas Flamel died recently. I doubt He left any notes behind on how to recreate that stone. He was not keen on passing that knowledge." Dumbledore said.
"Yes…anyways. The Lord was disappointed with my answer… which earned me two crucios, and another one for not trying to contact him earlier. " Snape sighed.
They both stood silent for a few minutes. Dumbledore had his right hand under his chin and was pondering over the information He just received.
'Why is Voldemort so desperate to find a way to protect his life now? I was one hundred percent sure He had created a Horcrux, probably more than one. I scanned Harry's scar when He was a baby and I am convinced that a piece of Voldemort was still there.'
There was one more thing that Dumbledore found strange.
"Severus, I noticed that despite going to the Malfoy manor, You did not mention Lucius Malfoy being there. " Dumbledore pointed out.
"mmm, I did not think of that. I did not see Narcissa either, that is strange. I'll try to contact Narcissa." Snape said.
"Yes, do that. I'm curious about what happened to Lucius. I haven't heard of him since He was fired from the Ministry."
Snape excused himself to get some rest and Dumbledore was left alone in his office.
He looked at his phoenix for a moment and this one looked back at him and gave him what seemed like an encouraging cry.
Dumbledore smiled briefly before going back to his thoughts.
"Well, what should I do now?."