Albus stood in front of the departed (but not much lamented) Myrtle Warren. Gawain Robards stood by his side.
' He always was an excellent student. I'm not surprised he has risen so far in his department'
"So, Myrtle. I have here" he flourished the parchment before her, "A signed document from the Ministry giving their permission for an exorcism, with the signature of the Unspeakable who will be performing it"
A torrent of emotions crossed the ghost's face.
"Finally" she whispered, floating closer and examining the document closely. An expression of consternation crossed her face, she folded her arms and crossly said, "Why is it only going to be done over the summer?"
"The presence of additional people or background magic in the area could ruin the ritual. During the year, while the students are around it will be far more difficult, if not impossible to ensure that this floor, at the very least, is kept clear of everyone not participating"
' That, and it would be quite difficult to find a temporary History teacher' .
Myrtle looked very unhappy with this. Dumbledore just looked at her with his most piercing gaze until she threw up her arms and huffed.
"Fine! I'll suffer a bit longer. After fifty years, what're a few more months in prison?"
"Very little," Dumbledore said, nodding calmly.
"Miss Warren, please. Would you tell us about your death?"
"Call me Myrtle," she said, looking at Gawain.
"Myrtle, please. Would you tell us about your death?"
"I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. The door was locked, and I was crying, and then I heard somebody come in. They said something funny. A different language, I think it must have been. Anyway, what really got me was that it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door, to tell him to go and use his own toilet, and then- I died."
"Did you see anything? Anything at all?"
"There was a pair of huge eyes. Yellow. The pupils were barely more than slits. I've had a long time to think about those eyes" She said, morosely.
"Can you tell us anything about this voice? This different language?" Gawain said, eager to keep the conversation moving.
"Well," she said, eyes screw up in conversation, "It was definitely a boy's voice. It wasn't very loud, I couldn't hear the words, but it definitely wasn't English. The words all flowed together too much"
"Where exactly did you hear the voice coming from?"
"It's hard to say. Things echo in here. But it sounded like over there" She said, waving towards a few sinks opposite the stalls.
"Thank you, Myrtle. If need be, we will come back to ask further questions"
She nodded, turning more and more translucent until she was no longer visible. Robards turned towards the sinks she had motioned to. Dumbledore was already examining them closely, and he seemed to be waving his wand around them and muttering to himself.
Something seemed to catch the old wizard's attention. He was now focused entirely on one particular sink. After a few minutes, he ceased his wand movements and started physically examining it very carefully.
"Gawain? Come here please?" He said, voice slightly higher pitched than usual.
"Yes?" Robards said, ambling over.
"What do you think that is? That carving?"
Robards looked where Dumbledore's trembling figure was pointing. His breath hitched for a second.
"That's a snake"
"Indeed". Dumbledore straightened up, back-clicking, and returned to his wand motions.
Shortly enough, he turned to Robards.
"I believe the Chamber requires verbal confirmation to open it"
The Auror knotted his brow. "Well, it could be anything. How are we going to figure out the password?"
"I don't believe the wording matters. I think it is far more important how it is said, than what exactly is said"
It took him a moment, but then "Parseltongue" he grunted.
"Indeed. I believe we should speak to Mr. Potter"
Malfoy Manor
The meal had been excellent, as always. Narcissa, or rather, her house elves, always made a wonderful show when guests were coming. Snape hadn't missed the glances being passed between Lucius and Narcissa, or the way that the conversation had of fizzing out. Even when it was their precious son they were talking about.
Even when it was Harry Potter they were talking about.
Severus hadn't missed the compassion in their voices when asking about Harry.
It galled him.
It galled him because he too found himself pitying and caring for the boy. Caring for James' son.
He had mostly stopped thinking of Harry as James' son, it was true. Now, he was more likely to think of him as Lily's son, or simply as Harry. The most recent conversation he had with the boy had been enough to make him wish he was still a Death Eater. To wish he could just go to that orphanage and kill everyone there. To kill them and torture them and laugh as they died. It had reignited his old hate for muggles. His old fear of them, his old memories of his father. Memories and thoughts that he had tried to lock away. And yet, Harry pulled them out of him without even noticing what he was doing.
It was absolutely galling.
The meal finished, Lucius stood up.
"Would you join me in my study, Severus?"
"Of course," He said, standing himself. Noting the way Narcissa's eyes darted between them.
Lucius opened his study. He seemed to take a deep breath before entering.
' And now, I unravel the mystery'
Severus walked into the gloom after Lucius. It took his eyes a moment or two to adjust, and when they did they widened.
Lucius was on one knee in front of his chair.
' Run. Leave now!'
"I have brought you Severus, my Lord." He heard Lucius saying, and his heart all but stopped.
"Leave us" came the voice from the chair, and Severus' heart skipped a beat.
' No. It cannot be'
Lucius walked past him, eyes full of pity.
"Well, Severus? Come forward"
And the Mark on Snape's arm burned.
Severus walked towards what he was sure was his doom. He kneeled before the chair. It felt more like a throne to his mind.
"My Lord," He said, voice not betraying his the hysteria bubbling within.
"Severus. You have always been a most composed one. Tell me, am I truly your Lord?"
' I am going to die'
"Of course. I remain loyal, I-"
"Crucio"
Writhing on the floor, Severus somehow managed not to scream. Voldemort raised an eyebrow at that.
After a short eternity, the curse was lifted and panting, Snape got back on his knee.
"My Lord, I assure you-"
"Crucio"
This time he screamed, wails echoing in the study.
Voldemort smiled and lifted the curse.
"Tell me, Severus, do you remember our last conversation? When I was still possessing Quirrell?"
' What. What. It was him. Merlin help me'
"No, my Lord"
"Crucio"
After a while, the curse was lifted. Snape couldn't get up, and lay on the floor, twitching and squirming.
"Oh, but you wouldn't remember it. Even for an Occlumens like yourself, memories can be removed. And even for an Occlumens like yourself, the truth can be ascertained"
"Crucio"
Snape screamed until he thought his throat would burst, and then it was over. He was kicked in the ribs, and he rolled over onto his back. Looking up into those red points in the dim light, he knew he was seeing his last sight.
"You told me everything" Voldemort hissed. "How you loved her and abandoned me when it became clear I would kill her. How you turned traitor and spied for Dumbledore"
"Crucio"
One clear thought burst, through the pain.
' Let him kill me. Let me die and let this end'
The curse lifted. He was kicked onto his back again.
"You told me everything, Severus. How Dumbledore's treatment of her son had led you to begin resenting the man. How you felt that you were beginning to move past her specter. How you missed the good old days. How you could never relive them because her ghost haunts your mind"
"Crucio"
The curse lifted. He was lying on his back, but he was still kicked.
"Now, Severus, you dare call yourself loyal? You dare address me as your lord?"
Snape looked up, through the haze of pain. He wouldn't be able to take much more. His mind would break. A few more Crucios and he would be an empty husk. He shuddered at the thought, but still awaited whatever would bring an end to the pain.
"I give you an offer. I only will give you this choice once, and you must make it right away. Join me again, swear your loyalty to me, or die"
' Do it. Whatever will stop the pain. And perhaps, you can find redemption'
Voldemort wasn't finished talking.
"You are only even receiving this offer because of your position. You could be most useful to me. So what say you, Severus?"
Snape tried to speak, but the words came out all garbled.
"That won't do. You will speak, Severus. Crucio"
The spell lifted. Snape could feel his mind starting to loosen its hold.
' No!' He thought, in growing horror. He tried to speak again, and again. On the third time, he succeeded. His voice came out hoarse, still garbled. But understandable.
"I swear"
"Good". Voldemort waved his wand in a complicated maneuver, and Snape felt strength rushing back into his body. He hurriedly got back on one knee, before the chair.
"So you will join me, Severus? And you will not betray me again?"
"I will never betray you again, my Lord"
"Then you will have no problem swearing an Unbreakable Oath"
For a second everything seemed to stop. His thoughts rushed through his head, and then his shoulders slumped as he said "I will gladly swear it if my Lord wishes so"
Voldemort clasped Snape's arm in a sudden motion. After a split-second hesitation, Snape gripped his arm back.
"My Lord? Who will bond us?"
"I require no bonder, fool"
"Do you, Severus Snape, swear to never betray me, whether in deed, word, inaction, or any form of a hint?"
Snape closed his eyes.
' No turning back. I never claimed to be a good person'
"I do so swear"
A line of fire formed around their arms.
"Do you, Severus Snape, swear to obey my orders whenever you are capable of doing so?"
"I do so swear"
A second line of flame formed, crisscrossing around the first.
"And do you, Severus Snape, swear to cause no harm to my other followers, whether in deed, word, inaction, or any form of a hint, unless it is in self-defense or under my orders?"
"I do so swear"
A third line of fire encircled their arms. The flames hung in midair for an instant, and Snape felt an urge to shout out in rejection before the fire settled into their skin. There was no pain.
"Severus. It occurs to me, that if you were feeling sufficiently self-sacrificing you would break the Oath, even though it would mean your death"
"My Lord, I would not-"
"Silence. I should have included something about being a sycophant. You will sign this contract. With this quill"
Voldemort thrust a parchment into Snape's hands, along with a Blood Quill. The wording was exactly the same as that of the Oath he had just sworn. With one addition.
'I Severus Snape, do solemnly swear to not attempt to find a loophole or a way around the Oaths I have sworn, and to obey the spirit of them, and not just the letter'.
With a sinking sensation, Severus signed it, grimacing as his hand was cut open for a second.
' I'm sorry Lily. I'm so sorry'
"Now Severus, let us talk"