A (palusible?) theory of how Snape became a spy, R.A.B,and the Hocruxes)PS I ahven't decided whether I want Snape to become Good or stay Bad.
Uh...this is a bit long....
Severus Snape feverishly stirred the cauldron...this was his 19th try(though it felt more like 1900) at a potion that was looking more and more like impossible at this point, but the thought of the reward that the Dark Lord would give him if he succeded (and more importantly the punishment if he failed), drove him back to his cauldron again and again.
Regulus Balck watched him bemusedly.He'd been placed under Severus to be taught and to assist. Protected by his family name, Regulus had not been asked to do anything significantly dangerous for the Dark Lord...yet.He was still young, barely out of school,innocent...well , as innocent as any Death Eater was likely to be ,anyway. Snape rather envied his innocence ,but caught himself, and sneered and called it ignorance instead.
Snape had himself risen quicckly in the ranks of the Death Eaters, being one of the few possessed with half a brain, and some ingenuity. Besides the similarity in their backgrounds had moved the Dark Lord (sympathy?) It was much needed balm for Severus's scarred soul. And he'd bloomed under the praise, and done unthinkable things. Oh he'd experimented with Dark Magic before, but he'd always drawn the line between knowing and doing. Perhaps it was ethics, but it was more probably a strong sense of self-preservation-the knowledge that to be caught doing Dark Magic within the premises of Hogwarts would mean instant expulsion. So he bore the insults coolly( or as coolly as he could) and bided his time, until he found the favour of a stronger protector...and then struck back...he cursed Potter ,Black,Lupin,Pettigrew...all from under the black mask.
And all along he'd never stopped learning, or inventing.He learnt Occlumency and Legilimency among other things from the Dark Lord himself. It had pleased to Lord greatly to have such an able and willing student. And had pleased him even more when Snape's Occlumency proved a match for Voldemort's and then the student in an expression submission and servitude had opened all his mind to the Dark Lord's perusal, and proved his loyalty to his lord.
And he'd been given harder and harder assignments, which he'd been proud to complete, but this...this was going to be the making(or breaking) of him, and Voldemort was growing impatient.
The potion was essesnce of Dementor. All of Voldemort's effortshad not yet pulled those dark beings to their side, though it seemed that they were natural allies indeed. But it seemed that the prisoners provided by the ministry(which included nearly as many innocents as Dark Wizards), were proving enough to ensure their loyalty to the ministry ...for now.But the potion the Dark Lord wanted to create was a truly terrifying thing...it would turn a person into a dementor...robbing them of their soul...while leaving their body intact. He' d found vague references to such a thing, in ancient books on the Dark Arts ,where the first appearences of Dementors were recorded, undoubtedly picked up on his travels around the world, in his quest for immortality.And Severus Snape,his most competent Potions Master was the person most capable of recreating it.
The Dark Lord wanted but a single cauldronful, in any case Snape did not think he could manage more. The ingredients were hideously expensive and difficult to get, the potion required him to monitor it at all hours of the day practically everyday...he did not think he could make it more than once in his lifetime.This time though it looked like success.If only...just a little longer....and the potion settled down giving off an odd green light, which reminded him of the Killing Curse."Rat" said Severus. A rat was promptly placed in his hands. Severus silently approved. Regulus, unlike his brother was capable of following orders.He also knoew when to speak and more importantly, when not to.He was an...adequate... assistant.
The rat's mouth was forced open and a single drop of potion placed in its mouth. For a few moments there was silence.Then, the rat began to twitch, then squeak frantically, as though in great terror, then, as Severus watched in satisfaction, its lmbs began to fail. The light in its eyes went out. And then the vermin was on its feet again. And Severus became aware of a familiar coldness steal upon him. He'd met Dementors before and knew what teh feeling was of course. It seemed that his potion was a complete success. The Dark Lord would be pleased. Still, it would not do to go to him with half-baked results.So he continued testing, on rats and cats and dogs, and found that the larger and more intelligent the creature, the longer the potion took to act. It did act though, whatever the dosage.Whether a drop or a spoonful,the results were eventually the same. A smaller dose just meant it would take more time that's all.
The tests were completed in a weeks time, and at the next Death Eater's meeting Severus(and his assistant Regulus) was pleased to present the Dark Lord with yet another successfully completed assignment. "Exssssscellent" hissed the Dark Lord, and Severus saw Bellatrix Lestrange's eyes narrow with jealousy. She was proudly and openly a Death Eater. Personally, Severus thought that her fearlessness was a product of madness more than anything else. That and inbreeding possibly, he sneered through his mask.
Then to his annoyance, Lord Voldemort beckoned the crazy harpy to him"You know what thisss musssst protect" , he said and she nodded , looking like the cat that ate the canary, and glared triumphantly at him. Severus rolled his eyes,but lowered his head to hide his action. He didn't know wjat the Dark Lord intended to do with the potion, and was quite happy not knowing, unlike Bellatrix.
"Ssssseverusss ssssstay, we have sssssomething new for you to do, that will hnour you above all otherssss"
Severus enjoyed the way Bellatrix stiffened at the Dark Lord's words, and said serenely, "I would be honoured to serve in any way I can my Lord."
"Bella, go on, and take your cousssin with you.Ssseverus and I have much to disscusss."
