Chapter Eleven
Closer Than Ever
I'm going under
Drowning in you
I'm falling forever
I've got to break through
I'm going under
(Going Under - Evanescence)May 1st, 1998"The Dark Lord is coming?" Snape asked once everyone had arrived at his office.
He had thrown up a carefully placed Silencing Charm, somehow cutting off all of the
portraits in the room. Most of them glared at him for doing so, but none more so than
Phineas Nigellus Black, who glowered at Snape and Sirius in turn.
Harry stared at Snape for a long moment, his gaze accusing and hands shaking with
rage. Only Sirius's hand on his shoulder kept him from attacking. "Yes. Not like you didn't
know!"
"Harry, not now," Hermione admonished.
Snape's focus flew to Draco. "Does he have the snake with him?"
The young Death Eater paled at the mention of Nagini, but he gave a brief nod and
turned to close the Floo behind him, making sure they could not be followed.
"Closer than ever," he disclosed. "Happened after he found Bellatrix dead. He won't
let the thing out of his sight."
Snape's black eyes narrowed, and he turned around to face a large Pensieve on his
desk. Looking extremely perturbed, he moved quickly to a large cabinet, opening it to reveal
cupboards of phials, mostly potions, but some easily recognisable as memories. Retrieving
an empty bottle, Snape unstoppered it and brought his wand to his head.
"What's he doing?" Ron asked loudly.
"Trying to concentrate, Mr Weasley, and your silence would be indispensable if it
can be managed." Snape glared at the redhead before closing his eyes, concentrating hard,
and letting his wand pull silvery strings from the side of his head, eventually twirling them