Joy in Small Places.

Disclaimer: HP and its respective characters are copyright JKR and all official rightsholders. I'm just a fan of the books.

AN: This story is AU effective the end of the Trio's sixth year (following Dumbledore's passing). Written primarily during NaNo 2011 & 2012, and heavily influenced/inspired by David Usher's "Joy in Small Places" (found on YouTube, if you haven't heard it before & are curious). This was my first HP-fic – concrit greatly appreciated, as I have no beta for this story. This story is written almost in its entirety and will be edited and updated… let's go with 'monthly' for now. Please note that all characters are over the age of 18.

Severus Snape's footsteps halted immediately upon sight of the slumped figure pooled awkwardly on the floor before him. The current compound was completely untraceable—apart from his repeating portkey, even he couldn't have given away its location. The Order were beside themselves at being unable to locate him, since his 'defection' to the Dark Lord at Dumbledore's passing at the end of the previous school year. But Dumbledore's orders had been clear: maintain his cover at all costs. The Order would need to find a way to reach him, if they required him.

But by the gods, he prayed this wasn't it.

"What is the meaning of this?"

His cold, emotionless words were very even and dropped silver-smooth into the darkness of the echoing dungeon cell. The ancient stone walls cast his words back at him, and the hints of accusation did not escape his notice. He hated surprises, and this was something he had hoped to never, ever see.

The body on the frigid, wet ground showed no evidence of having heard him. It was not even shivering, despite how agonizing the cold, slippery stones must feel on its nearly naked skin. He was not even sure it was breathing any longer.

She could not have been more than seventeen or eighteen. And the bruises were obvious even in the low light, due to the brilliant paleness of the once healthy, soft skin.

He schooled his expression into one of distaste as he viewed it critically while the other Death Eater spoke.

"The Dark Lord thought you may enjoy yourself for the evening with a reward, sir."

"If this is the reward, thank the heavens I didn't displease him. It doesn't look like it's good for anything anymore," he sneered, and nudged it with the toe of his heavy black boot. A faint exhale, just barely. But obviously the poor thing was too far gone to even protest properly. Disgust rolled through him on an ugly tide, dredging up old memories and emotions. They blended mindlessly together as they crashed down. But he had to keep his wits about him, and the Potions Master grounded himself and forced himself to pay attention to what the other man said.

"What with how awful you've mentioned your students are, the Dark Lord thought you would appreciate being able to teach one her proper place. And this one's a Mudblood—the worst of the lot," the other man spat on the still figure.

It took every ounce of self-control Severus had not to lash out at the man with an Unforgivable the moment the hated word left his lips.

"For how long? Do I return her for an exchange in the morning? If she makes it that far?" he found himself asking instead, his mind grimly working out what his options were given her pitiful state.

"Yours to keep; but he said you would be cleaning up if there was more mess than usual."

"Of course."

He waited a moment.

To the other man's horror, Snape's eyes seemed to turn warm, and he shook out his shoulders to stave off the uneasiness that had settled there.

As placid as ever, Snape gazed down at her, trying to assess her condition. His 'colleague' just barely registered on his periphery as he mentally tallied her wounds and their likely causes. When he kneeled down beside her, he heard the other man's shoes scuff wetly as he took a cautionary step back.

Probably thinks I'm going to shag her corpse, re-animate her, kill her once more, then shag her again, mused Snape, and he made sure he did nothing to change the man's opinion an iota. The more disturbed the other man was, the less likely he was to return or investigate.

"Is there anything else?" Severus drawled, looking at the other man for the first time. His eyes pinned him, making the lesser Death Eater squirm.

"No."

"Then you're free to return to your duties. Please let the Dark Lord know I fully appreciate my gift and will be expressing it to him personally as soon as I'm finished with it." He looked down thoughtfully once more. "It may be a while," he said softly.

The door shut, closing Severus in with his former student.

He cast a silencing spell for privacy and reached out gently to push aside a lock of curly, brown hair.

"Granger, I had thought you weren't as stupid as the others," he said quietly, his velvet voice too controlled to show concern.

AN: To be continued.