Renewal

I love Voldemort. I really wanted to write him; so for this, I apologise. I love the way he can be so silkily insane. Also, one gets sick of writing Dumbledore all the time!

So. Joining the Death Eaters ranks is not easy the first time. But proving your loyalty for the second time? That cannot be simple. Especially when things have changed, and you are actually a spy for Albus Dumbledore.

Lord Voldemort's tests are not simple. He abuses the body, torments the mind and slices the soul, to see into the true heart. How far is Severus Snape willing to go to prove his loyalty? How much will he lose?

How far will the Dark Lord push him?

Kati says she wants to strangle Voldemort. By the end of this fic she will want to murder him, mwah ha ha ha ha.

"Severus." A white finger beckoned him from the outer circle to stand in the centre. He moved fluidly, back straight, steps elegant.

"How many years have you been in my service?"

Severus bowed, "Eighteen, my Lord."

"Indeed. A long time, is it not?"

He did not know how to respond to that.

"And yet...you have not once strayed from my path? You have not once left my shadow?"

"No, my Lord." He lied.

"Eighteen years. This would mean that your vows need to be renewed, Severus." The voice had dropped to a murmur, but everyone could hear his words.

"...My Lord?" No one else had had their vows renewed. "Might I ask why?"

Lord Voldemort rose from his throne, stepping towards the younger wizard. "I wish to see that you are still loyal. Do you remember your initiation, Severus?"

A shiver ran down his spine. The memories were still fresh. The scars were still visible. "Yes, my Lord."

"There is no other way to prove your loyalty to me." He paused for dramatic effect, "If you survive, you will have earned both my respect and my trust, Severus."

He needed both those things.

"I will call for you again. Be prepared. You may leave."

He turned his back and left the circle.

"Severus." An old man came rushing toward him. He stepped forward, moving fluidly. "Headmaster."

"How was the meeting?"

"Interesting."

"Enlighten me." The Headmaster was concerned for his well being.

"I am unharmed. However, the Dark Lord thinks it is prudent to test my loyalty." He folded his arms as they walk across the dark Hogwarts grounds. He was not yet ready to go inside.

"You sound wary, dear boy."

He turned to look at his Headmaster, "He is hinting that they will be similar to the initiation tests I took as a boy. You do not know about them."

Dumbledore shook his head slowly, "Are they dangerous?"

"Dangerous. Painful. Mortal." The younger wizard contemplated for a moment. "He will push the body and the mind and the soul as far as they will go, to see how much you are willing to sacrifice for him."

"And how much are you willing to sacrifice for him?" Dumbledore pressed anxiously.

Severus looked up at the stars. "For him? Nothing." He paused for dramatic effect. "But for you? Everything I have."

A nice short prologue here. The next chapter we'll start with the nitty gritty. Please let me know what you think, because I need to know whether it is worth carrying on with. But yes, it will be angsty and dark things...I can hint at the following things:

Boggarts, memories and the dreaded Dementors...amongst other things....