The movement was smooth, reverent — not forced, not panicked.
It was deliberate, like a practiced ritual.
The cold mud seeped through his trousers, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and fear.
Specifically Harry's fear...
The cloaked shape froze.
For a heartbeat, the forest itself seemed to stop breathing.
Then came the voice — low, rasping, and distant, yet unmistakably alive with cunning.
"...You kneel?"
Cassius bowed his head lower.
"Before my Lord? Always."
There was a pause.
A long, dangerous silence in which the darkness itself seemed to listen.
"You... know me."
Cassius looked up just enough for his eyes to catch the faint red gleam beneath the hood.
His voice was steady, measured.
"Of course, my Lord. Those who value the old ways does not? I am Cassius Snape, son of Severus Snape, your most faithful servant."
The shadow stilled.
"Severus…" The name rolled from the thing's tongue like a taste rediscovered after years of hunger. "He yet lives?"
Cassius nodded, forcing calm into his limbs though his pulse thrummed with the sharp, electric terror of standing before a living myth.
"He lives, my Lord. And more — he remains loyal. Though the world believes your fall complete, he has never faltered in his devotion. It was his teachings that shaped me. His faith that told me you would return. And he has since continued your orders of acting as a spy within Dumbledores ranks awaiting the moment of your return to provide you with all the intel he has collected."
The hood tilted slightly, as though appraising him.
For the first time, Cassius saw the thing beneath the cloak clearly — a man and not a man.
Capable of recognizing he was speaking to the back of one mans head, while speaking to a complete nothers face.
"You speak with conviction," the voice murmured. "Yet your father has not come to me. Why send his whelp in his stead?"
Cassius swallowed.
"He could not, my lord. Dumbledore has been watching things more than ever recently due to the high level of scrutiny being placed on him by the ministry as of late."
The shadow stirred, drifting closer.
The chill deepened; Cassius could see his breath misting in front of him.
"And why," Voldemort asked, voice soft and lethal, "do you believe?"
Cassius met that flickering crimson gaze fully now, and for an instant, their wills collided — one ancient, one newly forged, both tasting of serpents and secrets.
"Because death does not claim those it fears."
A long pause.
Then, slowly, the shadow's mouth curved.
A laugh — dry and thin and strange — slid through the air like a hiss escaping a dying fire.
"Severus's blood indeed," Voldemort whispered. "You speak well, little serpent. You believe well."
Cassius allowed himself a faint, respectful bow.
"My father spoke of your greatness. He said that if the Dark Lord still lived, he would need allies — loyal ones. I would be honored to serve, my Lord, should you find use for me."
The red eyes gleamed brighter. "You would serve me?"
"With all that I am."
"Why?"
Cassius hesitated.
Then spoke the truth that was half-lie.
"Because power is wasted on those to weak to seek it. And Hogwarts," he said softly, "it has been tainted in recent years by an overwhelming number of Muggleborns.. the world is changing and if we do not change our world, then the muggle world will eradicate us all in time."
Voldemort's chuckle was little more than air — but it was pleased.
"Ah… Severus raised you well. A proper little Slytherin."
The voice grew almost wistful.
"How long it has been since one knelt before me without trembling. You may rise, child."
Cassius did — smoothly, gracefully, eyes never leaving the shadow.
For a moment, the boy and the shade simply studied one another.
Cassius could feel the hunger beneath that hood, the ancient, gnawing need that had driven this half-life to drink the blood of innocence incarnate.
And yet… he also felt the mind behind it.
Intelligent.
Cautious.
Already weaving him into its plans.
"You are bold," Voldemort murmured. "And you carry your father's cunning. Tell me — does Severus suspect my survival?"
Cassius shook his head.
"No, my Lord. Though I think he hopes for it. He speaks of you as a lost future, not a dead one."
"Good."
The voice sharpened now, curiosity shifting into calculation.
"And Hogwarts? What has become of it under Dumbledore's hand?"
Cassius hesitated — but only for show.
"Unsteady. The staff question him. The Ministry whispers. The students… gossip. His standing has been shaken after certain truths about his past have come to light, making the headmaster lose quite a lost of face in the community."
Voldemort made a sound of approval — almost a purr.
"You speak like one who understands opportunity."
"I was raised to recognize it."
"Then perhaps," the shadow said, voice low and thoughtful, "you may serve as my eyes. You can earn a place under my ranks, standing beside your father."
Cassius's pulse jumped, but his face remained serene.
He was being invited to become a death eater.
That was the last thing Cassius wanted, but in his current state Voldemort should not be able to imbed that curse mark onto someone, so just a verbal declarations should be fine.
Before he could give his reply however, Cassius put on a worried face, before turning round.
"Something is coming my lord!"
Voldemort snarled, as much as he wanted to strike down whoever or whatever approached now was not the time to be exposed, not risk exposing his latest card.
So after a subtle nod to Cassius, the dark lord quickly whisked away cloak fluttering as if he was flying low above the ground.
Moment later a clatter of hoofbeets sounded as a Centaur burst into the clearing, looking round before sighting the young boy and the downed Unicorn.
What came after was a simple introduction of selves with Cassius caring not that he faced a centaur, but Firenze was onguard, he had sensed the dark lords presense and come running only to instead find a young boy.
Cassius explained his run in with some sort of robed thing, before moving to the downed unicorn, pulling his second wand out and quickly casting some mending spells to restore the unicorns wound.
In thanks the unicorn even offered up its horn which he tried to refuse before getting even Firenzes consent, the horn would regrow in time afterall, and it was in thanks for saving its life so Cassius finally agreeded.
Then being escorted back he rejoined Hagrid and the others while Harry simply looked sheepish in his wet pants trying to cover them with his cloak as much as he could.
After their run in, the rest of detention was cancelled seeing to great a risk of a second run in with the apparation, while Dumbledore worried a new article in the prophet if he enforced Cassius being made to go back once more.