With a CRACK, Snape Apparated in front of an empty, grassy field, wind blowing over it with a slight rustle.
He looked around.
Trees. Rocky shore. Roar of waves crashing against small cliffs.
Other than that, as far as he could see in the middle of the night, Snape found no sign of life.
Then, he stepped forward.
A magical ripple echoed out from his foot, outlining an invisible dome with a fluid-like consistency.
When Snape entered this dome, the world changed in his vision.
In front of him now, the grassy field was not empty anymore, but held a villa with a dark and terrible appearance.
There was death in the air.
He could hear the growls of the dead, see the dark redness of blood, and sense the madness that lingered in his surroundings.
Unfazed by the unnerving atmosphere, Snape walked forward and entered the villa, stepping into a massive hall, decorated with richly embroidered tapestries and various ancient pieces of furniture.
The colors green and black were everywhere.
Then, a redness flashed in Snape's eyes.
There, in the middle of the hall, was a long table, with people seated on chairs on either side.
At the end of that table was him — the Dark Lord — openly displaying his mutation.
In Snape's eyes, the bloody protrusion in the middle of Voldemort's chest pulsated with anger, doubt, and… fear.
Reflecting the Dark Lord's own mood, perhaps?
"Ah, Severus," Voldemort hissed. "Nice of you to finally… visit me. At last."
"Traitor!" Bellatrix, seated closest to the Dark Lord on his left side, hissed along with her Master. "Even that rat was more loyal than you! Kill him, my lord! Kill him!"
Snape looked at the witch, observing more than her blatant madness.
Bellatrix's left hand looked nothing like flesh anymore, instead carrying a bright, silvery tinge. It was just like Dumbledore's left hand and leg, which he had magically created after losing them in the Battle of Legends. Unlike him, she didn't bother to hide hers under a glove, wearing it like jewelery. And rightfully so, in her opinion, given the part she had played in Voldemort's return to power… a greater power.
"Now, now, Bellatrix," the Dark Lord said, feigning humor. "Do not jump to conclusions, yet. We all know… it must not be easy… hiding your true nature under the nose of Lord Black Phoenix."
"It isn't," Snape finally said, looking right into Voldemort's eyes, letting him read his mind. "He has become too powerful… I dared not think of meeting you, my lord."
The bloody protrusion pulsed.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed.
Then, as the silence overwhelmed the senses, the Dark Lord chuckled.
"Of course…" he said, pointing toward the empty chair to his immediate right. "Welcome, Severus. Come here. See… I saved a seat for you."
A few chuckled at those remarks.
Snape let his feet carry him to the chair and sat down, noticing the man who sat to his left now.
It was Corban Yaxley, the current Head of the Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic.
"Surprised?" Voldemort asked as Snape sat. "When Dumbledore was busy refereeing games for children…"
The Death Eaters snorted again.
"… I used that time to gather some old friends of mine," the Dark Lord continued, sounding pleased at the reaction. "There are some who refused to tear their ties with the Dark Alliance when I gave them the chance. They will pay for it. Yes. They will. For now, let me introduce you to your new colleagues."
Then, taking his sweet time, Voldemort introduced each Death Eater seated at the table to Snape, arrogance oozing out from his tone with every next name.
And that arrogance shot through the roof when he introduced the last person, seated opposite him at the end of the long table, Snape's pupils dilating a touch.
"I believe you two have already met," the Dark Lord said with a sick amusement.
Snape nodded, looking at the woman. "We have…"
It was Mahoutokoro School of Magic's Headmistress, High Priestess Momo!
The woman sat majestically on the seat, almost enjoying it. That meant the Dark Lord, or any of his Death Eaters, hadn't cast the Imperius Curse on her, forcing her to follow his bidding against her will.
"Dumbledore is a fool…" Voldemort hissed, his words carrying a bite to them. "If he thinks that he can unravel the mysteries of the Dark Lord's Dark Arts so easily, then he is indeed a fool."
Snape looked toward Voldemort, Bellatrix eying him like a venomous snake from the other side.
"Only you can say that, my lord," he said slowly. "I will still need to return to Hogwarts before Dumbledore returns, hiding my tracks. The sooner the better."
Bellatrix scoffed. "Coward!"
Voldemort raised his hand, keeping his eyes on Snape. "Where is he?"
"He was invited to the ship, my lord," Snape reported. "By someone named… Lord Vader."
Ship…
Together, the Death Eaters craned their necks up as if they could see the Death Star and the newly arrived triangular ship through the ceiling.
Voldemort was among them, too. "The Outsiders are inviting him to their ship now?" he hissed. Then, ignoring the blatant, curious looks on his Death Eaters' faces, he looked at Snape. "This Lord Vader… Was he wearing a white coat and square glasses?"
Snape instantly frowned. "… I believe not, my lord," he replied, drawling. "He did not even reveal himself. It was an invitation through a mental call…"
Silence.
"Haha!" Voldemort laughed, the Death Eaters forcing out a laugh along with him, without having a clue. "Didn't even reveal himself! Haha… So… our Lord Black Phoenix is not as great a wizard as he thinks himself to be… Hmph!"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "You say that as if you have…"
"Insolent!" Bellatrix hissed. "How dare you?!"
"Enough," Voldemort said, carrying a smile. "I say that because one of them indeed visited me."
Shocked gasps echoed across the hall.
Once he had fueled himself with their reaction, Voldemort finally let his smile vanish.
"Now, tell me, Severus," the Dark Lord asked flatly. "What other news have you brought me?"