Rosier Mansion ((located in London NOT in HOGWARTS...aka you cannot go there...))

"My lord, may I take a moment to suggest something? Eglantine is not aware that you know of the bond connecting you two. We must do everything to keep it that way. We must let her believe she is in as much dange as the others, that othing has changed, all the while keeping her safe, so you may be away from harm." Viper stated, thanking Merlin for all the psychology lessons her grandfather had forced her to endure, for it helped her come up with the perfect strategy.

"She is right, my lord." Edmund stated. He had seated himself as far from Lord Voldemort as was possible. "As long as we can keep them ignorant of our knowledge, she will not attempt to harm you through herself."

Lord Voldemort hissed in anger.
"We are talking about our enemies as if they will do nothing! We made these mistakes before. They know about the bond, regardless of whether or not they think we know and if they believe they can kill me through her, then the Minister himself would probably slit her throat." He fumed from the new realization that his bond with Professor DeLanquar was probably one of the most dangerous things that had ever occurred.

Viper glared at Edmund for abandoning her to be in a position where she would receive Voldemort's full throttle of anger, until a thought struck her.

"Then perhaps that is our answer!" she smiled as she stood up and began pacing around the room (it always helped her focus), as thoughts streamed across her head. "The enemies know that we've made that mistake last time. They'll expect us to strike in an effort to seize control of everything. By not acting, they will assume we remain ignorant and they will let down their guard, giving us a clear board to strike swift and hard when we are ready."

She paused to kneel before Voldemort on her knees. "Consider, my lord. The Headmistress was an auror, injured on a mission. The Ministry is indebted to her and will do anything she asks of them. She is best friends with Eglantine and will never allow them to capture her to 'slit her throat'. My lord, as long as we contain ourselves, you will be safe." and, just to see if it would have any effect on him, Viper added. "I promise you, my lord."

"Your plan is good, Viper." He glared over at Edmund, who looked away. "We shall lull them asleep and into false security." He grasped Viper's chin affectionately and smiled.
"And then crush them."

Viper sighed with relief for having pleased her lord and offered her courtier smile that all deatheaters had. However, while most deatheaters didn't dare speak making eye contact, opting to observe the ground beneath him, Viper stared at his dark orbs challengingly. "Your wish is my command, my lord," she whispered, tilting her head ever so slightly to kiss his fingers. (Or hand or wrist, depending on how he's holding her)

"Perhaps we will look into those wishes on another date." Lord Voldemort suggested, releasing Viper. His eyes shone with brief lust.
"Edmund, have your daughter, Bellatrix, report to Viper at Hogwarts. She is to serve her." Edmund bowed from his chair and left the room.

"At Hogwarts, you will remain to do as I bid. Report things I tell you, give me information on anything worthy of my concern and take this to Kiara as a token of our not doing anything." He retrieved a cage by wandless magic. Saturn, a golden Phoenix was inside of it, squawking loudly.

Viper rose with a seductive smile glazing her face, for the look of lust in her lord's eyes were not missed by her's. She curtseyed to him and took the cage from his grasp, taking care to bend down enough for him to catch a glimpse of her cleavage.

Voldemort gestured toward the door, watching his follower's lithe body. He was going to greatly enjoy excessum's youth.

Entering the kitchen, he bellowed for Erin and Corin, who both hastened to his side.
"Spread the word. There is to be no attacks. We shall become the wolf that waits for sleep."

Viper smiled as she exited the mansion, pleased that she had proved herself to be of use to Lord Voldemort, until the squaking phoenix reminded her of her next task. Sighing, she apparated her way back to Hogwarts.

Viper knocked upon the mansion door once more nervously, fearful of the dark lord's reaction to the news. She hoped her back up plan would work, or at least help the current dilemma.

Severus opened the door, his one eye covered with a bandage and his face drawn from obvious pain.
"Come in." he murmured. Severus Snape and Severus Rosier had only two things in common; they shared a rather dull personality, and both had been tall... other than that, few would have guessed why the muscular blonde had been named after the former potions master.

Had she spotted Severus in agony at any other given time, Viper would have been hysterical with laughter. However, there were more grave matters on her mind. Taking off her cloak and revealing her face, Viper stepped into the mansion. "How is he?" she asked worriedly, not really expecting an answer, since it was highly unlikely the dark lord would reveal his true emotion.

"He? I suppose you mean our resident dark lord. He is weak, in bed and dying." Acid dripped from each word. "Of course this is not a good time for a social call." he stated, glaring at her with one green eye. "Second door on the left."

Viper glared at him before heading towards the door. She turned back to him with a deadly look upon her face. "Next time show some respect, Severus. Otherwise your eyes won't be the only body part you'll be missing." she replied with just as much as acid as he dripping from her words, showing him that she was deadly serious. She turned her attention back to the door and knocked gently.

The door opened with a gentle creak and Erin motioned her inside with a bony hand.
Voldemort was tucked into an enormous bed, at least twenty pillows holding up his head and back and yet he moaned in pain. Vivian Rosier was standing by the bed like some statue and Edmund was staring worried out of a window.

Viper inhaled sharply. Seeing the Dark Lord in agony was a startling contrast to the amorous one that met her mere hours ago.

"Leave us." she said sharply to the room's other occupants. She wasn't sure why but Vivian Rosier made Viper feel slightly uneasy.

She approached the gigantic bed and curtseyed. "My lord," she breathed out before inching closer. Hesitantly, she laid her hand upon his brow, careful to see if he would object to her efforts to help him.

"The bond." Voldemort croaked. "She is taking my energy! Giving me pain. The little sorceress!" he groaned again in agony and due to the fact that his pain threshold was very high, it was obvious that the pain was unbearable.

Viper quickly summoned a cauldron and lit it, extracting a vial filled with a silver liquid from within her robes. She dumped it into the cauldron and withdrew her silver dagger. She caressed the blade for a moment before slashing her hand open, letting her blood merge with the silver in the cauldron

"Aeternus Anima" she whispered, waving her hand over the mixture as the it turned into a bright crimson and a golden light filled the room. She knew that this treatment wouldn't last long, but it would at least buy them valuable time Pouring it back into the vial, she brought it to her Lord's quivering lips.

Voldemort gulped the potion down. He sighed softly and closed his eyes.
"You have proven your loyalty, Viper. I restore your family to my side."

Viper bit her lip nervously. "I'm sorry, my lord, but the relief will not last long. Eglantine still holds the upper hand for being the excessum maker and can strengthen the pain. You'd still be able to takes the Anima potions for a while but eventually your body will build a tolerance to it, making the potions ineffective. The only way to ensure that you are completely healthy is-" she broke off momentarily, for she did not quite know how to proceed with this delicately.

"Continue." he said gruffly. The weakness from the pain was making him irritable.

Viper sighed and walked over to the window, staring at the view. "How far are you willing to go to survive, my lord? Are you willing to risk it all to live forever? For it would severely compromise your next course of action if you choose otherwise. I cannot answer you if you do not answer truthfully"

Viper knew he would most likely snap over the tone she was carrying. Voldemort was accustomed to people sugar coating everything, even when it hit the brink of lying to him. She hoped that he wouldn't mind how cold, almost harsh, she was delivering this news, for she wasn't about to stoop to the other death eater's level. She was different. But bolder or stupider, she wasn't quite sure.

Voldemort cursed bitterly and glared at Viper.
"I have already done everything to remain alive! Do not speak to me about what I am willing to do! Now speak and do not play with your words."

(shoot, it screwed up and I have to type everything all over again. >_<)

((It is okay... I can wait...computer problems?))