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The curse of the onion

There was a hushed silence in the room as the circle of the men sat, waiting.

Their lord sat at the head of the group, upright and silent in his raised chair, eyes giving off an eerie red glow.

They waited.

In the distance the sound of a door opening and closing could be heard. Footsteps, muffled on the carpeted floor came closer. The door opened and a man walked in. He paused at the door, bending over to bow to the Dark Lord.

"Severus," hissed Voldemort, "You are late."

"My lord, you would not believe the queue, it is lunchtime after all."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he surveyed his most loyal servant.

"Very well, you have been forgiven this time, but I shall not be lenient next time. Now what have you bought for me?"

Snape knelt on the soft floor and held the small package out in front of him. He could feel the heat radiating out through the wrapper, the only warmth in the cold, dark room.

"My lord," he said, "I have brought your kebab."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he gestured for Snape to hand it over. The circle of watching death eaters looked on in anticipation as their leader opened the bag. Voldemort had taken it upon himself to try new foods, bored with the almost non-existent diet that came with being the country's most wanted criminal.

His snake-like nose twitched as he sniffed the kebab. He hissed in pleasure.

Slowly, he lifted the kebab to his mouth. His followers held their breath as he took his first bite.

"Severus," he hissed.

"My lord?"

"There are no onions."

Silence enveloped the room as the death eaters turned to look at Snape. If the dark lord was displeased they would all suffer his wrath.

"I though it best, my lord. You have no idea what onions can do to your breath. Not even extra strong mints can––"

"Severus." Voldemort was standing now, glaring at the still crouching Snape.

"It's not a kebab without onions is it?"

"No, lord."

"I would like a new one," he hissed. "Beef this time, onions and hold the sauce."

"Yes, lord."

"Now go!"

Snape scrambled across the room to the door where he jumped to his feet and ran through the house. The front door could be heard slamming as Snape ran to the local kebab store.

The death eaters moved further back into the shadows of the room as Voldemort sank back into his chair, stroking Nagini who now lay around his shoulders. The snake kept its unwavering gaze on the men, expectant of an early dinner.

Soon Snape could be heard returning.

"My lord, your kebab," he panted as he collapsed on the floor.

Voldemort sniffed at the kebab and nodded in appreciation at the smell of onion rising from it.

The smell of fear was prevalent throughout the room, masking even the smell of onion.

"Much better," said Voldemort.

He lifted it again and took another bite. As he munched there was a sudden gagging noise. He dropped the kebab and it rolled across the floor to stop in front of Snape's knees. He looked up.

"My lord?"

Voldemort clutched his hands to his throat, the blood rushing to his face as he coughed. A few death eaters took a few tentative steps forward.

"Lord?" one asked.

Voldemort was now doubled over, coughing as he choked on the onion.
Snape sat still on the floor, unsure what was happening.

"Onion," wheezed Voldemort, eyes watering.

Then, suddenly he stopped and went still. His eyes slowly rolled up in his head and he fell to the floor, his face inches from the kebab.

"Er," said Snape.

The other men looked at him in shock.

"Well I did warn him about the onion," he said.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. I would really appreciate reviews, go on!