~Credence~
Chapter 1 ~ Force My Secrets
The large group of students waiting in Umbridge's classroom gave off an air of complete and utter nervousness. She was questioning them, searching for answers to the inner workings of the student body. What went on, and who's been participating in banned or unlawful activities.
But what really got their hearts beating and made their palms sweat was that Professor Snape was in her office, as well, aiding in the interrogations. He was the intimidation factor, as if Umbridge wasn't frightening enough.
The door to the dreadful woman's office opened, and she stepped over the threshold, beaming down at the semi-huddled mass.
"Moira Atwater, would you come here, please?" The woman's voice was sickeningly sweet, and a sixteen-year-old girl with blue and brown speckled eyes broke away from her peers, and ascended the stone staircase to the dreaded office. She brushed past the pudgy woman, and entered the pastel-pink room.
One thing stood out in the girly space before her. A tall man, clad in black, standing as straight and as still as a statue. His almost shoulder length hair blended perfectly with his black robe, which matched his brooding eyes. Umbridge walked behind her pink desk and sat down in her pink chair. She cleared her throat, with that high pitched squeak she called a cough, and gestured to the white, wooden chair in front of her desk.
"Please, dear. Take a seat." She smiled.
Moira did as she was told, sitting in the chair, which was facing Professor Snape. Moira avoided looking at the man, but then turned and looked Dolores dead in the eyes.
"I haven't done anything." Moira said steadily. Dolores's smile grew wider.
"It's not that I don't believe you, dear." She paused, cocking her head to the side. "On second thought, that's exactly why I'm doing this. Teenagers spew lies every time they open their mouths. Unless, you give them something. A boost…a little…liquid encouragement to tell the truth?"
Severus's eyes squared and Moira gulped as he reached into the deep pocket of his dark robe, which at this moment seemed even darker. He pulled out a small glass vial, filled with a blackish-green liquid.
"This," he drawled, "is Veritaserum. One drop of this and you'll tell us anything we want to know. "He stalked over to her chair, putting one hand on one of the wooden arms, the other one flicked open the vial. Moira moved back in her seat, her breath quickening. "Tip back your head and open your mouth, Atwater." He said. She bit her lip, but slowly tipped her head back. Suddenly, he took his hand off of the arm of the chair, and pushed her mouth open by her jaw.
She screwed her eyes shut and Severus allowed one drop of the Veritaserum to touch her tongue. She straightened her neck, wincing at the bitterness. When she opened her eyes, Severus was back by the wall. Dolores cleared her throat again.
"Now, dear. Have you participated in any activity that goes against any of the rules set forth by me?"
Moira swallowed. "N-No." she ground out.
"Good. Have you participated in any activity that goes against any of the rules set forth by the Ministry?"
Suddenly, Moira's deepest secret was hovering in her head, threatening to slip past her lips. She was pleading with herself, inside her head, battling against the potion running through her veins. Her head nodded of its own accord. Dolores sat forward. She was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"What did you do, dear?" she said in a falsely soothing voice. Moira gripped the arms of her chair so tight, her knuckles turned white. She bit her lip, trying to keep her secret safe, but the Veritaserum was winning the war.
"I'm having feelings for…f-for someone." She said through clenched teeth. Dolores rubbed her hands together, practically giggling. "Who, my dear? Who are you having feelings for? Oh, this is great…first one of the day!"
Moira's arm extended, her pointer finger gesturing to the statue of a man standing against the wall. Severus took a step forward.
"What?" he hissed.