'My lord'. Snape intoned.
'What?' I snapped back. Of course I appreciate the subservience, I demand it, but whatever it was the greasy fool had to say I wasn't going to like it if he addressed me in that way. I could tell already this was going to be a waste of my time. Don't these snivelling slaves have something more worthwhile to do? I'm sure I must have given him something - oh, he was talking again.
'…wise to give the boy such a great task? Any of your humble servants would be honoured to commit such an act, but why the boy…'
The boy..? Oh, the Malfoy child, of course. Snape always developed these horrible sentimental attachments to the children at that school. I could see beads of sweat beginning to break out on the imbecile's forehead and make greasy tracks as it ran down from his hairline. I did not stop levelling a crimson glare at him.
'It's just, my liege, he is so young…' He shuddered.
Young? Young? 'Do you dare question my judgement?' I hissed. I am no stranger to anger. Rather, it is a most welcome companion in battle and strategy, but I do not remember the last time I was livid.
I barely acknowledged Snape's pleas. I waved a hand to dismiss him and he ran out, tripping over his cheap and soiled robes.
Young. Malfoy was too young to kill Dumbeldore? Granted, I did not expect him to succeed for a moment, how better to humiliate an insect like his father? But never for a second did I consider him too young to kill a man. Like any great skill it requires practice, but the boy should have been capable of that. Watching the life slip out of another living creature's eyes is a delight that any of my followers should relish. The control over everything their victim sees and hears in the last few seconds, control over their entire existence. It is the only true route to power, even Dumbledore is aware of that. I'm told the Potter boy has attempted the killing curse. Of course it may not work the first time. One has to understand the process of death in a minute form, just as one understands the process of transfiguation, changing each fraction of a creature perfectly into a cup. Making everything animate inanimate. Magic is an art, a skill that we are gifted with. The power to take life is no different. One starts with the small things, insects, rats. Killing a human is really no different. Youth has nothing to do with it. Does that slime, Snape, honestly think I got this far without starting young? One may as well say Hogwarts should not take pupils until they are in their twenties. By Malfoy's age I had killed my own father. Perhaps I should permit Malfoy the same honour…
I could feel my lips twitch into a smile. I looked up from pacing. The once luxurious room in Malfoy's manor was beautiful no longer. The furniture lay splintered against the walls and the carpet glittered with shattered glass. I pulled a long, thin shard out of the back of my hand and watched closely as the white skin drew itself together over the gaping red of my flesh.
Death was so easy. Too easy.