Snape followed Draco out of the main gate of Hogwarts, with Buckbeak hot on his tail.
"Give me your hand Draco, we're going to apperate to the Dark Lord."
"No! Wait.." Draco said frightened.
"Don't be cowardly, we have to face him now, or you'll be in a lot more trouble later." said Snape taking hold of Malfoy's arm, "Maybe if we give him the news of Dumbledore's death first he will be happy enough, and will go easy on you."
Draco wanted to protest; he wanted to procrastinate, but Snape gripped his arm firmly, and Draco found himself in front of Voldemort, before he had begun to register the uncomfortable sensation of apperation.
Voldemort looked furious. He was sure, by the way Draco was shaking, and Snape was holding him, that they failed, and that Dumbledore is now after both of them. Draco was so terror-struck, that he was utterly incapable of bowing down, as was demanded of Death Eaters in the presence of their lord: Draco has turned to stone.
Before Voldemort would get angry enough to cause real damage, Snape said, "Mission accomplished, My lord, Dumbledore is dead"
there was a pause, as the thick, tense air of rage was cleared to make way for a climate of jubilation.
"well done, my death eaters!" said Voldemort, obviously astonished, "come here, young Mr Malfoy."
Snape unfroze Draco by pushing him hard towards Voldemort. Draco lost his balance, but kept himself from falling face down at the last second. He walked slowly towards Voldemort shaking from head to toe.
"I killed..." Draco stammered, he tried to look proud of a job well done, but his voice just rose to the high octave of panic.
"I can see that you are trying to block me from entering your thoughts, Draco. You know this won't work on me!"
"I"m sorry master," said Draco kneeling and shivering, "Professor Snape didn't give me a chance." Draco cast furtive glances at Snape, as he sweated and trembled, "I swear I would have killed him!" Draco quaked.
Snape ignored Draco's attempts to lay the blame on him; he knew no one can fool Voldemort. He was far more concerned about what Voldemort will do to someone who tells such lies. It was apparent that Draco was a novice in the service of the Dark Lord.
"Liar!" bellowed Voldemort, pointing his wand at Draco,"how dare you lie to my face? Maybe it's time I should teach you what being at my service really means!"
"Please, Master," Snape said, pushing Draco out of the way, "there's no point in torturing him. Let me take him under my wing, I will teach him some killing curses. He is still young, but he has great potential. He can become a model Death Eater. Please allow me to guide him. We can try some of the new curses on local Muggles."
Voldemort looked Murderous. He pushed Snape away with such force, that Snape flew to the opposite wall. Voldemort, then, raised his wand at the quivering form of Draco.
Snape wasn't about to let anything happen to Draco Malfoy. He raised his bruised body from the floor and tried again, "Please Master, you won't get a better Death Eater than Draco, here. You have to believe me. You wouldn't imagine the kinds of dunderheads I had to teach at Hogwarts! Draco is the best in his year! Heck, he's the best in all the years I taught there!"
Voldemort looked at Snape for a tense moment, then he said, "you've got some nerve, Severus, but I think I will let you get away with it this time. As you have done the job for Mr Malfoy here, I will appoint you to be his official mentor. Any mistakes on his part will be answered by you, until he becomes a proper Death Eater."
Draco grabbed a tight hold of Snape's arm, like a frightened child holding on to it's mother's protective frame.
"Thank you, my lord," bowed Snape, "you are merciful"