"I have absolutely no idea what you are referring to," Severus replied, impressed with the evenness of his own tone. If he denied it, it would be like it had never happened, that nothing was happening now.

"Yes you do," Rodolphus replied bitterly. "I'm not bloody stupid, and it's not as if you've been discreet. She never is. You, Regulus, Evan, Rabastan,my own brother. She's a cold heartless bitch, is Bellatrix. An irresistible bitch." A cold laugh, utterly devoid of any humour. "I'm going to tell you something, Severus, and it's mostly because I actually happen to like you."

Severus thought back to those days back at Hogwarts. Rodolphus had been a few years older, and had taken Severus under his wing, introduced him to people from the old families and their ideologies. He had been a friend. But then, so had Lily.

"If I were you," Rodolphus continued, "I'd stay well away from Bella. She's poison. She'll twist you up and you'll love her and you'll hate her and you won't know the difference between the two anymore. You'll become more and more like her."

"Thank you, Rodolphus," Severus said coldly. He was thinking, now, of other times he had taken Rodolphus's advice: "Get away from that Mudblood girl, she's bad news." Severus had not heeded it at the time, he did not think that his friendship with Lily could ever be bad. But somewhere along the lines, he had absorbed some of the rhetoric of his Slytherin friends, and insulted his Lily...

"She's absolutely loopy, is Bellatrix," Severus wished that Rodolphus would just shut up, and was seriously considering a silencing charm. He was past caring about Bellatrix, he knew she was a bitch; his concerns were much more profound. Lily, his lost love. "D'you know why? Desperately wants a kid—not for the normal reasons that women want babies, you know, the soppy ones—no, Bella wants sons to serve the Dark Lord. Thinks that's the most important thing in the world, producing pureblood disciples."

"I happen to think that creating a pure bloodline is something which is of utmost priority." Severus felt a twinge of glee as Rodolphus coughed and quickly explained that that was exactly what he meant. In such an atmosphere of distrust, it was imperative that one held the correct views.

"Well anyway, Bellatrix just can't seem to get pregnant. Apparently, it's my fault. Yet none of her other little playmates seem to be able to do the deed. Funny, that. Why was I telling you all this, anyway? Oh yes, so it drives her mad. Well, madder than she was anyway. Madder than the rest of us. But we're all mad here." Rodolphus began to laugh, a strange wheezing sound that would not stop. He threw back his head and roared, his body convulsing.

Bellatrix returned, followed by Evan Rosier, and Severus joined Rodolphus in laughter. He was not entirely sure why: perhaps to appear that he had been having a wonderful time sitting with Rodolphus (who, Severus was quite sure, had never behaved as erratically at school), or perhaps at the ridiculousness of the situation. Certainly, the laughter was in part genuine, and hard to stop once it had begun. They sounded like madmen, and perhaps they were.

Then came the Dark Lord, furious, followed by a contingent of Death Eaters, each looking utterly disappointed and disheartened.

"Misinformation! The Potters sowed misinformation. They were not there!" The Dark Lord spat a tirade against the Order of the Phoenix. Severus allowed himself a brief moment of relief, sweet relief that his Lily had never been in any danger. Indeed, she had defied and outmanoeuvred the Dark Lord himself! And then, a calculated look of deep-seated outrage that such a thing could possibly occur. He saw an opportunity, then, to gain favour, to rise above the other Death Eaters.

"My Lord," he began, "may I possibly suggest a method of determining the whereabouts of Albus Dumbledore and his cronies which has not yet been discussed?"

"Speak."

"I do not suggest an oversight on your part by any means. Rather, our current mishaps are probably more closely related to incompetence and a degree of over-zealousness on the part of some of your followers." He hedged his words to avoid offending his master. It would do no good to anger the Dark Lord. "When we engage with the Order of the Phoenix, their members are murdered. I propose that it would serve us better to capture them, and glean vital information. I can brew Veritaserum for that purpose, certainly, for I find it is somewhat more effective than any information extracted under torture."

A moment of silence, and Severus was overwhelmed by anxiety. As he spoke the words, he realised how obvious the plan had sounded, as though there may be a good reason why such a plan was not in effect. And then high, cold laughter.

"This had occurred to me, Snape," he said, and Severus felt an icy chill descend upon him. "However, you are correct in your assessment. Some of our number do indeed lack the necessary discipline to capture, rather than kill. Is that not correct, Bellatrix?"

Bellatrix hung her head and looked ashamed. So that was why she was out of favour at the moment. Severus felt a brief flash of triumph, which was quelled as she shot him a gaze so full of hate that it was almost material.

"So, Snape, how do you propose we instil discipline in the ranks?" The question sounded almost academic, like a teacher addressing a pupil.

"I suspect, master, that those who understand that it is your desire will obey your orders unquestioningly. Those who lack the basic comprehension skills should be prepared to accept the consequences and listen."

More laughter from the Dark Lord. Severus felt the tension lift somewhat. He had not offended his master, and could possibly have risen in his estimation. Bellatrix looked as though she had been sucking lemons. Good, thought Severus.

Late that night, Severus hunched over his cauldron. He had dedicated a room in Spinner's End to his potioneering endeavours, and it was the only room in the house which was clean and orderly. It had to be, for contamination of a potion was unacceptable. Veritaserum was an especially complex mixture, and even a mote of dust could throw off the balance and leave one with a liquid which was not completely unacceptable to the drinker.

He allowed himself to reflect upon the day's events, something which he normally shut out as the effect would tend to be uncontrollable anger or uncontrollable sobbing. The heat of the room soothed him, though, and perhaps the fumes of the brewing potion encouraged a kind of honesty to himself, about himself.

First, Lily, and how glad he was she was safe, yet how disappointed he was that James, too, was alive and well. As were Black, Lupin and Pettigrew. How he wished that they could perish and he could pick up the pieces and perhaps he and Lily would one day become husband and wife. He would gladly defect, and they would live together, in happy neutrality. Though that would never be, for he knew the depth of Lily's hatred. It was a poison absorbed from Potter and his friends, though one which would never leave Lily.

Without Lily, his only option was to be successful within the life he had chosen, and today had allowed that to begin. He was brewing this potion on the Dark Lord's orders. He was pleased the Dark Lord had agreed with his assessment, and believed wholeheartedly that it would buy him favour.

The potion was beginning to turn paler and paler. Perfectly produced Veritaserum, he thought proudly.

Bellatrix. Severus finally allowed himself to dissect his conversation with Rodolphus—the ramblings of a man beginning to turn insane, he thought. Yet Severus was disgusted with himself for the jealousy he had felt when she had selected Evan Rosier as a lover; even more disgusted with the revelation that there were many others. For making him feel this, Severus despised Bellatrix more than he had ever thought possible, more, even, than James Potter.

He fantasised about taunting her with Rodolphus's revelation that she was barren, how she would become enraged, or perhaps, better still, begin to cry. He hoped so. He wanted her to hurt. He wondered if she was already upset, that he had received the Dark Lord's esteem in her place. How Severus hoped so.

He gave no heed to what Rodolphus had said about how Bellatrix would twist people until they became like her.