Tell Us The Truth

Severus Snape stood in Hogsmeade and vomited into a dark corner of an equally dark alley way.

He had tried to spare Minerva and had hid away behind all the eager death-eaters. But of course the Dark Lord had remembered his pet wizard. And since Snape was the last and notorious for his inventive curses, they expected something fancy. He could have banged his head against a wall for his stupidity. So not only was he forced to jinx Minerva ... no, it had to be painful. after long moments of thinking he decided to make use of a curse Flitwick had once taught him.

"Pustulasis!"

Immediately large pustules had broken out all over Minerva's smooth skin. They were very painful and Minerva whimpered faintly because she was too weakened by all the curses. But Snape justified it by saying to himself that now Voldemort had to heal both women before he or the other death-eaters could enjoy themselves.

Snape retched again. 'When have I become this cruel, manipulative and cold-hearted? Please, girls, hang in there. We'll get you out. Hopefully in time before they break you.'

Half an hour later Severus stood in front of Dumbledore's office, trembling from head to toe and more afraid than ever before in the death-eaters' company. 'Merlin, give me strength and courage.' Then with a tremendous effort he knocked at the door. It swung open violently and revealed a very pale headmaster. Right behind Albus stood a very agitated Arthur. And behind him were the staff and the Weasley children with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger assembled.

'Oh great! Now I have to tell Molly's kids too. They'll hate me even more now!'

He swallowed hard and readied himself for his task.

"Have you heard something about Minerva? Is she still alive? Tell me, Severus!"

"Yes, and what about Molly? Is she in the clutches of these bastards?"

"Yes, both are alive and prisoners of the Dark Lord. I'm truly sorry ..."

Arthur had broken down. Literally. Relief flooded him and had weakened his knees. Molly was alive but ... Albus asked the question which tormented Arthur right now.

"Are they ... hurt?"

His voice was barely audible. The words pierced his heart. Imagining Minerva hurt ... injured ... broken ... it was so much easier to endure pain if it was his own.

Snape couldn't answer. His throat was constricted and he couldn't look at anyone.

Madam Pomfrey understood his body language and knew that both women had been tortured. Looking over to Albus and Arthur, she asked Severus gently:

"Severus, look at me, please. How badly are they injured? What have they done to them?"

With a very tiny voice Severus said:

"I don't want the children to hear ..."

"WHAT? She is our mother! You can't stop us! We have a right to know!"

The twins were on their feet in a flash. Both looked ready to kill Snape if he didn't tell them. Arthur on the other hand feared Snape's answer. If he wanted to spare the children it was sure to be bad. Seeing his twin sons on their feet and Ron starting to back them up, he roared:

"OUT!"

"But, dad ..."

"NO! OUT! NOW! I don't want you to hear that!"

All of his children were scared. Never before had their father yelled at them. That was more their mother's style. But now he had roared at them. Reluctantly all Weasleys, Harry and Hermione shuffled out. As soon as the door closed behind them, Albus cast a silencing charm on the door and turned to Severus.

"In what condition is my wife? And you better tell me the truth."

Snape swallowed. Albus had spoken calmly but Snape, being an ex-death-eater, knew a threat when he heard one.

"Minerva and Molly are in very bad shape. Please don't interrupt me because, believe it or not, it's hard for me to tell you."

He waited for both men to nod and then continued to describe Minerva's and Molly's injuries in detail. It was very hard and Severus only got through it because he didn't look at either of their husbands.

----

Meanwhile in Gryffindor Tower the Weasley twins paced the common room. Ginny was curled up in a big armchair. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had done since her mother had gone. Ginny was angrier than she had ever been on her brothers or parents. She was shocked by all the hatred she felt inside. All she wanted to do was kill the death-eater who had hurt her mother. Brutally and slowly. Hermione sit on the arm of the armchair and stroked her hair. Ginny leant her head on Hermione's lap and felt forlorn.

Ron was standing in front of the fire and starred down at it. Worry was clearly written over his features. Never before had he understood what it meant to be grown-up. He was 15 years old and yet he had to look out for his younger sister because the twins were too busy playing tricks on Umbridge. His father was distraught and his mother was ... He slapped the mantelpiece to vent some of his frustration. Harry watched him with sympathy.

"I know you're angry, Ron. But we better think of something to help them. Hitting things is not going to help."

"What do you know? My mother is out there. A prisoner. I'm not a kid anymore that thinks they are bound to a tree and that's it. Do you have any idea what they do to women? I mean, why else would they send us out?"

Hermione had gasped in shock. Of course she was thinking along the same lines but hearing someone actually saying these things made it much worse. Ginny and stiffened and then collapsed in tears. She didn't want to think what those horrible people did to her mother. George immediately went to his sister and tried to comfort her. Fred rushed to Ron, grabbing him hard around the arm. Shaking him hard he yelled:

"Don't say that. We don't know if this is true. Mum is strong, she's surely ok ... she has to be ..."

Fred's voice broke. He was shaking just as hard as he had shaken his brother not even a minute ago. Harry looked at Ron defiantly.

"Ron, I love your mother as if she were my own. I don't want to imagine any death-eater doing ... that to her. I ..."

"Yeah, but there is a difference! She is NOT your mother! She is MINE! You don't know what I feel! You're lucky yours is dead ..."

Harry was never angrier at Ron. He curled his right hand into a tight fist and punched Ron squarely in the face.

"You take that back! Your mother is alive and will come back ..."

"Perhaps. But in what condition will she be? I want her to be like she has always been. I ..."

Ginny got up from the armchair and walked to her brother. Standing in front of him, she seemed much younger and more vulnerable than usual. She asked quietly:

"Ron, could you please hold me?"

Tears were pouring silently over her face and she was trembling just like Fred. Ron stopped yelling at Harry and wrapped his arms around his sister. They stood like that for a long time until suddenly the portrait of the Fat Lady opened. In crawled Madam Pomfrey.

"I wanted to see how you are and if you need anything."

Questioningly she looked at all the kids. They shock their heads. All they needed was Mrs. Weasley and it was not in Madam Pomfrey's power to make her suddenly appear in the room.