Chapter 2

- I'm on the highway to hell
-ACDC
"Ah, so sorry to keep you waiting." Voldemort smiled broadly as he entered the room carrying a tray of potions. "I believe you all have been reacquainted with Professor Snape?"

Severus entered the room directly behind the Dark Lord, his hands clasped together and hidden within the folds of his flowing sleeves.

"Bastard!" Ron snarled. He spat at the potions master.

"You bloody traitor!" yelled Harry.

Voldemort nodded. "I see they are not grateful for their healing Severus. Perhaps the next time I should not be so generous."

"But My Lord, if they should die of their wounds, what pleasure in that?" Snape said softly. He took the tray from the wizard and set it on the floor.

"Ah, my Severus. Always the voice of reason," said Voldemort. "May you never fail to remind me of the sensuality of running crimson and whitened flesh."

"Or the beauty of a scream My Lord, tuned with precision," Snape replied gently. He gestured to the tray. "Where shall I begin?"

"The Veritaserum I think," Voldemort said. "I have brought the bottle you brewed me last month, I didn't wish to chance a newer, possibly weaker, brew." He smiled viciously at the dark haired man. "Four drops each for the adults and Potter. The others can wait"

"Isn't that a bit strong My - " Snape began.

"Four," said Voldemort coldly. "I have questions I wish to ask, and the answers should be amusing."

Minerva McGonagall winced as Severus forced the dropper into her mouth. Four drops! She would tell him anything, everything - Oh Merlin!

The witch watched in horror as Severus applied the dropper to the others.

Voldemort smiled.

"Now," he said, "We are almost ready to begin." The wizard pushed a chair to McGonagall's side and seated himself comfortably. She shivered as a heavy hand wrapped around her ankle and slithered up her leg to rest directly above her knee. Snape sat immediately to the left, and Minerva glanced at him in desperation.

Do something. Oh Severus please, don't let this happen, not in front of the children anyway -

It was almost ironic that he should be the one on whom she hung her last desperate hope. As heads of rival Houses they had spent years honing their positions as bitter enemies, and yet had developed a grudging respect that bordered on friendship.

"As soon as I adjust these ropes to ensure that nothing impedes my getting to know dear Minerva much, much better," Voldemort said. With a flick of his wand the thick ropes binding the witch
shifted, moving downward to wrap her arms to her waist and her ankles to the chair legs.

"Oh, and how could I forget the inestimable Mister Potter and friends." Rope shot from the tip of the wizard's wand, binding each child's wrists firmly together.

"How nice," Voldemort said, "I believe we are ready."

The dark wizard smiled slowly. "Albus, you shall be the first to answer my questions. And Minerva, my dear, you shall amuse me." As he spoke, his hand slid across McGonagall's back, then up to trace the contours of her cheek. The other hand moved higher on her leg. She turned her head and spat full in his face.

The witch gasped as Voldemort's fingers seized her chin.

"If you do anything of that nature again, my dear, the girl will take your place," the man said gently. "If that is what you'd prefer, of course, we can make the exchange right now?" He gestured meaningfully toward Hermione.

"No!" McGonagall wailed, and at the same time Hermione snarled, "Fine, do it."

Voldemort laughed at the shock and horror on the woman's face.

"Oh Minerva," he said, "Did you not expect the fools who follow you to believe the drivel that you feed them? All about honor and suffering nobly - What a choice you've given me." He paused as if in thought. "Do I take you here, in front of them all, or do I give you the pleasure of knowing, for the rest of your miserable life, that you were spared because a child you cared for was raped and tortured in your place?"

He glanced briefly at Severus Snape. "Tell me, Severus, what would you choose?"

Snape appeared to consider the matter.

"You have waited a very long time for this my Lord," Severus said blandly.

"Fuck you both," Hermione said loudly. She stared resolutely at Voldemort, refusing to meet McGonagall's eyes.

For months she had become increasingly embarrassed and confused by her growing feelings for the older witch. Now, here, the thought of someone touching her, harming her, made her feel like vomiting.

Let them take her instead.

The girl's stomach clenched as Voldemort's slitted eyes turned in her direction, and she rubbed her hands together convulsively.

"Fuck us both, hmmmmm? Since you've asked so charmingly," Voldemort said, "I'm sure Severus could be persuaded to assist me." He stood and approached the bound child.

Hermione closed her eyes and swallowed heavily.

"NO," roared Albus Dumbledore. "Not the children. Not to save us, NOT THE CHILDREN!" His eyes burned with blue flame and his hands were balled into white fists. "Minerva and I will do whatever you wish but do not touch them."

"You do feel rather strongly, don't you Headmaster?" Voldemort said. Wrapping his fingers in Hermione's hair, he pulled the girl to her feet and returned to his chair, dragging her along as he went.

Hermione gasped with pain, but her face was determined.

He seated himself comfortably beside the still-bound McGonagall, then pulled the girl onto his lap.

Hermione glanced at the older witch sitting beside her; the woman had tears rolling down her cheeks.

"No Hermione," McGonagall whispered under her breath, "oh no, not for me."

Voldemort smiled. "Answer my questions Albus, amuse me, and I'll think about letting her go."

Hermione looked sick as Voldemort's hands found her buttocks and began to stroke.

"Now Albus, tell me, since it seems to bother you so much, have you ever been intimate with a student?" Voldemort asked.

Severus' breath hitched slightly and a ray of hope glimmered before his eyes. The bloody bastard was going to amuse himself with prurient nonsense, rather than asking about escape tactics or battle plans. He had become overconfident.

Dumbledore drew a deep breath and said scornfully, "Never!"

Voldemort smiled. His hand slid down between Hermione's legs and he began to rub roughly through her robes, ignoring her taunt muscles and grimace of disgust.

"Have you ever wanted to?"

Severus watched in shock as the old wizard's face began to redden.

"I.. I - Nnnnnno," Albus sputtered.

"Give him another two drops Severus," Voldemort said, "He seems to be resisting a bit."

Dumbledore closed his eyes as the dropper was forced between his lips.

"Let us try again Albus. Have you ever wanted to touch a student? To touch them like this?" The wizard thrust his clenched fist against the girl's groin.

Minerva watched as the Headmaster's face went from red to purple. He kept his lips clamped firmly shut, though his eyes shone with unshed tears of pain as Voldemort pumped his hand more forcefully and Hermione gasped.

"Albus, whatever the answer is tell him and stop this!" she begged. "For Merlin's sake you can Obliviate all of us later."

"Perhaps a bit more persuasion is needed," Voldemort said. He slid his hand beneath Hermione's robes.

"No!" McGonagall shouted.

The witch heard the girl's shriek, and Voldemort withdrew his hand. Blood smeared two fingers.

"A pity," he said pleasantly, "She was a virgin."

"You bastard," Minerva said viciously.

Dumbledore slumped in his seat, eyes closed. "Yes," he said softly.

"I'm afraid we all couldn't hear that," Voldemort said. "Would you repeat it?"

"Yes, I have wanted to touch a student."

"Who was this student?"

"Put Hermione down," said Dumbledore, "and I will answer everything."

"You will anyway," Voldemort said.

"If you do not put her down, I will cause my heart to stop before I will answer another question."

"I could use Imperious," Voldemort said.

"And as you are well aware, I could resist you," Dumbledore said in a flat voice, "At least long enough to still my own heart."

With a snarl, Voldemort shoved the girl from his lap. He wiped his bloody hand in McGonagall's hair and jerked his chair so that he sat behind the woman and glared over her shoulder.

"Is this what you wanted?" he sneered to Dumbledore.

Minerva McGonagall shuddered as the Dark Lord ripped apart her bodice and pulled the cloth open. His fingers seized her breasts and she closed her eyes as he pinched and squeezed.

After a moment, Voldemort looked up.

"I'm waiting," he said, "Who was the student?"

"Severus Snape," said Dumbledore.

There was a moment's silence, then Voldemort began to laugh.

"Did you know about this, my Severus?" Voldemort asked.

"No, My Lord," Snape answered, suddenly more tired than he had ever been in his life.

"Do you still wish to touch him?" Voldemort inquired.

Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes and sagged into his chair. He looked every one of his 147 years.

"Yes," he whispered.

"How delightful," Voldemort hissed. Hermione watched in horror as the wizard slid his hands further beneath McGonagall's robes and began to push the fabric toward the tops of her legs.

This was not going to happen.

Slowly the girl began to inch closer to the man's legs.

"Surely you can make an old man's wishes come true Severus," Voldemort said.

"But My Lord - " Snape began in a casual tone.

"Let him touch you Severus," Voldemort said coldly. "It will amuse me."

"As you wish, My Lord."

Severus Snape stood, his face a waxen mask.

"What do you wish to see My Lord?"

Voldemort smiled. "I want to see you in his mouth, Severus. Let him choke on his dreams for me."

Snape nodded and turned toward the Headmaster. His heart thudded heavily in his chest and he saw that, for the first time since he had known him, Albus Dumbledore's eyes were dull and lifeless.

"Lord Voldemort?" Hermione's voice came from her almost forgotten position on the floor.

Everyone in the room looked down.

"Go to Hell."

With a bone-rattling thump the girl slammed herself upwards against the chair, throwing it and it's occupant backwards to the floor. Voldemort's wand clattered from his sleeve and rolled across the floor.

"Go!" Hermione screamed, and sank her teeth into the wizard's leg.

Severus Snape lunged for the door as Minerva disappeared and a large tabby cat leapt from the heavy ropes.

There was a crash and the door was open.