Chapter 19: The Interrogation
Severus pulled his robes tightly around him, grateful for the mask hiding his expression. He stood in his usual spot in the circle, watching a young woman in the center of it screaming. Voldemort stood over her, his wand held high, something resembling a smile twisting his reptilian features. Abruptly he lowered his wand and the woman collapsed to the floor, breathing hard.
"Please…please…" she said in a shaky voice, "don't kill me…I have a child…a family…"
"Ah, yes," Voldemort's smile widened slightly, "You do, don't you? Very well then, I won't kill you." He made a small gestured and two of the Death Eaters walked forward. Horrible realization dawned on the woman's face and she gave a small cry as the shrouded figures grabbed both of her arms and started dragging her away.
"As for your family," Voldemort called above the woman's pleas, "I already paid them a small visit earlier this evening."
The woman shrieked louder and snickers rose from the circle. When the woman's screams had dies away, Voldemort made a motion like dusting his hands and sighed.
"Well, that was amusing, was it not?" He said looking around at his followers. Most laughed appreciatively. Severus was one of the few that did not. Voldemort's expression grew more serious, though his strange red eyes seemed to glow brighter. "Now down to business. Snape! Step forward."
Severus complied slowly, willing himself to remain calm and resist the shaking that threatened his limbs. He pulled his mask off, kneeling in front of the Dark Lord.
"Rise, Snape." Voldemort commanded in an imperious voice. Once Severus had, Voldemort started pacing around him in a slow circle. "I have heard interesting news from Lucius, my dear Severus."
"What news would that be, Master?" Severus asked, carefully keeping emotion from his voice.
Voldemort was behind him now and he leaned in, his cold voice close to Severus' ear. "It seems things did not go exactly according to plan in Azkaban."
"How so, Master?"
"There was one prisoner who remained alive and was not drafted to my ranks. It has come to my attention that he left with you." The Dark Lord said softly. "Now, unless I am much mistaken, I gave specific orders that those who were insane were to be killed and those who were not were to be sent directly to me."
"And if I were to say he was killed?"
"Then I would say you've lost your touch at lying, Snape." Voldemort laughed harshly and Severus felt a small shiver run up his spine.
Thinking quickly, Severus managed to fabricate something that might seem believable. "He…intrigued me, Master."
"Intrigued you, Snape? A filthy, underfed, cracked criminal? I must say I had higher expectations of your tastes. But no mind, go on. Explain to me why you decided to ignore my orders. And be careful, Snape, I can tell when you're lying."
Snape's mind whirled as he thought of something to tell him, before he settled for something fairly close to the truth. "It is true, he intrigued me. When I found Lucius and Peter in his cell, Lucius was in the process of interrogating him. Lucius believed he was insane, but I could see it was a charade. However, I believed he was close to insanity…and I chose the perfect opportunity. I believe, if given the right amount of time with this man, he could be a valuable asset."
"How can he be a better asset to you than to me?" Voldemort's voice was dangerously soft causing Severus to swallow hard.
"He will become your asset by being loyal to me. I will teach him everything I know…he will become a spy in Hogwarts. That way, should anything happen to me, he will still be a source of information for you."
"Really. How interesting." Voldemort walked around so he was face to face with Severus again. "And tell me, Severus, how do you propose to make this man loyal to you?"
Severus paused. He hadn't really thought about that. "The promise of pleasure should he be devoted to me."
Voldemort laughed again. "I must wonder if you are gaining a new follower for me or a plaything for yourself."
"Both." Severus said defiantly.
"Very well, Severus. I will be most disappointed in you should you fail in this. You understand that, don't you?" Voldemort said in a paternal tone, though Severus could hear the very clear threat behind it.
"Yes, Master."
"However, I am afraid it is necessary I do punish you for disobeying my orders in the first place." Voldemort had walked once again so he was standing behind Severus. "Except no Cruciatus this time."
Severus raised his eyebrows in surprise and was barely able to stop himself from flinching when he felt the tip of Voldemort's wand placed at the nape of his neck.
"This is a little thing I've been experimenting with lately. I do hope you let me know its' effectiveness after. Perculsus Dolens."
Pain zipped down Severus' spine, transfixing him to the spot. It was like a body-bind and Cruciatus combined. He wasn't able to scream or collapse like when Cruciatus has been thrown. It was little bits of electric shock being sent to every neuron of his body, striking every one until he started shaking uncontrollably. He had bitten down hard when the curse was first started and could distantly taste the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. Merlin save me…was his last thought before slipping into a welcoming darkness.
Someone slapping him roughly pulled him from unconsciousness and he opened his eyes blearily. Lucius Malfoy was bent over him, his mask pulled off and an evil leer on his face. "Good morning, sunshine." He quipped.
Severus moaned softly, pulling himself upright. The taste of blood was stronger now, and he could feel it trickling down his chin. He was still in the center of the circle and he could see Voldemort standing a little apart, an amused expression on his face.
"So, Severus," Voldemort hissed as the wizard dragged himself onto his feet, "Tell me, how did that particular curse make you feel? And remember to be honest, this is for posterity's sake."
Severus groaned, swaying slightly. The circle of Death Eaters laughed at this. Voldemort stepped forward, the sickening smile still on his face.
"I'm not quite finished yet. I have yet to show you my coup d'etat." He held out a wicked looking dagger and beckoned for Severus to approach, which he did, his body still tingling painfully from the curse. "Now put out your leg, Severus. This will sting only for a little bit."
Severus did so and gave a small gasp as Voldemort quickly swiped the dagger across his left thigh just hard enough to draw blood. Severus looked at the Dark Lord curiously, and received his answer as the snake-like man smiled at him.
"Just a little bit of paralysis potion on the tip of the dagger." Voldemort explained calmly, "It should make getting home interesting, as you cannot Apparate directly to your chambers in that blasted school. Now, leave. You are dismissed to return to your new toy."
Without looking at anyone or saying anything else, Severus Apparated with a small pop.
He somehow managed to make it to the lake before his leg gave out on him. He sat there, the after effects of the curse causing him to tremble non stop, watching the water ripple slightly, then looking up at the sky that was quickly clouding up, the stars being blotted out by ominous storm clouds. The only way this can get worse is if it starts to… The first raindrop plopped in the middle of his forehead. Soon he was drenched to the skin by a freezing December rainstorm.
Let's go, Severus. Get yourself to the castle before you die of hypothermia. Normally Severus wouldn't be worried about the cold as the dungeons were almost always near freezing, even during the summer. But he wasn't sure how the curse effected his body's resistance to cold. He searched the ground nearby and found a long stick that would support his weight sufficiently. Using that, he hauled his aching body in the direction of the castle.
The trip became continuously more difficult as the shaking of his body increased until he almost couldn't hold on to the stick anymore. He felt a wave of dizziness sweep over him and he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his head. He opened his eyes again and continued to drag himself forward. He wasn't sure how long he'd been moving, it felt like years, before his other leg gave out. I didn't think the poison would effect me so quickly… Snape thought distantly as the lower half of his body grew numb. He tilted forward, unbalanced, a black night once again reaching out to him. He welcomed it, releasing the stick and falling… Before he lost total consciousness, some little voice at the back of his mind told him he had never hit the ground.
A/N: Okay, the thing about prosperity's sake I took from the Princess Bride. You all know the scene where the six-fingered man is torturing Wesley. Yeah, well that's where I got the idea. It just seems like something Moldie-Voldie would say.
