Snippet 2
I will not fly into a rage and kill a messenger who brings me bad news just to illustrate how evil I really am. Good messengers are hard to come by.
"Crucio."
"HAAAAAAAA!"
"Crucio."
"HAA..aaa..aa…"
"Master." The even tone cut calmly through the broken moans. The voice was assured but respectful, designed to draw his attention but not his wrath. It worked usually.
"You have something to impart, Lucius?"
The blonde man's cool eyes flickered warily to the writhing body on the ground for an almost imperceptible moment. Good. He had caught the dangerous edge in Voldemort's voice and would tread carefully. "We might still need him alive, My Lord."
"Mmm, mm… Crucio." To see Malfoy flinch minutely as the man on the floor started convulsing again, arching his back desperately to escape the pain. It wouldn't work. Finally, Voldemort remarked casually, "He still breathes."
"He'd be more useful to us sane, My Lord," Malfoy reminded cautiously.
With a sigh, he terminated the spell. Alive and sane. He was spoiling his men.