The challenge: The First-Person Horror Story 30 minute challenge!
You're a Harry Potter character.
Something really scary happens.
Describe it in gory first-person detail and tell us what the outcome is.
I looked again at the instruments that were to be my undoing. It is so unfair; only a month after the blessed return of my true life to me, to have the best of it so cruelly ripped away is a mortal sin. There is no escape. I am to be tortured. It sounds so bald, and perhaps it is.
It is the wait that is truly my undoing. If he'd quickly taken me and gotten it over with, it would have been merciful. Of course, that was not the hallmark of my experienced and clearly mad opponent. In fact, it was often said by the Muggle children that the day that man showed mercy would be the first sign of the Apocalypse. I certainly do not doubt that, in fact, the children were probably correct. I am staring the proof of the sadism on the table before me.
My hands are tied in Muggle fashion, preventing me from touching myself anywhere but my perfectly manicured - if I do say so myself, I have them done in Hogsmeade - fingernails. I itch to rub a hand through my hair, or smooth an eyebrow, or do something about my dishevelled clothing - anything - to make myself less nervous. That option is not available, so I must content myself with picking at an errant hangnail until blood begins to cover the back of his chair.
Another hour goes by. My lids droop, as exhaustion borne of the vigil against the inevitable threatens to overcome me. At the moment sleep claims me, a door slams open, and my adversary walks slowly into the room towards me, silent in his movements. For a single, shining moment, I think from the amused smile on his face that perhaps the man has come to his senses and will let me go. Go back to my quiet room, hide from the world again in the farthest corner of the Grimmauld Place house that Dumbledore stashed all misfits and miscreants. That I would be spared the indignities, the horror, of the next few moments.
Severus Snape circled my chair in the middle of the room. He checks to make sure its occupant - me, woeful me- is secure, and continues walking slowly and savoring the moment. "Your assistant, oh Master. Yes. I've come to serve you in the manner that I deem...most appropriate." His eyes glittered with malice as he looked over his prey, slowly, from head to toe. "We'll start with this, I think."
Instruments of Muggle torture are sitting on a tray in the center of the room on a plain table, along with a basin of some type of clear liquid and several rather noxious looking-potions. Severus picks up one of the smaller of the instruments - I do not recognize it, but the gleaming metal and the long, razor-sharp blades certainly speak to the sadistic nature of the weapon. One could easily be stabbed to death within moments with such a device - and I am certain that it has happened before - but I know that Severus was not going to use this to hurt me physically. Oh, no. My torture will be so much worse.
"I shall enjoy this like no other sadistic torment I have had to put anyone through for Lord Voldemort," Severus hissed in my ear. I feel the scream catch in my throat as he starts cutting. And cutting, and cutting, until I have to beg for mercy and plead for him to stop. Anything.
"I've only just begun, my Master," he says with a sneer. I shudder in horror as he applies potions, one by one, to the marks he has left on my head with his device. He rips my mouth open rudely, and applies more potion as tears escape. I close my eyes.
"Fraudulent fool," he continues, "I've wanted to let you feel what I feel for so long. Now you'll have your chance." He finishes, and stands back to admire his work as I squirm and cry. As a final indiginity, he murmurs a spell that I know will keep this permanent. How will I face life like this?
"Now, we'll see who the master is, and who is the assistant. Perhaps, in time, I will let you go, Gilderoy. But for now..."
He hands me a mirror, and I gasp in horror.
I look like him. My hair is greasy and hanging in my face, my teeth are yellow, and I am...ugly. He smirks, and leaves the room.
The next month, after Voldemort is finally defeated, there is a miracle. Severus bloody Snape, the hero of the battle, unexpectedly wins the Witch Weekly "Most Charming Smile" award. There is hope for me yet.