TIMES OF TRIAL
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, objects etc. that you recognise
belong to me. They are mot likely the property of one JK Rowling.
Summery: This story is and will probably always be centred on Minerva McGonagall and the other professors at Hogwarts. It is set in Harry's fifth year and the dream-team will likely appear however. The rating may be subject to change but all reviews are welcome.
Authors Notes: Thanks to M for beta-ing and everyone who did review. Appols for the long wait.
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"It is done, Milord." Lucius said as he bowed deeply before the man who controlled his life almost entirely.
"And when can we be expecting Severus' company?" The other man asked, as he continued to look at the stone floor of their unusual European location.
"If all goes to plan, in but a few hours Milord."
"If all goes to plan Lucius?"
"There is always the possibility of things being delayed somewhat, if his departure from the school is later than we predicted, for example. It would have been easier to organise all this if we had simply asked him for his cooperation." He added hesitantly.
"And it would have entirely defeated the point of our subterfuge!" Came the sharp reply. "If we told him what we were planning we might just as well ask him to do the job himself!" Lucius cringed at the other man's tone, he had not intended on angering him.
"My apologies." He offered quietly, bowing his head further still. Voldemort sighed.
"You would think that after your idiocy and the punishment you received for it, you would be more careful with your tongue." He remained silent. "Go from my sight and do not return until Severus arrives, and you had better hope he is not far behind schedule." He backed away from the throne and did not turn his back until he was out of the room. His treatment smarted. He was anything but happy with being returned to the bottom of the heap so to speak, even if he were willing to admit that his actions in attempting to invade the school had been a little ill thought through. Severus was hardly perfect but had somehow become the new golden boy, saving the day by acting against them. It was ridiculous. As was the fact that the Death Eaters had been mobilised in order to kidnap said man. If their Lord was so certain that the other man could do the job required of him – why were they going through all this rigmarole? Surely it really ought not matter whether or not he was discovered after he had walked into the school and blasted Albus bloody Dumbledore from here into the ever after. But no – apparently their Lord wished to ensure that even if the potions master was caught in the act, that he could continue on as a respectable citizen in society. Hence the fact that Voldemort intended to put his new favourite under the imperious curse before sending him back to the school to do the deed. He supposed that if the plan were to fail, this complexity might allow for his continuing espionage in Dumbledore's inner circle; but surely if he couldn't even perform this task then he was useless to them in any case…. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Nott.
"Well?" Lucius snapped.
"He's just registered." The other man reported. "He's in the room we expected and doesn't have to be anywhere in the next two hours."
"Good. And everything else is in place?"
"Yes Lucius."
"Well that's one thing in your favour. Proceed as planned in that case – I want him here by midnight and not a second later! Understand? Our Lord will be awaiting his arrival."
Despite his fears it seemed that his underlings were not entirely incompetent, as at a quarter to twelve he was informed that Severus Snape had been installed in the dungeons. When he entered a half hour later with his lord, it was to see the other man hanging from the walls of the deepest darkest dungeon in the building. The other man was blindfolded and apparently totally lost by what was going on around him. He turned his head from one direction to another, appearing to try and follow the sounds of the few that were still walking across the bare flagstones. No one said a word, which was part of the plan. Although their Lord predicted that their prisoner would surely recognise his captors eventually, he was going to get absolutely no confirmation from their side. This was, of course, true and as their Lord ran a hand over his newly exposed chest, the Professor spoke his thoughts aloud.
"My Lord?" Voldemort seemed to be pleased with this instant recognition but didn't stay long. After a cursory glance at the apparatus that was hung around the room, he turned back towards Lucius and climbing the stairs they left the dungeon without a word.
"I need to be in England tomorrow." The other man began as soon as the door was sealed behind them. "But I will return as soon as I can and we will begin to work on him then. In the meantime, feel free to treat him like the prisoner he is supposed to be. Nothing too excessive mind – he will need to be entirely compis-mentis when we begin."
"Of course my Lord." He replied with a small bow of his head.
"I will endeavour to ensure that no one at the school has realised something is wrong but with Severus here that will be far harder."
"There is no reason we can think of that the alarm should be raised." He added, hoping to assuage any doubts his master was having.
"Well, we shall see. But if this works Malfoy - I shall be most impressed with you." With that and a swirl of heavy black fabric Voldemort departed.
Though Lucius had always gained a certain… enjoyment out of torturing people, Severus was a most irritating subject. Throughout the day he had tried more than once to get the man to writhe or cry out but it had been totally ineffectual. In the end, he had had one of the more intelligent members of their group heal the whip marks across his back, as seeing them there just reminded him of the failure to elicit a response. It wasn't that he was incapable of breaking the other man, he knew for certain that that was within his expertise, but not necessarily with those means that he was being allowed. In any case, when he rose at dawn the following morning to ensure that everything was ready for their Lord's return, he had a distinct feeling that today was going to be an interesting day. Whatever it was that their Lord had been seeing to at home, it had obviously left him in a foul mood as all around could tell, resulting in a rather impressive scurrying away of all persons whose presence was not entirely essential. Luckily, Severus had always been good at following commands when he had no other choice. Two of the other men released the shackles that held his arms above his head before moving him swiftly to the centre of the room and then binding his wrists securely behind his back. Lucius was beginning to wonder if there was any point to his presence at all as their Lord began a cursory inspection of their captive. He was so deep in his quiet fuming that he almost missed it, when things did begin to happen.
"Imperio." There was a surge in the magical air that encompassed the room but it didn't last long. Much to his surprise the spell hadn't taken at all. "Imperio." The Lord tried again with similar results, and this time his growing anger was more than apparent in the room's atmosphere.
"Imperio." There was a surge in the magical air that encompassed the room, but it didn't last long. Much to his surprise, the spell hadn't taken at all. "Imperio." The Lord tried again with similar results and this time his growing anger was more than apparent in the room's atmosphere. After another half an hour they retreated from the dungeons still without success. After overseeing that Severus was once again securely fastened to the wall, Lucius went to the drawing room to face their master. Despite his fears that the other man would be in one of his more vile and abusive moods, he found him sipping contentedly at a glass of wine.
"My Lord." He greeted the other man and took the silent offer of a drink. After he had poured his own glass, Voldemort chose to break his silence.
"I always knew that he was made of sterner stuff."
"It is…unusual, that anyone would be able to resist your casting for so long." He said, trying to choose his words exceptionally carefully.
"Yes but I do believe that it is an encouraging sign that Severus has managed it."
"My Lord?" He asked unsurely.
"Do not forget that Severus works for me in the Lion's den, so to speak. It is not impossible that he could be wary of Dumbledore or one of his comrades trying to read his mind while at work or even when he gets away."
"I suppose." Lucius replied, not agreeing entirely but at least vaguely understanding where the other man was coming from. In any case he was glad that their Lord was not upset by the way things had developed.
"After all, we have almost a week – though I'd rather not leave it that late." He added as an after thought. "However," he continued, a strange kind of glee spreading across his features. "I think I know how best to proceed."
Indeed, although it took almost another three hours before they actually had any concrete success, they did eventually have just that. It was a joint effort in the end, as though their subject was beginning to tire and the Dark Lord was able to penetrate his defences, it would never last long. So as Lucius distracted him with a short burst of the Cruciatus, the other cast the Imperius. Severus went rigid where he stood, and the closest thing the other man had ever seen to a smile spread across the face of their Lord. Leaning forward a little, Voldemort whispered into his newly enraptured servent's ear.
"Walk forward."
There was a moment's hesitation and then he did it. It was halting and jerky but he took a stride forward. But then he stopped and after a second dropped to the floor. Lucius approached cautiously but it was soon plain to see that the man was unconscious.
"Unusual." Was all their Lord said. "But a start nonetheless. Re-hang him and we shall continue in the morning. I suspect we shall make far quicker progress then."