Excuse me while I butcher the perfectly manicured reputation of Severus Snape...

Please Read and Review people. Even a one liner will be appreciated. Just let me know if you're just reading this please. Thanks. Ever wondered how you could use a balloon analogy to describe Voldemort's early regime? Here goes.

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This change of events dispelled any further ideas of slipping Ursula away safely and unnoticed. I quickly made my way over to the others and stood towards the back, farthest away from the staircase where a dark haired man with emerald-green eyes stood casually leaning against the stone archway. Looking as if there were a thousand more appealing places he could be right now than here.

The others immediately moved to kneel at his feet and pay their respects. I waited for a moment, watching coolly from afar, watching. When it was our turn, Lucius and I did the same as the rest, except this time something different happened. It took me a moment to realise what the Dark Lord did next. He placed his hand on my head and spoke to me by name, "Rise, Severus Snape." Such a thing was hitherto unheard of. It was indeed a sign of His approval. I rose and backed off slowly, thanking Him. "You seem a promising young servant of mine, showing a high level of intelligence and ingenuity. Such things do not go unnoticed or unrewarded. You will prove your worth to me, before this night is over." I bowed slightly with respect, His smoothly deceptive voice still echoing in my ears. He turned to my friend still on his knees before Him. "I can't say the same, however, about you." Lucius looked up and met His wrathful gaze.

"My Lord, we have hostages who all know the exact whereabouts of the one whom you are searching for. A simple spell and we will know. Crabbe! Goyle! Bring them here." As they trudged off to retrieve the petrified 'hostages', Our Master raised an eyebrow doubtfully at the spectacle and sighed as he passed Lucius. I could sense something ominous even in the way he walked. His next soft words confirmed my dread.

"I left you in charge of this operation and it has taken you this long to find one woman? Not good enough, I'm afraid. Your efficiency is slackening." Lucius hid his shame, fear and anguish rather well for the next few minutes as he endured the agony of the Cruciatus curse. I disliked watching it, but it was my duty. The scene was punctuated by the cries and gasps of the women dragged over by the others and forced down onto the floor before us. They were mostly a contemptible, pathetic lot without hope.

The women were all lined up side by side, like slaves. Some had wrapped themselves up in sheets or other scraps of clothing, their hair tousled and, in some cases, matted with blood. Their faces were streaked with tears and black mascara. One was completely naked, exposed to our condemning gazes. Clearly Mulciber had toyed with that one, judging by the bruises and raw red marks covering her. I shut my eyes to the scene in disgust until I heard a familiar snarl of anger. Ursula was quietly cursing Crabbe for 'man- handling' her. She sat awkwardly at the end of the row.

After the Dark Lord had tired of instructing Lucius (which had surprised me for He rarely disciplined his most faithful ones), He lowered his wand and turned his attention on the women. His eyes moved slowly along the line, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses as if reading a book. He strolled predatorily along the row.

"Each one of you knows why we are here. Each one of you has the opportunity to resolve this situation. All it takes is a word and you will be set free. One can't get much fairer than that. Surely you don't need to be displayed again the consequences of resisting me?" I felt Lucius stiffen beside me at this. My Lord waited a moment, playing with time and suspense as he fingered his wand lazily. Again, no one spoke. After a deep breath he tried a different, harsher approach. "No? Then perhaps you need reminded. One of you little wenches has been providing the Ministry with privy information, exploiting your advantages of being under my protection to gain this knowledge. Tut-tut, did you think I would never notice? Do you think me stupid? You thought you were smarter than me. What on earth would give a bunch of miserable, weak women that idea? If I feel so much as a tingle on my skin, I scratch it. And Nikita, is about to be permanently extinguished. You can either make this easy for both of us, or die painfully in the process of extraction." His voice delighted with the last sentence. The women before him began to tremble under his hot glare and the dominating, evil vibes he exuded.

My Lord needn't have told them that the Cruciatus curse was their punishment if they didn't reveal the whereabouts of Nikita; that was obvious. Of course, initially there were no offers (pathetically loyal to the end, at least Ursula was her sister, she had a reason), so he wrenched it out of them one by one with promises, threats and other Dark spells that he whispered in their ears. I suspect it may have been the 'elicio spectrum' curse to cause illusions and so-forth, revealing what they know. The side affects were an added advantage against the unfortunates. What I find most intriguing about my Lord are his skills in wandless magic, secretly it amazes me the amount of control he exercises over himself and others. Control I can only hope to imitate sufficiently.

The First woman he addressed was the naked girl. She was sobbing hysterically, so he had no time for her. He reached down and took her by the throat, placing his other hand on top of her head. "I have no time for this. Legilimens." Her sobbing suddenly stopped as her eyes rolled back into her head and her wasted body began to shake. After a moment, He removed his hand and let her collapse to the floor. "Mulciber, what have I told you about not finishing what you've started," he said darkly. The named grunted merrily and dragged the girl away by the wrists, never to be seen again.

He repeated this process for two other girls that also bored him. Then he changed his tactics for the next two who weren't wailing in distress. He grabbed her matted hair and whispered into her ear strange mutterings until she broke down into tears, whatever he had said to her, I cannot comprehend. She attempted to lash out at him, but he caught her hand mid- swing and twisted her wrist until it cracked and crunched under his grasp. "You want to play that way, girl? Fine. Crucio." The girl writhed in agony on the floor at his feet, her bony limbs twisting unnaturally with each flick of his wand. Her screams were so piercing I sensed others shift uncomfortably near me. I only found her crying irritating. She strongly resembled a cat being attacked by invisible dogs, driving it insane.

Her faint protests either went unnoticed or ignored until another, louder voice made itself clear. "Stop it! Please, leave her she speaks the truth!" Every face in the room save my Lord's turned dangerously to the insolent woman. Again she protested but all he did was increase the force of the curse. I could tell that there was more than one of us that desired to shut her up once and for all, but none dared make a move in our Lord's presence. Then, after a moment he lowered his wand and declaring the body worthless, he proceeded to assigned it also to Mulciber. Slowly he turned to the last one left, Ursula. Crabbe hoisted her to her feet, her body still held tight by the cord. My mouth went dry when I caught a glimpse of the expression on the Dark Lord's face. Like a hungry wolf's, closing in for the kill.

"At last, one of you seems to have a voice. Speak up girl, what was that you were saying?" His voice was treacherously soft. I watched her gradually raise her face to his.

"No matter. I was simply expressing my confusion as to why we are being punished for the heinous crime of betraying one's Master, my Lord." She spoke innocently and without any hint of sarcasm, which was unlike her. I almost shuddered, however, when she addressed the Dark Lord as her Master. She would no sooner kiss Dumbledore than bow to Him. Strangely, she hated them both equally. Yet, I did imagine a hint of mockery in her words.

"It all revolves around the term 'Cause and Effect'."

"Every word is true, my Lord, but I pray you to look elsewhere for the cause. I swear there is not a woman here, dead or alive that is responsible for your pains."

"Is that right?" The tall man stepped closer to her. "Who do you suggest, then?"

"There is no art to find the mind's construction in the face. Anyone." Ursula turned and cast a long glance at most of the masked Death Eaters present, causing murmurs of disgust. Her words tiptoed on the edge of death.

"Silence." He waved his hand. "Do you have any substance for these accusations?" he said disdainfully.

"I do not accuse them, but you inadvertently, by pin-pointing a weakness in your regime." Her gaze never wavered, neither did her voice. The audacity of her words, however, amazed us all.

"A weakness in my regime?" The Dark Lord spoke softly but with an edge that made us all uneasy. I was thankful not to be on the receiving end of his gaze.

"In fact, one of a few, if I may." Had I been the dramatic type, I would've keeled over on my knees and held my head in my hands while I begun to cry in despair at her self-incarceration. However, I resigned to shutting my eyes and breathing in very deeply. Women.

"I would have killed many others for words for words such as those. What makes you think you deserve my grace?"

"It would be most... beneficial to hear me out."

"Careful then, these words may be your last," he said with a conniving sneer. She continued regardless as he left her and walked behind us.

"Of course these will be my last words, I could hardly expect to stand here, critically and openly analysing everything you stand for, and escape with my life, now could I? Firstly, your activities are too exposed to the enemy. He may be momentarily weak and surrounded by your spies, yet this could lead to your downfall. Continue to pay heed to everything; for as a balloon expands, it becomes more susceptible to bursting, or at least leaking. Like your greatly expanding regime. Constant vigilance is the key. It would be wise to repeatedly reassess the situation, thoroughly testing the loyalty of your servants so as to eliminate any of those less worthy." The rest turned nervously to each other. If the Dark Lord agreed with her, it would mean a painful night ahead for all of us. "Secondly, always have your ultimate goal in mind for every action. We must get our priorities right if we are to succeed, remember. Work before play, as they say, lest the enemy gains advantage. But of course this rule you have never forgotten." My Lord returned to his former position, his eyes unfocused as he considered her words, his expression revealing nothing however, as always. Many books could be written in the hundreds of ways various actions of his could be interpreted. "Why you have come, I do not know. Perhaps you are already conducting my first evaluation. Testing your Death Eaters. Their loyalty, their... abilities." My Lord shifted his infallible gaze back to her, his expression unreadable. Ursula paused and met my Lord's gaze. "You are fully aware of where she is." At this point her voice began to falter slightly, losing its confidence. "So are Crabbe and Goyle. They have already performed their task for this evening, but were ordered to remain silent. Murder is necessary and efficient, but carnage is not only more enjoyable, it is a potent threat to Dumbledore."

The whole room was still; no one dared take a breath as her words sunk in. We all awaited the next move. I now desired the annoying cries of anguished women to break the crushing tension and suspense in the air. Finally, Lord Voldemort spoke with the volatility and grace of a panther, his voice like silk over a dagger's edge. "A critic of your calibre should work for the Daily Prophet. Yes, we must get our priorities right. Work before Play, of course. How astute of you. Someone with such shrewdness would not be beyond deception, either using it as a weapon, or being ensnared by it." He moved closer to Ursula and took her chin in his hand, like her father used to do.

"Beauty, brains and... balls, in a manner of speaking. Assets I respect in the weaker sex. Had things worked out differently, you may well have been on the other side of one of these masks." He waved his hand gracefully at the gallery of our hidden faces. "Yet, you are rebellious and fail to recognise or show respect for authority. Traits which I do not tolerate, and must be eradicated." My Lord struck her firmly across the face, causing her to fall backwards and land hard on the bloodstained carpet. "Crucio."

She was not so accustomed to being exposed to an Unforgivable. Especially a curse from his powerful wand. She suffered as much as everyone else, but she cared so little of pride. Then, after a few minutes of his personal satisfaction, he suddenly and unexpectedly withdrew the curse. Ordering Lucius to bring him his staff, he walked over to the curled up black satin ball and examined her with his eyes, before hitting her with the staff and pinning her head painfully to the floor. The silver tip began to glow hotly, channelling his anger. She was terrified, breathing rapidly and her eyes locking onto his shoes, unwilling, unable to stray. Slowly my Lord lowered himself to her exposed ear and muttered something to her. She shut her eyes and shed a last tear. His wand appeared from the air, suddenly in his hand. The next, he lowered his outstretched arm to her face. That was when I knew I had to act. Subtlety was not an option.

I sprung forward and planted my self a metre before him. "My Lord! I beg of you one moment," I continued before he could dismiss me or any of the others could seize me for my unexpected impertinence. "Hold your promise true. Give me now my reward." I raised my eyes to his burning ones, swirling with power and malevolence. My breath caught in my throat. Neither of us moved; his glare strongly intimidating. I felt resonances from forgotten memories at that moment. From my father.

"Very well." I blinked. His wand disappeared. "She is yours to do with as you please." My Lord took a few long strides to the door, walking past the others when he stopped as if he had forgotten something. He turned to Ursula still on the floor before me and added, "When you are finished with her, make sure you bring me her eyes."

They all filed out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them. For a moment in the silence I assessed her condition – she had fallen unconscious. But before I could lift her, I suddenly heard shouts from outside and upstairs. The voices of Aurors.

I cursed and managed to lift her quite smoothly off the ground and run to the corner before the door was blown off its hinges by an Auror. I lay hidden behind a sofa, watching the wary men stalk around the room before sprinting up the stone stairway. One, however, remained. I had to move then before any more appeared. I silently stunned him, and crept out to the hall, carrying Ursula and dodging a hex that burned a hole the size of my head in the main door. Bloody, careless Aurors. I knew I was putting Ursula in great danger this way, but we couldn't disapparate until we were outside.

I stole a glance through the hole. Thankfully we out numbered them greatly. I chose my moment and dived outside the door into the action, as it were. Standing there in the middle of the cobble street, I was about to disapparate when just before I closed my eyes, another figure came into my view. Him. The bloodiest Auror of them all had arrived; the only one of them that still gave me the thrill of battle. Our eyes met instantly like old friends.

"Going somewhere?" His ugly face contorted as his wand rose to my face.

"Not tonight, Moody," I replied with relish.

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Slowly, I lowered her body onto the wooden seat. I looked at her once more before covering her with my cloak. Hers was torn and useless. The cold night air threatened snow and was already beginning to penetrate her. With a word, my cloak began to warm up; this heat would keep her alive until someone found her. I turned and walked away.

"If you're gonna leave me like this, you shoulda left me to the Aurors." Her voice was slurred, her lips probably numb.

"I can't look after you, but St. Mungo's isn't an option either."

"Fine. Leave me to the dogs. Come back for my eyes when I'm dead." Her words brought back to me another problem I would face at a later date.

"Someone will be along shortly. Goodnight." I turned to walk away to a place where the moonlight was less bright and more suitable for disappearing.

"I knew you would never love me. But I was a fool for believing you could change from what you are." I turned once again.

"Is this my reward for ensuring your survival? You should be satisfied. You've secured us all a painful night ahead with your 'loyalty' testing." I spoke harshly, covering my surprise with anger. What does she really know about me? No woman like her could understand the sacrifices I make. "You don't know what I compromised to save your skin from that situation. And this is the last time I'll do it. No, you owe me a lot Ursula. You are all that the Dark Lord said you are. I'm sick of undoing your damage and pulling you out of harms way when you resist me."

"You have a strange definition of love, Severus."

"This is no longer about love, it's about survival." She slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, now quite awake, but still weak.

"Ah, I see. You'd rather I had died, so that your one show of emotion wasn't wasted?" I looked angrily at her for saying something so stupid. Many times I didn't understand women. They had such an obscure way of looking at things. I decided it was time to migrate to safer ground.

"What were you doing there anyway? What happened to doing your N.E.W.Ts at Durmstrang? Well?" I saw her shift nervously under my gaze.

"My situation changed. I knew you would be annoyed if I told you, but there's nothing to worry about. I'm of age, now, they can't touch me."

"I wish I was so naïve. My life would be so much simpler." I pulled my robes tighter to expel the draught. Again, I turned to leave.

"So who was that guy who squared up to you?"

"How long have you been conscious?" She winked deviously. "Alright then, what were His last words to you?" She shuddered, but not from the cold, and spoke softly.

"'I will not be mocked.'"

"Remember them well." I walked away with the moonlight casting a long silhouette before me. Her voice called after me.

"What will you do? Where are you going? Severus?! When will I see you again?!" I carried on walking. The Truth was I could not answer her.

"I'm sure you'll think of something! You always do!" These words echoed in my ears as I disapparated. She is right. Then again, she always is.

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A/N: mwahaha! Hope you liked it! Worth the wait? I promise I'll update sooner. Next chapter is shorter I promise. A nice thrilling stop-gap to pump up the suspense.