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Chapter 15
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Lucius just sat back and watched the drama unfold. It was amusing really. Two old enemies locked in the same room. He wondered what Severus would do.
"Snape, you bastard. I knew you weren't to be trusted. I knew you were a Death Eater. Playing Dumbledore for a fool. Don't worry about me, you greasy git, I'll be sure to let him know. I might even drop a line in on the Ministry. They'd love to know about you. And to think they believed you were a spy for them. When I get out of here ---"
Lucius waved a silence spell on the canine. "Merlin, Severus, is he always like that?"
"Always. Probably worse now than when we were in school." Severus turned his back on the victim. For having your worst enemy chained before you, Snape was doing a marvelous job of keeping his routine. Ignore the victim until you had to force the potion down his throat. Severus never was one to play with his experiments. "Lucius, make yourself useful and give him those." Snape motioned to the green bottles at the end of the table.
"Crabbe, Goyle, wait outside." The less of an audience Severus had, the more likely he was to open up. Picking up the bottles he walked over to the man they had chained to the wall. It was a nice spectacle to behold. Your captive hanging by his wrists, glaring angrily while mouthing wordlessly because of a silence charm. It couldn't be more perfect. "So what are these?" he asked conversationally, eyeing the liquid behind the green glass.
"When combined they make an excellent truth serum. Far stronger than Veritaserum. Which is why it is illegal," Severus smiled slightly. It was always a wonder what made Snape pleased. Most of the time it was a potion of some sort, but the legality of a substance had the same effect sometimes. It helped when Severus had a hand in perfecting the final product.
"And why are we using it on him," Lucius was still studying the potions.
"Surely our Lord won't begrudge me the opportunity to have some fun with our," Severus's mouth quirked into disgust, "esteemed guest."
"Of course not. He is planning on coming down for the final stage of tonight's potion."
"Then we should be ready for him." Lucius caught Severus's eye as the dark, but pale man looked up. Lucius smiled. Severus would be smart enough to know he suspected him of betrayal. But Severus would also be smart enough not to say a word against him. Like being caught in a Catch-22. You are already suspected, but if you say anything in your defense people will suspect you of lying. A marvelous deal, if you weren't stuck in the middle. "Just give him the potions already, Lucius. We don't have all night."
"Fine. I was hoping you'd be inclined to do so yourself," he shrugged. "But you are busy after all." He smiled as he heard Severus growl out a response. The man really needed to learn how to socialize. "So I gather these little beauties do more than have the man tell his darkest secrets."
"Do you honestly think I would be so dull as that?" Severus groused over his cauldron. Raising his left hand, Snape gestured for five small cauldrons to rest beside the large on. Malfoy wondered if Severus was even aware he was able to preform wandless magic. Lucius doubted it. Otherwise Snape would use it to his advantage in battle as well, not some parlor trick to levitate cauldrons.
Snape was definitely more powerful than he gave himself credit for. Which was fine by him. The less Snape knew about his power the better chance Malfoy had of exposing him as a traitor. Of course he had no real proof, but that hardly mattered. Nor did it matter if Snape really was a traitor. Granted the Potions Master was clever and the only adequate potions brewer Lord Voldemort had in his service, but Lucius hated any sort of competition. And Snape was the only one in the Inner Circle that could rival him. That meant he had to go.
"Tell me, Lucius, what are you doing down here? I would have thought once the exhibition was over you would have gone home," Severus spoke in the direction of his work and could not see Malfoy's wicked grin. Their captive did.
"The floor show was all well and good," he answered casually, watching the victim carefully. Any and all expressions would be helpful in determining Snape's relationship with the enemy. "But I have never really seen the show behind the curtains. Our Lord doesn't seem to think I could preform properly behind the scenes. I thought I would see how private viewings were done."
"I'm surprised you choose this one."
"You really shouldn't be. Old schoolmates do deserve to have a reunion at some point."
"You were two years ahead of us. Reunions are normally for one class at a time."
"Humor me." Severus shrugged and came around to the isolated corner. "Is it finished?" he managed to sound curious.
"It needs to simmer. You might let the man exercise his tongue before we begin."
"Why is that?"
A strange glimmer passed through Snape's eyes. One Lucius had rarely seen in this calm and collected person. The look was almost feral. "Free his tongue and you will find out," he said in a low whisper.
Lucius removed the charm and the results were immediate.
"Snape, I'm going to kill you. No question. When I get out of here, I'm going to kill you, you slime-ball. Kill you and make god damn sure Dumbledore feels the same."
"Listen to me, Black," Snape interrupted smoothly in a low hiss. His face was mere centimeters from Black's, making the intimidation technique quite effective. It was rather impressive. "You should be thinking about if you get out. Because if you do, you won't remember a thing of your stay, much less remember enough to tell that old fool my true side. Think of it this way. You'll be forever remembered as Lord Voldemort's strongest and most loyal supporter."
"Why you--" For a man that looked half dead, Sirius Black did a marvelous job rattling his chains trying to strangle Snape. Commendable really.
"He never was one for original insults, was he?" Lucius asked standing just inside the wards placed to prevent escape.
Rising from his hunched position, Snape responded, "No, he never has been. Now you were interested in a private viewing. Pull up a chair, this might take a while. Black has always been as stubborn as a rock. And about as smart as one as well."
"So what is on the program tonight?" Malfoy conjured up a comfortable wing-back for himself and waited, wishing he had a good red wine to enjoy as well. This would be good, though. Mortal enemies at each other's throats was always a pleasure.
"Will you idiots shut up already! One would think this is a damned tea party!"
"You mean it isn't?" Lucius tried his best innocent tones. They worked quite well in confusing the poor man further. It was always a wonderful technique.
"Then quite talking as if I'm not here," Black answered, caught off guard.
"But you aren't here, Black," Snape answered coldly. "All of Dumbledore's records place you somewhere in France, I believe. Looking for someone named," Severus's eyebrows narrowed as he faked remembering. "Francis Moliere, right?" Where was he going with that line of thought, Lucius thought.
"You know damn well that's wrong. I was looking for Hans Grunther in Germany. You would know that already. Having read Dumbledore's papers." Black suddenly looked startled at what he said. "What the hell did you do to me?"
"This is an interrogation, Black. You are not supposed to be asking questions."
"I'll ask as many questions as I want, bastard," was all Black got out before he was screaming in agony.
"That was interesting," Lucius pointed out. "He told you what you wanted without having the question. Why hasn't the Ministry learned of the benefits of this?"
"My guess would be that they can't stand to be insulted, among other more painful annoyances for the victim."
"You seemed to have developed a remarkable tolerance."
"Comes with going to school with idiots like him and teaching sniveling little brats ten months of the year."
"Surely Draco is not one of them."
"On the contrary, no. He seems to be of the more attentive."
"Good to hear. Now, why on earth is he in pain."
"The potions won't let the victim talk out of turn once the questions have begun." Malfoy nodded his approval. "Shall I continue with the real questions? No doubt you already have answers for them, but I want to hear them from Black. Humiliation factor if you will."
"By all means, continue."
Lucius just sat back and listened. It appeared as though Snape did know how to relish tormenting prisoners.
"Why were you looking for Grunther?"
"Because Dumbledore wanted him back in England when he called the old gang together again." It appear that Black was struggling against the serum. Noble effort. But nobility never was much of a match against the Dark Arts. It always caused more pain than it was worth, too.
"What condition did you find Grunther?"
"Dead, you git. You Death Eaters killed him."
"Now, how were you captured?" The feral grin had returned.
"How the hell should I know? I was knocked upside the head the moment I walked into Grunther's apartment. That right there is the bloody worst way to get killed." Anger was flashing in Black's eyes as he was allowed to continue his thought. "Walked right into a bloody trap. I swear I'm going to personally kill the Death Eater who did that. Pity it wasn't you, Snape. But I planned on killing you anyway."
"And your treatment upstairs? What, pray tell, did they accuse you of?" That was a good question. Lucius could see Black's face redden in attempt to explode trying to keep the information secret. Veritaserum was nowhere as exciting to watch.
"Accused me of being a bloody traitor. Traitor to a pathetic group of lackeys I was never apart of in the first place. Voldemort even said something about me being his right hand man." Black was no longer yelling. The potions and line of questioning reduced his pride tenfold.
"Doesn't look too humiliated to me." In truth there were subtle changes in Black's stance that suggested such. But Lucius did not see many. Not enough to claim the man was humiliated.
"He is. Just look at him. Hunched shoulders. Eyes down cast. May not look it to you, but he is. Shall we get down to business? Black to you recall what your punishment was to be?"
Black glared silently for several seconds before the serum took control. "Rejoin the Death Eaters," he said, gritting his teeth.
"Since you are not going to do so willingly. We have a series of potions that will change your mind."
"Never."
"I was hoping you'd say that. Makes it more enjoyable to watch." Severus moved back to the work table and poured one of the small cauldrons in to a wooden goblet. "Tighten the chains, Lucius. I don't want him hurting himself. Black, you get five of these, every hour on the hour. Each are altered slightly based on your reaction. I have been told our Lord will come down for the final one and preform the necessary curse. Open wide. We don't want to disappoint our mutual Master, do we?" Snape poured the steaming black liquid down Black's throat and stepped back.
Hurting himself? That potion seemed to cause more pain than the Cruciatus, which should have been impossible. But the way Black was clawing at the manacles seemed to suggest he would try to kill himself if he got free. Lucius watched fascinated. Perhaps he could find a way to keep Severus for a while long. If at all possible keep Severus for himself.
* * * * * * *
Dumbledore was waiting patiently for his spy to return. He hated using that term. But it was accurate for all intensive purposes. It just sounded so degrading. He had received word from Irvan that Severus had left for the night. The vampire wouldn't say anything about Harry, which made him assume Voldemort didn't play a large part in the evening's events. However he had not questioned the vampire completely on that issue. He might have if it didn't appear as though Irvan was ready to sink his teeth into the nearest exposed throat.
But he waited for Severus to return. It was coming on five in the morning now, with no sign of the wizard. It would have been a terrible sign for him had Irvan not made it clear Severus would be returning.
On the stroke of five his office door opened. There wasn't much to see other than black robes and hair. Severus was using his hair as a screen. Not unusual when the man was uncomfortable. He stood in front of the closed door, waiting.
"Come in and sit down, Severus." Albus noticed the hesitation, but did not comment. The Potions Master showed no visible sign of being abused, but that never meant anything. When the wizard sat in his usual seat in front of the desk, the Headmaster began with the questions, ignoring the normal ritual of lemon drops. "What happened?"
There was a long moment of silence. It filled Dumbledore with dread. "Black." He stopped at the gasp of surprise emitted from the Headmaster. Albus would have sworn Snape flinched at the sound.
"Go on."
Severus stiffened and steeled his eyes to some point on the floor. This was not going to be good. He normally took that posture when reporting someone's death.
"Black was capture," he said in a voice void of emotion. "He is still alive and will remain so. The Dark Lord wishes to use him in some trap concerning Potter. I don't know what kind of trap nor when it will be sprung. But Black will appear to be a Death Eater in it and get caught by the Aurors." The report stopped there when an owl flew in from Dumbledore's open window.
The bird was unremarkable, which meant someone did not want it to be noticed. The seal on the letter was anything but. He knew that symbol.
"Severus, go get some rest. I am sure it has been a long night." Snape rose and avoided all eye contact. Once he reached the door, Dumbledore spoke again. "We will continue this conversation latter." The younger wizard nodded once and left, leaving the Headmaster with the letter.
He cracked the snake head seal and read the contents with a sinking heart.
~ Dumbledore,
As I am sure our mutual link has told you as I have ordered him to, I have in my possession something of yours. It is unlikely you will get him back safe and sound, but he won't know a thing. You, unfortunately, will not know what is in store for neither man knows anything. Enjoy your guessing game.
~
No signature. None needed. Voldemort was taunting him. He would grill Severus in everything he knew concerning Black. Particularly on how the Death Eaters found him. Evening was soon enough.
Chapter 15
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Lucius just sat back and watched the drama unfold. It was amusing really. Two old enemies locked in the same room. He wondered what Severus would do.
"Snape, you bastard. I knew you weren't to be trusted. I knew you were a Death Eater. Playing Dumbledore for a fool. Don't worry about me, you greasy git, I'll be sure to let him know. I might even drop a line in on the Ministry. They'd love to know about you. And to think they believed you were a spy for them. When I get out of here ---"
Lucius waved a silence spell on the canine. "Merlin, Severus, is he always like that?"
"Always. Probably worse now than when we were in school." Severus turned his back on the victim. For having your worst enemy chained before you, Snape was doing a marvelous job of keeping his routine. Ignore the victim until you had to force the potion down his throat. Severus never was one to play with his experiments. "Lucius, make yourself useful and give him those." Snape motioned to the green bottles at the end of the table.
"Crabbe, Goyle, wait outside." The less of an audience Severus had, the more likely he was to open up. Picking up the bottles he walked over to the man they had chained to the wall. It was a nice spectacle to behold. Your captive hanging by his wrists, glaring angrily while mouthing wordlessly because of a silence charm. It couldn't be more perfect. "So what are these?" he asked conversationally, eyeing the liquid behind the green glass.
"When combined they make an excellent truth serum. Far stronger than Veritaserum. Which is why it is illegal," Severus smiled slightly. It was always a wonder what made Snape pleased. Most of the time it was a potion of some sort, but the legality of a substance had the same effect sometimes. It helped when Severus had a hand in perfecting the final product.
"And why are we using it on him," Lucius was still studying the potions.
"Surely our Lord won't begrudge me the opportunity to have some fun with our," Severus's mouth quirked into disgust, "esteemed guest."
"Of course not. He is planning on coming down for the final stage of tonight's potion."
"Then we should be ready for him." Lucius caught Severus's eye as the dark, but pale man looked up. Lucius smiled. Severus would be smart enough to know he suspected him of betrayal. But Severus would also be smart enough not to say a word against him. Like being caught in a Catch-22. You are already suspected, but if you say anything in your defense people will suspect you of lying. A marvelous deal, if you weren't stuck in the middle. "Just give him the potions already, Lucius. We don't have all night."
"Fine. I was hoping you'd be inclined to do so yourself," he shrugged. "But you are busy after all." He smiled as he heard Severus growl out a response. The man really needed to learn how to socialize. "So I gather these little beauties do more than have the man tell his darkest secrets."
"Do you honestly think I would be so dull as that?" Severus groused over his cauldron. Raising his left hand, Snape gestured for five small cauldrons to rest beside the large on. Malfoy wondered if Severus was even aware he was able to preform wandless magic. Lucius doubted it. Otherwise Snape would use it to his advantage in battle as well, not some parlor trick to levitate cauldrons.
Snape was definitely more powerful than he gave himself credit for. Which was fine by him. The less Snape knew about his power the better chance Malfoy had of exposing him as a traitor. Of course he had no real proof, but that hardly mattered. Nor did it matter if Snape really was a traitor. Granted the Potions Master was clever and the only adequate potions brewer Lord Voldemort had in his service, but Lucius hated any sort of competition. And Snape was the only one in the Inner Circle that could rival him. That meant he had to go.
"Tell me, Lucius, what are you doing down here? I would have thought once the exhibition was over you would have gone home," Severus spoke in the direction of his work and could not see Malfoy's wicked grin. Their captive did.
"The floor show was all well and good," he answered casually, watching the victim carefully. Any and all expressions would be helpful in determining Snape's relationship with the enemy. "But I have never really seen the show behind the curtains. Our Lord doesn't seem to think I could preform properly behind the scenes. I thought I would see how private viewings were done."
"I'm surprised you choose this one."
"You really shouldn't be. Old schoolmates do deserve to have a reunion at some point."
"You were two years ahead of us. Reunions are normally for one class at a time."
"Humor me." Severus shrugged and came around to the isolated corner. "Is it finished?" he managed to sound curious.
"It needs to simmer. You might let the man exercise his tongue before we begin."
"Why is that?"
A strange glimmer passed through Snape's eyes. One Lucius had rarely seen in this calm and collected person. The look was almost feral. "Free his tongue and you will find out," he said in a low whisper.
Lucius removed the charm and the results were immediate.
"Snape, I'm going to kill you. No question. When I get out of here, I'm going to kill you, you slime-ball. Kill you and make god damn sure Dumbledore feels the same."
"Listen to me, Black," Snape interrupted smoothly in a low hiss. His face was mere centimeters from Black's, making the intimidation technique quite effective. It was rather impressive. "You should be thinking about if you get out. Because if you do, you won't remember a thing of your stay, much less remember enough to tell that old fool my true side. Think of it this way. You'll be forever remembered as Lord Voldemort's strongest and most loyal supporter."
"Why you--" For a man that looked half dead, Sirius Black did a marvelous job rattling his chains trying to strangle Snape. Commendable really.
"He never was one for original insults, was he?" Lucius asked standing just inside the wards placed to prevent escape.
Rising from his hunched position, Snape responded, "No, he never has been. Now you were interested in a private viewing. Pull up a chair, this might take a while. Black has always been as stubborn as a rock. And about as smart as one as well."
"So what is on the program tonight?" Malfoy conjured up a comfortable wing-back for himself and waited, wishing he had a good red wine to enjoy as well. This would be good, though. Mortal enemies at each other's throats was always a pleasure.
"Will you idiots shut up already! One would think this is a damned tea party!"
"You mean it isn't?" Lucius tried his best innocent tones. They worked quite well in confusing the poor man further. It was always a wonderful technique.
"Then quite talking as if I'm not here," Black answered, caught off guard.
"But you aren't here, Black," Snape answered coldly. "All of Dumbledore's records place you somewhere in France, I believe. Looking for someone named," Severus's eyebrows narrowed as he faked remembering. "Francis Moliere, right?" Where was he going with that line of thought, Lucius thought.
"You know damn well that's wrong. I was looking for Hans Grunther in Germany. You would know that already. Having read Dumbledore's papers." Black suddenly looked startled at what he said. "What the hell did you do to me?"
"This is an interrogation, Black. You are not supposed to be asking questions."
"I'll ask as many questions as I want, bastard," was all Black got out before he was screaming in agony.
"That was interesting," Lucius pointed out. "He told you what you wanted without having the question. Why hasn't the Ministry learned of the benefits of this?"
"My guess would be that they can't stand to be insulted, among other more painful annoyances for the victim."
"You seemed to have developed a remarkable tolerance."
"Comes with going to school with idiots like him and teaching sniveling little brats ten months of the year."
"Surely Draco is not one of them."
"On the contrary, no. He seems to be of the more attentive."
"Good to hear. Now, why on earth is he in pain."
"The potions won't let the victim talk out of turn once the questions have begun." Malfoy nodded his approval. "Shall I continue with the real questions? No doubt you already have answers for them, but I want to hear them from Black. Humiliation factor if you will."
"By all means, continue."
Lucius just sat back and listened. It appeared as though Snape did know how to relish tormenting prisoners.
"Why were you looking for Grunther?"
"Because Dumbledore wanted him back in England when he called the old gang together again." It appear that Black was struggling against the serum. Noble effort. But nobility never was much of a match against the Dark Arts. It always caused more pain than it was worth, too.
"What condition did you find Grunther?"
"Dead, you git. You Death Eaters killed him."
"Now, how were you captured?" The feral grin had returned.
"How the hell should I know? I was knocked upside the head the moment I walked into Grunther's apartment. That right there is the bloody worst way to get killed." Anger was flashing in Black's eyes as he was allowed to continue his thought. "Walked right into a bloody trap. I swear I'm going to personally kill the Death Eater who did that. Pity it wasn't you, Snape. But I planned on killing you anyway."
"And your treatment upstairs? What, pray tell, did they accuse you of?" That was a good question. Lucius could see Black's face redden in attempt to explode trying to keep the information secret. Veritaserum was nowhere as exciting to watch.
"Accused me of being a bloody traitor. Traitor to a pathetic group of lackeys I was never apart of in the first place. Voldemort even said something about me being his right hand man." Black was no longer yelling. The potions and line of questioning reduced his pride tenfold.
"Doesn't look too humiliated to me." In truth there were subtle changes in Black's stance that suggested such. But Lucius did not see many. Not enough to claim the man was humiliated.
"He is. Just look at him. Hunched shoulders. Eyes down cast. May not look it to you, but he is. Shall we get down to business? Black to you recall what your punishment was to be?"
Black glared silently for several seconds before the serum took control. "Rejoin the Death Eaters," he said, gritting his teeth.
"Since you are not going to do so willingly. We have a series of potions that will change your mind."
"Never."
"I was hoping you'd say that. Makes it more enjoyable to watch." Severus moved back to the work table and poured one of the small cauldrons in to a wooden goblet. "Tighten the chains, Lucius. I don't want him hurting himself. Black, you get five of these, every hour on the hour. Each are altered slightly based on your reaction. I have been told our Lord will come down for the final one and preform the necessary curse. Open wide. We don't want to disappoint our mutual Master, do we?" Snape poured the steaming black liquid down Black's throat and stepped back.
Hurting himself? That potion seemed to cause more pain than the Cruciatus, which should have been impossible. But the way Black was clawing at the manacles seemed to suggest he would try to kill himself if he got free. Lucius watched fascinated. Perhaps he could find a way to keep Severus for a while long. If at all possible keep Severus for himself.
* * * * * * *
Dumbledore was waiting patiently for his spy to return. He hated using that term. But it was accurate for all intensive purposes. It just sounded so degrading. He had received word from Irvan that Severus had left for the night. The vampire wouldn't say anything about Harry, which made him assume Voldemort didn't play a large part in the evening's events. However he had not questioned the vampire completely on that issue. He might have if it didn't appear as though Irvan was ready to sink his teeth into the nearest exposed throat.
But he waited for Severus to return. It was coming on five in the morning now, with no sign of the wizard. It would have been a terrible sign for him had Irvan not made it clear Severus would be returning.
On the stroke of five his office door opened. There wasn't much to see other than black robes and hair. Severus was using his hair as a screen. Not unusual when the man was uncomfortable. He stood in front of the closed door, waiting.
"Come in and sit down, Severus." Albus noticed the hesitation, but did not comment. The Potions Master showed no visible sign of being abused, but that never meant anything. When the wizard sat in his usual seat in front of the desk, the Headmaster began with the questions, ignoring the normal ritual of lemon drops. "What happened?"
There was a long moment of silence. It filled Dumbledore with dread. "Black." He stopped at the gasp of surprise emitted from the Headmaster. Albus would have sworn Snape flinched at the sound.
"Go on."
Severus stiffened and steeled his eyes to some point on the floor. This was not going to be good. He normally took that posture when reporting someone's death.
"Black was capture," he said in a voice void of emotion. "He is still alive and will remain so. The Dark Lord wishes to use him in some trap concerning Potter. I don't know what kind of trap nor when it will be sprung. But Black will appear to be a Death Eater in it and get caught by the Aurors." The report stopped there when an owl flew in from Dumbledore's open window.
The bird was unremarkable, which meant someone did not want it to be noticed. The seal on the letter was anything but. He knew that symbol.
"Severus, go get some rest. I am sure it has been a long night." Snape rose and avoided all eye contact. Once he reached the door, Dumbledore spoke again. "We will continue this conversation latter." The younger wizard nodded once and left, leaving the Headmaster with the letter.
He cracked the snake head seal and read the contents with a sinking heart.
~ Dumbledore,
As I am sure our mutual link has told you as I have ordered him to, I have in my possession something of yours. It is unlikely you will get him back safe and sound, but he won't know a thing. You, unfortunately, will not know what is in store for neither man knows anything. Enjoy your guessing game.
~
No signature. None needed. Voldemort was taunting him. He would grill Severus in everything he knew concerning Black. Particularly on how the Death Eaters found him. Evening was soon enough.