Author's Notes: This is where all Hell breaks loose and the full horror of
what has been building up comes crashing down onto our Potion master's
head. Warning: Pretty intense violence. No deaths, but a serious mind-
fuck and violent torture scene in this chapter. We see the true depth of
evilness, which motivates another of Voldemort's followers. We also see
the unfathomable horror that Snape endures as a double agent, trying to
walk the razor's edge between true master and deceived. It's the final
straw; he finishes the chapter with the link to his sanity worn down to a
few slender threads.
I really wanted to capture just how out of control and brutal Voldemort and his Death Eaters are in this chapter. This is not just a megalomaniac who wants to take over the world. This is one sick and twisted son of a bitch.
Disclaimer: Only that which is not found in the books or movies is mine.
Chapter 15: The Sum of All Fears Becomes Reality.
Snape apparated and found himself inside the ruins of a medieval cathedral.
"Perverse bastard" he thought to himself. "Summoning us to a muggle church."
He heard hushed voices and saw flickering torchlight coming from the apse, behind the area where the main altar was located. Two other cloaked figures apparated behind him and followed him towards the others. Sitting on the altar like it was a throne, was Lord Voldemort. Three cloaked and masked figures, new Death Eater inductees, groveled at his feet in a display of sacrilege and blasphemy. Snape stepped into the light, and caught Voldemort's eye.
"Aaah, the wandering sheep returns to the flock. I was beginning to think you would try and resist the summoning. I have had reports on your activities of late, and I am very pleased. Come, it is time to welcome you back into the fold."
Voldemort snapped his fingers, and the groveling wizards retreated with heads bowed into the shadows. Snape approached the altar and knelt down before his master.
"My only desire is to serve you my lord. I wish for nothing more than to fulfill my duties in your service."
"Rise."
Snape rose to his feet, head bowed.
"Follow me, I have many things to discuss with you."
Voldemort seemed to float off of the altar and to the ground. He led Snape out of the apse and into a side chapel, the ranks of Death Eaters parted to let them pass, bowing and praising their master.
"Now that you have proven yourself to be worthy of serving me again, I have a very important assignment for you to carry out. There is a major attack in the works for this evening, something that will make the entire wizarding world stand up and take notice of my return. Before dawn breaks, not a wizard or witch alive in this country will doubt that I have returned stronger than before."
"I will be assisting in this attack my lord?"
"No, it is already starting as we speak. Your job will be to convert those at Hogwarts whose loyalties to that muggle loving old fool are wavering. You will bring them to our side, and we will infiltrate and weaken his stronghold from within. Pince, Vector, and Sinestra are all on the verge of switching sides, you will give them a nudge in the right direction."
"Yes, my lord, it is an honor to serve you."
"Come, let us join the others. We are going to have a little bit of entertainment this evening provided by our faithful servants Lucius, Crabbe, and Goyle."
Snape followed Voldemort back to the main altar, and took his place at his master's right side.
Mira awoke to the taste of blood in her mouth and the feeling of cold stone against her cheek. Her eyes adjusted to the dim torchlight, and she realized that she was in some kind of chamber with a large wooden door and one tiny window with heavy bars across it. She tried to get up, but realized that her ankles and hands were bound. She managed to sit up and lean against the stone wall. There was a commotion as a group of people apparated into the chamber. Two masked wizards, most likely the ones who had abducted her, threw a third person down onto the ground next to Mira and disapparated immediately out of the room. Mira pulled herself across the floor towards the figure and recognized her in the flickering torchlight.
"Oh God! Susan! Suzie, wake up! Come on Suzie, wake up, it's me, Mira!"
Her cousin, Susan Treadle, lay on the floor next to her, the hair at her temple matted with blood, groaning and slowly regaining consciousness.
"Where am I? What happened? Tricia! Where's Tricia? What have they done with Tricia?"
"I don't know. Tricia's not here, it's just us. I was getting ready for bed and a group of masked wizards apparated into my room and attacked me. One put a spell on me and I woke up here. I don't know where we are. I know its still night, but I don't know who brought us here, or what they want with us."
"Mira, what are we gonna do? This isn't good. Tricia, Albert, and I were asleep and I was snatched up out of bed. I heard Tricia screaming, and a masked wizard, I guess the same ones who took you, put a spell on Albert and knocked him out cold. I started screaming and ran for my wand. One of the wizards hit me with a stunning spell and I guess I fell and hit my head. The next thing I know, I woke up here with you. Oh my God Mira! You don't think that you know who is behind this? Oh sweet Jesus Mira, what are we gonna do?"
"Calm down Suzie. We've got to keep calm. Did you manage to grab your wand before you were knocked out?"
"No, I didn't even make it to my dresser, I don't have anything but the clothes on my back."
Mira let out a sigh and thought for a moment.
"Suzie. I've got my wand on me. It's in my hair with a pencil. I guess the wizards who brought us here thought it was just part of a pair of Muggle hair sticks or something, because it's still there on my head."
"Mira, you can't possibly take them on yourself. That's suicide! These men are insane, if they're who I think they are, they'd kill you and not think twice about it."
"I'm not planning on doing anything foolish, I just want to let you know that I'm armed and they don't know it. If there is no alternative, it might give us a chance."
"Oh God Mira, why us? What have we done to deserve this? We're not going to make it out of here Mira, these people are crazy. I'll never see Tricia or Albert again!"
"Suzie, calm down. Listen. I think I know what they're after. I was warned that dark wizards are looking for some kind of magic artifact, and they think it may have been one of the things our parents had in the shop. I'm not sure, but I think that the attack that killed them was by a group of wizards sent to find this artifact, and now they've tracked it down to us."
"No! No Mira! There's nothing left from the store. You sold everything. It's all gone. Neither of us have it."
"I know Suzie, try and calm down. You have to keep your wits if you want to make it out of this. Just answer their questions truthfully. The artifact cannot be traced to you or your family, you should be safe."
The door opened slowly, and two wizards entered the chamber. They crossed the floor to Susan and roughly yanked her to her feet. One performed a spell dissolving the bonds on her wrists and ankles. They each grabbed her by the upper arm.
"Not a word from you until you are spoken to. Do you understand?"
Susan shook her head.
"Good, now come, our master is waiting for you."
They hustled her out the door and slammed and locked it behind them.
Out in the choir section of the cathedral, a tall wizard approached the altar.
"My Lord. Our faithful brother has done well and led us closer to the artifact you seek. I have followed his progress and have retrieved the women, and brought them here to you."
"Very good my son. Bring the first one forward so that we may question her."
The crowd parted, leaving an area free in front of the altar, where Voldemort sat with Snape standing at his side. Two large wizards hustled a very frightened witch into the bright torchlight.
"Kneel before me woman!" Bellowed Voldemort. Crabbe and Goyle pushed Susan to her knees.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
The tall wizard with silver blonde hair strode over and slapped her hard across the face.
"Show respect to your master, bitch or you will deeply regret it!"
"Please sir, I don't know where the artifact is, I never had possession of it."
With a sickening thought, Snape realized who this woman was and what was going on. He was too late. The other woman had to be Mira, and he had led Malfoy directly to her. He had been too distracted to realize that he was being followed and spied upon. Malfoy and his toadies were probably waiting for him to leave the tailor shop so that they could grab Mira. A wave of panic flooded through him. He was helpless to save her or her cousin. To even speak would mean swift and certain death. All he could do was watch. Watch and pray that the women made it out of the cathedral alive.
"Don't lie to me, we traced it as far as your parents, where is it!"
"I don't know! When my parents died, I moved away. I never had any of the things from the store, my cousin took over the store, and she knows what happened to the things that were there. Not me, I don't know anything! Please, have mercy on me, I have a child to care for!"
Voldemort pulled a small vial out of the folds of his robe and beckoned the tall wizard towards him. He handed the vial to him.
"It's Veratiserum, use it on her, she may be telling the truth. For her sake and the sake of her child, she better be. If she is telling the truth, let her go. Her husband is a potential ally, she will go home and convince him which side they should be on."
Malfoy walked over to the woman. Crabbe and Goyle were holding her firmly by the arms. Malfoy forced her mouth open and poured the potion down her throat. Susan choked and gagged and sank to her knees.
"Now, where were we? Answer me, where is the artifact? What does it do? How is it used?"
"I'm telling you, I don't know what artifact you're talking about. There were many artifacts in the store. When our parents were killed, I left the muggle world for good. Mira, my cousin, could have cared less about wizarding. She took over the store and ran it for some time until that muggle she was married to turned on her. She eventually closed the store and sold off all the things in it to get money to start over. That's all I know."
"Get her out of my sight, she knows nothing. Set her free in the woods behind her house."
The two wizards disapparated with Susan, the blonde wizard approached the altar.
"My humblest apologies Master for wasting your time with this useless woman."
Crabbe and Goyle re-apparated into the cathedral.
"Bring the other one to me." Said Voldemort. "Let's see what we can get out of her."
The two large wizards disappeared down a short hallway and returned shortly, half dragging a struggling Mira towards the altar. They threw her down on the ground in front of Voldemort.
"Bow and kiss the ground before your master! You are not fit to stand upon the ground on which he walks!"
Malfoy strode over and yanked Mira to her knees by the collar of her nightgown and hissed in her ear.
"Look you filthy muggle loving whore, you tell us where that artifact is or you will not live to see the light of day."
"Where is it? Where is the artifact?"
"I don't know, I don't even know what artifact you're talking about."
Malfoy backhanded her across the mouth again, his ring splitting her lip.
"How can I tell you where the thing is when I don't even know what it is?"
He spun around and kicked her in the side. She yelped and crumpled to the ground in pain.
Snape tensed up and took a half step forward before remembering where he was. Voldemort looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Look you muggle fucking whore!" Screamed Malfoy. " I am out of patience! Where did the artifacts go when you closed the store?"
Mira caught her breath and pushed herself back up to her knees.
"I sold them, I sold all of them. I don't know who bought them, I wasn't there. They were all sold in an auction before I came to England to live with my cousin."
"You sold them! Sold them! You have such little respect for your magical heritage that you would just sell priceless wizarding artifacts in an auction?"
"I did what I had to do, I didn't know they had any significant value."
"Fucking worthless bitch! No, you're less than worthless! You turned your back on your wizarding heritage and lived with the muggles! I grow tired of you! Where is the artifact?"
"I told you, I don't know!"
"YOU LIE!"
Malfoy slapped her hard, and knocked her to the floor. She lay there shaking in a mixture of pain, fear, and anger.
He approached the altar and bowed his head.
"Master, she knows. She has to know who bought the artifact. May I have your permission to use more persuasive methods with her?"
"I believe she does know more than she admits. It is time we show her just who she is toying with. Let her have a taste of real pain, that should jog her memory as to where the artifact is."
"As you wish my master."
Malfoy turned towards her and pulled his wand from his robes.
"No, not you. You have done very well, and I am pleased with your efforts to extract information out of this woman. But I must give the honor to my most faithful servant."
Malfoy turned towards Snape, and chuckled.
"As you wish my master, I can only hope to receive such an honor myself one day."
Laughing, he strode to join the other Death Eaters who were silently gathered around, watching the display.
Voldemort turned towards Snape and looked him in the eye.
"How about it my son? Let's give her a taste of the Cruiciatus curse. That ought to loosen her lips, don't you agree?"
Snape felt as if the Earth was going to swallow him up. He had a ringing in his ears and could feel the bile creeping up his throat. He knew that he had been played by Malfoy, who stood back with the crowd, chuckling to himself. This was Malfoy's way of seeking revenge on him for being the chosen one, Voldemort's right hand man. It was also Voldemort's way of testing him for unwavering loyalty.
"Master, surely a dose of Veritaserum would be more effective. Nobody can resist its effects."
"I think not. I used the only vial I had on the other woman. And this one won't resist the Cruciatus curse my son, you perform it exquisitely. She'll break. Unless you're losing your nerve and your taste for curses that is?"
"No my Lord. My only desire is to serve you as best I can."
"Very well then, show her no mercy."
Snape was on the verge of panic. Fleeting thoughts of trying to make a break for it with Mira entered his mind, but he knew that he would be dead before he could reach her side. The only hope of saving her life was to go through with the curse and hope she survived and would be let go after all the information that could be wrenched from her was taken.
She had risen to her knees and wiped the blood from her mouth. She followed him from the altar with her eyes blazing with hate, and stared him down defiantly as he stood before her. He wondered if she had any Earthly idea of what was coming. Very few men had been able to stand their ground when faced with the Cruciatus curse.
He felt as if he were in a dream, or as if he were under the Imperius curse and somebody else was controlling his body. His hand trembling slightly, he raised his wand and leveled it at her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Crucio." The word came out barely more than a whisper.
The force of the curse hit her, and knocked the breath out of her lungs. Her eyes flew open and rolled back in her head, and she gasped for air. She caught her breath and let out a blood-curdling scream. She fell to the ground and thrashed about, writhing and howling in agony.
Snape lowered his wand and broke the curse. He felt weak in the knees, as if he were about to fly apart into a million pieces. Mira lay on the ground, sobbing and trembling.
Voldemort descended from the altar.
"Now woman. You have a taste of what real pain is. Tell me where the artifact is and I will let you go. Play more games with me and you will get more of that nasty little curse."
"I-I told you. I don't know what you're talking about. I inherited the store and everything in it. I ran the store for a while, but didn't know what any of the magical artifacts and antiquities were. I decided to close the store and hired an auctioneer to sell the contents of the store. I wasn't even in town for the sale, I have no idea who bought what. The sale was open to the public, it could have been anybody."
"Are you trying to tell me that muggles had access to these artifacts at this auction?"
"No, not muggles. The muggle antiques were sold at a muggle auction, the wizarding antiques were sold at a wizarding auction, but you have to believe me, I was not there. I don't know anything about this artifact, I don't even know what it's supposed to look like, or what it's called."
"I think you're holding back. Maybe another taste of the Cruciatus curse will help you remember more."
A panicked look came over Mira's face.
"No! No! Please! I'm telling the truth, I don't know any more!"
Mira shakily pulled herself to her hands and knees and started to scramble away from Snape. He raised his wand at her and cast the Impedimenta curse, stopping her in her tracks. She looked at him with utter panic in her eyes.
"No! Please! Not again! No! I don't know any more! I'm begging you! I swear!"
He raised his wand and pointed it directly at her.
"I'm sorry Mira, I am so truly sorry." He said softly enough that nobody could hear him.
"Crucio".
Mira was still frozen by the Impedimenta curse and couldn't move, but she screamed so loudly that her voice broke. She passed out and collapsed onto the stone floor, her muscles twitching from the intense agony that had been inflicted on her nervous system.
"Wake her."
Snape cast the Ennervate spell on Mira, causing her to regain consciousness. She looked up, saw him and drew her knees against her chest, buried her head in her arms, crying and screaming out in hysterics.
"No! No! Please! No more! I told you everything I know, for God's sake! Please no more!"
Voldemort looked at her with disgust.
"Where is the artifact?"
"I don't know! Please, don't hurt me anymore! I'm telling the truth!"
Voldemort let out a heavy sigh and pointed at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"You three get this piece of filth out of my sight! Dump her in an alley in Hogsmeade. But make sure she is found alive." He turned to Malfoy. "Do you understand me, I want her to be found alive."
"Yes my master, your will shall be done."
The two larger wizards picked her up by her arms, and the four of them disapparated from the cathedral.
Voldemort turned to Snape, who was staring off into space.
"You have done admirably well my son. You have demonstrated an exceptional degree of loyalty. I am pleased to say that you have passed the test. You will be allowed to live and to continue to serve me as my trusted servant."
Without emotion, he dropped to his knees in front of Voldemort.
"Thank you master, it is my only desire to be allowed to serve you."
Voldemort turned from him and addressed the remaining Death Eaters.
"For those of you who are here and not participating in the attack this evening, rest assured that your time will come. More and more witches and wizards are flocking to our side. The battle is drawing near. The events taking place as we speak will be the catalyst that sets things into motion. Be ready at a moment's notice when the time comes. That is all, you are dismissed."
I really wanted to capture just how out of control and brutal Voldemort and his Death Eaters are in this chapter. This is not just a megalomaniac who wants to take over the world. This is one sick and twisted son of a bitch.
Disclaimer: Only that which is not found in the books or movies is mine.
Chapter 15: The Sum of All Fears Becomes Reality.
Snape apparated and found himself inside the ruins of a medieval cathedral.
"Perverse bastard" he thought to himself. "Summoning us to a muggle church."
He heard hushed voices and saw flickering torchlight coming from the apse, behind the area where the main altar was located. Two other cloaked figures apparated behind him and followed him towards the others. Sitting on the altar like it was a throne, was Lord Voldemort. Three cloaked and masked figures, new Death Eater inductees, groveled at his feet in a display of sacrilege and blasphemy. Snape stepped into the light, and caught Voldemort's eye.
"Aaah, the wandering sheep returns to the flock. I was beginning to think you would try and resist the summoning. I have had reports on your activities of late, and I am very pleased. Come, it is time to welcome you back into the fold."
Voldemort snapped his fingers, and the groveling wizards retreated with heads bowed into the shadows. Snape approached the altar and knelt down before his master.
"My only desire is to serve you my lord. I wish for nothing more than to fulfill my duties in your service."
"Rise."
Snape rose to his feet, head bowed.
"Follow me, I have many things to discuss with you."
Voldemort seemed to float off of the altar and to the ground. He led Snape out of the apse and into a side chapel, the ranks of Death Eaters parted to let them pass, bowing and praising their master.
"Now that you have proven yourself to be worthy of serving me again, I have a very important assignment for you to carry out. There is a major attack in the works for this evening, something that will make the entire wizarding world stand up and take notice of my return. Before dawn breaks, not a wizard or witch alive in this country will doubt that I have returned stronger than before."
"I will be assisting in this attack my lord?"
"No, it is already starting as we speak. Your job will be to convert those at Hogwarts whose loyalties to that muggle loving old fool are wavering. You will bring them to our side, and we will infiltrate and weaken his stronghold from within. Pince, Vector, and Sinestra are all on the verge of switching sides, you will give them a nudge in the right direction."
"Yes, my lord, it is an honor to serve you."
"Come, let us join the others. We are going to have a little bit of entertainment this evening provided by our faithful servants Lucius, Crabbe, and Goyle."
Snape followed Voldemort back to the main altar, and took his place at his master's right side.
Mira awoke to the taste of blood in her mouth and the feeling of cold stone against her cheek. Her eyes adjusted to the dim torchlight, and she realized that she was in some kind of chamber with a large wooden door and one tiny window with heavy bars across it. She tried to get up, but realized that her ankles and hands were bound. She managed to sit up and lean against the stone wall. There was a commotion as a group of people apparated into the chamber. Two masked wizards, most likely the ones who had abducted her, threw a third person down onto the ground next to Mira and disapparated immediately out of the room. Mira pulled herself across the floor towards the figure and recognized her in the flickering torchlight.
"Oh God! Susan! Suzie, wake up! Come on Suzie, wake up, it's me, Mira!"
Her cousin, Susan Treadle, lay on the floor next to her, the hair at her temple matted with blood, groaning and slowly regaining consciousness.
"Where am I? What happened? Tricia! Where's Tricia? What have they done with Tricia?"
"I don't know. Tricia's not here, it's just us. I was getting ready for bed and a group of masked wizards apparated into my room and attacked me. One put a spell on me and I woke up here. I don't know where we are. I know its still night, but I don't know who brought us here, or what they want with us."
"Mira, what are we gonna do? This isn't good. Tricia, Albert, and I were asleep and I was snatched up out of bed. I heard Tricia screaming, and a masked wizard, I guess the same ones who took you, put a spell on Albert and knocked him out cold. I started screaming and ran for my wand. One of the wizards hit me with a stunning spell and I guess I fell and hit my head. The next thing I know, I woke up here with you. Oh my God Mira! You don't think that you know who is behind this? Oh sweet Jesus Mira, what are we gonna do?"
"Calm down Suzie. We've got to keep calm. Did you manage to grab your wand before you were knocked out?"
"No, I didn't even make it to my dresser, I don't have anything but the clothes on my back."
Mira let out a sigh and thought for a moment.
"Suzie. I've got my wand on me. It's in my hair with a pencil. I guess the wizards who brought us here thought it was just part of a pair of Muggle hair sticks or something, because it's still there on my head."
"Mira, you can't possibly take them on yourself. That's suicide! These men are insane, if they're who I think they are, they'd kill you and not think twice about it."
"I'm not planning on doing anything foolish, I just want to let you know that I'm armed and they don't know it. If there is no alternative, it might give us a chance."
"Oh God Mira, why us? What have we done to deserve this? We're not going to make it out of here Mira, these people are crazy. I'll never see Tricia or Albert again!"
"Suzie, calm down. Listen. I think I know what they're after. I was warned that dark wizards are looking for some kind of magic artifact, and they think it may have been one of the things our parents had in the shop. I'm not sure, but I think that the attack that killed them was by a group of wizards sent to find this artifact, and now they've tracked it down to us."
"No! No Mira! There's nothing left from the store. You sold everything. It's all gone. Neither of us have it."
"I know Suzie, try and calm down. You have to keep your wits if you want to make it out of this. Just answer their questions truthfully. The artifact cannot be traced to you or your family, you should be safe."
The door opened slowly, and two wizards entered the chamber. They crossed the floor to Susan and roughly yanked her to her feet. One performed a spell dissolving the bonds on her wrists and ankles. They each grabbed her by the upper arm.
"Not a word from you until you are spoken to. Do you understand?"
Susan shook her head.
"Good, now come, our master is waiting for you."
They hustled her out the door and slammed and locked it behind them.
Out in the choir section of the cathedral, a tall wizard approached the altar.
"My Lord. Our faithful brother has done well and led us closer to the artifact you seek. I have followed his progress and have retrieved the women, and brought them here to you."
"Very good my son. Bring the first one forward so that we may question her."
The crowd parted, leaving an area free in front of the altar, where Voldemort sat with Snape standing at his side. Two large wizards hustled a very frightened witch into the bright torchlight.
"Kneel before me woman!" Bellowed Voldemort. Crabbe and Goyle pushed Susan to her knees.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
The tall wizard with silver blonde hair strode over and slapped her hard across the face.
"Show respect to your master, bitch or you will deeply regret it!"
"Please sir, I don't know where the artifact is, I never had possession of it."
With a sickening thought, Snape realized who this woman was and what was going on. He was too late. The other woman had to be Mira, and he had led Malfoy directly to her. He had been too distracted to realize that he was being followed and spied upon. Malfoy and his toadies were probably waiting for him to leave the tailor shop so that they could grab Mira. A wave of panic flooded through him. He was helpless to save her or her cousin. To even speak would mean swift and certain death. All he could do was watch. Watch and pray that the women made it out of the cathedral alive.
"Don't lie to me, we traced it as far as your parents, where is it!"
"I don't know! When my parents died, I moved away. I never had any of the things from the store, my cousin took over the store, and she knows what happened to the things that were there. Not me, I don't know anything! Please, have mercy on me, I have a child to care for!"
Voldemort pulled a small vial out of the folds of his robe and beckoned the tall wizard towards him. He handed the vial to him.
"It's Veratiserum, use it on her, she may be telling the truth. For her sake and the sake of her child, she better be. If she is telling the truth, let her go. Her husband is a potential ally, she will go home and convince him which side they should be on."
Malfoy walked over to the woman. Crabbe and Goyle were holding her firmly by the arms. Malfoy forced her mouth open and poured the potion down her throat. Susan choked and gagged and sank to her knees.
"Now, where were we? Answer me, where is the artifact? What does it do? How is it used?"
"I'm telling you, I don't know what artifact you're talking about. There were many artifacts in the store. When our parents were killed, I left the muggle world for good. Mira, my cousin, could have cared less about wizarding. She took over the store and ran it for some time until that muggle she was married to turned on her. She eventually closed the store and sold off all the things in it to get money to start over. That's all I know."
"Get her out of my sight, she knows nothing. Set her free in the woods behind her house."
The two wizards disapparated with Susan, the blonde wizard approached the altar.
"My humblest apologies Master for wasting your time with this useless woman."
Crabbe and Goyle re-apparated into the cathedral.
"Bring the other one to me." Said Voldemort. "Let's see what we can get out of her."
The two large wizards disappeared down a short hallway and returned shortly, half dragging a struggling Mira towards the altar. They threw her down on the ground in front of Voldemort.
"Bow and kiss the ground before your master! You are not fit to stand upon the ground on which he walks!"
Malfoy strode over and yanked Mira to her knees by the collar of her nightgown and hissed in her ear.
"Look you filthy muggle loving whore, you tell us where that artifact is or you will not live to see the light of day."
"Where is it? Where is the artifact?"
"I don't know, I don't even know what artifact you're talking about."
Malfoy backhanded her across the mouth again, his ring splitting her lip.
"How can I tell you where the thing is when I don't even know what it is?"
He spun around and kicked her in the side. She yelped and crumpled to the ground in pain.
Snape tensed up and took a half step forward before remembering where he was. Voldemort looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Look you muggle fucking whore!" Screamed Malfoy. " I am out of patience! Where did the artifacts go when you closed the store?"
Mira caught her breath and pushed herself back up to her knees.
"I sold them, I sold all of them. I don't know who bought them, I wasn't there. They were all sold in an auction before I came to England to live with my cousin."
"You sold them! Sold them! You have such little respect for your magical heritage that you would just sell priceless wizarding artifacts in an auction?"
"I did what I had to do, I didn't know they had any significant value."
"Fucking worthless bitch! No, you're less than worthless! You turned your back on your wizarding heritage and lived with the muggles! I grow tired of you! Where is the artifact?"
"I told you, I don't know!"
"YOU LIE!"
Malfoy slapped her hard, and knocked her to the floor. She lay there shaking in a mixture of pain, fear, and anger.
He approached the altar and bowed his head.
"Master, she knows. She has to know who bought the artifact. May I have your permission to use more persuasive methods with her?"
"I believe she does know more than she admits. It is time we show her just who she is toying with. Let her have a taste of real pain, that should jog her memory as to where the artifact is."
"As you wish my master."
Malfoy turned towards her and pulled his wand from his robes.
"No, not you. You have done very well, and I am pleased with your efforts to extract information out of this woman. But I must give the honor to my most faithful servant."
Malfoy turned towards Snape, and chuckled.
"As you wish my master, I can only hope to receive such an honor myself one day."
Laughing, he strode to join the other Death Eaters who were silently gathered around, watching the display.
Voldemort turned towards Snape and looked him in the eye.
"How about it my son? Let's give her a taste of the Cruiciatus curse. That ought to loosen her lips, don't you agree?"
Snape felt as if the Earth was going to swallow him up. He had a ringing in his ears and could feel the bile creeping up his throat. He knew that he had been played by Malfoy, who stood back with the crowd, chuckling to himself. This was Malfoy's way of seeking revenge on him for being the chosen one, Voldemort's right hand man. It was also Voldemort's way of testing him for unwavering loyalty.
"Master, surely a dose of Veritaserum would be more effective. Nobody can resist its effects."
"I think not. I used the only vial I had on the other woman. And this one won't resist the Cruciatus curse my son, you perform it exquisitely. She'll break. Unless you're losing your nerve and your taste for curses that is?"
"No my Lord. My only desire is to serve you as best I can."
"Very well then, show her no mercy."
Snape was on the verge of panic. Fleeting thoughts of trying to make a break for it with Mira entered his mind, but he knew that he would be dead before he could reach her side. The only hope of saving her life was to go through with the curse and hope she survived and would be let go after all the information that could be wrenched from her was taken.
She had risen to her knees and wiped the blood from her mouth. She followed him from the altar with her eyes blazing with hate, and stared him down defiantly as he stood before her. He wondered if she had any Earthly idea of what was coming. Very few men had been able to stand their ground when faced with the Cruciatus curse.
He felt as if he were in a dream, or as if he were under the Imperius curse and somebody else was controlling his body. His hand trembling slightly, he raised his wand and leveled it at her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Crucio." The word came out barely more than a whisper.
The force of the curse hit her, and knocked the breath out of her lungs. Her eyes flew open and rolled back in her head, and she gasped for air. She caught her breath and let out a blood-curdling scream. She fell to the ground and thrashed about, writhing and howling in agony.
Snape lowered his wand and broke the curse. He felt weak in the knees, as if he were about to fly apart into a million pieces. Mira lay on the ground, sobbing and trembling.
Voldemort descended from the altar.
"Now woman. You have a taste of what real pain is. Tell me where the artifact is and I will let you go. Play more games with me and you will get more of that nasty little curse."
"I-I told you. I don't know what you're talking about. I inherited the store and everything in it. I ran the store for a while, but didn't know what any of the magical artifacts and antiquities were. I decided to close the store and hired an auctioneer to sell the contents of the store. I wasn't even in town for the sale, I have no idea who bought what. The sale was open to the public, it could have been anybody."
"Are you trying to tell me that muggles had access to these artifacts at this auction?"
"No, not muggles. The muggle antiques were sold at a muggle auction, the wizarding antiques were sold at a wizarding auction, but you have to believe me, I was not there. I don't know anything about this artifact, I don't even know what it's supposed to look like, or what it's called."
"I think you're holding back. Maybe another taste of the Cruciatus curse will help you remember more."
A panicked look came over Mira's face.
"No! No! Please! I'm telling the truth, I don't know any more!"
Mira shakily pulled herself to her hands and knees and started to scramble away from Snape. He raised his wand at her and cast the Impedimenta curse, stopping her in her tracks. She looked at him with utter panic in her eyes.
"No! Please! Not again! No! I don't know any more! I'm begging you! I swear!"
He raised his wand and pointed it directly at her.
"I'm sorry Mira, I am so truly sorry." He said softly enough that nobody could hear him.
"Crucio".
Mira was still frozen by the Impedimenta curse and couldn't move, but she screamed so loudly that her voice broke. She passed out and collapsed onto the stone floor, her muscles twitching from the intense agony that had been inflicted on her nervous system.
"Wake her."
Snape cast the Ennervate spell on Mira, causing her to regain consciousness. She looked up, saw him and drew her knees against her chest, buried her head in her arms, crying and screaming out in hysterics.
"No! No! Please! No more! I told you everything I know, for God's sake! Please no more!"
Voldemort looked at her with disgust.
"Where is the artifact?"
"I don't know! Please, don't hurt me anymore! I'm telling the truth!"
Voldemort let out a heavy sigh and pointed at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"You three get this piece of filth out of my sight! Dump her in an alley in Hogsmeade. But make sure she is found alive." He turned to Malfoy. "Do you understand me, I want her to be found alive."
"Yes my master, your will shall be done."
The two larger wizards picked her up by her arms, and the four of them disapparated from the cathedral.
Voldemort turned to Snape, who was staring off into space.
"You have done admirably well my son. You have demonstrated an exceptional degree of loyalty. I am pleased to say that you have passed the test. You will be allowed to live and to continue to serve me as my trusted servant."
Without emotion, he dropped to his knees in front of Voldemort.
"Thank you master, it is my only desire to be allowed to serve you."
Voldemort turned from him and addressed the remaining Death Eaters.
"For those of you who are here and not participating in the attack this evening, rest assured that your time will come. More and more witches and wizards are flocking to our side. The battle is drawing near. The events taking place as we speak will be the catalyst that sets things into motion. Be ready at a moment's notice when the time comes. That is all, you are dismissed."