Chapter Five: The Revealing
Severus' hand slid slowly toward his pocket and to the wand which resided there. "How very absurd, Nymphadora."
"You know I don't go by that name, Severus." Tonks leaned forward, raising an eyebrow.
The young Slytherin changed tactics. "This is madness, Albus. Surely you can't believe such utter nonsense?"
Albus studied Severus carefully. He then asked, "What is the basis for your allegations, Tonks?"
Tonks sighed heavily. "It's not anything concrete." She flushed nervously and rubbed her hands on her jeans. "It's more of a Metamorphmagus intuition, if you will. He's not acting quite right."
Severus spoke up. "How should a man act when a student is taken from the school grounds in such a nefarious way?" He was pleased with himself, thinking he was doing very well.
It was very quiet in the room for several seconds, and then Albus spoke up. "How is it, Severus, that you know that the young Weasley was taken in a nefarious way?"
Severus flushed guiltily. "Of course, he must've been taken in a nefarious way, Albus." He began to gesticulate with his hands. "Any way the child was taken must have been nefarious." He began to feel the panic rise in his chest. Don't lose it, Draco. Hang on! His hand slid into his pocket and encircled the wand making him feel slightly more secure. "You haven't seen me drink any Polyjuice Potion, have you? Certainly not! This is ridiculous. Who else could I be but Severus Snape?"
"He's right about the Polyjuice," said Moody, scanning Snape with his magical eye and seeing no flasks or anything untoward. He also didn't see any of the potion vials that Snape kept on his person, which was also quite unusual. "It doesn't mean he isn't playing some other game. Maybe he's a Metamorphmagus. What do you think, Tonks?"
"I think it's likely."
Remus asked, "How can we know for sure? Would the spell to force an Animagus to take his human form work for this?"
Tonks nodded. "It's the same spell. Remus and Alastor, if you can assist."
The three stood and drew their wands.
Severus drew his wand, pointing it toward Tonks. "This is absurd! I shall take my leave of you all and will come back once you have regained your senses." He stood.
"Expelliarmus!" Severus' wand flew to Arthur's outstretched hand, the spell causing the Slytherin to fall back into his seat. "I'm afraid we can't let you go until this matter has been sufficiently resolved, old boy." His normally kind eyes glinted dangerously. "If you really aren't Severus Snape we'll have many questions for you."
"I AM SEVERUS SNAPE!" The pitch of Severus' normally deep, baritone voice was rising.
Albus patted his arm. "Calm yourself, Severus. We can start with something very simple. What's your middle name?"
Seconds ticked away. Severus looked at each member of the Order. He ignored the question. " I refuse to be brought down to the level of having to defend myself against baseless accusations. I am none other than Severus Snape!"
Albus nodded to the three standing and a flash of blue-white light shot from their wands and into Severus. His body was engulfed in the light for a second and then sitting where Severus Snape had just been was Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy!" sneered Moody.
Molly leapt up from her seat and sailed at the young Slytherin grabbing his throat tightly and squeezing with all her might. "Bastard! What have you done with my son!" Draco's face purpled as he struggled for air, pulling at the indignant mother's steely grip.
Arthur calmly pried her fingers from the boy's throat and pulled her into his arms. "Molly, he can't very well tell us if you kill him." Molly broke down and Arthur led her to a chair at the opposite end of the table. "Do whatever you have to do to get my son back."
Draco's gray eyes darted around the room. He was drawing in great gulps of air and rubbing his bruised throat. He felt his heart racing and could not seem to get enough air. He practiced the exercises that his mother had taught him. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. I'm a dead man! They'll kill me or Father will. Which is worse?
Albus seemed to read the young Slytherin's mind. "No one is going to hurt you, Draco. Tell us where Ron and Professor Snape are."
"I don't know anything."
BANG! Ropes shot from the end of Moody's wand, tying Draco to his seat.
"You can't allow this, headmaster! I'm a student!" implored the devious Slytherin.
"Actually," said Albus. "You're no longer a student. You didn't return for classes this term. Rumor has it that you've given up your studies."
Moody leaned very close to Draco's pale face, "Leave me alone with him."
Draco found his anger. "You don't scare me! There's nothing that you can do that hasn't been done to me before."
"Child," said Albus. "No one here wants to harm you." He ignored the snort from Molly. "We need to know where Ron and Professor Snape are, that's all."
"You'll get nothing from me! Nothing!" Draco closed his eyes tight and wincing, waited for the curses to begin.
Albus sighed. It's going to be a long night.
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Ron couldn't be sure how much time had passed. The screaming had long since died away yet Professor Snape was not brought back to the cell. Could he be dead? How could I be so stupid? I'll never forgive myself.
The pain in his calf was becoming constant. He glanced at the lump noting it had grown in size, now about the size of a large strawberry. His stomach growled. Man, am I hungry. How can I think about food at a time like this? I'm a terrible person.
The door to the cell creaked open and three house-elves carried in the unmoving form of Severus Snape. The one who had brought water to them before looked distraught. She kept wringing her hands and shaking her head. "Minky is bringing water as soon as Minky is able." The elves left.
Ron knelt beside the professor. Severus' skin was flushed and hot to the touch. "Professor? Professor?" He got no response. Snape's body began to shiver and Ron removed his robes and draped them over the quaking body. "Please don't die. Please don't leave me alone here." He reached out and clutched Severus' arm.
Severus felt like he was floating on the edge of consciousness. He knew someone was with him. There was a terrible ringing in his ears and his head was pounding with the rate of his heart. He felt a shiver run through his body and he began to shake. Something warm was draped over his body and with great difficulty he opened his eyes. Ron was kneeling beside him, sobbing. Severus reached his hand to cover the hand that gripped his arm. He watched the boy's startled reaction and looked at his face. The boy was laughing and crying at the same time but Severus could not hear a word he was saying.
"Professor, you're alive! You didn't leave me!" He leaned forward to bury his face in the older wizard's shoulder.
Severus drew Ron to him, holding the young man's head to his shoulder. "Lucius is done for the night," he rasped, taking another breath before continuing. "It's time to rest, Ron. Lie down and sleep." He swallowed thickly. "It's okay." He felt the boy curl up beside him. His resolve to fight to survive grew with each passing second. I can't leave the boy alone. I have to hold on. Surely Albus is making some kind of progress? I must hold on. Consciousness finally eluded him as his eyelids fluttered closed.
Minky returned with a small jug of water. "Minky cannot stay. Minky is cooking dinner for Master and Mistress." The house-elf left.
Ron picked up the water jug and drank. He then maneuvered Snape's head onto his lap and put the jug to his lips. "Drink, sir, drink." Professor Snape did not awaken. Ron gently shook Severus' shoulder and was rewarded with a soft moan as the teacher's eyes opened. Ron held the jug to the Potions master's lips and helped him to drink. "Not too fast, sir." After a drink, the dark head rested in his lap and Snape was out again.
Ron sat still for some time, not wishing to awaken his teacher. The Gryffindor's calf was aching and the pressure from the position he was in was making it worse. He gingerly lifted the dark head and lay it on the floor after sliding from beneath. He noticed a spot on his pants and tried to brush it off, coming away with a red stain on his fingers. Becoming concerned, he felt around on his teacher's head and could find no cuts where he could have been bleeding. He then moved the dark curtain of hair away from the teacher's ear and saw that there was blood there. He looked at the other ear and saw that it was similarly bloodied. He bit his lip and stroked the black hair. "It's gonna be okay, sir. It's gonna be okay."
§§§§§§
Draco's hands were clenched into fists. Two members of the Order were set to question him, Albus and Remus. Albus thought it best that the questioners be people Draco knew on some level and who knew him as well. The other members chatted in low tones in the living room, glancing occasionally at the closed door. Remus stood close to Draco and did the talking, while Albus sat back and watched.
"Draco, tell us where they are."
"I can't. I don't know anything." He stared straight ahead.
"Do you want Professor Snape to die?"
Saying nothing, Draco shot the lycanthrope a venomous look.
"Your father knows where they're being held. Most likely he is the one who has been set to torture Professor Snape."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Remus chuckled. "You know your father. You know firsthand how he treats people."
Draco's eyes brimmed with tears. "My father is a good man." He swallowed hard.
"Severus is being tortured, Draco. That is, if he's still alive."
"Shut up!"
"I know a little about your dad, Draco. He doesn't use your basic hexes and curses. Oh no, they're not nearly enough for him. He likes to be creative."
"You don't know anything about my father!"
"He's a cruel man, a sadist." Remus decided it was time to bring things home to the boy. "I've seen people after he's tortured them, Draco." He got very close to Draco's ear. "Some weren't even recognizable as people anymore."
"That's not true!" A lone tear trailed down the young Slytherin's pale cheek.
Albus had told Remus that there was a special bond between Draco and Severus and that he might use this to his advantage. He was told to say whatever would work to get the boy to talk. Remus decided that stretching the truth was the least of the sins he could commit at this point. He pulled out a chair and sat, his face coming close to Draco's. Speaking softly he said, "I thought you liked Severus. He's only told me good things about you, Draco."
"He's talked about me?" Draco said before he could stop himself. He glanced at Remus and then quickly glanced away.
"Oh, yes. He told me how proud he is—"
"—Stop it!—"
"—How he wished he had a son like you—"
"— No, stop it!—"
"You don't want him to die, do you Draco?"
Draco began to cry. "I don't believe you. My dad won't hurt him." In Draco's mind's eye he first saw his father and then himself breaking the restrained man's ribs with the horrible curse. He was fooling himself. Father would kill him and would enjoy it to Snape's last breath.
"Tell us where they are, before it's too late."
"I…I c-can't. Father w-will kill me. He'll kill me s-slowly—"
"—Like he's killing Severus?" countered Remus.
A moan escaped from the blond's throat. "Yes!" His head fell forward, tears flowing freely. "Yes! I don't want him to die! I just wanted father out of prison. I don't want him to die! Help me!"
Albus moved in. "It's okay, child. We'll keep you safe. Tell us what we need to know and it'll be fine. Shhh." Albus hugged the blond head to him, nodding to Remus.
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