A/N: Sorry I got this up so late... I am in the process of acquiring a life, so you'll have to excuse me.
He knew. I don't know how, but he knew.
He had called us all together, a few nights after my attack on Slughorn's house. We all, of course,went obediently. We had seen what happened when someone disobeyed.
He asked me to come foreward. I did, suspecting nothing. Looking back, I wonder what I would have done if I had known what was to come. Would I have turned tail and ran? I should like to think not.
"My friend," his lips were twisted firmly upward, but you could tell her wasn't happy. "Your first mission was not a success."
I hadn't expected this - was I not to be commended? For all he knew, the Slughorns were dead, burned along with the rest of their house. "No, milord," I bowed my head, "I failed to persuade him. For this I am sorry."
He sneered at me,"Save the formalities, Black. Crucio!"
I screamed. I felt pain like I had never felt before in my life, a wrenching, stinging, horrific hurt that washed over me immediately.
His wand trained on the spot where I lay, he circled me. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?" he hissed, "Did you think you would get away with it?"
I gasped, trying to crawl towards him, to grovel at his feet like a dog, to beg for mercy, "Master..." I reached out my hand towards his robes. Swiftly, he pulled them out of my reach, as if my touch would dirty them.
"I should kill you," he twirled his wand in his hand, and then point it at me.
"No... no... Master..." I cried out, "I'll do anything- kill anyone, imperius the Minister of Magic, torture my own family-"
The Dark Lord smiled, seeming to have thought of an idea, "No. You'll do worse."