"You have served me many years"
"Yes"
"Remained loyal to me when most thought I was dead or broken beyond repair"
"Yes"
"Sustained me in my weakness"
"Yes"
"And now that I am reaching again towards the heights to which I rose so many years ago, I must confess that I owe much of my success to you"
"My Lord is too kind"
The Dark Lord laughed, a high, piercing laugh. "That I am not, and well do you know it. I am merely fair. However, I am also puzzled"
"About what, my Lord"
"It is obvious that one decides to follow me for a reason. Most desire the power they can gain by becoming a Death Eater. Others crave violence and pain and want to find a worthy reason to inflict it. Some groups of magical creatures lust after the freedoms I promise them that the Ministry will not grant them. And others fear what would become of them and their families if they refused me"
Here he turned to Nagini, his eyes questioning. "But you desire neither power, nor violence. You do not fear me, you have no family, and you ask not for freedom. What, then, are your reasons"
"Can you not extract your answer from me"
"You are far too skilled at Occulmancy, my dear, else I would already have done so"
Nagini's smiled, a slow, icy smile that could chill a man to the bone. But the Dark Lord was no man.
"I follow you, my Lord, simply because I find that I have nothing more pressing to do"
"Yes"
"Remained loyal to me when most thought I was dead or broken beyond repair"
"Yes"
"Sustained me in my weakness"
"Yes"
"And now that I am reaching again towards the heights to which I rose so many years ago, I must confess that I owe much of my success to you"
"My Lord is too kind"
The Dark Lord laughed, a high, piercing laugh. "That I am not, and well do you know it. I am merely fair. However, I am also puzzled"
"About what, my Lord"
"It is obvious that one decides to follow me for a reason. Most desire the power they can gain by becoming a Death Eater. Others crave violence and pain and want to find a worthy reason to inflict it. Some groups of magical creatures lust after the freedoms I promise them that the Ministry will not grant them. And others fear what would become of them and their families if they refused me"
Here he turned to Nagini, his eyes questioning. "But you desire neither power, nor violence. You do not fear me, you have no family, and you ask not for freedom. What, then, are your reasons"
"Can you not extract your answer from me"
"You are far too skilled at Occulmancy, my dear, else I would already have done so"
Nagini's smiled, a slow, icy smile that could chill a man to the bone. But the Dark Lord was no man.
"I follow you, my Lord, simply because I find that I have nothing more pressing to do"
Draco did not sleep well. Over and over he saw the scene replayed in his mind: up the stairs, wand at the ready, bursting through the door. Then willing himself to do it, just do it, be like father, father, father. Time pressing him from all sides. Then the Death Eaters after him, more pressure, pressure, pressure, but he just couldn't do it, he was a coward. And Snape, wand out, doesn't bat an eye. Green light. And Dumbledore, slumping, sinking against the wall. Gone.
And it wasn't even over then, because that's when the running began. Faster, harder, duck and dodge. He barely remembered how he made it out. All he knew was that he owed his safety to Snape, and he couldn't forgive him for that.