The Similarities of Love and Hate
By Jinxd n Cursed
Disclaimer: If I owned it, would I be writing fanfiction?
Chapter Seventeen
Meeting
XxXxXxXxX
"You are late."
The Dark Lord's voice was high and cold as Draco took his place in the circle. A cold sweat already dripped out of every pore. Suddenly remembering his manners, he dropped to his knees and crawled forward to kiss the hem of his "Master's" robes.
"My sincerest apologies, Master. I was detained by the Granger girl's incessant questioning," he said.
Draco crawled halfway to his spot in the circle.
"Crucio," the Dark Lord said simply. There was no emotion in his voice. If one had not known the purpose of the spell he had cast, they might think the spell folded laundry or stirred a pot of soup. The Dark Lord treated torture with a casualness that was utterly appalling. It showed how truly twisted and evil he was.
Draco was not focused on the mentality of the Dark Lord, however. He writhed on the ground, his muscles twitching. Simultaneously, he felt like he was burning up and freezing to death as his bones and blood felt like liquid fire, uncooled by the ice of his skin and muscles. The seconds stretched out like days, weeks, years; his eyes almost painfully wide, seeing nothing but flashes of white, half-blinding him. Just as he felt like he would explode from the pain, it stopped.
It felt like he had been there for years. He couldn't possibly be seventeen anymore; he felt like he had aged fifty years. His muscles twitched as he lay on the ground, drenched in sweat. The inside of his mouth felt dry and his throat was raw. Has he been screaming? He could not tell. His vision cleared and he could hear again. Suddenly, he was aware of the other Deatheaters snickering at him, including his father who looked down at him disdainfully. Summoning what little strength he still possessed, he lifted himself to his hands and knees and crawled back into the circle.
"See that you are never late again," the Dark Lord said coldly, looking down at Draco.
He nodded, panting with the effort to keep himself from collapsing on the ground. The Dark Lord turned away from him to look at the other members of the circle. He conversed briefly with each, sometimes congratulating and other times punishing as he had punished Draco.
Suddenly, Draco felt a sharp tug on his left arm. When he looked to see who had done it, he has the horrible mask that concealed his father's face. The only way of recognizing Lucius was his long, white-blond hair.
"Get up," he hissed, dragging his son into a standing position. "You will not embarrass me further this night. Stand up and show that you are strong and proud as I am."
Supported by his father's hand and the hand of the person to his right, he rose to his feet. Even so, he panted from the exertion. His muscles spasmed and twitched, and his bones still felt like fire. Was there no end to the pain even when the curse was over?
The Dark Lord stopped to talk to the Death Eater to his right. Discreetly, that member let go of his elbow.
"Ah, Severus," the Dark Lord murmured. "What news?"
Draco wasn't sure if he was shocked that his head of house belonged to the inner circle of Death Eaters. Hot disappointment flooded him. He had once looked up to the man and had hoped he would aid him in leaving the ranks of the Deatheaters. His stomach clenched and he threw up his dinner.
Snape looked at him disdainfully before turning back to the Dark Lord. "The fool still trusts me beyond reason. However, his trust in my goodwill toward Potter is limited. He will not let me any closer to the boy. Potter, however, is growing slightly more trusting of me. When he has left Hogwarts, I may be able to manipulate him to our cause."
The Dark Lord contemplated the dark-haired wizard's words. Draco watched as he tilted his head ever so slightly, his wand gripped loosely in his hand. "Adequate. There will be no punishment for you tonight. No reward, but no punishment. See that you gain Dumbledore's trust fully regarding Potter. We will need this to bring the boy to our side or to destroy him."
Snape bowed his head. "Yes Master. You are gracious."
"My grace and mercy is in limited supply Severus. You try my patience with every delay. Why does the fool not trust you?" he asked.
"He fears my hate of Potter's father affects my feelings toward the son," he said.
"You will have to correct that," the Dark Lord said softly. He turned away from the professor and looked to Draco. Subtly, Snape reached for Draco's elbow again.
The Dark Lord stepped in front of him. "Ah, Draco."
He said something else but Draco could not hear him. He saw images flashing across his mind. His tutors from when he was younger. The sorting hat telling him that with his blood, he was bound for Slytherin. Pansy writhing underneath him the night he lost his virginity. Charms class. The results of his OWLs. The fake Moody turning him into a ferret. Innocuous images. Then the things he didn't want seen spun out. Hermione in the shower. Hermione in the Potions lab, making the potion to hide her pregnancy. Hermione crying.
Then the presence in his mind pulled back and his vision cleared. He saw the Dark Lord smiling in his sick, twisted way. "Potter's mudblood," he said. "Tell me, Draco. Do you enjoy watching her in the shower, seeing water run off her plump breasts? Do you want to fuck her?"
Draco didn't answer. At least he hadn't seen his talk with Dumbledore.
"You should not dirty yourself in her filth," he hissed. "She is dirt."
Draco had been raised to think this but she contradicted every belief he'd once held about Muggleborns. Hermione wasn't filth, she wasn't dirty, and she wasn't stupid.
"But it appears the filth likes you," he said. "We will use this." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "If the chit likes you, return her attentions. We can use her to get to Potter. Use whatever means you have to bring her to us. Watch her and watch Potter. If you can manipulate her well enough, you will be much rewarded. I might let you have the mudblood slut when we are done."
As the Dark Lord turned away from him, he could hear his blood pounding in his ears. What was he going to do?
XxXxXxXxX
I will take this time to point out that if you kill me, you won't know how the story ends.
