Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I hear any Prairy Otters.

Chapter 17: Culinary Disaster Piece

The doors swung open and a man in a deep gray uniform greeted them. Tonks didn't say a word as the man lead her and Snape through the dark halls of the Malfoy manor. She just worked on preparing herself, steadying her breathing and planning her miraculous escape. She was so distracted that she didn't see the stair in front of her.

There was a crash as she went flying, smashing into the uniformed man. She weakly picked herself up, muttering an apology.

"Always the clumsy one, aren't you Nymphadora?" sneered Snape.

"Better clumsy than a git," she mumbled back.

"Manners, Nymphadora, manners. The Dark Lord is not as accommodating as I."

"Yeah, but he's as much as a bastard—"

Tonks was cut off by the uniformed man's wand at her throat. His eyes burned into hers. She felt his anger.

"I would think you would be smarter than that. To insult the Dark Lord in front of his most loyal servants is most foolish," said Snape. "Lyle, lower your wand, the Dark Lord wants her whole."

Tonks breathing slowed as the wand was withdrawn from her neck. Lyle glared at her, but continued to lead them until they came to another pair of great doors. Lyle pulled them open to reveal a lavish, but darkly decorated hall. It was full of seated men and women in black dress robes. A table, slightly elevated, stood at one end, surrounded by a few other lower tables.

At the other end stood a small stage with a dance floor. The stage was set for a band. Social gathering my arse, thought Tonks. She did not know why Snape couldn't have just said 'ball' or 'party' or whichever other term was more fitting.

She also instantly felt very awkward. She was a bright spot of color in a sea of darkness. Everyone else was seated with their eyes on her and Snape. She could make out Voldemort at the center seat of the elevated table. To his left sat her aunt Bellatrix, and uncles Lucius and Rodolphus. The two seats to his immediate left were empty. Wormtail sat on the far left. Tonks gulped, the empty seats were obviously for her and Snape.

Voldemort stood up. "I would like to introduce our guest of honor for this evening," he said, his sinister voice echoing through the hall. "Miss Nymphadora Tonks."

Everyone one clapped as Snape lead her to her seat, directly next to Voldemort.

"Nymphadora, my dear, it is lovely of you to join us for this celebration. I hope Severus has been treating you well."

Tonks, despite how scared she was, smiled. "Of course. He made me breakfast in bed three days this week. Did you know how wonderful a cook he is? I suppose he gets it from being a potions master. Oh, and then after that he gave me the most marvelous foot rub! You should really get him to give you one. What that man can do with his hands—"

At this Snape stomped on her foot, cutting her off, but Voldemort just laughed. His cold laughter sent a shiver up Tonks' back. "Nymphadora, you speak so freely for someone in your position. And I daresay that you have succeeded in making Severus blush…"

"If I had thought I possible for Snape to blush, I would have told you about the handcuffs…" said Tonks. Her brain was screaming at her to stop, that she should be cowering and begging for mercy, not having civil conversation with the Dark Lord.

"You are either braver or more foolish than I thought. Most cower before me, but you do not. While this is interesting, I wonder perhaps if you cower inside, that you are not showing me your true self."

Before Tonks could answer, food appeared before her. Everyone began to eat, except Tonks.

"Nymphadora, I have no doubt that you are hungry. I encourage you to eat. You'll need the strength," said Voldemort.

Tonks eyed him for a moment before grabbing Snape's partially eaten plate and switched it with hers. Before Snape could say a thing, nonetheless curse her, Voldemort let out another laugh. "You do have spirit. It will be a pity to have to kill you."

Tonks did not say a word; she just started eating. Voldemort did not seem to like her unresponsiveness, but he continued talking anyway. "I recommend that you enjoy that meal as well; it may be your last."

"It is rather difficult to enjoy a meal in such company, especially when the meal is, at best, mediocre."

"Nymphadora, you would do well to remember your manners. I also must add that this food was made by the most accomplished chef in the world."

"I would hardly say that. The vegetables are overcooked, thereby depleting their natural flavor. Instead of the sauce being a complementary flavor, it is so saturated and profuse that it overpowers the subtle taste and texture of the food. He, or she, should have used fresh green onion, instead of what I believe to be onion powder. This is a 'culinary disaster piece,' if you will," said Tonks, analyzing her plate.

"Yet you continue to eat it most ravenously?" questioned Voldemort.

"Yes, as it may be my last meal."

After that, Voldemort turn his attention to Lucius. Tonks paid very little attention to the conversation surrounding her. Her only thought was of how to escape this place. She couldn't overthrow the potion though. She tried willing herself to jump out of her chair and run, but she found that it was impossible. His hold over her was too strong.

As everyone finished eating, Voldemort stood once again. "My friends, I do hope that you all enjoyed your dinner. And now, the entertainment will commence."

Tonks blanched; she had been dreading this time. Everyone stood up and the tables were whisked away, leaving a much larger dance floor. A band stuck up and a formal tune began.

"Nymphadora, if I may have the first…" said Voldemort, his red eyes gleaming.

Tonks wanted to tell him where exactly he could shove that answer, but she found that her voice had gone. She realized that he taunted and humiliated his prey before the real fun started.

She shuddered as his long fingers grasped her waist, the other her hand. If Tonks could say one other thing, it was that Voldemort was a good dancer. Tonks felt her face go red. They were the only ones dancing; everyone else watched with mocking eyes.

Tonks almost came to tears as she felt his cool breath on her cheek as he whispered into her ear. "Your fate awaits you expectantly. Death's toll will sound once more for the House of Black."

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A/N: As always, thank you to everyone for reading and everyone for reviewing. I am excited to announce over ten thousand hits for this story, which makes me very happy. I meant to post this last week, but wasn't able to do to the site fixings. Therefore, I am already to work on the next chapter. Also, I plan to be done with this story as soon as possible: if not by late June, then by August. We are, my friends, nearing the end.

Thank you,

---Perplexity