Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor am I a Hairy Otter.
Chapter 19: Like a Pony
If Nymphadora Correstantzatarashiwa Tonks had one thing to say it would be that torture was not exactly a ride around the carousel. She would say that it hurt and it hurt badly. She put it to the equivalent of being stuck in a very small space with Genghis Khan and Richard Simmons for a year with nothing to eat except old over-cooked cabbage and rancid prune juice. In truth, the pain had become so intense that she began to think that it wouldn't be so bad if Genghis showered regularly.
Laughter was ringing in her head. Her vision was blurry and the light seemed to move in impossible ways. Demons struck out at her, a whirlpool of pestilent creatures stabbing her with needles all over her body. They were speaking to her, but she refused to answer. With each refusal, the pain became worse.
"Submit to us, Nymphadora."
Her name was said so lovingly that it was sickening. Tonks could stand it. Screw them, she thought. That had been the only coherent thought she could string together. Her mind was jumbled, but she resisted them as best as she could.
"Submit not!" she yelled with the only voice she had. "Richard will get you for this!"
If Tonks had not been withering in pain on the floor, she would have heard the whispers. No one knew who this "Richard" was. Most just scoffed, but some, or at least one, such as Severus Snape, stared at her with a hard cold look. He didn't like this "Richard." Voldemort on the other hand looked contemplative. He had never heard of this man. Was he a member of the Order?
But Tonks did not get to witness these reactions. She was once again in the grasp of demons. She struggled ferociously, each breath becoming more and more difficult. She did not want to submit; she would want to die before doing so, but she knew that they would not kill her. She knew that the game could go on all night. At least that was what her subconscious thought. Her conscious couldn't even remember why she was struggling.
Surrender, said a voice."Never!" she yelled as loud as she could.
Voldemort once again looked contemplative. He had known that she was strong and spirited, but most, even the strongest, broke before this point. He watched curiously as she broke into convulsions. How to do it, he wondered. He did not have forever; he had to act soon. He delved deeper into her mind, trying to extract something that might help. Voldemort frowned. There was a block. He did not know if she was doing it, or if she was being protected. A new measure of the Order, perhaps? But, to guard the minds without Oculmency was a difficult task indeed.
Voldemort flashed his eyes at Snape. No, it couldn't be. No one could come up with such a clever ruse.
Meanwhile, Tonks had to make it stop. The laughter, not the pain, was getting to her. She yelled, cursed to demons into oblivion. They backed off slightly, which gave her enough room for confidence and rational thought. She stopped just struggling and started to fight them. Magic surged through her veins. Then the sharp shots of pain ceased and only the bitter after taste remained.
Spitting blood, Tonks looked up weakly at the master of the demons. "Genghis wins," she said, with a small grin.
An irate curiosity came over the Death Eaters. They could not fathom how this young woman could defy their master. They did not see how she could have the strength, the audacity, or the idiocy to do such. Many were outraged. She exploited their weaknesses, but they did not know how to make her pay. They would, though; in the end she would pay most dearly.
Tonks tried to pick herself up off the floor. Her arms weren't working very well, nor were her legs. Whispers grew louder and louder. Although she wasn't sure what the Death Eaters were saying, their soft voices were like sharp screams to her ears. A voice rang from in front of her. The voice of the snake. "Bring Fenir."
Fear shot down Tonks' spine. She knew that name. He was the one who preyed on the weak. He had bitten Remus. He had attacked Bill Weasley. Tonks would not be surprised if he ripped her to pieces with his bare teeth. Oh, happy day, thought Tonks.
"No, wait, don't get Fenir. It's a full moon tonight; he has work to do," said Voldemort. Tonks let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She watched Voldemort. It gave her satisfaction to know that he was perplexed by her. She just hoped that that would turn out to be an advantage.
It wasn't an advantage. Tonks could see it in his cold red eyes. Voldemort had an idea. "Severus, bring me your store of somnium dulcis."
If Snape was at all fazed by this order, he did not show it. On the other hand, Tonks saw Draco blanche out of the corner of her eye. She was sure that it wasn't going to be good. Then again, she did not know how it could be good seeing that she was at a party being tortured by the Dark Lord.
Snape returned minutes later with a small glass vial filled with a vibrant blue liquid. He handed it to Voldemort, who in turn, approached Tonks. "Do you know what this is, Nymphadora?"
"No, I do not," she answered honestly.
"This is a potion so foul, so potent, that it must only be kept in vials made of the most fine dragon made glass. It takes years to brew and one mistake could detrimental. The ingredients are some of the most rare, a combination that will bring horrors upon the drinker more terrible than any can imagine. Do you submit?"
"Never," said Tonks firmly, bracing herself for what might come next.
"Very well," said Voldemort. Tonks struggled as Voldemort advanced, pouring the liquid down her throat. It burned horribly. She immediately felt nausea wash over her. She found her breathing labored as she fell to her knees. She was lost.
No one ever would know the extent of the pain that Tonks felt that night. She screamed with anguish. The potion was, as Voldemort had said, 'more terrible than any could imagine.' Sweet dreams, but it was anything but sweet. Nightmares plagued Tonks' mind. They were sickening and horrifying, not to mention grotesquely realistic.
Tonks couldn't even try to resist. She hadn't cried in ten years, but now she was drowning in them. The Death Eaters flinched as they watched her. It was a horrible sight. It ended quickly, but to Tonks it seamed like eternity. Voldemort crouched over her and whispered in a barely auditable voice, "Do you submit?"
Tonks looked up weakly. "Yes," she croaked before letting the darkness take her.
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A/N: And that is what I would call a darker chapter. I hope it is more than satisfactory. As always thank you to everyone for reading with an extra special thank you to everyone for reviewing!
---Perplexity
darkmarkgirl--Thank you, perhaps I should start another story: "Death Eaters are People Too." Either way, I am glad you like my portrayals.
rebelwilla-- Could you please elaborate one what your confused about? Perhaps I can be of help.
Isolated Mind-- One of the best? Now I am just getting warm tinglies. Thank you.
Tu lo sai inc.-- I apologize profusely for spelling and grammar errors (except for the purposeful ones that are used with artistic license). As for firing my BETA, well, I would find it very sad to fire myself. I will try to do a better job though. Except with commas, I passionately dislike trying to figure out comma usage rules.
xtotallyatpeacex-- I'd say this one's scarier than the last. I hope you are not disappointed with the turn of events.
