Chapter 11 - "Though This Be Madness"

ooo000ooo000ooo000


Raven's eyes narrowed critically as she took in the figure of Lord Voldemort. You are one ugly bugger, she thought critically. Now that his hood was down, she could see what Dumbledore had meant when he called him "reptilian". His greenish/grey skin had patches of scales, and the front of his face was flat...no nose; merely a couple slits. The eyes were a blood-red with snakish pupils, which contracted malevolently as they scanned the open field they were in.

She was surprised when he looked right past her as though she wasn't even there. The sorceress quickly reminded herself that this was nothing more than a memory, and that she could only witness the scenes about to unfold...no matter how hard she wished she could alter them. Suddenly remembering Dumbledore was also in the memory, she looked about to try and locate him, but he was nowhere to be found. That was a little disconcerting, but Raven had no time to search for him because just then Lord Voldemort rolled up his sleeve and placed the tip of a long, black wand to the tattoo of the Dark Mark. Immediately, several figures appeared with loud cracks, and she recognized the same type of black robes and white masks as the ones Professor Snape had been wearing. As a few more remaining Death Eaters popped into existence, the small group aligned themselves in a circle around their leader, who stood impatiently with his arms crossed and eyes almost as thin as his nostrils.

Raven wondered if these were the only followers the Dark Lord had, and if so, then why was it so difficult for Dumbledore to defeat him. She was new to the magical world, and there were many new things for her to learn, so she assumed that the warfare of wizards differed from that she was familiar with. Perhaps in this new universe it was common for armies to consist of merely a dozen or so people. But the more likely reason was that these Death Eaters were not the only ones Voldemort had under his command.

The cloaked figures bowed simultaneously while their leader sent a shot of red sparks up into the night sky. The sorceress watched mesmerized as the sparks turned to a green smoke and formed into a human skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. Her attention was returned to the group as Voldemort strode around, speaking in a waspish, breathy voice. It was so airy, that Raven couldn't hear what he was declaring to his Death Eaters. She slowly approached the circle, still unfamiliar with a Pensive's workings and alert to any sign they detected her presence. By the time she got within hearing range, the Dark Lord and snarled at one of the Death Eaters and slung him down into the center of the ring.

"Crucio."

Immediately, crackling red energy shot out of the tip of Voldemort's wand and encompassed the cloaked figure on the ground. Inhuman screams were heard as the Death Eater writhed in agony under the seemingly indifferent gaze of the small crowd.

Raven felt a jolt of unnatural anxiety at the notion that it could very well be Professor Snape beneath the mask of the figure curling up into a ball. After all, the very reason for visiting this memory was to discover how he had ended up as he was when Raven found him. She mentally braced herself for whatever grotesque display might be viewed.

If that man was Severus Snape, it would definitely explain the condition he was in when he returned. But why? Why was he punished so severely? What had he done to deserve such brutal and savage treatment? And, Raven couldn't help but think, why would so many people stay loyal to someone who treats them so horribly? She kicked herself for not running up to the group sooner to learn why this Death Eater was being tortured.

During the commotion, the hood of the punished Death Eater had been scraped off while he was rolling on the ground and Raven was relieved to see that it was no one she recognized. That told her that Snape was among the ones watching this ordeal dispassionately, and she wondered whether or not his calm composure was due to his proficient ability at self control or if he truly did not care about his cohort before him. In all honesty, she herself couldn't bring herself to even pity the stranger. It was not that she condoned or even tolerated sadistic cruelty...she had had her fill of it...but Raven had got to the point where she felt an emotional detachment from everything. It was for this reason she was so puzzled why she felt a distinct protectiveness for Severus Snape - someone she had only met earlier that day. She hadn't felt this way for years... not even for the Titans when they were together. She mentally shook herself. Raven had not allowed emotions from clouding her judgment before as it was too dangerous, and she was not about to start now. She needed to sort out her recent feelings and eliminate them for once and for all.

"Please...Master...please..." the middle-aged man pleaded in between screams, "I'm...sorry..."

"Sssorry isss no excussss!" Voldemort spat, increasing the strength of the curse on the man. "Begging will get you nowhere! When I assign you a tasssk, I expect you to do it!"

"B-but Master...I t-tried...I...tried..." he whimpered through clenched teeth.

"Do not lie to me! I know when my servants lie to me! Trying iss never enough! I expect resssultss! Not jussst from you - from all of you! Iss that clear?"

The group of Death Eaters bowed collectively, murmuring, "Yes, my Lord."

Raven curled her lip at the unanimity and fearful compliance with which these slaves obey this tyrant and wondered how the professor could possibly stand to willingly lower himself like this. It must be hard for a man as proud as he to subject himself to such debasement. The sorceress didn't know what else the Dark Lord's followers were required to do, but she had seen enough to know that he ran a revolting organization.

Raven pulled herself from her thoughts as the curse was lifted from the prone Death Eater, and he crawled back to his place in the circle.

"Let that be a reminder to you all! I will not accept anything lessss than successss! And after such a warning, if you dissssappoint me again, your reprimand will be threefold!"

Several Death Eaters shifted uncomfortably. None of them wanted to get on their lord's bad side...especially since they knew the consequences.

"Lessstrange! Step forward!" Voldemort hissed.

One of the cloaked figures glided forward with its head down.

"Report! What progresss hasss been made with the Macaby family?"

To Raven's surprise, the voice that replied was female. "We are having trouble infiltrating the Unspeakable branch of the Ministry, my lord. The security measures are unexpectedly..."

"Unexpectedly?" the Dark Lord interrupted, "you should have known the full extent of their resources and found out exactly what security measures they had taken!"

"But Master, I -"

"I care little for excusesss, Bellatrix! Only victory!"

"Yes, master."

"You will return to your work and double your efforts! I expect good newsss when we meet again."

The Death Eater Lestrange bowed low and backed away to return to her place in the circle like a scolded dog.

Raven watched all this with strong curiosity. Although she recognized that this leader was depraved on so many levels, and that his evil was absolute, she had to respect him in the sense that after all the barbaric treatment of his own supporters, he somehow maintained his position and retained the loyalty of his Death Eaters. The oppression of his followers went unquestioned and un-protested. Evidently this was due to the observation that Voldemort would severely torture anyone who spoke up or questioned him. But was there no secret organization amongst the Death Eaters which plotted revenge for such dealings? Were there no whisperings of a rebellion or a look of discontent shared between victims of their lord's wrath? Did they all obey each and every command given them without any internal struggle with their morality or even their human desire for freedom?

They were pitiful in her eyes. A group of individuals surrendering their God-given rights as human beings without a quarrel or fuss about it. Yes they were branded and shackled to Voldemort's service for life, but they didn't even put up a fight...they meekly accepted their duties and positions as pawns in their master's game at power and domination. Raven was reminded of her own confrontations with her father. There was no hope then, and she hadn't expected any other outcome than Trigon's complete victory. And yet she had resisted. She had fought him to the very end, and she had won. These people did not even fight. They did not even try to resist him. What did they expect to get out of this slavery? Power? Wealth? Recognition? Were they so blind to the fact that this Voldemort would do the same thing that Trigon had intended to do to her? They were foolish if they believed this master would reward them once he gets what he wants. Did they truly not see that? Perhaps there was more to know about them, and Raven resolved to learn as much as she could about the Death Eaters when she returned.

"And now, my faithful followers," Voldemort smiled, opening his arms and striding out of the circle. Immediately, all of the Death Eaters abandoned the circle and just as quickly formed an arc facing him. The Dark Lord turned around to face everyone again, the smile still lingering on his face, but now it twisted into a vile mockery of genuine warmth. "Now, we have a traitor among us."

Everyone in the group became unnaturally still. No one dared to breathe as covert and suspicious glances were shot at their neighbors. Their master had just given one of them a death sentence, and because of his acute paranoia, he was liable to accuse any one of them. Raven held her breath as she waited for, and dreaded, the professor's name being called.

Muscles tensed, eyes widened, and lungs stopped as Voldemort's wand was held vertically, and then was slowly lowered to point at one of the robed figures. "Step forward, Mister Weasley." His voice was neither angry nor hissed...on the contrary – it held a pleasantly amused quality to it. It was more terrifying than if he had shouted.

A young man stumbled forward and fell to his knees, quaking in fear. The Dark Lord approached the kneeling Death Eater, his long, tattered, black robe trailing the ground behind him. The cloaked figure shook violently, but did not raise his head or speak out in his defense.

The rest of the Death Eaters immediately relaxed...relieved that they weren't chosen. Now that they were innocent, they could enjoy the execution of the guilty.

Voldemort slowly circled him, tapping his wand against the palm of his scaly hand as he went.

"Reveal yourself. Reveal your cowardly face to the friends you betrayed!"

The man jerkily pulled back the heavy black hood and removed the white mask to expose a young, freckled, tear-stained face, not even twenty years old. The bright red hair brought out the light-brown eyes, which were staring straight ahead in a shocked daze.

Voldemort's voice returned from a furious hiss back to hideously misplaced amusement. "Sssso, Missster Weasley, are you having fun, yet? No? Well, we're only jussst getting sssstarted!" he chuckled, " and the night is ssstill young!

"It sssseems Mister Weasley isn't enjoying himssself, friends. Shall we entertain him?"

Snickers rose from the small crowd.

The Dark Lord turned back to the condemned young man. "Did you not have fun while you were with usss? Did you not gather all the information you desired from usss? Did you not make good on that information when you got back?"

He received no reply from the sobbing Death Eater.

"Did you enjoy being a sssspy while it lasssted?"

At last Weasley raised his head, but as soon as it was up, a scaly hand striked out and back-handed the young boy across the face. His balance was lost and he collapsed on his side.

"DO YOU THINK ME A FOOL ?!" Voldemort screamed in rage. "DID YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT I WOULD NOT KNOW EVERYTHING MY SERVANTS SAY AND DO ?!"

The young Death Eater cowered in terror, crawling onto his stomach and covering his head with his arms.

"Let me make it clear that NO ONE CAN DECEIVE ME! EVERY ONE OF YOUR THOUGHTS IS KNOWN TO ME!"

He whirled around in a hurricane of fury and thrust his wand tip at shaking redhead.

"CRUCIO!"

And the punishment began from there.


Raven opened her eyes once the remains of the corpse had been Banished...at least the remains they could find. The dark girl was still on her knees, having purged her stomach several times during the past hour. She was familiar with torture and death, but never had she seen such unlimited physical destruction to the human body. Now she understood and appreciated the protest Snape had given to Dumbledore when the old wizard had suggested that she view it as well. It was not Voldemort who had killed the lad...he had tired of Crucio after several minutes and ordered his band to finish the job in whatever fashion they desired. And they had all taken up the task with much enthusiasm and creativity.

Only one stood away from the rest and watched the others. That Death Eater remained in the background and did not take part in the activity. Voldemort noticed, but didn't seem to care.

"You don't wish to participate in the fessstivitiesss, Snape?"

"Only if my master allows it." Raven smiled at the familiar voice.

"You never were one for sssport, were you, Severusss?"

"I think savagery is a waste of time and effort when a simple Avada will suffice, my lord."

"Ha ha!" Voldemort laughed. "Yesss, you never liked waste, did you? Always professional, precise, and perfunctory. You never liked to get your handss dirty."

Now that the execution was over, the rest of the Death Eaters returned to the half-circle that faced their leader. Raven tried not to notice the blood and other matter dripping from their black robes. The Dark Lord gave them a few moments to collect themselves and readjust their robes. Several cast a cleansing charm on their garb while others simply brushed the loose substances off themselves.

"Displeasing behavior...is punished swiftly and without mercy," Voldemort stated, sweeping his arm in the direction of the patch of bloody grass several yards off. "And pleasing behavior..." he laced his thin fingers together with a toothy smile, "...is rewarded. Lucius step forward."

The other robed figures looked jealously at the honored member stepping forward. The Death Eater lowered his hood and took off his mask to reveal a middle-aged man with shoulder-length bleached-blond hair. His cold grey eyes scanned arrogantly over a long, pointed nose at his other less-fortunate brothers.

"Lucius and his sssson have brought be valuable information, and he shall be rewarded for it."

The blond smirked.

"Sssnape! Ssstep forward."

The blond's smirk vanished and an envious sneer was shot at the cloaked figure that glided forward at his name and made a deep bow. The man pushed back his hood and removed his mask while still facing the ground. Limp black hair spilled out from the hood and curtained around his head, obscuring his face from the eyes of the other followers.

Raven entered the small semi-circle to get a better view and to better hear them.

Voldemort stepped to the bowed Death Eater and put one scaly finger under the chin and lifted Snape's head up. "What newsss have you brought me?"

The professor's eyes remained calm, and his voice was steady as he replied to him. "Nothing new so far, my lord. The students arrived and there's nothing to report as yet."

Was that disappointment in those reptilian eyes she saw? If it was, it was only there for a split-second, for his eyes narrowed angrily. "Nothing that you think I should know about?" the Dark Lord persisted.

Snape frowned ever so slightly, but it was obvious that he was searching for something he could present to Voldemort. "The sons of your Death Eaters are in their designated location, and I have it arranged where if their letters can't be mailed by owl, they can secretly pass the information to me and I can then deliver it to you. Dumbledore also stated that he will be having Head of House meetings more frequently this year."

"That'sss all? No new ssstudents I should be aware of?"

"Aside from an American transfer student with mixed heritage I had to take to Dumbledore, none worth mentioning."

This somehow infuriated him. "Liar!" he snarled suddenly, sending spittle flying into Snape's face. "After all this time you lie to me, Sssnape!"

"My lord, what -"

"SILENCE!" Voldemort whirled about and stormed up to Lucius. "What did your sssson tell you this evening, Lucius?"

The blond Death Eater puffed up. "Well, milord, he said quite clearly that this new American student's hair is purple. Can you believe it? He also told me that she wears very unusual clothes...even for a Muggle, which she must have been, because she didn't carry a wand. She also didn't attend the Sorting Ceremony, or the Welcoming Feast. Draco explained that once she entered the Entrance Hall, Severus met her there. He overheard him tell the girl that he was to escort her to Dumbledore's private office. It was the very first Welcoming Feast with the Headmaster absent..."

During Lucius' speech, Snape closed his eyes in resignation. He had been tested and caught in a lie...he had underestimated how much information the Dark Lord had heard. Severus desperately hoped that Voldemort wouldn't suspect him as a spy, and that he wouldn't try to scrape all the information he could from him. It was curtains for his own well-being for sure, but he prayed that he would be strong enough to hide all the valuable information he possessed until he was finally dead. Two traitors in one day...it was turning out to be a good day for the Dark Lord.

"...and Draco also made note that there was something very odd about her in the way she talked to him. Snape clearly lied. There's something important about that girl, and he took her to a long meeting with Dumbledore, and Draco told me that Snape was also absent from the Welcoming Feast, which clearly means that he was present during the meeting, which clearly tells us that Snape refuses to tell us the details of that meeting. And I say again, sir! Never, sir, never was there such infamous treason. Not only is this man a liar, but he has the shameful effrontery to claim that he is more useful to you than I, milord!"

Voldemort rolled his red eyes in annoyance at his servant's toadying. Brown nosing has never impressed him. "Lucius, cease your blather!"

"In a moment, milord. But first let me hear you pronounce sentence on this unholy cockroach. I know how anxious you are to dispose of this villainous scum so that you may proceed with the revelry. Sir, I accuse this impostor of the foulest and most loathsome crime against my Master, and I demand that he be given the full measure of your righteous wrath, and shall be disposed of before another hour is past. I tell you, milord, your mighty curses are too kind a fate for this foul being. He should be put on a spit, and roasted like yon boar!"

"Lucius..."

"...And furthermore -"

"Silence you fool!" he hissed in rage. Voldemort swung around to face Snape, who was staring at the ground at the Dark Lord's feet. "Ssnape! You deliberately failed to tell me some very important newsss! Why do you do thisss?"

"I forgot," Severus responded dully.

"Again you lie!" he snarled. "I'll have the information out of you! But you first need a little conditioning!" Voldemort turned to the rest of the Death Eaters. "I want him kept alive!"

With that, he turned and swept away, leaving Snape at the mercy of merciless butchers.


Raven had watched in horror at the torture that was handed out to him. It wasn't nearly as vile as what they had done to Weasley, as they were under orders to keep Snape alive so Voldemort could rape his mind and get the information he wanted. But it was still just as hard to watch.

They had used a combination of Wizardry and Muggle brutality to leave their victim to a bloody pulp, which explained the bruises, cuts, and boot-marks. It was not half an hour later when Voldemort returned. All the Death Eaters stepped aside as their master swept in.

The Dark Lord had knelt down and seized Severus' chin, jerking his head up so that Snape's glazed and bleeding eyes were looking into his own red slitted ones.

"Legilimens!" he incanted.

It was a relatively short time until he sat back on his heels and dropped Snape's head.

"Interesting," he muttered as he rose to his feet. "Very promising." Voldemort faced his Death Eaters. "My servants, we have a new project. That girl is truly remarkable, so I've just learned. She has a strong talent in Wandless Magic, which could help our cause. She also has a fascinating past, which could easily manipulate her to our side. With the right guidance and a perhaps little bribery, Miss Raven Roth will become a priceless asset to me.

"Lucius! Here is your reward: I am assigning you the task of bringing her to me. You will do whatever is necessary to secure her interest. Anything. Is that understood?"

Lucius bowed. "Perfectly, my master."

"The girl is invaluable to me. Her power is great...even Dumbledore admires it, I can tell. The rest of you! Should you see her, also do everything you can to entice her to join our cause. I want this girl by next month! Dismissed!"

The crowed bowed low and they started disappearing out of thin air with loud 'POP's exactly like the one Raven had heard in the Forbidden Forest. Even Voldemort disappeared. At last, only one person remained.

Snape weakly tried to push himself up into a sitting position while cradling his arm. His body began to shake violently with what Raven now knew were after effects of the Cruciatus Curse, but apparently they merely got worse after time because Severus was able to heave himself onto all fours. Once the tremors passed, the professor managed to get to his feet and, after a couple harrowing staggers, and a few moments' concentration, he popped out of existence.


Immediately, all the surroundings vaporized into the same bluish/greenish/grayish fog Raven had fallen into when she first entered the Pensive. She began to fall again, and she suddenly found herself in her other body, which had her nose sticking inside a small, round, stone bowl. Once she regained her bearings, she jerked back suddenly and nearly tripped over herself.

Severus Snape raised an eyebrow from his place on the bed. "Have fun?" he asked coldly.

Raven didn't reply, but instead quickly raised her hood and turned her back to him.

"That bad, was it?" Severus continued, but his voice now held a small portion of concern.

Dumbledore solemnly rose up from the table.

Raven and Snape waited for the Headmaster to say something.

With a heavy sigh that showed his many years, Albus turned to face them, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with the fabric of his robes. "I believe we have a problem."