--don't own don't sue! cheers:)

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Pride and Punishment

Narcissa sat motionless on her bed. Her cheeks were sore and dry from hours of crying, and now she had no tears left to shed. Time was running out, and from what her sister had told her Draco planned to assault Hogwarts any day now. She had not slept, she had not eaten, and now she had lost all will to live. She sat, waiting to hear news of her son's fate, for Aurors to invade the house and arrest her, or for the Dark Lord to kill her.

"You've been expecting me then?" His voice made her shiver but she was not startled. She didn't even flinch anymore at the sound of his voice.

"I knew you'd come for me…even if my son survived this task. I knew you would still come…" She said dryly.

Voldemort swept into the room. The house was deathly silent. The house-elves hearts were no longer beating. No witnesses. "Lucius must be punished for his pride you knew that."

"Is Azkaban not punishment enough? Why must you torment him so? He made a mistake!" She started to cry. In ordinary circumstances she would never have questioned the Dark Lord, but she was facing death head on…why not get answers beforehand.

"So that the others will learn from his mistake…that failure…will cause nothing but pain…and death!" He was so close she could feel his breath on her neck.

"What about Draco? Will you kill him too? What if, by some miracle he succeeds?" She swallowed.

"He will fail...I am certain...and yes…he will die…and his father will be the one who does it!"

"Then kill me now…before I do it myself."

"Fear not Narcissa…they will be joining you soon enough."

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Snape drummed his fingers nervously on the fireplace. Every second seemed like an hour, and he knew he was going to be in trouble. Big Trouble. Voldemort wanted Draco to do it for one reason. He wanted the boy to fail. He wanted Lucius to suffer.

"You brought news?" The soft purring voice of Voldemort, caused Snape to spin around in surprise and immediately drop to one knee. Every deatheater had their own way of showing their respect for the Dark Lord. This helped to know their temperaments. Lucius always stood tall and proud, hands clasped behind his back, looking him straight in the eye, Wormtail would grovel on the floor and practically pray before him. Bellatrix was a mixture of both. Sometimes she stood her ground bravely, other times she bowed. It depended on the Dark Lord's mood, which would shift in seconds from one end of the spectrum to the other. But all would display what they considered to be the utmost respect.

"Look at me." Voldemort snapped. Snape immediately tilted his head up to the Dark Lord, who glared inhumanly at him.

"I killed Albus Dumbledore my lord." He decided to come straight out with the truth.

The Dark Lord's mouth twitched, and his eyes burned with a deep fury. "I thought I made it clear that the young Malfoy was to do it." He said slowly. A slight shake in the voice was enough to tell Severus that the Dark Lord was absolutely furious with him.

"Draco cornered and disarmed him… I finished him off. My foolish pride wanted the glory of the kill." He lied. "I didn't think…"

"No you didn't think!" Voldemort swept out with his wand and mentally cursed Snape.

Snape felt his throat was being crushed from the inside, his air was cut off and he couldn't breath. He dared not take his eyes from Voldemort, and stayed in a bowing position, despite the fact he was being strangled by an invisible force.

Voldemort released him with a flick of his wand, and held out his hand, motioning for Snape to stand. He wouldn't be able to get the information he needed by reading his mind, Snape was too powerful for that. "What happened." He glared.

He took a few seconds to cough and regain his breath.

"Draco…" He gasped, "…and a small group of Deatheaters including Fenrir, Alecto, Amycus and Gibbon infiltrated Hogwarts School without my knowledge. I was awoken by a fellow professor about the attack, and proceeded immediately toward the tower …there I was astonished to find Draco had Dumbledore cornered and disarmed." Snape paused for breath and watched the Dark Lord's face contort from fury to disbelief.

"I saw Draco was about to succeed in his task. The selfish part of me intervened, wanting the pleasure of such a kill." Snape finished.

There was a silence as the Dark Lord took in what was said. "…the boy cornered and disarmed the great Albus Dumbledore? By himself?" he sneered, adamant that Snape was lying, in an attempt to protect the boy.

"Dumbledore seemed weakened by something, I know not why. Either he duelled with Malfoy and lost, or he was already to weak to fight back. Dumbledore had suffered a great injury from the destruction of your ring, and before his death he seemed…sickened by something…I do not know what exactly but he looked as if he had been poisoned." Snape remembered every last detail, and told the Dark Lord everything. Except Draco's 'hesitation' to kill. That would not bode well with Voldemort.

"Where are the others?" Voldemort asked. He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it. He wanted Snape to admit his brethren's failure.

"We were greatly outnumbered my Lord. Gibbon is dead, I believe Fenrir and some others have been captured, Alecto and Amycus have disappeared. My sole concern was to get Draco out of Hogwarts before the Ministry's Aurors showed up."

Voldemort's mouth twitched ever so slightly. Whether it was from happiness or anger Snape did not know. "You care for the boy don't you?" he smiled maliciously.

Snape swallowed uneasily. "I made Lucius a promise 16yrs ago, and I intend to keep it. Draco's mother is dead…as his Godfather I am now his guardian." There was a long pause. Snape had only casually mentioned Narcissa's demise, perhaps the Dark Lord had ignored it, perhaps he didn't care…or did he already know?

Voldemort walked toward Snape, leaning closer. "I wonder…as the boy's guardian, would you kill him, if I ever wished it." He hissed.

Snape met the Dark Lord's eyes. "Yes."

"We'll see." Voldemort raised his wand, pointing it at Snape's forehead. Snape braced himself for his punishment, and it was delivered.

"Crucio!"

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