Chapter 3: Torquemada

AN: Sorry to take so long updating! School took up all my time but now it's SUMMER! :-) yay! I promise I'll try to write more now that I've more time!

Draco awoke with a start, jolted from his unconsciousness. He blinked blearily, trying to brush away the blur that seemed to cover his eyes. He realized that he was sitting down, in unfamiliar surroundings. With a surge of panic, he also realized that he was tied up. His legs were tightly bound to the chair in which he sat, as were his arms and upper torso. Draco tried to pull his arms toward him, hoping to loosen his bonds, and only managed to sting his arms as they rubbed against the rope. Sighing as he realized his bonds were magical, he took in his surroundings, and noticed Snape sitting next to him, tied in a similar fashion with even more rope. Snape was staring straight in front of him, unblinking, as if he was unaware of their predicament. "Snape!" Draco hissed, "SNAPE!! What did you do? Now look at us, you've bloody well led us to the fucking slaughterhouse! You…you…what were you thinking, pissing them off like that, and letting them take our wands, you great big overgrown bat of a wiz—"

"Well you've got that right, Ferret boy," came a hard voice behind them.

Suddenly, Draco heard quick footsteps and then felt himself being yanked around, coming nose to nose with Harry bloody Potter, the rest of the Order behind him. Potter's eyes were cold, and he had a cruel little smirk; something in Draco told him that he should feel as though he were being usurped, but he brushed that aside. Right now Potter looked as if he would easily Crucio Draco without hint of remorse.

"Now, now, Harry. We have guests; we wouldn't want the bastards think us uncharitable", Shacklebolt said coldly, as if discussing the weather, "We'll figure out what it is they thought they were doing coming here, before we kill them." He mirrored Potter and yanked Snape around to face him.

"Well, seeing as you asked so politely Kingsley, I'd be more than pleased to tell you. I came to check back in with my beloved Order members, and I thought I'd bring the Malfoy boy along for the big reunion", Snape drawled.

A shout rose up from the Order members, and Potter launched himself at Snape, screaming, "You bastard! I'll kill you, I'll kill you! You fucking murderer, how dare you?!" Shacklebolt and Moody threw themselves on Potter, dragging him back and off Snape.

Snape—who, for his part, had looked vaguely amused—suddenly soured. His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and he smiled tightly. Draco remembered this look from numerous Potions class; it was the look Snape gave Gryffindors to communicate that if it weren't for Azkaban they would be long dead. "Well, if you're anything like you were the night we last saw each other, I dare say you won't be any more successful today than you were then. As to your accusation of murder, I suggest you learn to question things presented to you, instead of taking them at face value. It will be a skill you will require if you nurse a hope of surviving this war", Snape said acidly.

Moody's eyes narrowed. "What are you going on about, you snake? And be quick about it, before we let Potter loose", he growled.

Snape smirked slightly and replied, "Anything I have to tell you, you will not believe. Which is why I suggest you submit me to Veritaserum—I'll forgive you this once—and then interrogate me. It'll make everything a lot easier and quicker, and Merlin knows I've had enough of this nonsense."

Moody started at Snape, his magical eye whirring crazily. He nodded at Shacklebolt, who glared at Snape and quickly left the room.

"What's going on? What are you waiting for, kill him!" Weasely bellowed, "That greasy git Death Eater has long had it coming to him!"

The rest of the Order shuffled behind him as mutters of agreement rose out from their ranks. Moody raised his hand and the voices died down quickly. Draco noticed Snape's jaw clenching at the murmurs, but didn't know what to make of it; he was too busy concentrating on the fact that he seemed to be momentarily forgotten.

Shacklebolt returned with a vial of what appeared to be Veritaserum clenched in his massive fist. He yanked back Snape's head none-too-gently, and administered three drops of the truth serum. He backed away to rejoin Moody, eyeing Snape tensely.

Draco stared at his former Professor. His face had gone rather slack and his eyes looked dull. So this was what Veritaserum did to people.

"Severus Snape", Moody barked, "are you or are you not a Death Eater?"

"I am not" Snape replied flatly.

"Then where does your loyalty lie?" Moody bit out, amid the mutters behind him.

"I am loyal to Albus Dumbledore"

"Then why did you murder him you lying Slytherin?!" Potter screamed, conveniently forgetting that Snape couldn't lie under Veritaserum. Draco saw Granger open her mouth and then, thinking better of correcting the Boy Wonder in his rage, promptly closed it again.

"Because Albus requested that I kill him, for many reasons. The first being that I had informed him that Narcissa Malfoy had made me Vow to protect Draco in his quest to kill Dumbledore; had I refused to aid her, the Dark Lord would have grown suspicious as to the reason for my refusal. Albus also knew that Draco would not have survived the soul sickness that follows the act of murder, and so he requested I take Draco's place. You see, Albus had plans for Draco Malfoy, though he would not tell me what they were. Albus also knew that managing to kill him would place me in a position of great power if I played my cards right. Simply put, it served in the greater interest in Albus died by my hand, at my wand", Snape replied dully.

Draco saw the Weasel turning purple in his rage, in an interesting contrast to Potter's white face. The enraged red haired began bellowing, "You liar! You liar! Dumbledore would never…no, it's a lie!"

"No." Granger replied tersely, "He can't lie Ron, he's under Veritaserum. As hard as it is to swallow…he has to be telling the truth."

Moody's eye swiveled her way, before returning to Snape, whose head was now lolling forward on his chest. Moody stared at him for what felt like an eternity before slowly nodding his head. "She's right, he's telling the truth. Kingsley, we have to re-accept him back into the Order. We need him and the information he's given us for years. Dumbledore had his reasons, apparently, and he always trusted Snape here; we will have to as well. Lupin, see to it that Snape is placed in his own room again, and place a Replenishing potion next to him". Lupin nodded shortly as Snape's restraints vanished. He levitated his drugged body out of the room and out of sight.

"What about that one?" Shacklebolt inquired coolly, inclining his head towards Draco. Draco felt his stomach do a couple flips in the face of that cold stare. Gods, he hoped there was a chance they'd spare him…

Moody grunted and gave Draco a fleeting once-over with that stupid magical eye, before replying, "Malfoy will stay here, locked up. Snape has given him his protection, and so until he's back on his feet and of sound mind we'll see what worth the boy has to us. Until then, leave him here alone. I'll set up the room so that he can't slip away. For now, let's all go to bed and have a good night's rest. We'll need it…".

The rest of the Order growled, but didn't dare oppose Moody. Draco spied the Golden Trio glaring at him darkly, but they too left the room with the adults, leaving him alone in the dark as Moody turned the lights off. Draco didn't care that he was still tied to the chair and sitting alone in the dark; all he could think of was that he was still alive. He'd been certain that Snape was going to get them both killed. Who knew he'd had all those tricks up his sleeve? Whatever the case, he, Draco Malfoy, was as safe as he could be for now. He just hoped it would last…