Chapter Ten: The Imperius Curse
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Severus felt a worrying chill creep along his own spine at the sight of the objects, some he had seen before and others appeared to be new additions to Lucius' twisted collection.
"Tell Perkins to take the boy away Lucius," Severus almost pleaded, "He doesn't need to be here for this."
"Oh on the contrary my friend, the boy is about to play the starring role in your untimely demise."
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The burly frame of Thomas Perkins approached Severus. The Death Eater's glare narrowed, silently challenging Severus to try something and promising immediate pain if he did but the potions master was no fool, he was in no fit state to try anything and swallowing his pride, he simply produced a glacial glare in return.
Perkins released a loud, jeering snort, he knew he had the upper hand in this situation and it gave him great pleasure to see a wizard like Snape helpless and in such dire straits.
Snape had been part of the Dark Lord's inner circle, one of his most trusted servants, a position that Perkins had envied from afar. He longed for the day when he would be offered such a coveted role and until that glorious time, he would continue to serve in any way he could. But the traitor Snape had thrown away all that power and greatness to stand by the side of a doddering old fool. It was a decision Perkins could not understand.
He glanced at Lucius, eagerly awaiting further instructions. The blond nodded imperceptibly and Perkins moved into action. He reached down, grabbing Severus brutally by the upper right arm and heaved him up off the floor. The brusque motion instigated shooting tendrils of pain around his body but Severus did his best to suppress any sounds of discomfort. He stood shakily on his feet, as his legs were stiff and a little numb from lying on the stone floor for so long. His whole body protested but he forced himself to remain standing and despite the fact that he was bound in chains, he stared defiantly at Malfoy.
Lucius simply smiled that empty smile that Severus knew so well and snapping his fingers to get Perkins attention, he then pointed towards Neville.
Panic flared within the potions master as he helplessly looked on while Perkins strode purposefully towards the frightened student.
Neville shook his head, not wanting the man to come any closer but his efforts were futile. Malfoy's thug reached for him, ignored his pleading whimpers and wrenched his arm, Neville struggled against the grip but the man merely tightened his cruel hold until the child cried out in pain, he then hoisted the now submissive boy into a standing position.
"You cowardly bastard! Leave him alone!" Severus spat at the hefty miscreant.
Perkins swirled around & headed for Snape, growling obscenities but his charge was halted abruptly by the sudden raising of Malfoy's hand. Perkins wasn't the smartest wizard alive but he knew better than to disobey someone like Lucius Malfoy.
The pureblood calmly and deliberately pulled his wand from within his coat and pointed it at Severus' manacles.
"Flagrante!"
The crude irons surrounding Severus' wrists immediately began to warm up, initially the warmth was actually quite welcoming but Severus knew this feeling wouldn't last, soon the heat became unbearable and he grappled against the damned shackles but the more he struggled against them the hotter they seemed to get.
Soon this new pain in his wrists began to compete with the throbbing of his broken fingers.
Neville looked on in horror, as the metal surrounding the potions master's wrists seemed to glow. Severus hissed in agony as the already abused skin around his wrists began to blister and burn, still he refused to cry out, that is until the smell of his own burning flesh invaded his nose.
Then…he could no longer hold back his agonising cries.
As soon as Severus had shown weakness, Lucius calmly ended the curse.
The potions master's laboured breaths filled the room, the iron manacles were cold once again but they rested unforgiving against his injured skin, the damage was severe but thankfully limited to a small area, any bigger and he would have been at risk of shock, as it was, he was wide open to infection…though he doubted he would live long enough to suffer the effects.
He risked a glance in Neville's direction, tears streamed freely down the boy's round face and their eyes met briefly then the Gryffindor's head dropped as if in shame. It was only then that Severus noted the small pool of vomit at the student's feet.
He cursed inwardly at his captors, no child should have to witness such a thing and no child should be subjected to the smell of charred flesh.
He looked to Lucius now, the murderous glare that filled his black eyes blotted out all signs of pain but he kept silent, he would not give the twisted sadist any further opportunities to do damage because of his own tongue.
He would comply…for the boy's sake…even if it meant his own death.
Malfoy stared back, his cold gray eyes noted the subtle change in his former acquaintance's body language, the eyes still held some fire but the slight slump in those once proud shoulders signaled defeat.
A small smug smile adorned his aristocratic face.
He had won.
"Well…it looks as though we're ready to move on," he stated quite matter-of-factly, as if nothing at all had happened.
He turned to his little box of horrors and removed one final object wrapped in a faded red velvet cloth. He gently peeled away the fabric, revealing the object with a dramatic flourish.
Severus recognised it instantly and judging from the sharp intake of breath from Longbottom, he knew what it was also.
Lucius handled the weapon with a certain degree of respect. The old muggle dueling pistol was in remarkably good condition, probably dating from around the seventeenth century. It was a single-shot flintlock pistol, the barrel was ornate and heavy and the grip looked solid, it more than likely possessed a hair trigger, a common trait amongst pistols of that design.
Severus knew that Malfoy detested muggles, he considered them unworthy of his attention and found them to be about as useful as an invisibility cloak in a snow storm. He did feel that they had one tiny redeeming quality though…he begrudgingly admired the predilection for violence that some of the muggle population possessed. A predilection which lead to the invention of some rather useful and creative weapons of torture, maiming and death…all subjects close to Lucius Malfoy's sick, withered heart. Of course none of them possessed the finesse and power of a well cast curse but they had their uses none the less.
"Crude but effective…wouldn't you agree Severus? Not as powerful as modern muggle weapons but you know me…a sucker for the old ways," the blond teased as he tested his grip and aimed the pistol at the potions master's head before swiftly pulling it away to admire the intricate engravings along the barrel.
"I'll bet that poverty stricken buffoon Weasley would have an absolute seizure if he knew how much I intend to misuse this particular muggle artifact."
A short-lived maniacal laugh escaped his lips.
Perkins took it upon himself to join in but his rowdier taunts were quickly silenced by a warning glare from Malfoy.
"Get it ready," he ordered his henchman as he handed him the pistol then pointedly ignored him as he turned his attention back to Severus.
Somewhat sullen, Perkins silently yet obediently carried out Malfoy's instruction, he was well acquainted with the muggle device and had loaded it several times before. He reached inside the large wooden box and retrieved a smaller, more ornate box made from rose wood. He knew it contained the lead shot, black powder and rods he would need to load the old weapon.
"So," the blond drawled as he glanced back and forth between his two captives.
Severus knew their tormentor was deliberately drawing things out to increase their anxiety levels and it was working beautifully, Longbottom was now a quivering wreck and Severus was surprised the young lad was still standing on his own two feet.
Unfortunately Severus also had a pretty good idea what Lucius had planned for them both…it would involve a lot of physical pain for him and cruel mental torment for the Gryffindor.
He couldn't just let it happen, their situation couldn't get any worse so he had to try one more time to convince Lucius to let the boy go…if his pride was to be the price…then so be it.
"Please Lucius," he pleaded from behind a veil of dark hair.
"The traitor pleads for his life," Perkins laughed, "who's the coward now Snape?"
A vicious backhanded slap silenced the taunts.
"You fool," Malfoy chastised the larger wizard, "he pleads for the boy not his own worthless life," he clarified.
"A most noble gesture Severus, which no doubt cost you dearly but alas I'm afraid I cannot grant you your wish, I already told you that Mr. Longbottom here would play a major role in your death and I'm not about to disappoint him," Lucius explained then turned his icy gaze on the boy in question.
Neville's heart leapt into his throat, had he heard Malfoy correctly, was the dark wizard actually going to make him kill his professor?
He could never do a thing like that…even before this nightmare started, when Professor Snape terrified him and he dreaded being in the wizard's presence, he wouldn't have been able to do such a thing then and he certainly wasn't going to agree to do it now. He had seen such a different side to his teacher since their capture, he had actually grown to respect the man and after his own father, Severus Snape was quite possibly the bravest man he knew.
He summoned the last ounce of Gryffindor strength he had buried deep within him.
"I…I won't…won't do it!" he shouted as defiantly as he could.
"Oh my dear boy, you won't have any say in the matter I'm afraid," Malfoy replied coldly as he whipped his wand out.
"Imperio!"
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Author's Note: Hi Folks! Well another chapter makes an appearance! I'm on my Easter break at the moment so no net at home but I'm up visiting my parents at the moment & I've nabbed a few minutes on my Dad's computer before I return home. The chapter was initially going to be much longer but I only had this much done so I decided to post it, the next chapter will be a direct continuation.
Anyone who reviews & I hope you do (they've been dropping a bit & I'm wondering why…is the story starting to slip? …let me know…please, I really enjoy the feed back folks…I'm only human), I won't be able to reply until I go back to work in about 11 days…sorry! Thanks again to all of you who review or have put it on alert/favs but if you could drop me a line too…that would be fab!
Please forgive me allowing Lucius to handle a muggle device, I know he probably wouldn't touch them with a barge pole but it is an AU story & it was necessary for my little 'plot' (I use the term loosely!)lol! Oh and hopefully I haven't messed up the 'flagrante' curse & that it suits the scenario.
Until next time, take care,
Lai.