A/N: Sounds like a film title, doesn't it? Some plot advancement…Part One of Two. LANGUAGE Mostly Draco, bad Draco! *laughs*

Chapter Eleven- Revenge of the Slytherins Part I

It was finally the end of the week, the end of returning to Umbridge's office every night at 6 o'clock and screaming his throat raw. Finally the end of classes, where more than one teacher had scolded him for his 'clumsy' hands, hands that he had a hard time controlling when they shook from the after-spasms of three hours on and off Cruciatus. Umbridge was clever; Rial had to hand it to her. She never left the curse on him long enough to do permanent damage.

In between 'sessions' as she called them she would entertain herself. Depending on her mood, this went from cooing at her precious cats to sipping at a cup of tea. By far the one he hated most was when she'd sit in her chair and lovingly describe the 'perfection' of James Potter and his famous, talented son or the Minister of Magic. The woman was obsessed with Cornelius Fudge, it was rather disgusting.

Rial made his way back down to the dungeons, wanting nothing more than to collapse on his bed and wait out the tremors. He was both too proud and too self-reliant to ask for help or relief from the pain. He suspected Dumbdore of encouraging if not outright supporting the toad, so the old coot was the last person he'd go to complain about her. They all think I'm a liar and an arrogant git anyways, he thought bitterly.

Forcing himself upright he walked into the Slytherin Common Room and took an abrupt left, headed for his comfortable bed. He forced himself to take off his shoes outside the door, not wanting to wake his dorm-mates Draco or Blaise. Once he got to his bed he didn't bother to take off his school robes, pants or shirt before collapsing on his bed and draining a small bottle of Pain-Relieving Potion, thanking Merlin for his small private Potions lab at home. He'd brewed all sorts of mild potions to bring to school this term.

Lying still on his bed he could feel his teeth chattering. He clenched them together tightly and they still rattled, signaling the beginning of the after-tremors. The Cruciatus had a specific potion that could relieve the after-tremors, but he didn't know how to brew it. Nor did he have the ingredients as it was a top-level potion, right up there with Veritaserum. Thus it's brewing and dosages were closely monitored by the Ministry.

Closing his eyes Rial turned on his side, clenching his teeth on a soft moan of pain. Many people said that the after-tremors were worse than the actual curse, at the moment Rial couldn't decide. Feeling tears running silently down his face he reached with one trembling hand to grab the wooden edge of his bed. Scowling at the shaking appendage he held on hard enough to turn his knuckles white.

Thusly occupied, he didn't notice the edge of his bed dip and nearly jumped a foot when a warm arm pulled him close to a warmer body.

Draco had been watching Rial closely this past week. Ever since the green-eyed teen had stormed out on Umbridge he'd noticed that the intelligent student was unusually quiet. His face was pale and bruises under his eyes indicated he hadn't been sleeping. Then there were these detentions with Umbridge.

When Blaise had questioned him after returning Monday night he'd blithely replied, "Lines."

To Draco, who had been taught how to read body language and facial expressions, the reply had been interpreted as an outright lie. But why would Rial lie about something innocent like the method used in a detention?

Draco hadn't pushed the topic yet as he still got a bit of a cold shoulder from his friend. But tonight he'd laid awake, waiting for Rial to return. Straining his ears, listening for the slightest noise, he heard footsteps outside. Closing his eyes enough that he was looking through pale lashes he watched Rial enter the room holding on to his shoes.

The teen walked soundlessly over to his bed, setting his shoes at the base for morning. When he sat on the bed Draco resisted a flinch. Rial's bed was bathed in moonlight and even from across the room he could see the green eyes were dark with pain. More than that Rial was exhausted, more than he should be from simple lines.

The Malfoy heir watched his friend down a tiny potion and lay down on his bed, not bothering to remove his clothes. As Draco watched he began to notice something odd. Rial's body was beginning to tremble; it appeared to be out of his control. He watched one hand, shaking almost beyond belief, reach out and grab hold of the edge of the bed, holding it hard enough to turn white.

Draco was already beginning to think about getting up when he heard the noise that decided it for him. It was a soft whimper of pain, partially repressed. He stood, walked quietly over to his friend's bed and sat on the edge. Rial had turned on his side and hadn't noticed him. Making a decision he crawled up and wrapped an arm around his friend's slender body, drawing him closer.

Rial jumped, startled. "Shh," Draco whispered, "it's all right. It's just me, Draco."

Rial's body started to stiffen until he murmured, "Relax will you? I'm not going to hurt you."

Pain-filled green eyes met his, silent tears of pain streaking down his face. After a moment Rial rasped, "What makes you think I think you might hurt me?"

"Other than the fact that you took a pain potion and you're still repressing whimpers and crying?" Draco asked in mock sarcasm. "Come on Rial; quit trying to stand on your own when you're obviously hurting."

That did it for Rial's self-control and he seemed to collapse in on him, no longer trying to hide how hard his body was shaking in pain. Draco held his trembling friend and whispered in his ear, "Rial, what has she been having you do that hurts this badly?"

"Let's just say I don't want a single other Slytherin getting detention from her," Rial's voice trembled with pain.

"No, Rial! You're not doing that to me! Tell me what she's doing, please?"

"She's been putting me under the Cruciatus all week," Rial admitted finally, in a very soft voice.

Draco was dizzy with shock. He'd expected something bad, but not this! Not an illegal torture curse. Wrapping his arms tightly around Rial he seethed in fury. He nearly snarled in Rial's ear, "Why in the hell didn't you tell someone about that bitch? Why have you been putting up with that in silence?"

Rial tried to pull out of his arms and said with a snap, "You know I'm used to relying on myself, Draco! And what teacher besides Snape would believe me? Besides that, do you realize how much trouble he'd get in for complaining about her treatment of me? She told me the first night that she was authorized by Fudge."

"James Potter's backing it, most likely," Draco spat bitterly, "trying to make you suffer for beating his precious Zachy in the Tournament. Can you stand?"

"Why?" Rial asked suspiciously.

"You need to go to Severus. He has the Anti-Cruciatus in his quarters, uses it himself after a meeting with the Dark Lord. Rial," he said sternly when his friend started to protest; "if you don't walk there I'll carry you."

"Now that I'd like to see," Blaise drawled in a slurred voice, sitting up from his bed across from Draco's. He acted like he'd just woken up, but from the anger glinting in his eyes he'd heard the entire conversation.

At both of his friends' obvious concern, Rial weakly acquiesced. Draco pulled on a pair of pants and his robe; Blaise did the same from his bed. They both assisted the trembling teen from his bed and into a pair of slippers. Though older than Draco Rial was a great deal shorter and leaned weakly against his shoulder. Blaise opened the door and strode out ahead of them.

There was nobody in the Common Room, the hourglass showed 10 o'clock. Luckily Severus' quarters were not far down from their rooms; Draco doubted the slender teen could have made it any further on his own two feet. He was now trembling so badly that Draco had an arm wrapped around his waist to steady him and keep him upright.

Sirius Black, he reflected with a wince, was going to be furious.

Severus was dressed for bed in a pair of long shorts, drinking a small glass of firewhiskey. The alcohol was potent and he wasn't much of a drinker, so this tiny shot glass was all he allowed himself on school nights. This week had been a headache-causing one, filled with even more accidents and idiot students than usual. Add onto that his worry over the past week about Rial Black and the alcohol felt warranted no- earned.

Dolores Umbridge was one of the worst teachers Severus had ever met and that was an accomplishment. Severus had been teaching since the age of 23 and had met more than a few idiot teachers. Standing out primarily in his thoughts was Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense teacher three years previous. The git was worse than James Potter in his vanity and ego, caring for nothing more than how many awards he'd won for his charming, magically perfected smile.

As for Rial Black, she seemed to be on the fast-track for irritating the normally composed Slytherin. Severus still felt vaguely guilty for what he'd said to the teen a week previous, the boy was no more suited to Gryffindor than Zachary Potter was for Slytherin. He snorted at the idea; his snakes would rip the precious Golden Boy to pieces in an hour at the most. However, he was worried about one of his favorite students. Rial had seemed more tired and withdrawn recently, ever since his detentions with Umbridge had started.

Severus was knocked out of his private thoughts when the door gave an alarmingly loud BANG! It startled the former Slytherin badly enough that he spilled half his glass of firewhiskey onto the black chair he was sitting on. With a startled curse of annoyance he grabbed his wand and vanished the mess before grabbing his robe and moving to open the door.

A grim-faced Blaise Zabini was on the other side of the door. "May we come in, sir?"

He stood aside. In the privacy of his quarters he no longer controlled his emotions as fiercely as outside and thus felt his eyes widen in shock at the other two. Draco Malfoy walked in, pale lips pressed together in worry. Leaning against his shoulder was Rial Black, trembling so badly that Draco's arm around his waist was the only thing keeping him upright.

"Bring him over to the chair," Severus ordered his godson, helping to settle the trembling youth. Pale-skinned Rial appeared to be swallowed in the black fabric, green eyes wide and dark with pain.

"Draco, what's the matter with him?" he asked sharply.

"Dolores Umbridge," Draco spat, venom clear in his expressive voice. "Do you know what she's been doing to him in detentions?"

"No," Severus replied, trepidation in his voice. Whatever it was, it had to be bad to make Draco this angry.

"She's been casting the Cruciatus on him," Draco snarled. "Never long enough to cause permanent damage but badly enough that he's been shaking like this since about quarter to 9 when he came back from detention."

"Fudge has to be notified," Severus began, to be interrupted by Rial shaking his head in a frantic denial. In a scratchy, pain-filled whisper he said,

"Fudge authorized her to do this; she said that to me the first night."

"He authorized a teacher to cast an Unforgivable on students?" Severus sounded incredulous.

"Slytherins," Rial corrected with a repressed whimper of pain.

Concerned, Severus took one of his shaking hands in his own. Speaking to Draco he said, "Go into my quarters, open the drawer next to my bed. The potion is yellow and in a medium-sized bottle. Blaise, Floo Sirius Black at his Manor on the coast, tell him he needs to come here."

As Draco darted off into the other room he heard a whoosh from the fireplace and Blaise's voice say, "Black Manor!"

Rial's other hand grabbed his with a sudden fierceness and Severus felt his eyes drawn to meet the dark green ones. Absolute terror and urgency colored the young voice as he whispered, "Professor, he can't confront Umbridge or go to Dumbledore. That's exactly what James Potter wants. He'll convince Fudge that I'm being a menace and force Father to resign."

With sudden clarity Severus realized Rial was exactly right. Cursing at having not seen it before he drew his wand and cast powerful locking charms on the doors. He ended up sealing them with everything but blood magic. Then he cast one on the fireplace to block any Floo usage after Black had come through. Rial appeared to relax a little when he put the wand away after casting the last spell.

Draco had just returned with the Anti-Cruciatus potion when a whoosh from the fireplace announced Sirius Black's arrival. Severus turned his head a little and winced at the obvious worry in dark gray eyes. He had hoped to treat Rial's pain before his father showed up.

Sirius appeared to have been mimicking his routine, he was wearing a pair of black silk sleep pants and under the soft gray velvet robe it was obvious he wasn't wearing a shirt. His hair was a bit messed up, but his wand was still in a holster attached to the inside of his right wrist. His eyes were bright, steady and concerned as he approached Rial, who didn't appear to have noticed his father's arrival.

"Rial?" he said softly, taking one of his son's hands in his. Frowning a little he said with a slight growl, "Why is he trembling this badly, Severus?"

"Rial received a weeks' detention from Umbridge. Tonight was the last session. Black, she's been casting the Cruciatus Curse on him all week."

"What?" Sirius' voice was very close to a hiss. He started to say something else but Rial's hand suddenly tightened on his. Severus quickly measured a dose of the potion and held it to Rial's lips. The teen swallowed slowly, carefully.

"Draco, Blaise, head on back to your dormitory. Tell the others there will be a morning meeting before breakfast. Rial is going to be staying here overnight."

Blaise started to protest but Draco took one look at the expression on Black's face and dragged him out the door. Sirius gathered Rial in his arms and brought him over to the small couch, sitting with Rial's head on his shoulder and powerful arms wrapped around a trembling body.

Severus warily settled onto the opposite chair, watching Black's hard gray eyes. Eyeing the teen in his arms he said quietly, "The potion should start to take effect soon. I have two spare rooms here; Rial will most likely sleep a long time after he stops shaking. You are welcome to the other one."

Black nodded shortly, still not speaking. Whether he didn't know what to say or didn't want to speak in Rial's presence was unclear. Taking a look at the hard rage in the elegant, beautiful face he guessed the latter. A long twenty minutes later, Rial finally calmed down. The teen had fallen asleep in his father's arms and Black carried him gently to one of the spare rooms Severus had mentioned.

When he reappeared and shut the door quietly he hesitated before removing his wand and muttering a spell. Severus recognized the gold cast and winced. The spell was a very powerful silencing charm. Sirius turned back toward him and Severus immediately wrapped slender fingers around his hickory wand.

"Undo your wards," Sirius ordered bluntly.

"What?" Severus asked, playing ignorant for the moment.

Sirius' eyes narrowed to slivers. The anger evident in his voice was nearly a physical thing as he snarled, "I sure as hell am not letting you play the fool, Snape. You've got every ward on the door and Floo but a blood ward and I'm ordering you to take them down before I do it myself."

Keeping his voice steady against his irritation Severus replied, "What are you going to do if I take the wards down?"

"Go up to that toad's office and show her what happens when you torture an Auror's son," he snapped back.

"I won't let you do that," Severus answered.

Sirius gave a harsh bark of laughter. "You won't let me? Since when do I need your permission to do anything?"

Ignoring the humorless laugh Severus snapped, "Quit acting like an arrogant pureblood and listen for a moment. Rial told me that Umbridge mentioned having Fudge's permission to do what she's doing. If you go up and do anything to her, or say anything to Fudge or Dumbledore you can bet they'll use it against you. Not to mention a certain James Potter waiting in the wings will use your outburst to convince Fudge that you need to resign."

"Since when have you cared for me or my family?" Black spat.

"Since I met your intelligent, resourceful, spirited son and realized you weren't all you appeared to be," Severus replied steadily, ignoring what he really wanted to say. He didn't think because I think I love you would go over too well right now.

"So is she just going to get away with this?" Sirius asked, looking away.

Severus smirked. "You know Black," he purred, "there's a reason your son was sorted into Slytherin."

Sirius looked at him for a moment and a wicked grin curved his lips. "I want in."

Severus leaned back in satisfaction. "I think we can find a use for your talents."