Chapter 2 In the Dungeons

The Doctor woke up some time later, his body no longer bound by the curse. He tried to stand up, but he was tied down to the chair he was sitting in by some very strong rope. He could get though it if he could get to his sonic, but-

"Don't bother." Said Taal. The Doctor tried to see where she was, but couldn't see her. "I'm tied up in the chair right behind you. I woke up first, about two hours ago. They took my replicator, torch, even that bag of jelly babies you gave me. And they took your screwdriver."

The Doctor groaned, and automatically reached up to hold his head. But his hands were tied to the armrests. "What's going on?" he cried. "We only just got here, why are we tied up already?"

"They think that you're Barty Crouch Jr., remember? We're lucky that they decided to use Veritaserum on us, not Legillimency, though." Sighed Taal. "At least then they won't find out everything."

"And you're lucky that you're tied up, and they haven't tried to de-charm you or something." Replied the Doctor, slightly irritated by Taal's suggestion that he had forgotten what was going on. "I may know what a cat person is, but they wouldn't."

"Shut up." Said Taal. "For all we know, they could be listening to us right now. No need to give them more information than we want them to know." She sighed. "I suppose that we're muggles here."

The Doctor nodded, then remembered that Taal couldn't see him. "Yes. Though not JUST muggles. We're alien muggles!"

"Why do I get the feeling that that would have been a perfect time for a high-five?" said Taal, trying to lighten the mood in what she now realized was what looked like a dungeon.

Laughing, the Doctor responded, "Mental high-five!"

Taal laughed too. "Indeed!"

Their cheery mood vanished when the door opened. The Doctor squirmed in his seat so he could see who had come in, but he was facing the wall across from the door. "Taal, who's here?" Taal didn't answer, only gulped. "Taal, who is it?"

Taal took in a shaky breath. "Just four, Doctor. Snape, McGonagall, Dumbledore." She paused and took in another breath. "and… Harry Potter."

"All of them?" exclaimed the Doctor, his tone sounding like one of an excited schoolboy. "That's brilliant! I mean, completely wrong, not only should we not be here, but we shouldn't be here and they think that we killed Barty Crouch, and I helped kill the Longbottoms, but still… BRILLIANT!"

"Doctor, shut up!" exclaimed Taal. "They're angry enough! There's no need to antagonize your captors even more than they already are!"

"Right." Said the Doctor. "I'd mime zipping my lips right about now, but-"

"DOCTOR!"

"Alright, alright." Said the Doctor, "shutting up now."

Snape advanced on Taal. She squirmed in her bonds under his icy gaze. He circled around, giving the Doctor the same treatment, but the Doctor coolly held his gaze. Snape raised an eyebrow at him, then returned to looking at Taal. He produced a small bottle of a clear liquid in a crystal phial, and regarded it thoughtfully.

"Who should we start with," he murmured. "The traitor," he said, once again circling to stare at the Doctor, "Or the freak." He said, once again staring at Taal.

Taal bared her teeth at him at the insult, and hissed at him. "At least I know how to use a shower." She hissed. "Or are you allergic to soap?"

"Taal?" said the Doctor.

"Yes?"

"What did you just say about not antagonizing your captors?"

There was a pause. Taal tensed, her teeth still bared. "He called me a freak, Doctor."

"Taal…"

"Alright, alright." She said, slumping in her seat. "The FREAK is shutting up now."

Snape leered unpleasantly at Taal. "I'll start with you, then. The loud one." He slowly uncorked the bottle. "Do you know what Veritaserum does, cat?"

"Of COURSE I do." Responded Taal. "I may be a cat, but I'm not dumb."

Snape continued as if Taal hadn't spoken. "It forces the user to spill tell the truth. All of her secrets out on display, as long as one asks the right questions. Let's see what secrets you hold."

He brought the bottle to her mouth and was just about to pour some in when the Doctor shouted, "No! It's me you want, me! Don't harm Taal, she has nothing to do with all of this!"

Snape re-corked the bottle and swept over to the Doctor. "So… the mighty Barty Crouch. The Dark Lord's greatest servant…. Has a soft spot for a cat."

"Leave her alone." Hissed the Doctor. "you've got this all wrong, but there's no need to take anything out on Taal. She hasn't done anything to you, she knows nothing!"

"Oi!" shouted Taal, her pride overcoming her survival instincts for a moment. "I know plenty."

"So she admits it!" said Snape. He swept over to Dumbledore. "With your permission, sir, I will start with the woman, she obviously knows something. A companion of a Death Eater might know more than the Death Eater himself. And may be easier to… encourage to spill her secrets."

Dumbledore nodded. Snape swept over to Taal, and forced her mouth open. Half the contents of the phial went into her mouth, and she slumped in her seat. "Start at the beginning." Said Snape. "Tell me everything that you know."

To her everlasting credit, Taal fought it. The first sentence out of her mouth was, "Well, I know that you can't lick your elbow with your tongue." The interview pretty much went downhill from there.