"You know why I have ssssent for you, my sssservantssss."
Draco marveled, for this was the first time he had seen the Dark Lord in person for many years; since before Draco began at Hogwarts.
"It hasss been dissscovered, my sssssecret. It isss almossst sssscertainly Dumbledore'ssss doing."
His voice was a hiss, his face beyond recognition; nose slitted and snakelike. The handsome Tom Riddle was gone, and in his place was a monster.
A powerful, immortal monster. And perhaps one in whose service Draco could become equally powerful. Although...
"Missssterssss Crabbe and Goyle have failed me. Assss isss cussstom I ssshall hold Lussssiussss resssponsssible. Bellatrixssss, pleasssse..."
"Crucio!" The witch shrieked, and cackled with pleasure as Draco watched his father writhe in pain.
Draco had forgotten that this would happen, when he decided to leave Grimmauld Place.
Forgotten that the failures of the senior Crabbe and Goyle would be blamed on father.
Forgotten that Voldemort was HERE, which meant that father wasn't in charge any more.
Forgotten that Bellatrix was free again.
"My apologies, my lord."
And Draco was surprised. Not by the grace with which father handled torture. That was only to be expected from Lord Malfoy. But by his father's steadfastness, when Draco had let him down.
"But surely your other secrets are safe. Malfoy manor remains impregnable, as does Gringotts."
"CRUCIO!" Bellatrix gleefully began again at a gesture from her lord.
"Fool! Do not ssspeak of sssuch thingsss! Sssssafe asss I am, the Headmasssster issss no fool! He will sssseek, and if you are thissss carelesssss with wordss, he will find. Be glad your ssstatusss in the minissstry sssavesss you for now, but rely not upon it for further arrogancssse, asss the minissstry ssshall ssssoon fall..."
"...Which is all Voldemort told me to tell you. Why he trusts you when you were not present, he did not say, however."
Snape smirked at Draco's implied question.
"Surely you know that a Hogwarts professor has responsibilities, mister Malfoy. I cannot hop to and from attention as others can, without arousing suspicion."
"Then you are truly loyal." Draco said, meeting Severus' eye, and recalling his father's words.
'Of course, I forget that only Severus and I are so trusted.'
'Malfoy Manor remains impregnable, as does Gringotts.'
Severus' smirk remained.
"I am as loyal to the dark lord as you are, mister Malfoy."
Well, thought Draco, that doesn't tel me anything.
"Thank you, Severus. I shall call on Alastor. I cannot tell you how valuable this information is."
"You will not go yourself, Headmaster? Surely with Professor Flitwick at your side, you could negotiate with the goblins..."
"No, Severus, I am afraid my lot is to stay here. I trust Alastor to the task."
And one evening after potions research, as Hermione commented on the creativity of the Draught of Deathly Life, but its lack of seeming usefulness, Draco again caught Snape's eye, and in a glance heard a message in his mind:
"Tell Lucius that Dumbledore is weakening. Perhaps the tide again changes."