A/N Not beta checked. If that's a problem, turn back now!
The Dark Lord ordered Severus and Black to each take hold of one of McGonagall's arms to keep her pinned to the floor. An 'Immobulus' or a 'Petrificus Totalus' would have served the same purpose, but both were terribly impersonal. Neither instilled the same kind of terror that the more personal touch could. From his chair, the Dark Lord himself cast the spell to prevent her from transfiguring into her animagus form. Satisfied, he gave McClaggan the nod to revive her.
It would be a lie to say there was no fear in her eyes as she opened them, but there was still in them that same dignity and steely resolve that Severus had known for seven years. She stayed silent despite her fear. There was none of the pleading or the puling noises that people often made as soon as they saw who had come to call. It interested Severus, the different ways that many of the supposedly upstanding citizens of the Wizarding World reacted. So far, McGonagall compared most favorably to the Death Eater's previous stop, the Bones. When they had come for him, even before the Dark Lord had given Bellatrix his youngest child to 'play' with, Edgar Bones had begun ratting out everyone he had ever known.
Like always, Bellatrix was a little too eager. She started casting the Cruciatus curse before the Dark Lord, or anyone else, could even ask a question of McGonagall.
The Dark Lord allowed Bellatrix a few castings before amusedly calling her off. "Now, now! You can have your fun, but let's not totally destroy her mind until after we have what we came for."
McClaggan still held the knife he had taken from Goyle as he moved towards McGonagall.
Any of the Death Eaters could have quickly gotten the information they wanted by using the 'Imperius' curse. Had the Dark Lord requested Snape to get it, any one of the several vials of Veritaserum that he had in his potion case could have immediately had her talking. Or, the Dark Lord himself could have gotten the information just by looking her in the eye. Instead, he sat complacently in his chair, not even bothering to look in her direction. No one, excepting Severus and of course McGonagall, seemed to be in a hurry to get things over with. The Death Eaters had been kept waiting a long time; now it was their turn to take their time.
McClaggan straddled McGonagall. Rather than simply tear her robes open, he dragged the knife in a line down her front. McGonagall gasped in pain as he pressed down too hard and the blade sliced into her skin. It was done, no doubt, deliberately.
Still seated and sounding only mildly concerned, the Dark Lord lightly admonished McClaggan. "Tisk, tisk."
Severus would have liked to do something to help her, really, he would, but at this point, there was nothing he could do. Any effort on his part would serve only to get him killed as well.
Customarily on their raids when he was restraining someone, Severus kept both hands on the victim's wrist. It took away more of the person's range of motion, made their struggles more feeble. This time, one of his hands found its way slightly higher, his fingers laced between hers.
At his pathetic gesture of comfort, McGonagall looked up at him. Reading the thoughts going on in her head, Severus had to struggle to keep himself from laughing. He was done for. Despite his mask, she recognized him. More than that, she knew of him. Didn't Dumbledore know that the identity of a spy was supposed to be kept secret?
As McClaggan continued his tormenting of her with Goyle's blade, Lestrange began to complain. "Do get on with it. Your idea of foreplay takes too long."
Still straddling her, McClaggan held the knife haphazardly in one hand as the other fumbled with his robe fastenings.
Feeling her hand clench and her nails dig into his flesh, Severus again looked down. Her face was full of revulsion and contempt as she watched McClaggan, but shifting her gaze to the blade in his hand, her expression changed. When she unclenched her hand and tilted back her head to be looking into his eyes, Severus took it as an invitation to again look into her thoughts.
She wanted to avoid betraying any of the Order's information…she desired to avoid betraying Dumbledore and revealing Snape's other pastime…she also could very, very much do without what McClaggan intended.
Severus saw in her mind what she sought to do.
He stole a glance at Regulus to gage whether her hope was realistic. Regulus, Severus knew, was very new at all this. Sirius's younger brother hadn't yet had the practice needed to hone his skills in the fine art of bondage. Knowing the frenzied strength of panic, Severus always employed two hands in restraint, but Regulus seemed to think one was adequate. Regulus hadn't the practical experience to know that hands, and particularly palms, would become slippery from the abundant sweat fear produced, and wouldn't provide adequate traction. No, Regulus would be the easy part.
Severus observed the others in the room to see how closely, or not, they were paying attention. McClaggan was currently occupied with the contents of his own trousers. Lestrange and Black were…else wise engaged and most of the others were idly chatting. This sort of thing was old hat for most of them. The Dark Lord was toying with his wand, he didn't even seem to be looking in their direction. Though, with him one could never be sure.
McGonagall was going to die – the matter was not open to debate. But if he allowed things to play out to their natural conclusion, she would eventually be made to talk and he too would die. If he tried to aid her and any of the others caught on to what he was attempting to do, he would die. Even if no one suspected it was deliberate, there was a very high likelihood that the Dark Lord would kill him just for being incompetent.
Severus weighed the risks, but there was no question – the risk to him was worth it.
Looking back to her, Severus inclined his head slightly in a show of his admiration before lessening his hold on her as much as was possible without making it obvious.
Given the ineffectiveness of Regulus's hold, McGonagall was able to jerk into an almost sitting position. Along the way she succeeded in meeting up with the blade still in McClaggan's hand.
Though the Dark Lord hadn't even been looking in her direction, the horrid wheeze she produced as she attempted to breath and instead sucked in blood quickly drew his attention. Gone was his appearance of serenity. "You imbeciles! You cannot be counted on to do the simplest things!"
McClaggan moved to retrieve the blade, but the Dark Lord knew better. "Leave it! Snape, get your bag and do something!"
Severus went quickly to his bag, but shook his head. Truthfully, had he been so inclined, he had numerous healing potions potent enough to save her. But he didn't tell that to the others. "Only phoenix tears could save her now and the only phoenix I know of is in the possession of that cursed mud-blood lover!"
Trying to mask his own nervousness, he snidely added, "Would one of you care to get him on the Floo to borrow a cup?"
Lacking anything else to do, Severus turned to watch her dying. Even as she choked on the blood filling her mouth and lungs, McGonagall kept her eyes closed to ensure she revealed nothing. She preferred to die rather than give him up - though in all honesty, she would have died even after giving him up. Still…looking through his potion bag, Snape thought if there was a way….
"My Lord, it may not yet be too late. None of my potions are strong enough to keep her alive, but Veritaserum could loosen her tongue while there is still time."
It was a complete and utter lie. Given the location of her wound, Snape doubted she could even speak, but the Dark Lord, eager to not have the past few days be an entire loss, nodded.
Her eyes had reopened at his words. Severus saw that thankfully, at least for the moment, all that could be read in them was panic and betrayal. He saw her lock her jaw closed as he rummaged in his bag.
"Hold her mouth open."
Regulus was still in his earlier spot kneeled beside her, watching in horror. He made no movement to help.
Moving back towards McGonagall, Severus snapped at him, "Black!"
Startled, Regulus moved to his feet. Snape deliberately collided with him and released the vial to shatter on the floor. "Damn it, Black! Watch what you are doing!"
Taking his former position beside McGonagall, he directed Regulus. "Quick, get me another vial. One with a green top!"
Severus's reasoning for not labeling by name any of the potions he brewed was simple enough; if the contents were discernable to anyone, anyone could administer them. Making oneselfto any degreeless valuable to the Dark Lord was never in one's long term interests. But on this occasion it provided another opportunity.
Taking the vial of 'Veritaserum' from Black, Severus pressed his thumb and forefinger into either side of McGonagall's cheek, trying to pry her mouth open. Trying to escape his grasp, she shook her head violently. When that failed to work, she reached for the dagger handle with her still freed hands. Severus repressed a sigh; life would be so much easier if people just did what he wanted.
"A little help here!"
Black and McClaggan, the two closest, were very quick to offer no help. Severus gave up struggling with her and struck her closed fist across the face to stop her. The blow dazed her enough to give him the opportunity to empty the contents of the vial down her throat.
The effects of the potion were immediate.
Falling back into a sitting position, Severus threw the potion vial against the wall, shattering it. While he hoped it would simply appear to the others an act of anger, it was done in a desire to prevent anyone from examining too closely the vial and any residual contents.
The minute of silence that ensued had nothing to do with respect for the 'dead'. The Dark Lord was too outraged for words and no one else dared speak for fear of drawing his attention.
Soon enough the Dark Lord collected himself enough for his rage to find a word. 'Crucios' began to fall on those assembled.
"Useless! All of you utterly useless!"
When the Dark Lord finally tired of disciplining them and stormed out, most of the Death Eaters were only a bit worse for the wear. They had become accustomed to the Dark Lord's brand of motivation. Regulus Black, not so experienced, faired not as well. Severus waited until the others had departed before lending him a 'helping' hand to get to his feet.
Already Severus's sense of self preservation was hard at work.
Walking out together, he offered Regulus some 'friendly' advice. "This will all blow over soon enough. If you would like to avoid another taste of that, you would do well to lay low for a few days until it does."
Still showing the ill effects of the spell, Regulus barely managed a nod.