A/N

WARNING: The following chapter contains graphic scenes depicting torture. It should be viewed by mature audiences only.

Chapter 5

As Slughorn was locked in a duel on the other side of the globe, Malfoy Manor loomed ominously over the surrounding countryside. Its grand facade and tall towers are a testament to the wealth and power and prestige of the Malfoy family. The gates surrounding the Manor were imposing, towering over the surrounding landscape and emanating an aura of darkness and foreboding. The metal was a glossy black, as if it were polished by a legion of house elves, daily. Despite the fact that it was the middle of the day, the gates seemed to cast a shadow over the area, as if they were blocking out the sun itself. The gates were adorned with intricate carvings of snarling serpents and demonic creatures, adding to the overall feeling of malevolence.

As Corban Yaxley approached the main gate, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. The only sounds he heard were coming from the rustling of the trees, his footsteps accompanied by the tapping of his own walking stick, and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Inside, the manor was just as foreboding. The walls were adorned with dark tapestries and paintings of past Malfoy ancestors, their cold, haughty gazes seeming to follow one's every move. The furniture was ornate and elaborate, with intricate carvings and gilded edges.

As Yaxley made his way through the grand halls of Luciouses and Narcissa's home, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over him. The place was like a mausoleum, with its high, vaulted ceilings and dimly lit corridors. It was as if the very walls were imbued with a sense of malevolence, waiting to pounce on the unwary.

Yaxley's footsteps echoed through the empty rooms, the only sound breaking the eerie silence. He still couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched despite nobody seeming to be home, and he found himself constantly turning his head, searching for any sign of movement.

Finally, his long walk through the mansion concluded as he reached the door to the back room where he knew Voldemort was waiting for him. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the doorknob, which represented a serpent's skull, as he took a deep breath to steady his nerves. He knew he had to be careful, to be on his guard at all times around the Dark Lord, especially when delivering bad news.

With a sense of trepidation, Yaxley pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was small and cramped, filled with the smell of must and decay. Voldemort was seated at a table in the center of the room, his eyes fixed on Yaxley as he entered. Yaxley couldn't help but feel a sense of fear wash over him as he approached the Dark Lord, his heart pounding in his chest.

Yaxley stood across from him, his hand sweating so much he nearly lost his grip on the top of his cane. The usually proud and fearless man was cowering away from the dark lord, shoulders slumped, unable to make eye contact.

"Ah, Corban," Lord Voldemort started, "I trust you to bring me good news?"

There was a pause, "I have searched everywhere, my lord," Yaxley said, his voice trembling. "I can find no trace of Horace Slughorn. It's as if he has simply vanished."

Voldemort's red eyes narrowed as he stared at Yaxley, his serpentine face contorted in anger. His mood clearly shifting rapidly "You have failed me, Yaxley," he hissed. "You were tasked with finding Slughorn, and yet he remains elusive. Do you not understand the importance of this matter?"

"Of course, my lord," Yaxley stammered, sweat dripping down his face. "I have devoted all of my resources to the task. But it is as if the man has simply disappeared. I swear to you, I have not given up the search. I will continue to look until I find him."

Voldemort stood up, his body writhing as if he were made of smoke.

"You have searched for months, Yaxley, and yet you still haven't found him," Voldemort growled, his red eyes blazing with anger. "If I wanted incompetence I would have tasked this to Wormtail. Explain yourself."

Yaxley flinched at the sound of his master's voice, his heart racing as he tried to find the right words to defend himself. "My Lord, I have tried everything. I have scoured every inch of the country, interrogated countless witches and wizards, but Slughorn is simply nowhere to be found."

The Dark Lord sneered, raising his yew wand and pointing it directly at Yaxley. "Your failure will not be tolerated, Yaxley. You will continue your search for my old professor in the morning, but for now, you will pay for your shortcomings. CRUCIO!"

With a flick of his wand, Voldemort cast the unforgivable Curse, and Yaxley let out a blood-curdling scream, falling from his feet. As he was writhing on the ground, his body contorting in agony.

"M-master. P-please." Yaxley pleaded through gritted teeth, as every bone in his body felt as if it were on fire and every nerve ending in acid.

"Silence," Voldemort hissed, without breaking the spell. "Perhaps it is time to bring your son into this. I hear young Corvus is a prefect now at Hogwarts," he said, his voice low and menacing."I do hate when the sins of the father affect the innocent, but if you continue to fail me, I will be left with no choice."

As Yaxley convulses on the ground, his body writhing in agony, Voldemort stands over him, his face contorted in anger. "You fool!" he continued, unprompted. "Do you not understand the importance of having another potions expert to assist Snape? Together they can brew elixirs that will surely tip the scales in our favor. Without Slughorn, we are at a disadvantage. We must find him and bring him back to our cause, no matter what the cost." He was nearly talking to himself, as Yaxley was no longer able to respond.

Yaxley's body continues to shake and he struggles to catch his breath, but he manages to nod weakly in understanding. He knows that his son's life may depend on his ability to track down Slughorn and bring him to their side.

After a minute or so, Voldemort lifted the curse. Yaxley lay on the ground, panting and in pain. As he spit white foam from his mouth onto the ornate rug, he spoke, "I will not fail you again, my lord,", his voice barely above a whisper, words broken by dry heaves. "No more mistakes, m-master."

"No more mistakes, yes." Voldemort repeated as he walked from the room.

The following morning, Yaxley returned to Knockturn Alley, the place he had searched a few months earlier but to no avail. He is determined to find any clues that might lead him to Slughorn, and becomes desperate. He stopped in front of the old, run-down storefront of Brogin and Burke's, a shop known for selling illegal and hard-to-find magical artifacts and potion ingredients. Yaxley pushed open the door, the bell above it jingling as he entered.

As Yaxley stepped into Brogin and Burke's, he was immediately greeted by a blast of warmth. The dimly lit shop was filled with rows upon rows of shelves, each one stocked with all manner of strange, unsettling objects, twisted bottles and vials. An acrid smell hung in the air, a mixture of burned herbs and mysterious potions. The shopkeeper, an old, thin, greasy man with a sly smile, was leaning against the counter, idly picking his teeth with a long, sharp nail. He turned to Yaxley with a forced smile.

"Can I help you, sir?" he asked, his voice dripping with false politeness.

Yaxley narrowed his eyes. "I'm looking for Professor Horace Slughorn," he said. "I am sure he frequents your less than legal potion ingredient display."

The shopkeeper's smile faded slightly. "I'm afraid I can't reveal the identities of our patrons, sir," he said. "Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in our line of work."

Yaxley reached down and pulled up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing the all too familiar black skull tattoo, draped with a serpent. "Are you sure 'bout that?" Yaxley knowingly probed.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened in fear as he saw the mark on Yaxley's arm. Immediate recognition of Lord Voldemorts mark filled any sensible wizard with fear. He stuttered for a moment before finally answering. "I-I haven't seen Professor Slughorn in months, sir," he said. "Yes it is true, he used to come in regularly to buy ingredients, but he hasn't been in for a while now."

"Ingredients? What kind of ingredients?"

The shopkeeper fiddles with a jar of pickled newts on the counter as he tries to recall the specifics of what the professor used to purchase. "Well, let's see now... he was quite fond of dragon's blood, that was a regular purchase. And I seem to remember him inquiring about some rare mandrake roots that had been sun dried a few months back. Oh, and he was always interested in any new and exotic potion ingredients that we happened to come across. But like I said, he hasn't been in here for a while now. I'm sorry, I don't have much more information to offer."

Yaxley grunts and turns away. As he was about to leave the dimly lit shop, the shopkeeper called out to him, his voice dripping with slyness. "Hold on a moment, sir. I may have something that could help you in your quest to find Professor Slughorn."

Yaxley turned back to the shopkeeper, his eyebrows raised in suspicion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

The shopkeeper chuckled to himself, his beady eyes glinting in the dim light. "Well, I have an object in my possession that can help point you directly towards the person you most want to find. But I must ask, just how badly do you want to find Professor Slughorn?"

Yaxley's hand twitched towards his wand, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. "What is this object you speak of?" he asked, his voice tight with tension.

The shopkeeper reached behind the counter and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "This, my dear, is a punctum. A highly complex and intricate piece of goblin craftsmanship. Hold it in your hand and focus on the person you wish to find, and the needle inside will point directly towards them. However, you must truly desire seeking this person, otherwise it could lead you astray. Of course, it does come at a price," he said smiling, revealing crooked and yellow teeth.

Yaxley's eyes narrowed as he considered the shopkeeper's offer. He had been searching for Slughorn for months, and if this punctum gizmo could help him find the elusive potions master, it might be worth the cost.

"How much?" he asked, his voice hard as steel.

"Well let us see... for you I could do... say one thousand galleons, sir" he said with a sinister smile.

Yaxley was appalled. He had revealed who he worked for and was still trying to be ripped off? Despite being a wealthy man, Yaxley was to proud to pay this peasant such a large sum of money. Knowing that normal laws did not apply given the Dark Lord's rise to power, he pulled his wand from the top of his cane and pointed at the smug man, "Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light shot from Yaxley's wand and landed in the shopkeeper's chest, crumpling his body to the floor. Yaxley grabbed the wooden box, tucked his wand back into his cane, and walked back into the alley from which he came.