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<div class="chap-title">
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13. Chapter 13
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p>I finished the game and I am back in business! I hope you all don't consider me
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too evil. I wasn't gone that long, really. Well, enjoy!</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 13</strong></p>
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<p>It only took a few seconds for Snape to determine just how much trouble he was in.
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They had landed in a clearing in the middle of a forest. On impact, Rabastan had
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immediately snatched Snape's wand away from him, releasing his arm when it posed no
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more threat. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Greyback had joined instantly after Snape's
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forced side-along apparition. To his dismay, a young girl – not even old enough to be
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attending Hogwarts yet – lay on the ground a few feet away. She was not dead but she
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lay very still, her eyes fixed on something in the distance. She was not bound but
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then again, that hadn't been necessary by the looks of it.</p>
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<p>Carefully, he eyed his former colleagues, trying to find an opening. Perhaps he
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could figure out their plans for him and perhaps he could still get out of here. If
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he was fortunate enough, he would be able to take that girl with him as well. When
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his eyes met Bellatrix', she grinned maliciously.</p>
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<p>"Aww, don't look at me like that, Sevvie," she teased as she wiggled her index
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finger in front of his face. "I know what you're thinking! Dear old Bella must be
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involving me in some nefarious scheme! If I can figure out what that is, I can still
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escape." She laughed at her own deduction. "But alas, Snape," she spat, "My goal
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today is nothing but your pain and death. Except maybe to lure that Potter boy to
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your rescue just in time to see you die."</p>
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<p>"There's no way he would come willingly," Snape growled, his eyes darting around
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the scenery. Perhaps if he found a large branch or sufficiently big rock, he could
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get rid of at least one of his four adversaries. Perhaps even two, if he took
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advantage of the stunned confusion that would surely follow."</p>
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<p>"Oh, please," Rodolphus said, "You seem to be forgetting that the boy has a
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Gryffindor heart. Have you already forgotten how readily he charged into danger to
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try and save that godfather of his? I have no doubt he would do it again."</p>
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<p>Snape's heart clenched tightly in his chest. Of course Rodolphus was right, and of
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course, Snape knew this. He had only hoped that this band of randomized death eaters
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might not be intelligent enough to solve a crossword puzzle together, let alone
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understand what was in Harry's mind.</p>
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<p>Maybe a change of subject would leave them all sufficiently distracted. "I take it
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that it was the four of you who were behind the muggle attacks?" he asked smoothly,
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taking a few steps away from Rabastan. The man did not follow. Yet.</p>
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<p>"But of course!" Bellatrix replied, "It was all in good fun really. And when
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Rookwood let slip that even those filthy muggles were celebrating the Dark Lord's
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unfortunate death – a brilliant man of whom they knew nothing! – I just couldn't
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control myself."</p>
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<p>Snape frowned. "Rookwood is behind all this?" he asked. If that was the case,
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Snape was in even more trouble than he had already realized.</p>
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<p>"No," Bellatrix said in annoyance, "But he cares enough about the wellbeing of his
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brothers and sisters in arms to stop by every now and then. Unlike some
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<em>traitors</em>." Her eyes glinted menacingly.</p>
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<p>Snape took another step towards a rock he had spotted. Its edges seemed
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delightfully sharp. He might even be able to throw it to save himself some precious
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seconds. If his aim was true, perhaps he could even kill.</p>
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<p>"You realize he's playing you, right?" Snape said casually, "There's no other
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reason for him to still come and find you."</p>
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<p>"You're the only one here who plays those sorts of games, Sevvie," Bellatrix
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cooed. Snape suppressed a snort. How daft was she really?</p>
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<p>"Tell me, Snape," Rodolphus now said, '"Had you always been planning to betray the
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Dark Lord or was it a spur of the moment thing?"</p>
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<p>"You must think very little of me to even entertain the thought of me being so
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impetuous," Snape replied easily. "I was never his. Everything I did was for the
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light."</p>
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<p>"So instead of the Dark Lord's servant, you were Dumbledore's," Rodolphus
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continued, "Not a very big difference is there?"</p>
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<p>"I don't think you will ever understand," Snape sneered, "since the four of you
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clearly enjoy torture and murder." He gestured towards the little girl angrily.</p>
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<p>"Oh, <em>her</em>," Bellatrix said, as if she was only now reminded of the
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crumpled heap of human that she had no doubt positioned there herself. She turned
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towards the girl and Snape took his shot. He picked up the rock which was now located
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near his right foot and drew back his hand, ready to throw the blasted thing at
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Bellatrix' snide face.</p>
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<p>"<em>Crucio</em>!"</p>
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<p>Snape's body spasmed in pain he hadn't felt in a very long time but had never
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quite forgotten. His legs were suddenly unable to carry his weight anymore and his
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knees buckled, dropping him to the ground. He was only vaguely aware of the sound of
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his own screams. The feeling of his nerve ends burning with all the pain of a
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fourth-degree burn was more of a priority to his mind. His legs contorted beneath him
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and unwillingly, his body curled up on itself.</p>
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<p>And then it stopped. A small trickle of blood made it past Snape's lips and he
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realized he had bitten the inside of his cheek at some point. He panted and tried to
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push himself upright again on trembling arms but a heavy foot positioned itself on
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Snape's back and pushed him back down.</p>
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<p>"You didn't really think you would be able to lay a finger on any of us, did you?"
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Snarled Greyback. "In case you've forgotten how to count, there's four of us and only
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one of you."</p>
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<p>Snape laughed bitterly. "It would appear that it's not me who has forgotten how to
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count."</p>
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<p>His blurry vision was starting to become clearer when he noticed that Bellatrix
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sat hunched in front of him.</p>
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<p>"Oh?" she said, "Are you delusional enough to think anyone is close by enough to
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help you out? Or did you think that this girl was going to throw a surprise killing
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curse at one of us?"</p>
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<p>"It's the four of you – well, I suppose five if you count Rookwood – against
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everyone else. That's why you're skulking around like rats, isn't it? <em>That's</em>
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why you pick off muggles instead of lashing out at the wizarding world. Because you
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have no one left and all you can do is run. I know that you know this."</p>
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<p>"My dear old friend," Bellatrix purred. She took out her wand and moved it slowly
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along Snape's cheek, a deep cut appearing as she moved. "You can try to provoke me
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into killing you all you want but it won't work. You see, while I do want you dead, I
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have longed to cause you a great deal of pain for a very long time."</p>
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<p>Snape scowled at her, not allowing himself to react to the fresh wound being
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inflicted to his face. He could feel the blood trickle down his neck and could smell
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copper.</p>
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<p>"It's an honour to be the most important object of your thoughts, Bella." Snape
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drawled, "Though I do realize just how infrequent a thought is able to occupy your
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diseased mind, it's still quite the compliment."</p>
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<p>"Don't talk to her like that," Rodolphus growled, punching Snape square in the
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face. Snape glared icily at the man.</p>
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<p>"What's this, Rodolphus?" he asked snidely, "Protecting your wife? Why, last I
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remembered, you were talking about how insane she was and how you wish she would just
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get herself killed already."</p>
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<p>"That's not – He's lying, my love!" Rodolphus said panic-stricken.</p>
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<p>"Am I?" Snape smirked, "Just peer into his mind and you will see that I'm
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correct."</p>
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<p>Bellatrix smiled sweetly down at Snape and twirled her wand in her hand. A sign of
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uncertainty, Snape knew. "He's just trying to bring a wedge between us, pet,"
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Bellatrix said evenly, "Rookwood warned us about this."</p>
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<p>"You've certainly traded in for a new 'Dark Lord' rather quickly, dear Bella,"
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Snape purred, "You must not have truly loved Voldemort very much."</p>
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<p>Snape knew he was pushing it but was still surprised when Bellatrix' boot
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connected firmly with his jaw, sending him sprawling once more.</p>
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<p>"Don't you <em>dare</em> speak his name!" Bellatrix roared, "Don't you
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<em>dare</em> talk about him. You shouldn't even be <em>thinking</em> about him after
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what you've done."</p>
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<p>Snape's jaw ached terribly but he ignored the urge to bring up his hand. He wanted
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to show as little weakness as possible.</p>
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<p>"I loved him more than anything," Bellatrix continued, "He was my world and you
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and that Potter child tore him away from me. I can never forgive you for that!"</p>
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<p>"Oh, that poor husband of yours," Snape said, trying his best to nor slur his
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words because of his aching jaw. "It's no wonder he sought a way out."</p>
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<p>The satisfaction that came over Snape when he saw the flash of anger in Rodolphus'
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eyes helped alleviate the pain a little bit. Especially when he realized that the
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anger was not entirely meant for him.</p>
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<p>"Have you noticed, Rodolphus," Snape continued, "That while <em>you</em> call her
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<em>love</em>, <em>she</em> calls you <em>pet</em>? It is a rather telling sign of
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what you mean to her, is it not? Tell me, do you believe yourself above or below the
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werewolf when it comes to rank?"</p>
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<p>"That is enough out of you!" Greyback suddenly roared. He picked Snape up as
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easily as he would a rag doll and slammed him into a tree. Snape managed to allow
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himself only a grunt.</p>
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<p>"You. Talk. Too. Much," Greyback spat word for word, allowing a pause between each
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one to let his fist collide with Snape's face. The third or fourth one definitely
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broke Snape's nose and he found himself appreciative of the werewolf's lacking
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vocabulary.</p>
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<p>Snape spat out the blood that filled his mouth, already partially seeping through
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his lips and turned his determined gaze on Greyback.</p>
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<p>"She's using you, you know," he grunted with more difficulty than he cared to
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admit.</p>
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<p>"One more word and I will tear your lips off with my teeth," Greyback hissed.</p>
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<p>Snape knew that the werewolf was not kidding and wisely shut his mouth. They
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stared at each other for a few more seconds before Greyback released Snape, allowing
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him to fall to the floor and turned his back on him.</p>
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<p>"I suggest you do something about that mouth, Bella," Greyback growled, "Before he
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sways one of them –" he inclined his head meaningfully towards the Lestrange brothers
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"- to betray you."</p>
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<p>"You're right, of course," Bellatrix admitted, "Though I do so love to hear him
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scream. How about one more Crucio and <em>then</em> I seal those lips?"</p>
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<p>"You're the boss," Greyback shrugged.</p>
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<p>Bellatrix laughed gleefully and pointed her wand squarely at Snape's chest. The
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Potions Master braced himself but couldn't stop himself from screaming through the
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agonizing curse that took hold of his body. He wrapped his arms around himself to try
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and stop them from flailing but Bellatrix didn't release the curse until they
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did.</p>
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<p>When she had gratified her sadistic urges, Bellatrix kneeled before Snape and
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cupped his chin gently with her left hand. Snape wanted to slap it away but could
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barely lift a finger. Instead, he groaned.</p>
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<p>"Hush now," Bellatrix said gently, "It will all be over soon. For today anyway. We
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still need to alert a certain somebody to your whereabouts."</p>
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<p>Before Snape could react, Bellatrix leaned forward and kissed him long and hard.
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When she pulled back, her mouth was smeared with his blood. She licked her lips in
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delight and Snape had to do his best not to empty his stomach.</p>
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<p>"Suturis," Bella whispered.</p>
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<p>Snape thought he couldn't move anymore. He had been convinced that his body had
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been broken and that he would be unable to react to any more torture that day.</p>
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<p>He realized just how wrong he was when he felt the invisible needle impale his
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lips up and down, up and down, until a magical thread sealed his mouth shut. His
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brain screamed at him, telling him to stop the agony however he could and soon he
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found himself scratching at his face, attempting to stop what he knew he could
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not.</p>
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<p>And Bellatrix had taken her sweet time, that sadistic witch. She relished in
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Snape's agony as was evident by the ecstasy on her face.</p>
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<p>When she was finished, she took out what seemed to be a chipped cup and held it
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under Snape's chin, gathering some of the blood that was dripping down at an unsteady
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pace. Soon, the hand she used to hold Snape's face in place was covered by the red
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substance but she clearly couldn't care less.</p>
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<p>"You'll have to forgive me," she said when she saw Snape's cold stare. "But we
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don't exactly have any inkwells in this forest. Your blood should do nicely though.
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Did you have anything you wanted me to tell Potter?"</p>
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<p>Snape narrowed his eyes and glared to the best of his abilities.</p>
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<p>"Oh, you want me to tell him to come to rescue you?" Bellatrix said in mock pity,
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"Don't you worry. I'll tell him you said just that."</p>
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<p>Snape would've lunged forward had his body not been so heavy but even if he could
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have done just that, it would've amounted to nothing.</p>
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<p>"Rabastan, watch the prisoner," Bellatrix ordered, "I have a message to write, and
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I don't want to be disturbed by any moaning or flailing."</p>
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<p>"Yes, Bella," Rabastan agreed flatly. The witch disappeared out of sight, followed
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on her heels by Greyback. Rodolphus occupied himself by staring at the small girl
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that still lay motionless on the floor. Snape shook his head in dismay. The
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monsters.</p>
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<p>"You don't know what it's like out here," Rabastan told him. Snape glared at the
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man.</p>
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<p>"You were regarded a hero because you were on the right side of history," Rabastan
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continued, "And we now hide away like common thieves, scrounging up food wherever we
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can."</p>
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<p>Snape grunted and inclined his head towards the girl. Rabastan followed his gaze
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and grimaced.</p>
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<p>"One would say she was a necessary evil," Rabastan said after a while, "Others
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would say that luring you into a trap was not necessary at the least but simply a
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dangerous act to get revenge on you."</p>
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<p>Snape nodded in agreement to the second.</p>
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<p>"It's not like I have that much choice, you know," Rabastan said quietly, "I know
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what I can do and surviving on my own out here is not it. It's either this life or
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Azkaban – oh don't look at me like that. Azkaban would be infinitely worse."</p>
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<p>Rodolphus glared their way before moving to the campfire, throwing in some more
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wood.</p>
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<p>"You're right about one thing though," Rabastan shared willingly, "Rodolphus does
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not like to be around his loving <em>wife</em> at all. She's insane."</p>
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<p>Snape couldn't help but wonder why the man next to him was spilling thoughts as if
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he drank Veritaserum and questions were asked that only he could hear. On the other
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hand, perhaps he needed a sounding board and what better use was a man whose lips
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were literally sealed.</p>
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<p>"One day she'll kill us," Rabastan continued, "I know that. I'm not stupid. She'll
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get me first. Probably after I disagree with her on something stupid. She'll have had
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enough and she'll kill me. I can only hope it will be painless. As for my brother –
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well – that all depends. If he reacts too strongly to my death she'll kill him right
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after. Otherwise, it'll probably be a few months. Unless he escapes before that
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time."</p>
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<p>Snape couldn't help himself. He shot Rabastan an incredulous look that he normally
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saved to stare at the work of his most dunderheaded students.</p>
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<p>"Oh, and where would I go if I ran now?" Rabastan answered his unspoken question.
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"Go to Rookwood? He doesn't want company and quite frankly, he uses people."</p>
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<p>Snape glanced at the little girl and back at Rabastan.</p>
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<p>"Yes, Bella uses people as well. I know!" Rabastan replied. The volume in his
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voice was increasing and Snape became worried that Bellatrix might hear him. "But at
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least <em>she's</em> upfront about it. There are never any surprises. She means what
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she says and her orders are straightforward."</p>
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<p>Snape tried to smirk but found that he couldn't. Pain was his only response to the
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attempted curling of his lips. He suppressed a groan and tried to move himself into a
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better position. Rabastan regarded him carefully.</p>
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<p>"You look pathetic," he said, "You know that, right?"</p>
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<p>Snape rolled his eyes. What had they expected cornering him four against one? He
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didn't know what Rabastan was trying to provoke with his childish taunting but he
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should realize that Snape was unable to answer, even if he wanted to. So Snape
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motioned across his mouth and looked darkly at Rabastan.</p>
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<p>"I know you can't speak," Rabastan said, "That question was rhetorical, you
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know."</p>
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<p>He eyed Snape again and added: "Something tells me that the old Severus Snape
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would never have allowed himself to be ambushed like that. Have you gone soft or
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simply careless?"</p>
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|
<p>Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow. <em>That</em> question was definitely
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<em>not</em> rhetorical.</p>
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|
<p>"A bit of both, I suppose," Rabastan answered for him, "That's what you get when
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you're lounging about the impenetrable safety of Hogwarts. You have a warm bed to
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sleep on, good food on your table morning, noon and evening and you even have company
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that doesn't look at you as if you were a cockroach."</p>
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|
<p>Snape snorted at that last addition. Perhaps not anymore but once most of his
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colleagues had regarded him exactly so. Now only a very small minority still did. And
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even that seemed to be ebbing away with every time Snape went to watch one of Harry's
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matches; every time someone caught him looking at the boy with a sense of pride.
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Maybe he <em>had</em> gone soft.</p>
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|
<p>"Well, if you do it's your own fault entirely," Rabastan said, "You don't exactly
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have the most pleasant personality. It's really off-putting."</p>
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|
<p>Snape frowned at the man in front of him. <em>That</em> was certainly a case of
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the pot calling the kettle black.</p>
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|
<p>"Don't give me that look," Rabastan chided, "I didn't lay a hand on you except to
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bring you here. Nor did I torture that little girl. I don't relish in violence the
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way Bella and Greyback do. For a long time, people actually found my company rather
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delightful."</p>
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<p>Snape snorted again.</p>
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<p>"Don't laugh," Rabastan said, "It's true. But now – well – when you walk with
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trash, you end up smelling the same."</p>
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<p>Snape nodded solemnly. This was good. He could use this. Rabastan clearly wanted
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out of this little arrangement. If only he could speak, he would be able to offer
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terms. He could offer to talk to Dumbledore about granting them clemency. Not that
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the old man would be able to hold off the righteous judgement that hung over their
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heads quite like the sword of Damocles, but Rabastan didn't need to know that.</p>
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<p>Snape grabbed a twig and started writing in the sand.</p>
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<p><em>I could help you.</em></p>
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<p>Rabastan laughed heartily as if Snape had just told him a hilarious joke. But the
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glint in his eyes had been unmistakable. Snape erased the sentence and looked at
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Rabastan expectantly.</p>
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<p>"And how would you be able to help me?" Rabastan said softly, "Not to mention,
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why?"</p>
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<p>Snape exhaled strongly through his nose in exasperation with being asked two
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questions at once and picked up his twig once more.</p>
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<p>He wrote a number one in the sand with next to it the word '<em>Dumbledore'</em>
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and below that he wrote the number two and next to <em>that</em> the word
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<em>self-preservation</em>. He then looked up meaningfully.</p>
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<p>"If self-preservation had been anywhere on your list of personal goals, you would
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have never become a spy," Rabastan noted cleverly, "What changed?"</p>
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<p>Snape erased his previous writing and wrote '<em>Harry'</em>.</p>
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<p>"You have got to be kidding me," Rabastan sighed, "You loathed the boy so strongly
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for all those years but now you would help me stay out of Azkaban for his sake? It
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must be a cold day in hell."</p>
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<p>Snape erased Harry's name from the sand and fixed Rabastan with a piercing glare
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as if to say '<em>well</em>?'</p>
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<p>Rabastan seemed to be in doubt but shook his head. "Let me think on it Snape," he
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said, "For one, I don't think I could leave my brother behind. If I disappeared,
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Bella would surely kill him in her rage."</p>
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<p>More would have been said but Bella re-emerged from the trees, with Greyback on
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her heels. Privately, Snape wondered if they had been doing more than letter-writing
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in the thicket but quickly erased that vile thought from his mind.</p>
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<p>"Oh, Snape, isn't this delicious?" Bella said, "By tomorrow, I am sure we will
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have Harry Potter in our grasp to suffer as much as you will. Surely, you're looking
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forward to his company?"</p>
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<p>A deep noise crawled its way up Snape's throat. No words could be distinguished
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but the threat was clear. Bella simply laughed.</p>
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<p>"Do you honestly think you scare me?" she said, "That you scare any of us? You are
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a dead man, Snape. You just don't know it yet."</p>
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<p>She whistled once and a large barn owl swooped down, landing on a low-hanging
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branch in Bellatrix' reach. It proudly extended its foot and she gleefully tied the
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letter to it.</p>
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<p>"Bring this to Harry Potter," she ordered. The owl hooted once and flew up, its
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strong, wide wings carrying it across the sky in a swift manner.</p>
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<p>"Don't worry, Sevvie!" Bellatrix said when the owl had disappeared from sight, "We
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have not forgotten about you. In fact, we have cleared our busy schedule just to have
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a bit of fun with you."</p>
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<p>Snape narrowed his eyes at the disturbing woman in front of him, his decorum not
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faltering when she revealed a large knife.</p>
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<p>"Now, what fingers would you mind losing the least?"</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry had had a very confusing day, yesterday. He had known that Snape was out
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buying potions ingredients with Professor Bell but neither of them had returned yet.
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And sure, it had been a Saturday, so there wasn't really a reason for either of them
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to be back on time but this was very uncharacteristic for Snape.</p>
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<p>What was even more confusing, was the message he had received on his cuff around
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three in the morning. It had nearly disappeared by the time he was awake enough to
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understand what was happening but he had still been able to make out the words.</p>
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<p>'<em>Ignore the letter you will get this morning. Do not test me on
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this.'</em></p>
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<p>The penmanship had obviously been Snape's even if it had been less neat than
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usual. Perhaps a side-effect from writing a message in the middle of the night. Maybe
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Snape had indulged in too much fire whiskey. Perhaps, he had sent Harry an
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embarrassing message that he didn't want repeated.</p>
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<p>He hadn't even bothered writing anything back because he was too tired but now –
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as he sat down at breakfast, noticing that Snape was still not here – he wrote him a
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message.</p>
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<p>'<em>Where are you? And where is Professor Bell?'</em></p>
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<p>Ten minutes later, he still hadn't gotten a reply so he just shrugged and dug into
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his breakfast. There were croissants today.</p>
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<p>The answer to Professor Bell's whereabouts was answered at that moment. She barged
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into the great hall, looking severely dishevelled as she hurriedly made her way to
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the high table, not even regarding Harry with a passing glance.</p>
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<p>Harry watched her approach Dumbledore, whispering hurriedly with her head bowed
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closer to his. Curious and slightly worried as he was, his attention was soon
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disturbed when a large barn owl landed right next to his plate and extended his foot.
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|
Glancing at the high table once more, Harry removed the attached letter and
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absentmindedly shoved some bacon and eggs towards the owl. He opened the scroll and
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gasped slightly when he saw that the message was written in blood.</p>
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|
<p>"Everything alright, Harry?" came the familiar drawl of a certain Slytherin
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blonde. Ron and Hermione weren't down yet seeing how it was Sunday, but Draco never
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|
skipped breakfast. "Wait, is that –"</p>
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<p>"I think so," Harry frowned, allowing his eyes to scan the parchment as his
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expression grew darker.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>My dear Potty,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I would like to cordially invite you to a party that I know you
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can't wait to attend. Sevvie – for one – is simply dying to see you. Quite literally
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in fact! I'm sure you wouldn't want to prolong his agony so I want you to come to
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Hogsmeade as soon as you can. One of my party guests will be there to pick you up! If
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you want to bring a plus one, you are welcome to. A girlfriend perhaps? The more, the
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merrier! Just don't bring anyone over the age of twenty. We have enough of those
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already, you see. If you do, my guest will be forced to leave prematurely and will
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not come back until the next day.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Since you will be dearly missed if you refuse to show up, we will
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send you a present every day. We simply can't carry on without you, you know? Today,
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you will have to be satisfied with the blood Sevvie has quite unwillingly provided to
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write this letter with. Tomorrow, I think I might send you a finger.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Don't run late! We might run out of body parts if you do.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>With much love,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Bellatrix Lestrange.</em></p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Might I kindly ask you lot to provide me with some reviews? It would be much
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appreciated, you see. I'm anxious to see what you think and yes, I know. I'm evil for
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this new cliffhanger. The next one won't end on one, I promise!</p>
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</div>
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