Absolute Power

5 - The Deserters

Theodore Nott has been tortured extensively, that much is clear to Hermione. His face is splotched purple with bruises and a cut above his eyebrow is leaking blood into his swollen eye. The other, it seems he can't open. His shirt is cut down the middle, and she spots what looks like electrical burns along his torso. Blaise raises his head as Snape turns on the lights and smiles down at him, but there's no warmth in his smile. Only the promise of more violence. 

Hermione has to put a hand to her mouth the stop herself from being sick. Not only does the gore turn her stomach, but the fact that it was done at Snape's hand. The person she had just been convinced to trust. The 'good guy'. It makes her sick. What makes her sicker, however, is the small feeling of validation that flits through her. She was right. Of course, she was right. Hermione Granger was always right. 

"Feeling a bit more talkative today?" Snape hums, pulling out his wand and drumming his fingers along the length of it. It takes a lot of effort for Theo to spit at his old professor's shoes, but that he does. The glob of blood and saliva lands too far away to do anything but show his loathing. Snape steps forwards and swiftly backhands his student. Theo's head whips to the side and laughs. He actually laughs. 

"You can do better than that, Professor." He wheezes through bloodied teeth. She notices one missing as he grins maniacally up at Snape. 

Snape points his wand at Theo. "Crucio." The young man writhes and screams in his chair, yanking futilely at his chains. The open wounds around his wrists and shoulders where his bare skin strains against the harsh metal split and begin to weep. They look infected, and Hermione knows they must be infected. Snape lets up after a few moments and Theo collapses, panting. 

"Why were you in Hogwarts?" Snape asks. 

"You know damn well why I was in Hogwarts." Theo spits back, lifting his head wearily. 

"Wrong. Ten points from Slytherin." Snape crucios him again. Theo is twitching uncontrollably after this bout of torture. 

"Look inside my head, Snape, and you'll see everything. I know you can do legilimency." He says with a heaving chest. 

"But this is so much more fun." Snape smiles, leaning forwards. "You know, you remind me so much of your father. What is it with you Slytherin and having pathetic parents? Or is it just your little band of friends?" 

"You'd know." Theo laughs again. Snape growls and uses the end of his wand to taser Blaise's ribs, making him yowl. 

"I loathe deserters," Snape says. 

"Hello pot, meet kettle," Theo smirks. "You're black." 

"That's where you're wrong, Nott. Unlike you, I possess a spine. And that spine allows me to stay loyal to the Dark Lord. I could call him here in a second, and trust me, he's so much worse than I am." Snape says and Hermione's stomach drops. Holy shit. Snape is working with Voldemort. Holy fucking shit. 

"What he lacks in nose you definitely make up for," Theo says and is promptly awarded another electrocution. 

Hermione needs to tell someone, anyone, that the man they trusted is not at all who he says he is. He's a spy. She needs to go, and fast. 

"I'll ask again, what were you doing in Hogwarts?" 

"What? Am I not allowed to get an education?" Theo says snarkily. Snape crucios him again. Hermione can't stomach it anymore. She turns to go but Snape approaches Theo and leans down to the eye level. 

"Legiliemens." 

From an observer, all she can see is Snape staring intensely into Theo's eyes whilst the younger man grits his teeth. She knows, however, that Snape is shifting through his memories.