Forbidden

- 13-

Madison woke up in what looked like the master room of her house, she didn't fully open her eyes because she heard the Dark Lord talking to a familiar voice, her potions master.

"She should be awake in the next ten minutes, if my tonic worked properly, which obviously it will. However, I must advise that she is dehydrated and I was informed that she had not eaten the whole day, or week...for that matter"

"Can she be having hallucinations from that?" Voldemort asked with his luring voice.

"It's not common, but I suppose it could happen...why do you ask, my Lord?"

"Not your concern"

"I can take her back with me, treat her at the Hogwarts infirmary"

There was a long silence, Madison felt like sitting up to see what was going on.

"She is not going back yet" Voldemort hissed, almost angry at Snape for proposing such action without permission.

"I must go back, I suppose the emergency is cared for?" Severus' baritone voice was showing concern even if he didn't mean it, Madison felt it.

It was her cue, she fake coughed twice before opening her eyes and sitting up. She was indeed in the master chamber that used to be her father's room. However all of the furniture had been replaced with heavy black wood, the room was darker than it previously was. As if it wasn't dark enough.

Tom was sitting on the black leather arm chair and Snape stood beside him.

"Mrs Rowle, how are you feeling?" Snape walked to her, widening his eyes once he gave Voldemort his back.

"I am fine professor...a bit thirsty" she tilted her head, the young witch wanted to ask him questions about why he was there, was he a spy? For Voldemort, or for Dumbledore? But once again she had no control over her words.

"You may leave, Severus" Tom spoke, standing up from the armchair, before Snape could even utter a word.

Snape gave Madison a slight head bow, she could swear she saw pity in his eyes.

"Very well. Good bye Mrs Rowle" Snape turned on his heel, leaving the room in such slow pace that his cloak didn't even float like usual.

Madison watched young Voldemort approach her, both hands behind him, impeccable posture.

"You're going to eat soon, Severus said the tonic should increase your appetite"

"Yes, my Lord" Madison lowered her gaze.

"Don't hide your eyes from me"

His voice made her feel good, just his voice alone. She looked up again, locking eyes with him.

"How could you ever know what I looked like as an adolescent?"

"I didn't know, I drew what you look like to me, my Lord, I obeyed and got tortured for it"

The young witch wanted her hand to cover her mouth but the hand didn't respond, she watched him with fixed eyes instead. Tom moved his head as if stretching his neck, the tiny muscles of his jaw contracting and relaxing, when his eyes opened they were glued on her again.

"I want answers"

"I don't have them, I am as taken by this situation as you"

He stepped closer and closer to the bed, sitting beside Madison with his back to her.

"You're a liability, Madison, I tend to eliminate liabilities"

Madison fell quiet, and yet felt another word vomit exited her mouth.