The Dark Gryffindor

sjauthor: Thanks for another review. Draco does play a part. There is a really dramatic Quidditch game coming up, and of course Draco is the Slytherin seeker.


Chapter Twenty-Six: Taming a Monster


Moments later, Valerie and Snape were lounging in comfortable armchairs beside a small stone fireplace in the bedroom. The perfumed scent of the potion oils still exuded off her skin. It was certainly very cozy and Snape provided them mugs of Black English tea. She wore his green plaid bathrobe, feeling warmer than she had in hours, ever since that painful excursion. The dungeons had certainly not been a warm place, plus, she like the other prisoners had been naked.

Snape surveyed her, giving Valerie a long glance. He did not know how to pursue the awful subject, but decided to just get straight to the point. “It is time for you to tell me everything. Everything that happened this evening.”

Valerie sighed and gave Snape a pitiful glance that told him she was reluctant. He just waited, narrowing his dark eyes, as he peered intently into her dark blue ones. He thought that she had better not try to lie her way out of any of this.

Valerie, in her mind, decided it was best to blatantly explain why she was being put in detention in the first place. “What happened was the Carrows caught me early this evening. You see, when the Dark Lord took my fake galleon, sir, I believe he used the time of the D.A.’s meeting to inform the Carrows. So that is exactly what happened. I was on my way to the Room of Requirement, yet I didn’t know there was a meeting. And they were waiting. I was the only one they wanted – as I later learned they were acting on the Dark Lord’s orders.”

“And just what were they after?” said Snape quickly, feeling the urge to spring from his seat, instead his hands clamped around the armrests, so tightly the veins convulsed. He had a feeling this had to be more than just a little bit important.

“They accused me of stealing. I realized later that – that the Dark Lord must have lied to the Carrows. He must have told them I was a thief. Anyway, the Carrows mentioned a diadem – you know a tiara of sorts. They said it was the Dark Lord’s, headmaster. They said he must know where it is and they demanded to know if I- or anyone had harmed it.”

Snape’s brows scrunched looking pensive. “This is very interesting news, indeed, Valerie. Useful for I to know as well…. Clearly, as I’m sure you realized, the Carrows were not told everything about this object?”

“No, I don’t think so,” said Valerie carefully. “Why?”

“Nothing,” said Snape. He was not going to tell Valerie everything. But Snape realized this diadem – might – might just be one of Voldemort’s horcruxes and then there was the small probability it was the lost diadem of legend, supposedly owned by Rowena Ravenclaw.

“So – Then the Carrows must have been fairly furious. Angry they had not gleaned any information off you...." Snape paused, and then questioned sounding, almost sad, "So in return for your uselessness to themselves or their master they put you in the dungeons?”

“Yes,” said Valerie, gritting her teeth, biting back her own anger. “But that was only after they Crucioed me, Imperiused me and used Veritaserum, and – and a vice. And now I have detention every day this week!”

She looked back at Snape, glad to see that he was not pleased to hear how harsh they had been with her. “Valerie – you went through quite a lot tonight. Surely – surely you are the only one for me. I daresay I know very few witches, or few wizards who could have withstood such pressure,” he congratulated and added, “That is other than myself and Dumbledore.”

Valerie did not smile, but frowned despondently at Snape. His words did not make things any better for herself.

“And I will get you out of these detentions. As headmaster it is certainly within my power. I will explain that you are exonerated of this crime, thieving. I understand you did not actually steal anything, but I must have them think that I believe this… Neither do I think this will anger the Dark Lord. Undoubtedly, he will hear of it when he punishes the Carrows. I very much doubt the most powerful man in the world cares if you’re in detention.”

“Of course not! Of course he wouldn’t care” said Valerie. “And thanks, sir,” she added sheepishly.

“But you still haven’t enlightened me on the conditions in the dungeons,” said Snape coolly, leaning back, and taking a leisurely sip of his tea.

Valerie’s face paled. This was definitely not going to be a pleasant discussion. She really did not wish to tell him. She felt her mouth go very dry, “Um – er. It’s terrible, sir. Some of the-the Punishers chained me up and I was whipped. That’s all.”

Snape was a little startled by how she could speak of such a harrowing ordeal with virtually no emotion. He paused for a moment, marshaling his thoughts. He knew Valerie wasn’t telling him everything, but how could he prompt her to divulge the details, without sounding cruelly curious? Finally he said, “Precisely who chained you up and then proceeded to flog you?”

Valerie did not answer at once. Then she said, “Just the prefects. Alecto Carrow calls them Punishers. That’s what I meant before.”

“You know what I mean. I want their names.”

Valerie did not answer. “Tell me who it was. Now, or I will have to break into your mind. I will force you, because I know you’re hiding things!”

“Alright – alright. Damion Bulstrode and with him, two boys that follow him. I don’t know the others names."

Snape’s face hardened. Remembering this was the prefect he had caught her snogging before. “Him? That boy?” said Snape in a hushed whisper. But there could be no doubt Snape’s anger was rising.

“Yes, him,” said Valerie, feeling horrified.

“Tell me, I do remember those deals," said Snape with an odd seductivness, but he was shaking with suppressed jealously."…what is your relationship with the boy like?”

“Relationship? My – I’m not doing things with him anymore, sir! I swear!” ranted Valerie.

“I did not believe for an instant that you were. But how does he treat you –“

“Horrible. He does his worst on me. He used the bull-whip today, I don’t think he used that – or at least not so many lashings with anyone else!”

“And what else?”

“Nothing! Nothing else!” Valerie burst out, terrified.

“Evidently, you’re not telling me everything,” said Snape, becoming a bit nettled, and taking his wand out of his pocket.

“I can’t! Please don’t!” said Valerie.

“I find it necessary for your protection, Valerie. Not to mention the welfare of others.”

And then Snape was inside her memories. He saw Damion doing everything he had done that night, plus he saw Damion’s twisted, contorted laughter, as he watched the others in appalling states, such as the girl anchored by her pelvis to the floor.

He went further in and saw a memory of Valerie witnessing Damion raping some of the prisoners, both a boy and a girl. He did not have to watch too long to get the overall impression of the boy’s character.

When he came out of her mind, Snape’s complexion was tinged green; he looked more disgusted than Valerie had ever seen him.

“That boy- that boy shall be expelled and prosecuted by the ministry!” spat Snape with clear hatred. “Those are heinous, aberrant actions. I never would dream Bulstrode was capable of them. Yet it appears he is.”

Valerie watched him in awe. “Are you really going to expel him, sir?”

Snape paused, taking deep breaths as if he'd just ran a race. “He’s a wealthy Pureblood. This could get back to the Dark Lord, who wants all of the purebloods under his tutelage. Besides - with the way the ministry is being run presently, the boy won’t be put on trial. They’re too busy interrogating and executing Muggle-borns…No…I shall have to devise a punishment myself and for the two boys that are cowardly enough to listen to him.”

Snape waved his wand and accioed over a short piece of parchment. He wrote a note, scribbling feverishly. “You will give this to Mr. Bulstode tomorrow at breakfast. It has the names of all three Prefects on it. Likewise, I am asking to see them in my office tomorrow evening. You will not tell him what this concerns.”

“No, sir. I won’t…What about the note to get me out of detention?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.” And Snape went about writing another note. “You should give this to Alecto tomorrow evening.”

Note: Obviously this chapter is not finished. I promise I have more very interesting scenes...although right now we've kind of hit a dry spell. That will change soon. Please review.