Snake, disliking the disturbance, opened its mouth wide and hissed angrily, but the Death

Eaters did not hear it, so jubilant were they at Bellatrix and the Malfoys’ humiliation.

Bellatrix’s face, so recently flushed wit happiness, had turned an ugly, blotchy red.

“She is no niece of ours, my Lord,” she cried over the outpouring of mirth. “We –

Narcissa and I – have never set eyes on our sister since she married the Mudblood. This

brat has nothing to do with either of us, nor any beast she marries.”

“What say you, Draco?” asked Voldemort, and though his voice was quiet, it

carried clearly through the catcalls and jeers. “Will you babysit the cubs?”

The hilarity mounted; Draco Malfoy looked in terror at his father, who was

staring down into his own lap, then caught his mother’s eye. She shook her head almost

Imperceptibly, then resumed her own deadpan stare at the opposite wall.

“Enough,” said Voldemort, stroking the angry snake. “Enough.”

And the laughter died at once.

“Many of our oldest family trees become a little diseased over time,” he said as

Bellatrix gazed at him, breathless and imploring, “You must prune yours, must you not,

to keep it healthy? Cut away those parts that threaten the health of the rest.”

“Yes, my Lord,” whispered Bellatrix, and her eyes swam with tears of gratitude

again. “At the first chance!”

“You shall have it,” said Voldemort. “And in your family, so in the world … we

shall cut away the canker that infects us until only those of the true blood remain …”

Voldemort raised Lucius Malfoy’s wand, pointed it directly at the slowly

Revolving figure suspended over the table, and gave it a tiny flick. The figure came to life

With a groan and began to struggle against invisible bonds.

“Do you recognize our guest, Severus?” asked Voldemort.

Snape raised his eyes to the upside down face. All of the Death Eaters were

Looking up at the captive now, as though they had been given permission to show

Curiosity. As she revolved to face the firelight, the woman said in a cracked and terrified

voice, “Severus! Help me!”

“Ah, yes,” said Snape as the prisoner turned slowly away again.

“And you, Draco?” asked Voldemort, stroking the snake’s snout with his wandfree

Hand. Draco shook his head jerkily. Now that the woman had woken, he seemed

Unable to look at her anymore.

“But you would not have taken her classes,” said Voldemort. “For those of you

Who do not know, we are joined here tonight by Charity Burbage who, until recently,

taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

There were small noises of comprehension around the table. A broad, hunched

Woman with pointed teeth cackled.

“Yes … Professor Burbage taught the children of witches and wizards all about

Muggles … how they are not so different from us … “

One of the Death Eaters spat on the floor. Charity Burbage revolved to face Snape

Again.

“Severus … please … please … “

“Silence,” said Voldemort, with another twitch of Malfoy’s wand, and Charity fell

silent as if gagged. “Not content with corrupting and polluting the minds of Wizarding

Children, last week Professor Burbage wrote an impassioned defense of Mudbloods in the

Daily Prophet. Wizards, she says, must accept these thieves of their knowledge and

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 773