Short chapter before I go to work - I cannot beLIEVE I actually got through this one. Argh to writer's block!

I hate winter.

Chapter 21 – Symphony of Destruction

You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads roll

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the street
Dance like the marionette
Swaying to the symphony of destruction

-Megadeth

Severus stopped just outside of the Dark Lord's room at the Lestrange estate. He had to calm down. That he was upset wasn't evident to the casual observer, but every single one of the Death Eaters had known him long enough to see it. He could sort through the situation with Narcissa's son – sons – later.

A deep breath, squared shoulders, and the mask fell into place. Knowing he couldn't afford to hesitate, Severus threw open the door with a flourish and entered confidently, head held high. His robes flowed around him as he bowed to a height calculated to be respectful without being simpering.

"You summoned me, my Lord?" he murmured. His voice carried clearly through the large chamber.

"Sevvie's in trou-ble!" came a soft, sing-song voice. Snape stood and glared at Bellatrix, standing in the shadows somewhere to the right of Voldemort's ornate armchair. Bella grinned maliciously back at him.

Snape decided discretion was the better part of valor and ignored her.

"Is something wrong?"

"Severus," Voldemort hissed. "Were you aware that young Mr. Malfoy left Malfoy Manor this afternoon?"

Severus let his face register mild shock. "Did he? He did not inform me of any plans." Which was the complete truth. It had to be – Severus could feel the slimy touch of Voldemort's Legillimancy on his mind.

Accepting this response, Voldemort dropped his gaze to the snake in his lap, petting her absently.

"He was encountered in Diagon Alley. At Gringott's, no less. This was a missed opportunity, Severus. Had we been aware he was leaving, we might have wrapped up a few…loose ends."

"I'll speak with him tonight, my Lord. He won't leave without my knowledge again."

"Severus, Severus," Voldemort sighed, his tone falsely patriarchal. "That is not the point."

Snape stayed silent, fighting the urge to fire off a biting remark. He hated it when Voldemort was condescending. Let him be all smiles and false propriety, or let him vent his rage and bile on anyone who came near. Not this.

Voldemort pointed a long, bony finger at him.

"The point is, you no longer have the boy's complete trust."

Though his face remained impassive, Snape's heart stuttered. Draco's continued existence depended on their perceived bond.

"I am sure that is not the case, my Lord. He may only have thought his errand beneath my notice. I will correct him."

"I am not so assured as you." He turned his hand towards himself, making a show of examining the long, sharpened nails, and did not look at Snape when he spoke. "You are lucky Bellatrix happened upon him, or we might never have known."

Snape looked up sharply at that. He glanced at Bella, noting for the first time the smug look on her face, the singed ends of her hair, and the three-inch, pointed-toe Muggle-style stiletto boots she was wearing.

Rage welled up. He fought it down to the very center of his soul and capped it tightly.

Now is not the time.

"There is also the matter of Potter's visit."

"What's this now?" Snape asked, taken off guard. Bellatrix smiled toothily at him again.

"Potty-boy's been visiting dear Draco."

Snape blinked.

"What? Why?"

"Both excellent questions." Voldemort caught his gaze and searched it, throwing the power of Legilimens behind it. He needn't have bothered. In this case, Snape's surprise was completely genuine.

Foiled again, Voldemort gave a long-suffering sigh and tossed a copy of the Daily Prophet to Severus. Severus caught it and glanced down at the circled article.

"'Boy-Who-Lived Fraternizes with Enemy'. Reliable sources inform us that renowned young wizard Harry Potter has spent the last few days in the home of Draco Malfoy, son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy and suspected supporter of You-Know-Who…" He stopped there. "Did that Skeeter woman write this? Rubbish. They hate each other, they always have."

"Not at all. My spies confirmed it. They were seen flying together above the Malfoy grounds." Voldemort's smile was mocking. "Are you still so sure he trusts you?"

Snape drew himself up stiffly. "I will find out."

"Good. I would hate to waste such potential. Our agreement stands, for the time being." He looked up then, fixing Severus with a lidless stare. "Crucio."

Severus didn't even see the wand turn towards him, not that it mattered. He fell to his knees and grit his teeth through the agony, refusing to scream, just like every other time he'd experienced Cruciatus. No matter what part he was forced to play, his pride simply would not let him scream.

After what felt like ages (but was likely a matter of seconds), the pain receded. Snape shook his head to clear his bleary vision and looked up to see Bellatrix standing over him.

"Severus," Voldemort said in a bored tone, "don't fail me again."

"Yes, my Lord," Snape grit out, unable to look away from his godson's wicked aunt. Bella grinned that shark-toothed grin and took Snape's wrists, hauling him to his feet with a strength that belied her small stature. Snape, caught off guard and still woozy, stumbled forward slightly. Bellatrix caught him by the shoulders and steadied him, leaning up to bring her face close to his ear.

"It's better if you scream, you know," she whispered gleefully. "It hurts less."

Snape jerked away, allowing his hatred to show on his face for just a moment. Then it was gone, replaced by the impassive Professor.

"Stay out of my business, Lestrange," he growled, and with a respectful bow to his Lord he was gone.

When Ginny had come down to inform the room that Draco was awake, Xander, Willow, Giles and even Harry had immediately wanted to go to his side. Molly wouldn't hear of it, though, telling them in no uncertain terms that they were not to crowd the poor boy, doctor's orders. Ginny suggested that Xander go to see him first and everyone else agreed.

Draco regarded Xander with a weak eyebrow.

"Are you going to come in, or are you going to gape like a fish?"

Xander snorted, crossing the threshold and gently shutting the door behind you.

"I should probably be lecturing you right now," he said.

"On what?"

"On how stupid it was to go out by yourself." Xander pulled over the desk chair, turned it around, and straddled it. He crossed his arms over the back and rested his chin on them. "But somehow I think you've learned your lesson."

Draco closed his eyes, letting his head fall back into the pillow. "Believe me, I have. It does me no good to try and do something nice for someone."

Xander cocked a half-smile, thinking how very much like Spike Draco sounded sometimes. "I appreciate it, though. I really do." He fingered the scroll in his pocket. "A manor house and a very large number of Galleons – whatever those are. It's more than I could ever have hoped for."

Eyes still closed, Draco smirked. "It's nothing compared to the Malfoy fortune, I can assure you."

"You wanted to surprise me, didn't you?" Xander asked quietly. "That's why you didn't tell anyone you were going. That's why you didn't come with us today."

"Oh, no. I meant every word I said about the Weasleys. If it was up to me, I would never have come within a dozen miles of this wretched little hovel." He wrinkled his nose. "Unfortunately, circumstances give me little choice."

Silence reigned for a moment. Draco began to think Xander had left, and was about to open an eye to check when the other man spoke.

"Drake…who attacked you?"

Draco paused, considering how to answer that question. After a moment, he decided Xander was entitled to the whole truth.

"My aunt."

When Xander didn't respond Draco cracked an eye open, registering the shock on his brother's face. He sighed.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is my – our – mother's elder sister. She's always been unstable but since the Dark Lord came back she's been…well, let's just say he encourages her violence." Draco winced as a sharp pain flashed through his collarbone – the Skele-Mender at work. "She believes I'm a muggle-loving blood traitor, because I refused the Mark. Just like Sirius and Aunt Andromeda." He paused for a moment. "She's the one who killed Sirius."

"Harry's godfather?" Xander asked quietly. Draco nodded, wincing again as the motion caused more pain.

"Yeah. He was her cousin." Draco laughed bitterly, opening steel-grey eyes to stare at the ceiling. "You know what she said? She said I've been taken by the Potter craze. That I was just another pathetic plebian, believing that a mere boy could harm the most powerful wizard alive." His fists clenched into the blankets. "That's why."

"Why what?"

"Why she did this." He lifted a shaky hand to indicate his stitched-up forehead. "Why she cut my face open. She said if I loved Potter so much, I should have a scar to match."