"How am I supposed to trust you, Severus?"
Faced with Voldemort's question, Snape showed no sign of panic.
He rose and came to Voldemort's side, bowing his head slightly and placing it within easy reach of Voldemort's hand.
"Please explore my memories, Dark Lord. They are completely open to you."
Snape wanted to prove his loyalty through his actions.
Voldemort watched him with mild surprise, but didn't act right away.
In Lin Zuo's memories, Snape had used this very method to earn Voldemort's trust.
Voldemort didn't think he could do any better with this spell than the version of himself in Lin Zuo's memories had.
Snape waited for a while, and when Voldemort still didn't act, he raised his head in confusion.
Then he saw a pair of cold eyes gazing at him for a long time, devoid of all feeling.
Sweat instantly soaked his robes. He hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet Voldemort's eyes again.
"Magic, magic. It's so wondrous."
Voldemort suddenly spoke, his words almost a chant—words Snape couldn't understand.
"To probe another person's thoughts, wizards invented Legilimency."
"To resist Legilimency, wizards invented Occlumency."
"Severus, you're quite skilled at both spells."
"Then tell me: if you were me, would you trust the memories you found?"
Sweat the size of beans rolled down Snape's forehead and dripped onto the floor by Voldemort's feet.
"Dark Lord, I'm willing to swear an oath..."
"You're not afraid of death. What good would it do to threaten you with it?"
Under Voldemort's relentless questions, Snape's inner world began to crumble.
Trembling, he sank to his knees beside Voldemort, his body drained of strength. He could only support himself with one hand on the armrest of Voldemort's chair.
"Dark Lord, please search my thoughts. You'll see my loyalty, I promise."
He bowed