"Impossible."
Antonin Dolohov roared savagely from inside the cell.
The veins stood out on his face, and his eyes gleamed with a ferocity that seemed ready to devour anyone who crossed him.
"Damn Snape! How could the Dark Lord give such an order? It must be you..."
His words cut off abruptly as Snape exposed his left arm.
A shadowy serpent stood upon it, hissing as it reached toward Dolohov. The vicious Death Eater fell silent.
"The Dark Lord has his reasons, Dolohov. I only need you to tell me..."
Snape leaned forward and asked with an air of menace, "Will you obey, or refuse?"
Dolohov opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He wanted to refuse. After all, living in this dark, joyless castle had been nothing short of torture.
Sometimes he even thought that not even the Dark Lord himself could endure such a life.
But he didn't dare say so, not with that snake on Snape's left arm.
"I want to make sure first."
Dolohov suddenly spoke, a glimmer of hope seeming to enter his eyes.
Yes, he had seen hope.
Perhaps this uprising had come without warning. Perhaps their enemies could no longer keep Azkaban under control.
Perhaps the man in front of him had merely used some unfamiliar magic to pass himself off as Voldemort, buying time.
But when Dolohov held out his left arm, the snake suddenly bit the mark on it.
The mark then sprang to life.
For a moment, the ferocious Dolohov seemed utterly drained of strength.
He slumped helplessly to the floor, leaning against the cold wall as he stared blankly at his left arm.
"Tell me your answer, Dolohov. I still have others to inform," Snape urged.
"I'll obey, Snape. I'll follow the Dark Lord's orders," Dolohov said listlessly,