Snape keenly realized that Voldemort's actions were far more than simple "shoulder squeezing."
Voldemort was still casting the Cruciatus Curse, and through the motion of squeezing his shoulder, that bone-deep pain streamed ceaselessly into Snape's body.
Snape was not at all surprised. When Voldemort had launched the wizarding war in England, any Death Eater who failed to complete a task would receive this kind of treatment from Voldemort.
Under normal circumstances, after casting the Cruciatus Curse, Voldemort would also follow it with Legilimency.
In his view, combining the Cruciatus Curse with Legilimency produced better results and made it easier to peer into the secrets hidden in another person's heart.
What concerned Snape more was the change in Voldemort's strength. He could sense that Voldemort had indeed become more powerful.
In Snape's recollection, Voldemort had once needed to cast with a wand in order to produce a Cruciatus Curse of sufficient potency;
but now, he could cast the Cruciatus Curse through an action like "squeezing a shoulder," which showed that Voldemort's understanding of the Cruciatus Curse had risen to another level.
Thinking of this, Snape felt somewhat fortunate. Thankfully, his understanding of Occlumency had also risen to another level.
"Master... the traitor... where is he?" Snape's voice trembled slightly, as though uttering those words required tremendous effort.
Voldemort was very satisfied with Snape's performance. He stepped in front of Snape and continued to exert force with his hand, his long fingers like awls pressing into the flesh of Snape's shoulder.
Cold sweat beaded on Snape's forehead. As though unable to suppress the pain of the Cruciatus Curse, his body tensed instinctively, and his head tilted back involuntarily until his eyes met Voldemort's.
"What do you think?" Voldemort's eyes glowed scarlet, his expression turning incomparably cold.
He looked down at Snape and