Every Death Eater had the basic ability to read the Dark Lord’s mood and cater their behaviour accordingly, but none could do so quite as effectively as Severus. It rankled the others how easily the silver-tongued spy was able to manipulate Voldemort’s temperament, to soothe his rages and pull him out of depressive lulls. Tonight, he was in a rare high mood, something that only happened when misery was imminent. Severus noticed this, and obeyed accordingly, following the lead in a dangerous and deadly waltz. 