Albus looked out over the first tier. Each tier had a slight ledge, which caused the potion to pool on each level. In the first tier, there were people scattered, chained to the ground and sitting waist-deep in the potion. Their eyes were shut tight, as if they were trying very hard to stay sane and composed. Many were crying, or had sad, angry, or hurt expressions on their faces. Several had assumed a fetal position or had put their arms over their heads.
"Welcome to the deepest room of the Ministry, Potter. It is reserved for the very worst traitors. The potion you see was developed by the Dark Lord himself. Anyone exposed to it is forced to relive their worst memories and regrets. As a drink, of course, it is the most potent, but it can also have a strong effect even just soaking into someone's skin. The potion weakens not only the body, but also the spirit."
Snape and Albus floated by a skinny, dark-haired woman who was holding her head in her hands, rocking back and forth and sobbing. There was something about her which caught Albus' attention . . .
"Professor, who is that woman?"
Snape's expression hardened into a bitter hatred. "That is Your Great Aunt Petunia, sister to your grandmother, Lily Evans. When she found out that her sister was a witch, she became so filled with jealousy that she disowned Lily as her sister. Even when your father was dropped off at her doorstep to live with her and Vernon, he was never accepted into the family. She belongs to this tier, which houses those who betray their family." Albus watched her unsympathetically as they floated over the next tier.
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