"That is correct, Mister Malfoy, ten points to Slytherin."

Snape clasped his hands together in an uncharacteristic gesture, and leaned towards the students, tilting his head. His eyes were quite a bit wider than usual. Most of the students felt he was trying to convey some (spiteful) message to them, but few understood.

Snape paused for a breath before moving on to his next point.

"Yes, indeed. Can anyone, then, tell me the effects of this curse? Not just what the spell does, magically, but what happensto the subject." His eyes narrowed, and he swooped in, as if he had been poising himself to do so all along.

He seemed to envelop the rotund boy in front of him.

"Longbottom?" He crowed.

Neville glanced about, terrified, as he hadn't raised his hand. When no one moved, and Snape continued to stare at him, he sighed.

"I'm afraid I don't know, sir." Neville mumbled.

"Now, now, Longbottom, I know that's not true. I'd have though you'd be glad to actually contribute to a class discussion." He sneered. "For once. Come now, surely even you can answer this one. What happens when one is under the Cruciatus for extended periods of time?"

Neville visibly steeled himself, but sat up bravely.

"Ex-extended exposure can c-cause permanent nerve damage, and even…" Neville swallowed audibly, " b-brain damage."

Snape smiled cruelly.

"Continue, in more detail. What begins to deteriorate first?"

For a long moment, it seemed as if Neville would not answer. The sound of his voice, however, insinuated itself into the breathing of the room, quiet but unmistakable.

"The first thing to go is the vocal chords- stripped raw and bleeding from the screaming." Neville stopped, but Snape kept waiting. "Next is the control of fingers and toes, from the spasms." His voice trailed to a whisper. "The eyes lose vision next, from undue strain and often near-unconsciousness. Often times the tongue is bitten off, and body parts can enter early rigor mortis as the cells die. Eventually the person would rather d-die…" his mouth kept moving but no sound came out.

The class was silent, for a moment.

"Hmm. Yes, excellent." Snape commented, the highest word of praise he had ever used for any student, let alone a Gryffindor. Let alone Neville.

"Another thing to note about the Cruciatus: it has happened that a wizard has dashed himself into a concussion because of the severe jerking of the limbs that often occurs with the spell. There are many documented cases in which the cause of death was this very thing."

He twisted his lips up horribly.

"At the very least, if subjected to this curse, try to remember to hold the back of your head."

He then glanced at Neville once more, and something cruel passed over his face.

"Or don't. Sometimes it's better."