THE DARKEST MARK - PART 1
PART I
Harry Potter lay slumped on his bed. The late-afternoon summer light seemingly oozed through his billowy lace curtains. In the distance he could hear people laughing and talking...a melody not unlike the one of the river that ran past his house. Harry had left school a year ago, and was now working as an Auror for the Minisrty. The work was sometimes tough, but fulfilling .He grunted and sat up...his room swam back into view. He must of been dozing, he thought.
Walking into the kitchen, he picked up the Daily Prophet from the side, and continued his walk down the corridor to the guest room. Upon openeing the door he found a small, beady-eyed man glancing furtively at him. This man would of been out of the ordinary, if it had not been Peter Pettigrew imprisoned in Harry Potters' house.
Harry had captured him just two days before. He was out with a gang of Death Eaters who were under surveilence by the Ministry. They'd let Pettigrew separate from the Death Eaters, then caught him, alone. The Ministry had charged Harry with the imprisonment of Pettigrew, after all Azkaban was now empty.
It had been broken into just weeks ago by Voldemort himself. Who persuaded the Dementors to join his side. Dumbledore had orignally warned Cornelius Fudge, ex-Minister for Magic that it might happen but Fudge had been too blind to see it.
Making a deliberate show, he forcedly splayed the paper on the floor next to Pettigrew. 'Well wormtail, what do you think of this?' He said, jabbing his finger at a large article on the front page. Pettigrew turned in his invisible restraints and looked at the article. It read;
LUCIFER MALFOY APPREHENDED BY LONGBOTTOM AND ARCHONTOULIS.
Lucifer Malfoy, long time contributer and helper at the ministry as today been arrested on Dark Arts, Muggle Torture, Practicion of the Unforgivable Curses and Possession of Dangerous Poisons charges. He was cornered in Knockturn Alley, with his wife Narcissa Malfoy, by a squad of well-trained ministry Hit-Wizards and Aurors. The elderly Mr Malfoy has pleaded guilty to all charges and is due to appear in Wellington Point Crown Court later today. He is currently being monitored by top Aurors Neville Longbottom and Manoli Archontoulis. Mr Longbottom today commented, 'We at the ministry are shocked and saddened that an apparant ally is in custody. However, we are glad we have apprehended him'.
'So' Hary said to Wormtail 'another one captured. Your master is losing his power. With Dumbledore and the other Aurors, he is sure to meet his downfall'. At this point Harry grabbed Wormtail by the neck and lifted him to a sitting position. 'You might get a shorter sentence if you reveal his whereabouts'.
Wormtail looked at Harry confused for a moment then spoke, 'he..he is hiding at..' His breath seemed to catch 'Gringotts vault 6662'. Harry looked into Wormtails eyes and saw fear and perhaps remorse but not that he was lying. 'Very well, thank you, youv'e been very helpful'. He dropped Wormtail and walked to his lounge room. After tying a letter to the leg of his eurasian Eagle Owl, Ook, and letting it out of the window, he clicked his fingers and Disapparated.
Two Hundred miles away, and a little time later, Albus Dumbledore sat at the head of the massive table, in Hogwarts's Great Hall, which seated a lot of the key players in the war against Lord Voldemort. On one side of Dumbledore sat Remus Lupin, Seamus Finnigan, Ronald Weasley, Bill Weasley, Arabelle Figg, Hermione Granger, Alastor Moody, Neville Longbottom, Manoli Archontoulis, Lachlan Hemalaar, George leBerghz and on the other sat Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Mundungus Fletcher, Rubeus Hagrid, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Christian Tuivati and Fred Hutchinson.
There was one person missing though. Dumbledore waited anxiously and looked at the empty seat next to his. Perhaps Wormtail had contacted the other Death Eaters and they had come to free him? What would they have done to Harry, he thought?
Dumbledore shook his head and his silvery white hair bounced around. Thinking like this was no good. He'd be highly surprised if Harry couldn't deal with up to three Death Eaters on his own. Dumbledore sighed and looked around at the table. He was getting old and he knew it. Pretty soon it would be down to Harry Potter and the others to fight Voldemort.
Still, Dumbledore thought, that time isn't yet. He was still in thought five minutes later, when the doors to the Great Hll burst open and Harry strode in. 'Hi' he said and sat down next to Dumbledore. 'Hello, Harry' said Dumbledore 'Now, I have called you all here to reveal something to you. A few hours ago, Harry here sent me an owl telling me that Peter Pettigrew had revealed Voldemorts whereabouts'.
There was a hushed gasping and whispering in the hall. 'So' Dumbledore continued 'I have decided to take a small group to Gringotts, where he is hiding, to possibly capture and/or kill him'.
The hall broke into all-out excitement. Voices babbled while Dumbledore hushed for silence. 'I would like for Alastor Moody, Sirius Black, Severus Snape and Neville Longbottom to join Harry and I'. Everyone at the table looked anxiously at those picked to go. 'Do you accept?'.
They all nodded in unison. Harry nodded also as everyone stood and began to converse. He walked over to Ron and held out his hand. Ron smiled, and shook his hand. 'Been a while, eh?' He said happily. Harry nodded. 'Percy isn't doing to well. They appointed him stand-in Minister a few weeks ago. Doesn't come home anymore' he laughed.
'We would've asked you to come, y'know Ron, its just that we want a relatively small squad. We dont want Death Eaters seeing us all together, or they'll know somehing is up' Harry said 'Nevilles changed a lot since we left school, dont you think?' He said, casting a sideways look at the tall, well built young man that was Neville Longbottom. He had used to be small and chubby but being in on Harrys adventures in the last few years had really molded him into something his father would have been proud of.
Ron was in charge of liasing with other countrys. Among those he'd contacted were Bulgaria, France, Ghana, South Africa, America and Canada. All had accepted except America who were having there own troubles with Pakistani Nationalist wizards, and terrorism.
The Bulgarian, French, Ghanans, Canadians and South Africans had been taken by Portkey, two days earlier to London where they were being briefed by Aurors for the mission of Death Eater Capture. Hogwarts, being in Yorkshire, was one of the best guarded place for the foreigners, and they'd be staying there.
Once all arrangements had been organised. Ron and Harry walked out of the Hall together. 'Harry, Ive been thinking, d'you want to stay at my house for a couple of days? Ive moved down to London and it would be conveniently close for you mission'. He looked up at Harry, who'd grown enormously tall in the lsat year or so.
'Yeah, that'd be great, Ron, Ill have to get Ook and hand Pettigrew over to the Ministry first though' Harry replied. Ron nodded his agreement, and once outside the Hogwarts ground, they Disapparated.
Harry Apparated inside his house and strode to the Guest Room. He opened the door and let out a yelp of surprise. Pettigrew was gone and the room looked as though it had been hit by a hurricane. He bent down quickly and scooped up a piece of paper off the floor.
Harry frowned at the paper, it bore the Dark Mark and was spattered with ink. He threw it down and walked to the table. He pulled out a piece of Parchment, a Quill and a bottle of Dark Green ink and began to write,
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Pettigrew escaped. Go ahead with the mission anyway,
Harry.
He rolled the parchment and tied it to Ook's leg. He then carried her to the Lounge Room window and let her out. He watched as she flew into the distance. With one last look around, he Disapparated.
Down in London Ron Weasley was sitting in his house thinking. He absent-mindedly threw a ball from his chair onto the wall, and back again. In fact, he was almost asleep when Harry Potter appeared next to him.
'Hello, nice place you've got here' he said. Ron jumped up and shook Harry's hand. 'Hello. I thought we might visit Diagon Alley today. Y'know, I do have to buy some new robes'. Harry nodded and together they Disapparated.
For the next few days Harry and Ron spent their time in Diagon Alley and visiting Hermione, who was working at the ministry in the Muggle Research department. She'd had a lot of stories to tell them and a lot to catch up on.
On the morning on which Harry and the rest of the Aurors were going to try and capture Voldemort, Harry woke up at 5:00am, as did Ron. Together they made a bacon and eggs fry-up and ate in silence.
After a while, Harry stood up and pulled his cloak on. 'Ron, I gotta go. I'll see you later, Okay?' He said and walked towards the door. 'Okay, Good Luck!' Ron said and waved good-bye. Harry smiled then Disapparated.
He apparated instantly outside Gringotts. Already there was Sirius Black, Snape, Neville Longbottom and Alastor Moody. 'Where is 'e, laddie, eh?' Moody said to Harry. Harry looked confused. 'Oh, Dumbledore? I dont know, he'll be here soon'. Harry said. No sooner had he spoken that Dumbledore walked around the corner, ice cream in hand.
'Hello' he said. Mad-Eye snorted, 'What took so long? Bin waiting here ages...and there you are eatin' ice creams!'. His Magical eye bounced furiously around it's socket. Dumbledore smiled jovially at Mad-Eyes obvious anticipation. 'Well, lets go'.
They walked up the steps to Gringotts. They ignored the Goblin outside, as did they the inscription on the doors. Dumbledore pushed the doors open, and they walked to the counter. A particularly nasty looking Goblin sat behind it. Harry knew that this Goblin, and the rest in the building would be covering up for Voldemort.
When the Goblin saw who was talking to him, he shrunk back fearfully. 'Vault 6662 please. Hurry' said Dumbledore. The Goblin gave a nasty smile. 'Key please sir?' It said. Dumbledore frowned. He muttered something under his breath and repeated, 'Vault 6662 please'. The Goblin jumped up immediately and opened the door that leads towards the mine carts, which took them to the vaults.
They all piled in the in the cart. Sirius and Snape giving each other dirty looks the entire time. 'Hello Harry' said Sirius 'Hows things?'. Harry smiled at Sirius, who was his Godfather and replied 'Fine. A little nervous, I suppose, but fine'. Harry was nearly sick as the cart lurched forward, and Neville had to grab his collar to save him from falling out.
Dumbledore turned around. 'We're nearly there. Severus, I want you to go in first and if it is heavily guarded make an excuse and come out. I do not want anyone to lose their lives today, gentlemen. You may have to say that Pettigrew told you of his hideout, as Voldemort never told you himself'.
Snape nodded and climbed out the cart. Everyone drew their wands as Snape knocked on the door. There was silence for a minute but the door swung open, revealing a murky green light from behind the door.
'Snape' the Death Eater who opened the door grunted 'How'd you find us?' Harry didn't recognise the Death Eaters voice, but couldn't see him from around the corner. 'Pettigrew told me. I heard he'd been captured. Can I come in?' His voice sounded strangely deep and smooth.
The Death Eater didn't speak but he must of agreed, as Snape entered. For what seemed like ages there was silence. Then an almighty bang. Neville, Sirius, Harry and Dumbledore rushed forward. Dumbledore raised his wand and blasted the door down, with a curse Harry had never seen before. Pushing past him, Neville charged into the room. Harry followed. Then Sirius. Before Harry lay the broken body of Snape. He bent down to check his pulse. 'Gone' he said and gently closed Snapes eyes.
Dumbledore looked sadly down at him then around the room. There was no one there. 'Where did they go?' Said Mad-Eye angrily. He was obviously miffed at missing all the action. Neville frowned, 'They didn't Disapparate. This place is like Hogwarts, you cant have thieves Apparating in and out of Vaults. They must have escaped another way'.
Harry's eye drifted around the room. He spotted a wooden goblet. 'Portkey' he muttered. Dashing forward, Dumbledore twigged on and reached out a hand to try and stop him. It was too late. Harry had grabbed the Portkey, disappearing.
Harry felt the strong jerk behind his navel and was flying forward, as if pulled by it. He seemed unable to let go of the goblet. He landed on cement, hard. He shook his head an stood up. The clouds above him were black. The sky swirled and the very sun looked dead. Harry had no idea where he was.
Before him lay a great field with a solitary hut in the middle. The wheat on either side of it swayed. Harry walked forward, the wind whipping his face and hair. As he moved forward he noticed the silence. There wasn't a sound to be heard. Even the wind was unusually quiet.
As he reached the door to the hut he drew his wand. Upon opening the door he gasped. He couldn't believe his eyes. There were stairs leading down to a pit. It was a massive chamber, pitch black. All around the pit sat Death Eaters, chanting quietly. A gap in the Death Eaters held a hair and in that chair sat Voldemort. His white face was sharply contrasted strongly with his gleaming red snake-like eyes. He seemed to be staring at something hovering above the pit. Harry smelt sulphur coming from the pit. Upon closer inspection he realised it was lava. The strangest thing was the lava wasn't orange, but a dark, murky green.
He focused his eyes on the thing hanging above the pit. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw the silhouetted outline of a lady dangling above the pit. Moving closer, he realised who it was. Hermione Granger.
Well, sorry about the cliffhanger! The next part will be up within 5-7 days (Im staying at a internet-less friends for a bit!). PLEASE review, I dont care if they're flames or not. I wasn't sure if this title was taken but I apologise if it was. This is my first fic in at least 6 months. I must have had the biggest non-creativity block on record! If you find any spelling mistakes, please tell me and I will edit them. My spellchecker has stopped working and I will have to reinstall it. Ook, if you dont know already, is the name of the real-life owl who'll be playing Hedwig in The Sorcerers (PHILOSOPHERS! :- ) Stone.