Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Harry Potter and co. All belongs to J.K. Rowling and the publishers. I just do this for fun, no profit. I also in no way own the quotes or lyrics.
Power of Will
By: Jodelle
"This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason
to remember the name."
-Remember the name
By: Fort Minor
Azkaban. The broken body of a young man lay in the corner of the cell. At times like this it was all he could do to remember the time of day and where he was. He hadn't been able to think any coherent thoughts for several weeks except during the meetings. When the Death Eaters and dementors left their posts for Voldemort's meetings Harry was finally able to think.
Harry had to be quick to take full advantage of those times. Although the food was moldy and the water stagnant Harry knew starvation would kill him faster than disease so he ate it quickly without letting it touch his tongue. If he got too sick they'd tend to him just enough to keep him alive. The moment people found out their savior was imprisoned they lost hope. He was kept alive as a reminder and a warning to those on the outside.
He stripped off his filthy cloak and held it under a dripping pipe. It would take a good hour to get the slime off his cloak as the amount of water falling wasn't a lot. After removing his cloak it was apparent how thin he'd become.
Harry's now skeletal body was a result of his black outs. When the memories came on too strong he snapped. He'd slam his whole body against the walls until he felt sticky blood. If he lost enough blood he would pass out and by doing so escape from the sounds of the screaming. He missed many of his meager meals due to being unconscious as the bugs would get into his food. However by mixing his bread and water together he was able to deter them some.
What Harry couldn't know was that today he was expected at the meetings. There were squeaking noises coming from down the hall that were made by a cell being opened. Harry couldn't see what was going on but could only guess as his glasses had been broken during one of his fits. Although he wasn't sure if they were coming for him he started to wring the water out of his cloak. It still smelled putrid but he'd done what he could.
"Potter, you're to see the Lord." Harry could recognize the voice of Lucius Malfoy. His tone spoke volumes. Malfoy was clearly disgusted by his filthy appearance and angry that he'd been the one sent on the errand of fetching him.
"Scourgify olfactory!" Lucius bellowed. While the spell didn't get rid of the filth clinging to Harry's clothes and hair the smell coming off of him disappeared. Now that he was no longer in his cell and somewhat clean it was like a breath of fresh air. He knew deep down that today he would die but after praying for death for so long he was almost looking forward to it. Anything was better than rotting away in this hole constantly wondering when it would be over.
They had walked forward about fifty paces before Lucius stopped Harry with a shove. Harry winced in pain from the hit he'd taken. He hadn't meant to walk into him but when you couldn't see two inches in front of your nose it happens.
He heard moaning coming from inside the cell Lucius had entered. Harry couldn't hear what was being said but he did hear hoarse yells of pain. He heard the heavy coughing and wheezing of someone who was probably in as bad of shape as he was. When Lucius lost his temper Harry knew who was in that cell.
"You filthy little blood traitor!" Lucius hissed angrily. "Your mother and I can't even leave the manor for the shame you've brought on us you ungrateful little whelp.
Do you know what kind of damage control we've had to do?! We had to give your inheritance to Pansy Parkinson as she demanded compensation for the shame of being your betrothed.
We're selling half of our vacation houses to pay for parties to assure our friends that the only worthless Malfoy alive is you!
Your mother is pregnant with another child so I no longer have any reason to care what happens to you!"
Harry heard a slap and someone sobbing loudly. He wondered what Malfoy had done to get thrown in a cell of his own and incur the hatred of his father. Draco Malfoy had hung on his father's every word during all their years in Hogwarts so when had that changed?
Harry saw two blond blurs coming toward him. The one moving slowly must be Draco he thought wondering why the other boy limping. After being pushed forward roughly he walked along some way before stumbling slightly as they entered a poorly lit hallway.
Again Lucius spoke angrily to Draco. "You are to face death bravely. Malfoy's don't beg or cry but look death in the face and laugh. If you shame me any more I will request you be tortured by your aunt rather than me. Bellatrix is furious with you for shaming her sister and in turn her. We will only be lenient if you face this like a man."
Draco nodded. He hadn't spoken and had only made a sound when he was being beaten by his father. If Harry could have seen it would have been obvious that Draco had only been imprisoned for a short while. The blonds clothes showed some dirt but only the slightest amount. Draco looked worn out with dark circles under his eyes, probably a result of being surrounded by dementors, and had only lost a little weight during his stay in Azkaban.
Voldemort was waiting in the center of the room with his faithful death eaters bowing to him twice before backing away. Lucius led the two boys through the space the inner circle had been in just moments before. The dark red eyes were the only thing that stood out amongst the blurry figures in death eater garb.
Harry might have felt fear initially but after being in Azkaban so long all he felt was curiosity. One could only feel fear if they had a sense of self preservation which Harry had replaced with a morbid desire to know what death was like.
Antonin Dolohov's voice broke through the silence. "Today we are gathered here for the execution of one Draco Malfoy. Macnair, please read his crimes."
The man dressed in the outfit befitting an executioner cleared his throat before reading from a scroll he unfurled. "Draco Lucius Malfoy has been three weeks imprisoned for aiding in the escape of a well known fugitive, one Ginevra Weasly. Upon his refusal to follow the runaway in hopes of recapture we have decided that this traitor should be given the death penalty."
Harry blinked hard before looking over at Draco. He'd lost his place of honor in Voldemort's inner circle to save Ginny of all people even after his history with her family. Harry shook his head several times before looking expectantly up at Voldemort. He wondered if this was simply an attempt to make him more disheartened. Were they telling him he'd watch hundreds of deaths but never be allowed to die himself.
Harry let out a bitter laugh that startled many death eaters by how hoarse it sounded. The boy sounded like an old man with how much pain was laced in his laughter.
He boldly spoke his green eyes flashing as he turned toward Voldemort, "Am I simply to watch? It's nothing I haven't seen before you realize. I saw plenty of death when you went on that killing spree in Little Whinging. Nothing can be more gruesome than what you did to the Anderson's little girl. She was only three and they tore her to shreds even though I know for a fact the death eater responsible had a four year old daughter of his own."
One of the death eaters shifted uncomfortable as he was reminded of the little girl with the big blue eyes he'd slaughtered before quickly smothering that regret. He'd done his job and that was that.
Voldemort gave Harry a look that would have been inviting if it had been someone else. "Harry, Harry, my boy. Have we neglected you? Bored are you? We simply thought to provide some entertainment this evening. Perhaps you're jealous of the young Malfoy and would like to join him."
Many had expected Harry to act fearfully but all he did was snicker. They wondered briefly if he'd gone mad from being around the dementors too long. The boy had been in there for a little over a year after all.
"I'm simply curious as to why I'm still here. Surely my death would prove more than my imprisonment. Are you afraid that if you try to kill me again you'll once more become a mere ghost of yourself?"
If Harry could have said anything to ensure his death that was it. He'd insisted that Voldemort had kept him alive out of the belief that he couldn't kill him. The death eaters were already talking amongst themselves letting Harry know they thought this was a possibility.
"Harry, if you truly wish to die I may simply have to oblige you." Harry could tell that Voldemort was furious but to hide the fact that he probably did fear trying to kill a Harry he had to appear in control of the situation and his emotions.
Voldemort clapped his hands. All the death eaters stepped back one step as one came forward. "Severus, you've heard this boys desire to join the young Malfoy in his fate. Is it too much to hope that you already have a second dose of the poison?"
Harry saw the blur that was Snape bow deeply before reaching into his robes pocket for another vile. "I always carry an extra my Lord."
Inside Harry snarled. He had thought that Voldemort would do the honor of killing him outright but it was to be poison. If the potion wasn't a strong enough poison he'd wake up just to be shoved back in his cell!
He was surprised when he flew backwards into a chair and was bound in ropes. Draco to his left mirrored him. Voldemort took the vials from Snape and made his way over to the boys.
"I in no way fear killing Potter but only a fool wouldn't learn from trial and error. No, a spell will not suffice. They are to suffer a pain greater than any curse could bring them."
Harry could tell Voldemort was taking the course of saying he wasn't afraid of killing them with the killing curse but simply thought it was too good for them. Some might realize right away that he hadn't denied his fear of killing him via a curse but the smarter ones who realized that would keep their mouths shut if they valued their lives.
Voldemort grabbed Harry roughly by the chin and forced his mouth open. The liquid burned more than liquor as it made it's way down his throat. Harry wondered briefly if the potion was potent enough to melt his teeth when he felt how painful it was to his throat alone.
He started seeing black spots and the way everything sounded he felt sure he was underwater. Harry felt himself fall forward only to be held in place by the ropes.
Was this dying? All of your senses failing you...it was like falling into a black hole. He heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing.
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Harry was falling through the sky. He saw Draco reaching out to him. They swam through the air until they were able to grab each other.
Although Draco was also falling he didn't appear as frightened as he ought to. He seemed to be concentrating on something. Draco's face had pain etched into it.
Pulling Harry to him in an embrace Draco yelled,"Don't let go Potter unless you want to fall!"
Harry wasn't sure what to make of hugging Malfoy but he didn't let go. The only time where he might have almost let go was when he heard a ripping noise. Draco's robes were being torn by something trying to come out from underneath.
As the tearing sound continued Harry saw feathers start pouring out of Draco's robes. Soon the single feathers gave way to a pair of wings. Harry felt the world spin again as they neared the ground.
He wondered what they'd find when they reached the ground. Would they find a whole new world or the same world they'd left? Safe in Draco's arms Harry lost consciousness.
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Author Notes: Well what do you think so far?
If you like this review please. I know many people put me on story alert or favorite my stories (from email alerts I get) so I wonder why the lack of reviews? Again, please review if you think this is good enough that I should continue...
-Jodelle