Chapter one:
The Torment begins
Sirius Black laid upon a cold stone floor, images passing through his mind. Flashes of the battle that had taken place caused him to fret and to stir. Sirius awoke to find himself in a dark and empty room. "Where am I?" He asked himself as he rose slowly and cast a glance at his surroundings. "You are now a part of the book of Shadows," a strange voice whispered in reply, the voice was distant yet seemed to come from all directions; the voice was cold and deep yet it possessed a womanly quality, "You must now make a choice, Black. You can join me willing and become the main character in the next chapter, or you can resist and face what torments and trials await those that oppose me. Mind you, you will not be alone in that which will be inflicted. Choose wisely." The voice stopped yet the words themselves seemed to softly echo. "I do not know what you mean," Sirius shouted, looking around swiftly for the owner of the voice, "How did I get here and where is Harry?" "That is not a decision. The answers to your questions are unimportant. The matter at hand is what fate awaits you here, Black, and I would advise that you do not test my patience. Make your choice." "I do not care if I test your patience," Shouted Sirius angrily, "I asked where Harry is and that is more important then what decision I make in regards to your odd requests." "You are poor in your words. Answer me now. Will you willingly join me and be part of the next chapter or will you foolishly try to resist me?" The voice demanded, rising in volume yet still possessing the same coolness. "I will not join you," Black answered in anger, "The only thing I wish is to find Harry and make certain that he is alright!" He searched for the walls of this room but it seemed to have no limit. "It appears that you are a fool. Very well, if you insist upon it, you will learn the depth of my power and of my wrath. You will see your precious Harry again soon, but the reunion will not be one of joy!" The voice was completely silent for a moment then the floor melted from Sirius's feet. Black tried to find something to cling to but he found nothing. He slipped and fell into darkness, his scream being joined by another.
Harry Potter bolted awake; his pillow was damp. Moaning softly, Harry walked to the small bathroom in the Dursley's home and washed his face. He stared at the small mirror in front of him in quiet thought. It had been only been a few weeks since the battle at the ministry and night after night; dreams of the same kind had haunted him. Before he had seen the same thing repeated in his mind, battling the Death Eaters and the fall of Sirius through that mysterious veil. This was the first time that he had ever dreamed of anything else and although this dream was disturbing, this was not what bothered him. This dream had been so real, like he was there yet at the same time it seemed completely unreal. Like another reality entirely, eerie and full of darkness. Another thing that disturbed Harry was the mention of this mysterious book and the strange, echoing, voice. He was certain that he had never heard of the book of Shadows before yet something about the name still raised the hairs on his neck. Harry debated if he should ask Hermione about it, she always read more then he did and to find out much of the more unique things in the wizarding world. Yet, this year had remained the same as the last. All letters were as vague as ever and he was constantly reminded to watch what he put in writing. Harry sighed. It had not been long since term ended but to him it seemed as if a year had passed. He still had trouble trusting Dumbledore because of his choice of keeping Harry in the dark nor had Harry completely forgiven himself for falling into Voldemort's trap and thus leading Sirius to his death. Harry silently crept back into his room and slipped under his covers. He eyed Hedwig's empty cage sadly then turned over, quietly watching the shadows on the wall shift until sleep overtook him.
The next morning, Harry was awoken by shrieks coming from the bathroom. He hurriedly put on his glasses then rushed towards the room. Aunt Petunia laid on the floor. Clearly, she had swooned. On the counter next to the sink laid a small and tattered book. On the mirror, a message written in red shown brightly. "Mr. Harry Potter," it read, "We haven't formally met but I have known of you for a long time. I also know of a dear friend of yours. If you wish to see him again, simply open the book beside this message and the door will be opened to you." As soon as Harry had finished reading the message, it faded away. It was soon followed by another however, "I have heard many things about you Potter, but disloyalty wasn't one of them. I have Sirius, your godfather I believe, and his stay with me will not be pleasant if you choose not to come. You can anytime you wish Harry, but the longer you delay, the more Black will suffer for it." This message disappeared just like the first one had but another did not take its place.
Harry pondered the message he had read while examining the cover of the book. He was uneasy, this was not the first time that Harry had encountered an enchanted book and the last time wasn't pleasant. The messages left him cold and ill at ease. Harry noticed that Hedwig had returned. He debated what he should do. Who might he be able to turn? Harry decided to write to Lupine and Moody. He felt he could trust them with this. After Harry wrote two identical letters, he tied the letters to Hedwig. "Please get these to them as soon as you can Hedwig. It is important!" Hedwig assured him with her usual look that she would do the best she could. As she flew away, Harry felt a heavy sense of dread hang like a cloak about his mind and shoulders. Did this mean that Sirius was alive? And if it did, could he be able to save him in time? The questions weighted heavy in his mind and he felt weary. Harry was debating whether he should return to bed when Uncle Vernon's harsh voice called from the bathroom, "Boy! Come here now!!!"
Harry rubbed his heavy eyes and sighed. "I know what he is going to say but how am I going to explain the truth? The messages are gone and I don't know who sent them," he muttered to himself as he changed into proper clothes, "Well, we will see what happens." Harry slowly left his room and returned to the bathroom. Aunt Petunia was wake but still very faint, muttering incoherently, Dudley was standing next to the sink, petrified with fear. "What have you done to my wife?" demanded Uncle Vernon, towering over Harry like an enraged bulldog. "I don't know what you are talking about," Harry answered, knowing exactly how his uncle will do next. "You know exactly what I am talking about!!" Uncle Vernon thundered, his face the color of a raspberry. "I heard Petunia shriek and when I found her, the only words she could say was 'Harry'!! Tell me what you have done to her!! I swear that if it is has anything to do with the 'M' word, I will chuck you right out the door.!!!" Aunt Petunia suddenly started shrieking and crying, "Message! Message! Written in red!! All over our mirror!!!" After she finished, Harry's aunt fainted.
Uncle Vernon stared at her for a moment then turned towards Harry. Before either one could say anything, an odd creature flew across the room. Its head looked like a house-elf while most of the body resembled a duck with reptilian legs. The creature dropped a dusty package at Harry's feet then swooped out the closed bathroom window without even disturbing the glass. Uncle Vernon gaped at the solid window, too dumbfounded to even blink. Harry slowly examined the small box. Inscribed on it were ancient letters, none of which he had seen before. The box suddenly glowed eerily, lighting up the room with a faint yet strong turquoise light. Before Harry could work a single thought through his startled mind, the box burst open. Within laid a strange ivory rod, numerous minuscule scenes carved into it. Suddenly, Harry's scar throbbed with pain; a fierce burning that seemed to almost consume his mind. The package slipped from his hands as Harry fell into a world of darkness. The rod lightly floated above the boy as green light formed the words: I am Grindelwald.
Chapter 2:
The Lies history tells
Sirius stood in a small room, dimly lit by a harsh red light. "Now that the pieces are together, we will see how long you will last. Be warned, none have survived the torment that awaits you," the same chilling voice whispered quietly throughout the room. "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Sirius shouted in defiance, "Who are you?" "I am the nameless one, the mistress of alterative reality, and the controller of fears." "Speak clearly and answer me!" Sirius cried, "Who or what are you?" A tense silence flowed thickly throughout the room, "I am what I have said I am and I am the place you are now. I bear no true name though I am known to few as the book of shadows." Sirius looked around the room, pondering how to escape. He had to find Harry. "Those that do not obey my will, no matter how hard they fight, always succumb in the end. Fight as long as you wish but remember this, you will not suffer alone." The voice faded away as the room filled with shadow. From it sprang long chains that surrounded Sirius and bound him without remorse. A strange cloak floated out of the wall and firmly wrapped itself around Sirius's head. As his eyes were covered, Sirius beheld terrible visions. First Sirius watched as Voldemort murdered James and Lily, then he watched in horror as Harry and all the other people he knew were destroyed, one by one. These scenes flashed again and again, becoming more gruesome and more real each time. Screams could be heard through the cloak as Sirius struggled to remove the accursed cloth from his eyes. The room began to whirl, slowly at first then sweeping like a hurricane. The room altered and shifted until it resembled Sirius's child home, 12 Grimmauld Place. He watched as his mother sat quietly in her old chair, giving orders to the wretched house-elf. Sirius watched then as his ten-year-old self and his younger brother Regulus entered the room. "Mother, you won't believe what we did today," the young Sirius cried with excitement, "We managed to convince a muggle to hang himself!!" The older Sirius was in shock, "I never did anything like that!!" He tried to pry his eyes away from the room as he shouted, "I never did anything to muggles, some of my close friends were muggle-born!" Sirius continued to struggle as he added, "I never did anything with my brother, we hated each other." The inhabitants continued as if nothing had happened. "Really?" Mrs. Black asked, beaming proudly, "How did you do it?" The younger Sirius began to explain, "Well, first Regulus distracted him by asking him many questions such as 'Why is the sky blue?' and 'Where do kids come from?', then I hit him with an Imperius curse. I made him go to an abandoned barn and set up the rope and everything up in the rafters. After I made him tie the robe tightly around his neck, I released him then cast a Cruciatus Curse on him; made him shriek for an hour before I lifted the spell." Regulus jumped in, "Then I began mocking him and making him believe that he had deserved it all. That caused him to become really sad and pathetic. After that, I convinced him that the only way to make up for all the bad things he did was by jumping off the rafters. He did, not knowing that he had the robe around his neck." The young Sirius chuckled, "I will never forget the look on his ugly face nor the cracking sound that his neck made!" The two sadistic monsters began to dance around their mother's chair while she beamed brightly. "That never happened," Sirius screamed in angry, "I never would be that cruel!" "Are you certain?" a chilling yet familiar voice whispered in his mind, "It seems that this scene is completely real, I didn't make it up. It is all right here in your mind Sirius. Not to mention, many other things as well." Shrill laughter echoed throughout the room as it disappeared into darkness.
Cold sweat dripped from Harry's forehead as he broke out of his visions. He found himself chained inside an ancient dungeon, older then the ones at Hogwarts. As Harry lifted his head, a cold, drawling voice reached his ears. "Polvo!! Ramera!! You useless Drache-elves!! Where are you?" Harry felt something scaly brush passed his ankle. He looked down and spotted the oddest creature he had ever seen. It looked like a female house-elf except it was covered in pale green scales and possessed a pair of wings and a tail. She trembled as she hid behind Harry, her eyes as wide as tennis balls. Suddenly a green light began to flood the room. Harry turned his head toward the light and beheld the same rod that arrived at the Dursley's. The green light gathered together and soon formed the shape of a man. The man's face was hideous to behold, heavily scarred and bloated in places. The face also sported huge warts and messy facial hair that reached to the ground. The man appeared to have been once respectfully fit but had long decayed almost to a fleshless skeleton. The shade's hideous eyes were a disgusting pea green flecked with grey; they glowed with a supernatural malice. The man floated in front of Harry, his bony feet five inches above the floor, scratching his chin. "This an interesting turn of events," the spirit muttered more to himself then to Harry, "First I finally find a way out of this tower, then my spies inform me of the presence of Tom Riddle's magic. I sent one out only to find this boy. Curious, very curious indeed." Harry strained to hold his head up straight, "Who are you? Are you a death-eater?" The shade laughed harshly, "No boy, I am no-one's servant especially not one of Tom's!!" Harry felt goose bumps forming on his limbs but refused reveal it, "Who are you then?" The shade laughed even harder, "Who do you think? I doubt that knowledge of me has completely vanished!" Harry frowned as he debated who this man might have been. Harry did not know much about history and he had not heard of many dark wizards. He pondered if this might be the ghost of Salazar Slytherin but the face didn't resemble the image that Harry had seen. Harry shook his head, "I have only heard of two dark wizards sir, Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort. I doubt that you are either." The man hissed angrily at Voldemort's name, "Do not repeat that again!! If you must refer to him at all, mention him as Tom or as Riddle but never as that!!" The shade frowned and muttered angrily, "So that parasite and Dumbledore managed to erase all memory of me. Well, it just means that they will have more to answer for when the time for vengeance comes!!" The man floated angrily three more inches off the ground then glared at Harry, "Are you certain that you have never heard of me? I did enough in life to make little Tommy look like a saint! Think!!!" Nervously, Harry pondered for a while. A thought suddenly came to him. "You mentioned Dumbledore, I assume that you knew him?" Harry asked cautiously, trying to wheedle more information out. The shade's eyes glowed more malevolently then before, "Know him? Of course I know him! I couldn't forget that weak, muggle- loving fool!!" The shade began to float around the room, muttering curses and other ill words against Hogwart's headmaster. Harry pondered this for a moment then he had another idea. He had a chocolate frog card of Dumbledore and it mentioned the name of the dark wizard that Dumbledore had defeated. If only he could remember. The man stopped muttering when he saw the quivering creature hiding behind Harry. "Ramera!! Why didn't you come when I called? You know very well what happens to those who disobey my orders!!" The shade glared down at her then a rod appeared in his hand. The creature cowered closer to the ground, "Master please!! I is sorry, I is not hear you calling. Please don't master!!" "Silence!! I know that you are lying!! I can almost smell the guilt in the air!!" "Wait!" Harry shouted, "I think I know who you are!!" The man paused for a moment then glared at him, "Well, spit it out then!!! I don't like interference!!" "You are Grindelwald, the dark wizard that Dumbledore killed years ago!!" Harry shouted, hot in the face. The shade's left eye twitched with the mention of Dumbledore, "I am Grindelwald, that part is true." Harry struggled uncomfortably, "What do you mean? I was told that Dumbledore defeated you. Wouldn't that mean that he.." "No, he didn't kill me. Think for a moment! Death isn't the only way to defeat an enemy!!" Grindelwald assumed a sitting position in the air, "That fool only weakened me enough so that he could trap me in my own tower!! He thought that spending time here would change me but he was completely wrong!! Each year only brought me more hate!! Enough of that though," he raised his rod and pointed it underneath Harry's chin, "Who are you? My rod brought you here but it is obvious that you are neither Tom nor a relation. Who are you and why does that parasite's power dwell in you?" Harry wondered how he should answer, there was not telling what Grindelwald would do if he knew everything. He couldn't lie either, Grindelwald would know it. Harry shifted, "I am Harry Potter." Grindelwald waited, not content with just Harry's name.
Chapter 3
The master and the false servant
"Well Harry? What else? Answer my question!" His eyes fell on
Harry's scar, "Where did you get that? I suggest that you answer me, I
have very unpleasant ways of getting the information that I want."
Harry faced him, "Would they include the Cruciatus Curse? Your friend
Voldemort already has let me have a taste of it. It will not work,"
he said with a bit more bravery than he felt. Grindlewald's eyes
bulged with rage, "Friend!?! Friend!?! Tom never was my friend nor
was he my equal!! And never use that name again!!" He swooped
around, muttering non-stop. "How did you meet Tom?" Harry asked, his
curiosity uncontrollable. Grindlewald turned slowly, clearly
pondering whether he should humor Harry with an answer. Cooling down
a little, Grindlewald crossed his arms and fingered his chin, "You
provide little information yet you continue to press me. How about we
do this," Grindlewald swooped down and placed his rod under Harry's
chin, "You answer one of my questions then I will permit you ask me
one. Despite while I answer it or not, you continue to answer my
questions. If you don't, you will learn that there are many dark
spells that make the Cruciatus Curse look like a tickle charm!! Here
is my first question: How did you get that scar?" Grindlewald waited.
"Tom Riddle gave it to me when I was a baby," Harry answered
quietly, "How did you know Tom Riddle?" Grindlewald frowned a little,
"He was once my servant and pupil while he was in school up until he
became a young man. How did little Tommy give you that scar?" Harry
eyed the rod under his chin, he wasn't certain if he wanted to revel
this information but he still had more questions to be answered.
Harry pondered his answer, "He tried to kill me after he murdered my
parents but his curse backfired. How did you contact him while he was
in school without the headmaster or Dumbledore finding out?"
Grindlewald smirked, "You really don't need the answer to that
question. I have said enough about that topic. Why did little Tommy
try to kill you?" Harry frowned, he knew the complete answer but he
refused to believe that Grindlewald's intentions were any different
then Voldemort's. "I do not know." The smirk on Grindlewald's face
vanished in an instant. "Liar!!" Grindlewald began to pace again,
throwing furious glances at Harry. Suddenly Harry's scar burned
savagely and the room began to spin. Grindlewald stared as he passed
out, scratching his head in confusion.
Sirius Black was seated in a small classroom. Looking around, he recognized it as the classroom where he used to have Potions. A twelve- year-old Sirius was setting up his cauldron while the rest of the class filed in. A young Severus Snape entered the room and sat next to the young Sirius. "What is Snivellus think he is playing at? I will definitely will be hexing him soon!" The elder Sirius muttered under his breath. To his shock, the two young boys started whispering to each other as they began to work on today's potion. "So what do you want to do today about that Potter?" the young Sirius asked while measuring powdered porcupine quills. Snape frowned while stirring his cauldron, "I am not certain. We will have to decide before break." The elder Sirius shook his head harshly. "I know what you are trying to do!" he shouted, looking around the walls. "You are trying to make me forget who I really am with all these false images!!! I remember what you said. Wasn't 'mistress of alterative reality' one of the things you called yourself? Well, it will not work!! I know the truth and I will find a way to defeat you!!" The scene faded into a red haze, "I can not be defeated by anyone Black. Nor will you find a way to escape." The next moment, Sirius found himself chained to a metal table. "Now you will learn what happens to those who defy the will of the Book of Shadows." A shadow emerged from the wall and stood before him. It was Sirius Black's younger brother, Regulus.
The Torment begins
Sirius Black laid upon a cold stone floor, images passing through his mind. Flashes of the battle that had taken place caused him to fret and to stir. Sirius awoke to find himself in a dark and empty room. "Where am I?" He asked himself as he rose slowly and cast a glance at his surroundings. "You are now a part of the book of Shadows," a strange voice whispered in reply, the voice was distant yet seemed to come from all directions; the voice was cold and deep yet it possessed a womanly quality, "You must now make a choice, Black. You can join me willing and become the main character in the next chapter, or you can resist and face what torments and trials await those that oppose me. Mind you, you will not be alone in that which will be inflicted. Choose wisely." The voice stopped yet the words themselves seemed to softly echo. "I do not know what you mean," Sirius shouted, looking around swiftly for the owner of the voice, "How did I get here and where is Harry?" "That is not a decision. The answers to your questions are unimportant. The matter at hand is what fate awaits you here, Black, and I would advise that you do not test my patience. Make your choice." "I do not care if I test your patience," Shouted Sirius angrily, "I asked where Harry is and that is more important then what decision I make in regards to your odd requests." "You are poor in your words. Answer me now. Will you willingly join me and be part of the next chapter or will you foolishly try to resist me?" The voice demanded, rising in volume yet still possessing the same coolness. "I will not join you," Black answered in anger, "The only thing I wish is to find Harry and make certain that he is alright!" He searched for the walls of this room but it seemed to have no limit. "It appears that you are a fool. Very well, if you insist upon it, you will learn the depth of my power and of my wrath. You will see your precious Harry again soon, but the reunion will not be one of joy!" The voice was completely silent for a moment then the floor melted from Sirius's feet. Black tried to find something to cling to but he found nothing. He slipped and fell into darkness, his scream being joined by another.
Harry Potter bolted awake; his pillow was damp. Moaning softly, Harry walked to the small bathroom in the Dursley's home and washed his face. He stared at the small mirror in front of him in quiet thought. It had been only been a few weeks since the battle at the ministry and night after night; dreams of the same kind had haunted him. Before he had seen the same thing repeated in his mind, battling the Death Eaters and the fall of Sirius through that mysterious veil. This was the first time that he had ever dreamed of anything else and although this dream was disturbing, this was not what bothered him. This dream had been so real, like he was there yet at the same time it seemed completely unreal. Like another reality entirely, eerie and full of darkness. Another thing that disturbed Harry was the mention of this mysterious book and the strange, echoing, voice. He was certain that he had never heard of the book of Shadows before yet something about the name still raised the hairs on his neck. Harry debated if he should ask Hermione about it, she always read more then he did and to find out much of the more unique things in the wizarding world. Yet, this year had remained the same as the last. All letters were as vague as ever and he was constantly reminded to watch what he put in writing. Harry sighed. It had not been long since term ended but to him it seemed as if a year had passed. He still had trouble trusting Dumbledore because of his choice of keeping Harry in the dark nor had Harry completely forgiven himself for falling into Voldemort's trap and thus leading Sirius to his death. Harry silently crept back into his room and slipped under his covers. He eyed Hedwig's empty cage sadly then turned over, quietly watching the shadows on the wall shift until sleep overtook him.
The next morning, Harry was awoken by shrieks coming from the bathroom. He hurriedly put on his glasses then rushed towards the room. Aunt Petunia laid on the floor. Clearly, she had swooned. On the counter next to the sink laid a small and tattered book. On the mirror, a message written in red shown brightly. "Mr. Harry Potter," it read, "We haven't formally met but I have known of you for a long time. I also know of a dear friend of yours. If you wish to see him again, simply open the book beside this message and the door will be opened to you." As soon as Harry had finished reading the message, it faded away. It was soon followed by another however, "I have heard many things about you Potter, but disloyalty wasn't one of them. I have Sirius, your godfather I believe, and his stay with me will not be pleasant if you choose not to come. You can anytime you wish Harry, but the longer you delay, the more Black will suffer for it." This message disappeared just like the first one had but another did not take its place.
Harry pondered the message he had read while examining the cover of the book. He was uneasy, this was not the first time that Harry had encountered an enchanted book and the last time wasn't pleasant. The messages left him cold and ill at ease. Harry noticed that Hedwig had returned. He debated what he should do. Who might he be able to turn? Harry decided to write to Lupine and Moody. He felt he could trust them with this. After Harry wrote two identical letters, he tied the letters to Hedwig. "Please get these to them as soon as you can Hedwig. It is important!" Hedwig assured him with her usual look that she would do the best she could. As she flew away, Harry felt a heavy sense of dread hang like a cloak about his mind and shoulders. Did this mean that Sirius was alive? And if it did, could he be able to save him in time? The questions weighted heavy in his mind and he felt weary. Harry was debating whether he should return to bed when Uncle Vernon's harsh voice called from the bathroom, "Boy! Come here now!!!"
Harry rubbed his heavy eyes and sighed. "I know what he is going to say but how am I going to explain the truth? The messages are gone and I don't know who sent them," he muttered to himself as he changed into proper clothes, "Well, we will see what happens." Harry slowly left his room and returned to the bathroom. Aunt Petunia was wake but still very faint, muttering incoherently, Dudley was standing next to the sink, petrified with fear. "What have you done to my wife?" demanded Uncle Vernon, towering over Harry like an enraged bulldog. "I don't know what you are talking about," Harry answered, knowing exactly how his uncle will do next. "You know exactly what I am talking about!!" Uncle Vernon thundered, his face the color of a raspberry. "I heard Petunia shriek and when I found her, the only words she could say was 'Harry'!! Tell me what you have done to her!! I swear that if it is has anything to do with the 'M' word, I will chuck you right out the door.!!!" Aunt Petunia suddenly started shrieking and crying, "Message! Message! Written in red!! All over our mirror!!!" After she finished, Harry's aunt fainted.
Uncle Vernon stared at her for a moment then turned towards Harry. Before either one could say anything, an odd creature flew across the room. Its head looked like a house-elf while most of the body resembled a duck with reptilian legs. The creature dropped a dusty package at Harry's feet then swooped out the closed bathroom window without even disturbing the glass. Uncle Vernon gaped at the solid window, too dumbfounded to even blink. Harry slowly examined the small box. Inscribed on it were ancient letters, none of which he had seen before. The box suddenly glowed eerily, lighting up the room with a faint yet strong turquoise light. Before Harry could work a single thought through his startled mind, the box burst open. Within laid a strange ivory rod, numerous minuscule scenes carved into it. Suddenly, Harry's scar throbbed with pain; a fierce burning that seemed to almost consume his mind. The package slipped from his hands as Harry fell into a world of darkness. The rod lightly floated above the boy as green light formed the words: I am Grindelwald.
Chapter 2:
The Lies history tells
Sirius stood in a small room, dimly lit by a harsh red light. "Now that the pieces are together, we will see how long you will last. Be warned, none have survived the torment that awaits you," the same chilling voice whispered quietly throughout the room. "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Sirius shouted in defiance, "Who are you?" "I am the nameless one, the mistress of alterative reality, and the controller of fears." "Speak clearly and answer me!" Sirius cried, "Who or what are you?" A tense silence flowed thickly throughout the room, "I am what I have said I am and I am the place you are now. I bear no true name though I am known to few as the book of shadows." Sirius looked around the room, pondering how to escape. He had to find Harry. "Those that do not obey my will, no matter how hard they fight, always succumb in the end. Fight as long as you wish but remember this, you will not suffer alone." The voice faded away as the room filled with shadow. From it sprang long chains that surrounded Sirius and bound him without remorse. A strange cloak floated out of the wall and firmly wrapped itself around Sirius's head. As his eyes were covered, Sirius beheld terrible visions. First Sirius watched as Voldemort murdered James and Lily, then he watched in horror as Harry and all the other people he knew were destroyed, one by one. These scenes flashed again and again, becoming more gruesome and more real each time. Screams could be heard through the cloak as Sirius struggled to remove the accursed cloth from his eyes. The room began to whirl, slowly at first then sweeping like a hurricane. The room altered and shifted until it resembled Sirius's child home, 12 Grimmauld Place. He watched as his mother sat quietly in her old chair, giving orders to the wretched house-elf. Sirius watched then as his ten-year-old self and his younger brother Regulus entered the room. "Mother, you won't believe what we did today," the young Sirius cried with excitement, "We managed to convince a muggle to hang himself!!" The older Sirius was in shock, "I never did anything like that!!" He tried to pry his eyes away from the room as he shouted, "I never did anything to muggles, some of my close friends were muggle-born!" Sirius continued to struggle as he added, "I never did anything with my brother, we hated each other." The inhabitants continued as if nothing had happened. "Really?" Mrs. Black asked, beaming proudly, "How did you do it?" The younger Sirius began to explain, "Well, first Regulus distracted him by asking him many questions such as 'Why is the sky blue?' and 'Where do kids come from?', then I hit him with an Imperius curse. I made him go to an abandoned barn and set up the rope and everything up in the rafters. After I made him tie the robe tightly around his neck, I released him then cast a Cruciatus Curse on him; made him shriek for an hour before I lifted the spell." Regulus jumped in, "Then I began mocking him and making him believe that he had deserved it all. That caused him to become really sad and pathetic. After that, I convinced him that the only way to make up for all the bad things he did was by jumping off the rafters. He did, not knowing that he had the robe around his neck." The young Sirius chuckled, "I will never forget the look on his ugly face nor the cracking sound that his neck made!" The two sadistic monsters began to dance around their mother's chair while she beamed brightly. "That never happened," Sirius screamed in angry, "I never would be that cruel!" "Are you certain?" a chilling yet familiar voice whispered in his mind, "It seems that this scene is completely real, I didn't make it up. It is all right here in your mind Sirius. Not to mention, many other things as well." Shrill laughter echoed throughout the room as it disappeared into darkness.
Cold sweat dripped from Harry's forehead as he broke out of his visions. He found himself chained inside an ancient dungeon, older then the ones at Hogwarts. As Harry lifted his head, a cold, drawling voice reached his ears. "Polvo!! Ramera!! You useless Drache-elves!! Where are you?" Harry felt something scaly brush passed his ankle. He looked down and spotted the oddest creature he had ever seen. It looked like a female house-elf except it was covered in pale green scales and possessed a pair of wings and a tail. She trembled as she hid behind Harry, her eyes as wide as tennis balls. Suddenly a green light began to flood the room. Harry turned his head toward the light and beheld the same rod that arrived at the Dursley's. The green light gathered together and soon formed the shape of a man. The man's face was hideous to behold, heavily scarred and bloated in places. The face also sported huge warts and messy facial hair that reached to the ground. The man appeared to have been once respectfully fit but had long decayed almost to a fleshless skeleton. The shade's hideous eyes were a disgusting pea green flecked with grey; they glowed with a supernatural malice. The man floated in front of Harry, his bony feet five inches above the floor, scratching his chin. "This an interesting turn of events," the spirit muttered more to himself then to Harry, "First I finally find a way out of this tower, then my spies inform me of the presence of Tom Riddle's magic. I sent one out only to find this boy. Curious, very curious indeed." Harry strained to hold his head up straight, "Who are you? Are you a death-eater?" The shade laughed harshly, "No boy, I am no-one's servant especially not one of Tom's!!" Harry felt goose bumps forming on his limbs but refused reveal it, "Who are you then?" The shade laughed even harder, "Who do you think? I doubt that knowledge of me has completely vanished!" Harry frowned as he debated who this man might have been. Harry did not know much about history and he had not heard of many dark wizards. He pondered if this might be the ghost of Salazar Slytherin but the face didn't resemble the image that Harry had seen. Harry shook his head, "I have only heard of two dark wizards sir, Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort. I doubt that you are either." The man hissed angrily at Voldemort's name, "Do not repeat that again!! If you must refer to him at all, mention him as Tom or as Riddle but never as that!!" The shade frowned and muttered angrily, "So that parasite and Dumbledore managed to erase all memory of me. Well, it just means that they will have more to answer for when the time for vengeance comes!!" The man floated angrily three more inches off the ground then glared at Harry, "Are you certain that you have never heard of me? I did enough in life to make little Tommy look like a saint! Think!!!" Nervously, Harry pondered for a while. A thought suddenly came to him. "You mentioned Dumbledore, I assume that you knew him?" Harry asked cautiously, trying to wheedle more information out. The shade's eyes glowed more malevolently then before, "Know him? Of course I know him! I couldn't forget that weak, muggle- loving fool!!" The shade began to float around the room, muttering curses and other ill words against Hogwart's headmaster. Harry pondered this for a moment then he had another idea. He had a chocolate frog card of Dumbledore and it mentioned the name of the dark wizard that Dumbledore had defeated. If only he could remember. The man stopped muttering when he saw the quivering creature hiding behind Harry. "Ramera!! Why didn't you come when I called? You know very well what happens to those who disobey my orders!!" The shade glared down at her then a rod appeared in his hand. The creature cowered closer to the ground, "Master please!! I is sorry, I is not hear you calling. Please don't master!!" "Silence!! I know that you are lying!! I can almost smell the guilt in the air!!" "Wait!" Harry shouted, "I think I know who you are!!" The man paused for a moment then glared at him, "Well, spit it out then!!! I don't like interference!!" "You are Grindelwald, the dark wizard that Dumbledore killed years ago!!" Harry shouted, hot in the face. The shade's left eye twitched with the mention of Dumbledore, "I am Grindelwald, that part is true." Harry struggled uncomfortably, "What do you mean? I was told that Dumbledore defeated you. Wouldn't that mean that he.." "No, he didn't kill me. Think for a moment! Death isn't the only way to defeat an enemy!!" Grindelwald assumed a sitting position in the air, "That fool only weakened me enough so that he could trap me in my own tower!! He thought that spending time here would change me but he was completely wrong!! Each year only brought me more hate!! Enough of that though," he raised his rod and pointed it underneath Harry's chin, "Who are you? My rod brought you here but it is obvious that you are neither Tom nor a relation. Who are you and why does that parasite's power dwell in you?" Harry wondered how he should answer, there was not telling what Grindelwald would do if he knew everything. He couldn't lie either, Grindelwald would know it. Harry shifted, "I am Harry Potter." Grindelwald waited, not content with just Harry's name.
Chapter 3
The master and the false servant
"Well Harry? What else? Answer my question!" His eyes fell on
Harry's scar, "Where did you get that? I suggest that you answer me, I
have very unpleasant ways of getting the information that I want."
Harry faced him, "Would they include the Cruciatus Curse? Your friend
Voldemort already has let me have a taste of it. It will not work,"
he said with a bit more bravery than he felt. Grindlewald's eyes
bulged with rage, "Friend!?! Friend!?! Tom never was my friend nor
was he my equal!! And never use that name again!!" He swooped
around, muttering non-stop. "How did you meet Tom?" Harry asked, his
curiosity uncontrollable. Grindlewald turned slowly, clearly
pondering whether he should humor Harry with an answer. Cooling down
a little, Grindlewald crossed his arms and fingered his chin, "You
provide little information yet you continue to press me. How about we
do this," Grindlewald swooped down and placed his rod under Harry's
chin, "You answer one of my questions then I will permit you ask me
one. Despite while I answer it or not, you continue to answer my
questions. If you don't, you will learn that there are many dark
spells that make the Cruciatus Curse look like a tickle charm!! Here
is my first question: How did you get that scar?" Grindlewald waited.
"Tom Riddle gave it to me when I was a baby," Harry answered
quietly, "How did you know Tom Riddle?" Grindlewald frowned a little,
"He was once my servant and pupil while he was in school up until he
became a young man. How did little Tommy give you that scar?" Harry
eyed the rod under his chin, he wasn't certain if he wanted to revel
this information but he still had more questions to be answered.
Harry pondered his answer, "He tried to kill me after he murdered my
parents but his curse backfired. How did you contact him while he was
in school without the headmaster or Dumbledore finding out?"
Grindlewald smirked, "You really don't need the answer to that
question. I have said enough about that topic. Why did little Tommy
try to kill you?" Harry frowned, he knew the complete answer but he
refused to believe that Grindlewald's intentions were any different
then Voldemort's. "I do not know." The smirk on Grindlewald's face
vanished in an instant. "Liar!!" Grindlewald began to pace again,
throwing furious glances at Harry. Suddenly Harry's scar burned
savagely and the room began to spin. Grindlewald stared as he passed
out, scratching his head in confusion.
Sirius Black was seated in a small classroom. Looking around, he recognized it as the classroom where he used to have Potions. A twelve- year-old Sirius was setting up his cauldron while the rest of the class filed in. A young Severus Snape entered the room and sat next to the young Sirius. "What is Snivellus think he is playing at? I will definitely will be hexing him soon!" The elder Sirius muttered under his breath. To his shock, the two young boys started whispering to each other as they began to work on today's potion. "So what do you want to do today about that Potter?" the young Sirius asked while measuring powdered porcupine quills. Snape frowned while stirring his cauldron, "I am not certain. We will have to decide before break." The elder Sirius shook his head harshly. "I know what you are trying to do!" he shouted, looking around the walls. "You are trying to make me forget who I really am with all these false images!!! I remember what you said. Wasn't 'mistress of alterative reality' one of the things you called yourself? Well, it will not work!! I know the truth and I will find a way to defeat you!!" The scene faded into a red haze, "I can not be defeated by anyone Black. Nor will you find a way to escape." The next moment, Sirius found himself chained to a metal table. "Now you will learn what happens to those who defy the will of the Book of Shadows." A shadow emerged from the wall and stood before him. It was Sirius Black's younger brother, Regulus.