As far as a ten year old Harry Potter was concerned, Lord Voldemort ruled Britain and had done for many years. His life locked away with the Dark Lord had of course been heavily censored with not even the smallest access to any outside information. All Harry knew was that Voldemort owned him.
Voldemort's dark mark had long ago been branded upon his left arm, scorched into his skin, but now after years it had since been scratched with lightening bolt scars.
The black skull itself was cracked from the ruptures in his flesh as the snake too had a jagged line cut throughout it.
So he would have been deeply surprised to learn about the small pockets of resistance fighting back, let alone that Harry would be the main topic of conversation.
The Order of the Phoenix were very much still in operation and were currently sitting round a large table in their headquarters.
Grimmauld Place had not changed much over the years. It was still dark and dusty, hidden with many dangerous treasures.
There were a few rooms that had been made liveable, the current occupied one was the kitchen which had numerous witches and wizards crowded around.
Severus Snape had been at the Dark Lords manor for the majority of the day, so he now had little patience of repeating himself of the events within.
Instead the Order stared horrorified at one of the memories he was just showing them.
A small Harry Potter was lying on the cold stone, stricken down by Voldemort's own curse.
Sevurus flicked his wand, commanding the memory away in an instant. More than a few people were shifting uncomfortably, stricken by the child's suffering.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting across from Severus with a concerned look upon his old face.
"How is Harry?" Dumbledore questioned softly.
Severus' eyes sharpened, shooting Dumbledore a very cold stare. "The Dark Lord is getting more ruthless, more daring with the boy. I cannot delay him much longer"
Dumbledore nodded solemnly as Severus tried to push aside the torment Lily's son was having to endure.
"You don't think Harry has much time left?" The ex headmaster questioned.
"There is only so much the body can take" Severus replied after awhile. "Potter is only a child after all"
Molly Weasley who sat beside her husband looked deeply distressed. No doubt with her numerous amount of children she was struggling to cope.
Severus cleared his throat, the worst was yet to come. He only hoped they would be prepared.
"The Dark Lord plans to rebuild his body" Severus explained, his voice cutting through the silence. "Using the boy's blood" He added grimly.
"Rebuild his body?" Tonks breathed, her eyes wide with fear as hands flew to her face. "How is that possible?"
Disturbed murmurs ran through the room, each person locking onto Dumbledore.
However if Dumbledore had an answer he chose not to share it, instead Severus was certain the ex headmaster had a brief gleam in his eye, but he had no time to contemplate it.
Instead he addressed the current question with a stern look.
"I do not understand it myself, but I have been commanded to brew a certain potion which should achieve this."
Moody actually growled at this. "Best botch the job then?" He offered.
Severus was about to sneer but it was Dumbledore that could across him.
"No" He replied firmly. "No doubt the potion will be tested. Any attempt to sabotage it will only draw unwanted attention to Severus"
Moody's expression shifted to one that looked displeased but he didn't comment further.
"I don't understand?" Tonks asked. "What is the point?"
"He believes it is the only way to gain Potter's ability and in turn be able to touch the boy" Snape answered blankly, eyes ignoring the cold furious ones staring straight at him across the table.
Dumbledore sighed heavily not noticing. "I believe you may be right Severus. By taking Harry's blood he will be able to overcome Lily's protection"
"But it will not keep the Dark Lord alive?" Moody grumbled.
"No, it will not" Dumbledore confirmed. "But even if that wasn't the case I am sure You Know Who would proceed regardless."
"We have to do something" Moody continued. "We cannot allow this experiment to proceed correctly."
Dumbledore didn't reply to this.
XXXXXXXXX
Sirius sat silently, arms crossed and fuming in Snape's direction. His opinion was already well known throughout those gathered but he had lost patience long ago. Nobody listened to him these days.
Snape as usual was sitting opposite Dumbledore, relishing in his double life. Sirius cracked his wrists, barely resisting the urge to break out his wand and curse the slimy git.
Sirius had come to hate the Order, they had failed in every sense of the word, but the Gryffindor had no options left, he had to depend on them.
Most of those gathered had lives, they operated in parallel to the Dark Lords regime. Tonks' worked deep within the ministry's security, the Weasley's still had children in Hogwarts and McGonagall was still a professor at the school.
Snape was the more unusual person, he alone carried the Dark Lord's mark and Sirius never let him forget it. He didn't trust the snake, otherwise they would have Harry by now, it was that simple.
Sirius however was hunted, he had a black mark on his name, similar to Remus and Dumbledore. If they were every captured then their lives would be forfeit, Voldemort himself would most likely destroy them.
"Harry is old enough to understand" Sirius growled. "We need to contact him"
Attention snapped to him in an instant, some more wary then others as Moody rolled his eyes. No doubt the Ex Auror was long since fed up with his ideas.
"Oh yes Black" Snape said sarcastically, turning to face him with a sneer. "Let's divulge our plans to a child and just hope that Dark Lord doesn't discover them"
Frustratingly Sirius knew others agreed but he continued regardless, his voice would be heard.
"Harry has a right to know" Sirius retorted, staring down anyone who dared contradict him.
Snape however was not intimidated as he only smirked, crossing his arms and staring down at Sirius as if he too were a child.
"Potter knows nothing else but to be owned by the Dark Lord, his life wouldn't change regardless of if he knows about the Order of the Phoenix" Snape mocked. "There is no strategy in telling the boy"
"Harry has a name" Sirius spat, spit flying from his face. He looked more like his dog form as he bared his teeth. "Harry deserves to know that we are going to get him out of there" He continued.
It annoyed him horribly that Dumbledore just sat there silently, eyes not even watching their exchange.
"And then when we can't?" Snape mocked, sneering at him coldly. "Potter will only grow to resent you Black, that his own Godfather abandoned him for nine whole years to suffer at the Dark Lords hand."
Sirius tried to ignore the stabbing feeling to his heart.
"I'm not asking Harry to forgive me" He snapped.
"Oh so this is about comforting the boy" Snape sneered, eyebrows raised in amusement. "To let him know that he has someone waiting for him on the outside"
Sirius clenched his fists, resisting the urge to turn into Padfoot and rip Snape's throat apart. He stood, alarming those around him.
Moody already was alert, his wand out ready to break up any fight that might occur.
But it was Dumbledore that seemed to settle the debate with only a heavy sigh.
"I agree with Severus" Dumbledore stated, eyes locked onto Sirius' own. "Harry is far to young. If You Know Who was alerted under any circumstance I believe it would only cause Harry further suffering"
Sirius slammed both fists down on the table. "Harry has suffered far more than any of us. Who are you to deny him the truth?"
Dumbledore eyes narrowed slightly. "You are referring to the prophecy?"
"You know what I mean" Sirius snapped, still standing with his hands placed firmly upon the table.
"Potter is still a boy" Snape cut across, tone condescending. "You think he can handle the fact that he alone is destined to kill the Dark Lord."
"I think Harry would be more than pleased to know he has the potential to strike You Know Who down" Sirius countered, eyes flaring.
"He is not you Black" Snape sneered. "Nor is Potter his father. The boy only wants to escape, he has no desire to face the Dark Lord. So how can you ask him of that?"
Sirius really lost his temper now, as sparks shot from his wand. Moody repositioned his wand accordingly but it wasn't necessary.
"I will never ask Harry to fight" Sirius snarled. "It is not his responsibility to kill You Know Who and I will make sure he understands this"
"Then what is the point?" Snape countered.
"Harry needs to know why You Know Who is so obsessed with him"
Snape rolled his eyes mockingly. "I think the boy is intelligent enough to know that it's his immunity to death that keeps the Dark Lord fascinated."
"You know that's not the only reason" Sirius spat. "The prophecy has every reason to drive his obsession. You Know Who knows it in it's entirety." Sirius continued. "After he took the ministry and heard it for himself"
"You refer to the line Power the Dark Lord Knows not?" Snape sneered.
"What else?" Sirius hissed. "You know it bothers him, that he will never understand how Harry can live."
Snape crossed his arms, regarding Sirius coldly. "It is irrelevant. It will change nothing if Potter knows the prophecy"
Sirius' eyes narrowed dangerously.
"It effects him so why shouldn't he know?"
"Sirius" It was Dumbledore that cut across him, the old Professor looked tired. "Now is not the time."
Everyone seemed unsettled, almost disturbed that they had witnessed such pure emotion coursing from him.
Sirius deflated, his voice now strained. "When is?" He whispered, suddenly losing all energy. "When can we bring Harry home? You said it yourself, if this experiment proceeds then You Know Who can harm Harry" This was never going to be allowed, Sirius would find a way to stop it.
Dumbledore however only shook his head, his twinkling blue eyes absent. "I am sorry Sirius. We are doing what we can"
Sirius shot Snape a cold look at this, flicking his eyes to the death eater in disgust. "It's not enough" He whispered.
Sirius knew he had been outvoted, like he often was. The Order only cared about protecting Harry mentally, it drove him mad to know that his Godson would continue to suffer at the Dark Lords hand.
He knocked his chair backwards, not hiding his temper as he walked away.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Sirius was still fuming but his anger was fast turning into despair as he stepped into his bedroom. He ran his hands through his thick hair, trying to digest everything.
He had never forgotten the moment all those years ago, when he had found out where Harry had been taken. The fact that the Dark Lord had attempted to murder his Godson and failed. That Lily's sacrifice had driven Voldemort to obsession.
Sirius moved to slam the door behind him but at the lack of noise he spun around to find his closest friend leaning in the doorway.
"Sirius-" Remus began.
"Don't you start" Sirius growled, rounding on the werewolf ferociously. "You could have backed me up"
Remus too looked as tired as Sirius felt.
"I know how you feel-" Remus started, an apology already on his lips. But Sirius didn't want to hear it.
"We have to act Remus" Sirius replied, trying desperately to hold onto his emotions, he had to stay in control. "I don't care about the consequences"
"Dumbledore is right Sirius. If Harry was caught communicating with us it would only cause him more suffering" Remus whispered, he hadn't moved as he watched Sirius start to pace in agitation.
"You mean worse than he currently does?" Sirius retorted, but at Remus' broken expression Sirius' own temper softened. He slumped, falling onto his bed as he stared at the picture hanging loosely on his wall.
The photograph in question was one of his most precious. A small Harry was zooming around on a miniature broomstick as he was chased across the floor.
"Moony, all I am asking is that we give Harry that little bit of hope." Sirius whispered, his voice was horse now from tearing into Snape. "Surely that's not to much to ask?"
Remus moved into his room and Sirius felt the bed sink down as the werewolf sat beside him.
"No, it's not" He replied softly.
Sirius wanted to punch a wall.
"Here" Remus stated, quickly pressing something into Sirius shaking hands before he had time to do anything rash.
Sirius' hand gripped it, his own confusion building. It was small and wrapped in brown paper.
"What's this?" Sirius whispered, staring at the package.
"A gift." Remus replied, locking eyes with Sirius' own. "You gave this to me shortly after James died. It's time it was passed onto Harry"
Sirius understood at once, his throat tightening as he clutched it close. A single tear slid down his face.
"Thank you" He whispered. He would make a difference in Harry's life.
XXXXXXXXXX
Harry entered his room feeling ill and shaky, it was nearly midday but already he wanted to collapse and sleep. Snape had once again taken so much of his blood at the Dark Lords command, not that Harry knew what further purpose it would serve. Snape's potions never worked.
Currently he was left feeling weak and exhausted, much in a similar fashion to how Voldemort's killing curse affected him.
He paused in his threshold, eyes flicking to the alien brown package sitting neatly on his bedsheets.
Harry froze, his own heart beat increasing rapidly before he slowly approached.
His room was usually left undisturbed, apart from the occasional house elf removing and replacing his clothes, Harry didn't expect anything else to be different.
Harry's room contained only the bare minimum, a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. Occasionally Harry was allowed parchment but that was only if he asked Voldemort directly and that was when the Dark Lord was feeling particularly generous. Harry had a few books too, but they were only ones that he had pulled from the Dark Lords library.
Otherwise Harry had no possessions, nothing he owned himself, so it was startling to find something waiting on his bed wrapped up neatly.
He stepped across his room, barely containing his excitement. Harry had never received a gift before so he knew at once it was suspicious, he knew that he should seek permission before proceeding, but that didn't stop his own curiosity.
With shaking hands he picked the package up, it felt unusually heavy for something so small.
Harry pulled the paper apart slowly his eyes wide with nervous excitement.
Harry blinked absolutely stunned, it was a large mirror framed elegantly. His own scarred reflection stared back at him.
He tilted the glass, fingers tracing over the frame in wonderment, watching as the light moved fluently with it.
"Pretty isn't it?"
Harry spun around, fear instilling in him instantly. He had thought he was alone, but that wasn't the worse of it, he recognised that voice. Death eaters were bad, they were cruel and had no regard for human life. Bellatrix Lestrange however was nothing like this. She was worse.
Elegant in every respect that a person could be but so empty of any emotion that was good.
Harry clung to the mirror, small hands crinkling the paper as Bellatrix advanced, a horribly cold smile upon her face. It was his first present, he didn't want to let it go.
"Let me see" She insisted, her voice horribly sweet.
Bellatrix held out her hand as Harry handed over the mirror silently, not noticing as he bit his own lip nervously. Anything could happen.
She took it carefully as she placed a hand gently on Harry's shoulder.
Harry didn't flinch, he had long since learnt that to do so meant punishment. Bellatrix's personality was spontaneous and irrational, he had to adapt as best he could not to provoke her.
Her smile sharpened as her eyes examined the mirror, she looked positively delighted.
She moved behind him, her footsteps sending chills through Harry's spine. She held the mirror carefully as she crouched down, arms moving over his head as she positioned the reflection so they were staring at themselves.
Harry wanted nothing more then to look away but he was too terrified by her proximity.
"What pretty eyes you have Harry" Her breath tickled his ear as Harry didn't dare draw breath.
She ran a hand through his hair, her fingers tracing over the one scar which lay on his forehead.
Harry dared not respond, as he felt so vulnerable.
Bellatrix however had other ideas. She tutted cruelly, her own reflection turning into a sinister smirk.
"Say thank you" She teased.
Harry only closed his eyes briefly.
"Thank you" He whispered, hating his weakness.
Bellatrix's grin only deepened.
"Good boy" She taunted before hissing out two words
"Sirius Black"
Harry nearly jumped startled, his own fearful green eyes had shifted to an unfamiliar grey. In replace of his own and Bellatrix's reflection now stood a man, long dark hair framed around a scrawny face.
At once the man's expression shifted to an odd mixture of surprise and a cold fear.
Harry was stunned as his own mouth parted slightly in shock.
"Bellatrix" The man's voice had an empty edge to it as his eyes darted between her own and Harry's.
"My darling cousin" She greeted.
Harry felt his heart sink, he thought the mirror was a good thing. But if this man was her cousin there was no way they had his best interests at heart.
The man, clearly named Sirius Black stiffened, alarmed and alert as his eyes narrowed.
"Let go of him" His voice sounded like a growl, full of menace and threat.
"Now now" She chided way too happily as she ran her cold fingers down Harry's own cheek.
Harry winced, big mistake.
Bellatrix was so fast, lashing out as her nails scratched sharply into his face. Harry cried out, retreating back, hands flying up, tears welling in his eyes as he jerked himself away from Bellatrix and the mirror.
"Don't you dare" The man snarled.
Harry flinched, thinking the man was addressing him, but he was stunned by what happened next.
"You touch Harry again and I will skin you alive" He growled.
Bellatrix was holding the mirror in front of herself now, a sinister smile flicking upon her face as she laughed.
"Now now Sirius, you shouldn't temp me" She was grinning wickedly.
Harry stared, not understanding. This man wanted to help him, but he didn't have time to consider anything else as Bellatrix continued.
"I'm guessing you used Narcissa?" Bellatrix asked amused. "I don't see how else you would have smuggled this in"
Harry barely drew breath at this, he knew he should have reported the mirror. Voldemort was going to be furious with him.
Sirius however deemed her question not worse answering as he only snarled.
"Or was it Pettigrew?" Bellatrix guessed, she seemed to be absolutely thriving on this as Harry watched on, face still stinging.
At the man's lack of answer, she paced around Harry's room, her footsteps almost dancing around with glee.
The death eater seemed to have moved on with the topic as she flicked her eyes once again to Harry who stood rooted in his spot.
"I've always wanted to hear you beg Sirius" Bellatrix taunted. Harry froze as she locked her wand on him. Fear instilled in him instantly.
Harry knew she would, the death eater took great delight in hurting him, his most terrifying childhood memories involved her to some extent.
Harry could not see the man's face but he could hear every word.
"Don't" Sirius Black's voice was almost pleading now. "Please, Bella"
Bellatrix laughed, "Oh, I do love it when you call me that" She hissed.
But Black had no shame as he continued. "Don't harm Harry, please"
Harry was so taken aback, no one ever took his side because no one ever cared for him.
She tutted so cruelly, shaking her head in deliberation.
And then she spoke, her voice nothing but pure evil.
"Not good enough" She hissed.
Harry fell under her wand, his whole body feeling nothing but pain as his lungs screamed. His own limbs flailing uncontrollably as he could do nothing to release the pain coursing through his body.
He didn't know if Sirius was begging for his anguish to end, all he wanted was for everything to stop.
It was with little relief when the curse had ended. He lay weakly on the floor, head pounding.
The death eater only walked lazily towards him, Harry barely glanced up, Sirius Black had gone.
She tutted coldly, hauling him to his feet with a nail pinching grip. Harry swayed, staring up at her.
"Well you won't be needing this" She smiled.
"No" Harry tried to dart forwards but he was still too weak, it was already too late. He had barely had it, but already he was attached, not only to the mirror but the man within it, begging for Harry's safety.
The mirror slipped from her hand so easily. It splinted on the floor, shattering in a loud crash as shards went flying around Harry's own feet.
Harry jerked back, his own hands and feet suddenly covered in shards as deep blood which seeped from his hand. Gasping in shock from his broken present and the pain flooding through him he drew back. He staggered, still lacking the blood that Snape had taken from him earlier.
Bellatrix had fixed cold eyes on him before she relented, clearing away the glass with a wave of her wand.
Harry jerked as his hands were cleared of debris but it didn't stop the blood.
"With me" Bellatrix commanded, she looked almost bored now, her wand coming round to point directly at Harry's heart as she placed her hand on his back and pushed him forwards.
He forced back his anguish, knowing that she take him to Voldemort. Harry deserved punishment after all.
But there was one thing he wanted answering, as he forced his body to move he spoke quietly.
"Who is he?" Harry never asked questions.
Bellatrix observed him, tilting her head. "Soon to be a dead man"
I hope I wasn't too mean to Harry and Sirius? I'm feeling a little guilty.
Anyway, a certain rat appears in the next chapter!
