Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter and anything that's recognizable belongs to J K Rowling.
CHAPTER 3 – The Decision
It had been a whole week, although it felt like a year to Harry. He finally had enough. He couldn't stand it any longer. He had to make a choice. He just hoped he made the right one.
The next morning, Harry watched the same scene again. This time it was Ron that was being tortured.
"Potter…pleasssure" Voldemort mocked, "decided?"
"Yes" Harry bluntly said. Voldemort eerily smiled.
"Yes what? You have decided or yes you'll join me?" Voldemort asked.
"Yes to both" Harry said, defeat evident in his voice.
"Excsselent, I knew you would ssssee reassson" Voldemort said, obviously pleased with himself.
"But you have to let them go, and I need to know that they will be safe before I join you" Harry demanded. He had thought this through. He was only going to join once he knew that everyone would be safe, otherwise he wouldn't do anything.
"Fine. But only one of your friendsss will be let go. The ressst will come after" Voldemort agreed.
"But how will I know that they're safe, and that you didn't just kill them?" Harry questioned.
"I'll let you accompany your friend. Once they're gone, you will come back and join me. Once you've taken my mark, I'll let the othersss go" he said.
"Fine" Harry agreed.
"Good. Bring that Weasley girl. Now!" Voldemort yelled at one of his Death Eaters. They quickly scurried out of the room.
After ten minutes of silence, the door opened and the Death Eater was back with Ginny.
"Nott, you will take her and Potter. You will return once she's gone" Voldemort instructed. Nott bowed, and Voldemort raised his wand to Ginny, "Obliviate". Ginny looked dazed, and soon Nott was by her, and motioned Harry to come. They quickly Apparated, and when Harry opened his eyes, he saw that they were in a dark alley. They walked a bit forward, and that is when Harry noticed that they were in Diagon Alley. Ginny left, walking towards Wizard Wheezes. Before he could see her enter, Nott took him by the arm and Apparated back.
When they were back, Harry saw Hermione and Ron panting on the floor, obviously having been hit by a curse.
"Now, it's time" Voldemort said, and motioned to Harry to come forward. When Harry was before Voldemort, he did not want to bow down like every Death Eater. It was enough for him that he had to take his mark.
"Let me remind you…that I deserve resssspect! Crucio!" Voldemort yelled. "Now again" he said. Harry gritted his teeth and bowed down before Voldemort.
"Do you pledge yourssself completely to me? To ssserve me and obey my every command?" Voldemort asked, taking Harry's left forarm.
"Y-Yes" Harry stuttured. He knew what would come next would be painful.
"Morsmordre" Voldemort said, pointing his wand at Harry's bare forearm. To Harry it felt worse than the Cruciatus curse. It felt like his skin was being burned and ripped apart. When it was finally done, his once bare forearm containd the Dark Mark.
"Rissse" Voldemort commanded, and Harry did as he said.
"Now, we will let thisss filth go. Obliviate! Obliviate!" Voldemort said, pointing his wand at Ron and then Hermione. Voldemort motioned to two Death Eaters, who disappeared with a Pop!
"Now…the next thing you mussst learn. Apparation. I can not have you not ssshow up when I call you. Horder, come forward" Voldemort said. A Death Eater slowly came forward and bowed down before Voldemort.
"Teach young Mister Potter. I'm giving you one hour. If he can't by then…" Voldemort trailed off.
"Yes master" Horder said, bowing again, and then taking Harry by his arm and leading him out of the room.
After a grueling hour, Harry was able to Apparate. He wished he would be able to show Ron, Hermione and Ginny, but realized it would bring up too many questions if he did. Thinking about his friends made him wonder if they were alright. Harry already knew that if they weren't, he would go to Dumbledore at the beginning of the school year to tell him what he had done.
Harry kept looking down at his arm. There was the Dark Mark, something he never imagined he would have. He felt disgusted by what he had done, but thinking about his friends made him forget about it. It had to be done. His friends might have been dead right now if he hadn't taken the mark. He just hoped no one would find out.
They returned to Voldemort, and he seemed pleased to know that Harry had been able to accomplish this task. Harry was finally dismissed.
"I will call you and remember, I hate people that are late. Crucio!" Voldemort said, and once the curse was lifted, Harry gathered himself and Apparated away.
He landed in the park just down the street from his Aunt and Uncle's house. He stayed sprawled on the grass for a little while, catching his breath. Finally he got up and started walking towards the house. He wondered what Uncle Vernon would do now that he was back. He just hoped he would still be in one piece.
He knew they would most likely be eating supper right now, and so there would be almost no chance to just sneak in. Although he could probably wait until later, Harry was tired and just wanted to sleep. He opened the door and walked in. He saw Vernon sitting at the table. Vernon looked up and saw Harry, bloodied and bruised up. Vernon went from red to an amazing color of purple.
"BOY! What are you doing back? Where were you?" Uncle Vernon bellowed.
"I was taken…I guess you didn't let anyone know?" Harry quietly asked.
"Of course not! Why would we want more freaks to show up here. I had hoped you would have been gone for good. I guess not! Go up to your room…and stay there!" Uncle Vernon yelled and pointed upstairs. Harry didn't really care at the moment, he was just glad to avoid punishment. He tiredly walked up the stairs to his room. He opened the door and looked in. Although it wasn't much, it seemed like a 5-star hotel after his weeks accomodations. Harry closed the door and stumbled to his bed. He fell into a deep sleep, not even worrying about nightmares. He was too exhausted for that.
A/N Please Review!