Chapter Four
The Death Eater Meeting
It had been a whole day Harry was locked in this room. This habit was one of the Dursley's favorites, but now, compared to this, their place was starting to sound like home.
"Oh, God. What am I thinking?!" Harry sighed.
Hedwig stirred in her cage.
"I know, girl," he said, letting her nibble his finger.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and it opened. A woman with dark, crazy hair stood there.
"Oh, great. Just what I needed," said Harry.
"Oh, don't worry, Potter. I'm not enjoying this either, but the Dark Lord sent me to help you get ready for the meeting," said Bellatrix.
"Oh, great. Things just can't get any worse," he thought.
Bellatrix took out her wand.
"Now then, Potter. I'm already late as it is, so put those clothes on or I will do it for you."
Harry wanted to protest, but he didn't feel like a debate with her. He took the black robes Voldemort had given him and was about to walk into the bathroom when Bellatrix grabbed his arm.
"So, what makes you so special? I don't know why the Dark Lord wanted to spare you. Last time I checked, he wanted to kill you," she let Harry go.
"Not jealous, are you, Bellatrix? I know about your pathetic crush on him when actually you mean nothing to him," Harry retorted.
Bellatrix turned toward him, "What did you say, Potter? I've got news for you. You're lying. I do mean something to him. I'm his most loyal follower. CRUCIO!"
A jet of red light flew from her wand, but another shot of green light deflected it.
"Bella, I would think you would know better."
Harry and Bellatrix turned to see the Dark Lord standing there in the hallway. Bellatrix fell to her knees in front of him.
"I asked you to go see if he was ready, and I find you cursing him. Maybe I should have sent someone else," hissed Voldemort.
"I am so sorry, my Lord. It won't happen again," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes at her. Gosh, she IS pathetic.
Voldemort turned his gaze on Harry.
"So, then. I see you are still not ready."
"Yeah, sorry. I got a little distracted when she barged in here," he said.
Voldemort turned back to Bellatrix, "Leave Us!"
She got up quickly and left.
He turned back to Harry, "Now, go get ready."
Harry walked into the bathroom. He got another good look at the robes. They were solid black with silver clasps on the front. He really didn't want to wear it, but it seemed like he didn't have much of a choice, so, with regret, he put them on and looked at himself in the mirror. Gosh, now I look pathetic, he thought. He walked out and Voldemort was waiting for him. Nagini, the snake, was on the floor beside Voldemort.
"Good, you are ready. Let's go," he said.
"Wait. We are leaving the house?" Harry asked.
"Yes, we are going to Malfoy Manor. It's where most of my meetings are held. Now, take my arm," said Voldemort. Without any resistance, Harry took hold of Voldemort's arm and they apparated.
Once they reached their destination, Harry let go of Voldemort.
"Now, at this meeting, you will sit beside me so I can keep an eye on you. You will not speak unless you are spoken to; otherwise, I will be forced to put a silencing charm on you," Voldemort explained.
Like I would want to talk to anyone here anyway, thought Harry.
They walked into the manor. Harry had never seen a house like this before. He was so busy staring that he forgot about Voldemort until the Dark Wizard spoke,
"Stop strutting! If you do anything to make me look bad I will put Nagini in your room all night," he said.
"No, you will NOT put that monster of yours in my room," said Harry.
"Then let's go," Voldemort started to grab Harry's arm, but Harry stepped away.
"I can walk by myself," said Harry.
"Then do it," Voldemort insisted.
They were both quiet as they walked into the meeting room. All the Death Eaters were sitting around the table. Most of them just stared at Harry, but others looked at him and whispered stuff to the others. Harry didn't pay them any attention. He was looking at something else: A woman, floating above the table. He recognized her as the Muggle Studies teacher at Hogwarts. What was she doing here?
"Harry, come sit down here," said Voldemort, pointing to a chair next to his own. Reluctantly, Harry took it, still looking at the scared woman above the table as the meeting began.
"Now, as you all know, we have a guest here with us tonight," Voldemort gestured as the eyes all turned to Harry.
"You are all probably wondering why I haven't killed him yet. Well, I am afraid I must inform all of you that he must stay alive and none of you are allowed to harm him. If I find out that anyone has hurt him in any way, I will make that person suffer," he said, eyeing Bellatrix.
She spoke up, "I swear to you, My Lord, I will not touch him," but she glared at Harry.
He could tell this was not over.
A wailing sound, coming from below, filled the room.
"Wormtail," Voldemort called.
"Yes, My Lord?" The small man answered.
"Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guests quiet?"
"Yes, My Lord," said the little man, quickly turning to run down the stairs.
Harry wondered who was down there.
Voldemort stood up, and as he did this, Nagini slithered over from her spot. Voldemort pointed his wand at the woman on the ceiling, "To those of you who do not know, we are joined this evening by Charity Burbage, who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her specialty was Muggle Studies."
Harry sat in total silence. He already knew what was going to happen.
"It is Miss Burbage's belief that Muggles are not so different from us. She would, given her way, have us mate with them."
Harry could see Charity crying.
"Severus, Help me! Severus, we're friends!" She tried to beg Snape to help, but he just sat there.
Harry thought he hated the man enough already, but now he despised him even more. Voldemort raised his wand at her, "Avada Kadavra!"
A green light shot from his wand and hit Charity. She fell onto the table.
"NO!" Harry yelled.
He began screaming at Snape, "You coward! How could you just let her die like that?"
Voldemort took hold of Harry, "I thought we agreed that you would not speak unless you were spoken to," Voldemort saw that Harry was crying.
"Very well then," he softened. "If you do not wish to see any more of this, you may go wait in the entry hall for me."
Harry walked out of the room. Another person is dead.
Once the meeting was over, Voldemort approached Harry.
"Shall we go then?" He put out his arm.
Harry only agreed because he couldn't wait to get out of there. He took hold of Voldemort's arm as they apparated back to Riddle Manor. Once they returned, Voldemort walked Harry back to his room.
"So, now...What happened back at the Malfoy's?" asked the Dark Wizard.
"Oh, as if you don't know! You didn't tell me you were going to kill anyone at the meeting, and you ask me what is wrong?" Harry was angry.
Voldemort stared at him blankly, and then spoke, "Well, honestly, I had here there. What did you think I was going to do with her? Besides, you've watched me and my followers use that curse a lot. Why was it any different this time?"
"Why? Because I was in the same room as her?" Harry felt himself start crying.
Voldemort was confused about what to do in this situation. He took hold of Harry's chin,
"You will learn to get more used to it," he said, removing Harry's glasses.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"I wanted to see what you look like without your glasses. Well, now...I'm amazed. I bet those eyes get the attention of many girls," said Voldemort.
"What does that have to do with what we are talking about?"
"I would like to know who she is-maybe this girl young Malfoy keeps mentioning? A Mudblood you hang out with-could it be her?" Voldemort searched Harry's eyes.
"No, it's not. We are just friends," said Harry.
"Well, then, I wonder who else she could be? But I don't need to ask. Let's see if she's in that head of yours."
Voldemort started to look into Harry's mind. He could see Harry with a beautiful red-haired girl. He immediately recognized her and he left Harry's thoughts.
"Ah, so it's Ginny Weasley. Well, she's not a bad choice," said Voldemort.
"Leave her out of this!" said Harry.
"I wonder what would happen if I brought her here. Maybe she might also like it here," Voldemort said.
"No! Ginny's not like me. She has a family. You have me, isn't that enough?" said Harry.
"Oh, very well, I just thought having her here would make you happy, but oh well. Anyway, I think it's time for you to go to bed."
"I'm not tired."
"Well, then, I will just have to fix that," Voldemort flicked his wand and Harry felt himself go lightheaded.
"Ah, what are you doing to me?" Harry asked.
"I just put a sleep spell on you that will take effect in a few minutes," said the Dark Wizard.
"So no matter what you will have your way. No matter what I will stop hating you," Harry muttered.
"I don't expect you to like me, Harry. I will still require obedience from you," Voldemort said.
Harry began to get dizzy as he spoke to Voldemort, "If I do this, will you spare everyone I love?"
"As long as you behave, we have an understanding," said the Dark Wizard.
Harry blacked out completely. Voldemort slowly walked over to the unconscious boy, gently picked him up, and laid him on the bed. Once he walked out of the door, Voldemort signaled one of his followers. Lucius Malfoy appeared in the doorway.
"You called for me, My Lord?"
"Yes, Lucius. I would like you to keep an eye on Potter for me while I am gone," said Voldemort.
"Of course I will," said Lucius.
"He is upstairs, sleeping. Be careful not to wake him."
Lucius headed up the stairs and Voldemort vanished in a puff of black smoke.