Chapter3: Skills, Fights, and Grawp

Potter stood behind the Dark Lord, his lips pulled into a sneer as he looked out toward the clearing full of followers. Ogres, trolls, giants, dementors, and a number of wizards were gathered in the forest of Albania.

'…of the Phoenix has had enough time to conclude that Mr. Potter here is dead, save for the three that saw him alive a few hours ago; but how many people will believe that 'Harry Potter' has joined my forces? None, this is indeed a brilliant plan' Voldemort thought as he cleared his throat to speak.

"We gather here, my faithful ones, to lead an army into the midst of the wizarding world. I warn you; kill only muggles, break the squibs, and squash the mudbloods as well as blood traitors; but leave the Halflings and pure to decide for themselves. Now go, my friends, and illuminate the night for my delight." The group bowed at once they all shuffled through the forest, leaving Potter, Bella, Fenrir, and Malfoy standing there behind Voldemort. With a wave of his hand se sent the last three on their way, and turned to potter.

"Yes, my Lord?" he asked bowing head.

"I have decided to teach you how to become an animagus"

"A what?" Potter momentarily looked confused, before he pulled the mask of no emotion back in to his feature.

"An animagi is wizards who can transform into an animal. Your father, for instance was a stag, and I am a basilisk." He responded, fingering his wand lightly as he gazed at the green eyed teen before him. Potter thought for second and then looked up, determination glittering in his eyes.

"What would you like me to become my Lord?" Harry asked curious to which animal he'd get to be.

"Oh, Potter," Voldemort chuckled, which sounded like he was choking on an animal, "you can't choose it is decided by who you are, and I knowing who you are suspect that you'd be a thestral. You do remember me telling you about those in our mythical beast lessons right?"

"Yes, a thestral is a magical beast, a skeletal horse with wings that only people who have seen death can see it!" Potter stated excited that he himself got to be an animagus. Voldemort smiled inwardly and stood up, taking Harry into the seclusion of one the small building that he had the Death Eaters conjure. There his training began

Potter concentrated and felt the change begun. His glasses melted onto his face, forming an odd marking around his eyes. He fell down on all fours as his bones shifted and his skin shrank; after 15 painless seconds there he stood or rather there an animal just as Voldemort had predicted stood. The thestral snorted and scraped one hoof against the floor of the room. Then it vanished replaced by Potter once again. "Finally, I did it," he nearly yelled jumping up and punching the air in a very un-deatheater way. He grinned and change back and forth several times sometimes sneaking up behind newbie deatheaters scaring the shit out of them.

Ron and Hermione poured over a map of Albania, or at least a map that a a survivor, which is rare, had made. There were X's and circles all over it, as they muttered to each other, Hermione marked another X over a circle they had recently searched.

"What do you think he's planning to do?" Ron asked sitting down on a chair and running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know, we'll just have to wait and find out more. Kingsley is going to be stopping by later." Hermione answered, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she spoke. She looked up suddenly, not a second later, as a burst of red light shone through the window. Ron jumped up and ran to look out ­

the window before grabbing his wand and storming out of the room. On the way out he snarled "It's him," as an answer to Hermione's questioning gaze.

Potter grinned as he watched Kingsley apparate outside the Weasley home. He signaled Bella to stay put and turned on the spot reappearing with a smirk in front of Kingsley "Stupefy," he said pointing his wand at Kingsley's chest knocking him backwards. A sudden shout of 'Oi,' made him spin around and he saw a group of red-heads standing behind him, wands raised. Potter smirked and raised his wand about to do a spell that would immobilize all of them; 'this is too easy,' he thought, but his eyes opened wide as the youngest group ran forward wrapping her arms around him tightly. A split second later a lanky boy, with hatred plain on his face yelled,

"Ginny get away from him!" but he had spoken too late for Potter had already thrown the girl to the ground and now he had his wand pointed into her face.

"DON'T EVER TOUCH ME BLOODTRAITOR," he said, growling through his teeth at her. She looked shocked then hurt her beautiful face crumpling as she tried to hide her tears. Ron ran forward shouting the stupefy curse and the jet of red light missed Potter by inches. At a signal from him, Bella and Lucius stepped out of the shadows, flanking him on either side. Ginny looked at Potter hurt and confusion distorting her features. Potter sneered at Ron and looked at Lucius.

"Go and take Kingsley with you. Bella and I will be fine." He said. Lucuis obeyed immediately grabbing Kngsley by the arm and turning sharply.

Bella looked at the assembled Weasleys and grinned maniacally, "Can I play with them boss?" she pleaded, emphasizing the word boss to see the others reactions. She was proud when they all gaped in horror and Ginny looked like she was going to start picking up trees and throwing them. Potter thought a minutes and then nodded. She grinned and moved forward, but was pulled to a stop by potters arm.

"You know the rules, don't kill them or I'll report you master won't be pleased. He said to save the Weasleys last." He told her before he let her go. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley pushed their kids behind them raising the sleeves of their robes to free their arms. Ginny and Ron remained in front, both gazing at Potter. Ron's gaze filled with rage and Ginny's with sadness, rage, and confusion.

Potter stared down at the flamed haired girl and remnants of his dreams came back hitting his mental walls and flooding through the breech and his mind.

He stepped through a low archway; yelling and cheering erupted into his ears. He looked around at the red and gold banners then a girl with flaming hair flung herself at him screaming "WE WON WE WON!" he gazed at her for a few seconds before pulling her to him kissing her velvet lips. The moment lasted…

Potter shook his head holding the spot where that damned scar was for the first time since he joined the Death Eaters, it was burning, but not a painful burn. He didn't know what to call the feeling. Potter looked up and stopped rubbing his scar grinning at the two Weasleys. He raised his wand slowly, waiting for Ron to move or make any indication as to what he was going to do. Bella and the Weasley parents danced in the background, the green and red jets of light streaking in all directions as they moved; Bella cackling loudly by this time.

Potter shifted his gaze a bit to see more of Bella side of the battle and Ron immediately shouted "Expelliramus!" Unprepared for the spell, Potter felt his wand fly from his hand and then felt the punch of another spell right in his chest. He froze, immobilized by the spell, and glared at Ron.

Bella looked over and gasped when she saw her boss immobilized. With a cry of rage she spun on the spot and disappeared, just as a jet of red light passed through where she had been.

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Voldemort sat very still on the black throne made for him, Nagini coiling around his arms and back, her head resting on his shoulder. Lucius stood in a corner, watching his Lord with narrowed eyes, the limp figure of Kingsley lying on the ground beside him. Other Death Eaters lounged against the wall, chatting quietly about various things while everyone waited for Potter's return. A sudden 'pop' made everyone jump in surprise and Bella was seen kneeling forward in front of the Dark Lord.

"My Lord…" she stuttered, scared shitless at the thought of what she was to tell him. "Potter…Potter was immobilized and captured." She blurted out, her head bowed slightly and eyes downcast. Voldemort remained silent for a minute, considering the options. His eyes closed as he attempted to maintain his calm demeanor.

'Damn, I knew he should have had more back up, Bellatrix will need to have someone with her…I'll send McNair.' He thought and then opened his eyes. Bella still knelt before him quivering in fear waiting for orders. "Bella stand take with you McNair and the Malfoys. Be sure to bring him back."

The Weasleys watched Harry with wide eyes. He was bounded and gagged; tied to a chair with a wand pointed at his temple. Potter grinned at the frightened expressions that betrayed each person's face. He winced as the lump on his head throbbed. Ginny sat in a corner, her knees pulled into her arms against her chest as her fiery gaze searched his.

"Ron is he really? I mean Harry would never…" She started. Ron walked over and, with difficulty, tugged up the sleeve of Potter's left arm, leaving the mark exposed. Ginny turned her head and ran out the room before seeing the mark fully exsposed. Potter just looked around, completely at ease and bored to death. He knew it wouldn't be long before Bella returned with reinforcements. Sure enough, a few minutes later, McNair burst through the front door, Bella through the back, and Draco right into the room.

Curses and spells flew everywhere; the Weasley's ducking to avoid him and the Death Eaters laughing up a storm.

'Accio wand' Potter thought with all his might and to his sheer surprise, his wand flew into his hands. Instantly the ropes holding him fell off and he saw Bella, McNair, and Draco look at him and nod before shouting "Bombarda," with their wands pointing in the air. They all turned on the spot and sneered at the unconscious faces of the Weasleys.

Ginny sobbed, watching devastated as her home collapsed, Harry and her family still inside before she ran off into the trees.

She pushed her way through the trees and found a dry log to sit on. Her tears had dried slowly leaving her eyes puffy and streaked.

"He had be all that bad, I can help him," she mumbled aloud. She looked around for a few minutes thinking; then stood with a sigh and turned on the spot. CRACK the woods were empty once more.

The Forbidden Forest was dark, it's leafy halls quiet and plunged into shadows on even the brightest days. A huge mound rose in fell in accordance with low snores that filled the clearing. Ginny stepped carefully around the twigs and leaves, taking care to avoid the littered bicycle parts and knick knacks that swamped the area. A sudden movement to her right caused her to jump and press her hands to ­

her mouth to keep from crying out. A centaur with lanky black hair and a jet black body looked at her curiously.

"What are you doing in this accursed place youngling?" He voice was rough with hardship but gentle, as though he understood her need for salvation.

"Hello Faolin, I'm just looking for a safe place to stay and decided that here with Grawp was a good one. I know that Bane despises humans so I didn't bother asking your herd." Ginny smiled sweetly up at the centaur who nodded and bent down to hug her.

"If you ever need of me just looked to the sky and think my name. The stars will convey your message," He said before galloping away into the darkness once again.

Ginny sat on a log holding her hands out onto a small fire, while Grawp watched munching on a deer he had caught earlier.

"Where Haggar?" He'd ask occasionally and she would answer softly,

"I don't know."

Sometimes she would take out a small radio from her pocket and twiddle with the knob. Grawp laughed when he saw her doing this; obviously thinking is was some sort of game. One day after fiddling with it for a few minutes she jumped in excitement and bent down to listen to the voice that issued from it.

"…we have been gone for so long. We have had some technical difficulties, but now for the evening report." The voice of Lee Jordon was calm and professional as he read the latest news. "On one hand we have finally received evidence that the chosen one Mr. Harry Potter is alive and kickin'. We're sorry to say he is 'kickin' the in the wrong direction. Yes, folks the rumors are true; the Dark Lord has obtained a new asn deadly follower. So if you see Mr. Potter lurking near your home or in public, DON'T run out and shake his hand or hug him. As for Mr. and Mrs. Sach can tell us, from St. Mungo's, he nearly cursed their hands clean off. Apparently, and I quote, 'he was feeling merciful' that day" Ginny snickered, but in a quiet sorrowful, yet kinda-sorts-funny way.

"On the news of missing persons, Katie Bell was last seen in her home on Friday night,but was gone on Saturday morning. Ms. Ginny Weasley has escaped detection for almost two months now, and her parents and friends ask that if she's listening, could she please…." CLICK. Ginny turned off the radio and stuck it back in her pocket. She turned to Grawp and smiled at him.

"Hey Grawp give me a boost." She asked pointing up. He smiled a very toothy grin and held one hand low to the ground. She climbed into the rough curve of his huge sausage fingers and held on as he lifted her up and above the treetops.

The lights from the many windows of Hogwarts glistened in the falling darkness, the sun bouncing off the lake in the waves of light. She could even see the Giant Squid basking in the warm evening sun. Ginny sighed, how she missed the Wizarding World. She looked away, blocking the painful memories of HIM from her mind as Grawp brought her back down for the night.

A/n: The reason this took soooo long was because when we got out of school I came to my sisters house all she has is a laptop which she uses constantly so I finally got the chance to get it up I apologize for how long it took -Flippin-Freak R&R