Chapter Six

To the reviewer who posted the last couple of reviews anonymously: I would have replied to you directly, but you weren't logged in or whatever. Yes, there is a lot of negativity in Harry and Raven, especially seeing as Raven just basically lost her entire family recently and Harry went through a lot and ended up in a nasty divorce and losing his kids. But they'll both get better. They can't stay totally negative forever, otherwise how would a relationship be able to properly start (seeing that this is a RavenXHarry story) and be maintained? Thanks for taking the time review and tell me what you thought.

Later on, the Italicized part means a memory.

Raven struggled against the person who was holding her. She realized her hands were tied behind her back.

Harry was downstairs, looking through Artemis and Holly's huge DVD collection, trying to find his 300 DVD to finish watching. Blood, guts, fighting, total man movie. It was the best. He couldn't wait for the sequel to come out on DVD.

He couldn't find it and figured it must be upstairs in his room somewhere. He started to head to his upstairs.

Raven's attacker was dragging her off the bed. Raven kicked and twisted herself, trying to get free, but his grip was too strong. Suddenly a dark blue portal appeared in the room. It looked like a swirling vortex of energy, slightly see through. The man took his hand off Raven's mouth and she took that opportunity to scream bloody murder to awaken the house and then use her magic.

"AZARETH METRION ZIN-"

"Stupefy!"

A spell hit Raven and she knew nothing else for awhile…

Harry heard the scream and raced toward Raven's room. He heard a couple of doors opening down the hall and realized Juliet must have heard and probably the rest of the house too. He burst in through Raven's bedroom door and saw her being held and dragged toward a swirling portal by a figure who had his back to Harry. They started to go through the portal.

Harry leaped forward and grabbed the leg of the man. He felt a sucking motion and realized the room was disappearing.

Harry didn't know where they were going, but it wasn't very pleasant. It was different from using Floo, or a portkey, or Apparating. It wasn't long before Harry felt like he was about to throw up.

Suddenly he realized they must have arrived as they landed on a hard floor. Harry jumped up, ready to fight, and then threw up all over the floor.

In that few seconds delay, he heard the words "Stupefy!" and everything went blank.

Fowl Manor

Juliet raced toward Raven's room. She had seen Harry rush through the door and as she got there, she got a glimpse of them disappearing in some swirly blue thing.

"No!" she shrieked.

Butler was behind her, his Sig Sauer drawn.

"They're gone!" said Juliet. "Quick, check the security system in case anyone else is coming!"

Butler nodded and Juliet rushed to Holly and Artemis's room. Their door was just opening.

"Who screamed?"

Juliet explained and they checked on Coral, who was fine.

"I don't know what happened, but we have to find them," said Juliet.

"Raven still has that small tracker I injected in her when she first got here," said Artemis. "Let's check it."

Artemis raced to his study and powered up his laptop to check the trackers location, Holly hovered behind, holding a sleeping Coral.

"There is nobody else around," said Butler, having checked things. "But the system says there was no breach, how did he get in? The charms that Hermione put on the manor were not even breached either."

Artemis was looking at his Powerbook. "The tracker seems to have disappeared. My system can't find it. It says the last known location was here. Either it was removed somehow, or…"

"Or what?" asked Juliet.

"Or Raven's isn't anywhere on planet Earth, or our dimension at least."

Location Unknown

Raven felt herself coming too, her head drooping. She managed to lift it and blinked, trying to clear her head.

She was strapped to a chair in a small room, a strip of duct tape covering her mouth. She struggled against her bonds but nothing happened. Her head hurt and there was something uncomfortable around her neck.

"Well, well, have a good nap, Raven?"

Raven jerked and looked to the side to see a man standing there. He was tall, wearing fitted black pants and a fitted gray shirt. He was well muscled. He had eyes that were the darkest blue, almost purple and hair that was a bit longish. It was black with white streaks through it.

He smiled at Raven. "Don't you remember me?"

Raven stared. Something nagged in the back of her head. He almost seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it…

The man slapped Raven across the face. "Answer me when I speak to you. How quickly you forget the rules, but you never really liked cooperating anyway. Now, do you remember me?"

Raven slowly shook her head, the duct tape preventing her from speaking.

"I figured so," said the man. "Oh, how rude, you don't remember me. You can call me Aleric. Now let me explain something to you, I have a special collar around your neck. With that, you are unable to use your powers. So no levitating things, or portaling out, or anything. You try, you get shocked. You mess with it, you get shocked. Do you need a demonstration?"

Raven shook her head no.

"I think I'll show you." He pulled out a small remote and pushed a button.

Electricity flowed from the collar and through Raven's body, shocking her. She tensed in the chair and tried to scream while her body convulsed and jerked against the bonds.

It stopped. Raven sagged in the chair.

Aleric smiled at Raven. "Now, I'm guessing you remember absolutely nothing about what happened after the Tower collapsed?"

Raven stared at him. She had accidentally teleported to this new dimension, and landed in the Fowl Manor grounds. How did he know about that?

Aleric knelt in front of Raven and stared at her with his piercing eyes. "Landed at Fowl Manor, correct?"

Raven nodded slowly.

"But, what if I told you, that you didn't do it yourself? That I sent you off?"

Raven stared back at him. What was he trying to tell her?

"Poor Raven. Killed her entire team. I found you injured and bleeding at the Tower, nearly mad with grief when you realized what you had done. You're a murderer Raven. The Titans should have never trusted someone with powers like you, powers that could destroy them all, and all because your stupid ex was banging some other chick…"

Raven tensed. He was goading her, trying to mess with her emotions, to break her down, make her weak.

"Did you tell your new friends at Fowl Manor? That Harry Potter, or anybody else? No? I didn't think so."

He ripped the tape off. Raven let out a gasp of pain.

"Now, what if I told you that I had you here with me, for an entire year? It's been over an entire year since you caused the Tower incident. I had you all that time. And I only sent you away so you could aid me in something I needed help with."

Raven shook with fear. A year? It couldn't be. She had blacked out at the Tower and accidentally sent herself away! At least, that was what she thought…she had had some very vague dreams, or flashes of things that she didn't think had happened. What if…?

Aleric took out his wand and tapped the side of Raven's face. "Shocked?"

"You're lying," snarled Raven. "You're just trying to mess with me. It won't work."

Aleric smiled. "Really? Would you like to remember?"

He tapped his wand against Raven's head and muttered an incantation under his breath.

Suddenly Raven's head felt like it would split with pain. She gritted her teeth as memories began pouring in, flashing before her eyes. It was true! She had been here a whole year!

"No!" shrieked Raven. "NO! NO!" she began remembering something else as well. Something about Starfire.

"Okay, maybe I lied just a little," said Aleric. "You didn't kill them all. Starfire made it out."

Raven sobbed in the rubble of the Tower. They were all gone. She couldn't bring them back. She couldn't…

Raven blacked out and awoke later. She moaned, not knowing where she was at.

She opened her eyes and realized she was in a dark room, bare of any furniture. She shifted as she sat up, aching everywhere. She saw a slit of light in the corner. She got up and stumbled over, realizing it must be a door.

Locked.

She said her incantation to try and open it, but was met with a painful electric shock. She collapsed to the floor, jerking and thrashing.

When it stopped, she hesitantly tried again, but was meant with the same result. There was a collar around her neck. She tried to pull it off, only to be shocked. She sat breathing heavily, trying not to panic.

"Okay," she whispered to herself. "I'm in a dark room, locked in, with a collar that prevents me from using my powers. Just breathe. What would Robin do?"

She lightly touched the tips of her fingers to the collar, feeling it around it. It appeared to be made of some light, cold flexible metal. When she moved her neck, it didn't shock her. She ran her fingers lightly around it, trying to see if there was maybe a lock, or a catch, or something. But there was nothing that she could feel. She was afraid to probe any further, in case it electrocuted her again.

She tried the door again, but nothing. She peered underneath and could only see bare, blank greenish grey walls but nothing else. The floor appeared to be the same color, from what she could see.

Her eyes adjusted a bit to the dim light and she could see the room was only about five or six feet wide and long. She crawled around, feeling on the floor for anything. Her hand bumped something metal and she realized it was a cup of water. There was a plate of some hard bread.

She had no appetite, but she drank a bit of the water and huddled in a corner, wrapped in her cloak for warmth.

She didn't know long she was there, trying not to panic. She had no idea where she was, how she got there, or why. Had someone arrested her for destroying the Tower? But no, the Justice League didn't work like this. Not even Batman.

Did they even know yet what had happened?

After what felt like hours and hours, a door opened. A well muscled man stood there, his hair black with white streaks.

"Hello, Raven, how nice to see you."

"Who are you?" snarled Raven, standing.

"I am Aleric."

"Why am I here? Who the hell do you think are?"

Aleric stepped in. "You just murdered your entire team except for one. I suggest you settle down."

"I-" Raven stopped. Except for one?

"I think your little alien friend would like to see you," said Aleric.

"St-starfire!" Raven blurted out.

Aleric grabbed Raven by her arm and yanked her of the room, marching her down the greenish gray corridor, through some more doors, with locks, and into a larger room. Starfire was strapped to a chair. Her hands were encased in some kind of gloves, and she had a collar around her neck.

"This one keeps screaming at me in Tamaranian," said Aleric. "Had to shock her good."

"Raven!" shouted Starfire.

"Starfire!"

Starfire was covered in bruises and cuts. Her left eye was swollen and her skirt was torn.

Aleric thrust Raven toward Starfire and left through the door.

"Get me out of this," said Starfire. "If you can. I have been unable to break free."

"I can't use my powers, this collar," said Raven.

"Mine are useless as well," said Starfire. "Oh, Raven, I thought you were dead! I don't know what happened."

"It was my fault," said Raven tugging on the straps keeping Starfire in the chair. There was nothing in the room to use. "I-I was mad at Beast Boy, and I-destroyed the Tower."

Starfire gasped.

"They're all dead and it's my fault!" sobbed Raven.

Starfire just stared at Raven, tears in eyes. "You…killed them?"

Raven nodded. Starfire would hate her.

"Raven, you couldn't have, you are not evil."

"I'm half demon!" said Raven. "I lost control, after what Beast Boy did to me…"

"I refuse to believe this," said Starfire. "You are my friend, and you are not evil. Something else must have happened. We must get out of here."

Starfire was denying it. Raven knew this. But later, she would realize it was the truth, and she would likely try to murder Raven for it.

Raven wouldn't stop her. She deserved it.

Starfire gasped suddenly and Raven whirled. Aleric was standing behind her, smiling.

"I found her floating in the lake before you finally woke up. Took her here. Now, you will learn something. I need something from both of you. You're going to help me with a little project."

"We will not do a thing for you, you troq!" snarled Starfire. If she had been able to use her powers, her eyes would have been glowing green in rage.

"Must I break you?"

Raven suddenly lashed out. She knew how to fight a bit, having been taught by Robin. She was nowhere near good as him of course, especially since she typically used her mind powers.

She tried to kick Aleric's legs out from under him, but he dodged and grabbed Raven's ankle. She fell on her butt and in a flash Aleric was on her, grabbing her by the hair and smashing her face into the floor. She saw stars and Aleric did it again, so hard it left a smear of blood on the floor.

"No…let me go…"

"Shut up, bitch."

Aleric twisted Raven's arm behind her back and yanked her up. Her head was reeling. She couldn't focus. Starfire was shouting at Aleric to release her friend.

"You're next," said Aleric, dragging Raven into an adjacent room.

He threw her down on the floor. The door slammed and Raven heard it lock. She tried to crawl away but Aleric grabbed and pushed her onto her back.

"Get off me!" Raven screamed.

Aleric pinned her down, using one hand on both her wrists. The other grabbed her chin. "You don't ever try to kick me, or hit me in anyway, nor do you disobey me! You will help me with what I need, willingly, or I will force you to do it in the end, after much torture and suffering. I need some help with, ah, a kidnapping."

"Why? So you can torment them too! I would never help you! Go fuck yourself!" Raven spit in his face.

Aleric grew very still for a moment. He wiped the spit of his cheek with the sleeve of his shirt and then looked at Raven. His eyes grew so dark, they looked more purple now.

"The collar will only shock you, so I will enjoy watching this."

He slid a few fingers under the collar and twisted it, causing it to tighten and choke Raven. It began to shock her.

Raven jerked as the electricity flowed through. She tried to scream, but she was choking as well from Aleric tightening the collar like that. She couldn't breathe. The shock was agonizing and she needed air.

"Do you want me to stop?" she dimly heard Aleric say. All Raven could manage was a slight grunt. "I'm sorry, Raven, I can't hear you, you'll have to speak up."

Raven went limp on the floor, only twitching from the electricity. She came to slightly when Aleric released her collar and she laid gasping and wheezing on the floor. Her chest hurt. She couldn't move.

Aleric was busy ripping her cloak off and then he shook her until her eyes fluttered open.

"Now will you listen to me?"

Raven couldn't even reply. Aleric dragged her to her feet and slammed her into the wall and punched her in the stomach so hard, she doubled over, the wind knocked out of her. She struggled to draw in breath, her stomach hurt, and her throat protested. Aleric grabbed her by her hair and smashed her head into the wall until she lost consciousness completely.

She awoke in her cell and there she remained in the dark for days, with no food or water. Being half demon, she could go longer without food and water than a human, but her stomach still twisted with hunger and she dreamed of water, of quenching her thirst. She had nothing to do but huddle against the wall and wait for her injuries to heal.

After the first several days, Aleric would come, leave some stale bread and a cup of water and leave without say anything. She would devour the bread and sip the lukewarm water. The water tasted like heaven! But there wasn't enough. She was still thirsty after she drank it.

She didn't know how long this went on, everyday, but it must have been at least three or four months. Raven might have gone insane if she still hadn't been able to meditate. She couldn't levitate and do it like she normally did, but she could sit quietly and empty her mind.

Finally Aleric got her one night and dragged her out, back to the same room. Once again, Starfire was strapped to the chair, looking like she had been beaten.

"Raven," whispered Starfire. She was emaciated and exhausted looking. Raven realized her own clothes were baggy on her, and she must have looked the same.

"I am asking you again," said Aleric. "Will you work for me?"

"Who am I supposed to help you kidnap?" asked Raven through gritted teeth.

"It's not for you to know."

"What, you just want someone else to torture?"

"Things likely will not be pleasant for that person, but it is not for you to know who, at least not yet."

"I will not help you," said Raven.

"Nor will I," said Starfire.

Aleric laughed. "So heroic."

He shoved Raven against the wall. She was weak and she slid to the floor. Aleric went and undid the straps on Starfire and pulled her out of the chair. Starfire's leg looked odd and she realized it must be broken.

"CRUCIO!" Aleric pointed his wand at her.

Starfire writhed and shrieked on the ground, her body twisting and jerking unnaturally.

"Please! Stop!" screamed Raven.

"Not yet."

Starfire continued to scream and convulse.

"Stop hurting her!" shrieked Raven, struggling to her feet and lurching across the room.

Aleric turned his wand on her and the next thing Raven knew, she was on the floor screaming, in the worst pain imaginable. Every bone in her body was on fire and being crushed. Her flesh was being slowly peeled from her bones. She was being stabbed by a million flaming knives.

It stopped suddenly. Raven lay gasping on the floor.

"Interesting, huh?" asked Aleric, twirling his wand. "Now, I have something special planned for you."

He dragged her into a room where a camcorder was set up and he spent the next hour beating her and using the curse to torture her.

The cycle went on, leaving her in her cell for weeks at a time, with little food and little water, and alternating it with spending a day torturing her or torturing Starfire in front of her.

In the last two months, he started feeding her more and giving her more to drink. He stopped beating her and if he felt he needed too, he only used the curse to cause her pain. Raven gained some weight back, but she was leery of the sudden change in his behavior.

The last day, Aleric came to her cell, his wand out.

"I'm giving you one last chance to work with me willingly."

Raven shook her head.

"I need this person. This person has a weakness. Everyone does. You will find the weakness."

"I won't do anything for you!"

"Do you want her to die?"

He was talking about Starfire. Raven shook her head.

"Don't hurt her."

"Oh, I will. But, in fact, I have an easier way. You won't even know what you're doing. Now, I am going to erase your memory and send you away for a bit."

He raised the wand.

Raven sat in the chair, stunned, her head aching like hell. She was in shock. He had erased all those memories. She had only had a few, very vague, flashes during her time at Fowl Manor, and she had dismissed them as dreams, nightmares. But they had been real.

"So your little friend, Harry Potter? You found his weakness. I controlled you a couple of times while you were there, made you do some stuff. Like when you touched his head, you were accessing some of his memories and you found his weakness."

Raven gasped. She hadn't remembered that, but Harry had said she had done it. So she hadn't been sleepwalking!

She had betrayed him!

"Now, you can go spend time with her your team mate, tell him what you did," said Aleric. "I'll be busy, so have fun."

He unstrapped her.

"What about Starfire, where is she, what you have done to her-?"

But Aleric slipped a few fingers under her collar and twisted it, choking her. He dragged her by her collar out of the room.

By the time she was about to black out, she found herself being flung into a room.

A figure darted past her, and she heard a slam, and some yelling and pounding. Raven rolled over and saw Harry.

"Raven, are you okay?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

Raven coughed, rubbing her throat. "Yeah."

"Who is that guy? What does he want with us?"

Raven realized she would have to tell him everything. She couldn't give him parts and pieces, because he would realize things were missing and would question it. She would just have to admit everything.

"Um, Harry, I have to tell you some things," she said.

"What?" asked Harry, helping her to sit against the wall.

"Remember I said the Tower collapsed by accident and that was what killed my teammates? It wasn't an accident. I mean, in a way it was, b-but-"

Harry was just looking at her, his face betraying nothing.

"I killed almost my whole team."