A/N: Hello everyone! I know you are all anxious to read the next chapter, so without any further ado, here is Chapter 7! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. At least, not today...

Chapter 7: The Dark Lord's Proposal

Harry was dragged back down several flights of steep, marble stairs, past an endless hallway filled with suits of armor, and finally thrown facedown onto the floor of Voldemort's private study. The doors were slammed shut and locked behind him.

He remained in his current position on the floor, thinking furiously. If his plan was going to work, he had to pretend that he had been broken…that he had given up…that he didn't know that he had given Voldemort the wrong information…

Voldemort had to believe that he had defeated his enemy. He had at long last broken the fighting spirit of Harry Potter.

A pair of pale, bare feet appeared in front of Harry, just a few inches away from his face. Harry didn't need to look up to know they belonged to Voldemort.

"Get up, Potter. Face me like a man! What would Dumbledore say if he could see you now?", he sneered, "The Boy Who Lived is finally groveling at Lord Voldemort's feet! Exactly where he belongs- kneeling before his master!"

Voldemort let out a high, cold laugh. Harry still didn't move.

Don't do anything yet, said a small voice in his head. Wait for the opportune moment!

Losing his patience, Voldemort's robes sprang to life once more. They grabbed Harry's arms, legs, torso, and neck, and turned him upright until he was face to face with Voldemort.

Harry dropped his gaze, refusing to look Voldemort in the eyes, but his enemy simply grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look into his once handsome face.

Hands tied behind his back and feet hanging several inches off the floor, Harry tried to play the part of scared prisoner well.

"Pl-please! Don't do this! I-I've already told you where the Order is!"

"Ahh, that you did Harry! And Lord Voldemort listened to his little helper! But, the strangest thing happened, Harry! Do you know what my Death Eaters found when we arrived at the Shrieking Shack?" Voldemort inquired.

Harry's mouth went dry. His heart jumped into his throat.

"The-", he coughed, "The Order of Phoenix? You found their headquarters?"

"LIAR!" yelled Voldemort, backhanding Harry across the face. "YOU KNEW THE SHRIEKING SHACK WAS A DIVERSION! LORD VOLDEMORT IS NOT A FOOL!"

Blinking away the stars that clouded his vision, Harry forced himself to reply.

"They must have been warned you were coming somehow! I had nothing to do with it, I swear! It must have been Snape's doing! He is Dumbledore's right-hand man, after all! Are you sure he is really on your side? Maybe he's fooled everyone!"

Harry was rewarded for his outburst with another, much harder slap to the face. He felt his bottom lip cut open and warm blood trickle down his chin.

"You will tell me the true location of the Order of the Phoenix eventually, Potter. It's only a matter of time before you break completely! I've told you that you will never be leaving this house alive! You are completely at my mercy and will soon be begging to serve me!"

"I don't know anything else! I'm telling the truth! Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?"

Voldemort paused in the middle of delivering another blow to Harry's already injured face. A cruel smile appeared on his lips.

"Kill you, Harry? Kill you? Oh, no! I no longer want to do that!" he chuckled, "No, I've thought of a much better use for you!"


"What are you talking about?" asked Harry, fearfully. "What better use?"

Voldemort's smile grew even wider.

"Ahh, so Dumbledore hasn't told his Great Defender the truth? How delightful! We shall have much to discuss during your stay here!"

Harry almost forgot about his plan to act like a broken prisoner.

"Dumbledore didn't tell me what? Please! Tell me!"

"All in good time, my young friend! All in good time! For now, I have an offer to make you; a small proposal, if you will."

Stick to the plan!, said the voice in Harry's head. It's not time to fight yet!

"What proposal?"

Voldemort stroked the lightning shaped scar on Harry's forehead with the index finger of his free hand. Harry closed his eyes and bit his lip in pain.

"Join me, Harry."


Harry had never been more shocked! Voldemort had killed his parents… had been trying to kill him since he was a year old… now he wanted Harry to join him?

He was too stunned to speak.

"Think about it, Harry!" whispered Voldemort, "You are more powerful than you realize! I can help you unleash your true potential! With you by my side, Dumbledore and his pitiful Order won't stand a chance! Together, we could rule the Wizarding World! I offered you this opportunity once before, as I'm sure you remember. I realize now that at 11 years old, you still had a limited knowledge of your powers. No thanks to those Muggle relatives of yours. But now, you are ready, more experienced! All you have to do is say the word.!"

Harry's mind was racing. It was becoming difficult to think clearly.

Finally, after several moments of silence, he spoke.

"You're insane! I'll never join you!"

Suddenly, Voldemort's wand was in his hand. His angry red eyes flared.

"CRUCIO!"

Harry screamed in agony as he was hit by the curse for the umpteenth time that week. Voldemort was showing no mercy: he was trying to hold the curse for as long as possible…

Two minutes later, the curse was lifted. Voldemort's robes released their grip on Harry, who fell flat on the floor, panting for breath. Fresh blood from his injured face dripped onto the emerald green carpet.

Voldemort knelt down beside the helpless boy and whispered in his ear.

"You need some time to think things over. We will speak again very soon!" he stood up and faced the doors. "Lucious! Bellatrix!"

Lucious and Bellatrix quickly entered the room, bowing deeply.

"Yes, My Lord?" asked Lucious.

"Take Potter back to his cell. Make sure he is secured and his injuries are treated. Have Wormtail bring him food and water. Once you have done that, send Severus to me. I must speak to him. Now, go!"

"As you wish, My Lord!"

Harry didn't even bother to struggle as he was once again lifted to his feet and dragged out of the room.

Halfway down the hallway, Harry heard Voldemort yelling again.

"And send in a house elf to clean up Potter's filth from the floor!"

Harry allowed himself to have a small victory smile.

If only Voldemort knew what was in store for him…


A/N: And that concludes Chapter 7! What did you think? I tried to make this one as long as possible. Please review! Next chapter should be ready in a few days. Until then, sleep well, my lovelies!

Love, Mickeygirl20 :)