Love Conquers All

Chapter Eight- Death Eaters and Dumbledore's Army

Something in the Daily Prophet shook the trio on a gloomy homework-filled day, the news of Peter Pettigrew found dead.

"Do you think he's faking it again? Maybe he's scared of You-Know-Who and faked his death again so that no one would bother him" Ron commented while scribbling on his essay in the Study Hall.

"I doubt it, Ron, Voldemort—can you stop wincing?—Voldemort can kill anyone he wants to kill. Maybe Pettigrew did something that's why he killed him and besides it's his body that's found not a finger or anything," Hermione read it all over again.

"Hello, the Daily Prophet's thicker than before…You-Know-Who's always murdering people and it's really terrible" A dreamy voice started to speak behind them (Ron jumped from his seat).

"Stop talking to us without prior notice Loo- (Hermione nudged him) I mean Luna" He said.

"Will the D.A. be back? I missed our encounters and I want myself to fully trained before Hogwarts get attacked," She said. Harry, who was just there, felt a lump in his throat.

"Why would Hogwarts be attacked? This place is well-protected"

"Luna could be right, Ron, Voldemort—stop that!—Voldemort could just attack Hogwarts anytime. I think we should reform the D.A."

"You will teach us again right?" Luna looked at Harry.

Memories flooded to Harry about the Dumbledore's Army that they organized secretly before; it was still fresh to him that Cho's friend, Marietta, was the one who turned them into Umbridge. He felt at ease knowing that Cho and her friend graduated last school year and he will never see her again.

"I don't think so, Luna" He replied.

"But Harry you must" Neville, who sat with them, said.

"I don't think anyone will be interested in that, that'll just put their lives into danger" He opened his book.

"Of course people will be interested, they know you can teach them proper defensive spells and I've seen you teach…and…you were great, really really great. I-If it wasn't for you my O.W.L in Defense Against the Dark Arts would be l-lower" Hermione closed his book and flushed.

Luna, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are giving him a 'please-reform-the-D.A.' look. Harry was annoyed and decided to leave them.

Along the way out, he met Ginny, she gave him a sweet smile, but he ignored her.

"What's wrong with him?" She sat beside Luna.

"We don't know, he's been like that since he came here," Hermione answered.

"Why can't we just reform the D.A. without him?" Ron asked.

"Reform the D.A.?" Ginny gave a clueless expression.

"Yes, Gin, we are planning to form the D.A." Hermione explained to her.

"We could always tell the Headmistress about that" Ginny suggested.

That night Harry was about to meet Voldemort in his room in the Riddle House but when he prepared to knock the door, he heard someone talking to the Dark Lord.

"You will fulfill all the tasks that I have asked you to do?" A chilly voice, obviously belonging to Voldemort, said.

"Yes my Lord" A second voice spoke; Harry could have sworn that the second voice belongs to someone whom he knew but can't really tell who.

An apparition noise was heard; it was Harry's signal to knock on the door.

"Come in, Harry…what brings you here?"

"Why did you kill the D-Dursleys?" There was a slight pang in his chest.

"Because they are useless filthy muggles" Voldemort replied.

"They were my only living relatives!"

"Ah, Harry…relatives and families doesn't matter anymore once you've join me. That's one of the reasons why I had to kill Draco's Aunt and mother. Did you go here just to ask me that question?"

"No, my Lord. I am here to report to you that they want me to reform Dumbledore's Army"

"And why would they want you to do such a foolish thing?"

"They wanted to be fully trained before Hogwarts gets attacked"

"No stupid students can beat my army, Harry, remember that and what you have told gave me an idea" He paused for a while. "You will be highly-trained by your fellow Death Eaters to be the best Death Eater and I will also train you personally"

Harry nodded. "Every sunday night starting from this week, you will go here at exactly 11pm"

"Now I know, now I know what it feels like losing someone you love" Tom, who went back to his original form: Draco Malfoy, stood in front of Harry who was just sitting down near the Shrieking Shack's door in their Hogsmeade weekend.

"I chose to be a Death Eater because I wanted to have power and I want the Dark Lord to spare my parent's lives and to repay my father's disobedience but it came out wrong. My mother and aunt was murdered by him, somehow I feel like I don't like to be a Death Eater anymore" He sat.

"He said relatives, friends or families aren't important if you are a Death Eater." Harry uttered.

"I will keep Pettigrew's word, I will stop you from obeying the Dark Lord"

"What makes you think you could do that?" Harry spat.

"How would your friends feel when they'd know about your secret?"

"I did this for them and there's no way I could turn back"

"Yes there still is, this may sound odd to you about me telling you to stay away from the dark side but this is the best thing that you could do to save them"

"Voldemort will kill them if ever I disobey or do something that doesn't please him!"

"But it's just the same, he'll still kill them. He is just using you, brainwashing you, poisoning your mind with your greatest fear. If Dumbledore was here, he would have known that you did this"

"I think he doesn't care anymore, he's dead"

"I thought you were known as Dumbledore's man through and through"

"That was before when he was alive, he was the most powerful wizard in the world but he was killed by an ordinary Death Eater to whom he could just defeat single-handedly."

"You are destined to be the next most powerful wizard if you stay away from Voldemort's side, this is not you, Harry Potter. The dark side is not meant for you and I know that. If Voldemort didn't threaten to kill your friends, you wouldn't be a Death Eater right now"

"What if I am enjoying life as a Death Eater right now? Saying all those words, it is as if you are an expert with that."

"I may not be an expert but experience gave me the courage and wisdom to tell you all of these. I will never stop from keeping you away from the Dark Lord's side"

"That's nothing but bollocks, Malfoy" Harry left.

He walked past Madam Puddifoot's until someone grabbed him and made him unconscious before he aimed to get his wand and hex his "kidnapper". The next thing he knew, he was surrounded by a large group of students in a private room in the Three Broomsticks.

"What's going on?" He rubbed his eyes and looked at everyone.

"Dumbledore's Army meeting" Hermione answered.

"Look, do anything you want to do, I am not joining the D.A. or anything" He prepared to leave.

"Please, Harry" Ginny said.

"NO"

Everyone in the room was blocking his way. Once again, he looked at all of them. "Fine, I-I'll think about it first"

"I knew it!" Hermione hugged him.

Sunday night came. Dolohov and Goyle were the ones asked to train Harry tonight.

"I believe you already know how to use the Cruciatus Curse?" Goyle asked.

"Yes"

"Very well then, we will apparate somewhere," Dolohov continued.

"But I haven't got any license to do so" Harry complained.

"Licenses, permits and other things are useless. As a Death Eater, you do not need those. Remember that, Potter" Dolohov replied.

They apparated in an unfamiliar place and put their Death Eater's mask on.

"Go in there and use the Cruciatus Curse against the owner of that flat," Goyle commanded.

"Feel the hatred when you say the curse" One of them said.

Harry opened the door, breathing heavily; he looked at his first victim. He raised his wand while the person cried for help. He is about to torture a Weasley…Percy Weasley.

Crucio!

Percy is now in pain.

Crucio!

It felt like he is about to be ripped into pieces.

Crucio!

He couldn't handle it anymore.

Crucio!

He wants to kill himself instead.

Crucio!

The pain, it's terrible.

Crucio!

He was so weak, he couldn't move an inch.

"Crucio!" One last repeat and Harry left the flat. Not yet sure if Percy died of pain or is just unconscious on the floor.

"Good job, Potter" The Death Eaters greeted and they apparated back to the castle.

In his room, Harry stayed motionless but is filled with thoughts. He couldn't believe that he was able to torture Percy, he felt so powerful, he felt so controlled with unforgiving powers.

"Serves him right, that prat. He deserved what he got" Harry smirked.

A/N: Read and Review (please…)!!!