A/N: Torture scene to open the chapter- so there be gore. Again, if this squicks then skip it. I have put a little summary later on in the chapter for you. :D
Chapter 9
HERE BE GORE
Harry Potter woke with a scream.
He gasped in pain- a pain that seemed to be coming from his left shoulder. It took him a few moments to realize that someone was grinding their boot into the already overcharged tattoo there... the minor shielding charm that he had worked into the design already giving of little sparks of excess magic.
Any more pressure and it would burst...
"Ah, Mister Potter, I believe. So nice of you to join us."
Green eyes widened in shock, because, really, only one person had a sibilant hissing voice like that. Voldemort. And he knew his name.
Fuck.
He'd figured that he'd pretty much stayed under the radar so far, but apparently he'd failed. Now he was in the clutches of a madman with no back-up, no plan and generally no clue as to what was going on. Not that he couldn't do spur of the moment.
He just preferred to be prepared.
"Mister Potter, I must admit. I am surprised. You see, until the Ministry incident I was completely unaware of your existence."
Harry just got onto his knees, glaring at the snake-like man. When he tried to get to his feet however, he was quickly and brutally jabbed in the kidneys by one of the mindless lackeys surrounding them. A sound like a sausage bursting filled the room as the skin on which his tattoo was burst open like a watermelon under a bat.
This got a sibilant laugh from Voldemort.
"No need to get up for me, Mister Potter."
Harry's glare never faltered. Though he didn't try to get up, he did try to use his magic, hell he'd take a cloud of smoke to cover himself running away right now. But something seemed to be holding him back, like there were ropes tied around his magic.
"Don't even try to use your magic, Mister Potter. I have sealed it away."
Shock flooded Harry at that declaration- sealing away someone's magic? That was impossible!
"Hm. Do you now realize the hopelessness of your situation? Do you fear me?"
The glare that Harry sent the snake-like man answered this question.
"Allow me to... Remind you who I am."
The feeling of a thousand daggers piercing his skin hit him so suddenly that he actually gave a short yell. The moment he realized this, however, he bit his lip in an effort to keep from screaming.
Even when the spell was released he could feel his muscles continue to spasm, each one hurting like fuck. Suddenly he thought he understood some of Longbottom's idiocy- he had after all gone through this quite a few times. He was sure it had to cause brain damage.
"Pity. I want to offer you, Harry, the opportunity of a life time." The lipless mouth curled into a smile. "I want to offer you riches and recognition and reward. I want to give you a place of honour amongst my followers."
The dark lord stood from his black throne then- and this drew Harry's attention to the place he was being held in. It looked rather like a cathedral with its buttressed ceilings and high windows. But it was all black, from the shards of cast iron windows that seemed to depict the unforgivables, to the shiny black marble floor.
The dark lord's black robes swirled over the shiny floor as he continued on his walk.
"You have such potential, Harry. But Dumbledore will not see it- will never acknowledge it- he's far too fixated on the-Boy-Who-Lived. But I- I see your potential and give you the opportunity to shine. Would you like to shine Harry?"
Still the stony expression on Harry's face did not change.
"Bellatrix." Voldemort deadpanned.
There was a demented cackle from his left and then he felt the excruciating pain of the cruciatus again. His already abused lip was starting to bleed by this stage. When the entire nail was finally removed, Bellatrix snickered at him.
"Well, Harry? Will you answer me now?"
The silence was deafening.
"Bella, my dearest, teach him a lesson in respect."
Harry had no chance to prepare for the next attack. The thousand knives had him on the butcher's block again, and he could probably put an entire unicorn horn through the hole now in his lip. He wasn't aware of how long the spell was kept on him, only that when it was released his body continued twitching just as violently as it did under the spell, and he was lying in a pool of his own sweat staring at the shiny black floor.
"Now, Harry Potter. What say you? Will you swear your loyalty to me?"
"Fuck you." Harry rasped at him.
There was shocked silence all around.
Then Voldemort let loose an almighty bellow.
"String him up! Use him as target practice!"
Strong arms pulled him up and dragged him across the floor, before chaining him in crucified pose to the one wall.
The sound of a bow being strung caused Harry's muscles to involuntarily contract even more. Suddenly there was an arrow protruding from his left shoulder. How did that get there? I sure as hell didn't put it there. He thought befuddledly.
Another twang of an arrow released and his right leg had a matching accessory.
There seemed to be a lot of blood running from his leg, as opposed to his shoulder. He vaguely thought that it had probably hit an artery. Oh, and of course the rest of his tattoos had burst open- though at the moment he was in so much pain that it was hard to tell where it emanated from.
He was dripping blood all over the floor.
Which was a shame, because it was really a very pretty shiny floor.
A pale hand lifted his chin. "Well, Harry Potter? Do you yield?"
"Not if looking like you comes with the package."
Voldemort hissed as he pulled back, but before he could sic his loyal Death Eaters on Harry a masked Death Eater stepped inside the room.
"Master, I believe I have an appropriate means of ensuring his co-operation." The high, reedy voice simpered.
"Do you now? Show me."
The Death Eater handed a photo to Voldemort, who's mouth once more curled into an evil smile.
"Tell me Harry Potter, how much do you love little Adrienne?"
Harry felt his eyes widen involuntarily, and his hopes sink as Voldemort showed him a picture of the girl and Nanna coming back from their shopping trip. The Bakery looked like it always did- small and open and badly protected.
"Tsk. Living so far away from Hogwarts... in Thor's End. They have no proper protection, do they? Little Adrienne will never even see the inside of Hogwarts, too little magic. It would be a shame if she never saw the inside of Merlin Academy."
Harry swallowed convulsively.
"This is your last chance, Mister Potter. After this I will raze their little bakery to the ground."
Letting his head fall to his chest Harry whispered a "fine." just loudly enough for Voldemort to hear. He let out a scream as Voldemort took hold of the arrow embedded in his shoulder and twisted it.
"The correct answer is 'Yes my Lord'."
"Yes."
Another twist.
"Yes my Lord." Harry ground out.
GORE BE GONE
"See- that's not so bad." Voldemort smiled at him. "And now I shall let you in on a little secret, Harry. My plans concerning Mister Longbottom."
Spitting some blood from his mouth Harry cast a baleful look at Voldemort.
"You see, he has been a thorn in my side for far too long. I need to get rid of him. And who better to get rid of him than someone he obviously trusts? That would be you, by the way."
Harry gave him an incredulous glance.
"Come now, don't be so modest. I know you helped him all these years. So you see, the Tri-Wizard Tournament is the perfect time to kill the little brat."
Voldemort sat back on his throne.
"I shall have my trusted spy enter both your names into the goblet of fire, and you will have three tasks in which to kill him. Which should hardly be all that hard. After all- champions have died before."
Harry merely continued inspecting the floor. It really was a nice floor.
"And should you fail... well." At this Harry finally looked up, just in time to see the photo go up in flames, the ashes falling to the darkly betwitching floor. "I think the consequences are rather clear."
HP-BaB-HP
Severus Snape was in a foul mood.
Actually, that statement was akin to someone remarking that a typhoon was 'a bit of dampness'. In fact some would say that he was always in a foul mood, no surprise. So let it be said that Severus Snape was in a particularly foul mood.
He had made no less than ten students cry, a new record even for him. So when Daphne Greengrass intercepted him in the hallways to inform him that Harry Potter was missing he gave it very little thought. The boy was always on a mission of his own. It was not uncommon for him to disappear into the bowels of the castle.
He'd informed her of this, and given her a detention for wasting his time.
The look of complete betrayal on her face had convinced him to forgo dinner in the great hall. Actually, he'd forgone any form of dinner and headed straight for his reserve of whisky.
He was just working himself into a state of complete drunken brooding when there was a timid knock on his door.
"Go away." He snarled at the closed door.
"Snape, don't be like that." The voice of Miranda Vector startled him.
"Go away. There are only bitter old Death Eaters here."
"Snape, look, I don't really want to apologize to a portrait..."
"Then do not apologize."
A sigh, followed by, "Snape. I didn't mean what I said last night. I hadn't slept in two weeks and the wards were... being difficult."
Snape decided that stony silence would be his best answer.
"Look, I know that it was hurtful. But I didn't actually mean it... I'm sorry."
"Feel better?"
"No. I feel terrible. But if you'd just let me apologize to your face..."
"No."
"Oh, come on. We've said worse things to each other... or at least you've said worse things to me. And I've gotten in a few insults too. But we've never actually gotten this mad at each other. What makes this time different?"
That caused Snape a bit of confusion. Because she was right, he taunted and teased her into a huff and she'd come back a few days later having finally thought up her own barbs.
What had made this time different?
Something deep inside himself wanted to make itself known then, but he couldn't quite grasp it through the alcoholic haze that was beginning to cloud his judgement.
Enough whisky, obviously. Spies could scarcely afford to be drunk.
"Snape?"
"Yes."
"I brought you that really expensive dark chocolate you like..." She sounded almost like a kicked puppy, wagging its tail in apology for eating its owner's slippers.
Blast.
He wasn't going to forgive her. He refused to fall for it!
Unfortunately, no one seemed to have informed his body of this fact, and so it was that he had opened his door to her before he realized it. She gave him a sheepish smile as she handed him the chocolate.
And damn if it wasn't his favourite. The dark kind with chilli infused into it.
How had she known?
She was shifting her feet in a nervous manner, still holding the chocolate out to him. She looked dreadful, in the flickering light of the torches. Her short curls were a mess, there was ink and chalk all over her and there were bags under her eyes. Not to mention the weight she had lost.
Severus cleared his throat and took the chocolate.
"Yes. Well. This is indeed the correct type of chocolate."
"You can't say it, can you?" She smiled at him.
"Say what, woman?"
"Thank you."
"Of course I can say it. I merely see no reason to."
"Nope. You can't. I'm pretty sure you'd spontaneously combust if you ever said it."
"Enough of your prattling woman!" He made to close the door but she grabbed it before he could. Snape sputtered in outrage.
"No- wait! I was wondering whether I could come in?"
"Come... in?"
"Yes. You know, it's not nice to drink alone."
Severus Snape suddenly found himself panicking. Let her into his rooms? What would she think? He barely had enough furniture to fill the large quarters- hell, the bookcase had been a gift from Albus! The walls were bare, the furniture mismatched and the place a general mess.
"No." There, that wasn't so hard.
Miranda frowned at him. "Look, I know you're not terribly sociable but..."
"I said 'no', woman. Stop pestering me!"
"Why you... you... you dimwitted dungeon dwelling... dimwit!"
"I believe you used the word 'dimwit' twice, you numerical nitwit." He sneered at her.
"You! And! I apologized! You are an impossible man!"
"And you are a witless woman. Now leave me in peace!"
"FINE! But I'm taking my chocolate back!"
"FINE! Take it!"
"I will!"
"Then take it!"
"Well give it!"
"Here!"
"Goodbye!"
"Just leave already!"
Miranda stuck her tongue out at him and stormed off down the corridor. Severus slammed the portrait closed. Infuriating woman! Damn it all to hell, he was going to get thoroughly pissed tonight.
He was interrupted once again by frantic knocking.
"GO AWAY WOMAN!"
"Please Severus- it's Harry!" The hysterical voice of his godson pierced his rage.
"Blast!" He was at the portrait so quickly he was uncertain when he'd actually moved. He stepped back as the door opened to reveal a dishevelled Draco who was supporting a bleeding Harry Potter.
"Potter! What did you do this time?" He snarled at the boy, not really expecting a reply as he helped the boy onto his pink couch (an inheritance from his mother).
"Told... Ah!... Told Voldemort to go fuck himself." The boy bit out.
Severus and Draco both startled at the gravelly voice. Harry hardly ever spoke.
"The Dark Lord? When?"
"Ugh, earlier this evening. Took me a while to get back to Hogwarts..." Here he gestured vaguely at the arrow protruding from his leg.
"Draco, I will need dittany, a pain relieving potion, a blood replenishing potion, an anti-infection potion, the lime green potion in the bathroom cabinet, water and bandages."
"Yes. Of course." His paler than usual godson said and headed for the bathroom.
"You weren't there." Harry said, face tight with pain as Severus began inspecting the arrow in his leg. It had definitely bled a lot, but not hit an artery.
"No, Harry, I was not."
"That's bad."
"The Dark Lord knows that if I attend too many revels it will draw suspicion to me. He does not always call on me. Here, bite on this while I pull out the arrow."
Harry obediently bit down on the leather glove Severus had handed him.
Draco returned with the requested items and Severus lay them all out in the correct order.
"Draco- hold him down." Grimly Draco did as he was instructed. Severus then yanked the arrow out. To Harry's credit he took the pain with a harsh intake of breath and a few teeth marks on the glove.
Severus immediately set to work knitting the wound closed. While he did so he asked his godson how he'd found Harry. The pale boy flushed.
"We, uh, we werelookingforaplacetosmoke."
"Draco! You know what I think of smoking."
"Yes, well. Be that as it may... we were heading for the forbidden forest..."
"The forbidden forest! Of all the irresponsible...!"
"And there he was, passed out near the gates."
"Indeed. I have done all that I can for this wound for now, it will take several more sessions to heal completely. Now, for your shoulder..."
It was several hours later that Severus had finally managed to stem all of the bleeding. The burst tattoos would scar, as would the places that the arrows had been. His muscles would continue to twitch for a few hours, but the lime green potion was a special one he made to combat the after effects of the cruciatus. All in all the boy would live. Severus sent Draco to bed , before giving Harry another blood replenishing potion and collapsing into the tub chair opposite the boy.
"This is bad." Harry said.
"You'll live."
"No, I mean... has Voldemort asked you to put my name in the Goblet of Fire?"
Severus startled at this. Then a calculating gleam entered his eyes. "No."
"Then it's bad." The boy stated as he burrowed himself further into the couch, wincing a bit as he jostled his wounds.
Severus summoned the comforter from his bed and proceeded to lay it over the boy.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Ever."
"Of course. You have a reputation to uphold."
"Indeed."
"I'm going to have to tell you everything, aren't I?" Harry sighed.
"That would be for the best."
"What can I say? He kidnapped me, tortured me, and then told me that he expected Longbottom to be killed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. By me."
"You said he wanted your name in the Goblet?"
"Yeah- said his trusted spy would put it in there."
Severus paled and the boy shot him a haunted look.
"See why this is bad?'
"You mean..."
"There's another spy in the school."
HP-BaB-HP
Gabrielle Delacour smiled at her sister as she sat on the edge of her bed. Fleur was busy packing, humming to herself as she decided which outfits would be the best for her upcoming trip.
"Mom said to remind you to pack warm things. It gets cold in England."
Fleur smiled at her, before she playfully ruffled her hair. "Yes, yes. You little worry wart!"
"... You're right. I am worried." Gabriella said, looking at the floor.
"About what, little sis?"
"You! People have died in the Tournament!"
"Oh, Gabby..." Fleur said as she pulled her little sister into a hug. "You don't need to worry. Those people weren't half as good as I am."
"Really?"
"Of course! I am after all taking all AP classes this year. That makes me the smartest person ever in this school." She smiled at her little sister.
"You are really smart..."
"And I'm the fencing champion."
"That too."
"See? I'll be fine. Unless I do something incredibly stupid. Which I won't."
"Yeah, I guess."
Fleur smiled at the concern her little sister felt. That was her Gabriella- always worrying about them. She gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
"Right- now on to the really important stuff! Should I take the purple and silver dress or should I go for the red and cream one?"
Gabriella giggled. "I don't know! You look really pretty in them both."
Fleur gasped. "Well then I obviously can't take either of them! I refuse to look simply 'pretty'! It has to be gorgeous or nothing!"
"You know what I mean! Silly!"
"Oh, I'm silly am I? Let's see who's really silly!" Fleur said as she summoned one of the pillows from her king size bed and proceeded to hit Gabriella with it.
With a shriek the youngest Delacour scrambled to get the other pillow and hit her sister back.
When they finally collapsed giggling on the bed, Gabriella seemed to have forgotten all her previous concerns.
HP-BaB-HP
When Harry stumbled into the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning after the night spent in Snape's quarters he was still limping, despite his best efforts.
Li immediately noticed of course.
She elbowed her friend Cho in the ribs.
"Ow!" Cho shot her a reproving glance, but Li merely jerked her head in Harry's direction.
"Oh... Oh dear Merlin! No wonder he never shows any interest in girls!"
"Yup. It's the truth. Harry Potter is gay."
HP-BaB-HP
A/N: - Woah! Another update? So soon? Thank Dead Teen Walking, Weresquirrel 01 and N Flamel. They are my muses and seeing the first two in person again has gotten me into a writing binge. :D Thanks guys!
Also: each and every review/fav/alert has me doing more happy dances. I mean- when did we cross the 100 mark? So what I figured was this: we're close enough to 150 reviews that I will write a one shot for whoever manages the 150th review. Is this bribery? Maybe- I live in Africa, so it's possible. ;P
Chapter notes: I loved writing this chapter. Ever since the first version of this story, I have had the first scene in my mind. Getting to finally write it was fun- hopefully Harry's first words weren't anticlimactic? Was the torture a little over the top or under the bottom? How is Harry going to get out of this one?
The scene between Severus and Vector was a completely different kind of fun to write. I'm enjoying it so much I might have to let them actually get together. It won't change the outcome of the story, but I might get them together.
Also: I told you guys the smoking was a plot device. I needed something that an actual street kid and some rebellious pure bloods could do. There will be more on why the pure bloods tend to smoke in... A few chapters. There is an actual, cultural reason. And although it's not technically bare bones necessary to the tale, it is one of the few parts of my Wizarding culture that has stuck around since the first drafts.
Aw, Fleur and Gabrielle! A nice fluffy scene which reminded me of my childhood. Of course, now you know I've got something evil in store for them further on into the story. -evil laugh-
As to the last paragraph... it just sort of popped itself in there. Cho and Li were adamant that it stay, however, and it has given rise to a few interesting developments. So I let it stay. It's gonna be fun. :D
Next chapter: Why were Harry's parents killed? Why was Neville the boy who lived? Why is Harry suddenly getting so much attention from Ron Weasley? How will Hermione react? Stay tuned to find out!