-125 - Tender Mercies
Albus Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard alive but at this moment he wished he had even more power. The tracking device had led his team of Order members to the outskirts of a small dreary bog on the edge of Scotland. The team was working tirelessly to break the wards surrounding Vespa's stronghold.
Albus was most disturbed by the shear power of the wards. They seemed to be exactly like the wards that Voldemort had used. He knew then that the rumors must be true; Bellatrix had somehow found a friend in Vespa. He could feel the dark magic permeating from the very ground they walked on, he could feel her signature all over the dark magic that kept them from getting to Harry and Severus.
He looked around at all the Order members who had come back early from their holiday to help find Harry. He was grateful to have people like Shacklebolt and Tupin on his side. Of course every Weasley family member was represented, save for the youngest two, but even they had fought hard to be included. Sirius had somehow managed to pull himself together to come and assist. Albus could see the determined look on the man's face as he cast another breaking spell against the wards, eager to get to his godson.
He took a deep breath and continued the arduous task, every second would count. He didn't want to think about the condition they were sure to find Harry and Severus in. It saddened him deeply to think about the torture they must be enduring at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, not to mention Vespa.
He used his anger towards the witch's to cast his next spell. Everyone felt a slight buckle in the wards and hoots of joy could be heard along the crest of the bog. It appeared to raise morale and the Order members pushed themselves even harder to break through the wards.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Bellatrix was enraged over the boy losing consciousness! How dare the little shite escape her punishment in such a way. She cast her third ennervate spell against him but it only managed to get a small movement out of the boy. It took two more spells, cast in a rage, to pull the teen to consciousness.
His eyes fluttered open and focused. It took him a minute to realize where he was. All the torture and most especially the awful truth about his scar, made him yearn to be unconscious once again. He looked at Bellatrix with pure loathing and in a brave voice said, "Are you finished yet?"
She laughed, rather liking the spirit the teen was still showing. It was never quite as fun to torture someone who didn't scream. "Far from it."
Harry turned his head away from her, towards the wall. He couldn't stand to see the triumph in her eyes. He hated the feeling of being so overpowered. "Fine, do your worst," he said knowing how irrational he was acting.
"My, my, you are foolish," Bella said as she sat down next to the teen on the bed. She looked at the welts she had given him and ran a finger over the raised bite mark on his neck.
He flinched away.
She smiled, "Ahh, does that bother you, baby Potter?"
"Just shut the hell up! You better hope Voldemort doesn't come back and take over my body, because if he does … you'll be the first on my hit list," he turned to face her once again and saw the fear in her eyes.
She drew her hand back away from his neck. She turned away from him then stood up. She marched to the cell door and threw it open before calling out, "McNair, get in here. Take the boy back!"
She didn't turn around to look back at her prisoner as she pushed past the two death eaters making their way into the cell.
Was she scared of me, thought Harry with a bit of a thrill. That would definitely work in their favor! He felt the straps disappear from his wrists before the two death eaters hoisted him to his feet, none to gently at that. He was far too weak and in too much pain to stand on his own. He began to crumble to his knees before McNair grabbed hold of one arm and the other death eater took the other arm.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Severus struggled against the spell, fought with every ounce of strength he had. The spell suddenly released it's hold on him with an audible 'pop' . His rigid body relaxed on the floor for a brief moment before he turned onto his stomach and pushed himself into a sitting position. He leaned heavily against the cold stone wall and breathed deeply as he tried to gather enough energy to stand.
The sounds of Harry's screaming had stopped again. He could hear nothing but a single drip of water coming from somewhere out in the hallway. He listened intently for any sounds, but heard nothing more. What were they doing to the boy? What had made the boy scream again in such a frantic way? For the hundredth time he berated himself for putting his son in this situation. He had wanted nothing more for the teen than for him to live a normal life, like any other wizard teen. Harry deserved it.
He heard footsteps coming from outside his door before a key was slipped into the cell door. The door was abruptly pushed open to reveal two death eaters holding Harry up between them. They took a few steps into the cell before releasing the teen. Harry crumbled to his knees, sitting back on his feet with his wrists laying limply on his thighs.
"Harry?" Severus called out in a desperate, strangled whisper. Harry wouldn't look up at him.
"Shut up, traitor!" one of the death eaters yelled before landing a well placed kick against Severus' side.
The other death eater leaned down and kissed Harry's scar. Harry tried to push him away but he was overpowered when the second death eater grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back to keep him still. McNair waited for the second death eater to kiss the scar before both men exited the cell.
Severus had an idea why the death eaters were kissing the scar but he didn't want to think about that just now. He dragged himself closer to the boy, ignoring the freshly cracked rib he was sure he had. He took in the condition his son was in; whip marks, bruising, fingernail marks and most disturbing; bite marks.
"Harry," Severus said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "Look at me, son."
The boy looked up to reveal a swollen eye and a fresh handprint across his face. Severus crawled closer until he could see the boy's back. He took in a sharp breath when he saw the knife wound. He ripped off his own shirt and tore it into strips of bandages.
"What're you doing?" Harry asked.
"We need to stop the bleeding," Severus replied as he pulled the last of the pain potion from the shirt pocket before ripping it once more. "Drink the rest and no arguments." Harry did as he was told. That alone, told Severus how much pain the boy must be in.
Severus nodded his approval then wrapped the cloth strips around his son, successfully stopping the trickle of blood that still flowed from the knife wound. Once that was done he knelt in front of the teen and gently took hold of his wrists. He could see the deep grooves of welts surrounding both wrists, the boy's hands were still slightly blue. His eyes kept going back to that alarming bite mark on Harry's neck. It looked like a love bite gone bad.
"Oh Merlin, what have they done to you?"
"I'll be okay," Harry said but pulled his hands away from his father's. He couldn't stand to be touched, even by Severus.
Severus could tell the boy was pretending as if the whole experience hadn't deeply effected him. He could see that Harry was in intense pain by his erratic breathing and sweaty brow. He berated himself for putting his son into this mess. Whatever had he been thinking when he offered to become Harry's father? Surely, he could bring nothing but misery to the boy.
'Oh Merlin, hurry up,' Severus desperately pleaded to Dumbledore. "Hurry the hell up!"
"I think Bella's scared of me," Harry whispered out in a slightly shaky voice.
"Why do you think that? Did you harm her?"
Before Harry could answer, the door to their cell opened, then closed, but nobody had entered. Severus pulled Harry back against the wall ignoring Harry's cry of pain. His only thought was to try and shield the boy from anymore torture.
Just then an invisibility cloak was dropped to the ground and standing in the dank cell stood none other than Charlet. She wrinkled her nose before saying, "It smells in here." Her eyes looked first at Severus then traveled to the battered figure he was holding against his side.
"What's wrong with him?" Her eyes darted away.
"Bellatrix," was the only word Harry spoke.
"Oh," Charlet said before pressing her lips together as if in deep thought. "Yes, I saw what she did to you earlier. She's a nasty witch." Charlet pushed her hand into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a small handful of potions in glass vials. "I brought these … just in case you might need them" she wouldn't look at Harry again.
Severus reached up and took hold of the vials, like a starving man would reach for a loaf of bread. There were four vials in all, two healing, two nutritional supplements. He uncorked the one that looked most like a healing potion and took a sniff. Yes, it was an excellent batch of healing potion. "Drink," he commanded in a voice that left no room for argument as he thrust the vial at his son.
They both drank the nutritional potions. Severus felt stronger, almost immediately.
Harry seemed to relax slightly, his breathing coming more evenly now. Severus watched as the teen clenched his hands into fists then let a slight moan escape his lips. The boy needed a healer as soon as possible. Even though Harry was trying to hide the true extent of his injuries, Severus knew that the pain was almost unbearable.
"We must leave here," Severus stated, "now."
Charlet shook her head, "No, I didn't come in here to help you escape. I came in here to get some answers."
"Answers to what?"
"I need to know what this Elixir of Life really is all about and … I need to know why Vespa needs my blood?" She held up a slender manicured hand, "I know what Vespa told me but I don't believe her."
Severus took in a deep breath, trying to remain calm as any minute Bella or Vespa might walk in. He wanted to rush the girl, steal her wand and try to escape but he knew he wouldn't get far with the state Harry was in now. For all he knew that magical band around his son's neck might make it impossible to apparate with the boy. No, he couldn't rush this, he had to gain Charlet's trust if they had any chance at all of escape. There was always the possibility that Albus wasn't coming to save them.
The girl seemed to be reading his mind when she said, "You can't use my wand, Vespa made sure no one but me can use it."
Severus remembered back to the time that Harry had used Sebastian's wand and the bad burn it had left behind. No, best not try to use the wand. He chose to answer the question instead.
"The Elixir of Life has dire consequences if used in conjunction with dark magic. I believe Vespa is planning on stealing your beauty, the essence of your beauty." Severus knew he had the girl's full attention now. He continued, "If you willingly give your blood for this spell you will slowly begin to lose your attractiveness as she begins to increase in beauty. The Elixir of Life is meant only to extend one's life but in conjunction with the other spell it becomes something else entirely. Something dark with heavy consequences."
Severus could see the dread on the girl's face.
"Consequences?" Charlet managed to squeak out.
"Yes. Dark magic cannot be performed without paying the price to use it. Your beauty and possibly more, will be taken from you."
"But… but I already agreed to this. I've already received half her fortune. Is it too late!?!" Charlet asked, her hands shaking at her sides. She clutched them together to try and hide her nervousness.
"It is not too late to change your mind. The fortune can be returned, your promise can be revoked," Severus said in a serious tone. He was actually not sure if the promise could be revoked but he felt it necessary to lie.
She breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh Merlin, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I don't want to get ugly, end up looking like her!"
Severus' patience snapped as he felt the time getting shorter before they were interrupted. It made him incensed to hear this spoilt brat going on about her looks when his son was suffering so much!
"Are you willing to help us escape?" He asked through gritted teeth.
Charlet pressed her hands to her sides, her chin jutting out slightly, "I don't want to get caught. I don't know what else I can do?" Her voice became accusing, "I've already risked a lot by bringing you all those potions."
"Yes you have," Severus stated, "What do you suppose Vespa will say when she finds out?"
Charlet huffed, stomped her foot, "So now you're blackmailing me into helping you?"
Severus closed his eyes, tried to get control of his rage, "Look at my son, Charlet! Look at what they have done to him. He deserves none of this, he has nothing to do with the family will, nor the Elixir."
Charlet dragged her eyes to Harry. She really saw him for the first time. She took in his slumped shoulders, the angry raised bite marks covering his neck and shoulders, the way he seemed to be holding himself so stiffly. He had always treated her decently, for that matter so had Severus. The man had even taken her in when he thought she had no other family. Something deep inside her stirred, an emotion she hadn't felt … ever. It tugged at her heart. She tried to push the feeling away but felt it well up even stronger.
"I'm okay," Harry said as he sat up a little straighter. "Nothing I haven't been through before," he said with a humorless chuckle. Charlet looked ready to cry. He couldn't bring himself to look up into his father's eyes.
"We must leave," Severus said, this time with force. "Charlet, tell me about the guards surrounding the manor."
"Well, um there's about twenty. Most are Bellatrix's people but there are a handful that Vespa hired," Charlet said, never taking her eyes off Harry. "There are five guards standing at the end of the hallway leading out of the dungeons."
Harry pulled at the collar around his neck, "I don't think I can leave anyway."
Charlet nodded her head, "It's true. I overheard Bellatrix telling Vespa that the moment either of you stepped out of the cell without permission, an alarm would go off. The guards are ordered to stun you if you try to leave."
Severus touched the lock on the collar around Harry's neck, "Charlet, do you know where the key is?"
"Vespa has it in her pocket. I saw her take it out earlier then put it back in her pocket."
"Will you get it?" Severus asked, using a single finger on her chin to redirect the girl's gaze to himself.
"I'm scared," Charlet admitted as she looked down at her hands.
Harry let out a deep breath, "We all are. Right, Dad?"
"Yes."
"I can't do it," Charlet said in a defeated tone. "I don't want to get caught."
Harry leaned forward, "It's okay, Charlet, you don't have to." He didn't want to be responsible for anyone else getting hurt on account of him.
Severus quickly cut in, "Yes she does. Charlet would like to leave as well, wouldn't you, Charlet?"
Charlet nodded her head, "If I help you escape, will you take me with you?"
"Of course we will take you with us," Severus assured.
"You won't send me to an orphanage, will you Severus?"
"No, you may stay with us." As soon as the girl looked somewhat more compliant he went back to the task at hand. "I suggest you slip a sleeping draught into Vespa's tea. As soon as she falls asleep use your invisibility cloak to retrieve the key. We must hurry, we've no time to waste."
"Okay, I can do it," Charlet declared, then asked, "Will I get an allowance and will I still get to attend Beauxbatons? I don't want to go to that dreadful school you teach at."
Knowing exactly how the greedy girl's mind worked, Severus agreed, "Your allowance and schooling will remain the same as it is now. You have my word that I will not send you to an orphanage."
"Well, okay then. I do like the rooms you gave me at Snape Manor, especially since I just redecorated them," that seemed to settle the matter for the girl. She stood up with the invisibility cloak in hand. "I'll try to get Harry's wand back too."
"If you do that I will double your allowance," Severus said. He watched as the girl's eyes grew wider. She clapped her hands like the greedy child she was.
"Okay, see you soon," Charlet said before she disappeared under the cloak. The door to the cell creaked open then shut .
Severus looked over at Harry. The teen had his arms crossed in front of his chest and he was shivering. No, not shivering, but suffering from the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse.
"Are you okay?" Severus asked, watching as Harry squeezed his eyes shut as if he was caught up in a bad memory.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Harry said with more poise then he actually felt. There was no use making his dad feel even guiltier than he already was feeling by telling him the truth.
Severus reached a hand out, brushing his finger over the deep bite mark on Harry's neck. Harry jolted back so suddenly, he bumped his head on the stone wall. "Don't!"
"Tell me what she did," Severus asked, not wanting the boy to pretend as if this never happened.
Harry wrapped his arms around his chest tighter. He shook his head, "Don't really want to talk about it."
"Harry, tell me," Severus implored in such an unfathomable voice that it startled Harry into looking up at him.
"Please. Not now … not here."
"I have to know how to help you."
"You can't," Harry turned his back towards his father, leaning his head against the wall. "No one can."
"Harry, you are not alone. I won't let you go through this by yourself, " Severus said, hesitating before he laid his hand on his son's shoulder.
If it hadn't been so quiet in the cell he wouldn't have heard his son's softly whispered words, "You won't think that once you find out the truth."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Aloha Friends,
Hawaii was spectacular! But, like always … I'm glad to be home.
BTW- Has anyone seen Equus yet? I think I'm going to try and see it in May. Let me know what you think.
Take care,
Rachel