Harry Potter and the Dark Sigil
Chapter Seven: Dark Pathways
By: Harry's Mum Lily
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. They belong to JKR. I want to thank all of you who have reviewed this so far. I know you want me to write the parts faster but these things take time. Hope you enjoy this. Reviewing is of course up to you.
Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord…you have no idea…he has weapons you can't imagine…I was scared, Sirius, I was never brave like you and Remus and James. I never meant it to happen…He Who Must Not Be Named forced me…
Peter Pettigrew
Chapter19
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Your mother's coming…She wants to see you…it will be all right…hold on…
Shade of James Potter
Chapter 34
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Everyone stood in silence, staring at the scrap of scarlet cloth that Ron had dropped on the table, not wanting to believe the evidence of their own eyes, their hearts not wanting to believe what their heads were saying was true. It couldn't be true. It just wasn't possible. Their hearts refused to believe it. Harry was not dead. He was alive…he must be alive and held captive somewhere; he just had to be alive. He was the Boy Who Lived, the one who'd always managed to survive encounters with Voldemort, who'd always managed a daring escape. The Boy Who Lived couldn't die. It was not right, he was the hope of a magical nation… Yet, even as their hearts were holding fast to this belief with nearly unshakeable resolve, the relentless logic of their minds was painting another picture. Harry had been a captive of Voldemort since the middle of November and it was now just after the New Year. What chance was there that he'd managed to survive whatever tortures Voldemort had inflicted on him in that time? Was there really any chance that he might still be alive? No one really knew the answers to these questions and they remained unvoiced and unexamined as if saying or examining them too closely would make them come true. Dazed and with hearts full of grief, the Gryffindors wandered off to bed, their tasks going uncompleted and unfinished. The questions ran around in their heads, taunting them, keeping them awake for hours afterward.
Ron and Hermione remained in the Common Room, alone with their grief. Hermione's shoulders shook with silent sobs and Ron's face was streaked with tears. Hedwig looked from one to the other and hooted softly as if trying to comfort them. Ron reached out and began stroking her feathers absently. Finally, Hermione's shoulders stopped shaking and she looked up at Ron, her eyes still full of unshed tears but also a hint of resolve.
"He's not dead, Ron," she said quietly as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
"Hermione…" Ron struggled to find the words to say.
"Harry's alive. I'll not believe he's dead until I see a body."
"Hermione, please don't make this harder then it is," Ron said, his voice breaking with emotion.
"He's alive I tell you! I feel him, here," she pointed at her heart. "If you'd take the time to listen to your own heart, you'd know he still survives."
"Please believe me, I don't want it to be true either," Ron looked at the piece of cloth and tears stung his eyes. "Harry is…d…dead, Hermione."
"He cannot die!" she glowered at Ron for daring to deny what she knew to be true. "Don't you see what Voldemort is doing…Harry lives, Ron! Until I see a body he will not be dead to me. Until we see proof that he is dead we should not believe this lie."
She waved a hand at the bloodstained cloth that sat mutely crying out its message of shattered hope and a life now lost.
"The blood…"
"Doesn't mean a thing. Voldemort uses lies… he twists the truth and plays on everyone's emotions."
Ron stared blankly at her as if she had suddenly started speaking Parseltongue. She glared at him.
"If you are too thick to figure it out, Ron… then I leave you to your grief!"
Hermione stormed out of the Common Room, leaving Ron to stare after her. Ron went up to his own dormitory and tried not to look at Harry's bed with his things still as he had left them that fateful day. He looked out the window at the stars in the heavens and the bright moon overhead, thinking about what Hermione had said. She was in denial…she had to be…there was no way he could still be alive was there? Ron shook his head, trying to clear it of the confusion his thought had become. The moon and stars blurred as his eyes filled with tears.
"Harry…please not Harry." Ron stared up at the stars, begging them to tell him that this was not true, that his best friend was not dead, that he would find a way to escape.
The stars gave no reply; they merely twinkled brightly unaware anything in the world below them was wrong. Ron turned away and was surprised to see Neville standing there. Seamus and Dean were looking at Ron from between their bed curtains. He could tell they had all been crying too.
"He was our friend too, Ron," Neville said quietly, the other boys nodded. "We all knew this day might come."
Ron said nothing to them but a new resolve was flooding him. They must carry on the fight. Harry would want that. If Voldemort expected them to allow this to overshadow their lives he was sadly mistaken. He would learn that Harry's friends were stronger then that. He glanced at the others and they came over to the window to join him. They swore to fight on together in Harry's memory and to never give in to the Dark side. Voldemort would pay for all the lives he'd destroyed.
~
By the next morning the whole school had heard a rumor that Harry Potter was dead. The Gryffindors were grim faced and pale but they said nothing to anyone about the rumor. Ron and Hermione had taken the cloth to Dumbledore before breakfast to see what answers could be gleaned from it. All he could tell them was that the blood was Harry's, that it contained a high concentration of snake venom and that at the time Hedwig had found it Harry was alive. This made the others less grief-stricken then they had been the previous night although they were all still worried about what the bloodstains on the cloth meant and what the lose of Harry Potter would do to the morale of the magical world.
Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean sat at the end of the table at breakfast, with Hermione . Trying to keep off the topic that was on everyone's minds, they were talking quietly about the Transfiguration assignment and whether or not any of them would manage to turn a feather duster into a falcon. Ron commented wryly that Hermione would probably be the first to do so and she smiled a faint smile at him. He smiled back and knew that the outburst of the previous night had been forgotten. He couldn't have stood it if Hermione had remained angry with him. He'd already lost one friend, maybe forever, and he really didn't want to lose another as well. Soon breakfast was over and the five of them were shouldering their school bags and on they're way out of the Great Hall.
"Trying to ignore the signs, Weasley," Malfoy drawled from the doorway. "Harry Potter is dead, the one you knew is now no more. You shining hope was conquered by Voldemort's darkness.
"What are you going on about Malfoy?" Ron's eyes narrowed dangerously. Hermione and the others stood behind him in a half circle, glaring at Draco.
"Read this…I doubt that you'll still be supporters of Potter after you've seen it." Malfoy smirked as he threw a copy of the Daily Prophet at Ron.
The Slytherins watched as Ron scanned the front page. Over his shoulder, Hermione was also reading and what she read, under a picture of Harry taken last year, made her heart contract painfully.
Harry Potter~ A New Dark Wizard
The wizarding world has waited for some sign that Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, was still alive after his nearly two month imprisonment by He Who Must Not Be Named. We have all been fearing the worst~ that the Dark Lord had killed him~but death might have been a kinder fate then the one that we have discovered has befallen young Potter. From all information we have received at the Prophet, it appears that Harry Potter has shown his true nature at last by joining with the Dark Lord himself. A witness and survivor of the destruction of Godric's Springs claims to have seen him there with the Dark Lord at his side.
"I knowed it was him 'cause of the scar and all," said the survivor who wished to go unidentified. "Thought he'd come to save us all… to stop the Dark Lord, but I seen him…he pointed a wand at a defenseless wizard and…"
This is only one of a series of disturbing pieces of information that has come to light in recent months concerning Harry Potter and his loyalties. Harry Potter is the only other known Parseltongue, which is the mark of a Dark Wizard and is known to consort with giants and werewolves two of the most vicious Dark creatures known to wizardkind. According to a doctor at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injures: Harry Potter's emotional and psychological state are "unstable" and have been since last year's Triwizard Tournament and according to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, he is also wanted for questioning in the mysterious death of Triwizard Champion Cedric Diggory, who was killed during the Third Task last year.
More disturbing then these truths, however, is some new information that has come to light regarding the Potter family and their relations. Harry Potter is a direct line descendant of none other then the most feared Dark Lord of the early twentieth century: Lord Grindelwald. Grindelwald's reign of terror during the 1930s and 40s is second only to He Who Must Not Be Named's reign of fourteen years ago. Above and beyond even this dark connection there lays a darker one, for Harry Potter, the so-called Champion of Light, is also related by blood to the Dark Lord himself. They are distant cousins.
It would seem that the wizarding world's faith has been misplaced and that we should look elsewhere for…
Hermione couldn't continue reading because the words had begun to blur on the page. She could see Ron's back stiffen with anger and felt her own anger building within her heart. Malfoy smirked insolently at them and the other Gryffindors came closer to see what was amiss.
"Potter finally did as I first suggested and made the only correct choice that will allow him a chance to live. Now the Dark Lord will be unstoppable, " he gloated at the Gryffindors. "Your bravery will avail you nothing for we will win."
Ron and the others glared at him with eyes full of hatred and fury.
"Stand aside, Malfoy!" Ron said, his voice cold and angry.
Malfoy stood still more firmly in their path.
"You have already lost. You know this don't you. Potter is ours and now nothing stands in the way of the Dark Lord's rise. When we conquer this school…"
"We will fight you! You will not win an easy victory!" Ron shouted, his eyes full of fury.
"And you will have given your lives for nothing. You don't have your precious saint Potter now. He will not come and save you this time."
Ron's anger had reached the breaking point but, just as he was reaching for his wand to put a spell on Malfoy, he heard another voice behind him and saw a blue flash of wand light fly passed him. Malfoy fell to the floor unconscious. Ron turned to see Hermione, her wand still upraised and her face flushed with anger, glaring down at Malfoy's unconscious body with loathing. The Slytherins got up from their table and advanced on Hermione but they paused when they saw the wall of Gryffindors waiting for them. There was a shower of purple sparks in the air and a voice cut through the din.
"The very next person in this room to make a sound will be expelled from this school!" said Dumbledore in a commanding voice.
Dumbledore and Professors McGonagall and Snape were quietly dispersing the crowd as they moved toward where Ron and the others were standing. When the crowd around them parted, Ron could see that the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were already leaving the Great Hall via other doors. McGonagall and Snape were glaring at the students from their respective houses.
"Classes for today have been cancelled. You will return to you house Common Rooms immediately and remain there." Dumbledore told the students who were milling around Ron, Hermione, Draco and the others.
The Gryffindors swept wordlessly from the Great Hall while the Slytherins jeered at them for having a Dark Lord among their members. Snape glared at them again and they, too, reluctantly left the room, taking Malfoy with them. Ron and Hermione stayed in the Hall. Ron was still clutching the Daily Prophet in his hand and Hermione eyes were still filled with fury. They looked at the professors before them and waited, wondering what their punishment would be. Finally, after several minutes of silence, Professor Snape spoke.
"There will be no detention given to you two and no points will be taken from Gryffindor. Malfoy deliberately provoked you. Malfoy will receive a detention and 50 points will be taken from Slytherin."
Ron and Hermione stood in shocked silence as the word sank in. They were unable to believe what they had just heard Snape say. They looked back at McGonagall and Dumbledore to make sure that what they thought they heard was true. They both nodded in agreement with Snape's decision.
"Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, you may go back to Gryffindor Tower for now. I will speak to you both later," he looked intently at them for a moment before turning to Professors McGonagall and Snape.
Ron and Hermione left the room hardly daring to believe their luck but as they did so, Hemione looked back once and saw the look on Professor Snape's face. It was a haunted and sorrowful look that she saw and she wondered what caused it.
~
Snape sat by the fire in the Staff Room three weeks later, looking out the only window in the room but not really seeing what was outside it. His mind was focused on the whirling thoughts and emotions going through his mind. He felt like a complete failure. He'd been unable to prevent Harry's capture, had been unable to gather any useful information for Dumbledore because he'd lost the Dark Lord's trust and he had failed to find out where Harry was being held or what his condition was, although he could still hear Harry's echoing screams of pain. They were the screams of someone who was enduring overwhelming pain, pain so intense that few survived it intact, if they survived the experience at all. Slowly, Harry's spirit was being worn away yet as long as he endured it there was still a hope, a chance to save him.
"How is he able to endure something that would have killed an adult wizard weeks ago?" Snape thought as his eyes traveled from the window to the flickering firelight.
He'd not actually seen Harry since the night of his capture when he'd answered the Dark Lord's summons. Thankfully, Voldemort had accepted his excuse for his lateness, as it was a well-known fact that a wizard could not Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. He'd been a witness to the destruction of Harry's wand and the energy backlash into him that had rendered Harry unconscious. He'd learned that Harry was son of Dark Lord Grindelwald but that changed nothing of the mission he was to perform now that Harry was held captive and, as he'd watched two Death Eaters drag Harry off, Snape realized that he must try to save him if he could.
It seemed such an easy thing to accomplish but as days had dragged into weeks and weeks into months things began to look hopeless. He had no clue were to begin searching for Harry and he was growing desperate. He had to do this, had to find Harry, it was a debt he must pay. He had failed to protect Potters when he'd been given the chance. His information had led them to use the Charm and through Peter's betrayal it had sealed their fates. He'd wanted to tell them that Peter was a Death Eater but he'd thought they would not believe him. He had almost lost Harry the night the Potters were betrayed and he had almost lost Harry again in his first year. If his potions hadn't worked…the wizarding world may have lost their one hope of victory over Voldemort.
He stared into the fire, watching the flickering flames until he was almost asleep. He would have gain the trust of someone within the Death Eater ranks, someone closer to the inner circle that he was no longer a part of, but who? He shook his head and got up from his place by the fire. He paused at the window and looked out at the grounds below and at the sky above, which was a brilliant blue. He tried to concentrate on something else but the Dark Mark on his arm began to burn and he knew there would be another meeting tonight. He shivered, wondering what was in store.
~
Harry's world had become a nightmare full of pain; cruel laughter and Voldemort's hate filled eyes. Every time he'd sought escape from the torture, he was always revived and made to suffer still more unending pain. He'd had very little rest over the last few months. He couldn't concentrate on anything but the pain his body was in and the thought that he must continue to resist Voldemort. He would not be turned and there was no power on the earth that could force him to join Voldemort. His will was strong, even if his physical body was not but, ever so slowly, the months of torture and captivity were exacting a terrible toll on his body and will. He was being weakened and so were the final protections around him.
Voldemort swept into his cell and looked closely at the protections. They still glowed a strange red-gold but their light was fading a little at a time. Given enough time they would crumble as the others had. Harry hung limply in the chains, blood streaking his face and staining his robes a dark red. The Dark Lord moved to take a closer look at his handiwork. Harry's body cringed away from him. Voldemort laughed softly at this and put a finger under Harry's chin so that Harry's eyes, which were glazed over with pain, were looking right into his own. Harry whimpered and tried to move away again but Voldemort held him in place.
Pain arced through Harry's body at Voldemort's touch and his body arched in response, as tongues of flame seemed to burn every inch of him. He opened his mouth to scream but he no longer had a voice with which to scream. Voldemort's red eyes seemed to encompass everything as they held Harry's own with their blank gaze. They were telling him that he was going to die, here, alone unless he made the choice to join Voldemort. His death would not be painless nor would it be soon. Harry felt his body and soul tremble. He hurt…God he hurt more then he had ever before in his life and he didn't want to die, not here, not like this… His bright green eyes shone with unshed tears but also firm resolve. He would not surrender to Voldemort. He couldn't betray everyone…couldn't let his parents' sacrifice have been in vain. He had to remain strong in spirit if not in body…but it was so hard. He hurt so much and he'd lost all hope. The path of the Light was not an easy one; the right choice was not always the one that led immediately to happily ever after.
Harry's body shivered as more pain arced through it: magnified by the venom that ran through his blood. His body was fevered and yet his blood felt like ice.
"Will you join me, Potter and let this all end now or will you continue to defy me?" Voldemort's cold voice whispered.
Harry looked into those evil eyes and into his green eyed gaze Harry put all the defiance he could muster.
"N…e…v…e…r." Harry's voice was weak but the word carried as much strength behind it as if he had shouted it.
Voldemort picked up a nearby whip and struck Harry across the chest with it. Harry's body became aflame with agony but still he glared defiantly at Voldemort.
"Crucio!"
The pain of the curse was more then he had ever felt before and was nearly more than he could endure yet still he would not give into the pain. He would not betray the Light. His spirit held firm, even as his body and mind stood on the edge of destruction. He shouted his defiance in his ragged, ruined voice even though his voice was no more than a whisper on the wind. Harry's eyes and face betrayed nothing of the fear within. He glared at Voldemort with a steadfast and accepting gaze. Harry held fast to the memory of his parents and of their bravery as they stood for the cause they had believed in. They had been willing to die for the Light and he could do nothing less. He would not turn for to do so would betray their memory and the memories of all who had fallen at Voldemort's hand. Finally, he was released from the curse and, though a haze of pain, he could see Voldmort's face was full of wrath.
"You will call me master, Harry. You cannot hold out against me forever. If you do not then you will die in the most painful way I can devise. Now you will be punished for your continued defiance. Bring him!"
Harry could feel someone releasing the chains that held him bound. He felt himself fall hard onto the cold stone floor. Two masked Death Eaters grabbed him roughly by the arms and he felt a wave of pain and dizziness go through him. He tried to stay conscious but the pain he was still in was too much and he fell into a semi-conscious state, his head lolling to one side. The Death Eaters laughed as they dragged Harry's limp body passed cells full of captured wizards and witches who all moaned as he was dragged passed. Their Light was about to be extinguished and they were helpless to prevent it. Their hope was about to die and all the world stood silent on the brink of change.
No one marked the rat that had followed the Death Eaters from the cell nor did they notice that this particular rat had a silver paw. Peter Pettigrew followed the Death Eaters who were taking Harry away, not fully understanding why he was doing so. All he knew was that for the first time in years he was again fully himself, free from Voldemort. The time had come for him to atone for the things he had done. Now the past would meet the future and maybe, just maybe, Harry would be saved.