Disclaimer: I only own the story
Author's notes: see bottom of page
Every Time I Close My Eyes - Chapter 22
Harry walked around the Geolite for what felt like the hundredth time,
gaze flicking alternately from it to his watch. He had been trapped in the
room for 40 minutes. Whatever he decided to wish for, he had 20 minutes
to decide, or everything that had passed would have been for nothing.
Images of his parents drifted across his mind, but he pushed them away.
No, he could never have that. He thought then of Ron's ideas, gold and
riches that would buy the Weasley's more houses than they knew what to
do with. He thought of Fred and George's dream o joke shops stretching
as far as the eyes could see. The he thought of Neville, the friend he'd
found in the nervous boy this year.
His watch told him that Sirius was still lost, so Voldemort still had that
power over him. As long as he still had Sirius and the Weasleys, Harry
had no further options. He stopped and glared at the Geolite in frustration.
Lupin had said that everyone knew what had been happening. But he
hadn't said who knew. And what if the battle between him and Mortority
had gone badly? From a memory, the cruel image of the killing curse in
action floated infront of his eyes, a person he cared about falling lifeless to
the floor. Harry rubbed his scar unconsciously, trying to banish the image
of Remus Lupin lying dead in the classroom from his mind. He looked at
his watch again. What could he do? So they knew, so what? It was too
late, he was beyond help. Harry wiped a tear from his face, hardly
noticing it. What if they were all dead? As Harry sank once more to the
cold floor before the Geolite, another voice floated from his memory....
"Just hold on! Hold on for as long as you can!"
Harry rested his head on his hands, vaguely noticing they were shaking.
He would hold on, as long as he could. He looked at the time again. He
could hold on forever if need be, as long as forever only took 15 minutes.
Draco wasn't sure where they were. He knew they were inside Hogwarts,
but not exactly where. They had entered into a secret passage, and now he
was disorientated. His stomach was churning, he thought the sound of it
would give him away. Every time they took a choice of tunnels, the idea
of just running away down the other occurred to him. The rational part of
his mind reminded him that if he tried it, he'd get maybe five yards before
he was killed in his tracks. So instead he silently followed the two Death
Eaters to wherever they were going.
They stopped ahead of him, and Mortority muttered something. They both
drew their wands, and with not a word to Draco, jumped through a door
that had just opened. Harry heard his father shout "Reducto!", then
silence. Cautiously, Draco emerged from the tunnel into a quite well lit
classroom he recognised as the Transfiguration classroom. The opening
slid shut noiselessly behind him, and when he turned round all he saw was
seamless wall. He turned to see who his father had attacked, but there was
no-one else there.
"Strange that there would be no guard." Remarked Mortority dryly. Lucius
glared at him.
"You would have been grateful if there had been." Mortority merely
smiled his chilling smile at him. Lucius stalked over to a black room in the
centre of the floor, and reached for the door handle. He let out a hiss as a
spark went from it to his hand.
"Dumbledore's protection." He said through gritted teeth.
"So much for no guards. It doesn't need them." Lucius rounded as if to
say something else, then seemed to notice Draco for the first time.
"Draco, the Master has bestowed a great honour on us. We will be the
ones to deliver Potter to him as soon as he exits this room with a certain
object." Draco had no idea what to say to this, so nodded mutely. Lucius
continued,
"You will wait here, while we make ourselves undetectable. If anyone
comes, you will persuade them to leave, or we will kill them. Do you
understand? The Master will be most....displeased if we fail in this
assignment." Killed?!? They would kill people? Here? In Hogwarts?
Draco couldn't even comprehend the idea, but seeing his father's face lit
up in fanatical obsession, nodded again. He turned to the door, sitting at a
desk, while the Death eaters faded from view.
Dumbledore had conjured a black board in his office, and crossed off
another date on it. That left them with three possibilities. Remus almost
shouted,
"We don't have time for this! The room will open in ten minutes!"
"Then we'll try them all." Said Dumbledore decisively. They headed for
the door, Ron and Hermione dropping their books and getting up to
follow. Dumbledore turned.
"Not you two."
"But Professor!..."
"If you want to help, wait outside the Geolite room for Harry. If he has
been forced to make a wish, he might be hurt or upset. Take him to
Madam Pomfrey. Hagrid, I think there may be something else we need
from you." Hagrid nodded and left as Lupin and Dumbledore hurried out.
Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, pulling him after them.
"Come on, we need to get to Transfiguration!"
Lupin practically had to run to keep up with the old Headmaster, who was
suddenly seeming his sprightly self again. They reached the great Hall.
Remus glanced nervously at his watch. It told him they had seven minutes
left. Lupin was startled by a roaring sound. He jumped, then backed up a
few paces when Hagrid re-appeared with one of the huge glittering
Psygators on a lead. Dumbledore smiled, taking the lead. "Psygators,
Remus. No doubt this lad will come in useful. The Headmaster handed
him the leash, and he took another step backwards. Then he had an idea as
Dumbledore produced a Time Turner.
"Couldn't we use longer than seven minutes? Using the time turner?"
Dumbledore merely looked up and said,
"5 turns." Then he threw the chain around Lupin's neck and turned the
device. Everything blurred, and Lupin instantly knew he didn't like this
mode of travel. When it stopped, they were standing in the same room, the
Psygator looking lazily around, but purple light filtered down from the
ceiling. He opened his mouth in astonishment, but Dumbledore said,
"For Harry's choice to be affected, we must do this in the time allowed.
And I think......." He glanced around the room at the decorators
equipment. "....this isn't the right time." Before Lupin could reply, he
turned the device again and they were gone.
Ron reached the classroom first, Hermione lagging behind as his legs were
so long. He nearly skidded past the entrance, but as surprised by Draco's
appearance and fell onto the wall. Draco got up stiffly and glanced to his
left. Ron couldn't see inside the room, but Draco was even paler than
normal, if possible. Ron straightened himself up as Hermione arrived.
Draco stared at them both, his face unreadable. Ron was impatient though.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" There was no answer, but Draco
flinched and seemed to want to look behind him. He glanced between Ron
and Hermione, and seemed to reach some sort of decision.
"Get lost Weasel. You've no reason to be here, Potty will be out in five
minutes. Can't he walk to the common room without you?" A shadow of
his old sneer returned.
"We've got no reason to be here?" said Hermione. "What about you? Why
are you sneaking around?"
"I can go wherever I want.....mudblood." The insult seemed like a an
afterthought, but it still infuriated Ron.
"Why you little....." He lunged at Draco who put up his arms in alarm to
stop him, but the bigger boy was stronger. They landed in a heap inside
the classroom. Ron punched Draco in the face, who hissed air out between
his teeth. His eyes flashed as Hermione entered the room, but then his look
turned to desperation.
"Look, you idiot, I'm trying to...." But he was cut off by Hermione's gasp
of surprise as Mortority and Lucius appeared, each extending a wand.
Sirius was feigning sleep again. He had worked out the guards distribution
throughout the caves. There seemed to be ten of them there at one time. If
he could free himself and the Weasleys and surprise them, they might
have a chance. He knew that this plan had its flaws, being impossible was
one of them, but it gave him something to pass the time. He scratched at
his manacles with a stone again, another activity he was getting much
practise at. He had only spoken with the Weasleys a few times as he
wanted the guards to think he was weaker than he was and had been
pretending to be unconscious a lot. Of course, for some of the time, he
really had been. As he blearily opened his eyes, Sirius considered that
maybe he wasn't being entirely rational. Then he dismissed this idea as
absurd. It wasn't as if they had no hope. At all. In the whole world. With
no-one to help them, ever. It wasn't like that at all.
He remembered the last time he had seen Harry. Harry hadn't given up
hope, he had fought the Death Eaters and charged the magical field in an
attempt to free them. Pull yourself together, a voice said in his head. If
Harry is getting through this, so can you. He squeezed his eyes shut,
forcefully trying to banish the fog in his head. Then he fully opened them,
and sat up. The Weasleys were still beside him, Arthur giving him a
forced smile when he sat up. One of the Death Eaters glanced at him, then
left the room, leaving another two to guard them.
"Did I miss much?" He mumbled through a swollen jaw.
"Oh, you know, some threats, lots of stone walls, some more threats, then
a huge banquet with more food than I have ever seen." Said Mr Weasley.
"Really?"
"Yes, there were really lots and lots of stone walls and threats."
"Ah."
Then Death Eater returned, Sirius assumed it was the same one, because
he was now accompanied by the person he hated most in all the world.
"So, the dog is awake." Sirius was repulsed just by the man's voice, but
on the outside he remained calm. He felt Mr Weasley tremble slightly
beside him, then get control of himself. Sirius didn't reply. This never
seemed to make a difference, but Sirius didn't want to give Voldemort any
kind of satisfaction.
"Well, dog, it seems that you don't want to answer your master. That's a
shame, it may have prolonged your life. In three minutes, Harry Potter will
exit the Geolite room with a small present for me. Nothing extravagant,
just the means to rule the world forever." His cruel smile contorted his
face as the laugh of the Death Eaters echoed around the caves.
"Unfortunately, this means you all, as my most honoured guests, have
outstayed your welcome. I have no further use for you." He raised his
wand. Sirius refused to cringe away, he would die proud, facing his
enemy.
"Wait!" Sirius was startled at Mrs Weasley's voice. Voldemort very
slowly turned his head.
"Yes?" He asked, sounding curious and deadly all at the same time. He
shimmered slightly as he stepped through the magical field.
"I just...just wanted to...to say......." Her voice was trembling. Voldemort's
harsh smile widened. He stepped over to her, she was sat on the other side
of Arthur, hands secured behind her back.
"Yes?" He asked again, his wand pointed at her now. Sirius watched,
frozen, as her whimpering look suddenly became calculating. Time
seemed to slow for Sirius as her hand whipped out from behind her back,
something silver trailed through the air. There was a resounding
"CRACK!" and Sirius watched, astonished, as Voldemort went from
horizontal to vertical in one straight movement. As time got back to
normal, he looked in awe at Molly Weasley. One manacle was attached
around her wrist, the other swinging freely from the connecting chain like
a mace. Her face was set, and she whispered,
"Dog's need putting down." Before Sirius could say anything, the Death
Eaters started towards them wands raised, and he saw Voldemort twitch.
Well, hope had been good while it lasted.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Author's notes: Oooooo, tension. Well you knew you'd get another cliffie!
but everyone will be glad to know there are only another TWO PARTS!
this does not mean stop reviewing, if anything, review more! I know
Molly sounded a little Arnie Swazeneggor (sp?) at the end there, but I
wanted her to kick Voldie's ass, and as that didn't fit with the story, I
neede a witty put-down instead. *shrugs* Oh, and don't tell me Hagrid
couldn't have got the Psygator that quickly, just assume it was lolloping
happily around somewhere nearby, ok?
Author's notes: see bottom of page
Every Time I Close My Eyes - Chapter 22
Harry walked around the Geolite for what felt like the hundredth time,
gaze flicking alternately from it to his watch. He had been trapped in the
room for 40 minutes. Whatever he decided to wish for, he had 20 minutes
to decide, or everything that had passed would have been for nothing.
Images of his parents drifted across his mind, but he pushed them away.
No, he could never have that. He thought then of Ron's ideas, gold and
riches that would buy the Weasley's more houses than they knew what to
do with. He thought of Fred and George's dream o joke shops stretching
as far as the eyes could see. The he thought of Neville, the friend he'd
found in the nervous boy this year.
His watch told him that Sirius was still lost, so Voldemort still had that
power over him. As long as he still had Sirius and the Weasleys, Harry
had no further options. He stopped and glared at the Geolite in frustration.
Lupin had said that everyone knew what had been happening. But he
hadn't said who knew. And what if the battle between him and Mortority
had gone badly? From a memory, the cruel image of the killing curse in
action floated infront of his eyes, a person he cared about falling lifeless to
the floor. Harry rubbed his scar unconsciously, trying to banish the image
of Remus Lupin lying dead in the classroom from his mind. He looked at
his watch again. What could he do? So they knew, so what? It was too
late, he was beyond help. Harry wiped a tear from his face, hardly
noticing it. What if they were all dead? As Harry sank once more to the
cold floor before the Geolite, another voice floated from his memory....
"Just hold on! Hold on for as long as you can!"
Harry rested his head on his hands, vaguely noticing they were shaking.
He would hold on, as long as he could. He looked at the time again. He
could hold on forever if need be, as long as forever only took 15 minutes.
Draco wasn't sure where they were. He knew they were inside Hogwarts,
but not exactly where. They had entered into a secret passage, and now he
was disorientated. His stomach was churning, he thought the sound of it
would give him away. Every time they took a choice of tunnels, the idea
of just running away down the other occurred to him. The rational part of
his mind reminded him that if he tried it, he'd get maybe five yards before
he was killed in his tracks. So instead he silently followed the two Death
Eaters to wherever they were going.
They stopped ahead of him, and Mortority muttered something. They both
drew their wands, and with not a word to Draco, jumped through a door
that had just opened. Harry heard his father shout "Reducto!", then
silence. Cautiously, Draco emerged from the tunnel into a quite well lit
classroom he recognised as the Transfiguration classroom. The opening
slid shut noiselessly behind him, and when he turned round all he saw was
seamless wall. He turned to see who his father had attacked, but there was
no-one else there.
"Strange that there would be no guard." Remarked Mortority dryly. Lucius
glared at him.
"You would have been grateful if there had been." Mortority merely
smiled his chilling smile at him. Lucius stalked over to a black room in the
centre of the floor, and reached for the door handle. He let out a hiss as a
spark went from it to his hand.
"Dumbledore's protection." He said through gritted teeth.
"So much for no guards. It doesn't need them." Lucius rounded as if to
say something else, then seemed to notice Draco for the first time.
"Draco, the Master has bestowed a great honour on us. We will be the
ones to deliver Potter to him as soon as he exits this room with a certain
object." Draco had no idea what to say to this, so nodded mutely. Lucius
continued,
"You will wait here, while we make ourselves undetectable. If anyone
comes, you will persuade them to leave, or we will kill them. Do you
understand? The Master will be most....displeased if we fail in this
assignment." Killed?!? They would kill people? Here? In Hogwarts?
Draco couldn't even comprehend the idea, but seeing his father's face lit
up in fanatical obsession, nodded again. He turned to the door, sitting at a
desk, while the Death eaters faded from view.
Dumbledore had conjured a black board in his office, and crossed off
another date on it. That left them with three possibilities. Remus almost
shouted,
"We don't have time for this! The room will open in ten minutes!"
"Then we'll try them all." Said Dumbledore decisively. They headed for
the door, Ron and Hermione dropping their books and getting up to
follow. Dumbledore turned.
"Not you two."
"But Professor!..."
"If you want to help, wait outside the Geolite room for Harry. If he has
been forced to make a wish, he might be hurt or upset. Take him to
Madam Pomfrey. Hagrid, I think there may be something else we need
from you." Hagrid nodded and left as Lupin and Dumbledore hurried out.
Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, pulling him after them.
"Come on, we need to get to Transfiguration!"
Lupin practically had to run to keep up with the old Headmaster, who was
suddenly seeming his sprightly self again. They reached the great Hall.
Remus glanced nervously at his watch. It told him they had seven minutes
left. Lupin was startled by a roaring sound. He jumped, then backed up a
few paces when Hagrid re-appeared with one of the huge glittering
Psygators on a lead. Dumbledore smiled, taking the lead. "Psygators,
Remus. No doubt this lad will come in useful. The Headmaster handed
him the leash, and he took another step backwards. Then he had an idea as
Dumbledore produced a Time Turner.
"Couldn't we use longer than seven minutes? Using the time turner?"
Dumbledore merely looked up and said,
"5 turns." Then he threw the chain around Lupin's neck and turned the
device. Everything blurred, and Lupin instantly knew he didn't like this
mode of travel. When it stopped, they were standing in the same room, the
Psygator looking lazily around, but purple light filtered down from the
ceiling. He opened his mouth in astonishment, but Dumbledore said,
"For Harry's choice to be affected, we must do this in the time allowed.
And I think......." He glanced around the room at the decorators
equipment. "....this isn't the right time." Before Lupin could reply, he
turned the device again and they were gone.
Ron reached the classroom first, Hermione lagging behind as his legs were
so long. He nearly skidded past the entrance, but as surprised by Draco's
appearance and fell onto the wall. Draco got up stiffly and glanced to his
left. Ron couldn't see inside the room, but Draco was even paler than
normal, if possible. Ron straightened himself up as Hermione arrived.
Draco stared at them both, his face unreadable. Ron was impatient though.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" There was no answer, but Draco
flinched and seemed to want to look behind him. He glanced between Ron
and Hermione, and seemed to reach some sort of decision.
"Get lost Weasel. You've no reason to be here, Potty will be out in five
minutes. Can't he walk to the common room without you?" A shadow of
his old sneer returned.
"We've got no reason to be here?" said Hermione. "What about you? Why
are you sneaking around?"
"I can go wherever I want.....mudblood." The insult seemed like a an
afterthought, but it still infuriated Ron.
"Why you little....." He lunged at Draco who put up his arms in alarm to
stop him, but the bigger boy was stronger. They landed in a heap inside
the classroom. Ron punched Draco in the face, who hissed air out between
his teeth. His eyes flashed as Hermione entered the room, but then his look
turned to desperation.
"Look, you idiot, I'm trying to...." But he was cut off by Hermione's gasp
of surprise as Mortority and Lucius appeared, each extending a wand.
Sirius was feigning sleep again. He had worked out the guards distribution
throughout the caves. There seemed to be ten of them there at one time. If
he could free himself and the Weasleys and surprise them, they might
have a chance. He knew that this plan had its flaws, being impossible was
one of them, but it gave him something to pass the time. He scratched at
his manacles with a stone again, another activity he was getting much
practise at. He had only spoken with the Weasleys a few times as he
wanted the guards to think he was weaker than he was and had been
pretending to be unconscious a lot. Of course, for some of the time, he
really had been. As he blearily opened his eyes, Sirius considered that
maybe he wasn't being entirely rational. Then he dismissed this idea as
absurd. It wasn't as if they had no hope. At all. In the whole world. With
no-one to help them, ever. It wasn't like that at all.
He remembered the last time he had seen Harry. Harry hadn't given up
hope, he had fought the Death Eaters and charged the magical field in an
attempt to free them. Pull yourself together, a voice said in his head. If
Harry is getting through this, so can you. He squeezed his eyes shut,
forcefully trying to banish the fog in his head. Then he fully opened them,
and sat up. The Weasleys were still beside him, Arthur giving him a
forced smile when he sat up. One of the Death Eaters glanced at him, then
left the room, leaving another two to guard them.
"Did I miss much?" He mumbled through a swollen jaw.
"Oh, you know, some threats, lots of stone walls, some more threats, then
a huge banquet with more food than I have ever seen." Said Mr Weasley.
"Really?"
"Yes, there were really lots and lots of stone walls and threats."
"Ah."
Then Death Eater returned, Sirius assumed it was the same one, because
he was now accompanied by the person he hated most in all the world.
"So, the dog is awake." Sirius was repulsed just by the man's voice, but
on the outside he remained calm. He felt Mr Weasley tremble slightly
beside him, then get control of himself. Sirius didn't reply. This never
seemed to make a difference, but Sirius didn't want to give Voldemort any
kind of satisfaction.
"Well, dog, it seems that you don't want to answer your master. That's a
shame, it may have prolonged your life. In three minutes, Harry Potter will
exit the Geolite room with a small present for me. Nothing extravagant,
just the means to rule the world forever." His cruel smile contorted his
face as the laugh of the Death Eaters echoed around the caves.
"Unfortunately, this means you all, as my most honoured guests, have
outstayed your welcome. I have no further use for you." He raised his
wand. Sirius refused to cringe away, he would die proud, facing his
enemy.
"Wait!" Sirius was startled at Mrs Weasley's voice. Voldemort very
slowly turned his head.
"Yes?" He asked, sounding curious and deadly all at the same time. He
shimmered slightly as he stepped through the magical field.
"I just...just wanted to...to say......." Her voice was trembling. Voldemort's
harsh smile widened. He stepped over to her, she was sat on the other side
of Arthur, hands secured behind her back.
"Yes?" He asked again, his wand pointed at her now. Sirius watched,
frozen, as her whimpering look suddenly became calculating. Time
seemed to slow for Sirius as her hand whipped out from behind her back,
something silver trailed through the air. There was a resounding
"CRACK!" and Sirius watched, astonished, as Voldemort went from
horizontal to vertical in one straight movement. As time got back to
normal, he looked in awe at Molly Weasley. One manacle was attached
around her wrist, the other swinging freely from the connecting chain like
a mace. Her face was set, and she whispered,
"Dog's need putting down." Before Sirius could say anything, the Death
Eaters started towards them wands raised, and he saw Voldemort twitch.
Well, hope had been good while it lasted.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Author's notes: Oooooo, tension. Well you knew you'd get another cliffie!
but everyone will be glad to know there are only another TWO PARTS!
this does not mean stop reviewing, if anything, review more! I know
Molly sounded a little Arnie Swazeneggor (sp?) at the end there, but I
wanted her to kick Voldie's ass, and as that didn't fit with the story, I
neede a witty put-down instead. *shrugs* Oh, and don't tell me Hagrid
couldn't have got the Psygator that quickly, just assume it was lolloping
happily around somewhere nearby, ok?