And When The Dawn Begins
Chapter 11 – Torture
"Had enough yet, Potter?"
Lucius Malfoy glared at the wizard in front of him, enjoying the pain that was visible on his face. He had been enjoying this; the room he was currently stood in had remained unused for many years, but had been re-opened for this special purpose. He, and the other death eaters who were in the room, had found such a pleasure in treating the one who was the supposed saviour of the light side in such a manner. So far, they had used a variety of methods, none more pleasing than the traditional favourite, the iron maiden. And yet, all of it seemed to be without purpose; the boy never spoke, never cried out in pain, but simply let them carry on, let them get on with it. Their efforts were getting them nowhere.
Malfoy waited for an answer to his question, knowing full well that he would never get one.
"Enough," he finally said, "take him up to the cells, throw him in with the others, maybe they'll encourage him to end it all."
Harry remained still, showing no expression of his inward relief. They had finally finished. He was in more pain than he had ever been before, but refused to black out in their presence, they would not have that satisfaction. His entire body stung, the sharp nails he had been forced onto leaving their marks. His hand was dully aching, the hole that had been burned through it perhaps the cause. His eyelids felt like dead weights, crying out to be shut, his whole face aching with a variety of ailments. His legs felt weak as he was stood up, barely supporting his weight. The heavy wrist braces were once again attached to his arms, and he was led from the room.
They passed endless rooms, walking down corridor after corridor, meeting many other hooded figures as the continued along. The group finally drew to a halt outside a room with a large wooden door. Malfoy pulled the door forward, the hinges creaking loudly, running like the script of a horror film. Harry was marched in, still unaware of anything around him, merely concentrating on keeping consciousness. The wrist shackles were fixed to the wall, and Harry was left slumped in the corner of the room, his arms above his head, head held high. The death eaters left the room, shutting the door with another loud creak. Harry dropped his head as soon as they left, finally surrendering to the darkness.
**
"I've seen him."
The room fell silent, and all heads turned towards the potions master, whose face was pale and lined with worry.
"What do you mean, Severus?" McGonagall said sharply.
Snape ran a hand over his face before sitting down in one of the vacant chairs in the staff room.
"Potter, I mean Harry, er, whatever. Anyway, I've seen him. I went back to the castle today and-"
"Severus, what did you think you were doing, I told you to stop that, if Voldemort knows about you, then you can't keep going back!"
"I know, Albus, I know. I only went this once, I won't go back again, I promise."
"Fine, Snape," Remus snapped, "but what have you seen?"
"Well, I went to the meeting, when everybody was called. They had Potter there, on the floor, and…."
Professor Snape proceeded to explain what had happened, when he got to the part about Sirius disappearing, Dumbledore spoke up.
"Ah yes, Mr Black, we found him, still unconscious actually, in the infirmary now."
"Fine, but Albus, you can't leave Potter there, I don't know how much longer he'll last, most would have given up by now…"
**
"Disgraceful, that's what it is,"
"Bringing a child here, let alone treating him like this."
"I know he is the dark lord, but this is ridiculous."
"Hang on, he's waking up!"
Harry groaned slightly, and tried to rub his head, only to find that his hands were still chained to the wall.
"Don't strain dear, it'll use up your energy."
Harry looked up into the faces of several people stood around him, who were looking concerned.
"Who are you?" He asked, unable to think of a better question to start with.
"Prisoners just like yerself, I should think laddie,"
"Stuck here until someone deems it fit to set us free, unfortunately."
"And for no good reason either, I was just doing my shopping in Hogsmeade, when poof!"
"Joe Simmons, pleased to meet ya, this ere's Dave, and Annie."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said, wincing slightly at the pain shooting through his hand, still extremely confused, none of these people were chained up, and they all seemed happy!
"Who would you be then dear?"
"Harry," he replied.
"Oh, right, Harry who?"
"Potter," Harry mumbled, his head down slightly.
"Sorry lad, we didn't catch that'un."
Harry raised his head, "Potter, Harry Potter."
"Oh. Oh, Harry Potter as in, you know?"
Harry rolled his eyes slightly and shook his head to move the bangs surrounding his eyes, revealing the jagged scar. Dave bent down towards Harry, running his finger along the thin line, and then stood, his hand shaking slightly. His inmates fell silent, exchanging silent messages. If Harry Potter was here, and being treated like this then…
"How long have you been here, Harry?"
"I don't know, a while, I had my own cell before."
"How did you get captured? And why are you-"
"Why aren't I dead?" Harry sighed, "To tell you the truth, I don't really know, I think he wants me on his side, but I won't join and so he's just keeping me here until I do die."
The three prisoners seemed appalled at this, and started talking amongst themselves, whispering so that Harry could only hear small snippets of their conversation. They were disrupted by a ripping noise. Turning around, they found Harry ripping a strip off his robes.
"What-?"
"How?"
The three faces were blank with amazement, staring at the boy sat in front of them. Harry looked up.
"What?"
"How did you.." Dave trailed off
"What?"
"What my friend 'ere means laddie," Joe said, shaking his head in wonder, "is 'ow the heck did'ya manage to ger'out o' those cuffs?"
"Oh."
Harry looked around at the wall to find the cuffs innocently attached to the wall.
"I have no idea." He said slowly, "but then, I guess I'm used to strange things happening, whose to know what's responsible for them." Shrugging, he returned to tearing his robes.
He finally held a long strip in his hand, as well as some smaller pieces, and, somewhat without hope, asked if anyone had any water. Once he had been handed a glass of water, which remained from their last meal, he carefully poured some of it on a piece of material, and started to clean the hole through his hand. When he deemed it vaguely hygienic, he bound it with the long strip, and then stood carefully up, his legs still shaking like jelly. He then walked to the door, looked out of the bars in the wooden door, and down the corridor, looking for the three fairy sisters.
The three friends watched Harry quietly.
"He's an odd un he is, but brave a' the same time. Did you see the hole in his 'and, and he just bandaged it up, calm as you like!"
"It's too much responsibility, that's what is, I always pictured Harry Potter as some great hero, but look at him, he's only 14 or 15 at the most."
"He takes it well though, doesn't complain much-"
"Shit!"
Their discussion was cut off as Harry span around from looking through the bars, and ran towards the corner he had previously been sat in.
"What is it Harry?"
"Someone's coming!"
Harry sat and desperately tried to get the shackles back onto his wrists. Finally, he turned around so that he was no longer looking at what he was doing, and forced his hand through. The crack as his bones broke rang through the cell. He repeated this on his other hand, and then sat down in the corner. Just as he sat, the door opened and The Dark Lord himself walked into the cell, flanked by death eaters.
"Well, Potter, are you ready to try out your powers again, we have a number of opportunities in this very room!"
Harry looked up in horror at the people stood beside him.
"I won't, you can't make me!"
"I made you kill your mudblood friend, I shall keep making you until you start to do it without assistance. Crucio"
Harry bit his lip as the pain rushed through him, and his friends winced in sympathy.
"Imperio"
The familiar, glazed look came over Harry's eyes, and he turned towards the three. His wrists seemed to glow, and the shackles fell to the floor. His hand was raised towards them when-
"NO!"
He snapped his head up, and lowered his arm.
"I won't do it, I've had enough, I won't."
"Very well, Potter. Nagini, come."
The giant serpent slithered in, winding herself around her master's feet. Her hissing understood only by two people in the room.
"Nagini," Voldemort hissed, "bite him."
Before Harry could react, the snake struck out towards him, sinking her fangs deep into his ankle.
Disclaimer – I own nothing –JK Rowling owns all.