Disclaimer: The usual. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling etc.
The Secret Keeper
Chapter XV
For a brief moment, Harry and Ron stared at each other, a mixture of amazement and understanding on their faces.
"Ron?" Harry exclaimed incredulously, "What are you doing here?"
"Harry! Geez, I knew you'd be stupid enough to come after me-"
"Don't flatter yourself! I'm afraid I wasn't that stupid afterall. The Death Eaters showed up at Godric's Hollow. Sirius and Arabella are back in the cell."
As he finished speaking, Harry felt something long and pointed poking him in the small of the back and pushing him onward. Wormtail's wand. He marched ahead with Ron, desperately sorry that his friend had become caught up in his plight. Ron seemed unharmed, just tired and a little dirty, and Harry was glad that the awkwardness that had arisen between them following Percy's death seemed to have vanished. Smiling, Ron glanced sideways at him, considering.
"Godric's Hollow? Isn't that where your Mum and Dad…"
"Yeah."
"What were you doing there?"
"Looking around. Listen, Ron, Voldemort has my wand. If you see it, try to get it, or at least get my attention."
Ron shivered at the mention of Voldemort's name but Harry was perfectly used to this. He desperately wanted to explain everything that had happened since Ron had run away, especially since his friend seemed so, well, friendly and glad to see him. Ron was still grinning at him, even as they marched down the halls of Azkaban possibly to their deaths, and ridiculously enough, Harry noticed that his hair seemed redder when he was smiling. He suddenly realised, with a jolt of sadness, just how much he had missed having Ron around to make fun of him and laugh at his press coverage. It was fun having Sirius for a friend, but Ron was different. He wasn't afraid to mock him or make him seem ridiculous. Sirius, on the other hand, sometimes seemed positively terrified of upsetting his godson, perhaps due to his sense of guilt about his parents' death. Strangely enough, however, Harry regretted this, as he didn't want Sirius to think that there was anything he could ever say that would upset him enough to make him hate him. Ron knew how much he could get away with and this offered welcome relief from the hordes of people who seemed either to hero-worship him or to wait for him to break down in tears for his troubled life. Right now, however, Ron seemed to have other things on his mind besides his best friend's problems.
"Is Mum really mad at me?"
"No, just worried. The entire wizarding world has been out searching for you, you know. By the way, searching Snape's office was a stroke of genius!"
"Thanks, Harry. I knew you'd appreciate it! What's going to happen to us now?"
"After Snape takes fifty points from Gryffindor? I don't know… 'Just your typical showdown with Voldemort, I guess. Hey! What happened to my Dad's cloak?"
"Oh, geez, I'm really sorry Harry. I suppose it must be back on the hill where Malfoy caught me-"
"Be quiet!" Wormtail hissed in the darkness behind them.
To Ron's utter dismay, Harry unexpectedly swung around and with surprising strength and speed grabbed Wormtail's wand from his grasp. Pettigrew staggered back in shock as Harry turned his wand against him, a look of pure hatred seeming incongruous on his childish face. Ron glared at Harry admiringly as he advanced on Pettigrew. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other Death Eater reach for his wand. Without thinking, Ron threw himself upon the tall black-robed figure, knocking him to the ground, and began pounding him with his fists. Through the commotion he heard Harry's voice call out.
"Expelliarmis!"
The Death Eater's wand flew through the rancid air and Harry caught it deftly before passing it to Ron as he struggled to free himself from a tangle of robes. Harry pointed Wormtail's wand at the dementors who seemed to be becoming excited at the sudden surge in emotions.
"Expecto Patronum!"
The dementors recoiled in fear as the enormous white stag erupted from the tip of Pettigrew's wand. Ron could barely conceal how he impressed he was as the ghost Prongs ran down the corridor, its silvery hair glistening in the darkness. Within seconds Harry found himself alone with Ron and the two Death Eaters in the cool dark corridor. He glanced anxiously from Ron to Wormtail, but seeing his own anxiety matched in Ron's brown eyes, he nodded in understanding. Together they raised their wands at the Death Eaters.
"Stupefy!" they chorused.
The two Death Eaters slumped to the floor unconscious. Ron approached Wormtail's lifeless form and kicked him roughly in the ribs, smiling apologetically at Harry.
"Well at least I didn't kill him! Come on…"
Ron turned to run back in the direction of the cell holding Sirius and Arabella but stopped a short way down the corridor as he realised Harry was not with him. Harry was standing uncertainly over Wormtail's body.
"Harry, come on! We have to get Sirius and Arabella and get out of here!"
Ron looked at Harry and could see the terrible internal conflict he was in.
"No. Listen Ron, I can't go. Get Sirius and Arabella, and find a way out. Make sure Sirius doesn't try to come after me! I'll follow you if I can-"
"What are you talking about? Come on, there's no time…"
"I have to get my wand-"
"For God's sake, Harry! You can get a new wand… Harry! Damn it…"
Ron stomped his feet in frustration as Harry ran off in the
opposite direction. Why was Harry being so stupid? It's just a wand! I'll
get Sirius…
***
This is really stupid, and you know it! Go back! Help Ron, Sirius and Arabella find a way out. You're really going to get yourself killed this time… Harry tried to ignore the doubt that was slowly consuming his mind. He couldn't leave without the Penna. To do so would undermine everything his parents had done to save him. It was his duty to protect it, no matter what. 'But what are you going to do? Voldemort already has it. He's probably already out there, killing muggles and enslaving the world…Somehow, however, Harry suspected that he would know if Voldemort had discovered the Penna. His scar was burning slightly, but not enough to warrant any fear of Voldemort's becoming more powerful. Maybe there was still time for him to retrieve it.
Harry slowed down and began to walk. Azkaban appeared to be
nothing more than a maze of identical corridors and metal doors, with no clear
layout. The walls seemed to have been carved out of the very rock comprising
the island and were cool and damp to the touch. Harry continued to walk blindly
onward, shivering slightly in the cold and knowing that he was completely lost.
He couldn't return to Ron and the others now even if he wanted to. He stopped
suddenly, glaring at the walls suspiciously. This is useless. I'm sure I've
been in this corridor before…I know-
Harry laid Wormtail's wand flat on his palm and muttered, "Point me!" Instantly the wand spun around like a compass. Right. I'll leave my watch here as a marker. Harry took off his watch, which was still broken since the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, laid it on the floor, and began walking northward.
***
Not very far away, Sirius, Arabella and Ron stood nervously outside their cell, staring at the wand balancing on Ron's hand.
"Right. Pick a direction: north, south, east or west-"
"North." Arabella chimed.
"North?! Harry wouldn't go north", Sirius drawled exasperatedly.
"Why not?" Ron and Arabella demanded.
"Because… I know my godson and he wouldn't go north. That's why."
"Alright then, Mr. Know-it-all, which way would he go, then?" Arabella asked, smiling sympathetically at Ron.
"That's easy. South, of course."
"Oh, of course", said Arabella as she raised her eyes to the ceiling, "How stupid of me! Come on, then…"
***
Harry continued navigating his way through the dark passages, occasionally checking that he was headed in the right direction with Wormtail's wand, but his feet were beginning to drag and he felt exhausted. It seemed like he had been walking for hours, yet he had only had to call on his Patronus once when a pair of dementors had blocked his path. Other than that, his journey had been eerily quiet and undisturbed.
Wearily, he sat down on the icy floor and let his head rest
against the hard wall. Perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea afterall.
Azkaban seemed enormous, with more passages and rooms than Hogwarts. Harry
suddenly understood the enormity of his godfather's achievement. Breaking out
of Azkaban must have been nearly impossible, and Sirius had done it without a
wand. No wonder Fudge had been so afraid of him. How on earth did he do it?
Well, he certainly didn't do it sitting around, Potter…
Sighing, Harry got to his feet and trudged onward. He turned around the corner and stopped in fright. Ahead of him lay a huge stone tunnel, and he was certain he had seen it before, perhaps in a dream. The ceiling extended high above his head, and at the far end of it he could discern a large, brightly lit cavern. Harry tightened his grip on his wand and proceeded cautiously down the tunnel toward the light, his senses alert to the slightest hint of danger. He stopped at the entrance to the cavern and peered inside, suddenly regretting the absence of his invisibility cloak. The cavern was lit with torches and a large central fire, behind which stood an impressive throne.
And on the throne were four wands.
Harry gasped and looked around. There didn't seem to be anyone in the vicinity. Harry quickly ran into the room, his face set in grim determination, and hurried over to the throne. His wand was right there! He would just take it and run out. It would be as easy as that…
But-
"Hello, Harry! I've been waiting for you…"
Harry stopped at the sound of the high cold voice behind his
back. Just get the wand-
"Oh! You want your wand back. What a shame. Accio!"
Harry ducked as all four wands flew off the seat and raced through the air. Defeated, he turned around to face his foe. Lord Voldemort had not changed a great deal since their last encounter. Harry grimaced at the familiar thin, pale, reptilian face, with its slit-like nose and red eyes. Voldemort was also better attired than last time, dressed in deep emerald robes with a black sash and cloak. He smiled menacingly at Harry while discarding some of the wands in a bemused manner onto the floor.
"As you can see I've borrowed your little summoning charm…most effective, I thank you. Oh, and don't worry, Harry. There are no portkeys here. You'll leave when I have finished with you, but right now we have important business."
Harry raised Wormtail's wand nervously, wondering what would happen if he duelled with a wand whose core was unrelated to that of Voldemort's wand.
"I believe that belongs my servant-"
Voldemort pointed a long, thin, bony finger at Harry, who immediately felt his grip on the wand loosening. He stared in shock as his fingers were pulled back one by one and the wand shot forward to land at the Dark Lord's feet. Voldemort stepped over it and approached Harry, who suddenly felt very small and exposed. As Voldemort aimed his wand at his heart, however, Harry remained standing upright, determined not to cower before his parents' killer. Voldemort glared at him thoughtfully through his bright ruby eyes.
"Whatever did you do with Wormtail? I know you didn't kill him, despite your recent success with that particular curse. Yes, I know about that…Well, whatever you did to the old rat was pointless, really, since he was ordered to bring you here anyway. You know why have been brought you here, do you not? You have the Penna Potissimus. Now, give it to me!"
***
Sirius stopped and stared stupidly at the dead end ahead of him. He could feel Arabella's stern, knowing gaze on his back, and sense Ron trying not to giggle. Resignedly, he turned around to face them.
"Alright, maybe he didn't go south afterall…"
"'And maybe you don't know your godson as well as you think you do!" Arabella retorted.
"Yeah, well, James would have gone south", Sirius muttered under his breath, careful not to catch Arabella's eye.
"What do we do now?" Ron asked timidly.
"We go north, and prove to old Padfoot here that he shouldn't be so quick to doubt female intuition in future!"
Ron glanced sympathetically at Sirius, who's face remained blank with surprise. As they turned back around and began walking, Ron and Arabella chuckled as they heard Sirius grumbling to himself.
"I can't believe he didn't go south…"
***
As Voldemort advanced on him, Harry took a step backward trying to avoid the terrifying gaze that kept driving a dagger of pure agonising pain through his scar. Voldemort held his wand outstretched, waiting for Harry's response. His mind was reeling. Voldemort didn't realise the Penna was in his wand! Now, if he could only get it back…
"I don't know what you mean…" he tried pathetically.
"Well, maybe this will jog your memory: Crucio solo infinitum!"
The curse hit Harry square in the chest and he collapsed to the floor, struggling for breath. It was an agony beyond anything he had ever experienced and as he feebly clutched his arms to his chest in pain, he was aware of his vision fading in and out. He inhaled desperately in great, wracking heaves that succeeded only in sending an unmerciful spasm of pain across his diaphragm. Harry continued to squirm on the hard floor, oblivious to his surroundings and the evil wizard watching him with unconcealed pleasure. His head began to pound deafeningly as he hyperventilated and he found himself almost praying that he would black out as he had last time. It was sheer agony to breathe, but the more he tried to stop inhaling, the worse his hyperventilating became. He heard, as if through a haze, Voldemort's voice speaking quietly in his ear.
"You'd like this to end, wouldn't you Harry?"
Harry opened his eyes wide, but could not speak through the pain and his struggle for breath. Voldemort's face flickered oddly before his eyes, and Harry had the sudden terrible thought that this would be the last thing he saw before he died, just like his parents. No, I won't let him win. I won't! With a sudden burst of adrenalin, Harry glared defiantly at Voldemort and struggled to his knees. His head seemed strangely heavy, threatening to pull him back down to the floor, but Harry forced it to remain upright. Weakly he stood before his enemy, still gasping for air and unable to see properly. He felt terribly dizzy, and the cavern seemed to be sloping around him in an odd manner, but he could sense Voldemort's surprise that he was back on his feet. With a rush of excitement and pride Harry also realised that he could sense his opponent's fear, as if suddenly Voldemort had begun to doubt himself.
"You don't give in, do you Harry?"
Harry heard Voldemort's voice, rich with suggestion and malice, but it no longer scared him; it just angered him. The pain in his chest began to subside and his breathing became easier. Standing before him, the image of Voldemort sharpened, still with his wand pointed straight at him.
"I'll ask you again, Harry. Where is the Penna Potissimus?"
"I'll never tell you!" he croaked through his gasps for air, "It doesn't matter what you do to me…I'll – never – tell."
"I doubt that, Harry. I can keep this up for the rest of your miserable life, if need be. Crucio solo infinitum!"
***
Ron checked his wand again before leading Sirius and Arabella down another corridor. Sirius nodded grimly at him and walked up beside him. Sirius had been next to him ever since his little quarrel with Arabella, apparently still peeved at her for proving him wrong. Ron smiled wanly at Arabella, who stayed behind them. She returned his smile, glancing at Sirius and then raising her eyes upward. And so they continued walking in complete silence, silence that was broken only occasionally by Sirius growling to himself. After a while, however, Sirius halted and ran forward to pick something small and glistening up from the floor.
"What is it?" Arabella asked, forgetting she was not supposed to be talking to him.
"Harry's watch! That's strange, it doesn't work. Well at least we know he must have come this way…Sorry, I guess you were right."
"Well, I am his godmother. I am allowed to know him too, am I not?"
"I suppose…"
A warm, genuine smile stole naturally across Sirius' face and Ron had the sudden horrible suspicion that they were going to start kissing right there in front of him. Feeling a blush rising in his cheeks, he turned away and walked a short distance ahead, his insides squirming as he heard their lips meeting. He was grateful when the corridor he was in took a sharp turn to the right, shielding them from his view. He found himself in yet another long, dark hallway lined with metal doors. Great…we'll never find Harry at this rate.
"Come on, you two!" he called angrily around the corner.
Arabella arrived, followed by Sirius who seemed rather breathless but happy. Ron turned away to hide his disgust as Sirius winked at Arabella and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her along down the corridor behind him. They marched on, each deep in their own thoughts and saying nothing until suddenly the silence was shattered by a terrible anguished scream piercing the depths of Azkaban. Sirius halted, his face paling as he recognised the pained voice.
"Harry!"
Sirius broke into a run, followed closely by Arabella and Ron. Harry's voice had sounded tantalisingly close, perhaps only a few corridors away, but it had been wracked with unmistakable agony. They had to get to him quickly. The three hurried onward, grateful at the surprising lack of dementors patrolling the prison. Presently the long narrow corridor turned around a sharp bend into a large open tunnel. There was a warm haze of light emanating from a cavern at the opposite
end, and Sirius grabbed the wand out of Ron's hand and rushed toward it. Another agonized yell confirmed their suspicions. It was indeed Harry. Without warning, Sirius dashed into the cavern. Arabella yelped and grabbed Ron by the shoulder to stop him entering. She tugged on his robes to hide him from view.
***
The pain suddenly subsided and Harry opened his eyes. Voldemort seemed to have been distracted, so Harry took advantage of the painless lull to catch his breath and steady his shaking body. As he struggled to sit up, he noted that he had never ached so much in his life. Voldemort had been ruthless, cursing him time and again. After a while he had even stopped questioning him about the Penna, apparently just inflicting pain for the pleasure of it. Harry's vision still seemed strangely blurred and as he raised his hands to rub his eyes he realised that he had lost his glasses. He began searching the stone floor for them, the activity drawing his awareness away from the pain. He discovered his glasses a short distance away, miraculously intact. Before he could put them on, however, a familiar voice filled him with dread. Surely Sirius had left with Ron as he had instructed. This couldn't be real.
"Leave him alone! Haven't you done enough damage?"
It was Sirius. Oh, God. What is he doing here? Harry shoved his glasses on and stood up slowly, gripping the throne for support. He looked at Sirius standing boldly before Lord Voldemort and felt suddenly afraid. Voldemort had his back turned to Harry and was pointing his wand straight at Sirius.
"No!" Harry screamed with greater confidence than he felt, "Don't kill him! Please, I'll do anything…"
Voldemort did not turn but kept his icy glare trained on Sirius.
"Anything, Harry? Very well. You know what I want."
"You know I can't give you that."
Sirius looked questioningly at Harry, apparently confused. Voldemort, however, ignored this.
"Then he dies. Avada Ked-"
"Wait!" Harry yelled, "This is pointless. You could kill all my friends and I still wouldn't give it to you. Don't you understand? My mother died to save me so that I could protect it. Do you really think I would let her death be in vain? There are more lives at stake here than my own, or my friends'. I can't possibly give it to you…"
Harry stopped speaking, the silence around him broken only by the gentle flickering of the fire. Feeling utterly exhausted, he walked around to stand next to Sirius. A stalemate seemed to have arisen, but Harry was too tired to notice. Without realising what he was doing, his eyes closed and he slumped heavily onto the floor, aware only of the weight of his bones and the pain permeating them. He heard Voldemort's voice as if from far away.
"Very well, Harry. If you won't give it to me through torture, your godfather's death or the Imperius Curse, I shall create a Secret Keeper who is easier to control. Weasley! Why don't you stop hiding in the tunnel and be of service to your friend? Severus, bring him in, the woman too…"
A/N: Haha, I bet you're all really confused now. Don't worry, all will be explained in the next part. See if you can guess! Not much else to say really, just a big, fluffy thank you with strawberry sauce and sprinkles to the few kind reviewers who successfully braved Fido's attack and managed to review. The next chapter may take awhile as I want to get it just right. Please be patient and understand that it will be worth the wait. By the way, when I say it will take a while, I mean a week to ten days at most. Anyway, thanks to:
The wonderful Coqui who has actually offered to beta read. Thank you so much. There's a knickerbocker glory the size of the Empire state building on its way to you.
Caitlyn: It must be you who put these ice cream cravings in my head. How could you? Don't you know that I associate strawberry with ice cream? Argh! lol. Anyway, your socks sound cool! I'm jealous J
*cocacola* : Glad you liked it. You get the Pear William.
Nagh: Great. Hope you like banana splits…
Nameless: Thanks! Don't worry. Hardly anyone could review last time thanks to ff.net. I hope this part is okay. It's really just a connecting chapter, though. All the good exciting stuff is in the next one, so keep an eye out! How about a Peach Melba…
Dunno: I wrote as quickly as I could. The big showdown with Voldie is in the next chapter, and I'll give you a little hint. Harry will have some help from two unlikely sources (or maybe three…I have to work this out.). Anyway, you get a Colour Ripple. Don't complain, they're yummy.
CTRsoccer: Great. Have a cornetto…
Sorry for all the ice cream references. I have a terrible craving. I think it's Caitlyn's fault. I better go have some…
Pleiades
