Disclaimer: I own the plot and Saerry Snape. Everything else is JKR's.
Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses
Chapter 33 ***Painful Dreams***
Hermione inched quietly into the small room she had left last night and never returned to. Draco had talked her out of returning. Or perhaps not talk exactly.
Hermione smirked at the thought of seeing the shock on Ron's face but then became sober as she saw Harry's hair spiking over the back of a chair. Entering the room she saw he was asleep, his head tilted to the side and leaning on his shoulder, breathing gently. For the first time since they had learned Voldemort had returned he looked peaceful.
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Harry's dreams were also peaceful for once. He was dreaming of the last summer he had spent at Ron's. The last time he had been truly free.
Suddenly the dream turned.
Everything went pitch black and Harry felt himself falling. He knew what would happen next.
"OOF!"
He landed with a loud thump on what felt like hard stone. Slowly he lifted himself up to his elbows and looked around. He appeared to be in an old castle, its bricks crumbling and broken. Up above him was the sky, the light of dawn just beginning to break across it. Rising to his feet he began walking.
After what seemed like hours he came to a large pair of wooden doors, some place on them rotted away. Carefully pushing them open he found himself looking into a Great Hall quite like the one at Hogwart's. But this hall had something Hogwart's did not.
Sirius, Ginny, and Saerry were all lying on the floor of the hall. Harry walked quickly over to his godfather and knelt beside him.
There were bruises all over Sirius' face, signs of physical torture. Though he remembered hearing that a lot of the Cruciatus Curse could make a person bruise. Sighing he turned to Ginny, who was in a little better condition than Sirius.
But only a little.
He could hear her breathing in uneven gasps, which scared him more than he wanted to admit.
Harry forced himself to turn from her and look at Saerry, the one of the three who had been imprisoned longest. She looked far, far worse than Sirius did. Bruises covered most of her face, neck, and arms and she was bleeding from a cut on her cheek. Besides that she didn't seem to be breathing normally. Looking at her chest rise and fall Harry saw a bulge that could only be a broken rib.
Inwardly he cursed.
"Dammit. This makes things worse. If Saerry doesn't get help soon she's going to die."
"A pity."
Harry didn't have to look to know who was there. The burning in his scar told him that much.
But he turned, rising and standing tall to stare at his adversary.
Green eyes met red and locked, glaring at each other.
After a moment Harry hissed, "I'm going to find you you bastard and this time I'm going to make sure your dead."
Voldemort simply shook his head and spoke in a voice like an overbearing parent to a rebellious child.
"My dear Harry. I have no doubts that you will find me. But will you do it before the Traitor's sister dies? She doesn't have much time left you know."
"You son of a bitch."
"Harsh words my boy. Harsh words."
Green eyes narrowed, turning deathly cold. "I am not your boy. And if you dare call me that again I'll kill you here and now."
Voldemort tsked. He said, "You know that's impossible Harry."
"I'll try anyway. Its worth a shot."
"Perhaps we would do better in person."
Harry snarled, "Then stop running. And return them." He jerked his head towards Sirius, Ginny, and Saerry. "You can have me instead."
Voldemort laughed and said, "Ah but I have a score to settle with Severus as well. He has slipped through my hands twice now."
"I congratulate him on that."
Voldemort smirked. "Let us make a deal. You and Severus for those three."
Harry narrowed his eyes.
"What sort of trick is this?"
"No trick Harry my boy. I simply have no interest in them." His red eyes glimmered as he smiled maliciously. "It is you and Severus I want."
Harry frowned, considering it for a moment.
"Time is running out."
Harry snapped, "Fine! We'll do it."
Voldemort smiled. "A fine choice Harry, a fine choice."
Harry felt sick at his stomach and turned to walk out of the great hall, forcing himself to leave.
As he got to the rotted doors Voldemort called out, "Oh and Harry?"
Harry turned and Voldemort said, "A going away present."
With that he drew his wand and turned towards Sirius. Harry yelled, "NO!" but the words were already off Voldemort's tongue.
"CRUCIO!"
Sirius screamed in pain and Harry woke from the dream with a yell, throwing himself out of the chair and onto the floor. He clutched at his scar, which was burning red hot, as he lay there on the floor, gasping for breath.
Suddenly a hand fell on his shoulder and he jumped.
"Harry?"
Hermione's voice penetrated his thoughts and he looked up at her. Struggling to find his voice, he croaked, "I know where they are."
As Hermione gasped he collapsed on the floor.
A/N: *gloomy voice* The end is neeear! ^^ Okay, I don't know if the end is near, I just felt like saying that. We might have forty chapters before the end, I'm not sure. Just have to wait and see won't we? J