Harry was so tired he could no longer stand, his empty stomach growled incessantly and he couldn't continue to ignore the hunger pains.
His shudders of hatred went almost unnoticed between the trembles from the cold, but it was there in his eyes, plain to see. He hated Voldemort for all he was worth. Glaring at the wall of his cell he could not be shifted from the thoughts of revenge and pulsating anger that plagued his mind.
"So Harry. Thought any more about what we discussed before?"
The sudden appearance of Voldemort's cold hateful voice no longer surprised Harry.
"I'll never do your will you piece of slime!" Growled Harry venomously.
"A persistent heart can still be broken." Replied Voldemort his voice remaining calm and supercilious.
"You wont break me!" Yelled Harry.
"I wont have to." Returned Voldemort cryptically.
Harry frowned more deeply but said nothing.
"Enjoy your meal Harry." Said Voldemort, and then the voice disappeared.
Harry's eyebrows shot up at the sight of a bowl of steaming hot gruel, which to Harry was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He ate ravenously at first, but even before the bowl was half empty he found he could eat no more.
Despite the warmth from the first meal in days and the full stomach a shiver ran down Harry's spine… He's keeping me alive… He thought gloomily.
***
Auriellis snuggled against Uncle Albus and flicked her wand around, imagining all the spells she would learn to do with it. They were riding the Knight Bus home and she was sleepy from the busy day of shopping.
"We're going to Hogwarts tomorrow." She said dreamily.
"Yes my dear." Said Dumbledore smiling fondly.
"I still can't believe it."
Auriellis' wand gave off a few extra sparks as though it shared her excitement.
"I'm sure you'll enjoy every second of it." Said Dumbledore hugging the precious girl gently.
"Hmm, yeah." Murmured Auri as she drifted off to sleep, her head falling against Dumbledore's shoulder.
***
Harry managed to force back his negative feelings about Voldemort's reasoning and instead concentrated on how nice it felt to have a full stomach for the first time in ages. He soon fell asleep…
Harry's heart leapt with excitement. There was Dumbledore! His mentor, the one person he'd always trusted. Then he realised he was dreaming and he looked away. With a sinking heart Harry looked back up. He realised that Dumbledore looked a lot younger than he'd remembered. And he was holding a tiny girl in his arms.
Harry strained to hear what the headmaster was saying.
"I'm so sorry Auri. You aren't safe living with me. You'll be safer in the muggle world. And maybe Tom won't find you here. I couldn't bear to loose you as well."
Auri… the name was so familiar… but where from?
Harry watched with growing interest as Dumbledore handed the squirming toddler to a smiling couple.
The headmaster was obviously upset and turned away as soon as the girl was safely in the woman's arms.
Harry watched in surprise as Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out a large golden time-turner, which he turned 6 times before disappearing.
The scene dissolved and Harry found himself looking instead at a girl of about 7, she was walking along the road when she saw a toddler nearly get hit by a car. The child was magically thrown away from the wheels. Harry didn't doubt that it had been Auri's work.
Finally Harry saw the girl in question staring back at him in surprise with bright blue eyes that she could only have inherited from Dumbledore himself.
"Harry!"
He was surprised to hear her address him.
"Hi Auri." He mumbled
"Uncle Albus says you go to Hogwarts."
"Uncle Albus?" Questioned Harry.
"Yeah. Are you still captured?" Asked Auri suddenly.
"Yes. But for some reason Voldemort is keeping me alive." Replied Harry feeling acute longing in his chest for his comfortable dorm and his smiling friends.
"Voldemort killed my family you know." Said Auri quietly, "Why would he deliberately keep you alive?"
"He killed my family as well, and he's been trying to kill me ever since, I don't know why he won't do it now." Said Harry frowning.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm sure everything will work out in the end." Said Auri concern blazing in her very familiar eyes.
Suddenly Harry's scar started to burn ferociously and the dream shattered into pieces bringing him back to reality like a harsh slap.
***
Dumbledore felt Auriellis tense up beside him and her lips started to move soundlessly.
She's dreaming
Suddenly her eyes shot open and her hand shot to her forehead.
"Harry!" She shouted.
Dumbledore looked at Auriellis' frightened face and felt icy fear creep through him.
"What was it? What did you see?" He asked, with more urgency than he would have wanted.
"I… I… It was Harry, that boy I saw before. He told me that Voldemort still had him and that he was keeping him alive and he didn't know why… Then all of a sudden he cried out in pain clutching that weird scar on his head and I felt a twinge in my head as well, then he disappeared and I woke up."
Dumbledore was relieved. At least Harry wasn't dead. But he realised that he couldn't rely on that to last.
"Thankyou for telling me Auri, I want you to always come to me when you have these dreams alright?"
She nodded still looking rather shocked and a bit frightened at what had happened.
"And don't worry about Harry. I have faith in him. He'll get through this. And I'll be doing my best to make sure of it."
Nodding her acceptance Auriellis snuggled back into Dumbledore's side and was quiet until they reached her home, which she would be leaving the next morning.
Dumbledore didn't want to wake her when they arrived at their destination. She looked so peaceful. But when he saw what awaited them outside he had to grab the handrail of the bus.
"Mercy! Ern! Get us outta here!" Yelled Stan the conductor, his money belt falling to the ground and spilling coins across the floor.
Auriellis stirred and woke up.
Dumbledore nodded at Ern to do what Stan had asked and mouthed 'Hogwarts', before rushing over to keep Auriellis from seeing the wreck of a house and the dark mark, shimmering green and ominous in the sky above.
As soon as they arrived at Hogwarts Dumbledore landed the slumbering form of Auriellis into the arms of a confused and flustered Professor McGonagall before rushing away.
McGonagall blinked a couple of times at the sleeping girl before looking up just in time to see Dumbledore disappear as soon as he reached the apparition boundary.
Overcoming her shock McGonagall muttered a calming spell on the sleeping girl and whisked her away to Dumbledore's office where she laid her on the couch and covered her with a soft red blanket.
"I don't know who you are, but I suppose I'm meant to look after you. I don't know what Albus is playing at, but he looked frightened. He normally hides it so well… I dread to think what's happened." Muttered McGonagall, half to Auri and half to herself.
***
Dumbledore found himself just as shocked the second time as he took in the ruins of the Morrisons' house.
He searched the wreckage for any sign of Auriellis' family. But with a worried frown he acknowledged their absence.
How on Earth will I explain this to Auri in the morning?
He thought solemnly as he lowered his wand from casting the 'obscuros' charm and made ready to return to Hogwarts where he would find McGonagall and Auri slumped on the sofas of his office ignorant of the night's horrors.
***
The morning in question was a beautiful one, but for Harry it was one he couldn't enjoy. The pain in his scar which had stolen him from his dreams had been only a prelude to the pain inflicted on him throughout the night.
Harry had never known Voldemort to be so angry.
"Filthy scum failed to me, why I ever kept that piece of vermin around is beyond me. Treacherous piece of slime."
Harry had never found out who had displeased the dark lord, but although Voldemort never actually said what had happened somehow Harry knew. One of the death Eaters had been meant to capture Auri and had failed.
*~*~*~*~*
A/N
In the wealth of free time (*sniggers*) which half-term week affords I have managed to squeeze out another chapter! Yay for me!
As for DoR Chapter 47 is finished/posted.
And as for Shaping The Future (Sequel to LYW) Part 2 will be done soon!!!