Harry had to take a moment to realise what he was seeing was real. The wall of his tiny cell seemed to disintegrate in front of him.
Through the hole however came one person he could have done without seeing. Lucius Malfoy grabbed his arm tightly and pulled Harry to his feet.
"Where are you…" Began Harry,
"No questions, just keep up." Barked Lucius angrily before Harry could finish.
Harry fell easily into a silence, which was something he'd become fairly accustomed to.
Lucius led Harry through the dark corridors, which snaked around the castle. It was all territory previously unknown to Harry. The crisp, biting air was harsh against the skin and Harry soon realised that his meagre cloak had been left to warm the floor of his cell.
***
Auriellis stirred awake and jumped out of bed. She quickly discovered herself to be in a very different place to the familiar bedroom she'd expected.
Seeing her Uncle Albus asleep in a chair across the room and an unfamiliar but friendly looking woman curled up on the sofa next to her Auriellis felt safe enough in the strange place.
With a quiet gasp Auri took in the breathtaking office, wondering at the strange objects. She realised with a start that the occupants of the paintings on the walls were snoring and shifting in their sleep.
Her gaze was soon snatched away by the most amazing bird, it was sat on a perch behind her. Its feathers were blazing like fire.
Fawkes the phoenix let out a note of song, which awoke Dumbledore from his sleep.
"Uncle Albus! Where are we?" Asked Auriellis tearing her eyes away from the beautiful bird to look at her elderly relation.
"This is my office Auri. I brought you to Hogwarts." Replied Dumbledore, his voice slightly strained and his brow knitted into a worried frown.
"Why? What's wrong?" Asked Auriellis sitting down next to the sleeping McGonagall.
"I'm afraid that somehow Voldemort managed to find out where you lived." Said Dumbledore softly holding his young niece's gaze.
"What about Mum and Dad, and Jay. Are they here too?" Asked Auri her bright blue eyes becoming sharp and alert.
"I'm so sorry Auri. They're missing."
***
Harry was certain that he was being taken to Voldemort. He could feel the burning in his scar growing steadily more acute as they walked.
He was surprised to realise that he didn't feel scared. When we pondered on why that might be, he decided that he had already become resigned to the idea that Voldemort was planning something, and that it wasn't going to be nice for him. If I die, all I lose is this sorry excuse for a life. And pain is something I know far too well to be afraid of.
Perhaps Lupin was right. What I fear most is fear itself.
Even when the menacing cloaked figure came into view Harry failed to lose heart.
"Harry Potter. Glad to be out of your cell?"
Voldemort's cold harsh voice would previously have chilled Harry to the bone, but now he felt numb to its cutting edge.
"Not really, I prefer to be as far away from your stench as I can thanks." Replied Harry shrugging his shoulders.
"So, feeling cocky are we. Well, we'll see how you feel once you've met your guests."
After receiving a sharp prod in the back from Lucius Malfoy Harry stumbled forward and saw a man and a woman their feet and hands bound in rope and a small boy sitting at their feet, his wrists chained to the wall behind him.
"I don't even know these people." Said Harry, unable to tear his eyes from the boy's frightened gaze.
"Perhaps you don't, these muggles aren't important… certainly not to me. But their deaths will be, and that's where you come in Harry."
Harry finally looked back at Voldemort.
"What do you mean?" He asked angrily.
"Either you kill them, or I will kill all of you."
"I would prefer to die now, then to live my life a murderer. I will not become like you!" Replied Harry determinedly.
"Life is a fickle thing Harry… so is honour. You may think you've made the right choice, but what will you think after you see these muggles die the most horrible death because of your decision?" Taunted Voldemort twirling his wand nonchalantly.
Harry looked back at the little boy and his parents. He felt like they were his whole world. And Voldemort was going to destroy them.
"Either way I lose. I can't change that. But I wont let you win. I'll never let you win. And neither will the others." Said Harry defiantly edging towards the frightened family.
"The others? You mean the friends that have abandoned you?"
"They may or may not have abandoned me, but they will never let you win."
"Avada Kedavra!" Screeched Voldemort sending his green light of death towards the muggles.
"No!" Cried Harry diving forward, he pushed the boy out of the way just in time and the green light hit the wall behind them scorching a black stain into the stone.
"That was unwise Harry Potter, very unwise indeed. Crucio!"
Harry strained to see through the mist of pain, his reward for the effort was to see the muggles' terrified faces watching him anxiously and wincing.
Finally the pain receded.
"I think I'm going to have a little fun with these muggles now Potter, seeing as you seem so intent on extending their lives." Said Voldemort, with a sadistic smile.
"Imperio!"
***
Missing…
Her little brother, her parents, her family… Missing.
Dumbledore watched with a heavy heart as tears sprung up in Auriellis' eyes. He pulled the girl into a tight hug and stroked her hair gently.
"Don't cry Auri, we'll find them, I'll try my best."
"But they might be dead." She whispered twisting Dumbledore's beard between her fingers to try and stop her hands from shaking.
"I won't lie to you Auri, Voldemort doesn't usually spare lives. But there is hope… and I think that our hope is with Harry Potter."
"the boy from my dream, the one who was captured by Voldemort?" Asked Auri quietly.
"Yes. He's quite an exceptional boy."
Auri snuggled closer to her great uncle, taking comfort in his company, she felt protected and loved but her heart ached for her family.
"An exceptional boy…" She mumbled as she fell asleep again on Dumbledore's lap.
***
"No! Stop it! Don't do this to them! They don't deserve it." Yelled Harry desperately, watching as the muggles began attacking each other with horror in their eyes.
"They don't deserve it?" Questioned Voldemort with a cruel voice. "Who are you to judge what people deserve Harry? Don't you see, it's not about right and wrong, or what people deserve, it's about power Harry. I have it, and they threaten it, therefore I shall dispose of them."
"How can three muggles threaten you?" Asked Harry angrily glaring at the dark lord.
"Oh, not directly. Like I said, they themselves are not important. Nonetheless they must be eliminated."
"They aren't just cockroaches! They're people!" Shouted Harry
"I see no difference." Said Voldemort with an indifferent shrug.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A/N
I'm really sorry this was so delayed… Like I've said before, DoR is taking precedent, but seeing as that will be finished relatively soon… *crosses fingers*… I will get stuck into this one and 'shaping the future' soon!
Thanks to reviewers
Scarlet Phoenix – Yes my cliffys are my bread and butter,
sweets – time-turner and all that will be explained more and have significance later on… *g*
daydreamer (aka franny) – Thankyou me deary, riddles 4 eva!
star4ever – yay! Thankyou.
scorpioangel – thanks!
Kate Potter – blushes, ta!
KrystalB2000 – Sorry it took so long!
ole' green eyes – thanks
…And especially a certain baasheep who should be thanked for forcing me to finish this chapter today!
(You'll be first on my list should I ever consider getting someone else to write stuff!)
Lotsa Luv
Jona
x x x