Chapter 25 –
The Boy Who Lived?
"As
for your Godfather… All in good time" Snarled Voldemort.
Severus
Snape saw the fear that flickered in Harry's eyes.
He
couldn't believe that even Harry Potter would have done anything so stupid…
Giving
himself up to Voldemort…
After
all everyone had done for him…
But
he'd seen the determination in Harry's face when he'd made his demands to
Voldemort.
"Wormtail
will take very good care of your Godfather Harry… But until then, I have one thing to ask of you…"
Severus
cringed as the dark lord's eye fell on him,
"Severus
here has been preparing a potion which requires one last ingredient… A drop of your blood."
"Crabbe, the dagger, if you please." Said
Snape, silkily.
The
blundering oaf took out a glittering silver dagger and pressed it into Severus'
hand clumsily.
As
he approached Harry he looked into the boy's eyes, they showed not anger or
fear, but pure sympathy and understanding.
Trying
desperately not to show the gratitude that he felt Snape rolled up Harry's
sleeve and in the same place as last year Harry's blood was shed.
With
slightly shaking hands Severus took a few drops of the crimson blood in a vile.
Unwilling
to look again into Harry's eyes lest they show the anger he'd expected before, he
turned around and bowed down low to the ground before leaving to finish his
potion.
The
Polyjuice potion.
He
heard Voldemort's remark to Harry as he left,
"You
know no doubt that a polyjuice potion made with blood lasts for a lot longer
than normal…"
~~~*~~~*~~~
When
he returned to the throne room a few minutes later holding the goblet of potion
Severus noticed that Harry was nowhere to be seen. He strode over to Voldemort his eyes glued to the floor, and held
out the goblet.
Then
he backed away quickly rejoining the circle of Death Eaters
"My
servants, we are a family are we not?
And families ought to be loyal.
It is sad when one of the members of a family breaks the code…"
Said
Voldemort quietly.
Snape
was fighting the mad urge to run away, he was waiting for his name to be
singled out as the traitor,
"It
is therefore our solemn duty to punish those who cannot be trusted." Continued Voldemort.
All
of the Death Eaters shivered,
"We
have among us one who was originally only to be punished, but I feel, due to
our need for a sacrificial lamb, that now, death might be more appropriate."
Surely
he would single him out soon, thought Snape clenching his fists.
"Bring
them in Wormtail!"
Peter
Pettigrew entered bringing in two floating, stunned, bodies behind him. Severus recognised them as Sirius Black and
the ex-death eater, ex-headmaster of Durmstrang, Karkaroff.
"We
shall administer the potion to our old friend Karkaroff here, and then Mr Sirius
Black will bear witness to the murder of his godson at the hands of
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Voldemort's
laugher rang around the hall as Wormtail tipped the contents of the goblet down
Karkaroff's throat and he began to shrink into the body of The-Boy-who-Lived.
Severus
watched sadly as Karkaroff/Harry's hands were bound behind him and he was stood
up against the far wall. Sirius was
placed across the room facing the wall.
"Everything
is arranged. Let the show begin!" Cried Voldemort, his red eyes blazing
greedily.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Harry's
head was spinning, what on earth had happened?
He tried to sit up, he found that his hands had been bound behind his
back. He blinked a few times and
strained to see in the darkness.
"Harry?"
The
whispering of his name made Harry jump.
"Yes?" He whispered back.
"Stay
absolutely still."
Harry
recognised the strained voice. It was
Snape's voice.
"What's
going on?"
"For
now just trust me and stay still." Came
the harsh reply.
Harry
thought for a second that it was quite a lot for Snape to ask, but for some
reason he felt compelled to trust the man who he knew had hated him for so
long.
He
did as he was told, still trying to strain his eyes to see. But the blackness was dense and he couldn't
make anything out.
"Okay,
it's a bit safer now, you can move."
Said Snape quietly.
"Professor,
where am I?" Asked Harry.
"You're
in a cell, Voldemort had to keep you out of the way while he staged your
death…"
Harry
shuddered,
"Why
fake my death? Why not just kill
me?" He asked,
Snape
seemed reluctant to say anything but eventually he spoke.
"He
has a plan for you… You won't like it."
"Just
tell me." Said Harry defiantly.
"He
plans to use an ancient spell which drains a person's personality, makes them
forget who they are, it's more than just memory loss, it's… Well it's not good. And if he succeeds then he'll be able to
control you with the imperious curse and your new powers will fall into his
hands."
Harry
felt like his stomach had turned to lead, the feeling of guilt was almost
unbearable, he couldn't bear the thought of being to blame for giving Voldemort
even more power.
"So…
What do you suggest we do Professor?"
Asked
Harry quietly.
There
was a pause. Snape was giving his reply
deep thought,
Harry
was also thinking, his mind racing frantically for a solution, and then he
found one, not a good one, but a failsafe if all else was lost.
"Professor,
if we don't find a way out of this, there is one thing you could do."
"What
is it Potter?"
"If
Voldemort manages to control me. You'll
have to kill me."
There
was a long drawn out silence.
"Professor?"
"I
know, but I hope it won't come to that."
Said Snape angrily
Harry
felt his hands being untied and flexed them, rubbing his sore wrists.
"So,
let me get this straight. Voldemort has
released Sirius, but Sirius thinks I'm dead…"
"As
well as everybody else at Hogwarts."
Added Snape.
Harry
frowned. He hated the thought that his
Godfather, and everybody he cared about were being fooled that way. He looked down at his hands but through the
darkness could not make them out.
"Professor,
where are we, and why is it so dark?"
Asked Harry, rubbing his eyes.
"Voldemort
wants you to use your 'powers' to light the place up… To be honest I'm surprised you haven't done so already."
Harry
shook his head, "I haven't ever controlled these powers yet." He said regretfully.
"Well,
maybe you might like to try?" Said
Snape a note of impatient sarcasm in his voice.
Harry
closed his eyes and imagined himself holding a small ball of blue fire. He felt something fizz in his hand and blue
light shone through his eyelids.
He
was holding a ball of intense blue flames.
He
could see Snape's face in the illuminated cell looking at him in resentment,
but he was sure that there was a hint of relief and perhaps even respect,
"So
you can do it then." Said Snape
sneering slightly.
~~~*~~~*~~~
"It's
not him. It can't be him." Said Arabella looking unsure of herself and
shaking badly.
"Arabella,
we can't deny it. I mean, just look at
him." Said McGonagall putting an arm
around Arabella's shoulders.
Arabella
shook her arm off and walked over to the bed.
She took a long look at Harry's body before grabbing Dumbledore by the
shoulders.
She
looked into the old wizard's eyes and felt herself falter when she saw the dead
look that they had taken.
"Albus! This isn't Harry. It can't be. I know it
isn't, he's alive Albus… You
have to trust me about that."
Hermione
Ron and Neville had come up to the bed as well, and were staring at where Harry
lay. It must be him. It had to be. How could Arabella deny it?
Suddenly
they noticed that Sirius had transformed.
His
eyes were red and swollen and his face was drawn in dazed grief.
"I
saw him die, he was standing up to Voldemort.
Just like his… his father." He
said in a small croaky voice.
"Why
did he do it? Albus! How could you let him?" Pleaded Sirius.
"Sirius
Black! This was not Albus' fault, and will
you all just trust me, this is not Harry!"
Minerva
McGonagall put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, he looked about to explode.
"Will
someone just explain what the hell is going on!" Yelled Sirius, bursting into tears again.
"We
can discuss the details later, the important thing is Harry. He's in danger." Cried Arabella.
"He's
dead Bella. Sirius saw him die, and we
have his body… What more proof do you
need?" Said Minerva swiping angrily at
a tear on her cheek.
"I
wont believe it until I feel that he's gone.
I'm telling you. That isn't
him!"
Dumbledore
who had been sitting in silence amid the turmoil suddenly stood up and grabbed
Arabella's shoulders.
"He's
alive! And Voldemort must still have
him."
Arabella
smiled slightly.
"Of
course he's alive, that's what I've been saying for the last half an hour."
The
crowd eyed Dumbledore and Arabella dubiously.
But
fresh hope began to flourish as the sparkle returned to Dumbledore's eyes and
suddenly the grief in the room began to lift.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okies…
So… HARRY ISN'T DEAD !!!!!! YAY!!!!
(Was
there ever any doubt????!!!!)
[ I
know it was short… but what they hey!
It's my story! ]
Ahhh,
so, what will Dumbledore & co. do now that they realise Harry's alive??? (Ahem, more about why Arabella knows next
chapter…)
And
will Sirius ever get over the confusion???
And
will Snape ever get around his hatred and realise that he actually wants to
help Harry!!! (Personally I think he'll
probably stay bitter for the rest of his days…)
Ho hum.
So
anyway….
REVIEW Please!!!!!
Luv
u guys…
(Even
though I say otherwise… sometimes...)
Jona
xxx
Thanks
to Everyone…!
*grin*
Harry Potter and the Dawn of Realisation
By: jona