Chapter Twelve
(I really hope that this isn't as hard to read as it was to write at the part with the battle between Draco and 'Draco'… oh, you'll see what I mean… long chappie… maybe I should just not say that because you're all probably expecting long chappies off me now! It's a habit, I don't do short chappies! Thanx to all who reviewed the last chapter, I love you all!!!!! This chappie is humour free for serious reasons, although I did put some in, I deleted them… ruined the mood too much! Ah well… 'bout time it got serious… it's a bloody horror story for God's sake!)
"So, I finally tear you away from the help and protection of your friends," Voldemort shot a glare at the shaking boy beside the wall, "Would've been a lot sooner if Malfoy hadn't of messed it all up."
Harry sat and looked up at Voldemort and then at Draco, "That's why you did that to him… to get to me…"
"Why else do you think I did it? Other than an attempt to destroy his life and make it a misery after deserting me, that was my plan. You trusted him and I took that trust to use to my advantage."
Harry let a small laugh of disbelief escape, "You're sick…"
"You can say what you want Potter. You won't be alive for much longer."
"Oh… great! I'll make the most of it then shall I? Let's see, I think that you're a sick, evil, murderous bastard who loves himself and thinks that he is… God or something! You think that you are so superior and powerful but really I bet you can't even match up to ankle height of Dumbledore's power and you know what else? You think you're being threatening and scary and 'OH I'm the dark master of the world' and all that, 'fear me!'… I am not afraid of you… you…" Harry had to stop himself. He was shaking in anger but there was no fear of what was to come. He looked up at is enemy.
Voldemort merely stared back, not a trace of annoyance or anger, just an unusual, unnerving calm look on his face. He laughed shortly, "That's all you got Potter? Well, let me show you what I have for you." Voldemort stopped and pointed his wand casually at Harry, "Crucio."
*~*~*~*~*
"Nine O'clock and all's well…" Ron yawned.
"Ron, please… we are trying to concentrate here… just tell us when the greasy haired git comes," Lupin sighed in irritation.
"Sorry, I'm anxious. What if something has already happened to Harry?"
"If you keep talking, that will become more likely… shut up!" Hermione snapped. She sat on top of the table with her eyes closed and a look of concentration etched on her pale, tired face while Lupin searched through the potion jars and phials. She felt really stupid in this position, it looked as if she was meditating or something.
Ron sighed and sat back, still staring out of the crack in the doorway. Lupin let out the odd sound of horror and disgust at the contents of some jars but other than that, all was silent. Hermione found herself drifting off into a dreamy, blank state. Being drawn in as if something was pulling her.
Hermione stared around and called for him into the darkness, her voice echoed around her but there was no movement. She stood still on the spot, looking round frantically. She had to find him, fast. Harry's life rested on her finding Draco.
"Hey! You!" she called when she saw two darker shadows moving along the darkness. Unlike Draco, their shape and features were clear, their pale faces were the only spot of light in the darkness. They stopped talking and laughing and looked up slightly afraid at the sound of her voice. Hermione walked up to them, "It's okay… I won't hurt you…"
One looked up, it was a boy about her age with black hair that fell over startling blue eyes. "You couldn't hurt me if you tried anyway. You new?"
"What? No, I'm not one of you. I'm a mortal, I'm here to find someone… it's urgent!" she then stopped to look at the boy. He was staring at her as if she was completely insane.
"How did you get here?" the other one asked, brushing his long white hair out of his brown eyes.
"I don't know how I can get here but I need to see someone… it's urgent I find Draco…"
"Draco? As in Draco Malfoy? Tall, blonde hair, grey eyes?" the first one asked.
"YES!"
"We're scared of him… he's not like us either… he's more like you…"
"What do you mean?"
"He's not solid… not totally here. Look at yourself, you're a mortal, not meant to stay here. You're faded." The second one pointed at her.
Hermione blinked and looked down at her own hand which was indeed faded like a ghost. She had noticed that Draco was faded slightly at the edges, but of course she had not looked at herself and she had thought that all people here were like that.
"Oh, well, it's hard to explain… please just tell me where he is!"
The first boy took a deep breath. "Come with us, we might find him…"
Hermione followed them through the darkness. It seemed mad that people actually knew their way round here and recognised places, to her it was just all darkness. Perhaps they saw something she didn't.
As they walked they met others. Pale faces looking at Hermione with fearful glances from their glassy eyes. Ages varied dramatically, ranging from small children no older than three to elderly people that looked like they were about to drop dead at any moment. Hermione stared back at these 'things', totally fascinated. "What is this place?" she thought out loud.
"I thought you knew since you came down here," the white-haired boy answered.
"I don't really know, all I know is that it's almost like a world of the dead…"
"I don't really know what's going on either. None of us remember what happened to us, all we know is, we're here and we're not getting out. I reckon it's Hell…"
"That's horrible… How long have you two been here?" Hermione whispered.
The first boy screwed up his face in thought. "I… I don't know… time has no place here."
"It's the twenty first century now if that helps."
The boy stopped so abruptly Hermione walked right through him. She shivered. "Twenty first?" he swallowed. The second boy had also stopped and was now walking slowly towards them, his face was full of horror.
"Yeah…"
"Last time I checked… I was walking down a street in Paris after a play with my friend Dario here. We had just left off our girls friends and we were heading home… in the early nineteenth century…" the first boy told her shakily.
Hermione's mouth opened in shock. Their clothes showed no sign of the century they had died in, all of the creatures here were all wearing the same thing… long, black robes and black cloaks. "Oh my God… that long… in here?" she looked round.
"HERMIONE!"
Hermione spun round and saw Draco running towards her. She sighed, "Thank God! Draco, emergency situation!" no time for 'Hello's here… time to be blunt and to the point.
Draco stopped and gave her a look of concern. "What's going on?"
"It's Harry… he's in danger and we need your help! You need to stop that creature from killing Harry."
"Creature?"
"I'll explain later! Look, Professor Lupin in going to cast a spell to get you out of here so you can save Harry!"
"How? There's no way out!" the boy Dario spoke up.
"He's right, once you're here, you don't leave!"
"Only you can Draco! That's why you're faded, you're not totally here. Half of you is still connected to life."
"You mean I'm not dead?"
"None of you are! You are all just trapped here until set free! I'll explain more later Draco, just please do as I say!"
Draco stared at her for a few seconds before sighing, "What do I do then?"
"When you get back to the living world, you must fight the evil thing possessing your body and get Harry back to Hogwarts safely."
"Hermione, do you not think I've tried that?-"
"JUST DO IT!" Hermione was losing patience. "Lupin's spell will help you, just… please do this!"
"What is she doing?" Ron looked round.
Hermione was mouthing words and pulling faces as if talking to someone.
"I think she's found him…" Lupin jumped down from the ladder and reached for his wand and pointed it at Hermione.
"…er… you sure you know what you're doing?" Ron asked.
Lupin ignored him, "Viern Veltua"
*~*~*~*
Harry felt numb all over, he lay on the ground unable to move. He was beyond feeling the pain. He was alone, no one to help him, nothing to aid him… he had nothing to save him this time. He opened one eye slightly and saw Voldemort towering over him with a satisfied grin spread across his pale face and wand lazily pointed at Harry.
"Had enough?" he grinned.
Harry groaned, "It doesn't matter what I say… you're going to kill me anyway…"
Voldemort laughed shortly, "True, but I could save you a lot of pain by killing you now."
Draco stood in the shadows, he didn't even blink an eye at the torture Harry was going through, he didn't care any more. He didn't even move until he felt something shock through his body. He clenched his teeth but it was gone as soon as it had come, then came an angry voice roaring through his head.
"Right you… I don't know what the hell you are but you are not staying! This is my property… in fact it is me… not you!"
"You gonna make me leave then? Ha! Just try it!"
"Fine… we can do this the hard way or the easy way. You're choice mate…"
"What makes you think that I'll stand down?"
"Oh… hard way then? Fun!"
"AAAARGH! Get away!"
Voldemort spun round and Harry shakily lifted up his head, both stared at Draco, who was clutching his head and sliding down the wall, thrashing about as if someone was slapping him from both sides.
"Malfoy! What the hell are you doing?" Voldemort shouted in irritation.
"I'm fine… just… FINE!" Draco hissed through gritted teeth as he knelt on the ground and shook his head.
"Enough!" Voldemort yelled before turning back to Harry. "Crucio!"
Harry didn't have the energy to cry out and yell, he just collapsed on the spot and breathed heavily, eyes tight shut, fists clenched and teeth biting into his bottom lip so he could taste blood.
"NO!" Draco cried out before he also collapsed, Voldemort took no notice. He was intent on making sure Harry went through as much pain as possible without dying.
Draco blinked when he came round and he felt sore all over but he sat up and took in his surroundings. The dark, dank dungeon. Then he spotted Voldemort torturing Harry, he tried to stop himself, but before he could he had yelled, "STOP IT!" then he felt a tug deep inside and the dungeon vanished.
"Stay out of this!" the evil voice snapped at him as he was plunged into darkness once again.
Voldemort stopped and turned to Draco, he walked threateningly towards him. "What did you say?"
Draco looked up at him in fear and shook his head vigorously, "Nothing sir… nothing!" What has that thing said?
Voldemort glared down at the boy, "I could've sworn you told me to stop torturing Potter…"
Draco thought quickly, "I was just thinking that maybe it would be better to kill him now and get it over with… you know, in case something happens and he escapes…"
Voldemort continued to stare at Draco. "Well, if you're so keen," he grabbed Draco by the collar and dragged him up to his feet, "then you kill him!" he pushed Draco roughly forward.
Harry struggled to his feet using a stone pillar as something to lean on. Draco straightened up and grinned at Harry so he could see those sharp teeth prominently. "No problem…"
"NO! Don't you dare!" Draco fought hard.
"Try and stop me!"
Harry looked at Draco with wide eyes, "Draco… no…"
Draco lifted his hand and Harry flew backwards into the wall. He tired to fight against the force holding him there, but he was too weak.
"Let's see… quick and painless or the fun way? Hmmm…" he walked towards Harry looking thoughtful. Voldemort had sat down beside the window and was watching with interest.
"Make sure he goes through pain Malfoy. I want to see him squirm… I want to hear him scream!"
Draco flicked his hand to the right and Harry was flung aside, skidding to a halt on the cold ground. "I've never killed anyone before Potter, first time for everything they say." Draco walked closer and kicked Harry sharply in the ribs. Harry cursed Draco and curled up tight, tears beginning to stream down his face from pain and torture, but he would not let them see… not give them that satisfaction. "Bastard…" he whispered. Draco kicked him again in response, harder.
"I am hungry Potter, hungry for both blood and thrill… thrill of the kill." Draco backed off slightly and lifted his hand again, Harry was lifted into the air. Draco then began to close his hand slowly into a fist. Harry began to cough and choke as he gasped for breath.
"Mortals… so easily tortured with lack of air. Wonder how long you can last like this? Or could I honestly be bothered to wait?" Draco flicked his hand to the side and once again, Harry was flung through the air to land with a smack on the floor. Harry clutched his throat and gasped desperately for air as he lay on the ground. Blood was dripping down his face from his brow, his hands looked as if he had been in a knife fight and he had bruises all over his body. What was the point in fighting any longer?
Swiftly and gracefully, Draco had swooped down over Harry, his face close enough for Harry to see his features clearer than before. His face was pure white as if he was a child playing with ghostly face paints; his eyes were darker, bordering on black with an eerie blood red colour surrounding them in a fiery ring. Nothing sparkled in those eyes like Draco's normally did, they looked blank and hollow. His features were sharp like his face were chiselled out of stone, but nothing attracted more attention than those two sharp, white teeth that now showed in a malevolent grin down at Harry, taunting him.
Harry didn't know what to say… he didn't think that anything would stop him. Harry just glared and swallowed his fear. What's the point?
"It won't hurt you that much… or maybe it does, I don't know, I can't remember. Anyway, it won't hurt for long… you'll be dead before you know it!" Draco raised his eyebrows swiftly as he continued to grin. He took his hand and wiped the blood off Harry's face and licking it slowly off to taunt him.
Harry glared but he had gone past the stage of fear and had arrived at the stage of acceptance, accepting the fact that he had no way out, he was going to die. He closed his eyes and turned away from Draco. He could feel the icy coldness of Draco's skin against his own, could feel Draco getting closer.
"Get away from him!"
"ARGH!" Draco jumped back from Harry, hitting his head repeatedly with his fists and falling to his back on the ground.
"Stay back!" Draco hissed to the evil voice as he shook his head and stood back up.
Voldemort had also stood up. "What happened?"
"It's okay… he just cursed me…" Draco assured him. "You'll pay for that Potter…" he advanced back towards Harry.
Harry raised an eyebrow, now he was confused. Draco lifted Harry up by the throat and pinned him up against the wall but not as roughly as before, more careful not to hurt him.
"What are you playing at?" Harry spat.
Draco looked at Harry in the eyes and winked. Harry stared, his eyes, they were shinning like normal, they were no longer their black colour and the red had disappeared. They were Draco's eyes, his own. They possessed that twinkle of playful malice and mischief that Harry had always known Draco to have. "What's going on?" Harry whispered cautiously.
"Play along Harry… I'll explain later…" Draco whispered back before saying with a raised voice full of bitterness, "Think you can get away as easily as that? You can't outsmart me or overpower me! Face it Potter… you've lost!"
Harry nodded so only Draco would notice and then said in the same tone as Draco, "We'll see about that!"
Draco dipped his head forward towards Harry's neck. Harry stiffened and pulled back to press more against the wall in fright but Draco didn't bite him, he had moved closer to Harry's ear and whispered in a low voice, "Hit me and run. I will pretend to chase you and we can both get out of here. Please, just trust me… I swear I will explain later!"
"Okay…" Harry whispered back. All of this seemed very strange but he wouldn't let a potential escape idea pass.
Harry gathered up his strength to knee Draco hard in the stomach before pelting it out the door as fast as he could.
Draco swore and doubled over, clutching his stomach. Ah! Bloody hell Potter, I didn't want hit that hard! Shit!
"STOP HIM!" Voldemort shrieked.
"Right on it…" Draco replied in a strained voice as he followed Harry out still hunched over a bit and hobbling slightly. Damn you Potter!
*~*~*~*~*
"Harry! Wait!" Draco called as he slowed down.
Harry stopped and turned round. "Right, now you tell me what's going on!" Harry demanded in a breathless voice.
Draco was not out of breath, "I don't know what's going on! Hermione told me to come and help you!"
"Hermione?"
"Yes, I don't know what happened but I somehow ended up in a dark place, I think I died, but I could've if I'm here now… Oh Harry I'm confused!" Draco screwed up his pale face and stamped his foot in agitation.
Voices could be heard around them. They were after Harry and they had nowhere to hide. They were standing in a dusty hallway with stained red carpet and walls with red paint peeling off. There were no rooms to dodge into, only pillars to hide behind, but that wouldn't help them, they would surely search and find them… or would it help them?
"Harry, hide behind that pillar and don't move!" Draco pushed him before lying down on the ground making sounds of agony as the people, who ended up being Deatheaters, approached.
Draco looked up at them and tried to stand up, "He went that way!" he pointed down the hall with a shaking hand, "Follow him! Don't let him get away! Go now don't mind me! Quickly!" he put on a shaky, pained voice.
The Deatheaters jumped at ran down the hall in the direction Draco had pointed, shouting to each other orders. When they had turned the corner at the end, Harry stepped out.
"Not bad!" he smiled down at Draco.
Draco jumped up. "What d'ya mean, 'Not bad'? That was genius!" he dusted his shirt down.
"Now… how do you plan to get out of here?" Harry asked as they walked up the hallway, still keeping an eye out for any other movement.
"If worst comes to worst we jump out of a near-by window and sprint to the nearest village!" Draco kicked a lone piece of broken vase along the floor before giving it one final boot, sending it flying across the hall and getting itself stuck in the weak wall at the end.
Harry frowned, "Draco… it's daytime!"
"So?"
"Draco, that would kill you! You remember what happened down in the dungeon when Voldemort opened the shutters! You were dying!"
Draco stopped, "Harry, I don't remember a thing. All I know is that something had taken over my body… I remember nothing when it was there! What's daytime got anything to do with it anyway?" he snapped.
"S-o… you don't know what you are?"
"Will somebody please tell me what's going on?! Everybody is keeping something from me… what is it? Why was I in that dark place? Why can't I remember a thing? Why was something controlling my body? Tell me!" Draco grabbed Harry's shoulders and shook them. His face was full of fear and hurt. His eyes were searching Harry, looking for a clue.
Harry hesitated, "Don't make a big deal of this…"
"It can't be that bad…" Draco said quickly, impatient for the answer.
"I'll be blunt. You're a vampire."
Draco stared at Harry for a second with a neutral look, not moving, before his face broke into a hurried and worried laugh, not knowing if to laugh or take Harry seriously. "That's very funny Harry! Now… what's really going on?"
"I'm one hundred percent honest here… you are a vampire. I don't know anything about vampires so I don't know how you got back to being yourself… I'm sure that when we get back to Hogwarts, all will be explained."
Draco hadn't moved the whole time Harry was talking. His facial expression went through enough changes to make up for that. Blank, worried, amused, confused, completely fearful and then finally, anger appeared and mixed in with the fear.
"Draco? You okay?"
"I'm… fine…" Draco's eye twitched slightly.
He's gonna explode… Harry thought.
He did, just not as much as Harry expected. "How the hell did this happen to me?" he shouted, "Why the hell can't I remember it? Surely I would know if a dirty great creature came along and took a bite out of me! I…I-" Draco stopped and buried his face in his hands. Something began to tug inside him again, his soul was weakening and the evil was fighting back, he had to stay strong. "I will ask when we get back… I don't remember a thing… perhaps they can tell me…" Draco suddenly froze and listened.
Harry listened too. Footsteps. Running footsteps of a group of people heading their way. They were both completely in the open, nowhere to hide at all. They were just about to run when they saw the group of Deatheaters run round the corner and stop just in front of them, their wands were in their hands and were pointed at both boys.
No one moved for quite a while, they all remained staring at each other in silence, until Harry breathed, "Draco…"
"Yeah?"
"RUN!!!"
Both Harry and Draco turned swiftly and ran down the hall, followed closely by the Deatheaters. Harry turned round and saw that Draco was running at a speed that Harry had never seen any human run at. Draco ran past Harry in a flash and all that could be seen of him was a blur of black and white. Draco had turned a corner at the end of the hallway when Harry had only reached half way down.
Harry then heard Draco yell, "NOT THAT WAY!" and come running back, crashing into him. They both fell to the ground and attempted to scramble back up in a state of panic but only succeeding in getting tangled up, arms and legs flailing everywhere. Harry looked up to see that Draco had been running away from a group of men coming round the corner, Harry recognised them as werewolves.
Both of them looked at the two groups closing on each them and gave up. Wands were pointed at them, they were trapped, no way out. Harry and Draco closed their eyes.
Please, let something happen. Get us out of here! Away from here and back to Hogwarts… back with Hermione. Please, away from here and back with Hermione… Draco thought this over and over in his head.
"Harry? Draco?" a voice said to them from a distance.
(That was sooo hard to write… doesn't look it now I read over it but… AAAARGH!!!! Humour was almost zero in this chappie cos it was meant to be serious, tell me if you thought it was ok in your reviews! Humour doesn't really make an appearance until around chappie… well, there will be some next one but not until the end. Draco's reaction here was a little tame but his reaction later on in the story, after the spell, is explosive and Harry, Ron and Hermione are in firing range! Hope you enjoyed it! This chappie will be my last for a while… end of year exams, ICK! Studying like crazy, wish me luck… c yas! XXX)
