A/N: This chapter is one of the main points for the whole story. It sets
up a lot of major conflicts that will be used later on and it explains a
lot of confusing things. Also, at the beginning of each chapter I'll put
the chorus to "Numb"
Disclaimer: JKR own HP and Linkin Park owns the song "Numb."
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
I've become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Chapter Two: Trapped in Torture
Harry awoke the next morning to the sound of something being pushed through his door. He blinked at the small metal plate that held a single chunk of bread. His mind was unusually clear, though he was still bathed in cold sweat. Harry took a bite of the bread. It was hard and stale and made his throat burn in thirst. He gulped up every last drop of water that was in the tiny cup on the plate. He curled up in the corner, trying to greater the distance between himself and the Dementors. Harry thought about Sirius and all the others. Surely they would try to free him? Harry smiled as he thought about Hermione and Ron and all the times they had spent laughing. But suddenly he was bathed in coldness and he saw a Dementor standing outside his door. It sucked up that happy memory, leaving Harry shaking as screaming filled his head. But something else entered his mind, though not new, but it seemed closer than ever before. It was a high-pitched laughter that sounded like ice.
)*( )*( )*(
"When will they pick him up?" Arthur Weasley asked as Dumbledore once again stepped out of Fudge's office.
"This afternoon. It didn't take long for Fudge to set a trail date." Mr. Weasley frowned.
"They have no case. It would be impossible for someone his age to kill all those people." Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and whispered to Dumbledore, "Even Pettigrew didn't kill that many, and he's a fully grown wizard."
"Yes, this is true. But remember Arthur, the Ministry knows Harry is no ordinary wizard. They'll use his exceptional achievements in the past to their advantage. The evidence against him is growing."
"But you believe him don't you Albus?"
"Of course. There is no way Harry Potter could ever do such a thing." Suddenly they heard screaming as a girl with long blonde hair and glassy blue eyes ran into the Ministry. Fudge burst out of his office, face contorted with annoyance.
"What in bloody hell is going on out here?" The girl panted as she collapsed in front of him. Deep red trickles of blood ran down her cheeks. Fudge gasped.
"Gone all gone......." She burst into tears. Mr. Weasley bent down and rubbed her back.
"It's okay Mirella. Now why aren't you on duty at Azkaban? Where's Roger?" They had been the only two on the shores that led to Azkaban last night.
"Roger.......Roger's dead." She wailed loudly, breaking the silence that had developed around him. Mr. Weasley took in a sharp breath.
"What happened Mirella?"
"He came.......killed Roger.......tons of them.......I just got out.......taken over......."
"What do you mean?" Fudge asked quickly. Mirella choked as she tried to clear her voice.
"Taken over Azkaban. Demontor's joined him."
"Who Mirella?" Fudge said, panic now rising in his voice. She looked up at him, eyes red and puffy.
"You-Know-Who. He's taken over Azkaban." That was the last thing she said before her world went black.
)*( )*( )*(
Mrs. Molly Weasley screamed. Hermione was on the floor sobbing, with Ron just standing in shock in the corner. The rest of the household had rushed to the Ministry. An emergency issue of the Daily Prophet was lying on the table covered in their breakfast, with a large headline that said:
Azkaban captured by You-Know-Who; All Prisoners trapped Inside
)*( )*( )*(
Remus cringed as the house erupted in shatters. Glass was flying every where; screams echoing down the halls. Sirius had lost it, seeing the Daily Prophet. Remus himself felt like a million knives had been stabbed into him when he read the headline. Harry was trapped in Azkaban.......along with every person who wanted to kill him.
)*( )*( )*(
"What are we going to do Dumbledore?" Fudge asked wearily, rubbing his aching eyes. "The whole wizarding world is in a panic."
"We need to clam them down. The last thing we need is a mutiny." Alastor Moody growled, his magical blue eye resting on Fudge.
"So, lets get the facts straight. You-Know-Who and his Deatheaters arrived on the shore and killed Roger Clearnick. Mirella Rosenta escaped. The Dementors joined him, giving him control of Azkaban. And now he has some of the darkest creatures on Earth at his disposal." Mr. Weasley said bluntly, sparing the details. Percy put a hand on his father's shoulder, and the twins lurked darkly in the corner, all blood drained from their faces. Dumbledore had just stood there, looking as if he was on the verge of discovering something. He finally looked up.
"Brilliant. Pure brilliance."
"What do you mean Dumbledore."
"Why Fudge, don't you see? It was all to get him in Azkaban."
"Who?"
"You know who. It was all to get Harry in a vulnerable position. There is nothing now to stop him from destroying Harry.
"You mean he was innocent all along? But his wand had performed the spell, he was found at the scene of the crime. Everything pointed to him."
"When I found Harry, he was in shock. Something was wrong with him. He didn't seem to know where he was. There is only one way to solve this. We need to see the Dursley's."
)*( )*( )*(
Something other than the endless screaming filled his ears. Harry heard thousands of metal bars clanging forcefully open. A stampede of feet seemed to shake the earth beneath him. Harry noticed a single ray of sunshine shining on him, but it seemed so much colder than the darkness. Harry pulled all his strength together and hoisted himself up, shaking violently. He had to suddenly clamp his freezing hands to his ears as that all too familiar laughter sharply penetrated the stillness. His doors flew open, and he crumbled to the ground.
"Harry Potter. We meet again." Voldemort stared down at Harry as he tried to stand up. "The great Harry Potter. You aren't so mighty now are you? All alone, the whole world now against you. No one is going to save you." He raised his wand and Harry was floating painfully in the air. He could now see the large swarm of black filling Azkaban. Deatheaters and released prisoners cheered as he was lifted up. Harry could make out faces, such familiar faces. Lucius Malfoy was raising his fist and screaming out. The roar traveled all the way up to the cold sky. Dementors glided about, and Harry could see the unfortunate souls of the few that were killed, being thrown into the icy water, slowly sinking into the dark depths. He shut his eyes desperately as he was whirled around quickly. Laughter replaced the outcries. Harry came crashing down hard and he raised his head to the sneering faces. One face stood out.
"Snape......." Harry muttered weakly. Snape's face held a strange look. One of pity and nervousness. But the hatred he had for Harry still showed, and Harry knew he would be of no help. Before he could recover he was violently thrown quickly into the air again and he felt his body being smashed hard into a wall. The brick collided with his flesh, and Harry felt blood burst over him. Voldemort lifted him up by his chin. The coldness of his fingers burned his skin.
"Just kill me now," he breathed harshly into his face.
"Oh no Harry Potter. I'm going to let you live, live to see your world bow to me, to see all your loved ones be killed. You're going to live Harry Potter. For now."
)*( )*( )*(
Severus Snape couldn't explain what he was feeling as he saw his young student being tossed around. He didn't know why he felt such; there was no other way to describe it, pity for him. Harry Potter had never been someone he even remotely liked, let alone cared about. But as the blood sprayed out of his body, Snape felt the urge to help Harry. But he couldn't. That would cause more damage than good. He would just have to bare it and hope that no one noticed his stony face. He knew Harry was no ordinary boy, having faced thousands of pains that most people never had to experience. He was always ready to fight. But then again, Harry had never been in Azkaban. He had never been all alone, so utterly alone.
)*( )*( )*(
"WHAT IN BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW!" Vernon Dursley screamed as a small group of cloaked figures burst into his house.
"Please calm down Mr.Dursley. We mean you know harm. We just want to talk," said a flaming red-haired man. An old wizard stepped forward, a silver beard nearly touching the carpet.
"Mr.Dursley, may I ask what happened this morning with Harry." The fat man snorted.
"The boy? Ms.Figg came and got him. Haven't seen him since. Good ridden too."
"So, he was missing for a whole day and you did nothing!" Moody growled loudly. Uncle Vernon jumped back slightly.
"Yeah, that's right."
"I think that's all," Dumbledore said quickly. They all popped away, leaving Vernon Dursley just as his rage was about to burst.
)*( )*( )*(
"It was an imposter Albus?"
"I'm afraid so Arthur. Ms.Arabella Figg is away right now on business for the Order. She's been gone for a week."
"So what are we going to do? We can't leave Harry in there." For the first time in his life, Mr.Weasley saw Dumbledore look old, as if the familiar twinkle had never existed in his eyes.
"I don't know Arthur. I just don't know."
)*( )*( )*(
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter too. And no, nothings going to get better.
Disclaimer: JKR own HP and Linkin Park owns the song "Numb."
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
I've become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Chapter Two: Trapped in Torture
Harry awoke the next morning to the sound of something being pushed through his door. He blinked at the small metal plate that held a single chunk of bread. His mind was unusually clear, though he was still bathed in cold sweat. Harry took a bite of the bread. It was hard and stale and made his throat burn in thirst. He gulped up every last drop of water that was in the tiny cup on the plate. He curled up in the corner, trying to greater the distance between himself and the Dementors. Harry thought about Sirius and all the others. Surely they would try to free him? Harry smiled as he thought about Hermione and Ron and all the times they had spent laughing. But suddenly he was bathed in coldness and he saw a Dementor standing outside his door. It sucked up that happy memory, leaving Harry shaking as screaming filled his head. But something else entered his mind, though not new, but it seemed closer than ever before. It was a high-pitched laughter that sounded like ice.
)*( )*( )*(
"When will they pick him up?" Arthur Weasley asked as Dumbledore once again stepped out of Fudge's office.
"This afternoon. It didn't take long for Fudge to set a trail date." Mr. Weasley frowned.
"They have no case. It would be impossible for someone his age to kill all those people." Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and whispered to Dumbledore, "Even Pettigrew didn't kill that many, and he's a fully grown wizard."
"Yes, this is true. But remember Arthur, the Ministry knows Harry is no ordinary wizard. They'll use his exceptional achievements in the past to their advantage. The evidence against him is growing."
"But you believe him don't you Albus?"
"Of course. There is no way Harry Potter could ever do such a thing." Suddenly they heard screaming as a girl with long blonde hair and glassy blue eyes ran into the Ministry. Fudge burst out of his office, face contorted with annoyance.
"What in bloody hell is going on out here?" The girl panted as she collapsed in front of him. Deep red trickles of blood ran down her cheeks. Fudge gasped.
"Gone all gone......." She burst into tears. Mr. Weasley bent down and rubbed her back.
"It's okay Mirella. Now why aren't you on duty at Azkaban? Where's Roger?" They had been the only two on the shores that led to Azkaban last night.
"Roger.......Roger's dead." She wailed loudly, breaking the silence that had developed around him. Mr. Weasley took in a sharp breath.
"What happened Mirella?"
"He came.......killed Roger.......tons of them.......I just got out.......taken over......."
"What do you mean?" Fudge asked quickly. Mirella choked as she tried to clear her voice.
"Taken over Azkaban. Demontor's joined him."
"Who Mirella?" Fudge said, panic now rising in his voice. She looked up at him, eyes red and puffy.
"You-Know-Who. He's taken over Azkaban." That was the last thing she said before her world went black.
)*( )*( )*(
Mrs. Molly Weasley screamed. Hermione was on the floor sobbing, with Ron just standing in shock in the corner. The rest of the household had rushed to the Ministry. An emergency issue of the Daily Prophet was lying on the table covered in their breakfast, with a large headline that said:
Azkaban captured by You-Know-Who; All Prisoners trapped Inside
)*( )*( )*(
Remus cringed as the house erupted in shatters. Glass was flying every where; screams echoing down the halls. Sirius had lost it, seeing the Daily Prophet. Remus himself felt like a million knives had been stabbed into him when he read the headline. Harry was trapped in Azkaban.......along with every person who wanted to kill him.
)*( )*( )*(
"What are we going to do Dumbledore?" Fudge asked wearily, rubbing his aching eyes. "The whole wizarding world is in a panic."
"We need to clam them down. The last thing we need is a mutiny." Alastor Moody growled, his magical blue eye resting on Fudge.
"So, lets get the facts straight. You-Know-Who and his Deatheaters arrived on the shore and killed Roger Clearnick. Mirella Rosenta escaped. The Dementors joined him, giving him control of Azkaban. And now he has some of the darkest creatures on Earth at his disposal." Mr. Weasley said bluntly, sparing the details. Percy put a hand on his father's shoulder, and the twins lurked darkly in the corner, all blood drained from their faces. Dumbledore had just stood there, looking as if he was on the verge of discovering something. He finally looked up.
"Brilliant. Pure brilliance."
"What do you mean Dumbledore."
"Why Fudge, don't you see? It was all to get him in Azkaban."
"Who?"
"You know who. It was all to get Harry in a vulnerable position. There is nothing now to stop him from destroying Harry.
"You mean he was innocent all along? But his wand had performed the spell, he was found at the scene of the crime. Everything pointed to him."
"When I found Harry, he was in shock. Something was wrong with him. He didn't seem to know where he was. There is only one way to solve this. We need to see the Dursley's."
)*( )*( )*(
Something other than the endless screaming filled his ears. Harry heard thousands of metal bars clanging forcefully open. A stampede of feet seemed to shake the earth beneath him. Harry noticed a single ray of sunshine shining on him, but it seemed so much colder than the darkness. Harry pulled all his strength together and hoisted himself up, shaking violently. He had to suddenly clamp his freezing hands to his ears as that all too familiar laughter sharply penetrated the stillness. His doors flew open, and he crumbled to the ground.
"Harry Potter. We meet again." Voldemort stared down at Harry as he tried to stand up. "The great Harry Potter. You aren't so mighty now are you? All alone, the whole world now against you. No one is going to save you." He raised his wand and Harry was floating painfully in the air. He could now see the large swarm of black filling Azkaban. Deatheaters and released prisoners cheered as he was lifted up. Harry could make out faces, such familiar faces. Lucius Malfoy was raising his fist and screaming out. The roar traveled all the way up to the cold sky. Dementors glided about, and Harry could see the unfortunate souls of the few that were killed, being thrown into the icy water, slowly sinking into the dark depths. He shut his eyes desperately as he was whirled around quickly. Laughter replaced the outcries. Harry came crashing down hard and he raised his head to the sneering faces. One face stood out.
"Snape......." Harry muttered weakly. Snape's face held a strange look. One of pity and nervousness. But the hatred he had for Harry still showed, and Harry knew he would be of no help. Before he could recover he was violently thrown quickly into the air again and he felt his body being smashed hard into a wall. The brick collided with his flesh, and Harry felt blood burst over him. Voldemort lifted him up by his chin. The coldness of his fingers burned his skin.
"Just kill me now," he breathed harshly into his face.
"Oh no Harry Potter. I'm going to let you live, live to see your world bow to me, to see all your loved ones be killed. You're going to live Harry Potter. For now."
)*( )*( )*(
Severus Snape couldn't explain what he was feeling as he saw his young student being tossed around. He didn't know why he felt such; there was no other way to describe it, pity for him. Harry Potter had never been someone he even remotely liked, let alone cared about. But as the blood sprayed out of his body, Snape felt the urge to help Harry. But he couldn't. That would cause more damage than good. He would just have to bare it and hope that no one noticed his stony face. He knew Harry was no ordinary boy, having faced thousands of pains that most people never had to experience. He was always ready to fight. But then again, Harry had never been in Azkaban. He had never been all alone, so utterly alone.
)*( )*( )*(
"WHAT IN BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW!" Vernon Dursley screamed as a small group of cloaked figures burst into his house.
"Please calm down Mr.Dursley. We mean you know harm. We just want to talk," said a flaming red-haired man. An old wizard stepped forward, a silver beard nearly touching the carpet.
"Mr.Dursley, may I ask what happened this morning with Harry." The fat man snorted.
"The boy? Ms.Figg came and got him. Haven't seen him since. Good ridden too."
"So, he was missing for a whole day and you did nothing!" Moody growled loudly. Uncle Vernon jumped back slightly.
"Yeah, that's right."
"I think that's all," Dumbledore said quickly. They all popped away, leaving Vernon Dursley just as his rage was about to burst.
)*( )*( )*(
"It was an imposter Albus?"
"I'm afraid so Arthur. Ms.Arabella Figg is away right now on business for the Order. She's been gone for a week."
"So what are we going to do? We can't leave Harry in there." For the first time in his life, Mr.Weasley saw Dumbledore look old, as if the familiar twinkle had never existed in his eyes.
"I don't know Arthur. I just don't know."
)*( )*( )*(
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter too. And no, nothings going to get better.
