Chapter Twelve: Family Secrets
It was the day before the Quidditch final and it had been raining all day. Harry had a bad feeling all day, but he brushed it off as having to go to double poisons. Harry sat in the Great Hall with Ron, Hermione and Ginny eating lunch in silence. There was a great silence that hung in the Great Hall that came from the gray and rainy day. Harry picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet and read the front page.
Rumors of You-Know-Who's Return Just Create Chaos
There has been a raise in the usage of the three unforgivable curses as of recently. That least four wizards and witches have died as a result of the raise in the curse. This report ask the Minister of Magic himself about the raise in the usage of the three terrible curse and he was quoted on saying. "The only reason for the raise of curse used is a direct result of the wild rumors flying around about you-know-who, and I would like to go on record in saying that He has not return nor will he ever return. These rumors are dangerous and deathly. The people you should be blaming for the death are not You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters, but Headmaster Dumbledore and Harry Potter for starting these god awful rumors." Which brings this reporter to think that maybe the Minister is correct in what he says. If You-Know-Who has returned wouldn't he of already announced himself before now, it has been a year almost and if He isn't back, then who really is to blame. Could the Minister be right in blaming Hogwarts Headmaster and The Boy Who Lived? That would be up to the wizarding community to decide. Someone has to be answerable to the death of these four people.
Harry finished reading the article and threw the paper across the room. "Didn't like that article did you, Potter." Came a cold voice from behind him. He turned to see Malfoy stand there with four or five other Slytherins standing behind him. Harry turned back to his plate not wanting to hear anything Malfoy had to say. He stared down at his food suddenly not hungry any more. Malfoy came closer to Harry and whispered into his ear. "Look at them." Harry looked around the Great Hall at the other students some of them were reading the Daily Prophet and staring at him with shocked expressions. "Just yesterday you were there hero and day well..." Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw to find Cho reading the copy of the Daily Prophet she was shaking her head and when she looked up at Harry she gave him look that made Harry's heart sink.
"Shut up." Harry whispered.
"You know what to do to make them stop looking at you like that and become their hero again." Whispered Malfoy. Harry closed his eyes. Yes he knew what he could do to help prevent the death of probably countless people but he was suddenly afraid to do it.
"Malfoy sod off and leave Harry alone." Ron's voice rang clear in Harry's ears.
"Mind your own business Weasley." Malfoy said coldly. "Harry and I were having a little discussion, weren't we Harry?" Harry didn't respond he just sat there with his eyes closed listening.
"Malfoy you better leave not or I'll..."
"Or you'll what curse yourself like you did second year?" retorted Malfoy and Harry heard the Slytherins laugh. Then there came another noise of the scraping of a chair and the commotion of the other students, which made Harry open his eyes to see what was happening. Ron had jumped onto the table and was about to dive for Malfoy when Professor McGonagall walked up to the table were they all were.
"Mister Weasley, will you please get down form the table at once." She said and Ron stepped off the table sitting back down in his seat sending Malfoy murderous looks. "Mr. Malfoy our father is here to collect you and your cousin." Professor McGonagall turned to Malfoy and then walked away.
"What Malfoy going to help your father torture Muggles." Said Hermione to the shock of everyone around her.
"No Granger as a matter of fact I am attending a funeral, for my Uncle." Said Malfoy and then suddenly walked away from the group. The four friends sat shocked at what they just heard.
"Now I feel a little bad for that comment." Said Hermione and Ron nodded slightly, but then turned to Harry.
"Harry what was Malfoy saying to you?" asked Ron.
"Nothing." Harry whispered weakly.
"Oh come one Harry you can tell us." Said Ginny. Harry suddenly felt really angry.
"I SAID NOTHING GINNY, WHY DON'T YOU BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE!" Harry yelled. Ginny looked at Harry horrified that Harry just yelled at her. Then in the next moment she got up and rushed out of the Great Hall crying.
"Great job Harry." Said Hermione and rushed after Ginny.
"Harry why did you have to do that?" asked Ron and he followed Hermione out of the Great Hall. Harry sat by himself staring now at is plate trying to sort through everything in his head. The depression he left earlier in the year was starting to creep back over him and all he wanted to do was to let go. He wanted a moment's peace. He wanted to be somewhere, where nothing could trouble him. He wanted to be with his parents. He wanted to stop feeling. He felt the darkness surround him and he was about to let go and let himself fall into it when someone put their hand on his shoulder. When he out his eyes he noticed the Great hall was empty except for him and the person standing behind him. He turned except to see a Professor standing there to tell him to head to call but when he turned around there stood Neville looking at him, worried.
"Harry we have to be getting to class or we will be late." Said Neville. Harry nodded and got up from the table. The two Gryffindors walked down the corridor toward their next class, double poisons. Harry was rounding a corner when he noticed that Neville was not walking with him.
"Neville you aren't going to right way." Said Harry, but Neville didn't seem to hear him. Neville continued to walk straight down the corridor heading for the moving stairs. Harry ran up after him calling his name. "Neville what are you doing?" He went to stop Neville, but he suddenly heard voices coming from the stairs. It was Ron and Hermione and they were talking about him.
"I am worrying about him, Ron." Hermione's voice came from the end of the corridor. "He hasn't really talked to us for the past month. He is keeping things from us and now he yelled at Ginny who I can't get out of the bathroom. She is up there right now crying with Moaning Mrytle."
"Ah, Neville we should be getting to class." Said Harry quickly. He didn't want Ron and Hermione to think at he was spying on them, but Neville still didn't respond. He was walking for where Ron and Hermione were. Harry stood in front of Neville to make him stop, but Neville just walked around Harry. He was staring at the end of the corridor not blindly. Right before Neville got to Ron and Hermione Harry yelled. "NEVILLE STOP!" A second later Ron and Hermione looked at the two Gryffindors coming toward them.
"Harry what is the meaning for all this?" said Hermione. Harry looked at her and she was leaning up against the banister of the stairs, but before Harry could answer Neville talked straight up to Hermione, not seeming to realize that there wasn't anywhere else to go. Harry suddenly felt his stomach drop as he realized what was happening.
"The Dreamwalker!" he whispered under his breath and ran straight for his two friends, just as Neville put his arm around Hermione and pushed her over the banister falling over with her. Harry caught Hermione by her foot, but suddenly fell off balance and tumbled over the banister with his two friends. He let go of Hermione's foot as he fell. Harry closed his eyes as he started to fall down the stair well. They had been on the fifth floor if they hit the bottom they might not survive, thought Harry, but before his thought ended he hit something hard. When he opened his eyes he was laying on a staircase, the wind knocked out of him. One of the staircases had moved right under him.
A panic rose in him as he remembered his other friends. He looked over the side of staircase and notice that Hermione had also been 'caught' by one of the moving staircases, but she had fell longer and was knocked out cold. Harry wanted for the other staircases to move so that he could see if Neville made it safely onto one of them, when he felt his stomach drop again. There at the bottom of the stairwell lay a small boy. "No!" Harry said to himself.
"Harry!" yelled Ron from above him. Harry looked up to see Ron looking over the banister at him. "Are you alright Harry?"
"Yes I am fine, but Hermione and Neville... Go get some help Ron." Said Harry. Ron nodded and disappeared. Harry ran down the stair to where Hermione lay. He looked at her and noticed that she was she breathing, which made him smile, until he notice a deep cut on her head which was pouring blood.
"Oh goodness child what happened here?" A woman's voice said from behind him. Harry turned to see the Ravenclaw ghost floating through the wall.
"Can you stay with her? I will be right back." The ghost nodded at Harry and he ran furiously down the rest of the stair to get to Neville. When he finally reached the bottom and headed to Neville he noticed that Professor Smith had already gotten to him. She was bending over him and when she saw Harry she straightened up and put her hand in her pocket. She had a sad expression that made Harry stop just short of Neville and look down at him. Harry's eyes flew wide as he saw his friend lying in a pool of blood.
"I am sorry by dear boy." Professor Smith said simply in a cold voice. "He is dead." Harry fell to his knees in disbelief.
"This can't be happening." He thought to himself. "This is all my fault. If only I had the courage to give myself up to Voldemort no one would of gotten hurt." Watch stared down at Neville until the other Professors rush up to the boy and carried him off to the hospital wing.
"All students please report to your common rooms immediately." Professor McGonagall's voice rang clearly through the corridors, and Harry could hear the distance murmurs of the students as they left their classrooms and headed for their towers. Harry was still staring at the pool of Neville's blood when Ron came up behind him.
"Harry." Ron whispered to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright Harry?" Harry nodded, but he wasn't all right and doubted that he was every be alright again. "Harry we should be getting to the hospital wing." Harry stood up and followed Ron back up the stairs towards the hospital wing, but before they could get there, Professor McGonagall found them.
"Boys you need to be getting to the Gryffindor common room. I need to make an announcement."
"But Professor..." Ron tried to protest but was cut off by Professor McGonagall.
"No buts. If you would please follow me so that I know that you are safe in the common room." They followed the Professor all the way to the common room where all the Gryffindors, except Neville and Hermione were waiting. "Okay let me see if all of you are here." Said the Professor and she quickly scanned the crowd with a frown. "Does anyone know where Miss. Weasley is?" asked Professor McGonagall.
The feeling Harry had about something been wrong all day suddenly became stronger. "Professor she is probably up in her room. She was a little upset during lunch." Said Lavender Brown and looked at Harry with a mean expression, but Harry was in no mood to do anything, but look away from her.
"Miss. Brown can you go and check for me please?" asked the Professor. She girl nodded and quickly went up to the girl dormitories, but came back even quicker.
"Professor she isn't up here." Said Lavender. Ron suddenly stood up from where he was sitting.
"What do you mean? Doesn't anyone know where my sister is?" asked Ron and his two brothers were suddenly standing by his side.
"Okay prefects will start to look for Miss. Weasley, none of you other students will leave the common room." Said the Professor. Harry stood up and ran up to his room. He opened his trunk quickly and pulled out a small piece of parchment that seemed to have nothing written on it. He was about to close the trunk when he saw the Christmas present that he had gotten from Cassandra, his parent's wands. Not knowing why he quickly picked up his fathers wand and placed it in his sock. When he came back down to the common room he found that the other prefects had already gone and Ron was arguing with Professor McGonagall.
"Why can't I go she is my sister?" Harry heard Ron say and in seeing Harry Professor McGonagall responded.
"Fine you can go with Harry, but I don't want to hear about you to doing anything stupid. We already had one student die to..." Professor McGonagall stopped herself, but it was already to late. People in the common room began to cry and panic. Someone finally noticed that there were two missing Gryffindors, other than Ginny.
"Where is Hermione and Neville?" a first year asked the Professor. Ron and Harry already knowing what had happened rush out of the common room and into the corridor on their desperate search for Ginny. When they found and empty classroom Harry pulled Ron in and showed him that he had the Marauder's Map.
"Good thinking Harry." Said Ron. Harry spoke the password and the map came to life, showing them the familiar lay out of the castle. They searched it looking for Ginny, but she was nowhere on the map. "What does this mean?" asked Ron, who seemed on the verge of tears.
"I am not sure, but I don't think that Ginny is on Hogwarts grounds anymore." Said Harry as he sat down in a seat. Ron swore loudly.
"Can anything else go wrong today?" yelled Ron as he collapsed into a seat next to Harry. Harry closed his eyes and started to rub his temples when an image suddenly flashed before his eyes that made Harry jump out of his seat. It was Ginny surrounded by Death Eaters; they were all standing in a clearing of the forest just behind the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. "Ron, I know where she is!" said Harry quickly and ran for the door with Ron close behind him.
They were outside in no time at all running towards the whopping willow. "Harry, would you like to tell me where we are going?" Ron said with labored breath as they ran full out towards the great tree that had gave him nightmares for months after his first encounter with it.
"We are going to the Shrieking Shack."
"Why?"
"Because Death Eaters have your sister in a clearing behind the Shrieking Shack."
"What? How do you know that?"
"I am not sure, but I do." Said Harry, as he picked you a stick and stopped just outside the range of the Whopping Willow. He poked the knot to make the tree stop trying to hit them and ran for the entrance.
"Harry I am not sure about this." Said Ron as they both ran down the tunnel towards the Shack. Harry didn't respond he just kept on running. Harry was too preoccupied to notice that they were being followed.
When the two boys finally got to the shack they ran to the back door, which was still broken from earlier in the year. They ran out of the Shrieking Shack and into the forest just behind it. It wasn't long before Harry saw a light from a clearing just ahead of them and he was ready to run straight into the clearing, but he was pulling back by Ron.
"Harry do you think that it is wise to just go rushing into that clearing, with Death Eaters there?" asked Ron.
"Ron I know what I am doing, now come on." Said Harry and he pulled Ron towards the clearing. They both stepped into the clearing at the same time to see at least ten Death Eater, in their robes and masks standing around a fire with Ginny lying, bound and gagged, on the ground just in front of them.
"Ginny!" squeaked Ron. Ginny looked up at her brother and started to get free of her restrains.
"Well if it isn't Harry Potter and his shadow Ronald Weasley." Said the head Death Eater and Harry recognized it immediately.
"Lucius Malfoy." Breathed Harry. Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and took off his mask laughing at them.
"Yes my dear boy, who else did you think it would be." He said and walked over to Ginny. He pulled out a knife and pulled Ginny closer to him. "I have been informed that you know the deal, which was given to your cousin." Ron looked at Harry confused.
"Yes." Said Harry and Ron shook his head.
"Harry what deal?" asked Ron but Harry ignored the question.
"Well do you except?" asked Lucius.
"Yes." Said Harry and Lucius smiled. Malfoy brought the knife down towards Ginny and she began to cry. Ron started to run for his sister but was pulled back by Harry.
"Harry what are you doing. He is going to hurt Ginny." Cried Ron as he watched in horror has the knife got closer to Ginny, but a moment later was shocked to see that the only thing Lucius cut the ropes from her hands and let Ginny run towards them. Ginny ran towards Ron and didn't stop until she was safely in his arms. Harry turned to the brother and sister and smiled at them as they sat there holding each other, Ron trying to comfort his sister.
"Ron take Ginny back to the castle." Said Harry and Ron looked at him with a wild expression.
"What are you talking about Harry?" asked Ron quickly.
"RON TAKE YOUR SISTER BACK TO THE CASTLE NOW!" yelled Harry as he began to walk towards the Death Eaters.
"NO! Harry is this the deal. You for my sister?" asked Ron.
"No, Ron me for the whole school." Said Harry simply. He walked towards the Death Eaters not listening to Ron pleas to him not to do it. He was only a few yards away from the Death Eater, and Lucius, who was smiling with his victory, when something suddenly flew in front of him pushing him back. Harry fell onto his back, knocking the wind out of him for the second time that day. When Harry sat up he saw the great black cat standing in front of him hissing at the Death Eaters. The cat was as big as Sirius was when he was a dog.
"Well what do we have here?" asked Lucius as he walked towards the cat unafraid. "Nice kitty." He said, and the cat just hissed at him. "So that is how you got away from us." Harry watched in disbelief as the cat suddenly changed into a tall woman.
"Cassandra." Harry said in surprise.
"Yes Harry your dear little cousin is full of surprises isn't she." Said Lucius and he took another step towards her.
"Lucius I will rip you apart if you touch me or these children." Said Cassandra, her voice suddenly sounded different, harder and cold. Harry stood up behind her and looked at her, so he had been the person to save Hermione and himself from the Werewolf. She had also saved Snape from Voldemort and the Death Eaters and now she was saving him from himself.
"The boy has made his decision Cassie there is nothing you can do about it." Said Lucius he was getting angry.
"The boy had no choice, he couldn't make a decision when there is no choice. Come with me or she and many other people die, that is not a choice Lucius."
"Oh on the contrary, it is a choice. His life for many others that is the ultimate choice, and the boy has chosen, so let it be Cassandra." Said Lucius has he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the tall woman.
"You know you can't hurt me." She said, and suddenly one of the Death Eaters grabbed Lucius' wand out of his hands as the other Death Eater attacked him. Harry watched looked up at his cousin and gasped at what he saw, her eyes were completely white. He turned and watched as the Death Eater finally got Lucius to the ground and tied his hand behind his back.
"You will pay for this Cassie." Said Lucius. Cassandra only smirked at Lucius. "I wouldn't be so happy if I were you." There was a suddenly scream from behind them and Harry turned quickly to see a rather large snake circling Ron and Ginny.
"No." Cassandra hissed. The snake was about to attack Ginny. Harry was about to tell the snake to get away from her when he left himself being roughly pulled up off the ground and a mouth covered his mouth so he couldn't speak. He suddenly realized that Cassandra's hold over the Death Eaters was broken as she went to stop the snake. Harry watched in horror as the snake coiled up to strike. If only the Death Eater would let him go so that he could simply tell the snake to stop it, but that wasn't going to happen.
"Yes Cassie it is particular poisonous snake and she will be dead before anyone is able to get her any help, so I should suggest you stop it before it does anything, but one less Weasley in the world is fine with me." Said Lucius, and Harry saw Cassandra straighten up and look down at the snake.
"Leave her alone and go back to your master. NOW!" hissed Cassandra. The snake turned to her and then slowly moved away. Ron and Ginny looked up Cassandra in horror and Harry suddenly realized that she had just spoken to the snake in Parseltongue, snake language. Lucius smiled at her.
"I always loved it when you spoke the snake tongue when you were angry." He said with a laugh.
"I would be laughing for much longer Lucius." Said Cassandra. Harry saw movement from behind Cassandra as a hood figure stepped out of a shadow and slowly walked up behind her with wand at the ready. Cassandra was about to say something else to the smirking Lucius, but it never came out of her mouth. Harry didn't hear the curse but he saw the light shot out from the wand and hit his cousin, who dropped to the ground.
"I hope you didn't do anything damaging to her, for your sake, my dear." Said Lucius. "Our master would not be pleased if you hurt her." The Death Eater that just cursed Cassandra said nothing but walked up to her and kicked her in the stomach. Cassandra let out a slight moan to let him know that she was still alive. "Good lets go." Said Lucius and then looked back at the two Weasleys, who had watched in horror. "Bring them as well." He breathed. Harry started to struggle against the Death Eater as he watched two Death Eaters go to his two friends and put stunning curse on them just before he felt a familiar pull from behind his navel. After a moment of dizzying color he was dropped onto the hard wood floor of the Riddle house.
"A portkey." Harry told himself. He stood up and looked around. He recognized this room. It was the room of his dream, the summer before his fourth year. The fire was blazing and it cast long shadows across the room. There was a high-back chair that sat in front of the fire, and someone sat in it. Lucius walked up to the chair and whispered something to the person in the chair. Harry didn't have to be told whom it was sitting in the chair, because there was a steady dull ache in his scar. "Voldemort." Said Harry as a tall figure stood up from the chair, sending a shot of pain through his scar.
"If it isn't our dear Mr. Potter?" Voldemort said mockingly. "Come to me at last."
"Oh and we also have Cassandra and the two youngest Weasleys down in the cells." Said Lucius as if it were nothing.
"Excellent." Said Voldemort and then he turned his glare onto Harry, who was on his knees with one hand to his scar. "You maybe wondering Harry why I called you here. Well I wish to announce to the world that I have entered, and to have one of my more powerful enemies a my mercy will strike fear into their hearts."
"Why don't you just wear a pink skirt that will also strike fear in their hearts." Harry said with a smirk, but it was a hallow victory. When Voldemort quickly crossed the room and slapped Harry across the face, which hurt doubly worse. With the pain of the hard slap stinging the side of his face and the pain in his scar, which exploded from the closeness of Voldemort, Harry collapsed onto the floor.
"I wouldn't be so smug if I were you boy!" hissed Voldemort. "Take him to the cells." He said, but before the Death Eater grabbed him Voldemort spoke again. "Wait!" he said and put and hand up. The Death Eaters moved away from Harry. "A little gift Harry." He heard Voldemort say. "Cruico." Hissed Voldemort and the pain ripped through Harry's body more than before. He remembered this pain from the year before, it was unbearable and he wished he were death. He felt the darkness coming towards him quickly and he was about to surrender to it when he heard Voldemort's voice again. 'Fininte Incantatem." Harry lay there for a moment longer listening to the laughter of the Death Eaters, before he felt himself being lifted off the ground. The pain lingered in him and as the Death Eaters walked him out of the room he fell into darkness.
He woke up in a small cage that was hanging about five feet above the floor. His body ached and his scar still hurt him. He looked around to find Ron in a similar cage next to him and Ginny was laying unconscious on the floor in a cell a couple of yards away. "Ron are you alright?" Harry said are he sat up to get a better look at his friend who seemed to be staring at his sister with a worried expression.
"I am as good as can be excepted." Said Ron. "But I am worried about Ginny she hasn't moved since they threw us in here and that was over a day ago." Harry suddenly looked up at his friend.
"A day?" asked Harry and Ron turned to him.
"Yes Harry a day. They threw me and Ginny in here along with Cassandra, but they took her away when they brought you here." Ron informed his friend.
"And you have been awake that whole time?"
"Yes I can't see right now, not here, not while Ginny..." he was cut off by his sister suddenly talking.
"I am alright, just asleep." Said Ginny who sat up and looked at the two boys sitting in the cages. "Are you two alright?" she asked.
"Yes." Ron said, but Harry didn't respond. The two Weasley looked at him and he was staring at a point of the far wall.
"This is all my fault. If it weren't for me you two would be here." Said Harry and this made Ron mad.
"HARRY GET A GRIP!" Ron yelled at him. "This isn't your fault, none this is, and I really hate it when you say that it is..." Ron was suddenly cut off by the sound of the door opening. The three friends all looked up as a group of Death Eaters, lead by Lucius Malfoy, walked in carrying Cassandra. They threw her into the cell next to Ginny and then turned their attention towards their other prisoners.
"Morning lady and gentlemen are we having a nice stay." Lucius laughed, when he saw the fear in Ginny's eyes. "Well it is time for a little fun." Lucius pulled his wand out and pointed it at Ron. "Cruico." The cruse hit Ron and immediately he curled up in a ball at the bottom of his cage twitching and screaming in pain.
"Stop it... Stop." Harry heard Ginny scream. Anger filled Harry, he could take being tortured himself, but seeing his friends getting tortured and not being able to do anything about it was a different story. He wanted his wand, but he knew that the Death Eater had taken it from him while he was unconscious. Harry balled his fists; he wanted to hurt Lucius Malfoy right now.
"Fininte Incantatem." Ron fell silence and lay there in his cage as the Death Eaters laughed.
"You bastard." Screamed Ginny, and Lucius turned to her with his wand at the ready.
"Don't worry you will get your turn." He said with a smile. Harry threw himself against the bars of his cages as he watched Lucius bring up his wand. Ginny crawled to the back of her cell crying. She closed her eyes almost ready for the attack when the door opened behind Lucius. Harry's scar began to hurt as he looked up and saw Voldemort and the hooded figure from the clearing standing in the doorway. Ginny gasped as she saw the Dark Lord for the first time in her life.
"Tom?" she squeak and everyone looked at her in shock.
"Oh yes Virginia Weasley." Breathed Voldemort, and turning to Lucius spoke again. "You remember Lucius, you gave her my journal a couple of years back. She is the one who opened the chamber of secrets for me." Voldemort laughed and then turned to Ron. "Ronald Weasley." Ron sat up staring angrily at him. "The constant sidekick of Harry Potter."
"I am not a sidekick." Ron protested, but Voldemort just laughed and turned to Harry.
"The Boy Who Lived, well we will see what happens to you soon enough." Hissed Voldemort. Harry hissed something at him in Parseltongue that Voldemort didn't seem to like. "You will pay for that one." Voldemort brought up his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Cruico." Harry felt the familiar pain rack his body again. It was the longest time Voldemort had ever left Harry under the curse and a moment longer and the affect on Harry's brain would be enough to make him go insane. "Fininte Incantatem." The pain slowly ebbed away and Harry could hear Ginny and Ron's cries to get him to stop. Harry sat up slowly and watched Voldemort go into Cassandra's cell and look down at her. "Have you made your chose yet?"
"Yes." She said. "Sod off." Voldemort slapped her across the face so hard that Harry thought he might of knocked her out, but she just sat there and brought her hand up to where he slapped her.
"You know I can make you." Hissed Voldemort, who looked at Ron with a murderous look that made the panic in Harry rise. "I can always kill the redhead." Cassandra looked at Ron and shook her head.
"You wouldn't."
"I would and you know it. If you don't agree to it I will kill both the Weasley brats." Cassandra looked from Ron to Ginny and then back at Voldemort. She bowed her head in defeat.
"Yes." She said and Voldemort slapped her again.
"You will address me proper, child." Hissed Voldemort. Cassandra brought her hand back up to the place where he slapped her. She looked as if she didn't have any energy felt in her body.
"Yes, father." Harry gasped.
"Father what do you mean, father?" Harry asked confused. Voldemort turned and laughed at the three students.
"Don't tell me they don't know?" laughed Lucius at the irony of the situation. Cassandra shook her head.
"Didn't you know that Voldemort is Cassandra's father? What other reason would he have wanted her in the first place?" asked Lucius.
"Because she is a Dreamwalker." Said Harry.
"Oh yes she is a Dreamwalker." Said Voldemort. "But I have a loyal Dreamwalker already." He moment for the hooded figure at the door and she walked towards Voldemort. "This is my Dreamwalker, the nightmare, the dark one." Harry and Ron looked at each other remembering the warning. 'Beware the dark one, the spy, and the one of fire.' Something suddenly flashed in his head and he knew who the other Dreamwalker was.
"Professor Smith?" said Harry. Ron looked at Harry confused, but the confused look suddenly turned into shock as the hooded figure started to clap.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out." The cold slow voice of Alexandra Smith came from underneath the hood and she pulled it off. "You see Harry I am the loyal Dreamwalker of Voldemort."
"You killed Neville and tried to kill Hermione." Said Harry.
"Yes. A fun little distraction while Lucius was collecting Ginny here."
"But why and how he had the amulet you gave him..."
"Yes Harry he was wearing the amulet I gave him, to bad it didn't protect him from Dreamwalkers, and neither does yours or Ron's. And as to why, well they weren't worthy to study magic. Neville Longbottom is as good as a squib and everyone know it, and Hermione well the little know-it-all Mudblood got what she deserved."
"Shut up." Ron screamed at her.
"Oh yes, she is your girlfriend isn't she Mr. Weasley?" Alexandra laughed.
"All of this is fun, but we must prepare for the announcement." Said Voldemort, and turned to his Death Eaters. "Bring them."
It was the day before the Quidditch final and it had been raining all day. Harry had a bad feeling all day, but he brushed it off as having to go to double poisons. Harry sat in the Great Hall with Ron, Hermione and Ginny eating lunch in silence. There was a great silence that hung in the Great Hall that came from the gray and rainy day. Harry picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet and read the front page.
Rumors of You-Know-Who's Return Just Create Chaos
There has been a raise in the usage of the three unforgivable curses as of recently. That least four wizards and witches have died as a result of the raise in the curse. This report ask the Minister of Magic himself about the raise in the usage of the three terrible curse and he was quoted on saying. "The only reason for the raise of curse used is a direct result of the wild rumors flying around about you-know-who, and I would like to go on record in saying that He has not return nor will he ever return. These rumors are dangerous and deathly. The people you should be blaming for the death are not You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters, but Headmaster Dumbledore and Harry Potter for starting these god awful rumors." Which brings this reporter to think that maybe the Minister is correct in what he says. If You-Know-Who has returned wouldn't he of already announced himself before now, it has been a year almost and if He isn't back, then who really is to blame. Could the Minister be right in blaming Hogwarts Headmaster and The Boy Who Lived? That would be up to the wizarding community to decide. Someone has to be answerable to the death of these four people.
Harry finished reading the article and threw the paper across the room. "Didn't like that article did you, Potter." Came a cold voice from behind him. He turned to see Malfoy stand there with four or five other Slytherins standing behind him. Harry turned back to his plate not wanting to hear anything Malfoy had to say. He stared down at his food suddenly not hungry any more. Malfoy came closer to Harry and whispered into his ear. "Look at them." Harry looked around the Great Hall at the other students some of them were reading the Daily Prophet and staring at him with shocked expressions. "Just yesterday you were there hero and day well..." Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw to find Cho reading the copy of the Daily Prophet she was shaking her head and when she looked up at Harry she gave him look that made Harry's heart sink.
"Shut up." Harry whispered.
"You know what to do to make them stop looking at you like that and become their hero again." Whispered Malfoy. Harry closed his eyes. Yes he knew what he could do to help prevent the death of probably countless people but he was suddenly afraid to do it.
"Malfoy sod off and leave Harry alone." Ron's voice rang clear in Harry's ears.
"Mind your own business Weasley." Malfoy said coldly. "Harry and I were having a little discussion, weren't we Harry?" Harry didn't respond he just sat there with his eyes closed listening.
"Malfoy you better leave not or I'll..."
"Or you'll what curse yourself like you did second year?" retorted Malfoy and Harry heard the Slytherins laugh. Then there came another noise of the scraping of a chair and the commotion of the other students, which made Harry open his eyes to see what was happening. Ron had jumped onto the table and was about to dive for Malfoy when Professor McGonagall walked up to the table were they all were.
"Mister Weasley, will you please get down form the table at once." She said and Ron stepped off the table sitting back down in his seat sending Malfoy murderous looks. "Mr. Malfoy our father is here to collect you and your cousin." Professor McGonagall turned to Malfoy and then walked away.
"What Malfoy going to help your father torture Muggles." Said Hermione to the shock of everyone around her.
"No Granger as a matter of fact I am attending a funeral, for my Uncle." Said Malfoy and then suddenly walked away from the group. The four friends sat shocked at what they just heard.
"Now I feel a little bad for that comment." Said Hermione and Ron nodded slightly, but then turned to Harry.
"Harry what was Malfoy saying to you?" asked Ron.
"Nothing." Harry whispered weakly.
"Oh come one Harry you can tell us." Said Ginny. Harry suddenly felt really angry.
"I SAID NOTHING GINNY, WHY DON'T YOU BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE!" Harry yelled. Ginny looked at Harry horrified that Harry just yelled at her. Then in the next moment she got up and rushed out of the Great Hall crying.
"Great job Harry." Said Hermione and rushed after Ginny.
"Harry why did you have to do that?" asked Ron and he followed Hermione out of the Great Hall. Harry sat by himself staring now at is plate trying to sort through everything in his head. The depression he left earlier in the year was starting to creep back over him and all he wanted to do was to let go. He wanted a moment's peace. He wanted to be somewhere, where nothing could trouble him. He wanted to be with his parents. He wanted to stop feeling. He felt the darkness surround him and he was about to let go and let himself fall into it when someone put their hand on his shoulder. When he out his eyes he noticed the Great hall was empty except for him and the person standing behind him. He turned except to see a Professor standing there to tell him to head to call but when he turned around there stood Neville looking at him, worried.
"Harry we have to be getting to class or we will be late." Said Neville. Harry nodded and got up from the table. The two Gryffindors walked down the corridor toward their next class, double poisons. Harry was rounding a corner when he noticed that Neville was not walking with him.
"Neville you aren't going to right way." Said Harry, but Neville didn't seem to hear him. Neville continued to walk straight down the corridor heading for the moving stairs. Harry ran up after him calling his name. "Neville what are you doing?" He went to stop Neville, but he suddenly heard voices coming from the stairs. It was Ron and Hermione and they were talking about him.
"I am worrying about him, Ron." Hermione's voice came from the end of the corridor. "He hasn't really talked to us for the past month. He is keeping things from us and now he yelled at Ginny who I can't get out of the bathroom. She is up there right now crying with Moaning Mrytle."
"Ah, Neville we should be getting to class." Said Harry quickly. He didn't want Ron and Hermione to think at he was spying on them, but Neville still didn't respond. He was walking for where Ron and Hermione were. Harry stood in front of Neville to make him stop, but Neville just walked around Harry. He was staring at the end of the corridor not blindly. Right before Neville got to Ron and Hermione Harry yelled. "NEVILLE STOP!" A second later Ron and Hermione looked at the two Gryffindors coming toward them.
"Harry what is the meaning for all this?" said Hermione. Harry looked at her and she was leaning up against the banister of the stairs, but before Harry could answer Neville talked straight up to Hermione, not seeming to realize that there wasn't anywhere else to go. Harry suddenly felt his stomach drop as he realized what was happening.
"The Dreamwalker!" he whispered under his breath and ran straight for his two friends, just as Neville put his arm around Hermione and pushed her over the banister falling over with her. Harry caught Hermione by her foot, but suddenly fell off balance and tumbled over the banister with his two friends. He let go of Hermione's foot as he fell. Harry closed his eyes as he started to fall down the stair well. They had been on the fifth floor if they hit the bottom they might not survive, thought Harry, but before his thought ended he hit something hard. When he opened his eyes he was laying on a staircase, the wind knocked out of him. One of the staircases had moved right under him.
A panic rose in him as he remembered his other friends. He looked over the side of staircase and notice that Hermione had also been 'caught' by one of the moving staircases, but she had fell longer and was knocked out cold. Harry wanted for the other staircases to move so that he could see if Neville made it safely onto one of them, when he felt his stomach drop again. There at the bottom of the stairwell lay a small boy. "No!" Harry said to himself.
"Harry!" yelled Ron from above him. Harry looked up to see Ron looking over the banister at him. "Are you alright Harry?"
"Yes I am fine, but Hermione and Neville... Go get some help Ron." Said Harry. Ron nodded and disappeared. Harry ran down the stair to where Hermione lay. He looked at her and noticed that she was she breathing, which made him smile, until he notice a deep cut on her head which was pouring blood.
"Oh goodness child what happened here?" A woman's voice said from behind him. Harry turned to see the Ravenclaw ghost floating through the wall.
"Can you stay with her? I will be right back." The ghost nodded at Harry and he ran furiously down the rest of the stair to get to Neville. When he finally reached the bottom and headed to Neville he noticed that Professor Smith had already gotten to him. She was bending over him and when she saw Harry she straightened up and put her hand in her pocket. She had a sad expression that made Harry stop just short of Neville and look down at him. Harry's eyes flew wide as he saw his friend lying in a pool of blood.
"I am sorry by dear boy." Professor Smith said simply in a cold voice. "He is dead." Harry fell to his knees in disbelief.
"This can't be happening." He thought to himself. "This is all my fault. If only I had the courage to give myself up to Voldemort no one would of gotten hurt." Watch stared down at Neville until the other Professors rush up to the boy and carried him off to the hospital wing.
"All students please report to your common rooms immediately." Professor McGonagall's voice rang clearly through the corridors, and Harry could hear the distance murmurs of the students as they left their classrooms and headed for their towers. Harry was still staring at the pool of Neville's blood when Ron came up behind him.
"Harry." Ron whispered to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright Harry?" Harry nodded, but he wasn't all right and doubted that he was every be alright again. "Harry we should be getting to the hospital wing." Harry stood up and followed Ron back up the stairs towards the hospital wing, but before they could get there, Professor McGonagall found them.
"Boys you need to be getting to the Gryffindor common room. I need to make an announcement."
"But Professor..." Ron tried to protest but was cut off by Professor McGonagall.
"No buts. If you would please follow me so that I know that you are safe in the common room." They followed the Professor all the way to the common room where all the Gryffindors, except Neville and Hermione were waiting. "Okay let me see if all of you are here." Said the Professor and she quickly scanned the crowd with a frown. "Does anyone know where Miss. Weasley is?" asked Professor McGonagall.
The feeling Harry had about something been wrong all day suddenly became stronger. "Professor she is probably up in her room. She was a little upset during lunch." Said Lavender Brown and looked at Harry with a mean expression, but Harry was in no mood to do anything, but look away from her.
"Miss. Brown can you go and check for me please?" asked the Professor. She girl nodded and quickly went up to the girl dormitories, but came back even quicker.
"Professor she isn't up here." Said Lavender. Ron suddenly stood up from where he was sitting.
"What do you mean? Doesn't anyone know where my sister is?" asked Ron and his two brothers were suddenly standing by his side.
"Okay prefects will start to look for Miss. Weasley, none of you other students will leave the common room." Said the Professor. Harry stood up and ran up to his room. He opened his trunk quickly and pulled out a small piece of parchment that seemed to have nothing written on it. He was about to close the trunk when he saw the Christmas present that he had gotten from Cassandra, his parent's wands. Not knowing why he quickly picked up his fathers wand and placed it in his sock. When he came back down to the common room he found that the other prefects had already gone and Ron was arguing with Professor McGonagall.
"Why can't I go she is my sister?" Harry heard Ron say and in seeing Harry Professor McGonagall responded.
"Fine you can go with Harry, but I don't want to hear about you to doing anything stupid. We already had one student die to..." Professor McGonagall stopped herself, but it was already to late. People in the common room began to cry and panic. Someone finally noticed that there were two missing Gryffindors, other than Ginny.
"Where is Hermione and Neville?" a first year asked the Professor. Ron and Harry already knowing what had happened rush out of the common room and into the corridor on their desperate search for Ginny. When they found and empty classroom Harry pulled Ron in and showed him that he had the Marauder's Map.
"Good thinking Harry." Said Ron. Harry spoke the password and the map came to life, showing them the familiar lay out of the castle. They searched it looking for Ginny, but she was nowhere on the map. "What does this mean?" asked Ron, who seemed on the verge of tears.
"I am not sure, but I don't think that Ginny is on Hogwarts grounds anymore." Said Harry as he sat down in a seat. Ron swore loudly.
"Can anything else go wrong today?" yelled Ron as he collapsed into a seat next to Harry. Harry closed his eyes and started to rub his temples when an image suddenly flashed before his eyes that made Harry jump out of his seat. It was Ginny surrounded by Death Eaters; they were all standing in a clearing of the forest just behind the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. "Ron, I know where she is!" said Harry quickly and ran for the door with Ron close behind him.
They were outside in no time at all running towards the whopping willow. "Harry, would you like to tell me where we are going?" Ron said with labored breath as they ran full out towards the great tree that had gave him nightmares for months after his first encounter with it.
"We are going to the Shrieking Shack."
"Why?"
"Because Death Eaters have your sister in a clearing behind the Shrieking Shack."
"What? How do you know that?"
"I am not sure, but I do." Said Harry, as he picked you a stick and stopped just outside the range of the Whopping Willow. He poked the knot to make the tree stop trying to hit them and ran for the entrance.
"Harry I am not sure about this." Said Ron as they both ran down the tunnel towards the Shack. Harry didn't respond he just kept on running. Harry was too preoccupied to notice that they were being followed.
When the two boys finally got to the shack they ran to the back door, which was still broken from earlier in the year. They ran out of the Shrieking Shack and into the forest just behind it. It wasn't long before Harry saw a light from a clearing just ahead of them and he was ready to run straight into the clearing, but he was pulling back by Ron.
"Harry do you think that it is wise to just go rushing into that clearing, with Death Eaters there?" asked Ron.
"Ron I know what I am doing, now come on." Said Harry and he pulled Ron towards the clearing. They both stepped into the clearing at the same time to see at least ten Death Eater, in their robes and masks standing around a fire with Ginny lying, bound and gagged, on the ground just in front of them.
"Ginny!" squeaked Ron. Ginny looked up at her brother and started to get free of her restrains.
"Well if it isn't Harry Potter and his shadow Ronald Weasley." Said the head Death Eater and Harry recognized it immediately.
"Lucius Malfoy." Breathed Harry. Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and took off his mask laughing at them.
"Yes my dear boy, who else did you think it would be." He said and walked over to Ginny. He pulled out a knife and pulled Ginny closer to him. "I have been informed that you know the deal, which was given to your cousin." Ron looked at Harry confused.
"Yes." Said Harry and Ron shook his head.
"Harry what deal?" asked Ron but Harry ignored the question.
"Well do you except?" asked Lucius.
"Yes." Said Harry and Lucius smiled. Malfoy brought the knife down towards Ginny and she began to cry. Ron started to run for his sister but was pulled back by Harry.
"Harry what are you doing. He is going to hurt Ginny." Cried Ron as he watched in horror has the knife got closer to Ginny, but a moment later was shocked to see that the only thing Lucius cut the ropes from her hands and let Ginny run towards them. Ginny ran towards Ron and didn't stop until she was safely in his arms. Harry turned to the brother and sister and smiled at them as they sat there holding each other, Ron trying to comfort his sister.
"Ron take Ginny back to the castle." Said Harry and Ron looked at him with a wild expression.
"What are you talking about Harry?" asked Ron quickly.
"RON TAKE YOUR SISTER BACK TO THE CASTLE NOW!" yelled Harry as he began to walk towards the Death Eaters.
"NO! Harry is this the deal. You for my sister?" asked Ron.
"No, Ron me for the whole school." Said Harry simply. He walked towards the Death Eaters not listening to Ron pleas to him not to do it. He was only a few yards away from the Death Eater, and Lucius, who was smiling with his victory, when something suddenly flew in front of him pushing him back. Harry fell onto his back, knocking the wind out of him for the second time that day. When Harry sat up he saw the great black cat standing in front of him hissing at the Death Eaters. The cat was as big as Sirius was when he was a dog.
"Well what do we have here?" asked Lucius as he walked towards the cat unafraid. "Nice kitty." He said, and the cat just hissed at him. "So that is how you got away from us." Harry watched in disbelief as the cat suddenly changed into a tall woman.
"Cassandra." Harry said in surprise.
"Yes Harry your dear little cousin is full of surprises isn't she." Said Lucius and he took another step towards her.
"Lucius I will rip you apart if you touch me or these children." Said Cassandra, her voice suddenly sounded different, harder and cold. Harry stood up behind her and looked at her, so he had been the person to save Hermione and himself from the Werewolf. She had also saved Snape from Voldemort and the Death Eaters and now she was saving him from himself.
"The boy has made his decision Cassie there is nothing you can do about it." Said Lucius he was getting angry.
"The boy had no choice, he couldn't make a decision when there is no choice. Come with me or she and many other people die, that is not a choice Lucius."
"Oh on the contrary, it is a choice. His life for many others that is the ultimate choice, and the boy has chosen, so let it be Cassandra." Said Lucius has he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the tall woman.
"You know you can't hurt me." She said, and suddenly one of the Death Eaters grabbed Lucius' wand out of his hands as the other Death Eater attacked him. Harry watched looked up at his cousin and gasped at what he saw, her eyes were completely white. He turned and watched as the Death Eater finally got Lucius to the ground and tied his hand behind his back.
"You will pay for this Cassie." Said Lucius. Cassandra only smirked at Lucius. "I wouldn't be so happy if I were you." There was a suddenly scream from behind them and Harry turned quickly to see a rather large snake circling Ron and Ginny.
"No." Cassandra hissed. The snake was about to attack Ginny. Harry was about to tell the snake to get away from her when he left himself being roughly pulled up off the ground and a mouth covered his mouth so he couldn't speak. He suddenly realized that Cassandra's hold over the Death Eaters was broken as she went to stop the snake. Harry watched in horror as the snake coiled up to strike. If only the Death Eater would let him go so that he could simply tell the snake to stop it, but that wasn't going to happen.
"Yes Cassie it is particular poisonous snake and she will be dead before anyone is able to get her any help, so I should suggest you stop it before it does anything, but one less Weasley in the world is fine with me." Said Lucius, and Harry saw Cassandra straighten up and look down at the snake.
"Leave her alone and go back to your master. NOW!" hissed Cassandra. The snake turned to her and then slowly moved away. Ron and Ginny looked up Cassandra in horror and Harry suddenly realized that she had just spoken to the snake in Parseltongue, snake language. Lucius smiled at her.
"I always loved it when you spoke the snake tongue when you were angry." He said with a laugh.
"I would be laughing for much longer Lucius." Said Cassandra. Harry saw movement from behind Cassandra as a hood figure stepped out of a shadow and slowly walked up behind her with wand at the ready. Cassandra was about to say something else to the smirking Lucius, but it never came out of her mouth. Harry didn't hear the curse but he saw the light shot out from the wand and hit his cousin, who dropped to the ground.
"I hope you didn't do anything damaging to her, for your sake, my dear." Said Lucius. "Our master would not be pleased if you hurt her." The Death Eater that just cursed Cassandra said nothing but walked up to her and kicked her in the stomach. Cassandra let out a slight moan to let him know that she was still alive. "Good lets go." Said Lucius and then looked back at the two Weasleys, who had watched in horror. "Bring them as well." He breathed. Harry started to struggle against the Death Eater as he watched two Death Eaters go to his two friends and put stunning curse on them just before he felt a familiar pull from behind his navel. After a moment of dizzying color he was dropped onto the hard wood floor of the Riddle house.
"A portkey." Harry told himself. He stood up and looked around. He recognized this room. It was the room of his dream, the summer before his fourth year. The fire was blazing and it cast long shadows across the room. There was a high-back chair that sat in front of the fire, and someone sat in it. Lucius walked up to the chair and whispered something to the person in the chair. Harry didn't have to be told whom it was sitting in the chair, because there was a steady dull ache in his scar. "Voldemort." Said Harry as a tall figure stood up from the chair, sending a shot of pain through his scar.
"If it isn't our dear Mr. Potter?" Voldemort said mockingly. "Come to me at last."
"Oh and we also have Cassandra and the two youngest Weasleys down in the cells." Said Lucius as if it were nothing.
"Excellent." Said Voldemort and then he turned his glare onto Harry, who was on his knees with one hand to his scar. "You maybe wondering Harry why I called you here. Well I wish to announce to the world that I have entered, and to have one of my more powerful enemies a my mercy will strike fear into their hearts."
"Why don't you just wear a pink skirt that will also strike fear in their hearts." Harry said with a smirk, but it was a hallow victory. When Voldemort quickly crossed the room and slapped Harry across the face, which hurt doubly worse. With the pain of the hard slap stinging the side of his face and the pain in his scar, which exploded from the closeness of Voldemort, Harry collapsed onto the floor.
"I wouldn't be so smug if I were you boy!" hissed Voldemort. "Take him to the cells." He said, but before the Death Eater grabbed him Voldemort spoke again. "Wait!" he said and put and hand up. The Death Eaters moved away from Harry. "A little gift Harry." He heard Voldemort say. "Cruico." Hissed Voldemort and the pain ripped through Harry's body more than before. He remembered this pain from the year before, it was unbearable and he wished he were death. He felt the darkness coming towards him quickly and he was about to surrender to it when he heard Voldemort's voice again. 'Fininte Incantatem." Harry lay there for a moment longer listening to the laughter of the Death Eaters, before he felt himself being lifted off the ground. The pain lingered in him and as the Death Eaters walked him out of the room he fell into darkness.
He woke up in a small cage that was hanging about five feet above the floor. His body ached and his scar still hurt him. He looked around to find Ron in a similar cage next to him and Ginny was laying unconscious on the floor in a cell a couple of yards away. "Ron are you alright?" Harry said are he sat up to get a better look at his friend who seemed to be staring at his sister with a worried expression.
"I am as good as can be excepted." Said Ron. "But I am worried about Ginny she hasn't moved since they threw us in here and that was over a day ago." Harry suddenly looked up at his friend.
"A day?" asked Harry and Ron turned to him.
"Yes Harry a day. They threw me and Ginny in here along with Cassandra, but they took her away when they brought you here." Ron informed his friend.
"And you have been awake that whole time?"
"Yes I can't see right now, not here, not while Ginny..." he was cut off by his sister suddenly talking.
"I am alright, just asleep." Said Ginny who sat up and looked at the two boys sitting in the cages. "Are you two alright?" she asked.
"Yes." Ron said, but Harry didn't respond. The two Weasley looked at him and he was staring at a point of the far wall.
"This is all my fault. If it weren't for me you two would be here." Said Harry and this made Ron mad.
"HARRY GET A GRIP!" Ron yelled at him. "This isn't your fault, none this is, and I really hate it when you say that it is..." Ron was suddenly cut off by the sound of the door opening. The three friends all looked up as a group of Death Eaters, lead by Lucius Malfoy, walked in carrying Cassandra. They threw her into the cell next to Ginny and then turned their attention towards their other prisoners.
"Morning lady and gentlemen are we having a nice stay." Lucius laughed, when he saw the fear in Ginny's eyes. "Well it is time for a little fun." Lucius pulled his wand out and pointed it at Ron. "Cruico." The cruse hit Ron and immediately he curled up in a ball at the bottom of his cage twitching and screaming in pain.
"Stop it... Stop." Harry heard Ginny scream. Anger filled Harry, he could take being tortured himself, but seeing his friends getting tortured and not being able to do anything about it was a different story. He wanted his wand, but he knew that the Death Eater had taken it from him while he was unconscious. Harry balled his fists; he wanted to hurt Lucius Malfoy right now.
"Fininte Incantatem." Ron fell silence and lay there in his cage as the Death Eaters laughed.
"You bastard." Screamed Ginny, and Lucius turned to her with his wand at the ready.
"Don't worry you will get your turn." He said with a smile. Harry threw himself against the bars of his cages as he watched Lucius bring up his wand. Ginny crawled to the back of her cell crying. She closed her eyes almost ready for the attack when the door opened behind Lucius. Harry's scar began to hurt as he looked up and saw Voldemort and the hooded figure from the clearing standing in the doorway. Ginny gasped as she saw the Dark Lord for the first time in her life.
"Tom?" she squeak and everyone looked at her in shock.
"Oh yes Virginia Weasley." Breathed Voldemort, and turning to Lucius spoke again. "You remember Lucius, you gave her my journal a couple of years back. She is the one who opened the chamber of secrets for me." Voldemort laughed and then turned to Ron. "Ronald Weasley." Ron sat up staring angrily at him. "The constant sidekick of Harry Potter."
"I am not a sidekick." Ron protested, but Voldemort just laughed and turned to Harry.
"The Boy Who Lived, well we will see what happens to you soon enough." Hissed Voldemort. Harry hissed something at him in Parseltongue that Voldemort didn't seem to like. "You will pay for that one." Voldemort brought up his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Cruico." Harry felt the familiar pain rack his body again. It was the longest time Voldemort had ever left Harry under the curse and a moment longer and the affect on Harry's brain would be enough to make him go insane. "Fininte Incantatem." The pain slowly ebbed away and Harry could hear Ginny and Ron's cries to get him to stop. Harry sat up slowly and watched Voldemort go into Cassandra's cell and look down at her. "Have you made your chose yet?"
"Yes." She said. "Sod off." Voldemort slapped her across the face so hard that Harry thought he might of knocked her out, but she just sat there and brought her hand up to where he slapped her.
"You know I can make you." Hissed Voldemort, who looked at Ron with a murderous look that made the panic in Harry rise. "I can always kill the redhead." Cassandra looked at Ron and shook her head.
"You wouldn't."
"I would and you know it. If you don't agree to it I will kill both the Weasley brats." Cassandra looked from Ron to Ginny and then back at Voldemort. She bowed her head in defeat.
"Yes." She said and Voldemort slapped her again.
"You will address me proper, child." Hissed Voldemort. Cassandra brought her hand back up to the place where he slapped her. She looked as if she didn't have any energy felt in her body.
"Yes, father." Harry gasped.
"Father what do you mean, father?" Harry asked confused. Voldemort turned and laughed at the three students.
"Don't tell me they don't know?" laughed Lucius at the irony of the situation. Cassandra shook her head.
"Didn't you know that Voldemort is Cassandra's father? What other reason would he have wanted her in the first place?" asked Lucius.
"Because she is a Dreamwalker." Said Harry.
"Oh yes she is a Dreamwalker." Said Voldemort. "But I have a loyal Dreamwalker already." He moment for the hooded figure at the door and she walked towards Voldemort. "This is my Dreamwalker, the nightmare, the dark one." Harry and Ron looked at each other remembering the warning. 'Beware the dark one, the spy, and the one of fire.' Something suddenly flashed in his head and he knew who the other Dreamwalker was.
"Professor Smith?" said Harry. Ron looked at Harry confused, but the confused look suddenly turned into shock as the hooded figure started to clap.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out." The cold slow voice of Alexandra Smith came from underneath the hood and she pulled it off. "You see Harry I am the loyal Dreamwalker of Voldemort."
"You killed Neville and tried to kill Hermione." Said Harry.
"Yes. A fun little distraction while Lucius was collecting Ginny here."
"But why and how he had the amulet you gave him..."
"Yes Harry he was wearing the amulet I gave him, to bad it didn't protect him from Dreamwalkers, and neither does yours or Ron's. And as to why, well they weren't worthy to study magic. Neville Longbottom is as good as a squib and everyone know it, and Hermione well the little know-it-all Mudblood got what she deserved."
"Shut up." Ron screamed at her.
"Oh yes, she is your girlfriend isn't she Mr. Weasley?" Alexandra laughed.
"All of this is fun, but we must prepare for the announcement." Said Voldemort, and turned to his Death Eaters. "Bring them."