Pairings in this chapter: Twisted Tom/Harry
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not getting money. I wish.
Chapter 11 : I Find It Hard To Take
The night was over as Harry slept. As the house began to wake, a shimmering form kept vigil over the boy's sleeping body. It hadn't moved all night long, weaving a dark spell over the boy's nightmares. His lips pulled into a horrible grin, tongue flicking out to moisten the corner of his mouth. Long fingered hands reached out to stroke the boy's beautiful face as a hunger arose in those red eyes.
"You're mine," hissed the ghost. "Mine to touch. Mine to hold. Mine to break…"
The boy shifted in sleep, face tensing, but he didn't awake. The ghost's grin widened as he leaned closer and blew icy air across the boy's throat.
It was cold. Harry struggled to stay aware through the icy mist that surrounded him, that unknown room becoming dimmer around him. He heard a voice, low and raspy, spouting out words he couldn't understand. Vainly, he tried to call out to it, only to find no sound leaving his throat. He panicked and fought the mist, tears clinging to his eyes as it formed the shape of a huge man. 'No! Not the purple-faced man! Not the monster!' A terrible laugh filled his ears.
"You're nothing," whispered the ghost, his cold lips brushing across the boy's ear. His hands trailed over the heated skin and down a trembling thigh. "No one will ever want you. No one will ever know you existed. Give up…"
'STOP IT!' Harry tried to scream urgently, but his body wouldn't respond. The monster loomed over him, cackling in hideous glee as he groped the boy's form. Harry cried and shut his eyes tightly, turning away only to feel a mouth upon his throat. He clinched his fists and wished reverently that someone would come to rescue him…that someone would know about him…and care…PAIN! It ripped through him, the monster was taking him, raping him, RIPPING HIM APART!
Having so much power over the boy was exhilarating to the dead Dark Lord. Even in sleep, the boy's body shook with tense fear and his cheeks were wet with tears. He resisted the urge to let out a harsh bark of laughter, allowing the dream to do it for him. There was another thing for him to concentrate on. Slowly, ever so slowly, his ghostly form began to sink into the boy.
BURNS! The fiery pain sped through Harry's body as he screamed in pain. It was so vivid against the cool of the mist and the roughness of the monster as it moved over him. He felt his mind begin to shut done and submit…submit…
Green eyes opened but they were no longer green.
Snape entered the kitchen that morning with a disturbing feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had been a normal occurrence for years, but the cause had been Voldemort. Now, he couldn't help but wonder if it was again. The ghost had been quiet since the afternoon before. He was planning something.
Rylia had warned him to watch out for the Potter boy. Her instincts were never wrong.
So, finding only four of the five other occupants in the kitchen worried him. Draco and Remus both gave him a brief nod while Ron kept his attention on his food, Rylia piling up a plate for her master as soon as he came in. The Potion's Master ate in silent, sipping often from a cup of black coffee.
Then the cup exploded, drenching his hand in hot liquid and sending the shards all about. As he cradled his hand, Snape jerked his head up to stare at the last guest in his home, eyes narrowing to slits at the raised wand.
"Potter, what is the meaning of this?!" he hissed. The boy's gaze lifted and locked onto his own. Fear streaked through his body as a smirk fit itself over Harry's face.
"Oh, shut your mouth, Snape," Harry snapped, eyes flittering an ugly brown. "You're smarter than that."
Chairs were thrown out as the other men stood. Ron and Draco were trying desperately to figure out what was wrong with the other boy. Neither understood what was happening, but Remus did. He recognized the magical signature emanating from Harry's form as well as Snape did.
"How the hell-?!" the wolf started, but cut himself off. "You bastard! He let you do it!"
Harry's head fell back as he laughed, low and horrible.
"Oh yes," the boy's voice purred. "Just a gentle prodding, and he let me right in. Why wouldn't he trust gentle Tom, who'd never hurt him? Oh, how horrible his screams will be as I kill you all! How beautiful his agony!"
"Expelliarmus!" Ron cried. He watched the jet of magic fly towards it's target, only to hit an obstruction and blow past. "How?!"
"I'm not stupid," Harry chuckled. "Shielding is quite basic. Hm…He's screaming for you, Weasley…Crying and begging for me to spare you…Begging for me to go back to normal…how idiotic is that?"
"Let him go!" Draco yelled angrily, grabbing up his wand. Harry looked at him and smiled wickedly.
"Would you kill him, Son of Lucius?" he cooed. "The innocent boy you've known only a few days…and yet, still deeply care for…Oh…Now he's crying for YOU…He wants me to stop tormenting you…Doesn't he know the real torment doesn't start until blood is shed?"
The wand twitched as a word escaped the boy's lips. With a cry, Remus flew back and slammed into the wall, sliding down to his knees. His eyes drooped dazedly and his wand fell from his fingers.
"Idiot wolf," muttered the boy. A second spell flew at him, but he blocked it like the first and retaliated. Snape flew through the doorway and crashed into the hallway mirror, shards of glass cutting across his body. "Idiot traitor."
Ron and Draco attacked together, but made no effect as Harry turned the wand on them. Then he paused and looked at the forgotten Mistress of Snape Manor. The Verifel's body was completely straight, her eyes closed, and her lips moving in a whispered chant. The boy snarled. Tom knew that the Truth-Cat would have been his worst problem. Few understood the power of the magical creatures. Raising his wand, Harry's voice rang out in death, but Ryliatin's was faster.
"RELEASE!"
The world suddenly and abruptly changed. It warped around them, brightening until they were blinded. And then, reality exploded and sent them all away into oblivion. The kitchen was gone, blown to pieces. A circle of burnt flooring contained the unmoving body of a small being. Strewn across broken debris were two other bodies, both motionless. And in the center of it all was a boy, standing with his head lowered. His clothes were singed and his body looked as if it were being held up by a string about his neck. Suddenly, a shining form burst from the boy's back and the body fell.
"You damned feline!" Tom Riddle screamed, enraged at the defeat by something so insignificant. He flew at the unconscious Verifel and dragged her off the ground, his hand tight about her throat. Her violet eyes partially opened, but she had not the strength to save herself. "How dare you seal him! He's useless now!"
Her lips pulled into a painful smile before her eyes closed once more. Tom snarled and threw her back towards the boy. Seeing the two laying motionless, Rylia's body fallen across Harry's as if specifically placed to protect him, Tom felt his rage overtake him.
POP!
POPPOPPOP!
Tom whipped about and his eyes widened.
"Tom! Tom! TOM!"
Ebony eyes slowly opened. A few blinks and his vision cleared. He was laying in two strong arms, against a strong body. Looking upward, he saw Remus's face, but the wolf was staring off.
"TOOOOOOOM!"
Slowly, he turned his eyes to follow the brown haired man's gaze. His fazed mind was at first confused at what he saw. A group of wizards, surrounding a screaming, shimmering shape as they muttered words. One of them had long, white hair. Away from them, a boy fought savagely to free himself from the arms of two more. Water droplets flew about from his tear streaked face, his green eyes wide and haunted. The silvery haired boy held on arm tightly while the redhead had the other. It was obvious neither wanted to hurt the smallest of them. And lastly, one wizard tended to the small form of a Verifel. He could see her slack face clearly, black hair tumbling around her head.
Rylia.
Suddenly, it all snapped into place. Snape gasped and struggled to get up. Remus helped him, steadying the other man as they stood. The Potions Master stared into the group of wizards, watching as each used their magic. He remembered fainting the ritual. Sealing. They were going to seal Tom Riddle away. The ghost screamed and fought, using all of the power he still had. It wasn't nearly enough. With an agonized cry, mirrored by Harry Potter, the ghost disappeared into a miniscule piece of glass. The boy fell to his knees, sobbing brokenly.
A ghost could not be killed. It could not be destroyed. Yes, it could be banished, but that was only from one place, not the entire realm of the living. This was the only answer, the sealing of the soul into an object that could be locked away for eternity.
Dumbledore stooped down and scooped the shard up, slipping it into his pocket. He then turned and stared down at Harry Potter. Neither Draco nor Ron could bare to touch him, not knowing how he would react. With an aged sigh, Dumbledore walked up to the boy and carefully knelt down. The shivering boy refused to acknowledge him as tears hit the ground. All about, the other wizards watched with fascination. Aurors, Snape noted with a frown. One that hadn't met the boy before.
"Harry," Dumbledore murmured gently, a hand moving below the boy's chin to raise his head. Haunted and angry green eyes met his blue. "Harry, he would have killed you all. He-"
"NO!" Harry cried, ripping himself away from the old man. He hugged himself, hands tight about his shoulders. "No, no, no, NO! Bring him BACK! BRING HIM BACK!"
"Harry, calm down!" Dumbledore admonished. "We'll talk about this later, after you've had time…Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley, please take him to his room while we repair the damage…"
Draco and Ron hauled the other boy up, surprised and worried at the lack of resistance. In silence, they led him away. Snape followed them before turning to his other companion. With a glance, Remus dutifully helped him to the Verifel's side. The wizard checking her over looked him over before nodding.
"You must be the Master," he said. Snape nodded.
"How is she?" he asked quietly, reaching out to smooth Rylia's bangs from her face.
"It's better than it looks," the wizard said with a comforting smile. "Mostly, she's just suffering from magical exhaustion. The seal she cast was rather detailed magic."
"Did it work?"
"Yes. The boy won't be in danger of possession as long as she lives."
Snape sighed softly. "What's to be done with the ghost?"
"Exile to the Department of Mysteries," replied the wizard. "I don't understand why it wasn't done in the first place."
"I doubt any will…"
A hand touched Snape's shoulder lightly. Jet black eyes stared over his shoulder, looking the aged wizard in the face.
"Severus, you should rest," said Dumbledore kindly. "Leave the repairs to me."
Snape nodded and drew Rylia's small body against him chest, cradling her weight. He was a little stronger, though he still needed Remus's help to get to the Master Bedroom. He laid Rylia down and sat beside her to wait until she awoke. Remus, after getting water and cloth, gentle dabbed her face at the other man's side.
Back in the debris, Albus Dumbledore sighed ever so softly as his aged eyes fell over the damage. This should have never been allowed to happen. It was another in the long line of mistakes he'd made in the last seventeen years.
"The boy seemed highly disturbed," murmured a man next to him. Dumbledore nodded.
"I've already called someone in," he replied. "He'll be in by morning."
A/N: Yep. That's the end of Tom. Sorta. You'll see...There goes Tom/Harry, ne?
Poor Rylia...
Anywho, you get to meet a new character next chapter! Be afraid, be very afraid!