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I've had people guessing that the Death Eater was Sirius, James, Vernon and Draco and well, to find out which (if any) are right, keep on reading! And thank you to everyone for putting up with me and waiting for this chapter to come out, it took longer then expected but it turned out longer then I had anticipated, so I hope you enjoy!
A Different Life
Chapter 34 - The Unforgivable
"Enervate"
Severus groaned, why did his head hurt so much? He opened his eyes only to see that everything was blurred, only then realizing that his eyes were glazed over from all the pain he was feeling, which felt like it was coming from all over his body.
He stopped trying to move altogether, since that seemed to be quite painful. He remained still and listened to the sounds surrounding him. He heard a tapping from around him, an insisted tapping that felt like it was being pounded against his head.
Squeezing his eyes shut and willing his eyesight to clear, he opened his eyes again, and slowly the blurs started to form a shape. He could see the edges of a black robe. And he also saw what was making the tapping noise. It was a foot just beside him, and it was tapping as though it was someone who was waiting, though waiting impatiently.
"Ah Severus, you're finally awake" The tapping stopped.
Although Severus could hear the voice, it was as though the person was far away. Perhaps it was someone else besides the person standing next to him that was talking?
He tried to move again, tried to sit up but a sharp pain from his ribs barely let him move. He groaned in pain and stopped trying to sit up at once. Again his eyesight was obscured as his eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
"I wouldn't advice too much moving; you seemed to have taken a nasty fall."
"W-Where am I?" Severus was shocked at how hard it was to talk, even breathing was beginning to be a hard task.
The person, a man, laughed. "Why, Hogwarts of course."
He was at Hogwarts? For a moment Severus was taken back to his Death Eater days, when he was often found tortured somewhere after a meeting. When he was first starting out he was prone to those types of things. But then why would he be at Hogwarts?
Severus tried to remember, why was he at Hogwarts? And better yet, why was he on the ground of Hogwarts feeling like his ribs were shattered and his head was pounding?
"W-Why am I...?" Severus didn't finish his sentence, as a coughing fit took over, followed by sharp pains from his ribs as they protested against his movement.
"Why are you at Hogwarts? Well I do believe you work here"
There was humor in the mans voice, one that was obviously enjoying the fact that he was in pain. Already Severus felt hatred towards him.
Wait, he worked at Hogwarts? And as soon as the thought entered Severus' mind, so did everything else. Being a Potions Master, finding Harry beaten and in a cupboard, taking him in, looking after him for all those years, and then finally, him being taken away by Death Eaters.
Severus jerked at the thought, now ignoring the pain in both his ribs and his head. He had to get to Harry, he had to make sure he was alright.
Severus slowly raised his head to look up, feeling dizzy if he went too fast. He got about half way up the man's body that was next to him when he stopped. Dangling from his hand was a Death Eater mask.
Severus immediately was on the defensive, trying to feel for his wand but found it missing.
"Sorry to disappoint you Severus, but I took it off you earlier."
The man sounded anything but sorry. In fact, Severus recognized that voice. He lifted his head to see who it was that was standing over him, but it was too dark and shadows were cast over his face.
"Who- Who are you?" If Severus hadn't just been hit over the head he would have kept quiet, and made a map in his head of the quickest escape route. But it seemed the curiosity that Harry often displayed had rubbed off on him.
The man bent down so he was eyelevel with Severus, a smirk that matched the one Severus often had on his face. "Don't you recognize your own father anymore?"
***
Harry couldn't understand it, why would his father's father become a Death Eater? Was he one when he had visited his father that day Harry was unwell? Had he been one all along? And most importantly, what was he going to do with his father? Surely he wouldn't harm him further? A father wouldn't harm his son would he?
Harry thought back to every other father-son relationship he knew. Arthur Weasley would never harm any of his children, his uncle had never laid a finger on Dudley and many people at Hogwart's, whom he had seen with their fathers, were never abusive. And his father had never intentionally caused him any harm. The only time he had caused any harm to him was when he had run off in Diagon Alley.
So certainly his father would be fine... But that thought did little to help the feeling growing in his stomach. What happened if his father died? Harry wouldn't be able to continue on, he would rather be dead himself.
That last thought brought up an interesting point, he had been so worried about his father, that he hadn't even considered himself. He hadn't considered the fact that he might actually die. He was with a couple of Death Eaters, who were taking him presumably to Voldemort. Perhaps to finish what was started all those years ago when he was barely one?
A sharp pain in his head brought him back to reality. Pettigrew had grabbed his hair again, which was still recovering from the last time. He was sure that they had actually pulled a large clump out of his head. His father had often complained about how his hair was always so messy and how there was so much of it, but if Pettigrew and his fellow Death Eaters kept this up, he wouldn't have any hair left soon.
The next thing Harry knew was that something was being forced into his hands, and he realized only too late that it was a Portkey. He saw the forbidden forest that he didn't remember walking through disappear and he slammed into the ground in a place that he had only seen in his dreams.
***
"I thought you had disowned me?" Severus glared at his father, getting over his initial shock.
His father looked thoughtful. "Yes, I suppose I did."
"Then why are you here?"
"You weren't so easily dismissed. You're mother-"
"Is dead" Severus finished for him, though he was sure that that wasn't what his father had wanted to say.
"You'll never understand Severus." His father glared at him.
"I never thought I would see you sink this low." Severus looked down at his black robe and the Death Eater mask in his hand.
"It is only where you have been before, son" His father was quick to reply.
Severus snarled at him but didn't say anything. But after he could no longer stare at his fathers smirk he asked a question that had been on his mind since he found out what his father was.
"You never followed the Dark Lords way, why start now?"
"I may not care for his ideals, honestly, I could care less about muggles and muggleborns, but we made a deal. I deliver Potter, and he delivers something to me."
"What is it that he is to deliver to you?" Severus felt dread that Voldemort could possibly already have Harry.
His father laughed. "Do you honestly expect me to answer that? You don't deserve to know."
"So you helped to bring the Dark Lord back so he could give you something, and in doing so you murder an innocent child's life?" Severus only hopped that what he had just said was wrong, Harry was fine, he knew he was. Perhaps if he told himself that enough times it would be true...
"You have no right to judge me!"
"And yet you find no trouble judging me." Severus snapped back.
His father shook his head and looked away from him, making it look like he was looking down the halls incase someone was coming but Severus knew a distraction when he saw one.
"Where's Harry?" Severus asked, more forcefully then he had thought his lungs would allow. He felt himself getting weaker, feeling colder. He needed medical help and he was very sure that he wouldn't be getting any soon.
His father smiled. "I'm sure he's fine."
"I swear, if you hurt him Ill-"
"Now, now, Severus, you know I would never harm an innocent boy-"
Severus narrowed his eyes in disgust, seeing the evil smile on his fathers face.
"-that is why it is a good thing that Potter isn't innocent."
Severus snarled and made to grab his father, but his ribs protested at the sudden movement, forcing him to loose his balance and fall to his side.
"Didn't I tell you earlier that it wasn't a good idea to move?"
***
Harry found himself chained to a dirt wall in a small cell. It looked awful, and red covered the walls, looking a lot like blood. Harry almost gagged at the smell. It reeked of vomit and blood, and Harry felt his whole body was dirty as soon as he stepped one foot in there.
Harry looked over to Pettigrew. He hadn't said a word to him since Harry had been in there. But Harry had heard Lucius Malfoy tell him to guard over him and to make sure he didn't escape.
But Harry needed to distract himself; he didn't want his mind to wonder back to his father. But Harry also wanted answers. And he couldn't think of a better time then now.
"Wormtail?"
"So you know my little nick-name do you boy?" Pettigrew smirked and leaned against the wall furthest from Harry.
Harry ignored the question and the disgusting look on Pettigrew's face and continued.
"Why did you turn on my parents? Why turn to Voldemort?"
"What makes you think I would tell you anything?"
"Was it Black?"
That question took him off guard. "What?"
"Well obviously Black set everything up, I was told he was very smart, well he was obviously smart enough to fool my parents..." Harry's face twisted in disgust. He didn't believe that, he believed that Black was more foolish then anything. A smart person would never turn to Voldemort.
"I'll have you know you little piece of filth, that I was the one that did it. I was the one to fool your stupid parents, I was the one that was the spy, I was the one that was able to fool Sirius into letting me be James and Lily's Secret Keeper, and I was the one that was able to fool everyone." Pettigrew sounded swollen with pride, so very arrogant.
Harry growled in anger and lunged at him, feeling enraged that he would talk about his parents that way. But the chains that were around his wrists stopped him from getting very far and all he ended up doing was bruising his wrists and apparently entertaining Pettigrew, as his hollow laugh filled the dark and dirty cell.
Harry stopped and settled for his best glare, one that would make his father proud.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to think what to do. When he had been in other situations that were life threatening he had always had someone to help him get out. It had normally always been his father, Remus or Dumbledore. But none of them knew where he was.
Harry felt despair welling up again inside of him. He started to tremble with fear, he felt so scared and alone. He was somewhere that he didn't know where, his father was possibly dead or seriously hurt. He doubted that anyone had figured out that he was gone yet. And now he was alone with a Death Eater, with more to come most likely, and not to mention that Voldemort would no doubt make an appearance. He had said in one of Harry's dreams that he had wanted to kill him. Now nothing was going to stop him.
Pettigrew's laughs filled the cell again. "What's the matter Potter, feeling scared?"
Harry again felt anger fill him, but instead of lunging out at Pettigrew like he wanted to, he remained still. Fighting would get him nowhere. Instead he thought about his father. What would he tell him to do? He would... say to remain calm, to... not let the attacker see his feelings, to find out what their weaknesses were. Get the upper hand.
Harry smiled, that would be what his father would say. But how was he, an eleven year old supposed to do that?
He needed to get Pettigrew to do something foolish, and Harry had already demonstrated that anger was a way to do something foolish. So perhaps if he did something to anger Pettigrew he would do something stupid?
But what would anger Pettigrew? Harry thought back to conversations in which Remus had told him about him. But Remus had only ever said nice things about him, nothing that Harry could use now.
Harry sighed and thought about what he had learned recently about Pettigrew. He had been able to get him to talk just by saying that Black had been smart enough to plan everything out. When he thought back to it, he had sounded as though he didn't think Pettigrew to be wise enough to do something like that without help. Remus had always said that he was shy, that he was often quiet and constantly had trouble with his work in class. Harry had imagined Pettigrew to be a bit like Neville Longbottom, a boy who was also in Gryffindor. But now that thought gave him the creeps.
But Harry suddenly looked up, a thought only then hitting him. Had he said before that he had been able to able to fool Black into letting him be his parents Secret Keeper? That didn't make sense.
"What do you mean you were able to fool Black?" Harry started to feel dread begin to feel him again, but not for himself. But for a man he didn't know.
Pettigrew smiled more evilly then he had all night.
"Can't you piece it together? Tut tut, your father would be disgusted. He prided himself on being able to figure things out before anyone else." There was disgust in his own voice, he had obviously not been too happy with that trait of his fathers.
"Black is innocent?" Harry gasped.
Pettigrew didn't need to answer, his smile spoke clearly for him.
"How?"
Pettigrew snorted. "Why in Merlin's name would I tell you? Besides, you don't have enough time left in your pathetic small life to hear it all." He laughed as he saw Harry's face pale.
"Don't worry Potter, I'll make sure your little friends don't find out. I'm content for the moment with having Black in Azkaban. I'm sure those Dementors are treating him well." He again laughed. "But believe me when I tell you this-" Pettigrew's voice suddenly became low and all humor was gone from both his face and his voice. "-the pain you go through tonight, I'll make sure everyone you care about goes through worse."
Harry took a sharp intake of breath, feeling fear for his friends.
"You would be surprised what I know Potter, small things tend to go un- noticed, and I am able to become small at will."
Harry realized he was talking about his Animagi form. A rat.
Before Harry could ask anymore questions the cell door opened and out stepped another person wearing the Death Eater attire.
"He is ready for him now..."
Pettigrew nodded, but he looked slightly more nervous now. He waved his wand and the chains that were attached to Harry disappeared. Then Pettigrew pointed his wand at Harry.
"Stupefy"
Harry blacked out.
***
"Enervate"
Harry groaned. His head hurt again, but after a few more seconds, Harry realized that it was his scar that was hurting. Well, more like throbbing.
Harry opened his eyes to see himself in a different room. He was surrounded by people wearing black. And standing directly over him was Voldemort. His eyes red and deadly, but Harry took a small comfort in the fact that he looked weak.
"Welcome back Potter." Voldemort hissed, swiftly kicking Harry in the ribs. He then looked away and faced another Death Eater.
Harry started coughing; he tightened his body in a round ball and squeezed his eyes shut. Willing the pain to go away, and praying that he would wake up and be back at Hogwarts in his bed, and this would have just been a horrible dream.
"Lucius, if you wish for him to see, go and retrieve him now, but make it quick."
"Yes master, thank you master."
And after bowing and kissing the hem of his robs, Lucius Malfoy left.
"Now Potter, I believe it is time I had a bit of fun..." Voldemort trailed off menacingly, looking far too happy.
***
"If you are going to kill me, then kill me. But if not then get out of my way." Severus knew he wouldn't be able to get up, he had just proved that, he could barely move now.
"Believe it or not Severus, I find myself reluctant to kill you."
"Then what are you planning to do? I'm sure Voldemort wont be too happy to know you let me live." Severus said sarcastically.
His father flinched at name, but ignored it. "I'll be done with You-know- who by the time he finds out."
Severus bitterly laughed.
"I may not kill you Severus, but that doesn't mean I won't harm you..."
Severus rolled his eyes at him to show that he was not afraid of anything that he would do.
His father snarled at him and grabbed him roughly by the front of his clothes, bringing him to his feet, smiling as he saw a brief show of pain cover his face.
"You may not care what I do to you Severus, but I'm sure you will care what I do to Potter. I believe You-know-who plans to have a bit of fun with him before he kills him. I know of a few potions that you brewed long ago that Lucius had graciously kept. I'm sure you would love thinking about the pain that they would inflict of Potter. That way you would know that you had a hand in his death." His father laughed at the obvious shock and distraught look that over took his son's face. It was definitely better then any blow or hit he could have given him.
"Well Severus, I must be off." His father dropped him and Severus landed oddly on the floor, his ankle twisting in a strange angle now. "I'll be sure to tell Potter that you said good-bye"
With that Severus was thrown into a classroom, and then what looked like a portrait?
And before he lost himself to the world of unconsciousness he heard his father locking and silencing the room. There was no way out of this one, with no wand and him being seriously hurt, he could only hope that someone stumbled upon him, and the likelihood of that was slim to none.
***
Ron was talking to Draco, they had gone in the secret room that Harry had shown them earlier on in the year and were talking about Harry. They were both worried about him. Ron, although he acted fine around Harry, was still worried about what had happened when Harry had been sick for that whole day. He still hadn't told him what was wrong and Ron felt a bit hurt by it. He knew there was more to it then what Harry was saying.
Draco had agreed and they both decided to keep a closer eye on him.
They sat in silence for a while before Ron finally said something.
"So what else did that letter from your father say?"
"Nothing really, there was something about a place that I would have to go visit, I think it was that."
"What place?"
"I can't remember what it's called" Draco then stood up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked
"I left it in my truck because Crabbe and Goyle were hanging around me and I didn't want them to see it."
"Oh, alright then." Ron also got up.
"I'll be back in a second, just stay here."
Ron nodded and sat back down to wait.
Draco ran out the door and headed towards the Slytherin common rooms but knocked into a figure on the way, it was his father.
"Why are you all the way down here boy? I've wasted precious time looking for you!" Lucius said, angrily grabbing Draco's arm and dragging him along.
"What... what are you doing here father?" Draco tried not to sound scared, but his voice quivered.
"Didn't you get my letter boy?" Lucius said angrily.
"Umm..."
"I'm taking you to your present you daft boy." Lucius was in a bad mood. It was not wise to keep his Lord waiting and his time wasted here would not go forgotten.
"My-my present?" Draco felt more then apprehensive about this, the way his father was looking and his anger was making Draco wish he had stayed back with Ron. His letter hadn't said anything about his father coming and taking him away.
"You know, my father waited until I was 16 to show me his first torture. Everyday after I wished that I had been shown earlier. It was beautiful. And now, I get to give you that gift today." Lucius seemed to take Draco's silence as one of awe, and not dead right horror.
They walked out of the castle and headed straight into the Forbidden Forest. Draco felt himself start to shake; he had always been scared of it.
With his father still holding him arm, he took out a small metal ball and within seconds they were being whisked away.
***
Ron had now been waiting for fifteen minutes. He was getting anxious, wondering what the letter had said.
Finally after getting sick of waiting, he headed down towards the Slytherin common room. Though when he got there he realized that he had no idea what the password was.
With a sigh he headed towards Severus' office. Knowing that Harry and he were probably still talking and wouldn't be happy to be interrupted, but he was too curious to know what was in that letter to care too much.
He saw that the classroom door was open a crack but he still knocked. After waiting for a few seconds and not hearing one sound Ron knocked again, this time more loudly and forcefully. The force caused the door to fully open and Ron gasped at the mess that greeted his eyes.
The office and classroom were trashed. Tables were turned every which way and there didn't look to be anyone in sight.
He decided the only place to go would be Dumbledore's office. Something was definitely not right.
Ron ran as fast as he could and again cursed as he realized he had no idea what that password was either. If only Harry was with him.
He knocked on the gargoyle for five minutes after shouting out every candy and food name he could think of, but still nothing.
Just as he was about to run off towards Remus' rooms a portrait behind him spoke and caused him to jump in shock.
"If you are looking for Dumbledore boy I saw him in the hospital wing while I was visiting Nurse Twain in her portrait, now if you would kindly leave..." The portrait then turned its head away from him and looked like it was sleeping.
"Thank you, sir!" Ron shouted as he ran off, causing the person in the portrait to jump this time.
Ron was scared. What if Harry was hurt and that is why Severus' office was all messed up?
He ran into the hospital wing but stopped short as he saw McGonagall.
"Mr. Weasley, is there something I can do for you?" Dumbledore asked, getting up from McGonagall's side and walking over to Ron's side.
"Sir-what-is she-how?" He didn't seem to be able to form a simple sentence.
Dumbledore smiled kindly at him. "Ron, Professor McGonagall will be fine, she just had a nasty fall. Now what seems to be the problem?"
Ron finally took his eyes off his transfiguration professor and looked up at Dumbledore and into his eyes, they seemed to help calm him down and he was able to remember why he was there in the first place.
Ron quickly told him about Draco, and about the state of Severus' office.
"Its okay Ron, I'm sure that Severus is with Harry and Draco right now as we speak. Now just calm down and I'll take you to the Great Hall where everyone else should be, okay?"
Ron nodded and started to get up, but McGonagall started to scream and Ron had to cover his ears to stop the piercing scream from bursting his eardrums.
Within seconds Madam Pomfrey was over her and trying to stop her from thrashing, Dumbledore was by her side helping.
***
Remus slowly turned down a corridor, wondering where Harry, Draco, Severus and all the other Slytherin students were. As he headed towards the Slytherin common rooms he was opening all the door in-between to make sure that there were no stray students hanging about in there.
The only Slytherins that were in the Great Hall were the ones that had been found wondering the halls.
Remus opened another door to find it empty. With another sigh he shut it and kept walking. Just as he was about to go down the next corridor he saw a door that was quite hidden from the rest of them. He was getting sick of finding empty rooms and classrooms, but he went over there to find it locked. Trying the Alohomora spell, he found that it wouldn't budge. It was firmly locked. Remus thought about just continuing on, but a smell caught his senses and he stopped dead in his tracks. Looking around at the ground he saw a flicker of something, perhaps some water? The lighting was awful in the corridor, as Remus muttered a spell and it instantly lit up.
Blood, the red substance was unmistakably blood. Remus felt himself go on high alert. His ears strained to hear anything that might be of help, he narrowed his eyes and look at every part of the corridor, his eyes coming to rest on the still locked door.
Concentrating on smell, he tried to define what was around him. With horror he realized that it was not only blood, but also fear and pain.
Remus tried several spells but the door wouldn't budge. Finally Remus gave up, he instead stood a bit away from the door, closed his eyes and gathered up every ounce of strength he could find within himself. Feeling ready he lunged at the door and with a loud crack the door broke apart.
Remus breathed heavily and ignored the now sharp pain coming from his shoulder from where he had run into the door. He surely had a broken shoulder and a few nasty bruises.
He looked around and his eyes were telling him that the room was empty, but his nose and instinct were telling him a different story. Something or someone was in here. And they were hurt.
He walked around the desks and could still find nothing. Thinking that the room seemed familiar to him, he tried to remember if he had been in there before.
Looking at the empty portrait at the end of the room Remus suddenly remembered. James, Sirius, Peter and he had been in this very same room years and years ago. Peter had fallen through the portrait when he had leaned on it.
Remus walked over to the portrait and did exactly as he remembered doing last time. He immediately felt himself falling and was only just able to catch himself before he hit the ground. His younger self hadn't had the same luck, but either did James or Sirius when they had followed, each looking for Peter.
Remus didn't know what he had been expecting to find, but Severus on the ground almost dead was not one of them.
"Severus! Severus can you hear me?" Remus bent down next to him and felt for a pulse, but was shocked to find he still had one, though it was very weak. He had to get him to Madam Pomfrey now.
"Hold on Severus, help is coming." Remus said to him while levitating him into the air and rushing back out the room.
Once he was in the hospital wing he saw Ron, Dumbledore and Pomfrey all talking in a hushed voices, McGonagall unconscious and silent beside them.
"Poppy quick, he needs help!" Remus yelled, lowering Severus onto a bed and turning to see Pomfrey running over to him, with Dumbledore trailing. Ron was staring at Severus in shock, not moving.
Remus walked over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and they watched as Dumbledore was kicked out of the room by Pomfrey and told to move away while she did her work.
"What happened Remus?" Dumbledore asked gravely once he too was standing by them.
"I'm not sure Albus, I found him in a classroom like that."
"And Harry?"
"No sign Albus, I wasn't able to check the Slytherin common room yet either."
Before the conversation could be continued Madam Pomfrey walked over to them.
"How is he Poppy?" Dumbledore asked, a bit of hope flickering over his eyes.
"He is stable headmaster, but we won't know until he wakes up. I healed his broken ankle and ribs, and he punctured a lung, but the worst was a hit to the head. I'm not sure how he'll be when he wakes up."
"So what are we waiting for? Why don't you wake him up now?" Remus asked.
"I'm afraid Remus that we must wait for him to wake up by himself." Pomfrey said apologetically to him.
"What do you mean wait for him to wake up, that could take ages and he could very well have the answers to where Harry is!" Remus said in anger.
"And Draco" Ron added, looking just as angry as Remus did.
"Waking him up could cause serious damage. There is a chance that he could lose his memory. That wouldn't help you any now would it?" Poppy snapped just as forcefully.
"So you want us to just sit around and wait for him to wake up?" Remus glared at her, showing true anger to her. Something that he was known never to do.
"Of course she isn't Remus. Now I would like you to round the rest of the students up, and search for Harry and Draco. I'll escort Mr. Weasley here back to the Great Hall and then inform the Ministry of the situation. They should provide some help. Poppy is perfectly able to look after both Severus and Minerva until we return. And if any changes occur, she shall inform us immediately." Dumbledore looked at Pomfrey and saw her nod her head in agreement.
Remus nodded his head also and watched as Dumbledore and Ron made their way for the door, both stopping and looking over to him as they saw that he was not following.
"Poppy, I'm sorry about earlier-"
"Nonsense, I've dealt with a lot worse." She looked over at Severus and half smiled, half winced as she thought about all the times he had yelled and cussed at her when Harry had been in the hospital wing and was not allowed to stay or see him.
Remus followed her gaze and smiled at her when he saw that it landed on Severus. He too remembered a lot of those times, as he had been the one to restrain him a few times from taking a more dangerous action on her.
"Come on Remus." Dumbledore said, bring back the reality and the seriousness of the situation at hand.
They were all almost out the door when Ron stopped suddenly, turning around and facing Remus, his eyes widening.
"The map!" Ron shouted at him and then took off at a sprint towards the Gryffindor Tower, leaving a trailing Dumbledore and Remus behind him.
***
"Crucio"
Harry screamed and thrashed in pain. Never had one of his uncle's beatings hurt this much. He just wanted it to end.
Finally Harry was released from the curse but the pain was yet to relent. For what seemed like forever Voldemort had been placing the curse on and off him.
Voldemort was laughing and so were the Death Eaters surrounding him. Every laugh was like a knife scratching into his back. Painful and tormenting him.
"My Lord" Harry heard someone say. He turned his pain filled head and saw a Death Eater bowing at Voldemort's feet. Harry felt disgusted that that had once been his father, long ago.
"Is it done?" Voldemort hissed at him.
"Yes my Lord, he is dead"
Harry then realized who the voice belonged to, it was his father's father, and no doubt they were talking about him. So he was dead.
Harry felt more pain go through him then the Cruciatus curse. He had lost the person he loved the most. His last and only parent that was left.
"Good, bring her forward then." Voldemort hissed.
A Death Eater on the other side of Harry left and came back moments later, levitating someone behind him.
It was a woman, and she was dead. The smell that was radiating off her was enough to make Harry vomit. She had obviously been dead for some time; though by looking at her you wouldn't have known.
Voldemort laughed at Harry but the rest of the Death Eaters didn't join him, as they were too busy trying not to vomit as well. The only other person that looked fine was his father's father, who was instead looking at the woman with love.
He walked over to her as she floated towards Voldemort and he stroked her hair gently.
"Soon my love, soon..." He then stepped away from her and over to a cauldron which Harry hadn't noticed before.
Harry then started to piece things together.
The woman that they spoke of in his dream, it must have been his father's mother. That time that he saw him outside of the Potions shop all those years ago when he and Ron were in Diagon Alley for his ninth birthday, was he preparing for the potion then?
Harry was stunned, had they discovered a way to bring someone back from the dead? Perhaps his father wasn't gone forever after all?
Harry felt a bit of hope at that, it wasn't all lost after all, but then another two figures walked in, one large and one considerably smaller.
The larger one walked over to Voldemort and bowed at him, again kissing the hems of his robes.
"Master, I apologize for my lateness."
Voldemort's nose twitched but he didn't say anything at first.
"Were you seen?" He hissed.
"No my Lord."
Voldemort then turned his eyes onto the trembling figure next to him, a sick smile overcoming his features of his face.
"Welcome Draco, your father has told me a lot about you."
Harry again felt shocked. Draco was here? Finally it was all too much. His father was dead, he was in severe pain, he felt completely helpless and trapped, and now Draco was in the middle of it.
Harry finally fell unconscious.
I've had people guessing that the Death Eater was Sirius, James, Vernon and Draco and well, to find out which (if any) are right, keep on reading! And thank you to everyone for putting up with me and waiting for this chapter to come out, it took longer then expected but it turned out longer then I had anticipated, so I hope you enjoy!
A Different Life
Chapter 34 - The Unforgivable
"Enervate"
Severus groaned, why did his head hurt so much? He opened his eyes only to see that everything was blurred, only then realizing that his eyes were glazed over from all the pain he was feeling, which felt like it was coming from all over his body.
He stopped trying to move altogether, since that seemed to be quite painful. He remained still and listened to the sounds surrounding him. He heard a tapping from around him, an insisted tapping that felt like it was being pounded against his head.
Squeezing his eyes shut and willing his eyesight to clear, he opened his eyes again, and slowly the blurs started to form a shape. He could see the edges of a black robe. And he also saw what was making the tapping noise. It was a foot just beside him, and it was tapping as though it was someone who was waiting, though waiting impatiently.
"Ah Severus, you're finally awake" The tapping stopped.
Although Severus could hear the voice, it was as though the person was far away. Perhaps it was someone else besides the person standing next to him that was talking?
He tried to move again, tried to sit up but a sharp pain from his ribs barely let him move. He groaned in pain and stopped trying to sit up at once. Again his eyesight was obscured as his eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
"I wouldn't advice too much moving; you seemed to have taken a nasty fall."
"W-Where am I?" Severus was shocked at how hard it was to talk, even breathing was beginning to be a hard task.
The person, a man, laughed. "Why, Hogwarts of course."
He was at Hogwarts? For a moment Severus was taken back to his Death Eater days, when he was often found tortured somewhere after a meeting. When he was first starting out he was prone to those types of things. But then why would he be at Hogwarts?
Severus tried to remember, why was he at Hogwarts? And better yet, why was he on the ground of Hogwarts feeling like his ribs were shattered and his head was pounding?
"W-Why am I...?" Severus didn't finish his sentence, as a coughing fit took over, followed by sharp pains from his ribs as they protested against his movement.
"Why are you at Hogwarts? Well I do believe you work here"
There was humor in the mans voice, one that was obviously enjoying the fact that he was in pain. Already Severus felt hatred towards him.
Wait, he worked at Hogwarts? And as soon as the thought entered Severus' mind, so did everything else. Being a Potions Master, finding Harry beaten and in a cupboard, taking him in, looking after him for all those years, and then finally, him being taken away by Death Eaters.
Severus jerked at the thought, now ignoring the pain in both his ribs and his head. He had to get to Harry, he had to make sure he was alright.
Severus slowly raised his head to look up, feeling dizzy if he went too fast. He got about half way up the man's body that was next to him when he stopped. Dangling from his hand was a Death Eater mask.
Severus immediately was on the defensive, trying to feel for his wand but found it missing.
"Sorry to disappoint you Severus, but I took it off you earlier."
The man sounded anything but sorry. In fact, Severus recognized that voice. He lifted his head to see who it was that was standing over him, but it was too dark and shadows were cast over his face.
"Who- Who are you?" If Severus hadn't just been hit over the head he would have kept quiet, and made a map in his head of the quickest escape route. But it seemed the curiosity that Harry often displayed had rubbed off on him.
The man bent down so he was eyelevel with Severus, a smirk that matched the one Severus often had on his face. "Don't you recognize your own father anymore?"
***
Harry couldn't understand it, why would his father's father become a Death Eater? Was he one when he had visited his father that day Harry was unwell? Had he been one all along? And most importantly, what was he going to do with his father? Surely he wouldn't harm him further? A father wouldn't harm his son would he?
Harry thought back to every other father-son relationship he knew. Arthur Weasley would never harm any of his children, his uncle had never laid a finger on Dudley and many people at Hogwart's, whom he had seen with their fathers, were never abusive. And his father had never intentionally caused him any harm. The only time he had caused any harm to him was when he had run off in Diagon Alley.
So certainly his father would be fine... But that thought did little to help the feeling growing in his stomach. What happened if his father died? Harry wouldn't be able to continue on, he would rather be dead himself.
That last thought brought up an interesting point, he had been so worried about his father, that he hadn't even considered himself. He hadn't considered the fact that he might actually die. He was with a couple of Death Eaters, who were taking him presumably to Voldemort. Perhaps to finish what was started all those years ago when he was barely one?
A sharp pain in his head brought him back to reality. Pettigrew had grabbed his hair again, which was still recovering from the last time. He was sure that they had actually pulled a large clump out of his head. His father had often complained about how his hair was always so messy and how there was so much of it, but if Pettigrew and his fellow Death Eaters kept this up, he wouldn't have any hair left soon.
The next thing Harry knew was that something was being forced into his hands, and he realized only too late that it was a Portkey. He saw the forbidden forest that he didn't remember walking through disappear and he slammed into the ground in a place that he had only seen in his dreams.
***
"I thought you had disowned me?" Severus glared at his father, getting over his initial shock.
His father looked thoughtful. "Yes, I suppose I did."
"Then why are you here?"
"You weren't so easily dismissed. You're mother-"
"Is dead" Severus finished for him, though he was sure that that wasn't what his father had wanted to say.
"You'll never understand Severus." His father glared at him.
"I never thought I would see you sink this low." Severus looked down at his black robe and the Death Eater mask in his hand.
"It is only where you have been before, son" His father was quick to reply.
Severus snarled at him but didn't say anything. But after he could no longer stare at his fathers smirk he asked a question that had been on his mind since he found out what his father was.
"You never followed the Dark Lords way, why start now?"
"I may not care for his ideals, honestly, I could care less about muggles and muggleborns, but we made a deal. I deliver Potter, and he delivers something to me."
"What is it that he is to deliver to you?" Severus felt dread that Voldemort could possibly already have Harry.
His father laughed. "Do you honestly expect me to answer that? You don't deserve to know."
"So you helped to bring the Dark Lord back so he could give you something, and in doing so you murder an innocent child's life?" Severus only hopped that what he had just said was wrong, Harry was fine, he knew he was. Perhaps if he told himself that enough times it would be true...
"You have no right to judge me!"
"And yet you find no trouble judging me." Severus snapped back.
His father shook his head and looked away from him, making it look like he was looking down the halls incase someone was coming but Severus knew a distraction when he saw one.
"Where's Harry?" Severus asked, more forcefully then he had thought his lungs would allow. He felt himself getting weaker, feeling colder. He needed medical help and he was very sure that he wouldn't be getting any soon.
His father smiled. "I'm sure he's fine."
"I swear, if you hurt him Ill-"
"Now, now, Severus, you know I would never harm an innocent boy-"
Severus narrowed his eyes in disgust, seeing the evil smile on his fathers face.
"-that is why it is a good thing that Potter isn't innocent."
Severus snarled and made to grab his father, but his ribs protested at the sudden movement, forcing him to loose his balance and fall to his side.
"Didn't I tell you earlier that it wasn't a good idea to move?"
***
Harry found himself chained to a dirt wall in a small cell. It looked awful, and red covered the walls, looking a lot like blood. Harry almost gagged at the smell. It reeked of vomit and blood, and Harry felt his whole body was dirty as soon as he stepped one foot in there.
Harry looked over to Pettigrew. He hadn't said a word to him since Harry had been in there. But Harry had heard Lucius Malfoy tell him to guard over him and to make sure he didn't escape.
But Harry needed to distract himself; he didn't want his mind to wonder back to his father. But Harry also wanted answers. And he couldn't think of a better time then now.
"Wormtail?"
"So you know my little nick-name do you boy?" Pettigrew smirked and leaned against the wall furthest from Harry.
Harry ignored the question and the disgusting look on Pettigrew's face and continued.
"Why did you turn on my parents? Why turn to Voldemort?"
"What makes you think I would tell you anything?"
"Was it Black?"
That question took him off guard. "What?"
"Well obviously Black set everything up, I was told he was very smart, well he was obviously smart enough to fool my parents..." Harry's face twisted in disgust. He didn't believe that, he believed that Black was more foolish then anything. A smart person would never turn to Voldemort.
"I'll have you know you little piece of filth, that I was the one that did it. I was the one to fool your stupid parents, I was the one that was the spy, I was the one that was able to fool Sirius into letting me be James and Lily's Secret Keeper, and I was the one that was able to fool everyone." Pettigrew sounded swollen with pride, so very arrogant.
Harry growled in anger and lunged at him, feeling enraged that he would talk about his parents that way. But the chains that were around his wrists stopped him from getting very far and all he ended up doing was bruising his wrists and apparently entertaining Pettigrew, as his hollow laugh filled the dark and dirty cell.
Harry stopped and settled for his best glare, one that would make his father proud.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to think what to do. When he had been in other situations that were life threatening he had always had someone to help him get out. It had normally always been his father, Remus or Dumbledore. But none of them knew where he was.
Harry felt despair welling up again inside of him. He started to tremble with fear, he felt so scared and alone. He was somewhere that he didn't know where, his father was possibly dead or seriously hurt. He doubted that anyone had figured out that he was gone yet. And now he was alone with a Death Eater, with more to come most likely, and not to mention that Voldemort would no doubt make an appearance. He had said in one of Harry's dreams that he had wanted to kill him. Now nothing was going to stop him.
Pettigrew's laughs filled the cell again. "What's the matter Potter, feeling scared?"
Harry again felt anger fill him, but instead of lunging out at Pettigrew like he wanted to, he remained still. Fighting would get him nowhere. Instead he thought about his father. What would he tell him to do? He would... say to remain calm, to... not let the attacker see his feelings, to find out what their weaknesses were. Get the upper hand.
Harry smiled, that would be what his father would say. But how was he, an eleven year old supposed to do that?
He needed to get Pettigrew to do something foolish, and Harry had already demonstrated that anger was a way to do something foolish. So perhaps if he did something to anger Pettigrew he would do something stupid?
But what would anger Pettigrew? Harry thought back to conversations in which Remus had told him about him. But Remus had only ever said nice things about him, nothing that Harry could use now.
Harry sighed and thought about what he had learned recently about Pettigrew. He had been able to get him to talk just by saying that Black had been smart enough to plan everything out. When he thought back to it, he had sounded as though he didn't think Pettigrew to be wise enough to do something like that without help. Remus had always said that he was shy, that he was often quiet and constantly had trouble with his work in class. Harry had imagined Pettigrew to be a bit like Neville Longbottom, a boy who was also in Gryffindor. But now that thought gave him the creeps.
But Harry suddenly looked up, a thought only then hitting him. Had he said before that he had been able to able to fool Black into letting him be his parents Secret Keeper? That didn't make sense.
"What do you mean you were able to fool Black?" Harry started to feel dread begin to feel him again, but not for himself. But for a man he didn't know.
Pettigrew smiled more evilly then he had all night.
"Can't you piece it together? Tut tut, your father would be disgusted. He prided himself on being able to figure things out before anyone else." There was disgust in his own voice, he had obviously not been too happy with that trait of his fathers.
"Black is innocent?" Harry gasped.
Pettigrew didn't need to answer, his smile spoke clearly for him.
"How?"
Pettigrew snorted. "Why in Merlin's name would I tell you? Besides, you don't have enough time left in your pathetic small life to hear it all." He laughed as he saw Harry's face pale.
"Don't worry Potter, I'll make sure your little friends don't find out. I'm content for the moment with having Black in Azkaban. I'm sure those Dementors are treating him well." He again laughed. "But believe me when I tell you this-" Pettigrew's voice suddenly became low and all humor was gone from both his face and his voice. "-the pain you go through tonight, I'll make sure everyone you care about goes through worse."
Harry took a sharp intake of breath, feeling fear for his friends.
"You would be surprised what I know Potter, small things tend to go un- noticed, and I am able to become small at will."
Harry realized he was talking about his Animagi form. A rat.
Before Harry could ask anymore questions the cell door opened and out stepped another person wearing the Death Eater attire.
"He is ready for him now..."
Pettigrew nodded, but he looked slightly more nervous now. He waved his wand and the chains that were attached to Harry disappeared. Then Pettigrew pointed his wand at Harry.
"Stupefy"
Harry blacked out.
***
"Enervate"
Harry groaned. His head hurt again, but after a few more seconds, Harry realized that it was his scar that was hurting. Well, more like throbbing.
Harry opened his eyes to see himself in a different room. He was surrounded by people wearing black. And standing directly over him was Voldemort. His eyes red and deadly, but Harry took a small comfort in the fact that he looked weak.
"Welcome back Potter." Voldemort hissed, swiftly kicking Harry in the ribs. He then looked away and faced another Death Eater.
Harry started coughing; he tightened his body in a round ball and squeezed his eyes shut. Willing the pain to go away, and praying that he would wake up and be back at Hogwarts in his bed, and this would have just been a horrible dream.
"Lucius, if you wish for him to see, go and retrieve him now, but make it quick."
"Yes master, thank you master."
And after bowing and kissing the hem of his robs, Lucius Malfoy left.
"Now Potter, I believe it is time I had a bit of fun..." Voldemort trailed off menacingly, looking far too happy.
***
"If you are going to kill me, then kill me. But if not then get out of my way." Severus knew he wouldn't be able to get up, he had just proved that, he could barely move now.
"Believe it or not Severus, I find myself reluctant to kill you."
"Then what are you planning to do? I'm sure Voldemort wont be too happy to know you let me live." Severus said sarcastically.
His father flinched at name, but ignored it. "I'll be done with You-know- who by the time he finds out."
Severus bitterly laughed.
"I may not kill you Severus, but that doesn't mean I won't harm you..."
Severus rolled his eyes at him to show that he was not afraid of anything that he would do.
His father snarled at him and grabbed him roughly by the front of his clothes, bringing him to his feet, smiling as he saw a brief show of pain cover his face.
"You may not care what I do to you Severus, but I'm sure you will care what I do to Potter. I believe You-know-who plans to have a bit of fun with him before he kills him. I know of a few potions that you brewed long ago that Lucius had graciously kept. I'm sure you would love thinking about the pain that they would inflict of Potter. That way you would know that you had a hand in his death." His father laughed at the obvious shock and distraught look that over took his son's face. It was definitely better then any blow or hit he could have given him.
"Well Severus, I must be off." His father dropped him and Severus landed oddly on the floor, his ankle twisting in a strange angle now. "I'll be sure to tell Potter that you said good-bye"
With that Severus was thrown into a classroom, and then what looked like a portrait?
And before he lost himself to the world of unconsciousness he heard his father locking and silencing the room. There was no way out of this one, with no wand and him being seriously hurt, he could only hope that someone stumbled upon him, and the likelihood of that was slim to none.
***
Ron was talking to Draco, they had gone in the secret room that Harry had shown them earlier on in the year and were talking about Harry. They were both worried about him. Ron, although he acted fine around Harry, was still worried about what had happened when Harry had been sick for that whole day. He still hadn't told him what was wrong and Ron felt a bit hurt by it. He knew there was more to it then what Harry was saying.
Draco had agreed and they both decided to keep a closer eye on him.
They sat in silence for a while before Ron finally said something.
"So what else did that letter from your father say?"
"Nothing really, there was something about a place that I would have to go visit, I think it was that."
"What place?"
"I can't remember what it's called" Draco then stood up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked
"I left it in my truck because Crabbe and Goyle were hanging around me and I didn't want them to see it."
"Oh, alright then." Ron also got up.
"I'll be back in a second, just stay here."
Ron nodded and sat back down to wait.
Draco ran out the door and headed towards the Slytherin common rooms but knocked into a figure on the way, it was his father.
"Why are you all the way down here boy? I've wasted precious time looking for you!" Lucius said, angrily grabbing Draco's arm and dragging him along.
"What... what are you doing here father?" Draco tried not to sound scared, but his voice quivered.
"Didn't you get my letter boy?" Lucius said angrily.
"Umm..."
"I'm taking you to your present you daft boy." Lucius was in a bad mood. It was not wise to keep his Lord waiting and his time wasted here would not go forgotten.
"My-my present?" Draco felt more then apprehensive about this, the way his father was looking and his anger was making Draco wish he had stayed back with Ron. His letter hadn't said anything about his father coming and taking him away.
"You know, my father waited until I was 16 to show me his first torture. Everyday after I wished that I had been shown earlier. It was beautiful. And now, I get to give you that gift today." Lucius seemed to take Draco's silence as one of awe, and not dead right horror.
They walked out of the castle and headed straight into the Forbidden Forest. Draco felt himself start to shake; he had always been scared of it.
With his father still holding him arm, he took out a small metal ball and within seconds they were being whisked away.
***
Ron had now been waiting for fifteen minutes. He was getting anxious, wondering what the letter had said.
Finally after getting sick of waiting, he headed down towards the Slytherin common room. Though when he got there he realized that he had no idea what the password was.
With a sigh he headed towards Severus' office. Knowing that Harry and he were probably still talking and wouldn't be happy to be interrupted, but he was too curious to know what was in that letter to care too much.
He saw that the classroom door was open a crack but he still knocked. After waiting for a few seconds and not hearing one sound Ron knocked again, this time more loudly and forcefully. The force caused the door to fully open and Ron gasped at the mess that greeted his eyes.
The office and classroom were trashed. Tables were turned every which way and there didn't look to be anyone in sight.
He decided the only place to go would be Dumbledore's office. Something was definitely not right.
Ron ran as fast as he could and again cursed as he realized he had no idea what that password was either. If only Harry was with him.
He knocked on the gargoyle for five minutes after shouting out every candy and food name he could think of, but still nothing.
Just as he was about to run off towards Remus' rooms a portrait behind him spoke and caused him to jump in shock.
"If you are looking for Dumbledore boy I saw him in the hospital wing while I was visiting Nurse Twain in her portrait, now if you would kindly leave..." The portrait then turned its head away from him and looked like it was sleeping.
"Thank you, sir!" Ron shouted as he ran off, causing the person in the portrait to jump this time.
Ron was scared. What if Harry was hurt and that is why Severus' office was all messed up?
He ran into the hospital wing but stopped short as he saw McGonagall.
"Mr. Weasley, is there something I can do for you?" Dumbledore asked, getting up from McGonagall's side and walking over to Ron's side.
"Sir-what-is she-how?" He didn't seem to be able to form a simple sentence.
Dumbledore smiled kindly at him. "Ron, Professor McGonagall will be fine, she just had a nasty fall. Now what seems to be the problem?"
Ron finally took his eyes off his transfiguration professor and looked up at Dumbledore and into his eyes, they seemed to help calm him down and he was able to remember why he was there in the first place.
Ron quickly told him about Draco, and about the state of Severus' office.
"Its okay Ron, I'm sure that Severus is with Harry and Draco right now as we speak. Now just calm down and I'll take you to the Great Hall where everyone else should be, okay?"
Ron nodded and started to get up, but McGonagall started to scream and Ron had to cover his ears to stop the piercing scream from bursting his eardrums.
Within seconds Madam Pomfrey was over her and trying to stop her from thrashing, Dumbledore was by her side helping.
***
Remus slowly turned down a corridor, wondering where Harry, Draco, Severus and all the other Slytherin students were. As he headed towards the Slytherin common rooms he was opening all the door in-between to make sure that there were no stray students hanging about in there.
The only Slytherins that were in the Great Hall were the ones that had been found wondering the halls.
Remus opened another door to find it empty. With another sigh he shut it and kept walking. Just as he was about to go down the next corridor he saw a door that was quite hidden from the rest of them. He was getting sick of finding empty rooms and classrooms, but he went over there to find it locked. Trying the Alohomora spell, he found that it wouldn't budge. It was firmly locked. Remus thought about just continuing on, but a smell caught his senses and he stopped dead in his tracks. Looking around at the ground he saw a flicker of something, perhaps some water? The lighting was awful in the corridor, as Remus muttered a spell and it instantly lit up.
Blood, the red substance was unmistakably blood. Remus felt himself go on high alert. His ears strained to hear anything that might be of help, he narrowed his eyes and look at every part of the corridor, his eyes coming to rest on the still locked door.
Concentrating on smell, he tried to define what was around him. With horror he realized that it was not only blood, but also fear and pain.
Remus tried several spells but the door wouldn't budge. Finally Remus gave up, he instead stood a bit away from the door, closed his eyes and gathered up every ounce of strength he could find within himself. Feeling ready he lunged at the door and with a loud crack the door broke apart.
Remus breathed heavily and ignored the now sharp pain coming from his shoulder from where he had run into the door. He surely had a broken shoulder and a few nasty bruises.
He looked around and his eyes were telling him that the room was empty, but his nose and instinct were telling him a different story. Something or someone was in here. And they were hurt.
He walked around the desks and could still find nothing. Thinking that the room seemed familiar to him, he tried to remember if he had been in there before.
Looking at the empty portrait at the end of the room Remus suddenly remembered. James, Sirius, Peter and he had been in this very same room years and years ago. Peter had fallen through the portrait when he had leaned on it.
Remus walked over to the portrait and did exactly as he remembered doing last time. He immediately felt himself falling and was only just able to catch himself before he hit the ground. His younger self hadn't had the same luck, but either did James or Sirius when they had followed, each looking for Peter.
Remus didn't know what he had been expecting to find, but Severus on the ground almost dead was not one of them.
"Severus! Severus can you hear me?" Remus bent down next to him and felt for a pulse, but was shocked to find he still had one, though it was very weak. He had to get him to Madam Pomfrey now.
"Hold on Severus, help is coming." Remus said to him while levitating him into the air and rushing back out the room.
Once he was in the hospital wing he saw Ron, Dumbledore and Pomfrey all talking in a hushed voices, McGonagall unconscious and silent beside them.
"Poppy quick, he needs help!" Remus yelled, lowering Severus onto a bed and turning to see Pomfrey running over to him, with Dumbledore trailing. Ron was staring at Severus in shock, not moving.
Remus walked over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and they watched as Dumbledore was kicked out of the room by Pomfrey and told to move away while she did her work.
"What happened Remus?" Dumbledore asked gravely once he too was standing by them.
"I'm not sure Albus, I found him in a classroom like that."
"And Harry?"
"No sign Albus, I wasn't able to check the Slytherin common room yet either."
Before the conversation could be continued Madam Pomfrey walked over to them.
"How is he Poppy?" Dumbledore asked, a bit of hope flickering over his eyes.
"He is stable headmaster, but we won't know until he wakes up. I healed his broken ankle and ribs, and he punctured a lung, but the worst was a hit to the head. I'm not sure how he'll be when he wakes up."
"So what are we waiting for? Why don't you wake him up now?" Remus asked.
"I'm afraid Remus that we must wait for him to wake up by himself." Pomfrey said apologetically to him.
"What do you mean wait for him to wake up, that could take ages and he could very well have the answers to where Harry is!" Remus said in anger.
"And Draco" Ron added, looking just as angry as Remus did.
"Waking him up could cause serious damage. There is a chance that he could lose his memory. That wouldn't help you any now would it?" Poppy snapped just as forcefully.
"So you want us to just sit around and wait for him to wake up?" Remus glared at her, showing true anger to her. Something that he was known never to do.
"Of course she isn't Remus. Now I would like you to round the rest of the students up, and search for Harry and Draco. I'll escort Mr. Weasley here back to the Great Hall and then inform the Ministry of the situation. They should provide some help. Poppy is perfectly able to look after both Severus and Minerva until we return. And if any changes occur, she shall inform us immediately." Dumbledore looked at Pomfrey and saw her nod her head in agreement.
Remus nodded his head also and watched as Dumbledore and Ron made their way for the door, both stopping and looking over to him as they saw that he was not following.
"Poppy, I'm sorry about earlier-"
"Nonsense, I've dealt with a lot worse." She looked over at Severus and half smiled, half winced as she thought about all the times he had yelled and cussed at her when Harry had been in the hospital wing and was not allowed to stay or see him.
Remus followed her gaze and smiled at her when he saw that it landed on Severus. He too remembered a lot of those times, as he had been the one to restrain him a few times from taking a more dangerous action on her.
"Come on Remus." Dumbledore said, bring back the reality and the seriousness of the situation at hand.
They were all almost out the door when Ron stopped suddenly, turning around and facing Remus, his eyes widening.
"The map!" Ron shouted at him and then took off at a sprint towards the Gryffindor Tower, leaving a trailing Dumbledore and Remus behind him.
***
"Crucio"
Harry screamed and thrashed in pain. Never had one of his uncle's beatings hurt this much. He just wanted it to end.
Finally Harry was released from the curse but the pain was yet to relent. For what seemed like forever Voldemort had been placing the curse on and off him.
Voldemort was laughing and so were the Death Eaters surrounding him. Every laugh was like a knife scratching into his back. Painful and tormenting him.
"My Lord" Harry heard someone say. He turned his pain filled head and saw a Death Eater bowing at Voldemort's feet. Harry felt disgusted that that had once been his father, long ago.
"Is it done?" Voldemort hissed at him.
"Yes my Lord, he is dead"
Harry then realized who the voice belonged to, it was his father's father, and no doubt they were talking about him. So he was dead.
Harry felt more pain go through him then the Cruciatus curse. He had lost the person he loved the most. His last and only parent that was left.
"Good, bring her forward then." Voldemort hissed.
A Death Eater on the other side of Harry left and came back moments later, levitating someone behind him.
It was a woman, and she was dead. The smell that was radiating off her was enough to make Harry vomit. She had obviously been dead for some time; though by looking at her you wouldn't have known.
Voldemort laughed at Harry but the rest of the Death Eaters didn't join him, as they were too busy trying not to vomit as well. The only other person that looked fine was his father's father, who was instead looking at the woman with love.
He walked over to her as she floated towards Voldemort and he stroked her hair gently.
"Soon my love, soon..." He then stepped away from her and over to a cauldron which Harry hadn't noticed before.
Harry then started to piece things together.
The woman that they spoke of in his dream, it must have been his father's mother. That time that he saw him outside of the Potions shop all those years ago when he and Ron were in Diagon Alley for his ninth birthday, was he preparing for the potion then?
Harry was stunned, had they discovered a way to bring someone back from the dead? Perhaps his father wasn't gone forever after all?
Harry felt a bit of hope at that, it wasn't all lost after all, but then another two figures walked in, one large and one considerably smaller.
The larger one walked over to Voldemort and bowed at him, again kissing the hems of his robes.
"Master, I apologize for my lateness."
Voldemort's nose twitched but he didn't say anything at first.
"Were you seen?" He hissed.
"No my Lord."
Voldemort then turned his eyes onto the trembling figure next to him, a sick smile overcoming his features of his face.
"Welcome Draco, your father has told me a lot about you."
Harry again felt shocked. Draco was here? Finally it was all too much. His father was dead, he was in severe pain, he felt completely helpless and trapped, and now Draco was in the middle of it.
Harry finally fell unconscious.