Chapter 21: Inescapable
They were definitely not at the Ministry of Magic. Instead, they were standing in front of an old house, and Harry saw on the overgrown placard in front of it that it said "Riddle House." Harry felt his stomach plunge, and he grabbed Hermione and jerked his head in the direction of the sign. "What's going on?!" said Harry to Snape angrily. Snape whipped about and jerked the both of them by the backs of their robes into the house, and silently Harry prayed that Ron had gone to get Dumbledore. "Welcome," said Snape, shoving the two of them into the decrepit house, "to the home of Tom Riddle."
They had both fallen to their knees when Snape had tossed them down, but as they looked up, they now saw who was standing before them. Voldemort. "You traitor!" shouted Harry at Snape, "You betrayed Dumbledore!" Voldemort's eyes gleamed red as he watched Harry spout at Snape, "Tut tut, Harry, clearly you have learned nothing," said Voldemort softly. Hermione and Harry, horrified at the sight of the pale, skeletally thin Voldemort, stared as he said, "This is not Professor Snape. Lucius Malfoy, my loyal servant, offered to take a bit of something called Polyjuice Potion and..." Harry and Hermione whipped about; even as Voldemort spoke, Snape was starting to change. His hair was getting longer and lighter; eventually it was blonde, and Harry saw that his nose was growing smaller and his eyes were changing to a gray hue. It was indeed Lucius Malfoy.
"How did you get free?!" shouted Harry. Malfoy smiled an all too condescending smile and said, "Potter, the ways of the Dark Lord are many." Harry turned to face Voldemort, "If he used a Polyjuice Potion then where's the real Snape?" Voldemort smiled at the two of them, and it made Harry's stomach churn, "Follow me." Harry and Hermione felt a hand on their robes and Malfoy was pushing them along, following Voldemort's skinny backside.
A minute later they were in a dust-laden room, and Harry noticed that three separate paths had been carved through the dust, as if bodies had been dragged through it... Hermione let out a whimper and she almost fainted; lying next to an unconscious Snape were the terrified Grangers. Harry felt as if his heart had frozen; Voldemort not only had Snape but Hermione's parents, and they were both quivering, terrified, and bound in thick cords next to Snape's supine body. "Let them go, Voldemort, they're of no use to you!" said Harry angrily. Snape mumbled something; apparently he was coming to.
"No, that's all right, I think I'll keep them for now," said Voldemort slyly, facing them both with menace. "What do you want with them?" said Hermione, a pleading look in her eyes. "Nothing really," said Voldemort, "except for the fact that I'm going to kill them. After all, I love to kill anything and anyone Harry seems to know, respect, or love. That's why you'll be next," he said, pointing his wand at Hermione. "No, please, don't kill them!" said Hermione, tears in her eyes, choking back a sob. Snape grunted in the corner; he was slowly awakening. The Grangers, however, looked more frightened than ever, and Mr. Granger struggled against his bonds, "Hermione, just run! Leave us! Get out of here!"
"That won't be possible Mr. Granger," said Voldemort, "none of you will be leaving this house any time soon. Lucius, get Peter; we'll be needing him to help move the bodies in a few minutes." Malfoy bowed and exited the room, and Harry felt as if his worst nightmare was coming true. "Voldemort, you don't need them, they're useless to you. If you want anyone, take me!" said Harry, "Just let them go!" Harry noticed that Snape was looking at him groggily, "Potter?" His eyes wandered blearily to Voldemort, "Oh." "Don't worry Snape, you're after the Mudblood," said Voldemort with a malicious grin that would have caused almost anyone to faint with fear. "Strange of you," said Harry, rage boiling, "to call her a Mudblood when you yourself are the same. Funny how the hypocrisy works isn't it?"
The room fell silent; the only sound was Malfoy's steps returning to the room. Voldemort stared at Harry fiercely, red eyes aglow, but Harry refused to back down. "Have it your way, Potter," said Voldemort, "you've made me angry, and I do not reward that at all." He turned to the Grangers, wand raised, and Harry threw himself at Voldemort, but too late; Malfoy had grabbed hold of Harry and Hermione, and he made them face the Grangers.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green jet of light hit both of the Grangers at the same time, and a terrifying sound such as Harry had never experienced entered the room; the sound of death. They were dead. "NOOO!" screamed Hermione, "NO! YOU MONSTER!" she sobbed, fighting against Malfoy's grip. "Shut up you Muggle- born!" snapped Voldemort, "It was your choice to befriend Potter! You made the decision and now you'll have to live with it! Anything Harry touches will die! I promise that!" Hermione fell to her knees, eyes on her motionless parents, and she sobbed into her arms. Harry, in the meantime, was fighting Malfoy with all his strength, trying to get free. Voldemort rounded on Harry, "Accio wand!" he said easily, and Harry's wand flew to Voldemort's open hand.
Harry almost fell to his knees in exasperation and anger and fear and hatred...was this how his parents had died...? Was he going to die this way? Was everyone going to die because of him?
Harry noticed that Snape was staring at him with a half-conscious look in his eyes; he was mouthing something...transform... Harry felt as if the answer had just bit him...the answer...had just...bit him... I'm a snake...I'm a King Cobra...green eyes...black eyeglasses...
Harry was rattling on the floor, head rearing up, hood spread wide. "Oh very cute Potter," said Voldemort, "I'm impressed. You managed to turn into a snake. Trying to take after me, are you?" Harry reared back and spat as far as he could; he willed the venom to flow and it sprayed Voldemort in the eyes, and he let out a shriek of pain and rage and kicked Harry. Harry flew across the room but transformed as he did so, hitting the wall as a human. "You little brat!" shouted Voldemort, clutching his head and trying to rub out the venom. But Harry could see that Voldemort knew what had happened; he had to get the antidote soon or he would suffer its effects. "Malfoy, stay here and watch them," he snarled, blindly staggering out of the room, "torture them if you feel, but their deaths are mine. I'll be back later."
Malfoy threw Harry and Hermione looks of distaste, although Hermione barely noticed through her tears. Harry felt his head throbbing; he had hit it hard on the wall, and now he was feeling slightly cloudy. Malfoy was snarling something at him, but he didn't exactly hear what.
Then he felt the pain.
He screamed with pain and hurt, the Cruciatus Curse stabbing him a thousand times over, and silently he begged for death, never wanting to feel ever again... Hermione was sobbing...Snape was struggling to free himself...Harry was dying...his sense were blown away... 'Just die, just die,' he told himself as his muscles tensed and relaxed, tensed and relaxed, feeling white hot knives of pain. Someone shouted something. Something that sounded like...expelled...expelliate...expelliarm...expelliarmus? The pain had stopped. Harry looked up. Dumbledore was standing there, looking more terrifying than Harry had ever seen in his life. Malfoy was lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. Hermione was frozen with fear, tears still streaking down her cheeks. Snape had stopped struggling but was saying, "...Voldemort killed them. No remorse. Heartless sonofabitch. Potter sprayed venom into his eyes. He said he would be back, but I doubt it after he figures out that Malfoy and Pettigrew are gone." "Thank you Severus, just relax now," said Dumbledore, and Harry now noticed that behind him stood Remus Lupin and Arthur Weasley. Ron had pulled through, and Harry silently made a note to buy him whatever he wanted for Christmas.
And then Harry passed out.
They were definitely not at the Ministry of Magic. Instead, they were standing in front of an old house, and Harry saw on the overgrown placard in front of it that it said "Riddle House." Harry felt his stomach plunge, and he grabbed Hermione and jerked his head in the direction of the sign. "What's going on?!" said Harry to Snape angrily. Snape whipped about and jerked the both of them by the backs of their robes into the house, and silently Harry prayed that Ron had gone to get Dumbledore. "Welcome," said Snape, shoving the two of them into the decrepit house, "to the home of Tom Riddle."
They had both fallen to their knees when Snape had tossed them down, but as they looked up, they now saw who was standing before them. Voldemort. "You traitor!" shouted Harry at Snape, "You betrayed Dumbledore!" Voldemort's eyes gleamed red as he watched Harry spout at Snape, "Tut tut, Harry, clearly you have learned nothing," said Voldemort softly. Hermione and Harry, horrified at the sight of the pale, skeletally thin Voldemort, stared as he said, "This is not Professor Snape. Lucius Malfoy, my loyal servant, offered to take a bit of something called Polyjuice Potion and..." Harry and Hermione whipped about; even as Voldemort spoke, Snape was starting to change. His hair was getting longer and lighter; eventually it was blonde, and Harry saw that his nose was growing smaller and his eyes were changing to a gray hue. It was indeed Lucius Malfoy.
"How did you get free?!" shouted Harry. Malfoy smiled an all too condescending smile and said, "Potter, the ways of the Dark Lord are many." Harry turned to face Voldemort, "If he used a Polyjuice Potion then where's the real Snape?" Voldemort smiled at the two of them, and it made Harry's stomach churn, "Follow me." Harry and Hermione felt a hand on their robes and Malfoy was pushing them along, following Voldemort's skinny backside.
A minute later they were in a dust-laden room, and Harry noticed that three separate paths had been carved through the dust, as if bodies had been dragged through it... Hermione let out a whimper and she almost fainted; lying next to an unconscious Snape were the terrified Grangers. Harry felt as if his heart had frozen; Voldemort not only had Snape but Hermione's parents, and they were both quivering, terrified, and bound in thick cords next to Snape's supine body. "Let them go, Voldemort, they're of no use to you!" said Harry angrily. Snape mumbled something; apparently he was coming to.
"No, that's all right, I think I'll keep them for now," said Voldemort slyly, facing them both with menace. "What do you want with them?" said Hermione, a pleading look in her eyes. "Nothing really," said Voldemort, "except for the fact that I'm going to kill them. After all, I love to kill anything and anyone Harry seems to know, respect, or love. That's why you'll be next," he said, pointing his wand at Hermione. "No, please, don't kill them!" said Hermione, tears in her eyes, choking back a sob. Snape grunted in the corner; he was slowly awakening. The Grangers, however, looked more frightened than ever, and Mr. Granger struggled against his bonds, "Hermione, just run! Leave us! Get out of here!"
"That won't be possible Mr. Granger," said Voldemort, "none of you will be leaving this house any time soon. Lucius, get Peter; we'll be needing him to help move the bodies in a few minutes." Malfoy bowed and exited the room, and Harry felt as if his worst nightmare was coming true. "Voldemort, you don't need them, they're useless to you. If you want anyone, take me!" said Harry, "Just let them go!" Harry noticed that Snape was looking at him groggily, "Potter?" His eyes wandered blearily to Voldemort, "Oh." "Don't worry Snape, you're after the Mudblood," said Voldemort with a malicious grin that would have caused almost anyone to faint with fear. "Strange of you," said Harry, rage boiling, "to call her a Mudblood when you yourself are the same. Funny how the hypocrisy works isn't it?"
The room fell silent; the only sound was Malfoy's steps returning to the room. Voldemort stared at Harry fiercely, red eyes aglow, but Harry refused to back down. "Have it your way, Potter," said Voldemort, "you've made me angry, and I do not reward that at all." He turned to the Grangers, wand raised, and Harry threw himself at Voldemort, but too late; Malfoy had grabbed hold of Harry and Hermione, and he made them face the Grangers.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green jet of light hit both of the Grangers at the same time, and a terrifying sound such as Harry had never experienced entered the room; the sound of death. They were dead. "NOOO!" screamed Hermione, "NO! YOU MONSTER!" she sobbed, fighting against Malfoy's grip. "Shut up you Muggle- born!" snapped Voldemort, "It was your choice to befriend Potter! You made the decision and now you'll have to live with it! Anything Harry touches will die! I promise that!" Hermione fell to her knees, eyes on her motionless parents, and she sobbed into her arms. Harry, in the meantime, was fighting Malfoy with all his strength, trying to get free. Voldemort rounded on Harry, "Accio wand!" he said easily, and Harry's wand flew to Voldemort's open hand.
Harry almost fell to his knees in exasperation and anger and fear and hatred...was this how his parents had died...? Was he going to die this way? Was everyone going to die because of him?
Harry noticed that Snape was staring at him with a half-conscious look in his eyes; he was mouthing something...transform... Harry felt as if the answer had just bit him...the answer...had just...bit him... I'm a snake...I'm a King Cobra...green eyes...black eyeglasses...
Harry was rattling on the floor, head rearing up, hood spread wide. "Oh very cute Potter," said Voldemort, "I'm impressed. You managed to turn into a snake. Trying to take after me, are you?" Harry reared back and spat as far as he could; he willed the venom to flow and it sprayed Voldemort in the eyes, and he let out a shriek of pain and rage and kicked Harry. Harry flew across the room but transformed as he did so, hitting the wall as a human. "You little brat!" shouted Voldemort, clutching his head and trying to rub out the venom. But Harry could see that Voldemort knew what had happened; he had to get the antidote soon or he would suffer its effects. "Malfoy, stay here and watch them," he snarled, blindly staggering out of the room, "torture them if you feel, but their deaths are mine. I'll be back later."
Malfoy threw Harry and Hermione looks of distaste, although Hermione barely noticed through her tears. Harry felt his head throbbing; he had hit it hard on the wall, and now he was feeling slightly cloudy. Malfoy was snarling something at him, but he didn't exactly hear what.
Then he felt the pain.
He screamed with pain and hurt, the Cruciatus Curse stabbing him a thousand times over, and silently he begged for death, never wanting to feel ever again... Hermione was sobbing...Snape was struggling to free himself...Harry was dying...his sense were blown away... 'Just die, just die,' he told himself as his muscles tensed and relaxed, tensed and relaxed, feeling white hot knives of pain. Someone shouted something. Something that sounded like...expelled...expelliate...expelliarm...expelliarmus? The pain had stopped. Harry looked up. Dumbledore was standing there, looking more terrifying than Harry had ever seen in his life. Malfoy was lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. Hermione was frozen with fear, tears still streaking down her cheeks. Snape had stopped struggling but was saying, "...Voldemort killed them. No remorse. Heartless sonofabitch. Potter sprayed venom into his eyes. He said he would be back, but I doubt it after he figures out that Malfoy and Pettigrew are gone." "Thank you Severus, just relax now," said Dumbledore, and Harry now noticed that behind him stood Remus Lupin and Arthur Weasley. Ron had pulled through, and Harry silently made a note to buy him whatever he wanted for Christmas.
And then Harry passed out.