Gah. Sorry this has taken so long. I've been a bit pre-occupied. I've tried to make this one really good, so I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to read my story and to submit reviews :) I really appreciate it.
-Summer
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Harry Potter and the True Heir of Slytherin
Chapter 16 : Voldemort's Favourite
Before any of them, even Dumbledore, had time to react to the shocking news, the sky fell dark. Night had reared it's ugly head, returning with thick, black clouds that now covered the sky. Screams were heard coming from all about Hogwarts, and even from Hogsmeade.
"Harry, come with us," Dumbledore said sternly, standing up. His face was resolute. He looked a man who knew that his time had finally come to face the harsh reality of Voldemort's return. He would have to fight Voldemort now. It was inevitable. "We must inform the aurors before it's too late," Dumbledore added.
"What about Professor Snape?" Harry asked, standing up very shakily and taking his wand out from his back pocket. "What if Voldemort finds him?"
"Who cares," Sirius replied quickly. "He can protect himself, Harry. We have other things to worry about right now."
Harry, despite his loathing of Snape, wanted to argue, but decided better of it. He nodded his head, and the four of them left Dumbledore's office. They were soon searching quickly through each corridor, hoping to find the battle that awaited them.
Harry stopped suddenly. His scar was burning more with each step he took. They must've been getting closer to Voldemort.
The four briskly made their way down the hallway leading to the hospital wing. They all knew that Dumbledore had to get there before Voldemort or his Death Eaters did. The aurors would help to guard Siren a little bit, but eventually Voldemort and his minions would make their way through, and frankly, Dumbledore was the only hope they had of ensuring that Voldemort would never take Siren away with him. If he couldn't stop Voldemort from bringing her back to the Slytherin Castle, the world was doomed. It was Harry's duty to defeat the heirs of Slytherin, but the heirs of Slytherin had never been this powerful. Harry was only 15. He couldn't do it alone, and neither could Dumbledore. Though nobody wanted to admit it, Voldemort had finally succeeded in becoming more powerful than Dumbledore, and it would take a lot of time, sacrifice, and effort to stop him this time, especially now that he had the Yfel.
Walking up the stairs which lead to the hospital wing, Harry could hear singing...it was beautiful. It made him stop in his tracks. Sirius and Lupin followed suit. Dumbledore, however, carried on up the stairs. Noticing that they weren't following him, he stopped and turned to them. "Pay no attention to it," he told them. "It's obvious that Siren has awoken. She's definitely in the hospital wing now. She won't be able to enchant us all once we're up there. More than 30 aurors, her grandfather, the Death Eaters, and goodness know what else will certainly distract her enchantments."
Harry, Sirius, and Lupin shook their heads of the enchantment, and continued to follow Dumbledore up the stairs. It took mere seconds for them to arrive at the doors. "Wands ready," Dumbledore told them, and he opened the left door. Dumbledore, though very hesitantly, defiantly walked into the room. As soon as the doors had been opened, Dumbledore flew back past Harry, Sirius and Lupin. He was out cold. Harry looked up to the door only to see an enormous troll guarding it, his bat within his hands.
"Stupefy!" Harry, Sirius, and Lupin all shouted, pointing their wands at the troll. Apparently this was enough force to knock the troll backwards, though it didn't knock him out. He did that on his own. Falling backwards, he banged his head on a rather large metal chandelier, and it wasn't too long after that when he fell face-first to the ground. Too pre-occupied by fear to even take notice of the enormous unconscious troll, Harry and Lupin, led by Sirius, ran into the main room of the hospital wing. They stopped short of McGonagall's bed, however, when they saw all that surrounded them. All of the aurors who had been ordered to keep watch on Siren (and Harry noticed that there were in fact more than 50 of them) were spewed out across the floor. Whether they were dead or unconscious, Harry couldn't tell. Siren stood before the three of them, her wand being held firmly by her right hand. No other Death Eaters appeared to be there yet. Siren pointed her wand directly at Sirius, who was ahead of Harry and Lupin, and smiled.
"Clever," she said wickedly, looking in turn to both Lupin and Harry, then back to Sirius. "I almost had you all. It's too bad that you thought these aurors would defeat me. And McGonagall was only too easy to calm down."
She looked to her right, and there, about 5 feet away from Siren laid McGonagall in a pool of blood. She was breathing, and it didn't look like she was injured despite the fact that she wasn't conscious. The blood wasn't hers, as Harry soon realized. It belonged to a pile of witches just behind McGonagall. They all appeared to be stabbed, bloody, and dead.
"Those were aurors, too," Siren said calmly. "Women never give in to my charms, though, so I had to take care of them separately. If Minerva had been at her best, she might be dead, too. She's lucky that she was already injured."
"Siren, give it up," Sirius said to her darkly, he voice giving an uncomfortable and terrified shiver. "You can't play at this for long. It'd be best for you if you just gave up now."
"Best for me?" Siren laughed. "Or best for you?" She walked a bit closer to Sirius. Her long, dark hair seemed to fly as the invisible wind, provided by her enchantments, blew past her. She was wearing a long black dress with flowing arms and black lace embroidered onto it in what appeared to be decorative vines. "I think it'd be best if you three just gave up now," Siren added darkly. Her voice held a tone that Harry had never heard before. It was low, cold, and devilish. "He'd probably spare you if you joined him."
"For how long?" Harry asked angrily, stepping forward. "Until he thinks that he's better off without us? Would he spare us then?!"
"Hmm. Probably not," Siren answered, as though she had just changed her mind. "I guess the only way out would be for you to just die, wouldn't it?" She smiled at Harry, walking closer to him, and held his left hand in hers. Harry wasn't able to let go of her, or to even pull away from her. For a moment he remembered how she had held him the night prior. She had loved him, and he had loved her more than anything. She still loved him. He knew it. She wasn't going to let him be hurt, not after all that they had been through. She held his hand tighter. It began to hurt. Still, though, she loved him. There wasn't a doubt in Harry's mind. The bones in his hand began to crack, but Harry didn't even flinch. He could barely feel it. All he felt was love for her, and love from her in return. "He might be merciful to you, however," Siren added softly, though there was no missing the sadism in her voice. "After all, did I not show you mercy last night? I could have killed you, but I didn't. I decided to play nice and give you a good time before I handed you over to the boss." Harry could feel the bones in his hand breaking. He pulled away. The world which had for a moment, just like the night before, stood still, suddenly sprang to life. Every worry, ache, and fear that Harry had felt before Siren had enchanted him for that brief moment came flooding back to him. The noises around him became much louder than they had been; much more real. Everything came back to life. He saw Siren for what she really was. She looked up at him, smiling evilly, then stepped away. He looked behind him. Both Sirius and Lupin were on the floor. Siren must have done something to them while enchanting Harry. They were both unconscious, or at least Harry hoped that they were only unconscious...
"They'll be fine," Siren assured him, though Harry began to doubt every word that she spoke. She was made of lies, he thought. Filthy, evil lies.
"My grandfather's coming," she whispered anxiously, obviously anticipating the reunion between Voldemort and Harry. "You won't escape. You won't survive it this time."
Harry found that last phrase very familiar. Voldemort, or someone that looked like Voldemort, had told him that in one of his dreams.
"Those were all you," Harry said finally. He pointed his shaking finger at her. "Those dreams I had...they were all you!"
Siren laughed smugly. "Of course they were," she replied, as though it should have been obvious to Harry.
"Why?" Harry yelled. "Why did you give nightmares to me if you only wanted to seduce me??"
Siren laughed in reply, then looked at Harry. He finally noted how very cold her face was. She looked like a possessed doll, the scary kind that might've appeared in some muggle horror movie. "I like to have fun with my victims," she replied cooly. "Sometimes it makes the experience more worthwhile if you let them know ahead of time what they might really be in for..." Siren trailed off as someone entered the huge room. Harry whipped himself around. He suddenly took notice of his scar, which had been paining him for hours now. It burned more than ever as he looked upon the one standing at the door. It was Voldemort.
Harry felt utterly hopeless. He couldn't see Dumbledore anymore. Voldemort stood in the way. Sirius, Lupin, McGonagall - they all couldn't help him now. Harry was alone and defenseless. He had escaped Voldemort once before...but Voldemort was still weak the last time Harry had seen him. He was almost back from the dead last time, and yet still able to kill. Harry could only imagine what he was like now with possession of the Yfel.
I'm done for, Harry thought to himself.
"Harry," said Voldemort. His voice was not a hiss, but a low, confident one. He looked different from when Harry had last seen him. No longer very snake-like, Voldemort now looked like the man from Harry's dream that Siren had just quoted. He sort of looked like Salazar. In fact, their resemblance was uncanny. Goodness knows what transformations he had gone through over the past six months. All that Harry knew was that Voldemort was stronger, smarter, and more cunning than ever. And as Harry continued to gawk at him, he noticed something very shiny just below Voldemort's neck...the Yfel. It shone brightly on its own, even more beautiful than it had been in the Polaroids.
"I thought that you might be here," the Dark Lord continued. He walked closer to Harry. Harry watched his every movement, his wand still clutched tightly in his hand. His left hand still burned from Siren's tight grip. He knew that there were broken bones in it. He tried to ignore the pain, however. His right hand was becoming sweaty as it clutched his wand tighter and tighter. Harry very daringly raised it, and pointed it directly at Voldemort's chest.
"Now, really," Voldemort said, obviously amused, though still trying to reason with Harry, "you know that will do you no good." But he was wrong. Harry had thought of something brilliant. If he could only come up with a charm to distract Voldemort while he ripped the Yfel from Voldemort's neck...
With a flick of his wrist, Harry's wand left his hand and went straight into Voldemort's. "Tut tut," Voldemort said slyly. "I wouldn't want you to get any ideas." His evil smirk soon turned into a scowl. "It was difficult enough getting into the school. The last thing I need is for you to luck your way out of death again."
"So get it over with," Harry replied, his voice emotionless. He knew that there was no way out. At least he could die now and spare himself any further pain. Maybe he could become a ghost, and help others after him to defeat Voldemort. Maybe he would go on to whatever other afterlife there may be. Maybe he could be with his parents again. He looked back at Voldemort. The pain from his scar no longer bothered him. He was numb to it now. "Here's your chance to do what you've ben meaning to do for over 14 years," Harry continued blandly. "Kill me."
Voldemort looked down at Harry. He narrowed his eyes, and Harry could tell that he was trying to read his mind. His old face slowly turned to an atrocious expression. After a moment, he smiled, turned his head a bit, and replied very darkly, "I'm not going to give you what you want. I never have, and I never will." His voice, Harry noted, began to sound like more of a hiss. He was just starting to ponder whether or not Voldemort had just spoken to him in Parseltongue when Voldemort slowly walked past Harry to Siren. Siren smiled. She began talking, but what she said to him was drowned out by Harry's own thoughts. Harry was trying to see Dumbledore, but couldn't. He looked out the entrance to the hospital wing, and he saw nothing. Dumbledore wasn't where he had once been laying. For a faint moment, Harry had some hope that maybe Dumbledore had recovered and was preparing to rescue Harry, Lupin, Sirius, and everyone else in mere seconds. Harry waited, and nothing happened. His hopes died. Still feeling very hopeless and pained, he fell to the floor, where he sat looking at Sirius, who was laying only feet away. Harry finally realized how very tired he was. He had been awake for more than 24 hours. Not only did the Bullsworth potion make him 4 hours more tired than he would have been, but he had also spent the entire night awake, dealing with Siren's treachery. His broken left hand in combination with his burning forehead was almost unbearable. He gathered what little strength was now left in him to crawl towards Sirius. He reached out his right arm and touched Sirius' head. "Wake up," he whispered. He pushed Sirius' head a bit harder. "Please wake up!" Harry managed to keep nudging Sirius before his weariness took over. Harry had never felt so tired. Giving Sirius' still head one more gentle push, he passed out.
*****
It was dark, cold, and quiet when Harry awoke. He didn't know where he was, nor what time it was. Harry's hopes that what had happened had all been a bad dream were in vain as he looked around. He was in a cage, just large enough for him to lie down in. He was in some sort of dungeon, and he could see a few more cages in the room. He tried to see who was in them, but without success. All he saw were lumps of robes. It was too dark to see much else. Harry desperately reached into his back pocket, hoping to find his wand. It wasn't there. Siren had taken it. Harry was just about to say something to the other cages when a bright light shone on him from the right corner of his cage. Harry strained his eyes against it, trying to see who or what it was. Someone was pointing a glowing wand at him.
"One of them's awake," said a female voice. The light went away. Harry could see the outline of a figure, holding her wand at the ready. Suddenly, a few torches were lit, making it easier for things to be seen.
"Not too bright," said another voice, this time a man's. "We don't want the others to wake yet."
Harry turned to look at the man. He didn't recognize him. He was sitting on what looked like some sort of crate. Though not standing, he looked to be tall. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and a striking resemblance to Hunter Nott.
"Perhaps you should get the boss," the female voice said. "He may want Rebecca to see them while they're still weak." Harry noted that this female had an American accent. He turned to look at her. She was a short witch with thick, long brown hair. She was thin and had dazzling green eyes. She looked at Harry calmly. Despite the fact that she was a Death Eater, Harry found her quite attractive, though a little more revealing than was his taste. She wore a tight black top with a black miniskirt, and knee high, black leather boots. "I'll get him," she said to the man. "You watch this little one."
"No, I'll get him, Aavril," the man replied, standing up. "My shift is nearly over anyways."
The girl nodded. The man walked over to the large, wooden door which stood opposite to Harry about 10 feet away. It had large metal knobs and a small, square window at its top. The man opened it, and walked out, locking it behind him as he did.
"Sleep well?" the girl asked Harry with an impish giggle.
"Where am I?" Harry asked, too hopeless to be afraid.
The girl walked a bit closer to Harry's cage. "Take a guess," she replied nastily. "It's a large castle full of Death Eaters. And you didn't answer my question, little boy."
"The Slytherin Castle," Harry said, more to himself than to her. "Is this the Slytherin Castle?"
"You're not answering my question," the girl replied, more harshly this time.
"I'm right, then?" Harry repeated. "This is the Slytherin Castle?"
"That depends, did you sleep well?" the witch replied, as though she were a child fighting with a sibling.
"I slept fine!" Harry yelled back. "Is this the Slytherin Castle?!"
"Well yes it is," the witch replied with a smile. "And be quiet. You'll wake the others."
Harry looked around to the other cages. He could see both Sirius and Lupin, asleep (or so he hoped) in their own cages. What looked like a couple of muggles were on the other side of them, locked up in one larger cage.
"Sirius!" Harry called out, grabbing on to his cage's bars, trying to get out. "Sirius!"
"No need to yell, Harry," said a chillingly familiar voice. He looked to the doorway only to see Lucius Malfoy. He walked confidently towards the cages. He stopped just before Harry's and smiled victoriously. "They shan't awake," he continued, his voice like ice. "We won't let them. Not until Steel gets in."
"Steel?" Harry asked, shaking his cage and trying to get out, though without luck. "What's that?"
"Who," the girl corrected him. "Rebecca Steel...the torturer. She's the Dark Lord's favourite." Both Lucius and the girl laughed a bit at this.
Rebecca Steel? Harry thought. Why did that name sound so familiar?
"The torturer?" Harry spat. The last thing he needed right now was to be tortured. He looked back to Sirius, who was still breathing. Harry wished that he would wake up.
"She should have fun with this lot, too," Lucius continued to the girl, Aavril. "I've heard that Rebecca especially likes muggles."
"Suiting," Aavril replied darkly. "She's descended from them, the nasty mudblood."
"None of that, now," Lucius replied dexterously. "She's been forgiven. She's earned her right to be named a pureblood."
"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked furrowing his eyebrows. This was it. He was finally going to learn why Voldemort and his supporters accepted non-purebloods as their own...
Harry heard thunder. No, it was someone banging on the door. Aavril and Lucius turned their heads to the door's entrance. It was shaking viciously. Someone was in great haste to come inside. Aavril and Lucius both took out their wands and pointed them to the doorway, just in case.
"Alohamora," Aavril said quietly, and the door's lock lifted up. The door opened inwards slowly on its own. There was a tall, think silhouette in the doorway. It was a girl's figure, with messy, thick hair and a very short dress on. She slowly walked closer. Lucius stared at her as her face became more visible in the darkness of the room. Harry could see her. She was beautiful. She reminded him of Cho, though a bit older. She looked a little intoxicated to Harry, though he had a feeling that there was more to her condition that just that.
"Rebecca, have you spoken with the Master?" asked Aavril. "Did he say whether or not you could kill them off?"
"I don't know," Rebecca replied slowly, staring at Harry. Her eyes were wild and savage. She looked unstable, as though she belonged in a mental ward.
"You must be Rebecca," she said to Harry, her voice low and menacing.
"No, that's Harry Potter," Lucius replied, looking at her oddly. "Your name is Rebecca. Not his."
"I am who I say he is," Rebecca replied quietly, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering a bit. Harry didn't blame her. He'd be cold, too, if he was wearing that dainty dress of hers. "Believe me," she said, loudly this time. She looked to Aavril. "Do you think he likes you more?" she asked.
Aavril looked apprehensive. "Who?" she asked. "The Dark Lord?"
"All of them!" Rebecca yelled, flailing her arms up in the air. She lowered them and looked to Lucius. "There's a spider on your neck," she said to him, pointing.
Lucius, without taking his eyes off of her, grabbed at his neck. There was nothing there. "Rebecca, there's no-"
Everyone turned to the door. Lucius and Aavril immediately fell to the ground, groveling. Harry looked to the doorway. There stood Siren. Harry heard no singing this time. He supposed that Siren no longer had any need for enchanting him. She seemed to not notice Harry. She looked directly at Rebecca. Rebecca looked back at her. Hate was present in her face, as well as in Siren's.
"Back again, Steel?" Siren asked, walking closer to her. Siren looked beautiful, as always. Her hair was back in a long, intricate braid. She wore a long, tight dress of pale, shimmery yellow, trimmed in gold. The Yfel was now around her neck. Voldemort must have given it to her to protect her. He obviously cared about her very much.
"I'm always back," Rebecca answered, bowing her head, but looking straight up at Siren. Siren looked down upon her. It was obvious that Siren detested her for some reason.
"You should leave him alone, you know," Siren finally added calmly, yet clearly angered by something.
"We should leave who alone?" Rebecca asked, taking a few steps back. She put her hands behind her back and fiddled with the strings that tied up her dress around her lower bust.
"My grandfather," Siren replied simply. "Don't act like you don't know. He adores you, and I know why." She walked closer to Rebecca. Grabbing her chin with one hand, Siren forced Rebecca to look her in the eyes. "I'll not have you sleeping your way into our family, or into his favour," Siren replied coldly. "I'll die before I see him place the Yfel around the neck of a dirty mudblood like you."
Rebecca stared into Siren's eyes. Without warning, she spat. Siren stepped back, wiping her face with her sleeve. She let out a disgusted groan. "What is wrong with you?!" she yelled, whipping out her wand and staring at Rebecca. "Get up!" Siren yelled at Aavril and Lucius. They both stood, looking nervous and almost afraid. "Get her out of here!" Siren yelled at them. Aavril and Lucius immediately, without a word, grabbed Rebecca by the arms and dragged her out of the room while she kicked and muttered things to herself. The door slammed behind them. Siren wiped her face once more of Rebecca's saliva. Her face was screwed up, obviously appalled at what had just happened to her. She looked around, and finally took notice of Harry.
"Awake, I see," she said, walking closer.
Harry stared back at her. His hate for her was almost gone. He wasn't under an enchantment. He didn't have any feelings for her still. He simply didn't care about the situation he was in. He was going to die, and that seemed to put a damper on his emotions, the good and the bad.
"Who was that? Harry asked her. His voice was very dull. He stared right at Siren, and she stared right back at him. He didn't fear her. He didn't care enough to fear anything for the moment.
Siren seemed like she didn't care either. She acted as though she didn't notice her own surroundings. Usually a dungeon full of caged hostages would make anyone feel a little uneasy, but Siren took no notice of it. She acted as if everything was normal.
"Rebecca Steel," Siren replied. "I'm sure Kurt told you all about her."
"Kurt?" Harry asked. "How did you know that I met Kurt?"
Siren smiled and shrugged. "A troll saw him at the school or something. Lucius helped to lure him away from th school before grandad showed up, though. Some story about a dragon going loose in Romania or something or the sort."
"That wasn't true?" Harry asked. He still didn't care. He was just curious. He needed to talk to somebody. He could feel his mind slipping with every passing moment. The room was driving him crazy. He was almost happy now that Siren was in the room with him.
"Of course it wasn't," Siren laughed. Her laugh was sweet and cheery. Harry had heard her laugh like that at school, before any of this had happened. It reminded him of a happy time in his life. He could remember it like it was yesterday. He was with his friends, walking along the lake at Hogwarts. They were with Hagrid, making their way to Hogsmeade. They were having fun. They were talking. They were careless. Hagrid was telling Hermione about the new flowers he had planted, Ron and Viktor were talking about quidditch, and Harry was staring at Siren from across the schoolyard. She was with Snape. She looked happy. Everything was right in the world.
"Too bad things had to turn out this way," Siren said, sighing and sitting on top of a wooden crate. Harry stared at her, not saying a word. "I mean," she continued, "you were actually really fun to be with. Hogwarts was fun to be at. I think I'm going to miss it all."
Harry still didn't say anything. Siren was staring at Sirius and Lupin, who still hadn't woken up. Harry would've given anything to be asleep right now. At least he wouldn't have to face reality. He wouldn't have to keep staring at Siren, wanting her. If he was asleep, he could dream dreams about Siren. He could dream about having her in his arms, laughing joyously and having fun. He could dream about Hagrid telling Hermione about his garden. He could dream about playing quidditch with Krum and Ron. He could have dreams about how things were before that fateful night with Siren.
"She's supposed to be dead," Harry though aloud. "Rebecca...that was Kurt's wife. He said she was killed."
"Yes," Siren giggled. "We 'killed' her all right. Rebecca is as good as dead. You see, she's a bit crazy now...she's just a torturer. Rebecca, wife of Kurt, no longer exists. Rebecca the psychotic killer, however, is very much alive."
Harry screwed up his face in disgust. "But...you send Kurt her body parts...didn't you?"
Siren giggled a bit more to herself at this. "Ah, yes. That was a muggle. We gave it some strong Polyjuice Potion to make it look like Rebecca. I'm sure if you were to dig up the parts now, they're resemble the rotten pieces of a stranger, not Rebecca."
Harry shook his head. Poor Kurt, he thought He shook his head. It no longer mattered. Harry would die soon anyways. He'd have no time to tell Kurt that Rebecca was still alive.
"What day is it?" he asked her, finally finding his voice again.
Siren shrugged. "Beats me," she answered. "I've been asleep, too. I think it's only been about twelve hours since we brought you here." She looked at Harry. There was something in her eyes that Harry hadn't seen before. She looked like she wanted to say something really bad, but just couldn't. She took a deep breath and said, "Harry...I know how bad this looks. If things were different-"
"If things were different I'd have never met you," Harry interrupted. He looked sourly upon her. She was trying to trick him again. He wouldn't succumb to her lies anymore. He wasn't going to give up without a fight.
"That's true," Siren replied slowly. "I just meant – if I could have it my way, you wouldn't be here."
"Really," Harry laughed. His anger was slowly coming back with each word that came out of Siren's mouth. "It seems to me like you've been trying to get me here all year."
"I didn't mean that," Siren added quickly. "I would have killed you by now, but He won't let me. If it were up to me, I'd just have it over and done with."
Harry shook his head at her and looked away. He stared at Sirius and Lupin. Lupin's hand moved...he was waking up. Harry didn't say anything. He didn't want Siren to notice.
"So why are you here?" Harry asked, trying to distract her. "Did you come to seduce me again?"
Siren smirked. "No," she said indignantly. "I came to see if you were awake. My grandfather wants to see you."
"Then tell him to come," Harry said rudely. "Tell him to stop sending you. I don't want to see you anymore."
Siren looked down upon him as though he was filth. "I'll just leave, then," Siren replied coldly. "But trust me, Harry," she added with an evil smile, "once Rebecca plays with you, you'll be absolutely dying to have me by your side. At least my kind of torture is fun." With that, she turned on her heel and left the room. Whether or not there were guards outside of the room, Harry didn't know. He was willing to take his chances. Harry sat down, and tried to best to find a way to break the cage and get out. He couldn't. Still sitting, he called to Sirius and Lupin. Lupin was still again. He hadn't woken up as Harry had hoped.
"Sirius!" he said loudly. Nothing. Sirius and Lupin remained asleep, motionless in their cages. Harry gave up and leaned against the back of his cage. He sat Indian style, leaning forward in an attempt to loosen his back. His whole body was cramped, and it felt horrible to move. While stretching, he caught a glimpse of under his shoe. There were some pebbles stuck in the grips of it. Harry picked them off, and began to throw them at Sirius and Lupin. Lupin stirred a bit more, but still wouldn't wake.
"Dammit," Harry muttered under his breath. He looked towards the door, and the cage full of muggles next to it caught his eye. One of them was awake, and obviously terrified. It was a little girl, about six or seven years old.
"Are you alright?" Harry called out to her. She warily shook her head yes. Harry felt a swell of pity building up in his stomach. He couldn't bear to imagine what would happen to her. He wanted to make the little girl unafraid. He knew what she must be going through.
"My name's Harry," he said to her, more gently this time. "What's yours?"
This girl looked at him for a bit, then shyly replied in a very quiet voice, "Kayla."
Before Harry could say anything more, the door opened. Light shone in from the lit torches outside, and Harry was blinded again for a moment. Straining his eyes against the brightness, Harry managed to see who it was. Voldemort swiftly made his way into the room. Harry stood very still, a vain hope within him thinking that the Dark Lord would neglect to notice him. Still, Harry knew that this meeting would have to come sooner or later.
"Siren told me your were insistent upon seeing me," Voldemort said, his voice cold with malice.
Harry said nothing. Still his vain little hopes persisted. He didn't want to be noticed.
Voldemort took a few more strides towards Harry. Harry, his eyes still partially blinded by the light which had only just shone through the door, fought to make out Voldemort's face in the shadows. All he could see were his eyes, which looked very different from the eyes he had seen in his dreams. He always remembered Voldemort's red, snake-like stare. Now, however, they were very human, and very green. They looked just like Harry's.
"I suppose you'd like to know why you're here," Voldemort continued, glancing down upon Sirius and Lupin. He gave a smirk, then returned his stare to Harry.
Harry swallowed uneasily. "To kill me, I'm assuming."
Voldemort let out an involuntary laugh. "Yes," he said, nodding his head in agreement, "that would make sense. After all, I have been waiting for over 15 years, now, to do it. So, why spare you when my powers are greater than they have ever been before?" Voldemort asked him this as if Harry was supposed to know the answer. Voldemort paused, waiting for Harry to put in his two cents.
Harry, too, waited for a reply. "I don't know..."
Voldemort sighed. His voice seemed to take on a more pleasant tone, as though he enjoyed spoiling his plans in front of his arch nemesis. "Because," Voldemort continued, taking a few more steps towards Harry's cage, "I want to make you suffer, as you have made me suffer."
Harry gawked. "I've made you suffer?! I've been living in fear ever since I found out I was a wizard! Don't even try to pin this whole thing on me. You killed my parents! You started this!"
Voldemort scowled at him. "No, Harry. You've suffered emotionally. I've physically hurt you a few times, but you have no idea what sort of torment my body has been through ever since that damned night over 14 years ago..." Voldemort hissed at the memory, squinting his eyes even more in distaste at Harry. "You..." he continued, his patience waning. "You will suffer. You believe that death is what you want now, but just wait until I've had my fun with you - you, and those closest to you. You'll beg for mercy, not death." Voldemort paused. "You shall receive neither, of course."
Harry looked down upon Sirius and Lupin, suddenly aware of why Siren and Voldemort had kept them alive. Harry's heartbeat picked up a pace as he turned his glare back to Voldemort. "No..."
Voldemort gave an evil cackle. "Rebecca," he called out. "It's time to play, dearest."
Harry looked to the door as Rebecca Steel entered the room once again. She held her head low, gazing up to Voldemort with her soulless, blank eyes.
"The Masquerade is ready?" she asked. Voldemort raised an eyebrow at her. Walking slowly to her, he put one hand upon her shoulder.
"Indeed it is ready, my sweet," he answered her. His voice took on a tone of anticipation as he guided her towards Sirius and Lupin. "I want you to play with these two. Don't kill them. Just have some fun." He looked to Harry. "If this one gives you trouble, petrify him, but make sure that he's watching what you're doing."
Rebecca tilted her head to look at Sirius and Lupin. Turning around, she gazed upon the other cages. "What about the confused ones?" she asked him, obviously trying to refer to the muggle hostages.
Voldemort gave a thin smile. "Do what you will with them. I brought them here for your entertainment, after all. Kill them, you'd like."
Reaching his hand up, Voldemort pulled a dagger out of thin air. It shone brilliantly as the candles from outside of the room sparkled in its reflection. Voldemort handed it to Rebecca, and turned her around to face Lupin and Sirius once again. He bent down behind her shoulder so that his face was at the same level as hers. "Have fun, princess," he whispered into her ear. He stood back up to full height again, a nasty grimace upon his face.
Harry's scar burned sharply as he stared back at him. "No..."
Voldemort gave Harry a wicked, satisfied stare, then turned around to leave the room. Harry couldn't let him just leave like this. Banging and pounding upon his cage, he yelled after Voldemort. "NO!!"
Voldemort, without looking back, left the room, the door locking behind him.
"NO!" Harry yelled after him. "I'LL KILL YOU!! I SWEAR I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" He pounded his fists upon his cage in fury. His anger was seething. He wanted badly to wring out Voldemort's neck with his bare hands. Harry, however, was still trapped within his tiny cage, unable to hurt a fly.
Rebecca swooped in front of his cage, coming face to face with him. Her face was cold and calculating, and she held the dagger with both hands by its handle.
"Even elephants are afraid of mice," she said to him quietly. "Now...let's play."
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Huzzah!! I hope you enjoyed it, especially you Becca ;)
-Summer