Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of these characters, sadly. Even though sometimes I like to pretend I am, I am not J. K. Rowling either. Darn my luck.

Enjoy, won't you?



THE BELGUM POTION
Prologue

Harry stood in front of the blazing fire, the heat of the flames caressing his pale face. The room was darkly lit with the foul smell of blood in the air; standing behind him was a small group of men, cloaked from head to toe, bowing down low to the floor.

"What news do you have for me," Harry asked the men, his back to them. "It had better be good... I am growing tired of waiting."

"My Lord," said one of the voices behind the mask, "it is good news I bring to you, I assure you. We have caught one of the men from the Order, just as you commanded."

Harry turned around with interest and stared down at the death eater. An evil smile spread across his lips. "You may rise," he hissed. "You have done well, Lucius. Tell me, who is the fool?"

"Mundungus Fletcher, Master. We found him just outside a cauldron shop late last night and caught him off guard. He practically walked right into our trap."

Harry laughed. "Perfect, perfect... you have done well, Lucius.... Avery!" The man kneeling on the ground net to Malfoy bolted on to his feet, awaiting his instructions.

"Y-yes my Lord?"

"Alert Severus Snape to create a Veritaserum for our special guest. We will need Fletcher to give us information on the prophecy," he commanded. "He's currently positioned at Hogwarts, but will be arriving at the old bell tower down the street in one hour's time. I expect you to meet him and alert him of his mission right away. We have no time to waste... I'm sure the Order is already out looking for the fool as we speak."

"Yes, Master," Nott said, bowing down and kissing the hem of his robes. "Anything for you, Master..."

Harry turned his back to him in disgust, staring back into the fire. "Get out of my sight. All of you... you are dismissed." Behind him, he could hear his loyal death eaters dissaparate out of the room, leaving him all alone. Just how he liked it, he decided. All was silent but Nagini's soft hisses, whom circled his feet slowly.

"I can sense you," he said to himself. "I know you are here, boy... I can feel it." He smiled wickedly, his eyes flaring as Harry's feet moved swiftly across the room to the mirror that hung on the concrete wall. He peered into it.

Voldemort's face smiled back.

"Believe me, I'm going to get you. No one--not Dumbledore, not Lupin--will be able to save you now, I promise you that. You won't be so lucky as to escape me again." He brought up a hand to his face, laughing his evil laugh as he slit his cheek with his nail. Fresh blood trickled down his chin. "I'm going to make you feel pain... a pain no one has ever felt before I kill you."

"Harry Potter… you are mine!"

A hundred, perhaps a thousand miles away, the real Harry Potter awoke with a yell, his hand holding desperately onto his forehead, and a bloody cheek pouring down his chin.

More to come, more to come. Much, much more to come.

Preview of Chapter One: In The Dark