Prologue
By: A Madalong
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are we really going to die?"
Harry could hardly see his friends' eyes. Only a few narrow moonbeams emitted into the chamber, past the cobwebbed window silts. Harry strained his eyes, as he tried to focus his eyes on Ron's and Hermione's face. Ron's question had upset him, for he was sure the answer was 'yes.' It is the end, isn't it? After six years, this is the end. There was no escape. Harry had long given up trying to free his hands from the shackles bolted to the chamber's stone wall. There was just no use. Even if he could somehow slip his wrists from the tight chains, he would still have to sneak out of the highly-guarded chamber. Quite frankly, it was impossible. Harry only wished he could see their faces- Ron's and Hermione's faces, one last time.
"We're not going to die! You mustn't think that way," Hermione's voice cried.
Harry could vaguely see the outline of Hermione's body- fallen limp and tired. Her wrists, which were also shackled with cold chains, were the only thing keeping her body from collapsing.
"We've come too far for it to end like this!" Hermione continued, in a desperate tone. "It can't be our end!"
How did we end up like this, anyway? thought Harry. Just six years ago, he had been living with a perfectly average (and rather putrid) family in a 'normal' neighbourhood. He had begun his life living in a closet under a stairwell, and now his life would end chained to a stone wall, in a dark, torture chamber. Not much of an improvement...Harry sighed.
Harry's eyes fell to the floor. Suddenly, a small object scurried across his feet. Must be a spider. Harry let out a small laugh, thinking of his friend's arachnid phobia- for spiders were the last thing Ron had to worry about. Then Harry, changed his mind and he thought, There has been an improvement...There has...Even if I'm dying, I'm with my friends...And that means the world to me.
About twelve hours ago, the three had bravely took part in the greatest battle of their lives...However, they ended up in Lucius Malfoy's torture chamber. Any minute, a Death Eater's footsteps would grace the chamber- and then the three would be killed.
Harry had desperately tried to think of only pleasant thoughts during the twelve hours leading to his awaited death. He thought of his parents- how brave they were, and of Quidditch which always seemed to bring a smile to his face. But mostly he thought of his friends, Ron and Hermione- and he how loved them so. However, try as he might, death was very much on Harry's mind. In fact, the scenario had played out many times in his head already.
First, Hermione would be killed...
"You stupid mudblood. Thought you could end the Dark War- thought you could kill the Dark Lord? Stupid, stupid mudblood."
Hermione would tell Ron and Harry to stay brave, and then-...
Then Ron would be killed.
"You Weasley...You are nothing! I thought you Weasleys would understand to stay out of this battle after Percy was killed. Percy too thought that he could destroy my dark army. He should have known that the Weasley's are nothing!"
And then, it would be Harry's turn.
"Harry...I have awaited this moment for years. I have always known you weren't special. Why you've stayed alive so along is simple dumb luck...You should have joined me, Harry...Look at me, surrounded by victory...And then look at you...You're about die, and with what? What can you possibly take with you to the afterlife? Nothing...not success, not power- nothing."
"Friends. I have my friends."
"Listen," Harry's said, as he shook the thoughts of death from his mind. "We're going to be alright, OK? We'll get through this."
"Yes, yes, we will Harry," Hermione agreed.
"Now listen," Harry continued. "When they come in here, we got to work together, alright? We all have to think together. Just think about surviving. And most importantly- think about each other."
"Just...I want you guys to know, I'm glad I'm with you for this...Even if we do die I-"
Harry quickly interrupted Ron, "Listen! We may not be powerful individually, especially without our wands. But, if we channel our energy together-...well, it's worth a try."
"Harry's right!" Hermione said. "We can do this, Ron. We have to."
"I know..." Ron answered.
Then, the eerie sound of a door creaking open alerted the three. "It's time..." Harry mumbled.
The sound was followed by the a sudden flickering of candle lights, which created shadows of the stone walls. Harry gulped as the shadows grew larger and larger. His scar began to ache more and more by each passing second. And then- ...then three cloaked men stood in front of Harry and his two friends. Harry knew the man standing in the middle was none other than Voldemort- the man who had caused so much dismay in Harry's life.
"You putrid scum!" spat Voldemort. "All three of you are nothing but putrid scum!"
Harry squeezed his closed tightly, trying desperately to ignore Voldemort's presence. "Don't listen to him!" Harry shouted to Hermione and Ron. "Just concentrate! Concentrate all your thoughts! Just ignore him!"
"What's that?" Voldemort taunted. "Ignore me? Well Potter, you can close your eyes like some baby, but you can't block out noise. Let's see how well you can ignore me while listening to your mudblood friend moaning in pain under an Cruciatus Curse."
"I'll be alright, Harry!" Hermione called. "Just keep concentrating!"
Harry could feel the presence of Voldemort's wand. Having the brother wand to Voldemort's, Harry could now identify the smell and the aura of it- for it conveyed the same feeling as his own wand did. Harry could feel the wand bubbling with magic, as Voldemort raised it in the air, preparing for the spell. And then, Harry could hear the hissing word, "Crucio!"
Hermione's helpless body flinched. She gave out a small groan of pain and then cried, "Stay strong...Harry...Ron...Stay strong...Be brave..."
"Did you really think you could defeat me with a mudblood on your silly team?" Voldemort continued to taunt. "Such an ugly, stupid girl..."
"She's better than you!" Ron screamed, as he lifted his frail head to meet Voldemort's eyes. Though the mere stare of Voldemort made Ron melt, he restated his scream again. "She's better than you!"
Voldemort seemed pleased by Ron's comments. His wrinkled face smiled as he commented, "I should have known the Weasley would be the first to give in. Seems like Potter's the only one 'concentrating'. Little luck that will do." Voldemort than moved his face a breath's length away from Harry's and hissed into his ear, "Do you really think your magic- without a wand- can really defeat me?"
However Harry didn't answer. His only pressed more in concentration. Don't listen, he thought. Think of Hermione...Hermione...Ron...My parents....Ron, Ron, Ron, Hermione, Hermione, Hermione. His thoughts were now traveling through his head at lightning speed.
"He's defeated you before, why wouldn't he be able to now?" Ron spat.
"Weasley, Weasley, Weasley," Voldemort said, walking over to the hanging Ron. "Why is it that I even know your name? Had it not been for your degrading reputation as a Weasley, I would not know who you are. Do you know why, Weasley? Because you're a nobody."
As Harry tried to block out Voldemort's voice, he suddenly felt the overwhelming magic of Voldemort's wand. Harry could faintly hear the word, "Crucio" over the sounds of his happy memories. Just think...Think happy thoughts...About my friends...Ron and Hermione...Ron and Hermione...
"Potter, still concentrating, are we?" Voldemort said, mocking Harry. "I hope you can hear this word!"
Harry's thoughts were now interrupted by sensation of the wand. His scar was burning deeply. He knew what was about to happen...
"You can't escape from this spell twice, Potter!" shouted Voldemort.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Green light...My parents...Pain...Hermione...Blurry...Ron...
And then- Harry Potter did no longer exist in the wizardry world...
*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Thanks for reading...Chapter One will be up shortly...Please review=^_^= Ye got this far, why not mark yer territory?