Chapter 10: Despair, Disillusionment, and Draco's Dad

As the white hot pain began to fade, he realized he'd forgotten what it felt like . . . what it had felt like . . . if there was a time before the pain had come.

Slowly . . . so slowly, there was cold beneath his back and around him, voices with words that he could hear over his chattering teeth and over the pain-the pain that was slowly seeping from his body, leaving behind an empty, trembling shell. The voices were familiar, but faint from where he lay.

"Severus, your visit is . . . unexpected."

"Yes, I can see that."

"I am surprised that Narcissa did not ask you to wait in the foyer."

As the two continued on in stiff voices as if he were not laying there, half-dead, he began to wonder if he was. Maybe the pain had simply obliterated him. It took an amazing amount of effort to open his bleary eyes and still more effort to keep them open.

The large, circular hall was half-lit by torchlight that glinted and caressed the golden accents around the mirrored walls. They reached from ceiling to floor, and made it impossible to tell the size of the room. Enormous. An enormous, blurry, shiny room, and one that he was sure he'd never seen before. How had he gotten here?

Over by the open door, the two dark, vaguely familiar figures stood side by side, still talking.

"I was going to speak with Draco briefly about Advanced Potions class for this year but I was told that he was unavailable. I became concerned and sought to speak with you, but I see that your schedule is rather . . . full."

"Yes, it is at the moment."

There were also two other dark-robed figures standing closer. They were as blurry as the distant figures, but he could see that their wands were pointed at him. Death . . . Eaters . . .

Death Eaters. The words broke through the haze in his mind.

Voldemort-Tom. The Portkey. His breath started to come in gasps. He was at Malfoy Manor, being tortured by Draco's father who was nothing more than a madman. And now Snape-Snape had showed up, just in time to see Harry completely humiliated.

Impotent fury swept through him and he fought to calm his breathing, fought to ignore the pain. He managed to roll to his side.

"So you've finally caught, Potter," Snape positively purred. "About time, Lucius. I was beginning to wonder if your threats were empty after all."

He could feel all their eyes on him, shivering wretch that he was. He didn't want to show any more weakness-dammit! But everything hurt: his muscles had been seared by the curses; his throat was raw; his face was bruised and wet with tears. The pain in his arm reached all the way to the bone now, and blood was everywhere: pajama pants, floor, smeared all over his abdomen. He had no idea where his shirt was, or his wand. Everything was blurry.

My wand. Oh, if only I could have my wand. He longed to die fighting, not curled up, cringing like an animal.

"Lovely specimen." The voice was cruel. "Very strong. I think you missed most of the screaming, didn't you?"

"I believe I did. Most unfortunate. I'll never forgive myself." Harry cursed Snape with trembling lips.

"I'm sure the Dark Lord will repeat the performance."

"I'm sure. Accio wand," Severus hissed.

Lucius was staring at Snape. "But why would you want Potter's-"

Severus pointed his wand at Lucius. "Obliviate!"

The other Death Eaters were drawing wands. "What the hell-"

Snape whipped around to them. "Oblivate magnus!"

They froze, wands still on him. There was a breathless silence as Snape hid the wands and recovered his usual sneer, which Harry could hear in his voice.

"Could you kindly point your wands in the direction they were meant to be pointed-away from me?"

"How dare you?" Lucius' voice rose an octave in outrage, but not to Severus. "What possible explanation-? No matter. Get out, you idiots!"

"Yeah, but . . ." the first one looked at the other. "You promised us-"

"There is nothing wrong with my memory," Lucius said icily. "There is, however, a great shortage on my part of patience in dealing with idiocy. There's plenty of food set out in the dining room for you to graze on. I won't need you again until the Dark Lord arrives." They stiffened up, bowed slightly and left the room.

Snape walked closer to Harry, who barely kept from cringing at the feel of his glare. "You mean, of course, after you let him know that Potter is here."

"Why, Severus . . . of course. But after all, the boy only just arrived twenty minutes ago."

"Then you aren't . . . done with him yet?" Snape sounded hesitant. "He hardly looks as if he will survive another round, Lucius, and I don't think it would be in your best interest to take away the focus of the Dark Lord's plans just yet."

The resulting pause sounded uncomfortable and Lucius' voice was soft but menacing when he next spoke. "Then we must ensure his survival, mustn't we? What could be the solution to this awkward problem, I wonder? Perhaps, you might have a spare potion to offer?"

Snape spoke his next words with a grim smile, reaching deep into his robes. "To lengthen his torment? Hm. We understand each other so well, Lucius. But, of course. I think you are aware of how insufferable he has made my life at school and the lives of those who are in my house."

Then, to Harry's shock, Snape was kneeling by him, his back blocking Lucius' view, his face searching Harry's intently.

Harry only just managed to keep himself from grabbing at the man who was now his only hope and choked out softly the only coherent thing that came to his lips. "They took my glasses."

Snape was still for a moment. Then he took a vial in his hand, held it to Harry's lips in a familiar way and spoke so quietly that barely any breath left his mouth. Harry swallowed the potion and listened.

"Albus sent me. Aurors are coming. Escape, Harry, do not stay and fight. You will need your wand."

Saying so, he tucked it inside Harry's right arm where it lay against the ground, so that it could not be seen.

"And your eyes."

He kept the now empty vial at Harry's mouth and discreetly pulled out his wand, pointing it at Harry's eyes. "Occulis lux lucis." Snape's face grew clearer instantly, and for the first time, Harry saw the black eyes without hate.

"Take heed: when the burning ends, your strength will be gone."

"What is that you're giving him, Severus?"

Snape hid his wand and put the stopper back on the vial in one smooth motion, then stood and sneered down at Harry, his eyes cold and hard once more. "Pepper-Up Potion with a touch of Heal-All Tonic, which I carry at all times, given the Dark Lord's penchant for the Cruciatus. It should help Potter last a bit longer. But now that he knows what I am, he must not survive the night." He almost looked as if he might kick Harry, but finally strode away, his black robes swirling.

"Excellent point," Lucius said amiably. "I'm sure I don't have to convince you further, but the boy does deserve a great deal more from me than this. This pain was just the first installment of an account which is long. over. due."

"Of course. He's taken a great deal from all of us, including sixteen years of the Dark Lord's reign."

"That is nothing." Lucius said coldly. "The boy sent me to Azkaban. Azkaban! And furthermore, somehow, under your very, very, crooked nose-he managed to taint the devotion of my only son, whom I can no longer claim as my own. Oh. You look surprised to hear that your favorite student was swayed from the Dark Lord's service. Did you not know?"

"I am as shocked as you are, old friend. I had no higher hopes for Draco, no greater ambition than that of a place by his father's side."

Harry's eyes slid closed. He didn't care what they said. Numbness had stolen over the pain and he could feel nothing but heat-blessed, burning heat-that was now flowing through his veins. Smoke came out of his ears. But whatever had been in that vial, it wasn't just Pepper-Up Potion and Heal-All. It was something much stronger. Every second was feeding him life, strength and hope.

Keep him talking, Snape.

Lucius waved a hand impatiently. "We will find another to put in his place. It is but a nuisance. You will, however, be glad to know that I did manage to use him one last time, to prove that Daddy always knows best. My only son is dead to me now; I will be forced to kill him if I see him again; and this boy is the reason why."

Lucius' voice had grown suddenly calm again and Harry tensed, expecting another curse.

"Then I will alert my Lord of Potter's presence here." Snape was leaving? Panic clutched at Harry, and he forced a plea for help to die in his throat.

"No! Severus. He deserves my full and complete retaliation. I have not had not enough time-"

"Forgive me, Lucius, but a personal vendetta of this type against the boy can only be settled by the Dark Lord. I do not think he will be pleased with your program thus far. At the very least, he would wish to be present. I will return shortly."

"Severus!" Footsteps rang away down the hall. "Severus!" For the first time, there was a note of desperation in the cold, smooth voice and Harry felt cold fear trickle down his back. "Damn him. Damn him to hell! I shall send him there in short order myself!" The large, ornate doors slammed shut.

Harry was alone with Lucius.

He sucked in a deep, shuddering breath and forced down the panic. He could do this. His body was burning with strength; he could see without his glasses now, and he had his wand.

"Did you hear that, Potter?" Lucius spat. "The Dark Lord is on his way. Our time has been cut short." But Snape wasn't going to Tom, was he?

Harry didn't waste time replying. Slowly, he pushed up on his hands and knees, keeping the wand hidden-the end cupped in his hand, pressing the length of it against his tender forearm. Despite the potion that warmed him to an alarming degree and made him somewhat numb, it still hurt to move. But his plan didn't include much moving, not after he got to his feet.

"Oh, very good," Lucius said with mild surprise. "Pick yourself up, Potter, by all means, do. It always helps to face degradation and pain like a man instead of a sobbing little boy, although for my purposes, I was rather enjoying the latter."

Harry didn't answer. With a slight grimace, he stood. As the world tilted under him slightly, he saw what he could not see before-the floor was one giant mirror as well.

The dizzying reflection of the ceiling on the floor was blocked only by three things: his pajama shirt-where it lay ripped and crumpled on the floor; a small but intensely red pool of smeared blood; and himself. It was dizzying and difficult to look across to Lucius where he stood, reflected many times against the wall on that side of the room, and on the floor as well.

"Do you like my dueling room? Quite ingenious, isn't it?"

Harry said nothing. With a whip of his wrist, he brought his arm up and pointed his wand directly at Lucius.

Lucius' eyes went wide. He scanned the floor quickly and then looked back up at Harry. "Well done. But let's see if you can you still use it? I know how an extended Cruciatus can make you feel." He smiled and started walking to Harry's left, one among so many figures reflected in the mirrors. "Nauseous, dizzy. It's difficult to stand at all, isn't it?"

Harry's stomach heaved. Was the room moving under his feet? Lucius suddenly stopped and spun a curse-

"Concidus!"

With a grunt, Harry attempted to dive. His body crumpled to the side. As his head hit the floor, agony overtook him. Lucius laughed.

It went on and on-the loud echoes of cruel laughter, the rolling pain and his helplessness. Harry finally ended up on his knees, retching.

"Disgusting boy. Crucio!"

Back turned and eyes closed, Harry didn't have a chance.

It would hit him any second now, the bone-shattering pain would begin and he would be screaming. But time had seemed to slow and it hadn't hit yet. It was coming, speeding for his shaking body-he could almost see it . . .

And then suddenly, he knew exactly where he had to go.

He fell to the right, on his injured arm. The curse went past him, hit low on the wall, bounced up off the floor, streaked right by Harry on its way to the ceiling, struck and headed straight for Lucius.

In a haze of pain, wand in left hand, Harry muttered, "Repellos."

But Malfoy already had up a shield that absorbed the first ricocheting curse, and then the second one sent by Harry, though the force of both set him back a few paces. Harry closed his eyes, finally feeling the screaming pain settle into his right arm, trying to fight the nausea.

Lucius was righting himself, glaring with newfound venom. Harry decided it was time to use Malfoy's own room against him.

"Oh, come now," Lucius said in a honeyed voice. "Surely there's more to the supposed hero of the Wizarding World than this. Can the Boy-Who-Lived be overcome so easily?"

Right arm clutched tight against his abdomen, Harry pressed himself up to his hands and knees again, promising himself that soon the pain would be over.

"Oh well done. You're up. Now, Potter, take your last shot before I send you into oblivion. I am nothing if not a gentleman."

Harry sat back on his heels and lifted the wand in his left hand.

"Serpentsortia Sextus!"

Lucius pulled up a sneer even as a long snake grew out of Harry's wand. "Is that the best you can do, Potter?" It writhed on the floor and then blurred, and five more were beside it.

"Attack," Harry hissed in Parseltongue and they immediately moved toward the pale-faced Lucius, their reflections on the walls moving like a slithering army.

Lucius aimed at the snake nearest to him. "Reducto!" The snake blew apart in an explosion of skin and green smoke, and the next two quickly followed. He pointed at the fourth, but Harry saw with grim satisfaction that the fifth and sixth were nearly on him.

"Expelliarmus!" he shouted, left-handed again.

Caught between the two snakes and a curse, Lucius snarled in frustration, managing to blow one more snake apart before being hit by the curse. He fell back to the wall, his wand winging its way toward Harry.

"Halt!" Harry hissed at the last snake as he caught the wand in his left hand. It stopped just short of biting the man, who immediately jumped to his feet, snarled and made a go for Harry, eyes wild.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry flung the curse and scrabbled out of the way as Malfoy's momentum carried him past, hitting the floor as stiff as a frying pan.

Silence fell as the echoes halted, broken only by Harry's erratic breathing. He pulled his right arm in again. The potion kept his body mostly numb, but the agony in his arm was all too real. And it seemed to him that his body felt cooler than before. Not good. But he'd beat Lucius Malfoy, beat him with one of Tom's own tricks.

Harry smiled grimly and gripped both wands. He wiped at his face and pushed to his feet, taking a moment to trying to regain his balance. With a sigh, he walked over to Malfoy. He kicked Malfoy over with some effort and looked at his pale, petrified face.

Harry put his wand back into his right hand, where it felt best, and slowly lowered the point until it connected lightly with Malfoy's forehead. He left it there for ten . . . fifteen seconds, enjoying the panic in the man's eyes. Then he noticed a line of blood slowly flowing down his wand. He was bleeding again, not that he'd ever really stopped.

Harry watched Lucius watch the blood, and he watched it, too, as it rolled on, staining his wand all the way down, a dark maroon testament of Harry's agony.

The swollen drop seemed to catch right at the end, suspended, and then it dropped soundlessly to Malfoy's face, exactly between his eyes-a single red dot, growing slowly in diameter as more drops fell.

"Tell me. Is that pure enough for you, Malfoy?"

Then the dot began to spread. The blood collected and slid to the side, pooling in Malfoy's right eye.

"Bet that burns like hell. Too bad you can't blink."

Harry smiled somehow and turned away. One snake still sat, awaiting his command. "Under the door," Harry hissed in Parseltongue. "Is there a guard?"

The snake slithered under the door and Harry quickly followed, stopping just short of leaving the room as his reflection suddenly came into focus. Under the torchlight, he got a glimpse of his half-naked, pale, bloodied and bruised body and jerked his eyes away. With a black eye and bloodied mouth, he almost hadn't recognized himself.

When did that happen? His mind was fuzzy after the first Cruciatus, but Lucius' goons must have had a go at him at some point. Maybe it was irrational, but it bothered Harry-he wanted to at least remember getting his injuries.

The snake returned.

"No guardssss . . . there issss food nearby . . . and the sssssmell of fear in the air."

"Thank you." Harry waved his wand. "Finite Incantatem." The snake disappeared.

Harry unlocked the doors and eased them open just a bit, peering into the long, dark hallway ahead. Malfoy Manor was big. Torches lit the walls at eye level, throwing moving shadows across the high ceiling, almost as high as Hogwarts'. The stone there was gray, broken by an unending line of enormous Wizarding portraits, reminding Harry even more of Hogwarts.

He lifted his hand and spoke: "Accio Nimbus 2001." He focused briefly on Draco's newest broom. And then, he waited.

He waited for what seemed a very long time, watching the blood drip from his arm, counting his heartbeats, listening to the sounds of distant voices echoing across the hall. Once he turned to check on Lucius, who remained unmoving. After a time, he recalled the Disillusionment Charm and knocked his wand on his head. The familiar trickling sensation was heightened by a sudden drop in his body temperature.

"No," he whispered, feeling the pain increase. He looked down through his body and saw a faint yellow glow in the mirrored floor. "Damn." He'd never done this one before and didn't have the energy to try again, but if they looked closely enough, they'd see him. He continued to peer through the shadowy hall.

Just when he thought he saw something heading in his direction, just when his heart jumped with sudden relief, an immense pain jarred his thoughts and he was on his knees, gasping, clutching at his forehead in an instant.

Tom was here. And Tom was happy.