Chapter Two – Best Laid Plans

"Unnhhh..."

Harry almost couldn't remember a time he'd felt this bad, but he repressed the vague ache and opened his eyes.

It didn't help much.

Briefly Harry wondered if he'd gone blind, but he could very faintly make out his hand in front of his face. Everything else was a deep black, so he had to rely on his hearing and sense of touch.

Reaching out with his hands, he felt that the floor was of cool, hard stone, and varying degrees of grime clung to his fingers. The sound of dripping water echoed faintly off distant hallways, giving him the impression that he was in some kind of dungeon. He carefully felt his way over to a stone wall and stood up, noticing that the sound created rebounded off a distant ceiling...a very distant ceiling.

The faint tempo of expensive shoes on stone came to his ears, becoming louder as a faint glow began to approach beyond what he could now see as a barred gate. Suddenly the torches around the cell – for lack of a better word – burst into flame, causing him to cringe back and squint as Lucius Malfoy appeared at the gate.

"So you are awake," Malfoy sneered. He nodded to Macnair and Nott, who had come in behind him. "Bind him and take him to the Master's main audience chamber," he ordered, "but do not harm him yet...the Master wants him intact for the surprise."

Harry did his best to put up a fight, but he was still groggy from the stunner and was easily overpowered.

----

From the blurry shapes he could see, Harry guessed that it was some sort of throne room mock-up. Malfoy dragged him in front of a raised platform and threw him to the floor.

"My Lord," Malfoy said, kneeling, "the Potter child, as you ordered."

"Well done, Luciusss..." the high, hissing voice came from the platform. By squinting, Harry was able to make out the shape of Lord Voldemort on a dark throne. "You may go."

Malfoy bowed his head in gratitude and backed out of the room, leaving Harry alone with the Dark Lord.

"Ssso, Harry Potter, I have you at lassst," Voldemort hissed in pleasure.

"Only for now," Harry shot back, fighting against the agony in his scar at such close proximity to the Dark Wizard.

Voldemort laughed. "Oh yesss, how confident you are, young Harry. True, I intend to dissspossse of you," he said, dragging out his words with obvious delight, "asss sssoon asss I am done with you."

Before Harry could contemplate the meaning behind his words, Voldemort waved his hand lazily. Instantly, a ring of fire sprang up around Harry, enclosing him in a cage of flame.

"Wormtail," Voldemort purred, "administer the Yami no Ryuu to young Harry."

Bound as he was, and in excruciating pain from his scar, Harry could only watch helplessly as Peter Pettigrew approached. The traitor poured a vial of something green into the flames, which turned black and engulfed their captive.

Harry screamed involuntarily as the ebony fire scorched his skin and lungs, squeezing his eyes shut to protect his sight. Combined with the nearly crippling pain from his scar, the agony overwhelmed him and he spiraled into blackness.

----

Voldemort smirked as the flames snuffed out, revealing his badly burned nemesis. "Take him back to the dungeons," he said, and turned away as Wormtail dragged the unconscious boy back to his cell.

A large snake slithered out of the shadows to meet him, hissing. Voldemort smiled down at the serpent. -Soon, Nagini,- he hissed back. -Soon your brother shall awaken.-

Nagini hissed in pleasure.

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Chapter Three – Puzzles

"Death Eaters."

Dumbledore's voice was full of dismay as he peered out of the fireplace at the Burrow. "He has been kidnapped, then."

"How did they get past the wards?" Arthur Weasley asked worriedly. "Surely you would have noticed the protections around Privet Drive falling far before this happened."

Dumbledore sighed. "It is clear that Harry does not see Privet Drive as home any longer, rendering the ancient magic useless. I should have seen this..."

"What do we do? Do we know where they took Harry?" Remus asked.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Severus is trying to narrow down the usual locations of the Death Eater gatherings, but until we get a lead I am afraid there is little we can do. However," he added, "a little is sometimes better than nothing. Ronald!"

"Yes sir?" Ron said, looking up in surprise.

"I would appreciate it if you would look after Harry's belongings," Dumbledore said kindly. "He will need them when we get him back."

Ron looked simultaneously saddened and hopeful. "Thanks sir, I will."

"Remus," Dumbledore continued, "send an owl to Oddment Lovegood and ask him to publish an article regarding suspicious Death Eater activity and a request for anyone with information to get in contact with the Order."

Remus nodded. "But Albus, what about The Daily Prophet?"

Dumbledore considered it. "I hesitate to trust any information to Minister Fudge," he said at last," but I believe The Daily Prophet should print a similar article. However, they must not learn of Harry's disappearance. There are still Death Eaters in Ministry positions, and I would not have them alerted to our efforts."

Remus didn't look any less worried, but nodded. "I will do as you ask."

"Arthur," Dumbledore said as he turned to Mr. Weasley, "you and your family must be moved to Hogwarts as soon as possible. I fear that Voldemort may try to get at Mr. Potter's friends. This means that Ms. Granger must also be retrieved immediately."

"And her family?" Molly inquired. "She is a Muggle-born, after all..."

"Of course, I do mean her parents as well," Dumbledore assured her.

"I'll get them," Molly offered. "The sooner that poor girl and her family are out of danger, the better I'll feel about all this."

She did not mention Harry's abduction.