"Why don't you just kill me?" asked Harry. He felt so weak and helpless. He would have welcomed death now.
"What would be the fun in that?" hissed the Dark Lord, "besides I want to do it right. I have failed too often in the past. I will not fail again. Even if it means giving you a few more days of life."
He placed the Crucio curse on Harry. He had done it so many times in the past few days, or was it hours, that Harry could not count them.
"My Death Eaters will soon have the finally touches of my plan completed. Then you will finally be gone," hissed the Dark Lord.
"Has there been any news yet?" Dumbledore asked Mr. Weasley. Harry had disappeared just a day ago.
"The Ministry has discovered two unreported portkeys that have left Hogwarts, but they can't trace where they went," said Mr. Weasley.
The animals sitting in various places around the room looked disappointed and worried. The deer kept getting up and pacing the room. Hedwig couldn't go five minutes without ruffling her feathers.
"On the other hand," said Mr. Weasley, "Fudge has signed his resignation papers. No one has even offered to take the job. No one wants it now that the Dark Lord is back. If I offer to take it I will be in for sure."
"Please do," said Dumbledore, "It would be very helpful to have an Order Member in the position."
Just then the door opened and Severus Snape came though it. He looked paler than normal.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"I just returned from a meeting," he said.
"Any news?" Dumbledore asked.
"Only that they have him," he said, "I couldn't find out where. Also, the Dark Lord is planning something. I don't know what it is either. He hasn't killed Potter yet. He says he won't fail again."
This only made the animals more worried. The dog began to growl.
Snape turned to him and looked extremely angry. "You know I wouldn't hold back information on something as important as this."
The dog growled louder.
"That is enough," said Dumbledore.
The dog stopped growling but still looked upset.
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said, "I'm sure you will tell us more information once you get it."
"Yes, sir," said Severus.
Suddenly there was a puff of green smoke from the fireplace. As the smoke cleared it revealed Kinsley Shaklebolt.
"The ministry has been attacked," he said hurriedly, "I don't know how but the arch in the Department of Mysteries is missing."
"Isn't it wonderful," hissed the Dark Lord. He walked over to the ancient arch. The curtain was moving as though there was a breeze, but the air was perfectly still. Voices came from behind it. Mournful voices.
Harry stared at it from his cell. No he couldn't be in the same room as that thing. It had stolen his godfather away from him.
"There won't be any mistakes this time," said the Dark Lord, "Once you walk through this curtain you will be gone forever. I will be able to complete my goal. I will no longer have you in the road." He let out a high pitched laugh.
"Why don't you just get it over with," said Harry.
"You'd like that wouldn't you," hissed the Dark Lord, "You'd like to have an end to your agony. No, I don't think you've suffered enough. I think I'll wait a few more days. I'll let my Death Eaters have some more practice with their spells."
Well, this chapter is a little longer than the past few. I hope you liked it. I still only have one member to my C2 staff, so the offer is still open to join. If you would like just leave a message in the reviews.