Legacies - Part 1: The Legacy of Lord Voldemort
Chapter One - The Incident at Privet Lane
Harry's head ached as he stared at the clock, willing it to move forward, but to no avail. He went over his mental checklist again although he knew that everything was in order. Hedwig was in her cage, his belongings were carefully packed away in his trunk, and the sword. the sword hung invisibly at his side.
"The sword is a relic of power beyond all value. The sword and this council have chosen you as its bearer. This carries great responsibility and great danger. With this sword, you are a symbol of hope to our people and a target to our enemies. If you should fall, or the sword is lost, the hope we have against darkness falls or is lost as well."
The words still rang heavy in his head. He had been the first student to learn of Professor Dumbledore's death in the early spring, and he still keenly felt that loss. He did not feel worthy or capable of this burden, but knew in his heart that it was one he had to accept. His role remained secret for the most part. The council and selected members of the Hogwarts faculty made up the majority of those who knew - besides them, there was the Auror who had been assigned to keep watch over him for the summer and those he had told: Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
Since that night in March, when he had been roused from his sleep, and brought to stand before the group of ancient wizards and witches, his life had become a maelstrom of activity. He carried the sword, but he had to be taught to use it. His evenings and weekends had become a blur of endless training and practice in the arts of war and magic not normally taught to students at Hogwarts. His role was to be kept secret for as long as possible and he had been told to carry on with his life as normally as he could. Normal for him meant Quidditch and time with his friends when he wasn't so exhausted that he couldn't stand.
His friends were his bastions of reality. Ron and Hermione remained a couple and as fiery as ever. They were all fire and brimstone one instant, all snogs and smiles the next, with precious little time in between. It would have driven him crackers by now if it hadn't been for Ginny. Ever since that summer evening last year, Ginny had remained steadfastly by his side. She read his moods with uncanny precision and always seemed to know the right thing to do or say - to give him quiet when he needed it, to make idle chatter when he needed distraction, or to listen when he needed to talk.
Ginny occupied an increasing place in his mind. What were they to each other? He didn't know for sure. more than friends, but less than boyfriend and girlfriend. He still had no name for what he felt for her, but he knew that he felt better when she was there, and missed her when she wasn't. When he had learned he was still expected to spend his summer with the Dursleys, she had promised to write him everyday. She had more than kept that promise. Despite the letters, he missed her presence, and had counted the days until he could see her again.
Today was the day. The Dursleys sensing his anxiety had gone to great lengths to make his last hours as miserable as possible. Dudley taunted him, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon discovered an endless list of things that had to be done before he would be allowed to leave. Harry worked at the list but knew that no power, magical or otherwise was going to keep him from leaving once Mr. Weasley showed up to bring him back to the Burrow. As the hour finally approached, his attention wandered.
"Boy!" roared Uncle Vernon, "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Harry snapped to awareness and noticed that he had severely over trimmed the hedges that outlined the suburban Dursley residence. "Sorry, Uncle Vernon," he murmured. He hadn't thought it possible, but the pounding in his head, emanating from his scar had grown worse. This was always a sign of trouble to come, but he was determined not to let it ruin his day - not this day.
"Sorry? I have half a mind to have you replant the whole lot of them! Those freakish friends of yours be damned. Apparently, whatever they teach you at that 'school' of yours doesn't include how to accomplish a simple task like trimming shrubbery. I should have known better than to trust the likes of you with a sharp object.. Now go inside and get cleaned up before those odd friends of yours arrive."
Harry chuckled to himself as the weight of the unseen sword tugged at his waist. He had visions of drawing the sword and showing Uncle Vernon exactly what a sharp object was, but decided instead to take the opportunity to retreat while it was offered. His time with the Dursleys was rapidly coming to an end, he told himself, no need to make it more miserable than was necessary.
Upstairs he washed away the dirt and grime of his labors and changed into the most presentable of his ill-fitting clothes. One last time, he went over his checklist, and again was satisfied that he had remembered everything. Content, he returned downstairs to wait the remaining ten minutes of his summer incarceration.
At precisely three o'clock there was a flash in the hearth. When the fire and cloud of ash subsided, three new figures stood in the living room of Number 4 Privet Drive. Harry quickly identified them as Mr. Weasley, Ron and Hermione. He looked for a fourth figure and was disappointed not to find one.
"Hello, Harry," said Mr. Weasley with a broad smile on his face. "Ginny sends her regrets that she couldn't come along."
"Fred and George turned her hair green," explained Ron, "They said it would match the color of your eyes that way."
Hermione hit Ron on the shoulder. "You just had to add that bit in, didn't you?" she demanded. "It's bad enough those brothers of yours had to ruin Ginny's plans, but do you really have to rub it in?"
"I'm just telling Harry what happened," Ron replied defensively "Harry enjoys a good prank as much as anyone, don't you Harry?"
"Enough," interjected Mr. Weasley, "I'm quite sure that Fred and George will pay handsomely for their little joke, and if you aren't careful Ron, you'll be paying along with them. Now come along, Harry. Let's gather your things. Molly is preparing quite a feast for your arrival."
Harry led his friends up the stairs towards his room. On reaching the second floor, they heard a series of pops. Hermione cocked her head pensively. "Odd," she said, "that sounded like someone apparating."
"What's so odd about that?" Ron asked. "People apparate all the time."
"Not here, they don't" Harry said with a worried expression. His headache began to fade though, so he wasn't sure what to make of it.
Mr. Weasley's face became grim and he drew his wand. Following his lead, the younger wizards did the same. Mr. Weasley motioned for them to lower their wands. As they did so however, the house shook with the sound of a loud explosion, and the sound of splintering wood.
"Down!" hissed Mr. Weasley.
"Find Potter, and bring him to me. Unharmed!" A harsh voiced ordered, "and be quick about it, we don't have all day!"
The sound of many trampling feet was heard. Harry motioned his companions to take refuge in a doorway. Inside, they quickly huddled. "Death Eater! What are they doing here?" asked Ron.
"They've come for me, obviously," Harry stated flatly. "The question is how?"
"The magical shields had to be lowered so that we could come to fetch you," Mr. Weasley whispered. "They are only lowered for a very short time. Somehow, they found out when and have taken advantage of the situation."
"How is that possible?" asked Hermione. "Surely there can't be that many people who knew of Harry's visit?
"I don't know" answered Mr. Weasley. "It's something that will have to be looked into later though. You-Know-Who must be aware of your new status Harry, to be willing to risk such a bold move."
"So what are we going to do?" asked Ron.
"Escape if we can, otherwise fight them off until some kind of help arrives." Harry answered.
The sound of footsteps was heard on the stairs. Mr. Weasley went to the door and peered through the crack. He held up two fingers. Harry nodded and brought his wand to the ready. Mr. Weasley brought his hand to the doorknob and threw it open. Harry and Mr. Weasley stepped into the hallway and hurled curses at the invaders. Both figures, garbed in black cloaks fell. Mr. Weasley had cast a petrifus totalus causing his target to freeze, then topple, while Harry had used a disarming curse to hurl the second backwards down the stairs, where he landed in a crumpled heap.
"Upstairs!" came the cry. There was the sound of more running. A sprinting black figure appeared and started to bound up the stairs. "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, and the newcomer landed atop his companion.
"Bloody Fool!" responded the voice that Harry decided must be the leader of the raid. It wasn't a voice he recognized though. Harry and Mr. Weasley slid into the room across the hall from the one they had previously occupied.
"We're trapped up here." Mr. Weasley whispered, "Unless you know another way out."
Harry shook his head grimly, then shrugged. "We could go out the windows, maybe"
"What if there are more outside?" The elder wizard asked.
"Help should be here before too long," Harry offered "this place is closely watched. As a matter of fact, I wonder where the Auror is that is supposed to be guarding me?"
Harry crept to the window and peered past the drapes. On the street below there were several more black-robed death eaters and the fallen form he recognized as his guardian Auror. He was struck by grief that this man had died trying to defend him
"No help, from that quarter," Harry whispered as he returned to Mr. Weasley's side. "What about MLES? Won't they come to investigate the unauthorized use of magic?"
"We can only hope," Mr. Weasley answered.
They heard the creak of a floorboard. "Stairs," Harry mouthed. Mr. Weasley answered with a gesture that they would launch spells and cross the hall to rejoin Ron and Hermione. On Mr. Weasley's signal, they once again launched themselves into the hallway. Mr. Weasley cast an Expelliarmus spell at the first shape he saw and was rewarded with a thud as another Death Eater met the wall. Harry took a different tactic and cast a Reductor spell at the stairs themselves. The result was a shower of splinters and a gaping hole where the stairs had once been. The two wizards tumbled into the room to find Ron and Hermione waiting for them.
"Good thinking, Harry" Mr. Weasley said, breathing heavily. "If we can't get out, at least they'll have a hard time getting up here."
"Aunt Petunia is going to kill me," Harry said.
Yelling and cursing were heard from downstairs. The four trapped wizards paced wondering what was next.
"We need help," Hermione said, "I can't believe that it's possible to cause this much disturbance without drawing some sort of attention. "What about the telephone, Harry? Maybe we could call the police."
Harry shook his head. "The only one is downstairs. Dudley used to have one, but he developed a habit for calling pay chat lines, and Uncle Vernon had it removed."
"Why don't we just send an owl, like normal people?" Ron asked.
"Hedwig!" Harry exclaimed. "Hedwig is in my room next door, I'll slip down there and send a note to Professor McGonagall."
"Mr. Weasley," asked Hermione, "Why don't you just apparate?"
Mr. Weasley shook his head "Leave you three here alone? Never."
"But you could get help, and be right back." Hermione objected. "We can take care of ourselves for a few minutes."
"She's right," Harry insisted. "It's the best way."
Reluctantly Mr. Weasley rose to his feet and attempted the Apparate spell. Nothing happened, so he tried again with the same result. "It's being blocked," he said. "The wards must have been restored."
"Harry Potter," said a magically amplified voice. "Surrender yourself and your companions. You can't escape."
All eyes turned to him. "Tell them to go to hell, mate," Ron said bravely. Hermione nodded at him.
Harry cast a Sonorus spell to amplify his own voice. "Why don't you come up here and get me?" he challenged.
"Fine," answered the voice, "We'll play it your way."
There was a loud crash and the floor beneath them buckled and cracked, but held. "They're going to tear the house down!" Mr. Weasley said.
"We should retreat," Harry answered, "Back to my room. We can send Hedwig and stall for time. Ron, you and Hermione go first - it's the last door on the left."
Again, with wands ready, the door was opened. There were four Death Eaters were waiting for them in the hall. A quick volley of spells was cast in both directions as Ron and Hermione retreated down the hall. One of the Death Eaters cast an Incendio spell at the ceiling, which immediately burst into flames.
Mr. Weasley and Harry rushed the Death Eaters. At close quarters, Harry pocketed his wand and drew his sword, which flashed immediately into visibility. Seeing the object of their raid at hand, the enemy turned their attentions toward him. The first one rushed Harry and instantly fell back as the sword of Gryffindor tore a scarlet gash across his abdomen. Mr. Weasley disabled another with a binding charm.
There were two Death Eaters remaining, and they stood in fighting stances just out of sword range. The fire in the ceiling began to spread and the hallway was becoming full of smoke. Harry began to retreat down the hallway with Mr. Weasley at his side. Behind them they could hear Ron casting extinguishing charms, but the volume of smoke warned that he wasn't having much success.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione cast a disarming charm at one of the remaining Death Eaters. The remaining Dark Wizard continued to advance however. With his eyes watering and gagging from the smoke, Harry stepped forward to meet him.
The Death Eater brandished his wand as a weapon, crouched low and stood his ground. Harry feinted at him, but the wizard dodged. Harry returned to the ready stance awaiting his opponent's next move. The Death Eater began a gesture with his wand. Harry rolled to his left and lunged with his sword. There was a sickening sound as it met is mark and impaled its target. The Death Eater's spell went wild, it was a Reductor spell and it hit the burning ceiling.
The hallway became an inferno of burning splinters and debris. Harry was thrown to the floor in a daze. As his head began to clear he realized that he was burned and cut in several places. Ron was screaming for help. Slowly, Harry collected himself, regained his feet and went to see what assistance he could give.
Mr. Weasley and Ron were crouched low over the prone form of Hermione. When Harry approached they moved aside to give him access. Hermione must have been immediately below the blast, she was severely burned, cut, and several large fragments of wood had pierced her. She was bleeding and unconscious.
"She needs a Medi-Wizard," Mr. Weasley said grimly. "My first aid charms aren't up to this."
"I'll send Hedwig," Harry said, "If you can move her, bring Hermione into my room. Put her on my bed."
Harry pulled a quill and parchment out of his trunk and scribbled a note for help. Deftly he attached it to Hedwig and gave her instructions. When he opened his window however, several curses were fired at him. Quickly ducking, he decided on a new tactic. He pointed his wand at the wall of his room and blasted a hole in it. Then released Hedwig to fly through the new opening.
As he was doing this, Mr. Weasley, accompanied by Ron escorted in the levitated body of Hermione and set her down on Harry's small bed. As she settled, Hermione regained consciousness and began to scream in pain. Ron did his best to calm her, whispering soothing words to her and caressing her forehead. "Dad, we have to do something."
Mr. Weasley put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "I know, son. We'll find a way."
"Harry Potter!" It was another magically amplified voice, but this was one that they knew.
"Draco Malfoy!" Ron spat. "It figures he would be a part of this. I'm going to curse him into slime when I can get to him."
"Potter, it's time to surrender," Draco continued. "From the sound of the screams, I would guess that your Mudblood friend is pretty badly hurt. Surrender and I promise to put her out of her misery; you're poverty stricken Weasley friends too"
Harry renewed his own amplifying charm and yelled back "Go to Hell, Malfoy."
"I was hoping you would say that, Potter," Malfoy drawled. "I have someone else here who wants to speak to you."
"Boy!" called out a very flustered Uncle Vernon. "Get down here this instant, and get these freaks out of here before my house is completely destroyed."
"Shut up, you stupid Muggle," Draco demanded. "The only reason you aren't dead is because I have a use for you."
"A use?" Uncle Vernon asked. "Whatever it is, just don't hurt me or my family."
"Don't you just love it when they try to bargain with you?" Draco asked in his amplified voice. "I'm afraid the use I have for you requires a good deal of pain. Crucio!"
Uncle Vernon's Sonorus enhanced voice became a deafening cry of pain as the curse took hold. For a full five minutes it lasted. The trapped wizards tried to cover their ears but nothing could block out the sound of Uncle Vernon's screaming
"There are two more Muggles down here, Potter. Which one should I do next? Or should I do them both together? Why don't you choose, Potter?"
"Don't do this, Malfoy" Harry pleaded desperately.
"After the way they've treated you, Potter? I'd think you would be applauding me for doing what you weren't wizard enough to do on your own."
"They're innocent enough," Harry answered, "Even they don't deserve to be tortured as pawns."
"I think I'll start with the woman," Draco said. "I've never tortured a woman before."
Harry blanched. "Wait," he said, "Let's make a deal." he offered.
"Don't think I don't know you're stalling for time, Potter. We saw your owl leave. Even if help arrives, I promise you it won't save the Muggles. Maybe it won't save the Mudblood either. Are you willing to risk that?"
"Harry," Mr. Weasley whispered, "You can't surrender. The sword. You're too important."
"Dad," Ron interjected, "He has to. She's going to die if she doesn't get help." He turned to face his friend. "Harry, you have to save Hermione - you just can't let her die like this."
"Harry," Mr. Weasley said emphatically. "I know Hermione is your friend, but there are other things at stake here."
"Hermione is your friend, Harry," Ron objected. "She's more important than any sword or anything else. You have to save her, Harry. You know she would do the same thing for you."
Harry frowned deeply. "Let the others go," said Harry renewing his Sonorous charm, "and I'll surrender."
"The others are of no significance to me," Draco answered. "What are your terms?"
"Evacuate the others, and I'll surrender freely." Harry replied. "When I get an owl saying they're safe, I will turn myself over."
"Owls can take a long time," returned Draco. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"I give you my word," answered Harry, "It's the only deal I'm going to make."
There was a moment or two of silence. "I accept your offer. I'm sending up a messenger with a port key."
Harry slumped. Then stood up straight and unfastened the sword from around his waist and handed it to Ron. "Hide this," he said solemnly, "Keep it safe and see that it returns to the right hands. Use it if you have to, but don't let it fall to the enemy."
Ron took the sword and hid it in Hermione's robe. "I will," he promised. "and thank you Harry. Thank you for saving Hermione. We'll find a way to rescue you, I promise"
Harry started to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the door. He answered it with his wand at the ready. "Try anything and I'll blast you in to last year."
The Death Eater, accompanied by the ashen-faced Dursleys, responded by holding up hands, showing that they were empty save for a small golden key. Harry kept his wand aimed at the wizard's head as he dropped the key on the bed beside Hermione. "It's set for the square in Hogsmeade. Send an owl immediately. We won't wait forever." Ordered a magically altered voice. The two Weasleys each put an arm around Hermione, instructed the Dursleys to do the same, and simultaneously reached for the port key. They instantly vanished.
The Death Eater turned towards the door. Harry flashed his wand in a downward motion that clearly meant sit. "You aren't going anywhere, Draco" he said flatly.
With out arguing, the Death Eater sat. "Smart move, Potter. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Shut up!" snapped Harry.
"I'm going to enjoy watching the Master torture you," Draco drawled. "My only hope is that he'll give me a turn."
"This is torture enough," Harry replied, "Now shut up, or I'll put a silencing charm on you."
Draco only laughed. "How did you know it was me?" he asked.
"Who else would it be? It wouldn't be like you to trust someone else, and it wouldn't be like you to miss a chance to gloat. Besides, you're shorter than the average Death Eater. Voldemort must be scraping the bottom of the barrel."
"My first raid," Draco said proudly, " and I get the honor of personally delivering you to the Dark Lord. How good is life?"
Harry didn't answer, instead he simply paced, his wand in hand, ready for the trick he knew was coming. Perhaps ten minutes passed when the sound of magical volleys was heard from outside. Both Harry and Draco snapped to attention.
"It bloody took them long enough," Harry muttered.
Draco leapt to his feet. "We have a deal, Potter!"
Harry leveled his wand at Draco's chest. "Our deal isn't complete until I get an Owl back from the Weasleys"
"Never try to outmaneuver a Slytherin," Draco grinned at him, seized Harry's wand hand, and then grabbed the pendant he was wearing. The room blurred, faded, and suddenly they were somewhere else.
Chapter One - The Incident at Privet Lane
Harry's head ached as he stared at the clock, willing it to move forward, but to no avail. He went over his mental checklist again although he knew that everything was in order. Hedwig was in her cage, his belongings were carefully packed away in his trunk, and the sword. the sword hung invisibly at his side.
"The sword is a relic of power beyond all value. The sword and this council have chosen you as its bearer. This carries great responsibility and great danger. With this sword, you are a symbol of hope to our people and a target to our enemies. If you should fall, or the sword is lost, the hope we have against darkness falls or is lost as well."
The words still rang heavy in his head. He had been the first student to learn of Professor Dumbledore's death in the early spring, and he still keenly felt that loss. He did not feel worthy or capable of this burden, but knew in his heart that it was one he had to accept. His role remained secret for the most part. The council and selected members of the Hogwarts faculty made up the majority of those who knew - besides them, there was the Auror who had been assigned to keep watch over him for the summer and those he had told: Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
Since that night in March, when he had been roused from his sleep, and brought to stand before the group of ancient wizards and witches, his life had become a maelstrom of activity. He carried the sword, but he had to be taught to use it. His evenings and weekends had become a blur of endless training and practice in the arts of war and magic not normally taught to students at Hogwarts. His role was to be kept secret for as long as possible and he had been told to carry on with his life as normally as he could. Normal for him meant Quidditch and time with his friends when he wasn't so exhausted that he couldn't stand.
His friends were his bastions of reality. Ron and Hermione remained a couple and as fiery as ever. They were all fire and brimstone one instant, all snogs and smiles the next, with precious little time in between. It would have driven him crackers by now if it hadn't been for Ginny. Ever since that summer evening last year, Ginny had remained steadfastly by his side. She read his moods with uncanny precision and always seemed to know the right thing to do or say - to give him quiet when he needed it, to make idle chatter when he needed distraction, or to listen when he needed to talk.
Ginny occupied an increasing place in his mind. What were they to each other? He didn't know for sure. more than friends, but less than boyfriend and girlfriend. He still had no name for what he felt for her, but he knew that he felt better when she was there, and missed her when she wasn't. When he had learned he was still expected to spend his summer with the Dursleys, she had promised to write him everyday. She had more than kept that promise. Despite the letters, he missed her presence, and had counted the days until he could see her again.
Today was the day. The Dursleys sensing his anxiety had gone to great lengths to make his last hours as miserable as possible. Dudley taunted him, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon discovered an endless list of things that had to be done before he would be allowed to leave. Harry worked at the list but knew that no power, magical or otherwise was going to keep him from leaving once Mr. Weasley showed up to bring him back to the Burrow. As the hour finally approached, his attention wandered.
"Boy!" roared Uncle Vernon, "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Harry snapped to awareness and noticed that he had severely over trimmed the hedges that outlined the suburban Dursley residence. "Sorry, Uncle Vernon," he murmured. He hadn't thought it possible, but the pounding in his head, emanating from his scar had grown worse. This was always a sign of trouble to come, but he was determined not to let it ruin his day - not this day.
"Sorry? I have half a mind to have you replant the whole lot of them! Those freakish friends of yours be damned. Apparently, whatever they teach you at that 'school' of yours doesn't include how to accomplish a simple task like trimming shrubbery. I should have known better than to trust the likes of you with a sharp object.. Now go inside and get cleaned up before those odd friends of yours arrive."
Harry chuckled to himself as the weight of the unseen sword tugged at his waist. He had visions of drawing the sword and showing Uncle Vernon exactly what a sharp object was, but decided instead to take the opportunity to retreat while it was offered. His time with the Dursleys was rapidly coming to an end, he told himself, no need to make it more miserable than was necessary.
Upstairs he washed away the dirt and grime of his labors and changed into the most presentable of his ill-fitting clothes. One last time, he went over his checklist, and again was satisfied that he had remembered everything. Content, he returned downstairs to wait the remaining ten minutes of his summer incarceration.
At precisely three o'clock there was a flash in the hearth. When the fire and cloud of ash subsided, three new figures stood in the living room of Number 4 Privet Drive. Harry quickly identified them as Mr. Weasley, Ron and Hermione. He looked for a fourth figure and was disappointed not to find one.
"Hello, Harry," said Mr. Weasley with a broad smile on his face. "Ginny sends her regrets that she couldn't come along."
"Fred and George turned her hair green," explained Ron, "They said it would match the color of your eyes that way."
Hermione hit Ron on the shoulder. "You just had to add that bit in, didn't you?" she demanded. "It's bad enough those brothers of yours had to ruin Ginny's plans, but do you really have to rub it in?"
"I'm just telling Harry what happened," Ron replied defensively "Harry enjoys a good prank as much as anyone, don't you Harry?"
"Enough," interjected Mr. Weasley, "I'm quite sure that Fred and George will pay handsomely for their little joke, and if you aren't careful Ron, you'll be paying along with them. Now come along, Harry. Let's gather your things. Molly is preparing quite a feast for your arrival."
Harry led his friends up the stairs towards his room. On reaching the second floor, they heard a series of pops. Hermione cocked her head pensively. "Odd," she said, "that sounded like someone apparating."
"What's so odd about that?" Ron asked. "People apparate all the time."
"Not here, they don't" Harry said with a worried expression. His headache began to fade though, so he wasn't sure what to make of it.
Mr. Weasley's face became grim and he drew his wand. Following his lead, the younger wizards did the same. Mr. Weasley motioned for them to lower their wands. As they did so however, the house shook with the sound of a loud explosion, and the sound of splintering wood.
"Down!" hissed Mr. Weasley.
"Find Potter, and bring him to me. Unharmed!" A harsh voiced ordered, "and be quick about it, we don't have all day!"
The sound of many trampling feet was heard. Harry motioned his companions to take refuge in a doorway. Inside, they quickly huddled. "Death Eater! What are they doing here?" asked Ron.
"They've come for me, obviously," Harry stated flatly. "The question is how?"
"The magical shields had to be lowered so that we could come to fetch you," Mr. Weasley whispered. "They are only lowered for a very short time. Somehow, they found out when and have taken advantage of the situation."
"How is that possible?" asked Hermione. "Surely there can't be that many people who knew of Harry's visit?
"I don't know" answered Mr. Weasley. "It's something that will have to be looked into later though. You-Know-Who must be aware of your new status Harry, to be willing to risk such a bold move."
"So what are we going to do?" asked Ron.
"Escape if we can, otherwise fight them off until some kind of help arrives." Harry answered.
The sound of footsteps was heard on the stairs. Mr. Weasley went to the door and peered through the crack. He held up two fingers. Harry nodded and brought his wand to the ready. Mr. Weasley brought his hand to the doorknob and threw it open. Harry and Mr. Weasley stepped into the hallway and hurled curses at the invaders. Both figures, garbed in black cloaks fell. Mr. Weasley had cast a petrifus totalus causing his target to freeze, then topple, while Harry had used a disarming curse to hurl the second backwards down the stairs, where he landed in a crumpled heap.
"Upstairs!" came the cry. There was the sound of more running. A sprinting black figure appeared and started to bound up the stairs. "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, and the newcomer landed atop his companion.
"Bloody Fool!" responded the voice that Harry decided must be the leader of the raid. It wasn't a voice he recognized though. Harry and Mr. Weasley slid into the room across the hall from the one they had previously occupied.
"We're trapped up here." Mr. Weasley whispered, "Unless you know another way out."
Harry shook his head grimly, then shrugged. "We could go out the windows, maybe"
"What if there are more outside?" The elder wizard asked.
"Help should be here before too long," Harry offered "this place is closely watched. As a matter of fact, I wonder where the Auror is that is supposed to be guarding me?"
Harry crept to the window and peered past the drapes. On the street below there were several more black-robed death eaters and the fallen form he recognized as his guardian Auror. He was struck by grief that this man had died trying to defend him
"No help, from that quarter," Harry whispered as he returned to Mr. Weasley's side. "What about MLES? Won't they come to investigate the unauthorized use of magic?"
"We can only hope," Mr. Weasley answered.
They heard the creak of a floorboard. "Stairs," Harry mouthed. Mr. Weasley answered with a gesture that they would launch spells and cross the hall to rejoin Ron and Hermione. On Mr. Weasley's signal, they once again launched themselves into the hallway. Mr. Weasley cast an Expelliarmus spell at the first shape he saw and was rewarded with a thud as another Death Eater met the wall. Harry took a different tactic and cast a Reductor spell at the stairs themselves. The result was a shower of splinters and a gaping hole where the stairs had once been. The two wizards tumbled into the room to find Ron and Hermione waiting for them.
"Good thinking, Harry" Mr. Weasley said, breathing heavily. "If we can't get out, at least they'll have a hard time getting up here."
"Aunt Petunia is going to kill me," Harry said.
Yelling and cursing were heard from downstairs. The four trapped wizards paced wondering what was next.
"We need help," Hermione said, "I can't believe that it's possible to cause this much disturbance without drawing some sort of attention. "What about the telephone, Harry? Maybe we could call the police."
Harry shook his head. "The only one is downstairs. Dudley used to have one, but he developed a habit for calling pay chat lines, and Uncle Vernon had it removed."
"Why don't we just send an owl, like normal people?" Ron asked.
"Hedwig!" Harry exclaimed. "Hedwig is in my room next door, I'll slip down there and send a note to Professor McGonagall."
"Mr. Weasley," asked Hermione, "Why don't you just apparate?"
Mr. Weasley shook his head "Leave you three here alone? Never."
"But you could get help, and be right back." Hermione objected. "We can take care of ourselves for a few minutes."
"She's right," Harry insisted. "It's the best way."
Reluctantly Mr. Weasley rose to his feet and attempted the Apparate spell. Nothing happened, so he tried again with the same result. "It's being blocked," he said. "The wards must have been restored."
"Harry Potter," said a magically amplified voice. "Surrender yourself and your companions. You can't escape."
All eyes turned to him. "Tell them to go to hell, mate," Ron said bravely. Hermione nodded at him.
Harry cast a Sonorus spell to amplify his own voice. "Why don't you come up here and get me?" he challenged.
"Fine," answered the voice, "We'll play it your way."
There was a loud crash and the floor beneath them buckled and cracked, but held. "They're going to tear the house down!" Mr. Weasley said.
"We should retreat," Harry answered, "Back to my room. We can send Hedwig and stall for time. Ron, you and Hermione go first - it's the last door on the left."
Again, with wands ready, the door was opened. There were four Death Eaters were waiting for them in the hall. A quick volley of spells was cast in both directions as Ron and Hermione retreated down the hall. One of the Death Eaters cast an Incendio spell at the ceiling, which immediately burst into flames.
Mr. Weasley and Harry rushed the Death Eaters. At close quarters, Harry pocketed his wand and drew his sword, which flashed immediately into visibility. Seeing the object of their raid at hand, the enemy turned their attentions toward him. The first one rushed Harry and instantly fell back as the sword of Gryffindor tore a scarlet gash across his abdomen. Mr. Weasley disabled another with a binding charm.
There were two Death Eaters remaining, and they stood in fighting stances just out of sword range. The fire in the ceiling began to spread and the hallway was becoming full of smoke. Harry began to retreat down the hallway with Mr. Weasley at his side. Behind them they could hear Ron casting extinguishing charms, but the volume of smoke warned that he wasn't having much success.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione cast a disarming charm at one of the remaining Death Eaters. The remaining Dark Wizard continued to advance however. With his eyes watering and gagging from the smoke, Harry stepped forward to meet him.
The Death Eater brandished his wand as a weapon, crouched low and stood his ground. Harry feinted at him, but the wizard dodged. Harry returned to the ready stance awaiting his opponent's next move. The Death Eater began a gesture with his wand. Harry rolled to his left and lunged with his sword. There was a sickening sound as it met is mark and impaled its target. The Death Eater's spell went wild, it was a Reductor spell and it hit the burning ceiling.
The hallway became an inferno of burning splinters and debris. Harry was thrown to the floor in a daze. As his head began to clear he realized that he was burned and cut in several places. Ron was screaming for help. Slowly, Harry collected himself, regained his feet and went to see what assistance he could give.
Mr. Weasley and Ron were crouched low over the prone form of Hermione. When Harry approached they moved aside to give him access. Hermione must have been immediately below the blast, she was severely burned, cut, and several large fragments of wood had pierced her. She was bleeding and unconscious.
"She needs a Medi-Wizard," Mr. Weasley said grimly. "My first aid charms aren't up to this."
"I'll send Hedwig," Harry said, "If you can move her, bring Hermione into my room. Put her on my bed."
Harry pulled a quill and parchment out of his trunk and scribbled a note for help. Deftly he attached it to Hedwig and gave her instructions. When he opened his window however, several curses were fired at him. Quickly ducking, he decided on a new tactic. He pointed his wand at the wall of his room and blasted a hole in it. Then released Hedwig to fly through the new opening.
As he was doing this, Mr. Weasley, accompanied by Ron escorted in the levitated body of Hermione and set her down on Harry's small bed. As she settled, Hermione regained consciousness and began to scream in pain. Ron did his best to calm her, whispering soothing words to her and caressing her forehead. "Dad, we have to do something."
Mr. Weasley put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "I know, son. We'll find a way."
"Harry Potter!" It was another magically amplified voice, but this was one that they knew.
"Draco Malfoy!" Ron spat. "It figures he would be a part of this. I'm going to curse him into slime when I can get to him."
"Potter, it's time to surrender," Draco continued. "From the sound of the screams, I would guess that your Mudblood friend is pretty badly hurt. Surrender and I promise to put her out of her misery; you're poverty stricken Weasley friends too"
Harry renewed his own amplifying charm and yelled back "Go to Hell, Malfoy."
"I was hoping you would say that, Potter," Malfoy drawled. "I have someone else here who wants to speak to you."
"Boy!" called out a very flustered Uncle Vernon. "Get down here this instant, and get these freaks out of here before my house is completely destroyed."
"Shut up, you stupid Muggle," Draco demanded. "The only reason you aren't dead is because I have a use for you."
"A use?" Uncle Vernon asked. "Whatever it is, just don't hurt me or my family."
"Don't you just love it when they try to bargain with you?" Draco asked in his amplified voice. "I'm afraid the use I have for you requires a good deal of pain. Crucio!"
Uncle Vernon's Sonorus enhanced voice became a deafening cry of pain as the curse took hold. For a full five minutes it lasted. The trapped wizards tried to cover their ears but nothing could block out the sound of Uncle Vernon's screaming
"There are two more Muggles down here, Potter. Which one should I do next? Or should I do them both together? Why don't you choose, Potter?"
"Don't do this, Malfoy" Harry pleaded desperately.
"After the way they've treated you, Potter? I'd think you would be applauding me for doing what you weren't wizard enough to do on your own."
"They're innocent enough," Harry answered, "Even they don't deserve to be tortured as pawns."
"I think I'll start with the woman," Draco said. "I've never tortured a woman before."
Harry blanched. "Wait," he said, "Let's make a deal." he offered.
"Don't think I don't know you're stalling for time, Potter. We saw your owl leave. Even if help arrives, I promise you it won't save the Muggles. Maybe it won't save the Mudblood either. Are you willing to risk that?"
"Harry," Mr. Weasley whispered, "You can't surrender. The sword. You're too important."
"Dad," Ron interjected, "He has to. She's going to die if she doesn't get help." He turned to face his friend. "Harry, you have to save Hermione - you just can't let her die like this."
"Harry," Mr. Weasley said emphatically. "I know Hermione is your friend, but there are other things at stake here."
"Hermione is your friend, Harry," Ron objected. "She's more important than any sword or anything else. You have to save her, Harry. You know she would do the same thing for you."
Harry frowned deeply. "Let the others go," said Harry renewing his Sonorous charm, "and I'll surrender."
"The others are of no significance to me," Draco answered. "What are your terms?"
"Evacuate the others, and I'll surrender freely." Harry replied. "When I get an owl saying they're safe, I will turn myself over."
"Owls can take a long time," returned Draco. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"I give you my word," answered Harry, "It's the only deal I'm going to make."
There was a moment or two of silence. "I accept your offer. I'm sending up a messenger with a port key."
Harry slumped. Then stood up straight and unfastened the sword from around his waist and handed it to Ron. "Hide this," he said solemnly, "Keep it safe and see that it returns to the right hands. Use it if you have to, but don't let it fall to the enemy."
Ron took the sword and hid it in Hermione's robe. "I will," he promised. "and thank you Harry. Thank you for saving Hermione. We'll find a way to rescue you, I promise"
Harry started to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the door. He answered it with his wand at the ready. "Try anything and I'll blast you in to last year."
The Death Eater, accompanied by the ashen-faced Dursleys, responded by holding up hands, showing that they were empty save for a small golden key. Harry kept his wand aimed at the wizard's head as he dropped the key on the bed beside Hermione. "It's set for the square in Hogsmeade. Send an owl immediately. We won't wait forever." Ordered a magically altered voice. The two Weasleys each put an arm around Hermione, instructed the Dursleys to do the same, and simultaneously reached for the port key. They instantly vanished.
The Death Eater turned towards the door. Harry flashed his wand in a downward motion that clearly meant sit. "You aren't going anywhere, Draco" he said flatly.
With out arguing, the Death Eater sat. "Smart move, Potter. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Shut up!" snapped Harry.
"I'm going to enjoy watching the Master torture you," Draco drawled. "My only hope is that he'll give me a turn."
"This is torture enough," Harry replied, "Now shut up, or I'll put a silencing charm on you."
Draco only laughed. "How did you know it was me?" he asked.
"Who else would it be? It wouldn't be like you to trust someone else, and it wouldn't be like you to miss a chance to gloat. Besides, you're shorter than the average Death Eater. Voldemort must be scraping the bottom of the barrel."
"My first raid," Draco said proudly, " and I get the honor of personally delivering you to the Dark Lord. How good is life?"
Harry didn't answer, instead he simply paced, his wand in hand, ready for the trick he knew was coming. Perhaps ten minutes passed when the sound of magical volleys was heard from outside. Both Harry and Draco snapped to attention.
"It bloody took them long enough," Harry muttered.
Draco leapt to his feet. "We have a deal, Potter!"
Harry leveled his wand at Draco's chest. "Our deal isn't complete until I get an Owl back from the Weasleys"
"Never try to outmaneuver a Slytherin," Draco grinned at him, seized Harry's wand hand, and then grabbed the pendant he was wearing. The room blurred, faded, and suddenly they were somewhere else.
