All characters owned by J K Rowling of course.
I would like to thank Cmar for beta-reading this chapter and the previous few chapters and all the reviewers. They are all greatly appreciated. All reviews welcome.
Chapter Six – Harry Potter
"Harry Potter," he hissed in Harry's ear. The circle of Death Eaters edged closer, to try and catch what he was saying. "All I have to do is kill you? Just kill a child? That would be too easy."
Voldemort raised his voice. "This is the boy who made you doubt me. Who halted my rise to power." He pointed his wand at Harry. "Crucio!" Harry felt like every nerve had been bathed in fire, and he fell to the ground in front of the pensieve in pain. Tears came to his eyes as he tried to stop screaming. Just as suddenly as it started it stopped.
"The boy will aid me in my quest."
"I'll never help you," grimaced Harry in pain.
"Oh I didn't say you would help me willingly. Imperio…"
Harry felt his mind empty of all thoughts as the spell took hold.
"Walk towards me Harry."
Harry felt his legs move. They were no longer under his control. No. Just walk towards him. That is what you want to do isn't it? No. It's what I want to do. Not him. This is my choice. No it isn't. Fight it! Fight what? I want to walk towards Voldemort, this is my choice, not his. His legs started to buckle under the pressure. Stop! This is not what I want to do! He collapsed on the floor, his face a mask of sweat.
Voldemort gave a cold mirthless smile. "So you can control the Imperio curse, can you? That is more than most of your kind. Imperio Regus." Voldemort hissed and pointed his wand at Harry. A thin purple snake leapt from the end of the wand and slithered on the ground towards Harry.
Harry could not move a muscle and watched in horror as the snake slithered up his body and into his mouth. There was a final hissing sound, and Harry's mind went totally blank.
Harry stood up and smiled at Voldemort.
"Harry Potter," said Voldemort. "I am going to give you a little job to do."
"My Lord?"
"I want you to kill Dumbledore."
Harry grinned. "It would be a pleasure, my Lord."
Harry turned around and started to walk away. A gap opened up in the circle of Death Eaters and Harry started to walk through.
"Potter?"
Harry turned around. "My Lord?"
Voldemort threw a small object towards Harry. Harry raised a hand and caught the small vial. "What is this?"
"Poison. Very non-magical but Dumbledore is impervious to most forms of magic. Fortunately even great wizards can suffer physical death. All you have to do is get close enough to him when he is eating or drinking to put in a couple of drops of that. You can do this, can't you, Potter?"
Harry looked down at the vial.
"You can kill the great Dumbledore, can't you?"
Harry felt a great happiness. "I would love to." He put the vial in his right pocket and walked out of the ring of Death Eaters. He looked above him and could see the wraith like shapes of Dementors. A pair of giants, both over 30 feet tall lumbered out of his way. Their skin was like granite and their clothes were elephant skins. Harry could smell the reek of old sweat and dead animals as he walked past and nearly gagged. Despite all of this he was feeling happy. Happier than he had felt in a long time. He had a purpose now, he knew why he was here and doing the task would make him even happier, he knew it.
Not even the deathly scowl of a Dementor that glided past him could make him feel any worse.
An hour later Harry walked out of the Forbidden Forest. He could see Severus Snape and McGonagall talking with each other. Snape was being unusually animated and pointing his wand at the forest. When Harry walked out of the forest they ran towards him.
"Where have you been, Mr Potter?" said Minerva McGonagall. She pushed her square glasses back up her nose with a long finger and glared at him.
Harry smiled at her. "Just been out for a walk."
"Don't worry about questioning Potter, Minerva," said Snape, stepping in front of Harry. "He never cares for anyone but himself."
Snape…
"Do you realise how worried we have all been for you?"
Harry continued smiling at her.
"Potter, the woods are swarming with all manner of evil creatures and Death Eaters and you just walk out of them with not a care?"
Harry looked about him. They were still outside the anti-apparation zone that surrounded Hogwarts. There were several pops and aurors started to appear around him. These wizards were old and scarred and wearing battle torn robes made of chain mail. Harry looked up and one of the aurors approached him.
"Brody Bjorkland, mage leader of the Auror second Wingate battalion," he said. "What's going on here, Professor? Why have we been summoned? Has Potter disappeared?" He looked down at Harry and grimaced. "You must be Potter? Where have you been? Do you know what the call out charge is for false alarms?
The popping sound of apparating wizards continued for several minutes.
Snape curled one lip back and pointed at Harry. "Talk to Potter about that! He knew the Dark Lord has been gathering his forces and he still goes for walks by himself."
Brody walked up to Harry. He was a full foot and a half taller than Harry. Two of his front teeth had been replaced by canine incisors. Crude stitches lined his neck. Wherever or whenever he had been hurt he must have been a long way from magical aid. On his back was a huge glittering sword in a bejewelled scabbard. Two long knives were in his belt and he had several globes attached to his cross belt. When Harry looked at them he could see a strange multicoloured mist in them.
Bjorkland! Too many Death Eaters have fallen by his hand. Hissed a voice in Harry's mind. Tell the battered fool you went for a walk. Tell them you saw some Death Eaters in the wood. I want to deal with that scum personally…
"What's going on here Potter?"
"I went for a walk. I needed to clear my head; by the way the woods are swarming with Death Eaters."
"Death eaters!" said Bjorkland. "How many, what location?"
Harry waved at the wood in a general way. "Lots of them. I was too busy running to count them."
Bjorkland walked to the edge of the wood and summoned two of his colleagues by his side.
"Don't you realise the worry you have caused?" said McGonagall to Harry.
Ignore the old hag. Harry stared at her blankly.
Snape turned to McGonagall. "I told you Minerva, Potter cares for no-one but himself."
"Where have you been, Harry, we have all been worried sick."
"How long have I been away for?"
"About three hours."
"I was stressed, I needed a walk. I've got my exams soon. I was worried."
"The wood is swarming with Death Eaters and you walk out without a scratch…" said Snape.
"I ran away from them," said Harry and matched Snape's stare with his own. Tell them you are tired. Tell them you are going back to the school. "I'm tired; I've had a long day. I'm going back to the school."
Brody, along with two other aurors, got his wand out. "Arkday Eekersay." They growled. A white form left his wand, divided into a dozen small forms, and leapt into the wood in twelve directions. Harry was still watching this in surprise. A voice echoed in his head. Walk towards the school, boy. Ignore what is happening. They are seeking me out. Harry turned around and walked towards the school.
There was a high pitched whistling sound behind him; he turned around and could see one of the misty spells return to Brody. It was a purplish colour. The wizard said "Owshay emay." And a vision appeared in front of Brody of a huge circle of Death Eaters, giants and Dementors. There in the centre was nothing…
Keep walking.
Harry carried on walking towards the castle. He turned around again. He could see the aurors get on racing brooms and fly into the forest at incredible speed.
Keep walking.
He turned around and walked up the gravel path the stones crunching beneath his feet. He still felt happy. What about you my Lord, he thought. Are you safe?
We have retreated to a safe location. The giants are staying to kill the aurors.
Behind him he could hear explosions. Flashes of light showed Hogwarts in sharp relief and he could the faint sound of screams and roars as the giants fought the aurors.
Keep going, boy.
Harry carried on walking towards the school. What if they suspect? What if they ask where I've been again? Just say what I say. Right my Lord, he thought.
He walked into the entrance hall of Hogwarts. Some of the students were gathering around, looking worried. When he walked in he saw Hermione and Ron. They ran over towards him.
"What's been going on? Where have you been?"
Nosey tart. Tell her to stick her overlong nasal implement out of your business.
"Nosey tart. Stick your overlong nasal implement…"
No! hissed the voice of Voldemort. I've got to get the hang of this improved Imperio curse. Just tell her to go away… Politely! We are not trying to attract attention!
Hermione was looking at him, shocked. Ron was looking at him with an impressed look.
"Sorry Hermione, I've had a trying day. What are you all doing round here?"
"We heard about the excitement, mate! What's going on out there?" Ron tried to walk to the door but a prefect pushed him back.
Tell him it's a garden show, a fete, a meeting of giraffes. Anything! Just get out of there!
"It's a meeting of giraffes."
NO! Use your imagination for Sauron's sake! Don't just repeat everything I say.
"NO! Use your imagination for Sauron's sake! Don't repeat…"
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I hate using new spells they always have little glitches in them that only show when you start using them. I knew I should have tried it on Lucius Malfoy first. Where is that toad anyway?
"Are you feeling alright Harry?"
Fine.
"Fine."
I've been out for a walk. The aurors are hunting Death Eaters. Where is our next lesson?
"I've been out for a walk. The aurors are hunting Death Eaters. Where is our next lesson?"
"Professor Sprout with Herbology! Come on Harry. You look like death at the moment. Are you okay?"
Fine. Let's go.
"Fine. Let's go."
"You first, Harry," said Ron. "I wanna talk about Quidditch."
Not that dull wizarding sport. With the power that bunch of dullards wield they could have taken over the world if it wasn't all spent chasing a pointless ball about. DON'T REPEAT THAT!
"Well, are you walking or just standing there?" said Hermione.
Oh no, Herbology. It's been so long since I've been at Hogwarts. I bet they've changed where it is. Walk forward this way. They haven't painted the corridors, I see. I think it is left here. Aren't the chairs small for the first years? They didn't seem like that when I was here. How time flies. Let's go through this door. Oops! That is the art class. They never had that when I was here. Ah, a still life model, let's see what Beauty they are using? Arrgh! Filch! The caretaker! That is a horrible sight. Right back out quickly. Remind me to cast an Obliviate spell on my mind to remove that from there forever; either that or gouge out my eyes. I'll have nightmares tonight. We'll try a right turn. Oh joy! Moving staircases. Haven't Health and Safety closed them down yet? Remind me to send a letter to the Muggle school inspectors. If I can't kill Dumbedore I'll at least get the school closed down. Let's follow that pupil about. He looks like he's holding a plant. Let me think. Herbology. Probably in those run-down green houses they have round the sides. Right, we're there I think. First left, second right. Walk down this corridor. Ignore Ron's prattling, just say "hmm" and "yes" occasionally. Good, we're there.
Harry walked into the classroom and sat down next to Ron and Hermione. The peculiar aroma of dragon dung compost permeated the very air in the green house. They were sitting in front of a small tray full of compost and a strange looking cactus. The smell was starting to build up. Professor Sprout bustled into the room.
Not Pomona Sprout, she was here when I was here. I hate herbology. I gave it up in my second year, thank Sauron.
"Right class," said Professor Sprout. "Today we will be dealing with a mimbulous Mimbletonia."
Harry looked closer at the cactus. In place of its spines were pustules.
Great. Fourth year herbology. Brilliant. I gave up this subject in my second year. Why couldn't it have been a dark arts lesson? I'm a master at that, but no, it has to be stupid herbology.
She looked over at Harry and smiled. "Harry I'd like you to demonstrate to the rest of the class how you safely remove a pustule from this cactus."
Okay, we'll try a spell. Raise your wand.
"No spells, Mr Potter! I want you to use your gardening implements."
I want you to use your gardening implements, Voldemort mimicked. I'd like to stick this fork in her eye! No Harry! That was not an order! Put the fork down! Good boy. Well done. Stupid Potter. Right. This is not my field at all. Okay, get those pruning shears. Right, that's it, approach the cactus carefully. Grab that pustule with one hand and be ready to… You idiot!
"Mr Potter, what have you done!"
Harry looked at his hand. It was swiftly swelling up with the effects of the stinksap. His fingers looked like bananas and his hand was expanding rapidly.
You stupid boy!
Professor Sprout pointed her wand at Harry's hand and it started to shrink down to normal size again. "Have you learnt nothing from my lessons? Wear the gloves. Wear the protective goggles. And for Merlin's sake, don't cut plants if you don't know what they do."
And for Merlin's sake don't cut plants if you don't know what they do. I'd like to cut her. When I take over this place we'll be getting rid of a few things and the first thing will be her head. Okay, Potter. Sit down and stay quiet.
Harry managed to finish the rest of the lesson with the minimum of fuss. Hermione was starting to give him a strange look. Ron just thought it was great that his hand had expanded like that. He was trying to get some stinksap to give to George and Fred for some of their practical jokes.
School is as bad as I remembered. Come on Potter, stand up. That bell means time to go. How to get you to see Dumb and Dumbledore? There has to be a way… What's the next lesson? Ask I'm so clever my name's Hermione Granger. Mmm! Mmm! Mmm! For some strange reason Harry started swaying his hips. Voldemort stopped this when he realised what was happening. Must be nice. Must be nice.
"Hermione, where are we off to next?"
"What's with you today Harry? Did you hit your head when you went for your walk in the woods?"
Ask a straight question and all you get is abuse. Right, say this…
"Listen Hermy. I'm the man. I'm great. I'm Harry "scarface" Potter, I've faced more danger than you've had haircuts. Just tell me what lesson is next before I make you uglier than your Mother did!"
Swish!
"Okay Harry, no need to get uppity. It is Defence against the Dark Arts."
I'm the man! I'm the man! Right, still need to get close to Dumbledork at some stage though. Must think about this. Keep walking, Potter! Don't stand there like a diseased tree stump. Do I have to do everything for you? Oh yes. I do. Stupid spell. I hate micro management. Defence against the Dark Arts will be a killer subject…
