Experiment chapter 6
The next few days passed in much the same way. Harry was tied down for most of the day, the radio on in the background. Harry ate the small meals he was given each day at wand point. It was always the same unappetizing muck, but he had to eat it.
The man had attempted to possess Harry several times since that first attempt. Each time, Harry fought the man off with what little energy he had left. He was still only able to control Harry for a few minutes. Harry did not know if this was due to the little he had learned under Snape's tutelage or something linked to his ability to cast off the imperius curse. Parkinson was getting more and more annoyed with each passing day and the previous night had slapped Harry around the face before leaving for the night.
Harry had attempted to escape a number of times, sometimes trying to break free of the bonds, other times running for the door as he had on his first day, but each time he was thwarted. He actually found himself annoyed that he was getting little reaction from any of the 'staff'. He would merely be put back in his bed with a half hearted 'don't do it again'. It was as though he was barely worthy of note. The only things that got any reaction were the results that they were gaining from each test of his resistance to possession.
When Harry forced the intruder from his mind for the ninth time, Parkinson's temper snapped yet again. "This isn't working! Collins inform the minister that the first test has failed."
Harry lay panting on the bed, and flinched violently when someone grabbed his arms to tie him down again.
"Prepare him for the second trial." Parkinson said.
"What's the second trial!" Harry demanded, not expecting a response
One of the men fixed a potion to drip down into the needle in Harry's arm.
"If he still has his mind in 5 days we can try magical suppression, said the youngest most eager looking woman, who Harry now knew was named 'Collins'.
"Will I be able to possess him then?" The man asked, who had now recovered from his last shoving from Harry's mind.
"Yes. There won't be anything left to resist."
"No! Please don't do this! If you want me to fight I will! But not like this!" Harry began to pull at his restraints, working and twisting his wrists to escape.
"Hold him!" Parkinson cried.
Fingers dug into harry's shoulders, and hands held his head still, mouth open. A sedative was forced down Harry's throat.
Harry let out a choked sob as that memory flew through his mind. The hand that held his tightened, another gently stroking his hair. He could hear quiet reassurances from his headmaster. "It's ok Harry, you're alright, you're safe here."
A fog settled into Harry's mind. He was so tired. He had no idea how much time had passed in this state, staring blankly up at the ceiling, feeling something draining away, but not having the power to care what it was.
Someone came in and adjusted a machine. Again, Harry felt the feeling that this was bad, but he didn't know how to make the bad thing go away and did not bother to try.
The person released Harry's arms and sat him up by tilting the top end of the bed up. A bowl was placed into Harry's lap and a spoon into his hand. Harry gazed at this blankly. It was familiar to him, he should be doing something. Harry lifted the spoon up in a shaking hand and stared at it. Minutes ticked by.
The person sighed and took the things away, pushing a passive Harry back into position to be restrained, and lifting each limp arm into it's restraint.
Something forced itself into Harry's mind, another presence. Harry let it in, he no longer was able to decide whether it was good or bad, not that it mattered. Harry experienced none of the previous pain as the man forced his body to first get up and use the toilet, then to copy a page out of a book onto a piece of parchment.
There was an elated sounding voice in the background. The man began to access Harry's memories, flipping through them without effort. Looking specifically for memories about Dumbledore and Harry's relationship and plans. Another presence surfaced in Harry's mind. This one had not been present there recently. It hurt.
Harry's forehead burned with agony, but nothing other than a small flinch escaped the boy. The man continued his possession, as though believing that this new thing within Harry's mind was a part of Harry himself.
The two personalities fought for dominance. The man at Harry's bedside screamed unable to escape as Voldemort fought to discover the man's identity.
Voldemort….that name was familiar. It was bad, very bad. His recently abused mind bought several images to Harry. A veil, a redhead screaming for her son's life, a tall black-haired man laughing merrily in a picture. Something stirred within Harry, a terrible force. Suddenly the two invaders were gone from Harry's mind, He could hear their screams echoing.
Harry was suddenly all too aware of his situation for the first time in who knows how long. The man stood explaining in a panting voice what had transpired to Parkinson and the minister. He then collapsed into a dead faint.
Fudge stepped back in horror. Harry bought his hands to his scar and moaned as the pain gradually subsided. He felt as though he had been jump started from a spark caused by the terrible memories the name 'voldemort' brought to the surface.
"Damn!" Parkinson yelled "He was so nearly beyond help! A few more days and there would have been no chance of him returning to this state."
"We could start the drug again. Mr Hayes was in full possession of potter for 20 minutes. All we need to do is bring him back to the level he was at this morning and then continue the dose for a bit longer" Fudge said, clearly beginning to see the test as a success.
Harry tried to slink off the bed unnoticed, but the door was guarded at the moment, and he was shortly restrained again.
"What you fail to realize fudge is that nearly a week of mind suppression was undone in seconds! If we intend to use him as a weapon, then him being able to gain control of himself at the thought of his enemy is not going to lead to us being in control!"
Fudge looked deflated. "Magic suppression?" He asked
"Its his magic we need – if we suppress his magic to control his mind then – wait – its his magic we need not him!"
"Madam?" Fudge asked
"I have an idea. Just give me 48 hours to work out how I can put it to effect."
"Granted." Fudge said "Now how about we go and have coffee. You can share your brilliant idea with me."
The two days passed in boredom for Harry. Nobody had entered his room the entire time. Harry suspected that his toiletry needs were being taken care of by a spell of some kind, and he was getting fluid directly into his arm through the needle.
Harry was at a stage of such boredom that he fancied that he might be loosing his mind, due to the fact that he had not had a proper conversation for at least 2 weeks. He found himself crying for no apparent reason at the music in the background – and began to talk to himself – and on occasion the radio – just to ease his lonliness. He was starving hungry – and was sure that he must have lost a fair bit of weight. The effect of this was a near constant headache and a feeling of extreme emptiness in his stomach.
Parkinson, fudge and a group of people entered the room, surrounding Harry's bed.
Parkinson began outlining her plan in a hurry to the other people, explaining that she and Fudge were expected at a meeting at the ministry. Harry's eyes widened. They were going to remove his magic and kill him – here in this bed!
"It will take about three weeks. Security during this time is paramount. The boy is not to be released from those restraints for ANY reason. If he escapes or finds a way to contact Dumbledore – our plan may be thwarted permanently.
The magic removal will be faster if the boy is weak. He has lost weight – that will help. I want him fed no more than once a day, although maintain the fluids that he is receiving – he will be useless dead." Parkinson glanced at her watch.
"We need to go. Report back to me tonight." She and fudge left the office.
One of the men approached. Harry felt like a trapped animal. He hated it when they all stood around him like this. The enormity of what was happening sunk in again – he was a prisoner of his government – about to be sacrificed so that a bungling politician could try to win a war. His magic would be used as a bomb. Made to explode to destroy Voldemort – and anyone else unlucky enough to be in the area.
Harry screamed as another needle pierced the skin on his arm.
"No! Please! Please don't do this!"
Harry thrashed in his restraints
"Tighten those" The man said. The bonds constricted painfully. The man connected a potion to drip slowly through the needle.
"No!" Harry screamed as the fluid began to burn its way up his veins.
tears leaked from Harry's eyes as the memory of those final pain-filled weeks began to enter his mind.