The Love I Live For - Chapter 7 - The End is Near

Harry was being led down a long corridor, with many twists and turns. He was numb, he couldn't think. He looked around. The floors were a type of stone, cracked and chipped over time, with a thin layer of dust and dirt on them. The walls were just as dirty, except for the occasional portrait, which were being kept surprisingly clean. With the torches on the walls, he could barely see the people in the portrait's faces. They seemed noble, and had similar features.

Harry had been walking blindly while the masked Death Eater marched unceremoniously behind him. After awhile, the masked man put a hand on Harry's shoulder, stopping him. They had stopped in front of a wooden door that look as dirty, if not dirtier, as the walls and floor. The Death Eater who had not grabbed him reached out a grungy hand and rapped on the door once before turning the big brass handle. The Death Eater did not wait to see what would happen to Harry, but instead, nudged him into the room, closing the door behind him. Harry, who had accidentally fallen to the ground, unsteadily pushed himself up again, surveying the room.

It was a nice room, not at all like the outside of it. There was a four poster bed, much like the one he had held at Hogwarts, with red trimmings. A huge fireplace stood on his right, with two red armchairs in front of it.

"This is too weird," He said aloud. There was a knock on the door, "Er. Come in?" He said in a confused manner. The door was slowly pushed open and what looked like the same man as before, only this time unmasked, came in.

"My Lord," he trembled, bowing, "I have waited such a long time to serve you." He bowed again.
Harry, who's mouth had dropped open in surprise and disbelief, quickly became aware that this Death Eater was waiting for him to say something.

"Er.. Thanks." Harry said, "Who - who are you anyway?"
The Death Eater looked like he would pass out in fright, he reminded Harry of Dobby, only in a Death Eater- y type of way.

"Sorry, Sir! I must have forgotten in all my excitement. My name is Ewan, sir," Trembled the Death Eater.

"Hello Ewan. Could you possibly tell me what I am doing here?" Harry asked.
Ewan looked around nervously before nodding.

"You are to learn here. This is to be your home." Explained Ewan.

"My home?" Harry said in disbelief, "How can this be? Voldemort told me that I was going to die."
Ewan shuddered when Harry said Voldemort's name.

"I do not know sir, all I know is that you are to stay here, and that I am to serve you, ever faithfully." He bowed once more, "The Dark Lord doesn't permit the lower ranks to know his plans. We only follow orders, and I must follow my orders, sir."

"Well, uh... this is a shock." Muttered Harry.

"What can I do for you sir?" asked Ewan after a long pause.

"You don't need to serve me." Harry replied.

"But sir, I must. If the Dark Lord finds out, he would ki-"

"Then serve me like this: I do not need a servant. You can leave." Said Harry tensely.

"Yes sir, if that is what my Lord wants, then I must follow it." Ewan bowed once again and backed out of the room, exactly like all the other Death Eaters that Harry had seen. The door closed as Ewan pulled it behind him and Harry was alone once again. He stood in thought for a little while.

'My Lord?' thought Harry, 'How am I his Lord?'

He looked around the room and finally sat down in the armchair. He looked into the fire, becoming more and more tired, until he fell asleep.

In his dream, he was back at his home, with Hermione. They were laughing and having a good time. He could see Hermione's smiling face. He felt peaceful, and for one brief moment, he thought he was back at home with her. He turned over in the chair, still asleep.

"Hermione." he whispered to absolutely no one. He continued dreaming. His vision blurred and next he was seeing a different scene. He wasn't in this one, although he could still see. Hermione was there again, though. She was sitting in a rocking chair, rocking slowly back and forth, and she was clearly pregnant.

"Harry." she sighed, looking off into the distance. She paused before closing her eyes, and continuing to rock back and forth.

"Hermione!" yelled the dream Harry, but Hermione did not move, except for the constant rock of the chair.
Harry woke with a start, sweating and breathing heavily. He looked around, thinking that he was going to see someone, or something.

"Who's there!" he whispered, he paused, "Who's there?"
Ewan stepped out of the corner of the room.

"Just fixing the fire, my Lord." He said, wavering slightly. " I only thought that you might want some warmth for the night. It is supposed to be colder tonight and this castle does not keep heat well."
Harry's ears perked up.

"Castle?" He asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yes my Lord, the Castle."

"What - what castle?" he asked, maintaining casualty.

"Why, Hogwart's Castle, my Lord." Replied Ewan, trembling.

Harry almost fell out of his chair. "Hogwarts! We're at Hogwarts?"

"Yes my Lord. The Dark Lord took it over around the same time that he took you. He said that the conquests went hand in hand."

Harry looked around wildly. "And what of - what of the students. and .. and Dumbledore?"

"I know nothing of this, sir. I only know what I am told, and that is not something that the Dark Lord will tell me." Ewan explained. Harry thought for awhile, leaving Ewan standing where he was by the fire, shaking slightly.

"I have an errand for you, Ewan." Said Harry with a slight smile.

"Yes, my Lord. What can I do to serve you?" asked Ewan, bowing.

"I need you to find out some information about a person."

"What person, my Lord?" Asked Ewan.

"A person by the name of Hermione Potter, maiden name, Granger." Said Harry in a quiet voice.

"Yes my Lord. I shall find out this information right way, My Lord."

"You can go now, Ewan." Said Harry, gazing into the fire. Ewan walked out of the room, bowing repeatedly. Harry continued gazing into the fire, thinking about his dream. Was Hermione alive? Was the baby alive? And if they weren't, what was he ever going to do without them.