A/N: There will be more updates over the next week, which should make everyone happy. It's mostly due to the fact final exams are coming up and I won't have much time to post from June 9th to June 23. Also, the week of the 16-20 I'm going to be in a play! We have rehearsals every night that week and the shows themselves are on June 21 and 22. Then it'll be summer and I can write whenever I want. Yay!

Thanks to my only reviewer [and favorite because of that :^)] LoonyLoopyLisa! But, please people! I need the reviews to live on!

Also, a thank you for Lemony Snicket and his wonderful work for inspiring the title of this chapter.

CH5: Into the Belly of the Beast

~While under Crucio, the first Death Eater shot a stunning spell at [Harry] and the world went dark.~

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When Harry awoke he ached all over. He strained to remember what made him hurt so much. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He had been captured!!! He also remember Lisa, lying on the ground next to him. He hoped that wherever she was, she was safe. Harry struggled to move, but found he was bound to a pillar in a strange chamber bathed in eerie green light. He had a sense of horrible deja-vu from the third task as his scar erupted with pain.

On the other side of the chamber, he heard a high, cold laughter. All around them he heard the pops of people Aparating in. Although his head felt like it would burst, he forced himself to look up into the red eyes of the person who had been haunting his dreams all summer. Lord Voldemort.

The Death Eaters made a circle around where Voldemort and Harry stood. Harry realized with a start that there were more people here than there were last summer. Noticing this, Voldemort spoke up.

"As you can see, Harry Potter. I've been recruiting." At this he let out another bout of laughter. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Private joke you'd like to share with the rest of us, Tom?" He saw the Dark Lord flinch at the use of his real name. Harry realized it probably wasn't a good idea to insult Voldemort at that time, as he had Harry prisoner, but he figured if he was going to die soon anyway, he might as well annoy Voldemort as much as he possibly could.

The Death Eaters must have thought the same as Harry because they shifted nervously, hoping they wouldn't be on the receiving end of their master's wrath.

But Voldemort's lip just curled into a smile. "Got to hand it to you kid. Taking out 3 of my best Death Eaters and still you have the nerve to try and insult me? You've got guts. And now I know I have chosen well."

"Huh?"

"Before, you asked me what was funny about recruiting. Well, I've been looking for the perfect person. Someone who will learn the Dark Arts from me and will follow in my footsteps to purge the Wizarding Community. Someone to be my heir. And I'm recruiting you." Harry was shocked. But, before he could reply, Voldemort continued.

"I needed someone who could strike terror into the hearts of wizards everywhere. And who better than their savior. Imagine the terror it would inspire. The Boy Who Lived, champion of good and all that is right, joining ranks with the most powerful dark wizard ever. So what do you say, Harry. Join me and we will rule the world."

Harry stared incredulously at Voldemort for a second before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

"And what, pray-tell, are we laughing at?"

"You...think you....can...just ask me...to be evil...and then...I just...wwwilll." Harry trailed off when he realized Voldemort was being serious. "Why would I join someone who murdered my parents and ruined countless lives?" he asked.

Voldemort's eyes flashed. "You will join me. One way or another." He to his Death Eaters. "Take him to his cell. Oh, but before you go, Harry, I have a small gift for you. Crucio." Harry was under Cruciatus for longer than he could ever remember and then the world went blissfully black again.

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Over the next weeks, Harry was in Hell. Voldemort and the Death Eaters inflicted any torture on him that they knew - Muggle, magical, everything. Harry couldn't believe someone out there was sick enough to invent these spells. But, through it all, he wouldn't break. What felt like years to Harry passed before something finally changed.

One day, Harry was sitting in his cell tending a wound on his leg and dreaming of ways to escape, when the door suddenly opened and two people were thrown inside with him. One was a tall woman, in about her mid- twenties, with long dark brown hair, who seemed to be shouting all the pain she would cause the Death Eaters when she got out. The other was a man about Sirius's age, with dirty blond hair. He was just sitting there, staring at the woman, perhaps waiting for her to finish.

"You know, yelling at them doesn't exactly work. Trust me, I've tried." The woman spun around to see who was speaking and her eyes widened at the sight of Harry. He supposed he must look terrible, considering the white shirt he was wearing was now a deep shade of red. She didn't seem to be saying anything more so Harry continued.

"Do you happen to know what date is?"

"It's the 24th of August," she replied.

"I've been here only two weeks," he mumbled mostly to himself.

The woman spoke up again. "Um excuse me, aren't you a little, well, young to be a prisoner here?"

Harry gave a hollow laugh. "You think they care?"

The man and woman exchanged glances. The woman went and sat next to Harry. "Hi, my name is Marigold Senter and this is my friend John Backon. Who are you?"

"My name's Harry."

"Harry, huh? Just one name? No last. Plain Harry. Kinda like the American singers who only have a first name."

Harry gave a weak chuckle at her attempt at a joke. "It's Harry Potter."

At this, John spoke up. "Harry Potter? As in...Harry Potter, Harry Potter?"

"Last time I checked."

"You know, everyone thinks you're dead."

"Really? Well, I not. I'm here."

"Somebody's stating the obvious."

"How is it you're still alive," asked Marigold.

"Voldemort doesn't want me dead. He wants me to serve him."

Marigold and John didn't flinch at the name as they were in shock.

"You-Know-Who here?" John choked out. "Alive?"

"Who else."

"But he can't be back, can he?"

"He's been back since June 24th."

"But that's the day of the....," John trailed off, and Harry nodded. Marigold's eyes widened as she realized all the rumors were true. She opened her mouth to question Harry some more when the door opened and two Death Eaters came in. They walked straight over to Harry.

"Come on, Potter. Our master wants to see you."

"Oh joy," Harry replied as he was dragged out of the cell. Marigold and John sadly waved good-bye.

The Death Eaters dragged him into what looked like a waiting area. Another cloaked figure approached him.

"Drop him here," the man said and Harry could distinctly recognize Lucius Malfoy's voice as he was thrown on the floor. Malfoy bent down to Harry's level. "My master gave me permission to 'play' with you until he wants to see you." He straightened back up. "So, have you decided to join us yet? If you do now, it will save you from what the Dark Lord will do in a minute."

Harry looked up at him hatefully. "Go to Hell." He felt something hit him roughly against the mouth.

"I will not tolerate your insolence," Malfoy sneered. "Crucio!"

Harry bit his lip - he had stopped screaming awhile ago, but Lucius pack a pretty punch. When the curse was lifted, Harry wasn't sure if he could stay conscious for much longer. Unfortunately, Voldemort was ready.

The Death Eaters just dumped him on the floor and went to, presumably, get their master. Harry looked around the room. There wasn't much in it. Just a couple of shelves, a desk, and a... a fireplace.

Harry pulled himself up to the mantle. There was a flowerpot of Floo powder. Taking some in his hand he looked for a way to start a fire. He heard footsteps outside and slumped down to the floor. "Ah, Harry. You're looking well," Voldemort smirked as Harry just glared at him. "Make your decision yet."

"I will never serve you. I'd rather die than call you master!" Although he was weak and beaten on the floor, his eyes shone with power and defiance.

"If that's how you feel...Crucio." Harry again felt the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. But this was worse than ever before. Every molecule in his body was on fire and he could feel the blood pouring from his nose and ears. After the curse was over, he distantly heard Voldemort's voice.

"Just leave him in a corner. I'll deal with him later. Come Macnair." Voldemort and Macnair left as the other Death Eater went to push Harry to the side of the room. Harry saw his chance. Summoning all his strength, he punched the Death Eater in the stomach and grab his wand. The Death Eater let out a groan and fell back into the desk. Harry shot "Incendio!" at the fire and threw the Floo power into it. He could hear people running into the room, so he jumped in and shouted "Diagon Alley!" As he was whisked away he heard Voldemort's shouts of "NOOOOOOO" echo in the chamber.