A/N: Warning - This chapter deals with mature themes.

CH24: Darkness

Harry was shaking slightly as he stood in the stone room, masked faces looking back at him. Voldemort stood beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Welcome, my Death Eaters," smiled Voldemort. "Tonight will be our biggest stand yet. It's time the world realizes there is nothing to gain from standing against us!" The cloaked figures clapped. Harry saw Bellatrix Lestrange standing near the front, her face uncovered and her eyes glowing with anticipation.

Voldemort looked down at Harry and his smile grew. "It is time."

The air stirred as they Disapparated away.

"Where are we?" asked Harry cautiously when they reappeared.

"Holliston." Voldemort answered. He turned back to his minions. "Go forth. Have fun. He chuckled sardonically. "This town is going to burn."

Bellatrix leaned down to whisper in Harry's ear as she went by. "Don't worry, we'll save some for you."

He closed his eyes against the screams.


"Having fun yet, Harry?" said Voldemort, basking in the pain and terror around him. Harry was silent. "No? Well, that can be easily fixed." He grabbed Harry's arm and led his into the nearest house.

"What – what are you doing?" stuttered Harry. The entered the living room, where Malfoy, Bellatrix, and Avery were waiting. A blond woman was laying dead at their feet, a man sobbing over her.

"Harry, I'd like you to meet, Kingsley Shacklebolt," Voldemort said pleasantly, ignoring his sobs. "He's an Auror with the Ministry. He was with the unit that put dear Bella here into Azkaban. Now what do you think we do with people who put some of out family members into prison?"

Kingsley looked up, glaring. "Go fuck yourselves."

"Aw, that's not very nice," pouted Bellatrix. "Crucio!" Kingsley screamed.

"No! Stop!" Harry yelled.

"I thought you might feel that way," said Voldemort. "So now I give you a choice." He pushed his own wand into Harry's hand. "You can kill him now and put him out of his misery – "

"No! I'd never – "

"Or," he continued, cutting Harry off. "You can watch as he's slowly tortured into insanity. Bella?"

She smirked wildly. "Crucio!"

"Wait – "The wand shuddered in Harry's hands.

"What'll it be Harry?" Those pitiless red eyes were staring at him.

Kingsley's voice was growing hoarse.

"Decide now, Harry. He won't last much longer."

"But I can't – "

"Harry," came Kingsley whispered cry. "Just kill me. Please."

Harry turned his head away and raised the wand. "Av – Ava – Avada Kedavra!"


Harry ran blindly into his room, throwing himself down on the bed. "Oh, God! What have I done."

He lifted his head up, tears streaking down his face. He pointed his wand at his wrists. "Severisio!" Blood started dripping onto the bedspread. He laid down.

'Maybe this won't be so bad. I'll miss Sirius and Hermione and the Weasleys, but I'll be with my parents again. And I'll be out of this hellhole ... I don't deserve to live anymore.' The memory of Kingsley's face while he was writhing in pain was too much to bear ...

"Oh no you don't!" said a voice in the doorway. "Clottus!" The bleeding abruptly stopped. Harry groggily sat back up.

"Why'd you save me?" he asked croakily.

"Because," Bellatrix wrapped a blanket around him. "You're one of us. Welcome to the family, Harry."