Chapter Two
"Frank The Vampire"
In the shallow grounds, a graveyard stood beside a strange-looking house that looked as though it has been abandoned for over twenty years and that the graveyard beside the house make it more fearful that no one even has the courage to step foot.
The house looked damped and the colors were fading away as though winds rubbed it up slowly until it became less enjoyable to see.
Pieces of woods had been stamped across the doors and windows, blocking it in case someone decided to trespass. Weeds were crawling fast, gently covering some parts of the house, the walls specifically.
But inside the house, someone could tell that there's chaos happened. Broken glasses spilled the dusty floor, chairs crashed in a corner as though someone threw it forcefully. Some parts of the house looked almost unused but were now covered with soot and cobwebs. Clearly some animals used this house for ages and no one was trying to clean it up, not even a caretaker.
Outside the house, in the shallow grounds beside the graveyard, a small pop disturbed the small place. A woman who's about late twenties to thirties appeared, holding someone tied in a rope and was seated beside her while a man, more like a huge form of a rat and chunks of his hair was gone, stood beside the two, holding what look like an old newspaper and forced to keep it inside his cloak.
The boy bound in a rope and has untidy jet black hair, shifted uncomfortably while trickles of blood oozed out from his arms, making him moan in pain.
"You cannot escape now, Harry." The woman spoke beside him, noticing his movement, and was eyeing him sulkily. "No one will rescue you here."
"Don't mind him, Bellatrix. He can't go anywhere," the rat-like man assured him and continued, "The Dark Lord will soon to come. We have loads to do."
Wind swept before them but they took no notice of the sudden change of atmosphere, except Harry. He felt cold and a strange sensation spread inside his body, like he was again surrounded with dementors when he was trying to save Sirius life on his third year. But now I failed him… I thought I could save him… Harry said to himself.
"I guess he's here now, if I'm not mistaken," Bellatrix suddenly speak, eyes squinting behind the church that stood just beyond a large yew tree.
Harry remembered himself being here in this place a year ago with Cedric when they both touched the portkey they knew was the Tri-Wizard Cup. Harry gazed through her direction and eyes fixed, he saw an outline slowly emerging from the darkness, and before Harry knew it, he found himself shaking and his heart beating fast.
Harry thought it was Voldemort but he was wrong. He thought he saw a man normal before he emerged from his hiding place. But Harry saw to his astonishment, a man wearing a black cloak but his head was visible even in the dark, with its white skin, like a dead body where his veins were visibly shown in every corner of his head. He has red lips but his eyes were wide, scarlet and fearful. He has long pointed nails like an animal and he was now walking towards them, his eyes with Bellatrix, who stood motionless but fearless.
The man stood just a few feet from them when the rat-like man broke the silence, took a deep breath and said bowing slightly, "Frank,"
Frank look still, sensing them and said, "The time has come, my friends." Frank said. "Where is the Dark Lord?"
Upon seeing the man's image, Harry noticed two pointed teeth on each other's end. Is he a vampire? But I thought no one ever existed anymore… Harry frowned from the sight then looked abruptly on his right when he heard someone disapparated.
Tall, thin, and black-hooded, his terrible snakelike face white and gaunt, his scarlet, slit-pupiled eyes staring… Lord Voldemort had appeared right beside them.
"Frank, my friend," Voldemort stepped closer and both Frank and Voldemort bowed back to each other.
"We've seen each other at last," Frank said, his eyes burning with delight and continued, "I've been waiting for this time to come."
"Yes… we have so much to discuss," Voldemort said softly staring at Frank then added, "Please… let me introduce to you my guest for tonight. Wormtail, Bellatrix, please…" He gestured towards Harry who now shook uncontrollably while Wormtail and Bellatrix put him on a standing position, holding him.
Harry shook violently from both of their clutches and tried to freed himself but Wormtail, eager to not have mistakes in front of Frank and the Dark Lord, held his left hand and slapped Harry hard across his face. Harry sprawled on the ground, his face on the floor. Body aching from falling on the floor, Wormtail and Bellatrix held him up again and showed him in front of their Masters.
Harry's head ache when it hit the floor, causing his glasses to break and fall out on his nose. He didn't glance up on the two people in front of him but kept his head down, looking on the shallow ground instead.
"This is Harry, Frank, Harry Potter…" Voldemort placed his thin fingers on Harry's shoulder. "My guest!" he continued to Frank and smiled menacingly. He turned to Harry and said in his high, cold voice.
"Show up your face, Harry."
Harry felt himself shaking with anger and at the same time, feeling cold when Voldemort placed his hands on his shoulders. Harry remained still and didn't look up.
"A little disrespect… you know I don't like that, Harry. But anyway –" Voldemort reached for Harry's hair and pulled it hard so Harry's face was now up and Frank could clearly see him. Voldemort spoke again and was now looking at Frank, "This boy has come to join us, Frank. His presence is important to me."
Voldemort loosen his hands from gripping Harry's hair and walked slowly beside Frank, leaving Womtail, Bellatrix, and Harry behind him.
"Untie him, Wormtail. And bring him inside the house." Voldemort said while he and Frank walked slowly behind them and up on the house in the hillside.
Wormtail and Bellatrix followed their Masters while they took hold of Harry, dragging him up on the house.
Harry felt the weight of hopelessness when he doesn't have his wand in his pocket and feared that someone might have taken it from now when he dropped it accidentally in the Ministry, unlike what happened a year before his school starts on his fourth year. He remembered Winky having found with a wand in her hand after performing the Dark Mark in the Quidditch World Cup. It was an awful sight but from that time, he retrieved his wand from those misleading hands. If only I could have it back again in my pocket… He felt so protected and away from harm when his wand was with him.
After several painful walks, they reached the front door. Cobwebs hung loosely over their heads like a snake trying to catch its prey. Spiders scattered away with them when Voldemort opened the door with a click, revealing a small living room with only two chairs set in the middle, facing the fireplace.
The five of them went inside. Wormtail and Bellatrix huddled on a corner and dropped Harry in a thud, making the floor creaked below them, sending some dust that made Harry cough a bit. His arms still soar every time he move it. And he was quite sure that Frank is longing to taste his blood.
Wormtail walked in the fireplace and produced a fire just enough for the five of them to see. The fire crackled, giving off an unpleasant smell as though woods were spoiled for not being used for so long.
"You did a great job for tonight, Bellatrix." Voldemort sat on the chair but didn't glance from where Bellatrix stood. "Unlike the other fools… they didn't please me at all."
"Thank you, Master." Bellatrix bowed. "I'm always here to serve you, my Lord."
"I know you would, and you still have some tasks to do, Bella." Voldemort said softly. "But for now, you have to go. I shall call you soon."
Bellatrix bowed again, "Thank you, my Lord." and with her final look on Harry, she apparated.
After Bellatrix had gone, Voldemort turned on to Frank and said silently, "From this day, my friend, we shall rule our plans. I know you will enjoy it."
Frank grinned from hearing it and said, "I'm longing for it, Tom."
Voldemort seemed pleased with himself, knowing that he succeeded on kidnapping Harry away from Dumbledore's sight.
"Wormtail," he suddenly called out to him. "Bring Harry in front of us."
Upon hearing this, Wormtail immediately strode across the room and dragged Harry.
Harry fell on his knees. He gasped for breath only to ease his pain and tiredness for the night. It's been a rough day and he couldn't even seat without being slap and drag with, and the pain in his arm still troubling him. He couldn't see clearly without his eyeglasses and it makes his head ache even more.
"What's wrong, Harry? Are you afraid no one's here to help you?" Voldemort started, his eyes showing hatred. "Harry, don't you feel loss now that no one's finding you, not even your dear old friends? I experienced the same thing, Harry, and it made me feel sick! You know what I'm saying?" Voldemort looked at him, his eyes the color of fire.
Harry shivered on every word Voldemort said. But he knew Ron and Hermione wouldn't leave him and be killed. He knew whatever it takes, they would save him. Even the Order members must be formulating their plans by now. He glared at Voldemort's feet but he couldn't see clearly where his feet is.
"Pity… you couldn't even find your voice!" Voldemort chortled with Frank. "You're only wasting your time thinking about them, Harry. Soon you'll die and they wouldn't be able to do something about it. I know it hurts but you have to accept it because that's only the beginning, Harry. You still have to shed your blood and suffer into my hands. You do know what torture is, don't you Harry?" Voldemort reached from inside of his cloak until a dagger, glinting in gold, and has a shape more like a Dark Mark carved from the center of the handle, materialized in front of Harry's face.
Harry recoiled back but Wormtail seized him while Voldemort took hold of Harry's upper limb where his blood still oozing out from his injured arms and buried momentarily the tip of the blade inside and gently pushed it deeper from his skin, then removed it out.
Harry whimpered in pain, he was shouting in agony, he tried to pull his arm away from Voldemort but Voldemort didn't remove his grasps but instead, he pressed his thin fingers beside the wound, squeezing it softly until the blood spilled the floor. Harry cried out loud, he couldn't take it anymore, he's afraid he will lose so much blood.
"Frank," Voldemort suddenly said, still squeezing Harry's arm. "Drink his blood, it will be our strength and we shouldn't waste it."
Harry moaned, his eyes closed. He couldn't breath properly and his heart's beating fast. Frank kneeled beside Harry, eyes following every drop of blood onto the floor. He sipped Harry's blood as though this is his first time again to taste it.
"Yes… that's it, Frank." Voldemort said, enjoying every bit of blood Frank catches in his mouth.
After a minute of savoring every blood of Harry, Voldemort speak again and said, "That's all for now, my friend. Harry still has some tortures to do this year, right Harry?"
Harry lay curled on the floor, gasping for breath and trembling. His sweat trickling down his forehead.
Wormtail seized Harry on his injured-free arm and stood him up. He was shaking so badly while Wormtail covered Harry's injured arm with white clothe and brought him into a basement. It was a pale gray and only one window with bars stood just below the ceiling. A broken lamp hung dirtily beside the door but it was impossible to produce any light. The room was empty so Wormtail laid Harry on the floor, leaving him moaning in pain and locked the door behind him.