I………………I

Chapter 9: Deserted Hope

Hermione and Ron were sitting in the library of Grimmauld Place trying their hardest to concentrate on their work, and not allow their mind to wander back to Harry.

Harry. It had been the most common used word running around the house since his disappearance. They were all worried about him. Trying to figure out where Bellatrix had taken him captive.

Hermione eyes wandered off her parchment and over to the couch next to the table they were sitting at.

"Oh, 'Mione quit looking at the couch," replied Ron sympathetically, as he glanced into Hermione's hurtful eyes.

"I can't help it. That's where Harry used to stay when he wanted to come here and hang out with us but because he couldn't sit up straight for too long without his back hurting he had to stay there. It gives me too many bad memories with us trying to sneak off without him noticing for a snog and then leaving him there until we could come back and help him to his bed. It was so rude," she whispered, trying to hold back tears.

"Yeah, sure it was. But he was always there. I'm sure he didn't mind though," stated Ron, as he got up to where Hermione had moved to the couch.

"Didn't mind? Didn't mind? You think he didn't care that we just left him there for hours and that he had to just sit there until we came and got him? For the first few days he couldn't walk very well on his own so going down some stairs wouldn't be something he was capable of doing," demanded Hermione as she glared at Ron.

"Yeah, I know 'Mione. The Order will find him. Harry's very strong he'll make it through this," stated Ron, as he pulled her head on to his shoulder trying to get her to relax.

"You really think so?" asked Hermione desperately.

"Yeah, 'Mione. When would I ever lie to you? He's my best friend if I didn't think the Order was working enough to find him, I would do something about it. Mark my words."

"That's good. It's not the same without him is it?" asked Hermione as she glanced at Ron's face, awaiting an answer.

"No, you're right. When Harry's sad everyone is sad when he's happy everyone's happy. It's strange that he can have such and immense impact on us, but he does. We should have paid more attention to him while he was here. We acted like such prats because he couldn't do the normal things with his injures so we basically ignored him and he knew it. The whole time we knew there was something on his mind and we never asked him what it was, because we didn't want to face it," responded Ron guilty, as he rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand.

"Yeah but there's nothing we can do about it now. What we can do is help the Order as much as possible in finding Harry. Promise Ron?"

"Yeah."

Just then to door opened and Mrs. Weasley came walking in a tray with tea and sandwiches in her arm.

"I've brought you two some snacks. Hope you enjoy them," Mrs. Weasley replied her usual happiness in brining children food, completely gone, "Oh…what's wrong with you two?" she wondered once she glanced at them huddled on the couch their eyes troubled.

"We were just thinking about Harry," stated Ron, as she sat up a little and took his cup of tea in his hand that his mum handed over to him.

"Oh…sweet hearts, stop thinking about that. The more you think about it the worse it's going to seem," she replied as she sat next to them on the couch.

"Does the Order have any idea what's going on yet?" asked Hermione as she took a sip of her tea, which allowed her to calm down more.

"No, but there will be a meeting later on today. I'm sure will find him," lied Mrs. Weasley as her eyes traveled to the door.

"You don't sound so confident," stated Hermione regretting the words as it came out of her mouth.

"Oh I think will find him. I just don't know if he'll be alive or not," Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes filling with tears.

Ron and Hermione both sucked in a harsh breath. Both not believing that the Order seemed to actually think that Harry could be dead.

"You-you think he could be dead?" exclaimed Ron; dumbfounded.

"Oh sweetie you need to look at certain aspects. Think about what state Harry was in when he was kidnapped. He had just gotten out of the hospital from a car accident. He had a back and neck injures and even though I healed him, it was still incredibly sore. But that's not the worse thing, he had just lost Lupin. We don't know if he's going to have a reason to want to fight for his life," cried Mrs. Weasley as she got off the couch.

"He was like a brother to us. To Fred, George and Ginny. It's almost like losing a family member," whispered Ron, as he thought of all the fun he and Harry could be having this summer if everything hadn't gone terribly wrong.

"Yeah, he's needs a family Ron. It would make him feel better if he knew people actually cared for him-he doesn't think anyone loves him. So just do one thing while we look for him. Believe in him," stated Mrs. Weasley as she left the room sniffling.

"Believe in him," both Hermione and Ron said at the same time. Making that a promise. No matter what they would do-how long Harry was gone for they would always believe in him.

I……………………….I

Bellatrix smiled broadly at her young captive. "Yes, Potter we're going to have a lot of fun."

Harry gaped at her. "You wouldn't dare."

Bellatrix smiled smugly and slowly moved towards one of her wooden toys. "This one is my favorite, " she fingered the contraption gingerly. It was covered in vile, dried blood. "The muggles would lay their victim here, on this wooden block. They would chain their hands and feet in these cuffs and slowly, one by one, the muggle would take a blade and saw off each individual limb, until the victim gave up what information they had. Ever felt a knife pierce your skin, Potter?"

Harry glared at her defiantly, in silence.

Bellatrix walked over to Harry, rubbing her long thin fingers along his pale cheek. "No, of course you haven't."

Harry glared down at his chest, a knife in Bellatrix's hand was placed directly over his heart.

Harry's head rose and his eyes met Bellatrix's. Pure hatred like he had never felt before rang through his body.

"I hate you," Harry slowly said, controlling his voice to the point of bursting. Bellatrix could feel the anger and truth behind the words.

"Well Potter, we shall have none of that. Next time you say something as rude and unfeeling like that you shall be punished."

Bellatrix turned around from Harry and walked towards her torturous machines. "Now Harry-"

"Listen you baggy old whore! The Order will find me! Let me go!"

Bellatrix's mouth widened into a smile. She quickly walked over to Harry and raised the knife to Harry's chest.

"You think I was joking when I asked said there would be punishment?"

Bellatrix smiled as the knife slowly punctured Harry's skin, just barely shallow enough to escape Harry's pounding heart.

Harry winced with the threatening pain, drawing in a deep breath as the knife slowly sliced through his delicate skin. He would not play into her games, he would not let her know the pain he felt.

Harry's shirt easily ripped under the knife and soon blood freely started running down his front.

The knife seized and was slowly drawn from the throbbing wound.

"Hard to breath, Potter, isn't it?"

"Leave me alone!"

Bellatrix took a step forward. "Leave you alone?" She breathed into his ear. "But why would I want to do that when I have so much fun playing with you, my pet?" She lifted her hand and softly ran her fingers across Harry's chest. She wiped the dripping off his pale skin. She lifted the blood to Harry's mouth.

"Come on sweetie, we both know how thirsty you are. Blood can be quite tasty- especially if it's your own."

Harry lifted his head as if considering whether or not to drink the red vile. He turned towards Bella and swiftly spit in her face. He dangerously glared at Bellatrix. "I'll die before I play into your stupid games!"

Bellatrix let out another stream of laughter. "Don't you see dear? You've already played into them! Both you and that Order. How else would you be here? You practically handed yourself over to Adflictation Lair!"

Bellatrix slowly returned her outstretched hand to her mouth and licked the sacrificed blood with a grin on her face. "As I said, quite tasty!"

She whipped around, the tail of her coat slapping Harry in the face. She walked towards, what Harry presumed, was a door.

She turned around one last time. "Harry, you will find that Adflictation Lair is much more then muggle torture machines. So, so much more!"

She lifted her hands and snapped. She walked from the room feeling deeply satisfied with herself.

The machines around Harry disappeared and the lights were extinguished. A familiar sensation fell over Harry.

"NO-no!" he muttered to himself. He began to freeze as he heard his mother's voice in his head.

"No, please, don't take Harry!" He heard his mother scream, as dementors poured into the room.

I…………………………..I

Dumbledore sat at the head of the kitchen table of Grimmauld Place for the third time that week. The Order was gathered in front of him, with McGonagall speaking.

"This meeting has been called this morning for a very important reason." McGonagall started into the eyes of Dumbledore as she said the heartbreaking news. "Harry Potter was kidnapped last night by Bellatrix Lestrange."

The room stood stock still. A sniffle from Molly broke the utter silence.

Tonks slowly stood from her seat, she was shaking madly. "I-I-I got to go," she struggled as she fled the room, tears pouring down her flushed face.

The members watched Tonks, not fully comprehending what exactly was going on.

McGonagall continued. "We have no idea where the boy may be. But we think-"

"Well have you checked all the bathrooms and the attic?" Dedalus Diggle said, slightly annoyed.

"Well, yes, naturally. But what does-"

"What about the streets around here? Just to make sure that he hasn't run away."

Dumbledore rose form his seat. "How dare you speak about Harry as if he'd-"

"Well come on Dumbledore! Let's face facts! Harry loves attention and he'll do whatever the hell he can do to get it!"

Mrs. Weasley rose from her own seat. "Harry would never you leave him alone! How dare you? You don't even know him!"

"Molly you don't have to know the boy well to know he loves attention."

"Shut up!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.

McGonagall looked at Diggle Sternly. "If you're not going to help us the leave."

"Fine! I'll leave! I'm not one for wasting my time on spoiled brats who only get people killed. You just wait and watch! You'll see I'm right when Harry comes walking right back through those doors! "With that , Dudulees(sp) walked from the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Anyone else has a problem, leave!" McGonagall said sternly. Everyone remained quiet. "Look, the sooner we get work done, the sooner we get Harry back. Now Kinsley, were exactly is Lestrange manner?"

I…………………………..I

"Hermione?" called Ron from behind the door; Hermione glanced from her spot on the bed debating whether or not to let Ron come in.

"What?!" she snapped.

"Can-can I came in?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes into her book. "Fine."

Ron opened the door cautiously, making sure Hermione wouldn't start berating him right there and then. He walked over to the bed Hermione was sitting on and sat on the end of it looking into her bloodshot eyes.

"What do you want, Ronald? I'm busy, I don't have time for nonsense!"

Anger started to surge threw Ron like nothing he had ever experienced before. "What is your problem?" he roared.

Hermione jumped, making the big book she had been trying to read slam shut.

"Ron?"

"No! Don't say anything! I'm sick of this- of everything. God ever since Harry has been gone everyone has been god damn depressed. Especially you! My god you don't even want to spend time with me anymore-or kiss for that matter!" he roared, his face turning a bright red.

"Oh? Is that how it is? All you care about in this relationship is kissing? Harry used to be your best friend! Don't you care that you could never see him again? We have no idea what he's going through for all we know he-he could be," Hermione stopped before saying the dreadful word, and looked up glaring and Ron.

"Well yeah kissing…is nice," Ron replied dumbly.

Hermione jumped up off the bed, Oreo which she had had on her lap fell to the floor with a 'flop.'

"Sometimes Ronald you can be so thick! All you do sometimes is worry about yourself!" she screamed, becoming brave.

"Well maybe you like Harry in more than a 'brotherly' way. Maybe you-like him! Because if you don't I can't see why you're so depressed over all of this," roared Ron, as he, out of anger stepped on Oreo trying to pound it to nothingness.

"STOP! Stop! You're hurting it," cried Hermione as she grabbed the old battered lion from out of underneath Ron's shoe, successfully ripping some fur off of it.

"Anyways Hermione the Order will do everything they can to get Harry! That's what there for! Let's just start having fun on our summer vacation. We have to go to school again sometime. I'm sure by September Harry will be with us," Suggested Ron, and he went over to comfort Hermione who was holding Oreo to her chest, her eyes filling with tears as she smelt the scent of Harry on it.

Ron leaned into Hermione grabbing at her chin to lean her in for a kiss, but she turned her head away, tears starting to steam down her face.

"Stop, Ron!"

"No," he whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

SLAP

"What was that for!" yelled Ron nursing his now bruised face.

"You are so thick!"

"What?"

"Ju-just leave Ron…NOW!" Hermione screamed as she fled back to her bed.

"You're pathetic Hermione! Pathetic!" screamed Ron before he left the room slamming the door behind him.

Hermione slid underneath her covers, tears streaming down her face. The whole time wondering if she would ever see Harry again-see his smile, hear his laugh. If not then she feared the trio would forever be just a-memory.

I…………………………I

"Did you have a nice night with the Dementors, Harry?" Bellatrix asked with a smirk.

Harry moaned, barely able to hold his head over his shoulders.

"I asked you a question answer me, Potter!"

"Shut up!" Harry roared.

Bellatrix let out a shrieking laugh. "Look at you pathetic Potter! Sometimes you just wish you were dead, don't you?"

Harry looked up into Bellatrix's horrid eyes; he could feel emotions bursting inside of him. He tried to hold them back but soon tears started to leak from his eyes. He knew there was no point in lying. "Yes," he said weakly.

"Well I got news for you sweetheart, most of the time, everyone wishes you were dead. You're a good for nothing spoiled brat and everyone-even that stupid muggle loving Dumbledore hates you, just like your parents did."

"That's not true!" Harry screamed at the wicked woman in front of him.

Bellatrix let out a shrieking laugh. "Oh, it's not true? Then why is it that no one has even tried to come and get you?"

Harry was at a loss for words.

"I know why!" Bellatrix said sarcastically, "because they don't care about you-or if you die."

Harry dropped eye contact and hung his head low. "I don't believe you! You're just a liar."

"Oh? You need proof? Well we can do that."

Bellatrix turned from Harry and snapped her fingers.

The room around Harry grew dark. Bellatrix disappeared from sight and Harry was once more alone.

Footsteps rang through the silence. A thin light appeared and soon Ron's face was present.

"R-Ron? You shouldn't of c-com! Are you here to rescue me?" Harry asked desperately.

Ron laughed. "Why would I want to rescue something as pathetic as you? You're nothing! I have Hermione now!"

Hermione appeared at Ron's side. "Yeah Harry. Why would we want you around when we have each other?"

"H-Hermione? W-what do you m-mean?"

"I mean that we hate you!" Hermione screamed. "You were only good for making us popular anyways."

Dumbledore appeared by Hermione's side. "Yes Harry, there are many uses for you. The only reason why I want you around is to kill Voldemort. That's all. You're not worth anything else."

"Yes he is!" Mrs. Weasley yelled at Dumbledore.

"Mrs. Weasley! Please help me!" Harry screamed.

"Harry has all that money in his vault! He's actually worth millions!" Mrs. Weasley added quickly.

"No! Mrs. Weasley! I t-thought you-"

"Hello Harry," Sirius's voice called out.

Harry twisted his heads, still bound by the invisible chains.

"Sirius!" Harry screamed. "Sirius, I need you! I love you!"

"Y-you love me?" Sirius asked. "Crap! Now I have him stuck with me forever!"

"Stuck?" Harry asked.

"Don't you get it Harry? You've been nothing but a pain in my arse since the day I met you! I hate you!"

"But, Sirius, you said in your letter that you loved me!" Harry cried, as he felt his heart break.

"Harry," Sirius said shaking his head. "How could I love some one who is such a disappointment?"

"Now Sirius, stop being so harsh!"

"Lupin!" Harry screamed. "Lupin, please-"

"Harry is not a disappointment, Sirius. I mean of course he had been failing his studies, he messed up his relationship with his friends, and then there was the whole 'murdering' us thing. But think of all the great things he had done.

Lupin paused, him and the rest of the group of guests pandered.

"Um….yeah. There is nothing," Sirius said sardonically.

"Yeah!" Ron shouted out above the crowd. "All he's ever done is try to kill me and Hermione."

"I hate you Harry!" Mrs. Weasley screamed out.

Suddenly the room filled with hundreds of faces. Harry could see Ginny and Seamus and every other school mate He saw Amy, Mr. Weasley, the Order, Gilderoy Lockhart and so many more people in the crowd.

He heard shouts from every person in the room, though he could only make out a few of them.

"Traitor!"

"I hate you!"

"Don't you get it Harry? You suck!"

Harry tried to cover his ears, but received another shock from the chains. He closed his eyes, imagining the crowd away. It's not true. It's just Bellatrix. It's not real. I just want them to stop. Please stop. Just stop. "Stop!" he screamed above the crowd.

Silence followed. Harry stared at them all, panting away his anger. The all disappeared, groups at a time, until only one person was left-Vernon Dursley.

He slowly walked towards Harry, his fat legs making noise like falling tree stumps.

Harry looked up at his uncle in fear. "You're not real," he said.

"You want to be I'm not real?"

A punch flew from Vernon's hand. A punch that felt as real as any to Harry.

Harry looked up in terrified fear. "Hello Boy. Ready for some fun?"

I…………………………..I