Hey Everyone! Welcome to chapter 12 of Adflictation Lair! We're sorry that this chapter is so long but we received several requests to hurry it along and so we have done!
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Chapter 12: Blood of a Brother
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" exclaimed Ron as he walked into the dark, foreboding library of 12 Grimmauld Place, carrying two trays of food.
"I just couldn't sleep so I decided to come here to read. Breakfast?" Hermione asked, shooting a glance at the trays of food Ron was carrying as she closed the book she had been reading and grabbed another one.
Ron nodded his head and sat down next to Hermione, handing over a tray of food to her.
"You know, they should realize that we need to help Harry too, like he helped us. What's he going to think if we don't come-that-that we don't care about him?" questioned Hermione with a grave look on her face.
Ron cleared his throat as he shook his head. "Hermione he already thinks we don't care."
Hermione swallowed a shallow breath as she remembered the conflict they had been in when Harry had gotten kidnapped. He probably still thinks we hate him, she thought to herself as she placed her head in her hands in misery.
"It's all my fault," whispered Ron again.
"Ron, don't think that please- just don't. Here, Ron remember the idea I had about getting Harry back, well, at least how to get to where he is? I found the potion." She quickly held the book open to Ron.
"The Sislius potion? What's that? How's that suppose to help?"
Hermione glared at Ron. "This potion, Ron, is almost like being an Animagi. I've looked in almost every potion book here and this is the only one that would allow us to get to Harry without the Order knowing we're there. We know their around Privet Drive, so it will be easy to get there-we just can't be seen and with this potion we won't be."
Ron narrowed his eyebrows in a confused manner. "Um…okay?"
"Once taken, you will turn into the designated animal. After you've turned into the animal, you will still have the ability to understand what's going on around you. Do you understand?"
Ron nodded his head. "So this potion," he gestured his hands towards the book, "basically turns us into an animagus- we can still think like ourselves- it's just that we are in animal form? How long do we stay in the form? Does it have a limit?"
Hermione glanced down at the page. "Um…it looks like three hours or so. Do you think that will be long enough?"
"Yeah, it should be. We just have to go to Harry's old house and make sure he's okay. What if his uncle was there?" Ron asked, a worried look crossing his face.
"I-I don't know wh-" suddenly an owl rammed into the window next to Hermione's chair.
"Whose owl is that?" squeaked Hermione, startled from the suddenness of the situation.
The owl was dizzily flying around the window peering in the room anxiously.
Ron opened the latch to the window and the bird hastily flew in, landing delicately on the table. It held its leg out, which had a letter attached to it.
"Wonder what this is for?" Ron said as he glanced at the cover on the envelope. He quickly opened it, and skimmed the letter's contents.
"What? I-'Mione this doesn't make sense!" he shouted rambling along.
"What's wrong, Ron? Tell me!" Hermione asked anxiously.
"This is another letter from the Ministry of Magic. They say that Harry did magic again."
"Well, maybe the Ministry accidentally sent two or-or Harry just did magic or something-I wouldn't worry about it."
"I would-'Mione-they-they say that Harry did magic somewhere in a place called Adflictation Lair. What the bloody hell is that?"
"Adflictation Lair? That sounds familiar," Hermione said, eyes darkening in confusion.
"Wait, oh my God, Ron."
"'Mione what is it? Have you ever heard of that place?"
Hermione numbly nodded her head. "Yes, I've heard of it. It's not commonly known to people because it's hidden by a manor. Wait, Ron! Why didn't we think of this before? When the Order went and searched Lestrange Manor they didn't find anyone there. But how could Dumbledore of forgotten that Adflictation Lair lies right beneath it? How could anyone forget?"
"Hermione, I just don't-"
"Ron, you don't understand. Adflictation Lair isn't just a place like Grimmauld Place- it's a torture chamber."
Ron's mouth moved up and down but no words came out.
"I don't understand," muttered Hermione as she stood up and started pacing the room.
"Why would Harry get a letter for doing magic in two different places? Ron, I think Bellatrix is trying to fool us. We're making the potion tonight- we're going to Adflictation Lair."
Ron's face paled. He sat down on the couch that Hermione was pacing by. "Where is Lestrange Manor at, exactly?"
"It's over in Crimson Village."
"I've been to that village before. It's spooky but it shouldn't be that hard to find. Hermione, this could be dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt."
Hermione's eyes flashed with an anger Ron had never seen before. "I'm going with you. He's my friend too. If it's just because I'm a girl-"
"No!" Ron interjected. "It's not because you're a girl. I just can't loose you too. What if Harry's dead already and we go and you get hurt. I can't let that happen. I'm supposed to protect you!"
The anger in Hermione's eyes disappeared a little at Ron's words. She walked over to the table and looked down at the page with the Sislius Potion.
"Here are the ingredients for the Potion. If we can get all the ingredients we can leave tonight. We need blood from the person who is going to rescue Harry- that could be one of us, I guess. Hmm, and we need the flesh of the animal we are going to transform into."
"How are going to get that?" Ron asked.
"Oh dear, I just don't know. Wait! I remember once last summer before fifth year when we were cleaning out of the house, do you remember those snakes' skins we found? We could use those! Going as a snake would be a great idea. They're small enough that we won't be seen," cried Hermione happily.
"But 'Mione we don't know where they went. Remember? We lost them."
Hermione's grin got even bigger. "I know where they are- Kreacher has them! I didn't want to tell anyone he took them."
Ron nodded his head in acceptance. "What's that last ingredient?"
"Oh, um, we need a something from an enemy," Hermione replied.
"And where might we get one of those? Harry has loads of enemies, but none of them would come within a vicinity of here," Ron retorted.
"Oh, there's a enemy near, all right. He actually comes here quite often. Remember Professor Snape?"
I………………………………...I
"Hello, master," a sly voice said in the darkness.
"Hello, my servant. What brings you back from your mission so soon? Do you have the boy?"
Severus Snape stepped into the light. "No, my master, but one of your other servants does."
Voldemort rose from his crimson colored throne. "Whom are you talking about Severus?"
"Bellatrix, my lord. Apparently she has taken the boy captive. You did not know of this?"
Voldemort looked furiously around. "How can I believe you? Bellatrix is my daughter- my most faithful servant!"
"My Lord, she left a note behind saying that she wants something from Harry and that the Order was never-"
"She wants something from Harry! She means-"
"Yes sire, I believe she does."
"NO!" Voldemort screamed. "NO! I was the one- I was supposed to be the one- Damn her! DAMN HER TO THE FIERY PITS OF HELL!"
"NO!" Harry screamed as his head once more exploded with pain. "Stop! Please stop!"
Harry panted relentlessly. His head twanged with a constant throb.
"What is going on in here?" Bellatrix asked, walking into the dark room, as Harry was released from the burning sensation.
Harry let out a weak smile. "He-he doesn't know I'm here, does he?" Harry panted.
"You-you went behind your own-own master's back and-and brought me here."
Bellatrix looked shocked. "I assure you, I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh, come on Auntie Bella, let's be honest with one another, shall we? So, what's going to happen when Voldemort finds out I'm here? Is he going to kill you? Oh! My bad, I forgot to tell you- he already knows."
"W-What do you mean? Shut up, you don't know what the hell you're talking about!"
"I don't? That's funny, because, you might say that I just heard it out of the horse's mouth- that horse being Voldemort of course," Harry shot back smartly, with more confidence then he actually felt.
Bellatrix's eyes burned with fury. "H-How date you- you nasty little brat!"
"Yeah- the same brat that Voldemort thinks is back at Grimmauld Place."
"Shut up!"
"Hmm… let me think. Voldemort sounded extremely mad- what were his exact words? Oh yes 'Damn her- damn her to the fiery pits of hell," Harry said in a mocking-tone voice. "WHOA! Scary there. Auntie Bella better watch out for the 'Dark Lord' cause he's going to put her in hell."
"How- how dare you speak to me like that?" Bellatrix shrieked as her pale palm swiped across Harry's bloody face. Harry moaned from the sting, his head swinging forcibly to the side.
Bellatrix lowered her face to Harry, grabbing his chin to make him look at her. "Now- now you listen to me, and you listen closely, if you ever talk to me like that again, I will kill you."
She turned swiftly around, the tail of her flowing coat slapping Harry bitterly in the face.
"Not if Voldemort kills you first," Harry whispered aloud.
Bellatrix paused for a second, gripping her fists tightly, and continued the long trek out of Adflictation Lair.
I………………………………...I
Hermione nervously walked down the creaky stairs that led down to Snape's private office. She would have never done this- invading another teacher's property, but this was for Harry- and she would do anything for him.
Snape's office was crowded with shelves full of potions, many of which Hermione fingered gingerly.
What shall I use-what would be considered a possession? A potion just doesn't seem personal enough… Hermione thought quietly to herself.
Glancing around the room, all Hermione could find were scattered potion bottles, and various potion ingredients. This was only a lab Snape used for emergencies.
Hermione walked around the room as she moved items from various places, hoping to find one thing they could use for the potion.
She swiftly turned around, anxiously searching for something- anything that would help her concoct the potion. She hurriedly took a step forward, but in her fearfulness caught her foot on Snape's rug. Swiftly losing her footing, she tripped backward, falling quickly. Hermione fended herself for a giant impact against the stone wall, but to her surprise she didn't hit it but fell straight through it, landing on her back.
"What the…" Hermione whispered to herself. She was in a room- a dark and dusty chamber filled with a bed and several shelves full of dark-looking instruments.
An idea struck Hermione and she quickly got up, dusting off her pants and shirt. There had to be something of value in here that belonged to Snape.
A gleam of silver caught her eye as she wondered the small room and she quickly walked over to a nightstand, next to the small bed. Her brown eyes met a silver ring and she nervously picked it up, examining it carefully.
The ring had a green snake tightly wrapped around it, with red eyes that glared at you as if it were actually looking through you.
Hermione quickly left the room, and ran up the stairs away from the gloomy-foreboding room that belonged to Snape.
Giving the ring one last glace in the light she smiled. "Perfect."
I………………………………...I
Ron walked into the cold area where Kreacher's room used to reside. He bent down level to a small space and pulled back the dark-green curtain, giving himself the full view of the little room.
It was almost the same as last Christmas when they had come to give Kreacher Hermione's hand-made gift. The only thing different about it was the addition of much more accumulated junk.
Kreacher had smuggled many things down to his boiler from last Christmas. Ron was surprised that no one had taken all of Kreacher's possessions and thrown it away once he died.
Ron moved his head into the tiny place and started to move some things around. It looked like Kreacher kept everything that had every belonged to this house or his mistress in this tiny space.
The snake's skins must be somewhere. Ron thought to himself, as he pulled back a ripped and tattered blanket. Underneath the blanket he found nick-knacks that he only assumed had been there for a while.
Ron found letters, broken china, even ancient cloth- but he couldn't seem to locate the snake skin. Getting frustrated, he threw the cover back to where he found it. As Ron stood up, a box in the back cover of the small space caught his attention. Getting excited, Ron grabbed it and brought it out into the light.
There was a broken lock on the box, and Ron carefully opened it. What was in the box shocked Ron- the box held everything that had to relate to the Slytherin house. There were pictures of Draco and Lucius Malfoy, as well as some jewelry and lastly, some snake skin. Maybe this snake skin had more value to it that he and Hermione suspected? But whatever importance it held, he didn't care- he took it from the box and placed it in the palm of his hand.
He'd show Hermione the box later but right now they had more important things to do.
I………………………………...I
"Harry, Harry Potter? Wake up, Harry Potter," a distant voice eagerly whispered in the young, beat up boy's ear.
Harry slightly aroused from his disturbed slumber. "Wh-Wha's goin on?"
"Harry Potter, it is Whispy, the house elf. Harry Potter, Whispy can not stay long, mistress will be here soon. Whispy just needs to tell you that help is on the way, help is coming from Dobby, my cousin. Whispy told Dobby about Harry Potter," Whispy muttered quietly, shaking Harry's bruised and bloody shoulder violently to awaken him.
"D-Dobby? Dobby is coming?" Harry asked slowly opening his eyes.
"Whispy must go, Mistress is coming."
"Wait- wait, Whispy! Where are you-"
"Hello, my sweet," Bellatrix said loudly.
Harry weakly opened his eyes, the torches around Adflictation Lair were brilliantly lit and illuminated his surroundings.
Bellatrix was smiling broadly. "I have a little surprise for you today."
"What is it?" Harry asked darkly, fear hidden in his mind.
"No, no, no, Potter, the question is not what, it is whom."
"Alright," Harry huffed angrily, "Who is it?"
"Well, why don't you just see for yourself?" Bellatrix said smugly, snapping her fingers smoothly.
The room around them suddenly grew dark, except for a stream of light surrounding Harry, and another surrounding Bellatrix.
"Well, let's meet our surprise guest, shall we Harry? Excited?"
Harry glared at her, his eyes shining in fear. Who the hell would want to come here?
"Ha! Of course you are," Bellatrix laughed hilariously as she snapped her fingers.
Another stream of light poured into the room, blankly shining on the dark and dirty ground. Footsteps filled the air, one after the other.
Who-who is it? Harry thought desperately, memories of the night his uncle had beat him filled the raven-haired boy's head.
Slowly, someone stepped into the stream of light. She was a smaller woman, with brilliant green eyes and red hair. Harry's eyes widened in realization, shock swimming over his face.
"Harry, meet your mother- Lily Evans."
I………………………………...I
"Did you get the snake skins?" Hermione asked as Ron came into the library.
Ron nodded his head, showing Hermione the snake skins he held in his palm.
"Excellent. I almost have everything set up. I have the basic potion mixed- we just need to wait a few minutes before we can start adding the special items."
Ron nodded his head in agreement as he watched the potion boil over a make-shift fire.
"What's in there so far?" Ron asked eagerly.
"Just some water, unicorn hairs and a form of polyjuice potion- it's not half as strong as the real stuff. I suppose it's in this potion in order to allow us to change forms."
Ron nodded his head in a confused sort of manner. "Okay. So, what possession did you find down in Snape's room?" Ron asked curiously.
"A ring."
"A what? A ring? Why would Snape have a ring? He sure does surprise me some-"
"Ronald! It was one of those Slytherin rings that we always see Malfoy wearing- they could have gotten them from Snape or Lucius or someone. I hope he doesn't miss it," replied Hermione with a smirk on her face.
"Is it ready yet?" Ron asked, slightly nervous.
"Yes, it is. Okay, come here and sit with me," Hermione said as she sat down in front the cauldron, legs crossed.
Ron looked at her reluctantly.
"Come on," encouraged Hermione as she waved her hand for Ron to come closer, "there's no need to be nervous."
Ron forced a grin and walked over to where Hermione was sitting. As he took his seat on the opposite side of the cauldron from Hermione, the lights around them faded into darkness. The faces of Ron and Hermione were only illuminated by the diminutive light of the crude fire.
Ron glanced around him, suddenly afraid of all the things that could go wrong by taking this potion.
Hermione smiled supportively across the cauldron at her boyfriend. "Are you ready?"
Ron nodded his head, trying to smile a courageous smile.
Hermione picked up the snake skin in her hand and took a deep breath. "Here we go, Ron."
Together they spoke, "Skin of the transformant forcibly taken… you will revive as your past self with the soul of another."
Hermione delicately dropped the snake skin into the cauldron.
Ron picked up Snape's Slytherin ring. Once more they spoke, "Possession of an enemy unknowingly given… you will aid your foe."
Slowly Ron placed the ring into boiling cauldron of sewage.
"And the last piece to complete the potion, Ron- who should do it?"
"I'll do it!" Ron demanded bravely, swiftly grabbing the knife. He wouldn't let Hermione hurt herself.
Ron closed his eyes. For Harry, for Harry, he thought to himself.
Slowly, he held the knife to his left palm. He took a deep breath and slowly drew the knife across his skin, letting blood freely fall.
He spoke, his voice slightly quivering. "Blood of a savior willingly given… you will alter your being."
Ron held his hand over the cauldron, letting the crimson drops of blood fall into the cauldron.
Hermione grimaced. "That's enough, Ron here." She ripped a piece of cloth off an old cloak, gingerly wrapping it around Ron's delicate cut.
The potion had changed from a crystal clear to an eerie red, the sight made Ron turn away and look at the pictures lining the walls. "What's next?" he finally croaked out.
"We should be able to take this soon. I think it's best if we wait till it's night time, though. There's a lesser chance of us getting caught."
"I agree. We don't know what Adflictation Lair looks like. Darker is better," responded Ron.
Hermione stood up and went to the couch. "Well, now we wait."
And so they did.
I……………………………….I
Harry kneeled there, arms bound by invisible chains, mouth open in shock, pain forgotten, every inch of his battered body trembling.
"M-M-Mother?" Harry asked, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Oh, honestly Harry! You haven't seen your mother in sixteen years and all you can say is 'm-mother?'" Bellatrix shrieked in a mocking tone, a smile broadening on her darkened lips.
Lily's lips cracked a small smile. "Is this my son? Well, he's definitely grown up to look like his father, hasn't he?"
"M-Mother! I-It's you! It really is!" Harry cried out. How is this possible? he thought to himself. How- how is she here? Is she dead? Maybe Bellatrix? No, it can't be, she's standing right in front of me. I can see her.
Lily took a step forward, a smile smoothly placed on her face. She walked towards her son, the ring of light following her every move.
She moves like an angel, Harry thought to himself.
"Yes, you are definitely James' son, but where am I in you?" Lily asked her young son gently.
"P-People always tell me that I have your eyes, m-mom." A tear silently slipped down Harry's cheek. Something about actually being able to say the word 'mom' sent a tingling sensation over Harry.
"Do they now?" Lily asked, an astonished look on her face.
Harry eagerly nodded his head, not even noticing the twinge that so painfully tugged at his neck.
Lily stooped down on both knees, leveling her eyes with her son's. Harry desperately searched her face, filling his mind with ever detail- remembering every mark, every crevice.
"Yes, yes- the eyes," Lily said softly. She reached her palm out to her son's face, not quite touching his delicate skin.
Harry wanted so badly to just reach out and take her hand in his- to touch his mother, to feel her.
She put her hand down and smiled warmly at him. He grinned back. He was with his mother, truly with her.
Lily stood up and turned to Bellatrix. "Well, Bella, dear, you were right- he really has grown up to be a waste of a good thing, hasn't he?"
Bellatrix let out a shrieking laugh. "What the hell do you think I've been trying to tell you all this time?"
Harry's eyes hallowed in confusion. "Wh-what do you mean?" he asked his mother.
"What do I mean? I mean look at you! Yes, you look like your father- but he was ugly too!"
Bellatrix and Lily let out a loud cackle.
Harry's eyes darkened. "You- you are not my mother!" he screamed.
Lily smiled evilly. " Wow! Ugly and stupid! The girls at school must be dying over you! Or maybe that's just Sirius and Remus.
Bellatrix could hardly contain her laughter as Harry's eyes filled with tears. He furiously blinked them away.
"Leave me alone!" Harry yelled at the woman.
"Ha! Leave you alone?" she asked with a smirk. "But, then again maybe I should, because anyone who hangs around you seems to end up dead."
Harry hung his head, his heart throbbing in utter pain- true misery swept over his entirety.
"Boy, your father would be so ashamed to see you right now. He died, you know, he died to save you and me and here you are- you waste his sacrifice as if it means nothing to you."
Harry felt tears enter his eyes once more. "Please just go."
Lily smiled at Bellatrix. "Harry, you were always a useless little brat- even when you were a baby. You were always in the way. Nobody loved you- we couldn't stand you. Always crying, never shutting up."
"Shut up," Harry said quietly.
"I remember this one time, you were crying so loudly that we locked you in your room for hours. That was your fathers idea. He didn't want to have you."
"Shut up!"
"But, you know some mistakes happen. We thought about being rid of you but that stupid muggle-loving Dumbledore told us it was essential to keep you. I really wish we had just destroyed you in the beginning, then w-"
"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed at the woman who claimed to be his mother.
Lily laughed hysterically, Bellatrix joining in from far off.
Harry furiously gasped in uneven amounts of air, his anger madly radiating off his heated face. "You are not my mother. You are a self-righteous, cold-blooded wench, whom that miscreant pig conjured up to make me feel like crap. Leave me alone!"
Lily glared at him. "How dare you? How dare you speak of Bellatrix like that?" Lily stormed over to Harry, anger written clearly on her forehead. "Apologize!"
"No," Harry shot back defiantly.
"Apologize!" Lily screamed into Harry's face.
Harry turned his head, glaring into his mother's eyes. "Never."
Lily bit her lip, letting blood freely drip from her face. "You fool!" she shouted as she raised her fist as if about to slap him. "Never speak to me like that again!"
She struck with all her might, her hand nearing contact with Harry's face. But something happened.
As her hand swept through the air, it swept through Harry's face as well. He was suddenly enveloped in a tingling sensation. The room around him disappeared, everything grew black- he could see no more, he could feel no more.
As if in a dream, a vision entered his head. There she was, his mother- his real mother, rocking a cradle back and forth.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mommy's going to buy you magic bird," Lily Potter sang to her young son.
Harry cooed at the sound of his mother's melodic voice. James walked behind his beautiful wife, kissing her cheek softly. She whipped her head around, tears slowly streaming from her eyes.
"James? Are you sure we have to do this? He's so young, a-and small. It could hurt him."
James smiled lovingly at his young bride. "Lily, it's for the best. It will protect him."
"B-But couldn't we just wait until he is a little older?" she asked, as she picked up her young son from the crib in which he was held, rocking his soothingly back and forth.
James walked sadly over to the window. "This is for the best. Sweetheart, I'm not sure if we're going to have until he's a little older."
Lily slowly shook her head. "Okay, I, umm, guess we better get started."
"Yeah," James said quietly.
Lily stifled back tears.
"Lily, I need you in order to complete the spell. Are you going to be alright."
Lily shook her head, "Yes, yes. I'll be alright."
Lily lifted Harry to her chest. "I will always love you," she whispered to her child. "I will always love you."
James walked over to her and kissed his young son's head. "The time has come, Lily."
She smiled a cheerless smile.
James took her in her arms, hugging her and Harry, "It'll be alright- don't worry. Are you ready?"
Lily nodded her head and gently placed Harry in a casket in the middle of his bedroom. She stood back, holding her husband's hand tightly.
"C-Can we go over what the spell is going to do once more? I just want to make sure Harry will be okay," Lily asked quietly.
James smiled tenderly at his wife. "All this spell does is give Harry the special gift needed in order to defeat Voldemort. Lily, listen, I swear to you, all this does is rest this gift in the back of his mind. He won't even know he has it, neither will anyone else."
"But-but what if someone finds out that Harry has it? They'll all be after him to get it! Only goodness knows what they will do to him to try and get it out of him."
"Sweetheart, I'm afraid that this is just a chance we are going to have to take. It's the only way, Lily."
Lily nodded her head slowly. "I-I'm ready."
James smiled supportively at her, gazing into her beautiful green eyes. "K, here we go."
Lily and James took out their wands and stood on opposite sides of the casket holding their son.
James nodded at Lily, signaling that he was ready to go. Lily slowly nodded back, looking down at her small child, too young to have any real cares in the world.
Holding their wands firmly in front of them, Lily and James began to chant the spell. "Horifilium Nebesko! Horifilium Nebesko! Horifulium Nebesko!"
A white light illuminated around their young son, brilliantly shining around his raven-haired skull.
"On this night of all Hollow's Eve," Lily began to chant, "we cast this spell upon our son, condemning him to defeat the Dark Lord, condemning him to a life of pain and misery. He lives as the only true defender, he lives as the only true protector, but he dies, still, as my son. So with this charm complete my spell. Protect my son, give him the strength needed, give him the gift of love, the gift of hope and the gift of faith. HORIFILIUM NEBESKO!"
A blinding light filled the room. Lily squinted in the wretched brightness, holding her arm above her head to fend away the rays.
The light quickly faded from the room, young Harry was asleep in his crib and Lily and James were exhausted from casting the spell.
James smiled at his wife. "It's done."
She smiled back, a tear running down her cheek. "Um, dear, did you hear that noise?"
James listened, there was a creaking noise from down stairs. His smile disappeared. He walked to the door of the room, he didn't even need to open to know who was standing behind it.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-"
"Bellatrix! What's wrong with him? He won't stop shaking!" Lily screamed.
Bellatrix snapped her fingers twice, the torches of Adflictation Lair were immediately lit and Harry was released from the chains that were sending shock after shock through out his body.
Harry lay on the ground, convulsing violently, blood spilling from his mouth.
"What's going on?" Lily screamed.
Bellatrix fell on her hands and knees next to Harry. "What the hell did you do to him?"
"Nothing! I swear! He insulted you so I hit him and then he just started shaking like this! Bella, I don't know what's wrong!"
Bellatrix looked at the trembling boy, his head was pounding hard against the stone floor. "Help me! Hold him down to the ground!"
Lily moved up to his chest, pressing hard against the ground. Bellatrix took Harry's quivering head in her hands, trying to stabilize his skull.
"It's not working! He just won't s-"
There was a sudden blinding flash of light. Bellatrix immediately released Harry's head in fright.
"What the hell was that?" Bellatrix screamed, for the first time in many years she was truly scared.
Harry suddenly gained life, his convulsions stopping almost immediately.
He turned to the woman holding down his chest, his eyes glowing dark red, power surging through his body. "You are not my mother. Get off me, bitch!"
The imposter Lily was immediately torn from the boy who she called her son and was thrown against the stone wall, falling down unconscious.
Harry's eyes darkened. He lay on the ground, blood pouring from his face. He lay there, as sleep swept over his body.
I………………………………...I
They must have fallen asleep for when Ron woke up the library was pitch black and Hermione was silently sleeping next to him on the couch, her head rested on the arm of it.
Ron went to go wake her up, but a thought crossed his mind. I could go without her? I could leave her- and then she'll be safe. She'll hate me for it but she'll be safe.
He carefully got off the couch and stood up straight glancing at Hermione's sleeping form, making sure he hadn't woken her up yet.
Rummaging through the desk in the library Ron found a quill and a piece of parchment. He couldn't just leave her here without an explanation.
My dearest Hermione,
First off, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have just left you like this- but it was the only way. I couldn't bear to have you get hurt. We have no idea what we're getting ourselves into.
I wish I could tell you that I was going to be fine and that I'll find Harry and everything will be perfect again and we'll start our sixth year normally- but I can't. I have no idea what I'm going to find. For all we know, Harry could be dead.
Whatever I do, I will try my hardest. Harry is our best friend and he deserves the best we can give him and we can do that by at least trying. I have no idea how Harry's going to be (if we ever see him again.) I just have this gut feeling that he will have changed- a person can only handle so much and I think Harry has surpassed his limit.
Hermione, I love you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Just promise me something- don't come and try to find me- stay. If the last letter we got is true, Harry isn't at Privet Drive- my parents should be home soon. Don't tell them where I've gone-please.
I love you with all my heart,
Ron
Ron finished the letter with a heavy sigh. He hoped he was doing the right thing.
He placed the letter next to Hermione's hand and went to the table where they had kept the potion. Without taking a second thought, he uncorked the bottle and drank the whole potion in one gulp.
It was the oddest feeling he had ever felt. It felt like polyjuice potion in a way- but that only lasted for the first few seconds. He could feel himself shrinking- his hands disappeared along with his legs. His sight became distorted and he felt himself looking up at the table- he was now the filthiest creature of all- he was now a snake.
And with that Ron slid across the floor and out of the house. He was finally on his way to find Harry.
I……………………………..I
Monica85- Thanks for the review. Glad you are enjoying the story so much. Hope you liked this chapter!
Rosiegirl- Well yes, but unfortunately Harry had already left Privet Drive. Hope you enjoyed, chapter 11 was one of the hardest to write.
Pleione-We're glad you liked the last chapter so much. This chapter should explain some things! Hope you enjoy it!
truthxinxshadow- Today is Sunday! YAY! We have finally updated on a Sunday. Hope you enjoy this chapter! It was a hard one to write.
Froboy- You'll have to see who rescues Harry! Hehe! Hope you like this chapter!
P.S. Something happened with our Yahoo! group. We're not sure if you noticed or not but you joined for a few days and then left. Not sure what happened there…
Mum- Harry will never be rescued! HA! JK! Thanks for the review.
Neonbears- Hey! We're glad that you are enjoying our story! We got the name Adflictation from the Latin language which means 'torture.' We just kind of changed the name around a little to make it sound better. Hope that helps! You should go join our Yahoo! Group. We have monthly posts, deleted scenes, and a point system where you can earn early chapters and more! The link is in our bio.
Chyna- Don't worry, more action will start to come soon! Just keep on reading! Thanks for the reviews.
Why won't you let me rest in peace- Very interesting review, um...Steph….lovely absolutely spiffing! Harry rules
Silentworld- We're so glad that you liked the introduction of Whispy! Thank you for such a lovely review, we are glad that you like the chapter! Hope you enjoy this chapter just as much, you do learn a lot in it.
Freedom Isn't Free- We always love to get your reviews. They are always so hilarious, and they really motivate us. We are glad that you like the water scene and enjoyed the chapter so much. Yes, Bellatrix is a mean person but she'll…well we don't know! Hehe. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Patriot Girl- You'll just have to wait and see what happens! LOL, hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as others. Thank you so much for going through and re-reviewing all the chapters! We really enjoyed reading them all and the gesture meant a lot to us! 75 points to Patriot!
RonWeasleyRocks- Wow! What a nice review! We are so glad that you like the chapter. We updated on Sunday! Yay! You should go join our Yahoo! Group where you can read deleted scenes, do polls, and join in a point system where you can earn early chapters, deleted scenes, and hints for our upcoming stories or chapters.
HaRrYrOxMuhSox- I'm not sure if we revised it that much, we did check over the grammar a little. What changes did you notice? That's cool! Yay! Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you all for your lovely reviews we really appreciate them!