A/N: Well I finally got myself motivated to write this chapter…School's starting in less than a week…… and well I've been desperately trying to do my art h/w before we go back… I have progressed very little. Anyway enough of that!
On with the 6th chapter…. *grins* (I find that after a 5th chapter on most stories I write, posted on FF.net or not…I just sorta give up? I dunno why? This is probably the best story I have started…so I have broken the curse *does a little jig….looks around to see if anyone saw….straightens up clothes, coughs and smiles* anyway…..
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter……That's it … That's all, I DO NOT OWN IT!!! And I do not own the song that makes its way into this chapter…That belongs to Linkin Park! NOT ME!!!
Chapter: Shocks, unexpected meetings and tears
Shocks, unexpected meetings and tears.
The emotion currently running through his eyes was that of horror. As he stared out onto Privet Drive at the event that was currently taking place below, his mind and body seemed to freeze. *What should I do?* he thought, as his eyes were still frozen on the spot below. At hearing a terrible scream he seemed to snap out of his daze and ran to his door. Only to find that it was locked. *Damn* he thought bitterly, *those stupid muggles.* He let out an anguished cry as he was pulling desperately at the door. He was then met with a sharp pain to his rear as the door suddenly flung open with tremendous force, flinging him onto the dusty floorboards of his room. He quickly scrambled to his feet and ran with great speed to his front door ignoring his cousin yelling at him for waking him, from his dream. *Probably about fluffy bunnies again…* he thought as he wrenched it wide open resulting in it crashing into the wall to the side and causing a picture frame to fall off and smash…followed by his aunt shrieking …
"Oh…that was my expensive painting from my friend's art gallery…I know it…Oh curse that boy…"
As the scene came into focus in front of him he could not believe what was happening. Rene was being hauled rather unwillingly by a masked, robed man holding a wand. *Stupid deatheater* Harry thought as he heard Rene scream at him to take his 'filthy, mangy hands off her.' He set off at a run until he was right in front of the wizard blocking his path. The deatheater seemed to not notice exactly who was stood right in front of him, willing to be taken to help his newly acquired friend. As he roughly pushed him out the way grumbling,
"Out the way you stupid muggle, I haven't got time for this." This caused Harry to chuckle lightly resulting in the rather surprised man to look up harshly. At seeing Harry's outstretched wand, now pointing directly at his face he stopped and stared intently at his face. It was just Harry's luck that a faint breeze had to come along at that particular moment ruffling his fringe and showing off the scar underneath. The man gasped lightly then regained himself and stated,
"Well nothing gets past you does it potter?"
Harry (who was now ignoring the man at hearing the familiar voice mumbling from underneath the hood) was staring intently at Rene, who was looking back with a look of disbelief written upon her flustered face. As she mouthed the words, 'You're one of them?' Harry hung his head in shame of what she must have thought of him and slowly nodded. He looked up and found hurt shining through those icy eyes, but also a look of awe. He quickly mouthed the words, 'I'm the good guy though, I'm not one of them' and he pointed to the person in question. Said person let out an annoyed grunt and said,
"Well I'm glad you've had a nice little chat potter but you are also coming with me" and with a harsh spell to his wrists they were tied up, just like Rene's. Just as he was trying to untie them he heard a shout from across the road and looked to see a very red Arabella Figg running toward them. At first he felt relief to know that someone from the magic world was helping them. Then that feeling changed to horror as he recounted the words she had told him last year. She was a squib and therefore could not do magic. As another deatheater apparated and joined his parents murderer, he knew it was more like a suicide rescue on her part and shouted for her to leave them alone. When she kept on running however he let out a shout of,
"Mrs Figg it's not safe, let me handle it," just when he was hit with the cruciatus curse and fell to the floor trying with all his might not to let the cry of pain escape his lips. He felt the pain slowly ebb away as the curse ended and he tasted the faint tang of metal on his tongue and swallowed painfully to get rid of it. He looked up and found that another two deatheaters had joined in the battle that was about to take place. As he scrambled to his feet he was hit with the disarming spell and his wand was roughly torn from his grasp, he made to catch it before it found the spell caster's hands but his fingers just skimmed the smooth wood before he was flung back a few feet. He grimaced in pain as he attempted to sit up and when he felt a very sharp pain hit his side he noticed that he had landed on a bench that had been splintered by a spell a few minutes ago, and that it had slightly pierced his skin sticking into his side. Crying out in shock he brought the attention of Mrs Figg who was currently trying to fight off one of the wizards with part of said bench. She let out a shriek and ran to his side just as he started coughing. She untied his hands and as she looked at his face she saw trickles of pearly blood making there way from the side of his mouth down his chin. He coughed again bringing up more of the slight crimson liquid and let out a pained sob. Frantically, Arabella wrenched the offending bit off wood out of his side and after telling him, 'It was going to be ok,' she ripped off her cardigan and pressed it against his wound. He looked down and was surprised by the lack of blood from the tear in his side. He was sure that something like that would cause him to bleed immensely *odd* he thought. When she ran off again he began to feel drowsy and looked up to find Rene screaming at him from across the road. She looked terribly scared, and after seeing him lift his head from the immobile position before, she broke into a relieved smile and was grabbed again by Wormtail. And was dragged yet again kicking and screaming down the street. Mrs Figg had managed to knock out two of the wizards that had apparated but there was one she was left fighting with. Harry tried to move from his position but it was hopeless. All he could do was sit and watch while his friend was taken away and his babysitter for all those years fought for his safety.
Harry had been going in and out of consciousness for a few minutes now, and he was brought straight back into focus when he heard the words,
"Avada Kedavra!" He looked on in shock as his 'guard' fell to the ground unmoving. Her life less eyes staring right at him with her hand outstretched in a welcoming sort of way. And at this point in time all Harry wanted to do was follow her where she had been taken. The deatheater made his way towards Harry, who was now sobbing silently with his head bowed low. He suddenly let out a cry of pain and clutched his forearm and with one last curse sent at Harry he apparated. Harry saw the Cruciatus curse come his way again and could not bite back the agonizing scream that escaped his lips when it hit. After screaming his heart out for what seemed like hours, he collapsed in a heap on the ground and slipped into the blissfully welcome state of unconsciousness.
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"Let go of me you bastard!" Rene cried as the podgy calloused fingers held tightly onto her. She wriggled again only to be met with the harsh laugh and the perverted words of the kidnapper.
"Oooh you are a feisty one aren't you?" She felt sick as he held her even tighter and gave up her furious struggling. She was now being carried down a lane that was completely knew to her, Threadow meadow. (A/N: *Hint in the first half of the name for that lane?*) She let out a gasp of surprise when she was suddenly dropped onto the hard concrete below. Giving out a disgruntled sigh, she got up and was met with the face of the foulest creature she had ever met. His red eyes bearing into hers, almost burning their way into her mind. His thin lipless mouth twisted into an evil smirk and his long thin fingers now running their way down her face. She shivered involuntarily and stepped back.
"What the hell are you" she said when she regained her senses.
"What am I? She asks…" he let off a few cold chuckles and continued, "Why, little muggle. I am not only the most powerful wizard of our time, but I am also …" He leant in close, with his foul breath playing over her face and whispered, "You're worst nightmare." At seeing her wince from both their closeness and that cruel malicious voice he smiled his twisted smile and turned to his most 'loyal' servant.
"Very good Wormtail. I congratulate you. But why did it take so long to bring her to me? Surely capturing a simpleminded muggle such as … her" he said in disgust, "Would not warrant in much exertion on you're part?" He conjured a blood red armchair with a wave of his hand and sat down, resting his elbows on the side and arching his fingers together, slowly running them along each other one by one.
At seeing his master's impatient pose that he had grown to know and …hate very much, he replied quickly with a simple,
"Well there were certain…obstacles that came our way. But we overcame them in th…" he trailed off when he saw his master shake his head and set down his hands onto his lap.
"No you misinterpreted my question Wormtail." He hissed. "I want to know what happened. Surely you don't expect me to believe, some petty 'obstacles' came in you're way now do you?"
Shaking slightly he stepped forward and said,
"I know master, I was only saying…"
"Silence. You have disappointed me Wormtail, you shall be punished, and as for the girl…" he hissed and waved his hand which brought Rene hurtling back towards them. In their pointless conversation earlier they did not notice her slipping out of the road quietly and making her way back home. When she was brought back with a petrified scream, Voldemort smiled and pointed his wand at her,
"But first…I shall punish you. No one tries to outsmart me and gets away with it…" he swirled his wand and said,
"Crucio!" As the beam of red light hit her…
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"Arrrggghhhhhhhhhhhh!" The scream brought to, the attention of every occupant in the room. They all turned to the person in the bed, who was currently screaming at the top of his lungs. The School nurse ran forward and grabbed hold of him to stop his thrashing about.
When Harry felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, he calmed somewhat and stopped screaming. As he opened his eyes he soon regretted it, when he was met with the blinding brightness of white that made up the hospital wing. He immediately closed them again and rolled over. Only to feel a sharp jab in his side and with that he gave up and opened his eyes. He was met with the worried face of Madame Pomphrey. As he tried to sit up she quickly bustled over to her cupboard and brought out an extra pillow. She propped him up on it as he let out a relieved sigh. He looked around the room and saw that it was occupied by both of his friends, Hermione and Ron. They were staring at him with worry clearly evident in their eyes. The silence that followed was the kind that was so intense it gave you a headache. Ron decided to break the silence.
"How're you doing mate?" He was looking extremely pale, causing his freckles to stand out even more. His hair was unbrushed and slightly damp. He was wearing one of his usual shirts and a jacket over the top. His trousers were just a little bit too short for his gangly legs and they showed off his off white socks underneath. His sweaty, pink hands were clamped tightly together in his lap making his knuckles turn white with the pressure. Harry decided to answer, though it was a bit raspy.
"I'm ok Ron. As well as I could be I suppose." He gave them a small smile which was returned somewhat forced by both of them in turn. Hermione he noticed looked worse than Ron. Her bushy hair was also unbrushed as if she had jumped out of bed and ran here through the forbidden forest. The former of that thought may have been true judging by the time on the clock and the fact that she was wearing Pyjamas. He looked at her questioningly and indicated with his hand waving over her attire. She blushed and answered quietly,
"I got a call while I was in bed and came to see you straight away." She looked down at her hands, which were also clamped tightly together and Harry smiled at her and gave her his thanks. The conversation flowed freely from then on. They all brightened up a bit after catching up with each other, and when Madame Pomphrey came back in with Professor Dumbledore in her wake, they all groaned and reluctantly said their goodbyes. As Ron and Hermione were making their way to the door, they stopped at the sound of their headmaster's voice.
"You can stay here tonight if you wish. I'm sure Mr Potter would enjoy you're company tomorrow. The password to the Gryffindor dormitories is 'Loyalty and pride, sets Gryffindor aside.'" They smiled at the statement and left the hospital wing. Harry was looking expectantly at Dumbledore. As soon as he had walked into the room Harry felt some emotions stir inside of him. And he wanted answers…now.
"I see you are impatient tonight Harry." He chuckled while his periwinkle eyes twinkled in the pure whiteness of the room (even though it was a black a night outside). At the overwhelming silence he received from Harry's part he continued,
"Very well. I shall get to the point in which I have come to say. I am aware of what occurred tonight, and for that I am terribly sorry. Yet again I feel as if I have failed you." His eyes now lost that legendary twinkle and they grew dark with guilt. "You should have been better protected and that fault falls onto my shoulders yet again. Voldemort somehow got word of which street you live…"
"But Voldemort wasn't there…"
"Do not interrupt me Harry. I know that Voldemort was not there, not in Privet Drive anyway. He was in the neighbourhood though." He sighed again and his body sagged with exhaustion, it was clear to Harry that he had not had much sleep. He continued, "It seems Voldemort also got wind of who you had met over the summer, and also how you felt about her." He looked over his half moon glasses to peer at Harry knowingly, "He chose this as a way of getting you to him. But yet again his plan went slightly wrong with you intervening like you did. I cannot ignore the danger you put yourself in though Harry, you could have been killed, not just wounded. But that act of bravery did thwart his plans to our advantage. We caught two of his deatheaters and when under veritaserum they confirmed our suspicions of what he was planning. I am however very grieved at the loss of Arabella. She was a great asset to the light and…"
Harry had, had enough by now. *I can't believe he's thinking of Voldemort's stupid plans and the relief of catching two deatheaters when a woman is dead and Rene is missing.* He let out a snort of disbelief which led to Dumbledore's halt in speech.
He looked over at Harry who was now staring at him in anger. He knew what he was thinking, and of course he was right. *I seem to have lost my touch* he thought sadly as Harry exploded at him.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN A GREAT ASSET TO THE LIGHT? SHE WAS A WOMAN GOD DAMMIT. A HUMAN BEING. WHO WORKED FOR A LIVING, WHO HAD BLOOD IN HER VEINS. SHE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY MAGIC IN HER AND YOU STILL SENT HER TO 'PROTECT' ME WHEN YOU KNEW FULL WELL THAT IF ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEM." He cut off breathing very hard. He did not notice the sparks that were now literally shooting out of his eyes. Dumbledore did however and he was staring at Harry with a look between pride and fear. He got ready for the next burst and it came,
"AND YOU JUST SIT THERE AND TALK ABOUT VOLDEMORT WHEN MY FRIEND, AN INNOCENT GIRL, IS TRAPPED SOMEWHERE WITH HIM AND IS PROBABLY BEING TORTURED RIGHT NOW, SHE MIGHT BE DEAD? What do we know…" his voice cracked with emotion and he settled down again. When he felt a hand on his shoulder he shook it off and mumbled,
"Go away…" looking at Harry defeated, he turned on his heel with his long purple robes billowing behind him. When he reached the door he saw Madame Pomphrey looking at him shocked from her office and whispered,
"Just leave him alone for a while. He's had a hard couple days." And with that, he stalked out of the hospital wing, and towards his office thinking about what had just occurred.
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Harry was left alone for the next couple hours before he began to get tired. He curled up, careful not to alert his wound and sang softly to himself, a song in which he always thought fitted perfectly with his life……
"# Memories concern,like opening the wound,
I'm picking me apart again.
You all assume,
I'm safer in my room,
unless I try to start again
I don't want to be the one,
who battles always choose.
Coz inside I realize,
that I'm the one confused #" He broke off, his voice crackling slightly, a single tear trickling down his cheek. He roughly swiped it away with his hand wondering why he had to be such a wimp and carried on,
"# I don't know what's worth fighting for, or why I have to scream.
I don't know why I instigate,
and say what I don't mean.
I don't know how I got this way;
I know it's not alright.
So I'm breaking the habit,
I'm breaking the habit…tonight.
Cultured my cure
I tightly lock the door.
I try to catch my breath again.
I hurt much more,
than anytime before.
I have no options left again.
I don't want to be the one,
who battles always choose.
Coz inside I realize,
that I'm the one confused.
I don't know what's worth fighting for,
or why I have to scream.
I don't know why I instigate,
and say what I don't mean.
I don't know how I got this way,
I'll never be alright.
So, I'm breaking the habit,
I'm breaking the habit…tonight.
I'll paint it on the walls,
Coz I'm the one that falls.
I'll never fight again,
and this is how it ends.
I don't know what's worth fighting for,
or why I have to scream. But now I have some clarity,
to show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way.
I'll never be alright.
So, I'm breaking the habit,
I'm breaking the habit,
I'm breaking the habit…tonight. #" He finished the last chorus off in a slight whisper, as he fell asleep with trails of wet tears making their way unchecked down his cheeks. Madame Pomphrey who had heard every word of the song felt her heart break for the young man that lay out before her. She unnecessarily smoothed downed his sheet and after wiping his tears away and stroking his hair lightly, she gave him a kind kiss to the forehead and turned out the light, leaving the hospital wing in total darkness and retiring to her office… A/N: What do you think? The song belongs to Linkin Park…not me, as I have stated in my disclaimer! So don't sue! I just thought it fitted in nicely! Lol… Anyways… *Jumps up and down holding big banner saying; 'REVIEW, REVIEW, JUST DON'T SUE. I WILL MAKE IT GOOD FOR YOU. IF YOU, DON'T REVIEW. THERES NO TELLING WHAT I'LL DO!' While saying the same thing* *Cough * Um….. Lol…. Well please review… I would really appreciate it…! Just so you all know…today I basically broke my finger *not quite*… and it's very hard to type. Writing these answers to the reviews just shows how amazingly determined I am *grins* … anyways… I hope it gets better soon so I can write more. So I'm sorry if the next chap takes a little while to come out. On with the answers… Schmidi – lee83 ~ Lol…well sorry this chap was a bit shorter… I hope the bit of action made up for it *grins*…and don't worry…I'm not offended J Peck! X ~ Yay becci…you reviewed…*looks all happy* …neways well .. thnx for reading hope you enjoy! Julie Jewelrannah ~ Thanks you… *hides* I'm really sorry but my finger is hurting a lot and I can't find my sheet of review answers … um… I know JK Reviewer said something about 'It's always a day from when it's Harry's birthday and when he goes to Hogwarts'… I just wanted to say…YOU MISSED OUT AUGUST DEAR!!…. Lol soz, there is a month between July and August… I'm not wrong in saying he has a few weeks in between (am I?)… Sorry had to point that out…um… I can't remember anymore … um…? I'm really sorry if any like important questions were asked …. They mean a lot to me so maybe u could post them again? *grins* Next Chapter: Pain, reunions and back to school. LuvaboyDan*Hesmyman ~*XxX*~