Chapter 28

The Death Eaters are called

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The four friends ran through the corridors to the great hall. Turning one of the corners they ran straight into Snape.

"Running in the corridors" he said in a low voice, "is against school rules, and you Mr Weasley and Ms Granger both being Prefects know this. That's ten points each from your houses"

"But Professor" Hermione started, "We have to get to Professor Dumbledore, it's an emergency"

Snape raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's always an emergency with you Gryffindors, especially you two. Drama queens! Speaking of which where is Potter?"

"Death Eaters" Ron replied, "Neville saw them, they've got Harry"

"Is this true Longbottom?"

Neville who hated Snape just nodded in response and shakily answered, "Yes"

"Come with me" Snape said turning on his heels and heading towards Dumbledore's office. "The headmaster has retired for the night, you will wait here."

It wasn't long before the four students were in the office telling their headmaster the story.

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Snape walked into his common room like he did most nights to make sure everyone from his own house had returned from the great hall, but he also wanted a quite word with of student in particular.

"Where is he?" Snape spoke softly but with ice in his voice.

"Evening Professor. Did you enjoy the ball?"

"I'll ask you again Malfoy" Snape replied coldly. "Where is he?"

"How should I know Professor" Malfoy replied without a trace of malice in his voice. "I haven't seen Potter all night and why would you think that I would know where he was?"

"I don't remember mentioning Mr Potter's name" Snape replied

Malfoy could have kicked himself. Trying to cover it up he said, "I just presumed you meant him and his entourage."

Anyone who didn't know how Malfoy "acted," would have believed him, but Snape had worked too closely with the Malfoy family and the other Death Eaters and he knew a liar when he saw one. Not wanting to cause a scene or leave anyone else in the room see or hear his concern for Harry, Snape left the conversation at that. Before walking away he turned to Malfoy once more and whispered,

"You may not know where he is now, but if I hear you are anyway involved with his disappearance, you and anyone else you are covering for will be out of Hogwarts so fast; and I will make sure your father wont save you this time. Goodnight Mr Malfoy."

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Snape held on to his left arm he knew he was going to be called as soon as he had heard that Harry had been kidnapped. Slamming the door of his private quarters he took a bit of floo powder stepped into the fire and shouted, "MALFOY MANNER"

No matter how hard he tried Snape would always only be number two in Voldemort's eyes, Lucius Malfoy was and would remain always as number one. When Voldermort wanted to keep his new hideout or something secret all the Death Eaters knew to meet in Malfoy manner.

Snape made sure he never showed his emotions when around his fellow Death Eaters and certainly not in front of Malfoy or Voldemort. That was one of the reasons Voldemort had never discovered the spy in his group.

"Severus" Lucius said as soon as Snape walked out of the fire, "Running late"

"Lucius" Snape sneered, "You know I have to get away from Dumbledore and the other students. I can't just leave as soon as I am called and our Lord knows that."

"Yes indeed" Malfoy replied, "Well everyone is here now, our Lord is waiting for us, we should get going. Severus we are meeting here" Malfoy pointed to a map on the table. "Follow us after everyone else has gone."

"Of course Lucius" Snape replied.

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The Death Eaters lined up in two's behind Malfoy and Snape and they entered the room in a mannerly fashion. The torches lined the stone corridors, flickering from the draft and sending shadows all over the walls. Snape remembered Harry's first dream back in the Weasley's house, he had described the corridor and infront of him were the big brown wooden doors.

Malfoy walked forward and knocked loudly on the door. The door opened and the Death Eaters walked into the room. Voldemort was sitting infront of his alter, there were two chairs that were furnished like thrones, Voldermort sat on one and the second was empty.

"Men, welcome" Voldermort hissed, "It is good to see all of you, it is a good night."

Standing up the Death Eaters walked up in single file and kissed Voldermort's hand and knelt at his feet. Snape was second last,

"Severus, I am so glad to see you. I have something to show you, all of you. Tonight some of my men got Dumbledore's favourite student. Yes my followers, I have Harry Potter"

Snape hoped the boy finally believed Dumbledore or Granger that he was on their side and where his real loyalties lay, they had tried to convince Harry enough times but the boy was as stubborn as his father was before him. Standing back in line he pulled his hood of his cloak up over his head to try cover his face.

Malfoy stepped forward and kissed his master's robe.

"A job well done" Voldemort said

"Thank you sir" Malfoy said

"I think it is time to bring in our special guest, our guest of honour" Voldemort laughed. "Lucius, bring Crabbe and Goyle with you and bring the boy to me."

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Harry sat against the wall of his cell he tried to imagine himself with his two friends by the lake studying for their O.W.Ls and laughing. He felt the warm sunshine on his face and prayed that he would see it again someday. He thought about Cho and panicked.

"Cho" he said to himself, "If he's hurt her"

He tried to get up but his arms were tied to the wall with chains. His head hurt he felt dizzy, he tried to remember how he had got there. His arms ached and his neck hurt from being in the same position for long. He didn't know how long he was knocked out for so he wasn't sure how long he had been tied up.

He shivered slightly he was cold from leaning against the stone wall and the room was dark. His thoughts once more turned to Cho. He had to get out, find her and rescue her. His head pounded and the room started to spin. Breathing heavily he told himself to relax, to calm down or he'd do more damage to himself.

He could feel a ball of energy in the pit of his stomach wanting to be released.

"I'm going to kill him" he said to himself. "If he's hurt her, I'll kill him. Every curse that I've ever been hit with or will be hit with or any curse he's thrown at her, he'll feel twice as hard."

The door creaked open and light came into the room, Harry had to squint his eyes because the brightness hurt them. He tried to wrestle free but Malfoy saw him.

"Relax Potter" he laughed. "We will soon have you out of those chains, my Lord is ready for you, but as you are a little fiery maybe a few visitors may help calm you down. "Crucio" he shouted before going to the door and calling in the reinforcements.

Harry tried not to scream but every nerve in his body ached with pain. Finally Malfoy removed the curse and the chains were untied. Harry collapsed and lay face down on the floor; he then felt two arms drag him up.

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Harry had faced death many times before, but this time was different Voldermort was stronger and wiser and this frightened Harry much more than any other battle they had had previously. He felt very weak his body ached from Crabbe and Goyle "calming" him down as Malfoy had put it. His magic didn't feel right and his wand was missing.

He wondered where Cho was and prayed that she was alright and alive, he wanted to see her so badly. Walking towards the big heavy doors he recognised from his dreams he knew Voldermort was waiting for him on the other side. As he got closer to the room he could feel his scar reverberating so badly that he began to swim in and out of consciousness. In the distance he could hear the bitter cry of despair from Cedric before he died.

"Don't you think of nodding off" Crabbe said as he jerked Harry to keep him awake.

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"Harry Potter" the voice echoed through the room.

There was only one voice that cold and the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood on end sending a chill down the boy's spine. Without warning Harry's scar exploded with pain. It was such agony that he fell to his knees; he put his hands over his face to ease the pain.

"Harry" Voldermort repeated, "Look at me"

Harry opened his stinging eyes.

"How pathetic" Voldermort started, "Wouldn't your girlfriend love to see you now. Not as brave as you make yourself out to be are you?"

Harry said nothing, his pride was bruised enough already, he remained on his knees head bowed staring at the floor.

"How's your magic Harry?" Voldermort hissed. "Are your hands still shaking, and the dizzy feelings still occurring?"

Harry raised his head and looked straight at Voldemort.

"How do you know about that?" he asked shakily, his scar still throbbing.

"Yeah that's right Harry, I know all about that and your little outburst in the common room, that night nearly killed you because of all the raw magic you used. How do you feel Harry? Weaker by the second I'd say, your body is crying out for the drugs. Miss the drugs Harry?"

Harry just looked at Voldemort.

"What are you talking about?" he asked shaking slightly as if he was very cold suddenly.

Snape watched from the side and couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Potter on drugs, now that's interesting. Well it would explain the mood swings" he said to himself with a little grin but then scolded himself for thinking something like that. The boy was stubborn, arrogant and lucky in more ways than one but he wasn't stupid enough to play with muggle or wizard drugs.

Voldemort spoke again and Snape listened.

"You didn't know Harry of course" he laughed. "Has your neck felt tingly the past few months, tired or sore? Yes Harry, that's right slowly but surely I've been drugging you and you had no idea. How, do I hear you ask? Look at me Harry raise you head. Look at me and I will explain all, but firstly I think it's time to bring in your girlfriend, she should hear how her boyfriend is really a drug addict. She deserves to be told the truth, before I kill her anyway."

"You won't touch her" Harry spat

"Hush Harry, you'll wear yourself out" Voldemort laughed. "Lucius, come forth and bring in the other hostage, I think it is time she was present to hear this."

Harry didn't know what to think, he had never dreamed that he was being drugged. He knew something was wrong but drugs. His body ached, was it really because his system was crying out for the drugs or was it because they were trying to get out of his system? He couldn't tell he tried to raise his head when Voldemort said so, but it hurt and now he understood why.

"Who could have done this to me?" he thought, "Who would have drugged me without me knowing?"

The side door opened and Malfoy walked in.

"She is outside my Lord" he said

"Good bring her in" Voldemort replied, "Let her see her boyfriend now for what he really is, a coward who is powerless without his magic."

"Stop please" Harry said. "I don't want her to see me like this. Just leave her go, it's me you want not her; she has nothing to do with this. She's been through enough already."

Harry heard a cruel laugh come from Voldemort and the other Death Eaters joined in.

"Well, well, well the famous Harry Potter begging at my feet. What would your parents or the great Dumbledore say if they saw you now? The world's hero weeping on the ground, before the battle has even begun and all for the love of a girl. How touching, don't you agree Wormtail?"

Wormtail appeared at the door and before Harry could answer or do anything he felt himself being pulled to his feet and a voice was heard in his ear.

"Stand when my Master speaks to you and bow before him" Wormtail whispered.

Harry remembered the last time Wormtail had grabbed him like this; it was just after Cedric's death in the graveyard. Harry refused to look at Voldemort; he remained focused on one spot on the floor. His scar was hurting more and more, the pain was unbearable but no matter what Voldemort did to him there was no way he was going to bow.

"You'll have to kill me first" Harry said through clenched teeth.

The slap from Wormtail's hand across Harry's cheek surprised Harry, and as his cheek became hot and red Voldermort said,

"Killing you is definitely an option. Wormtail, raise his sleeve, I want to see the other scar that he has kept hidden, as if he was trying to forget what happened that night. Yes, Harry I remember that night well, that was when you helped me. Do you remember?"

Harry hung his head in shame.

"Who would have thought," Voldemort continued, "Who would have thought my enemy, my guest of honour helping me in my rebirth?"

As Wormtail raised Harry's sleeve, the Death Eaters gasped and cheered. Harry remembered the blade cutting into his arm and his own blood seeping down from the wound. He shivered not from the cold but from the memories that haunted him. He raised his head; his hair was now stuck to his forehead from sweat and blood. He was glad that they hadn't brought Cho into the room; he didn't want her to see him like this. He tried to look straight at Voldemort but found himself wincing every few minutes from the pain in his scar. Trying not to collapse back on to the floor he whispered,

"Just finish me off, that's what you want. Just do it"

"Foolish boy" Snape thought as he watched from the side, "Giving up already, haven't we taught you anything?"

Voldemort walked forward to Harry. He raised one of his long bony white fingers and gently traced Harry's jawbone saying,

"Your mother's love saved you once."

Harry thought his head would burst open; Voldemort was so close he could feel his icy cold breath on his face but Voldemort continued,

"Let me see if your love can save your girlfriend. You see Harry I want to kill you, but not just yet. We both want something here. You want to save the girl and be the big hero and I want someone dead, preferably you, but then again I could always kill the spare."

Voldemort got the reaction he had hoped for, that had hit a nerve. He knew Harry wasn't happy with what he had said; his slight reference to Cedric and the fact Cho was his girlfriend. He watched Harry struggle to get free in Wormtail's arms.

Voldermort moved back up the steps to his throne, raising his wand he ordered Wormtail to release the boy, but not before he said,

"Crucio"

Harry tried to channel the tiny bit of energy he had to try ease the pain but he was too weak. Prophecy or no prophecy he wanted the pain to end and if that meant dying then Harry Potter was ready to die. As the blackness took over the last thing he heard before he hit the floor was the sound of the Death Eaters' laughter.

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End of chapter