ANATHEMA
By Yih

Note: This is an AU fantasy. That means canon events will not happen as you see them. They will be twisted to fit this world, which is not like quite like the wizarding world, though there are still wizards. And it's not a "go back" in time thing either. Alsothis chapter contains violence, death, and blood.

Chapter Five
The Light

We reach the borders of Dumbledore's domain by the third night. Some supernatural power—for my Master, no doubt—had carried us like the wind does the seed. Lonan carries his head high and he snorts into the mist that surrounds Hogwarts. It is a magical kind, steeped in a force to keep foe away. Definitely not an easy thing to cross, and my Master would not dare if there wasn't a great prize on the other end.

"If the stone isn't there…"

I press my lips together. "She doesn't lie, but she can be wrong."

"I've seen your thoughts, my little torment. In your mind, she has never been wrong," he hisses. "Pray to the destruction of your soul that she is not."

I do, I pray for her life and mine should the information prove false.

"Now step forward, my servant," my Master commands. "Part the mist."

I obey.

-

There is a creepy, crawling feeling from the dampness that clings to my skin. Lonan, steady and sharp of mind, is shuddering beneath me. We are not welcomed here. The mists are telling us to leave, to go from here. They do not want us to enter, but I push forward instead, pushing my magic outward to dispense the mist and make the way easier for my Master.

His mare moves with an almost silent gait, but I hear a rustle every few minutes and I know they are following close enough but not too close. I push forward, shoving my magic outward. The potion, that dreadful potion, has worn out. I've been feeling stronger the past day, but this surging energy I'm using is weakening me. My head throbs behind my temples.

I wish to close my eyes and never to wake, but I must do this thing even if I would rather not.

-

The air crackles when we leave the mist. The warning I had felt dissipates, but the weariness only increases tenfold. I clutch Lonan's mane, afraid that if I let go I will tumble off my faithful mount's back. I inhale sharply and steady the frantic beating of my heart. It's like I've ridden for miles and miles, but the distance we've covered is only… a hill compared to the mountain it took to get here. And Lonan has done much of the work.

"It is not like him to miscalculate the aftereffects," my Master hisses. His fingers touch my neck and creep down my spine until they rest on my lower back just above the curve of my buttocks. "I do believe you've made an enemy of your manservant."

I want to tense, but I force myself to relax. "Shall we continue?"

"Do you think you are able?"

I grit my teeth. I would rather sleep a thousand years than to keep moving forward, but to say that would be to show weakness. "I can."

"Too bad it is not what you can, but what I will," he murmurs darkly, his hand swiftly moving up and curling around my neck. "Tell me, my terror, would you scream if said I would kill you where you stand? Your weakness, after all, is a liability here."

I lower my eyes and lean back into his grip. "No."

I feel his mind thrusting into mine and I slip into darkness.

-

The sun is dim and rising when I wake. Lonan nuzzles me in the face, but there is something else I feel on me. It's cold and frightfully familiar. But it's not him, not really. It's just his magic wrapped around me, but why? It's a waste, wherever I am. I don't sense any danger, so the protection is useless…

"It's morning."

I snap around and he's standing shadowed by his mare and the trees. "Master…"

"We leave as soon as you're ready."

Something is strange. I rise to my feet and I do not ache. I feel almost alive.

-

"Are you ready?" my Master asks.

I nod.

His power swarms around me like a wind trapped in space it can't escape. I feel it pulse around me and carry me as it carries him. We're going somewhere, I'm not sure where. It's a place I've never been—though it's no place you can get to by horse. It's some place in another plane.

We land and I fall to my knees.

"Voldemort," a man says, "I suspected you would come."

I look up and see an old, wizened man with pale blue eyes and a long gray beard. This is the man who my Master most fears. This is the man who keeps my Master in the Wastelands. This is the man who could defeat him.

"Dumbledore," my Master responds tightly. "I suppose you are here to stop me?"

Slowly I begin to notice this place—wherever it is—is filled with a brightness that is almost excruciating and yet not. It's been so long since I've walked in the light that I've forgotten how nourishing it can be. It's been too long that I've been hidden in death and darkness.

"You know I am."

"I have always been stronger than you, though in my youth I was impulsive and unwise. I have learned from my mistakes, Dumbledore, and you have no chance of standing against me. You do not even have an apprentice to help you… now, not since I killed her last time.

"Do you remember her? Her pleading eyes when I ripped out her throat? Hmm…?"

Dumbledore tightens his fist, but that is his only reaction. "Minerva's death was not in vain."

"Ah yes, but you will sacrifice everything… will you not? In your quest for power—"

"Justice! Right! Good…" Dumbledore declares fiercely, his blue eyes burning with a passion I can see as well as a deep, abiding pity. The light will be extinguished in them. It is only a matter of time. No one can defeat Master.

"You merely call it another name."

"I do not kill innocents."

My Master lifts his hand and runs it down my cheek. Cold fingers. Cold. "Neither do I."

"And his parents?" Dumbledore queries. "What of them?"

"They had blood on their hands," my Master says in a soft lilt. "Or did you forget? They were your most trusted… servants."

I jerk my head toward the old man, seeing for the first time, a recognition. "You knew my parents?"

I feel my Master's hand stop on my throat, his fingers on top of my Adam's apple. It would be easy for him to strangle me where I stood. It wouldn't have been the first time, but I didn't care even if he did.

"I did. You are Harry Potter, aren't you?"

A sharp tingle shoots through my body and it's not only pain—it's a warning.

"Yes," I rasp. It's been years since anyone has used my name besides Hermione. How strange that this man, this enemy of my Master would know my name. I want to ask him questions, but I know I can't. Another burst of power almost makes me sink to my knees. How easy it would be to let go…

"I may not be as strong as I was," Dumbledore remarks, "but I think you may underestimate me."

"Harry…" my Master hisses, "do not allow him to control you!"

My mind is blinded by pain and I wonder why I must feel this way. Hasn't he hurt me enough? All these years of servitude, of toil, of bowing and scraping before the monster who killed my parents. And yet, he took care of me when he could have killed me. Monster, monster, monster!

I'm collapsing, but I don't feel my knees hit the floor. I'm clinging to something, someone, but I don't know who. I cannot think of any outward thoughts. I'm trapped and I can see a light, too much light after so much darkness.

"I never thought he would be your weakness."

"Release him!"

"You know I cannot allow such a thing."

"You always were a monster underneath, weren't you?"

Monster, monster, monster. My throat burns. Am I being strangled? It's useless. It's a meaningless pain against everything that aching in my body. There's fire, heat, and a violent sense of destruction. After all this time, why? I thought… I can't breathe. Destroy me, annihilation. Let it end.

"What I do, I do for good."

"Is this good?"

"I would not hurt him, but… if left no other choice."

"Release him!"

I'm falling, falling, and falling. And so it ends?

TBC

A/N: Sorry this took so long, but I won't be updating until after my MCATs (factoring in starting Uni again). But this story only has one more part I think (before we hit uh the can't post on part). So yeah… it's a fairly quick plot. When I outlined it in my mind, I knew it would be short, but I didn't suspect it would be this short. Ah well, at least I'll sort of finish it. The smut will be available on my Y!group (look at profile for link).

Oh yeah, don't you love cliffhangers? And do you get the last scene? What do you think? What's coming next?

Thanks to gothgurl666 (I hope it only gets better), shiver2315 (Harry doesn't really know what love is… but he certainly doesn't hate his Master despite everything), Sephrothlay, Ruth, amy, Raebef (It won't be Snarry), ApocSM, Mortalus (thanks!), Spideria (Ah Draco's definitely out . I won't have time to get anywhere but at LV), Iskjif (God, it really is annoying when people make Voldemort nice. He's not a nice man. It doesn't mean he can't feel some sort of affection or even love in a sick, sick way. I'm glad you like it), Akuma-river (Pretty much yes this is the only place I post), acr, HoshiHikari, wizzan, dead feather, scorpion moon goddess, Jessie237, chocolatedemon, Toki Mirage, clazertai (you're really sweet), Althea, Mirrorwakes (Heh), j752572, Thee-Unknown-Factor, Eaiva le Fay (Well in HP canon he's a good legilimens, so why not? And he knows Harry very, very well), Lothirielwen, Julie Long, Falling Right Side-Up.