Scabbed Wings

Harry took a deep breath. And still… there was silence. Yes, he was unarmed and yes, Voldemort had every card in this game, but Harry decided in that moment he was stronger. Dumbledore had known this would come and he had had faith in Harry.

What was Voldemort waiting for? If he was going to try and curse Harry or try and kill him, why not now? Would he offer another mock-duel?

She screamed again, Harry's heart begged to run to her, but he didn't. With more strength than it took to look Voldemort in the eye, Harry refused to go to her. Voldemort raised his thin hand and Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters left the room. They were now alone. Harry felt Voldemort's eyes fix within his mind.

There was a question… how much would he loose for them? What would he gamble?

Harry could see in Voldemort's mind no duel was to be offered, he was not going to get his wand back. Harry had few options, he could play Voldemort's game, find out why he wasn't yet dead, or he could run. He might make it out of the room… than… maybe… wrestle a wand away from a Death Eater, if he managed that, he could try to duel Voldemort with a badly fitting wand.

It wouldn't work.

'Anything,' Harry gave up.

'Then this is all very simple,' Voldemort said in a cold, razored voice.

He was going to die.

'I'm not going to kill you, just yet,' Voldemort continued. Harry cringed as she screamed again. Voldemort raised his hand again and she abruptly stopped.

'She's alive,' Voldemort answered before Harry could ask. Harry wished he could see her, see if Voldemort was telling the truth, 'but she needn't stay like that.'

'Anything,' Harry repeated. This was not supposed to be how it happened, his mind screamed. He needed his wand, he needed to fight him, not powerlessly submit.

'And you're sure about that?' Voldemort asked.

'Yes.'

I'm so sorry, Dumbledore.

Voldemort smiled and Harry's scar burned bright red. The door behind Harry opened as if upon Voldemort's signal.

'Bring Regulus here,' Voldemort said to the Death Eater who had entered the room.

Harry gaped at the name, '… I want him released too,' Harry stated. Had Regulus remained at Spinner's End? Had he been caught there? Harry assumed he had just run before Pettigrew could identify him… he shouldn't have to die for Harry, like Sirius did.

Voldemort's smile widened, he laughed loud and unsettling.

'I w-' Harry began.

Regulus entered behind Harry, 'Yes, My Lord?'

Harry was speechless. Regulus didn't look at him. He was wearing thick, dark, expensive robes and he was neatly groomed. Harry's heart beat against his chest.

Traitor…

'You did this!' Harry couldn't help it. He hit Regulus in the jaw with all the force he could muster. He stumbled as Regulus fell to the ground, clutching his jaw. Harry moved to hit him again when he felt himself thrown backwards by an unknown force.

Harry crashed into a wall, the house groaned. Voldemort had his wand raised and had calmly done it.

'You must learn to control that temper,' Voldemort said as Harry got to his feet. Regulus stumbled to his knees, rubbing his jaw. He still wouldn't look at Harry.

Harry looked away from his former mentor and back to Voldemort.

'You should thank him, Harry, if it wasn't for Regulus, we wouldn't have access to the powers of Godric Gryffindor and an Agoncrux,' Voldemort said.

Harry's jaw hardened at the thought. He should have known. He should have gotten rid of him when he could have, 'We?' said Harry darkly.

'In exchange for the lives of your friends,' Voldemort said, rising from his chair, 'you're going to help me.'

'I'll never join you!' Harry spat.

'No, Harry… I would never have you join me. You will help me though, for the time being, and then I'll kill you.'

Running and trying to get a wand from a Death Eater was looking like a better and better idea with every passing moment. Voldemort raised his hand, giving a signal somehow, and the screaming resumed in a nearby room.

'Yes,' Harry yelled, 'just let them go… I'll do anything…'

The screaming stopped again.

Regulus began to speak, addressing Harry but looking at Voldemort, 'You have the ability to alter the balance of magic in our favour and make Lord Voldemort's power infinite,' Regulus said.

Harry broke eye contact and looked at the floor. What could he say? What could he do? What was left?

'Why now?' Harry asked quietly, 'why wasn't that important to you years ago?'

'Because years ago, it was impossible,' Voldemort said simply walking closer to Harry. They were only a few inches difference in height, 'you've grown up since I first saw you… but you're still just as weak, just as powerless…'

Harry met his eyes. He wouldn't respond, he wouldn't rebel. Ron, Hermione and Ginny where here somewhere, they depended on him.

'Let them go,' Harry said with all the strength he had left.

'After we're finished.'

'No, before. I don't trust you to keep your word. Let them go now and once I know they're safe, I'll do it.'

Voldemort seemed to ponder this for a moment.

'…Fine, but I think they would appreciate it if you were the one to release them.'

Ginny felt Harry somewhere. It had to be him; she knew Harry had come for her. In the darkest part of her mind she couldn't decipher whether it was the truth or a sad product of her growing desperation that caused her to believe that. She felt Hermione's arms warm around her and closed her eyes.

'He's here,' she whispered.

'Who?' Hermione responded quietly.

'Harry.'

She had been returned to the room they were held in moments before. She remembered the room as she had once spent a summer, now, everything looked different. It felt like a prison cell now, the walls she had thought nothing of years ago now felt like bars.

The furniture had been cleared out and beside the door, a large, jagged hole had been cut into the hallway, allowing the Death Eaters to easily look in when ever they passed by. The hole, door and window were protected somehow, some type of shimmering magic held them in. Hermione had commented on it, but, by the look on her face, Ginny could tell it wasn't good.

Her body ached. She had no idea why Rodolphus Lestrange picked her. He had asked her no questions, given no interrogation, and gave no reason but had struck her with the Cruciatus three times. Stopping as if on signal and than beginning again. Then, it was over. He had dragged her back to the room and thrown her inside, not saying a word, but smiling slightly.

Hermione cradled her. Ron was sitting with his head in his arms on the other side of the room, watching them. Ginny couldn't think of anything to say to him, to soothe him. He had nearly made it out of Godric's Hollow, when the Death Eaters came. He had duelled one back then run, but, upon noticing neither girl had made it out, he ran back in. Ginny didn't remember anymore then that. Only that the Death Eaters had seemed to walk through the door and through the wards with ease. Should have been impossible.

Ginny's eyes opened and shut as she struggled with exhaustion, Hermione rubbed her hand. She heard footsteps in the hall, coming towards her. Ginny sat up painfully; Hermione's hand pulled her close quickly, not trusting her to move. But what Hermione didn't know was Ginny could feel Harry.

The footsteps neared, slow, almost dreading, more than one person. Perhaps he had brought the Order with him. Maybe this was all over. Ginny's heart flew in her chest, Hermione's grip tightened and Ron showed now reaction.

And then, she was right. Harry appeared in the hallway, outside the hall. His long dark robes clashed with his pale and sombre face. Harry didn't move to open the door; his eyes surveyed the room slowly, landing on Ginny and Hermione. No one seemed able to believe they were really seeing him.

Ginny's face broke into a smile and she struggled to her feet.

'Harry!' Hermione cried. This got Ron's attention and he too jumped to his feet.

'Harry!' Ron yelled the same. They crowded near him, close to the enchanted opening.

Ginny felt tears of relief cling to her eyes.

'I don't know what happened, they-' Ron began, but stopped, seeing the look on his face. Harry's eyes were miserable and he didn't move.

'Harry?' Hermione said softly.

Another figure walked to Harry. Ginny's smile faded and her stomach fell as Voldemort's eyes fell on her. Harry still didn't move, he remained sad and still next to Voldemort, his eyes unfocused, like he couldn't look at his friends.

'…Harry…what's going on?' Ginny asked quietly.

Voldemort placed his pale hand on Harry's shoulder. He hissed something in parseltongue to Harry. Harry made no reaction. Voldemort hissed something else, Ginny took a step back.

'No…' she said, tears streaming down her face, 'no…' he would never… Harry wouldn't join… nothing could make him…

Voldemort spoke to Harry in parseltongue, looking at Harry now, no longer at them. Harry hung his head… then… Harry spoke back in the same raspy hiss. Harry paused before replying to something Voldemort had said then he nodded slowly and solemnly. Ginny stumbled over her robes trying to get away from him.

'No…NO!' she screamed in tears. Hermione caught her as she began to collapse.

'Ginny!' Harry's façade broke as he began towards her. Voldemort held his shoulder tightly, a smile on his face.

'No…no…' she whispered as Hermione held her. Ron was silent, too shocked to say anything and Hermione didn't look at Harry.

They stopped speaking and Harry moved left his side, unlocking the door. Harry walked into the room, pulling a quill out of his robes. He held it out to Ron. Ron looked at Harry with a look mixed with pity, fear and disgust.

'You thought we weren't willing to die in the fight? Like your parents and Sirius and Dumbledore and so many others? Just so you'd join him?' Ron said. He snatched the quill from Harry's hand.

Ron walked over to Hermione and Ginny. Hermione held Ginny's hand to the quill as she wept, half in Hermione's arms and half on the floor. There was a moment's pause and something tugged behind Ginny's navel. The last thing she saw before the world spun away from her was a single tear slide down Harry's face as Voldemort watched them.

'They were speaking in parseltongue?' McGonagall said softly.

'Yes,' Ginny replied in a strangled whisper.

St. Mungo's was gently lit by candles and the moon. The quill had been a portkey, transporting Ginny, Hermione and Ron to Diagon Alley. They were taken to St. Mungo's and McGonagall had arrived with Ginny's mother and father. Hermione and Ron had been enchanted into sleep; Ginny struggled to stay awake despite not being given any potions. She didn't want to talk to her mother. She didn't want her crying while holding her and stroking her hair.

The ordeal was short and scarring, but not nearly what it could have been. They were simply used as bait. The real danger was for Harry and everyone knew it. Ginny's eyes had long run out of tears, but she couldn't help sob dryly. It was their fault. No one was completely sure what had happened or why, but they did know that because of their capture, Harry had willingly gone to Voldemort.

'Did he say anything to you?' McGonagall pressed, she tried to make calm and supportive but Ginny could tell she was absolutely desperate to understand what had happened.

'No,' Ginny said quietly, 'he wouldn't even look at me,' she said. Ginny looked away from McGonagall, her mother was sitting with Ron, cradling his sleeping face, 'it-it's- it's like he knew,' she said in a voice that wasn't her own, 'it was our fault. My fault. Ron and Hermione weren't even supposed to be there.

'No, shh,' McGonagall said supportively, taking Ginny's hand in her own, 'this was not your fault-'

'But I should have known!' Ginny cried, 'I should have seen through it! H-he's used me as bait before a-a-and Harry… he…' Ginny stopped.

'This was not your fault, Ginny. Harry will be ok. He has fought Voldemort before when he was younger and now he knows more, their power rivals each other,' McGonagall said but Ginny could tell she was unsure of her words, 'but… are you sure it was Grimmauld Place?'

Ginny nodded, not looking at McGonagall.

'Why?' she asked, 'why there?'

'Oh…' McGonagall leant back from Ginny's hospital bed, 'I believe since Dumbledore's death, the property hasn't been protected. They wanted somewhere Harry could reach but only Harry, you cannot use the Fidelius charm to keep out the owner… did you see anyone else there? Was there anyone else held with you?'

Ginny closed her eyes. She wanted to stop thinking. She didn't want any of it to have happened; she wanted to wake up from a nightmare. Her body still ached from the Cruciatus Curse and when she closed her eyes, Voldemort's image was seared into the darkness. She couldn't escape.

'No…' she whispered, 'no… no one…i-is there anyone missing?' she asked, a shiver running down her spine.

'I…' McGonagall stopped, '…yes, Miss Weasley…'

'Who?' she asked.

'…We have not had contact with Remus Lupin for a few hours… he was out trailing Harry, he followed the three of you to Godric's Hollow, then here and Hogsmeade but he disappeared shortly afterwards… we believe Voldemort may have him…'

If Ginny had a single tear left, it would have shed then.

'B-but it's a full moon,' Ginny said.

'No, not quite,' McGonagall looked out the window, 'but he will be weakened. Remus left without informing the Order- he knew we wouldn't agree to it.'

Flashes of her former Professor now sitting alone in a room of Grimmauld Place ran through her mind. Dumbledore was now gone and Harry was… Harry was too.

'He took a twin mirror, to keep in contact with us, one of its counterparts is at Hogwarts, but we can't reach him through it.'

'You think he's ok though?' Ginny said hopefully, 'alive, yes… that's all we know…'

'B-but-'

'Miss Weasley, I think that's enough for tonight, you need to get some sleep. There will be an auror just outside the door. And don't worry, I'm going to gather the Order and we'll try to have this sort out before you wake up,' McGonagall stood up.

'Professor McGonagall…'

'Ginny, I am so sorry this has happened, but you need to take care of yourself right now. Please try to sleep. You know Harry as I do; you know he won't help Voldemort.'

Ginny was quiet.

'…Yes Professor…'

She hated being a victim. Why wouldn't they understand how easy she had gotten off? How easy they all had? It could have been longer, it could have been worse; she could be in Harry's position right now.

And as Ginny began to nod off to sleep, she wondered how much longer this nightmare and this night could last…

Harry sat silent and still in an arm chair, surrounded by half a dozen Death Eaters. They had been warned none were powerful enough or skilled enough to control Harry if he got a wand so all were tense and careful. He knew his friends had made it to St. Mungo's; Voldemort had fulfilled his part of the deal. Harry wouldn't do his, he would rather die, but at the moment, he had to keep his escape out of his mind. Harry's thoughts began to wander.

His mind fell to a place five years ago. A conversation he had tried to push out his mind, a revelation he had tried to forget. The first time he had rescued Ginny. That time he was elated, Dumbledore had praised him. Dumbledore had explained something…

'I speak parseltongue and for a while the whole school thought I was the heir of Slytherin.'

'You can speak parseltongue, Harry, because Voldemort transferred a small bit of his power into you the night he gave you that scar.'

'He transferred a bit of his power into me?'

'It certainly seems so.'

Harry didn't speak. He turned his head slightly, looking for a way out of what he was finally understanding. He didn't want to understand.

'He would have wanted his final Horcrux to have been something that belonged to Godric Gryffindor or Rowena Ravenclaw.'

Nagini… she was a living Horcrux… he shared a connection with her.

'I believe you share a connection with Voldemort. That scar connects you.'

Harry didn't breathe.

'…It's thanks to Regulus we have the power of Godric Gryffindor and an Agoncrux…'

He didn't dare breathe as if to make it all real. The objects. The ones he had taken from Godric's Hollow and combined with his power.

'They belonged to the original owner.'

…Godric's Hollow…

…A true Gryffindor…

Harry looked at his hands, the Death Eaters were obviously aware of his movements.

'No…' Harry whispered, 'I can't be…'

'Potter,' a Death Eater entered the room and barked at him, 'now.'

Harry wouldn't look at them. He hated Voldemort more that moment then he ever had before. He was nothing but a puppet. The happiness on Ginny's face fell and Ron looked ready to punch him. The quill-portkey became heavy in his robes, he just wanted them to be free, to leave safely… this was all his fault… his stupidity for trusting Regulus and putting them safe in a house he had access to.

'Their loyalty won't last,' Voldemort hissed to him, 'friends are a weakness, for all you're doing for them… look at how they look at you.'

'Better than how they look at you,' Harry hissed back,. Ginny began to cry, 'at least I have something.'

'No, Harry,' Voldemort said, 'you have nothing. You just can't see it now. We are more alike then you know. Ours is a high and lonely destiny.'

AN: yay! Ok, another short one, but it's necessary.

I was so excited to write that scene where Harry and Voldy let Ginny, Ron and Hermione go but now I feel so bad about it. But smile because the ending is coming. Yay again!

Prong – Thank you! Yes, it was pretty bad though… I've got to stop doing that.

Hit0 – yes, I know. Thanks for reviewing!

Sara – thanks, yea I actually started out with a different song but that one worked way better.

Jeefus – don't worry about Harry, the tables will be turned! Turned! TURNED!

La – Thanks

SpiffySquee – Me too. This one was kind of anticlimactic compared to the other one, but it's not the end yet. Thanks for reviewing!

Jayde Green – Hey, I hope you're ok with the hurricane and all, no, I'm in Italy so I can't blame my chaotic updating schedule on Rita or Katrina or anyone. You're on the same train of thought as me! I put seriously about 20 minutes of thought into whether or not the dark mark should be absorbed into Harry's skin, it sounded like such a cool thing to do. But I decided in the end it would probably just open a pointless plot hole. Reg is pretty messed up, I'm going to blame it on his mother. Harry's got to start whooping some Voldy butt soon though. Thanks for reviewing!

Trackrunner237 – thanks!

No 1 You Know – Maybe, but I posted this. Thanks for reviewing!

Shang Warrior Phoenix – It wasn't too long. I'm not too squeamish but the part with the Dark Mark bugged me. I had narrowed it down to either that or doing something with 'morsmodre' but then HP would have a dark mark and it would be weird if it was that easy to get a dark mark. Thanks for reviewing!

Sillysac – Thanks for reviewing!

Iceman 2 – Thank you, I'm honoured.

Hml.2686 – I can't wait either, it will end on a much better note than this chapter did. Thanks for reviewing!

Wind Whisperer – Thanks! Yeah, Regulus has some serious issues. I was having a really hard time to make it plausible for Harry to trust Regulus.

Lou – Thank you!

Glary8402 – Thanks!

Doesn't matter – Thanks(7)

Name Not Submitted – Thanks!

Name – Yes, I know, but thanks!

PlasmaFyre – Thank you!

TBD – Yeah, I actually switched email accounts before that chapter and my new email groups things. I was so upset to wake up and see I only had one message from the fanfiction bot but it turned out to be more than I thought. Thanks!

Tb – I'm ok with that. Thanks for reviewing!

K – Thank you

Fooboo27 – Faster than I thought too. Thanks!

Elle's Bells – Thank you!

XXRoseDawsonXX – Thank you, this whole story is too confusing though. It makes me sick trying to keep track of all this. Thanks for reviewing!

Belal - First off, yes, I do write for reviews. I've never hidden that I write solely for reviews and reviews alone- oh, and the smiles of the little ones, no, wait, that's Mary Poppins (or someone along those lines.) I'm just your average teenager with a lot to do and I should dislike taking my study period to write if no one is reading. I need to know there's a reason I'm writing. If I was just doing it for myself, like I do with some stories, I'd write a new chapter every few weeks when I'm bored and that just won't hold up in the ff world. And to your other point, no, I don't think my story sucks. I only ever impose review counts on the stories I think are good, on the ones that deserve reviews and can get them. I've got two other WIPs up right now, neither of which have "blackmail" simply because I don't invest too much in those. Actually, I wasn't sure SW would- but here we are :). You're going to absolutely hate me saying this, but: I'm glad you're so angry. Anyone willing to resort to calling any ff author 'sad and dispicable' must really have made a mark with their story. I don't think I am, I'm actually a nice person. I doubt you're going to be submitting any more reviews (feel free to though) but if you do continue reading, I hope you enjoy the rest of it. And last, but not least, thank you very much for the review. I am most appreciative, the ff counter doesn't discriminate between good or bad reviews and neither shall I. It sparks enough interest to review, that's what I care about. Oh, I forgot one. I'm desperate for reviews, yes, but it's not because no one is reading it. I didn't submit all the reviews to my own story... so I'm not quite sure where you were going with that train of thought. I think the anger at a 'sad and dispicable' person got the best of you. Thanks for reviewing!

Nomoreseverusharryslash – I did! I swear, I did! Thanks for reviewing!

Jackhea – Annyong Dear sister, I checked and I only say 'crimson' twice. Usually I make a rule to only use a word like that once in a chapter, but I wrote that in two sittings so my whole plan got messed up. Those fermented soy beans haunt my dreams… along with all my attempts at making tofu… so wrong… so, so wrong… Don't forget to take your fun-fun Jackhea.

REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW (I'm still holding out for a certain number so..) REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW

Please and thank you.

Cacasenno