Ch. 3
Explanations upon arrival
The entire train scene vanished from view in only a few moments in a swirl of color. Another location came into focus, and as it did, Harry Potter fell to the ground, still bound by the ropes.
"Get up, boy. We need to be going. The Dark Lord would be very upset if you were late." Bellatrix's voice was filled with such a glee that Harry had never heard before. He struggled to get to his feet, but his binds were too tight and constricting that all he managed to do was squirm on the floor at the feet of the Death Eaters.
"Aw, what's the matter, Potter? Are you too weak to even stand? Help him to his feet and take him down the hall. The Dark Lord has been waiting for this for a long time: we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer." At this, several Death Eaters grabbed his upper arm and lifted him off the ground so that now his feet dragged against it. His black-robed captors moved towards a door at the end of a small, dimly-lit corridor, dragging him along with them. There was no point for him to even struggle, to attempt to get away from them. Where would he go even if he could get them to just let go of his arms?
But still, something inside him, some natural instinct, told him that he should not go through that door, that he could not go through that door. Harry knew that what would happen behind that door would be a fate worse than death. Yet he knew that when he told Bellatrix on the train he would go. Why, oh why, did he always have to be the 'hero' in everything, as the Death Eaters always said? Bellatrix was right; it has never paid off. What is it in him that just could not simply allow him to let someone else take the blame, the pain, the suffering? He knew these thoughts were selfish, but who wouldn't be thinking the same thing if they were in the same situation? Who wouldn't be regretting taking the chance of escape?
No. He thought. I have to stop thinking that. Would I really rather have my best friends go through this, instead of me? They didn't do anything, there is no reason for them. At least Voldemort taking me is understandable. But torturing Ron and Hermione would just be for fun and just for the sake of doing to get to me anyway. At least they don't have to worry about anything like this because they can't remember anything at all.
With these bitter thoughts of regret coursing through his mind, and his eyes closed concentrating on them, Harry almost forgot where he was until the Death Eaters let go, and he was on the floor again, this time at the base of a large, old, jet black door. A finger's snap echoed through the hall and with it, the disappearance of Harry's binds. He got to his feet cautiously, wondering what was now going to happen.
"Open it." Came a deep voice from amongst the mass of black that had formed a semicircle around him and the door. "Open the door and walk in."
"No." Harry's reply was simple and firm. He allowed himself to be taken here by them and to be dragged down the hall but now he wasn't going to fall for their games. He was not going to obey the Death Eaters' orders any longer.
"What was that boy? I said open the door and go through it. It's not that much to do."
"And I said no, I won't do it." Harry said stubbornly in a childish way. "I'm not going to do it." His real reason for refusing their orders was actually a plea for time, just a way to get a few more moments to live.
"Potter, now is not the time for games. Unless you have forgotten, we are fully trained wizards with wands and you are a young, pathetic boy with no means of defense. You would do best to follow our orders."
"Why can't you open it for me? I mean, you went through all the trouble to get me here on time and now that we're here your plans are stalled because you want me to open a door? Why don't you just open it and get it over with. It's just a door."
"Potter, we want you to open the door because you need to learn how to obey orders before you face the Dark Lord. Now open the damn door!"
"NO!" Harry screamed as he charged into the wall of Death Eaters that surrounded him, fueled only by nerves. He knew his plan of escape was stupid and pointless, but at least he would know he didn't go down without a fight. He ran for his life, getting nowhere as the Death Eaters grabbed at him to keep him from escaping. But he had apparently caught most of them off guard, owing to the fact that few of them had moved fast enough to block him. They probably thought he wouldn't be that much of an idiot. Somehow, miraculously, Harry broke through the guard and was now sprinting down the hall. But his actions were soon ceased.
"POTTER!" Bellatrix Lestrange screamed, appearing at the end of the corridor that was his only means of escape. She took out her wand and bellowed a spell that sent Harry flying off his feet and back down the hall. The Death Eaters quickly moved out of the way as he shot past them through the air and straight into the black door. He hit it with a crunch, then slid to the bottom of it, back where he had first started.
Bellatrix moved down the hall toward him but before she got too close the door was wretched open from the inside and Harry found himself falling backwards, having been resting against the door, and laying now at the feet of another black-robed figure, this one not wearing a mask. The face that looked down at Harry was very pale, with slitted nostrils and glowing red crimson eyes. It was the face of Lord Voldemort.
The Death Eaters all gasped and bowed immediately, sinking to their knees in the middle of the hall. Harry tilted his head back to see Voldemort smile at them a cruel, twisted smile of satisfaction.
"Get up." He commanded. "Your jobs are down for now and I thank you for it. Your assistance is no longer needed; I shall call if it is." The Death Eaters left with no hesitation or word and the hall was soon empty.
"Why hello, Harry. I have been awaiting your arrival for sometime now. Fifteen years to be exact. Come, come. Let us go and have a...a little chat." He lifted his finger in such a way that as he did so, Harry's body was lifted off the ground once again, this time led into the room. The door slammed shut automatically after they entered and the room was plunged into total darkness. Harry's feet touched the ground and he stood without moving there, wherever he was. Voldemort clapped his hands and an eerie green light filled the room, the source coming from magically lit green- flamed, serpent-entwined torches that lined the walls. Harry looked for the door they came through, but it was lost seamlessly into the wall. The only other exit was a wooden door on the other side of the room that had a small glass window planted in it. Harry vaguely wondered to where it led.
A wooden chair was placed in the center of the room and Harry was directed to sit in it. He did only out of fear of the consequences. It was the first time that day that he actually realized he was afraid. He was alone in a room with the most evil, powerful wizard that ever lived and was helpless to do anything about it. This time he had no choice but to do what he was told if he wanted to live a little longer.
"Well Harry. You do not know how much of an honor this is to have you sitting before me. You, the boy who has cost me so much. It is just so great a feeling to have Harry Potter sitting in the chair right in front of me with nothing to do about it. And as you sit there, you must be wondering where you are and why. Well, Harry, I shall tell you.
"As you know, I am the heir of the great Salazar Slytherin, the best of the four Hogwarts founders. Over one-thousand years ago this building was built, meant to be Slytherin's home before Hogwarts was created. Over the years, many different charms and enchantments have been performed on this place to keep it secret and hidden from the world: both wizard and muggle. I could imagine that it has more spells on it than Hogwarts itself. And that is why I choose this place to be my headquarters, as it is impossible to enter or leave, let alone find, unless you have my Dark Mark, proof of loyalty to me. You, Harry are an exception. You were brought here as my...guest of honor? It is perfect for holding captives because they cannot leave unless they decide to take the Dark Mark. And that is why, Harry, you are here. I am here to offer you a chance to live a great life of power. By the time you leave here, you will be one of my most faithful servants. That is, if you leave here. You are here Harry, to take my Dark Mark."
Harry sat in the chair at a loss for words. Voldemort wanted him to take the Dark Mark?! Harry thought that he was here so Voldemort could kill him, not convert him and make him a Death Eater! "Why do you want me?"
"Harry! Why wouldn't I want you? You are a very powerful wizard and together we could go very far. You could help me Harry, and I could help you become even stronger than you are now."
"No. No, I won't. I will never take your Dark Mark and become a Death Eater. I will never help you."
"I thought you would take it this way, Harry. But I also thought you would know by now that I can be very determined and persuasive. You can either leave here with my Dark Mark after swearing eternal loyalty to me, or you don't leave here at all. It's simple really. Do you want to die or do you want to live a life of power?"
"I would rather die than follow you! I would rather be tortured with whatever you have planned for all eternity than betray my friends and take the Dark Mark!"
Voldemort sighed almost impatiently. "Harry, I have been very busy while I was here for the past year-and-a-half after my return. I have created several new spells that I would use on you without a second thought. Trust me, Harry, you do not want these spells used against you."
"I don't care what you do to me, its not going to happen. I will never become a Death Eater!"
Voldemort smiled a very odd smile that gave Harry chills throughout his spine. The look in those crimson eyes was enough to frighten even the most powerful wizards. "I'm glad, Harry. It wouldn't have been any fun if it was too easy. I knew you wouldn't give in without some persuasion. Your parents were the same way before I killed them. Stubbornness must run in your family..."
Harry sat in the chair seething with anger. He was talking about the murder of his parents as if the death was just a squishing of a few ants, without any regret or remorse. The man that stood before Harry was the reason he was forced to live with the Dursleys, the reason he had to live his life not knowing if he was going to die the next moment. Well that moment had finally come now, hadn't it? Whether it be sometime today, tomorrow, or next week, he was going to be killed, right here, by Lord Voldemort.
"Ah, the satisfaction it gave me to know that the Potter's were finally out of the way! I knew that my job would be a little easier with them gone, and then all I had to do was kill you, nothing more than a baby. I thought it would be easy, be just like all the other deaths, but no. You know the rest of the story, Harry. You know what you did to me. But I am willing to put that all aside if you would just come and join me."
"I will never side with you."
"Very well than Harry. You leave me no choice but to use one of my new spells. I do hope it works; I haven't tested it yet. We'll soon see. IMMENSIO!"
Harry sat in the chair frozen with fear. Instantly from Voldemort's outstretched wand came the image of a fierce, silvery-green snake. The spell seemed to move in slow motion as it cut through the air and then connected with Harry's chest. Without any delay, the spell spread through his body freezing every nerve with an abnormal cold yet at the same time setting every inch of him on fire that didn't really exist. Harry was screaming with the pain of it far louder than he had ever screamed before. His mind was wiped blank from all thought. Without warning his skin split open creating huge, freely bleeding gashes all over his body as if he was being sliced by an invisible sword. His eyes were clenched so tightly it seemed that his head would explode, with no help from his scar, which seemed to have burst into flame. He had no realization of where he was or what was happening except that his entire body was being tortured unbearably. It was the worst thing by far that he had ever experienced and he was starting to lose consciousness quickly. Nothing made sense and he was starting to lose all feeling and sense of reality...
The spell was ceased. Voldemort was laughing his high, evil laugh. Harry lay on the floor, not remembering falling out of the chair. His face was drenched with his own tears and his arms, legs, and chest were all painfully bleeding, the thick warm liquid oozing down. He was gasping greedily for air, laying without any strength at the base of Lord Voldemort's feet as he looked down at him and laughed.
"Harry. That was the best feeling I have ever experienced. And now to see you at my feet, weakened by my own spell. That was only a taster of what is to come, the first of many tortures. Oh yes, how could I have forgotten my manners. Welcome, Harry, to the Serpent's Lair."
Voldemort laughed again than snapped his fingers. Three Death Eaters Apparated into the room and took Harry through the door with the glass window to a cell where he would spend the night. Harry slipped into unconsciousness before he even made it to his resting quarters, wondering if he would live through the next few days.
Explanations upon arrival
The entire train scene vanished from view in only a few moments in a swirl of color. Another location came into focus, and as it did, Harry Potter fell to the ground, still bound by the ropes.
"Get up, boy. We need to be going. The Dark Lord would be very upset if you were late." Bellatrix's voice was filled with such a glee that Harry had never heard before. He struggled to get to his feet, but his binds were too tight and constricting that all he managed to do was squirm on the floor at the feet of the Death Eaters.
"Aw, what's the matter, Potter? Are you too weak to even stand? Help him to his feet and take him down the hall. The Dark Lord has been waiting for this for a long time: we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer." At this, several Death Eaters grabbed his upper arm and lifted him off the ground so that now his feet dragged against it. His black-robed captors moved towards a door at the end of a small, dimly-lit corridor, dragging him along with them. There was no point for him to even struggle, to attempt to get away from them. Where would he go even if he could get them to just let go of his arms?
But still, something inside him, some natural instinct, told him that he should not go through that door, that he could not go through that door. Harry knew that what would happen behind that door would be a fate worse than death. Yet he knew that when he told Bellatrix on the train he would go. Why, oh why, did he always have to be the 'hero' in everything, as the Death Eaters always said? Bellatrix was right; it has never paid off. What is it in him that just could not simply allow him to let someone else take the blame, the pain, the suffering? He knew these thoughts were selfish, but who wouldn't be thinking the same thing if they were in the same situation? Who wouldn't be regretting taking the chance of escape?
No. He thought. I have to stop thinking that. Would I really rather have my best friends go through this, instead of me? They didn't do anything, there is no reason for them. At least Voldemort taking me is understandable. But torturing Ron and Hermione would just be for fun and just for the sake of doing to get to me anyway. At least they don't have to worry about anything like this because they can't remember anything at all.
With these bitter thoughts of regret coursing through his mind, and his eyes closed concentrating on them, Harry almost forgot where he was until the Death Eaters let go, and he was on the floor again, this time at the base of a large, old, jet black door. A finger's snap echoed through the hall and with it, the disappearance of Harry's binds. He got to his feet cautiously, wondering what was now going to happen.
"Open it." Came a deep voice from amongst the mass of black that had formed a semicircle around him and the door. "Open the door and walk in."
"No." Harry's reply was simple and firm. He allowed himself to be taken here by them and to be dragged down the hall but now he wasn't going to fall for their games. He was not going to obey the Death Eaters' orders any longer.
"What was that boy? I said open the door and go through it. It's not that much to do."
"And I said no, I won't do it." Harry said stubbornly in a childish way. "I'm not going to do it." His real reason for refusing their orders was actually a plea for time, just a way to get a few more moments to live.
"Potter, now is not the time for games. Unless you have forgotten, we are fully trained wizards with wands and you are a young, pathetic boy with no means of defense. You would do best to follow our orders."
"Why can't you open it for me? I mean, you went through all the trouble to get me here on time and now that we're here your plans are stalled because you want me to open a door? Why don't you just open it and get it over with. It's just a door."
"Potter, we want you to open the door because you need to learn how to obey orders before you face the Dark Lord. Now open the damn door!"
"NO!" Harry screamed as he charged into the wall of Death Eaters that surrounded him, fueled only by nerves. He knew his plan of escape was stupid and pointless, but at least he would know he didn't go down without a fight. He ran for his life, getting nowhere as the Death Eaters grabbed at him to keep him from escaping. But he had apparently caught most of them off guard, owing to the fact that few of them had moved fast enough to block him. They probably thought he wouldn't be that much of an idiot. Somehow, miraculously, Harry broke through the guard and was now sprinting down the hall. But his actions were soon ceased.
"POTTER!" Bellatrix Lestrange screamed, appearing at the end of the corridor that was his only means of escape. She took out her wand and bellowed a spell that sent Harry flying off his feet and back down the hall. The Death Eaters quickly moved out of the way as he shot past them through the air and straight into the black door. He hit it with a crunch, then slid to the bottom of it, back where he had first started.
Bellatrix moved down the hall toward him but before she got too close the door was wretched open from the inside and Harry found himself falling backwards, having been resting against the door, and laying now at the feet of another black-robed figure, this one not wearing a mask. The face that looked down at Harry was very pale, with slitted nostrils and glowing red crimson eyes. It was the face of Lord Voldemort.
The Death Eaters all gasped and bowed immediately, sinking to their knees in the middle of the hall. Harry tilted his head back to see Voldemort smile at them a cruel, twisted smile of satisfaction.
"Get up." He commanded. "Your jobs are down for now and I thank you for it. Your assistance is no longer needed; I shall call if it is." The Death Eaters left with no hesitation or word and the hall was soon empty.
"Why hello, Harry. I have been awaiting your arrival for sometime now. Fifteen years to be exact. Come, come. Let us go and have a...a little chat." He lifted his finger in such a way that as he did so, Harry's body was lifted off the ground once again, this time led into the room. The door slammed shut automatically after they entered and the room was plunged into total darkness. Harry's feet touched the ground and he stood without moving there, wherever he was. Voldemort clapped his hands and an eerie green light filled the room, the source coming from magically lit green- flamed, serpent-entwined torches that lined the walls. Harry looked for the door they came through, but it was lost seamlessly into the wall. The only other exit was a wooden door on the other side of the room that had a small glass window planted in it. Harry vaguely wondered to where it led.
A wooden chair was placed in the center of the room and Harry was directed to sit in it. He did only out of fear of the consequences. It was the first time that day that he actually realized he was afraid. He was alone in a room with the most evil, powerful wizard that ever lived and was helpless to do anything about it. This time he had no choice but to do what he was told if he wanted to live a little longer.
"Well Harry. You do not know how much of an honor this is to have you sitting before me. You, the boy who has cost me so much. It is just so great a feeling to have Harry Potter sitting in the chair right in front of me with nothing to do about it. And as you sit there, you must be wondering where you are and why. Well, Harry, I shall tell you.
"As you know, I am the heir of the great Salazar Slytherin, the best of the four Hogwarts founders. Over one-thousand years ago this building was built, meant to be Slytherin's home before Hogwarts was created. Over the years, many different charms and enchantments have been performed on this place to keep it secret and hidden from the world: both wizard and muggle. I could imagine that it has more spells on it than Hogwarts itself. And that is why I choose this place to be my headquarters, as it is impossible to enter or leave, let alone find, unless you have my Dark Mark, proof of loyalty to me. You, Harry are an exception. You were brought here as my...guest of honor? It is perfect for holding captives because they cannot leave unless they decide to take the Dark Mark. And that is why, Harry, you are here. I am here to offer you a chance to live a great life of power. By the time you leave here, you will be one of my most faithful servants. That is, if you leave here. You are here Harry, to take my Dark Mark."
Harry sat in the chair at a loss for words. Voldemort wanted him to take the Dark Mark?! Harry thought that he was here so Voldemort could kill him, not convert him and make him a Death Eater! "Why do you want me?"
"Harry! Why wouldn't I want you? You are a very powerful wizard and together we could go very far. You could help me Harry, and I could help you become even stronger than you are now."
"No. No, I won't. I will never take your Dark Mark and become a Death Eater. I will never help you."
"I thought you would take it this way, Harry. But I also thought you would know by now that I can be very determined and persuasive. You can either leave here with my Dark Mark after swearing eternal loyalty to me, or you don't leave here at all. It's simple really. Do you want to die or do you want to live a life of power?"
"I would rather die than follow you! I would rather be tortured with whatever you have planned for all eternity than betray my friends and take the Dark Mark!"
Voldemort sighed almost impatiently. "Harry, I have been very busy while I was here for the past year-and-a-half after my return. I have created several new spells that I would use on you without a second thought. Trust me, Harry, you do not want these spells used against you."
"I don't care what you do to me, its not going to happen. I will never become a Death Eater!"
Voldemort smiled a very odd smile that gave Harry chills throughout his spine. The look in those crimson eyes was enough to frighten even the most powerful wizards. "I'm glad, Harry. It wouldn't have been any fun if it was too easy. I knew you wouldn't give in without some persuasion. Your parents were the same way before I killed them. Stubbornness must run in your family..."
Harry sat in the chair seething with anger. He was talking about the murder of his parents as if the death was just a squishing of a few ants, without any regret or remorse. The man that stood before Harry was the reason he was forced to live with the Dursleys, the reason he had to live his life not knowing if he was going to die the next moment. Well that moment had finally come now, hadn't it? Whether it be sometime today, tomorrow, or next week, he was going to be killed, right here, by Lord Voldemort.
"Ah, the satisfaction it gave me to know that the Potter's were finally out of the way! I knew that my job would be a little easier with them gone, and then all I had to do was kill you, nothing more than a baby. I thought it would be easy, be just like all the other deaths, but no. You know the rest of the story, Harry. You know what you did to me. But I am willing to put that all aside if you would just come and join me."
"I will never side with you."
"Very well than Harry. You leave me no choice but to use one of my new spells. I do hope it works; I haven't tested it yet. We'll soon see. IMMENSIO!"
Harry sat in the chair frozen with fear. Instantly from Voldemort's outstretched wand came the image of a fierce, silvery-green snake. The spell seemed to move in slow motion as it cut through the air and then connected with Harry's chest. Without any delay, the spell spread through his body freezing every nerve with an abnormal cold yet at the same time setting every inch of him on fire that didn't really exist. Harry was screaming with the pain of it far louder than he had ever screamed before. His mind was wiped blank from all thought. Without warning his skin split open creating huge, freely bleeding gashes all over his body as if he was being sliced by an invisible sword. His eyes were clenched so tightly it seemed that his head would explode, with no help from his scar, which seemed to have burst into flame. He had no realization of where he was or what was happening except that his entire body was being tortured unbearably. It was the worst thing by far that he had ever experienced and he was starting to lose consciousness quickly. Nothing made sense and he was starting to lose all feeling and sense of reality...
The spell was ceased. Voldemort was laughing his high, evil laugh. Harry lay on the floor, not remembering falling out of the chair. His face was drenched with his own tears and his arms, legs, and chest were all painfully bleeding, the thick warm liquid oozing down. He was gasping greedily for air, laying without any strength at the base of Lord Voldemort's feet as he looked down at him and laughed.
"Harry. That was the best feeling I have ever experienced. And now to see you at my feet, weakened by my own spell. That was only a taster of what is to come, the first of many tortures. Oh yes, how could I have forgotten my manners. Welcome, Harry, to the Serpent's Lair."
Voldemort laughed again than snapped his fingers. Three Death Eaters Apparated into the room and took Harry through the door with the glass window to a cell where he would spend the night. Harry slipped into unconsciousness before he even made it to his resting quarters, wondering if he would live through the next few days.