Ch. 4
The End of the Beginning
Harry did not awake the next day until a Death Eater shook him violently to get him to his feet. He groaned and wearily stood up, fearing what was to come.
"Let's go, Potter. The Dark Lord is waiting." The nameless Death Eater grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door into a small hallway, which than turned and led to the door with the window. It was opened by another Death Eater who then forced Harry into the room. He stumbled in and fell to his knees on the ground, almost a kneeling bow, right in front of Voldemort. He stood up, not wanting to be kneeling at the feet of the Dark Lord. The door slammed shut and Harry was once again left alone with the powerful wizard.
"Hello again, Harry. Yesterday was fun, wasn't it? Today can be different if you want . . . I am still asking the same question." The cold, cruel voice, Harry assumed, was attempting to sound pleasant and friendly, but only managed to sound creepy and frightening.
"And my answer is still the same: I will not take the Dark Mark, ever." Harry said, the amount of confidence in his voice amazing him based on how tired and groggy he still felt.
"Remember, Harry, while you are under the Immensiatius Curse, that it was your choice, and it can be stopped if you tell me to. You may want to reconsider your choice, boy, for my spell will not just be used once, as yesterday."
"No. I refuse to take the Dark Mark. And that is final."
"Very well than, Harry. IMMENSIO!"
For the second time in all his life, Harry felt the unbearable, tormenting pain that cut through his flesh to the bone. It was if he was made of fire and ice and all he could feel and think about was the all consuming pain. Again his eyes were shut, his scar throbbed insanely, and his scream was enough to send chills throughout an entire body. It was though the spell would never end, there was no sense of time or reality, only the pain as his skin tore open freshly once more and the blood pored out onto his flesh, staining his robes and dripping to the ground. His veins flowed with what felt like fire, yet his body was almost frozen throughout by what felt like an Arctic wind. He was again starting to get lost from all things, all sense of time and life when the curse was lifted. He lay on the cold, hard ground sucking in as much air as possible at one time, coughing and gasping, and shaking uncontrollably.
"Potter, you don't seem to be enjoying this as much as I am. Are you sure you don't want it to end? I will still accept your answer..."
"N-no. I-I'm not going t-to. Ever." The words were choked out through his gasps, weak but still firm. "Fine, once again, remember this is your choice. IMMENSIO!"
Harry's blood curdling screams and Voldemort's evil laughter echoed throughout the room. The curse was left on longer than the first two times and the pain seemed more intense. Harry wished it would all just end, that he would wake up and it would all just be a horrible nightmare. The curse diminished and Harry lay on his stomach, staring at the base of Voldemort's robes, bleeding, shivering, and coughing up blood.
"Harry. Can you not take it anymore? This could all go away if you listen to me, but no, you're Harry Potter, a stubborn fool that won't give in, who always has to win. Just like that idiot that would have been your father if he hadn't been the same way before I killed him. How lucky of you, Harry; you get to have the same fate as him. Unless, of course, you deci..."
"I am not g-going to give in t-to you, Voldemort. N-not now, not e-ever." It was a barely audible whisper and after he said it he went into a huge coughing fit, spitting a mixture of blood and saliva out of his mouth and onto the floor.
"Why not, Potter? What are you gaining from this? Answer me!" He sent a vicious kick into Harry's stomach and he rolled over, landing on his side and facing Voldemort. Looking up at him from half-opened eyes, he saw Voldemort smile evilly again.
"There is no point in resisting, boy, so just give up now!" He kicked the already-battered body of the boy who lay at his feet, again, and Harry shut his eyes and clenched his teeth as his stomach absorbed the blow. Voldemort let out a stream of laughter as Harry winced severely. As he lay on the floor seeing only the blurred outline of the hem of the Dark Lord's robes (his glasses being broken who knows when) he did something he did something that he did not think was even possible, having so little strength right now: he stood up. Slowly, weakly, but he stood up just the same and stared straight into the slitted scarlet eyes.
"You can do...whatever you want to me...b-but...I won't...give in...no matter...what..." Harry swayed on the spot, his feet unsteady, his body weakened, and his head light and throbbing. His breathing was raspy and uneven and he felt that he would be sick soon from everything he was feeling. But he wasn't going to sit down and give in to the pain just yet.
"You fool! Do you really think that you can beat me Harry? Do you really think that if you just endure it all, it will go away and you will be able to live until your precious Dumbledore comes to save you? Well, not this time boy. Dumbledore isn't coming to save you. He can't. No one but my Death Eaters know where this place is. You're on your own, this time, Potter. This is just between you and me."
Harry let him continue talking, trying to ignore the anger, and yet the fear, that was welling up inside him.
"Harry. You must realize that there is no escape except death. That, or you can live..." Harry coughed viciously again, covering his hand in his own blood. He sank back down to his knees coughing uncontrollably, each one sending jolts of pain throughout him.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Potter? Pain and suffering when I can so easily and gratefully end it...."
"No. I'm not ever....going to take...your Dark Mark."
"Very well than, boy. IMMENSIO!"
Day after day this continued. Voldemort used the Immensiatus curse repeatedly on Harry, only stopping now and then to give him a harsh kick to the chest or use a new spell that was almost as bad. Each night Harry was taken back to the cell unconscious, only to be awakened by Death Eaters early the next morning to be given a sip of warm, stagnant water and crusted remains of bread, just enough food to keep him alive. Then he was taken to Voldemort where the torture would begin and not end until night. Every day the routine was followed for nearly two weeks. The last day things changed a bit.
The Death Eaters woke Harry from his state of blankness earlier than usual. They gave him no food or drink this time, instead ushering him quickly to the Dark Lord. Harry felt as though he did not exist anymore. He didn't think, didn't talk, could barely move, and the only thing that kept him alive was will and determination. He still refused to give in. For twelve days his life had been controlled by the pain and suffering, and now it just seemed to be a bare existence of nothing. He wondered if today would be different, if he should just give up the fool's hope of surviving and just let go of the strand of life that he was holding onto so desperately. He wondered if it was worth living as Voldemort lifted his wand again for the infinite time. The spell was performed twice before Voldemort spoke.
"Harry. Must this continue? You have to realize this is getting you nowhere. Just give up."
Harry realized that Voldemort was actually almost pleading and begging him. Maybe he was getting bored of it and would soon stop. Or maybe he, Harry, should just end it now by letting himself lose consciousness for one last, final time...It was so tempting to know if he just gave it up now he could forget everything and go on to whatever lay after life. Even Hell couldn't be as bad as this: this was Hell. He ignored whatever Voldemort was saying, that, or maybe it was just that he couldn't hear and comprehend it. Everything started to grow fuzzy and dark, his battered and bruised body numbing. 'This is it' He thought. 'It's over. I'm finally dying' Harry felt a strange feeling of peace fall over him as he started to slip away.
Harry vaguely realized the door as it opened to his left and the limp body of a man was carried in. Through a small opening in his eyelids and through a great feeling of haze, Harry saw that the man had scraggly black hair covering his face. Something about him seemed familiar, but Harry couldn't recognize him through his own lack of full consciousness. Voldemort began to speak and Harry listened, not really caring about what was going to be said until after he heard it.
"Harry. As you can see, we were able to find your godfather in the veil at the Ministry of Magic. That veil is a resting place for the people that did not move on after death. If a living person goes through, it feeds on their life until they are withered away to nothing, but it cannot kill them. The Veil of Life, as it is known, is affected by neither time nor man and it will continue to exist long after all manner of earth's life does not. I was able to create a spell that extracts a person from inside it, and I choose to test it on Black, just for you. I knew I could use him against you. If I could do this, fathom what we could do together! Have I altered your decision?"
Harry was somehow able to understand all this and jerked back into reality. Could it really be Sirius?! He looked back at the body which had been carelessly dropped on the floor and was this time able to see and recognize the face, however paled and sunken in it was, to be that of his godfather, Sirius Black. Voldemort really had created a spell to save him from the veil. Now what? Sirius was alive, however this was possible, and if Harry didn't take the Dark Mark now they both would be tortured and killed.
"I see Harry that you are thinking. This is, no doubt, not what you expected, is it? You missed him, didn't you, Harry? You thought it was your fault he was gone. But you can set things right now...you both can live. All you have to do is take the Dark Mark."
Harry could not answer. He lay on the floor, staring at Sirius running through the possibilities. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Voldemort raise his wand slowly, and then bellow the spell.
"IMMENSIO!" Harry shut his eyes and waited for the familiar pain to come, and yet it did not. For the first time in 13 days he heard someone else screaming in pain. Harry looked back at Sirius and realized that the spell had been put on him instead.
"V-Voldemort!...lift it...don't...p-please...s-stop...."
"No, Harry, a little longer. Unless you have changed your mind..."
Harry watched helplessly as the form of his godfather that was thought to be gone, thrashed and convulsed on the ground before him, screaming. His skin was split open, revealing deep, bleeding, gashes. After a few more moments, Voldemort lifted the curse, and Sirius was left panting and gasping.
"H-harry!... D-don't give in...to him....Don't...."Sirius sputtered, but was interrupted by Voldemort.
"SILENCE! Do not speak to him! One more word and it will be your last!"
"Don't give in Harry! It'll be ok!" He tried to get to Harry, but was hit with the curse again.
"NO! V-Voldemort!...St-stop!" Harry screamed, but his voice was lost amongst that of Sirius's screams of pain and Voldemort's evil laughter.
"It will not stop until you give me your final decision! We've waited long enough. It is time for your answer. What will it be, boy? Say no, and you and your godfather die! Say yes, and you will join me and live a life of power!"
Harry could not say anything. If he said no, he and Sirius would both be killed, but the pain would finally be gone, and yet Voldemort would become unstoppable. If he said yes, he would join Voldemort's dark army, meaning he would be betraying all of his friends and entire Order. But he would be alive . . . He had to choose quickly: Sirius was starting to slip away...
"Well, Harry?"
"I..." Harry had to choose now. The fate of the world was resting on this decision, but..."n-no. No. I w-won't."
Voldemort sighed. "Very well then, Harry." He lifted his wand and the spell was removed from Sirius.
"Harry . . . " Sirius was about to say something, but Voldemort interjected. He made the same slashing movement with his wand that the Death Eater at the Ministry of Magic had performed on Hermione in June. The front of Sirius's robes was magically ripped across the chest and a large gash appeared on the showing flesh. His eyes were wide with pain and shock but they soon closed as he slumped down onto the floor. Voldemort snapped his fingers and Sirius's body disappeared.
"I will deal with him later. As for you, Potter...You can wait until tomorrow. I let you think about it. Make sure it's what you truly want. Now, just for the last time...IMMENSIO!"
Harry hadn't expected that to happen. He thought that as soon as he made the decision, Voldemort was going to kill him. But this was worse, by far. It was worse than everything that had happened. Harry was so close to the end before, but now...he regretted not letting go, regretted not leaving this wretched world when he had the chance to on his own accord. The familiar sensation of unconsciousness drifted back in and Harry openly accepted it, wondering if it would be the last time he did. But it did not come. He continued to be tortured with bliss just out of arms' reach. The spell was doubly long and did not end for almost 30 more seconds, an eternity to Harry. It finally abated, leaving Harry stomach-down on the floor, way past half dead. Voldemort kicked him repeatedly in the side, chest, and stomach, even sending a few blows to his face. The sickening crunches told Harry that multiple ribs had just been shattered and his nose smashed. A thick stream of crimson ran down his face from the front of his head. He felt himself being lifted into the air by some spell then thrown against the wall. He dropped to the floor, landing hard on his left leg. By the sound it made and the pain it sent through his body, Harry knew it had just snapped. Yet Harry didn't care anymore; he just let it all happen.
"I will see you tomorrow, Harry, for the last time." He snapped his fingers and the Death Eaters began to drag him out of the room. Almost to the door, Harry spoke in a hoarse whisper. "N-no. St-stop...stop..."
"Yes, Harry?" Voldemort turned to face the figure of the nearly dead boy who was hanging limply in the arms of the Death Eaters, looking back at him through scattered black hair and glasses that long ago had been destroyed.
Harry opened his mouth to say the words he would forever regret. He didn't know what had made him change his mind, but he knew it had to be done. It was all too much, he couldn't take it. And he just couldn't let himself die knowing that he would be sealing the fate of the entire world. And Sirius...there was no reason for him to die, too. There was no other way. "I'll...I'll take it." He whispered hesitantly, looking up at Voldemort's face which had broken into the largest, most evil grin he had even seen. "I will take the Dark Mark."
Voldemort smiled down at Harry triumphantly, his scarlet eyes filled with the utmost happiness. "Excellent, Harry. I knew you would eventually see the error of your ways and side with me. Trust me, Harry. You will not regret this. Now, I am going to summon everyone here in person. I trust that you will not escape while I am gone." He walked out of the room, leaving Harry laying on the stone floor motionless, creating a deep crimson stain on it with the liquid that ran through his mangled body, keeping him alive. The two Death Eaters stood at the door, blocking the only means of escape for Harry, an escape he did not even feel like he could attempt if he wanted to.
It was the first time in two weeks that Harry was not being tormented or persuaded or unconscious. Here in the room that he had come to fear and hate, laying almost dead on the floor, it was strangely peaceful. He took this time to examine the results of 13 days of torment. All over his body were deep gashes that almost went to the bone, left from the Immensiatius curse which he hoped he would never have to feel again. The cuts were bleeding freshly, oozing out across his bruised skin. The sharp pain in his leg told him it was probably broken, and the fact that he couldn't move it at all proved that. His chest hurt at even the slightest breath, the slightest movement. His nose was swollen and bleeding freely down his face, drenching the front of his tattered and torn robes. It was probably broken like several of his ribs. A steady stream of blood ran from his head, probably the source a skull fracture, and it ran across his never- ceasing, burning scar. Not one part of his body was uninjured. Everything was either bruised, bleeding, or broken, and he groaned thinking about it all and the recovery. Everything was starting to grow dark and fuzzy again, death was creeping back in, but this time he tried to fight it back, because he now had a chance of survival.
The door opened once more and Voldemort strode in. As he did, the air was filled with the sounds of cracks as Death Eaters Apparated into the room. They slowly formed a circle around Harry and Voldemort, waiting anxiously for the moment when Harry Potter became a one of them.
"Hello, Death Eaters. As you know, you have been summoned here today for one reason: Harry Potter has decided to join us in our quest for power and the riddance of unworthy people!"
Cheers went up through the crowd of black. Voldemort quieted them down so he could speak again. Harry ignored what he was saying and shut his eyes, pretending this wasn't happening. He felt the tears well up, but he did not want to cry, not now at this time. But some of the warm salty water leaked out anyway, down his scraped, bruised face. He didn't really care, they would blend in with the sweat, dirt, and blood and be unnoticeable. It had finally come down to this; this was the price he was going to pay to keep others safe and alive. He was going to become a servant of the darkest creature ever to live: Lord Voldemort.
"Harry. Sit up. Look at me."
Harry heard this last statement and adjusted himself painfully, but could not fully sit upright.
"Now, now, Potter, that is no way to show respect for your soon-to-be master. I said sit up." He flicked his wand and Harry was moved onto his knees, bowing before Voldemort, head tilted up to see the pale, grinning face. Harry shook violently, shivering with cold, pain, fear, and nerves. Nothing in his life could ever compare to the feeling of fear he had right now, as he stared into the glowing red eyes about to take the Dark Mark.
"Harry Potter. Do you swear to me eternal loyalty, that you will never betray me or your fellow Death Eaters?"
Harry resentfully lowered his head in a nod.
"And do you promise that you will follow me forever, no matter what the consequences or results?"
Again, Harry nodded, Voldemort's smile growing wider all the while.
"Promise me now that you will never falter, follow all my commands, and never tell a word of this to another living soul!"
"I..." Harry paused, unsure if he could make this final, fate-sealing commitment. "I...p-promise."
Voldemort did not continue immediately, apparently too happy and filled with unbelief. He seemed to be savored this moment, engraving it into his mind. He finally spoke again. "Harry, hold out your right arm."
There was a slight murmur of confusion amongst the Death Eaters. Voldemort explained to them why, but directed it to Harry.
"I am choosing the right arm so that I can tell you apart from all my other followers. I will always be able to tell which one you are no matter what disguise you are wearing. Now, hold out your arm so I can finally apply the Dark Mark!"
Slowly, regretting every movement, Harry weakly extended his arm to Voldemort. He reached out for it and took it into his own hands. Voldemort closed his crimson eyes and exhaled deeply, preparing for the final step. "Harry Potter. This is the greatest moment of my entire life, my entire quest for power. Soon you will permanently belong to me, something you will never regret. Are you ready for the final step?"
Harry nodded his head knowing that now, there was no turning back. Voldemort touched the tip of his wand to the center of Harry's inner right forearm. His scar began to burn madly, but Harry ignored it, not caring about it or anything else in the world anymore. All that mattered now was that he belonged to the most evil wizard of all time, and there was nothing to do about it.
Voldemort opened his mouth and whispered the spell through an evil, triumphant smile. "Morsmordre." An emerald green substance slowly came out of the tip of the wand and attached itself to Harry's skin. It swirled on the spot until it disappeared, absorbing itself into the flesh. Than, slowly, Harry watched in terror and shock that this was actually happening, as the jet black image of the Dark Mark appeared on his arm. Harry screamed in pain and horror as it burned into his flesh, his scar burning worse than ever before. The Death Eaters were laughing and cheering, Voldemort the loudest of all. The room began to spin then grow dark and silent as Harry fell to the floor clutching his arm. Everything just seemed to end, and Harry Potter was as good as dead.
The End of the Beginning
Harry did not awake the next day until a Death Eater shook him violently to get him to his feet. He groaned and wearily stood up, fearing what was to come.
"Let's go, Potter. The Dark Lord is waiting." The nameless Death Eater grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door into a small hallway, which than turned and led to the door with the window. It was opened by another Death Eater who then forced Harry into the room. He stumbled in and fell to his knees on the ground, almost a kneeling bow, right in front of Voldemort. He stood up, not wanting to be kneeling at the feet of the Dark Lord. The door slammed shut and Harry was once again left alone with the powerful wizard.
"Hello again, Harry. Yesterday was fun, wasn't it? Today can be different if you want . . . I am still asking the same question." The cold, cruel voice, Harry assumed, was attempting to sound pleasant and friendly, but only managed to sound creepy and frightening.
"And my answer is still the same: I will not take the Dark Mark, ever." Harry said, the amount of confidence in his voice amazing him based on how tired and groggy he still felt.
"Remember, Harry, while you are under the Immensiatius Curse, that it was your choice, and it can be stopped if you tell me to. You may want to reconsider your choice, boy, for my spell will not just be used once, as yesterday."
"No. I refuse to take the Dark Mark. And that is final."
"Very well than, Harry. IMMENSIO!"
For the second time in all his life, Harry felt the unbearable, tormenting pain that cut through his flesh to the bone. It was if he was made of fire and ice and all he could feel and think about was the all consuming pain. Again his eyes were shut, his scar throbbed insanely, and his scream was enough to send chills throughout an entire body. It was though the spell would never end, there was no sense of time or reality, only the pain as his skin tore open freshly once more and the blood pored out onto his flesh, staining his robes and dripping to the ground. His veins flowed with what felt like fire, yet his body was almost frozen throughout by what felt like an Arctic wind. He was again starting to get lost from all things, all sense of time and life when the curse was lifted. He lay on the cold, hard ground sucking in as much air as possible at one time, coughing and gasping, and shaking uncontrollably.
"Potter, you don't seem to be enjoying this as much as I am. Are you sure you don't want it to end? I will still accept your answer..."
"N-no. I-I'm not going t-to. Ever." The words were choked out through his gasps, weak but still firm. "Fine, once again, remember this is your choice. IMMENSIO!"
Harry's blood curdling screams and Voldemort's evil laughter echoed throughout the room. The curse was left on longer than the first two times and the pain seemed more intense. Harry wished it would all just end, that he would wake up and it would all just be a horrible nightmare. The curse diminished and Harry lay on his stomach, staring at the base of Voldemort's robes, bleeding, shivering, and coughing up blood.
"Harry. Can you not take it anymore? This could all go away if you listen to me, but no, you're Harry Potter, a stubborn fool that won't give in, who always has to win. Just like that idiot that would have been your father if he hadn't been the same way before I killed him. How lucky of you, Harry; you get to have the same fate as him. Unless, of course, you deci..."
"I am not g-going to give in t-to you, Voldemort. N-not now, not e-ever." It was a barely audible whisper and after he said it he went into a huge coughing fit, spitting a mixture of blood and saliva out of his mouth and onto the floor.
"Why not, Potter? What are you gaining from this? Answer me!" He sent a vicious kick into Harry's stomach and he rolled over, landing on his side and facing Voldemort. Looking up at him from half-opened eyes, he saw Voldemort smile evilly again.
"There is no point in resisting, boy, so just give up now!" He kicked the already-battered body of the boy who lay at his feet, again, and Harry shut his eyes and clenched his teeth as his stomach absorbed the blow. Voldemort let out a stream of laughter as Harry winced severely. As he lay on the floor seeing only the blurred outline of the hem of the Dark Lord's robes (his glasses being broken who knows when) he did something he did something that he did not think was even possible, having so little strength right now: he stood up. Slowly, weakly, but he stood up just the same and stared straight into the slitted scarlet eyes.
"You can do...whatever you want to me...b-but...I won't...give in...no matter...what..." Harry swayed on the spot, his feet unsteady, his body weakened, and his head light and throbbing. His breathing was raspy and uneven and he felt that he would be sick soon from everything he was feeling. But he wasn't going to sit down and give in to the pain just yet.
"You fool! Do you really think that you can beat me Harry? Do you really think that if you just endure it all, it will go away and you will be able to live until your precious Dumbledore comes to save you? Well, not this time boy. Dumbledore isn't coming to save you. He can't. No one but my Death Eaters know where this place is. You're on your own, this time, Potter. This is just between you and me."
Harry let him continue talking, trying to ignore the anger, and yet the fear, that was welling up inside him.
"Harry. You must realize that there is no escape except death. That, or you can live..." Harry coughed viciously again, covering his hand in his own blood. He sank back down to his knees coughing uncontrollably, each one sending jolts of pain throughout him.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Potter? Pain and suffering when I can so easily and gratefully end it...."
"No. I'm not ever....going to take...your Dark Mark."
"Very well than, boy. IMMENSIO!"
Day after day this continued. Voldemort used the Immensiatus curse repeatedly on Harry, only stopping now and then to give him a harsh kick to the chest or use a new spell that was almost as bad. Each night Harry was taken back to the cell unconscious, only to be awakened by Death Eaters early the next morning to be given a sip of warm, stagnant water and crusted remains of bread, just enough food to keep him alive. Then he was taken to Voldemort where the torture would begin and not end until night. Every day the routine was followed for nearly two weeks. The last day things changed a bit.
The Death Eaters woke Harry from his state of blankness earlier than usual. They gave him no food or drink this time, instead ushering him quickly to the Dark Lord. Harry felt as though he did not exist anymore. He didn't think, didn't talk, could barely move, and the only thing that kept him alive was will and determination. He still refused to give in. For twelve days his life had been controlled by the pain and suffering, and now it just seemed to be a bare existence of nothing. He wondered if today would be different, if he should just give up the fool's hope of surviving and just let go of the strand of life that he was holding onto so desperately. He wondered if it was worth living as Voldemort lifted his wand again for the infinite time. The spell was performed twice before Voldemort spoke.
"Harry. Must this continue? You have to realize this is getting you nowhere. Just give up."
Harry realized that Voldemort was actually almost pleading and begging him. Maybe he was getting bored of it and would soon stop. Or maybe he, Harry, should just end it now by letting himself lose consciousness for one last, final time...It was so tempting to know if he just gave it up now he could forget everything and go on to whatever lay after life. Even Hell couldn't be as bad as this: this was Hell. He ignored whatever Voldemort was saying, that, or maybe it was just that he couldn't hear and comprehend it. Everything started to grow fuzzy and dark, his battered and bruised body numbing. 'This is it' He thought. 'It's over. I'm finally dying' Harry felt a strange feeling of peace fall over him as he started to slip away.
Harry vaguely realized the door as it opened to his left and the limp body of a man was carried in. Through a small opening in his eyelids and through a great feeling of haze, Harry saw that the man had scraggly black hair covering his face. Something about him seemed familiar, but Harry couldn't recognize him through his own lack of full consciousness. Voldemort began to speak and Harry listened, not really caring about what was going to be said until after he heard it.
"Harry. As you can see, we were able to find your godfather in the veil at the Ministry of Magic. That veil is a resting place for the people that did not move on after death. If a living person goes through, it feeds on their life until they are withered away to nothing, but it cannot kill them. The Veil of Life, as it is known, is affected by neither time nor man and it will continue to exist long after all manner of earth's life does not. I was able to create a spell that extracts a person from inside it, and I choose to test it on Black, just for you. I knew I could use him against you. If I could do this, fathom what we could do together! Have I altered your decision?"
Harry was somehow able to understand all this and jerked back into reality. Could it really be Sirius?! He looked back at the body which had been carelessly dropped on the floor and was this time able to see and recognize the face, however paled and sunken in it was, to be that of his godfather, Sirius Black. Voldemort really had created a spell to save him from the veil. Now what? Sirius was alive, however this was possible, and if Harry didn't take the Dark Mark now they both would be tortured and killed.
"I see Harry that you are thinking. This is, no doubt, not what you expected, is it? You missed him, didn't you, Harry? You thought it was your fault he was gone. But you can set things right now...you both can live. All you have to do is take the Dark Mark."
Harry could not answer. He lay on the floor, staring at Sirius running through the possibilities. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Voldemort raise his wand slowly, and then bellow the spell.
"IMMENSIO!" Harry shut his eyes and waited for the familiar pain to come, and yet it did not. For the first time in 13 days he heard someone else screaming in pain. Harry looked back at Sirius and realized that the spell had been put on him instead.
"V-Voldemort!...lift it...don't...p-please...s-stop...."
"No, Harry, a little longer. Unless you have changed your mind..."
Harry watched helplessly as the form of his godfather that was thought to be gone, thrashed and convulsed on the ground before him, screaming. His skin was split open, revealing deep, bleeding, gashes. After a few more moments, Voldemort lifted the curse, and Sirius was left panting and gasping.
"H-harry!... D-don't give in...to him....Don't...."Sirius sputtered, but was interrupted by Voldemort.
"SILENCE! Do not speak to him! One more word and it will be your last!"
"Don't give in Harry! It'll be ok!" He tried to get to Harry, but was hit with the curse again.
"NO! V-Voldemort!...St-stop!" Harry screamed, but his voice was lost amongst that of Sirius's screams of pain and Voldemort's evil laughter.
"It will not stop until you give me your final decision! We've waited long enough. It is time for your answer. What will it be, boy? Say no, and you and your godfather die! Say yes, and you will join me and live a life of power!"
Harry could not say anything. If he said no, he and Sirius would both be killed, but the pain would finally be gone, and yet Voldemort would become unstoppable. If he said yes, he would join Voldemort's dark army, meaning he would be betraying all of his friends and entire Order. But he would be alive . . . He had to choose quickly: Sirius was starting to slip away...
"Well, Harry?"
"I..." Harry had to choose now. The fate of the world was resting on this decision, but..."n-no. No. I w-won't."
Voldemort sighed. "Very well then, Harry." He lifted his wand and the spell was removed from Sirius.
"Harry . . . " Sirius was about to say something, but Voldemort interjected. He made the same slashing movement with his wand that the Death Eater at the Ministry of Magic had performed on Hermione in June. The front of Sirius's robes was magically ripped across the chest and a large gash appeared on the showing flesh. His eyes were wide with pain and shock but they soon closed as he slumped down onto the floor. Voldemort snapped his fingers and Sirius's body disappeared.
"I will deal with him later. As for you, Potter...You can wait until tomorrow. I let you think about it. Make sure it's what you truly want. Now, just for the last time...IMMENSIO!"
Harry hadn't expected that to happen. He thought that as soon as he made the decision, Voldemort was going to kill him. But this was worse, by far. It was worse than everything that had happened. Harry was so close to the end before, but now...he regretted not letting go, regretted not leaving this wretched world when he had the chance to on his own accord. The familiar sensation of unconsciousness drifted back in and Harry openly accepted it, wondering if it would be the last time he did. But it did not come. He continued to be tortured with bliss just out of arms' reach. The spell was doubly long and did not end for almost 30 more seconds, an eternity to Harry. It finally abated, leaving Harry stomach-down on the floor, way past half dead. Voldemort kicked him repeatedly in the side, chest, and stomach, even sending a few blows to his face. The sickening crunches told Harry that multiple ribs had just been shattered and his nose smashed. A thick stream of crimson ran down his face from the front of his head. He felt himself being lifted into the air by some spell then thrown against the wall. He dropped to the floor, landing hard on his left leg. By the sound it made and the pain it sent through his body, Harry knew it had just snapped. Yet Harry didn't care anymore; he just let it all happen.
"I will see you tomorrow, Harry, for the last time." He snapped his fingers and the Death Eaters began to drag him out of the room. Almost to the door, Harry spoke in a hoarse whisper. "N-no. St-stop...stop..."
"Yes, Harry?" Voldemort turned to face the figure of the nearly dead boy who was hanging limply in the arms of the Death Eaters, looking back at him through scattered black hair and glasses that long ago had been destroyed.
Harry opened his mouth to say the words he would forever regret. He didn't know what had made him change his mind, but he knew it had to be done. It was all too much, he couldn't take it. And he just couldn't let himself die knowing that he would be sealing the fate of the entire world. And Sirius...there was no reason for him to die, too. There was no other way. "I'll...I'll take it." He whispered hesitantly, looking up at Voldemort's face which had broken into the largest, most evil grin he had even seen. "I will take the Dark Mark."
Voldemort smiled down at Harry triumphantly, his scarlet eyes filled with the utmost happiness. "Excellent, Harry. I knew you would eventually see the error of your ways and side with me. Trust me, Harry. You will not regret this. Now, I am going to summon everyone here in person. I trust that you will not escape while I am gone." He walked out of the room, leaving Harry laying on the stone floor motionless, creating a deep crimson stain on it with the liquid that ran through his mangled body, keeping him alive. The two Death Eaters stood at the door, blocking the only means of escape for Harry, an escape he did not even feel like he could attempt if he wanted to.
It was the first time in two weeks that Harry was not being tormented or persuaded or unconscious. Here in the room that he had come to fear and hate, laying almost dead on the floor, it was strangely peaceful. He took this time to examine the results of 13 days of torment. All over his body were deep gashes that almost went to the bone, left from the Immensiatius curse which he hoped he would never have to feel again. The cuts were bleeding freshly, oozing out across his bruised skin. The sharp pain in his leg told him it was probably broken, and the fact that he couldn't move it at all proved that. His chest hurt at even the slightest breath, the slightest movement. His nose was swollen and bleeding freely down his face, drenching the front of his tattered and torn robes. It was probably broken like several of his ribs. A steady stream of blood ran from his head, probably the source a skull fracture, and it ran across his never- ceasing, burning scar. Not one part of his body was uninjured. Everything was either bruised, bleeding, or broken, and he groaned thinking about it all and the recovery. Everything was starting to grow dark and fuzzy again, death was creeping back in, but this time he tried to fight it back, because he now had a chance of survival.
The door opened once more and Voldemort strode in. As he did, the air was filled with the sounds of cracks as Death Eaters Apparated into the room. They slowly formed a circle around Harry and Voldemort, waiting anxiously for the moment when Harry Potter became a one of them.
"Hello, Death Eaters. As you know, you have been summoned here today for one reason: Harry Potter has decided to join us in our quest for power and the riddance of unworthy people!"
Cheers went up through the crowd of black. Voldemort quieted them down so he could speak again. Harry ignored what he was saying and shut his eyes, pretending this wasn't happening. He felt the tears well up, but he did not want to cry, not now at this time. But some of the warm salty water leaked out anyway, down his scraped, bruised face. He didn't really care, they would blend in with the sweat, dirt, and blood and be unnoticeable. It had finally come down to this; this was the price he was going to pay to keep others safe and alive. He was going to become a servant of the darkest creature ever to live: Lord Voldemort.
"Harry. Sit up. Look at me."
Harry heard this last statement and adjusted himself painfully, but could not fully sit upright.
"Now, now, Potter, that is no way to show respect for your soon-to-be master. I said sit up." He flicked his wand and Harry was moved onto his knees, bowing before Voldemort, head tilted up to see the pale, grinning face. Harry shook violently, shivering with cold, pain, fear, and nerves. Nothing in his life could ever compare to the feeling of fear he had right now, as he stared into the glowing red eyes about to take the Dark Mark.
"Harry Potter. Do you swear to me eternal loyalty, that you will never betray me or your fellow Death Eaters?"
Harry resentfully lowered his head in a nod.
"And do you promise that you will follow me forever, no matter what the consequences or results?"
Again, Harry nodded, Voldemort's smile growing wider all the while.
"Promise me now that you will never falter, follow all my commands, and never tell a word of this to another living soul!"
"I..." Harry paused, unsure if he could make this final, fate-sealing commitment. "I...p-promise."
Voldemort did not continue immediately, apparently too happy and filled with unbelief. He seemed to be savored this moment, engraving it into his mind. He finally spoke again. "Harry, hold out your right arm."
There was a slight murmur of confusion amongst the Death Eaters. Voldemort explained to them why, but directed it to Harry.
"I am choosing the right arm so that I can tell you apart from all my other followers. I will always be able to tell which one you are no matter what disguise you are wearing. Now, hold out your arm so I can finally apply the Dark Mark!"
Slowly, regretting every movement, Harry weakly extended his arm to Voldemort. He reached out for it and took it into his own hands. Voldemort closed his crimson eyes and exhaled deeply, preparing for the final step. "Harry Potter. This is the greatest moment of my entire life, my entire quest for power. Soon you will permanently belong to me, something you will never regret. Are you ready for the final step?"
Harry nodded his head knowing that now, there was no turning back. Voldemort touched the tip of his wand to the center of Harry's inner right forearm. His scar began to burn madly, but Harry ignored it, not caring about it or anything else in the world anymore. All that mattered now was that he belonged to the most evil wizard of all time, and there was nothing to do about it.
Voldemort opened his mouth and whispered the spell through an evil, triumphant smile. "Morsmordre." An emerald green substance slowly came out of the tip of the wand and attached itself to Harry's skin. It swirled on the spot until it disappeared, absorbing itself into the flesh. Than, slowly, Harry watched in terror and shock that this was actually happening, as the jet black image of the Dark Mark appeared on his arm. Harry screamed in pain and horror as it burned into his flesh, his scar burning worse than ever before. The Death Eaters were laughing and cheering, Voldemort the loudest of all. The room began to spin then grow dark and silent as Harry fell to the floor clutching his arm. Everything just seemed to end, and Harry Potter was as good as dead.