Disclaimer: You recognise it? Then it is JK Rowling's.

Through the Furnace

Chapter Six Smoke Signals

Time is a strange element, it swept by quickly and dawn approached before Harry could register his fate.

Once more the stone trap door was opened Harry winced at the sound of stone grating on stone. Two burly men, whom Harry did not recognise slowly descended the steps and into the make shift prison. He had a bad feeling about these strangers. Both were wearing sleeveless leather jerkins with metal studs and loose fitting pants covered by leather boots.

Heavy heels clicked across the floor in unison, Harry swivelled his head back to the wall as a feeling of dread hit his stomach. He knew they had finally come for him.

Taking in deep steadying breaths as the men unclasped his wrists and hurled him to his feet, Harry subdued his panic. If the muggles were determined to kill him then at least he would go to his death with the dignity he could muster.

Wrists now bound behind his back and a man flanking each side Harry was propelled up the steps. He paused at the top where another two uniformed guards were waiting for him to appear. The bright light stunned him for a moment before the four men ushered him towards his certain death.

Godric Gryffindor ventured through the forest with a surprising stealth of a man his size. Being the only son of a minor lord gave Godric the chance to learn his hunting skills, it was a sport his father had been fond of. His skills had been further put to the test when his father realised the devil's trademark had been inherited by his son and Godric had been forced to flee his father's house.

Godric sniffed in annoyance, apparently the old man was now dead and the estate past over to an estranged cousin. There was nothing left for him to feel or dread at his father's name or family.

Sighing in resignation Godric turned to his task, the boy had evidently was not used to moving through a forest without leaving a trail. He smiled wanly, at least it had made his job a lot easier in tracking him.

Remus Lupin apparated without hesitation back into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. The members of the Order who were able to make it on short notice were already assembled at the kitchen table talking amongst themselves.

Silence reigned however once Remus made his entry. All eyes turned towards him.

"Well?" Kingsley Shackelbolt demanded. "What did you find?"

"Nothing," Remus replied automatically shaking his head and taking a seat absently: a chair which just happened to contain Tonks. Tonks squealed and Remus jumped out of his skin in fright.

"Nothing?" Molly Weasley inquired sternly as soon as Remus and Tonks had regained their composure. The matriarch of the Weasley clan looked like she was on the verge of becoming hysterical. "What do you mean you found nothing?"

"Well, I mean it wasn't exactly… nothing…" Remus stumbled.

"Out with it, wolf-boy," Tonks interjected playfully. "What trouble has young Mr. Potter found himself in this time?"

"I saw the Dark Mark."

Harry was lead by his captures through the open space of the village. Most of the little shops had been deserted so the occupants could no doubt witness the entertainment. Harry grimaced at the thought and threw his head up in open defiance. He would not let the muggles see him quaking in fear.

Finally they rounded the last bend and Harry saw just how many people had come to see him die. There were muggles everywhere, not just the men but their wives and children too.

Harry steadied his steps and made sure to move forward with a calmness he was not feeling inside. It was with a constant effort each footfall was deliberately placed so that he would not been seen to be faltering.

In the middle of the crowd was a small wooden platform where the priest was standing waiting. And central in the platform was a long thick stake to which branches had been piled up around the base.

The guards pushed Harry through the excited and mumbling crowd and then up, up, up the stairs. Rough hands turned him around so that he had no choice but to look at his morbid audience.

The priest slowly stepped forward and gestured to the guards to secure Harry.

Pushing backwards so that his feet were being scratched heavily by the vicious twigs that would serve as fuel and his back was against the stake, Harry had no option to fight.

Long thick chords of rope were twisted down his body, from his chest to just below his knee.

Harry leaned his head against the stake to calm his breathing.

"This boy here before us has defiled the law of nature. By the power invested in me by the grace of God I condemn him to death for his sin in partaking with the devil. May he burn in hell for all eternity…"

To Harry's right hand side he saw one guard advancing upon him with a burning torch. He flicked his head to his left side and found the same action happening.

The crowd was holding their breath waiting for the inevitable as the two torches came steadily closer and nearer at a slow solemn pace.

The tips of the torches lit the base of the twigs; Harry gasped and pulled himself backwards in the stake as if he could save himself. His gaze was glued downwards at the small flames flickering and glowing and they grew.

Harry's eyes started to water with the stinging smoke, he gasped and threw his head upwards to draw a breath of oxygen into his lungs. He had always hated camp fires.

But as he lifted his head, something caught his eye. Something decidedly crimson...

Then he started to scream in anguish…

"The Dark Mark!"

"Surely not!"

"You must be mistaken Lupin!"

"Harry?"

The kitchen at Grimmauld Place was instantly in an uproar once Remus Lupin made his grim announcement.

Remus sat quietly in a vacant chair and buried his face in his hands while he waited for the noise to ripple to a stop. A trembling hand touched his shoulder lightly. Remus glanced upwards and found himself staring into Tonk's large chocolate brown eyes. She didn't say anything to comfort him. Not only did her eyes communicated to him she understood they conveyed her own sense of helplessness.

"I was not mistaken," Remus said loudly so that everyone in the kitchen closed their mouths to listen. "But there was no sign of Harry, either."

Godric had tracked Harry all the way to a quiet sleepy village. Sighing he approached closer aware that if was recognised by any muggle he would find himself in danger.

He took great pains to be seen leisurely strolling as if he was not indeed in a hurry or eager to find someone. He realised soon however his pretence was not required. Contrary to normalcy no one was moving about the village. It was a beautiful day… inactivity was always a bad sign.

So without further dallying Godric crossed through the village quickly. Soon the smell of smoke and burning caught his nose and he began to run.

The flames were licking the soles of Harry's feet. Tears sprung to his eyes and trickled down his pale dirty cheeks. He had tried to choke down his screams but could not stop himself in his agony.

Burning was different to the cructiatus curse. His body was actually on fire. He could start to smell his burning flesh as the flames started to consume his feet and lower legs. His nerves were on fire. Harry choked once more trying to stop himself from vomiting violently.

And he tumbled into sweet oblivion and knew no more…

Author's Note: Don't stop that is not the end. Only a really evil cliffhanger. Please forgive I know this chapter is very short and choppy. Actually I didn't mind the choppy nature of scenes.