Disclaimer: Not mine. Burrowed only from the great JK Rowling – not that you didn't already know.
Through the Furnace
Chapter Seventeen. I Shall Fear No Evil
Like the cave where the fake soul of Voldemort lay, the rock face was covered over. This gave Harry a large lump of worry in the back of his throat. He wondered desperately trying to figure out what the problem was but all he knew was that he had a great sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach, which was now twisting and sliding around like a large serpent. His own words rung around in his skull 'it's a trap…a trap!' And all he wanted to do was to curl up and scream, or run…
Harry was vaguely aware of Godric lifting his sleeve where his unhealed cut was. He watched with a morbid fasincation as the lion founder smeared his blood on the rock and as the small slither of dim light filtered through.
Harry's scar twitched. But his deep emerald eyes were glued to the light. Somehow everything seemed wrong. He opened his mouth to scream a warning but all that came from his mouth was one pitiful squeak.
Snape turned to Harry at this point to see what the matter was but Harry seemed to be petrified and could not do anything.
Snape faced the front again as the rock finished completely opening. All Harry could do was watch as a well aimed curse hit his ex professor square in the chest. Snape reeled backwards with a grunt and spasm. Harry yelled while the founders fumbled for their wands.
A prickle under Harry knees alerted him to the fact he was not alone. Something wrapped itself around Harry's torso and squeezed tightly. Invisible hands searched Harry's pockets until his wand was found and thrown way towards the dementor hybrids.
There was a soft rustle of fabric and Harry's assailant became visible. "Drop your wands or I'll feed this insufferable Gryffindor brat to the Dark Lord's dementor friends."
"Malfoy," Harry gasped.
Malfoy's arms tightened involuntarily around Harry's chest squeezing out all the air in his lungs. "Yes, fancy meeting you here," Malfoy drawled before turning to the founders. "Drop them."
Slytherin alone looked unimpressed. "Don't the dementors affect you too?"
Malfoy leered almost gleefully and stretched one arm out to the dementor hybrids. "Malfoy, my friend," the creature hissed. "You may pass without harm."
"I am immune to any dementor that belongs to the service of my lord, my slippery friend," Malfoy sneered. "Little Harry here is not."
Godric slowly lowered his wand, while Harry found his ability to move and started shaking his head.
"Blast 'em to smitherins!" Harry cried.
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff lowered their wands also.
"I thought you might see it my way," Malfoy said almost pleasantly. He glanced momentarily at Snape's now unconscious form and tsked loudly. "You've made one too many mistakes Snape." With the flick of Malfoy's wand Snape was securely bound.
Slytherin still held his wand aloft, his usually expression face was disturbed by the wrinkle of fury on his brow. Harry could virtually see Slytherin's nostrils flaring as if daring Malfoy to bait him further. He stared at Slytherin willing the crafty snake founder to do something: anything!
"No?" Malfoy tilted his head to the side sounding pleased that Salazar was willingly disobeying him: too pleased if you asked Harry. "Well then…"
Malfoy's words hung in the air for a moment before his wand rested on the small of Harry's back. "Crucio physicalia!"
Pain erupted from somewhere deep inside Harry. Within moments he was writhing on the floor in agony screaming his lungs out. A brief image of a great clawed creature ripping his insides out flashed through his mind. He panicked as he felt his screaming become wet sounding and breathing especially laboured. The curse intensified before lifting.
Harry was left a trembling mass of sweat on the floor, vaguely aware of turning himself over and touching the corners of his mouth which were dipping dark red. He glanced in horror at the sight of his blood that was almost black against his fingers and then gagged.
"A progression up from crucio, my friends," Lucius Malfoy was telling his horrified audience. Harry's screams had even brought Snape back to consciousness. "But unlike the known forgivable crucio physicalia as its name replies is very physical. Attacking the internal organs stomach, lungs, liver, heart… unfortunately I could not hold the curse for a longer period of time as the Dark Lord wants Potter in a good condition. But that is relative as we all know."
"Lower your wand," Malfoy repeated to Slytherin in a voice that sounded much like velvet. "
Salazar looked down upon Harry with a sympathetic gaze. "I cannot allow," he murmured to himself and dropped his wand.
Harry watched the snake founder's wand drop effectively signing his death warrant. "Poor Potter," Lucius sneered. "I can't even promise you a quick death. Rest assured it will be slow and painful."
"I don't… fear… you," Harry exclaimed holding his splitting sides. "Or your… mas..master… you follow…like a…beaten..dog." Despite what Malfoy had said about the curse he was sure that there was damage done to his organs.
Godric gave Harry a truly affectionately look, like a master watching his apprentice completing a complicated skills competently for the first time. The gesture was not lost on Harry.
"We'll see," Malfoy leered. "We shall soon see how brave you truly are."
'
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'
Unfortunately Lucius Malfoy was more prepared than what Salazar Slytherin had credited the rich aristocrat to be. His plan to attack Lucius as soon as his back was turned was foiled by the seven death eaters which joined them from around the corner. Apparently they had been listening and waiting just in case Potter escaped like he had a habit of doing.
Salazar walked stiffly taking in with concern Harry's all too pale face, flushed cheeks and nose which had now started to bleed. On the other hand he was watching his companions looking for any inkling they had a plan. He mentally shrugged as usual it was obviously up to him to get them out of a sticky situation using all his wit and guile. The only thing he needed now was a plan…
Slytherin looked over the facts of the circumstances. Severus Snape obviously hadn't betrayed them. One he was still alive after making a Slytherin oath and two he was obviously as much a prisoner as any here. It seemed safe to say that Snape had somehow been discovered and lead into an ambush. Slytherin shook his head, the snide idiot had been so sure of himself. They all had been, expect for Harry who had told them this was a trap.
To Salazar's left side Harry tripped and nearly fell face first. Godric steadied him and glanced over and caught his friend's steady gaze as the death eaters laughed stupidly at Harry's plight.
Salazar's frowned deepened; there was nothing valid about laughing at a mere boy stumbling over his own feet after torture. That only made the snake founder swear he would wreck havoc amongst the death eaters very soon. Needless to say Salazar's mode of revenge was feared in his golden days of glory. He would by no means be merciful.
Salazar watched Godric tear his gaze away and squeezed Harry's shoulders: supporting the struggling boy as they were forced to march onwards. "I am proud of you; we all are," Salazar heard Godric whisper.
"I screamed…" Harry blinked furiously the crimson colouring in his cheeks showed his shame.
"It was torture it was suppose to make you scream," Salazar quipped dryly. "In my day even the most uncouth barbarian wizard wouldn't torture a boy who is not old enough to have facial hair."
Godric tightened his hold on Harry's shoulder. Salazar resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Godric was getting in his protective mood.
'These wizard's better pray to any deity they believe in that Godric does not have a chance to get his hands on a weapon,' Salazar thought. 'Looks like he won't be sated until he has taken down every single one of them single handily.'
Salazar didn't have much time to contemplate how to best rile Godric up safely to wreck havoc as they were soon ushered (or roughly pushed) through a set of large oaken doors.
Salazar paused and made a show of straightening his robe uncertainly and strode forward arrogantly.
"What is the meaning of this?" Salazar demanded.
A snake like man on an obsidian throne lifted his gaze to stare at the intruders. Poor Harry doubled over in pain.
"Ah, my most distinguished guessstsss."
Even Helga Hufflepuff shuddered at the coolness of this man-creatures whisper. Snape at all possible seemed to pale in the dim light.
The snake man languidly stood and suddenly strung to stand menacingly over Harry. "We should not forget to welcome dear Harry Potter to my fold. That would be remise of me… crucio…"
Salazar watched as dispassionately as he could as Harry writhed on the floor, his jaw clamped together so tightly that he was sure to be sore. 'Just scream, boy,' Slytherin thought watching the tiny beads of sweat on Harry's brow. 'Just scream no shall think any worse of you.'
Harry's screams of agony reverberated around the dank hall as if he had suddenly heard Slytherin's silent pleas. Apparently pleased the snake like thing stood taller and stepped away finished the curse. Harry lay panting on his belly his palms of his hands sweaty on the cold ground.
"Such a beautiful voice you have Harry, my dear old friend."
"I'm not your friend," Harry snarled almost shouting.
The dark wizard ignored him and stood over Slytherin. Slytherin being used to the bravado and tricks of intimidation he used on his own students did not recoil as planned.
"And who might my vocal guest be?"
"Salazar Slytherin," Slytherin answered dryly.
Crimson eyes studied Salazar for a moment before he lifted his head back and laughed. "Of course and this must be Godric Gryffindor muggle lover."
Godric growled in response but otherwise inclined his head. "And you?"
The snake thing laughed again. "Lord Voldemort, the one true heir of Slytherin."
Slytherin snapped to attention, knitted his brows together and looked Lord Voldemort up and down as if he was inspecting a botched potion. "You? My heir?"
"Where did you find these idiots, Harry? They are quite entertaining. Pity I have to kill them," Voldemort said lazily turning to where Snape was cringing in the corner.
Godric snapped his head up and glanced at Harry who was on his hands and knees making funny gestures. Slytherin also noticed.
First Harry made and noose around his neck pretending to hang himself. Then a movement with his hands like a writing serpent. 'Hang the snake?' Godric thought.
Slytherin moved closer to Godric's side and while Voldemort was not looking slide his hand carefully down Godric's calf and into his boot. He had seen the snake, its large diamond head protruding from under the throne. And he knew exactly what Harry wanted him to do. And Godric unknown to most had a second wand in case of emergency kept in the left boot.
Slytherin's long fingers found the wand and slowly slipped it beneath his own robes. Very cautiously he stepped around Godric and watched what Voldemort was doing.
Voldemort was standing over Snape his wand outstretched.
"Avada Kedavara!"
Enraged Voldemort turned around to see his beloved snake slumped on the stairs leading to his throne. His ruby eyes glowered at Slytherin who calmly lowered Godric's wand with a neutral expression.
Everything stood still painfully in the coming seconds.
Suddenly without warning Voldemort turned to Slytherin who was handing Godric's wand back. Better the lion founder have a weapon and let loose, in his opinion.
Gleefully Voldemort saw an opening. "Expelliarmus!"
But in his rage Voldemort's aim was slightly off. The wand flew through the air, in a graceful arc, before landing on the stone floor with a tinkle.
Harry scrambled to his knees in a futile attempt to beat the Dark Lord to Godric's wand.
Snape gathering his courage hooked his leg around Voldemort's feet and tripped him.
It all seemed to be happening too fast. Voldemort hit the ground with a thud, Snape reeled back in horror, Harry grabbed the wand and kicked Voldemort in the face to stop the Dark Lord from falling on top of him!
For the brief moment Harry was frozen. He seemed to be looking on a Voldemort looking for his own wand it all seemed surreal. Clumsily he stood shaking on wobbly legs, wand outstretched pointing at the centre of Voldemort's brow.
"No more shall you haunt me," Harry whispered.
Voldemort's lipless mouth creased into a mirthful scowl. "You can't kill me Harry I'm…"
"Avada Kedavara!"
A green light burst forth from Godric's wand. The thin beam hit Voldemort's third eye, crimson eyes stared cold and lifeless up at Harry as if in shook.
"You're mortal," Harry murmured thickly. Thanking his lucky stars that Hermione and the others had the sense to destroy the necklace and Dumbledore's hunch about the snake was correct. "I'm free."
The movement around Harry became hazy and thick. The sound seemed to be coming far way and Harry could not look away from the body of Lord Voldemort. The room spun wobbly on its axis and the dark cold floor came up to meet Harry.