A/N : Replying to serinityselena, life might improve, but both Harry and Severus might have to push through some more hardship before the could lay back and relax. Thanks hikaru117, they will find love, I guarantee that.
Chapter 14 : One Hell to Another
Harry was grateful that he had finally escaped the hands of Uncle Vernon, but no for long. Breaking out of the door of Privet Drive, he ran and breathed in fresh air for a moment before bumping into two men in black robes. "Sorry, sir," he apologized, eyes staring at the floor.
"RUN, POTTER!" Harry suddenly felt someone intrude into his mind, screaming for him to leave. Sensing danger, he looked up and locked eyes with a masked Death Eater. Mockery was plain in the Death Eater's eyes. Terrorized, Harry turned to run but it was too late. The other Death Eater grabbed him at his shoulder and apparated.
Harry stumbled and vomited, the sensation of side-along apparition too weird for him. Before he found his footing, he was slammed mercilessly onto the ground, causing some of his scabbed wounds to split open. Harry bit back a scream. He wasn't going to show weakness in front of Voldemort or his followers.
Finally, his view stopped swirling. Placing his hands at where he usually kept his wand, he groaned inwardly. Of course his wand wasn't with him, it was under the cupboard at Privet Drive. With no means to protect himself, he stared stubbornly into the sky, refusing to meet the glares of Death Eaters. After several seconds of awkward silence, a quiet 'pop' announced the arrival of Voldemort. He cackled.
"Dear, dear. Are you hurt? Did your drugged uncle hit you? Look at me, Harry." Voldemort lifted Harry's chin to meet his gaze. "It's none of your business," Harry spit. "Isn't it? Well, I guess it's mere coincidence that your uncle's client happened to be Lucius and was Imperiused to take drugs after meeting him." Harry's eyes almost bulged out. The question he had for the past weeks was answered. Uncle Vernon was under an Imperius curse. Harry' heart sank. How could they neglect the possibility of Voldemort approaching him through his relatives?
"Not wanting to acknowledge that Dumbledore isn't perfect, little fan? Too late to realize that now. Since you are here, why don't we have some fun before you meet Death?" Harry refused to give any response, although his heart was thumping madly. He wasn't afraid of dying, but how could he fulfil the prophecy if he died now? What will happen to the wizarding world? Will Dark gain ultimate control? He couldn't bear that thought.
Snape was more than panic when he saw the Death Eaters apparating away with Harry. Quickly, he sent a patronus to Dumbledore, stating the current circumstances. The Dark Lord had not summoned him, thus he didn't know where Harry was taken. For the first time ever, he found himself pleading for the Dark Lord summons. When he finally felt the Dark Mark burn, he sent another patronus to Dumbledore before apparating to the Dark Lord's side.
He was one of the first to arrive. Moments later, tenths of Death Eaters appeared around him. They formed a circle surrounding Voldemort, trapping Harry at the centre. He felt Harry trying to get eye contact with him, but he avoided, not willing to cause any further suspicions towards his loyalty. If possible, he would still strive to maintain his position as a spy.
"Good afternoon, my fellow Death Eaters. After much effort, we have finally captured Harry Potter here. Please feel free to join me in our little game. Crucio!" Voldemort watched Harry squirm with agony with a small sadistic smile on his face. Harry bit his lips, willing himself not to scream. The pain was tense, but it was still bearable, at least, for that moment.
Knowing that one Cruciatus curse would not make Harry break down, Voldemort motioned for Bellatrix to add another. "Crucio!" The pain was obvious, still, Harry hung on. Lucius joined in with another "Crucio!". A small moan escaped Harry's mouth. Tears were trickling down his cheeks but he refused to surrender. As long as he's alive, he would never bow to the Dark force. With a cruel snicker, Voldemort motioned Snape forward.
Snape knew Harry was barely suppressing his screams. Adding one more curse would push Harry past his breaking point. However, he was also aware that this was the Dark Lord's way of testing his loyalty. Uttering his apologies in his mind over and over again, he joined in. Harry finally cried out. Snape's heart shattered at that sound, but he held his curse strong.
"HARRY! Stop it you bastard!" Jets of red lights flew towards the Death Eaters. Lucius was hit by a Stunning spell before they knew what was happening. It turned out that Sirius came to rescue Harry. How did he know about Harry's danger, no one knew. Soon, spells and curses were trashed between Sirius and the Death Eaters. Voldemort was still holding his curse on Harry while eyeing the commotion with a raised eyebrow.
Harry had not heard Sirius' call, but he felt the pain he was experiencing fade away. Turning his head around, he saw a Killing curse that barely missed Sirius. "SIRIUS! What are you doing here! Leave now!" Harry was sure Sirius heard him, but he got no reply. Instead, Sirius fired more curses towards the Death Eaters. He got five of them down, but he was losing ground. Still outnumbered twenty to one, he knew he had no chance of living this place alive. He only hoped that Dumbledore got his patronus and sent members of Order quickly.
Suddenly, Voldemort dropped Harry to the ground. "Back away." The Death Eaters obeyed and Sirius found himself standing face to face with Voldemort. The hatred and venom was plainly written on his face. As fast as lightning, he started sending spells toward Voldemort, who blocked them with a mere flick of his wand. "Black is it? Would you like to join your stupid and useless best pals?" "Don't you dare speak about James and Lily!" Sirius bellowed. He knew it wasn't the best choice, but he couldn't contain his anger.
Knowing that death was seconds away, Sirius turned towards Harry, who was whimpering at the side, eyes filled with fear and anger. "Harry, I love you. Stay strong." The instant he finished, he was struck by a ray of green light. "Don't I dare?" Voldemort laughed.
Harry felt anger bubbling in him as he saw Sirius toppled backwards and fell to the ground. "SIRIUS! NO!" He pounced towards Voldemort and had actually got him for a second. However, Voldemort regained control fast. Harry was blasted off his feet and hit the ground with a thump.
The fury on Voldemort's face was obvious. A split second before Voldemort raised his wand, Snape knew what was going to happen. He was not going to allow that. "Avada Kedavra." A ray of green light struck towards Harry. Harry tried to skip out of the way, but his reflexes were too slow due to the aftermath of the combined Cruciatus curse. Closing his eyes, he waited for death to embrace him.
Instead, he heard gasps of shock. Snape had thrown himself in front of Harry, protecting him with his body. "NO…" Harry screamed. As much as he loathed Snape, we didn't want him to die for him. Not only so, he had actually grown fond of the Potions Master.
As if answering to his plea, the green light changed direction, hitting a nearby rock instead. "My, my. Owning up as the traitor, Severus?" It seemed that Voldemort wouldn't grant a traitor such an easy death. At least, it saved Snape's life for now.
"Sectumsempra. Crucio." Blood spilled out of Snape immediately as he started to scream and writhe in pain. Harry was at a loss of what to do besides staring at Snape, willing his pain to subside. Of course it didn't work. Harry was sure Snape was about to bleed to death when a strong spell radiated from behind him.
He turned just in time to see Dumbledore, McGonagall, Arthur and Moody heading towards them, blasting spells after spells towards the Death Eater. They did not try to overpower them. Instead, while Dumbledore and Moody held up Voldemort and the Death Eaters, McGonagall and Arthur grabbed Harry and Snape before apparating away. Dumbledore and Moody followed seconds later. Upon reaching Hogsmeade, Harry's adrenaline drained away, and he collapsed, unconscious.