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The Bond

By MissBlackPotter

Chapter 14

Between Life and Death

Part One

"Where am I?" James said allowed as awareness gathered. He found himself laying down, blackness surrounding him. There was no such room like this in any place he had ever seen. His memory seemed to be blank, but then something seeped into his brain. The poisonous words….

ADDUCO ACER VASTO AEGRITUDO!

Immense pain had followed.

Slowly his brain began to work and he realised the meaning of the spell.

"To bring pain upon the mind." He said allowed. Swallowing he let the meaning sink in. He knew what had happened. He was trapped in his mind and he could not get out. And while his body fought the spell his mind would die. He was bringing death to his body by existing in his mind, and he could not leave, even when he tried to force himself to. He was trapped.

There was nothing he could do.

The sun shone through the window, bringing Harry out of his dreamless state. He blinked sitting up in the comfy bed. Yawning, he swung his legs over the side and proceeded to get dressed. He gathered his pack and went downstairs where the smell of bacon drifted from the kitchen. As he entered he found Neville already sitting there, tucking into a glorious English breakfast.

"You may as well have a filling breakfast now." Augusta said as she placed a plate in front of Harry.

"Thanks."

Within half an hour Ron and Hermione had joined them, and after eating Harry made some last minute checks and then they set off, after saying farewell to Augusta Longbottom, who hugged Neville for a full five minutes before he could squirm himself away.

They walked through fields and along roads, squirting the edges of towns and villages before Harry announced they were taking a PortKey. Once again he had sent a letter to the Minister the night before and informed him of where he was going. The Minister had complied by placing Port Keys for Harry around the country to the various places he had selected for Horcruxes.

The Port key was hidden within a bush and was wrapped in a tiny piece of paper. The Port key itself was a small muggle pen. The four of them placed their fingers on it, and within seconds felt the force of gravity hurl them forwards.

As they landed Harry felt butterflies launch in his stomach. He hoped that here would be where his first Horcrux would be.

Looking around, he got the shivers as a terrible darkness seemed to loom over him.

The valley loomed over him.

He found that he still had his wand tucked away in his robes. James glanced around, lighting his wand so that he could at least see. The darkness closed in, and from the shadows a voice echoed. His heart almost stopped as a large shape entered his vision.

A man in black robes, red eyes gleaming, but it was not Voldemort. It was the person who had sent him into his own mind. James stumbled back, horror flitting through him.

What was going on?

The man stepped forward and then lunged. James raised his arms…

Narcissa looked up. Her eyes locked with Remus' as he sat down. Draco was speaking to the headmaster. She had been left alone, tears had fallen as she had thought of her husband. The thought that he was now dead….made her feel sad.

"How are you coping?" Remus asked gently.

She shrugged. "Alright, I suppose. It's hard to comprehend."

Remus nodded. "I know it is, especially when you lose someone you love." He smiled gently as if remembering. "Can you tell me about your attacker?"

Narcissa frowned. "I've never seen him before. The Dark Lord never told anyone who his death eaters were. That was to prevent anyone from betraying him." She bit her lip. "But the man who attacked me, he reminded me of Voldemort, himself. It seems that…that he appeared after my cousin died."

Sirius…

"But I hardly doubt that is the reason why he appeared. No way does this man relate to Sirius at all. There was one thing though."

Leaning forward, Remus demanded to know.

"The attacker had Sirius' wand and he used it as if it was his own. He was very well acquainted with it."

"Hmmm, interesting. I wonder why…"

"Do you have any idea?" she asked.

Shaking his head, Remus said, "I'm afraid I do not. But I intend to find out."

They scrambled down the bank, their trousers muddy and wet when they came in contact with the flat ground that echoed out into valley. A slight mist circled to their knees and a sense of foreboding filled the air. Harry raised his wand, motioning the others to follow him. He knew that the valley had brought death on people before but he had to go through it.

"I can't breathe."

Harry whirled.

Hermione was clutching her chest, her face was white, and she was trying her hardest to breathe but no breath seemed to come. Harry grabbed her, trying to steady her, and then she began to breathe.

He took his hand away and her breath came in ragged gasps and he quickly grabbed her hand again.

"It's as if you can breathe when I am here." Harry murmured.

Hermione was taking a deep breathes. "It can't affect you."

"Why not?" Harry frowned.

"The prophecy. Voldemort has to kill you, no one else can. This darkness can't kill you, but it can kill us, but somehow because you are touching me, your strength is helping me breathe."

"Right. This is complicated."

"You can't afford to take all of us?" Neville said.

Harry nodded. "I can't hold onto all three of you."

"Then Ron and I won't go." Hermione said. "Neville can stay with you."

"Alright." Relented Harry. He didn't like the idea but he might need help. Though he would prefer Hermione, he realised she was thinking on the lines of the Prophecy. If it could've referred to Neville - and Harry did have a feeling that Neville played a part in the downfall of Voldemort - then this might be it.

Reluctantly he escorted Ron and Hermione back to the edge of the mist, and watched them climb to the top, then taking hold of Neville by the shoulder he steered them both into mist, heading deeper into the valley, looking for the Horcrux.

Remus looked at James' postpone form. He wondered what had happened to cause him to be like this. Narcissa hadn't been there to see what curse had been placed on him…but, by the looks of things it looked like it had something to do with the mind.

There is a spell…

What he was thinking of doing was considered highly dangerous and was illegal. Entering someone's mind - by physically making yourself appear there - could land him in Azkaban. It was an ancient spell, one that Wizards in Egypt had once used to control their slaves. The spell could be used as a form of mind control, and it would allow Remus an amount of time to appear inside James' mind where his consciousness was and war with it to wake up.

If it worked he could save James.

But was it worth the risk?

Of course it is! I shouldn't even have to ask myself that!

Taking his wand from his pocket, Remus placed his wand on his head:

"Conscientia," here he traced a shimmering blue line to James's head and finished with: "Transfero!"

Immediately he felt his eyes closing and his body slumping forward. He felt himself flying through the air before darkness surrounded him, engulfing him into the terror of James Potter's mind.

The Dark Lord had not been happy that his new weapon had failed to kill Narcissa and James Potter, but at least he had set Potter on the road to death.

"My lord." The Dark Man bowed low.

"My servant." Voldemort drawled. "You have a new mission."

"Anything, my master." Once again he bowed.

"You are to go to Hogwarts. Use your knowledge of the castle's passageways to infiltrate the hospital wing and kill James Potter. I cannot risk anyone entering his mind. If you find someone there, destroy them too. If you have a chance, track down Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. Kill her son while she watches, and then kill her. Bring me their heads. Do you understand me?"

"I do, my lord. It will be my pleasure to spill their blood and stain the noble halls of Hogwarts."

TBC

A/N) There you go part 1 of Life and Death. Lots of things are happening in the next few chapters, so stay tuned. Updates are coming. I'm going away in a few days for a week and then I've got Easter holidays for two and half weeks, so I'm planning on writing a lot and getting a big chunk of this story completed. Please stay tuned.

I will post the next chapter sometime in the easter holidays depending on how much school work I get done. I have got exams in May/June so the workload is going to get heavy, but I'm trying my best to update whenever. Thank you everyone!

Have a good Easter!

MissBlackPotter