11th September 19:03

Navigating the cramped stone crawl space without wandlight was, as Arthur told himself through gritted teeth, bloody hard. He kept himself far from the left side of the shaft, the side that ran parallel to the Row. He didn't want the ruffling of his robes against the stone to give him away as he carefully crept down the darkened shaft.

He ignored the rat that scampered away in the distance and the very distinct odour of vermin in general. In a way, it was a relief. It meant that no one bothered to maintain the space and that neglect meant he could risk this gambit again. He had to clean the filth off his robes the last time, removing any trace of his foray into what was perceived as the most secure place in the wizarding world.

He tapped the large inner pocket of his robes, reassuring himself that the recording device that Hermione told him would work was still secure. A dictaphone she had called it. The device would playback audio and record it. Harry might not be able to talk, but he'll be able to listen and that's the point.

He approached where he had come last time, his heartbeat increasing. His back was already hurting from crouching in an awkward position. He was hardly a spring chicken. This kind of espionage was a younger man's game, but he was the one with the Ministry job, the one who could be seen on the premises and not get instantly arrested.

He could hear something, movement through the wall. He held his breath, strengthening his nerve. As he drew closer, he realised he could hear a lot of movement. Agitated movements. Irregular and desperate.

He inched closer, his robe brushing against the wall as he reached into his pocket.

"Still can take more? Very well."

Arthur's breath froze in his throat at the voice. Harry's not alone? He leaned towards the wall, still holding his breath. Icy realisation cut through his shock.

Harry was being tortured. Right then and there.

Harry made a loud sound. Arthur flinched away at the sound, letting out his breath, feeling an intense surge of horror. It had been a cry of pain.

"You can't hide your pain from me. Your body will betray you, despite how strong your will is."

Arthur knew that creepy voice. Augustus Rookwood, one of the unspeakables and also one of the Death Eaters that had miraculously been released from prison after the coup.

Another loud cry. Arthur reflexively went to grab his wand, anger blazing through him at the sound of Harry's suffering. He wanted to blast down the wall, tear it apart with magic and fire, then wrap his hands around that man's neck. His horror and anger at hearing the torture ripped his reason from him.

The sounds of Harry's torment stopped; the curse lifted. Arthur could hear Harry's breathing through the wall. He was clearly in a lot of pain and was trying to steady himself. Arthur winced and reached for the dictaphone in his pocket, remembering Hermione's words. If he wanted to record new audio, he had to press the button with the red dot. If he wanted to stop the recording, it was the button with the square.

Rookwood might give me information here. Essential information. We have so little as it is.

He let out a sigh and waited for Rookwood to speak so he could disguise the sound of the record button.

"Your will and your magic are strong. I will not deny that. I am not fooled by your youth and inexperience. You are a Potter through and through."

Arthur pressed the record button, wincing at the click, then he frowned at the exchange. He knew Rookwood from back in the old days and remembered that he'd always been a talker. It was why he had been so successful at recruiting followers in the Ministry. He knew people, knew how to charm them, how to influence them. He never expected to hear the charm coming from a cell as he tortured a young boy.

"I knew your parents… your family," Rookwood said, startling Arthur even more. He heard a loud sound from Harry, a strangled yell. He felt a surge of affection and respect towards the boy on the other side of the wall. He was furious.

"And like your father, I know you will fight to the bitter end." Another loud sound from Harry. "But to hide your pain from me is foolish. Do you think your pride matters? I just told you how impressed I am by you. Exercising your newly healed vocal chords will not change my opinion."

Horror flooded Arthur at the implications. Harry had damaged his voice… how?

Rookwood sighed "Crucio."

Arthur screwed his eyes shut as he heard Harry's body thud into the stone and then writhe. He heard Harry contain his pain, holding back his screams, giving out groans in short bursts as he was tormented by unbearable agony. Arthur knew that Harry was trying hard to not show his pain.

It went on for a few seconds, then the sound of his suffering stopped.

"You don't have the stamina to keep this up." Rookwood drew closer, voice growing in volume as he neared. He glanced down to see the tape-wheels spinning. It was working.

"I can see the strain." Rookwood did something and Harry grunted. There was a rattle from his chains, an audible thump. "You are at your absolute limit. You know it. I know it. You think I can't see the defeat in your eyes? I don't need legilimency to see it. I know what I'm looking for.

There was movement, followed by a pained gasp. Arthur's hand tensed around the dictaphone at the sound of Harry being hurt. "Look at you. You're injured, exhausted. You tested the confines of your prison with your little stunt earlier and found just how trapped you are, didn't you? Coming to terms with the inevitable at last."

Harry tried to escape?

Arthur felt a thrill at the news. If Harry was attempting to escape, it meant that he hadn't given up. He was fighting with everything he said. Which, Arthur realised, was just what Rookwood had said to him when he compared him to his father.

Oh Harry, I can't imagine how that must have felt to be compared to your dad by this man.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to punish you for your attempt. I see that Yaxley has already done enough." There was a high sound, like a strangled yelp. Arthur flinched at the sound Harry had made. "And that it very much hurts. I'm curious what you said to him to make him go to such extreme lengths."

"Hmm… this one-sided conversation is getting a little tedious. Shall we continue? Crucio!"

Arthur pressed his head into the wall, trying to block out the very audible sounds of Harry thudding himself against the wall, almost as if he was trying to break through to escape the pain. Then he heard his cries of pain up in intensity.

"Starting to drop that composure now I see." Rookwood said. "Let's do this a little longer this time, hmm?"

The seconds stretched on. Arthur tried his best not to make any sound. He gripped the dictaphone in his hand.

Harry's groans pitched up, getting louder as the curse went on. Arthur had heard sounds of pain before, but this was the worst thing he'd ever heard. He heard Harry's fingers scrabbling on the stone, his fingernails digging for escape. He heard the chains rattling as he convulsed.

"You managed a minute before. Let's see what happens when you endure two."

Arthur stared down at the thing in his hand, but he couldn't see the buttons. He couldn't risk a lumos, so close to a Death Eater. He didn't want to record this.

Nothing was said for a long while. There was only Harry's pain, his thrashing, his barely contained cries of pain that vibrated through the stone. Then all of a sudden, his control cracked and horrible strangled sounds of agony tore out, high-pitched and guttral.

"There we are! Let's hold this for a little more."

Harry couldn't control himself. His chains thrashed. The sounds he were making sounded mostly animalistic, shrieking in agony and fear. Arthur felt physically sick and nearly was sick. His hands were sweating. He wanted so desperately to explode that cell to pieces, but he knew that doing so would not only get him in trouble, but they would move Harry to a new location, maybe even killing him.

Harry's strangled screams died abruptly. The silence was heavy. Arthur leaned in, listening for Harry's breathing. He heard it, faintly.

"Wake up," Rookwood snapped, and there was a slap as he hit Harry on the face. Harry must have passed out as he gave a gasp, thudding against the wall.

"Let's have a look at you," Rookwood said heavily. There was some movement. Harry gave a gasp. "Few more scars there… hmm… enough cruciatus for tonight."

Arthur let out a gasp of relief. No more torture to overhear.

"You'll need all the rest you can get. It's another day on the veritas quaesitor for you tomorrow."

Harry gave a weak sound in response, but Arthur barely heard it.

Veritas quaesitor.

He knew what it was. It had been impossible for him to not know, working in the department he did. He knew about all the relics that had been locked away, deemed too dangerous. The veritas quaesitor was certainly dangerous and if they had been using it on Harry, then…

It's a miracle I haven't been arrested. But, if they're planning on using it again, it must mean that they know Harry has more information for them to extract. They'll keep interrogating him until they get everything!

"Ah that reminds me, I have a gift for you from Yaxley," Rookwood said. There was the sound of robes rustling, then the crinkle of parchment. "I'll open it for you… don't worry. Well? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot about your eyesight."

That meant Harry was still without glasses. Arthur picked up on the information.

There was a pause, then a loud angry noise from Harry. He trashed his chains against the wall. Whatever he had been made to read, it clearly agitated him.

"It'll be printed in the paper tomorrow, but as you don't have access to it, Yaxley thought you'd like the exclusive news first. It is about you, after all. Looks like you'll go down a little in the public's eyes when they know what a little murderer you are."

Harry made a growling sound, wordless and, the sound bursting through the wall and making Arthur jump. The sound had been pure rage.

"Oh I felt that. Your magic is manifesting itself. Only the most powerful wizards can project their energy, you know."

Another growl, low, menacing. Arthur had never heard Harry make a noise like that. It made his stomach clench. He then heard the sound of parchment being rolled up.

"I'm glad that it entertained you. At least you know how long you have left here. You of course know that this is just a formality. There will be no dementor's kiss for you. The Dark Lord is far more… imaginative."

That sick bastard. Arthur felt his own rage building up, burning his face.

"I'm done here for the night then," Rookwood said. "Rest well." The Death Eater retreated, the sound of his robes fluttering as he moved away. Arthur listened for the sound of the door. He heard it slam shut.

He quietly cast a silencing charm around him, but not on the wall so he could hear Harry and Harry could hear him.

He knew Harry was alone because he heard a furious cry, followed by him smashing his shackles against the wall. Arthur didn't know how to interrupt, so he just went out with it.

"Harry, it's me."

A strangled yell of surprise and fear burst out of him at the sound of the voice whispering through the wall behind him. He twisted around, pure panic flushing through his poor, agonised body. He thought Rookward was back, ready to plunge him into the worst pain he'd ever experienced again.

His cell was still empty. He covered every inch of the space with just a glance. No one was here. Just him.

"Harry, can you hear me?" The voice said again. This time, Harry didn't lose himself to his panic. He shifted his feet around, latching onto that small slither of strength he had left that he managed to tuck away from Rookwood's relentless curse. His legs trembled under him, but they held him up as he inched up the wall, tears coming to his eyes as he eased the pain from his wrists. His broken hand seared with agony, but it was a constant pain.

Arthur was back. At first, he felt an incredible rush of emotion. He came back! The man risked discovery just so he could show Harry that he wasn't alone. But then he realised that Arthur must have been hiding in the shaft while Rookwood had been in the cell with him, waiting for the chance to speak to him. He felt his face heat with shame.

"I'm… so sorry," he heard the man mumble into the stone at his back, "what you're going through right now. No one deserves it, Harry… you're so incredibly brave."

Harry struggled to process the words, thinking only of his shame. That he'd given into the pain and shown weakness.

"Harry… can you hear me?" Arthur whispered urgently. Harry closed his eyes, wanting to break down and give into the despair, but he had to keep going. He had to show Arthur that he was still in the game, even if weakened. He still had his mind intact, miraculously.

He took a steadying breath and hit the wall with his left arm. The signal that he had heard.

"Harry, listen… I'm really sorry about this. You'll… feel angry at me, I'm sure. I deserve it." Arthur started to say, sounding very shame-faced. Harry frowned, feeling a prickle of alarm. "Hermione… oh wait. Ron and Hermione are safe and with us, Harry. We're all safe. I'm sorry, I should have led with that. Bloody hell, Arthur," he hissed at him myself.

Harry gave a shuddering gasp at the news. He slid down the wall an inch, broken hand screaming at the movement. His eyelids flickered at the pain, breath catching.

"Well… anyway, you see I have a lot of muggle knick-knacks in my shed, as you know, and Hermione picked through them to see if there was a way that I could… well... gather information while I'm down here. She said that there is equipment that can record sound and voices - not just that - but play them back."

Harry listened, feeling a sick feeling rising in his stomach. No… no he didn't. He didn't record what was going on in here… please no.

"As you're unable to speak… and I heard him talking in there, so… Harry, I'm so sorry. If I'd known how bad it was going to be, I would have never… I'm… I'm sick with myself."

Harry gasped, feeling a surge of humiliation and embarrassment crashing into him. It was bad enough that his dignity had been entirely torn asunder, but to have people witness to it, it was too much.

"He… he gave really valuable information that we can use to help. I know… for instance… that you've been given a date. We have time to get you out!" Harry didn't want to open his eyes. He wanted to fade away, dissolve into dust and shadow. He could just hear Yaxley's words. There is no escape.

"I… I didn't just bring it to get intel. I… have a message. From Ron and Hermione. On a different tape." Arthur said. Harry heard him shuffling around. "Good grief, this dictaphone is fiddly." Harry felt dazed. They recorded him a message. He was going to hear their voices. He didn't know if he'd be able to handle it.

I can give them a message back! He thought suddenly.

"Uh so what I do is… stop recording this one, remove it with this button. Wait… that's the power button. Oh that was close!" Harry listened as Arthur tried to work it out.

While Arthur was trying to work out the functions of a dictaphone, Harry strained himself onto his tip-toes. Earlier, while he waited in his misery for Rookwood to arrive for his nightly visit, he tried to see if he could remove the silencer while in his chains. That he managed with one hand earlier inspired him, but reaching his head with his wrist shackled proved to be a hard task. He ended up making himself cry with pain with how much he'd hurt his broken hand.

He knew that if he was found in the morning with it off what the consequences would be, but right now, two broken hands were worth the cost. If he could speak to his friends one last time, even like this, it was worth anything. Hands, feets, everything.

Arthur was still puzzled over the dictaphone. He dropped it at one point. Harry huffed in pain as he jumped up, left hand grasping at his own hair. He had no idea how this looked. Probably like he'd lost his mind. He tried again

"Harry, are you alright?" Arthur asked, alarmed. He must have heard Harry's efforts through the wall. Harry jumped at the voice, losing his grip. He let out a sound of frustration. He banged his shackle on the wall to indicate he was okay, well far from it but he needed to concentrate.

He lurched himself upright on shaky knees and his left hand seized the strap. He choked immediately as the bottom strap dug into his throat. He hadn't expected this part. He quickly groped for the buckle, flicking the metal with his fingernails. Then it suddenly opened and fell away. He dropped to the ground, slumping against his chains, which caused a gasp of agony from him.

"Harry! What… what are you doing to yourself?" Arthur sounded loud, alarmed. Harry flinched at the sound.

"It's alright… keep your voice pants on," he said back, then blinked. He hadn't expected to say that out loud.

"H… Harry? How… did you?"

"Yes… it's me. Uh, yeah that was more… ow… more difficult than I thought it would be… ow!" He added when his hand seared with pain. Then his head throbbed at the exertion, head spinning for a moment. "Oh… wait just a minute, whew."

"Won't they… notice?" Arthur asked haltingly. "Harry, if you get into trouble…"

"Oh I'll definitely get into trouble. I know what I'm doing," Harry said firmly, but he felt a cringe of terror at the thought. "It's worth it… look, keep it recording for a second. Then… I'll listen to the other one. You can then switch over and I can give them a response."

There was a pause on the other side. Harry strained his head around, listening for the man.

"Oh… yes, that's brilliant. This muggle stuff is just brilliant… really." Harry felt a ghost of a smile appear on his face at Arthur's familiar excitement over anything muggle. "Right so here's the tape with Ron and Hermione's message so I press this and it ejects…"

"W… wait," Harry said, pressing his face against the wall, expecting that it would make his voice louder on the other side. He didn't dare raise his voice. He had no idea if they'd be able to hear him or if the silencing charms worked both ways. "Not yet." He swallowed. His throat was so dry. He'd been given extra water earlier, the brutish Sabor telling him that no one wanted him to lose his 'singing' voice. After he'd drank the extra ration, they healed his throat.

"This… is my only chance to give you stuff," Harry whispered, "You… the Order. I have… information."

"Yes but Harry, I can't expect you to… you're going through enough right now. I don't want to tire you out."

"Please… let me do something useful." He didn't mean it to come out so demanding. He was talking to his best friend's dad, ordering him around. "I got myself in this mess. I should at least make something out of it."

Arthur didn't respond for a few moments. "I really am sorry about recording you earlier… I overstepped."

Harry felt his jaw tense in frustration. He didn't have the time for this discussion. "I understand why you did it," he said quickly, "I'm not very comfortable about it, but… I'm not comfortable about a lot of things at the moment." He paused. He hadn't meant to say that either. His self-control was all over the place.

"Um, are there any side effects to truth magic?" He asked, cautiously. He heard a faint sigh.

"Vertiaserum no… but what they're using on you is no mere potion, Harry. Its magic is very old and very powerful. I wouldn't be surprised if you're feeling a few lingering effects. Don't worry, though Harry. I would never share anything you tell me here with anyone you don't want me to. I give you my word."

Harry felt a rush of gratitude towards the man that was risking not just his life, but his family's as well, just to come to him. He gave a sigh. Yes, Arthur had his best interests at heart. The man had looked after him even when he had barely anything to give.

"Alright… thank you, Mr Weasley." Harry heard a wry chuckle.

"I think we're beyond that now. Call me Arthur," he said. Harry felt a tug on his mouth. "You… I know I said it last night, but I really am proud of you." His words were meant to comfort and bolster Harry, but they did the opposite. The hint of a smile was gone in a flash.

"You shouldn't be… before I'm done here, I will betray you and your family," he said bleakly, the truth coming out of him before he could drag the words back in.

"Truth magic isn't a new threat, Harry. We know the risk when one of us falls into Death Eater hands. We'll manage - and never think you are betraying anyone. Everyone knows how much this fight means to you," Arthur insisted. Harry felt his eyes prickle with tears again. He needed to hear that.

"Th… thank you," he said.

"It does mean that… well… I won't be able to return. At least, not this way." Arthur said haltingly.

"I know. It's okay. I'll be moved in five days anyway."

"W… what?" Arthur asked, shocked.

"Um… when did you arrive back there? How much of what R-Rookwod said did you hear?" Harry asked, then he shook his head a little. "It doesn't matter as it'll be printed in the paper tomorrow."

Harry licked his lips and instantly regretted it. His lips responded to the moisture with intense stinging. He flinched at the sudden pain. It distracted him from the question and he took a moment to remember what he'd been asked. Then it came back and he felt a wave of cold. He shifted a little against the wall at the memory of the words he'd been forced to read.

Cold anger returned to him, clenching his starving stomach, wrenching into his insides like a vice.

"He… he showed me my sentence," he said finally, "signed by the Right Honorable Pius Thicknesse himself." His voice was bitter and hard. "I expect the full, formal thing will be printed word for word." His insides still burned with cold fury at the thought of it. "The… uh… event is scheduled for 16th September, so five days. I don't know if they'll bother to pretend or what. R-Rookwood did say that something else was in mind. Maybe Vol-"

"No… no Harry. Don't say the name."

"Sorry…"

"No, it's not that. They've made the name taboo. If you say it, they know. They can trace you with it. Kingsley and Remus both have had encounters with Death Eaters because of it."

Harry absorbed this news with surprise. I've been throwing the name about all the time before now… oh no, when the Death Eaters found us in London. That was actually my fault!

He blanched. And I just nearly got Arthur caught with it.

"Oh wow… that was pretty close then," he remarked, gasping with shock.

"Five days," Arthur said quietly, "I admit, it's not a lot of time, but it's better than nothing. We'll work o-."

"No, don't tell me anything!" Harry burst out, then winced at how loudly he'd spoken. He stared at his door, tensing, expecting it to open.

"O… oh," Arthur said as he realised why Harry had stopped him. Harry kept his eyes on the door, but there was no scrape of the key. He sagged with relief, but kept tense. Keep quiet!

"Sorry… but you have to keep me in the dark. Anything I know can be taken out of me, by the quaesitor and… later." Don't think about that! "Now I think about it, if they suspect that I've spoken to anyone, I can't lie about it… oh well, it's not like they can arrest me again." Harry gave a laugh at the dark humour. "Just make sure your lot are safe and somewhere I don't know about."

"We'll be fine, Harry," Arthur insisted, "we'll just make the most out of this, okay?"

"Yeah… okay. So information," Harry looked around his cell, thinking rapidly, sliding a little further down the wall as his strength continued to fade. "Ah… ow." His hand gave a violent stab.

Think! Imagine that you're on the other side of the wall. What information would they need to plan something, anything. They'd need information about the security, who has access, the threats. Probably my health as well…

"There are five guards outside in the hallway," he began, "not Death Eaters, some clearly in their pockets. They answer to Yaxley… you know, Yaxley."

"Yeah, we know about him. He has the Minister under the Imperious curse."

"Oh, well that makes a lot of sense." Harry said, but shook his head. He can't get distracted.

"The head guard has a key to my cell. His name is Sabor. He's not a Death Eater either, but he is a nasty piece of work."

"Good, Harry. Names are good." Arthur encouraged him.

"There's another man who they use. He's called Berrick. I don't… don't think he's like the others. They have control over him, likely threatening him. He's the only one that's treated me...well… you know. Like he's actually decent."

"He comes in to give me water. It's… not a lot. I was given more today than yesterday, but I guess it's just enough so I… I stay alive. Doubt Vol- you-know-who would be pleased if I perished from thirst." He gave a wry, mirthless chuckle. "No food. I guess if I'm meant to be killed in five days, I don't need it to live."

"Sweet Merlin…" he heard the whisper. No, he couldn't hear sympathy right now. He had to keep going.

"I've only come into contact with two Death Eaters," Harry said, "and they're pretty confident that I can't get out. I… tried earlier."

"What happened?"

"They messed up," Harry gave a small laugh, "I pretended to be unconscious when they took me off the quaesitor. My hands were free. They… said some things." He swallowed, remembering what had driven him over the edge. "And it just flipped me over the edge and my magic went wild. I managed to get them to let go of me. I… I got hold of a wand."

"What… how?"

"It was on the floor. Umbridge was…" Harry paused. "I'll get to that."

"Okay… keep going."

"I was wearing the… silencer and I thought that was it. No voice, no magic, no escape," he pushed those words out his mind. He'd been repeating them to himself over and over while he waited in solitude. "But then, it just came to me and I was duelling Yaxley. I didn't think… it was instinct."

"Yaxley beat me pretty easily when he caught me mid-apparation… but this time was different. And there were two other guards."

"You… held them off, alone and weakened? Merlin, Harry…"

"It's not that impressive," he said defensively, "I got stupid. I tried to run. I… didn't think that there would be silencing charms in the chamber. The moment I got into the hallway, it was eight-on-one."

"If I'd held my ground and dealt with the three, then went into the hallway… ah no, I could hardly stand after just a few minutes, I wouldn't have made it… anyway, Yaxley told them to barricade the door and that he'd finish it. Which he did."

"Harry… what did they do to you after this?" Arthur asked, his voice scared.

"I… don't want to…"

"I know, but if you're injured in any way, we need to know." Arthur said, his voice kind, understanding… and reasonable. It was sound logic.

"He… broke my hand. My wand hand," he said.

Arthur was silent, then there was a bang behind him. Harry twisted around wildly. "If… if they hear you back there…" Harry whispered, panicked.

"I'm sorry, Harry. Don't worry… I cast silencing charms, well, here. Oh… I see what you mean."

"I don't know if the silencing charms on my door go both ways. I thought they might do… but I have no way of knowing."

"I'll be more careful. I just… can't believe someone would do that to a kid."

"I can," Harry said, "but… anyway, broken bones are easily fixed, right?" There was no response to that, so Harry just continued. "And about the wand. It was Umbridge's. She interrupted my in-interrogation because… Hermione's charm failed so she knew what we had taken. I… I already confessed to it at that point…oh… I'm sorry…" The misery of that failure returned again. "But… but Yaxley doesn't know enough yet. I imagine if he knew exactly what we'd stolen and what I know about Voldem- you-know-who," he very nearly said it, "he would have called him there and then. I'm not sure though."

"Anyway… I'm sure Hermione will tell you why that's important. I tried… tried to warn Umbridge… I don't know why. She was still all 'Potter is devious' and all that. But Yaxley let her hear about who the locket belongs to and then killed her for her involvement in it. I… had to watch."

"That mustn't have been easy."

"Not really, no," Harry admitted. "But I don't know how much longer I can stall Yaxley. I tried… to convince him that if he takes too much information from me, V-you-know-who will kill him. I mean, that much is true. Ah… yeah, you should probably know that. Dumbledore told me a lot of his secrets, ones that no one knows. Knowing them is a death sentence. When he finds out that his greatest secret is known by not just Dumbledore and me, but known to my friends…" Harry shivered. "I expect when he finds out, he'll take it out on me and whoever's close."

"We are going to get you out before that happens…"

"No, please… look. I know you want to assure me that I'm getting out of this alive, but there is a very real possibility that you can't. I'm not saying it's impossible… but please, don't do something reckless. If anyone dies because of my stupidity…" He closed his eyes. "It would be worse… so much worse… than dying."

Arthur didn't say anything, but Harry could hear him moving behind the wall. He expected that his words had hit home.

"I would feel the same way," Arthur said eventually. Harry nodded, giving a surge of affection towards the man. Of course he would. "And don't say that about yourself. You're not to blame for this, Harry. You were pulled out of apparation… you're lucky he didn't rip you in half."

Harry gave a laugh. "That would be a pretty lame way to go."

"I guess," Arthur gave a sigh. "I'm sorry to say this, but we are getting short of time."

"Oh… of course," Harry blinked. "I… don't think there's anything else… maybe it'll come to me when I hear the messages."

"Okay, Harry. You… you gave me a lot of stuff…" Arthur clicked the dictaphone to stop. Harry heard it. He then listened to the man fiddle around with the device.

"The… bit you recorded of me with R-Rookwood," Harry said suddenly, remembering what was on the tape that Arthur was removing. "Please… don't show that to Hermione… and Ron. You can… tell them what you heard, but I… don't want them to hear me like that." He heard a click as the tape loaded.

"I completely understand, Harry."

"The rest is fine, just… not that," Harry shivered, feeling the lingering pain in all his muscles. It was much less intense now and he was learning to disconnect from it, but in the moment, there's no escape from the torture.

"Alright, let me know if you need it louder but… we have to be careful."

"I know… it's okay." Harry said, "I'm ready." He heard the click and then a fuzz of static.

"Harry, mate… I don't know what to say." Harry let out a sob, his body lurching at the burst of emotion, more precious tears dripped down his cheeks. "I… should have gone back for you. The moment we appeared, I knew you weren't with us. I thought maybe you'd accidentally apparated somewhere else, but then the Death Eaters outside the house saw us and we had to get inside quick. It hit me… we left you, under the nose of that prick, and we changed back and knew you had too." Harry shook his head. No… don't blame yourselves. He would have killed you all. I'm the one he wants alive.

"I guess thinking about what I should have done doesn't change things. Mum gave me a bit of a talking to and I get it. You need me to be thinking forward, not back. And we have some ideas about how to-" He got cut off by a rough whisper. "Oh, right, yeah. Sorry. I know that they're probably doing some horrific shit to you right now. Like veritaserum and stuff so… look just know we won't stop until you're with us, mate."

"I hope dad gets this to you alright and that he doesn't manage to record over us by accident by leaning on the wrong button. That would be pretty bad." Harry found his lip curling up in the corner.

"Just keep giving them shit, alright? Remember what these bastards did to you, what the big chief bastard did to you. Get mad. You do mad pretty well so I guess I don't need to tell you to." Harry felt a warm sensation in his chest, combating the pit of misery. "I'll see you soon. Here or there."

There was a muffle as the dictaphone left him. Harry steadied himself for the next voice.

"Hey Harry," Hermione's voice was so quiet. Harry strained to hear her.

"Can you… turn the volume up?" He asked. Her voice then suddenly came through clearer. Mr Weasley must have cast an amplification spell.

"... wrote a whole letter that I was going to read out, but Ron told me that the last thing you need is an essay, so I… uh… am going to improvise." Her voice triggered more tears and he began to weep in earnest. "Harry… please, please do not blame yourself for any of this. I know how you shoulder blame so you can cope, but you've got enough to deal with without beating yourself up about it. You were on your own, surrounded by enemies, and from the sounds of what Mr Weasley said, you were very outnumbered."

"P… pause it please," Harry gasped out. He heard a click. He had to control himself. His emotions were all over the place. How could she know exactly what he was thinking when he first heard her? He had immediately gone to blame himself. The extent of her friendship and how well she knew him… it made what he then had to say to them even worse.

"Harry…" Mr Weasley said.

"Yeah… I'll be okay in a moment. Just… wasting valuable water," he gave a sniff, giving a deep breath. "Okay, play please."

"We're in a safe location. I'm sorry I can't give you more than that - we all know why. Don't hate yourself when you say our names, we know it's not you and they're forcing you. No one can resist truth magic, Harry. Even you-know-know would be spilling his darkest secrets… and on that, Harry, we still have it. We've reunited with the Order and they are protecting us. We had to give away some information, as a precaution, but only those we trust. I won't say who. Oh and also, don't use you-know-who's name if you do manage to escape. It's got a taboo charm on it. If you say it, they can find you."

"Thanks Hermione," Harry mumbled. He wistfully thought about how good she was at telling him facts without details that could make him betray them.

"I… can't imagine what you're going through right now. I just really hope that this works and gets to you. You need to know that we're fighting for you and we're coming to get you home. I promise."

"I wish you could say something to us but Mr Weasley… said that they've silenced you. I…" He heard her break off into a sob. "I'm so sorry about how they're treating you. It's enough that you've been hunted all your life but now this… sorry… you probably don't want to be reminded about that right now."

"Not really…" he muttered back.

"Anyway, Harry, I… I see you soon, okay. I'm not leaving you again." Then there was silence. Harry focused on the warm feeling in his chest. He knew this feeling. He always felt it when he received Ron and Hermione's letters while at the Dursleys'. A reminder that he wasn't alone, that he had friends. Was actually loved. The abrupt return of the warmth of their friendship, trust and love took his breath away and he struggled to think of anything to say.

"I'm swapping the tapes now," Arthur explained as there were some clicks. "Oops." A clatter as he dropped it. "Uh… damn this is awkward in the dark. Right… okay. Ready when you are."

Harry closed his eyes, dragging up as much strength as he could. He was propped against the wall, knees locked so his arms didn't have to take his weight. It was the most comfortable position he could take right now.

"Okay, I'm ready."

Click.

"Hey… uh, so it's me, Harry," he said, pushing down how stupid he felt introducing himself when they knew it was him. "I'm taking a bit of a… risk talking… but anything… I'd do anything to speak to you again so…" He stopped. Act normal. "It was a huge faff getting it off and I'll be in trouble for it, but when's that ever stopped me before, huh?"

"Ron, first off, you're a prat for thinking that you let me down in any way. If you'd come back after me, you'd be in a cell across from me or on your way to Azkaban. You're also meant to be sick at home so you'd also get your parents in trouble for lying to the Ministry. No, you made the right call and I'm really glad you did because I know you're safe." He took a breath, swallowing, trying to get some moisture into his mouth. He took a breath.

"Look after my dad's cloak, will you? Use it well," he tucked in a sob at the meaning of those words and what they meant. "I'm giving everything I've got left. I've got a couple of tricks left. The headguard keeps his wand in his belt… just need to get close enough and I'll pay him in kind. Won't get very far, but every victory counts." Though I need my hands for that…

He took another breath, steadying himself. He couldn't think about the price he will pay for this opportunity. It's worth it. It'll all be worth it.

"Hermione… thank you. I… still blame myself, but I've come to terms with it. I always make stupid decisions so it's no surprise that one ends up finishing me off… uh sorry, bad joke. I know it was bad luck, but I clammed up when I found myself back. I should have just apparated again, but I had a real shithead of a Death Eater on me and there were all those people… I didn't want them to get hurt."

He paused. It was nice to get that out. "I'm so… so grateful that you thought of this. I can't get it out of my head that I've ruined every… everything. Oh… sorry. I know you'll want to jinx me for that."

Okay, now it was time for the really hard thing that he had to say. He paused, steadying himself.

"This… this next thing I have to say, I know it won't be easy for you both to hear," he felt the tremors. "I know you want to help me get out of here, but this isn't slipping into Snape's cupboard to steal boomslang skin. This place… it's designed to keep the most dark wizards in history locked up. They've used every security measure they can think of, the Ministry and Volde- oh taboo - you-know-who."

"This very cell is where they kept Bellatrix Lestrange so that might give you some idea…" he hated saying that, "not the nicest place. That we might have worn the same shackles…" He shook himself. He didn't need to give them that detail.

"Please be careful, remember that you have the secret now too. You have to keep the mission alive. It's more important than me right now. I can't stop you from trying something, obviously because I'm locked in here, but look, what I'm saying is don't do a 'me' and run into danger. Not unless you are absolutely sure you can do it without a single loss of life. I cannot… I cannot have any more people dying for me. Please…" He gave a pause, taking a deep breath. "So many have already died because of me… my parents, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, Mad-Eye, even Hedwig… I can't add you to the list. It would… destroy me."

""I guess… goodbye and… I'm sorry," he said, giving a deep breath to stop any sobs. "I… just know I'm being realistic and not… what's the word?"

"Fatalistic?" Arthur offered quietly.

"Yeah that one. I won't stop looking for a way out. Even if I have to blast my way out the bloody walls. He's not taking me without a fight."

"Also, don't believe what you'll read in the paper tomorrow… I didn't murder Umbridge. I actually tried to save her, believe it or not. She paid the price for owning a horcrux… oh yeah, guys, I'm sorry… I tried to stop it, but the quaesitor is relentless. I don't know what else it'll get me to reveal, likely your names next and other stuff… oh wow…" he said as his head gave a big throb and the room started to swim. "I… I won't lie to you… it is pretty bad in here. Vold- you-know-who wants me to suffer, but the two in charge of me are under orders to not do anything serious. My mind and life belong to the Dark Lord, they say - which is good news because they won't torture my brains out, just enough to push me to the limit."

He'd drained so much of his energy and he could feel the inevitable loom of unconsciousness.

"Tell Remus, I'm sorry about… what I said. I was… mad that you'd… leave your kid... look after them…"

"Let Ginny know… I always… will remember her… oh wait you're her dad." He gave a laugh. "I'm sure she knows."

"Go into hiding please tomorrow…" Harry said, suddenly panicking. "I… I'll give you all away. I can't stop it…"

"Don't worry about us. We know how to prepare." Arthur said. Harry relaxed his knees, then yelped as his hand seared. "Ah… ah ow… sorry."

"I'm… struggling to stay awake," Harry admitted, "the… pain. It takes over." He didn't want to say it, but it came out.

"It's alright. Do you want me to wait with you while you fall asleep?" Arthur asked. Harry leaned into the wall, understanding the gesture. He felt the world start to sway, the bleeding darkness.

"It… now…" He felt his forehead thunk into the stone and that was it.