-1Thank you all for responding to my question on age. I am happy to say that I have readers of all ages 13 to 60's. I loved the fact that so many of you were in your forties. I have four aunties that take me on trips and they are in their forties too. They are my biggest fans of the story!

23 - The Truth

Draco heard the persistent knock on his front door getting louder with every knock. He sped down the stairs to answer it before his mum was disturbed from her afternoon nap. Whoever was out there was knocking almost frantically. Not wanting to be caught off guard he pulled his wand from his back pocket. He cursed the house elves again for having taken the day off to do whatever house elves do on days off. Blasted Elfish rights!

He was rather shocked when he opened the door to find Harry Potter standing before him, looking almost panic-stricken.

"Hey Potter, what's got your wand in a knot?"

Harry stepped into the house looking around to make sure they were alone before pushing Draco into the parlor. He shut the door then threw up a few privacy spells.

"Draco, you've got to help me, Severus' aunt is going to kill him!" Harry blurted out.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

It took Harry several precious minutes to convey the whole story about Vespa. When he got to the part about Charlet and the broken wards at Snape Manor, he could tell that Draco was just as worried as he was.

Draco looked at the big grandfather clock in the corner, "We've got less than two hours to come up with a plan to save Severus. Is there anyone else that we can count on?"

Harry thought about Dumbledore but knew the headmaster would most likely not agree to let him use the portkey Vespa had sent him. Sirius and Remus were definitely out. It saddened him to think that he couldn't even count on Ginny or Ron since they had been aware of the pumpkin juice spiked with dreamless sleep last night and hadn't told him about it. He would have called on Hermione but she was in France with her parents.

He shook his head before replying, "There's just me and you. We'll have to come up with something and quick." He fought to keep the panic at bay when he thought about the condition his father was probably in by now.

"Follow me," Draco said in a commanding voice.

"What do you have in mind?"

Draco turned around and gave Harry a sly grin, "We're going to raid my dad's study. He has a charmed tracking device that could have broken through Voldemort's strong hold. I can't imagine Vespa having stronger wards than the Dark Lord had."

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Vespa began to prepare for the immanent arrival of her esteemed guest. She ordered no less than six guards to the library. The portkey would bring the boy right to her insatiable little clutches. In exchange for Harry Potter she would get Bellatrix LeStange's assistance with the Elixir of Life. It would take a witch with experience in the dark arts to make the spell work.

Now all she needed to do was to find out where the Elixir was hidden away at Snape Manor. After several unsuccessful attempts at using legilimens on her nephew she knew she had to use another method to make the idiot talk. The Potter boy would be just the ticket!

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Harry moved another row of books from the shelf in the opulent study at Malfoy Manor. Draco had already taken down all the books along the far wall in hopes of finding the ever elusive magical tracking device. They wasted a half hour before deciding that it was possible the tracking device might be in the hands of the aurors that had ransacked his house recently.

Harry tried to come up with another plan that would enable him to break the wards on wherever he would be portkeyed to. The memory of being chased by a bunch of vulture like dogs had been plaguing his mind with uneasiness. He didn't want to get stuck in Vespa's hands again.

He knew just how angry Severus would be when he showed up by portkey. The only thing for it was to have a fool proof plan to save them both. He didn't want to end up being some pawn in Vespa's twisted game nor did he want to take any chances with the only possibility he might have to save his father. He had never even thought twice of doing anything other than using the portkey. It had never crossed his mind to refuse to use it because he would do anything to save Severus.

Draco was so livid over not finding that tracking device that he blasted his father's heavily carved mahogany desk when the drawer refused to open.

"Whoo hoo, I've found it! Potter I've found it!" Draco held up a black box that had apparently been hidden under the Persian carpet beneath the desk. He knelt down on the floor to pry open the box.

Harry dropped down next to him with anticipation. Draco's hands were so sweaty with nerves that he had a hard time getting a good grip on the box. Harry ripped it out of his hands and threw the thing open. There was nothing in the box but a small flat gold coin. He picked it up carefully and held it out for Draco to see.

"That's it," Draco declared with certainty. "Yeah, that thing has so much power in it that I could find you through all the wards at Hogwarts and into Gryffindor Tower!"

Harry raised an eyebrow at the Slytherin, "And just how would you know that?"

Draco had the decency to look somewhat ashamed, "Ah well, you knew my Dad, right? Yeah, let's just say he had me test the thing out before."

Harry shook his head, "Yeah, it's a wonder I'm still alive."

"So, back to saving Severus," Draco said, wanting to change the subject. "Who should I go to once you use the portkey?"

Harry thought about the danger he would be putting someone in. "I thinks it's best if you tell Dumbledore. He should be able to bring the right people in to help break the wards down."

"What do you think Vespa is going to do to you when you get there?"

Harry shrugged as he stuck the coin in his pocket, "Dunno, probably crucio and stuff like that."

"C-Cruciatus?"

"Yeah, she likes to do that. Just make sure you get Dumbledore to track us down as soon as I leave, alright?"

"Right," Draco looked as if he were fighting an internal battle before he finally spoke again, "Um, do you want me to go instead? I mean, you've already had to fight V-Voldemort and my dad and stuff so …"

Harry felt a swell of emotion rise up in his chest for this unlikely friend. He gave Draco a pat on the shoulder, "Thanks but that might just piss her off even more." He thought Draco looked a bit relieved. "She might take her anger out on my dad. I better go and see what she's after. Who knows, maybe even my uncontrolled magic just might kick in again."

"You mean you can't just make that magic happen? I saw what you did to all those aurors when Moody made you do that demonstration at Hogwarts. That stuff was pretty powerful."

"Yeah but I can't just make that power come out whenever I want or need it. It just sort of happens." Harry tried not to think of the last time it had happened. "So, um I guess I should go now."

"Wait, you should probably hide some of those potions your taking. Maybe put them in your pockets and shrink down that tracking device. Vespa might not let you keep that rucksack with you once you get there," Draco pointed out.

Harry nodded his head, feeling a bit foolish for not having thought of that himself. He rifled through the bag and pulled out four small vials of potion he was taking in case his dad was injured. He stuck two vials in his pocket and two in his sock. He thought about using the invisibility cloak on himself when he used the portkey but he knew Vespa would most likely have wards up alerting her that someone had portkeyed in. He stuffed the cloak back into the bag and handed it to Draco. "Here, do you mind holding onto this for me?"

Draco was shocked that Potter would trust him with something so valuable. "I won't let anything happen to it.

Harry looked at his watch realizing it was just a few minutes before two already, "Well, I guess I better go."

"Alright, just … you know, just be careful."

Harry pulled the brass bracelet out of his pocket, "Yeah, just make sure to get to Dumbledore right away." He walked out the front door before slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. Draco watched him disappear before running to the floo. He threw a handful of floo powder in before calling out, "Hogwarts, Dumbledore's office!"

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Charlet stood silently in the corner of the library with her invisibly cloak pulled up over her head. She could see her aunt pacing nervously in front of the fire as she kept looking at the clock. Bellatrix Lestrange was sitting in a chair pretending to ignore the clock but letting her eyes slide that way every few seconds. Harry Potter had one minute to make his appearance before the portkey would stop working.

Charlet stepped further into the corner when another of those disgusting body guards that now roamed the estate came rushing into the room. She couldn't stand to have her home invaded by all these horrible people. That Bellatrix lady was the worst of the bunch though. Just this morning the mad woman had come waltzing into the breakfast room as if she owned the bloody place. Vespa hadn't even reprimanded her for disturbing their breakfast! She shuddered when she thought of how that woman had talked about Harry Potter, as if she couldn't wait to punish him for all his misdeeds. The woman's words had made her skin crawl.

Her thoughts were pulled back to the present when a loud pop was heard …and then Harry Potter stood in the middle of a circle of bodyguards with their wands pointing at him. Charlet watched in fascinating horror as one by one the guards cast crucio at the poor guy. She felt the unfamiliar emotion of pity take hold of her racing heart when she saw his face. He never made a sound, never cried out. The only sound she heard come from him was his ragged breathing as he bit his lower lip until blood dripped down chin. Why wasn't he screaming, she thought, why wasn't he even trying to fight back? His wand was still in his pocket as he writhed on the carpet, why wasn't he fighting back?

She shut her eyes, pretending that this wasn't happening. It wasn't that she exactly liked the-boy-who-lived, it was more that she had grown to admire his strength. Oh gods, how could they keep hurting him like that? She looked to Vespa and felt sickened by that weird twisted smile her aunty now wore. It scared her to think that she had once looked up to that woman.

Not anymore though, after spending that time with Severus and watching the way he cared so deeply for Harry and in turn Harry for him, well now things felt differently.

She thought about the night of the ball; she had been awoken by the sound of Harry sicking up in the bathroom. She had been nervous that maybe Severus had somehow found out about the love potion she had given him. She threw her invisibility cloak on and walked down the dark hallway towards the open bathroom door. When she had peeked inside she had been stunned to see Severus sitting on the bathroom floor holding a very inebriated Harry Potter against his side. She had watched in fascination as Severus held Harry's head as he vomited into the toilet, then even went so far as to wipe the spit from his face for him. Transfixed with something bordering on envy she had watched the tender care that Severus was offering Harry. It was something she knew she would never get from Vespa.

She wondered if Vespa would care for her at all if she didn't have something to offer the woman in return. Oh Merlin, what the hell had she gotten herself into when she had agreed to give her blood for that Elixir of Life?

She continued watching as those awful men tortured the-boy-who-lived. It was a great relief when the curses finally stopped, she didn't think she could handle watching much more.

XXXXXXX

Harry now lay on the floor convulsing with the after shocks of the curse. Someone came and ripped his wand from his back pocket then reach into his front pocket and pulled out the two vials of potion.. He was so glad Draco had thought to shrink the portkey down to a tiny speck when he felt someone roll him to his other side and thrust a hand in that pocket too. He breathed a sigh of relief when they finally stopped searching him. He had two vials of potion still stuffed in his sock and the tracking device had not been found!

A pair of pointed black boots came to stand before him. He recognized those boots from his time in the graveyard. Without looking up he knew who was standing in front of him, how could he ever forget Bellatrix Lestrange. Being at the tender mercy of Bellatrix and Vespa was not very promising. The small part of his brain that was still functioning wondered how they had found each other.

"Baby Potter, you've been a naughty boy," Bella used the toe of her boot to push against Harry's face, forcing his face up. "Your Aunty Vespa and I have been comparing notes and we have decided that you need to be punished."

Before he could comprehend what was happening he saw both ladies raise their wands and yell out, "Legilimens!"

He occluded as fast as he could, but knew he hadn't cleared his mind fast enough. They were both sifting through his thoughts at the same time. He'd never been trained to fight against two people. Memories of Privet Drive and Uncle Vernon were flashing through his head at an incredible speed. He had to ignore the pain coursing through his body in order to concentrate on Occluding. The walls he built up in his mind finally became solid. After a few more brain searing minutes he felt first Vespa retreat then Bella end the spell. The pain in his head made it hard for him to focus on what the two evil witch's were planning next.

Bellatrix grabbed a handful of his hair, forcing him to sit up. She held onto his hair as Vespa clasped a dark heavy metal band around his neck. The moment the band was clasped shut his whole body felt as if it was on fire. He screamed out in agony as he felt his magic leave him. The band was somehow sucking his magic from his very core. It was so much more painful than anything he had ever experienced before. His screams turned to whimpers than finally to soft moans. When he was able to focus he saw both women looking very pleased with themselves.

Bellatrix spoke first, "On your feet!"

He didn't think he had the energy to stand but pushed himself up. He teetered for a moment before he fell back down to his knees. His energy was completely depleted, his mind felt as if it had been raped and his magic was most definitely gone.

"I said, ON YOUR FEET!" Bellatrix screamed, slapping him viciously across the face.

His head snapped to the side and he felt his face burn with her handprint. "Can't," he managed to whisper. He pulled at the metal collar around his neck, "What is this? I can't feel my magic."

Vespa loved hearing the desperation in the boy's voice, "You are a foolish boy indeed! As long as you wear that collar your magic will be nonexistent. You've less magic than a squib! "

The laughter pierced his damaged brain, he felt himself drifting towards unconsciousness and welcomed it. Before his eyes were able to close shut he was grabbed by the hair once more, his head was pulled back forcing his mouth open. A potion was dumped down his throat then his mouth was forced closed. He sputtered as he tried to spit the potion out but someone was pinching his nostrils closed. He couldn't breath! He tried to gulp for air, the potion slid down his throat and then he was released.

"There that should keep you from losing consciousness. You wouldn't be any good to us unless we could make you scream," Bellatrix hissed into his ear. He felt her fetid breath against his skin and moved as far away from her as possible. She laughed in that mad spine-chilling way that made his skin crawl. His head pounded with pain as he became aware of two people lifting him by the arms into a standing position once more.

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Severus could hear voices before the door to his cell was pushed open. He sat up as best he could in preperation for what Vespa had in store for him. He wasn't prepared for the sight he saw though.

Vespa smiled, her thin lips pulled taunt against her yellowing teeth. She waited until her nephew looked up and met her eyes. Then she reached behind her and pulled the boy forward. With a hard shove she pushed the boy into the room. She laughed when the clumsy teen fell on all fours in the middle of the dank cold cell. Without saying a word she turned and slammed the door shut.

Severus tried to get to his son but his burnt legs refused to cooperate. He dragged himself towards Harry, his voice thick with emotion.

"No! Harry no!"

It took Harry a moment to come out of his pain filled daze but the sound of his father's voice was like music to his ears. He slowly forced his head to turn towards the voice. The heavy manacle around his neck made it hard for him to turn completely. He felt like his head was filled with cotton, he could tell his magic was completely gone.

"Dad?" Harry asked, trying not to get his hopes up.

Severus could hear the uncertainty in Harry's voice, as if he couldn't believe he was still alive. Ignoring every muscle, every open burn pulsing with pain, he scooted forward and pulled his son into his arms. The boy stiffened, his breath came in short panicked pants.

"I am here son. I'm right here," Severus whispered into Harry's damp hair. He placed a hand on the teen's sweat soaked shirt. He could feel the tremors caused by the crutiatus coursing through the boy. He pulled him closer still, wanting to take the pain away, offer any comfort he could. "Who did this?" He hoped beyond hope that Vespa had not given Bellatrix a chance to torture his son.

"Vespa and Bellatrix," He wrapped his arms around Severus, breathing in deeply to keep from crying. He refused to cry, refused to make Severus feel guilty for anything that might happen to him. His grip tightened until he heard his father take in a sharp breath. He quickly let go and pushed back to get a better look at Severus.

His resolve to not cry almost broke when he saw the condition his father was in. "Dad, what did she do to you? You're … you're hurt." He could see Severus was in intense pain, barely able to sit upright. Red open sores on his lower legs and hands.

"I am fine," Severus said in the strongest voice he could muster. "It is you I am most concerned for. Why did you come here, why did you risk coming, you stupid boy?" There was no true anger in those words, just overwhelming anxiety.

Severus raised his fingers to touch the heavy manacle shackled around his son's neck. "Your magic is restricted," he looked at the lock and knew there was no way to take it off. He noticed another round of trembling course through Harry. "How many times?"

Harry looked down at his shaking hands. He clasped them together, trying to keep them from trembling. "Not too much. I'm okay."

Severus sighed, he felt horrible for dragging his son into this, felt horrible for the pain the boy had gone through because of him. He touched the angry red handprint that stood out so clearly on the boy's pale face.

Harry leaned in close to his father and whispered in his ear, "I have Malloy's tracking device in my pocket. She didn't find it. Dumbledore should be here anytime now."

Severus wrapped his arms around the boy, ignoring the pain in his arms and back. "Oh Harry, when will you stop acting as if you need to save the world?"

Harry kept his head pressed firmly to his dad's shoulder, "Not the world, just my dad."

He suddenly remembered the vials in his sock. He pulled away and took the two vials out, holding them out.

Severus took the vials and uncorked the pain potion. He held it up to Harry's lips, "Drink."

Harry shook his head, "No, I brought those for you. I'm okay."

Severus pushed the vial to the boy's lips, refusing to take no for an answer.

Harry knew how stuborn his father could get so he took a tiny sip then pushed Severus' hand back. "The rest is yours." The small sip of pain potion helped to take the edge off his throbbing headache.

Severus took a small sip then placed the cork on the vial. He carefully placed it in his shirt pocket in case they needed it later. The potion helped to take the sharpest pain from his burns. The other vial he noticed was a nutritional potion. He took a small sip of that then tried to hand it to Harry.

"No, I just ate," Harry lied. He actually hadn't eaten since last night but knew his father hadn't eaten for two days already. He regretted throwing his breakfast on the floor this morning. He moved to lean up against the wall next to his dad. They sat shoulder to shoulder with their legs stretched out in front of them. Harry didn't like the way the sores on his dad's legs looked to be infected.

"We must be prepared when Albus arrives," Severus said to get Harry's attention off his injured legs. As soon as Albus arrives I shall be able to feel the wards colapse. I'll take hold of you and apparate out."

"I can apparate now," Harry said with a smile. "I disapparated out of Grimmauld Place."

Severus frowned, "That is impossible. Grimmauld Place has wards up to keep anyone from apparating in or out."

"Yup, I know but I did," Harry said with satisfaction.

Severus sighed, "Leave it to you to defy the impossible."

Harry laughed, he liked the pride he heard in his father's voice.

"Harry, that manacle around your neck will prevent you from using any magic. I will need you to take hold of me as soon as the wards are broken," Severus said in a somnolent voice as he wrapped an arm around his son.

Harry couldn't take his eyes from the festering burns on his dad's legs. He wished he had thought to bring something for infection. He could feel how warm his dad was and worried for him. He placed his arm around his dad's shoulder to help hold him up. He felt Severus' warm head lean against him. "Why don't you take a nap, dad? I'll wake you up if I hear anything."

Severus wanted to refuse but knew he would need all the strength he could get to perform a side-long apparation when the time came. His eyes shut on their own accord but this time he didn't fight to open them back up. He leaned against his son and fell into a fevered sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Draco had floo called Dumbledore the moment Potter had left. The office looked empty at first but then he saw the headmaster with his head in a pensieve. A moment later Dumbledore came back out, startled to see Draco's head in the floo.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, what may I do for you?" Albus asked.

"It's Potter. He's gone after Severus using a portkey sent by Vespa," Draco said.

Dumbledore unlocked the floo to let the Slytherin come through. Once Draco was standing in the office he grabbed the boy's arm, "Tell me everything you know."

XXXXXXXXXX

Harry had stayed awake as promised, whatever potion they had given him would make sleeping impossible anyway. By this time, Severus had slipped down and now had his head resting on Harry's lap. He knew his dad would be horrified when he woke up in that position but he wasn't about to disturb the weary man's sleep. Anyway, he liked being able to offer comfort to his dad for once.

Harry was worried about him though, the fever was getting worse. Severus had lived a hard life, had been through more horrible things than anyone else he knew. Their lives were so similar on so many different levels. He pushed the sweat soaked hair off his father's face.

Severus opened his eyes, taking a moment to remember where he was. He looked up and saw his son's worried face. He tried to sit up on his own but in the end he welcomed the help. His burns felt worse than before and he knew that Harry was more than troubled by them. He tried to sound strong but even to his own ears he sounded worn-out. "I am fine Harry. No need to worry on my account."

"Yeah, right," Harry said with sarcasm. "You look like you're ready to go run a marathon."

He shrugged when his dad looked at him as if he didn't know what the hell a marathon was. "Forget it, it's a Muggle race. Anyway, you don't look so good. I think you better take the rest of those potions."

"I shall save them," Severus answered sternly to avoid argument.

Just then they heard a key being inserted into the door. Severus grabbed hold of Harry's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Their eyes met for a brief second filling Harry with reassurance. A rush of appreciation filled his heart.

The door was pushed open to reveal a very unwelcome sight. Two death eaters walked in. The bigger of the two pushed his hood back to reveal his face. Severus took in a sharp breath when he recognized McNair. McNair was the worst kind of wizard, the kind that preyed upon the weaker and reveled in their pain. Merlin, what Severus wouldn't give for his wand right now!

"Get up, Potter," McNair barked out. "Bella has a special game she wishes to play."

Severus threw an arm out in front of Harry when the teen tried to stand. "No! You're not taking him anywhere. Tell Bella to come here if she wants to talk to him."

"Shut your slimy traitorous mouth, Snape!" McNair spat out. He leveled his wand at Severus before calling out, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Severus' whole body went ramrod straight, he couldn't move a muscle. He could still see and hear but he couldn't even move his mouth.

"On your feet Potter," McNair yelled impatiently, "If you give me any trouble I'll send a Crucio at Snape that will kill him!"

Harry reluctantly stood up on shaky legs. He looked down at his dad, not wanting to leave his father in such a vulnerable position. He started walking to the door but was stopped by the other death eater. A heavy chain was attached to his metal collar, then his face was shoved up against the stone wall as leather straps wound their way around his wrists. His hands were tied tightly behind his back. McNair stepped closer and pulled his shoulder until he was flipped around and his back was pressed against the wall.

McNair pushed his body against him then grabbed a handful of his hair to expose the infamous scar.

Harry held his breath, his heart was beating a mile a minute. He could feel the death eater's hot breath on his face. He closed his eyes tight when the man leaned in even closer and kissed the scar on his forhead. McNair let his lips linger a bit longer before stepping back to let the other death eater move in.

Harry stood frozen against the wall as the other man bent down to kiss the scar. He kissed him with such force that his head slammed against the stone . He didn't understand why they would kiss his head like that, it made him sick to his stomach. "Get off!"

The death eater kissed him a second time then grabbed hold of the heavy metal chain and yanked him towards the door like a stray dog. Harry caught a quick glance of his father but wished he hadn't seen Severus' eyes. His father had the eyes of a madman.

He was led down past a few more cells then pushed roughly into the last one. McNair gave him a ominous grin before slamming the door closed as he left. Harry looked around the cell. This one had a single bed with a metal headboard. Other than that it was empty. At least they hadn't brought him very far from his father. They were only a few cells away from each other, which somehow gave him strength.

His energy was almost completely gone now so he sat down on the bed to wait for Bellatrix. He didn't know how she had become involved with Vespa but it certainly was not a good thing.

Bella opened the door to the cell with anticipation. She had been waiting for this moment since the horrible incident in the graveyard. Revenge was sweet!

Harry's eyes flew towards the door when it opened. Bella walked in with such a confidant swagger that he felt his insides twist into knots. She pointed her wand at him and he fell back on the bed. In a flash his hands went flying up over his head, pulled by some invisible force. The leather ties holding his hands together snaked around the headboard, tying him securely to the bed. Oh shit, he thought in a panic, this was just too reminiscent of Privet Drive!

Bella stood next to the bed admiring her handy work. Another swish of her wand and the-boy-who-lived couldn't even move his legs. She sat down on the bed and leaned her arm casually on Potter's chest. "I gleaned a few memories from you Harry. I believe this is the horror you are trying to forget ever happened to you. Uncle Vernon was a mean bastard, wasn't he?"

Harry reared his head back at the sight of those black feral eyes and the words that shook him to the core. He was beginning to feel panic creep in on him. No, not Privet Drive, not the lessons! He tried to sound braver than he was actually feeling, "Get off me."

Bella raised an eyebrow, smiling in pure delight, "Baby Potter doesn't seem too happy." She bent forward and pushed his hair back before kissing the scar.

"Why the bloody hell does everyone keep doing that?!" Harry yelled, still feeling the moisture from her kiss on his forehead.

Bella let her fingers caress the scar as she answered, "This was a gift from our master. Have you ever heard of a horcrux, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, afraid to hear what the hell a horcrux was. It couldn't be anything good.

Bella leaned down and kissed the scar once more, "A horcrux is a way to keep living,.. even after you supposedly die. My Master gave you the greatest gift of all … he gave you a part of himself. He gave you a piece of his soul!"

It took Harry a moment to comprehend what Bella was saying but when he finally did understand he knew she was not lying. He wanted to deny it but it all made sense now; the dreams of Voldemort killing Muggles, being able to speak parseltongue, the connection he had always felt suddenly sever when the beast had died.

"A piece of his soul?" He whispered. It all made perfect, maddening sense.

"Yes Harry. Your scar will insure the return of the most powerful wizard that ever lived. Lord Voldemort will come back soon and you are the most important piece in the spell. I promised him that if anything ever happened to him I would hunt you down and keep you safe. Don't you see Harry, one day he will rise again and all because of you!"

"Shut up! You're a liar! He's dead, I killed him!" Harry screamed, thrashing against the bands that held his arms over his head.

"Yes you did and you shall be punished for that. The Dark Lord died but only temporarily. Just like before, like when you were a baby. He will be back!"

"SHUT UP!" His mind went wild with the knowledge of Voldemort living inside him. He wanted to get away from everything, away from this mad woman. Away from the truth!

It was as if all the horrors he had been trying to forget came crashing down on him at once. He screamed, he thrashed against the power holding him down and bucked to get away from it all. The thought of Voldemort somehow living inside of him made him frantic! His screams became frenzied, piercing through the stone walls.

Bella threw her head back and laughed like the madwoman she was purported to be. Her cackle mixed in with Harry's screaming and the noise traveled all the way down to the cell Severus was immobilized in.

Severus heard the panic in his Harry's cry and fought with everything he had to break the curse holding him down. He was too weak, all he could do was lie there helplessly and listen to his son's cries of pain, not knowing what was being done to him. He felt tears spring to his eyes as the tortured screams of his son continued on relentlessly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXTBC

Okay, so I know how intense this chapter already is but if you want to know more about what happened with Bella in the cell, you just need to hit the review button and I'll send you a link to the ending. Remember : you do not have to read the missing page to understand the rest of the story. There are only a few pages but they will give you insight to what happened during Harry's lessons at Privet Drive.

By the way, I'm going to Hawaii next week so the next chapter may be a few weeks coming. I will still send you the missing page though.

Thanks,

Rachel

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