Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 26 - Captured

Harry came back to consciousness slowly, his head felt fuzzy and he was aware of a distinct chill in the air. In his head he could vaguely here a woman screaming, it sounded familiar but he was to disorientated to work out how.

He was shivering with cold, he tried to fall to the floor to curl up into a ball when he felt resistance against his movements. Now that he was aware of it, he could feel the cold metal binding him in his unnatural sitting position.

He opened his eyes slowly, his surroundings were fuzzy as his glasses had been removed, the room he was in was dark with a sole flaming torch for light. He heard a low groan to his right, turning his head and squinting slightly he could make out Trott's familiar blonde hair. She didn't seem to be in any better state than he was.

'Leanne, can you hear me.' He asked croakily, his throat was dry and he had no idea the last time he used his voice.

'Harry?' She coughed back at him.

'Yeah it's me.'

'I'm c-cold.' She said almost timidly 'Who's the child crying?'

Child? It's definitely a... of course, mom. 'I don't think there is one. I think there's a dementor nearby.'

'Th-That e-e-explains it.' she said with her teeth chattering.

'Can you describe the room for me? They took my glasses I can't see much.'

'W-what's the point w-w-ere n-never getting out of here.' Trott told him dejectedly.

'Listen to me that's just the dementor, we're getting out of here I promise.' He told her heartily.

'H-how can y-you be s-so s-s-sure?' She asked desperately. 'How do y-you even know it i-is a d-dementor?'

'I can't hear a child screaming. What I hear, is only possible to hear when dementors are around.' Said Harry quietly.

'W-what is it?'

'My mom,' he sighed 'on the night she died.'

Trott looked up at him, just to see his eyes firmly fixed on the ground, his face set in a look of almost complete sadness, weirdly tinged with joy. She thought about it for a moment before it hit her that these were probably the only time's he heard her voice.

As she listened closer to the sound of the crying child she remembered the night they had been called to an attack just outside of Shifnal. The Aurors had arrived at a wizarding home with signs of a break in.

Inside was a massacre, everything was broken and there were pools of blood on the floor along with smatterings on the wall. The sight of it all was bad, what really made it horrifying was the smell. Two of the Aurors passed out from it immediately.

As they moved through the manor house the destruction just got worse, there was even more blood and in places the ceiling had been collapsed. She remembered walking to the base of the stairs where she could suddenly hear the sound of a child crying.

Abandoning caution she flew up the stairs towards the sound coming from the master bedroom. There lying on the floor unable to move was a small boy, barely out of nappies crying as he looked up at the hung figures of his parents. The bodies showed signs of torture and they had been left to slowly bleed to death.

Fighting the urge to vomit Trott went over to the boy scooping him up in her arms. There'd been a sticking charm placed on him so he couldn't move, this meant that he had become soaked in his parent's blood as they were bled dry.

Trott had never forgotten that day, she had only been a few days out of the training academy on that mission. Steadying her breathing she took in her surroundings. 'The room is square, about 5mx5m. There's one door in front of us, it's silver and although I can't see it I would wager a guess it's the same as the silver door you were so interested in.'

Harry smiled slightly 'What about our bindings?'

'They're thick metal chains, probably steel, secured with magic.' Trott's voice was becoming calmer.

'Can you see anything else? Are there any weaknesses in the walls?'

Trott looked around with more scrutiny, 'Not that I can see, there are no windows either. If I had a wand, I might be able to find something.' Harry snorted at her 'What?' She snapped.

'If you had a wand, I would hope we wouldn't be searching for weaknesses in a wall. More blowing the bloody door down.'

'I suppose you're right.' She chortled. 'Sorry, guess I'm not feeling my best. How are you so calm?'

'Experience I suppose.' He said grimly 'I'm not that calm though, when I get my hands on him, I'm going to throttle him.' Trott didn't need telling who "Him" was.

'I'm scared.' She admitted quietly.

'So am I.' He assured her.

She studied him with a calculating gaze 'You know you're nothing like what I thought you would be.'

'What do you mean?'

'Well you were this famous kid who defeated the most powerful dark lord we've ever seen twice, I thought you would be all arrogant and cocky. Trying to take charge at every turn with an ego as big as the moon. You're not though.'

'Sorry to disappoint.'

Trott snorted 'Shut up a minute.' She playfully chastised him 'You've got confidence and you definitely know what you're doing but you don't chuck it down anyone's throat, you just do your best. I don't get how the Profit have gotten you so wrong, how they had you as this needy attention seeking rich kid.'

'It's probably because I don't get on with Skeeter.'

'Who does?'

Harry grinned at her despite himself, he was glad Trott was starting to calm down. 'I really never wanted the fame or the money. Who wants to be famous for something they don't even remember, famous because of the night their parents died?'

'I'm sorry Harry, you lost so much.' She said sympathetically.

'Don't be, I've come to terms with it and everyone lost during the war.'

'Too true. So, what now?'

It was at that moment they heard the door barring their cell unlock and swing inwards. Squinting Harry could only just make out the figure of someone standing in the doorway.

'What do you want?' Demanded Trott. The man didn't respond, he merely waved his wand freeing them from their bindings, before they could get up four dementors entered the room to drag them out of the cell.

The screaming in his head was becoming deafening for Harry, there were dark spots at the edge of his vision. Resisting the urge to shudder, he closed his eyes, trying to wall out the sound of his mother's final moments.

Due to the unpleasant presence of the dementors Harry didn't even think about escaping, never mind taking in his surroundings. He was on the edge of unconsciousness when they entered another room. It was only slightly bigger than the cell they had been kept in and instead of chains on the walls there were two chairs not unlike the ones in the Wizengamot.

The dementors unceremoniously dumped the two Aurors into the chairs and they were instantly bound in place. Harry felt more than saw the dementors retreat out of the room, there was also the sound of wood scraping on stone as three figures drew chairs up before them.

The three figures stared at them silently for an unnerving amount of time before Trott, already fidgeting under their scrutiny, couldn't take it anymore. 'What do you want?' She demanded for a second time.

The central figure smiled evilly at her, 'That Miss Trott is to be decided.' The man told her in a distinctly southern European accent.

'Well you obviously know who we are, who are you?' She asked.

'Hmm you will learn that it is I that will be asking the questions here.' He told her menacingly 'However in this case you are right, I am being a poor host. My colleagues I believe you have met or at least heard of, this is Younis and Travis. My name will remain a secret for now at least until you answer my demands.'

'We'll give you nothing.' Growled Harry.

The man chuckled 'I was told how stubborn you are Mr Potter, I am glad to not be disappointed. Ah sorry I forgot your disadvantage.' The man gestured to Priory who stood and roughly shoved Harry's glasses onto his face.

'Thanks.' Harry spat sarcastically.

Priory pounced on him grabbing a fist full of hair and yanking his head towards him 'You best be thankful Potter' He whispered threateningly into his ear. 'You owe me an eye and I plan on collecting.' He gave his head a rough shove, releasing him, before sitting back down.

Harry took in the sight of the man before him, he had age lines across his brow and his hair and beard had greyed although there were still strands of black running through them. He had olive skin and dull brown eyes that belied the man's true nature. He was well set, whilst not being of the same stature of Priory.

'How long has…' Harry never finished his question as every nerve in his body suddenly felt like it was on fire. He couldn't help the scream of pain that fell from his lips. As he squirmed, he felt the binds around his wrists and ankles tighten.

As suddenly as it came the pain died away leaving Harry breathless. The man was sat with a sneer on his face and his wand pointing directly at him. 'I warned you, I ask the questions here. You will answer or remain silent as I command.' Harry just glared daggers at him in response.

'Better, now as I'm sure you realise, I have use for the two of you otherwise you would already be dead. You will join me.' Harry snorted. 'Oh, you laugh now Potter, you will find I can be very persuasive.'

'We'll never join you!' Shouted Harry defiantly only to be instantly placed under the cruciatus curse again.

Upon lifting the spell the man tutted at him 'Dear me Potter, you really must control your tongue if you wish to keep it. You will join me, with you under my wing I will do what not even Voldemort came close to accomplishing. I will unite Europe under one banner.' He declared, something triggered in Harry though Voldemort? Death Eaters and members of the society have all referred to him as the Dark Lord. Who is this guy?

'With my army of Werewolves and Vampires alike I will instil fear into all. The only thing that stands in my way is you Harry Potter. Now you might be asking yourself, why I just haven't killed you?' Something like that.

'Well the truth is, if you die, I will still encounter resistance, if you join me though. Who would dare stand against the man who destroyed Voldemort? Who would fight against the famous boy-who-lived?! So, what do you say? This is an offer to both of you.'

'I refuse, you'll have to kill me!' shouted Trott defiantly.

'Never.' Stated Harry quietly, yet with utter certainty, never breaking eye contact with the man before him.

'I thought you might see it that way. No matter we have time. Every week you defy me though, know that we will attack a village, city or town randomly across the continent.' The man told them maliciously.

Priory chuckled 'The first attack Yesterday in Lille went well.' He said sickeningly 'That potion we made, makes for thirsty work.' Harry and Trott both paled at these words. 'The streets ran with blood of men, women and children before the Aurors even knew what had happened.'

'YOU BASTARDS!' Screamed Trott, it was her turn to be placed under the man's torturing wand. Her screams echoed around the room as Harry fought against the bonds keeping him seated trying to get to the man.

Eventually he cancelled the spell. 'I particularly dislike torturing women but I can make an exception for you my dear.' Trott glared at him whilst panting to get her breath back. 'You know an old pupil of mine enjoyed the cruciatus curse for a form of torture, so much so, he neglected more archaic methods.'

The man turned to Travis Blade, 'Potter is all yours.' Blade smirked, withdrawing a wallet filled with the tools of torture. Before he could start, the man turned to face Harry and Trott one more time 'You will join me, you will be begging to join my service by the time we're done with you.'

He clicked his fingers and Trott was released from her bonds and two dementors came to escort her away. The man and Priory followed leaving Harry alone with Blade. Harry eyed him warily as Blade waved his wand, the chains sprang to life as the chair Harry was sitting on vanished. The chains planted themselves on the floor and ceiling, suspending Harry stretched in the air, unable to move.

For the next few hours Harry endured pain like no other. It wasn't the soul splitting burning pain of the cruciatus curse, more the sort that was initially kept at bay by the wonders of adrenaline before an almighty crescendo.

Blade was evidently skilled in the art of torture, particularly when it was torture for torture's sake. He didn't speak only mercilessly stuck to his task. He tore muscles, dislocated joints and broke bones. He took perverse pleasure from dealing pain, his favourite thought being that this is only the beginning.

For his part during the session only grunts and the odd gasp passed Harry's lips, he didn't scream or cry out as he had done earlier, merely took his punishment. He felt every cut open up, every bone break, knowing more pain would come later.

There was one point where unconsciousness had claimed him, he awoke only to find Blade continuing to beat him, it didn't even look as if he had noticed Harry's slip into darkness. Merlin he's not even started with his tools yet. If he can do this with his fists god knows what he'll do when he's trying.

Harry didn't know how long they had been there when he finally got his reprieve. He almost welcomed the dementors as they took him back to the cell, he barely noticed the chains wrap around him as his consciousness slipped away.

'Potter, wake up!'

Groaning, Harry slowly returned to the land of the living.

'Potter can you hear me?' He grumbled something unintelligible 'What was that? Come on!'

'Wazz happ'nin'?' He slurred. Breathing was difficult due to his broken ribs and bruised abdomen. He could feel the sting of the cuts along his body that Blade had inflicted.

'Come on Harry, foods here.' Said the voice more gently than before.

'Trott?' He asked.

'Yeah it's me. Come on open up.'

'You Ok?'

'Merlin Potter, you turn up tortured looking like crap and you ask me if I'm OK.' She shook her head at him. 'I'm fine now eat up.'

Harry opened his mouth to speak again when a spoon unceremoniously forced itself into his mouth. It was a bland tasting chicken soup, however, right then Harry could have eaten a rotten hippogriff.

The unmanned spoon continued to feed Harry seemingly of its own accord until the bowl that accompanied it was empty. 'Feel better?' Asked Trott once she saw he was done.

'Not really, there was a pain relieving potion in the soup.'

'Surely that's a good thing.' She said hesitantly.

'There's only one reason they'll let me heal and that's to torture me again I bet.' He told her grimly. 'Did they torture you yesterday?'

'No, I don't think it'll be long though if we keep resisting. We have to get out of here. I wonder where the next attack will be.'

'We can't worry about the attacks we have to trust the others to stop them.' He told her sternly 'All we can worry about is getting out of here.'

'Any ideas?' She asked hopefully.

'No, we'll think of something though.'

'My, my aren't you confident.' Came a sneering voice from the doorway. Harry and Trott hadn't even noticed it open. Priory released Harry from his chains and called forth the dementors to take him away.

Once they were back in the room where Harry was beaten by Blade the previous day Harry was immediately placed under the cruciatus curse. The only silver lining being that he wasn't tied up so he could at least writhe around freely.

'You may realise Potter that I don't go for the laborious methods used by my colleagues. I prefer more painful, magical methods.' Priory warned Harry. 'You are lucky I'm not allowed to torture you into madness, your pretty red headed girlfriend though is a different matter.' Shit of course he told them about Ginny.

Harry glared angrily at the man as Priory chuckled 'I would imagine, now she knows your missing she will be easy to lure here. I've seen she's pretty maybe I'll have some fun before I torture her into insanity.'

'I'll kill you before you touch her.' Harry snarled.

'We'll see. Crucio!'

Every nerve in Harry's body was on fire when he was finally released and unceremoniously slammed back into their cell. 'What have you done to him!' Shouted Trott.

Priory walked over, eyeing her hungrily 'We'll have some private time soon my sweet.' He told her as he roughly stroked her cheek. She spat on his face, which resulted in him back handing her, the sound of the impact reverberated around the room.

As soon as they were alone, Trott eyed Harry worriedly 'Are you OK Harry?'

'Be careful,' He said warily 'Priory's a monster.' Was all he could say before blacking out to the pain.