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He knew that the only thing currently keeping him on his feet was the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He also knew that the adrenaline rush would not last forever. Mr. Harrison gripped Collin by the hair and pulled him to his feet. Collin struggled and cried, and Harry was about to lurch forward when his uncle spoke,
"He dies if you take a step closer."
Harry stilled and then asked,
"What do you want?"
His uncle grinned,
"We want you to take us into the castle, help us gather the gold and get us out."
Harry took a step back and shook his head,
"Absolutely not."
His uncle grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and spoke,
"Kill the boy."
For a moment, he didn't think that Mr. Harrison would do it but when he tilted Collin's head at an uncomfortable angle, he couldn't help but scream,
"NO!"
His uncle's smirk widened, and he spoke,
"Will you do it?"
Harry shook his head,
"I can't…I can't go back…"
His uncle snarled,
"Liar…You're lying, boy."
Harry fought for control as the adrenaline rush began to wear off and all the aches and pain started to return ten times magnified. His head spun and he struggled to keep his eyes open,
"Say it. Say that you will do it and we will let the boy go."
Harry couldn't…He couldn't lead his uncle into the castle to steal Voldemort's gold. It was the worst kind of treachery. He shook his head again,
"I won't…"
His uncle released him and he sagged against the wall,
"Kill him…"
Collin cried, and Harry couldn't bear it,
"Okay…Okay…I'll do it…Just let him go…"
His uncle stepped closer to him and patted him on the cheek,
"Say that again."
Harry closed his eyes and breathed out,
"I'll do it…"
His uncle's jubilant laughter filled the space and all the remaining energy left him. He slid to the ground and felt Collin kneel by his side,
"Sir…Sir…wake up…"
He struggled to open his eyes and heard his uncle speak,
"Tell your wife to get him some water and tie him up again."
Collin shouted,
"NO! No, you can't tie him up again…Please…Don't…"
Harry heard his uncle sneer,
"Oh and lock this little brat up in a separate room."
He heard Collin being dragged away but was too powerless to do anything. The next thing he felt was a glass of water being held to his lips. He drank it down in one and moaned,
"More…"
Mrs. Harrison scoffed,
"No."
Harry heard her walk away and the next thing he felt was being dragged down the stairs. He was thrown unceremoniously on the ground and once again his wrists and ankles were tied up. He felt way too drained and just thinking about what he'd agreed to do, killed him inside. He lay still on the floor. He could get out of these bonds again if he wanted to. But what was the point? As drained as he was, he was in so state to run away with Collin.
He had no idea how long he'd been out but when he came to, he heard his uncle talking with Mr. Harrison, a few feet away from him,
"Do you think he'll really lead us to the gold?"
His uncle chuckled.
"He will. He knows that if he doesn't, the boy dies. He wouldn't risk that."
Harry bit back a scream as his uncle brought his shoe down over his back,
"You will, won't you, Boy?"
A little more force and Harry was certain that his spine would shatter. He squirmed and rolled onto his side as soon as his uncle removed his foot,
"Good boy."
His uncle spoke,
"We'll leave tonight."
Harry didn't like how broken he sounded,
"Tonight?"
Mr. Harrison laughed,
"Yes, tonight."
Harry closed his eyes. No…It was much too early. He hadn't recovered enough to come up with a plan. No matter what happened, he needed to ensure Collin's safety,
"I have a condition."
His uncle grabbed him by the hair and snarled,
"What?"
Harry looked his uncle in the eye and spoke,
"I have a condition and…and if you don't fulfil it then I'll kill myself and you'll never be able to get to that gold again."
His uncle glared at him for a moment and Harry did his best to hold his gaze. Finally, he ground out,
"Let's hear it."
He drew in a deep breath and spoke,
"I'll leave Collin with someone I trust before taking you to the castle."
Mr. Harrison spoke,
"No bloody way."
His uncle leaned over him and spoke,
"That will not be happening."
Harry turned on his side and closed his eyes,
"Fine."
He was kicked hard in the stomach and endured it silently. His stomach ached, and his body curled in on itself as he felt the metallic taste of blood on the back of his throat. He was kicked again and again and by the end of it, he felt like he was tethering on the edge. One more and he was certain he would die. The pain throbs in his guts, it was deep and warm, but not in a nice way. It felt like someone had their hand in there and were squeezing his organs first gently and then as hard as they could. At this rate, he wouldn't have to commit suicide. His uncle took a step back and Harry willed the pain to go away. His body was bruised and battered, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to take anymore. A few minutes later, the pain had faded away to an icy numbness. Black filled the edges of his vision and the only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat. His breath came in ragged, shallow gasps and darkness crept over him until it dominated him.