Dumbledore burst into the Great Hall, causing Sirius, Remus, McGonagall, and Mr and Mrs Weasley to look up from a deep discussion they had been having.
Tonks hadn't been able to come, on account of a pixie strike up North.
Dumbledore quickly made his way over to them.
"Harry has been sighted!"
Instantly the group of adults stood, hardly believing their ears.
Sirius rushed forward, grabbing Albus by the shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"Where? Tell me where!" he asked loudly, in an agitated tone.
Dumbledore didn't feel surprised by Sirius's actions.
"Knockturn Alley. A local pub said they let out a room there for a young man, and teenage boy, who had been sleeping when he arrived. According to the owner, the man had carried the boy upstairs."
Sirius's eyes widened. So did everyone else's.
"Do you-do you think it-" started Sirius, who had now let go of Dumbledore.
Albus sighed.
"Yes Sirius, I have reason to believe it was in fact Harry."
Sirius paled, and Remus stepped forward.
"Did you manage to get a description of the man holding Harry?" he asked.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"The owner said that the man had a large cloak on, but he also suspected glamour charms as well. We cannot be certain on the mans description."
Remus nodded and pulled out his wand.
"I think we ought to check out the room."
Sirius nodded, eagerly, pulling his own wand out as well. The rest of the group did the same, and together decided to travel by Floo powder.
"Wheres the nearest fireplace?" asked Remus, with a determined expression.
Sirius also wore the same expression, and together the two marauders looked frightening.
McGonagall motioned towards a classroom on the right.
They all walked in, and quickly, one by one, shouted 'Knockturn Alley' before vanishing from Hogwarts.
"Pretty nice place." Said Remus, sarcasm lacing his voice.
Sirius, Remus, and Arthur Weasley were looking around the room, while the others questioned the owner of the pub some more, downstairs.
Remus could tell Sirius was frustrated. He was poking things, and not leaving a spec of the room untraced.
"There isn't anything here! I can't find any kind of clue!" Sirius whined, looking up at the others, annoyed.
"On the contrary, I have found quite a few things Sirius." Said Mr Weasley, holding up a piece of glass and an empty glass vial.
Sirius stared at them, then looked back at Arthur, thinking he was mad.
Arthur got the hint.
"I think Harry may have been tied up in here…and I also have the feeling that he freed himself from the ropes with this piece of glass."
He motioned towards the ropes, coiled on the floor, one end looking frantically cut up.
Arthur stepped towards the small cabinet at the end of the room.
"This vial I found over here. It must have contained some sort of sleeping potion…But I think Harry might have woken up when his captor was gone…which is why he managed to free himself."
Dumbledore chose this moment to walk in, with another man beside him, unknown to the others.
Dumbledore looked at the man.
"Tell them what you know." He said.
The man looked bored, but repeated the same thing he had said before.
"When I was downstairs the other day, a teenage boy stumbled into the hallway, asking about where he was and where the exit was. I found this strange, as this pub certainly doesn't allow younger children in, but I told him where the door was, and he literally bolted out of here, as fast as he could."
Remus stepped forward.
"Can you tell us what the boy looked like.?" He asked impatiently.
"Well, he had dark hair, green eyes from what I saw…kind of tall. Skinny. Oh, he wore glasses as well. If it was Harry Potter, I didn't see the scar because his hair was in the way."
A silence followed and Sirius wanted to shout at this man for not helping Harry. But a hand lay on his shoulder, and he turned to find it was Remus, giving him a warning look.
Sighing, he looked back at the man.
"Did you see where he was heading?"
Days had passed for Harry, while his friends and family searched for him…
He knew little of what was going on around him. So far, he hadn't talked to anyone since his last discussion with Barty, and no one had interrupted him, or forced him to come out his room…
He couldn't help wondering why…
Maybe they had forgotten him…But no, they couldn't have. They left food outside his door, so they obviously knew he was still here.
He clenched his fists as he realised what was happening.
They were waiting for him to come out. They knew he couldn't stay here forever. Cooped up in this room.
Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, only to mess it up even more.
"I'm not going to give in. I won't." he whispered to himself, staring at the wall in front of him.
He wished there was a window in here. He wanted to see what was going on outside…Probably not much, he realised, considering there were Death Eaters patrolling around.
He sighed again, and stretched whilst standing up, before hearing something strange…
Something was calling him on the other side of his door…But it didn't sound human…
He could hear it though. It sounded muffled. He knew he shouldn't…but he decided to open the door. Damn his curiosity.
He peered through a small gap, but seeing nothing, opened the door wider, and furrowed his brows in confusion…
There wasn't anything there…But he could still hear it…It was further away…
Moving slowly and cautiously, he walked across the large landing, and down the stairs. No one was in the house from what he could gather.
The voice wasn't that far away now…
Frowning, Harry opened the front door. What the hell was he doing? Chasing some random voice, that probably didn't even exist…
Great, he thought to himself sarcastically, now it's coming from the forest.
He clutched his wand tightly, moving through the bushes, following his name, until he saw something move in front of him.
His eyes widened as he bent down, looking at a small, black snake, with emerald coloured diamonds on its back, making its way across the ground.
The snake looked at him, and started to talk.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Harry..." It hissed at him, and Harry felt startled, remembering that he could speak Parseltongue.
"…Erm…what do you mean exactly?" he asked slowly, looking into the snakes eyes.
"You are my new owner." Said the snake.
Harry stared at the snake.
"Wha-whats your name?" he asked after a while.
The snake flicked its tongue.
"I am nameless." It hissed.
Harry nodded his head, and appeared to be in casual thought before replying.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I don't own snakes…I'm not your owner."
The snake seemed to tense before answering.
"It is important that I look after you. I suggest that you look after me."
Harry didn't know what to say…Voldemort could have put it up to this….But yet, the snake seemed…friendly…and Harry almost felt comfortable with it….
"How about I call you Nevyrn?" he asked after a while.
The snake seemed to approve of this, and slid round Harry's arm, allowing Harry to stand whilst the snake was curled comfortably round his arm.
"I…don't know much about snakes…" Harry admitted, the snake feeling weird around his arm.
The snake hissed in what almost seemed like a laugh, and Harry felt embarrassed. He was suspicious of this creature, wondering how it had known his name, but he decided, since his company was quite literally Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort, this snake couldn't exactly dampen the atmosphere much more, so he asked no questions.
Harry made his way back to the house, stopping every so often to peer at the occasional gravestone. He still had his wand in front of him.
Nevyrn was quiet, respecting Harry's privacy and thoughts.
"Nevyrn, no offense, but are you a boy or girl?" he asked politely.
"I am a female, if that is what you wish to know."
"Okay….tell me, have you been able to get out of the barrier surrounding the forest..?"
Nevyrn paused before replying.
"I saw the dark wizards put it up. But I know of no spell to lift it. Perhaps you have means of finding out…"
Harry snorted.
"All I have is my wand. No books. Hardly anything. I've been in these clothes for the past few days…Hermione was always the one who…"
Harry stopped talking as well as walking, suddenly feeling homesick for his two best friends and Hogwarts.
Nevryn sensed this and spoke, trying to cheer Harry up.
"I have heard there is a library in the house."
Harry looked at the snake, and shook his head.
"I can't remember seeing one."
"..Have you been in every room yet?"
"…No." admitted Harry. A sudden emotion, one he hadn't felt for a long time, inspired him to explore the house. Hope.
He walked faster towards the house, and entered it, but shrank against the front door when he heard a voice.
"HARRY!!!" shouted a man, who then came rushing out of a side room, only to stop in front of Harry. It was Barty.
Harry felt a little nervous as he looked at the man before him.
Barty Crouch Jr just stared at Harry for a moment before yelling at him.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?!? YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN THIS HOUSE! YOU CAN'T ESCAPE, POTTER, SO I SUGGEST YOU GET USED TO IT!"
Barty's tongue flicked at the side of his mouth, before he rushed forward to drag Harry into a room.
Barty pushed Harry into one of the chairs and sat down opposite him, feeling frustrated. He pointed his wand at the teenager.
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it and shut it, aware that Barty looked mad.
Barty on the other hand, felt himself calming down, and glanced at a clock on the wall, before trying to intimidate Harry with his gaze again.
After a while, he stood, motioning for Harry to follow, and led the boy in front of a large mirror in a plain looking room.
Harry frowned. What the hell was Barty playing at…
He looked at himself in the mirror. He was paler, thinner, and even though he hadn't thought it possible…his hair was messier.
Why had Barty brought him here? Did he want Harry to feel self pity?
Barty watched the frown lines beginning to form in Harry's head, threatening to cut into the back of it, before swishing his wand.
A bag fell onto the middle of the floor.
Harry stared. Just stared. He didn't know what else to do. Maybe Barty planned to kill him by whacking him round the head with this granny bag. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly with that idea.
Barty opened the bag and pulled out a set of black robes, gloves, cloaks, etc. Harry was surprised. Okay, maybe not what he had been expecting, but why were all these clothes here…? Did Barty want Harry's opinion on his latest fashion sense..?
Harry closed his eyes. If he said anything he could almost guarantee he would be forced to drink another sleep potion. He bit his lip.
Barty chucked some stuff he had picked out from the pile at Harry, who caught them instinctively.
"Put them on."
Harry shook his head. He could feel Nevyrn slithering into one of his pockets to hide herself.
"No."
Barty gritted his teeth.
"If you had any common sense then you would get changed. Fast."
"Then I must not have any."
Barty would have laughed in normal situations at that comeback, but now he just felt angry.
"Put them on Harry!" He pointed his wand at Harry's, "Accio Harry's wand!"
The wand flew into his hands, and he could see that Harry wanted to throw some kind of a punch at him.
"Ok." Harry finally answered. Barty left the room while the boy got dressed then came back in.
Harry stood in front of the mirror. His arms were at his sides, he was standing straight, staring at himself.
He looks better in black than those awful Hogwarts robes, Barty smirked.
Harry was almost part of the shadows. His hair matched his 'look' and he truly looked like a Death Eater.
Harty wanted to rip these stupid things off of himself. He wanted to tear them apart and scatter the pieces. But Barty stood not far behind him, and Harry shuddered as Barty put a hand on his shoulder, whilst smiling in a secretive way. Harry wanted to rip his face off as well.
"Someone wants to see you Harry." Whispered Barty.
Harry turned just in time to see Lord Voldemort enter the room, a stony expression changing to a pleased expression when he looked at Harry.
"Hello again, Potter."
Harry was all for pouncing on Barty, grabbing his wand and flinging himself into Voldemort, but kept silent, contemplating these ideas, like a person would with jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Voldemort moved closer, and Harry took a step back.
"Your new sense of dress could serve you well for your mission tonight." Remarked Voldemort, smirking.
Harry frowned and glanced sideways at Barty who was looking suspiciously pleased.
"What are you talking about?" he spat.
Instead of replying to Harry, Voldemort turned and bellowed out an order.
"BRING THE GIRL."
Harry froze. No…He wouldn't have…
A dark robed wizard dragged in an unconscious girl. An unconscious red headed girl.
"Ginny!" cried out Harry and he ran forward to hold her. Instead, Barty grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back.
Harry glared at Voldemort venomously.
"Oh Harry…That is certainly a look to kill. Mind you, that's what you will be doing tonight anyway…"
Again, Harry froze.
"You're crazy." He said, while shaking his head.
"Oh, contraire, Harry. I am not. I believe you know this girl, a fact that has become obvious to me now, and I also believe you would not want anything…" Voldemort paused, stroking his hand along the girls cheek, "..bad to happen to her."
"You wouldn't. You couldn't…" Harry tried to reply in a voice that expressed how angry he was, but he had lost his voice now.
"I would, and I shall, if you do not co-operate."
"What is it…What is it you want me to do…?" Harry asked.
"I want you to kill a man that I am bringing here later."
"Never!" Harry spat, emerald orbs blazing with fury.
Voldemort chuckled, as did Barty.
"Then I guess I will have to….CRUCIO!" Voldemort had casually strolled over to Ginny, and was now torturing her.
Ginny was in too much pain to notice Harry, that much was for sure. She wriggled and writhed on the ground, screaming and gasping, tears streaming down her face.
Harry screamed as well and struggled, but to no avail.
Tears started to slide down his cheeks, and he watched as Ginny started to fall unconscious again…
God, he couldn't…He couldn't see her like this. He couldn't let her be in the hands of Voldemort…She could be killed…
Ginny was continuously shaking now, her agony and pain evident to Harry.
"ALL RIGHT! …JUST STOP!" he shouted, and as soon as he spoke, Voldemort let his arm fall to his side.
He turned to face Harry, smiling.
"That's better."
Harry felt himself shake. He stared at the floor.
Barty's hands relaxed a little, and Harry swallowed, closing his eyes so he didn't have to see the Death Eater drag Ginny out of the doorway.
"I will on one condition. You have to let her go." He croaked.
Voldemort laughed in an icy tone.
"Of course, Harry. Of course. Ah, but love, all kinds of love, such a weakness, is it not? The girl will be free to return to her home. But you will be killing first."
Harry hardly took anything of what Voldemort had just said into his head. He sank to the floor, feeling lifeless and defeated.
They had him right where they wanted him. And there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing at all.
Authors note: Oh, my, God. I have got more reviews then I ever expected. (Takes deep breaths.) Okaaay...well, thankyou everyone! I now have 22 story alerts and a hell of a lot of reviews from great readers! I really hope you are enjoying the story so far. Well, actually, I pray that you are, cause I cant have you guys sick of it already.
The next chapter shouldnt be too far away, maybe a day or two if its long, but I need to gather more ideas at the moment. Don't worry though, I'm full of them, so the story will go on!
By the way, I'm up for writing another story after this one (should be a while for me to finish this one though), so ideas are welcome. Please message me, and dont hesitate to suggest anything. Anything.
Again, thankyou very much. You.All.Rock.