Harry didn't know how long he had been staring into the fire. But every moment he waited, he knew he was wasting. Every second was passing him by, whilst he tried to make a decision that seemed impossible.

And to be honest, he didn't know what to do. Each option hurt someone. Each option would risk someone's life. Only he could stop it, and there was only one way to do that. A way that he would never have even considered if not for the blackmail that had been tormenting him.

He could feel every bead of sweat prickling on his forehead. Hear every breath Voldemort took in the opposite chair, and sense every movement in the room. Time had stopped, and it had stopped for him as he tried to organize the mixed jumble of emotions that felt like they were playing volleyball inside his head.

But secretly he knew. He knew deep down inside that there was no way out this time. Every other time there had been an option. An option that hadn't involved harming anyone but himself, and he had always taken it. Voldemort was right. His fear was of other's safety. The ones who tried to protect him were always the ones who would have to pay in the end.

He clenched his fists slightly, his fingernails biting into his skin, gritting his teeth against the pain it caused him. But the pain would not help him. He was alone. He had always been alone. At Hogwarts and everywhere else. He was just Harry Potter, not some normal, random kid who had normal parents and lived a simple but enjoyable life. A life he wished for so badly.

He glanced up, knowing exactly what he should say, but not sure if he could allow his mouth to speak the dreaded words that would not roll so easily off his tongue.

He opened his mouth a millimetre, then shut it and swiftly turned back to the fire, feeling more uncomfortable then he ever had before. This situation was by far the hardest in his life.

Voldemort simply gazed at the boy, watching him intently and waiting expectantly for the answer he knew was the only answer Harry could pick. The boy was trapped. He had been caught in a web of emotions that Voldemort himself had always made sure he never trapped himself in.

Love, Voldemort thought bitterly, Love is nothing compared to power. It is an emotional tool that is a great weakness for a great many wizards. So many have succumbed to its cage, and so many have died because of it.

Voldemort wanted to laugh. And just to think, the 'great' Harry Potter had been so easy to catch out. All manners of spells and curses and potions would not change the boy, but yet, love had.

The boy was strong, and that was what Voldemort liked. Strength matched with power worked well. Invincibility was not too far in the distance.

Harry still felt unsure though. He had turned many times to answer, but it had not been so easy. Tears threatened to pinprick his eyes, but he held them back, furious at himself for being so wound up. He had to get it out the way. He had to answer. It was the only way. The way to save his family and friends. The right way.

His answer would affect him for the rest of his life. Change him forever. Should he do this? Could he give in now when he had gotten so far in other circumstances?

The flames seemed to dance now, and Harry's let his mind wander slightly as he began to recall memories and images of Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione, the Weasleys, Dumbledore and Hogwarts.

Goodbye, he thought sadly, feeling the need to hug the people that weren't with him at the moment. The final farewell.

Another image sprung to mind and Harry frowned as Barty's laughing face and chocolate eyes entered his head.

Barty? He thought, what the hell?

He shook the strange thought from his head and turned to Voldemort, feeling like all the energy in his body had just flown out of the nearest window.

"I…" he started, his eyes wide at what he knew he was about to say, "I…"

Voldemort leaned forward, eyes twinkling expectantly in the dim light.

"Yes…?" he encouraged, smirking slightly at Harry faulting at his words.

Harry swallowed and licked his lips, his throat feeling dry and his voice crackly all of a sudden.

"I…I will join you. Just…don't hurt my friends. Anyone I know. Leave them out of this."

As the words left his mouth, he felt like a part of his soul had just been ripped out and he stifled a gasp. He had given in. He had succumbed to the darkness.

Voldemort smiled as Harry's shoulders slumped, then stood.

"You have chosen well, Harry. I will see you tonight."

Voldemort left the room swiftly, leaving Harry to sink back into the chair, regretting his life for not the very first time.

He contemplated everything that had just happened, and then slowly, one by one, the tears he had held in began to drip down his cheeks as he realised the severity of his actions.

The tears were endless, each one representing a memory or a loved one. They pattered onto his robes, and after a moment, he wiped his cheeks, forcing any sign of his emotions to leave.

Then, he leant forward, realising something.

Voldemort had said 'I will see you tonight.'

What did that mean?

Harry frowned and stood, knowing the Death Eater that had taken him here was waiting outside the door to return him to his room.

And, true enough, he was. Harry made no sign of recognition with the man. He followed him until they reached his room, where he shut the door and slumped onto the floor, his back against the door.

The tears now fell steadily, and he closed his eyes and rested his head against the door.

He mustn't let them see him cry. He couldn't…

He felt pathetic. Weak. What would Sirius and Remus say if they saw him?

He sobbed as he realised no one was coming. No one was coming to help him or save him. It was too hard to believe. But he had to try.

This was it. Harry Potter had given in to his enemy. Rita Skeeter would have a field day.

He sighed and wiped away the tears yet again, before walking over to his bed and falling on it.

His head reached the pillow and he let his body relax, not sure why he was so tired already.

His world was changing.

Remus tried very hard not to open his mouth. But it was too late. It was talking for him and he couldn't stop it. Sirius waited, not a hint of emotion on his face, and Remus felt a burst of rage towards the man.

His friend. Yeah, right.

Sirius repeated the question. Remus was fighting against the urge to tell the truth.

"Why can't I come with you tonight, and why are you not taking your potion?"

Remus bit his lip and clamped his jaw shut, but it started to open again. He sighed inwardly.

"You can't come with me tonight because I don't want you to get hurt and you might hurt me…and I am not taking my potion because of an experimentation I accepted to take part in."

He groaned to himself. He had said too much. But that couldn't exactly be helped. Sirius leant forward, a frown now possessing his features.

"What do you mean I might hurt you? And what experimentation?"

Remus's eyes widened and he clenched his fists but he couldn't stop himself from talking.

"I don't think you're really my friend, although you pretend to be. If you came with me, it would mean you would want everything to be like it was before. And the experimentation is a different potion. I am trying it so people can see what effects werewolves gain."

Sirius's frown deepened, but his eyes had lost their determination and looked saddened and confused.

"Before? What was everything like before?"

"When James, you and Peter all came with me. When it was us four friends and we had fun together. When we all trusted in each other."

Remus swallowed and cursed himself for this answer. He hoped Sirius hadn't caught onto the last part…

But Sirius had triggered on. He was now curious.

"We do have trust in each other, you and I…don't we?"

Sirius didn't wait for the answer. He muttered the last part and his eyes widened as he looked at Remus who felt trapped.

"Don't we?" he repeated in a louder tone.

Before Remus could stop himself, he uttered a response.

"No."

He looked away from a shocked looking Sirius who had frozen on his chair and was now staring in surprise at his friend.

"Yes. Yes, we do. We have always been best friends, you and me. Moony and Padfoot."

Sirius hesitated as he spoke the last part, his voice portraying a pleading and hopeful tone. He was trying to reassure himself.

The answer was one Remus regretted and knew he had always kept inside of himself, never said before, and never planned to… Until now.

"No. It was always Padfoot and Prongs. It was never Padfoot and Moony. You both came up with pranks. You both went round each other's houses in the summer or for Christmas. You both were into the same sports, places, and both had the same personalities. I was just Moony."

Remus swallowed nervously after saying this, and opened his mouth to deny it all, say something against it, but closed it again, realising there was nothing to say. It was true. He just never in a million years would have admitted it. To anyone. He kept it to himself. He always had.

He didn't dare look at Sirius, who had gone suspiciously quiet. A moment passed in silence, before Sirius got up and walked out of the common room, leaving Remus alone in the tower.

Remus glanced at the chair where Sirius had sat, knowing what he had said was regrettable. But it was Sirius's fault. He wouldn't have found out if there hadn't been a potion.

Remus sighed and got up slowly, then decided against it, sitting back in the chair. He could fall asleep here tonight. It was warmer by the fire.

His worry of how Sirius would react to what he had said was soon replaced by worry about Harry. He wondered where he was now.

He could almost see an image of Harry in the fire, the flames dancing around him, before he closed his eyes, and fell asleep, letting himself fall into his dreams.

He didn't notice when a figure came into the common room and morphed into a dog, then curled up by his feet.

Sirius had been hurt. He hadn't known Remus felt this way. But he was determined to make things right. Prove Remus was wrong. Gain the trust he had lost. Gain back his friendship.

He needed Remus, and was genuinely worried about him everyday. As he sat on Remus's feet he heard Remus give a contented sigh in his sleep, and he smiled as well as a dog could possibly smile. Then, with a small whine, he rested his head, and fell asleep, hoping that he could make up for the wrong he had done in the morning.

Voldemort stood in front of his Death Eaters, a heartless smile plastered on his face. The Death Eaters stood around, in silence, waiting to hear what he had called them here for.

Voldemort finally stepped forward and began to speak.

"Good news my faithful servants."

Some of the Death Eaters frowned behind their masks. The Dark Lord seemed to be in a good mood.

Voldemort ignored the still silent Death Eaters and carried on.

"We have a new member."

A Death Eater moved forward cautiously.

"Who, my Lord?"

Voldemort replied in a pleased tone.

"Harry Potter."

Most of the Death Eaters gasped and shook their heads, disbelieving his words but afraid to admit it. But Voldemort could sense this.

"I have turned him to our side. He shall become a Death Eater tonight. The marking ceremony. You will all be there."

His servants nodded, still in shock, not daring to ask more questions. Voldemort's words alone struck fear into their hearts.

Voldemort peered around, clearly looking for a person who disagreed with his request. But there was no-one. They all stood as he scanned them with his eyes.

Then, with a final nod he turned and apparated, leaving them alone.

The Death Eaters almost stumbled over each other in their haste to talk with another person.

"I don't think he could have turned him. The boy was too arrogant." Declared one.

"I've seen him talking with Barty. Maybe he had a part in it…" said another in suspicion.

"Probably blackmail. The boy would never turn…"

"The way Potter went about things I would have thought he would have been killed by now." Replied a man.

And so the continuous argument continued between the Death Eaters until a voice cut through the noise.

"BE QUIET ALL OF YOU."

Barty Crouch Junior strolled towards them in his black robes, looking angry, and some of the Death Eaters parted as he made his way into the middle of them.

"Harry Potter has been turned. It is not a joke. If you believe this is a trick, then why not confront our Lord on it, hm?"

The Death Eaters averted their gaze, biting their tongues from shouting abuse at the man. He was Voldemort's right hand man. They couldn't say a word against him, unfortunately.

Barty was tired. He couldn't be bothered to say anything else until one man piped up something.

"I bet you had a part in this, Crouch."

Barty smirked, like he thought this comment was funny, just before he whipped out his wand and killed the man before anyone could bat an eyelid.

The Death Eaters stared in shock at the crumpled body of the anonymous Death Eater, as Barty laughed and walked around them.

"If anyone else wants to make a comment like that, feel free by all means."

He got no answer, and, feeling satisfied, he walked towards the house, knowing it would be a long time before anyone said a word against him again.

Authors note: Whoot! I've gotten so many reviews, loads more then I ever expected. I think I'm finally getting into this whole 'being a writer' kinda thing. : )

I hope you liked this chapter. I found it hard to write, because it involved an emotional response from Harry, and getting into that kind of detail was nerve wracking, because I never know if I can write in his style. I listened to this song called 'I'll try' on youtube from Peter Pan 2, so that kinda got me in the mood. It goes well with some parts of this chapter, and even though you probably won't recognise it, I added some lyrics in with some words.

The next chapter won't or shouldn't be too far away. A couple of days to write, maybe a week, depending on what amounts of homework I get. (groans) I have a feeling I have another English Essay coming up. Not good. Its quite mysterious actually, I think my homework is doubling everytime I leave the house. Ever happen to you guys?

I better go now. As always, please read, enjoy, review, maybe reread if you are seriously bored, lol. I highly doubt that you are bored though. Fanfiction is a big place. Lots of stories to read, y'know?

This is gothlyssa signing out.

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