Voldemort laughed icily, as he and all the Death Eaters stood in a circle, watching a hovering form. On closer inspection, someone would have seen that this hovering form was in fact a cloud like substance, which, contained images, playing repeatedly, over and over again.

"It seems," said Voldemort, turning to look at his servants, "That Harry has quite the fighting ability at the moment. A troll is too easy for him. You saw the way he managed to levitate the club in a moment and knock the troll. A simple task. He can dodge well. Something more challenging is needed."

The Death Eaters nodded and bowed, and a few more disappeared, as Barty walked up to Voldemort from the side, turning to look at the image of Harry's concentrating expression as he lifted the club from the troll, his wand arm high in the air. Even though his mask blocked his face from everyone, just by looking into the boy's eyes you could see what he felt.

Barty couldn't help but smile slightly as he looked at him. Not many Harry's age could take on a troll. Voldemort wore the same expression. Slowly, Voldemort turned to face Barty.

"Good work Barty. He is slowly learning the killing curses. And using them. When you train him, show him the defence methods. Like you have done with others his age."

Barty nodded.

"Yes My Lord."

They both turned to look back at the image of Harry walking shakily down the pathway into the darkness.

Harry coughed, using his left hand to cover his mouth at the same time. He didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to himself at the moment. If there were more of those trolls lurking around they might be able to hear him.

He silently trudged through bushes, trying to keep to the dark pathway that was leading him to nowhere. He couldn't help but feel a shiver pass up his spine. This place gave him the creeps.

He prayed he would encounter nothing else on his never-ending road. A prayer he knew would probably not be answered.

A series of short squawks and a lot of rustling proved him to be right, and his eyes widened as something shadowed stepped out onto the pathway…but this was no troll…

A hippogriff stood, blocking his way, staring at him with curious eyes.

In a short moment, Harry rushed forward.

"Buckbeak?" He asked, hesitantly, not being able to see if it was the hippogriff he knew…he got a bit closer, and a fleeting sense told him this was not the hippogriff he knew. It was not Buckbeak.

He sighed, but didn't take his eyes off of it, knowing it could be the last mistake he would ever make.

Barty, Voldemort, and some of the Death Eaters stood around the hovering cloud, watching it. Finally, Voldemort faced all of them.

"It is a test of understanding and knowledge. I trust all of you to already know how to deal with a hippogriff…the right way."

Voldemort spoke the last part, eyes locked on a smaller form of the Death Eaters, with obvious sarcasm. The Death Eater's blue eyes shone furiously, but embarrassingly, he lowered them after a nudge from the taller Death Eater beside him.

Voldemort smirked and turned to look at Harry, who had just rushed up to the hippogriff.

"Buckbeak?" he queried to himself. No matter, he would find out later what Harry had talked about. He watched with interest as Harry slowly backed away, eyes firmly locked on the hippogriff.

He knows what to do…

Harry bowed, eyes not blinking, and after a while, the hippogriff bowed as well. Harry abruptly stood up, and looked around, eyes shining curiously, keeping the hippogriff in sight though.

Voldemort nodded his head, and heard Barty sigh slightly with relief beside him.

"Magical creatures are too easy for him. He has shown us that. Something more…cunning is needed. Sooner or later the boy will realise he is being tested. The animals may have appeared mere coincidences to him, but the next test shall not."

Voldemort glared at the Death Eaters for a moment, causing some of them to nod and some of them to bow.

Barty took a hesitant step neared to him, and whispered into his ear.

"The boy has had trouble with dementors in the past."

Voldemort raised his thin eyebrows at this and appeared to be in deep thought before replying.

"They shall be included near the final test."

Barty nodded and stood back, eyes instantly glued to the image of a very tired looking Harry.

Harry knew it was stupid of himself to think this hippogriff had been Buckbeak. He had grown too attached to the animal in the past, and had instantly supposed the hippogriff had been the one he knew so well…

He sighed and glanced at it. The hippogriff itself had darker feathers then Buckbeak and its eyes did not seem quite as friendly. He should have noticed straight away.

Silently, he moved around it, leaving it to walk off in the opposite direction.

Admittedly, he felt suspicious about the prospect of a troll and a hippogriff. In the same forest. Along the same path. The path that just so happened to be the one he was following. The path he had been allocated to, by the Death Eaters.

Yes, he knew for certain something was going on. His gut told him that it was some kind of test, but he felt unsure.

Did Death Eaters and Voldemort test people to join them? Or were they just testing his limit? Seeing how far he could go before…well…before he got harmed.

He shuddered and hoped that the latter option was not the case. He didn't think his 'limit' would survive for much longer if they kept this up.

He peered upwards, hoping for a glimpse of the sky. Unfortunately, he was, yet again, faced with dark branches and leaves, all belonging to the surrounding trees and bushes. He sighed and looked down at the ground again, determined to follow the path no matter what. Getting lost would seem a little…idiotic.

He could always be counted as an idiot he supposed…after all, many considered him as a lunatic already. Claiming that Voldemort still existed, still lived. The Daily Prophet had made sure his truthful ranting had been shown as what was commonly known as a 'nutter case.'

He knew there were some out there who believed him. Some who stood by him and helped him. But it was all of the rest….all of the rest who were just sitting by and letting Voldemort claim his power again. They were the ones who needed help. Not him.

He clenched his fists, taking longer strides now.

What would people think? What would they think after all that time he had spent trying to convince them Voldemort lived, he only ended up joining him?

People couldn't possibly understand. What it felt like. What he was going through. He would have rather died than joined Voldemort. He knew that much…But when it came to his friends and family's lives….well….that was a different story. He would gladly give his life to save theirs. And this was basically what he was doing. Giving his life…his life to the service of Voldemort.

He shook the horrible thoughts from his head. He knew what he had to do. He knew how he had to do it. It all fitted in. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. All he needed to do was go through with it, and they would all be safe. He just had to forget about them. Forget about his memories. His past.

Inwardly, he knew he was scared. More scared then he had ever been before in his life. And that had to be something, hadn't it? Ron had always used to go on about how brave he was, and had always made comments about the things he had done. The people he had helped. But then again, Ron had done some pretty amazing things as well. So had Hermione. And it all came down to Harry. He had been the one to endanger them in the first place….He sometimes wondered why Mrs Weasley still let Ron go within a foot near him.

He blinked his emotions away. His strides were becoming shorter, and in one swift moment, he brought his hand to his head, emitting a small gasp as a painful throb entered his head.

His scar.

Voldemort felt happy. Was that good? Probably not. Harry bit his lip and carried on walking, then looked up as the area he was walking in became darker.

A large bush, almost like a wall, blocked his path. Harry stared, and looked down. His path went straight ahead. Into the bush. That didn't make sense.

He frowned and pointed his wand at the massive shrub, shouting a few igniting spells. Nothing happened. No reaction.

He pocketed his wand and held out his hand, eyes widening as it went straight through the bush. Glancing around, he turned back to it, and stepped through it, feeling a chilling sensation as he made it to the other side.

What the…

He froze as he gathered where he was. A maze.

No, no, no, no…

His eyes were dark and fearful, and he tried to step back, only to find the bush had solidified and he was now trapped inside. He slowly turned to his left and right, then closed his eyes and leant against the bush.

Please no.

He finally opened them again, almost drowning in his emotions, before swallowing them down and taking a few steps to the right.

From what he could see, the maze was empty. He sighed, partly in relief, and partly in frustration, before walking down the smoky pathway that he supposed was the way he was meant to go.

A man in what appeared to be an expensive suit and robes entered the dark room, carrying a small briefcase with him.

He nodded at a few men as he passed, not really caring for their welfare, but determined to appear well-natured to all.

He headed for a small door at the back, opening it and walking down a murky hallway, before taking the third door to the left and walking in, shutting it behind him.

He then turned, to face a hooded figure.

"I trust you recorded the findings."

The cloaked person nodded and pushed forward a small notebook along the table, waiting patiently as the expensive clothed man flicked through a few pages and nodded. He then looked up.

"Good."

He pulled open his briefcase, unlatching the little locks and taking out a syringe and a vial of silver looking liquid. He smiled coldly at the hooded figure, holding the syringe in one hand.

"Arm out."

The figure obeyed, and the man inserted the syringe deep into the skin, forcing all of the liquid to leave, before taking it out and wiping it with a small cloth.

"I trust the findings were satisfactory?"

The figure refused to answer the man, only averting their hooded gaze to the floor, giving off a feeling of resentment. The man in the suit smiled eerily, and chuckled slightly in spite of himself.

"Now, now, Mr Lupin. Why won't you answer me?"

Authors Note: Okay, okay. First things first...I havent checked this chapter yet for mistakes, errors, etc. I hope its all right, but I trust you all to get the gist of whats going on. After all, you're all pretty brilliant readers.

I think the hippogriff idea was a bit cheesy, I gotta admit. But the maze, I am excited about writing. You might think its a bit of a copy from the movie, but I've used it in that way. It all links in basically... Notice that Harry was upset? Then you may get whats going to be in store for him in the next chapter or two...

My friend inspired me with ideas, so its a big clap to her from me, as I was stuck. Too many things to write, so little time as they say...

Anyway, good news as well...

I ACTUALLY HAVE OVER 100 REVIEWS!!!!!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT??? You know what!?! Its all thanks to you guys. Without you, I'd be lost, so its a big thanks from me. I'd give you all chocolate or something if I could... : )

Oh! I've seen the new Bond movie. Pretty good, I like the music personally...and the guns and cars...But that could be just me. I advise you guys to see it if you like violence.

Anyone seen the new Harry Potter movie trailer yet? You see it if you watch Happy Feet, but if you look up 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie Trailer' on youtube you can find it as the fourth one down, stating its not fanmade but from Warner Bros. It looks good. Harry's new haircut looks a little strange though...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter and reading my rambling notes. As always, I aim to update soon, and I welcome all new readers with welcome arms...lol. Please, press the review button and let me know your opinions...

See ya next chapter!

x X x gothlyssa x X x