AN: looks around sheepishly

Harry Potter and the Snake's Veil

Chapter 4 – Promises Fulfilled

One week later, a noticeable healthier Harry was dragged into the same large room as before. Although still pale, the dark circles that haunted Harry's eyes were gone.

This time, Wormtail led Harry to the chair in the corner. As soon as Harry sat in it, powerful chains wrapped themselves around his legs. Then Wormtail untied the cords around Harry's torso and grabbed Harry's left arm and wrenched it down. A thick chain wrapped up his arm. Then Wormtail grabbed his injured arm and jerked it forward. Harry gasped in pain.

"Wormtail!"

Wormtail visibly flinched and let out a foul breath into Harry's face. Harry blanched. Wormtail threw himself to the ground and sniveled, "My, my Lord. I…"

"I told you not to harm the boy. Come here."

Shaking with fright, Wormtail got up and crossed the room to where Voldemort stood. He immediately fell to his knees.

"Get up," Voldemort hissed. Wormtail obediently got up. He went to move out of the way when Voldemort clenched his arm roughly and pulled him close. In a mere whisper, Voldemort asked, "Have you been giving him the potion?"

"I do only as you bid, milord. Everyday I have poured some in his water. I finished the batch off today and he drank it all greedily." He gave a nervous twitch.

"Thank you my servant. Now your punishment will be lifted…" He threw Wormtail away from him and pulled out his wand. "Crucio!" Wormtail's cries of anguish echoed through the stone chamber. They were soon joined by Harry's as his scar began to burn. The spell was lifted and the only sound that remained was Wormtail's heavy panting. "Meet me tonight in my chambers!"

"Yes, sir." Wormtail picked up his pathetic body and inched away from the two, disappearing in the shadows.

Voldemort walked over to Harry. "I do hope Wormtail has been treating you well, my son." He continued before Harry could argue, "Your arm is still broken…" Voldemort tapped it with his wand instantly mending the bone. Harry stiffly stretched it out. "I promised I'd get you your godfather back. Today, I fulfill my promise to you." He walked behind the chair and before Harry could turn around, Voldemort had begun to influence Harry by placing his long fingers beside Harry's eyes and pressing in. Harry gasped then relaxed as if nothing happened.

Harry followed Voldemort as he walked in front of the teen. "Ready to go Harry?" Without waiting for an answer, Voldemort tapped the chair with his wand and the chains withered away. He pulled Harry up. Wormtail reappeared with his wand raised at Harry, his silver hand flickering in the torch light.

Voldemort was already at the door and waited impatiently for Harry.

"This is a trap," Harry said.

Voldemort sighed. "Harry, I already have you in my possession, what other trap could I possibly spring. Also Harry, I wouldn't want to hurt my heir. Now, let's go."

Harry didn't want to move and follow his sworn enemy as if they were about to go to Honeydukes. But, if Voldemort was saying the truth, if he really could get Sirius back, he had to go. No one ever really explained how the veil worked or even what it was…

Harry stood up and began walking toward Voldemort. He smiled and led Harry through the catacombs, as Wormtail trailed behind them. They arrived at a fireplace. "Unfortunately, the Ministry insists on keeping the Anti-Apparition barriers up."

Wormtail slunk forward and grabbed the Floo Powder and disappeared into the flames. "Go ahead Harry, you next. Don't even think about getting out too early." He thrust the bag of the green powder at Harry.

Harry scooped up a handful it and threw it into the flames. "Ministry of Magic!" He whirled around the fireplaces until he stumbled out, into the Atrium. Wormtail grabbed a hold of him, clenching Harry tightly. "Gerroff me, you slim!" Harry spat as he pushed himself off Wormtail. Wormtail clinched his silver hand as if he was about to strike but Voldemort strode out of the fireplace.

Harry glanced around the Atrium; it looked the same as last June, as if the conflict had never stained the walls. The pristine marble floor reflected the light on its cool, glassy surface. The golden statues stood immaculate as water issued from the sprouts, the noise bouncing off the walls, making it seem as if there were hundreds of fountains.

"Come now Harry," Voldemort's cold voice penetrated Harry's musings. He steered Harry toward the elevator and the Department of Mysteries. Harry followed Voldemort although all he wanted to do was alert the whole Ministry of their whereabouts. 'The Ministry!'

"Where are all the Ministry workers?" he asked. The silence was getting to him. No one was around. The building seemed dead.

"After your disappearance, the Ministry came to ruin. They couldn't defeat Lord Voldemort." He smiled wickedly. "I had my Death Eaters finish off anyone who was left."

They had arrived at the Department of Mysteries. With a swish of his wand, Voldemort opened the door and the three filed in.

The corridor lit up in blue flames. The trio walked into the circular room which immediately began to revolve. This didn't hinder Voldemort as his sent a spell at the spinning doors causing the room to stop and a door to open.

Harry head whispers creep out of the room. He stopped his urge to run into the room and get Sirius and just followed Voldemort inside. The whispers grew louder, almost excited.

Wormtail grabbed Harry back as Voldemort walked on top of the stone dais. Harry shrugged Wormtail off and stepped closer to the platform.

Voldemort began to speak to arch, Harry noticed it was in Parseltongue. "Awake Guardian of the Veil, from your long slumber."

To Harry's surprise, marking appeared around the arch. They glowed brilliant silver, then faded. The tattered veil fluttered. A voice answered, "Who dares speak the serpent's language? Who dares to use this veil?"

"It is I, Lord Voldemort, the last descendent of Salazar Sytherin."

The veil arch made hissing noises. The whispers grew louder. The veil fluttered again, as if a hand had just brushed past it.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "I demand that you obey me guardian as you would have to Salazar!"

The arch hissed again, "Whom do you wish to summon?"

"Sirius Black."

The veil started blowing like a huge gust of wind was hitting it. Then from the other side a figure stumbled backward.

Harry ran toward the figure. "Sirius!" he cried. He held on tight to Sirius, felling his warm body, as Sirius struggled to move. Harry peered at Sirius' face. "I thought I had lost you."

"Harry, what are you on about? The Death Eaters…" he stopped looking behind Harry, at Voldemort who had just stepped from behind the veil. "Watch out Harry; it's him!" Sirius looked around, noticing there were no other Death Eaters or members of the Order of Phoenix. Harry and he were the only ones in the room fighting Voldemort. "What…?"

Voldemort flicked his wand and Sirius was a dog. Harry looked at him aghast. "Well, I can't have Black walking around my mansion now can I? Let's leave."

The trip back seemed faster to Harry. Maybe it was the fact that he had Sirius, but the next thing he knew, he was back in the large room.

"What are you going to do with Sirius?"

Voldemort smiled; the potion worked. "Nothing. He'll just be put in your room while you stay here. You two can catch up on the lost time." He paused. "Wormtail led your old friend back to Harry's room. Make it clear that if he tries anything, it won't be pleasant. I will get you later." Wormtail bowed and led Sirius at wand point out of the room. Voldemort turned to Harry, his red eyes flickering with delight. "Legimins!"

Harry cried out in pain as Voldemort pushed through barriers in his mind. He was much stronger than Snape. Many memories flashed up in his mind that he didn't even comprehend most of them. "Stop, please stop," he whimpered. Then, suddenly, it was lifted. Harry opened his tear filled eyes. His scar was searing. His head was pounding. He leaned over to the side of the chair and retched.

"Thank you Harry," Voldemort said with an air of someone who was very happy.

Harry's head snapped up causing white spots to dance in front of his eyes. What did Voldemort find out? Numerous things ran through Harry's damaged mind.

"Wormtail!" The rat appeared at the door. "Make preparations for an initiation. Invite all my top officials, my Inner Circle. I want them all to see my heir get initiated as a Death Eater."

"No!" Harry's voice rang out in the chamber. "I'll never join you or your filth," he spat.

Voldemort's red eyes flashed ominously. He pulled out his wand and made a slashing movement and Harry felt his arm rebreak. He cradled it with his left hand, fighting back the urge to cry out.

He heard Voldemort's voice, "Have it planned for next week. Take Potter to his cell. Make sure his measurements are taken for his robes and mask. And get him cleaned up before the feast."

"Yes, my Lord."

The next thing Harry remembered was being dragged to his small cell where Sirius came up to him, nuzzling his face. "I love you, Sirius," he mumbled before falling unconscious.

-Anaticulapraecantrix