Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Chapter 7
Harry began to trash about in Nott's arms. Scenes from the last time he met with Voldemort were flashing through his mind, but this time, it was Ron's body he saw in place of Cedric's. He chanced a look toward his friend who was now doing everything in his power to slow Crabbe down.
It seemed hopeless. The only one there who was strong enough to fight these men was unconscious and bleeding from the head. And, to be quite honest, Harry still wasn't sure that he could trust the man.
They were now passing Hagrid's cabin. For a moment, Harry thought of making a noise or doing something, anything to get the man's attention. But he didn't want to pull another one of friends in this mess. It was bad enough that Ron was there. What could he do?
A branch slapping across his face pulled him out of his thoughts and told him that they were now in the Dark Forrest.
Think, Harry, think. He looked back toward Ron who was watching him. He knew that Ron was probably thinking the same thing that he was. He counted himself lucky to have a friend like Ron.
The boys were being pushed and dragged deeper and deeper into the forest. Harry didn't know how much time they had before they reached the Portkey. He had to find a way to get Ron, and hopefully himself, out of this. But he couldn't focus, he could think of anything.
Harry was again brought out of his thoughts as the group of men came to a halt. The three men who held a captive stood while Pettigrew stooped to the ground, brushing fallen leaves and twigs out of his way. Appearing to have found what he was searching for, he stood up again. He turned to the other men. "All right, you three, make sure that you keep a hold of them while we transport. Lord Voldemort does not repay mistakes with kindness."
The other three men nodded and each moved closer to the Portkey, which to Harry looked suspiciously like a human finger bone.
This is it. He thought as the four men extended their hands toward the bone.
"On three," Pettigrew muttered.
No! No, this can't be happening!
"One…"
Stop, damn it!
"Two..."
Well, here goes nothing…
"OUCH!" came Crabbe's painful cry as Harry's foot crashed onto his. "You little buggar!" Crabbe made a grab for Harry, completely forgetting about Ron who was pushed against the trunk of a tree.
"Three."
A fearful look crossed Crabbe's features. He wasn't about to be left behind here. He grabbed the Portkey just at the other three men did and in a flash, they were gone, leaving one boy behind.
Ron lay on the ground at the base of the tree that Crabbe had pushed him into watching helplessly as Harry and the five other men disappeared. With difficulty, he used the trunk of the tree to push himself up. His feet were free, but his hands were still fixed securely behind his back. He scuttled to the spot where he had last seen his friend. Dropping to his knees, he searched with his eyes for the bone. He was taking in quick, shallow breaths. Nothing but leaves, twigs, and dirt.
Just bloody perfect! He thought angrily. Why Harry? Why can't you just leave him alone?
Finding nothing, Ron got to his feet as quickly as he could.
Please be all right, Harry, please, he thought as he began his sprint back to the Hogwarts grounds. The trees seemed to move by him rather slowly. His movements were restricted by his bound arms and they had not followed a path into the forest. He was almost positive that this was the way that they had come. But as he passed more and more trees, he couldn't help but feel that he was only running deeper into the wood.
At last, after what seemed like hours to him, but in reality could only have been minutes, he saw the trees thinning and the moonlight shimmer through a break in the woods.
Finally!
He stopped for a moment to catch his breath after reaching the edge of the forest. He was finding it rather difficult to breathe only through his nose while he was running.
Now what? I can't even open the castle gates with my arms behind my back. His eyes darted over to a small hut over to his side. Hagrid!
He made his way to the cabin but came to a stop at the front door. He couldn't shout or knock so he began to kick the door, supporting himself with one leg. Loosing his balance, he fell over and landed with a thud in the bushes.
Getting back up with a considerable amount of dirt covering his clothes, Ron flattened the side of his head against the door, listening for the sound of heavy footsteps. But the only thing he heard was loud snoring coming from the other end of the cabin.
Oh, come on!
Backing away from the door, he did the only thing he could think of. With a running start, he flung his body against the large wooden door. He repeated the process a few more times until he finally heard the large footsteps inside the cabin.
Hagrid opened the door to his cabin with a sleepy look on his face, rubbing his eyes with one giant hand. His expression changed when he saw the boy sprawled out on the ground in front of him.
"Ron?" he said in a perplexed tone. "What're ya doin' down there?" The man stooped down and lifted Ron to his feet with one hand.
Hagrid took the gag out of his mouth and Ron exploded. "It's Harry! He's gone! They've taken him!"
"Calm down now, who's taken Harry?" Hagrid said as he untied Ron's hands and dusted the boy off.
"Hagrid, it's Voldemort!"
* * * * *
Harry fell on his side when he landed. He seemed to have been the only one who fell because he saw four pairs of feet standing beside him on a cold stone floor.
A pair of hands grasped him by the shoulders and raised him to his feet. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in what looked like an old castle, similar to Hogwarts but not kept up with as well. And it was certainly more dismal. The walls were made of stone and there were only a few windows. They seemed to be in a corridor. A tall, wooden door was standing across from them and there was a great deal of noise, as if there were several different voices trying to talk at once coming out of it.
"Crabbe! Where's the boy?" Pettigrew looked at Crabbe's empty hands.
"He got away before we transported."
"Idiot!"
Crabbe looked angry but didn't respond.
Pettigrew drew in a breath, regaining his composure. "Fine, that boy wasn't important anyway. Dumbledore would found out soon enough." Looking around to the men, he turned to the door. "Let's just go in. There's no reason to bring it up."
Crabbe pushed open the doors and Harry was pulled into a well lit room. The room was enormous. It was heated by two fire places that, together, almost took up an entire wall. What looked like a hundred people were gathered in the room, all of them wearing long, hooded, black robes with white masks covering their faces.
The mass parted and made way for the group to move to the other end of the room where a thin, serpent-like man sat, smiling evilly in an ornate oak chair.
"Ah, Wormtail, I see that you have returned. And," he cast a look to Harry and Severus, "you have been successful."
Harry wanted to cringe at the voice but he forced himself to stand as erect as Nott's grip would allow. His teeth clenched together as an excruciating pain filled his scar.
* * * * *
Author's Note: Ok, I know that was really short but I've been dreading writing this chapter for a while. It's just a necessary evil to get onto better parts… I'd really like to know what you guys think of the story so far and where it's going. It's probably going to end up being really long so I hope you guys like long fics. Anyway, keep up the reviews, I really appreciate the good and the bad :-)