Chapter 14 – Veni, Vidi, Vici
Harry felt the hook behind his navel and tried to drop the deck of cards he had caught from Miguel, but it was too late. His entire body was twisted and pulled in an unnatural direction. He stumbled and dropped onto a cold stone floor and immediately regurgitated his lunch. As the heaves racked his body, he heard a sound behind him, but all he saw was a red light before the blackness overtook him.
An alarm in the Operations room alerted the FBI team that Harry Potter was no longer in the previously defined boundaries. Within seconds of the alarm, Special Agent Mendleson was on the emergency channel reporting the port key kidnapping from Eastlake Hospital.
"Subject Potter was proceeding to the Diaz room with his godfather and another adult male following. Miguel Diaz exited the stairwell and tossed the subject a pack of cards and then initiated the trigger phrase. It sounded like 'into my master's hands'. He then immediately triggered his own port key with a Latin phrase that sounded like 'I live to serve'. Hold, getting another report..."
Sheppard snapped "Is the tracking device on the Potter kid working? I want a satellite triangulation now!"
Mendleson's voice returned, "Miguel Diaz was found unconscious in the stair well. Looks like a polyjuiced double tossed the port key as I would have noticed a straight glamour. Diaz only remembers hearing a footstep before he was stunned from behind." There was loud shouting in the background, followed by Mendleson's voice reporting, "The godfather and friend are almost out of control here." His voice was turned away from the communicator as he snapped, "someone give those two calming draughts!" The voice was louder as he turned back and said, "Someone could have told me the second adult was a werewolf. Damn, he's strong and furious as hell."
Sheppard ignored the comment and snapped, "Mendleson, work with Eastlake security and find out how a port key worked through their wards. I want a report within twenty-four hours." He looked around the room and then demanded, "Where are Aurors Shacklebolt and Palmer? Someone get them up here and briefed."
"Satellite tracking coming in," said one of the agents.
"Put it up on the large screen," ordered Sheppard as he turned to watch the results. A global map of Northern America appeared on the screen, and then a flashing light appeared outside of the U.S. boundaries. Sheppard cursed quietly as the map shifted to Great Britain, then England specifically. "Forward this to National Security and let them figure out how an unauthorized international port key made it through the national wards. The NSC is not going to be happy about this. Peterson, mobilize the Riddle SWAT teams. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill. I'll go get approval from the Director."
As Harry clawed his way through the blackness towards consciousness, the first thing he became aware of was the awful coldness surrounding him. It seeped into his entire body and he was shivering almost uncontrollably. The memory of being kidnapped in the hospital returned.
"Black Sanctuary" he muttered, using the trigger for his first emergency port key. Nothing happened, no hook behind his navel. "Crap," he thought, "this is not good." He tried again for the backup port key with a whispered "Marauders Rule", but again nothing happened. He slowly opened his eyes and realized quickly why he was so cold. He was naked, lying on a chilly stone floor. That explained why his emergency port keys didn't work. They stripped him and removed everything. "No wand either," he realized and felt his heart drop further.
"Either Miguel was under Imperius or it wasn't Miguel at all," he recognized. "Sirius and Remus must be going insane." He rubbed his arms briskly and then this legs, trying to get some warmth into them. "Of course, they had to leave me naked" he muttered out loud, trying to stave off the embarrassment and feelings of vulnerability. "Merlin forbid they leave me even briefs." He lifted his hand to the back of his neck and felt a small bump under the skin and tried to hide a smile. So they hadn't found everything. Thank heavens they had agreed to let the FBI inject a shielded electronic tracking device. Now all he had to do was stay alive until help arrived.
He continued rubbing his skin to stay warm as he looked around the room. There was no window and no door that he could see. There wasn't even a pallet on the floor to give a little relief from the damp and chilly stone. That also meant that there was nothing he could use to attack someone coming in to the room. If they had at least left his clothes, he could have used the belt and even his shoes as weapons. "Oh bloody hell," he snarled. "Not even a chamber pot. I hope you burn in hell slowly, Riddle."
Sheppard came back from the meeting with the Director and gave a nod to the SWAT teams assembled. "Senator Anderson negotiated with British Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge to gain authorization for a joint US-British task force several months ago. We're going to be mobilizing and using that force faster than expected. Multiple attacks against American citizens within our borders will not be tolerated. We'll be working through Director Amelia Bones in the British Department of Law Enforcement in a coordinated rescue mission."
He nodded to the two British Aurors who had been waiting with the rest of the team. "If you haven't already met Aurors Shacklebolt and Palmer, meet them now. They are our liaisons to the DMLE and Director Bones." He frowned slightly and then added, "There is also a chance that we will be working with an independent group called the 'Order of the Phoenix'. They are not under the DMLE direction, but a civilian group that apparently operates alongside the DMLE." He saw and agreed with the pained looks that appeared on the agent's faces. Civilian groups rarely had the discipline or skill of trained professionals and seemed to have a problem with following orders.
Sheppard looked at the tall black Auror and hid a smirk. "Auror Shacklebolt, would you also be the liaison to that group?" At the Auror's nod of acceptance, he relaxed a little, relieved that maverick civilians wouldn't be his problem. "Thank you. All right everyone, get ready. I want everyone equipped with full field packs and they better be in double-checked and in peak condition. We'll be taking an international port key to London in ten minutes to meet up with our British counterparts. Mission briefing will occur there."
A hum of magic drew Harry's attention to the left wall and a cell door made of steel rods appeared. The pale blond hair and cold grey eyes identified Lucius Malfoy before the famous sneer did. "Well, well, well, Mr. Potter," the supercilious voice mocked, "not quite living up to your reputation, are you?"
Harry looked at the man with distaste and then turned away in an overt show of disinterest.
The cold eyes narrowed at being dismissed before another smirk appeared. "I do hope your accommodations are to your liking? The Dark Lord will have time for you soon, but is busy setting up tonight's ritual." He smiled cruelly and added, "You play an important part in the ritual, or at least your heart and blood do. Not that you will survive it, of course."
The man hadn't drawn his wand, so Harry assumed Voldemort had left orders that no one but He could harm the teen. He felt relatively safe baiting the man in that case, so rolled his eyes deliberately and made a shooing gesture with one hand. "Run along, Lucius and go debase yourself before your half-blood Master some more. A pity the Malfoys have fallen so far as to be useful only as slaves to psychotic pedophiles. Hmm, is that what you raised Draco to be? Your master's new boy toy?" He yawned deliberately and made a point of sitting down and getting comfortable against the cold stones before closing his eyes.
The harshly drawn breath let him know his insult had scored. "Enjoy your remaining hours, Potter," Malfoy sneered again. The door disappeared and Harry rolled his eyes for real at the older man's posturing. "Berk." What kind of adult felt the need to intimidate kids? He grinned suddenly and wondered if Malfoy and Severus Snape knew each other.
He set himself to rubbing his arms and legs again, trying to stimulate the blood flow and create some warmth in his shivering extremities.
He wasn't sure how many hours had passed before the cell door again appeared. He had spent them walking around the room, trying to rub heat into his shuddering frame. He had needed to relieve himself against one wall causing the scent of urine permeated the room, which added to his rising temper. He didn't mind being angry; that was much better than shuddering in fear.
With a shimmer, the wall morphed and the cell door appeared again. Before Harry could do anything, Lucius Malfoy cast a Petrificus Totalus, causing Harry to fall to the ground in a full body bind. The blonde sneered at him, unlocked the door with a silent spell and came into the room. He stood over the bound teen, allowing his eyes to rake up and down the boy's body. "Not much to look at, are you Potter?" With a tsk of disappointment, he cast a Mobilicorpus and levitated the teen out of the cell and down the hallway.
Harry couldn't see anything except the top of the walls and the ceiling as his body was floated along, although he noticed Malfoy didn't care if he bumped into walls during the trip. He hit the sides of a stair case a number of times and realized he would have colorful bruises over a good portion of his body if he ever got out of this place alive.
They reached the top of the staircase and went down another corridor before Malfoy levitated him into what seemed like a large chamber. The Mobilicorpus was stopped abruptly and he fell several feet to the floor while still in the body bind. His eyes stared at the ceiling as he strained to hear what was happening around him. He thought he heard the rustling of robes and the quiet shifting of bodies and realized he was probably the prime act for whatever entertainment Riddle had planned for the night.
He was glad for the body bind when he heard a sibilant voice declare, "Ah, Harry Potter, how kind of you to join us for our festivities this evening."
Sirius and Remus remained quiet when Hospital security and the FBI finally permitted them to leave. They had each been force-fed calming draught and had barely escaped being stunned. Mendleson had assured them that the FBI was mobilizing a team to perform a search and rescue on Harry, but their fear was that the boy's health and safety would come second to capturing or killing Voldemort. It was two tense men that were finally permitted to apparate back to Black Manor.
Once inside the foyer they looked at each other. "Dumbledore?" asked Sirius with a grimace, "or go it alone?"
Remus' normal amber eyes were more yellow than normal as he looked at his friend. "I hate to think he's our best choice, but the FBI certainly isn't going to permit us to join them. But if we don't take some action, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep Moony under control."
"Let's try the Headmaster then. Perhaps we can convince him to call up the Order." They moved to the study and activated the Floo. "Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland" demanded Sirius.
Green flames flared in the Headmaster's office alerting the elderly wizard to an incoming Floo call. He was surprised to see the head of Sirius Black calling out to him.
He smiled at the younger man and knelt down with an ease that belied his many years. "Sirius my dear boy! How are you?"
"Not good Albus. Harry has been kidnapped, by Lucius Malfoy we think. We believe that he's already in England." He was perversely pleased to see that the jovial face fell and the blue eyes closed briefly at the heartbreaking news. "The US government made some type of deal with Fudge for a joint task force and are mobilizing for what they call a 'search and rescue', but you know as well as I do that Harry's life will not be their primary concern. Can you get Fudge or Amelia to agree to include the Order? Remus and I want to be there to look out for Harry's wellbeing."
"I can contact both Cornelius and Amelia, but cannot guarantee they will permit the Order…hmm, I may have some leverage if I…" He paused as he considered the options. "I will see what I can do as well as investigate what their plans are."
The dark haired man relaxed noticeably. "Thank you, Albus. Remus and I will see about getting an international Floo or port key permit and will be there as soon as possible." He withdrew his head and turned to Remus. "Dragon hide armor and battle robes for both of us, plus secondary wands. Good thing we all had full protective gear made."
Remus shook his head as he said softly, "I wish Harry was wearing the same." He turned towards the stairs to go change, but stopped when a hand grasped his shoulder. "We'll get him back, Moony."
The gray haired man nodded briefly, "or die trying."
"Or die trying," Sirius agreed solemnly.
Harry seethed silently under the body bind, but was unable to even blink until it was released. "What Mr. Potter? Nothing to say to your host after I've gone to such lengths to welcome you to our festivities this evening?" A few snorts of amusement were audible from around the chamber. "Oh of course, how inconsiderate of me. Lucius, release our young...guest."
A softly smirked "Finite Incantatum" later, and Harry's muscles were again his own. He rolled slowly over to his stomach, and pushed himself up to his knees. He was in a large chamber, one that could almost be considered an audience hall that was filled with large figure dressed in black robes with white skull masks. On an elevated platform at the front of the room was an almost throne-like chair that hosted Lord Voldemort or Tom Riddle. He was tall and incredibly thin with a hairless skull and a very pale white face that featured wide crimson eyes with vertical slits for pupils. In place of a nose were two slits for nostrils.
Harry rocked back on his heels and rose with a little less grace than he wanted, but his muscles were stiff after the body bind. "Game on," he thought to himself. He gave a half bow in Riddle's direction and said, "How kind of you to have me, Tom. Of course, the invitation delivery was a bit plebian, but one can't be held responsible for one's minions." Harry had to hide his grin of victory as Riddle's eyes narrowed at his comments.
"For such a pathetic and scrawny specimen, you have a very inflated opinion of yourself Potter. I am Lord Voldemort, the Immortal Dark Lord and you would do well to remember that." The malevolent aura radiating off the man was stifling and made the teen want to gasp for air, but he stiffened his spine and put his acting skills to the test.
Harry managed a snort of amusement before responding, "Well yes, the Dark Lord Voldemort. I'm sure your mother and father would be so proud of all you've managed to accomplish. Why just look – you've managed to kidnap and strip a teenager! Woo, go Tom! I'm sure Merope and Tom Senior would be proud of their little pedophile."
He heard gasps from the black robed Death Eaters at hearing their Master described as a pedophile, and he only hoped it made them question his appetites. He expected retribution for the insult, but he didn't expect an almost casually cast "Crucio".
The young teen's body immediately convulsed as agony unlike anything he could ever imagine ripped through his undersized frame. He thought every bone, muscle and nerve was being ripped to shreds, reformed and ruptured again. He was certain his very blood was boiling and would melt his veins before exploding through his skin. He wasn't even aware that he was screaming until the pain stopped and he realized his vocal chords were hoarse.
He lay on the ground, gasping for air, his muscles trembling from the after effects of the curse, the pain still coursing through his system, but at a reduced level.
The smooth sibilant tone mocked him, "Ah Harry my dear boy, you bring such entertainment to my drab existence. I was so disappointed when you decided to flee from me."
The teen pulled himself back up to his knees and looked at the snake-like visage in surprise. "Flee from you? You didn't even factor into the decision. I was trying to get away from Dumbledore more than anyone else."
To his surprise, the Dark Lord threw back his head and laughed an unpleasant hissing sound. "Dumbledore? You were fleeing Dumbledore? Oh, do explain." He pointed his wand at the teen, making it a demand, not a request.
This was one demand that Harry didn't mind obeying. "The old coot kidnapped me from the ruins of my parent's house after you killed my parents and abandoned me to magic-hating Muggles where I was starved and kept like a house elf for ten years. I grew up with no knowledge of my heritage. A bare month before the Hogwarts term began, I found out that I was not only a wizard, but famous because my mother gave me some type of protection against you." Riddle's eyes narrowed thoughtfully at that comment.
"Then I finally got to Hogwarts and found out that Dumbledore hired a possessed DADA teacher..." He paused and coughed -you - and coughed again "...who tried to kill me multiple times during the year. Did he protect me? Hell no. Plus he kept a sadistic bully of a Potions teacher.." he barely noticed the slight rustle of fabric as one of the Death Eaters shifted position, "plus a ghost for History incapable of teaching."
He frowned at Riddle as he continued, "Was I given any counseling after being involved in Quirrel's death? Hell no, I was sent back to the abusive Muggles who locked me in a room and tried to starve me to death. The next year, your younger self possessed an eleven year old girl – and you do seem to have a fetish about possession, don't you - and released a basilisk. Did Dumbledore save the student and defeat the basilisk? Of course not. He did nothing and I wound up facing a twenty meter monster on my own. And what was my reward? Why being sent back to the abusive Muggles, of course! Why do you think I looked for another school?" He smirked at Voldemort. "I'm sorry Tom, but compared to Dumbledore, you're practically the Leader of the Light."
Thin lips smiled at him as Riddle responded, "Then why don't you join me, Harry. Together, we could be great."
Harry shook his head. "Mostly because your tactics are doomed to failure. See, you're ignoring the power that others wield, powers for which you have no defenses. Rather than being flexible and adapting to changing times, you're stuck in the past and will drag everyone down with you. My Battle Magics instructor always advises to either defend or go on the offensive from a position of strength, but you're defending a position of weakness and in the end it will crumble from within. Trying to build an empire built primarily on fear and intimidation hasn't succeeded in the long term throughout history, so why assume it would succeed now?"
As Harry distracted Voldemort with tales of his youth and why he didn't think the Dark Lord would be successful based on history, a major assault contingent assembled outside Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton.
Amelia Bones lifted her hands before the three score band of Aurors, a team of Unspeakables from the Department of Mystery, Muggle MI-5 agents, American FBI agents and members of the Order of the Phoenix. She had been extremely surprised to discover that the American FBI team had contacted their British MI-5 counterparts, and even more surprised to learn that a small contingent of that Muggle group knew about the wizarding world. She gave herself a mental shake and then cast a Muffliato beyond their perimeter and then cast Sonorous on herself. "The details of this mission have already been discussed. In five minutes, the FBI team will attempt their magic suppression enchantment against Riddle Manor. The FBI and MI6 hell-e-cop-tores will provide an air assault while the ground forces move in. If the magic suppression does not drop the wards, then we will have to attempt a non-magical assault. We move in four minutes and 30 seconds." She cast a Quietus and prepared herself to face the most powerful Dark Lord of the century.
Voldemort shook his head as if amused at the antics of a toddler. "As amusing as your views are, my dear boy, we have delayed tonight's entertainment long enough." A wave of magic rolled across the room, tingling against everyone in the chamber. The Dark Lord's face scowled in rage as he felt the wards around the Manor evaporate.
Harry recognized the sound of helicopters overhead, pushed himself to his feet and began to grin at Voldemort. "You're done for, Tom. It's all over. The Fat Lady is beginning to sing."
Voldemort stabbed his wand at the officious teen and hissed, "Avada Kedavra". To the shock of everyone in the room, nothing happened. "Kill him!" he seethed.
Overhead, an odd whop-whop-whop sound unfamiliar to the wizards was getting louder and louder, almost shaking the building. Harry began to dodge around the room, as the Death Eaters tried to cast on him, although no spells were successful. Two loud explosions wracked the building and dust began to waft down from the ceiling. Oddly loud popping sounds began to filter down from the upper floors.
Harry came up behind Lucius Malfoy and kicked at the man's knees, causing him to collapse on the floor. He picked up the man's wand as it clattered to the floor. To his surprise, he saw the handle of a familiar wand exposed from the blonde's sleeve and quickly grabbed the holly wand in relief. He was shocked that the Death Eaters were still trying to cast on him rather than trying to stop him physically, but blessed his fortune and began running towards the nearest door.
Once in the hallway, he began to hear footsteps following him and kept running, turning corners, dodging through rooms and trying to leave a confused trail that the Death Eaters couldn't follow. He didn't know the layout of the building and hoped he could find a window to break and escape from or at least a corner he could defend easily.
He turned a corner and ran into two figures and began to punch and kick. "Harry, stop! Harry!" He stopped in shock at hearing Remus' voice and was then grabbed in a rib-breaking hug from Sirius. "Thank Merlin, Harry. I was so afraid you would be dead!"
The sound of spell casting suddenly erupted behind them. "The magic suppression field must have failed" said a third voice that the teen didn't recognize. He saw three men dressed in black with large white letters on their backs. "Back up around the corner and let's try an orderly retreat."
Remus stripped off his robe and gave it to the teen as they followed the FBI agents. The warmth of the robe made him realize how bitterly cold he had been. "How are you here?"
"Quiet, not now" the FBI agent snapped as a Reducto flew past them.
Harry realized that Sirius and Remus had engaged two death eaters that had tried to circle around and attack them from behind. "Miserable cowards," he heard Sirius mutter as the former prisoner cast a Reducto and Diffindo while Remus shielded them both.
"Did you think to escape me, Harry," hissed the one voice the teen didn't want to hear again. The boy dodged a body bind then ducked and cast a Defodio towards the Dark Lord, who didn't even bother evading it, instead he allowed a glowing shield to absorb the spell.
Voldemort sneered at the dark-haired teen and hissed, "Pathetic. I have no idea why the prophecy thought you could defeat me. You're nothing but a weak and useless brat. Unfortunately, it appears I don't have time to play with you any longer. Avada Kedavra!" A green bolt hurtled towards Harry, who dove out of the way, only to be hit from a spray of stones as a Confringo landed near him.
He shook his head, trying to clear the black edges from his eyesight. He saw Voldemort raise his wand, but over the pale figure's shoulder, he saw a cadre of FBI agents who raised weapons similar to pistols. Two others raised their wands and cast multiple curses to break the Dark Lord's shields. Multiple brightly colored flares came from the hand-held weapons which spewed pellets that struck and covered Voldemort and nearby death eaters. Immediately, fabric and skin began to bubble and dissolve as acid swathed the targets.
Voldemort tried to cast a counter curse to repel the acid, but Harry remembered what had happened in First Year and jumped towards the man and grabbed his wand hand. Just as it happened with Professor Quirrell, Voldemort's skin began to smoke where Harry's hand touched him. The Dark Lord tried to shake off the boy and cast the counter curse, but Harry's delay permitted the acid to eat through his vocal cords. Harry gasped at the sight of Voldemort's face and jumped back, his eyes widening in horror. The Dark Lord raised his hands and his fingers clawed at the bubbling skin that peeled back to expose startling white bone under the blood and gristle.
The body fell and a hazy black essence arose from the corpse. Unspeakables from the DoM began to chant in Latin and a sphere appeared around the spirit. It howled in outrage, turning in one direction after another, but was repelled each time it touched the boundary of the sphere. They cast another sphere around the first and then enlarged a peculiar silvery box. The spheres were levitated into the box and locked securely.
Remus and Sirius collapsed next to Harry, and held him close. He vaguely heard people speaking around them. "Let's get four teams to secure the building and the perimeter. Parker, take two teams to secure the prisoners. Medics see to the injured here and prepare for transport as needed." The stress of the last day finally caught up with the teen, and he allowed welcoming darkness to envelope him.
OoOoOoOo