Disclaimer: This seems kinda pointless by now. What do I own? Nothing that's J.K's that's for sure, cuz I would not be here, I'd be out there making Billions.

Chapter Summary: Voldemort is not one to accept mistakes...

A/N: Yay, I was not killed for the horrible cliffy! And for your generousness, in a time that didn't require you to be, I am posting this next chapter sooner than my usual. –Smiles- Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 17: Death Eater's Punishment

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"Harry!" cried the worried Sirius and Remus in unison. They were at his side in an instant, Remus lifting Harry's head up with one hand and fondly brushed the boy's sweaty bangs out of his face with the other.

"Is he okay? Is he alright?" asked Sirius looking at Remus for an answer.

Harry, oh, Harry…This is my fault why didn't I listen to Moony? I'm such a git…

Remus looked contemplative as he touched Harry's forehead, then checked the boy's pulse as a very slight relieved look spread across his face.

"He's alive, thank Merlin, but by a hair Padfoot," Remus informed his friend. Sirius paled somewhat.

"Harry's used his magic before, but not like this. That was too advanced for his age as an Elemental and sapped a lot out of him. I'm surprised he's even…he could be out for…days."

Sirius slowly glanced back at his Godson, placing a hand softly on the boy's hot cheek.

Prongslet…

"He's burning up," Sirius said shakily.

"I know…I know..."

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While the two were with Harry, Mrs. Weasley was in a state of shock.

"H-He…H-he's a…Harry's a…" she did not seem to be able to form correct sentences for her thoughts.

"Dumbledore?" questioned Mr. Weasley turning to his left to find…no one. "Where'd he go?"

"Arthur…the children, they should…"

"Oh, yes, of course dear. Kids, inside, we will talk about this later," Mr. Weasley ordered his children, only to be met with an immediate wave of protests.

"You heard your father!" said Mrs. Weasley sternly, leaving no room for argument. The children grudgingly obeyed and trudged back to the house.

"Come on, Molly. They've got this under control, we shouldn't become a burden," Mr. Weasley told to his wife, who looked like going back inside was the last thing she wanted to do.

"What about whoever did this?" she asked concernedly.

"I'll bet anything that that's what Dumbledore is finding out as we speak," he replied, certain. She nodded reluctantly and followed her husband into the house.

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The two men stood, and Remus, as careful as careful could be, transferred Sirius' limp Godson to his Godfather's arms, watching him for any signs of life other than his shallow breathing, which seemed horribly labored in the Lupin's opinion.

"We need to get him St. Mungo's," Remus stated once the young Potter was in Sirius' arms, worry evident in his voice and features. "He needs medical attention…soon."

"Why not Madam Pomfrey?" Sirius inquired, taken aback.

"She's a good nurse, Sirius, a really good one. But what's wrong with Harry is deeper than what she studied to become a basic healer, much deeper."

"You're scaring me, Moony."

"Not as much as I could…" sighed Remus gravely.

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"Not getting ready to do something you'd regret, I'd hope," said the calm and collected voice of Albus Dumbledore. The man, who had been about to send an Unforgivable at the two men with Harry, whipped around, startled, wand pointed now at Dumbledore. The man had wavy dark golden-brown hair and a youthful face with hazel eyes.

"Dumbledore," he said with disdain, keeping the alarm in his voice unnoticeable. This had not been in his plan.

"It has been a very long time, Xantos. I must say…I have not seen you since you were close to the age of fifteen," the older man stated, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Not for lack of trying, I expect," Xantos sneered.

"The same bitterness after all these years," Dumbledore sighed.

"Did you actually anticipate a change?" Xantos smirked. The Hogwart's Headmaster sighed as if expecting as much, and took a step toward the man. Xantos cursed under his breath. Staying would mean a fight with Dumbledore, which was not something he particularly wanted to do at the moment. It was time to go…for now anyway.

"The Dark Lord will have the boy, Dumbledore, no matter how many preventions you try and make," said Xantos maliciously before a loud resounding crack split the air, and he was gone.

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"Why that little-" Sirius snarled through gritted teeth as the two gazed toward the direction of the load crack, but Remus cut him off.

"Take a breath Padfoot, who is our priority here?" Remus asked, knowing what was going through his friends mind…for it was going through his as well; only he was better at fighting his impulses. Sirius nodded knowingly, just as Dumbledore emerged from the forest.

"It was indeed a Death Eater, for which I had no doubt," the elder wizard answered the unasked question as he approached.

"But how could they have known Harry would be here, of all places?" Remus voiced concernedly.

"Snivellus," Sirius concluded darkly. "Only he knew about today, Dumbledore. He would be the only one who could tell that-" But for the second time that day Sirius was cut off…it was beginning to annoy him.

"I trust Severus completely, Sirius. He would do no such thing."

"How can you say that after what just happened?" the dog Animagus fumed.

"Because Severus informed me this morning that Voldemort had a spy in a very good location. The problem was, Severus, himself, knew not who it was," Dumbledore explained.

"What a load of bullocks!"

"Sirius!" Remus tried to reason.

"Don't tell me you believe Snape's story," Sirius angrily rounded on the lycanthrope.

"It's plausible, Sirius. We shouldn't rule it out," Remus stated calmly. Sirius glared at his friend. It might be plausible, Sirius knew, but he would not believe Snape even if the greasy haired git drank a cupful of Veritaserum.

"This is not something we should be squabbling about at the moment," Dumbledore told the two. "Harry is in dire need." The two men, pushing aside their disagreements, for Harry's sake, nodded.

"What about you?" Remus inquired.

"I believe the Weasley's would very much like some questions answered," said Dumbledore knowingly. Remus nodded understandingly then turned to Sirius.

"Ready?"

"Been."

Two loud cracks split the air.

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"Partially completed?" hissed an icy cold voice dangerously from the chair in which he sat. On the floor in front of him kneeled his servant; one who had miscalculated…and Voldemort did not take miscalculation lightly.

"M-Master I beg your forgiveness, I-I…"

"Forgiveness?" hissed the voice again, so low that it sent shivers down the Death Eaters spine. "Forgiveness? I do not tolerate incompleteness, Xantos," he whispered coldly.

"B-But, m-my Lord. Dumbledore, h-he…"

"That is no reason to not complete your mission!" Voldemort snapped furiously, raising his wand with the hand of the body he was currently possessing. "Crucio!"

The room became full of Xantos' screams as he convulsed and twisted on the floor, pain consuming his every limb. After a few minutes, that seemed an eternity to Xantos, the Dark Lord lifted the curse.

"Forgiveness, Xantos, is something you do not deserve. I requested Potter and because of your cowardice at the sight of that old fool, I do not have him before me," Voldemort seethed. Gasping painfully for breath Xantos returned to his knees in front of his master.

"I won't fail you again, My Lord," he assured. "I-I have a plan."

"See to it that you do not fail, for if you do, lengthy Crucio's shall be the least of your concerns…" Xantos nodded, knowing that this time, his plan would have no flaws whatsoever.

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A/N: Whew, I finished this one in good time. Aren't you all happy? Hehe. Chapter 18 will hopefully be done faster , huh?

Anyway, how'd you all like this chapter? Good, bad, horrible, wonderful?

I'm going to answer a review here, mmkay?

Crimson Katana – I don't think I'm going to skip all the way to age 11, but I won't go through each and every year. I'll most likely skip a year or two, here and there as the story progresses.

Thanks to all who reviewed, you all are great motivators.

Until the next Chapter then, ta ta.