Chapter 8: Backs on Trees
Ron stared out his window. The Order's planned attack was in a few days. Ron had decided he would warn Harry and let him know when to be outside. Luckily Ron did not have an assignment and was able to watch for him outside. Ron lay his forehead against his window, he had been staring outside for nearly two hours. He was becoming restless and wished to go out, but he couldn't risk looking suspicious so he remained at his window, where no one would question his motives.
Suddenly a figure with black hair appeared. Ron jumped to his feet, it was Harry. Without a second thought he bolted for his door. The second he opened it he tried to keep his composure as he walked at a quicken pace. He rounded the corner and opened the back door.
Sitting in the back with his head against a tree was Harry. Ron walked straight to him. He could see Harry running his fingers through the dirt as he came closer. Harry turned as Ron accidentally stepped on a stick and jumped to his feet at the sight of him.
~*~*~*
Harry sat alone with his back against a tree and an orb on the ground next to him. He traced his finger in the dirt, repeating the same symbol over and over. Harry would make an almost complete circle before cutting in suddenly, as if he was crossing the circle in half. Once out of the circle he would make a straight line down. So far he had made seven of these symbols. His head whipped around at the sound of a stick snapping in two and he jumped to his feet. Harry took a step back, preventing himself from being cornered against a tree again.
~*~*~
One Year Earlier
Harry was sitting with his back against a tree on the far left side of the yard. He had found this spot to be the most private and here he spent his time when he was outside. Harry leaned his head back against the tree. He wasn't sure what day it was or if it was Spring or Summer, he was just happy to somewhat escape his prison for a moment. He had spent time going back and forth between his new "bedroom" and the hole. Each time he entered the hole, he was unsure how much time had passed.
"Excellent day." A deep voice said, it sent a chill down Harry's spine. Harry sat up straight as the unknown Death Eater squatted in front of him.
"What do you want?" Harry sneared. The man brought his hand close to Harry's face and twirled a piece of his hair. Harry slapped his hand away and tried to stand up, but the Death Eater shove him back against the tree.
"Nothing much." The Death Eater reached for Harry's hair again. Harry slapped his hand away, glaring at him.
"Don't touch me." The man laughed quietly to himself.
"And why not? You're the Dark Lord's prisoner. I can do anything I want to you." The man gently traced Harry's face with his fingers. Harry pushed them away, turning to the Death Eater, but before he could open his mouth he felt the sharp impact of the man's hand across his face. He then grabbed Harry's jaw and shoved him back. Harry tried to open his mouth to bite the Death Eater, but he could barely move his head.
The Death Eater pushed Harry farther down until his back was flat on the ground. Harry struggled against him, but the man was significantly bigger and taller than him. He leaned down to Harry's ear. Harry felt as if the air in his lungs were being squeezed out as the man put his full weight on him.
"I don't think the Dark Lord would mind if I got a sneak peak of what he gets each night." His words made Harry sick to his stomach as he struggled beneath him. What did he think Voldemort did to him every night? The Death Eater suddenly kissed and bit Harry's neck. His eyes flashed with fear upon realizing what the Death Eater thought Voldemort did and what he was about to do. Harry struggled harder beneath the man, whose free hand traveled down Harry's side, stopping at his hips. His fingers slipped into Harry's pants as he bit harder on Harry's neck.
Suddenly Harry felt the weight rise off him. He jumped to his feet and watched as Voldemort held the man in a suffocating spell. The man knelt at Voldemort's feet, his cheeks and lips turning blue. Harry noticed other Death Eaters coming closer as the one who attacked him scratched at his throat. Eventually Voldemort realeased him and the man crumbled to the group, gasping.
"Take him to a cell. I'll deal with him later." Two Death Eaters came forward to drag him back into the mansion. Voldemort then turned to Harry, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Go to your room." Voldemort said through clenched teeth. Harry immediately turned back to the mansion. Harry walked quickly back to his room, shutting the door behind him. He sat on the floor with his back leaning against the bed. It took him a few minutes to calm himself. As soon as Harry had managed to calm his breathing Voldemort whipped open the door and slammed it behind him. Harry heard the familiar click as the door locked behind him.
"How dare you!" Voldemort towered over Harry. His eyes shone a deep red. Harry jumped to his feet, looking braver than he felt.
"How dare I? YOUR Death Eater attacked ME!" Harry released a scream as the Cruciatus Curse was placed on him.
"Clearly you egged him on, now I'm one Death Eater short." Harry looked up from the ground. He had come to his knees with the curse.
"I did nothing! And your bloody army must be weak if one less makes you this angry." Harry spat before being placed under the cruciatus curse again.
~*~*~*
Ron stared at Harry. His mear presence had put him into fight or flight.
"What do you want?" Ron noticed Harry move his foot over the dirt he was drawing in.
"Keep your voice down. I need to talk to you." Ron took a step towards Harry, who shoved him. Ron noticed how weak the shove was.
"Get away from me." Harry turned to walk away but Ron grabbed his wrist.
"Listen, I-"
"Release him." Ron was interrupted by Draco Malfoy. "Because you're new, I'll remind you. No one is allowed to touch Potter without the Dark Lord's permission." Ron and Malfoy were eye level now that Ron had shrunk a few inches.
"I suggest you leave before I report you." Ron had no choice, he nodded to Malfoy before turning back to look at Harry one last time before he walked away.
Draco waited until Regulus was entering the mansion before turning to Harry.
"You ok?" He asked, watching Harry slide down the tree.
"Yea, thank you." Draco joined Harry against the tree. Harry immediately began drawing his symbol in the dirt again, this time he made the symbols bigger.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked leaning over to watch as Harry made the fourth symbol.
"It's a ruin." Harry began tracing over the symbols.
"I can see that. But why are you writing it?"
"It's a weakening ruin. It's supposed to weaken what it comes in contact with." Harry traced the symbols, making them deeper.
"So that little ruin is suppose to take down the force shield." Draco stated in disbelief. Harry sighed.
"Give me something Draco. I'm running out of ideas." Harry stopped tracing over the ruins and leaned back onto the tree.
"I'm sorry." The two sat in silence for a minute before Draco turned back to Harry.
"I'm sorry Weasley never got my messages. I tried to give him hints, but you're friend is thick."
"Don't talk bad about him. He may be thick sometimes but if he realized I was alive he'd come for me no matter what." Harry sighed. He knew Ron's distrust of Draco would have been what truly got in the way.
"Sorry, but I really did try. He just didn't want to listen." Draco leaned back, it really was beautiful outside. It was a shame he only realized this because of Harry.
"I can try Granger. She's smarter, maybe she'd put the pieces together. Or your girl." Draco said the last part teasingly.
"Shut up. Don't call her that here." Draco sighed realizing his mistake. Somehow it had not gotten back to the Dark Lord Harry had a girlfriend. He knew Harry feared her becoming a target, and he was right to do so. If the Dark Lord ever learned of Harry and Ginny's relationship, he may kidnap her just to torture her in front of Harry.
"Sorry."
"It's ok." Harry closed his eyes enjoying his last two minutes with the sun on his face.
"I'll try Granger." Draco said as the two stood up together.
"Thank you."
