- 24 hours before -
He would never get tired of this, would never get enough. He was addicted to Harry's screams of agony, making him feel delighted. He watched the boy curl up on the four-poster bed, eyes squeezed; trying to block out the pain, and grabbing the sheets tight as if they were a lifebuoy. Ah yes, very satisfying indeed.
Almost enough not to kill the boy, if he hadn't been another horcrux, he thought and felt anger rise again. More than a month ago he had found out that the diary wasn't the only vessel which had been destroyed. The locket of Salazar Slytherin was gone, and replaced by another. He didn't know whether this R.A.B. had succeeded in destroying it, and if this person was still alive, hunting other horcruxes. The ring was gone, too.
The only remaining horcruxes, of which he was sure were still uncompromised, were Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, safely stored in the Lestrange's vault, Nagini and this boy, writhing in pain before him. And then there was Ravenclaw's diadem, of course, but he didn't know whether that one was still unharmed as well. He couldn't burst into Hogwarts to check for it himself… Well, not yet anyway.
So, with the diary, the locket and the ring gone, and the bit of soul which got destroyed when possessing Quirrel, there was too much damage already. It would be foolish to kill the boy now, too risky. And he still didn't know how to transfer his piece of soul to another object. He had never bothered to find out and now, he couldn't find it anywhere. After all, there weren't many with knowledge of horcruxes.
Feeling thoroughly enraged, he increased the force of the curse he had put on Harry. The screams became louder. The boy started to shake uncontrollably now, a signal that he couldn't take it much longer before losing his mind, or, as it had happened on most nights, before passing out.
Very well. It was time to leave anyway, the meeting would start soon. He lowered his wand and ended the Cruciatus Curse. The screams died out and he watched Harry relax only a little and gasp for air, since he had let go of it through screaming.
Then, he turned around and went through the appearing and disappearing door. He Apparated downstairs; he didn't feel like walking through the endless corridor. His eyes spotted a handful of early arrived Death Eaters, gathering around the fireplace. They bowed when they saw Voldemort appear and he heard the faint whispers of "my lord".
"Welcome, my friends," he spoke and beckoned them towards the entrance of the dining hall. The Death Eaters followed and took place around the long, handsome table. Voldemort sat down as well, at the head of the table. They waited in silence, and one by one, other Death Eaters appeared. Some bowed before taking place, others merely whispered "my lord".
Voldemort nodded in return and allotted them a seat. Apparently, every invited Death Eater was present, because Voldemort started to speak.
"Welcome, my faithful servants. Ah, Severus, thank you for joining too," he said, when another man entered the room.
"Have a seat, here," he said, indicating the seat on his immediate right. "I trust you've come to bring valuable news to me?"
"My lord," Snape began, being stared down by the other eyes around the table, "Dumbledore intends to travel tonight, he told me just a few moments ago. He didn't specify the length of his journey, but he hinted to be back when the school starts. So, we only have tonight."
"And the Order?"
"Is stationed at Hogwarts. A few of them remain at the Ministry. However, they are ready to join Dumbledore. They Order believes that we have infiltrated the Ministry."
"The Order's got one thing right, then, eh?" said a squat man sitting a short distance from Snape; he gave a wheezy giggle that was echoed here and there along the table. Voldemort did not laugh. His gaze had wandered upward to the ceiling, and he seemed to be lost in thought.
"How far are we in the actual infiltration?" he asked.
"Dumbledore still gets edged out. His influence in the Ministry is as good as gone," answered Corban Yaxley promptly. Everyone turned to watch him.
"Yet, they appointed Scrimgeour as Minister," Voldemort interjected. "Which means they do not longer condone Fudge's denials."
"Our people has surrounded Scrimgeour at last, my Lord," said Yaxley hastily. "If ever were a time to strike, it will be tonight."
"You can guarantee me this, Yaxley? One failed attempt on the Minister's life will set me back a long way," Voldemort said. His red eyes fastened upon Yaxley's ones with such intensity that some of the watchers looked away, apparently fearful that they themselves would be scorched by the ferocity of the gaze.
Yaxley swallowed visibly, but then squared his shoulders. "Yes, my lord. You can be certain."
"Good," Voldemort answered and turned to look up at the ceiling again. "Then we will act tonight. If everything works according to plan, which I'm certain it will, since the Ministry will be ours by tomorrow. We will proceed to take over Hogwarts as well.
However, Dumbledore's still posing a threat. This will have to be dealt with tomorrow as well. Severus?"
Snape returned Voldemort's intensive glare.
"You told me Dumbledore's weakened. Can you guarantee me his demise once we are taking over?"
"Even weakened, Dumbledore is still powerful enough to throw a spanner in the works," Snape answered softly. "Even when the Ministry has fallen, maybe especially then, he will be on full alert. It will be ill advised to try and take over."
The Death Eaters around the table gave soft hisses of despise, narrowing their eyes in disapproval. Voldemort watched them intently.
"Severus is right. Dumbledore is not the be underestimated," he said, "however, Draco and Bellatrix have prepared the necessary actions to ensure me of Dumbledore's death, haven't you?"
"Yes, my lord," shrieked Bellatrix and she leaned toward Voldemort, longing to be closer to him, with adoration expressed in heavily lidded eyes. Draco, however, sat rigid and impassive, not daring to look at Voldemort.
"The passageway is nearly done. It will be ready for tomorrow."
"Nearly done," Voldemort repeated, his head tilted a little to one side as he considered Bellatrix. "You think nearly done will be sufficient enough, Bella?"
Her face flooded with color; an ugly, blotchy red.
"I do not have to remind you how unwise it'll be to fail me again, do I?" Voldemort continued. The Death Eaters didn't dare to laugh, a few gave a silent snort.
"My lord, it will be ready by tomorrow. I give you my word," Bellatrix said.
"Very well, Bella," Voldemort finally said. "I trust you."
Bellatrix flushed again; her eyes welled with tears of delight. Voldemort rose from his chair and gestured the Death Eaters to do the same. They complied immediately, rushing with excitement.
"Now, it is time. Severus, you will return to Hogwarts. Make sure your presence is noticed there. The rest of you, report to me when it is done. Leave."
Voldemort turned towards the door. He heard the sounds of Disapparation behind him, as his Death Eaters set out to take over the Ministry. He didn't have to be a part of this party. Other preparations were needed, if he were to bring Dumbledore and the staff at Hogwarts down.
There was an eruption of jeering laughter through the stillness of the night. Voldemort heard them outside the house, heard Bellatrix's immense shrieks of laughter above the ruckus.
He smiled, they wouldn't have been so jubilant if they hadn't succeeded. He smoothly rose from his chair and descended the stairs. At the same time, a handful Death Eaters entered the house and greeted Voldemort with waving hands of victory.
"It has been done, my lord! The ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead."
"Excellent," said Voldemort in return and let the Death Eaters celebrate for another minute. Then, he held up his large white hand and the Death Eaters laughter died out instantly.
"Enough," he said smoothly. "Enough. You did very well. I would like Yaxley to return and help the others to maintain our order there. Let's see, you, Ackerly, you are to follow me, you will report. The rest of you can celebrate. You are to return here tomorrow before noon. Inform the others as well."
Voldemort turned to leave, with Ackerly behind him. He pointed at the chair by the fire for Ackerly to sit down, and sat down himself as well.
"So?" he asked.
"Their defense was pitiful," Ackerly started. "The Aurors were no match for us, outnumbered by almost three to one. We've killed Mad Eye Moody, Dawlish, Robards, and a few other Aurors. We believe Shacklebolt got away, joining the others at Hogwarts. Thicknesse is still under the influence of the Imperius Curse, put by Yaxley."
"And Dumbledore?" inquired Voldemort softly.
"No sign of him, my lord. We believe he return to Hogwarts. He must know by now."
"No doubt. And the others?"
"We're tidying up as we speak, my lord. Every department is getting reorganized now, all according to plan," Ackerly finished.
"Well done," Voldemort whispered. "You will be rewarded, all of you. Keep me informed and return here tomorrow. The next step will be Hogwarts and Dumbledore."
"Yes, my lord," Ackerly stood up and bowed. He seemed to hesitate a little, a movement which was not missed by Voldemort. He tilted his head to his side and watched Ackerly intently.
"Yes?"
"Well, I was wondering, we were all wondering, forgive my curiosity, but what – what of the boy?"
"The boy?" Voldemort asked, forming his mouth in somewhat of a smile.
"Harry Potter, my lord," clarified Ackerly apprehensively. "Shouldn't he, aren't you going to kill him?"
"Shouldn't I kill him…" Voldemort repeated softly and gazed behind Ackerly, as though he was lost in thought. "You were all wondering, you say?"
Ackerly gulped. "We're not, we don't, forgive me…" he stammered, but Voldemort raised his hand to silence him.
"It is only natural that you're curious. After all, we tried to dispose of the boy many times before," Voldemort said, still looking like he was lost in thought. "However, I've discovered something of great importance and I need him alive, for the time being."
"Great importance, my lord?" Ackerly asked, testing how far he could go.
Voldemort looked up directly to him. "You don't need to know, Ackerly. You have to focus on reorganizing business within the Ministry. The boy remains in my care and is not to be touched. You are dismissed."
Ackerly gave a single nod in understanding and with a loud crack, he vanished. Voldemort's lipless mouth curled up in a smile again. He felt gleeful. Finally, everything went according to plan, the plan which had been set up months before. Now another important step had to be made. Getting rid of Dumbledore would prove to be hard.
After being long in thought, Voldemort stood up and ascended the stairs. He passed the long corridor and the room in which Harry was sleeping. He hesitated a moment, but then made the door appear and opened it. His eyes found Harry, still on the bed, still in the same position in which he had left him. His robes were torn, revealing the faint mark he'd whipped into his back.
It angered him that he couldn't kill the boy. It angered him even more that Harry wasn't docile yet. Even after weeks of torture, he still put up a fight sometimes. He knew the boy was scared, and mourning; mourning over the death of his beloved godfather. Disgusting.
Nevertheless, the fighting spirit remained. He would have to take a different approach with him. Maybe he can be of some use tomorrow, he thought, as he watched Harry turn in his sleep. He shall be the decoy to lure Dumbledore into his demise.
"Sleep tight, Harry," Voldemort whispered and closed the vanishing door as he walked away.
"We have learned that Shacklebolt and Thonks are at Hogwarts right now, with the other Order mob, as we speak," said Dolohov. "You know, the niece of Bellatrix and Narcissa."
"Yes, I'm well aware," Voldemort answered softly.
The Death Eaters were gathered around the table in the dining hall again. Not all of them were present; half of them remained at the Ministry. Bellatrix and Draco were absent as well, preparing for the fight that would take place later that day.
They had discussed the plan for nearly five full hours now.
"Their resistance will be weak," Dolohov continued. "Families are too scared to put up a fight, now that they know that we can find out who they are and where we can find them. We must concentrate on the Order and Dumbledore."
"Yes, but with Dumbledore alive, they will rely on the foolish courage that he will be able to save them. We are to take him out first. Make sure everyone sees. Only then, they will surrender."
"Yes," Voldemort said softly. He was getting tired of this, it kept being repeated. At the same time, he was happy that their mission was clear. Kill Dumbledore, make everyone watch. "You will signal me when it is done. I shall wait at the gates. And I will bring the boy with me."
The last comment was answered with apprehensive looks of surprise. Finally, Nott permitted himself to speak.
"The boy, my lord?" he asked.
"Yes," Voldemort answered. "He will play a valuable part in our little take-over, you will see."
There was a soft knock on the door, followed by an entering, bowing house-elf. "Diner is ready, master," he squeaked. Voldemort made no move, but the house-elf went along anyway, getting followed by a few other house-elfs, who brought plates, cutlery and a massive amount of food. When finished, they bowed again and left the room.
Voldemort stroked his wand and gave the signal for the Death Eaters around the table to eat. He didn't eat himself. A huge snake emerged to climb slowly up Voldemort's chair. It rose, seemingly endlessly, and came to rest across Voldemort's shoulders: its neck the thickness of a man's thigh; its eyes, with their vertical slits for pupils, unblinking. Voldemort stroked the creature absently with long thin fingers.
The boy is awake, commanding the bars to stand aside, Nagini hissed. Voldemort narrowed his eyes. He had felt it too. He looked around the table and saw that Ackerly finished his diner.
"Ackerly," he said softly. "Will you fetch our young guest please?"
He bowed and left the room. Voldemort looked around the remaining Death Eaters. They were finished as well.
"It is nearly time. Wait for me by the fireplace, I will join you momentarily," he said and watched as the Death Eaters left the room. Then, he Apparated upstairs. He saw Ackerly standing in the doorway, and then heard a defiant "no" coming from the room.
"No?" he said and stepped into the room. He saw the boy standing near the window and watched with delight how his defiant stance slipped into a stiff pose. "You may leave, Ackerly."
Voldemort set a few more paces towards Harry. His feeling of delightfulness grew when he saw that the boy was backing away, when he yelled "get away from me!"
"It seems that my lessons don't have a very lasting effect on you, do they Harry?" he said and the malicious smile on his face slowly made place for a silent look of rage. "Did you really think – were you foolish enough to believe that I would not find out about your idle escape attempt? The snakes and I are connected of course."
He followed Harry across the room, who was still backing away along the wall.
"Perhaps I need to remind you what will happen to those who keep defying me," he said and raised his wand. To his surprise and anger, the boy had flung himself sideways, the same way he had done in the graveyard, over a year back.
He turned around, felt his anger take over. The boy jumped out of the way again and nearly hit the bed, which made him stumble out of balance. His anger made him cry out, and he advanced the boy again who now flung himself behind the bed. His curse missed him.
He walked around the bed and thought he saw the boy raise his head. He shot another curse at him, but missed again. He was getting enough.
Levicorpus, he thought and watched Harry getting levitated through the air. He lifted the curse and Harry fell before him.
"Enough!" hissed Voldemort and grabbed Harry by his hair and forced him to stand.
"Let – go – of – me," he heard the boy growl and suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. What was this? In his surprise he had let go of the boy. He looked at him, wondering. Had Harry been able to use wandless magic to make him let go of him? Was the boy stronger than he had anticipated?
"It seems," he finally said, with a collected voice, "that I need to take a different approach. You will be very sorry for this, Harry, very sorry indeed."
"Will I?" the boy said, "what are you going to do? Torture the living daylights out of me? I'm sorry to inform you that I will never obey your pathetic commands anymore. You might as well just kill me… Riddle."
Riddle? What is this?
"You dare-?"
"Yes, I dare."
Voldemort kept staring at him, debating inward whether he should just kill him for this. The boy dared. In what childish dream did he live? Were his numerous punishment not sufficient enough? How could he break this defiant piece of filth, and then it hit him. A horrific smile formed on his face. He was going to pay for this dearly.
"Very well," he whispered, and beckoned with his long, white fingers for Harry to come closer. When Harry didn't move, his hand snapped forward and closed it around Harry's robe. He pushed him away; towards the appearing door. He felt Harry's struggles under his grip, and grabbed him more tightly. He shoved Harry further in the room where the Death Eaters were gathered. He heard them roar with laughter.
"Such an impudent child this is," he said, fueling the jeers from the Death Eaters. "It seems our young guest here has grown a little tired of our hospitality. I caught you trying to escape, didn't I? Tell me, Harry, what do you think your punishment should be?"
The boy didn't answer, but then again, he didn't expect him to. He turned to the group of Death Eaters. "What do you think his punishment should be?" he asked. A new burst of suggestions broke out; the one more dreadful than the other. A few Death Eaters volunteered for the job.
"No," he whispered softly, raising his hand to carry them to silence. "No, the boy is mine. You will not touch him." He turned to face Harry again.
"You don't like it when you're being kept in the dark, eh Harry?" he said, while advancing, and watched Harry struggle to keep standing. This pleased him. "I noticed when going through your worthless mind. You want some answers, do you not? Well, you're in for a treat."
He looked up when the sound of Apparition spread across the room with a loud bang. And then he spotted Lucius. "Ah Lucius, is everything set up?"
"Yes, my lord," he answered.
"Your son is ready?"
"Yes, my lord," Malfoy answered again. Another loud "BANG" cracked in the room.
"My lord, we have finished the arrangements. The Order is on their way, as we speak, but the passageway is clear."
"Very good. Go now. All of you. Do not disappoint me. The consequences will be dire for those who disappoint me."
He turned to Lucius Malfoy. "I have been very merciful to you, Lucius. But if you fail me tonight, I will not be so forgiving anymore. Now leave!"
He watched the Death Eaters depart and turned to Harry again. He beckoned for him to come closer and felt pleased when the boy did.
"What is happening?" he heard the boy ask.
Silence yourself. You will see, he thought and cast a nonverbal spell, focusing on Harry's cheek. His anger died a little when he saw the red cut appear.
"You will find out soon enough," he said and grabbed Harry by his arm. Apparating with the boy was annoying. But luckily, Harry kept still.
He looked over the terrain of Hogwarts. And now we wait, he thought, and let go of Harry's arm. The Death Eaters were to kill Dumbledore. If everything went according to the plan, Draco and Bella had managed to summon the old senile up to the Astronomy Tower. Severus was instructed to give the final blow.
Only when they succeed, he would enter the castle. He wasn't going to make his hands dirty by killing Dumbledore. In truth, he didn't want to lose face, in case Dumbledore were to be stronger than him. No, it was by far saver to wait here until the deed was done. Then, he would take Harry and bring Hogwarts down, show the world that the war was won. And make Hogwarts the place he had always imagined in his head.
The Dark Mark shot in the air, just like they'd planned; shining its bright, green skull over the Astronomy Tower. He looked sideways to Harry, who until now, stood frozen on the spot.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked again, turning to look up at him; the fear clearly visible in his eyes.
"Silence," hissed Voldemort. "I haven't forgotten your insolence from before. Now it is time to pay, Harry."
Harry stared at him, and Voldemort returned the stare with a malicious glare. The staring contest went on for a full minute, and then suddenly – as though he was giving a start signal – Harry ran for it. He turned around, ducked when a curse missed him and sprinted through the gates. He had to warn them; had to find out who they had killed; what had happened, but most of all, this was his chance of getting away.
Something grabbed him by his ankles, and he fell forward, planting his face in the warm grass. He felt blood coming from his nose and he rolled over just in time to see Voldemort advancing.
"You silly, little fool." The soft voice seemed to hiss on even after the cruel mouth had stopped moving. Voldemort waved his wand; Harry felt himself getting lift up from the ground. He was thrown against the gates and sagged on the ground again. He coughed the blood out of his mouth.
"But as it turns out, your little stunt comes most opportune. I reminded me of your futile resistance, for which I shall have to put on end to before we enter," said Voldemort dangerously and stepped for more closer to Harry then he'd have liked. "Are you ready?"
Unwillingly, Harry closed his eyes. His burning scar made him feel dizzy, disorientated. And he felt his energy leave his body. Exhausted, Harry started to gasp for air. What was happening to him?
His eyelids felt like hanging rocks, and he tried with all his might to open them. Through a hazy mist, he saw Voldemort, towering above him, wand raised.
"What- wha-?" His mouth failed to form the sentence. Instead, he moaned when his scar burned so terribly, that he no longer knew where he was. He noticed vaguely that Voldemort lifted him by the arm, and then everything went black.
He didn't hear Voldemort's soft chuckle and didn't hear the soft whisper. "It is time."
Note:
I'm sorry I made the cliff hanger again with the terrain of Hogwarts. Oh, and sorry for replacing chapter 5 (due to a small error) which made it look like another chapter was posted. Please tell me what you think so far! Even ideas are appreciated (I'm not suggesting that I don't have ideas of my own, I'm just curious, is all).