Draco stumbled in the Darkness of the room he had just entered. It smelt strongly of fire, and death. As he approached the only spot of light if the room, he tripped. Cursing and getting up, he heard a cold, high pitched voice say ”Get Up, Draco”. This only added to his fear, and suddenly, flames issued from the torches on the sides of the room, and he was blinded. After a few seconds of blinking, he got used to the light. He was in a circular room, and in the middle, the light was particularly intense. As soon as he stepped into it, the lights around the room went out again, and he was easily visible, as the middle lights had only dimmed. He knelt, as he heard footsteps coming. Looking up, he saw Lord Voldemort walking towards him. He looked slightly angry, but also slightly amused. As he reached the scared teen, he opened his mouth and pointed his wand at him, saying only, “Crucio!”
Draco screamed in pain, as he felt a terrible burning In all of his limbs. His mind flashed before him, terrible thoughts had him yelling and swearing in anguish. As soon as it had started, it stopped. Draco lay face down on the cold hard floor, and awaited another curse. It didn’t come, however, and he heard his master say “Why have you failed me Draco?”
Gulping, Draco whispered “Th..T..The Curse wouldn’t work. I couldn’t do it”
“Liar. You know very well that that Muggle Lover Dumbledore stopped you. You showed weakness beyond belief, and for that, you WILL pay.” Voldemort sneered, while walking up to draco and slicing his arm, just below the Dark Mark on Draco’s Arm.
“Salazar Slytherin prided pure-bloods above all others, and you disgrace him like this?”
“Master, I…”
“Shut it. He will help in this war, unlike how you haven’t. I have no need for Death Eaters that wont obey me. Perhaps your pain will teach you a lesson.” Raising his wand again, he started “Cru..”, But at that moment, two people walked in, Snape, and Lucious Malfoy.
“Master wait…” Snape said.
“Ah, if it isn’t Sevrus. I see you brought this boy’s Father.”
“Father….” Draco whispered, as Luscious said “He didn’t bring me! I broke out of Azkaban, to come serve you again. I have nothing but passion for you.” Draco tried to crawl out of the room while Voldemort was busy. Suddenly, he felt his lungs stop working. He stopped crawling, and the pain stopped.
Voldemort smiled. “So you have come to watch me kill your son?”
Luscious said “W..Why must you kill him? He was only learning…”
“HE FAILED TO DO HIS JOB! YOU KNOW WHAT RESPECT I HAVE FOR
THOSE WHO WONT OBEY ME” Voldemort’s voice was Loud, and Deep.
“When last I checked, it was Snape, who killed Dumbledore. Perhaps he should be punished for interfering?” Mr. Malfoy said. Voldemort didn’t say anything at first, but finally said, “One of you three will be punished. Are you volunteering Lucious?”
“No” Said Lucious quietly. He couldn’t let this happen to his son though. What could he do?
“Good. Draco, Stand up and Face me. You Will find out what happens to My unloyal followers.” Trembling, Draco stood up and faced the Dark Lord. “You remind me of Regulus Black. A fool, mind you. Both of you tried joining the Order of the Phoenix. You will die for the same reasons he did. “ Snape and Lucious were whispering in the background. “Once you are a Death Eater, you are my loyal servant forever. I thought we agreed this a year ago. But enough talk. Goodbye Draco.” He raised his wand, and said “Avada ….”
Suddenly, Lucious rammed into the Dark Lord, causing his aim to go awry, and the Curse missed. “RUN DRACO!”. Draco looked shocked, and before he knew it, he was running completely of his control. He sprinted out of the room and down the stairs, and only stopped at the Statue to catch his breath. His father and sacrificed himself for his son…. Looking up and panting, he read the Words inscribed on the base of the statue, “Salazar Slytheren”. The statue was very well crafted, but Draco was now crying with hatred and pain, so he couldn’t see very well. Another yell of “RUN SON” brought him back to his senses, and he looked back. His father was dueling with the dark lord. He ran as fast as he could out the ‘door’ (after wiping his bloody arm on the door). A green flash and a low thud behind him caused him to look back once more. His father and fallen, supposedly dead, but there was nothing Draco could do about this. Running again, he dissiprated on his first attempt, with the rage of Lord Voldemort still ringing in his ears.
😬 More a bit later
As Harry and Ron walked into the Warm Summer Dusk outside the Burrow, Harry smiled. There were a number of wizards and witches, most of which he knew, or at least had met. “C’mon”, Muttered Ron, and they made their way to a table near the house.
Harry was just wondering how they were going to get the food, since there was obviously no kitchen under them, when Mrs. Weasley started talking. She was up on a high table, not unlike the one at Hogwarts, and she said, “Welcome Everyone!”. She seemed very cheerful. Perhaps she had changed her mind about Fleur… “Before we begin, I would like to propose a toast to Bill and his lucky Fiancé, Fleur.” A chorus of “To Bill and Fleur” followed this, and an ocean of arms went up. Teary eyed, Mrs. Weasley went on, “Thank you. Lets eat.”
Suddenly, the table in front of her was groaning under a mountain of food. Around him, he heard a number of indistinct cries of “Accio”…but the rest were jumbled within words of Roll, Chicken, and Roast Beef. Getting the idea, Harry said “Accio Treacle Tart”. He decided to start with his favorite dish. Beside him Ron and Hermione were getting their food. Ginny was sitting across from Harry, and when their eyes met, she blushed, though her eyes narrowed, and she looked away.
“So ‘Arry” Said Ron, His Mouth full of Potatoes, “Ut what are oo going Ta do bot oo-know-who?”. His voice was not as affected by a mouthful of food as most people. Perhaps 6 years of doing it at Hogwarts had given him that talent.
“I dunno” Replied Harry. “I Haven’t really thought about it that much.” It was a lie though. He had thought of nothing else the past few days, and he felt a stab of fear every time.
“Are you going to Godric’s Hollow?” Asked Hermione, who had been listening to the pitiful conversation.
“I dunno” Harry said again.
“You know we’re both going with you if you like it or not.” Ron and Hermione said together.
“You told me that last term”
“Harry, I was thinking we could go as soon as we get apparition licenses. Before school starts again….” Hermione said, Her voice trailing off as Harry Said “ IF it opens”. Harry highly doubted this. Ron had left the conversation, deciding to eat instead, But Harry knew he was still listening.
Just then, Bill came walking past, with a Man who had rather dark hair. He looked almost oriental. “So tell me about your sister, Cho.” Bill had just said. Harry wheeled around quickly, sending plates flying. “Well, she’s just decided to try to become an Auror. A bit foolish if you ask me, But I supposed its in honor of that Diggory kid that died a few years ago.” He had completely ignored Harry. Bill however, gave him a grin, and they kept walking. Turning, and blushing slightly, he faced the table again. Ron frowned at him, and summoned his plate from the ground, refilling it from the high table.
“Did you hear that?”
“Wha? Cho’s Brother?” Ron said.
“Yeah, did you know she had one?”
“Yes, he’s been over a lot so far this summer. I think he works in dad’s office at the Ministry.”
Harry didn’t know why this was such shocking news, but he supposed it was the Auror part that scared him. Although he had made up his mind over a year ago that he didn’t like her anymore, he suddenly felt nervous for her. It must have showed, because Ginny got up and stalked off. “What’s WITH her” he said, changing the subject.
“I don’t know, perhaps she still wants you?” Harry say the Sarcasm immediately. Hermione quickly changed the subject. Smiling at Harry, she said, “So for Sure, you are going to Godric’s Hollow?”
“Yes” Said Harry quickly, before turning to Ron and saying, “She still wants me?”
“Mhmm” he said before Hermione said “We can go soon right?” She was determined to change the subject.
“Yes” said Harry, sounding annoyed. They had finished eating, and Mrs. Weasley had stood up, but was pushed back into her seat by Fred, who had stood up with George. He said “I just want to say that I’m proud of my brother and his soon to be wife.” George added” It looks like this shindig is over, so how ‘bout some gifts?” Without waiting for a reply, he whipped his wand out and muttered something indistinctly . Black cloaks had appeared on the back of everyone’s chairs. “Protective Cloaks! Our strongest and newest, It will block most minor spells, and some bigger ones.” Then without warning, they Disapparated, while laughing hard.
Scowling at the place were her sons had just stood, Mrs. Weasley stood up again, and Said” The wedding will be at 11 Saturday. Goodnight” Ron smiled. It had not been a very talkative dinner for his mother. A sudden swishing of cloaks announced the departure of the guest and another swish made all the tables go away, along with the food.(“I wasn’t done” Ron Muttered). Hermoine asked Harry about his parents house again, and Harry, Very Annoyed now, almost yelled “We’ll go tomorrow!” He hadn’t meant to say that, and had meant to go at the end of summer, but he was eager to see his old house, although it was a very bittersweet feeling.
They were up the stairs in no time at all, and each fell asleep on the three beds that had been set up in Bill’s room since they left. Where Bill and Fleur were, nobody knew….😖hifty:
Again, More Later
(The Previous chapter was going on too long)
Harry woke the next morning feeling refreshed. (He had fallen directly into bed the night before) Looking around, he saw that Ron and Hermione were already up. Yawning, he got up, left to room, and made to go down the stairs when a disturbance outside caught his attention. Rushing back into the room, he looked out the open window into the yard below. Bill and Fleur were back, along with Lupin and Tonks. They seemed to have taken up Fred and George’s old sport of table ramming. Tonks and Fleur were cheering. Watching them, Harry had the distinct feeling that he was being watched. A loud crack behind him confirmed it. Harry jumped and pulled out his wand, again read to fight as many death eaters as dared to come near him. For the second time, however, it was not a death eater, but someone much more friendly.
“Harry Potter Sir!” a squeaky voice said, and before Harry knew it, the air was knocked out of him as a small object collided with his stomach.
“D..Dobby?” Harry managed to say, still breathing hard.
“Yes Sir, it is Dobby” Said the house elf excitedly, and was now jumping on the bed harry had vacated moments before.
“What are you doing here?” Harry asked. He could feel his stomach again. Dobby suddenly stopped jumping, and ran towards the window. Harry, who was used to Dobby’s continual suicidal punishments, narrowly stopped the elf from jumping wholeheartedly through the window. Dobby screamed as Harry wrestled him out of the window, and shut the window with a flick of his wand.
“Dobby” Said Harry, panting slightly,” You haven’t told me anything yet.” Usually the Elf saved his punishments until AFTER saying something, and Harry had never seen him try to jump out a window before.
“Master told me not to tell you”
“You don’t have a master”
“I does now”
“What? Who is it”
“Master told me not to tell you”
“But I freed you! Why would you go back to another family?”
Dobby seemed to struggle with himself before saying” Hogwarts is said to be closing. I needed a new job”. Then, He slapped himself, Hard.
Grimacing, Harry said” Hogwarts is really closing?”
“Only to some, Harry Potter” What did this mean? What did dobby know that Harry didn’t? Harry gave him a look of pure encouragement, before Dobby added ”Many new teachers.” Harry let this sink in for a minute. Many? There was only one opening. He still felt left in the dark. “Not all old students will see them.” Another cryptic clue.
Out of nowhere, a low whisper surrounded the room. Just as soon as it started, it stopped.
“Harry Potter!” Dobby said suddenly, as if he had only noticed the teenager. Harry narrowly avoided another wind knock out.
“Err, Dobby, are you feeling alright?” Harry asked the excited elf.
“Yes, I is feeling most pleasant. Why does Master ask?”
“Just a minute ago you said you had another master, and that Hogwarts wasn’t reopening.”
“I doesn’t know what master is talking about. I just arrived here.” He had a look of questioning on his face, as if to ask if HARRY was alright.
“You don’t remember saying those things?”
“No, I has no idea what you is talking about.”
Just them something Ginny had once said passed from the back of Harry’s mind, to the front. “Are there big blank periods were you don’t know what you’ve been up to?” She had asked, and Harry had answered “No”. “Then Voldemort hasn’t ever possessed you. When he did it to me, I couldn’t remember what I had been doing for hours at a time”. Was it possible that Dobby had just been possessed, just as Ginny had?
Dobby then said, ”There is terrible news of a another mass breakout at Azkaban, Harry Potter. They says my old master is dead. All of that dreadful place is empty, they says.” Who, they were, Harry didn’t know, because at that moment, Footsteps on the stairs announced the arrival of someone. Dobby said a hurried goodbye to Harry, before disappearing.
“Oh Harry your awake, we were about to come get you. The wedding off for a couple days, Bill injured himself playing with those tables.” Hermione‘s voice said. (Beside her, Ron was breaking up into silent giggles. Harry thought Hermione was smiling a bit too big too)
“It shouldn’t take that long should it? How injured can you get from a table?”
“He had no bones left in his left arm, and they need to be regrown. Not even Lupin or Tonks know what happened, they say suddenly his arm was all flat, and his wand dropped. Phlegms with him of course” She said, rolling her eyes at the last part. Changing the subject, Harry told them about Dobby and his strange behavior. They didn’t take it too well.
“You think he was possessed?”
“I’m almost sure of it.”
Hermione was silent for a moment, before walking out the door. Harry and Ron followed her. They eventually reached the outside front door, where Hermione was dressed in a dark cloak.
“Seeing as you two cant apparate yet, I’ll find out about this.” She said quietly. Harry and Ron looked at each other.
“Where are you going to find out about this?” Ron said, an evil look in his eye.
“Just to some bar or something, it’ll be big news if it’s true.” The only reason the Weasleys didn’t now anything about a rumor of this was they no longer took the Daily Prophet. Mr. Weasley was now working from home. Hermione hugged Harry, then Ron, and she stepped outside, and Disapparated, leaving her two friends feeling rather glum about being left out.
More of this Chapter to come