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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 18, 2011 12:30:40 GMT -5
Think, Harry, think, his brain begged him as Voldemort and the death eaters continued to ignore him and go about their business. He only paused in his internal panic and external struggle twice. The first was when the death eater called Avery was tortured. Harry's insides crawled unpleasantly. If Voldemort acted like that to one of his own, Harry himself had no chance.
The second thing that caused him to pause and actually pay attention to the commotion surrounding him was when Wormtail was rewarded with a silver hand. Harry remembered how close they had been to capturing and turning in the spineless, rat of a traitor last year and his blood boiled with hatred.
His scar's pain had settled down to a light and constant prickle that he had almost completely forgotgen about.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 18, 2011 16:46:57 GMT -5
Now he began to circle the group one at a time, beginning with the first masked Death Eater. Each mask was different which was how they told each other apart, but Voldemort needed no mask to know who was who.
[/size] " Lucius, my slippery friend. I am told you have not renounced the old ways, but present a different face to the world. Yet you did not turn your energies to finding your old master... " 'I was constantly on the alert, My Lord, for any evidence of your whereabouts. If I had seen a single sign I would have been at your side in an instant, nothing would have stopped me...' the man said rapidly. " Yet you ran from my mark when it was shown. " The man stopped talking and VOldemort nodded. " You have disappointed me Lucius, do not let it happen again... I expect more faithful service in the future. " 'Of course, My Lord, you are merciful...thank you, thank you My Lord...'
He moved on speaking to different ones here and there, giving them new assignments which Harry could not hear of course until he came to an empty space and he stopped. " The LeStranges should be here. They are entombed in Azkaban. They chose to go to jail rather then renounce me. They were faithful. When they are out they shall be rewarded beyond their dreams. The dementors and the giants will be brought back to the fold. All my faithful shall be made into an army none can resist or fight." Then he moved on still speaking to different one till the next gap, a far larger one. " Here were six. Three dead of course in my service.One who has left me, one who is too afraid to come who I will deal with later. And one faithful who has already reentered my service and is working for me now. "
" He is at Hogwarts and it is through his efforts that our young visitor is here tonight. The story of my return begins and ends... " he spoke as he was again in front of Potter and staring in his eyes from a few feet away " with him as well. When I lost my powers it was due to his mother casting her life away to save him, a powerful sacrifice I had forgotten about. I could not touch the boy without pain. " He reached out and stroked his cold fingers down Harry's face knowing it would bring him tremendous pain and make a point at the same time.
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 19, 2011 4:07:20 GMT -5
Harry shouldn't have been so surprised to hear Lucius Malfoy's name or voice and yet he was. His blood ran cold as he stared at the begging death eater and immediately took up his struggles again, telling himself that if he got out of this he was going to give Draco a punch in the face for his father.
But then he froze, struggles forgotten, as Voldemort was approaching him again. The death eaters were all watching intently. It looked like they were sneering at him but it was hard to tell beneath the masks. Harry tried to keep up a brave front, glaring stonily at his arch enemy, but when Voldemort's fingers touched his face, his scar exploded with a burning hot pain that felt like a sword had been driven through his skull and he screamed into his gag, fighting the urge to pass out. Several death eaters laughed nastily.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 21, 2011 20:28:21 GMT -5
He released the touch of his hand from Potter's head with a smile, enjoying the boy's pain which he remembered well from the last time himself. Turning back to the DE he spoke.
[/size] " My curse rebounded leaving me half alive, less then a body and fleeing to a safe place. Everything I would have been able to do to help myself required a wand which alas I could not get. Surely, I thought, one of my faithful followers would come to my side in my moment of need... " A shudder of reaction ran around the group at this revelation as most felt more then a prickle of warning danger.
" Once I had a chance to possess a wizard who was willing to let me and I nearly secured what I needed, but he was killed and I had to retreat again, having waited for years for a chance. Now I despaired of another chance as it was clear none of my followers would come. " Several glances between each other showed that many in the circle expected a very bad ending to this explanation for them all. " Then one day one returned, and with his work I have returned to full form. The trick was getting hold of Harry potter which has worked out perfectly. "
He turned his eyes on the boy thoughtfully as he debated on what to say. " With the help of my agent in Hogwarts he was led, coddled, and jinxed into the lead so that he would reach the cup which my servant had turned into a Portkey. He will be greatly rewarded for his work on my behalf, more so then any other. And here is the weakling, delivered into my hands in front of those who didn't think it could happen. " He raised his wand casually and said with authority " Crucio. "
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 8:25:36 GMT -5
Harry breathed deeply into his gag as the pain subsided slightly when Voldemort turned back to his death eaters, going through the last few years of his "life" in painstaking detail. Even Harry could feel the rising danger, though Voldemort's tone never wavered.
What agent at Hogwarts was he talking about? This piece of information was more unnerving to Harry than anything else he had heard so far. Was it Snape? But that made no sense as he had never been "coddled" by Snape in his life. He had no more chances to think this over as his body was raked with pain again, like he was being electrocuted. And the place on his chest where the torture curse hit felt like a thousand bricks being unloaded onto him. But he refused to scream again and give Voldemort that satisfaction. He bit his gag until his jaw hurt, his body straining against the ropes that bound him.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 22, 2011 11:40:33 GMT -5
The laughter of the Death Eaters echoed through the night as Voldemort stopped the spell, having proved to his satisfaction he could do what he wished to the boy. He turned and noted the reactions carefully and then looked at the boy. He was worn out, low on energy, and in pain. Moral had to be at an all time low for Potter with his precious friend killed before his eyes; the shock would have done much to him. Where was Dumbledore's protection now? Nagini curled closer and closer around the boy's feet, waiting for her supper.
[/size] " You see how foolish it would be to ever think this boy would prove a match for me? I want there to be no mistake in anyone's mind. It was nothing but lucky chance that he avoided me once. I will prove it on his flesh now that there is no mother or Dumbledore to protect him. We will fight and you will all see there is no doubt of which of us is the more powerful. " Looking at the snake he smiled with what was almost fondness on his face before he said " Patience Nagini, he will be yours soon. "
The DE closed ranks, creating a circle of wands Potter would not get out through and Wormtail came over, tossing Harry's wand on the ground. With his silver hand he plucked out the material stuffing his mouth with one yank and sliced through the ropes at once. He then retreated to the circle and took up his place. Voldemort listened to the jeering of the DE as they looked at the wounded boy (whose leg looked quite unsteady) as if he had a chance. He smiled grimly and then said " You have been taught how to duel Harry? "
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 11:52:48 GMT -5
When Voldemort mentioned that Harry had beaten him once before, if Harry had had the use of his mouth he would have corrected Voldemort with a sarcastic, "actually I've beaten you three times before" but instead he just scowled, doing his best to keep his head held high despite his exhaustion and pain.
And then Harry did have use of his mouth, as Wormtail was pulling the cloth from it; there was a little trace of blood on it from Harry's teeth. Next, he was dropping like a stone to the ground, the tight ropes being severed. He picked up his wand and scrambled (slowly) to his feet, his legs shaking slightly.
It was more than a little bizarre to hear Riddle call him Harry instead of Potter but this was not something he dwelled long on as he had more pressing issues to deal with. Such as getting out of there alive, which seemed a bleak possibility. He ignored Voldemort's question, gripping his wand and surveying the graveyard: Death Eaters were everywhere, their own wands out, completely blocking every exit. He turned back to Voldemort, trying to ignore the snake that was quite close to his feet, hissing in a hungry way.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 22, 2011 12:26:03 GMT -5
At a motion from the Dark Lord, the snake Nagini moved off outside the circle of DE to be out from underfoot and out of spell range. Voldemort gave a half-grimace half-cheerful impression as Potter did not answer his question.
[/size] " Come now, Harry. Dumbledore would want you to show your manners. First we bow. " He bowed his head without ever removing his eyes from the boy, clearly ready to strike and only showing a point first. When Potter did not bow, he twitched his wand and Harry felt a great pressure upon his spine forcing him to bow deep.
" Bow to Death, Harry. Very good. " The pressure removed itself as the Death Eaters laughed and jeered, sure of what they were about to see. The Master was playing with a toy which would soon be destroyed, but in the meantime he was not doing it to them. Thus their cheer was high and good, a certain relief in going overboard in their very attitude.
" Now we face each other...That's right, stiff and proud as your father before he died, indeed. How much like him you are about to be. And now....we duel. " Before the boy could even blink, Voldemort hit him with the curio curse hard and held it on him a good five seconds before releasing it again and the DE laughed and pushed Potter back into the circle. " A little pause. You didn't like that, did you? You don't want me to do that again, do you? "
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 12:32:56 GMT -5
Harry ground his teeth together as his spine was forced into a bowing position. He was not going to show respect to this monster of his own will. The laughs and jeers of the watching death eaters rang in his ears as Voldemort mocked his father's death, comparing it to what Harry was facing at the present. He felt the first tears threatening and blinked them back. He refused to show weakness of any kind.
His strength and determination on this front wavered as he was hit with another strong crucio, causing him to stumble backwards into a group of death eaters who, showing no remorse, simply pushed Harry forward again, back into the center of the circle they had formed.
Harry fell to his knees after this violent shove and was much slower getting to his feet this time, yet he still retained a firm hold on his wand. Voldemort was back to mocking him again. Harry ignored him, raising his wand to send a stunner at him.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 22, 2011 12:42:15 GMT -5
Voldemort watched the boy and saw the lift in the wand, simply stepping aside as the stunner missed, the boy's aim not steady at all after what he had just done. The way he stepped aside showed he didn't consider the boy a threat nor his spells a worry. The jeering around the circle increased. However, the Dark Lord did not miss that Harry had not answered, just cast back.
[/size] " I asked you a question, Harry. You should answer me. Imperio! " He cast the spell at the boy, wanting him to say no, a minor show of control in his mind, but forcefully meant.
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 12:49:18 GMT -5
Harry had only had this spell cast on him twice before (both by "Moody" in class) and so the weird sensation was still a shock when it first occured but it was a bit duller than the first two times and his brain had a little conversation that went something like this:
Just say no Why? Just say NO But why? Because I said so. Now say it! I WON'T!!
This last bit was said aloud, Harry falling forward to his knees again in an attempt to shake off the weird tingling feeling in his brain that the curse created.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 22, 2011 13:11:54 GMT -5
When the boy resisted the laughter and jeering cut off like a spell had been cast. Voldemort was rather disturbed to note the boy had thrown the curse off by sheer will power. Was it possible there was something more then chance here? No! But it would be better to finish him off rather then let anything else go wrong.
[/size] " You won't say no? Maybe the Lord Voldemort needs to teach you a lesson in manners, Potter. A few minutes of pain ought to do it... "
He lifted his wand and the spell shot out at Harry, rather more will power behind it then a few minutes before.
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 13:18:00 GMT -5
Somewhere in the back of Harry's exhausted and pain filled mind, he registered with pride that his response to the imperius curse had angered Voldemort and stunned half the death eaters into silence. But he had very little time to celebrate this small victory as Voldemort was back to attacking.
Harry, still on his knees from the previous curse attempt, toppled sideways, curled into basically a fetal position, his eyes screzed shut and his jaw clenched tighter than ever before to keep himself from shouting out, expressing the agony he was in. Throughout all this, he still managed to hold onto his wand, knowing it was his only hope.
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Post by shava4 on Feb 22, 2011 13:32:35 GMT -5
Rolling to the side, Harry went behind a tombstone and Voldemort smiled. As the Death Eaters began to jeer again and laugh, he said
[/size] " Potter. This is not a game of hide and seek, Harry. " More laughter behind him and all around. A beam from his wand smashed through the top of the gravestone, showering Potter with stone bits and dust.
He moved closer, aiming to walk between the stones so his voice kept moving as well. " Does this mean you are tired Haryy? I can finish this....give you peace....It won't hurt much, Harry. I wouldn't know.... " A second blast knocking off the top half of the stone and it flew off several feet away from the force. " I've never died... "
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Post by Harry Potter on Feb 22, 2011 13:39:19 GMT -5
Harry began choking and coughing as he was showered with debris from the shattered tombstone. Not completely trusting his own legs, he crawled behind another one. He knew that must have looked ridiculous to the watching, jeering death eaters, but at this point he didn't care much about being humiliated, he cared about staying alive as long as possible.
"You've come pretty darn close" Harry muttered to himself, pointing his wand at a tombstone near the advancing Voldemort, causing it to explode as well. Harry was hoping the fact that he was continuing to fight back might surprise Voldemort enough for Harry to get the upper hand, though he doubted it.
He was so tired and there wasn't an inch of his body that wasn't bruised and/or bloody, but despite this, he managed to get to his feet and run to the next grave, pointing his wand over his shoulder to cause the one he had been hiding behind before to blow up. He prayed that in the dust it created, Voldemort wouldn't have seen which of the tombs he decided to hide behind next.
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