No One Will Notice You're Gone

No One Will Notice You're Gone

By: Black Faith

Chapter 3 ~ Trap

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She let out a loud cackle. "No one will notice you're gone," she said calmly.

Harry leaned against the wall and slumped down onto his knees. He had to be able to get out of here! It was just a room made of what? Grey brick? If only he had his wand...

He wished he could blast through the wall, but without his wand he was hopeless - but wait - he was in a portal in a different world... Maybe if he found the portal out.

He felt along the walls. "Well, isn't this interesting? Looking for a way out already? You know you aren't going to find it, Harry; you might as well sit down. I would like to show you something."

Harry sighed angrily and whirled around. "I wouldn't want to see anything that you want to show me," he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, really?"

Harry nodded and made wild gestures with his hands. "Yes!"

"I think you would get rather a kick out of seeing your friends," her voice stayed calm and menacing - Harry didn't like that tone at all.

He dropped his arms and his eyes widened. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing... yet," she said balefully and Harry started to panic. "If you cooperate, I won't do anything to them. Now, would you like to see them?"

"How could you do anything to them? They-"

"Magic, Harry dear, magic truly is spectacular."

Harry gulped. "Yes, I would like to see my friends - and you better not harm one hair on their heads!" He shouted.

"Only if you can cooperate."

A giant orb, opaque white in colour, appeared in the middle of the room. The image of Hermione fixing her hair in her bedroom flickered onto the orb. She was humming a nice happy tune as Crookshanks swatted playfully at the ponytail she was fixing.

Harry sighed, relieved to see her all right, he ginned and put his hand to the orb wishing that he could step through the surface and into her room away from the sadistic creature that kept him in this room. It had been only a few minutes maybe a half hour but it felt like forever and if he was going to be trapped in this room forever...

The image flickered and Ron Weasley was in view with his brother Bill, they seemed to be attempting to cook. Bill threw a large cup of flour over Ron's head. "I'll get you for that Bill!" he yelled and dumped the whole container of cocoa on Bill's head.

Wait - they weren't in the Burrow's kitchen. It looked like Number 12 Grimmauld Place's kitchen and if they were there, the place had tons of security on it, then they were safe... but yet, she got a camera or something in there to see them...

"Miss them already? What about Luna?"

Luna faded into view and Harry swallowed the lump forming in his tight throat. He missed Luna so much - she was the only one that understood him - which he felt a connection to. He couldn't even fathom the sorrow he would feel if anything ever happened to her.

"Ah, young love, isn't it wonderful?" How the calmness of her voice annoyed him so!

"We're just friends," he said automatically, hoping that he didn't sound defensive because there was nothing to be defensive about...

Luna smiled up at him. "Hello, wonderful day isn't it?" Harry took a step back.

"Of-"

Her father came into the picture. He was a tall curly haired blonde man who looked like a pleasant person. "Beautiful, honey." He hugged her and Harry felt a pain of disconnection course through his body.

"Aww, you thought she was talking to you. How sweet." Her calm voice paused. "Tell me, how much would you just love to go up and give her a nice big hug?" she asked laughing mockingly.

Harry blushed. "We're just friends! I told you that!"

"Oh, really?"

Harry nodded.

"Well then, tell me, do you love her?"

Do I love Luna? "We're just friends."

"Oh, so you wouldn't mind if I..."

"No! Don't you dare hurt her!" Harry growled.

"Tell me the truth."

"Promise you won't hurt her first!" Harry exclaimed, his voice echoed off the walls.

"I knew you loved her," she said slyly, "it was obvious. Ever since you left Hogwarts you felt the emptiness in your heart that only she could fill. The weight that feels lifted when you're with her is heavier than ever now, isn't it?"

Harry gulped and his stomach sunk deeper, feeling as if it was full of lead but he didn't want to admit that to her. "Don't hurt her!" his voice cracked a bit as he shouted.

She laughed maniacally. "Tell me the truth. Admit it - you do love her."

Harry ran his hand through his hair.

"I already know you do. I just want to hear it from you."

"Love is a strong word," Harry stated tonelessly.

"Yes, and admitting the truth is sign of a strong person, now, are you going to tell me the truth or not?" Her voice paused dangerously. "Are you weak or strong?"

Harry grinned as he watched Luna eat her breakfast, looking so peaceful - so beautiful. "I'm strong,"

"Then you love the weirdo Loony Lovegood?"

Harry glared at - nothing in particular. "Don't call her that! It isn't her name."

"You don't have to say that because I know her name. Luna Ambrosia Lovegood - born on Samhain eve. Wow, a day before your parents were murdered. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Harry shook his head watching Luna gulp down her scrambled eggs.

"So are you going to answer me or do I have to get physical - or should I say magical? You know, I could kill her so quickly she wouldn't know what hit her - but of course I would want to cause a bit of pain."

She laughed. "No, killing her without having to cause pain would be a waste of a good curse and such a valuable target. See that little circle - anyone could mistake it for a shadow - do you see it on her face?"

Harry gulped and nodded, his eyes wide as he gazed at the shadowy dot on her right cheek, blemishing her pale complexion.

"That would be where the curse would hit her. Such a beautiful face to ruin, you know - what a wonderful life to lose - imagine all of the devastation."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut tight then opened them. He wished this was a dream - he prayed that this was a dream.

"All you do is have to say three words - oh, those three strong magic words, admitting the truth within yourself. I'm giving you three seconds. Three-"

A tear slipped out of his eye and his throat tightened. Three words - three very strong words. Why am I having such a hard time saying them?

"Two..."

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