No One Will Notice You're Gone

No One Will Notice You're Gone

By: Black Faith

Chapter 6 ~ Appearance

~

The lights flickered off only leaving enough light from the orb to show Bellatrix's face.

"See, that isn't me. I'm here in the flesh."

Harry whirled around. He wished he had his wand with him as he squinted to see her - he could only see the outline of her body. "Too afraid to come out in the light, Belle?" Harry spat.

She moved toward him and the orb disappeared leaving them in complete darkness. "I don't think it would be very fun if I revealed myself to you just yet." Harry felt her breath on his neck, making him shift backwards.

He felt her follow. "What do you want?" Harry nervously asked, plastering himself to the wall.

He felt trapped. She was too close for comfort. "I'm no longer hiding, am I?"

Her hand was freezing as he felt it touch his bare arm. He swatted it away quickly and tried to run but - he couldn't move his feet. Harry started to panic, his breath quickened.

"Scared?"

Harry glared, desperately trying to move his feet.

"Aren't you going to answer me?" Her breath was warm against his neck and he tried to push her away but she just laughed.

"You seem scared, little boy," she said in a hungry voice.

He struggled to shove her from him but she caught his wrists. Come on, Harry, you're stronger than her. His mind cheered him on.

She lifted his arms over his head and pinned them to the wall. Harry felt her hands leave his wrists but his arms stayed pinned. "What are you going to do to me?" he asked in a slightly frightened voice.

"Admit you're at least a little bit scared." Her hair tickled his cheek and he gulped.

She laughed quietly. "Don't tell me you're too afraid to answer the question."

Harry glared. "I've faced Voldemort before, what so frightening about you?"

Belle laughed into his ear. "I know more about the Dark Lord than you'll ever know, Harry - his secrets, his lies, his sins - his power. I don't see what's so frightening about him." She twisted a long lock of his hair painfully and laughed again.

"Then why don't you use his name? Too afraid to say it?" Harry asked smirking, wincing a bit when she yanked the small lock of his hair out.

"Habit, my dear, a very old habit that's extremely hard to break."

"How old are you?" Harry asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Truthfully?" she asked, she was so close it was intimidating.

Harry nodded. "Yes."

"Older than you," she said with a laugh.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"I told you - I don't like you rolling your eyes at me," she whispered dangerously into his ear.

Harry nearly jumped out of his skin. "How did you-"

"Know? I told you. I know all. I see all."

Harry gulped. "All?"

"All," she repeated. "I know the dirtiest secrets of Albus Dumbledore, of Voldemort, of you."

Harry shuddered. "Like what?"

"I know what you see when a Dementor's near," she whispered.

"You hear your mother and fathers last words - the last of the Dark Lord Voldemort's words in his original state - I know the words spoken, Harry, would you like to hear them again?"

Harry's breathing quickened. "No," he said shaking his head.

"Good, I'm starting to scare you aren't I?"

Harry gulped as a drip of cold sweat ran down his forehead.

"Fine answer, Harry, fine answer."

"How is it possible you know everything? Are you a-a prophet - an oracle?" Harry asked, unnerved.

"No, just a fly on the wall with a thirst for knowledge - and the more knowledge I gain the more powerful I become. I've learned so much over the years..."

Harry struggled against his bindings. "Then why do you need me? Why are you doing this?" he asked in a frustrated tone.

She laughed maniacally. "You're blind to everything around you! Why do you think I'm dong this? Do you even care that your friends are trying to help? No, all you care about is that you have lost the last remainder of what you considered family!"

Harry's heartbeat accelerated.

"I'm fed up with you!" she yelled, "What do you think? You're a hero on the outside and always put everyone before you but deep down in the recesses of your being you're a selfish little oblivious rat!"

"No I'm not!" Harry yelled angrily.

"Yes you are! Did you know that your own Aunt Petunia goes many sleepless nights thinking about the wizarding world and how dangerous it is for you to be venturing back into it?"

Harry's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, Harry, she cares."

The orb, glowing a dark crimson appeared in the middle of the room and Harry looked at Belle, still not being able to see her face.

Petunia, cooking soup in her kitchen, appeared within the globe. Harry could see Belle take out her wand and point it straight at Petunia's head. The shadowy dot clearly shown on her horse-like face.

"Tell me, Harry, how much do you care for her?"

~