Within a Month

Chapter Two
Held Captive

He woke up in a dark, cold room. Since there were no windows, he didn't know whether or not the sun was up. Just then, he heard someone entering. The person was now circling him.

'Well, well, Potter. Who would've thought that Draco Malfoy was the only one the Dark Lord needed to capture the Wizarding World's Wonder Boy?'

'Draco...Malfoy?'

He pondered on this for a while. Draco Malfoy? His rival since his first year at Hogwarts? The same Draco Malfoy had succeeded in doing what Albus Dumbledore was trying to prevent since he was a baby? Draco Malfoy had brought him, Harry Potter, to the Dark Lord? Impossible! Though, as Harry looked around, he found that it was, in fact, possible; considering that he was tied up to a chair in the middle of a chilly, damp dungeon.

'What do you want from me, Malfoy?'

Malfoy laughed, 'Isn't it simple, Potter? Just like the Dark Lord, I want you dead.'

'Oh, that's right! You're one of his lap dogs now. Tell me, Malfoy, when did you get your mark to become a Death Eater? Right after you got home after school ended, I reckon,' Harry said rather bravely, despite the fear he felt inside about what could possible happen to him.

'Wrong! Actually, Potter, I'm not a Death Eater yet. I had to prove that I was worthy enough to become one.'

'Haven't you proved it enough by being a prat during our school year?'

'The Dark Lord wanted a better proof. Sending Precious Potter childish insults at school never counted for much. So I thought that bringing you to him would be the greatest proof to become a Death Eater.'

'And what do you expect to happen after you've brought me to him?'

'Oh, a little bit of torture, I s'pose, then you death. Mind you, if the Dark Lord's in a good moon, he might grace me the honour of killing you myself...after I've gotten my mark of course.'

'And when's your said initiation supposed to occur?'

About the end of August. I assume it would be held on September first.'

'Why wait a month, Malfoy? Why not just christen you with the mark now and kill me?'

'A month would give father and the other Death Eaters time to track down all your friends and kill them. Also, by the end of the month, along with the knowledge of the death of your friends, you'd be weak enough and grieving enough to not care whether or not you lived or died.'

'A lot can happen within a month, Malfoy. How can you be so sure that I wouldn't have escaped before it ends?'

'Because I'll be watching you. Besides, these walls are protected by ancient spells that prevents you from apparating or disapparating.'

Harry heard Malfoy's footsteps heading for the door, but before he could completely walk out, Harry commented, 'You can't possibly watch me at all times, can you?'

'Trust me, Potter, I have my ways. I'm not about to let my proof escape and ruin my chance of becoming a Death Eater.'

With that, Malfoy exited the chamber. Harry could hear his steps growing fainter and fainter. How did he end up in this mess? Weren't people from the Order still looking out for him? Harry shook his head in disappointment. The Order of the Phoenix, founded by Albus Dumbledore on the year of God knows when; purpose: to prevent destruction of the Wizarding World by Lord Voldemort and to protect Harry. Though, just a couple of hours ago, they neglected the latter. If they were doing their job right, he wouldn't be stuck in a cold, dark and damp chamber right now! What were they doing while he was asleep? Playing poker in a pub? Not likely, but it was still an option.

Harry closed his eyes, the Order had exactly a month to find him. If they don't, then he's as sure as dead---and so were they, along with everyone in the world.

******

'Didn't I tell you, Potter, that you had chosen the losing side?' Malfoy pointed out with that same arrogant tone he's had since Harry first met him, 'Had you been friends with me, you'd never have been in this mess.'

It was the day after Harry was captured and imprisoned by Malfoy. Once again, Malfoy was performing one of his hourly inspections of Harry.

Harry snorted, 'If I had been friends with you, Malfoy, it would've only made it easier for you to stab me in the back. I know that you won't let anything get in the way of being a Death Eater. So, if Voldemort told you to kill me, you'd do it without thinking twice--even if I was your friend. You'd do anything to get into the circle of Death Eaters, even if it meant killing each and everyone of your friends.'

'I wouldn't be able to kill you if you were my friend.'

'How sure are you about that?'

'You doubt me?' Malfoy sounded astounded.

'Obviously. I have every reason to doubt you, remember?'

Malfoy fell silent. Then after about a minute or two, he said, 'If I recall correctly, Potter, you wouldn't have any reason to doubt me if you hadn't ignored my outstretched hand to on our first day of school.'

'You're still holding that schoolboy grudge against me, Malfoy? That's really pathetic.'

Malfoy slapped him, 'don't you ever call me pathetic again or I swear, it's more than a slap you'll be receiving next time!'

'That's right, Malfoy, hurt me when I'm defenseless,' Harry taunted. 'Since you couldn't do a better job of abusing me when we were younger, you've resorted to tying me up? That's really low.'

Malfoy blinked, then regained his composure once again, 'I don't need you tied down, Potter, just to harm you. I could do it anytime.'

'OK, so why don't you untie me and prove that you can beat me.'

'Do you think so stupid of me?'

'More or less.'

'The minute I untie you, you'd run out of here.'

'Yes...I'd run out of here...to go where, exactly? I mean, Malfoy Manor is a big place---I wouldn't know where to go.'

'Don't get smart with me, Potter,' Malfoy warned.

'Why in Merlin's name would I want to get smart with you, when clearly, I'm already smarter than you.'

Malfoy advanced on Harry again, but before he could lay a finger on him, Harry closed his eyes and began to concentrate. When he opened them again, a strong gust of wind blew and Malfoy was thrown back against the wall.

After Malfoy had realized what had just happened, he shouted, 'What did you do, Potter?!'

'Just a little trick I've learned over the years,' Harry smirked--a trait he had learned from the boy standing right in front of him.

Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry, 'Crucio!'

Although, before the spell could hit Harry, he blinked and suddenly disappeared, only to appear beside Malfoy. 'You missed,' he commented.

Malfoy turned sideways and stood up abruptly, 'How'd you---,'

'Oh, just another trick I learned while growing up. I know a lot more. Keep torturing me---well, trying to, anyway, then maybe you'll be lucky to see all of them.'

'You're bluffing!'

'Oh, am I?'

Malfoy nodded, 'You can't possible make me believe that you can do all sorts of magic tricks without your wand.'

'Well, you don't have to believe me. That doesn't change the fact that I can still do them though.'

'Whatever, Potter.'

'Fine, keep on doubting me,' Harry shrugged and the next thing Malfoy knew, Harry was back in the middle of the room.

'That trick again! It's not possible!' Malfoy exclaimed.

'Why not?'

'Because, as I had clearly stated before, no one could apparate or disapparate within these manor walls due to really old and powerful spells.'

'And your point is?'

'My point is, not even the Famous Harry Potter could find a way to alter the spells to allow him to perform the tricks they were created to prevent.'

'Why? You don't think I'm smart enough to figure out a method to break those spells?'

'No, it's not that. I think you're smart enough, I just don't think you're strong enough.'

'Ah, I see.'

'Oh, but now look at the time I've wasted on you. I could've done something more interesting and progressive rather than talking to you.'

'Progressive? Like what type of things? Helping your father and Voldemort torture more innocent people?'

'No, course not. I've better things to do than perform such boorish tasks like that. I'll be back in an hour.'

******

Harry peered at Malfoy from behind his glasses, 'Right on time,' he muttered under his breath. He had wished that for once, Malfoy would forget to check up on him, but alas, the gods were against him. Although, he had to admit, having Malfoy check up on him every hour was somewhat a good thing.. At least talking to Malfoy--albeit, most of their talks were insults, but it was still talking, nonetheless---kept his sanity. Malfoy's visits took his attention away from the thick dark stone walls around him, even if it was just for a short period of time.

Harry watched Malfoy circle him for about two minutes. He had no idea what the former Slytherin was thinking or planning. Harry wasn't too worried though, because he knew that Malfoy wouldn't kill him--- yet. He knew that his death day was set on September first and since it was still the first day of August, he was still safe from the jaws of death.

Malfoy kept on walking around Harry for another minute, then came to a halt in front of the prisoner and conjure up a chair. Harry still didn't know what was going on and wanted to find out. He was capable of reading the blond's mind--a technique he learned while training for defense against the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters--but he didn't really feel like practicing it at the moment Firstly, because it takes a lot of energy and secondly, if he concentrated on reading Malfoy's mind too much, he wouldn't be able to control what he'd read; and right now, Harry didn't really feel like learning each and every disgusting thought in his rival's mind.

Harry looked at his lap and never dared to look back up. He knew that if he did, he'd be eye to eye with Malfoy and looking into Malfoy's eyes wasn't an option at the moment. Harry could feel his captor's gaze burning into his skull and truth be told, that feeling was becoming annoyingly uncomfortable as each minute flew by.

'You know, Potter, it's really rude to not acknowledge the presence of higher authority when they're in the same room as you,' Malfoy finally spoke, after five minutes of unnerving Harry with his stare.

Without looking up, Harry replied, 'You consider yourself higher authority? Has the world finally come to an end?"

'Think you're funny, Potter?'

'Well, no, I was just simply asking out of curiosity, Malfoy.'

'I'll be so glad when this month's over.'

'Why? Because I'll be dead?'

'Exactly!' Malfoy smirked.

Harry could do nothing but roll his eyes. Sometimes---no wait! Not sometimes, more like...all the time. Yes! That was correct. His nemesis was so predictable all the time, especially when it came to him. There's only two things Draco Malfoy would want when it came to Harry Potter: to embarrass the Boy-Who-Lived and the day the Boy-Who-Lived was renames as the Boy-Who-Died.

Still not bothering to look at Malfoy, Harry said, 'I still think waiting for a whole month to kill me is a long time.'

'Trust me, Potter, time will fly by quickly. Next thing you know, you'll be six feet under.'

'Somehow, I doubt that.'

'Don't be so sure, Potter. The Dark Lord won't think twice about killing you.'

'Of course he won't, but then again, my death day's still many days away. Things will happen, trust me on that.'

'Whatever,' Malfoy shook his head. 'You're wasting my time once again, Potter.'

'Well, hey, since I have nothing better to do other than being cooped up here, it is my job to waste your time,' Harry stated.

'Ah, yes, you've always been a thorn in my spine, so why should now be any different?'

Harry didn't reply. Thorn in his spine? Harry thought, Who is he to say that to me? I wasn't the one who spent seven years of my life tormenting everyone in school. Harry opened his mouth as if to say something, but he changed his mind.

'What? Cat got your tongue, Potter?' Malfoy asked smugly.

Harry scowled, 'If anything's got my tongue, it'd be a snake, not a cat.'

'Oh, really?' Malfoy sounded amused, 'Enlighten me.'

'Well, I am in a mansion full of former Slytherin House Spawns.'

'Slytherin House Spawns?'

'Yeah.'

'Has a nice ring to it.'

'I know, doesn't it? Thought of it myself. Anyway, are you enlightened enough, Malfoy?'

'I s'pose so, I mean, that's the most sensible response a Gryffindor could provide.'

Harry rolled his eyes at Malfoy's retreating back. Everything was still the same. Malfoy was still a prat and still wanted him dead. Voldemort was still trying to plot the destruction of the Wizarding World and he, Harry Potter was once again, the prime target. Honestly! Won't these people ever find a new person to torture? he asked himself dejectedly. He had wished that his fate and destiny would be different now that he was out of Hogwarts, but unfortunately, the higher beings had another idea in mind.

He sighed. Of all the people that Lord Voldemort could've chosen, he just had to chose him. Why? Because of that blasted prophecy made by that ridiculus Divinations professor of his. Oh, if I could get my hands on her right now, I'll kill her with my bare hands! Harry's mind screamed angrily, If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Capable of doing nothing but glare at the same moldy wall for days on end, Harry decided to close his eyes. He had exactly a month to think up a way to escape Malfoy Manor. After a while of thinking, nothing still came to mind. Harry groaned in frustration. Maybe Malfoy was right. The month would fly by fast and Harry would end up six feet under after all. NO! he shook his head. He shouldn't think like that. There was still a war that was raging and he has to be there to help out. He was the hope of Dumbledore--the hope of the entire Wizarding World. He can't let them down. He absolutely can't let Draco Malfoy keep him here and allow Lord Voldemort to kill him. He can't and he won't! That was final. He was destined to save the Wizarding World and saving it, he will.