The Chaos Begins

His lust for adventure drives Harry right into the rising tension between Dumbledore and Minister Fudge. Suddenly, he finds himself playing a key-role in a game of deceit and betrayal that will either strip the Light Side from their most important spy or will be the first step in defeating He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named…

Chapter 6: A Night Time Visit To Azkaban

Darkness.

Silence. At first.

Then, all of a sudden, noise like he had never heard before. Not very loud - rather low in fact. But of a most fearsome and cruel kind. After a few seconds his ears were ringing with countless moans and sobs being reflected from the walls.

He wanted to shut his ears to keep the dreadful voices out, but soon found he couldn’t. It was a dream. One of those he hated most.

A dream and yet true.

As his eyes became accustomed to the absence of light Harry found himself inside a small room. The walls were made of stone, as were ceiling and floor. It was cold and the air was anything but fresh.

He was about to turn around to get a better look at the place, when he heard a faint sound right outside the room, coming nearer. Then a clicking as the lock of the door in front of him was opened.

Finally it dawned on him. He was in a cell. ‘This must be Azkaban,’ he thought.

Harry had to shield his eyes from the sudden light coming from the entrance. It prevented him from having a closer look at the entering figure.

Maybe it was Professor Lupin? But Dumbledore had promised to tell him when they would be ready to carry out their plan... Perhaps the Headmaster had had to improvise and thus had simply not found time to inform Harry.

„Lumos totalis," the stranger whispered and soon the room was lit by enough candles to see properly.

Only now Harry dared to look at the newcomer. It was not Remus Lupin - at least the man did not look like Lupin. With Polyjuice Potion involved you could never tell.

The man had nothing remarkable about him, being neither tall nor short. His watery-blue eyes were looking straight at Harry and his lips were curling into a tiny but nasty grin. Lupin wouldn’t grin that way, would he?

Unsure of what to do, Harry swallowed as the man stepped forward. The stranger couldn’t possibly see him, could he? It WAS a dream after all, that much he knew.

But before Harry had a chance to decide what to do, the man had walked right through him.

Harry thought is was a rather strange sensation. ‘Now I know what it feels like to be a ghost.’

„Well," he heard the man say from behind him. „How are we this lovely morning?"

Confused, Harry turned to where the stranger was standing. Since the man hadn’t addressed him, there had to be someone else inside, probably the prisoner - Snape perhaps?

And there was. On what seemed to be a very uncomfortable plank-bed, lay a man Harry didn’t recognise. He was obviously fast asleep. Maybe that wasn’t Snape’s cell at all. The stranger was now bending over the prisoner and had grabbed him hard by the shoulders.

The sleeping man woke with a start.

„You!" he said with a hoarse voice, recognising the other man at once. „Haven’t you had enough fun with me already?"

His voice was low but Harry could hear it was full of exhaustion. Harry eyed the man on the bed more closely. The voice - though somewhat cracked and weak - sounded familiar. Too familiar. Then it hit him.

The prisoner WAS Snape. It had to be. But what had happened to him?

His hair had been cut short sloppily and his eyes had lost their malicious glint. There seemed to be a misty shadow laying over them, instead. His robes were torn and it was obvious someone had slapped him in the face several times not too long ago.

So perhaps the stranger was indeed Lupin?

As Snape tried to get away from his visitor Harry could see that his hands and feet were bound with heavy chains.

The stranger smiled faintly and let go of Snape. „Well, you know, all I want is an answer. You still owe me. Tell me what I want to know and I will leave you alone at once. Who knows, if you promise not to be defiant again I may even remove your binders."

Snape sneered. ‘Well, he can’t be that exhausted’, Harry thought.

"First," Snape said with a surprisingly controlled voice. "I don’t owe you anything. And second: You’re not at all interested in the truth. All you want to hear is my confession. Which you will never get from me," he added bitterly.

The stranger backed away from Snape and raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise. "As you wish. I’m amazed you have not grown tired of this game by now, Snape. But, alas, I am not that convinced about your confession. On the contrary, I dare say you will want to tell me anything once we’re done with you."

Snape snorted. "That remains to be seen, Bransom."

Harry thought hard, but was sure he had never heard that name before. And he got more and more convinced this man was not someone send by Professor Dumbledore. It was obvious the Headmaster hadn’t been able to send Lupin in, yet.

Bransom laughed coldly. "My, we are stubborn today. If you could only hear yourself. ‘That remains to be seen’ " he spat in a mocking imitation of Snape. He bend down close to the prisoner until their faces were only centimetres apart.

"You are pathetic, Snape. The Minister was very lenient and still you do not thank him for it in the least. Instead, you show resistance at every opportunity. But it doesn’t do you any good. Unless you consider these shackles you wear an advantage in comparison to your previous situation – which they are not."

Snape narrowed his eyes and some of his old venom seemed to come back. "This so-called lenience of your beloved Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge is nothing more than another sign for his incompetence. If he really had all that ‘evidence’ against me he would have been wiser to finish me off at once. You don’t think a high ranking Death Eater like me - or rather like he portraits me - would give anything away during interrogations, Bransom, do you? After all our little meetings here you should know I’ll never tell you anything - no matter how hard you try or how many atrocities you throw at me."

His voice had become very low, almost a whisper. But every word seemed to cut into Bransom, for he was not able to retort.

Snape cocked an eyebrow and allowed himself a small sarcastic smile. "This whole episode only shows that Fudge is jumping at shadows, desperately hoping to find a way to counter Voldemort. Think of me as pathetic as you like, Bransom, but you and I both know that neither Fudge nor you will gain anything from it."

Somehow, Bransom had regained his thoughts, because he now grinned at Snape in a most evil way.

"You are very wrong, Snape. So very, very wrong. I’m more than ready to contradict you. This ‘episode’, as you called it, does serve a purpose. We don’t think you will be able to stay as stubborn and unwilling forever. There are always ways to break people, it’s only a question of time. Trust me, yours will come very soon." He backed away from Snape, still grinning knowingly at him.

Harry had to admit Bransom had a point. Snape was completely at the ministry’s mercy. He remembered his conversation with Dumbledore after his nightmare a few days ago.

 

"What if he makes Snape switch sides? Do you think he will stay loyal to you?"

"I’ve known Severus for a long time, Harry, and I wish I could say he will. But I can’t."

Even to Harry, who had seen Snape in this state only for minutes, could tell his professor was nearer to break-down than he wanted to admit. But Harry had to admire Snape for his willpower. He hadn’t given in, yet.

Snape himself remained silent, only staring darkly at his visitor.

"As for the ‘atrocities’," Bransom continued, "I am sure you want to hint at the fact I am using rather illegal measures, don’t you? Well, let me inform you I never crossed the line. In fact, I am only doing what my instructions say."

Snape looked as if he seriously doubted that. Still, Bransom smiled.

"I want to be honest with you. Oh, don’t look at me like that, will you? This will be quite a shock, I guess, but your friend Albus Dumbledore didn’t object to our treating you like the scum you are. Yes, he knows about it - all of it. He was very disappointed in you when we had to inform him how defiantly you behaved, obviously not willing to assist. Your lack of co-operation was proof enough to him. Only someone who had something to hide would act as reluctant as you did. It didn’t take Dumbledore long to guess just what you don’t want to be discovered, Snape. The Headmaster even thanked Minister Fudge for showing him were your true loyalties lie. I could tell the great man once had quite a lot confidence in you and it crushed him to learn you had betrayed him like that."

At that Snape lost control. He jumped to his feet, almost tripping over the chains, and launched himself at Bransom.

"Liar!" he spat. „Dumbledore would never do such a thing. How does some slime like you even dare say his name? He is more honourable than neither you nor Fudge or his henchmen ever will be!"

He pinned Bransom’s throat to the floor with the chains between his wrists. The ministry man coughed for breath. His hands were desperately trying to grab his wand but he couldn’t reach his pocket.

Harry watched the scene in horror. If Snape really wanted to kill Bransom it didn’t matter that he wasn’t a Death Eater. Attempted murder was a major felony. But to Harry’s relief Snape eased his grip on Bransom a bit so that the other wizard could get a little more air. He seemed to enjoy having Bransom at his mercy for a change.

It didn’t last long, though. Two guards ran into the cell, wands already in their hands. Snape let go of Bransom immediately. But the guards obviously didn’t want to take any chances because one of them raised his wand.

"Stupefy!" he yelled and Snape fell to the floor. That done, the two men bent over Bransom and helped him up.

"Sir, are you all right?" one of them asked as Bransom shakily got to his feet. The ministry man fingered his throat carefully. "Barely. You were right on time, Peer," he answered the guard’s question. "The madman almost got me." Harry scowled at Bransom’s gross exaggeration. The guards, however, didn’t know Snape had never really aimed at Bransom’s life.

Peer eyed the prisoner with disgust. "What shall we do with him? I’d suggest a strong sedative to calm him down."

Bransom shook his head. "No, no. I want him at full consciousness. Just confine him to bed. That’ll keep him from any further rebellious acts."

Peer and his colleague lifted Snape onto the bed and removed his binders. After that Peer cast a spell which created heavy, silvery chains that made it unable for Snape to move. Only then did they free him of the stunning-spell.

With a last frowning glance at Bransom the guards left.

Bransom slowly approached his prisoner. "Now that was most unwise. And I always thought you were a far more subtle person. Well, we all seem to have our weak points. Which is, as I want to remind you, exactly what I told you some minutes ago. Obviously, the fear Dumbledore might see through your disguise as loyal professor is yours. You proved that rather convincingly, Snape."

Harry frowned. Did Bransom really think Snape was a Death Eater or was this - again - a lie? If he was indeed one of Voldemort’s secret agents among Fudge’s advisors as Harry suspected... This particular question could be crucial to their cause. If Bransom thought Snape to be loyal to Voldemort he would only want to play with him until Azkaban fell. If not... he would kill him. Harry desperately hoped the former was the case.

"However," Bransom continued in a matter-of-factly tone, "I can only repeat: Your cover is blown. Dumbledore has finally seen through your fake facade." He grinned nastily as Snape tried desperately not to show his worries.

Again, Bransom went on. "Now that your self-assurance has gained a serious crack I think we will have much better chances of getting information out of you. Most unfortunately, I cannot stay any longer. But do not fear. I have two very capable assistants who will do my work more than appropriately for me."

He clapped his hands twice and two figures appeared at the door.

Even in his dream, Harry felt a wave of nausea. He didn’t need to take a closer look at the newcomers to know who - or rather what - they were.

Dementors.

At their sight, Snape’s face went chalk-white. Harry had never thought he would see his professor that scared. But there Snape was, fighting his chains as if trying to get away. It was, of course, in vain.

As the Dementors approached him, Bransom once again spoke to Snape.

"I will be honest, Snape. All evidence is against you, as you must know. Even without your confession, we have every right to execute you right now. However, your knowledge can be very useful. To both of us. Tell us about your friends, about the plans you must have made and we will consider a pardon. Stay that stubborn and get yourself killed - it is your choice entirely."

He eyed his prisoner carefully, the two Dementors standing next to him like envoys of hell.

"Then do what you must, Bransom," Snape spat, although the terrified look never left his face. "I told you before, I will rather die than tell you anything."

Bransom only shrugged and smiled nastily. "Well, what was it you said earlier this morning? Ah, yes: That remains to be seen. See the following as a preview of what awaits you if you keep your attitude."

He gave the Dementors a nod and the creatures glided towards Snape.

Bransom laughed coldly as the prisoner watched the nearing Dementors in horror. He turned on his heel and left the cell, closing the door behind him.

As if petrified, Harry couldn’t help but stare at the creatures as they bent over Snape, pinning him even more onto the bed.

To his relief, the whole room began to glide away and he didn’t see much. Soon there was nothing but darkness all around him.

But the lack of view didn’t stop him from hearing Snape’s painful screams...

Bathed in sweat, Harry sat bolt upright. He closed his eyes and slowly breathed in and out a few times before opening them again. ‘It has only been a dream. No need to worry,’ he tried to calm himself down. His stomach seemed to think otherwise because his dinner was trying hard to get up again. As silently as possible, Harry went out of his dormitory towards a bathroom.

Only when he was back in his dormitory he began to understand the meaning of what he had just witnessed. He climbed out of his bed, not caring that he was still wearing his pyjama, and went once more straight to Dumbledore’s office. There was no time to loose.

TBC...