Lost Child

LOST CHILD

Chapter 2

Blood and Serpents

Harriet Jamila Potter sat looking out of her bedroom window. Her uncle had replaced the bars over the winter and she was stuck with no way out. Uncle Vernon had not been happy when the Order members had approached him at the train station. She had suffered considerably from their interference. He had taken his belt off as soon as they were inside the house, and for the first time ever, he didn't care whether he hit her where others could see. Her face was covered with bruises; her body was a sea of welts. Harry's glasses had broken and she had to tape them back together several times. To top everything off, her beloved godfather had died. All because she had failed to recognize that Snape had understood her message in Umbridge's office.

'He's got Padfoot! He's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden!' The scene kept replaying over and over in her mind. Snape claiming he had no idea what she was speaking about. Why hadn't she stopped to realize that he was a member of the Order? She had gone off to the Department of Mysteries to save Sirius, falling head long into Voldemort's trap. To make matters worse, she had nearly gotten her friends killed as well. Then there had been the scene in Dumbledore's office. How dare he say what he had about Sirius, and then tell her about the Prophecy! Sweet Merlin, she had to kill the Dark Lord or be killed by him. How on earth did they think that a barely sixteen year old girl would be able to accomplish such a feat? It seemed as if the world had suddenly gone mad.

A chill ran up her spine as she considered these thoughts. Her body ached from the beatings she had endured over the past two weeks and her stomach rumbled with hunger. All she had been given to eat had been some cold soup and stale bread last week. Fortunately, she was able to get water from the garden hose when she was let out to clean and weed the back garden. Aunt Petunia had told Vernon that since he had bruised her face so badly she should not be seen out front. She didn't even have her beloved Hedwig with her. Her uncle had taken the owl and put her in the garage after making Harry write out enough letters to the Order for the next month.

Her nights had been filled with nightmares too. She was haunted with memories of Sirius falling through the veil, Cedric telling her to bring back his body, and the Dark Lord rising from the cauldron. There were also horrible visions of Muggles being tortured. Unfortunately, her screams had earned her more punishments. She sighed tiredly, feelings of loneliness and betrayal aching in her heart.

Uncle Vernon had been called back into the office by his boss about two hours ago and had not yet returned. She had a bad feeling. Something was not right within the house but she wasn't sure what. It was like static electricity prickling at her skin. The sensation had been growing stronger through out the day. She only knew that she was suddenly afraid. Instinctively going over to the loose floorboard under her bed she withdrew her wand. Carefully securing it in the waistband of her aunt's old Bermuda shorts, which hung down to her knees, she made certain that it was hidden from view by the oversized T-shirt that had once been Dudley's. Harry had no sooner accomplished this when she heard a car pull into the driveway and the door slam. A moment later she could hear her Uncle Vernon bellowing from the hallway.

"Girl, you get down here now! This is your entire fault, with your freakish ways!"

"Uncle Vernon, I haven't done anything. I've been in my room all evening," Harry stated, coming down the steps into the hallway.

"Don't you lie to me, bitch! My boss just told me that Grunnings was going bankrupt. My job has been eliminated due to the restructuring plan," he screamed. "Is this how you repay us? You take the roof from over our heads?" Vernon yelled, spittle flying everywhere while advancing on her angrily, his face purple with rage.

Harry started to back away, noting the smell of alcohol on her uncle's breath, getting ready to run. Unfortunately, Dudley had come into the hall from the lounge to see what all the yelling was about. Her cousin grabbed her from behind effectively pinning her arms as Vernon's fat fist connected with her jaw. Crack! Stars swam in front of Harry's eyes as her jaw disconnected. She was vaguely aware her aunt was watching from the kitchen door.

"Vernon, how many times do I have to tell you not to discipline the little freak by hitting her in the face? Now she won't be able to work in the front gardens for even longer." Petunia frowned, annoyed by her husband's actions.

"To hell with the garden, Pet, this little whore has cost me my position at Grunnings!"

"But Vernon, I thought your boss wanted to see you about that promotion?"

"The company is going broke. My job has been done away with! My boss will be handling it under the reorganization. This filthy freak is responsible. She needs to be taught a lesson."

"Dad," Dudley cut in, "why not make her bring home some money? I have an idea how she could make us quite a few pounds."

Harry wanted to say something nasty. Even though she knew they were speaking about money, she found the humor in Dudley discussing pounds. He certainly had enough of his own, the fat pig. 'Too bad my jaw is dislocated,' she thought miserably.

"By all means, Vernon, it is about time the little freak contributed to this house. Just make sure she also keeps up with her chores," Petunia huffed. Disappearing back into the kitchen she glared at Harry over her shoulder.

"What is it, Dudders? What is this marvelous idea?"

"Well...I was thinking that lots of blokes would be willing to pay for quick shag." Dudley leered at his cousin.

"Hmm..." Vernon smiled at his son. "She's a bit scrawny but you may have something there my boy," Vernon muttered, studying his niece's thin frame, a calculating look in his eyes.

Harriet's eyes widened. Her uncle and cousin were going to force her into having sex with total strangers. 'Beating me is one thing, but forcing me to have sex with strangers? That is just plain sick. They're my relatives for Merlin's sake. If they were wizards they would be Death Eaters.' Harriet's mind rebelled angrily. She had to get away. Taking advantage of Dudley's grip relaxing around her she kicked backwards with all her might. Years of sitting on a broom playing Quidditch had added muscle to her legs. Catching her whale of a cousin off guard she hit him in the knee. Dudley gasped, letting go of her. Yowling in pain he grabbed his leg flopping onto the floor. He closely resembled a beached whale. Harry ran for the door, but she was disoriented and dizzy from the pain and hunger.

"None of that, Freak," Vernon Dursley roared, diving towards her. "I've got you now," he chortled wickedly, grabbing onto her oversized shirt. Jerking her backwards, he held her by the neck in a vice like grip. "I think we should just give her a few lessons first, Dudders. Just to make sure she knows her place." He grinned at his son, pushing Harry ahead of him up the stairs. Banging open the door to her room, he flung her face down on the bed. Harry hissed in pain, her tender face and jaw smashing into the worn out mattress. "Dudders, go to the shed and get me some ropes so we can keep her from trying to get away."

"Right, Dad," he laughed. "I think I'm really going to enjoy myself." Running gleefully, he bounded downstairs, sounding like a heard of wild beasts.

"Now, Freak, you'll learn how to behave. You may be skinny but for a few quid I know a lot of men who would like a break from their boring wives. First though, you need a few lessons, and Dudders needs to let off a bit of frustration. Can't have him wanking off now can we? Petunia would have a fit." Vernon laughed cruelly. All the while he held her down with his oppressive weight.

Harry could barely breathe with her face stuffed into the pillow. Her body screamed in pain but she knew better than to struggle. 'I need to get out of here,' she thought desperately. 'I can't even get to my wand. I don't care if I get expelled. At least I would be alive. I know Vernon hates me, but this is disgusting. To rape his own niece and have my cousin participate as well...' She couldn't finish the thought, for at that moment Dudley came pounding back up the stairs, the floor vibrating under his weight.

"Dad, here's the rope." He panted, trying to catch his breath from running, handing his father an old piece of clothesline.

"Good boy, Dudders. Help me tie her to the bed. Then I will let you at her. It's time you learned about the birds and the bees since I explained things with our little talk."

"What if she gets pregnant?"

"No need to worry, Dudley. We can take her from the back."

"I'm no pansy!"

"No, my boy, you aren't. Doing it from behind is an old fashioned means of birth control," Vernon explained, lashing her arms to the headboard. "Now go to it and strip off her clothes."

Harry was growing more frightened by the minute. Making matters worse, the feeling of static electricity was growing stronger. She started to struggle against her bonds, only to feel the lash of Vernon's belt across her legs, while her cousin struggled to pull off her shorts. Grunting, he finally managed to pull them off. Fortunately, her wand had come loose from the waistband and was still beneath her. 'I have to escape. This can't be happening. Don't they realize what Dumbledore would do if he found out?' Even as she thought it, she dismissed the idea. She believed that the Headmaster knew how cruelly she was treated by her relatives. Deep feelings of being unwanted and unloved came forth once again. 'No one really cares. All I am good for is to kill Voldemort,' she mused, feeling her cousin grab at her underpants while Vernon spread her thighs with a vise like grip. A moment later, she groaned in agony, Dudley's weight coming down on top of her. Silent tears streamed down her face. 'I wish I had a family who cared. Mine are just as bad as the Death Eaters.'

Dudley was fumbling around on top of her, struggling to get into position, without success. His fat belly was in the way. Then, the rickety old bed collapsed sending them both sprawling to the floor. Dudley rolled off her, having been thrown sideways from the bed. At the same time Harry felt a surge of magic from within. Blue light concentrated around her wrists, causing the ropes to disappear, followed by another flash of white light around the house. She could feel a strong surge of magical energy and realized the wards were collapsing. Harry grabbed her wand making a mad dash towards the barred window. However, Vernon anticipated her. In his attempt to grab onto her leg he tripped on the broken bed frame, falling forward. His weight pushed her into the window frame. Harry gasped as the window disappeared. Her accidental magic kicking in once again had opened up an avenue of safety aiding in her fight to escape. Diving head first through the opening, she tumbled into the bushes below. She landed with a hard thud, her leg catching in the bush, twisting beneath her. She almost passed out from the pain as her left leg snapped at the knee cap.

However, she had no time to contemplate this new dilemma. The sounds of people Apparating into the street from within the darkness of Privet Drive had reached her ears. Peering through the bushes she could see a group of figures in black robes with white masks. They were rushing up the street towards the house. Groaning, she concealed herself deep within the shrubbery where she had landed. Surrounded by Death Eaters, unable to speak or run due to her injuries, Harry hid, half naked. Gripping her wand, she prayed to whatever deity that was watching that the Death Eaters wouldn't find her...

Dumbledore and Snape both emerged from the Floo simultaneously. Dumbledore's blue eyes glinted like steel. Severus' thin lips set into a firm line, scanned the room around them, black eyes alert. Neither took the time to acknowledge Mrs. Figg as she jerked up from the settee, one of her cats falling from her lap. The sound of the flames flaring to life within her hearth had woken her from a nap. Seeing their expressions the old Squib could tell that something bad was happening on Privet Drive. Moving towards her front door, she flung it open, the two wizards racing past without a word. They sped from her porch to the corner of Magnolia Crescent, taking the alley toward Privet Drive.

"Severus, be careful, if the Death Eaters are aware the wards have fallen they will be sure to arrive swiftly. They would recognize you for a traitor to their ranks."

"No, Headmaster. I am well prepared for just such a situation as this." Snape raised his brow at the old man. Pulling a vial from his robes, he deftly tipped the contents into his mouth, without altering his stride. Dumbledore watched intently as the younger man's appearance altered. The transformation was complete before they had reached the end of the alley

"Ah...Polyjuice Potion, I should have guessed." The old man smiled, studying the plain brown haired man striding beside him. "Just the same, you should take care," he stated, entering back onto the street. "I do not wish to lose you. If the Dark Lord finds out you were here and a battle ensues..."

"I can make a plausible excuse to Him if necessary. After all, he believes I am spying for him. The Dark Lord may punish me, but I do not believe he will kill me just yet."

"Even so, I will have you give up your position as a spy before I allow you to fall prey to Tom Riddle's debased desires," Dumbledore declared firmly. Rounding the corner onto Privet Drive, the old wizard's fears were confirmed. A group of Death Eaters were Apparating in, rushing to surround the house. Several of the Order members arrived at the same time. Wands drawn, they advanced up the street, fanning out for battle...

Harriet watched through the bushes as the Order members arrived, advancing on the Death Eaters. 'Maybe everything will be okay, so long as I don't get hit with a misdirected spell,' she mused, hardly daring to breathe. One of the Death Eaters shot a spell towards Emmeline Vance. She deflected the spell with ease, bursting onto the nearby tree, the battle starting in earnest. That's when Harry saw two of the Death Eaters drop back towards the driveway, making their way towards the house. Harry shrunk down as far into the bushes as she could.

"We have to get Potter!" Bellatrix's shrill screech pierced the night air.

That's when all hell broke loose. The front door was flung open from the inside, Vernon Dursley's obese frame silhouetted from within.

"You freaks get the hell off my property!" he bellowed. "The brat is not here."

"Do you think we believe that you filthy Muggle? Stand aside and give us the girl and maybe we will let you live."

"Don't you threaten me, freak. I'll have the law on you!" Vernon shouted. "You and your kind have given us enough trouble."

Harry watched in horror as Bellatrix pointed her wand towards Vernon. Even though she despised him for the way she had been treated, Harry knew she had to do something to try and save him. 'To hell with underage magic, this is a life or death situation,' she thought frantically. 'They can't expel me under those circumstances. Dumbledore said so at my last hearing.' Considering her options, she carefully pointed the tip of her wand out from the bush. Fervently hoping anyone who noticed would think the wood was part of the shrub, she reached into her magical core. She couldn't speak with the broken jaw, but knew wordless magic was possible. It was to be something they studied in the up coming school year. 'Expelliarmus,' she screamed inside of her head. Bellatrix's wand pulled in her hand but she did not lose her grip. Instead she looked towards the direction from where the wand had pointed. 'Shit, now she knows I'm here!' Harry moaned to herself. Just then, Petunia burst from the door, her thin lips twisted into a cold snarl. She had Vernon's rifle pointed directly towards Bellatrix's heart.

"You keep away from here, bitch," Petunia screeched. "Or I'll kill you."

Harriet couldn't help but think her aunt sounded like an angry owl.

"The Muggle harridan wants to play," Bellatrix commented sarcastically. "Let's see how your little niece takes it when you're dead." Bellatrix turned her nose up at Petunia, vanishing in a fit of cold laughter. Petunia raised the rifle firing off a round in her direction. The bullet merely shattered the windshield on Vernon's car. A soft pop sounded behind her aunt and uncle. Bellatrix had reappeared waving her wand, securely tying them up. "Playthings for the Dark Lord!" she announced triumphantly, pleased at the terrified expressions on the Dursley's faces. "Take them to our Master while I get the girl." She directed the two men with her. "I believe our little Potty is hiding in the bushes. Come out, come out where ever you are." She strode towards the direction of Harry's hiding place. Her comrades grabbed onto the captives, Apparating away with Petunia and Vernon. Bella was intent on ferreting out Harry. Ironically, the confusion and noise being caused by the battle distracted her from noticing the huge hulk barreling towards her from out of the house.

"What have you done to my Mum and Dad?!" Dudley bellowed, tackling her to the ground. "Bring them back!" he screamed. Tears of anger and fear streaked down his face as he punched her in the stomach.

'Hah! Score one for Dudders, too bad the idiot didn't stay inside,' Harry considered, watching as Bella tried to roll out from beneath her obese cousin.

"Mr. Dursley, get out of here!" Dumbledore's voice cut through the night. He was in the midst of fighting off two Death Eaters. "You are in grave danger."

"No! The freak did something to my Mum and..." Dudley never finished the sentence. Bellatrix had managed to free her wand hand, hitting him across the throat with a silent slashing hex. Blood sprayed everywhere. Her cousin let out a loud gurgle, eyes growing huge with shock, before they rolled up into his head and he collapsed.

Harry could see the Order gaining ground. However, Bellatrix had managed to crawl out from beneath Dudley's body. Rolling over towards the bushes, she cast an Incendio, setting them on fire. Harry was trapped up against the house. 'I have to get out of here!' she thought, panic setting in. She could feel her adrenalin pumping, while fruitlessly trying once again to summon her magical core, to no avail. She was too injured and tired. Mustering the last of her strength, Harry held tight to her wand, pulling herself along on her stomach by her arms, grateful that the adrenalin was still keeping the pain from her injuries at bay.

Following the foundation of the house, she snaked her way slowly through the shrubbery, going in the direction of the Order. She had lost her glasses and was gasping for air, the smoke stinging her throat. Her injuries began to throb in pain, the adrenalin rush subsiding, as she continued to drag herself through the dirt. Only her will to survive kept her inching forwards. Her eyes, were becoming blinded by tears from the smoke and pain, when she slammed into a man's black boot. 'I'm dead for sure.' Her mind raced, as she lifted her head, squinting up into the eyes of a brown haired stranger. 'Who the hell is he? I don't recognize him from the Order and he isn't wearing Death Eater robes.' She was even more shocked when the strange man pulled his cloak off, covering her filthy and blood soaked half naked body, with little more than a cursory glance. Scooping her up, he cast a silent Protego charm to protect them. Then, before she could wrap her mind around what was happening, he fired a blasting hex towards Bellatrix. She dodged the curse, but the force caused the vile witch and one of her companion Death Eaters to be thrown violently backwards into the street...

Severus and Dumbledore had branched out as they headed down the street, firing at the group of Death Eaters. 'Potter, for once in your life do not try to join the battle,' he mused. 'I think you live just to make my life more miserable than it already is.' He grinned as he cast Sectusempra, slicing one of his former comrades up the stomach. 'Humph, serves Yaxley right, I saw how he carved up that Muggle at the last revel. Glad he finally got a taste of his own medicine.' Snape smirked with satisfaction. He could see Dumbledore had moved over towards Arthur Weasley, who was locked in a fierce battle with three Death Eaters. It did not take the Headmaster long to bind and secure them.

Meanwhile, Severus was making his way further up the street. A few of the newer Death Eaters engaged him, but he made short work of them. He was disappointed to note that at least one had been a former student in his house; a witch by the name of Ebony Tallwood. She had been a rather quiet girl, but excelled in Ancient Runes and was fairly good with Potions. He shook his head, feeling like he had failed to prevent another youngster from falling victim to the Dark Lord. He was two doors away from number four when he heard a shout. Looking up, he realized it was Vernon Dursley. The idiot had come out onto the veranda and was yelling and cursing at Bellatrix LeStrange. 'Well, at least I don't see Potter anywhere. I am surprised that she would not step in though,' he thought. 'It would not be like the girl to let her uncle out to confront a group of Death Eaters. She is fully aware he will be no match for them.' This thought gnawed at the back of his brain. He looked around for the Headmaster but he was locked into a violent fight with Dolohov and Rabastan Lestrange. Frowning, he made up his mind to get into the house. He had to find his niece and get her out of here before she got herself into trouble. Dumbledore would have to do what he could for the Muggles. Casting a strong disillusionment charm on himself, he moved onto the neighbor's lawn, edging his way towards the edge of the Dursley's home...

Dumbledore was fully aware that Severus had just disillusioned himself. He knew his spy well enough to know that he had probably done so in an effort to get to Harry as fast as possible, before she decided to join the foray. He only hoped she was all right. He too, was wondering why she had not come to her uncle's aid, when Petunia appeared from within the house. Dumbledore was aware that Harriet was not happy living with her relatives, but she would never let them come to harm from the Death Eaters. What was going on? The wards had indicated that she had been at home before they fell. Dumbledore had no time to further contemplate the matter when Dolohov and Lestrange nodded at one another, simultaneously throwing cutting curses. Dumbledore threw up a powerful shield, causing the spell to rebound on the two unfortunate men. That was when he saw the Dursley boy come bounding out of the house, Bellatrix having captured his parents. Using a small Sonorous he yelled a warning to the boy. The obstinate child ignored him. He moved to intercept him, but was distracted when Molly Weasley screamed that Bellatrix had set fire to the bushes. At the same time a misdirected killing curse was flying towards him from a falling Death Eater. There was no time to avoid the curse...

Harriet moaned low in her throat, emerald eyes wide with terror, as she watched the green light head towards Dumbledore. Her hands clutched at the robes of the wizard who had just picked her up, his head turned in the direction she was looking. He shifted her weight and moved to try and help the old man, but they both knew he would be too late. Harry buried her head in his robes, tears streaming down her cheeks, struggling in the wizard's arms.

"NO!" she tried to scream, but all that came out was a screech from deep within her throat. Then, she was blinded by a bright flash. Fawkes had taken the killing curse for his owner, bursting into flames. The old wizard smiled sadly, sifting through the ashes at his feet. Finding the newly reborn Phoenix, he carefully picked up the baby bird, putting him into his pocket. Harry's apparent rescuer briefly nodded towards the old man, and began moving swiftly in his direction.

Just as they reached him, Harry's scar erupted in pain, her body going rigid from this new onslaught. She grabbed onto the Order member's arm, and felt him grimace. With a jerk, she realized it was his left arm and looked into his eyes, believing him to be a Death Eater. They were just an ordinary brown, like his hair, but they glittered ominously as he made eye contact, raising his brow. Beginning to panic, she suddenly could feel him brushing her mind, a picture of her Potions Master appearing for a brief second. The man was Professor Snape, and if things couldn't get any worse, Voldemort just appeared at the top of the block! He was striding in their direction, wand drawn, red eyes glaring at Dumbledore. Harry gulped, looking from the disguised professor towards the Headmaster. Dumbledore's eyes were cold as ice as he addressed the Dark Lord.

"You're too late, Tom, the Aurors are on the way." A series of pops sounded as he spoke. A group of Aurors were running down the street, followed by none other than Minister Fudge. Harry looked on in disgust as he stopped short when he caught sight of the Dark Lord. "Your Death Eaters have been defeated once again." Dumbledore indicated the bound and injured wizards lying on the ground, the others moving to flank their master.

"You're a fool, Dumbledore. Do you think I will not have the girl? Better yet, I should just kill her now." He grinned, aiming his wand in the direction of Harry and Snape.

Harry was still clutching her wand, raising her hand to point it towards Voldemort. Severus sneered in amusement, one hand in his pocket. Giving a curt nod towards Dumbledore, he activated his emergency Portkey. Harry felt a tug behind her navel, as Voldemort screamed in rage, just as they vanished.

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