The Last Marauder

Trapped

Harry rummaged his trunk in the dormitory in search of his father's journal. He would go to the grounds to read a little in it, Sirius' stories about his parents had made him curious for more. Then he would fly a little and return to the castle for dinner.

He found the book, grabbed his Firebolt and left the castle.

Only moments after he had left, Draco Malfoy cautiously opened the front doors and walked after him.

He had actually been quite uneasy when his father had told him what the Dark Lord wanted him to do. He didn't know how he could manage to do it but he knew exactly that he had no choice than to try. But now...it was even easier than he had imagined it to be, he could not believe his luck.
Potter had sat down on a bench near the Quidditch Pitch and now was reading in a small black book. Draco quickly waved his wand and sent Wormtail the sign they had agreed on. Then he approached Potter who did not realize he was there because he had turned his back on him.

'Never offer your back to the enemy Potter. Never.'

He soundlessly stepped beside Harry and with a movement so quick that it was nearly invisible grabbed the book out of Potter's hands.

"Now, what do we have here? Doesn't look like a school book Potter!"

Harry jumped to his feet and tried to grab the book back.

"Give that back Malfoy! It's none of you business!"

But Draco only stepped back from him and laughed.

"And what exactly is it? Oh, James Potter's diary. Subtitle: How I fell in love with a mudblood and bred out a freak."

Draco jumped onto his broom and flew high into the air. From above he shouted.

"If you want it back Potter, come and get it! We'll see who the best flyer here is!"

And off he flew in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. Harry didn't think twice but jumped onto his Firebolt and followed as quickly as possible. He knew that his broom was a lot faster than Malfoy's. Soon he would have caught up with him and then this slimy little rat would have to pay. But the moment he had crossed the edge of the Forbidden Forest he noticed that something was not right. His broom suddenly jerked and slowed down.

'Hey, what's...' Harry didn't finish that thought for at that moment gravity claimed him and his broom and he started falling towards the grounds, taking most of the branches he hit with him.

He fell hard onto the floor though not as hard as he had thought he would. He was still conscious and he realized that his face and arms burned where the branches had scratched him.

He opened his eyes and just as he wanted to sit up, he could make out the blurred figure of a small man bending over him. He opened his mouth to ask for help in getting to his feet, but had no chance. He heard the word "Stupefy", and then he knew no more.

When Harry opened his eyes he knew not where he was. He could remember that he had chased Malfoy because that prat had dared to steal his father's journal and as he had flown across the Forbidden Forest his broom had not worked anymore. He had fallen...and then there had been this man...he had stunned him. He had been trapped!

Harry immediately tried to rise into a sitting position but found that he couldn't move any of his limbs.

"Ah, I see you have finally decided to wake up."

Harry tried to figure out from where that voice was coming but only when the figure moved into eyeshot he could make out whom it was.

"Wormtail."

The man grinned.

"So we meet again Potter. My master will be very pleased with me, I can finally deliver Harry Potter into his hands."

He waved his wand at Harry.

"You can move now but I would advise you not to try and run away. It would only make things worse."

He pulled Harry to his feet and dragged him out of the room. Harry could not make out his surroundings clearly, he was in some sort of hut or shelter and was pulled outside. There was a yard, surrounded by high stone walls and a Manor rose behind Harry. It looked old and uninhabited. He had never seen that place before.

Wormtail dragged him into the middle of the yard and forced him to kneel down.

"You wait here. My master will come soon and he has a little surprise for you."

Harry's stomach jerked. A surprise from Voldemort could not mean anything good. He struggled to get to his feed but Wormtail pressed the tip of his wand into Harry's neck.

"Don't even think about it Potter."

Moments later an only too well known high-pitched voice rung in his ears.

"Ah. Just as I want it. Harry Potter kneeling down in order to meet his fate. Eventually. Look up Potter, see what a surprise I have for you."

Harry lifted his head but even before he saw it he knew what it was. It had to be.

Sirius was kneeling beside Voldemort, too exhausted to move any part of his body, his head pulled upwards by Voldemort's hand in his hair. There was blood on his face and his left hand held his side. Harry's eyes widened which caused Voldemort to utter a suppressed chuckle.

"Did you really think that I would fall for that little trick Dumbledore had planned? Did you really think that I would believe a single word out of the mouth of Severus Snape or Sirius Black? Unfortunately, your friend here didn't bring Snape along, but I'm sure he'll receive what he deserves soon. What do you say now Potter?"

Harry slowly got up.

"Whatever happens, I will not kneel in front of you, not as long as I have the strength to stand on my own feet."

Another laugh.

"Proud, aren't we? Now, unfortunately, your pride won't be of any help at all. This is the final step Potter. You won't survive this night and it will be my personal pleasure to make this a fact. And once that Harry Potter, the last hope of the 'Light Side'", he spit those words out with unhidden disgust, "is no more, it will be too easy for me to take over. You've failed Potter. You and your guardian here who has obviously not been the best choice for the job."

Harry had to restrain himself not to shout at the dark wizard in front of him. With a calm voice that didn't betray his upset thoughts he contradicted.

"We knew that our plan could fail but we will find a way to succeed in the end. You underestimate us Voldemort, you underestimate the fact that we are fighting for something higher than just power. We are fighting for aims of which we think they are worth sacrificing our lives for, but you don't see it. You made that mistake before when you didn't see my mother's sacrifice for what it was and you repeat that mistake now. You. Can't. Win."

Harry's gaze never left the red slits that represented Voldemort's eyes. For a moment he thought he saw them flicker, but a second later they stared back again in hatred.

"No Potter, you are the one who is making the mistake here. You are weak. You and all the others that fight alongside Dumbledore. You are weak because you are too close to the people at your side, so you suffer when they suffer. You feel pain when they do feel it and when they die a piece of you dies with them. This, Potter, is your weakness."

"No, this is our strength."

Harry tried to keep his voice firm but didn't succeed fully. He looked at Sirius and hoped that something in his godfather's glance would allow him to think that help was on its way. He could find nothing.

"You think I am mistaken Potter? I'll show you."

He pointed his wand at Sirius' chest and muttered the word Harry had dreaded since he had become aware of his situation.

"Crucio."

Harry didn't feel anything himself, which made him believe that Voldemort did not intend to kill Sirius now. Nevertheless, the sight of his godfather falling to the floor, screaming in horrible pain was nearly too much to take. But he knew he could not give in now.

'Don't show him how much it hurts you. Don't show him that he's right.'

Harry could not.

"Stop."

His voice was so firm, it surprised himself.

Voldemort took the spell off Sirius and turned towards Harry, a triumphant look on his face.

"See?"

He laughed and it hurt Harry's ears to hear that high and cold sound.

"I have told you, it's not a strength, it's a weakness. But before I continue with what I have planned, I have something I need to test. Wormtail has told me a very interesting thing and I would like to know whether he was right, at least for once."

Again, he pointed his wand at Sirius and muttered the incarnation.

"Crucio."

This time, the pain in his head and body made Harry fall to his knees as well.

Severus Snape knew something was wrong. He decided not to wait any longer, he had to inform the headmaster.

He stormed off the dungeon and headed for Dumbledore's office, didn't even wait until the gargoyle had slipped aside completely and ran up the stairs into the office without even knocking.

Dumbledore sat at his desk and looked at him in surprise.

"Severus, what is wrong?"

"Headmaster, I fear things are not going the way we planned them. Black was supposed to be back half an hour ago and in case he was not able to come back in person we had agreed that he would find a way to send a note. I know that we have no clue about what is going on, but I have the feeling that it's gone wrong."

"Tell me Severus, what happened exactly?"

"I can't tell you much. I told Black where to meet his contact person and we made the arrangements I've just told you about. He apparated there. But I know that they have not stayed where they met him, they must have taken a portkey or apparated somewhere else."

Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"Well Severus, we all knew that it was risky. Let's just hope that he simply is not able to send note right now. Maybe we'll hear from him soon."

At that moment, Professor McGonagall stormed into the office just like Snape had done minutes before. She was greeted by two puzzled looks.

"Albus, Severus, Harry Potter is missing."

Dumbledore rose.

"What?"

"He must have been on the grounds flying for his broom was missing from his dormitory and when he didn't show up for dinner, Ms. Granger informed me about it. I have immediately searched the grounds with some teachers and then Hagrid has found his broom not far into the Forbidden Forest. Nobody seems to know what has happened.

And on my way here Ms. Parkinson told me that Draco Malfoy is nowhere to be found as well."

Snape sighed heavily and Dumbledore fell back into his armchair.

"Minerva, Severus has just informed me that Sirius has not contacted him as it was planned. Now that Harry and Draco are missing as well the pieces start to form a picture.

I can't tell for sure but I think it is more than just a guess to say that Sirius has been trapped. And Lucius must have ordered his son to do the same with Harry. I don't think that they are on castle grounds anymore but we need to make sure.

Minerva, please be so kind and search Mr. Potter's trunk for an old piece of parchment. Hand it to Ms. Granger, she will know what to do. It's a map with which we can make sure whether they are still here or not.

Severus, do you have any idea at all where they could be? Any suggestion?"
Snape shook his head.

"I'm afraid no. The Dark Lord has used many hiding places before and the ones I know about are known to the Ministry. Besides he would not be stupid enough to use one of them again."
Dumbledore nodded and came to a decision.

"Severus, I leave you in charge of the school. Please see to it that lessons continue as normal as possible, keep the children occupied.

Minerva and I will go to the Ministry. Maybe Arthur can help us in tracking Sirius' apparition traces."

All three of them breathed out heavily and left the office.

Just as Harry thought he could not stand the pain any longer the curse was removed. Harry found himself lying on the floor, curled up to a ball. He was breathing heavily.

Despite the pain he tried to rise into a sitting position, not so much to hide his weakness from Voldemort but more because he wanted to know if Voldemort had merely removed the curse from Sirius or if his godfather...

Sirius was lying on his side and didn't move, but he was breathing. Harry sighed heavily.

"No need to be relieved Potter, I have just gotten started. You know, I have been dreaming about this moment ever since we last met. The moment when I finally blow out your candle. I have thought of many possible ways to do so, I even had another little surprise for you and Black, but by chance I have been given the best way imaginable.

Slowly, very slowly, I will kill you by putting Cruciatus onto others. Your godfather first and when he is dead, I will search for somebody else. Now, how does that sound?"

Harry didn't answer but looked around in search of a way to defend himself. Desperately, his eyes searched for something but found nothing. They were alone on the yard, only Voldemort, Harry, Sirius and Wormtail.

With a low sigh, he crawled closer to Sirius when he heard Voldemort giggle, it sounded like the cry of a wounded animal.

"So, you refuse to answer? Well, very soon your voice will be filling this courtyard again. I love to hear you scream in pain, Potter."

Sirius stirred slightly and Harry started to examine his side that had already been wounded when he had been brought here. Suddenly, his fingers touched something hard in Sirius' pocket. It could not be, could it? They could not be stupid enough not to disarm him?

What should he do now? Use the wand to curse Voldemort? No, that would not be a good idea. He surely wasn't strong enough to do any serious harm to the Dark Lord, Voldemort had become too powerful during the last year.

And suddenly, a plan started to form in his mind. Who said that the connection between Voldemort and himself could not work backwards as well?

Harry didn't know if he was strong enough but it was worth a try. All he needed was somebody to focus his anger on. Somebody whom he hated enough to kill him.