Killing Me Softly

Mai

Story Summary:
What if Harry was too late in saving Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets? How will this affect the course of history and the relationship between the Boy Who Lived and the young future Dark Lord?

Chapter 12

Posted:
02/25/2007
Hits:
3,064
Author's Note:
Many thanks to my wonderful beta Mortalus. I could not have done it without you. :)

Chapter Twelve
The Ambush

"If you hate a person, you hate something
in him that is part of yourself. What
isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us."

- Hermann Hesse

*****


Sirius Black did not know how long he had been staying in Azkaban. It was difficult to keep track of time when days and nights were nothing more than an endlessly dull hour. He spent most his time lying on the cold hard ground of the prison cell, his mind swarming with thoughts as grim as his surroundings.

Peter, I never thought it would be Peter. The shock and denial were still swimming in his chest and stomach. It seemed like not too long ago Peter was sitting with him and their friends, passing baby Harry around in the circle and playing with him.

Once in a while, his mind would snap, and Sirius would question if James and Lily were even dead at all. Everything that had happened that night was so surreal, so unbelievable...Sirius was sure that James and Lily were still around. Harry was probably learning his ABCs right now...or maybe he had been a Hogwarts alumni for many years. Sirius couldn't tell, but he kept reminding himself of one thing: James and Lily were dead. He was there at Godric's Hollow after it happened. Harry was parentless.

Sirius tried his best not to think about Harry too much. Any scrap of happiness was sucked out of him by the Dementors, and Sirius didn't want to feel the pain of having even the smallest smile snatched from him again. He had suffered enough. But Sirius had no control over his dreams. Sometimes he dreamt of holding his baby godson, smiling down at the small and soft boy in his arms. He would then awake in pain as the Dementors sucked the joy from his dreams.

It was during one of those dreams that he awoke to the sounds of dozens of prisoners speaking in hushed voices to a visitor.

"What took you so long?"

"We have been waiting for you to come for us!"

"The Dark Lord needed to wait for the right time," the visitor explained. "Today is the Quidditch World Cup. Most of the wizarding world is focusing their attention on the event, giving us time to negotiate with the Dementors."

Rookwood, Sirius thought, identifying the voice of the visitor. What was Rookwood doing out of Azkaban? How did he get out? Sirius stayed in his position, listening intently.

"Come now," Rookwood said to the prisoners. "The Dark Lord requests your presence. Soon the Potter boy will be in his grasp. We are to ambush the Quidditch World Cup after Potter is kidnapped."

"Potter!" A couple of the prisoners hissed and spat. Among them Sirius recognized his cousin Bellatrix's voice.

Harry? Sirius thought, shocked. My godson is in trouble! His stomach turned.

He waited until all of the Death Eater prisoners had broken out of their cells and followed Rookwood outside. Then he got up and concentrated hard on a point deep in his torso. There was a slight burning and a painful sensation, and his body twisted and reformed itself until it took on the form of a large black dog.

There were no Dementors in the corridors; they had already left to join Lord Voldemort. The only prisoners remaining were soulless criminals; even the ones who were not originally part of Voldemort's supporters had escaped, eager to join Voldemort for a chance of freedom. A slight feeling of dread engulfed Sirius; he hoped he could reach Harry in time.

He ran out of the prison and threw himself into the ocean. He swam his way back to the mainland, hoping and praying that nothing would happen to his godson.

***

Nymphadora Tonks took a deep intake of breath.

It's great to be outside! she thought. The past few months had been tough with her extensive training and final exams for her Auror license. While today was also a work day, Tonks reminded herself that at least she could get a glimpse of the game.

"I need this break," Tonks said as she passed one of her colleagues. She tugged at a strand of her short, spiky hair, half of which was green and the other half was gold, the colors of the Irish team.

Kingsley Shacklebolt chuckled. "Don't relax just yet," he told her.

"Aurors should always be on the lookout for suspicious activities!" another Auror said as he passed them. "You never know what evil deeds a Dark witch or wizard might do on a day like this!"

"As if Dark wizards are hiding around every corner!" Tonks laughed. She walked over to her station and leaned against the wall, eager for the game to start. She was going to enjoy today even if she was on duty.

***

Nymphadora! Sirius thought as he watched his cousin pass. Sirius was still in his dog form, and he was hiding in the bushes far from the Aurors. There was no mistaking her; she had just closed her eyes with a pained expression, and her nose changed from long and thin to small and button-shaped. He remembered seeing her change her appearance since she was a toddler. How much you've grown, little Nymphy! How much time has passed?

He raised his head a little. Although he was a dog, he still didn't want to draw attention to himself. He searched around before lowering his head when he found no one that resembled his late friend James Potter.

Where could his godson be?

***

"This is wonderful!" Harry whispered to Tom in Parseltongue as he looked around him. "I'm so happy we came here!" Tom scowled, but it did nothing to dampen Harry's spirits.

They were walking in the edge of the forest, observing the crowd gathering for the Quidditch World Cup. The number attending was overwhelming; they had to stay in the forest until the match began or they could get discovered. There didn't seem to be any space to walk in the crowd. Even though the amount of noise made by the crowd and music was incredibly loud, Tom and Harry spoke in their own language in order to not risk being overheard.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry wondered as he observed the lines of tents set up. "I see Dean...there's another person I recognize from Hogwarts...George!" Tom followed Harry's gaze. George was outside the tent speaking with his father.

"And there's your friend," Tom added as Hermione stepped out.

"I should talk to her, just to tell her that we're here."

"How do you expect to do that?"

Harry looked around. He grabbed Tom's hand and swiftly zigzagged around groups of wizarding families. It was a risky move, but to the relief of both, they had reached Hermione.

"Hermione, we're here," Harry whispered to her. Hermione did not move, but she blinked twice. She walked away from the Weasleys, and taking the hint, Harry and Tom followed her.

"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, barely moving her lips.

"Of course!" Harry said, smiling.

"Is Tom with you?"

"Yes."

"Where are you going to sit?"

"No idea."

"You might need to sit outside the stadium. You'll be caught if you try to come in."

"Where's Ron?"

"He's taking a nap. He was so excited about the game yesterday that he barely slept." A smiled perked on her face. "He feels bad you couldn't come."

"Maybe I'll surprise him with the news when I get back home." There was a heavy sigh behind them. "I think Tom is getting annoyed. I guess we should leave. Enjoy the game and - ouch, Tom!"

"Weasley's father was approaching Granger," Tom explained irritably as he pulled Harry away from Hermione and back to the woods. "We were about to be discovered."

They didn't have much to do while waiting for the game. Tom sat and read his book while Harry watched the wizarding families pass by.

"What book is that?" Harry asked when the boredom had become unbearable.

"It's a biography on numerous cannibalistic witches and wizards," Tom replied, his eyes focused on the page.

"Why am I not surprised?" Harry said, sighing. He lay on the ground, resting his head on Tom's lap. Tom brought his hand to Harry, idly stroking his hair and brushing his fingers on his cheeks. The caresses soothed Harry so much that he didn't realize that he had drifted off to sleep until Tom woke him up.

"Your game is about to begin," he said while prodding Harry's side. "You'd better not have dragged me out here just to fall asleep!"

Harry jumped to his feet, fully alert. "Let's go!" he said excitedly, leading Tom by the hand.

"Hermione's right," he realized when he saw the entrance to the stadium, "we can't get in the stadium. Where should we sit?"

Tom looked around him for a moment before replying, "How about over there? We could get a good view of the players from this angle."

"Okay," Harry said. He ran to the elevated ground, with Tom having to keep close lest the Invisibility Cloak slipped off. "Yes! It's a good view from here!" he shouted. Tom winced. "Don't worry, Tom," Harry said in a quieter tone. "Everyone's in the stadium right now. No one can hear us."

The two boys settled down; Tom resumed his reading while Harry's attention was focused on the sky. With exception of the distant cheers from the crowd, all was quiet.

Tom was soon so absorbed in his book that his mind was shut off from everything around him. All of a suddenly there was a booming "YES!" and Tom jumped a couple of inches.

"Did you have to shout in our language?" Tom replied crossly, giving Harry a dirty look. "You sounded like a snake that's about to pounce!"

"Sorry," Harry said. "Ireland just scored."

"I don't care!"

Harry rolled his eyes and went back to watching the game. Tom watched him.

***

What was that sound? Sirius wondered as he strolled around the stadium. It sounded like a huge hiss, but there weren't any huge snakes in this forest. Probably just my imagination, he thought.

And then he heard two voices not far from where he stood. He turned around, listening hard. Two boys were arguing, but he could not see them. And then he understood.

***

"I need to use the bathroom," Harry said after a while. He began to lift the Invisibility Cloak off himself when Tom stopped him.

"You're not going out there where people can see you!" he said. "I'll join you."

"No!" Harry replied. It's going to feel strange peeing with you right behind me!"

"We've shared the bathroom before! We did so this morning!"

"That's because one of us was showering while the other brushed his teeth," Harry explained. "Just let me go. I'll only be gone for a minute."

"You're not getting out of my sight," Tom insisted. He grabbed Harry's wrist, and jumping to his feet, he escorted Harry away from their spot.

***

Invisibility Cloak, Sirius thought as his ears focused on the talking and the soft crunching of their feet hitting the grass. James used to own one... Taking his chances, Sirius followed as best he could with only the sounds to guide him in their direction.

He reached a public restroom, and to his amazement and relief, it was Harry who had suddenly appeared. He was still far away from Sirius, but from that distance, Sirius could see that his godson looked to be about fifteen or sixteen. Sirius grinned.

Another boy appeared. He pushed Harry into the bathroom, laughing. Harry yelled and swore at him as he slammed the door shut.

Who is he? Sirius thought. He and Harry continued to argue in a manner that strongly reminded Sirius of the way he used to playfully fight with his friends.

But what are they doing outside the stadium and out of everyone's sight? Sirius wondered. He stayed far from the boys. He wanted to approach Harry, but he was uncertain of how to do so with the other boy around. He couldn't pull Harry away while still in his dog form; the other boy could try to fight Sirius, thinking that he was some insane dog. Who are you? Sirius mentally questioned, annoyed.

He circled around the public restroom, away from the other boy and closer to Harry. He decided he would jump through the window and corner to Harry there. He and Harry could explain everything to Harry's friend later on.

***

Ah, heaven! Harry sighed as he relieved himself. While he washed his hands, his mind drifted back to the stadium, wondering how many more points the Irish team had scored. He couldn't wait until they headed back near the stadium.

Suddenly there was a swishing sound behind him, and before Harry could react to the image of wizards in the mirror, he was struck by a curse.

***

Before he could jump in, Sirius heard a muffled scream inside.

Harry! His eyes widened. The Death Eaters must have Apparated inside! He charged forward, but he toppled to the ground before reaching the bathroom. He was held tightly to the ground by a curse. In the corner of his eye, he could make out the form of the wizard who silently held him in place.

He tried to growl, but he couldn't move his jaws. Wormtail!

***

Tom was startled by the scream inside.

Harry! Throwing the Invisibility Cloak and book aside, Tom whipped out his wand and charged inside.

Harry was struggling aggressively against two wizards. A hunchbacked wizard gripped Harry's arms while the other wizard tried to keep Harry on the ground. His other wand arm was raised, ready to hex him, but Harry was kicking him with so much strength with his legs, it was difficult for the wizard to land a single curse on him.

"Expelliarmus!" Tom roared, and the wand flew out of the wizard's hand. "Get off him!" Tom demanded angrily.

Harry tried to scream something at them, but one of the wizards kept his hand firmly over Harry's mouth.

Tom waved his arm and began an incantation of a curse only to be attacked from behind by a witch and wizard that had just Apparated. He fell to the floor on his stomach.

"Who do you think you are, handsome brat?" the chubby witch asked while sitting on top of Tom. She shrieked with mirth. "I love his hair, Yaxley!" She grabbed a fistful of Tom's hair and pulled his head backwards, taking a good look at his curls as though Tom was some kind of toy.

"Careful, Alecto, or you'll break his back," Yaxley laughed. He kicked the wand out of Tom's hand with such force that Tom screamed. The wand landed just a couple inches between Harry and Tom. Tom stretched out his arm, desperate to snatch it back.

And then Yaxley's heavy boot came down, snapping the wand in half.

"NO!" Tom screamed. Alecto and Yaxley guffawed.

"Let's leave now," Rookwood said urgently before Apparating. Tom looked up. Amycus and Yaxley were tying Harry's mouth and body in a heavy rope. The same was done to Tom next before they too were Apparated and taken away.

***

Once Wormtail disappeared and the magical binds lifted, Sirius jumped to his feet and quickly transfigured back to his human form. He dashed back around the bathroom and ran inside. The bathroom had only three stalls inside, and it was completely empty except for a broken wand on the floor.

"Harry!" Sirius called out in desperation. He ran outside, looking for Harry's friend. The Invisibility Cloak and an old book were outside, but the friend was nowhere around. He was taken away too.

"No, no..." Sirius muttered desperately. He was so close to preventing something like this from happening! He had no idea where the Death Eaters were going to take Harry and his friend now.

"Damn...damn...damn..." he repeatedly muttered under his breath. He turned around and jumped, startled. A wand was pointing at him. The man who was holding the wand was standing in the doorway, and he could not stop staring at Sirius. Sirius raised his hands, but the angry man did not lower his wand.

His eyebrows raised, Sirius said, "Put your wand down, Remus..."

***

"C'mon!" Rookwood called out when they landed. The other witches and wizards nodded and ran through the woods. Tom struggled against his bindings.

Rookwood and Wormtail turned right, and Tom's eyes widened. He was so intent on breaking free that he had not noticed where they had Apparated to. Inscribed on the large headstone nearby was his father's name. Riddle Manor was a short distance away.

Across from his father's tombstone was a large black cauldron. A fire had been lit underneath it, but Tom could not discern what was inside.

Rookwood had taken Harry from Amycus, and he ordered the others to go inside. Another wizard came forward.

"So that's the little bastard," said a straw-haired wizard.

"Not much to him, is there, Barty?"

"Nope," Crouch agreed nastily, smirking. "From all the talk about him, I had expected to see a tall, brawny wizard!" He slapped Harry across the face hard and laughed. Rookwood tied Harry to Tom's father's grave while Crouch checked the fire underneath the large cauldron. Tom was tied next to Harry on his right.

What are they up to? Tom wondered, now feeling alarmed. The small wizard the others called Wormtail returned; he was holding something in his arms that was bundled up in blankets. Tom stretched out his neck to see what was in the blanket, but then he heard Harry suddenly scream in pain; he whipped around, but neither Rookwood nor Crouch had done anything to hurt him. Harry's eyes were sealed shut, and he shook his head viciously as though trying to shake something out.

What's wrong, Harry? Tom wondered worriedly.

"My scar!" Harry hissed painfully in Parseltongue as though he had read Tom's mind.

"What did you say?" Rookwood questioned.

Tom's eyes flew up to Harry's forehead, and everything became clear to him. His heart plummeted as he realized what this meant.

The three wizards gathered around the cauldron. The thing inside the blanket was thrown into the cauldron. Wormtail began to recite:

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, You will renew your son."

The ground beneath Harry's feet shook and cracked. Dust rose and fell into the cauldron. Tom's mind raced. He had to get Harry out of here...

"Flesh of the servant, willingly given, You will revive your master."

Tom's eyes were still glued on Harry, but he heard Wormtail scream. Something heavy plopped into the cauldron with a splash.

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, You will resurrect your foe."

Staggering, Wormtail approached Harry. His right hand was severed, and a trail of blood splattered on the ground. All Tom could do was watch as Wormtail punctured Harry's arm with a small knife and collected the blood in a small glass vial.

Harry whimpered at the pain, and Tom struggled as fiercely as he could to break free as Wormtail returned to the cauldron.

"Harry, I have to get you out of here," Tom whispered in Parseltongue in the quietest voice he could muster. His struggles had finally paid off, and he'd wiggled one foot free.

"No," Harry replied in an almost inaudible voice. "Leave me...we don't have a lot of time"

"I'll get you out of here," Tom said. In the corner of his eye, he could see sparks flying from the cauldron.

"Leave me..."

Loud noises were coming from the cauldron.

"I'm almost there."

Before Tom could pull the ropes off, a strong hand tightly grasped his shoulder. He gasped in surprise as his body was dragged in front of Harry. He looked up into the angry, scarlet eyes of a very tall, thin, and pale wizard.

"Hello, Tom," Lord Voldemort said.

Tom tried to get up, but his older self pushed him back with his wand.

"Hello, sir," Tom spat. Harry watched them, his face pale.

"You know this brat, master?" Crouch asked. Next to him, Wormtail was whimpering while cradling what remained of his right arm.

"Yes..." Lord Voldemort hissed. "We were once very close to each other..."

Lord Voldemort looked as though he was about to strike Tom across the face, but instead he waved his wand at him. Tom flew and hit the headstone, right next to Harry. Before he could get away, he was magically bound to the stone.

"Harry Potter," Lord Voldemort greeted coldly. "So good to see you." He was face to face with him. Tom watched him with a disgusted look. "Do you see what your mother's sacrifice has done to me? For many years I was nothing more than a phantom; I did not have a body. But no matter; I have regained my body and my strength." His sneer sent a shiver down Harry's back. "I can touch you!" He brought a finger up to Harry's scar.

Tom winced at Harry's pained shriek.

"Stop it," he hissed dangerously, but Lord Voldemort continued to press his finger to Harry's scar.

When he was satisfied, he finally let go of Harry. Laughing a high, cold laugh, he walked towards Rookwood.

"Give me your arm," he ordered. Rookwood obeyed. Tom struggled to get up and see what his older self was about to do. Lord Voldemort pressed the tip of his wand against Rookwood's arm. Rookwood winced slightly, and there was an uncomfortable sneer on his face.

A moment later, dozens of people cloaked in black robes arrived from every direction: the manor, the forest, and from out of nowhere. They made a circle around Voldemort and his captives, and Crouch and Rookwood joined them. Wormtail tried to get up, but he was losing too much blood.

"Master," he stammered, looking up at his leader and begging him for help with his beady eyes. Lord Voldemort ignored him.

"My dear Death Eaters," Lord Voldemort began coldly, "it has been years since we last met like this. Thirteen years, in fact...I had expected better of you!" A shiver ran through the circle at their leader's bitter and angry tone. "Many of you did not bother to come looking for me after that night..."

While Lord Voldemort addressed the Death Eaters, Tom continued to struggle. Harry's foot tapped him on the left shoulder. He looked up, and Harry shook his head warningly.

We have to get out of here! Tom mouthed. He perfectly knew what his older self was capable of doing, and he was sure Lord Voldemort was not going to be pleased once he learned why his younger self had never sought him out. Tom knew how unforgiving he himself could be, and he didn't want to imagine what Lord Voldemort would do to him...and to Harry...

"...Wormtail returned, but only out of fear," Lord Voldemort told the Death Eaters. There was a wide pool of blood around Wormtail, and his face had gone pale. "He helped me during my most vulnerable hours, and he, along with Rookwood and Crouch, brought me to my new body. Their deeds will be rewarded."

"Master..." Wormtail said in barely a whisper.

"Which brings me to him," Lord Voldemort finished, gesturing to the headstone. Everyone turned towards Harry and Tom, both tied up to the headstone.

"You are familiar with Harry Potter, I'm sure," Lord Voldemort said bitterly, giving Harry a look of disgust. "He was my downfall, but he is also my rebirth!" His head turned towards Tom.

"This boy you see before you is myself," he continued. Murmurs and gasps ran through the circle. "Up until recently, he had lived inside my diary, the diary that Lucius Malfoy gave to a student. My younger self successfully left the diary forever to live his own life, but there is one little problem...

"Why didn't you search for me?" he demanded Tom. "Why haven't you killed Potter?"

"I have looked for you," Tom replied. "My intent was to give Harry to you." This was no lie. I simply lost interest in you, Tom added in his mind.

"You've looked for me?" Lord Voldemort repeated coldly. "I do not accept that lie. Harry had been living comfortably in your house for more than a year! You let his friends visit him! You've properly fed him, clothed him, and educated him!" His red eyes flashed dangerously. "You say his name with something close to affection! Harry has referred to you as a friend in his letters!"

Harry's eyes widened. "How did you know about that?"

An awful sneer crossed Lord Voldemort's face. "Wormtail!" he ordered. He placed a hand on his shoulder when he slouched by his side. "Do you recognize him?" he asked Harry. Confused, Harry shook his head. Lord Voldemort turned to Wormtail, silently commanding him.

Wormtail looked right into Harry's eyes before he body began twisting. Soon, in place of the man stood a rat. He jumped up at Harry, still looking at him.

Harry's jaws dropped. "Scabbers?" Lord Voldemort and several of the Death Eaters laughed. "You're an Animagus..."

"Your friend taught you well," Lord Voldemort said coldly.

Harry looked up at him. "I don't understand...why was he spying on me?"

Wormtail jumped off his shoulders and changed back to his human form. Lord Voldemort waved his wand, and the rope binding Harry disappeared, but Tom remained tied up to his father's headstone. Harry toppled to the ground, but he quickly regained his footing. Lord Voldemort motioned for him to come closer. Wormtail just kept staring into Harry's eyes; it was difficult to decipher what emotion lay behind them.

"M-master," Wormtail stuttered. He motioned to his right arm.

"Not now, Wormtail!" Lord Voldemort hissed angrily.

"B-b-b-but, m-master, I..." Lord Voldemort turned to Wormtail, his wand raised. "I...need..."

"Crucio!"

Wormtail fell to the ground, convulsing and shrieking in pain. Gasping, Harry ran to his side, grabbed his shoulders, and shook him out of the spell.

"Stop it!" he screamed at Lord Voldemort. "He did nothing to deserve this!" A few of the Death Eaters muttered amongst each other. "I don't believe you! Wormtail helped you so much, and his arm needs to be healed, but you're not doing anything! Don't you think you should tend to your supporters before turning to me?"

An ugly snarl crossed Lord Voldemort face. "Crucio!" he called out again, and this time the spell hit Harry.

The pain was as terrible as the first time Tom cast the spell on him a year before. He screamed as the familiar white-hot knives pierced every inch of his body. When finally the curse was lifted, Harry slumped over Wormtail, trying to regain his breath.

Lord Voldemort chuckled. "Do you know who this fellow is? That rat you see before you betrayed your parents," Lord Voldemort explained in a dangerously soft voice.

Harry's eyes widened. "W-what?" he stared into Wormtail's eyes, who returned them with an empty stare.

"Your parents knew him as Peter Pettigrew," Lord Voldemort continued. "He went to Hogwarts with your parents, and they were close friends. However, Wormtail felt he rightly belonged in my circle, isn't that right, Wormtail?"

Wormtail didn't reply.

"Move aside, Harry, and let me finish the punishment!" Lord Voldemort cried out. But Harry stayed where he was. "Crucio!" Harry took the curse again. Lord Voldemort tried throwing the curse over and over, each time Harry letting the curse hit him instead.

You're out of your mind! Tom thought. He thrashed about against the binds, desperate to break out and go to Harry's side. You fool, move aside! The spell could drive you mad!

"Why are you protecting him? He betrayed your parents! He's betrayed you!" Lord Voldemort screamed angrily as Harry took another curse, his body working as a shield between Lord Voldemort and Wormtail.

Lord Voldemort set his arm to his side, silent for several moments. "Very well, if you so insist on being obstinate." A horrible smile came on his skull-like face.

He raised his wand. "Avada..."

At that moment, Tom broke free. Without thinking, he ran towards Harry and pushed him away just as Lord Voldemort screamed "...Kedavra!"

The flash of green light hit Tom on the chest.

Pain from the Cruciatus Curse was nothing compared to this agony. Tom felt his entire body shredding inside. White-hot knives pierced him and twisted into his internal organs. His breathing stopped; he couldn't scream, and all sense of sight left him in a flash. He could not feel his arms or legs. His brain, heart, and privates felt as though a powerful hook was tied to them and wrenching intensely in effort to tear his soul from his body. He was being pulled to the afterlife, but the immortality spell had sealed his soul inside so profoundly, he couldn't rip free.

The pain was beyond anything a human could stand. The tiny portion of his brain that continued to function prayed for it all to stop.

When the curse was lifted, he took a deep intake of breath, feeling as though he had come up for air in the nick of time. His entire body stung; there was a tingling feeling in his fingers and toes. Vision slowly returned.

"Tom?" Harry looked down at him, worried and shocked. His hand gripped Tom's right hand.

Tom blinked and sat up; Harry helped him to his feet. There was an unsettling silence in the circle. Wormtail was watching them with his jaw opened. Lord Voldemort stared at him, stunned.

"How did you achieve this?" he questioned in a voice that was both very low and extremely dangerous. He approached Tom until their faces were inches from each other. "What we did could not save us from the Killing Curse. You've done something else!" His eyes scanned down, and revolted, he suddenly took a couple of steps backwards.

It was then that both Tom and Harry became aware that they were holding hands. Every pair of eyes was now locked on them. They quickly pulled away, both disguising looks of fear and nervousness. Lord Voldemort's eyes were locked on Tom; his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"This explains quite a bit," he whispered lethally to Tom. Neither boy moved.

Lord Voldemort finally turned to Wormtail. Harry watched as Lord Voldemort waved his arm around, and a bright light shone on the stump of Wormtail's arm. When the light cleared, it showed a silver, glove-like hand. Wormtail clenched his new fingers, a look of shock on his face.

"T-t-t-thank you, master," he said. He looked like he was about to pass out. Lord Voldemort waved his wand again and pulled out a small vial from his pockets. He pressed the dark red potion to Wormtail's lips, and his face instantly grew warm.

Tom's jaw dropped. He produced phoenix blood out of thin air! I can't do that! His heart pounded in his chest, and he wondered dreadfully how much more powerful his older self was. I am no longer his equal...and he's seen me and Harry...

Lord Voldemort turned around. "Take Potter away!" he ordered a couple of Death Eaters. "Put him in Pyrites' laboratory. I will deal with the other brat myself."

Harry and Tom's eyes briefly met; Harry tried to tell him something, but Tom refused to keep eye contact. Harry felt the Death Eater grab him and magically tie him up, but he did nothing. His eyes never left Tom.

Lord Voldemort placed a pale hand on Tom's cheek, but Tom refused to look at either of them.

When Harry was well out of earshot, Lord Voldemort ordered another Death Eater, "Let the news of my return spread!"

"Such a wonderful surprise the Mudbloods will get in the Quidditch World Cup!" Rookwood laughed as several Death Eaters Disapparated.

Tom's eyes widened, but he could not do or say anything. He was completely and utterly powerless against them...against Lord Voldemort...

***

Lucius Malfoy smirked as he and several others Apparated close to the stadium.

"Ready?" Rodolphus Lestrange asked. Next to him, his wife, Bellatrix, snickered. Lucius nodded. The cloaked witches and wizards stormed into the stadium, their wands raised. Not a single person noticed them coming; their attention was focused on the game.

"Now," Lucius commanded in a whisper.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Morsmordre!"

***

"What are you doing outside of Azkaban?" Remus Lupin demanded.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't Stun you and call in the Aurors," Remus said, ignoring Sirius's question. "Why are you here? How did you break out? The Dementors should have kept you locked up for years!"

"Remus, please listen," Sirius said, determinedly looking into Remus's eyes. "Harry was abducted –"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Death Eaters have broken out of Azkaban," Sirius tried to explain.

Remus stared at Sirius. His wand twitched in his hand. After a moment spent digesting what he'd been told, he looked very skeptical. "The Death Eaters, free?"

He thinks I'm crazy! Sirius thought. "You have to take my word for it. The Dementors have joined Lord Voldemort. All the imprisoned Death Eaters broke out; they planned to take Harry from here and hand him over."

"Harry's not here," Remus said.

"I saw him!" Sirius insisted. "Harry was in this bathroom - look! That's his wand right there! Harry's cloak is still outside! I didn't see them, but many Death Eaters took him and his friend - Wormtail was out there!"

Remus's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Peter's been dead for years!"

"He faked his own death! He was the one who betrayed James and Lily!" Sirius said desperately. "I would never betray them, Remus! You should know that!"

Remus kept looking at him as though he had lost his mind.

"And why would Harry be here?" he challenged Sirius.

"From what I know, Harry has no contact with the wizarding world."

Sirius looked stunned. "But I saw him!" he insisted again. "He was wearing his father's Invisibility Cloak! Have you met him? He must be a fifth or sixth year by now."

"Harry doesn't go to Hogwarts," Remus said, narrowing his eyes.

Sirius gaped at him, so Remus explained. "He hasn't entered the castle since the end of his second year. He lives under the scrutiny of another wizard."

"What? What happened?"

"This is none of you concern! You are no longer considered his godfather, not after what you've done!"

"I would never betray James!" Sirius shrieked. "Dumbledore – is he around? Let me speak to him! I'm telling you the truth; Peter is still alive! Harry was abducted. Voldemort is going to rise to power once more!" He turned around in his spot. "We're losing too much time! We have to get help!"

Rope flew out of Remus's wand, but Sirius did not protest as it winded around him.

"If you insist," Sirius said. "Let Dumbledore see me. I will show him everything in my mind. He'll know the truth! Hurry now!"

But to his disappointment, Remus took his time ushering him to the stadium. He still doesn't believe me! Sirius thought bitterly. He's not even willing to check up on Harry just to be on the safe side!"

He pushed Remus aside using his entire body and tried to crawl his way to the stadium. Remus grabbed his shoulders.

"Let me go!" Sirius yelled. "You don't know what danger Harry could be in!"

"For the last time –" Remus broke off. Sirius looked up. Hovering over the Quidditch stadium was a vivid green symbol...

"The Dark Mark!" Sirius gasped, his heart sinking. "Oh Merlin, no! He's returned!"

***

Nothing could have prepared Tonks for the turn of events that evening.

"Avada Kedavra!"

One of the Bulgarian Chasers was hit with the curse, and the corpse fell off his broom. Screams erupted in the stadium.

"Morsmordre!"

A large, vivid, green image of a skull with a snake protruding from its jaws illuminated the sky. More screaming followed, and the stands shook as hundreds of pairs of feet ran down the stands and collided with other attendants.

"The Dark Mark!" Shacklebolt shouted. "Hurry!"

"Oh my..." Gripping her wand, Tonks joined the other Aurors, running towards the Death Eaters while dozens of terrified witches and wizards ran in the opposite direction.

In less than a minute, a peaceful game had turned to bloody pandemonium.


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