Chapter 13-A Twist of Fate
No sooner had Malfoy begun planning to take revenge on Potter and his father, when he heard movement in the house. He was positive that everyone had left. Who could it be? The house had grown dark and chilly with the setting of the sun. He had grown accustomed to the loneliness and despair of his captivity. The air seemed heavier as each second passed and with each breath he became more aware of another presence in the house.
He could now see his breath in the glow from the full moon. It had not seemed this cold just moments before. He was shivering and each shiver increased the pain in his shoulder and lower legs as the bindings rubbed against his already broken bones. An ominous and overwhelming sense of gloom washed over him. His mind raced with thoughts of that crazy werewolf Lupin. Could that be it? Lupin had come to finish him off? He was now so frightened that he thought he would go mad.
He heard the boards in the floor creak outside the room as a slight, yellowish glow came under the door--from what he did not know. The pit of his stomach was tied in a huge knot as he saw the door knob turn. Malfoy was so scared he closed his eyes and imagined one of his captors coming in laughing at the fright they'd caused. He begged for this to be the case.
As if out of no where, he seemed to have switched to a lucid dream in which he was tied to a medieval rack with the ropes at each end being tightened by a pulley assembly. He imagined his limbs were being slowly stretched as if each sinewy muscle in his body would tear away from the bones. He struggled to open his eyes as the pain in his left shoulder increased ten-fold and new pain was growing in his groin as his legs were stretching to the sides. If not for the gag that had been left loosely in his mouth he was sure he would bite off his tongue from the pain. He felt a stinging, then burning sensation on his chest and stomach. Only then did he realize his dream was becoming reality. He could smell his own burning flesh. He screamed and his eyes sprang open.
What he saw next intensified the terror. Over the bed where he now lay spread-eagled and nearly torn apart loomed a solitary dark and maniacal figure. The features of the face looked almost reptilian…no snake-like…he thought between the unbearable shockwaves of pain. Through the haze of his terror he recognized the robe and wand of Lord Voldemort. Malfoy's heart beat so hard in his chest, he was sure death would follow. He felt his life passing from him, but something held him in this world.
In his mind, he heard Voldemort speak. "Malfoy, you insignificant whelp, I will not let you die. I will keep you at the edge of death to maintain your attention."
Malfoy could barely focus now on anything but the voice in his head and the pain. He wanted death…oh, please let me die…oh, God…let me die.
"Malfoy, that is precisely why Potter is stronger than you. He fought me with the very essence of his being. I will kill him, but he is a worthy adversary. You are a sniveling little wimp. FACE ME OR I WILL MAKE IT WORSE!"
Malfoy had no choice but to look into the snake-like eyes of Lord Voldemort. The snarled, wicked smile facing him was the most hideous thing Malfoy had ever seen. Malfoy could still feel the stretching sensation in his loins, shoulders, elbows, and legs. He finally, with no hope left, yelled through his gag. "Bugger off, you freak!" Finally, the tension relaxed and a malevolent laugh came from Voldemort. It was no longer in Malfoy's mind, he heard Voldemort's voice.
"Malfoy, it's about time you acted like a man. I was wondering if I did have to kill you now." Voldemort continued to laugh as Malfoy realized the pain was real and would not go away soon.
"You will get your wish of revenge on Potter and your father." Malfoy was stunned that Voldemort had read his mind. "You will be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow as my agent. You have already seen what can happen to you. It will be a constant reminder. I have others in the school that I do not wish to expose, but who will without remorse remind you of your debt to me. After all, I spared you your life."
"You now share one thing in common with Potter. You have faced me and survived. He will want to know your experience. He will mistrust you at first, but convince him of your changed ways. Bear with the mudblood girl Granger, Potter has grown most dangerous with her at his side. Any insult to her will finish you. Either by Potter's hand or by mine. Do not doubt my instruction in this matter. I need you to gain Potter's confidence, if not his trust." Malfoy understood. He wondered as his heart slowed and his mind became clearer why he shouldn't just tell Dumbledore what had happened.
"Malfoy!" Out of Voldemorts wand leapt an orange-red arc of light that burned into Malfoy's belly just above his private parts. The intensity was such that again he felt at the edge of death. Voldemort spoke now with a rage Malfoy had not thought possible. "One word, one more thought of speaking of this to Dumbledore or telling the truth to Potter and you will find yourself burning as if in the furnaces of hell!"
Malfoy was convinced. He would not risk the torture and pain he felt now. He had thought he had endured the worst earlier, but this was now so real that he could do nothing but acquiesce. Voldemort laid several vials next to Malfoy and explained each of their uses. Voldemort gave Malfoy just enough information to keep Malfoy interested in saving his own neck. Voldemort understood Draco Malfoy's motivations and despised them. He was not a leader, nor a good follower. He would also have to die. For now, he was to do as he was told with the vials when he was told. He would be the catalyst for Voldemort's plan to rid the wizarding world of Harry Potter and every mudblood or half-blood associated with him.
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Voldemort had left Malfoy reeling in pain. When the Voldemort's servants returned there was a look of grave danger on their faces. They knew from the look of Malfoy that more than what he had suffered was in store for them if they failed.
The muggle car was no longer of use to them. But the timing of their intrusion into Hogwarts had been planned to coincide with the full moon and the madness of one of Dumbledore's closest and most trusted allies, Remus Lupin. They had been given word that Lupin had been watching the entrances to the castle along with many others who were trained in the dark arts. Only Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody with their hypersensitive ability to process sights, sounds and smells could detect them through the invisibility cloaks. Lupin was now in the midst of his monthly prowl and Mad-Eye would be distracted by commotion inside the castle. They would walk in the front door right under the noses of everyone.
Since they had a long journey, they must leave this evening. They no longer needed to clean up Malfoy. Their instructions were to leave him just inside the entrance in as bad a condition as possible. Malfoy was still in for more. He would be beaten once more for effect.
The seven man crew readied itself for the journey. They packed the vials given to Malfoy into special unbreakable containers and pulled out their invisibility cloaks. They would execute their plan just like they had practiced. This time their targets would not be difficult to find. Their orders were to bring one of the Weasley's, both if possible, to Lord Voldemort. They would be the bait.
They left the little cottage at exactly 9:25 PM. Twenty-four hours and five minutes before their incursion into Hogwarts. Voldemort's guerrilla force was ready.
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At that very moment Hermione awoke, startled by Harry's moaning cry. She shook Harry awake and asked him what was wrong. They had been nestled up in a sofa in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room's fireplace.
Harry struggled to consciousness. "What? What?" he said sleepily.
"Sweetie, you were mumbling…groaning…moaning…or something. You seemed almost ready to cry out," Hermione explained.
Harry truly did not know what had happened. He was sure that Hermione must have been dreaming too. Or, he thought, her overprotective nature was coming through. Either way, Harry turned and went back to sleep with his head in her lap just as he'd been before.
Hermione looked at Harry with a dissatisfied look, but realized that Harry probably was haunted by things no one-even Harry himself-knew. She lovingly stroked his hair and laid her head back and nodded off herself. Sometime later, that evening Harry awoke and they both headed off for their soft pillows and warm blankets, wishing they could share the same ones. They said good night.