Twisting Around
Summary: Please Help Me Hermione. The words echoed through Hermione's entire being. She knew she should say no. Every fiber of logic within her said she should say no, but her heart wouldn't let her.
Chapter 3: Surrounded by Darkness
A/N: I was at the book store at midnight. However I had such a high number that I left to post this chapter and get the book sometime this afternoon.
When Arthur Weasley told Dumbledore about the attack on Ron's owl, Dumbledore immediately headed to Privet Drive to check on Harry.
Night had fallen, and Dumbledore carefully made his way to the house, making sure not to be seen, using his put-outer that Moody had finally returned to him. The front door had been left open, and Dumbledore made his way through the silent house up to Harry's room. What Dumbledore saw confirmed his worst fears.
The room was a veritable mess, but Dumbledore found some of the letters that had been sent. A chill swept through Dumbledore as he realized that he had been wrong once again, and that this time a much heavier price would be paid. Dumbledore was afraid. Harry had disappeared from Privet Drive and could not be found. Voldemort was behind it all, and was obviously trying to recruit Harry. Dumbledore knew his enemy well, and the knowledge scared him.
Dumbledore left the house on Privet Drive with a heavy heart. He could now only hope that Harry would be strong enough to resist Voldemort's invitation. Even nature itself seemed to know the significance of what had just happened, for the wind was now snapping off tree branches as it made its own path, and a cold rain began to fall.
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Two cloaked figures were awaiting Harry as he made his way to the fountain in the center of the park. They stepped out of the shadows of the trees they were watching from, and approached Harry.
"Welcome, Harry Potter, we've been waiting for you," greeted the taller one, his voice unrecognized by Harry.
"You've claimed that you can help me get my revenge. How?" Harry asked, his anger speaking for him.
"It was not ourselves, who made this claim, young Harry. It was our Master who approached you, offering his aid. We are here to take you to him."
"Then let us proceed immediately." Harry brusquely commanded. "We are wasting time standing here."
"Very well. We will be traveling via an unapproved portkey." As the spokesperson said this, the other figure pulled out a ratty old sweater. "Grab the portkey, Harry, I will be apparating behind you while you travel with my friend here."
As soon as Harry touched the portkey, he felt a tug and found himself forcefully sitting down at the destination the portkey brought him too.
Harry raised his head to gaze at his surroundings. He took in the dirty floor, the dusty tomes on the just as dusty shelves, and the flickering candles. He was in a very old house, one that he had never seen before.
A loud crack reverberated throughout the small room as the two messengers apparated in. The tall one, who Harry had nicknamed Gabby, walked over to the room's only door.
"Wait here. I shall go inform our Master that you have arrived." Gabby ordered as he vanished through the opening, leaving only the man Harry nicknamed Silence.
Gabby descended into the basement and marched down a dark and forbidden corridor to a door with twin snakes engraved into the wood. He knocked three times, and entered. "Harry Potter is here, Master."
"Excellent. Bring him here."
"At once, Master"
Gabby retreated from the Dark Lord's presence, leaving Voldemort to continue to work on exactly how he would convince Harry Potter to willingly join him. His letters had ensured that Harry Potter would come before him, but his rationality would be returning to him, making it imperative for Lord Voldemort to be very persuasive.
Voldemort finished organizing his thoughts and waited for Harry Potter. The knock on the door game and Harry Potter entered, with his two escorts taking up position outside of the door that they closed after Harry. Green eyes sped across the room, spotting Voldemort standing behind a slightly swaying table.
"We meet again, young Harry" Voldemort greeted his guest.
"Voldemort" Harry said coldly. "You are claiming to help me? I find that difficult to believe."
"But I am trying to help you, Harry. By helping you, I am hoping to gain your allegiance." Voldemort stated simply and directly.
"I will never ally myself with a despicable creature like you." Harry proclaimed.
"Is Dumbledore not as despicable as I am? You allied yourself with him, and look what he has done with that allegiance. He has manipulated you and everyone else to achieve the only thing he cares about, destroying me."
"I am not allied with Dumbledore either. I do what is best for me. You've been hoping to kill me ever since your return. Why should I not fight back?"
"It is true that I have tried to kill you, but that is over now. Your fate was predetermined for you by a silly prophecy from a third-rate seer. You were destined for the life you've had Harry. You were destined to be used. Used by Dumbledore, by me, by the Minister, by every common witch and wizard on the street. When have you not been used Harry? I am offering you the chance to truly be in charge of your life. I am offering you the chance to avenge yourself on Dumbledore and everyone else who has used you. All I ask is for you to join me." Voldemort said.
"You are evil. You would kill every witch and wizard to stay in power if you had to."
Voldemort could have smiled. He knew he was close to persuading Harry, despite the defiant words. His uncharacteristic directness and honesty was accomplishing its task. "I don't deny it. I must remind you, however, of the words I spoke to you long ago. There is no good or evil. There is only power and those too weak to seek it. Is Dumbledore not as despicable as I am?"
Harry sighed in surrender, as he realized that Voldemort had him there. "Dumbledore is more despicable actually, for he acts in the name of righteousness when his actions are anything but righteous. I do want vengeance on Dumbledore, that is true. If you can help me, then I will help your cause. However, I will not ally myself with you. I will not bear the Dark Mark. I am doing this for myself, not for you. I am not serving you, only myself.
Voldemort was slightly taken back at this. He had been expected Harry Potter's full allegiance, not this "I'll do what I will" attitude. However, he knew he would not get more out of him. It was time for him to compromise.
"Very well, your offer is acceptable. We will be moving out soon to a new location. Will you come with us?"
"Yes. I know I can't go back to Hogwarts, so I'll be best off with you and your people."
"You'll be a full member of the Death Eater Council, though, as you will of course need to know what's going on."
Harry gritted his teeth as he prepared to fully commit himself to the choice he had made. There would be no backing out after this. Harry spoke the words that would condemn a good man.
"Severus Snape is a spy for Dumbledore."
Voldemort was thoroughly dsturbed at this. Harry had just accused one of his most useful and dependable Death Eaters of treason. "Really?"
"Yes. He turned into Dumbledore's spy near the end of the last war. He's been giving reports to the Order of the Phoenix ever since it was reformed. Dumbledore also told him to instruct me in occlumency last year. He is a master at it"
Voldemort used his own powers of legilimency to see that Harry spoke the truth. "He would have to be, wouldn't he, to fool me for this long? I guess it is time for him to die. I thank you for your information, young Harry. I will call a council now and dispose of him. Cloak yourself and then come with me"
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Severus Snape felt the burning on his left forearm and apparated to his supposed master's side after receiving the unexpected summons. He arrived to see that Voldemort had summoned a full council. Snape breathed a little easier at this. It was easier for Snape to hide his colors in a full council. Also, this was bound to be about important information that he could then relay to Dumbledore.
Snape counted the numbers that were there, and saw that there was one more person than usual. This would definitely be a meeting worth reporting.
Voldermort spoke without preamble. "My faithful Death Eaters. I have summoned you to welcome another to our forces. He will walk his own path, but I am allowing it as part of the deal we have worked out.
Snape's eyes glittered as he took in this information as Voldemort continued.
"Unfortunately, we will also be decreased by one person, who foolishly decided to betray us. Severus Snape, you are a traitor."
Snape reacted as if stung. He saw the mysterious figure remove his cloak to reveal himself to be Harry Potter. Now, when it was too late to do him any good, Snape understood.
Voldermort was raising his wand as the faithful Death Eaters moved away from Snape.
When those who witnessed what happened next relayed what they saw, their descriptions would have as many variations as there were people who witnessed it. But in all the different accounts, there was something that they all agreed on.
Snape was fast.
Eyes narrowing, Snape smoothly retrieved his wand from his cloak, ducked under one green beam from Voldemort's wand, and began firing his own spells.
Nott, who was closest to Snape, fell to a killing curse fired by Snape, who was determined to take as many of the Death Eaters with him as he could, for he knew he could not defeat Voldemort.
After a couple of misses, Snape fired a killing curse that would end up killing Crabbe. But it was at this time that one of Voldemort's curses finally connected with Snape, whose dead body collapsed.
"Macnair, take his body and place it at the entrance to Hogwarts. We will let Dumbledore have his spy back," The Dark Lord ordered.
Voldemort addressed his followers once again. "Young Harry is helping us now. I hope you all realize what this means for us. Victory over Dumbledore is within our grasp, and soon all of our goals will be accomplished." And with that said, Lord Voldemort and his followers laughed, while Harry was hoping he made the right choice.
A/N: What will happen next? Will Harry kill Voldemort? Will Harry kill Dumbledore? Will Harry become the new Dark Lord? Will Harry kill the author who somehow is running his life? The choice is yours. Acutally it isn't, I lied. Reviews are key.
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