A/N: Ok, you guys want action… right!??!?! Ok get this…. You aren't meant to understand what is going on in this chapter---- just like the prelude…. Annoying but… true! get over it! Well, you will understand the last part… but before that if you don't get it, it's O-K! Anyway I hope you guys like this one. Please review
Interlude 1: Taunting Memories
His surroundings were damp and cold. Darkness crept in every corner, making the surrounding walls seem as if they were about to close in on him. Eccentric whispers could be heard if the ears were strained enough, but then again he might have been imagining it all, judging by the feel of the throbbing pain in his head. He couldn't see much either, as he didn't have his glasses, but the room had a familiar feel towards it, as if he had been here not so long ago.
Then it all came back to him, the torture and feelings of pain, loss and betrayal, all mixed into a great big vortex of darkness, which his surrounds seem to be encouraging. The thing he remembered the most vividly was her face, her laughter, her betrayal and her smile, no longer warm and welcoming, but twisted and evil…
`Are you going to kill me, Harry?' Mocked the soft, yet amused voice.
`Well? I don't like to be kept wait. You should know that by now. Come on answer me… are-you-going-to-kill-me?' The eerie figure inquired the last part of the question slowly, as if it were talking to an infant.
Again the figure's question was met with nothing but silence and the occasional heavy breath that was drawn in by either one of the two.
`FINE! Have it your way!' Spoke the voice harshly. `Crucio!'
The only thing that made this easier was the knowledge that it really wasn't her, it was just Voldemort playing around with everyone's minds, including his.
This would have never happened if it hadn't been for him. If only he had been strong enough to deny her, strong enough to go through with his plan to have all of them out of his life, but then again it was because of his plan that she had ended up in his grasp.
They were standing in the common room, it was past midnight and everyone except the two of them remained standing in front of the great blazing fire. Suddenly he turned his back towards her.
`This is the only way,' he thought to himself over and over again, as if he were trying to convince even himself.
`Hermione, I- I think we should break up.' He croaked, trying not to show how he was falling apart on the inside. `It just isn't working out, we ha- have to stop it before we destroy 6 years of friendship, it's the on-
`Why?' Was the only word that left her mouth as her chocolate brown eyes filled with tears.
` I'm not sure I- I love you anymore.' Mentally he kicked himself. Finally he turned back around and looked her straight in the eyes again.
For a few moments she just stood there, as if studying him very closely; and then all of a sudden her eyes widened and the tear falling down her face got bigger and angrier.
`This is one your `saving-people-thing' isn't it?' Before he could reply she continued. `Harry James Potter, what do you think, that I was born yesterday?' Again she didn't wait for a reply and by the look in her eyes she was getting very angry. `Don't you dare give me that "ruin our friendship" crap! This is part of one of your latest master plan isn't it??? You are pushing everyone away so you can save us all in the Final Battle, aren't you? Well, guess what? We are all going to be there whether you like it or not, you have NO RIGHT TO DECIDE ON WHAT GOES ON IN OUR LIVES!'
The last part of her speech was yelled at him in an angry and harsh voice that broke his heart.
`Hermione-' he began but was cut off, once again as she took a couple of steps so her face was only inches from his; he could see the tears that now slid freely down her cheeks, as they gleamed in the fire light.
`I-love-you, and nothing you say or do can change that.' And then she kissed him hard, before he could make any more protests; and then just as suddenly the impromptus kiss had began it ended with her turning around and fleeing the room with fresh tears filling up in her eyes.
That was when all everything had fallen apart and his world came crashing down around him. This was meant to be his fight, his destiny, his faith; not all the ones he loved and cared for…
But in all of this he had forgotten one of the most important things; his life was never fair.
*
It seemed like days since he had seen the sunlight. He was locked in the same room, and during the day he sat there eating the small piece of bread and the cup of water he was given and at night he tossed and turned in his sleep; her face always looking down at him in a way that he would never forget, her twisted smile and her bitter laugher ringing through his ears until he would awake only wait to for it to happen all over again the next night.
It was after what seemed like weeks that finally someone came to his exiled room. After not speaking for the longest of time, his voiced seemed lost. They blind folded him and then tied both his hand behind his back- not that it made a difference. He hadn't the strength to fight them. He limped to his new destination, his head throbbing once again from the new movements and his feet felt as if he were walking on hot coals.
He heard large doors being opened and then Voldemort give orders in his usual hissing tone.
`Lucius, bring the girl, it is time.'
As the door closed once again he heard scurrying feet take leave.
`So? Ready to give up yet?' mocked Voldemort.
`Not just yet,' he mocked softly, but the effect was ruined when his voice came out in nothing more than a tiny croak.
The doors opened once again, but this time the sound of the foot steps were quieter, as if the person was testing the very ground they stood on.
`You called, my lord-?' her voice hitched as she caught sight of him. `Harry-?'
And with that tears started to flow down her cheeks, until once again she felt herself being locked away as if someone else had taken control of her. Insistently her tears stopped only to be replaced by the cool and evil manner, similar to their last encounter.
`Well, well, if it isn't the hero of the world, all tied up and dirty? What I wouldn't give to see this on the front page of the Prophet?' mocked her malicious voice, as she staked towards him and started to remove the blind fold.
`Hermione-' was the only thing he got out of his mouth before he was hit with the Cruciatus curse, causing him to fall over in pain and to grind his teeth as if his life depended on it.
A/N: ok I know I really do have a thing for author's notes! Anyway, I'm not all that good with cliffhangers, so excuse me if you don't really like the way I ended this chapter. Umm…. Amna, my darling beta, the answer is YES! I did have fun writing the H/Hr scene in the flashback and yes it is meant to annoy you! :P
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