A/N: This is my third fic. This will be a short story, but I'm not sure how many chapters! Dumbledore is alive in this story and it does take place in sixth year, but it doesn't center around that fact. Please read and
review! Love constructive criticism!
Disclaimer: When I talked to the lawyer, they informed me this was still JK Rowling's story.
My Christmas Gift
Chapter One
A New Home
It was two weeks until Christmas break, and three weeks until the holidays. Harry Potter was on his way back from the Library because of the coming exams. He had left Hermione in the library, who insisted on five more minutes of studying. Harry was walking up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry was thinking of a special someone, and what he could get her to show that they were more than just friends for Christmas. He thought of her beautiful curly brown hair, sparkling brown eyes, and a smile that would make an guy weak in the knees. He was pulled from his pleasant thoughts when he heard someone calling him.
"Harry! Harry!" Harry turned around and came face to face with the last person he wanted to see right now, or ever really, Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy?" The displeasure of this conversation clearly shown.
"Oh, I just wanted to give you an early Christmas present." With a smirk that only a Malfoy could manage, Malfoy threw an old shoe to Harry. Harry caught it with his amazing seeker skills and looked at it with a skeptical look.
An old shoe? Was this Malfoy's idea of a joke? But before he could answer he felt a familiar pull behind his navel and started to spin. Before he could realize what was going on he arrived at the feet of none other than Lord Voldemort. He looked around and could see all of Voldemort's loyal followers, Death Eaters. He knew this wasn't good wanted to shake in fear, but Harry was prideful after all and restrained… for now.
"Ah, my dear friend Harry. How nice of you to join me? I was just telling Wormtail here, how I was hoping for someone to have a little fun with," Voldemort let out a shrill laugh. Wormtail could only laugh nervously as he did feel a little guilty about being a traitor, but his path was chosen now, no turning back. His path was chosen for him when he had no other choice but to reveal where Lily and James were hiding.
"Well, looks like you got your wish Tom." Harry responded using his old name Tom Riddle knowing how mad it would make him. Voldemort could feel the his smile slide right off his face with the use of his filthy father's name. How dare that---that kid talk to him like that! In reality, he was just buying some time to try and figure a way out of this place. By the time someone figured he was missing from Hogwarts, it could be too late. Hermione! She knew he was going to wait up for her! Surely, she will check become curious when he's not there, but her five more minutes of studying could easily be an hour.
The Death Eaters, all drew there wands and had them fixed on Harry in no time. Voldemort merely waved to them.
"Don't touch the boy….yet. Right now, he's my toy. " Voldemort's smile was back and was bigger than before. It was very disturbing to see him smile, not only because he was his enemy but because it was enough to make anyone want to puke. "Now Harry, I see you still have not learned your lesson. I'll guess it's time to start learning. Crucio!" Harry felt needles all over his body. He was in so much pain. He could hear himself screaming, but he didn't want to give Voldemort that satisfaction! He hated hearing Voldemort's twisted laugh! What seemed like 20 minutes later, Voldemort lifted the curse. "Now, where is Dumbledore to protect you know? HA! He thought he could keep you safe, but he only put you right in the middle of it all! Since I am feeling very generous right now Harry, I will give you one simple choice. Join my side. Together, Harry we can have all. I could even bring back your parents and godfather. Think Harry. Having people fear your name? The power we could have together," Voldemort rubbed his finger down Harry's scar as Harry tried to ignore the pain this caused him. "So Harry, what do you say?"
Harry didn't have to think for a second but for the sake of making Voldemort mad later, he made it look like he was actually thinking about it.
"Well Tom, it is so tempting, but I will always say no. My answer was no two years ago and it is still no today. I would never join you, bow to you, or follow your orders! I am not and will NEVER be like your wretched, heartless Death Eaters." Harry replied, his voice full of hate.
Voldemort's anger was easy to see, but all he said was, "Very well boy, your destiny has just now been sealed. Lucius, take Harry to where he will be staying. Have your fun with him, but DON'T kill him! That will be left to me for a later time. Is that clear Lucius?"
"Yes Master," Lucius said as he bowed to Voldemort's feet and quickly got up to retrieve Harry.
"Good. Oh and Harry?" Voldemort said. Harry looked up to Voldemort, but he was still trying to recover from the curse. Voldemort gave another of his sickening smirks, "Crucio!"
Harry was determined to stay strong through it. He didn't care how bad it hurt, he just hated to look weak. He closed his eyes to make it through the pain. He wasn't going to give Voldemort the satisfaction of showing pain again, no matter how bad it felt. Soon he felt the pain fade away. He opened one eye and then the other, but Voldemort's wand was still trained on him! Voldemort's face fell. How did a sixteen year old boy throw off the Cruciatus curse? Voldemort would have to make it stronger…yes that's what he would do!
Voldemort and his faithful Death Eaters watched as Malfoy and Goyle dragged a weak Harry behind them with Malfoy carrying a painful array of torture tools. Harry's screams could be heard throughout Voldemort's headquarters meaning they must have made it to Harry's new home. Voldemort could not help but laugh while Wormtail tried not to shake from the screams of pain. He heard the whip crack and knew that the whip was the least of the torment Harry would endure, but it was better a Potter than him.
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Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor Tower. She told Harry she would only be five more minutes, but it ended up being a good twenty. She let out a loud yawn as she told the Fat Lady the password (gingerbread cookies). She walked into the Common Room to look for Harry. She knew he always waited up for her to make sure she got back alright. The idea just warmed her heart. Every time she thought of his beautiful emerald eyes, dark hair, and perfect smile, her heart skipped a beat.
She looked around the common room at the tables and by the fire, but Harry was not here. She thought this odd since he had waited on her all year so far. They hadn't gotten into a fight either. Her heart began to beat a little faster. She just had a bad feeling about this. She silently scolded herself. She knew Harry was safe inside Hogwarts, but that fear it was still there. She decided she would go up and check on Harry anyways.
She quietly walked up the boy's dormitory towards the Sixth Year room. She silently walked into the room and walked over to Harry's bed, but she didn't have to. She saw his curtains open and his bed empty. She didn't care to be quiet anymore as she ran to the boy's bathroom to see if by any chance he was there. He wasn't. Then, she had an idea! The Marauder's Map! She quickly ran over to Harry's trunk and opened it. She searched the map before running to Run know having confirmed her biggest fear.
She ran over to Ron's bed, "Ron, wake up!" Ron just rolled over as Hermione started to tap him or hit him whichever and screamed more persistently, "Ron, Harry! He is missing! Get up Ron!" Ron quickly sat up as did the other boys in the dormitory.
"We have to go tell Dumbledore! NOW!" Hermione screamed with tears falling down her face.