Harry Potter and the Folly of Dumbledore

Sorry about the long delay but my internet has been down almost continually this past week and a bit because of all the storms around.  Also, the chapter names have got a bit mixed up and I’m not sure how to fix it without having to reload the chapter, but that would mean losing all your lovely reviews, so, I hope you know what I meant.  Many thanks to my beta, Sharday, all mistakes are mine so blame me for them.  Read, enjoy, and review.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter, JKR does along with various publishing companies.

Chapter Four
The Devil’s Lair

Lord Voldemort smirked as the small, frail teenager was brought before him. He could tell that the boy was not well, he was bruised in several places and much thinner than the last time they had met only weeks before. Bellatrix Lestrange presented him with the wand of his enemy and he pocketed it, before saying, “Let me see your arm.” If the woman was surprised by this request she did not show it, but she complied and didn’t even wince when the Dark Lord’s finger touched her pale skin.

Severus Snape felt the mark burn and he gasped, clasping his hand around his left forearm. Many of the members of the Order looked at him with odd looks before he spoke in a shaky voice, “Dumbledore, he calls, this is definitely not good.”

Dumbledore looked at the man before him with concern and nodded slightly, “Do what you can, Severus. Just remember you are no good to anybody dead.”

Severus Snape inclined his head and left the room before appearing at the Dark Lord’s side, he noticed the small boy who was held unconscious by two Death Eaters and could hardly believe his eyes, in only two weeks, Harry Potter had gone from a strong, Quidditch player, to a small, weak boy, it was all Snape could do to suppress a gasp.

He kneeled before his master and kissed the hem of his robes. “My Lord” He whispered before standing and taking his place in the circle.

When all of the Death Eaters were in place, the Dark Lord’s raspy voice rung out, “Wake the prisoner.”

One of the Death Eaters holding the boy took out his wand and muttered a spell; Harry lifted his head in confusion and wildly looked around at the Death Eaters before looking Voldemort in the eye and muttering, “Well, this seems familiar.”

Snape suppressed a laugh at Potter’s demeanour. Even in the face of a certain death the boy still had sarcastic remarks to say.

“Harry Potter, I welcome you.” Voldemort snarled.

“Well, that’s all fine and dandy.” Harry hissed.

“Crucio.” Snape forced himself not to turn his head as the screams of the boy he disliked, but did not completely hate filled the cavernous room. When the curse was lifted Harry hissed, “You call that pain? You know nothing of pain.”

“Crucio.” Voldemort smiled as his arch-enemy squirmed under the curse. When he lifted the spell, he asked, “Are you quite done, Potter?” Harry didn’t answer; he was still short of breath from the curse. “Tut-tut, I see you didn’t learn your lesson the first time, Potter.”

“Imperio.”

Snape’s eyes went wide, as the boy fought the curse.

“Respect is essential, Potter, you must learn to respect your superiors.” Voldemort taunted.

“I do respect my superiors,” Harry hissed, “You’re just not one of them.”

“Why, you INSOLENT, LITTLE BRAT! CRUCIO!” Voldemort screamed.

Snape’s eyebrows rose at the two, he had known Potter for five years and had never seen this side of him, he had seen many sides of the boy, but complete and utter loathing with this degree of boldness, was something he had never seen.

“I give you one last chance Potter.” Voldemort hissed. “Join me and together we can rule the world.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before, Voldy, but I’d rather rip out my heart with my bare hands and eat it than work for you.” Harry snarled.

“Crucio.” Voldemort hissed. “Very well, then. Crucio.” Harry screamed, and screamed, and screamed, until his voice started to give away.

Snape watched as Voldemort tortured Harry, “He’s going to crack, if you leave him under that much longer,” Snape thought.

When Voldemort finally released him from the curse he barked, “Take him down to the dungeons, the highest security cells, there will be no mistakes this time.” Voldemort swept from the room leaving a bunch of Death Eaters and a semi-conscious Harry Potter behind.

Snape apparated back to , not bothering to take off his Death Eater robes.

When he entered the kitchen, the first reaction of everyone in the room was to scream, or pull out their wand. He was surprised at their reaction before he realized that he was still wearing his robes, he pulled out his wand and muttered a spell instantly changing from the robes. He was very pale and nearly collapsed into an empty chair.

“You’ve been gone awhile, Severus.” Dumbledore stated.

Snape just nodded.

“What did you find out?” Dumbledore prompted.

Snape looked up at Dumbledore and whispered, “All is lost.”

“What do you mean?” Molly Weasely hissed. “Surely you haven’t given up hope.”

Snape braced himself and hissed, “Hear me out, and no interruptions.”

“Go on.” Dumbledore said.

“The Dark Lord has Potter.” There were murmurs of astonishment throughout the room. “He tortured him in front of us, however, I believe that there is more to this than meets the eye. Potter was in rough shape before the Dark Lord even laid a hand on him. The Dark Lord has ordered Potter locked in his highest security cell. Nobody can enter this cell without the Dark Lord as a witness. I think he’s planning something big that has to do with the boy. It is my belief that he is planning to kill him in front of a large group of people. I believe he is going to choose a large crowded area to draw attention to his strength, if the people see Potter fall at the hands of the Dark Lord, then they’ll be morally crushed.” The entire room sat in stunned silence.

“Well, then we have get him out of there before they can do that.” Tonks spluttered.

“Easier said than done.” Snape responded. “I cannot lead you to the Dark Lord’s headquarters, because the Dark Lord himself is the secret keeper. Even if we could get in there, we would never make it to Potter, we’d either all die before we get there or the Dark Lord would be ready to kill Potter the moment you are all there to see it.”

“There must be something we can do!” Minerva McGonagall shouted.

“I’m afraid until Voldemort launches his plan, there is nothing.” Dumbledore said sadly. “Except to find where he was ambushed and try to decipher where he was going.”

“The children will be heartbroken.” Molly whispered.

“Yes, they will be, Molly, will you go fetch Ginny, Ron and Miss Granger?” Dumbledore asked.

“Yes, I suppose they will need to be told.” She said and quietly left the room. She walked up the stairs to where the kids were hanging out.

“Hi, mum.” Ginny said.

“Dears, you’re wanted downstairs.” Molly told the youngsters.

“We get to go to the meeting!” Ron exclaimed.

“Yes and no, just get down there.” Molly barked. The three hurried out of the room and downstairs.

When they entered the room they noticed all the long faces and Ron stupidly said, “Who died?” Molly and several other witches in attendance shot him a look of disgust.

“I am afraid that we have some bad news.” Dumbledore said. “Harry has been captured by Voldemort.”

“NO!” Hermione yelled. “He said he would be fine! He said he was going into hiding!”

“What’s this?” Arthur asked, but Hermione was already sobbing into Ron’s shoulder. He was awkwardly patting her on the back looking flabbergasted.

“Hermione and I received letters from Harry a little while ago telling us that he was going into hiding.” Ron said.

“IT’S YOUR FAULT!” Hermione suddenly yelled, recalling a line from Harry’s letter to her. “YOU DID SOMETHING TO MAKE HIM LEAVE! HE WAS MAD AT YOU!” Hermione lashed out a Dumbledore.

“I can assure you I did no such thing.” Dumbledore responded.

“LIAR!” Hermione yelled, storming out of the room with Ginny at her heels.

“Errr.” Ron said slightly uncomfortable. “Women.” He muttered and flew out of the room.

“Well that went over well.” Snape remarked.

“Indeed.”  Dumbledore Replied.