Midnight In Hogwarts | Harry Potter FanFiction

Capitulum Sextum

Darkness was everywhere, suffocating and absolutely frightening. There was no fighting it, no escaping it. Harry couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. The darkness had entered his lungs, freezing them with fear. It was almost like it was alive, attacking anyone who dare oppose it. It was impossible to fight back. How do you fight something you can't see? How do fight when you can't even move?

Pain coursed in the darkness, making it impossible to feel anything else. His limbs were on fire, his chest was screaming and his scar felt like it was tearing at the seams. Harry wanted to cry out, wanted to scream as loud as he could but his vocal cords refused to work. He tried to move but something was holding his arms and legs in place. He wanted to fight. He tried to fight but he couldn't break free. He was trapped.

"Harry Potter," a familiar high pitched voice hissed evilly. "Did you honestly think you could escape me? There is no escape for you. I will always be here, in your mind, waiting for the one piece of information that will destroy Dumbledore's little Order. You will be my spy and there's nothing you can do about it."

No! I would rather die than help you! I won't betray them! They're my family! Harry started to panic. His greatest fear had become a reality. He was a danger to those he cared about. He didn't know how Voldemort pulled it off but it didn't matter. They were better off without him.

"You misunderstand, Harry," Voldemort said casually. "You will die. There is no question about that. If you had only accepted my offer this could all have been avoided. I would have spared them but now...now I shall enjoy the pain that their deaths will cause you. Enjoy your freedom while you can, Harry."

NO! YOU WON'T TAKE THEM FROM ME! Panic had shifted into desperation. He didn't care what it cost him personally. He wasn't going to let Voldemort take anyone else. The pain was pushed away and replaced with intense warmth that filled his entire body. His lungs thawed, allowing him to breathe. Light started to crack through the darkness like a sheet of dark glass that was slowly breaking to allow the sunlight to finally shine through.

"NO!" Voldemort shouted angrily. "YOU CAN'T FIGHT IT! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT!"

Harry struggled to calm himself down and clear his mind of thought. Occlumency may have failed to keep Voldemort out completely but it had kept the Dark Lord from learning anything of importance. I seem to have a habit of defying the impossible. Get out of my mind, Tom, and stay out!

The remaining darkness quickly dissolved as light completely surrounded Harry. Voldemort's high pitched shriek could be heard as it faded into nothingness. Distant voices could be heard but Harry couldn't make out what was being said. The light slowly faded into darkness but this time there was no pain. It was a comfortable darkness. His body relaxed and his limbs were released from whatever had been holding them in place. He felt someone take hold of his hand as fingers ran through his hair in a soothing manner that only two people had ever managed to accomplish. Soft waves of nervousness and concern brushed against him followed by a comforting warmth.

Opening his eyes as much as possible, Harry saw the somewhat blurry figure of his godfather staring at him. He blinked tiredly, unable to find the strength to do anything else. He felt like he had just finished an intense training session with Sirius after working a double shift at the hospital. Fingers continued to run through his hair causing Harry to reflexively close his eyes again. He couldn't bring himself to question what had just happened. He couldn't even bring himself to speak.

"It's all right, Harry," Sirius said softly as he tightened his hold on Harry's hand. "Everything's okay now. Poppy's confident the potion Voldemort gave you is out of your system now." Harry forced his eyes to open partially and stared at Sirius with a confused look on his face. "It was a potion that would slowly weaken your mental defenses until you were nothing more than a puppet." Harry inhaled as sharply as he could. "But you don't have to worry anymore. Poppy gave you the antidote, Harry. It's over. This entire mess is finally over."