Chapter 29: Voldemort's Son

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Wormtail approached Harry, raising his new silver hand, pulled out the wad of material gagging Harry, and then, with one swipe, cut through the bonds tying Harry to the gravestone.

I saw a look of cowardice in Harry's face as for a moment I could tell he was considering running, but as the Death Eaters closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort, so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled, I knew there was no way he was going to get away.

Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body lay and returned with Harry's wand, which he thrust roughly into Harry's hand without looking at him. Then Wormtail resumed his place in the circle of watching Death Eaters.

"You have been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" said Voldemort softly, his red eyes glinting through the darkness.

I sighed. I knew this was where Harry was going to die, the only fueling we had ever done at school was Lockhart's poor excuse.

"We bow to each other, Harry," said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snakelike face upturned to Harry. "Come, the niceties must be observed. . . . Dumbledore would like you to show manners. . . . Bow to death, Harry. . . ."

The Death Eaters were laughing again. Voldemort's lipless mouth was smiling. Harry did not bow.

"I said, bow," Voldemort said, raising his wand and I saw Harry bend over, which looked to be quite painful and outside of his control.

"Very good," said Voldemort softly, and as he raised his wand I saw Harry straighten up quickly. "And now you face me, like a man . . . straight-backed and proud, the way your father died. . . .

"And now — we duel."

Voldemort raised his wand, and before Harry could do anything to defend himself, before he could even move, he had been hit again by the Cruciatus Curse. I saw him collapse to the ground writhing in pain and screaming in agony.

As Voldemort raised his wand Harry rolled over and scrambled to his feet; he was shaking as uncontrollably as Wormtail had done when his hand had been cut off; he staggered sideways into the wall of watching Death Eaters, and they pushed him away, back toward Voldemort.

"A little break," said Voldemort, the slit-like nostrils dilating with excitement, "a little pause . . . That hurt, didn't it, Harry? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"

Harry didn't answer.

"I asked you whether you want me to do that again," said Voldemort softly. "Answer me! Imperio!"

I watched as Harry appeared to fight against the curse before he shouted out.

"I WON'T!"

The worded echoed through the graveyard.

"You won't?" said Voldemort quietly, and the Death Eaters were not laughing now. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die. . . . Perhaps another little dose of pain?"

Voldemort raised his wand, but this time Harry was ready; he flung himself sideways onto the ground; he rolled behind the marble headstone of Voldemort's father, as Voldemort's spell smashed into the gravestone cracking it.

"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," said Voldemort's soft, cold voice, drawing nearer, as the Death Eaters laughed. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry . . . come out and play, then . . . it will be quick . . . it might even be painless . . . I would not know . . . I have never died. . . ."

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