The Things We Do For Love

Continuation

Vision

"CRUCIO." Lord Voldemort held the curse onto his loyal servant, Antonin Dolohov. He felt nothing even close to love for Bella but she was his most loyal and effective Death Eater. To see her life ended because of her partners' ineptitude incited a special type of rage in him. Dolohov was bleeding through his nose when the curse was finally lifted off of him.

"Five of you against one child and you couldn't even hold him until I returned," The Dark Lord rose from his seat and addressed the broken bodies of Bella's partners, "you had one simple task."

"M—my lord," Augustus Rookwood spoke up before quivering in fear when his Lord's blood red eyes met him. He tried to continue, "the boy used the killing curse on Bellatrix." Rookwood had zero time to react as Voldemort slashed his wand toward him and cut his throat open. The red fluid that gushed out of his throat left no doubts as to the man's fate. The Dark Lord paid him no mind as he glowered at the rest of the imbeciles in front of him.

"Do any of you think that excuses you from letting her die? Did the boy suddenly become a dueling prodigy overnight? Have you never fought someone who used the killing curse before or have you grown so arrogant as to think that it's no longer possible?"

Normally, the lack of response from his men would denote fear but this time was different. The Dark Lord knew immediately that they believed that of the boy and he only needed one look at Dolohov's mind to know that Harry Potter had stunned them before they could react, moving faster than any of them could process as he did so.

"I see." Lord Voldemort nodded. He sent out a tendril of his mind and felt the intrusive presence within it before walking towards the mirror in his chambers. "I now speak directly to you, Harry Potter. It is clear from my inept servants that you have gotten the better of them and have grown far more powerful than I expected. Do not overvalue your one time success, however, because for all your power, you will never be able to best me."

The Dark Lord smirked at his reflection, picturing the green eyed boy in front of him, and continued to talk. "Dolohov tells me you used the killing curse on dear Bella." He paced back and forth as the mirror captured his every move before a sinister chuckle escaped his mouth. "I must say that I am quite proud of you, Harry. You now know what true power is like, how easy it is to end a life. Make no mistake about it, boy, I will kill you but don't think for a second that you can continue to hold yourself out as better than I because you know that we are the same. You have felt the power that I have possessed my entire life."

"You have allowed the darkness a permanent spot in your heart and you have allowed your hate to control you even if it was just only for a moment. The same thing that makes me a monster in your eyes, is the same thing you have done. So I ask you, Harry Potter, who is the monster now?"

Vision End

Harry's eyes shot open as the vision faded into memory and he took a moment to regain awareness of his surroundings. He felt a weight on his chest and near his side and looked down to find the peacefully sleeping form of his lover nestled against him, her cheek laid upon his heart that was pounding out of his chest. The wizard allowed himself to gaze at her lovingly, reminding himself that she was alive and with him, and tried to settle himself back into sleep.

An hour later, sleep would not come even as Harry listened to the soft sounds of Hermione's breathing. The half moon was out and illuminated the room partly, its light dancing off of Hermione's body that was only clad in a sheet. Knowing that sleep was far off, he rose from the bed and padded over to the chair that stood near the bay window of their room. The night was a bit chilly for him as he was dressed only in his boxers but he didn't mind, instead welcoming the feeling as the hairs on his body stood up.