His Secret

Torture

"Not Harry! Please not Harry!" His mother's screams filled his head, as he was dragged through the door. He could feel Annie pressing herself against his leg, begging for protection and he couldn't help wondering what she faced. Was it her dad? Was it her being sent back to her home? Whatever it was it was making her sob into Harry's trousers. And Harry knew, and he wanted to stop it, but he felt disconnected. His mind was so caught up in reliving his parent's last moments that he couldn't help Annie, he was immobilised. He felt his knees starting to give way as he felt for his wand but wasn't able to find it.

However, something strange happened then, slowly and unexpectedly, the bone-chilling cold grew warmer and his mother's screams grew quieter. He became aware of how he was now kneeling on the cold wooden floor clutching Annie and all of his friends had been brought in and were in a circle around him.

How ironic, he was surrounded by people he loved and yet he never felt less happy or safe. Because he was going to die, and his friends would be watching. And finally, finally they would see how weak he really is.

Harry felt Voldemort's presence behind him before he heard the whisper. Something was whispered to him that he'd never forget. Voldemort's hiss made him freeze.

"How about a little family reunion?" And as Harry felt Voldemort step away, someone else was pushed through into the circle. Uncle Vernon.

Harry stood up and started staggering backwards dragging Annie along with him.

"Wh-wh...?" All that passed through his lips were half formulated whispered questions.

"Boy, tell me what I'm doing here!" Vernon's shout echoed through the room and the spectators watched as Harry visibly flinched away from the noise. Tears were streaming down Hermione's face as she internally struggled against the bonds.

Voldemort's voice interrupted again as he whispered,

"Imperio," with his wand pointed at Vernon, "You are here to punish the boy, do your worst."

A cruel clarity came over Vernon's face as he began fingering his belt buckle. Harry pushed Annie behind him, he fear becoming so strong that he could no longer think, he couldn't even breathe. Just make it stop!

His neck snapped from side to side as he looked around the room, from the frozen and fearful faces of his friends to the joyous cruelty of Voldemort, Snape's stoic mask was still worn and then there was Draco paralysed by the horror of what was happening before him. Of what he'd helped to engineer. This was his work.

Deciding on the last action he would do before Vernon's torture started, Harry pushed Annie towards Fred, who although weak from whatever he's gone through, was not under a paralyse spell and had enough energy to pull Annie to him and protect her in his embrace.

"Welcome home, boy..." Vernon said menacingly, and then it began.

A/N : I know, I know I haven't updated in ages and now that I have it's not even adequate to count as a chapter. But I'm writing this at half ten at night and I feel really really bad for this. I will try and update soon to make it up to you.