Determination

LVI: Rising Action

December 18, 1995

Harry's body felt different. He was gliding along a long, glittering hallway, his head swinging to and fro.

He opened a door, and A flash of blue hair and a body was chained and hanging from the ceiling. The room was sparsely lit.

Back on the ground in the hallway, he turned his head around a corridor. At first glance, it was empty.... But no, a man was sitting on the floor.

In the dark room, He walked toward the prone form. There was a puddle of blood underneath her. He grabbed her by the hair and tilted her listless head up to look at him. Bruises and cuts marred her face. One eye was swollen completely shut, while the other could barely stay open.

A silvery cloak fell from the man's legs in the corridor as he jumped to his feet. A wand was withdrawn from his belt as he towered over him.

"Tell me what I want to know." He told the girl. Her cracked and bleeding lips formed a snarl, exposing her bloodied gums and teeth. "Fuck you," she said. He struck the girl across her face, causing more blood to pour from her face and mouth.

He reared high from the floor and struck the man

He watched as a whip made of fire lashed across the girl's back

Once

He could feel the man's flesh separate from his bones

Twice

The whip curled around the girl's abdomen, and he could hear the fire singe and burn her tissue.

Thrice

The man yelled in pain until he fell silent, slumped against the door

He pointed his wand at the girl in the dirty dungeon
"Crucio"

She screamed in agony.

"Harry!" "HARRY!"
Harry opened his eyes but couldn't quite comprehend where he was. He was covered in a cold sweat, and his limbs were tangled in his bedsheets so horribly that he thought he was chained just like the girl.

"Harry!"
Ron was standing over him, looking incredibly worried. Harry could only feel the burning pain in his forehead. He leaned over the side of his bed and vomited.

Harry was sitting back in twelve Grimauld place with all of the Weasleys seated at the table with him as they waited for Mrs. Weasley to finish up on breakfast. Sirius and Remus had left the room to chat quickly without being overheard. Harry sat staring at his butter beer as overwhelming guilt began to eat at him.

"Harry," He heard from in front of him. He looked up, and it took him a moment to recognize Ginny sitting across from him.

"Sorry," he replied, "what?"

She spoke to him softly, "It wasn't just Dad you saw in your dream."

He felt himself choke on his words, but he replied nonetheless, "No."

She gave him a sad watery smile and opened her mouth to say something else-

"Harry"

He turned as he heard the voice of his godfather behind him. He and Remus were standing by the door.

Remus waved him over. " Come on, we need to talk."

Harry sent an apologetic grimace towards Ginny as he got up from his seat to follow his uncles out of the room. The two led him up the stairs quietly and through the hallway till they opened and reached a door on the second floor.