The Dance- A Harry Potter Love Story (BOOK 2)

Chapter 14

"But how to get at the two? For they have been better protected than I think even they know, protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago, when it fell to him to arrange their futures. Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care. As for Waters, she was kept constantly moving. I couldn't trace her down.... Then, of course, there was the Quidditch World Cup... I thought their protection might be weaker there, away from their relations and Dumbledore, but I was not yet strong enough to attempt kidnap in the midst of a horde of Ministry wizards. And then, the children would return to Hogwarts, where they are under the crooked nose of that Muggle-loving fool from morning until night. So how could I take them?

"Why... by using Bertha Jorkins's information, of course. Use my one faithful Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the boy's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire. Use my Death Eater to ensure that the boy won the tournament — that he touched the Triwizard Cup first, and trap Ariadne Waters there too, so naturally she would take it with him... the cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey, which would bring them here, beyond the reach of Dumbledore's help and protection, and into my waiting arms. And here they are, the children you all believed had been my downfall...."

Voldemort moved slowly forward and turned to face us.

"Ladies first, is it not?" Voldemort lowered his wand so it pointed towards me, and put his foot on my stomach. I drew a sharp breath as he stamped on me.

"Crucio!"

It was pain beyond anything I had ever experienced; my very bones were on fire; my eyes were rolling madly in my head; I wanted it to end... to black out... to die.... And then it was gone. I was lying limply in the ropes binding me to the feet of Voldemort's father, looking up into those bright red eyes through a kind of mist. The night was ringing with the sound of the Death Eaters' laughter. Voldemort then moved on to Harry, who's screams once again pierced the air.

"You see, I think, how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever have been stronger than me," said Voldemort. "But I want there to be no mistake in anybody's mind. Harry Potter and Ariadne Waters escaped me by a lucky chance. And I am now going to prove my power by killing them, here and now, in front of you all, when there is no Dumbledore to help them, no home for her to hide in, and no mother to die for him. I will give them their chance. They will be allowed to fight, and you will be left in no doubt which of us is stronger. Just a little longer, Nagini," he whispered, and the snake glided away through the grass to where the Death Eaters stood watching.

"Now untie them Wormtail, and give him back his wand."

Wormtail approached Harry, who scrambled to find his feet, to support his own weight before the ropes were untied. Wormtail raised 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. He then crouched towards me, and I stared up into the traitor's eyes as he untied me.

There was a split second, perhaps, when I might have considered running for it, but as I stood on the overgrown grave, the Death Eaters closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around Harry, Voldemort and I, so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled. Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body lay and returned with our wands, which he thrust roughly into Harry and my hands as I stood up.  Harry's injured leg shook under him. Then Wormtail resumed his place in the circle of watching Death Eaters.

"You have been taught how to duel?" said Voldemort softly, his red eyes glinting through the darkness. "Harry, you can go first," Voldemort said as if it was a privilege. Harry limped towards Voldemort, scowling.