Dumbledore\'s Folly

Chapter 2: Convincing a Barmy Old Codger

When Narcissa popped back into existence, it was to find the room in which she and her fellows had conversed with the Dark Lord empty.

Walking out of the room and down the hall she saw the heavy black door through which Potter was to be kept. The Dark Lord’s Playroom Narcissa thought with a smirk on her face. The Dark Lord would have good fun with him. The Dark Lord is so spoiled these days, Narcissa thought, Two pets?

She strode purposefully over to the door, Harry’s body floating hauntingly behind her, and opened it. She looked inside and what she saw both delighted and repulsed her.

Shackled to a section of the wall of the Dark Lord’s Playroom was her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange. Bellatrix was the image of horror; with her blood-matted hair, pale complexion, and haunted eyes. Yes, Bellatrix was suffering the displeasure of the Dark Lord more than most.

Bellatrix had been bad and killed Gregory Goyle Sr. In her defence Goyle had been trying to force her to have sex with him while she slept, but at the same time, you did not kill a Death Eater and get away with it. That is unless, of course, you are the Dark Lord. He killed more Death Eaters than anyone, Ministry and Order alike.

But what was happening to Bellatrix was a special type of torment beyond what the Dark Lord normally did to those who suffered his displeasure. Normally the Dark Lord settled for simply using the Cruciatus Curse on his victims until they either died or went insane. If the latter occurred he would then simply perform a Killing Curse and be done with it.

Bellatrix, however, he wanted to starve. He wanted her to be beaten. He wanted her tortured mercilessly, and what the Dark Lord wanted, the Dark Lord would get. Everyday. He wanted to demonstrate to his Death Eaters that even his favorite was not beyond punishment. The Dark Lord wanted to prove to his Death Eaters that he cared about no one.

With what he was doing to Bellatrix, there was no doubt of the Dark Lord’s cruelty. He had proved to all of his followers beyond a shadow of a doubt that no one was above being punished, tortured, and killed by the Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord had tested several new torture curses on Bellatrix. Bellatrix, however, was very strong and had not succumbed to insanity or death. It was as if she was clinging to something with the hope that she might one day live. Such foolish, baseless hope only proved to further infuriate the Dark Lord.

So when Narcissa opened the door to the torture chamber, it was no surprise to see Bellatrix look up in defiance, for her to refuse to cower in fear. However, upon seeing the body that floated in after Narcissa, she seemed shocked. The Death Eaters and Voldemort had been trying to capture Potter for so long that it seemed almost unbelievable that they finally had succeeded.

“My dear, sister! Why look what I’ve brought for the Dark Lord: a new plaything! Perhaps you shall get some rest now, my dear sister?” Narcissa said mockingly. She hated this woman that would dare defy the Dark Lord.

“You will have company now, Bellatrix. I suggest you play the part of the gracious host. For now Potter will require some of the Dark Lord’s attention. I daresay he’ll still have a special place in his heart for you, though. Good-bye, dear sister.”

And with that Narcissa Malfoy strode out of the room, sealing the door shut behind her.

Not more than an hour later the door opened again, this time admitting several Death Eaters. It was time for her torture, she realised. The Dark Lord was detained, it would seem. This was evident from the looks of lust, hatred, and joy she saw in the eyes of the Death Eaters.

“The Dark Lord is currently busy, so we have been bestowed with the pleasure of you, Bellatrix.” said one Death Eater, whom she vaguely registered to be named Christensen.

“Oh, get on with it! I know what you’re going to do, so just Crucio me already!” Bellatrix yelled at them.

“Oh no, my dear Bellatrix, we have something more fun for you tonight.” said a self-important sounding Death Eater from behind Christensen.

“We have come to finish what you started with Goyle.” smirked Christensen. “The Dark Lord expresses his regret at not being able to witness this particular event. He is, at the moment, busy with a flock of birds.”

Upon hearing what they intended to do to her, she paled further. She looked sick and stared at the Death Eaters who aspired to become her rapists. She saw in the corner of her eye that Potter began to stir slightly. Taking solace in the thought that she would not be alone, she regained her defiant look.

“Was Goyle not enough of an example for you? Perhaps you need more of a reminder?” Bellatrix asked mockingly.

Harry was nearly completely conscious at this point. Bellatrix became more daring. “You wouldn’t dare try to take me, Christensen. You haven’t the proper equipment to perform such an act.” Bellatrix insulted.

“Why you little—“ Christensen said before hitting her right cheek with the back of his hand. “You bitch. You’re not worthy of cleaning my boots!” he steadily built into a fuller rage, “I’LL SHOW YOU PROPER EQUIPMENT!” he shrieked.

He began to tear off Bellatrix’s clothes when a most unlikely voice said very quietly, “Get your hands off of her.” the voice was not much higher than a whisper, but the force in the voice nearly threw the Death Eaters off their feet.

“You pathetic excuses for human beings have to resort to getting off on chained women? Don’t your whores of daughters provide you with enough?” Harry asked, still quietly, in uncharacteristic cruelty. This was obviously an attempt to enrage the Death Eaters into distraction so that they would leave Bellatrix alone.

It worked.

Turning toward Harry, Christensen unsheathed his wand and yelled the words of the Cruciatus Curse, “Crucio!” this word full of rage.

Harry immediately began to convulse and shriek in pain. He continued this way for ten minutes as one-by-one the other Death Eaters joined in. Before long all five Death Eaters were performing Cruciatus Curses on Harry.

Bellatrix was powerless to stop them. She tried to extend the same courtesy to Harry that he had extended to her, but the Death Eaters were too far gone in their rage to notice her insults. They paid her no attention and continued to use the Curse on Harry for what felt like days, but what couldn’t have realistically been more than an hour.

After the last of the Death Eaters, Christensen, had finished torturing Harry, the Death Eaters exited the room.

Perhaps mid-way through their torture of Harry, he had fallen unconscious. Now he lay there in a heap, looking horrendous from the torture. It was obvious he hadn’t eaten in more than a week. His skin looked paler than hers, even, which was saying something as she had been inside of this hellhole without food or water for nearly a week.

She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her once sworn enemy. This one boy, no more than fifteen years old, had thrown himself into the line of fire to save a sworn enemy: a woman who was responsible for the death of his Godfather. Why, why, had he done it? He knew what he was getting himself into, yet he provoked them into abandoning plots of torturing her, and offering himself instead.

If this is the courtesy he extended to his enemies, one could only imagine the things he would do for his friends. She was still bewildered by his actions and deep in thought when he awoke.

“Bellatrix?” he croaked. She looked up. “Did they do anything?” he asked her.

“After you provoked them into attacking you, they held the curse on for more than an hour. About a half hour into it you slipped unconscious.” she explained.

“No, I mean, after they tortured me, did they rape you, as they had intended?” Harry croaked, the effort every syllable required was obvious in his voice.

Bellatrix was completely bewildered. He had just been tortured for over an hour, and upon regaining consciousness, all that he was concerned about was her well-being.

“I—no. No they didn’t. Why are you concerned about that? You were just tortured, and all you want to know is what happened to me?” Bellatrix asked, clearly unprepared for the amount of goodness that Harry exuded.

“Hero-Complex,” he explained, “or at least that’s what they tell me.” small traces of laughter were in his voice as he said this.

She smiled slightly as he said this. The Dark Lord always said he had a weakness for heroics. Here was proof.

“I’m the reason Sirius is dead, why didn’t you let them torture me? I know you explained about your ‘hero-complex’ but you could have let them. You surely hate me enough to. “ Bellatrix asked.

“You fired a stunner. It’s that simple. If you had hit him with the Killing Curse, I would have stopped them from torturing you so I could do it myself. But you did not cast a lethal spell. That is the way I see it. I blame Tom more than I blame you. But you have to answer to Neville Longbottom about his parents. When we get out of here, he might not be as forgiving as me, I’m afraid.” Harry explained.

She nodded in acceptance and said, “What do you mean when we get out of here? I don’t have my wand and neither do you. There is no way out of here except for death.” Bellatrix said hopelessly.

“You’re right—“, as Harry said this Bellatrix’s face fell, “—we won’t be getting out. You will.” Harry said to a disbelieving Bellatrix.

“I can get us out of here if you trust me. I can do perform Wandless Magic, you see. I can do it, but I will be sufficiently drained by the time I have finished it. It is for this reason that I won’t be accompanying you when you leave.” Harry explained.

“I will create a Portkey out of your clothes. It will activate and send you to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix as soon as Snape is out of Headquarters. He is a spy and I don’t trust him. So the moment he vacates the premises, your clothes will send you to Headquarters.” Harry said to a still bewildered Bellatrix.

“When you get there, you must immediately see Dumbledore. I don’t like him as a person, but he will work to retrieve his ‘weapon’. As soon as you have told Dumbledore of my whereabouts say “Sanctuary” and you will be sent to the Chamber of Secrets.” Harry explained to Bellatrix quickly, still wary of the fact that a tormentor could appear at any time. “The wand of Salazar Slytherin is in the Chamber in a room in the back, from what I understand. You can use Slytherin’s wand to conjure any of your necessities.”

“The Chamber is not the most beautiful place, but it will be safe. There are only two, perhaps three, people that have access to it. So you will be completely safe from Dumbledore there. I doubt Tom would think to look there. Even then he would never be able to bypass the wards. One must have been there in the last five years to create a Portkey to it, you see.” Harry explained.

“What about you? What will you do? Why are you giving me the Portkey, why not escape yourself?” Bellatrix asked with a rare emotion to her: concern.

“Oh don’t worry about that. I just need a day or two to sleep a bit and then I will join you there, Bellatrix. Besides, I couldn’t escape and leave you here; Hero-Complex, remember?” Harry said.

“Please, call me Bella. You’ve saved my life, if anyone deserves to be able to call me that, its you.” Bella asked.

“I’d like that Bella.” Harry said with a smile. “Now, I have to create the Portkey so that you can get away. It’s a rather special one, it can bypass the Fidelius Charm, so it will be extremely difficult to make, but I think I can do it. It’s quite likely I’ll pass out after making it, but don’t worry. It’s to be expected.”

“Wait, before you make it: how can I ever repay you for this?” Bella asked.

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment and then said to her, “I’ll tell you what, when I get out of here, buy me a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks and we’ll call it even, okay?”

Bella simply smiled at him before speaking. “I’ll do you one better, when we get back out of here, I’ll go on a date with you. How’s that?” Bella asked, something resembling hope rang out in her voice.

“I think that would be great, Bella.” Harry said with a smile of his own.

Harry and Bella looked at each other for a moment before Harry spoke, “I think I should make that Portkey now before the children come back to play some more.” Harry said, finishing with a laugh.

Harry closed his eyes and again focused on the molten centre of his magical being. He slowly pushed the magic through his body, up through his arms, and settling it in his hands. Lifting his arms, he pointed his palms at Bella and concentrated on a Portkey.

As this was happening, Bella stared at Harry in awe. She had never seen such a display of Wandless Magic. She had seen the Dark Lord perform stunners, but she had never heard of someone being able to create something as complex as a Portkey without a wand. As Harry’s arms began to pulse a white light she became even more entranced.

She was broken out of her reverie when her shirt began to glow a blue colour, then the blue colouring stopped and she looked at Harry. He looked weaker than he had before, his skin paler, and his whole body looked drenched in sweat from the effort of making the Portkey.

“One last thing before I succumb,” Harry said, he then raised his arms again, one hand was placed on his forehead, the other hand was out stretched in the exact position of Bella’s head, “Bindus Legilimens” he said allowing his magic to return to his core.

“That last spell – will let us – communicate – without – words… telepathically, if you – will.” Harry said panting. Like so said Harry’s voice in her head. Just think the words very clearly and I will be able to hear them. Its quite a useful spell of my own invention. Only problem is I haven’t found a way to counteract the spell yet. But that shouldn’t be too difficult. Harry assured her.

I don’t know, I kind of like the idea of being able to communicate with you non-verbally. If you can’t find out a way to counter the spell it isn’t exactly the end of the world, is it? Bella sent.

No, but for your benefit, you might not like to be in my head when I sleep. Harry explained, I have these most terrible nightmares when I sleep. So you really might want to block out anything you hear during my sleep. Harry sent mentally.

Thank you, Harry, for doing this. You didn’t have to do all of this, but you did anyway. I don’t know how to thank you. Bella sent.

Harry laughed mentally, then thought very clearly of an image of the two of them making love. I’m sure you’ll think of something. Harry then sent her a mental image of a wink.

Harry! I’m old enough to be your mother! You shouldn’t be thinking of that! Bella sent.

You should talk! Harry scoffed, I can see what you’re thinking and you have no place to tell me off for thinking the same thing! I am young enough to be your son, after all! Harry teased.

Sometime during this exchange Harry had lost consciousness, although he continued to speak mentally to Bella.

Now, I really should let my mind get to rest as well. You should too, we can’t have you falling off your feet while you’re speaking with Dumbledore. and with that, Harry promptly let his mind slip away to dreams of a certain older woman lying next to a young man with black hair. Naked.




When Harry awoke the next day it was to the sound of a woman’s screams. Harry was in a state of grogginess that made it quite difficult to distinguish who the woman was, but it was obvious from the start she was in pain. Harry, unfortunately, was so drained from his use of Wandless Magic that he could not help the woman. After about five minutes, Harry roughly realised it was Bella that was screaming.

Looking up, Harry saw that Lord Voldemort was using a torture spell on her. It could have been the Cruciatus, but Bella seemed in more pain than she would be under a standard Cruciatus Curse. She writhed and screamed, twitched and flailed, squirmed and shrieked under the pain of the Curse.

After awhile, Harry realised that not only was Bella screaming out loud, she was shrieking in his head as well.

Then, quite suddenly, she disappeared in a flash of blue light. The Portkey had activated. Snape had left Headquarters.

The fury with which Voldemort shrieked was so intense; Harry wouldn’t have been surprised to hear that all windows in the hideout had shattered. Furious, Voldemort turned his wand on Harry:

“Excrucio Maxima!” Voldemort shrieked in fury, his wand pointed straight at Harry’s chest. Immediately it became apparent that this Curse was more powerful than the Unforgivable Cruciatus Curse.

While the Cruciatus Curse felt as though he were being stabbed by hundreds of white-hot knives, the Excrucio Curse made Harry’s skin feel as though it were being ripped apart, burned, then iced, and at the same time stretched beyond anything imaginable.

The pain was so intense Harry screamed himself hoarse for nearly an hour before Voldemort released the Curse and began to interrogate Harry, “How did she escape, Potter?” he spat.

Shaking and gasping for breath, he responded, “How am I supposed to know?” he said forcefully.

“Someone had to give her the Portkey! NOW WHO WAS IT?” he demanded. While Harry was shaking in pain, Voldemort was shaking in fury.

Harry! Dumbledore doesn’t believe me, what do I do? Bella’s frantic voice filled his head.

Sit tight Bella, give me a few minutes and then I’ll speak to Dumbledore through you, alright? Harry asked.

Even mentally Bella sounded hesitant, Well, okay, are you sure you can do that?

Yes, I’m sure, I just need to regain a bit of energy here, catch my breath. Voldemort just used some torture curse I’ve never heard of on me. It seemed like a variation of the Cruciatus, it was so powerful…

Excrucio? Bella asked

Yeah, when did that Curse come into the Dark Lord’s favour? Harry inquired.

He created it about a week after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Bella explained.

It’s terrible. Has he used it on you? Harry asked.

…Yes, he has. Bella mentally shuddered.

Desperate for a change of subject, Harry said to Bella, Alright, I have enough strength to face Dumbledore. It is very important that you drop any Occlumency shields you may have erected, alright?

Okay. Bella answered, sounding slightly apprehensive.

Voldemort was staring at Harry while this went on. Harry’s eyes became glazed as soon as Harry began to talk to Bella, but Voldemort thought he had driven Harry to insanity.

Gleeful, Voldemort left the room in self-satisfied triumph. He had driven his greatest enemy to madness. This left only Dumbledore and then Voldemort’s path to immortality would be assured. If there was no Potter to defeat him, no one could stand in the way of Lord Voldemort.



With a flash of light, Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in the basement of the Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Upon her appearance, the sole occupant of the room, a red-haired teenage girl sent a hex at her. Apparently this one recognised her.

“How did you get here?” the redhead demanded.

“Harry sent me here. Please, I must speak with Dumbledore immediately. The Dark Lord has Harry. Please—Dumbledore.” Bella pleaded.

“Harry sent you? How? How could you find this place? This place is under the protection of the Fidelius Charm, you should not have been able to enter!” the girl said.

“Please, I haven’t got time to explain. I need to speak with Dumbledore, now! The Dark Lord is torturing Harry as we speak. I don’t have time to talk to –?” Bella said.

“Ginny, Ginny Weasley. Come on, we’ll use the floo to contact Dumbledore. This doesn’t mean I trust you!” the redhead – Ginny – said.

Walking out of the room and to the fireplace, Ginny grabbed a pinch of floo powder, threw it into the hearth and said loudly, “Hogwarts, Headmaster’s Office!”

They conversed for a moment before Ginny pulled her head out of the fire and a moment later Albus Dumbledore emerged.

Dumbledore looked at her with something akin to forced calm on his face, “Ms. Lestrange, I understand you need to speak with me?” he asked.

“Harry sent me here, he Wandlessly created a Portkey that could bypass your Fidelius Charm, he didn’t have enough energy to create two, and he demanded that I go instead of him. He knew I’d been in the dungeon longer than him, I think is why he did it. He mentioned he had a Hero-Complex. Anyway, I was sent to you to ask for help. He says he may be able to escape in a few days, once he has enough energy to make another Portkey, but I don’t think it was true.

“I think he only said it to make me feel better about leaving him there, though. He could be there for weeks before he has enough energy to do it again. Not with the Dark Lord torturing him. You need to save him, there’s little chance he will be able to survive without food, water, or a means to defend himself.” Bella pleaded.

“Why should we believe you, Ms. Lestrange? You are an inner circle member!” Dumbledore exclaimed.

“Ex¬-inner circle member. I stopped being a Death Eater when the torture started.” Bella said.

“Why should we trust what you say? For all we know you are lying and will kill us in our sleep.” Dumbledore said.

“Harry trusts me! Isn’t that enough for you?” Bella asked exasperatedly.

“We have reason to believe Harry has turned.” Dumbledore said coldly.

At this pronouncement Ginny was shocked. She had never heard that they thought Harry was dark! When the bloody hell did this happen?

“Our spy says that Harry has joined Voldemort’s inner circle!” Dumbledore exclaimed. Apparently Ginny had said the last sentence out loud.

“Look, ask me something only Harry would know. He created a Legilimency mind-link between us, I can communicate with him and ask!” Bella said, ever the more exasperatedly.

“That will not be sufficient.” Dumbledore said, “For all we know you have created a link with Voldemort, who is torturing Harry for this information.”

At this point Bella’s eyes glazed over and she began to speak to Harry.
Harry! Dumbledore doesn’t believe me, what do I do? Bella asked Harry mentally.

Sit tight Bella, give me a few minutes and then I’ll speak to Dumbledore through you, alright? Harry asked.

Well, okay, are you sure you can do that? Bella asked hesitantly.

Yes, I’m sure, I just need to regain a bit of energy here, catch my breath. Voldemort just used some torture curse I’ve never heard of on me. It seemed like a variation of the Cruciatus, it was so powerful…

Excrucio? Bella asked

Yeah, when did that Curse come into the Dark Lord’s favour? Harry inquired.

He created it about a week after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Bella explained.

It’s terrible. Has he used it on you? Harry asked.

…Yes, he has. Bella shuddered.

Alright, I have enough strength to face Dumbledore. It is very important that you drop any Occlumency shields you may have erected, alright? Harry asked, successfully changing the subject.

Okay. Bella answered with apprehension.

“Harry says he’ll speak to you through me.” Bella said, before mentally asking Harry, Harry will this be in your voice or mine? I don’t think he’ll believe you if it’s in my voice.

It will be in mine. Harry reassured her.

“Dumbledore!” Harry’s voice said from Bellatrix’s body, “Believe her! Voldemort is using some new torture curse and I don’t know how long I can withstand it!” Harry said.

“Harry!” Ginny said

“It’s okay Ginny, I’ll be alright. I just need to get out of here!” Harry said, stressing the last four words.

“We know you have gone dark Harry. There is no point in denying it. If you will not work for us, you will work against us. By joining Voldemort’s Death Eaters you have effectively become our enemy!” Dumbledore said, fury ringing true in his voice.

“You fool! They’ll kill me here! It’s only a matter of time before Voldemort gets tired of his plaything! He’ll kill me, don’t you know what that means?! ‘The one with the Power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows now… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…’ Did you forget that? He kills me we all lose!” Harry’s voice screamed the last sentence at Dumbledore.

Ginny had gone extremely pale at this pronouncement. She had always believed that Harry could defeat Voldemort, but to hear it like that… It was something else.

“YOU TOLD VOLDEMORT THE PROPHECY? NOW WE ARE DOOMED!” Dumbledore screamed. Something no one had ever seen him do.

“NO I DID NOT TELL HIM THE PROPHECY! YOU FOOL! DIDN’T I JUST GET DONE EXPLAINING THAT I AM NOT A DEATH EATER?” Harry shrieked at the Headmaster.

The combined yelling of the two had caused the whole house to come down. Hearing Harry’s voice they wondered when he had escaped and why he was shouting at the Headmaster. Remus saw Bella in the room and immediately cast a Killing Curse, out of rage.

“REMUS! Stop! Do not harm Bella, she is here because I Portkeyed her here! She can be trusted!” Harry’s voice said to Remus after he had dodged the Killing Curse.

“She killed Sirius! She’s a murderer!” Remus shrieked.

“Yes she is a murderer. Yes, she is in a way responsible for Sirius’ death. But she hit him with a stunner! Not Avada Kedavra! Trust me, Remus. You kill her, I’m as good as dead.” Harry’s voice pleaded.

Remus calmed down enough to say, “How are you talking through her, Harry?”

“It’s a Legilimency mind-link, I haven’t got time to explain it, Voldemort could come back into this chamber at any minute.” Harry/Bella explained.

Turning to Dumbledore, Harry said, “Dumbledore, you must get me out of here! You know what is at stake. You cannot be think that I am a dark wizard! If you do that, we are all dead.”

Dumbledore, however, would have none of it. “Our spy has already informed us that you have turned! You will die there! I will not aid an aspiring Dark Lord.” Dumbledore said coldly.

“Albus, what if he hasn’t turned?” Arthur Weasley asked.

“I trust our spy!” Dumbledore insisted, “He is telling the truth!”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Harry’s voice said, as Harry/Bella’s body turned toward the small crowd assembled there, “You’re saviour will be killed, and with Dumbledore’s aid. When I die and darkness reigns, put blame where blame is due.”

Harry/Bella looked at Ginny for a moment saying in her head through Legilimency Sanctuary. She looked confused for a moment, and then Harry showed her where he meant. A small nod was exchanged between the two as a look of understanding dawned on Ginny’s face.

And with that Harry/Bella said loudly, “Sanctuary!” and was gone in a flash of light.