Only You Can Set Me Free

No flames welcome.



Chapter 21

Into the Darkness We Go



“Are you mental Harry? Cedric is dead.” Draco stumbled as he ran after a sweating Harry down a dimly lit corridor.



“I know what I saw Draco, and I saw Cedric being tortured by that filthy snake faced bastard. I can see through his eyes Draco, I can see things that he sees, without him knowing.” All anger at Ron’s escape fled him as his mind went over his dream again and again.



Draco looked around, noticing that they were bounding up a staircase he had never noticed before. At a loss, he grabbed the other boys’ arm, halting him in his tracks.



“Harry, where are we going?”



“To get Luna, we are getting out of here. We have to get Cedric and find the last of the horcruxes.”



Draco paused, not understanding the extreme determination he felt in the other boy.



“Harry, I don’t think you have thought this through completely. You don’t even know where, if at all, the boy is being held.”



“Look, Draco, I know what I saw, I know it was more than a dream. Two years ago I saw through Voldemorts’ eyes while he attacked Ginny’s dad. I saw Cedric being raped and tortured, and I will be damned if I let that go on for another night.”



The blond boys’ jaw dropped. He held Harry’s arm tightly to prevent his departure.



“You mean… You want to go now?”



“Love, I wanted to go ten minutes ago.”



*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*



Upon reaching the top of the tower, they came to an abrupt halt after coming face to face with a portrait of a gaunt, regal looking man. He stared at the two critically; a scowl marred his withered face.



“What are you two doing out and about so late? In front of my passage, no less! Leave this place at once, you are not passing into my…”



“Listen old man, you had better open up this instant. Do you know who I am?” Draco bit out, standing tall before the stately gentleman.



“I am sure I do not care less whom you are young man, you are not passing!” Crossing his thin arms, the man turned his nose up, barring access to his domain. Harry, annoyed at the older mans’ stubborn attitude, stepped beside his mate.



“Sir, we are in dire need of entrance to the Ravenclaw manor. We need to talk to Luna Lovegood!”



The man looked down at them sharply, his scowl turning into a sneer.



“Loony Lovegood? That girl no more belongs in here than you do! She is as crazy as they come, an outcast, she is. Always walking around with an air of superiority! I lock her out whenever I can.”



The boys glared up at the old man in shock and anger.



“Why you miserable old…” Harry stalked forward, reaching into his robes and pulling out his wand. The man hardly blinked.



“You are not the first student to threaten me you little ruffian! I will not be intimidated by a little snot like you!”



At this point, their voices were raised quite high. A shadow in a nearby corner stirred, drawing all three of them to stare at the wiggling mass. Draco and Harry pointed their wands, the man sniffed rudely, turning his attention to straightening his robes.



“Who’s there?” Harry asked, preparing to cast a Lumos spell.



“Mmm… Harry? That you?”



Harry dropped his wand, motioning to Draco that there was no harm. Casting the light spell, Draco pointed the beam to the corner, upon the small form huddled up on the floor.



“Luna!” The dark haired boy rushed to help the weary girl to her feet, Draco keeping the light trained on the two for them to see by.



“Hello Harry, Draco… what a surprise, seeing you two here at this time,” the girl said softly, in that dreamy voice. She stood up with the boy’s help, letting the withered blanket fall to the floor. She was dressed in a rather large smock covered in what appeared to be tiny fairies carrying purple flowers.



“Oh Luna, why didn’t you tell me this was happening?” Harry looked back at the old man, who was looking over the three indignantly.



“It’s nothing Harry, just my bad reputation of being nutters,” she smiled genuinely. That smile hurt Harry’s heart, it was as if the young girl was used to being an outcast. Draco waved the light, beckoning the two over.



“If you want to go, I think it had better be now Harry.” The younger boy, caught up in the matter at hand, had almost forgotten the whole purpose of coming up here.



“You’re right Drake… Luna, we are leaving now, and if you want to come, you still can, if you want to.”



“Course I do Harry, all packed already.” And she was indeed, it seemed, for there was a medium sized knapsack near the little cocoon that was the girl’s bed.



“Then we need to arrange transportation for three. Luna, if you don’t mind, you can ride a threshal. Draco and I can ride brooms.”



“That sounds pretty good to me Harry. If I may ask, what’s the rush?”



“I saw Voldemort torturing Cedric,” Harry said, as if it explained everything.



Luna looked at him for a moment, smiling.



“I always thought he was still alive,” the girl said dreamily, walking to gather her blanket and sack. Harry smiled at Draco, who sighed and rolled his eyes.



The three began to descend the stairs; Luna turned back and smiled at the portrait of the old man.



“Thanks for everything Benson, you were a real gem.” The old man scowled, turning away. Luna shrugged at the smirking boys and they hurried down the long staircase.



*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*



Sitting astride the dead horse with wings, Luna tossed her hair over her shoulder, softly patting the large creatures’ boney neck. Draco stood for a moment, looking at the tall beast in awe. He shook his head when Harry called him and turned to see the boy carrying a single broom.



“Sorry love, it was all I could get a hold of on such short notice.” Fawkes was perched on the tip of the broom, regarding the group wearily.



“That broom is good, but it won’t fit two Potter,” Draco quipped, a bit annoyed at the delays, he reverted to calling Harry by the familiar insult by using his last name in such an aggravated manner. He was beyond tired and frustrated, having been rudely awoken for no apparent logical reason.



Harry frowned at his mates’ contempt and sighed in acceptance.



“You either ride with me or grab threshal bones love.” Draco looked at an advancing threshal and the broom. The large animal regarded him majestically, turning his side to face the blond boy, as if offering his services. Draco walked over and expertly climbed onto its back. Once sitting smartly on the creature, he looked at Harry expectantly.



“Well? Are we going or not?”



Harry turned to Luna, who pushed her threshal into a slow gate to stand beside Draco’s steed. She nodded her agreement and softly pulled on the creatures’ hair, causing it to extend its wings and rise some feet off of the ground. Draco followed her lead and his flew into the air as well. Harry smiled at the two.



“Wow, you guys seem like pros.”



With that said, the dark haired boy mounted his broom, and with a sweep of his hand, felt for his wand, locket and the newly acquired ring. He looked over his shoulder at a homemade carrier he threw together for the slightly larger, but still weak, Helios. Making sure the carrier was tied tightly; he pushed off of the ground, soaring above the threshals and stopping 20 feet off of the ground. The others climbed to meet him, Fawkes circling above them.



“Where are we going Harry?” Draco called over the rushing, freezing wind.



“I know the place, after thinking about it for a while; I remembered where I recognized the smell. It smelled like dirt, flowers, and death…”



“Where is that Harry?” Luna asked, her voice surprisingly loud and clear, still sweet with its dreaminess.



“At the place where it all started. The cemetery where Voldemort was resurrected,” Harry said, his voice bitter and full of loathing.



“But Harry... how can you be…”



“Sure? I felt it in my dream, I saw it, and I will never forget the smells. He made me believe Cedric died, that he killed him. I remember there being a dingy little house there. That is where they are now.”



The others did not want to forestall the boy any longer; they nodded and urged their steeds forward. Harry leaned forward himself, pushing the broom forward and into the darkness, under the cover of night. Luna and Draco followed, threshals flapping their large wings slowly, effortlessly keeping up with the speeding boy on the broom. The full grown phoenix flew beside the lead boy.



‘Harry?’



‘Yeah Fawkes?’



‘I hope we can find your friend before it is too late.’



Harry looked forward, his eyes half open as he looked into the distance, at the never ending blanket of stars.



‘Me too mate… Me too.’



*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*



“Hold him down I said! Oh you are pathetic, I will do it.”



“Master, he won’t stop struggling.”



“Goyle, are you a man, or are you a worm?”



Goyle shrunk away from his master, blending into the shadows. Voldemort stood beside the bed, his wand raised in a spell, effectively holding the struggling boy down.



“Kill me already, you bastard,” The sandy haired boy bit out, his naked body writhing in agony. Cuts, gashes and bruises marred his Quidditch toned body, which was deteriorating slowly.



“Watch that tongue boy, or I will slice it off. Now, let’s call your sex buddy for tonight. Lestrange, enter!”



Cedric’s head snapped to the side violently. Of all of his tormentors, the dark bitch was the worst. Bellatrix entered, sauntering forward in a tattered black teddy, smiling like the proverbial cat that got into the cream. Her horrible face made him want to vomit all over her.



“Oh, little baby Diggory, we are going to have fun tonight,” she cackled then, that horrid sound that made the boys’ innards shrink. If his member could climb into his body, he was sure it would do so at that sound accompanying her disgusting face.



“Shove it, bitch!”Cedric arched up in pain as another jolt passed through his tattered body. He fell back, panting.



“Get it over with Lestrange, or I will let someone else have him.” Voldemort stepped back as the demented woman climbed onto the bed, tossing the cloth off and straddling the unwilling boy. He glared up at her in disgust, willing his length to stay soft and flaccid.



The woman grabbed said length tightly, making the boy cry out as her black, filthy nails dug into the sensitive flesh of his member. He bit his lip roughly, commending his member for having stayed intact after many nights of brutal handling.



“Little boy, can’t get it up,” she chanted, lowering her hips to rub her front against his limp length, her nails digging harshly into his raw skin.



“You are too ugly, you slut!” With that, the boy drew his head back and spit in her face, making her jump away from him. He again twisted in pain as his body was rocked with a terrible bolt of fire.



“You horrid little bastard!” Bellatrix slapped the twisted form of the boy, hitting his chest and leaving a deep red hand mark. She wiped the spit from her face and glared down at the panting boy.



“Let me kill him, he is no fun anymore.” She raised her wand, aiming between his eyes. Cedric smiled challengingly.



“I think we will keep him alive a bit longer, besides, tomorrow is my night.” Cedric turned to Voldemort, hate seeping from every pore of his body. The snake man never took a turn.



The pale man smiled darkly, running his long fingers over the boy’s thighs.



Cedric cringed, pulling away. The others laughed, leaving the room, the boy still chained down. He closed his eyes, relaxed in knowing that they would not bother with him until the next afternoon, when they threw food into his holding area, taunting him mercilessly.



*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*



“How much longer Harry?” Luna shouted over the wind, leaning sleepily on the creatures’ neck. A cursory glance over his shoulder at his pack mates was enough to put the panic he felt for Cedric aside. They looked totally exhausted, as did their winged steeds. Harry slowed down; sniffing for the faint aroma he linked to a gravesite. He knew they were within a few miles of the desired destination. He felt it, through Voldemort.



Though he knew they were close, he knew his small pack was about to plummet to the earth far below. He gave a shrill whistle.



Luna and Draco looked up at him, yawning in unison.



“We are going to land for a while guys.” The others nodded gratefully, pushing down slightly on their threshals, causing them to descend, following the lead boy.



Still under the cover of the early morning clouds, the three stopped, scanning the ground for any signs of muggles or anything that might hamper their covert landing. There was nothing, so they quickly descended in a single line.



They touched ground in what appeared to be a deserted town.



“We will take a restroom break and get something to eat, and then rest for a bit.”



“Considering we can find anything in this sand box,” Draco said, shaking dirt from his clothes with no avail. Harry smiled at his mates’ arrogant manner, then at Luna, who was examining their surroundings.



“I bet there are gurgles here,” she thought out loud.



Harry smiled; Draco looked at the girl in confusion.



“What are those Luna?” The dark haired boy asked, also looking around the little town that looked like an empty Diagon Alley. Shops lined the streets, signs baring the words ‘Old Towne Shop,’ and ‘Stop-n-Eat.’



“Gurgles are lizard like creatures that dig into your skin through your feet and…” True to her nature, the girl spaced out for a bit, looking at a nearby store. Caught off guard, the guys followed her gaze and saw what she did. An open door to a shop called ‘Dine and Dash!’ with large letters proclaiming ‘eat for almost nothing! Stop by Tuesday for the early bird special!!’



“Damn, too bad it is Friday,” Draco commented, and the other two broke into laughter. Sobering, Harry felt bad for taking so long in this dingy little town while Cedric was being hurt not a few miles away.



“Ok guys, I will go and try to find something edible, you two rest, we leave in an hour.”



Luna nodded, tossing her sack onto the floor and withdrawing her beat up blanket, spreading it on the floor. Draco smiled appreciatively, falling onto the blanket and laying down.



Harry smiled at his love, then turned, wand out, to enter the small shop. He sniffed softly, sensing no danger; he walked in, noticing a small box in the corner. That seemed to be the only thing in the place; he glanced around with keen eyes, sniffing again once he reached the box. He smiled and opened it, gathering what he could and retreating.



“Breakfast is on guys,” he dumped the biscuits, jam and boxes of juice on the ground.



“Eat quickly guys, we have to get going…” He then took a bag he had grabbed last minute, opening it. A foul odor rushed his delicate nose, making him shake his head.



“Harry?” Draco looked at the boy, mouth full already.



“Just some meat for the threshals,” he said, tossing the contents on the floor near the laying beasts. They whinnied happily, grabbing at the rotted flesh.



*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*



Flying again, the small group finally reached their destination, slowly descending, as to not be detected.



“Be careful guys, you know what we are facing.”



“Some self proclaimed Dark Lord with a disgusting snake face? Yeah, we know, let’s go already,” Draco said, dismounting his winged creature. Harry and Luna nodded, following his lead and landing gracefully.



The three ran stealthily through the graveyard, as much as they could considering it was broad daylight. They ran past the large statue that was Harry’s captor the night Wormtail drew his blood and brought back the most feared wizard of all time. They ran past the spot where Cedric was supposedly killed. Finally, they came upon a rickety house, one that a while back may have belonged to a caretaker.



“We got here without anyone noticing, that seemed a bit too eas…”



Before she could finish, she was grabbed roughly by a man that seemed to apparate from nowhere. Harry snarled as his pack mate was grabbed, lunging for the girls’ captor when he heard his mate gasp in pain. He rounded on the demented woman, hate spewing from his very core.



“Bellatrix,” he bit out, teeth barred. The woman held Draco around the neck and chest, fingers digging into his body mercilessly.



Harry jumped at her, only to be grabbed himself, he thrashed, forgetting the baby phoenix on his back. Subdued after a threat of death to the others, he growled menacingly, wondering where the full grown bird had gone off to, then seeing the beautiful bird grasped by the neck, by none other than the snake man himself.



“Dinner for Nagini, and you all die,” The three struggled, even the bird cried out shrilly, twisting its body violently.



“I will kill you, you bastard! Hear me!?”



Voldemort smiled at the scar bearer.



“Harry... that is never going to happen.”