Wishmaster

Chapter Two - Harry Hunting

Voldemort laughed again. A light, cold, breezy sound that sent shivers down Harry's spine.

" I must admit Harry, you’ve given me a shock" The Dark Lord continued. " First you go after my immortality, and now you have gone after the old fools power. Most...intriguing..."

Voldemort took a step forward, then another, and another, closing the gap between them. Harry felt a fire kindle to life in his chest, sending hot waves of defiance through his body. Moving backwards, Harry raised the Elder wand and felt his way backwards to the other side of the tomb, nether once taking his eyes off the murderous being advancing on him. He was going to die, any minute now Voldemort’s wand would whip up faster than he could react and then... what then?

Dazedly, he seemed to see everything focus to an natural clarity. Minute sounds that he normally would nether have noticed vibrated in his ears and the heady smell of grass and dew assaulted his nose. Somewhere in the distance, an insect hummed.

" Do you seek power, Harry?"

Harry blinked. Voldemort was leaning on the edge of Dumbledore’s coffin, his head cocked to one side like a curious child. The wizard had changed since Harry had last seen him properly, a long, dark mop of hair stretched down, probably to his waist and although his crazed, scarlet eyes still gleamed from their deathly mask, the mask was no longer snake-like.

Harry's heart seemed to have come up into his throat. He swallowed hard and took another step back. Voldemort’s lips turned up in a sinister smile. Then, straightening up with a serious, thoughtful look, the most famous dark wizard of all time looked the boy-who-lived in the face and said :

" Join me..."

Amidst the whispering of the grass around them, a long white hand was extended.

Harry looked at the hand, and then he looked at the pale, dead face benife it. He felt the sweat on himself cool as the sun drifted behind a cloud.

" Il join you..."

The world went still as Voldemort’s excitement began to fizz in Harry's mind. Determined, he looked up at the man who had killed his parents. Voldemort’s eyes narrowed and lost some of their glitter.

" ...when hell is frozen"

And with those words Harry bolted.

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" Ron?"

Ronald Weasly turned from where he had been leaning in the front door of Shell Cottage. Behind him stood Hermione, holding two steaming mugs.

" Thanks" he said, trying to smile as she handed him one.

Hermione leaned againsed the empty side of the frame and sipped her mug. Ron glanced covertly across at her before quickly turning away again as she looked over at him. A spark of relief danced inside him when he realised she was already regaining her usual colour.

" How’s Harry?"

Ron blinked, pushing down a twinge of resentment.

" Dunno, I haven’t seen him" He said frowning. " Do you think he's gone for a walk or something?"

Hermione sighed, her eyes going blank for a moment as her brow creased slightly.

" I suppose so"

Ron leaned over and put his arm comfortingly around Hermione's shoulders, feeling a surge of happiness when she leaned into him. Comforted, the pair each began to drift into their own thoughts.

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Birds scattered shrieking into the sky above the forbidden forest.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!!"

Harry dived as the curse hit the shrub that had only a moment ago been his hiding place. Gasping as he hit the ground, he felt the air escape from his lungs, leaving him breathless. Exhausted, Harry closed his eyes and rolled into the next patch of undergrowth, trying desperately not to make any sound. He Rasped, heaving the air back into his burning chest. Nearby, boots crunched on the debris of leaves and twigs that made up the forest floor. Harry pulled himself upright and, looking wildly around, spotted an oak tree that was larger than its brethren.

" There is no escape from Lord Voldemort, Potter" snarled a voice in the gloom.

Something red hot shot past Harry, missing him by inches.

" Lord Voldemort always gets what he wants... one way or another"

With a yelp he darted behind the tree and huddled into its overgrown trunk as a barrage of hexes scorched the vegetation around him. Concealment was not going to work.

" Had enough Potter?"

Harry jumped as Voldemort’s soft cold voice sounded just on the other side of his hiding place. Nothing short of all out flight was going to get him out of this, he realised. Tensing, he began to gather the energy he was sure he didn’t have. Another realisation struck him, the whomping willow was too far, nether in a million years would he be able to reach the shrieking shack. Not with Voldemort hot on his heels, and in the castle he was sure to be caught.

" Come out, come out, I know where you are" Sang the high cold voice, only a foot away. Harry’s eyes widened as the tips of unnaturally long fingers appeared around the rim the oak, followed by the vicious bloody gaze of Voldemort’s left eye. The eye was a menacing sight and without thinking, Harry jabbed at it with the Elder Wand.

The eye disappeared as Voldemort leaped back. Harry, seizing his opportunity, turned and pelted in the direction of his last chance to escape as another barrage of curses ( both magic and otherwise ) streaked past him like an angry wind.

At this moment, there was only one place he could go.

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Authors Note - Yet again I am asaulted with feeling that something has gone horribly wrong while writing this chapter. Has there? you tell me. I think all the chapters are going to be this length as the energy and inspiration to write them seems to come in small packages if you know what I mean.

Reveiws do seem to help though ( Hint Hint )

Kurai - Thank you for highlighting that chapter one may not have been as understandable to other people as it was too me. As it was I apear to have uploaded the version that still had all the errors *swaetdrop* I have now spell checked and edited that chapter so it should now be more readable as well as hopefully a better reading expirience.