Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling

Chapter Six

Harry was pushed to his knees by two masked Death Eaters. He didn't resist. Truth was, fear had frozen Harry, rendering him unable to do more than stare at the sight of his once-father, Voldemort, standing in the hallway of the Headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix. Harry didn't even react when the Death Eaters grabbed his arms and forced them behind his back, shackling his hands in thick iron manacles.

It was unnecessary. Harry wasn't going to fight. Even if he had his wand on him, he would never raise it against Lord Voldemort. Aside from the Unbreakable Vow that tied Harry's loyalty to Voldemort, Harry himself was unwilling to harm the man he grew up calling 'Father'. Unfortunately, Voldemort had no qualms about hurting Harry. The pain in Harry's scar was so fierce it was making his eyes water and his breath choke in his chest. But Harry kept his eyes on Voldemort, fearfully holding his crimson stare.

The few members of the Order that were in the Headquarters were rounded up and forced to their knees, hands bound behind them, just like Harry's. It was this that broke Harry's trance and he turned his head to see Death Eaters restraining Remus and Tonks. Molly and Arthur Weasley were on the other side of the hallway with Frank and Alice Longbottom. Alastor Moody was putting up a fight, but the Death Eaters had no problems overpowering him. Harry's gaze went to Sirius, pausing on him briefly as Death Eaters bound his hands, before darting to James and Lily. His parents looked just as terrified as the rest, but they were quick to meet Harry's eyes, nodding at him with false confidence – a silent gesture that they would find a way out of this mess.

The Death Eaters stood in pairs, guarding each restrained Order member, awaiting instructions from their master, but Voldemort didn't say anything. He didn't as much as look at anyone other than Harry. Slowly, he walked over to where Harry was kneeling, coming to stand over him. A smile played along his lips but Harry could see the anger in his red eyes. Voldemort's rage was resonating in Harry's scar and it was all Harry could do to hold back his cries. Voldemort shook his head slowly.

"You should have known better, Harry," he said softly. "I'm disappointed in you. You thought you could run from me?"

Harry couldn't find his voice to answer.

"It wasn't him!" James called out. "We captured him. Harry didn't come here, I brought him. You've got something to say, say it to me!"

Voldemort turned his head and looked at James. "I'm afraid the vow I made with Harry means I can't say or do anything to you." His gaze flitted across the hallway. "I guess alternatives will have to do."

He nodded his head and the Death Eaters stationed behind the bound men and women raised their wands. Before Harry could do more than suck in a breath to cry out, a flash of green emitted from several wands and before Harry's eyes, members of the Order fell to the ground – dead.

Harry stared in horror as Tonks and Remus fell face first with a heavy thump. Moody was next. Molly and Arthur Weasley lay on their backs, their eyes still open. Frank and Alice Longbottom had slumped against the wall, fear forever imprinted in their lifeless eyes.

For endless minutes, Harry stared at Remus's unmoving body, then he looked to the Weasleys and Longbottoms; the parents of the two boys he had met and befriended when he returned to his parents, five years ago. Ron and Neville's parents were dead, because of Harry. Remus was dead, and it was all his fault.

James and Sirius were shouting, Lily's cries bounced off the walls, but Harry couldn't make anything out. He was consumed by one thought only; so many were dead because of him. Voldemort had done what Harry had feared and stormed the Headquarters and killed the members of the Order. Harry's Unbreakable Vow kept his family safe, but not the rest.

Trembling, Harry turned to look back at Voldemort, who stood calmly amongst the chaotic screaming. He met Harry's eyes and smiled.

"Save the best for last," he said, and turned to look right at Sirius.

A wave of panic spread through Harry and his strangled cry finally made it out, "NO!"

Harry shot to his feet, his hands still tied behind him. The Death Eaters by his side grabbed him, holding him back, but Harry struggled with everything he had. "No, don't!"

Voldemort turned around, pitiless red eyes boring into Harry. "Why not?" he asked. "The vow you made protects only the Potters. I cannot kill them, but the rest are at my mercy." His eyes hardened. "And you know very well by now, Harry, mercy is not in my nature."

"Not Sirius," Harry pleaded nonetheless. "You can't kill Sirius."

"I can," Voldemort replied. "He's not a Potter, so the vow doesn't apply to him."

"He's family!" Harry shouted desperately. "Sirius is family. You can't hurt him!"

Voldemort raised his wand. "Then you should have protected him, Harry."

Harry saw the green light at the end of Voldemort's wand and felt like his heart was about to burst. Voldemort aimed at Sirius's head and the green light of the killing curse struck him.

"NO!" Harry screamed so loud it left his throat burning. His vision blurred and he thrashed against the Death Eaters' hold, trying to get free.

"Harry!" he could hear his dad's voice yelling his name, but Harry couldn't stop, couldn't hold back his pain.

"Harry! Harry!" Lily was crying out his name.

He could feel more hands on him, Death Eaters were holding him back, restraining him but Harry fought against them, screaming Sirius's name.

"Harry! Stop! Stop, Harry. It's okay."

It was Sirius's voice that penetrated through Harry's panic and he stopped. He forced open his eyes to find Sirius's worried-looking face peering at him through the darkness. Harry stared at him, not daring to believe it.

"Sirius?" he croaked.

"Yeah, it's me," Sirius said. "I'm right here, champ. I'm right here."

Harry took in his surroundings, realising he wasn't in the hallway but upstairs in the room he had been staying in, lying on his bed. He turned his head to find his mum and dad by his side, both looking pale and worried, holding onto him.

"Harry, it was just a dream," James said to him. "It was just a dream, son. Everything's okay."

Harry couldn't stop shaking. He was drenched in sweat, his bed sheets tangled around him as he had no doubt thrashed in his sleep. Harry glanced around his darkened room, spotting Remus and Tonks at the door, looking at him with concern. He felt his dad touch his head and he turned back to him.

"You're okay," James repeated, nodding at him. "You're safe, everyone here is safe. It was just a nightmare."

Harry didn't say anything. His dad was right; it was a nightmare – one that could very easily come true, unless Harry did something about it.

xxx

The next few days were awkward and uncomfortable for the residents of number 12 Grimmauld Place. James and Lily tried their best to talk to Harry, to reassure him that whatever he had dreamt was just a product of his worried mind, and that they couldn't be safer living in the Headquarters. Harry didn't engage in the conversations, merely nodded his understanding, but not his agreement.

Harry's already despondent mood seemed to further darken as the days went on, and it left James and Lily restless. They were desperate to cheer Harry up, and to make him relax and adjust to his new life; free from the evil Lord Voldemort's clutches. So they came up with a plan. And made a trip to Hogwarts to ask Dumbledore for a favour.

xxx

It was past midday when Harry heard a knock at his door. He didn't bother answering it. After all, the knocking was nothing more than a formality. No one at the Headquarters cared if Harry wanted them to come in or not, they were merely announcing themselves before entering his room. Harry told himself he should be thankful for that small courtesy shown to him.

Sure enough, without any prompt from Harry, the door opened and James walked in.

"Hey, Harry," he greeted. "Can I come in?"

Harry, at his usual seat by the window, didn't break his gaze from the street below. "You're already in," he told him in a flat voice.

James grinned in response. "Technically, I'm still by the door."

Harry didn't respond or turn to look at him.

James stayed where he was, unable to keep the smile off his face. "I've got a surprise for you," he said.

"Thanks, but I'm not interested," Harry replied.

"At least ask what it is first, before rejecting it," James said.

"No thanks, I'm good."

"Harry, please," James implored, "At the very least, look at me when you speak to me."

Harry stayed as he was for a long moment before closing his eyes with a sigh. He turned his head and met his dad's hazel eyes. "I'm not in the mood, Dad," he said. "Please leave me alone."

James didn't look surprised. This was Harry's normal response. "All right, I'll go," James said, taking a step back. "But what do you want me to tell these guys?"

Out from behind James, two boys stepped forward, coming into the room. Harry's heart skipped a beat as he recognised the two grinning faces. One slightly round-faced, with dark hair and brown eyes while the other was taller, with a shock of red hair and wide blue eyes. Harry stood up, staring at the boys, still clad in their Hogwarts uniform, complete with their Gryffindor ties.

"Ron?" Harry breathed. "Neville?"

"Hey, Harry," Ron greeted, still smiling.

"It's been a while, mate." Neville grinned.

Harry didn't know what to say, or even do. He just stood by the window, staring at the boys he had befriended – the only two boys he knew before he started Hogwarts. The two boys who chose to remain his friends even after learning about his dark past. They had come to the Ministry of Magic on the day of his trial, to stand by him. That was the last time Harry had seen them, amongst the chaos of the Death Eater attack in the atrium, moments before being taken by Lord Voldemort.

"Told you I had a surprise for you," James beamed, coming up to stand behind Ron and Neville. "I knew seeing your friends would put you in a better mood."

"And his brother," Damien said, as he walked in to stand next to his dad. "How could you forget about me?"

"I could never do such a thing," James teased his youngest son. "I was just saving the best for last."

Harry felt like his heart had stopped.

'Save the best for last,'

The words brought back his horrific nightmare. The image of Voldemort hissing those exact words, turning to look at Sirius, the killing curse striking his Godfather – Harry had to forcefully shut down the memory of his nightmare. He couldn't relive it again.

"Harry? Harry!" Damien's voice snapped him out of it.

Harry looked up to see everyone staring at him.

"Where were you?" Damien chuckled. "You looked like you were a million miles away."

Harry shook his head. "Nothing, I was just...it's nothing." He looked to Neville and Ron. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked Dumbledore if I could steal three of his students for the day," James answered. He looked at Harry with soft, kind eyes. "You've been so anxious and on edge ever since coming here, I figured a day spent relaxing with your friends and family might cheer you up."

Harry didn't say anything, but felt his heart twist in his chest. He would give anything, anything, to be here with his family. To laugh with them and enjoy their time together but how could he when he knew each moment he spent here would have to be repaid in blood to Voldemort?

"Come on, your mum and Molly are making you boys some lunch," James said, and headed to the door, wrapping an arm around Damien and taking him with him, so Ron and Neville could talk in private with Harry.

The three friends didn't speak until they were out of the room, walking towards the stairs.

"I can't believe you're back," Ron said, the moment he fell into step with Harry. "I mean, I knew you would, what with Mr Potter and the Order out looking for you, but I never thought it would be like this."

"What did you think it would be like?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, I thought it would be after..." he faltered. "You know, after he was gone."

Harry didn't say anything. Voldemort gone? That was something that would never happen. Voldemort's seven Horcruxes saw to that.

"I never figured the Order would plan to kidnap you. That's just crazy," Ron continued as they walked downstairs. "Is it even technically kidnapping? 'Cause you were kidnapped from the Ministry by him, so if the Order kidnapped you back, they're rescuing you, right? Otherwise, it doesn't make sense–"

"Ron," Neville interrupted. "This is one of those times you really need to shut up."

Ron looked abashedly at Harry. "Sorry, Harry. Guess I'm kinda nervous."

Harry didn't say anything, but found himself reluctantly smiling. So Ron hadn't changed, that was oddly comforting.

"You doing okay, Harry?" Neville asked as they walked along the hallway, heading to the kitchen. "Your dad told us you're worried about Death Eaters attacking the Headquarters?"

"No," Harry replied. "I'm worried about Voldemort attacking the Headquarters."

Ron and Neville grew paler at just the name of the Dark Lord, but in true Gryffindor style, bravely pushed past it.

"The Headquarters is safe, Harry. No one can attack it," Ron said. "It's got the Fidelius Charm on it, and the only secret keeper is Professor Dumbledore."

"Not to mention all the other charms and spells and wards that are on it," Neville chimed in.

"How do you know it's enough?" Harry challenged.

"'Cause it's the Headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix," Ron stressed. "It's possibly the only place that has just as much security as Hogwarts itself."

James held the kitchen door open for them, with Damien waiting at the threshold.

"No one can even enter or leave this house unless they are with a member of the Order, Harry," Damien said. "Trust me, no one is attacking this place."

Harry walked into the kitchen, still in conversation with the boys. "How did you three get in? Did dad bring all of you from Hogwarts?"

"No, I did," a new voice said.

Harry looked over to see another red-haired boy, albeit his was tied in a pony, approaching them. He recognised him as one of Ron's elder brothers, but he couldn't remember if it was Bill or Charlie.

The boy smiled as he stopped before Harry. "Professor Dumbledore tasked me with bringing the troublesome trio from Hogwarts to the Headquarters," he teased. "I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to say hello again. Its been a long time since I saw you." He smiled at Harry. "You're almost as tall as me now."

Harry figured the boy was Bill, the eldest of the Weasley children. He smiled back at him. "You're Charlie, right?" he asked.

Bill laughed. "God no. I don't have the patience to work with Dragons." He held out a hand. "I'm Bill."

Harry took his hand. "Nice to see you again, Bill," he said and tightened his grip. "And I'm so sorry."

Bill's expression clouded with confusion, but before he could ask what Harry meant, Harry had reacted. He jerked Bill forward and swiped the wand resting in the inside pocket of his robes before letting go of Bill's hand and grabbing him by the throat instead. A simple manoeuvre, and Harry had Bill turned around, Bill's body shielding his own, while his bruising grip held the older boy in place, and the wand at his temple kept him from fighting back.

Everyone in the kitchen came to a standstill. For a moment, no one spoke, or moved, but just stared at the scene with utter disbelief.

Then, pandemonium broke out.

Order members such as Kingsley and Sturgis pulled out their wands, while Lily and Molly rushed forward in a panic. Sirius and Remus were shouting at their fellow Order members to lower their wands, while Ron, Neville and Damien stood in shocked stupor, staring at Harry and Bill. James tried to quieten the commotion, before he turned to Harry with wide eyes.

"Harry, what are you doing?" he asked.

"What needs to be done," Harry replied. "I've asked all of you time and time again to do the right thing and let me go, but none of you listened to me." He held his dad's shocked gaze. "So I had to do it this way. Since Bill is a member of the Order, he can open the door and let me go."

"Harry," Bill choked, his hands held out in surrender. "You want to leave and go back to Voldemort?"

Harry paused, and his gaze flickered from his dad to his mum. "It's not what I want, but it's what I have to do, to stop him from killing his way to me."

"Harry," James implored, "please, listen to me–"

"You don't know what he's capable off!" Harry cut him off. "I do." The green of his eyes darkened a shade. "And I'm not willing to risk it, not even for this so-called freedom." He gave Bill a little tug and started moving towards the back of the kitchen, where the door led to the outside gardens.

Bill had no choice but to move in the direction Harry took him. Several Order members still had their wands pointed at Harry, but couldn't curse him as Bill's body was unwittingly shielding Harry's. Harry kept his back to the wall, so no one could sneak behind him. Before he could reach the door though, James and Sirius ran to stand before it.

"You're not leaving," James said.

"Move aside," Harry warned. "Or I'll do something everyone, myself included, will regret."

His wand pressed against Bill's temple and Molly let out a panicked cry. "Please, Harry, don't hurt him! Don't hurt my son."

"He's not going to hurt anyone," Sirius said with a snarl, angry blue eyes locked with Harry's. "It's an empty threat."

Harry didn't say anything.

"Harry," James placated in a calmer tone. "Just lower that wand and let Bill go, so we can talk–"

"I'm done talking," Harry said. "Move aside."

"Or what?" Sirius snapped. "You'll do what exactly?"

Harry's grip tightened. "You don't want to find out, Sirius."

"We all know you're not going to hurt Bill," James said. "You're only trying to scare us–"

James didn't even get to finish his sentence. Harry pulled the wand away from Bill's temple, and without speaking a word, the wand transformed from a long stick to a short dagger. In the blink of an eye, Harry plunged the dagger into Bill's thigh.

Bill's yell reverberated through the room, mixing with the cry of his mother and younger brother. Harry pulled the dagger out and held it to Bill's throat.

"The next strike goes in his neck," he warned. "Move!"

James and Sirius had no choice. They did as Harry said and Harry dragged the wounded boy to the door.

"Open the door," Harry instructed, still holding the knife to Bill's throat. Pulling a hand away from his bleeding leg, Bill fumbled with the door handle, before clicking it open and pushing the door wide. Harry didn't waste the opportunity. He stepped outside, still dragging Bill with him, as the Order members cautiously gathered at the door, every eye on Harry and Bill.

Harry got a few steps back before whispering in Bill's ear. "Like I said, I'm sorry, but I had no other choice."

He shoved Bill forward and ran, racing as fast as he could past the garden, and onto the street of Grimmauld Place.