Death Eater

It was a cool, Friday night on the June of 1998 in Britain, quiet as well in the early hours of the morning. In the Borough of Islington at number 12 Grimmauld Place, there was a loud popping sound as Harry stumbled forwards.

He had only recently learned how to Apparate and he was still getting used to the landing. His first usage of the technique had resulted in him throwing up and dealing with a large migraine, the entire world spinning around him. And while he no longer fell flat on his face anymore, he still suffered from disorientation.

Even so, he recovered quickly and after running a frustrated hand through his hair, he made his way up-to the door of number 12 Grimmauld Place.

To be entirely honest, he was unsure of why he had broken up with Ginny in the way and place he had. What he had wanted to do was spend a little more time considering all options and then do it in a more private and meaningful way, to try and mitigate her pain. But he hadn't and had instead done it at the worst possible time.

Tonight was meant to be a good night, a night of celebration and happiness and what had he done? He'd messed it up for both he and Ginny, and possibly many others who would reel from his sudden choice as they did.

"I'm a fucking idiot." He cursed, walking up the steps as the door, as if knowing he was coming, swung open to let him in.

Walking through the corridor, Harry shrugged off his jacket and chucked it over the back of the sofa before entering into the kitchen to get himself something to drink. However, the moment he entered the kitchen, he whipped out his wand searching the area for any sign of an intruder. He found none in this room, but was still unsure about the rest of the house.

"Homenum Revelio." Harry cast, an almost sonar like spell that revealed the presence of anyone within the nearby radius. It spread out, covering the entire hours and a little further and while he picked up the presence of his muggle neighbours, he found nothing.

Not letting his wand out of his hand, Harry cautiously walked towards tithe table where a letter and note was on the table. Slowly, with his wand, he levitated the note first, never touching it and upon it read, 'There's no curse or jinx upon the letter or this note, but I'm sure you don't believe me . However, if I wanted to hurt you then you're already aware by the fact that I managed to put this letter and write this note that you're reading, that I could have it done without you even realising. So, read the letter.'

Harry stared at the note, rereading it a few times just to make sure he's wasn't just imagining things. When he realised that what he was seeing was the truth, he let out a short, humourless laugh.

Whoever this man who broke into his house was, seemed to be a sarcastic piece of shit. Even so, he reached out with his free hand and took hold of the letter, flicking it open to read its contents.

'Inside this house you'll find a object of great value missing, an object whose monetary value is small but sentimental value, now that's another matter. This letter serves as a Portkey, down at the bottom of the letter is a time and date, make sure that you have the letter with you at that exact time or else your valuables will be destroyed. Any attempt to try and find me before that time will once again, result in their destruction.

20th July, 15:00.

See you tomorrow, Mr. Potter.'

As he read through the letter, his gaze narrowed and the grip on his wand tightened. As soon as he finished, Harry threw the letter away and quickly burst upstairs. Contrary to his expectations, his room his room was as neat and tidy as he last left it.

That changed as Harry rummaged throughout his room, first through his bedside drawers, sighing in relief when he found the stone. Quickly though, he continued his search, heading towards the desk he had on the opposite side of the room to where he had a number of books placed there. He didn't know why, but perhaps his instincts were more attuned than his mind as he reached forward, picking up the photo album that Hagrid had given him in the Hospital Wing in his first year.

As he picked it up, it was light and panicking, he flicked through the pages only to find it to be an empty book that was an exact copy to his album. Looking at the blank pages, once filled with pictures of his parents and he released a breath of anger, his magic responding in turn and the book in his hand bursting into flames.

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Pacing impatiently, Harry looked to the clock to see the time was a mere minute before the allotted time. His hand gripped his wand in preparation while the other pulled out the letter from his pocket. As the second hand moved round passing the thirty second mark, Harry took a few deep calming breaths.

On his fourth breath, the time finally reached three o'clock and then he felt the familiar, uncomfortable feeling of something like a hook in his navel pulling him.

For the second time in less that twelve hours, Harry stumbled as the world around him spun. However, even before he had time to recover, he was struck by a force of some kind that flung him through the air.

With a cry, he flew through the air, raising his hands to protect his face as he smacked into a tree. And once again, he wasn't given time to properly recover as more and more spells flew towards him. It was only the fact that his instincts kicked in and created a shield that Harry was able to survive the initial onslaught enough to get to his feet.

As he did, Harry found himself looking at a singular figure who after noticing Harry getting to his feet, ceased firing spells. Instead, keeping his wand raised, waited allowing Harry time to look at the figure closer.

He wore all black robes with a black hood and a mask covering his face, a Death Eater mask.

Frowning, Harry quickly open fired, spells spitting out of his wand in quick succession. Each of them were negligently parried to one side by the Death Eater who returned fire. His spells were fast, but they lacked power, that was the first thing Harry realised when they struck his shield, but fast they may be, but they were nothing in comparison to Voldemort's own.

However, this figure was crafty and cunning, it was a shift from the norm that caught Harry entirely off guard.

While firing spells that the man continued to parry away, dodging a few with minimal movements and for some powerful spells, conjuring a shield, the Death Eater then with a flick of his wand, transformed the ground into a thick, wet mud. The sudden change in the ground under his feet, Harry when blocking a few spells, was suddenly struck by a more powerful spell than the usual ones his opponent fired.

It struck hard and rocked him on his feet.

The muddy earth beneath him only worsened the situation and suddenly his feet slipped out from beneath him and he collapsed onto it, mud splashing into the air and clinging to him. It was only a moment that Harry realised the mud and earth was rising up, forming around him like a cocoon before a red light struck him.

That was the last thing he saw before darkness claimed him, the stunning spell knocking him unconscious instantly.

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The first thing he heard was the sound of creaking ropes, wind whistling in his ears. This was followed by the feeling of being lightheaded almost weightlessness. He tried to move then, only to find his arms pinned to his side and no matter how hard he struggled against whatever was holding him in place, he couldn't get free.

Eventually his gaze flickered open only for him to let out a noise of surprise when he found himself suspended, upside down and over a deep canyon. Reflexively his body jerked, only for the ropes wrapped around his body to bind him tightly in place.

"I see you're awake, good." Raising his head, Harry looked at the inverted figure of the Death Eater, in one hand was his wand, in the other, was his album. "Now let's talk, shall we?"

"If you're going to kill me, then get it over with."

The Death Eater chuckled. "I have no interest in killing you just yet, I want to know what you know first."

"And you think I'll tell you?" Harry asked dubiously.

"Oh most definitely." The Death Eater replied. "Because if you don't, this album of yours, containing pictures of your parents, will be no longer." Here, the Death Eater raised his wand, pointing at the album causing Harry to jerk and struggle against his ropes. "Be careful, it's a long way to fall."

"You do that and you lose the only thing you have to bargain with." Harry shot back.

"Perhaps, but there are other ways to get information."

Harry laughed here. "Go ahead, I endured through Voldemort's Cruciatus Curse, had Severus Snape and Voldemort in my head. Trust me when I tell you, whatever you can do to me has already been done by my powerful people."

There was a moment in which the Death Eater said nothing before chuckling. Reaching up he pulled back his hood revealing a head of grey hair and then took off his mask, showing the aged and scarred face of an elderly man who seemed to have a pleased look upon his face.

"Congratulations, you pass."

"...What?" Harry eventually muttered out.

"I see you're confused." The man said. "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Saul Croaker, head of the Unspeakable Field Agents Division or the UFAD for short. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, mister Potter."

"Unspeakables?" Harry repeated. "This has all been a test?"

Croaker smirked. "Oh yes, every recruit goes through it. The first, a test of skill which you only barely passed. You have talent and you have skill, but you lack experience and knowledge. This was the second test, a test of loyalty. Could you be willing to let of something or someone you care for and be willing to face torture and not break. This you passed with flying colours. You were right after all, compared to the likes of Tom Riddle and Severus Snape, I'm not as good so attempting it would useless."

"Can you let me down? I'm not feeling too good." Harry muttered, letting out a groan as he felt the blood pounding in his head.

"That's good, we're currently only five minutes away from you dying." Croaker bluntly told him. "This is exactly where you're next test begins."

"Next test?"

"The aim is simple; survive." Suddenly the levitation charm holding Harry in place cut out and with a cry, he plummeted to the ground into the canyon below. Croaker moving to the edge of the canyon and watching as Harry fell further and further into the darkness below.