Untouchable Face
an excerpt

“I think we should go to Flourish and Blotts first, before it gets too busy,” Hermione took charge as usual, once Mrs Weasley had released her charges with many warnings about what would happen if she caught any of them in Knockturn Alley. Harry, Ron and Ginny put up no protests and allowed Hermione to lead them like a trail of ducklings towards the bookshop. The large shop was already crowded when they reached it. Hermione disappeared amongst the shelves the minute they stepped through the door. Ron shook his head as she watched her vanish.
“That’s the last we’ll be seeing of her for a while,” he said, pulling his booklist from his pocket. The parchment it was written on was crumpled and stained with breakfast, but Ron didn’t seem to notice as he ran his finger down the list.
“I’ll be back in the Potions section,” he said, following after Hermione, still scanning his list.
“What books do you need?” Harry turned to Ginny, slipping his hand into hers. Ginny opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, a familiar drawl cut her off.
“Why, if isn’t my very favourite person! Potter, how lovely to see you!” the voice was cool and light, with a crisp, upper-class accent and it sent chills down Harry’s spine. His stomach dropped and he turned round slowly. His eyes fell, as he had known they would, on Draco Malfoy. Malfoy was dressed in swirling robes of deep black trimmed with silver and his face wore his usual smirk. His silver eyes glinted under the bright shop lights as they ran over Harry.
“What do you want Malfoy?” Harry’s voice was hostile as he regarded his rival, his hand still clutching Ginny’s.
“Now Potter, that’s not very friendly is it?” Malfoy sneered. “I just wanted to say hello to my favourite Muggle lover and blood traitor.”
“Bugger off Malfoy,” Harry’s free hand curled into a fist and he tightened his grip on Ginny. Nobody could get a reaction out of Harry like Malfoy could.
“Tut tut Potter, where are your manners?” Malfoy’s smirk grew wider.
“Come on Harry, let’s go and get our books,” Ginny pulled gently on Harry’s hand, trying to guide him away from Malfoy. Harry started to turn away.
“Always do as she tells you Potter?” Malfoy’s voice brought Harry’s head snapping round again. Malfoy gave Harry a smile of mock innocence.
“Harry,” Ginny said again. Harry dropped her hand.
“You know what Malfoy, why don’t you just…” Harry started to say but at that moment the imposing figure of Severus Snape clapped a hand on Malfoy’s shoulder.
“You were saying, Mr Potter?” his oily voice poured cold water on Harry’s anger.
“Nothing, Professor Snape,” Harry sighed, taking Ginny’s hand again and finally allowing her to lead him away.

Pale tendrils danced around Harry, reflecting off the myriad glass orbs stacked on towering shelves that stretched away as far as the eye could see. High, cold laughter echoed around him and Harry turned wildly around and around, searching for the owner of that laugh. Harry knew who it was. The question was where was he? Another laugh joined that of Voldemort’s; a woman’s laugh this time, a laugh that was almost a cackle of sheer delight.
“Bellatrix,” Harry whispered, steal making desperate circles. He fumbled in his pocket for his wand, as the laughter grew louder. His wand wasn’t there.
“Potter knows how to play,” hissed Bellatrix’s voice, somewhere just beside Harry’s left ear. Harry whipped round, but all he could see were rows and rows of prophecies.
“Where are you?” he shouted, his voice ringing off the glass. “Show yourself!”
“Alright then,” hissed Bellatrix and suddenly Harry was in an entirely different room. The glass orbs of the prophecies were gone and in their place was a tall archway with a softly fluttering curtain. Whispering voices called to Harry and he stepped towards the arch.
“This way,” came the voice of Bellatrix from Harry’s left. Slowly, Harry began circling the arch. As he approached the other side of the arch, Harry’s eyes fell on the last person he had expected to see. His godfather, Sirius Black, was standing in front of the arch, his eyes staring straight ahead.
“Sirius!” Harry exclaimed, darting forward. As Sirius turned cold eyes on Harry, the air shimmered and Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in front of him.
“I don’t think so,” she said, stretching out her hand and placing it squarely in the centre of Sirius’s chest, her red painted nails glistening against the black of his shirt. Smiling horribly, she flexed her arm and pushed. Still blank-faced, Sirius fell backwards and disappeared through the curtain while a horrible scream of anguish escaped from Harry’s throat. Bellatrix flickered and vanished, as Harry tumbled forwards, shouting his godfather’s name. His hands reached under the veil and suddenly Harry was falling into blackness. He woke up screaming.