Third Place - Drama

Author notes: Bunny from a yahoogroups list. I don�t remember which list or who suggested it. If it�s familiar, let me know and I�ll credit you with the idea.
C Dumbledore and jameschick have written some of the upcoming interludes. They will be credited in the AN of the chapters for which they wrote. Please make sure any reviews for those chapters are directed to the correct author.
Finally, thank you to CD and Cassy for the amazing beta work, the pushes in the right direction and most of all, for the support each of you have shown me throughout this looooooong process *G*

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

(Harry POV)

Pain.

Pain and light.

Sharp spikes. Slow waves. Roiling agony.

Pain.

Bright flashes. Swirling color. Blinding white.

Pain.

Too much. Too, too much.

The pain won�t stop. Why won�t it stop?

I�ve screamed. I�ve begged. I�ve cried. I�ve pleaded. I�ve bargained and promised.

To no end.

The pain won�t be bargained with.

He won�t be bargained with.

His blond hair flows across a manically grinning face as he swishes his wand yet again.

So, so very like his. Their similarity hurts almost as much as the pain.

Pain. More pain.

My pleas are only amusing him.

He cackles loudly as my tears fall, as they mix with the blood from my bitten lips.

I don�t care.

Not anymore.

Pain.

It�s too much. Too, too much.

I can�t fight the pain. The light. The heat. The burn.

So, I retreat.

Retreat into darkness.

I can feel it tugging at the corners of my consciousness even now. I can feel the siren�s call of soft, velvety, painless darkness.

I will answer.

I will answer. I will hide in the darkness. I will pray that he cannot follow me here.

I will hide.

Until the pain ends.

Until someone comes to find me.

It�s too much. Too, too much.

Retreat - Chapter 1

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