Chapter 51

The second Hu Yetao passed through the tall gates of Hogwart's, he heard the distinct crack of Apparation from somewhere behind him. He stopped and turned around, unconcerned, wondering if Xiaocheng had decided to follow him after all.

Unfortunately his lapse in 'constant vigilance' cost him dearly in reaction time.

Two tall, burly men were facing him, wands pointed, terrifyingly ugly expressions on both of their faces.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Hu Yetao didn't even have time to cry out; the two spells struck him in quick succession, causing him to inhale sharply before his wand flew into their outstretched hands and his immobilized body fell to the ground, barely making a sound as he came to rest on the snow-covered terrain.

The only movement the spell afforded him was the ability to swivel his eyes to the two attackers and wait to see what they would do next, pulse racing.

Both men had to be over six feet in height, both with dark hair and wearing nearly identical brown jackets that were a little threadbare in places. They had their wands out and trained on him as they approached, the tension visibly easing from their shoulders with every step now that Hu Yetao was sprawled out on the ground and incapable of defending himself.

They stopped next to him and glanced at each other, having some sort of silent conversation that Hu Yetao wasn't privy to. He inwardly cursed the fact that he couldn't even speak, couldn't even demand to know what they were doing or why. The two men didn't look familiar and they didn't seem in any hurry to fill him in either as they continued their silent discussion.

Finally, one of them pocketed Hu Yetao's wand while the other man suddenly raised his wand and pointed it directly between Hu Yetao's eyes.

Hu Yetao felt his heart stop at the evil intent on the man's face right before he casts.

"Crucio!"

He had never felt pain like this before; the fact that he couldn't move because of the body-bind affliction, couldn't even try to escape the absolute agony, made the torturous spell that much worse. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as the pain tore through his petrified body. He just had to lie there and take it as what felt like thousands of bolts of electricity jolted through his body combined with the sensation of sharp knives tearing at his insides.

It seemed to go on and on and on…

"Finite Incantatem."

Both spells lifted simultaneously and Hu Yetao was suddenly freed from the body-bind spell as well as being released from the torment of the Cruciatus Curse. The after-effects were such though that he could only lie there; panting, eyes stinging with tears, as they stared wordlessly down at him. The snow was beginning to turn against the skin of his cheek as he lay there, inhaling panicked gulps of air as his body shuddered through the aftershocks.

The two men didn't say anything, not a single word, and Hu Yetao didn't have the strength to speak, let alone attempt to disarm them endlessly.

"Crucio!"

He choked on a cry of shock as he was once again put under the Cruciatus spell. This time his body was free to writhe in the snow unconstrained, limbs stiffening and twisting at odd angles as he was gripped in absolute agony, neck arching back and mouth open in a scream that he couldn't have held back if he'd wanted to.

The man calmly kept his wand on him without wavering; bright dreary eyes watching Hu Yetao whack and struggle impassively.

It went on for so long that Hu Yetao began to see white spots behind clenched eyelids before suddenly, thankfully, losing consciousness.

His awareness returned slowly as he felt his aching body being dragged through the snow. The residual pain was almost as bad as the spell itself; as though every cell in his body was still crying out in distress. His head lolled on his neck and he could do nothing but squint blearily up at the dark sky above him. At some point, his poor vision only served to increase the feeling of helplessness washing over him. It was cold and dark and he had no wand, no strength, and he was outnumbered and hopelessly outweighed by the two brawny wizards.

The tight grip on his wrists suddenly disappeared and he dropped to the ground, left to lie limp and gasping in the snow. A spell was cast next to him followed by a strange shattering sound, almost like breaking glass.

After a moment of inaction, Hu Yetao was able to gather the strength needed to open his eyes. He was quickly able to ascertain by the dark towers of blurred lights in the distance that the men had brought him closer to Hogwarts rather than away and off the grounds. Before he had time to wonder why the men were back and roughly lifting him from the snow.

His heart stopped as he was suddenly, without warning, flung through the air, arms automatically wind-milling in alarm as he fell through dark, space.

He inhaled in shock as his body was suddenly immersed in cold water.

The lake. They'd tossed him into The Great Lake.

Hu Yetao sank a few meters in the pitch-black water before his momentum slowed and he was able to put his arms out to stop his descent. He panicked for a moment; not knowing which way was up, then quickly clamped down on his terror and forced his sluggish brain and Crucio-addled body to relax.

As soon as his panic receded a little, he was able to feel his body rise on its own towards what must be the direction of the surface, and he quickly kicked his feet and paddled his arms to assist.

He had his eyes open but it was so dark and murky that he couldn't see a thing. The arctic temperature of the water was burning his skin and quickly stiffening his muscles, but at least the cold and fear distracted him from the lingering curse pain.

He quickly shucked off his heavy jacket as he swam upwards and left it drifting behind him, lost to the shadowy depths of the large lake below. He could tell he was nearing the surface and clenched his jaw as he gave a couple of powerful kicks to increase his speed. He was sure the men would still be there, waiting for him, but he didn't have a choice; it was either breach the surface of the lake or drown.