A/N: To whom it may concern, this is my first harry potter fanfic. I know I know, its just another rendition of a storyline created by someone probably smarter than me, but, if that bothers you, just don't read this story or something. Reviews would be greatly appreciated as my motivation for writing isn't normally all that strong. If I don't get a good enough response I'll just lose interest. Sooo… on with the story!
The Pain of Memories
Chapter One
Prisoner 24601 knew he had gone insane long ago. Or maybe as he would have put it, he was bloody mad. He remembered everything of his previous life before the days of Azkaban. He remembered the good and the bad, and with all the free time he had, he thought. Apparently, when your life is as tough as his, too much thought can lead to severe instability of mind. Then again, he didn't seem to mind the presence of other people in his head. Nor the morbid images that he managed to conjure up, even without Voldemort's help. In this forsaken hellhole, why would one know, or care if another inmate went mad?
However, Prisoner 24601, or better known as Harry Potter, was different from the other inmates. He was innocent.
For the past three years he had been subjected to visions, memories and pains too great for the human mind to handle capably. They all spun around in his head over and over before he finally had to create new ways of thinking to avoid them.
Auror Ronald Weasley was at least somewhat aware of this as he strode quickly through the dank hallways of the depressing hellhole. He had been given the terrible task of transporting his traitor ex-best friend to the Order Headquarters, still located at 12 Grimmauld Place.
The war was going poorly for the Light forces. Almost every day found one less member of the Order around, or another one of the remaining wizarding towns destroyed. It was because of the bleak times and hopelessness that lead Ron to be at the dark prison today.
His orders were to bring Harry back to the headquarters for interrogation. Dumbledore, aware of Harry's visions of Voldemort had decided that it was time to throw caution to the winds and do anything possible to try and get that information. Even if it meant releasing one of the most dangerous dark wizards alive.
Ron's step was brisk as he contemplated the encounter with trepidation. This could not end well.
He arrived at the small dank cell with no problems and stood for a moment looking in. The small huddled character with long hair and dirty clothes was a far cry from the healthy teen boy he had been. The tall young adult felt a pang of sadness accompanied with a memory of the great betrayal he had felt upon learning that his best friend had turned dark.
Approaching the cell he shoved all emotions deep within himself and confronted the criminal.
"Prisoner 24601, your presence is required by Albus Dumbledore as any information you may possess on the whereabouts and or actions of the Dark Lord is necessary for the victory of the Light."
Keeping things official, Ron stood straight to attention awaiting Harry's response.
"So the old fool finally realized it." Harry's raspy voice rang out as his head lifted and his mothers bright green eyes shone through the gloom of the cell. "Yes he has. Can't win without Potter. Golden Boy. That's what they called him. Nope. No savior here. Just a shell. That's all he is."
Ron watched, disturbed as his former friend started talking and muttering to himself. After all, hearing voices isn't a good thing. Even in the wizarding world.
Shaking his head he sighed at the hopelessness of the situation. Nonetheless he said in a strong voice, "You're coming with me, sane or not."
Mad anger shone in the green eyes. "Who said he's not sane? We all know that the boy-who-bloody-wouldn't-die is perfectly sane. It's your lot that's nutters! 'Twas the bloody death eaters that killed Hagrid that's who! Death Eaters… how can you eat death? Methinks that old Moldywarts is more insane than any of Dumblydore's little birdies."
Having had enough of this, Ron unlocked the cell door and raised his wand to stun Harry for transportation. Right before the spell had left his lips a rocking explosion shook the entire building. The scrawny prisoner took advantage of his imbalance and was down the hall before Ron had reached his feet again. Cursing, Ron sprinted after Harry as fast as he could. A tiny bit of him was grudgingly admiring Harry's fitness despite his three-year stay in a small cell.
Turning a corner, he was suddenly blinded by the unexpected light of day. A large hole had been blown through the side of the large thick walls of the supposedly impenetrable fortress.
Ron looked about in bewilderment for a moment before fully realizing the situation. A large army of Death Eaters had assembled on the dark shores of the island, led by none other than the Dark Lord Voldemort himself.
A couple of the higher ranked Death Eaters were now accompanying Harry on his journey up to the evil conqueror. Ron looked on with a small amount of surprise as he watched his former friend walk straight up to the greatest enemy of the Light. Some part of him had always hoped it was a hoax, that Harry had never really betrayed them. This was undeniable proof.
Voldemort smiled cruelly as he watched the emaciated form of Harry Potter walk slowly towards him. Suddenly the air was filled with cracks as a regiment of Ministry Aurors and the entire Order of the Phoenix including Dumbledore himself apparated to the bleak shores of the desolate island.
Confused for a moment, Dumbledore was able to take into account the current events just as Voldemort was handing Harry a wand. Smirking as he handed over the wooden stick he sneered, "Not as good as you're own, but for now it will suffice. Your task is to help me in destroying all of those who have wronged you. Starting with the old coot over there." Voldemort glanced derisively towards Dumbledore.
Harry lifted his hand to look at the wand he now had in his grasp. Just as he had on his first trip to Diagon Alley, he wondered how such an innocuous object could hold the power to cause so much pain and destruction. However, upon further thought, it seemed that his former friends had needed no magic at all to torment him in the worst ways possible.
Rousing himself from his musing with a shake of his head, Harry locked eyes with his former mentor.
As Dumbledore looked into Harry's eyes, he could not help but shudder at the depths of pain and madness he saw.
Voldemort decided to take that moment to speak up. "Albus, you have failed again. You failed me, and now you have failed your own savior. Three long years ago, Harry was found holding the wand that had killed the half-giant Hagrid. You convinced yourself that for the good of the wizarding world you must lock up such a vicious criminal, especially one with such power."
Here Voldemort smiled cruelly, "Such power! Dumbledore, you signed you own death upon driving him away from you! Another innocent, sentenced to life in Hell!"
Harry turned his blank eyes to the now laughing Dark Lord. Stepping up to the powerful Wizard, he put his face up close to the others. His face completely devoid of emotion, he spoke slowly in a raspy voice, "Do you know what they say? They say one has to die. Only then can many more die. Die in pain, die in peace, all of them dead and dead for good. Everyone."
His thin and scrawny arm whipped out with incredible speed and strength to grip the older mans neck in a tight stranglehold. For a moment the startled Dark Lord stood there, before raising his wand to stop Harry from killing him. This effort proved futile however as he found himself devoid of magic.
Harry slowly shook his head from side to side. "Tch tch tch, no magic for the baddies. That's what they say and that's what he does." Several of the braver Death eaters stepped up to save their lord but suddenly found themselves stopped by an impenetrable invisible wall. Harry giggled madly, "No more death munching for you."
Voldemort's once bright red eyes were clouding over in death as he managed to choke out a last insult, "… Damn… you…"
Harry's face fell into disappointment at the older wizards choice of words. "That's all you have to say? How lame." He squeezed much tighter all of the sudden and all those present shuddered at the sound of bones breaking as the Dark Lord's neck was snapped in two.
Dumbledore had been frozen throughout the entire exchange as Voldemort's words echoed in his head. 'Another innocent, sentenced to life in hell…' His thoughts could be adequately summed up as 'Oh Shit.'
Voldemort's lifeless carcass fell to the ground a moment before Harry fell to his knees. Dumbledore looked on worriedly at the shuddering teen until a disturbing sound reached his ears. Harry was hunched over, one hand on the ground and the other covering one half of his face. His pupils were dilated and eyes open wide. His mouth twisted into a disturbing and malicious grin as his lips parted to give way to the haunting laugh that emitted from them. The deep cackling once again froze all those present in fear, for they could not only hear the madness, but they could also feel the immense power radiating from the small body.
Harry's hand whipped out, slashing the air in the direction of the masses of Death Eaters a short ways away. Screams of the injured and dying drowned out all other sound as bodies were savagely and slowly torn apart, limb from limb. Blood covered the bleak shores, running down the gray beaches to tinge the water red. Many younger aurors and Order members either feinted or became sick at the smell as it reached their innocent noses.
Harry continued to slash viciously at the air ripping the masses of evil wizards to shreds. This is the day when the prison of Azkaban earned its newest legend, for people in years to come will always claim to hear the echoing laugh and dying screams that could now be heard. And I'm not just talking about the crazy ones.
Every Death Eater was now dead, and all of Voldemort's forces destroyed in a few devastating moments.
Dumbledore came to his senses at the sound of Ron retching nearby, to see Harry standing in the middle of a circle ten feet in diameters, of clean soil. Everything beyond that was stained crimson. Strengthening his resolve, Albus started making his way over to the dark teen.
As Harry watched the tall white haired headmaster approach him, his eyes clouded over as he lost himself in his own memories.
Dumbledore's face swam into view, "Sirius would be so disappointed Mr. Potter. The consequences to your actions shall be grave indeed."
Ron's visage, red with anger shouted at him, "You traitor! How could you kill Hagrid? I thought you were my friend!" Harry recoiled as the enraged redhead threw his Firebolt to the ground before engulfing it in flames.
The worst had yet to come, as the ever-intelligent Hermione used her knowledge and insight to cause the most damage. "This is what you get for betraying our trust," she spat. A large leather book joined the smoking Firebolt. At this point Harry cried out and struggled to escape the Aurors grasps. He was stuck down and bound tightly with magical ropes, forced to watch, tears streaming down his face as his photo album, his last remaining link to his parents disappeared in the smoke.
It wasn't me! You've got it wrong! His mouth moved silently as he had been spelled speechless. The last thing he saw before being dragged away to a lifetime of misery was Remus Lupin calling out to him, trying to save him from his fate…
Harry frowned darkly. He had almost forgotten that last part. Well, he would have to talk to the werewolf sometime in the near future. Before he could worry about that however…
"Harry? Harry are you all right?"
Harry raised his blank green eyes at his former headmaster. "Dumbles thinks he can talk to us. Silly old crackpot. Didn't talk last time, did he? When it would have meant something…"
"Harry, it's all over now. This new evidence proves you innocent. You are a free man Harry!" Dumbledore gestured fiercely hoping that he hadn't totally lost the mind of who could very well be the strongest wizard alive.
"No no no little Dumblydore. I shall not be you brainless pawn any longer. I'm too strong for that! Can you not see it?" Cackling again Harry raised his hand to look at it through green speckled black eyes. A deadly force surrounded his flesh, the same color as the deadly Avada Kadavra curse.
Dumbledore stepped back in fear, wincing as a tendril of the power whipped out and slashed his cheek.
Ron had regained his composure and rose to his knees. "Harry! I'm sorry! Please stop this!"
Harry stopped for a moment turning to face his former best friend. The memory of his firebolt burning resurfaced and with a yell, the green aura disappeared as Harry collapsed to the ground in pain. Pain his own mind had manifested at the agony of the memory.
Dumbledore took that opportunity. "Stupefy!"
The screaming man fell to the earth into a silence that echoed across the bloodied beach.
Dumbledore bent to gather Harry's thin form in his arms. His voice sounded tired as he addressed the aurors and Order members. "Go home, tell no one about this. I will take care of everything."
Nobody moved until finally one crack filled the void. A couple more followed until a few moments later when there was once again silence.
Ron picked himself up and approached the headmaster.
"We will return to Grimmauld Place and take care of his health. Ron, I need you to tell everyone of the new situation, as I will be busy with Harry."
Ron nodded and apparated back to spread the news of the Dark Lord's demise.
Still looking down at the man in his arms, Dumbledore sighed and did the same.
When Ron appeared in the doorway he found himself bombarded with questions as people flocked around him. To most frequent being, where was Harry?
Ron help up his hand silencing the voices. "Voldemort is dead."
Everyone was stunned into motionlessness for a moment before the volume returned louder this time.
Ron cried out as if in pain and fell to his knees face in his hands as he wept without tears. The voices stopped again and everyone was able to make out his next words.
"We- we were wrong. Again. Another innocent! Sentenced to hell on earth!"
The meaning of his words shocked everyone as they realized whom he was talking about. Off to one side a young brown haired witch fell to the ground in a dead feint as everyone around her fell into their own personal forms of shock and pain. Molly Weasley was seen sobbing on the shoulder of her minister husband, as another young witch with fiery red hair yelled in triumph and sadness.
"I told you he was innocent! You useless excuses of witches and wizards claimed to have known him! You claimed to be his friends and family, and yet what do you do? You sent him to Azkaban knowing what Dementors do to him simply based on circumstantial evidence at best!" Ginny fell to the ground sobbing.
As the many guilty and few non-guilty people in Grimmauld place dealt with the news, one Albus Dumbledore was laying an unconscious Harry Potter in a bed in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts. Already had he sent Fawks to retrieve Madame Pomfrey from the dungeons where she had been brewing healing potions for Professor Snape had been called away on other duties.
Moments later the disheveled nurse stumbled through the doorway only to top and recoil at the sight of the infamous traitor on the bed.
"Albus! What is the meaning of this!"
The headmaster held up a hand looking every day of his 150 some-odd years. "I will tell you the details later Poppy, but it has been recently discovered that this young man has suffered needlessly. I need you to check his physical status."
Poppy gasped in realization before snapping into full nurse mode. Bustling about, she flitted around Harry's bed poking his ribs, fixing his sheets and occasionally waving her wand in complicated patterns, mumbling under her breath. Retreating to her office, she grabbed a few potions and retuned. As she administered them, she explained Harry's condition to Dumbledore.
"He is suffering from extreme emancipation, a few miss healed and still healing bones, and a mild fever from infections. All in all, the physical damage is minimal, considering what it could be, but he will be weak for a long while. I'm giving him a nutrition potion, and blood replenishing potion and a mild healing potion."
Albus sighed in relief and sat down heavily in a chair for visitors by the bed.
Poppy looked at him worriedly. She knew that he wasn't getting any younger and that the whole war had put extreme stress on him. She couldn't bring herself to ask the questions she so wished to ask. As always however, the ancient headmaster seemed to know what she was thinking and began to speak.
"Ron Weasley was sent to retrieve Harry from Azkaban as his connection to Voldemort could be used to help discover his whereabouts. At that moment, Voldemort mounted an attack on the prison and soon had Harry with a wand and me at his mercy. It was then that he revealed Harry's innocence. Harry managed to kill him and every Death Eater present in an awesome display of magic, the likes I have never seen before. He might have continued on to the rest of us on the beach had the sight of Ron not stopped him. It was strange, the very sight and sound of him seemed to trigger something in Harry, because he fell to the ground screaming in pain before I put him to sleep."
Poppy sat down just as heavily as the Headmaster had moments before adopting a pensive look. "In my studies to become a Healer, I once considered taking a job as a physiological Healer. This fancy did not last long, but in my research I remember reading something like this. Victims who have been subjected to prolonged physical or mental pain might show these symptoms even after the pain has stopped. A particularly painful memory triggered by a sight, sound, smell, anything could send the victim into physical pain manifested by his own brain."
Albus looked at the prone figure on the bad and said, "In other words, his memories are so painful that they are actually hurting him."
Poppy looked down and slowly nodded. "I never followed up on that training, so I am not certified to help his physiological state. I have told you of his physical self, and leave you to figure out the rest." The healer closed her eyes in sadness. "I hope, for Harry's sake, that you manage to fix all of this. I am going to finish up the potions in the dungeons and return to keep watch over Harry. If you could watch him until I return."
She left the powerful wizard holding the thin hand of the boy he betrayed, hoping for a good outcome to all of this.
End Chapter One
As said before, please please PLEASE review!