A/N: I got a few reviews saying the last chapter was too gory...sorry! That'll be the last of torture to that caliber, I promise! And, so we're clear...

"Talking."

Thinking

"Writing/Signing"


"Okay. So what happened?"

Ron stood in the hallway of Grimmauld Place, arms crossed, face set with a determined expression. He clearly wasn't moving till Harry and/or Hermione explained. Harry wanted nothing more than to go to bed and hide from it all. Hide from his muteness, hide from this new, awful reality. But he couldn't. He had to be strong, stronger than ever before. He had thought looking for Horcruxes in and of itself would be difficult. But now...

He didn't know what he was going to do. He had never felt so powerless, so weak, in his entire life. He couldn't even answer his best friend's question. Hermione had to do it for him.

"Umbridge...she...Merlin...I..."

Hermione put her head in her hands, and Harry knew she was trying to figure out a way to break the news to Ron. Briefly, he imagined himself in her place, trying to explain to Ron that Hermione would never speak again, and that their mission was about to get ten times harder.

"What? What did she do?"

"She...she cut-she cut-"

"She cut what? What did she do to Harry?"

"She-" Hermione seemed to be struggling to find the right words, before eventually deciding on just spitting it out. "She cut Harry's tongue out."

Silence.

Ron froze, a look of horror on his face. He looked like he was about to be sick. He stepped forward, putting his hands on Harry's shoulders.

"Harry?"

Harry couldn't even look at Ron. He kept his head down, his eyes closed. But slowly, he nodded.

"Merlin, I'm going to kill that bitch."

Harry kept his head down. Though he was seething with anger, and wanted to decapitate Umbridge and hang her head next to the house elves, Ron saying how mad he was wasn't really helping. He was stuck. Trapped, alone, and helpless. He was dressed in rags and chained up. His mouth was still hurting like hell, and he ached all over. He had to deal with being mute for the rest of his life. Really, at that moment, he just wanted to sit down on the couch and bawl like a baby. But Ron was still holding his shoulders, and Harry really didn't have the strength to struggle away.

Harry felt a hand under his chin, lifting his head so he was eye-to-eye with Ron. He seemed to realize that what he said didn't help, and quickly tried to comfort his friend.

"We'll help you Harry. Merlin knows Hermione will be scouring bookstores looking for the perfect book on sign language. And we'll all be practicing non-verbal casting. And Harry..." a fire creeps into his eyes. "Umbridge...she'll pay. I promise you that. I won't rest until that foul toad is in Azkaban, or Kissed. And I know Hermione won't either."

Hermione had once said that Ron had the emotional range of a teaspoon. Still, thought Harry, as he was sandwhiched in a hug between his two best friends, he had those moments when he knew just what to say.

Minutes passed and the three just stood there, crying on each other shoulders. Harry closed his eyes, and for that moment, he pretended that everything was normal, that, when he opened his eyes, he'd be able to talk, cast spells, or even eat, like a normal person. But this wasn't a nightmare, and pinching himself wouldn't wake him up.

Hermione broke from the embrace and removed the glamor and chains, before once again joining the group-hug. Though the comfort felt wonderful, the pain in Harry's mouth had reached Cruciatus Curse level and he would be begging for a pain potion if he were able. Unfortunately, there was no paper nearby and he didn't know sign language.

He would have to change that soon, that was for sure. Though, as Ron said, he was sure that Hermione would be scouring book stores. And Harry was really good at learning things when he had an incentive (example: the dragon induced, ten-hour Summoning Charm learning spree.) Losing your voice and being told that learning something new was the only way to get it back was certainly a good incentive. Second to being mauled by a dragon, maybe, but still...

Plus, Harry learned things by sight the best. Sign language would certainly be easier than his attempt to learn French when he was ten. That certainly didn't go over well.

There was a loud crack, and without even looking, Harry knew that Kreacher had arrived.

"Does Master want a slice of steak-and-kidney pie."

No. I can't exactly eat it.

Hermione broke out of the group hug yet again, and turned to Kreacher, once again being forced to tell the story she really didn't want to.

"Kreacher...there was an...incident. And Harry, he...his tongue was cut out."

Kreacher stood stock-still for a moment, then ran over to Harry, hugging him around the knees.

"Kreacher is sorry for Master Harry! But Kreacher knows what to do, oh yes, one of Kreacher's ancestors took care of a tongue-less wizard and she passed down the knowledge to Kreacher." He nodded firmly. "I will go and make Master Harry some soup!"

And with a crack, Kreacher was gone. Harry walked into the living room, sinking into a chair, and putting his head in his hands. He heard Ron and Hermione enter but didn't look up.

"We will help you, you know. Ron's right. I'm so sorry...if I had just been there sooner." Harry sat bolt upright, shaking his head violently. He reached over to a pen and notepad Hermione had left out earlier, and flipped to a clean page.

"Don't. It's not your fault."

"But...if I had just..."

"No, Hermione. It was me who was careless, not you. And it was Umbridge who did this to me, not you."

"Merlin. That woman...if I ever catch her." Hermione strangled the air and Harry had to smile slightly.

"Hermione, can you get me a pain-relief potion, please?" The agony in his mouth had reached an unbearable pitch.

"Oh! Of course, sorry!"

Flustered, Hermione grabbed her bag and cast a quick Accio, grabbing the pain relief potion and handing it to Harry.

He downed it in relief, feeling the pain that had been sweeping through every nerve ending cease. Still, he frowned. There was something off...oh. Right. He placed the vial on the table, staring at it.

Perhaps it was a small thing, compared to not being able to talk. But...not being able to taste anything...

"What's wrong?" asked Ron, seeing the look on Harry's face.

"It's stupid, really. But, I can't taste the potion. Or anything anymore."

Ron looked horrified by the very idea. Hermione put her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"It's not stupid Harry. None of this is stupid, you hear me? Anything that bothers you...anything that makes you upset...it's not stupid. And loosing your tongue and being upset because you can't taste anything is definitely not stupid."

"I just feel so..."

"Scared? Lost? Angry at the pink toad?" asked Ron. Harry laughed slightly, a sound that made him wince a little. It was choked and gutteral, sounding nothing like the carefree laugh he'd once had.

"I guess, Ron."

Kreacher popped in with a bowl of soup, and two slices of steak-and-kidney pie. Harry picked up the soup and sipped it slightly, not really hungry. It was weird, feeling the liquid scald the roof of his mouth and not being able to taste it. It was rather depressing and, along with the sound of his laugh, seemed to drive his situation home. It would be like this for the rest of his life. Even if he beat Voldemort, he'd still be a freak, he'd still struggle with day-to-day life.

He'd still be the one everyone whispered about. Even Muggles.

Harry really wanted to hit something.

Hermione finished her pie quickly before setting her plate down and getting to her feet.

"Harry, mind if I borrow your cloak? I'm heading down to the bookstore for a book or two on sign language."

Harry shook his head, he didn't mind at all. It was, after all, the only way he'd be able to communicate without lugging around a pad of paper and pen everywhere and getting cramps in his hand from writing everything. The sooner they started learning BSL, the better.

Hermione strode from the room. A few minutes later, Harry heard the door open and close, and then the crack of apparation.


Hermione was still fuming at the toad, and shaken to the core about what had happened to her best friend. It wasn't just that he was mute, the sound of his strangled cries as the sadistic monster tortured him were still ringing in her ears. The cries, the way he laughed now, how he couldn't talk, or even taste anything...it broke her. Hurt her so, so badly to see him struggling and not be able to help him.

She apparated into a small alleyway behind a bookstore, pulled off the cloak, stepped onto the main street, and entered the bookstore.

Hermione always was good at finding what she needed in bookstores and libraries, and she quickly found a shelf with five different books on it, all about learning BSL in various difficulties. She grabbed them all, better to be overprepared than underprepared.

"Hermione?"

She turned around, startled.

"Elaina?"

"Hi!" her Muggle friend said with a grin. "Haven't seen you since last summer. Sign language, huh?"

"Yeah," Hermione replied. "One of my school friends had an accident that cost him his voice. I figured that I could help him learn sign language and learn it myself along the way."

"That's horrible! I'm sorry for your friend."

"I am too. I'm kind of scared for him, he's been very...closed off."

"When did it happen?"

"Last week," lied Hermione. It'd make more sense for her to be shopping for books the week after the 'accident' instead of the day of.

"He's probably still in shock. Maybe some form of PTSD." Elaina wanted to be a child psychologist. Hermione knew that her kind and caring friend, who's shoulder she had cried on more than once, would be spectacular at her job. A pity that Harry couldn't talk to her. Ah well, that's the price that came with being in hiding.

"He's also not really used to having people care about him, I think. He's an orphan, and his relatives were neglectful at best. He thinks that it was stupid for him to be upset about loosing his sense of taste."

"Taste?"

"It...was his tongue. I remember...I was there when it happened. It was awful, there was so much blood, and he was in so much pain, and I..."

"His tongue? Oh God, that's awful!"

"Tell me about it. I've just been wanting to scream, hit something. I know he has to. It's hard, really hard. We're the only ones there for him, me and Ron. The three of us are very close, the teachers actually let us leave school for a bit to be with Harry."

"Harry? Is that the 'cute boy' you were telling me about a few summers ago?"

"Elaina! Yes, it is...but he's got a girlfriend, Ginny. Well, sorta. He broke up with her after the accident, said he needed some time to think things through. I'm sure they'll get right back together."

"Maybe he just didn't want to hurt her feelings, and was looking for and excuse to break up. Wouldn't he want to be closer to her after becoming mute, have a shoulder to cry on?"

"That's Harry for you. He wouldn't want to feel like a burden, trust me, I've known him for a little over six years."

"Hmm...selfless, caring. Granted, a little bit of an inferiority complex, but still...Hermione, he'd be the perfect match for you! And hey, your the one helping him get through this now. Not Ginny. His name sounds familiar though...hmm...does he know Dudley Dursley by any chance?"

Hermione blinked.

"Er...when did you meet him?"

"Oh, him and his family moved in down the street. The two of us really hit it off, he's quite charming. He actually asked me out two weeks ago. I said yes, of course."

Hermione blinked in surprise. That was new. She's have to tell Harry about it.

"He's Harry's cousin, I think he was very...different when he was younger."

"Yeah, Dudley told me. He also said he was ashamed of those days, and something that happened two years ago completely changed him, opened his eyes. He said that his cousin saved his life, but didn't go into details. He always got this horrible look on his face, I stopped asking after awhile. But he wants to talk to Harry, apologize."

Hermione looked off into middle-distance, chewing her lip thoughtfully.

"When this whole thing is over, sure. Just, Elaina, please don't tell Dudley Harry's mute. If it gets to the wrong people...I can't tell you why, just know it'd be bad."

"What do you mean?"

"The 'accident' was a bit...sinister. Harry has quite a few enemies and if one of them knew Harry's mute...it wouldn't go over well."

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't tell you. I really, really want to Elaina. But...it's crazy. It's crazy, and wonderful, and terrible, and just telling you about it would be breaking the law. Maybe one day. Just, please Elaina. Don't tell anyone. All of the awful stuff that's been going on, it's not just accidents or coincidences. And I'd hate to see you six feet under."

"Alright, I won't, if it's as dangerous as you say. But Hermione, when this is over, I need an explanation."

"Sure. But Elaina, if..." Hermione swallowed. "If I...die...ask Dudley. He can tell you."

"It's that serious! Hermione, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"A civil war, Elaina. A bloody, brutal, ugly, civil war."

"Hermione, you'd better live. If you don't, I shall raise you from the dead, yell at you for not kissing Harry before you died, slap you in the face, throw you under the mistletoe with Harry, watch you kiss, then kill you again!"

Hermione laughed slightly. "I'll keep that in mind Elaina."

She paid for her books and the two left the store, still chatting. Elaina had apparently decided that Harry was Hermione's 'perfect match' and no amount of denying it would convince her otherwise.

"Hermione, this Ginny girl sounds nice, but really doesn't seem like a match for Harry. She hasn't been through all of it with him. You're his best friend, and over the past few years I've set up quite a few best friends. Only one couple has broken up, and they got back together quick. Hermione, I can sniff out a good love story a mile away, even if I've never met one of the people involved. And I'm a pretty good matchmaker."

"Why not ditch the psychology stuff and become a match-maker than," Hermione countered, only half-joking.

"I'll just set up all my clients with their dream partner! I'll be the best psychologist around!"

"You're hopeless."

"And you're a blind idiot who can't see what's right in front of her."

"Point NOT taken."

"Very mature."


"I was about to send out a search party!"

Harry had shoved the piece of paper in Hermione's face the moment she stepped through the door. It was a painful reminder, yet downright hilarious at the same time. Harry stood there, very agitated, waving the piece of paper in the air like a flag, with one hand on his hip.

"Consisting of who? You and Ron? Kreacher would draw so attention from the Muggles, m'thinks. Nice to know you cared though."

Harry flipped the piece of paper over. He had already written a question on the back.

"Well, what took you so long?"

"Ran into an old friend and we got talking. Oh, and Harry? She's dating your cousin."

She said this casually as she was walking by Harry into the living room. Harry charged after her, grabbed a pen that had been lying on the table, and wrote one, very crucial, question.

"WHAT?"


A/N: So a bit of Harmony...it's a pairing that's been growing on me, what can I say? She and Harry are made for each other, and I did think they'd get together until Half-Blood Prince. But this won't contain Weasley bashing like many Harmony stories, sorry! And it won't be the main focus of the story, not when poor Harry's mute and they're looking for Horcruxes!

-Winged Quill