Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N – As usual, depending on your sensibilities, you might not like some of the descriptions this chapter. Un-beta-fied again but double checked as best as I can, so apologies for any mistakes you shall (undoubtedly) find.

Also VERY IMPORTANT notice at the bottom of this chapter – I'll give you a hint now – it is exam season again so updates will be even slower than usual – I know how can that be possible when I'm terrible as it is, but none the less at least a month and half break :( I shall explain more at the bottom – enjoy!

Possession

Harry swung his legs out of the bed and made to get up and rush but the moment his feet slammed onto the cold floor, pain vibrated up his legs. He clenched his teeth, tilting his head back in an attempt to stop the pain. He breathed out slowly, his lips pursed as he gently put his weight on his unsteady limbs.

He hobbled up and headed to the bathroom, eyeing up the bloody footprints with worry – how could he have been so stupid?

He hurried as much as he good ignoring the steady throb building in the balls of his feet and cursing his own moronic, stupid and pathetic behaviour. Then he suddenly felt as though the energy had been sapped out of him and his lugs buckled as he lost all feeling of them. He slumped against the titled wall and slid a little down it, resting his right temple against the cold ceramics as he felt a cold sweat break out over his body at the horrid nauseous feeling.

Calm down won't you? You panicking will be more of a giveaway than anything else! He felt the horcrux hiss and then the sickening feeling was gone…along with his worry. I'll hold onto it all until you're ready to deal with it.

Harry got to his feet and took several deep breaths, wiping the back of his hand across his forehead to gather the sweat there. He wasn't sure whether he was angry or not…he didn't really feel anything at all, so he decided to just get ready to leave.

After using the bathroom he looked about the room for a second, for his clothes, and then he remembered the kind muggle woman had taken them. He didn't know exactly what to do – he wasn't entirely comfortable about going downstairs in only the pyjamas he was wearing.

A knock at the door was his saving grace and he hurried to go open it, only to find the woman from yesterday there with a pile of clothing folded in her arms.

She looked a little concerned when Harry opened the door – frowning worriedly upon seeing Harry's face so he figured h must have been looking a little harried. When he saw his clothes he felt all the tension leave his body and a smile automatically bloom on his face.

She looked at him bemusedly when he did so and she handed the clothes over saying, "Honestly! Did you think I'd run off with them?" She smoothed out the crease on his shirt before taking a pair of socks that were tucked under her arm and placing them on top of the pile. "I realised you didn't have a pair of socks – and I can't have you going away from here with bare feet now, can I?" She asked, she gripped his forearm with a gentle firmness and smiled at him and despite himself Harry found it oddly comforting. "I have some spare shoes from when my boys were growing up – they are all out of fashion now but I'm sure we'll be able to find you a pair that fits."

Harry suddenly found his mouth dry, and he was a little breathless, his chest tight with emotion and he licked his lips before managing a slightly tight, "Thank you -" He breathed out and smiled a little "-so much."

She just tightened her hold a little on his arm and gave him a little shake. "Now don't you worry – I will not have you sent away without provisions."

Harry found himself wishing to pry a little but restrained asking her why was she helping him? She seemed to see it his eyes however because she answered anyway, "Why I do it?" She asked softly, "My son…" Her grip loosened and she dropped her hand down to her side, "…He was attacked – not here, he was in London somewhere – I don't know what happened to him exactly…" She fiddled with the zip on her fleece sleeveless jacket, "...but I know that he might have survived if someone had helped him. He wondered around London…for hours." She looked at him and her warm eyes were very fierce –a warm fierce light in them – definitely a mother's look and yet they were tired, exhausted and so weary looking. "It was the middle of winter and they all walked by – they left him…And he died of hypothermia." A few tears fell from her eyes and she bit her bottom lip, her eyes closing and she wiped the moisture from them. "He was blue when they found him." She whispered, she swallowed before meeting Harry's eyes again. "It changed our whole family – his brother struggled a lot – they were so close and his father…well it made our lives so hard for many years and I always thought – I still think- he might have survived if someone had helped him!" She laughed a little bitterly, before brightening again, a shadow falling away from her features and she smiled at him, slapping her hand on the pile of laundry. "So, now I make sure that I help people who need it – I can't let someone suffer when I can offer my help. I wouldn't want another mother going through what I have."

Harry smiled and nodded, "You're a good woman." He whispered with genuine gratefulness despite how cliché the saying was. It was stupid but he really couldn't think of anything to say.

"Talking of mothers you should be getting back to yours. I bet she is worried sick! You should get in contact with her if you haven't already – there is a phone in your room, you know?"

Harry smiled sadly "She's dead." He said shortly, and her face crumpled for him briefly.

"Oh, darling, I'm sorry to hear that – do you mind me asking – was it recent?"

"No – it was a long time ago." Merlin, he really didn't want to be doing this…not now.

"I'm sorry to hear that – but I'm sure you hear that all the time – it doesn't make it better, does it?"

Harry shook his head, smiling a little forlornly.

"Ah, yes! What I came up for – the doctor will see you before his daily appointments – he will be here in about twenty minutes. I will cook breakfast for you – how long will take to get dressed?"

"Er.." Harry hesitated and then guessed, giving the estimate of "Ten minutes."

"Good – I'll have it ready by then – do you have any objections to a full English?"

Harry's stomach rumbled at the mention of a full English breakfast and she looked amused "I'm supposing not?" She said happily, and she chuckled, patting Harry's arm again and she went to walk down the corridor. She paused suddenly and turned around "If there is any mess in there, just leave it – I'll clean it all later."

Harry nodded wordlessly, feeling so unbelievably grateful that he couldn't express it. He closed the door, unable to stop smiling as he unfolded his clothes. He had had a shower last night and he didn't have the time to shower again. He ran a facecloth under the warm tap and lathered it up with soap – it was better than nothing.

Do not get attached to a muggle, Brother! No matter how much it has helped us. The horcrux suddenly piped up.

Harry merely scoffed at it.

~Possession~

Harry was instantly hustled into an armchair by the unlit fireplace when he came downstairs, socks tucked in his pocket due to his bandaged feet not fitting in them. A steamy plate of food was placed in front of him with a cup of coffee "You'll want something to keep awake – I hope you don't mind the taste of coffee." She murmured, handing him a serviette. Harry wasn't that keen on the taste of the drink but it certainly had a kick to it and he felt himself perking up a little. The breakfast was gorgeous and Harry couldn't praise his host enough, still even though he knew he should be hurrying, he really didn't want too. There was a knocking at the large pub door, the rapping of knuckles on the thick word producing on a muffled sound - the doctor had arrived. He was short, portly fellow with a cheery disposition about him. He had red cheeks and was beginning to go bald with a large thatch of sandy blonde hair missing from the back of his skull. He enthusiastically shook Harry's hand and chattered away, accepting the offer for a cup of coffee from the owner and settling in one of the comfy armchairs in front of Harry.

When the woman placed the coffee down next to him on the table she said "I've Irish-ed that up for you." She gave him a large wink as she collected the empty dish from Harry's place.

"Oh, Mrs B! I'm on duty!" The doctor laughed, as he picked it up and took a sip. He made a sound of appreciation and let a very cheeky grin slip across his face.

Mrs B? So that's her name… Harry thought.

"I won't tell if you don't." Mr B said with a slight nudge to the doctor's side with her elbow.

The doctor laughed and turned back to Harry, moving his cup away from him so he could place his elbow on the table. "So, you're our guest who emerged from the woods." He looked a little amused, the ruddiness in his cheeks gaining an almost vividness as he tried to suppress his guffaws. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh but you have caused quite the stir in the village – you should see all the little old women – they are having the time of their lives!" He slapped his leg as he laughed loudly, Harry sat back, his eye brows near his hair line as he watched the man rather shocked. "I'm sorry!" The man patted Harry's knee and took a deep breath, reaching for his coffee and taking a rather large gulp of it. "Now – where was I? My manners are slipping these days – I know everyone here already, and their problems, so I do tend to forget to introduce myself – I'm Dr Jones." He let out another laugh. "Stereotypical, boring name, isn't it? But it is one hundred percent true! One thing I didn't thank my parents for – I can tell you that now!" He reached down and pulled up his black briefcase that had battered corners and dull looking clasps. He set it down and began to open it. Harry wasn't sure what to make of this doctor but he seemed friendly enough…if a little overwhelming.

Dr Jones put on a pair of plastic disposable gloves. "Now then, lets takes a look at those feet, shall we?" He patted his knee and Harry found himself awkwardly putting his right foot on the man's lap, he could feel the heat in his cheeks and the red flush running up his neck. The doctor quickly removed the bandages on his foot and whistled impressed when he looked at Harry's sole. "You've done a good job cleaning these up – the wounds are all clear." He gently prodded one deep cut with a gloved finger and Harry gasped at the pain, sitting forward and grasping the arms of the chair. The doctor looked up at him apologetically "Sorry – some are deep but they do appear to be healing nicely. Let me see your other foot." He gently eased Harry's foot from his knee and quickly repeated the process with Harry's left foot. "You really have done a good job on this, Mr –Mr?" He asked. Harry's mind went completely blank for a moment – trying to think of a name that was completely unrelated to anyone he knew before he blurted out "Peters. Mr Peters." Harry winced internally at how obviously made up that was – it was too quick – blurted out; the doctor looked at him unconvinced but nodded and looked at him pityingly.

He obviously knew the more serious side of the situation then.

"Well then, what I am going to do is bandage these up again for you," He started to rewrap Harry's feet as he spoke with a clean bandage. "I am going to write a prescription for some antibiotics – just to be on the safe side seeing as some of them are very deep and hopefully you should be alright and on perfect feet in a couple of weeks." He smiled and tightened the bandage. "I'm making this tight so it is easier to wear your shoes." He commented. "I'll also prescribe some ointment – thank God for the NHS, hmm? The amount you use can accumulate and you've spent a ridiculous amount of money on medication before you know it."

After finishing the bandages on his left foot, the doctor quickly wrote a prescription and Mrs B quickly darted over, taking the slip of paper "I'll just get that for you, whilst you get your other foot done."

Harry smiled gratefully as she darted out the open pub door and the doctor continued with Harry's other foot. Once he was done Harry's feet were quite slim – the bandages would fit his shoes – and they were a lot tidier than when Harry had done it.

"Thank you so much." He said, wiggling his toes enthusiastically – he felt like he had reasonably normal feet again.

Just then the woman came back, clutching a little plastic bag, which she placed on the table next to Harry; she smiled when she saw Harry's bandaged feet "Good news? They look a lot better."

Harry found himself laughing a little. "My bandaging made them look a lot worse than they were."

She too started laughing warmly and she clutched his shoulder. It felt oddly maternal from her and Harry for a second wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself.

The doctor then spoke, drawing Harry out of his sudden contemplation.

"Now, Mr Peters – my daughter is leaving for London in a couple of hours, I know you've had a rough time lately and she has gladly offered to take you down with her. That is of course if you want to?"

Harry was so startled he didn't speak for a second before blurting "Really? She'd do that?"

Dr Jones smiled, "I don't know where you're from, Mr Peters, but here we look after one another. My daughter can be a little cold but if you need help she will give it to you. Shall I take that as a yes?" The man took of his gloves, walking over to the bin and dropping them in there and he smiled indulgently as he closed his briefcase.

Harry nodded, "Thank you, Sir." He said, as he began to put on the socks Mrs B had given him on his feet.

"Don't you worry, young man! She'll be leaving at nine – so that gives you by my approximation," He looked at his watch, "forty-five minutes to get ready. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr Peters." He held out his hand again and Harry shook it, the doctor quickly finished of the rest of his drink and with a quick kiss on the cheek for Mrs B and a cheeky "Don't tell my wife!" He waved as he left, closing the door behind him quietly.

"So, you're off then?" Mrs B asked from behind the bar, Harry frowned softly but nodded. Mrs B hummed, "That's brilliant – you can get home – wherever home is for you, London is it?"

"Yeah, my Godfather has a home there." He confirmed, ignoring the painful pang when he thought of Sirius. Harry had secretly bought 11 Grimmauld Place without anyone's knowledge – he could go there and floo back to Hogwarts. After all who would expect him to hide right under the proverbial nose of both Voldemort and the Order by being next door?

Mrs B came over with a wrapped package which she placed in front of him and a couple of bottles of water. "Just a little something to keep you going – London is about two and half hours away. There is a bacon sandwich in there. I wasn't sure what drink you would like – but you can't go wrong with water." She carefully placed them all in the bag in which his medicine was in before saying. "I've left the most un-fashion orientated shoes I have in your room, when you're ready go chose a pair."

Harry didn't really know what to do to express his gratefulness after this woman just kept giving and giving to him – it really renewed the faith in the kindness of strangers.

Harry went to his room, leaving the bag on the table. He found many shoes in his room – like Mrs B promised. They were mostly formal shoes but they went with his uniform to an extent and after trying on a few pairs, he finally found a pair that didn't look too expensive and fit him comfortably.

He quickly used the loo and then he grabbed a couple of sheets of paper from the little desk in his room. Picking up the pen he deliberated on what to write.

Eventually focussed on writing in parceltongue and managed to write a brief sentence.

Do not harm anyone in this village or I'll destroy the locket. HJP

Technically the locket no longer existed but none the less the threat should hold…hopefully.

He copied out the note on the other piece of paper and then folded them both and wrote VOLDEMORT in English and block capitals on them both. He placed the pen down carefully and tucked one of the notes in his pocket – he wasn't sure why he had written two but he had a gut feeling and if there was one thing he trusted it was his gut – it hadn't lead him wrong before…well much. He shut the bedroom door behind him and took a deep breath – he was leaving and hopefully he would be safe by tonight, his stomach churned worriedly.

Before he went, he walked up to the bar, with the folded note clasped between his two fingers. Mrs B eyed it in confusion. He put it under a coaster on the bar "If anyone comes looking for me – give them this, promise me?" He asked.

She took the note of the bar – looking at the scruffily written 'Voldemort' on the front, she went to say it but Harry suddenly spoke. "Don't say his name!" He felt a little stupid for a minute for being so pathetic but in the long haul this woman wouldn't stand a chance against death eaters – even though she struck him as the type that would hide a shot gun under the bar. "I do not know if you're superstitious – but in this case please humour me. Just don't invite bad luck by saying it. If someone comes around here – give them that note – I hope it will stop any…harm coming to you."

She looked touched and she made a point of sticking the note into her pocket and zipping it shut. "They do not frighten me," She told him, both brave and fierce, but you should, Harry thought, but then Mrs B's look softened "You have my word, Mr Peters." She said rather solemnly, though there was a kind and soft look in her eyes.

"Harry." He found himself saying. "My name is Harry." She beamed at the show of trust and flashed her white teeth at him in a heartfelt smile.

"I promise then, Harry." She said and they both paused in that second, and suddenly Harry knew without a doubt that he would see this woman again and he hoped it was in better circumstances, where he could relax without war hanging over him and pay her back for her kindness.

But for the moment he only said, "Thank you so much, Mrs B." He felt exhausted saying it, having said it more times than he could count and not enough for him to truly express how much it meant to him.

"Enough. There was nothing too it, and don't think I haven't seen that look in your eyes!" She scolded lightly, "You do not need to pay me back a penny! Seeing you safe is all the payment I need." She grinned almost roguishly at him and Harry could almost see a younger woman in her that second as she leaned forward a little and said "Seeing as you gave me yours – my first name is Kathy." She pushed herself backwards so she wasn't leaning on the bar and she turned around sharply, pulling a few bags of crisps and a few bags of peanuts out of the boxes lining the top shelf of the bar – she gestured to his bag of medicine and stuffed them in there. "For the road – it isn't much, but something is better than nothing."

"Thank you…Kathy" Harry found himself saying again.

"Honestly – you're sounding like a broken record now, Harry. You can repay me by getting home and being safe – and if you're ever in the area again, drop by and say hello." She picked up her tea towel and swung it over to rest on her shoulder so it was out of the way of her hands. "Go on now; you'll miss your lift." She nodded in fair well before saying. "Best of luck to you…and travel safe."

Harry nodded and said "You too." He left quickly and made a point of not looking back until he was out of the sight of the pub door. He felt really upset, even Mrs Weasley hadn't been as accommodating to him as Mrs B. The kindness of strangers indeed…

~Possession~

The air outside had a hint of cold in it – sharp enough to bite a little and Harry tugged his shirt further down his wrists whilst he waited for the doctor's daughter to arrive. He sat at down on one of the benches and looked at the little village and how quaint it was.

Though as he was sitting there silently he suddenly heard a scrapping sound – like a shoe on gravel, Harry's head turned in the direction he had hear it from. He jumped to his feet and looked around, moving slowly and carefully, he caught a glimpse of a black cloak disappear around a corner.

Despite his better judgment Harry followed it and almost ran straight into Snape, who was sneering at him and looked even more bloodless than usual.

"I see you've made yourself very comfortable instead of making your way back to Hogwarts like anyone sane would." The man sneered, his wand pointed at Harry threateningly.

As though Harry's mouth couldn't stop itself, Harry hear himself saying tauntingly, "I see that he has been a little angry lately – my, you're looking more sallow than normal, Snape."

Snape's dark eyes narrowed and his sneer became more pronounced as he tried to control his fury by hissing lowly."You idiot brat! Why are you still here?"

"I'm leaving in a second actually!" Harry hissed sceptically back before continuing in frustration. "Anyway, whose side are you on? One minute you're with V-him then you're telling me to get away!" He regretted it a little when he saw Snape's wand spark a little.

"Be quiet, you ungrateful brat!" Snape spat, "I am the side I see fit – and you are not promoting your cause very well. Perhaps I should just hand you over to the Dark Lord and reap the rewards instead of covering for your ungrateful hide!"

Harry felt his anger flare a little more and found himself returning, "Oh, yes! Forgive me - I forgot how invaluable you are!"

"I present a more tangible value than you do, Mr Potter." The man sneered. "In fact, I would go as far to say that you value is actually diminishing day by day."

"Oh, for fucks sake, Snape! Come off it!" Harry snorted, "We both know that he only keeps you around so you're called the ugly one."

Snape spluttered angrily for a second, and in that moment Harry snatched up the small ceramic flower pot on the nearby window ledge and smashed it over Snape's skull. The man dropped like a sack of shit, and apart from his foot twitching for a second he remained completely still. Snape's wand fell out of his relaxed fingers and started to roll – as the street was not flat. Harry swore and darted forward to try and snatch the wand of the cobble road. However, his fingers missed the slim piece of wood and the blasted thing rolled over a drain, falling into the large grate and the dirty water below with a slight plop sound and a small splash. Harry swore again but reasoned seeing as he didn't have a wand anyway, it was not a great loss – it wasn't even his wand.

Harry was then struck by inspiration and took the note from his pocket and tucked into Snape's hand. Seeing as the body was hidden from view Harry darted away and went back to his bench, waiting a little impatiently for his lift. He looked back and couldn't see Snape's prone form nor hear the profanities and curses sure to herald Snape's awakening. Fortunately he didn't have to wait long as he heard a car approaching. He looked at the large clock he could see on one of the village buildings and saw it was nine exactly.

An old car pulled up – probably not even worth a hundred quid, it had a couple of patches of rust on the side and it screeched as it braked. A young girl hopped out a second later, she was quite short too – but nothing like her father from what Harry could see, she was as skinny as a rake, and instead of her father's cheery manner she approached him with a cynical look on her face, though she was still rather radiant looking. She smiled, however, and held out her hand when she reached him. "Hi, I'm Penny – and I'm presuming you're our mystery guest who turned up in the middle of the night?"

Harry flushed a little and nodded slightly bashfully. It seemed she had her father's brashness as well.

"Oh, don't be like that!" She laughed, loud and brashly, her blonde ponytail swinging with her movement, "Honestly! You're the most interesting thing to happen for a long time." She gestured with her head for him to follow her to the car. "You have any more stuff other than the bag?" She asked looking around Harry's feet.

"No." He said, shooting a look back at where he knew Snape lay and turning back to Penny with a strained smile.

"Fair 'nough." She hummed and she opened her car door, Harry quickly followed to do the same on the other side. As she was putting on her seat belt she continued. "Yeah – seriously, you have been giving all the old biddies stuff to talk about." She looked around before pulling away. "Last week the most interesting thing they had to talk about was how one of the local cats had decapitated a whole garden of its flower heads – oh the scandle!" She chuckled shaking her head and waving cheerily to her father who was walking up to one of the little cottages surrounded by a prize winning garden. "Then," She shot a quick look at him, "Then you come along – late at night, no shoes and looking like death apparently – they will thrive on this for probably six months!"

Despite himself Harry felt a tendril of amusement. At least this ride wouldn't be boring, he thought.

~Possession~

Harry stared out the car window tiredly, feeling his eyelids drooping. He pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes trying to sooth the prevalent itch that was constantly there. After an hour of meaningless chatter on both their parts, Penny and Harry had gotten bored of talking, lapsing into silence as they travelled.

He put his glasses back on only to find that the world blurred slightly with them on, he frowned before taking them off again – the world was still blurry. He felt a slight bit of panic stirring in his gut.

I'm trying to correct your eyes Brother – calm down. The Horcrux whispered to him in both an exasperated and slightly fond tone.

He relaxed marginally, slumping slighting in his seat before asking Why? Not that I'm ungrateful but still…

He felt a twitch like movement in his mind – like a vibrating and then he realised the Horcrux was laughing at him.

Because, dear Brother, if you lose your glasses we cannot have you wondering around blindly now – can we? And leaving these somewhere is a good red herring.

Harry gave a hum of agreement but did not make further comment – he quickly darted a glance at the muggle driving – he was weird enough to her without bloody humming to himself and having a conversation about leaving his glasses somewhere to suggest his own demise. She would leave him on the road side for sure!

I have also healed some of the deepest cuts in your feet – still take those dirty muggle medicines but the worst have been healed.

Harry smiled a little and gave an almost indivisible nod of thanks.

He put on his blurry glasses for appearances sake and watched the greenery speed by apathetically.

It was a short while after this, after Harry had seen all kinds of trees blurred into endless green and brown, he felt Penny brake sharply. He slumped forward with the motion of the car for a second.

"What the hell is this?" He heard Penny ask angrily as she braked sharply again, causing Harry to fly forward in his seat again. Harry looked, squinting at a figure in the middle of the country road – just standing there – back turned to the car.

Penny looked at Harry, shrugging with her hands before slamming them back on the wheel – her pony tail whipping about with vigour with her sharp head movements. She pursed her lips determinedly for a few seconds before using the car horn several times. Then called the figure several unflattering names – punctuated each time with a blare of the car horn.

Meanwhile Harry watched the figure with worry – he could see they were wearing all black – with a hood, he placed his hands on the dashboard and leant forward, letting his glasses slip down his nose as to give his improving eyes a better chance to identify the figure.

"Well-" Penny gave a slight harrumph, "Fuck this!" She altered her grip on the steering wheel and started to drive onwards but very slowly.

Suddenly the figure whipped around, a flash of red lips and a raised wand in a pale gnarled hand. The mouth moved suddenly and from the tip of the pale wood a bright orange light sprung from it.

It struck just in front of the car.

"Fuck!" Penny shouted as she turned the wheel sharply, eyes wide, panicked, mouth gaping as she tried frantically move the car from the large fire.

There was another burst of flame, causing the car to rock from the sweltering heat. The paint bubbled on the bonnet and Harry could almost feel his skin flare an angry red from the heat. There was another flare of light and the car skidded sideways on the road causing Penny to scream in fear. "For fucks sake! Get out of the fucking car!" She screeched, panicking fingers trying to unhook her belt and fumbling ineffectively at the thin belt across her chest. Harry went to reach to help her with his calmer and steady fingers. Though there was a sudden silence as though everything had stopped for a split section.

Harry wasn't sure how it happened but then there was a feeling of weightlessness for a brief second. It took Harry a few seconds to realise that the car had been sent flying in the air. Harry' stomach flipped in that nauseating way as they were thrown up and Penny screamed in terror, her hands now clutching the belt for dear life, causing the belt to crease and become thin. The skin around her knuckles taunt and white as her grip got tighter when the car started to return down to earth. Harry was clutching the seat and he held in breath – making a sound seemed impossible at the moment.

Then the car started to roll.

It spun dizzyingly and Harry could hear screaming – both Penny and him. Harry swung his arms up, bracing himself against the top on the car so he didn't hit his head.

The car came down with a sickening crunch, landing upside down, metal crunching loudly and paint flaking. The world rolled around for a few minutes as the car went down a grassy slope and rolling into a crop field, knocking down crop with a cracking sound as individual plants where broken.

Green,

Black,

Blue,

Yellow,

Spinning,

White,

Black,

With one last roll the car landed upside down, rocking worriedly a couple of times, it finally settled.

The battered metal framework groaned angrily and Harry could actually hear the wheels spinning madly in the air. He thought he must have black out for a second, though his arms had stayed strong as stone pillars and had kept him from falling on his head, as there was nothing and then sound and colour suddenly came back as though being hit with a wall.

He groaned loudly.

His head lolled and it ached from where he had hit it a couple of times, his arms that supported his body were shaking and he used his left hand to push the cracked glass out of the window. He looked at his left hand and saw the funny angle his thumb was at – it looked broken. He managed to unhook his belt before gingerly lowering himself onto his shoulders and ignoring how painful it was for his neck and it increased the ringing in his head.

He slowly got his legs through the empty window and swung his body out completely – hissing loudly at the stinging sensation as mini shards of glass cut into his back. He briefly touched the car to push himself to his feet but he gasped at the burning, white hot heat, he felt in the tips of his fingers from the scalding metal. He touched his thumb which was very numb, but the moment his fingers made contact with the searing hot skin a surge of pain shot through his arm.

Definitely broken.

He blew on his fingers and waved them in the air as though it might cool them, ignoring how the ground seemed to be moving from under him. He briefly touched the side of his face, it was wet and sticky with a little blood, and there was a giant lump that covered his temple and cheek – he bet it would turn purple later on. None the less, he was surprised how little damage he had acquired from the crash – he wondered- Penny!

He ran around the upturned car – running raggedly and in a large and wavering circle until he got to Penny's door, he fell to his knees and peered into the shattered window.

And wished he hadn't.

She was covered in blood – she was completely red.

Harry looked at the embedded krooklok in Penny's stomach, half of the shredded metal emerging through Penny's spine. One of her eyes was completely gone, just a blood hole left were her right eye used to be. Her left big brown eye rolled around wildly. She made a choking sound of pain and blood flooded out from her mouth in a giant choking rush, staining her lips and chin, the alabaster flesh looking like silky linen stained with red.

She suddenly caught sight of Harry and she looked at him questionably – as though she wasn't sure what was happening. Harry found himself staring, frozen and shocked until a cry came from Penny, her eyelids closing hiding her brown iris and the bloody remains of the other, the blood still pouring out of every orifice on her face. Her lips pulled back, baring her teeth and the remains of her beautiful face crumpled in agony and the rejection of tears, they left watery red stains on the left cheek, revealing a horrid bruise forming under the layer of make-up.

Harry grabbed the small hand that wasn't crushed and held it tightly, unable to think of anything to say that wasn't patronising bullshit, and she opened her eye and smiled shakily and gratefully to him. Harry looked at the pool of blood that was seeping out from where the krooklok was embedded and winced.

Then Penny's hand gave a spasm around his – clutching it with fervour for a moment before its hold in the same second started to falter and her brown eye that had been filled with life and been happy started to lose the shine of the living and gain the glassy effect of death.

"Oh Jesus, oh Jesus – Jesus – FuckFuckFUCKFUCK!" Harry cried out dropping her hand and cupping her blood sodden face. "Pen-Penny – Look at me! PENNY!" He yelled, as her eye completely missed him, swivelling around the green field, the red fire and the blue sky – then him.

"Good girl! Penny – keep looking at me."

She focused on his mouth – watching his lips forming the words but he didn't think she was hearing what he was saying.

Words finally started flowing then - absolute nonsense but Penny didn't seem to hear him , at least Harry didn't think she did, but a flicker of a smile pulled at her mouth for the briefest moment before her eye closed and she stopped breathing. In the roaring of the fire, the smoke and the harsh wind it was incredible how Harry could see and hear only Penny and the last exhale she made almost sounded as though she sighed for her last breath.

Harry let his hands slide of her face and he looked at the blood staining his hands – his fault, the blood he had spilt by being with her in the car.

How old had she been? Twenty-four, Harry guessed – probably younger and her whole life was cut short because he had accepted a lift.

He hated himself in that second – maybe because of the fact that he didn't comfort her until it was too late, didn't try to help or maybe it was because he knew he had to leave her body behind in a field – he was abandoning her and it ate at him (like the creatures would her) to think he had to do that.

He pushed himself to his feet, apathy and numbness making his movements sluggish and tired, he was just about to leave when he heard several cracks of apparition – somewhere in the crop.

It was lucky that the crop was very tall, as it just hid him from view – but it also hid whoever was in the crop with him. He scowled in anger and worry realising that he was trapped and surrounded in the crop with wizards – and he didn't know whether they were the Order or Death Eaters.

In either case he still didn't have his fucking wand.

A/N – Review please!

Also, if you're looking for some more swearing and hate from Tom Riddle or even and AU!Harry check out my one-shot Still A Mudblood you may not like it but I am a shamelessly using this fic to promote my other works ;)

Right as I said at the top, it is exam season and so this is the last definite chapter before my exams – but it is entirely possible that inspiration will strike me again – it tends to do that during times that it shouldn't, so please do not get your hopes up but it could happen.

Please let me know what you would like to happen – who is in the crop with Harry, will he get away? Let me know – it probably will not influence what happens but I would love to know your opinion.

So, my exams finish at the end of June – so I am hoping that I will have something done by mid-July – as I will have nothing else to do but write then.

However – this has been my longest chapter for this fic so…hopefully it will keep you going for a while :)

Thanks everyone and review please :)