Chapter 11: Battle Scars

Disclaimer-Don't own Harry Potter.

I am so sorry for the terribly long wait. I know I said I wasn't going on hiatus for this story but the time just slipped away on me. To make up for it I will try and make this chapter as long as possible. On with the story…

...

Harry's POV

Confusion and chaos are two words I would use to describe the end of the yule ball. One minute, I am arguing with that poofter, Greengrass. The next, I am diving to the ground to avoid being shot with an arrow. The strangest part, Professor Dumbledore was no where to be seen. Wait, you know what, that's certainly not the strangest part. What bothers me the most is the fact that all three of the creatures that attacked the school last night had no business being there in the first place. The Acromantulas would never go directly in the school at full size, especially at a party where every witch or wizard was to attend, not excluding Hagrid. The Centaurs are proud, yet gentle, creatures who wouldn't dream of harming school children unprovoked. Lastly, why on earth would Hippogriffs attack the school? They are powerful creatures, yes, but they are also loyal and kind creatures as well, they would never hurt anyone without a good reason. How could something like this happen?

Over ten dozen students were taken to St. Mungos because of how badly they were injured. If I hadn't blasted that Centaur away from her, Ginny would be there too. I almost lost my mind when that Hippogriff hit her in the head. She was almost trampled to death, if Greengrass hadn't carried her away from the chaos, she would be dead. I just don't know what I would have done if he hadn't been there, I am still losing my mind just sitting here, watching her sleep. I really wish she would just wake up already. She looks so pale in the crisp white sheet of her hospital bed, her red hair's like a fiery halo in contrast with her skin, even now her beauty is overwhelming.

I just want to see her beautiful brown eyes again. I want to know, without a doubt, that she is alright. I tell myself that if she would just wake up, I would tell her exactly how I feel about her, exactly how much she affects me. I would tell her that I'm falling in love with her.

...

Tom's POV

After carrying Ginevra through several flights of stairs, and going down the wrong corridor twice, I finally arrive at the hospital wing. It took everything I had not cast a crucio on the bleeding centaur that nearly crushed the brains out of her skull. However, I do have a cover to keep, and now it was almost ruined thanks to that no good filth by the name of Crouch. I have no doubts as to the culprit of this attack. Those creatures were crazed and practically oozing dark magic. It was just so disgustingly sloppy, I could probably lead the evidence right to him, but that would much too merciful compared to my plans for him. Now, to further my annoyance, it seems as though many have thought to come here as well, seeing as I can hardly fit through the door.

I don't have to wait long before everyone sees the unconscious, bleeding Ginny Weasley in my arms and lets me pass. I set her down, gently, on one of the unoccupied hospital beds. Her head softly comes to rest on the pillow with a soft 'plop', and her red hair flies across her pillow with a fiery vengeance. I am observing her overly pale complexion so intensely that I notice a few strands of her hair lying innocently across her face. My hand comes falling forward without my permission and begins to smooth her hair into place. Just as my fingers graze her pretty face, I freeze. I am feeling strange, I want to comfort her, and I want to make her safe again. I've never felt anything like this before. I haven't ever wanted to protect a single soul in this world, but in this one moment of tragedy and loss, I never wanted to leave her side. She is all I can see, I see who she really is, and it only makes me care for her more. An unbidden memory of the first day that Ginny Weasley surprised me jumps to the surface, as I stare at her ghostly pale face. I remember it as the day we went on our first date when she said those words that shocked me to my very core.

Flashback

"Do not let it fool you." I say as, I pull her from the waters edge. She looks up at me with a confused expression. I can understand her misunderstanding.

"What do you mean?" She asks with wide brown eyes. I notice a shine to them that is not altogether unpleasant. This thought makes me freeze for a moment, that, and Ginevra's question.

I suddenly think of the squid, and how similar our situations are. He was born feared and hated too, so he was always destined for evil, and mistrust. The thought angers me. That will always be what I hate about emotions, they can always surprise you. Why should I be angry? I have always liked the fact that I am feared and hated. It is how I always wanted it, and yet now I feel angry by the thought of that hate. Maybe it has got something to do with the pretty redhead standing there waiting on my answer. I suddenly realize I don't want her to hate me, I don't even want her to fear me, but I don't wish for her to be foolish either. I want her to know not to be fooled, I want her to be smart, and yet here she is ready to tackle any monster she sees with nothing more than her charms.

"You cannot trust something just because it appears beautiful. Even the most beautiful things in this world turn out to be evil and malicious. You trust too easily." I say as I look up at her with hard eyes, my expression is unwavering, leaving no room for argument.

For a moment her eyes take on nostalgic look, and I almost panic for I did say those exact words to her before in the chamber, but I calm after I see a stubborn look make a home in her eyes and I know she has forgotten her déjà vu.

"I suppose that's true. But, looking at things that are so beautiful yet malicious makes me wonder." She says confidently. I don't understand what she means and it frustrates me further, I despise when I don't understand.

"Explain." I demand rudely, though it seems like she couldn't care less at the moment because she actually smiles at me, my breath catches in my throat at the sight of how beautiful her smile is, especially while directed at me.

"I wonder where it all went wrong." She pauses, and my eyes grow wider as her words sink in. "I wonder this because I know that something so beautiful could not have been born bad-"

"Evil." I immediately interject, I don't understand why I'm saying these things, but I do know I can't stop now.

"No," She argues back, astounding me once again, "I don't believe in evil. At least not those beautiful things are truly evil. They are corrupted, but not evil, not yet. They are only truly evil when it shows. See, evil is too great to be masked. You will know evil when you see it. Beautiful things weren't born evil; they were made to be that way. So I wonder if they can be helped."

I am pushed out of my memory when a hand comes to rest on my shoulder; I notice it is slightly wrinkled and I instantly flinch away in anger. How dare anyone touch me? Don't they know I am in murdering rage that won't be satisfied until I catch up with Crouch? I am far too aggravated to hold my temper. I turn only to be faced with the school nurse. The only thing that stills my wand from striking her down, is the fact that a certain unconscious redhead desperately needs her help. Her expression is surprised and questioning. I take one last look at my beautiful Ginevra, deathly pale in the crisp white sheets, and turn my back to find where Crouch has hidden himself.

"Fix her." I say to the nurse in a deadly tone as I pass to go murder the culprit of this vicious attack, I think as a deadly smirk lights my face. I am too busy with my vicious thoughts to notice the green eyed boy whom I pass on the way out of the hospital wing.

…

Ginny's POV

I feel a slight pounding as the fog begins to clear from my mind, and a foreign pang of pain resonates from my arm. I am in and out of consciousness, and my head feels as if a golden snitch is fluttering around in there. I hear many voices shout at each other, I can never tell what their saying, but I know they are angry, probably scared too.

Suddenly, I feel a gentle touch grip at my shoulder, and my head and arm start to get numb; soon I have lost myself to blackness once again.

...

Crouch's POV

I stay well away from my room or any place where I would run into anyone who could tell Riddle my whereabouts. I am currently hiding amongst the many trees that cover the forbidden forest. I was here all day , and now night has fallen over the trees.

I know that if he finds me there will be hell to pay. I only have to wait until my true master arrives. I know that he will reward me, where Riddle would punish me. He understands that the children must be ready for anything, they must be taught or our world will never thrive as my master wishes, everything I've ever done has been for him.

I suddenly hear a rustle in the bushes just down the path; I set the path with them, so I would know if anyone entered. I quickly hide in some bushes further off the path, wand at the ready, as I wait for the intruder to make himself known.

There is a moment of silence where I don't even dare to breathe. Suddenly there is a chill in the wind. Ice begins to frost over the ground. My world grows cold and my thoughts turn melancholy. I realize what I am feeling is most likely a dementor's influence. I feel the cold touch of death towards the opposite path and try and find a better way to stay hidden from both paths. I use leaves and twigs to make myself look like part of the bushes. As I look to the opposite path I see a dark figure cloud over the path. At almost the same moment another figure emerges from the original path. Both figures seem powerful indeed, as they size one another up, without a hint that I hide just slightly off the path from them. The first figure that appeared moves slightly forward, but with more difficulty then I would have guessed, and a giant black shape appears from behind him. That must be the dementors, I think.

The figures move to face each other with the dementors not far behind. They simultaneously remove their hoods. The first wizard I see is Riddle. The second one is who shocks me the most; it's Wormtail. How can this possibly be? I was so sure both figures were almost equally powerful, yet Wormtail is quite clearly on whole different level than Riddle. Wormtail wouldn't win in a fight with a flubberworm, let alone Riddle. So then whose power did I sense? Surely not Wormtail? My question lets itself be known when Wormtail lefts a bundle out from under his robe. I am suddenly filled with a burst of joy. My lord has come for me. The dementors must be here to protect my lord. He is the first to speak, his voice is weak and low, but the level of cruelty, malice, and sheer power in it still scares me.

"Ah, Riddle….my new friend. What matter could be so urgent, you felt the need to disturb me while I rested. I am certain you must know how important it is for me to rest before the ritual."

Riddle looks up with an evil smirk that chills my bones, and lights my anger. How dare he act so defiant towards my lord?

"Well, my lord," 'The sarcastic turn to the little bastard's words is not lost on me,' I think. "Our plans are not going as smoothly as you had once hoped. But, as always I have as counter plan that would solve all our problems. I will be the only one taking care of the rest of our little…situation. Crouch has reached his expiration date, so you must give both the portkeys to me, and I will even exterminate the pest for you myself. Quite the deal, wouldn't you say, my lord?" HA! As if my lord would ever allow my death. I am his most trusted; he would never wish harm on me. I can't wait to see the dark lord bring that bastard to his knees.

"Very well, just get it done." Riddle smirks and nods his head. Without another word, Wormtail covers the dark lord back up in his robes, and turns to disappear in the night, with the dementors on his heels. I stare after my lord for a long time in shock. He just agreed to my death without even so much as a thought against it. The man I gave up everything for would rather watch me die then appreciate everything I have given up for him. Despair and anger cloud my head and the world becomes misshapen once again. I am falling into madness, and the only face that comes to mind is her. She's the reason Riddle's doing this to me. She was hurt, so now I have to die, but if she was dead instead? Maybe then my lord would see my worth, maybe then if she was dead, maybe, I could live.

SO that's it for this chapter, again I am so sorry it took so long. But, I hope it was worth the wait. I think this story is really coming together now. I have a few new exciting ideas for the story. But, nothing is set in stone. If you guys have any ideas to help let me know, or you could just tell me if you liked how it's going? Please review and let me know.