Disclaimer: Harry Potter, its world, settings and characters were all created by JK Rowling. I just borrowed them for this Fan fiction. That's right, Fan Fiction. If I created it it wouldn't be here, on a Fan Fiction site, would it?
For Love And Honor
Chapter Eleven: What Do You See When You Close Your Eyes?
Beta Reader: PK Fan
"Two muggles and Two Wizards... Your parents are here I presume?" Harry asked Hermione quietly, his words coming in sharp gasps.
Hermione leaned back from their embrace to look upon Harry's face, expecting to see his eyes open and completely whole. However, when she looked at his face, his eyes were still swollen shut, purple and puffy, just as they always had been. Hermione frowned, glancing toward her parents, who were still half risen from their chairs in curiosity, to Lily and James, who were eyeing Harry in silent joy.
"Yes, they're here..." She said hesitantly. "Harry... can you see?"
"No." Harry said grimly, and Hermione despaired. Then Harry began to speak again, though he was obviously in great pain, "But I can see something... or sense something... I believe that I can see Magic..."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, perplexed.
"I can't explain it, Hermione. But... Every person seems to give off an aura of light that represents their magic... Muggles are very faint... Wizards glow..."
"Glow..." Hermione repeated in surprise.
"Hermione ..." Harry suddenly interjected, "What happened? Where am I?"
Hermione hesitated. She had been yearning and dreading this question at the exact same time. She knew it would come, yet no matter how much she thought it through, there was never going to be an easy way to break this news to Harry. She was torn. To tell him the truth immediately might push him over the edge, cause him to stress out and become more unwell. But delaying the truth would do more harm that good, because Harry was about to discover that for his whole life, the truth had been delayed, and fabricated. Hermione couldn't bare to add to the lies.
"Well... That's a long story." Hermione started slowly, "But you're safe here."
"The last thing I remember..." Harry struggled to recall, "Was a huge dome of light, shattering..."
"Yes." Hermione verified, "That was the anti Port key and anti apparition wards being destroyed. That dome of light was all the protection measures Dumbledore had placed over Privet Drive being destroyed."
"Voldemort?" Harry asked in surprise.
"No Harry..." Hermione said quietly. "You."
"Me?" Harry repeated in surprise. "What? You think that I broke through the wards? Hermione, I was beaten to an inch of my life... and besides... Dumbledore bound my magic."
"I know... Your Aunt told me..." Hermione mumbled quietly, then feeling him flinch in surprise, she began to explain. "I arrived at Privet Drive just as the wards went down. I rushed up to your room to make sure you were OK... But when I reached your room it was empty... you were gone..."
"I remember feeling strange... Like... Like I was using a Port Key..." Harry recollected.
Hermione glanced at Lily and James then quickly looked back to Harry. "That was one of Dumbledore's theories... He said that it was most likely that your magic had broken free of its bonds in an attempt to move you somewhere safe and away from harm. Your magic broke down the wards because you needed help."
"My magic broke free..." Harry repeated slowly, remembering Myrddin's words. "Yes... Yes... that's what he told me..."
"What?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing... Dumbledore? He was there as well?" Harry asked curiously, changing the subject.
"I sent Hedwig to him as soon as I could think straight... I nearly died when I saw your room Harry... So much blood... I was sure that he had killed you..." Hermione said, her voice quivering under the weight of the memory.
"I'm sorry I scared you 'mione..." He said softly.
"It's OK, I'm just glad you're alright..." Hermione said gently, brushing a strand of hair back off of his forehead, he grimaced in pain as his face broke into a smile.
"Dumbledore thought that I had been port keyed out?" Harry pried.
"Or disapparated... Those were his original theories..." Hermione tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but was unsuccessful.
"Original? He changed his mind?" He asked.
"He lead me to believe that he thought your magic had taken you to a safe place, which turned out to be the truth. But really, he suspected foul play. He suspected me." Hermione said bitterly.
"What?" Harry spluttered in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"He took me to Order Headquarters to fill in the order on what had happened, so they could 'help' us find you. He briefed them without me in the room, while I told Ron what had happened... When they called for me, they tried to slip me Veritaserum to coax a confession out of me. They accused me of selling you out to Voldemort." Hermione said slowly.
"What?" Harry said in outrage. "Dumbledore accused you of selling me to Voldemort? What the hell was he thinking?"
"He made the Order interrogate me for days. They were only acting on his orders, no doubt he had them brainwashed like he's had us brainwashed for years." She spat angrily.
"Why would he do that?" Harry asked in disgust.
"They said me being at your house at the exact time the wards went down was suspicious." Hermione said with a sigh.
"Even so, they should have known better!" Harry said angrily, becoming agitated. "If anyone was suspicious it would be my Uncle! The guy who tried to beat me to death as slowly and painfully as possible..."
Harry was cut off suddenly by a sharp sob of a woman in the room, and it wasn't Hermione. As he began to wonder exactly who the two wizards in the room were, Hermione cut through his thoughts.
"Calm down, Harry..." Hermione said softly. "It doesn't matter now... Not now that you're OK."
"You said my magic took me somewhere safe..." Harry said after several moments of cooling off. "Where? And how?"
"You appeared here, in the living room of this house, seven days ago." Hermione said quietly, "Luckily for you, this woman is a healer, she's been working on you non stop for the past week. She sought me out with Hedwig, who somehow managed to find you here..."
"Is Hedwig alright?" Harry asked suddenly.
"She's doing much better now, Harry." Hermione said with a smile.
"Good. How long have you been here Hermione?"
"I only just arrived tonight. L – The Healer brought me here once we had met, I was desperate to make sure you were alright."
Harry snorted, "That's odd, I would have thought Dumbledore would have had me removed to somewhere where I could be under his constant supervision and control. What's the matter with him, is he losing his touch?"
"Actually..." Hermione began hesitantly. "He still doesn't know I've found you... Or that you're alive. He has no idea where you are."
Harry attempted a painful grin. "He'll be pissed off then, I can just see him apparating around frantically trying to find any possible trace of me."
"It's no more than he deserves." A male voice growled from behind Hermione.
Harry was sure he recognized the voice, but for the life of him he could not place it. It seemed to stir something within his chest, something he could not explain. It gave him a feeling, one he had not felt since staying with Sirius at Grimmauld Place, a feeling of home. Just as he was about to ask whom it belonged to, Hermione cut him off.
"Well," She said stiffly, her voice was slightly quieter as if she had turned her head to look at someone else. "I'm sure you must have questions for the Healer about your injuries..."
"I'll gladly answer them for you, Harry..." The healer's voice came.
To Harry's surprise,the voicewas shaky, as if she were upset about something. The only explanation he could think of for her apparent distress must have been the way he looked. Her voice too, seemed oddly familiar. Yet at the same time, it was as though he had not heard it for years. He struggled to think of who these people might be, to put a face to the voices, but even as he thought about it, the healer began to speak.
"You have sustained damage to over ninety percent of your body." Her voice wavered under the strain to keep it calm.
"Do I really look that bad?" He asked in a light hearted jab at himself, hoping to break the ice.
"No, but you're still pretty beat up, Harry..." Hermione said softly. "Because some of the wounds were left so long... Well it's made it harder to heal you..."
"I see..." He said quietly, "Well I definitely still feel like I've been smashed to a pulp."
"Your broken bones are almost all fully healed now. Your leg and your ribs were the main causes of concern, but they have begun to heal well. You will be slightly tender around the rib cage for perhaps another week at the most. Your leg will be painful to walk on for another two, I imagine." Lily continued shakily. "I have corrected the dislocated fingers of your right hand. They will be stiff and swollen for a while, but eventually the hand will be as good as new."
"You must have been busy..." Harry noted, wincing painfully as he shuffled in his bed. "What else?"
"Your back is still cut to ribbons, for some reason those lashes keep opening up if you move too quickly. They've been left open for weeks by the look of them. I'm afraid they will take some time to heal completely. I've never seen lashes that deep or to that extent..." Lily's voice trailed off painfully.
"You've done an amazing job so far." Harry said to her kindly, feeling pity for this woman who was obviously feeling bad that she couldn't miraculously make him well again. "I'm going to be fine, just wait and see."
The woman gave a small shuddering breath as if she were trying desperately not to burst into tears. She then forced herself to continue with her explanation, leaving Harry wondering.
"Your kneecap has been fully healed, but it's going to take some time to work out the stiffness. You will have to work on it gradually. It may take you some time before you can walk with ease again."
Harry nodded painfully.
"And... Your eyes..."
"Will I ever be able to see again?" He asked slowly, bracing himself for the worst case senario.
Lily took a deep breath and began hesitantly. "At the moment, I am unable to be sure of the extent of the damage to your eyes... They remain swollen shut and I wont be able to examine them thoroughly until the swelling goes down... Then I will have more of an idea. It all depends on whether the acid reached the nerves behind your eyes... If it hasn't, there is a chance that I can save your sight... If it has destroyed your nerves, then I'm afraid there's nothing I can do..."
Harry nodded silently. "I understand..."
"Like I said, Harry... We will know more when the swelling goes down. But if you can see light... Then I am very hopeful that we will be able to save your eyes... Or at least restore them." Lily said quietly, sensing the fear in the boy's words.
"So I'm doing well?" He asked quietly.
"Miraculously well considering the circumstances..." Lily said with a small smile as she looked upon him. "I just wish I could do more... And faster..."
"You have done more than your share already..." Harry said gently. "When do you think the swelling will be down enough to examine my eyes?"
"Within the next few days I hope." Lily replied, "I know this is a lot to take in..."
"You're not kidding." Harry said weakly, "How exactly did I get here? Was Dumbledore right? Did I apparate or use a portkey? And if so why out of everywhere in the world would I appear here- in the house of a stranger?"
The room went silent. No one knew how, or where to begin. Nobody wanted to upset Harry, but they knew they could not lie to him. It would only make matters worse the longer they delayed telling him the truth. Hermione glanced to Lily and James, as if asking their advice on what to say, Lily looked quite distressed now that the time had come. Hermione gave her a bracing smile then turned to James, who was staring at Harry in silent determination.
"You came into contact with a portkey, Harry." The familiar male voice said that he still could not place. "When your magic broke free it somehow activated its dormant power."
"What portkey?" Harry inquired. "How would I come into contact with a portkey at the Dursleys?"
"The ring you wear around your neck." James said hesitantly.
"My ring? But that's my family ring..." Harry said slowly.
"Yes, Harry... The Potter Family Ring..." James pressed.
"But why would it be a portkey?" Harry asked cautiously, a strange sensation welling up in his chest. "Where did it take me...? Surely if it had been made into a portkey, it would've taken me to Godric's Hollow..."
"No Harry, not Godric's Hollow... That was only a temporary residence..." James said quietly.
"It brought you here... To us, Harry." The familiar woman's voice said quietly.
"I don't understand..." Harry said anxiously, "It brought me where?"
"To the Potter family home..."
Harry lay in stunned silence. His family ring had taken him to a property he did not know existed; a property owned by his family. He was sitting in his parents' house. Then he realized what the woman had said. "It brought you here... to us."
"Who are you?" he demanded anxiously.
"Dumbledore's betrayals run deeper than you know..." The man's voice came again. It was laced with bitterness, anger, and sadness. "He has lead you to believe that the two people closest to you have been dead for 15 years... Just like he lead us to believe that you were dead..."
"Are... are you saying..." Harry began hesitantly, "That you're my parents?"
"Yes Harry..." Lily said choking on the rising lump in her throat. "We are your parents..."
Harry couldn't breathe. He was sure that for several fleeting moments his heart had actually stopped beating. He felt dizzy, and he was sure that if he could actually see the room about him it would be spinning. Alive? For as long as he could remember, all he had ever wished for was for his parents to walk through the door one day and explain to him that it had all been a big mistake. That they were alive, and were here to take care of him. To whisk him away from his life at the Dursley's. To show him of a new life; a life with his parents.
Had what they said been true? Had Dumbledore deceived them all, all these long fifteen years? Harry felt sick to his stomach just thinking about all the times Dumbledore had talked with him about his grief over his parents' deaths. All the words about how he was so much like his dead father.How he had his dead mother's eyes. Such a shame.. He had said. Such a shame. Harry's breathing increased rapidly with his anger.
"Mum?" He said faintly, his breathing becoming so rapid his words were gasps. "Dad?"
"Harry... I know you will be shocked..." James said quickly, "We were too..."
"He told me Voldemort killed you..." Harry said in disbelief.
"He very nearly did..." James said grimly, "But in the end, he was only interested in killing you, Harry... We struggled, but he managed tothrow us out of the way. Before we could attack again there was an explosion and we both got knocked out... When we came to... you were gone."
"Dumbledore took me- he took me to the Dursleys..." Harry said, placing the pieces together.
"We went straight to him andtold him what had happened..." James said angrily, tears forming in his eyes. "He told me he had moved your body from Godric's Hollow himself, That bastard told me you were dead. He looked into my eyes and told me you were dead..."
"Why? Why would he do this?" Harry asked in shock, "All these years... all these years he's lied to me."
"He's lied to us all Harry..." Hermione said quietly.
Harry fell silent. How could the man he had trusted above all others really be this evil? He found himself wondering how he had ever fallen for the old man's apparent wisdom. Obviously he was not the only one to be fooled by Albus Dumbledore. He felt used... Used and betrayed. How could one of the only men whom he thought had his best interests at heart have looked into his eyes and told him that his parents had died, when he knew they lived? Suddenly he thought of Sirius, and his heart went stone cold. His stomach lurched uncomfortably as the harsh truth hit him.
"Wait..." Harry said suddenly. "If he knew you were alive..."
"...Then he let Sirius rot in Azkaban knowing full well he was innocent? Yes, he did." James spat, finishing the sentance for himangrily.
"I- I don't understand..." Harry said in despair. "Why would he do this to me? Why would he tell me you were dead when he knew you were alive... Why would he leave Sirius to rot in Jail when he knew he was innocent? And why, why would he tell you I was dead?"
"I don't know about the first three, but I know exactly why he told us you were dead." James said bitterly.
"Why?" Harry asked sharply.
"To get us out of the way. He suggested that we should leave- to get away from the grief and pain," James replied in a growl, "Knowing that we would turn our backs on the Wizarding world and never come back. He told us everyone believed we were dead, he said it would be better for us to leave and look after each other rather than stay and fight in the war... He never told us Voldemort died trying to kill you. We thought the war was still going..."
"But that doesn't make sense... Why would he want you out of the way?" Harry asked, "Unless... Unless he wanted total control of me..."
"I've been thinking about this, over and over in my mind, and that is the only thing that I can think of Harry..." James said quietly. "He must have known we would never allow you to become a martyr. He knew that Sirius would not allow it either..."
"So he took care of everyone who would stand in his way... Sirius is dead..." Harry said quietly.
"I know son... Hermione told us... We had always intended for you to go to Sirius... Always... It was in the will we made... Dumbledore knew you were to go to Sirius..."
"So he had him locked up instead... And he put me with the only relatives I had that hated my guts..." Harry said bitterly.
"Harry, I promise you," James said desperately, "even if you cannot forgive Lily and I, I promise you, I will make Dumbledore answer for all of this. He will pay for what he has done."
"Can that wait until I'm well again? I'd like to be there... if you don't mind..." Harry said in a dark voice.
"Of course..." James replied slowly.
"Think rationally James!" Lily blurted out suddenly, "Dumbledore is dangerous! Now we know what he is capable of, you aren't going anywhere until we've thought all of this through."
"It's alright Lil... Everything will be alright, I promise..." James assured her as she sighed in despair.
"James, I think Hermione and her Parents should stay here..." Lily said changing the subject as she looked to Jonathan and Julia who were all very wide eyed and looking as though they felt out of place. "I fear for their safety... Who knows what lengths Dumbledore will go too to get to Harry..."
"I agree..." James said, frowning, "Hermione would not wish to leave Harry anyway, I think."
"No." Hermione said quickly, "I'd like to stay... as long as it's not aninconvenience to you both..."
James shook his head, standing up from Harry's bed, "None at all."
"Thank you." Hermione replied in relief.
"It's getting late, Lily and I will go sort out the guest rooms for you." James said with a small smile, before taking Lily by the shoulder's walking towards the door.
"Mum... Dad..." Harry said quickly.
James and Lily turned slowly to look upon Harry. Hermione could see, that through the sadness, James and Lily's eyes were shining at being addressedby Harry in such a way. She knew they were in pain, as Harry was, she could sense it in the air of the room, in their breathing, in their movements, and in their eyes. As they looked upon him she could see the hope radiating from their eyes.
"You said even if I could never forgive you..." Harry repeated James' words, "Well... the only reason I would have for not forgiving you... would be because you placed your trust in an old man, who I myself have trusted in ever since I met him... I too fell for his manipulations, his lies... How can I blame you for something I have done myself?"
James' mouth fell open in disbelief. "So- you're not angry?"
"Oh I'm angry.. With Dumbledore, I'm furious. With you... No." Harry said quietly, "But... I need some time to get used to this... All I've ever wanted is to have you both back with me... I just need some time to get used to having you in my life..."
James nodded. "I understand, Harry." He said gently. "This will be hard on all of us... We've been robbed of our lives together."
"I'll be OK, dad. Just give me some time..." Harry reassured him.
Harry heard his mother burst into an ecstatic sob and before he knew it he felt her launch herself onto him, giving him a gentle hug. He recognized her scent as well, a smell that reminded him of a long lost childhood that he was robbed of at such a young age. His chest swelled as she embraced him, filled with overwhelming mixed emotions, anger, love, happiness, confusion. As she pulled away Harry attempted another painful smile, which he managed barely, before flinching in pain.
"We love you, Harry..." Lily said breathlessly as she stood up, "We've always loved you..."
"I know, mum..." Harry said quietly, "I know..."
"Come on Lil, It's getting late..." James pressed gently. "We'll check back on you a bit later Harry..."
Harry managed a nod as Lily brushed a piece of hair out of his face and stood, turning to James.
"Night Harry..." Lily said softly.
"Night..." Harry said quietly as Lily and James departed the room quietly, leaving Hermione and her parents at Harry's side.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked gently.
"I'm better now that you're awake..." Hermione said hesitantly. "There's been so much to take in tonight..."
"You aren't kidding..." Harry said with a small sigh, "I can't believe Dumbledore was capable of all that he has done... How could I have been so blind?"
He felt Hermione tense up as he said these last words, and he mumbled apologetically to her. She squeezed his hand gently.
"Can you really see my magic?" She asked curiously.
"Yes, and mum and dad's as well. It's strange..."
"It's fascinating..." Hermione pointed out.
Harry grinned painfully. "You find everything fascinating... But I wouldn't get too excited yet.."
"Why?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"Because I don't think I've got it down perfectly just yet." He added as an after thought.
"Why not?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Because... I seem to have two magic sources emanating from you." Harry said casually.
"Oh..." Hermione gulped.
"Well..." Jonathan Granger said abruptly, "I think we'll just go downstairs and give you kids some space."
"Good idea..." Julia added in a strained voice, "I'm glad you're awake Harry dear..."
"Thank you Mrs. Granger.. I'm sorry we didn't get properly introduced tonight..."
"Not a problem dear, we'll have plenty of time for that..." Julia said, giving her daughter a wink.
Hermione made silent gestures of annoyance to her mother and father as Jonathan herded Julia out of the room. He gave Hermione one last knowing glare, telling her that it was now or never, then disappeared out of the door and closed it gently behind him. Hermione gulped and gave a nervous sigh. Harry, picking up on her stress felt around for her hand and squeezed it, his mind full of thoughts.
"What is it, 'Mione?" He asked seriously.
"Th- There's something I need to tell you Harry..." Hermione began hesitantly.
Harry nodded, shifting slightly in his bed. "Alright..?"
"I know this is probably the last thing you need to hear right now, after everything else you've just found out. But I can't keep it from you any longer, It wouldn't be fair." She began to babble.
"Hermione, you're rambling again..." He said with a light grin.
"I'm sorry..." She said quickly, "It's just... Do you remember what happened between us on the night... the night Sirius died?"
"Of course... Of course I do..." He said softly. "I'm sorry Hermione... I tried to write... You must have been thinking all kinds of things..."
"No... well yes... but no that's not what I mean..." She said shaking her head in frustration.
"What then?" Harry asked slowly.
Harry began to feel a sense of dread well up in his chest. Was she going to tell him that it had all been a huge mistake? That she did not love him, or want to be with him? Had she found someone else? Harry felt his heart beating hard and fearfully in his chest. No, she couldn't have... Sirius had convinced him that she was in love with him. It couldn't be that... It couldn't be... Harry's breath caught in his throat as he anticipated her answer.
"Harry, what I'm trying to say is... Your sense of being able to see magic isn't off... It's completely accurate... all it tells me is... our child is a wizard..." she said slowly, as a lead weight dropped in her stomach.
Harry jolted with shock. His body was electrified in surprise. "W- What? Our child?...Did you just say...?"
Hermione sighed and took a deep breath. "Yes... I'm pregnant Harry... I'm pregnant with your child..."
Author's Note: Ok, I think I just managed to get that up in about a week as I promised. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'm hoping to have chapter Twelve up within the standard week again. Well, hopefully this chapter answered some of your questions, re; the eyes and how well Harry will recover. And how he reacts to Lily and James, there will be more of that obviously seeing as he's still in a lot of shock. Someone is going to kick me again for that cliffhanger I imagine, but hey, I'm sorry, I know I know I'm risking my life every time I do that but it makes the story interesting and it keeps you coming back, you know it's true. Anyhow, I promise that chapter 12 will be up in about a week again, right now I'm attempting to finish chapter five of Twists of Fate which should be up tonight or tomorrow hopefully. Thanks for the overwhelming response to chapter 10, Kodi and I really appreciate all your reviews and thoughts. Thank you so much. We're glad you are all enjoying the story so far and I hope you enjoy watching the events unfold from here on out. Well, enjoy guys, Until next time, Hope this was up to everyone's standards, Thanks for your reviews and I will attempt to reply to all of them individually.
Lanindur Du'Undarian
