Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Disgaea. This should be rather obvious.

0x0x0x0

"What happened?" asked Hermione, as she and Luna arrived at nearly the same time.

"We found a Horcrux," said Etna, not looking up as she cradled Harry in her lap.

Luna used her staff to poke the twisted silver diadem, while Harry's blood wolf lapped at the blood spilling down Harry's face.

"His scar. It set off his scar, didn't it?" asked Hermione.

"I didn't think it would. I really didn't," said Etna. "I wanted more time, and I was so stupid. So stupid, I should have realized it would happen."

"His scar is one of them," said Luna.

"It is?" asked Hermione.

"Come on, Harry, you can do this. You can beat him. Do it for us... please do it for us. Force him out. You want to come back to me, Harry, so you'd better come back. You're a Hero, dammit. Heroes don't lose!"

Hermione watched as the Bloodwolf moved on to Harry's forehead, and there was a hissing sound, as though the blood itself was boiling in the wound. She saw Etna whispering over Harry, and leaned over to listen.

"Please don't make me," whispered Etna. "She showed me how, before she did. I really didn't want to know, but I can if I have to. So please don't. Just live. For Hermione, for Luna, for Ron and Elizabeth, for anyone at all. Even me, if you think that's a good idea. Just live. Please."

Hermione quietly stepped back, and gave a nervous glance to Luna. Luna stood as though a silent guardian, but tears were at her eyes.

What could Hermione do, but take hold of Luna's hand, and grip it in her own?

0x0x0x0

It wasn't painful, slipping unconscious. It never was. Everything went dark, and then it wasn't, and he was awake.

Except that isn't what happened, this time.

Instead, he knew he wasn't awake. This seemed like a bad thing, to Harry, and he rather wished he was.

"You won't wake," commented a voice Harry rather wished he didn't recognize. He turned to find a smiling Voldemort. It was a sight so grotesque, it matched only Snape's teeth. "You'll never wake again, in fact."

Harry made no motion or no comment for or against this. Instead, he stood and watched as the noseless abomination that was the Dark Lord Voldemort began to pace and monologue.

"I don't know how you've survived this long, but I will kill you, Harry Potter. It appears that I will have the last laugh, even after I was destroyed by your mother's sacrifice. And do you know why, Harry Potter?"

"No. Why?"

"Because you are naught but a foolish boy, and I am Lord Voldemort."

"So the other times I defeated you don't mean anything?"

"You? A mere boy, defeating I, a Dark Lord? An amusing bit of storytelling, perhaps."

"Well, there was that time in first year, when you tried to get the stone-"

"What would I want with some stone, you insolent little whelp?"

"It was the Philosopher's Stone, and you didn't have a body," replied Harry, realizing that this wasn't Voldemort himself. It was a piece of him, a shard of him. One of his Horcruxes, the one in his scar.

"A pathetic child's lie, attempting to fool me. I admit, an amusing story, but one of fiction."

"How about your diary, using a fang from the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets?" asked Harry.

This caused Voldemort to pause.

"Or at your father's grave, Tom Riddle, after you performed a ritual involving bone of the father?"

Voldemort was seething, as his body crackled with power. His wand was out, and Harry was prepared to dodge Voldemort's curse as he cast.

"Crucio!" shouted Voldemort. Instead of the curse itself, however, a spray of power and lighting seemed to jump out of the tip of the wand, and into the air. Voldemort shuddered, and collapsed, screaming.

"No! This is impossible!" The power around him crackled, and arced away from him again and again. "I am Lord Voldemort! I am immortal!"

Harry felt he should say something witty and amusing, like the men in the action movies Dudley loved so much, but it didn't seem like much of a victory at all. Instead, he watched as the strength and power was ripped away from Voldemort, the man slowly turning into a thing as his skin began to crack and bleed. The black, regal robes burnt to ash, revealing an emaciated frame. Harry stepped back, and watched as what remained of the skin and muscle and bones seemed to fall apart, Voldemort's limbs rotting off, falling the shorter and shorter distance to the ground and collapsing into dust.

Voldemort's screams became less and less comprehensible, but Harry watched all the same. And when it was done, he closed his eyes, and felt something wet on his face.

0x0x0x0

Etna barely noticed when Harry opened his eyes. She seemed to be whispering something to herself so quietly, he couldn't hear her, even if her face was so close to his. That, and it was drowned out by the quiet panting of a dog.

He looked up, to see his bloodwolf, teeth stained red, sitting patiently, waiting for him. The wetness on his cheeks seemed to be from something else, and he realized Etna's eyes were watery. Was she crying?

"Hi," he croaked out.

"Harry?" asked Etna.

"Yeah."

"Prove it."

Harry blinked at this request, until he remembered what he just had to deal with.

"Moldiwort is a whiny drama whore in need of a-"

The arms encircling him crushed him into a hug so hard he felt a few pops from his spine.

"You aren't allowed to scare me like that, Harry."

"Right," he managed to croak out, as he felt the hug tighten, and his ribs begin to creak.

"You aren't allowed," she whispered.

"Harry?" came Hermione's worried voice. "You're alright?"

"Can't breath," whispered Harry.

Etna released him, sighing.

"Fine, I won't murder you for daring to make me so worried. Now if you excuse me, this room is rather dusty, and some of it is in my eyes."

"Right," said Harry, smiling, standing while watching as Etna wiped her face.

"You should be very concerned with the dust in this room," began Luna. "Jezzling Nacker-knocks live in dusty magical rooms, and are very effective at causing watery eyes in stressful situations."

"I suppose they affect Demons rather acutely?" asked Hermione.

"I don't honestly know," replied Luna. "No one's ever had the chance to find out. I suppose now is as good a time as any. The best way to determine if you've been infected is if you feel better holding each other, rather than apart."

Harry decided to humor Luna, and walked up to Etna.

"Closer than that, Harry."

Harry wrapped his arms around Etna, and she rocked back into his arms.

"And how do you feel?" asked Luna. "It's very important you be honest. This is a fascinating discovery in crytozoology that will resonate for years to come."

"Luna, I recall hearing the effects were stronger if they were alone," said Hermione.

"True, true," said Luna. "Sometimes I do get caught up in the moment. Come along, my knight. We'll have to test out our implements at a later date."

Etna ran her fingers along Harry's arm, as Hermione and Luna left.

"How do you do it?" asked Etna, when they were finally alone.

"Do what?"

Etna turned around in his arms, wrapper hers behind his neck.

"Do this. To me. How do you do it?"

Harry shrugged.

"I do believe I need to investigate this mystery, and I think I know just how to do it."

Etna pulled Harry into a kiss.

0x0x0x0

Etna was annoyed with herself. She'd made a mistake, and it nearly cost her Harry. And she freely admited that was another annoyance entirely.

She was attracted to him, not because he was good looking (he was, in a scrawny-puppy-that'd-try-to-bite-off-your-leg-if-you-kicked-it sort of way), or that he was a fighter and survivor through and through (much like she was).

No, she was attracted to him because he cared.

He knew she was a demon, and he still cared. She'd put him through hell and back (oh, how he wished that was hell and back. This would beat it all by a long shot), and he still cared. She'd beaten the tar out of him, broken his bones, and made him bleed, and still he cared.

She knew she was falling for him, and she knew it was probably a mistake, but it didn't matter. Harry was who he was, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Then she made a mistake, and it nearly cost them both.

It was such a simple mistake, a stupid mistake, as well. But she'd made it. And now she was paying for it. And she was going to pay for it.

Especially tonight.

She'd lead Harry out of the Room of Endless Junk, and then back through the door into a nice, simple bedroom.

"We aren't going to do anything, you just... probably shouldn't be alone tonight."

"Why?"

"I had nightmares, the first time. Dreams of who I killed. Bits and pieces of memories."

She watched him swallow in trepidation.

"I thought it'd be a good idea for you to not be alone," she finished. She crawled into the bed, her back against the headboard, and her legs cross-legged.

"Come on," she said.

Harry followed her into the bed, unsure of just what to do.

"Lay your head, here," she added.

He did, and she ran her fingers through his hair, and across the scabbing over scar. She picked a few of his hairs out of it, and he barely noticed the small pin-pricks of pain because of it.

"Just get some sleep, alright?"

"These memories..." began Harry.

"Yeah?"

"Are they just his memories?"

"Yeah," replied Etna. "The bits that aren't, they're already part of you. These are the bits that aren't you, the bits that don't belong."

Harry nodded. He was already tired from his fight with the Horcrux, and the added snogging that Etna had given him. Now, he was laying in what was the most comfortable pillow he'd ever used, even if it was a little on the bony side.

He closed his eyes.

0x0x0x0

Molly smiled as she saw Hedwig fly into the Burrow, until she noticed the steaming red letter attached to her. Hedwig dropped it, and then immediately flew back out the window. She rolled her eyes, and with a few quick wand movements, turned the howler back into a regular letter. She knew these magics inside and out, and it wasn't that hard to disarm them, by that point.

She opened the envelope, expecting Harry's barely comprehensible scrawl, and instead found her daughter's. She smiled at that, thinking her howler had done the trick, at least until she read the first line.

Dear Mother,

Harry now hates both of us. Thank you for ruining everything. His exact words were "I will never set foot in the Burrow for as a long as I live." Again, thank you, for ruining all chances of ever being with him.

I'm lucky that Hedwig recognized what this letter was, and when I said it was for you, she jumped at the chance of delivering it. Why? Because she's more loyal to Harry than any of us, and she knows just how you hurt him.

Just so you're aware, he didn't even listen to your letter. It managed to get through part of the first sentence, before he he stabbed it with his knife, and sank the knife over two inches into the Gryffindor table. A butter knife, mother. BECAUSE YOU SENT ONE OF YOUR BLOODY-FUCKING HOWLERS TO HARRY. I'm surprised he still talks to Ron, because of this. Then again, I heard Ron talking with his girlfriend, and how he wants to meet her parents, instead of taking her to meet you.

Oh? Did you not know? Ron's now dating Elizabeth BULSTRODE. Yes, he's more willing to meet the Bulstrodes, than admit you're his mother. Congratulations. It's little wonder both Bill and Charlie left the country to be away from you, and Percy doesn't even talk to Dad, even though they work in the same bloody building.

But enough about your ability to tear apart your own family. Let's go back to ruining all chances of me ever being with Harry. I wrote Dad for advice. NOT ONE OF YOUR BLOODY HOWLERS. Why did you even think I wanted that? Oh, right. BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T THINK! YOU NEVER THINK! GRYFFINDORS CHARGE FORWARD! And you know what? The Hat wanted me in Ravenclaw. It said a lot of thinking would have done me good. Well, now it seems I understand why that was a good thing.

Molly put the letter down, and her eyes returned back to that first line.

Both Harry and Ginny were in a temper, and it'd all blow over. There were just some bad feelings from over the summer, but it'd blow over. It always blew over. Now, clearly, Ginny was saying a few things that she didn't actually mean. I mean, Bill and Charlie, leaving England to get away from her? That was just silly.

Now, this Bulstrode girl... clearly, Ron was falling in with a bad crowd. She'd have to correct that.

"Oh, is that a letter from Ginerva?"

"Hmm, yes. Just to warn you, she's in a bit of a snit, right now," grumbled Molly. She'd had enough experience with her own household that sending something back would only make things worse. Instead, she'd give herself a day or two to calm down before she really got into it with her daughter.

"Really," commented Arthur, using years of experience in Government bureaucracy to both read what was in front of him, and pay attention to someone else at the same time.

"Molly, if you're writing a Howler, you will stop now."

"But Ronald is-"

"Dating a Slytherin, yes."

"A Bulstrode," replied Molly.

"Yes, and? Need I remind you, your grandmother was a Black. My own mother was a Rosier."

"She... she was?"

Arthur nodded. Molly seemed rather surprised by this, especially given what she knew of the kind woman.

"So we'll meet Elizabeth, and we'll decide then."

"Well, if your daughter is to be believed, there's a problem with that," commented Molly.

"Yes, so I see. First things first, is that you will send a letter of apology to both Harry and Ginerva-"

"Apology!"

"Yes," replied Arthur. He honestly didn't know what happened between Harry, Etna, and Molly in that room, but he knew Harry never looked at her the same way again. He also knew it took Albus to undo the silencing charm that Harry had put on her. That Etna said he did it without a wand, well... He wasn't sure what to think. He would deal with what he could, now. "She honestly did ask for advice, and you sent a Howler. You will send a letter of apology. To both Ginerva and Harry. Honestly, Molly, he isn't our son. I'm sure that once he calms down, everything'll be fine. Now, I will write a letter of invitation to Ronald and Elizabeth, asking if they wish to visit over the summer. And if they don't, I'll give Ronald permission to visit the Bulstrodes."

"Visit them!"

"Yes, Molly. Visit them. I doubt he really will, but it's the sort of peace offering that will make him know we approve. And that means our youngest son and his girlfriend will visit us."

Molly was steadfastly silent on this.

"Dear, how often do any of our oldest visit?" Arthur hated pulling that argument, but it was precisely what he needed at the moment.

At this, Molly sighed, and began crumpling up the freshly started howler, and began to write on a fresh piece of parchment.

"Exactly, Molly-wobbles."

0x0x0x0

He was laughing as he caused another boy and girl pain in a cave.

He watched as his dresser lit on fire, the man in a suit, with a familiar beard, and even more familiar eyes watched with distrust, distaste, and just a little bit of hatred.

A nice living room, ostentatious, but in an old-fashioned muggle way. A man and his parents were dead, an ugly man standing, swaying with a gnarled wand in his hand. The ugly man had told his final secrets, and now he would take the fall. He examined the ring. It was a possibility, but not even he would admit to these fools.

That half-giant oaf was a perfect scapegoat. The spider was just an added bonus. In time, he would use the beast to take the castle. That much was obvious.

The battle wasn't vicious, it was just impossible. For every trick he attempted, the old man knew three more. For every advantage he gained, he lost three to the old man. He was facing against someone just as powerful, but far more skilled than he could ever hope to be. And once more, the old man made him know fear. He hated it.

He'd found the last of them, and he found something in himself in her. And now, she was hidden. She was a secret. She was his best kept secret. He stared at the name of the town, and smiled at it. He would keep this secret, and he would be immortal.

0x0x0x0

Harry snapped awake, throwing himself out of bed, and wretching up what little he'd eaten. He could feel Etna's hand on his back, rubbing it as he coaxed the last of the bile out of his stomach.

"I know where another Horcrux is," he said, with finality.

Author's Notes: I'm interested in knowing if anybody's running into issues with what's going on, RE: not knowing what Disgaea is, or the events of that game. I know a few of Etna's comments in this chapter do, along with her comments to Dumbledore about Blood Magic (they are one and the same, after all), but I'm curious if there's anything else that people aren't getting because they haven't played Disgaea.

Also, I wanted to have Voldemort do some Classic Villian Lines. The sort that cause instantaneous death if uttered out loud.

EDIT: Arthur has no idea what happened between Molly and Harry, so he thinks it'll all blow over. Molly doesn't realize that Harry can hold a long grudge, because he's good at hiding his long grudges. Hermione's the only one whose really figured it out.