Essence of Revenge

by tgfoy

The battle was over. The victors woke into a new dawn, a new era had been born. They were free to live, free to find happiness, free to love. But a cloud drew across their world almost unnoticed, a darkness gathered strength. A new plot conceived. Vengeance approached. Harry must face a new battle, a war for his very being. A story of the 14 months after the battle of Hogwarts.

21. Erebus

This story is based on characters and developed from some situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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Chapter 21

Erebus

Vernon Dursley had enjoyed rising at a leisurely pace, he, Petunia and Dudley had seen in the new year on their own the night before, as they did most years, with the addition of Marge occasionally if she came over for the festive season. The film they had been watching had finished in time for the broadcast of the chimes of Big Ben marking midnight, before the scene changed to people frolicking and celebrating in Trafalgar Square, which always annoyed Vernon who always commented on it in disbelief that such antics were accepted and allowed by the authorities. They had then watched the news, whilst enjoying a night cap, then gone to bed, all of which was their annual habit for the occasion.

Vernon descended the stairs mid morning on new Years Day, having showered before dressing, he had heard the distinctive thud of the newspaper hitting the mat inside the front door as he had exited the bedroom, on his way for a late breakfast. Reaching the hall, he grunted with the exertion of bending to gather up the morning newspaper on New Years day from the door mat, where it had landed with a heavy thud as it had been pushed through the letterbox moments before. Groaning with effort as he straightened up again, he pushed himself up using the door handle for leverage, the exertion of bending and getting up again causing him to be a little breathless, as he prepared to lumber down the corridor to the Kitchen.

He was so unaccustomed to any form of exercise, beyond walking around the house, or from his car to his office which he didn't need to worry about this morning, even so, this was the largest physical labour he undertook regularly at home. Of course without the boy he now had other tasks he had to do instead, though Dudley had taken quite a few on, like the garden which he quite enjoyed. Vernon resented spending the money to have the car washed, but better taking it to the garage automatic car wash than doing it himself.

Retrieving the paper as he passed by on his way to breakfast and then, a little later on most mornings to gather up the post, had become his habit each morning, being the first in the house to pass the letter box in the front door after they had been delivered. He resented having to do it, it was not what he had been accustomed to, but now that the boy wasn't here to fetch either for him, he had to do it himself, if he were to read the paper at the breakfast table and the post soon after. He sorely missed being able to ignore the paper as he passed to go and sit at the breakfast table, have his meal placed in front of him, then send the brat to get it for him, but there was nothing for it now, he had to do the task himself.

It was just one of the many things which sometimes led him to momentarily regret the boy's absence, like having to get the car washed, or pay someone to wash the windows, or any of the multitude of other chores that the freak was no longer here to do for them. It was at those times, when these menial tasks needed to be done, that he longed for his nephews presence, at least fleetingly. There were times, like when he was having to paint the wood work, or trying to weed the garden, that he almost wished, wistfully, for the day's he could sit around and order the boy to do these tasks. Even then the regret did not last long, despite the convenience of having an unpaid servant at his beck and call, the fear that Potter's freakishness might contaminate him, his Wife or Son was too much, too high a price to pay.

Of course the boy had become too much of a threat to his quiet, normal, life as well really, if only they could have kept him from attending that school and discovering who, or what, he was, then it could have been so different. If only they had managed to beat it out of him, if only they not been so soft with him, Vernon told himself, his family would still have had the boy to do the menial tasks, such as fetching the paper, that he thought were beneath them. The boy would have been happy to keep his place, as a burden who should do as they required and not have any further desire in life. Instead, here they were, a fine upstanding family, having raised the ungrateful brat out of the goodness of their hearts, being forced to fend for themselves, rather than reaping the much deserved rewards they should still be enjoying for taking the boy in. It was not right, the scum was free to do as he liked, whilst he had to do the freak's work himself, Dudley was even offering to do other chores, such a fine lad should not feel that he had to do that, it was bad enough that he was doing the garden. It was a disgrace, his son should be worried about chasing girls and enjoying life, not offering to help his mother. Even poor Petunia was having to do more to keep their lifestyle at the level they had earned through hard work and mercifulness, it was wrong, it was unfair, the boy should still be paying his due for their kindness. The small crumb of comfort Vernon felt, was the conviction that he firmly believed the boy would certainly never amount to anything of importance or achieve anything that could be considered in any way the least bit worthwhile. At least not by the standards of anyone that mattered or with the right values. He would never amount to anything that any normal person would appreciate, the boy would never live in the comfort his family did, which gave Vernon some satisfaction. Small comfort it may be, but his certainty of it provided him with a malicious solace none the less.

He waddled down the hall, the floor shaking under each foot fall, setting ornaments jingling on their shelves and pictures rattling on the walls as he progressed. Smirking at the door to the cupboard under the stairs as he passed it, then banged on the door resentfully with his fist, an action that had become a daily habit, as if its former occupant was still within, before entering the kitchen. His action achieved nothing more than being an outlet for his frustration, reassuring him of his conviction that the boy was worthless. He settled in his chair at the kitchen table and opened the newspaper, with purpose on this occasion. Today was one of two days in each year that he regularly closely examined the contents of the paper, the other was her Majesty's birthday. That day and this one were the only occasions of the year when the announcements were made and he had to see who had been given honours in the Queens list.

He longed for the day when his own name would appear announcing he would be receiving some award commensurate with his standing, like a knight hood perhaps. He was certain that it must happen one day, after all he was exactly the sort of respectable businessman who deserved such recognition. Even if he weren't included on the list when he read it, he had to ensure no one that he knew, or more importantly none of his colleagues or competitors, appeared on the list before he did, that simply could not happen. Once, only a few years ago, one of his employees had received an honour in the Queen's Birthday list, just because he had volunteered as a leader of the local Scouts for forty years. Vernon had been incredulous, he simply could not understand how that had been worthy of such recognition ahead of his own work in his own industry, it didn't make sense to him how a man who had achieved far less than he had professionally could be given such national recognition ahead of himself. The employee had not lasted much longer at Grunnings after that, he had made sure of that, after all a man who could spend so many years with a load of boys had to have something wrong with them didn't they? In his opinion the man had needed carefully watching at the very least, not rewarding for that.

In Vernon's opinion, it was only very rarely that there were any recipients who he would consider actually deserved them anyway. It seemed that usually the awards were given to just actors, comedians, politicians and worse, the odd road sweeper or lolly pop lady. Not the sort of person he would consider were in any way deserving of any kind of recognition in life, never mind an award from the Queen. He could not fathom how any of them could be considered to have achieved much, how could a volunteer have put in as much work or commitment as he did? They weren't being paid, so how could they be committed to the task if they weren't worth that even, if they had been then they would be paid their worth. In his opinion, do gooders like that deserved nothing, politicians were leeches and anyone in show business was too bone idle to have a real job. As far as he was concerned, whoever decided these things had no clue about what really mattered in life.

Even though he had always hoped he would see his own name in the list, it had yet to appear, but at least no one else he knew had either since that one employee, still he could not understand why time after time his own name did not appear. He didn't realise that discovering he had been given an award from reading the paper, of course, was highly unlikely. He had no idea how the system worked, he had even tried to nominate himself once, assuming the guidance he received with the application was irrelevant, he had ignored it of course. As a result his attempt had, naturally, failed to garner even an acknowledgement. He was also unaware that those who received any of the honours were, usually, notified of their nomination, weeks ahead of the announcement with very few exceptions. They had to then indicate acceptance of the award and were sworn to secrecy, until the announcement was made. Still, he was hoping to see his name, despite the passage of time since he had posted the forms. Ignoring the military awards, he carefully scanned down the list of civilian recipients, starting with the lesser awards which were listed first, progressing down the list in the order published to the highest given on this occasion. His eyes stopped as they reached the bottom of the list and the last category where there were only six names who had been given the highest level of the civilian awards listed this time.

"What the hell, I don't bloody well believe it." He shouted furiously, spittle flying from his lips, standing so suddenly his chair flew back across the room and crash against the wall behind him, his face turning purple with rage. "This has to be some kind of ruddy joke, that lot of freaks are getting bloody awards from the Queen now, including the good for nothing, ungrateful freak of a boy."

Petunia came in to the kitchen to start cooking breakfast, she was followed by Dudley. "What is it Vernon?" She asked, wondering who had got an award to cause him to be quite so enraged so quickly.

"The bloody freak, he has been given a ruddy Knighthood. They are giving the brat an honour in the new year list, what the hell is going on in this country. First we are supposed to cow tow to all these ruddy do gooders trying to guilt trip us, now bloody freaks and weirdos are getting Knighthoods. No wonder the country is going to the dogs, just listen to this nonsense that they have written in the published list. For unspecified acts of exceptional service to the nation, Knighthoods (order of chivalry not released to press, but understood to be among the higher ones for none service individuals) are awarded to, Dame Luna Lovegood, Sir Neville Longbottom; Dame Ginevra Molly Weasley, Dame Hermione Jean Granger; Sir Ronald Bilius Weasley who ever they all are, then finally Sir Harry James Potter." He read. "What the hell is going on when freaks like him get awards before those of us who have worked hard for their families, we are normal, he isn't, it makes no bloody sense."

Petunia's eyes widened with curiosity. "Harry's got a Knighthood? What did you say it was for?" She daren't let too much of the feeling of pride she felt in her nephew show too much, not in front of her husband at least.

"Unspecified acts of exceptional service to the nation, is all that it says here." He angrily read the heading again. "What on earth do they think that useless piece of crap could do that was exceptional, he's a bloody waste of space, him and his kind, spongers the lot of them. I bet it's to do with that bloody fairy tale about him killing lord volde-watsit, or some such rubbish. As if anyone in their right mind would believe all that garbage, at least not anyone in authority I would hope. It's fantasy, make believe, can't they tell reality from fiction when giving out these things. Anyone who meets the scrawny little waster, can see he's bleeding useless, it's ludicrous, mad, who the hell decides these things."

"Well I believe it for one." Shouted Dudley over his father, he had heard enough, but having got Vernon's attention he calmed and spoke firmly in a tone that brooked no argument. "Clearly others in our Government do too, it is the truth after all. After what we went through and heard it's certainly not that hard to believe, unless that's what you want to do of course. You know what happened, you just don't want to believe it, that's your choice, but it doesn't mean it didn't happen, or that the rest of us should believe you. You heard what Harry did, what he went through and how he ended the war they were fighting, you heard and saw that it wasn't restricted to his world, but ours as well, you know it was his and his friends actions that saved both societies from worse. For your information, it's not just a simple Knighthood he's got either, they revived the highest non military honour there is, the British Empire Medal especially for him and his friends. It looks like whoever decides these things believed that only the highest civilian order would be good enough for the bravery and valour he, together with the others did, I for one agree. I doubt that I would have been so brave, going through what my cousin did in that war of theirs.

He and the others went to Sandringham the day before yesterday and received the honours in a private ceremony from the Queen herself, met quite a few of the Royal family apparently. On her recommendation they were given the highest level within the order, Harry's a Grand Cross of the Order and he deserves it. We should be proud of it, imagine being able to say my cousin has achieved that recognition from our Monarch, it is an amazing achievement which I wish I could have been there to see happen. But, of course, that doesn't fit in with the fiction you have created about him round here does it, spiked your own ability to build your own position in the community here haven't you. Can you imagine how much boasting about how well a child you had raised has done, if you had not pretended how rotten he was. So now it's up to you Dad, are you going to accept it, or remain blinkered, after all you can't sack him like you did that chap at Grunnings can you?"

"How the hell do you know all that, it's not in here." Vernon was furious, not used to being spoken to like this by anyone, least of all his own family, his face was rapidly turning red, the vein on his forehead beginning to throb and the newspaper he was tightly holding, shaking violently in his hands.

His son did not back down as most would, he stood nose to nose with his father, but replied calmly."I have been writing to him and his fiancée since the summer. I received a letter yesterday morning telling me all about it. Personally I can't wait to see them and hear about getting it, straight from them. Everything we heard while we were in hiding is true, as you know and if anyone deserves the awards it's him, Ginny and their friends. They went through hell, from what I can gather, far more than we did in the comfort of the post office in that village in Derbyshire, our life in hiding was luxurious and safe compared to what they went through. He could have abandoned us to be killed, but instead he did what he could to ensure we were safe, well I am proud of his achievements, even if you are to flaming ignorant to see them. Harry is twice the man you will, sadly, ever be Dad. His old headmaster was right about how we treated him, just because of your ignorance and prejudice. Thank god I now think for myself, I look at what's happening around me to make my choices now, not to you any more. To be honest dad much as I love you, I cannot agree with how you behave a lot of the time. What I see in you now and as I look back at how we behaved, I don't like it, not one bit. I, for one, am ashamed of how I treated Harry, he could have been as good as a brother for me if we had not behaved so appallingly towards him, just because he was different. If you would think about things, instead of hiding behind your prejudice then you might be too. Of course that would mean accepting you were wrong about a lot of things, including Harry, of course that would be too much to expect of you wouldn't it?" Dudley turned on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen and the house.

"Get back here boy, don't you dare walk out on me." Vernon bellowed, following his son, only to see the front door close in his face. His face purple, the newspaper now torn in half, he stalked into the living room to watch him as he walked over the street, Petunia joined him as he stood aghast at his son's behaviour.

Petunia watched her son through the window as he crossed the street and went into Mrs. Figg's house.

Vernon calmed a little, knowing he could not storm over to the house, the neighbours must not be disabused of their belief that his was the perfect family, he turned to his wife. "He's been writing to the bloody freak Petunia, look what's happened to him as a result. Didn't we bring him up to dislike that worthless waste of skin and bone? Didn't we teach him how to put him in his place? We protected him from the brats freakishness, brought him up to not tolerate the boys difference. What the hell is going on, he would never have behaved so unreasonably once, what has that scum done to him? There is no way a fine boy like Dudley would side with him, especially in this fable of theirs or against us." Vernon was fuming with rage.

Petunia glared at her husband, pride in her nephew and son overwhelming her blind loyalty to her husband for the first time since they had first dated. She spoke calmly and quietly to him, her rage evident behind her words. "You mean against you Vernon, he is no longer a little boy, he is quite capable of making up his own mind, or hadn't you noticed that. Besides, he is quite correct on this matter, so far as I am concerned, it is time we recognised Harry for who and what he is, not what we wanted to portray him as. Face it Vernon, we were wrong."

Vernon was shocked into silence for once, so stunned was he at his wife's words, he was even more so when she continued to berate him.

"I, for one, am glad he's in touch with Harry, at least I will know how my sister's boy is." She told him. "Bluntly Vernon, I've noticed a big change in Dudley since we had to go into hiding, a change for the better. He is far more responsible now, no thanks to us. If he had carried on as he was goodness knows where he would have ended up, more than likely with his old friend Piers, who you may note was convicted for Grievous Bodily Harm on a pensioner just before Christmas and quite rightly jailed for it. Also quite correctly, Dudley was appalled when he read that in the local paper. He admitted that he wouldn't have been concerned about it, maybe even proud of Piers going to prison, before we went to Derbyshire. From what he has told me about what he got up to growing up round here, he would have joined in without thought at one time. All those accusations of bullying, smoking, theft, vandalism and drug taking which we both blamed Harry for, were actually Dudley, just as they all said. Remember his teachers complaining of his behaviour? You deflected it onto Harry, well Vernon it was all true and more. They stopped reporting the problems to us, after it was clear that we would not support them. I know now that we have been blind towards Harry over the years, acting simply to keep you happy, now I look back. I am finally opening my eyes to who he really is and what he has achieved despite what we did to him. Dudley saw it two years ago, after that attack, when Harry rescued him, yes Vernon saved your son's life not endangered it. At the time he was just too scared of your reaction to tell you, but he has grown up now and wants to try to be a better person. Our time away from here showed him what he had become and what he could be. He has become far more responsible a person since he started writing to his cousin, he has even personally apologised to many of the people who were his victims at one time over the last few months. That's Harry's influence on him, even if our nephew didn't tell him to do that, it's his influence that has done it, of that I am sure. I have no doubt about that and I for one am proud of what both of them have achieved. Dudley is right, you should be proud of what Harry has achieved, I know I couldn't be more so if it were Dudley on that list instead. As it is, I couldn't be more pleased that despite what we tied to do to him, he is achieving so much. You should be ashamed of what we did to him, I know I am and I doubt I shall ever be able to face him because of it."

Vernon's mouth had fallen open in disbelief during his wife's speech, she had never spoken to him in a manner like this before, he didn't know how to deal with it. He was so used to getting his own way, his wife, son and those he dealt with quietly giving way to his wishes, he never even considered they might hold any opinion other than his own. For any of them to stand up to him, especially Petunia, shocked him, shook his reality to the core. He tried to speak once she had finished, but could not, for once, find the words through his astonishment. Instead, he stood there, opening and closing his mouth resembling a large, purple fish, gasping for air.

Petunia waited a moment for him to speak, when it was evident he wasn't going to she made a decision. Quirking her eyebrow at him, she turned quickly on her heel and stalked out, leaving Vernon to stew. She went to join Dudley at Mrs. Figg's, the old lady seemed to know more about Harry than she let on. Petunia had decided it was time she got to know more about her nephew, no matter what her husband thought, he could wallow in his own thoughts, for the time being at least.

Vernon stood alone in the living room, open mouthed, in disbelief. His wife had never expressed any concern for the boy before, just accepted that the boy foisted on them by his parents who had been so inconsiderate to get themselves killed could not up to their standards. He was right, no other opinion mattered, he was flabbergasted at the unreasonable, to his way of thinking, words and actions of his wife and son regarding the boy. Hadn't he provided everything for them? Hadn't he rescued his wife from the freak sympathisers she had as a family to raise her? Was he really the only one who could see through the boy or his kind any more? How could they turn on him like this? Such ingratitude, he had provided them with everything they could ever want, hadn't he? He shook his head in disbelief, dismissing what they had said, he knew he was right. Eventually they would come round and see that they had made a mistake, no matter what the boy's influence was, the reality couldn't fail to sink in again, surely. Though, if he ever got his hands on the boy, he would show them what pathetic scum he was, interfering with his family, who did he think he was. It struck Vernon then, this was, of course, entirely the boy's fault. The boy had no family, not that wanted him at least, that had to be it, the freak was jealous. The boy was trying to steal his family from him, well he wasn't going to get them, not if Vernon Dursley had anything to do with it. He, Vernon Dursley, was their only family, he had done nothing wrong, he was damned if he was going to lose them to that pathetic freak. He looked round the room, realising he was on his own, no matter, they would be back, he would be magnanimous and forgive them, once they had returned and had come to their senses. Then their nice, normal lives could resume.

As the first weeks of the new year passed by, Petunia became a much more regular visitor to Arrabella Figg's house, whilst Vernon was at work. He had acted as though it was them that had done something wrong after they had returned to number four that New years day, even telling them he forgave them for the aberration that had led to their behaviour. He wouldn't let them speak, assuring them it was over as far as he was concerned, well it might be for him, but his wife and son had determined never to accept his opinions blindly again. As Petunia learnt more and more about Harry from Mrs. Figg her loyalty to her immovable, opinionated, bullying, husband began to falter as she remembered that she was her own person as well, it was a seed that started to grow in her, albeit slowly. Years of Vernon's influence would take a long time to shake off, he had always provided for her, she had nothing of her own, she was, she believed, completely reliant on him. She was beginning to realise that she had become dependent on him and she could not see a way to reduce her reliance on him. She would have to put up with his attitude and nature, though that did not mean she had to agree with it, she had married him, she had made her bed, she would have to lie in it. No matter what doubts about him entered her head, she had no choice, but to put up with him, she could see no other option. Still, she was not happy about the complete absence of her only link to her sister in her life, she had begun to realise just how much she missed Lily, but was guilt ridden over how she had treated Harry in order to keep the peace with her husband. She didn't even know where her sister was buried, she had been appalled at that realisation. She could have visited her parents graves whenever she wished and did twice a year on their birthdays, she knew where they were, but not her sisters. Her child hood jealousy of Lily was fading, especially as she thought of how lucky she had been to be able to see her son grow, something that had been so cruelly taken from Lily. Petunia, for once, did not know what to do for the best and felt her unquestioning loyalty to Vernon slowly waning as she learnt more from the strange, but kindly old woman.

The darkness had merely snacked on the emotions of despair of humans for many decades, it needed to feast. Snacking on the despair of humans was all very well, but it was well past the time to possess one completely, it knew the one it had watched, pushed since it was a child, was getting close to losing all defence to prevent that. The regular season of mixed hopelessness and celebration amongst humanity had passed, it had been disappointing that its target had been so cheerful that it had hurt, but that had only been a slight hurdle which would be overcome, the underlying pain in this one was too deep to prevent it, the blanket would smother all else soon. It was inevitable, not once in the eternity the darkness had existed and consumed had any been able to resist in the end and this one had reasons to succumb far stronger than many it had found. This was the first it would possess so completely in so long, it made the wait so worth it, although its patience was wearing low, even though it was essential if it's goal was to be reached. Then to feed, oh the rich bounty, the wealthiest harvest it had encountered for so, so long. Perhaps this one, like the last that had been fat with food, would sustain it for decades whilst it snacked on others for variety of flavour, for each had their own taste despite sharing the depths of their hopelessness. It didn't matter where they were, it could feed on many at the same time. The patience would be worth it, once this one had succumbed and knew only the darkness it would unwittingly, helplessly preserve, the time was slowly drawing near.

By the first Saturday of February, the routine of the school was back to normal after the Christmas break. The grounds were still covered in snow and through the windows more could be seen falling lightly. The only green grass in the grounds was the Quidditch pitch, which Hagrid and Grawp had spent the morning clearing ready for that day's game. Harry was marking homework in his warm, comfortable office, when Kingsley's face appeared in the blazing fire.

"Hi Harry sorry to disturb you." The Ministers deep voice called from the green flames.

Harry was used to these impromptu calls from his friend now, though the first few times they had made him jump."Hi Kingsley, what's up?" He grinned finishing the parchment he was checking, then turning to face the fire.

"Well I've been reviewing the report on what Draco told us again, comparing it to the other reports we have. I'm still not happy, there are just too many questions remaining. Minerva tells me there are four sets of twins in the first year and all of them check out in our records. So unless someone's altered them, which considering what went on last year is entirely possible, even probable, we are no further forward. There is no doubt Draco was telling us every thing that he knew, we even have his memory of the event he described and have identified at least one of those who approached him, possibly the others as well, they are all on the wanted. We have, as you know, identified the person who approached him, though we can't find any trace of him anywhere. We still have about a hundred known missing Death Eaters and other Riddle followers at large, goodness knows how many we don't know about, though I am hopeful that we are getting that figure down. Rumour is Vengeance have between Forty or sixty active members, depending on who you speak to in the usual places. The last two Death Eaters we caught had been approached by the group, but didn't join feeling they were safer on their own than in a large group again. If only we could identify who was behind it all, we could get this under control. They certainly know how to gain the hearts ad minds of people, I am getting letters, from people who believe what their rhetoric tells them daily now, calling for me to act to get you arrested and imprisoned. It looks like their anti Potter propaganda is beginning to have an effect in the wider community, mostly those who have had no contact with you it has to be said, but it is spreading. The longer this goes on the worse it's getting, of course Rita loves it, this is just the sort of story she thrives on, the editor is under pressure to support her line even though he thinks it's hogwash."

"Yes I've heard some rumours about Vengeance as well, sadly." Harry nodded sadly. "They seem to be gaining some strength in Slytherin house, poor Horace is at his wits end to find out why. He had to stop the supporters demonstrating outside my class the other day, aiming to prevent others from attending. There's almost a complete change in the character of people when they convert to the belief, it's like a wacky religion, the Muggles call it brain washing. Some of the followers have even physically attacked students who disagree with them, it is becoming a danger to us all, so many of them are not open to any discussion at all, to them if you don't agree with them then you are a valid target. Any luck with the Imperious curse detector yet? I'm convinced that they might be using the curse on students, or at least some sort of similar control, if not then it shows all signs of being a kind of Cult, even more fanatical than the Death Eaters."

"No Harry, no luck getting it yet, but the Unspeakables think they are near a break through. By the way I hear you are doing well at concealment, almost finished the course, keep it up my friend. Only the test to go and from what I am told you will pass it, I hope so and the sooner the better. I need you in the Auror department, yes I know, I need as many Aurors as I can get, but the sooner we have you on the team the better. Anyway you will want to be off to the match soon, I'll talk to you later Harry."

Harry looked at his watch and realised that he needed to go in a few minutes. "All right Kingsley, thanks for keeping me in touch with things. See you soon my friend." Harry smiled.

The face disappeared from the fire, Harry got up and called Ginny, she came through the door from the bedrooms with their cloaks in her hands.

"We had a letter from Fleur this morning love." She told him. "She's worried about the baby, It was due last week, but still no sign and she's concerned about the birth."

"I thought they told her everything was fine?" Harry commented.

"They did, but I think they are both worried about whether the baby will be affected by Bills condition as well so they are just getting anxious about everything" Ginny replied sadly.

"He's ok though, just likes raw meat, lucky Greyback wasn't transformed when he was bitten really, could have been a lot worse." Harry reassured her.

Ginny looked up at him, still concerned. "I know, I'm sure it's just worry, nothing more serious. I can't help being concerned for them though, it is their first and Bill would never forgive himself if there was anything wrong because of what that monster did."

Harry chuckled "I know dear, it's your first niece or nephew as well, you want everything to be fine just as they do. Now are we going to this match, or do you want to give it a miss this time?"

Ginny grinned. "Go to the Match of course." She said as if it were the most obvious thing she had ever been asked, then leapt up. "Well come on then, we haven't got all day you know. Honestly, you would be late for your own funeral if it weren't for me."

"Yes dear!" Harry replied, giving a fair impersonation of a downtrodden husband in the process.

They both burst into laughter put on their cloaks and headed off to the match.

The snow had stopped falling, but was still thick on the ground and glistened with bright jewels sparkling in the light the sun, which was beginning to peer down from behind a cloud, as they walked down to the pitch. There was an icy chill to the wind, though it wasn't strong and it looked like conditions would be good for the game. It was the new Gryffindor team's second match, this time against Hufflepuff. The result would decide if Slytherin would maintain the narrow lead they had, after a much improved new team had beaten Ravenclaw. The whole school was interested in the game, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione joined the excited throng of students and staff, who were proceeding with only a little more decorum, going to the game.

"I really wish we were playing, I miss it." Said Ginny, as she did before every match they had watched this season.

"So do I, but at least we can practise with the team occasionally, keep our skills up." Harry smiled, he knew Ginny would love to play professionally and she was a good enough chaser to do so.

"True!" She grinned back.

"It should be a good game, our new seekers very good." Ron commented.

"Yes he is. He's a second year, very keen, never played Quidditch before he came here." Ginny said

"Sounds familiar, eh Harry?" Teased Hermione. She knew the other three missed playing. "Ginny I've just had a thought, perhaps if we spoke to the rest of the staff we might be able to form a staff team. I bet a few of the others would join in."

"Yes I expect they might, but who would we play if we can raise a staff team?" Ginny responded thoughtfully.

"How about a special match at the end of the year?" Said Harry. "At my old primary school the teachers used to play rounders against a pupils team at the end of the summer term, perhaps we could do that only with Quidditch. The Students team could either be a combination of the best players from each house, or simply the winners of the cup. "

"I like it, I will speak with Minerva after the game." Ginny grinned enthusiastically at the idea.

They took their seats with the other teachers at the back of the stand, casting warming charms on themselves, settling in to their places to enjoy the game. The noise from the crowd reverberated over the grounds, echoing off the cliffs of the mountains across the lake. Madam Hooch carried the box containing the balls to the centre of the pitch and waited for the teams to enter. First out was Hufflepuff, a cheer rose from their house stands, the team circled the pitch then settled into their positions. The Gryffindor team soon followed to more cheers, again circling the pitch and taking their positions facing the Hufflepuff team. The two captains shook hands, Madam Hooch kicked the box, releasing the balls, then she threw the Quaffle in the air and the match began, the Slytherin's were jeering both teams, trying to put the players off from the start, but they were almost drowned out by the cheers of the other houses. All the Ravenclaw students were simply cheering good play by either team, happy to remain neutral for this match.

The two teams appeared fairly evenly matched and it was some time until the first goal was scored, to the more experienced Hufflepuff side. The Slytherin's cheered, thanks to the forced rearrangement of their team after the Gryffindor match, they had beaten an off form Ravenclaw by more points than they had lost to Gryffindor, when the two had played just before the Christmas break. If Hufflepuff won and won well, then Slytherin would have the lead for the cup on points difference, but only just. If that happened then Gryffindor would have to beat Ravenclaw, even if Slytherin lost their next match, in order to win the cup. Gryffindor had the Quaffle, their chasers made a charge up the pitch, they beat the Hufflepuff chasers, leaving them behind, dodged the Bludgers with a skill that was incredible for such a new team, they equalised. The game restarted and the score see sawed between the two teams for the next hour or so, though it was a far from dull match, neither team gaining more than a twenty point advantage at any one time. It was clear that this was going to be a match, which was decided by whichever seeker caught the Snitch first. After another half an hour of never more than a couple of goals between the teams, Coates suddenly dived, closely followed by the Hufflepuff seeker.

"They've spotted the snitch." The commentator yelled excitedly.

Ginny leapt up as the two seekers were neck and neck, diving for the ground.

The ominous green light of the feared spell, flew from the direction of the Slytherin stand, it missed Ginny by inches as she dove beneath the seats for cover. The curse exploded, destroying the back wall of the stand, sending splinters and posts into the air. All the teachers in the stand were now beneath seats, wands at the ready, watching the pace that the spell had come from in the midst of the students in that part of the stand. They dare not fire back yet, their were too many students near the source of the attack, there was too much risk of missing the culprit and hitting the defenceless in the shift of people now moving in that stand.

A second curse, different from the killing curse that had preceded it, erupted from near the source of the first. It flew low over the pitch, passing just ahead of Coats as he reached for the snitch and grasped it, the curse had just passed between him and the pitch, literately burning the grass it almost touched. Coates broom fell to the ground, he rolled onto the scorched pitch in the trail the curse had etched in its passage over the grass, it had been so close. It hit the base of the stand and exploded, rocking the tall wooden structure as one support leg was suddenly severed and the others damaged as wood and bolts from the first hit them.

Harry saw all this and felt it all, as if it was in slow motion, he desperately sought Ginny amongst the mass of people under the seats. Another curse, identical to the last crackled it's way across the pitch, he dived lower on the floor of the stand, looking for Ginny, desperate to keep her safe. This curse struck the second main support, severing the already damaged timber, leaving the front of the structure momentarily floating in the air. The stand remained upright, briefly, then began to move forwards towards the pitch as the strain of the whole stand caused the Timber of the remaining supports behind to begin to bend, then splinter apart. The seating gathered speed as it collapsed the structure around them being pulled apart around them, they hit the ground, the platform and seating shattered, sending wood, posts and sharp, sword sized splinters flying in all directions into the air, where gravity gradually took over. Many of the staff and students, who had been sitting enjoying the game, were falling through the debris still breaking away from the structure, as the collapse spread to adjoining sections of the stand.

On the opposite side of the pitch, away from the horrific sight of the stands that were now disappearing in a cloud of debris and dust, the first attacker smirked to his colleagues, watching the collapse evolve, taking the stands either side down on top of their target too. It was rapidly creating a gap stretching a quarter of the way round the pitch, a result which may not guarantee their target died, but he believed that it was very likely they had, along with a number of others. He turned to escape and stopped, they were surrounded, not just by their own conditioned students who he knew would fight at his side, but by other pupils and Aurors. Their loyal students pointed their wands at the others, who all had their wands on them. "Get us out of here." He hissed, as the Aurors started to fire and the younger students sympathetic to their cause, dove for cover, their bravado gone in an instant.

Harry could hear the screams of the watching students, as he fell with his colleagues, students and the disintegrating stand, he was screaming in his mind, where was Ginny? His panic was not for himself, but mainly for her, then the others he had been sitting with. When the movement of the stand crashing to the ground stopped, Harry had automatically landed as he had been taught for Quidditch, rolling to avoid injury. He got to his knees and looked round trying to peer through the dust and still falling debris. He drew his wand cast a self perpetuating shield over his head and started to magically settle the cloud of filth, so he could assess the situation, breath properly and search for Ginny. As the dust cleared, he saw his colleagues beginning to stand, dust themselves off and do the same as he had, then look round to check for the inevitable injured among the debris, they could only hope none had been killed. He continued to look round the wreckage, desperately searching for Ginny, it was all that mattered to him in those moments, he had to know she was safe.

He didn't see her at first, perhaps she was buried under the timber, he searched for stacks of debris big enough to hide her, his eyes fell on a nearby pile. He quickly made his way to it, he was about to start moving the planks, when, almost hidden, he spotted her face through the dust still settling in the heap. Not quite concealed by the debris that had landed on top of her, he could see her peaceful features, she was on her back, face turned towards him, unconscious. He began moving the timber off her, carefully ensuring that any piece he moved did not cause others to shift or fall on to her, which also meant he could not use magic for the task. He had only removed a few of the stakes and boards off her when he stopped, his eyes widened in horror at the sight before him. It made him glad she was not aware at the moment, unable to try to move. She would not have been able to move much anyway, but any movement could have made things much, much worse for her. A large, thick wooden stake from the stand held her in place, she was impaled through the stomach, pinned solidly to the ground.

"Ginny!" He screamed, tears streaming down his cheeks, this couldn't be happening, not to her, of all people not to her.

He fell to his knees and resumed clearing the loose debris from her as best he could, desperately, but still carefully. Only one thing on his mind, was she still alive, please let her still be alive, she had to be alive, please let her be alive. Her eyes were closed, he couldn't tell if she was breathing, she still wasn't moving, "Oh Merlin no, Ginny!" He screamed in desperation, he couldn't lose her, not now, not after all he had been through.

Erebus woke from its patience inside him, expectantly. The depth of his new despair had done it, fed the darkness already in side him, enough to enliven it, this was what it had waited so patiently for. It no longer had to be patient much longer, its feast was almost at the point of no return, the place he would have to succumb to the shadow, which threatened to over take his very being. It had woken Erebus, and Erebus began to claw up that final stretch, to stealthy advance inside him, it's patience beginning to be repaid at last, there was only a slim chance now that it could be driven back this time.

Harry picked up her hand, her eyes fluttered opened, he breathed deeply a sigh of relief, though he felt only a little. "Ginny stay with me please stay with me. Ginny can you hear me?" The desperation still in his voice, he needed to hear her voice and felt so helpless.

She looked at him and smiled "Yes Harry I can," Her voice barely above a whisper. "Harry I love you." Her face suddenly contorted with pain and her eyes rolled and slowly closed again, a trickle of blood appeared from the corner of her mouth and ran down her cheek and into her hair.

Erebus felt it, briefly. Hope, one of the things that could stop the darkness's invasion, but it was gone just as quickly as it came, still Erebus had faltered in the glow the positive emotion had created. Now it was gone again, Erebus cautiously resumed it's advance.

"No, No please God no. Ginny no, Ginny stay with me, Ginny, Ginny." He called urgently, before remembering there were others around who might help, looking round he saw others beginning to search the debris. "Someone help, over here, help, quick." He screamed out urgently.

Help came running, more than one person, but it came, though he felt no relief.

"Harry out of the way, come on let me at her." Shouted Madam Pomfrey, who was first to arrive and quickly took in the situation.

She pushed her way frantically past him, the emotion showing in her voice as she rushed to tend the girl who had become a friend, quashed as her professionalism took over through necessity. She checked Ginny's pulse. "Faint, but still there, she is alive, good." She muttered, her worry showing. "Hagrid, I need your help here now." She called urgently to the half Giant, who rushed over to her and listened to the instructions she gave him.

Poppy started working quickly, with a confidence intended to reassure others, that she did not completely feel herself, but knew she had to. She was very aware that time was limited, but she knew it was possible to save her friend, so long as they moved quickly, carefully certainly, but swiftly as well. Her actions seemed to blur to those watching as she worked, first stabilising the young woman's condition with a stasis charm, then she used her wand to create a support for her so she would not move, before carefully using it to make a space between Ginny's flesh and the post, to prevent splinters creating further complications as it was removed. With all done in preparation of freeing her to go to the hospital wing, they had a choice of levitating her off the stake, a risky manoeuvrer which she would rather not try. The alternative was to remove the large bolt of wood, a task almost impossible for most, but the safest option in the circumstances.

The moment she instructed him, Hagrid grasped the stake with both hands and heaved on the wood with all his strength, it moved, but not much. It had embedded in the ground deeply, such was the impact of it. Hagrid kept pulling, sweat covering his face, as he desperately tried to pull the stake out. Slowly the post came out of the ground with a horrible sucking noise as he finally overcame the suction of the earth and it emerged. The half giant discarded the wood to his side, while Madam Pomfrey worked frantically to stop the flow of blood that was staining the ground. Once she had succeeded and under her instructions, Hagrid carefully picked Ginny up and began to run to the castle. Harry automatically followed Hagrid, Madam Pomfrey beside him, a consoling arm over his shoulder urging the dazed young man on and trying to reassure him as she continued to fight her own emotions, she knew Ginny was the most seriously injured casualty reported so far, but there could easily be others, she knew there were a number of casualties already and she would need help from St Mungo's and Archie in the village.

As they rushed from the remains of the stadium, Harry didn't notice the teachers and students caring for the other injured that had been found so far, or others still searching the wreckage. Nor did he see the battle being fought between the Aurors, attackers and a group of Slytherin students trying to free the culprits, raging on the far side of the pitch. Older students and other adults who had come to watch the game were rushing across the pitch to either assist the ministry wizards against the attackers, or the staff amongst the wreckage, which ever they had been closest to when they set off. The prefects were gathering the shocked younger students from the other stands and guiding them to safety via the green houses and other entrances to the castle, avoiding the battle and preventing them getting in the way of the rescuers.

Hagrid ran over the lawns and up the steps into the entrance hall, Poppy and Harry hurrying after him, up the stairs and through the corridors, past portraits, who looked with horror at Ginny as the group rushed by. They reached the hospital wing and burst through the door, Hagrid hurried to the nearest bed and lay Ginny gently on it, then paused to catch his breath.

"Hagrid go into the office and send an emergency Floo to St Mungo's and to Archie, I am going to need help. Ask for two full major incident teams and support staff to come immediately." Madam Pomfrey ordered as she entered the room.

Leaving Harry standing alone near the office, she rushed to start work on keeping Ginny alive and healing her. Harry did not move, he was rooted to the spot, hardly aware of what was going on around him.

Hagrid shot into the office, re emerging within a minute, a team of six healers following quickly behind him. They ran round Harry to gather round the bed where Ginny lay, they set to work immediately, while Poppy told them what she had already done and the condition she was in, before beginning to prepare for other casualties.

More healers arrived, including Archie from the village, he saw Harry and put an arm round his shoulder. "Come on son, let's get you sorted mate." He got no response, but gently guided Harry to a chair, sat him down on it and began to heal his cuts and bruises. "Now then Harry come on my friend, they are doing their best, she'll be right as rain soon." Archie tried to reassure him.

Hagrid brought over a mug of tea. "'Ot an' sweet fer the shock Archie."

"Thanks Hagrid" Archie handed the mug to Harry.

Harry took the mug and drank automatically, his surroundings seemed so distant to him, like there was a mist slowly gathering in his awareness or it was all a dream. Madam Pomfrey came over to the doors as more casualties were brought in and laid on beds as she assessed them quickly. Another, larger, team of healers arrived through the office and into the ward. They quickly organised themselves to cope with the flow of injured that were arriving in a steady stream from the Quidditch Pitch. Three, including Archie, relieved Poppy, who had organised the arriving healers and arranged the rooms on either side of the main wing as additional wards to provide plenty of space for them to work. She returned to Ginny's bedside where she rejoined the team working on her, she was still the most seriously injured to have

Archie's team assessed the wounded on arrival, prioritised them for treatment, any urgent ones were taken straight to a bed where a healer started work, any that were not urgent were given pain drafts as necessary and would wait their turn as a healer became available. As soon as the casualties injury was healed the patient was moved to another room to rest if required, or sent back to their house common room, some of the prefects providing an escort and the next casualty quickly took their place. Those with very minor injuries sat waiting their turn, as the number of more seriously hurt were treated ahead of them, it was a fast growing line of people as more and more were brought in.

Harry was only just aware of the activity around him, though he could not tell what was going on. Archie returning to him frequently to check on how he was doing, a worried look on his face each time, though the young teacher was unaware of it. The St Mungo's healers bustled around him and the team surrounding Ginny frantically worked, Archie was with him when Poppy left Ginny's bedside and came over to them.

"Harry dear? "Said Madam Pomfrey gently. "She's lost a lot of blood, but you know we can replace it quite easily. I stopped the bleeding at the pitch we are repairing the wounds now, she will be in St Mungo's for a while and I'm sending you with her. Once she's there it will be up to her to heal the rest, I think you being there will help her though." Harry showed no sign of having heard her, the two healers looked at each other with concern written on their faces.

There it was again, hope. Erebus faltered and paused, the drink had pulled the darkness back a little, but not enough, tea was known as the cup that cheers once, it was not the first time it had, had this effect. Erebus had almost succeeded in blocking his awareness, though not quite, when he had supped that, Erebus knew the chemicals in the drink would slow the advance, but not for long. All that was needed was a little more patience, soon this one would give himself up to the darkness. Erebus been present for over a decade, it had sensed the damaged, wounded soul long ago and knew it just had to wait until circumstances allowed it to gain power here. It had worked slowly over months and years, knowing it was only a matter of time, knowing this one had the potential to provide the largest feast for many decades. Amongst all the multitude pockets of despair and hopelessness close by, this one offered by far the most. More than enough for the darkness known as Erebus to, contrary to its nature, ignore them all in favour of this individual source, at least until it succumbed.

Hagrid saw the look between the healers, he knew something was wrong. "I'll teck 'im out of 'ere, keep an eye on 'im in the staff room."

"That should be fine, Hagrid." Madam Pomfrey nodded, obviously worried. "It might help for him to be in more peaceful surroundings, but don't leave him alone, if anything changes get him back here as quickly as you can. I'll be there with some potion as soon as we have finished on Ginny, she is the priority at the moment, we have started to re grow the damaged and missing organs, but there is a lot still to do before she is close to out of the woods enough to move or revive her."

Hagrid put a hand on Harry's shoulder, guided him out of the hospital wing and down the corridors to the staff room. Harry walked with his friend automatically, allowing himself to be guided by Hagrid's hand, moving in a trance, completely unaware of his surroundings or what he was doing. They passed no one in the corridors, the uninjured were still in the grounds helping wherever they could or securely in the common rooms, too shocked to be of much use. Once in the staff room Hagrid sat Harry in a large sofa and sat with him, a worried expression on his face, not knowing what to say to comfort his friend.

Moments later, Professor McGonagall came in looking harassed. "We got them, there were four of them, the Aurors are taking them all in for questioning. The Slytherin's who tried to defend them are now in the broom hut with what seems like half the school guarding them, though actually it is just quite a number of the older students. The rest of the members of Slytherin house are being watched in the Great Hall by the ghosts and teachers, though to be honest quite a few of the first years are just shocked and confused by it all. Molly is on the way, how's Ginny?" She said, clearly flustered.

Harry barely heard her words, the mists of a dark veil continuing to gather in his consciousness, Erebus was closing on his mind.

Hagrid replied "It don't look good Minerva, six 'ealers fro' St Mungo's are working on 'er now. Other than Ginny, there's sum broken bones and a 'ell o' lot o' cuts n' bruises. There's a team o' healers in t' 'ospital wing, I brung 'arry out o' t' way. Poppy knows o' course, bu' I'm right worried abou' 'im, somat's no' righ' wi ' 'im."

"Oh my God, six healers you say." She sat next to Harry and put a comforting arm around him.

He didn't react, so they sat in silence, waiting.

A few minutes later Molly arrived, Minerva spoke quietly to her, then left, to see to the rest of the school. Molly sat next to Harry and held his hand. "Oh Harry, my dear you are as white as a sheet love."

The Tea's effects were weakening, allowing Erebus to creep in more and more. Despair was building, Erebus devoured the emotion, strengthening it in the process.

"It's all my fault." Harry murmured, barely audibly, unaware of anything or anyone around him, only what was within him, darkness closing fuelling his despair which, in turn, fired the darkness, creating an unbroken circle.

His eyes unfocused, fixed ahead, unblinking, into nothing, registering the same, he fought to stay just a little aware. "If it wasn't for me none of this would have happened." He broke down in tears trembling uncontrollably as Molly pulled him into her arms soothing him as only a mother can comfort, Harry barely noticed, but continued to weep, tremble: murmur and stare into space, his despair over whelming his soul.

Erebus started enjoying a foretaste of the feast, no need to advance again, not yet, the despair had his soul. Erebus would soon take over when that was all that remained, then when the fight left, this one would belong to Erebus, completely, utterly almost irrecoverably, it would be easy feeding then. The humans battle to save itself, would then be over.

It was almost two hours before Madam Pomfrey came for them, Molly had continued to hold Harry, but she was deeply worried about him, he was still in deep shock, hardly aware of what was going on.

The school healer spoke to him softly "Harry, Harry it's me Poppy, here take this." She held the cup of potion to his lips.

He drank from the cup automatically, simply a reaction to it touching his lips. The liquid revived him a little, just enough to cause Erebus again to retreat back a little, just far enough for Harry to notice where he was, but still the depths of his despair was present. He realised there was an arm round him, he looked round.

"Mrs. Weasley, I am sorry I didn't see you come in." His voice was shaky and very weak. Madam Pomfrey looked worried, unnoticed by Harry, who continued. "I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley it's all my fault, if it wasn't for me it wouldn't have happened, if I hadn't killed Voldemort they wouldn't be after us, what have I done?"

Erebus fought back, the despair was still building there, feeding the darkness despite the weakening effects of the potion, Erebus latched on to the senses and began to steadily shut them down again.

"Stop it Harry." Mrs. Weasley consoled him." Of course, it's not your fault, you know that you're the best thing that's ever happened to our Ginny, we all know it as well, there is no doubt at all that she loves you."

Harry was again fading into darkness "But, she's dead, she closed her eyes and died, I saw it, I tried to help her , but I couldn't. If she hadn't been with me she wouldn't have been a target, I said it before, but she convinced me otherwise, now she is gone and it's all my fault." He repeated the last four words over and over, his eyes vacantly staring ahead once more.

"Oh my dear, she isn't dead, she's in the hospital wing waiting to see you." Poppy said gently.

But, Harry didn't hear her, he just repeated his words, as the cloak of darkness closed in around his mind again. Madam Pomfrey looked at his eyes they were glazed and vacant, the usual spark was fading, the vibrant green deepening and becoming dull. Erebus was closing in further than it had before with this one, or any human for a long time.

"Quick, lets move we need to get him to the hospital wing right now, this is not simple shock." Madam Pomfrey said urgently.

Hagrid didn't hesitate, he picked Harry up, he ran out of the room and through the corridors, bellowing for a path, students in the corridors diving out of his way as Poppy and Mrs. Weasley ran after him in his wake. Harry telling them all it was his fault, as they headed urgently back to the Hospital wing where the teams of healers were still occupied with the casualties there.

Ginny was peacefully dozing in her bed, when Hagrid burst through the door, waking her suddenly, he rushed across the room and lay Harry in the bed next to hers. Madam Pomfrey and Archie fussed round Harry, trying to break his depression, they called on the remaining St Mungo's healers who were free for help.

"Harry, Harry, what's wrong with him? Harry my love." She cried out desperately, as healers gathered round his bed.

"Ginny it's ok, he's in very deep shock love, he's blaming himself for what happened." Mrs Weasley held her daughter, stroking her hair soothingly, offering the comfort that only a mother could.

"Oh Mum, of course it wasn't his fault." She said sighing.

There was interference from outside, Erebus sensed the magic too late, it pushed back the darkness a little once again, this was going to be more of a battle than it should be, the despair was still there, still powerful, it began to draw on it, to build its strength again.

"Ginny?" Harry's voice was faint, distant.

His hand reached for hers, in the space between the beds, she reached out and grasped it tightly, desperately. She tried to project her love, her need for him along the connection to him, trying to tell him all would be all right again. Ginny spoke urgently trying to make him hear, to reassure him, "Harry my love I'm here, I love you I'm not going anywhere. It's not your fault love it's them. You died on your own last year, but came back for us I'm not going anywhere without you. Fight this Harry, I need you, I promise you will never be alone again my love. They blame you just because you were there, but so was I, so were Ron and Hermione; so were my family and the teachers. If you let them do this to you, who will they go for next my love, it's not you it's them. Don't let them beat you my love." Tears rolled down her face.

Erebus reeled in shock, this was the strongest attack it had felt yet as it closed its grip. Erebus was strengthened from the despair and hopelessness this one felt, it pushed back harder than had ever been needed before, determined not to lose the richest source of food it had found for a very long time. It would consume this one, there was too much here for that not to happen. Too much sadness, too much hurt and pain, this one would fall to the darkness Erebus brought.

Harry could feel the mists in his mind closing. The outside world was descending into darkness. He fought to stay in contact, he heard familiar voices, but they were distant, unidentifiable, he could not hear the words. It was turning his mind in on itself, his last glimmer of awareness of anything outside himself was closing.

"I love you Ginny and I'm sorry, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have died." He breathed, suddenly his hand went limp and slipped from hers.

Erebus had won, it had him completely and began to feast without hindrance, this one belonged to the darkness it thrived in now.

"Harry, Harry! What's wrong with him, mum? Harry, Harry, come back to me, what's going on?" Ginny cried, desperate to hear him, to feel him, to hold him, but she could not leave the bed by here self, she was still too weak despite the work of the healers. Helpless to help her love she cried out his name frantically.

He could no longer hear her to respond.

Molly held her tightly, desperately trying to calm her frantic daughter, whilst simultaneously attempting to control her own emotions, helpless to do what she knew her daughter wanted, the worst feeling a parent could have. She could not help either her daughter or the man who was as good as a son, she didn't even understand what was wrong with Harry to help. There had to be hope though, he had been through so much, he deserved to be happy, he deserved so much and so did her daughter. They had both done so much, this was just the start of their lives for themselves, this could not be all the peaceful life that they would get they deserved a real future.

"Oh my god, he's gone." Archie exclaimed, his shoulders slumped. "He's left us, he's in a world of his own now, I can't reach him. Merlin knows how on earth we'll get him back now."

The healers stood back, looking at Harry and each other helplessly, they clearly had no clue what was wrong or what to do to help him, Poppy looked completely dejected, Archie put an arm round her comforting her as best he could, Ginny looked at Molly there were tears were flowing from both of the women's eyes "Mum?" Ginny asked helplessly, plaintively seeking reassurance, the reassurance her mother had always given her when she had been young.

She had never felt younger, never more in need of her mother, never in need of comfort so much, but she sought a reassurance neither her mother nor anyone else could give her at that moment.

Molly looked at her daughter, she had never felt so helpless, not since she had become a mother and she hated that feeling. She knew Harry had gone inside himself, knew he was in a dark place where he could not be reached. He was living and breathing, but in every way that mattered, he was gone, he was beyond their reach, beyond their help. He only existed inside himself now, the boy who lived, had only lived for himself for a few short months. She knew there was no easy answer, no quick heal, this was like a living death, worse than dying. His spirit and soul were still there, but buried deep. She also knew this would not be easy on her daughter or on Harry either. Her helplessness suddenly became determination, Harry needed her, her daughter needed her, she had never let her children down, she had always been there when they needed her, she wasn't about to fail any of them now, that was for sure. Harry had been there for them when they needed him, they would be here for him now, she vowed there and then, the Weasley's would not abandon him, just as he had never abandoned them. She knew the whole family would stand by him through this, for if, no that was defeatist, not if, but for when he came back to them, no matter how long that took, they would be there for them both. Molly dried her eyes, looked into her daughters familiar brown ones and once again showed her strength.

"We've got to get you both to St Mungo's soon Gin." She told her daughter. "Now don't worry, I'll make sure you two aren't separated, you need each other now more than ever and the Weasley's will all be there for you both too. All you need to do is concentrate on your own healing and Harry, we will look after everything else for you both." Mrs. Weasley's tears flowed down her face again, despite her efforts to stem them, she turned to the school's healer. "Poppy, whatever it takes my family are going to be there for them both, we will get them through this."

"I know Molly and they are going to need it dear. It is not going to be easy, this is not like anything I've ever seen before. He might never recover, if he does he may never be the same again." Madam Pomfrey said grimly, unshed tears pooling in her eyes.

Molly could never remember such a display of emotion from her old mentor, over a patient.

The St Mungo's healers levitated both Harry and Ginny, Molly holding her daughter's hand, one of the healers opened a direct Floo to St Mungo's and they walked through, leaving the Village and School healers to tend the remaining few patients, who now just needed rest and observation, al others had returned to their common rooms or quarters.

The moment the connection closed, Poppy collapsed into a chair and buried her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she wept. Archie put a hand on her shoulder, comforting his friend and colleague, he knew she needed the time she was taking and comfort he was offering, he was glad to give it. She wept for several minutes, glad he understood, accepting his gentle support as it was offered. She felt helpless, she had gone from the euphoria of being able to help her apprentice heal from appalling physical injuries, to the utter frustration of being unable to heal Harry's mental wounds. They were two young people who she held dear, two who she had healed many times and contrary to what her profession dictated, grown to love the company of. Yet she had done all she could for Ginny, but Harry, she felt so helpless, she could do nothing for him.

Eventually she looked up at Archie with tear stained face and spoke. "This could be the last we see of the Harry we know, I just don't know what else to do for him. As far as I can tell, we have lost him, he might never come back."

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Authors Notes:
As always many thanks to those who have Followed/Favourited this story and reviewed the last chapter.
Til next time.
Tgfoy

Nb. Erebus is the Ancient Greek God of darkness and shadow.