The Deadliest Kind of Pain
There was an undying truth taking over Harry the moment he was thrown back by the Ghost right off of that rooftop, and that was he was unprepared for her magic. At least, he wanted to make it seem like he was unprepared. Just because he didn't have the tatau it didn't mean he was no longer the cunning, deadly Red Arrow anymore. Harry didn't need the tatau anymore, he was off the island and he didn't have to be that monster anymore. The Red Arrow had to adapt to the world he was now a part of, no matter the cost He thought back to his call with Oliver when he arrived in England and smiled as he started plummeting towards the yard below.
"Harry, do you really think you can deal with this Silver Monkey? She's most likely trained herself to fight you if she truly believes that you killed her father."
"Believe me, I know that. I have one disadvantage in a fight with her right now, and that is because she has magic while I don't... if I'm correct she won't use a wand because that's too flashy, even for her. I've seen people use wandless magic in a fight, so have you, and I'm going to say it right now, that's going to be the wild card in this fight. I just need to dodge her attacks, and get in close."
Harry fell towards the ground rapidly as he saw the female assassin standing on the rooftop triumphantly. She didn't look like she was expecting Harry to survive this; maybe it was just her being cocky, or hopeful. Which of the two it was, Harry didn't know, but all he knew was that he didn't lose that easily.
He pulled a rope arrow out of his quiver, shooting it into the wall and grabbed onto the rope as his body swung towards the building. He was close enough to the ground where he could land fine, while say... Oliver couldn't, but that was only because of the Mirakuru in Harry's blood. Harry dropped down, throwing dirt upwards as his eyes darkened.
His knuckles cracked as he heard the Ghost growl followed by the distinct pop of the witch apparating. Harry closed his eyes as he focused intently on the energy around him... the wind whistled through his ears as the teenager removed his glasses and dropped them to the ground.
He spun around, throwing his fist right as the Ghost appeared in front of him, and the pop sounding off her arrival wasn't the only sound that could be heard as his fist connected with her chest throwing her backwards like a rag-doll into the ground.
"I don't know if you know this, but I'm aware of the energy magic gives off, so you can stop with the David Blaine crap right now... you want to fight me like your father would have fought for his life, then fine... fight me without using your magic, because I won't use magic either."
"You think I don't know about your tatau? I did my research on you, you can't do magic anymore Harry..." she cackled maniacally as she ran towards him, trying to slash his head, only to watch Harry grab the blade with his bare hand, the sword digging into his palm.
"Well, I guess it's a bad thing for you then because I don't have that anymore..." Harry pulled his sleeve up and showed the clear skin on his arm and he could have sworn that even through that mask he saw her eyes light up with fear as he threw the sword out of her hand and jumped over her.
Her reaction time was far quicker than Harry anticipated because during his jump she spun around and grabbed him by the leg spinning him into the wall. Harry fell to the ground with a pained grunt as he rolled to his feet, just barely having time to dodge a knife that would have been planted firmly in his skull otherwise.
"Hey! I'm not a kitchen appliance! I don't have a spot for a knife to go into!" Harry gasped, trying to get on her nerves.
"Eh, maybe I'll make your skull into one after I cut it off of your body."
"Well, I suppose it's better than being on a platter," the teen laughed sourly, unsure of where his sudden joking was coming from, noting that he wasn't usually a happy guy, but he was suddenly taking this problem way too lightly. Maybe the tatau had held back that side of him while it was on him; who knows, it was probably what made him so dangerous in the first place.
Didn't really matter now, as Harry was going to have to find a way to deal with her before any of the Weasleys stepped foot out of the house and investigated Harry's disappearance. He imagined they were probably worried about the attacker coming back and were already gone from the house, but Harry didn't want to take that chance and he charged forward towards the Ghost.
His footwork matched hers in perfect harmony as he swung his bow furiously, unfortunately being blocked by her sword. Harry watched as she countered his follow-up attack and she swung her sword at him, slicing his chest drawing a bit of blood onto her sword. Harry clenched his fists tightly as he focused hard on the Ghost's form and felt energy build up in his arms, as if he was about to explode like a nuclear bomb, and without thinking he threw his hands forward, and watched as she went flying through the wall and into the Burrow. Harry looked at his hands in shock and remembered he had magic now because the tatau was no longer on his arm.
He didn't even care as he launched into the house and back-flipped over a table and kicked the Ghost who was now laying dazed against the stairs. Harry's foot had connected with her chest and he could hear a rib or two crack causing a pained gasp escape her lips.
"If you leave now, I'll let you live," Harry said lowly as the Ghost looked up at him, laughing lightly.
"The time for that has come and gone I'm afraid. Only one of us leaves here alive, and it'll be me." the Ghost hissed at him as she apparated around him, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket.
Harry's sight was blurred as they went appeared and disappeared via apparation and he was slammed into the couch, lifted up and then thrown through the door into the front yard. He grunted as he climbed to his feet and his eyes continually began to darken, and he could feel the faint warmth that the tatau would have right now as his anger continued to rise.
"Harry!" a voice called out to him as Harry looked up to see the Weasleys standing in the back, all fearful, especially Mr. Weasley.
"You guys need to go! Now!" Harry yelled menacingly as he turned around and saw a wand pointed towards his chest. "Give me your best shot..." He was barely twenty feet away from her, but if he moved he wouldn't be able to get to her before she unleashed a spell. If it was the killing curse Harry wouldn't be able to escape it, and he didn't want to find out the aftermath of that one. Something told him sacrificial love only worked once.
He could see Ron reach for his wand but Harry shook his head. "Don't! She's too close, she'll only use me as a shield!"
"Don't you worry about that Harry... I will," the Ghost turned her wand, not towards Harry, but instead at the Weasleys. "You're so willing to fight, but can you protect the ones you care about?"
Harry's eyes grew wide in realization as he took his bag off and ran towards the path of where the spell would go.
"Avada," Harry was moving as quickly as he dived forward, holding the bag out facing towards the Ghost as she finished the spell. "Kedavra!"
Harry watched as the sickly green spell snaked through the air towards them. Molly and Arthur wrapped their arms around their kids as they tried to protect them. The teenage archer threw the bag forward, and watched as the killing curse hit the bag. He watched the bag develop a green glow before falling to the ground. The Ghost yelled in disgust as Harry rolled to his feet and raced towards her, having lost his bow back in the house when they were apparating.
He was almost to her when he heard "Crucio." and he fell to his knees as his entire body convulsed violently and he held in his screams knowing he had gone through far worse.
"Th-th-that, all... you got?" Harry hissed out slowly fighting the pain as he was unable to get to his feet. "Y-you, you'll never be like your father..."
She grew closer as the spell intensified and Harry's fists clenched as his back lurched backwards and he fell fully onto the ground. The Ghost pulled a device from her pocket and held it up for Harry to see.
"Do you know what this is?" she asked with eagerness in her voice as Harry spasmed about on the gravel driveway breathing heavily. Harry could barely see it was some kind of detonator and his eyes fell towards where the Weasleys were standing, as they now looked upon him. On the ground buried beneath fresh dirt, just barely poking out was some sort of explosive.
"R-run!" Harry screamed, his voice cracking as the Weasleys now understood that whatever was in her hand would cause them harm. The family began moving back quickly, but it was too late as the Ghost detonated the explosives and Harry lost sight of the Weasleys as they were thrown back. Screams were the only thing Harry heard as he fought to break free of the curse and rolled onto his stomach, pushing his hands against the ground. The dirt beneath him pushed downward as he used all of his strength to get up. He slowly began to rise as his arms shook fiercely and the Ghost's eyes widened under her mask and Harry's eyes darkened even more and he rose to his feet after a long and tense ten seconds. Harry didn't know if the Weasleys were alive, but no matter what he was going to kill her... he had no choice now. Kill one to save a thousand... that was what he was taught in the League of Assassins, and now she was going to die just like he should have done the moment she first attacked. He showed her mercy, but now he was going to kill her.
He stepped forward, his leg locking up as she twisted her hand. Harry took another step forward before he felt the pain stop and he was able to move again. The Ghost stepped forward herself before taking her mask off revealing a devilish smile.
"I want my face to be the last thing you see before you die... Confring-" before she could finish Harry watched as a spell slammed into the Ghost's chest sending her flying backwards and she disappeared, the only sound telling Harry she wasn't dead was that clear as day pop.
Harry turned slowly around to see Hermione standing there with her wand still pointed at where the Ghost had been and she had tears in her eyes.
She tried to speak but no words came out as Harry stumbled over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Where, where are they?"
Hermione pointed over towards the field where Harry saw the Weasleys laying on the ground, with dirt and blood all over them. Harry ran over to them, falling onto his knees as he feared they were all dead. He checked every single one of their pulses, as he felt fear start to take control of his thoughts. Ginny was alive, Molly, Arthur, Fred... they were alive... Ron was alive, but his breaths were short.
"Hermione, we need to get them to St. Mungo's, now!" Harry ordered as Hermione noticed the darkness in his eyes for the first time and she saw on the ground where his bag laid was an arrow sticking out of it. Harry crawled over to George and found the wizard looking at him. "George, hey, are you okay?"
"H-Harry?" George asked through shallow breaths. "Are, are they okay?"
"They're alive, but I need to get all of you to the hospital, now."
Hermione apparated away, going to get help. Harry looked around and saw the people he had failed to protect from harm as he clenched his fists tightly. He couldn't protect them, not without them completely knowing he was the Red Arrow. He was blinded by his feelings, something he had been taught to never let come between him and the mission. Harry punched the ground, sending dirt flying upwards.
He screamed with anger as he stood up and looked towards the house where he saw his bag lying in the yard. Walking over to it Harry put it on his back and went inside to recover his bow. Once he had his possessions in hand Harry came back out and saw Hermione was back with help, and she was looking at him, except this was not that of concern, but distrust.
"Who was that Harry, and why did she try to kill everyone at the Burrow?" Hermione asked with confusion in the hallway at St. Mungo's.
"Someone that's going to regret trying to kill the Weasleys... that's all you need to know." Harry growled lowly as he clenched his fists.
"You really should get those checked out." Hermione advised him as she went to lightly touch the area around the cut on his chest. He moved faster than she expected as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and stared her directly in the eyes.
"Don't worry about me... I'm the one who has to suffer because of what I failed to do." Harry sighed throwing her hand down and looking into the room where all of the Weasleys were in hospital beds. Fred and George were the luckiest out of all of them having been in the back when the explosion had gone off. Ginny herself had half of her ribs broken and some internal bleeding. Mrs. Weasley was currently in a coma, having received a large amount of damage from the explosion. Arthur was covered in burns on his face and spots over the rest of his body, having protected Ron. Ron had numerous broken bones in his legs and arms, and three broken ribs. His face was black and blue, and if Harry didn't know better he would say Ron looked dead. George had minor burns on his chest and face, the explosion had cost him more than a couple burns, as he had lost a piece of his ear, and was actually awake enough to joke about being 'holy' to which Harry had laughed just to make him feel better.
Fred was the other one in the back so he received the least amount of damage however he was close to having a pierced lung because of a single broken rib. They were going to be all transferred to a Muggle hospital to run further tests that St. Mungo's couldn't, and Harry was mortified. He had hardly said a word since they arrived to the hospital but now, all he wanted to do was let his thoughts out onto Hermione, but he wouldn't. She didn't need to know what he had been through, what he was thinking right now.
He wanted her to remember him as the Boy Who Lived, the one that was her best friend, not the killer that wanted the Ghost to suffer in a way worse than what the Weasleys would now have to. Harry removed his glasses and put them into his pocket before he looked away and began walking away.
"Harry? Where are you going?" Hermione asked as Harry walked down the hallway silently. She ran after him and stopped him in his tracks. "Harry Potter, don't shut me out when I'm trying to talk to you... we've gone through too much to just shut each other out. Harry, what is going on with you?"
"Hermione, I wouldn't know where to even start... I just need to know something, why were you at the Burrow anyway?"
"I was coming to bring you a couple of spellbooks so you could start catching up on your education. I heard from Ginny that you were eating dinner there so I decided to stop by and drop them off."
"How did she tell you?"
"I got her a phone for a birthday present... why?"
"If you hadn't shown up, I would be dead. Thank you..." Harry said gratefully as Hermione pulled the spellbooks from her own bag that she had brought to the Burrow.
"Here." she offered, to which Harry nodded taking them from her and put them into his bag hiding the arrows and his bow. "What's even in there?"
"Clothes."
"What are you going to do now?" Hermione asked cautiously, her voice full of concern as Harry moved by her and lowered his head.
"I'm going to do the one thing I do best... do something about the problem." was all he replied with before leaving. "You can keep Hedwig by the way, she's better off with you anyway."
With that Harry left, leaving Hermione standing there with a look of confusion and a single tear on her face.
Sitting on the plane heading for Starling City, Harry went over his time in England the past two days. Sirius was sitting beside him, having decided to come along for a fresh start of his own in the United States. Harry now had the files over the death of the former Minister, Cornelius Fudge in his bag now, his money was transferred over to the United States, everyone knew he was alive, and with the Weasleys in the hospital, Harry now had a mission... to kill the Ghost of the Silver Monkey.
As he pulled a small notebook out of his pocket he looked at the name on the first page... Constantine Drakon, the first person to have beaten Harry in a fight in over two years. Harry would find Drakon one day, and deal with him, but for now he had a new name to go after... his own list.
See, he knew why the Ghost had attacked the Weasleys, and it was something he had expected, but not the way it happened. There was a pain worst than death, and that was the pain of heartbreak, losing the ones you care about. The Ghost knew that pain all too well, having lost her father. There was something the two shared in common, and that was the reaction to said pain. The Ghost became an assassin to avenge her father's death, and Harry... well he would go after and get justice for the ones he lost. The only difference was that this time, it wasn't for someone else... it was for his own sake.
The side of his personality that was Harry Potter was now officially hidden... now that was at the center was the Red Arrow, and the Red Arrow was going to come out and play as soon as he got off the plane. He was going to kill the Ghost, even if it meant he had to go down a path he couldn't return from.
He pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote down the Ghost's name...
Oh man, I have an issue with cliffhangers, don't I? There's a reason I did that cliffhanger, and that's because the beginning of the next chapter will have a scene with the Ghost and her identity will be revealed. I think it's time you start to learn the story of the woman behind the mask.. and how she is connected to Harry, and China White...
You guys didn't think I would let Harry go back to Starling City without some sort of injury to anyone he knew, did you? I'm down to three possible pairings, two of which I will use, one possibly for a season two, and season three beyond for the second. I'll let you know as soon as I get them set into place. By the way, what pairing do you want for Oliver? Just curious. I don't care what you guys put, but please know Oliver is going to be with a female in the story, in case any of you thought about putting Tommy or something for a suggestion.
Let me know what you guys think and I'll see you soon with a bunch of updates and they'll be longer once more in the next chapter as well.