Author's Note: Many thanks to everyone who reviewed. My advice is to pay close attention while reading this chapter. It might be a little confusing at times. I tried to make it as clear as possible, but some things aren't meant to make sense yet. That said, enjoy.

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Chapter 38: The Real and the Imagined

Harry wanted to die. Never in his life had he admitted it so bluntly to himself. He was tired of being in constant agony. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it. He could barely even control his movement between stabs of pain.

He heard people talking, but he could not understand them. His vision was still a blur of colors. It was light, so he assumed it was at least morning, though he had no idea what time it was.

"I knew it," a voice finally broke through the din. "I knew you had to have something to do with this. What the hell did you do to him?"

"Relax, Weasley. If I wanted to hurt him, I'd be a lot more creative."

"No, you'd be less."

Was that Ron? Harry knew he must be hallucinating. Ron could not be there. Besides, if he did walk in and find Harry lying unconscious, his first reaction would be to attack Malfoy, not talk to him.

A low hiss erupted in Harry's ears. He reached up, clumsily scratching at them.

"What's happening to him?"

"I don't know, but you might want to stop him before he hurts himself."

Hands grabbed Harry's wrists, wrenching them away from his ears. Luckily, the hissing had stopped by then. He squinted and Ron's form came into view above him. Harry's dry lips parted. "You're not real," he rasped out.

"He thinks he's hallucinating." Malfoy appeared, standing behind Ron. "He probably is."

"What's wrong with him?" Ron asked.

"He's in pain. Just like you'll be in about five seconds if you don't get out."

"Like hell I'm leaving you alone with him!"

"If I wanted to hurt him, I would've done it already."

Ron ignored him, leaning in closer to Harry. "Harry? Can you hear me?"

Harry blinked. Oddly, this did not seemed like a hallucination. As an experiment, he lifted his head off the bed slightly, wincing as the pounding in his skull intensified.

Ron jumped at the sudden movement.

Not a hallucination. Harry let himself fall back on the bed, letting out a rush of air.

"How's my dear friend?"

Harry twisted his head to the right and jumped, scrambling to the left edge of the bed. His vision blurred as pain lanced through his head, but he just stared with wide-eyed fear at the great snake that lay curled at his side, watching him with intelligent eyes.

Nagini.

"What is it?" Ron asked. A hand gripped Harry's shoulder.

"How'd she get here?" Harry asked breathlessly.

"Harry, there's nothing there."

She's not real. She certainly looked real. Her long body coiled around itself, her tongue flicking out at him. He reached out a tentative hand and met cool, very solid scales.

"Who do you see?"

Harry did not answer, frozen to the spot as Nagini slithered up onto to him, moving up his chest to hiss in his ear. "Game's over. He wants you."

As she slithered off of him and down the side of the bed, past Ron as though he was not even there, Harry's brain split in half. He screamed and twisted out of Ron's grasp so sharply he rolled onto his stomach, his face pressing into the pillow.

"Harry? Harry!"

"Roll him over before he suffocates."

Hands seized Harry's shoulders again and rolled him over onto his back. He barely noticed, however, as his mind ripped itself to shreds. He twisted and writhed, praying for it to stop.

"What's happening to him?"

I'm dying, Harry wanted to yell.

"I told you, he's in pain. Keep an eye on him in case he starts scratching."

After several agonizing minutes, the pain finally began to diminish. Harry collapsed back on the bed at once, too exhausted to do anything else. Still, he noticed he was making involuntary, jerky movements. He felt something wet on on either side of his face, creeping down from the corners of his eyes, and realized he was sobbing.

Ron gripped his shoulder, his face contorted with pity. "Can't we give him a potion?"

"He wouldn't take one."

I changed my mind.

"I don't believe you."

"He knew there'd be pain. Don't you think he would've taken the potion himself if he wanted it?"

I changed my mind! Harry's jaw clamped shut. He could not talk. He could not even make himself stop crying.

"Wook at the poor ickle baby," a high pitched woman's voice cackled in baby-talk, "cwying for his mother. Let's send him to her."

Hands sprang over the side of the bed and grasped his arm. "Not yet, not yet." Nott's face appeared beside him, smeared with dirt. His eyes rolled madly. "Never yet." He gave a broken chuckle and slid back out of sight.

"Harry." Hands settled on his shoulders and Ron's face appeared. "Look at me."

"It won't do any good."

Ron ignored the other voice. "It's not real. Whatever you're seeing, it's not real."

Not real?

"Get out of here, Weasley. You're not doing him any favors."

Ron glanced back over his shoulder for a moment, then leaned slightly closer. "I found the potion," he whispered. "I'll be back later." His grip eased and he disappeared from view.

Harry closed his eyes. Moments later, he felt a pressure on the back of his head, lifting it off the bed. He squinted up at Malfoy. Something touched his lips and tepid water filled his mouth, making him sputter.

"Swallow," Malfoy said shortly.

Harry finally managed to choke down the water. He felt his head lower back down.

A moment later, he started gagging again. Malfoy swore and turned him on his side. Harry coughed and retched. A vile taste filled his mouth and warm liquid spilled down the side of his face.

"Pathetic," a new voice said. Someone peeled his eyelids back, but it was not Malfoy.

Snape crouched in front of him.

What're you doing here? Harry's throat worked, but no words came out.

Nevertheless, Snape seemed to hear. He straightened up, letting Harry's eyes snap shut. "I brought her."

Harry fell onto his back again and felt the bed move as someone sat near his head. Something lighted on his forehead and a soft voice spoke. "It's okay. I'm here."

Harry forced his eyes open again. Hermione?

"Shh," she pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't try to talk. You need to save your strength."

But he barely heard, and this time, he managed a few words. "Why are you here?"

Hermione did not answer. She leaned down, kissing his forehead. "I'll stay with you, okay?" The bed shifted as she stood and disappeared from view.

A moment later, Harry's vision went dark.

-

Harry's hands locked around the arms of his chair, his teeth clenching as he felt the jolt of pain through his head.

"My lord?" Bellatrix looked up from her position kneeling on the floor.

"Is Nott talking yet?" Harry demanded.

"He's talking plenty, but he's not making sense. I tried everything I could think of."

"Hmm." Harry stood and crossed to the window. He settled his hands against the sill to hide that they were starting to shake.

"Should I try again?"

Harry curled his thin fingers into fists. "He doesn't know anything. Dispose of him."

"Yes, my lord."

-

"I need these potions."

"Is Harry Potter all right?"

"He will be if you get me these potions."

Harry heard the scamper of feet and a slamming door that drove a knife deep into his brain. He rolled onto his side, coughing. He felt like his throat was lined with razor-blades and his mouth with cotton. The slightest movement of his throat sent bolts of agony through his entire neck until he was sure he would be tasting blood soon.

He could not say for sure when Nagini returned. She did not speak this time, just coiled around herself and settled her head down by his shoulder. Even when he tried not to look at her, he could feel her there, watching him.

The door creaked open again. "Wait out here a moment." It shut quickly. "Get out."

"You can't order me around, Weasley."

"Neville wants to see him."

"Well, Longbottom can wait."

"He's coming in whether you like it or not. I'm only warning you because Harry would want me to."

There was silence for a moment. Then a door slammed so loudly Harry cringed.

The other door creaked again. Ron moved into Harry's vision, touching his arm. "Harry?"

"What's wrong with him?" Neville appeared at Ron's side.

"I don't know."

"Shouldn't he be in the hospital wing?"

"He said Madam Pomfrey can't help him."

"How can we know that if we don't know what it is?"

Ron hesitated but finally just shrugged. "He knows."

Unable to take their looks of pity, Harry let his head fall to the side. Unfortunately, this brought him face to face with Nagini and he jolted, clumsily using his arms to propel himself away from her. His shoulder ran into someone's legs, keeping him from going over the edge of the bed.

"What's he doing?"

"He thinks there's something over there." Ron's hand moved to Harry's shoulder. "There's nothing there."

Harry did not believe him. The snake sharing his bed, flicking her tongue in his face, seemed very real to him. More real than Ron or Neville.

"We should probably go," Ron said. "There's nothing we can do for him by being here."

They disappeared from his view. The door closed with a soft click, leaving him alone with Nagini.

Or so he thought, until Hermione reappeared where Ron had been. "It's okay," she said. "Just ignore them and they'll go away."

Harry could not ignore Nagini. She was taking up half the bed and seemed to be moving closer to his face every moment. He looked back up at Hermione. He was not even sure she was real.

Hermione glanced briefly to her left and brushed the hair from Harry's forehead. "I have to go now. But I'll be right here if you need me, okay?" She walked away.

Nagini slithered up onto Harry's neck. He closed his eyes. She's not real. She's not real.

His brain split again. The pain was unbearable, but the pressure on his throat stifled his scream. He could not breath. He clawed at Nagini, struggling to get her off his throat as red spots broke out across his vision.

Someone grabbed his shoulders, hauling him up. The pressure on his neck released as Nagini slipped into his lap. He sucked in a lungful of air, coughing as his eyes watered.

The door creaked open and shut. "Dobby brought the potions."

Harry felt himself lowered back against the headboard and heard footsteps. "Get some water." As his vision cleared, Malfoy grabbed his chin, forcing Harry to look at him. "Open your mouth." He tipped a vial up to Harry's lips.

Warm, slightly sweet liquid filled Harry's mouth. It coated his throat and burn a path all the way to his stomach. He felt slightly nauseous, but to his surprise, he did not retch.

Malfoy lowered the vial and lifted another. This one tasted like muddy water, and Harry almost spit it back out. Malfoy held his jaw shut, forcing him to swallow. Again, he did not throw up.

Malfoy glanced at something out of Harry's range. "Take these." A moment later, a hard edge touched his lips. "Last one," Malfoy said.

This one was water. Harry gulped it down, desperate to quench his thirst. To his surprise, Malfoy did not pull it away, letting him finish the entire glass. Then he helped Harry lie back down.

Nagini slithered back up onto his chest, staring at him.

"You can go."

"What's Harry Potter looking at?"

"Get out!"

The door squeaked and slammed shut. Harry groaned, arching his back slightly.

"Try not to move, Potter. Rest."

Too tired to do anything else, Harry let his eyes close, drifting off with Nagini still weighing down on his chest.

-

"It can't be done, my lord. Not without causing irreparable damage."

Harry ground his teeth together. "Find a way."

The man he was speaking to—after a moment, Harry recognized him as Rodolphus Lestrange—backed up a few steps. "There isn't one. Potions isn't my area, and if Snape couldn't find one—"

"There has to be a way!" Harry exploded, making Rodolphus cower. He fought to rein himself in, speaking cooly. "You and your wife are on shaky ground. I'd hate for you to fall through."

"Yes, my lord." Rodolphus bowed, backing out of the room as fast as he could.

"Nagini!" Harry hissed.

The great snake slithered across the floor, curling around his feet. She looked up, waiting for orders.

"Don't leave the house anymore. You're not to go anywhere unless I order it."

Nagini made a couple more rounds around Harry before slithering off. He stared after her, silently fuming.

-

"He already doesn't know what's real. You'll confuse him."

"I'm not going to sit outside for fifteen minutes. Get out of my way."

"Fine. I just thought you should know."

In the fading light, a dark shadow blocked Harry's vision. He blinked and, slowly, the person's face came into view.

It was himself.

"Harry?" the other him said. "It's me, Ron."

Harry turned his face away. Nagini had disappeared now. Harry knew she was with Voldemort, so there was no way she could be with him.

Common sense did not prevent the hands that reached up and gripped the sheets, propelling Nott back onto the bed.

"You're not real," Harry whispered. The pounding in his head intensified.

"It's just the Polyjuice," his own voice said above him. "It'll wear off soon."

Harry did not move his eyes from Nott. "You're dead."

"Harry—"

"Who's dead?"

"Stay out of this!"

Malfoy appeared behind Nott, crouching down and fixing Harry with a stare. "Potter?"

When Harry's lips parted, Nott's hand clamped over them. "I should've killed you," he hissed in Harry's ear.

The bugs crawled out from Nott's grimy hand this time. Thousands upon thousands spread out over his cheeks and down his neck. By the time Nott slid out of sight, Harry was writhing, scratching as the bugs descended over his chest and shoulders.

Malfoy sprang forward to hold his arms down. "Full Body Bind!" he yelled at the other Harry.

Harry felt something hit him. His arms snapped to his sides, his legs melded together, and his jaw clamped shut. He let out a strangled scream, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry." The other Harry looked down at him. Something was different about him. There were freckles on his face, and his hair was starting to lighten. A few moments later, he took his glasses off and pocketed them.

"He'll thank you when he doesn't wake up bleeding," Malfoy said, standing.

The other him, who had transformed into Ron, straightened up, too. "I'll be back in the morning." He walked away.

Malfoy sat down again, pressing the back of his hand against Harry's forehead. Then, he lay down, folding his hands over his chest.

Harry wished he could have turned away. He wished he could do anything but lie staring at the ceiling, tears soaking his cheeks because his skin itched so badly it burned.

Hour after hour passed. The room darkened until it was pitch black. All Harry could hear outside of his own occasional, strangled whimper was Malfoy's steady breathing beside him. He could feel his sanity slipping. With every passing moment, he lost another inch, slipping toward oblivion.

He was not entirely sure that it was unwelcome.

-

Harry sat on the floor in the middle of a dark room. The only light came from overhead, lighting up a bed a few feet away. Someone was lying on it, but he could not see who.

"You're early."

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, who stood beside him in his long purple dressing gown, staring out at the bed.

"Who is that?" Harry asked.

"Does it matter?" Dumbledore paused. "Do you remember what I told you?"

Harry nodded. "I can't save everyone. But I don't—Where are we?"

"Your last refuge." The floor trembled suddenly, the overhead light flickering. "There isn't much time. It's almost here."

Harry turned toward the bed again. "What's almost here?"

There was no answer. When he looked back up, Dumbledore was replaced by Hermione. She was nearly skeletal, her hair matted beyond repair.

"Why are you here?" Harry asked.

She glanced down at him. "You already know." She held out a piece of folded parchment.

Just as Harry was about to take it, the ground gave another jolt. Hermione tumbled to the floor. The next crash sent the overhead light crashing to the floor, throwing them into total darkness.

There was a loud rumble, and Harry's head erupted in searing pain. He heard a hiss and a bloodcurdling scream. "Hermione!" he yelled. He tried to leap toward the spot where he had seen her fall, but he was frozen to the spot.

Harry's mind shattered, and the world went with it. He was aware of nothing. He could not tell up from down, could not separate the noises he heard from the roaring in his ears. Even when he tried to scream, he could not know for certain if he had or not. He could no longer feel his throat, or any other part of his body for that matter besides his agonized brain. He wanted to die. When the pain started to drop off, he was sure he had gotten his wish. How else could the pain finally be coming to an end?

Then the feeling started to come back to his limbs. His muscles ached so much he was nearly immobilized and his eyes stung so badly he could barely open them. The pain in his head diminished to nothing, however, or at least something close enough to nothing that he could not feel it anymore.

"Are you waking up, Potter?"

Harry squinted at Malfoy and nodded.

Malfoy straightened up. "Get up then. You weren't detoxing this time. You should be able to walk fine."

Harry struggled to sit up, his muscles screaming from nonuse. "What time is it?"

"Almost lunch. You've been here two and a half days."

Two and a half days. That meant Harry had been unconscious for one and a half. He lifted one of his hands, surprised at how steady it was. It was hard to believe that only three days previous his arms were locked in place, barely able to move. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up without wavering.

"Was Ron really here?" Harry asked as he shuffled to the wardrobe, still a bit wary of his balance.

Malfoy nodded. "And Longbottom."

But not Hermione. Harry pulled off his shirt and retrieved a clean one.

"Who died?"

Harry paused midway through undoing his belt. He shook his head. "Doesn't matter."

"Who was it?"

Harry pulled up the clean pair of trousers, buttoning them with shaking fingers. He was halfway to the door before he spoke. "Theodore Nott."

He left as quickly as he could, but not before he saw Malfoy sit down hard on the floor out of the corner of his eye.

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Author's Note: Please review. Next chapter: the wounded, the dying, and the dead. The world is falling apart in more ways than one, and Harry is about to discover a terrible truth. Just two chapters and an epilogue to go, folks. I extend my thanks to everyone who wished me luck with my wisdom teeth. I may post another chapter before I go, but if not, I guess I'll see you all on the other side.