"Kalopsia"

"Chapter Eight"

Harry stumbled out of the fireplace. His dad sat on the floor with Astrid, Teddy, and Jamie. They stacked brightly colored plastic blocks to build towers. His mother had found them at a Muggle toy store years ago when Teddy was just a toddler. His dad and Teddy concentrated on building a tall, intricate tower while Astrid quickly built little ones for Jamie to smash. His mum and Marlene sat together on the sofa and chatted. Sirius claimed the armchair and rocked Albus in his arms.

"Dad!"

Teddy jumped up from the floor and flung himself at Harry. Jamie squealed, clapping his hands as he galloped across the room. Harry knelt down to the floor so he could properly hug his sons, holding them a little tighter than normal.

"Dada! 'Ocks!" Jamie chirped as he waved a block frantically in the air, nearly smacking Harry in the face.

Harry smiled, his hand reaching out to gently grasp Jamie's wrist. He whispered to be careful. Jamie scampered back towards Astrid, the block still clenched in his tiny fist. He plopped down next to the teenager and hit the block forcefully against a small tower, knocking it over. He screeched in glee as he looked up at Astrid, looking particularly proud of himself.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Lily inquired as she sat up a little straighter, as though she were ready to run to his side if he needed any help.

"I'm alright."

Harry stood up and wrapped an arm around Teddy's shoulders. He glanced around the room, soaking in his family's concerned faces.

"We can take the kids tonight if you aren't feeing one hundred percent," Sirius offered as he hiked Albus up on his shoulder and tapped him on his lower back to quiet down his fussing.

Harry grinned. "Merlin, sometimes I feel like I have two sets of concerned parents."

"Yes, but Marls and I are the fun parents. Prongs and Evans are the sticks in the mud."

"Speak for yourself, Padfoot. I am way more fun than you are," James argued as he continued to stack the blocks.

"I can agree to that," Astrid spoke up. "I always had more fun when I was at the Potters."

"You're still underage. I can still ground you," Sirius warned.

Marlene rolled her eyes. "Every kid thinks their godparents' house is more fun than their parents' house."

Harry paid no attention to the bickering as he closed the space between him and Sirius, his eyes on Albus. His heart twisted for reasons he couldn't explain, a wave of relief washing over him. An unexplainable fear of Albus growing up without a father penetrated his heart as he reached out for his youngest son. Sirius adjusted Albus and held him out to Harry. He slipped one hand under his bum and the other under his neck.

Albus blinked up at him as Harry cradled him close to his chest. Tears sprung to the corners of his eyes as Albus cooed and jerked his little arms around.

"Why don't we make lunch?" Sirius suggested.

Harry glanced up, his gazing locking with his godfather. Sirius gave him a reassuring smile as he stood up. He squeezed Harry's shoulder as he walked by.

James and Sirius argued playfully over what to have for lunch while Teddy exclaimed they should have chocolate cake. Marlene laughed loudly and said she'd whip up a cake to bake while they ate lunch outside on the back deck. Everyone shuffled out of the room, talking loudly and oblivious to Harry attempting to control his emotions. Everyone except one person.

Ginny's warm hand pressed between his shoulder blades as she rose on her tiptoes to kiss his rough cheek.

"I couldn't imagine him growing up without a father," Harry whispered. "Any of the boys."

"I know. You're home now, though. Let's not worry about it. You're home and you're safe."

Harry nodded. "You're right."

"Let's have lunch and then we'll fly a bit, get your mind off things. Flying always seems to help you clear your mind. Your dad has been itching to take Jamie up on a broom."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course, he has. He wants to make sure he's a Chaser and not a Seeker, trying to corrupt him."

Ginny pinched his side. "Oi! Chasing is far superior to Seeking!"

Harry laughed, stepping away from Ginny. He gestured towards Albus in his arms, his eyes wide.

"I have a baby! No violence!"

Ginny only laughed, flicking her long ponytail behind her shoulder. She smirked at him, her hand reaching out to pinch his arse.

"How about that kind of violence?"

"Oh, I could definitely go for that later tonight. Early bedtime for the kids?"

"I think if we wear them out flying and running around the back garden, we can achieve an early bedtime."

Harry grinned, feeling better. "Then what are we waiting for? We have kids to wear out."

Ginny chuckled, turning around and making her way out of the parlor with her golden red hair swishing behind her. Harry glanced down at Albus, who had fallen asleep at some point. His little brow furrowed, small puffs of air escaping his lips. Harry bent down to kiss the top of his head before following Ginny out to the garden.

For the rest of the day, laughter filled Harry's mind and put him at ease. Whatever uneasy feeling he had when he looked at Albus had disappeared during lunch. He laughed loudly at the stories James and Sirius told about their time at Hogwarts, about a young Harry, about Harry's children.

When they flew after lunch, Harry felt free. There was not a negative thought in his mind, all of his worries and troubles slipped away. He stayed close to Teddy's broom, helping him perform a few tricks on the broom while James had little Jamie high in the sky. The two-year-old squealed in delight, as though he were born to fly.

That night, when he pressed his naked body against Ginny's, he felt a warm tingling glide over his entire body. Everything seemed right with the world, like he was exactly where he was meant to be. When his lips brushed against her sweet skin, he was home. Home wasn't a house or a place. No, to Harry, home was Ginny.

The next morning, he woke up first. He rolled out of bed, finding his discarded pair of boxers on the floor from the previous night and his t-shirt. He dressed quickly and quietly before padding downstairs to start breakfast.

Harry stopped in front of the table in the entryway, his eyes glued to a wedding picture of Sirius and Marlene. He recognized himself at five years old in Sirius' arms, a wide grin on his face. His dad and Remus stood beside his godfather while his mother and a dark-haired woman Harry couldn't place stood next to Marlene. His fingers trailed along the frame, a lump forming in his throat as he stared at Remus' scarred and smiling face. Picking up the frame, he couldn't remember the wedding no matter how hard he tried as he stared at himself and Sirius cuddled close together, their cheeks pressed against one another.

Ginny. Teddy. James. Albus.

The mantra in his head made little sense. He heard it over and over again. The uneasy feeling settled deep within him again, sinking its claws into his flesh and latching on tight.

A warm hand rubbed up his arm and then squeezed his shoulder. "You alright, love?"

Harry dragged his eyes away from the picture to meet Ginny's gaze. "I can't remember how Remus died."

"Well, I think he died of a broken heart." Ginny leaned in close to him, her hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. "After Tonks… after that mission where she… the full moons just got rougher after what happened. His heart just stopped during one transformation."

Harry attempted to swallow a lump that had lodged itself in his throat but failed miserably. "Gin… I think something is wrong with me."

"Do you want to go back to the hospital? I'm sure we can find someone to take the kids."

Ginny's touch left his back, sending an icy shiver through his body. She leaned against the table so she was right in front of him. Her hands gently tugged the photo from his grasp and then sat it on the table behind her. Her hands gripped his tightly, a soft smile crossing her features as she looked up at him.

"The Healers said you hit your head pretty hard, Harry. Maybe there's something else going on than they initially thought. I'll call my mum if you want to grab a bag."

Harry shook his head. "You're going to think I'm mad, but I don't think it has anything to do with my head injury."

Ginny's face remained neutral. "What do you think is wrong?"

"I don't know. I just… I feel like something isn't right, like I'm not where I'm supposed to be," Harry admitted, a frown working its way onto his features. "It disappears when I'm with you, when I look at you or touch you."

"I don't think you're mad," Ginny whispered, her hands leaving his to glide up his arms. "If you feel like something is wrong, then I believe you. We can figure it out together, because it's us against the world, right?"

The corners of Harry's lips twitched. "Us against the world."

Harry felt a calm at her words wash over him. There was something about Ginny that calmed him, made him happier than he ever thought was possible. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. She titled her head up, her chin resting against his chest. He ducked his head, capturing her lips against his. A warmth filled his entire body, washing away the prickling in the back of his mind that something wasn't quite right once more.

It took an entire day for Ron to be released from the hospital, and that was against medical advice. Hermione had made noises of protest as Ron scribbled his signature on the discharge forms. Without going home, he made his way straight to the Ministry with a promise to Ginny and Hermione he would keep them updated. Ginny only agreed when Hermione practically hauled her towards the fireplaces.

When Ron entered the Auror Department, whispers erupted around the bullpen. All attention turned to him. The room erupted into applause, and Ron suppressed the groan that bubbled in his throat. It was custom to applaud an Auror who had been injured when they made it back into the office. Ron didn't feel it was warranted, because he returned without his partner.

"Oi! Stop it!" Demelza shouted from the back of the room. "Don't give him a bigger head than he already has!"

Several people laughed, some of the junior Aurors looked horrified and unsure of what to do, and Ron merely grinned. He shot Demelza a two-finger salute before making his way to Robards' office. It was time to get this show in the sky.

It was close to four in the afternoon by the time the teams were gathered, briefed, and the Portkeys were ready. Ron sent a quick Patronus to Ginny to let her know they were due to set out momentarily. He tapped his wand against his thigh as his left hand touched the Portkey. Demelza stepped up beside him, her shoulder brushing against his.

"We're going to bring him home, Ron," she whispered, a hand reaching out and squeezing his wrist.

Ron glanced over at her. "Yeah, we will."

With a familiar tugging sensation, the bullpen of the Auror Department disappeared. They landed in the field. The Ministry Curse-Breakers moved forward, fanning out across the field in a straight line with their wands raised. Their wands swished and slashed at amazingly fast speeds as they worked quickly yet methodically.

They wandered around the field for hours as the sun had started to lower in the sky, casting an orange glow around them. Demelza walked beside him the entire time in comfortable silence. Though Ron would never admit it to her, he was grateful that she was by his side.

Ron's heart leapt into his throat when the Curse-Breakers halted in their march. Ron took a step forward, his mind suddenly foggy with the urge to call it a day and head home. Here. The wards were here. Ron swallowed a lump in his throat, his eyes squinting as though he half expected to see the wards if he looked hard enough.

Ron impatiently waited as the Curse-Breakers worked to dismantle the wards. Anxiety rose in the pit of Ron's stomach the longer they took. Surely Zephyr and his accomplice had noticed the large group of Aurors by now, knew they had located the wards. He couldn't help but think they would attempt to clean up their mess quickly, to kill and dispose of Harry's body before they had a chance to rescue him.

Robards demanded an update on the wards as the sun only sank deeper into the horizon. Finally, Ron heard a crackling noise. The field in front of them flickered. It only took a few more minutes for a building to be seen in the distance, an old farmhouse with an old barn out back. Ron's eyes glued themselves to the barn, remembering what Maisie had said about being tethered in a barn.

A group of senior Aurors rushed forward, wands drawn as they headed towards the house. Ron and another team marched towards the barn. Ron broke out into a run, his heart beating fast against his chest. He was so close. He just hoped he wasn't too late.

He opened the door to the barn and immediately gagged.

The barn smelled damp and musty. That was the probably the most pleasant smell that assaulted his senses, which was alarming in and of itself. The other smells burned his nostrils, ones that made his stomach churn and the uncomfortable feeling of bile rise in his throat. It was the distinct smell of blood and urine. He tried to keep his breathing in check, to not show his whirlwind of emotions in front of his fellow Aurors. Except this was Harry. It was his best mate, his brother, his family. He licked his bottom lip, immediately regretting that choice as the awful scents clung to his tastebuds.

Ron's fingers curled tightly around his wand as he pointed it out in front of him. Two Aurors flanked behind him, one lighting the way. They crept inside, and Ron's heart sank to his stomach. Ron stumbled forward, his body being pulled to the man hanging by his wrists next to a female.

Harry was shirtless, his pale skin illuminated against the wand light and covered in tendrils of dried blood that originated from his neck. His arms were stretched high above his head with manacles encased tightly around his wrists. A chain attached the manacles to a beam. Harry hung limply in the restraints, the tips of his toes just barely brushing the cement floor. Blood streaks ran down his arms. His head lolled to the side, resting against his arm.

Ron rushed towards him, his trembling fingers pressing against Harry's neck. He let out a shaky breath when he felt a very faint pulse. His palm cupped Harry's bearded cheek as he took in the damage to his best friend. His cheeks were hollow beneath the dark hair. He looked like he had already lost some muscle mass in the few short days he had been in Zephyr's company, and Ron had no doubt that he hadn't eaten since being taken. Red puncture wounds marred his neck.

He glanced to his right to see Addington tending to a young female who looked like she was fresh out of Hogwarts. Ron recognized her as the woman who they had found in the field a few days prior. Ron gulped as he wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and pointed his wand towards the chain holding him upright. With a flick of the wrist, the manacles detached from the chain. His bound wrists crashed down hard against Ron's shoulder. He grunted as Harry slumped against him.

He lowered Harry to the ground. Ron freed Harry's wrists with a tap of his wand to each manacle. The skin looked angry, blisters already threatening to burst. Ron pointed his wand to Harry's temple and muttered a Reviving Spell. Harry's eyelids fluttered, but they did not open. His dry cracked lips parted, and Ron leaned his ear close to Harry's lips.

"Gin…" Harry groaned in a voice that was hoarse and less than a whisper.

Ron pressed his palm against Harry's chest, as though willing his best mate to wake up. He felt a sob crawl up his throat.

"Harry, it's Ron. It's me, mate. Can you hear me?"

"Gin… Ted… Jamie… Al…" Harry murmured in a barely audible voice.

"Weasley!"

Ron whipped his head to see Robards marching towards them. The house must have been empty if Robards was already checking in, meaning that Zephyr and his accomplice must not have been home when they raided the property.

"I can't wake him. He needs St. Mungo's." Ron snapped his gaze back to Harry.

"Dobbs! Robins! Get a team of Healers here to transport the victims!" Robards barked out orders.

Ron winced. Victim. Harry would hate being labeled as a victim. Ron cupped Harry's face, his finger brushing along his bony cheekbone. He wouldn't leave Harry's side until he was safely at the hospital. Even then, he had to make sure there were guards outside of his hospital room door, especially if Zephyr was still out there.

Robards crouched down across from Ron, his eyes gliding over Harry's limp and battered body.

"Initial scans of the farmhouse tell us no one is inside," Robards whispered. "We're combing every inch of the place to see if we can figure out where they are."

"Harry needs Aurors outside his hospital room twenty-four/seven."

"Already gave out that assignment," Robards commented. "You really think I'm going to let my O-team not be guarded at all times? Your arse was heavily guarded during your time at St. Mungo's."

"O-team, eh?" Ron questioned with mild interest, his gaze snapping up to look at his boss. "Is that our new title?"

"Don't let it go to your head, Weasley."

"Too late. It already has."

Robards chuckled. "Doesn't surprise me. Contact your sister before she winds up here playing amateur Auror again, yeah? Tell her we're transporting him to the hospital shortly."

Robards reached across Harry to clap Ron on the bicep before he stood up and started barking orders once more. Ron adjusted Harry in his arms, refusing to put his best mate down, so he could raise his wand into the air. Swirling his wrist, his Jack Russell Terrier escaped from the tip of his wand. He hopped around for a few moments before dashing across the barn and leaping through a wall.

Ginny leaned back against the sofa, her knees drawn to her chest and her arm slung across Teddy's shoulders. He sat next to her, his head resting on her shoulder and his knees drawn up in a similar fashion. Teddy was astute. He knew something was wrong, knew that Harry's absence wasn't like any other time he was unreachable because of a mission for work. Ginny's hand rubbed the kid's arm as they both watched James and Fred climb on top of George and pound their fists on his chest.

With a sigh, Ginny rested her cheek against Teddy's dark hair. George let out a howl as both toddlers cackled. Angelina scolded the boys to be quiet, as Albus had jolted in her arms at the loud noise. She cradled the infant closer to her chest, her hand cupping the baby's ear to block out the noise.

George turned his head and locked eyes with Ginny. He offered a small smile, his arms pinning the two toddles to his chest. They squirmed and squealed.

Ginny supposed she should be thankful that George and Angelina had stopped by to help her with the kids while they waited for news from Ron on the raid at the field. Part of her knew she should put on a fake smile and play with her sons like George was doing. Except her heart felt heavy and fear gripped her throat so tightly she felt like she could barely breathe. What if Ron found a dead body instead of her husband?

Blinking a few times, she turned her head to bury her face into Teddy's hair. She refused to let the tears fall, refused to think the worst-case scenario had occurred. It was pure torture to wait for news. She didn't understand how Hermione and Luna were in the kitchen making tea and putting together a tray of biscuits for everyone. She couldn't move from her spot on the sofa, let alone do anything productive.

It was eight in the evening when Angelina, Hermione, and Luna took the babies and toddlers up to bed for a sleepover. Teddy refused to move from Ginny's side, his eyes wide and lips thin when George approached them.

"Come on, kid, let's go up to bed," George suggested, his hand extended.

"No."

"Teddy." George sighed, his gaze shifting to Ginny as though asking for her help.

Ginny carded her fingers through his hair, her lips pressing against his temple. Teddy had always been her little buddy. He often sought her company and went to her for comfort, even over Harry. Ginny couldn't lie - the little boy cuddled next to her brought her more comfort than she thought was possible at a time like this.

"It's fine. He can stay up."

Teddy's body loosened at the words as he cuddled deeper into her side. George merely nodded as he sank down to sit on the coffee table opposite of them. He rested his forearms on his knees, his body hunching over. He looked like he had aged a good twenty years in the span of thirty seconds.

"What the ruddy hell is taking so long?" George groaned as he rubbed his face with his hands.

Ginny didn't respond. Her eyes glanced towards the very cold and silent fireplace. She willed for Ron and Harry to come stumbling out of it or, more realistically, at least Ron to tell her that Harry was at St. Mungo's, awake, and waiting for her to arrive.

Angelina, Luna, and Hermione joined them. Angelina and Luna made small talk, attempting to break the tension in the room. Hermione looked near tears the entire time, her gaze hyper focused on a hideous vase that Dudley and his wife had sent them at Christmas. George remained hunched forward on the coffee table, occasionally grunting at whatever Angelina and Luna rambled on about.

Teddy had fallen asleep at some point. Ginny couldn't pinpoint exactly when but she knew he was in a deep sleep when the silver Jack Russell Terrier barreled through the wall. The dog jumped up onto the coffee table and sat next to George.

"Found him," Ron's tense and rushed voice filled the parlor. "He's not looking good. We're waiting for a few Ministry Healers to transport him to St. Mungo's. He's alive but… oi! Over here! Meet us at St. Mungo's."

The dog melted into the coffee table. Ginny's heart pounded in her chest. He's not looking good. He's not looking good. He's not looking good. Ginny shook her head, trying to block out the words. He was alive, that's all that really mattered, wasn't it? He's alive but… He's alive but… But what? Ginny wiped a hand quickly under her eye to brush away a stray tear.

"Go, Luna and I will stay with the kids," Angelina's voice snapped Ginny out of her thoughts.

Ginny's tongue peaked out to lick her dry lips, her entire body trembling. Angelina hovered in front of her briefly before she took a seat next to Teddy. As gently as possible, Ginny transferred Teddy away from her side and into Angelina's waiting arms. Teddy's arm flopped across Angelina's pregnant belly as he cuddled close to her side.

Shooting Angelina a grateful smile, Ginny stood up. George and Hermione were already by the fireplace, a pinch of Floo Powder in their hands as they waited for her. She nodded, and George disappeared into the green flames. Hermione motioned for Ginny to go next. Squaring her shoulders, Ginny stepped into the flames.

When Ginny entered St. Mungo's, it was pure chaos. Healers rushed into the incoming patient bay. She could hear Ron shouting potion ingredients and words like needle and hallucinogens escaping his lips. Ginny felt her legs drag her towards the bay, her heart hammering in her chest. Time seemed to slow. Everyone appeared to move in slow motion around her. On the floor of the bay, she could see a mop of tangled black hair on the floor. His body smeared in blood, his skin shiny with a thin layer of sweat and paler than she could ever remember seeing it before. Wands waved over his body, his chest sucking in instead of rising and falling.

His body floated in the air, his arms limply falling behind him as the tips of his fingers brushed the tiled floor. A sob escaped Ginny's lips, her hands flying to cover her mouth. She hunched over, her shoulders shaking and eyes sliding shut. All she saw was Hagrid carrying a very skinny and pale teenage Harry out of the Forbidden Forest.

Strong arms wrapped around her, steadying her. She could practically hear her father whispering in her ear that it was alright and his strong arms holding her back from running. Her breathing became shallow as her eyes snapped open, her mind mentally preparing herself to see Tom Riddle laughing and jeering that Harry Potter was dead. Except she wasn't at Hogwarts. There was no smell of death and ash in the air. There was just Healers scrambling and a very adult Harry's limp body on a floating gurney.

"Ron!" George shouted, and it was then that Ginny realized it was George and not her father holding her.

Ron, who had been marching next to the gurney with a don't you dare fucking tell me to leave expression splashed across his face, shot a look in their direction. There was a smear of blood on his cheek, and Ginny knew it must have been Harry's. Bile rose in her throat as she shrugged George's arms off hers. She marched forward, her legs feeling like they were about to collapse under her weight at any moment.

Ron looked torn, his gaze flickering between Harry and Ginny. Healers yelled out incoherent words that just buzzed in Ginny's ears. Ron fell back, his expression suddenly soft and tears burned the corners of his eyes. Ginny picked up her speed, stumbling the last couple of steps into Ron's arms. His strong arms wrapped around her as she buried her face into his sternum. It was then that the floodgates opened, the tears she had kept at bay all evening spilling down her face at an alarming rate.

After a few moments, Ginny pulled back. Ron sniffed and kept an arm secure around her shoulders. She moved forward like a woman possessed, her vision blurry from tears as she followed the voices of the Healers. She pushed open the door to the A&E Department, a voice yelling at them to stop. She ignored it as she and Ron walked in tandem down the corridor, each clinging to each other like a lifeline.

The Healers hadn't bothered to close the curtains around Harry's bed. He laid on the gurney with only a thin white sheet covering his thighs. There was a Respiratory Bubble covering his nose that inflated and deflated. At least four different wands continued to glide over his body as another Healer tipped back his head to pour a potion down his throat. The beeps that echoed around them were not consistent, often missing a beat and painfully slow.

A Healer suddenly blocked her view, snapping the curtain shut. Ginny moved forward to grab the fabric and rip it back open when George grabbed her wrist. He shook his head, his face pale and eyes wide.

"OI! You can't be back here!" a security guard shouted as he hustled down the corridor towards them.

Ron stepped forward, flashing his badge and talking in his Auror voice that George always made fun of. Ginny closed her eyes and shook her head, blocking out George's low rumble that was far too serious and foreign in her ears. She would not leave Harry now to sit and wait in a waiting room. She had done enough waiting over the past few days. Harry was here, so close and finally safe. He needed to know she was here.

"Mrs. Potter?"

Ginny turned, her eyes snapping open to see a Healer hovering near them. He offered her a sad, sympathetic smile as he motioned for her to follow him. Ginny followed him without hesitation. The Healer pressed his wand to the curtain, and the fabric parted.

Her legs led her to Harry's head. Dried blood trails ran down his neck, shoulders, and chest. Purple bruises resided under his eyes. She reached out a hand to card through his filthy and matted hair. Ginny willed him to wake up, willed him to say something, willed him to even just twitch. He remained perfectly still as the Healers continued to cast healing spells and talk in low tones on how to deal with his treatment.

"Harry," Ginny whispered, bending down so that her lips danced near his ear. "I'm here. You're alright now. Please, Harry, just wake up. You're home."

The plea changed nothing. She continued to caress his head, his cheek, glide a thumb across his dry lips. She wanted to keep physical contact with him in hopes it would help him wake up.

"You're home, Harry. I'm here, and you're home."

Ron's arm draped over her shoulders, his head resting against hers. "We got you, mate." And the sound of Harry's beating heart reverberating in the room was the only comfort they could find.

Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Please, do not forget to leave a little review before you close the tab. Your reviews make me jump for joy and want to keep writing. They inspire me and give me plenty of new ideas! I will be replying to reviews shortly as well! Thank you for all the well wishes in your last reviews. They truly made me smile! Don't forget to follow me on Tumblr (SeriouslySam8). I just posted a sneak peak for the new story I am writing that will be posted after Kalospia is finished. It's a collaboration with Breanie, so that is amazingly exciting and makes me so happy! It's already been a fun process!