/AN I broke this chapter down into three chunks. All takes place in the single 24 hour period so far. In the previous chapter, Harry wakes up from a nightmare around 3 AM. It is just before 4AM when Harry and Dan leave home.

Healing Harry

2 Finding the Pieces and Picking Them Up

A pop took place, and Dobby stood bouncing on his feet. "Dobby, can you get me a pensive? Take the one from the Hogwarts Headmaster's office. It belongs to me anyway. Bring it here, Please?."

'Pop!' and the little guy was gone.

"That's Dobby, is my house-elf," Harry explained, "I asked him to bring my memory viewing device."

Less than a few seconds later, Dobby reappeared and floated the Pensive to the low table between the three people.

Harry pulled out his wand and explained, "I am going to pull out the memory of the fight in the Ministry. This device will allow you to watch it like a movie."

Harry carefully placed his wand to his temple and pulled out a long thick silvery strand. He carefully put the memory into the bowl. Recalling the correct runes, he tapped them, setting the pensive to project. "This will be sort of like a hologram, I hope. I am not sure how the Pensive would work for Squibs or Muggles attempting to view memories. This memory is only a copy of everything I saw or heard that night. If we took a copy of Hermione's memory and added it would become the sum of both of our memories. She might have been looking at something else or in a different direction, so the sum could always have the potential of being greater than one memory. Additionally, the memory is always copied from the subconscious mind. It is unprocessed, raw footage so to speak seen without any of the conscious mind's attempt to filter or edit the memory to fit a bias."

'Tap!' of the wand was heard. Then, the memory started playing, starting from the children dismounting from these odd skeletal-looking winged horses.

Harry narrated, "Those are Thestrals. One can only see them if you have seen someone die. They are swift fliers. We traveled from northern Scotland to London in less than three hours." The two adults watched as Harry gave a running explanation of what was being seen. Then, they watched as the six children crammed themselves in the phone booth and traveled down to the Ministry's Atrium.

The Chaplin commented, "That looks like Selene Olivander when she was young. She grew up down the road from me outside of Ottery at Saint Catchpole. Those gingers, are they Weasley or Prewetts? The Weasleys lived over the hill from us. The Prewetts were across the river. The Weasley's had a big apple orchard I used to raid as a boy."

They watched as the children found the dead guard, got in the lift car, and rode it down. The adults were amazed at how quickly they found the room filled with prophecies. The two men had understood it was a trap and watched as the jaws of the trap sprang shut.

Both adults winced as they watched the shelf collapsed under a blasting curse. The spheres fell, shattering on the floor—the genius shown by the children by magically propelling the shards of glass at those masked wizards.

The children quickly got away but were followed as soon as the skull-masked wizards could regroup. It quickly became a classic case of running retreat and not combat. The children were both outnumbered and out-skilled. Dan watched and understood stunning only took an enemy out of fighting for a few minutes at best. Soon he was back casting again. Harry was watching and naming the spells as they were being shot at them. When the children entered the Death Arch room, both men groaned in realization. No exit for them remained. They were trapped. Harry quickly placed everyone where he wanted, and they hid. Soon the room was full of a dozen Death Eaters.

Harry attacked without hesitation. He stopped using school-grade curses. He didn't even try to use Stunners this time. Instead, blasting and cutting curses filled the air, and those spells were being effective. Even when Harry's spells missed, the rock shards from the blasts caused damage. The children had caught the Death Eaters off guard. Several were hit before they could put up any shields.

Dan was amazed and proud, seeing his daughter bravely standing next to Harry. She was casting Shielding spells and firing cover shots for the others.

The Chaplin watched as that quiet kid and the strange girl that looked like Selene. She was dodging and dancing to avoid spells and casting shielding spells while that reserved young man was picking his shots like a sniper. It was taking longer for the Death Eaters to recover. The 1st aid spells being used did not return the Death Eaters to top fighting condition.

The two redheads were also working together nicely, but everyone was slowly losing ground. Finally, the clash had been reduced to a near stalemate. It had become a battle of attrition. Then enemy held the high ground. It was a battle which the children would lose in the end.

A new fighter was on the scene, a tall man who attacked the slowly advancing Death Eaters from behind. As he struck, he yelled, "No Quarter!" and hit the masked fighters from behind. This forced the enemy to defend from both sides. The Death Eaters' advance was again slowed to a stop as they turned to protect against the new threat.

The action was soon fought again to a stand-still. The kids were still pinned down, but then so were the Death Eaters. Then some sort of activity took place near the raised dais. The man with the dark hair had disarmed one of the children's foes that had tried to flank his position. They could see some kind of verbal exchange taking place. The woman then started a lunge toward the man, and Harry raised his off-hand and said, "Accio Sirius Black and a pulse of light left Harry's non-wand hand."

The man, Sirius, was pulled towards Harry. He flew through the air, and the woman passed through the arch. Unfortunately, she didn't come out the other side.

As the man flew through a tight grouping of Death Eaters, he struck one, which had just started to fire a spell. That man twisted as he fell with a broken spine. His attack flew wild, cutting off another Death Eater's head and slicing another from shoulder to hip. Taking advantage of the turn of events, Harry fired curses like there was no tomorrow. Cutter, Blaster, Slicer, Explosive, in never-ending and repeating chains. In seconds there was only one standing Death Eater, Peter Pettigrew.

Pettigrew transformed to his rat form and retreated to the open doorway. He was attempting to flee.

Pettigrew ran through the doorway and transforming into a rat. Harry took off in pursuit. Peter kept to the shadows hoping to get behind Harry.

Harry was aware of this tactic of running away. He had used it often when Dudley and his friends played the Harry Hunting game. So Harry carefully followed the Rat, which was small and hard to see, let alone hit with a spell. Stalking him up stairways and through empty hallways and then finally out to the Ministry's Atrium. Harry drew up short, stopping in the shadows to observe that Voldemort was standing in the Atrium. Harry stood while still hidden in the dark doorway and watched.

The Dark Lord demanded, "Wormtail, Where is everyone? Where are my loyal Death Eaters?"

Pettigrew reported breathlessly, "Everyone is Dead, Master."

Voldemort cast a curse as an answer to Wormtail's report, "Crucio!"

Pettigrew withered in pain on the floor, screaming.

Voldemort demanded, "Where is Potter and prophecy sphere?"

While listening, Harry had regained his breath. When the last question was asked, Harry stepped into the scene from out of the shadows. Harry said, "Here, Tommy Boy! I am here, and here is the prophecy you wanted!" As he dashed the glass sphere onto the floor in front of Voldemort.

Voldemort's eyes followed the orb as it shattered.

Harry was watching as Voldemort's eyes tracked the memory sphere. Then Harry grinned as the sphere shattered. Voldemort's face twisted in anger and screamed "N0!" as the globe broke.

Harry used the tactic of surprise and, immediately as the globe hit the floor, Banished the glass shards directly at Voldemort's face. That actions caught Voldemort off guard, distracted, and totally unprepared. The result was the glass made deep cuts in Voldemort's face, forehead, and the back of his hand. Voldemort only had time to protect his eyes with his hand. Harry called out "Accio Shards" and watched as the glass cut on its way out of Voldemort's snake-like skin. Only for Harry to Banish the shards back again, catching Tom again off guard a second time. This time he didn't get his hand up in time, losing the use of one of his eyes and more blood on his face.

Voldemort bellowed in rage as more blood flowed down from his forehead and got into his eyes.

Then the battle was on, Harry struck again with a curse. Soon both were sending spells at each other. Eventually, Voldemort cast the Killing Curse, which Potter could no longer dodge or intercept with debris. Next, Harry cast the spell "Expelleramus!"

The spells collided and a golden cage formed around the two fighters. It was a replay of the graveyard again. The two were locked into combat, forcing the bead of energy back and forth, like in the cemetery fight. Voldemort attempted to add two different types of attack as well. Before initiating the mental attack, first Voldemort had sent his Familiar, the giant and deadly snake, to attack Potter from the side. he thrust a mental attack at Harry. , A three-pronged attack. Voldemort knew he had the odds stacked in his favor. Harry heard the snake hiss in delight at the opportunity to attack someone for his master.

Hearing the snake's hiss getting closer, Harry raised his other hand without turning his head, and a gleaming sword appeared. Harry moved the blade, cutting at the snake as

it struck. The snake pulled away, not injured. Then the snake reared up again to strike. Harry struck again with a swing and this time decapitated it.

Voldemort screamed in rage as an ugly black mist rose out of the dying snake's mouth. The most awful sound came out of the black cloud as it dissipated. The death blow to his snake made Voldemort lose his concentration. His mental attack was ruined.

The death of his snake was a massive blow to Voldemort. Then as the bead of energy hit Voldemort's wand, it shattered the wood into sharp splinters. The powerful glow continued to flow up the arm which had been holding it. Voldemort screamed in agony. Harry ended the spell by jerking his wand away. At once, a blood spray soaked the wall behind Voldemort as Blood was expelled from the magically constructed body by the magical pulse. Voldemort fell to his knees.

"I don't want your wand Voldemort, I want my blood. It's My Blood! It's My Magic, and you can't have it. "As the golden cage slowly dissipated, Harry walked with a purpose towards the fallen Voldemort. He had to hurry before the magic
holding the body together failed. Holding the sword, Harry used the edge of the blade. With a two-handed hacking motion, he swung. Separating the Dark Lord's head from his body. Then Harry spoke aloud in triumph, "We Win!"

He turned to face the whimpering sound and saw Peter Pettigrew, the traitor lying on the floor still trembling in massive convulsions from the curse under which he had been placed. A stunner left Harry's wand, followed by a binding charm which bound the man in chains. Then Harry stunned him a second time for good measure.

Harry momentarily sighed and trembled with exhaustion and took a breath. He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his sleeve, then he dutifully wiped his sword clean on the robe of the fallen Dark Lord. As Harry remembered, "And, whatever happens, never forget to wipe your sword clean after a fight." It was from a book he had read long ago.

Closing his eyes to help clear his mind. While he felt as if the battle took only a few minutes to Harry's perception, in truth, it was a protracted battle in the Atrium, which had lasted almost 45 minutes. When Harry had regained his calm, he opened his eyes and took the time to look around. The fountain of Magical Brethren was destroyed, as had much of the flooring. As he turned his head, he was startled when he saw what had started with an open Atrium at the beginning of the fight was now full of people. They were all silently standing, looking scared. Harry scanned the faces and saw the Minister of Magic, accompanied by about 50 Aurors and other Ministry of Magic's staff, Ministry personal, and many public and press members.

Harry turned around and looked over by the lifts. There stood six people standing there in awe of what they had witnessed. Harry quickly proclaimed, "Sirius Black is under the protection of House Potter. I am Harold James Potter, Lord of House Potter, any challenges to my declaration of protection? As he held his hand aloft with his Head of House ring shining in the light."

The Atrium was remained silent after Harry's pronouncement. Harry stood resting the point of the Sword of Gryffindor on the floor. Harry returned his wand to its wrist holster, and with his empty hand, he motioned for Sirius and the others to come to him.

Harry stated aloud, "Cornelius Fudge, you called me a liar multiple times. You have had me vilified in the press. You sent that torturing bitch to a school filled with children. Here is proof it was you who was three times wrong. You are the liar and do not deserve to be Minister of anything. Below is your 'closest and most trusted adviser,' Lucius Malfoy, the Death Eater, dead along with ten of Voldemort's inner circle. Last year I gave you a list of his named Death Eaters when he returned and had regained a body. Now you had best be at it. If I see any of those which I then named, I will do my duty. I will protect myself and those who are mine to protect. If the Ministry does not do its duty, I shall, as a Lord of the Magical Realm of Britain. I remind you that I am required to defend its people against all foes and enemies. Do you wish to be an enemy of the people?"

Albus stepped forward and said, "You disappoint me, Harry. Those men you killed could have been redeemed. You're turning dark, my boy".

Harry raised his sword to keep Dumbledore away and said, "Bullshit, old man. You can't reform someone that is trying their best to kill you. Those Death Eaters were only mad animals in human shapes. They were trying to kill all of us. It was all self-defense. No marked Death Eater can ever be reformed. Did you ever ask your pet Death Eater what he had to do to earn his mark? How many people did he kill, rape and torture to earn his Dark Mark? Ask him some time before I hunt him down. Then it will be too late to ask him anything."

"Now, Old Man, I want everything returned which you unlawfully took from the Potter estate. I have the letters about the money and other things you took. I want you out of my life."

"You need to return to school, my Boy!" Albus Dumbledore ordered.
"Why? You're not the Headmaster of the school anymore, remember? You are not and never were my legal guardian. So keep your nose out of my business and life, Mister Dumbledore. And if you do get the Headmaster's job back, I will not be returning to that school again."

Harry nodded his head. "Sirius, your place"? The old man took a step forward to stop Harry, and Harry reached out. Wrapping his hand around the wand, he seized it and yanked it out of Dumbledore's hand. There was a flash, and the Elder Wand had bonded with its new owner.

Harry started to push his way through the crowd leaving Dumbledore standing with his mouth gaping like a fish. Harry had Sirius and the other five behind him. As he passed one of the people, he stopped and spoke to Madam Bones. Pointing, "Voldemort's body is there. I am sorry about the blood and damage. Don't forget, Peter Pettigrew is stunned and chained. Beware, he is an Animagus. His form is a rat. Take care. Send me an owl. I'll be back in school after getting a bit of rest unless Dumbledore is again the Headmaster. Let me know when Peter's trial is to take place. I am just a little Too tired this morning for a longer conversation. Yesterday had been a very long day and the night even longer,"

The group again started pushing through the last of the crowd. Finally, it parted and allowed them to walk to the Floo. Each of his companions took a pinch and whispered the destination, with Harry going last. He watched as several reporters raced each other, trying to be the first out with the news. Three cameramen scurried behind them after taking shots of the gruesome scene left behind by Harry Potter. As the last of his friends left, Harry quickly followed. Stepping out of the floo with a stumble, he said, "That went well, didn't it?" while trying to stand up straight. Harry's eyes rolled up as he passed out. Harry collapsed slowly and hit the floor as Sirius was casting a charm to seal the floo.

Harry leaned back as the image stopped playing and asked, "Well? Do you see why I have nightmares? And now there is an Official Inquiry. Some people are saying I killed those Death Eaters in cold blood."

"Captain Granger, Sir Dan, why don't you take a walk, maybe get something to eat? I think I need to talk to this young man alone, I think." asked the Chaplin.

After the door closed, the Chaplin turned to Harry. "No school child should ever have to do what you did. Actually, no adult should ever be asked to do what you did. But fate seems to propel some people forward to do certain things."

Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts. He built a hope this would not break Harry's fragile trust in him. I know I stated earlier that I would not tell anyone what we spoke about. However, I would like for you to inform at least one more person, please. One extraordinary and a person which will rest better knowing your story."

Looking at the fear on Harry's face, he went on to explain, "In the military, it not unusual for a person to wear more than one hat." Looking at Harry's face shift from tense and fearful to confusion.

The Chaplin realized some civilians might not understand that term. He explained, "That term means we often are tasked more than one job at a time. While my primary job here is the Base's Chaplin, and tend to the spiritual side of things. I do more than conduct religious services. I also work as a general mental health counselor for the unit. I watch out for the mental health of the current and past members of the regiment. I am basically the 1st point of contact for help for them and their families. I listen and watch for men who might be having family issues or drinking or drug problems. People who suffer from guilt problems are mine to spot and get them help. Those tend to be some issues with all military personal that have seen action under fire. I have one side job as well. I am one of a few military chaplains in the rotation for her Majesty, the Queen. I share a schedule with five or six other chaplains. I meet her every five weeks. I am also on-call for her, just like I was on call for Captain Granger. About this time last year, she called me and wanted some advice about 'the other side' of her kingdom. That's how she refers to the magical side of Her realm. She knows I am squib and still have contact with my family on the "other side.' She had felt she had not received honest and complete information from the Ministry for Magic. There were too many reports of non-magical people dying or turning up missing without explanations. It felt to her as if the same set of Magical insurrectionists had resumed where they had left off nearly 14 years ago. Because so many people

from the "other side" end up in this unit, She asked me to keep my ears open for any news or rumors."

Chaplin Morse took a good look at Harry and saw a glimmer of understanding and in his eyes. "The Queen really did not know what to do. Doing nothing wasn't helping any of her subjects. She said to me, 'We feet powerless.' Remember lad, she is sworn by oath to duty, just like Captain Granger and myself. Everyone on this base has an oath sworn commitment to their responsibility."

The Chaplin had explained why it was time for the what, "So, I do think there is one person who would like to see that," pointing to the Pensive, "and she needs to see it if you would allow it. You would be helping her cope with her feelings of helplessness and what has troubled her mind. There have been too many mysterious deaths, whole communities appeared to be committing suicide, and some general population areas being found catatonic. What you said is a reasonable explanation for those events. Moreover, your version is not what your Ministry of Magic reports had been telling her. Suppose if the Queen could view a few of your memories. By asking a few questions of the Ministry and using your information, she might be able to deal with the strength of knowledge. That is better than attempting to sift through rumors, stories, misdirection, and lies to find the truth. Moreover, it might help her with her own nightmares. She worries about her subjects with every decision she makes."

Consider this Just Harry Sir," as the Chaplin had one more point to make. "Sometimes, to get better yourself, you need to help another person pick up the pieces. Yes, Harry, I think I can help you get better. You see, I do know what Captain Granger went through and what you are going through because I went through it myself. One of my superiors helped me find my way back from the edge of darkness. I have spent the rest of my life repaying that favor by helping others. We few, those of which have killed protecting others, are a special sort. We feel we have a duty to save others. No oaths are needed. It is the way we were created."

Closing his eyes and replaying the events before he spoke. "This still haunts me. Every time I explain why I am, what I am, and how I got here, it hurts a little less. I was a newly minted young corporal only 20 years old. I had been sent to a too-small unit assigned to protect a field hospital near the perimeter many years ago. I reported in the wee hours of the morning. That's when it started. I was still standing in the Units Admin Office waiting to check in to the unit for assignment. It was right during morning muster, so no one was in the office.

An unanswered call came that would have informed the base that the front lines had been broken. The Hospital never received the ordered to prepare to pull back. Before I really had a chance to get my feet on the ground, the unit was under fire, and it appeared that it would be overrun any minute. The enemy was in the habit of killing everyone, even the medical staff, and the patients. I was going after I grabbed my weapon, I headed to the line. As I got to the line, the battle was already intense. I shot. Over and over again. The bodies began piling up. When I ran out of ammo for my rifle, I moved and scavenged ammo from the fallen. Eventually making my way to one of two machine-gun emplacements. Those crews had been killed before I got to the line. My guess was snipers got them first. I started firing at nearly point-blank range.

I fired for over three hours after the attack had started. Reinforcements parachuted in to help. Our unit had been the last to be re-enforced on the line. They expected to find the Hospital overrun. Instead, it was me and one of the orderlies and a hospital clerk. The Hospital's unit's staff helped where it could on the perimeter, the line held against overwhelming odds. Two dozen of marines in the unit were dead or wounded. The wounded had been carried back out of harm's way, as it was best we could do. The Company Clerk and a Hospital Orderly carried away the injured and brought me more ammo. It was enough to make a difference in the fight. A few of our wounded survived, fewer of the enemy survived the attack. The body count that day was over 1500 dead or injured. In less than 12 hours, I had expended well over 5000 rounds.

I was held up for a formal board of inquiry because I was the senior and only surviving member of the guard unit. I was the only one left to stand to answer. Most of the guard unit had been downed before I got to the line. My ability to defend myself at the inquiry was thin at best. I had known there were requests for more troops, at least three squads. I was what filled that request—one corporal fresh out of NCO training. I was in the middle of reporting for duty and suddenly was thrust into an all-out firefight. That situation was not in any of my training. No one had ever thought of a soldier ut into that position. I had no base orientation.

I didn't know where the ammo was even stored. How were so few men supposed to protect the lives of the hospital staff and the patients? I was found innocent of any wrongdoing or negligence. Sadly, the damage to my reputation had been done. During the investigation and the Board of Inquiry was finished, I was required to talk about the fighting. Why had my responses had been questioned at every turn? Why was every action called to question? Did someone know something which I didn't? I ended up being called a butcher in some of the international press that was friendly to the other side. There were never any retractions published after I was found innocent. At least here in Britain, people forgot after a while. I took the training to be Chaplin and followed up and received a degree in mental health. I am actually a doctor."

The Chaplin spoke with conviction, "Will I pay penitence when it is my turn to be judged? I don't know. I was a man dedicated to the service of Crown and Country. I do believe that every man will stand in time for his final judgment. It will happen sooner or later. It isn't for me to worry about. It will be what it is. You, like I, made a judgment call. Stand proud, remember standing beside you will be others, just like us, when that judgment time comes. We all made the same choice and took actions more alike than not.

If we get sent to Hell, we'll all be in good company. Satan will learn to fear us. Each of us has already been in a personal Hell. We fought our way out. Satan's Hell will be a walk in the park. Our dead will be carried in our memories by us because we are decent people. If it didn't bother us, we would be monsters. Harry, I have read that 'all it takes to evil to triumph over good, is for good people to do nothing in the face of evil. I can not stand and do nothing. I didn't then, and I will not start now. Sometimes we serve a higher power. The nightmares are bad, and they may fade over time. My own have. The fact you question yourself repeatedly, just like I and others who are troubled by our actions' results, shows the world that we are not hardhearted butchers. We are different than the people we fight. If you did the right thing or even the wrong thing, self-doubt proves your own worth. The evidence is that you did not stand and do nothing. You confronted the evil. You did something. Was it the best of choices? That's for historians to ponder over and debate. They will never really know. They didn't stand in your shoes before your choice was made. They have no idea of what options you could see at the time. I know it is to God alone to finally judge us. You did what you felt was the best, at that place and at that time. Now lad, shall we go visit our Queen? She needs the help which only you can give. It is, after all, your choice, Just Harry Sir."

A very somber-looking Harry asked, "A drive back to London?"

The Chaplin said, "If she is as eager to have answers as I think she will be, we will be flying. An enlisted man will drive Captain Granger's car back to Crawly. Ever fly in the Helicopter, Just Harry Sir?"

Harry slowly nodded, "No, I never have. But, I will see her if it will help her. I guess you might say it is my duty, right."

"That's the spirit, lad." as the Chaplin walked to his desk and picked up the phone. After dialing a number, he simply spoke, "Good morning Miss Joan. Chaplin Morse. Is her Majesty busy? Oh? Please send her a note that simply says, 'I have new information on the odd occurrences we had spoken about in our last few meetings. I need to speak to you at your soonest.' Sign my name. Thanks. My office. I'll be waiting."

"We'll we see how easy this will go." with a thoughtful look. "I say in the next 15 minutes, we will hear the helicopters warming up, and in 30 minutes, we will be on our way to London. Do you want to make a wager?"

About that time, a knock at the door happened, "What's going on?" Asked Dan as he rushed into the office. "The base has gone on alert status. I was told to return here and wait."

Harry smiled and said, "I bet we are on the way to see the Queen."

Harry looked at the phone with a grin... "Three, Two, One, Ring!" as the phone rang.

The Chaplin gave Harry a funny look. Stepped to the desk. One the second ring picked up the handpiece. "Chaplin Morse. Yes. Yes. Yes, Miss Joan. Yes. I will be waiting. She has called orders into Defense. Ouch! The Base Commander will not be happy with me, but that's his problem, not mine. Thank you, Miss Joan."

/AN:
This chapter has been split into three parts.

/AN2
After rereading this story, I have the opinion it could almost make a decent short story. I hope the rest of it works as well.

/AN3

Well this story has grown again. I was going to leave it hear as a two chapter short story, by my finger kept trying. I think maybe 4 or 5 more chapters will be out later.