Be warned, this chapter is much more angsty, we learn more of Harry's
time with the Dursleys. - Pose
Chapter 8
It was nearly seven by the time the Guardians were finally able to go to bed. They were woken at twelve, and told to prepare for a meeting and go to lunch. They dressed slowly for the first time in weeks, and Dean and Seamus gave the others an account of what had happened to them, before the groups joined up. They chatted their way through lunch, then headed to the Meeting Room. Sat on the far side of the long table were all the professors, and the Guardians took their seats on the near side of the other. Harry noticed that several of them were looking at him, and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Dumbledore stayed in his seat, but began to talk. 'Your mission was a success, and that in itself is an achievement. Your plans were good, and the right preparations were made. Your leaders communicated well, and the mission went as you had planned it to, and the backup was a good idea. That is about all I have to say, but I believe your instructors have something to say.' He stopped and looked down the line to Sirius. He stood. 'Yes. There are a few comments I would like to make. First, Harry you should have appointed a second in command to take over if needed. Also someone should have stayed to guard the horses. You should also have searched the rest of the house before joining the battle inside, or at least sent someone to do so. That's about it.' He looked around, at the other adult, making sure he hadn't missed anything. He started again. 'We all think you deserve the rest of the day off, so make the most of it. Your post for the last few weeks has been put in your rooms. I will see you all at the normal time tomorrow.' He, followed by the other instructors, walked out, and the Guardians went back to their rooms. Harry and Ron could not be bothered to change, so they simply took off their robes and loosened their shirts. Ron rushed over to the pile of letters, and brought back several, including two for Hermione, and one for Harry. When he opened it he realised it was from Fred and George, thanking him yet again, and begging to be told what was happening to them all. Harry fetched a quill and parchment and wrote his reply.
Fred and George,
Thanks for the letter. Please try to remember you've thanked me enough times already! Sorry, but I can't tell you what we're doing, though you will understand better when you come back. What I can tell you is that if it wasn't for the red hair you wouldn't recognise Ron now, he's changed like the rest of us. Best wishes to other Weasleys. Harry.
While Harry was writing, his long hair meant he kept having to stop because he couldn't see. Hermione noticed this and commented when he had finished. 'Harry, why don't you get a hair cut?' Her voice was innocent. 'I wish I could, but there's not exactly a beauty salon round the corner, is there?' 'Emma could do it, she's really good. I think short on the sides, with it brushed up on the top would suit you. What d'you think?' 'I dunno. The press.' 'Stuff the press. Come on. I'm not giving you a choice. Emma!' The last bit she yelled. Emma, the youngest of their group, came over. 'We need you to give Harry a haircut. We want ..' Hermione whispered into her ear. 'Ok. But he needs to take his shirt off.' Harry did so, then sat on a stool as he was ordered. He was startled when Emma made a jet of water come out of her wand, soaking his head and shoulders. He spluttered, but the others only laughed. Soon what seemed like most of his hair was around his ankles, and Emma was putting the finishing touches on what remained. 'Ok, turn around.' Harry did so, and was startled to see all the Guardians looking at him. Hermione spoke for them all. 'Harry you look so different!' 'Good, I hope?' 'Oh yes. Definitely.' There were nods all round, then Ron spoke. 'Hey, Emma, could you do mine?' 'Sure,' she replied, blushing. 'Have a seat.' Harry stood as Ron removed his shirt and sat down. 'Thanks, Em. Really.' He smiled at her. 'No problem. It suits you.'
Harry walked into the dorm, as Ron became the centre of attention. He dropped his shirt on his bed, and kicked off his shoes, then caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He barely recognised himself! His scar was now in full view, and Harry could see more of his head than he ever had. His reflection grinned back at him. It was not just his face that had changed. His shoulders had broadened, and Harry could see muscle for the first time in his life. As he turned in front of the mirror to check his back, he grimaced. Though his wounds were fully healed, his back would bear the scars for the rest of his life. One side was also badly bruised from the fight, and Harry was gingerly rolling his shoulder when Ginny walked in. 'I noticed the bruise. Is it Ok?' 'Just really stiff. I've had worse.' Ginny frowned, then led him through to her bed. 'I've got something that might help. Lye down.' Harry did so, listening too Ginny moving round to the other side of the bed. She sat down beside him. Harry tensed up at the coldness of her hands on his back, but relaxed as she began to massage his bruised shoulder. After a few minutes she asked a question, running her finger over one of the many scars on his back. 'Did your uncle give you all these?' Her voice was sad. 'Most.' His voice was calm. 'I'll never understand how someone could do that to anyone.' Ginny said. Harry could feel the anger in her voice, and the way her hands moved on his back. 'To start with it was his protection against magic. He though he could beat it out of me, and it'd just go away. He told me I deserved it, and you know what? Until I came to Hogwarts I believed him. I actually believed him. After first year he saw it as my punishment for daring to 'shame' his precious family.' Harry's voice was bitter, and his shoulders trembled. 'No one deserves that, no one.' Ginny's voice was fierce, and she was struggling with tears. 'He used to send me up to my room, and make me wait, not knowing when he would come. He would make me stay still and make an easy target as he whipped me. Always it was on bare skin, but then he loved to see me bleed. I lived in fear of him, and of what he would do to me.' Ginny was crying, and had stopped working his back, slowly rubbing his hand as he talked through the tears streaming down his face. 'If I begged him to stop, he would just laugh and carry on. I learned to take it in silence. But there way one time he broke me. He had clients round for supper, and Dudley made sure that by the time they left I had split everything from wine to gravy, always on the client and his wife. They decided not to go through with the deal, and my uncle blamed me. He was furious. I was dragged out side and tied top the shed with my hands above my head, and my back bare. He used a chain until I screamed, then gagged me and carried on. When he had finished he left me there. I feel it in my nightmares.' Harry shuddered and closed his eyes. After a few minutes Ginny spoke, her voice chocked with tears. 'Harry, I'm so, so sorry. Someone should have done something. I'll tell Mum and Dad to let you come to the Burrow.' Harry cut her off. 'No, Ginny. It's the way it has to be. I will not endanger your family. I have never told anyone what I just told you. I should have kept it that way. You must not tell anyone. Promise me Ginny?' Harry sat up and looked into her eyes for the first time. 'Oh, Harry.' Ginny wept again, and pulled Harry into a hug. She whispered, 'I promise.' They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, and then separated as Harry brushed away her tears. 'Cheer up, it's ten months before I even have to think about it again. Come on, lets play exploding snap. They walked into he common room, and were soon joined by Hermione and Ron. By the end of the evening, Harry had lost half an eyebrow, and Ron's new haircut was covered in soot. While Hermione fixed Ron, Ginny sorted out Harry, and they all walked arm in arm to supper, more relaxed than they had been in a long time.
Next Chapter should be the choosing. Up hopefully by Wednesday. Please Review. - Pose
Chapter 8
It was nearly seven by the time the Guardians were finally able to go to bed. They were woken at twelve, and told to prepare for a meeting and go to lunch. They dressed slowly for the first time in weeks, and Dean and Seamus gave the others an account of what had happened to them, before the groups joined up. They chatted their way through lunch, then headed to the Meeting Room. Sat on the far side of the long table were all the professors, and the Guardians took their seats on the near side of the other. Harry noticed that several of them were looking at him, and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Dumbledore stayed in his seat, but began to talk. 'Your mission was a success, and that in itself is an achievement. Your plans were good, and the right preparations were made. Your leaders communicated well, and the mission went as you had planned it to, and the backup was a good idea. That is about all I have to say, but I believe your instructors have something to say.' He stopped and looked down the line to Sirius. He stood. 'Yes. There are a few comments I would like to make. First, Harry you should have appointed a second in command to take over if needed. Also someone should have stayed to guard the horses. You should also have searched the rest of the house before joining the battle inside, or at least sent someone to do so. That's about it.' He looked around, at the other adult, making sure he hadn't missed anything. He started again. 'We all think you deserve the rest of the day off, so make the most of it. Your post for the last few weeks has been put in your rooms. I will see you all at the normal time tomorrow.' He, followed by the other instructors, walked out, and the Guardians went back to their rooms. Harry and Ron could not be bothered to change, so they simply took off their robes and loosened their shirts. Ron rushed over to the pile of letters, and brought back several, including two for Hermione, and one for Harry. When he opened it he realised it was from Fred and George, thanking him yet again, and begging to be told what was happening to them all. Harry fetched a quill and parchment and wrote his reply.
Fred and George,
Thanks for the letter. Please try to remember you've thanked me enough times already! Sorry, but I can't tell you what we're doing, though you will understand better when you come back. What I can tell you is that if it wasn't for the red hair you wouldn't recognise Ron now, he's changed like the rest of us. Best wishes to other Weasleys. Harry.
While Harry was writing, his long hair meant he kept having to stop because he couldn't see. Hermione noticed this and commented when he had finished. 'Harry, why don't you get a hair cut?' Her voice was innocent. 'I wish I could, but there's not exactly a beauty salon round the corner, is there?' 'Emma could do it, she's really good. I think short on the sides, with it brushed up on the top would suit you. What d'you think?' 'I dunno. The press.' 'Stuff the press. Come on. I'm not giving you a choice. Emma!' The last bit she yelled. Emma, the youngest of their group, came over. 'We need you to give Harry a haircut. We want ..' Hermione whispered into her ear. 'Ok. But he needs to take his shirt off.' Harry did so, then sat on a stool as he was ordered. He was startled when Emma made a jet of water come out of her wand, soaking his head and shoulders. He spluttered, but the others only laughed. Soon what seemed like most of his hair was around his ankles, and Emma was putting the finishing touches on what remained. 'Ok, turn around.' Harry did so, and was startled to see all the Guardians looking at him. Hermione spoke for them all. 'Harry you look so different!' 'Good, I hope?' 'Oh yes. Definitely.' There were nods all round, then Ron spoke. 'Hey, Emma, could you do mine?' 'Sure,' she replied, blushing. 'Have a seat.' Harry stood as Ron removed his shirt and sat down. 'Thanks, Em. Really.' He smiled at her. 'No problem. It suits you.'
Harry walked into the dorm, as Ron became the centre of attention. He dropped his shirt on his bed, and kicked off his shoes, then caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He barely recognised himself! His scar was now in full view, and Harry could see more of his head than he ever had. His reflection grinned back at him. It was not just his face that had changed. His shoulders had broadened, and Harry could see muscle for the first time in his life. As he turned in front of the mirror to check his back, he grimaced. Though his wounds were fully healed, his back would bear the scars for the rest of his life. One side was also badly bruised from the fight, and Harry was gingerly rolling his shoulder when Ginny walked in. 'I noticed the bruise. Is it Ok?' 'Just really stiff. I've had worse.' Ginny frowned, then led him through to her bed. 'I've got something that might help. Lye down.' Harry did so, listening too Ginny moving round to the other side of the bed. She sat down beside him. Harry tensed up at the coldness of her hands on his back, but relaxed as she began to massage his bruised shoulder. After a few minutes she asked a question, running her finger over one of the many scars on his back. 'Did your uncle give you all these?' Her voice was sad. 'Most.' His voice was calm. 'I'll never understand how someone could do that to anyone.' Ginny said. Harry could feel the anger in her voice, and the way her hands moved on his back. 'To start with it was his protection against magic. He though he could beat it out of me, and it'd just go away. He told me I deserved it, and you know what? Until I came to Hogwarts I believed him. I actually believed him. After first year he saw it as my punishment for daring to 'shame' his precious family.' Harry's voice was bitter, and his shoulders trembled. 'No one deserves that, no one.' Ginny's voice was fierce, and she was struggling with tears. 'He used to send me up to my room, and make me wait, not knowing when he would come. He would make me stay still and make an easy target as he whipped me. Always it was on bare skin, but then he loved to see me bleed. I lived in fear of him, and of what he would do to me.' Ginny was crying, and had stopped working his back, slowly rubbing his hand as he talked through the tears streaming down his face. 'If I begged him to stop, he would just laugh and carry on. I learned to take it in silence. But there way one time he broke me. He had clients round for supper, and Dudley made sure that by the time they left I had split everything from wine to gravy, always on the client and his wife. They decided not to go through with the deal, and my uncle blamed me. He was furious. I was dragged out side and tied top the shed with my hands above my head, and my back bare. He used a chain until I screamed, then gagged me and carried on. When he had finished he left me there. I feel it in my nightmares.' Harry shuddered and closed his eyes. After a few minutes Ginny spoke, her voice chocked with tears. 'Harry, I'm so, so sorry. Someone should have done something. I'll tell Mum and Dad to let you come to the Burrow.' Harry cut her off. 'No, Ginny. It's the way it has to be. I will not endanger your family. I have never told anyone what I just told you. I should have kept it that way. You must not tell anyone. Promise me Ginny?' Harry sat up and looked into her eyes for the first time. 'Oh, Harry.' Ginny wept again, and pulled Harry into a hug. She whispered, 'I promise.' They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, and then separated as Harry brushed away her tears. 'Cheer up, it's ten months before I even have to think about it again. Come on, lets play exploding snap. They walked into he common room, and were soon joined by Hermione and Ron. By the end of the evening, Harry had lost half an eyebrow, and Ron's new haircut was covered in soot. While Hermione fixed Ron, Ginny sorted out Harry, and they all walked arm in arm to supper, more relaxed than they had been in a long time.
Next Chapter should be the choosing. Up hopefully by Wednesday. Please Review. - Pose