A/N: *sniffle* Another dark chapter… I almost cried when I was writing it… The theme song is "Gone Away", by Offspring. FF.net isn't picking up all of my HTML formatting so assume the Amazing Grace lyrics are italicized.
Disclaimer: The plot is mine, and so are various OC's. If you recognize it, it's JKR's.
Gone Away, by OffspringMaybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal
It's so unfair
And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah, it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away
Leaving flowers on your grave
Show that I still care
But black roses and hail Mary's
Can't bring back
What's taken from me
I reach to the sky
And call out your name
And if I could trade
I would
And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it stings
Yeah, it stings now
The world is so cold
Now that you've gone away
I reach to the sky
And call out your name
Oh, please let me trade
I would
And it feelsChapter 6: Mourning
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah, it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away
"Today, we are here to celebrate the life of Harry James Potter, in the place where he felt most alive. In life, and death, he did many great things. He gave up his own life in a noble sacrifice…"
Dumbledore's voice droned on, but Ginny wasn't listening. She stared at the middle of the pitch, where Harry's Quidditch robes waited to be buried, as they had no body. She absentmindedly stroked the fur of the large black dog, which she knew to be Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. For so long, she had been enamored with Harry, fantasizing about one day being more than merely "Ron's little sister." Now she would never get that chance, and felt it was all her fault. He had died for her, selflessly saving her life a second time.
She watched dazedly as Hermione stepped up to say a few words about her best friend, tears streaming down her face, as she struggled with her speech.
"Harry… Harry truly was… what everyone saw him as, a real hero. He would never admit it, but he was. Each time he had to face the Dark Lord, he did it without fear, because he felt it was his duty. Professor Lupin once told him that the only thing he feared was fear itself, and that was true. Harry showed true courage throughout his life… living with those awful Muggles, battling an evil wizard, living up to the expectations of an entire world, and dealing with far more than anyone should ever have to handle, all in a time span of only fifteen years. However, he never let on that it bothered him. He always tried to be happy, for others. He never thought of himself, and always had this sense of wonder… I will miss him terribly, but I am also happy for him. He's with his parents again… He finally has what he saw when he looked into the Mirror of Erised… a *real* family."
Hermione stepped to the side and into Ron's arms, drying her eyes on his robes.
In Ginny's mind, she couldn't help but contradict Hermione's last sentence. Ginny had always thought of themselves as Harry's true family… sure, it wasn't your everyday run-of-the-mill family… but a family is made of people who care about you, no matter what… right?
She could only half-heartedly join in the Muggle hymn that Sirius had suggested they sing, saying Lily had often sung it to Harry when he was a baby. It fit even though it spoke of a God from a Muggle religion, but she just couldn't put her heart into it… It felt as if a piece of her had suddenly been ripped away; she felt so empty inside…
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…
That saved a wretch like me…
I once was lost, but now I'm found…
Was blind, but now I see…"
Remus lowered Harry's robes into the ground with the help of Sirius the Dog, and planted a few seeds so that a bed of forget-me-nots would grow on the grave.
"'Twas Grace that taught my
heart to fear…
And Grace, my fears relieved…
How precious did that Grace appear...
The hour I first believed…"
Dumbledore waved his wand, and a white marble stone appeared beside the makeshift grave, inscripted with the words, "Harry James Potter—The Boy Who Lives On, 1980-1995…"
"Through many dangers, toils and snares We have already come…'Twas Grace that brought us safe thus far...
And Grace will lead us home… The Lord has promised good to me...
His word, my hope secures…
He will my shield and portion be...
As long as life endures…
When we've been here a thousand years...
Bright shining as the sun…
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
Than when we've first begun…
Amazing
Grace, how sweet the sound…
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found…
Was blind, but now, I see…"
The group of mourners turned to walk back to the castle, and saw a figure in a dark cloak collapse on the ground.
Dumbledore ran to the body and pulled off the hood, revealing messy jet-black hair, a pair of round glasses, and a lightning bolt shaped scar. The boy slowly came to and stared at the Headmaster, his bright emerald eyes wide with relief.
"H-Harry?!?" choked out Dumbledore. (A/N: I thought about leaving it here, but I'm not that cruel…)
Ron lunged at the small, broken boy, yelling, "DEATH EATER!" and throwing curses. It took Fred, George, and Mr. Weasley to hold him back and wrestle his wand from him successfully.
Dumbledore, however, saw Ron's reasoning, and said to Harry, "Would you object to being given a dose of Veritaserum, so that we can be absolutely sure that you're the real Harry Potter?"
Harry weakly agreed and Remus gathered him into his arms, and carried him towards the main entrance of the castle.
"Everyone, if you will please gather into the Gryffindor common room and await any news… Snuffles, come with me boy, come on… That's a good dog."
"Snuffles" growled and followed Dumbledore and Remus (Harry in tow) into the castle and to the Headmaster's office.
"Fruity Pebbles," said Dumbledore, and the stone gargoyle moved aside.
"Remus, set him down in that chair, and go to the dungeons. Acquire some Veritaserum from Severus. Do not tell him the reason, merely tell him that it is a matter of great urgency. If this boy is an imposter, it would be best for Severus to know nothing in his position."
Remus nodded understandingly and ran for the dungeons, as Sirius transformed with a POP! and rushed to Harry's side.
"Oh GODS Harry… please tell me it's you… Please tell me I didn't fail Lily and James again…" he said, touching Harry's cheek, as if believing he was an apparition of some sort, and wondering whether or not he was tangible.
"It's me, Sirius. And you've never failed my parents. I think they would be grateful for all you've done for me," Harry replied, struggling to catch his breath between every word.
Sirius sank to his knees in front of the chair, sobbing, "The one thing that bothered me the most when we thought you were dead was that I never told you… I never told you that you're like the son I'll probably never have… If I get freed before you turn eighteen… I… I'd like to adopt you… I know I can't replace James and Lily, but…"
Harry tried his best to sit up and lean over in order to hug his godfather, but his attempts were futile.
He settled for smiling weakly and replying, "I would like that more than anything in the world… Dad…"
A look of pure joy crossed Sirius' features and, for a moment, the haunted look disappeared from his iridescent pale blue eyes.
Dumbledore smiled softly at the touching scene before him, hoping against hope that this boy was the *real* Harry Potter.
Remus raced back to the room, panting, and handed the vial of clear liquid to Dumbledore.
"Terribly sorry to have to do this, Harry. We'd like to trust you, but in times like these…"
Harry nodded meekly and said, between labored breaths, "I understand."
Dumbledore handed the vial to Harry, and he drank ever last drop. Within seconds, Harry's eyes had glazed over and rolled into the back of his head, leaving him in a trance-like state. Dumbledore began the questioning.
"What is your name?"
"Harry James Potter."
"What is your birth date?"
"July 31, 1980."
"What are the names of your parents?"
"James Potter and Lily Evans Potter."
"Where do you attend school?"
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"What happened when you were hit with the Killing Curse?"
"I don't know. All I remember is a bright flash of green light, then everything going black. When I woke up, I was at Voldemort's feet, and he was cursing Peter Pettigrew. My chest was bleeding profusely, where I now have another scar."
"Where have you spent the past three days?"
"In a cell in Voldemort's prison."
"How did you escape?"
"Voldemort and I dueled and the Priori Incatatem effect happened again. I used the time that he was distracted to run for it. I was just going to run here, but the dragon… Amethyst… that Charlie Weasley picked me up on at the Dursleys flew down and let me ride her to Hogsmeade. At Hogsmeade she dropped me off and I walked to the Quidditch pitch, where I saw everyone gathered. It took me a while though, as I'm finding it rather difficult to breathe."
Dumbledore nodded and gave Harry the Counter Potion.
"Sirius, change back into Snuffles; we need to get him to the Hospital Wing. This is most definitely Harry, and he has suffered significant injuries. Remus, go to Gryffindor Tower and give the good news."
Sirius became a dog again, and Dumbledore carried the light boy in his arms, as it was too dangerous to levitate him in his state.
"Madame Pomfrey, do you have a vacant bed?"
"Yes, I have just sent Angelina Johnson on her way. Merlin's beard! Is that… Harry Potter?" Madame Pomfrey asked, her face going almost as white as Harry's. "Hurry, put him on the bed! He looks absolutely awful!"
Dumbledore gently set Harry on the bed and Madame Pomfrey began a series of diagnostic spells.
"He has a few broken ribs and one of them has punctured his lung. That's why he's having such a hard time breathing. His collarbone has been shattered and he has numerous cuts, lacerations, bruises, and burns," Madame Pomfrey said, gravely. "Harry, I'll need you to take your shirt off, so I can heal your injuries."
Harry hesitated for a minute, before slowly taking his shirt off, wincing as he raised his arms.
The three adults surrounding him gasped at what they saw.
Burned into the skin of his entire back was the shape of a large, sinister crow. It was black and sunken in, as if the skin had charred, but was smooth to the touch.
Madame Pomfrey shook as she reached for the jar of Healing Salve and began applying to his back. After five minutes of gently massaging, she gave up.
"I cannot heal this mark. It will mar Harry's back forever…"
Harry's jade eyes grew wide, not wanting to live with the disfigurement, as it would be a horrible, constant reminder of the pain he was subjected to in the Dark Lord's clutches.
"Are you sure there's nothing you can do?" he managed to ask between gasps for air.
"Yes, Harry, I am sure," replied the mediwitch sadly, casting a spell on his ribs, healing the bones.
She healed the rest of Harry's injuries, and gave him a beaker filled with a murky, bubbly gray serum.
"Drink this. It will repair your lung, numb your pain, and let you have a long, dreamless, sleep."
Harry nodded, held his nose, tilted his head back, and drank deeply. He then put his shirt back on, laid down, and fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, in Gryffindor Tower…
"How can you be absolutely sure it's Harry? Merlin knows Death Eaters have ways of escaping the effects of Veritaserum…" said Molly Weasley, not wanting to get up too much hope.
"I assure you, Mrs. Weasley, he is, without a doubt, Harry Potter," said Remus.
"You all should know that Death Eaters were not behind the attack, and therefore would not send one that looked like Harry to invade the school. He Who Must Not Be Named has not come back and we all know it," said Fudge, defiantly.
"Then what, exactly, do you accredit the attack to, Minister?" spat Professor McGonagall, disdainfully.
"Chimaeras," answered the Minister, matter-of-factly.
"With all due respect, Minister, the students clearly said they saw Death Eaters and a group of demon-like creatures," said Bill Weasley, fighting to control his temper.
"They were rationalizing," countered Fudge.
Before the argument could ensue further, Ginny asked, "When can we see him?"
Remus smiled softly at the copper-haired girl and said, "He is in the Hospital Wing at the moment, but I'm sure Madame Pomfrey will allow your family and Hermione to see him, as long as you are quiet."
Before he even finished his sentence, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had excitedly run out of the portrait hole.
A/N: There now, you didn't *really* think I'd kill Harry in a Harry fic that is only in the beginning stages, now did you? Next chapter, you get to see what happened to Harry while he was with Moldywart! It's all gonna be a flashback in his mind, because he's gonna be REALLY close-mouthed about what happened. If you want to be added to the Updates mailing list, please leave your email address in your review, or email me at GoddessofRequiem@aol.com. COOKIE TIME!
Lady of the Dark: Hehe it LOOKED like Harry died, but it's still too early to kill him. Stick around for the next chapter and you'll catch what happened to him while he was gone. And I can't wait for the next chapter of Back to the Future. =^_^=
Faerie Dust: Yep he survived again. He's the Boy Who Just Won't Die! LOL… Thanks a lot, and thanks sooo much for adding me to your Favorites list. =^_^=
Angelxd14: Hey Princess Anna! Hehe I love keeping everyone in suspense. I'm really hoping to have a lot of it in this fic. Your reviews always make my day. Love ya babe! ~Queen Alexa
Lady Prongs: Okie dokie, glad I have the address right. Of course, Harry isn't dead yet. I didn't think anyone would think he actually was, not this early in the fic. The mirrors will be coming up as soon as Harry has settled into his school routine. Thanks for the review! =^_^=
LA: Thanks! It's good to know that it draws people in. =^_^=
Julie: Yeah, YuYu Hakusho rocks! I watch it every day on Cartoon Network. =^_^= Thanks for the review!