Chapter Nine: Tears of the Night

I wanted to always protect you..why didn't you stay away when I begged you to? Why can't you protect yourself now? Why? Harry ran as far as his legs would carry him, but he was growing weaker as she..it grew nearer and then with a deep breath, nearly fell - after he realized that she had been absorbing his power. He could barely move his legs. Every time they had touched, when he felt weak - he realized why. He had let out another exhausted breath and collapsed.
When he had opened his eyes again, he was still alone. He had been unmoved. There was silence. He wanted to call out to Lydia, but still afraid that she.. he sat up and took out his wand. He had hated the idea of using it against her, but he had no choice. Forgive me Lydia he thought sadly, standing. There had to be a way to destroy that hold that something or someone had upon her! Harry hated the idea of attaching Lydia, but he must protect himself - and stop her before she hurt someone. But, he was never able to find her.
Harry was sitting at his writing desk in his quarters, reading over papers and letting out sigh when he picked up the latest issue of The Daily Prophet and immediately his worst fears were realized when he read the large headline on the front page:

MYSTERIOUS CREATURE KILLS SEVEN

He froze.. that "creature" was the very monster that Lydia had been running from in her dreams and imagined visions. She is the monster, Harry thought to himself with an immense dread. He sighed, knowing that he was already too late and may never see her again. His heart sank and he was overcome with a deep melancholy. All he could think about was her innocent face as she mumbled the words "I'm so afraid Harry" - how she looked as the rain fell onto her lifeless form in the forest - how warm her eyes looked and her hands felt as she tenderly made love with him for the first and only time. She was an enigma of so many things and he felt trapped. There was nowhere to run.
Harry could not sleep that night. He had nightmares about Lydia's transformation and that horrible headline played over and over in his head. When he opened his eyes, he could make out a silhouette on the bed sitting next to him. He felt warm. "Lydia." he whispered in a desperate tone and reached out for her eagerly. "You've come back!" He said meekly. She pulled forward and kissed him softly and he moaned, desperately longing to hold her into his embrace, but then, a few moments later, he came to his senses and realized that she was not there. He fell upon his bed and then angrily threw his pillow to the floor. "Damnit" he said in frustration. Why can't I be with you?? He thought in agitation, I need you!! He began to sob. As he heard the clock chime past midnight, he felt truly lost without her..
Harry walked the halls of Hogwarts in a sullen and quiet state. The past two nights were sleepless ones. He had stopped in sudden surprise when Lydia's friend Courtney running after him. "Have you seen Lydie? I'm worried sick!! It's been two days," she said in rapid tones. "Have you been with her?" She demanded of him. Harry's gaze became downcast. Courtney's eyes widened. "Oh no! Something awful has happened to her!" She cried out, pulling desperately at his robe sleeve, desperately seeking answers - but he had none to give her. "We have to find her - please, tell me what happened. You must know, your eyes tell me so!" She argued. "Has she told you anything about her.past?" Harry asked her softly. "Just that it was a terrible existence and that she is very powerful," Courtney explained. "More powerful than you know" Harry interceded softly. Her eyes widened in fright. "I bet it was her powers. She said to me that she always was afraid of hurting others that her powers would take ultimate control over her.and that she would be destroyed." She paused to take in deep breaths. "She always warned me to stay as far from her as possible, so that I would not be hurt. But I swear Harry, I never saw her do anything that was a threat to me" she added. Harry's expression showed otherwise. "Oh, you've been hurt!" Courtney sighed, "you love her," she said softly. "I would rather not be reminded of my pain" Harry said in a broken voice. He could have told Courtney the truth - he knew that she was too young to fathom it, that she would most certainly be at a loss and would cry. Lydia had been the only true friend she had made here at Hogwarts, and Harry did not wish to make her so terribly afraid - like he was. "Do not worry, I promise you that I will find her.and bring her back safely." Then I will never let her go, he thought passionately.
Another two days had passed with no word about or from Lydia. The longer she was gone, the more ill Harry felt. Courtney sent him notes but neither was re-assured. He then thought that Malfoy might know something, but was utterly paranoid about approaching him. He must do this on his own..
It had been another two days and still there was no news of Lydia. Harry was delirious with worry and fear. He had feared the worst countless times and counted to hours, praying that there would be no more terrible news about any attacks, Lydia filled his dreams every night and Harry could not banish his longing for away.
There was a knock on his office door. "Potter, I suspect that a certain student's whereabouts would be of interest to you" it was Snape's dark voice. Harry's heart had lifted instantly. "Please tell me," he said softly. Snape's eyes were shifting somewhat. "She is in Madam Pomfrey's care - she was asking for you," he said in a sly voice, not sounding sympathetic, as was in his nature. Harry had run out the door before Snape had had any more opportunities to question him. He had raced towards the Hospital wing and quickly questioned the nurse about Lydia's condition. He had been praying that she would make her way back. As he held her, she was lying in the bed, looking in a helpless and phased state. She was out of place. Her eyes looked lifeless. "When one of the children found her, they brought her to me straight away." Harry gave her a saddened look. "Before she became fully unconscious she asked for you," she told him steadily. "What - do you suspect is her condition?" Harry asked, praying that she might be able to help. "She looks to me as if she has been drugged. As if her 'visions' were the direct effect of it" Now that was a theory that Harry hadn't thought of! "What sort of drug?" He questioned her further. "We have no way of properly knowing until I can attempt to draw blood and have it analyzed. But I can properly re-assure you that all of the warning signs are there I'm afraid." She said halfheartingly. Harry slowly approached her bed after the nurse had left him alone. Lydia was shaking and her hands felt ice cold in his. Once, as Harry watched the nurse gently take hold of Lydia's arm with her needle in hand to draw a blood sample, and she screamed and yelled out suddenly "no daddy, please, you mustn't!" She raised her hands up as if to protect herself from his lashings, even though they were imaginary. Harry's eyes widened alittle. He immediately suspected that her father's abuse had not ceased - even now. She then opened her eyes after she reached out for protection, as if she were trying to escape something. "I am here" Harry whispered to her, praying that she would recognize his voice as he tried to keep it steady and stop her from screaming by soothing her and caressing her face and hair. The madam had obviously been alarmed - only Harry seemed to know what to do to ease her torment. Lydia was barely able to keep her wits about her due to her utter confusion. She opened her eyes again and then flushed alittle as she felt someone's warmth. She then looked up to see Harry's green trusting eyes meeting hers lovingly. "You'll be alright," he was uttering gently as she reached out for his arms once again. "Harry," she said, "I knew I'd find you." and then as he held onto her, she collapsed in his embrace. "You will always find me," he whispered.
Harry brought Lydia a tray of food. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Dizzy" she replied softly. "Really, dear, you needn't make such a fuss over me" she was silenced with a soft kiss. "I am just relieved that you are feeling better," he said. "No Harry, I know I am not well and you know as well as I do that it is only a matter of time before" she paused, "something else will occur" "we mustn't speak of such things." he interceded. "But you know that you could have been hurt countless times!" She said weakly, "but I haven't" he said more heatedly. "If you had kept your distance like I had asked you to repeatedly" he cut her off "I would still be here, I refuse to let you be alone like this" "but you cannot protect me from something that I cannot stop - I never know when or what will happen next and I cannot risk that. I refuse to let you be in harms way!" She cried, throwing the pillows at him in frustration. "I know that a separation is not something that you want!" he argued testily. "I don't care!" She said very sharply with an acid tone, crossing her arms and not meeting his blazing eyes. "Now do as I demand! Leave - and do not come back" she added with tears in her eyes. "NO!" He said in a booming voice. "I love you I will not retreat from you like a coward. I am prepared to take on the consequences" still sounding argumentive. "Loving me should NOT be a consequence!" She screamed out. "I won't leave!" He screamed with just as much force, with clinched teeth and closed fists. "Damn you! Damn you Harry Potter!" She screeched, throwing her pillows at him - and trying to retreat from him under the covers, as she tried not to throw up. "That will not work this time!" He said, quickly coming to her side of the bed and forcefully pulling away the bed sheets to reveal her legs as she began to quiver and bit her lower lip, feeling ghastly and looking pale. He had immediately felt pained to see her that way, but would be damned if he allowed her to continue to push her away. Lydia gazed up at him as she bit her lower lip guiltily. "I" she paused, "do not want you to go Harry - " she took a deep breath as she finally gazed into his green eyes "I need you," she uttered, turning away as he quietly came to her and took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Lydia felt his arms around her, and she felt as secure as she had before. He moaned as her arms went around his neck pleasantly as they kissed, and she had relented to him. They had come together in a quick, loving moment, as both had forgotten everything around them and only focused on each other.