Chapter 13: Silence

When Harry awakened, the whole world was orange. At first, he thought the dream sun had burned itself permanently into his eyes, and worried accordingly, until he made out the moving posters on the wall. Almost immediately, he realized the orange accosting him wasn't just orange, it was jarring, insanely-bright, Chudley-Cannons orange.

The next second, the door opened and in stepped Ron Weasley, who exploded into yells as soon as he saw Harry. "Harry! You're-Hey! Everyone! Harry's awake!"

There was cheering from downstairs, and a loud round of poundings and scrapings and stompings toward the stairs, followed by a thorough round of shushings. He was definitely at the Weasleys.

Harry smiled at Ron as his gangly friend closed the door and walked over, picking up Harry's glasses on the way and handing them over. "I knew you'd wake up as soon as I left the room, ungrateful prat." Harry put the glasses on and smiled to see Ron's face. He was lit up like it was his birthday and Christmas all wrapped up together on the same day. "How are you feeling?"

Harry pondered the question. He opened his mouth to answer, but stopped, shrugging instead.

"Does your arm still hurt?"

Harry looked over at it curiously. It didn't hurt-well, not as much, but there was a curious leftover ache in it, and it felt fatigued somehow. He frowned up at Ron questioningly.

"Well, Pomfrey managed to get it healed well enough, but you lost a lot of blood and it-well . . ." Ron's face clouded over. "I don't remember exactly what they said . . ."

Harry studied his flushed face, trying to discern how bad it might be, when the noise outside came to a head and the rest of the clan burst through the door.

"HARRY!"

Ginny was by the bed first, smiling shakily, her eyes bright with tears. "You're awake!" Harry smiled. Just behind her were Fred and George, Mum Weasley, Bill and Lupin, all grinning.

"Oh, we've been so worried," Mrs. Weasley was already wiping away tears on her apron. "You've no idea what it was like, seeing you on that couch like that, I just-"

Fred gently reached back for his mum. "Oh, don't mind her-"

"She just has to wail a bit-" George continued, moving out of the way.

"Now that you're alright." Fred pushed her over to sit on the bed.

"Well, it's just that we've been so worried," she began again.

"Don't over-exaggerate, Mum," George started.

"I'm not over-exaggerating!" She snapped back over her shoulder.

"No, you're just exaggerating," Fred countered.

Mrs. Weasley threw up her hands in a helpless gesture, but Harry noticed - with relief - that she had stopped crying. She got busy, straightening the covers around him in a way that made his throat tight.

Ginny was watching his response with her quick eyes. "Do you want me to let Hermione know that you're all right now?"

Harry nodded eagerly. Ginny frowned and leaned in closer.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

He blinked several times, and a frown settled between his eyes. A tight knot in his stomach had appeared, and it was growing bigger and more uncomfortable by the second. To tell the truth, he didn't know why he hadn't spoken yet, but with the whole Weasley clan now staring at him, he felt even less likely to do so.

"You are okay, aren't you, Harry?" Ron stepped closer, sounding worried.

Harry nodded, less eagerly. The Weasleys all exchanged looks, much to his increasing discomfort.

"Well, then," Mrs. Weasley said, eyes bright as she stood up. "What are we all doing in here, anyway, crowding the poor boy? He needs to rest and you lot are exhausting!" She made a shooing motion and the group, complaining loudly, moved toward the door. "Especially you two," she gestured to the twins.

"Mum, it's not as if we'd-" Fred protested.

"-slip him a Nosebleed Nougat-" George continued.

"-or something."

"Yeah."

"Not when he's so off his game."

Mrs. Weasley turned red. "Nosebleed Nougat! Just for that, you two-out first!"

Fred and George cast a martyred look at Harry. "Always misunderstood-"

"Always vilified-"

"Ours is a lonely road. But if you do start bleeding again, just call. We have the Coagulation Cocoa Chews ready to test now-"

"Though we couldn't get Dumbledore to give you one-"

"And-"

"OUT!"

They grinned at Harry's slightly suppressed smile and left looking highly satisfied.

"Now, then, I'll start on lunch," Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and went on as if nothing had happened. "Dumbledore gave me strict instructions to keep you in bed today. You've lost far too much blood to be put back to rights quickly. We can only give you that Blood Replenishment Potion once a day because of aftereffects of the curse used on you; and it's your body that still has to do the mending in between."

Harry was feeling a bit dizzy, and the talk about blood didn't help. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to pull his thoughts into safer territory.

"All the rest of you Weasleys-out!" Bill ordered loudly to everyone else who had been hanging back. "We've got work to do."

"No we don't," Ron started in.

"We did our work this morning," Ginny finished, and Harry opened his eyes to see her idling nearby.

Bill stopped near the door and put on his best oldest-brother smile. "Putting fake dog rudders in Mum's slippers doesn't count."

"That was the twins!" Ron and Ginny protested together.

"Well, I should hope so," Mum Weasley began.

"Well, composing a dirty limerick to send to Percy doesn't count either," Bill continued. "Though I have to admit it was a right good one."

"We'll let you read it when you're up to it, Harry," Ginny said brightly. "We actually found a word that rhymes with sodding ba-"

"Ginevra Molly Weasley!"

Ginny smiled tentatively. "Sorry, Mum. It was all in fun."

"This family does NOT need another reason to be at odds with each other. NOT when other things like this are happening!"

"I know. I know. We were just-we wouldn't've sent it." Ginny turned from her Mum, took Harry's hand gently and met his eyes. "Get some rest, Harry. I'm very glad you're okay." The light of affection in her eyes was a bit new, but didn't seem out of place. He smiled back and she turned to follow the rest to the door.

"See you, mate. I want to hear everything that happened, all right?" Ron looked at him anxiously as he was herded out by his Mum. "Bye, Harry!"

"Now, Harry," Mum Weasley smiled at him from the door, "you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. All the mediwitches I've ever known who were any good said that dredging up something painful makes it that much harder to heal. So you keep on being quiet until you find something you need to say. We'll wait." She looked so lovingly at Harry that his throat clogged. He managed to nod slightly and she left.

Harry looked around the empty room, feeling unaccountably drained. With a grimace that gave him an immediate headache, he bent his right arm, feeling the weakness and slight ache intensify as the muscles flexed. Madam Pomfrey usually managed to patch him up, good as new. What was it that Mrs. Weasley had said about Blood Replenishment Potion only once a day? The way he felt, he could definitely use another dose right now.

So many confused thoughts were crowding his mind. How had he gotten to the Weasleys? He had been in Grimmauld Place when he last remembered, yet if Madam Pomfrey had tended him, then he must have been at Hogwarts at some point. That he couldn't remember being at the school at all was a bit distressing. Why hadn't Dumbledore insisted that he stay there? Being at the Weasleys was nice, very nice, but it couldn't be safe for everyone. The frustrated frown gave way to a small grin when he thought of the formidable arguing talents of all the Weasleys combined. Dumbledore must have had to give in. That had to have been the only explanation.

Harry drifted in thought then, unable to hold on to anything coherent. He must have dozed off, because when he awoke, Lupin was standing by the bed.

"Hello, Harry. Molly sent me to make sure you didn't sleep for too long. She's still worried that you might have backlash from the sleeping potion."

Harry shook his head to clear it and fixed puzzled eyes on Remus.

"Yes, they gave you a draught of Dreamless Sleeping potion after Albus left, just to help you recover properly." He pulled up a chair and smiled. "Ron's been sitting here in this chair for most of the time you've been out." He sat and settled his startlingly new robe around him. "Well then, I was wondering if you had any questions that needed answering."

Harry cast around in his mind, still adrift from his nap.

"Have you been wondering how you got here?"

Harry nodded, pleased to grasp onto something.

"It was a bit of a whirlwind. You've been unconscious for two days now." Harry's eyes widened. "Your body needed time to heal. That was why Dumbledore used Procclumency to help you stay asleep. I believe he said that he eventually settled on sending you dreams of his favorite vacation spot. Do you remember them?"

Harry smiled.

"It was one of my more inspired ideas, don't you think? Turns out that the Headmaster has quite an affinity for Procclumency. Now, then, let me give you the short version of what happened." He paused a moment in thought and sighed. "Your disappearance was quite terrifying for everyone, Harry." Remus took a longer, more uncomfortable moment to gather himself. Harry was beginning to wonder if he should hear this or not.

"The first in the chain of events that night was that while Moody kept Draco in hand, George went flying to Arabella's house and Flooed to the Burrow. He roused Arthur, and sent him to speak with Fudge while George himself went to Dumbledore. The results were rather like the way a spark ignites a blaze. In minutes, I was roused, Severus was put into motion and an Order/Auror team was assembled. Everyone wanted to go."

Harry was starting to feel the pressure inside again, and it was increasing by the moment.

"Severus' job was the most dangerous, of course, but he and Dumbledore believed they knew what to expect. Draco had been questioned thoroughly at Arabella's house while the team was being gathered, and he insisted that you would have been taken to Malfoy Manor, even though he had no recollection of the Portkey being made or given to him. By the way, they've tried breaking the Memory Charm that was apparently put on him, but so far it hasn't worked. Lucius is nothing if not thorough," Remus said with a slight, bitter smile.

Despite himself, Harry shuddered. The tight fist in his stomach clenched harder.

Lupin winced. "Forgive me, Harry. Perhaps this is not a good time and Molly was right to be concerned." Harry shook his head vehemently. "Are you certain? I had hoped that it would give you rest to know how everyone worked in your behalf." Harry nodded and entreated him mutely.

When Remus finally spoke again, his voice was soft and controlled. "I suppose you remember that Snape did some quick Apparating and found you twenty minutes later. He managed to give you the potion and your wand, which was the most we had hoped for without compromising his identity as a spy. Then he Apparated back to report on you before going before Voldemort. Since he had not been summoned, the experience was rather painful for him. But he survived and went back to the manor with Voldemort.

"His report on your condition had everyone concerned, and the plan of attack was quickly formulated. Malfoy Manor has anti-Apparation wards that can be erected in emergencies and that hampered our quick arrival. We were forced to Apparate to a small forest almost ten miles away before we could mount our brooms for the attack. Unfortunately, we did not arrive until after your brilliant escape.

"By the time Severus made it back, you had out-dueled Lucius, Disillusioned yourself and escaped to the hallway on a stolen broom. Severus maintains that he helped rescue you twice more by covering up the blood that had dripped to the floor while you were resting in the rafters, and then again by breaking open the window for you when you were headed directly for it."

Harry heard all of this with amazement, as he tried to re-fit the events together in his memory. A stifling weariness made it difficult.

"Of course, by the time you escaped the manor, we were nearly there. Severus gave us the all-clear signal by blasting out the front door, so we stayed back and spread out to look for you. Some team members, most notably Mad-Eye Moody and Nymphadora Tonks, took a few shots at the Death Eaters who had ventured out on brooms to follow you, to keep them from catching up, but no serious damage was done. Dumbledore had George and Fred sneak up the door, Disillusioned, of course, and they found that you had left on broom. Their Extendable Ears were hardly needed, since Severus and Lucius were apparently arguing quite loudly about it."

"The team began returning home after several unsuccessful hours of searching for you. Molly Floo'd to Grimmauld Place only to discover you on the couch and Ron and Ginny desperately trying to get through to Dumbledore. Molly found the Headmaster and he went to Headquarters to collect you himself. From there, you were brought to Hogwarts where you were mostly patched up except that nasty curse on your arm, which only you were able to break. And now, here we are at the Weasleys, where you are safe and sound for now." Lupin smiled.

"It has been obvious to all of us, as we've combed through the night's events, that our actions would have been for naught if it were not for your incredible riding on the Nimbus, which, quite frankly, no one can quite understand because of the condition you were in. How on earth did you fly all the way back here, as injured as you were?"

Harry had no answer. He shook his head slowly. The flight seemed more like a nightmare than something he had actually lived through. All he remembered was the cold, the moon and the surprise of finding himself so near to London. Between the suburbs and Grimmauld Place, things became even hazier.

"Well, it was nothing short of a wonder. I honestly think your father and . . . Sirius would have been extremely proud of you." Remus smiled, and then added, "But only after they dismantled Lucius Malfoy piece by piece, of course. I've been contemplating that myself, if things fall out the way Dumbledore thinks they might."

Harry pondered that a moment. Lucius would probably get away with what he had done. After all, no one but Death Eaters had seen Harry at Malfoy Manor, and none of them would incriminate Lucius. Snape could hardly take the stand. And after sending to Lucius to Azkaban once, Fudge wouldn't dare try again. Coward.

Remus went on, more hesitantly. "We had thought that Madame Pomfrey managed to treat all of your injuries, though the Concidus Curse certainly complicated things. If Severus hadn't overheard a recent conversation between good old Peter and Voldemort, we wouldn't have known what to do. But is there anything she might have missed?"

Harry was momentarily jarred by the mention of Wormtail; Remus' voice had sounded eerily like Sirius' as he had mentioned the traitor. But to Harry, it seemed as if Wormtail had actually helped him this time. He wondered if it was done purposefully or not. Hadn't Dumbledore said something about a life debt that Wormtail owed Harry?

"Was your throat somehow injured, perhaps?"

Harry shook his head again, suddenly realizing why Remus was concerned.

"They found evidence of many Cruciatus curses thrown on you." Harry stared, a trifle disturbed. "And you were obviously assaulted. But were there . . . any other forms of abuse? Anything you might need to tell us about?" Harry stiffened without meaning to, then shook his head vehemently, fighting a sudden, almost panic-ridden, desire to hide.

"I'm saying all of this because I am concerned about you, Harry, and the fact that you're not speaking. Is there anything else that happened?" Remus' eyes held Harry's own with a gentleness that softened his inquiry, but Harry still felt fire course through his veins. For the first time since he woke, he was biting back words. He shook his head firmly, once.

Remus bowed his head, all the tension leaving his body. He knelt bonelessly beside the bed, muttering something Harry didn't understand. "Harry . . . I have failed in my promise to protect you time and again. But I swear," and here he raised an agonized countenance, "I will not fail you again."

Harry's heart clenched painfully, and the words he'd held back melted. Once again mute, he nodded. Remus stood, straightened his robes and smiled down at Harry, familiarly calm and unruffled again. He reached down and laid his hand on Harry's head, not to smooth his hair, as was Harry's first thought, but to hold his palm there a moment, as if in blessing.

Then he stepped back. "You need more rest, I think. Is there anything you want?"

Harry licked at his parched lips.

Remus understood. "Water?"

Harry nodded, suddenly realizing how thirsty he was. The cool water Remus brought was wonderfully wet and soothing. He smiled down as Harry drained it and then backed away again.

"Sleep well, Harry, and dream pleasant dreams."

Harry weakly turned over and pulled his glasses off, suddenly wondering how he had gotten them back from Malfoy Manor. Lupin had already exited and couldn't be asked, so Harry just sat there, staring fuzzily at his glasses before putting them on the bedside table. They were his, he could tell, and he knew that Lucius had taken them at some point. Harry pondered that for a few moments, but gave up as other memories took over. Remus' gentle probing had brought up bad feelings and confused thoughts. The pain had obscured some of his memories from his time at the Manor, but that helpless, horrified feeling was branded into his memory by fire.

Harry shuddered. He simply didn't want to think about it. Nor did he want to talk about it. Not to Remus, and not to Ron. Couldn't anyone understand that?

After becoming unfairly angry at his friends, he forced himself to relax by watching the Quidditch poster beside Ron's bed and putting up the gray screen in his mind. In time, he removed his glasses and closed his eyes, still seeing the shapes flashing by in his mind.