Chapter 3:

Harry's Return

Remus and Harry appeared in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts with a pop to signal their arrival. Remus helped get Harry onto a bed as Madame Pomphrey came scurrying over. She immediately began waving her wand around Harry's body to determine what was wrong with him. She seemed to shiver as she passed the wand over and over his body, "Remus, I never dreamed that he would be this bad. I don't know how he is still alive."

An answer came from behind her, "The Prophecy. Only Voldemort can kill him, so anyone else will find it impossible. They could have cut his head off, and he would have gotten back up somehow."

Remus and Poppy looked over their shoulder to see Dumbledore standing behind them. Poppy sighed and went back to work on Harry. She pulled out some salve and began spreading it over his wounds. She said, "Remus, go into that cabinet over there and bring me the Cruciatus potion. That should help somewhat to relieve the pain he's feeling. Then, we will have to get some kind of nutrients into him. He's very badly malnourished."

Dumbledore approached hesitantly, "How many times has he been put under the Cruciatus Curse, Poppy?"

Poppy sighed as she continued spreading the salve all over his body, "It's difficult to tell at this point, Albus. I've never seen anyone with this much exposure to the curse, but I would say that he has been hit with the curse in the last month at least two hundred times."
Dumbledore sank wearily into a chair, as Remus brought the potion to Poppy, and she prepared it in a syringe before injecting it directly into Harry's bloodstream. Remus sat in a chair on the other side of Harry, and asked, "How many times can you endure the Cruciatus Curse before losing your mind?"

Dumbledore replied, "It varies from wizard to wizard, but the average in this short span of time would be about fifty."

Remus paled further at this, "So, you mean that he will be crazy?"

Dumbledore shrugged, "We can only hope. It will be some time before he will be strong enough for us to tell if his mind has been bent by this ordeal."

Remus held out Harry's wand, "I think that you should keep this, then, Albus. If there is a chance that Harry is crazy, then we don't want him to have access to his wand."

Dumbledore took the wand, and placed it in a pocket of his robes. Then, the two wizards sat back to watch Madame Pomphrey continue to administer to Harry. After several minutes of silence had passed, Arthur Weasley walked into the room, "How is he?"
Dumbledore sighed once again, "He's alive, Arthur. That's all we know for now. Did you inform the Daily Prophet?"

Arthur nodded, "Yes, the news of Harry's rescue will be in the morning paper. This will at least put some of You-Know-Who's plans on hold."

Poppy finally finished with Harry, and tucked the covers up around him. She said, "That is all I can do for him at this time. I will continue to monitor him, and I will have to keep giving him nutrient potions until he wakes up and can actually eat something. It will be quite some time before he is able to move around again."

Remus asked, "What about his mind? Can you tell if it has been damaged by the curse?"

Poppy shook her head, "It is impossible to tell at this point. All we can do is wait."

The next morning, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Hermione walked into the Great Hall and sat down to breakfast at the Gryffindor table. They gave Luna a small wave and then began their meal. After several minutes of silence between the four, the morning post owls flew in through the window. Hermione dropped a Knut into an owl's leg pouch, and then unfurled the Daily Prophet. She promptly spat out the sip of pumpkin juice that she had been drinking directly into Ron's face. He spluttered and exclaimed, "What the bloody hell did you do that for?"

Hermione flipped the paper onto the table where all of them could see the flashing headline.

Boy-Who-Lived Rescued in Daring Midnight Raid

Harry Potter, who has been missing since being captured by supporters of You-Know-Who on July 30th was recovered last night by a task force of witches and wizards last night. The team was led by none other than Headmaster of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore. Included in the group were many Aurors and several other concerned citizens. We at the Daily Prophet are unsure of what condition Mr. Potter may be in, as we have been given no information about his health, but we can only conclude that Mr. Potter must be in a terrible state after a month of being a prisoner of He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named. The Ministry has asked for everyone to remember our hero, and hope for him to be returned to full health.

Ginny looked at the paper in disbelief, "Harry's okay?"

Hermione shook her head, "It doesn't say that. It just says that he's alive. We'll have to ask the Headmaster how bad it is."

They all turned to look at Dumbledore. He met their eyes and gave a slight nod of his head. Then, he got up from the staff table and swept from the room. The four Gryffindors got up to follow him, and motioned for Luna to join them from the Ravenclaw table. The five students hurried toward the hospital wing. They met Dumbledore just outside the doors. He said, "We have moved Harry into a private room in the back of the ward so that the day to day patients don't disturb him, and also to insure that none of the Death Eater children attempt to do anything to him while he is incapacitated. I will allow each of you to go in one at a time, but attempt not to disturb him too much. He has not regained consciousness, and waking him sooner than he is ready could have ill effects. Also, try not to be shocked at his appearance. He has been through a great ordeal, and it has altered his looks quite a bit."

Neville gulped, "What do you mean, Professor?"

Dumbledore shook his head sadly, "You will just have to wait and see, Mr. Longbottom. It is not something that can be captured with words. Now, which of you will go first?"

Ron stepped forward feebly, "I will, Professor." He turned to the others, "I'll be back in a second, guys." Ron entered the Hospital Wing, and Madame Pomphrey led him into the room where Harry was hidden in. Ron stepped inside, and almost let out a gasp of shock. The first thing that he noticed about his best friend was that his face was scrunched up as if he were in pain even though he was asleep. His head moved back and forth weakly as though he were in the throes of a nightmare and was too weak to escape it. The next thing to come to Ron's attention was the fact that Harry's hair was almost completely white. It still had streaks of black in it, but they were few and far between. Then, to Ron's horror, as Harry's hair shifted aside, the lightning bolt scar came into view. Instead of the normal pink tinge of scar tissue, the lightening glistened in a very vivid and sickening blood red. It caused the scar that marked Harry to become much more obvious. Ron finally managed to sit down beside Harry and said quietly, "Mate, I don't know what it is that you have been through, but I know that you need to get better. We all need you. You can't leave us alone." A few tears escaped from Ron's eyes to slide down his cheek. He cleared his throat, "I'm going to go now, so that one of the others can come in, but remember, Harry, your friends need you."

Ron walked out of the room into the main Hospital wing, and quickly wiped his face. As he stepped back out into the hallway, the other four students took in the look on his face, and all of them paled visibly at the thought of what must await them. Neville patted Hermione on the back, "I think you should go next, Hermione."

Hermione nodded wordlessly, and made her way into the Hospital Wing. She followed Madame Pomphrey's pointing finger toward the room, so sick with anticipation of what she was about to see that she failed to notice that the school nurse was also in tears. Hermione stepped inside Harry's private room, and literally fell into the chair beside his bed as she saw all the things that Ron had beheld a few moments before. She began to weep uncontrollably, and she grabbed Harry's hand and leaned over to place her head against it. As she continued to cry, she felt a hand begin to pet her hair, and she heard a voice mumble, "Don't cry, Mione. Everything will be okay."

She looked up in amazement to see that Harry had pulled his hand from her grasp, and it was him petting her head. Even more amazing was the fact that he had not regained consciousness and was doing this while still out. Hermione took his hand again, "Harry, you have to come back to us. We all love you very much, and we want you to come back. I don't know if you can hear me, but I am begging you to fight, and come back to us. We all love you." Then, Hermione began to cry some more. When she finally felt that she had cried all the tears that she could, Hermione got up and walked from the room.

As Hermione came back into the hall, Neville looked to Ginny, "It's your turn now, Ginny."

Ginny shook her head, "No, I still need a minute. Go on ahead, Neville."

Neville turned his head the other way to Luna, "How about you?"

Luna shook her head as well, "Neville, you followed Harry farther into that battle than any of us. He needs a comrade in battle right now. Go."

Neville nodded and squaring his shoulders made his way into the Hospital Wing. He entered the room and sat down in the chair beside Harry's bed and said quietly, "Harry, I don't know what the others have said to you, so I'm just going to go with what I feel. Harry, I have looked up to you since the first day we met at Hogwarts. You have always found your way. I know that doesn't seem like much of a compliment, but it is. Most students are content just to get to class and have fun, but you never have been that way. You have always seen what needed to be done, and used everything in your power to get it done. That's what makes you a hero. Not the scar, and not the fame, but your desire to always make things right. I want you to know that I know about the Prophecy. My Gran knew about it since it could have been me. She told me about it this summer, but told me not to tell anyone, since she wasn't for sure if you knew, yet. Somehow, though, I know in my heart that you know about it. I'm glad in a way that it is you, because if it had been me, the wizarding world would have been plunged into an era of despair because I could have never done the things that you have done. I'm proud to call you my friend, and I hope that someday I can make you proud to call me a friend. I just want you to know, that when the final battle comes, I will be standing at your side. I am yours to lead, harry, for I know you will lead me to victory." Neville patted Harry's hand, "Now, you have to get better, and wake up, or there will never be a victory story to tell, and no more Potters to tell the story to. I know you will come through this, just as you always have. For now, rest well, my friend."

Neville exited the hospital wing with a look of grim resolve on his face. There was no grief there, as Dumbledore expected to see, but merely a fiery resolve to do what was necessary. Ginny looked over at Luna as Neville came out of the Hospital Wing and said, "You go first. I'm almost ready."

Luna nodded and walked into the Hospital Wing. Neville asked Hermione, "Can you make another command galleon for the DA, or do we have to have Harry's?"

Hermione replied, "We have to have Harry's unless I redo the charm and make all new galleons. Why?"

Neville turned to Dumbledore, "Headmaster, where are Harry's things?"

Dumbledore seemed a bit surprised at Neville's question but answered, "They are in my office. Why?"

Neville replied, "We need to get Harry's command coin for the DA, so that we can alert everyone that we are starting again."

Ron asked, "When did we decide this?"

Neville replied grimly, "Right now. It's what Harry would want."

Dumbleodore felt a smile twitch at the corners of his lips for the first time since Harry was taken, "Yes, Mr. Longbottom, I believe that he would. We will go to retrieve the coin as soon as we are finished here."

Neville nodded, "Thank you, Headmaster."

Luna had paused just inside the door of the Hospital Wing to listen to the exchange outside before proceeding into Harry's room with a smile on her face. She sat down beside Harry's bed and took his hand, "Harry, I realize that we don't know each other very well, but you have always been very nice to me. So, all I really want to say is that you have a lot of loyal friends that love you very much. They want you to come back, and so do I. I won't stay long, because we have saved the best for last. I know that Ginny is still in love with you, Harry, and you need to know it. I think you should give things with her a chance, and you might find a reason for life to go on. Goodbye, Harry."

Luna left the room quietly with her normal dazed expression plastered on her face. Luna came out of the room, and Ginny visible swallowed as she headed into the hospital wing to see the Boy-She-Loved. Ginny walked into the room with Harry, and sat down. She took Harry's hand and brought it to her lips. Then, she said, "Harry, I know I have never told you this, but I love you very much. I should have told you sooner. I don't know that it would have mattered to you, but at least I would know that I told you how I felt even if you don't return my feelings. I can only hope that someday you will love me as much as I love you, but I won't try to pressure you into anything. I also want you to know that everyone loves you, as well, and we all want you to come back to us. I know that you sometimes wonder why people like you, but you have to understand how much you mean to everyone. My brothers, except for Percy all think of you as another little brother. Most of the students at school look up to you. My parents love you like their own son. Almost all of the professors adore you even though they don't show it all the time, and I know for a fact that Dumbledore has always thought of you as a grandson. I don't know what else I can say to you to give you a reason to come back to us, but I will try one last time. Harry, people love you. Me, most of all." Ginny stood and then leaned over Harry to place a kiss on his forehead. Then, she turned and walked from the room to let the tears spill down her lovely face.

Neville retrieved the command coin from Dumbledore's office and used it to alert the remaining DA members that there would be a meeting the following evening.

The five students met in the Room of Requirement about twenty minutes before they scheduled the meeting to begin. They sat waiting in silence before the other members of the DA began to filter in. The Gryffindors came in first. Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnegan, Katie Bell, and the two Creeveys. They were followed shortly by the Ravenclaws; Padma Patil, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Cho Chang, and Terry Boot. The Hufflepuffs brought up the rear; Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie MacMillan, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, and Zacharias Smith.

Everyone stood still and looked at everyone else, until Ernie MacMillan finally asked, "So, why did you call us here?"

Neville took a step forward, "We plan on continuing with the DA from last year. I know that they have brought Professor Lupin back to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but that doesn't mean that we don't need the extra practice. In fact, I'm sure that he would love the idea."

Dean asked, "What about Harry? The Daily Prophet said they rescued him, but where is he? Do you know?"

Neville nodded, "We've seen him. I won't lie to any of you. He's not in good shape, but I'm confident that he's going to be fine in time, but until then we need to elect a leader in his absence, so that we can be in top condition when he comes back to us. Are there any nominations for leader?"

Ginny spoke immediately, "I nominate Neville Longbottom as ad hoc leader."

Neville spun around to look at her, "What?!"

She shrugged, "This was all your idea, Neville. You stepped up to take charge when no one wanted to start talking, so I think that you should be our leader when Harry isn't around. Harry would want it that way."

Hermione nodded, "I agree. I think Neville is an excellent choice. All in favor?"

Everyone raised their hand except Neville and Ron. Hermione eyed Ron pointedly, but all he did was grumble and take a seat. Neville sighed as he saw the sea of raised hands around him, "Fine, then we need to establish a practice time that doesn't conflict with everyone's Quidditch training, and stick with it. Let's meet on Wednesday night until Quidditch practice starts in a few weeks. Then, we can arrange it differently if we have to. Everyone okay with that?"

The group all nodded their heads in affirmation. Neville nodded, "Fine. See you on Wednesday." Neville waited for the rest of the group to file out. Surprisingly, Ron walked out with the others instead of waiting with Neville, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna.

Luna asked, "What was wrong with Ronald?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "He's a prat. He can't accept that other people are better than him. He always thinks he gets looked over because he's a Weasley. So, he's jealous of everybody. I assume he thought that since he is Harry's best friend that everyone would instantly want him to be the leader. He seems to look over the fact that he has no leadership ability whatsoever."

Neville waved his hand, "He'll get over it, and if he doesn't Harry will slap some sense into him when he wakes up. Professor Dumbledore said that we can go see Harry anytime as long as were quiet, so let's head up. We can spend a little bit of time with him and work on our homework at the same time. I think the company might be comforting to him even if he doesn't know we're there."

Ginny smiled and nodded, "I hope so. Let's go."

Luna and Hermione followed the other two up to the Hospital Wing and sat down around Harry and pulled out books and quills and began scratching away. Dumbledore came by to check on them and Harry twice during the course of the evening.

The next morning, Draco Malfoy swaggered over to the Gryffindor table flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. Neville gripped his wand tightly and said, "Malfoy, if you want to keep all of your body parts intact, then you better head back over to your side of the Great Hall and stay there.

Malfoy sneered, "I just thought that I would come over and give you a little message. I was told that your precious Potter is being kept here in the school to recuperate. The school governors have been informed, and they will be kicking his sorry ass out of here. They have discovered that Potter has had his brain fried by a month long torture session at the hands of the Dark Lord."

Malfoy had barely finished his sentence when Neville whipped his wand around above his head, "Forcus Wind!" A blast of wind sent Malfoy and his two stooges flying into the wall of the Great Hall with enough force to crack ribs and spines.

McGonagall came hurrying over, "Miss Granger, I presume that Mr. Malfoy was insulting Mr. Potter."

Hermione wiped a tear from her eye at the thought of the things Malfoy had said, and nodded her head. McGonagall drew her lips into a thin line, "Severus!"

Snape had reached his students by this time. He shot her a glare, "What?"

If anything McGonagall's lips tightened further, "I was under the impression that you were told to warn your students of the consequences of speaking ill of Mr. Potter."

Snape sneered, "I did. I can not be held accountable for their choice to disregard that warning." Snape levitated the three Slytherins out of the Great Hall.

McGonagall was about to turn around and walk back to the Head Table when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, "What is it, Miss Abbott?"

Hannah said quite plainly and loudly, "I think that allowing the Gryffindors to do whatever they want when someone talks about Harry is wrong, Professor."

The Gryffindors started shooting Hannah dirty looks when she said this, but the petite girl held her ground and did not quail under the furious stares she was receiving. McGonagall asked, "Why do you think that, Miss Abbott?"

Hannah replied, "The rest of us care just as much about Harry as the Gryffindors do. Why should they be the only ones that get to deal out punishment for people talking bad about him? All of us should have that right."

The furious stares that Hannah had been receiving turned to looks of amazement, and then several of the Gryffindors began to beam at her, while several students at the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables stood up and began applauding, while others were shouting agreement as loudly as they could. Many of the Slytherins were attempting to sneak quietly from the room at this display of loyalty to The-Boy-Who-Lived. Surprisingly, even a few of the Slytherins stood up to applaud. Dumbledore rose, and quiet fell across the room in waves, "I think that Miss Abbott makes an excellent suggestion. All students of Hogwarts have the right to defend one of their own. As long as it is kept within reason, everyone should feel free to take appropriate action when Harry's honor is called into question." A gigantic cheer arose from the student body.

Later that evening, Harry's friends had decided that it was impractical for all of them to stay in the Hospital Wing with Harry at night, so they had worked out a schedule where they rotated staying with him. Ginny was on duty at the moment, and she was sitting in a chair next to Harry's bed with her head lying against the mattress with her hand out in front of her stroking Harry's hand. Ginny was on the verge of falling asleep when she could have sworn that she saw Harry's fingers twitch. She sat up and rubbed her face, and then looked at Harry again to see if she had imagined the movement. She hadn't, as Harry's fingers twitched once again. She looked up to Harry's face to find that he had his eyes open and was looking around at his surroundings. Ginny said almost breathlessly, "Harry?"

Harry rolled his head slightly to look directly at Ginny for just a moment, before his eyes closed and he slipped back into unconsciousness. Ginny immediately leaped up and hurried to the Headmaster's office. She stood outside the gargoyle and tried pleading with it to alert Dumbledore that she was outside his office and that she needed to speak with him immediately.

A few moments later, the gargoyle sprang aside and Dumbledore stepped out into the corridor. "Miss Weasley, what have you come to see me about?"

Ginny grabbed his hand, "Harry woke up for a minute, Professor. He opened his eyes and twitched his fingers."

Dumbledore cracked a smile, "This is encouraging. Let's get down to the Hospital Wing and let Madame Pomphrey give him a once over."

Dumbledore led the way down to the Hospital Wing to Harry's room to find that Madam Pomphrey was already at Harry's side running her wand over him. Dumbledore asked, "I see you realized something was going on, Poppy."

The Medi-witch smiled, "It was somewhat difficult to miss with the way Miss Weasley tore out of here a moment ago." She turned to give Ginny a stern look, "I will expect a slight bit more restraint next time, or I will have to ban you from the Hospital Wing for the present time."

Ginny looked down at her feet, sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Madam Pomphrey."

Poppy returned her gaze to her patient, "That is quite alright, dear, but don't let it happen again."

After several minutes, Poppy put her wand away and gave Harry an injection. Dumbledore asked, "So, what is the verdict?"

Poppy smiled, "He is resting now, but he could stay in a natural sleep for quite some time yet. His body is nowhere close to recuperating, but I have no doubt that it is just a matter of time. Once he wakes up and we can begin feeding him, his recovery should continue a little more rapidly. I still think it will be at least three weeks before he will be able to return to the dormitories or classes. Then, there is his medical health to consider. We will have to see if he can handle being around the other students."

Ginny's smile at the beginning of Madam Pomphrey's answer slowly faded near the end, and she asked, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that Harry might be dangerous?"

Dumbledore sighed, "Unfortunately, that is a distinct possibility. Anyone else that had been exposed to this much torture under the Cruciatus Curse would have died or been driven completely insane. Harry has dealt with a great deal of pain through the years from his scar, and we're hoping that it gave him some sort of resistance to the pain. We already know that he has a higher tolerance for the Cruciatus Curse than the average witch or wizard, which means that his breaking point would be much higher than normal, but we have no way to gauge where that breaking point would be, therefore we have no way to know what it did to his mind until he wakes and we are able to talk to him."

Ginny sat back down in the chair beside Harry's bed and began to cry as she took his hand. Dumbledore conjured a chair, and sat down beside her. After a couple of hours, Dumbledore suggested that Ginny go to bed considering it was almost curfew. Ginny nodded and stood up. She leaned over to kiss Harry on the forehead and then left the Hospital Wing with tears glistening in her eyes.

Dumbledore remained by Harry's side through the rest of the night, and in the wee hours of the morning, Harry opened his eyes. Dumbledore leaned forward over Harry, and Harry opened his mouth to try to talk, but Dumbledore hushed him, and gave him a potion to sooth his throat first. Harry sipped at it until he had finally finished it, and then croaked, "Water."

Dumbeldore conjured him a glass of cool water, and handed it to him. Harry sloshed some of the water onto himself, but managed to drink most of it. Dumbledore asked, "How are you feeling, Harry?"

Harry turned to look directly into Dumbledore's eyes with an expression like ice in his own eyes. Dumbledore involuntarily took a step back at this look, and Harry said, "I was under the impression that you were intelligent, Headmaster. What kind of stupid question was that?"

Dumbledore adopted a stern expression, "Now, Harry, I was just showing concern.."

Harry cut him off with a dark chuckle, "Showing concern? You? I'm afraid I will pass on that. Your concern has never led me to anything good. Now, what day is it?"

Dumbledore replied stiffly, "It is September the fifth. School started four days ago."

Harry nodded, "How long was I in that prison?"

Dumbledore's shoulder slumped, "All of August. We took you from them very late on September the first. All the students were already here at school."

Harry nodded once again, "How long before Madam Pomphrey allows me to go back to class and the dormitories?"

Dumbledore replied, "She told me three weeks, yesterday, but we will have to wait and see. You might have to stay here longer than that."

Harry shifted slightly, "That's okay. I'll need to make sure that I rebuild my strength before I expose myself to certain Death Eater wannabees. I would hate to be ill prepared to greet them." Harry laughed darkly before closing his eyes, and going back to sleep.

However, Dumbledore stood looking down at Harry's peaceful face in horror for several minutes. He had seen the glint of malice in Harry's eyes, and that scared him more than anything that Voldemort had ever been capable of doing.

A/N: For those of you that are thinking this will be a Dark! Harry fic, don't. At least not entirely. Harry will be doing some things that are dark, but only to people that really deserve it. He's mentally unstable from the torture, and that will remove a lot of inhibitions that he has had in the past, but overall he will still cooperate with the good guys. He's just going to be a little ruthless about it. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing.