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Chapter Twelve
St. Mungos"What the hell are you doing here?" Harry roared, grabbing Dennis by the front of his robes. The younger man continued to stare at Harry, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. He tried speaking, but nothing came out.
"Harry. You're scaring the kid." Dudley said, amusement in his voice. He stood at the door, arms folded across his chest and smiling slightly.
Harry frowned and releases Dennis. Kid? Dennis was not a kid, but his slight frame and boyish looks made everyone assume he was younger than he really was. Nearly five years he'd been by Harry's side and he'd seen more horrors than most people twice his age. The fear on his face bothered Harry. Dennis was not one to be afraid, normally it was the opposite. Harry noticed he looked drawn, tired, and exhausted, dark circles under his eyes and a weariness that seemed to radiate from him. Something was wrong. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked again, calmly and softly.
"It-It's Colin, Harry.' Dennis began and his face nearly collapsed. Harry saw the pain, the hurt, and the utter desolation flash across his face. Dennis took a deep shuddering breath, leaning against the wall. "He's…He's bad, Harry. I mean really bad."
Harry sighed, leaning against the wall. Colin had been with him when attacking Asedemon. Harry felt a bad taste in his mouth as he thought of the name. Asedemon, the one who had killed three of his people and left another two injured. Only he and Dennis had come out of that fight unscathed. Now…
"What's wrong with him?." Harry asked.
"I-I went to see him this morning. The healers, they managed to fix his eyes. He can see.." Dennis shook his head, eyes clenched shut. "He's different. I don't know how. It's like he's mad." From the pain, I don't know.: Dennis said. He cleared his throat and looked away, blinking away tears.
"Mad?" Harry ran his hand through this hair, suddenly feeling the weight of his responsibility settling upon his shoulders.
"Yeah. He's shouting things, screaming at the Healers, cursing them, and he nearly attacked me when I got there." Dennis shook his head. "I tried owling you, but you weren't anywhere to be found. Colin finally told me to come here to get you."
"Get me?" Harry frowned. He had told Colin of the Dursley's home; that had been long ago. Colin had been one of the few people he could call a friend. One of the few people he trusted. It would not be for no small reason he would tell Dennis where to find him. Harry looked to Dudley. "I think I'm gong to have to take off." He said. It didn't seem that his visits would last their entirety. Fist with Hermione and now with Dudley.
Dudley nodded. "Joan's gonna be furious. Plus you won't see if it works or not."
"I'll come back as soon as I can. Before tonight." Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "Tell Joan I'm sorry for leaving. There's so toys in the bag, along with funds." Dudley began to speak but Harry held up his hand. "The toys are for Jelly and Vernon. Nothing much, just stuff I picked up a couple of months ago. The funds are for you and Joan, use it as you see fit." He grinned.
"Take care." Dudley said.
Harry grinned. "Don't worry, I'll be back in a bit."
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"Tell me. What's been going on since I've left." Harry said as they strode down the halls of St. Mungos. Harry scanned the faces of the people he and Dennis passed, nodding to a few he knew. He had spent more than his fair share of time in the magical hospital. The looks he got back were a mixture of fear and wariness. That was the normal reaction when he walked these halls.
Dennis looked haunted. He had been quiet since they had arrived upon the grounds of the hospital, his face turning paler and his hands shaking. Harry had never seen him so distraught, it was disconcerting. Even when things had been at their worst Colin and Dennis had always been at their best. They had stood with him against many others, now…
Harry felt a wave of intense rage. He'd kill Asedemon when he found him. Three people dead because of him. Three people that were his friends, that had been with him through the tough and hard times.
"S-Sylvia's dead." Dennis stated bluntly.
Harry grunted as if hit by a physical blow.
"This morning. She got a fever, but-but she was too weak to fight it off. Her wounds." Dennis trailed off, taking another deep shuddering breath. "She died in her sleep."
Harry closed his eyes. At least she had died peacefully. So many of them hadn't had that option. Harry pushed away the pain and the loss. He would grieve, later. He would mourn them all when Asedemon was dead.
"I-I tried contacting you." Dennis whispered.
Harry nodded. While he had been visiting family and friends, those that had been closest to him in the last five years had been dying. There was no accusation in Dennis' voice, but Harry felt in within himself. He had been gone while he should have been looking in on his people. He should have been there with them. He should have done a lot of things, but Harry didn't regret the time he spent with Hermione or Dudley.
"Has anyone showed up yet?"
"I got an owl from Kathryn before I went to get you. She says Alonso came in from Spain this morning. So far he's the first of those that you've called. She sent off a report to Dumbledore and now she's getting things ready." Dennis said as they continued down the corridor. "I was here most of the night." He added.
Harry nodded. Kathryn was competent enough to do what was needed. Her duties tended to be more on the information gathering and processing than fighting, but she was good at either. If there was any question that needed answering, any creature that needed identifying, she was the person to ask. As with Colin she was one of the few people he trusted.
Harry sighed. Only three were left now. Only three out of seven. Harry frowned grimly. He had been right when he told Dumbledore that those around them tended to die while they continued on. Too many had died around him, too many friends, too many loved ones. Harry felt tired, weary to the bone. When would it all end?
"Did Colin say why he wanted to see me?" Harry asked, shaking his head.
"No. He just said to bring you. He was…adamant about it." Dennis said
As they rounded a corner there was a sudden commotion. Harry watched as several burly men in the robes of orderlies rushed into a room, from which he could hear screaming and yelling. Dennis paused wide eyed.
"That's Colin's room." He cried, running.
It was a chaotic scene. There were two orderlies trying to corner Colin, who was snarling and yelling at them. A healer lay unconscious on the floor and another orderly was clutching what looked to be a broken arm on the floor. The bed was overturned, another healer was pressed up against the wall, her eyes wide in terror.
"Colin!" Harry yelled as he entered the room. Colin's head swung toward Harry and Harry felt a moment of shock. He had known Colin for years, from the days he used to be in Hogwarts, then when he became an Auror, and then five years he'd been at his side. All those years he'd never seen the expression of pure rage and hatred upon his face. It was not him, it was as if something had taken hold of him.
Colin suddenly moved fast, the two orderlies were tossed to the floor with blows they didn't see coming.
"Colin!" Dennis stepped forward, but he was knocked down as Colin smashed into him. Dennis staggered back, colliding with the upturned bed, and crashing to the floor. Colin didn't even seem to be fazed by the collision.
Harry stood his ground, his hands empty and watching as Colin made his way toward him. He felt a sadness within him. This is where it all leads, doesn't it? When you have to turn your wand against friends and loved ones, when your survival is far greater than those around you.
With a sudden forward lunge, Harry grabbed Colin by the front of his hospital robes and then pulled him forward. Unable to stop, Colin was dragged forward by Harry, who used Colin's momentum to throw him toward the door. Colin smashed into the door frame, bouncing off of it and crashing into the hall with a scream of pain.
Harry was one his heels, hand going for his wand. The throw and the crash should have floored any normal person, but Colin was suddenly on his feet. His eyes still looking wild and his face contorted into a rictus of rage. It all happened quickly and Colin was lunging for Harry.
Harry's fist connected with Colin's face, there was a crunch of bone and a gush of blood, but for all the pain it cause Colin was still attacking. His fists, elbows, teeth, and knees smashing into flesh and hands trying to get around Harry's neck. With a roar Harry threw Colin off of him, the younger and smaller man skidding across the smooth white tile.
Harry got to his knees, gasping for breath. Colin snarled again and was on his feet, quicker than Harry expected. Harry grabbed for his wand.
"Stupefy!" A voice shouted. Colin staggered back, but he got back to his feet. "STUPFY!" The blast caught Colin in the chest and he fell limply to the floor. Harry sighed, getting to his feet and facing the person who had come to his rescue.
"Always have to be the center of attention, don't ya, Harry?" The man asked, there was a stern tone in his voice, but Harry could hear the humor also laced within the words.
"Thanks for the save, Neville." Harry said, grimacing with pain.