Disclaimer: I don't own Harry or his friends, he belongs to JK Rowling. However I own the original made up characters in this fiction…

Chapter Fourteen. The Darkness Dissipates

Flash back

Eternity later the curse was lifted leaving Harry face down, panting. Struggling to sit up using his elbows, Harry coughed painfully. Rich blood spilled from his lips. He coughed again and the blood came forth in clumps that stained the forest floor.

The curse repeated and Harry flung his body to the forest floor, his face in his own lifeblood. And Harry drowned in darkness…

End of Flashback

Blood rushed through his ears and seemed to pound its way through his temples. His heart pumped slowly and painfully against the ribs in his chest.

Harry coughed and then choked, tasting the bitterness of blood and bile in his mouth. Turning his head slightly he found he barely had the energy to spit out the horrible mixture.

Harry's eyelashes were closed together, stuck by his own blood. Despite this unfortunate fact, Harry knew it was still dark and he was in the forest. A shiver ran down his spine and he choked once more.

He had been so terribly stupid. There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to die like this… Someone in the recesses of his mind he rebelled at the thought. His chapped sore lips parted and he cursed…

"Harry…"

They were soft words with a warm timbre. This was not Voldemort's voice. Someone crouched down beside him.

A low moan emitted from Harry's lips as a gentle hand turned him onto his back.

"Harry…"

Harry's eyes fluttered but it was useless, they were firmly stuck with dried blood.

"Here," the voice said half amused, Harry didn't miss the note of uncertainty and panic. A strong male hand grasped Harry's wrist, Harry accepted and was pulled up and sat up by a tree trunk. "I'll go and get something to wash your face with."

Harry nodded absently and let his head loll forwards. The voice was definitely male but as for anything else Harry couldn't register who it was.

"He's hurt bad," he heard the voice whisper.
A few other voices whispered frantically. Harry heard at least one female voice.
"Here…"
There was a sound of ripping garment.

A cool cloth washed Harry's face and a moment later he was able to flicker his eyelids open. A smiling face became visible.

Harry started and licked his lips before he croaked…. "Rhodderyk?"

A/N: If you have forgotten who Rhodderyk is and what happened to him look at the long author note at the end now….

It couldn't possibly be… it just couldn't be. This isn't making sense.

"Ah." The smiled widened and the man took Harry's shoulders to stop him from completely falling over.

"You remember me…"

Rhodderyk was older than when he had last seen him, he was bearded much like his uncle Godric Gryffindor.

"But…" Harry could not choke out the next question.

"Remember me?" A tall dark wizard in billowing green robes stepped forwards.
"Earven…"
Earven Slytherin grinned; he too was now bearded.

"He's moved the god damn wards…" An older wiser voice grumbled.
Rhodderyk looked over his shoulder and called, "Well you told him to use the information you left him well."

Harry almost scrambled to his feet when he heard that unmistakable voice. "Magister Gryffindor…"

Gryffindor came into view, a long scarlet cloak sweeping the forest floor. He turned his face towards Harry. His hair was greying, his face lined as if he had many more worries in the world. But his chocolate brown eyes were sharp as ever.

"You moved the wards! Foolish boy!" Gryffindor brandished his gloved hands at Harry's direction.

Harry opened his mouth to protest when he remembered who he was speaking to. "Don't worry, Harry," Rhodderyk whispered into Harry's ear, "He's gotten cranky in his old age."
Earven snorted, "My father is not much better…"

Harry glanced around almost expecting Slytherin to be glaring at him with his all knowing dark eyes. But Harry's mentor was no where to be seen.

"Let's hope he wasn't foolish enough to bind himself to the wards," Gryffindor commented wryly to his companions.

Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw both smiled thinly. "Surely he would not practice anything dangerous," Hufflepuff replied.

Harry noticed that the gentle founder looked tired and unhappy. But his thoughts were turned away from this when he registered what was being said. Colouring slightly Harry glanced away embarrassed. 'Oh no, what have I done?'

Harry's slight movement was caught by Gryffindor, who upon seeing the non verbal confession swore viciously. Rowena and Helga exchanged glances. Earven looked impressed while Rhodderyk seemed slightly perplexed.

"Harry that was very foolish," Rhodderyk admonished before his uncle could get a word in.
Harry rubbed the top of his head. "It seemed like a good plan at the time…"

Gryffindor sniffed then demanded, "Give me your hand…"

Harry complied holding out his palm for inspection, the male founder sat on his haunches and pressed his fingers to the soft tissue on Harry's hand. His eyes closed and his lips moved but Harry could not catch any words being spoken.

Harry felt a jolt run through his veins, and his blood seemed to tremor slightly. His first instincts were to pull away but Gryffindor held him firm.

Finally Godric Gryffindor opened his eyes and regarded Harry sternly. "He had help." Rowena and Helga who had been holding their breath sighed in relief. "The spell that had been cast was done extremely well."

Harry's hands were released and Godric moved aside. Helga then kneeled by Harry. "Let's have a look at you then…"

Hufflepuff's soft hands barely touched him when they recoiled almost in horror. She turned her head sharply to her companions and hissed something in Gaelic. Harry had to stop himself gulping, what ever she had said it sounded serious.

"Told you using that particular spell on that dark wizard was worth it." Rhodderyk lifted his chin and glared at his uncle.
Godric returned his nephew's hard stare. "It was black magic, Rhoddy."
Rhodderyk sniffed and looked to Earven. "It convinced him to leave Harry alone didn't it?"
"Yes… it was black magic," Godric growled dangerously.
"But it was not evil to save Harry's life…" Rhodderyk countered.
"It was black magic…"
"No spell in itself is evil." Rhodderyk glanced at Helga and Rowena but found not support in his argument.
"Do you want to end up like your father, Rhoddy?"
"I am not my father!" Rhodderyk protested.
"He killed your mother with dark magic," Godric growled softly.
Rhodderyk pursed his lips, "But I have not killed, nor do I have the quirk of enjoying killing like my father…"
Godric stared long and hard at his nephew for long moment, "Sometimes you worry me, Rhodderyk. You and your sons."
Rhodderyk shook his head sadly; obviously this was an old disagreement.

"STUPFY……"

The clearing became littered with spells flying around immediately. Harry pressed himself down the ground.

'NO STOP!"

Earven took guard of Harry and Helga standing over them as spells crashed about. Godric shielded Rowena, who was displeased by his protective actions. Rhodderyk took up a defensive position, but there were so many spells that he did not know which way to turn.

'No, no, no…' Harry thought, 'NO!'

Author's Note

A/N: Rhodderyk is Godric Gryffindor's nephew from History – Retold. Godric took him and his brother in after his father murdered their mother.

Excerpt:
Rhodderyk shrugged. "That makes you human, Harry, not like my father…"
"Oh…"
"Good and gracious Sir Hearne Gryffindor, hero of all of England…But I hated him."
"Oh…" Harry wished he could say something just a tad more intelligent than 'oh' but there was nothing in his mind. Harry didn't want to know anymore about Rhodderyk's story but the older wizard seemed determined to finish it.
"He was an awful drunk… he came home one night and murdered my mother in front of me…He went gallows and I was left alone in the world. After my father well… none of our relatives wanted us. They would have tossed my brother and I onto the street, but my uncle took pity on us and kept us from scheming relatives…"

Godric took Rhoddy and his brother in because the family did not want to take in the sons of a disowned hero, a man who used black magic against his wife. Blood deemed to be important and so Rhodderyks mother's family did not want the boys in the house, even though they were victims also of their father's hideous crime. Godric, shamed also by his brother's act took pity on the children, for they were still very young when this happened and took them in. Hearne Gryffindor's estate was taken by the other side of the family so without their uncle's generosity the boys would have been alone in a brutal medieval world…

Rhoddy's brother was Newlin, who died alongside Saxtyn, Salazar nephew. Rhodderyk became an equilivant to an 'auror' but never did he forgive the relatives that forsook him and his brother.

Just a little bit of information and reminding you what happened to Rhodderyk Gryffindor and an explanation of why being brought up by his uncle was a huge deal to Rhodderyk…

I may give more information about Earven, Newlin and Saxtyn in later chapters…

I thought this was important information to give you.