Here is chapter ten. I had time to write so I finished writing this chapter early. Honestly, I thought the chapter before this, Chapter nine, was not my best. I'm sorry. I realized that that chapter seemed rushed. Thanks for still reading that one. Well, this is a better Chapter with a more unbearable cliffhanger haha. Enjoy.
CHAPTER TEN
UNSCARRED
The cold blade of the pocket knife sent Harry chills as it touched his forehead. He looked into the mirror to target the exact spot of the scar which he was about to cut out. He gripped the handle of the knife tighter, feeling sweat form within his palm. He used his free hand to force his black hair back from his forehead and then, biting his lip, he dug the blade into his flesh. A small cut was now in his forehead and blood started to drip.
Sweat was forming now by his brows as he angled the blade so he could cut around the scar. He bit his lip again and then slowly sliced around his scar. A steady stream of blood now flowed from the wound as he slowly maneuvered the knife around his head. He then gripped the handle of the knife tighter and started to scoop out the flesh, slicing beneath the scar. His eyes started to water as the stream of blood flowed and grew. He moved the knife again and again to slice underneath the skin until almost the entire scar was detached from his head.
He then started to feel dizzy and cold. The large amount of blood he had lost started to make his vision foggy. He though, concentrated harder, determined to get the wretched scar out of his forehead. With one final cut, the piece of flesh bearing the lightning-bolt scar fell to the ground, now with puddles of blood. After that, he felt dizzier than ever. He fell to the ground and went unconscious.
The night gave way to day and Harry was still lying down on the floor, soaked with blood from his self-inflicted wound. The knife he used to do the act still rested on his right hand as he remained motionless. As the residents of the Gryffindor dormitories awoke, it did not take long for someone to go inside the bathroom and find Harry lying on the floor, drenched with blood. As Neville Longbottom saw Harry's body on the bathroom floor tiles, he quickly ran out and screamed.
"Everyone! Harry is unconscious on the floor bleeding!" screamed Neville to the other occupants of the Gryffindor Common Room. "Call Madam Pomfrey!"
The Gryffindors, busy with their own businesses, looked at Neville in alarm. They all stood up and ran towards the boys' bathroom where Harry was. They tried hard to peek, wanting to see what has happened. Learning of this, Ron and Hermione ran passed the other Gryffindors piling outside the bathroom and went inside it. Both of them knelt beside Harry and tried to shake him awake.
"Wake up!" said Ron frantically as he shook Harry's limp form. "Harry!"
Hermione then plunged her hand inside her robe pocket and grabbed her wand. She then pointed it at Harry and said "Episkey!" The wound started to heal but still, Harry did not wake up.
"Why is you spell not working?" asked Ron.
"I guess he has lost too much blood. The spell only healed the wound and did nothing to replenish all the blood he has lost," said Hermione as she stood up. "We need Madam Pomfrey."
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the bathroom.
"Out of my way! Out of my way!" said a woman as she fought against the many Gryffindors trying to see what was happening within the boys' bathroom. The woman succeeded in making her way through and now was in the doorway of the lavatory. It was Madam Pomfrey.
She knelt down beside Ron, who was still by Harry's unconscious body, and then conjured up a small glass. She took a bottle with a weird label on it and poured some of its contents into the glass. She then carefully opened Harry's mouth and poured the liquid in. Suddenly, Harry's eyes opened weakly.
"Harry," said Hermione as Harry sat up. "What happened?"
"Oh, I'm sorry for scaring you guys like that," said Harry weakly, not realizing the many faces trying to see him from outside the bathroom. "I was just…" Harry didn't finish his sentence at the sight of Madam Pomfrey for he didn't want to let her hear about how he went on cutting his forehead last night to vanquish one of Voldemort's souls. Hermione then pointed her wand at Harry's blood drenched clothes and said the incantation "Tergeo," instantly siphoning the blood clean out of Harry's shirt. "Thanks" said Harry as he was accompanied by Madam Pomfrey out of the bathroom. She led him out of the Common Room, walking towards the Hospital Wing downstairs.
The crowd dissipated now, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the bathroom. They were searching for something on the floor for they were sure that Harry sliced of his scar to get rid of it last night. Hermione then knelt down and found the piece of dead flesh with a lightning-bolt scar. She conjured a bottle and placed the flesh in. She then flicked her wand, saying "Scourgify" and then, all the messy blood puddles disappeared, leaving the floor tiles shiny. After that, both of them went out of the bathroom.
Hermione ran up to the Girls' Dormitory and placed the bottle containing Harry's flesh inside her trunk. She then pointed her wand at the lock of her trunk and said "Colloportus," sealing it shut.
Classes went on as usual for Ron and Hermione, as well as the other seventh years. Harry, now healthy thanks to Madam Pomfrey, felt especially happier now that his scar was gone. He thought that from now on, no one would look up his forehead and search for his famous scar or ask him if he was Harry Potter. These things, he thought, were things from his past.
Professor Slughorn, during Potions class, reminded the seventh years that next week would be the final week for their Wizidium Potion to develop. As the day progressed, the students would at times run back up to their rooms to check on their potions, reassuring themselves that their Wizidium Potions were brewing fine.
During their next Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Lupin, Harry and of course, Ron and Hermione, stayed behind after the bell rang—signaling the end of class— to speak with the professor. As the classroom emptied, Harry, Ron, and Hermione trotted towards Lupin to speak.
"Professor," said Harry, catching Lupin's attention. "May we have a word?"
"Sure," said Lupin while fixing papers and notebooks. "What is it?"
"Professor, we need the Boggart again,"
"Sorry, Harry, absolutely not. After what happened to you last time…"
"But Professor, we really need one," pleaded Hermione as she unzipped her bag and looked for something.
"Why would you three need one again? Clearly the last time we tried using a Dementor to suck out the soul within the Horcrux did not work," said Lupin, now sitting down on one of the chairs.
"It's because of this," said Hermione as she showed the bottle she got out of her bag. It was the bottle where she placed Harry's flesh. It was a bit rotting but the scar was still distinct.
Lupin's eyes suddenly widened as he looked within the bottle. "This is…" he stuttered as he eyed the bottle's contents. He then looked up at Harry, his gaze towards Potter's forehead, now without any scar. "Your scar…"
"That's what we're saying, Professor," said Hermione. "Professor Dumbledore and Snape said that Harry's scar could possibly be a Horcrux. That is why we need the Boggart,"
"This makes sense…" said Lupin as he looked at Harry. "This makes sense. What with the Dementor always singling you out. The Dementors were attracted to the soul within your scar! You had more than one soul, making you appealing to Dementors, explaining why they always go after you!"
"That's what I thought," said Harry. "That's why I cut out my scar."
"But why would Voldemort create a scar on you to encase his soul?" asked Lupin, now sounding astonished.
"He didn't mean to," answered Harry. "The night he killed my parents, he unintentionally placed one of his souls into my body. My mother though, sacrificing herself, ensured that my body won't be home to Voldemort's soul, that I won't be a Horcrux. Because of my mum's sacrifice, the soul was not able to live inside my body but instead, just in one part outside of my skin—the scar. I am not a Horcrux. My scar is."
"That makes sense. Exactly makes sense," said Lupin, fascinated with the explanation he just heard. Harry knew of this feeling, a feeling of complete satisfaction and awe. It was as if pieces of a puzzle were slowly being put in their places. Everything was understandable once again. "Okay, okay. Tonight, meet me here. Bring this bottle and the locket, understand," said Lupin as he handed the bottle with Harry's flesh within it to Hermione, who kept it in her bag.
"Yes, sir," answered Hermione as they all returned to the Common Room. Dinner that night was composed of Chef's Salad, Spaghetti Bolognese, and Frozen Yoghurt. Harry and Ron munched fast but Hermione wasn't eating much. She was too preoccupied with thinking about what was going to happen later on: Harry facing the Boggart and hearing his parent's deaths, passing out, or possibly being hurt. She was not a big fan of what happened last time Harry faced the Boggart in Lupin's office. She was not looking forward to it happening again. She knew of course, that it has to happen again if the Horcruxes are to be destroyed.
After dinner, the three trooped out of the Great Hall and into the Entrance Hall. They went up the Grand Staircase and walked down the corridor leading to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. They remained silent on their trip, each of them thinking about the Dementor-shaped Boggart. They reached the door to Lupin's room and knocked.
"Come in," said Lupin's voice. The three Gryffindors opened the door and went inside. The room was still the same: torches lit bright against the walls, the curtains spread apart, allowing a breathtaking view of the outside grounds, including Hagrid's Hut and part of the Forbidden Forest.
"So," began Lupin. "Hermione, did you bring the bottle and the locket?"
"Yes," replied Hermione as she gave the bottle and the black locket to Lupin.
"Good. Now, Harry, you know what to do."
"Yes, sir," replied Harry as he stood around five feet away from the large trunk, remembering the last time he was there facing the same trunk and standing on the same spot. He knew that inside the trunk was a Boggart, ready to shift into a Dementor.
"Wand at the ready, Harry," said Lupin. "Anytime you're ready, tell me."
Harry stood there, mustering all his strength and preparing himself for what was to come. He looked on the bright side, knowing that once this is over, he will have less to worry about. Convinced that he was ready, he looked at Lupin and said: "Professor, just do it."
With a flick of a wand, Lupin sent the lid of the trunk open. Harry readied himself to face the Boggart shaped like a Dementor. He readied his mind to see that all too familiar billowing black cloak and rotting, gnarly hands. He waited to see the mysterious way the Dementor would move—ghostlike and fluid. He anticipated the putrid breath of the Boggart to assault his nose and to make him feel dizzy. He waited for the sensation the Dementors would send him—feelings of sadness and despair, of extreme failure and sorrow unparallel. What was strange though, was that nothing came out of the trunk.
Perplexed, Harry stepped closer to the open trunk to investigate. He walked slowly incase a Boggart would spring out of the space within the trunk. When he was able to see the interior of the trunk, he realized it was empty except for a piece of parchment within it. Lupin, Ron, and Hermione knelt by the empty trunk as Harry picked up the parchment and opened it. He then read the text written on the parchment aloud.
"I have purged the castle from all Boggarts. You will not destroy the Horcruxes this way.
-R.A.B."
"Oh God" said Hermione weakly. "R.A.B…, Regulus Black…"
END OF CHAPTER TEN