Harry looked over his shoulder, half expecting to see a Death Eater chasing him. When he saw none, though, he breathed a sigh of relief. After what he had done, he could never return to the wizarding world again. He had killed a man! He had killed two people using the Unforgivable Killing Curse and he had used the pain curse an innumerable amount of times! There was no way he'd escape imprisonment, and that was the last thing Harry wanted, more fame, especially the kind of fame that had made Sirius such an infamous name in the wizarding world. He shook his head slightly, trying to get rid of the headlines that flashed in his head, "Harry Potter Kills Ally Over Death Eater" "The Boy Who Lived Kills Boy" Maybe he would be forgiven for killing Colin Creevey and Bellatrix Lestrange after all, it was a war, but never would he be forgiven for using the Unforgivable Killing Curse on two other human beings. Harry clutched to his throat; the guilt was suffocating, the air was dank and not breathable. Harry reached to his forehead, hoping that his aching scar would stop causing him pain now that Voldemort was gone. He gasped and slipped to the ground, gasping for air.

Harry opened his eyes. Everything was blurry now. He struggled to get his feet underneath him; something was holding his neck down. Harry's mind raced and he tried to take a deep calming breath to slow it, but found that he couldn't breathe. Then, it all came back to him. Nagini being Giolla, him resting in the woods before running more, everything. Harry scrabbled at the snake on his neck, but he couldn't pull it away. Then, just as Harry resigned himself to his predicament, the snake slithered calmly away. "How could you?" Harry screamed as soon as he got his breath back. When there was no response Harry started to get mad, but then he remembered why. Giolla didn't understand English! Harry then translated what he had just said into parseltongue, glaring at the snake before him, radiating anger and distrust.

Master, you were having a nightmare. I felt it my duty to wake you up. Giolla said calmly.

Then shout my name or shake me, don't kill me! Harry said throwing his arms around.

You know as well as I do, I cannot shout or shake you awake. Giolla said, a slight hint of sadness in her hiss.

Harry hung his head, he had not meant to make the snake feel bad, but the prospect of dieing at the hands of the snake that had served Voldemort for so long was very disquieting. I'm sorry Giolla, it's just that I've been dodging death since I was a year old, dieing in my sleep by the doings of a snake I do not quite trust yet is very alarming.

It's all right, Mas…Harry, I understand. With that, Giolla slithered a little closer to the dying fire and curled into a tight ball, closing her beady eyes. Harry resisted the urge to wake her.

Resigning himself to a few hours alone, Harry sat on the ground, leaning against a tree and stared into the dancing flames of his small fire. He balled up his shirt and propped it between the tree and his head, creating a soft spot for his aching head to rest. His fingers began to trace his latest scars on their own, while Harry thought of what he had left behind two weeks ago. The mess on the battlefield had been horrendous. When he had left, he had thought of nothing but getting as far away from everyone as possible, now, he wished he could be near all of them. "No," Harry said to himself into the silent night. "They won't want a monster like me around them!" Harry closed his eyes tiredly. There was nothing to do with his days now that he lived alone in the forest. Harry's hand went to his stomach as it loudly complained for food. "No," he said quietly. "There is no food in these wretched woods, I have to conserve what I do have."

Hermione's strict voice filled the air, "Harry, you need to eat!" Harry's eyes flew open and looked around hopefully, but Hermione was nowhere in sight. Harry closed his eyes once more. After a few minutes, they snapped open. Harry stood up and began walking into the dark forest, his wand at the ready, but unlit. He did not notice the snake that uncoiled and followed him. Harry reached the edge of the forest and looked around uncertainly. The cottage that sat nearby had no lights on, and no one stood in the open area. Harry walked quickly, darting in the shadows, towards a large cleared field with stands erected around it. When he reached a small shed just outside of the stands, Harry quickly murmured the spell that unlocked the door. He reached in quietly and took out his beloved Firebolt. Harry mounted his broom and kicked off the ground as hard as he could. Instantly, Harry's mind cleared and the wind tore at his sadness. Harry made a few loops in the air, he dove at the ground, pulling up and pelting at the night sky, soon, his troubled thoughts were gone. Harry whooped into the night, smiling for the first time in months. He raised both of his hands into the air triumphantly. No one could touch Harry now, no one or nothing. Harry was a boy, a student, only eighteen years old and not a trouble to speak of. Unfortunately, he had never had the opportunity to not have any troubles. Even the adventures of his school days had housed their own worries about Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Harry flew and flew and flew. He was tireless, this was where he belonged, and this was where he was happy, in the air, flying for all he was worth. Only when the sky began to turn pink with the rising sun did Harry reluctantly touch the ground again. Harry smiled as he locked the broom shed again. He walked back to his campsite with a new spring in his step and broom over his shoulder, humming a merry tune. After a few moments of walking, Harry decided that he could practice his agility on a broom. Seconds later, he was only a few feet off the ground, dodging trees and wiping tears from his eyes. His speed was enormous, obviously, he felt much braver than he ever had before The Battle. He reached a minute clearing and closed his eyes, blissfully taking in the feeling of flying. When he thought he had gotten near to the end of the clearing, Harry opened his eyes. He jerked his broom handle up, trying to dodge the form in front of him. He let go of his broom to guard his face as he flew into the branches of the trees above him. He grunted in pain as he felt his scars rip open again. Harry gasped as he felt a lurch underneath him; suddenly, he was freefalling through the air. The branches that had torn at his bare chest and face moments ago on his way up, now tore at him, as he fell faster and faster.

Harry opened his eyes and tried to sit up. He stopped, however, when a searing fire raced through his back when he moved. He laid still a moment while he tried to figure out how severely he was hurt. Since nothing seemed to be broken, Harry bit his lip and stood up. He bit down harder, tasting blood on his lips, when he almost lost consciousness. His mind swam, his focus almost non-existent, though his hearing was as keen as always. There was a screeching that pained his head to hear along with a hiss. The hiss seamed to be saying actual words. Well that's silly, Harry thought to himself. Hisses don't sound like words! Then, a gear clicked in his mind. Giolla! Harry blinked his eyes a few times. Once he could see properly again, Harry took notice of his surroundings. The sky was growing brighter and brighter. Harry looked through the hole in the canopy above the clearing that was mere meters from where he stood. Guessing from the length of the shadows the trees cast, it was roughly ten o'clock. He must have been out for hours; it had been barely dawn when Harry had left the grounds of Hogwarts. Then, Harry's green eyes dimly saw a flash of white. The form was so familiar.

"Hedwig!" he cried out joyously when he saw that it was his owl. "What news do you have from Ginny?" he asked, reaching for the piece of parchment that was tied to her leg. He stopped, though, when he recognized his own messy scrawl on the parchment.

Harry!

Harry turned as he heard the hiss again. There was Giolla. He gasped as he saw quite a few sizable red marks on her beautiful skin. He watched as Hedwig dove after the serpent. "Hedwig! No!" Harry called. He ran toward his bird, waving his arms. She hooted warningly and struck again at the serpent that was trying to slither into a bush. Harry ran faster and got in between the snake and the owl.

Harry, she's trying to kill me! Giolla said, sounding frightened.

"Hedwig!" Harry said again as his owl tried to get around him and attack the snake once again. He reached out with both hands and ensnared her in his arms. "Be nice Hedwig!" She tried to get away and hooted angrily when she found herself powerless against Harry's superior strength.

Oh, thank you! Giolla said, still hiding in the nearby underbrush.

Why on earth was Hedwig attacking you? Harry asked accusingly. His green eyes narrowed. Harry wished desperately that he could talk to Hedwig like he could Giolla.

She's an owl! What else would you expect of such a filthy animal? Giolla's cold tone shocked Harry.

I've known Hedwig for over seven years. She has never acted badly. Not once did she attack anything unprovoked. Harry continued to hold his owl against her will as he advanced on the serpent that was lying in front of him. You aren't going anywhere until I get some straight answers out of you! Harry's low voice was menacing. Giolla raised her head slightly. Her beady black eyes looked solemnly at Harry.

Harry, if you wish me to cease to exist… Giolla started sadly.

No! I want answers. You and I are going to talk until I am happy with the answers I have! Harry growled. The snake before him lowered her head and in an instant was several feet behind Harry. On instinct alone, Harry reacted. Before he knew what he was doing, Harry had released Hedwig and dove at the retreating snake. Somehow, he had managed to pin the snake beneath him, holding the fanged mouth shout with one hand and the tail to the ground with the other. Hedwig hooted indignantly and flew to a low branch a few meters away. Giolla, you will tell me all that I ask about. Harry said, pressing his thumb firmly into the serpent's soft jaw.

Harry…think…Giolla said, straining for air.

Why was Hedwig attacking you? And don't tell me that it's because she's an owl! Hedwig chose that moment to fly down and peck at Harry's shoulder. Harry winced in pain as she accidentally hit a recent bruise that was developing from his fall earlier that day. Harry let go of Giolla's tail and swatted at his old friend, snapping at her. "Hedwig! Get away!" Just as Harry went to grab the snake's tail again, he felt a pressure on his waist. He rolled his eyes. Giolla, you cannot win! Harry said, almost laughing.

What are you laughing at? Giolla's hissing voice was beginning to sound frightened.

Hedwig screeched and tried to grasp the flailing tail that was whacking Harry over and over again. Harry grunted as he got hit again and again, each time hurting worse than the time before. Harry's eyes began to slowly close as the thrashing tail began beating as his vulnerable neck.

"No!" he shouted to himself. "I can't lose it again!" He felt talons pierce the skin on his back and he jerked in the pain. "Hedwig!" he said, thankfully. Now if only the thrashing snake would stop moving. Harry tried to open his eyes as he heard Hedwig flutter down to the ground to rest near his head. He smiled faintly as his vision went blurry once again that day. Harry's face went slack as he fell into blackness once more.

Author's Note: Well, that took me a while to get up, I'm sorry for the wait, writing about Harry's getting really hard, I admit, but I have ideas for upcoming chapters…I'm sorry it's not a very good chapter…but the chapter eight might make up for it…anyways, enough of my worthless babbling!

Response to Reviews: THANK YOU LOVELY REVIEWERS! YOU'RE MY BEST FRIENDS! (lol, not to sound desperate p ) wow...53 reviews now, I never thought I'd get this far, keep them coming dear friends!

AgniKaiKyoshi- ah, no problem that you don't review much…you review the latest chapters, so I know you're reading smiles and what do you mean about my poetry? How can I do what?

LaxGoalie- yay! I make you look funny! Lol, j/k I'm glad you like it!

Ketta dragontamer- yeah, I really liked Charlie too, and I didn't want to kill him…but he needed to die…sorry…and it won't be too too long before the beginning of the end

Sexi Silver- Though you weren't the first reviewer, you were the 50th! YAY! CONGRATS to you and all who made this moment possible! I'm glad you liked what Ginny wrote…I admit, I didn't spend much time thinking about it…but I needed Ginny to do something to release the depression…and yeah. I thought Ron was being rather smart, I'm so proud of him smiles

harry rukes- thanks for the review

Crush.Summer.Pink.- thanks for the note and I'm really glad you like my chapter! Hopefully you at least tolerated this one p

The Female Nerd- Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up…I'm glad you liked the last chapter!

Phyre's child13- CONGRATS! You were the first reviewer to chapter 6! I am very proud of you! (You'll have to fight the cookie monster again…he keeps stealing all of my cookies!) You have no idea how happy it made me to read your review. "You're story is wonderful! Loved the chapter." I love it when people say things like that! And as for Harry, he's been in three chapters already! (Four now…) And yes, the Cookie Monster is a bad bad bad monster…no desert for him for a week! lol