CHAPTER 3
Harry Lay in a bed at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies. The room having been a sick room should have been quite, and it would have been. Had he been anyone else but the famous Harry Potter, as it were the tiny if sparse room was crammed with all sorts of gifts and get well presents. Some that beeped, whirred, sang and even a box that every half hour decided to shout out "GET WELL SOON HARRY!" There were heaps of flowers and even a howler or two that exploded in his face to tell him how stupid he was for getting hurt, didn’t he realize how much they needed him. Harry ignored them all. As he lay in his bed all he could see in his minds eye was his son, those trusting eyes looking at him. His fear his desperation as he tried in vain not to obey the dark lords compulsion to take life. He hadn't been strong enough, it was Ginny's appearance that had saved them both, she'd counter acted the hex, and even still Voldemort had not been satisfied he had fed Harry with images of their mangled bodies, their eyes dead and sightless seemingly accusing until he had wanted to turn the wand on himself.
Now that the Dark lords influence had faded into the background, not faded dear Harry just waiting growing stronger, He could see that he hadn't killed his wife and child. But how long will that last Harry how long until you slay them in anger and lust for power? NEVER I'm not like you! I can only twist the darkness already there Harry you have the Nature of a killer. Harry groaned griping his head, wishing he could pound the voice out of his body, out of his soul. He lay there knowing he was forever dammed.
The door opened and a witch in Mungo's Hospital robes bustled in, a bright if slightly worried smile on her face. "evening Mr. potter, glad to see your up. You gave everyone quit a scare you did. Having a fit like that, with your scar bleeding like the Nile. Course that brother in law of yours wont tell anybody anything. Not even the Reporters." He could tell she was hoping that he would take her into his confidence what was he supposed to say. Oh its simple, instead of freeing you all from a dark lord I'm becoming one, isnt that such a Lark. Harry said nothing.
"I'm Linda Bercheart by the way, I'll be attending you" she smiled down at him her wand in her hand. She tapped his forehead slightly, she frowned. "pulse and body functions seem to be ok, theirs some clouding but that can be fixed. Its your heart their worried about though. Seems to be some sort of magical remedy excess trapped in there. Don’t worry in no time we'll have you right as rain dear. You probably got into a hash with one of the rouge death eaters or some such, didn’t you dear.
Deatheaters, blood, death, pain, enemies…brothers.
Harry snarled and flung himself away from her wand tip. She frowned a little. "I'm sorry I didn’t think. A death eater in your own home harming your family, I'm so sorry why they could of died I didn’t think."
In your own home…harming your family…could have died.
"LEAVE ME!" He couldn’t stand it, it was as if fire were coursing in his blood like a dark twisted thing and all he wanted was to grasp her pale flesh in his hands and make her suffer. He was scared, for the first time in his life harry potter was utterly terrified and without hope. Their was a soft gasp and a slight click, Linda turned whipped around, pointing her wand "Revelio". There was a slight squeal of surprise as someone came hurtling forward to crumple at Linda's feat. A tall young woman with a spry build and shimmering blond hair lay on the floor panting for breath. Her eyes were unuasly large although not as large and blinking as Harry remembered. Near her feat lay a note pad a quill and a camera. Her robes were nearly translucent, disappearing robes. A reporter, and one he knew. Her pert little nose sniffed disdainfully as she clammerd to her feet.
"Well, I never! I haven't seen such effronteryin years! Not since Daddy sent me on that assignment in the Russian mountains to track down Hobbnoblers and those Locals tied me up and…" Linda who had been gapping at the young woman seemed to get back her wits and became angry. "How did you get in here! This is the most secure room in the hospital!" The Young woman sniffed at the healer dusting off her own robes she turned and smiled at Harry.
"Harry! Its so good to see you! Look how big and strong you've gotten! I always knew you would be" she giggled. Despite the fact that she was a grown woman now, her giggle was still very girlish. It had deepened just a little to become more womanly but it was still as he remember. Something in Harry warmed, at a time when the world had shunned and disowned him. She was the only person outside his friends who had believed in him.
"Hi Luna" Her eyes widened further into a bright smile. She seemed to sway in place slightly almost like a blade of grass in a soft breeze their was something slightly off, yet slightly appealing about the motion. "Oh Harry you remember, it's been so long. What with Daddy sending me on urgent stories, but I love it don’t get me wrong. Although I was a bit, upset when Daddy wouldn’t let me do the story on Voldemort's downfall. He had that stupid and incompetent, Gregory Jenkins do it. He totally missed the real story. I'm so sorry he left out how The Hobbnoblers had the seventh Horcrux, and aided you in a desperate fight…god I would have done anything to cover that story"
Harry Potter was laughing, suddenly the burden of what he was becoming was lifted, and he was laughing. That was the first sound, The weasly brothers heard as they filed into the room. Ron smiled in relief, to see Harry back to his normal self, Fred grinned at His twin. "You owe me money old chap. told you Harry would bounce back." The healer seemed to be bristling!
"Just wait a moment there are safety charms all over this room, first this...Reporter now" Ron waved her into silence. "Its ok there Nurse, we have special permission from the head to be here!" Fred said winking at her. She bristled at the muggel terminology and turned on Luna. "Ok then what are doing here" Luna tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder, it seemed to glint and Fred felt like brushing it as he watched it dance.
"I am Miss Luna Lovegood thank you very much. Top reporter, except for that no good Gregory Jenkins! I report for the Quibbler." Their was stunned silence as a look of mixed shock and disgust formed on Linda's face. Fred couldn't help it then he burst out laughing. Luna's flashing eyes rounded on him, she blinked at him her eyes were so bright so full of life he stared into them almost as if he were falling into a pool of merriment. He grinned at her, he didn't know why.
"Well I hardly see what's funny, George Weasly! I can assure you I became a respected reporter on my own merit, not just, because my Father owns the paper!" George snorted suffering from a sudden coughing fit. Normally Fred found much hilarity in people confusing him from his twin but he was suddenly angry. "Its Fred, I'm Fred." Luna sniffed at him and turned around to beam at Harry. "You look wonderful Harry, so handsome! I told that prig Martha Simons that you were the handsomest guy around be she insist that stupid Gregory is…" she continued to chatter and Harry was smiling at her even laughing. This was nothing unusual girls loved Harry, heck Fred loved Harry, Fred found himself scowling anyway.
"Hate to break up memory Lane, but The top dogs are coming to interrogate you" Fred informed them a frown on his face. He moved restlessly his body suddenly brimming with energy. Luna turned sharply to face him, her silver gray eyes glistening seemingly with their own inner light, were wide with excitement. She wasn't the young girl he remembered her, oh she was still thin and big eyed and believed in utter nonsense. Yet there was something altogether different about her. Maybe it was the way her body had evened out become softer more womanly, maybe it was the way her tousled Dirty blond hair had softened to an even color that looked soft as silk, to the point his fingers actually twitched. Whatever it was Fred felt his mouth go dry as a desert and something mysterious shifting inside of him.
"The Leader of the Free world is coming here! WHAT A STORY!" one minute she was standing there the next she was barreling into him like a bull dog. He let out a yelp of surprise and just barely managed to keep from falling. She was Hugging him around the middle and quivering excitedly. "The leader of What?" Ron asked raising a brow in question. Luna didn't take her eyes away from Fred. She just blinked up at him those eyes like pools. Pools of clear refreshing silver water, and here it was a very hot day a man could throw himself in and… Fred mentally shook himself trying to pry the young woman away. Only to have her clasp onto him harder.
"You have beautiful eyes Fred, you should watch out everyone knows Where Wolves are attracted to beautiful young men. He bit your brother, it would be sad if that happened to you" She reached up and brushed a stray lock of red hair from his eyes. Her fingers were soft and cool almost as if only moments before she had rested them on the surface of cool water. He shivered slightly, that coughing fit of George's just wouldn't seem to go away.
"What's she dithering on about?" Ron asked bemused, Harry seemed to be choking on his laughter. Fred frowned at him, and then addressed Luna. "I'll watch out for any Where Wolves I promise." There was a soft swirling sound In the doorway their only warning before voice proclaimed softly. "Then I better not come in then" Fred turned maneuvering Luna with him, she obviously didn't feel the need to let go of him anytime soon. To greet the man standing in the doorway, Remus Lupin stood tall and firm primly dressed His brown hair although peppered with grey neatly brushed.
Every time Harry saw his childhood friend and mentor he marveled at the changes in him. Although he was still paler then most people, and during certain phases of the moon he would begin to droop and become puckish most of the time he was the smart and dignified man he saw now. Since Voldemort's defeat, When Remus had endangered his own life to spy amongst other where wolf kind, When Bill weasly had joined him and both had nearly died fighting the dark lord, people had become more excepting of where wolf kind. Mind you no one would ever invite him over during a full moon, and he would never be good guy of the year, but neither would they shun him or shy away in fear.
Whether it was the acceptance of the world, the fact that the full moon was far off, and no more need for constant travel, and finally being able to hold a steady job Remus was no longer a shabby professor living on the edges of society. He was in fact second to McGonagle the leader of the Order of the phoenix and Harry's boss the head Auror, or as Luna so "artfully" put it the leader of the free world. Remus smiled at Harry, and Harry felt himself smiling back dispite the shadow in his heart. He put a comforting Hand on the young mans Brow.
"only 27 and the world on your shoulders already Harry?" Harry smiled sadly, but grinned as a woman with shocking forest green hair flowing to her waist breezed in, in a flurry of movement. "Remus this childs had the world on his shoulders from day one. He just had a bit of a melt down understandable." Harry smiled at the Tonks, and she winked at him. Remus cast her a warm and amused glance something fond and soft in his gaze. He took his wifes hand in his and turned back to Harry.
"So Harry what happened" His soft spoken question still had the power to make Harry flinch and he cast a nervous glance around the room. Seeming to understand him, Remus gestured for George to escort the healer away, she when but none too happily. When George had returned Remus's gaze focused on Luna he smiled slightly. "Well miss lovegood if I let you stay can you promise anything said in this room will stay in this room." Luna blinked at him, then leaned forward slightly. "As long as you promise never to bite Fred, hes a beautiful young man and a prize no wolf could resist. Even if you are the Leader of the free world" She looked stern and utterly serious ignoring Rons mouth as it gapped open in shock, oblivious to George who burst into complete hoots of laughter. Remus stared at her then nodded solemnly. "Fred can you except my word that I will try my hardest to resist?" only the lightest twitch of his lips gave away his mirth. Fred turned a bright beat red, and nodded.
A starry smile crossed her lips and she smiled, she nodded as well and let go of Fred flouncing to the end of Harrys bed to stare at him with Wide eye, Harry noticed Freds embarrassed but quirky smile fading into a tight frown. That in itself was shock enough, the twins never frowned or scowled or tossed their friends death glances, they were both just so light and carefree.
"well Harry what happened?" No avoiding it now. Harry shudder, he didnt want to say it. He felt light tremors take his body. If he voiced his greatest fear his greatest shame it would make it real. "go on Harry" Remus Urged gently. He soothed Harrys brow with his hand offering warm and simple comfort. Harry gathered his courage and took a deep breath.
"I kept having nightmares, Voldemort was taunting me in them. Telling me He was coming back that the 7th Horcrux was still out there. That the time of peace was drawing to an end, and he'd take away everything I loved. I thought they were just dreams. Horrors left over from my past, I couldnt let my fears taint my family. I was out in the garden when I felt it, I couldn't stand the beauty of all those flowers and the nature."
Harry shudder the room was silent and he continued. "It made me furious, I felt such rage then, such an all consuming urge to destroy the beauty around me I was scared. I was so scared Remus, I needed to be near my wife my son my joy. I went to his room and I held him talked to him. He made me sane for an instant; I went to Bed wrapped in Ginnys arms, but I could still feel the shadow. I dreamt the dream again; I was in the hallway dazed confused my body hurt, my chest, I lost something then his voice was no longer just in my dreams but my head my heart my soul. He told me I was the seventh and it was time for me to merge fully with him to become him."
Harry voice falter and he closed his eyes, his body trembled and only Remus steady hand in his kept him going. "James was in the hallway rubbing his eyes asking for a glass of water. I couldn't help it, it was all consuming he was in me, a part of me. And I was raising my wand and wanting to hurt him to maim him to watch the love in his eyes turn to pain and despair…It was Ginny who saved him… They were still alive but he kept feeding me images of their bodies taunting that I had killed them telling me I was a true killer and I was finally finding my true destiny. Dont you see, he's alive he's never been gone he's been hiding inside me all this time. I'm your enemy now."
