The hospital room, that just yesterday seemed so lonely and barren, was now full of people. Harry chewed the inside of his lip and tried not to pace. Next to him stood Ron and a couple of other Auror's from the department. They were waiting for Kris Walker and a couple of her people to bring Atticus. The hospital floor had been cleared of all patients just in case things didn't go as planned. While Harry hoped everything would go smoothly, he doubted it would. His fingers twitched and touched his wand. Making sure it was easy to get to. His eyes turned to Hermione. Her condition had not changed. She was sleeping soundly, her face pale. There was some comfort in the fact that she would not have to face Benton. She would be blissfully unaware of his presence. Harry was pulled from his thoughts as Ron said, "Harry, calm down. You're making me nervous with all that movement."

"Calm down? Really Ron?" Harry responded irritably.

Ron sighed, "I know. I'm sorry. Just…don't do anything rash. Let the Auror's handle it if things go south."

"It's not me you should be worried about. And in case you have forgotten I am an Auror!"

"I know Harry. If you…." Ron leaned in close to his friend an lowered his voice so that the others couldn't hear him. "If you…ya know… feel the need to use your new skill…I'll back you up. Just don't unless you have to," Ron pleaded.

Harry just eyed him and nodded his understanding. The hospital room door suddenly swung open to reveal Mrs. Walker. She looked somewhat tired, her face serious. She quickly approached Harry and shaking his hand said, "As you know the floor has been cleared to keep patients safe. I don't anticipate a problem. Benton has been cooperative thus far. However, myself and two guards, as well as these Auror's will be present." Harry nodded at her. Then she continued in a stern voice making sure to keep her eyes on Harry. "Mr. Potter, we both know what is at stake here." Her eyes traveled to the bed and a sad look crossed her face before she continued. "I know there is no way to keep you from your wife's side. And I am a bit surprised that you have been allowed to keep your wand. Let me make myself very clear. If you interfere there will be consequences. You are not here as an Auror. You are here as an observer. I expect you to behave. You will not help your wife by escalating the situation unnecessarily."

Harry nodded, "I understand."

"Right. Well, Benton is just outside. I will bring him in. He knows he is break the bond he created between himself and your wife. He will not receive his wand until he is in the room. I assure you that all of us will be ready should he try anything underhanded. There is no doubt this is not going to be pleasant for you, Mr. Potter. Are you ready?"

Harry looked to Ron, his friend giving him a firm nod of encouragement. Harry replied, "Bring him in."

Kris Walker exited the room and a short minute later the door once again opened. Mrs. Walker entered followed by a guard. Then Harry saw him. Benton had his hands bound behind his back. He wore the worn clothing of an inmate. His face was a bit scruffier than it had been the last time Harry had seen him. A small smirk slowly erupted on Benton's scared face as he met Harry's eye. Harry bit his tongue to keep from punching the man on the spot. His fingers itched to draw his wand. Mrs. Walker said, "Wands out everyone." She looked at Harry and shook her head in the negative. He was not allowed to draw his wand. They didn't trust him not to just shoot the man down. Harry ground his teeth together. How ironic that they wouldn't let the hero of the wizarding world draw his wand but they were getting ready to give his enemy a wand freely. If Harry wasn't so nervous, and the situation not so grave, he might have laughed at its absurdity. When all the Aurors had their wands drawn and pointed at Benton, Mrs. Walker said, "Benton, please tell me what you are here to do."

Atticus smirked again and said in a husky voice, "I am here to break the bond between myself and that mudblood." He gestured his head toward the bed.

Harry stepped forward glaring at the man. Ron touched his arm which helped to ground him. He would not rise to his baiting.

Mrs. Walker continued, "We will give you your wand, but should you do anything other than break the bond we have orders to stop you in whatever manner we see fit. Is that understood?"

Benton nodded, "I hear you. We've been over this already."

"Very well." Mrs. Walker reached into her robes and extracted a short, black wand. It was bent and worn much like its owner. Harry saw Benton's eyes twitch slightly at the sight of it. He watched as Mrs. Walker nodded to the guard behind Benton who, with a quick movement of his wand, unbound Atticus' hands. Kris slowly extended the wand and Benton eagerly took it. He stroked it for a moment as if he had forgotten how it felt. Then he lifted his eyes toward Hermione. Harry shifted his weight, his hand ready to pull his own wand at any moment. The air was heavy with nervous anxiety. Everyone but Harry had their wands on Atticus and they watched him silently and intently. For a time no one spoke. Then Atticus said gruffly, "Doesn't look too good, does she?" His face sneered and he scoffed. "Looks just like the mudblood she is. Not so high and mighty now, is she?"

Harry's blood was pumping and he was breathing unsteadily. Before he could speak, Mrs Walker said, "Break the bond Benton or you will be fed to the Dementors." The people in the room shifted a bit as the atmosphere thickened.

Benton approached Hermione's bed. "Hmm, yeah about that," Benton's voice was rough but unconcerned. "See, the thing is that I can't."

"You can't what?" Mrs. Walker said in a dangerous voice.

Benton twirled his wand lazily. "I can't break the bond." He eyed Harry with a gin and said, "Everyone knows that bonds are til death do us part."

Harry moved but Ron grabbed him and held him back once more. The Auror's got closer to Benton, nervous now of what he might try but not wanting to escalate the situation further. Mrs Walker said, "Remove his wand!" As the armed people in the room began to move Atticus suddenly pointed his want at Hermione, causing everyone to freeze. He said softly, "I don't think you want to try that. Just a thought and I could kill her before you ever disarm me. I am not too confident she could survive another attack. How about you?" Benton lightly touched Hermione's arm. "Too bad she's got such dirty blood. Her body looks quite promising."

At this Harry shoved Ron away causing everyone's attention to shift, including Benton's. Before anyone could move Harry had drawn his wand, pointed it at Atticus and yelled, "Legilimens!"

Ron knew what had happened before anyone else. Both Harry and Benton were standing completely still, their eyes open but glossy, not seeing what was in front of them. Mrs. Walker said, "What is going on? Remove them!"

Ron quickly stepped in front of Harry and said, "NO! You can't! Harry is attached to Benton's mind now. If you disturb them there will be severe mental consequences for both of them."

Mrs. Walker scowled. "Mr. Weasley, I will respect your wish to let them be until they come out of their current state. However, you must understand that when they return to themselves I have no choice but to take Mr. Potter into custody. What he has done is illegal! We do not take lightly the invasion of another person's mind!"

"I know. He knows that too," Ron said gesturing toward Harry. "Just wait."

Harry was suddenly thrown into darkness. He looked around and was surprised to see nothing but cement walls. He was definitely in Benton's mind, but it was not the chaotic place he had been expecting. Instead it was cold and barren. His anger had prompted him to take action and he was intent on rifling through Benton's mind to find a solution. A sinking feeling sudden gripped him as he realized that it was not going to be as easy as he thought. Suddenly a voice shot through the space. "Not what you were expecting Mr. Potter?"

Harry turned and saw Benton emerge out of a dark corner. He wore a smile of triumph that made Harry's insides squirm. Benton moved toward him and said, "It was a nice move, I'll give you that. I did not expect you to know the art of Legilimency. I imagine you thought you could break my mind? Force me to reveal the cure to your problem?" Benton threw out his arms and turned in a circle. "As you can see I am well versed in the art of Occulemency. You will not be breaking through my shields. How do you think I survived for so long at the Dark Lord's side? I keep to the shadows. I hide. Even in my mind."

Harry tried to push his mind beyond the cement walls that surrounded him. He tried to find a weak spot but was not successful. "You coward! Break the bond!" Harry yelled.

"I lie about lots of things Mr. Potter, but not about the bond. I spent many years trying to prefect this little experiment but was never quite successful. It worked sometimes for a little while, or sporadically." Suddenly Harry was surrounded by memories; memories of Benton experimenting with the bond. In some it worked too quickly, the person dying after only two attacks. The next, the pain was not strong enough. The next it didn't affect the magical core the way he wanted. On and on the memories flashed, each ending with the bonded person lying dead. Benton explained, "I was more interested in controlling it's effects, and using it. I did not spend my time trying to find a way to undo my work! There is no way to end the bond, except for one of us to die."

"Then it will be you!" Harry said.

Benton laughed, "Always so dramatic! The hero to the end. Sadly, you won't win this time. When I cast the bond on your little mudblood girlfriend I had no idea if it would work or not, or what the outcome would be. I would of course cause attacks, but not being near her, I had no real idea what was transpiring. Imagine my delight when I learned that it was working! That story in the daily prophet was a wonderfully amusing read. It was confirmation that everyone, including you thought you were bonded. I knew this was because she must be feeling the pain and you were stopping it for her." Benton laughed again as he circled Harry. "Tell me? Was your marriage rushed because you hoped the attacks would stop? Did you think you could save her by making her your wife?" Another laugh filled the chamber.

Harry clenched his fist so hard he thought he might draw blood. "Shut up!"

"I wasn't completely cruel. I mean I suppose my timing while she was picking out a dress was a bit cruel. But I had no way of knowing that was what she was doing at the time I decided to hurt her. I did give you time for a honeymoon; time to be hopeful. That's what happened isn't it? You were so hopeful that it was over weren't you? Tell me, did she get her health back? Did she do some magic again? I do wish I could have seen her face when she found out it was me she was bonded to and not you!" Benton laughed again.

"You won't win. She will fight you. I will fight you. There is no way you are leaving this hospital room in one piece!" Harry shouted angrily.

"Such a temper," Atticus mocked." I heard you were rash. Stupid boy! I knew the moment I was captured there was not going to be an escape for me. But I played nice. I played along like a good boy, using your hope as a way to prolong my time. And it worked. I got to see her."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked with a scowl.

"Ah, well, I knew I was hurting that mudblood but I was deprived of seeing it. I never got to see my work. When I was captured it was clear I wasn't going to find a way out, so I did the next best thing. I did everything I needed to be able to see her. To see what I had done to her. To see what she had become." Harry felt sick inside. Benton continued, "You know I do wish I could have seen some of the attacks. Perhaps you could assist me with that? You may be a somewhat accomplished Legilimens but I highly doubt you're much good at Occulemency too."

Before Harry even knew what was happening he felt a pressure on his mind and then his head erupted in pain as Atticus rifled through his memories.

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