CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WOUNDS

It was something out of a nightmare.

It had all happened in less than three seconds, but Harry felt like it took Neville an hour to fall. A burning rage exploded in Harry's chest; he let out a guttural roar. Harry's wand, of its own accord, flew into the air and he caught it in his outstretched hand. A second later, Mara had grabbed Neville's wand and two beams of red light collided in the air, in an explosive display.

Harry moved swiftly out of the car park and onto the cobble-stoned street. He was no longer conscious of his actions; he was fighting on instinct alone. Red beams shot from both wands, wordlessly.

Harry was forced to run through the street, sometimes avoiding two or three curses at a time before he could fire one back. He used the low walls as cover as he ran. The spells from both wands hit buildings and walls, set fire to shrubbery and ricocheted off postboxes and lampposts.

No words were exchanged; there was nothing left to say.

Both weapons continued to discharge, crashing and colliding with everything in their paths. Harry dived over the low wall and back into the car park. He used the sign as a shield against an oncoming curse he heard Mara mutter, this one green.

Mara was now shooting to kill.

Harry saw a bin fifteen feet ahead of him, and broke into a sprint; flashes of green fell into his peripheral vision. Every foot of distance he covered, he felt more vulnerable. He dived behind the bin just in time for the green curse to blast it. A piece of the wreckage smashed into Harry's face, knocking him down on his back.

Mara sprinted to cover the distance, throwing more killing curses. Harry rolled along the ground and used a bench to pull himself up to his feet.

He jumped up onto the table; Mara spun on the spot and stretched forward.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Harry jumped down from the bench and landed smoothly, avoiding the green beam.

Then Harry knew he had won, before he had even made his move.

Mara Greaves had overstretched on her last attack and lost her balance; it only delayed her for a second… but it was enough. With one eye open, Harry shot one last Stunning Spell that caught her squarely in the chest and she crumpled in a heap on the floor. Immediately, Harry wordlessly disarmed and tied up Mara with two quick flicks of his wand.

Unconscious again, Mara Greaves remained silent. He rubbed his hand over his injured eye. He was thankful to discover it was swollen, but not bleeding. Harry sprinted over to Neville; he was ghost-white and gasping.

A pool of blood had enveloped Neville's middle. Vile acid refluxed into Harry's mouth, burning his throat.

"A-Accio, dittany!" Harry threw out the spell into the dark night.

"Civilian down with multiple stab wounds! I need immediate assistance at Godric's Hollow, NOW!" Harry thought of Ginny, and the children, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Five silver stags burst from Harry's wand and disappeared into the darkness.

Harry held out his other hand as three bottles of dittany flew into his open palm.

"I've never been so glad to see you well-stocked at home, Neville," Harry mumbled, trying to sound optimistic.

Neville couldn't talk; he continued to gasp wordlessly. It terrified Harry.

"Hang in there, mate."

It took Harry several minutes to apply dittany to all of the stab wounds. His hands shook violently as he did so. When he had emptied the last bottle onto Neville's wounds and saw that they had mostly cauterised and started healing, he leaned back against the wall.

"You're going to be alright, Neville," Harry sighed.

As the multiple pops in the immediate vicinity told Harry help had arrived, he hoped that he was right.

Moments later, Neville was surrounded. Two sets of arms pulled Harry up and away from the scene. Everything was cloudy; he was sure he had a concussion.

"Mara Greaves! Make sure she's arrested, before she finds another way to escape!" Harry barked.

He didn't know who he was barking it to, he just hoped it was heard.

He saw a bench and collapsed on to it and looked around at his assistants; Hermione sat on one side, Kingsley on the other.

"Didn't think to call us?" Kingsley asked.

"Couldn't," Harry gasped, "Long story."

"You'll have plenty of time to tell it. Hobbs, we've got another one over here!" Hermione called over to someone.

Hobbs turned out to be a St Mungo's healer, with a wiry moustache and a blond perm.

"I'm fine. See Neville," Harry said.

"Neville is surrounded by six of the best healers in the country," Kingsley assured him, "But that's a nasty wound on your head. Get seen too. I'll be back shortly."

Kingsley stood up, but momentarily turned back.

"Oh, and Harry…" he called, and Harry glanced up, "Good job."

Kingsley smiled and left.

"Hermione, Mara Greaves -" Harry started.

"She's already in custody, Harry," Hermione replied.

"Yes but - the book - the Grimoire of Dabria. It's over there. It's cursed. Seal it, don't touch it."

Hermione nodded and headed towards the floating artefact, which was no longer bright and shining, but dull and dormant.

"Oh, and Hermione," Harry called, without looking up, "The knife; evidence."

When Harry glanced over at Mara and saw she had magical cuffs around her wrists, he finally felt that all immediate danger was over and exhaled slowly. He closed his eyes, just to rest, while the healer did his work.

He had, he thought, at the very least earned a nap.

Harry was unsure how long he sat there in a half-asleep stupor, while the healer worked around him, healing wounds, casting spells. When Harry did open his eyes, his thoughts felt a lot clearer. He felt rested; the wound on his head was now barely a scratch. Neville was gone now; he was probably already at St Mungo's at this point.

Harry tried to stand but Hobbs stopped him.

"I'm not quite finished yet, Mr Potter," Hobbs said, politely.

"Thank you, Hobbs," Harry replied, "but I will be alright for now. I'll go to St Mungo's for a check up first thing, but I need to see my family."

Harry didn't wait to hear if Hobbs protested further, he just walked away. He knew Kingsley would be back at some point tonight and that he would want to talk to Harry, so he wanted to go home before that happened.

Harry had been cursed for so many weeks he had almost forgotten how good it felt to not be. Now almost brimming with energy, he turned on the spot and vanished into the air.

Moments later, he had arrived at his own front door and turned the key. As he closed the door behind him, he was immediately met by Ginny in the hallway.

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Ginny, I -"

With a flash, Ginny slapped him hard across the face.

It burned more than any wound he had received fighting Mara.

Then, Ginny burst out crying and embraced Harry.

Harry held her tightly; he tried to say with his hug how much he loved her and how sorry he was. Ginny rarely cried. He had only seen her cry a handful of times in twenty years. Once at Fred's funeral, and once on the day each of their children were born.

This was the first time he had been the cause of it.

Ginny pulled away from Harry. She looked more tired than he had ever seen her; when she spoke, her tone was dry, calm and one-note.

"Never do that to me again," she demanded.

"Ginny, I'm so sorry," Harry sighed, "But we got her. It's over. Neville got hurt, but he's going to be alright."

Ginny didn't say anything; he couldn't look her in the eye.

"I was scared… I was cursed, I knew that if I didn't go alone, I would be endangering -"

"Don't you dare, Harry," Ginny warned, quietly, "don't you dare use that same tired excuse you've been using for twenty years. Look at me."

He met her gaze.

"I am yours, always, but I don't belong to you. You have no right to decide what risks I take. You have no right to tell me that your desire to protect our family is more important than mine."

Harry's insides burned with guilt and shame; a lump appeared in his throat.

"You're right," Harry swallowed, "I'm - I'm an idiot. I just want you to understand that I did it for the right reasons."

"That's the only reason I'm going to forgive you," Ginny replied, "But your poxy nobility is your biggest flaw, and you don't need to prove it to me. As far as I'm concerned, if you keep me in the dark about anything concerning this family again, you will have broken my trust completely."

"I understand," Harry sighed.

Harry embraced Ginny again.

They stood there for a while, in each others arms, not saying anything. Eventually, Ginny pulled away. Harry wanted to pull her in again.

"I'm sure the Ministry is waiting on you, so go. You can catch me up on what happened later. And if you see Neville, send him my love."

Ginny left the hallway and entered the sitting room before Harry could answer. He fought the urge to go after Ginny, she needed space and he needed to deal with work. Harry took the hint and headed back out into the night.