SANCTUARY
Chapter 15: Godrics Hollow
Cottages stood on either side of the narrow road. A short way ahead a golden glow of streetlights indicated the center of the small village. Together in silence, Harry held Hermione upright, taking each step forward slowly as she limped by his side. Some distance behind them Remus Lupin kept to the shadows, along with Snuffles to keep a look out over the children, while also respecting their space,
"That must be it, Harry," Hermione whispered, taking a gentle step off a curb with her friends help, pointing to a home which looked to have gone up in flames some time ago, "are...are you sure you want to do this?"
Nodding stiffly with a breath caught in his throat, Harry followed behind Hermione closely. The cottage itself looked to have been two stories tall, the roof practically blown off. Inside the gated yard was a forest of overgrowth, undisturbed except by the occasional animal. Approaching the house with trepidation, Harry ignored the searing of his scar and instead squeezed Hermione's hand. 'This is it,' Harry thought somewhat somberly, staring up at the paneless windows like he would see something of interest, 'I can't imagine myself living here,'
"Look Harry, there's a sign here,"
Glancing up from his thoughts, Harry shifted to look at where Hermione was slightly bent, observing a sign which had been placed before the house. Wiping at the grime coating its surface with a shaking, mitted hand, many scratched signatures could be seen covering the main message, "these signatures...they are all for you, Harry,"
"Yeah," Harry smiled at the touching sentiment to his parents as he pulled Hermione close to him, "I don't know if I should feel sad about being here..." Harry admitted quietly, feeling as Hermione's head dropped down to rest on his shoulder, "I feel like I should be, and I am I guess. But...I never knew my parents. Not like I knew Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia,"
Hermione merely made a small noise in the back of her throat as she exhaled deeply, scuffing her shoe slightly. Casting a side glance at her, Harry felt the smile slip onto his lips. Hermione looked so peaceful, wrapped up in a knitted hat and scarf. She was still pale, and her eyes were still dark, but she insisted on accompanying Harry to Godrics Hollow with Remus,
"What happened that day, Harry?"
Blinking from his thoughts, Hermione had turned and had her forehead pressed against his in the dull glow of one of the streetlamps, "the day we left the Lovegoods. What happened?"
Exhaling heavily, Harry closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of his best friend. Ever since her awakening three days before, he had felt even more drawn to her. She was all that he had left after all; the most important thing in his life,
"You collapsed after being hit with the spell..."
Harry fell to the ground in panic as Hermione crumbled limply in his arms. Holding her tightly, Harry could see the long diagonal rip in her clothing which extended from her shoulder to her opposite hip - like a knife had been forcefully drawn across her body.
"No, no, no! Hermione, don't close your eyes," Harry cupped his best friends cheek with a shaking hand. Nearby, Snuffles was barking wildly, baring his teeth as Harry lifted his head. The men in black cloaks were all closing in, their faces obscured by silver masks. Quaking as Harry gently laid Hermione in the grass, he stood to defend her, holding out his own wand, "stay back! Leave us alone! Stupefy!"
Harry's wand sparked as one of the nearby figures crumbled to the grass and went still, but another merely took his place silently. Glancing down at Hermione again, she was deathly pale, and fading quickly as Harry choked on silent sobs, "I said stay back!"
Casting more stunners this way and that, the spells were easily knocked aside by the men in masks as they closed in, removing wands from their cloaks as Harry's eyes widened. Were they going to die here, collapsed in a field, just the two of them? Collapsing down to his knees and clutching Hermione to his chest, Harry heard footsteps raging towards him as there were distinct flashes above his head,
"Harry!" Mr. Lovegood, "get out of here!"
Lifting his head, the long haired man cast spell after spell, stunning cloaked figures this way and that as Harry struggled to hold his best friend and get her away from the fighting. With his back turned, Harry could hear Mr. Lovegood yelling at someone, "gods, get him out of here, man!"
Before he could even turn around, Harry saw a flash of Crookshanks orange fur and what looked to be a loose striped shirt before a large hand grabbed the back of his collar and there was a distinct tug behind his navel. Soon, he was flying through the air, keeping a firm grasp on Hermione's still figure as they were spat back out onto wet pavement. Breathing heavily, Harry blinked and looked around wildly, seeing Snuffles laying on his side a few steps away, panting wildly. Crookshanks lay beside him, tail flicking as Harry ripped his eyes towards Hermione. She was laying completely still, her cheeks ashen and lacking any life as Harry supported the back of her neck with a hand and looked about wildly. They had fallen in the middle of a quaint little street, the soft golden glow of streetlamps causing everything to shimmer as Harry spit blood from his lips from the fall.
"Help me! Someone, please!" Harry's voice was hoarse as he shivered in fear, "someone!"
"Don't move!" Someone snapped, causing Harry's head to shoot up as the illuminated end of a wand met his face. Behind it stood the ghost of a man, his face covered in scars as his kindly yet wild eyes took Harry in,
"Please, sir! She's...she's dying," Harry sobbed, feeling the man touch his shoulder before he kneeled before Hermione and ran his wand over her,
"We have to get her inside, now. It's not safe to be out in the open like this, especially you Harry,"
"-I should probably get used to people knowing my name before I tell them, huh?" Harry chuckled weakly, supporting Hermione on his shoulder as they stared up at the memorial they had found. It was of Lily and James Potter, and a little baby whom Harry couldn't imagine being himself, "Remus knew my parents and my Godfather," Harry explained, feeling a soft wind brush against his forehead as the two children made their way farther down Church Street. The steeple of the little chapel stood guard over the end of the street as Harry and Hermione approached, walking stride in stride. Behind the church, row upon row of tombstones protruded from a blanket of soft grasses, flecked with dazzling red, gold and green wherever the reflections from the stained glass hit the dewdrops. Glancing once at the shadows where Remus and Snuffles stood waiting, Harry exhaled shakily and opened the small rot iron gate, allowing Hermione to pass into the small graveyard. Following after her, Hermione smiled and squeezed Harry's hand before leaving him to search the tombstones.
Sighing shakily, Harry smiled weakly and made his way from row to row, reading the worn names aloud to himself. Glancing across the yard, Hermione was looking ethereal in the darkness, her loose ringlets casting curled shadows across her face. Her dark marble eyes scanned the earth, a small frown crossing her features,
"Harry, it's here...they're here,"
Swallowing again, Harry weaved his way towards Hermione. She was standing before a tall pillared grave, appearing rather somber, "do...you want me to go?"
"No. Stay please," Harry croaked weakly, looking at the names carved into the stone. James and Lily Potter. Lovers, friends...parents..."It just doesn't even seem real. I mean, I can't think of them being here, and me being some kind of...of savior? I mean last year I was still living in a cupboard under the stairs,"
Harry chuckled weakly, staring at the tombstone with distant eyes, "I can't imagine what it would have been like to have them in my life. I mean I dream about it whenever I can, but..."
"I undertstand, Harry," Hermione whsipered, removing the wand from her sleeve. Watching curiously, Harry held his best friend close as she moved her wand in a circular motion, a wreathe of beautiful white flowers appearing on the grave, "there. It's more complete now. Happy birthday, Harry,"
Nuzzling into the crook of her friends neck, Hermione sighed deeply as Harry nudged her slightly,
"Come on, we should get back to Remus," Harry mumbled, "you need to rest,"
Agreeing slightly with a head nod, the two children made their way back through the graveyard. But as Hermione tugged slightly at Harry's sleeve, he stopped and allowed her to kneel at another gravestone. This one had sunken into the ground, and was barely decernable from under overgrown grasses and foliage. But clearing it with her weak hands, Hermione unveiled the strange marking on the tombstone,
"Harry, look at this marking,"
Kneeling down beside his friend, Harry frowned at the roughly carved symbol. A circle surrounded by a triangle, and cut in half with a straight line, "what do you think it is?"
"I dunno,"
"Harry, Hermione. It's time to go,"
Remus's voice cut through the dark as he stood outside the fence, "you both need rest,"
"We're coming," Harry stated, helping his friend up by the arm as she smiled and leaned into him, "thanks for bringing me here, Remus,"
"It's the best birthday present I can give to you, Harry," Remus stated, smiling as he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "come, it's time to go back,"
Taking Harry's arm, he kept tight to Hermione as the tugging returned to his navel and he was flying through the air. Arriving back to The Den - Remus's house - Harry clutched onto Hermione as she nearly collapsed on landing. Laughing weakly, Hermione reached down and used Snuffles as another crutch as she wobbled up the stairs an Harry helped her back into the bed in her room. Pulling the blanket up over her shoulders, he ran a hand through his black hair and sighed heavily. His scar hadn't hurt since looking at the statue. I won't let anyone hurt you again, Hermione. Harry thought, turning out the lights as he returned to his own bedroom. I promise.
