Hi everyone… Hopefully I'm gonna get on track with updating regularly as I have a lot of time on my hands and want to at least finish this successfully and not keep anyone is suspense.
So please read and review.
Chapter 11: "He made what?!"
Hermione sat in her bed glancing at Harry every so often as she read another book on magical comas, this time loaned from Madame Pomfrey, a sad smile on her face. When would he wake up so she could look at his gorgeous emerald eyes that were unique to both Lily and him, and feel his arms wrapped around her, cocooning her safely from the world?
She got up and walked over to the device that was attached to his magical core and pulse, ensuring that everything was recovering normally whilst Harry was in his coma. There was no change and Hermione tried not to cry at the injustice her beau was facing. Why him?
Suddenly she spotted movement from the corner of her eye and she turned to see Harry's hand twitch ever so slightly. She rushed forward but stopped a little away, watching with bated breath, as she saw his other hand twitch. Then she heard the most amazing sound that she was eagerly awaiting for the past few days… a groan. She watched as Harry's eyelids flickered until they opened ever so slightly before they blinked rapidly to dispel the strong sunlight. Hermione rushed over and closed the curtains to dim the room and Harry opened his eyes fully. He lay there for a few second before sitting upright and ripping out the UV drip in his arm and standing up, his mind still stuck in the Battle.
"Harry... Harry! You're fine, it's over," Hermione said soothingly as she rushed over to catch him as he swayed weakly from where he was standing and lowered him gently back into bed.
Harry opened his mouth, dozens of questions on the tip of his tongue but all that came out was a strangled gasp from his parched throat. Hermione smiled and handed him a glass of water with a straw so he could sip it without choking.
Hermione dragged a chair over and sat down as Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times before he gathered himself and looked over at his girlfriend, who was watching him concerned.
"What happened? How long have I been here?" Harry asked, as the memory of the Battle rushed back and he ran a concerned glance over Hermione, wanting to make sure that she was fine. He couldn't see any scratches or visible damage and for that he was relieved.
"Well, it's been a week since you ended up in a magical coma and sent Voldemort off with that poisoned dagger embedded in his self. Other than that you've not missed much other than the Ministry wanting to bring you in for questioning about what has happened here," Hermione explained.
Harry nodded, "did anyone get hurt?"
"No casualties, you saved us in time," Hermione said with a smile and Harry let out a breath he was unconsciously holding.
His gaze swept around the room and landed the bed next to him. He was about to ask what that was all about when there were footsteps and out of her office swept Madame Pomfrey, who smiled at the wide awake Potter sitting up with his girlfriend.
"Potter, how are you feeling? Miss Granger you should have known better than to not inform me that Mr Potter was awake. I need to give him a check up," she huffed before shooing Hermione away and taking out her wand, she ran it down a squirming Harry's figure, determining that everything was fine before stepping away and hurrying to the cabinet where she withdrew a vial and thrust it at Harry.
"What's this?" Harry asked as he gulped it down under the stern gaze of the nurse.
"Pepper-Up to give you some energy," she explained as she took the empty vial and banished it back to her office to be disposed of, "now you're perfectly fine and your magical core is back to normal levels. Just take it easy, with you being bedridden for the past week your muscles will feel slightly weak but it should be fine."
"So I'm free to go?" Harry asked, happy to be getting out of the wing.
"Well I would like to keep you here for a few days..." Madame Pomfrey said and laughed as Harry looked on in horror and grabbing Hermione, who had packed up during the check up, and dragged her with him as he ran as fast as he could out of the hospital.
"No thanks Poppy," Harry all but shouted as he ran for his life, determined not to visit the bed for a while, pulling Hermione along who laughed and with a flick of her wand she summoned her trunk to float behind her as they ran down the corridor. They stopped to catch their breath near the Gryffindor common room, where the couple collapsed with giggles against each other. This was how the Marauders found them, looking on bemused at the hysterical couple.
"Um, guys?" Sirius asked and Harry and Hermione stopped giggling to catch their breath as they saw they were holding up a couple of people from entering the common room.
"Sorry but I'm just happy that we survived Poppy," Harry said as he muttered the password, "quidditch", and they scrambled through and collapsed on the chairs around the fireplace.
"How are you feeling?" James asked Harry and he shrugged.
"Never better," Harry said with a smile.
"HARRY!" came a shout and Harry yelped as he tumbled onto the floor with Lily and Alice hugging him to death, overjoyed he was fine.
"Help!" Harry croaked and after a minute Harry sat up gasping for air, leaning against Hermione's legs as Lily and Alice joined them.
"Sorry," blushed Lily as Alice smiled sheepishly.
"We're just happy to see you both back," Alice said as she bit into a chocolate frog she pulled out of her pocket. Remus and Sirius looked on enviously as she mocked them by offering it to them but before they could grab it, she stuffed it into her mouth and smiled, showing her chocolate covered teeth.
"Ewww," Peter cringed and Alice laughed before swigging it down with some water.
"Both?" Harry asked.
"Did ickle Mione not tell you? She, being the lovesick fair maiden, could not stay away from her knight in shining armour as he lay on his deathbed in the hospital so she set up camp," James said mock swooning at Hermione's romantic gesture.
Hermione blushed deeply and threw a cushion at James, which hit him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him and him to the floor.
"Oof, she has gravely injured me. Help!" James cried as he fell to the floor.
Sirius and Remus jumped up and brandished rubber chickens they had produced from somewhere in their robes as swords, standing on the couch, and hurried over to James to stand in front of him.
"Never fear, Sir Moony and his sidekick Padfoot are here to save you," Remus proclaimed.
"Hey, how come I'm the sidekick?!" Sirius pouted, but charged forward and jumped at Hermione, who along with Harry, Lily and Alice, pelted the boys with cushions, sneaking in a few transfigured ones.
"En garde," James yelled, as he jumped Harry, both tumbling onto the floor as they rolled around scuffling, before bring Peter in and ended with everyone piling on, making one big heap on the floor as they laughed and grinned in amusement. In the tangle of limbs and people, Harry found Hermione and pecked her on the lips to convey his thanks.
"Ahem," someone coughed and everyone's head whipped around to see McGonagall standing there, a look of amusement on her face as they tried to detangle from each other.
"Why Minnie you look dashing today. Do you need a knight in shining armour as well to sweep you off your feet as well?" Sirius asked cheekily trapped under Hermione, and the Professor gave a disapproving look at his use of the nickname before turning to Harry.
"I have come to collect you Mr Potter as the Headmaster wishes to speak to you in his office. Miss Granger may accompany you if you wish" she said and Harry nodded before standing and holding out a hand to Hermione.
"See you in a bit guys," Harry said and everyone nodded.
"And Mr Black if you use that absurd name again, I will see you in detention till graduation," Professor McGonagall threatened and Sirius nodded.
"She didn't say anything about us Moony," James whispered, leaning towards Remus, but smiled innocently as the Professor glared at him suspiciously before walking out of the common room with Harry and Hermione.
"She really loves me, wanting to spend more time, my dear Minnie. Until we meet again," Sirius said as he waved and fluttered his lashes, everyone dissolving into laughter around him.
HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL… HPASOL…. HPASOL…
"Come in," Dumbledore said and Harry pushed open the door so they could both walk in. They settled in the chairs opposite the Headmaster's desk as he smiled and surveyed them over his half-moon spectacles.
"How are you feeling Mr Potter? I heard from Poppy you're in good health and have been released from the hospital wing?" he asked and Harry nodded.
"Yeah I'm feeling better now," he said and Dumbledore smiled as Hermione pecked his cheek lovingly.
"I'll make sure of it Sir," Hermione said and Dumbledore nodded.
"Now I'm sure you are wondering why I have called you here tonight? However there are some revelations that I need to share with you. But first I must commend you on how you handled Voldemort, but I am disappointed as to how to killed those Deatheater. My dear boy, everyone deserves a second chance despite their past deeds and Azkaban is one of these ways." Dumbledore explained but Harry's eyes hardened at this.
"Headmaster, surely you did not think we would spare a Deatheater like Bellatrix? Have you not seen what she is capable of?" Hermione asked in disbelief. For crying out loud, she had tortured Neville's parents to insanity.
"Sir I respect you a lot for your past achievements, but if anyone threatens MY family, I will wipe them out, second chances my foot! No more discussion is necessary… they are evil! And Azkaban is not always foolproof as you may think," Harry said icily.
Dumbledore paused before he shook his head slowly.
"Well we can agree to disagree at this point."
Harry and Hermione nodded, not too happy but accepting. As if he would sway their opinions, said wizard clearing his throat before continuing.
"Now the main topic for tonight's meeting… we have interrogated a Deatheater in our custody who was badly injured during the Battle and have discovered some disturbing news. Now he is currently in Ministry cells but I have a memory of the interrogation. If you want to come with me into my Pensieve and I can show you," Dumbledore said, gesturing to the couple to join him as he walks over to where his Pensieve sat, and Harry and Hermione followed.
Harry looked down at the glowing mist that swirled around in the stone dish before the familiar sensation of tipping head first came and he landed on his feet and straightened up only to look around and see a memory waiting to play. He held Hermione's hand as Dumbledore started the memory.
Memory…
Dumbledore enters the room with two Aurors and the Head of the DMLE Charlus Potter, and they approached the Death Eater who was currently cuffed with magical restraint cuffs in the middle of the room He had his head lowered and resting on his chest, before he let out a grunt as an Auror grabbed the top of his head and yanked his head back so he was facing towards the light, highlighting his black eye and the dried blood dribbling from the side of his mouth. He glared at Charlus as he stepped forward with a sneer.
"Mr Crabbe, we would like to ask you a few questions pertaining to the attack on Hogwarts School last night. Would you prefer to volunteer it freely or we can pump you full of Veritaserum and find out your deepest darkest secrets from when you were a babe til now," Charlus hissed with venom as he inched forward until their noses were nearly touching.
Harry watched astonished but with grim amusement at the interrogation skills of his grandfather, and screwed his face up in repulsion as a puddle formed under the chair where Crabbe was sat. Hermione mirrored his reaction.
Crabbe looked terrified but nodded slowly, trembling slightly in fear.
"Now, why did you attack Hogwarts?" Charlus asked as he conjured a seat and sat down opposite Crabbe, gesturing for the Auror to let him go.
"The Dark Lord was looking for the boy." He grunted.
"Which boy?" Charlus asked curiously.
"The boy from the future… his name is Harry Potter."
Charlus looked shocked and Dumbledore took this as his cue and stepped forward, his blue eyes hard and cold as ice.
"What is his interest in Harry Potter?"
"He's important to the Dark Lord. A horcrux we were told. To retrieve him dead or alive and keep him from going back in time to destroy his others."
Everyone in the room looked in horror at what Crabbe had said.
"Is this true Albus? Is this why we cannot kill him?" Charlus asked, his voice quivering as these words registered in him mind.
"I'm afraid that with Voldemort, anything is possible," Dumbledore nodded gravely, "I will have to investigate further when I am back at Hogwarts."
"How many do you think he made?"
Dumbledore paused at this and looked solemnly at the pale face of his friend in front of him.
"With Voldemort, we will never know, but I can hazard a guess and estimate it could be a number of significant value in magic…"
"And the boy… he is my grandson? My son?"
Dumbledore smiled faintly, "James' son, Charlus, his name is Harry James Potter."
Charlus beamed and laughed happily, "I'm glad he survived enough of this war to have a son."
They exited the room as Crabbe was pulled up, ready to be marched to his cell.
… memory end
Harry felt his feet hit the ground and looked around to find out that they had landed back in Dumbledore's office. He reached down and helped Hermione up, before Dumbledore gestured for them to sit back down.
"What is a Horcrux?" Hermione asked after a minute silence as everyone digested what they had saw in the Pensieve.
Harry looked over and was startled to see Dumbledore had a look of sorrow on his face as he stared long and hard at Harry. Harry hated it… the look of pity on his face. He looked away as Dumbledore collected himself before looking towards Hermione.
"A horcrux is, in the simplest of terms, the vilest of dark magic that a wizard can perform. To split your soul through cold-blooded and intentional murder and store it in vessels to ensure your immortality. That is what a horcrux is… an item that stores your soul so that if you are murdered you can be restored to life through a means that gives you a body. As I said… the most vilest of magic that exists."
"And how do you get rid of a horcrux?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore took a few minutes to reply, "the only way to destroy a horcrux is to dispose of their container irreversibly. The only two ways in existence are basilisk venom or Fiendfyre, also known as cursed fire."
There was a few minutes silence after that before Hermione let out a sob and launched herself at Dumbledore, fists flying as she intended to cause him harm.
Harry could not even comprehend what he had heard. He was a… horcrux… he had Voldemort's… a piece of his soul in him… how… what?
Dumbledore caught Hermione and hugged her gently as she clung to the grandfatherly wizard and broke down, sobbing bitterly, as she took in the harsh truth that her love was a horcrux and the only way to destroy Voldemort would be to destroy Harry.
"I'm sorry Harry," Dumbledore said and Harry jerked his head in a kind of nod before moving robotically towards the two and gently taking Hermione into his arms and guiding her to her chair. She had quietened down and gently taking Harry's face into her hands, her eyes ghosting over the pale skin and glittering emerald eyes that looked older than the man they belonged to, for he had not been a boy for a long time, staring angrily at the scar on his forehead briefly before kissing her beau on the lips gently.
"We'll find a way Harry, so that we can destroy that monster as well as keeping you alive," Hermione whispered tenderly and Harry swallowed the lump in his throat before closing his eyes and nodding slowly.
But Harry knew that it would be futile and would only cause Hermione more pain in the long run. He had to die. Die to kill the monster who had ravaged the world. And he would do so. The Gryffindor in him demanded it. But for now he would play along until he had the right opportunity. So he nodded in numb defeat.
"Miss Granger..." Dumbledore began, wanting to persuade the grief consumed witch to not do anything illegal or stupid, but was cut off as a raged filled Hermione turned to face him.
"Don't even dare Dumbledore! I WILL find a way to save Harry and kill Voldemort. That I promise until my last dying breath! Did you consult the Goblins? Specialists? The Unspeakables? Curse breakers? There are a million different paths that you can take to solve a problem and I will find one that does not mean that my Harry will die. I cannot even imagine it!"
Hermione gave the wizard a glare that would kill on the spot, before grabbing Harry's hand in her own and marching out of the office without another word.
'Horcrux be damned, we will win this war,' she thought determinedly.
So there it is. Tune in next time to find out Sirius and Remus in the future find out about the dreadful news and to what lengths Hermione will go to save Harry.