Warning: violence.
Harry limped slowly down the hallway of Hogwarts just enjoying the night, as he made his way back to his rooms after picking up some books from the library. He heard a slight scuff on the stones and before he could turn an arm wrapped around his chest and pulled him tight against a taller body.
"Jesus Severus," Harry cursed.
"I'm not your lover," A familiar male voice hissed in his ear and before Harry could move a silver knife was held to his throat.
Harry froze as the knife nicked his throat drawing blood.
"Mr Charmling," Harry said calmly. "I knew there was something not right with you."
The man chuckled behind him as he held the knife close.
"Do you know how sick it made me to see you falling all over that traitor!" Charmling hissed in his ear, his arm tight around him. "What a waste of talent and power."
"Ah," Harry said softly. "So, you are working for the Dark Lord then?"
Charmling chuckled darkly. "He has promised me so much!"
"But what has he delivered?" Harry asked.
"You!" Charmling hissed and stabbed him deeply in the side between his ribs.
Harry hissed hunching over as the man stabbed into his stomach repetitively, grinning madly. Harry crumpled to the ground as the man released him and started kicking him as his blood splashed across the floor. Harry curled up as much as he could, trying to gather his magic around him as pain racked his body but the magic kept slipping away from him. That first stab wound had hit deep.
"The Dark Lord will get what he wants!" Charmling was hissing as he landed kick after kick. "He will give me what I want!"
Just as Harry gathered up his magic, Charmling smashed his boot into his head and he saw stars. He went limp on the ground, already feeling his life leaving him. He didn't have much time as dark mists started to take over his eyesight.
"Your lover is next," Charmling hissed into his ear as he knelt next to Harry. "Then your son and the Headmaster. We will take this school!"
Harry laughed and spat blood to the side as it started to fill his lungs.
"You think you can take this school?" Harry gasped, pain racking his body.
"Yes!" Charmling hissed. "I've already let the Death Eaters in! It's just a matter of time now!"
"You're an idiot!" Harry coughed.
Charmling growled and stood suddenly staring down at Harry's crumpled form with cold eyes. The last thing Harry saw was the man's boot coming at his head.
xXx
Harry came to with a jolt feeling cold and yet hot as fire burned up his spine. The pain leaking into his body making him gasp as he struggled with every breath. He was still lying where he had fallen and was sure that only a few minutes had passed. He tried to move but the broken ribs in his chest made his head spin and almost black out. He had to warn Severus.
He focused on the ring on his finger and picked up the broken link with the man as he cast his mind out from his body following the spell back to Severus. Following the link, he found the man whom was supervising a detention with Ry and Harry sighed in relief.
'Severus,' Harry whispered.
The man's head came up and he looked around the room.
"Did you want something, Potter?" Severus asked Ry.
Ry looked up from cleaning a cauldron in confusion.
"I didn't say anything," The boy replied.
'Severus,' Harry tried again. 'It's Blake.'
Harry's link slipped as pain coursed through his body as the dark magic of the Deathly Hollows ate away at him. It flowed in his veins like fire and his vision blacked out briefly. When he was able to pick up the link again he got a glimpse of Severus and Ry walking through the hallways.
'Severus,' Harry tried again.
Severus stopped, grabbing Ry's shoulder.
"Where are you, Blake?" Severus said aloud. "The tracking spell isn't working."
'Death Eaters have gotten into the school,' Harry thought quickly, unsure how long his connection would last.
"Where are you!?" Severus hissed.
'Library!' Harry hissed and the link slipped again.
He lay panting on the floor. He didn't have enough strength to try the connection again. The dark magic of the Hollows felt like fire in his veins as it burned up his spine. His ribs screamed and his head pounded. Harry jolted awake without realising he had slipped into the darkness to hear running footsteps.
"Blake!"
"Dad!"
Hands were on his shoulder and pushing, ripping a groan from his throat as he rolled limply onto his back and felt a breeze as his shirt was lifted. He could hear voices above him sounding panicked and wondered if it was about him as his head swum and the ground moved under him. All he could see was dark mists and the gathering darkness around him.
"Blake!"
"…Death eaters have…"
"…Headmaster…"
"…Potter…"
"…But dad."
"Room and stay…"
Harry groaned turning his head away from the noise, the dark magic eating at him setting his skin on fire.
"Go Potter!"
"Ry," Harry whispered.
"Blake, just hold on!"
Harry wanted to tell Severus that he couldn't die and that he needed to keep Ry safe and keep the Headmaster away from the tower but all he could see was the dark mists of the Hollows. He had been here before and every time it scared the shit out of him.
Then suddenly there was a hand wrapped around his and another mind brushing against him.
'Blake?' Severus voice echoed strangely.
'Severus,' Harry gasped and strengthened the link with the other man's mind. 'It was Charmling. He's let Death Eaters into the school. They are here to kill you, Ry and the Headmaster!'
'Sh, Blake.' Severus whispered into his mind. 'Calm down, you are dying.'
'No,' Harry hissed. 'I can't die, Severus! Hollows will keep me alive! They will bring me back!'
Severus pulled back in shock and Harry lost the connection with the man's mind. He reached out blindly but he was slipping into the darkness as fire and ice overcame him taking everything else away.
xXx
Severus looked down at his lover in shock and tried to use Legilimency to get back into the man's mind but he was out, there was nothing to grab on to. The man was covered in blood and it pooled around him from the multiple stab wounds. Severus had tried to stop the bleeding with his robe without much luck. The man was pale and if it weren't for the slight movement of his chest he would have believed he was already dead and the fear spiked through him.
'I can't die!' Blake's whispered thoughts came back to him again.
"God, I hope you're right," Severus whispered to the man on the floor, even if he had seen proof of it with the killing spell. This was something completely different.
The man was a mess he had never seen him so bad, if it was anyone else they would have died well before Severus and Potter had even gotten to him. He laid his hand on Blake's shoulder and shook him but he couldn't get him to react. His head just rolled lifeless which stabbed straight through Severus's heart.
He knew he had to move. He had to keep Potter safe and the school. Just as he was about to stand a small gold glass figurine of the griffin crawled out of Blake's jacket pocket and shook its head. Severus scooped up the figurine and it looked up at him with bright red eyes. Without thinking he placed it into his pocket.
"Expecto Patronum," Severus intoned and a silver doe appeared in front of him waiting for his command. "Tell Poppy Pomfrey, Blake is in the second-floor corridor and needs medical attention urgently. Be careful there are Death Eaters in the castle."
The doe nodded its head and sprung off down the hallway. Severus looked down at the man on the floor and turned away. His heart breaking as he did, all he wanted to do was collapse to the floor next to his lover but he had to help Potter and the Headmaster.
Suddenly a green light lit up the hallway and he ran to the window and his eyes widened as he saw the Dark Mark lighting up the sky.
"Shit!" Severus cursed and before he could think on it too much more, he ran and prayed that Blake's words were correct.
xXx
Ry crashed into Draco as he came around the corner towards his Father's rooms and the boys went sprawling across the hallway in a tangle of limbs.
"Watch it Potter!"
Draco pulled himself to his feet but Ry wasn't looking at him and the Slytherin turned to see the green glow around the main doors to the school.
"What's that?" Malfoy asked and stepped closer.
"Death Eaters have gotten into the school," Ry hissed. "They got Dad. Snape sent me down here to stay in Dad's rooms."
Draco paled at the words as they looked at each other.
"What's the green glow then?" Draco asked and the two boys crept towards the doors.
"I should go to Dad's rooms," Ry said but he kept moving forward.
They could hear yelling now that they were getting closer and Ry reached out a shaking hand, paling when he noticed his father's blood on his sleeve and hand and he snatched it back.
"Scared Potter?" Draco smirked.
"You wish!" Ry snapped and pushed the door open.
Both boys gasped as they looked out onto the grounds to see the Dark Mark floating in the sky and Draco moved closer to the other boy to the side of the doors. They could see Dumbledore already out there and fighting.
"Why is he alone?" Ry gasped. "Where is everyone else?"
"Your father?" Draco asked softly.
Ry felt a stab of worry for his father. He knew the man couldn't die. He'd seen it before, more than once, but it still scared the shit out of him every time and he was sure it was the same for his father. He had seen the look of fear in his father's eyes when death had tried to claim him before.
Ry shivered and moved closer to the castle railing, slightly slipping on a patch of stone that someone must have charmed. Draco followed close behind like a ghost. They made it to the railing and looked over the front lawns. Dumbledore was fighting against five Death Eaters and they could see more moving towards him from the direction of the Whomping Willow.
"They must be getting in from the Shrieking shack," Ry whispered as the boys huddled down.
Suddenly Snape came running out and hit the patch of charmed stone and slipped. Ry and Draco grabbed the man before he could go over the railing as he crashed into it. Snape looked at them with shock as a small gold glass figurine jumped from his pocket and up onto the railing.
"What are you two doing here?" Snape snapped when he caught his breath, only dressed in long sleeve shirt and pants. "Potter, why aren't you in your father's rooms?"
"We saw the Dark Mark," Draco replied for them, with large eyes.
The three of them looked back over the railing as the gold griffin jumped up higher to overlook the scene. Ry could see that Snape's eyes were too large as he took it in. His hands were shaking and covered in his father's blood and he was sure the man was in shock.
"Dad?" Ry questioned softly.
Snape turned to him, his eyes unreadable.
"Poppy is seeing to him," Snape whispered. "I have to help the Headmaster. Where is everyone? Potter do you have your phone and Kingsley's number? I should have taken Blake's phone."
Suddenly the little gold griffin made a small noise and the three looked up. It had climbed as high as it could go and was looking towards the Headmaster and the Death Eaters in interest. It opened its wings wide and jumped, pumping its small wings to get air born as it moved towards the fighting.
"It doesn't think it can fight?" Draco said in concern. "They will shatter it!"
Then the gold figurine was changing with a soft golden glow around it as it started to grow. The three of them stared in shock as the gold griffin grew to the size of a real one and with a loud screech that had the panes of glass shaking it was speeding towards the Death Eaters and the Headmaster and all the fighting stopped as everyone stared at it.
"He knew!" Snape snapped. "Damn that man."
"He always knows!" Ry whispered back his own eyes large.
The griffin torn through the Death Eaters, its glass claws ripping into them as spells bounced off its sides as it turned on the Death Eaters. The Headmaster adding his spells to the mix as they pushed the Death Eaters back but more were moving in to take their place.
"Merlin," Draco cursed. "It slept on my bedside table for six months!"
Ry snorted, he knew better than to let one his father's projects sleep near him. His father sometimes forgot the dangers of his work, especially when there were children around.
"You're lucky then," Ry said with a smirk.
"Potter, phone!" Snape snapped.
Ry jolted and quickly dug it out of his pocket and handed it over to Snape and the man flicked through the numbers and sighed when he came to Kingsley's name.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt." The man answered when he called him.
"Shacklebolt," Severus said quickly then gasped as the griffin stood in front of the Headmaster, a sickly green light flaring around him as it blocked the killing curse.
"Who's this?"
"Snape," Severus replied. "We are under attack at the school! Death Eaters."
Silence greeted him.
"Fuck," Kingsley swore and Ry snorted next to him. "We didn't get word!"
"The Headmaster is fighting them," Snape replied quickly. "We need support. No one else is here."
"Blake?"
"He's down," Severus whispered. "He can't help us."
"Oh, god." Kingsley gasped. "I'll get the word out."
Kingsley hung up and Severus just looked at the phone in his hands and the blood. Ry placed his hands over his as he took the phone back.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Snape looked up and saw red. Charmling stood before them with his wand out and a smirk on his lips. Severus snarled as he jumped to his feet but Draco and Ry grabbed his shoulders and held him back. The man's eyes flicked to the scene before him and his eyes widened when he saw the griffin and his wand dipped slightly.
That was all Severus needed as he broke the hold with the two boys and lunged towards the man. All sense leaving his head as he saw red. The man casually flicked his wand and Severus skipped to the side, surprising the Auror as he smashed his shoulder into the shorter man knocking him back.
Charmling got his feet under him quickly and pulled a silver knife, the same knife he had used on Blake and grinned. Severus pulled his wand and sent a quick spell at the man but he just laughed as he stepped to the side as Severus circled around.
"Are you going to fall to the same blade as your lover?" Charmling taunted as they circled around each other as Ry and Draco crept further away down the railing. "He should be dead by now."
Severus snarled as he sent another spell at the man but he just stepped to the side and sent one back. Severus skipped to the side but he wasn't fast enough. The cutting charm clipped him in the side as he tried to twist out of the way and he cursed. The other man had eight years of Auror training on him but he didn't care as he glared at the other man.
"Now, now." Charmling called. "I thought a Death Eater like you would have better skills, Snape!"
"Sectumsempra!"
Charmling casually brought up a barrier charm before him and Severus's charm was absorbed into the slightly grey barrier.
"Is that the best you have?" Charmling laughed behind the shield.
"Snape!"
Severus's eyes flicked to Ry holding a sword in his hands and the boy threw it to him. Severus caught it and looked at the boy puzzled.
"Cut through the barrier," Ry whispered. "He can't see through it!"
Severus grinned and held the silver sword in his hand. The griffin suddenly screeched loudly and it was all he needed as a distraction. He lunged forward and slashed the sword through the barrier spell and Charmling jumped back in surprise as his barrier fell.
He swung the sword around but he had no idea how to use it as the man jumped back and by the look in Charmling's eyes the other man knew that and he started to laugh. Until a hissing made the two men turn with wide eyes.
The gold griffin stood on the railing beside them, its tail flicking around as it held his wings up high and its head low. Severus felt a bolt of fear run through him as the beast's red eyes flicked between the two men. It looked even bigger close up as its head swung between the two men and it hissed loudly.
"Stop the Death Eaters getting in at the Whomping Willow!" Draco yelled at it and its head flicked towards him.
Draco paled as the beast locked its eyes on him and cocked its head to the side. It screeched again and turned, its tail swinging out and Severus had to drop to the stones as it passed over his head. It took to the air and winged its way towards the tree, following Draco's orders.
Severus scrambled to his feet and lunged at Charmling, bring him down. He smashed his fist into the man's side as he tried to pin him down but the man had better skills than him as he swung a fist into where the cutting curse had hit him earlier and he saw stars as the shorter man took the upper hand.
"Stupefy!"
Charmling ducked down as the spell from Ry sailed over his head and Severus got a hand free and punched him in the jaw. The man cursed as he rolled free and quickly got his feet under him.
"Stupefy!"
Charmling moved quickly again as he dodged Potter's spell. Severus rolled to his feet as Ry and the Charmling exchanged spells but the boy was out of his depth. They both were as Severus focused back on him, ignoring the pain in his side.
"Sectumsempra!" Severus hissed as the man was distracted and the spell smashed into him.
A large gash opened up down his arm and the man skipped away with wide eyes.
"Expelliarmus!" Potter hissed and they had the man moving.
Severus fell into line with Potter, keeping enough distance between them so that Charmling couldn't keep both of them in direct eyesight at the same time. Severus grinned grimly as he paused to scoop up the silver knife the man had dropped.
"Aveda Kedavra!"
Severus quickly slipped to the side as the green spell sped passed him. Then he noticed where Charmling was headed and shared a quick look with Potter. The boy knew as well.
"Expelliarmus," Ry hissed and pushed the man to the side as Severus circled around.
Charmling stepped back as he fired spells back as Severus and Ry worked together forcing the man back since he couldn't apperate. Just when he got in place, Severus lunged forward with the silver knife out and the man yelped stepping back quickly.
He slipped on the charmed stones and went down hard. Severus was on him in a second and smashed his fist into the man's head as hard as he could and the man went limp under him. He cursed at the flare of pain and lifted his fist again but Ry wrapped his hand around his wrist stopping him.
"He's out," Ry said softly.
Severus panted as he looked down at the man as he saddled his waist and nodded at Ry. With his record he couldn't afford to kill the man, especially on school grounds. Ry gave him a thin smile and let his wrist go.
"I think I broke my hand," Severus muttered, as he looked down at it.
Ry snorted and held a hand out to him which Severus took. The boy helped him up as Severus grabbed his side as the pain spiked now that the adrenaline was wearing off.
"Are you okay?" Ry asked softly, as he looked at the blood. "And if you say 'all good' I won't ask again."
Severus snorted as he looked down at the boy, both of them thinking of Blake. They looked out at the grounds to see the Aurors flooding in. The griffin had done its job and the entrance under the Whomping Willow had been destroyed and it was back over next to the Headmaster as the Death Eaters tried to flee.
"Gee," Ry said softly. "That thing made a mess. The Headmaster isn't going to be happy with Dad."
Severus snorted as his thoughts turned to Blake.
"He'll be fine, Snape." Ry said softly and patted his shoulder.
Severus turned to Charmling and cast a spell to tie him up without saying anything. He picked up the silver knife he had dropped, hissing at the pain in his side, and he looked at it for a minute before slipping it away in his pocket. He frowned at the sword on the stones.
"Where did you get that sword?" Snape asked.
"It's Dad's," Ry answered, as he picked it up. "I ran back to his rooms and grabbed it. He has a couple in the cupboard."
"Snape!" Kingsley called, as he got closer.
"We have one up here," Potter called back.
Kingsley moved forward with a couple of other Aurors and gasped.
"Cameron?" Kingsley asked.
"He stabbed Dad," Ry said softly.
"He did what?" One of the other Aurors gasped.
"What is going on Snape?" Kingsley demanded as his eyes caught on his hand and side. "Do you need medical attention?"
"All good," Severus replied and Ry snorted. "Charmling stabbed Blake and left him in the hallway. Poppy is seeing to him."
Kingsley paled.
"Is he…?" Kingsley trailed off.
"He's alive," Ry said softly as he moved closer to Severus. "It was Charmling."
Kingsley's eyes flicked between the two men and Snape could see the indecision in the man's eyes then he focused on Potter and the sword he held in his hand. He nodded sharply.
"I'll take care of this," Kingsley snapped. "I'll need a statement from Blake and the both of you later. Potter get Snape up to the hospital wing before he passes out."
"Yes, sir." Ry replied and turned to Snape. "You heard the man."
Severus sneered down at the boy but he just tilted his head in that stubborn way of his as he stared at him and lifted the sword up slightly.
"I'm the one that's armed," Ry smirked and Kingsley barked a laugh.
"Too much of his father in him," Kingsley said with a smirk.
"Do you even know how to use that?" Severus drawled.
"I'm a Potter," Ry said seriously. "We just wing it and hope for the best."
Severus sneered even more but his eyes gave him away and he turned towards the castle doors. His hand throbbed and his side was blazing in pain. He didn't even say anything when Ry slipped under his arm to help him up to the hospital wing with Draco following behind silently and looking pale.
"Oh, Severus." Poppy cried the minute she saw him, he could see that the woman had been crying since her eyes were red as they looked at him sadly and his stomach dropped. "I've already sent Blake to St Mungo's…I'm sorry Severus but I don't think he is going to make it."
Potter's arm tightened around his shoulders as his face lost all colour and he felt faint at her words.
"It's okay," Ry whispered in his ear. "The Hollows will keep him alive."
Severus looked at the boy with wide eyes and Ry gave him a small smile.
"I'll send you straight to St Mungo's. "Poppy said in a rush. "They can look you over and you can see Blake."
The woman bustled over to the fireplace as she wiped her eyes.
"Severus, Mr Potter."
The two turned at Albus's voice and he looked around at the beds, when he looked back at the other two he looked confused.
"Where's Blake?"
Poppy sobbed and the Headmaster flicked his eyes in her direction.
"What's going on?" Albus demanded.
"Charmling stabbed Blake," Severus said softly, starting to feel light headed.
"I've sent him to St Mungo's." Poppy said softly. "I'm about to send Severus and Potter there now.
Albus paled at the words and he looked back to Severus and Ry.
"Whoa," Albus cried and jumped forward as Severus suddenly went limp.
Ry grunted and braced himself as he took the taller man's weight and Albus quickly got under his other side as Poppy moved forward. Running her wand over him and muttered healing charms under her breath.
"Blood loss," She muttered softly. "They will take care of him once he is at St Mungo's. Come on."
Albus and Ry shared a look over Severus's head in concern as they moved towards the fireplace. It looked like they wouldn't get any answers tonight.
xXx
Harry woke slowly to a massive headache and his ribs on fire as he sucked in a breath. Slowly he opened his eyes and could feel the potions and drugs running through his body making his head swim. He was in a private hospital room and he groaned. He hated hospitals it was all the whiteness. Everything was white from the ceiling, to the walls, to the beds, and the floor.
Harry felt a hand tighten in his and turned his head to look at Severus asleep in the chair next to his bed. He smiled at the man, as he looked him over. He had a scrape across his forehead, a bandage around his right hand and looked really pale but he was alive and Harry felt relief flood through him.
"You're awake, Mr Sun."
Harry rolled his eyes to see Dumbledore standing at the foot of his bed.
"Albus," Harry whispered, his throat feeling raw. "It worked."
"Preventing my death?" Albus asked softly.
"Yes," Harry said barely above a whisper.
"Very nice work, Blake." Albus said resting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I would have died without your help and the school would have been taken."
Harry smiled up at the man tiredly, at least his plans worked some of the time.
"Ry?" Harry whispered.
"He is safe," Albus said. "I sent him back to school to finish his studies."
"How long?" Harry's voice trailed off.
"A few days," Albus said understanding the question. "The hospital is amazed you survived. I believe that if you were anyone else you wouldn't have."
Albus looked down at him with intense blue eyes and Harry stared back as the drugs ran in his system.
"You know you warned me about going to the tower," Albus said carefully watching him closely for his reactions. "I believe that's where you thought I would die? Since the griffin could fly?"
Harry frowned.
"I warned you about the tower?" Harry whispered.
"When you were poisoned," Albus clarified. "You warned me that I was going to die at the tower. Is that what you meant?"
Harry frowned deeper as he felt even more confused.
"You didn't go to the tower? You were going to die at the tower. I said that?" Harry asked softly and Albus nodded but he could already feel sleep tugging at him. "What happened?"
"I'll explain everything once you are better," Albus said softly. "I have a feeling we have a few things to discuss."
"Interrogation?" Harry muttered as he started to lose the battle with the drugs.
Albus patted his shoulder as he looked down at him softly as Harry's eyes closed once again.
"Sleep, Blake."
xXx
The pain in Harry's body wasn't as overwhelming when he woke the next time, he could still feel the potions and drugs but his head wasn't swimming as much. He was hooked up to an IV line and a heart monitor was beeping softly beside him. Harry moved his head to look at the chair to find Ry curled up with a book in his hands.
"Ry," Harry whispered.
The boy's head snapped up to look at him and the book dropped to the floor. The boy dashed out of the room, confusing Harry until Severus and Ry moved back into the room.
"Blake!"
"Dad!"
"Sh," Harry whispered as his head pounded from the noise.
"Get the Head Mediwizard, Potter." Severus hissed and the boy ran out of the door.
Severus sat in the seat and took Harry's hand in his own.
"How are you feeling?" Severus asked softly.
"Pain," Harry said quietly. "Floaty."
Severus smirked. "Floaty?"
"Yeah," Harry whispered.
"Good afternoon, Mr Sun." A brown haired man with a white coat said with a warm smile. "My name is Head Mediwizard Allan Kaser. How are you feeling?"
"He said pain and floaty," Severus answered for him.
The brown haired man raised an eyebrow and picked up Harry's chart and noted it down.
"Well that will be the painkillers," Kaser said softly. "Do you need more?"
"Yes," Harry whispered tiredly.
"Very well." Kaser said. "I've been in contact with a Doctor Greenburg for your medical history. Interesting read that."
Severus snorted and Harry knew the Mediwizard wasn't the only one that had read his file.
"You are a very lucky man, Mr Sun." Kaser said as he looked down at Harry. "Doctor Greenburg said that you respond better to muggle medicine so we sent out for the supplies which seem to be working perfectly."
"Yes," Harry said softly, his eyes already getting heavy.
"We repaired the damage that the stab wounds inflected and bound your ribs." The Mediwizard explained quickly. "They will give you some trouble for a while as they heal. Your magic has been helping you heal but your reserves are very low now. It's always so tricky working with wounds inflicted with a silver blade."
"K," Harry slurred.
"I'll leave you now and send the Mediwitch in with some more pain killers," The man said before nodding at everyone and left the room.
"What happened?" Harry asked, looking at Severus's bandaged hand.
"Snape punched Charmling," Ry said softly. "Just smashed him one!"
"Thank you Potter," Severus sneered. "Broke my hand on his hard head."
Harry snorted and then hissed in pain.
"Deserved it," Harry gasped.
"Sh, Blake." Severus said resting a hand on his shoulder. "Just rest."
A Mediwitch bustled into the room and quickly added the painkillers to the IV line. Harry felt it take hold immediately and his eyes closed as Ry and Severus talked softly beside him.
xXx
Harry woke with a start when someone grabbed his shoulder and he looked up at Albus.
"Hey," Harry said as he rubbed his face.
He was still at the hospital and it was driving him up the wall. They wouldn't release him and he was feeling frustrated. He hated hospitals as he'd spent way too much time in one over his long life time.
"How are you feeling, Blake?" Albus asked as he took a seat next to him. "Severus not here?"
"He's at home with Ry," Harry said as he sat up in the bed. "Hospital should be releasing me soon. Don't know why they are still keeping me here. Bloody nurses charmed my bed so I can't get out of it."
Albus laughed as he looked at Harry.
"Past your skills as a curse breaker, Mr Sun?" Albus asked in amusement.
Harry gave him a wink
"They layered it on when I broke through it the first time," Harry said in amusement. "I think that I just made it a challenge for them. They did try to not dress me to keep me here, then realised I don't mind walking down the hallway naked. Much to the horror of the old woman down the hall."
Albus barked a laugh and Harry gave him a lopsided smile, before the other man looked at him seriously and Harry cocked his head to the side in question.
"What happened in your time, Blake?" Albus asked straight up after casting a silencing charm around them.
"What?" Harry asked, in surprise. "No prying it out of me with well placed questions over a period of time? You do know how interrogations work, right?"
"I think you have had enough interrogations, Blake." Albus said softly as he looked at him.
Harry looked away and Albus let the silence hang between them just letting Harry think it through.
"Tell me what happened?" Harry said softly.
"There was a weak point in the wards," Albus said softly.
"Where?" Harry asked with a frown.
"The Whomping Willow."
"Did they have a curse breaker?"
"Charmling confessed to helping a curse breaker by giving them permission to enter the school," Albus explained. "Being not only a Professor of the school but also an Auror gave it more power."
Harry's eyes widened as the words sunk in.
"And the curse breaker bent the wards around the permission," Harry gasped. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"None of us thought of it," Albus counted. "I should have thought of it since I made that area when Remus first came to the school."
"We can't see everything, Albus." Harry said softly and let his hand rest on the other man's shoulder. "Even if you know the future."
Albus looked over and Harry gave him a smile.
"You still don't look well, Blake." Albus replied in concern, as he looked the other man over.
"God," Harry said with a laugh as he rubbed his head. "Don't tell the nurses that!"
"You call them nurses?" Albus asked in interest.
"Ah," Harry said. "I was brought up by muggles and lived with them a lot over the years."
Albus filed that away as he turned back to that night.
"We have a spy in the Order," Albus said and Harry started. "Someone corrupted the pendants that I use to call the Order."
"I don't know who it could be," Harry replied. "Severus said he called Kingsley?"
"Yes," Albus replied. "I felt the wards being changed and moved down to find out what was going on. At first I thought it was you but it didn't feel right, the castle wasn't happy with the changes. When I saw the Death eaters I tried calling the Order."
"My griffin should have been able to pick up on the Dark Mark when the Death Eaters passed over the wards," Harry said picking up the story. "I linked it to the wards and the mark after I cut through Severus's one."
"That makes more sense now," Albus replied as he sat back in his seat.
"Everything changes now, Headmaster." Harry said softly. "I don't know what will happen."
"What happened before?"
"Hogwarts was taken," Harry replied. "You were killed."
Albus sucked in a breath as he looked at Harry with large eyes.
"The Dark Lord," Harry said softly. "Took Hogwarts and moved through the Ministry of Magic and claimed it slowly."
Albus sat forward in his seat and stared at Harry in shock.
"The death toll rose," Harry said softly and looked down at his hands. "Not one day would pass without a death. I fled, I had an important mission to complete…."
"Your scars?" Albus questioned looking at the scars on his arms.
"Ah, no." Harry replied. "That was a long time after."
"Severus?" Albus asked. "Did he die that night?"
"No," Harry answered softly. "He died about a year after…well a year from now."
Silence fell again as Harry thought back.
"It was a very dark time, Albus. It was for a long time." Harry said softly, then added a few minutes later. "I need you to do something for me?"
"What is that, my boy?" Albus asked softly and placed his hand on Harry's.
"I am concerned about this Graham Simpson," Harry said softly as he looked at the other man. "I do not know him Albus and yet he is making moves of a Dark Lord on the rise."
Albus paled at his words.
"The Dark Lord's ultimate goal is Hogwarts and Harry Potter," Harry said straight up. "He will try again to take the school, give him time and he will come to us. He cannot let Harry Potter live."
"The prophecy," Albus whispered.
"Yes," Harry agreed. "I need you to focus on him. Dracka will help with his spy network."
"What will you be doing?" Albus asked softly.
"I will be focusing on Graham Simpson," Harry said in reply. "Any information I come across in relation to the Dark Lord I will pass on to you and I will help as much as I can Albus, but I can't focus on both men at the same time."
Albus looked Harry over, his blue eyes assessing him.
"You were a Commander?" Albus questioned softly.
"Yes."
"You commanded armies?"
"I did."
"You have fought Dark Lords before?"
"Many times."
Albus held out his hand and Harry took it in his. Albus felt the calluses on the man's palm. Albus locked eyes with the other man and recognised him as an equal.
"Agreed."
End of Part Three
We are just under halfway through now. ;-)