Ch 17: Return
Bournemouth, Present Day (Day 6)
Still a little dazed, Harry opened his eyes to find himself back on the beach from three days ago. This was the place he had last met Ron and Hermione with a promise to meet again at the Shrieking Shack tomorrow. Like that time, an enormous Muggle crowd was gathered at the beach. However, unlike last time, there wasn't a dragon resting there.
"Harry?"
He felt as if Hugh's voice was coming from some far off place even though he was standing right next to Harry.
Having received no response; Hugh grabbed Harry's elbow and began pulling him away. Harry's legs wobbled, out of his control, as he got dragged a few steps by the big man. Harry wondered why he was doing so.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, trying to pry Hugh's fingers off his elbow.
Without looking at him, Hugh pointed in front of Harry;
"We have to go"
Following Hugh's finger, Harry realized what he was referring to. Every gaze was fixed on them.
Seeing two people materialize out of thin air was not something Muggles were accustomed to. But there was something else. Maybe it was his muddled thoughts but the usual awe Muggles displayed on witnessing magic was absent. There was a different look about them; one full of rage and malice.
"MURDERER!" someone from the crowd screamed.
Before Harry had time to think what they were talking about; he was brought firmly back to reality with a jolt as a small, transparent glass vial smashed against his face. It broke on impact; causing the liquid inside to gush into Harry's eyes and mouth, temporarily blinding him.
The crowd erupted in a deafening cheer. Chants of "Get them" and "Justice" spread like wildfire.
"HARRY!" Hugh cried in concern, pulling Harry closer to him.
Meanwhile, the latter managed to get the liquid out of his eyes and, instinctively, pulled out his wand. There was now a second wound, throbbing and spewing blood from his forehead. But survival currently took first priority in his mind. He crouched down a little, poised for battle.
"Stupefy!" he said, aiming his wand at a bulky man who was rapidly advancing towards him.
The Muggle was immediately thrown back, falling on half a dozen others behind him. Hugh had also blasted a couple of people approaching him back into the crowd. He looked at Harry, trying to confirm whether he was all right. Harry briefly nodded and gestured for Hugh to stand with his back against his to prevent them from getting blindsided. Hugh obliged.
In the meantime, having realized that attacking head-on wouldn't work; the Muggles began using projectiles to attack the duo. In just a few seconds, everything available on the beach; from footwear to surfboards, was hurled at them.
"Diffindo!", "Reducto!", "Protego!"
The wizards fired spells rapidly to deflect the endless slew of objects without having any time to think.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry screamed, knocking ice boxes out of the hands of a few people in front of him.
The effect shocked the Muggles. For a brief moment, they went silent. But soon, they devised a new strategy and the onslaught resumed once again. This time it was faster and much harder to predict.
Both Harry and Hugh winced in pain as a few objects got through their barriers, crashing onto their bodies.
Their pain filled the crowd with new energy.
The attacks got even more vicious.
They were closing in.
For the first time in a decade, fear welled up into Harry's chest. The kind he had felt only once before.
"We have to get out of here." the thought kept repeating itself in his head.
The cup they had used to get here was long gone. Crushed under the feet of their assailants.
There was no time to make another Portkey.
They had no brooms.
Disapparation was the only option.
As he fired another spell to blast a surfboard aimed at him, he remembered that Hugh was opposed to Disapparation.
"But that was when we had a choice." He thought.
This time they would certainly be severely injured at the very least.
"At this rate…."
Harry didn't want to know what would happen. He quickly grabbed Hugh's hand and; trying hard to think of any safe location, turned on the spot.
The angry mob disappeared in a blur as Harry Disapparated with a loud crack.
§§§
Ottery St. Catchpole, Present Day (Day 6)
Both the men dropped down to their knees, panting, as soon as they hit solid ground. Through a mixture of blood and sweat clouding his vision; Harry saw the oaken door to his home. Even in this state, he couldn't help but smile to himself at the fact that he had instinctively Apparated to the place he had been longing to return to for ages.
"That…..was….close" Hugh blurted out, clutching at his chest. He almost looked ill. He leaned against a tree for support.
"Yeah" Harry said, surveying the surroundings.
Being the early hours of the day, the region around them was deserted. He had already noticed that there was no one at home. Ron had most probably asked Ginny to move into the Burrow with the kids temporarily.
Harry took a moment to heal minor wounds with his wand. He could take care of the major healing with supplies in his home.
"You better have a bite to eat in there. I am famished." Hugh muttered, producing a steel flask from his overcoat.
"But first, I need some liquid courage. You want some?" He popped it open and offered it to Harry.
"No thank you. I didn't know you drink." Harry responded, having never seen the flask before.
"Yeah, I had a drinking problem a while back. I have gotten better now but I can't give it up. A nip now and then doesn't do any harm. I keep her with me for times like these." He said, as if reminiscing old times and then took a long swig.
"Another secret huh?"
"Seems like you have a lot of explaining to do." Harry shot a look to him.
Hugh knew that he was referring to the incident at Claymore Manor. He evaded the topic.
"I will tell you everything once I've had something to eat."
"Sure, I guess that makes sense."
Harry himself was in need of food after the past couple of days.
The men got up and stopped in front of Harry's door.
With a deep breath, Harry opened it, inviting Hugh in;
"Make yourself comfortable. I'll bring something to eat."
"Don't bother Mr. Potter. I'm afraid you won't have time for a meal." A familiar voice croaked in front of them.
Harry and Hugh froze in their spots.
A chill went down Harry's spine.
Sitting at the dining table, casually sipping tea from one of Harry's cups; was Nathan Claymore.