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The Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Chapter twelve: The Assassin Revealed.
Dumbledore called an emergency Order meeting the moment he got back to his Office. People began arriving immediately. Mr and Mrs Weasley, Tonks, Moody, Lupin, Kingsley, Snape and McGonagall were all present. They gathered around the room anxiously, whispering in hushed voices and casting worried looks over to where Dumbledore sat with his head in his hands, a posture that was becoming increasingly common, and a posture that always unnerved the Order.
Eventually, when Dumbledore failed to speak, it was Moody who stepped forward. Deciding there was no point in dancing around the matter, he got straight to the point.
"What's going on?" For a moment Dumbledore failed to answer. Then he looked up.
"I have always feared that one day this would happen. I always tried to ignore but I knew that it was inevitable; it was one of two possible options." At that point Dumbledore fell silent, unwilling to continue.
"What was?" Urged Moody impatiently.
"Harry. He's been through too much. No one should be forced to live through what he has. No one should be forced to survive it intact. No one should be expected to." The delicate implications of Dumbledore's words provoked a great deal of worried muttering. Dumbledore paused and sighed. It was going to be hard to say this. "I think Harry is going insane." The reaction was spontaneous. There were screams and cries of disbelief. People turned to their neighbours, desperate to be told they had misheard. Eventually Molly Weasley spoke up.
"What do you mean, Albus?" Dumbledore sighed again. Now it was time for the explanation.
"Harry is only sixteen, and yet he has had to face horrors nobody should face in their entire lifetime. He has fought Voldemort on numerous occasion, fought in many battles, and he has, worst of all for his mental health, had to survive Wizarding torture. All at the age of sixteen. Can you really expect a sixteen year old to survive that unscathed? Aurors spend years training for that kind of thing, and then many of them crack after exposure to what Harry's seen. Harry has been exposed to the darkest of the dark arts, all without any training. I would not expect an Auror to survive this intact, nor can I expect Harry to. And yet I made him do it. I had to. Harry has to face Voldemort. He is not suited to a normal life. Not with all he has faced and will have to face." Dumbledore paused again. This was going to be the worst part. "I knew this would happen. Yet I still made him do it all." The reaction was predictable. Cries of outrage and horror filled the room. None of the reactions came close to Mrs Weasley's however. Her normally kind face was twisted in fury. She stepped forward.
"You did what?" The look she was giving Dumbledore could have killed at fifty paces. It was a look she rarely used on her children, a look that could scare even Bill into obedience. Dumbledore however, remained calm and did not quail under the look.
"I made him do it. I knew what would happen and this is the price I'm paying."
"Why? How dare you, all this time, all this time Harry has been nothing more than your pawn? You knew what would happen and yet you still forced him to do everything. Do you not care about Harry?"
"I care very much about Harry, but you must understand, there is a greater good. We all have to make sacrifices. Harry just has to make the greatest of them all. Harry is nothing but a sacrifice and I suspect he knows. I hate saying it but it's true."
"You don't care about Harry. All you care about is your plans and bending everyone else to them." This apparently touched a nerve and Dumbledore was on his feet, his face stern.
"Molly. I force nobody to follow me. I bend no one to my plans. I care about Harry more than you know which is why this is so hard. I knew that Harry had three options the moment he was born. The first is death. He gives up and is killed. The second is turning to the Dark Arts. When you think about what he has been exposed to, what his mind has been forced to cope with, it is nothing short of a miracle that he hasn't delved into them already. And the third, well, you know the third. He goes insane. He refuses to delve in the dark arts so his mind shuts itself down, turns away from reality in order to avoid them. He has no other options. Harry will end up in one of those states, he has no other option. I can only hope for one. I hope that, after he defeats Voldemort he is killed. I can only hope that he dies." The witches and wizards in the room were stunned to see a tear trickle down his face and into his beard. Molly remained furious.
"How can you wish for Harry's death?" Dumbledore didn't say anything at first. But then,
"Because I could not wish for Harry to live in despair and sorrow. Harry is a hero. He knows what he's got to do and he will do it. At the end, I can only hope that he dies knowing that he was hero." As much as they hated it, most of the Order agreed with Dumbledore.
"Heroes are a precious commodity in today's world. Harry is the last of them. The good die young and I fear it will be the case for Mr Potter. All we can do is never forget the sacrifice he will make. Harry's life is a sacrifice, and all we can do is honour him for it." Growled Moody. Dumbledore nodded.
"Idealistically we would get him through this and then we will all live happily. Unfortunately ideals and reality rarely come into contact. But there is always hope. Harry has surprised us so far. Let's hope he does it again." They all fell silent at Dumbledore's words. As horrifying as this meeting had been it was also a revelation and a breath of fresh air. They now knew what they had to do. Get Harry through it all and then take it from there. Dumbledore stood to dismiss them.
"Just remember, nothing is certain, I could be wrong. But what I have just seen in the hospital wing showed me what is happening to Harry. Now we know what we have to get him through. I just thought you all should know that Harry is in trouble, and while he is vulnerable, we need to protect him." The Order nodded and left. Dumbledore sat down again and put his head into his hands.
Most people are never heroes, some people become heroes, but a few, just a few are born heroes.
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Hermione and Ginny waited in the Gryffindor common room impatiently. They had been up and waiting for Ron for the past twenty minutes. Without Harry there to remind him Ron seemed to forget that there was breakfast to go to. Hermione shook her head.
"Five more minutes and I'm going down. I'm starving." Ginny nodded.
"If you're looking for someone who likes to get up and watch the sunrise with you, Hermione, then you picked the wrong boyfriend." At that point the boyfriend in question decided to make an appearance. He wandered down the stairs, vaguely in the direction of Ginny and Hermione.
"And where have you been?" demanded Hermione when he reached her. Ron looked surprised at the question.
"Bed." Complete sentences were something Ron struggled with this early in the morning.
"We've been waiting for you for the past twenty minutes!" Ron tried; he really did try, to look as if he gave a damn.
Seeing that she was going to get nowhere with him she sighed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They began walking out of the portrait hole.
"We're going to see Harry after breakfast." Ginny informed him. That woke him up.
"Ok." They walked in silence to the Great Hall. Hermione pushed open the doors and they walked towards the Gryffindor table. Hermione sat down with Ginny next to her and Ron sat opposite them. They had barely sat down when a host of owls flew in through the windows. One of the owls swept towards Hermione and dropped something in her lap. Hermione took a mouthful of orange juice and picked up the object.
She promptly spat the orange juice all over Ron. Ron leant back in a hurry to try and avoid it.
"Shit!" he looked down at his front which was covered in orange juice. "Jesus Christ Hermione, what the hell was that for?" He demanded. She threw the paper at him in response. Ron looked at the headline and was nearly sick.
"Oh Christ. Oh Christ no!" He looked up at Hermione, her eyes wide and fearful, "Now we're in trouble." Below him, on the table, in big, bold writing were the words,
ASSASSIN REVEALED, HARRY POTTER KILLED FUDGE.
It was direct and to the point, leaving no room for interpretation.
"Now what do we do?" Ginny asked, her face ashen, "They'll be after Harry. He's not strong enough to look after himself yet. There's going to be a civil war. Jesus Christ, I thought they covered their tracks!" Ron looked down at the paper, studying it.
"I don't know. We just need to show Harry this."
Suddenly there was screaming in the Great Hall. People were confused and scared. They were yelling out questions. Wondering if the Daily Prophet had got it wrong about Harry again. There was a general air of disbelief, terror and confusion." Dumbledore had stood up and was trying to calm everything down. Ron felt an immediate wave of relief flood him. Dumbledore would sort everything out down here. In the meantime, they needed to get to Harry. The three of them stood and slipped out of the Great hall amidst all the confusion.
They hurried up towards the hospital wing. They burst through the doors and ran straight to Harry's bed. He sat up and greeted them.
"Hey guys." He knew, an instant later, that something was wrong, terribly wrong. He frowned. "What's the problem." Wordlessly Ron dropped the Daily Prophet on Harry's bed. Harry picked it up and read it, his face expressionless. He lay back down.
"So what do we do now?" He asked them, his face expressionless and his voice calm. They didn't answer. Ron looked distraught, Ginny was ashen and Hermione was crying softly. Harry turned away. "Is there any way this will just blow over, Dumbledore could just lie and say I was never there." Ron shook his head, his thoughts snapped back to reality.
"No there's going to be repercussions. They'll have tested Fudge's room for your magical signature. It will have come up positive. Theirs is going to be a backlash. It's not going to be light. It was treason Harry. They'll kill you for it." Harry remained expressionless, his face guarded.
"Fudge was unpopular. He won't have enough supporters left to do anything about it for him, will he?" Ron thought carefully.
"He'll have enough to cause trouble. His personal bodyguard. Their loyalty is unquestionable, and they're the best."
"How many is that?" Ron made a see sawing motion with his hand.
"Usually about fifty, give or take."
"We can handle that." Ron shook his head.
"Then there are his supporters in the Wizarding populace. They'll cause trouble for you." Ron hesitated, "Harry, I'm not sure you understand. This is treason. People will hate you for it whether they liked Fudge or not. There will be a backlash and I'm not sure if you will be able to withstand it. There will be a public outcry, people will turn against you. Eventually you will run out of supporters." Harry said nothing. However he knew that Ron was right. Harry needed the support of the Wizarding population. Harry represented freedom for them and so they followed him, but after committing treason many would turn away from him and turn to the dark arts. Others would turn away from him because it appeared that he was turning to the dark arts.
"So what do I do?" Ron was useful in this way. Years of playing chess had turned him into a sound strategist. He had the uncanny knack of seeing a hundred different possibilities and all their consequences at the same time. Ron looked thoughtful.
"Stand up to the backlash for as long as you can. Don't back down. Always explain why you did it, never change your story no matter what people say. People will respect you for it and many people will start to believe you if you stay firm." Harry nodded exhausted. In truth he was terrified. He knew that the consequences of getting caught would be dire, and now he had to face them.
"You have one advantage though. All your supporters are loyal to you one hundred per cent. They won't change sides. Fudge never had that. He was always unpopular. The majority of people will be fuelled by confusion, terror and shock. They need someone to blame, no matter what the reasons. If you stand strong you'll convince them quickly. You're a hero to them Harry. If you remain unwavering they'll rejoin, after that Fudge's true supporters will be in a minority, such that they will be able to do anything about it." Harry nodded again. He closed his eyes and wished all his problems would just disappear. He couldn't face being hated again.
Although he didn't say anything he remembered what had happened the night before. He remembered the freedom above all. He knew, subconsciously, that it was insanity but he didn't want to admit it. He was fighting, and it was taking all his willpower, not to crack under all the strain. None of it seemed real, not of seemed like it was happening. Everything Ron said, it didn't make sense. It was like watching a movie.
He fought back the tears. The pressures were all becoming too much. He had been caught and now he would need to pay the price. He couldn't face that. He couldn't face that anymore.
He thought of the backlash. The hate he would be getting. The blame, all the feelings of terror and confusion would be unleashed on him. It would be another barrage against his already weakened mental shields. If he was honest, he didn't think he would be able to face it again and emerge from it unchanged.
He felt himself cracking under the thought of it all and fought to hold himself together, to hold the tide of insanity threatening to break through. He felt himself breaking under the strain and fought to hold on.
And then he lost it.
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Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat in the room of requirement avoiding the questions of the rest of the students. There was no hostility yet, people weren't quite ready to accept that there hero was an assassin. An assassin who committed treason.
However it wouldn't be long before they did accept it. All the evidence was stacked against him. Ron shook his head.
"I don't think Harry can take much more of this." Hermione nodded.
"When I said finding what his limits were, I never anticipated this. No one could handle this."
"There'll be a public outcry. Aurors will come after Harry. He's too weak to defend himself. There's nothing he can do." said Ginny.
"So what do we do?" Hermione asked. Ron shook his head.
"Be there for him. We'll get him through this. Harry's surprised people before. He'll do it again."
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Exhaustion seemed to be a permanent feeling in Harry. The strain his mind was under meant that a lot of energy was being used in order to stay sane. Harry knew that he could not afford to relax. He had to stay focused and fight all that time. So far he was managing but he had a feeling that he would not be able to keep it up much longer.
The nights were the worst. Night was the time when his mind was the most relaxed and, therefore, the most vulnerable. It came as little surprise to him that the bouts of insanity affected him most then.
Fortunately he could sleep most of the day and restore most of his energy for the night. That helped, but with the new fears of Fudge's supporters getting revenge and the backlash from the Wizarding population his mind was at its weakest and the insanity at its strongest.
Madam Pomfrey watched him sleep anxiously. She was torn between two decisions. Half of her wanted to send him back to Gryffindor tower where he would be in a relaxed, natural environment and his friends could look after him which would help a lot. The other half wanted to keep him here where she could keep an eye on him.
In the end she decided that it would be in Harry's best interest to send him back to Gryffindor tower. Perhaps his friends would be able to get him to talk to them.
With that last comforting thought she sent for Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
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Ron stood up.
"We'd best be getting back to the common room." Ginny and Hermione nodded and stood up. They followed him out of the door.
They had barely gotten ten steps when a second year none of them recognised came running towards them.
"You're wanted in the hospital wing." The boy said. Hermione felt her heart begin to beat faster.
"Is there a problem?" She asked her voice scared. The boy shook his head.
"No, Madam Pomfrey wants to see you." He said casually. The boy clearly didn't lack confidence.
"Thanks." Ron said gruffly. The three of them began walking in the direction of the hospital wing. To their surprise the boy began following them.
"Is it true? Did Harry really kill Fudge?" He said excitedly, Ron turned on the boy slightly harshly.
"I said thanks." The boy took the hint and turned away from them. They walked in silence to the hospital wing. Lost in their own thoughts, none of them could get Harry out of their mind. Each of them was being eaten up by worry.
They arrived at the hospital wing and walked through the doors. They glanced at Harry and saw that he was fast asleep. Madam Pomfrey came out of her office when she heard the doors open.
"Excellent. I need to talk to you three." They walked over to her. "I have decided that it would be in Harry's best interests to send him back to Gryffindor tower." The three exchanged eager looks at that. Madam Pomfrey held her hand up warningly. "I am not wholly convinced by it but I think that putting Harry in a natural environment where he is comfortable and amongst friends may be the best thing for him. The moment I hear he is deteriorating he will be straight back in here. Do you understand me?" They nodded seriously.
"When can he leave?" Ron asked, he felt better at the prospect of being able to look after his best friend. He hated not being able to do anything.
"As soon as he wakes up. Now listen to me. There are a couple of things that you must not do if you want him to recover. Never force him into talking, he will just retreat into himself further and that must not happen. Any further and he may not come back out." The trio looked at each other nervously, they knew what that meant. "Mention talking about it to him but never push him. He will speak when he's ready." The three of them nodded, they felt that last comment was a bit optimistic; however they understood the importance of optimism at this time and said nothing. "The final thing," and she turned to Ron as she said this, "is that he has been suffering bouts of insanity recently, mainly at night." She heard their intakes of breath and saw the fearful look on their faces, "he needs someone to be with him, to try and calm him down. It is vital that someone is there, to make sure there is always some reality trying to get through to him. If he there is no reality near him, trying to break through the insanity it will happen more and more. You may want to advise your dorm mates to put sleeping charms around their beds, they can be pretty terrifying, but I'm sorry Mr Weasley, you will have to be there for him."
"No, no," Ron interrupted quickly, "I don't mind, I really want to help him." Hermione smiled at him proudly. Madam Pomfrey nodded.
"Good. You can take him back to his dorm when he wakes up. Just remember he is going to need a lot of love and support right now. As much as I hate to force this upon you, he has to become your number one priority right now. Above schoolwork, above everything. You cannot afford not to be there for him when he needs you. That is why part of me doesn't want to send him back. But I trust you and know that you will be there for him. But he must be number one."
"He will be," Ron said fervently, "I wouldn't have it any other way. Not after all he has done for me." The other two nodded in agreement.
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The chamber was dimly lit and freezing. The numerous torches on the wall seemed to give out little light and no heat. The stone walls were lined with shields and animal skins and, below them, stood a line of black robed men. In the centre of the room was a high backed chair, a throne, and on it sat the most evil wizard ever.
He surveyed the cowering creature before him, almost nothing more then a bundle of robes. For some reason the cowering annoyed him immensely and he wondered whether he should just use the cruciatus curse on it.
"This had better be good, Wormtail." The bundle of robes looked up eagerly.
"It is my lord, it is." There was silence for a few minutes. Voldemort grew impatient.
"Are you going to speak, Wormtail, or do I have to torture it out of you?" Wormtail began to whimper.
"N-no my lord…I mean yes…I-I mean no."
"Wormtail…" Voldemort warned, his eyes narrowing. Wormtail took a steadying breath.
"It was Potter who killed Fudge, my lord, and according to young Malfoy, master, Potter is currently lying in the hospital wing weak and on the verge of insanity!" Voldemort sat up straighter.
"Are you sure?"
"P-positive, master, it was in the Prophet as well!" Voldemort laughed in his glee, a laugh that sent shivers down the spine of all those present. It was the laugh he used when he was torturing someone or had just killed. Only ten times more intense.
"Malfoy." One of the black robed Death Eaters stepped forward and bowed low.
"Master?" he said smoothly.
"I am pleased with your son. You will be rewarded." Lucius Malfoy bowed lower.
"Thank you, master, I am truly grateful." He straightened and backed up against the wall once more. Voldemort turned back to Wormtail.
"Prepare our men. We shall assault Hogwarts once more and this time we shall not fail. We shall be rid of this irksome wretch and the old fool who watches over him." He laughed again, the cold, chilling laugh which echoed around the chamber and sent shivers down the spine of all those present.
Miles away in the Hogwarts hospital wing Harry sat up, screamed, and succumbed immediately to the intense waves of insanity that flooded his mind.
A/N Ok, another chapter up. Next one will be up in about a week. Hope you enjoy this one.
I would like to thank everyone for their concern they showed in their reviews concerning the tsunamis. It does mean a lot to me.
Anonymousy – Thanks for the review. I'm sorry about that. I'll try and sort it.
FSI - Thanks for the review.
Goddess Usaqi - Thanks for the review. You live in Australia? So you'll know a fair bit about the tsunamis. Ok, if you ever need another beta let me know. I was lucky, very lucky. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Dark Phoenix Mortal – Thanks for the review.
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El Permenante - Thanks for the review. I'm glad you enjoyed the darkness bit. I enjoyed writing that bit. You will find out who the person with the knife is soon, possibly in the next chapter.
Miliardo Peacecraft - Thanks for the review. I'm glad you're girlfriend's cousin is ok. Really glad. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
HoshiHikari - Thanks for the review. I was deliberately vague about the person with the knife. You'll find out about him soon. Hopefully this chapter explained the second point.
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Colm - Thanks for the review. I'm not going to say anything except you will have to wait and see!
Leah - Thanks for the review. Not in the next few chapters, he's still recovering.
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Dragon Sword Master - Thanks for the review. I'm glad I changed my mind too! What you said is very true, something to remember. By the way, I'm not a huge fan of sad endings, little hint for you!
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Keep reading and reviewing 'cos I'll keep writing.
Fireboy