Chapter Thirty-Three
Back To The Task.

"So let's go get your hand looked at. It really does look awful. Does it hurt?" Ginny asked eyeing his hand and wincing at the sight of the blood. Harry who had been lost in his own thoughts let his mind drift back to his hand, which was aching like crazy. Not knowing whether to leave it but taking the chance he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his now slightly grey and old looking hand.

"Tergeo." Harry said now watching the blood that was covering his hand be wiped away. As more blood began to replace it Harry stood up. "No, it doesn't hurt too much. Not as much as it did anyway. Come on." Picking up his invisibility cloak and throwing it over himself and Ginny he stepped out of the room of requirement walking with Ginny down to the hospital wing. When they arrived outside the room Harry stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong Harry?" Ginny said looking puzzled.

"Madame Pomfrey…what do we tell her?" Harry said.

"Well you've managed to get this far without telling her anything, come on." Ginny pulled the invisibility cloak off the two of them and tugged at Harry's robes dragging him inside the hospital wing.

"You Again. What now? And your dripping blood all over the floor! Come over here!" Madame Pomfrey said exasperatedly. Harry walked over to where she was standing in the middle of the room and sat on one of the bed's holding his hand in his other sleeve trying not to drip any more blood on the floor. She grabbed his hand making Harry gasp in pain and examined it. "What did you do?"

"I…erm…sort of…" Harry stuttered thinking of something to say.

"He was playing with dark objects again." Ginny said truthfully taking an amused glance at a taken aback Harry. Madame Pomfrey's eyes widened as if her worst fears had been confirmed.

"Well I've never seen anything like this before. If I didn't know any better I'd say part of your hand has died." She pointed her wand at his hand. "Episkey." The cuts on his hand faded away but the greyness of it stayed. Again she pointed her wand, "Ferula." Bandages appeared from nowhere wrapping themselves around his hand tightly and she finally let go of his hand and looked at up Harry. "I'm afraid it may still irritate you, I wouldn't know as I don't know what you've been handling. If anything else happens, or it causes you pain of some sort come back and see me."

"So his hand will be like that forever?" Ginny said looking troubled.

"I couldn't tell you, but that's what you get what you do things like that." Madame Pomfrey answered strictly.

"Well it's not like I'm a stranger to scars." Harry said with a slight laugh. His hand twinged and he just managed to stop himself from pulling at the bandages. He was sure his hand was going to aggravate him but didn't mention it as not to look like he was weak and couldn't handle a small amount of pain every now and then. Great a new scar that twinges every five seconds, just what I need.

"Now you say dark objects? Maybe I ought to keep you in over night to be safe…"

"No, I'm fine. Really. Thanks." Harry said sliding off the bed immediately. He had no desire to stay in the hospital wing all night when he had to contact Ron and Hermione with the good news. Everyone in the castle Harry assumed must now be asleep as he walked up to the common room with Ginny.

Ron and Hermione,
How are you both? Just got back from doing you know what. Ginny came with me, sorry Ron, I know I promised you I wouldn't let her come-

"He what?!" Ginny said outraged as she read what Harry had just written. The two of them were sat together in the dark common room only lit by the now going out fire. Harry could only just see to write the letter.

"What do you expect Gin? He's Ron. Overprotective as he can be." Harry said glancing at Ginny the quill in his hand raised above the parchment ready to write.

"Like you, you mean?" Ginny said sweetly with a slight smile. Harry carried on writing, ignoring the constant throbbing in his hand.

You know what your sister can be like. Won't take no for an answer. The point is, we did it. And I wouldn't have done it without her, she saved my life. I'll tell you the details when you get back. Hermione, take all the time you need. It's ok if you want to stay away a bit longer. I'm fine, really.
Love
Harry.

"I see you failed to mention your hand." Ginny said perceptibly.

"Yeah so I did. Hermione will only worry, when it's nothing." Harry said firmly.

"Yeah a half dead hand. Nothing." Ginny said raising her eyebrows. Harry then took a fresh piece of parchment and started his letter to Aberforth. He kept it short.

A.D.
It's been done. What do you suggest we do now? Something weird happened to my hand. It's sort of like your brothers was after the ring only not as bad. Did he ever tell you what had happened to it? I never heard. Anything you could tell me about it I would appreciate.
Harry.

Satisfied that he had written the letter in good enough code he laid his quill down. After sending the letters to Aberforth, Ron and Hermione. He took his potion and finally went to sleep. The next day Harry spent with Ginny and catching up on homework, as lessons would be starting in a few days. They then both went to visit Hagrid who told them Fang's health was deteriorating. The visit was less cheerful than the last. To top the whole bad day off, Harry had the Prophet shoved onto him by Seamus. Another four houses attacked by death eaters at early hours of the morning, twelve more muggles killed and one in St Mungos. Harry knew what must have driven Voldemort to unleash such anger at that time. It was no coincidence. He knew that the wand had been destroyed. Harry had woken up feeling unusually angry himself, and he figured that he was feeling Voldemort's rage and not his own. Harry failed to mention this to Ginny, as he didn't want her to worry. His hand was still tender and agonizing. He also didn't mention this to her. Later on that afternoon while in the common room Harry received a letter from Ron brought by Hedwig. He read the letter with Ginny sitting impatiently opposite him waiting to read it for herself.

Harry,
Nice one! I think Hermione needed that news; she'd been having breakdowns about you ever since we left. Saying we shouldn't have left you and all that. Course…I knew you'd be fine mate. Always pull through in the end you do! Never met such a lucky git at escaping deathly situations! About Ginny though, tell her I'll be having a word with her when we get back. She isn't doing anything else risky. If she thinks coming out of one thing alive changes anything she's mistaken. But I guess that's your opinion too eh?
Hermione's aunt and uncle are loaded, never seen a house so big. I feel like a bit of an outsider ya know? As for Hermione, she's been pretty withdrawn. After she heard your news the perked up a bit I guess. Been quiet and on her own mostly. Her like that scares me, not herself. It's pretty weird.
The funerals this morning so I'd better get a move on. Hermione said to take care and stay in the castle, both you and Ginny. Wherever she is now I don't know, Getting ready most probably.
See you soon.
Ron.

After passing it to Ginny and letting her read it she looked up. "I know exactly how Ron's 'word' with me is going to go." She said in a threatening tone. "Poor Hermione though."

"Yeah." Harry replied absent-mindedly worrying about Hermione. He hoped she would return to her normal self soon and found himself wishing he could be there for her. After all, how much would Ron be able to help her when he couldn't relate to what she was going through?

"What are you thinking about Harry?" Ginny asked curiously leaning forwards in her chair and resting her head in her hands.

"Hermione." Harry mumbled. Hearing how upset she at this moment was did not help his feeling of guilt.

"How can it be your fault this time?" Ginny said frustrated as if she knew what he was thinking.

"I'm going to bed." Harry muttered standing up and kissing Ginny on the forehead.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Ginny frowned leaning back into her chair. Harry knew she was sick of him blaming himself and trudged slowly up the dormitory stairs. He flopped on his bed thinking about how messed up everything had become and eventually fell asleep.

"Ow gerroff." Harry slurred opening his eyes slightly. Someone was poking him, or was that a dream?

"Ron don't poke him." A girl's voice said sternly. He definitely knew that voice.

"Hermione?" Harry opened his eyes wide to see two dark shapes both standing over his bed. The room was pitch black and silent except for Seamus' heavy breathing. He felt someone throw there self onto him hugging him tightly. He knew it must have been Hermione.

"Lumos." He heard Ron's voice say and a small amount of light filled the room, just enough so he could see his two best friends. Pulling herself away from him Hermione now handed Harry his glasses and sat on the edge of his bed, Ron sitting down beside her.

"What are you two doing here? What time is it?" Harry asked disorientated as he sat up.

"3am mate. Hermione wanted to come back straight after the funeral, and well apparently couldn't wait till morning to see you. I don't think she believed that you were ok after destroying the horcrux." Ron yawned leaning against the post at the end of Harry's bed.

"Well you do have a tendency to…" Hermione paused. "I just mean if there was something wrong, you wouldn't be likely to tell us." Harry was impressed. Hermione knew him too well. He knew they would find out anyway, and would probably over react to the state his hand was in, luckily covered in bandages at the moment.

"How are you doing?" Harry said.

"Not great. But better after today, the funeral helped me let go in some way I guess." Hermione looked toward the floor avoiding Harry's eyes. Ron put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Harry said uneasily.

"For what?" Hermione said confused.

"Its just…Voldemort did that to you because you're close to me. This is my fault. And if you weren't so close to me then, your parents would be fine." This was something Harry had wanted to say to her for days.

"Oh honestly Harry." Hermione snapped taking Harry by surprise. "If you think I'm wishing I'd never met you then think again. Stop blaming yourself for anything and everything that goes wrong. This isn't just about you, this is about all of us." Hermione said vigorously. Harry was extremely stunned by Hermione's sudden anger and found himself at a loss for words.

"Sorry." Harry said guiltily.

"That's quite allright. Just make sure you concentrate on destroying Voldemort." Hermione said the word Voldemort with a loathing Harry had never heard in her voice before. "And I am going to do anything to help you. We will do this no matter what." Hermione had seemed to find a newfound strength in herself.

"Are you going to tell us then Harry!" Ron exclaimed eagerly.

"Tell you what?"

"How you did it of course!" Ron said this as if it was obvious. Harry explained everything that had happened in the room of requirement. Having Ron and Hermione's constant attention as he spoke.

"The point is, what next?" Hermione said.

"I honestly haven't even thought about it yet." Harry said pulling at his duvet.

"Harry, what's that?" Before he could hide it Hermione had seized his hand, which gave him a shooting pain when she touched it and pulled it into the light.

"Why's it bandaged?" Ron said strangely.

"It really isn't anything to worry about." Harry reassured them trying to pull it away from Hermione who kept her grip on his wrist strong and was now pointing her wand at the bandages making them unravel. Ron moved in to get a closer look holding his lighted wand above Harry's hand.

"It looks…"

"Dead yeah I know Ron." Harry said.

"Is it painful?" Hermione said not taking her eyes off his hand.

"No." Harry said defiantly now finally managing to pull it out of Hermione's clutch and could tell neither Ron or Hermione believed him as they glanced at each other. "Can we talk about this in the morning…I'm tired." Harry lied. He was now fully awoken, as the pain in his hand was worse than ever.

"Ok. But give it here." Hermione once again seized Harry's hand pointing her wand at it and replacing the bandages back around it. The three of them bade each other goodnight and finally went to sleep.