Chapter 6 – Return of the Fallen
Standard disclaimer – don't own any of JK Rowling's works, nor am I profiting from them.
Summary: Harry and his healer were attacked during his treatment regimen. They barely escaped when Harry tapped into something his father hinted at in his journal completely draining Harry. George reopened his joke shop, to see that Harry and Kreacher built a secret laboratory to bring Harry's inventions to life. Harry learned of some of the terrible things that happened at Hogwarts on his year on the run. Ron and Hermione left for Australia to retrieve her parents.
A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and responses. Here is a bit of a Harry/Ginny chapter, even if a bit unconventional to prove that yes, it is a H/G fic. I think it's important to show some real consequences to a fight scene, so that provides some of the context here.
George glanced at the clock in the Cauldron, his nickname for the research lab, and unsurprisingly it was late. Half past ten, he duly noted. He knew he would be on the receiving end of another lengthy Molly Weasley rant about working too much and hiding from dealing with Fred's death. He knew she was just trying to help, but it didn't register to her that this work, was helping. It gave him purpose, a way of honoring Fred both with the joke shop, and now his work in the Cauldron. Wistfully, he wondered what the Weasley clock would say now, working, researching, avenging?
He laughed out loud which caught his little lab partner off guard. Kreacher, for all of his quirks as a house elf, was a whirling dervish in the lab. His fervor with helping his master, coupled by his increasing magic aptitude from being bound to Harry, made the elf quite the scientist. He was all arms and hands, like a researching octopus, Kreacher could multitask on three or four projects at once. With all of the elf's help, George merely needed to keep stirring the crystal cauldron and the first serum would be done. The silence of the lab was only disturbed by the slow sloshing of the stirring cauldron and then Kreacher's loud cry, "Master Harry!" and he shot an apologetic glance to George, mouthing the words, "House of Black" before he disappeared with a loud crack.
Kreacher, as a house elf for the Blacks, had encountered all sorts of strangeness in his age, but arriving to see a bloodied Master Harry and a strange middle age Asian man in the living room at Grimmauld Place was certainly high on the list. In true Black fashion, Kreacher had leveled his hands at the stranger and with little preamble, "Move from Master Harry or die". Honestly, he was changing as Harry Potter's house elf, striving and achieving more than he had thought possible, working with Master Weasley was a prime example. Kreacher rather enjoyed the new change and it bound him even more fiercely to his master than before. "Again, you will move from Master Harry, now", his voice mirroring his impatience.
Hideki Saito stood, taking in his counterpart's preposterous outfit of shiny white labcoat and goggles dangling from his neck, and managed a small smile. "Bound to Harry Potter then? As am I. Honor bound, in the ancient and arcane ways of life and magic, your master saved my life and I intend to return the favor." Kreacher recalled something familiar deep in the recesses of his mind about what this blood soaked man was speaking of when he heard him speak in a clipped tone, "Hurry, there is not much time and I need your help."
"How can you help Master Harry?"
"You can see it coursing through him. The Fade?" Kreacher nodded unconsciously; there were traces of chaotic color all around his Master. "He is neither strong enough nor experienced enough to channel it properly. It is poisonous and killing him." Kreacher seemed to be moving almost against his own free will as the stranger was speaking of things that the elf did not comprehend fully, but intrinsically understood.
The house elf looked on with his aged eyes as he saw the unfamiliar signature of magic swirl in and out of his prone Master's body and somehow knew what the stranger wanted from him. Kreacher shook his head violently, "I cannot, it is against the wizarding law…"
"And what of the ancient law of service, is that not your highest oath? You are of the arcane and in service of this Master, it must be done and you must do it. That is your law." Hideki snarled viciously, if this elf's reluctance made him fail in this, he would slay the faerie folk where he stood. The battle of wills and stares lasted only a few moments, but Kreacher knew his first and only priority was to Harry and House Black regardless of wizard law. Gingerly he approached his Lord and knelt beside him. Placing both small hands on Harry's chest, Kreacher began mumbling as his body responded to his Master's condition.
Hideki knelt beside them both, entranced at the ritual, even with all of his experience with the Fade and the Arcane, this was something of legend and not spoken of firsthand. Kreacher was coaxing his hands in the air around his master as a light mist began to coalesce around his hands and when it was shaped into a small ball, the elf plunged both hands into it and absorbed it. He slowly brought his glowing hands back to Harry's lacerated limbs and the wounds began to close. Saito heard the distinct sickening crunch of his shoulder popping back into its socket. Kreacher wobbled slightly and sat down with a hard thump. The doctor gave the elf a grateful pat on the shoulder and brought Kreacher a small stool to sit on. Surprised by Hideki's thoughtfulness, Kreacher wearily smiled.
"I feel I am imposing on you again, but is there any way to bind your Master's magic?" He immediately felt the suspicion flare again in the house elf and spoke quickly to head it off. "I mean your Master no harm, he has just drained much of his core and must maintain as much of it as possible to control his healing. He can't lose any more of it intentionally or not."
Kreacher looked over at his wounded Master and saw he was right; Harry needed his strength to recover as much as he could. Allowing himself a small grin, he informed the doctor, "Master Harry already knew this may happen; Master left us instructions on brewing a serum for just such an occasion. Master Harry is a most remarkable wizard." Kreacher's pride swelled immensely at being so helpful to his master. He pointed a small finger at the healer.
"You're bound to him still, do not move while Kreacher is gone." The hard stare of the elf was softened by the small glint in his eye as he popped away returning with George minutes later. Upon viewing his friend's grave wounds, George's grip on the syringes failed scattering them to the floor.
"Holy shit, mate, what happened?" was all George could manage before slumping to the floor barely holding onto consciousness. Hideki had already gathered a syringe with serum and was shooting it into Harry's forearm.
"If you could levitate him to a room, I need to return to my office and gather his records and treatment protocols." Hideki mentioned off hand as he grabbed a pinch of floo powder and yelled "The Biltmore, Santa Barbara" and walked into the green flames.
George squatted there on the floor in disbelief at the last 3 minutes and turned to Kreacher for an explanation about the stranger. The elf waved his hand dismissively, "Honor bound in the ancient magics to Master Harry". George chuckled and it built to a loud roaring laughter with tears running down his face. Even under drastic medical treatment, Harry couldn't fucking help himself. Had to keep saving the world, one person at a time.
Morning came much too quickly for George at the Burrow. Pretending that Harry wasn't nearly comatose from injuries in a pitched wizarding battle was hard enough, to do so with only a few hours of sleep and stress was asking for disaster. It was with that sentiment that George found himself uncharacteristically quiet at breakfast. Judging by Molly's reaction, she had already begun to worry about his falling back into a pattern of depression and George was praying for anything to delay the inevitable. With Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley already at the breakfast table, relief came from an unexpected source. Percy, then Bill and Fleur burst forth from the floo brandishing the Daily Prophet as if it were the Elder Wand itself. "Have you seen the paper?"
Arthur shook his head and beckoned for one of his son's papers. He spread the front page out onto the table disregarding the food as his family gathered quickly.
The Chosen One Lost?
Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, whose recent disappearance has shocked the Wizarding world could not stay hidden for long. Reports have placed the Chosen One in the care of one, Dr. Hideki Saito, a renowned Mind Healer at his United States clinic. Whether or not Harry Potter required his services due to injuries suffered in the final battle with He Who Must Not Be Named is unknown, however, what is known is his battles with Death Eaters seems to be continuing. Late last night, Harry Potter and his doctor were attacked at his clinic, the ensuing battle resulted in the deaths of Alecto Carrow, Death Eater and former Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as Ethan Stevens, a pureblood of the Noble house of the same name. Neither Dr. Saito nor Harry Potter were found and are presumed missing.
Evan Blackwell reporting
The silence was punctuated by the small gasp from Ginny as she read the names of the Death Eaters. She was the only one there with intimate knowledge of the cruel witch and she would be lying if she said she wasn't relieved that Alecto was dead. Quickly recovering her composure, she glanced around to see the reactions of her family. Everyone had a shocked look on their faces, except for George who looked exceptionally tired and masked it with a feigned look of surprise. Definitely having a chat with George later, mused the redheaded witch. She rejoined the emerging raucous conversations about Harry and whatever issues this Dr. Saito may be helping him with and for the first time in weeks, desperately wished Hermione were here.
Harry's best friend would have at least some theories about what happened or where he went. As intractable as both were when it came to holding grudges or general stubbornness, Harry's welfare was like a black hole for people who knew him. It ensnared even the most cynical or hostile and laid common ground for friendship or reconciliation. Ginny knew it was just a matter of time before she and Hermione were best friends again, but for now she just wanted Hermione's help in finding Harry. As it was, Ginny was more instinctive than analytical, which made her a great Quidditch player and chaser, and that instinct told her to push George on his reaction to the article. When he excused himself to go to work, Ginny followed him outside and quickly closed the front door.
"George, why weren't you as surprised as everyone else about that article? It's like you knew more than you let on. Could it be part of the reason you're never home anymore?" She spoke rapidly to try and rattle her brother into revealing something.
Her brother eyed Ginny calculatingly, wheels turning in his mind. It wasn't worth lying to her, especially with how badly he had misjudged her at Fred's funeral. He palmed the DA Galleon in his pocket activating the new Protean charm and with flowing script pronounced I've heard from Harry. Ginny felt the familiar warmth in her pocket and her eyes flashed with surprise when she pulled the coin from her jeans and saw the script. George put a finger to his lips and whispered to her, "I know where he is, and I owe you one."
"Please George, I need to see him."
As they apparated to the front of Grimmauld Place, George put a heavy hand on her shoulder, pulling her to face him. "Ginny, he is in bad shape, really bad shape. I can't bring you here if you are going throw more daggers at him …"
She gave George a disbelieving look, "I was angry George; you know my temper. I would never do anything to hurt Harry intentionally. It got out of hand, but I swear I just need to see him." To prove he is alive. She took a deep calming breath and gave him an impatient nod of her head.
As they entered the Black home, the sour iron stench of blood assaulted Ginny's nose and caused her heart to pound uncomfortably in her chest. She hadn't noticed the sound begin to seep back into her senses as time began to return to normal speed. The screaming from the second floor drove Ginny onward, almost at a sprint to the stairs. George ensnared her arm as she was about to take the stairs two at a time to tell her to calm down. She shook herself free but what Harry screamed next froze her blood and rooted her to the bottom of the stairs, "Amycus will die for what he did." George noticed how pale and unsteady his little sister became. She gripped the bannister as if maintaining her grip on the world, and sagged slightly under the weight of Harry's delirium. George knew how difficult this was for him the first time and without a word, took her hand in his and motioned them up the stairs.
He would have given Ginny all the time she would have needed, but the witch had Gryffindor bravery in spades, and after only a few calming breaths to quiet her shaking legs, she took a final deep breath and eased open the door to Lord Black's bedroom.
It was a scene from a nightmare: blood soaked sheets, the unnerving calm between Harry's screams, with the faint smell of barely restrained death heavy in the air. That was all before she laid her eyes on pale wizard she was in love with since she was eleven and her horrors magnified as she screamed silently. Two jagged furrows ran parallel to his spine as if a giant dragon had lazily drawn its nails down his back, the deep grooves glowed an eerie silver as if molten quicksilver had cauterized the wounds. Across his entire back a lattice work of thin deep lines travelled up and down his back; thin white gossamer scars whispered the shameful secrets of a decade of harsh torture and abuse. Ginny's shoulders shook violently as she shook her head, her eyes refusing and denying the awful truth of Harry's childhood. Why hadn't he told someone? He had to know it wasn't his fault.
Harry moaned in his delirium as if he felt their weighty stares. He rolled with difficulty to shield his untold secret on his back, and Ginny had to close her eyes to collect herself. The swirling nauseous feeling would not abate and she found herself retching into a bucket Kreacher had conjured there for George a night ago. His chest harbored an opposite lattice work of blackened and discolored capillaries starting from his heart and easing its way down his ribs and left flank marking the work of the Dark Lord's second killing curse. The actual wound over his heart still wept slightly, a tar like ichor staining his bandages. The deep lacerations on his arms and legs hallmarks of the cutting curse, and deep black and purple bruising indicated a broken breastbone.
Ginny was no coward, nor faint of heart, but seeing Harry so damaged made her want to turn and leave, just to have a moment to breathe, but George kept her in the doorway, "This", pointing at him, "This, Ginny, is why he had to leave, this is how he tried to protect you. Harry would rather die than have something like this happen to you. Facing off with Voldemort would have meant nothing to him if you were hurt like this." George needed her to see the reality of Harry's last year, not some fanciful fairy tale of leaving a love behind; these were the vagaries of war and while Ginny was still in shock, George felt the weight of his words taking root.
"What can we do for him? He barely looks alive." Wild panic gripped Ginny, "He is going to live, right, George?"
George's solemn face showed her the gravity of the situation. "Just sit here with him, talk with him". It was not a time for false hope, but realistic expectations. Harry was suffering mightily and the faint rising and falling of his chest were the only signs of being alive.
Ginny's tears were streaming down her face looking at the broken teenager before her. What could I say, where could I start, did he even want me here with whatever her relationship was with Dean … What does he need … what has he always needed from me? I can stop crying, Harry loved my strength. I could always support him. So stop crying, Ginevra, right now. Ginny steeled her will and determinedly swept her eyes over Harry taking cool, efficient notes of his condition and what she could do to help.
She heard a slight knock at the door and it opened quietly. Ginny kept her silent vigil over him, not chancing a look backwards, and willed herself to action, Harry needs me here, I need to be here, she called back, "George, I am going to need some new bandages."
Moments later, when the door opened again, she turned to take them from her brother when she saw that it wasn't him at all, instead stood an unfamiliar older man with Asian features. She spun quickly placing herself between the man and Harry and leveled her wand at him, protectively snarling, "Who the FUCK are you?"
"Dr. Hideki Saito", he said, bowing slightly "and you must be Ginevra, Harry has spoken at great length of you … and your temper", he chuckled slightly. Ginny's blushing was not lost on the doctor and very carefully, he slowly raised his hand and redirected her wand tip away from his face. "I am Harry's mind and body healer, the one in charge of his therapies and the author of that fabulous Prophet article." He gave a cheeky wink at Ginny's bewildered look. "I needed to get the truth out before that cow Rita Skeeter turned my patient into a raving murderer."
"What happened to him?" She asked warily, if he was here and Kreacher hadn't killed him, it must mean that the elf and wards of the Black home had accepted him.
"Harry has been in therapy ever since the death of the Dark Lord, and last night we were attacked at my treatment facility by Death Eaters …" Hideki started his explanation as calmly as possible.
Ginny's eyes narrowed dangerously as she cut off further explanation by leveling her wand into his face again, "And how did they find you?" she asked suspiciously.
"Harry used some form of hearing device and heard how they found us, as far as the details, we didn't have time to chat about it before the spells started flying; I have my ideas though." Ginny motioned for him to continue with her wand. "I would guess someone from the Ministry, as they were the ones that assigned him to me, so they knew of his whereabouts and of his weakened state. As far as whom, well it was an advanced scouting team of two, a younger looking wizard and a witch named Alecto as I wrote in the article." Saito also registered the change in her posture at the mention of the witch, "I believe she taunted Harry with some rather … unflattering things about her brother and you, as well as another."
Ginny's gaze fell immediately to the floor in humiliation. She had guarded that from Harry knowing how devastated he would be if he knew what was happening at Hogwarts, especially to Lavender, while he was on Dumbledore's mission. When Dean heard of Neville's secret entrance to the Come and Go room, it was a blessed relief to have a familiar comfort as he relayed information. It was the way they all coped last year. Her tears sprung to her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She relaxed her grip on her wand and let her arm fall back to her side.
"Ginevra?" Saito's hand softly slipped on to her shoulder in a friendly squeeze and she raised her eyes to his own, "his love for you may have caused those wounds", pointing to the tears in Harry's back and Ginny flinched at his admission of both Harry's feelings and the damage they caused him, "but it also saved our lives." He quickly placed on the nightstand a picture of Stevens crushed under the doorway and a broken Alecto with a curved sword protruding from her throat. "He fought like a demon, Ms. Weasley, you gave him that strength. Do not underestimate your hold on him, and never shame him like you did at the funeral again. Two weeks ago, it took everything I had to keep him of this world." Saito's voice trailed off in a whisper. "He needed to know that you still loved him, still saw the good in him, and you gave voice to everything that he feared the worst."
Her eyes told him what he needed to know, and he relaxed his demeanor slightly. Ginevra was a tempermental seventeen year old at the funeral of her brother and said things she didn't mean, and said the things she meant in a way that she regretted. But it also proved how vulnerable Harry was to what happened to her, and it showed the wisdom of why he refused to see her all of last year.
Regaining his focus, Hideki continued on, "He is extremely weak. No one else must know he is here, I do not know who we can trust."
Ginny nodded her head in agreement, but then her eyes snapped open, "Dammit, George sent a message to our friends that he heard from Harry, it won't take long for them to realize where he is and even if not, this is Harry's meeting place for all of us in times of crisis."
Saito sighed, "Then it seems he and I don't have much time here, I have a safe house of my own and will have to floo there with him, he can't apparate in his condition. He can't stay here, he is as much a danger to himself as he is to others."
Ginny protested, "Look at him doctor, he is no shape to travel. You just said …"
"I know, Ginevra, I care about him too, it's strange how quickly he can make it happen." Saito flashed her a quick smile before looking seriously at her, "I know it seems harsh and unfair when he is right here, now, but we are suppressing his magic to prevent him from lashing out. He must be moved to a safer, hidden location. He needs his magic unbound to regain consciousness and heal properly; he cannot do it here with the Ministry watching for him or signs of his magic. I'll give you a few minutes and then I am afraid we have to move." He gave a pointed look at the witch as he left the room, hoping against the odds, that her presence could stir Harry.
She nodded numbly and sat down on the edge of the bed, fresh bandages in one hand and with her free hand moved Harry so she could look at him properly. She absently dabbed the sweat from his face with the clean cloths and gently placed a slender hand on his bruised chest over his heart. She exhaled the breath she unknowingly held on to when she felt his heart beat was still faint but steady. She gazed over him, memorizing every feature of this wizard who she loved. Ginny laid her head in the crook of his undamaged shoulder and lay down beside Harry curling her small frame around him. Harry's breathing slowed and he relaxed into her flowery scent. This was how she imagined her life with him, waking up next to him, starting a new life together. Dean kept me from falling to pieces last year, but surviving and living the life I hoped and dreamed about are two totally different things.
Ginny was struggling to cope with everything that was going on around her, it seemed so surreal. Harry was here with her, and yet so beaten and broken she had no idea what to do. It was clear to her that she still loved him and clear, according to his healer, that he still loved her. It seemed like it wasn't meant to be, again. She could try to convince the doctor, if he knew how much Harry meant to her then perhaps he would keep Harry here a bit longer. The DA members were implicitly trusted maybe they could help as well. But as she looked on at his prone body, Ginny felt the truth of the doctor's words before her mind had even processed it. He needed to be free to heal, and that meant he would be abandoning her again. No, not abandon. Harry would never willingly leave me. Fate was taking him from me again. Ginny's eyes were burning with tears at how unfair their lives seemed to be. She didn't know how long she lay next to him, but when she heard the door creak open she knew it was time to go. She sat up gingerly to not wake him and her body mourned the loss of his warmth and comfort.
"Bye Harry, please come back to me." She whispered and gently gave him a feathery light kiss on his lips. As soon as her lips grazed his, she felt something warm and soothing flow into her, but soon her body was flushing as it responded to his lips. The soothing feeling was soon overwhelmed by an urgent need to have more of him, to taste him. She crushed her body and lips against him desperate to have him feel her, all of her. Her breathing was ragged, her hands, her skin needed to touch more of his bare skin and the sensations were beginning to pool deep in her core. She teased her hands down his fevered chest and drew her slender fingers down to the edge of his boxers when suddenly it all ceased. Her eyes fluttered open and noticed that his healer had pulled her away and was supporting her as she stood trembling, weak in the knees with arousal. Harry's body glowed faintly and from his slightly opened lips a light golden mist emerged. Ginny blushed when she saw that Harry's body responded in a like manner.
"Kreacher, quickly" urged Saito, calling into the air. The house elf appeared silently and with a trembling hand plunged it into the fine mist. Grimacing slightly, Kreacher then placed his hands over Harry's chest and Ginny watched as some of the bruising slowly faded away. "I told you to remove all of it", Hideki growled at the elf to which Kreacher did not respond. Ginny's face must have betrayed her complete confusion.
"Ginevra, that was but a small fraction of what Harry can barely control." He offered her a smile, "Channel it as love" then as his face darkened he pointed to the photos on the nightstand, "Or fury."
"As for you, it's love, definitely love" Saito snorted indignantly when he noticed Harry's unfortunate condition, "I'll let him know how …err… happy he was to see you" as he covered Harry conspicuously with a few extra blankets. What started as a slight smirk, exploded as Hideki laughed long and hard at Ginny's paling face cradled in her hands as she sat heavily down onto the corner of the bed.
Hideki's kind face appeared in front of her brown eyes and he tried to ease Ginny's fears, "Even under magical suppression and with Kreacher's help, Harry is unstable. I hope now you realize why we must go; I am honor bound to him and will do everything in my power to return him here, to his home and … to you." Ginny gave the doctor a relieved smile of bittersweet gratitude. "Always remember Ginevra, it is love he gave to you, even at his most vulnerable."
Ginny left the bedroom slowly and with a lingering look, back at Harry being pulled up still unconscious, pushed on to find George downstairs in the living room. "George, we need to keep the DA away from here, tell Kreacher to lock down the floo, no visitors at least until Harry leaves. The Galleons will draw them here, and Harry has to leave before then for his own safety." Ginny's voice allowed no argument, and if she had come to that conclusion then there were no other options.
Ginny showed herself around Grimmauld Place later on that afternoon, after Kreacher prepared a light lunch and left her to her thoughts. She had wandered through the Black's House in a daze after Harry and his healer left, absently touching furniture trying to memorize everything about Harry's home. There would be more friend and DA meetings here, but it seemed that Harry would be absent from them for quite some time. She opened a door at the end of the hallway and stood a bit crestfallen when taking in Harry's godson's room.
It was a mirror of the Gryffindor dormitory, but filled with things that always brought Harry and the elder Marauders joy. Miniature brooms, books on pranking, charmed snitches, and a picture book about metamorph abilities. Pictures of Remus and Nymphadora filled the room, including a candid picture of the couple here at Grimmauld Place. Harry's pictures were inconspicuous, with the only one being of him and Remus during the third year Defense class. He still is guilty about their deaths. Ginny heart fell when she realized that Harry wouldn't be here for Teddy and while the circumstances were different, Teddy would be abandoned by his godfather like Sirius did with him. That guilt would tear Harry to pieces and while she would have to wait to see him again, Ginny swore that the Weasleys and she in particular, would be there for Teddy; he deserved the truth of his parents and godfather, of their greatness. She hoped it would not be too presumptuous to put her favorite photo of her and Harry as a second picture there in Teddy's room.
Ginny found her way unconsciously back to Harry's room. Mercifully, Kreacher had cleaned it up and turned down the bed, leaving that same picture of her and Harry at Fleur's wedding on the nightstand. Perhaps Harry's empathy and nobility were rubbing off on the elf; it was impossible not to notice the changes to Kreacher, he was taller, looked younger, and seemed more confident. Harry has been a godsend to that elf. Of course, he was, he was Harry Potter. Ginny snorted knowingly; Harry really was a remarkable wizard. She picked up the photo and sat heavily down on the bed. She was mesmerized how happy and normal he looked, it was such a rare luxury for him. This is the life he deserves, carefree, surrounded by love and friends and ... me. She slid down into the soft bed, pulled up the down comforter and with arms wrapped around the photo fell asleep remembering how right it felt just a few hours earlier to be right there with him.
Kreacher had finished locking down the floo and busied himself with laundering the bloody sheets and towels from his Master's visit. His master's healer was right, Harry's magic and transformation was changing him in some unknown elemental way. It almost felt like he was returning to something long forgotten; his elf magic seemed different but not unfamiliar. His personality was changing with Master Harry as well; gone was the simpering and worrying and in its place nobility and vigor. He felt the slight trace of Master Harry's magic settle in his bedroom and grinned to himself. Mistress Weasley would make an excellent companion to his Master if he were to return. A sudden inspiration claimed the elf and gathering a camera, took two pictures of Ginny, peacefully sleeping while cradling his Master's photo. There will be no better incentive for my Lord to return when his time came.
A/N: I actually really enjoy writing a new fate for Kreacher. He is my unofficial barometer for Harry's health and wellbeing.