Out of the Darkness
Two days later Fred and George had obtained all but one of the elements required to perform the spell. Fred stopped by the Burrow to report they had found someone willing to sell them the last item and that George would bring it to the hospital when the transaction was complete.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny once again found themselves at the hospital along with Fred; but now their mood was lighter in anticipation that Harry would soon be on his way to recovery. In preparation of George's arrival Hermione began the preparations.
As she set out a tall, thin cauldron and took account of several vials and bags of rare potions Ron asked, "So what exactly has George gone to get?"
"You'll see when he gets here," Fred said in a mysterious tone that he knew would annoy his younger brother. "You can never be hasty when you do business in Knockturn Alley,"
"Knockturn Alley?" Ron said gaping. "Hermione, why do we need something from there?"
Ginny looked at Hermione as well. She wondered why they would find something to help Harry in the one place she had been warned to stay away from all her life.
Before Hermione could reply, George walked into the room carrying a wooden box roughly a foot long and four inches wide. Hermione ignored the question Ron posed to her and sighed with relief as she took the box from George and placed it on the bed beside Harry.
She asked, "You are sure it's authentic, right?"
"It wounds me deeply that you could think I'd bring you something otherwise," George said feigning an overly dramatic hurt look. "It definitely is. For the price I ended up paying it had better be. The seller claimed to be having second thoughts about parting with it so I had to convince him it would be in his best interest to do so."
"How'd you do that?" Ron asked.
George replied shrugging, "Let's just say it's amazing how eager certain people of questionable repute can be when one hints that one is on a covert mission for a number of known Death Eaters."
"You didn't!" Ginny gasped.
"Did. Well, that and an extra twenty Galleons helped," George explained. "I was more or less expecting that, though."
Hermione said frowning, "The gold I gave you wasn't enough to cover that much; but I promise to pay you back."
Fred said, "Don't worry about it. That was on us; especially if it helps Harry."
"We owe him way more than that, I assure you," George agreed. "So what's the plan?"
Ron said. "You still haven't answered my question about why George had to go to Knockturn Alley. We aren't doing any kind of Dark Arts thing to Harry, are we?"
"Of course not!" Hermione admonished. "I told you this is very old magic we will be using. It wasn't unusual for the ingredients needed for beneficial spells back then to overlap those that we associate with Dark Magic today."
Ginny said to Ron, "Considering no one has come up with a better idea to help Harry, I don't think we have much choice."
She looked back at Hermione and asked, "So now what?"
"We can't begin until after the Medi-Wizard or Witch completes their next round to check on Harry. After that we should have enough time to finish the spell before they come back again. We'll need to make sure no one comes in the room until after we are done or it could be disastrous. So, Fred or George, one of you will need to keep watch for us."
"Okay," said Fred. "I can do that."
George demanded, "What am I supposed to do then?"
Hermione answered, "We'll need you to observe how the spell is progressing. According to Nadia and Ivan all we need to do is bring Harry back to the point where he wakes up. At that moment we have transferred enough of our energy to him so that he can heal the rest of the way on his own. The biggest risk is that when Harry does wake up, he may be very disoriented. If that is the case, we can't be sure of his reaction to us while we are still connected to him through the spell. So, George, we may need you to ensure we can terminate the spell once you see he is awake."
"Okay, sure," George said.
"You need to listen to me about one important thing- both of you," Hermione said looking back and forth between the twins.
Fred said, "Go on."
"You can not touch Harry or any of us until after the spell has ended. Once we begin, the spell can't be stopped until Harry has regained consciousness. No matter what happens or what it looks like is happening to us or to him. Do you understand me?"
George asked, "What if something goes wrong? We can't just stand by and do nothing!"
"You can not interfere!" Hermione insisted. "Nadia was especially clear about that particular point. The spell can only be terminated once the unconscious person has awakened or…"
"Or what?" Fred asked, is tone indicating he was becoming increasingly unsure of Hermione's plan.
"Or there is a possibility that Harry will remain in his current state indefinitely or it could even kill him," Hermione said.
"He could end up dead?" George asked.
At Hermione's slight nod, he continued with a worried look on his face, "You know I would give anything for Harry to get well but what if something does go wrong?"
She said, "As long as the three of us are absolutely certain about our desire to help Harry for Harry's sake and we are willing to give him that part of us which he needs, everything should be fine. We just—" Hermione stopped in mid sentence as an ancient looking Medi-Witch came in the door.
"Good afternoon everyone," said the Medi-Witch cheerfully as she slowly shuffled over to Harry's bedside. "Its nice to see Mr. Potter has such caring friends who visit him so often. You are a very lucky young man, Mr. Potter! Very lucky, indeed."
The Medi-Witch continued directing a monologue toward Harry and ignored the rest of the people in the room. She held her wand several inches above Harry's body and moved it over him from head to toe.
"No change," the Medi-Witch said shaking her head with a sigh. "No change at all. So sad to see one so young in such a state. I'll be back in a few hours to check on you again." Without another word, the Medi-Witch shuffled back to the door and left the room.
"Fwew! Are we sure the inmates aren't running this asylum?" Fred asked as the door closed.
Hermione had begun rereading her notes for the hundredth time. "So is everyone ready?"
"I am," Ginny said without hesitation.
"Me, too," Ron agreed.
"Sure thing," George said as Fred nodded.
"Good," Hermione said. "Fred, go stand by the door for now; but when we start stay close enough outside so you can hear us if we need you. I think it will be easier to do this if we move Harry to the middle of the room."
She flicked her wand causing the mattress and Harry to levitate off the bed frame and to the floor.
Hermione took a seat cross-legged by Harry's head and said, "George, sit in that chair so you have a clear view of what is happening. Ron you sit on his right and Ginny on his left."
Hermione handed the box containing the Mandora Amulet to Ginny and said, "Unbutton Harry's pajama top then place this around his neck and position it just below his throat."
Ginny undid the buttons of Harry's shirt then very gently lifted his head and placed the chain around his neck to position the amulet as Hermione had asked.
Hermione opened the mystery box that George had brought and pulled forth an extremely sharp dagger. The six-inch blade was made of volcanic glass and the intricate silver handle was covered with many ancient carvings and symbols. She admired it for a moment then laid it carefully on the bed beside Harry.
"Um, Hermione?" Ron asked tentatively. "What exactly is that for?"
Hermione answered, "It's a sacrificial knife. The spell will require each of us to draw blood from Harry as well as ourselves— it's a symbol of what we are willing to sacrifice for him, and what we assume he would for us. Old magic often required some kind of sacrifice but luckily this spell only requires some of our blood."
Ron had paled somewhat. "You didn't say anything about blood being a part of this."
"Didn't I?" Hermione asked absentmindedly as she reread a portion of her notes.
Ron shuddered slightly and said, "No, you didn't. We actually have to cut ourselves and him? The last time someone used his blood for a spell, You-Know-Who came back."
Hermione looked at Ron closely and said, "We have to, Ron, if we are going to help him. Are you still willing to go through with this? If you aren't we have to stop now."
Ginny said, "Ron, we're not doing anything dark. We're trying to help Harry."
Remembering how her brother had nearly fainted one time when he had cut his leg in a fall off his broom, she said with a slight grin, "Don't worry, I'll catch you if you faint."
"I'm not going to faint!" Ron said angrily but he started to turn red.
"You don't really faint at the sight of blood, do you?" Hermione asked growing worried. That was the last thing they needed.
Glaring at his sister Ron said huffily, "It was a really bad cut… and that was a long time ago!"
"Hmm, if you call last summer a long time ago," Fred said from his position at the door.
"I'll be fine, don't worry!" Ron insisted, "We need to help Harry and I can do this- I want to.
Hermione asked, "You're sure?"
At Ron's affirmative nod, Hermione handed each of them a small piece of parchment with several lines of writing on it, "I'll explain what we have to do. Then you both will have one more time to decide whether you want to continue."
Hermione waved her wand and lit a small fire under the cauldron as she emptied several vials of liquid and packets of powder into it. She alternated between three stirs to the right and then three stirs to the left.
She said, "Since Harry is very weak magically the only way to connect to him is through the use of our blood. The triangular shape of the amulet symbolizes what the three of us provide Harry, so each of us will need to dip the knife into the cauldron and make one cut on Harry's chest to draw his blood. Together, the three incisions should form a triangle."
Hermione looked at Ginny and then Ron who said, "Go on; and then what do we do?"
Hermione continued, "We take turns dipping the knife into the cauldron again but this time we each will have to make a cut on the palm of our left hand. Then we place our hand over the incision we made on Harry's chest and recite the lines I wrote on the parchment. I will start each round of the spell. You will both have to do as I do, first Ron and then Ginny. If all goes well the spell should begin to work."
"And then?" George asked.
"I don't know exactly," Hermione admitted. "Nadia and Ivan said because the individuals involved in the spell are all unique whatever happens next can be very different until the person wakes up."
Ginny asked. "Nadia didn't give you any idea of what to expect?"
"No. But she did insist that we terminate the spell as soon as possible once Harry becomes conscious. I have a feeling it's to ensure we disconnect from him before he can draw too much energy out of us. We all know that Harry would never purposely do anything that would hurt us but we can't know how he is going to react as he wakes up."
Hermione glanced at the liquid inside the cauldron, "It's ready and you both know the risks. Are you still willing to do it?"
"Of course," Ron said without hesitation.
Ginny nodded and Hermione said, "Okay, Fred, no one but you is to come in until we're done."
"Got it," he said and left the room to stand guard outside the door.
"George?" Hermione asked.
"All set. I do nothing until Sleeping Beauty wakes up."
"And remember— you can not touch any of us while the spell is in progress. Ginny? Ron?" Hermione asked them.
"Ready," Ron said nodding.
"Let's get started," Ginny acknowledged.
Hermione shifted her position so that she was now kneeling and she could more easily lean over Harry's body. Ron and Ginny did the same.
Hermione folded the blanket that was covering Harry down to his waist and spread his shirt to bare his chest. She then picked up the dagger and dipped it into the cauldron. She placed the point of the knife several inches below Harry's left collarbone causing a small droplet of blood to form. She then drew the blade nearly eight inches across his chest, running just below the bottom of the amulet to below his right collarbone.
Taking a deep, steadying breath she said, "Harry, open your mind and feel me by your side where I shall always be in your time of need. Hear me calling to you so that we can lead you back."
A thin red line now ran across Harry's chest which started to widen slowly as individual blood droplets began to swell and merge. She handed the knife to Ron.
Ron took the knife and dipped it into the cauldron. He placed the tip of the knife at the right end point of Hermione's incision and drew it at a forty-five degree angle downward.
He said, "Harry, feel the strength that I provide you that was born in our friendship. Trust in me as you have done in the past so we can lead you back."
Ron handed the knife to Ginny.
She dipped the knife in the cauldron for the third time and placed the point of the knife where Ron had left off. She drew it upward to connect to the left end point of Hermione's incision
Ginny said, "Harry, feel the comfort I offer you; know that in our care for you we each offer the energy from our minds, our bodies and our souls that you need to heal. Feel us beside you now so that we can lead you back."
Hermione had reached out her hand and Ginny gave the knife back to her.
Hermione dipped it once again into the cauldron. She ran the blade along her left palm and handed the knife back to Ron. She placed her hand on top of the incision she had made on Harry's chest.
She said, "Harry, hear my voice guiding you and take from me that which you need to heal and to put your mind at ease."
Ron dipped the knife and grimaced slightly as he ran it along his left palm. He handed the knife to Ginny and placed his hand on Harry's chest.
"Harry, feel my strength as I continue and will always walk beside you; take from me that which you need to restore your strength."
Ginny took her turn dipping the knife and making an incision across her palm before placing it on his chest, "Harry, feel our love for you and take from us all that you need and all that we each freely offer to you so you can live your life once more."
She watched their blood mingle with Harry's as it began to spread and seep down both sides of his chest onto to his pajamas and the sheets.
Hermione kept her left hand placed on Harry's chest as she once again picked up the knife and used it to stir the cauldron's contents. This time there was a hissing noise when the bloodstained knife entered the liquid. As she stirred it a light green steam began to rise from the cauldron.
Hermione withdrew the knife to place it on the bed and she carefully lifted the cauldron over Harry. She began to trickle the contents over the amulet at Harry's throat and then across his chest. The liquid felt surprisingly cool as it poured over their hands and quickly evaporated.
They recited together, "Harry, hear us. Trust in us as we trust in you. Take from us that which we freely offer to you and what you need to heal; make the journey back with us to where you are safe."
George was staring intently along with the others for some reaction from Harry as Hermione poured out the last drops from the cauldron; however, nothing seemed to be happening.
Just as Hermione was starting to tick through the steps of the spell in her mind to determine what had gone wrong, the amulet at Harry's throat began to glow; a white light had begun to emanate from the symbol of the sun.
As the glow became more intense Hermione, Ron and Ginny felt a warmth grow under their hands that rested on Harry's chest. It spread upward and encompassed each of their bodies until they felt a pulling sensation from within the pit of their stomachs; then they felt the warmth reverse itself and start to flow from them toward Harry.
Harry moaned softly and his brow furrowed slightly which caused them to smile with relief. They thought the spell was working until they realized the flowing sensation had stopped and the glow of the amulet started to fade.
"He's fighting it," Hermione said in a barely auditable whisper. "Concentrate. Push it towards him."
She nodded to Ron and Ginny to join her and they repeated, "Harry, hear us. Trust in us as we trust in you. Take from us that which we freely offer to you and what you need to heal; make the journey back with us to where you are safe."
They concentrated harder and felt themselves begin to push the energy toward him again. Harry's breathing quickened and he moaned again as the amulet began to glow brightly once more.
His head moved slightly from side to side and they heard him mumble, "No…"
Hermione whispered to Ron and Ginny, "Push harder."
In a louder voice she said, "Harry, its Hermione, Ron and Ginny. Listen to me— we're here to help you. It's okay for you to come back now. You're safe."
They each concentrated harder to will the flow of energy toward Harry and as they did Harry's reaction became more intense. His breathing became quicker and he brought his hands up to knock them away. His right hand hit Ron in the shoulder and his left nearly struck Ginny in the face but she was able to duck away.
George had started to move out of his chair when he saw Harry's hand nearly strike Ginny but then he sat back in relief when he saw he had missed. He remained on the edge of the seat and he had to grip the arms of the chair to keep himself from going to hold Harry down.
"Say it with me again," Hermione said.
For the third time they said together, "Harry, hear us. Trust in us as we trust in you. Take from us that which we freely offer to you and what you need to heal; make the journey back with us to where you are safe."
They felt the energy flowing from them toward Harry growing stronger and the amulet was now shining so brightly that it was nearly blinding.
They heard Harry mumble, "No! I'm alone… Get out… she doesn't know —" and he quieted suddenly.
His body went rigid and then his back arched slightly as he threw his head back on the pillow.
The three grouped around him started at his sudden silence and his body's reaction. Ginny saw his body relax again and then she gasped as the sensation of the energy flow changed quite abruptly. It felt as if a force had come from within Harry and had latched on to her with an iron grip; at that moment she knew that she would not be able to pull her hand away from him even if she tried.
The energy they had been pushing to Harry was now being pulled, almost roughly, from them. It was not painful but it was uncomfortable and it was one of the strangest sensations Ginny had felt in her life. She looked at her brother and Hermione to see if they might be feeling the same thing. From the strained looks on their faces she knew they were.
The pulling sensation increased in its intensity and was drawing energy from deep inside her. Ginny closed her eyes as frightening images suddenly began to swirl around in her mind. The visage of her childhood nightmares swam before her with glowing red eyes.
She heard his evil voice hiss, "Tell me what you know! Tell me where they are!"
She heard a voice that sounded much like Harry yell, "No!" and she became filled with a sense of pain she never would have imagined possible.
In her mind she heard Harry scream in pain and she wanted to scream, too; but no sound would come. Then the pain stopped as abruptly as it had started and she opened her eyes to see that Hermione and Ron had done the same. They were looking at Harry with a mixture of fear and surprise etched on their faces.
Ginny heard Harry's voice this time within her mind and with her ears, "I won't let you… I can stop you now!"
Harry's eyes suddenly flew open and the pulling sensation became stronger.
At that moment Hermione said to the others in an unsteady voice, "He's awake! Try to end it!"
Hermione looked back to Harry and said, "Harry, it's us. It's Hermione and Ron and Ginny. It's okay; you can let us go now. You're safe."
Harry's eyes darted around wildly and landed on Ginny. With lightening speed Harry's left hand came up and grabbed her left wrist in a painful vice-like grip. He lifted her hand off his chest while the force continued its hold on Hermione and Ron. Ginny watched Harry raise himself off the bed and pull her closer to him while he continued to pull energy from her through her wrist.
Harry was looking directly into her eyes with such intense anger and hatred that she was frozen with shock. Before Ginny could react, Harry twisted his body to bring his right hand over Ron's arm and he grabbed her by the throat.
He said in a cold, steely voice, "It won't work this time. It ends now!"
x x x x x
Harry had no idea how long the blanket of cold darkness had enveloped him. It seemed for an eternity cold was all there had been until it was finally broken by a light which called to him and warmed him.
A feeling of peace and happiness grew within him as the light washed over him and he knew that when he reached the light he would be forever home. He would finally be with those he loved that went before him. He would never again have to fear… exactly what there was to fear he could not remember but that did not matter now.
He just knew instinctively that beyond the light was peace and joy and behind him was darkness and cold; and behind that was the fear and the pain.
He edged closer to the light and reached for it. He was almost there— and then he could move no closer. Something had taken a hold of him and was pulling him away from the light and back into the darkness; then the light vanished completely.
Something continued to pull at him but Harry refused to let it take him beyond the cold darkness. He would not allow himself to be taken back; not just for himself, but for the others. If he allowed himself to go beyond that blanket of darkness he knew something terrible would be there. Something Harry knew he no longer had the strength to fight. His weakness would endanger those he cared about and those he had promised himself he would protect.
He could never let something happen to them so he remained in the darkness.
There were times he thought he heard voices from beyond the darkness. The voices filled him with happiness and he almost went to them; but then there was the other voice which brought on the fear and it reminded him of pain. He knew that he must remain where he was.
Thus it continued until now.
This time, Harry was feeling the voices calling to him. They were the ones he was happy to hear and they were closer this time. They were very familiar and it seemed they wanted to help him. They brought along with them warmth that felt as if it was going to fill his soul and it felt good.
But they were getting too close to the darkness and to where they would be in danger. As this thought struck him Harry felt a jolt of pain which brought forth other feelings he did not like. He had to stop them and he pushed them away to a safer distance.
The voices persisted and came closer again. They persuaded him with even greater warmth and buoyed him upward and away from the cold darkness. As the voices pulled him up, Harry began to remember things; horrible things that caused the fear and the pain.
"No!" he thought. He would not go any farther; but the voices were persistent and they continued to bring him ever upward.
A nightmare had started to crash down on him; he remembered someone had broken into his mind against his will and that he had been too weak to stop it. It felt like it was happening again and if he allowed it, it would mean death to those he cared about.
The warmth and the voices were a trick! They weren't trying to help him. They were trying to find out what he knew and who else knew.
He fought to push the voices away but they became stronger and more persistent and pushed the warmth at him.
He heard a familiar feminine voice telling him that they were there and he was safe. But he now knew it was a trick; it had to be Voldemort!
Harry's mind screamed the name and everything came rushing back to him. He heard Voldemort in his mind. He was probing to find out what Harry knew and he was demanding that Harry give up his friends to him. Harry insisted again and again that he was working alone and that no one else knew. Then he felt the pain of the curse as torturous as before.
But something was different this time. Instead of Voldemort making him weaker, Harry felt himself becoming stronger. It felt good! It was like someone was feeding his entire body something that he had been craving his whole life.
Harry didn't know where the feeling was coming from but he knew he could not let it go. He latched onto it to pull it into himself. He knew he it would enable him to stop his enemy and then they would all be safe.
Harry saw Voldemort's snake-like face before him; he saw the red eyes boring into him.
"Tell me what you know! Tell me where they are!" he heard Voldemort hiss.
Again Harry felt the searing pain of the curse but this time he was able to make it stop. He was gaining control.
Harry suddenly saw the faces of Hermione, Ron and Ginny but they seemed out of focus.
He knew Voldemort had seen them too and now they were in danger. Voldemort would go after them and Harry could not let him; he had to stop him now.
Harry saw Voldemort before him and he was close enough for him to strike. The evil visage smiled and mocked him as it morphed into the one form Harry had longed to see.
This had to be another trick like the time Voldemort sent him visions of Sirius in the Department of Mysteries. But he would not be fooled again. It was not Ginny before him but the monster that was responsible for destroying everyone he loved.
Harry felt power and strength pouring into him that gave him the means to destroy his enemy here and now. He did not have his wand but he no longer needed it.
He reached out to seize the arm of the one who had caused so much pain, sorrow and fear. He brought his other hand up and grabbed Voldemort by the throat.
Harry said to him, "It won't work this time. It ends now!"