Disclaimer: I will never, ever own Harry Potter.
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Eyes Closed Tightly
Chapter 13
Harry's heart speed up upon hearing the gunshot, his body slowed and he tried to turn around to see. Just then a hand grabbed his and jerked him forward. Looking up he saw Tom. The relief that filled him made his head dizzy. His feet moved forward and he was running with Tom. His smaller hand griping Tom's. It was then as he thought all was well, that he felt the slick warm liquid in Tom's hand. Looking at the hand holding his, he saw blood.
"Tom!"
"I'm Fine." Anxiety filled Harry, and the small boy gripped Tom's hand all the harder.
"But you're shot." The worry and fear coated Harry's voice, drawing Tom's eyes to him for a brief second, they were still running, knowing the other two were close behind them.
"It's just a scratch, I've had worse." They slid down as small hill, grass and leaves crunching under their feet.
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"Sirius stop! You could hit Harry." The gun snapped to the ground, and Sirius took off grunting, he knew he couldn't fire off like he just had. He didn't know what he would do if he had hit Harry. Remus ran after him, they couldn't be to far from Harry and Tom.
Looking up he could just make out the two, running further into the wood. They were quick, Remus gave them that, but where would they run? Could they make it out? and hide away? Frowning Remus picked up the pace; from the side he could see Sirius running. His partner held his gun, making sure it was pointed down, but ready for when he needed.
Jumping over a log he could make out a panted yell.
"Their turning left!" He slid against the ground and jerked left. His eyes fallowing Tom and Harry. They were making a mad dash.
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Breath had become limited, he didn't know how to breathe and run. So Harry did as best as he could. He was still worried about Tom, the blood sliding down onto his arm more then enough to cause alarm. He saw Tom give him a look, and then he was jerked and pulled to the side. Tom helped him over a log and then jumped over himself.
Shucking down a hill Tom quickly maneuvered them to the side, hiding beneath a bush. He held Harry close, and hid his heavy breathing. Harry tried to even his out. His heart was beating so loud. Then he heard them, Sirius and Remus jumped down the small hill, and stopped, most likely trying to see which way they had gone.
"Fuck, where they go?" Sirius voice bounced around them. "Rems, you go that way I'll go this way." They listened for their foot falls to fade away. Harry gaped in much need air and looked up at Tom. Red eyes looking down at him; they stayed still for one long moment, but knowing it was only a matter of time before the two caught on Tom nudged Harry.
"We have to go." Harry crawled out of the bush being followed by Tom.
"Where to?" Tom smirked and went over to the hill.
"The way we came sounds good." Tom held out his hand and Harry latched on. It was hard to get up the hill, but with Tom's help he managed. As soon as they reached the top they were running again, but at a much more manageable pace. They came to the clearing with the stream. Running down the length of it they quickly came to a raging river.
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Meanwhile Sirius and Remus ran back to where they split both gazing around the forest in worry.
"Anything?"
"Nothing, where could they have gone." Sirius looked around before spotting broken twigs around a bush. Walking over he moved aside some branched and spotted disturbed ground with footprints. "Remus!" the sandy hair man ran over. "I think they waited us out, but where would they go after we left?" Sirius's frown deepened not connecting the dots. Remus sent a pointed look to the hill.
"The only way they could go, they retraced their steps." Both could make out the scraps and slides on the soft ground. Pulling themselves together they ran up the hill, and made their away back. It was a straightforward plan quickly resulting on them pausing again, and looking around the clearing lost.
"Well I don't think they would go back to the warehouse, and I'm pretty sure they retraced their steps." They moved around slowly making their way to the stream. "I think they might have gone down." Remus nodded and they made their way down stream. Jogging for a while they began to doubt that they were going in the right direction, till they saw a path with broken twigs, and a pair of footprints. One a fully-grown man and the other of a child.
"They had to have come this way. Sirius come on." They took off down the trail, tracking Harry and Tom. It wasn't easy but thanks to Remus it was made much easier.
Then they heard the scream.
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Harry held Tom's hand, his worry about his injury only rising. He couldn't make out where Tom was shot, as the older man had kept them moving. Tom didn't even raise his other hand to the wound and help stop the blood flow. The red liquid just slid down Tom's arm, and onto Harry's soaking into his already damp hoodie. Harry shivered as a cold burst of wind sailed by.
Tom looked back having felt Harry shiver; he frowned and pulled the smaller boy closer.
"We need to get you out of those clothes soon." Harry looked up at Tom eyes wide.
"No we need to do something about your wound." Red eyes frowned and Tom stopped to look at Harry for a moment.
"It is noth-"
"It is not nothing!" Harry raised his voice, Tom stopped his hand slipping over Harry's mouth as red eyes narrowed and looked into green. Realizing his mistake Harry blushed scarlet. Tom gazed around them, finding it lucky they hadn't ran into anyone so far.
"Hush child," Harry nodded and Tom removed his hand from Harry's mouth. "Now we shall worry about my wound later. When we have time to. Right now we have more important things to worry about, agreed?" Tom felt Harry's hand squeeze his; he smiled and returned the squeeze with one of his own.
"Ok."
"Good." Tom turned and began walking again, Harry holding his hand as the smaller boy followed. It wasn't long before they were walking in dangerous territory. Tom held Harry's hand tightly making sure the smaller male was close as they walked closer to an edge. Harry took a step the ground gave way, and tilted him sideways. Harry cried out his mind dizzy as he was falling. Then like a snap, his arm jolted, a sharp pain ran up his arm. He looked up seeing Tom holding tight to his hand, and pulling him up away from edge, he had nearly fell off.
As soon as he was steady, arms wrapped around him, cloaking him in warmth. Harry could hear Tom's heart beating fast and irregular. A large hand fell on his head and threaded though Harry's tangled and wild hair. It was then Harry knew Tom had, had as much as a fright as him.
"To-"
"Hush." Tom looked around them his red eyes narrowed like he was looking for something. Harry strained his ears his face paling as he could make out muffled shouts. "We have to go." Harry looked to the side seeing two shapes between the trees. Then they were moving Tom holding his hand tightly and keeping him away from the edge.
They moved swiftly knowing the others were catching up, they would soon be spotted it was only a matter of time.
"There, their there!" Harry breath hitched eyes widening as their ground ran out, Tom halted them pulling Harry to him and away from the edge of the cliff. They could hear the rushing water, and glanced over the side seeing the large body of water. Tom turned them and hunched over Harry, his red eyes narrowed once again on the two men blocking them from freedom.
He cover Harry as much as he could, not willing to put the younger one behind him, do to the cliff. And hating having him in front of him while two cops had guns trained on him. One false move, a slip, a lapse of judgment and it could all end.
"Let him go!" Sirius yelled his brow frown; Remus was looking unsure, noticing Tom's hold on Harry. "You have nowhere to run, now release Harry." Tom glances back, making Remus raise his head higher in alarm.
"Put your gun's down." Tom pressed Harry into him, who raised his arms and held onto Tom's arms green eyes looking from Remus, to Sirius.
"Like hell I will!" Tom's lip pursed together, and he hunched around Harry more.
"Don't be stupid, I just want to prevent any mishaps." Sirius growled his gun trained firmly on Tom. Harry could feel Tom's blood soaking into his hoodie, his worry rising with the hot liquid.
"More like you don't want to get shot!"
"Sirius!" grey eyes looked to his partner for a brief second before returning to Tom. "Lower your gun, he doesn't want Harry to get caught in the cross fire."
"But-"
"No buts', just look, he's trying to cover Harry, but he doesn't want him behind, due to the cliff. He has nowhere to run, and he's not liking the idea of a gun pointed at him or Harry." Remus lowered his own weapon. Sirius looked at Tom and Harry, he could see what Remus was talking about. Tom was cloaking Harry as much as he could and keeping an eye out for where the edge of the cliff was.
"Fine, but it's staying in my hands." He lowered the gun pointing it to the ground. He kept his eyes sharp incase Tom decided to make a move. "Now will you let him go?" They all saw Harry's flinch further into Tom his arms tightening.
"In a moment, I have to talk to him." Harry looked sharply at Tom a frown marring his features.
"And why would we let you talk to him?" Remus asked he was closer to Tom and Harry.
"Because things will come to an end a lot sooner. Besides you'll be able to hear every word, not like I can plan anything." Reluctantly Remus nodded. Tom leaned down and turned Harry, having to pry Harry's hold off him. "Harry," a hand cupped Harry's face Tom breathed out, it was then Harry could see Tom had been shot in the arm, the same arm of the hand he had been holding. Every jolt, pull and jerk must have been excruciating. Harry's eyes bubbled with tears. "Hush Harry, now look at me." Harry looked up.
"Tom?" tears fell and Tom wiped them away.
"It doesn't look like well be getting out of this." Harry's heart speed up his hand grabbed hold of Tom's wrist. "You understand we're not going to be together after this." Harry bit his lip and held his breath, feeling like he was being ripped apart. Tom's other hand threaded though Harry's hair gently combing. "Maybe one day, but not today."
"I- I don't want you to go." Red eyes softened startling Remus and Sirius who were not expecting such a raw emotion coming from Voldemort. He was a murder, killer, sadist, evil. But he wasn't supposed to be soft.
"I know, but it has to be done. You'll be better off."
"No!" he vigorously shook his head, tears falling down his cheeks. Tom cupped his face with both hand and made Harry look up at him, eyes closed Harry refused to look at Tom. "I wont be better off." His eyes slit open tears still falling. "It's only good when I'm with you." Tom leaned his head down connecting his and Harry forehead.
"I'm sorry." His heart skipped a beat, and his green eyes went wide. He knew Tom never apologized, and to hear the words it made everything feel so final. Like Tom had made up his mind, and there was nothing to be done about it. Nothing he could do, say or act upon. As quickly as they were connected Tom pulled away looking up and to Remus. "You better be fast."
Then he was wrenched away and pushed, he fell back eyes wide seeing Tom tip backwards. It all happened so fast, but to Harry it was like watching in slow motion. Tom looked at him a soft smile curving his lips up. Falling, Falling, then he was gone just as Harry's butt hit the ground. Jolting up Harry reached out and flung him self-forward intending to follow. Strong hands grabbed him and pulled him back.
"No! No Tom! Tom." He fought the hands holding him back. His Tom had jumped. He had to follow. He felt the arms around him tighten, the tears flooded down his face, and his knees gave in, Harry trembled. Hands pulled him closer trying to sooth the hurt. "Tom." His voice shook a hand ran up and down his back as he let out heapings of sobs. He could see Sirius looking over the edge his gun already put away as he scanned the water below.
"I don't see him." Another chocked sob, it was hard to breath, his breath had left him as he watch Tom. Harry chocked again, he was forced forward head between his knees. "What's wrong with him?"
"Breath Harry, just breath." Shaking all over Harry took in a heaping breath then let it out in a keening sob. "shh, shh, breath Harry." The hand rubbed against his back. "It' will be ok, shh."
"No." his voice cracked and he looked up at Remus and Sirius. "It wont be."
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and that's all of chapter 13, as you can see it's coming to a close, one more chapter and I'm hoping to have it done sometime soon.
Sorry for spelling and grammar, I look things over but I can't see and catch everything.
Much love for my favs, alerts and reviews you all keep me writing.
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