Chapter Seventeen: Recovery

Harry walked very calmly into the Medical Wing, he glanced around and saw no filled beds which made him even happier. He strolled to his bed, took a seat and then coughed once "Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey do you have a moment?" He called in a sing song voice.

The older Matron stuck her head out of her office, checking to see who had made the noise. When she saw it was Harry, she sighed and retreated back into her office for a moment. When she came back out, she had a rather large case "What did you do this time?" She snarled.

"Well, I'm still conscious so that must count for something." He said calmly, holding up his slightly charred and burned hands.

"Let me guess another death threat?" Poppy asked opening a tin of cream, slowly-gently applying it to the ragged skin.

"Hole in one." He said with a grin, leaning back a little "How have you been?"

"You were in here not too long ago, no reason to catch up." She said not looking up at him, then examining his hands closer. "What is this on your nails?"

"Nail polish." He spoke simply.

"Why do you have it on?" She asked slightly alarmed, it wasn't coming off.

"My Aunt did it, she charmed it so only she could take it off." He said with a dejected sigh, cracking his neck once.

Poppy sighed, shaking her head and then wrapping his hands in the bindings "Now, I want you stay here for a little while and let the cream set." She instructed, glaring at him with a pointed finger "So don't move."

"Yes Ma'am." He said with a small grin.

XX~XX~XX~XX

A tall figure paced lightly, she had yet to leave her room but someone had come in. The smaller copy tilted her head at her sister, she'd been doing this for at least the past fifteen minutes. "Fleur, what's wrong?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I'm thinking…" The Older woman responded, her lips pursed in thought and gaze distant.

"About?" Gabby asked in a sing song like voice.

Fleur groaned "Arry." She simply replied, though she didn't look happy about it.

Gabby looked slightly confused "Why, what'd he do?" She asked, in all honesty she liked Harry when he had a smile on his face that is. When he didn't, he was kind of scary like he'd seen things that'd make you sick.

Fleur gave her a light smile "It isn't what he did, more like what he's become…." She said with a small sigh.

"What do you mean?"

Fleur rolled her eyes, she hated having to explain to her sister; it meant she needed to know everything. "Arry….before the task 'e was sent off to 'is Aunt." She said with a small look of distaste "E said that 'e would be training, but when 'e came back….e's just been so distant…..so….cold.." She said with a small sigh, looking to the ground.

Gabby was listening intently, her entire world was watching as her sister spoke "You're afraid." She said simply, without even a smile.

Fleur shot up like a snap, giving her sister a wide eyed expression "I am not!" She said defiantly.

Gabby nodded "Yes you are, Harry changed a little so now you're afraid he'll want something else." She said tilting her head, still confused "But he won't, you need to remember Fleur…..He went back for me." Her English was bounds better than Fleur's, with barely a mistake in her voice.

Fleur went into a little thoughtful look, her eyes went distant again and after a few moments she was smiling "I love you, little flower." She leaned over kissing her sisters forehead.

"I know you do." She smiled, that comment received a light slap on the head "Alright, I love you too."

Fleur finally sat down on her bed, leaning back and smiled again "Wonder if e's alright, 'E 'as the worst of luck." She said with a small sigh.

"He's alright, I'm sure of it." Gabby said jumping from her chair, onto the bed making her giggle.

Fleur reached over, grabbing the smaller girl by the waist and started to tickle her. Making the room filled with laughter, instead of the dead silence of before.

XX~XX~XX~XX

Daphne looked around a little, searching for one of her friends that was known to hide inside of the Library. It took her a few minutes, she had hidden herself rather well. "Hey, Granger we should talk."

Hermione didn't look up from her book, her quill lightly scratching away at the parchment "About?"

"Harry."

That got the book-worm to glance up, her brow raised and eyes looked interested. "Go on, I'm listening." She said glancing back down.

"Well, you've seen how he's been acting and…" Daphne trailed off "What the hell is so important?" She snapped, trying to grab the quill from the Gryffindor.

Hermione flicked the quill away, sighing and placing it down "I'm looking for that rune I saw on Harry's chest." She said closing her book "Which I cannot find in any Basic nor Advanced Rune book, honestly it's annoying."

Daphne frowned, shaking her head with a sigh "Have you noticed though?"

"Noticed he's acting more, ruthless than normal?" Hermione asked with a raised brow "Slightly maniacal, cynical, and increased in intelligence? I have." She confirmed.

Daphne tossed herself into the sit in front of her, rubbing her face a little "What are we going to do?" She asked softly, more like groaned.

"Nothing." Hermione went back to her book.

"What?" Daphne said confused.

Hermione sighed, looking the Slytherin in the eye "Harry wouldn't hurt a friend unless they deserved it. It isn't in his nature, no matter how much he changes." She explained, running a hand through her bushy locks "You told me yourself that he was worried because, I was down there and so was Gabby."

Daphne nodded, smirking a little at the memory "He was right pissed, wanted to murder Dumbledore."

"Exactly, Harry wouldn't hurt us." The Bookworm placed a hand on the other girls "You just have to trust him, and he'll trust you in turn."

"Thanks Granger."

"Not a problem Greengrass, now you're in my light."

"Psychopath."

"Bastard."

XX~XX~XX~XX

It should've been known that the second Madam Pomfrey closed the door to her office, Harry would simply walk out; if he wasn't tied to the bed or having a broken leg that is.

He walked around, passing the classrooms filled with students and ignored the fact he had Charms right about now. The best thing about being a Tournament Champion, he didn't need to perform a final Exam so him sitting around in a classroom was wasted.

So this found him in the Astronomy Tower, while in the beginning of the day he'd not see anyone in the Tower as class was held near dusk; as to observe the sky. He was leaning on the railing, his feet dangling off the edge and his rear on the cold floor.

"I should've expected you to ignore my calls." An older voice said in a blissful tone, something was summoned and a sound was heard. "May we talk?"

Harry glanced over his shoulder, seeing it was Dumbledore and his bright purple chair; which made him snort. "You can, I might not." He said turning back towards the view.

Dumbledore pondered that for a moment "Sirius told me, Bellatrix used a Black Rune on you?" He asked with a curious tone.

"She did."

"And this has made into a murderer?" Dumbledore questioned.

Harry tilted his head, glancing at Dumbledore "Not a murderer, they weren't human." He said in a cold voice "They started it, wanting to drown her and I responded in a way they understood. Violence."

Dumbledore shook his head "That isn't you Harry." He said rubbing his eyes.

Harry smiled, closing his eyes for a moment "I know." He said brightly "Then again you've never really known me, have you Sir?" His expression turned dark "I could've been that kid who tortured little animals, more than once I wanted to. Hell I wanted to cut myself a few times too." He pulled a small blade from his front pocket.

"Why?"

"So I knew if I was alive…." Harry responded, looking at the simple blade "So I would know if this was a nightmare…."

"They couldn't have been that bad Harry…." Dumbledore said in a small voice.

"You saw the scars." Harry said fixing a glare on the older man "Bella and Andie have too, they weren't happy. Those were just the physical ones too, living in a cupboard for TEN years has made me rather….nervous in small spaces." If his glare could kill, the man would be dead or dying.

Dumbledore rubbed his eyes again, he sunk further into his chair. "What did she do?"

"She? You want to blame Bella for this?" He hissed "She taught me how to survive. Watch." He flipped the knife and dug into his arm, blood pouring down his forearm "I don't feel pain anymore, I can feel the knife slipping into my skin and the warmth of blood down my arm….but not pain!"

Dumbledore was wide eyed, he looked quiet alarmed and so he threw a healing charm at the boy. He shook his head, more disturbed than before. "Harry….did she do the curse on you?"

"Several times, each with short bursts so I wouldn't slip into madness." He confirmed, giving him a grin. He turned back towards the view "I like it here….it's peaceful."

Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head and he knew the boy had slipped…maybe dipped into the pool of madness. "It is, Harry." He agreed with a small smile "Lemon Drop?"

"Thank you." He held out his hand, the small yellow treat floated into his palm. The teen popped it into his mouth, without much thought.

"Harry, do you think Miss. Delacour likes this change in you?" He asked with a simple tone to his voice.

Harry shrugged "I don't know….A part of me says no but…." He said with a sigh, his brow now resting on the cool steel of the railing.

Dumbledore stood, his chair vanished "Love is a fickle thing, Harry…It is most powerful but like all powers it is temperamental." He placed a hand on the boys shoulder "Once you have it, it is most wonderful."

Harry was silent then started to laugh, his head tilted back giving the man a glare "I'd know what love is, if you'd have placed me in a house with it." He chilled his tone dangerous.

Dumbledore took a step back, he looked years older than when he arrived and Harry seemed to be doing that to him of late. "You had nowhere to go."

"Andromeda?" He chilled again.

"I-I didn't know she knew your family."

"Sirius was her cousin, they both betrayed their birth family and you thought they wouldn't stay in touch?" Harry growled, turning away with a look of disgust.

Dumbledore sighed rubbing his brow "Harry, you needed to stay with your Aunt as she had your mother's blood." He explained, remaining perfectly calm.

"Because of those Blood Runes?" He asked with a raised brow "So much for those, didn't do them much good."

"The person who killed your relatives, didn't want to harm you and so they could get past the wards."

"Almost like they weren't there in the first place."

"How could you sa-"

Harry yawned and started standing up "You're boring me Headmaster, tell the Professors to not expect me in classes. I have better things to do than summon a pillow or brew a dancing potion."

Without a word Harry jumped over the railing, freefalling for a few moments before becoming a smoky mass again and flying towards the woods. Dumbledore sighed, he couldn't much comment on the fact the boy was using a Death Eater secret; which he really wanted to learn, to be honest. As long as the boy stayed out of trouble, he couldn't really complain. "Merlin….." He rubbed his brows again and turned towards the exit.

XX~XX~XX~XX

"You look tense." Mindy commented as they ate lunch, she was picking at her sandwich and Fleur wasn't making much of a dent in her stew either.

"Just thinking." Fleur commented back, stabbing a piece of beef with her fork.

"About a certain manic with black hair?" She asked with a raised brow, leaning lightly on the table.

"E's not a manic." She snipped, glaring.

Mindy held up her hands "He's been acting strange, you can't deny that. He's much more hostile and quiet than normal." She said in a calm voice.

"I'm only hostile to those who aren't my friends." His voice pierced their thoughts, he was standing there in a black robe with no clear marking on it; nothing Gryffindor in sight. "Have you finished?" He motioned to her stew.

Fleur looked at her food for a few moments and then nodded "I 'ave, why?" She asked with a lightly raised brow.

"Care, milady, for a stroll around the yard?" He asked bowing slightly.

Fleur blushed lightly, bowing her own head "Of course Milord." She stood slowly.

Then started to follow him outside, once in the entry-hall he paused. Grabbing her by the waist, he leaned down kissing her gently on the lips "I missed you, you know?" He questioned.

Fleur had a smile on her face, her hands on his shoulders "I miss you as well. It was boring without you." She took a step back out of his arms "You said we're going for a walk, so then walk." She snipped lightly.

"Yes Ma'am."

He lead her from the doors, down and around the area from Hagrids Hut, towards the lake and then into the Black Forest.

"I don't think we are to be 'ere…" She whispered, it was day time but still very dark inside of the forest. She even took to walking closer towards him, she then silently laughed at that; he was younger than her but she was looking to him for protection. Then again, he did defeat a dragon, killed a Basilisk and a few Merepeople, so at this point she wouldn't be surprised.

"We aren't, the forest has always been out of bounds but that hasn't stopped me." He gave her a bright smile, reaching out for her hand.

She gave it to him, they continued to walk for a little while but then they heard a clicking sound. "Arry?"

"Oh dear, I seem to have brought us to close to the Spiders…damn, I haven't mapped this place out yet." He said in a pondering voice, pulling on her hand tightly as a jet of webbing landed on her spot. "Stay here."

Fleur pulled her wand out the second he let go of her hand, his ghost of a kiss remained on her cheek as he jumped over a downed tree. In her free hand she conjured a ball of fire, knowing the webbing would be weak to her flames she made a ring of them around herself.

The clicking got louder until she saw a rather large spider, just as it was about to jump towards her it sprayed a green liquid and was sliced in half. Behind the now dead creature was Harry, his eyes wide and full of rage and she could feel his aura from here.

"Piss off!" His aura flared, she could see the glowing red eyes now and they didn't scare her in the slightest. While when pointed to others, there was rage and hate but to her she saw compassion and protectiveness.

The Spiders must have realized that they would lose against him, for they started to retreat without another attack. Leaving the five or so slain, where they fell.

Harry cracked his neck once, then breathed out and his eyes shifted once more "Are you alright?"

"Fine." She said snapping her fingers and the flames vanished without other thought.

"Good, I'd hate to have to kill them all if you got hurt." He graced her with another bright smile, his stance was relaxed.

"So, what exactly happened during your….trip?" She asked gently, they started walking in another direction.

Harry glanced around and saw a familiar beaten up car, half covered in shrubbery and braches sticking out of it. He gave the magical item a bow, it revved its engine once and took off into the forest. "I spent the longest with Bella if that's what you are asking."

Fleur was going to comment on the car, but figured it was another very long story that she'd end up laughing about. So she chose to file it away for the moment, focusing on the matter at hand "Bella, did she torture you?"

Harry's face was neutral, he could see the concern on her face and it made him smile internally "Yes." He said in a very simple voice.

Fleur glared and let out a snarl of sorts, giving him a deadly look "I want to kill her, can I?" She said in a dark voice.

Harry raised a brow at the hostile side she was showing "That's hot." He said wrapping a arm around her middle "But no, I care too much for her."

Fleur pouted, crossing her arms "Pity." She said her head held up.

"You're not going to start that, are you?"

"Start what, Arry?" She said looking over her nose at him.

"That."

"I am doing nothing."

"Yes you are."

"Shut Up."

"Yes, Ma'am." He was silent for a few moments before his voice was heard again "You're still doing it."

"You've got five seconds before I start throwing jinxes." She said stepping out of his arm, giving him a glare.

Harry for his part waited for the last second before he took off laughing, and Fleur true to her word started to throw jinxes at him. Their laughter could be heard from edges of the Forest, those in the area simply ignored it but a few didn't; in fact they seemed annoyed by it.

XX~XX~XX~XX

"Well at least you're sort of normal again, way to go." Daphne commented as they walked towards potions, her cigarette hanging lightly from her mouth.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thank you very much." Harry said shouldering his bag, glaring at Hermione. "I can't believe you convinced me into this."

Hermione who had a smirk on her mouth all day, looked over at him "I know you better than most Harry, I know what buttons to push."

Harry gave her a dead look "That's not inspiring."

"There they are!" Pansy said with a saucy laugh, holding up a copy of witch-weekly "Catch Potter, you might find something amazing in there!"

Harry looked over at her, raising his brow as he caught to magazine and flipped it open. He saw a picture of himself, the one they did at the wand weighing a while back. He was much different now, but it wasn't a bad picture.

He started to read the article, noting that Daphne wasn't looking over his shoulder like Hermione was.

'Harry Potter The Womanizer: A boy like no other, perhaps - yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. However this seems to not be enough for him, as he is now in a relationship with not two but three other women!

While he has started dating French Witch and Champion Fleur Delacour, near the start of the winter season, she has been described as unachievable, brainy and very cold. We have asked several of her classmates from France who mainly commented 'She's never had a boyfriend, boys are always around her but I think she's just a tease. I think she cheats too, you can't be smart and beautiful.' However it seems that Mr. Potter was the person she'd been waiting for.

It was brought to our attention during the Second Task a few days ago; turn to page 15 for full coverage, that Daphne Greengrass might also be a love interest of Potter. The Slytherin girl is clearly ambitious and unlike Fleur Delacour, has had several boyfriends in the past. What else could we find about this strange girl that came out of nowhere?

Then you have Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, who is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays, and insists that he has "never felt this way about any other girl."

However, it might not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate boys' interest.

"She's really ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student, "but she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it."

Love Potions are, of course, banned at Hogwarts, and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims.'

Harry glanced at Hermione who had started to laugh, Daphne wasn't that far behind but it was much more controlled. He then gave a red eyed glare to Pansy, tossing her magazine back "I hear you call Hermione ugly one more time, Pug and your face will look like the Skrewts." He threatened in a dark tone.

"That will be 10 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter." A silky voice whispered through the room "I will not tolerate threats in my classroom."

Harry laughed, giving the greasy man a rather cruel smirk "It wasn't a threat." He stated in a clear voice, laced with confidence "It was a promise."

Snape raised a brow "Potter, I want you up at that front desk alone." He snapped, pointing to the offending desk and then turned to the rest of the class "Well, you have a potion to brew. Step to it!"

Snape followed him towards the front, after a few minutes of grinding his beetles into a fine powder. The Professor whispered to him, so low that the others wouldn't hear him "I don't care, Potter how many times you might end up in the paper." He snarled "To me you're nothing but a boy, who thinks rules are below him."

"They are." He said in a very low voice, so no one else would hear them.

Snape's eyes flashed at him, he growled "Just a warning, if I caught you in my office once more-"

"What?" Harry questioned, giving the man a confused look.

"I know you've been stealing Boomslang-Skin for whatever reason." Snape hissed.

"I've been gone, remember Professor?" Harry said in a calm voice, his eyebrows creased and a thought in his head. He recalled they used the skin once, for the Polyjuice potion….so who was making it.

Snape didn't seem convinced "I know you can break into Hogwarts, Potter." He reached into his robes for something, it was a vial of clear liquid. "Know what this is Potter?"

"Veritaserum, Sir?" He questioned.

Snape looked impressed for a moment "Very good, so lie to me again and this might find its way into your Pumpkin Juice." He threatened.

Harry raised a brow, gesturing to the man's forearm "It has gotten clearer hasn't it?" He questioned, giving him a small grin.

Snape froze for a moment, then gave a wide eyed look to Harry "I can feel it, what would mum think of you?" He asked, looking at Snape as he cut his ginger roots; he sliced into his hand but wasn't alarmed by it nor did he feel a twinge of pain.

Snape for his part started to pale considerably "You shall be silent, Potter." He hissed, going behind his desk. The rest of the class passed, Snape and Harry just glared at each other but Harry did so with a smile.

Karkaroff entered the room near the end of the lesson, but the second he saw Potter giving him the death look with bright red eyes he fled.

"Take care Professor." He said gathering up his things with a calm grace "I might not be here next time."

"Whatever, Potter." Snape snapped, rubbing his forearm.

XX~XX~XX~XX

An abandoned Hallway stood a familiar portrait of a knight, wild raven hair and a stern face. The Knight shifted when he heard a voice, though no body.

"Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul." The voice whispered towards one end, then paused.

"In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbowed." The voice was now at the other end of the hall, and it was seemingly closer than before.

"Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the Horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find, me unafraid." The Portrait heard steps now, coming from both directions.

"It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate" The voice was now in front of him, with a whirl a cloak was thrown off and a younger like copy of himself looked back at him "I am the captain of my soul."

"Harry…"

"Harold." The teen gave him a bright grin, hands behind his back and face lit up with excitement.

XX~XX~XX~XX

Hello Hello, it's good to see you guys again. Now I know that I've had a change in my story, it has done what someone would call a Cerberus effect in the way it jumped from a light story with love, and care. Into a much darker story, where Harry has fully embraced himself and the fact that he might be a Dark person. The Harry you guys saw the last time was a Harry running on pure adrenaline and anger, he was hostile to everyone for the most part and very aggressive. Now we see what this Harry looks like when in a peaceful setting, as well as his closest friends thoughts about him. This Harry isn't a mad murderer like Bellatrix, where she'd kill for a dirty look; Harry has only killed Non-Humans.

So I understand if I lose a few people with this turn, but before you guys just toss this story away. Think of this as a Day cycle, we have see the sun at its highest and then it has set into the darkness of night. Night doesn't last forever, soon the sun will rise once more and a new day is brought in.

Take care guys~ The Mad Demon King.