Chapter 3: Side Effects and Scars
Being a mother is a lifelong job that is not for everyone. You don't get vacations. You don't get paid. Everyone thinks they can do a better job than you do, and to add insult to injury, when things go right, no one praises you, but when things go wrong, you are a horrible mother. Molly loved all her children equally, but she also knew them more than anyone and their strengths and weaknesses were no secret to her.
Ronald was a pampered child regardless of their financial situation. As he was one of the youngest in the family, he always found ways to get out of doing his fair share of work. He was lazy, entitled, and not meant for rugged conditions. Their trip to Egypt had been a nightmare. He didn't like the hostel, the food, the weather, the long walks around the tourist sites. He refused to eat anything his mother didn't make. Which showed everyone, but Molly in particular, that he thought she didn't deserve to rest while on vacation. He saw her as an employee that had to cater to his every whim, regardless of the time.
Arthur had stepped in and told Ronald that he could either eat what everyone ate or he could starve. Molly would not be made to even make tea. She was on vacation and deserved to be pampered and enjoy having other people take care of her like she took care of everyone else back at home. Bill had been so incensed with Ron that he and Charlie had paid for a spa day for their mom and baby sister and gave their brother a stern talking to and a few bruises. Ronald acted properly for the rest of the trip, but as soon as they were back home, he reverted to his usual modus operandi.
Arthur knew that Ronald had always hated to be outshined by his siblings, but it was simply petty jealousy. Had he truly wished to surpass them, he could have actually applied himself in school. Ron could have started playing Quidditch in his second year. He could have worked hard at Care for Magical Creatures if he wanted to do something like Charlie... Or to Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts if he wanted to follow Bill's path instead. Percy, despite his turning against his family lately, had actually done the work to set himself apart. He wanted to do better than his siblings, and Arthur was certain that in Percy's mind, he had actually accomplished exactly that.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley needed a few minutes. Nothing could have prepared either parent to hear that their youngest son had gone dark. Molly was angrier than anyone had ever seen her, and Arthur slumped on his chair looked entirely defeated. Bill and Charlie were currently holding their irate mother trying to calm her down while the twins went around fixing things without any attempts at humor. They appreciated living and their mom was so mad that they would be terrified to be caught in a crossfire.
Their families, both the Prewett and the Weasley clans, had always been aligned with the light side. Each war had a higher personal cost than the previous one. Early in the last war, Arthur had lost his brothers Bilius and Septimus Jr, and Molly had lost both Fabian and Gideon. This meant they were now entirely alone. Their parents were already gone and they had no siblings anymore. That was part of the reason why they had so many children. They wanted a big family... the big family they had lost.
When Ronald became friends with Harry and Hermione, Arthur felt that perhaps the two kids could help balance their son's bad traits. Harry was quiet, kind, and forgiving. Hermione was smart, strategic, and sweet. Molly had been overjoyed that Ron hit it off with Harry. She had always wanted to pay back the Potters for their help and kindness when her and her husband's brothers passed. They had died in attacks that were a mere day apart, and the Weasleys couldn't afford good caskets for the burial ceremonies. Dying was more expensive than they ever thought possible. Losing four people at once would have made them lose their land and home. They would have had to sell it to afford four funerals. Arthur let out a deep sigh as memories came back to him.
FLASHBACK
James had taken Arthur aside to the study at Potter Manor which was serving as a hospital for the injured in the war.
"Please sit, Arthur," James handed the redhead a flask full of bourbon and motioned for him to take a sip. Arthur gulped the ambar liquid. "Your brothers' and brothers-in-law's bodies are in the basement. It is serving as our morgue. We are waiting for our elves to bring the caskets."
"James… W-We can't accept that. It's too much money," Arthur wiped tears away.
"Arthur, you have fought with us. You have bled with us. Money doesn't mean a damn thing these days. It will not keep us safe. It will not protect our son. You are our friends and allies," James took the flask and drank a few sips of his own.
"Yes, James, but we didn't do any of that to receive any special treatment or monetary favors…."
"Why the bloody hell are you so stubborn? Your and Molly's brothers died heroes. They deserve a proper funeral and burial," James replied, trying not to blow up.
"We can't afford to pay you back for several years, and I-"
"Arthur! Don't be so obtuse! You can't afford it and we can. It's that simple. We are not giving you a loan. It's a thank you gift for all the times you and your siblings saved our asses, alright?!" James snapped.
Arthur looked pensive.
Lily walked in and placed her hands on her husband's shoulders. "Arthur, I will say to you the same thing I just said to Molly. This isn't charity. This is gratitude. None of us know how much time we have left on this earth. This is a horrible war. All we want to know is that our child and any other children we may have in the future will have friends in your children. Being able to count on our friends is all we have these days," Lily smiled at Arthur. "You know that I practically have no biological family anymore and neither does James. However, I consider every member of the Order a part of my new family, the one I chose."
Arthur blushed but smiled with gratitude. "Alright, James, Lily. Thank you. Nothing would make us happier than have all our kids grow together and be good friends so they can count on each other."
"And count on each other they will," Lily gave Arthur a tight hug.
END FLASHBACK
Molly had been screamed and cursed for so long that her voice was now hoarse. Objects were still flying around the house as her core was struggling to calm down even now that her husband had replaced his sons and held her tight.
"Molly, there's nothing we can do," Arthur whispered.
"Arthur! There must be something we can do! A Weasley, a Death Eater? I will not have it! Our brothers are rolling in their graves!" Molly bellowed as she started got out of her husband's embrace as an idea struck her. Maybe they could find him. The grandfather clock showed Ron as 'In Mortal Peril.'
"Minerva, do you know where Ronald went?" Arthur asked, coming out of his trance.
"No, Arthur, I'm sorry. All Dobby saw was that he had the Dark Mark and that a fight broke. The Snatchers thought he had lied to them by offering to lead them to Harry and Hermione and crucioed him. Apparently, some Aurors were chasing after the Snatchers… Or after Harry. It is hard to tell these days with this new 'government,'" Professor McGonagall replied with as calming a voice as she could muster. "Dobby took Harry and Hermione away before the wards fell completely."
"Thank Merlin," Bill sighed.
"They tortured Ron?" Fred asked with a grimace.
"Maybe he was forced to betray them?" George added.
"Don't make excuses for him!" Charlie snapped, more serious than anyone had ever seen him.
"I am not excusing Ron, but if he did it under duress…" Fred said.
"That's impossible," Arthur stood.
"How can you be so sure? Ron has been with them for years. They have been there for each other. They are close," George offered.
"I am sure because the Death Eaters tried to force your uncle Septimus to take the Dark Mark and he died. His core rejected the oath because it was being forced upon him. Septimus chose death over betraying his family. He knew treason would lead to even more death and chose self-sacrifice to protect us all," Arthur said this with vitriol. "If Ronald has a Dark Mark, he took it willingly."
The brothers shared an uncomfortable look but didn't look entirely convinced. McGonagall stood and faced them all in her professor mode.
"Gentlemen, let me explain. To become a Death Eater, one has to willingly commit horrible acts: murder, torture, rape. And that terrorist wouldn't bestow the Dark Mark unless he thought the recipient was… worthy and useful to his cause," Minerva frowned. The young men looked green at the thought. That their brother could have done either or all of those was sickening. "I am sorry to tell you this, but you must understand. Whatever happened in the past few months transformed your brother. He is not the boy you remember anymore. I hate to tell you this, but I would never forgive myself if I didn't warn you and you ended up hurt or worse. If you are ever to face him in battle, don't think he will not try to kill you just because you are family."
Bill stood up resolutely, "Ronald Weasley is dead to me. He is not family, not anymore."
"I feel the same way," Charlie stood next to Bill. "We need to take him out of the wards and the floo immediately."
"It's too late," Molly gasped but pointed her wand at the door. The clock's arrow with Ronald's name said was pointing at 'Home.'
Everyone stood and followed her example. The door banged as Ronald's body fell against it.
"Nobody move," Arthur whisper-shouted. His children had rushed to shield both Professor McGonagall and their mother, their wands up, their postures ready to attack. Never mind that both women, the professor especially, could end Ron without even breaking a sweat. One glare from their mother and Ron would be running for the hills.
"Mummy! Daddy!" Ronald cried outside. "Help!"
"He sounds like a child…." Fred whispered to George.
"Why does he sound like a child?" George asked back.
"Hermione obliviated him… I think she went at it with a vengeance. She didn't want him to be able to give He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named any information. Lord knows how old he thinks he is now."
"Bloody hell. Hermione is brilliant but scary," Charlie blinked.
"Badass and gorgeous too," Bill added under his breath.
"Open the door Arthur. We will disarm him and tie him up," Molly ordered.
Arthur unlocked the door. "Come in, Ronald."
The ginger fell on his face, apparently unconscious. Molly rushed to him and unceremoniously ripped off his sleeves in one smooth motion. The sight of the angry red, oozing scar, although she had been expecting it made her feel faint. The same terrorists that had taken Fabian and Gideon had now taken her son. He was as good as dead now. Arthur had to help her sit down. Ronald's siblings had him disarmed, tied against a chair, and Bill woke him up by forcing him to drink a blood replenishing potion that he had summoned from their first-aid storage. Ronald coughed, but Bill was insistent and got him to down two vials. Fred and George had no jokes, no commentary. Charlie was trying hard not to punch Ronald by keeping his hands firm on both his parents' shoulders.
"Bill? Ew! What was that?" Ron complained with a grimace.
"How old are you Ronald?" Bill asked without answering his brother.
"What do you mean? I'm eleven. I'm finally going to Hogwarts this year!" Ron replied with a smile. He wanted to jump for joy but his ties didn't allow for such a motion. "Hey! Why am I tied up? Muuuuuum!"
Bill stepped away so Ron could see that their mother was there. "How did you get here?" Molly asked.
"With the lighter thingy!" he replied, excited.
"What?" Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Accio Deluminator," Minerva whispered. A silver lighter flew out of Ron's pocket. She immediately began to run spells over it.
"HEY! That's mine you cow!" Ron yelled, struggling against his bindings.
CRACK!
Bill slapped Ronald, who winced and began crying. "Don't you ever, and I mean EVER, disrespect Professor McGonagall like that again!"
"MUM! Do something!" Ronald whined.
"Be glad he slapped you. I would have done worse," Molly growled.
"Why?! What did I do?! She's stealing my lighter!" Ron accused the professor who blanched.
"Silencio!" Charlie made sure Ronald's incessant yapping stopped.
"Merlin and Morgana... He knew," she said, sitting down in defeat. Her hands were shaking in fury.
"What?" Fred asked, confused.
"Who knew what?" George added. The thing looked like a regular old lighter but a tad bigger.
"Dumbledore knew… He knew Ronald would betray them. He knew it, and he modified this artifact, a deluminator, by illegally adding Harry and Hermione's blood to it so Ronald could find them! Oh, I wish I could revive that fool just to kill him myself!" Professor McGonagall was more upset than anyone in the room could remember seeing her.
"He took their blood without their consent?!" Arthur bellowed. "To use in a magical ritual that could lead anyone holding that thing to their locations?!"
"He did. It wasn't even keyed specifically to Ronald. Had this gone into the wrong hands, my Gryffindors would already be dead or worse," Minerva spat angrily. "I trust you can deal with him. I have to go. If you don't mind, I will take this with me. I want to see them personally destroy this thing."
"Professor, is there anything we can do for them?" Charlie asked with trepidation. He hadn't spent as much time as he would have wanted with either Harry or Hermione, but they were good kids and they clearly needed help.
"Yes. Keep fighting the good fight. Don't give up on them. I will contact you again soon. Dobby the elf may come in my stead. Good luck," Minerva replied, standing to leave.
"Minerva," Molly stood as well. "Please tell them we are sorry… beyond words. His behavior is not a reflection of any of us. Tell them they are always welcome here. That we love and miss them and pray that they are okay. Tell them they can count on us, will you?"
"I will, Molly. I have to go now. I need to see them right away," Minerva walked away.
"Finite," Arthur lifted the silencing charm from Ronald.
"Dad! Why is everyone mad at me? What did I do?" Ronald asked his father with big round scared eyes. His bearded cheek still had a red imprint from the slap.
"Accio mirror," Arthur caught the mirror as it zoomed toward them. "Take a look at yourself, Ronald," Arthur stood and placed the mirror in front of the young man's face.
"Aaaaaargh! What happened to me? Why am I so old?" Ron looked terrified.
"You are seventeen years old, Ronald," Bill replied.
"WHAT?! NO! I can't be! I haven't even been to Hogwarts yet!" Ron whined.
"We are going to heal your injuries. Then you will leave this house never to return," Arthur said with a deep frown.
"What?! Why?!"
"Because you betrayed us all. Do you see that on your forearm? It's a Dark Mark. The way He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named brands his followers," Charlie replied.
"I can't have! I would never! I hate Death Eaters! They killed my uncles!" Ronald exclaimed as tears fell down his face.
"Yes, and you almost had your best friend and the girl we all thought you liked murdered by those terrorists," Bill added. "They trusted you with their lives, their safety, their survival, and you abandoned them and brought people who want them dead to their door."
"Who are they? Why can't I remember anything?" Ronald started hyperventilating.
"That doesn't matter. They don't want you to know and we will respect their wishes. We will heal you, and then you are gone. Stupefy!" Bill replied.
Dobby landed near the border to the Weasley land to find an irate and heartbroken Professor McGonagall waiting for him in her cat form.
"Hello, Professor Kitty! You is ready to go?" Dobby asked.
The cat meowed once and Dobby hugged it to his chest. They popped around different weathers three times, but Dobby was quick, and since his bond, he had access to a lot more magic, and tasks that would have exhausted him before were easy peasy now. Potter magic was significantly mightier than Malfoy magic. It was cleaner too.
"Welcome to Isle Potter," Dobby placed her down on the warm sand, and Minerva went back to human form, instantly grateful for the warm air. It was still afternoon time here.
"It's good to be here Dobby. I heard about this place, and although I had never been here, it sounded very safe. I wanted James and Lily to hide here, but Dumbledore convinced us that a Fidelius was enough. Poor Sirius had to be in Azkaban for twelve years."
"Professor Kitty… The past is being something we can't be changing. Master Harry and his Mione needs you," Dobby squeezed her hand.
"Yes, quite right. I just feel I have let them down so much," Minerva sighed.
"They is wanting to sees you. It doesn't be looking like they upset at you, professor," Dobby reasoned.
"They should be. I have news on Ronald."
Dobby apparated them at the door. There was yelling inside.
"How could we be so bloody careless!?" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her hands up and pulling her hair.
"We were… I don't know, Hermione… Perhaps… Too busy realizing Ronald pulled a Judas on us?!" Harry yelled back. He was facing Hermione with his back towards the door while Remus and Tonks watched them back and forth.
"I am not blaming you! I am blaming me! The bag has always been my responsibility! If someone finds the locket we are back to square one!" Hermione grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.
"It's not either of our faults! Bloody motherfucking hell! Why the fuck does everything have to be a damn uphill battle for us?! We are trying to save millions of people who could not care less if we dropped dead and life can't give us one fucking break!"
Minerva opened the door quietly and stepped right behind Harry, exclaiming in his ear "Mr. Potter! Language!"
Harry jumped and turned around so quickly that he fell on his bum. His jaw was hanging open and his eyes were wider than usual. "P-Professor!?"
Hermione jumped up with her wand in front of her. "Did you confirm her identity, Dobby?"
"Yes, Missy Grangy," Dobby nodded quickly.
"What was the first spell you showed my parents when you came to tell them I was a witch?" Hermione stepped in front of Harry who looked at both women entirely tense.
Minerva smiled and kept her hands where the young witch could see them. Hermione was doing the right thing, double-checking her identity. "I find your faith in my memory inspiring Ms. Granger, but that's a trick question. I did not show them a spell. I transformed myself into my animagus form and back. Then, I turned your coffee table into a pig and back. It was mahogany and glass if I recall correctly."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she remembered her parents' reaction which was delighted instead of terrified as she had feared. The young woman threw her wand on the sofa and ran to the older witch's arms "Professor!"
Professor McGonagall hugged Hermione back as hard as her student squeezed her. Harry scrambled up and wiped tears away. "Constant vigilance," the professor said pulling the girl away to wipe her tears with her wrinkled thumbs. "Alastor would be proud, my dear."
Hermione nodded and took a step back.
"Mr. Potter, my apologies, I didn't mean to make you fall down," Minerva smiled.
"Professor, I would g-gladly fall down a m-mountain if it meant I got to s-see you alive and well," Harry replied awkwardly. He cursed the Dursely's for his inability to be spontaneously affectionate. The Professor was very stern and Harry didn't know if he could make her uncomfortable. Hermione was loved by all professors. Him… not so much.
"Harry… You and Hermione are a sight for sore eyes," Minerva looked at him with concern. He was indeed too skinny. She walked towards him and hugged him tightly. "I was so overjoyed when Dobby told me you were alive."
Harry hugged his professor and tried not to cry, but he couldn't help it. "It's all my f-fault, professor. I am s-so sorry."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"What h-happened to H-Hogwarts…"
"Stop that train of thought, Harry. Nothing that happened in Hogwarts is your fault. It was Dumbledore's fault. He insisted to keep the school open. The truth is we should have closed it after that terrorist appeared in the Ministry in front of Dumbledore, the Minister, and the Head of Aurors. The students would be far safer at home. Many did drop out. Those who have stayed are either comfortable because their parents work for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or their homes are equally dangerous."
"I can't help it…" Harry sighed.
"Remus, Nymphadora," Minerva smiled at the two. Tonks groaned but they started catching up. "Am I right that he is not to blame?"
Dobby pulled Hermione from her hand towards the kitchen, "Missy Grangy… is you being angry with Dobby?"
"What? No, Dobby… Why would I-?" She stopped talking when Dobby offered her the lost beaded bag.
"I is sorry! I is taking the baggie because I be having to takes many more trips if I is not having a way to moves many things at once," Dobby looked down.
"Dobby! We were so scared we lost it!"
"Dobby is not touching yous things again," Dobby promised.
"No, Dobby. It's fine… I truly don't mind. It's just that inside this bag there's a very important necklace. If it fell into the wrong hands…" Hermione shivered and pulled the drawstring open. "I just… Accio locket!"
The object flew out of the bag, but Dobby used a feather duster to hook it and keep it away from Hermione's hands.
"Give it to me, Dobby. It's alright," Hermione saw how terrified the elf was.
"It is not being alright!" Dobby rushed to the living room. "Master Moony!"
Hermione ran after him.
"What's wrong Dobby? Blegh! What is that?" His werewolf nose smelled death and decay coming off the dangling necklace.
"That's the locket!" Harry approached them and tried to take it only for Dobby to pop away from his reach.
"Dobby borrowed the bag for the errands he ran earlier," Hermione explained.
"What is it, love?" Tonks asked, she could smell nothing.
"It smells like death!" Lupin grimaced.
"Why do you not want them to touch it, Dobby? Do you fear it is cursed?" Minerva asked.
"Professor Kitty… This is being bad… Really bad," Dobby's eyes were bigger than ever.
"Bad how?" Harry frowned and tried to approach Dobby again.
"You can't be touching this, master!" Dobby popped away once more.
"Dobby, I don't understand… We've been wearing that for months," Hermione was getting quite concerned.
"You be wearing this?!" Dobby was shocked. "For months?! And you is still being alives?!"
Harry paled, "Yes, Dobby. We don't understand. Please tell us what's wrong with it?"
"Elvesies not be having a names for this. Elvesies would never being ables to creates something so… So evil," Dobby grimaced at the piece of jewelry.
"Evil?"
"Dobby be hearing about this when he is living with bad master," Dobby closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Lucius?" Minerva asked.
Dobby nodded. "Humans' name for this is being… Horcrux."
Minerva and Remus gasped.
"Oh, hell no!" Tonks sat down from the shock. The silence that followed was telling. "You are telling me that you have been living with a Horcrux for months?!"
"What is a Horcrux?" Hermione asked. Her ever-curious brain was listening attentively.
The adults shared a searching look as if trying to decide what to say.
Harry looked at all of them, "Remus, Tonks, Professor McGonagall… Please! Don't Dumbledore us!"
"You are right. We will be open with you always. Although it saddens me that you have to learn about this."
Harry and Hermione sat down next to each other and held hands immediately. Despite the circumstances, Minerva smiled at them. It was a wonderful thing to find love… even if you still didn't know you had found it.
"There's an extremely dark ritual to split a person's soul," Minerva began.
Simultaneously, Hermione asked "How?" while Harry asked "Why?"
"The 'how' is not for us to tell you," Remus began. Harry was about to complain, so he quickly added, "Not because we don't want to, Harry, but because we don't know the specifics. Horcruxes are considered the most terrible of all dark magic for a reason."
"Whenever a Horcrux is created, the creator has to commit supreme acts of evil to manage such a feat. It takes a horrible human with a significant magical ability to even attempt something like that," Minerva added.
"Is murder a supreme act of evil for this purpose?" Hermione asked, dreading the answer.
"We are not sure. In Auror Academy, we were taught that, if we ever came across something like that, we were never to touch them or try to use spells to 'open' them," Tonks replied. "Murder seems too simple and far too many dark wizards have been murderers, but not all of them have created Horcruxes."
"Historically, only Herpo the Foul is known to have created them. That would mean that this bastard is the second one ever to do something so stupid," Remus added.
"Herpo the Foul?" Hermione asked. The name sounded familiar.
"He was an Ancient Greek Dark Wizard, infamous pioneer of the Dark Arts. He was a Parselmouth and the first to create a Basilisk."
"Oh! I remember reading about that," Hermione sat down.
"He is also the creator of the first known Horcrux," Tonks added. "We were only told what to do with a Horcrux in theory because no one ever expected us to need that knowledge. They are extremely rare."
"We need to do a health checkup if you haven't done so already," McGonagall looked at Remus questioningly.
"No. We were about to when the kids thought they had lost the bag and the necklace," Remus replied.
"Perhaps you will feel more comfortable if Remus and Dobby check you, Harry, while Tonks and I check Hermione?" Minerva asked, "Since you need to undress."
"NO!" Harry jumped. "I feel fine. All I need is food and rest."
"Harry… This is important," Hermione tried to convince him.
"I don't need anyone to check me up!" Harry snapped. He was terrified of what they would think or do once they saw him.
Everyone looked at Hermione meaningfully. She grabbed Harry's arm, excused them, and took him outside to the porch.
"Harry James, you do need someone to check you up and so do I. If this Horcrux thing is that bad we may have side-effects from wearing it," Hermione reasoned.
"I don't want anyone to see me naked!" Harry whisper-shouted at her.
"Harry, don't be like that! I don't want people to see me naked either when I look like this," Hermione motioned down at her skinny body. Harry frowned. She was beautiful. Hermione went on, "But we are in a war and if we need a potion regime to get better, so we are ready to fight, we should start as soon as possible."
"I am not going to do this and you can't make me!"
"Why are you so stubborn?! I will undress right here and walk in there with you," Hermione offered. "We don't have to be naked. We can keep our underwear on, but really, Harry… They are not expecting models in there."
Harry muttered under his breath, "They are not expecting freaks either."
"What did you say?" Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"Nothing. I stand by what I said. I don't want no checkups!" Harry crossed his arms defiantly.
Hermione rolled her eyes not to highlight his double negative. "Fine. I will go in there, get checked up, ask them to teach me the spells and then I will do the check-up on you and you will shut up and let me do it because I refuse to have you sick unnecessarily," she gave him a scathing look.
"You are the last person I want to see me half-naked!" Harry replied.
Hermione tried not to feel offended. She frowned, placed her hands on her hips and her hair started to give off sparks. "Oh, I am sorry, your majesty. Was there a question in anything I just said?"
Harry withered under her stare. "No…"
"You have two choices. You can either have an experienced wizard, an Auror, or a professor, and your personal elf check you out or have me -a novice witch who has never done any major healing spells and could make your nose fall off your face- do it instead," Hermione said in a dangerous tone.
Despite his better judgment, Harry chuckled. "You would stoop so low as to make me look like my nemesis? That is cold."
"Harry James Potter… I swear to God!" She growled.
He sighed. "You don't understand. I am not worried that someone will think I am... below average or anything like that. I spent too many years showering after Quidditch with a bunch of dudes of all sizes, literally," Harry said with a small chuckle. "I am sure that Tonks and McGonagall wouldn't even blink. Hell, the professor and Remus were friends of my parents so she probably saw me naked as a baby... I am sure Tonks has seen better and worse."
"Then what is it?" Hermione blurted out, losing her patience.
"I don't think the Dursleys are well-hidden enough," Harry sighed.
"What?! What do they have to do with anything?" Hermione was perplexed. Unless… Oh no! Oh, hell no they didn't!
Harry took a deep breath. "Hermione… I-"
She took a step forward and placed a hand on his cheek. "Harry, whatever this is, I am not going anywhere. You know that, right?"
"I know… I just… Promise me that you will not see me with pity and I will show you," Harry offered.
"Never. Come," Hermione took his hand and apparated them to the master bedroom.
"Please sit," Harry walked her to the bed and locked the doors. "Give me your wand."
Hermione frowned "Is that really necessary?"
"Mione... Respectfully, you are terrifying when you are angry and I don't want you to do anything rash," Harry took her offered wand.
"Fine, go ahead," she crossed her arms.
Harry took off his shirt. Hermione lifted an eyebrow. She had seen him shirtless before. He took a deep breath and turned around so slowly that it looked like slow motion in the movies. He closed his eyes and allowed years of shame to wash over him. Hermione gasped.
Welts in purple and reddish tones, as well as crisscross scars and a few old cigarette burn scars, littered Harry's back. He took off his pants next and Hermione was shocked to see the scars go all the way down to his Achilles' heel, but only in the back of his body. Her friend's front only had a couple of scars and they all were from their magical adventures.
Harry repeated a mantra in his mind. She won't leave. She promised. She won't leave. She promised. She won't leave. She- he gasped as he felt her arms wrap around his middle. Her forehead against the space between his shoulder blades, "Mione?"
"Thank you for trusting me with this," she whispered and squeezed him tighter. "I am so glad you never have to see those monsters again."
Harry let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Thank you for not blowing... or throwing up," Harry replied, caressing her forearms slowly. His body felt like he wasn't weighed down by his past anymore. Her embrace felt... like home. Harry felt more at home in her arms than he did the first time he saw Hogwarts and that was quite revealing.
"Harry... They need to know."
"I don't want people to look at me like a victim. I am a survivor," Harry grunted the last part.
"I know that and so will they. Harry, we all love you. This will not change anything in any negative way," Hermione turned him around and hugged him once more. She placed her ear against his chest to hear his heart. "This is important, they may need to do additional healing for old wounds. Please, Harry... Do this... For me?"
"The big guns, huh?" Harry kissed the top of her head and she looked up pouting. "Fine. Will you come with me? I can't show them on my own," Harry asked with a shaky voice.
"Always."
Harry took her hand and walked them back to the living room.
"We were about to come find you," Tonks said.
"Everyone sit down and please give me your wands," Hermione said.
Slight frowns were on their faces but they complied.
"This is very difficult for Harry. Please don't do anything rash. We really don't want the house damaged. It's the first time we have been somewhere safe and good for a long time," Hermione requested.
"There is something I have been hiding from all of you. I did it mainly because when Madam Pomfrey saw me and treated me, I hoped things would change, but nothing happened. I didn't see the point in bringing it up to anyone else. Any time I did that in primary school, whoever I told and tried to do something about it ended up fired," Harry explained. "I asked Madam Hooch to teach me the Notice-Me-Not charm when I started playing Quidditch. She thought I was shy and didn't want anyone to see me naked because everyone was older than me, but that wasn't the reason why. I didn't want them to see my scars."
Minerva held on to her chair so harshly that her hands hurt. "Scars? As in plural?"
Harry took a step to where the sunlight hit the room and turned their back to the adults and the elf. Silence. There were gasps and then deafening silence. Tonks felt a river of tears fall down her cheeks. Remus was growling low. Someone had abused his pup. He never was under the illusion that Harry's home life was great, but he didn't know it was this bad. Remus felt angry and ashamed. He had failed Lily, James, and Sirius, but worst of all, he had failed his pup.
Minerva McGonagall wasn't a woman prone to hysterics. Perhaps it was the firewhiskey in her system but all she wanted was to cry, cuddle Harry and whisper 'I am sorry. I am so sorry,' over and over again. The shame was such that she wanted to quit education. How did she not see this? Looking back, Harry had many signs of child abuse in his personality. His mistrust of authority. His willingness to help the helpless. She remembered asking him about a bruise once and he explained it as Quidditch, but Minerva could have sworn the bruise looked like a hand. He had certain markers of delayed emotional development.
Harry wasn't particularly confident about many things, his intelligence in particular, but McGonagall knew he was very smart and quite talented even if he didn't try hard. He would withdraw for days at times and only Hermione could get him to reengage with the world. Then, there was the depression that followed Sirius' death. He would avoid physical touch like the plague from most people, but Minerva noticed how he was constantly searching for Hermione's hand or her closeness in general. His whale-sized clothes were a tell-tale sign that the Dursleys did not spend any money on him. Harry had always been athletic, but when he first came to their world he was very skinny, and every year since, he would return skinny after the break when he left looking good and healthy. As she went back in her memories she saw him taking food from the meals and putting it in his bag while looking around to make sure people were not noticing.
She stood up on shaky knees. Harry had sat down and put his shirt back on.
"Harry?" Minerva approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes?" Harry looked up and was touched to see the saddest expression he had ever seen in the professor's eyes.
"I have been a horrible Head of Gryffindor and professor. I am ashamed of myself. I hope you will one day find it in your heart to forgive me, Harry. I know I don't deserve it, but I still need you to know I am so sorry," her voice faltered and a lonely tear fell down her left cheek.
Harry was overcome with emotion. He held onto the professor's legs. Hermione moved her hand in circles on his upper back to ground him, "I-I have n-nothing to forgive you for. N-None of you. You can't help someone who doesn't let you know they need help," he shrugged and let go of.
"Harry, no. Never make excuses for adults. We should have known better. We should have done better," Tonks approached him. "I feel like a fool. I have been trained to look for all the signs. Someone should take my badge."
"To think that Lily and James have been rolling in their graves, seething at the Dursleys and I didn't do anything to get you out..."
"Remus, no. My parents loved you and I am sure they only blame the Dursleys. Please promise me that you will not go looking for them," Harry begged.
"Harry," Hermione complained.
"Hermione, no. The last thing we need is for you to get hurt or be imprisoned for attacking the Dursleys," Harry stared into her eyes. "I need you here! Please..."
She sighed. "Fine, I promise that while the war isn't over, I will not go teach them the meaning of the word revenge. Okay? But that is the best I can do."
Harry nodded and looked questioningly at everyone else who nodded too... Everyone, except Dobby who had vanished.
"Where's Dobby?"
"He was just here! Does he know where to find the Dursleys?"
"For their sake, I hope he doesn't!" Tonks replied. Then she caught herself, "You know what? No, I take that back. I hope he does," the Auror smirked.
A/N: Thank you for reading and for your follows and kind comments! :) -Lux-