In the Crosshairs Chapter 4: Smash, a harry potter fanfic

In the Crosshairs

Dragon Voldemort

Chapter 4: Smash

Harry held his head under the water pouring down that Sunday morning; he was standing in the bathtub, underneath the shower head, as he started to become wet.

"Harry! Harry!" came the call, Gia's voice, from below, a voice that echoed upward, through the crack of the partially open door, "He's HERE!"

Harry didn't want to reply, instead, he took the shampoo and worked it into his scalp; he'd rather spend the day cleaning himself than to do what had been asked of him. He worked the excess foam into his armpits, before working a bit more into his pubic hair.

"Good to see you…" Kevin Prescott started as he came into the bathroom.

Harry stood there, for the moment, displaying every detail above the knees, as the curtain hadn't been drawn. Kevin took another moment to collect the thoughts, the debate was obvious to Harry, whether to be courteous and wait outside, or to latch onto the awkwardness of it.

"He seems sober," Gia said to Harry, trying to break the tension.

Harry studied the thin frame of the man, for a moment, seeing the mouth that was a dentist's new boat dream as the teeth were well stained and chipped in dire need of repair or replacement. Butterflies grew fast and furious within him.

"I want to see your guardians, today," Kevin said.

"Not the Dursleys!" Harry protested, "They'd rather not be bothered!"

"You are dating my daughter," Kevin said, "You can either come along, or worry about what they might say without you there."

"They're out for the day—" Harry grumbled.

"Have you called?" Kevin said, "Likely not. Gia."

"They'll be pissed," Harry said as Gia went for the bedroom across the hall.

"Mr. Dursley?" Gia asked into the phone, "My troop is selling cookies, interested? … Two pounds fifty per box. … Understood, side door, ten boxes. … Ta."

"There is no side door," Harry said.

"Then they are home," Kevin said, "Come."

Harry grabbed a towel, dried himself as he followed Kevin and Gia. Hermione watched as Harry left the house, and got into the dull faded red sedan.

"I thought he was just going to have to talk to her father," Hermione said to Ron.

"Nope, it's meeting the Dursleys," Ron said, "Though I'm worried too, might force a breakup."

"They wouldn't—" Hermione said.

"It'd be in their rights and they just might," Ron said, "Depends on whether their hatred and contempt of Harry outweighs their fear of association with him."

"If there's anybody I'd rather curse more, I haven't found them," Hermione said.

Meanwhile, Kevin drove the sedan, getting closer to Little Whinging.

"I'm sorry but this isn't meant as torture," Kevin said, "I'm curious about the boy getting his hooks into my daughter."

"Harry's got strong character," Gia said.

Turn after turn, the anticipation rumbled within Harry, as billowing smoke came closer as they headed for Privet Drive.

"Here, right?" Kevin asked, as the car came to a stop.

Harry got out of the car, which was parked next to yellow police tape cordoning off Privet Drive, the origin of the heavy smoke. Each one of the row houses was charred, each one had collapsed, and smoldering wrecks of the parked cars contributed to the noxious fumes lingering in the air. Harry went past a police cruiser and ducked under the tape; he coughed as the hot soot invaded his throat.

"Stop!" a lady police officer said, from nearby.

"My family!" Harry said, paused to point toward number four.

"Likely dead—" the officer said

"I'm finding out!" Harry said as he bolted.

Harry counted the houses to find number four. Harry sorted and dug through the rubble. Harry came across the familiar large lump of flesh, badly burned, Uncle Vernon under the rubble of the living room; the large eyes glared up at Harry, for the last time, eyes that saw Harry's bottle greens peering back. Harry blinked.

"You Bastard!" Uncle Vernon yelled, "You had the nerve to show up after you—"

Kevin and Gia approached; Kevin got to moving more of the rubble.

"Don't think you'd care," Harry said to Uncle Vernon, "but, I'm dating."

"Your uncle?" Kevin asked as he uncovered Aunt Petunia.

"You?" Aunt Petunia spat, "Dating?! Who'd date a scoundrel such as you?"

"Yours?" Kevin asked Harry.

"You never came in July, never bothered with a missing person report," Uncle Vernon said, "Good riddance, or so I thought!"

"You should have shouted!" a medic scolded, arriving with a stretcher. A second was shortly behind.

Kevin grunted as he helped the medic move Uncle Vernon onto a stretcher.

"Runt likely did this—" Uncle Vernon said, "You'll wish you never were born!"

"On the verge of death and you're berating your nephew?!" Kevin said, "Look at—!"

"I have to ask you to leave," said another male police officer, who had just came over, said to Kevin, Harry, and Gia.

"He's family—" Kevin protested.

"You're upsetting them," the officer said, "Leave or I will have to arrest you—"

"We're leaving," Kevin said.

Kevin led the way back to the car, Harry and Gia in a fast trot behind. Harry and Gia crowded into the front passenger seat. Kevin drove fast, tailgating the ambulances, toward the hospital.

"I don't want—" Harry said.

"And you'd regret it later," Kevin said.

"You heard them—that was…typical," Harry said.

Kevin parked in the handicap parking spot; they dashed into the A&E. Inside were gurneys, some draped in white; orderlies were quickly trying to make order out of the chaos, moving the dead out of sight.

"Dursleys," Kevin said to the nurse, "Mr. and Mrs—Just came in."

"I'm sorry," the nurse said, pointing toward two white draped gurneys in the queue.

Gia followed Harry over, stood next to him as he lifted the sheet of one. Uncle Vernon's eyes were still open, unflinching, idle, with no breath through his sooted lips. Gia had expected a tear, but saw none as Harry lifted the other sheet; Aunt Petunia, with a nasty bump to her head, also laid idle, unmoving.

"You are not authorized—" an orderly said to Harry.

"It's over," Harry coldly stated, turning toward the door.

"Relation—?" the orderly asked.

"Doesn't matter anymore," Harry said, walking fast out the door with Kevin and Gia behind him.

"Sir—" the orderly asked, following fast.

Harry spun fast, stared through his glasses, bearing at the orderly. "It matters no more—I'm nobody to them. Thank you very much."

"Harry?" Gia asked.

Harry spun again, walked past the officer ticketing Kevin's illegally parked car. Kevin ran up, gripped Harry's shoulder.

"Very cold and callous—" Kevin said.

"The matter is over," Harry stated, "Good riddance—

"Services—" Kevin said.

"I'm likely banned," Harry said, "I'll live with it, better off I imagine."

Kevin opened his mouth.

"Don't press it," Gia said, "They were being unusually kind today, as I understand it."

Kevin turned, ran for his car, which was being threatened by a tow truck. They watched the car leave the parking lot without them, the tow truck having made off with its bounty, though a business card fluttered in the air.

"Bloody hell!" Kevin exclaimed, grabbing the card from the pavement, "He fucking enjoyed that!"

"We go get the car," Harry said, "Or, Gia and I take the train—"

"I'm escorting you, remember?" Kevin said.

They walked to the bus stop, on the edge of the carpark, past the gate where another car was paying for the parking. Harry sat on the bench.

"Harry was sent to live with them after his parents died," Gia said, "Surprised they treated you like that."

"My mother and Aunt were estranged," Harry said, "So, I was an imposition, a reminder to the sister they'd rather forget; but they were the only family I had."

"That doesn't justify their behavior to you," Kevin said.

"Life's rarely fair, I know that," Harry said, "Gia, though, makes it a bit fairer."

"No questioning the relationship," Kevin said, a short while later on the bus, "What about protection, or do you have a plan for when my daughter gets pregnant?"

"We've already considered the birth control, so unlikely," Harry said, "But, I do have an inheritance, one that my Aunt and Uncle never touched, enough to get by, for a while."

"So, you're rich?" Kevin asked.

"Money isn't being rich," Harry said.

"You take care of her, look after her," Kevin said, "Promise me that."

"Yes," Harry said.

A few hours and hefty penalty later, they returned to Noigate. Harry entered the Granger's house first.

=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=

"—leveled today. Eyewitnesses report seeing three strange teenage boys moments before the incident. One is loosely described a strange pale face and blond hair; however all three were wearing black robes which will make identification of these culprits nearly impossible. At least twenty people have been reported killed. …"

"Take it that things didn't go as planned," Hermione said, turning her attention from the radio to Harry.

"It's over," Harry said, "No more worrying—"

"Don't joke—" Hermione said.

"He's not," Gia said, "Rubble was still warm when we got there."

"Privet Drive is no longer," Harry said.

"Blond hair," Ron said, "Any guesses? One or less?"

"After today, you are my family," Harry said.

"So your Aunt?" Ron asked.

"Dead," Gia said, "Her and the Uncle."

"Your cousin?" Ron asked.

"I didn't think to ask," Harry said, "Didn't exactly have a long chance to chat."

"You were worried about stuff happening this year," Ron said, "Guess they got a head start."

"It was daring though, in broad daylight," Harry said, "Fortunately, I don't consider the Dursleys a big loss. … Well, maybe Uncle Vernon is." He snickered.

Hermione said sternly, "That's not funny."

Ron woke next next morning, Monday, to being shaken by Hermione, towering over him on the sofa.

"Diagon Alley!" Hermione said, "Come on! Get your list—"

"Later," Ron said, figuring it a task best left to the last minute.

"Things to study—" Hermione said.

"Borrow Harry's book for Hagrid's," Ron said, hoping to at least push her to go the next day.

"And smolder my essays before I can do them next to the fire extinguisher?" Hermione said, "You need to study too, so get your list—stop right there!" Her gaze, her attention, shifted rapidly, turned to Harry and Gia heading for the door. "We're going, NOW!"

"Alright, alright," Ron grumbled as he got up. He walked into the fireplace, dropped in Floo Powder, and shouted, "The Burrow!"

Green flame shot upward as Ron spun, for a moment before being hurdled out of the fireplace. Ron tumbled, covered in soot, and fell to the floor next to Hermione.

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, getting back up.

Beep, BEep, BEEP!

Three ascending tones came from the fireplace, accompanied by a voice, "We're sorry, but the fireplace you're trying to reach is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please contact customer service, or try your Floo again."

"Use the good stuff," Hermione said, pointing to another bucket of Floo Powder.

Ron entered the fireplace, again, dropping the Floo Powder, yelled, "The Burrow!"

Again, Ron was thrown out.

Beep, BEep, BEEP!

"It's only getting worse," Hermione said.

Ron stood. "I'm trying! If you're not satisfied, try it yourself!"

Hermione grabbed Floo Powder, entered the fireplace, and yelled as dropped the powder, "The Burrow!"

As happened to Ron, Hermione spun. She, too, found herself being thrown out; Ron caught her.

Beep, BEep, BEEP!

Harry grabbed a handful, stepped, and yelled as dropped the powder, "The Burrow!"

Harry, too, spun in the green flame, and was thrown out. Harry, though, was airborne, collided with Ron and Hermione, knocking them both over; his glasses flung halfway across the living room.

Beep, BEep, BEEP!

Ron got up, went to the fireplace.

"Try this," Ron said, as he grabbed a new handful, dropped it as he yelled, "The Kirbys!"

Ron spun up in the green flame, and again, he was thrown back out. He stumbled, but caught himself, he was now covered in ashen black.

"There is the train," Gia said.

"Just as reliable," Linda said, lifting her eyes from a magazine, "Just like BT[1]."

"Got an idea," Ron said.

Harry leaned back against the back of the sofa.

"Think my list is there too," Harry said, "Hermione, can we just use yours?"

"You're not taking Arithmacy, or Muggle Studies," Hermione said.

"He's studying a muggle," Ron said as he threw in a fistful of Floo Powder.

"Some people just never learn," Hermione said.

"Calling the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office!" Ron shouted.

A face appeared in the fireplace, that of Perkins, Arthur Weasley's coworker.

"Which Weasley is this?" Perkins asked.

"Ron," Ron replied.

"Just a moment," Perkins said.

Perkins disappeared, replaced by Arthur Weasley a minute later.

"Yes?" Arthur asked.

"Dad," Ron said, "I tried getting the Burrow—what's up? It and the Kirbys are disconnected."

Arthur turned his face. "Perkins—? … Thank you." He turned back to Ron. "Grangers?" Ron nodded. "I'll get back to you." Arthur disappeared.

Ron sighed. "Never had a problem before, though it gets me out of—"

"No it does not," Hermione said, "I do have my list and we do share some—"

"Ron?" Arthur's face reappeared in the fireplace. "Ours was abnormally disconnected at the source, Kirbys have some residual interference of some sort. I'm departing immediately." His face vanished.

"In the meanwhile, we're leaving—" Hermione started.

Arthur's face reappeared. "I cannot Apparate to the Burrow either."

"I'll drive you," Linda said, car keys now twirling on her fingers, "And you can tell me all about your trip."

Arthur smirked. "I'll meet you out there." He vanished.

"Mom!" Hermione protested.

"Do you need the ride or not?" Linda asked.

"It's this or the train," Harry said, "We need to know what's happening."

"Yeah, let's go," Ron said.

Ten minutes later, they crowded into the bright yellow sedan; Hermione sat in the front, while Harry squeezed between Ron and Gia for the middle of the back seat.

"Devon, was it?" Linda asked.

"Yes," Ron said.

Linda shifted the drive selector, began to move the car.

Linda drove, using the M3 for most of the distance. Harry, Ron, Gia, and Hermione sweltered and sweated, not from the heat, but from Linda's questions. Hermione figured out to deflect most of the awkward questions by delving into the museums that they had visited. Hermione used a map, pointed as they needed to turn, first to Catchpole, before Ron guided to St. Ottery, to the underused driveway.

"That's the.." Hermione muttered, jaw dropping, as they rounded the shrubbery.

Ron quickly opened the car door before Linda had brought it to a stop, he stumbled as he gained his footing, and ran toward the big pile of rubble where the Burrow formerly stood; around the pile were other red haired individuals.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Ron demanded.

Harry stopped beside Ron. "Explains the Floo thing."

"Not funny," Ron snapped.

Bill Weasley, with his flowing shoulder length red hair, glanced up from the other side of the pile, came over to Harry and Ron. Hermione and Gia joined up with them.

"Fortunately everyone is accounted for," Bill said, "I think the House Elves are holding themselves up in the tree house."

"Decades of memories." Arthur Weasley walked up. "According to the neighbors, a pale faced teenager boy with blond hair was asking around at the cafe about us, where Ottery Street was, that sort. His two male friends, both heavy build, took off in this direction. John, next door, said they walked past his place shortly before he saw the dust cloud. Took me an hour to walk from where I could Apparate to, definitely magic."

Charlie, who just arrived, started moving the rubble. They all pitched in.

"And they will pay," Ron promised.

"Remain the better man," Arthur said, "An investigation will ensue, after which, we can rebuild, if we desire to. In the meanwhile, I believe all can find suitable accommodation—"

"Can't believe it!" said the voice of Percy coming from a distance on a path obscured by the leafy vines and bushes, "Not only did they forget my birthday four days ago, but having to walk home. Juliet, I mean, I go to see Dad, told he's gone on an emergency. Can't Apparate or use the Floo Network. So what do I do? Have to Apparate to the Kirbys and walk from there—"

"Perce," said the voice of Juliet, Percy's current girlfriend, "It could be important."

"Yeah right," Percy said, "Likely Fred and George again, it wouldn't be the first time."

Percy rounded the corner, in full and fancy dress robes, and froze in his footsteps. His eyes moved and he looked at the rubble pile for a minute before Bill looked up.

"Jams everything for miles," Bill said

"About time," Percy spat, a look of indignation on his face.

Harry joined in the collective glare at Percy. Percy returned the glare, with seething contempt, and left with Juliet. Harry reached down, picked up a broken timber, tossed it aside. Gia, Ron, and Hermione joined in the effort.

"Found it!" Charlie exclaimed, lifting up their beloved VitalFamily™ kitchen clock. Arthur came to tears, the hands shattered, including Molly's one that had been burnt.

Harry and Ron found their trunks; Hedwig flew down to meet them. Hermione and Gia helped to pull all they could from where Ron's room had collapsed onto. Arthur Weasley came over.

"I thank you for the assistance," Mr. Weasley said to them, "While I plan to see you on platform 9¾, if I don't, have a fun year at Hogwarts."

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"Don't worry about me," Arthur said, "What counts is that everyone came out safe. While we'll camp out until this is cleared, Fred and George do have their new shop, so that is a possibility. As to you lot, well, Mrs. Granger?"

"Yes," Linda said.

"That settles it," Arthur said, "I'll see you Sunday."

Harry and Ron loaded their trunks into the boot of Mrs. Granger's car. Ron followed Hermione into the back seat, his hands began to feel her up.

"Up front," Linda Granger said to Hermione.

Hermione scrambled between the seats, moved up front. Linda got in, drove away, away from there the Burrow had once stood.

Traffic turned the M25 into a parking lot for over an hour as Linda Granger drove them back to Noigate. She took the exit, left the motorway.

"I'm hungry," Ron said.

"I'd like to see my Dad," Gia said.

"We'll take care of the food," Linda said, "The other—it's late enough as it is, how about tomorrow?"

Linda pulled alongside a fish and chips shop; they got out.

"You know, it's close enough," Gia said, "We can walk to my Dad's from here."

"You're not hungry?" Linda asked.

"They'll eat first," Ron said.

Linda paid for the orders, they sat.

"It ages you ten years in an instant when you learn that your teenage daughter is sexually active," Linda said, her look silenced Hermione's protests, "What are the precautions you're taking?"

"It's some spell," Gia said.

"A charm, a condom," Hermione said, "Sheaths their todgers in magic, perfect protection, perfect sensation."

"Can't by chance package this?" Linda said, "Think there's a plenty of couples that would find that useful."

"I do want to see Dad, tonight," Gia said.

"We can swing by—" Hermione started.

"Think the day's already been a bit crowded," Linda said.

"You've been kind enough," Harry said, "It's not too far from here, right Gia?"

"Yes," Gia said.

"We'll walk it, be back at your place by midnight," Harry said.

"Certain?" Linda asked.

"Walking does him good," Gia said, "Gotta keep him trim."

"Of course," Linda said.

Harry and Gia got up, walked along, about a mile from the shop to James Lane. Right before the S–bend, a police cruiser was parked, blocking the way, with its flashing blue lights pulsating across the homes and trees, pushing away the darkness of the night.

"Sir! Ma'am!" a nearby police officer said.

Gia, though, ignored him, and rounded the second bend; more flashing lights as a horde of police cars, firetrucks, and a medical transport were nearby, but a short distance away from the trailer in the driveway. A number of police officers had their weapons drawn, using their cars as shields, aimed toward the trailer.

"Sir!" the first officer chased Harry and Gia, "STOP!"

"But—" Gia started to protest.

"BACK!" the officer commanded.

Within the swarm of first responders stood one with the biggest hat, with Chief embroidered on it. She turned away from another, when her eyes caught glimpse of Gia. Noigate Police Chief Kristen Osborn walked fast and determined, breaking into a jog.

"Gia Prescott?" Kristen asked.

"That's me," Gia said.

"We have a situation and I think you can assist," Kristen said, knowing that she was about to break protocol, because Gia had the best chance to resolve the situation peacefully.

"Sure," Gia said.

Harry followed Gia as they were led through the maze of cars, until they had sight of the wooden park style bench outside the trailer. Sitting on it where three stark naked people, while underneath was a big box containing a bunch of sticks of dynamite, loose nails in between, hooked to wires leading up to a trigger button being held down by the man in the middle.

"Dad!" Gia exclaimed, recognizing the man in the middle as Kevin Prescott.

Kevin Prescott held the button to one hand, and a pistol in the other; the pistol aimed at Ane to his left. To his right was the "Jane" that Harry and Gia had previously seen Kevin banging back on July first; she was giggling extensively. Dilated pupils of the three were glancing about, not recognizing anybody, not even Gia, they giggled. Ane pointed to a bird in a tree and laughed. Odors of beer and alcohol permeated the air.

Kristen held Gia in place, kept her from leaping toward him. "Experts believe releasing the button would detonate the device."

"Not again," Gia muttered.

"Again?" Kristen asked.

"He's been high before," Gia said, "Never this serious—"

"I wish you had talked before, we could've intervened," Kristen said, "Instead we've been sitting around for the past six hours, in jeopardy if that thing goes off. Talk to him."

Kristen handed Gia a microphone from the cruiser closest to the bench, Harry stood next Gia.

"Dad—!" Gia pleaded, taking a step in front of the cruiser.

"Get back—" Kristen.

"Slut!" Kevin yelled.

Harry pointed at Jane, she was doodling using a small knife on Kevin's bloody thigh.

"Enough—" Gia pleaded.

Quick, Jane then stabbed Kevin in the bollocks as if going for a meatball.

"Exciting—" Kevin said, a grin formed.

BANG

The pistol went off, Ane started to slump as bits of her brain left sideways, but did not get a chance to finish the slump. Harry, meanwhile, leapt and spun, pushed Gia down and behind him. Kevin had let go of his push button.

BOOM

It exploded. Kevin and Jane were killed instantly. Shrapnel pierced Harry's back. Harry collapsed, falling hard onto the pavement, his glasses shattered.

"Harry!" Gia yelled.

Kristen plunged downward, ripped Harry's shirt off, saw the wooden shard going through his chest between the ribs; she had hedged her bet, had a plan for this contingency, but didn't expect it to be an innocent teenage boy. A paramedic was right behind, came fast to a kneal as he felt Harry's neck.

"Still a pulse," the paramedic said.

Within thirty seconds, a helicopter, the one that Kristen had staged in the nearby school yard, had arrived and landed, by which time, Harry was already loaded onto a gurney and was wheeled to the helicopter. Gia jumped in alongside them, held on as the helicopter took off. It was a rough five minute flight, one that she had longed for Harry's grace on a broom, a flight that was forever be her longest even though the hospital was not too far. One flight nurse was gauzing the punctures while the paramedic hand pumped air into him, forcing Harry to breathe.

"Come on Harry," Gia pleaded.

The helicopter landed, the nurse and an orderly nearby lifted the gurney off the helicopter; the paramedic kept pumping the air, and Gia followed. Gia shoved a cameraman taking footage out of the way, the camera shattered. Gia ran into the hospital, only to be stopped by a different nurse, a tall, imposing lady, in white.

"He's—" Gia protested.

"In a moment," the nurse said, holding a clipboard and a pen, "I need—"

"You've got his name—Harry Potter," Gia said, trying to side step the male orderly also blocking her.

"And it's restricted!" the nurse said, "I—"

"Then come!" Gia said, surprised by her own rage, a determination she had seen in Harry, something that seemed to be carried into herself, "He needs me!" She appeared intimidating as the nurse and the orderly yielded. The orderly took her to a sink, had her sanitize herself before putting on a gown, and escorted her into the operating room.

"Keep quiet," the orderly said to Gia, "While they save your…"

"He's very important to me," Gia whispered.

On the table, in the middle, laid Harry, his abdomen open, the surgeons worked.

"Suction," called one.

Blood stained the gloves; Gia saw the guts, turned, puked her dinner into a sink, before returning and stepping closer. Gia watched as the surgeons removed a fragment of wood lodged near his heart.

"Where's that damn blood?" the surgeon demanded.

"We don't have a type," another said.

"Are you sure that was O negative?" the surgeon asked.

"All three pints?" the person asked.

"I need more blood, check his medical history for the right type," the surgeon said.

"No information from the database," a nurse said.

"None?" the surgeon inquired, "Not even a date of birth?"

"It's restricted," the nurse said, "We can't override."

"Your NHS at work," the surgeon said, "He's young and seems healthy, so pray that we find out his blood type."

The nurse took Gia aside.

"I need to know his guardians," the nurse said.

"Killed yesterday," Gia said.

"Anybody else we should contact?" the nurse asked.

"Yes," Gia said.

"And your relation?" the nurse asked.

"I'm his—" Gia said.

Meanwhile, Hermione sat on the carpet in the middle of the living room, revising her essays while Ron laid there, he was doodling in her Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, quill in hand.

"You've got your own school books," Hermione said.

"Not in mint condition," Ron said. He dipped his quill into the ink jar, worked on the Chudley Canons logo.

Sitting on the sofa, Linda was watching the telly, when a picture of the flattened trailer swarmed by investigating police working in the flood of portable work lights.

"In breaking news," said the news anchor, "We have word that a police standoff has ended in tragedy. At least three people are dead and a young man is being rushed to the hospital. Our crew is heading to the scene and we will report when we have further details."

"Bad day for somebody," Ron said.

Hermione grabbed the nearby phone, dialed.

RING! RING!

"I thought Harry had grabbed the mobile we lent him" Hermione said.

"Something wrong?" Linda asked.

"That looked somehow familiar," Hermione said, "Feels funny—oh no you don't!"

Ron's quill had threatened her revision of her essay.

"Relax," Ron said, "Harry and Gia will be back shortly, just had to check in with her Pop."

"I'm worried," Hermione said.

"We can settle it," Ron said, "Need my pacifier?"

"Oh no you don't!" Linda snapped.

=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=

"We have an update to the apparent murder suicide. Police confirm that a man and two woman were killed when the man, drunk and under the influence of an illicit drug, detonated an explosive device; the damage was catastrophic. An injured teenager was transported to the hospital, but the hospital refuses to answer our inquiries."

RING! RING!

"Hello?" Linda asked, picking up the phone, "Yes, just a moment, Hermione!"

Hermione grabbed the phone.

"Hi," Hermione said, "Who's this? … Oh…" Color drained from her face, the smile replaced by a more somber straight lips, "We'll be there. Thank you."

Hermione's toes curled, tensed up.

"And?" Ron asked.

"It was Harry," Hermione said, "He's at the Hospital in emergency surgery, they're not sure…"

Keys were already in Linda's hand, when Ron went to the fireplace. Ron joined Hermione, outside in the car, several minutes later.

"You took your time," Hermione said to Ron, as Linda moved the car.

"Did Gia say anything more?" Ron asked.

"It was a short call," Hermione said.

"Dumbledore will want them," Ron said.

"Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, that's who I called," Ron said, "This counts as serious."

A half hour later, Linda brought the car to a halt in the passenger loading and unloading zone in front of the hospital.

"Call when you get news," Linda said.

Ron and Hermione got out, walked into the hospital. Gia was in the waiting room.

"He's still in surgery, they're closing up now," Gia said, "He gave a couple of good scares, even thought he was dead, twice, but he's stabilized. It's like his magic won't let him die, a good trait. They should be moving him out momentarily."

They went to the surgical doors, waited a few minutes until the orderlies moved Harry out. They followed into the Intensive Care ward; they neared a room when Kristen Osborn approached.

"Miss Prescott," Kristen said, "I have a couple of questions."

Gia moved off with Kristen while Ron and Hermione entered the room. Harry had many tubes attached to him, a ventilator assisting, while a nurse attached electrodes to a heart monitor.

"He's flirting," Ron said.

"It's not funny," Hermione snapped.

Gia came into the room fifteen minutes later; Kristen with her.

"I'll let Richard know in the morning," Kristen said, and left.

"So, just what happened?" Hermione asked.

"Dad must've shot himself up," Gia said, "Another relapse."

"Drugs?" Hermione said, "I wasn't aware he used them."

"It's not like we advertised it!" Gia said, "Every time, it was different, good thing he died because I'd murder him myself."

"Gia!" Hermione exclaimed.

"He didn't fucking recognize me!" Gia said, "High as a kite, and it didn't click that I was his daughter. I'm sorry, but he died when he injected up, he chose some hooker over me, like I'm…"

"Stop," Ron said, "Don't beat yourself up."

"My Dad committed suicide, the real one perished years ago," Gia said, "He nearly killed me, and he would have if it weren't for Harry. Harry saved me, he used his body to take the blast, he protected me, and he's a force to be reckoned with. I can trust him with my life."

[1]: British Telephone