In the Crosshairs

Dragon Voldemort

Chapter 96: Rock of the Sea

Harry laid dormant on the ground beneath the midnight sky, his eyes shuttered, as the nightmare continued.

"AGAIN!" Finnigan shouted.

Trident whips went down on his fragile frame on the floor of the Great Hall, Macnair swung these, across Harry's ribs, shredding his flesh apart. Black hair separated the skin left him. A convulsion, the pile of flesh burst into flames, consumed Harry into nothingness. His soul detached, hovered overhead as a ghost without form.

"He's dead!" shouted Madam Pomfrey.

"His own damn fault," said Minister Fallerschain, "He dared to live."

"Pathetic," Snape said.

"Foolish to even think investing anything into Potter was a good idea," Dumbledore said, "A waste, an utter waste, he wasn't the wizard for the job."

A cackle.

Aurors trained their wands, the demeantors confiscated those, began to kiss, as the robes in black apparated into the Great Hall. Red slit eyes, Voldemort had his wand drawn.

"Thank you all for finishing up my loose end," Voldemort said, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Green light, auror after auror dropped.

"STOP!" Finnigan shouted.

"Always useful!" Voldemort said, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Finnigan struck, fell. More green, the students were all dropped to the ground.

"Thank you Minister, wouldn't have been possible without you," Voldemort said, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Sky blue robes collapsed.

"One less traitor," Voldemort shouted, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Greasy black haired, Snape collapsed.

"You got everything," Dumbledore said.

"One less fool," Voldemort said, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Dumbledore's frame crumpled.

"One final worthless burden," Voldemort said, wand aimed, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Green magic flew upward, hit Harry's disembodied soul.

Harry woke up in a sweat, trees to one side in the darkness beneath the starlit sky. On his back, his broom in hand, and he agreed, he was indeed worthless as the nightmare replayed itself, commingled with flashbacks of the whips onto Ron, Hermione, soiling themselves. He'd brought this onto them, was bringing it onto Gia, the thought that resonated, they'd be better off without him, him a memory that filled an empty chair at every celebration.

Harry felt the soreness on his back as he stood, one leg over the broom, and he drifted upward. Unsure to where he wanted to go, he drifted south westerly. Followed the land. A tendril of light in the distance, he flew faster, out over the tip of the land. Islands beyond, Harry found an outcropping of rock, only a lighthouse beyond, the breeze on him, and he sat. Water crashed beneath him, the spray across him, a shiver, a wandless warming charm, and he kept staring.

Death dwelled in Harry's mind, the ones he'd seen, the ones he'd imagined, the ones he knew were to come, and the hopelessness of it all; he knew everybody wanted him gone as those bounties proved, and thus Harry felt it was time to acquiesce.

Gia woke to the nose on the bed, Snuffles pushed her awake.

"Meant to oversleep," Gia said, though she felt over to her side, empty, save Crookshanks, cool.

She rolled off in the morning light, Snuffles transformed, closed the door.

"Seen Harry?" Sirius said, "Normally…his scent's stale."

Gia shook her head.

"You two—?" Sirius started.

"He needed an attitude check," Gia said, "That's all."

A glare.

"Still, shouldn't have gone too far," Gia said.

Sirius transformed, Gia went for the door, and he bounded down. Gia stepped into the green bedroom, the one now that was one part shrine, one part nursery, yawns that came from the master bedroom. A glance into Richard's bedroom, and Gia went down the stairs.

Creak, Squeak

Snuffles went out the front door. Gia walked the mostly repaired house, the living room far corner restored, the study back to being a study with plants. Dining room, kitchen, the laundry, and down the steps into the basement. Around the boxes, the derelict boiler, she glanced into Richard's workshop, before she returned up the stairs.

Hoot

Gia returned back up the stairs, into her bedroom, Hedwig still there. She stroked a couple of her feathers, handed her an owl treat. Bold eyes, the ones that had come to adopt Gia as another friendly muggle. A flap of her wings as she stretched. Up the stairs, the black dog entered; Snuffles closed the door, transformed.

"Nothing I can find," Sirius said.

Sirius pulled out the oak wand, the one Harry provisioned the previous month.

"Point me to Harry Potter," Sirius said.

Wand stayed there.

"It's a wand," Sirius said, "Not mine, not the wand confiscated by the Ministry, still in their possession."

Gia sat on the bed.

"Told him off," Gia said, "I want him back."

"Got a bit short," Sirius said, "Um…can't sit on this, I'll be back in a couple of moments."

Hedwig stretched her wings.

Hoot

"Smart bird," Sirius said, "Write Ron?"

Gia went to her desk, write using the parchment, the quill there, and folded it up, addressed it. She tied it to Hedwig's foot.

"Ron or Hermione," Gia said, "Go."

Gia opened the window, Hedwig flew off.

"Stay inside the house," Sirius said, "Avoid the windows too."

"That bad?" Gia asked.

"I can't watch and search for Harry at the same time," Sirius said, "Best to wait here."

Sirius disapparated.

Gia sat on the bed, rolled over, rubbed Crookshanks' belly, the tail moved up and down, back and forth.

Ron woke to a twitch next to him on the bed. Hermione, in a sweat. He reached, pulled her over onto him. Her arms reached, her hands clung onto him.

"No…no…" Hermione muttered.

Ron held her hand as she woke up. She smiled. Sound of a rustle, and Ron laughed.

"Fred—" Ron started.

Wings of white, the snowy owl, Hedwig flew into the room, dropped a letter.

"Stay a moment," Ron said to her.

Ron stood as she roosted on the edge of the desk chair. Her eyes wide at Pigwidgeon fluttering in, about. Ron took the letter, opened it.

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

Ron or Hermione

Is Harry with you?

We had a slight disagreement, I went to Andy's memorial, only to find him gone. He hasn't shown himself since. Snuffles can't track him either.

Gia

"If she's complaining…" Ron handed the letter to Hermione.

Hermione frowned.

"Apparate there—find out," Ron said.

"You know—" Hermione started.

Ron threw his Portkey at her.

"GO!" Ron snapped.

She activated it and vanished.

HOOT! HOOT!

"HEEL!" Ron said to Hedwig, "Still need you."

Knock, Knock

Ron opened the door, Arthur stood there, in pajamas.

"Heard a bit of noise," Arthur said, "Everything alright?"

"Gia complained of a missing Harry," Ron said.

…

Hermione landed in Gia's bedroom.

Meow

Crookshanks on the bed, his eyes on her. Her arms out, Crookshanks leapt into them, his tail against her as it went back and forth. Gia entered the bedroom.

"Hermione," Gia said, "I asked Kristen, no police reports on him."

"Sirius?" Hermione asked.

"Hunting," Gia said, "But with Harry's scent all over, not like that's going to be fast."

"I'll tell Ron," Hermione said.

Hermione fumbled a bit, Crookshanks in her arm. She activated the Portkey, pushed it against Crookshanks.

Meow!

She held Crookshanks tight, as they were pulled back, and she landed in the middle guest bedroom. Ron's blue eyes on her. Crookshanks jumped onto the bed, sniffed, and stretched out.

"No sign," Hermione said, "No police reports, nothing."

"I'll summon—" Arthur started.

"Hold off," Ron said, "I'm tracking first. Hedwig."

Ron spun to the desk, grabbed parchment, folded it up and addressed it. Fred appeared.

"With bounties," Arthur said, "It's out of—" Arthur said.

"I'm looking for him," Ron said, "No butts about it."

Ron attached the letter to Hedwig. A flick of his hand, the Firebolt II flew out, a flick of the wand, the window opened. Hedwig went out. Ron chased her, and he disillusioned.

"He's crazy," Fred said.

"Can't argue with the method," Arthur said.

"Don't you have a store—" Hermione started.

"Can you lend us a bit of help?" Fred said, "We'd appreciate you double checking the books."

"In a bit," Hermione said.

Hermione walked past them, down the stairs.

Ron's butt sore as he flew the new broom beneath the high noon sun, the water, the island with a castle. Hedwig ahead of him.

"Gotta…" Ron started as he lowered his altitude.

Ahead, the sign, St. Michael's Mount, hinted to where he was. Ron flew to the west side, landed. Broom to the side, Ron sat on the rocky ground, with the water below him. Hedwig circled him, landed on his right knee, her eyes on Ron.

Hoot!

Ron stroked the feathers with his right hand.

"Figure even you need rest," Ron said, "Why'd Harry go so far?"

Ron waited a few minutes.

"Ready?" Ron asked the snowy white owl.

Hoot!

"Alright," Ron said.

Hedwig jumped, her wings soared, the letter still tied to her. Ron mounted his broom, flew up. A glance below, across the bay, back to beach they crossed over the sleepy resort town of Penzance. Convergence of land to both sides, over the small outcropping of buildings at Land's End, to the water beyond.

"Hope you've got it right," Ron said to Hedwig ahead of him.

White feathers on those wings, only thing other than the dull gray of the sea beneath the clouds above, the winds that blew them both side to side. Only his balance on his broom saved Ron from drowning. Past a lighthouse below, they kept flying.

"Where'd Harry…?" Ron muttered, goosebumps to his nipples beneath his shirt.

A half hour to the cluster of small islands, over the isolated settlements on them, a bit further. Unchecked winds, Ron steadied himself, braced on the broom.

Hoot!

Hedwig stalled once, twice, before she regained her flight.

"Find HARRY!" Ron shouted at her, hoping she heard.

A lighthouse beyond, however, Hedwig went down toward a rock sticking out of the water. A solitary scrawny figure sat on that rock, the legs that dangled over the edge, the feet into the water. A spray of the sea showered this boy, this man, with black hair, Harry.

"One moment," Ron said to Hedwig.

Ron landed behind Harry, Ron's feet onto that slippery wet rock. Ron banished his broom, stepped slow toward Harry, the lighthouse that blinked its light beyond. Hedwig dropped her letter to Harry.

"Hedwig!" Harry exclaimed, "What are you doing here?!"

Harry opened the letter.

"Who'd send an empty letter?" Harry said, "Hedwig, go home before you get yourself killed."

Hedwig's eyes to Ron. Ron nodded. She nibbled at Harry's ear, flew off. Ron sat behind Harry, feet near Harry's hips.

"Still doesn't answer who'd…" Harry turned the scrap of parchment over, in front of him. He crumpled the parchment, it burned. "Another hater, likely her, didn't bother to sign it. Everything falls apart around me, doesn't it?"

Ron unsure where the small stone came from, watched as Harry threw it into the water.

"They all hate me," Harry said, "They proved it, they did, last week. Wish I never had magic, or been born—we'd all be better off!"

Ron reached around Harry.

"I can think of a few that think otherwise," Ron said, holding Harry.

"Ron?!" Harry exclaimed, "Can't escape you, can I?!"

"That girl seemed rather concerned about you missing," Ron said, "Spent most of the day following Hedwig."

"That was you!" Harry said.

"Picked that trick up ages ago," Ron said.

Ron held Harry there, against him.

"Lovely spot to build a house," Ron said, trying to deflect the mood, "Don't you think?"

A wave slammed against this rock, pushed Ron back, drenched them both with water. Harry fell backward. They got back up, returned to sitting where they were, however, Ron sat with his back to Harry's.

"Put in a garden," Ron said, "Maybe a deck, with a hot tub. Need a dock over there!" Pointed toward the other side of the large rock. Beyond, large waves pounded the shore of the nearby island.

"Very funny," Harry snapped.

"Our punishment really messed you up," Ron said.

"Stared at your arse too much in that paper?" Harry snapped.

"Hermione…she…" Ron said, "She's having trouble too. I want revenge."

Another wave drenched them, Harry shivered for a moment.

"Should leave," Ron said, "Your talking to me is a violation—"

"To hell with that!" Harry said, "Why the fuck should I care? They all seem to know better than me on how to run my life! Those idiots bought that smut!"

"They are idiots," Ron said, "That doesn't excuse their behavior, but they will come back apologizing later."

"Like that helps," Harry said, "Deed's already done. Every time I try anything…it comes back."

"Thought Gia was helping—" Ron started.

"Doesn't do squat," Harry said.

A wave crashed, sprayed them both, and they shivered, together.

"There's more," Harry said.

"You've got friends that care," Ron said, "We're trying to stick up for you, but I won't always get it right, but that's not for lack of trying."

"Sure did wonders with Lupin," Harry said.

Ron threw a small pebble, watched a crab walk along.

"You're being a royal pain in the arse right now," Ron said.

"Great!" Harry exclaimed, "I got plenty of those!"

"Lupin tried to help," Ron said, "You bitched at him—don't expect everyone to take that. You're awfully damn irritable now."

"Great, I'm irritable!" Harry exclaimed, "Just—"

Another wave collided with the small rock outcropping they were on; this time, it swept, pushed them both along, off their footing, into the sea. Both adrift and floating in the swells that crashed over them.

"Don't bother!" Harry exclaimed.

Ron reached, held onto Harry with one arm; Harry struggled.

"I'm not worth it!" Harry protested, ripped loose.

Ron put one arm around Harry's torso, pulled as he tried in vain to swim in the cold water, water rapidly cooling them both off.

"Dammit, don't struggle!" Ron snapped.

Ron swallowed water, rock beneath his toes, wand in his other hand.

"Carpe Retractum!" Ron exclaimed.

Magic pulled him and Harry back onto the rock, they stood, upright, the water that dripped off them, the strong wind that blew across them.

"You're such an idiot," Harry said, bottle eyes glared at Ron.

"Saving you makes me an idiot?" Ron said, "Have to consult Gia."

Another wave came their way. Ron took out his Portkey, jumped toward Harry as he activated it, the wave that crashed over them, and held Harry as they were swept out stronger well past the rock. Both began to sink as the jerk behind the navals pulled them away, a swell of water with them.

"I don't care what you think of me right now!" Ron shouted.

As they landed in that middle guest bedroom at Fred's and George's, that swell of water came with them, pushed out the door. Ron and Harry slammed against the wall of the corridor, the sea water that drained down the stairs.

"Blimey!" Harry snapped.

Ron grabbed Harry, brought him back into the wet bedroom. Ron summoned his broom, put it on the bed in the hope it'd dry out. Harry's went out, he slammed it on the bed, and his wand dropped.

"That your idea?" Harry barked.

"What'd I tell Hermione? Gia?" Ron demanded.

"Whatever you want." Harry went for the door, his foot slipped, and he banged his head onto the floor as he fell.

Ron leaned over Harry.

"You're doing an awfully good job alienating the few people that do care," Ron said, "I won't keep saving your arse forever you know."

"You can start now," Harry snapped.

Harry got up.

"Where are you headed?" Ron asked.

"Nowhere!" Harry disapparated.

"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed.

Ron sat on the floor, leaned back against the wet bed, sighed. He'd been defeated, they all were, hoped there was something else, because Harry's already convinced. Knees up, Ron leaned forward, began to weep.

"So this is where the flood came from," Hermione said, entering.

Ron watched her, the brown eyes that peered over the busted door, the eyes that spotted him, the ones that grew concerned.

"Shut…" Ron motioned.

Hermione's wand out, the door repaired itself, and she shut it.

"We lost him," Ron said.

Hermione gasped.

"Not like that," Ron said, "They've broken him, he no longer cares."

"Take it you found him," Hermione said.

"Turns out that using a Portkey while drowning in the ocean brings the sea along," Ron said, "He took off, cursed me for trying to help."

"Portkey?" Hermione said, "Want to see Gia."

"Doubt you'll find him there." Ron tossed it to her. "He's convinced that she hates him."

Ron's hand motioned, Hermione pulled up the desk chair, sat in front of him.

"Have to find him," Hermione said.

"Sulking," Ron said, "Gotta make him care again, realize we do care."

"Let him sulk then," Hermione said.

"Hope has been stolen from him," Ron said, "He's conceded defeat, that's why we can't sit by."

Ron's stomach growled.

"Eat first," Hermione said.

"Normally tell Harry that," Ron said.

"Make time," Hermione said, "Then search for Harry, again."

"Hedwig's still flying back," Ron said, "To Gia's."

Ron stood, went down the wet steps of the stairs, carpet that squished with each footstep. Hermione followed, into the living room, where the carpet and furniture was also wet.

"Think your brothers might have a complaint to your cleaning method," Arthur said, the suit that was wet.

"Sorry," Ron said, went over to the kitchen.

Ron opened the refrigerator, grabbed the cold cuts, opened the bread box, and began to fix himself a sandwich. Hermione kissed Ron's cheek, activated the Portkey, and vanished.

"Your search?" Arthur asked.

"Gotta try it again," Ron said, "He's…how'd you help somebody who doesn't even want to help themselves?"

"Ask Dumbledore," Arthur said, "Bet he—"

"Can't anybody think for themselves?" Ron stammered, "It's always wait and ASK Dumbledore, look where it's gotten us because nobody's doing anything."

Ron brought his sandwich to his lips, sunk them in.

"Dumbledore's a smart man," Arthur said.

"Who's about to die!" Ron said, mouth half full, "What then?"

Ron understood his mistake a moment after he finished his retort. Blue eyes of his father, one who hadn't been told, one who always expected the Headmaster to be there until the day they died, one who never seriously contemplated the removal of Albus Dumbledore from life.

"I love him," Ron said, "But he's been poisoned and it's terminal. A bit surprised you weren't told. Don't spread it around."

"Of course," Arthur said.

"Not like it'll be tomorrow or something," Ron said, "And I'm trying to help Harry, at all costs."

An understanding, in his father's eyes, the bit of pride both knew Ron's mother would have at that statement.

"Be back later," Ron said.

Ron bolted, ran across the living room, up the stairs, back into the bedroom. Two brooms and a wand on the bed. Ron banished his broom into his holster, opened it. Three slots full, removed the spare one. Harry's broom went in with the wand. A thought, Ron closed his eyes, a focus, and disapparated.

"Ron," Hermione said, on the bed as he apparated into Gia's bedroom.

Hedwig's perch empty. Gia also there, tears on her eyes.

"Thought I'd check here," Ron said.

Gia shook his head. Ron summoned his wand.

"Point me Harry Potter," Ron said.

Nothing.

"I'd already thought of that," Hermione said.

Ron opened his holster, pulled out Harry's wand.

"Point me to Harry," Ron said.

It moved, pointed to the northwest.

"He dropped it," Ron said.

"Go to London," Hermione said, "See if it's changed much, if not, Harry's really far."

Ron disapparated, apparated back into the living room, Harry's wand back in his palm.

"Point me to Harry," Ron said.

It moved, pointed to the northwest, and Ron understood Hermione's idea.

"You're going after him," Arthur said.

"Yes," Ron said, "Pardon."

Ron's own wand into his hand, the disillusion, and a banishment. Ron disapparated.

Screech

Steel wheels on steel rails as Ron apparated onto the platform at Watford Junction. Harry's wand back to the hand.

"Point me to Harry," Ron said.

Again, pointed northwest.

"Damn," said a muggle that bumped against Ron.

Ron moved, found a map on the wall, his finger traced northwest. Birmingham. Ron focused on that, the station, his own wand did its swish and flick, he disapparated.

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

"…leaving platform two," came the announcement.

Ron moved to the side, again, rested Harry's wand in the hand.

"Point me to Harry," Ron said.

Again, pointed northwest.

Ron glanced at the map, worried about the news he'd have to bring back, but kept his focus on finding his friend.

Dumbledore sat at his desk, the letters that laid unopened, ones he wondered if he could wait out, however, the windows showed the night was already on them. A green flame, the fireplace that erupted, and the feet that came out. Arthur Weasley, Lupin, and Sirius stepped into his office.

"Bit of an issue," said Arthur, as he approached. The suit that hinted to the time spent in Azkaban, not as extensively as Sirius'. "It's Harry."

"He's not at home," Sirius said, "Nobody knows where he is."

"Might've been my fault," Lupin said, "He got a bit short with me yesterday, I got short in return.

"Ron found him once," Arthur said, "Made a flood as he returned, but apparently Harry ran off again."

"I'm guessing Ronald's after him?" Dumbledore asked.

"Have you tried—?" Sirius started.

"Think I'd come here if I hadn't?" Lupin said, "Humor everybody."

Lupin took out his wand, laid it in his hand.

"Find me Harry Potter," Lupin said.

Wand stayed idle.

"We've tried all," Sirius said.

"Ron's was working," Arthur said, "He took off faster than I could ask."

"Alas Ronald may be onto something or Harry's moved out of range." A press of the button, the chair turned Dumbledore, and he glanced at Fawkes on the pedestal. "Please see to helping young Ronald Weasley find Harry. Thank you."

A burst of flame, Fawkes vanished. Dumbledore hoped the bird could help the only person being proactive.

"Please explain everything," said Dumbledore, a point to the chairs.

All carried them up, sat to the other side of the desk, and the discussion continued over the state of Harry.

Already night, the waves below, the winds that blew. Ron flew above, beneath the clouds, tried to hold steady. A burst of light, the red and yellow, Fawkes sunk his talons onto the handle of the broom.

"Thanks," Ron said, unsure if he was imagining the phoenix over the ocean.

Wings that stretched, pulled Ron faster. Over an island that spewed up lava into the air, back over ocean. To a coast that was a sea of ice above, to a glacier, and Ron landed. Ron shivered, the cold air. Ron's broom banished faster than his own wand came out, the warming charm to himself, the light that came out. A glint of pale green.

"No, no," Ron muttered as he ran.

"What?" Hermione stammered behind Ron, "How—?"

"Help!" Ron shouted.

Hermione ran over with Ron, to the lump on the snow, the glacier. The stiff form of Harry. Ron's wand aimed at him.

"NO!" Hermione snapped, held the wand at bay, shivered, "That'd kill him."

Ron aimed his wand at her, issued the charm. Ron moved, felt the cold skin, Harry's cool skin.

"Need to get him back," Hermione said, "To her."

Ron pulled out the Portkey, activated it. Hermione held on as he shoved it against Harry. Jerk behind the naval, Harry landed with a thud in Gia's bedroom.

HOOT! HOOT!

"Out of the way," Ron said to Gia, on the bed.

Hermione held Harry's feet, Ron lifted, set him down on the bed.

"Is he…?" Gia started.

Hermione's wand out, aimed.

"Gotta hurry," Hermione said, "Hypothermic, so—NO!"

Gia's hands retreated from the thermostat on the wall.

"He was on a glacier, the shock can kill him." Hermione grabbed a cup, conjured some tea in it. "Gotta warm his insides first."

Ron took it, the lukewarm temperature.

"Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Charmed to warm inside," Hermione said.

"He's not in the mood to drink," Ron stated, eyes on Harry, not moving, unconscious.

"Could try dripping." Hermione conjured up a small tube and a funnel. "Bit easier."

"Try to get that in," Gia said to Ron.

"Mobilius," Hermione said, wand aimed.

Small end of the tube entered between Harry's lips, snaked inward. Hermione held the funnel with one hand, poured with the other. A moment later, the tube vanished.

"Be great if you got in bed with him," Hermione said.

"Bit of an icicle," Ron said.

Gia climbed in, behind Harry. Hermione pulled the duvet over them both. A shiver.

"Don't leave him until he wakes," Hermione said, "Unless it gets worse, and use Hedwig."

Gia nodded.

"Give him an earful," Ron said.

Ron opened his holster, set Harry's wand down on the desk, the broom to the other side where it expanded to its normal size, and handed the Portkey to Hermione. She activated it.

"Ron!" Hermione snapped.

Hermione vanished without him.

"Ron?" Gia asked.

A thought, Ron's wand back out, and he summoned. A knife, a six inch hunting knife came into his hand.

"I see the debate within you, same one I'm having," Ron said, "A third option, he may need the push."

Ron set the knife down on the desk, next to the wand. He walked over to Harry, caressed the earlobe.

"If you choose it," Ron said to Harry, "Hope you find the peace you seek."

A tear to Ron's face.

"Love you," Ron said, "My best friend."

A flick of Ron's wand, the light went out, and he disapparated.

"You—you're—" Hermione said.

"Gambling," Ron said.

Ron held her tight.

Date: Thu Jan 4 09:53:35 2024