mizzrazz72: true, Harry's going to wreak havoc due to many poor choices made by others!
GORE WARNING
"I am frequently mistaken for the god of love. Death has more in common with Love than you might imagine. But I am Death. I assure you."
Thanatos, The Son of Neptune, XLIV
"Maybe I can ask the others to download the article," Will mused, scrolling through his phone. "Or you can just take my cell when you shadow-jump outside?"
"Asclepius will wait for you," Nico said, scrutinizing the pink troll tapestry.
"He's a busy guy. A busy god," Will amended.
"Still your brother."
"But not my bro."
Nico snorted and was wondering if anyone would notice if he just cut a hole into the wall with his sword when a shockwave slammed into his back.
He gasped, tripping and hitting the floor hard.
Skin, muscles, bones.
Tearing. Peeling. Bleeding.
Screaming. Choking. Dying.
"Nico!" Will cried, trying to turn him onto his side. "Breathe, babe, breathe!"
Nico found Will's hand and squeezed it, trying to anchor himself back to reality.
It was so sudden. It was…
"The gray dementor!" Nico choked. "It's here!"
Will whipped his head around to scan the corridor. "What? Here, now?"
"By the forest!" Nico gasped. "Hold on!"
He grabbed Will and dragged him into the shadows.
They emerged outside.
The tree line ended near the village and cold air whipped by them. Nico shuddered dislodging from Will and stumbling forward. The air was thick and noxious. Blood littered the forest floor.
"Oh my gods," Will whispered, shielding his eyes.
They saw it. The spinal column was yanked out of the body and thrown aside. Clothes had been torn apart and soaked in blood and guts. But Nico dragged his eyes from the exposed bones to stare at a bloody mess hanging from one of the lower branches. It was long and heavy and unfunnily reminded them of the Golden Fleece.
Will backed away. "Nico, that's… is that…"
"Skin," Nico said grimly.
The smell was overpowering. Nico didn't know how long he stood there, staring at the scene, trying to piece things together. But Will suddenly grabbed his arm and hissed, "Wizards!"
They heard voices from the village. Nico held onto him and backed into the trees' shadows, hiding behind the dark Mist.
Thankfully, they didn't have to wait long.
A group of smartly-robed wizards entered the forest. Several stopped in terror. Only one was stoic enough to take a few steps.
"Block the area," he said slowly, pointing his wand at anything that stood out. "Don't let the villagers here! Proudfoot, cardon the boundary. Dawlish, search for a wand. Get your teams to stabilize this scene!"
Several wizards dashed off to the sides, unwilling to stay longer. Dawlish muttered, "Tonks isn't here."
"She asked for a day off. Her mother's flu was back."
"If this is an emergency—"
The man in charge nodded stiffly. "Send a message. I'll notify the Minister's team. Make sure no one tampers with this."
Nico and Will watched them go to work. The wizards cast magic that created air bubbles around their faces to block the heavy odor.
Will whispered, "We saw that man in the safehouse, didn't we?"
Nico nodded, watching the tall man in deep purple robes. "King something."
They crouched in the shadows unknown to the people setting up a perimeter around the place. Once in a while, a wizard broke away from the team to throw up noisily.
"Do not contaminate the scene!" King warned. "Proudfoot, what did you find?"
"Rosemerta said she and Fletcher saw a dementor," the wizard named Proudfoot responded. "Said it was strangely dusty. It was gray and brown and moved like a dust cloud."
Nico squeezed Will's hand.
"Get their statements," King said. "Who heard the screaming?"
"Everyone."
"Open a file," King ordered. "I want everything documented—"
"Shacklebolt!" someone cried. A woman ran out of the trees holding up a stiff, dark green hat.
"We found this in the bushes!" she panted. "And a wand!"
"No," King Shacklebolt whispered, his eyes growing wide. Nico leaned down and took stock of the small hat. It didn't make much sense to him.
"It's his," she insisted. "A Malkin's original bowler hat!"
The other wizards paused for a dreadful moment. The demigods watched silently. Nico had never sat so still all his life.
"Dawlish and Savage, take your teams to the Minister's house," Shacklebolt said urgently. "Proudfoot, get the effects to the Ministry. I need to check with the Headmaster."
They boxed up the remains. Aside from a few broken branches, the crime scene was clear. But the smell of blood and the sight of flayed skin were permanently imprinted in their minds.
"There's no easy way to say this. But Harry is the seventh Horcrux."
Sirius's head was in his hands. Tonks rubbed his back. Remus stared hard at the demigods, "You swear it?"
Percy nodded. "Absolutely."
"Why wouldn't Albus tell us?" Sirius whispered.
Annabeth shrugged. "You know your leader better than we do. But he seems like a guy who reveals problems only when he has solutions. Potter's cursed scar was the clue all along."
"And the graveyard?"
"We don't know about that," Hazel answered. "We're aware something happened to Potter during a tournament, but without details…"
"The Triwizard Tournament was banned for a long time," Sirius growled. "They reintroduced it last year. Three difficult tasks for contestants to fight through and gain points. The third task required them to cross a maze, fight monsters, and find the champion's cup. Harry and Cedric reached there together. The cup was enchanted to bring them back to the castle but they ended up in a graveyard. Voldemort used Harry's blood in a ritual to build himself a new body."
Percy and Annabeth were speechless.
"A graveyard?" Hazel demanded. "In Little Hangleton?"
Sirius blinked, surprised. "I'm not sure..."
"That's Riddle's birthplace. The graveyard stinks of blood and bone," she said. "A forced ritual. How did the boys escape?"
Remus grimaced. "Cedric died. Harry used the champion's cup to portkey back to the castle with his body."
Percy swore under his breath. Annabeth interweaved their fingers together before saying, "We believe these situations are building on Harry's scar. The Horcrux inside him could be feeding off of all that pain. What happened with the dementors over the summer?"
"We have information that Amelia Bones (she's the head of the DMLE) is enquiring with Azkaban to check if the dementor count has changed," Tonks sighed heavily.
Hazel was apprehensive. "You employ these creatures?"
"As punishers," Tonks stated. "But it's brutal, yeah."
Annabeth asked, "How much do you know about them? Can people turn into dementors?"
Sirius, Remus, and Tonks gawked. "No! Of course not! Dementors breed from misery, depression, and trauma. A person or any other creature can't turn into one!"
Annabeth was puzzled now. Percy shrugged. "I guess that's good news. It means Potter won't be transforming into one."
Sirius choked. "Excuse me?!"
Before anyone explained, a bright silvery Border Collie descended onto their table like a ghost. The demigods reared back and swords appeared in their hands in the blink of an eye. Each weapon was sleek and deadly, shining under the dull sun.
"Oi!" Sirius yelled and Remus threw an arm out, "It's just a patronus!"
"Proximity scan?" the patronus asked.
Tonks grimaced at the demigods, Remus, and Sirius. Then she sighed and said, "Clear!"
"Tonks, new case priority Alpha!" a man's voice emerged from the dog's mouth. "Dementor sighting near Hogsmeade. One casualty. Join Proudfoot's team at the Ministry."
Her jaw dropped. All six people gawked at the patronus until it evaporated in the air.
Percy turned his inexplicable eyes at them. "You better check on Potter. Now!"
The strange thing was that Harry wasn't sure if he'd fantasized about it or actually done it.
His plan was to sneak into the cellar of Honeydukes and hide in the Three Broomsticks. Then the Minister of Magic showed up. He and Umbridge spoke for a short while but filled in some gaps.
And removed some filters from Harry's sensibilities.
Not knowing how he was back in the castle, covered in blood and mud, Harry decided he simply didn't care. He showered, fell into bed, and had the most wonderful dream.
"Get that thing out of my sight!" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
The sleeping kitten in the little basket shuffled and squeaked unhappily. Junie woke up and cried out loud.
Aunt Petunia's face melted into horror. "Get out!"
"You woke her up!" Harry snapped at her, trying to soothe the little kitten. His aunt spun around and hid in the kitchen cursing him.
He marched up the stairs, fuming and exhausted. Junie had been up all night mewling loud enough for the neighborhood dogs to howl all night. The neighbors gave him dirty stares all the way to and from the store.
June struggled to fall back to sleep, her soft breaths warming him up. Her ears twitched and he lifted the basket to feel her soft pelt against his cheek.
He managed not to slam his door shut. Which was a good thing because the noise would have startled his aunt, the kitten, and the god lounging in his room.
Nate smiled carefully, soft and hesitant. Considering the last time Harry had told him to leave…
"You're back?" Harry splurted.
"Yes, I heard your prayer."
Harry thought back to when he'd whispered under his breath, before burning some of his porridge over the stove before breakfast.
"I wasn't sure it'd work," Harry mumbled, staying close to the wall. He carefully peeked at his trunk wondering if…
"I didn't take it," Nate explained. "I'd never take it unless you offered."
Harry swallowed. "That cloak's been in my family for generations—"
"I understand."
"... really?"
Nate grimaced. "I'm not happy. But I understand your attachment. Your ancestors have utilized the Invisibility Cloak exactly as intended. To protect, not to hide."
Harry frowned as Junie whined. "Isn't that the same thing?"
"Not always."
Nate said nothing else to that. Harry frowned. Figured he wouldn't even get an apology.
Junie whined, displeased by the lack of attention. Harry tried in vain to soothe her.
"Wrap her in the cloak."
"Huh?"
Nate nodded at the kitten now meowing louder. Harry extracted the Invisibility Cloak from the trunk and wrapped it around the tiny kitten. It sat in the silken folds and immediately calmed down as Harry held her to his chest.
When Junie began purring, Harry and Nate watched her in awe.
—
"Potter!" McGonagall called, yanking at his pillow.
Harry awoke, groggy. His body was feverish and the covers were drenched with his sweat.
"Wassgoon?"
"We need to talk to you," McGonagall said with a tremor in her voice. Harry blinked and put his glasses on. She was in day robes and Harry saw that it was 9. He'd forgotten dinner.
"Follow me," she said and Harry reluctantly did, wiping his face. They left for her office.
He wished he'd brought his Invisibility Cloak along. Dumbledore, Snape, and Blackstone awaited him and he ached to hide. Dumbledore expertly averted his eyes. Harry tensed and faced the others.
"You missed dinner," Snape said, his unnerving gaze attacking Harry. His headache was born again and he kept his mouth shut.
"Do you have nothing to say?"
Harry shrugged.
McGonagall frowned. "Potter, where were you? You left Professor Umbridge's class early."
"I visited someone."
"Who?"
"A friend."
"Where?"
"Second floor."
"Which room?"
"The girls' bathroom."
Blackstone blinked. Snape sneered. "You realize it's out of bounds for students of different genders to wander into other bathrooms?"
"No one uses Myrtle's bathrooms," Harry said, not rising to the bait. His head was a little clearer than it had been all week and he was trying to soak in the temporary relief.
"You were with the ghost?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Harry shrugged. "She doesn't mind me."
Snape glared. "You skipped a class to hang out with a ghost?"
"Are you deaf?" Harry snapped. "I just said that!"
Blackstone gaped at him. Snape went pale with fury and Dumbledore frowned.
"Watch your tongue, Mr. Potter," McGonagall warned. "You may be in a lot more trouble than merely skipping classes."
Harry didn't say anything.
"Did you stay with the ghost the whole time?" Blackstone asked suddenly.
"No," he said. "I wandered outside on the grounds."
"Answer clearly," Snape warned.
Harry glowered at him. He imagined reaching out and simply gouging those hateful eyes. It'd be so easy. Just hook his fingers—
"Harry," Dumbledore called.
He refocused on Dumbledore and finally, blue met green.
Hot, blazing fury roared through his veins, and Harry nearly rushed forward, nearly wrapped his hands around the old man's neck—
Sharp liquid sprayed into his face. Harry jerked back as the Murtlap dripped down his scar and shocked the cloud out of his system for a full second. Pain was his friend again, allowing him to hold on to shallow hurt of reality.
He wiped his face and glared at Blackstone who was holding out Solace's spray bottle like a gun.
"Stop that!" Harry groaned.
McGonagall was similarly surprised. "Professor Blackstone, what d'you think you're doing?"
The woman gawked at Harry, completely stunned. "But… doesn't it burn?"
Harry made a face. "I'm not the Antichrist!"
Even Dumbledore and Snape were confused.
Oh.
Did they think he'd struggle under the pain? That he'd suffer in the fire? His scar was alive, prickling on his forehead with the ache throbbing violently but it was still nothing compared to everything else in his life.
"Potter," McGonagall asked quietly. "Did you leave the castle today?"
He shrugged. "Obviously."
The teachers stiffened.
"I mean," Harry continued, "I need to walk out of the castle to reach the grounds. That's a given."
Snape bared his teeth and McGonagall was stunned by his behavior. Blackstone almost seemed amused. Harry hid a laugh. It was nice to keep someone else in the dark for once.
"Are we done here?" he asked.
"Not quite," Dumbledore said, watching Harry's scar closely. "I'd like you to stay in the Hospital Wing for the next 24 hours."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "No."
"That wasn't a request."
"Sounded like one."
Dumbledore grew stern. "Harry, you will stay in the Hospital Wing for a full 24 hours. No exceptions."
They escorted him down personally.
Madam Pomfrey was not surprised to see him. McGonagall spoke to her while Blackstone whispered into Solace's ear. The pair's eyes followed Harry who watched them, bored.
They were probably like Thanatos. Maybe lesser gods? Or not gods at all. Although, he had narrated stories of mythic heroes…
"We're still in the first week of school, Potter," Pomfrey chastised him.
Harry shrugged. "Not my choice. I'm fit as a fiddle."
"I'll determine that! Mr. Solace, full scan please."
"Of course!"
As before, Harry's body lit up in pale yellow light. He frowned at Solace who wasn't even using a wand. Definitely divine.
"Your body's facing a lot of strain," he explained.
"Magical exhaustion," Pomfrey tutted. "Draught of Peace, Mr. Solace. Diluted."
Harry glared at his feet. From what Snape had tried to teach to the Fifth-Years, Harry knew if he had drank that stuff, it'd give him temporary peace. Then the pain and cloudiness would rush back ten times heavier.
Although… perhaps that's exactly what he needed.
He smiled wide at Solace and gulped down a full vial of the potion.
"Dinner, then bed," Pomfrey said, waving her wand to bring a packed tray of sandwiches.
Will stood by the door of the little office in the Hospital Wing, staring at Potter's back. The kid was asleep and the moonlight showed how bad his complexion had gone: strangely pale with barely a flush.
"With Myrtle?" Nico raised an eyebrow. "He said that for real?"
Lou shrugged. "Snape went down to check and she confirmed that Potter was in there for a while. He left after an hour to visit Hagrid's hut."
"Who?"
"There's only one hut on the grounds," Will reminded him.
"The previous professor of Care of Magical Creatures," Lou explained. "I'm taking over for him. I guess Potter was good friends with him."
Nico nodded. "Uhuh. Will, how did he seem to you?"
Will made a face. "All over the place. He was glaring at us one sec and then became the happiest person on the planet. If he really killed a guy in the forest—"
Someone gasped.
Will stopped and studied the length of the Hospital Wing. Nobody was visible. Potter was still sound asleep.
Nico and Lou joined him. They waited in the dark and seemingly empty hall before Nico finally said, "Alright. Show yourself. Now!"
The three of them waited for a magnanimous three seconds before Nico lost patience and withdrew his sword. The pitch-black blade was in its element in the shadows of the hall and someone didn't quite manage to stifle her scream in the darkness.
Nico extended his other hand and felt a soft, slippery material in thin air. He grabbed it and yanked the Invisibility Cloak off of two students.
Lou groaned. "Oh, come on, guys!"
Granger and Weasley were crouched between two hospital beds, staring at Nico in horror.
"What is that?!" Weasley blurted, pointing a shaking finger at his sword.
"A bat," Nico sighed, examining the cloak.
Weasley frowned. "That… doesn't look like a bat."
"You're monster hunters!" Granger exclaimed.
Nico, Will, and Lou shared extensive looks. If Weasley couldn't see his sword as a bat, Nico wondered what exactly he was seeing.
"What makes you think that?" Lou asked.
Granger showed them an old book. Nico had to squint to read it in the moonlight. "The Energy-men of Scotland?"
"Energumen," Granger corrected. "You had this book in your office, Professor Blackstone. You're researching Eidolons, Obscuri, and other ghosts. You're searching for devilish spirits like the one in Tom Riddle's diary."
Nico lowered his sword and tossed the cloak back to Weasley. Will shrugged and Lou made a 'you got us' face.
"We're getting nowhere with the secrets," Nico mumbled.
Weasley perked up. "You'll tell us what you know and we tell you what we know!"
"What makes you think you know more than us?" Nico asked.
Granger raised her chin. "I bet you didn't know the Malfoys had the diary before we found it."
No. They didn't know that.
"Malfoy?" Lou asked, intrigued. "As in Draco Malfoy?"
"Yep!"
Will rubbed the back of his neck. "Nico, I think we're past the point of no return. If Potter is really dangerous, we'll need to know what they know."
Nico grimaced. Weasley and Granger were clearly determined if they managed to sneak out at 11 p.m. just to see their friend. It was curious they were using a Cloak of Invisibility, just the kind of thing Thanatos had wanted them to recover…
"Did you bring anyone else here?" Nico asked.
They shook their heads.
"Anyone know you're here?"
"No," Weasley said but Granger hesitated.
"No point lying. We won't hurt you. But we need to know if anyone else is interested in your friend."
Weasley scowled. "My brothers know we're down here. But they're back in the tower."
Nico sheathed his sword and the pair stared curiously at his waist where the blade had disappeared.
"Is that a cloaking enchantment?" Granger asked. "Or are you banishing it? And how are you doing that without a wand or a spell?"
"Hermione!" Weasley said, exasperated. "They think Harry killed someone! That's a little more important."
Nico tipped his head back and groaned at the ceiling.
Lou gestured them into the office. "First things, first! I'm Lou. This is Will and Nico. Nico's our boss for this quest."
Granger's sharp eyes darted from one person to another. "My name's Hermione."
"I'm Ron," the redhead murmured.
"Nice to meet you," Will said, warmly. "Now, your friend is in a lot of trouble because we think he's similar to that diary."
Hermione and Ron stared, horrified.
"I've been off duty only twice," Nate said. "The second time was a year or so ago. Chained up to allow the Earth Goddess to bring forth an army of dead warriors and monsters. The paperwork was horrendous."
Harry paused in the middle of his History of Magic essay. "Mother Nature waged a war on you?"
"On the demigods," Nate said, peeking over Harry's shoulders to read his paper.
Harry nudged him away but Nate avoided his hand and leaned his head on Harry's shoulder.
"So the demigods were assigned to help you?"
Nate sighed. "I was a regular damsel in distress."
Harry smirked. "I bet you were a handsome damsel in distress."
He chuckled ruefully, "You wouldn't have said that if you'd seen me. A god chained up! It was an insult!"
Harry patted his arm. "There, there."
"I wish you'd been with me," Nate said. "I would have been less lonely."
"Maybe I could have rescued you."
Nate grinned. "Now, Harry. Don't go around putting thoughts into my head."
Harry stared. "Thanatos!"
The god's smile faded. The shadows grew long and the sun set faster.
"Say that again."
Harry had no idea where he found this new bravado. He placed his quill and papers down spun around in his chair and faced him. "Thanatos."
He said it clearly and slowly, dragging the syllables, and the god dropped to his knees in front of Harry.
"Names have power, Harry Potter," he whispered and the words swirled around them. Harry closed his eyes and bent low, pressing his forehead to Thanatos's.
How many times has he heard that statement? Dozens of people warned him of the dangers of saying out the name of evil. This was the first time he'd spoken a name of reverence and goodness. Of someone who adored him.
Thanatos took his hands and interlocked their fingers.
Harry inhaled and opened his eyes. He traced his eyes from the god's immaculate nails up his strong arms and simple polo, the neatly pressed collar, up his full lips, his strong nose, his pitch-black eyes, and his short-cropped hair.
"May I kiss you?" Thanatos asked.
Chill descended into the room.
"I… I don't know…"
Thanatos didn't let him panic.
"The first time I was imprisoned was a few millennia ago," he murmured, as though nothing had happened.
Harry swallowed, trying to slow his rapid heart.
"You may have heard of Sisyphus and his punishment in the Underworld," Nate said.
"The bloke who pushes a boulder up a hill forever?"
"That's the one. He received that punishment for—there's no easy way to say this—for locking me in a box."
Harry's jaw dropped. "He didn't!"
"That was a terrible few months," Nate groaned. "He was wily, I have to admit. But I didn't collect his soul until he died of old age."
Harry couldn't even tell if he was truly over the rejection or hiding it so well. He said, "Sisyphus sounds like a right git."
Nate burst into wild laughter.
"Shush!" Harry cried, trying to hide his grin. "You'll wake up Junie!"
Shoulders shaking, they muffled the sounds. Nate's grin took away his breath. Harry couldn't believe how the specter of death was ever called the Grim Reaper.
"Jolly Reaper," Harry whispered.
"Happy Potter," Nate teased in return.
They fell over each other, clutching stitches in their sides. Their kitten snoozed in their temperate joy.
—
If Harry had to drown, he'd go down for that sound. For the sound of Nate's enchanting laugh.
Every passing day exposed his memories to the air and Harry discovered more about what happened over the summer. He had no idea why things came back in pieces so slowly.
The door to the inner office opened and Harry screwed his eyes shut, exhaling deeply.
Ron's voice emerged. "Are you taking him to St. Mungo's?"
di Angelo answered him. "No clue what that is. But he definitely needs help. We're working on something. Let's see how it goes."
"But in the meantime—" Hermione began.
"Keep most of it to yourself," di Angelo said. "Your Order won't be happy with what we've said, but it's better than you sneaking around. Just keep an eye out for anything weird."
"In this castle?" Ron muttered.
Blackstone chuckled. "Good point. Anything weird about Harry is what we meant."
Harry felt their gazes, pressing him into the mattress. Thankfully, years of practice with the Dursleys helped him stay still even under intense scrutiny.
"Draught seems to have done the trick," Solace whispered. "You can visit him tomorrow."
"Thanks, Will," Hermione answered and Harry nearly reacted. Hermione wasn't one to call authority figures by their first names. Why would she start now?
If anyone was being weird, it was her and Ron.
But… he remembered di Angelo arguing with Dumbledore. The man knew things Ron and Hermione had said.
Were they going behind Harry's back to give them information about him?
Blackstone bid them goodbye and the three retired into the office, shutting the door behind them. Harry counted to a hundred.
He sensed the cloud struggling to return. It wanted to fill his brain and remove everything Harry was only to replace it with all the worst parts of himself.
Harry was tempted to let it. What was the point of even fighting it anymore? Clearly nobody cared. They just wanted to deal with him. And he was supposed to be a Horror Crux or whatever it was di Angelo had said. Just like the diary.
The diary that had possessed Ginny.
Harry sucked in a breath and opened his eyes.
It was always Voldemort.
He clenched his fists and bit the pillow, murderous rage blazing his veins like acid.
Harry was done.
He'd had enough of Tom Riddle.
He sat up, mind running through everything he'd need. How does one find a snake-faced monster?
Harry smiled into the darkness. It was barely midnight, but people were going to wake up to the strangest Saturday ever.
"Hedwig, Fawkes," he whispered. "Quietly."
Hedwig was first, of course. She flew in through the partially open window, silent and perfect.
"Broom, kit, map, and cloak," Harry breathed, barely making a sound. "Don't let anyone see you."
Without a hoot, she took off, disappearing just as Dumbledore's grand phoenix, Fawkes, swooped in.
Harry placed a finger on his lips. He'd been watching the light beneath the office door. The voices inside were very quiet and he had no hope of hearing their conversation, but that didn't matter. They just shouldn't see him leave.
"Where's Voldemort?" Harry whispered.
Fawkes peered intently at his face. Harry waited. He wanted to do this properly. In 24 hours, everything would be different.
Perched on the rail of his bed, Fawkes straightened up. He extended his wings and bowed his brilliant red and orange plumage once.
When Hedwig was back, Harry slipped on his odd-smelling Invisibility Cloak and checked the map.
Ron and Hermione were back at the tower. di Angelo, Solace, and Blackstone were crowded around a small table in the office of the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey was asleep in her quarters. McGonagall and Snape were also in their respective rooms.
Dumbledore was pacing around his office.
Harry peeked out of the cloak and asked, "Did he see you leave?"
Fawkes shook his head.
Nothing else for it. He tapped the map close and tucked both it and his wand. He looked around the Hospital Wing wondering if it was the last time he'd see it or any part of the castle.
Then he climbed out of the window and leaped. Harry left Hogwarts, following the golden and silver birds on his gifted Firebolt 2.0.
They had IM'd the others, discussing what the werewolf and the Order had said about Harry's past and some rando named Nate. Finally, the demigods fell asleep in the office just after midnight.
But the doors burst open at barely two in the morning.
Nico was on his feet before he was fully awake, holding his sword at the Headmaster's throat.
"What the hell?!" Nico yelled.
"The hell," Dumbledore said so steely that even Nico felt the chill, "is that Harry's gone."
Will and Lou cried in outrage. Nico looked past Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Pomfrey to see only vacant beds in the Hospital Wing.
"How?" Nico moaned.
"He flew the coop," Snape said. "Castle wards registered the gates opening at midnight."
"And you're finding this out now?!"
"The alarms were delayed," Dumbledore said shortly. "And these are my alarms which means only those who've seen me use them will know how to deactivate them temporarily."
Nico glared at him. Did they think he'd had something to do with this?
"Where could he have gone?" Will said, already panicking. "Back to that safe house?"
"Sirius is keeping an eye out," McGonagall said. "I've messaged Tonks. She confirmed that most of the DMLE is occupied with the Minister's murder. They won't find out about Potter until the morning."
Nico threw his hands into the air. "Let them worry about their own! Potter's in worse shape if that freakin' Draught of Peace thing didn't work!"
Snape frowned. "How much did you administer?"
"A 1:3 concentration," Will said, looking to Pomfrey for help. "He should have been asleep for at least six hours!"
Pomfrey agreed. "He should. But Harry has always been a little more evasive. He should be moderately calm and actually thinking well, even awake."
"He left the castle, Poppy," Dumbledore pointed out. "I'm afraid that diagnosis does not hold up well."
Lou asked, "Can you track him?"
"If he casts a spell, we will find him," Snape said, scowling deeply. "He still carries the Trace. He knows this, so it doesn't make sense for him to hide."
Nico frowned at him. "Has it ever occurred to you that Potter may be a little smarter than you think?"
"No."
Dumbledore sighed, "Severus, I've alerted Alastor. Meet up with him and find out what his plans are. Minerva, wake up Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. Perhaps the other Weasley children as well. They may know something. Poppy, would you and Mr. Solace check up on what conditions can reduce the effects of DoP solution?"
McGonagall and Snape nodded and left.
"Very well," Poppy said, calling Will away. Lou stepped up but Dumbledore said, "I'd like to speak to Mr. di Angelo alone, Professor Blackstone. Will you assist the healers for now?"
Lou was hesitant but Nico nodded. She punched him on the arm and said, "We'll figure this out, Neeks."
Nico knew this wasn't the time to sit and groan. He followed Dumbledore out of the Hospital Wing.
"I will make this brief," the Headmaster said. "But I fear that you may not be holding up your end of the deal."
Nico glowered. "Excuse you?!"
Dumbledore's sharp blue eyes pierced his consciousness. He explained, "You have been destroying the Horcruxes."
"You said we could do that!"
"If you are unable to contain it," Dumbledore warned. "The deal clearly states your team will bring the artifacts to us for 'review and destruction'. I think you and I both know your friends are very capable of storing the Horrors."
Nico stared back. They were wasting time with this instead of worrying about Potter…
"Wait," he breathed. "You wanted to examine them so you could save Potter!"
Dumbledore frowned. "Mr. di—"
"Do you even care about him?" Nico argued. "Does it all have to be about you?!"
The papers and the Ministry calling Albus Dumbledore senile and an old fart were sorely mistaken. Nico's hackles rose as Dumbledore's quiet and distinct voice made itself known. "Disagree with my methods, Nico di Angelo. But my position is not as fraught as yours."
Nico opened his mouth, unable to understand what that meant.
"Did you think I would not look you up?" Dumbledore said quietly. "You and your five friends? Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Hazel Levesque made themselves known when they spoke to my Order outside a little café in London. Do they know that you and your sister have your own secrets?"
Nico bristled. "I don't keep secrets from my friends unlike you!"
Dumbledore did not smile. "You were born in 1929. Hazel, in 1928, and Bianca, in 1927. Your oldest sister passed away in 2007. But you and Hazel managed to befriend a group of young demigods to blend in with them."
Nico could only blink.
"Your disguise," Dumbledore nodded sharply. "I am aware you or Hazel have used strong magic to pretend to be 20-somethings. And Professor Blackstone and Mr. Solace have similar magic. But I believe they have been aged up. Tell me, Mr. di Angelo. Does Mr. Solace know you are much older than him?"
He couldn't be hearing this shit.
Dumbledore took his silence as an guilty 'no'. "So you will forgive me when I say that we all have secrets within reason. But should you point a finger—or indeed, your sword—my way again, I will not be so kind."
Nico stared.
The Headmaster looked away. "I hear Minerva. Remember, Mr. di Angelo. You have a duty to the Order of the Phoenix. Find the Horror and bring it to my office. I intend to understand how it works and how we can separate the soul from the container."
This snapped him out of his spiraling. "You son of a bitch! If you'd just told us that, we'd have helped you! You think we intentionally destroyed those objects? We were trying to do the same thing!"
Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed. "But that isn't your responsibility."
Nico groaned. He clapped his hands over his face, bent over, and screamed through his stiff fingers. How did this go off the rails so quickly?!
McGonagall, Hermione, and the Weasleys arrived at the doors of the Hospital Wing in time to see Nico throw a fit in front of the Headmaster.
Yeah, he was acing this quest. If his father saw him now, he was pretty sure Hades would demote him to Charon's assistant.
"Has there been a development?" McGonagall asked, alarmed.
"A de-evolvement," Nico groaned aloud.
"Is Harry really missing?" one of the Weasley twins demanded. Dumbledore answered him swiftly and Nico tried to gather himself.
"But where would he go?" Hermione complained. "And why would he leave?!"
"We don't know," Dumbledore said softly like he'd never threatened anyone in his life (especially with bogus info). "Has he said anything peculiar?"
Ron grimaced. "He hasn't been really chatty this week. Umbridge was seriously bringing him down!"
McGonagall looked up sharply. "Speaking of which, I checked on her. She's not in her quarters. There must have been a proximity alarm outside the Common Room."
"Find her and head her off, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "Fawkes is out on a night flight, unfortunately. Tell Dolores any story."
She left again and the rest of them gathered back in the Hospital Wing. "Mr. di Angelo, you have a job to do."
Nico glared at him. "I know where it is! I just can't find a door to the place!"
"To what place?" Ron asked.
"The…" Nico spun on his heel. "Who knows this castle the best?"
Ron reared back in surprise. Hermione and the Weasley girl, Ginny, also looked stunned.
"The ghosts," one of the twins said. "Why? What're you searching for?"
That wasn't what Nico had been hoping for. Dumbledore answered, "It's a task for him. I'd like the five of you to recall if Harry has mentioned anything about wanting to leave the castle or visiting a place—"
"Ravenclaw's diadem," Nico interrupted him. "I'm searching for an ancient artifact that belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw."
Dumbledore turned his sharp eyes on him but Nico continued, "It's like a tiara with blue stones. But Voldemort cursed it and turned it into something like his old diary."
Ginny recoiled. Fred and George sported identical looks of shock and Dumbledore turned away, quietly frustrated.
"You think Harry's gone to search for this thing?" Ron demanded.
Nico blinked. "What, no! He's left the castle! The diadem is in Hogwarts. It's a hidden room on the seventh floor opposite the pink tapestry of dancing trolls."
"Huh," Fred mumbled. "Gred, you remember that plain wall?"
"Oh, yeah! I knew there was something behind it, Forge!"
Nico's heart thudded. "You got in!"
"No." George shook his head. "Not even the Marauders' Map showed anything. But that's the only corridor without any curtains or paintings along the wall. Definitely odd."
Dumbledore exhaled. "Well, it's a task for Mr. di Angelo, so I'll expect—"
"The elves!" Hermione cried.
Ron gasped. "You don't think!"
"That's good!" Fred rejoiced. "They'll definitely know something!"
The doors to the Hospital Wing shook with three smart raps startling everyone. "Headmaster! I insist you open these doors, now!"
They froze, recognizing Umbridge's voice immediately.
Dumbledore made a split-second decision. "I'll distract her. Make your choice now."
"Made," Nico said before jerking his head at the students. "I'm taking them with me."
Flying at a top speed of 200 miles per hour helped raise his spirits. Harry's heart thudded happily. It was a foolish muscle in his chest, striving to keep him alive when he was on his way to an ultimatum.
The wind wasn't so bitterly cold and he'd flown in worse conditions. Fawkes was a beast when it came to long-distance journeys, clearly in his element. Harry ought to have simply asked him to carry him East but honestly, a last flight sounded like the right thing.
Hedwig was perched on the broom stem, right by his chest. Harry had wrapped his cloak around her and she stayed safe against the wind. She had proven herself on several occasions flying thousands of miles with grace but this velocity was certainly taxing for an owl.
She didn't mind and neither did Harry. He wondered how many times he'd held his little cat like this before Nate had taken her away.
Focus. He had a job to do.
Hours later, his skin tingled with the cold. The sun rose quickly and the group caught their first glimpse of the Eastern Alps. Austria was beautiful at this height.
Either he or Voldemort will die on this Saturday morning. Fortune willing, both.
Fawkes warmed the ground before Harry landed outside the forest. Hedwig stretched her wings, bathing in the heat. It washed over Harry, driving away the chill of their 1000-mile journey.
Human settlements were a long way away. The only thing standing between Voldemort and Harry was a thick clump of trees.
The Draught of Peace was quickly receding. The low, slow burn in his veins built. Harry breathed mist out into the air.
Hedwig hooted mournfully.
Harry kneeled. "You've been the best, Hedwig. I love you."
She hooted again, louder. Fawkes sang a low tune, sad and full of concern. His enchanting voice gave Harry courage. But that wasn't the emotion he needed.
He needed spite and fury, frenzy and savagery. He wanted to damage and destroy.
His final thoughts before Fudge's demise were about the utter lack of control in his own body. Fudge had said the unfortunate trigger words and Harry could no longer hold himself back.
He needed to feel those same lacerations on the inside. And Harry knew he'd get this when the draught fully wore away. Ice trickled down his back in anticipation.
"If I don't make it back," Harry said, standing up. "Tell them."
Hedwig's eyes were wide. She hated this. But Fawkes bowed his head. Harry bowed back.
The birds took flight and Harry knew they'd wait no matter what happened.
His heart beat traitorously as he walked into the forest. His cloak had barely survived the long flight. It was no longer silky the way it had been for years. He took it off and wrapped it up.
Harry walked for a few minutes before seeing light in a clearing. He inched ahead and crouched behind a large tree.
A fire burned in the middle of the forest clearing, and its flickering light fell over a small crowd of completely silent, watchful Death Eaters. Some of them were still masked and hooded; others showed their faces. A giant snake slithered around the group, keeping an eye out for her master.
He recognized Lucius Malfoy with a daze. Harry understood that the thirteen figures surrounding Voldemort were the same Death Eaters who'd appeared in the graveyard.
"Kill the spare!"
Green light. Cedric's unseeing eyes.
A great tremor rocked Harry's body. He gasped aloud, losing balance.
Several wands appeared in an instant. Harry stumbled out of his meager hiding place, dropping the cloak and clutching the rough bark of the tree.
A hair-raising hiss tore the silence.
"Potter," Voldemort whispered and Harry wrenched his eyes up to meet his.
He was taller than he'd seemed in Harry's gaunt memories. Robed in a dark clothes, his pale, hairless head was so white, he seemed sickly. And shocked.
The Death Eaters gasped and shouted, spinning in place to throw spells at the trees, possibly checking for anyone else, because surely, Harry Potter wouldn't come here alone!
Voldemort was frozen where he stood, but his red eyes had found Harry, and he stared as Harry moved toward him, with nothing but the fire between them.
I got tired of waiting, was what Harry wanted to say, but his voice was gone.
Nagini hissed, My lord! Something is afoot!
Harry understood her perfectly. He remembered her striking at the old man. The man who'd appeared as a ghost from Voldemort's wand along with Cedric, Bertha, and…
His parents.
Something was choking him from inside. The cloud!
Voldemort stepped forward. "Have you come here for mercy?"
Harry opened his mouth with difficulty. "I… I got tired… of waiting."
The clearing was silent now. Voldemort's face split wide. The smile sat wickedly on his face.
"Not just of waiting, it seems," Voldemort hissed, raising his wand. "How terrible your life must be to believe death is a better alternative."
It was a cosmic joke. He couldn't find the punchline though.
"You don't know Death," Harry whispered, shaking all over.
Voldemort grinned. "And I never will."
The rage was too late. He saw the mouth move and a flash of green light, and everything was gone.
Harry was light and floaty. No weight, no pain, and no cloud of unforgiving, vengeful fury.
How odd.
He opened his eyes, slowly sitting up. Everything was lit up. His eyes took in the sight.
King's Cross had never been this empty or clean before. There weren't any tracks though, so he wondered how the bloody hell the train would arrive.
"Harry!"
His name echoed and he spun on his heels, recognizing the voice now. His heart was strangely calm as he called, "Nate?"
The bright, open space darkened. The air grew cool but Harry didn't worry. He raised his head and sucked in a breath when he found Nate standing by the arch—
It wasn't him.
This was a god, ten feet tall and dressed in the softest tunics which simply didn't compare to his radiant face and his iridescent wings. His eyes were no longer the cozy brown Harry was accustomed to but deep molten gold.
Harry's jaw was slack, staring up at Thanatos who was so inexplicably his Nate but also someone to be witnessed at the end of life.
"I'm dead," Harry whispered. His knees buckled and he fell to the floor.
Thanatos shrunk down to his beloved Nate and caught Harry's shoulders.
"No!" Nate pleaded. "Not yet! I can't do this, Harry! Don't make me take you down there!"
Harry clutched his hair. "But he killed me... you can't change that!"
"The killing curse rips the soul out of the body leaving it pulseless," Nate whispered. "And you've had more than one in yours. Your scar! When Riddle tried to kill you that Halloween night, your mother's sacrifice backfired the curse on him. It split his already battered soul. You were like the diary, hosting a fragment of that."
Harry's head should be spinning with the information but the limbo didn't allow it.
"Like the diary... di Angelo and the others were collecting broken things..." he said slowly.
Nate dropped his head onto Harry's shoulder. "They were searching for other objects that Riddle had made by splitting his soul to stop himself from dying. di Angelo and his sister are able to destroy the Horcruxes without too much effort. That's why I called them here."
Harry leaned back. "You called them? They… they're demigods. And they're on a quest doing things that were too mundane for you?"
Nate grimaced. He sat back and explained the quest he'd started to get the Horcruxes and the Hallows.
"I couldn't get it out of you," Nate whispered, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I prayed the children of my Lord could. I should have told them about the Horcruxes, but I feared they would exacerbate you. So I had them go after the Hallows—"
"I don't care!" He shoved away from Nate.
"Harry—"
"You left me!" Harry yelled. "You took Junie and left and I never saw you again till I DIED!"
"She was hurt!" Nate cried.
Harry stopped.
Nate ducked his head. "I—I blocked your memories of her because... the dementors. They got too close to her."
Harry tensed. "Where is she?"
"She's getting the best care possible," Nate promised. "But there's no telling if she'll make it."
Harry's mind flashed with scenes of the tiny, beautiful kitten. Her high squalls, her soft fur, and her dark eyes which followed his fingers around. Nate's gift. Proof that he loved Harry.
That Harry was beloved despite everything inside him.
"Take me to her!" he demanded.
Nate's face was made of stone. "I won't."
"WHY NOT?!"
"I won't let you see her like that."
"You won't let me!" Harry burst out. "Who are you to—"
"I am a god," Nate reminded him with no heat.
Harry's ire deflated. It was hard to feel negativity in this place. "Then maybe I should die."
Nate stared silently. He was strangely closeted about the truth and Harry knew beyond a doubt there was more to the tale but he'd never find out.
"Harry," he whispered, "I can't lose both of you."
They watched each other, memorizing this reality within a fantasy. If this was it, Harry decided to be selfish.
"Can I kiss you?"
The deity gawked. He was back to that effortless beauty with a hint of awkwardness that came with trying to acclimate to human standards.
"Yes," Nate said, lurching forward.
Harry held his breath and pressed his lips to Nate's. Eyes closed, he heard Nate's muffled groan, felt his cool lips, and inhaled all the god had to give. His entire body was ironically alive in this land of purgatory with the God of Death.
Nate's hands held onto Harry's neck and back and Harry had gotten fistfuls of his tunic/polo.
They didn't need to breathe in this strange mimic of King's Cross station. Their lips moved sloppily and fully, exploring the sides of their mouth, their tongues, and their teeth. Harry's glasses were knocked askew, but he didn't mind. Their noses pressed into each other and they learned to tilt at the right angles to fit better.
Harry wanted to sink into the pure physicality of it, the earnest openness of it, and the ecstatic flames that consumed them both happily.
Because it meant so much more than just the lies they'd been themselves and hiding from others. This truth didn't hurt, it burned.
For one, it was the first kiss in thousands of years.
For another, it was the first kiss ever.
For both, it was everything they'd been searching for.
Nate held his face and finally broke the kiss, smiling uncontrollably. Harry's chest shook from the power.
"Jolly Reaper," he whispered.
Nate's smile remained loud. "Happy Potter."
Harry held on. He wanted to do this forever. When the fire dulled, Nate whispered, "Stay."
Cool tears touch Harry's face and slip down to his lips. They tasted like nothing he'd ever had before.
"I'll come back," Harry whispered.
Nate glowed with relief.
"And you'll take me to Junie," Harry told him.
The glow receded.
"If she's dying," Harry said, his heart cracking at the thought. "She deserves us both there."
The place was quiet, waiting for Nate to speak.
"I… can't. I'm sorry."
Harry closed his eyes. "Don't apologize, Nate. I'll come back. If you don't take me to her, I'll lose myself. Do you know what I did to Fudge?"
Nate was tight-lipped. "Yes."
"I can't stop," Harry admitted. "Not till you remove the memory block. I'm remembering some things, but not all. What're you hiding?"
They stared each other down. Losing Junie had done something to him. He'd never know unless Nate spilled the secret.
"All I can give you now is an apology," Nate finally said.
Harry nodded stiffly. With eons of practice, gods were good at that.
Nico, Hermione, and the Weasleys exited the shadows on the ground floor. They were a long way from the Hospital Wing, right beside the Great Hall.
Ginny and Ron gasped for air. Fred and George were thrilled by the experience. Hermione looked sick.
"Which one is it?" Nico said urgently, bone-deep weariness sinking in. It had been a while since he'd shadow-traveled five people.
"Fruit painting!" George said. "Tickle the pear."
House elves were tiny, barely coming up to Nico's knees. They slept in cozy chambers next to the kitchens but immediately woke up, ready to help. Fred and George greeted them like old friends and managed to have two of them lead the way.
Dobby and Winky were their names. They both knew Harry Potter and seriously, this kid got into more scraps than a demigod.
"The Come-and-Go Room gives anything," Dobby told them eagerly. "Very ancient magic! Dobby has gotten extra towels when I has been needing them!"
"And how do we get in?"
"We must think of what we want and pace in front three times," Winky advised. "But for hidden things, we must ask for all of them."
They burst into the Come-and-Go Room. It was easily the largest hall in the entire castle. The ceiling towered over them, impossibly high and every breath echoed.
Instantly, the aura of the hateful Horcrux assaulted him from the depths. Nico took off, running as fast as he could through the veritable maze of discarded trinkets. Dust rose from where he tread.
Then he saw it. The diadem glinted at him from an old bust.
Nico was a yard from it before the shadows changed. The cold claws of wind grabbed him.
This was not his doing.
A tall, hooded figure stepped out of the blackness. His radiant face glowed with fury and barely tamped power. The room shook very slightly, dislodging several piles around them.
Behind him, Nico heard the wizards and elves who'd been rushing after him, falling completely silent, probably terrified. It was close to how he felt for sure.
The god's hood fell away and his black wings emerged. He stood in a sleeveless black tunic belted at the waist with gold lace. He was so beautiful Aphrodite would have tossed Adonis away and fallen at his feet.
Nico's body crumpled and his knees hit the marble floor painfully. The startled gasps from behind told him the others had done the same.
"What is your deal with the wizards?" the god asked, his breath summoning cold wind from the Arctic to blow through the silent corridor.
Nico flinched. "My… deal…? That I must obtain the Horcrux and hand it over to the Order of the Phoenix for review and destruction."
"No," Thanatos hissed. "You will destroy the forsaken object. And you will do it now!"
His eyes were as honey gold as Hazel's. That shook Nico out of his stupor.
"We will!" he said hurriedly. "But an innocent life hangs in the balance! We have to save Harry Potter from the same fate—"
"His soul is no longer damaged," Thanatos said.
Nico stared. What the effing hell?
"He's suffering!"
Ginny Weasley said this. She yelled at an angry god.
Thanatos shifted his gleaming eyes over to her. She cowered on her knees but stammered, "Har—Harry's our friend. He's in pain because of V—Voldemort! Mr. di Angelo thinks we can save him. And we should!"
Nico exhaled, eyes wide. He tried to move but his body felt like it was made of wet ash. Any second, Thanatos could tell them all to keel over and they'd obey without a second thought.
"Please," Ron whispered. "We want to save our friend! Give us a chance!"
"Those things must be destroyed," Hermione gasped. "But Harry's in trouble—"
Thanatos held a hand up.
Everyone fell silent. Nico's blood rushed in his ears, roaring painfully.
"Do you care about Harry?" Thanatos asked.
Nico's shoulders stiffened. The god's ire diminished for some reason. His voice grew beautiful like a song of longing sung by the sweetest bird.
"He's our family," Fred said, his voice shaking but leaving no doubt.
"We love him," a squeaky voice whispered. Nico's head spun when he realized it was Dobby who'd declared this.
Thanatos stared for a full moment before nodding.
Nico's body was free. He sucked in a breath, now able to push himself off the floor. The others panted and stood up, shaking.
"You must destroy the diadem," Thanatos whispered intently. He seemed frazzled now. That scared Nico more than anything else.
"But Harry—"
"That is being dealt with," the god said. He retreated into the shadows. "Destroy the Horcrux now. It is the only way to save your friend."
Thanatos's wings drooped, shielding the god from their sight. The shadows took over and fell away revealing nothing in that space.
Nico shared a silent look with the others. Dobby nodded.
He unsheathed his sword and sliced it down on the diadem, bust, and pedestal with all the strength he had. The Horcrux screamed and disintegrated into the confines of the Stygian Iron blade.
In a cold forest in the Eastern Alps, Harry Potter took a tiny breath. And another. And another.