Chapter 98: Everybody Hurts
(A/N: This chapter starts with a posting of the end of the previous one. I didn't care much for it and so I changed it. As it might be confusing if you haven't read it, I posted it here)
While Dumbledore worked, McGonagall set to repair and replace the headstones and their inhabitants. Once they finished working, they approached Harry as he knelt next to Cedric.
"I'm so sorry, Cedric," she heard him say as he closed the boy's eyes. With surprising strength, McGonagall pulled Harry to his feet and gave him a small hug from the side.
"He was the very best of us," McGonagall said. "He will be missed."
Hermione nodded solemnly as tears silently fell down her cheeks. Dumbledore approached every step looking like he was in agonizing pain.
"Mr. Potter, how did you survive the killing curse again?" Madam Bones asked the question on everyone's mind.
"We can ask Harry all the questions later but first, let's get him back to the castle," Dumbledore cut across. "Amelia, do you need help with your prisoners?"
"I made the call," Madam Bones said.
To punctuate her statement, a chorus of cracks echoed across the graveyard. Professor McGonagall then looked at Cedric's body laying on the ground.
"What about Mr. Diggory?" She asked as the group gathered around him.
"We can't leave him here," Harry said, a little heat behind his voice.
"We'll take him back with us" Dumbledore said, a tear in his eye. He twitched his wand and a black sheet with the Hogwarts crest wrapped around Cedric's body. "Fawkes."
The phoenix flew down and wrapped his talons around the sheet, letting out a mournful trill as everyone grabbed one of his feathers and the group minus Amelia all flamed out of the graveyard.
When his feet hit solid ground again, Harry was greeted with the driving rain, the smell of the Hogwarts grounds and empty stands, except for two small groups.
"Harry!" Was all the warning Harry got before Helen slammed into him. "You're okay! We all feared the worst! And Hermione, you're safe too! Don't ever do something as stupid and reckless as that ever again, young lady!"
"Master Harry!" Dobby shouted at the same time as he latched onto Harry's leg. "I couldn't find you; I was so worried!"
"Give him some space," Richard said. He'd seen enough soldiers in his time to recognize shell shock on someone. "We're glad you're safe, kid. Come on, I know Madam Pomfrey has been getting ready for you. To quote 'he's undoubtedly going to need my services again.'"
"Where's Cedric?" A small voice asked. Fay Dunbar watched with terror as everyone turned toward her. That was when she spotted the floating body bag.
"Fay…" Harry started.
"No!" She shouted. "He can't be! You were supposed to come back! Both of you! Why didn't you bring him back alive?"
Harry looked crestfallen as Fay shouted into the night.
"I'm sorry," Harry said.
"You're sorry," Fay spat. "Boy-Who-Lived. Doesn't mean anyone else can."
Harry folded inward as she berated him. Hermione tensed as if to speak but Harry forestalled her. Behind Fay, Amos Diggory held onto his wife as she collapsed.
"What happened?" Amos asked, his voice beyond despondent. "Why is my son dead?"
"He was killed by Lucius Malfoy," Harry spoke, his voice hard and filled with rage. "They wanted me so they didn't care about Cedric. 'Kill the spare' is what Voldemort said."
"You-Know-Who?" Amos croaked. "But you defeated him."
"Three times," Harry said. "But the rat bastard keeps coming back."
Harry's sad eyes looked between Cedric's parents and Fay sobbing
"We thought we had survived," Harry told them. "Peter Pettigrew attacked us. We managed to overwhelm him but then Malfoy ambushed us. He put a piercing hex through his chest and stunned me."
"Pettigrew? You-Know-Who?" Amos said over the sobs of his wife. "This all seems impossible."
"It's what happened," Harry said. "I wish it didn't. I would have traded places with him if I could."
Hermione gasped and sobbed at Harry's admission, latching onto his arm to reassure herself that he was still alive.
"Let's get you to the hospital wing," Helen said, trying to separate the two groups.
"I will catch up with you later," Dumbledore said. "I, unfortunately, have to address the students in the Great Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Diggory, Miss Dunbar, if you would follow me inside. There's a chamber that will suit you, I think. I will send Professor Sprout to you."
Helen and Hermione guided Harry through the Entry Way. They could hear the nervous buzzing of multiple conversations. Halfway through the laborious trip up to the Hospital Wing, Amelia joined them. When they arrived at the wing, they found the Greengrasses, Longbottoms and Susan sitting in the wing. When they spotted Harry, Susan and Daphne sprinted toward him.
"We were so worried," Susan said as she hugged Harry tightly.
"I'm glad you're alive," Daphne said, her composure gone, her hair disheveled. "We… when you didn't reappear…"
"Yes, I am alive," Harry wheezed but there was no emotion in his voice.
"Though I would like to hear the story of how," Amelia said. "Both as head of the DMLE and as the Regent of House Bones."
"Questions can happen later," Pomfrey finally asserted herself. "Now move away and give Mr. Potter room. Mr. Potter, you know the way to your bed. There is a change of clothes. Let me know when you have changed."
Harry moved to his bed and the tremors he had been fighting overtook him. He collapsed and started to writhe on the floor. He couldn't move on his own accord as his world was agonizing pain. Harry clenched his jaw to keep from screaming in pain. Harry closed his eyes and tried to focus.
"It's okay," a soothing voice calmed him a little as strong hands pulled him up. Deftly, those hands went to work and before long, Harry was on the bed in clean clothes. Finally relaxed enough to open his eyes, he saw Helen's blue eyes looking back at her. "Much better. Madam Pomfrey, he is ready for you."
"Thank you," Pomfrey said as she moved to Harry's side. "Though I don't know why you didn't let me use magic to do that."
"Some things are better done the nonmagical way," Helen said. "He didn't need more magic; he needed help and a caring touch."
Pomfrey started waving her wand over Harry's body while Helen grabbed a wet rag and wiped off Harry's face. As the dirt and grime ran away from Harry's hair and face, Pomfrey inhaled. Helen wiped away the black ooze from his forehead and his scar looked markedly different. It was smaller and looked like the skin of the rest of his forehead.
"I'm detecting cruciatus exposure but the dark magic once rooted within your scar is gone," Pomfrey said. "You have inflammation of the larynx and a severely sprained ankle. The cut on your arm I'm trying to heal but I would guess it was done using a cursed blade."
Pomfrey handed Harry a potion and with a twitch from her wand, his ankle stopped throbbing.
"That will help your throat," she said. "As for cruciatus, the only thing that will help is rest. After that, I have a calm draught for you."
Pomfrey pulled back the curtain and the group outside turned toward him. Harry also noticed Dumbledore, McGonagall and Moody had joined them.
"He can answer questions but keep it short," Pomfrey instructed.
"What happened after you touched the cup?" Amelia asked. "We found the remains of the Minotaur, we suspect that was put specifically for you. What happened when the portkey activated?"
"Cedric and I grabbed the cup together and we landed in a graveyard," Harry said. "I looked behind me and the tombstone read 'Tom Riddle.' I knew, thanks to the diary that Voldemort is named Tom Riddle after his muggle father. I told Cedric to be aware. That's when I heard a voice say 'kill the spare' and I knocked Cedric out of the way of a killing curse. It was Peter Pettigrew. Cedric and I eventually overwhelmed and bound him. We were moving to the cup, hoping it would take us back. I pulled out my mirror to call Hermione when someone apparated behind us. First came a piercing hex and Cedric dropped. I tried to reach for him but I was stunned before I could get to him."
Harry took a break as his voice started to crack. Helen pressed a glass of water into his hands. Harry gulped half of it down before he continued.
"When I came to, I was looking into the face of Barty Crouch," Harry said, enlisting several gasps from his audience. "I know, it didn't make sense to me but it wasn't long until the Polyjuice potion wore off and Lucius Malfoy's face was looking back at me instead."
Amelia turned and whispered and her Patronus flew out the window.
Malfoy and Pettigrew conducted a ritual. They had a potion that they dropped whatever Voldemort was into. Then they used Tom's bones, 'bones of the father' they said; Pettigrew gave his own hand and blood of the enemy- my blood."
Harry turned his hand over to show the cut on his arm. Augusta gasped and McGonagall cursed in Gaelic. Dumbledore's mouth twitched. Hermione, seeing the cut, threw herself into her father's arms and sobbed anew.
"When they completed the ritual, Voldemort returned to his body," Harry continued. "He called his followers to us. I tried to call Dobby but they thought of everything." Voldemort told his followers they would return to their glory. He'd reach out to the giants, mentioned vampires and werewolves as well. He doesn't know the Greyback pack is gone. He didn't take that news well."
As if remembering the torture, Harry's arms started to twitch again.
"What happened next?" Amelia kept him focused on them and not his pain.
"We dueled," Harry said. "Well actually, he let me toss spells at him that he easily deflected, though I think I got a few Death Eaters by mistake."
"You did," Amelia said. "We found Vincent Crabbe Senior and Corbin Yaxley with holes in their heads. Can't figure out what killed them."
"Ice spears," Harry said. "Ironically it was Crabbe Jr's idea. Use the aguamenti charm to make spears that you launch at your opponent."
"Good idea," Moody said. "Good thing he's not following daddy's footsteps."
"Anyway," Harry continued. "Voldemort toyed with me and when he decided he was done, he cast the killing curse toward me. I countered with a spell, an exploding curse I think but I don't even know. Our spells connected and a golden thread connected our wands."
"A golden thread?" Amelia paused her notetaking to look up. "I've never heard of that."
"Let me guess, lad," Moody asked as he leaned on his walking stick. "You and Voldy share a core."
"Yes," Harry strained to get out as a powerful tremor hit him.
"Explain, Alastor," Amelia demanded, giving Harry a break. As the tremors grew worse, Hermione moved to his other side and grabbed his hand tightly and brushed her hand through his hair in a soothing fashion.
"When two wands with the same core- that is to say from the exact same dragon or phoenix- are forced to battle against one another, their wands will lock up. That doesn't happen with Unicorn hair, since each hair is different. But it has to be from the same dragon heart or the same phoenix, taken or given at the exact same time. It is rare but not unheard of. If one castor's will is stronger, you will see what the previous spells the other wand cast."
"In my case, I saw the ghosts of his most recent kills," Harry said. "An old man and… and…"
"Your parents," Dumbledore nodded as he spoke.
"They told me they'd stick around long enough to give me time to escape," Harry said. "I found Cedric's body and summoned the cup. Voldemort vanished the cup before I could escape. I knew I couldn't run anymore so I did the only thing I could: I stood and accepted my fate, as my father did on Halloween."
"But you survived," Amelia stated the obvious.
"The killing curse targets the soul of the individual and severs the soul from the body," Harry recited what Moody had taught them earlier in the year. "There's no defense unless your mother does a ritual. However, if you're carrying two souls around…"
"Maybe this is the best place to…" Dumbledore cut across.
"Stow it!" Harry snapped. "You've known. You've known since second year and you said nothing."
Harry turned back to the group.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, nervous of the reply.
"For the last 13 years, give or take, I have been carrying a piece of Voldemort's soul around in my scar," Harry told the group. Everyone gasped, though no one gasped as loudly as Sirius. "That's how Voldemort survived that night, how he was able to live as a wraith. His body was destroyed but his soul was still anchored to the mortal realm, effectively making him immortal."
"You're talking Horcruxes," Mattias said. "He made a Horcrux."
"He made more than one," Harry said. "I destroyed one in my second year. He was going to make my murder his last one but the ritual was interrupted when he couldn't kill me. His soul was torn apart and a piece lodged itself in my scar."
"How do you know all this?" Augusta asked.
"When I was hit by the curse, I went to something akin to purgatory," Harry explained. "My parents met me there. I could have gone on if I wanted but I had someone I very much wanted to get back to."
Harry gave Hermione a meaningful look and she leaned in to give him a tearful kiss.
"Anyway," Harry turned back to the group. "That's why I've struggled with the Lightning Whip- I would have been teaching Voldemort how to do a family spell. It's also why I would occasionally get irrationally angry. The Horcrux was also surviving off my own magical core, surviving off my magic. However, that's gone now. And given the way the snake reacted when it was beheaded, Voldemort lost two Horcruxes today."
"You were back for that?" Hermione asked.
"That was when I returned," Harry said. "The first thing I heard was the screams from the snake's death. Though the first thing I saw was you, I'm happy to say."
"Three Horcruxes," Neville put it together. "How many did the dark prick make?"
"At least one more," Daphne theorized. "With the piece of his soul still attached to his body, that makes four pieces of his soul. He'd want a magically powerful number. I doubt he went as far as to create 13 so that leaves 5 or 7. Or 8 because he didn't know Harry was one and he created another when he came back."
"Perhaps we should leave that at a later…" Dumbledore tried to interrupt again.
"I told you to stow it!" Harry's voice broke as he shouted. "You knew back in second year and you told me nothing. That's what my mother told me- she's going to have words with you once you embark on your next great adventure, believe me. I thought we were done with that bullshit."
"How was I supposed to tell you that you had to die, Harry?" Dumbledore asked morosely.
"We could have figured something out," Harry said. "Yet you kept your secrets. I'm sure you looked for a solution but you are not infallible. You talk about how proud you are of the allies I've built yet you don't let me rely on them! And tonight you tried to keep me from sharing it with them!"
"Voldemort can't know," Dumbledore pleaded.
"He likely does already," Harry said. "He used Legilimency on me and my mental barriers didn't stop him- I wonder why that was. He saw me fight the Basilisk and stab the diary. He tortured Malfoy for giving up his Horcrux. He was supposed to protect it. He might not know the number but I would guarantee he's going to be worried. I saw it in his eyes when I came back. He was scared.
"We are officially at war and your first actions are to keep secrets," Harry said. "I won't be reckless but I am not leaving my allies in the dark. They've given me far too much- too much love and too much support- for me to keep them in the dark. Choose now, Dumbledore. Are you with us or are we going to be working separately toward the same goal?"
As Harry finished speaking, the tremors once again overtook him and he laid back. In the Hospital Wing, tension hung in the air with everyone looking between the broken boy in the bed and the aged headmaster. Moments stretched and seconds felt like hours until Moody gave a hacking laugh.
"I like you, boy," Moody laughed. "I have never heard someone put old Albie in his place like you just did. If you're this intense with Albie, I shudder to think what you're gonna be like whenever Voldemort picks his next fight with you. I don't know what you're planning but whatever it is, I'm in."
"You know I'm with you, Harry," Neville beamed and his grandmother gave him an appreciative pat on the shoulder.
"House Bones stands with you," Amelia said. "Voldemort nearly wiped out my family last war. I won't let him finish what he started."
"As does House Greengrass," Mattias said. "So will House Davis, I'm sure."
"Merlin, pup," Sirius said, looking between Harry and Dumbledore with wide eyes. "Yeah, you've got me. Time to put Voldy down for good."
Before anyone else could speak, the doors to the wing burst open as Cornelius Fudge strode into the room.
"Madam Bones, what is going on here?" Fudge demanded. "You've got the Aurors spread from here to Ireland doing Morgana-knows-what. I heard you dispatched more to the house of Barty Crouch. The foreign ministers are crawling up and down my back, wondering what is happening. I need answers. Now!"
"Well if you had waited," Amelia glared at the man. "I would have told you that we responded to a graveyard in Little Hangleton where we were searching for Champions Diggory and Potter. Initial reconnaissance was done by myself, Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore. When we landed, we saw a large gathering of Death Eaters. We were able to apprehend 20 of them and four are dead but it looked like some got away. At the center of their number was the dark lord Voldemort himself. He cast the killing curse at Champion Potter and while it hit, the Boy-Who-Lived earned his moniker once again. Unfortunately, I do have to report that Champion Diggory was deceased when we arrived, a victim of a piercing hex through the heart."
"Impossible!" Fudge screeched. "You-Know-Who is gone! The Death Eaters have disbanded. You were tricked somehow. I'm sure it's his fault. It's all an elaborate plot to make us focus on an imaginary enemy than deal with a dark lord growing."
Harry laughed cruelly.
"Oh you read Skeeter," Harry chuckled. "Skeeter took events out of context and reported them as fact without even interviewing anyone close to me. In fact, I am pressing charges on her for defamation for what she reported about Lavender Petal."
"Or you could just prosecute her for being an illegal animagus," Hermione offered. Daphne pulled a jar from her satchel with a beetle in it. "We caught her spying on the judges tonight."
"Hogwash," Fudge said. "You've got everyone to buy into your codswallop but I'm seeing clearly. Maybe a year too late but I am seeing clearly now. I won't witness the rise to another dark lord. No sir."
It was then that Dumbledore turned on Fudge.
"One of my students is laid up in a hospital bed," Dumbledore towered over the smaller man. "Another of them is dead. I have to bury one of my students, Cornelius. You wanted this tournament, you pushed for it. No matter how vociferously I opposed it, you told me it was going forward. You wanted the publicity and you exposed four young individuals to untold dangers. And now, with us on the precipice of another war with an enemy who was never defeated, merely choosing to lie dormant, you decide to attack another of my students. A student who has more honor and integrity than anyone in this castle, myself included."
"He's really done a number on you, Albus," Fudge said. "Go to St. Mungos and get a full examination. That boy is dangerous and I will not have him throw my ministry into chaos."
"Oh Fudge," Harry called to man as he turned to stride from the wing. "Make sure to send my winnings to St. Mungos, as promised."
Fudge scoffed and strode from the room.
"Well that was annoying," Harry said as he rallied again. "Well first things first. Daphne, can you reach out to Millie and have my winnings donated to St. Mungo's in Cedric's name? As for Fudge, he's going to be a problem. He's scared and that fear is everything Voldemort wants. Only one thing to do about it."
Harry looked around the room. When he locked eyes on Daphne, she nodded with a smirk.
"I was hoping to put this off until after school," Harry shakily rubbed his eyes. "Madam Bones, Madam Longbottom, Lord Greengrass… I, Harry James Potter, Heir to House Potter, heir of Gryffindor so formally request the reformation of the Great Alliance."
"Seconded," Augusta almost shouted. "It's time the Wizarding Britain remembered its greatest alliance."
"House Black formally applies to join the Great Alliance," Sirius said. "Our name hasn't been good for much lately. It's time to change that."
"Accepted," Harry smiled wearily. "I'm hoping to reach out to our other allies: the Browns, the Patils, the Lovegoods."
"Oh daddy would love to join," Luna said. Until that moment, Harry hadn't noticed her in the corner, scribbling furiously. "I guarantee it."
"As I said, House Davis should join as well," Mattias said. "I will pay them a visit tonight and get the ball rolling."
"I will reach out to the Abbotts and the Patils," Augusta said.
"And I'll reach out to Sammy," Sirius gave them all a rakish grin.
"Is there room for one more?" McGonagall said. "House McGonagall would be glad to stand among the Great Alliance."
"Granted," Harry nodded. "Does this mean you'll take it easy on me in class?"
"If only you were that fortunate," McGonagall gave him a small but cheeky smile.
"I'd also like to reach out to Professor Flitwick and Gripclaw," Harry said. "I'd like to give the goblins a bigger voice in our government."
"They would appreciate that," Neville said. "What's next? Elves?"
"House Dobby would like to join, sir!" Dobby popped back in and bowed.
"Oh the 'Gamot isn't gonna know what hit it," Augusta said with a chortle. "Well, there's much to do and little time to do it. We'll leave you to get your rest."
One-by-one the group filed out of the Hospital Wing. Daphne departed with her parents but not before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're a good man, Harry," Daphne said. "I'm glad to call you an ally… and a friend."
"Thank you, Daphne," Harry said. "Your advice has proven invaluable this year. I'll need it even more going forward."
"Sure you don't want to share, Hermione?" Susan asked as she stopped at the other side of the bed. "He's quite the catch."
"No I think I'll be selfish," Hermione held Harry a little tighter.
"Get well, godson," Sirius was next as he leaned on Harry's shoulders. "You did well today, better than more adults would have. I am proud of you."
"Thank you, Padfoot," Harry said, though without much emotion behind it.
Once the group left, only the Grangers remained. Pomfrey shooed them away from Harry's bed but allowed them to stay in the Wing. Hermione changed into pajamas and settled herself into a bed. Pomfrey gave them each a dreamless sleep potion to help them sleep through the night.
With everyone gone, the silence hung on Harry's shoulders like iron bars. Suddenly, everything came back to him. The fight with the Minotaur, the blasts of spellfire, the dirt kicking up, the blood bursting from Cedric's chest and the sound of Cedric's body as it slammed to the ground. Then came the memories of the ritual. The ground cracking and bones coming out of it, Wormtail cutting off his own hand before hobbling to slice up Harry's wrist. The events of the night played and replayed. Harry looked across the room and felt the weight of it all.
It all felt overpowering. He analyzed every moment, every decision until his walls crumbled. The only warning was a heaving sob before Harry collapsed forward, leaning heavily on his knees as body-racking sobs shook his entire body. It was like a dam burst and tears flooded down his face. Tears fell onto the sheets and there was nothing he could do to stop them. All of his composure was gone.
The next thing he knew, he was swept up in a warm embrace as strong arms wrapped around him tighter than any embrace he had ever felt before. A quiet 'shh' echoed in his ears as Harry as he someone quietly rocked him back and forth. Nothing was said but Harry held her tight as the tears fell and the sobs continued. After what felt like ages, his shoulders relaxed and Harry pushed himself away. When he opened his eyes, he expected it to be Hermione but he was wrong.
"I know," Helen said as sympathetic tears fell from her eyes. "It's been a long and traumatic night. Never feel bad about what you feel, Harry. Let it out. We're here for you."
"Thank you," Harry whispered while Hermione and Richard watched tearfully from the foot of the bed. Apparently, they all scrambled to him but Helen was quickest.
"It's what family does," Helen then grabbed the potion from the bedside table, brought it to Harry's mouth and willed Harry to drink it. Upon drinking it, Harry's eyes immediately drooped.
That was when Harry got to experience something he had never experienced. Helen removed his glasses, laid him down into bed and tucked him in.
"There you go," Helen said as she kissed him on the forehead. "We'll see you in the morning."
And like that Harry dropped off into a dreamless slumber.
Back down in the outskirts of London, Lucius apparated back into his home, glad to be there for the first time in over a year. He brushed the soot and grime off his robes and walked into his study.
"Good evening, husband," Lucius turned to see his wife leaning on the doorway. "I'm glad you're home. It's been too long. I'm sure you've had a rough year."
"That's putting it lightly," Lucius said. "It's nice to be back, though."
"Everything is how you left it," Narcissa pulled a glass from behind her back. "Including this. I know it is your favorite. I thought you'd miss it the most in your year away."
Lucius took the glass and sat in his favorite chair near the window.
"Thank you," Lucius sipped the drink and let the amber liquid warm his insides. "You are such a doting wife."
"I take it your mission was successful, then?" Narcissa's eyes never left his glass.
"Yes," Lucius said. "We found him and we brought him back; even used the Potter whelp to do it. I didn't think it would all work but it did."
Lucius took another drink of whisky and sagged back into the chair.
"So he's back," Narcissa's eyes widened in shock. "Like back, back?"
"As alive as you or I," Lucius said, missing Narcissa's smirk at his comment. "Took a year to get everything together but he's got a body back. Greater and more powerful than he ever was; nothing is going to stop us now."
As Lucius finished speaking, he took a drink. Upon pulling the glass from his mouth, the rim sliced his lip. As blood ran from his lip, his eyelids started to twitch and then he spasmed in his chair. The glass fell from his hand and smashed on the ground.
"What's happening?" Lucius looked at his wife with pleading eyes and was met with only a victorious smile.
"It hurts doesn't it?" Narcissa pulled off her gloves and advanced on Lucius. "It cost me quite a bit, getting Basilisk venom but it was well worth it. I've heard the venom is particularly vile to come into contact with, just as you just have."
"Why…?" Lucius collapsed onto his knees and crawled toward his wife.
"Why, you ask?" Narcissa's smile grew. "Where do I begin? How about you setting a Basilisk loose on the school where OUR SON GOES!? If that wasn't bad enough, you lost Dobby in the process! I know you didn't think much of him but to a Black, house elves are FAMILY! Not slaves, FAMILY. You'd never had one before, the Malfoy family couldn't afford one and you took Dobby and treated him worse than a slave, relishing in all the times you punished him or he punished himself. Do you know how many times I had to heal that elf!? Then you did far worse to our only child. You turned into a gormless, spoiled, brat who expected to be treated as royalty without doing a damn thing first. I've worked hard the last year to correct the issues you have imparted on our son and I will NOT have him fall backward again."
Narcissa was heaving heavy breaths as she finished speaking.
"Those were all reasons but not the reason. The reason is you cost me our daughter. Remember the last time the Dark Lord was here? When he submitted me to the Cruciatus curse long enough to cause me to miscarry? To miscarry bad enough I am now infertile? No? Not ringing any bells?
"I just needed to bide my time and wait for you. I knew you'd return to your master on bended knee or something similarly stupid, once again subjecting this family to that lunatic's insane dogma. I hope it was all worth it, Lucy. Rot in hell."
Lucius Malfoy clasped his hands around his neck as if trying to remove an invisible hand. With a last shuddering gasp, Lucius Malfoy collapsed onto the rug, his last breath leaving him when his body hit the ground. Narcissa sneered in victory, uncapped a potion and spread it over his body. Within seconds, his body sizzled and started to disintegrate. Scoffing, Narcissa vanished his remains, turned on her heel and walked from the study. Swinging her traveling cloak over herself, she threw open the front door, intending the escape the house. As she walked out, she stopped short.
"Good evening, Narcissa," the nasally voice she hoped to never hear again wheezed. Narcissa retreated quickly in a panic. "Where are you going? We have so much to discuss."
With a flick of his wand, Narcissa's feet left the ground as she was guided back into the manor, worried about what was going to come next.
(A/N: Lucius has finally met his end. This has been part of my notes since he escaped in at the end of third year. Narcissa will do anything to protect her son, especially if she has to protect him from his own father. In researching, the venom was going to be slipped into his whisky but in my research, venom is only dangerous if it comes into contact with the blood stream through a cut or something similar. If it's ingested, the venom will likely make the drinker sick but won't kill them. Just a fun fact that I discovered.
Fudge reacts the same way because at his core he is the same frightened politician he is. However, this time he won't be going against Harry and Dumbledore alone. Harry will have allies. He also gets the experience of having someone take care of him like a mother would. In canon it's Molly Weasley whose given hug is nice, if a bit smothering. For Helen, it's a caring, motherly hug that means more since Helen is as much a surrogate mother to him.
On a personal note: I had trouble digging into the helplessness Harry felt when talking to the Diggorys and Fay and also when reliving the events of the night. That all changed this week when my wife started dealing with a nerve/tooth issue. She's been largely bedridden and there's nothing I can do, despite me wanting to do anything I can to make them feel better. I channeled that into this chapter, making it a little raw.
Thank you as always for your reads, likes and replies.)