Warmth surrounded him, soft and

comforting. The sharp, cold stone was gone, replaced by a plush mattress, layers of blankets cocooning his aching body. He could hear faint voices, hurried whispers laced with worry and relief.

Harry's eyes fluttered open, his vision hazy before the familiar outlines of the Burrow's

attic room came into focus-the sloped ceiling, the worn wooden beams, the faded Chudley Cannons posters plastered on the walls.

He blinked, his mind sluggish, memories swimming through his head. Shadows, pain, Bellatrix's laughter echoing through the darkness... his chest tightened, his body instinctively tensing.

A hand rested on his shoulder, warm and steady. "Harry?"

He turned, his eyes meeting Hermione's. Her face was pale, eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion, but her relief was palpable, a shaky smile breaking through her worry.

"You're awake..."

Her voice trembled, and before he could respond, she threw her arms around him, her embrace fierce, almost desperate. "We thought... we thought we lost you."

Harry's throat tightened, his hands moving to return the hug, his fingers curling into her jumper. The familiar scent of parchment and ink grounded him, chasing away the lingering shadows. "I'm here," he whispered, his voice raw. "I'm here."

The door burst open, and Ron stumbled in, his face pale but eyes bright with relief.

"Mate... You're okay!" He crossed the room in two strides, dropping to his knees beside the bed. "Don't you dare scare us like that again."

Harry managed a weak chuckle, a spark of warmth breaking through the cold in his chest. "Didn't plan on it," he muttered, his voice rough. "Bellatrix... She—"

Hermione pulled back, her eyes darkening.

"She got away. By the time we broke through the wards, she was gone." Her jaw tightened, anger flashing across her face. "We were too late... If we'd been faster—"

"It's not your fault," Harry cut in, his voice firm despite his exhaustion. He looked between them, guilt coiling in his chest. "I walked right into her trap. I should've been more careful."

Ron shook his head, his expression fierce.

"No. She was targeting you-she knew how to bait you. We'll get her next time."

Harry wanted to believe him, but the memory of her laughter echoed in his mind, cold and taunting. She'd been so sure, so confident in her power. And for a terrifying moment, he'd believed her.

Hermione's fingers tightened on his arm, her touch grounding him. "She tried to break you, Harry. But she failed." Her eyes were fierce, unwavering. "You're still here. You fought her and won."

A shiver ran through him, memories of shadows and cold seeping into his thoughts.

He had been so close to giving in, so close to losing himself in that darkness. If not for his friends, for the voices that pulled him back...

"How did you...?" He looked up, confusion knitting his brow. "I heard you... all of you.

Even Sirius..."

Hermione exchanged a glance with Ron, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That chamber... it was filled with dark magic. She was using a spell designed to prey on fear and despair." Her voice softened. "We were calling for you, Harry. Through the walls, through every barrier. Maybe... maybe you heard us because you never stopped fighting."

Ron's face softened, a lopsided grin breaking through his worry. "Yeah, reckon you're just that stubborn."

Harry's lips twitched, a faint smile surfacing.

"Yeah... Maybe." But beneath the lighthearted words, fear lingered. He could still feel the shadows' cold grip, the weight of his friends' accusations-even if they weren't

real.

Hermione's hand slid into his, her fingers warm and steady. "You're not alone, Harry.

Whatever she tried to make you believe... you're never alone."

He looked up, his gaze meeting hers. In her eyes, he saw unwavering loyalty, fierce love, and hope. Real, solid, unbreakable.

Ron clapped a hand on his shoulder, his grin widening. "Yeah, and if she comes after you again, she'll have to go through us first."

Emotion swelled in Harry's chest, too big for words. He gripped their hands tighter, his heart pounding with gratitude, relief, and a renewed determination.

Bellatrix had failed. She hadn't broken him.

And she never would.

But this wasn't over. Not while she was still out there, hunting him, hunting them. His scar throbbed, a dull echo of the darkness he had faced. The fight wasn't over.

But he wouldn't face it alone.

Not this time.