The safe house, though small and tucked away in the rolling hills of the countryside, had always been a place of refuge. Tonight, however, the air within its stone walls was thick with urgency and worry. The familiar crackling of the fire in the hearth did little to soften the tension that hung over the room. Everyone, even Remus, was on edge.

Sirius paced near the fireplace, his mind whirring as he calculated every possible scenario. Frank sat in the corner, hands clenched around his cane, a look of quiet determination etched into his face. Neville stood by the window, eyes scanning the darkened landscape outside, alert to any sign of danger. Remus, ever the calm in a storm, leaned against the doorframe, his brow furrowed.

And then there was Harry.

His pale face looked even more fragile in the dim light. His breathing was shallow, his body weak and still from the toll of Bellatrix's torture. Despite the seemingly peaceful state he was in, there was an unshakable unease. Every time the wind howled outside or a twig snapped in the distance, Harry's face contorted in pain, as though he were caught in the grip of a nightmare he couldn't escape.

Stevan had been vigilant in his care, but the truth of the matter was, Harry was far from out of the woods. His body may have been stable, but his mind… his mind was a battleground.

"Is he awake?" Remus asked quietly, breaking the tense silence. His voice was softer than usual, but the underlying worry was evident.

Sirius glanced at Harry, then back at Remus. "Not yet. But he'll need to wake up soon, for all of our sakes. The longer he's unconscious, the more vulnerable he is."

Frank cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly. "We'll get him through this, Sirius. Harry's strong. He's been through worse."

"I know," Sirius replied, his voice tight. "But it doesn't get any easier, does it?"

The door creaked open, and Stevan stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He carried a small vial of potion in his hand, his gaze flicking from Harry to the others. "He's stable, but I'm going to need to keep him under observation for at least a few more hours."

Remus nodded. "We'll stay vigilant. If Bellatrix comes looking"

"I've already sent word to the Order," Stevan cut in. "There are reinforcements on the way, but they won't be here until morning. We have to make sure Harry stays safe until then."

Sirius clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "We're sitting ducks here. If she's tracking him, she'll know where we are."

Stevan met his gaze steadily. "We have protective wards in place. If Bellatrix does come, we'll know well in advance. But for now, our priority is Harry."

"Right," Remus said, standing straighter. "We can keep watch. And once Harry wakes up, we'll figure out our next move."

The room fell into a tense silence once more. It was as though the hours themselves were stretching, each minute more agonizing than the last. They all knew the dangers of Harry's situation. The Death Eaters were relentless. Bellatrix, especially, would stop at nothing to finish what she started. But this time, they wouldn't let her win.

A few hours later...

Harry's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurred at first. The room around him was dim, lit only by the flickering light of the fire. It took him a moment to realize where he was no longer at St. Mungo's, no longer in the clutches of the Death Eaters. He was somewhere safer. But for how long?

His body felt like dead weight. Every muscle ached, every breath was a struggle, and there was a constant ringing in his ears. But there was something else something that cut through the haze of exhaustion. A memory.

Bellatrix.

Her cruel laughter echoed in his mind, her cackling voice drowning out everything else. The pain she had inflicted on him, the way she had twisted his very soul… It was all too fresh, too real. But there was something more pressing now he had to focus. He couldn't let himself fall into the past.

"Harry?" Sirius's voice, rough and filled with concern, broke through the fog in Harry's mind. "Harry, can you hear me?"

Harry blinked, slowly turning his head towards the sound of the voice. His vision cleared just enough to make out the figure of Sirius sitting beside him, his face a mixture of relief and worry.

"Pads..." Harry whispered hoarsely, his throat dry, as if he hadn't spoken in days. "Where… where am I?"

"You're safe," Sirius said softly, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "You're at a safe house. We've got you, Harry."

Harry tried to sit up, but the pain that shot through his body made him gasp. Sirius immediately put a hand on his shoulder, urging him to stay down.

"Easy, easy," Sirius said. "You're still recovering. Stevan said you need rest."

Harry closed his eyes, trying to focus. He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be here, alive, but that gratitude was quickly replaced by the harsh reality. Bellatrix was still out there. She wasn't done with him. And neither were the rest of the Death Eaters.

"I remember… Bellatrix," Harry said, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand unconsciously moved to the bandages wrapped around his torso, as though he could still feel the lingering scars. "She'll come for me."

Sirius nodded grimly. "We know. But we're not going to let her. You're not alone, Harry. The Order's on high alert. We'll protect you."

A soft knock interrupted their conversation, and the door creaked open. Remus stepped inside, his expression cautious but hopeful. Behind him stood Frank Longbottom, who had insisted on staying close to Harry, watching over him like a silent guardian.

"How's he doing?" Remus asked, stepping closer to Harry's bedside.

Harry blinked slowly, turning his head to acknowledge the new arrivals. "I'm fine," he said, though the words felt weak. "Just need to rest."

Frank's voice was firm, though filled with understanding. "You've been through too much, lad. Rest is the least we can offer."

Harry gave a faint smile, but the darkness in his eyes didn't fade. The memories of what he had endured still clung to him, and though he was surrounded by people who cared, he couldn't shake the feeling that the storm wasn't over yet.

"We're moving you again," Remus said quietly, glancing at Sirius. "To a more secure location. We can't risk staying here for too long."

Sirius nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe."

But Harry couldn't shake the nagging thought in the back of his mind. Bellatrix wouldn't stop. Not until she had everything she wanted.

And she wouldn't stop until he was broken beyond repair.