35

Chapter 35: Coming Together Again

Molly sighed despondently as she once again looked at the clock above the mantle. Dinner time had come and gone and yet Arthur was still not home. He had floo called to let her know that he may be home late since there had been yet another case of a toilet spraying boiling water at any muggle who had the misfortune to use it. Of course she did not eat dinner alone.

She had instead played host to the two newest members of her family, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Oh how excited Harry was going to be when he found out that Sirius had been granted a clean bill of health!

Molly could not wait for summer vacation to come. Oh how she missed having her darling children at home, she missed cooking a large spread of delicious food for the family; usually Harry would assist her, something that warmed her heart; attempting to hide her amusement at one of Fred and Georges pranks, missed Ron sneaking into the kitchen for food and Percy asking to be taken to the muggle library; his new favorite place to spend his time, so like his father; even Ginny was rarely around during the school year instead preferring to spend time at the Lovegood residence.

"Molly? Are you alright?" Remus' gentle tone broke her out of her musings.

"I'm fine Remus," Molly said with a sad smile as she took another sip of her tea. "I am just thinking of how quiet it is here this school year. Ginny has always liked going over to the Lovegoods but Ronnie always preferred it here. I must admit... I miss the chaos."

"That's understandable Molly," Sirius said with a grin as he sat forward from his reclined position on the couch. "Euthemia used to say the same thing when we got off of the Express. Said it was too quiet."

"That it is," Molly agreed as her eyes once again drifted towards the clock on the mantle only to freeze in horror as, once again, Harry's hand was stationed firmly on 'Mortal Peril.'

"Oh Merlin no," Molly managed to get out as her body began to tremble as her fear threatened to consume her. Not Harry. Not my Harry.

"Molly?" Remus asked in concern as the matrons face lost all color that it had previously help, her form trembling in the chair that she had seated herself on. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Do we need to call a healer?" Sirius asked as he began to stand so that he could reach the Floo faster.

Their answer came in the form of a single shaking hand raising and pointing just above the fireplaces mantle where the shining silver spoon which was adorned with Harry's grinning face pointed straight down to where the words 'Mortal Peril' were etched in deceivingly cheery font.

"We have to go," Molly whispered as she stood, eyes still glued to Harry's hand on the clock, not noticing how Charlie's had moved to show that he was 'Travelling'. "We need to get to Hogwarts now! Quickly, out past the front gate, we'll apparate to the edge of the wards."

"Molly wait! We can't apparate there," Remus said trying and failing to keep the panic from his voice. "Dumbledore controls the wards. if we apparate there he'll know and who knows what he'll do to Harry to cover this up? We need to be smart about this. Perhaps the Night Bus?"

"That would take too long!" Molly said fretfully as she began to pace, "Oh I knew that I should have picked up some more floo powder!"

"Floo wouldn't work either anyways Molly," Remus reminded as he too began to pace around the small living room.

"Honeydukes."

"What?" Remus asked turning to face Sirius with a confused look on his face. "Sirius, this is no time to be thinking of candy! Harry is in danger!"

"I know that!" Sirius growled back at the irate werewolf, "I meant that if we go to Honeydukes we can use the 'One Eyed Witch Passageway.' It's not warded."

This brought Remus to a full stop as he looked at his lover in surprise.

"That's... Genius Sirius," Remus said stunned before turning to face a confused Molly, "That's why the secret passages are prone to collapsing, they don't have any wards like the rest of the castle does. Dumbledore won't know that we're there until it's too late."

Harry felt as though he had been burnt to a crisp. His skin felt stiff and every movement, even something as simple as breathing, left him in agony as lightning crackled across his skin.

What had happened?

Something... Something big.

Something that made him feel as though there was a gaping hole in his chest... He wanted Charlie.

Charlie!

Oh god, Charlie was there, he had felt him! Even though his blood had been boiling Charlie's presence had still calmed his very being.

Was Charlie okay!? He had to be, Harry couldn't lose Charlie he just couldn't.

Opening his eyes Harry quickly shut them again to shield himself from the bright white light that surrounded him. He was dead wasn't he? But... If he were dead why was he still in pain?

Death was supposed to take all of his pain away wasn't it? And if he were dead then he'd never get to see Charlie again. Unless Charlie was dead too...

No! Charlie couldn't be dead!

Forcing his eyes open once again and forcing them to remain so despite the burn Harry took in his surroundings and felt himself relax.

The hospital wing.

He was in the hospital wing.

But... Where was Charlie?

Sitting up Harry bit back a scream of pain as a flash of agony coursed through him. Leaning back on his arms Harry attempted to catch his breath only to discover that his arms were trembling uncontrollably and could not hold his meager weight.

Leaning forward instead so that his nose almost touched his knee Harry took several greedy gulps of air before throwing his legs over the side of the bed.

He could do this, he thought while eyeing the privacy curtain that was hung up across from his bed. All he had to do was stand and take a couple of steps.

"It is good to see you awake Mr. Potter, though I suggest that you don't stand up quite yet."

Harry looked up in shock only to meet the amused and concerned gaze of Poppy Pomfrey.

"Ma'am," Harry said, his throat dry and his voice hoarse causing him to pause so that he could swallow. "I was just-"

"About to get an examination," She cut him off with a smirk as she moved forward and gently pushed him back onto the pillows, her touch causing a hiss of pain to escape his throat as though he was burnt. "I know that you must be in severe pain, you were under that dreadful curse for a rather long time. Now, take this potion to ease the residual effects and we will do a test to determine your mental status."

Harry took the sickly yellow looking potion from the matron and gulped it down before asking the question that was now circling around his mind like a shark.

"My mental status?"

"Yes dear," Madame Pomfrey sighed as she sat on the edge of his bed and gently ran her fingers through his hair, "The Cruciatus curse causes unimaginable pain, too long under it's effects can cause permanent effects. The tremors that are running through your body are one. They should go away with that last dose of pain. A compromised mental status is another. The curse has been known to drive people mad with no hope to improve. Now, I of course know that you are not mad, however, it has also been known to damage memory among other things. I just want to make sure that you don't have any lasting damage alright?"

"Okay," Harry said with a deep breath as he silently sent up a prayer that he was okay. He was already a freak with a past that had left him damaged, he didn't want yet another thing to add to the list.

"Alright dear, what is your full name?"

"Harry James Potter."

"When were you born?"

"July 31st, 1980."

On the questions went until finally, "Where are you now?"

"I'm in the hospital wing at Hogwarts."

"Well done Mr. Potter," Poppy said with a grin as she stood up. "Now, it seems that all of your mental facilities are intact. You have a very anxious mate who has been waiting to see you. I shall get him and bring him in here to you."

"Charlie's here?" Harry asked as a smile bloomed across his face and he sat up. "Thank you Madam Pomfrey!"

"You are quite welcome dear," Poppy said with a smile as she walked back out of the curtains that surrounded Harry's bed.

Mere moments after the medi witch had left an excited shout and giggling reached Harry's ears causing him to smile fondly before his gaze focused in on where the sound of footsteps could be heard rapidly drawing nearer.

The curtain was thrown open to show a grinning Charlie who's hair was dripping wet, a small trail of water running down his neck and soaking into the collar of his white t-shirt.

"Harry," He breathed, sounding so relieved that it caused Harry's heart to swell with love for the man across from him.

"Charlie," Harry said with a grin as he held his hand out for his mate, "I knew you'd save me."

"Always," Charlie swore as he took Harry's small hand into his much larger callused one. "I will always save you."

"Good," Harry breathed out as he tugged gently on Charlies on causing him to move over to the bed, seating himself on the edge beside Harry. "Because you're stuck with me. Forever."

"Forever," Charlie agreed as he bent down and caught Harry's lips with his own.

The kiss was soft and gentle, no more than a simple press of the lips, and yet it was precisely what the two of them needed as their very souls seemed to sing in triumph at being reunited.