Search:

SIYE Time:14:50 on 29th March 2024
SIYE Login: no


Some Cuts Leave Scars
By melindaleo

- Text Size +

Category: Post-DH/AB
Characters:None
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Drama, Romance
Warnings: Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 290
Summary: Not all wounds heal completely – many scars aren’t readily visible. Join Harry and his friends as they journey through the year following the war, learning how to maneuver over hurdles both unique and lingering. An 8th-year sequel to the summer of These Cuts I Have.
Hitcount: Story Total: 78995; Chapter Total: 3201
Awards: View Trophy Room




Author's Notes:
Well, there you go! At the time I was writing, it felt like such a relief to finish, but now I wish I’d dragged the Romanian visit out a bit. Ah well, fodder for later, I suppose! So, tell me what you thought…

Once again, I have several people to thank whose efforts contributed to this story being finished. Sherry, my beta, is a bright spot who always makes me think. Arnel, who is a treasure trove of canon knowledge. Ryan, who talks me through every scenario and makes me think how different characters would respond to things. And, finally, Sue, my own personal cheerleader who gives me a hint on which sections are working. Thanks you all!




ChapterPrinter
StoryPrinter


Chapter Twenty-Four A
Here Be Dragons, pt. 2


Harry stalked around the empty Potions lab irritably. Although they’d found evidence that potions were missing, the lab was empty, and it looked as if it had been for some time. A preliminary search of the camp had shown no sign of Ginny, Ron or Hermione, so Harry could only assume they were together somewhere. The reserve itself was entirely too vast to accomplish any kind of search quickly, and the longer it took, the more the gaping hole that had formed in Harry’s insides seemed to grow.

He had to find them.

“Are there any other enclosures, perhaps ones nearby, but not within the camp?” Harry asked, knowing that these Death Eaters would need seclusion. If it was the same ones who’d killed Agnes Heatherton, they had the book on Blood Magic, and they weren’t afraid to kill if things got messy.

“What about the old nursery?” Charlie asked suddenly, his eyebrows rising to his hairline.

“Pardon?” Harry asked blankly.

“We built the new nursery where we inspect the condition of all new hatchlings and document their statistics right here in camp. We used to do it in a small shed out in the reserve that’s enchanted with fire-protection charms. Taking hatchlings from their nests is risky business, and we need to be close if the Stunning Spells wear off the mama dragons before we’re ready. That was before we realized Portkeys worked on the little ones, so we can bring them back to camp no problem.”

“Where is this shed?” Harry asked, already moving toward the door.

“I can show you. Part of it has collapsed, but a good portion is still standing. I’ll give you fair warning — it’s near camp, but it’s out in the main reserve, so I can’t guarantee your protection,” Charlie said solemnly.

As if dragons were going to stop him from helping his friends — his family. “Understood. Let’s go.”

“Harry—” Charlie said warningly.

“If I’m right, the others are already out there, and we’re wasting time,” he said, eyes flashing. “I’m going.”

Charlie nodded. “All right, I’m going with you. Let me send a Patronus to the others to let them know where we’re going.”

“Tell them not to get too close. We don’t want to alert them we’re onto them,” Harry said uneasily. Visions of the last time he’d been lured somewhere secluded in order to brew this potion flickered through his mind. He couldn’t allow any of the others to become a spare.

Charlie Side-Along Apparated him to a spot in a rocky stretch of the mountains. While there was cover where they appeared, the rundown shack was isolated, one half already collapsed. Harry couldn’t see any movement inside. He and Charlie cast Disillusionment Charms over themselves as they scurried across the open area to the shed. As soon as they approached the outside, he could hear voices, one unmistakably Ron’s, shouting, “This is never going to work.”

Harry whispered to Charlie to stay behind him as they crouched low, entering the structure. Still Disillusioned, they’d made it nearly to a back room before a shrill, bleating noise filled the air. A Sneakoscope on the floor covered by hay was spinning madly.

Everything happened at once. A wizard appeared around the corner of a half wall, and two other wizards suddenly appeared from somewhere in the back, all pointing their wands at Harry and Charlie. Harry recognized both Dolohov and Yaxley, but the other young, pock-mocked wizard was unknown. His hand shook as his eyes scanned the area wildly, and Harry knew the young wizard felt he was in over his head.

“Where is he?” he asked, his voice high and panicked.

“He’s Disillusioned, but he’s here,” Dolohov said, grinning. His eyes glittered malevolently before he snarled, “Avada Kedavra,”

The jet of green light sped toward them, the rushing sound filling Harry’s ears as his mind flashed back to a grave yard and Cedric’s empty eyes staring up at him. Harry slammed his body into Charlie, knocking him sideways and into a charred post. Charlie’s head hit with a resounding slam, and he crumpled to the floor, his Disillusionment Charm fading.

The Killing Curse hit the wall behind them, completely shattering what was left of it, and letting sunlight fill the dim room. Harry crouched next to an unconscious Charlie, aiming his own wand. As he formed the Curse in his mind, Dolohov had released Ron from his bindings and held him with one arm around the throat and his other pointing his wand at Ron’s temple.

Harry froze.

“The Sneakoscope warned us that you weren’t alone, Potter, but as you can see, I provided my own spares,” Dolohov said, grinning. He then spoke to Yaxley and the other, younger wizard. “Should Potter cast so much as a Tickling Jinx toward me, kill this one.” He pulled his arm tighter around Ron’s throat, making Ron gag although he didn’t struggle, telling Harry he was Petrified.

“Now, Potter, kindly remove the Disillusionment Charm and join us. You are our honored guest, after all,” Dolohov said.

Harry’s mind worked furiously. He couldn’t see Hermione and Ginny, but they could easily be behind the half wall where Ron had been. When Dolohov jabbed his wand further into Ron’s neck, Harry knew there was no choice. He removed the charm, at last becoming visible to the others. Not wanting to be Disarmed, he dropped his own wand to his feet, and it was the only sound audible as it rolled several inches away.

“Very good, Potter. Now come this way, slowly,” Dolohov purred.

Harry took the two steps forward around the half-wall, and he walked into one of his nightmares. A giant, stone cauldron was placed in the center of the area, Ginny and Hermione were bound on the floor in front of it, both looking panicked but unharmed.

Ginny knew Harry would never risk Ron, but she was devastated to see Harry give himself up. This couldn’t be happening. With renewed effort, she once again struggled furtively against the rope binding her.

“Okay, so you have me. Now let them go,” Harry said, trying to sound forceful and sure despite the gnawing panic in his belly. That cauldron was unnerving him.

“I don’t think so. You’re so much more cooperative with spares,” Dolohov said smoothly. With a flick of his wand, fire erupted beneath the cauldron, and Harry had to suppress a shudder. He knew this potion would heat quickly, its diamond-like top layer would start bubbling in a matter of minutes.

“Exactly what are you expecting to happen?” Harry asked, stalling for time. They were so busy watching him and his reactions that no one had Summoned his wand, and it still lay on the floor only feet away.

“I think you know what’s going to happen, Potter,” Dolohov said triumphantly.

“No, I really don’t. Obviously, you expect to bring back Voldemort, but you can’t. No spell can reawaken the dead,” Harry said calmly.

The others all shuddered at the sound of the name, and Dolohov grew agitated. “It worked before, and you know it.”

“It worked because he wasn’t dead before, you dunderhead. This spell returned him to a body — wasn’t really his body though, was it? It was a snake-like monstrosity,” Harry said musingly.

“You dare—”

Harry rolled his eyes mockingly. “Of course, I dare. Haven’t we been through this all before? Voldemort is dead — so you can stop flinching when I say his name. Nothing is going to happen. Go on, try it. Voldemort! Voldemort! Voldemort!”

Dolohov was incensed. He briefly removed the wand from Ron’s neck to aim it at Harry and shouted, “Crucio!”

The spell happened so quick and so fast, Harry couldn’t dodge it without risking any of the others. The pain was excruciating, and he dropped to the floor, howling in pain. It seemed to take forever for the curse to be lifted, and when it was, Harry lay panting the floor, his throat raw.

He could see the horrified expression of concern on Ron’s face, but what tugged at his hurting heart more was the glazed expressions on both Hermione and Ginny’s faces. He could tell from experience that they were both experiencing flashbacks. Of all of them, only Ron had never experienced the horror of the Cruciatus. He hoped he could keep it that way.

Shaking, he moved his arms beneath him and unsteadily raised up, needing to use the half-wall to stand.

“I will not tolerate disrespect to the Dark Lord,” Dolohov said, pulling himself together.

“Then, we’re going to be here awhile,” Harry quipped, “because I don’t respect him. And he’s dead.”

Despite the fact Ron was Petrified, Harry could nearly hear him groan. Both Ginny and Hermione looked faint with worry, fearing Harry’s sass was going to get him killed.

“Enough!” Dolohov growled, and his face took on a fanatical gleam. “It’s ready.”

The crackling fire beneath the cauldron had heated the contents so that steam rose in spiraling wisps and sparks flew from the surface of the potion.

Harry’s stomach felt hollow, the memories of the last time far too close to the surface, and he fought to keep his hands steady. The others were depending on him.

“Yaxley!” Dolohov bellowed.

Yaxley moved forward, his face showing distaste as he carried over the writhing form of a huge, hissing snake, and he dropped it unceremoniously into the cauldron.

So, this is what they were using for Voldemort. They didn’t understand the role Nagini had really played. Harry knew with a sinking feeling of hollow dread that this was not going to end well.

The snake writhed and hissed within the cauldron, but the sides were too deep and smooth to allow it to escape. Harry suddenly felt sympathy for the snake.

Dolohov solemnly raised his wand. “Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son.” From the pocket of his robe, he removed several bone fragments and sprinkled them into the cauldron.

Harry assumed that Dolohov must’ve raided the grave of Tom Riddle, Sr. once again. Many of the Death Eaters had been there that night. Its location wouldn’t be difficult to find. Thankfully, Kingsley had buried Voldemort in an unmarked grave. He wondered what these Death Eaters would think if they’d known how close they’d actually been to their fallen master.

Dolohov frowned at the potion. “It’s supposed to turn blue,” he muttered, more to himself than his audience. Harry held his breath, knowing exactly why it wasn’t working.

“What’s wrong?” Yaxley asked, sounding unnerved. “I knew it would’ve been better if we could have Severus or Rodophus brew it.”

“Nothing is wrong. It’s working. Levine, you’re next,” Dolohov said, snapping.

The youngest of the three shuffled forward, his blonde hair hanging in his petrified eyes. His face was exceptionally pale, and it was clear to see he was debating making a run for it.

“You are a servant of the Dark Lord and must display your loyalty. You will be rewarded above all others when our Master returns,” Dolohov promised.

“Don’t listen to him. He won’t be returning. He’s dead, and you’ll have to live without your hand — providing you don’t bleed to death first,” Harry said imploring.

“Why don’t you do it?” Levine asked, whining.

Dolohov sneered. “Because I have already proven my loyalty. Both Yaxley and I are already two of his most loyal. You must prove your worth.” He raised his wand before Levine could protest any further. Whimpering and shaking, Levine removed a sharp dagger from his robes and clutched it desperately.

“Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master.”

With a scream of desperation, Levine raised the dagger in the air and brought it down with sickening quickness. The others all slammed their eyes shut, but the scream that pierced their skulls shook the meager timbers surrounding them. Something sloshed into the potion.

When Harry opened his eyes, Levine was huddled on the ground, crying piteously, but his cohorts ignored him. The flashbacks were attacking Harry’s mind fast and furiously, and he found his legs were shaking as they tried to support his weight.

The color of the potion remained stubbornly clear, and he could see the fear and frustration now blatant on Dolohov’s face.

“It’s not going to work because Voldemort is dead,” Harry repeated.

“Shut it,” Yaxley roared, striking Harry’s face so hard he staggered into the half wall. Blood dripped from his lip as he looked back at them defiantly. Somehow, he knew that trickle of blood coming from his wounded lip wouldn’t be enough to satisfy them.

“Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe,” Dolohov said, jerking his head at Yaxley, who took the dagger from the whimpering Levine and approached Harry warily.

Feeling apprehensive, Harry fought to keep his face neutral. He’d informed the Ministry, and Charlie had sent a Patronus to the other Draconologists. Help had to arrive soon. Harry’s wand remained on the floor, but he couldn’t attempt retrieving it while Dolohov had a grip on Ron — and Dolohov appeared to know that Harry wouldn’t do anything to risk the lives of the others.

Yaxley grasped Harry’s arm, slicing the dagger down his forearm in a jagged motion. Harry hissed in pain, jerking his arm as the dagger cut into him.

Ginny watched the pain flicker across Harry’s face, and shuddered at the ugly cut that began to drip blood down his arm. Obviously, Dolohov didn’t care if he hit an artery and Harry bled to death in the process. He had what he wanted now.

Yaxley bodily dragged Harry to the cauldron and held his bleeding arm over it so that copious amounts of blood splashed into the liquid below. Once satisfied, he shoved Harry back against the half wall and backed away. Harry bent his arm, cradling it to his body as he attempted to staunch the flow of blood.

Dolohov looked at the potion expectantly, and they all waited for several moments that seemed suspended in time, the only sound being the harsh panting of Levine, who still lay curled up on the floor.

Dolohov’s jubilant face fell comically as he stared at the still-bubbling — and still clear — liquid in the cauldron. The sounds of the snake had stilled, and Harry could only assume it had been killed.

“Where is he? What’s happening?” Yaxley asked at last, still staring slack-jawed at the simmering potion.

“I— it— I don’t know!” Dolohov howled in frustration. “I followed the directions exactly. It should’ve worked. It should be green, and the Dark Lord should’ve risen. I brewed it correctly.”

“Except that Voldemort is dead,” Harry said weakly.

“Shut it, Potter. You did this! What have you done?” Dolohov demanded, looking deranged.

“Perhaps Levine isn’t a worthy servant. Perhaps it has to be you since you brewed the potion,” Yaxley ventured.

“Shut it, Yaxley or I’ll put you into the potion. Levine is a servant, that’s not the problem. It has something to do with Potter,” Dolohov snarled, wrapping his arm tightly around Ron’s neck so that Ron’s eyes bulged. Again, he aimed his wand at Harry, “Crucio!”

Harry dropped to his knees, howling in pain. He felt as if daggers were piercing every inch of his skin as he rolled on the floor in agony. He twisted his head to and fro, and the blood from his pierced arm smeared across the floor.

Again, Ginny desperately strained against the rope binding her, but it wouldn’t give. “Harry!” she yelled, only dimly aware that she’d broken through the Silencing Spell. If only they’d bound her with a spell rather than this ruddy rope.

“Let me go, you worthless pillock,” she shouted. “Harry! Harry!”

The sudden sound of her panicked voice startled Dolohov, and he dropped the torture spell, turning toward her.

During Dolohov’s moment of distraction and still panting with pain, Harry turned his head to the side and noticed that Charlie was awake. Harry wordlessly Summoned his wand and concealed it beneath his hand. He had rolled to the side and was struggling to regain his footing when a tremendous screech rent the air. The walls of the dilapidated structure rattled with the intensity as the sound of flapping wings thundered throughout the shed.

The earth shook as a massive beast landed next to the gaping hole in the structure that Dolohov’s failed Killing Curse had caused. Liberty stood there, flapping her wings and bellowing into the sky. Drawing back her great horned head, she appeared to take a huge breath before letting loose a stream of blazing hot fire. Realizing what she was about to do a moment before she did it, Harry used his wand to knock Ron out of a stunned Dolohov’s slackened grip. He felt the heat of the fire blaze over him, singeing the hair on the back of his head. It connected with the stunned and terrified Dolohov, who erupted into flames.

Yaxley scrambled backwards and scurried crab-like across the floor. Only the cauldron survived the path of the dragon’s fire. Desperately, Harry tried to think of a way of getting all the others out of the way before the dragon breathed again, but it was impossible to reach them all, and there was no way to choose. He’d rather sacrifice himself. He rose to his feet and turned to face the dragon, attempting to draw its flames away from the others.

“Hey, Liberty,” he said shakily.

“What are you doing? Get out of the way,” Ginny screeched.

Miraculously, however, the dragon didn’t draw another breath. Instead, she spread her giant wings and took to the sky. Once again, Liberty had saved them.

Scrambling to his feet, Charlie grabbed Yaxley and quickly bound him while Harry crawled over to where Ginny and Hermione were huddled on the floor. Using his left hand, he released the ropes holding them with his wand. The spells holding Ron and Silencing Hermione had been lifted as soon as Dolohov had been incinerated.

“Harry, your arm,” Ginny said, pressing her hand onto his bleeding flesh.

“Are you all right?” they both asked at the same time.

Drawing her into his good arm, he kissed her, burying his head in her hair. It smelled like smoke rather than the usual flowery scent, but at the moment, he didn’t care.

Sounds of others began filling the shed as the reinforcements had finally arrived, and Charlie directed them all to remove Yaxley and an incredibly-pale Levine.

“I didn’t know what he’d do when he realized that potion would never work,” Hermione said, clutching Ron’s shirt and choking back a sob. “I kept trying to wordlessly undo the spells, but he took our wands.”

“I know,” Ron said, patting her back a bit awkwardly. He turned toward Harry, and his voice was shaky, “You kept trying to enrage him, mate.”

Harry nodded. “I’m so weary of this shite, and I couldn’t get to all of you.”

Ginny grasped his chin between her thumb and forefinger. “Will you stop putting yourself in harm’s way, already? We can all take care of ourselves.”

“You were tied to posts on the floor,” Harry said incredulously. “He had a wand to Ron’s throat and said he’d be killed if I made any sudden moves. I had to do something.”

“I’d say taking several rounds of the Cruciatus and jumping in front of a dragon is above the call, mate,” Ron said sheepishly. “I never want to see that curse again.”

“For a moment, I was back at Malfoy manor,” Hermione whispered.

“I know. I’m sorry,” Harry said sincerely.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Harry, you can’t possibly blame yourself for that one,” Hermione said, her mood changing so quickly it nearly gave Harry a kink in his neck.

“I think we all had our share of flashbacks tonight,” Ginny said softly, shuddering at the memories of the Carrows that had plagued her all evening.

“But we’re all here, and we’re all fine. Again. I suppose we just weren’t meant to have boring, ordinary lives,” Ron said, shaking his head.

“I could go for a bit of boring, actually,” Harry said earnestly.

“Who are you kidding? You wouldn’t like it for long — and neither would I, so just get that thought right out of your head,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. As if he would be happy behind a desk or counting in a bank every day.

“I think I’ve had enough of the dragon reserve. Who’s up for going home a couple days early, not telling anyone, and just eating take away and being boring for a few days?” Hermione said longingly.

Three other hands instantly rose in the air.

ooOOoo


They returned to their cabin in order to change and pack their belongings, but they were able to reactivate the Portkey and return to London that afternoon. The Ministry took Yaxley and Levine into custody, and Ron, Hermione and Ginny’s wands had all been located and returned to their owners. Charlie insisted the talk around camp was that Liberty should’ve been named Potter’s Pride, after all. Harry ignored this, but said he’d like to make a donation to the Reserve to help pay for her care.

They spent the next few days holed up in Grimmauld Place and doing absolutely nothing but relaxing and being boring — as Ron called it. Each couple spent their evenings sharing private time, but the days were spent lounging in the sitting area. On the final day of holiday, the day before Hermione was to begin work at the Ministry and Ginny was to check into training camp, they’d ordered a large quantity of pizza — Ron’s new favorite Muggle discovery — and shared it in the kitchen with George and Angelina.

“So, then Oliver ends up taking the other witch home instead,” George said, completing a story of what had happened when George and Angelina had spent an evening with some of their old Hogwarts Quidditch team. They all sat around the counter, Angelina’s feet resting in George’s lap.

“What did Katie do?” Ginny asked, half-laughing.

“She hexed him, of course,” Angelina replied.

“Good thing it’s the off season. I can’t imagine he’s going to be able to sit on a broom comfortably for quite some time,” George said, wincing.

They all shared a laugh, although both Ron and Harry cringed slightly.

“Oliver said it’ll be interesting when the Harpies play Puddlemere. He’s never been on a team opposite a Weasley before,” Angelina said.

“Well, my time never overlapped his, anyway, but from what I’ve heard about him from you lot, I’m certain he’ll get over it,” Ginny replied.

“He will,” George, Angelina and Harry all said in unison, causing them all to laugh.

“I can’t believe my baby sister leaves for Quidditch camp tomorrow. You’ll get me tickets to your games, right?” Ron asked.

“Who will you cheer for when we play the Cannons?” Ginny asked, arching her brow.

Ron froze, a slice of pizza only inches from his mouth. “Er…”

“I think that’s asking a bit much from him, Ginny. You should give all your tickets to the Cannons games to George and me,” Harry said, grinning.

“What?” Ron yelped, dropping his pizza. “That’s not funny, Harry.”

“Never mind funny, it’s bloody brilliant,” George said, nodding eagerly.

“Don’t forget me. I want to go, too, but I want to see the match against Puddlemere,” Angelina said.

“I do, too,” George and Harry said simultaneously, grinning at one another.

“Wait! But… but… I do get to go see the Cannons, right?” Ron asked, his pizza still lying upside down on the counter in front of him. Hermione shook her head and finally picked it up.

“You lot best wait to see how many tickets I actually get. I’m on the reserve team, so I don’t know if they even allot us any free tickets,” Ginny said.

“You’re on the reserve team for now,” Harry said. “Once they see you play, you won’t be there for long.”

Ginny stared at him blankly for a moment, then continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “And this one,” she said, jerking her thumb at Harry, “gets a ticket to all the games automatically.”

“Hey!” Ron said. “I’m your brother.”

“And what am I? The next door neighbor?” George asked sarcastically.

“Boyfriends get priority,” Angelina said simply.

“Especially if they’re Harry,” Hermione added.

“Not when it comes to the Cannons, though,” Ron said, grumbling and taking his pizza back from Hermione.

“How are you two going to handle the separation?” Angelina asked curiously. “You’ve been connected at the hip since Ginny returned from school.”

“Oi!” Ron bellowed. “I’m sitting right here, trying to eat!”

“I really didn’t need that image in my head, Ang,” George said, scowling at his pizza but taking a bite anyway.”

“Oh, when has anything ever turned you off food?” Hermione demanded.

Harry grinned. “She’s going to training camp, not Azkaban.”

“But, they make her live with the team,” Ron said, looking as if he liked the idea very much.

“Right, but we’re not locked up. We’re allowed to hit the local pubs in the evenings,” Ginny said. She’d already put a lot of thought into this. The team tended to socialize as a group, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t let Harry know where they’d be.

“Besides,” Harry said, grinning impishly, “I am an Auror, you know. I might have to do an occasional inspection to ensure the team’s safety.”

Hermione shook her head. “You’re both going to get in so much trouble.”

Harry and Ginny turned to look at one another before grinning and chorusing, “It’ll be worth it.”

The banter continued around the counter as the pizza was consumed. Harry leaned over and kissed Ginny’s head, feeling amazingly content and incredibly fond of these people he called family. It had taken nearly twenty years, but he’d finally found a home, a place he was always happy to be. Life after the war still had some tricky spots to maneuver, but with this group by his side — and he was certain they always would be — he knew he’d manage it. Scars or not, he was a survivor.

Ginny leaned into his embrace, seeing the happiness on her boyfriend’s face, and her heart swelled. At long last, she didn’t feel like an extra or a tag-along as she had most of her life. She belonged. She was no longer running to try and keep up with her brothers — and sometimes, they were running to keep up with her.

Life was good, and all was well.

The End
Reviews 290
ChapterPrinter
StoryPrinter




../back
‘! Go To Top ‘!

Sink Into Your Eyes is hosted by Grey Media Internet Services. HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related characters are trademarks of Warner Bros. TM & © 2001-2006. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Note the opinions on this site are those made by the owners. All stories(fanfiction) are owned by the author and are subject to copyright law under transformative use. Authors on this site take no compensation for their works. This site © 2003-2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Special thanks to: Aredhel, Kaz, Michelle, and Jeco for all the hard work on SIYE 1.0 and to Marta for the wonderful artwork.
Featured Artwork © 2003-2006 by Yethro.
Design and code © 2006 by SteveD3(AdminQ)
Additional coding © 2008 by melkior and Bear