Harry Potter and the Unexpected Inheritance

Chapter 9

Exile

Harry sat on his little cot, leaning against the wall and his arms wrapped around his legs. He was shaking with shock and with dread, hoping that this house was still safe from Voldemort. It had always been before. He prayed the Dursleys wouldn't kick him out.

He listened for sounds of movement. Someone was rattling around in the kitchen.

Harry startled as the cabinet door opened suddenly.

"Harry?"

It was Aunt Petunia and Harry immediately started begging.

"Please Aunt Petunia, don't send me back," said Harry. "Please let me stay. I swear, I'll stay in here," Harry swore, "I won't eat much. I promise I won't do any magic. Just please, don't-don't-" Harry couldn't finish.

Aunt Petunia was looking at him with a combination of surprise and worry. She took a step into the room.

"What have they done to you?" said Aunt Petunia.

"They-" Harry choked off again. He wasn't able to say that they didn't want him anymore. "Voldemort-" Harry choked again. He wasn't able to say that Voldemort was tearing him apart with manipulation.

Aunt Petunia sat down on the cot next to Harry, staring at Harry. "So it's him again," said Aunt Petunia.

Harry looked at her and felt his eyes burn. "Don't send me away," he pleaded softly and felt a tear escape his eye.

Then his Aunt did something she had never done before. She reached out and pulled Harry into her arms, hugging him into her chest.

"Oh, Harry," said Petunia. "I won't send you away. You're safe here."

Harry sat there in her arms, breathing heavy to keep the dam of his emotions from spilling over.

Petunia pulled him to his feet, still with an arm around him and ushered him out of the cabinet and toward the kitchen. "I never wanted you to go to that school," said Petunia. "I knew something dreadful would happen. Poor Lily would have a stroke if she knew all you've been through."

Petunia pushed him into a chair. "Just sit, Harry," said Petunia. "I'll get you something to eat." She puttered around the kitchen. "So much for Sirius," she muttered.

"Sirius loves me," said Harry softly. "But he can't help me."

"Course he loves you," said Petunia. "So do I. And I can help you."

She had said it so off-handedly, Harry almost missed it. It was as if she said it all the time.

"You- but you hate me," said Harry.

Petunia looked at him and her face turned sad. "I could never hate my sister's son, Harry. Just as Sirius could never betray his best friend."

"But-" said Harry.

Petunia put a sandwich and a glass of milk in front of him and sat down next to him. She took one of his hands and stared into his eyes.

There was a very strange expression on her face. Then it vanished to be replaced with sternness. "Eat your sandwich, Harry," said Petunia and she got up and continued puttering around the kitchen, making it as spotless as it always was.

Harry stared at her. He remembered the tears he had thought he had seen in her eyes when Harry had left with Sirius. Of course he loves you, so do I.

"That's part of the protection, isn't it?" said Harry. He also remembered what Sirius had said. You had to believe they hated you.

"You treated me like that all those years so that Voldemort couldn't find me?" said Harry.

Petunia leaned on the counter and hung her head.

"Harry, don't say anything else," said Petunia. Then she changed the subject. "When Vernon gets home and sees you, I'm sure he'll throw a fit."

But she didn't sound as threatening as she normally did.

"He won't, will he?" said Harry. "You don't hate me. You were protecting me. Once I started going to Hogwarts, you treated me worse. Why?"

Petunia sighed. "Harry, just eat."

"Everyone thought the danger was worse," said Harry. "Didn't they? The worse the danger, the worse you treated me."

"Harry-"

"No," said Harry. "I know now. I understand." Harry got up and went to his Aunt. She turned to him. "You don't hate me," said Harry.

Petunia collapsed on him and started crying. "I'm so sorry, Harry," said Petunia. "We had no choice."

Harry hugged her. "I understand, Aunt Petunia," said Harry. "I know the truth now and-"

Pain exploded in his head.

"And now the spell is broken," said Voldemort.

Petunia jumped in front of Harry. "Get out," said Petunia.

Voldemort chuckled. He moved toward them. "Stand aside you silly girl," said Voldemort.

Stand aside you silly girl.

Voldemort had said that to his mother before -

Harry stepped around his aunt.

Voldemort grabbed Harry's face. "You can't run from me, Harry," said Voldemort. "Now there is no where in the world that you can hide from me."

Petunia stared in horror as Harry sank to his knees.

"Let go of him," said Petunia.

Voldemort looked up at her. "Oh, no, Petunia," said Voldemort. "No one wants poor Harry but me. He is coming with me." He looked back down at Harry.

"I won't let you take him."

Voldemort laughed, staring into Harry's eyes. "Bravery," said Voldemort.

But Harry saw what was coming. His aunt wasn't protected under the contract.

"I won't let anyone else die for me," said Harry softly.

"I will accept that," said Voldemort. He reached out and pulled Harry to his feet.

Harry screamed as Voldemort wrapped an arm around his chest. Then another scream of agony was ripped from him as Voldemort's hand hit Harry's scar.

************

"Did you have to touch his scar, Voldemort?"

"Yes, Sirius," said Voldemort. "I did. This is a new compound. I had to make sure I was Harry's focus so I could disapparate with him."

"I wish he'd wake up." Sirius sighed. "Please don't touch him," said Sirius with alarm.

"He can't feel it," said Voldemort.

"How do you know?"

Harry felt a hand touch his cheek. He didn't feel pain. He couldn't open his eyes. Couldn't move.

*********

Harry opened his eyes and could see the bedroom of his tent focus around him. He was alone. Harry was grateful as his entire body hurt like hell. With monumental effort and great care, Harry moved very slowly to the bathroom. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.

He turned on the taps to run a hot bath.

Rowan. Harry thought.

He turned toward the door and called her. He watched the tub fill waiting.

"Rowan," Harry called again, his voice hoarse and soft. He had never had to call her more than once.

When the tub was filled, Harry got gingerly into it and rested his head back on a rolled towel. He closed his eyes and called Rowan again. She didn't come.

Had she deserted him too? Did Harry have no one left to count on? Had Voldemort been right? No one wanted him - except Voldemort. And now there was no where he could hide from him.

Harry tried to let the heat from the water soak into his aching body.

"HARRY!"

Sirius had screamed from the bedroom. Harry covered his head with his arms to block out the noise.

"Please don't yell, Sirius," said Harry, but Harry's voice was just short of a whisper.

Pounding on the door, which Harry had locked made it worse.

"Harry, are you in there?" demanded Sirius. "Are you all right? Answer me please, Harry. I'll break down the door if I have too."

Harry's arms tightened around his head trying to block out the shouts.

"Sirius," Harry heard Voldemort's voice which was considerably quieter. "Did you ever think that maybe your shouting is making his pain worse and he can't answer?"

Harry touched his scar. Voldemort.

"There," said Voldemort. "See. I am right. Harry, are you all right? Simply call me again if you are."

Harry did.

"Do you wish to be alone?"

Harry called him again to say yes.

"Very well, Harry," said Voldemort. "Call me if you need assistance."

Harry relaxed as he heard them leave. He wanted to know what was going on but he also didn't want to think about it.

He wanted Rowan to come and cry his pain away.

He wanted to go to Bulgaria.

He didn't want to be Harry Potter.

****************

Harry woke with start. He was still in the bath. It had cooled. He slowly and carefully got out. How he managed to dry himself and put on sweats without passing out, he wasn't sure.

He had to lay down. Relying on walls to lean on, Harry made his way back to the bedroom.

Sirius stood up quickly from a chair and moved toward Harry.

Harry held up a hand. "Please don't touch me," said Harry, his voice was still almost non-existent. "I don't think I can bear it."

"Harry?" said Sirius, looking horrified.

"Not you Sirius," said Harry. "The pain."

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes." Harry gently sat on his bed.

"Call Rowan," said Sirius.

"I did. Three times. She didn't come," rasped Harry.

"Well your voice is so hoarse and soft, maybe she didn't hear you."

Harry carefully lowered his head to the pillow. "She would have, Sirius," said Harry. "She knows when I call. When I need her." Harry's voice broke. He tried to clear it. "She's left me too."

"She wouldn't," said Sirius, looking down at him. "Call her again."

Harry closed his eyes. "I don't have the strength."

Harry's pain got worse and he put an arm over his head. "Tell him to stop," Harry rasped.

"Voldemort, don't come any closer," said Sirius.

"Where is Rowan?" said Voldemort.

"She won't come," said Harry, submerged in the misery of body and mind.

"Harry, you aren't alone," said Voldemort. "Sirius is here. I am here."

"I am alone," said Harry.

"No, Harry," said Sirius.

"Yes," said Harry. Harry felt Sirius lean over him so he could hear "I won't join Voldemort, but I can't fight him. The Dursleys don't hate me but they can't protect me anymore. You love me but you can't help me. Everyone knows the truth but they want to lock me up. And my friends-" Harry choked on the word. "Where are my friends?"

A large weight seemed to be pressing Harry's chest.

"Harry," said Voldemort.

"Voldemort, stop," said Sirius. "Please don't come any closer."

"Harry, if you want your friends here, I will bring them."

Harry was too weak to reply.

He woke to silence. The pain wasn't too bad so Harry shifted position with a groan. He heard a shuffle.

"Who's there?" said Harry.

"Oh, Harry!"

That was Hermione's voice.

Harry turned his head and saw the two of them throw Harry's cloak off them. Harry didn't know whether he had the strength to scowl. Had Voldemort brought them here as he said he would.

"What are you doing here?" Harry voice was still a quiet rasp but it was stronger.

"What the hell do you think," said Ron. "It's the middle of the night. Think we had permission to come? We had to break into La Casa Black and steal your cloak then sneak away."

"They've been keeping you away from me?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "They even have Rowan caged. She's been going berserk."

Rowan in a cage? Harry closed his eyes briefly.

"Harry, you look terrible," said Ron.

"Feels worse than it looks," said Harry honestly. "I thought you guys had - well."

"Oh, Ron, I told you he'd think that," cried Hermione. "Harry, we'd never desert you."

Ron clamped a hand over her mouth. "Shhh. Someone's coming."

Harry saw them disappear under the cloak. He closed his eyes.

Harry felt Voldemort enter the room. He didn't stop until Harry cried out, then he backed away.

"You are still in great pain," said Voldemort.

"Did you want something?" rasped Harry.

"Who were you talking to?"

"I-"

"Don't lie to me, Harry. You know I can tell," said Voldemort. "Ron and Hermione came, didn't they?"

Harry just looked at him.

"That doesn't please you?"

"You-"

"I didn't, Harry," said Voldemort. He seemed to be saving Harry's strength by keeping him from having to speak. "They are guarded more than I think they know. If they made it here to you, I would be impressed."

Harry said nothing to that.

Voldemort nodded at him. "I have said before, Harry. You have loyal and brave friends. They would not desert you. They are welcome here. They may stay. They know they have my protection through you by the contract."

"You think-"

"Aren't they still here?" said Voldemort. "Couldn't they be using your Invisibility cloak?"

Harry closed his eyes. He knows everything.

Ron took that moment to throw off the cloak.

"What have you done to him now," demanded Ron angrily. "What's wrong with him?"

Voldemort didn't look surprised to see them, if fact, he looked pleased.

"The pain of my touch and the magical transfers are getting stronger," said Voldemort. "And Harry is getting older. Therefore it takes him longer to recover from them."

"Then why don't you keep your hands off him," said Ron with feeling.

Voldemort chuckled and settled into a chair. "Ron, I had to make sure I was his focus to get him here."

"He didn't come here?" said Ron.

"No, Ron," said Voldemort. "This is a new compound. He wouldn't have known were to find it."

"Then where-"

Voldemort interrupted Ron. "He tried to run away. But now he knows there is no where he can go that I can't find him."

Ron looked at Harry. "Where did you go?"

"He went to the Dursleys," said Voldemort. "But he is not protected there anymore."

"How did they get here?" said Harry. It came out more like a rasp. Voldemort's closeness was draining him.

"We apparated to you, Harry," said Hermione.

"How-"

"Harry," said Voldemort, cutting him off. "Yes, the compound is sealed to all but my Death Eaters and of course you but I knew Ron and Hermione would eventually find a way to come to you so I opened it for them as well."

Harry nodded his understanding, not liking that Voldemort had known what he was going to ask. He turned to Ron.

"What's happening back there?"

Ron leaned over Harry. His voice had been so soft.

"What, Harry?" said Ron.

Harry swallowed hard and closed his eyes briefly.

"I believe Harry wants to know what is going on," said Voldemort.

Harry nodded.

Ron looked hesitantly at Voldemort.

"It's all right, Ron," said Voldemort. "I'll find out anyway."

Harry nodded again.

Ron pulled a chair close to Harry's bed and sat down. Hermione stood behind him looking weepy-eyed.

"Well," said Ron. "My dad and Remus Lupin have file for an appeal but it didn't look good - you breaking out of those manacles."

"That was to prove Harry's power, Ron," said Voldemort. "And his honor."

Ron glanced at him. "I'll pass that on." He looked back at Harry. "It also didn't look good that a Death Eater grabbed Sirius and disapparated with him."

Harry turned his head to look at Voldemort.

"Of course I had to take Sirius," said Voldemort. "He would want to make sure Harry was all right. He is free to go anytime but I don't think he will leave Harry in the state he is currently in."

"I dare say," said Ron. "But now we know you tried to run, rather than go with Voldemort. My father can use that."

"Lord Voldemort," said Hermione.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Your speech in the courtroom," said Hermione.

"What about it?" said Voldemort.

"Well it really caused a stir."

Voldemort chuckled. "I do have a flair for the dramatic," said Voldemort. "Don't I, Harry."

Harry just closed his eyes.

"But I mean, it all made sense," said Hermione.

"Why wouldn't it?"

"Well, was it all true?"

"My dear girl," said Voldemort. "I have little use for lies, as Harry can tell you. I find the truth so much more satisfying."

Harry closed his eyes again. The pain was bad and he felt he had little strength left to keep him conscious.

"I believe Harry is about at the end of his endurance, So I will leave now," said Voldemort. He looked at Ron. "Will you two be staying?"

"No we have to get back," said Hermione in a bit of a panic. "If they find out..." she trailed off.

"Harry," said Ron but Harry couldn't turn his head to him. Ron came around the bed and leaned over him. "Can I hold onto the cloak so we can come back?" Ron must have understood Harry's problem. "Just blink if I can."

Harry managed to blink once.

"Very good," said Voldemort. "Good night, Harry."

As Voldemort left, much of Harry's pain did too. Harry looked up at Ron. He was still leaning over Harry.

"Just hang in there, Harry," said Ron seriously. "We're with you. We'll get you out of this mess."

"We won't let you down, Harry," said Hermione, still sounding weepy.

Harry stared hard at Ron, trying to convey his gratitude.

"Thanks," was all Harry could manage in a soft hoarse whisper but the effort pulled him back into blackness.