Labyrinth of Illusion

"Mr. Potter, get back into bed!" Madame Pomfrey demanded as Harry shuffled across the floor to the door of the Hospital Wing.

"I'll be back in a minute," Harry insisted, moving along steadily. Even after a night of rest, it still hurt to move around. Being beat up by Akkei felt more like being thrown into a meat tenderizer than being hit by a small woman.

He could hear the ruckus in the hall. He recognized the voice of the screaming woman immediately. Dumbledore and Snape were trying to calm her down, failing miserably.

"Please, Gwendolyn!" Dumbledore begged, "This is for your own good."

"NO!" She screamed, fighting against the two wizards that held her. She thrashed and writhed, crying out. "Dontwanna!"

"Gwendolyn!" Snape commanded. He strode to her, framing her face in his hands. "Calm down."

Harry moved closer. He could now read the logo on the lapel of the wizards that held Gwendolyn.

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Lowering his head, Harry slunk back into the Hospital Wing. He pulled back his bedcovers, climbing in. He pulled the covers up to his chest, staring up at the ceiling.

"Harry?" He turned his head to look at Hermione, who was sitting up in her bed. She got out, moving to sit next to him on the bed. "What's wrong?"

"Gwendolyn," He replied. "She's going to St. Mungo's."

"Well, maybe that's where she needs to be." Ron had gotten up now. He sat on Harry's other side, giving Harry an uncomfortable smile. "I mean, they have people there that can take care of her."

"I just--" Harry shook his head. "I wanted her to be okay."

"Maybe she will be." Hermione took Harry's hand, squeezing it gently. "I mean, she could recover eventually. You never know."

"I thought I had family." Harry whispered dully. "That's why this whole thing happened. I wanted so badly to... For someone... For just one Potter."

Sirius raised his head, knocking Harry's foot with his snout. Harry blinked at the large dog.

"Well..." Ron shrugged slightly. "I know we're not Potters or anything, but-- Aren't we kind of your family?"

"Yeah," Hermione agreed. "What does it matter what last name we have? I think after all we've been through together, we count as family."

"I'd rather be around you than my brothers, Harry," Ron laughed. "Besides, look at Voldemort-- Those crazy demons were his family. And they all tried to kill each other."

Hermione nodded. "Blood is highly overrated." Harry sighed, fiddling with his bed sheet. "You guys aren't mad about the last couple months? I've been such a prat."

"You were under Yasha's control. We can't really blame you for that, now can we?" Ron put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

Hermione went oddly quiet. She looked down. "I think... It's going to take a while..."

"I was stupid, Hermione. I believed her. I wanted..."

"Harry, I'll get over it. I need time." She gave a small smile. "You nearly burning yourself to a crisp does make up for a lot of things."

Harry gave a weak smile. "I'll remember that next time we fight."

"Please don't," she whispered. She touched his hand gently. Ron placed his hand over hers.

"I still don't understand everything that happened," Harry whispered. "What Akkei and Voldemort wanted with me... Or how we got out."

He cast a glance to Ron, recalling the image he had seen in the Labyrinth. Ron, with eyes glowing, refuting Yasha's power.

"I just know... Akkei said I was afraid of myself, of who I was deep down. I can't help but wonder if she was right. If maybe... I do crave the same power as Voldemort. I mean, I do seem to seek out danger and adventure. Maybe I am as bad as he is."

"That's exactly what Akkei wanted you to think," Ron replied. "She wanted you to compare yourself to Voldemort. She was a master manipulator. Harry, you seek danger and adventure... Because that's what heroes do."

"Takes one to know one, huh?" Hermione gave Ron a nudge.

Ron's ears turned pink. "I'm no hero... I'm just the guy fool enough to follow Harry."

"And what about me?" Hermione demanded.

"You're the girl fool enough to follow him." Ron replied, not missing a beat.

Harry sighed deeply felt the warmth of his friend's hands on his. "I need you guys... Voldemort knew that... I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

Ron gave a small smile. "Well, lucky for you, there's not a lot you can do that will drive us away forever."

"No matter what happens," Hermione added.

Harry gripped his friends' hands tightly. "But what's going to happen?"

Author's Notes: Okay, I usually don't put author's notes at the end of a story, but I had to this time. Because this is the end of my first epic Harry Potter fan fiction (*clapclap* Yay me!!!!!!!!) I would just like to thank everyone who made it through the entire story. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also, as I've been mentioning for the past few parts, there is a sequel in the works. "Eyes of the Chosen" is being written at this very moment. A preview of the story is available at http://www.straykitty.com/deargirl/potter/chosen. Look out for "EotC" in the next couple of weeks at Fiction Alley, in the Dark Arts section.