Erised Revisited

4. Broken Day

Ron's mood had definitely improved as Harry's world came back into focus. Ron was chattering away happily as they sat at one of the sidewalk tables of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They were surrounded by all four of their guards in plain view.

Harry finally began to actually hear what Ron was saying, "-Creevey when you need him. Oh, I'd love to have a framed picture of that. It was priceless! Brilliant even! I know what memory I'm Leging out of you next! I bet you broke his ruddy jaw."

"No bet here. He broke it," Harry heard one of his guards mutter.

"I broke someone's jaw?" Harry felt groggy, as if drugged.

"Blimey, Harry! What's the matter with you? Yeah, you punched Malfoy in the head, knocked him cold." Ron's words seemed to trigger something inside Harry, and his right hand was suddenly aflame with excruciating pain. He looked down at it and the middle finger was twice its normal size.

Harry hissed in pain. "I think I broke my hand doing it."

The guard who had muttered earlier turned to one of the others. "Fuchs, keep an eye out while I tend to Mr. Potter's hand."

"Yes, Sar!"

The guard knelt and took Harry's hand gingerly. He probed it for a little while, and Harry winced once or twice. The man was no more than thirty but had a quiet confidence that assured Harry he knew what he was about.

Not looking up, the guard spoke, "Yes, the middle finger is broken. I can fix it without any trouble if you like. Emergency healing is a skill all Aurors must master. I imagine it stings a little."

Harry snorted at the small joke. "Nothing compared to Cruciatus, but if you can fix it, then please do so."

The Auror looked up quickly from Harry's hand at the mention of the Unforgivable. "Right. Read that report after Mr. Weasley finally made it available to the Office. Damn that Fudge. Well, just a minute then."

From within his robes the guard produced a small jar. He removed the top to unleash a foul smelling tar like substance. "I must set the bone first and then apply this Knitting Ointment. It will hurt when I set your finger, but then everything else should be painless. I know the ointment smells awful, but it's much more reliable than bone mending spells. They can be a little tricky in my experience."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Mine too. Someone used one on me once; it went very wrong."

The man looked genuinely intrigued. "Really?Someday, Mr. Potter, when things aren't so worried, I should very much like to buy you a fire whiskey or three. We can 'trade tall tales and talk a little treason' as they say. You seem to have some interesting stories to tell."

"I wish I didn't." Harry said glumly. The Draco encounter had soured what had been a pretty wonderful day up to that point.

The Auror smiled knowingly. "There's an ancient Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times.' Don't suppose you've offended anyone Chinese that might want to curse you?"

Ron began to chortle, but he instantly transfigured it into a coughing fit when he received Harry's glare of death. He couldn't blame Ron too much though. Harry had immediately thought of Cho as well. She was already cursing him with a bad kisser reputation. He dismissed the thought quickly as his life had become 'interesting' long before he knew Cho existed.

The Auror ignored Ron's curious reaction completely and gave Harry a look of commiseration. "Ready then?"

"Go ahead," prompted Harry tersely. He grunted softly as the guard jerked at his finger and set the bone. The cool black ointment was then applied and immediately absorbed into his pale skin. The pain vanished.

The Auror spoke with approval, "You bore that well, Mr. Potter."

"Thank you, uhm, Sar was it?"

"Oh Merlin, no!" He laughed. "My name is Aaron Fortiner. I'm leader of this security detail. Fuchs' dah was a Muggle, a Sergeant Major in the Royal Marines, so he says that's why he calls me 'Sar', though I don't know how that explains things. Fuchs can be a bit much at times, but I don't think he's unbalanced, entirely that is." Fortiner shot an amused look over at the other Auror, who remained generally impassive but alert. However, a small smile seemed to tug a one corner of Fuchs' mouth.

Harry rubbed at his repaired hand, which seem to tingle a little. "Thank you then, Mr. Fortiner."

Fortiner was putting away the jar of ointment as he responded, "Please, say nothing more of it, Mr. Potter. Hell of a punch, I must say. Next time, try to contact with only the first knuckle of your first two fingers when you use a fist, and do try to keep your temper under some control."

Harry looked at Fortiner with frustration. "You didn't know what Draco was talking about. I did. I don't know that keeping control was possible."

Fortiner literally waved the excuse away. "Controlling your temper is always possible, just takes practice. I have no doubt that the Malfoy brat deserved that thumping, whatever he said or meant by it, but I also have no doubt that the Malfoys are a dangerous lot. Hitting him or cursing him into next week makes no difference to me. By all means, defend yourself and your honor and make him sorry he brought offense. But loosing control like that is simply not smart. Your friend, Ron, here had to remind you what you had just done. Not a good indication that you were using your brain as well as your fist. If you wish to become an Auror someday, you'll have to learn to fight smart and keep your wits."

"How did you know I wanted to be an Auror?" asked Harry suspiciously.

Fortiner stood and shrugged. "You're Harry Bloody Potter. What else would you be?"

Ron spoke to Fortiner, "Is Harry in any trouble?"

"Trouble? For what? I saw nothing happen worth mentioning again - Fuchs?"

"Sar!"Fuchs braced to attention upon being addressed.

Fortiner shook his head in wondered amusement, but then turned serious. "What did you see?"

"Sar? See when?"

"In the bookstore."

Fuchs clicked his heels and replied earnestly, "Sar, I saw books."

Fortiner turned to Ron's guards. "And the rest of you?"

"We were watching after young Mr. Weasley here. I'm afraid we didn't see a blessed thing." The Auror who spoke from behind Ron reminded Harry of Fred or George with his slowly shaking head and highly exaggerated expression of regret.

Fortiner turned back to look at Ron with complete innocence. "There don't appear to be any witnesses for any event which might mean trouble for Mr. Potter."

Ron clapped his hands together in delight. "Brilliant!"

The Auror smiled at Ron. "Quite. Now young sirs, it would be best if we all start back to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. I understand that Tom has laid it on rather extravagantly at our new Department Head's request - a grand man if I do say so."

Ron beamed, and his ears pinked slightly before he hopped up from the chair. "Let's go. I'm starving."

Harry gave Ron a very weak smile. "I thought you weren't hungry?"

"Oh that. Well, nothing like the sight of a beaten and bloodied Malfoy to bring back the appetite."

Harry's small smile faded. "That's awful, Ron."

"You're the one who beat and bloodied him, and I'm awful?"

Harry sighed. "You have a point. Seems my appetite is gone now, but let's go. The others will be waiting for us. What about after lunch?"

Ron grinned with excitement. "Quality Quidditch Supplies of course! I still have to buy your birthday present."

"Glad you're back to normal." But Harry didn't sound or feel glad about anything.

*

Back at the Leaky Cauldron, lunch turned into an odd affair. Ron and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be the only ones in a good mood. It was readily apparent that Hermione was not very happy with Ginny, nor could she bring herself to even look over at the boys. Ginny did not seem unhappy, but she was obviously preoccupied and several times during the meal had to have things repeated for her to finally listen to what was being said. Harry was silent and sullen and just picked at his food, even though Tom the Innkeeper had put on a meal worthy of the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Harry and Ron had agreed before finding the others that Mrs. Weasley did not need to know about the Draco encounter just yet.

Mrs. Weasley finally pushed away from the table. "Oh this was wonderful! I simply must tell Tom how much I appreciate it. Perhaps even get that berry pie recipe out of him."

After his mom was out of earshot, Ron pleaded through a mouth full of food, "Oh, c'mon Harry, eat something, Draco's a git and he deserved it."

"You saw Draco Malfoy here?!" Hermione seemed to have forgotten her embarrassment from Madam Malkin's in an instant.

Ron smirked and pointed to Harry with his fork. "You might say Harry ran into him at Flourish and Blotts. You also might say Harry ran over him at Flourish and Blotts. We should start calling him One Punch Potter."

"Shut it, Ron," growled Harry.

"Harry! You didn't!" Hermione's perfect prefect persona was showing.

"He did!" Ron retorted proudly.

"But Draco's a prefect!"

"Oh, calm down Hermione. We're ages away from school starting, being a prefect doesn't mean a thing until then. Though Draco's unlikely to forget that punch any time soon, or ever!" Ron laughed wickedly.

"What happened, Harry?" Ginny asked with great concern.

Harry took a deep breath. "He said he heard that my dog died and that badly bred mongrels should die, or some such thing to that effect."

Both girls gasped with their hands over their mouths as Harry continued with a shrug, "Then I hit him."

"See, Hermione? He bloody deserved it!" Ron crossed his arms, as if completely vindicated.

"Quiet, Ron! I need to think for a second."

Ron snorted in disbelief. "What's to think about? Draco's a complete git and needed to be knocked down a peg or four."

"But how would he know about Sirius dying?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Exactly, Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed.

Ron shrugged. "Well, he's a junior Death Eater isn't he? Daddy probably told him."

Hermione shook her head. "The Death Eaters captured in the Ministry haven't been allowed any visitors, not even family. The most likely possibility is that Draco learned it directly from Bellatrix Lestrange or from Voldemort himself."

"Blimey." Ron sat back in his chair dumbfounded, even forgetting to flinch at the mention of You-Know-Who's name.

"Then, I'm sorry I only broke his jaw," Harry said quietly.

"You actually broke his jaw?" asked Ginny in amazement.

"So Ron and our guards said. I don't remember too much about it all. I broke my hand in the process too, but one of the guards fixed it, nice chap."

Hermione started to speak but then stopped herself. She looked like she wanted to scold Harry further, but then thought better of it. "If Draco is in direct contact with Voldemort, we need to tell someone."

"What about Snape?" asked Ginny.

"You want to tell Snape about Draco? Hmph, he'd probably take a hundred points from Gryffindor for nosing into Slytherin business." Ron crossed his arms in disgust.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "No, I mean what if Draco learned about Sirius from Snape?"

Hermione looked at her doubtfully. "That doesn't really follow, Ginny. Why would Snape tell Draco anything about it? That's Order business, and Snape takes security more seriously than anyone. He's a spy for Heaven's sake."

"I suppose you're right, just a thought. Wait! Couldn't it have been Draco's mother that told him? Aren't she and Bellatrix sisters?"

"Yes, that's true," Harry answered without emotion.

Hermione was wide eyed, "Really? I didn't know that. Still though, it means that it is even more likely there is an active link of communication between Draco and Voldemort. How direct that link is could be important."

"We'll just tell Mr. Weasley when he gets home tonight. That should be enough." Harry's expression made it clear he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Ginny looked at him with her chin in her hand. "Are you alright Harry?"

"No. I miss him." Harry stood abruptly, knocking his chair over. He started to bend over to pick the fallen chair up, but then straightened, drew his empty hand back, left the fallen chair, and walked to the fireplace.

Throwing in a pinch of Floo powder, he shouted, "The Burrow!" and was gone.

*

Right after arriving back at the Burrow, Harry went to his room and lay down on the bed until he fell asleep. He again dreamed of the fight at the Ministry. Draco was there this time. Harry's curses bounced off both Draco and Bellatrix, and they laughed at him while they sent everyone Harry cared about into the Veil one by one. It was dark when he woke to the buzzing from the headboard again. He started to reach for his wand to cast another Silencing Charm, but ...

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

This time it was the kitchen Ear that was buzzing. Harry told himself the kitchen was a public area that was open for listening and put the end to his ear.

"-- night too, Mum, Dad. Thanks for today. It was fun."

"You're welcome, Ginny. I am sorry it turned out so badly for Harry though. I did want it to be a special day for all of my children." At Mr. Weasley's words, Harry felt a pang of guilt for having taken away anything from the day that Mr. Weasley had put so much thought into.

"Well, I'm afraid we all went rather overboard on his birthday presents after he left to make it up to him. Don't be too shocked when the accounts come due." Ginny spoke with amusement, but Harry felt even more guilt at having made them feel like they had to try to cheer him up with expensive gifts.

Mr. Weasley chuckled. "Well I asked for it, didn't I? I've never been able to spoil any of you before. It was nice to be able to do it at least once."

Ginny replied sincerely, "You've always spoiled us in the most important ways, Dad. Good night."

"Good night, dear. I'll contact Dumbledore on that other matter tomorrow."

Harry pulled the end from his ear and put it away. It sounded like the others had managed to have a good enough time without him, and he was relieved of some of his remorse. And after all, it seemed that he'd actually made Ron's day by hitting Malfoy. He started to close the compartment door but the buzzing started again, this time from Ginny's room. He knew he should just close the door and Silence the buzzing, but having just slept eight hours, he did not want to go back to sleep. And not being in the mood for company, he did not want to leave his room.

Maybe they will discuss Draco some? I would like to know what Mr. Weasley said about it. I'll never get back to sleep if I don't know that.

Harry put the buzzing end to his ear to join an obvious argument in progress.

"-- bought it." Ginny sounded amused.

Hermione was clearly not amused. "And be known as the Harlot of Hogwarts?!"

Ginny laughed hard. "It wasn't that bad."

"Did you see Ron and Harry gawking at me? It most certainly was that bad." Hermione's indignation was clear.

"That's really the point of dress robes though, to draw attention to oneself." Ginny was trying to sound reasonable, but it was evident from her voice she was enjoying the disagreement a little too much.

"It wasn't me that they were being attentive to, it was these." Harry had a pretty good idea to what Hermione was indicating.

"Be glad that you have those. Some of us aren't so lucky." Harry felt strangely offended at the self-doubt in Ginny's voice.

"You're lucky enough. I really wish I had your proportions. I hate being this ...prominent." Harry tried not to smile at the comment because he still wasn't in the mood to smile, but it proved impossible.

Ginny sighed. "The grass is always greener, or so I hear."

"Mm, so it is. I am really happy with the maroon one though. It's very nice. Thanks for finding it." Hermione seemed genuinely thankful, so Harry assumed the argument was now over.

"You're welcome. The black one was better though." Or maybe it isn't.

But Hermione laughed. "You buy it then."

"I really don't have the coloring for black. My skin is too pale. The undead look went out ages ago."

"It's still popular with some Muggles, they call it goth. I think it's awful though, and you're right, I don't think you should wear black. But you surprised me when you bought the white one. You said it wasn't at all comfortable to wear, and you weren't crazy about the styling."

"I got a second opinion." Ginny's voice sounded uncertain, like she really didn't want to talk about it.

"How do you get a second opinion on what is comfortable? It either is or it isn't."

Ginny answered neutrally, "Harry liked the way it looked." Oh, that white one. She didn't have to do buy it if she didn't like it.

"Ah, of course, the things we endure for our men." Hermione was attempting to sound profound.

Ginny sniggered. "He's not my man."

"Ah, of course."

Ginny laughed harder. "Shut it, Hermione."

Hermione was suddenly curious. "Did you pick out Harry's? He looked nice. He looked very nice."

"No, he managed that all by himself."

"He managed well then."

"I told him so too. I don't think he thought I was serious. I overheard him talking to Ron before I came out of my dressing room. He said he didn't know what girls liked. I told him that if he picked the robe out himself then he did." Ginny sounded proud of herself. Harry felt worse than he had in the shop for doubting her word.

"That was rather bold of you. Not something you would have done a couple years ago." Hermione's tone reflected Ginny's pride.

"Too right it wasn't! It's nice being able to function around him as a semi-normal person. Two or three years ago, I would have peed my knickers at the sight of him in that robe."

"Eew, Ginny!"

"Well, he was bloody magnificent in it!" Harry's cheeks heated, and he swallowed at that troublesome lump.

"But you're over him." Hermione sounded doubtful.

"Yes, over him, but he's still magnificent," Ginny said reasonably.

Hermione laughed softly. "Someday you'll define for me what you think 'over him' means?"

"Mm, someday. But then that same day, you'll have to explain how you can have no romantic interest in Harry and comment on how nice he looks too," countered Ginny.

"Okay, okay, I get your point, but I didn't say 'magnificent'; I said 'nice.'"

"You said 'very nice', with emphasis on 'very.'" A touch of anger was creeping into Ginny's voice.

"I think you're too defensive about the whole matter." It does sound that way.

"Perhaps I am." Ginny sniggered and then asked, "Did you see Ron's first choice for a dress robe? I am afraid my dear brother is hopeless."

"The navy? I thought he looked rather good in that. I mean to say that Susan would probably like it a lot." Hermione added the last sentence very quickly.

"No, he had on some purple thing before the navy. It was garish to the point of evil."

"Missed it then."

"That's a bit of a shame really. It was so horrid. Seeing him in that thing would have cured you of wanting to snog him." Ginny had tried to keep a serious quality with her words but ended up laughing.

"Honestly! Can we forget about all that please?" Harry could almost see Hermione blushing. Yes, please, let's all forget about the kissing conversation.

Ginny stopped laughing. "Do you think Harry is really okay? Hiding away in his room all afternoon?" I wasn't hiding, exactly.

"Your mum looked in on him throughout the rest of the day. He was sleeping peacefully enough." Harry grimaced. If that was peaceful, I'd hate to experience a real nightmare.

"He seemed so cheerful just before he left Madam Malkin's. I mean, if I didn't know any better, I'd have said he was flirting with me, and doing a bloody fine job of it." Was I? She looked nice. Someone needed to tell her.

"Hence, the questionable purchase of the white dress robe."

Ignoring Hermione, Ginny continued, "But then he was a different person at lunchtime. That Draco business really seemed to shake him up." Ginny laughed and continued, "But I suppose it shook Draco up even more!"

"It's not funny, Ginny." Hermione was again in prefect mode.

"Oh come off it, Hermione. Tell me that if we ever try mixing genders in the Legilimency and Occlumency training that you're not going to be tempted to go find that particular memory and see it first hand."

"I might, but it still isn't funny. If Draco is working for Voldemort, then he is not just some git that had a good thrashing coming to him. He's dangerous, and he might have seriously hurt Harry."

"Dad didn't seem to be worried when we told him."

"Were you listening to the same conversation as I was? He seemed very concerned to me."

"He said that Voldemort's forces were severely weakened by the attack on the Ministry. The core Death Eaters were all captured," replied Ginny matter-of-fatly.

"Yes, so they will be actively trying to find replacements. Where better than the families that supported him in the past? I have little trouble believing that Draco is now a Death Eater."

"Harry did okay. Harry did better than okay. Even without his guards, I don't think he has much to worry about from the likes of Draco Malfoy."

"Draco could have had help too. At school, he always has others nearby." Harry could tell that Hermione was truly worried.

"But he didn't."

"But he could have, or he could have been a little more Slytherin and attacked from the shadows before Harry or the guards knew he was there. Point is; we'll have to be careful at school this year." That is something to consider; I wonder how long Draco was there before I bumped him? Was it just a chance meeting?

Ginny snorted. "You know, I had always heard that there was no place in the world safer than Hogwarts. We all seem to do well at turning that axiom into rubbish with our little adventures."

Hermione spoke grimly, "Or maybe the world is just that dangerous outside of Hogwarts."

"Now there's a cheery thought for bedtime. Speaking of which, I'm knacker ed. Good night, Hermione."

Hermione yawned. "Night, Ginny."

As Harry put the Ear away, he vowed to protect both of them no matter what he had to do, or who he had to do it too. He then resigned and consigned himself to a restless night of more nightmares.