Adflictation Lair

Chapter 4: When You Have To Say Goodbye... Again

"H-Harry? W-What was all that noise?" Amy asked frozen in her tracks.

"N-Nothing, I'm sure it's nothing," Harry answered equally shocked. "Dumbledore would never do something that rash just to get me out of here, so it must have been a machine or something," lied Harry, not wanting to scare Amy.

"No, no machine would make that much noise. Harry, who is this Dimbledis guy?"

"Oh, um Dumbledore. He's a very close friend of mine," Harry said, purposefully leaving out specific details.

"Yeah, but why does he keep popping up in questions and stuff. Is he like your grandfather or something?"

"No-no he's not, just the headmaster of my school," Harry answered vaguely.

"Which school is that?"

"Oh, um, you wouldn't know it. It's not very popular in the mug- in England," Harry quickly corrected himself.

There was a loud burst from the first floor. It echoed throughout the mighty building. Suddenly Harry and Amy where surrounded by small translucent skulls with a snake perturbing from their open mouths.

Abruptly words began forming themselves rapidly over Harry and Amy's heads.

We know you hear us Harry Potter!
You can run and you can hide.
But we'll find you!

"Crap!" Harry muttered under his breathe.

"Harry- Harry, what does t-that mean? Harry who- how- what the bloody hell is going on? Harry please tell me! W-What are these things? What-" Amy looked at Harry, and collapsed to the floor in shock, but quickly pulled herself together in order to help Harry.

Harry was lying in his bed, nearly unconscious. All of his wounds had re-opened and blood was spilling from them in every way possible. The pain was too much for Harry to handle.

"Help," Harry whispered to Amy, his eyes contorted up in his sockets. Amy ran over to the sink, grabbing rags and band-aids. She returned to him and tried wiping the blood from Harry, but it was as if a never ending stream of blood was coming from the small boy.

Harry was turning pale from losing so much blood. Amy reached for his hand. "Harry, Harry hun, it will be alright. We need a doctor; I'm going to get a doctor."

"No," Harry said weakly. "No, it-it won't help. We just have to wait it out. I'll be alright Amy. But can you- can you- do you know a place we could hide?"

Amy looked at the dying boy and thought about his question for a second. "Yes! Yes I do! There is a small cabinet, not far from here. But Harry we can't move you until you stop bleeding. You won't be able t-"

Suddenly sirens started blaring as a fire alarm was set off. Amy stood up and looked out the window. "Harry what's going on? I know this has to do with you, just tell me."

Amy swiftly turned around as she heard Harry taking in sharp gasps of air. She ran over to the bleeding boy. "Harry, Harry? Are you- oh dear!"

Harry was convulsing in the bed, thrashing around violently. He fell to unconsciousness for a few blissful minutes, and suddenly was released from the hold the Dark One had over him. All his wounds closed up again, Harry knew there was only one reason why this could have happened.

Harry looked up at Amy and smiled. "Dumbledore's here."

I......................................I

"Hello, Tom," Dumbledore said in a deep voice. "I thought we'd have enough of each other by now."

Voldemort let out a haughty laugh. "I haven't killed you yet, thus making my work incomplete and thus here we are once more."

Dumbledore glanced at Voldemort from behind his glasses, giving him a look of complete fury.

"And even more so I haven't killed the boy."

"You'll do well to leave Harry out of this, Tom."

"Yes- yes, Harry Potter," Voldemort said slyly. "He seems to be hiding, where Albus?"

"Tom, don't be foolish. We sent Harry home. Your battle is with me."

The Dark Lord looked around him, and slowly drew in a scent of air. "No, Albus. Don't you be foolish. He's here I can smell him. Where is he at, Albus? Tell me."

"I already told you Tom, leave Harry out of this."

"Never! Tell me where he is or I'll kill you!"

Dumbledore let out a slight grin, his wand still raised in his old, wrinkled hand. "I have no fear of death. And you couldn't kill me Tom. You're too scared of me. That much I can smell," he said slyly.

"Oh, you think so?" hissed Voldemort. "Avada Kedavra!"

But Albus was too quick for him. He merely moved to the side, letting the spell catch one of the Dark Lord's own un-expecting followers in the back. The Death Eater slid to the ground surprise covering his face.

"Tut tut, Tom. I really think you are losing your touch."

Voldemort smiled self-righteously, "Yes well, so are you old man!"

Dumbledore lifted his long wand to strike the younger man, "Hertis Heratio!" He bellowed but Tom had smoothly disapparated. Albus knew he had left the building, and left his precious Death Eaters to find Harry and bring the Boy Who Lived to him.

I...............................I

Harry and Amy could hear people running past the small storage room in which they hid. They heard medics, rushing to save themselves and their dying patients; they heard the wretched muttering of spells and curses and they heard the screams that accompanied them.

"God! Harry we have to help! What's going on?" Amy whispered to Harry.

She looked at the young boy- his face pale and blank.

"Harry? Harry? Snap out of it!" Amy said in as low a voice as she could muster.

"He's looking for me, he's close. We have to stay quiet."

"What do you mean he's looking for you? Who's looking for you, Harry?"

"Um, it's hard to explain. But-"

Harry was cut off by the mutter of low voices next to the condemned cupboard.

"Harry, what's going-"

"Shhh! They're talking about me."

Harry and Amy hushed instantly, prying into the foreboding conversation.

"Where's the boy?" Harry heard Bellatrix's harsh voice say.

"Harry Potter?" a familiar, shaky voice asked.

"Of course Harry Potter! Who else would I want?"

"Well we-we're not quite sure," the voice faltered.

"Then why don't you find him?" Bellatrix snapped.

"We-we-we r-really are trying hard, but you know the boy. He-he's good at hiding and-and stuff."

"That boy is nothing more than a cheeky, diminutive brat. Never- and I mean never- speak of him as being something other than what he is. The boy is dim-witted and obtuse, not smart enough to hide in a clever place. Now find him!"

"Yes, of-of course, Miss," the puny voice rambled quickly.

Harry heard quick footsteps retreat down the hall, only to be replaced by louder ones coming towards them.

"Hello Bella," Harry heard a woman's voice say.

"Yes?"

"The Order are now advancing on the third floor. Only goodness knows how soon it will be until they are here. And word has it that the Dark Lord left the building after a confrontation with Dumbledore. We have to find Potter and hurry."

"Amy, this is good! The Order is here! We're saved!" Harry whispered, but listened once more at the sound of his name.

"Bella, what exactly are we going to do with Potter once we get him? After all, the Dark Lord is no longer here."

"Now Celeste, you know that is for only the Dark Lord's closest and most faithful followers to know."

"Oh please Bella, just-just tell me!"

"Let's just say there is some information we need-" Harry heard the two women's footsteps walking away and heard their voices drifting off down the hall.
Harry released a breath of relief he didn't even realize he was holding.

"Okay, now. Everything will be alright, right Harry? Everything will be just fine, right?" Amy assured herself. "Okay... Oh My God! Harry, what do they want with you? Do they want to kill you?" she asked in a hushed panic.

"Well, um, maybe not today. But yeah, some day they would love to kill me. It's well deserved," he added more to himself then to Amy.

Amy sat down on an empty bucket. "Harry, this is too much for me to handle! I met you less then 24 hours ago. I mean your sweet and everything, but why am I doing this? I was supposed to have the bloody afternoon off! Harry, just tell me why I'm here."

Harry looked at Amy helplessly, sorrow in his eyes and reluctantly sat down next to Amy, trying not to bother his injuries.

"Alright, but it may take a while," he said, looking away from the blonde-headed girl.

"Harry, I think we'll have some time; I mean being locked in this bloody cabinet and all."

Harry took a deep breath. "Okay, it all started sixteen years ago, with the birth of a baby. His name was Harry Potter..." Harry began, as a small tear ran down his smooth face.

I....................................I

Lupin walked the floors of Memorial Hospital searching for the only person he felt he had left in the world. He held his wand out in front of him incase any attacks should come.

Tonks was behind him, along with Kingsley. The three had been ordered away from the battles and duels from the raging war on the first few floors in order to search for Harry and to get him back at Grimmauld place under any circumstances. The three were tucked away under a rather large invisibility cloak in order to avoid the eyes of the Death Eaters who where inevitably running around trying to find Harry.

"Remus- Remus wait! I found something," Tonks muttered quietly, hoping no one would hear them in the deserted corridor.

"What is it, Tonks?" Lupin asked bewildered by all the muggle exteriors around the humongous hospital.

Tonks ripped the invisibility cloak from her head and walked over to a door. "Remus, this is Harry's chart! This is his room! Remus, this is the room Harry is staying in! We found him!" she said, quickly opening the door only to find an abandoned room.

"Tonks!" Lupin said as he and Kingsley filed into the room still covered by the invisibility cloak. "Tonks we don't have time for this! My - my Harry is still out there!"
Lupin said painfully.

"Oh honestly, man," Kingsley whispered. "Pull yourself together! We have listened to this crap for weeks and I'm sick of it! If there is one thing we don't have time for, it's your crying and moaning."

Kingsley shut the door behind the three and ripped the invisibility cloak from Lupin's and his own bald heads.

"Look, Remus. Kingsley's right," Tonks said sympathetically. "We know that you miss Sirius, but so do a lot of other people! Stop being so damn selfish! He was my cousin! I think I would know a thing or two about missing him as well."

"Yeah, well, guess what Tonks?" Lupin was starting to get angry. "You may have lost your cousin, but I lost my best friend. And not just one of them but three! So next time you think you can relate to me whatsoever, just don't!"

"Now you listen to me you overgrown piece of werewolf butt, I have lost-"

"Shut it! The both of you!" Kingsley broke in furious. "While the two of you are fighting over who has lost the most, let me remind you that Harry is still out there- alive! We need to get moving! So shut it and let's go!

Kingsley threw the invisibility cloak over their heads and opened the door, ready to continue their search.

"Wait!" Lupin hissed, as he heard footsteps and voices coming in their direction. The three smoothly crept back in and hid against the wall, ready to listen.

"Please, please, please Bella! Please tell me what's going to happen!"

"Listen Celeste, how many times do I have to tell you? What we do after we catch Potter is none of your business." Lupin stiffened at the sound of Bellatrix's voice. He wanted to do something- he wanted to kill her- kill her for killing Sirius.

"But Bella, you have no clue how much I'm dying to know! I want to do something! I want to prove my loyalty to the Dark Lord."

Bellatrix turned to her and smiled. "Do you dear? Well than I'm sure we can find something for you to do."

Celeste smiled insanely. "Really? Really? Do you mean it?"

"Yes and I have a job in mind. Let's just say we're going to have a lot of fun with Potter tonight," the two Death Eaters walked off down the hall, shrieking in laughs.

Kingsley, Tonks, and Lupin looked at each other and set off once more in search of the young boy. Determined more now then ever to find him.

I..........................................I

The battle on the first three floors was raging. Stupefied and dead bodies lay covering the
blood-filled tiled floor.

The Death eaters had taken any chance they had to kill- going to such extremes that all innocent, muggle patients had died.

Mr. Weasley was dueling furiously with MacNair, who had an evil glint in his eyes.

"Ah! A Weasley! You can't win against me- a Death Eater!" cackled MacNair loudly.

"Oh you think so? The name means nothing MacNair! Now, I'm here for only one reason and that is to find Harry. So if I were you I would get out of my way!" hissed Mr. Weasley; as a red beam of light nearly missed his head.

"The boy? What makes you like that boy so much? He's going to get your whole family killed someday! Don't you care? He's evil and he's a murderer! He deserves to die!" roared MacNair, furiously trying to prove his point, while ducking a green ray sent by Arthur.

"NEVER- EVER- say anything like that about Harry! He's not a murderer. He doesn't have an ounce of evil blood in him, unless you count the righteous hate he has for Voldemort! My family is in danger yes, but we would rather have Harry as part of our family than NOT! We love Harry! I only hope that we can give him as much as he's already given us in his short life. The least we can do is have him as part of our family, no matter how dangerous he is! And that is a concept you will never understand, you of worthless junk," screamed Mr. Weasley so furiously that MacNair backed up.

"Listen to me for one more second you muggle-loving buffoon! You've chosen the wrong side this time! You just wait and see! One day the Boy will be killed. Everyone will celebrate! Just wait. You may never see him again!" chuckled MacNair recklessly as he apparated away from the battle.

"Coward,." whispered Mr. Weasley underneath his breath, while running back in to join the fight once more.

I................................I

Harry had finished telling Amy his life story. She was sitting there in shock, not sure whether or not to believe it.

"Look, I know it's hard to believe, but yes we are out there. There are such things as trolls and dragons, but there are also such things as leprechauns and villa. Just like there is such a thing like evil, there is also good in this world and that's why we are here. To hold on to what is good. Please believe me Amy, it's true," Harry pleaded.

"Harry, I can't believe I'm saying this, but- but I do believe you and I do believe we'll be okay. We just have to make it through tonight."

Harry started to shiver from fear and Amy placed her hand on top of his own. "Harry, sweetie, are you okay?" she whispered as she stroked his hand gently.

Harry only said, "He's near, and he's looking. But don't worry Amy; it's going to be alright."

"Ya sure about that?" a stone cold voice asked from the doorway.

Harry whipped his injured neck up, only to find a cloaked figure in front of him.

"Found ya," the Death Eater said a broad smile on his face.

"What-what do you want?" Harry asked, moving in front of Amy as best he could.

"What the hell do you think I want? I want you!"

Bellatrix came from behind the masked Death Eater, "Well, well, well. What have we here?"

"Harry Potter!" the Death Eater said gleefully.

"I know that, you imbecile. Go get the others! Now!" screamed Bellatrix loudly, as the Death Eater quickly followed orders.

Bellatrix kneeled down in front of Harry, who was still sitting in front of Amy; terrified.

"Hey little baby Potter. Are you scared?" laughed Bellatrix as she rubbed his arm, sweetly which caused goose bumps to form on his skin.

"Thought so," replied Bellatrix with a nasty smile while she furiously grabbed Harry's uninjured arm and dragged him forward.

"STOP!" said Harry painfully as he tried to yank his arm back.

Bellatrix didn't pay attention she walked through a hospital room and threw Harry roughly across the floor, causing him to hit his head on the metal bars of the bed, making everything around him to spin.

"Stop hurting him! He's done nothing to you! He's just an innocent child!" screamed Amy as she went over to help Harry stand up, careful not to hurt his knee anymore.

Bellatrix smirked. "So, miss, you think that Harry here is a big hero eh? Well Harry, tell her what you really are."

"W-what do you mean? I-I'm Harry P-Potter." Harry stuttered.

"We know who you are you dimwit, tell her what you are! You know what you are! Tell her or she dies!" roared Bellatrix while raising her wand, pointed at Amy's heart.

Harry looked down at his feet embarrassment covering his precious face. He looked up at Amy, tears in his green eyes. "I-I'm a murderer. I murdered my godfather and my aunt and cousin."

"No! Harry you're not a murderer!" Amy yelled, "She's the murderer! She's the one who killed all those people and your aunt and cousin! Don't say that Harry, please!"

"No Amy, you don't understand. The reason they're dead is because of me- because I'm a horrible person."

Bellatrix let out a haughty laugh at this. "That's right! And guess what? You get to be the reason for one more death! Avada Kedavra!" she shouted pointing her wand at Amy. .

Amy tried to move quickly but the spell hit her squarely in the heart, causing it to stop. She sunk to the floor slowly, her blue eyes looking up at the ceiling, having no idea what had come to her before it was too late.

Harry didn't hear Bellatrix's triumphant laugh, he didn't see her start to ascend towards him, he didn't feel her put the cruciatus curse on him- he was numb.

Harry didn't care if the curse ever ended- he didn't care if he died. It was deserved. He had once again killed- once again been the reason for evil to prevail.

"And guess what?" Bellatrix ranted to the empty body of Harry. "We're going to take itty- bitty Potter to the Dark Lord! And he is going to give it to you one thousand times worse then this!"

"Not if we have anything to do with it!" Harry jerked up his head when he heard the familiar voices of Tonks, Kingsley and Lupin coming down the hall.

Harry rolled to his side as the curse was reluctantly lifted from his lifeless body and soon fell to unconsciousness, blocking all that was to happen next.

I.................................I

"Harry! Harry! Are you in there? Are you alive? Oh please, please be alive!" Lupin wept over the boy.

"Moony? Moony, is that you?" Harry asked as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Yes! Yes Harry it's me! Are you alright? It's me! Moony's here."

"Moony, it was all my fault! I-I did it all. Everything happened because of me! I'm so sor-"

"No Harry!" Lupin intervened. "It's not your fault! Listen to me! You did nothing wrong! You were very brave! Do you hear that?"

"Lupin you don't understand! I killed- I killed-" Harry's head rolled toward Amy.

Lupin glanced at the life-less body of the murdered girl.

"Merlin! Harry who is that?" asked Lupin as he bent over to inspect her, trying to see if she was alive, but found no pulse.

"A-Amy. She was the n-nurse that saved me," said Harry tears starting to fill his sad eyes. I'm a murderer. Everyone knows that. He kept thinking to himself.

"How did she die?" inquired Tonks

"It was all my fault! Bella-Bellatrix, was in here and I-I tried," stated Harry.

"Harry, this wasn't your fault," Lupin said sadly walking over to the young girl and picking her up. He walked with her in his arms out of the room and came back a few seconds later empty handed. "Harry, Bellatrix is evil. She has ways to deceit people and make them believe things that aren't true."

"But Moony- you don't underst-"

"Harry, we have to get you out of here. We can talk about this later, hun, but your still at risk. Death eaters are still swarming the hospital and only goodness knows where Bellatrix went with the news that you were still here," Tonks said urgently pulling a nearby chair over to the lost boy. "I would prefer to get you out by floo powder, but there is too much risk of you getting intercepted, so we shall be taking to a portkey. Lupin, go check the halls to make sure they are clear and report back immediately. Kingsley is doing the same thing," Tonks said taking out an old shoe from her humongous pocket.

As Lupin gave the young boy one last squeeze of the hand and walked out of the room, Harry looked at the Tonks, tears welding up in his bright green, precious eyes.

"Tonks?"

Tonks noticed the empathy in Harry's voice and turned around to look at him, "Yes, hun?"

"Um, why did you guys do this? I-I mean why did you come get me? I mean- I mean i-it's only just me. Wouldn't it had been better if I had just let them get to me. Then I would have only died instead of Amy," Harry whispered, a tear trickling down his pale face.

Tonks felt tears burn in her make-shift brown eyes. She knelt down next to Harry. "Hun, we would do anything to get you back. Y-You mean so much to me- so much to all of us." She ran her soft fingers on Harry's cheek, wiping the tears away.

"B-But why? I don't understand! Look at all that has happened! And it's all because of me Tonks! It's all because of me!" Harry rose to his feet, his crippled knee screaming in protest. "Tonks, you don't understand! I'm not worth it! I'm not worth any of it! There- there-there's been a mistake, Tonks, because I-I'm a murderer."

Tonks' face went stern. "Now you listen to me, you are not-"

"Tonks! We won't be able to hold them off much longer! Go! Get Harry the bloody hell out of here!" Lupin yelled running into the room. "Now!"

Tonks stood up and wiped her eyes. She walked over to the abandoned old shoe, picked it up, and tapped it twice, muttering something under her breath.

"Okay, so Harry, Lupin come along now," Tonks said slowly.

Harry started to walk towards her. "No wait! Um, no Tonks you go ahead. I'll stay here with Harry. Um we need to make sure everything is alright back at Grimmauld place. We'll just wait here and if there is no sign, then we'll come." Lupin rambled.

Tonks looked at Lupin suspiciously. "We really have no time to waste."

"Yeah-yeah I know that. Um-we'll be along shortly."

Tonks stared at him reluctantly, but seeing the pleading in Lupin's fragile eyes- the eyes that showed so much hurt from past events- she halfhearted gave in.

"Okay fine. But only wait three minutes. If I don't send a signal, it means everything is alright."

Tonks set the old shoe on a desk, gave a quick smile at Harry and activated the magical transportation force.

"Now for you, Harry," Lupin said in a deep voice, walking over to the struggling boy. Lupin stopped in front of Harry, looking slightly disoriented. He lifted his rigged hand to Harry's face, looking into the boy's fearful eyes. "Listen Harry, there's something I need to tell you," he said as he placed his harsh hand on Harry's soft cheek. "But first we need to get you home safe and sound."

"Home that, sounds nice," Harry sighed as Remus retreated his hand from his cheek.

"Yeah, now let's see, we need a portkey. Hmm, yes this shall work!" Remus said wildly searching through his pockets and coming up with a rather fragile-like feather. He tapped it twice, walked over to the table and put it at rest. He walked back over to Harry and placed his arm under Harry's healthy shoulder, and helped the sore boy over to the feather.

"Harry, once you get to Grimmauld Place tell Tonks that-"

But Harry's eyes grew wide with fear as a dark, masked figure crept behind his father's old best friend.

"Lupin, watch-"

"Crucio!" the figure yelled, sending Lupin to the floor, shriveling in seizures.

"No! L-Leave him alone! Let him go! J-Just let him g-go! It's- It's me you want!" Harry screamed.

"How would you know what I want, Potter."

"Because-because-" Harry froze in mid-sentence. He had heard that cold, stony voice before. He had hear it often, some many times, it couldn't actually be-

"You," Harry said in an alarmed voice. "It can't be! No it just can't be! Please, let him go! Please!"

The Death Eater gave a yellow tooth smirk and released Remus from his convulsions.

"Harry!" Lupin gasped, "Get the bloody hell out!"

"I'm not leaving without you!" Harry yelled at the man shaggily lying on the white-tile floor. Harry wanted so badly to reach out and help Lupin. He would have done anything to get the cast off, to be able to move as he so desperately willed.

"Harry- Harry listen to me! Stop trying to be a hero, go now!" Lupin panted. The Death Eater stood back to survey the scene, smiling smugly to himself. Harry could feel the smirk behind the mask.

"No! I-I'm not leaving!"

"Harry! Just g-" Lupin stopped mid-sentence. He numbly felt his chest- where blood was spilling out of his flesh- where the Death Eater had stabbed his knife into the werewolf's heart..

Lupin choked, sputtering out incomprehensible words. Searing pains overwhelmed his throat- he began to spit up blood.

"Harry- Harry," Lupin gasped. "Go-go home and warn the others."

Harry began hyperventilating. "Lupin! Moony! Please, no, no I need you! I need you! Come here! Please- don't go!"

"Harry- Harry, I-I" Lupin sputtered over the blood. "Harry, I love y-you. Y-You're just like your father."

With one last great effort Lupin pushed Harry against the desk, causing the feather to catch Harry by the arm- sweeping him to Grimmauld Place, as he watched his last father die. He knew that soon he was going to have to say goodbye...again.