Summer Writing Series Challenge (July 12)
Challenge: Harry/Hermione receives an anonymous gift/card/letter that they think is from the other...
but it's not...
Title: The Tip of the Iceberg
Word Count: 996
"Mister Potter, you're going to have to leave," a mediwizard said gently, yet in a commanding voice.
"I'm not leaving my wife!" Harry hissed trying to get a glimpse of Hermione's paling form behind the curtains.
"Harry, if you don't leave this room instantly, we're going to have to stun you," Susan said warningly. She raised her wand level with him and frowned. "The more time we spend removing you gives us less time to save Hermione, now GET OUT!"
Harry took a step back at the ferocity Susan leveled at him but he relented and stepped into the hall, tears of anger and sadness began stinging his eyes.
It was Malfoy... Her voice rang clearly in his head. It was Malfoy...
The scene played over and over in his head, he wasn't dreaming, she needed him and somehow had brought him along to witness what was happening. He was actually there and remembered the words that his school rival shouted at his wife.
"A new dark lord..." Harry said as he suddenly understood what was said. "They went after Hermione..." His voice cracked as a sudden panic overcame him. Without another word he ran as fast as he could to the Floo Network. Shouting, "The Burrow," Harry found himself spinning seemingly out of control through the magical transportation system and quickly reached his destination.
He slid into the kitchen of the Weasleys' home and looked around him in pure horror. The house was on fire, Molly laying motionless on the floor, still breathing, he sighed as he dragged her out to the garden.
Harry looked around desperately, nobody was in sight, and with a sinking feeling he ran into the flaming house. "LILY!" He shouted anxiously as he ran around the first floor, dodging the flames that were greedily engulfing the walls and furniture.
"DADDY!" Her muffled cry came from upstairs somewhere.
Harry ripped up the stairs as quickly as he could, burning his hand on the banister when he stumbled in his tremendous rush to get to his daughter. "WHERE ARE YOU?!" He yelled frantically, knocking doors of their hinges with the immortal strength of a parent desperately trying to protect his children.
"DAAAADYYYY!" Her desperate cry came from the attic.
No preamble was necessary, Harry concentrated and with a silent disapparation, apparated just as silently at the top of the flaming stairs. Lily was crouched over Percy in the corner, trying to protect her friend and cousin. The ghoul was bleeding profusely as it fended off spell after spell of someone in black robes. The smoke was billowing up the stairs like an erupting volcano and Harry's anger seemed to make it all the hotter in the uneven room at the top of the crumbling house.
"Get. Away. From. My. Daughter," Harry said so coldly that everything seemed to freeze in time. With a blinding speed, Harry's hands grabbed the dark wizard and the unsuspecting fool found himself sailing through the air like a feather caught in a hurricane. He rounded on the slumped form in the corner and with a raised hand summoned the intruder's wand and immediately incinerated it.
The wizard in dark robes shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind but wasn't fast enough to recover when Harry took him by the throat and lifted the flailing man off the floor. He cowered under the vengeful gaze of Harry Potter, the anger burning through his skull as it entered through his terrified eyes, his predicament suddenly fully revealed to him.
"stupefy," Harry whispered and the man went limp in his grasp.
"DADDY!" Lily screamed from the other side of the room. "PERCY! PERCY!" She cried uncontrollably.
Harry threw the man over his shoulder and raced to the prone form of Percy Weasley, Ron and Luna's only son. He was unconscious, but alive, a nasty bump on the back of his head where he'd taken a stunner point blank. Harry gathered the two children with his remaining arm and apparated to the garden where Molly was still lying, unconscious.
Seconds later, Aurors apparated on the scene, taking the unconscious Theodore Nott into custody. Harry, with the help of Tonks and Remus, apparated with Molly and the children to St. Mungo's where the two unconscious Weasleys were immediately taken for treatment.
Harry held a crying Lily desperately as he slumped in a waiting room chair when an owl swooped towards him bearing an official looking envelope. He opened it with shaking hands and tears fell down his cheeks as he examined the handwriting.
My Dearest Love,
If you've received this letter, then... I know you're hurting, my love, but I've died or am very nearly close to it. I'd hoped that we could have lived a long, happy life together, watching our children grow and growing old together. It seems that was stolen from us and I'm sorry I can't be there for Lilian and you.
I want you to know that I love you more than life itself and whatever took me from you must have been tragic. Keep our daughter safe and be careful. I wish there was more that I could write but I can't seem to put what's in my heart into words, so all I can say is I love you with all my heart. Please take care of yourself and Lilian and know that I'll be watching over the two most important people in my life...
With all the love in the world, I'll be watching
A sob hitched in Harry's throat as the letter fell into his lap, clutching his daughter to him desperately.
"Harry?" Susan asked quietly as she stepped up to the grieving man.
"H-How long does she have?" Harry asked as his voice cracked, not wanting to hear the devastating news.
"She's asking for you..." Susan said quietly. "It was a tough fight..." Harry covered his face with his free hand and nodded. "But she's going to pull through just fine!"
A/N: I was so intrigued by Terrors and Twins that I decided I wanted to expand it into a full story so you're looking at the sequel to my sequel from sequel week! :) No more waiting and you'll get nothing but this all week long! Heh Hope you like it!