Summer Pains

When Hermione woke, she immediately rushed back into the ward. She was relieved to find that he was still alive, and quietly stepped over to him and sat down on a chair that was beside his bed. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. She thought about what he had said. He loved her? Hermione was glad to know that he loved her because she loved him, with all of her heart and soul.

After about an hour, Dumbledore stepped into the ward. He quietly conjured up a chair and sat next to her.

“Hermione, there are some things that we need to discuss.” She looked up at him, and saw that his face was full of worry.

“What, sir?” She asked.

“Follow me.” Hermione got up, and followed Dumbledore out the door.

<center>*****</center>

“He needs to be left alone.” A voice was speaking that Harry couldn't place.

“We have to take him.” Another voice said.

<I>What are those voices? What's going on?</I> Harry tried to open his eyes, but they weren't following his commands. His body ached, and when he tried to move he felt a fresh stab of pain. Someone must of noticed his attempts at getting up, because they soon spoke up.

“Look! He's moving!” Harry could recognize this voice, it belonged to Hermione. “Harry! Harry can you hear me?”

His brain seemed to be functioning on super slow mode, and he was having difficulty processing what was going on. He finally managed a quiet and croaky “yes”, and Harry could hear sighs of relief. He managed to open his eyes, and saw blurred images of people standing around him. Someone put on his glasses because the images were getting clearer. In his now clear vision, he looked around, and saw that he was in an infirmary of some kind.

“Where am I? What happened?” He asked, looking at the people staring at him. He noticed that the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was there and was accompanied by several Aurors. “What's going on?”

“St. Mungo's. You have been unconscious for eight days. You gave us quite a scare.” Dumbledore said. “Cornelius, will you and your guard please leave us for a moment, I must speak privately with Harry. Hermione you can stay here.” Harry watched as the requested left.

“What's going on?” He asked again, starting to get nervous. He looked over at Hermione and saw that she was in tears. He turned back to Dumbledore and saw that the twinkle in his eyes was gone.

“Harry, I'm sorry to say this, but your going to Azkaban.” Harry just stared at his Headmaster in shock. He was at a complete loss for words. “W-why?” He asked, his voice quivering.

“Cornelius holds a slight grudge against you. You ruined his popularity, and now he's found evidence that can put you in Azkaban. He has charged you for breaking into the Ministry and into forbidden parts of the Ministry. He also found out about what you did to Bellatrix. Also, he came upon the Dursleys and asked them what happened, and they told him that it was because of you the Death Eaters attacked. He believes you were the cause of the attack, and therefore places charges on you for your indirect involvement with the deaths that occurred. I am sorry Harry.”

Why would they do this to him? Just because of some stupid grudge? How could the Dursleys do this to him? He had saved their lives, and they had been on friendly terms, and now they testified against him? Harry felt his anger rise to the surface. His river of hate broke through the dam that kept it at bay, and he let everything loose.

“WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS TO ME?!” Harry roared as loud as he could. He jumped out of the bed, pushing the pain away that was jolting through him. Fudge rushed in, closely followed by his Aurors. They all had their wands out and pointed at Harry. He looked around for his wand, but couldn't find it anywhere. “Give me my wand.” He spoke in a low, menacing tone.

“I'm sorry but I can't do that Mr. Potter. Now, will you come quietly or will we have to use force?” Fudge looked at him with hatred in his eyes.

“I'm not going at all.” Harry said matter-of-factly.

“Yes, you are. You're dangerous and need to be locked up.” He stepped towards Harry, who quickly backed up against the wall. Fudge motioned for two guards, and they came carrying shackles.

Harry wouldn't let them take him, so he said the first thing that came to his mind. “<I>Expelliarmus!</I>” Amazingly, Fudge's wand flew out of his hand and Harry caught it, but not fast enough to prevent getting punched in the stomach by one of the Aurors. They quickly disarmed him, and chained his hands together behind his back. They shoved him into the ground, and then just as quickly picked him back up and dragged him out the door. Harry took one last look at Hermione and Dumbledore.

“Help me!” He cried out. Hermione was still sobbing, and her eyes were red and puffy.

“I've done all I can Harry.” Dumbledore replied looking gravely.

Harry looked at Hermione again, and quickly said to her, “I love you, remember that.” He was then dragged out of their view by the Aurors.

<center>*****</center>

The trip to Azkaban had been painful. Harry had been punched and kicked whenever the Aurors felt he was getting out of line, which was always. They had taken a portkey, and were now in the lobby of the prison. Harry could feel the familiar icy coldness that seemed to dig at his very being, sucking away all the happiness. Fudge had led him to a very small cell, which had more Dementors around it than all the other cells in Harry's line of sight.

After he was thrown into his cell, he had been chained to the wall, and unceremoniously beaten. The Dementors were making him feel miserable. He could no longer think of anything happy. All of his worst memories came to the front of his mind. And he watched as they were all replayed slowly in his mind. The death of his parents, in the room with a two faced man, facing a basilisk, fighting hundreds of Dementors, the night at the graveyard, Sirius falling slowly through the veil.

Fudge stepped into Harry's cell which brought him out of his memories.

“Welcome to Hell Mr. Potter. You are going to be in pain, agony, and misery for the rest of your life. You made me look like a fool, and now you will pay.” Fudge looked gleeful, and Harry knew this wouldn't be good. He wasn't, however, expecting what came next. “<I>Crucio!</I>”

<center>*****</center>

A/N: How'd you like the twist and cliffhanger? If you did…review…if you didn't…review. Poor Harry, I always have to make his life suck.