Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Disclaimer: No Harm. No Sue.

Chapter 29 – The Way We Were

The first thing Harry saw upon opening his eyes were very familiar, even while blurry ceiling tiles. They really should name a bed after me, he thought wryly to himself. He was in the hospital wing, again. Harry often thought how odd it was that with all his various injuries, he had never once been sent to St. Mungo's. Lucky, I guess Harry thought to himself. Harry did not move, or speak or give any indication that he was conscious other than the opening of his eyes. He did not reach for his glasses, he just lay there hoping for some time in which he would not have to think at all.

“ Ah, Harry! So good to see you awake.” Dumbledore's voice drifted over Harry. Reluctantly, Harry reached for his glasses, and the face of his concerned Headmaster came into view.

“ Hermione?” Harry asked, well, demanded really. Dumbledore chuckled at this, his eyes taking on a merry twinkle.

“ Miss Granger is quite fine, Harry. She is still unconscious, but Madame Pomfrey assures me she will be no worse for wear, and quite strongly recommended that I let her sleep. Do you think you are able to tell me what happened Harry?” Dumbledore questioned quietly.

“I suppose so, sir. Well, I'm sure most of it you know. I fought with a few trolls, and Deatheaters. Then I saw McNair attack Hagrid before he... before he was killed.” Harry's voice wavered over this statement. Dumbledore's face fell slightly at the reference to Hagrid. “ Then Grawp came, and just lost it. I almost got stunned but Hermione showed up, and stunned the Deatheater behind me. We got separated then. I was attacked by Malfoy and his Father. I... uh... I killed Lucius Malfoy, and Malfoy would have killed me but Professor Snape got there first. Then I headed towards the clearing where I saw Voldmort disappear sir, and he and Wormtail had Hermione. They.. they performed Crucio on her, and Voldemort and I dueled.” Harry snorted. “If you can really call it a duel, we couldn't directly cast at each other obviously.”

“ Ah yes, Priori Incantatem. Interesting..” Dumbledore mused. He looked up, waiting for Harry to continue.

“ Well I had cast a binding spell on Pettigrew, sir. Just in case he tried to hurt Hermione. His spell attempt failed, and Voldemort punished him. To the point that he passed out... then Voldemort attacked Hermione physically. I guess he thought the spell failed because of her, not Wormtail.” Harry's voice grew quieter as he spoke.

“ Well, magic binding spells are rare, and difficult to use Harry. Voldemort probably didn't consider the possibility, I dare say.” Dumbledore interrupted politely. He rummaged in his pockets in a manner so reminiscent of Hagrid that Harry's eyes pricked. “Lemon drop?” he offered, pulling some candy out of the inner pockets of his robe. Harry shook his head no.

“He, Voldemort I mean, hit Hermione so hard she fell back and hit her head. Then he began to taunt me... and I just lost it sir. I cast the Fire spell on him... and well, you saw the rest. I couldn't stop! What was wrong with me?!” Harry shouted this last bit in Dumbledore's direction, but his Headmaster was accustomed to such behavior from Harry and did not flinch.

“ Tom Riddle was an evil man, Harry. There was nothing human left about him. It is a difficult thing to do Harry, taking someone's life. I will not pretend that tomorrow you will be fine and ready to celebrate, because you won't. It is a ... difficult thing to live with Harry.” Dumbledore spoke in a low voice, and Harry knew he was thinking of his own defeat of Grindelwald.

“Sir... why didn't Voldemort just apperate out when I cast the fire spell?” Harry asked just as the thought occurred to him.

“ Well, that would be my doing, Harry. I am afraid I placed a rather large anti-apparition ward over Hogsmeade and it's outlying areas once I was informed of the attack. I did not want any captured Deatheaters to escape you see.” Dumbledore replied thoughtfully.

“ Oh...” said Harry. He laid back, all of a sudden feeling exhausted by the events of the day.

“ Mr Weasley and I were the only ones to come across you during your final battle, Harry. Therefor I will not divulge any of the details to anyone else. I do recommend , however that you do talk to your family and friends about it, these things are never good when kept inside.” Harry snorted at this. He could not imagine describing the event for someone who wasn't there. He was utterly disgusted by what he had done, he could only imagine how others would react. Hermione... NO! He just wouldn't talk about it.

“I would suggest, however, that you give some thought to where you will go over the summer Harry. You have no need to return to the Dursley's and you may go where you wish.” At Dumbledore's words Harry felt the first genuine smile cross his face in what seemed like ages. “ End of term exams have, once again, been canceled to the great delight of the students. Now, I shall allow you to get some rest, as I don't want Madame Pomfrey to scold me, she can be quite frightening you know.”

Dumbledore stood up and left the room as quietly as he had entered it. Harry lay there, pondering the happy thought of what to do this summer, and trying to keep the images of burning twisted flesh out of his mind. He took off his glasses, and took the Dreamless Sleep potion that Madame Pomfrey had so kindly left by his bed. Within minutes he had fallen asleep.

When Harry opened his eyes again, he saw Rowen sitting in an armchair by the head of his bed. She had baby Ria cradled in her arms. Harry shifted to reach for his glasses once again, and Rowen looked up at the noise.

“Harry!” She said in an excited whisper. Harry looked down to see that Ria was sound asleep. A smile crossed Harry's face as he looked at the innocent baby, there was just something about her that made Harry go soft somewhere in his chest.

“ I'm so glad you're okay Harry! Severus was just here, but he had to go teach a class.” Rowen rolled her eyes as she spoke. “ Although why they are bothering still holding classes is beyond me. Of course Severus being, you know, Severus is still trying to actually teach them something. He can barely get a hold of his classes they are all so excited.” Rowen kept up this mild chatter about recent happenings, never once bringing up the battle. Harry was grateful for her lack of questions, as he was fairly certain he would not want to answer any of them.

“ How's Professor Snape doing?” Harry asked cautiously. “ I was there when he... and Malfoy..” Harry trailed off. Rowen's face saddened slightly.

“ It's always immensely difficult when you have to kill someone Harry. Severus is no stranger to killing, and sadly, neither am I.” Rowen's voice was quite and sad, all of her usual sparkle and wit had left her tone. “I just encourage him to spend as much time with Ria and I as possible. He hasn't talked about it yet, and I have no intention of forcing him to. Some things, Harry, are best dealt with alone.. at first.” Rowen stared at him as she spoke and Harry felt that she was saying her 'no questions' policy would apply to him as well. Harry gave her a small smile.

“ Thanks..” He said quietly. He glanced down, seeing a pair of sparkling black eyes blinking at him in curiosity. “May I hold her? She's awake.” Harry asked softly. Rowen smiled and popped the baby in his arms before Harry even knew what was happening. Ria just gazed at Harry unblinkingly, her mouth opening and closing in silent o's occasionally. Harry felt the oddest sense of warmth as he held her, she was new and perfect and innocent of everything that had occurred.

“ You know Harry, Albus told me you don't have to go back to those awful Dursley's this year... I mean I know you'll probably want to go to Gimmauld Place on your own...” Harry looked up at this, as Grimmauld Place had not occurred to him. He didn't exactly relish the thought of being alone, though. Rowen continued “ I talked to Severus, and we thought.. if you'd like to that is... you're welcome to stay with us this summer if you'd like.” Rowen finally finished quickly.

“ I didn't know you had your own home, outside of Hogwart's that is.” Harry said, confused. Rowen smiled at this.

“ What you thought teachers just lived at school year round? No Harry! Both Severus and I had our own houses, but mine was larger, and well, less depressing,” Rowen chuckled at this. “ So he sold his home, and we'll be at mine permanently. It's in a muggle village called Colwyn Bay. That's in Wales. It's a really quiet seaside village. You don't have to answer right now, but think about it alright, Harry?”

Harry nodded thoughtfully and handed Ria back to her mother, as she had begun to screw up her face, preparing to cry. Rowen took the baby from him, and they both looked up at the sudden commotion of a small girl with bushy brown hair ran in and flung herself on top of Harry.

“'Ermione....Geroff!” Harry mumbled from under her. She pulled back from her fierce hug and grinned. Harry looked behind her to see Ron in the doorway. Rowen stood with the baby, smiling at them all.

“Well, this is obviously a Trio kind of moment! I'll be off then. Harry let me know what you think okay?” Rowen said as she walked towards the door. With that she turned and left and Ron came in to take her seat.

“Oh Harry! I can't believe it! You did it! It's over, and we can have a normal year next year!” Hermione's face was glowing as she spoke, barely letting go of Harry.

“ Yeah, I know what you mean by normal! N.E.W.T's! Study! Honestly, you'd better lay off next year so we can enjoy ourselves for once!” Ron teased Hermione laughingly. Harry knew he was a bit serious about what he said. Hermione just huffed and glared at Ron.

“ YOU of all people need all the help I can give you Ronald! But I'm too happy to stay mad! Harry... this is great!” Hermione practically squealed. Harry just forced a chuckle at her obvious excitement.

“ Yes, yes it's very exciting... whoo.” Harry stated somewhat sarcastically. Hermione's face turned serious as she regarded him.

“Are you... okay Harry?” she asked, purposely ignoring the glares Ron was sending her way.

“ I'm... fine Mione. I just don't want to talk about it right now. You'll be the first to know when I'm ready, alright?” Harry reached out to hug her as he spoke. As he held her, he caught Ron's eyes and with a speaking glance, they both agreed that she didn't need to know. Harry felt immense relief that his best friend was going to back him up on this.

“So what was Rowen talking about then, Harry?” Hermione asked as she pulled back and looked down into his face. A shadow passed over his features momentarily before he cleared his face.

“ She and Snape want me to stay with them this summer. I told her I'd think about it, since I'm definitely not going back to the Dursley's.” Harry spoke in an off hand manner. Hermione's face broke out in a smile as he spoke.

“That's a fantastic idea Harry! Especially as I promised my parents that I would go away with them this summer, since I've hardly been home these last few years. Then I'll see you for the convention in August!” she spoke excitedly. Harry smiled softly at her , he had actually forgotten his Christmas gift for her. He would be accompanying her to Italy in August.

After a moment, Ron spoke. “ But... the whole summer? With SNAPE? Harry, mate are you sure? Cause if you want you know you're always welcome at the Burrow.” Harry shot him a fleeting smile of gratitude, but the thought of being at the Burrow, practically surrounded by people who would try to take care of him... plus facing Ron everyday, one of the only people who knew what had happened made Harry almost shudder.

“ Thanks for the offer Ron, but I think I will go to Rowen's. The peace and quiet will be nice, you know. Besides, you'll be busy with Luna.” Harry grinned at Ron as he spoke, forcing his face to appear cheerful. Hermione seemed to gaze at him intently for a moment, but she eventually smiled at Harry slyly.

“I've almost forgotten why we came here in the first place! Professor Dumbledore has sprung you! You can go back to the dorms!” Hermione stated with glee. Harry smiled genuinely at her.

“ That's great! I'm really beginning to hate this place!” Harry said with fervor. All three of them laughed together. “ Just let me get dressed and we'll go!” Harry quickly grabbed some clothes and took off into the loo, dressing quickly before re-entering the room.

Hermione and Ron were waiting for him, and the three quickly left the hospital wing, heading towards their dormitories. Harry felt the eyes watching him in the halls, and heard the shouts of congratulations. With each passing celebratory comment Harry felt the ache in his chest grow larger. No one but he, Ron and Dumbledore knew that they were cheering for a murderer.

A/N: Whoo, only one chapter to go! There will be a sequel, though, I'm working on it right now... so hopefully people will want to read it, lol! Review as usual! On a sidenote, I almost had a review induced euphoria overload checking my e mail today, like 20 new reviews.... * drools * more please?