Friendship and Beyond 1/?
Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.
Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.
The Love-Life of the Boy Who Lived
Are you sure you dont want to come with us, mate? Ron asked from his seat next to his friend on the couch. We havent been in to Hogsmeade for a few weeks and Mione even agreed not to bring her books this time.
Id love to Ron but since that bloody detention I got from Snape last night, I never got a chance to finish my Transfiguration essay.
All right, but youre missing out. Ron commented patting Harry on the back good-naturedly. Youll be in the Common Room all by yourself, even the first and second years are going to be gone.
Im sure I will manage to survive without the pleasure of your and Hermiones company for a day. Harry responded with a grin. Besides maybe a little time alone with Mione is just what you two need.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Sure, thats why your ears are the color of your hair. Harry teased. Everyone knows that you two are in love with each other, except possibly the both of you. When are you going to make a move?
It s not that simple, mate. Ron sighed. I couldnt take it if she rejected me, or even worse if we do go out and it doesnt work out. I mean besides you, Hermione is my best friend, and I dont know what I would do without her in my life. I just couldnt risk it.
Some things are worth the risk. Especially, with the way things seem to be turning out with the Order, you should grab what happiness you can. If you dont at least try then whats the bloody point of living at all? Harry asked plaintively.
Youre one to talk, mate. I dont see you with anyone either. Ron commented in an attempt to steer the conversation away from him. You havent even been interested in anybody since Cho two years ago.
Im not about to get involved in a serious relationship and then get myself killed, leaving whoever I was with hurt. I cant make any promises, and we both know the chances of me surviving the war are not too good to begin with.
Hermione and I are not about to let you run off and get yourself killed. Weve spent far to long keeping you alive to give up now, Potter. If you do get killed, we will be right there with you, going down fighting at your side. Ron responded as seriously as Harry had ever heard him, but the glimpse of a serious Ron Weasley was gone before he knew it. Besides, that doesnt mean you couldnt have a good shag at least.
:I could I suppose, but you know I want to be with someone who cares about me before I sleep with anyone. Harry commented, idly running a hand over the scar on his forehead. Besides, if I just randomly jump someone, I would never know if they wanted me or the Boy Who Lived.
Come on theres got to be somebody in this whole bloody school who doesnt hero-worship you besides Mione and me.
Yeah. Snape. Harry grumbled.
And couldnt you just imagine Snape chasing you around the school, giving you flowers and reciting poetry? Ron cheered, quirking an amused grin in Harrys direction.
Sure, the obnoxious prat. Harry smirked. Although I wouldnt have to worry about Snape being overwhelmed by my fame and celebrity.
True, and you wouldnt be overwhelmed by his acidic tongue and monstrous nose. Ron chortled.
Ron! Are you trying to set me up with Snape? Harry asked between laughter. Im shocked.
Like that would ever happen, mate. on commented a little more seriously. But if it made you happy Id say go for the greasy git.
How can you actually think-
Harry was interrupted in his lament by a decidedly wind-blown Hermione coming through the portrait hole.
Did you convince Harry to come with us yet? Hermione asked pulling a coat on over her pullover sweater.
Sorry, Mione I really do need to finish this essay. Harry answered regretfully, ignoring Rons mumbling about body-swapping, as he did so. But dont let that stop you two from having a good time.
Thankfully Ron chose that moment, when it looked like Hermione would object, to lead her towards the entrance of the Common Room. Alright then mate, well bring you back some chocolate frogs.
You had better, Weasley. Harry threatened, while watching as his two best friends left the room.
Chapter 2
The room was almost pitch black, the only light was coming from underneath the tapestries hanging on the walls. Dressed in a long black robe, an intimidating man with a grotesque snake-like face strode across the room towards the far wall, the dim sunlight reflecting off him. All eyes were on him as he moved, both his fellow compatriots and the two people desperately clutching each other while cowering in the corner. The redheaded man was attempting to bodily shield the petite brunette from the occupants sinister gaze.
What do we have here? Sneered the reptilian-like man towering over them. A weasel and a mudblood, all alone with no Harry Potter to protect you. Such a pity.
What do you want with us? The tall redhead asked in a tumultuous voice.
I did not give you permission to speak, boy. Crucio! He bellowed sending a large red stream of magic from his wand.
The effect was near instantaneous. Whereas before the redhead had been standing bravely in front of the woman now he was curled into a fetal position on the floor, a silent scream on his lips. Convulsions wracked his body and his whole world narrowed into the unbearable pain he was feeling. As if from far away he thought he heard a scream, but didnt have the energy left to pay much attention. While he was under the Cruciatus Curse his companion was in hysterics trying to rouse him from the pain.
Ron! The brunette wailed clutching at the still convulsing body of her friend. All at once a stab of fury filled her for this monster who was hurting Ron. Before she was even aware of what she was doing she had sent a blue beam of pure energy at Voldemort using wandless magic. He must have had a shield in place however, because the magic just ricocheted off him and hit the ceiling. The only positive thing that came from her actions was that Voldemort was temporarily distracted from torturing Ron, unfortunately he turned his sadistic impulses toward her instead.
You dare to attack me, girl! He sneered pointing his wand at the girl, watching as she flinched back involuntarily against the nearest wall. He laughed in amusement. Oh dont worry, I wont waste my magic on the likes of you.
So saying he walked towards her, smacking her viciously across the face once he was in range, causing her to collapse in a heap next to Ron. Around them the Death Eaters began to laugh mockingly.
Ron was just fighting his way back to consciousness when he became aware of Voldemort and two Death Eaters viciously beating a prone Hermione.
Stop it, you bastards! Leave her alone! Ron snarled, or at least tried to, but it came out more as a wheeze since he was still trying to catch is breathe.
So brave, Weasley. But if I were you I would be more concerned for myself. Voldemort smirked, leering at the dirt-encrusted redhead. Rather than respond, Ron just glared defiantly at him. He ignored the loud laughing in the background in favor of checking on Hermione. We have kept you both in decent condition on the off chance that either the muggle-loving fool Dumbledore or Potter would attempt to rescue you, but as it has been two days, it seems we have over-estimated your importance. I do believe it is time to take off the kid glove and begin the real entertainment.
What are you talking about? Ron asked, not quite sure he wanted to know Voldemorts definition of entertainment.
So naïve, boy. Voldemort commented taking the few remaining steps forward so he was now standing directly in front of Weasley. Fighting down his growing nausea Ron forced himself to his feet, only to be thrown against the wall with Voldemort pressing against him. Impetuous young men have always been a weakness of mine.
You sick freak! Ron growled trying desperately to escape Voldemorts punishing hold on him.
Your terror is simply delicious. Voldemort whispered in his ear while his now fully aroused lower body pinned Rons hips to the wall. However I dont think a partial body bind would be remiss, at least not the first time I take you. But dont worry youll be fully cognizant of everything I do to you.
During this conversation Hermione had regained use of most of her faculties, just as Rons unresponsive body fell to the floor, Voldemort following close behind tearing at his clothes. She saw a single tear fall from Rons eye as he was stripped and lewdly positioned under Voldemort. Hermione had just managed to crawl a few feet in their direction when she was hit from behind with a curse. The last thing she saw as her world faded around her was Voldemort getting ready to thrust into Ron, who could only whimper helplessly.
No!
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No! Harry Potter screamed startling awake in the Gryffindor common room, knocking his transfiguration scrolls halfway across the room. Ron, Hermione oh god, oh god, oh god. Harry whimpered rocking himself repeatedly back and forth on the couch, keeping his eyes squeezed tightly shut while absentmindedly rubbing at the inflamed lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
Chapter 3
Harry continued to rock himself inconsolably back and forth, near catatonia, when suddenly his head snapped up and a grin spread across his face.
He said two days. Harry murmured.
He said two days! Harry said scrambling off the couch and hurriedly scrubbing his eyes haphazardly. Dumbledore will know what to do.
With that thought firmly entrenched in his mind Harry Potter made his way out of the Common Room and through the corridors toward Dumbledores office at a breakneck speed. Since he was so preoccupied with his vision and getting to the Headmasters office as quickly as possible, Harry didnt see the obstacle turning the corner at the exact same time as he did.
Harry was torn out of his foggy musing, for the first time since he woke up from the rather gruesome vision, when he hurdled into someone landing heavily on top of them. He assumed it was a professor because of the black robes he was currently breathing in, attempting to still his racing heart and catch his breath. Whoever it was smelled pleasantly of mint and powdered wormwood, Harry decided as he continued to smell the robe distractedly. He was brought crashing back to reality by a familiarly snarky voice from below him.
That will be twenty points from Gryffendor for running in the hallway, twenty for knocking down a professor due to your rampant stupidity, and fifteen more for sniffing at said professors robes. Twice! Snape whispered menacingly. Now get off me you insolent brat.
Harry practically jumped off of the sprawled form of his Potions Professor, not because he was disgusted with the position he found himself in, but rather he remembered the reason he was running willy-nilly in the corridors in the first place.
Im sorry, Professor. It wont happen again. Harry apologized distractedly, before running off in the Headmasters direction. If Harry had been paying attention he would have noticed that the customary sarcasm that he answers all of Snapes questions had been absent, and also that the professor who supposedly hated him the most was currently looking at him in concern as he rapidly turned the corner.
Just as Harry arrived at the door to Dumbledores office, it opened to omit a rather distressed looking Headmaster. Harry almost fainted in relief, since it was only at that moment that he realized that he didnt even know the correct password to get into his office.
Thank God. I need to talk with you, its urgent! Harry exclaimed grabbing Dumbledore by the arm.
Of course, Harry. You know my door is always open. Dumbledore said while gently prying his arm out of Harrys desperate grip. After leading Harry into his office he sat down wearily at his desk and waited for Harry to speak.
Ron and Hermione have been captured by Voldemort. Harry exclaimed holding his chair in a white-knuckled grip. I had a vision of what will happen to them.
What will happen? Dumbledore questioned.
Yes, what I saw will take place tomorrow at the earliest. Harry answered.
I see your scar isnt bleeding. Dumbledore commented. Perhaps you had a particularly troubling nightmare and you are confusing it with a vision.
Youve never doubted me before. I know the difference between a nightmare and a vision, Ive had enough of each to be able to tell the difference. Harry reiterated stubbornly.
Harry my boy, look at this from my point of view. You have what you say is a vision, yet your scar hasnt bled. Your visions only come when Voldemort is feeling murderous, now youre saying youre getting a vision of what will occur in the future. You know the visions dont work in that manner. Child, you have never shown an aptitude toward Divination before. So you see I have only your say so, and I cant very well send out the order on what is most-likely a boys nightmare. Dumbledore explained.
You never had cause to doubt my word before today, Headmaster. Harry asked. Why start now?
You have been under a great deal of stress recently. Your imagination was bound to take over sooner or later considering the number of things you have seen. Now, I suggest you go back to the Common Room and take a nap. Who knows, Ron and Hermione may be back from Hogsmeade when you wake up. Dumbledore suggested, showing Harry out of his office and closing the door behind him.
Harry simply stared at the door for a few minutes incredulously, expecting it to open again, not believing what had just happened. He stopped aimlessly blinking soon after, and strode towards the Common Room to fetch his invisibility cloak, his face a mask of sheer determination.
Like bloody hell Im going to take a nap when my friends are missing!
Chapter 4
After he picked up his cloak, Harry made his way to the deserted library and into the Restricted Section. He wasnt sure what exactly he was looking for, but he hoped he would know when he found it. Harry had been looking at volumes about Port Keys for the last hour when he happened to come upon Transforming Portkeys from Visions. This was exactly what he was looking for, although he didnt know it. So far all the books he had found needed the name and location of the place in order to make a proper portkey.
Since Harry only had his vision to guide him, the traditional port keys did him no good, until he came upon that particular book. It not only gave a step by step instruction on how to make a portkey using a vision, but also a useful piece of magic to make the portkey into a wizards tattoo and place it on your body. Harry had already decided that if he was caught during his rescue attempt, which was likely, the first thing Voldemort would do would be to break his portkey, and then take his wand. So, Harry first transfigured his quill into a wand and decided to use a sock as the fake portkey, but he wasnt sure how he could properly disguise his wand until he needed it.
As it turned out, disguising or putting a glamour spell on his wand was impossible, something about casting magic on an already magical object. Harry wasnt really sure about the particulars, and he didnt have time to find out. Instead he managed to find a worn out passage in a very old book about a spell that would enable him to use a personal object to directly channel a small degree of his magic into a pure energy blast. Although his magic would be limited to two or three bursts, it was the best Harry could come up with in the limited amount of time he had. Harry placed the two restricted books in his carry-all bag and donned his invisibility cloak once again as he left the library.
Since the Triwizard Tournament no portkeys were accessible at Hogwarts, that meant that Harry had to be off school grounds for the portkey to activate. He quickly decided to use the secret passage behind the statue which lead to Honeydukes, from there he would make his way to the Three Broomsticks.
And so he did.
Harry rented room number 71/2 for an undisclosed amount of time from Tom the innkeeper. With him, he brought some general healing potions that he always keeps around incase of his visions, as well as various healing herbs and bandages. Harry had snuck into the Girls Dormitory and packed a change of clothes for Hermione as well as Ron, not knowing in what condition he would find his friends in. Once he had cast all the appropriate spells as well as a silencing charm he had a fake wand, a fake portkey, a magical griffon tattoo on his shoulder which served as the portkey, and the ring Ron and Hermione gave him for Christmas last year as a conduit for his magic. With one last look around to make sure he wasnt forgetting anything important, Harry was ready to go. Harry was wearing a sleeveless shirt, so that his tattoo would be easily accessible. As he gingerly touched the Griffon tattoo and pictured the room from his vision, the griffon roared and Harry Potter disappeared in a bright flash of light.
Chapter 5
A little over five hours later Harry returned in a flash of light and a tumble of arms and legs. Ron and Hermione were sprawled on top of him, from Harrys knife impaled leg a steady trail of blood landed on the floor underneath them. Landing as they had the knife was pushed even further into Harrys leg causing him to cry out in pain. Hearing Harrys torment Ron and Hermione quickly rolled off of him on either side and onto the floor. While both Ron and Hermione were decently clothed although obviously beaten and bruised, Harry was lying curled, shivering on the cold floor stark naked. Besides the wound on his leg he had various other cuts and bruising, some internal bleeding and a large dripping cut near his eyebrow that ran down the right side of his face. In his hands, Harry held both Ron and Hermiones wands as he forced himself to stand on shaky feet and slowly made his way across the room toward the bag he left on the bed.
I have some healing potions in the bag, and a few bandages. Harry spoke, jolting the others out of the nearly oppressive silence that had fallen since they port keyed back to the hotel room. Hermione, since you are taking Mediwizardry and Theory, perhaps you can do something for the wounds not healed by the potions.
Of course I will, but I dont know how much help Ill be with um well any internal injuries, Harry. Youre bleeding rather heavily. Perhaps we should get to Hogwarts and have Madame Pomfrey check you over. Hermione suggested, laying a comforting hand on Harrys shoulder.
Bloody Hell, Hermione. How can you even suggest that? Voldemort raped me! After everything, considering Dumbledore knew where you were and did nothing, are you so easily prepared to trust him and his staff? Harry snarled, breathing heavily. Excuse me, if I dont particularly want Dumbledore privy to that information.
S all right, mate. Everything will be fine. Ron said putting an arm around his best friends back. Just because Voldemort said it, doesnt mean its true, you know that.
I know, but my god. If he bloody well knew And did nothing, well I wont be held responsible for what I do. Harry cursed. Probably get myself expelled after all.
If, and I mean if, Dumbledore knew, perhaps there is a good reason for his silence. Hermione said quietly.
Most likely there is. But that still doesnt change anything. Harry responded in an equally quiet voice.
Well if you do get expelled, mate, well be right there by your side. Ron said trying to lift everyones spirits. After all, Im sure Durmstrang would love to have the Boy-Who-Lived and his two best friends enrolled in their school.
Besides, Ron continued. I cant believe that Dumbledore would leave us in Voldemorts hand if he knew about it. So, its probably just an elaborate scheme to make us doubt the Headmaster.
Probably, but that is the least of our worries right now. Hermione reasserted seriously, gesturing to their wounds. After getting the restorative potions from Harrys bag she placed the bandages out on the bed as well. Since we have no intention of seeing Pomfrey then lets get started.
The three friends drank the potions at the same time and did not have to wait long for it to begin working. They were each surrounded by a healing green light, and after the magic absorbed into their bodies, all the after effects of the various hexes placed on them disappeared.
In Ron and Harrys case most of their other injuries healed themselves, except for the major ones. Thus leaving Ron with two cracked ribs, and Harry still bleeding from his ass, as well as his left leg. Hermione looked exceedingly well for a woman who withstood the Cruciatus Curse, along with her friends, for over twenty minutes less than a half an hour ago. It took Hermione the next two hours to channel her remaining magic into a healing transfusion for both Ron and Harry, leaving all three exhausted physically as well as emotionally. Soon after their wounds were mostly healed, the trio fell into a restless sleep, lying as close to each other as possible.
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They awoke the next morning in much the same position as they fell asleep in. Hermione was practically laying on top of Ron, who didnt seem to mind overly much, while both Ron and Hermione had their arms wrapped protectively around Harry, who was lying gingerly on his still healing leg. Although they were all awake, they stayed in bed, peacefully listening to their combined breathing in the early morning.
So mate, do you think theyve noticed our absence yet? Ron asked bringing them all back to the painful reality of their lives.
Probably, and if they havent they will notice when we arent there for breakfast.
We should get going then. If we get there soon enough we will have fewer questions to answer from everyone. Hermione commented, making no move to get up from her perch on Rons chest. Only belatedly did she notice the shaking of Harrys body.
Harry? She questioned tightening her hold on her friend.
I dont want to go back. Harry sniffled tearfully, burying his head in Rons shoulder.
Nothing to be ashamed of, mate. Ron comforted gently, getting teary-eyed himself. We cant exactly go back to the way things were and pretend as if nothing happened. No matter how much we want to.
No, we cant. Hermione muttered woefully, burying her head in Rons other shoulder, finally letting her tears flow flagrantly. This in turn caused the two wizards to loose all semblance of composure, until all three were weeping helplessly, grasping desperately onto each other for what little comfort was available to them.
Chapter 6 TBC
