Morning, Hospital Wing, Hogwarts - May 17, 1995

  Morning sun streamed through the window as Harry started to wake. It had been a thrilling week, if you could call battling a mythical beast and barely surviving thrilling that is. Thankfully, he was excused from classes and exams, and today was a weekend.

  He had debated starting to make use of the Great Hall and the Gryffindor common room, but he decided against it in the end. Seeing Ron’s prick face would have been too much for him. He’s lucky he’s a minor, or he would have had the entire book thrown at him. They weren’t dumb kids anymore, second years were fourteen, some were even fifteen! He should have known that what he did was wrong and at least made an effort to seek him out to apologise.

  Yet Harry was thankful that he showed his true colours now. Speaking of Weasleys Harry was very concerned for Ginny. She had spent the majority of her first year possessed by a god damned Horcrux! He should really talk to Poppy about this.

  Grumble Gurrrrrrrgle.

  Maybe after breakfast, Harry chuckled. Getting up and doing his regular routine was odd in the hospital wing. It was all just so clean compared to the boys dorms, honestly it was a dream. Shared showers were never fun, but when you had double digits worth of teenage boys using them? It was like walking into your own personal purgatory.

  Once he was done, he greeted the two aurors who were disillusioned with a wink and a wave. Greeting and offering the pair of them a healthy breakfast, to go with coffee and a nutrient shake. Thanks to Dobby it didn’t take more than a jiffy, and depending on how many would eat with them each day he could swap out a suitable sized breakfast table in the ward lobby at will.

  Taking a seat at said table, he got stuck back into the Memoirs. Much of it was not understandable, since the language was so old. Older than Latin even, in places they even used the cyrillic alphabet, so he guessed that his family was Ancient Greek in the furthest reaches of time. Well, at least that was the earliest record of the Potters, even if they didn’t call themselves as such back then.

  This led him to an interesting hunt for a new first name for himself. One only shared with his closest confidantes. So far he was thinking Drakn, Arkadius, Antikles or Androkles. All of which had personal meaning to him, though he would wait for ‘Mione to wake before making his final decision.

  As was the usual routine, Poppy grabbed a handful of paperwork and pulled it over to the table, greeting Harry as she came. Casual as you please, “Dippy, the usual please. Three coffees and herbal tea.”

  Followed by Harry’s, “Gents, both of you joining us this morning? Shack? Dippet?” At their non-verbal agreement, “Dobby, breakfast for four, the usual four helpings for me. High protein with fruit on the side please.”

  Ahh, this was the life.

  xOxOx

  A short while later…

  “What’s that you're reading, Harry?” Kingsley Shacklebolt asked.

  “Family Memoirs, want to learn more about the Potters and see if I could measure up.” Harry shrugged, “I’ve never belonged anywhere so I wanted to see if I was actually a Potter or not.”

  “Ahh, I remember having to go through those myself. Teaches you a lot, and removes the wool from your eyes and ears to the world.” Shacks said. Shaking his head at his young naive self.

  “I mean, I understand but I don’t know why you don’t realise how dangerous the world is. Every Muggle-born will tell you the same, every wizard is armed and dangerous. That’s how the muggle-aurors say it. You are always armed with a deadly weapon, so you should always be prepared. If the past two years have shown me anything, it’s that I wasn’t prepared enough.” Harry said, idly flipping the page.

  “I’m upgrading my school uniform, Acromantula silk and dragon hide lining on my waistcoat, trousers and cloak. No need to be unarmoured too.”

  “Damn kid, Moody’s going to LOVE you. He was my trainer when I was coming up in the Aurors and now he’s my partner. He hates it, mind you, but he’s my partner.” Shacks smirked imagining the grumpy old man's response, “If there’s one thing he taught me was to always be prepared, his motto embodies that…CONSTANT VIGILANCE.” He screamed in Harry’s face.

  Making the young man jump out of his chair, reaching for his wand before he realised that Shack was just joshing around. He started laughing so much he fell out of his own chair and was now proceeding to roll all over the floor laughing his head off.

  Smiling quietly, concealing it from Harry, Poppy watched the scene with a hidden spark of joy. It was good to see the lad come out of his shell more completely. Soon she would be encouraging him to take at least some of his meals in the Great Hall. But she didn’t want to push him too soon. He still had the appointment with the specialist Dark Magic, Curse, Cursebreakers and Ritual Curse healers today.

  “Enough of that Shacks,” she said. “Harry’s got a long day of testing and healing to go through. Go on, get up and do your job.” She smiled at the younger man. Winking at him on the sly, mouthing a quick ‘Good job’ and ‘Thank you’.

  Checking her pocket watch, she reminded Harry of the time. “They should be along in a minute, so I’ll be waiting in the office. Make sure you’re ready for today. Could be a long bit of healing.”

  xOxOx

  9 AM, Hospital Wing, Hogwarts - May 17, 1995

  The green flash of the flame through the office's open door was the only heads up he received. At least, Harry would have received it if he wasn’t so enraptured by his current bit of ‘light’ reading. ‘Basic Runes and why you should learn them!’ Was a simplified introduction into the art of runes, but gave good solid examples of how and where it could be used.

  It even mentions the origin of runes and why they were created in the first place. In fact wands replaced staffs with the spread of the roman empire, and runes were replaced by incantations. Runes were used in place of incantations, though the versatility and the ability of Runes were second to none for long term enchantment and warding. Though you have to dive into different Runic languages to really get the best benefit out of Runes.

  In short, Potter found it fascinating. So fascinating in fact that he completely didn’t notice the group of three healers surrounding his bed scanning him while he was lost in a world of Runes.

  “..ry”

  “...arry.”

  “HARRY!” Poppy said, her voice raised as she shook me.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Blinking his eyes rapidly, Harry looked around, bemused at the small group of staring faces. Coughing lightly, he spoke “Erhem. Yes?”

  “You didn’t hear a thing we said, did you?”

  “I thought you just arrived?” Harry said, confused.

  “We’ve been here discussing your scar for over twenty minutes, Harry.” Poppy said, exasperatedly with a deadpan tone.

  “Oh…” Harry said, a slow flush rising from his toes to his head. “Ah, I’m sorry everyone.”

  “Warrior Potter, good morning.” A wizened little goblin said. “It’s quite alright. I’ve been known to get lost in a good book a time or two.” He chuckled, sympathising with Harry. “However…”

  The group of healers shared a look. You know the one, the one where you have very bad news to share but don’t quite know the best way to break the news.

  “There’s no easy way to say this Harry, so I will be blunt.” Healer Smithwick said, “I’m aware that you managed to figure out how Voldemort managed to stay alive after your most recent adventure right?” Dutifully, Harry nodded, wondering where the Healer was going with this.

  “So you’re aware of Horcruxes then and what they are? Correct?” He tried to confirm.

  “Yes, of course, Amelia informed me in a little more detail. Especially after I was kind of freaked out because I knew he was still alive somewhere. Explained the happenings with Professor Quirrell in first year too.”

  “Yes, well…” Shaking his head, Healer Smithwick tried to get back to the point. “So, we have discovered that the curse that has been leaching from your magic is actually a piece of Voldemort's soul. In other words, a Horcrux.” he finished solemnly.

  Harry sat there in shock, “So that’s why I have issues? The headaches, random bouts of tiredness, bad dreams? That’s all because of this thing?”

  “Including a whole host of other health issues, yes.” Poppy responded quietly. “To be honest Harry, we would like to get you to the Goblin Ritual Healing chambers now. This leach needs to be exorcised, and destroyed, as soon as possible. It’s been getting stronger, due to the Hunters Rite you underwent, and the side effects could be worse than dealing with it right now.”

  Stoically, Harry nodded. “I see…” Thinking for a few seconds, he stated “Then I don’t know what we’re waiting for. When can we go?” Harry asked nonchalantly.

  “Well…Harry, you see the thing is. The procedure we want to do will, technically…Kill you.” Poppy explained slowly.

  With not even a flinch, Harry just stared. “It is a simple procedure, but honestly… very risky.” The goblin healer chimed in.

  “I don’t think you understand my situation.” Harry said, a serious look finally overcoming him. “I have one of the most powerful Dork Lords of our Era as a nemesis. So much so, that he tried to kill me as a god damned baby, he did kill my family and now he’s tethered to life with the use of some seriously Dark, capital D, magics.”

  Looking around the group, “Regardless of what happens, the world needs this Horcrux removed. If I survive? Great. If I die? It still needed to happen.” Harry explained. “At least you will have a chance to kill him next time he rears his ugly mug!” Shouted Harry.

  “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to write a letter to ‘Mione. Just in case. If you would also act as a witness Sir Goblin, I would wish you to witness my last will and testament. To be sealed in blood, as the last of my house my estate will go to whom I decree, yes?”

  A poker face stared back at Harry, every adult in the room was stunned to silence. “That is correct Warrior Potter.”

  “Then let’s get down to business.” Harry said firmly.

  xOxOx

  Morning, Gringotts, Diagon Alley, London - May 17, 1995

  The ritual room was bright, but cold. Ever so cold.

  Harry knew this probably wasn’t the wisest decision. In fact, he knew it was damn right foolhardy. Yet it needed to be done. He would rather ‘rip the bandaid off’ as it were.

  In his mind it was better to do it sooner, his magic even nudged him in this direction. He just hoped the healers and the Cursebreakers were up for the job. Overhearing the conversation with Poppy, he knew this wasn’t a totally unique situation, they had done Horcrux extraction procedures before. After all it was a very common piece of magic in the times of Ancient Egypt where Herpo the foul spread his influence.

  The only issue was, this was the oldest Horcrux infestation they had ever worked on. They theorised that the parasitic piece of soul was entwined deeply with Harry’s Magic system, and his soul. Without the use of a ritual to inspect his soul, they wouldn’t be able to give Harry a concrete answer as to whether it was possible to excise the infestation.

  Harry was honestly relieved. Regardless of the outcome, it was going to be a win-win for him. The cessation of pain either way. Every person who was involved was unbelievably solemn. Treating him like a dead man walking, yet with the reverence of a living hero.

  Harry joked that this must have been what Jesus Christ felt like when he was carried to the cross.

  That joke did NOT go down well with Poppy. She was a goddamn dragon mother when it came to her ‘kids’. She reminded me when it came to procedures that were incredibly risky like this, success or survival largely depended on the individual in question.

  If they were willing to live, they did. If not, well?

  You can read between the lines.

  Harry’s state of mind was in flux. Torn between who he was and who he was to be. The man he was growing into was someone he was proud of. Even as young as he was.

  The child he used to be was something he was proud of too. Even if that child suffered, it taught him lessons that guided his actions to where he was today. He was satisfied with that.

  It wasn’t fair, you know? What life threw at Harry. The torture, the abuse, the mental scars that even to this day, still made him flinch. Regardless, many of his physical scars he wore with pride.

  The brand of the word Freak, across his chest and back? They were a mark where he stood up for himself, and fought against tyrants. The broken arm that was twisted and healed incorrectly? The beating and subsequent torture after he put his arm in the way of Vernon who was about to viciously beat a young girl that Harry tried to help find her parents. He felt nothing but pride.

  They were painful. Yet he lived. Each one was a lesson learned. That sometimes the price was worth the cost.

  “Are you ready Harry?” Poppy asked softly.

  “Never a better time than right now Poppy.” Harry smiled, a tear in his eye.

  Poppy kissed his brow softly. The first kiss Harry had ever felt. “I will be waiting right here for when you wake up. You will wake up, you hear me?!”

  Harry just smiled, “Time for my medicine Poppy. I hear this type of thing hurts.”

  She cried now, softly silently. As Harry drifted off for the last time, he saw what it was like to have a mother. Not a hope or a dream. The actual physical actions that a mother, or a treasured family member would give him.

  The ritual started.

  His heart beat twice.

  Even while asleep, he felt it. The pain, the soul crushing pain.

  Even then he realised he messed up, he should not have done the Hunter Rite. Not until the Horcrux was removed.

  Trapped in his mind, he awoke his natural Occlumens ability, forced upon him in a time of need. This was when he saw the magical scar in his soul, and the horrifyingly corrupt creature that hid there.

  This was the moment that he knew, it was too late. That he had to die, so this 'soul piece' could too. It was too big, too widespread, burrowed too deep. Twisted about him in ways that made it impossible to remove. He didn’t want to live and risk being corrupted by this Evil. He couldn't see it clearly, but his magic spoke to him.

  No. He would go out on his terms.

  So, for the first time in his life? He accepted defeat.

  Drakon Panthera Stellar ; Born of lost lines that he openly disregards and will openly disrespect. Pureblood suprema...what nonsense. Talent is always overcome by hardwork, because prodigies falter at the finish line. While those who work become more than their talent decrees them to be.

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