Grindelwald's Burden (Books 1-7)

137. The Wandmaker

It was like sinking into an old nightmare, for an instant Harry knelt again beside Dumbledore's body at the foot of the tallest tower at Hogwarts, but in reality he was staring at a tiny body curled upon the grass, pierced by Bellatrix's silver knife. Harry's voice was still saying, "Dobby... Dobby..." even though he knew that the elf had gone where he could not call him back.

After a minute or so he realized that they had, after all, come to the right place, for here were Bill and Fleur, Dean and Luna, gathering around him as he knelt over the elf.

"Y/n and Hermione?" he said suddenly. "Where are they?"

"Ron's taken them inside." said Bill. "Y/n's in rough shape but he'll be all right."

Harry looked back down at Dobby. He stretched out a hand and pulled the sharp blade from the elf's body, then dragged off his own jacket and covered Dobby in it like a blanket.

Pain shot through every being of Y/n's body as his eyes slowly opened. He did not recognize the ceiling, nor these walls. But they certainly did not belong to the Malfoy Manor for they lacked it's cold enviroment.

"How.." His throat felt dry, most likely from the screaming and cries of pain he had gone through. "How long have I been asleep?" He asked after taking a moment to rest his throat.

"An hour." A familiar voice said to the side of him.

"You are alright..." Y/n said with tired relief as he turned his head and looked to Hermione who was sitting in a chair by his bedside.

"Why did you do such a...stupid thing!?" Hermione asked him as the tears began to fall again onto her already tear-stained cheeks. "Antagonising that woman like that."

Y/n just reached for Hermione's hand now as he tried to hold it as strongly as he could.

"I saw a chance to focus her fears and anger upon myself, and I took it." Y/n told her. "I know that it was not a wise thing to do and could have cost me even more than it did..." He stopped for a moment as he felt Hermione's hand tighten in his. "I am sorry for what you had to watch and endure. But I would suffer through it again if it means you do not have to feel it for yourself."

"That doesn't mean it was the right thing to do Y/n. Watching Bellatrix torture you like that was awful. Being so helpless to help the person you love most while they are going through such a thing...it's...it's too much...I couldn't do anything but plead for them to ,stop but they wouldn't. You could have died tonight. I could of lost you!"

"I admit it was not a wise thing to do..." Y/n started carefully. "But I think any man who loves a person as much as I love you would have done the same." Y/n said.

"Honestly...for someone so intelligent, you can be incredibly stupid sometimes!" Hermione told him.

Y/n could not help but let out a small chuckle before he stopped to cough. "Yes, but luckily I will have you to keep me on the right path."

Y/n groaned as he moved to sit up now and pulled the covers off.

"Y/n what are you doing?" Hermione asked him. "You need rest." 

"I cannot rest right now, my mind is too occupied...I would like some fresh air to clear it first. Please help me up." He asked for her help.

Hermione did not want Y/n to get out of bed, but he almost never asked for help. She reluctantly got up and used her strength to support him as he groaned and lifted himself up out of the bed.

The first thing he did once he stood up was wrap his arms around Hermione and hold her close to him.

Hermione sank into him, holding back. "I thought we were going to die..." She admitted now.