Cicatrices- Marks That Remain

Harry

"Stop, or we will open fire!"

His chest and feet ached from the exertion. His stomach ached, yet all he could think about as he tumbled through the woods was freedom.

Freedom, I'm so close to it.

The Aurors were gaining on him, however. But that was no matter, all he needed to do was make it to the apparition point, then he would be free.

He already knew a place where he'd be taken care of. He just needed to get there.

A jet of red light flew past his face, singing some stray hairs. They were getting a little too close for comfort.

He put his head down and sprinted with every ounce of his being, running like his life depended on it.

He stumbled into a clearing, feeling a shiver run down his spine as he passed through the barrier of magic marking the area. The feeling of the magic soaking through him was invigorating.

Within seconds, his gut twisted, and the snap of apparation echoed through the area.

—-------

When Draco walked into Church clutching Fresh, Vibrant Cranberry Scones, the atmosphere was slightly more abuzz than he was used to. Even Potter, who'd only been to a handful of Masses, noticed.

People were whispering to each other, eyes wide as they glanced around. It wasn't until during the service that he found out why.

"Dear Members of Our Church Family, We have an important and heartfelt announcement to share with you today. As a community guided by compassion and our faith's values, we have chosen to provide sanctuary to Agustus, a war veteran who is facing persecution.

Augustus' journey has led him to our doors, seeking refuge within our church. They have come to us in a time of great need, and as followers of Christ's teachings, we have extended our hand in support and protection.

Augustus' situation is a complex one, and we believe that offering sanctuary is in alignment with our commitment to compassion, justice, and solidarity. We invite you to join us in this act of compassion and advocacy. There are several ways you can help:

Please keep Augustus in your prayers during these challenging times. We welcome those who wish to volunteer their time and expertise to assist Augustus during their stay with us, and we encourage our congregation to raise awareness about Augustus' situation within our wider community.

As some of you may already know, more details are already available in our church bulletin. We will also be holding a community meeting in the coming days to provide an opportunity for open discussion and to answer any questions you may have.

Let us come together, as a loving and caring community, to offer Augustus the support, compassion, and hope that they need during this trying period. Thank you for your understanding and your commitment to our shared values. Thank you."

Murmurs arose among the pews, but Draco's attention peaked when he felt Harry tense up beside him. He turned to see his eyes wide.

"What is it?" Draco asked, brows furrowed.

"Augustus Rookwood escaped from Azkaban a few days ago, but the Aurors chasing him down lost him."

Draco's heart clenched.

"Well... there's no guarantee that this is the same one... right?"

"I don't know."

Draco swallowed.

After Mass, Neville showed up again, and he pulled Harry aside for yet another conversation, leaving Draco with Hannah Abbott again.

"I'm furious," she huffed. Draco could see that she was all nervous energy, bouncing off the tips of her toes, glancing around constantly. "It's Rookwood they've got back there, I know because he stumbled in on Friday. I thought they'd turn him away..."