Dysfunctional

55 - Two's Company

Harry watched her cross to the door, when it was thrown open by the Muggle nurse again, who was carrying what seemed to be a rolled up sleeping bag.

"Here you go, sweetie," she said kindly, handing it over to a puzzled Demelza. "I thought you'd like something comfortable to sleep over with your brother. Have you eaten? Shall I get something for you while I get his food?"

Demelza looked anywhere but at Harry as she tried to answer, "Erm, no I-"

"That would be very kind of you, thanks," said Harry to the nurse, who beamed before leaving the room. He avoided Demelza's confused yet equally furious stare.

"Maybe, you should stay here after all," he said slowly, picking at a loose thread in his blanket and avoiding her eyes. "At least until I get out of here. I don't want to answer questions if the staff here realize you're not coming back."

She did not respond to him immediately, but when Harry caught her gaze, she moseyed her way back to the chair and sat down, sleeping bag still in her arms.

"I would have left anyway," stated Demelza, frostily, before her voice softened with a measure of uncertainty. "But, I don't know what I would do without any money at this hour of the night. Once you're up and about, I'm out of here."

Harry simply nodded. He could not possibly convey how wretched he felt for hurting her feelings without sounding like an idiot, so he let it be.

oOo

He was gliding along the pathway that led up to a house. He approached the front door and then saw his own long-fingered pale hand against the door. He knocked, excitement coursing through him.

The door was opened by a laughing woman, whose humour vanished and replaced with terror, as soon as she saw Harry's face.

"Gregorovitch?" Harry heard himself speak in a high, cold voice.

She shook her head and tried to close the door. His hand held it steady, preventing her from shutting it.

"I want Gregorovitch."

The woman was pleading in another language. Abandoning the attempt to close the door, she began to back away down the dark hall, and Harry followed, gliding toward her, and he had drawn his wand.

"Where is he?"

The woman was begging him...

"Harry?"

He felt no remorse when he raised his hand. She screamed and two young children came running into the hall.

"Harry!"

The woman tried to shield them with her arms when he could hear himself whisper, 'Avada Kedavra'. There was a flash of green light -

"WAKE UP!"

Harry's eyes shot open to see Demelza looking over at him with wide eyes. She jumped back in alarm with a shriek and Harry tried to sit up.

"What just happened to your-?" began Demelza, pointing a shaking hand at him. But she was cut off, when the door was opened by the night shift nurse who glared at them. "What's all the ruckus?"