To Catch a Killer

~ ~ Chapter eleven~ ~

Harry woke up groggy, in a bed he didn't recognize. He tried to sit up, but his body protested. He looked around the room, he was...in a hospital? Hermione was sleeping in a chair. He called her name, surprised when his voice was hoarse. He called again, and she started to stir.

Jumping up to his side, she gently helped him lay back down. “Harry, you shouldn't move. How are you feeling?”

He looked up at the white speckled ceiling. “Like a horde of angry Centaurs trampled me. What happened?”

“You don't remember then?” she asked, tears falling down her face, making Harry very nervous.

“No, last thing I remember was...” he tried to remember, but couldn't remember much. “I'm, I'm not sure. I remember sending James his broom and,” he raised his arm to his face rubbing his temple and desperately trying to remember. “That's it nothing else. Did he get it?”

She looked around, nonchalantly wiping her eyes.

“What is it Hermione? Is he okay? Gods,” he said, sitting up, immediately regretting it. “Somethings happened to James! What, Hermione?”

She patted his shoulders, gently pushing him back down. “He's fine, Harry. Please you must be still. Let your body heal.”

“What is it, Hermione,” he repeated, slowly. “Tell me.”

“Okay, just stay calm and lye down.” She pulled her chair up to his bed, in an attempt to keep him in it. “You're sure you don't remember anything?”

“I've already told you, no. Why?”

At first she didn't look in his eyes, but when she finally she failed again to fight the tears, making Harry more scared. “I'm so sorry, I hoped I wouldn't have to be the one to tell you, but I gu-guess it's better I do.”

“Hermione, calm down. It's okay, just tell me, you're scaring me.”

“First, everyone is alive and okay.” Harry nodded, relieved at least for that. “It was the bollocks killer...”

“Did they catch him?” Harry asked excitedly, and sitting up again.

“Harry lay back down,” she said anxiously. “You're not completely healed yet.”

“Wait, healed? What do I need healing form?”

“He tortured you. The bollocks killer.”

“What?” he said shakily. “Did I...did I catch him?”

Her tears continued falling, making Harry even more nervous. “What, Hermione,” he asked exasperated.

“He...he tortured you and then...”

Harry's eyes got wider and he looked down at his lower half covered by the blanket, his heart pounding harder in his chest. “No,” he said agonizingly.

“Harry, I'm so sorry,”

“Stop saying that!” he snapped, tentatively reaching down between his legs. He started hyperventilating when he felt nothing below his limp cock. Moments laer, he passed out.

He woke up again, with a nurse and healer standing over him, attempting to wake him.

“I'm awake, I'm awake, for crying out loud. What happened?” he asked, opening his eyes to find himself inside the same hospital room. He was suddenly filled with dread again as he realized it hadn't been a nightmare, but it was real. He was a victim of the bollocks killer, only alive.

They were asking him questions which he vaguely knew he was answering. How could this have happened? How could...and did they say...no they couldn't have. But they did, and Harry broke down again, sobbing violently when they told him of Albus.

When next he awoke, Hermione was sitting next to his bed reading the Prophet. “Harry, you're awake. Can I get you something?”

“A drink would be nice,” he sniggered. “How long have you been here?”

“Oh, you know. Not long.” She stood up and closed the door, pushing his dinner cart over to his bed. “Feel like eating?”

Harry shrugged. “Kinda. What have we got?”

“Well, this is the hospitals lamb stew. Apparently it's quite good, as Ron keeps eating it for you. He says it was what you would want.”

Harry let out a shaking guffaw. “He's right. I would want that.”

She laughed too, wiping an errant tear.

“And for the love of all that is good in this world, don't start that again. I've cried so much this last week I've had enough of it. Okay?” he muttered, his voice possibly tinged with a bit of anger.

“Deal. Oh, and Fred and George dropped this off to you.” She handed him a small bottle of pumpkin juice.

“Pumpkin juice? Why the bloody hell would they think I want that, let alone,” he counted the little bottles in the bag. “Twenty of them?”

She smiled broadly. “They're actually filled with Firewhiskey. A new product for students.”

Harry grabbed five and opened them all. “Shall we?”

“I said you'd have wanted me to drink them, but they said no,” she replied, and they both started laughing.

“Let me see the paper. See if they've found anything,” Harry asked, downing the first little bottle. He looked at the picture on the front page. “Draco's missing? Draco?”

“Yeah,” she said, setting her empty little bottle down on the cart and taking another. “He went missing about a week after we found you and Albus. The Ministry believes Draco was the next victim after we found you and Al.”

“How many other victims are there?” he asked.

“Nine more,” she said somberly. She held up another bottle, which Harry nodded, holding up his and they downed them.

He stared at the picture, something about it. He contemplated it for several minutes but gave up when he couldn't think what it was.


The next day Harry woke up with a hell of a hangover. He was to be released to go home today. The healers said there may be some side effect from having his bollocks cut off. None of the bollocks growing potions worked. No spell would attach itself to Harry's body. But he could still have sex, which was a huge load off his mind.

He sighed heavily. “Harry, you're awake. Finally.”

He opened his eyes to see his ex-wife standing next to him. “Ginny. What are you doing here?”

She glared at him, and chewed her gum. “I'm here to tell you a couple of things. First, Albus will be coming home to live with me from now on.”

“No!” Harry snapped.

“Yes, Harry. He says he doesn't want to live with you anymore. And to tell you the truth, I agree. He needs steady discipline, which you're incapable of giving.”

“Fuck you, Ginny.”

“I'm not arguing with you, Harry. I'm just telling you so you don't hear it from the bloody Prophet. Cormack will be a good and steady father figure to Albus. We both agree he needs a firmer hand in discipline and a more stable home.”

“Cormack?” Harry bellowed.

“We're getting married. And...” she looked down sheepishly. “I'm pregnant. It will be good for us all. Having the entire family together will do them all good.”

“The...the entire family?” Harry yelled, sitting up in bed. “I'm their father, Ginny. Me. Not Cormack. You won't be happy until you've turned all our children against me, will you?”

“I didn't do that! You did,” she shouted back. “All by yourself. Cormack can settle Albus down and get him back on track. Albus needs that right now, especially after what happened. And he's said he doesn't want to see you. He asked me to give you that card. Good by, Harry.”

Harry watched as she left, his body shaking in anger. He looked down at the yellow envelope and tore it open. This all had to be a terrible mistake. He couldn't loose Al.

Daddy,

I'm sure Mum told you by now. I am so sorry. You don't know it now, but this is all my fault. I've done some things that you don't know about, things that may have put you and me in the bollocks killers way. I've been making W-coins.

I just need some time away from you. If you can ever forgive me. I just can't face you right now. It's all my fault. I'm sorry. That sounds pathetically inadequate, but I'm not sure what else I can say.

Hopefully you'll forgive me by next year, and perhaps I could come home. If you'll let me. I'm sure you know by now that Mum is marring your git of a boss, Cormack. Don't worry I'll be fine. You remember that last Christmas party? Well I kinda know someone who was there. Thought you'd like to see what happened. The two coins are identical. One for you to watch, the other for you to use if he gives you any problems.

I'm not daft after all. James and Lily are still being prats to me, but I can handle that.

Please don't be mad at me.

Love always,

Albus


Harry picked up the two coins, smiling. He certainly remembered almost becoming Cormack's sex toy for the night. Al certainly had some Slytherin properties. He'd have to ask Lysander for all of Al's W-chips, just in case Al doesn't make any more.

~ ~ fin ~ ~