Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: Mediwizard Thaddeus Aurelia gets a new patient while Hermione visits Harry at the Dursleys.

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "Send Me An Angel" by David Sterry and Richard Zatorski.

Disclaimer: "Harry Potter" and the characters, places and things related to it do not belong to me. They are from the brilliant mind of JK Rowling. They belong to her and her publishers. I am not making any profit from this fan fiction.

xvii. 'If a girl walks in and carves her name in my heart, I'll turn and run away.'

Thaddeus Aurelia had worked as a mediwizard for one hundred years. He was well respected within the magical community for his treatment methods and amiable bedside manner. He had worked at St Mungo's for twenty-five years before going into private practice. The hours were better and he got to develop a closer relationship with his patients. Over the span of his career, he had cared for babies, who turned into children, who turned into adults, who later brought their own children in for his care.

The sun had barely risen in the sky when he got into his office. He was sure today would be another busy day. He had spent the past week treating a rash of Fairy Flu going around the village. Two Muggles had even been brought in and then afterwards were rushed to the Ministry for memory modification. He was beginning to grow exhausted from the efforts. As age caught up to him, it became harder and harder to work. He prayed he didn't catch any sickness himself. He could not afford to be ill.

Maeryn, his secretary, had not yet arrived in the office. Thaddeus slipped his travelling cloak off of his shoulders, placing it in the brass hand that hung on the wall. The fingers clutched around the blue fabric, holding it tightly.

Thaddeus was just about to remove his hat when the door swung open. Instead of Maeryn bustling in, a cloaked figure entered, carrying a large bundle. The man removed his hood, revealing a pale, young face. His features were lined with fury. "Make her better!"

He moved the blankets away from the bundle in his arms, revealing a very pretty young lady. She was so still, so pale, she looked like a porcelain doll.

Thaddeus' eyes widened in shock. He reached out to the girl, touching her cheek. She felt cold. Her blackened lips were parted slightly, taking in shallow breaths. She was still alive, though just barely.

Thaddeus didn't even bother shutting the front door. He threw off his hat, abandoning it on the floor. "Bring her into my examination room. Hurry."

The young man raced back, throwing the door open. Thaddeus followed him. He watched as the boy laid his companion onto the examination table.

Thaddeus walked up behind the boy, urging him out of the way. He unwrapped the girl from her swaddle of blankets. She lay limp on the table, unresponsive.

Putting his index and middle finger to her throat, he felt her pulse. It was weak, barely there. "How long has she been like this?"

"I can't remember," The boy replied, his voice a harsh rasp. "A while. Too long. Help her!"

Thaddeus laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You have to calm down-- Err..." He realised he didn't recognize this young man from the village. "What is your name?"

"Tom," he spat. He held tightly to the girl's hand. "You're a Healer. Make her better."

"Tom, I need to determine what is wrong with her first." Usually these situations Thaddeus would direct Tom to St. Mungo's. He was hardly equipped for an emergency situation. He could tell from Tom's expression he would not take no for an answer. Besides, Thaddeus was unsure the girl could survive that long. "Tell me what happened."

"We were arguing," Tom explained, stroking the back of the girl's hand. "Then she just collapsed."

Thaddeus touched a finger to the corner of the girl's mouth. A tacky black substance clung to her lips. "Has she drunk anything foreign in the last few hours? Taken something from someone you don't know."

"No!" Tom hissed. "Nothing like that! She just... She just fell into my arms."

Tom's tenuous hold on sanity was unnerving, a powerful force to discover what was wrong with the redhead. "Has she been in an area with Doxies?"

"No!" Tom let go of the girl's hand violently. "What are you getting at?"

"I believe she's been poisoned. Look--" He gestured to the black around her mouth. "That comes from poisoning. Listen, your sister is still alive. There is still a chance to heal her."

Tom furrowed his brow. "She's not my sister."

Thaddeus blinked as he turned to collect his antidotes. The older he got, the younger they seemed to get. He returned to the girl's side. "I'm sorry. Your wife."

Tom stopped barking orders at Thaddeus and blinked. "Yes." His voice, for the first time, was very subdued. "What are you going to give her?"

"It's a mixture consisting mostly of a bezoar and Mandrake, as well as some other restorative ingredients." He held the phial up to the light, checking the clarity of the green liquid. "It's a general antidote. Since I don't know exactly what she's been poisoned with, it will have to do for a start."

Thaddeus slid his hand under the girl's head, tilting it back. He put the potion to her black lips. "What's her name?"

"Ginny," Tom rasped. He took Ginny's hand in his, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss to her fingers.

Thaddeus nodded as the last of the potion disappeared between Ginny's lips. He gently massaged her throat to help her swallow it. "I don't usually take care of emergency situations," Thaddeus commented apologetically.

Tom glared at him through icy eyes. "I didn't ask."

Thaddeus pursed his lips, waiting. The antidote should have been taking effect already. There seemed to be no change. "How long has her lips been black?"

Tom ran his thumb across Ginny's lower lip. "A few weeks? I can't remember."

Thaddeus furrowed his brow, digging an empty phial out of his desk. "I'd like to draw some blood." He tapped his wand to Ginny's arm. The phial filled halfway with ebony liquid.

Thaddeus held up the phial to the light, turning it in his hands. He was certain he had drawn it from the girl's veins, but there was no way her blood could be this black. "This isn't natural."

"Neither is being unconscious," Tom snapped.

"Mmm?" A tiny, kittenish voice came from the examination table. "Tom?"

Thaddeus turned back to the table. Tom had snatched up Ginny's hand. Her eyes were half open.

"Princess," Tom held her hand to his cheek. "How are you?"

"This isn't supposed to happen," she whispered. She was on the verge of losing her voice. "I'm scared."

"Don't be," Tom said firmly. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"Is this punishment?" She shut her eyes, tears sliding down her freckled cheeks. "For disobeying you?"

"No," Tom replied. "I don't know what this is."

There was only one thing left Thaddeus could think of giving the girl. At least it would allow her a reprieve to properly say goodbye to her husband. He went to his stores, pulling out a miniscule phial. He put an eyedropper into the clear liquid. He approached Ginny slowly. "Whatever you have, this should take care of it. Stick out your tongue."

Ginny stuck out her black-stained tongue. Thaddeus released three drops into her mouth.

Ginny's eyes flew open and she began to convulse violently. Tom pulled her close to his chest, trying to keep her still. "What did you give her?" He pulled his wand, pointing it at Thaddeus' heart.

Thaddeus held his hands up. He had dealt with distraught family members before, but not to this extreme. "They were phoenix tears!" He tried to breath, tried to calm himself. "If they're not working, then it's too late. The poison's too deep in her system. I'm sorry. It's only a matter of time now."

"I don't accept that." Tom rose to full height.

Thaddeus shook his head. "Short of a Philosopher's Stone, I don't know what to do."

Tom slid his arms beneath Ginny, picking her up. "Thankfully, I am more industrious. Thank you, Healer." He gave Ginny a kiss on the forehead. "Come on, Princess. We're not giving up yet."

Tom opened the door. A large python slithered into the examination room. "Healer, meet Apophis. I might not have anymore use for you, but he does."

The door shut and the snake descending on him, fangs bared. Thaddeus could only scream.

Harry laid flat on his back in the garden of Four Privet Drive. His glasses rested on his stomach. His eyes were shut, blocking out the sun. The heat was making him lazy. He was content to just lie here, not doing anything in particular. For this one, beautiful moment, he forgot where he was. He pretended he was back at Hogwarts, in front of the great lake, Hermione and Ron by his side.

"Hey," Dudley grunted, kicking Harry in the side. Harry winced, curling up slightly.

Reality came crashing back. He wasn't at Hogwarts. He was at the Dursleys. They had been less-than-thrilled about his homecoming, as was expected. He wasn't much more happy about it.

"Why'd you have to come back?" Dudley snarled, crossing his beefy arms over his chest.

Harry scrubbed his face with his hands. "Ancient magic, familial bond, prophecies.... You know, I'd go into it, but you'd wet yourself and I doubt you'd understand half of it." He shut his eyes and smiled, remembering why he was waiting in the front garden in the first place. "Do you mind toddling off, Diddy Duddums? My girlfriend is coming over and I'd rather not frighten her."

"You don't have a girlfriend," Dudley sneered.

"Tell her that yourself in..." Harry opened his eyes again, bringing his wrist to his face. He squinted to see the face of his watch. "Five, ten minutes."

"You're not allowed to have your kind of people in the house!" Dudley squealed. Despite his forays into boxing and his gang, Dudley still sounded like a baby pig when scared. "You're not allowed to have anyone in the house. I'm telling my Dad."

Harry picked his glasses up off his belly, sliding them onto his face. He put his palms flat on the grass, pushing himself up onto his feet. He ran a hand through his unruly hair, trying to tame it. "Let me lay this out for you, Dudley. I'll use small words, so that you understand it. My best friend's sister has suddenly decided, 'Hey good isn't doing it for me anymore. I'm going to go join the bad guys'. So she resurrected Lord Voldemort's younger self to make herself a little boy toy. In case you can't count, that means there are two different versions of my mortal enemy running around. My godfather, who was only brought back from the dead nine months ago, is freaking out because his best friend-- Who is, by the way, a vicious werewolf one night out of the month-- was poisoned and nearly died."

Harry laughed bitterly, finally allowing himself to take a breath. "Oh, and that again was my best friend's sister's work. My best friend is angry with me because I think because his baby sister keeps on killing people that maybe there's the possibility she should die. I was sent back to this hellhole because said sister and both evil wizards have the urge to make me really, really dead. So if I want the one fucking decent thing in my life to come over for a few hours it bloody well is going to happen!"

Dudley sneered, shaking his head. "Dad!"

Rolling his eyes, Harry shoved Dudley against the aluminum siding of the house. "All right... So my pathetic life doesn't do it for you." He leaned in, his green eyes glimmering with malice. "How about this. My girlfriend is seventeen. That means she's a full-fledged witch. She doesn't have to live with the threat of expulsion if she uses magic. Now, let's not call this a threat, Dudley. I mean that really is an ugly word. But if I'm not happy, Hermione's not happy." He smiled. "And I really don't think you'd like her when she's unhappy."

"Oh, I don't think he'll like me regardless."

Harry turned his head, smiling when he saw Hermione. She had her hands on her hips, her face in a scowl. "This is Dudley?"

"In the repulsive flesh." Harry sighed. He pulled away from Dudley. "Now go run off Dudley. Give me some time with my lady."

Dudley pushed himself away from the wall of the house. He pointed a meaty finger at Harry. "I'm going to tell Mum and she's going to send your freaky little slag packing."

He ran off, stumbling along the way. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "You think I'm going to curse your cousin for you?"

Harry shrugged. "No. But did you see his face?" He sighed deeply, snaking his arm around Hermione's waist. He pulled her close, putting his head on his shoulder.

Hermione stroked his hair. "You all right there?"

"Mm." Harry nuzzled her neck. "Dudley didn't want you coming over. I'm sure Petunia and Vernon will agree with him. It's just... I need to see you."

"Well, I'm here," Hermione whispered, holding him close. "And I don't care what they say."

"Boy!" Uncle Vernon's voice boomed as he stomped down the front steps. "You better come here right now--"

Harry snatched Hermione's hand, pulling her along. "Come on!" He pulled her towards the back of the house.

"They were on that side of the house, Dad!" Dudley squealed. "And they were saying how they were doing to do that-- that stuff to me!"

It was easy for Harry and Hermione to keep ahead of the lumbering steps of the Dursleys. Harry pulled Hermione along, until they were in front of the house. Harry opened the door. He waved his hand. "Come on, Hermione. Inside!"

"But they'll find us," Hermione whispered as Harry ushered her inside. He followed close behind her.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked. "They'll check your room, won't they?"

Harry opened up the door to the cupboard under the stairs. He smiled, gesturing for her to go in. "Probably. We better not be there."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "You're being very peculiar today, Harry." She crouched down, going into the cupboard. "Is everything all right?"

Harry followed her. It was a tad crowded. When Harry had lived inside the cupboard, he had been much smaller. He also never had company in here. They had to shuffle around to find a comfortable spot. It took a while, but soon Hermione was content in Harry's lap. He held her close, stroking her hair. "They'll give up soon. Probably think we ran off somewhere. You can disapparate from here and I'll face their wraith."

Hermione pursed her lips. "You know, you didn't answer my question."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I dunno. I just... I really hate being back here." He leaned against the wall. "I've got nothing but time to think about stuff I'd really rather not have to focus on."

Hermione pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Well, I'm here now. So you don't have to focus on that stuff." She looked around the small cupboard. "So why'd you bring me here?"

"I..." Harry paused. "This is where I grew up."

"What?" Hermione's eyes grew wide. "You're joking, right?"

Harry shook his head. "I lived in here for ten years. I find it oddly comforting. Homey."

Hermione worried her lower lip. "Oh, Harry..."

Harry buried his face in her bushy brown hair. "How are the others?"

Hermione sighed, curling a lock of Harry's unruly hair around her finger. "As good as can be expected, I suppose. The new Headquarters is nicer than Grimmauld Place. Of course, that isn't really saying much. It's smaller. I've actually gone back to my house."

"Yeah?" Harry moved away. "Why? You said you like being with the Order since your parents work so much."

Hermione nodded. "I know, but that was before... The Weasleys have a lot to deal with right now. I kind of felt, you know, in the way. There's the Weasleys and Tonks, and they're a family. They're trying to support each other. Luna and Ron are getting really close and I don't want to encroach. Sirius and Remus have this fraternal bond. With you not there, I just kind of felt in the way."

"Just you and me then, hm?" Harry stroked Hermione's cheek with his thumb.

Hermione's gaze travelled over the small cupboard. "Did you really live in here for ten years?"

Harry nodded. "Why? Do you think it's something I would make up?"

Hermione sighed. "I think I love you more now, knowing what you had to put up with."

Harry felt his heart stop. His hand slid off of Hermione's face. He blinked at her. "What did you say?"

"I said--" Hermione clasped a hand to her mouth. "I guess I did just say that."

Harry swallowed the hard lump in his throat. "Did you... Mean it?"

Hermione smiled. "Are you really that surprised?"

Harry shook his head. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "Please don't say that, Hermione. Please don't say that."

"Why shouldn't I say it, Harry?" Hermione asked, brushing her hand across his forehead. "I mean it. I've wanted to tell you for ages."

"You can't," Harry whispered. "If you say it, then it's real and..." He knocked her hand out of the way, touching his scar. "Hermione, things are bad. I mean, Voldemort is trying to kill me. And now there's Riddle and Ginny... This isn't going to end well."

"What does that have to do with you and me?" Hermione asked. "I lo--"

Harry put a finger to her lips. "If something happens to me--"

Hermione took his hand in hers. He laced their fingers. "--Then I want to spend every minute you have loving you."

Harry didn't speak. He grabbed Hermione by the nape of the neck, pulling her to him. He kissed her fiercely, taking comfort in her presence.

He didn't even know how it happened. The movements were so fluid, almost dreamlike. He ran his hands over Hermione, cherishing every inch of her. Clothes that were in the way were shoved aside. He dimly heard her mewl when they joined. Their movements were slow, easy. He stared into her deep brown eyes as he reached climax and he knew. He loved her, for everything she was: the know-it-all bookworm, the brave Gryffindor and the girl with tears marring her cheeks.

Harry pulled Hermione close, stroking her back. "Are you afraid, Hermione?"

There was no need to specify what. They both knew the battle was fast approaching.

"Terrified." Hermione's voice was weak. She buried her face in his neck. "I'm not a fighter, but I'm going to do it anyway. And," she paused, "Now we're going to have to fight Ginny. I mean, fighting Draco is going to be bad enough. But someone who was actually my friend. I don't want to lose the people I care about. Ron, Luna, the Weasleys, Sirius, Remus... And most of all you."

Harry licked his lips. "Just because the prophecy said what it did ... that doesn't let out the possibility that we ... that we both ..."

"Please don't," Hermione whimpered.

Harry kissed her hard, trying to reassure her. "I'm not saying that's what's going to happen." He didn't want to say that's what he thought would happen. It was the thing that kept him awake at nights. "If we get out of this all right... Can you promise me one this?"

"What?" Hermione asked.

"I never have to come back here again," Harry murmured against her mouth, "I can forget the Dursleys even exist."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I'll steal you away."

Harry smiled, laughing quietly.

Then, it hit him. The sharp, ripping pain through his scar. He grabbed his forehead, crying out.

"Harry!" Hermione cried, grabbing his shoulders. "What happened?"

Harry gasped for breath, trying to compose himself. He shouldn't have been able to feel that. It didn't work that way. Why did that happen? "He's angry."

"Voldemort?"

Harry swallowed hard, shaking his head. "No. Riddle."

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