Departure
Harry floated back into consciousness gradually, becoming aware of his own existence first by the stuffy feeling in his mouth. He swallowed with difficulty, and started to become aware of his body by the dull ache coursing through it. It was sometime before he decided to force his eyes open, grateful at the low light in the room, the curtains shut and blocking the light from coming in. He had no sense of what time it was, what day, he only just remembered where he was…hadn't there been something…something meant to happen? The ritual, that was it. The soul piece, yes. Had it worked? Harry felt as though he lay there for hours, his thoughts coming in waves until he couldn't bare the stuffy feeling in his mouth anymore and began to move his leaden limbs in search of water. He couldn't sit up and so dragged himself to the edge of the bed and proceeded to unceremoniously half drag himself, half fall out of the bed into a heap on the floor. He groaned and lay there for a moment, trying to calm his breathing and heart. If this was how that potion made him feel, it had better have worked. He wondered if he could feel the fragment of Voldemorts soul gone? What would that even feel like? Did he feel lighter? airier? Harry just felt sore, everywhere, and decided to start dragging himself across the floor towards the door. He'd only made it to the end of the bed when the doors burst open and bright light came in, cracking across his vision and causing him to wince away from it.
"What are you doing?" A voice said in light disgust by the door, and he heard footsteps coming towards him. Harry felt hands grab his arms and lift him back onto the bed. His eyes were still tightly shut against the light and he noticed his hands were clutching his head against the headache and sharp pain coming from his scar.
"I-" Harry attempted to speak, but his voice was too hoarse and he ended up coughing instead.
"Here," the voice said again impatiently and Harry opened his eyes slightly to find a glass of water being pushed into his hands. He drank from it gratefully. The water was like life returning to his brain and body, and he began to recognise just who it was who was standing before him.
"The ritual. Did it work?" Harry murmured. There was a long pause.
"No." Came the response eventually, Harry felt nothing and everything at that response. "The fragment cannot be parted from your own soul," Voldemort said resentfully. Harry looked up, noticing the man was refusing to even look at him. He must be pretty annoyed, Harry thought, and that did perk him up a bit. "We're leaving tonight, pack what you need and be ready when someone comes to get you." Voldemort took the glass back from Harry and he found a brown backpack had been thrown into his hands instead. Harry focused intently on the bag and swayed slightly where he sat. He heard a sigh above him. "I'll send someone to aid you." Voldemort said and then he was gone, and blissfully the light went with him.
Harry stayed where he sat, feeling tears slip down his cheeks. He was alive. That's what mattered, he was alive, and from the sounds of it he would be remaining alive…for at least the foreseeable future. The door opened again and lights were lit around the room. He saw soft hands enter his vision and take the bag from him. New robes were pressed into his hands. "Get dressed Harry." He looked up at the womans voice, into the face of Narcissa Malfoy. She wasn't looking at him kindly, but the expression on her face was far removed from the haughty look she normally graced him with. Harry found himself sliding off the bed and wobbling over towards the bathroom to get washed and dressed. He found the whole task left him out of breath, and hoped he would be feeling better soon. When he came out of the bathroom he found Narcissa standing patiently by an almost fully packed bag, he wasn't sure what was in there, he didn't exactly have much in the way of possessions anymore. Narcissa waved her wand and some objects flew past him out of the bathroom and into the bag, soaps and toothbrushes, the pyjamas in his hands began to pack themselves in as well. "Sit" she said, indicating the bed and Harry shuffled over, deciding it best to behave in his state. Once seated, Narcissa knelt in front of him and began to pull socks and shoes onto his feet. Harry wanted to protest, but to be honest he didn't think he could have done such a complicated task himself. To his horror however, he noticed tears flowing down his cheeks again. He couldn't ever remember someone tying his shoelaces for him. He could imagine his own mother doing it for him now, red hair instead of blonde. Harry quickly wiped his eyes as she stood up, but he could tell she'd noticed. She watched him for a moment and he avoided her eyes.
"Thank you" he mumbled. Her hand twitched slightly and then she was walking out of the room.
"I'll be back later tonight, make sure not to wander off." She said over her shoulder and then she was gone. Harry had a look in the bag, toiletries, various robes and underwear, a spare pare of shoes, a book of charms interestingly, and nestled in the side was a chocolate frog card. Harry quickly closed the bag and upon seeing that it was still daylight outside, he decided to reopen the bag and have a look at the book. It was some time later when the light began to dip that Harry put the book down. He was alive. Which meant he had more opportunities now to escape Voldemort. He wondered if…TOM. The book, T.M.RIDDLE. he couldn't leave it here. Tom was his last chance at escaping Voldemort. Harry put the bag on his shoulders, got up, stumbled his way across the room and opened the doors peeking his head out as he did. There was no one around, perfect, he started walking down the corridors towards the storage room, stopping occasionally to catch his breath. He made it all the way to the room and shimmied his way around all the piles of junk to the box that was still sitting there. Harry slipped the book from out under the box and buried it in the bag, under the clothes. He then remembered the ink and quill and decided he should pack those too just in case. Harry took a moment to lean against the cabinet, his heart slowly retreating back to a steady pace, and wondered what exactly was about to happen to him. What was Voldemort going to do with him? Nagini was his companion, she went almost everywhere with him, but then Voldemort seemed to like her and enjoy her company, he couldn't see the man wanting to interact with Harry all that much. Harry didn't want to spend time around him either. After a moment he pushed himself upright, took a deep breath and walked back towards his bedroom and whatever lay ahead of him.
Narcissa wasn't happy when Harry showed up, "Insolent child" she muttered, grabbing the scruff of Harrys robes and pushing him forwards slightly. She walked behind him down the stairs and towards the door. Harry paused, Narcissa waved them open with her wand and they walked outside. Harry took one last look back into the mansion as the doors shut behind them, the warm glow emanating retreating in the face of the blue night air. He was glad to put the place behind him, even if he didn't know what was coming next. When they reached the edge of the wards, Narcissa stepped behind him and opened his bag, tucking a few items inside. "There's some food for tonight and an apple for the morning. Also a book to help you make meals for yourself, you'd be wise to begin learning from it quickly." Narcissa said shortly as she closed the bag and stepped to stand beside him, facing the house. Just where was Voldemort sending him? He wasn't going to leave Harry out in the wilderness was he? He had the sudden image of himself trying to fry an egg over a campfire in the jungle, or a desert.
"What are we waiting for?" Harry asked. Narcissa ignored him. "Where's Voldemort taking me? What are his plans?" He asked again. Narcissa flinched.
"Don't say his name." was her only response before she looked back to the house. Harry presumed that he wasn't going to get anything out of her, and looked at the house as he noticed the doors opening and the gold light tumbling out as they did. As the figure got closer, Harry realised it was Voldemort and felt a chill go through his body, his breaths begin to quicken and his scar begin to throb again. "Don't disobey him Mr. Potter. Do what you're told." Narcissa suddenly muttered before walking away, passing Voldemort who ignored her. The man walked right up to Harry, grabbed his arm tightly and with a crack they were gone, and the still night air held only one figure, walking alone back to Malfoy Manor.