Chapter one

Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped off the spiral staircase after speaking with Albus Dumbledore's portrait. The three of them were exhausted, but they were also still alert and wired after everything that had happened over the last couple of days.

'Um, I should get back down to the family, they will probably want to head home. You're both coming, aren't you?' Ron gazed at Hermione, giving her hand a squeeze.

'You know I will Ron,' Hermione gave him a very sad smile before turning to face Harry.

'I'm going to sleep for a while, I'll head there after. I need to wait to put that back,' Harry touched his sleeve, 'I can't until everyone has left.'

'Yeah, you don't want people knowing where it is. They all heard you say the elder wand when you were talking to Voldemort.'

Harry lifted his glasses, rubbing his eyes, before he looked back at his friends, 'Yeah, I know I shouldn't have said the name, but I needed him to understand why the wand wasn't going to work for him, well more than a normal wand anyway. Merlin, I'm aching all over, my eyes are stinging, and my back feels like I've been stomped on by a giant. I didn't get stomped on by a giant did I?' Harry thought for a minute, 'Nope, just dropped by Voldemort a couple of times,' Harry shrugged, 'I didn't feel it then, but now I certainly am.'

'Go see Madam Pomfrey Harry, you could have a couple of problems, maybe even a broken rib or something,' Hermione suggested.

'I will, but after I've sleep. I don't even think the pain will stop me falling asleep right now. So go on, I'll get to the Burrow as soon as I'd put that back,' Harry hugged Hermione then Ron.

'Okay, as soon as it's done, come straight over or we'll come back and get you,' Ron took Hermione's hand again and they walked off.

Harry watched his friends for a few minutes, then headed for Gryffindor tower and was glad that part of the castle wasn't damaged. He stepped through the portrait hole the moment the fat lady opened it for him and without a password, and went straight up to his old bed. He put the two wands on his bedside, pulled his glasses off, then his shoes, shirt and jeans, then climbed under the blankets and was asleep instantly.

Down in the great hall, the Weasley family was standing near the fireplace waiting to go home. Ginny stepped over to Hermione and Ron.

'Is Harry coming to the Burrow Ron?'

'He's going to sleep first, then he has something he needs to do. He'll get there later, probably tomorrow,' Ron gazed at his sister, 'You're hoping to get back with Harry, aren't you Ginny?'

'Yes, he broke up with me because he thought I would be in danger if Voldemort or the death eaters found out. He's dead, so are most of the death eaters, so I want to find out if Harry wants to continue where we left off.'

'He will Ginny, when we were away, Harry used to stare at your name on the map. Almost every night he did that, until you left Hogwarts that is,' Hermione gave her a reassuring smile.

'And if he doesn't hurt you again, I'll tell you. But he has a habit of talking in his sleep, so he called your name a few times.'

'A few times Ron, at least once a night he would call for Ginny,' Hermione shook her head at her boyfriend before looking back at Ginny, 'You could hear how much he cared for you when he did that.'

'Thanks, I wish I could talk to him now, but we're ready to leave.'

'He'd be asleep anyway Ginny. We haven't had a lot of sleep over the last couple of days, well hardly any. So leave him sleep, you'll see him soon enough.'

'Okay Ron, but behave when he and I do talk and in private. Or next time you barge in on us, I will set the bat bogeys on you.'

'Fine, but keep the snogging to a minimum when I'm around,' Ron scowled.

Ginny and Hermione both giggled before turning back to face the family as they were starting to step into the fire. Bill, Charlie, George and their father taking Fred through first, then their mother stepped in with Percy and Fleur, followed by Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

The following morning, Harry woke up, he rubbed his eyes, stretched his arms above his head, then sat up. He slowly opened his eyes, rubbed his eyes then opened them again. He was puzzled, so he kept rubbing his eyes, trying to clear them and they were still stinging.

'What's going on,' Harry said aloud and knew he was awake and not dreaming, he could hear himself, but just to make sure, he pinched his leg, 'Well, I felt that,' Harry put his hand out and felt around. He could feel the bed, his bedside, and the poll of his four poster bed behind his head, but he couldn't see anything. 'Is anyone here?' Harry called out but heard nothing which was making him start to panic, 'Maybe I am still asleep and this is a dream,' Harry felt around again, then felt the two wands on his bedside. 'No, I'm definitely awake, maybe this has something to do when Voldemort dropped me on my head one of the times he let me fall. I should have seen Madam Pomfrey last night. Now I just have to find my clothes, then find my way up to see her.'

At the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was keeping busy getting breakfast for her family. They were all sitting around the worn kitchen table, but no one was speaking. Mrs. Weasley floated food onto the table along with a large pot of tea. They all dished themselves up some breakfast, poured themselves tea, but still no one spoke. When they finished, Hermione turned to Ron and Ginny.

'Why don't we head to Hogwarts, see if Harry's ready to leave, because if he sits alone to long, he's going to start feeling guilty?'

'Yeah, alright,' Ron faced his parents, 'Mum, dad, we're just going back to Hogwarts to get Harry. He should be awake by now. Ginny's going to come with us alright.'

'Okay, just be careful, the three of you,' Arthur nodded to the three of them.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny stepped into the fireplace and vanished from the Burrow and stepped out in the fireplace in the great hall. Hermione had explained to Professor McGonagall the night before about them coming back to get Harry, that he wanted to sleep and also speak with her about something important before he left.

They spotted professor McGonagall, so they went over to her to see if Harry had spoken to her yet.

'Professor,' Hermione said as she stepped over to her with Ron and Ginny, 'Has Harry spoken to you yet?'

'No, I think he must still be asleep. I haven't seen him this morning.'

'Alright, we'll go up and see if he's awake,' the three of them left the great hall and headed up to Gryffindor tower, nodding at people they knew that were still there. The stepped through the portrait hole and went straight up the stairs.

'Let me check that he's dressed,' Ron said and he stepped into his room, 'Harry, you're awake at least.'

'Ron, is that you,' Harry said looking towards the sound of his friends voice.

'Come in, he's sort of dress, still in bed though,' Ron called to the two girls.

'Um, I need help,' Harry said when he heard the steps get closer.

'What's going on Harry, you look scared?' Hermione asked as she sat on the bed beside Harry.

'Um, I don't know, but I can't see anything. I was going to try and find my jeans, then go see Madam Pomfrey, but I couldn't find them. I was hoping you'd come back to help.'

'Do you know what happened Harry?' Ginny asked taking his hand and felt Harry squeeze it tight in his.

'No, my eyes were stinging, then I woke up and couldn't see. He did drop me on my head yesterday, maybe that did it.'

'Okay, why don't you stay here and I'll get Madam Pomfrey to come to see you Harry. It will be easier,' Hermione suggested.

'Okay, Ron, could you hand me my jeans, then help me into the bathroom. I tried, couldn't find my way.'

'You two do that, Ginny can come with me,' Hermione took Ginny's hand and left the dorm room.

'Don't tell the girls, but I had to clean myself up before. I've been sitting here for hours.'

'I won't Harry, here are your jeans,' Ron handed Harry his jeans, then watched as he felt them before pulling them on, 'Okay, here's your shoes,' Harry put them on again, then stood up.

'Which way Ron?' Harry stretched his hands out in front of him.

'Here, take my arm and I'll help you in there,' Ron put Harry's hand on his arm and led him out of the room along the small landing that led to the Gryffindor bathrooms. They went in and Ron helped Harry to where he needed to go, 'I'll turn my back mate, just do what you need to.'

'Thanks Ron,' Harry went about what he needed, then turned and stepped away, bumping into Ron, 'Sorry, just the sink now,' Harry felt Ron put his hand back on his arm, then led him over to the sink and put the water on for him, so he washed his hands, 'I never grabbed my wand, can you cast a drying charm please?'

'Sure,' Ron waved his wand at Harry's hand, 'You never said he dropped you on your head Harry.'

'I never thought about it Ron, too much going through my head at the time.'

'Yeah, I suppose, let me take you back in,' Ron kept Harry's hand on his arm and they walked slowly back to their dorm room, 'Madam Pomfrey is here Harry.'

'Madam Pomfrey,' Harry said looking around.

'Sit him down Ron so I can examine him,' the matron said pointing to the bed. Once Harry was sitting, 'Now, can you tell me what happened Harry?'

'Well, last night when I was in the forbidden forest with Voldemort, he hit me with the killing curse. I got knocked out, but when I came to I stayed still so he didn't know I was alive. He then used the cruciatus curse on me, but I never felt it, I did later though. Then he flung me up in the air and just let me drop. One time I fell hard on my head. Do you think that's what has caused this?'

'It might be Harry, let me examine you, but have you got any pain anywhere else.'

'My eyes are stinging, my back hurts, and my left leg. I landed on my leg and back one time as well.'

'Okay, I'll check them after your eyes.'

Madam Pomfrey waved her wand over Harry's eyes, with Hermione, Ron and Ginny watching. Ron was scuffing his feet the longer it went on.

'Ron, you sound as impatient as me,' Harry grinned towards the sound.

'How did you know it was me Harry?'

'Because I know you Ron, you scuff your feet when you're impatient.'

'Madam Pomfrey,' Ginny said as she sat next to Harry, taking his hand again.

Harry didn't hear anyone talking, but could tell they were all looking at him. 'Come on, your silence is killing me here. What's going on? Will they clear up after some rest or some potions?'

'Harry,' Madam Pomfrey sat on the other side of Harry, 'There was damage done when you fell, but that's not what has caused you not to be able to see. It is the reason why they are stinging.'

'Then what has caused this then, why can't I see?'

'Before I say, can you tell me where he hit you with the killing curse?'

'Um,' Harry sat thinking for a minute, 'I saw the green light coming towards me, then I closed my eyes so no, I don't know where it hit, why?'

'I think it might have hit your face or eyes Harry. The killing curse is one of the worst dark pieces of magic.'

'Yeah, I know, so what can be done about this then?'

'Harry, you can't heal dark magic, I'm sorry.'

Harry felt he's throat close up and gripped Ginny's hand tighter, 'So what you're saying is I'm blind, and I always will be, isn't it?' Harry felt the tear roll down his face, but no one said anything, 'Tell me,' Harry shouted, 'I'm blind aren't I?'