Back To Bedlam

Chapter Seven

The Truth

I own nothing.

TAP TAP TAP.

The knock at the door sounded ominous to Harry's ears and he hoped it was not a sign of things to come.

He and Melanie stood outside of Kelly and Brad's house. They had just arrived from their encounter with The Order Of The Phoenix.

Noticing that Mel was shivering Harry gave her what he thought was a reassuring smile but knew that his face could only conjure up a queasy grimace. He was still a bit drained from his battle from Dumbledore and his pets so he was finding it hard to stay upright.

Just thinking about the old man brought feelings of anger to the boil and gave him strength, he used the strength and lost the anger as he reminded himself that he had a bigger problem than Dumbledore to deal with right now.

It was at that time that the door was opened and revealed Kelly. She smiled prettily and grabbed hold of Harry's hand before dragging him into the house and it was only when they were half way up the stairs that she called back to Melanie.

'Hey Mel, Brad's out the back, I'll catch up with you in a bit, I just need to borrow your brother for a couple of moments.' She then pulled Harry faster up the stairs making the mind muddled and body wearied boy fall down. In this instant Kelly stopped tugging and finally looked at her boyfriend properly.

'Harry? Are you alright? What's wrong?' She then sat down on the steps next to Harry who was gingerly pushing himself up to sit next to her. He looked down at the bottom of the stairs and saw Melanie watching him with sad eyes. He shook his head as if to say, "You better go find Brad" and it wasn't till she closed the sliding door leading out to the back yard that he turned his eyes back to Kelly's.

'No Kell, I'm not alright. I, uh, I need to tell you something.' Harry then took a couple of deep breaths, both to steady himself and so he could use up some time to organise his thoughts. All the while Kelly just sat patiently with a worried look on her face. With one last releasing breathe Harry began his tale.

'There once was a family called the Potter's. A mother, a father and a baby boy. From what I know the mother and father loved each other very much and loved their son so much they would die for him… Everything wasn't so perfect for the family though, for they were hiding, hiding from an evil wizard-.' Kelly lost some of her patience to ask.

'Harry, what does a fairy tale have to do with you looking sick?' With a doomed feeling in his gut Harry continued his story without answering her.

'One day the evil wizard found the family, their location having been given away by someone they counted as a friend. The father tried to protect his loved ones but died. He died as a hero and he will always be remembered. The mother was murdered next. She died protecting her son till the end, something that will never be forgotten by the son.' Here Harry stopped, he didn't know whether it was because of the days activities or because it was the first time he had told this story but he was surprised to feel tears sliding down his cheeks. Without wiping them away he finished his story.

'The evil wizard then approached the baby and turned the wand that had killed both of his parents on him. Then something happened that no one really has an answer to, the curse that would kill the baby rebounded and tore the spirit from the evil wizard. A spirit that would not harm the world for another 13 years. The baby lay crying in his cot with a bloody scar on his forehead when he was found by a couple who knew the family that had died. They carried him to safety and together they left the country to start a new life somewhere else.' Harry stopped again and stared straight at Kelly, raising his left hand he cleared away his hair to reveal his scar.

'The couple and the baby's destination was Australia. A few months later a baby was born to the couple, a baby girl. The years passed and the family was happy but something was missing. The kids wanted to meet kids their own age and their mother wanted to teach again, so it was decided they would attend school where the kids could be kids and the mother could watch over them as she taught. It was at this school that the boy met the most beautiful girl in the world, a girl that one day he would fall in love with. The boy's name was Harry Potter and he loved a girl called Kelly Jenson.' Harry then blinked through his teary vision to see Kelly staring at him in complete shock. Then he got the last reaction he was expecting. She laughed. But the laugh was not a happy one and it was proved when tears started falling from Kelly's eyes. She continued to laugh for a whole minute before she quietened down enough, throughout the whole time their eyes had never left each others. When she had finally stopped Kelly gave one final sniff before she spoke.

'Who are you?'

'My name is really Harry Potter and I am a wizard, just like Melanie and my parents, just like my real parents.'

'Prove it. I don't mean your scar either, show me something wizardy, show me you can do magic. All this nonsense can't be real, your just trying to make a fool of me.' Kelly huffed with a air of someone who was hearing something she didn't want to believe.

With resignation Harry watched Kelly a second longer before he dropped his hand and pulled out his red gum wand from inside his jacket. Ignoring Kelly's gasp he waved the wand to produce a mini rain cloud, appropriate considering the mood. With another wave the cloud produced lightning bolts, thunder and rain. When Harry had thought she had had enough he waved the wand and vanished the charm, silence then reigned supreme again.

'So it's true.' The whisper from Kelly's lips faded between them and only left accusing eyes.

'Yes.' Was Harry's only reply.

'Then everything I know about you is a lie.' She started to get up but Harry's gentle hands brought her back down.

'Kelly, please listen to me. Everything I ever felt for you wasn't a lie. Every moment I ever shared with you wasn't a lie. Why does this make any difference?' Harry asked with desperation in his voice.

'Why does it make a difference! How can you say that Harry? You have just admitted to being two people and you think it doesn't make a difference! What do you want me to say?' Defeated Kelly hung her head but Harry's hand cupped her face and brought their eyes level again.

'I want you to say that you still love me.' Harry pleaded.

'I will be honest with you Harry, I do love you.' Harry started to smile but it was wiped off his face as quick as it came as Kelly continued. 'But I only love one half of you. I'm sorry.' This time she got up and Harry didn't stop her. She was at the top of the stairs when Harry's soft voice reached her.

'I have to go back. I have to go back to England tomorrow.'

'Then I guess this is goodbye.' Kelly then walked to her room without a backward glance and shut the door, never hearing Harry's mumbled. 'I guess it is.'

Almost as if it was timed, Brad and Melanie came through the back door hand in hand, smiling and laughing at each other. Brad saw Harry first and shouted out raucously.

'Hey Harry, even though you're a wizard and all you won't curse me if I kiss your sister will ya?' He laughed at his own joke but Melanie wasn't, she knew that his talk with Kelly hadn't gone as well as hers had with Brad. Brad not noticing anything kept on talking.

'Guess what Harry, Mel told me how your all going back to England and I thought that when I'm finished with school I'll come over and see you. How's that sound?' Still in a daze Harry got off the stairs and walked to the front door.

'Yeah, that'll be good. I'll catch you anyway Brad. Mel, I'll see you at home.' Before either of them could say a word he was gone, it was then that Brad finally caught on to Harry's mood. Mel on the other hand was caught between making sure her brother was alright and wanting to spend as much time as she could with her boyfriend on her last day in Australia. Knowing that Harry would probably want to be alone anyway she decided to stay with Brad and enjoy the time they had left.

That night on the muggle news it was reported that the worlds highest recorded earthquake was measured in the centre of Australia, leaving a new canyon in the red earth.

Only a few knew that a broken hearted teen was the cause of the 8th world wonder.

And now the wound that was Harry's heart was headed for England, for Voldemort and for Dumbledore. Whether the evil stitching of Hate would sow up his wound or whether Love would seal the crater of his heart would be a answer only time could tell.

It was a pity that time wasn't on their side.

I was on FF today and I decided to read my story to figure out what I was writing about all those years ago. It was only when I got to the last chapter that I realised I wanted to know what happened next. So I got to typing this afternoon and came up with this.

Don't know when the next instalment will be but you could say that the fire has been rekindled.

Flyin Eagle.