A new begining - 2

He swallowed heavily. He didn't see a way out of this without appearing weak but talking about Horcruxes was forcing him to think about things he didn't want to think about right now. His nausea increased, and a thin sweat covered his body.

"Ginny's right. I think we should wait," Ron said, being far more astute than usual.

Harry refused to meet Ron's eyes, feeling very ashamed that his weakness was showing. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He glanced up at Hermione's bright, eager expression. She obviously wanted to know.

She must have spent as much time agonizing over the Horcrux inside Harry as he had. They all had in their own ways. He couldn't deny them the answer since they were the ones who had worked out the riddle in the first place, no matter how much it made his insides squirm.

"S'alright," he said shakily. "Do it."

Now that he'd committed, he just wanted them to get it over with.

"Professor Dumbledore said that they are usually attuned to the owner, but he adjusted this one to pick up your aura. It should only take a moment," Hermione said, poking at the silver instrument.

"Just relax," Ginny whispered. "You don't have to do anything." The gentle pressure of her fingers stroking his hair was comforting, and he tried to sink back into the pillows and simply not think.

Hermione tapped her wand against the silver instrument and mumbled a string of enchantments under her breath. It sounded as if it was another language, but Harry was too focused on watching the small puffs of smoke beginning to rise from the shiny silver tube to ask. A thrill of apprehension ran down his spine, and he really feared he might be sick.

"All right, Harry?" Ron asked, and Harry suspected he'd turned an ugly shade of green.

Hermione glanced over at him, her eagerness suddenly replaced by concern. "Should I get a Healer?"

"No," he said, clenching his eyes tightly and willing the nausea to pass.

"That's the antidote they gave you," Ginny said, placing a damp cloth on his forehead. "They said it would make you nauseous."

Harry didn't respond but instead opened his eyes to peer at the green smoke now rising steadily from the Soul Balance. It twisted and turned and looked as if it was forming a shape.

He distinctly remembered that he'd seen two snakes the previous time he saw this thing working, but this shape looked more like a round mass. He watched as it elongated but his jaw dropped in amazement as tail feathers appeared on the smoky object, and it suddenly unfurled its wings.

The smoke hadn't formed into the shape of a snake at all, but instead, it was the image of a glorious bird He felt tears form in the corner of his eyes as the sound of phoenix song filled the room.

"Harry!" Hermione breathed, her eyes wide.

"Blimey," Ron muttered.

"It's beautiful," Ginny whispered, watching until the last of the smoke had dissipated.

"Does that answer any lingering doubts?" Hermione asked, beaming.

"You never do anything just halfway, do you, mate?" Ron asked, grinning madly.

Harry smiled, feeling enormous relief – even his nausea had abated. It was true. He was really free for the first time since he was a baby. He felt dazed and out of sorts.

It was really over.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted," Hermione said. "I'm going to go home and catch some sleep. I'll return later, Harry."

She stood up and kissed him on the forehead.