Too Young

Olivia was suffering again. It was worse this time and the child had to stay in the hospital wing. The nurse had set up a private room for her, with some toys in it. It was still very clinical, a hospital bed, medicine cupboard, other equipment. There was a rocking chair and one or two other seats for visitors.

She hated being stuck in the room, but mostly she hated being so tired all the time. She hated her magic being out of control and doing things she didn’t want it to do. The treatments were awful and it hurt.

Harry’s heart was breaking as he watched his little girl playing on the floor of the tiny room in the hospital wing. This time the elephant was trumpeting for her. It wasn’t broken anymore. Draco was sitting beside him holding his hand. They were both scared. The ritual had to wait until Olivia was in the final stages of the disease. So every day they waited.

Dumbledore had arranged for Draco to take his exams early, just in case he couldn’t afterwards. He could at least say he had completed his sixth year at Hogwarts. All they could do now is wait. Remus had stopped by to check on them, and Mrs. Weasley brought them lunch every day. She said that a lunch made by a grandmother was better for them. Dobby was there by their sides often, tears glittering in his eyes.

***

Today was the day. They could tell. Olivia didn’t wake for breakfast. Shortly after the toys started spinning around the room and even Harry couldn’t stop them. Madame Pomfrey took some magic from Remus and did the final patch. Then she left to start preparing the ritual.

Draco was scared. His life was going to change today. He was committing himself to this. He was positive it was the right choice. He knew in his bones that it was. Harry wasn’t the only one who had asked the gods for guidance. They stood together looking down at the little one looking so pale in the bed beside them. “It’s only a little while now sweetheart and everything will be okay again.” He told the tiny child.

Harry just squeezed him tighter. Madame Pomfrey came into the room followed by Professors Dumbledore and Snape. Snape had two potions on a pewter tray. One was blue, the other was white. The blond Slytherin wondered which one was for him?

He watched as Madame Pomfrey laid a silver cloth over Olivia like a blanket, and then placed a few bundles of herbs on top of it. Dumbledore was in the corner reading from a spell book.

Madame Pomfrey cleared her throat and turned to the room. “Olivia does not need to be awake for the procedure. I suggest we leave her unconscious, and place a light sleeping spell on her. I wish that I could give her a dreamless sleep but it would interfere with the potion needed for the ritual. Draco and Olivia will each need to take a potion to open the conduit. After that they will need to have physical contact with each other. I will be binding their hands together because loss of contact will cause a failure in the ritual and the rebound of wild magic could cause serious harm. Once that is done, Professor Dumbledore will say the spell to begin the ritual. I know you would like to do it Harry, but you are too emotionally involved right now. I would like you to stand behind Draco here as support. Do not touch him. It will affect the ritual. Professor Snape, I would like you to monitor Draco’s vital signs and his magic. We will stop the ritual only if there is serious risk to Draco or Olivia’s health. Draco has already let me know that he is willing to lose his magic.”

All in the room were silent as she finished knowing the sacrifice the young man could be making.

“Once done, Draco will collapse from magical exhaustion. I will have signaled you Harry and you will catch him. We will be placing him in a bed in the room next door. After that, all we can do is wait and monitor them to see how they recover, and how much magic they are left with. If we are ready we can begin?”

The blond nodded and stepped forward only to be pulled back and into Harry’s arms. Not really caring that he was “outing” himself to those in the room he softly kissed Draco before he let him go again.

Snape administered the potions and Madame Pomfrey bound their hands, not with magic but with soft ribbons. It was possible that the magical feedback in the ritual could undo a magical binding. Dumbledore stepped up and spoke the words of the spell, his wand waving slowly over first Olivia’s head, and then Draco’s.

Things started rapidly after that. A small white glow began between the bound hands. Olivia’s tiny ones inside of Draco’s man sized. It grew in intensity until no one could look at it. Everyone in the room looked away, except for Harry. He turned to look at their faces. He watched Coco and Livvie. Olivia’s face was scrunched up. She looked uncomfortable but not in pain. Draco on the other hand was sweating and red. He was panting and there were tears on his cheeks. Harry began to step forward before he remembered that he couldn’t touch Draco during the ritual.

The light began pulsing up Olivia’s arm. For each pulse Draco whimpered. He could feel his magic being drained, pulled out of him. He didn’t expect it to hurt this much. He thought it would feel like he was pouring his magic out, not like it was being ripped from him.

Madame Pomfrey checked Draco, even though she knew her primary responsibility was Olivia. Something was wrong. His magic levels were dropping too fast. If this kept up, he would definitely be a squib when this was done. She made eye contact with Snape and he nodded that he was aware of what was happening.

Olivia was doing very well. Her core was restructuring, rebuilding. She would have her magic when all of this was done. Only time would tell how powerful she would be, survivors of Browning-Himple did not tend to be as powerful as they had the potential to be prior to their condition, however her donor was a very powerful wizard.

Harry could tell that it had become difficult for Draco to breathe. The tears were now streaming down his face. His lips were tinged a bit blue. It was starting to scare him. He didn’t know what to do. The pulses of magic were coming slower now. They seemed to be weaker. He wasn’t sure what that meant?? He thought they were supposed to remain steady for the duration of the spell.

It was then, that a red energy entered the room. It knocked into Harry and sent him forward until his hands rested on Draco’s shoulders where the red energy surrounded both of them.

Madame Pomfrey cried out. She had no idea how this would affect the ritual. Olivia was still healing, she was still okay. She took a second to do another quick check of Draco and she saw that his vital signs were returning to normal, although his magic was still damaged. She wouldn’t know until she had him on an exam table what the effect was. Harry Potter had a look of shock on his face as he struggled to draw back and found that he couldn’t. He was stuck in the red light with the blond Slytherin. Shortly there after, the power transfer ritual ended.

Draco did indeed collapse as predicted, and with his hands already on the blond, Harry had no problems catching him. He stood there for a minute, to make sure his daughter was okay, and then carried his Slytherin into the room that was prepared for him and placed him onto the bed.

Snape was beside them in an instant casting diagnostic spells. It had been agreed upon that Pomfrey would take Olivia; she was much younger and better left to the care of the more experienced medi-witch. “He’ll be fine physically. Magically I can’t say. We’ll have to wait for Poppy.”

The Gryffindor nodded and went to see about his daughter. She was sleeping peacefully. “I’ve given her a dreamless sleep potion, Mr. Potter. She needs to rest and rebuild her core. It’s coming along nicely and she will be a fully magical child. It will be a few months before we can test her strength level, but I would say it will be just bit above average. About on par with Hermione Granger.” Harry then wept with relief.

“Now let’s go see about Mr. Malfoy shall we?” She said as she bustled out of the room. The blond was pale in the bed. He too had been given a dreamless sleep potion. However, he didn’t look as peaceful.

After a few moments of scanning she spoke. “You are correct, nothing a few days in bed won’t cure as far as his health goes. His magic though. It is complex. His core is heavily damaged. Possibly beyond repair. At this point in time he will not be able to cast magic. For now he is for all purposes a squib. However, he is not so damaged that there is no chance for recovery.” Snape had to step quickly to keep Harry from falling to the floor.

“This is not the worst case. He is not a squib truly. He is damaged. With proper time, healing and potions, it will be possible for him to recover at least some of his magic.” Harry nodded, tears streaming down his face as he stood by the bed, unassisted now, and stroked the face of the one he loved; the face of one who had sacrificed his magic to give it to his child.

***

Olivia awoke the following morning. She was happy and full of energy. She felt good. Not in the way that she had before, when she was fixed a little. She could still feel her magic this time, but it didn’t feel all crazy.

When she woke her Daddy, who was asleep in the rocking chair and told him, he cried. She asked where Coco was, and Daddy brought her to see him sleeping. He looked sick.

“Daddy, what’s wrong with Coco??” She asked.

“Coco is sick. His magic is damaged. We’re going to have to help him with that; do you think you can help?” He asked. It would serve no purpose for her to know how the damage happened.

Olivia begged to be let down and cuddled next to the blond for a while. In those minutes, Draco actually looked at peace.

***

Dobby was watching Olivia, she had been released yesterday. Harry couldn’t seem to get himself to leave Draco’s bedside. He knew the blond would scold him when he awoke. Tell him that he should be spending time with Olivia. That it was silly to be here when he was sleeping.

However, Harry couldn’t leave. He had to be here when Draco woke, when he was told. He needed to be sure that the blond knew that his family would support him in this.

It was later that afternoon, the third day after the ritual that Draco woke. He was still tired and very sore and he felt strange. He saw Harry sitting in the chair beside his bed reading a book on charms.

“Harry.” He called.

“Coco! You’re awake. I thought you might sleep forever at this point. It’s been three days.” The brunet cried, moving from the chair to sit on the bed beside the Slytherin.

“Three days, wow, I guess it took a lot out of me. How is Olivia?” Harry was amazed. Not do I still have my magic, but how is Olivia.

“She’s fine, love; playing with Dobby back in our rooms. She left yesterday.” He told the blond.

“Her magic?” He asked, nervousness starting to creep into his voice.

“Her magic is fine. They won’t know how strong she’ll be for a few months yet until she finishes healing and her magic settles, but she’s fully magical.” He told his boyfriend. “You did it. You cured her.” A small tear slid down his face.

“And my magic Harry? I almost don’t have to ask. I can’t feel it anymore.” He said, a bit subdued.

“It’s not gone, not completely. Your core has been damaged. They don’t know what’s going to happen. Pomfrey says there is a good chance you can recover some of your magic. You’ll need potions and healing spells, ‘therapy’ she called it. In time you should be able to cast spells again.” He told the blond.

“That’s good I guess. We’ll do that right? We’ll work on getting my magic back?” Draco asked.

“Of course Coco. We’ll do any treatment you want. Olivia and I are behind you all the way. Professor Snape is already researching potions that will help. And Pomfrey says that your core is going to repair, not reject, which was a worry for a few hours. It’s going to take time. Months, maybe years. But we’ll do it. Dumbledore says that whenever you heal, you can sit the N.E.W.T.S. You don’t have to take the actual classes.” Harry was rambling now.

It had been days of worry and missing his best friend and boyfriend. Olivia would be excited to see he was awake.

“I didn’t tell Olivia why you were sick. I didn’t want her to feel guilty about your magic if it wasn’t okay. If you want to tell her we can, I just didn’t think it was a good idea until you were awake at least.” He ended.

“No Harry. Olivia doesn’t need to know. Maybe when she’s older, and my magic is back we can tell her. But until then, there is no reason. It would only hurt her. Now, who do I have to see for some food? I’m starving!

***

It was another two days before Draco was released from the Hospital Wing. Harry used that time to take his sixth year exams. His average scores were more than he had hoped for considering the year he had. He also took the time to organize a welcome home party for him. It was small, just Olivia, Dobby and himself, Professor Snape and Dumbledore.

He had thought about inviting Ron and Hermione, but with Draco not being able to do magic, it was a bad idea. Ron would never be able to resist the insults and Hermione would be giving advice on life as a muggle all the while feeling smug and self righteous. They would miss the heroic deed and go right for vengeance.

The party was wonderful. It was a quiet dinner full of conversation, laughter and plans for the future. The small family would stay at Hogwarts. Harry could not go back to the Dursley’s with Olivia. Voldemort being on Privet Drive concerned Dumbledore more than just a little. Draco needed the constant medical care from Pomfrey and Snape if he was to get his magic back. Over summer Harry would continue his training.

He would enter his seventh year in the fall. Draco would take care of Olivia while he was in classes and continue his therapy. He would study theory during that time. They would continue to petition to the goddess for her help in healing his magical core and until then he would do things the hard way, but with all the love he could give.


~ The End ~

AN Well That's It.... I hope you all enjoyed it. Many many thanks again go to my Beta Keikokin. Thanks to all of those who have reviewed, it means a lot!!!