Visions of an Empath

Chapter 18

After a night of worrying about his friendship with Harry, Ron lay in wait outside Harry’s bedroom. As soon as the brunette walked out of his room the next morning, Ron pounced on the other teen and dragged the startled teen into the library. Ron quickly locked the door and turned to face his best friend.

“I’m sorry, Harry. What happened to Hermione wasn’t your fault. Lucius was right. We knew the dangers the horcruxes posed before we agreed to join you, and I shouldn’t have blamed you when something went wrong. Please, please forgive me.”

Harry stared at Ron in surprise. The redhead looked like he hadn’t slept at all. “Of course, I forgive you, Ron.” How could he not? Ron was his best friend, and he could feel the genuine regret he felt for his actions last night.

Ron sagged against the door in relief. “Thank you, Harry.” With that weight off his shoulders, Ron’s sleepless night finally caught up with him. Ron gave a jaw-cracking yawn, and his eyes drooped sleepily.

Harry smiled at the redhead fondly, touched that Ron had worried so much about their friendship that he’d stayed up all night for the chance to apologise. “Get some sleep, Ron. I’ll talk to you again when you wake.”

With a tired nod, Ron stumbled out of the room. Harry shook his head in amusement and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. His smile widened when he saw that Lucius was already at the table.
Lucius looked up when Harry walked into the room. He saw the bright, cheerful grin on Harry’s face and raised an eyebrow. “What has you in such a cheery mood, Harry?”

“Today is just off to a good start,” said Harry happily. “Ron apologised just a minute ago. Apparently, a certain blonde I know took him to task for what he said last night, and he concluded that you were right.”

“And Draco always said Weasley was too thick to learn anything,” said Lucius sardonically. “I guess even the thickest bloke can learn from his mistakes eventually.”

“Of course, they can,” said Harry mischievously. “After all, you certainly did.”

“Did you just compare my father to the Weasel, Harry?” asked Draco incredulously, stepping further into the room.

Harry grinned at the younger blonde. “Technically, I just called him thick, but take it however you want.”

“Are you just gonna sit there and take that, Father?” demanded Draco.

Lucius got to his feet and calmly set his napkin down on the table. He suddenly reached for Harry, plucking the brunette out of his chair and tossing him over his shoulder. “No, Draco, I don’t think I will. I think my little mate needs to be punished for that statement.”

Harry just laughed as Lucius carried him out of the room. As he said before, today was a good day.

HPHP

The next two and half months passed by in a flash. It was now the middle of January, and Harry was training daily for the final battle. Lucius had the task of teaching him offensive curses and shields while Severus was teaching him to administer healing potions and minor healing spells. The healing spells came naturally to him, probably a result of his Earth Drake animagus form.

Today, though, Harry was in the library, researching more advanced healing spells. He wanted to be able to mend broken bones if needed. However, his studying was interrupted by the timid voice of a house elf.

“I is sorry to interrupt, Master Harry, but I has news from the Manor,” said Toffee hesitantly.

“What is it, Toffee?” asked Harry kindly.

“Lord Voldie has put people in Master Malfoy’s dungeons. Toffee only got two names. Olliander and Loony.”

Harry stood up quickly. “Ollivander and Luna?”

Toffee smiled brightly. “Yes, Master Harry.”

Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Is there anything you can do to help them? Can you apparate them out of the dungeon and bring them here?”

“No, Master Harry. I is able to get them out of the dungeon, but here is under Fidelius. They not able to come unless Master Lucius gives them address,” said Toffee.

Harry sighed softly. “Thank you for the news, Toffee. I will inform Lucius of what you told me.”

Toffee nodded and bowed before popping out of the room.

Harry closed his book and stood from the table. He needed to find Lucius and Severus. He found Severus in the lab. “Have you seen Lucius?”

“He was in his study last I saw,” said Severus absently, stirring his potion with intent focus.

Harry looked into the cauldron curiously, his nose wrinkling in disgust when he smelled the liquid inside. “You’re making Pepper-Up? Why?”

“Draco is coming down with the flu. Hopefully, this will head it off before it gets worse,” said Severus calmly.

“Are you almost done?”

Severus stirred the potion three more times and removed it from the heat. “I am now. Why?”

“I just got some information from Toffee, and I need to talk to you and Lucius,” said Harry.

Severus raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the door. “After you.”

Harry just smirked and headed toward the door. “You know you only want me to lead so you can look at my arse the whole way.”

“And a lovely arse it is, so get moving,” said Severus, leering at the teen.

HPHP

Lucius looked up in surprise when the study door opened. He smiled, though, when he saw Harry saunter into the room with Severus. “Got tired of studying?”

Harry sat down on the sofa with a sigh. “Actually, I was interrupted. Toffee had some news to report.”

Lucius frowned slightly. “Why didn’t she come to me then?”

Harry grinned smugly. “She likes me better, of course.”

“Of course,” said Lucius wryly. “So what did she have to say.”

“Luna Lovegood and Ollivander are being kept in the Malfoy dungeons,” said Harry wearily.

Severus scowled darkly. “What possible reason could he have for imprisoning them?”

“Luna’s father runs the Quibbler,” said Harry reasonably. “And I imagine he took Ollivander to get around our wand problem.”

“What wand problem?” asked Severus.

Lucius groaned in realisation. “He doesn’t want the same thing that happened in the graveyard to happen again.”

“I asked Toffee if she could get them out of the dungeon and bring them here, but she said she couldn’t because of the Fidelius Charm. Is there any other way to get them out?” asked Harry softly.

Severus sighed in resignation. “Have you forgotten what I am? Vampires can teleport through shadows. It doesn’t matter if the building is protected by Fidelius or not. As long as there are no wards against vampires specifically, I can get in there. Of course, I could always take them to Grimmauld Place. It’s still secure.”

“I forgot about Grimmauld Place. It’s been months since I’ve been there,” said Harry with a deprecating smile. “That will work perfectly. You go and retrieve Luna and Ollivander, and I will meet you at Grimmauld Place to help heal them.”

Severus nodded and headed toward the nearest shadow, disappearing into the darkness. Lucius and Harry hurried to Severus’ lab and gathered every healing potion they could find. Lucius carried the box of potions to the fireplace and tossed a handful of floo powder onto the flames.

“Harry, you go first. I’ll come through with the potions.”

Harry nodded and flooed to Grimmauld Place, stumbling as he stepped out of the fireplace. A moment later, Lucius stepped into the room. Harry started up the stairs and called for Kreacher. The house-elf popped into the corridor ahead of Harry.

“Master is back! How may Kreacher help?”

“Kreacher, I need you to ready the two guest rooms. Severus will be here shortly with an injured witch and wizard,” said Harry politely. “And once you are done with that, would you please prepare a warm broth for them both?”

“Of course, Master Harry. Right away,” said Kreacher. Within minutes, he had both rooms cleaned and had started the broth.

Harry and Lucius went into the first guest room and started setting out the potions. With that done, Harry pulled the covers down on the bed and headed into the next room to do the same. He went back into the other guest room to wait for Severus.

Thirty minutes later, they were still waiting. Kreacher had already finished the broth and had brought two bowls upstairs. Lucius cast a warming charm on the soup while Harry paced the room restlessly.

“What’s taking so long? Do you think something happened to them?” asked Harry worriedly.

“Harry, I’m sure they’re fine. Severus is nothing if not cautious,” said Lucius soothingly. As Harry started pacing once more, Lucius snaked his arms around Harry’s waist and pulled the brunette against his chest. “He’ll be here soon, so don’t worry.”

Harry nodded and leaned back against Lucius. He silently prayed that nothing had happened and that Severus was all right. As if the gods heard his prayers, Severus stepped out of the shadows with Ollivander’s limp form over his shoulder and his hand around Luna’s shoulders.

“Oh, thank Merlin you’re all right. What took so long?” asked Harry. He looked at Luna carefully. “Are you hurt anywhere, Luna?”

Luna shook her head. “I’m fine, Harry. Mr. Ollivander, though, is in pretty bad shape.”

“Lay him on the bed, Severus. Lucius, do you mind showing Luna to the other guest room? And make sure she eats that broth. There’s no telling when the last time she ate decently was,” ordered Harry.

Lucius immediately lead Luna out of the room as Severus placed Ollivander on the bed. Harry was shocked at the amount of damage done to the old wand maker. He quickly cast a diagnostic spell on the other man and winced at the list of injuries. Ollivander had three broken ribs, a broken arm, a ruptured spleen, hairline fractures in his pelvis and collar bone, nerve damage from overexposure to the Cruciatus Curse, and acute pneumonia.

Severus cursed when Harry told him exactly what was wrong and started barking orders. Harry quickly handed the vampire the necessary potions when needed and watched with bated breath as Severus cast several complex healing spells on the broken man.

Two hours later, their efforts finally paid off. Ollivander’s wounds were nearly healed, and he was resting comfortably. Harry sighed wearily and pulled the covers over the sleeping wizard. It was only midday, but he was absolutely exhausted. He had a new respect for Madame Pomfrey’s medical skills.

Hunger warred with exhaustion, though, and Harry finally decided to head to the kitchen to ask Kreacher to fix him something to eat. Kreacher was all too happy to fix him a few sandwiches. As Harry munched on his impromptu meal, Severus walked into the kitchen.

“Lucius went back to the safe house to get a few more potions. He should be back in a couple of hours,” said Severus softly. “How are you feeling?”

“Exhausted,” said Harry immediately. He looked at Severus and noticed a large rip in the vampire’s robes. “What happened, Severus?”

Severus looked down at his torn robe and sighed. “Rodolphus got in a lucky hit. Unfortunately for him, it was the last spell he will ever cast. Fortunately for me, I heal a lot faster these days, so I wasn’t incapacitated in the least.”

“Were Luna and Ollivander the only prisoners?” asked Harry.

Severus looked grim at the question. “The only ones alive, at least.”

“It will be over soon, Harry.”

Harry looked up at Luna’s voice and saw her standing at the door with an empty bowl in her hands. “Why do you say that, Luna?”

She calmly walked over to the sink and set her bowl down before taking a seat at the table. “I have faith in you, Harry. I always have.”

Harry smiled at the blonde witch. “Thank you, Luna. That means a lot to me.”

She nodded dreamily and climbed to her feet. She suddenly stepped behind Harry and whispered in his ear. “The life inside you will ensure your success.” She then strolled serenely out of the kitchen.