Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum
Gifts
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Harry walked down the
snowy streets of Hogsmeade, oblivious to the world around him, which was
covered in a soft blanket of snow. He couldn't see farther than a hundred feet before
having his vision obstructed by falling flakes. He was thinking: 'Think about
what has happened so far this term.'
The most monumental
change for Harry was his mostly recently-acquired gifts. He was able to see
magic! Magic had always amazed him, no matter how many times he had seen it
with is own eyes. But it was different now: he could
physically see it. He'd spent the last four days of the term in the Room of
Requirement, casting spells, just to see what they looked like. He was also
allowed by Ron and Hermione to look into theiricalical cores, to scan for
potential talents. He'd seen exactly the same thing Mr. Clause had perceived -
but Harry had actually seen them. The magic displayed different
besides just gold, which is what wizards usually radiated when he wasn't
looking for an aura. He also spent those four days going around school and
summing up the other students by looking at their auras also. Some, even in
Slytherin, seemed to be just above squibs; these included Crabbe
and Goyle.
"Harry!"
Harry turned around to see Hermione walking beside him with her hands on her
hips, scowling.
"What?" he
asked, giving her a questioning amE>look.
"That was the
third time I said your name… what's wrong with you?"
"Oh… sorry, I was
just thinking."
"Oh, well, never
mind that; I think I've found the solution," she gushed, delighted.
"Soon ton to
what?" he asked, confused.
"To Draco,"
she said, looking at him again, but this time as if he'd grown another head.
EN-GB'> "What kind of
solution did Draco need?" he asked.
"Howget get past
the Veela predicament, and out of his marriage
contract with Pansy… you did know about that, right?" she asked
hesitantly.
"I've known about
the contract to Pansy since the beginning of the year, when I detained her and
Nott after they tortured him, remember?"
"Oh, of course; well,
shame really… that Pansy didn't get sent off with Nott, that is," she said
darkly.
"Well, she didn't
actually do anything, Hermione. Nott did all the dirty work," Harry
reasoned.
"Oh, well, enough
about that," she said hastily, "I figured out how to get out of both
of them. Draco asked me to look into it just after you and Professor Snape got
cloning is?" she asked, looking at him appragly.gly.
"Genetic duplication;
making a carbon copy asexually," he muttered.
"Correct. Well, I
think you and Draco may be able to conceive a baby this way," she said.
Harry stopped in his tracks. Baby? He was too y to
to
have a baby. The wowas was too dangerous right now. How could logical Hermione
even consider this?
"What?" he
asked blankly, his mind stopping short.
"Okay: when you
clone someone, you take the nucleus out of an egg and replace it with genetic
information from another person. You then give it a shock and make it start
dividing and forming a zygote. This can be the tricky part, but with magic I
think it will be possible," Hermione said, speaking very quickly. "I
think that if I donated an ovum, your genetic material can be put in it and
Draco can fertilize it with a sperm cell. I know it sounds very complex, but I
think if the charms were done just right, it would work," she said,
standing on her toes and looking at him expectantly.
"Baby?" he
said dumbly.
actually have the baby yet! As long as he conceives a child! Meaning the egg
only has to be fertilized before the Veela heritage is gone. We can then put a
preservation charm on it to keep it fresh until you graduate and find a
surrogate mother for it," Hermione explained.
"Well, it sounds
really tricky. The trickiest part is getting Draco to go along with this."
spanspan>"Oh, he's
willing. I've already asked him. He said a couple of words of praise, and then
kissed me… Harry, he kissed me!" she said, like she was trying to get
through to him.
about it?" he asked, confused.
"Well, to tell
you the truth, he looked more relieved than happy; but either way, it's a
breakthrough," she said tersely.
"Okay, so where
do we keep the fertilized egg until we find someone to carry it?" she
asked.
"The safest place
you can think of. Do you have any idea how much in demand this baby is going to
be? That would be Voldemort's next mission for sure: to get that egg,
to consider, Harrye bae baby will be the heir to Gryffindor, and Slytherin, and
have Veela blood in it. That is a very powerful baby, so I'm not so sure it
would ever be wise to actually have it carried to term; but for now, it's the
only way you and Draco can be together."
"What about the
marriage contract?" Harry asked.
get out of it. He gave me a copy a couple of weeks ago, and I've looked into
it. Lucius left a very small hole of opportunity for Draco to weasel out of it;
but there was no way for Pansy to. The only way he's going to get out of it is
if she's not pure when Draco is with her the first time. All we have to do is
talk someone into shagging that nasty pug and we'll be home free, and Draco
won't lose his estate or you. Do you know anyone who would shag Pansy?"
Hermione asked thoughtfully.
can't even believe that you're thinking about doing this!" Harry
exclaimed.
"Harry, this is
Pansy we're talking about. I've asked Draco, and he says that she doesn't know
about the hole in the contract, because it's tradition that the female do
everything to make sure the male is happy when the contract is actually
validated - total rubbish, if you ask me," she added. Harry stood looking
at her for a moment. A year ago, Hermione would have been scandalized at such a
notion; but now she was doing it for him.
"How long do we
have left?"
"Draco turns
seventeen in February. This means we have to act as soon as possible. Do you
think you can rig something up by then?" she asked him.
"Rig?"
"You know what I
mean. Get some poor soul of a guy to shag Pansy. Actually, you could use your
Shadow Phoenix gift of persuasion, and have them both drooling over each
other," she added thoughtfully.
"You mean you
don't think someone would do it willingly?" he asked.
"
course no one would willingly shag her! We could always have Draco take care of
that part, he's good at convincing others to do
things. Maybe there's someone in Slytherin that he trusts, who would do it as a
favor to him… what do you think?"
"Truthfully, he's
never mentioned anyone in Slytherin supporting his ideas, just his money. I'm
not sure who or how close he is to any of them," Harry said.
"Oh, well, we'll
talk to him later about it when we all meet at the Three Broomsticks. Right now
I have to finish my Christmas shopping… how 'bout you?"
"Yeah, that's
what I'm doing also. I still can't think of anything to get my friends. I got
both Dobby and Dumbledore wool socks that they love so much. I got Ginny a
charmed diary that she can set the password to, and several new cloaks. Then I
got Ron a new set of Quidditch balls, including the snitch; and a book on being
an Animagus. But I still haven't bought for you, Draco, Neville, Luna, Remus,
Moody, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, or Petunia," he listed.
"Oh, well, I can
help you there if you like. Well, not with my gift; I always hated knowing what
I got before I opened it; but I'll help you with their gifts," she offered
graciously.
"Thank you so
much; I didn't know if I was going to finish today. So, why don't we start with
Luna, because she's usually the easiest to please?" Harry offered.
"Um… anything odd
will catch her attention," Hermione said.
"Do you think
she'd like an animated stuffed animal?" Harry asked. Hermione looked at
him like he was nuts. "I think you misunderstood me. I wanted to get a
stuffed animal that looked like my Patronus for her, and have it animated. Do
you think she'd like it?" he asked somewhat hesitantly.
"Harry, that's a
wonderful idea!" she gushed, and they made their way to a nearby toy shop.
Harry beamed at her compliment.
"Well then, shall
we?" he asked, opening the door to the shop for her. She gave him a look
of mock appreciation for his considerate manner and walked ahead of him.
"Need help, my
dears?" an elderly woman asked as they began to browse the shelves. They
both turned to look at her. Harry's immediate impression was that she was the
female version of Professor Dumbledore. She had blue eyes that twinkled
knowingly, and she wore deep purple robes that demonstrated the solar system
with animation. Stars, moons and planets revolved on her robes in a very
distracting way, and he had a hard time looking her in the eye, due to being
drawn to the motion.
"
bit of charm work for me?" Harry asked. The woman
looked interested for a second before she clasped her hands in front of her
robes.
"It could be
arranged," she said shortly, but all the while smiling and twinkling.
"If I were to
conjure a model of an animal, do you think you could replicate it, and charm it
to act lively?" Harry asked.
"Well, dears,
that completely depends on the animal," she said, as if that were obvious.
"
wand.
"Oh, just a
second dear, let me get my wand," she said before moving back behind the
counter and bending down. While she was apparently rummaging around under the
counter, several students from Hogwarts walked in and flashed him and Hermione
grins and waves, before moving off to examine the endless shelves.
"Right!" she
said, effectively getting their attention returned to her, "Go right
ahead, Mr. Potter." Harry raised his wand, then
looked at her oddly.
"How'd you know
my name?" he asked, somewhat surprised.
"Doesn't
everyone?" she questioned him back. He nodded somewhat slowly, and
returned to attend to his current project. He flicked his wand, and a small
figure of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack dropped from his
wand as if he were pouring a large water drop from it. It landed on the floor
with a thud, and Harry stood back to appraise it. After a second of examination
he gave a curt nod of satisfaction, and looked to the elderly witch who was now
staring oddly at the small animal.
"Dear, what is
that?"
"It's an animal
my friend thinks exists, er… well, I think that's
what it's supposed to look like. One of my Patroni
came out in this form, so I'm only guessing that the Patronus was made from
what I gathered out of her ideas. I think it's close,
though," he added, looking back up to the woman after examining his
creation with a critical eye.
"Oh, well, no
mind. Right, here we go… might want to step back, m'dear,"
she said, glancing at him and Hermione. They both complied, (Hermione with a
worried expression,) but stood next to the first shelf. The witch started
murmuring incantations, and batting, scissors, fur-like fabric, and marbles
started flying about, all the while missing her squatting form.
"Harry, you know
you probably could have done this if you wanted to; what do you think Will
Magic is for?" she said, staring at the woman.
"Actually, I have
to know what I want before I can do Will Magic. Remember, it relies on my will.
I'd have to know what had to be done first; and seeing as how I've never
actually seen a toy made, I thought it best to watch first, before getting in
over my head. Looks like I was smart; those scissors, pins, and needles aren't
missing her head by much," he said with wide eyes.
"Harry?"
"
"What does the
magic look like?" she asked him in almost a whisper. His head snapped to
hers. He gave her a critical look for a moment before taking her hand. She
looked startled by this, and looked down at their hands.
"Close your eyes,
Hermione," he whispered to her. She looked at him strangely for a second
before complying. Harry watched the elderly witch and willed the images to
Hermione. There was a moment's delay before she finally gasped, and gaped at
the scene before her, even though she wasn't actually seeing it with her own
eyes.
"Harry, it's
beautiful," she said in a whisper.
"Isn't it?"
"Do you always
see this now?"
"No, only when I
want to. I've gotten the hang of this gift faster than the others. I think it
has something to do with my Occlumency," he said as an afterthought.
"I wish I had a
gift like that," she said, breaking the connection, and looking longingly
at the scene she was now viewing with her own eyes.
"The sight or the
animal?" he questioned her with a grin. She swatted him, grinning also.
"What if I told you I may be able to give you the sight?" he asked.
She looked shocked for a second before quirking an eyebrow. "Well,"
he hastened to explain himself, "Will Magic is supposed to be endless; I
mean, look at Professor Snape; I took his Dark Mark away."
"Do you really
think you could do that?" she asked.
"Truthfully,
there's only one way to find out… though I'd hate for you to be the first
person to be my guinea pig," he said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Are you
sure?" he asked.
"It would be my
Christmas gift, you wouldn't have to get me anything else," she said,
almost in a begging manner.
"Well, if you're
sure," he said slowly, before nodding and agreeing to do it. "When do
you want to do it?"
"You can't do it
now?" she asked, almost crestfallen.
"I'd rather not
in front of a crowd. And you have to promise that if I do this, you'll tell
no-one. If it gets around that I can give people gifts, I'll have all sorts of
people trying to get me to do things for them," he warned.
EN-GB'> "Promise,"
she said instantly. He hadn't seen Hermione this happy for a long time, not
since she'd established S.P.E.W. Suddenly, he knew
what he wanted to get her for Christmas.
"Hermione, can
you wait here for me to get back? Better yet, here, here's my pouch; pay for it
when she's done and take it to the Three Broomsticks with you. If she will,
have her wrap it so that no one sees it, okay?" She nodded and agreed,
though she gave him a sudden suspicious look. He left.
Harry all but ran out
the door and down a nearby alley. With a flourish of snowflakes, he was gone,
and reappeared at the apparition point in Diagon Alley. He took off quickly,
not wanting anyone to see him away from Hogsmeade. Walking at a pace he rarely
did, he made it up to and into Gringotts in record time. He approached the Head
Goblin and waited to be noticed.
"Yes?" the
goblin asked, not even looking up at him.
"I'd like to open
a vault and have some money transferred into it," he said politely. The
last time he was here he hadn't exactly been nice.
"Name?" the goblin
asked, still not looking up.
"Harry
Potter," Harry said; and the goblin's head snapped up.
"Oh, Mr. Potter,
right this way," the creature said, stepping down from his small podium
and leading Harry away to a small room.
"Yes; but it's
not for myself, it's for a friend," he said.
"Here is the
required paperwork, but why don't I just fill that out for you? If I could only
ask a few questions about the account's properties, I'll have this squared away
in no time," he said. Harry nodded thankfully at him. "Will this
vault have a name, or will it just be under the
holder's name?&quo:p><:p>
"Both. The vault
is for an organization. It will be under the direction of Miss Hermione
Gran&quo" Harry said.
"And
the name of the vault?"
"Magical
Individual Safeguard Society for Education and Discrimination, or
M.I.S.S.E.D.," Harry recited. He felt rather proud for being able to spout
that out off the top of his head. The goblin looked at him oddly for a momeo:p>o:p>
"May I ask, Mr.
Potter, what the organization is for?"
"Certainly; it
will push for laws protecting individuals who are not recognized as beings, but
magical creatures," Harry said.
"Who will this
include?" he asked again.
difference between a being and magical creature is communication. If I am able
to carry on a rather intelligent conversation with a magical creature, it hardly
seems fair to call them a creature or animal, instead of a being. Take
yourself, for example. For hundreds of years your people have been oppressed
because you look different, but, you also run the largest chain of
of the wizarding world's money. I would think it
would only be fair that you be allowed to live by the same laws as other
beings, such as wizards and Muggles," Harry explained.
"Who else would
this include?"
"Giants, because
I have a great friend who is half-giant and rather intelligent; he actually
teaches Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts. Werewolves, because my fathers
best friend is a werewolf, and is still one of the gentlest people I know. Not
to mention Centaurs, Goblins, and House Elves," Harry said, thinking off
the top of his head.
"Could you please
wait here for a second, Mr. Potter?" the goblin said, and left without waiting
for an answer. In all honesty, he was in quite a hurry, and wanted to leave as
soon as possible so as not to be seen out and about. He waited patiently for
the goblin to return. As he waited, he raised the hood of his cloak to not be
seen by others hurrying past the open door of the meeting room, who were doing
their morning errands and such. He saw some parents of his peers at school, and
was constantly turning trying to avoid being seen.
"Mr.
Potter," the goblin said, getting his attention when he was turned the
other way so as not to be noticed by Neville's grandmother.
"Yes?" Harry
said, turning around and seeing that he beinbeing looked at by at least six
more goblins. He was suddenly very scared of what they might do. Were they
going to tell Dumbledore that he'd left the grounds of Hogwarts or Hogsmeade?
Were they going to scold him for trying to butt his nose into something they'd
fought wars for centuries over?
"These are the
representatives from the Gring bra branches across
you," the Head Goblin said. Harry was now listening intently.
"Sure,
anything," he said, but then almost bit his lip. Goblins were known for
being greedy.
"We will all put
shares into your organization and help run and maintain it under Miss Hermione
Granger, if you will push for laws for equal rights for us without violence.
Can you guarantee at least some progress after the war?" He asked. All the
other goblins were almost leaning forward to look at him.
"Truthfully, if
it were up to me, you'd have what you want now; but I'm not going to be the
director, only the partner behind the scenes. In all respects, Hermione Granger
is the most brilliant witch I know. Last year she made history with the highest
scores ever for her O.W.L.S. You couldn't ask for a better representative, or a
more passionate person willing to pursue what you want," Harry expressed.
"When you say shares, what exactly do you mean?"
over the world, and each establishment will be more than willing to take a hand
in your organization - given, of course, that you promise some headway after
the war," the Head Goblin said.
"So you don't
want to own part of the company?" he asked apprehensively.
"No, Mr. Potter.
We are forced to recognize that you are a strong political figure in the
magical world. With your hand in the organization, we don't see much room for
disagreement. Tell us, will it be a non-profit organization?" He asked in
return.
"For me, yes; but
for Hermione, I can't say. If she wishes to pursue this full time once out of
school, it hardly seems fair that she should sacrifice her livelihood and intelligence
fighting for others with nothing in return. I'm going to insist that whatever
this organization is worth, she be allowed at least five percent of all
donations, shares and profits received per annum. Anything further will go back
into the organization for the cause. Some people might think it would sound
mercenary, I admit; but I know she'd agree to work for nothing; I know her
well. If she chooses to have an assistant or such, they will be paid by me or
by donation. It only seems fair," Harry said, standing defiantly in front
of the goblins. They all turned toward one another and started grunting and
such. Harry was somewhat surprised. He knew they had their own language; after
all, Percy said that Barty Crouch Sr. could speak
gobbledygook well; but he'd never actually heard them speak anything but
English.
"Should Miss
Granger fulfill our request, we will see she is paid
well, without taking any profit from the organization. For now, she may take
what she needs, and we will provide her with any assistance needed with the
account, information, laws, or such. Please let her know we are glad to be
doing business with her," the Head Goblin spoke again, sticking out his
hand to shake Harry's. Harry was absolutely delighted, and shook the Goblin's
hand excitedly.
Harry and the Head
Goblin finished filling out the appropriate paperwork, and secured a vault
guarded by dragons before Harry was able to leave. He had a huge folder of
information that had to do with the account, and the wishes of the Goblins.
There were fifty-four Gringotts banks around the world, and each had decided on
an annual donation of one hundred thousand galleons. Harry, being the one that
was starting the organization anyway, put in a million to make sure everything
started off smoothly. The goblins agreed that even after their needs were met,
they'd still donate annually for as long as the organization remained in
operation, or still had magical creatures to liberate. Hermione didn't have an
assistant, but Harry had a feeling that after he talked to a
certain someone, he'd be more than happy to put his lot in with Hermione.
All-in-all, the organization was already a success - and it hadn't even
officially started yet.
Harry
everything off the ground. He then had everything gift-wrapped, including the
documents for the organization, and tucked them away. He finally made it to the
Three Broomsticks, and spotted the others right away.
"Hey, guys,"
he said, grinning from ear to ear. He hadn't bought presents for everyone yet,
but he was very happy with his gifts so far.
"Hi," they
chorused together.
"Get all your
shopping done?" Ginny asked.
"No, not yet; I
still have a whole list of people to shop for, but I'm almost there. Hey, do
you think that Fred and George would like to open another shop in
Hogsmeade?" he asked Ron and Ginny.
up for now; why?" Ron asked.
"I was going to
give them another thousand galleons to start one… do you think they'd accept
it?"
"Harry, they'd
love you forever!" Ginny squealed; and Harry smiled.
"Good; that's one
more gift out of the way. All that's left is Bill, Charlie, Molly, Arthur,
Moody and Moony. Any ideas?" he asked.
"Well, Mum has
always wanted to go to the theater, but never has
time. If you bought her tickets, she'd have to go because she wouldn't want to
waste them," Ginny commented. Ron noddedagreagreement.
"I know what I
want to get Bill, but I'm not too sure about Charlie," Harry said.
"You can get
Charlie anything that has to do with Quidditch or dragons; he's as bad as Ron
is about Quidditch," Ginny commented. Ron scowled lightly at her but he
couldn't really argue - not after all the extra practices they'd had ly.
"I know what I'm
getting Moody, too; but I'm not too sure about what I want to get for
Moony."
"How
about a pensieve of all your memories of
suggested.
"Well, I don't
really have that many; he has more than I would. I think it needs to be
something he can use. Oh, I know! Do you think he'd like robes? His are awfully
tattered. Oh, and maybe a pendant with a dog, stag and wolf on it… what do you
think?" he asked, just spouting off ideas from the top of his head.
"I think he'd
definitely appreciate it, Harry," Ron commented. Harry believed him; they
had seen Remus more than he and Draco did last summer.
"So, who's
left?" Ginny asked.
"Petunia,
Neville, and Draco," Harry said, sitting between Neville and Draco.
"You know, you guys could make this easy on me
and just tell me what you want."
"It doesn't
matter to me, I'm just happy for the rest I'll get while on
Everyone laughed at him. Of all those who had lessons with Harry, it was easy
to see that Neville was the one that was the most exhausted from them.
"How
about you, Draco?" Harry asked. Draco diverted his eyes from Harry
for a second and scanned the other occupants of the table as if he were afraid
of saying something.
"Well… actua
I
I was hoping that you'd let me give you something instead," Draco said,
not very confidently. Harry looked at him, confused.
"What do you
mean?"
"A while ago, I
told you that I couldn't give you something because it would always be
dark…" he trailed off, and looked at the occupants of the table again as
if waiting for them to la He He began again, "For Christmas, I want you
to accept my heart…" he trailed. He didn't look embarrassed, but more
scared and hopeful. It was perhaps one of the only times Draco had actually
looked innocent and insecure. Harry looked away. If he continued to keep eye
contact, he'd never even be able to think about it before he agreed to it.
No-one at the table was saying anything. Both Neville and Ron were looking
around at the crowd like they hadn't heard it. Ginny was looking at Draco
curiously, and Hermione was looking at Harry intently. Under the table, Hermione
grabbed his hand to show support; but neither one of them really acknowledged
the gesture.
"I… well… I have
to think about it. Hermione told me earlier about her solution, and I need to
ask you some questions that would be better asked in private before I give you
an answer. Can you accept that?" Harry asked in almost a whisper. Draco
nodded; he looked a bit disappointed, but relieved and hopeful.
<
"So," Ginny
burst out to get rid of the tension, "Do you want me to you you finish
your Christmas shopping, Harry?"
"Please!" he
begged and slid off his stool. He hadn't even had time for a Butterbeer yet,
but didn't care; he couldn't take the tension either.
"We'll see you
lot back at the castle, okay?" Ginny said to the group; they all nodded.
Harry and G mad made
their way out of the pub and into the snow-covered street once again. The first
place they went was to the local robe fitting shop. Harry had no idea what
Remus' measurements were, so he purchased a gift certificate for two hundred
galleons, and then proceeded to the local jeweler.
Harry spent about thirty minutes here telling the shop owner what he'd like,
and for whom he wanted it arranged. They decided that they would initially shape
the pendent as a lily, and have the stag, dog, wolf and phoenix lying on the
petals. Ginny absolutely loved this idea, and gushed about how beautiful the
pendant would look. Harry then had small emeralds put into the phoenix' eyes,
and into the center of the lily. He had sapphires put
into eye eyes of the dog and wolf, and then had tiger-eye stones put into the
stag. The end product was breathtaking - not to mention very expensive. He also
got a dishy necklace for Petunia that had a phoenix carrying a lily and a
petunia in either claw, and gave the phoenix emerald eyes. He decided to charm
both the pendants later himself, with a bit of Will Magic. The owner gave Harry
a rather large discount for saving his shop during the siege of the Death
Eaters, and Harry walked away with the pendant costing half price.
Next it was off to the
weapons store, where they had agreed to get Charlie an enchanted shield that
was fire-resistant. Harry chose one rather quickly when he saw that there was a
Hungarian Horntail on the front of it, and put the charm on it
of a decorative piece; but whether he used it for show or for the field, it
wouldn't tarnish.
"Have you decided
what to get Neville?" Ginny asked as they walked out of the weaponry.
Harry shook his head.
t;Ant;Any ideas?"
he asked hopefully. Ginny too shook her head.
"I know that the
one thing he wants the most, he'll never get," she said. He looked at her oddly
for a second.
"What does he
want?" he asked. She looked at him as if it were obvious.
"His mother's and
father's sanity back!" she almost yelled. Harry was stunned. He'd never
really known Neville to be a person to talk about his problems or dreams, but
he knew that he too would have liked something like that.
"You know, I think
I may be able to do that," Harry said as an afterthought. Ginny looked at
him as if he were being cruel. "No, seriously… Aurors have to learn a bit
of Occlumency when they go through training; I read it on the train on the way
to Hogwarts. Right now, they're just stuck behind their own walls.
Draco's?"
"Do you think it
would work?" Ginny said numbly. She couldn't believe that something like
this could actually happen.
"I'm almost
positive I can do it; I'll just need a memory enhancing potion and a calming
potion, to make sure they don't go into shock afterward," Harry said,
getting excited.
"They don't sell
already-made potions at the Apothecary; you'd have to get them from the castle
and then go to St. Mungo's to heal them. Do we really
have time for that?" she asked quickly, looking down at her watch.
"If we're quick
we will. Come on, grab on and we'll make this quick," he said, holding out
his hand for her to take. In a whirl of snowflakes they were gone and
reappeared in the potions classroom. Snape was sitting at his desk, and stood immediately
upon seeing them teleport in.
"What's
wrong?" he demanded.
"Nothing,
actually; but I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me with
something?" he asked almost hesitantly. He hoped he sounded more confident
than he felt facing the Potions Master.
"What?"
Snape said, but not harshly.
"I think I've
figured out a way to heal Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom," Harry said quickly.
Snape stared at him for a second before narrowing his eyes.
"How?"
"Can you just
trust me, please? We need to act quickly. School lets out tomorrow, and I want
this done before Neville leaves," Harry pleaded. Snape looked like he was
about to question Harry's methods again, but thought better of it.
< lan lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>
said, as he started walking towards his office.
"No, we can't. If
the healers know that I can do this… that is… if it works, they'll want me to
do it for everyone. Just grab two calming potions and two memory enhancing
potions, and we'll transport right to their rooms. I've been there
before." Snape gave a curt nod and strode quickly into his office before
returning with the four vials. "Grab on," he said warily as Snape
did; and again, for the fourth time that day, he disappeared in a flurry of
snowflakes and reappeared in the isolation ward of St. Mungo's
Hospital.
Harry quickly strode
forward and assessed the situation. Both the Longbottoms were asleep, and
weren't moving. Harry looked at Snape again.
"Do you think we
could get the potions in them without actually waking them up?"
"It's been done
before. Let me," he said, striding forward and uncorking two of the
potions. While he was administering them he began to speak to Harry again.
"Can you tell me exactly what you're going to do?"
"I'm going to
bring them out of their own minds with Legilimency. I'm going to try to enter;
and then, using my Shadow Phoenix gift, persuade them to come back out of the
prison of their minds. I think it may work; but I also think, while coming out,
they'll experience the ordeal that put them in this position to begin
with," Harry informed him. Snape looked to be calculating something in his
head before he finally nodded and looked back at Harry.
"It seems so
simple that I find it hard to believe it's never been done; but as you
explained it, it has the potential to work," he said. Harry felt relief
wash over him at this comment. "Okay, I'll ground you so that we aren't
risking you getting pulled in," he said; and Harry nodded. To his great
surprise, he grasped Harry's hand and motioned for Harry to start.
Harry, holding onto
Severus' left hand with his right, sat on the edge of Mrs. Longbottom's bed just
next to her shoulder. He lifted her eyelids and gazed into her eyes. The
feeling of being under water encompassed him as he began to tear away the very
thin wall that Alice Longbottom had erected subconsciously, and he slid neatly
and painlessly through. The woman's mind was chaos. Actually, painful was the
only word for it. It was like being hit with the Cruciatus curse repeatedly.
With every small move he made, the pain began to get worse. He stopped for a
moment aatheathered his wits. He remembered Dumbledore telling him his mind
could do anything as long as Harry believed it was happening. So Harry focused
all his energy on beating the curse. First he willed himself to feel it as a
tickling curse instead, but then changed his mind soon after. He realized that
he was starting to laugh and was afraid that Severus would pull him out if he
started to sound crazy; so he reduced the sensation to a mere tingle. He began
to move once more, and as he did, the tingling began to recede from his nerve
endings as if his body had almost fallen asleep. He arrived at the
rather, sense her - anywhere. He decided to work from where he was, and just
have her come to him.
"
"Follow my voice, I will take you home." There was a wail just after
his small comment, but nothing more. "Come on,
husband needs your help also; follow my voice."
There was suddenly a
presence, and if Harry had been in his own body, the hairs on the back of his
neck would have stood up. The air seemed to turn cold and damp.
"Who are
you?" a scared voice said; a voice, in fact, that reminded him of Neville.
"My name is Harry
Potter, I've come to take you home," his said, caressing the lady's
worried mind to try to put it at ease. She recoiled at his touch the first
time, but then she came back slowly and touched Harry. He tried to think of
thoughts that brought him joy and love, so as to
project them to her and make her mind stronger, and make her more determined to
come with him.
"You said you
knew Neville… my baby Neville?" she asked emotionally. Harry caressed her
mind again with his, and answered an affirmative.
his coaxing voice once again. She began to follow, but was hesitant the whole
way. Harry totally tore down her Occlumency shields, and left her wide open for
any kind of attack; but at the moment he didn't care,
he just wanted her to emerge. He began to slip out, and right when he felt the
swimming feeling, what he was afraid of started.
"
they want Neville!" Frank Longbottom yelled at his wife. She cast some sort
of ward on the stairwell that led upstairs, and looked at Frank determinedly.
"He's my son too,
and I'll be damned if I let them have him!" she said, taking up a spot
next to her husband. Frank looked like he wanted to argue but didn't.
"How did they
know where we were?" she asked.
"I don't know;
this is the whole reason we weren't going to take the Fidelius
charm off yet!" Frank yelled over the sound of the straining wards as they
finally broke.
"Stupefy!"
windows that had just broken. Frank began doing the same thing. There was
suddenly a crash from the back of the house, and
back to her husband's. She cast another warding spell on the staircase leading
upstairs, as the baby resumed crying at the ruckus going on down on the lower
levels.
"
and hit the floor. There was nothing he could have done. He wanted to move from
the curse, but his wife would have been hit. He screamed in agony as his nerve
endings felt like they were being fried in spitting grease.
"Frank!
Stupefy!"
hit the floor.
"
belonged to a man.
overtaken by the agony.
"
to jump up and tackle the man; but it was a futile gesture. His knees gave way
under him and he fell, still too shaky from his own bout with the curse to help
his wife.
"Shut up,
you!" the man yelled, letting up on his wife and taking down the hood of
his cloak.
"
horror-struck.
"Yes; tell me
where he is!" Lestrange yelled furiously.
"Who?"
Frank asked, still shaking. Rodolphus moved around
and revived his wife, as another Death Eater entered the front door.
"Where's
Crouch?" he asked the man.
"I posted him as
k-ouk-out," the Death Eater said, moving around into Frank's view.
"
Bellat/spa/span> screeched at him.
"Bella, you're
not Master, and I'm in higher rank than you. Shut up, woman!" he told his
sister-in-law.
"I am
higher-ranked than you… and I think you should have listened to Bella!"
Lestrange.
"I want to have
some fun too. Let the young whelp stay out there, I want to at least
watch," he said, smirking down at the crumpled form of
first?" Bella cackled at his comment.
"We are here for
only one reason, Brother," Rodolphus reminded
him sternly, and then turned back to Frank. "Where is our master?!"
"I don't
know," Frank said shakily.
"
again, as the baby upstairs started crying again. Bella finally let up.
"Where is
he?" Rabastan asked this time, as Bella cackled
madly while looking down at Alice, who was crying and still whimpering.
Frank said, getting angry seeing his wife so helpless.
"
yelled this time, furiously hitting Frank with the curse. Bella squatted down
and motioned for her husband to stop.
"Now
mock-soothing voice, "Just tell us where the Dark Lord is and we'll leave
peacefully."
something, but blood came from her mouth instead. Bella grinned at this and
motioned to her husband again.
"
screaming again as
"
making her scream like her husband. Rabastan laughed.
"Pathetic excuses
for Aurors," he said, sauntering up to Frank, "Crucio!"
he yelled helping his brother. Frank started bleeding from the ear.
Bella's whim, "Crucio!" he yelled. She
started leaking blood from her mouth as she screamed and choked. He let up
again.
"
panting. All three spun to see Crouch. "Aurors!" he yelled; and with
that, there were four pops and they were gone - along with Frank's and Alice's
minds.
The last bit of the
memory could only be heard, not seen. Harry could tell that this was where
own mind for cover. He continued to soothe her with his mind by keeping focused
on positive thoughts.
"It's over;
come," he said to
Harry could tell she wanted to stay and help her husband. "It's not real,
waiting for you… come," he said in his whispering voice, as she started to
follow him.
The water-engulfed
feeling came quickly as he latched on to
to the surface with him. Harry shook his head and blinked several times. His
eyes were still blurry, and he reached up to feel for his glasses. They were
wet. Had he cried, or was it just perspiration? He straightened up and realized
he had a death grip on Snape's hand and hastily let go. Looking down at
staring back at him with her eyes filled with emotion. He took her hand and
leaned closer to her.
"Neville will be
here tomorrow to see you; I suggest you get some rest while I go get Frank,
okay?" he asked softly. She narrowed her eyes at him as if she weren't
sure if she could trust him or not, but let her eyes flutter shut as the
calming potion did its job and put her back to sleep - this time, in her sane
mind.
It was about
o'clock in
the afternoon before Harry, Snape and Ginny made it back to Hogwarts. Snape had
complimented Harry, though lightly, and suggested he get some rest. He gave
Harry a Dreamless Sleep potion, and told Ginny to make sure he made it to his
dorm. After they got into the hall, Harry excused himself and teleported to the
Gryffindor Suite, and fell into his bed, exhausted.
Harry opted to stay at
the castle for Christmas, and didn't wake in time to see anyone off to the
station. He had not signed up to stay, but didn't really think it was necessary
since he always had stayed before - well, besides last year, when he went to
thought out of his mind, and went about his morning routine. He still had to
deliver Petunia's and Remus' gifts, and give Bill and Moody theirs. The first
place he went was
straight into the living room of the drearily normal house, to find no-one
there. There was a Christmas tree erected, and it was piled high with
gifts. He took the pendant out of his felt bag, and set it on the coffee table.
Pointing his finger at it, he willed it to be unbreakable, and give the wearer
protection against any curse he could think of. Harry knew this wouldn't apply
to the Killing Curse, just like the wards in the Hogsmeade Battle were weak
against the Killing Curse; but hopefully, she'd have enough sense to get away
before that. He conjured a box for it, wrote a small note telling his aunt what
it contained, and left it under the tree.
were; though Ron and Ginny were not there yet. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone
out for the day, and while they were out, they would be picking up Ron and
Ginny. Bill and Charlie were there. Harry reached into his bottomless felt bag
and heaved out the shield he'd gotten for Charlind gnd gave it to him. He
received a whistle and a slap on the back as a thank-you, and was told his gift
was with the family owl. Harry said that was fine; then took Bill aside to give
him his gift. He'd decided, due to Bill's profession, to give him the gift to
be able to see magic at will. He hoped that this would help him when it came to
breaking curses, so he could see what type it was before even working on it. He
put his hands on either side of Bill's head and concentrated on making Bill see
magic, the same way he did when he wanted to. The end result was a success, and
Bill looked awed at Harry's power. Harry did make Bill promise not to tell
anyone about what he had done, for the same reason he'd given Hermione earlier.
Last of all, he
teleported to
and Moody to give them their gifts. Due to a full moon having ended the day
before Christmas, Remus was unavailable. Instead, he sniffed out Moody, and
promptly stunned him… literally. He was sure what he was about to do would not
be welcomed by the ex-Auror.
"
down next to him. He put a body bind on Mad-Eye, and levitated him to the
couch.
"
commanded, pointing his wand at the leg that was missing its peg. Liquid gold
began to flow out of his wand, much the same way that silver came out of
Voldemort's wand when he had done this same thing to Wormtail in the graveyard.
In a matter of minutes, Harry had created a perfect leg on the man, and put his
wand away. After writing Remus a quick note in explanation of his pendant, then
charming it, boxing it and banishing it to Remus' room, he did a bit of Will
Magic and revived Moody, quickly leaving before Mad-Eye could react.
His last stop was
Diagon Alley, where Harry decided to get Severus a gift for his help the day
before. He knew a lot about potions; but Harry wasn't sure what a Potions
Master would prize the most. So instead of trying to guess, he simply went to
the Apothecary to ask. After much debate, he decided to put together a gift
basket of sorts. He bought a platinum cauldron, which was guaranteed to never
melt (and cost a pretty galleon), and then filled it with dangerous and rare
ingredients that he had to have flooed over from
other shops that were in association with the one in Diagon Alley. After the
orders were placed and delivered, Harry had the huge cauldron filled with
ingredients such as mermaid fins, griffin claws, basilisk eyes and fangs, and
even hag nails. Thoroughly disgusted now, Harry teleported back to Hogwarts,
and left the cauldron in Severus' office, where he would get it later.
nap before dinner.