Broken Hearted

part 2……

Natural Born Chaos

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I don’t think this is a good idea Hermione.” Ron repeated for the fifth time in two minutes.

Hermione looked up at the red head and reminded him why they were doing this in the first place. “Ron, I know this is a bit extreme, however, you’ve seen with your own two eyes what is happening to Harry. We have to help him. We’re all he has as far as a real family goes. You heard Dumbledore. Even the headmaster can’t help Harry now.”

Grimacing Ron nodded. “I know I’m just saying for the record I think this is a really bad idea. Mind, I’m going to do it and I’ll help Harry anyway I can. I just think that if we keep looking we’ll find the answer ourselves and not have to do… this.” He waved a hand over the collection of ingredients.

“Listen!” An exasperated Hermione said as she prepared the dried red oak leaves. “If we’d found it in the restricted area it would be different and I wouldn’t even think about trying it. BUT! We found this in the regular part of the library didn’t we. All the ingredients are natural and easy to find. So obviously it is not of the Dark Arts. Now I admit, I don’t like bringing a son of chaos here but if he can help Harry then I’ll take the consequences.”

Ron couldn’t help himself as he teased her. “Even if it means we get expelled?”

Hermione paled and swallowed hard. In a shaky voice she replied, “Y-y-yes. Even if we get expelled.”

Chuckling a little he patted his friend on the shoulder. “They won’t, you know. Once we tell them its for Harry and where we found the book they can’t blame us for trying. We may have detention for the rest of our time at Hogwarts and loose 200 points each for Gryffindor but they wouldn’t expel us. At least I don’t think they would.”

Looking relieved, she relaxed and returned to preparing every thing. When she was sure things looked exactly as the book had stipulated, Hermione mixing it all in a bowl. Consulting the book she moved on to the next step, the summoning circle. She and Ron quickly made a circle and then placed three connecting arches where the book had indicated. The following step was to place three candles on the connecting points of the arches, which now looked like a three pedaled flower inside of the circle.

“Okay three more things and I can start chanting the spell.” She looked over at Ron. “This is were where I need the crystal, the leaves of a bleeding heart and the blood of a mischievous male virgin.”

“Here you are, Mione.” He handed her the last of the ingredients.

“Uhmm… Ron? Who did you get the blood from?” She inquired.

The mischievous smirk on his face was all the answer he gave.

“RON! I told you it had to be a virgin’s blood.” Hermione said furiously.

Sighing Ron explained, “It is Mione. You have a problem with that?”

“Your a… I mean … Uh… no. I-I don’t have a problem with it. It’s just I thought… You told Malfoy that you…” the witch stammered.

“Oh yeah. Like I’m going to bloody well announce to Draco Malfoy that I’m an effin’ virgin. Sorry, I may be gay but I’m not stupid.”

“GAY!” A shocked Hermione stared at the boy next to her.

The young wizard groaned “Oh, bloody hell! Harry said was going to explain. Are you going to be okay with this? I…”

“OH, oh no. I’m fine with it. REALLY! You just surprised me is all. It must have been what Harry was trying to tell me before he had his last attack. Are you and he?” She asked with a raised brow.

Relieved, the red head smiled. “No. Harry and I are just friends. He was really supportive when I told my parents. I hate to change subjects here and all Hermione but if we are going to do this spell then lets do it, we can talk later.”

Giggling she kissed his cheek and said, “I want all the details. You understand me?”

Blushing Ron just nodded and helped her by adding the last two items and then handing her the rose crystal that was wrapped in blue velvet.

“Thanks. Now all I have to do is summon the Lord of Chaos to call the son and have him bind the son to the person who did the summoning. This will make him answer our questions truthfully. Oh and we have to choose the form too.” Hermione read and re-read the words to summon. “All you have to do is bind him to you by reading this and say the word ‘HUMAN’. Just remember to pronounce the chant like we practiced it. Nervous?”

“Is Malfoy a jackarse?” the freckled teen quipped sarcastically.

Letting out a nervous laugh, the witch let some of the tension in her body to disappear.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” Ron confirmed.

Breathing deep she began, her voice low and humbled, to chant. Building verse by verse her voice raising in volume and in demand of Chaos’s son. Finally the chant ended and Ron began his half of the spell asking for the human guardian of chaos. The summons complete and the form chosen they waited. The two teens didn’t have to wait long.

Wind began to blow within the windowless room, the three candles lit themselves, and the three petaled flower within the circle began to spin. The salt of the circle began to rise with the circular wind giving visible form to the mini tornado forming within the room. The flames of the candles took flight like fireflies and joined in the frantic dance within the vertical wind tunnel. Splitting in two, dividing themselves again, and multiplying into endless numbers, the three flames became thousands within moments. The small tornado now touched from ceiling to floor but never expanding any farther than the summoning circle. For one moment the tunnel seemed alive with knowing, soul searching eyes. Hermione held out the blue velvet and pulled back the material to reveal an enchanted piece of rose crystal the size and shape of a human heart.

The tornado stilled, seeming to the eye to be frozen in place. After what was but a moment, and yet felt like an eternity, it began to move again. The bottom of it flowed upward toward the ceiling, the summoning circle again visible. The pinwheel had stopped. What was once a funnel was now was just a swirling cloud of light and mist on the roof of the room, the pinwheel began to spin once more, only this time in the opposite direction.

The cloud rumbled and moved but just around the ceiling. When the wheel was turning at such a speed that the inside of the circle looked to be solid was a voice heard.

“Why do you summon a Son of Chaos’? ” quarried the cloud above them.

It was Ron who answered. “We need his help. Our friend is dying by magical means and though everyone has tried to help and many more are researching his condition we fear that this knowledge is that which is beyond our resources. The adults haven’t found anything and most have given up hope. We are the closest thing to a family he has and we love him as if he were our own brother. I know this sounds selfish but he is important, not just to us, but the world. I know our offering is small but it is all we could afford.”

There was another rumble and again the feeling of eyes searching their souls. The voice questioned, “What is the name of your friend?”

“Harry Potter, sir.” The wizard replied.

The low rumble became a thunderous booming for a while and then settled on rumbling again as if calming down. “You speak true. You’re offering though small for its size is large in what it symbolizes. I have spoken to the Powers and they have agreed that Harry Potter must live. Even though your motives are partly selfish, your hearts and intentions are noble. The balance must be kept. I will make the bargain with you, RONALD WEASLEY and HERMIONE GRANGER. Meet my terms and I shall not only send one of my sons but will bind him to one of your choosing so that he will always speak the truth when questioned. All of his resources will be at your disposal.”

“What are your terms?” Hermione bit her lip hoping they could meet them.

More rumbling from the clouds except now it was more of a chuckle then the dooming sound that was heard before. “Worry not little witch. My terms are obtainable. The terms are as follows, to be completed by either one of you, my son, and/or Harry himself… First - The payment of the rose crystal when YOUR job and not my son’s is completed. Second - You will help my son regain that what was stolen from him by one of your own here at Hogwarts. Third - You will give the KEY meaning, the dark solider the love he deserves, bring light to a fallen angel and heal the heart of the White Knight. Lastly - You three must find the heart of the raven and save it before it is too late. Give the scholar wisdom and find a true mate to love the fox…” A scroll with the terms listed on them appeared before them along with a quill and ink. “If you except, sign your names. Decline, the payment of the crystal is still mine.”

Ron requested, “If we agree, we would need our own copy of the terms and more than a vague description of these people other than foxes, ravens, and soldiers.”

Compromising the cloud stated “I shall give you each a copy. The description however is not mine but the Powers’. This I can not give you. However, my son will understand their meanings once he has regained what was taken from him. This I can offer you. Are we agreed?”

The new arrangements where added to the scroll. Ron looked at Hermione. Turning from her he faced the scroll, grabbed the quill, and signed with the strange milky purple ink provided. Handing the quill to Hermione, Ron watched as her signature joined his on the paper. No sooner had she signed did the items disappear.

“Done!” the misty cloud rumbled happily. “I call forth Ethan Rayne, Natural Born Son and Loyal Servant of Chaos.”

The circle on the floor glowed an iridescent blue. Just above the circle one of the firefly like flames descended down from the cloudy mist. The light from the flame was a brilliant metallic blue-green with gold at it’s center. Quickly the light grew and stretched until a vague outline of a man could just be made out from within. Ron and Hermione had to shield their eyes to protect themselves from the sudden burst of golden light from within the flame. As suddenly as the flame had been born, it died. What remained was a man in a shimmering black cloak with the hood up, giving the impression of a living night sky.

“This is my son, Rayne. I believe, Hermione, that you and Harry are vaguely familiar with him.” rumbled the cloud.

A thundering crash and flashes of light issued from above and the form within the circle began to shake. “I bind him to you Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and your friend… Harry Potter. He is at your disposal.” Two scrolls appeared before the teens. “This are your copies as per our agreement. Tell Harry when he is able that he and I need to talk. My son will know how to get a hold of me.”

With that the mist began to funnel downward again, becoming a violent storm that quickly became nothing more than a gentle breeze. Slowly the breeze faded and all that was left behind were the remains of three candles and the figure that stood where the circle use to be. Stepping forward, the hooded figure extended a gloved hand.

“Hello.” A smooth voice from deep within the cloak greeted.

“Hi. Uhmm…the cloud said that we know each other?” Hermione asked.

The cloaked figure chuckled. “I must say it is news to me as well my dear girl but if, as you say, the cloud said it was so, then it is.”

Ron clasped the out stretched hand and shook it as he did the introductions. “Hello. I’m Ron. This is Hermione.”

Releasing the hand he held the figure replied. “A pleasure young man, and I am Ethan Raynes, but you can call me Ethan, Raynes, or Rayne. I shall answer to any of these, though I prefer Rayne.”

“Cool. So how much do you know about why your here, Rayn?” Ron asked.

“You summoned. I am bound to three people I’m suppose to have met but I don’t remember and I must help you solve your problem and assist you in the terms of your contract with my father. Did I miss anything?” Rayne summed up.

Laughing a little with relief Hermione asked, “I have just one question.”

“Just one?” the amusement in Rayne voice was clear.

Hermione glared at Ron as he snickered at Rayne’s question, “Oh yeah, he knows you.”

Whopping Ron’s arm, Hermione continued. “Okay so I have several, but for now I thought we could start by finding out what was stolen from you and if you knew who did it? That way Ron and I could work on that while your working on what is wrong with Harry.”

Mischief could be heard in Rayne’s voice. “Now if I knew what it was that was taken from me I could have gotten it back already don’t you think?”

“He’s got you there, Mione.” Ron tried really hard not to laugh at his friend.

“Well it was worth a try. HEY! That’s where we can start, Ron and I can work on a potion or spell that will help you remember what was stolen.”

Ron nodded in agreement, “If he can remember then we can buy or steal it back or something. We could talk to Neville. He was working on memory spells to help him in potions class. Snape has really been breathing down his neck lately and threatening to flunk him if he didn’t get better soon.”

“And once we get Rayne’s stuff back he can help us out with the descriptions on the contracts.” Hermione added while she collected the candles. “Ron, you go talk to Neville. Rayne, you and I will go see Harry and see what you can do there. We’ll meet in the common room in say … two hours?”

“Works for me. You okay with that Rayne?” asked Ron as he was cleaning up the rest of the mess from the summoning.

Laughing Rayne handed Hermione the book from the floor and pulled back his hood. “You mean I actually get a choice?”

“Kind of feels like you’ve met your match doesn’t it.” Ron snickered as he stared at the older man.

Rayne tired not to laugh as the other teen glared at the boy clearly wanting to stick out her tongue at the youth.

“Thanks, Rayne.” The witch accepted the summoning book then looked over at her friend. “I’m not bossy.”

Rayne watched the two and could clearly tell that these two had been at this banter since first laying eyes on one another. Rayne did laugh at that thought. They already bickered like two married people. Ah well.

“What’s so funny?” Hermione asked.

“You two, you sound like an old married couple.” Rayne paused then added. “Too bad the lad here is a pouf, might have been fun to see what the kids would have been like.”

“I beg your pardon!” exclaimed Hermione.

“H-h-how did you know I was…?” Ron stammered.

Rayne held up his hand. “First, these are the jokes, people. They may not be funny but, they’re there none the less. Besides, I meant no insult. I was only teasing the two of you a bit. Second, I can smell it on you. After all I am part demon so I have some of their same senses.” Pointing to the door, Rayne asked, “Shall we?”

Everything now cleaned up the two teens looked at one another. Ron’s face clearly saying ‘I don’t like this’. Rayne clearly was in a hurry as he was all but shoving them out the door.

“So, Ron talks to his friend, while we head off to see Harry. We meet when and where again?” Rayne asked.

“Two hours from now in the Gryffindor common room.” Hermione said distractedly.

She caught Ron’s eye and he just shot her a look that said ‘we’ll talk later’. Ron handed her Harry’s invisibility cloak and wished her luck. Nodding, Hermione ushered Rayne toward the hospital wing. Ron watched his friend leave with their guest and stand at the end of the hall. Hermione whispered something to Rayn and they disappeared under the cloak.

There was something very wrong here, Ron just wished he knew what it was he was feeling. Maybe it was the fact they were supposed to have met Rayne before. Or maybe it was the fact the older man had admitted he was part demon and could tell Ron was gay just by smell. Sure as bloody hell could be that he was putting the life of his best friend in this strange guys hands and didn’t feel worried in the least by it.

Perturbed, Ron walked to Gryffindor tower in search of Neville Longbottom and to start their smoke screen in case they get caught. He had no clue what so ever what he was going to tell the boy to get a copy of the spell Neville’s grandmother had sent him. *I guess, I could tell him the truth.* Well as much of it as he could without getting Neville involved in what he and Hermione were doing.

“Cutting curfew a little close there Ron?” inquired the painting on the wall in front of him.

Stepping up to the portrait of the fat lady, Ron asked her. “Have you ever done something you knew was for a good cause, but you had your doubts from the beginning that what you were doing seemed off somehow? Not wrong, just off and your doubts just seemed to grow stronger with every passing second after you did that something?”

“Yes, but I never regretted it.” Replied the portrait. “But that was years ago.”

“Really? What was it if you don’t mind me asking?” requested Ron.

“I agreed to be the guardian of this doorway again. I have to tell you when I was slashed a few years back I was really second guessing myself, but I never regretted coming back once I lost my fear of being attacked.” Responded the fat lady. “If you don’t mind me asking you, what is it you’re so worried about?”

*It couldn’t hurt to tell her something, could it?*

Looking all around to make sure he wouldn’t be heard, Ron stepped closer to the lady and whispered to her. “You can’t tell anyone because it might not work and I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up but I think Hermione and I have an answer to what’s wrong with Harry.”

“Let me guess. You two were in the restricted area of the library again.” The portrait said disapprovingly.

“Actually no. We found his name in the normal part of the library.” *Time to throw the rumor mill into a loop.*

Ron had known by telling the fat lady word would spread like wild fire among the students and could be used to his and Hermione’s advantage to hide Rayne. They had stayed up several nights working on a cover story that was believable enough and still true without being all of the real story. Hagrid and the students of Hogwarts were way more protective of Harry than any of the teachers could or would be. So, Hermione said that all they would have to do is give just enough information to get the rest of the students gabbing and hopefully misdirect the adults long enough to at least get Harry out of the hospital. It was a move that he and Hermione thought would be worth while. The down side being, however, that Slytherin would find out as well and would be gunning for them. That would mean that Professor Snape would be breathing down their necks as well, but really neither was anything new to the teens.

“Really?” The fat lady leaned closer to Ron as if she were about to step out of the picture and pull him into some corner to pump him for the details.

“Yeah but remember you can’t tell anyone. Mione and I just received his owl not too long ago and well…” Ron made a show of looking over his shoulder again then whispered even lower than before. “we don’t want the professors to know what we’ve been up to. They might try to stop us before we get a chance to explain what we did. You know what I mean?”

“Of course, I understand completely. So what did he owl you?” a sparkle in her eye at the hint of more gossip.

“Well, he said he would come and examine, Harry.” Ron explained. “He wrote that it wouldn’t be a problem to meet us in Hogsmeade. Best part is he said he wouldn’t charge us anything as long as we didn’t tell certain people he was here. You see, he and Harry’s dad where friends. Thing is that one of the Professors and he were rivals back in school. And well, Dumbledore and some of the others don’t like him cause he wouldn’t choose sides the first time You Know Who was stirring up trouble. Hagrid says we can trust him though and well, Harry is getting worse so we told him we would hide him while he is at Hogwarts and keep his presence on a need to know basis. I figure since he will be staying part of his time here in the towers it would be okay to tell you. Cause you know he’ll have our password and all and I didn’t want you to worry about a strange man being here and you telling someone. Didn’t want you to give us away. You won’t will you? You’ll keep it a secret right?”

Ron could practically see her making a mental list of every portrait, ghost and talking nick nack in the castle she could tell. “I wouldn’t dream of telling a LIVING soul. You can count on me, dear.” She said.

He made a show of looking relieved, “Thanks. Please keep your fingers crossed that this works.”

The fat lady held up a hand and crossed her fingers. “I will, dear.”

“I better go.” Ron stood back and said the password. “Chocoball.”

“Good luck, Ron.” The portrait wished him as she swung open to reveal the portal that would lead to the common room.

“Thanks.” Mumbling as an after thought, “We’re going to need it.”

*Now, all I have to do is find Neville.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Remember…”

Rayne interrupted Hermione. “I know. I know. If we get separated look for the portrait of a fat lady and when asked for the password it’s Chocoball. I got it, luv. I’m old, not daft.”

“Sorry. It’s just well, bending the rules has always made me babble a bit. I don’t like getting into trouble.” She apologized.

“No. Not you.” Giving her shoulders a bit of a squeeze Rayne spoke softly into her ear so as not to alert anyone of their presence. “Just relax. You’ll live longer and be a whole lot happier. Besides, getting into trouble isn’t that bad. Hell. I get into it all the time.”

“You?. Trouble.? Nah, not you.” Hermione said cheekily over her shoulder.

Rayne Chuckled, “Well. Well. Well. The lady has a sense of humor after all.”

Peeking around the corner Hermione signaled Rayne the cost was clear. They quietly snuck past Snape and McGonagall, who were talking in the halls about Harry’s condition. Ignoring them, the two made their way into the infirmary and over to the corner. They stood there for at least half an hour as they waited for Madam Pomfrey to leave the room. When they were sure she wasn’t coming back for a while, they moved away from the wall and decloaked.

Rayne moved over to stand beside the young man. He was lying motionless on the bed and looked to have sustained several bad burns. Pulling back the sheets, the older man sat down on the bed and took a closer look.

“What has been happening and when did it start?” he asked Hermione as he pulled the dressing over Harry’s heart loose enough that he could see the wound there.

Hermione began to explain in detail everything that had been happening and the things that were later revealed to have happened that she and Ron hadn’t known about until after Harry’s latest attack. She told Rayne that no one but Harry knew for sure when it started but she thought it might have something to do with Hagrid. Hermione proceeded to tell him what Neville had over heard and what she and Ron had pieced together.

“I can tell you this much. This person you call Hagrid? He had nothing to do with this. This is the work of someone impaling him with a wand directly into the heart and trying to perform a spell. From the looks of it, instead of it killing him like it was supposed to, his heart absorbed the aborted wand’s magic and stored it like a battery. Looks like whoever it was got one hell of bloody surprise, they did.” Chuckling quietly Rayne turned to look at Hermione and asked her. “Have you ever recharged a battery before?”

“Yes.” Hermione answered wondering what he was going on about.

“Ever seen what happens to a battery when it’s overloaded?” Rayne hinted.

Hermione’s blue eyes widened almost comically wide. “Oh my god. Are you telling me Harry’s an overloaded battery that’s about to blow up?”

“Pretty much, luv. I’d wager though it was that Hagrid fellow’s magic that has kept him stabilized for this long. From the looks of the wound I’d say that Harry hasn’t been using his magic much as of late and with no outlet Harry’s been recharging an already charged up battery.”

Sighing with relief Hermione voiced. “So, we just get him to use a lot of magic really fast and drain him enough that he’ll be okay again.”

“Not exactly. You see that will solve the short term problem, which is of course the energy surges. The long term problem is, however, even after his power level is balanced again, if he stops using his magic even for a short period of time…” he trailed off.

“He’ll be right back were he is now.” She finished.

“Precisely.” Rayne nodded in acknowledgment.

“So, what do we do?” Hermione worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m not sure but for now lets go with your idea of draining him now and fixing him later. Work for you?” he reasoned.

“Yeah, just… how are we going to accomplish that? He’s unconscious.” She asked.

Rayne pondered for a minute. “The safest and fastest way would be to fined find someone we could transfer the energy into. Kind of a human battery whose power is in need of a recharge so to speak. Any ideas?”

Hermione thought hard trying to grasp a memory that hung just out of reach. “Maybe. I’d have to confer with Ron first. I remember him telling me about Harry talking about someone not being a proper wizard and having to learn magic some other way. For the life of me I can’t remember who, though.”

Standing Rayne turned from her and replaced his hood. “Then we will bring Harry with us when we meet Ron. If he remembers we can transfer the power to them and if not, we’ll go from there.” He said as he lifted Harry into his arms.

Grabbing the invisibility cloak, Hermione wrapped it around the three of them, making sure that they were well hidden. Sticking close to Rayne’s side Hermione lead the way to Gryffindor Tower. Once or twice they were nearly caught by Mrs. Norris, but thankfully Rayne was able to throw here off by disguising their scent somehow. It was nerve rackingly slow at one point when they had to wait in the shadows until Filch, Snape, and Pomfrey went to look for Harry somewhere else after noticing the boy was gone.

Finally they arrived at the portrait. Hermione examined the corridors carefully before revealing her companions and herself to the Fat Lady.

“Oh, my!” the Lady said in surprise.

“Sorry didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted you to meet, Rayne before we went in. He’ll be staying here for a while and…” Hermione rambled.

The Fat Lady interrupted, “And Ron has already filled me in. Can you help him, Mr. Rayne?”

“It’s just Rayne, my lady, and we have a temporary solution but I’m still looking into solving his problem on a permanent basis.” Rayne offered.

The Lady looked behind them and saw a torch light headed their way. “Well, if there is anything I can do just let me know. I would suggest, however, that you get out of the halls before you are discovered. ”

“Excellent idea.” Rayne replied with a slight bow and tightening his grip on Harry.

“Password please.” The portrait requested.

“Chocoball.” Hermione and Rayne said at the same time.

The painting swung open and they quickly entered the hole in the wall. No sooner had they stepped through did she swing shut. As they headed for the common room the could just make out the Fat Lady telling someone that she hadn’t seen anyone come that way in hours but if she did she’d let him know.

Pointing to the couch, Hermione stepped out of Rayn’s way. “I’ll go find Ron.”

Nodding to let her know he’d heard her, Rayne proceeded to the spot she had indicated. Setting Harry down carefully Rayn made sure to lay the boy in as much of a comfortable position as could be had on the red over stuffed sofa. Pulling back his hood and removing his cloak, Rayn sat down beside the raven haired teen. Draping his midnight like cloak over the unconscious form for warmth, Rayn looked into the boy’s face for the first time.

He was beautiful in a way. Rayne brushed back the hair from Harry’s forehead and gasped at the sight of the mark before his eyes. The lighting shaped scar was an old one, but one that told the story of one who’d faced an enemy who hated him enough to kill him, but had failed. A person who could survive that kind of curse was someone Rayne usually stayed clear of. The fact this boy had survived that and being wand empowered, through the heart no less, was almost unheard of. No wonder his father wanted to meet the boy.

\\ Flashback ////

A younger version of Hermione was cradling the head of an knocked out Ron in her lap. Lying dead not too far from them was a Gach demon. To Rayne’s left was a woman dressed in a purple gown. On his right, a man wearing all black stood over the dead beast.

“Who is that, Professor?” asked an eleven year old version of Harry, his scar visible from where Rayn stood.

\\ End Flashback ////

“Rayne?” someone called out to him.

Rayne snapped out of the hazy memory and looked up at the voice. Hermione was crouched before him and a tired looking Ron stood behind her. Both clearly worried about him. Strange they had meet only hours before and already they cared for his well being.

“Sorry, was just thinking.” Rayne explained. “ Could you repeat that?”

“I was just telling Ron what you had said earlier.” Hermione stated.

Sitting down in a nearby chair Ron sighed and thought for a moment. “Harry told me once that Filch was trying to learn magic by a correspondence course. I think he told me that Filch was born to a high magiced wizarding family but Filch was born with no powers. Does that help?”

“Think he’d be interested in helping?” Rayne inquired.

“Yeah, if I’m remembering correctly and all.” Ron replied as he shifted in his seat.

Placing his hand over Harry’s heart, Rayne asked, “How fast do you think you can find him and get him here?”

“Not long. Why?” Hermione answered.

“Get him. Now. Harry is going to have another surge soon and I don’t know how many more of these he can take before it kills him.” Rayne had barely finished his sentence before Hermione and Ron were headed for the door.

Ten minutes later a very wary Argus Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris, followed the two teens into the Gryffindor common room.

Rayne watched the new comer for a bit then introduced himself as a physician. He explained to Filch about Harry’s condition and what they needed from him. Filch had listened quietly by the hearth, petting Mrs. Norris.

Finally the caretaker asked, “It won’t hurt the boy none will it?”

“Harry will feel no pain and the only loss of power will be the excess energy. Nothing more than that will take place for him. You may experience some side effects, like sudden abilities in magic. As I have explained this will only help him temporarily until we can come up with a long term resolution to his problem.” Rayne tried to explain in detail the situation, so there would be no real surprises. “I don’t know how long these side effects will last. They may only last until you run out of energy or it could be permanent.”

Harry whimpered from the couch and Rayn moved to his side in a heart beat. “I’d love to say take your time to think this over Mr. Filch, but time is something Harry has run out of. I must ask you for your answer now.”

Filch placed his cat down on one of the chairs and walked forward. “ What do you need me to do?”

“Ron move that chair over here. Mr. Filch unbutton you shirt please. Hermione, keep watch over Harry. Let me know the second Harry opens his eyes.” Rayne called out over Harry’s rising moans of pain.

Getting Filch to sit down in the chair now by the couch, Rayne placed a hand over Harry’s heart and his other over Filch’s. Closing his eyes, Rayne allowed a slow steady stream of energy to flow from Harry through him and into Filch. It was two hours later before Hermione finally broke the silence.

“Rayne. He’s awake.” She whispered in an awed filled voice.

Rayne removed his hands from Filch and Harry at once. Opening his eyes he asked Harry, “Feeling better, young man?”

“Yeah. Just kind of tired. What happened?” He asked.

“It’s a long story Harry and I’ll fill you in, in a moment. Mr. Filch, how are you feeling?” Rayne looked at the caretaker closely to see if he was in any pain.

“Sleepy but I feel really good.” Filch’s voice dragged in a drowsy sort of way.

“That reaction was to be expected.” Rayne placed his fingers on other man’s forehead and closed his eyes for a moment. Nodding to himself the caretaker was all right, Rayne turned back to Hermione and Ron saying to them, “He isn’t hurt and the energy was easily absorbed. His sleepiness is his body’s way of dealing with the sudden change within him. One of you needs to take him to lie down, but don’t take him too far. I wish to keep an eye on his condition just to be on the safe side.”

“No need. I’ll just go back to my chambers and I have Mrs. Norris. She will watch over me.” Looking over to his cat, Filch smiled sleepily but lovingly at her. “Won’t you my pretty?”

“MEOW.” She replied from her perch on the nearby chair.

Jumping down she padded her way to her master and rubbed herself against his ankles. Picking up his beloved pet, Filch carded his fingers through her fur and scratched just under her chin like he’d done hundreds of times before.

“Are you up to that, Mrs. Norris? Because it would keep down a lot of questions if you could.” Rayne spoke to the cat as if she understood.

Looking directly at Rayne the dust-colored cat nodded. “Merrow.”

“Perfect. Hermione why don’t you escort Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris home. Ron if you’d please help her, I believe I have some explaining to do.” Rayne winked at Harry as he said the latter.

“Why do I have a feeling of deja vu?” Harry looked up at Rayne, getting a strange feeling of having seen him before.

Rayne waited until they were alone before addressing Harry’s question. “Because we’ve met before. Now, I need you to let me get through all of this, there is a lot to cover and we have little time.”

“Okay.” Narrowing his eyes Harry waited.

Taking a deep breath Rayne began, “My name is Ethan Rayne. I prefer to be called Rayne. Your friends contacted my father and asked for my help to cure you. I have examined you and have discovered that your so called attacks have been nothing more than energy surges. You are experiencing these surges due to having been impaled in the heart by a wand. When that happened I don’t know, or why, but I will need that information. I was hoping you could shed a little light on that aspect of your injuries.”

Harry paled at the request but met Rayne’s gaze head on. “It happened this past April. Voldemort. captured me and was trying to drain my powers and encase my soul within his wand. Something went wrong and it didn’t work. I…” He looked away. “I did what I thought was an entrapment spell. It was an accident. I didn’t mean too. I just had my wand in my hand and …” Harry’s voice broke. “And I killed him.”

Rayne’s blue eyes tried to catch the young wizard’s “Harry, look at me. Did he turn into a pillar of mist and lightening, then disappear? ”

At Harry’s nod, Rayne smiled. “Then you didn’t kill him.”

“I didn’t?” Harry was half relieved, half horrified.

Patting the boy’s shoulder Rayne looked into the boy’s eyes and explained, “You were protecting yourself from someone who was trying to kill you. No one can blame you for doing that. But I doubt very seriously that your spell killed him. As I have already told you the wand that impaled your heart is the source of your energy surges. Most likely what happened is your spell went wild from all the energy. Instead of you just binding him the spell reacted to the sudden boost in your magic and sent him to another dimension. If you can remember what color the mist turned, I could probably tell you which one.”

“It was red but how could a wand that isn’t in my heart anymore be causing me to have these surges? I don’t understand.” Confusion clear in his green eyes.

“Red? Hmm, that would be the thirteenth dimension. Not bad for a novice. Now about the surges… Simply put, the spell he was trying to use to drain your powers got bollixed and backfired by emptying it’s power core into your body. When you used the binding spell it depleted the core’s power and a little of your own. From what Hermione tells me you can’t use magic during the summer time. So the core had time to recharge but even after returning to school you haven’t been using enough of your magic at a rate that would deplete the core’s energy. Hence the reason why you haven’t been having problems until now. The less you use your magic the more energy the core stores up and overloads your system. Your magic, in an effort to protect your body from a massive energy explosion that would normally kill you, has been ejecting the energy in the form of surges, which has the same effect as someone who’s had an electrical shock. You’ve been literally short circuiting yourself with every surge.”

“That would account for why I’ve been passing out after each attack.” Sarcasm coloring his words, as Harry sat up. “So what do we do to fix this thing. Call me crazy but I don’t enjoy feeling like someone is trying to set fire to every part of my body at the same time. I’m just funny that way.”

Chuckling a bit, Rayne helped Harry get settled again before he answered. “Well for now all we can do is just keep transferring some of the excess energy your body has been generating so that you can function for a while. As I explained to Mr. Filch, this a temporary solution to a permanent problem. What we need to do is to find a way to transfer the core safely out of you and into something or someone that can contain that much power in one go. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to do that yet so we’re back to square one.”

“Do you know someone who might? Anybody?”

Looking nervous Rayne answered the only way he could with one of the three he was bound to, with the truth. “I do. Which also brings us to the rest of what you need to know. However, as wish to only have to explain this once, I’d rather to wait until your friends return.”

Pulling an odd looking piece of cloth out of his cloak. Rayne said a few words over it and the cloth turned into a wrist band. Inspecting his work, Rayne handed off the strange band to Harry. “Right now though, I want you to try this on.”

“Why?” Harry asked wondering what the bloody hell it was.

Pointing to the liquid metal strip embedded into the black leather, Rayne explained. “It will tell you when you are reaching a dangerous power level. You’ll see it change to one of five colors and you’ll be able to react accordingly.”

“Oh.” Adjusting the leather wrist band so it was comfortable, Harry examined the object that was now fitted to him like a second skin. It moved easily with every bend and twist of his wrist. The teen was enchanted by its beauty and mystical aura. Smiling a little to himself as he noticed rainbow colored sparkles dancing within its metallic depths that were revealed only when the light from the fire touched it just right.

Harry asked, “So, what are the colors?”

“It starts off Silver like it is now. That means your energy level is in a safe zone. Next is Blue and means the core is recharging but you’re still safe for the time being. That is followed by Yellow. That means the core is nearly recharged and you’ll be needing to be drained in a day or so. Then there is Red, which means you’re at a dangerous energy level and need to be drained immediately. Black is the final color and the most dangerous because it means your body is about to discharge the energy build up. At that point all I can suggest to you is get away from everyone and pray this surge isn’t the one that kills you.”

Rubbing his chest, Harry looked at the other man. He was grateful Rayne was helping him but he just couldn’t let go at how familiar this man seemed. Harry tried to place where he’d seen him before put couldn’t put his finger on it. Rayn looked to be in his late forties to early fifties, honey brown hair and strange blue eyes. Eyes that hinted at something and yet nothing at all. He had the lean muscular form of a street fighter without being the body builder type.

Sighing to himself when his mind still couldn’t make the connection, Harry decided to strike up a conversation while they waited. “So, what do you do when your not curing the sick?”

“I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. Is your chest bothering you?” Rayne evaded.

“It hurts a little now that you mention it.” Harry answered miserably.

Stopping Harry’s hand, Rayne looked at again at the wound on his chest. He ran a finger lightly over the spot. The scorch marks were healed and a star patterned scar with a small indention into the flesh at its center was left behind.

Swearing Rayne jerked back his finger as if burned. “Bloody hell.” He whispered to himself. The boy had to be charmed somehow. No one person could survive what that mark meant. Yet the boy had lived through that and a dark curse as well, judging by the scar on his head. That could mean only one thing and it meant he had no choice now. He was going to have to at least call Ripper.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Panicked Harry tried to look at his own chest.

“It’s just the pattern of the scar. I wasn’t expecting it.” A wry smile graced the man’s lips. “In my experience this is very rare and unusual, but the meaning behind it isn’t something I think your quite up to right now.” Hearing Ron and Hermione returning Rayne added. “Maybe, after you’ve heard the rest of what’s going on and you’ve had some rest, we can discuss it?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rayne watched as a house elf named Dobby came into the common room carrying more wood for the fire. Poor Dobby dropped his pile when he’d spotted Harry. Seems the entire school staff was frantically searching for him. Harry explained to the elf that he’d left the hospital wing so he could meet a physician that specialized in cases like his. Rayne informed the elf that it was a big secret and that no one should know due to the fact the physician couldn’t help Harry if the healer’s presence were known by certain members of the staff. The doctor was worried that some of You-Know-Who’s followers were still out there and would stop at nothing to get their hands on his healing abilities.

“What bout Dumbledore? Him good man. He worried Harry Potter in danger. Can Dolby tell Dumbledore?” Dobby asked with his large eyes staring at Rayne then Harry.

Rayne looked to the teens for help. On one hand, having the headmaster knowing of his presence would undoubtedly bring about having to meet the man. It also meant that he wouldn’t run into anyone else and for some reason that was highly desirable. Something from that glimpse of a memory sent shivers up his spine. On the other hand, if they told the elf no then the search would continue and he would surly be discovered and Harry needed him to find a cure. It also meant that he could transport in the people he needed to research Harry’s condition without hindrance. The headmaster probably wouldn’t be too keen on who he’d have to summon, though.

“Harry, this is your call. You know I’m going to summon my assistants here to help me and who they are. Your health is all that matters to me right now. If you think he is trustworthy and he’ll approve, then I say go for it. That’s just my two cents.” Rayne shrugged.

Harry looked from the fire to Rayne. “Dobby’s right. I can’t just let everyone run around all night hunting for me, worrying about me, when I can let them know I’m safe. I trust Dumbledore with my life and I know he won’t reveal your presence to anyone that he doesn’t trust. He may not be fond of you but he wouldn’t let anything harm you.” Turning his gaze to the waiting elf he told him, “ Dobby, I want you to tell Dumbledore I’m safe and that the Doctor and I wish to see him in the room where I first found the Mirror of Erised and to keep it private. Just him. NO ONE ELSE. Understand?”

“I is understanding Harry Potter.” And with a pop Dobby disappeared.

“What now?” Ron asked.

“Now we get Harry into some clean clothes and make him look presentable.” Rayne suggested as he conjured up a bag and pulled out black leather vest.

“Uhmm…” Harry commented as he stared in horrified fascination at what he was suppose to wear while pointedly ignoring Hermione’s giggles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“DUMBLEDORE, SIR!” Dobby’s little feet ran as fast as they could down the hallway to catch the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

“Dobby?” Dumbledore stopped walking and signaled Snape to wait.

“Dobby is having news of Harry Potter, sir.” Dobby panted as he finally met up with the man.

“Where is he? Is he all right?” The elder wizard asked the elf as Snape walked back to join them.

“Harry Potter is tell’in Dobby to go to Dumbledore. Tell him Harry Potter is okay and is wanting to meet in private like place he is see’in the mirror first time. You understanding, yes?”

“I understand. Thank you Dobby.” Dumbledore inquired, “Did he say when?”

Dobby thought hard then answered. “Is to be meetin him quick fast now. Dumbledore is tell’in Harry Potter, sir Dobby did good?”

Amused and relieved the bearded wizard nodded. “I’ll tell him Dobby. Would you mind terribly informing everyone that Harry was found and is in my care.”

“Dobby can do that, sir. Dobby do it right now.” Dobby vanished with a popping sound following shortly after.

It was then the dark haired wizard spoke. “Do you really understand what he was babbling about?”

“Yes. I’ve known him for years. You learn to understand someone in that amount of time.” Walking at a quick clip, Dumbledore headed for the stairs with the Potions Master almost on his heels.

“ I was referring to Potter, not Dobby.” Snape huffed as he tried to keep up.

For an older man Dumbledore could really move when he had to, but few knew that. “As was I, Severus. The fact that Harry asked Dobby to deliver a message instead of seeking me out personally means something is wrong. But, I believe him when he told Dobby he was all right. Dobby wouldn’t have said so or worded it the way he did if it had been a lie.”

“All right, but what is this mirror he was talking about?” Snape asked as the left the stairs at the second floor landing and headed in the direction of the library.

Walking past the library, down the hall, and turning left the gray haired wizard explained quickly. “During Harry’s first year here, around the Christmas holidays, he found the Mirror of Erised. It was the same mirror I used to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone. He use to sit in front of it for hours, just staring at it. I had it moved shortly after discovering he’d found it.”

“Did you ever find out what he saw in it?” Snape asked. “Fame? Fortune? The Quidditch World Cup?”

Stopping outside a door, Dumbledore turned and looked the other man in the eye. “He saw his parents. They were alive and well. His scar was gone and he was normal. He was Harry. Just Harry. No longer The Boy Who Lived.”

*Ouch* Wincing, the other wizard knew he’d just been firmly put in his place. Deciding to shut up and just watch, he figured Harry would be more open if he stayed out of the way. As much as he hated to admit it, Severus liked Harry, despite not knowing him very well. His old habit of judging Harry before getting all the facts seemed to have just reared its ugly head, when by now he should know better. Snape promised himself he’d try to get to know the boy better before the year was out and at least keep in touch with him when he graduated. If he lived that long, he reminded himself. Severus still couldn’t get over the fact the boy was dying, but they still had time. If anyone could survive this it would be Potter, that was for sure. If there was one thing Snape had learned it was to never underestimate Harry Potter. It was a mistake that had helped Harry insure that Voldemort would never harm another living soul again.

They walked into the room, robes billowing. It seemed no one was there but Dumbledore signaled him that Harry was already present. Snape squinted but still saw nothing. The headmaster took a step forward and walked deeper into the room.

“You were supposed to come alone.” Said a voice from the far corner.

“WE are here to help you, Potter.” Snape shot back.

Dumbledore interrupted what Harry was about to say in order to get control over the conversation. “I apologize, Harry. I misunderstood Dobby, but we are here now. Why don’t you tell me what this is all about? Why did you leave the hospital wing without telling anyone?”

Sighing out loud, the teen seemed to walk right out of the wall itself. He was still keeping to the shadows but there was no mistaking who it was. “I left because I needed to get better and I couldn’t do that from a bed. I’ve found a treatment of sorts but it is very…” Harry paused as if searching for the right word. “difficult to explain. There is someone who knows how to cure me but it will take some time. I really can’t go into too much detail except to tell you that I’ll be fine. I didn’t want you to worry.”

“I appreciate that, Harry. We can discuss all of this later when you’ve had time to rest, for now we’ll take you back to the infirmary.” The elderly wizard instructed gently.

Harry stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. Snape and Dumbledore both gapped at the youth before them. Harry walked toward the window and stared at the starry night. He didn’t look like the boy either man had known, instead looking very much like a troubled young man with the ability to fight them if need be. Clad in a leather vest over a laced up shirt, form fitting pants that laced up the outer sides from the waist down; showing a great deal of skin and expensive calf high boots, all of which were black with the exception of his shirt which was a light blue-gray. He was wasn’t wearing his glasses but Harry didn’t seem to need them from the predatory way he moved. Even his coal black hair was styled differently. Though still messy looking it had more of a wind blown look than its normal hap-hazard appearance.

The only way Dumbledore could be certain in his mind that he was really the Harry Potter he knew was by his aura, but even that was changing. The center was the same but the outer edges were colors expanding, flaring, retreating. He’d seen the changes while Harry was knocked out in the hallway and again in the hospital. Now that he was awake, the light from his aura was nearly blinding and the changes more pronounced.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that sir. I told you already. I can’t get better if I’m in bed, it makes my condition worse.” Harry respectfully reminded him.

“Who told you that?” Snape was the first to snap out of his dazed state over Harry’s altered appearance.

“That’s the tricky part.” Harry turned to face them both looking totally shaggable in the process. “And the reason why I wanted to meet the headmaster alone.”

Rayne had told the three teens of his flash of memory, while Harry donned his new clothes. What they had decided to do was ask Dumbledore to keep Rayne’s presence quite until they had more time to examine it’s meaning. They had arrived at the room and tried to plan for everything they could have thought of, but they hadn’t expected to see Professor Snape. Those moments the Headmaster and the Potions Master had conversed outside the door had been their saving grace. Panicked they had stretched out the invisibility cloak like a curtain, whispering hastily and quickly agreed not to include the Professor into their plans for the time being.

“He calls himself, Rayne, now. That’s with a Y not an I and ends with a E. It’s his nick name really. Anyway, he’s an old friend of my dad’s and he heard about what was happening to me. He came here to help. Only thing is…” taking a deep breath Harry pressed on. “He has to kind of keep his head down, so to speak. Voldemort’s people want him. They want him real bad and would kill to get their hands on him.”

The older wizard knew too well that if this Rayne could cure Harry he probably had great knowledge. Maybe even enough to become an immortal. Voldemort would have given anything for that kind of knowledge. “I see. We will take every precaution to protect your friend. You have my word, he will be safe here.”

“I don’t! Why would they want him now? With the Dark Lord gone what good is he to the Death Eaters?” snarkiness dripping from every word Snape’ spoke.

Looking the Potions Master dead in the eye Harry whispered. “They think Rayne has the ability to bring Voldemort back.”

...tbc...