The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 52

Harry didn’t feel the nudge of his knees on the floor this time, nor did he even processes the echo’s of his own screams as he appeared in the center of a very familiar office.

“Welcome home Harry Potter….” In the brief moment of relief from the pain Harry heard a voice above him and having opened his eyes for the first time since the pain had struck, Harry saw the smiling, sparkling eyes of one, suitably aged, Albus Dumbledore. Harry’s smile of relief was stolen from him however as the pain struck again, Harry’s hand shot down to clutch at his stomach that had for some unknown reason swollen to double it’s size than it had when Harry remembered being in Snape’s safe house. Not that Harry cared why at this present time not when a thousand elephants were trying to thunder there way out of his stomach. “Shhh my boy, breath. It will pass shortly.” Harry gritted his teeth and tried to breath as Dumbledore knelt beside him, a cool moist cloth gently placed against his forehead as Albus’ hands came down to rest over Harry’s still clutched at his swollen stomach. Just as Albus had said the pain past momentarily leaving Harry exhausted, and panting on the soft pile rug in front of the headmasters roaring fireplace.

“What’s the date…” Harry managed to pant out between breaths as Albus helped him to kneel on all fours, so that his head hung between his arms and the sweat dripped down his forehead and onto the soft carpet beneath.

“Friday the 13th June the 31st.” Albus whispered as he re dampened the towel and wiped Harry’s face with the cool water. Harry took a moment for the information to sink in before he shot a glare over his shoulder at the headmaster who was obviously expecting the outcome.

“JUNE?” Harry gritted out as another wave of pain swept through his body, making him tear fluff from the carpet where his bloodied hands were clutching at it desperately. As the pain passed yet again, Harry shook his head in disbelief. “December, It was December in Snape’s house, I was studying for exams.” Harry urged out fighting the wave of nausea that came with the panic of losing months of his life without knowing.

“That’s the thing with time Mr. Potter, it’s very fickle and practically impossible to pinpoint so narrowly. You overshot December by almost six months, not a bad effort though for someone as inexperienced as you are. But we can forgive the wizarding world’s savior a few months…” Frowning in total confusion Harry didn’t have breath to question the batty old man as another more electrifying pain shot through Harry’s body making him scream in agony. “Ah, it seems the little one is impatient. The time for medical intervention has come I’m afraid Mr. Potter.” Harry distantly heard the headmaster get to his feet and walk over to the fireplace, the green flash indicating that someone had arrived via floo.

“Harry.” Harry opened his eyes, unable to hide the tears of pain that ran down his cheeks as he glanced at the friendly, but serious expression of one Madam Pomfrey that had appeared in front of him. “Lovely to see you again, now let’s get you into that bath and bring this baby into the world.” Harry didn’t like the sounds of any of what Madam Pomfrey had said, and burst out into sobbing tears as between them Albus and Madam Pomfrey helped him up and into the private bathroom of the headmaster.

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Harry collapsed with an exhausted sob against the side of the sunken marble bath as he felt the mass finally leave his body. Clutching at the edge of the bath Harry closed his eyes as he heard the echo of tiny cries behind him as Madam Pomfrey scooped the bundle into a mass of warm blankets.

“There, there Harry you did a wonderful job. With all the theatrics of a true father to be.” Albus smiled fondly down at Harry, from where he was sat like a king on the closed lid of the toilet seat, looking more like an anxious father than any kind of headmaster.

“Come along Harry, up you get the wound will begin to heal better once you’re out of that bloodied water.” Harry limply allowed himself to be helped from the bath, before an overly mothering Madam Pomfrey dried and dressed him with a flick of her wand. Harry was sore all over, exhausted, and most of all confused but could do little but go with the flow as he was directed from the bathroom into a bedroom and was placed into an overly large, lavish for poster bed.

“There, sit up a little so you can hold him.” Madam Pomfrey fluffed Harry’s pillows as the boy propped himself up weakly against them, before a tiny squirming bundle was placed in his arms. Harry sighed as he stared down into the red little face of his child, the baby’s tiny hands clutching at thin air as he made his disgust of the entire situation known to those present. Harry smiled, as he brushed a shaking hand over his babies’ head, feeling the dusting of soft black hair beneath his fingers. It was as he was staring at the child that Harry remembered whom he’d left behind.

“Where’s Severus?” Harry whispered as he instinctively soothed the child with a gentle rocking motion. Dumbledore was sat in an armchair at Harry’s bedside, while Madam Pomfrey bustled around the room conjuring a cradle for the child to sleep. Harry watched as Dumbledore sighed heavily, his twinkling eyes flashing slightly with sadness.

“He’s coming, I think he’s even more eager to see you than those who have never seen you before.” Harry’s frown deepened, as he turned to face Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey having taken the settled child from Harry’s arms. “The world you knew Harry is gone. Out there is a world that does not know the horrors of Lord Voldemort, that will never know that they owe their lives to Harry Potter, because until this moment you have never existed.” Harry’s eyes widened impossibly the idea that Dumbledore was trying to explain completely blowing Harry’s already frazzled mind. “Don’t stress Harry, your sudden appearance in time has been explained to those it so directly effects, including your parents who are presently on their way from London to see you.” Harry could hardly believe what he was hearing, and in an emotional show burst out into tears. The only thing he’d ever wanted in the world was to have his parents back, and to have been granted this second chance was overwhelming.

“I don’t understand, Severus took that potion. It was supposed to break his bond with Voldemort.” Harry blubbered feeling foolishly lost in the entire scheme of what had happened.

“Indeed, Severus did swallow the severance potion and as predicted it broke the connection. However what I failed to realize was just how close you and Snape were. You remember I’m sure sharing Severus’ dreams, and having it explained to you that it was just a part of Severus’ occlumency skills you’d obtained through the bond?” Harry nodded shuddering at the memories of some of Snape’s dreams. “Well what we all failed to notice was what Severus obtained from you through your bond. Quite simply he acquired your ability for time shifting.” Harry’s frown deepened in confusion and Albus let out a jovial chuckle. “It’s rare Harry, only two known wizards have ever been known to have the ability, one of which is you and the other is a certain Godric Gryfindor.” Albus smiled fondly as he whispered the Hogwart’s founder’s name. “So unbeknown to us all you had this ability and had unintentionally past it on to Severus, who in his time of need took you back to where he needed you the most. Something he as a fully-grown, powerful wizard in his own right was able to do, where you have yet to perfect the magic to use your ability properly.” Harry shook his head in disbelief as Albus continued. “Simply put, by removing Voldemort from history you rewrote our past, and unfortunately as a consequence wiped all traces of yourself from knowledge. Without Voldemort to choose you as his enemy, you were simply born Harry Potter, and have never been known as the boy who lived.”

“Wow, why doesn’t that sound as wonderful as I thought it would do in my dreams?” Harry snuggled tiredly down into Albus’ bed exhaustion beginning to take its toll on his body. Albus smiled fondly at Harry as he flicked his wand and dimmed the candles around the bed, to make it easier on Harry’s drooping eyes.

“Perhaps because it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. But be assured those who knew you before, know of you now, and those few of us who remember are grateful for every moment you devoted to the side of light in a war you were too young to fight.” Harry nodded as Albus leaned over from his chair and pressed a chaste kiss on Harry’s forehead. “For now however get some rest. Severus will be here in the morning, and although he has his memories back, it will be like meeting you for the first time all over again.” Harry nodded distantly as Albus sat back down in his chair, intent on watching over the Savior of the wizarding world and his newborn child. As Harry drifted slowly into slumber, he distantly heard Dumbledore’s final whispered words. “Forgive an old fool Harry Potter, for ever thinking Severus Snape did not deserve you and for underestimating the importance of Severus to your defeating Tom Riddle…”

TBC>>>>>

A/N ONE MORE TO GO..............................

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