CHAPTER 32
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 32 ~ Harry Returns to Hogwarts
Poppy was in her office when she heard the floo. The medi-witch put down the quill she was using to make updates on a few student files, wiped her hands on her apron and exited her office. She stopped for a moment when she saw Dobby, Harry and Hermione.
“Well, it’s time for Harry’s bi-annual check-up already, Dobby?” Poppy asked frowning a bit.
Dobby looked a little shifty but nodded.
“Yes Miss, though we be a bits early,” the elf replied, his ears flattening at the blatant lie.
Poppy looked at Hermione.
“Ah Hermione, good to see you. I suppose you were visiting with Harry?” she asked the witch.
“Yes Poppy,” Hermione responded, “And it’s good to see you too.”
Poppy walked over to the nearest privacy curtain and pulled it back.
“Bring him over here, Dobby,” the medi-witch said.
Dobby took Harry’s hand and the wizard shuffled along behind the elf, staring blankly.
Poppy’s eyes saddened as the young wizard shuffled past. Such a shame Harry had ended up like this. He had been so brave and full of life. Dobby helped the wizard sit up on the cot. Poppy walked up to him and caressed his cheek gently.
“Hello Harry,” she said softly.
Harry gave her a bright smile for a moment, then his face sobered. Hermione rolled her eyes. He certainly was hamming it up.
Poppy patted his hand.
“Poor dear,” she said.
Suddenly there was another “foomph” from the floo and Severus Snape entered. Poppy walked away from Harry and pulled back the curtain as the Potions Master walked up.
“Good morning, Severus,” she said to the pale wizard, whose eyes washed over Harry, Hermione and Dobby before he answered.
“Good morning Poppy. Mr. Potter is here for his check-up I see,” he said, sneering.
“Yes he is, Severus,” Poppy replied, frowning at the wizard’s obvious dislike for the young hero. Harry had been through enough. Severus needed to get over his hatred.
“Well, don’t let me disturb you. I just brought a few bottles of healing potions for your stores. I’ll put them away,” Severus said, walking to the back of the infirmary.
“Thank you, Severus,” Poppy said, turning around and walking over to Harry, pulling out her wand.
“Um, Poppy. Do you think we should tell Albus Harry is here?” Hermione suggested. “I’m sure he’d like to see him.”
Poppy smiled.
“That’s an excellent idea, Hermione. He said he meant to stop by and see him…this is much more convenient. Give me a moment,” the medi-witch said, leaving the enclosure and walking over to the floo. She threw in a handful of floo powder she retrieved out of a box off the mantle and called Albus.
“Headmaster? Headmaster!” she called.
There was the sound of a drawer closing, then, “Yes, Poppy?”
“Albus, Harry Potter is here for his check-up. I thought you might like to see him,” the medi-witch said.
“Why yes I would, Poppy. I will floo in momentarily,” Albus replied.
“All right,” Poppy replied, leaving the floo and returning to the group. “Albus will be here shortly. Now let’s see how you’re doing, Harry.”
Poppy pulled out her wand and proceeded to examine Harry.
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Albus pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. So Harry was here. He had meant to go and see him but hadn’t got around to it. It took the old wizard a couple of days to prepare himself to go see the stricken wizard. It was difficult to see him like this, a shadow of the vibrant lad he used to be. How cruel fate was to finally free him from the curse of Voldemort only to have half his soul torn away so he could not experience that blessed freedom to the fullest.
The wizard sighed and put his glasses back on. Behind him, Fawkes let out a joyous trill, his beautiful eyes whirling in his head as he shifted back and forth on his perch excitedly.
Albus turned to the bird.
“Fawkes, what’s gotten into you?” the wizard asked.
Fawkes bobbed his head at the wizard, but sent him no image…which was strange.
Albus looked at him, puzzled.
“Aren’t you going to show me what has you so excited, Fawkes?” the wizard asked the Phoenix. The bird shook its head in the negative. That was rare.
Albus gave Fawkes a little scowl.
“All right, I’ll find out soon enough I suppose,” Albus said, walking over to the floo.
Fawkes let out another bright, happy trill and Albus shook his head. He threw some floo powder into the flames.
“Infirmary,” he said, stepping through.
The Headmaster arrived in the infirmary and heard Poppy exclaiming.
“My Harry, your vital signs are much stronger. A very marked improvement. What have you been feeding him, Dobby?” the medi-witch asked excited as Harry stared straight ahead, not reacting.
“The sames,” Dobby replied, his ears still flattened. Suddenly the curtain was pulled back and Albus entered. He smiled when he saw Hermione.
“Hermione, how wonderful to see you,” he said, opening his arms and embracing the witch. Severus reappeared at the curtain.
“I’ve stocked your stores, Poppy,” he said as Albus turned to him. “Good morning, Headmaster.”
“Hello Severus,” Albus replied, “I’ve come to see Harry.”
“So good for you sir,” Severus said dryly.
Albus’ eyes darkened for a moment, then he turned and walked up to Harry. He took both of the wizard’s hands in his, and looked into his green eyes sadly, his own blue eyes full of grief.
“Hello my boy,” he said softly to Harry.
“Hello, Headmaster,” Harry said back, smiling broadly.
Albus froze, tightening his hold on the young wizard’s hands so hard, Harry winced. Poppy stood straight up, frozen too…staring at Harry.
“Did…did you just speak to Albus?” she asked the wizard, her voice trembling.
“Yes I did. And now I just spoke to you, Poppy,” Harry said to the medi-witch.
Suddenly Harry was grasped by the lapels and shaken strongly by Albus.
“Harry! Harry! Are you really back! This…this isn’t some cruel trick is it? Not some…illusion or…or glamour is it?” Albus demanded his blue eyes wide.
“No sir. No tricks. It’s me. I’m back. Hermione and Professor Snape brought me back,” the wizard said.
Albus stared at him, and tears began to roll down his face.
Suddenly he crushed Harry to him with all his strength, sobbing, “My boy! My dear, dear boy! It’s a miracle.”
Severus watched the touching scene thinking it wasn’t a miracle as much as it was a lot of damn hard work on his and Hermione’s part.
Hermione, Dobby and Poppy were all crying as Albus clutched Harry to him, the wizards’ arms wrapped tightly around each other as they rocked back and forth.
“Oh good gods,” Severus sighed as he watched the blubberfest with a wrinkled nose. Albus or Poppy could have at least fainted.
“Headmaster…Headmaster I can’t breathe,” Harry gasped. Albus reluctantly let him go. Poppy replaced him immediately, though her embrace was much gentler.
“I just can’t believe it. You’re back from…from the Dementor’s kiss,” the Albus said.
“A partial Dementor’s kiss, Albus,” Severus corrected, getting Dumbledore’s attention. “However, I have something that you need to see as soon as possible sir.”
Severus produced a small sealed pensieve from his robes pocket.
“Before we restored Mr. Potter, I performed Legilimency on him and was sucked through his mind toward what seemed to be a clutch of Dementors. I was rescued by my house elf Eli, and on my way back I saw you and Bara standing outside a ruined temple…but that isn’t all I saw sir,” Severus said in a low voice.
He handed the pensieve to Albus.
“I know about this clutch, Severus. I am making plans as we speak on how to destroy it. What else did you see?” the old wizard asked.
Severus arched an eyebrow at him.
“In this case sir, I think it will be easier to believe if you saw it as I saw it. Then we can go into the details. I think you may not want to destroy the Dementors at this time, sir,” the Potions Master said silkily. “At least not until we explore other options.”
Albus looked at Severus. Other options? What possible options could there be for Dementors other than destroying the cursed creatures? He looked down at the pensieve. He started to unseal it. Severus stopped him, covering his hand with his own.
“Not here, sir. I advise you to wait until you are alone. Once you see it, you will understand why,” Severus said.
“Very well, Severus,” Albus said, burning up with curiosity but putting the pensieve away and turning back to Harry, his eyes shining.
“I can’t believe this. We must retire to my office and you all can tell me how this miracle came about from beginning to end. Severus I will send a substitute to cover your class,” the Headmaster said. Severus nodded.
“I think sir, that you should precede us and view the pensieve. We will give you half an hour, then follow,” the Potions Master said, “Then we can explain more fully what we did to bring Harry back and what are theories are concerning the Dementors.”
Albus was anxious to see what was in the pensieve and so agreed, hugging Harry again then departing for his office.
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Fifteen minutes later found Albus seated behind his desk, his eyes running once again.
Minerva. Severus had seen Minerva.
And she was very much alive…her message more than proved that. He had spoken to no one else about the Ministry.
Her soul was still alive…she wasn’t gone, only separated from her body.
Severus and Hermione had managed to bring Harry back when he only had half a soul.
Maybe they could bring Minerva back as well. His Minerva. His one true love.
The wizard wiped his eyes and felt himself fill with a new resolve, a new strength. Minerva McGonagall was alive and trapped inside one of those shadowy monsters.
He would get her back if he had to suck her out of the Dementor himself.
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Dobby returned home and Harry, Severus and Hermione went to the Headmaster’s office to discuss matters. Hermione led the conversation, Severus sitting back in an armchair listening to the witch, his black eyes resting on her as he considered what a marked difference there was between the confident witch speaking so knowledgably and the passionate witch that surrendered to him so completely behind closed doors. He felt a slight throb and adjusted himself in the chair, forcing himself to listen and not think.
”So the Dementors haven’t been digesting souls, they’ve been using them to sustain their own lives,” Hermione told Albus. If the body of a victim dies, the soul dies with it and the creatures kiss someone else to replace it. If the Dementor dies, the soul dies and the body of the victim dies shortly afterwards.”
Albus looked thoughtful.
“So, if we destroy the Dementors, then we lose the soul they possess as well,” Albus said to Hermione.
“Exactly. No one has ever revived after a Dementor’s kiss, and after the Final Battle, many victims that were doing well under care sickened and died. We didn’t put it together then. One of the Dementors that escaped holds Minerva’s soul.”
“How can we retrieve her?” the Headmaster asked.
Severus looked at Hermione.
“I believe we are going to have to count on the Gryffindor brain once again, Albus. She’s already brimming over with theories and ideas, chomping at the bit. She almost left Mr. Potter in her zeal to attack the problem,” the Potions Master said silkily.
Hermione flushed.
Albus thought he detected a bit of pride in Severus’ voice…just a slight inflection when he spoke of Hermione’s readiness to start the project. The Headmaster learned with a bit of surprise that Hermione was under the dark wizard’s patronage. He wondered if the agreement was with full rights. Severus was quite a cold, contained wizard who didn’t dally with witches much, if at all.
The Headmaster wondered at first if it was purely a monetary arrangement. Hermione was brilliant and no doubt would make a pretty galleon for the wizard, but then he surreptiously watched Severus and saw signs of possessiveness in the wizard’s body language when Hermione spoke. When she shifted position, his slightly shifted as well in a shadow movement. A sure sign of someone invested.
Maybe the wizard was finally coming out of his shell and living a little. Albus certainly hoped so. Hermione was an amazing witch. Perhaps she could give the snarky wizard a new lease on life, or at least a bit of happiness. No man should go through life without experiencing what it was like to be truly happy.
“I have Damius’ journal that tells how he made the original Dementor that is the progenitor of all that followed. The ingredients he used are available if expensive, with the exception of the basilisk heart and blood. What I’m going to have to do is create a couple of Dementors…”
Everyone stared at Hermione as if she were insane.
“Small versions. Using nifflers,” she amended.
“Nifflers?” Harry said, imagining small furry cloaked creatures floating around Hermione’s lab hissing and attempting to suck out the souls of all they came in contact with. “Are you sure that’s safe, Hermione?”
“Certainly. I will have my patronus, and they will be small enough to bat away. Most likely they will go after other nifflers,” she said.
“But animals are not believed to have ‘souls” Hermione,” Severus said, his brow furrowed.
“No. They don’t have souls as we have souls, but they do have spirits. I’m working along the theory that in the case of Dementors they gravitate to whatever generates their ‘kind’ to power them. In the case of a human-generated Dementor, they require human souls. But in the case of a niffler-generated Dementor, it would require a niffler spirit to maintain itself. If it weren’t so, the Dementors could kiss any living thing and survive. But they only kiss humans,” she said.
It made sense. Still Harry shuddered at the idea of a bunch of them drifting about, hissing.
“Then after I create the nifflers and they kiss the others, I can work on developing a kind of anti-potion, and a method of delivery. I already have some ideas. The Agistani flower was used for the Restorative Elixir…”
”Which is banned now,” Severus said darkly.
Hermione ignored him. She couldn’t be bothered with little details such as legalities. She continued.
“…which can restore someone on the brink of death to full life, with a completely renewed body. The basilisk heart and blood are deadly, and it is that ingredient which I believe turns the user, bringing him to the brink of death, releasing the soul, then the Agistani flower catches them but invigorates the soulless body created instead, without a soul or spirit. It becomes an altered creature then seeks a soul to power it. Most likely if it doesn’t find one within a certain period of time, it dies. I think by experimenting with increasing the amount of Agistani flower to the amount of basilisk blood and heart, I can create an elixir that will allow…”
Here Hermione took a deep breath because she knew her idea would sound positively insane.
“…that will allow a Dementor to be “kissed.” Only the soul will not be absorbed by the kisser. It will have no place to go since a soul will already occupy the kisser’s body and will return to its original host body. The Dementor it was taken from will be stricken much as a human is and eventually die if unable to retrieve another soul. At least…that’s the theory I’ve come up with.”
Everyone stared at Hermione. Kiss a Dementor? Dear Merlin. Who on earth would be willing to do that?
Plus it meant someone would have to drink a potion made with ingredients from a basilisk…any parts of which being very, very deadly to humans.
The room fell very quiet as the wizards looked at the witch.
“What?” she snapped. She knew they thought she was attempting to do the impossible. If there was one thing Hermione Granger loved, it was proving people wrong.
Severus’ black eyes rested on the witch. Her jaw was thrust out stubbornly and her amber eyes flashed with challenge.
“I think, Hermione, that you would be challenged to find someone to drink such a potion,” Severus said carefully.
“After all my tests, it will be safe to drink. I wouldn’t give anyone anything that would kill them,” the witch spat, “And if I can’t find anyone brave enough to drink it, then the Headmaster can take me to the temple and I will kiss them myself!”
Everyone started protesting except for Severus. He was a Potions Master. He understood Hermione’s faith in her abilities. There had been times he had to drink his own creations, unable to find anyone willing to test them.
“Hermione you are mad!” Harry shouted at her. “I won’t let you drink basilisk’s blood!”
“There will be other ingredients that will alter its effects Harry. You know nothing about potions and the interactions of ingredients…so be quiet!” Hermione shouted back at him. “Besides, you aren’t my father.”
”But I’m your friend,” Harry said, quieter now. He looked at Severus for help.
“Professor, tell her this is madness,” he said to the wizard.
Severus looked at Harry coolly.
“She’s a full Potions Mistress, Mr. Potter. Far be it from me to tell her what she can and cannot do with her brews,” Severus replied.
“But you’re her patron! You can restrict her!” Harry said, now shouting at Severus who gave him a dangerous look.
“Restriction is not part of our agreement. If she creates something that proves to be profitable, then she has fulfilled her part of the deal. I have no say over what she creates,” he said with deceptive softness. “And I advise you to lower the bass in your voice when you speak to me unless you wish to cross wands, boy.”
Harry scowled at the wizard furiously, but didn’t say anything.
Albus had stopped protesting when Hermione stated she knew what she was doing. The wizard was torn. He wanted Minerva back so badly. Hell, he would drink the potion himself if he could…but he knew he couldn’t. Most likely he wouldn’t even be able to be present when they went for the Dementors. They could sense him and would flee. He was going to have to play general again…making the plans, giving the orders and waiting to find out if it worked or not. He sighed.
“What I think we should do is let Hermione do her experiments and create this elixir. As to how it is delivered and by whom can be hashed out later. We need to get a plan in order how to contain the Dementors so they cannot escape when the time comes. And if Hermione cannot create a viable elixir…”
Here the Headmaster’s heart dropped.
“We will have to simply destroy them. There is no other way,” the wizard said. “In the meantime, we will have to send aid and medi-witches to India to help maintain those Untouchables who are stricken so they can be saved should Hermione be successful. How long do you think you’ll need, Hermione?”
The witch did some mental calculations.
“I’ll need eight months at least…if my patron will allow me to focus solely on this project,” Hermione said, looking at Severus. “In the event that it does work, all the remaining Dementors will be destroyed and there will be nothing with which to make a profit. So it will be all loss…financially.”
Severus stared at the witch. So, it was all placed on his shoulders.
“I will help with the costs,” Albus said, trying to take some of the heat off his Potions Master.
Severus looked into Hermione’s eyes. This was a test to see if he was really as black-hearted as others believed. Then the wizard looked over at Albus. Hope was in his eyes. If this worked, he would get Minerva back. Harry sat sullenly in the armchair. He didn’t like any of this.
Severus looked back at Hermione.
“That won’t be necessary, Headmaster. Hermione is my charge. I will support her project fully. There is other recompense besides galleons,” he said silkily, his eyes drifting over the witch. “I even have the basilisk heart and blood she needs. Living and viable. It’s still pumping.”
Hermione’s eyes widened at this revelation.
“What?” she said, her voice thick with disbelief.
“I have a living basilisk heart and blood. They are at your disposal when you need them,” the wizard said.
Hermione gave the Potions Master a look that made Harry and Albus absolutely blush. No doubt she was going to show her patron how grateful she was in no uncertain manner. Even Severus swallowed at the way Hermione looked at him.
The witch turned to Albus.
“So we are in agreement then? Eight months?” she asked the wizard.
Albus nodded.
“Yes. I will organize aid for the stricken as soon as possible,” the wizard replied. Hermione then looked at Severus.
“Headmaster, would you mind terribly if I borrowed the Potions Master for the rest of the day. We have a lot to…discuss,” she said, not taking her eyes off the wizard.
“Certainly you may, Hermione. I can provide a substitute for today,” the Headmaster said, his eyes twinkling now.
Harry continued to sit quietly, brooding. Snape was supposed to protect Hermione as part of his patronage. He wasn’t doing shit to protect her.
“Thank you, Headmaster,” she said warmly, then she looked at Harry. “Are you coming with us?”
”No. I want to talk to the Headmaster,” he said darkly. “Alone.”
Severus’ black eyes shifted to Harry, who looked back at him scowling. No doubt Albus was going to get an earful from the wizard. Harry was still an idiot. He didn’t see the bigger picture here. He wouldn’t get far with the Headmaster though. Severus rose and walked over to Hermione, looking down at her.
“We should go,” he said, his eyes glittering. He wondered what would happen when they got back to the house. The witch was certainly on point when she gave him ‘that look.’
It was quite promising.
Hermione said goodbye to Harry and Albus and exited through the floo with Severus, returning to his rooms with him.
She turned and looked up at him.
“You really have a basilisk heart…a living one, Severus?” she asked him.
He scowled.
“I wouldn’t make such a claim if it wasn’t so, witch,” the wizard replied, “Do you think I would lie about such a thing?”
“No…it’s just so unbelievable that you would have exactly what I need,” she said softly. “In more ways than one,” she added meaningfully.
The wizard looked down at her and felt a powerful throb.
“You keep speaking to me that suggestively witch, and I’ll give you what you need,” Severus growled.
“What about what you need, Severus? What you really need?” the witch replied.
“I have everything I need. My work. My books. A convenient little charge to keep my wand wet. What more do I need?” he asked her.
Hermione looked toward his bedroom door, then pulled out her wand and cast a silencing spell. The wizard didn’t protest. Hermione grasped his pale hand and pulled him toward the bedroom.
“You need this,” she said quietly, drawing him through the door.
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A/N: What a greeting for Albus. And wow. That’s some theory Hermione has, isn’t it? Severus confessed about the basilisk heart. Hermione seems extremely grateful. Well, please review the chapter. I am bushed. ***