Dark Bonding Spell
by Healer Pomfrey
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Chapter 1
Animatedly talking to Ron and Hermione, Harry walked from the Hogwarts Express over to the carriages, which were waiting to take the students to Hogwarts, while Hagrid was ushering the first years into the boats. 'I'm so glad to be back at Hogwarts,' Harry thought. After the depressing summer following his fifth Hogwarts year that had ended with Sirius' death, he was looking forward to the school year in spite of a certain anxiousness because of the Dark Lord and his followers.
Harry was just on his way to climb up into the carriage after Hermione and Ron, when he spotted Malfoy standing in front of him. The Slytherin boy waved his wand, and before Harry was able to overcome his surprise and react, he was hit by an unknown spell.
"I hope this will tell you what you caused when you put my father into Azkaban," Draco spat, before he vanished into the darkness to join his housemates.
'What spell was that?' Harry mused. 'I don't feel anything.' He quickly mounted the carriage and sat down next to Ron.
"Harry, what happened?" Ron asked curiously.
"I have no idea," Harry replied, suddenly feeling a bit unwell. He couldn't even describe how it felt, but somehow just not well.
"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione enquired, giving her friend a concerned look. "Did you hear what spell he cast?"
"No," Harry replied thoughtfully. "He mumbled something, but I couldn't understand him. I have no idea what the spell did to me. I feel a bit sick, but that might be because I ate too many chocolate frogs on the train or something."
Harry didn't notice the concerned looks that his best friends exchanged, but when they got off the carriage and entered the castle, Hermione and Ron led him away from the crowd.
"Harry, we're going to take you to Madam Pomfrey. Maybe she can find out what Malfoy did to you," Hermione said firmly, looking at him in surprise when he agreed.
"You must feel really miserable, if you go to the hospital wing before the Welcoming feast, mate," Ron stated, receiving an angry glare from Hermione.
When they reached the hospital wing, it was locked and a parchment was stuck to the door stating, 'I will be at St. Mungo's for a training course and will only be back late on September third. Please go and see Professor Snape; he will act as my substitute for the two days. P. Pomfrey.'
Harry let out a long sigh. 'Of course; if I for once willingly come here,' he thought, feeling very annoyed. "All right then, forget it; let's go to the Great Hall."
"But Harry, you should go to Professor Snape," Hermione disagreed, eyeing him in concern. "He'll be the best to help you anyway, especially if it was a dark spell that Malfoy cast on you."
"No," Harry contradicted vehemently. "I will not go to Snape."
The three friends hurried down to the Great Hall, where the Sorting had already begun. Harry blushed deeply, noticing that everyone looked at them when they entered the Hall.
"It's all right, Harry; just ignore them. It's not our fault that we're late," Hermione whispered, putting a comforting hand on his arm when they took a seat at the Gryffindor table.
Harry slowly looked around the Great Hall. Everything seemed to be as always, except for the fact that Remus Lupin was sitting at the Head table. "Look! It seems that Remus is back to teach," he told his friends excitedly, although at the same time a different thought crossed his mind. 'Will he be angry at me for getting Sirius killed?' he wondered.
"Thirty points from Gryffindor for your tardiness," suddenly a baritone voice could be heard from not far away, and Harry saw Professor Snape walking behind their House table, giving him a menacing glare.
So far, Harry had been pushing his food around the table, but now his appetite was completely gone and he was feeling even worse than before. He put his fork down and whispered to Hermione, "I'd like to go to my dormitory. Do you know the password to Gryffindor?"
Hermione gave him a thoughtful look. "Yes Harry, I know the password like all prefects do, but I don't think you should go up there all on your own. You don't look well. I'll accompany you."
"It's all right Hermione, I'll be fine on my own," Harry replied, not wanting anyone to make a fuss about him.
Ron quickly stuffed a bit more of the delicious food into his mouth, before he hastily stood up to hurry behind his friends, unaware of the half concerned half angry look Professor McGonagall gave the trio when they left the Great Hall in the middle of the Welcoming feast.
By the time the friends reached the Gryffindor common room, Harry felt all over sore and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. He quickly headed into the bathroom, before he entered his dormitory, gratefully noticing that his friends had already unpacked his trunk and had laid out pyjamas for him. When he sat down on the edge of his bed, Hermione waved her wand over him, and he found himself dressed into his pyjamas, while his school clothes were properly piled on the shelf.
"Thanks Mione," Harry mumbled, scrambling into bed.
"How are you feeling Harry?" Hermione asked in concern and sat down on the edge of his bed next to Ron.
"As if I had the flu," Harry mumbled, slowly closing his achy eyes.
Hermione carefully put a hand on his forehead, observing that his cheeks were flushed and small drops of sweat were forming on his forehead. "You feel a bit warm, but not overly so. I'll see if I find a thermometer." She stood up with a determined expression on her face.
"Mione, why don't you conjure one?" Ron asked, giving the girl a questioning look.
"Ah, because I'm stupid," Hermione replied, slapping her hand against her forehead. "You know, if you can't use magic for more than two months, even if you miss it every day, you'll end up forgetting that you're able to do it." She waved her wand and conjured a thermometer, only to notice that Harry had already drifted off to sleep. "I'm afraid of what the spell will do to him," she said, putting the thermometer on the night table. "I'd feel better if someone checked on him."
"Well, there's only one person able to check on him at the moment, and that's Snape," Ron replied, groaning. "On the other hand, he is at least peacefully asleep, so maybe we should just leave him in peace for the night. If he gets worse, we can call McGonagall."
"All right," Hermione agreed, slightly consoled by her friend's argumentation.
An instant later, Ginny rushed into the dormitory. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.
"Malfoy hit Harry with a spell, and we don't know what it is. He wasn't feeling well, so we accompanied him here," Hermione quickly explained.
Ginny sighed. "Well, McGonagall wanted to know why you left in the middle of the Welcoming feast, especially after arriving late. She wants you to come to her office immediately. You better go; I'll stay here with Harry."
"Thanks Ginny," Ron and Hermione replied simultaneously and stood up.
"What are we going to tell her?" Ron asked on their way to their Head of House's office. "If she sends Snape to check on Harry, he'll eat us alive."
"We can ask her not to send Snape, but if she deems it necessary, then it'll be for the best, Ronald," Hermione replied, knocking at the door of her favourite teacher's office.
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"Good evening Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley. Where is Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked gently, causing Hermione and Ron to tell her the whole story.
"He fell asleep within two minutes," Ron finished their explanation.
Hermione noticed that the professor's face had turned white. "Maybe someone could examine Malfoy's wand to see what spell he used?" she asked hesitantly.
McGonagall gave her an approving look. "Yes Ms. Granger, that's a good idea and probably the only thing that we can do at the moment, except for sending Professor Snape to Harry and let him check on him."
"Oh no, please don't," Ron spoke up. "Harry... I mean, Snape hates him, and Harry didn't want to go to Snape, and he'll be very upset that we talked about the matter anyway."
"Shut up, Ronald, you're rambling," Hermione told him and asked the teacher, "Please only send Professor Snape to Harry if it is inevitable."
"I will, Ms. Granger," McGonagall replied, smiling at the excited girl in spite of feeling very concerned herself. "All right; please accompany me to the Headmaster's office. We will discuss the matter with Professors Dumbledore and Snape. Afterwards, I will go and check on Harry and, if necessary, contact Madam Pomfrey at St. Mungo's."
Hermione and Ron hurried after their Head of House to the Headmaster's office. Professor Dumbledore offered lemon drops, which both students politely declined, and motioned them to take a seat.
"I assume that you came to explain why you left our Welcoming feast early in spite of arriving late?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Hermione and Ron looked at Professor McGonagall in silent question, who gave them a confirming nod. The teacher explained to the Headmaster what her students had told her earlier, causing the man to step to the fireplace and call Snape.
Two minutes later, the Potions professor stepped out of the fireplace, glaring at the two Gryffindor sixth years. Dumbledore quickly repeated what McGonagall had told him and demanded, "Severus, please bring Mr. Malfoy here, so that we can cast the Priori Incantatem spell in order to know which spell he cast on Mr. Potter."
"Very well, Headmaster," Snape replied and stepped back into the fireplace, only to return ten minutes later with Draco in tow.
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"Mr. Malfoy, please take a seat," the Headmaster ordered the boy in a gentle voice. However, as soon as Draco complied, Dumbledore asked for his wand and waved his own wand over it. "Illigio Morscenam," he stated, giving the two Heads of House a questioning look.
"Mr. Malfoy, what spell did you cast against Mr. Potter?" Snape hissed at his favourite student.
"The one the Headmaster just stated," Draco replied, smirking.
"And what does that spell do?" Snape asked, looking extremely angry.
"I don't know," Draco answered smugly. "My father told me what to do and I complied. May I leave now?"
"Well, it was you, who cast the spell, Mr. Malfoy, and depending on the effects it will have on Mr. Potter, you might be expelled or even be taken to Azkaban at a later time," the Headmaster replied sternly.
"Fifty points from Slytherin," McGonagall added, causing Snape to glare at his older colleague.
"Severus, please escort Mr. Malfoy back to his common room," Dumbledore asked gently, and the two Slytherins left the room. "We have to do a bit of research I'm afraid, Minerva."
"Please Professors, let me help too," Hermione spoke up. "You know that I love to do research in the library, and I'd do everything to help Harry."
"I will help too," Ron echoed.
The Headmaster wrote something on a small parchment and handed it to Hermione. "This is a pass to the Restricted Section, which you will probably need, considering that a spell coming from the Malfoys will certainly be a dark spell. Let's meet here again tomorrow evening at nine o'clock to speak about our findings. Minerva, please keep me informed about Harry's condition."
"Yes Albus. I will check on him and if necessary call Poppy," McGonagall promised and ushered her students out of the office, nearly colliding with Snape, who just returned.
"I will accompany you and check on Mr. Potter," he spoke up in his baritone voice that for once didn't contain any malice.
"Oh no, Professor, I don't think that's necessary," Ron contradicted immediately, causing everyone to look at him in confusion.
"How do you know that, Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore enquired gently.
"He doesn't know it," Hermione answered impatiently. "It's just that Harry didn't want Professor Snape to check on him because he knows that the professor hates him."
"I do not hate him," Snape replied firmly, "and since Madam Pomfrey is not here and we don't know what is wrong with Mr. Potter, I will check on him if he wants it or not."
"Please do so, Severus," the Headmaster replied warmly.
"Harry is going to kill us," Ron whispered to Hermione, while they trailed back to Gryffindor after their teachers.
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Harry woke up to a cold hand on his forehead. He lazily opened his eyes and blinked, not able to see properly without his glasses.
"Hello Harry, how do you feel?" his Head of House's voice penetrated his ear.
"Professor?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yes Harry, it's all right. I heard everything about the spell; however, so far we haven't been able to find out what it does, but we will begin an intensive research tomorrow. How are you feeling?"
"I feel as if I had the flu," Harry admitted. "But at the moment it feels tingly as if Madam Pomfrey was casting spells at me. She isn't here, is she?"
"No Harry, Professor Snape is just checking on you, and I hope that he'll be able to help you."
Harry groaned inwardly but knew better than to voice his thoughts. Suddenly, the Potions Master's silky voice could be heard. "I don't know what it is. He seems to be in quite an amount of pain throughout his body, and he is running a slight fever. I can give him a fever reducer and a pain relieving potion, but I'm not sure if they will work at all in this case." He pulled two phials out of his robe pockets and put them on the night table.
"Does he need bed rest, or is he able to attend classes?" McGonagall asked softly.
Professor Snape sighed. "Well, Poppy would certainly prefer to keep him in bed, but since we don't know how long it will take us to find out how to revoke the spell, I'd suggest that he should attend classes, provided that he feels well enough."
"It's all right. I want to attend classes anyway," Harry spoke up softly.
"Don't bother with relatively unimportant classes like Divination or Care of Magical Creatures. You're not well enough to attend all classes, and if your condition worsens, you have to remain in bed. Is that clear?" Snape asked sharply, making Harry swallow the potions.
'I can't believe it. He is speaking in a normal, civil tone to me,' Harry thought in amazement. "Yes," he replied wearily.
"Well, your bedside manners have improved greatly, haven't they?" McGonagall gave her younger colleague an amused look when they left the Gryffindor common room through the portrait hole.
"I don't want Poppy to kill me," Snape replied simply, rushing away with billowing robes.
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Knowing that Harry wouldn't want Snape to check on him again, McGonagall entered the sixth years' dormitory early in the morning, while everyone was still asleep. She sat down on the edge of Harry's bed and hesitantly put her hand on the boy's forehead, causing him to stir.
McGonagall quickly cast a Silencing spell around the bed as not to disturb the other students and asked, "How are you feeling, Harry?"
Harry blinked. "Not much different from yesterday; like if I had the flu," he whispered. "But it's all right, Professor. I don't want to miss classes from the first day onwards."
Giving the boy a sharp look and taking in his flushed face, McGonagall replied, "I brought your time table, so that you can decide, which classes you want to attend if any. However, I want to take your temperature first. I cannot let you go to class if your fever is too high."
"It isn't, I'm fine," Harry insisted, but McGonagall used this opportunity to stick the thermometer in his mouth, shutting him up.
Harry threw a curious look at his time table, seeing that he had Transfiguration and Potions in the morning, Care of Magical Creatures and History of Magic in the afternoon. He looked at his Head of House, pointing to the first two classes.
"You don't have to decide now, Harry. I will tell my colleagues that you're ill and don't have to attend classes but might decide to join your classmates sometimes," the teacher said gently and conjured a cool cloth to bathe his flushed face.
'Feels good,' Harry thought, unconsciously leaning into the cold touch.
"38.2," McGonagall said, taking the thermometer back. "Well, I don't know if Madam Pomfrey would let you attend classes, probably not, but anyway if you feel worse, you'll return to bed immediately, even if it's in the middle of a class. I will come and check on you after lunch." She motioned Harry to sit up and handed him two potions. "As Professor Snape said, we don't know if they'll work, but you can try them out."
"All right Professor, thank you very much," Harry replied, before he gulped down the potions, noticing that they only helped so much.
"Good morning Professor, Harry," Ron's tired voice suddenly penetrated their ears, as the redhead stepped over to Harry's bed. "Is something wrong Professor?"
"No, I'm fine, Ron. What are you doing up so early?" Harry returned the question.
"Mione made me get up so early, because we want to go to the library to search for the spell that Malfoy cast on you. Care to join us, mate?"
"No Mr. Weasley. Mr. Potter may only attend a few classes at the moment; otherwise he has to stay in bed. I will join you in the library after my last afternoon class," McGonagall promised.
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Harry stayed in bed until ten minutes before the beginning of the first class, quickly dressed, and dragged himself to the Transfiguration classroom, where he arrived at the same time as the professor.
"Harry here!" Ron immediately called him over to a seat in the front between himself and Hermione.
After Professor McGonagall had greeted everyone and held a small speech about what to expect in a NEWT class, she addressed Draco. "Mr. Malfoy," she said sternly, "as you can see Mr. Potter decided to attend this class in spite of being ill due to your spell. However, he will not be allowed to attend all classes. Therefore, until I tell you otherwise, you will look if he is present in a class and if not you will take detailed notes of each class and hand them to me at dinner in the Great Hall. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," Draco hissed angrily.
"It's all right Professor," Harry threw in quietly. "I'm sure Hermione will allow me to borrow her notes."
"Thank you Mr. Potter. That's very noble of you, but Mr. Malfoy will do as I told him," McGonagall replied sternly and finally began with her class.
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Like the Transfiguration professor, the Potions Master held a short monologue about what could be expected in a Potions NEWT class. Afterwards he continued in his baritone voice, "From now on you will work together with a fixed partner. The pairings will be as follows: Bullstrode – Weasley, Finnigan – Nott, Granger – Zabini, Malfoy – Potter..."
With that, Harry tuned out and groaned inwardly. 'How can he do that? How can he pair me with Malfoy after what happened yesterday? I should have stayed in bed.'
tbc...