Author's note: I don't own Harry Potter. He belongs to J.K. Rowling.

xxxx

A Portrait Commissioned

Severus helped Inus into a regular chair for a portrait in an empty area of the hospital wing. Severus then helped Inus position his bad leg. "You good?"

"I don't know if I want to go down in history wearing my school uniform," Inus said. "I feel like this portrait is lying. I'm sitting in an overstuffed chair with my clutches nowhere to be seen."

The artist said, "Professor Snape, you can move him back into his wheelchair."

Dumbledore said, "I want the picture to be of the Triwizard Tournament Champion. This will painting will grace our halls hundreds of years from now."

Madame Bell, the artist, said, "Mr. Quirrell, it's your choice."

"I rather be in a chair I can get out of without assistance," Inus said. "Poppy doubts that I'll gain much more mobility from this leg, but with magic one never knows."

"We were happy that she could save it," Dumbledore said.

Severus moved a straight back wooden chair close to Inus. He helped Inus onto his crutches. Inus sat down in the wooden chair. His leg hurt as he bent it with his hand positioning it. It had a few tender spots, but most of the leg felt dead to him.

"Can you sit forward in the chair?" Madame Bell asked.

Inus moved his weak leg forward and then the other. He could sit up straight without using the back of the chair for support. Also the muscles of his thigh and above worked correctly.

"Can you hold that position?" she asked.

"For an hour or so," Inus guessed.

"We can take a break when you need one," the artist said.

"I'll be in my quarters. I have a surprise for you." Severus left the room.

"I don't know if I can handle any more surprises," Inus sighed.

"You survived the competition," Dumbledore said.

"And if you didn't bring the competition back, all my parts would work," Inus sneered. "Thanks to you, Crouch and Bagman I'm suffering with chronic pain. Please, tell me that you aren't having another competition in five years."

"We're working out the details but we hope to have another one in five years. Beauxbatons will be in charge next time," Dumbledore said. "You don't worry about that. Severus will show you your new quarters. Poppy wants you out of the hospital wing by tonight."

"Thanks." Inus looked into Dumbledore's eyes. The old man was sorry about his injury and with the competition being a popularity contest instead of picking of the most competent individual for each school.

"I could feel you scanning me," Dumbledore said.

"You didn't block me." Inus looked into Dumbledore's eyes.

"I have nothing to hide. Son, I'm sorry."

"I should be angry at Minerva."

"She had your best interest at heart."

"I could have died. I'm lucky that I'm only permanently disabled," Inus sneered.

Madame Bell stated in a firm voice. "I need quiet to do my work. You want to be in a good mood. The portrait is going reflect this moment for as long as it's displayed."

"Sorry. We'll have to reschedule," Dumbledore said.

"I would like do some preliminary sketches then we can reschedule," Madame Bell said.

"Why don't we do the portrait at my mum's house? I would be more comfortable there," Inus said.

"Much better. A comfortable sofa, casual clothes, a homier portrait," Bell said.

"I'll leave the rescheduling to you two," Dumbledore said before leaving the hospital wing.

After Madame Bell had done a few sketches of Inus, Inus got on his crutches and started to the door of the hospital wing. The walk seemed so long. He wondered how he would make it all the way to the stairs and then down the corridor to Severus's quarters.

Inus noticed that his belongings were no longer near the door of the hospital wing. While Inus and Madame Bell were fussing over the preliminaries, the house elves must have taken Inus's belonging to his new quarters. He managed to get steady pace and more speed as he walked through the straight corridor leading to the stairs. He had a rhythm going and allowed his crutches to carry the weight of his weak leg. He could see himself carrying his books and notes in a rucksack with his hands free to use the crutches. He still hadn't decided how he would tackle the stairs since the castle wasn't designed to be handicapped accessible.