The Boy Who Kind-of Lived
Chapter II: The Inexplicable Half Inferi Infant
Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black stood together in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Headmaster was seated in his plush armchair behind the great oaken desk, a somber look in his eyes. Remus and Minerva were seated on the other side of the desk, and Sirius was currently pacing back and forth in from the door to Dumbledore's office. All of them were silent, until Sirius spoke up.
"What is taking that infernal medi-witch so long! She'd had time to examine a dozen children by now--It's been over three hours!" His dark eyes shown with anger and sadness, fueled by the desire to know the status of his Godson's health. All he had been told by the leader of the Order of the Phoenix was that Harry was alive, but somehow cursed. Despite his earlier pleas, the old man had refused to provide any further details to the grieving marauder.
Remus stood up and approached his friend and former classmate. "Try to relax, old friend. We've both lost so much tonight, and I know how you feel. But acting like this isn't helping anyone, least of all Harry." Remus grimaced as Black visible deflated before his eyes, sitting hard into the chair formally occupied by the werewolf.
"I know, I know," said the begrieved pureblood. "But he's all that's left. James... Lily..." His eyes shined with unshed tears. Remus nodded, a lump in his throat. James had been the leader of their group, the soul of the Marauders. And they had all been at least a little in love with Lily. When Harry was born, they all felt a little like parents, even Peter. Sirius was chosen as the boy's Godfather because he alone of the other Marauders had the means to support a child in the event of James and Lily's death, but it was understood that the entire group would stand in loco parentus in the tragic event of the Potter parents' deaths. An event that had all too suddenly occurred. Sirius was resolute, he would embrace the responsibility that his best friend placed in him, and he was more than galled by the lack of information about his new charge's condition.
Albus's slightly bowed head lifted and turned to face the door. "Come up, Poppy," he said. The medi-witch made her way up the stairs and opened the door. Her face was stoic, and held no clue about her prognosis. Her arms contained a sleeping bundle, in which lay Harry Potter. Sirius jumped up to receive his Godson.
"Careful with him," she said, facing Sirius. "He's a bit fragile right now." She handed over the child, watching a Sirius sat back down, expertly holding the year old child.
Dumbledore quickly conjured another chair for the medi-witch, and gestured at her to sit. She moved the chair slightly back, and turned to address the group. "He's been hit with three curses, as best I can tell. Albus recovered His wand, so we know what they are. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse them." She hastily elaborated, seeing the panicked look in three sets of eyes. "He's stable," she quickly said, "His condition is permanent, but it probably won't change much, if any. I would say he has a decent chance of living a healthy life." Left out was the word normal.
Sirius was at first anxious, then bewildered, and now was hovering on the edge of angry at the roundabout diagnosis. "What is his condition, exactly?" asked the Black scion, in a quiet and deliberate way. "What spells were cast on him?" He looked down at the sleeping baby, staring into the red skull etched into the boy's forehead.
Poppy hesitated, then turned her head to catch Dumbledore's eye. The Headmaster answered her nonverbal question with a slight nod. "He was hit with three spells, in rapid succession. The first, as far as we can tell, was a modified inferus-"
"WHAT?!" roared Remus, jumping to his feet. He face was a mask of shock and rage, with an edge of insanity threatening to burst through. The werewolf's thoughts raced a mile a second, as he contemplated the potential loss of the third Potter. If the child was an Inferi... Beside him, Sirius shook, holding the baby tighter to his chest. It was as if he did not hear Poppy at all.
"There will be silence." stated Albus Dumbledore. His voice was quiet, but there was power in his words. Remus's mouth closed, and he suddenly sat down. He quietly began to sob. The child in Sirius's arms seemed undisturbed by Remus's outburst. Albus spoke again, "Poppy, if you please?"
"As I was saying," she continued, "He was hit by a modified Inferus curse. As near as Albus and I can tell, it was designed to prepare bodies to be made into Inferi after their death, but it appears not to have worked properly. Harry is very much alive, his mind, magic, and life-force are all intact. In fact, his magic readings are off the scale for a one year old--he has the magical power of a teenager easily. I imagine he will be an incredibly powerful Wizard some day." Remus looked up, his panic beginning to fade. Sirius's blank expression began to fade.
"The other two curses, Poppy. If he's not an Inferi, what's happened to him?" asked Sirius softly.
Poppy frowned. "The other two curses were a dark severing charm of unknown design, and Avada Kedavra, the killing curse." McGonagall looked at Poppy in abject confusion at this. No one survived the killing curse.
"Baby Harry is dead?" asked McGonagall in confusion, looking at the baby sleeping in Sirius's arms. His regular breathing was quite evident from the rising and falling of the blanket swaddling his small body. She looked back and forth between Poppy and Albus, desperate for an answer.
"Well, somewhat," replied Albus, "But not all the way." McGonagall stared at him in confusion. Remus and Sirius seemed beyond shock, both waiting for elaboration. "He was hit by the modified Inferus curse, which prepared his body to become undead. Something, we do not know what, was protecting him from life threatening injury. We think it was something Lily came up with. When I inspected her body, the signs were consistent with incredible magical exhaustion. I would imagine she would have died that night whether Riddle killed her or not. She sacrificed herself for Harry." He paused to allow the others in the room to absorb this information. "Harry's head was then severed from his body by Voldemort's dark cutting curse. Because it was a dark curse, there was no chance of knitting the flesh connecting his neck and head back together, unfortunately. The last curse cast, the Killing curse, struck Harry, giving him that scar, as near as we can tell. We think it rebounded from his forehead, killing Voldemort." He looked down at his desk briefly, then raised his head. "If I knew what ritual Lily had performed, I could tell you more. However, her the core of her wand was destroyed, doing whatever it was she did, so there is no way to determine the spells she cast. Thankfully, Harry is alive."
Silence reigned for a brief time, before Sirius once again spoke. "His head... Harry's head was severed? How is he alive and whole?" He looked to the medi-witch for an explanation.
Poppy cleared her throat. "He's alive, but not whole. His head is only attached to his neck by a temporary sticking charm. I've run tests, and there seems to be a permanent magical connection between his head and body, allowing the passage of food and air. Both wounds have sealed over with cursed scar tissue, which is why the charm is temporary. No permanent enchantments can be placed on curse scar residue, as you all probably know. In fact, the more time that passes, the less effective sticking charms will become. Another solution will have to be found before they lose their effect all together." Remus was looking at her as if he could hardly comprehend what she was saying, and Sirius had unwrapped his Godson's neck, and was examining the thin line he saw there. It looked like a scar spanning the entire circumference of Harry's neck, just below his chin. 'He looks so normal,' thought Sirius. He quietly began to shake.
Remus, seeing his friend's distress, quietly took the child from the grim Animagus. Sirius once again stood, his lips twitching up and down, alternating between a wan smile and a severe frown. His sophisticated pureblood features quivered un-naturally. "Well, when he's ready for school we can be sure that the boy will be the head of his class!" barked Sirius as he collapsed to the floor, tears and hysterical laughter overtaking him. The bout lasted only minutes, and the others let his outburst run it's course, though Poppy's hand was on her wand. After a few moments, Minerva helped her former student from the floor.
Dumbledore sighed. The outcome was tragic, but it was better than the boy dying. He thought that in time the boy's Godfather would make peace with his headless charge.
A long silence spread throughout the room while it's occupants came to terms with the startling news and events of this night. Finally after long moments, Sirius stood up, and motioned for his best remaining friend to hand over the child he was still holding. By now Harry had awoken, but ever a quiet and well mannered child, he had not spoken a word. As Sirius stared into his eyes, he saw the young boy smile. "Pa'foot." said Harry clearly.
Sirius found himself grinning down at the toddler. "Yes, Harry." said Black, "It's Padfoot. Lets go home and get you to bed." He looked up at Remus. "My friend. Will you help me raise our Godson?" he asked. Remus smiled, then nodded.
Dumbledore smiled a sad smile. While the rest of the Wizarding World was celebrating the death of the worst Dark Lord in recent memory, these few were still learning the extent of their loss. However, it appeared that something positive, however small, had come about.
-----------------------
Author's Note:
This chapter was a little more Sirius, pardon the pun. Really, this story will be a comedy, but I saw little way to add a dash of pizzazz to a chapter consisting of an old man and a doctor telling two men that their dead friends' son is part zombie. Anyway, the next chapter will be along, some time. I don't know when, I don't write on a schedule or anything, just when the mood strikes. I promise the next chapter will be a lot more fun. I think I'll do a montage of funny moments during Harry's childhood leading up to his Hogwarts letter, and maybe the train ride, though I can't promise because my creative process is so chaotic.
Oh yeah, Check out my Naruto story "Rise of the ScienceNin, if you like Naruto. It's going to be pretty good, I hope.
Chapter III: The Ledged of QuaffleHead
