He was hot, so hot. He stirred restlessly, feeling the heat that seemed to centre in his chest. His head ached and he longed to slip back into the soothing darkness, but twitching muscles and awful heat prevented him.
Something was wrong. He frowned, struggling to think, to remember. What had happened?
He thought he heard something, low and sweet as something wonderfully cold and wet was put against his face. His eyes flickered, trying to figure out what was happening.
A blurry face was leaning over him, gently patting his face with a white cloth. He vaguely recognised the woman's face.
"Mum?" he croaked.
The woman leaned down and he felt her hair brush his cheek as she stroked his damp hair.
"It's alright Harry" she said gently, her voice soothing. He felt something tingle against his skin and his hot skin began to cool. Her dark hair tickled his nose.
Hang on…his mother had red hair…
"Go to sleep Harrybear" she whispered, still running her fingers through his hair. She hummed softly and he felt his eyelids grow heavy. They closed and his breathing evened out. Harry fell back asleep.
When he woke up again, it was because of heated voices nearby. He still felt drained and groggy, but more alert as the voices filtered through his brain.
"…got himself killed."
"He was worried for his sister James, he had no idea she had been taken" the voice of his aunt Alice said calmly. Harry had a moment of déjà vu but it passed.
"Albus said no-one would get hurt Alice" said a louder and higher woman's voice; Harry's mother.
"Well it's not like Harry knew that did he?" his godfather's voice was angry. "'An hour gone, the prospects black' ring a bell? It's not like the Champions knew their hostages would safe, did they, with that running through their heads."
"The organisers wouldn't let the hostages be harmed Padfoot" James Potter snapped exasperatedly.
"Oh and that makes it ok then?" Sirius's voice was rising. "Never mind the fact the French Minister of Defence is at this moment in time yelling at Dumbledore for kidnapping his underage daughter without his knowledge or consent and his other daughter was nearly killed from the Grindylows, it's alright because everyone knew no-one was going to be hurt…since this effing Tournament was cancelled due to the death toll in the first place!"
"Sirius this is none of your business" James growled, sounding hacked off.
Harry suppressed a groan, and tried to figure out if it was worth the effort to roll onto his stomach and bury his head under the pillow. The bickering adults were loud and making the dull ache in his skull sharpen painfully.
He blinked his eyes open, the lids a lot heavier than they should have been. He found himself staring up at a blank white ceiling. He blinked again. There was a familiar smell of antiseptic and cleaning supplies in the air that made his nose twitch. He was lying on practical cotton white sheets that were not as comfortable as his room at home or in Hogwarts.
Hogwarts…argh, the Hospital Wing. Why was he in the Hospital Wing?
Blinking, he tried to lift his head, but he gave up quite quickly. He could still hear his parents and godparents arguing behind the privacy sheet around his bed.
"Hey Harry."
Harry's heart suddenly palpitated. He craned his head and got a glimpse of his baby sister sitting on the bed beside his. She looked a little paler than usual and her long black hair was loose instead of in its usual plaits. Her big sapphire eyes were taking in her brother's appearance.
Rose. The TriWizard Tournament…the second task. Wincing, he tried to get up, but Rose shook her head and went over to him.
"They've been arguing for a while" his sister whispered, looking tired. Concern fought his weariness. Rose was a budding empath and she shouldn't be anywhere near Hogwarts with the large number of angst filled teenagers and guests and adults. Her shields weren't well developed yet.
Rose gave him a look "I'm fine" she said looking her big brother in the eye. "You though managed to drain yourself big time, you silly prat. I told you not to go back."
Harry narrowed his eyes at her, but didn't bother to refute it. Especially considering it would cost him even more energy to argue.
Rose winced and shot a glare at the privacy curtain behind which the voices had risen again. She then clambered onto Harry's bed and then onto him, making him grunt. She snuggled into him, wrapping herself around her big brother, drawing comfort from his familiar energy and using it to tune out the rest of the emotions in the air.
Harry smiled faintly as his baby sister draped herself on top of him like a large affectionate cat. He managed to move one of his arms around her waist to keep her from falling accidently. His head rested against hers as eyes closed and he slipped back asleep, his sister following him to dreamland.
XX
"Zee Eenglish. Imbeciles" Mademoiselle Laurent growled under her breath, sounding disgusted. Her shoulder length dark hair was pulled away from her face in an elegant bun. Her pretty face was however twisted into disapproval as she checked her charge over, muttering in French about idiotic Englishmen and their moronic ideas.
Fleur stifled a flinch as the Healer's wand pressed into a particularly deep cut, cleansing it and knitting the skin together. Various salves and potions had been forced on and into her to fight any infection and to raise her body temperature. Both Mademoiselle Laurent and Madame Maxime were very angry at how the Task had gone. For a Tournament that was supposedly safe, it was incredible no-one had died yet. As it was, Fleur had nearly lost her life in this ridiculous Tournament.
It would be dismissed of course. Her heritage it was claimed had been the reason of the attack. As such it was deemed an unfortunate accident and no fault to the organisers of the Tournament. Her Headmistress was furious.
But they would not be able to brush aside Jean Claude Delacour's allegation of kidnapping so easily. The politician had been livid at the cavalier dismissal of his eldest daughters attack and his youngest daughter's disappearance and was channelling this into icy ruthlessness. By now the French Minister for Magic had lodged a complaint to the British Ministry and the ICW for the kidnapping of Gabrielle Delacour by the Headmaster of Hogwarts and British Ministry officials. It was unlikely to amount to much, but it would provide ample fodder for the international community and be highly embarrassing for the British. Fleur would have preferred to roast Dumbledore's hide with the fireballs she could summon when she was very angry, but Dumbledore was too well connected and revered among the British to get more than a slap on the wrist.
The sooner this accursed Tournament was over the better as far as she was concerned.
"Healer Pomfrey did a good initial diagnosis" Laurent told her in French. "Though it would have been better if you had allowed yourself to be properly treated earlier."
"Gabrielle had to be looked after" she replied, grimacing at the sensation of the healing paste being rubbed vigorously into her skin.
The Beauxbatons Healer sighed and gently pulled Fleur's natty and snarled hair up and out of the way to reach her back and neck. There was a large vivid purple ring around her neck where the Grindylow had strangled her. Laurent cursed softly and applied gentle fingers to massage her patient's throat. Fleur felt some of her tension seep out of her as the throbbing begun to fade, making breathing a little easier.
Laurent smiled as the girl relaxed. She had always been very fond of Fleur whose life in Beauxbatons had been anything but easy. Years of overawed boys and envious girls had made her school times a very lonely place and she had made sure to let her know her door was always open.
"Bruising is deep" Laurent murmured to herself and her patient. "Though confined. It would have been able to strangle you had it held on much longer. You are very lucky Fleur."
"Yes" Fleur said softly, bowing her head.
"You said that Hogwarts other Champion saved you?" Laurent asked, wiping her hands in a cloth.
"Yes" she sighed and stifled a cough that threatened to escape. It didn't escape her Healer's notice who lifted her head sharply, piercing her patient with calculating eyes.
"You didn't happen to swallow any of the water when you were attacked perchance?" she asked sweetly, a dangerous look in her eyes.
Fleur winced and clenched her fingers hard on the examination table's edges hard. The memory flashed through her again; thrashing in the greenish black water, water demons dragging her to the crushing depths, her lungs trying to take in oxygen and filling with liquid instead. She closed her eyes and breathed shallowly, her lungs suddenly burning.
Warmth suddenly suffused her and she lifted her head to see Mademoiselle Laurent lowering her wand, having cast a Warming and Calming Charm in quick succession. She let out a shaky breath and nodded in thanks, relaxing involuntarily.
"Fleur" Mademoiselle Laurent was soft and firm, crouching a little to look her in the eyes. The Healer's eyes were gentle. "Tell me what happened."
Fleur drew in her breath, held it and then exhaled. The process still hurt but it was getting better.
"The Grindylows attacked me" Fleur said softly, gripping the table tightly. This part was well known at this point. "There were so many…my charm failed. And I…I panicked. I couldn't breathe and"
"Easy" Laurent soothed, rubbing her back when the young woman's breathing became agitated. She was inwardly frowning however. Her initial scans had detected no water in her patient's lungs.
"What happened then?"
"I woke up" Fleur said softly, meeting her Healer's eyes. "One minute I was drowning…and the next I was at the surface with Harry and his sister."
"You were unconscious under the water?" Mademoiselle Laurent queried, definitely worried now.
Fleur nodded slowly, processing this. She had passed out under water. She should be dead right now.
Her Healer was now performing intricate wand movements over her head and along her back. It was baffling. There was indirect evidence of water in the lungs; the tissue was somewhat enlarged from the fluid that caused it to expand. But other than that her lungs showed no actual water. It was as if the water had been expelled from the lungs already.
"Did the other Champion-Harry, yes?-do anything?" Laurent asked retrieving an anti-inflammatory potion used specifically for the lungs.
Fleur blushed and forced herself to swallow the potion, grimacing at the foul taste. Laurent raised her eyebrow at the uncharacteristic gesture.
"I couldn't catch my breath" Fleur said slowly, feeling her cheeks burn. She hadn't given this much thought but it was now clearly stamped in her conscious in glorious detail. "He, uh, he gave me mouth to mouth."
Aimée Laurent raised her eyebrows, suppressing a smirk by sheer force of will. "Did he?" she asked casually, putting the potion bottle back for reuse. "That was very good of him."
Fleur gave her a look, not appreciating the undercurrent of amusement in her Healers voice. She was also flustered at the realisation that she had had her first sort of kiss, despite it being in life giving circumstances. It was a trifling detail in the scale of things that was quickly taking priority.
Laurent chuckled at her expression. "Did he do anything else? A spell?"
"Not that I know" Fleur shrugged helplessly, feeling overwhelmed. It was slowly dawning on her just what Harry had done for her. He had saved her life. He had driven away the Grindylows and brought her to the surface as she lost consciousness, only to revive her and save her sister. It was a sobering realisation to realise how much she owed a fourteen year old boy who she had previously held in mild contempt.
Laurent smiled gently at her patient, patting her hand. The poor young woman had had a trying day. She cast a quick charm just to ascertain there were no more open wounds or deep bruising left to treat. Satisfied, she cast a spell to check on her magic levels.
She frowned at her results. Fleur had reported her magic significantly weakened underwater, not terribly surprising. Her reserves had been noticeably drained when Laurent had first examined her. Her magic was beginning to recover now that she was warmed dried and out of the water, but there was still something off about what she was seeing.
She cast the spell again, studying the image of her patient's magical core. She narrowed her eyes and hummed softly; casting several more spells for clarification.
"I'm picking up some unusual activity in your magical core" she said finally. "I don't know what it is but I don't like it."
Fleur picked up her head in alarm. Something was wrong with her magic?
"It could be nothing but better to be safe than sorry" Aimée smiled apologetically at her charge. "Your family Healer may know more. I am not an expert on Veela and that's the only thing I can think of that's causing your magic to behave strangely. Do you feel anything?"
Fleur paused and closed her eyes, allowing herself to find her core. Warm and bright her magic tingled comfortingly, recovering from its ordeal. Tendrils of magic simmered in her blood, humming rhythmically, spreading out of her core and throughout her body. And yet…she frowned, opening her eyes. There was something-odd.
She turned to look at her Healer, whose eyebrows were drawn together.
"I'll Floo Healer Ramoné now" Laurent smiled and patted her patient's knee. Fleur sighed and nodded, tiredness seeping into her bones as relentlessly as the cold had done earlier. Laurent stopped at the sight and sympathy swelled. With a flick of her wand, Fleur's hair was clean and dry and falling down her back. Another flick of her wand turned the metal table into a mattress.
"Rest for a while, Cherie, you need it" Laurent squeezed her arm, smiling. "I'll let your father and your sister know."
Fleur couldn't muster the attempt to argue. She gratefully lay back on the Transfigured mattress, exhaustion making her boneless. It was possibly a good thing, she thought wearily, as she closed her eyes. She wouldn't have to make her way to her quarters listening to the malicious sniping behind her back about her performance in this wretched Tournament. She'd take every silver lining she could right now.
XX
Harry slept fitfully, drifting in and out of consciousness. He vaguely heard people murmur and move around him as he snuggled deeper into the bed, his sister's familiar weight on top of him. Even asleep, he instinctively knew she was there and didn't shift or roll over.
He had always been closer to his sister than the rest of his family. Even his twin brother Nathan Sirius was not as close to him as Rose. Whenever she had a nightmare or had a particularly bad day with her empathy, she would sneak into his room and curl up next to him until the morning.
Their family was very famous. The Potter family was a Noble and Ancient House, one of the oldest families in Britain. That held a lot of sway in the magical community and they were the only Potter's left. On the thirty first of October 1981, when Harry and Nathan were a year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort, leader of the pureblood extremists had attacked their home. Their grandmother Agatha Potter had been babysitting for their parents when he had attacked. No-one truly knew what happened, but when his parents returned, they found Agatha dead, a pile of ashes and two squalling babies, with blood on their faces, still in their playpen.
After consultation from Dumbledore it was announced that Agatha Potter had died protecting her two grandsons. Lord Voldemort had struck Nathan Potter with the Killing Curse, only for it to rebound upon its castor, destroying his body. Nathan Potter survived with nothing more than an S shaped scar on his forehead, while his brother gained a lightning shaped cut from a backlash of the evil magic. Nathan Potter had been declared the Boy Who Lived and everyone in the Wizarding World knew his name.
Being a sibling of the Boy Wonder wasn't easy. People hardly spared a thought for his brother and sister, other than to try and get to Nathan. It was rare people saw the boy behind the BWL title, let alone his brother and sister's identities.
It had not been an easy thing being Nathan's twin brother. His parents had tried hard, but with hordes of adoring well-wishers, sympathisers of the Dark Lord, politicians and work…slowly Harry found himself overshadowed.
It had gotten worse with the arrival of Rose. The parental attention got split three ways, diverting it drastically. When Rose's power manifested, things had changed again. Their parents had a celebrity son and a daughter with special needs. It meant Harry; supposedly the 'normal' one was often set aside.
Nights when Nathan was with their parents at functions and parties and later training sessions to control his magic, Harry was left behind with Rose. They often stayed with Uncle Moony or the Longbottoms, Uncle Padfoot dropping by when he was off duty. Rose was regularly taken to specialists and Healers to help her control her power and keep herself sane. Harry spent more time with the Longbottoms than he did his parents. Most of his activities-football matches, defence competitions-were attended by his pseudo aunts and uncles.
Harry groaned as the warm weight on top of him shifted. Automatically, he tightened his grip on his sister and shifted away on the bed, accidently moving away from the disturbance. Rose settled against him again and he fell back asleep.
XX
Harry blinked and hissed, squinting at the harsh light that blinded him. Slowly his vision swam into focus and he found himself staring at the white ceiling of the Hospital Wing. Grimacing at the foul taste in his mouth he tried to sit up.
Mistake.
Harry groaned involuntarily, his body quaking. He hurt everywhere; muscles, tendons, cartilage, bones ached all over. The attempt was pitiful; he fell back against the pillow, shutting his eyes as pain wracked his body.
What the bloody hell had he done to himself?
"Harry!"
Harry cracked his eyes open and managed to turn his head a little to the voice. A very familiar person was beside him. Tall thin and a little scarred, his Uncle Moony was sitting beside the bed. His dark hair flecked with grey was a little in disarray and his prematurely aged face looked weary and worried. His amber brown eyes were warm and happy however as he leaned over to squeeze his nephew's hand.
"How're you doing cub?" he said gently, leaning forward.
"Sore" Harry whispered and tried to swallow. He winced and sagged against the pillow. His Uncle picked up a glass of water and helped him drink. It tasted wonderful.
"Where's Rose?" Harry asked tiredly feeling a little more aware and now noticing his sister wasn't on the bed anymore.
"She's with Madam Pomfrey and your parents" Remus's smile twitched slightly. "She's doing well but Poppy is difficult to convince. I think she's alright considering."
"Good" Harry sighed and winced at the twinge it caused.
"I'll just let her know you're up" Remus squeezed his hand reassuringly and ran a hand through his hair before walking away. Harry let his eyes close, his heading thumping. His eyelids seemed a lot heavier than usual.
Footsteps soon became louder and the privacy curtain opened.
"Ah Mr Potter you're awake" the feared mistress of medicine herself stated. Harry let his eyes open and look at the matron. He nearly groaned as he spied the vaguely familiar outlines behind her.
The bed suddenly sagged. His baby sister helpfully slid his glasses on his nose and everything sharpened into focus. He grinned tiredly in thanks. His contacts he'd worn earlier had clearly been removed.
Madam Pomfrey frowned disapprovingly at Rose who had no intentions of moving and had curled up on the bed. Harry fought a smile, before reluctantly glancing up.
"Hi Mum hi Dad" he said, giving them a small smile.
Lily Potter looked relieved, identical green eyes happy and worried. Her husband's expression was stiff and Harry abruptly remembered the argument he'd heard when he'd woken up earlier.
Ah crud.
"Oh Harry baby are you alright?" Lily moved to hug him; Harry tried not to wince as his muscles protested at the heartfelt squeeze. His mother pulled away to look into his eyes.
"Just what were you thinking young man?" she demanded, concern now melting into worried anger. "What on earth were you doing using such powerful magic? You could have killed yourself!" she pulled him into another tight hug, burying her face into Harry's hair.
"Good question" his father chose this moment to speak up, tone cool and dangerous. When James Potter the amiable well liked man spoke like that, it did not bode well. "A better question might be where you learned such magic. I rather doubt you learned it from the school library."
"Not the school one" Harry said lazily. As he grew older he rather enjoyed irritating his father. As hazel eyes narrowed at him Harry he supplied a half truth. "Reginald's portrait told me." He took satisfaction in seeing his eyes bulge and narrow.
"I would like to examine my patient now Mr Potter" Madam Pomfrey announced, glancing pointedly at his father. His mother reluctantly pulled away and gestured for Rose to join her. She ignored her and Pomfrey sighed and began to wave her wand over Harry in complex patterns. He felt the tingle of magic on his skin, making it prickle and made a face.
"Neville and Hermione were camping outside the doors earlier" Rose told her brother, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "And Luna dropped by a while ago, along with some" she scrunched up her nose for a moment "Plimpy bean juice. Says it's really good for recovering from an attack by Aquavirius Maggots."
Harry raised an eyebrow, ignoring his parents' expressions.
"Tiny little bugs in water that get up peoples noses and make them want to drown themselves" Rose said, answering Harry's silent query, smiling innocently as Harry glared at her. He heard his Uncle Moony chuckle.
"Well I don't detect any presence of bugs on my scan Miss Potter" Pomfrey was smirking slightly. "And there doesn't appear to be any trace of water in your lungs Mr Potter. You have managed to drain your magical core significantly, no doubt from your extremely advanced self Transfiguration."
So that's what he did? He carefully avoided his father's eyes, silently sending out a thank you to the merpeople chieftain. He would have to go back to their village at some point and thank him in person.
"Hmm" Pomfrey's eyebrows rose as she looked at her readings. She jabbed her wand again, frowning.
"Is something wrong Poppy?" Lily asked anxiously.
"Not wrong exactly" Pomfrey replied, still scrutinising her results. Confused, Harry glanced at Rose who was studying the Healer intently, but frowning too.
"Poppy?" James prompted.
The witch sighed and looked up to study her patient. "Your magical core is recovering faster than I had anticipated. It was severely drained and it would normally be days or even weeks before a drained core recovers. Yours" she shook her head. "It's already recovering. If it continues at this rate, it should return to normal within a day or two."
Harry blinked at that. He knew his magic was weak, but he hadn't realised how long it normally took for drained magic to recover. He could already feel the ancient stones of the castle wrapping tendrils of magic around him, bolstering his reserves. The earth beneath them was siphoning energy away and allowing him to heal faster. If he concentrated, he could actually feel it. This was normal for him whenever he was ill or injured.
"Is that a problem Poppy?" Remus asked his expression contemplative.
"It doesn't appear to be" Poppy replied, shaking her head. "Your magic appears well developed Mr Potter. You would do better not to abuse it."
"No Ma'am" Harry nodded his head respectfully.
"So is everything alright then Poppy?" Lily asked hopefully.
"Despite the fact his magic is recovering faster than expected, your son is still suffering from exhaustion and muscle fatigue. He'll have to stay overnight for observation and will need a couple of potions to aid his muscles recovery and absolutely no magic until I say so" Pomfrey glared at Harry. "The last thing we need to see is a setback in your core's recovery because you rushed things Potter, do you understand?"
Harry nodded, ignoring the ache in his head. Pomfrey produced some foul looking potions out of thin air and did not move until he managed to swallow them. Gagging, he managed it and Moony helpfully got the water glass and helped him get rid of the rancid taste left behind.
"That looks disgusting" Rose observed the droplets left behind in the potion vials.
"Tastes as good as they look" Harry replied hoarsely, leaning back against the pillows. The potions may have been revolting, but he could feel his muscles relax and the pain in them ease.
A thought suddenly struck him and he glanced up sharply. "Is Fleur and her sister ok?" he asked.
"They're fine" his sister said instantly. "But Professor Dumbledore is in trouble." She sang, not sounding especially sympathetic.
"Rose" their father said sternly. Lily had now sat down on the edge of the bed and was also frowning at Rose, absently rubbing Harry's leg.
"What happened?" Harry asked, directing the question more at Remus. But it was Rose again who answered.
"He kidnapped Fleur's sister and her Dad is really angry" she said succinctly. At Harry's wide eyes Rose went on. "Uncle Padfoot had to go and make sure no-one started throwing hexes. They didn't ask parents' permission for the other hostages either."
"Rosalyn Agatha that's enough" Lily said firmly.
That reminded Harry of a very important point he had yet to bring up with his parents. He narrowed his eyes at them. Rose sensed his rising irritation and sighed, pulling her hair over her shoulder, studying the ends as if they were the most fascinating things she had ever seen.
"So did Professor Dumbledore ask 'permission' to use Rose as a hostage?" he asked casually.
"Dumbledore asked for permission for everyone Harry" James's voice was curt. "All of the girls were asked if they would like to be part of the Second Task and they agreed."
"Were 'told' to take part" Rose muttered, still scrutinising her hair.
"Well he must have missed one since Fleur's dad isn't happy" Harry said sweetly.
"She was what Fleur would miss most" Lily said gently, a small smile on her face as she smiled at her two children. "And Rosie was what you would miss most Harry." She squeezed his leg, a proud smile on her face.
Well it wouldn't bloody well be Nathan would it, he thought to himself. "Of course she is. But why was she my hostage? She shouldn't be anywhere near Hogwarts yet." He succeeded in folding his arms and quirked an eyebrow at his parents.
Remus shifted uncomfortably, clearly aware of the tension in the air. Rose resolutely ignored them.
James's jaw twitched and his eyes sharpened. Lily winced and looked away.
"Rose was given a blocking potion early this morning" James said acidly.
"Was she now?" Harry's eyes were narrowing, he was getting angry now. "Even though Healer Vance said that she couldn't use that too much otherwise she'll hurt herself?"
"You're not exactly in a position to point fingers Harry James" his father retorted. "We'll be having words about that later."
"James" Lily implored, looking between the two Potter men with alarm. Remus looked wary, half rising from his seat.
"So you agreed to let Rose come here and go underwater for a stupid competition that people have died in just because Professor Dumbledore said it was safe?" Harry said coolly.
Remus cringed and Lily cried "Harry!" as his father paled with fury.
"Harry James Potter" his father's voice was deadly calm and would have put the fear of Merlin in hardened criminals. "If you ever speak to me like that again I will ground you until you turn seventeen. I will not tolerate you disrespecting myself, your mother or your Headmaster."
Harry narrowed his eyes at his father, but said nothing. The tension was stifling.
"Furthermore" James said icily. "If you ever imply that I put any of my children in danger again you'll be sorry you were ever born. I made sure that everything was safe before even agreeing to let Rose take part."
"Safe!?" Harry burst, incredulous. This was going too far, but Harry didn't care. Harry didn't get angry often but he had inherited his mother's legendary temper. When he got riled, there was no stopping him. His mother was at this minute shaking her head quickly at him but it was too late. "The Black Lake is safe? Getting told that our hostages wouldn't come back if we didn't get to them in time is alright? FLEUR DELACOUR NEARLY DIED TRYING TO GET TO HER SISTER!" He roared, completely forgetting where he was.
The glass of water on the bedside table exploded. Harry doubled over in pain as the bed, the table and the chair Moony had been sitting on a second ago started shaking violently.
"Harry!" Rose cried, grabbing his arm as the shakings continued. He vaguely heard running footsteps.
"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey demanded returning to the bed and forcing Harry to lie back on the bed. Harry struggled to breathe through the pain. He had to stop his magic before something serious happened.
"Everybody out! NOW!" Pomfrey shouted, pulling her wand out. Rose didn't move, instead gripping her brother's arm, trying to calm the sudden maelstrom of emotions that were driving his magic wild. At the moment they were the worry. If Harry didn't calm down he would hurt himself and those around him.
Pomfrey forced a potion vial to Harry's lips and Harry choked on the liquid as it was poured down his throat. As quickly as it had started, his magic ceased its ministrations and the rattling ceased as his anger and panic drained away like water. Harry slumped against the mattress, spent. He breathed in and out, closing his eyes.
"How are you feeling Potter?" Pomfrey asked, once she was sure it was over.
Harry wearily opened his eyes. "Like-like hell" he rasped.
"This was the kind of thing I was afraid of" Pomfrey sighed at her readings, shaking her head. Accidental magic was not what she'd had in mind when she warned the boy to be careful. That sort of thing was more common in children his sister's age, not Harry's, though not unheard of.
"Would you care to explain what had you so angry that you've exhausted what little magic you regained Potter?" she asked crisply.
"He and dad had a fight" Rose said quietly.
Madam Pomfrey's lips thinned. If James Potter had jeopardised his son's recovery….muttering under her breath, she addressed the Potter children. "The Calming Draught should help you get some sleep Potter. I expect you to stay here and sleep, with no interruptions." She stared at his sister. "And you young lady are not to disturb him or I'll have you removed, understood?"
"Yes Madam Pomfrey" Rose said solemnly.
"Get some rest Potter" Pomfrey left the two, casting a Silencing Charm over the privacy curtain. She intended to have a few words with their father.
"I think Dad's in trouble" Rose whispered to her exhausted brother.
"So am I" Harry muttered back. Regret was stopping exhaustion; its sharp talons hauling him up from the waiting darkness. "I'm sorry for that."
Rose knew what he was talking about.
"Blocking potion" she reminded him. "Most of the stuff is getting blocked, except when people are really close. And even then, it's nothing to what it usually is." She sighed and curled up next to her big brother. "Nice going by the way. I think you're grounded until you're thirty."
"Eh s'alright" Harry yawned. "Nev'd bust me out."
Rose giggled. "Hermione would make the escape plan. And Luna would take care of Dad."
"Exacly" Harry slurred, sleep rolling over him like a herd of hippogriffs. He closed his eyes, listening to Rose's laughter and was asleep in seconds.
XX
Second chapter. Really hard to write. Nothing really noteworthy saves for familial interaction. More of that to come along with Nathan Potter-the BWL. Supposedly.
There was a brief introduction to the Potter history. I'll do more of that later in some flashbacks that'll also talk about other issues.
More of Fleur and her family hopefully in the next chapter. I really like her family.
Lily and James? I'm not planning on making their characters evil and hurtful and abusive and all that junk. They're not going to win any parental awards, but they're not going to be unredeemable. Nathan-you'll have to wait and see.
Anyway new chapter, more reviews? Please?
