Days Gone By

The Origin of Sorrow

Past

Harry sat at the steps of Hogwarts pensively. It had been two days since they had left the castle proper. The day before he had tried to make plans for the future. Find someway to survive, after all their small supply of apples was already dwindling. His advice and plans fell on deaf ears. The others seemingly overnight had lost all hope. He didn't blames them, not in the slightest. He had felt that way when he had seen Ron's lifeless body. One of his best friends lay there lifeless. It was utterly devastating, and that was what motivated him. Hermione was alive and in moderately good health. He couldn't, no wouldn't sit back and let her die.

He gathered his courage and the few supplies he had taken from the hut. A lantern, lamp oil, box of everlight matches, a large pillow case, and a small tin of cooked apples. He knew the answer to their survival was here in the school. So as the sun rose higher in the eastern sky he entered the school alone.

First stop on his list was the Great Hall. He was well aware that they had ignored the room the last time they where here. He came to a stop at the large doors taking a deep breath. He released the breath and pushed open the grand doors. He sighed in relief as he saw that the room was blessedly empty. He surveyed the room finding nothing he moved on.

He spent the better part of two hours searching the ground floor. He had checked the staffroom, Filch's office, and the transfiguration department. He hadn't found anything of use. However he had found his head of house. He had found her body in the classroom she had spent so many years teaching in. He wanted to feel something, anything but he didn't. 'Well not nothing' he thought as he felt his heart grow heavier at her loss.

His muscles burned as he climbed the few stairs up to the first floor landing. He sat down heavily on the final step breathing hard. His hands where shaking and he could feel his heart beating rapidly. He should have expected this. He had been on his feet for hours on very little sleep. He should have rested before taking on the stairs.

He smiled as a thought entered his mind. The Hospital wing was close by. He knew that the matron kept a few invigoration potions in her stores. He gathered his strength before making his way sluggishly toward the Hospital Wing. He made the last turn before he came to a complete stop. His stomach rolled dangerously. The corridor was lined with the courses of dead students. Most of them two young for him to know. He made his way swiftly into the medical wing as he tried to ignore the blooded faces of his fellow humans. He gently pushed open the door hoping that what he found wasn't something he would regret. He took a few steps into the ruined room. He froze at the sound of a familiar voice.

'It seems not even death can keep me from my most frequent patient.'

Harry spun around and saw the ghost of the school's former matron. He smiled weakly as she slowly drifted closer to him.

'So what can I do for you today?' she asked kindly as she drifted thru him before slipping thru the wall into her office.

He shivered slightly before following her into the office. The matron pointed and he took the offered chair.

"I could really use a invigoration draught." he replied once he was settled. He sat their as the ghost gazed intently at him.

'You'll find them in my personal stores.'

Harry stood and made his way to her small potion store. He took one of the labeled potions and drained it in one gulp. Instantly he felt well invigorated. "Thank you madam Pomfrey." he said kindly as he turned to face her.

'I think it best you visit the headmasters office next.' she said softly as she stared out into the hospital ward. 'I'm sure you have many questions. The headmaster will have the most reliable answers.'

"As you wish." he replied before making his way out of the hospital wing. He used his newly found energy to escape the corpse filled corridor with some speed. His mind was spinning as he made haste toward the third floor. Could the Headmaster still be alive? If he was why did he not come find them after their ward opened? Many more questions swirled around in his mind as he neared the gargoyle statue. He jumped when the statue opened without receiving the password. Granted he was thankful as he didn't have the password, but he doubted it was a good sign. He made his way up the staircase. Once it became clear it wouldn't move of it's own accord.

"Professor!" he called as he cleared the last two steps and swung open the office door.

"It does my heart good to see you well my boy."

Harry stopped as he looked into blue eyes of the magical portrait. "It is good to see you too sir." he replied before moving closer to the painting.

"Please take a seat Harry. I'm sure you have many questions for me. I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability." the portrait said kindly.

Harry nodded before taking a seat in front of the man's desk.

"Ask away." Dumbledore stated.

"Did anyone else survive?" he asked softly.

"No." he said softly. "The first ones that fell ill had the best chance to survive. The virus was changed after it came in contact with magic. It swept thru the schools population in under three days. Those who didn't die from the fever perished from the after effects. Dehydration, blood loss, organ damage, ect, ect. There is an article in the Quibbler with more detailed information. Sadly we didn't have this information beforehand"

Harry took the Quibbler from the headmaster's desk.

Origin of Our Greatest Sorrow

By Xenophillus Lovegood

Today in America news spread about the origins of H7B32. The news was followed by large scale uproar and open revolt. H7B32 was reveal to be a modified, and weaponized version of the 1918 Spanish Flu. The bio-weapon was released purposefully by anarchist in several large cities along the eastern and western coast of America. Where the anarchist acquired this weapon is still unknown.

In further news the MMHRO in Chapel Hill NC. Has issued warnings in the magical world:

The Muggle Magical Health Research Organization Warning #17b

A class X viral outbreak continues. H7B32M34 continues to decimate the magical population of North America. If you are healthy do not under any circumstances seek out others. Any contact with infected is more than enough to spread the virus.

The Muggle Magical Health Research Organization Warning #17b

Minister Thomson and the Continental Congress increased the travel ban an additional six weeks. The minister came under heavy political attack when he pushed thru the international travel ban last month. The American ministry also reports that the death toll is spiraling upwards. Two hundred fifty-five thousand, one hundred seventy-two dead.

Harry let the paper slip from his hand. He watched detached as it made its decent to the floor. A quarter of a million dead.

"It gets worse I'm afraid." the old man said kindly.

"Do I want to know?" Harry asked his face white as a sheet.

"I was alive during the Spanish flu you know?" Dumbledore stated softy. "Imagine my surprise when I fell ill with it. I was young at the time. While it was bad experience I never came close to death. Later on I learned that twenty million or more died from it. I was shocked until I learn many years later why. The virus spread like a wild fire infecting most of the worlds population. It had a rather low fatality rate, but with so many ill. Well it was bad enough then, but now it has a near one hundred percent fatality rate in the magical races. The mundane populous have a seventy-five percent fatality rate. Billions will die, and man will have to start over once again."

Harry's chest felt impossible tight as the headmaster finished. "It sounds so hopeless."

Dumbledore's nodded. "I imagine for some it its. How about you Harry do you think its hopeless?"

Harry looked into the blue eyes of his mentor. He didn't have to think before he answered. "No." He stated. "Hermione, Luna, and Malfoy are still alive. I will not fail them."

"Draco. His name is Draco." Dumbledore added softly.

Harry nodded in understanding. "I know that I should drop it. I guess is is just a bad habit. One that needs to be broken."

"Good." Dumbledore said. " I find myself in the position to be of great help to you."

Harry quirked an eyebrow at him. "Like?"

"As you know this school sits on a rather large plot of land. In the early years of this school the majority of the food was grown in the valley and sent here. The farming programs ended after World War II. Most of the farm houses where torn down and the land reclaimed as fields for the livestock to graze. The rest fell into disrepair save for one. The central farm house was owned by Minerva's late brother. He kept the house in order until his death six years ago. Minerva made sure it was taken care of. It is small, but it is safer than being here."

Harry sat back in his chair. Shelter was something that had been bothering him. Winter would be arriving within weeks. Hagrid's hut had a draft you could fly thru. "What about food?"

"As I mentioned most food is imported. We receive shipments every month via train. The last shipment was August 28th. I'm afraid the perishable food is spoiled. Can goods are your best bet. There is a storage room in the kitchens stock full with can fruits and vegetables."

Harry grimaced as he recalled the image of the kitchens. His mind was spinning with ideas. They had shelter and a limited supply of food. Only problem was they where not in the same place. "How far away is the farm house?"

Dumbledore hummed. "Roughly seven kilometers as the phoenix flies. The trail is longer but not by much."

Harry ran his hand thru his wild hair. Seven kilometers was a long way to walk while your recovering from anything.

"Yes it is a long way to go." Dumbledore said reading the boys uncertainty. "However I have one more item to give you."

"Yes?" he questioned

Dumbledore pointed to a small olive green satchel. "I crafted that satchel in my younger days. It is the equivalent to a compartmentalized trunk. Two bottomless compartment's, one potions storage compartment. Enchanted to be feather light, and unbreakable. You'll find a map to the farmhouse along with the surviving storehouses in the potions compartment. I strongly suggest you gather what you can and go. This school has nothing more to offer you."

Harry gathered the satchel before looking up and meeting Dumbledore's eyes. The old man was smiling his eyes all a twinkle. "Do you want to come with us?" he asked.

Dumbledore laughed joyfully. "No my dear boy. I belong here with the school I've dedicated so much too. I find it fitting don't you?"

Harry nodded. "Goodbye Professor."

He quickly stashed the items he had in one of the endless trunks. He lit the lantern before heading down the darkened stairs. He quickly cleared out the first floor storeroom. He took the all the labeled potions and placed them gently into the potion compartment. He quickly debated about going back to the hospital wing. He decided against going back and quickly made his way down to the ground floor. The sun had started its slow decent toward the western horizon. He still had a few hours before night set in. He made his way to the Herbology stores. He ignored the more complex potions ingredients. Instead he gathered basic herbs that could be used in their current state.

He swiped away some sweat that had formed on his brow. The invigoration draught was slowly wearing out. He closed the satchel once he had gathered all the herbs he knew to be useful. He made his way back the entry hall again. He sighed as he gathered his courage just once more. He made the short walk down to the kitchens on autopilot. He opened the door fully. He angled the lantern upwards so that the light wouldn't shine on the mangled corpses of the dead. He slowly made his way toward the back storerooms. He stepped on the little bodies once or twice before he reached the room he wanted. He swung open the door and found the room full of canned goods. He stepped into the room quickly setting up the satchel. He grinned as he took can after can. He loaded the bottomless trunk for half an hour before he was finished. He gathered the satchel before swinging it over his shoulder.

He picked up the lantern and turned back into the kitchen. He angled the lantern once more and made his way across the room. He was nearly at the entrance when he tripped over the body of a dead elf. He lost his balance pitching forward. He let go of the lantern to brace for his landing. He hit the cold stone floor harder than he expected. His breathing quickened as the lantern smashed against the stone floor. The flame died instantly as it was extinguished by its own oil. Harry swore loudly as he searched for the satchel. After a moment of frantic searching he found it. He opened the one of the bottomless compartments and searched for the box of everlights. He kept his eyes closed while he felt around for the matches. One thing he didn't need was another Ron fueled panic attack.

His tense body relaxed some when his fingers clasped around the match box. He quickly retrieved them from the satchel. With shaking fingers he took a match and struck it on the stone floor. The dark room filled with the dim light from the match. He somehow expected Ron to be there looking at him laughingly. Thankfully that wasn't the case. He placed the match on the ground away from the oil. He quickly righted the lantern before checking it over. The oil reservoir had broken spilling the oil out on the ground. He quickly gathered a discarded rag and a soup ladle. He soaked up as much oil as he could with the rag before rapping it around the soup ladle's handle. He then placed the busted lantern in the open compartment. He picked up the lit match and ignited the makeshift torch. He blew out the match and placed it back in the box. He tossed the match box in the compartment before closing the satchel.

He gathered his items before making his way out of the kitchens. He let out a breath when he made it back up to the entrance hall. He exited the school and made his way back down toward Hagrid's Hut.

A/N: A rather Harry centric episode. So now we have some knowledge about the virus. More info on the status of the magical world. (even if international). There maybe more grammar errors than usual. I knocked this out over 6 hours on a Friday night. I'm a little tired, and my own editing skills will suffer for doing it now instead of when I wake up. Why am I still rambling I have editing to do.