The last week before the new semester began, the castle awoke with screams. Screams that carried one name upon their lips, "Harry!"
Dumbledore had been walking the grounds when he came upon a little form right outside the Forbidden Forest's edges.
Dirtied with mud and natural debris the little figure looked up at him before collapsing.
The Headmaster ran to the little ones side gently but cautiously lifting the little body from the ground. He strode quickly to the castle and once upon its steps he made his way to the infirmary.
He had reached the medi-witch's courters when out came the woman he had hopped to let down gently.
Her grass-green eyes widened and she rushed to his side, noticing immediately the reddened bite mark to the left of her son's neck.
Her screams brought her little one who had just finished her lessons with the potions master.
She gasped and magic swam around the building. Dumbledore's eyes widened and narrowed at the little one's power.
Phoenix rushed to her brother's side, waving her hand over him immediately to clear the mud and dust from her brother. The barely heard cleaning spell whispered from her lips.
"Perhaps it would be better for her to leave." Madame Pomfrey looked worryingly at the child, while glancing at the bite and then back up at the Headmaster.
"I'm not leaving his side. You can not make me!"
Lily recovered her senses at her daughter's frantic yell. "Sweetie, you should go wait in our rooms."
"No! You are the reason I let him go! You are the reason he's hurt!"
Dumbledore watched as the child's magic swirled around her, she was indeed powerful. He had heard of her stunt when James had tried to take her brother away, but he hadn't quite believed it until now.
She strode past everyone and set herself by her brothers bedside her hand clasping his.
"I'm here."
She bent low to his ear and whispered it again, except this time in their language.
I'm here.
However, one Headmaster still heard and furrowed his brow...after all it had been some time since he had heard the language of the snakes and it never boded well.
--
"Master the boy has returned."
"The father?"
"No one knows."
"How's our little snake?"
The potions master shifted.
"She's distraught she won't leave her brother's side."
The Dark Lord looked at his followers knowing his blank looks like the back of his hand.
"What else?"
"He was bitten."
Dark clad hands clenched at the tall one's sides.
"I see." Deep within his mind he called for one of his followers who had disobeyed. No one that disobeyed would remain unpunished.
