Chapter 7: Recovery

I found myself back in my bed. I cast my mind back, trying to remember where I had been. I remembered something to do with my trunk, Ron, and… a Thestral? I felt something on my arms. Rolling my sleeves up, I saw two wands – my phoenix wand and an other, which lacked all feeling, as though it was sleeping. Odd. But whatever. I looked at my timetable, and saw that I had Potions first. Well, the last thing I needed now was another detention. When I reached the classroom, something weird happened. I saw Snape, and I felt an irrational hatred. I remembered him insulting my father, insulting me, sabotaging my Potions and essays, and lots of other things. I gave him a contemptuous look and headed inside the classroom.

"Late, Potter? Five points from Gryffindor." The man had a sour look on his face.

I wordlessly went to my table – Ron and Hermione were already sitting there – I sat between them.

"Class just started, Harry, why were you late?"

"Dunno, Hermione. I just felt funny."

"OK, Harry. We're to brew a Sleeping Drought."

"Yeah."

For some reason, Ron kept shooting funny looks my way. I ignored him and got on with my Potion. Snape was glaring down at every Gryffindor's cauldron. Ron's and Hermione's he passed without a word. But when he reached mine –

"Fifteen points from Gryffindor. Did I not say that instructions are on the board? Look at the thirteenth line, Potter. Did you stir the Potion before adding the dragonfly wings?"

Draco snickered; Snape Vanished my Potion. "Detention, Potter, at six, in my office. I will teach you to read."

The rest of the day passed just fine. Herbology, Charms and Transfiguration classes had to be handled. Every teacher said I wasn't up to my usual mark. At six, I went to Snape's office, and found him looking concerned. Why was he looking at me like that?.

"Harry, what happened to you? Why are you off today?"

"Since when do you care about me?"

Odd – he looked genuinely hurt. He extracted his wand from his robes, and before I knew what was happening, he had cast several spells at me. A thoughtful frown came over his face.

"You've been Obliviated. There are walls in your mind that cut off access from certain knowledge and memories. Here, drink this," he said, getting to his cabinet and handing me a Potion from there, "it's a Memory Restorative Draught. It will weaken the mental blocks."

I emptied my goblet in one go, and almost gagged. It tasted like feet. Then, I slipped out the chair and landed on the floor, clutching my head.

I was making a wand out of three ingredients… I was walking into the Forbidden Forest…

I saw a centaur, flew on a Thestral… Severus was teaching me Occlumency… Ron sleepily mumbling, "I'm going to get all of Potter's money when he marries my sister, Dumbledore's planned it all... Damn Mudblood… ," … A white expanse, a skeleton in a red robe beside me…

"That's it! Severus, I'm so, so sorry!"

Severus waved his hand. "Who Obliviated you?"

"Longbeard."

Severus swore – in Latin. "Well, the promise I made was to your mother, not that manipulative b–"

"Hey! I just remembered! Where's the bathroom?"

After Severus showed me to the bathroom and left, I concentrated on the fourth finger of my left hand – and there. Gold band, check. Black stone, check. Peverell coat of arms, check. Crack down the line showing the Elder Wand, check. It just appeared on my finger. But I also sensed a malevolent curse on it – the Curse of Death, the same one which attacked Longbeard. I joined Severus in his office.

"Severus, I know you owe me a life debt. It's already been paid in full, so don't stretch, okay?"

Severus was silenced. He could only stare. For his benefit, I summoned James and Lily using the Stone. They appeared right behind Severus and James winked at me.

"Sev, turn around."

Nothing could describe Severus's shock. He was gasping like a goldfish.

Lily said, "Severus, we can stay here only for a little time, so before I go, let me tell you something. You need to move on. I know you swore to protect my son. Thank you, Severus. You are so brave. James has something to tell you too, and I'm straining, so bye!" She waved and disappeared. James said, "Snivel - Severus. I release you from the debt you owe me and mine. I can only hope to be forgiven someday for what I did to you. Take care of my son. Harry, ask Severus to tell you about the Weasleys. Goodbye, my son, and Severus. Take care, both of you."

Severus said, mouth stretched in something between a grimace and a smile, "I forgive you, Pot– Prongs. Rest in peace."

James nodded and vanished.

"Now, young Potter, how did you do that?"

"Long story – this is the Resurrection Stone."

"But that's just a legend!"

"And it's also living right here on my finger. Don't bother touching it, it's got the Curse of Death on it. And no, I'm not going to tell you how I found it, unless you perform the Fidelius Charm. I will be Secret Keeper. And until you get the ward stones you have to wait. Thanks; and I've got to go now, so bye, Sev!"

Severus nodded his head and told me to "get out, you brat! and close the door!". Well, obviously the man would be shaken.

I had to put my plans in motion. Hopefully my weapon will be ready before midnight. I went down to the library, much to the astonishment of Madam Pince, and checked out some books on pass-keys and sealing and unsealing magic. Only a few hours later I was ready. To destroy Horcruxes Death said I needed a sword, and that the size of the blade would not matter. I went down to the Entrance Hall and summoned Wither. Wither took me to the Thestrals' home at the Forbidden Forest, and, in their eagerness to help me, all of them together gave me about a litre of blood (I wouldn't allow them to give me more). Then I went to the Room of Requirement – it was a replica of the Gryffindor Common Room. Time to get started with my weapon-making.

I drew a circle on the floor with my blood. I set the inactive Elder wand within it, and whispered the spell I had found in the book over it. Immediately grey iron started covering it – it was like the wood was bleeding. Then I said the other spell which I found in the library – from what I gathered, it was a variant of the Animagus spell. Then the iron-coated wand glowed a brilliant white that lit up the entire Room. When the light faded, the circle I had drawn out of blood was gone, and in the place where it had lain was a gleaming, straight grey sword longer than my leg, with a hilt and cross-guard of elder wood. No way I was going to be able to use it – it was too big and heavy for me! (Death said the amount of iron didn't matter – well, it was true.) But I decided to try it anyway. The moment I wrapped my hand around the hilt, however, the sword shrunk to just longer than my arm. Now this I could use. Provided that my spellwork had gone right, the sword should become a wand again if I willed it. I did, and it became a wand again.

It was useless in wand form, anyway. The original Elder Wand was still activated with the power of death. I popped out of the Room of Requirement and knocked on Longbeard's door. What was I going to do? I didn't even have a plan! Well, too late. The door opened, I stepped on to the moving staircase and hid behind the second door. The fool's glasses could see through invisibility magics. The door opened, and before Longbeard could realise what was happening, I had non-verbally Stunned him. Well, nobody would expect a first-year to cast non-verbally, but Longbeard could still think I was a Dark wizard. No matter. The original Elder Wand was in his robes. I stripped it of the special death magic that was supporting it and transferred it to my newly created wand. Then I snapped the old one in two – the Hallows couldn't be destroyed, and this might fool Longbeard into thinking that his wand was fake. I congratulated myself and headed to bed. Casting the time charm, I found that the time was just past midnight. This was becoming a habit. Well, whatever. I slept and dreamed of what Longbeard would face once he wakes.

Meanwhile, in the Realm of the Dead, the Lord of the Dead sensed a shift in the magic he sent to the living world, and suddenly felt a connection between him and the living world break and reform instantly. It couldn't be the Hallows?! What was the boy up to now?