Chapter eight
'Could this be temporary?' Kingsley asked.
'I am unsure, I will need to conduct some tests of the potion and on Harry as well.'
'When you get time Severus, he is awake so there is no rush,' Minerva said.
'Are we going to let everyone know he's awake?' Severus asked.
'We will but we will tell everyone that he still needs intense healing, so there will be no visits for a while. But Anthony, I want you to watch the two Weasley's when it is announced.' Kingsley said.
'As they have no idea Severus has even been working on an antidote this will shock them. But I'm sure when they hear they will not be happy at all. I best call a house elf so Harry can eat.'
Back in the room Neville and Hermione were telling Harry about themselves as they knew it would be best to wait for Kingsley to explain more to Harry about his life.
'So it's like a boarding school, you and three other boys shared a room with me, here in this castle?'
'Yes, in Gryffindor tower. All students when they first arrive are sorted into one of four houses. You, me and Hermione are in Gryffindor. But there is Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.'
'I was in Ravenclaw when I was a student here,' Kingsley smiled as he walked back in with the others.
Poppy helped Harry sit up then Minerva placed a tray over Harry's legs, 'I was in Gryffindor, Poppy was in Hufflepuff.'
'I was in Gryffindor,' Anthony said.
'And I was in Slytherin, normally the students of Slytherin and Gryffindor despise each other. But my best friend as a student was a girl from Gryffindor. You have friends from all houses apart from Slytherin,' Severus said.
'Sort of like school rivalry, do they play sports against each other, like cricket?' Harry asked before eating.
'Those are games from the non-magical world, we have our own sports here. Our main one is called quidditch, you were captain of Gryffindor and played the position of seeker. We can explain all about that another time, keep eating.'
'So was I any good at this quidditch?' Harry ate some more.
'You were excellent and quite often beat my house. I am head of Slytherin house so naturally I support my own house. You are very skilled Harry, like your father.'
'Severus, I do not believe I have ever heard you pay James a compliment,' Poppy smirked.
'We might not have liked each other Poppy but I admit he was talented with that retched game, he did enjoy showing off on the pitch or off.'
'Now that sounds more like Severus.'
'So you knew my parents Severus?'
'Your mother was my best friend when we were young. I did know your father, but we despised each other.'
'James and Severus never missed an opportunity to hex each other. So many times I had to break those two up, along with your godfather. I believe James and Sirius landed in detention more than any other student.'
'Apart from me, Professor Snape was always giving Harry detention,' Neville said.
'Professor, oh is that you, should I call you professor as well?'
'No, you can use my name Harry. But what Mr. Longbottom said is true, I did give you many detentions, most I admit you did not deserve.'
'Are you going to explain why you gave Harry detention Severus when you just said he did not deserve them?' Minerva asked.
'Because you happen to look exactly like your father, apart from your eyes, Lily's eyes.'
'Lily, that's a pretty name. I don't even know what I look like, is there a mirror around?'
'Soon, there is more to explain and if you saw yourself right now it would add a lot more questions.'
'I'm not deformed or anything, am I?' Harry put his hands over his face, 'A nose, lips, eyes, forehead, but that's rough, some sort of mark.'
'A scar, which you've had since you were fifteen months old. We will explain, keep eating,' Kingsley said.
'Okay, so you said minister, is that like prime minister?'
'In a way, he is the boss of the non-magical world, I am boss of the magical world.'
'Just so I know you aren't barking, can you show me some magic?'
Severus flicked his wand so Harry's tray floated into the air down the end of the bed then back up again, settling softly over his legs.
'Satisfied?'
'It's a start.'
'He is never satisfied, why am I not surprised.'
'Behave Severus,' Minerva said, 'I believe I could show Harry something that would show what our magic can do,' Minerva smiled at Harry then transformed, her cat jumped onto the bed, nudged Harry's hand then jumped off before changing back, 'That is called animagus, the transformation of a person into an animal. Your father and godfather were animagi.'
'Wow, I wouldn't be a cat though, I bird would be cool, I could fly.'
'See, Harry doesn't remember who he is but he knows he would like to fly,' Neville said.
'Yes, there must be something ingrained in him that knows he will fly.' Kingsley said.
'Witches and wizards can fly like a bird?'
'No, we use brooms; that is how you play quidditch, on brooms up in the air.' Minerva said.
'Brooms, now that is ridiculous, but everything sounds ridiculous so far. So what do you teach Severus?'
'Defence against the dark arts, but I am a potions master and did teach that before changing subjects.'
'I taught transfiguration, you were quite talented in that class.'
'So like you changed into a cat, you teach the kids to change things. What is defence against the dark arts?'
'You learn spells so you can defend yourself against dark witches and wizards. Even though I hate to admit this, you were the best in defence during your years here, you had a natural talent with defence against the dark arts.'
'So we're taught to defend, but not to attack, is that the light and dark you mentioned?'
'Yes, exactly, good or light witches and wizards never attack without a reason. Usually they just defend until it concludes by capture or surrender, in the odd occasion, death,' Kingsley said.
Harry nodded, then finished his food, 'Whoever did the cooking is great, that food was wonderful.'
'We will explain that later, we should start with who we believe poisoned you,' Kingsley said.
'Um, okay, but I need the bathroom and I'm not dressed.'
'Severus, he's all yours,' Poppy said then left the room with the others.
'You will be weak since you have not moved in five months, so it's best to leave the clothes off. I have a robe for you here,' Severus went to the wardrobe, 'I got this for you not long after you were moved into my rooms.'
'Thanks, for everything, saving me, and looking after me. Why are you?'
'I made a vow to your mother to always protect you. But during your years here I had to pretend I despised you, which will be explained, but I did come to care for you,' Severus put the robe on Harry then removed the blankets, 'If you feel weak tell me straight away,' Severus slipped his arm around Harry then lifted him.
'Oh, I see what you mean, my legs feel like they're made of rubber.'
'Yes, they will, from lack of use along with that potion,' Severus kept a tight hold of Harry as they walked slowly into the bathroom, 'I will turn my head while you go about your business.'
'I have no idea if I'm the shy type or not, but it's fine since you've been helping,' Harry did what he had to do then washed his hands before Severus helped him back to the bed.
'How do you feel now you moved?' Poppy asked.
'Sort of weak, my legs felt like rubber or jelly, but Severus is strong.'
'We should get to these explanations,' Kingsley sat on the chair beside the bed, 'Because of the dark wizard…'
'Sorry, but what was his name?'
'Voldemort or Lord Voldemort, his real name was Tom Riddle, does that sound familiar to you?' Kingsley asked.
'No, okay, sorry, go on.'
'Because of Voldemort you were kept safe and I will explain why soon. But when Albus Dumbledore, who used to be headmaster here before he died, he would allow you to stay with your friend, Ron Weasley and his family. So from the age of twelve and during the holidays, you would spend part of your time with his family. Now as far as you believed Ron was your best friend. After our war was over you went with the Weasley family to their home. For the first few weeks you, like most of us, rested, but we did need to attend many funerals. A month after the fighting we all sat down together to explain what everyone was doing. That was the first time some of us saw you since the fighting, you looked and sounded a little tired,' Kingsley glanced at Hermione.
'You told me you felt exhausted, like you had been fighting for years and in a way you were. So when you fell asleep through the day none of us thought anything of it, because you did look tired.'
'When Poppy first examined you she found minute traces of a sleeping draught, which is a potion you have taken many times over the years. We believe these people gave you this potion to make you seem tired so when they gave you the draught of living death it would not seem unusual for you to be asleep.
'Right now we believe Molly Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Ron Weasley are involved. Molly is the mother who happens to be good at making potions and she always acted like your mother. Ginny Weasley is the only girl of seven kids, she was obsessed with you and you two did date a year ago, more than a year ago, but it only lasted a few months. She is always going on about being your girlfriend, but you told Hermione that you would not be resuming your relationship with Ginny as you knew it would not work. Ginny also tried to tell us that she saw you making out your Will which named her as your beneficiary. But Albus Dumbledore had your Will along with your parents Wills. We believe they wanted you unconscious so they could go into your vault to steal from you.'
'How did I get so much money?'
Everyone looked at each other before Hermione explained how his parents left him quite a lot but the wealth came from his godfather. They knew Harry was only hearing the basic's but they had to make him understand that there was still danger and these people will try to get to Harry in other ways, whether to hurt him or try to get his money.
