Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. Harry Potter, most characters and the magical world as depicted, belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 8:

Harry's muggle neighbour, Max, continued to visit. Max would entertain him with talk of the local doings, although he did not bring him another dog, even though another of his bitches had had a litter of pups. He felt that Harry must have been careless, and was rather upset that the pup had died. But there was something that Max told him that caught Harry's attention. There was a horse sale to be held in the local village shortly, and Harry suddenly thought that maybe a horse was exactly what he needed.

Max looked at the still frail body, and thought that he would not be strong enough to ride a horse, but Harry's eyes were alight with enthusiasm, and when he divulged that he had ridden extensively before, although not for years, Max changed his mind and offered some help.

There were old stables and horse yards on the estate, fallen into disuse now, but they went together and inspected them, and Max noted that Harry was stronger than he looked, walking the distance to the farm buildings without trouble, and with only occasional use of his cane. Max started to take his leave then, only saying that he must say good-bye to Ginny first, while Harry hurried off to find his estate manager to talk about looking after horses.

Max had a quiet word with Ginny before final arrangements were made. Harry was still so thin, and Max knew that Ginny had been fully expecting him to die not so long before. Ginny assured him that he was quite stable now, and even if he became sick or even died, he was just to bring him home, that he had his own personal doctor visiting frequently.

Three days later, a car pulling an empty horse box drove up to Harry's house. Harry was painfully excited. To think that he would have a horse again. He used to love galloping across the Australian plains. He hadn't ridden since his horse had put a foot in a rabbit hole, and been sufficiently hurt to wind up in hospital. He'd returned to England after that. The faded white scar on his left cheek was a legacy of that accident.

Max had a friend with him - a very large young man, introduced as Joe. Joe didn't seem to have any interest in the horses, and Harry suddenly wondered if he was there in case of his own collapse. But he had no intention of collapsing. He felt comparatively healthy and wildly enthusiastic. But to Max and Joe, he still looked extraordinarily thin and frail, and the hollow cheeks were in contrast to the gleaming eyes and the excitement in his voice.

Max was knowledgeable, and finally recommended a bay horse that looked both placid and fit. The gelding was only about 14 hands, but Harry was not a heavyweight, even in normal times, and Max thought that he'd have trouble mounting a taller horse. Harry made friends with the horse, agreeing with Max that he was just what was wanted, and he marked the horse's number in his catalogue.

He strolled around then, using his cane increasingly as he tired, and casually looking at the assortment of horses on sale. As he passed one pen, a despairing neigh followed him. Harry stopped and looked back.

A tall, grey horse had called to him. Its coat was rough, it showed some scars, and it was thin as a rake. Harry went to him, talking to him, running his hands over his body. The horse was nuzzling him, but when it took a step after him as he left, its head bobbed. It was very lame. But Harry marked it, too, in his catalogue. He was going to buy that horse.

Max was scathing. "What do you want that pathetic old crock for?"

But Harry said with humour, "Maybe I have a fellow feeling for him!" The horsebox that Max had brought could accommodate two horses, and Max had a fair idea that Harry did not have to worry about money, so he made no further objection.

Harry was beginning to tire now, and there was no place to sit down, but Max had thought ahead, and a murmur to Joe had him fetching two folding chairs from the car. They stationed Harry away from the crowd, under some trees, and Harry dropped his head and appeared to doze. Joe stayed with him, while Max watched the action and called him in good time to make his bids.

The two horses chosen were close together in the catalogue, and were soon the property of Harry, who had brought plenty of cash along for the purchase. They still couldn't take possession - that had to wait until the auction finished, and Joe took Harry's arm and returned him to his chair while they waited.

Max was just about to suggest taking Harry home, when there was a commotion from the auction ring. Harry was up and walking swiftly toward the ring. A chestnut mare held by three ropes was desperately fighting, and as Harry approached, she lunged at one of the men attempting to savage his hand. Harry's heart bled for her, and he bid against the meat man, as the mare still fought her captors. But even the meat man thought that this horse would be too much trouble, and dropped his bidding almost immediately. Harry's bid won.

To Max's astonishment, Harry then ducked through the fence and went to the mare, saying to the men, in a commanding voice, "Thank you, I'll take her now," and the mare dropped her head, nudging him questioningly. It was not the done thing, but Harry had a presence about him when he chose. The men handed him the ropes, and he led the mare gently away.

The mare followed him closely, her head over his shoulder, and he took her with him to their place under the trees. No-one questioned his right to act as he chose, and all had seen the instant change in the behaviour of the unmanageable horse. Harry had started some comment, which he normally tried to avoid. But these were muggles, and those wizards who wanted him dead were the types who had nothing to do with the despised muggles, so it probably did not matter.

The question then arose as to how to get this horse home. The horse trailer would take the other two, but this horse was terrified of confinement, Harry knew, and this horse, too, Harry had a fellow feeling for. Harry sat back in his chair, looking pale and tired, and the horse stood over him, as close as possible.

Max and Joe stared. They had seen something miraculous. Harry had not used any magic, or none that he knew. It was a telepathic sense that achieved the instant communication between Harry and his horses. He'd never tried to develop his latent telepathic abilities, and he only knew that he had an exceptional understanding with horses.

Max offered to take Harry's money and pay for the horses for him, an offer gratefully accepted by Harry who was beginning to realise that he had tried to do too much again. Horse auctions were more tiring than he had expected, and there was the mare, now, who would not allow anyone but Harry to handle her.

Max loaded the fit bay gelding and the lame grey into his float, but the chestnut mare was a problem. Harry finally stated, "I'll ride her back." It was only a few miles, and he knew that the mare would go gently for him.

The others were doubtful, but when they even approached, the mare would lay back her ears and threaten to bite or kick. There did not seem to be any alternative, so Harry spoke to the mare, who only fidgeted nervously as Joe lifted Harry onto her bare back. And he gradually felt her tension drain away as he spoke to her. She set off gently toward the road, carrying him as if she bore a precious burden. Maybe she knew she had been given a second chance at life with this gentle man who understood her panic.

They covered the first mile at the same slow pace, but Harry was beginning to droop lower and lower. Max and Joe followed him, crawling along with the car and horse float. They were holding up the local traffic, but were unwilling to leave Harry, and they were right. He was not up to this effort and slipped off in a faint when they were only halfway home.

The mare nuzzled him anxiously, lipping at his face and nudging him to get up. And when Max and Joe stopped the car and went to collect their friend, she stood four square over him and refused to allow them near. They had to wait until Harry came around from his faint, to look straight up at an enormous horse head very close and breathing bad breath into his face.

With Harry's persuasion, the mare finally allowed Max to lead her, while Joe took over driving the car. It was a slow trip home, and Harry was very tired. But he made sure that he gave his instructions to Jimmy Carr, the new stable hand - the mare was to be fed, but no attempt was to be made to confine her in any way, except in the large paddock that had been assigned to the horses. Luckily the early May weather was warm, and there was no need for healthy horses to be rugged or stabled. The skinny grey gelding was stabled, and fed with some special gruel by Jimmy, who loved horses and was experienced in their care.

Harry was exhausted and went straight to bed, but Joe and Max stayed a while with Ginny, talking about the horses, and telling Ginny about the miraculous way that Harry had tamed the wild chestnut mare.

"He's got unusual talents, my husband," said Ginny, "But I didn't know about this one!"

Harry was still tired the next day, and slept late. But once up, he didn't even wait for breakfast, but went straight to his horses, although he was leaning on his cane a lot more than he had been in the last few weeks.

The chestnut mare called out to him immediately. She was standing at the paddock fence, head thrown up and ears pricked forward, and he went to her first. The bills of sale for the horses had given brief descriptions and a name. She was called 'Sheba.' Max had passed on to him some information he'd learned, that she'd been a talented show jumper at one time, until she became too hard to handle.

The bay horse, (or pony if you wanted to be pedantic,) now nuzzling him, was called 'Toby,' and was from a disbanded riding stable. The skinny grey gelding, still in the stables, had no name or history provided.

Harry inspected his new friends in the paddock, but made no attempt to ride.

Jimmy Carr soon joined him, and Harry suggested that the grey be brought out to enjoy the sunshine and the grass, although, for a time, he agreed with Jimmy that he should be stabled at night. The horse was limping painfully when Jimmy led her out. Harry ran his hands over him. The horse was in very poor condition, and looked as if it had never been groomed in its life.

Harry carefully felt the injured shoulder that was causing the limp, concentrating his mind to feel the problem, and then bringing his magic into play, to ease pulled and painful muscles. He didn't know whether this horse would ever be rideable again, but as he'd said to Max, he had a fellow feeling for the old crock. He continued to run his hands over the horse, finding other sore spots, and easing them with his magic.

Jimmy was not a wizard himself, but was a squib, which meant that Harry could work his magic without worrying about secrecy. But Jimmy was also very knowledgeable about horses, and was able to make a fair guess at the age of the horse. He didn't think that this horse was anything like as old as he looked. After his thorough inspection, he brought out a brush and gave the neglected animal a gentle grooming. The grey gelding nudged his carers, whickering in gratitude. It had been a long time since that horse had experienced anything in the nature of care.

Harry had come to the end of his strength again, and looked at the house, 500 yards away. Rather than attempt to walk, he had Jimmy bring Toby from his paddock, conjured a mounting block for himself, and pulled himself onto Toby's back. The bay pony bore him gently back to the house, after which Jimmy returned him to the field, leaving Harry to collapse in his chair for a time.

Harry had found a new interest, and when Max and Joe called around a couple of days later, they found him surrounded by his horses in the large paddock. The grey scarcely limped any more, although it would take a while before that abused animal would be fit. The chestnut retreated at their approach, but she no longer trembled and showed no sign of viciousness. Everyone, especially the children, had strict instructions not to approach that horse, and she was becoming calmer every day.

"How are they going?" Max called to Harry.

Harry grinned at him, "Just great," he said. "Just great," and he thanked them for their help, and apologised for being such a trouble. He still hadn't thought of a name for the grey, and asked if they had any ideas.

Max had a closer look at him, and agreed with Jimmy that maybe the animal was not as much of a pathetic old wreck as he had first thought.

"Have you ridden them yet"?" asked Joe.

"Only the bay, Toby," said Harry, and whistled.

Toby came to him, Harry slipped a rope rein on his halter, and used a mounting block to scramble on. And then sedate Toby pranced around the paddock, looking as pleased as possible at his job. Harry returned to his muggle friends, slipping off the horse's back, but holding onto the mane until he was safely standing beside him. He always hated the indignity of falling when others were watching, and he still often fell when dismounting. "See, he's great. It was a good choice."

He whistled again, a slightly different whistle, and the chestnut approached, looking suspiciously at the others, but nuzzling Harry. "This is Sheba." he said proudly. "She was the show jumper." A frown crossed his face. "Goodness knows what they did to her!"

He continued to talk enthusiastically about his horses to the amusement of Max and the boredom of Joe, until he suddenly remembered the obligations of a host, and they made their way back to the house, where Ginny had an afternoon tea prepared.

Harry loved his horses, and they helped keep him amused during the tedium of his convalescence. His strength was slow to return, and he remained very thin. Harry had been severely ill before, and should have been more patient with himself now, but he was still apt to push himself too much.

There was no need for John any more, but he was dating a woman in the village. Although well into his forties, he'd never before been involved with a woman. Harry made a worker's cottage on the estate available to him, and he stayed on very happily as a farm worker. John was a squib, and had lived with fear and a feeling of disgrace in the wizarding world, but he was not the only squib that Harry had hired, and felt happy and safe under Harry's wing.

The children were initially enthralled with the horses, but only Adam's interest had lasted. Adam and Harry would often ride over the paths of his estate, Harry on Sheba, Adam on Toby. None of the children had the instant rapport with horses that Harry did, and Ginny frankly felt that a broomstick was infinitely superior to a horse that could not even fly!

The tall grey horse was finally named by the children. He was now called 'Seawind.'

In May, Dumbledore and Snape came to see Harry. Harry was playing on a glossy chestnut mare, much as he used to play on his broomstick. They galloped and frolicked, the mare bucking and rearing and curvetting. Harry clung on to her bare back like a limpet, his eyes agleam with excitement, a grin of pleasure on his face. But when he noticed the pair watching him, the mare stopped and threw her head up, looking at the two powerful wizards, whose capes whipped out in the wind. At an indiscernible sign from Harry, she walked sedately toward them.

But as he dismounted, Dumbledore saw that he was still extremely thin, that although he was no longer as haggard, the cheeks were hollow, and he clung for a moment to the horse's mane while he regained his balance.

Harry was interested in showing Dumbledore that he was quite fit enough to return to work after the summer holidays, and although he often used Sheba to ride back to the house, this time he unclipped her reins from the halter, (really only there in case his muggle neighbours caught him,) and he walked, concealing the fact that after his play with the mare, he was again tired out.

Max had just come to visit, and Ginny, not knowing that Snape and Dumbledore were there, sent him to the horse paddock to find Harry. So Max was a witness to Harry, in his casual normal clothing, looking entirely comfortable walking in step with Snape and Dumbledore, who looked purely and simply what they were, great and powerful wizards. He saw what he hadn't seen before, that Harry had that same air of power as the older men.

He stopped where he was, just watching warily. When Harry saw him and courteously introduced them, he was stiff, and left as soon as he could do so with a degree of politeness.

Harry looked after him with concern. He valued highly the friendship of Max, and didn't want to lost it, just because Max had suddenly discerned that he was something different.

He raised the issue of returning to work after the school holidays, but Dumbledore was hesitant, and insisted on Harry having a thorough examination first, maybe in a month or so, before he would allow him to return to work.

It was time to discuss Julia. Harry had avoided thinking about her when he had been so sick, but that was behind him, he felt, and problems had to be faced. Snape was the House Master for Slytherin, and had watched her progress with fascination and respect, mixed with some worry, since she arrived. He had never been told that she was instrumental in having Harry hit by a spell, but he had a strong suspicion that she had something to do with it, and was not surprised when his suspicion was confirmed.

Harry had not seen Julia except for that brief glimpse in hospital, and did not remember the incident when Julia had tried so hard to get him to take some nourishment. No-one was about to remind him.

Dumbledore and Snape told him all they knew about Julia's current conduct and ambitions, and Harry was hopeful that maybe Dumbledore was right. Maybe her distress at Harry's near death had been enough to change her course in life. All the same, he was not willing to have her near his family for the summer holidays until he had spoken to her himself. On the other hand, it didn't seem fair to leave her with Edward and Rachel.

It was arranged that the following Monday, Dumbledore would have Julia come to his office, to be spoken to by Harry with Dumbledore present also. By this stage in his life, Harry had a lot of faith in his own abilities to discern truth from lies, but Dumbledore was infinitely more experienced.

In the days after, Harry gave a lot of thought to the discomfort of Max when he had seen him with Snape and Dumbledore. There were memory modification spells of course, but the older Harry became, the more he disapproved of meddling with other people's minds, and Max was a friend, who had gone to a lot of trouble to help Harry.

In the end, he had Jimmy saddle Toby, finding a saddle a lot more comfortable than bareback riding, and rode over to Max's house, next door, half a mile down the road.

Max had not told his wife what he had seen. He was not sure himself what he had seen, except Harry with a couple of older men, dressed in unusual and rather impressive clothes. His wife welcomed Harry whom she had not previously met. She offered him coffee, and sent a message to Max, who appeared shortly after, still looking distinctly uneasy in the presence of Harry. But Harry only looked his ordinary skinny self, and Max started thinking he was imagining things. Maybe he just knew somebody of some strange religion or something.

Max bred horses, and this was the first time that Harry had been at his place. When Max's wife suggested that Max show him around, he was keen. Maybe it would give him a chance to clear things with Max. Or maybe he'd lose his friendship forever, for Harry was not going to lie to this friend. He was going to tell Max that he was a wizard, and hope that the friendship would continue. After all, Edward and Rachel accepted him as he was, even though it seemed he had brought them such trouble with their unusual daughter.

In the pride of showing off his horses and his farm, Max for a time forgot that there might be something unusual about his young neighbour. And Harry was so involved in his admiration of the glossy mares and skittish foals in their fields that he almost forgot what had brought him on this errand. It was only his beginning fatigue that reminded him that he'd better get on with it.

So when he saw a bench, he suggested that they sit. Max was instantly concerned, suddenly noticing that Harry was looking more pale than usual.

Harry was still having difficulty starting. But Max abruptly started for him. "Harry, what are you?"

Instead of answering directly, Harry said painfully, "Max, you've been a good friend to me. I don't want to lose you."

Max just looked at him, waiting for an explanation.

Harry finally continued. "Those men you met the other day, Dumbledore is the headmaster, and Snape's another teacher at the school where I work - a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Severus, Albus and I, we're all wizards. Ginny is a witch. But we're still just human!" He went on to state his opinion. "Magic is just another talent, like being able to sing, or to draw. We're still just people." In this, he would have had little agreement from the world of wizardry, and even less from the world of muggles. The ability to work magic is more than just another talent!

"You have the power to do magic," whispered Max.

Harry nodded.

"What can you do?"

"Do you really want to know?"

Max thought, and said, "No - we might leave that for now..." But then he asked, "Is it magic with the horses?"

Harry answered, "No, but I don't really know what it is. I just seem to understand them, and they understand me." And he told Max about Sheba, how she could buck and play, but the moment she felt Harry slipping from her back, she would move so that he was balanced again. "Once," he said, "She actually threw up her head, as I was about to pitch over her shoulder and I could then save myself."

Max still wasn't sure about this new aspect of the young family next door he had liked so much. "You must be so powerful! That's what I saw the other day - the three of you. You reeked of power!"

But Harry pointed out, "I still use a cane to get about. And it still seems an awful long way back to the house. It doesn't seem very powerful to me!"

Max wasn't sure that this was really a valid point, but he did notice that Harry was looking especially tired, and offered to fetch Toby to Harry, rather than Harry having to walk, and then he saddled himself a horse, and rode home with Harry, just in case Harry didn't make it.

Harry managed to preserve his friendship with his muggle neighbour, mostly thanks to the good sense of the muggle. Max didn't ask him again about his powers, deciding that it was really more comfortable not to know. But he continued to visit, and was not so disturbed the next time when he came across Harry's wizard friends wearing their wizard robes.

***chapter end***