Title: Toxemia
Chapter: The Problems of a Gifted Mind
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and the characters, Sean and Bridget O'Casey.
Author: Punk-Death-Dealer
A/N: Okay, so I know it has been extremely long since I've updated this story and I feel bad about that. I have a lot of chapters written that I plan on updating. I've realized that I hate it just as much when an author stops updating so I'm here to reconcile that. I'll be posting three or four more chapters over the course of this week. Hope you all enjoy them and forgive me for my horrible grammar and such. I just want to get all of these uploaded.
The light stung his eyes as he opened them. The sounds of birds chirping reminding him of exactly where he was. Harry sat upright quickly searching for his glasses on the beside table. He had no difficulty finding them and putting them on. Looking around he saw Madame Pomfrey near her door looking over a piece of parchment.
Harry's head started to throb but he ignored it, not wanting to stay in the hospital wing any longer than he had to. "Can I go now?" He asked loudly.
She looked up at him and gave him a small glare, "I suppose so Mister Potter. However, any pain and you come straight back here, and please…no more fights."
Harry nodded and pulled the blankets back; swinging his legs over the side of the bed his feet hit the cold floor. Sighing he slipped his shoes on and left quietly, waving to Madame Pomfrey as he did so. After exciting the bright room he was met with the dark hallway. Taking a deep breath he made his way towards Gryffindor Tower.
The halls were empty so Harry figured it must be either early in the morning or everyone happened to be in class. He hoped it wasn't the latter. He didn't feel like missing any classes and having to make up the work later. It seemed to take forever for him to finally reach the tower, but that was probably because of the throbbing increasing in his head. The pounding was getting so loud that he thought he would pass out. His vision became blurry slightly as he came upon the portrait of the Fat Lady.
However, anything was better than being stuck in the Hospital Wing all day. Saying the password quickly he slipped in through the portrait hole and into the common room. What he found was making the pounding in his head worse. It seemed as if every Gryffindor was crowed in the common room in two groups chatting furiously.
Holding his head slightly he tried to get a good view of everyone. Clenching his teeth when the noise began to get to loud he gave up to strain and hear what was going on and just made his escape towards the dormitories.
"Harry!" A voice called out suddenly and he froze. "Harry." They repeated this time only they were standing right behind him. He turned around and removed his hand from his head. He saw chocolate brown eyes and his knees started to go weak.
Placing his hand on the wall he looked at her, "Hello Hermione."
"Are you feeling better?"
He nodded, "Much."
"That's great to hear." Her eyes were burning with happiness that he had seen in them many times before. "You'd better not be lying either."
Harry grinned at her, she was getting too good at this, "Don't worry I'm fine." A look of doubt crossed over her face before she gave him a soft smile and hugged him gently.
"I'll let you go get dressed. Then I'll meet you in the Great Hall."
Harry nodded at her as she let go of him and walked away. He kept watching her until she walked up to Ron, who grabbed her hand and then they made their way out of the common room. Harry clenched his teeth again and quickly went up the stairs. Maybe a shower would help.
"I'm not letting him participate today." Selene said from the doorway where she was watching Michael put on his boots.
"Okay." He replied finishing tying his boot and looking up at her, "I wouldn't let him participate either. He's sustained enough injury to last him awhile."
"This is stupid." She told him crossing her arms over her chest.
"What is?" He asked standing up.
"Feeling what he's feeling."
Michael only grinned at her, "I know; he's still in pain. His headache is starting to give me one."
Selene shook her head, "I'm going."
"Me too." Michael replied walking up beside her. Together they walked out of the room and made their way towards their classroom ready for another day. Upon arriving at the door they heard voices talking quietly. Michael shared a look with Selene before he pushed the door open.
"Ah…Miss Frederick and Mr. Corvin." Dumbledore said from the middle of the dimly lit room. Two teenagers were at his side, wearing Gryffindor robes and large bags draped over their shoulders. Michael and Selene stepped into the room stopping short and staring at their employer.
"Dumbledore." Michael replied kindly nodding his head.
"You've got two new students in your first period class. Actually just not two new students. These are the exchange students from Ireland. I would like you to meet, Sean and Bridget O'Casey."
Michael held out his hand to the boy first, "Hello, I'm Michael Corvin." The boy smiled and shook his hand.
"I'm Sean." Michael let go and turned to the girl holding out his hand he grinned at her.
She took his hand and shook it as well, her grip firm and her green eyes dancing in fascination. "I'm Bridget." Both of their accents seemed identical.
Michael let go and stepped back allowing Selene to step forward and introduce herself. Selene stepped forward, her boots clicking on the hard stone floor. "I'm Selene." She said rather plainly. She didn't hold her hand out or offer anything. She just stood there and stared at them.
Both of the exchange students didn't seem to notice the empty offer that they were receiving and instead just smiled at her.
Michael looked at Dumbledore who was beaming, "I hope this isn't a problem."
"No." Michael replied quickly stepping towards him, "Not a problem at all. We'll make sure they fit right in." Dumbledore nodded and then left the room. Michael watched him leave before turning back to the two teens.
"If you'd like to have a seat class should start in a few minutes."
They nodded and moved over to some empty desks and sat down. Selene looked at Michael her eyes flashing as she turned to look at him.
"What are you thinking?"
Selene focused on him, "Today is going to be another endless one."
Michael grinned and headed into the room that joined with the classroom. Selene just sighed and sat down at the desk. The door opened a second later and Harry Potter himself walked in, a hand holding his head. He stopped when he saw the two new students.
Michael popped his head out of the room and grinned, "Hello Harry, feeling better?"
Harry seemed surprised at the question but nodded, "Yeah, thanks for asking." Michael nodded and disappeared back into the room. Harry looked towards Selene who had her arms crossed and was watching him silently. Gulping Harry sat down in his usual seat.
He could still feel her eyes on him. Like she was studying prey, reading their movements and gauging their reactions. Harry gulped and looked up at her through his thick eyelashes. Her face was like stone, showing no emotion. Her eyes however, held everything she was feeling. In the green depths seemed to float a lifetime of pain and anger.
The throbbing in his head returned pounding and pounding. Beating like his heart. His vision got blurry for a second as he blinked and removed his glasses. A few seconds later his vision was fine and he was staring into the eyes of his teacher, who seemed to have noticed the whole thing.
Selene still didn't move although her eyes were paying more attention to him now than they had been before. Placing his glasses back on, Harry heard whispering. Looking towards the door he saw his classmates entering, their feet pounding against the stone floor and their chatter becoming louder.
It seemed that the news about Harry ending up in the hospital wing yesterday was top gossip. The whole Great Hall was whispering behind his back, and without so much as a drink he had left the Great Hall and headed to his first class.
All of the unwanted attention was just making the throbbing in his head worse. Even now he knew that they were all talking about him, discussing him, and how he got his arse kicked. Clenching his teeth tight he glared at the top of his desk. His gaze burning imaginary holes into the wood.
"Feeling better Potter?" A voice sneered and Harry's shoulders tensed, "Come back for another round of getting your arse kicked?" With each word that left Draco Malfoy's mouth; Harry's anger increased.
"What did your brain get knocked out of you too? Can't even come up with a witty response?" Draco asked angrily while Harry's hands gripped the edge of his desk tightly his head starting to throb once again.
Draco smirked, "That would be impossible; you didn't have a brain to begin with did you?" Harry heard laughter from some of the eavesdropping Slytherins and the throbbing in his head increased. "You a could've been respectable wizard, friends with a boy who's family is a disgrace to the Wizarding community. What about that mudblood female friend of yours? That bookworm, bossy, know-it-all. Who is an even bigger disgrace."
Harry felt all of the rage inside of him building up. The throbbing in his head louder than his rational conscience. "Shut up!" He spat through his clenched teeth the declaration sounding more like an angry hiss.
"What?" Draco asked getting closer, "Shut up?" He grinned, "And we were just becoming the best of friends. Merlin knows I'm better than that Weasel and that mudblood."
"SHUT UP!" He screamed loudly, standing up quickly and knocking his chair over backwards. "Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" Harry screamed his eyes burning in anger and his breathing forced into large breaths. The torches on the sides of the walls flaring up and people screamed in surprise.
Harry was breathing deeply the bright orange flames dancing in his dark green eyes and his eyebrows knitted together in anger. Sweat was forming on his pale skin and dark circles becoming more visible under his eyes.
Draco glared unaffected by the outburst of magic, "Must have knocked you good if that's the only thing you can say." Everyone in the room was staring at them, even Hermione and Ron who had just arrived. Selene was just like a statue watching the pair glare at each other from her desk. Even though the look in her eyes was pained.
"Hermione deserves to be here more than anyone!" He spat his eyes flashing red for a moment, but at that moment, no one noticed.
Without warning the Gryffindor lunged forward and punched Draco hard in the face. The room broke out into screams as Draco jumped back at Harry and tackled him knocking over chairs and desks. Harry seemed to be out of it lying in a crumpled heap as Selene pulled Draco off of Harry and Michael rushed to the scene.
"Jesus, not even thirty seconds into class and you couldn't resist could you?" Michael asked glaring.
"Twenty points from Slytherin." He said coldly showing his fangs slightly in his anger.
"Twenty!" Draco said outraged, "He hit me first."
"If you weren't harassing him in the first place." Selene said helping Harry up off the floor.
Harry looked at her as she held onto his wrist and held an arm around his waist, "Don't try telling me you're alright." She told him firmly.
"I-I'm…" Harry started but his body was shaking and his eyes shut suddenly and he went limp.
"Harry!" Hermione screaming rushing forward. That was the last thing he heard as everything went black. A calm feeling washing over the agonizing pain.
Selene had watched it happen in slow motion. Harry's head bouncing off the leg of the desk and then on the floor. That was about all she could take as she jumped to her feet and rushed over to the fighting boys.
Pulling Draco away she bent down to check on Harry. Her head was throbbing so much she though it would explode. She sensed Michael behind her as she saw Harry's eyes open slightly.
Draco was trying to lie his way out of it and Selene turned on him, "If you weren't harassing him in the first place." Turning back to Harry she pulled him to his feet, keeping a firm grip on his arm and held her arm around his waist to support him.
Her head felt like jelly and was sure that it wasn't just her. Harry's eyes seemed to want to roll back in his head as she held him up.
"Don't try telling me you're alright." She told him as his body began to tremble slightly.
"I-I'm…" He began but his body failed him and he began shaking as his eyes rolled back in his head and his then his whole body went limp in her arms.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed and pushed her way through the crowd. Michael moved forward and took him out of Selene's arms.
"Harry…" Hermione said in almost a whisper tears forming in her eyes as she pushed his hair out of his face, "What's happened to you?" Selene watched the girl and felt sadness rise within her. She grabbed Hermione's shoulders to steady her as Michael rushed Harry out of the class room.
She looked at the class and glared as they all hurriedly began to take their seats. Squeezing her shoulders she let go and turned away heading back to the desk. Selene was facing the desk as she heard it.
"You…you bastard!" Hermione snarled. Selene turned sharply surveying the scene, "This is your entire fault!" Her eyes widened noticing what was taking place.
Hermione had her wand pressed against Malfoy's throat and had backed him up to a wall. Quickly Selene got between the two of them and snatched Hermione's wand out of her hand.
"That's enough." She said simply. Draco sat at his desk his eyes wide while Hermione rubbed at her eyes and didn't look at anyone.
Selene handed the wand back to her, "Go on." She said as Hermione took the wand back.
"Pardon me?" She asked her face confused.
"Go check on him." Selene said her voice soft unlike it usually was.
Hermione nodded and grabbed her bag; leaving the room in a hurry.
"To tell you the truth, I really haven't a clue as to what is affecting him." Madame Pomfrey told Michael.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I healed him last night. He should've been fine this morning. Now here he is again."
Michael stared at the boy for a few more seconds, "He was still in a lot of pain when he came into the class room. Then when he began to get angry the pain increased almost ten times. I've never felt that much pain coming from a headache."
Madame Pomfrey glanced at him, "Then it has to be something inside of his head. Something that my spell couldn't reach."
Michael nodded and examined the sleeping boy, "He's in a…"
"Coma." She finished for him, "I'm afraid we can't do much at the moment. However, from what you've described, I don't think it is life threatening…well, that we know of."
"Kid has it rough doesn't he?"
Madame Pomfrey smiled and nodded, "He is strong, and his friends make him stronger. With their support and his determination…there is nothing our Mr. Potter cannot accomplish. He has faced a lifetime of dangers and they will keep coming. Yet, he has lived through everything; he is wise beyond his years."
Michael smiled at her and was just in time to hear the door opening. A rather flushed looking Hermione stepped into the room.
"Miss Granger!" Madame Pomfrey said alarmed.
"Is he alright?" She asked rushing towards his side. The nurse stepped back as she watched the young girl grab his hand and reassure him that she was there. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Michael standing there.
"I'll tell her." He said his voice soft but determined. She nodded and walked away leaving Michael staring at the pair.
"Hermione." He began.
"He's going to be okay isn't he?" Michael bit his lip at the desperate tone that emitted from her throat. "I promised him that everything would be okay."
Michael took a deep breath, "Hermione, we don't know for sure what is wrong with him at the moment. All we can tell you is that he is in a coma." He saw her shoulders tense up, "However, he should awake sometime, and he is strong. I'm sure that he will wake up, just not when." Michael stared at Harry's expressionless face, "He'll wake up to see you again."
Hermione turned to him the trails of tears evident on her face, "What does that mean?"
"It means he'll wake up to see you, because you are one of the most important things in his life right now." Michael seemed to stare off, "I've noticed how dependent he is on you and Ron. Just as you are dependent on them and how Ron is to the both of you. You all share a bond."
"I just want him to be alright." She said softy.
"He will be." Michael replied. "You can stay here the rest of the period, but make sure you get to your next class." Hermione nodded as he sighed softly and walked out of the room his eyes focused on the ground.
Hermione's eyes held tears in them as she studied his pale face. Squeezing his hand tightly she whispered in his ear, "I heard what you said Harry. I-It was very sweet." Even in the haze of tears that were attempting to blur her vision she could see his face and she gave him a soft smile.
"Oh, please wake up soon Harry." She said biting her lower lip in an attempt to hold the sobs back.
Selene watched the class with steel like eyes. Emotionless to the ones who didn't want to look in them too long. To those who would, however, would see a sharp anger that made them look away quickly.
"I cannot stress how important it is that you do not…" She said stressing the word, "fight in this class."
"This is a fighting class." Malfoy shot back; it seemed as if he'd regained his ego after Hermione had taken it and shoved it down his throat.
Her glare made him shudder in fear as she stepped up to his desk, "I will not tolerate your arrogant mouth in my class Mr. Malfoy. So I suggest you shape up and act your age or face the consequences."
Draco gulped as he saw her grab her gun as a threat her eyes flashing to a light blue as she made the warning clear.
The door opened and Michael stepped in his hands in his pockets and a frown upon his face. Selene shared a glance with him after noticing the shattered look in his eyes.
"Thanks to Draco. It seems that Harry will be out a few days."
"I barely touched him!" He said jumping up out of his seat.
Michael crossed his arms over his chest, "What about yesterday?"
"I only punched him in the nose. His Weasel friend did the rest."
"That may be so, but the fact still remains…" He drawled out placing his hands on the edge of the desk and bending down, "That you've placed him in a serious injury because you couldn't resist breaking his spirit."
Draco huffed angrily as he sat down in his chair looking like a small child; his blonde hair falling over his eyes.
Michael took a deep breath and stood up; glancing at Selene he looked at the two new students, "We have two new students in class today." Moving over towards where they were seated he held his hand out, "Welcome Sean and Bridget O'Casey from Ireland."
"Pair off into the same groups again. Except since Mr. Potter is in the hospital wing and Miss Granger is with him. Draco and Sean will be together today, and Lavender and Bridget." Selene said her boots clicking against the floor as Michael clapped once again activating the charm once everyone was out of their seats.
"Let's try again with the basic punching." Michael said showing the class, with Selene's help, on how to punch, dodge, block and return the attack in the same movements.
As the two immortals stood off to the side of an empty wall Selene tilted her head to the side, "How's he doing?"
"Coma." Was all he said.
"Bad?" She asked keeping her eyes trained on a pair of students.
"Don't think so." He looked at her, "He should awake in a few days. Who knows however, we don't really know what's going on inside of his head."
"An enormous amount of pain."
The corner of his lips moved into an upward curve, "You felt it too?"
"Don't even ask." She replied moving away from the wall and pulling a pair of fighting teens apart.
Michael smiled and watched her walk away then walked over to the side that the boys were on. Walking in between them and catching bits and pieces of their conversations. He stopped and looked around the room; looking to his left he saw Draco and Sean fighting. Sean was doing very well for his first day. He seemed to be very agile and focused.
Michael watched them closely as they broke apart and seemed to circle about one another.
"So you're from Ireland?" Draco asked sneering, "You've also got a hot sister…for a Gryffindor that is."
Sean blocked Draco's punch, "Stay away from her." Then threw his fist forward; which Draco was barely able to dodge.
"You're not much of a challenge, just like Potter."
"You're all talk." Sean said finally ducking to dodge one of Draco's punches.
"You wouldn't know." Draco said glaring.
"Believe me, I do already." Sean's voice held confidence. "I'll count to three, which means I'll give you three shots at me, and I won't block, just dodge."
Draco and Sean stopped circling, "Alright you're on."
"A haon…" Sean began.
"What's that?"
"The Irish word for one." Sean said looking annoyed. "Again a haon…" He said ducking down and rolling backwards back to his feet, "A dó…" He counted jumping to his left out of the way, "A trí…" He finished ducking once again and then stood up. "I think you missed."
Draco growled in frustration. "You just got lucky."
"Luck had nothing to do with it." Sean replied starting to fall back into the routine and throwing a punch at Draco.
A bell sounded and Michael snapped his head towards Selene, "Alright, we'll pick up from there tomorrow." He shook his head and nodded goodbye to some of the students. He watched as Sean and Bridget grabbed their bags and began to walk out of the room. "Excellent job today Sean." He called and the boy turned and looked at him.
"Thanks." He replied a small grin forming on his face.
"How is he?" A voice asked making Hermione turn her head around, Ron was standing in the doorway and far away look in his eyes.
"Pretty good given the circumstances I guess." She responded focusing again on Harry, "Michael said he wasn't sure when he would wake up. It depends on Harry himself."
"You blame me don't you?" He asked.
Hermione looked at him and frowned, she didn't know what to say that wouldn't offend him, "No Ron, I don't blame you." She looked back at Harry, "The fact remains, however, that it is partly your fault."
He frowned and took a sharp intake of breath like he was angry. Hermione watched him as he paced for a short distance in the dark hospital. Placing his hands on his hips he shook his head and gave a hollow laugh. "You know don't you?"
"Know what Ron?"
"How much-how much he cares for you." His jaw was clenched, "You were in the room, and you know it."
"He denied it Ron. Really, what is this about?"
Ron ran a hand through his bright red hair and let out a sigh, "Haven't you noticed it? How distant he's been since we've been back. Something isn't the same with him."
"Of course I've noticed it Ron; he spent time at my house over summer break. He was different then. He was telling me how he felt, and what he felt. Now…" Her eyes were studying Harry's sleeping body, "He doesn't tell me anything and barely talks to me."
"Miss Granger, Mister Weasley." The voice of Madame Pomfrey echoed in the large room, "I believe it is time for you to head back to your dorms."
Hermione sighed, "Let's go Ron." Ron was staring at Harry before he turned silently and headed out of the hospital wing. Hermione shook her head and placed her things in her bag. The whole room was completely silent as she pushed Harry's bangs away from his forehead and kissed his scar gently.
"Get well soon." She whispered removing her hand and letting his hair fall back over his scar.
Harry had heard her, in some deep, dark, hollow part of his form, he had heard her. There was pain in her voice and he wanted to make it stop, with determination he began to fight the force that would not allow him to wake, that would not allow him to feel the warmth that graced his skin.
