Chapter 12
Voldemorts Gift For Harry
Remus winced inside at how insensitive he could be. Of course they shouldn't be relaxing, what with their current situation. Just as he was about to apologise for being so uninterested, a commotion broke out on deck and all of his instincts flared. Something was wrong with Harry. As he sprinted out the door towards the main mast, he couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty for Severus' unrest. It was him that Snape was providing the wolfs bane for after all, he would just have to find a way to pay him back. As he reached the mast he could see Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all looking worried at a prone Harry. Ginny told him that Harry had fainted halfway up the mast and had fallen. His scar was inflamed and red to the point of bleeding. This was no ordinary accident. Without a word, Snape pushed past lupin and knelt beside Harry, wand hovering over his forehead. After a few moments he stood up unsteadily and told Remus to get Harry to the cabin and meet him in the galley for an emergency meeting. He knew then that something dark was behind this and, as he lifted Harry into his arms he knew it was going to be a long two months.
With Harry safely sleeping in the men's cabin, Remus made his way to the galley. He could already hear Mrs. Weasley crying and the other usual flustering heard during a crisis. As he walked in, it was almost like walking into the same Order meeting that they had the night before.
"Out with it Severus, everyone's here now. What's wrong with Harry" Kinsley asked hurriedly.
"Yes Severus, is he going to be alright?" Molly asked timidly
"Is he gonna die!" Ron screamed squeakily, melodramatic as usual.
"Would you please, just shut up!" Severus yelled, which probably wasn't that good an idea. Remus thought, as he looked at Severus groping the edge of the table to stay upright and looking very off colour. One could only assume that being bellow deck did nothing for his seasickness. Nevertheless he kept himself together; Remus had to admire the man.
"The soul that he shares with the dark lord, which lives within the boy's body, has been tainted by dark magic. It was a magic that the dark lord used whenever a death eater is proving useless. The dark lord would simply cursed his own dark mark and channel it to the desired victim. And before you ask..." he added quickly as Arthur tried to cut him off. "I'm not dead because I have made the proper precautions. It's too complicated to explain. Now, potter isn't dead nor will he be for some time, you see, whenever the dark lord curse Potter, in essence he is also to some degree, hurting himself. Due to it being only a small part of him it doesn't harm him too much. He wished to kill Potter not his own soul. so he is still able to use Potter to some degree, as long as he's carful. What is a pinch for the dark lord is quite painful for Potter."
"What can we do for it though, to prevent it?" Molly asked, tears still glinting in her eyes.
"There are potions he can take, but it may take me a while to make them. I will start with them immediately. I will ask you not to bother me unless it is absolutely necessary." With that, he walked out and headed for the study.
The man really knew what he was doing, Remus thought. Although Severus had asked not to be bothered, he would drop in on him anyway. He needed to sort out a payment for his wolfsbane potion. That was important enough for Remus.