A/N: I am so close to 400 reviews! I am so happy! Thank you to you all for sticking around. I know I still have some things to clear up in the previous chapters and I will get to it when I can. I do appreciate you all for pointing things out for me. It helps me hone my writing skills. Anyway, I think you are all here for one reason only: to read the next chapter. But, I have one more thing to say before I let you go.
I am sure there are those among you who wonder how long I will have this story going. My intention is to go up through Harry's seventh year, do a chapter or two for epilogue, and then I will be done with Blood Brothers. Though this story has not been my first (and I don't know if anyone of you have ever read my other stories I used to have on here, like the Phoenix Agents, Griffin and Phoenix Child, and others), this is my baby. I am proud of it. And I will continue to post chapters under the same story title, to make it easier on you all. Now, onward! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and to those who continue to keep reading.
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Chapter Twenty-Six: Aftermath: Healing
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"Have you ever heard of the Blood Brothers potion?" Remus began, his heart pounding.
Ainsley and Alex nodded.
"It's a very dangerous potion," Alex replied. "The potion varies depending on the witches and wizards who drink it, since you are mixing each other's blood. It can kill the drinkers or it can bond them in much deeper levels." She narrowed her eyes at Sirius. "Are you meaning to tell us that you four have managed to mix and drink the potion and that it worked?"
Ainsley's eyes widened and she turned to her mate. "This is what you were hiding from me when we talked after the Quidditch final? You slipped on a word." She looked down at her godson and back to Remus again. "Harry is not just James and Lily's son, is he?"
"He carries the blood of all the Marauders in him," Sirius said, ignoring Alex's burning gaze.
"I assume that none of you realized that you could all have been killed years ago?" Alex hissed. "What sort of idiotic notion was going through your brains back then? Especially you, Remus. You had to have done your research beforehand. You had to have read about the dangers of brewing such a complicated potion, never mind surviving it. What if you had made a small mistake?"
"It wasn't Moony's fault that the potion was brought up," Sirius interrupted, staring down into Alex's blue eyes. "We were the ones who insisted that we do this. We started seeing each other as brothers. We wanted to solidify our commitment to each other, more than on a piece of parchment. Remus was the better student in potions, so we asked him to do the brewing."
"It was still very risky," Alex threw back, but her voice softened a little. She let out a sigh. "So, what are the benefits of your bond, then?"
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Harry let out a moan as the pain returned to his body, jerking him out of his peaceful darkness. He opened his eyes and saw an overabundance of white. He was in the hospital wing.
"Madam Pomfrey! He's awake!"
Someone was bending over him. Harry could not recognize the person by their face, but he saw the color of the long hair almost touching his nose.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Ainsley asked.
"Hurts," he rasped.
"Bring over a Pain Relieving potion too," Ainsley called. He saw her move over to the left and then he felt his glasses being slipped onto his head. His vision sharpened and he could see how tired his godmother looked. Her eyes were the colored of burned gold, almost brown. "Where do you hurt?"
"Everywhere."
She nodded. "Of course you would, Harry. You were subjected to several Cruciatus curses. For you to be talking and lucid is an amazing accomplishment. We were afraid that you would be affected, but it seems that you are unaffected. Maybe it has something to do with the Blood Brothers potions your fathers took or it could be something to do with you having Remus's blood." She smiled at his look. "Remus and Sirius told Alex and me about that when you were out. It is a remarkable feat, but it could have easily killed them too."
She is very longwinded, that one, Sirius' voice sounded in his mind. No wonder you like her, Remus.
Shut up, Padfoot.
Ainsley saw the slight amusement in her godson's eyes and she turned to glare at his fathers. "I am trying to have a conversation here and you two are not helping. No more talking in your minds until I am done."
I wonder if she has her monthly problem. I don't remember her being this difficult.
Harry could not help himself. Even though it hurt, he wheezed with laughter. Ainsley growled loudly and she briefly left his side. He turned his head to the side to see his fathers leaning against each other, laughing hard. His godmother returned and he felt his head being tilted up. He saw the vial above him and he felt a shudder go through him.
Ainsley sighed. "It's just a Pain Relieving potion, Harry. Open up."
Harry opened his mouth and felt the cool liquid slide down his throat. He fought against spitting the potion out. Within seconds, the pain faded away. To see if it did, he pushed himself up with his arms. He was instantly pushed back onto the bed, with his godmother staring down at him with a stern look.
"You are in no condition to sit up, young man. Until you are better, you are stuck in this bed."
Harry groaned. Both Remus and Sirius laughed. Alex, who entered the room with Madam Pomfrey, raised an eyebrow. Madam Pomfrey let out a sigh and she bustled over to her young patient.
"He looks fine," she said after waving her wand over him. "We just need to keep feeding him Pain Reliever potions until the pain is gone." Then she turned to Ainsley. "I have no idea how you do it, Ainsley. He stays in bed when you give him that look and he always gets out when I do it."
Ainsley shrugged. "I don't know, Poppy."
Madam Pomfrey left to her office, muttering. Alex snickered as she sat down next to Sirius. "She is now going to refine her glaring skills to even make Severus envious. Good going, Ainsley."
"I can't help that my patients always obeyed me," Ainsley said defensively.
Harry smiled and he closed his eyes, suddenly feeling tired. The four adults watched him relax and fall into sleep.
"You know," Alex murmured, "I can see the physical traits he picks up from you two and Pettigrew. It's not really noticeable at first."
"That's good," Ainsley said. "We don't want anyone to be second guessing who his parents are and finding out that he came from a Blood Brothers potion. None of us want that, especially the cub."
Sorry that this is so short, guys. I wanted to give you an update. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed over the past many chapters. I am really happy that this story is getting attention and is liked, even though it's still a little messy.
Next Chapter: The Leaving Feast. Ainsley steps down as DADA professor, Dumbledore cautions students, and a surprising event that shocks the entire wizarding world as to the return of Voldemort. Stay tuned!
