A/N: Hello Everyone, I'm so sorry about the delay in this chapter. I've been dealing with the passing of a good friend of mine and the family has asked me to sing at the funeral, so I've been very distracted. I know this isn't that late, but still, I feel like I should be apologizing. So I am sorry.
Chapter 36: The Terrors Of Halloween
After returning from the Coles' field, Severus penned a letter to Albus immediately and then returned to his duties as land owner. Fields were surveyed, land was divided for new crops and plans were made for new orchards and pastures. A great deal of work occurred to further the prosperity of the Willow House estate, work that hadn't happened in many years, and generally the tenants and occupants of the surrounding village were well please. In the days that followed the first visit, Severus heard nothing from Albus, who seemed generally uninterested in the discovery of an achient dragon nest, but much to his relief, a very excited Hagrid arrived two days later on the steps of Willow House.
"So good to see you again Professor," Hagrid said with a bow as he was lead into Snape's study.
"I am glad you've come, Hagrid. This does seem like something that might need your expertise." Snape said as he stood and reached to shake the gamekeeper's hand.
"Professor Dumbledore was very good to send me, as I have always been interested in magical creatures of all kinds, but I am to tell you that he is very busy with some events that are taking place at the castle - you know children and their mischief - and so he is sorry he did not respond to you directly. He has sent me in his stead to investigate and to bring back my findings. That is, if it suits you, Professor." Hagrid explained.
"I am glad to hear it, and I will have the cars brought around to take you to the field directly." Snape stated and moved toward the cord that would ring the bell and summon the Pairywhethers to him.
"Don't trouble yourself, Professor, I'd be happier to walk, as I don't fit in most standard, muggle, vehicles, or ride if it would be easier."
"Then ride," Snape said with a nod and pulled the cord.
Moments later Rocco Pairywhether appeared in the doorway and was invited into the room.
"I'd like for you to send for Peter and have two horses made ready - one of our larger quarter horses for Hagrid. Peter will escort Hagrid to the Cole's field and will act ask ambassador to Willow House, with Hagrid. I will pen a letter to the Cole's to explain the visitor, and I believe that Mr. Wood will know you to be a half giant as soon as he sees you." Snape explained to the men who stood with him now.
"He's a squib I understand, but a very brilliant man." Hagrid stated. "I knew him long ago."
"Did you?" Snape asked in surprised shock.
"I did, indeed, Professor, in my Hogwarts days - and those after I was kicked out. I came around this old estate, and was able to spend some time studying with Mr. Wood when his sons were away at school. He may not have the magic, but the man knows a lot about our creatures. I dare say, I learned everything I know about them from him, and he's never stopped his studies. People may say he's a little bit crazy, but I say not. He's a good man, and in this circumstance, very good to have around." Hagrid explained.
"I am very glad to hear it, Hagrid," Snape said and moved toward his desk once more. "I am sure he will be very happy to see you again."
"I will admit, I'm looking forward to it!" Hagrid chuckled.
"I'll fetch Peter right away," Rocco stated and bowed out of the room.
Moment's later the letter was written and sealed with the mark of Willow House, and her master, and Rocco returned to fetch Hagrid. Pleasantries were once again exchanged and then Hagrid was off on his adventure to leave Severus to his daily business - of which there was still much to do.
By the end of the day, Peter Pairywhether returned to the house with an very excited Hagrid. He was invited to stay for dinner, but declined as he'd gathered up one of the dragon's eggs that had been freed from the nest and was carrying it with him back to Hogwarts for Dumbledore to examine. Hagrid left in a jolly state, whistling his way down the lane and out of sight once more, as Severus watched from an upper level window.
Another few days pasted before an actual reply arrived from Dumbledore and contained instructions on how to proceed with the dragons eggs, that were indeed very viable and would likely hatch on their own if they were not careful. The excavation of the area would take place thanks to professionals that would arrive via London, in the next few days, but were coming all the way from Romania to assist, and the area would be cleared and spells would be cast to deter a dragon, if a dragon actually could still exist in the wild, from returning to that spot to nest again, as they were migratory creatures and returned to places by instinct to nest.
Willow House became a hub of activity as October began to fade away, but Albus himself had not made an appearance to oversee the extraction, and so the days melted away as Severus busily worked with his Romanian guests to secure the dragons eggs for transport. Wooden crates were built on the site, keeping both Peter and George Pairywhether very busy, and as the eggs came out of the ground and were secured in the crates. They were then brought back to the Willow House stables for safe keeping and observation before, once everything was finished, they would be loaded onto the train and eventually taken away to the sanctuaries in Romania. It was very labour intensive work, and didn't happen in a few days, and so Snape continued to oversee the Romanians and all of his work regarding the estate as the autumn season faded away and the weather grew colder.
Dumbledore finally popped in, unexpectedly and without warning, on the morning of October 31st, 1982, to a house in disarray and not because of the dragons eggs or the visiting Romanians.
Albus exited the master's study, having not found Snape where he expected him to be, and wandered through the house until he found an exhausted looking Severus Snape pacing the length of the nursery with a wailing, sobbing, Harry Potter.
"Not a good time to pop in?" Albus asked over a scream from Harry and a wince from Severus.
"He's been sick all night and has kept the whole house awake with him. The Romanians couldn't escape fast enough into the fields this morning and I've released the Pairwhether girls to a few hours of good rest, but now this terror has begun and I don't know how to stop him." Snape stated as he hugged Harry and rubbed his back but the toddler continued his wordless wailing and struggled against Severus's grip.
"You look about ready to begin wailing yourself, Severus." Dumbledore stated with a twinkle in his eyes. "What have you tried to sooth him with?"
"Everything - walking, bathing, rocking - he just keeps on screaming until he vomits or until he falls into a very restless sleep, but as soon as he wakes he screaming again. Like the pain is too much, because I know these are painful screams. The extent of his words are 'no' and 'ow' and then wordless cries of pain. He sounds like he's in pain but I don't know why. He will not tell me what is wrong, he seems feverish but nothing is working to bring it down, and I'm about at my wits end. I think I should take him to a hospital but which one?"
"Let's not jump to any conclusions just yet." Albus said calmly. "If we need a hospital, I'm sure the muggles will provide ample assistance, but first, perhaps you should call the village doctor before we rush off to London with him in this much discomfort." he suggested and stretched out his arms as if to ask if he might take Harry from Severus.
"Yes, good idea." Severus stated and handed over the screaming child.
Harry carried on in the same manner, noticing only momentarily that he'd been passed off and then he started screaming and flailing his arms.
"I'll be fine, go make the calls." Albus stated when Snape hesitated at Harry's flailing, but when Albus steadied the child in his arms to have a better grip, he fled out of the nursery to get help.
"Now, now, what is going on with you?" Albus asked the screaming Harry in his calmest most mesmerizing tone. "I suppose you are feeling some after affects of your curse. You know what day it is?" He asked as he placed a hand flat on Harry's forehead and felt a heat that was different from a fever, as Harry cried out in pain once more. "It is the scar." Albus stated out loud and for a moment Harry looked him in the eyes as giant tears rolled down his cheeks. "Very curious, little master. Very curious indeed." he said and Harry screamed, choked, and breathed in hiccuping breaths, as Albus began to pace the length of the usually very comfortable nursery.
"The doctor is on his way," Snape announced as he walked back into the nursery.
"On second thought, the muggles may not be of service to us, in this case." Albus stated.
"You think his ailment is magical? How is that possible, no magic is performed around him, and I do not feel any affects of the Riddle's return, I would!" Snape stated as he rolled up his sleeve and the mark there was barely visible. "He is not come!"
"No, I don't think it the affect of any recent magic, but Severus, what day is it?" Albus asked calmly.
"Sunday,"Snape answered and rubbed, and rang, his hands together.
"Yes, but what is the date?"
"October thirty first."
"And what happened one year ago today. Something that might have caused Harry great pain and distress, no doubt."
"The curse!" Snape stated in shock and laid his hand on Harry's forehead again and felt the heat there.
"Yes, we don't know how the killing curse affects a person if they survive, because they are not meant to survive, but Harry Potter has and he has done very well all year long. Surprisingly well. Suspiciously well. I am not at all surprised that we are finally seeing the affects on this boy."
"So what do we do to help him?" Snape asked.
"I don't know," Dumbledore answered, "but I have some ideas. I will pop back to the castle and collect Fawkes, if I can persuade him, and you will send your three house elves down to the river. Tell them to go to the deepest part of the stream and sink a bucket down to the very bottom to collect the deepest water that they might, and to bring it back up to the house. From the bucket, place the water on his forehead with a cloth that is new and clean, and hope that the deep magic helps."
"First dragons eggs and now healing waters that needs to be collected by elves, I feel like there is much that you are not telling me about this place and why did Remus Lupin come here as a child when he was first attacked by the werewolf?" Snape asked and there was a bitterness in his speech that did nothing for Harry's nerves, but rather made him scream more.
"I will tell you what I know when we have calmed poor Harry." Albus stated and handed the child back and moved to leave the nursery.
"And what about the doctor?" Snape asked before Dumbledore could leave.
"Get the water up here before he arrives and tell him that you were doing it to calm the fever. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and the muggle medicine will be what Harry needs. It cannot hurt to let the good doctor see the poor child."
"How often are you wrong, Albus?" Snape asked bitterly.
"I'm only human, Severus," Albus countered, "but rarely." he added and then was gone.
The Pairywhether sons took the three elves down to the river, as was commanded by the master of Willow House, and the deep, cool, waters were gathered as instructed and brought to the house where the four Pairywhether daughters had gathered their things in a sitting room and the magical remedy was used on the screaming child. It eased his discomfort long enough to put him to sleep, as the doctor arrived and the three frightened house elves were shooed away as to not be seen.
Severus Snape paced nervously as Doctor Hammond was lead into the sitting room and began his test on the child.
"I would like to take some blood, if you don't mind, Professor, for precautions. He does have a fever and I believe him to be dehydrated from his vomiting. I cannot tell without definitive test what is ailing him, as he seems physically fine - aside for the fever - but with a blood test I may be able to know more. I can take it back to the clinic for testing. You will give him this aspirin for now, every six hours, and try to get some fluids into him. If things do not improve by morning, bring him to me and we'll have to start him on intervenes fluids. That scar on his forehead is disconcerting but it has healed well and I cannot blame the ailment on that. How long ago did it happen?"
"One year ago, to the day." Snape answered.
"And how did it happen?" The doctor asked.
"The car accident that claimed his parents." Snape answered shortly. It was the story he told anyone outside of the magical realm to explain how Harry came to him.
"Poor little fellow." Doctor Hammond said with a shake of his head, "very tragic indeed, but he is very lucky to have you, and the scar has healed very well. I cannot blame this on those events. May I take his blood?"
"Yes, of course," Snape answered and held Harry as the doctor produced his equipment from the bag he'd brought with him and took the sample of Harry's blood.
"All right, we are all finished. Just keep doing what you are doing and get some fluids into him if you can manage." Doctor Hammond said when he had finished and Harry was handed into the motherly arms of Willowmina Pairywhether.
Snape showed the doctor our of the room and into the hall.
"Should I be as worried as I am?" Snape asked just before the doctor escaped into his vehicle.
"Children get colds and fevers, and from what I understand Harry has been remarkably healthy. You're worried because you are a parent, a new one, and no parent likes to see their child in pain. If things get worse, or if the blood tests prove anything, bring him into the clinic, but I believe that rest, fluids, and the aspirin, should be just what you need. Worrying is natural for a parent, but don't worry too much. We will get to the bottom of this." The doctor answered.
"Thank you, doctor." Snape said with a nod, and moments later the doctor was gone.
Back in the sitting room, Harry was awake again and crying but the screaming had ended, and when Snape returned Harry's fussing was calmed by being handed back to the one who protected him, and a bottle was fetched which Harry greedily took and drank it. The sisters continued with the cold compress, the aspirin was taken and Harry became drowsy and fell asleep in Snape's arms, and so the severity of the ordeal seemed to dwindle.
Albus also returned, with the beautiful phoenix perched on his shoulder, to a much calmer scene than before.
"Ah, we're doing better, I see."Dumbledore said cheerfully.
"For now, but is it the water or is it the aspirin?" Snape asked with a huff.
"We may never know but if things get worse we will try the phoenix tears, they are known to heal anything." Dumbledore stated optimistically.
"Perhaps I should invest in a phoenix of my own." Snape said darkly.
"The phoenix chooses it's owner, there is no investment if they do not want you." Dumbledore said loftily. "But, I can look into procuring an egg for you if you wish to try hatching one. They are extremely rare and very time consuming, but you'd have the best luck with a hatchling then with a bird who has grown on it's own, and even less luck with a bird that has already experienced it's rebirth."
"I've been able to tame the Weasley twins, I think I should be able to handle a bird."
Fawkes let out a squawk that caught Snape off guard but that made Albus laugh out loud.
"He'd like to see you try." Albus stated.
"Even the bird feels the need to get on my nerves today."
"It has been a stressful day for you, and it's not over yet. Imagine how poor little Harry must be feeling." Albus said and brought the bird closer to the slumbering child. "We must let him decide if Harry is worthy of his help." he added and Snape nodded.
Fawkes looked at Harry for a long moment, from his perch on Dumbledore. He took in every aspect of the little one. He then jumped down from Dumbledore, onto Snape's shoulder - shot a warning look at Snape - and then proceeded down the Professors arm to be closer to Harry. He mover all around, careful not to touch the child, but taking in everything, flapping his wings, spreading his talons across his forehead without leaving a mark and cooed and clucked noises at the slumbering child. Finally he puffed up his feathers, shot a great wave of hot air at the child from his great outstretched wings and then hopped back to Dumbledore's shoulder.
"What is he doing?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"The phoenix is our world's nurse maid. He's doing his own investigations, a check up of sorts. If Harry is in need of the phoenix tears only the phoenix can know that and make that decision. Fawkes has done his job, he's checked the child and has decided that Harry will recover without him."
Snape nodded and once more the phoenix let out a great squawk and cuddled in to Dumbledore's neck, before closing it's eyes and settling in to sleep.
"Well, I don't believe you need to worry. The waters or the aspirin are what he needs, and rest, of course." Dumbledore stated when the bird was content on his shoulder and Harry was silent in Snape's arms. "Your boy is going to recover. Congratulations, tomorrow he will have been with you for a full year and you have done very well so far, Severus."
Snape nodded but sighed. "This is no time for celebrations or congratulations, this will away be a very sad day."
"Indeed it will, and I believe that it will always have some negative affects on Harry. One day we may understand more, when he can tell us what is happening to him. I'm sorry for your loss, Severus and perhaps Lily will visit you today, but you must be optimistic for the child. He needs your love and your comforting. I will leave you now, and return Fawkes to Hogwarts." Dumbledore finished, and with a slight bow, turned to leave the sitting room.
"And I am to be left without answers?" Snape called after him.
"I will come back tomorrow, you have my word, and I will give you the answers that you seek - to the best of my knowledge, of course." Dumbledore answer and then left Severus alone, with the Pairywhethers, to get through the rest of the very trying day.