Chapter 18 - January 1992

Harry relaxed back against a couch in the Gryffindor common room, near the fireplace. He was glad to be back, but he missed his new parents. He had his copy of The History of Quidditch in hand, and Minerva's letter in his pocket, but was not really reading. Hermione was nearby chatting Lavender Brown's ear off, but Lavender could give as good as she got, much to Hermione's chagrin. He closed his eyes. It had been exhausting traveling back to Hogwarts on the train for some reason. He had also found another gift on his bed when he had arrived. It was a shimmery invisibility cloak that had belonged to his biological father, James Potter. He was not sure who had given it to him, but he was happy to have it, and he was quite sure it was magical in some way. Ron had gone off a bit earlier with Neville to join a snowball fight outside, since there was plenty of fresh snow. Harry just could not find the energy to go out in the cold, and much preferred the warm fire. A thought flitted through his mind that maybe his residual limb made him feel the cold more now. The castle was rather cold in general in winter, he had found out. Would they learn warming spells in class?

Harry was just about to doze off when Ron and Neville stepped through the portrait.

"Harry? Madam Pomfrey gave me this note. It's urgent," Ron said, rushing over to the couch where Harry sat. Harry opened the parchment and read quickly. By now, Hermione's interest had ended her conversation with Lavender, and was peering over at Harry.

"I am to go to Hospital wing right now," he said. "They have something they want to try on me to see if it will be enough to help me walk better, but what if Madam Pomfrey makes me stay overnight? I just want to sleep in my own bed." His anxiety was starting to get the better of him. It was zero to ten in no time. "And what if this doesn't help?"

"We'll go with you," Hermione said promptly as if that would solve the issue. Ron and Neville nodded in agreement, and they left the common room to the Hospital wing.

Harry was greeted by Madam Pomfrey, Healer Terrill, Dr. Stone, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Snape. He was stunned to see his entire 'team' there all at once.

"We have come up with a solution, Harry," Healer Terrill said excitedly, giving him a wide smile. She glanced at Professor Snape.

"I have a potion and some cream that I believe will help your situation, particularly concerning your hip's nerve issues, Mr. Potter," Snape said, directed at Harry after Ron gave Snape a glowering look. Ron did not care for Professor Snape.

"And Dr. Stone has been consulting with Professor Flitwick on charms that may work in your prosthetic to help bypass the nerves to some extent," Healer Terrill said. "We believe that the combination of these things will help you immensely. We do apologize for taking so many months to come up with this solution."

"Okay. Thank you! What do I need to do?" Harry asked. He looked around for his favourite bed. It was available. He had visited a few times since the beginning of September.

"Mr. Potter, please sit on your bed and remove your prosthetic, if you will," Madam Pomfrey instructed, taking charge in her hospital wing. He did so, glancing at his sister and friends who were observing from nearby since no one had told them to leave, and he was pleased by this. He passed his leg to Dr. Stone, who hurried off with it behind a curtain with Professor Flitwick and Healer Terrill. They were eager to see if their ideas worked.

Professor Snape stood in front of Harry, holding a vial and another small container. "How is the pain now in your hip and stump?"

Harry considered the question. "Not too bad right now, sir. It hurt worse on the train earlier," he replied.

"Drink this then, Potter," Snape said, and Harry complied, reaching for the vial and then tipping it back into his mouth. It tasted terrible, but Harry did not gag, even though he wanted to. He truly hoped this would help him walk better.

"This cream will help, too, for nerve pain," Snape said. "Perhaps Madam Pomfrey will help you apply it." He handed it to Madam Promfrey. She nodded in agreement. Snape stalked away. Harry's friends watched this exchange silently. Madam Pomfrey pulled the curtains with a wave of her wand, to apply the cream to his hip and residual limb in privacy. He was starting to feel tingly. Perhaps it was working!

Hermione saw Harry's expression as Madam Pomfrey opened the curtain again, a look of wonder. He was left alone momentarily, so Hermione headed over. She still had her own slight limp, even with the charmed brace, and wondering if Professor Snape could help her with her leg, too.

"What's happening, Harry?" Hermione asked in a low voice so not to draw attention from the adults yet, Ron and Neville hovering behind her.

"I feel tingly in my hip and limb, but not painful. It's. . . nice," he said, finally. He patted his residual limb through the blanket. "Snape didn't say how long it would take."

"I will go ask him," Hermione said with a grin. "These two are too scared of Professor Snape."

"Hermione, how can you just go talk to him?" Ron asked with a horrified look on his face.

"I like talking with teachers. I've always done it. It's all a matter of knowing what to say," Hermione said, sounding very confident. Ron groaned and Neville squirmed because this was Snape they were talking about!

She set off for Madam Pomphrey's office as she had seen Snape go in.

The boys looked at each other and tried not to laugh. Ron sat down on the edge of Harry's bed. "Do you think it's working?" Ron asked Harry. "He didn't poison you, did he?"

Neville sat on the side of the bed, too. "He couldn't have!" Harry laughed this time.

"I'm fine!" he said. "I think it's working. The usual pain is going away at least." Harry's mind was almost blown. He had not realized how much pain he seemed to constantly be in, because he was used to it. This was now the best he had ever felt.

"The potion will affect you for at least another thirty minutes," Hermione reported as she joined the group again. Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey, and Minerva soon followed behind her.

"Will I have to sleep here tonight?" Harry asked. Madam Pomfrey glanced at Snape and Minerva, and then said,

"As far as I am concerned, you may go back to Gryffindor tower tonight. We should be done with you before curfew. I'm sure that makes you happy, Mr. Potter."

"Are you feeling the effects? Less pain?" Professor Snape asked, rather kindly, which shocked Ron.

"Oh, yes, thank you, sir!" Harry said. "I don't know if I've ever felt this good before! Em, during flying, maybe, or floating after my amputation. Yeah! The floating was nice. I'm rather floaty now."

"It has some euphoric effects, it seems," Snape muttered under his breath. Hermione heard this and chuckled, as she had heard all about Harry's 'floating' after his surgery. She hadn't experienced floating after her surgery, at all, and Harry had made it sound like something wonderful she had missed out on. She had just felt incredibly nauseated afterwards, and, in traction, trapped in bed.

"Euphoric?" Harry asked eagerly, his eyes dancing. "My grandmother's name was Euphemia!" Minerva put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Shh, Harry. Try to be a bit calmer, dear," she said.

They found Harry quite relaxed and entertaining, nonetheless. He was not his generally anxious self (or the person everyone usually saw with the anxiety simmering just under the surface), and the boys thought this Harry was hilarious. Hermione stayed calm, because she knew her brother needed support, even if he was euphoric.

At about the time that Dr. Stone and Professor Flitwick finished with their work, the euphoric effects were wearing off Harry. Everyone gathered around Harry's bed again.

"My leg's done?" Harry asked, looking up at Healer Terrill, who had been observing the work on the prosthetic. Dr. Stone nodded with a smile.

"Go ahead. Put it on, Harry," Healer Terrill said.

He looked at everyone, then scooted to the side of the bed, stood up in the pyjamas he was still wearing, his trouser leg rolled up, and slid his non-painful residual limb in the socket. It attached, and Harry looked to Healer Terrill for direction.

"Do you think you'd like to try taking some steps without crutches, Harry?" she asked. "I can hold onto you. We need to see how the leg reacts now."

"Alright," he agreed, and reached out his hands to Healer Terrill. She took them gently and he moved his prosthetic leg forward. Looking down, he gaped at how far he was able to lift the foot up and over the floor. He was going to have to learn to walk yet again, it seemed. After he set his foot down, he leaned all his weight on it, and took a step with his intact leg, followed by several more steps, each one getting better, smoother and not quite so high as the first time, with no tripping, stumbling, or collapsing. He was worn out, though, by the time he and Healer Terrill had reached Madam Pomfrey's office door. Healer Terrill helped him sit on a nearby chair.

"I did it," Harry puffed out with a little wheeze.

"Is your asthma acting up?" Healer Terrill asked quietly before everyone else surged around Harry in excitement.

"Yeah. My inhaler is over in my robe pocket," he said, starting to wheeze more. She accio'd his inhaler, and he sucked down in medication, twice. So relieved to breathe better now, and he was really able to walk!

"You will still need to use the crutches, until you can figure out how high to lift the leg without thinking about it. Because of the charms, it should sense much better what you want it to do, but it will still take some time to adjust. I will get you in to physio again as soon as possible. I'll work it out with Poppy and Minerva. It will most likely be the same schedule as in the fall," Healer Terrill said, as the named two and the rest made their way over to Harry. Hermione hugged Harry.

"You did well! We need to let Mum and Dad know. They'll be so happy!" she exclaimed. "May we floo with them?" She turned to Minerva with this question.

"Not tonight, dears," Minerva replied. "We'll plan a time soon. We need to inquire as to when they are available."

"I am so tired, Mione," Harry whispered a bit later after he had accepted everyone's well-wishes and thanked them all profusely.

"I will accompany you all back to Gryffindor tower," Minerva said happily. "It is curfew just now."

"Potter, tomorrow stay after class tomorrow," Snape said. "I want to ask you more questions about the potion's effects."

"Alright, sir," Harry mumbled as he was handed his crutches. He would need them around anyway when he removed his leg. He really did still need them for support now, he found after his first step. Besides being tired, he had not realized how much Healer Terrill had supported him in his walk across the room. The good thing about being tired right now, was that he did not lift his foot up too high.

After saying goodnight to Hermione, Harry went up with Ron and Neville to their dorm room. He needed to sleep but he did not really want to take his new and improved prosthetic off yet. Reminding himself that it would be there in the morning, he slipped it off, and settled into bed after removing the hospital pyjamas and pulling on his own. This was much better than staying overnight in the Hospital Wing. Much, much better.

The next morning, Harry showered and then dressed in his favourite jeans under his robes. He was still pain-free. He had been told some pain may return eventually but at least for a few weeks he should have no pain, except perhaps in his muscles because he would be moving around differently than he had for months as he got used to not using crutches for a good part of every day. He packed his book bag and slung the cross strap over his head to his shoulder as always.

"Ron?" he asked, noticing through the crack in Ron's curtains that he was beginning to rouse.

"Huh?" Ron asked, cracking open an eye.

"Perky this morning?" Harry joked and Ron groaned. "I'm going down to breakfast."

"Alright," Ron muttered flinging his blankets back, and cringing as the cold air hit him. Harry laughed.

"Some of us are just waking up," Seamus said grumpily from the other side of the room.

"See you later," Harry said, leaving the room, concentrating on the steps he was taking. He was still pleased with the escalator charms, and Minerva had said they could keep them intact, to his delight. As well, Minerva had worked it out with Dumbledore 'turn off' some of the moving staircases, but it had been a challenge. The castle was used to its routine.

Once down in the Great Hall, which was quite empty, and breakfast service just beginning, he sat at the Gryffindor table, and helped himself to eggs, toast, and orange juice instead of pumpkin juice. After eating a bit, he pulled out the letter to read again.

01 January 1992
Dear Harry,
I was happy to receive your letter and your Christmas greetings! I did indeed have a nice Christmas.
I know a small amount about your family history which I can share with you. Your grandmother, Euphemia Potter (she often went by Effie), was 48 years old when your father was born. They had tried to have children for many years, but finally in 1959, James was conceived. It was a surprise because by then, they had completely given up. Euphemia's mother's first name was Elaheh. She was indeed Persian, and she came from a magical Persian family, as the story goes. I don't know much more than that, except that James said that she often performed magic through her cooking. I don't know too many who engage in that kind of magic anymore. It's a sort of old magic. Your dad also said that Euphemia learned how to cook from her, and he suspected there was magic in her food, as well. They did not have any house elves (I don't know if we've spoken about house elves, yet, but yes, Hogwarts has house elves), so they did their own cooking and other household chores.

Your Grandfather, Fleamont Potter, was in his 50s when your dad was born. Over thirty years before, he was a potioneer (you may have inherited your potions abilities from him), and he created Sleekeazy's Hair Potion in the 1920s, which sold very well by all reports. He sold his company only a few years later for a tidy sum, and this is from which much of the Potter wealth comes. Have you seen Sleekeazy's Hair Potion? It is still being produced and sold. It may help you tame your hair, but only if you wish to try. James, I know, tried, but often failed, to get it to work with his hair. Enclosed with this letter is a small jar of Sleekeasy's. Try it if you like, Harry.

They both died in 1979 from Dragon Pox. I am sure you or Hermione have a book that will describe Dragon Pox. It is not pleasant. We have a vaccine for it now. You received it from Madam Pomfrey in September.

I am sorry that I don't know more about Elaheh, but I will try to find out what I can.

Happy New Year,
Minerva McGonagall

Harry slipped the small bottle of Sleekeasy potion out of a robe pocket. He had not tried it. It was only supposed to take a couple of drops to work wonders on his hair. He stared at it, uncertain, just as he had been for the last several days.

"What's that?" Ron asked, sitting down next to him. Hermione sat across from them and gave Harry a look that said, Tell him.

"I found out my grandfather invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion," Harry said. "Did you know about this potion?"

"I've heard about it, but it's not good for people with red hair, really, my dad says. Your grandfather?" Ron said.

"Yeah, Fleamont Potter," Harry said, still as confused by this interesting news that he had not expected as he was on the first day of the year.

"Huh," Ron said.

"That's all you can say, Ron?" Hermione said with a snort.

"Are you going to see if it works on your hair, Harry?" Ron grinned, trying to choke back a laugh.

"My dad couldn't get it to work for himself, and his own dad invented it!" he nearly shouted in sudden exasperation in the middle of the Great Hall, as the tables were filling up with students. Students nearby glanced around at him. Harry groaned because now they were going to be talking about him once again. Hermione and Ron looked at each other and burst out laughing. They both soon got themselves under control as Ron decided he was very hungry and started piling bacon on his plate, and Hermione asked for forgiveness with pleading eyes. Harry gave in and laughed a bit himself. It was a little funny.

He put away the bottle and the letter and settled down to finish eating his food. After a few bites of toast, Hermione asked him how his leg felt.

"It feels great! Once I learn how to walk normally, it's going to be even better," Harry said with another smile stretching across his face.

"Do mum and dad know about this yet, Harry?"

"I don't know, unless Professor McGonagall told them already," he replied. Neville joined them at the table. He knew about Sleakeazy's, it seemed, after Harry inquired.

"Grandmother told me about it once," Neville said in a normal voice, and then in a whisper, "Don't tell anyone else, but she uses it on her hair! I just found out last summer." This time, Harry started to laugh, and then began coughing as he had forgotten had taken a sip of his juice. Ron slapped him on the back in an attempt to help. Neville started laughing, too. Soon they were all holding their stomachs they were laughing so hard.

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Note: I think that it is too unrealistic that magic can cure everything, although I doubt that this is unclear by chapter seventeen!