Chapter 20: Magic Still Doesn't Cure Everything. And Sirius.
Note: Several things in this chapter surprised me while I was writing. I went off from my original notes, but when I did, my writer's block completely broke, and the words just came out.
_
Minerva's heels clacked slightly as she strode along the stone floor towards the Potions classroom. She was aware that Severus would be going up to meet Poppy soon, to test a potion on Hermione. She planned to join them as well, to watch over her little lion. However, she must speak to Severus now. There had been a long discussion the night before, and now she was ready to act. She had spoken with Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE early that morning, and now the wheels were turning. Amelia would address the Wizengamot and argue for Sirius Black to be released from Azkaban, after she returned with memories from Sirius from the night James and Lilly were murdered. These memories would help to confirm the case if necessary. Given that Sirius had never had a trial, his case should be reconsidered at the very least.
"Severus," she said. He was seated at his desk, making notes of some kind.
"Minerva," he said. "Is the plan working out, then?" One eyebrow raised. Minerva cast a Silencing spell around them.
"Yes, and Albus knows nothing of it. Naturally he will when Amelia brings it to the court, but I believe it is better that he knows nothing for the moment. Amelia has agreed to frame it so that Albus will not know that we initiated this. It is reasonable that as the head of Magical Law Enforcement, she has begun to review old cases, and she discovered Sirius never had a trial. She wants to rectify that situation."
"Excellent, indeed," Severus said. "Although when his name is cleared, I will have to talk to the mutt."
"Yes, you must, Severus. You must both overcome your pasts, and move on," Minerva said.
"I assume Black will go to St. Mungo's after he is released from Azkaban." He did not sound particularly enthusiastic as he still had differences with the man.
"Yes, I do believe that would be prudent. Life in Azkaban is not easy, although I do wonder if he has been able to turn into his Animagus form whilst there. Animals are less affected by the Dementors," Minerva said with a slight grin.
"How will he take finding out Harry has been adopted by a half-blood family?" Severus wondered aloud.
"I do think he will understand, but he will be angry that he did not get to be there for Harry all these years. He will understand and accept it particularly if we show him the photos," Minerva said.
"Is Harry aware you have those photos, Minerva? Perhaps he does not wish you to show people," Severus chided her gently.
"When we tell him about Sirius, I will make a point to ask his thoughts about this," she said. "I want to wait to tell Harry until Sirius is cleared, if at all possible."
-break—
Harry would normally never think about skipping class, but he made this decision easily. He must be with Hermione while she tried this potion. He told her he would be coming with her to go see Madam Pomfrey, since she had done the same for him. She just smiled at him as he joined her after breakfast. Today Hermione was quiet, rather nervous, not her usually talkative self. At the entry to the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall was waiting for them. She said nothing about Harry's presence, and Harry recognized that perhaps she was not surprised when he had shown up with Hermione.
"Ms. Granger," Madam Pomfrey said, while bustling toward them, "Come. Lie down on this bed, and I will do a diagnostic scan, so we can have a baseline to compare to after the potion."
"That's my bed," Harry said with smirk.
"Harry, learn how to share, will you?" Hermione said with a half-smile, half 'older sister' type smirk. She felt herself relax fractionally.
As Madam Pomfrey ran the diagnostic scan, Professor Snape entered the room holding a vial of potion.
"Here you are, Ms. Granger," he said as he approached the bed. "A warning - I have not attempted to make it taste sweet. It will be as bitter as always."
"I haven't complained before, Professor," Hermione said. Harry, now seated at her side, laughed aloud.
"Mr. Potter does not care for bitter potions and has lodged a complaint," Snape replied while he tried to remain appropriately serious.
"Is it possible to make potions taste better without changing their properties?" Hermione asked as this, too, helped her to relax.
"It is certainly possible, Ms. Granger, but it is not something in which I am particularly interested at this moment. Are your parents aware that you are drinking this potion?"
"Permission has been granted to test this potion by Ms. Granger's mother," Professor McGonagall noted.
"Is she here yet?" Hermione asked, anxiety snaking into her voice. Harry held her hand tightly.
"She should arrive any moment in the floo," Professor McGonagall replied, but just as she finished speaking, the floo roared to life, and Tara landed on her feet.
"Hello!" she called from in front the floo. "I am getting much better at this now. Good morning, Minerva, Poppy, Severus."
"Mum, you came," Hermione said in a small voice. Tara hurried over and hugged Hermione and Harry, before seating herself next to Harry. She leaned over and said softly to Hermione,
"Remember that I will support anything you wish to try as long as it is a reasonable request. This qualifies as one of these requests. However, I hope you do understand that this may not work. Professor Snape is not a miracle worker. You had a lot of damage in your leg, and we understand why you would want to try this experiment. Just remember that we all love you no matter what happens, and you will be fine."
Hermione nodded, and Snape stepped over to pass the vial of potion. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and then then poured it down her throat, swallowing as quickly as possible. It was awful tasting. Madam Pomfrey took the vial and replaced it in her hand with a glass of water, for which Hermione was very grateful.
After a few minutes had passed, Hermione relaxed slightly into the pillows on the bed. There was pain potion in the vial, too!
"I think potions would taste better with some flavours. Strawberry-flavoured pain potion - think of that!"
"A better option than treacle tart flavour," Snape muttered under his breath. Harry dared to roll his eyes, and then laughed again. Everyone else ignored Harry.
"How long will it take to know if it is making a difference," Hermione asked. "I mean, the achiness and pain are gone, but it still feels like odd."
"Let's wait thirty minutes, and then Madam Pomfrey will run diagnostics with your leg again to see if there have been any obvious changes," Snape said.
"You should teach Tara potions, sir," Harry commented with a cheeky grin, "so she can make us pain potions over summer." Tara gasped at the idea because she loved reading about potions. Why not try making them? Besides, she had further ideas.
"Minerva has already mentioned that to me, Ms. Shayani," Snape said with a thoughtful look. "I am willing as I am sure you are very experienced in lab work, and will not explode cauldrons, unlike some of the dunderheads I teach." He was having trouble hiding the laugh that wanted to explode out, very unusual for him.
Two of the smartest dunderheads were sitting right in front of him, and they were laughing as if it were the greatest joke every told, which Severus very much doubted.
"Severus, are you willing to tutor me? I do wish to formally go through training as a Healer, and a strong knowledge of potions is a requirement," Tara stated hopefully. "And please, call me Taraneh."
"Taraneh, yes, I will indeed tutor you. Would Sunday mornings work?"
"I am on call at hospital every third Sunday, but am available on the rest," she said.
"I am pleased that is settled," Minerva said (Harry was honestly confused as to what he should call her at this moment.)
"Mum, you'll like Potions," Hermione commented. "I do, very much. Making potions has so much order."
Even Severus Snape stayed with the others gathered around Hermione's bed as they waited with her to see if anything would change. He had to admit that he could easily see past Harry's outward appearance now, and that was a good thing as he had to learn to get along with his former nemesis, Sirius Black, provided all worked out as it should. The Horcruxes would all be found, and Harry would destroy them. As he was contemplating this, something he had read years ago presented itself to his mind.
"Basilisk venom!" he exclaimed, interrupting the light conversation. "It is rare, expensive to acquire normally, but I have a small vial of it, given to me by Professor Slughorn many years ago."
"To destroy the horcruxes?" Harry asked at the same time Hermione exclaimed her surprise. They were delighted Professor Snape had remembered this. "I wondered about the Sword of Gryffindor as a possibility. Swords are rather a big deal in stories."
"Both are excellent ideas," Minerva said, seeing additional light at the end of the tunnel. "Excellent indeed. Perhaps add venom to the sword, I'd say."
"Um, pardon me, but what are horcruxes?" Tara asked, bewildered. Oh. Right. This situation was a secret. Harry looked beseechingly to Minerva.
"Taraneh, I am aware you have read almost as many books as the children about wizarding history," Minerva started.
"Yes, and that is why I know about the War with Voldemort and the role Harry played in it as a baby," Tara stated. Harry and Hermione (who was trying to focus on these matters rather than what might be happening in her body) did not realize their mum had actually read so much. They had just thought she was learning to use her wand.
"We learned recently that Voldemort created items called horcruxes. It is very dark magic and rarely done. He separated his soul into several pieces so that if he died, he would be able to be brought back to life using another piece of his soul. It made him very unstable, more than he already was," Minerva explained, preparing to go on the defensive if Taraneh chose to unleash any anger about not being informed about this it.
However, Tara was very calm about this news. She knew Harry was the child of the prophecy, and that the children had been preoccupied with something recently. She would not have guessed this, exactly, but she had wondered where Voldemort had gone after his so-named 'death.' This seemed to explain it, how Voldemort would be able to return.
"Harry must destroy these Horcruxes, I presume?" she asked, putting her arms around both Harry and Hermione.
Snape looked up, straight at Tara, his new highly intelligent Potions student. She had deduced that very quickly. "Indeed, he must."
"I am not going to prevent his nor Hermione's involvement in this. It must be done, as much as I would like to take them both home, but they are thriving here at Hogwarts otherwise. However, I insist that when it is time, I wish to be present if possible."
Minerva glanced at Snape. He shrugged. "I am sure we can plan for that, Taraneh," Minerva replied after a moment. Tara nodded in reply.
"Let's check on our patient, why don't we?" Madam Pomfrey suggested after a few more moments. "Ms. Granger, how are you feeling?"
"I – I – don't feel much difference, although my leg was tingling for a while. Oh, I think maybe it is better than it was. The pain potion made a difference, too. Can I try walking?"
"I'd rather another diagnostic scan be performed first," Snape said. Madam Pomfrey nodded in agreement and did the appropriate scans.
"Ah, some things have changed," Pomfrey said as she brought the list to compare with the first one, which Snape had in his hands. He leaned over the read the new list.
"Yes, I see, but look at this." He got up and lead her away from Hermione's bed to discuss a few things.
"I can't try to walk?" Hermione asked her mother anxiously. "Why did Snape say 'but'?"
"Let's see –" Tara started to say, when she was beckoned to join the others in their meeting. Minerva moved forward to sit beside the bed. Harry was holding Hermione's hand on the other side.
After a few more minutes that seemed like hours to Hermione, her mum returned with Snape and Pomfrey.
"It's not good news, is it?" Hermione said, not as a question but as a fact.
"Ms. Granger," Snape began. "There is some of both. It appears that your knee is somewhat improved, in that you have more feeling than you used to, there and into your foot. I also believe that we have solved many of your pain issues, as least for a few months. It will make walking easier for you." He looked to Madam Pomfrey, who took over the explanation.
"However, the potion did not much help the motor functions of your knee and ankle. There was too much muscle damage," she finished.
Hermione tried not to cry in front of everyone. She had truly hoped for more and wondered again if it would have been better if her leg had been amputated, so she could have a magical prosthesis like Harry.
"So I will need the brace yet," she said with a wavery voice.
"Yes, otherwise your leg will be unable to hold you up," her mum said, pulling Hermione onto her lap, and sitting on the bed. "If you tire of the brace sometimes, particularly now since you have more sensation, you are welcome to use your crutches. I know you have been so proud that you haven't needed them in nearly a year, but it's alright to use them. No one will think badly of you. "
The others left the area quietly, and Harry even willingly left with Minerva after a moment. There was class to attend, and Hermione needed time alone with her mum. Besides, he needed to find Ron, Draco, and Neville to share the news about how to destroy the Horcruxes!
Just before Easter break, Sirius Black was cleared of all charges. He was taken to St. Mungo's under heavy security with Minerva supervising. There he was washed, fed, and talked to a Mind Healer. Minerva briefed him on Harry, although not yet all the details of Harry's past. On the whole, however, Sirius was in very good shape, according to his new Mind Healer. Minerva had been right that he had spent most of his time in Azkaban in his dog form. He was required to officially register as an Animagus as a condition of his clearance.
Privately, with Minerva (who had informed him that he may call her 'Minerva' but not Minnie!), he learned that she would transfer legal magical guardianship over to him. Harry did wish to still be a part of the Shayani-Granger family in the muggle world. After an hour of stewing, SIrius admitted that he was not prepared to care for Harry full time. He had ten years to make up for at this point. Minerva promised to introduce him to Tara and Tim, so that Sirius could get to know them. Perhaps Harry could stay with him on occasion. After Minerva brought Sirius to Hogwarts, she sat down to talk to Harry and introduce him to his godfather.
"You're my godfather?" Harry asked wonderingly as he took a step closer to the dark-haired man across from him. He could see Sirius was as anxious as he was. Minerva waited outside in the hall to give them privacy.
"Yes, and I am so sorry, Harry, for all the hurt I caused you by not being there for you," Sirius replied in a whisper.
"I forgive you, you know. I reckon it was Dumbledore's fault, too. Did you really move in with my dad when you were a teenager?" Harry asked. "Minerva said you did."
"She allows you to call her Minerva? She never liked it when I called her Minnie," Sirius said a bit jovially. "And yes, I moved in with your dad. I do wish that you had been able to get to know your grandparents. They were very kind to me. Effie made the best food I have ever eaten."
"Farsi baledi?" Harry asked with an impish grin. Sirius laughed out loud, startled he could laugh after all this time.
"Yekam," Sirius replied after he got his laughter under control.
"Only a little? That's alright," Harry said. "I have been learning from my sister, adoptive mum, and adoptive aunt. I'm not quite fluent yet."
Sirius assumed they were Persian. "First generation or are they from Iran recently? I ask because I am curious."
"Oh, first generation. Tara joon's parents were from Iran, and her mother returned to Iran after her father died, to care for HER mother and sister. There was a war there, you know, just a few years ago? Tara says that perhaps one day, we might go to visit, or perhaps her mother will come back here. That would be better, as Tara and Tim didn't get married by a mullah, so they would need to do that to be able to go to Iran together," Harry explained quickly. "They went once before Mione was born, before the revolution."
"I see," Sirius said, although he did not understand the portion about a mullah at all.
"Did my grandmother make Persian food for you?" Harry eagerly inquired.
"Of course, she did," Sirius replied, watching his godson's face as it moved in reaction.
"What was your favourite? I will make it for you when you come to visit me over Easter holiday," Harry said. Sirius laughed again.
"My favourite was joujeh kabob, dill rice, and kashk-e bademjan. Mm, kashk-e bademjan the way your grandmother used to make it was the most delicious food I have ever eaten." He licked his lips just thinking about it.
Feeling suddenly quite anxious, Harry said nervously, "I will try to make it as well as she did, but I will get Tara joon or Tina to help me."
"It will be good, I'm sure, because you are making it for me! Do you really want me to visit your new home, Harry?" Now Sirius was the uncertain one in this conversation. Harry smiled so hard his face almost hurt!
"Of course, Sirius! They will love you, and they might even do something to help you out. Tim got Aunt Petunia a job to help her out. She was very grateful. Do you have a place to live?"
"Yes, in London. The Black family residence. I know my mother died last year. Good riddance, I say. I am quite sure the place will need to be cleaned immediately. Not entirely sure I want to keep it. If I do, you will have your own bedroom to be certain."
"Thank you. That's very nice of you. I have a bedroom at Aunt Petunia's house now, too. I don't have to sleep in the cupboard anymore."
"I still can't believe Dumbledore gave you to the Dursleys," Sirius muttered into his hands. If only he had done things differently.
"Yeah, I'm still rather pissed at him about that," Harry said. Sirius flinched at Harry's choice of words, knowing that Lily would have been annoyed with her son.
"I'm more than pissed, but since you seem to be doing well, I will try to NOT act on what I want to do," Sirius said. "Hey, Harry, do you know Remus?"
"I've seen pictures of him that Minerva has shown me, but I don't even know if he's still alive. I assumed not, because I couldn't get Minerva to say much about him."
"Oh, he's alive, but he has some secrets that he will have to talk to you about. Probably the reason he couldn't raise you, besides the fact that Dumbledore hid you."
Minerva entered the room. "Are you boys getting along, then?"
"Famously, Minnie!" Sirius said. Harry could see Minerva was trying not to roll her eyes, and giggled. "Anyway, where is Remus?"
"I have owled him to let him know you are out of Azkaban, and that you will be leaving for your home soon," she said with a smile.
"Thank you, Minerva," Sirius said more formally, Harry noticed. "Thank you for everything you've done to clear my name."
"You are more than welcome. Harry has fifteen additional minutes to speak with you, and then he must hurry off with me to Transfiguration," Minerva stated, business-like. Sirius grinned as she left the room again.
"So, tell me about this marvellous new leg of yours." When Harry looked up, startled by the question and growing anxious, Sirius sought to reassure him. "Minerva told me the story and showed me some photos. I am not going to ask about that now. Maybe someday when we are more comfortable with each other, we can discuss it. For right now, I want to hear about your magical leg."
Harry knew he visibly relaxed when he let out a relieved sigh. He would have talk to Sirius someday about everything that had happened to him, but not today, so he leaned down and pulled up the hems of his jeans. They were loose fitting (but in a good way, not in the Dudley's-old-clothes way). He pulled both up so that Sirius could see the differences between his legs. There were some, but it was not immediately obvious to a wizard's or witch's eye.
"Shite, that's impressive. Come a long way from Moody's wooden leg," Sirius marvelled.
"Mad-eye Moody?" Harry asked. "I read about him in a book. He's an Auror. Why doesn't he get a better prosthetic leg? Does he charm the wood lighter? I
think solid wood might be too heavy."
Sirius laughed. Harry was very inquisitive like Lily. He had not laughed this much in a long, long time. "Someday, Harry, you will have the pleasure to meet Mad-Eye Moody, and you can ask him yourself!"
"Alright," Harry replied with a grin, and proceeded to share with Sirius how his leg worked and of finding out he was a wizard, and how he was finally able to use his prosthesis to walk.
The group of five friends met one last time in the library before their Easter holiday. Draco went over his plans for searching in Malfoy manor. Harry reported that Sirius now knew he should look for a Dark magic object in his house, as Snape seemed reasonably sure that one would be there, as he remembered that Regulus (Sirius' brother) had been given one to watch over, before he disappeared. Snape and Sirius were attempting to get along, which Harry was happy to see, although he admitted to himself that Snape had every right to be angry with Sirius. Sirius was inclined to believe Snape about the Horcrux, and therefore, would keep an eye out for it as he cleaned Grimmauld Place.
Hermione was most enthusiastic that they had a method for destroying the Horcruxes now. (She did not share anything with the others about her leg, except Harry, of course, although it was affecting her more than she would prefer.) Harry was relieved, though anxious about the actual destruction of the Horcruxes. Ron was quite happy not to have to do more research. Neville felt he needed more to do now, but Harry suggested that he talk with his grandmother to see if she will allow him to visit in the summer. Neville groaned about this but promised he would try.