Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

Harry's official birthday, August 18, dawned very hot and sunny. As his Hogwarts house-elves were still on the Isle of Elves, he got up very early and together with a very sleepy Lucy made his way into the elves' kitchen.

Misty, Cicero, Teddy, Lucky as well as Ana, Nihil, Twinkle and Malcolm were already waiting for him.

"Good morning, Master of the kitchens." Cicero smirked.

"And a very happy birthday to you," Misty added, carefully hugging him.

Harry tried his best to not flinch back. He still was not completely used to hugs, although Regina and Misty tried their best to slowly make him more comfortable to touches and light hugs.

"Happy Birthday," everyone else chorused.

"Thank you all so very much." Harry smiled at the elves, already pulling a few boxes of eggs out of the fridge. "Today, I wish to prepare breakfast and lunch at the same time, because I have some plans and might not be here at lunchtime. Misty, Cicero and Teddy will probably with me, too."

Everyone agreed, and Harry was extremely happy that by now, the elves had become used to the kitchen work and were able to efficiently support him, although they still insisted that he was the person responsible for the cooking.

By the time breakfast was supposed to begin in the Great Hall, the dishes were waiting for Harry to send them up to the Great Hall, and everything that would be used for lunch was stocked in the fridges.

HP

Immediately after breakfast, Harry, Teddy, Lucy, Regina, Severus, Felix, Lucky, Misty, Cicero, Neville and Draco travelled to Riddle Manor using a Portkey, which Severus had made earlier.

"Harry!"

Harry grinned broadly. While Lucy was still recovering from the Portkey travel and had not relayed any image yet, he recognised the voices and the magic of the Weasley twins."

"Hi Fred and George, you've really made yourselves rare this summer. Hogwarts was almost boring without the two of you there."

"Sorry mate…"

"… but we were quite busy…"

"… together with Marvolo here…"

"… Is it only a myth…"

"… or did Hogwarts really send all the house-elves away…"

"… for a holiday?"

Harry chuckled. "No, it's not a myth, although it wasn't exactly Hogwarts who sent them away."

"Ahhhh…"

"… oh well…"

"… that sounds like something…"

"… our Harry would do."

Harry was glad that he did not have to respond, as Marvolo chose that moment to approach him.

"Good morning, Harry, and happy birthday." Marvolo grinned, although Harry had the impression as if the smile did not really reach his eyes."

"Thank you," he replied in a small voice, wondering what might be wrong.

"Are you ready to undergo yet another ritual?" The older wizard cast him a calculating look.

Harry shrugged. "Today? I was wondering why you didn't have a ritual at the summer solstice."

Marvolo let out a deep sigh. "Sorry Harry, but at that time, we weren't ready yet. Mind you, it was not the twins' fault. Their potion was already done by then." He glanced at Severus. "I believe that your father assisted with that."

Severus lightly shook his head. "No, it was mostly the twins' work. I merely supervised them and may have given one or the other advice."

"But today is not one of the old holidays." Harry's statement was laced with doubt.

"Today is your eleventh birthday, enough of a special day to warrant for a ritual." Marvolo's voice was firm and convincing.

"Must Harry sit in the circle? Can I sit with him?"

Harry cast Teddy a grateful smile. 'It always feels uncomfortable sitting in the circle, especially if I'm just by myself,' he thought.

"No Teddy, Harry may only bring Lucy into the circle, although I'd prefer even for her to remain just outside."

'Oh well, Marvolo knows best,' Harry thought. "Lulu, it's all right. I'll be fine on my own, provided that you show me images."

=Don't I always do?=

Harry nodded. "Yes, Lulu, you're the best."

"Excuse me, sir, what kind of ritual is it?" Draco looked at Marvolo, wearing an expression of curiosity.

"It is a ritual, which involves Canola, the deity of magic, as well as a potion invented by Messrs. Weasley, and it is supposed to help Harry with his eyesight."

Harry let out a deep sigh. 'The elves already tried last year, and it didn't work,' he thought, however, forced himself to remain quiet.

"Harry, I am sorry, but I'll have to blindfold you. Lucy may, of course, relay the images to you. All right?"

Harry nodded, thinking, 'Even if not blindfolded, I wouldn't be able to see. I'm blind in case you haven't noticed.' Again, he knew better than to voice his thoughts.

HP

Ten minutes later, Harry was lying on his back in the middle of the circle, and with Lucy's help observed how Marvolo and the twins were worshipping Canola. They even involved his parents, Neville, Draco and Teddy, who were each standing around the circle holding a candle in their hands.

Misty and Cicero were looking after Felix and Lucky. Apparently, Lucky was whispering things to Felix, who could only retaliate with single vocals, which did not make any sense.

'Oh well, they're only four months old. How strange that the elves develop so much faster than humans,' Harry thought, before his mind slipped into a blissful unconsciousness.

HP

By the time Harry's mind returned to consciousness, he found himself lying on the sofa in the living room with Lucy and Felix cuddled against his stomach and his back. Everyone else was having tea chatting animatedly.

"What happened?"

"Harry!" Misty was the first to kneel in front of him. "Your eyes are a beautiful emerald green. I am so happy."

"My eyes?" Only then did he recall what had happened before. "The ritual." He quickly brought himself into a sitting position, careful to not wake Felix, while Lucy immediately jumped from the sofa and dashed to the garden door, where Teddy readily let her out into the garden.

"Yes." His father came to sit next to him and gently pulled Felix onto his lap. "Apparently, the ritual worked and restored your eyesight."

'I can still see everyone, although Lucy is out in the garden,' Harry thought in disbelief, only now able to process his father's words.

"Congratulations, son."

"Thank you." Tears leaked from beautiful, emerald eyes, as Harry turned to look at Marvolo and the twins. "Thank you for healing me, evil Dark Lord and twins from hell."

Marvolo smirked. "You're welcome, Boy who Lived and, as I head from Cicero, master of the kitchens."

Rolling his eyes at his friends, Harry felt happier than he could remember having felt ever before. 'I can see,' he thought with a combination of disbelief and happiness.

tbc tomorrow...

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. I appreciate it very much, and my muse really needs the feedback. Thank you.

Merry Christmas!

Would you like me to continue this story with short daily chapters or go back to weekly postings of longer chapters