Chapter 23
There was a pinch of cold in the air, the wind blew menacingly around the castle, taking peoples hats off their heads. There was a definite gloom over the castle, the work was getting harder and the nights were drawing in making quidditch practice finish earlier and earlier each week. Though the Halloween decorations were being put up for the feast on Halloween night something seemed off about the castle and the world.
Harry nor Remus had heard from Sirius, this made Harry on edge, he jumped at any loud noise, looked at his marauders map at night hoping, even if there was a glimpse of him hiding somewhere in the castle. Harry didn't feel like doing anything, even quidditch had lost its fun. The only person who stopped him from ending it all was currently sleeping soundly right beside him on the couch. His destructive behaviour had got worse, now he didn't even care if someone cursed him in class or something went wrong. He had half a mind to tell the Professors to leave him like that but that wasn't an option. His only relief from hid depression was cutting up the astronomy tower but it was getting harder and harder to get up there by night since the school had extra security due to the rise of the dark Lord. Harry hardly ate or if he did he threw it up later, he was getting noticeable thinner and pale. This didn't get unnoticed, Hermione kept insisting that he went to the Hospital wing to get checked over, his meeting with Remus weren't going well either, he just couldn't open to anyone.
Halloween morning came and went, the lessons were hard as they were reviewing everything they had done so far and catching up on things they hadn't cracked yet. At lunchtime there were stacks of sandwiches, crisps a salad on the tables in the great hall. The house elves were most likely preparing for the feast later. Harry couldn't keep the image of his parents out of his mind, if only he had the mirror of Erised to look on them be with him.
Harry knew the significance of this day and as he looked up at the teachers table in the great hall he saw Remus looking paler and sicker than usual. He had rather large bags under his eyes, Harry decided to go see him after class had finished for the day or maybe after the feast. His decision was made when Remus left the staff table and came down the Great Hall looking straight at Harry.
"Can I have a word in my office Harry?". Harry nodded before getting up and following Remus through the corridors and into the defence against the dark arts classroom. Remus indicated a seat next to his desk, Remus sat opposite him. "Any moment now" he heard his professor mutter under his voice. Suddenly a flashing blue light filled the room, giant black dog surrounded by the blue flame like substance ran into the room before stopping slap bang in the middle as a ball of light. Sirius' rushed voice filled the room
"Remus, I hope Dumbledore told you to have Harry with you. This is a message from the dark side. The Dark lord has made Horcruxes, there is one here the snake, Salazar Slytherins Locket, The lost Diadem of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuffs Cup, Gaunts Ring. One Horcrux, Riddles Diary has already been destroyed the last one is you Harry." Harry was in shock, speechless "Remus you need to talk to Poppy about how to get it out of him. Harry, I know this is a shock for you, but I need you to be brave and face it head on. He is also after a Prophecy I need someone to go and destroy it, but Harry you must go what them since you are the only one who can hold it. I am safe and hidden now as a stray dog, hopefully I won't be too much longer here. But for now, Harry and Moony, Mischief Managed"
The first thing the pair did was breathe a sigh of relief, Sirius was alive at least and getting down to the case. Now is the task of continuing to follow the Dark lord whilst the horcruxes are destroyed. They looked at each other both worried about their friend's safety knowing if Sirius even showed a glimpse of his identity with the light side or tried to escape he would be tortured and killed instantly. Without muttering a word to each other the pair walked rapidly towards the hospital wing and into Madame Pomfrey office to find Dumbledore already there waiting.
"Ah I see Sirius' message didn't miss you both. Good, well let's get straight to it. I have been explaining to Poppy about the situation and with a little bit of testing I think we have a sort of solution" Dumbledore started with a sort of grave expression.
Remus looked at the mediwitch, then Dumbledore and finally at Harry before speaking "What are you going to do? It's not going to harm Harry is it?"
"Not if we can help it. However, it may make Harry very sick for a little while"
"How long for Sir?" Harry had finally spoke up "What are you going to do to me?" hoping that what they were going to do would be too much for his body and he would die. Then at least it wouldn't be his fault for ending it all and the guilt of it all would be lifted.
"Harry my dear boy, let me explain. One of the horcruxes' has already been destroyed, when you destroyed Tom Riddles diary in the chamber of secrets, which means to destroy a horcrux we must use basilisk venom. Now too much of this will kill you and I think we all would agree that is not the point of this exercise." Harry nodded, Remus gave a great sigh but didn't say anything. "So, Poppy has suggested that we weaken your immune system so only a very small amount of venom is needed to destroy the horcrux"
"How would you do that?" asked Remus "I have never heard of a magical method to do that?"
"You are correct, there is no magical method, but Poppy has recently heard of a muggle method to do this, care to explain Poppy?"
"There is a muggle method, muggles use to kill unknown and dangerous masses from the body. I don't know whether you have heard of cancer and chemotherapy Harry?"
Harry stared at the mediwitch for a while before answering, his heart pounding. "I have yes" he replied shakily "there was a girl in my primary school who had cancer, Osteosarcoma they said. She had chemo and all her hair fell out and she was very sick for a very long time. Then we never saw her again… that's not going to happen to me is it?" Harry continued, scared properly for the first time since he had left the Dursleys in the summer.
"We are not going to let you die if that is what you are asking"
"Oh, okay" replied Harry trying to make his sigh sound convincing and less worried
"With the muggle chemo method, we can weaken your immune system within a month and then we would perform an operation to remove the extra part soul from your chest. Luckily the treatment shouldn't be as bad for you since we have magical methods which have been proven to reduce the side effects and make it less painful for you. If you agree to this treatment we can start within the next week." Poppy explained
"I'm not going to lose my hair, am I?" asked Harry "the girl who had it lost all hers?"
"Well you most likely will yes, after every dose but what we can do is to make a wig exactly like your hair now and once you have all the treatment I can grow it back instantly" Replied poppy.
Remus who had been silent whilst everything was being explained spoke up "So after all this Harry will have less of a risk from the Dark Lord?"
"Why yes, hopefully the connection between Harry and the Dark Lord himself will be broken and the dark lord will lose his greatest advantage over Harry" replied Dumbledore "I will want a word in my office before Harry undergoes this Remus"
"Of course, headmaster, I will be available whenever you need me" replied Remus
"I think that is all for now, Harry will you meet me in my office on Thursday, so we can have a little chat before we go ahead please?" asked Dumbledore. Harry nodded a bit lost for words "You may go". Harry made to leave since the bell was going to ring any second, but Remus put his hand on Harrys shoulder and lead him to his office.
"Remus, I have Divination"
"Well then I' sure Sybil would have already predicted you are coming late"
"Or my death" muttered Harry. Remus laughed
"I wouldn't be surprised" Remus chuckled "Hopefully gracing her with your presence will be enough to excuse you" Harry nodded "How are you feeling about all this Harry?" asked Remus seriously.
"I don't really know, it's all come fast if that makes sense. I need time to process it I think"
"Well we have our normal meeting on Friday we will talk properly then, but Harry please try to start eating properly if you are going ahead it this, don't think I haven't noticed our picking on our food"
"Ok Moony, I'll try" replied Harry trying to put some confidence in his voice.
"Alright then. I'll see you at the feast later" Harry nodded, thanked his professor as Remus handed him a note and walked out of the office. He did not rush to Gryffindor tower to get his book and parchment. If it wasn't a double period, he would have just left it but unfortunately, he couldn't. so, he slowly walked to north tower and up the ladder.
Harry tried to sneak in quietly and sit next to Ron, however it wasn't unnoticed by Trelawny
"Ah, Mr Potter, you have not surcome to my latest prediction, however I do predict you will be joining me for detention on Thursday"
"Sorry I am late Professor, however I'd have a note" Harry handed his professor the note and watched her face fall "On second thought the detention will not happen, I predict I will be intrigued by the odd position of Pluto and Mars and shall be gazing into my orb to see what will happen in the future" she went on in a mystical voice, rising from their table and merged the lesson into that conversation.
Harry looked around at Ron who had his face in his hands, gong redder and redder trying to hold in his laughter. Harry joined him once Trelawney was out of sight. The two spent the rest of the lesson making stupid predictions and laughing, much to the annoyance of their professor.
Once the lesson was over the pair made their way to the Gryffindor common room to find Hermione sitting, waiting for them. They sat down on their favourite seats by the fire and sat in silence for a while.
"So, where were you all of lunch with Remus?" Asked Hermione. Harry knew this was coming but her really didn't know how to explain it to them.
"Well it would be better to discuss this whilst the common room is empty since we don't want the information to fall into the wrong hands" Harry explained convincingly. Hermione's face went pale and Ron for once was speechless.
"It's not about Sirius is it?"
"Well, a bit. Actually, a lot" his two friends looked at him in rather serious looks before Ron finally spoke.
"Well we will clear the common room later and we can talk then mate, besides we don't have time now it's time for food!"
"Ronald Weasley! Your best friend comes back into the common room with serious news and all you can think of is food!"
"Well it is the Halloween feast Hermione!"
Hermione huffed, got up and followed some of the younger Gryffindors down to the great hall muttering something that Harry heard as "Boys!"
The feast went very slowly for Harry the thought of explaining to his best mates that he would have to undergo aa procedure that could kill him, plus Sirius in a very awkward predicament and explaining about the Dark Lord. It was getting rather overwhelming the thought. Slowly he felt his heart getting faster and faster and that he was struggling to breathe. Oh no its happening again he thought. But before he could run he felt a soft hand touch his. Ginny who had just sat beside him managed to relieve his panic before anyone noticed.
Harry muttered some "thanks" to the young redhead before starting at his food. Though he was trying his upmost to eat more, he physically couldn't, he could feel the food churning in his stomach making him sick. Harry managed to hold It in until the feast finished, and everybody dwindled full stomachs and heavy heads back to bed.
The trio went up to the common room sat back in their seats and waited until the common room was deserted which didn't take long considering everyone was still hyped about the feast.
Harry knew it had to all come out so when Ron asked what was up harry explained about Sirius and the horcrux's and a horcrux being inside of him. By the end of his tale Hermione had her arms fastened tight around his chest and Ron looked like he didn't know what to do with himself.
"So, a piece of him lives inside of you and Dumbledore wants to poison you to get it out?" Said Ron, trying to lighten the mood.
"oh Harry! You must do what is best for you and obviously part of him inside you is never a good thing, we will be with you all the way, getting notes from lessons and things like that if you need to"
"Thanks Hermione, hopefully as Dumbledore said they can reduce the side effects so I won't feel as bad. I have a meeting with him on Thursday evening"
"Perhaps he can discover more about this horcrux thing and tries to get it out of you without the venom?"
"I don't think it works that way"
"we'll see Harry but right now we all need to go to bed we have lessons in the morning" insisted Hermione. So, the three went up to the dormitory's and settled in bed. Once Harry heard the 4 other boys snoring away he knew he was truly alone in a mess that he didn't create.
NOTE: Hey guys, so its got a little intense, do you like how the plot has taken? Let me know with a review I hope you enjoyed. Once again thanks for continuing to read my fan fic!