AN: Hello, everybody! I know it's been forever, but I was not motivated to finish this chapter for percyjackson135. I wanted to get this finished and uploaded before the first of the year though, so here it is! Enjoy!
Chapter 16:
As soon as Zacharias took the baby back into his arms, he could feel the fevered body trembling against his own. Not from fear; but from sadness, anguish, and sickness. Little Harry Potter shivered and whimpered against Zacharias's chest as the older teenager walked back and forth, back-and-forth in order to calm him down. He was also still nursing at the bottle, but only halfheartedly now. Harry was starting to get full, but
Zacharias gently encouraged the baby to finish the bottle.
"I know kiddo, I know," Zacharias whispered gently. "I know it's unpleasant, but you need to stay hydrated in order to pass the stone." Harry, in his one-year-old body, looked up at Zacharias with those innocent green eyes of his. He looked confused, and then for a moment, Zacharias saw it once more. A glimpse of red before the baby began to cry in earnest. It was then that Zacharias finally understood. "That, is not a normal scar!" He thought to himself. "It is something much, much darker! I need to get Dumbledore to come here, now!"
So, that was exactly what the teenager did. Returning to the hospital room with the baby, who was now positively screaming in pain, Zacharias hurriedly explained to a startled Remus and Sirius. "If one of you could please ask Prof. Dumbledore to come to St. Mungo's, I need to talk to him. It's urgent!"
The werewolf looked concerned as he asked gently, "is this about the scar?"
Zacharias looked stricken as he answered. "Yes, it is. That thing is not a normal scar. It has never healed and it's making him sick. As a baby, Harry does not fully understand this, but when he is himself, he knows exactly what it means, or most of it, anyway."
Remus looked shocked. "How do you know?" He asked.
"Because, after living with Harry in the room of requirement, even as a baby, I would sometimes be able to see a glint of red in his eyes that is not his own. I think, I think that you know who is trying to possess him, but is unable to because Harry's soul is pure and innocent."
"Who?" Sirius pushed, the color draining from his face.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Oh good Merlin…" Remus sounded like he would be sick.
Zacharias nodded, humming in agreement, momentarily wresting with Harry as he screamed and struggled.
"I'll get the doctor," Remus raced from the room, and Zacharias turned to follow him with his gaze, knowing that Remus needed something to do, to help.
Sirius reached for Harry, knowing Zacharias needed a break by the look on his face even if Zacharias was otherwise occupied to notice his own distress. Just as he set a new bottle to Harry's lips, Harry convulsed and screamed until the scream died down as Sirius felt his diaper get soaked.
"Good boy!" Sirius was ecstatic at the soaked diaper, startling Zacharias to looking up from being tired and helpless in a chair by the bed.
"What? What? Why isn't he screaming? Harry?"
"Let's change your diapey, okay Sweetheart? Oh, I know, I know…" Gently laying the whimpering boy in the hospital bed, Sirius made quick work of the soiled diaper, being careful of Harry's hips and lower back.
"Oh. Oh, my baby," Zacharias calmed down and went to Harry's bedside, kissing his forehead to comfort him, "He's okay?" He looked up to the only true adult in the room, eyes wide with fear.
"He's okay. His fever should come down now that his body has dealt with the problem. Yes, hm?" He turned to the boy on the bed, picking him up and laying him on his shoulder rocking gently where he stood.
"C-can I?" Zacharias' hands shook as he reached for his baby, laying still and quiet on Sirius' shoulder while watching the room.
"Of course," Harry's godfather grinned wide, handing the baby over gently, making sure to support the baby when Zacharias' legs went weak under him from relief.
"Oh, my baby… My poor Harry… I'm so glad you're okay… Promise me you won't scare Daddy like that again…"
Remus came back then, not with a hospital nurse but with Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore close behind. Zacharias thought he might cry at having adults- real adults- coming to help him and Harry. He was really at the end of hi rope, exhausted and out of options.
"Madam Pomfrey, I-"
She looked at him with a knowing smile that turned one corner of her mouth, "I know, Mr. Smith. It will be all right now. If I can take Harry for a few more tests, you can all talk and relax for a few minutes."
Zacharias clutched Harry to him, reluctant to let him far from his sight even after, and especially because of, the ordeal Harry had just gone through. Even so, Madam Pomfrey's wise face and calm demeanor coaxed him to hand Harry over to her. Harry simply cooed as soon as he was in her arms, and she whispered in his ear as she turned and left the room.
"Gentlemen," came Dumbledore's commanding baritone, "You wished to speak to me about something?"
With the reminder of something so serious, and Harry in safe hands for the moment, Zacharias turned to the three other men in the room, looking at the professor darkly, "Yes, I do. Please sit, professor. Get comfortable. This may take a while."
