Disclaimer: I don't own either harry potter or x-men
Chapter 4
Climbing and Eves Dropping
After the witch had left Harry lay down on his bed and closed his eyes so he could think for a few minutes. All that he could think of was how he was basically stuck looking like a giant cat man for the rest of his life, and that no one would tell him anything else.
Opening his eyes Harry looked up and saw with startling clarity the rafters up by the ceiling, and by following the wall down he could see small hand and foot holds made from ends of bricks that stopped about a foot above the final bar used to hold the window pane shut. Suddenly filled with energy Harry thought of the spell to close the curtains around his bed and waved his hand. He let out a small gasp at both the minor burning sensation that coursed through his bones and that he had just performed not only wand-less magic, but also silent magic to boot.
Deciding to think on it later as some new instinct told Harry to hide as something was about to happen. He looked at the window behind him and followed the wall up and saw that it also had hand holds to climb by. So after grabbing his wand and standing on his bed Harry walked towards the window and began his climb. It was surprisingly easy to climb the window but the biggest surprise came when he got to the bricks in the wall. When he had reached out to grab it his fingers a small indent near the wall where it had seemed that scaffolding had been secured to at one point in time as the school had been under construction.
This got him thinking as he climbed higher wondering if the entire school had bricks like this in the hallways and classes, maybe even the dorms as well.
When he got to the rafters they even easier to climb onto as he had to do was reach up and grasped the wood while letting his nails grow until they dug into the wood and pull his body up.
Panting a little from the exertion Harry looked around from his new vantage point. He was surprised to find that he had climbed up a good thirty feet above the ground and that he wasn't at all fazed by the fact that the beam he was standing on was only two feet wide. If he wanted to he could have lain down on the beam with the only an inch of extra space on each side of his shoulders, leaving only his tail hanging down if he wanted it to.
Looking towards the exit Harry also noticed that the support beams didn't stop at the wall but rather went through it. The beam that ran through the wall rested on part of it and had a gap that was about a foot and a half tall, the wall continued to run up flush on either side of the beam and supported the large stone that capped of the tunnel. In order for Harry to access that beam he would have to jump across the gaps in the rafters because at the only points that the beams that ran length and width wise joined there was large wooden beam that went straight up to the ceiling.
Standing up and walking forward to take a closer look at the joining beams Harry was pleased to find that one he was completely comfortable up there and that the new claws on his feet automatically dug in a little to help keep him from slipping. As he got to the pole Harry extended one of his fingernails and tried to scratch the wood. Nothing happened he didn't even make small indent. Balancing on his left foot he raised his right and tried to dig in the much sharper and stronger claws that he had on his feet. There was no difference he might as well have tried to stab a piece of gillyweed into a boulder for all the difference it made.
Looking closer at the beam he was standing on Harry noticed that it was only the top that his nails could bite into and not the sides or bottom. Coming to the conclusion that they had been spelled to resist rot and bugs but the tops left alone for the works to place hitching rings to secure themselves to Harry looked at the door and realised that the only way to wall was to jump between the beams or possibly climb along the wall.
Going back to the wall Harry noticed that the handholds only to the right of the support beams and didn't run along the wall. Looking down Harry saw that the beds sat two between each beam so at least if he fell he might land on something softer then the stone floor of the infirmary.
Judging the distance between the beams Harry guessed that he would have to jump the gab of at least ten feet or just climb down and walk out. But something was warning him against this action. Harry decided to trust his gut instinct on this matter and prepared himself to spring.
Almost immediately after he jumped Harry knew that he had under powered his attempt. He almost made the jump but instead of landing on to he crashed into the next beam. His head above the beam Harry managed to extend his arms above it and attempt to grab onto the beam his claws sinking into the wood as his chest crashed into the side of the beam winding him and almost causing him to lose his tentative grasp on the beam. His new strength gave him the ability to pull himself up to the point of swinging his leg over then to roll his body on top of it.
Gasping for breath Harry lay where he was for a minute as the pain in his chest lessened. Looking at his right hand as it was stinging a little Harry saw and pulled out a massive sliver from underneath his right index finger, as he pulled it out it came out on and angle and cut open the flesh about a inch along the side of his finger. Looking at the wound Harry watched as it closed in on its self and healed almost instantaneously.
Standing up and looking back at where he came from Harry froze as Pomfery came out of her office and approached the area around his bed and shaking her head.
"I am so sorry Harry." She whispered glancing at his bed, as she started to perform a couple of cleaning charms on floor underneath the beds opposite of the one Harry was supposed to be in.
Then she went over to the doors and cast a spell that from the words she said Harry knew it was a different ward that would alert her if anyone came in. It was the same ward as she used at night she had explained it to him during her evening rounds on one of the many nights he had spent their. As she turned back to her office Harry saw tears starting to fall from her eyes.
Wondering what was going on but knowing if he stayed where he was he would never find out Harry looked at the next rafter he was going to jump to and took a second jump. This second jump was powered a lot better than the first one and he managed to somehow land on the top of the next beam with no problems. Repeating the process two more times Harry found himself on the last width wise beam and having to jump onto the other one. Walking right up to the post Harry got along side it and looked at his goal. Turning so he was facing his target beam Harry stretched out his leg and proceeded step over the gap he had come up to. On the other beam Harry proceeded towards the hole in the ceiling.
As he got to the hole in the wall he froze as the door opened. Looking down he recognized the heads of his two best friends Ron and Hermione.
Watching them as Pomfery came out and met them he was glad of his vantage point when he saw that they were looking over at the curtained off and warded bed space that he was supposed to be in.
"Can we see Harry?" Hermione's voice floated up to him.
"Not yet." Was the only reply she got from the nurse.
"But when will we be able to see him?" Ron asked this time.
"You will be able to see him tomorrow evening; he will be released just before the end of year feast." Pomfery replied. "Come here and you can pick him up at four thirty."
"Why can't Harry be let out now? Can you at least let us see him for a couple of minutes?" Ron pushed for an answer.
Admiring his friend's determination Harry leaned forward to hear what would be said.
"One because the minister of magic wants to talk to him soon and two he should be resting right now." Was the stiff reply that Ron received from Pomfery.
"Can't we just sticks our heads in and take a look at him then?" Hermione pressed the witch.
"No. With his condition I think he would appreciate being able to get some sleep undisturbed." Pomfery replied. "Without people staring at him while he sleeps. This should be the least of his worries right now. " As she saw them start to protest once again.
"What's happened?" Hermione asked echoing Harry's thoughts.
"I had to ask a couple of other healers to double check some of Harry's test results just to make sure. One of the healers thought enough of the results that he believed it was his duty to inform the ministry. So as I was just informed by the headmaster right now instead of making decisions on what to do about Voldemort showing himself to the world they are trying to decide if Harry is still human enough to remain classified as a wizard and allowed to carry a wand." Madam Pomfery explained.
"This will probably carry on to the summer, and as the Minister of Magic is visiting with the Headmaster right now about this issue I believe you should go and attend your studies while I inform your friend about the latest development in his medical case." The healer continued as she herded his friends out of the door.
Harry himself was about to continue on his journey on the rafters and out of the hospital wing when the headmaster and minister of magic walked in the door.
His curiosity got the best of him as he watched both men walk towards Pomfery and saw her lead them to her office. For a brief second Harry could have sworn he saw her look at him in the eyes then back to his bed. Clearly trying to tell him to get back to it, but for some reason not pointing him out to the two other wizards in the room.
Knowing that the gig was up Harry jumped to a beam that stretched across the middle of the infirmary, after he got into position he stepped to the edge and jumped down. Falling through the air Harry was surprised at how long it seemed to take to fall thirty feet; he had more than enough time to adjust his body so that when he landed there was barley a sound except for the quite tick of his claws hitting the stone floor.
As he stood up Harry realized two things; one that Pomfery had left the door open by about an inch and second that he was able hear all that they were saying. This dawned on him as he was able to catch the tail part of the two wizard's declining a cup of tea. He then walked over to his curtained off bed sat down and listened in to what they had to say.
What he heard did nothing to encourage him. It seemed that the ministry didn't know what he was or if they would be able to change him back to normal. The department of mysteries was going to look into the matter in the middle of July after they had finished repairs and try to decide if was still human or if he was something else entirely. The results should be in on his birthday and by then they would have decided if he was still able to come to Hogwarts and continue his schooling with his peers, be sent to Saint Mungo's for further observation or if he should live at all.
That last statement from the minister had Madam Pomfery livid as she started to tear into the minister that while his blood might have something different in it he was still human, because after all they didn't kill werewolves after they were bitten just because the venom changed their blood.
Harry's relief at her words was short lived because when she asked Dumbledore to back her up he didn't say anything right away. But when he did speak the words would be forever imprinted in the back of his mind as they were words he never thought he would here the old man say.
"Harry is now an unknown factor, it could be that the changes he has gone through have made him prone to shall we say more predatory side, that while he is not showing right now but could come out more in the future. So when he is allowed to leave tomorrow I ask that you give him this chain and pendent to use right away. The ruby is charmed to hide his appearance form any one and the sapphire also has a tracking charm on it so we will be able to find him if we need to.
"I ask that you not tell him about any of what we have discussed just in case he is deemed too dangerous, and we have to do what is best for the world and bring in the committee for the disposal of dangerous creatures. I want him to be able to enjoy his summer until we know what else is going to happen to him. Good day Madam Pomfery." The Headmaster said as he and Fudge stood up and walked out of the hospital wing leaving behind a very shocked witch and a very angry and scared Harry.
Harry was scowling as Madam Pomfery walked around the curtains and looked at him taking in his expression.
"I guess that you heard all of that?" She asked.
The look that she gave him was all the answer that she needed. With a sigh she drew up a chair, cast a silencing spell around the curtains and sat down.
"Look Mr. Potter I didn't know it would be that bad or I wouldn't have said anything to the healers at St. Mungo's or to any one else for that matter. I would have given you a charmed pendent any way but I suggest that you use the one from the headmaster at least until your birthday. But I wouldn't suggest staying around your aunt and uncles for any longer than necessary." With that she handed him the chain stood up and walked out leaving him with his thoughts.