Disclaimer: The characters of Harry Potter, the plot, and my attention
span all belong to J.K. Rowling. I just write down my crazy daydreams
about her books.
Author's Note: Oh look, the plot's speeding up! Yay! Thanks for all the reviews. Keep 'em coming! A special thanks to Firemask, my faithful reviewer!! And if anyone can tell me how to do italics and center things, help! Also, some of my indents didn't work, but c'est la vie! Sorry all! Oh and can anyone tell me if this is going to be free to write for here if I didn't sign up for any of those paying services? Just so I'm prepared when the bill comes. Thanks! On with the tale.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first few weeks passed by very quickly for Harry. His emotions flipped back and forth. He was so thankful to be back at his school among his friends, joking, complaining about homework, knowing that he wouldn't have to go hungry for quite a while. Despite the extra load of homework the fifth years had been given in preparation for the upcoming O.W.L.s, Harry was even enjoying the simple time he spent with his friends doing their homework, making up predictions with Ron for Divination, and trying not to roll his eyes as Hermione tried to explain to him the concept behind every charm or spell they were learning.
He was happier than he had been in months, when he had been plagued by thoughts of the third task, with nothing to distract him from it, and of course, being mistreated by his so-called "family". However, he was constantly thinking of the Stensons and his mission to help them. Ron teased him by commenting that he was turning into Hermione with all the visits to the library he had been making. It was true though. At every free moment, Harry would slip off to the library looking for anything that would help, from magical medical books to books about Muggles. There were a few references to Muggle ailments, but nothing to help his cause. He even asked Mrs. Pince if she knew of any books on the subject, but she only guessed and pointed out books that he had searched through several times already.
The new knowledge he had gained while reading through all the possibilities had helped him only by gaining a few points for Gryffindor whenever a teacher asked a medical question in class. As he was walking away from Herbology, in which he had just named all the illnesses that could be cured from the petals of a Hintlybloom earning Gryffindor ten points, Hermione came up beside him.
"Harry, good job! You see? I told you this extra studying would be helpful! You've learned so much already! Just think of how well you'll do on your O.W.L.s if you keep it up!" she said enthusiastically, thinking that Harry's newfound knowledge was the result of her "encouragement" (or "constant badgering" as Ron called it) to study things beyond what they were required to learn for classes.
"Please don't tell me you're going to turn into Hermione, mate," Ron said clapping a hand on Harry's back and earning a glare from Hermione. "Who am I going to hang out with if you both are always in the library?"
"Well, Ron, you could always come with us, you know. O.W.L.s are coming up." Hermione began. Harry caught Ron's gaze and they both rolled their eyes.
"Sorry, Mione, I'm allergic to libraries," Ron stated casually. "Just found out this summer."
"Er yeah, and the reason I know so much about medical stuff now is because I was the one trying to find out what was wrong with Ron." Harry laughed. "Now I probably know more than Madam Pomfrey." Harry all of a sudden stopped in his tracks, unnoticed by Hermione and Ron, who was joking about how Harry, the medical genius, had found the source behind his deadly allergy.
'That's just it,' he thought to himself. 'Madam Pomfrey must know something. She had to study all kinds of medicine to be a doctor, magical and Muggle so she'll always be prepared. It said so in one of those books, I just know it.'
He jogged up to Ron and Hermione who were now both laughing and adding on to the now miraculous adventure of Ron's allergy to libraries and the search for the cure.
"Hey you guys, I need to go do something for a bit. If I don't make it to dinner bring me up something from the Great Hall, okay? I'll see you guys later." He immediately started to jog off to avoid questions, faintly hearing Ron yell something about Harry being his hero for curing him from the illness he never really had.
.
Harry cautiously walked into the infirmary. There weren't any students in there luckily for Harry. He didn't really want any of his inquiries to Madam Pomfrey to be overheard by students and twisted into some rumor about how Professor Trelawney's predictions about Harry's death were going to finally come true.
"Er.hello?" Harry cautiously called not wanting to irritate Madam Pomfrey. He would need her in a good mood to make sure she would answer his questions to her full ability. "Madam Pomfrey?"
"Ah. Mr. Potter. Why does it seem that your presence graces this hospital wing more than most other students? Do you go looking for trouble?" Madam Pomfrey had come into the room from her office, obviously under the impression that Harry was once again hurt. Harry blushed a little, knowing that her comment was true; he was in here quite a bit.
"Actually, ma'am, I'm not hurt or anything, I was just wondering if you could answer a medical question I have...for Muggle Studies." He added that last part quickly as to avoid any questions or sweetened up answers that might have occurred if she thought that Harry knew someone in the situation he was about to bring up. But he needed the truth, and if that involved a few white lies, then that was fine with him. "I've already looked through books in the library, but they don't seem to have the information I need. I was wondering if you knew anything about terminal illnesses, like cancer. Is there a cure, because I've never heard of any wizard inflicted with it?"
"Well dear, I do know a bit about that area. Let me see," she spoke over her shoulder as she began to magically clean the bed sheets and do other little chores around the Hospital Wing. "The reason that you never hear of wizards having cancer is because they don't ever get it. Cancer is a Muggle disease that isn't contracted by wizards. There is no magical cure for cancer because wizards never had the need for it, being as we never get it."
"There's no spell or anything for it then?" Harry said half panicked, half sinking into depression. His stomach was flipping all around. Now what could he do?
"Well, dear, let me finish. There was a spell long ago that a wizard invented to save his Muggle mother. It was only used a few times before it was generally decided not to be used again."
"But why would they outlaw a spell that was doing good?" Harry asked.
"I never said outlaw, they never made a law against it just in case they ever found a situation where it would be necessary, but it just dropped out of use. You see it didn't actually cure the cancer, but instead, transferred it from one body to another. The one to do the spell had to take on the cancer themselves. The spell could only be performed on the cancer once, so it couldn't just be transferred around so nobody dies from it. The wizard or witch who performed the spell would have to take it on themselves."
"Were the wizards able to fight it better than the Muggles? I mean, wouldn't their magic help?" Harry asked.
"No, dear. Every one of the few people who tried the spell died from the disease, but it did have strange effects on them. Apparently, the cancer mixed with magic did very strange things to the wizard and their magic, I'm not quite sure what exactly, but I've heard that no two were alike." Madam Pomfrey had been getting readily more excited about the conversation, apparently pleasantly surprised that a student would take such interest in medicine. She suddenly gasped. "Oh my, you know what? I think I may actually have a copy of that spell somewhere!" She quickly went into her office and came out with an old book. She flipped through a few pages and landed on one with the title "Recnac Transfaerso." She flicked her wand and murmured "Copius" and a piece of paper appeared in her hand with the page copied onto it. "Ah yes, here it is. I hope this will be helpful with your report dear." She handed him the paper looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
Harry took the paper, in a bit of a state of shock. "Er.yes. Thanks ma'am, this should get me full marks." He smiled the best he could and walked out towards the dorm, forgetting all about dinner.
.
Harry sat on his bed staring at the spell, occasionally giving it another read through, but otherwise lost in his own thoughts. He had the whole room to himself as everyone else was down in the Great Hall enjoying dinner. Food was the last thing on his mind at the moment.
He stared at the spell again. It was the most complicated thing he had ever seen. It required not only an incantation, but a potion as well, which again seemed quite complex. He found it ironic that he had earlier come across a spell to make cancer get dramatically worse within minutes that was a hundred times easier than this one. He remembered it because he found it shocking that such a simple spell could do so much damage in two words. "Recnac Sunimoon." Now, the spell that actually helped things contained words that he couldn't dream of being able to pronounce and the small bit of information next to it spoke briefly of the consequences of saying it incorrectly.
Apparently, in one case, the mispronouncing of one line led to the caster of the spell to become speechless for the rest of his life and the instant death of the person who was having the cancer taken from them. The spell would be a definite challenge. But Harry had met challenges before and knew that if he really wanted to, he could perform this spell. The question was, was he really willing to do the spell? Heroism was one thing, but this would be sacrificing his life. He had only been at Hogwarts for four whole years now. He was happy here and wanted to live. It had been his first chance at a real life. He had friends here. He had people who cared about him now. Was he willing to give that all up?
At that moment, he was interrupted by a quiet hooting. He looked up to find Hedwig perched on the bed-frame. She seemed to sense that Harry was under some stress and seemed very cautious about disturbing him. He realized that she had a letter for him and stroked Hedwig as he removed it from her leg. He settled back against the headboard and opened the letter with a sigh.
*
Hey Harry. How's school? It's boring over here. Too bad you go to boarding school instead of Stonewall; it would be a lot more fun with you here. I'm surprised the Dursleys would pay for you to be privately schooled, but I guess they just wanted you away from them, no offense. You know I think those Dursleys are lunatics.
Anyways, Dad's not doing so well. He's started to get treatments for the cancer-chemotherapy and such, but I don't know how long he'll do it for. It's quite expensive and it also makes him feel miserable. I feel so helpless. I have this constant feeling of needing to do something to help but then I realize that there is nothing I can do. I keep telling my parents that I'm handling it all fine; they really don't need the extra worry of how I'm doing. It's a lie though, Harry. I'm scared. Really scared. It's been the three of us for so long, I just can't imagine it being down to two. My mom doesn't work. What are we going to do about money when my dad's gone? We'll probably have to move away. Want to come with us? Sorry I know I'm rambling but I just need to vent. It's just not fair, Harry. My dad is the best person I know. He doesn't deserve it and I just don't understand why it has to be him. He's never done anything wrong!! He tries to keep everyone optimistic but I'm not easily fooled. I know the treatments aren't working. All I can hope for now is a miracle that I can't find the faith to believe in right now.
I'm so sorry about this letter Harry. I just needed someone to talk to about all of this, just get it off of my chest you know. Thanks for letting me rant. Please write back soon. I hope you're having a wonderful time at school. I'd love to see pictures of your friends and such, and didn't you mention that you play a sport. I don't think you ever told me what it was. Well get me some pictures of that too. I'll talk to you later!! Bye!
Always,
Kota
P.S. Christmas vacation is coming up. You are cordially invited to my house to stay with us, we'd all love to see you and the Dursleys will never have to know. (Maybe we can T.P. their house!!)
*
Harry was frankly a little shocked at what he read. Dakota had talked about her father and how she felt about the situation before, just not this in depth. The timing was just too coincidental.
'Well this settles it,' Harry thought to himself. 'It's a sign. It has to be. I'm going to do this.'
.
Author's Note: Oh look, the plot's speeding up! Yay! Thanks for all the reviews. Keep 'em coming! A special thanks to Firemask, my faithful reviewer!! And if anyone can tell me how to do italics and center things, help! Also, some of my indents didn't work, but c'est la vie! Sorry all! Oh and can anyone tell me if this is going to be free to write for here if I didn't sign up for any of those paying services? Just so I'm prepared when the bill comes. Thanks! On with the tale.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first few weeks passed by very quickly for Harry. His emotions flipped back and forth. He was so thankful to be back at his school among his friends, joking, complaining about homework, knowing that he wouldn't have to go hungry for quite a while. Despite the extra load of homework the fifth years had been given in preparation for the upcoming O.W.L.s, Harry was even enjoying the simple time he spent with his friends doing their homework, making up predictions with Ron for Divination, and trying not to roll his eyes as Hermione tried to explain to him the concept behind every charm or spell they were learning.
He was happier than he had been in months, when he had been plagued by thoughts of the third task, with nothing to distract him from it, and of course, being mistreated by his so-called "family". However, he was constantly thinking of the Stensons and his mission to help them. Ron teased him by commenting that he was turning into Hermione with all the visits to the library he had been making. It was true though. At every free moment, Harry would slip off to the library looking for anything that would help, from magical medical books to books about Muggles. There were a few references to Muggle ailments, but nothing to help his cause. He even asked Mrs. Pince if she knew of any books on the subject, but she only guessed and pointed out books that he had searched through several times already.
The new knowledge he had gained while reading through all the possibilities had helped him only by gaining a few points for Gryffindor whenever a teacher asked a medical question in class. As he was walking away from Herbology, in which he had just named all the illnesses that could be cured from the petals of a Hintlybloom earning Gryffindor ten points, Hermione came up beside him.
"Harry, good job! You see? I told you this extra studying would be helpful! You've learned so much already! Just think of how well you'll do on your O.W.L.s if you keep it up!" she said enthusiastically, thinking that Harry's newfound knowledge was the result of her "encouragement" (or "constant badgering" as Ron called it) to study things beyond what they were required to learn for classes.
"Please don't tell me you're going to turn into Hermione, mate," Ron said clapping a hand on Harry's back and earning a glare from Hermione. "Who am I going to hang out with if you both are always in the library?"
"Well, Ron, you could always come with us, you know. O.W.L.s are coming up." Hermione began. Harry caught Ron's gaze and they both rolled their eyes.
"Sorry, Mione, I'm allergic to libraries," Ron stated casually. "Just found out this summer."
"Er yeah, and the reason I know so much about medical stuff now is because I was the one trying to find out what was wrong with Ron." Harry laughed. "Now I probably know more than Madam Pomfrey." Harry all of a sudden stopped in his tracks, unnoticed by Hermione and Ron, who was joking about how Harry, the medical genius, had found the source behind his deadly allergy.
'That's just it,' he thought to himself. 'Madam Pomfrey must know something. She had to study all kinds of medicine to be a doctor, magical and Muggle so she'll always be prepared. It said so in one of those books, I just know it.'
He jogged up to Ron and Hermione who were now both laughing and adding on to the now miraculous adventure of Ron's allergy to libraries and the search for the cure.
"Hey you guys, I need to go do something for a bit. If I don't make it to dinner bring me up something from the Great Hall, okay? I'll see you guys later." He immediately started to jog off to avoid questions, faintly hearing Ron yell something about Harry being his hero for curing him from the illness he never really had.
.
Harry cautiously walked into the infirmary. There weren't any students in there luckily for Harry. He didn't really want any of his inquiries to Madam Pomfrey to be overheard by students and twisted into some rumor about how Professor Trelawney's predictions about Harry's death were going to finally come true.
"Er.hello?" Harry cautiously called not wanting to irritate Madam Pomfrey. He would need her in a good mood to make sure she would answer his questions to her full ability. "Madam Pomfrey?"
"Ah. Mr. Potter. Why does it seem that your presence graces this hospital wing more than most other students? Do you go looking for trouble?" Madam Pomfrey had come into the room from her office, obviously under the impression that Harry was once again hurt. Harry blushed a little, knowing that her comment was true; he was in here quite a bit.
"Actually, ma'am, I'm not hurt or anything, I was just wondering if you could answer a medical question I have...for Muggle Studies." He added that last part quickly as to avoid any questions or sweetened up answers that might have occurred if she thought that Harry knew someone in the situation he was about to bring up. But he needed the truth, and if that involved a few white lies, then that was fine with him. "I've already looked through books in the library, but they don't seem to have the information I need. I was wondering if you knew anything about terminal illnesses, like cancer. Is there a cure, because I've never heard of any wizard inflicted with it?"
"Well dear, I do know a bit about that area. Let me see," she spoke over her shoulder as she began to magically clean the bed sheets and do other little chores around the Hospital Wing. "The reason that you never hear of wizards having cancer is because they don't ever get it. Cancer is a Muggle disease that isn't contracted by wizards. There is no magical cure for cancer because wizards never had the need for it, being as we never get it."
"There's no spell or anything for it then?" Harry said half panicked, half sinking into depression. His stomach was flipping all around. Now what could he do?
"Well, dear, let me finish. There was a spell long ago that a wizard invented to save his Muggle mother. It was only used a few times before it was generally decided not to be used again."
"But why would they outlaw a spell that was doing good?" Harry asked.
"I never said outlaw, they never made a law against it just in case they ever found a situation where it would be necessary, but it just dropped out of use. You see it didn't actually cure the cancer, but instead, transferred it from one body to another. The one to do the spell had to take on the cancer themselves. The spell could only be performed on the cancer once, so it couldn't just be transferred around so nobody dies from it. The wizard or witch who performed the spell would have to take it on themselves."
"Were the wizards able to fight it better than the Muggles? I mean, wouldn't their magic help?" Harry asked.
"No, dear. Every one of the few people who tried the spell died from the disease, but it did have strange effects on them. Apparently, the cancer mixed with magic did very strange things to the wizard and their magic, I'm not quite sure what exactly, but I've heard that no two were alike." Madam Pomfrey had been getting readily more excited about the conversation, apparently pleasantly surprised that a student would take such interest in medicine. She suddenly gasped. "Oh my, you know what? I think I may actually have a copy of that spell somewhere!" She quickly went into her office and came out with an old book. She flipped through a few pages and landed on one with the title "Recnac Transfaerso." She flicked her wand and murmured "Copius" and a piece of paper appeared in her hand with the page copied onto it. "Ah yes, here it is. I hope this will be helpful with your report dear." She handed him the paper looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
Harry took the paper, in a bit of a state of shock. "Er.yes. Thanks ma'am, this should get me full marks." He smiled the best he could and walked out towards the dorm, forgetting all about dinner.
.
Harry sat on his bed staring at the spell, occasionally giving it another read through, but otherwise lost in his own thoughts. He had the whole room to himself as everyone else was down in the Great Hall enjoying dinner. Food was the last thing on his mind at the moment.
He stared at the spell again. It was the most complicated thing he had ever seen. It required not only an incantation, but a potion as well, which again seemed quite complex. He found it ironic that he had earlier come across a spell to make cancer get dramatically worse within minutes that was a hundred times easier than this one. He remembered it because he found it shocking that such a simple spell could do so much damage in two words. "Recnac Sunimoon." Now, the spell that actually helped things contained words that he couldn't dream of being able to pronounce and the small bit of information next to it spoke briefly of the consequences of saying it incorrectly.
Apparently, in one case, the mispronouncing of one line led to the caster of the spell to become speechless for the rest of his life and the instant death of the person who was having the cancer taken from them. The spell would be a definite challenge. But Harry had met challenges before and knew that if he really wanted to, he could perform this spell. The question was, was he really willing to do the spell? Heroism was one thing, but this would be sacrificing his life. He had only been at Hogwarts for four whole years now. He was happy here and wanted to live. It had been his first chance at a real life. He had friends here. He had people who cared about him now. Was he willing to give that all up?
At that moment, he was interrupted by a quiet hooting. He looked up to find Hedwig perched on the bed-frame. She seemed to sense that Harry was under some stress and seemed very cautious about disturbing him. He realized that she had a letter for him and stroked Hedwig as he removed it from her leg. He settled back against the headboard and opened the letter with a sigh.
*
Hey Harry. How's school? It's boring over here. Too bad you go to boarding school instead of Stonewall; it would be a lot more fun with you here. I'm surprised the Dursleys would pay for you to be privately schooled, but I guess they just wanted you away from them, no offense. You know I think those Dursleys are lunatics.
Anyways, Dad's not doing so well. He's started to get treatments for the cancer-chemotherapy and such, but I don't know how long he'll do it for. It's quite expensive and it also makes him feel miserable. I feel so helpless. I have this constant feeling of needing to do something to help but then I realize that there is nothing I can do. I keep telling my parents that I'm handling it all fine; they really don't need the extra worry of how I'm doing. It's a lie though, Harry. I'm scared. Really scared. It's been the three of us for so long, I just can't imagine it being down to two. My mom doesn't work. What are we going to do about money when my dad's gone? We'll probably have to move away. Want to come with us? Sorry I know I'm rambling but I just need to vent. It's just not fair, Harry. My dad is the best person I know. He doesn't deserve it and I just don't understand why it has to be him. He's never done anything wrong!! He tries to keep everyone optimistic but I'm not easily fooled. I know the treatments aren't working. All I can hope for now is a miracle that I can't find the faith to believe in right now.
I'm so sorry about this letter Harry. I just needed someone to talk to about all of this, just get it off of my chest you know. Thanks for letting me rant. Please write back soon. I hope you're having a wonderful time at school. I'd love to see pictures of your friends and such, and didn't you mention that you play a sport. I don't think you ever told me what it was. Well get me some pictures of that too. I'll talk to you later!! Bye!
Always,
Kota
P.S. Christmas vacation is coming up. You are cordially invited to my house to stay with us, we'd all love to see you and the Dursleys will never have to know. (Maybe we can T.P. their house!!)
*
Harry was frankly a little shocked at what he read. Dakota had talked about her father and how she felt about the situation before, just not this in depth. The timing was just too coincidental.
'Well this settles it,' Harry thought to himself. 'It's a sign. It has to be. I'm going to do this.'
.