A/N: O.K., folks, how about this for an author's note. There are no author's notes this time around. All answers and thank yous that would have gone here will be included in Sunday's posting.
WHY? You may well ask. Well, people, that's because this is a special posting. You might note I posted off schedule this week and I said there was a reason for it. Some of you may have thought it was because the computer was still sick.. Well, no. There was another reason.
You see, people, the special posting is because today is a special day for someone. It's somebody's birthday. A unique individual. A charismatic personality. A truly awe inspiring human being. In fact, every time I see one of her reviews, I go "Awwwwww". Yes, an exceptional, matchless, irreplaceable person.
UNICORN WHISPERER! IT"S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, people, you all have Unicorn Whisperer to thank for this extra posting.
Hand in the back? Yes? Oh, you again. Yes? What is it?
*Ms. P.A.R.? You said two postings a week. We've only had one this week, so
technically, this isn't an extra posting.*
Sit down!
All right......, so 'technically' it's not extra. But it is early....sort of. Or, if you want to side with that person in the back row, it's really late (seeing as Wednesday's was Sunday's and today's is.....well.....). Anyway, Happy Birthday, Unicorn Whisperer!
On with the story.
Chapter Ten: The Ones You Love
Harry stood in what appeared to him to be a very large white room, but one that didn't seem to have any visible walls. Looking about he realized with a growing unease that he seemed to be completely alone. Everything around him was absolute silence. But slowly, from somewhere very far away he thought he could just barely hear a voice. But the sound was so muffled, he could make out what it was saying.
"Harry."
Harry spun about at the sound of his name. The sudden noise sounded like a sudden clap of thunder in the eerie stillness.
Looking for where the voice had come from, Harry found himself now facing two people he didn't think he would ever fail to recognize, even if he had never seen anything of them that he remembered but pictures.
"Mum!" He cried happily. "Dad!"
James Potter gave his son a warm smile. The woman standing at his side positively beamed at the recognition from her son.
Harry saw his father lift his head slightly, as though his attention was suddenly caught by something.
"Do you hear that?" His father asked.
"Hear what?" Harry asked. "Dad, where am I?" He asked abruptly, losing interest quickly in whatever his father was listening to. "How can you and Mum be here? What's going on?"
Harry took a step towards his parents, but they quickly stepped back.
"Listen, Harry." His father stated sternly. "Listen for the sound. You'll hear it if you try."
"Dad, I don't care about any sound. What does it matter?"
A stricken look appeared on his mother's face at his words. "Oh, Harry. It matters a great deal. Listen to your father. Try and hear the voice. Please. It's very important."
"What voice?"
"Listen..." His mother told him with a gentle smile, "and you'll hear it."
Harry sighed in exasperation. He was standing in front of his parents and all they could do was chatter on about some noise. But it seemed important to them, so he tried. Closing his eyes, he listened very hard. From some distance behind him he heard the sound he had heard before. A bit louder, but still very far away.
"You hear it now?" His father asked.
Harry slowly opened his eyes. Tears were forming in them now. "That's Sirius' voice." He whispered.
James smiled at his son. "And you remember what he told you to do."
Harry looked in the direction the voice was coming from. It led him away from his parents.
"He told me to follow it." Harry replied solemnly.
"That's what you have to do, Harry." His mother said kindly. "Follow Sirius' voice."
Harry turned quickly back to his parents. "But...."
Lily stared back at her son, tears glistening in her emerald eyes. "You can't stay, Harry. Not now. You still have so much to do with your life." She paused as she forced a smile to her lips. "You go back to Sirius. He'll take good care of you. I know he will. And he'll love you as much as we would have."
"But Mum....Dad..." Harry pleaded.
"Listen to Sirius, son. He needs you. You do like he told you and follow his voice. We'll see you again someday. I promise. But not now. You live your life. And make it a long and happy one."
Harry turned to the ground, wiping a tear back. More than anything he wanted to stay with his parents. He listened to the voice calling his name again. The pain in it was almost tangible to him now, growing in it's desperation for every call he didn't answer.
"Go on, Harry." His mother told him soothingly. "It'll be all right. You'll see."
"And Harry," His father called to him with a grin as Harry took the first hesitant step in the direction of the voice, "you tell that stupid old dog we know what he's up to. And we couldn't be happier about it. OK? You remember to tell him that for us. It's very important."
"I will, Dad." Harry replied quietly. "I'll tell him."
Harry took a few more steps towards the sound of the voice. He turned once more to look at his parents. "I love you , Mum and Dad." He whispered.
James and Lily smiled at their son. "You know we love you, Harry." They both answered. "We always will.
"Now go, Harry." Lily told her son. "You don't have much time."
Harry turned and started toward the voice again. When he turned one last time to look for his parents, they were gone.
He knew the decision had been made now. There was no turning back and no point in delaying it. He took off at a run, calling Sirius' name as he ran through the white void.
But as he ran a sudden pain caught him in his chest. He collapsed to his knees. The pain started to spread through his body. His mother had warned him that he didn't have much time. Something must have gone wrong. He had waited too long. Now what was going to happen? His parents were gone. What was he suppose to do? He tried to get to his feet but found he could hardly move at all from the pain. He tried to cry out, to tell Sirius he needed help, but found he suddenly couldn't breath. Panic began to tighten it's grip on him as he lay on the ground, paralyzed by the ache in his chest. He closed his eyes tightly against the pain, tried to focus on breathing. If he could just take one breath the pain would lessen, he told himself. Just one.
Abruptly Harry found himself seized by a coughing fit. Although not what he had hoped for, Harry took full advantage of it, gasping for air in between each cough as he squeezed his eyes shut in concentration. But suddenly the coughing stopped, and again he found he couldn't breath. But this time he realized it was because someone was stopping him. Someone was holding his nose closed, not allowing him to breath in. A sudden pressure forced itself into his mouth and down into his lungs. This is what must have started the coughing fit before, Harry thought, for he suddenly felt another seize hold of him. He forced himself over on his side, trying to get the hand to let go of his nose. To let him breath.
"Harry!"
With a rush of relief Harry recognized his godfather's voice. It sounded as frightened as Harry had ever heard it, urgently calling his name over and over. Harry turned back to the sound of Sirius' voice. He had to hold onto that. To let Sirius know he heard him. He had to get away from wherever he was.
Harry barely managed to get Sirius' name out past another coughing fit. But as soon as he said the name he felt his upper body grabbed in a tight hug and heard Sirius practically scream his name out in joy. He tried again. This time the name was easier to say and the coughing fit lessened a bit. Finally, he slowly opened his eyes. The first sight that greeted him was the heavily distressed expression of his godfather. But as soon as he noticed that Harry had opened his eyes, a warm, grateful smile formed across his lips that spread quickly to his tear-filled eyes. Harry managed the smallest smile for Sirius. He choked out his name again, pleased at the reaction the effort got from his godfather, who cried out his name again as he hugged him.
The smile on Harry's face grew as he bask in the warmth of Sirius' embrace. He had never doubted Sirius cared about him. But he was just now beginning to realize how very much he was truly loved.
Madam Pomfrey quickly peeled Sirius away from his godson.
"Let me check him, Black." She stated firmly. "The poor boy isn't out of the woods yet."
Sirius allowed Madam Pomfrey to lay Harry back on the bed, but he never relinquished his hold on his godson's hand.
Whatever the nurse was doing, it hurt. Harry moaned slightly. But he immediately felt a slight pressure on his hand as Sirius gave it a gentle squeeze to let him know he wasn't far away. Harry tightened his grip a little, giving his hand a slight pull. He wanted his godfather back. He wanted to be able to see him.
Finally Madam Pomfrey stepped back, allowing Sirius to take his post again on the side of Harry's bed.
Harry gave him a tired smile as Sirius sat down, then quickly pulled against him, still holding tightly onto Sirius' hand.
Everyone in the room waited patiently for Madam Pomfrey's final pronouncement on Harry's state of health. She watched the piece of parchment above his bed a few moments longer, then turned back to the group with a pleased smile. "It would seem that the poison is neutralized. Harry should recover just fine, but he will need to stay in the infirmary for a few days yet. Visits will have to be restricted." She added sternly, directing the last part mostly at Sirius.
Sirius gave Harry's hand a little tug. "Bet we can work around that, hey?"
Harry gave Sirius another tired smile, settling himself back down on his pillow.
Sirius tug on his hand again. "You won, Harry." He whispered to him. "It's all over now. And you won. In a few days you'll be better and we can go home."
Home? Harry wondered where home would be now. Surely it couldn't be with Sirius. He was still a wanted man. And aside from Sirius there was only one other place he could go. Harry felt a heavy weight suddenly settle on him. One that stole any happiness from his thoughts as surely as a Dementor could have done. The pain and the loneliness of the thought coursed through his body until it reached his eyes. He could feel the tears brimming over and rolling down his cheeks.
"Harry?" A concerned voice asked as a hand quickly wiped the tears away.
Harry opened his eyes to see Sirius staring down at him past a worried expression.
"Harry, what's wrong?"
Harry pulled as hard as he could on Sirius' hand, pulling him down to him as he whispered. "Home."
Sirius pulled back up, staring back at his godson. He all to clearly understood Harry's fear now.
"We're not sending you back to the Dursley's, Harry." Sirius said quietly. "Maybe we'll send you to stay with Remus for a while. Or you can stay here at the castle. Some place that's safe. Where I could come and visit you. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?"
Far from being thrilled, Harry had to admit the offer sounded better than going back to the Dursley's. He managed a small smile past his tears.
Sirius patted his hand. "That's better. Now rest. You've had an awful long day." He added with a grin.
Sirius stayed seated on the edge of Harry's bed while he listened to the others discussing what to do next. The general course of the conversation seemed to focus around where it was best for Harry to stay. As the conversation went on and ideas were thrown back and forth, Sirius simply shook his head and turned back to his godson. He favored the idea of the castle himself. There he would be free to visit Harry without putting anyone else in danger with his presence, such as he would if Harry were to go live with Remus. He would also be assured of Harry's safety, and know that he was being taken care of properly when he couldn't be there.
Sirius' attention was snapped away from the conversation when Harry shifted slightly in the bed. He quickly turned to his godson.
"You OK?" He asked quietly.
Harry nodded. He was watching the others as well, listening to the banter.
"Why can't I stay here?" He asked.
"That's what they're trying to decide, Harry." Sirius replied. "Dumbledore'll make the best decision. You'll see. Do you need anything?"
Harry shook his head, continuing to listen to the others.
Sirius turned his attention back to them as well. Throughout the past several minutes, Harry had held tightly onto Sirius' hand, refusing to let go. But slowly Sirius became aware of the pressure lessening as the grip slackened. He turned back to Harry, smiling slightly as he watched his godson's features relaxing.
He tugged gently on Harry's hand. "Tired?" He asked.
Harry didn't respond.
Sirius turned around on the bed, a slight tone of concern edging his voice. "Harry?"
Still Harry didn't respond.
"Harry!" This time Sirius was shouting his godson's name as he shook him.
The others suddenly stopped talking. Madam Pomfrey was the first to Harry's bedside followed quickly by Dumbledore.
"What's wrong?" Sirius stated as the nurse looked Harry over. "What's happened to him?"
Madam Pomfrey checked the parchment. "I....I'm not sure. It's...it's as though the poison were back, attacking his body."
Snape quickly came forward and began to check the boy. "Not the original poison, Madam Pomfrey." He stated quickly. A look of genuine concern showed across his face as he stood up again and faced the nurse. "I...I hadn't considered the possibility of this."
Sirius was practically beside himself. "This? What 'this'? What's happened to my godson!?"
Snape turned to Sirius. "We gave Potter a poison in the hopes the original poison would reverse its effects and turn it into a cure instead. That is, in fact, what it did. The poison reacted with the original poison and became the cure for it. However, Potter's body was already weakened to the point of death. Thankfully you were able to revive him and allow the cure to neutralize the poison. Hence the original poison was then out of his system. Unfortunately, there was nothing in the body to counter-act the second poison when the original poison's effects on it were reversed."
"The poison we gave him," Sirius whispered, "turned back into a poison."
"That is correct."
Sirius glanced quickly at Harry. "What will it do to him?"
"Eventually? Kill him." Snape answered, a slight tremor in his voice.
Sirius turned back to Snape. "An antidote! You have to have an antidote!" He pleaded.
"Yes, there's an antidote,." Snape stated quickly. "But I didn't bring it here. I didn't anticipate the need for it."
Sirius suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Snape by the robes. "Where is it!?" He yelled.
"It's in my office."
Sirius turned for the door, but Snape grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.
"You don't understand." He hissed. "There's not enough time."
"How much?" Sirius asked hurriedly, pulling against Snape's hold on his robes.
Snape looked back at Harry. "Five minutes."
"What am I looking for?"
"A small glass bottle of blue liquid.. Top shelf behind my desk. It should be the only one sitting there. But you could never get to my office in the dungeons and make it back here in time, Black. No man could run that fast."
"No." Sirius replied, yanking his robed out of Snape's grasp. "No man."
As Snape watched, Sirius took a long leap toward the door. But instead of hands, two paws hit the floor as the great black dog bounded out the door of the infirmary.
Snape checked the clock on the wall, shaking his head. "He can't do it." He stated solemnly. "There simply isn't enough time."
Dumbledore came up behind Snape, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I suppose it depends on what you're fighting for, Severus, on how hard you'll try."
Sirius ran as fast as he believed he ever had through the corridors. He remembered how many hours he, James, Remus, and Peter had spent searching for secret passages. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would come to depend on that knowledge for something so important. He skidded to a stop in front of a wall hanging. Grabbing the bottom left corner in his teeth he tugged sharply on it, the disappeared through the door that materialized in the stone behind it. The passage took him down a steep, spiraling incline that opened on the ground floor. The passage had been a favorite for him and James as a way to beat everyone else to the great hall for dinner.
Running across the open entrance hall, Sirius flew down the stairs that led to the dungeon. He knew he was making good time. It had probably taken him just a little over a minute to get to the bottom of the passage. It would take another minute to get into Snape's office and get the antidote, two minutes to get back up to the infirmary....
Sirius was still figuring his time when he reached Snape's office and transformed back. He reached for the handle and turned it. And suddenly he froze.
Locked.
Sirius absolutely howled in frustration.
He tried the handle again several times. The lock held. Reaching into his robes out of habit, Sirius managed to stop himself just in time.
If he used his wand, the ministry would know. Tracing him would be as easy as following a map. But if he didn't, there was no other way to get into Snape's office in time
Sirius considered the dilemma for only a few seconds before finally pulling his wand out and pointing it at the lock. He quickly spoke the spell and the door blasted open, nearly coming off the hinges as it did so.
The large black dog bolted through the smoke to the back of the office. There on the top shelf sat the antidote, just as Snape had described it. Sirius grabbed the bottle in his mouth and charged out of the office, heading back for the stairs. Within seconds he was headed back up the passageway. Just over a minute later he was running back down the corridor towards the infirmary.
At the door Sirius paused and listened. But the only voices he heard were those that he expected. Transforming back, he stumbled into the room, completely out of breath and handed the bottle to Snape, who wasted no time in giving the antidote to Harry.
"Any trouble?" Lupin asked, letting Sirius lean on him a he fought to stand up.
"Snape's door was locked." Sirius gave a breathless reply.
"And?"
"And now he needs a new one."
Lupin looked horrified. "You used your wand!? Sirius!" Lupin turned to Dumbledore, but the old wizard had overheard their conversation.
"Sirius, you know what's going to happen." Dumbledore stated firmly. "You have to leave. Ministry wizards could be here at any minute."
"They can't apparate into the castle itself. That gives me some time."
"And once they're in the castle it'll be nearly impossible for you to get out. They'll seal every entrance."
"I can't leave until I know that Harry's all right."
Snape turned back to them. "And that could take several minutes, Black. Nor do I believe the ministry will be inclined to allow you to wait while you see if your beloved godson will recover."
"Sirius, he's right." Lupin stated. "Go back to where you stay. I'll come as soon as there's news. All right?"
Sirius stared at his friend. Above everything else, he felt he had to be there when Harry woke.
"What about Snuffles? I could sit on Fudge's lap and he wouldn't recognize me."
"They'll be suspicious, Sirius." Dumbledore replied. "You could very well lose the one advantage you have. Now, I'm sorry. But I think Harry will understand."
"I have to know if he's all right." Sirius pleaded. "Just that."
Snape turned back to him. "Then you can leave, Black. We administered the antidote in time. Potter will recover."
Sirius turned to him, studying him carefully. But Snape met his stare without so much as a blink.
"Sirius!" Dumbledore stated more firmly. "Go!"
The anguish in Sirius' face was still evident in that of the dog as he transformed. With one last look at the still figure of his godson laying on the bed, Sirius ran for the door and disappeared.
Lupin turned to Snape.
"Was what you told him the truth?" He asked quietly.
"It accomplished it's purpose." Snape replied solemnly.
"Was it the truth?" Lupin repeated.
"We'll know shortly."
Snape was still checking Harry along with Madam Pomfrey when the ministry wizards came to the door a few minutes later. Madam Pomfrey was her usual stern self about allowing them into the ward, explaining that she had an extremely sick patient who needed rest and quiet. And after much debate, one ministry member was allowed in to search the entire ward on his own.
Several hours later, after a lengthy questioning by the ministry, Lupin was allowed to leave the castle. He hurried down to the gates of Hogwarts, then apparated to Hogsmeade.
