21. Harry's Awakening

Light slanted through the infirmary window to fall on Harry's eyes as they fluttered open. With a groan, he sat up, rubbing unconsciously at his shoulder. He sat there on the bed, shirtless and shivering as the covers fell away. He glanced at the spell mark on his chest and noticed that it seemed to be even darker than the last time. He couldn't be sure but he also thought it might have gotten even more intricate.

Harry glanced at the bedside table and saw the usual pile of get well wishes. Piled neatly at the foot of the bed were some of his clothes. He stood gingerly and pulled on pants and a sweater. As he was finishing pushing his arm into a sleeve, Madame Pomfrey bustled in.

"So good to see you awake dear. Have a seat on the bed and I'll bring you some breakfast." Harry nodded his thanks as he discovered he was completely famished. "Some of the Professors asked to be called right away when you awoke so they'll be in shortly."

The professors arrived shortly after Harry's porridge. Leading the group was the familiar, towering figure of Rubius Hagrid. His eyes lit up amidst his fuzzy face as he bounded forward. "Harry! Yer awake!" Harry had to quickly shove his porridge onto the nightstand lest it be squished between himself and the half-giant as Hagrid swept him into a huge hug.

"Hagrid!" Harry managed before the breath was completely squeezed out of him, "I'm glad you're back."

Hagrid seemed to notice either Harry's breathing trouble or Madame Pomfrey's disapproving stare because he quickly deposited Harry back onto the bed with a sheepish grin. "I was so worried when they said you weren't wakin' up."

Harry nodded solemnly and turned his attention to those that had followed Hagrid in. A disheveled and exhausted Ryan Argano leaned against the bed next to Harry's To his right stood a relieved looking Professor McGonagall. At the foot of Harry's bed, Marcus Sideson rested his hands lightly on the baseboard.

Ryan offered a tired smile. "As you can most likely imagine Mr. Potter, we have a lot to talk about."

Harry nodded, "What about Ron and Hermione?"

Ryan shot a confirming glance at Sideson and received an affirming nod. "Feel free to tell them whatever you like."

Despite the dangers he was obviously facing, Harry felt a great sense of relief wash over him.

Sideson leaned forward, "Feel free to continue eating while we talk, after being unconscious for so long, you need to eat and get your strength back."

Harry aimed a questioning glance at Ryan, "How long?"

"Eight days. Most of which was spent repairing the spell, trying to strengthen it enough to recapture the hold on the sliver."

"While I was unconscious, I heard… voices."

Professor Sideson raised an eyebrow, "Voices?"

"It's not uncommon," Argano shrugged, "When someone's unconscious for that long they may gain just enough awareness to catch snatches of conversations around them."

Harry nodded, "That was some of it…"

"But?" McGonagall picked up on his trailing tone and finished for him.

"But I thought I heard Voldemort talking to Wormtail."

With the exception of Ryan Argano, the others in the room winced reflexively at the Dark Lord's name. Hagrid shook his head. "No Harry, you must 'ave 'ad a Nightmare."

Ryan stood a bit straighter and seemed to shrug off a touch of his wariness. "Not necessarily, Hagrid." His eyes fixed intently on Harry's, "What did he say Potter?"

"He knew about the holding spell, and about me being unconscious. Voldemort almost told Wormtail to order the insider to kill me, but said something about plans being too delicate to risk losing their contact in the school." The adults exchanged worried glances.

Sideson cleared his throat, "Was anything said to indicate who the assassin might be?"

Harry grimaced, "The only thing that was mentioned was that a disguise spell had been used."

Professor McGonagall shook her head sadly, "Poor Geoffrey, to think, we spent two weeks with the impostor and no one suspected a thing."

Harry blinked in confusion, "Geoffrey?"

"Geoffrey Dameron," McGonagall elaborated, "who should have been your interim Potions master, was murdered soon after he arrived at the school. Whoever this mysterious Death Eater is took his place long enough to expose you to the Drops of Vengeance, then vanished."

Harry turned to face Ryan again, "I was going to your office to ask you about it when I was attacked."

Hagrid ground one gigantic fist into his palm, "Who was it? If I find the little bastard-"

Sideson reached over to lay a hand on Hagrid's forearm, "I'm afraid that you're being a tad counterproductive Hagrid." He turned his attention to Harry, "But he has a valid point, could you recognize your assailant?"

Harry stared at his almost finished bowl of porridge for a silent moment. "No, I think they had an invisibility cloak. All I saw was a knife come out of nowhere and, when he'd been thrown against the wall, I saw some brown hair before I passed out."

Professor McGonagall frowned, "It's a wonder you weren't stabbed right there."

"Knife wounds are messy," Ryan pointed out. "A bloody knife is surprisingly easy to track down. On top of that, Harry's assailant had every reason to think he'd succeeded." He took a moment to sweep his hard gaze across everyone present, "The fact that Potter here was comatose for eight days should impress on all of you how very nearly he succeeded." Ryan subsided into a moody silence and the pristinely bright room seemed to dim a bit.

Sideson nodded with an air of finality, "Well that's that. Let's move on and explain and plan whatever we need to. First off, Harry, I'm afraid I must remove you from your house Quidditch team."

"What?" Harry's jaw dropped open, this was not what he had expected.

Professor McGonagall nodded, "I'm sorry Harry but I am in agreement with Marcus in this matter. The Quidditch cup is not worth your life. It has already been proven that we are unable to protect you effectively during such events. I'm sorry Harry, but the decision is quite final."

"But we can't not have a Seeker!"

"Angelina will be notified when she returns from break and you should wish her the best of luck in finding a replacement for you. Our statement stands."

"But-"

"Harry!" Sideson interrupted sharply. "I'm sorry that it has come to this but we have little choice. No amount of argument will change our minds. Do you understand?" Here Harry gave a small nod of consent. "Very well, moving on. You will be escorted by a professor at all times for the duration of this year."

Harry blinked incredulously, "You're not serious!"

"Quite serious I'm afraid."

"Can't you just tell Ron and Hermione to keep an eye on me?"

Sideson favored Harry with a disapproving glance. "I'll thank you not to insult my intelligence Harry. I know full well that those two will only aid you in whatever it is you hope to accomplish. From now on you will have a professor escort you whenever you leave Gryffindor tower." He took in Harry's unhappy expression, "I should think you would be grateful, Mr. Potter, there have been three attempts on your life so far this year."

Harry shrugged, "It's not much different from every other year."

Professor McGonagall shook her head sharply, "But now you are vulnerable in a way you never were before. I know that boys your age tend to think of themselves as immortal, and you perhaps have even more cause to believe that then most, but you are terribly endangered, even now. We have a duty to protect you and we will do whatever is necessary to do so."

"Why don't you just send me home?" Harry spat angrily.

Sideson nodded matter-of-factly, "We had considered it. However it was felt that even though Hogwarts has been compromised in many ways, we still have a better chance of protecting you here than if you were sent back to Privet Drive."

"And if I want to go to Hogsmeade, or visit Hagrid?"

If Professor McGonagall was feeling at all sympathetic, she hid it well, "Then a professor will be sent to escort you."

Harry searched furiously for a way out, "But the Drops of Vengeance have worn off by now haven't they?" Ryan nodded in affirmation, "Then it's not as if any bit of malice directed at me will kill me anymore. It's no different than before Professor Dameron, or whoever he was, gave me the drops."

"I'm afraid it is different Harry, before we did not know that the Death Eater would be able to get as close to you as he did."

"Well then why are you only protecting me? He could harm any of the students, why should I get special protection?"

"Enough." Ryan's drawn face still managed to carry a sense of finality. "You're getting the extra treatment because you're the one that Voldemort wants," the others cringed again, "we all know it and therefor our decision is set."

Harry swallowed hard and watched not only his hopes of finding the Staff Draconis, but also his hopes of having a normal year, fizzle up and die.

Sideson tipped his head to Ryan in thanks, "Next item of business," Harry steeled himself for whatever this next imposition could be, "the assassin. How could he be receiving his instructions, or is he just playing it by ear?" Harry felt a small rush of relief that at least this conversation didn't seem poised to strip him of his liberties and social life. Sideson locked eyes with Harry, "you believe you've heard Voldemort speak of the assassin, how is he being commanded?"

Harry shrugged, still feeling a bit sullen, "They didn't say anything specific, just that Wormtail, er, Peter Pettigrew, was passing him instructions."

Ryan nodded, "I suppose that he could just apparate here, or use any number of communication spells, with the staff disabled, there's any number of ways to get into the grounds or communicate with someone hidden here."

Sideson's expression soured, "It all comes back to fixing that staff. The ministry says that in all likelihood it's just misaligned. A simple adjustment…"

McGonagall frowned at him, "It doesn't matter since we can't reach it. We'll have to find another way."

"Where is the staff?"

Sideson chopped his hand down, "No! I've already told you, Harry, we will not reveal the staff's location to you. It would destroy you in an instant. We've assigning you protection from the Death Eater threat, don't make us protect you from yourself as well." He glanced around at the other professors. "It would seem that we would do better to conclude these discussions in private. Harry, Madame Pomfrey will summon one of us when it is time to for you to be released. She assures me it will be later today," he offered a strained smile, "you'll be out in time for Christmas at least."

With that he spun on his heel and strode out with Professors Argano and McGonagall following close behind. Hagrid turned to Harry and patted him on the shoulder, "Chin up, Harry. Things won't be so bad. Yer might even get me tah watch over ye from time ter time."

Harry ventured a smile, "Thanks Hagrid."

"Any time. Now I'd best catch up tah the rest of 'em fer the meetin'." The giant man turned carefully and followed the others out of the infirmary.