Chapter 19
The wound of the silver knife
Harry found himself in a neatly furnished reception area. Large green plants were scattered throughout the room in between purple and blue settees. In front of him Dumbledore was at a desk where a witch was sitting wearing pale green robes. She turned and stared at Harry as he arrived, before quickly reverting her eyes back to Dumbledore. Dumbledore came over to Harry. "The mediwizard won't be long." Harry perched on one of the comfy chairs and waited. It was only a few minutes when another witch in the same colour robes as the receptionist walked over. "We're ready to see you now," she said softly, her eyes making the familiar flick to Harry's forehead and then his neck. "I'll wait out here for you" Dumbledore told Harry. Harry nodded and followed the medinurse to a small room on the other side of the reception. Harry entered a small room painted a deep cream with yet more green plants round the floor and the desk where an important looking wizard sat. The medinurse left, and Harry was left facing a wizard with long white robes. A small emblem of an odd looking vegetable, crossing a wand glowed silver on his chest. "Harry Potter," the wizard said seriously, "I'm Doctor Mulier, the head doctor at St Mungos. I understand you're having problems with your throat. A rather unfortunate weapon- the silver knife. Well let's have a look." He carefully undid the long bandages swathing Harry's neck. Harry winced as Doctor Mulier touched it with a long finger. Ice-cold pain shot down his neck. Doctor Mulier made a long sigh as he looked carefully at the whole of Harry's neck. Then to Harry's surprise Doctor Mulier left the room leaving Harry sitting on the hard chair. Harry stared at the room. He was sure that the green plants were growing as he watched. A large purple bud had erupted with a loud pop when the mediwizard returned followed by a tall imposing witch clutching a clipboard. They both prodded Harry's neck and muttered quietly. It was some time before they finally retreated to behind the desk. The doctors both looked rather worried. "That cut was made by an evil weapon," Doctor Mulier began. "We have very limited experience in dealing with such a wound. We believe there may be a shard of the knife remaining in your neck, which is what is causing the wound to remain the way, it is. I would like to try and get the splinter out." Harry looked at them blankly. "You said that your neck felt cold, and it tingles, these are all signs of a dark weapon remaining in your throat. If it remains in there much longer, it may kill you. The knife is trying to carry out the work of it's master," Doctor Mulier continued. "Time is short. I believe that we should operate as soon as possible, now if this is suitable with Professor Dumbledore and yourself." Harry nodded numbly. The second doctor now spoke; she had a sharp voice that reminded Harry of Professor McGonegall, "I will have a word with Professor Dumbledore now" She swept out of the room. Doctor Mulier went over to a massive cupboard that filled the entire side of the room. It's doors were made of glass, and inside Harry could see rows and rows of little glass bottles. Some were bottle green; some jet- black and some were glinting blood red. Doctor Mulier reached for a small green bottle with a small stopper in the shape of a cloud. He shook it gently and the liquid inside bubbled. He turned to Harry. "You will have to have a draught of sleeping potion, we will administer more if you need it." He gave the small bottle to Harry. "You'll need to drink all of it," Doctor Mulier told Harry. Harry lifted the stopper of the jar and drank it in one gulp. Harry tasted coconut before he floated off into a comfy world of blackness.
When Harry's eyes opened he found himself in a small room painted a bizarre shade of pink. Surrounding him were all the people he loved most. Hermione and Ron with his parents were standing by his bed. Just behind them were Bill and Charlie Weasley looking at him with big grins. Dumbledore was sitting patiently at the end of the bed, and to his amazement Sirius was standing in his natural form next to Dumbledore. Harry sat up, about to tell him to get out unless he got caught when Dumbledore spoke, "Harry it's alright. Sirius and I have been to the ministry. Sirius agreed to go under a truth potion, and the true story emerged. This together with his actions in your protection and my testimony was enough to clear Sirius's name. He is a free man now." Sirius stepped forward, but before he could speak Harry had jumped out of bed and thrown his arms tightly around Sirius. When Harry eventually let go of Sirius's neck Sirius was able to speak, "Harry, I would like to ask you again - you don't have to agree, but if you want to, what I'm trying to say, is would you like to live with me?" Harry tried to answer, but the answer stuck in his throat. He stared at Sirius in disbelief. He knew Sirius understood. Everyone around him was smiling. Harry couldn't remember feeling so happy. Dumbledore spoke again, "You'll also be pleased to know that your throat is completely healed. The mediwizards extracted two-minute shards of the knife that were slowly moving towards your heart. They are gone now though, and you have five months to enjoy before Hogwarts begins again. The year will begin again as we only managed to complete just over a term. I will leave you now." He bowed slightly to Harry and Harry suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness, "Sir?" "Yes Harry?" "I just wanted to say, thank you for everything you've done for me," Harry said a little nervously. Dumbledore smiled again his eyes twinkling with their usual merriness, "It's been a pleasure Harry." And with that he left the room. The rest of the afternoon was spent very jovially with the Weasleys and Hermione. Mr Weasley had taken or been given the afternoon off work to visit Harry. Ron and Hermione were glad to see Harry looking better, and without the huge bandages round his neck. Sirius sat as close as he could to Harry, still being very protective of him. It was only late that evening when Harry was alone with Sirius that he tried to explain how happy he felt. Sirius and Harry talked late into the night about holiday plans, and Harry's Quidditch practises for the under 18 England Team. Sirius promised to take Harry, Ron and Hermione on a wizarding tour of the world. They talked about visiting Shanlorien- the only wizarding city in the world in Bavaria, riding magic carpets in Persia, and seeing Fallibroome Greens in the American National Dragon Park. The next morning after a fine breakfast a nurse in minty coloured robes handed Harry a letter (owls were considered too unhygienic to be allowed in the hospital) Harry opened it quickly and read it. Dear Harry, I hope you are well, I've read about you in the Daily Prophet. I've been so worried about you, and I can't wait for us to meet again. Thank you so much for the ring you gave me. It was perfect; I haven't taken it off my finger since I got it. I hope we can meet up some time this holiday. I l93ove you Cho Harry sank back on hisght of Cho, with her jet black hair, captivating eyes and beautiful smile. He closed his eyes, and for the first time since he had left Hogwarts he felt completely safe and at peace. Later that day Doctor Mulier entered Harry's room with a quiet smile. He examined Harry's neck before turning to Sirius who was sitting next to the bed. "We think that he is fully healed, he is free to go now. Enjoy the rest of your holidays Harry." It took less than five minutes for Harry to pack his things and walk out of the front doors of the hospital, Sirius standing tall and proud by his side. Outside the London traffic was noisily going about its business, unaware of two emotionally charged wizards standing outside a wizard hospital. Sirius turned to Harry with a grin splitting his face, "Alright then, where shall we go?"
The End
The wound of the silver knife
Harry found himself in a neatly furnished reception area. Large green plants were scattered throughout the room in between purple and blue settees. In front of him Dumbledore was at a desk where a witch was sitting wearing pale green robes. She turned and stared at Harry as he arrived, before quickly reverting her eyes back to Dumbledore. Dumbledore came over to Harry. "The mediwizard won't be long." Harry perched on one of the comfy chairs and waited. It was only a few minutes when another witch in the same colour robes as the receptionist walked over. "We're ready to see you now," she said softly, her eyes making the familiar flick to Harry's forehead and then his neck. "I'll wait out here for you" Dumbledore told Harry. Harry nodded and followed the medinurse to a small room on the other side of the reception. Harry entered a small room painted a deep cream with yet more green plants round the floor and the desk where an important looking wizard sat. The medinurse left, and Harry was left facing a wizard with long white robes. A small emblem of an odd looking vegetable, crossing a wand glowed silver on his chest. "Harry Potter," the wizard said seriously, "I'm Doctor Mulier, the head doctor at St Mungos. I understand you're having problems with your throat. A rather unfortunate weapon- the silver knife. Well let's have a look." He carefully undid the long bandages swathing Harry's neck. Harry winced as Doctor Mulier touched it with a long finger. Ice-cold pain shot down his neck. Doctor Mulier made a long sigh as he looked carefully at the whole of Harry's neck. Then to Harry's surprise Doctor Mulier left the room leaving Harry sitting on the hard chair. Harry stared at the room. He was sure that the green plants were growing as he watched. A large purple bud had erupted with a loud pop when the mediwizard returned followed by a tall imposing witch clutching a clipboard. They both prodded Harry's neck and muttered quietly. It was some time before they finally retreated to behind the desk. The doctors both looked rather worried. "That cut was made by an evil weapon," Doctor Mulier began. "We have very limited experience in dealing with such a wound. We believe there may be a shard of the knife remaining in your neck, which is what is causing the wound to remain the way, it is. I would like to try and get the splinter out." Harry looked at them blankly. "You said that your neck felt cold, and it tingles, these are all signs of a dark weapon remaining in your throat. If it remains in there much longer, it may kill you. The knife is trying to carry out the work of it's master," Doctor Mulier continued. "Time is short. I believe that we should operate as soon as possible, now if this is suitable with Professor Dumbledore and yourself." Harry nodded numbly. The second doctor now spoke; she had a sharp voice that reminded Harry of Professor McGonegall, "I will have a word with Professor Dumbledore now" She swept out of the room. Doctor Mulier went over to a massive cupboard that filled the entire side of the room. It's doors were made of glass, and inside Harry could see rows and rows of little glass bottles. Some were bottle green; some jet- black and some were glinting blood red. Doctor Mulier reached for a small green bottle with a small stopper in the shape of a cloud. He shook it gently and the liquid inside bubbled. He turned to Harry. "You will have to have a draught of sleeping potion, we will administer more if you need it." He gave the small bottle to Harry. "You'll need to drink all of it," Doctor Mulier told Harry. Harry lifted the stopper of the jar and drank it in one gulp. Harry tasted coconut before he floated off into a comfy world of blackness.
When Harry's eyes opened he found himself in a small room painted a bizarre shade of pink. Surrounding him were all the people he loved most. Hermione and Ron with his parents were standing by his bed. Just behind them were Bill and Charlie Weasley looking at him with big grins. Dumbledore was sitting patiently at the end of the bed, and to his amazement Sirius was standing in his natural form next to Dumbledore. Harry sat up, about to tell him to get out unless he got caught when Dumbledore spoke, "Harry it's alright. Sirius and I have been to the ministry. Sirius agreed to go under a truth potion, and the true story emerged. This together with his actions in your protection and my testimony was enough to clear Sirius's name. He is a free man now." Sirius stepped forward, but before he could speak Harry had jumped out of bed and thrown his arms tightly around Sirius. When Harry eventually let go of Sirius's neck Sirius was able to speak, "Harry, I would like to ask you again - you don't have to agree, but if you want to, what I'm trying to say, is would you like to live with me?" Harry tried to answer, but the answer stuck in his throat. He stared at Sirius in disbelief. He knew Sirius understood. Everyone around him was smiling. Harry couldn't remember feeling so happy. Dumbledore spoke again, "You'll also be pleased to know that your throat is completely healed. The mediwizards extracted two-minute shards of the knife that were slowly moving towards your heart. They are gone now though, and you have five months to enjoy before Hogwarts begins again. The year will begin again as we only managed to complete just over a term. I will leave you now." He bowed slightly to Harry and Harry suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness, "Sir?" "Yes Harry?" "I just wanted to say, thank you for everything you've done for me," Harry said a little nervously. Dumbledore smiled again his eyes twinkling with their usual merriness, "It's been a pleasure Harry." And with that he left the room. The rest of the afternoon was spent very jovially with the Weasleys and Hermione. Mr Weasley had taken or been given the afternoon off work to visit Harry. Ron and Hermione were glad to see Harry looking better, and without the huge bandages round his neck. Sirius sat as close as he could to Harry, still being very protective of him. It was only late that evening when Harry was alone with Sirius that he tried to explain how happy he felt. Sirius and Harry talked late into the night about holiday plans, and Harry's Quidditch practises for the under 18 England Team. Sirius promised to take Harry, Ron and Hermione on a wizarding tour of the world. They talked about visiting Shanlorien- the only wizarding city in the world in Bavaria, riding magic carpets in Persia, and seeing Fallibroome Greens in the American National Dragon Park. The next morning after a fine breakfast a nurse in minty coloured robes handed Harry a letter (owls were considered too unhygienic to be allowed in the hospital) Harry opened it quickly and read it. Dear Harry, I hope you are well, I've read about you in the Daily Prophet. I've been so worried about you, and I can't wait for us to meet again. Thank you so much for the ring you gave me. It was perfect; I haven't taken it off my finger since I got it. I hope we can meet up some time this holiday. I l93ove you Cho Harry sank back on hisght of Cho, with her jet black hair, captivating eyes and beautiful smile. He closed his eyes, and for the first time since he had left Hogwarts he felt completely safe and at peace. Later that day Doctor Mulier entered Harry's room with a quiet smile. He examined Harry's neck before turning to Sirius who was sitting next to the bed. "We think that he is fully healed, he is free to go now. Enjoy the rest of your holidays Harry." It took less than five minutes for Harry to pack his things and walk out of the front doors of the hospital, Sirius standing tall and proud by his side. Outside the London traffic was noisily going about its business, unaware of two emotionally charged wizards standing outside a wizard hospital. Sirius turned to Harry with a grin splitting his face, "Alright then, where shall we go?"
The End