The Effects of a Spell
Chapter 4
By the next day Harry was feeling much more energetic and like all young children he wanted to explore. Albus and Severus found that they had to childproof the bedroom after Harry had tried to drink a bottle of the Draught of Peace that Severus had mistakenly left on a table by the window. At that stage however, both father and grandfather would not have minded something to calm the rambunctious child down. Seri had instructed them to keep him in bed as much as possible but this was extremely difficult.
Seri and Kit called in to see Harry around midday.
"Don't give him any more of that Kitiara," commanded Severus, "He'll be swinging from the lights."
Kit just laughed and gave Harry his cup of energy potion. He looked up at her and smiled innocently.
"You wouldn't do that would you?" she cooed at him.
Severus and Albus looked at each other knowingly.
"You'll have to keep a careful eye on him," warned the golden haired Healer once she had completed her scan, "He is beginning to recover and is a lot more aware of his surroundings. He'll want to investigate. That is why nothing should be left lying around that he should not have."
Here she gave the Potions Master a reproving look and he felt suitably chastised.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he is feeling more normal tomorrow," remarked Kit, "His levels have risen dramatically. That doesn't mean he shouldn't rest though." she finished.
When the twins left Severus and Albus played with Harry. His favourite toys were the coloured blocks (which he loved to knock over) and the little broomstick. His chief fascination however, was his grandfather's long beard. He pulled it to examine it more closely making Albus wince and Severus chuckle.
After lunch Dumbledore left for Diagon Ally. He had ordered some new robes from Madam Milkin's and wanted to collect them. Harry was sleeping peacefully, tired from his previous exuberance.
"I think I'll sleep as well," Severus decided, "Who knew looking after young children would be so much work?" He lay down next to his son and fell into a deep sleep.
When Harry awoke it was very quiet. He looked around the room and saw that his Daddy was asleep. He tried poking him a couple of times to wake him but to no avail. The man just sighed and turned over in his sleep.
Harry was bored. He wanted to play. Taking another look around he spotted something very interesting. The bedroom door was open. He wanted to go out and Daddy was sleeping so.
On descent from the bed Harry quickly realised that he could crawl. Armed with this exciting knowledge he moved quickly into the sitting room. He saw his grandfather's rocking chair and the lunch table at the other end of the room. He saw that this door too was open. Passing through it he found himself in a very interesting room. It was circular and full of very pretty glass toys. He heard some noises above him and glancing up he saw lots of men and women sleeping in picture frames. Once again, n open door at the other side of the room intrigued him and he crawled towards it.
This time he found himself on a set of stairs and they were moving around and down. He clapped and laughed to himself in excitement.
"Fy Fy!" he giggled likening the motion to that of the toy broom he loved.
The stone gargoyle sprang aside as he reached the bottom of the stairs and let the boy pass through.
Now he was in a long corridor with high windows. The sun streamed through them lighting up the ground below. He crawled quickly down the deserted hall and took the direction of the dungeons where his father used to reside.
Harry heard a "Meaow" in the distance. He knew that noise. It was a cat and he liked cats. He moved more quickly and suddenly a thin grey cat with lamp- like eyes appeared in front of him.
"Kitty!" he shrieked happily and grabbed he up in his arms. The cat yowled in outrage.
*******
Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore returned to his rooms. He had left Diagon Ally in rather a hurry due to a nagging feeling of uncertainty that he had not been able to shake off. He was very surprised to find his office door open and moreso the connecting doors to his rooms. He had warned Severus about that before. He did not want Peeves running amok in his quarters. Moving through his rooms he found that the bedroom door was also open. He saw his son sleeping soundly in the bed and no sign of his grandson.
Not one to panic he carefully searched the room for the child. Harry may be hiding, he thought.
"Harry," he called softly, "Where are you Fireling? Come out and see what Grandpa brought home for you."
Receiving no response he went to his son and shook his shoulder.
"Child? Wake up!" he called. Severus opened his eyes and looked at his father in confusion.
"Father," he said groggily, "Harry and I were just having a rest.
"Harry is gone Severus." said Albus in a more worried tone than he had intended.
Severus shot up in the bed as if an electric current had passed through him.
"WHAT?" he exclaimed, "Where could he go?" He spotted the open doors.
"Oh no." he moaned.
They searched the tower for Harry and when that proved fruitless they moved down to the corridor below.
"Severus go and check the Entrence Hall and the Great Hall. I hope the front doors are not open but if they are you'll have to search the grounds. Get some house-elves to help you."
With that he hurried off in the direction of the dungeons. Rounding the second corridor he heard a voice shout "Potter!"
*******
The Hogwarts caretaker, Argus Filch, was not in a good mood; of course he rarely was unless he had just found another reason for Dumbledore to rid the school of his archenemy Peeves the poltergeist. On this occasion however, Filch was in a particularly bad mood. He had just cleaned the school until it was spotless and now those little brats (students) would be coming back to mess it up again.
"The best type of school is one with no rotten kids." he thought sourly.
Even though he was approaching the second floor he heard the yowl of his beloved pet Mrs Norris. He had always used his sharp hearing to full advantage.
"Ruddy Peeves again!" he thought angrily, "When will Dumbledore throw him out?"
Running back down to the floor below he wheezed, "I'm coming my sweet!"
*******
Harry had just received the shock of his life; he had picked up the nice kitty and pulled her tail to see what it was for when she shot out a paw and scratched his hand, yowling in fury. Whimpering, Harry quickly let go of her. The cat hissed and ran to her master who was coming around the corner. Filch snatched her up in his arms and saw Harry sitting on the ground.
"Potter!" he shouted, "How DARE you attack my cat! I know you tried to kill her before. I'll tell the Headmaster about this."
"Argus," came a sharp voice and he looked up to see Professor Dumbledore approaching.
"Professor," he began angrily, "Potter has attacked my cat again. He should be punished."
"Harry did not attack your cat the last time. He is unwell at present and not aware of what he is doing. I am sure he did not intend to hurt Mrs Norris."
He looked down at his grandson who had pressed himself against the wall and put his arms over his head in a gesture of complete fright.
"We will discuss this later Argus if you wish," he said tersely, "Perhaps you would return to whatever you were doing in the meantime."
Filch stormed off with his cat in his arms muttering furiously under his breath.
*******
The shock of Mrs Norris's attack was nothing to the shock of hearing a loud voice shouting "Potter!"
"Man cross again," he thought as images of a purple-faced Vernon Dursley filled his mind.
"How DARE you attack my cat!" Harry didn't understand the words but the tone terrified him. He pulled his knees up to his chest and covered his head, expecting blows to rain down on him.
Suddenly he heard a new voice, one that he recognised. He was too afraid to look up but he could hear the sound of footsteps leaving. The new voice was closer to him now, talking softly and it lessened his fears.
*******
Albus was more than a little concerned when his grandson curled up in fright. He had seen this reaction before in his Severus and he knew it to be the sign of an abused child. He wasted no time in getting rid of Filch. Perhaps he had been a little sharp but at that moment, he did not really care.
Kneeling down in front of Harry he tried to coax the boy out of his ball.
"Harry? It's Grandpa. No need to be afraid now. No one is going to hurt you. I promise child."
Eventually Harry looked up, his eyes shining with tears. He saw his Grandpa and crawled towards him. Albus gathered him up and held him tightly as he comforted him.
"Sshhh. It's all right now my baby bird. You are safe. I'm here. I'm here." Albus crooned as he rocked and petted his distraught grandson.
When Harry had calmed a little the Headmaster summonsed Dobby and told him to find Severus and tell him that Harry was safe. That done he used a slight levitation spell to lift the boy and brought him up to his tower. As he walked, he murmured comforting nonsense in his ear to keep him calm.
Settling down on a comfy couch by the fire he examined Harry. He was concerned that the boy's little escapade had depleted his energy. Harry did indeed look exhausted and had a nasty scratch on his right hand. Dumbledore conjured a damp cloth to clean the cut.
There now, all finished," he said gently, "She gave you a nasty scratch didn't she? Most people don't try to pick her up you know." The headmaster's eyes twinkled and he kissed Harry on the forehead. The child buried his face in his grandfather's robes. Albus rocked him and he put his thumb in his mouth and closed his eyes. He was almost asleep when:
"HARRY!" Severus ran into the room and almost bounded over to them .It was strange to see the normally calm and composed Potions Master in such a panic.
"Severus calm down," said Albus softly, "Harry is fine I assure you but you'll frighten him."
The younger wizard took a few minutes to calm himself while Albus rocked Harry in an effort to keep him relaxed. Severus then reached out to stroke his son's cheek. The child looked sleepily at him.
"Dada." He murmured. The headmaster told Severus to sit beside him and he handed him his grandson. Harry soon fell asleep cradled in his father's arms.
"Where was he?" Severus finally asked his father.
"Just above the dungeons," answered Albus, "I think he wanted to play with Mrs Norris. She was not amused by all accounts and nor was our caretaker."
He relayed Filch's reaction and Severus looked outraged.
"Wait until I see him." He snarled in an uncanny return to his former sour self. Harry whimpered and he tamped his anger down, hushing his child softly.
"I think I'll deal with Mr Filch Iceling," said Albus calmly, "I don't want to find bits of him in glass jars in your office." His eyes twinkled.
That thought made Severus chuckle.
Harry woke at dinnertime and let his father feed him. Afterwards they gave him a soothing bath and he smiled angelically at them.
"You weren't so innocent this afternoon Fire Child," Severus mock-scolded as he dressed his son for bed, "Going off like that. I'll have to keep a closer eye on you."
"Yeah." said Harry as he leaned his head on his father's shoulder.
Albus could only laugh at the look of shock on his son's face. No, the Sorting Hat never did make mistakes.
A/N: One final scene to go. Thanks for all reviews
Chapter 4
By the next day Harry was feeling much more energetic and like all young children he wanted to explore. Albus and Severus found that they had to childproof the bedroom after Harry had tried to drink a bottle of the Draught of Peace that Severus had mistakenly left on a table by the window. At that stage however, both father and grandfather would not have minded something to calm the rambunctious child down. Seri had instructed them to keep him in bed as much as possible but this was extremely difficult.
Seri and Kit called in to see Harry around midday.
"Don't give him any more of that Kitiara," commanded Severus, "He'll be swinging from the lights."
Kit just laughed and gave Harry his cup of energy potion. He looked up at her and smiled innocently.
"You wouldn't do that would you?" she cooed at him.
Severus and Albus looked at each other knowingly.
"You'll have to keep a careful eye on him," warned the golden haired Healer once she had completed her scan, "He is beginning to recover and is a lot more aware of his surroundings. He'll want to investigate. That is why nothing should be left lying around that he should not have."
Here she gave the Potions Master a reproving look and he felt suitably chastised.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he is feeling more normal tomorrow," remarked Kit, "His levels have risen dramatically. That doesn't mean he shouldn't rest though." she finished.
When the twins left Severus and Albus played with Harry. His favourite toys were the coloured blocks (which he loved to knock over) and the little broomstick. His chief fascination however, was his grandfather's long beard. He pulled it to examine it more closely making Albus wince and Severus chuckle.
After lunch Dumbledore left for Diagon Ally. He had ordered some new robes from Madam Milkin's and wanted to collect them. Harry was sleeping peacefully, tired from his previous exuberance.
"I think I'll sleep as well," Severus decided, "Who knew looking after young children would be so much work?" He lay down next to his son and fell into a deep sleep.
When Harry awoke it was very quiet. He looked around the room and saw that his Daddy was asleep. He tried poking him a couple of times to wake him but to no avail. The man just sighed and turned over in his sleep.
Harry was bored. He wanted to play. Taking another look around he spotted something very interesting. The bedroom door was open. He wanted to go out and Daddy was sleeping so.
On descent from the bed Harry quickly realised that he could crawl. Armed with this exciting knowledge he moved quickly into the sitting room. He saw his grandfather's rocking chair and the lunch table at the other end of the room. He saw that this door too was open. Passing through it he found himself in a very interesting room. It was circular and full of very pretty glass toys. He heard some noises above him and glancing up he saw lots of men and women sleeping in picture frames. Once again, n open door at the other side of the room intrigued him and he crawled towards it.
This time he found himself on a set of stairs and they were moving around and down. He clapped and laughed to himself in excitement.
"Fy Fy!" he giggled likening the motion to that of the toy broom he loved.
The stone gargoyle sprang aside as he reached the bottom of the stairs and let the boy pass through.
Now he was in a long corridor with high windows. The sun streamed through them lighting up the ground below. He crawled quickly down the deserted hall and took the direction of the dungeons where his father used to reside.
Harry heard a "Meaow" in the distance. He knew that noise. It was a cat and he liked cats. He moved more quickly and suddenly a thin grey cat with lamp- like eyes appeared in front of him.
"Kitty!" he shrieked happily and grabbed he up in his arms. The cat yowled in outrage.
*******
Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore returned to his rooms. He had left Diagon Ally in rather a hurry due to a nagging feeling of uncertainty that he had not been able to shake off. He was very surprised to find his office door open and moreso the connecting doors to his rooms. He had warned Severus about that before. He did not want Peeves running amok in his quarters. Moving through his rooms he found that the bedroom door was also open. He saw his son sleeping soundly in the bed and no sign of his grandson.
Not one to panic he carefully searched the room for the child. Harry may be hiding, he thought.
"Harry," he called softly, "Where are you Fireling? Come out and see what Grandpa brought home for you."
Receiving no response he went to his son and shook his shoulder.
"Child? Wake up!" he called. Severus opened his eyes and looked at his father in confusion.
"Father," he said groggily, "Harry and I were just having a rest.
"Harry is gone Severus." said Albus in a more worried tone than he had intended.
Severus shot up in the bed as if an electric current had passed through him.
"WHAT?" he exclaimed, "Where could he go?" He spotted the open doors.
"Oh no." he moaned.
They searched the tower for Harry and when that proved fruitless they moved down to the corridor below.
"Severus go and check the Entrence Hall and the Great Hall. I hope the front doors are not open but if they are you'll have to search the grounds. Get some house-elves to help you."
With that he hurried off in the direction of the dungeons. Rounding the second corridor he heard a voice shout "Potter!"
*******
The Hogwarts caretaker, Argus Filch, was not in a good mood; of course he rarely was unless he had just found another reason for Dumbledore to rid the school of his archenemy Peeves the poltergeist. On this occasion however, Filch was in a particularly bad mood. He had just cleaned the school until it was spotless and now those little brats (students) would be coming back to mess it up again.
"The best type of school is one with no rotten kids." he thought sourly.
Even though he was approaching the second floor he heard the yowl of his beloved pet Mrs Norris. He had always used his sharp hearing to full advantage.
"Ruddy Peeves again!" he thought angrily, "When will Dumbledore throw him out?"
Running back down to the floor below he wheezed, "I'm coming my sweet!"
*******
Harry had just received the shock of his life; he had picked up the nice kitty and pulled her tail to see what it was for when she shot out a paw and scratched his hand, yowling in fury. Whimpering, Harry quickly let go of her. The cat hissed and ran to her master who was coming around the corner. Filch snatched her up in his arms and saw Harry sitting on the ground.
"Potter!" he shouted, "How DARE you attack my cat! I know you tried to kill her before. I'll tell the Headmaster about this."
"Argus," came a sharp voice and he looked up to see Professor Dumbledore approaching.
"Professor," he began angrily, "Potter has attacked my cat again. He should be punished."
"Harry did not attack your cat the last time. He is unwell at present and not aware of what he is doing. I am sure he did not intend to hurt Mrs Norris."
He looked down at his grandson who had pressed himself against the wall and put his arms over his head in a gesture of complete fright.
"We will discuss this later Argus if you wish," he said tersely, "Perhaps you would return to whatever you were doing in the meantime."
Filch stormed off with his cat in his arms muttering furiously under his breath.
*******
The shock of Mrs Norris's attack was nothing to the shock of hearing a loud voice shouting "Potter!"
"Man cross again," he thought as images of a purple-faced Vernon Dursley filled his mind.
"How DARE you attack my cat!" Harry didn't understand the words but the tone terrified him. He pulled his knees up to his chest and covered his head, expecting blows to rain down on him.
Suddenly he heard a new voice, one that he recognised. He was too afraid to look up but he could hear the sound of footsteps leaving. The new voice was closer to him now, talking softly and it lessened his fears.
*******
Albus was more than a little concerned when his grandson curled up in fright. He had seen this reaction before in his Severus and he knew it to be the sign of an abused child. He wasted no time in getting rid of Filch. Perhaps he had been a little sharp but at that moment, he did not really care.
Kneeling down in front of Harry he tried to coax the boy out of his ball.
"Harry? It's Grandpa. No need to be afraid now. No one is going to hurt you. I promise child."
Eventually Harry looked up, his eyes shining with tears. He saw his Grandpa and crawled towards him. Albus gathered him up and held him tightly as he comforted him.
"Sshhh. It's all right now my baby bird. You are safe. I'm here. I'm here." Albus crooned as he rocked and petted his distraught grandson.
When Harry had calmed a little the Headmaster summonsed Dobby and told him to find Severus and tell him that Harry was safe. That done he used a slight levitation spell to lift the boy and brought him up to his tower. As he walked, he murmured comforting nonsense in his ear to keep him calm.
Settling down on a comfy couch by the fire he examined Harry. He was concerned that the boy's little escapade had depleted his energy. Harry did indeed look exhausted and had a nasty scratch on his right hand. Dumbledore conjured a damp cloth to clean the cut.
There now, all finished," he said gently, "She gave you a nasty scratch didn't she? Most people don't try to pick her up you know." The headmaster's eyes twinkled and he kissed Harry on the forehead. The child buried his face in his grandfather's robes. Albus rocked him and he put his thumb in his mouth and closed his eyes. He was almost asleep when:
"HARRY!" Severus ran into the room and almost bounded over to them .It was strange to see the normally calm and composed Potions Master in such a panic.
"Severus calm down," said Albus softly, "Harry is fine I assure you but you'll frighten him."
The younger wizard took a few minutes to calm himself while Albus rocked Harry in an effort to keep him relaxed. Severus then reached out to stroke his son's cheek. The child looked sleepily at him.
"Dada." He murmured. The headmaster told Severus to sit beside him and he handed him his grandson. Harry soon fell asleep cradled in his father's arms.
"Where was he?" Severus finally asked his father.
"Just above the dungeons," answered Albus, "I think he wanted to play with Mrs Norris. She was not amused by all accounts and nor was our caretaker."
He relayed Filch's reaction and Severus looked outraged.
"Wait until I see him." He snarled in an uncanny return to his former sour self. Harry whimpered and he tamped his anger down, hushing his child softly.
"I think I'll deal with Mr Filch Iceling," said Albus calmly, "I don't want to find bits of him in glass jars in your office." His eyes twinkled.
That thought made Severus chuckle.
Harry woke at dinnertime and let his father feed him. Afterwards they gave him a soothing bath and he smiled angelically at them.
"You weren't so innocent this afternoon Fire Child," Severus mock-scolded as he dressed his son for bed, "Going off like that. I'll have to keep a closer eye on you."
"Yeah." said Harry as he leaned his head on his father's shoulder.
Albus could only laugh at the look of shock on his son's face. No, the Sorting Hat never did make mistakes.
A/N: One final scene to go. Thanks for all reviews