(Chapter dedicated to ~*Dumbledore's True Love*~ who writes amazing stories and yet reads mine!!!!)
Dumbledore followed Snape with a heavy air of anxiety. As he hurried across the lawns he admitted to himself that he hadn't thought of Hagrid in all that had happened.
They slowed when they reached the forest but carried on, hurrying through the dark undergrowth, dodging the trees and trying to watch out for the terrible things that lurk in the darkness.
When they eventually arrived at the place where Hagrid had been found, Dumbledore allowed Snape to make his way back to the castle. He could see why the man had been so reluctant to come back. If they had thought that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were going to stick to Avada Kedavra killings they were wrong.
It was hard to see Rubeus Hagrid, who had always been so full of life, staring blankly back at him, but Dumbledore managed to compose himself and do what he had to do.
"He will be missed you know."
The voice would have shocked most people, but Dumbledore simply nodded.
"You're quite right, and by many more people than I think he ever knew." He replied.
He turned to face the centaur.
"How many did you loose Firenze?" He asked gently.
The Palomino scratched at the ground with a hoof before replying.
"We were fortunate, fate it seems gave her good graces to most. Our good friends Bane and Creole however are no-longer with us."
"I am sorry." Said Dumbledore in respect.
"How is the furnace?" Said Firenze, his pale eyes glowing brightly.
"He is injured, and tired, his memory can be recovered, but I fear that he has suffered much." Said Dumbledore sadly.
"In what way injured my friend?" Inquired Firenze curiously.
"He has been paralysed by a stab wound to the lower back, we were unable to heal it." Said Dumbledore looking Firenze in the eye.
"Bring him here and we will help him. You know, do you not, of skilled healers in our ranks."
"You would heal him?" Said Dumbledore, fresh hope helping to ease the grief that had seemed so heavy in the air.
"Yes, of course. Harry Potter defended the school and thus our home. We would be happy to do what we can for him in return." Said Firenze bowing his head. "If you would excuse me."
Dumbledore nodded smiling slightly. And the magnificent creature galloped away.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Arabella Figg had so far avoided going to see Harry. She wasn't sure whether or not she would be able to handle it. Besides, it seemed the poor boy had enough people crowding around him to last a lifetime. But when she overheard Molly Weasley telling Fred and George that he was asleep she couldn't resist going to the Hospital Wing to have a quick look at him and re-assure herself.
As she opened the door she smiled widely. Harry was sleeping peacefully and beside him, looking just as tranquil was Ginny Weasley.
She was about to leave when Ginny stirred awake.
Glancing around groggily the girl's eyes fell on Arabella and she smiled.
Figg smiled back and inevitably found herself sitting next to Ginny by Harry's side very quickly.
"What's it mean to you being Harry's guardian?" Asked Ginny eventually.
Arabella smiled.
"It's always been very important to me. I used to live just down the road to keep an eye on him. But I could never tell him who I was. It's often been hard. The night his parents died I thought for the longest time that I'd never be able to do what I had to do to protect him. I missed James and Lily awfully, but being a guardian is something that takes priority, it's an inherent thing, you can't help but do what you have to do."
She smiled at Harry before turning back to Ginny who was sitting pensively.
"It's strange isn't it? We can see him, and we know he's back, but I still haven't felt him. It's almost as if he's still missing." Said Ginny with a frown.
Arabella studied the girl in surprise. She had just described perfectly the thing that had really been keeping Arabella away from the Hospital Wing.
"Yes. It must be an effect of the Anillia Equanimia." She replied softly.
The two of them locked gazes and a moment of understanding passed between them.
"I'm glad I had someone to talk to about this. Someone who understood." Said Ginny blushing.
"I'm glad too. You know you can ask me anything you like Ginny. I may be your teacher but that doesn't mean we can't be friends."
Ginny nodded and smiled.
"Thankyou Professor. I'd better get to Gryffindor Tower."
"Of course. Goodnight Ginny."
"Goodnight."
~~~*~~~*~~~
Voldemort was pleased with the looks of terror on his Death Eaters' faces. Every single one of them seemed to have been shaken by the emergence of the wandless magic. The dark lord smirked as McNair cowered in the doorway unwilling to enter further.
"Come here McNair!" Commanded Voldemort an evil grin plastered across his face.
"You will do something for me."
"Yes my lord."
"There is a certain person in the ministry who I believe was doing some work for Fletcher, is there not." Said Voldemort, spitting out the traitor's name venomously.
"Y-Yes Lord." Stuttered McNair
"You will have the honour of delivering him to me."
"Thankyou Lord." Mumbled the Death Eater dropping to his knees and kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"Go!" Screeched Voldemort delighting in McNair's jump of fright and watching him almost run from the room.
"Even if Lucius' son fails, I will find away to get my vengeance." He muttered to himself an insane glint in his eyes, which scoured the room for more Death Eaters to prey upon.
"Ah, Goyle. I see that you find dirty floors acceptable. Well, they may be appropriate for a primate like you, but is your master not worthy of better? Crucio!"
~~~*~~~*~~~
The Gryffindor Chamber had become a scene of chaos. The Hogwarts staff were desperately trying to regain some sense of order but most people wanted to know where Snape had taken Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall was having a hard time convincing them all to stay put.
When Snape re-appeared without the headmaster the chamber reached fever pitch.
The still shaky Professor was bombarded with questions and completely engulfed by the crowd. He seemed unable to say a word whilst surrounded by the members of the Order of the Phoenix who were behaving more like members of the paparazzi.
McGonagall looked around desperately and spotted Sirius and Lupin in the corner talking between themselves.
"Sirius, Remus, come here a moment." She implored, calling over the din.
"What is it Minerva?" Asked Remus.
"Will you two please take Severus through to the other room to give him some space. And do try and find out what's happened." She said looking towards Snape. She looked each in the eye when she added. "Politely of course."
"Of course." Replied Sirius trying to put on a sensible face.
Remus and Sirius managed to fight their way through the crowd and drag Snape through the door to a small office and away from everyone else who they heard McGonagall addressing as if they were students.
Snape remained silent. He didn't even scowl at them. Then, suddenly he spoke.
"How is Harry?" He asked quietly.
Sirius was about to demand why but Remus responded quicker seeing the genuine worry in Snape's face.
"I'm sure he'll be fine soon." He said quickly.
"You're lying Lupin. How is he really?" Said Snape with a frown.
"He's still paralysed Snape… And from what I heard from Arthur Weasley we have you to thank for that." Said Sirius angrily clenching his fists.
To his utmost surprise Snape hung his head and muttered.
"I'm sorry, but I had no other choice."
Sirius was stunned and backed away slightly glancing at Remus.
"Why don't you go back to your room Severus? I think you could use some rest." Said Lupin kindly.
"Since when did you care werewolf?" Said Snape suddenly becoming hostile.
"Why did you bring me in here anyway? To interrogate me?!"
Remus backed away as well, as Snape's head shot up, his face full of mistrust, malice and a little of something that looked like fear.
"Okay look, we're going to leave now. Just take it easy." Said Remus grabbing Sirius' arm and going for the door.
As they walked away Sirius was almost sure he heard Snape choke down a sob and it made him feel very strange knowing that the man he'd thought of as a total enemy for so long could actually care about anything but himself.
~~~*~~~*~~~
When the two friends returned to the Chamber there was complete silence and many people were crying.
Arthur Weasley approached them, his face slightly pale. "Did Snape tell you what happened?" He asked quietly.
They shook their heads.
"Rubeus Hagrid has been murdered by Voldemort." Said Arthur shaking his head sadly.
Sirius and Remus looked at each other in horrified shock.
The three eventually rejoined the rest of the Order and listened to Dumbledore speak.
"It is time for action. I feel that Voldemort will not be willing to wait long before he tries again to boost his damaged ego. We must help Harry so that we can focus on protecting ourselves and aid the Ministry. I few do not act quickly we will not be able to stem Voldemort's rise in power."
Several heads around the hall nodded and Dumbledore stepped down off the platform going over to Sirius and Remus.
"Is Severus alright?" He asked
"Not really, he seemed pretty hysterical." Said Remus.
"Okay, I'll get Madame Pomfrey to see what she can do to help him. Right, well, I've had some good news. It seems that there is a way we can heal Harry's back after all. You know of the aptitude of some centaurs in the field of magical healing? Well, It appears that the centaurs here at Hogwarts are willing to help us."
"That's a relief." Said Sirius with a sigh.
"Will you and Remus accompany me to fetch Harry please? We need to bring him here to perform the memory restoring charm."
"Certainly." Said Remus and the three of them set off for the Hospital Wing.
~~~*~~~*~~~
When Harry woke up he found that he knew the person sitting next to him.
"Professor Figg!" He said in surprise.
"Hello Harry. Good sleep?"
"I think so. Is there any food about, it's just I feel as though I haven't eaten in weeks." Said Harry as the smell of soup made his stomach ache for food.
Arabella took in Harry's extraordinarily thin frame and the hungry look in his eyes and realised that he probably hadn't eaten properly since he'd left Hogwarts weeks ago.
She took the extra bowl of soup that Inigma hadn't touched and gave it to him.
Harry took the spoon and sipped the warm soup slowly. At first it just made him want to throw up, but after some gentle coaxing from Arabella he found himself looking at an empty bowl and feeling slightly better.
He was just starting to wonder where the kind old man was when the very man came through the door.
"Dumbledore!" Exclaimed Arabella.
Harry started… the old man was Dumbledore. That simple fact seemed to resound with truth and he found his mind starting to form a faint memory, those blue eyes. So penetrating, and yet, almost always cheerful.
When Dumbledore started to speak to him Harry was jolted from his thoughts.
He hadn't caught a word, looking up at the old wizard he smiled slightly.
"Professor Dumbledore. I'm sorry, could you repeat that please?"
Dumbledore regarded him with a pleased smile.
"Certainly Harry. We would like to make it easier for you to remember everything, we want to perform a charm on you to help." He said calmly.
"I would appreciate it. I hate not being able to recognise all the people who are doing so much to help me." Said Harry trying to pull himself up with his arms to sit properly.
Sirius was wide-eyed as he looked over at Remus who was also smiling.
"He's so… so…"
"So like his parents?" Suggested Remus at a whisper
"No! Well, yes, but, he's like they were when they were grown up." Said Sirius still looking a little shell-shocked.
"He's always had to be mature for his age. They would be so proud Padfoot." Said Remus sadly."
"James would be mortified. His son more mature than him!" Whispered Sirius, grinning.
Sirius and Remus carried Harry between them, which was easier than it should have been due to Harry's lost weight.
Dumbledore and Arabella went with them and soon they were back in the Gryffindor Chamber.
Harry was looking around himself in shock.
"Are all these people I know?" He asked faintly.
"I think so." Said Remus grinning.
"They're all here to help you anyway." Said Sirius proudly.
Harry nodded, still a bit wide-eyed.
Dumbledore arranged everyone so that Harry was sat on a chair with everyone in a circle around him. He seemed a bit reluctant to be so literally the centre of attention but Dumbledore insisted that they had to do it this way for the spell to work and Harry quickly agreed and made do with fixing his eyes on the floor and blushing slightly.
Once everyone was in place Dumbledore began the incantation.
He repeated the words "Reminisia Restora." Whilst the members of the Order of the Phoenix cast the spell with their wands.
There was an enormous flash of blue light.
Harry closed his eyes and felt the charm hit him like a splash of cold water, which instantly awoke his mind. He felt his memories rushing back to him if anything he could recall most things clearer than before. It was not all pleasant though. Although he was immensely relieved to know who he was, he now could no longer avoid memories that he'd rather not have re-lived.
Not only was his most recent captivity was brought back to him in excruciating detail, but he also found memories of his past encounters with Voldemort thrust upon him yet again.
Harry was about to break down when he thought of something else… An even older memory… A memory he'd never have remembered had he not gone through the spell... The memory of his first and only birthday with his parents. It was only a moment that stuck in his mind but he clung to it as the memories rushed through his head. He was sitting on his father's lap whilst his mother took a photo of them together.
Suddenly the flood of returning memories stopped and Harry opened his eyes, blinking and swaying slightly in his chair. One person rushed forward to help him. And it was the person he most wanted to see at that moment…
"Sirius!" He cried.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
Wow!!!! That's got to be the longest chapter I've written! *Gives herself a pat on the back*
Well, I hope you're all happy to know that Harry has his memory back, although if I were Harry I'd probably have asked for a different one. And there is at last a hope that he might not need a wheelchair… *cheers*
Anywasy
Hope that you all enjoyed it.
Thankyou so much to all who managed to review the last couple of posts I've done whilst ff.net has been being modified. I appreciated it! I''m sorry you've had to wait so long for this. I can't seem to write fast enough!
Love
Jona
xxx