Chapter 10 Virus at Hogwarts
The things between Gryffindor and Slytherin weren't very good after the match. To avoid fight and arguments, Harry ordered to all the members of Lion's House to not tease them about the match. He wanted to keep the possible friendships that had begun to appear between members of both Houses, and if there were fights, it wouldn't work.
"Good game and tactics." Said Malfoy to Harry one day when both of them were talking without disturbance. These meetings had begun to happen after the truce between both of the enemies.
"Thanks, we played using the same tactics that you." Laughed Harry to the blonde Slytherin while both of them watched the lake.
"It worked better for you than for us!" Laughed Draco with a smile throwing a stone to it.
"Yeah, we had as former Captain someone who had in mind nothing else than Quidditch and taught us that to win the games against you. We had to be the fiercest in the Pitch!" Said Harry with an innocent look.
"Wood and Flint were completely mad about Quidditch!" Said Draco with a groan.
"And they hated each other!" Groaned the Gryffindor with a laugh.
"Do you really think that there is hope to finish the hate between our Houses?" Asked Malfoy suddenly with a doubtful look.
"I won't lose the hope, Malfoy. If I can work with Snape and make a truce with you, everything can happen in this world." Answered Harry with a hopeful tone of voice.
"I hope so." Said Draco before he stood and went to his Common Room while Harry did the same to his.
When the rumor of a possible truce between both of them began to spread in the School, the things turned to better. If two of the worst enemies in the whole history of Hogwarts could make a truce, why not the two Houses that most hated between themselves?
****
"What is that?" Asked McGonagall to her Godson pointing to his ear, after the Thursday's class of Transfiguration, a week later of the match.
"What? This?" Asked Harry innocently showing her the earring that he had bought before Halloween.
"Yes, that!" Said Minerva, not looking very happy with the earring of Harry. Neither her nor Sirius had noticed it yet.
"Oh, I began to use it before Halloween. It took you a lot of time to see it. Professor Dumbledore saw it in the meeting after the attack." Said Harry with a groan remembering that meeting. The relations between the MNG and some of the members of the Council were still hard and he was sure that it would continue like that for a time.
"May I ask the reason of wearing an earring?" Asked Minerva shocked with the fact that she hadn't noticed it in almost three weeks.
"I liked the idea. So I decided to wear it. What's wrong with it?" Asked Harry with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You are out of my control, do you know that?" Said Minerva with a sigh.
"Yeah, but you love me with or without your control over me!" Laughed Harry with an innocent smile.
"It's true." Smiled Minerva before she asked: "What does Sirius think of this?"
"Like you, he hasn't noticed it yet!" Laughed Harry before he went with McGonagall to the Great Hall for lunch.
"Why are you in a rebel position this year?" Asked Minerva with a stern look.
"I'm tired of everyone controlling my life. I'm tired of living the consequences of other people's mistakes. From this summer, I've decided to live with my own mistakes and no one else's. That's why I behave like this and I'm so rebel like you said." Said Harry with a serious tone of voice before he sat with his friends to lunch in his House's Table.
Minerva looked shocked and was taken back with his last statement, but she knew that it was true. He had more right than anyone to make his own decisions without the control or following orders from anyone else that him. He had earned it a long time ago, though anyone wanted to realize it. Or, no one wanted to. It was the biggest mistake than they could do with him. She decided to stop trying to make more decision for him and let him be free.
"What's wrong, Minerva?" Asked Albus a little worried to the Head of Gryffindor noticing some shock in her face.
"I've had an interesting chat with Harry a few minutes ago." Said Minerva and retold him the whole chat that she had with her Godson.
"He's right." Said Albus agreeing with Minerva's thoughts and also with the teen's decision. He was guilty of many of the problems that Harry had all the years since his parent's death and couldn't blame him for his new position toward the world.
"I know and no one wanted or couldn't realize it, Albus." Said Minerva with a sad look. The Headmaster nodded with the same kind of look and went on with his lunch, not leaving the sad look in all the time that it lasted.
****
The next week, Dean fell ill suddenly although no one knew what he had or how he had got it. Madame Pomfrey tried with everything but nothing seemed to work. She decided to keep him at the Hospital till she knew the cure for it.
This matter was discussed in the Order's meeting. Many members said that it wasn't a very serious problem, augmenting that maybe it was just a new virus and it would pass quickly.
"I'm not so sure of that." Said Harry in a very serious and worried tone of voice to Dumbledore through the link so no one would listen to him
"Neither do I, Harry. But we can't prove the opposite." Said Dumbledore. In his tone of voice there was some worry and Harry caught it very well. He shared it too. Something inside him, told him that this was something bigger.
"Let's wait till we see what happens." Said Harry with the worry still in him. The Headmaster nodded in agreement.
The meeting went on and it was discussed other problems concerning Voldemort and his attacks. During the last two weeks there had been almost 15 attacks that left more than 100 deaths among Muggles, Squibs and parents of Muggle Born students of Hogwarts.
"Something should be done to raise the spirit among the students. Especially in those ones who lost family. Any suggestion?" Said Albus to the Staff's members and the five students.
"A ball like last year, maybe." Suggested Hermione after thinking a few minutes.
"I agree, but different that the last one. It was too formal." Said Ron with a groan.
"A ball of costumes would be funny." Said Fred with a grin, while Ginny, George and Harry nodded in agreement.
"I agree with it. It's a good idea." Said Minerva after thinking for a few minutes what her students had said.
"It's decided then. On Christmases we will have another ball." Said Dumbledore with a smile happy with the idea.
The meeting continued for almost another hour. Harry was a little tired and didn't pay a lot of attention like he usually did. Dumbledore noticed this, but he didn't say anything to him, although he was the only one who saw it.
"Tired?" Asked with a worried look Albus to the teen after the meeting had finished.
"Worried with this illness. I guess that you noticed my lack of interest, right?" Asked Harry sarcastically knowing that the answer was yes.
"Yeah, I did it. Don't worry that the meeting was some boring also for me." Chuckled the Headmaster with his eyes twinkling in fun.
Harry laughed and ran a hand through his hair letting the earring to be seen. This detail didn't pass unnoticed by many of the members who began to whisper among them about it. Harry ignored them and began to talk with Bill about the fang that he had around the neck.
"Are you planning to wear one too?" Asked Bill amused to the teen.
"I'm doing it just to make them angry." Laughed Harry through the link pointing to the adults, over all to his Godparents. The eldest Weasley laughed and went on talking with him.
"You want to have a fang around the neck now?" Asked Minerva in shock listening the chat between her Godson and her former student.
"Maybe. After all, I have a tattoo in my left shoulder, I wear an earring. So, what's wrong with the fang?" Asked Harry fighting the urge to burst out in laughter with his Godmother's expression.
"I can get you a Dragon's one!" Said Charlie joining the chat. Bill had told him through the link the chat and what Harry was planning to do.
"Cool! It would be great!" Said Harry interested in that idea.
"All of you exasperate me!" Said Minerva angrily before she left the group.
The three bursts out in laughter with McGonagall's expression, and the glares that many others were sending them made the things only worst. It took them 15 minutes to the three to calm down once more.
"That was funny, you know?" Said Ron going where his brothers and best friend were sitting. With him was the other MNG.
"What would we do without teasing the Professors?" Asked Bill with his most innocent smile.
"Die of the bore!" Said the others bursting out in laughter.
"All of you drive me crazy!" Said Minerva shooting a stern and angry look toward the young people.
"Really? I thought that you already were crazy!" Laughed Fred with his most innocent smile sending the group in another fit of uncontrollable laughter.
"Why do I bother arguing with you?" Said Minerva rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"If you get the answer give it to Madame Hooch, she was asking herself the same after our last match!" Laughed Harry causing another fit of laughter.
Minerva shook her head and left them laughing, knowing that they would find any excuse to laugh no matter what she said or did. Besides she found it amusing, though she would never admit it to anyone else.
"Now it's the time of the dog's show!" Laughed Harry to the others through the link seeing to his Godfather going to them with Remus.
"What's the worst show: the cat's with McGonagall or the dog's with Sirius?" Asked Fred using the link with a laugh.
"The dog's!" Answered Harry, Ron and Hermione at the same time with a groan seeing Sirius approaching them.
"Nice to see you, Sirius, hi Moony!" Greeted Harry to both men with a smile. Sirius didn't look very pleased or happy with his earring or the chance of the fang. Remus, in the other hand, found it interesting and very amusing.
"Why are you wearing that thing?" Asked Sirius not in a happy mood to his Godson pointing the earring.
"I like it. What do you think of it, guys?" Asked Harry to his friends with an innocent grin.
"He looks very good with it!" Said Bill with a smile while Charlie nodded in agreement.
"Very attractive too." Said Hermione kissing her boyfriend.
"It's cool!" Said Ron.
"Do you think that mom would be happy if we wear one too, Fred?" Asked George with an evil grin to his twin brother.
"She'll kill you! If she's not happy with my fang and long hair, she'll be furious if you wear an earring!" Warned Bill to his brothers.
"That's what I thought." Said Fred laughing.
"What do you think of it, Remus?" Asked Charlie to the ex DADA teacher.
"He looks good, although it's extravagant." Said the werewolf after thinking a few minutes about it.
"Thanks. Also, I'm planning to dye my hair of green or violet!" Said Harry with a big evil grin.
"YOU DO IT AND I'LL KILL YOU!" Threatened Sirius to Harry sending the whole group in a fit of laughter.
"Don't worry, Padfoot! I'm just kidding!" Said Harry trying to calm his laughter along his friends.
"You better do it!" Said Sirius before he left the group and went to talk with Albus who was amused with everything that had happened between the teens and the adults.
"I'll go to the Tower to sleep. See you soon." Said Harry to Bill, Remus and Charlie before he stood and went to say goodbye to his Godparents and the Headmaster.
"Goodnight." Said all of the though Minerva and Sirius shot him angry and stern looks that the Prefect ignored completely.
The other MNG followed him and all of them went to their room and fell asleep very soon. In Harry's mind something told him that this illness was something big and dangerous. But like Dumbledore had told him, there wasn't way to prove it and that exasperated him.
****
During the next two weeks, another 20 students from different Houses and years fell ill with this new illness. Madame Pomfrey was confused and had asked help to St. Mungo, but they were like her: completely confused and without any answer to this.
"I told you so, Professor. This wasn't something casual or normal." Said Harry to the Headmaster through the link one day on the breakfast.
"I know what you said." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle before he added: "What is this illness, is something that is beyond my knowledge."
"Same here, but I'll bet you my broom and my Prefect's Badge that Tommy is behind this." Said Harry very seriously.
"You don't need to bet it, I think like you." Said Albus in the same tone that the Prefect.
Before any of them could add something else, the mail arrived. Among the owls, there were two black ones that went straight to Harry and Dumbledore dropping two black envelopes. On them, was the Dark Mark on red ink.
"At least he had the consideration to send us some words about this." Said Harry sarcastically to Dumbledore before he opened the envelope and started to read the letter that had been sent to him:
"Dear Harry and Dumbledore,
I'm sure that you've noticed the little illness that is attacking to the students of the School. It's my work as I'm sure that you have suspected. There is only one cure and is in my power.
If you want it, surrender to me or the virus will kill everyone.
Lord Voldemort."
"I told you so. Tommy was behind this." Said Harry to his mentor. The teen was angry and bewildered with this new attack of the Dark Lord and needless to say, to surrender to him was the last thing that he would do in this world.
"This is definitely serious." Said Albus before he called an emergency meeting of the Council's members and canceled the classes of that day.
On the meeting, Harry and the Headmaster showed the letter to everyone. All of them were shocked with this news and began to discuss the matter, all of them talking at the same time no one understanding what the other was saying.
"This meeting reminds me to a group of teen girls in a party. Except that here there is no fun only madness." Said Harry in a sarcastic tone to Dumbledore.
"Nice sense of humor, Harry." Chuckled Albus before he shot sparks from his wand to get the control of the situation once more.
"What can I say? It's the truth." Said Harry through the link with his most innocent smile.
"Enough jokes for now, Harry." Said Albus seriously to Harry before he turned to the others: "Any ideas? Because I won't surrender and I'm sure that Harry neither will do it."
"Let's find the cure." Said Harry while no one said anything after 10 minutes.
"How?" Asked many of them surprised and confused.
"We have medi wizards of St. Mungo here, Professor Snape and Sprout. It can be possible not to find one. Don't care what you say, I'll find it, though I have to work alone." Answered Harry standing and leaving the office in direction of the main gates.
"Where are you going?" Asked Dumbledore to Harry through the link after everyone passed the shock of his words.
"I'll pay a visit to an old friend. He owes me a big favor and it's time for him to pay it." Said Harry going to the Forbidden Forest.
"Firenze?" Asked Dumbledore guessing the old friend that the teen was talking about, seeing where he was going to.
"The same one." Said Harry very seriously before he added: "I'll begin to work with him at the room. I want Sprout, Neville and Hermione there. We'll be one of the teams to find the cure. Is that understood?" This was sent also to Hermione and the teacher.
"I'll take Neville and Professor Sprout there immediately, Harry." Said Hermione listening her boyfriend's words.
"I'll be there as soon as possible with some extra help." Said Harry ending the chat and beginning to look for the Centaurs.
After walking for almost 40 minutes he got tired and decided to change his method of the search. He transformed in the eagle and went on doing it from the air. After a few minutes, he saw Kithet, Firenze's Sister, Ronan and another two Centaurs. He landed and transformed back to his human form in front of them.
"I'm looking for Firenze. Where can I find him?" Asked Harry very urgently to Ronan and Kithet, the only ones that he knew from that group.
"Come with me." Said Ronan, sensing the serious tone of voice that Harry had in his voice.
The young wizard and the Centaur walked in silence for 15 minutes before they reached to an open space where many other Centaurs were. Some eating, other sleeping or chatting. Harry spotted the one that he needed talking with Bane, another one of the Centaurs that he had met.
"Nice to see you again, Harry Potter. What brings you here this time?" Asked Firenze sensing some problems.
"This time it's me who needs your help, old friend. Not a long time ago you told me that the Centaurs would be in debt with me forever for saving you. This is the time to pay a part of it." Said Harry very seriously before he began to explain the whole situation with the virus to the four Centaurs who listened him with interest and worry.
"Let's go." Said Firenze understanding the seriousness of the situation and the reason of the request of the teen.
"Send us the information that you have. We'll try to help from here." Said Bane very seriously while Ronan and Kithet nodded.
"I'll send a House Elf with some written information as fast as I can." Said Harry before he changed into a Panther and began to run to the School with Firenze behind him.
"It's pity that we see each other only for emergencies, Firenze." Said Dumbledore waiting for both of them at the entrance, while Harry changed back to his human form.
"It is, Professor Dumbledore, but now we have a mission here." Said the Centaur while the trio entered in the School.
"Are Hermione and the others already in the room?" Asked Harry to Dumbledore leading the way to the MNG room.
"Yes. Meanwhile, Severus works by his side in the Dungeons and Poppy does the same in the Hospital Wing with the Medi Wizards of St. Mungo." Informed Albus while they passed some students who looked shocked and surprised with the Centaur's presence.
"Write all the information that you have and send it with Dobby to Ronan, Bane or Kithet. They are Centaurs and will give us a hand too." Said Harry before he turned to the lion, tapped it with his wand putting it to sleep and said: "Chaos Breaker."
The three entered and found to Sprout and Neville looking around the room with amazement, while Hermione explained them a few things about it. When they saw to Harry and the others, stopped it and turned the attention to the persons that had just entered in the room.
"Professor Sprout, Neville, this is Firenze and will be part of this team. Firenze, these are Neville Longbottom and Professor Sprout of Herbology." Presented Harry to Neville and Sprout to Firenze and vice versa.
"Did you explain the whole situation to Neville?" Asked Harry to Hermione and Dumbledore.
"We just finished doing it." Said the Headmaster while Hermione and Sprout nodded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't need to explain the graveness of this situation. Our mission is easy: find a cure. We'll work with plants. At this moment, Professor Snape does the same with Potions and Pomfrey with charms I'll guess." Said Harry to the others who listened intently.
"Neville and Professor Sprout, you two are the best persons working with the plants that I know. Firenze, your raze is known by their knowledge in medicine, that will be your part. Hermione and me will help in everything needed." Explained the teen to the four persons.
"Professor Dumbledore the link will be closed to everyone except you. Don't use it till it's really necessary or that we contact you." Finished Harry this time talking to the Headmaster.
"Very well, I'll leave you alone to start with your work without disturbance." Said Dumbledore seriously leaving the room to let them work.
"Let's start people. We'll use mice to try the possible cures. They'll have the same symptoms that the other ills. Everything that comes to your mind, no matter if it's the most obvious or the most stupid and crazy idea, tell it to the others. We'll test everything. This is a race against the time that we have to win." Said Harry with his most serious tone of voice before all of them began to work.
****
For the next two days, the five members of the team, didn't leave the room except only for going to the bathroom. To sleep, they did it by turns of four hours in the beds that there were in the room. The other teams, Snape, Pomfrey and the Centaurs, were working like them: without rest. Like Harry had said, it was a race against time and they couldn't lose it.
The ill students had become more and more ill and though none of them had died yet, everyone knew that it could happen at any moment.
During the third night of the work, Harry, Hermione and Neville were trying to find something new. Firenze and Sprout were the ones that had taken the turn to rest for a while. A look at his watch, told Harry that it was almost 4.30 in the morning. His turn of sleep would begin at 8.00 when the other two woke up to take the place of him and Neville.
"Anything new?" Asked Neville to Hermione who was trying a new mix.
"Nothing. I feel frustrated with all this, guys." Said the girl sitting for a moment and rubbing her eyes.
"Same here, Hermione." Said Harry and Neville at the same time yawning.
"What is this place, guys?" Asked Neville to his year mates looking around the room with the same amazement that he had in the moment that he entered two days ago.
"Our secret rooms. We built it with Ron and the twins in September." Said Harry while he began to mix a leaf of Luparia, another one of Muggle tea, a little of Mandragoras juice and a few other things. He wasn't thinking in what he was doing. He was just taking a shot in the darkness.
"Try number what, Hermione?" Asked Neville to Hermione watching Harry beginning to give the new mix to a mouse.
"I lost the count after the fiftieth." Answered Hermione with a tired look.
"Guys, watch this." Said Harry suddenly showing them the mice. The green color that showed the symptom was beginning to fade and disappear slowly till it was gone in matter of five minutes.
"What mix did you do?" Asked Neville watching the mice with amazement, while Hermione looked at it with a big smile of relief.
"This one, the most crazy and stupid one of all that we tried." Laughed Harry showing the paper where they wrote, every mix tried.
"I agree with it!" Said the other two teens after reading the recipe.
"Wake up to Sprout and Firenze. I'll contact Dumbledore." Said Harry to the other, who nodded and went to do it, before he turned his attention to the Headmaster: "Professor Dumbledore, are you there?"
"I'm here, Harry. What's the matter?" Asked Dumbledore with a tired tone of voice by the lack of sleep that he also was suffering.
"We may have an antidote. It worked with one of the mice." Explained Harry to his mentor while Hermione and Neville did the same with Sprout and Firenze who was looking at them with a shocked face.
"I'll be there immediately!" Said Dumbledore finishing the chat and begging his way to the room at top speed.
"What was there in your mind when you tried this?" Asked Sprout to the three teens reading the recipe for the tenth time without believing it.
"It was a shot in the darkness. And maybe it worked." Said Harry with a big grin while Dumbledore entered running in the room and went toward the group. Sprout gave him the recipe and he read it with shock.
"Is this the cure?" Asked Albus with the same shock that was feeling the Head of Hufflepuff and the Centaur after reading the recipe of it.
"Yes and it worked with our little friend." Said Neville showing the mice that Harry had used to try it.
"Let's try with a second one before we do it with the students." Suggested Sprout looking to the animal with shock.
Everyone nodded and Hermione took another mice while Neville gave him a drink of the possible cure. The same effects that had happened in the first one, happened in this one, healing it completely.
"WE HAVE THE CURE!!" Shouted the members of the council through the link while they began to run toward the Hospital Wing.
"What?" Asked Minerva sounding sleepy.
"How?" Asked Remus with the same tone that Minerva.
"When?" Asked many others sounding sleepy and confused too.
"We've found the antidote to the Virus. We are going to the Hospital Wing now!" Said Dumbledore while the whole group entered in the Hospital Wing and gave the recipe to Madame Pomfrey and the Medi Wizards.
"Is this the cure?" Asked all of them, looking at them with doubts of the possible cure and if it really worked.
"Here you have the two examples of the work of it." Said Sprout showing them, the mice used to try it.
Madame Pomfrey didn't look very convinced of that, but she decided to try it with Dean Thomas the first student that had fallen ill with the virus. Everyone in the room waited with their breath baited while Poppy gave the antidote to him. After 10 minutes, the same effects that had happened with the mice begin to occur with the fifth year student.
"What has happened?" Asked Dean looking confused to everyone that watched him in surprise while the medi wizards began to check him and Madame Pomfrey sent everyone out of the room.
"WE DID IT!" Shouted Harry hugging his two year mates who had tears in the eyes, when all of them were outside of the Hospital Wing.
"We did it!" Repeated Neville and Hermione returning the hug to Harry.
"They did it." Said Sprout looking to her three students with a smile of pride.
"Congratulations for the great job done. I'll return to my place. It was a good time to work with you again, Harry Potter. The same for both of you." Said Firenze shaking the hands of the three teens.
"I say the same for you, Firenze." Said Harry with a smile while he went with the Centaur to the door.
"I hope that our next meeting isn't due to another emergency, Harry Potter." Said Firenze when he was at the boards of the Forbidden Forest. It was still dark outside and the Forest looked more terrified than usual.
"I hope so, old friend." Said Harry before he went in again and walked straight to the Hospital Wing where everyone was still speaking.
"Can any of you explain us how you got this cure? Because it would be the last mix that I would have ever done in my life!" Said Pomfrey to the three teens after re reading the recipe along the others for the fiftieth time without believing it.
"I got it in a mix of a shot in the darkness, madness and helpless added to lack of sleep!" Laughed Harry with a big grin.
Everyone burst out in laughter with his words. They needed the laugh after the chaos that had been happening in the School for the last three weeks and the cure was welcomed very well, like also the laughter was.
"I'll go to sleep. My turn to rest would begin in two hours but this time I'll make it last at least a week!" Said Harry to the others with a huge yawn.
"Want to come to sleep to the room with us, Neville? I'm sure that you need the rest as much as both of us!" Said Hermione trying to not fall asleep standing.
"Sure. I'll love it." Said Neville who was in the same state that his two year mates.
"I don't know when I'll see all of you again." Said Harry leading the way of the three students to the MNG's room.
The three students entered in the room and went straight to the beds. None of them bothered in changing their robes. They were pretty tired to do it. They were slept even before their heads touched the pillows.
****
The next morning when everyone went to breakfast, all the students noticed a change in the staff's mood. They had been informed of the crisis and the virus that had been attacking some of the students. Also, they knew about the tries that were being done by different teams to find the cure. When everyone saw the mood, they suspected that the antidote had been found finally. When Dumbledore stood to speak, the whole Hall fell silent and turned their attention to listen the Headmaster's words.
"I'm glad to inform to all of you that the crisis has been surpassed and we've found the cure to the illness. And it has been given to the ill students who are healing in the Hospital Wing right now.
"I'm sure that you've noticed that today there are some people missing besides the ill students: Professors Sprout and Snape along with the students Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. The five of them, who worked on the finding of this antidote, are in these moments getting the rest that they deserve without any doubt. I'm not very sure when they'll join us again, though." Chuckled the Headmaster, earning a few laughs from the students and members of the staff, who were listening him intently.
"Now, you'll find a vase with a liquid strange. This liquid is the antidote. We've decided to give it to all of you to prevent a new epidemic and to heal any of you that have got it and none of us has noticed it yet." Warned Dumbledore in a very serious tone of voice before the said vases appeared and everyone drank them immediately.
"In a happier note, the students that are in the Hospital Wing, should be able to join the activities again tomorrow or the next day after tomorrow. Now, let's eat the breakfast!" Said Albus clapping his hand and the food appeared in that moment in the four tables.
When the food appeared and they began to eat it, all the students began to talk at the same time. The Gryffindors that had nine students between the ills, chatted about the healing of their members and the work of three of their house mates in the cure.
"I toast for Harry, Hermione and Neville and the others!" Said Fred raising his vase and followed by all of the members of the Table and the other's tables joined it too.
"For the antidote and the healing of the ill students!" Followed in the toast the Ravenclaws along the others.
"For the surpassing of this crisis!" Toasted the Slytherins, joined by the other three tables in it.
"For Hogwarts!" Shouted the Hufflepuffs. This toast was welcomed by the four tables who did it as one in the shout.
Dumbledore and the rest of the staff saw this with a smile. What had started with Rita's article and the change in the mind of many students, now was beginning to come true: the union of the four Houses in a common goal, the surpassing of every crisis, including the most important and hard of all of them: the final defeat of Voldemort.
They knew that it was just a matter of time before the old hates among the Houses ended forever and they became just a memory buried in the history of the School. And that it was a dream shared by every member of the staff.
****
Dean and the other students returned to the School's life the next day for the Breakfast. When they entered, everyone clapped and burst out in cheers till they took their usual seats in their Tables. All of them smiled to the others and started to eat with their smiles never leaving them.
Sprout and Snape returned to the Hall 2 days after the finding of the cure. Both of them were received like the students had been the previous day. The two Professors were shocked and surprised at the beginning for this but they couldn't help but smile after a few minutes when they joined the other teachers in the High Table.
"Where are Potter, Longbottom and Granger?" Asked Severus to Albus after scanning the Gryffindor's Table looking for the three students. "Sleeping. I checked them with Poppy a few minutes ago and she told me that they wouldn't wake at least for another two or three days." Chuckled the Headmaster with his eyes full of joy.
"They deserve the rest more than anyone else." Said Minerva with one of her rare smiles toward the Headmaster and the Head of Slytherin.
"Before I forget, Minerva. In their files, put the Advanced O.W.L. for my subject. They won it." Said Sprout to the Head of Gryffindor with a smile.
"They'll be happy to hear that they have one less to worry about." Laughed Arabella listening Sprout's words.
"Very true." Chuckled Albus while the other teachers laughed softly nodding in agreement to the DADA teacher's statement.
****
When Harry woke up, it was almost dinner time. He checked the room and saw that Hermione and Neville were still sleeping. Deciding to not wake them yet, he contacted Dumbledore and McGonagall through the Order's link to let them know that he was awake.
"Good night, sleeping beauty." Laughed softly his Godmother through the link, relieved to hear his voice.
"How long have we been sleeping?" Asked Harry ignoring his Godmother's last words.
"Almost a week. You've been there for six days." Said Albus while Hermione joined the chat.
"WE'VE BEEN SLEEPING FOR 6 DAYS???" Asked the Prefect with a shout of shock and surprise.
"Yes, Miss Granger. You've got the rest that you deserved and needed. Desperately, I should say." Chuckled Minerva.
"I needed that." Laughed Harry while Neville woke up.
"Hey guys." Said Neville yawning and rubbing his eyes getting up from the bed.
"Hey Neville." Said Hermione before she began to change her robes.
"Is there something to eat?" Asked the boy with a noise of his stomach that sent Harry and Hermione in a little laughter, soon joined by him.
"Can you send us food? We are hungry." Asked Harry to Dumbledore with anxiousness and hunger.
"I'll take it to you in a few minutes." Said Albus with a chuckle cutting the chat.
"Dumbledore will bring it in a few minutes." Informed Harry while he and Neville began to change their robes.
"How long have we been here sleeping?" Asked Neville to his friends while they began to wait for the food and the Headmaster.
"It has been six days, Neville." Said Harry when Albus entered bringing a few trays of food that the teens began to eat eagerly, watched by a very amused Headmaster.
"How are the other students?" Asked worriedly Hermione to the Headmaster when the three had finished eating.
"Very fine. They left the Hospital Wing 2 days after the cure was given to them." Said Dumbledore sitting in an armchair. Hermione and Harry were sharing a sofa and Neville was sitting in another armchair.
"At least a good news." Sighed in relief Harry while Neville and Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I have another one for all of you. None of you will have to worry to get the Advanced O.W.L.s for Herbology. The Professor Sprout has given it to you after the work done by the three of you in this problem." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the three students.
"Cool! We have one before than anyone else!" Laughed Harry sending to the other three in a fit of laughter.
"Mr. Potter, congratulations. You've got the third Prize for Special Services to the School in five years. A big record." Chuckled Albus watching the shocked face of Harry before he added to Hermione and Neville: "Both of you have got one too. Besides the 50 points to Gryffindor for each one."
"Cool! Gran will never believe this when I tell her!" Said Neville a little shocked with the news, while Hermione's face shone in happiness.
"I expect to the three of you tomorrow for breakfast at the Great hall." Said Dumbledore going to the exit.
"We'll be there, Professor." Said the three teens at the same time watching him leaving.
"I'll return to sleep a while more." Said Harry going back to his bed.
"I'll do the same." Said Hermione and Neville following his example.
**** When the three Gryffindors entered in the Great Hall the next morning for the Breakfast, they got the same welcome than the students that had been in the Hospital and the Professors had got when they returned to the activities.
"Welcome back!" Said Fred when the three sat down to eat in their usual seats.
"Thanks. It's great to be here again." Said Harry with a grin.
"When did you wake up?" Asked Katie while all the Gryffindors started to eat normally.
"Last night. We slept for six days." Answered Hermione eating a fruit.
"6 DAYS??!!" Asked many of the students sat near them in shock with Hermione's words.
"Yes. We found the cure the last Wednesday at 4.30 in the morning. We went to sleep at 6.00 and we woke up last night. We have had 6 days of undisturbed sleep and rest. Something that we won't get again in a long time with the O.W.L.s this year." Said Harry with a groan when he thought in the exams.
"Well, now we have one less O.W.L. to worry about." Said Neville with a grin.
"Right, we have to worry about the others now." Laughed Harry and Hermione.
"What do you mean?" Asked Ron confused with their words, like everyone else in the Table.
"Sprout gave to the three of us, the Advanced O.W.L. in her subject for our work and the finding of the cure." Explained Harry to the others.
"You were the ones who found it??" Asked many of the students shocked with Harry's words.
"The three of us." Said Harry pointing to Hermione and Neville, who nodded with a wide grin.
"Cool!" Exclaimed Katie clapping their backs with a big grin.
"How many teams were working in finding it? We were said that some people were on it, but not who." Asked a friend of Ginny that was in third year.
"There were four teams. In ours, we were the three of us, Sprout and Firenze, a Centaur of the Forest. Snape was another one. Madame Pomfrey and the Medi Witches from St. Mungo were the third. The Centaurs of the Forest was the last team." Explained Harry to the others.
"How did you get the help of the Centaurs?" Asked shocked some students.
"They don't like to deal with humans very much!" Added one of the boys of sixth year.
"Firenze is an old friend of mine and they owe me a big favor. They were paying a part of it." Explained Harry while everyone stood and taking their bags went to the first class of the day.
"What have you been doing during the last 10 days?" Asked Hermione to Ron with a worried look thinking about everything that the Professors had taught and they hadn't seen in classes.
"With Snape, we've been doing healing Potions. Sprout has taught us more healing plants. Flitwick started with the basics healing charms. In Defense we continue with the Patronus. In History, you'll have to ask someone who stayed awake on classes because I haven't. In Care of Magical Creatures we are still with the Heat Wolves. In Astronomy nothing new. With McGonagall we are still beginning with the Animagus Transformation. Nothing else." Explained the redhead to his two best friends reaching to McGonagall's classroom.
All the Gryffindor of fifth year sat down and waited till their Head of House began to teach the class. Harry had a big smile on his lips that everyone understood. The crisis had been surpassed and the School returned to the normalcy. Voldemort had failed in this new attack and he was once more responsible of this failure. Everything seemed ok and Harry was happy for it, though he knew that the problems would return in any moment.
The things between Gryffindor and Slytherin weren't very good after the match. To avoid fight and arguments, Harry ordered to all the members of Lion's House to not tease them about the match. He wanted to keep the possible friendships that had begun to appear between members of both Houses, and if there were fights, it wouldn't work.
"Good game and tactics." Said Malfoy to Harry one day when both of them were talking without disturbance. These meetings had begun to happen after the truce between both of the enemies.
"Thanks, we played using the same tactics that you." Laughed Harry to the blonde Slytherin while both of them watched the lake.
"It worked better for you than for us!" Laughed Draco with a smile throwing a stone to it.
"Yeah, we had as former Captain someone who had in mind nothing else than Quidditch and taught us that to win the games against you. We had to be the fiercest in the Pitch!" Said Harry with an innocent look.
"Wood and Flint were completely mad about Quidditch!" Said Draco with a groan.
"And they hated each other!" Groaned the Gryffindor with a laugh.
"Do you really think that there is hope to finish the hate between our Houses?" Asked Malfoy suddenly with a doubtful look.
"I won't lose the hope, Malfoy. If I can work with Snape and make a truce with you, everything can happen in this world." Answered Harry with a hopeful tone of voice.
"I hope so." Said Draco before he stood and went to his Common Room while Harry did the same to his.
When the rumor of a possible truce between both of them began to spread in the School, the things turned to better. If two of the worst enemies in the whole history of Hogwarts could make a truce, why not the two Houses that most hated between themselves?
****
"What is that?" Asked McGonagall to her Godson pointing to his ear, after the Thursday's class of Transfiguration, a week later of the match.
"What? This?" Asked Harry innocently showing her the earring that he had bought before Halloween.
"Yes, that!" Said Minerva, not looking very happy with the earring of Harry. Neither her nor Sirius had noticed it yet.
"Oh, I began to use it before Halloween. It took you a lot of time to see it. Professor Dumbledore saw it in the meeting after the attack." Said Harry with a groan remembering that meeting. The relations between the MNG and some of the members of the Council were still hard and he was sure that it would continue like that for a time.
"May I ask the reason of wearing an earring?" Asked Minerva shocked with the fact that she hadn't noticed it in almost three weeks.
"I liked the idea. So I decided to wear it. What's wrong with it?" Asked Harry with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You are out of my control, do you know that?" Said Minerva with a sigh.
"Yeah, but you love me with or without your control over me!" Laughed Harry with an innocent smile.
"It's true." Smiled Minerva before she asked: "What does Sirius think of this?"
"Like you, he hasn't noticed it yet!" Laughed Harry before he went with McGonagall to the Great Hall for lunch.
"Why are you in a rebel position this year?" Asked Minerva with a stern look.
"I'm tired of everyone controlling my life. I'm tired of living the consequences of other people's mistakes. From this summer, I've decided to live with my own mistakes and no one else's. That's why I behave like this and I'm so rebel like you said." Said Harry with a serious tone of voice before he sat with his friends to lunch in his House's Table.
Minerva looked shocked and was taken back with his last statement, but she knew that it was true. He had more right than anyone to make his own decisions without the control or following orders from anyone else that him. He had earned it a long time ago, though anyone wanted to realize it. Or, no one wanted to. It was the biggest mistake than they could do with him. She decided to stop trying to make more decision for him and let him be free.
"What's wrong, Minerva?" Asked Albus a little worried to the Head of Gryffindor noticing some shock in her face.
"I've had an interesting chat with Harry a few minutes ago." Said Minerva and retold him the whole chat that she had with her Godson.
"He's right." Said Albus agreeing with Minerva's thoughts and also with the teen's decision. He was guilty of many of the problems that Harry had all the years since his parent's death and couldn't blame him for his new position toward the world.
"I know and no one wanted or couldn't realize it, Albus." Said Minerva with a sad look. The Headmaster nodded with the same kind of look and went on with his lunch, not leaving the sad look in all the time that it lasted.
****
The next week, Dean fell ill suddenly although no one knew what he had or how he had got it. Madame Pomfrey tried with everything but nothing seemed to work. She decided to keep him at the Hospital till she knew the cure for it.
This matter was discussed in the Order's meeting. Many members said that it wasn't a very serious problem, augmenting that maybe it was just a new virus and it would pass quickly.
"I'm not so sure of that." Said Harry in a very serious and worried tone of voice to Dumbledore through the link so no one would listen to him
"Neither do I, Harry. But we can't prove the opposite." Said Dumbledore. In his tone of voice there was some worry and Harry caught it very well. He shared it too. Something inside him, told him that this was something bigger.
"Let's wait till we see what happens." Said Harry with the worry still in him. The Headmaster nodded in agreement.
The meeting went on and it was discussed other problems concerning Voldemort and his attacks. During the last two weeks there had been almost 15 attacks that left more than 100 deaths among Muggles, Squibs and parents of Muggle Born students of Hogwarts.
"Something should be done to raise the spirit among the students. Especially in those ones who lost family. Any suggestion?" Said Albus to the Staff's members and the five students.
"A ball like last year, maybe." Suggested Hermione after thinking a few minutes.
"I agree, but different that the last one. It was too formal." Said Ron with a groan.
"A ball of costumes would be funny." Said Fred with a grin, while Ginny, George and Harry nodded in agreement.
"I agree with it. It's a good idea." Said Minerva after thinking for a few minutes what her students had said.
"It's decided then. On Christmases we will have another ball." Said Dumbledore with a smile happy with the idea.
The meeting continued for almost another hour. Harry was a little tired and didn't pay a lot of attention like he usually did. Dumbledore noticed this, but he didn't say anything to him, although he was the only one who saw it.
"Tired?" Asked with a worried look Albus to the teen after the meeting had finished.
"Worried with this illness. I guess that you noticed my lack of interest, right?" Asked Harry sarcastically knowing that the answer was yes.
"Yeah, I did it. Don't worry that the meeting was some boring also for me." Chuckled the Headmaster with his eyes twinkling in fun.
Harry laughed and ran a hand through his hair letting the earring to be seen. This detail didn't pass unnoticed by many of the members who began to whisper among them about it. Harry ignored them and began to talk with Bill about the fang that he had around the neck.
"Are you planning to wear one too?" Asked Bill amused to the teen.
"I'm doing it just to make them angry." Laughed Harry through the link pointing to the adults, over all to his Godparents. The eldest Weasley laughed and went on talking with him.
"You want to have a fang around the neck now?" Asked Minerva in shock listening the chat between her Godson and her former student.
"Maybe. After all, I have a tattoo in my left shoulder, I wear an earring. So, what's wrong with the fang?" Asked Harry fighting the urge to burst out in laughter with his Godmother's expression.
"I can get you a Dragon's one!" Said Charlie joining the chat. Bill had told him through the link the chat and what Harry was planning to do.
"Cool! It would be great!" Said Harry interested in that idea.
"All of you exasperate me!" Said Minerva angrily before she left the group.
The three bursts out in laughter with McGonagall's expression, and the glares that many others were sending them made the things only worst. It took them 15 minutes to the three to calm down once more.
"That was funny, you know?" Said Ron going where his brothers and best friend were sitting. With him was the other MNG.
"What would we do without teasing the Professors?" Asked Bill with his most innocent smile.
"Die of the bore!" Said the others bursting out in laughter.
"All of you drive me crazy!" Said Minerva shooting a stern and angry look toward the young people.
"Really? I thought that you already were crazy!" Laughed Fred with his most innocent smile sending the group in another fit of uncontrollable laughter.
"Why do I bother arguing with you?" Said Minerva rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"If you get the answer give it to Madame Hooch, she was asking herself the same after our last match!" Laughed Harry causing another fit of laughter.
Minerva shook her head and left them laughing, knowing that they would find any excuse to laugh no matter what she said or did. Besides she found it amusing, though she would never admit it to anyone else.
"Now it's the time of the dog's show!" Laughed Harry to the others through the link seeing to his Godfather going to them with Remus.
"What's the worst show: the cat's with McGonagall or the dog's with Sirius?" Asked Fred using the link with a laugh.
"The dog's!" Answered Harry, Ron and Hermione at the same time with a groan seeing Sirius approaching them.
"Nice to see you, Sirius, hi Moony!" Greeted Harry to both men with a smile. Sirius didn't look very pleased or happy with his earring or the chance of the fang. Remus, in the other hand, found it interesting and very amusing.
"Why are you wearing that thing?" Asked Sirius not in a happy mood to his Godson pointing the earring.
"I like it. What do you think of it, guys?" Asked Harry to his friends with an innocent grin.
"He looks very good with it!" Said Bill with a smile while Charlie nodded in agreement.
"Very attractive too." Said Hermione kissing her boyfriend.
"It's cool!" Said Ron.
"Do you think that mom would be happy if we wear one too, Fred?" Asked George with an evil grin to his twin brother.
"She'll kill you! If she's not happy with my fang and long hair, she'll be furious if you wear an earring!" Warned Bill to his brothers.
"That's what I thought." Said Fred laughing.
"What do you think of it, Remus?" Asked Charlie to the ex DADA teacher.
"He looks good, although it's extravagant." Said the werewolf after thinking a few minutes about it.
"Thanks. Also, I'm planning to dye my hair of green or violet!" Said Harry with a big evil grin.
"YOU DO IT AND I'LL KILL YOU!" Threatened Sirius to Harry sending the whole group in a fit of laughter.
"Don't worry, Padfoot! I'm just kidding!" Said Harry trying to calm his laughter along his friends.
"You better do it!" Said Sirius before he left the group and went to talk with Albus who was amused with everything that had happened between the teens and the adults.
"I'll go to the Tower to sleep. See you soon." Said Harry to Bill, Remus and Charlie before he stood and went to say goodbye to his Godparents and the Headmaster.
"Goodnight." Said all of the though Minerva and Sirius shot him angry and stern looks that the Prefect ignored completely.
The other MNG followed him and all of them went to their room and fell asleep very soon. In Harry's mind something told him that this illness was something big and dangerous. But like Dumbledore had told him, there wasn't way to prove it and that exasperated him.
****
During the next two weeks, another 20 students from different Houses and years fell ill with this new illness. Madame Pomfrey was confused and had asked help to St. Mungo, but they were like her: completely confused and without any answer to this.
"I told you so, Professor. This wasn't something casual or normal." Said Harry to the Headmaster through the link one day on the breakfast.
"I know what you said." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle before he added: "What is this illness, is something that is beyond my knowledge."
"Same here, but I'll bet you my broom and my Prefect's Badge that Tommy is behind this." Said Harry very seriously.
"You don't need to bet it, I think like you." Said Albus in the same tone that the Prefect.
Before any of them could add something else, the mail arrived. Among the owls, there were two black ones that went straight to Harry and Dumbledore dropping two black envelopes. On them, was the Dark Mark on red ink.
"At least he had the consideration to send us some words about this." Said Harry sarcastically to Dumbledore before he opened the envelope and started to read the letter that had been sent to him:
"Dear Harry and Dumbledore,
I'm sure that you've noticed the little illness that is attacking to the students of the School. It's my work as I'm sure that you have suspected. There is only one cure and is in my power.
If you want it, surrender to me or the virus will kill everyone.
Lord Voldemort."
"I told you so. Tommy was behind this." Said Harry to his mentor. The teen was angry and bewildered with this new attack of the Dark Lord and needless to say, to surrender to him was the last thing that he would do in this world.
"This is definitely serious." Said Albus before he called an emergency meeting of the Council's members and canceled the classes of that day.
On the meeting, Harry and the Headmaster showed the letter to everyone. All of them were shocked with this news and began to discuss the matter, all of them talking at the same time no one understanding what the other was saying.
"This meeting reminds me to a group of teen girls in a party. Except that here there is no fun only madness." Said Harry in a sarcastic tone to Dumbledore.
"Nice sense of humor, Harry." Chuckled Albus before he shot sparks from his wand to get the control of the situation once more.
"What can I say? It's the truth." Said Harry through the link with his most innocent smile.
"Enough jokes for now, Harry." Said Albus seriously to Harry before he turned to the others: "Any ideas? Because I won't surrender and I'm sure that Harry neither will do it."
"Let's find the cure." Said Harry while no one said anything after 10 minutes.
"How?" Asked many of them surprised and confused.
"We have medi wizards of St. Mungo here, Professor Snape and Sprout. It can be possible not to find one. Don't care what you say, I'll find it, though I have to work alone." Answered Harry standing and leaving the office in direction of the main gates.
"Where are you going?" Asked Dumbledore to Harry through the link after everyone passed the shock of his words.
"I'll pay a visit to an old friend. He owes me a big favor and it's time for him to pay it." Said Harry going to the Forbidden Forest.
"Firenze?" Asked Dumbledore guessing the old friend that the teen was talking about, seeing where he was going to.
"The same one." Said Harry very seriously before he added: "I'll begin to work with him at the room. I want Sprout, Neville and Hermione there. We'll be one of the teams to find the cure. Is that understood?" This was sent also to Hermione and the teacher.
"I'll take Neville and Professor Sprout there immediately, Harry." Said Hermione listening her boyfriend's words.
"I'll be there as soon as possible with some extra help." Said Harry ending the chat and beginning to look for the Centaurs.
After walking for almost 40 minutes he got tired and decided to change his method of the search. He transformed in the eagle and went on doing it from the air. After a few minutes, he saw Kithet, Firenze's Sister, Ronan and another two Centaurs. He landed and transformed back to his human form in front of them.
"I'm looking for Firenze. Where can I find him?" Asked Harry very urgently to Ronan and Kithet, the only ones that he knew from that group.
"Come with me." Said Ronan, sensing the serious tone of voice that Harry had in his voice.
The young wizard and the Centaur walked in silence for 15 minutes before they reached to an open space where many other Centaurs were. Some eating, other sleeping or chatting. Harry spotted the one that he needed talking with Bane, another one of the Centaurs that he had met.
"Nice to see you again, Harry Potter. What brings you here this time?" Asked Firenze sensing some problems.
"This time it's me who needs your help, old friend. Not a long time ago you told me that the Centaurs would be in debt with me forever for saving you. This is the time to pay a part of it." Said Harry very seriously before he began to explain the whole situation with the virus to the four Centaurs who listened him with interest and worry.
"Let's go." Said Firenze understanding the seriousness of the situation and the reason of the request of the teen.
"Send us the information that you have. We'll try to help from here." Said Bane very seriously while Ronan and Kithet nodded.
"I'll send a House Elf with some written information as fast as I can." Said Harry before he changed into a Panther and began to run to the School with Firenze behind him.
"It's pity that we see each other only for emergencies, Firenze." Said Dumbledore waiting for both of them at the entrance, while Harry changed back to his human form.
"It is, Professor Dumbledore, but now we have a mission here." Said the Centaur while the trio entered in the School.
"Are Hermione and the others already in the room?" Asked Harry to Dumbledore leading the way to the MNG room.
"Yes. Meanwhile, Severus works by his side in the Dungeons and Poppy does the same in the Hospital Wing with the Medi Wizards of St. Mungo." Informed Albus while they passed some students who looked shocked and surprised with the Centaur's presence.
"Write all the information that you have and send it with Dobby to Ronan, Bane or Kithet. They are Centaurs and will give us a hand too." Said Harry before he turned to the lion, tapped it with his wand putting it to sleep and said: "Chaos Breaker."
The three entered and found to Sprout and Neville looking around the room with amazement, while Hermione explained them a few things about it. When they saw to Harry and the others, stopped it and turned the attention to the persons that had just entered in the room.
"Professor Sprout, Neville, this is Firenze and will be part of this team. Firenze, these are Neville Longbottom and Professor Sprout of Herbology." Presented Harry to Neville and Sprout to Firenze and vice versa.
"Did you explain the whole situation to Neville?" Asked Harry to Hermione and Dumbledore.
"We just finished doing it." Said the Headmaster while Hermione and Sprout nodded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't need to explain the graveness of this situation. Our mission is easy: find a cure. We'll work with plants. At this moment, Professor Snape does the same with Potions and Pomfrey with charms I'll guess." Said Harry to the others who listened intently.
"Neville and Professor Sprout, you two are the best persons working with the plants that I know. Firenze, your raze is known by their knowledge in medicine, that will be your part. Hermione and me will help in everything needed." Explained the teen to the four persons.
"Professor Dumbledore the link will be closed to everyone except you. Don't use it till it's really necessary or that we contact you." Finished Harry this time talking to the Headmaster.
"Very well, I'll leave you alone to start with your work without disturbance." Said Dumbledore seriously leaving the room to let them work.
"Let's start people. We'll use mice to try the possible cures. They'll have the same symptoms that the other ills. Everything that comes to your mind, no matter if it's the most obvious or the most stupid and crazy idea, tell it to the others. We'll test everything. This is a race against the time that we have to win." Said Harry with his most serious tone of voice before all of them began to work.
****
For the next two days, the five members of the team, didn't leave the room except only for going to the bathroom. To sleep, they did it by turns of four hours in the beds that there were in the room. The other teams, Snape, Pomfrey and the Centaurs, were working like them: without rest. Like Harry had said, it was a race against time and they couldn't lose it.
The ill students had become more and more ill and though none of them had died yet, everyone knew that it could happen at any moment.
During the third night of the work, Harry, Hermione and Neville were trying to find something new. Firenze and Sprout were the ones that had taken the turn to rest for a while. A look at his watch, told Harry that it was almost 4.30 in the morning. His turn of sleep would begin at 8.00 when the other two woke up to take the place of him and Neville.
"Anything new?" Asked Neville to Hermione who was trying a new mix.
"Nothing. I feel frustrated with all this, guys." Said the girl sitting for a moment and rubbing her eyes.
"Same here, Hermione." Said Harry and Neville at the same time yawning.
"What is this place, guys?" Asked Neville to his year mates looking around the room with the same amazement that he had in the moment that he entered two days ago.
"Our secret rooms. We built it with Ron and the twins in September." Said Harry while he began to mix a leaf of Luparia, another one of Muggle tea, a little of Mandragoras juice and a few other things. He wasn't thinking in what he was doing. He was just taking a shot in the darkness.
"Try number what, Hermione?" Asked Neville to Hermione watching Harry beginning to give the new mix to a mouse.
"I lost the count after the fiftieth." Answered Hermione with a tired look.
"Guys, watch this." Said Harry suddenly showing them the mice. The green color that showed the symptom was beginning to fade and disappear slowly till it was gone in matter of five minutes.
"What mix did you do?" Asked Neville watching the mice with amazement, while Hermione looked at it with a big smile of relief.
"This one, the most crazy and stupid one of all that we tried." Laughed Harry showing the paper where they wrote, every mix tried.
"I agree with it!" Said the other two teens after reading the recipe.
"Wake up to Sprout and Firenze. I'll contact Dumbledore." Said Harry to the other, who nodded and went to do it, before he turned his attention to the Headmaster: "Professor Dumbledore, are you there?"
"I'm here, Harry. What's the matter?" Asked Dumbledore with a tired tone of voice by the lack of sleep that he also was suffering.
"We may have an antidote. It worked with one of the mice." Explained Harry to his mentor while Hermione and Neville did the same with Sprout and Firenze who was looking at them with a shocked face.
"I'll be there immediately!" Said Dumbledore finishing the chat and begging his way to the room at top speed.
"What was there in your mind when you tried this?" Asked Sprout to the three teens reading the recipe for the tenth time without believing it.
"It was a shot in the darkness. And maybe it worked." Said Harry with a big grin while Dumbledore entered running in the room and went toward the group. Sprout gave him the recipe and he read it with shock.
"Is this the cure?" Asked Albus with the same shock that was feeling the Head of Hufflepuff and the Centaur after reading the recipe of it.
"Yes and it worked with our little friend." Said Neville showing the mice that Harry had used to try it.
"Let's try with a second one before we do it with the students." Suggested Sprout looking to the animal with shock.
Everyone nodded and Hermione took another mice while Neville gave him a drink of the possible cure. The same effects that had happened in the first one, happened in this one, healing it completely.
"WE HAVE THE CURE!!" Shouted the members of the council through the link while they began to run toward the Hospital Wing.
"What?" Asked Minerva sounding sleepy.
"How?" Asked Remus with the same tone that Minerva.
"When?" Asked many others sounding sleepy and confused too.
"We've found the antidote to the Virus. We are going to the Hospital Wing now!" Said Dumbledore while the whole group entered in the Hospital Wing and gave the recipe to Madame Pomfrey and the Medi Wizards.
"Is this the cure?" Asked all of them, looking at them with doubts of the possible cure and if it really worked.
"Here you have the two examples of the work of it." Said Sprout showing them, the mice used to try it.
Madame Pomfrey didn't look very convinced of that, but she decided to try it with Dean Thomas the first student that had fallen ill with the virus. Everyone in the room waited with their breath baited while Poppy gave the antidote to him. After 10 minutes, the same effects that had happened with the mice begin to occur with the fifth year student.
"What has happened?" Asked Dean looking confused to everyone that watched him in surprise while the medi wizards began to check him and Madame Pomfrey sent everyone out of the room.
"WE DID IT!" Shouted Harry hugging his two year mates who had tears in the eyes, when all of them were outside of the Hospital Wing.
"We did it!" Repeated Neville and Hermione returning the hug to Harry.
"They did it." Said Sprout looking to her three students with a smile of pride.
"Congratulations for the great job done. I'll return to my place. It was a good time to work with you again, Harry Potter. The same for both of you." Said Firenze shaking the hands of the three teens.
"I say the same for you, Firenze." Said Harry with a smile while he went with the Centaur to the door.
"I hope that our next meeting isn't due to another emergency, Harry Potter." Said Firenze when he was at the boards of the Forbidden Forest. It was still dark outside and the Forest looked more terrified than usual.
"I hope so, old friend." Said Harry before he went in again and walked straight to the Hospital Wing where everyone was still speaking.
"Can any of you explain us how you got this cure? Because it would be the last mix that I would have ever done in my life!" Said Pomfrey to the three teens after re reading the recipe along the others for the fiftieth time without believing it.
"I got it in a mix of a shot in the darkness, madness and helpless added to lack of sleep!" Laughed Harry with a big grin.
Everyone burst out in laughter with his words. They needed the laugh after the chaos that had been happening in the School for the last three weeks and the cure was welcomed very well, like also the laughter was.
"I'll go to sleep. My turn to rest would begin in two hours but this time I'll make it last at least a week!" Said Harry to the others with a huge yawn.
"Want to come to sleep to the room with us, Neville? I'm sure that you need the rest as much as both of us!" Said Hermione trying to not fall asleep standing.
"Sure. I'll love it." Said Neville who was in the same state that his two year mates.
"I don't know when I'll see all of you again." Said Harry leading the way of the three students to the MNG's room.
The three students entered in the room and went straight to the beds. None of them bothered in changing their robes. They were pretty tired to do it. They were slept even before their heads touched the pillows.
****
The next morning when everyone went to breakfast, all the students noticed a change in the staff's mood. They had been informed of the crisis and the virus that had been attacking some of the students. Also, they knew about the tries that were being done by different teams to find the cure. When everyone saw the mood, they suspected that the antidote had been found finally. When Dumbledore stood to speak, the whole Hall fell silent and turned their attention to listen the Headmaster's words.
"I'm glad to inform to all of you that the crisis has been surpassed and we've found the cure to the illness. And it has been given to the ill students who are healing in the Hospital Wing right now.
"I'm sure that you've noticed that today there are some people missing besides the ill students: Professors Sprout and Snape along with the students Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. The five of them, who worked on the finding of this antidote, are in these moments getting the rest that they deserve without any doubt. I'm not very sure when they'll join us again, though." Chuckled the Headmaster, earning a few laughs from the students and members of the staff, who were listening him intently.
"Now, you'll find a vase with a liquid strange. This liquid is the antidote. We've decided to give it to all of you to prevent a new epidemic and to heal any of you that have got it and none of us has noticed it yet." Warned Dumbledore in a very serious tone of voice before the said vases appeared and everyone drank them immediately.
"In a happier note, the students that are in the Hospital Wing, should be able to join the activities again tomorrow or the next day after tomorrow. Now, let's eat the breakfast!" Said Albus clapping his hand and the food appeared in that moment in the four tables.
When the food appeared and they began to eat it, all the students began to talk at the same time. The Gryffindors that had nine students between the ills, chatted about the healing of their members and the work of three of their house mates in the cure.
"I toast for Harry, Hermione and Neville and the others!" Said Fred raising his vase and followed by all of the members of the Table and the other's tables joined it too.
"For the antidote and the healing of the ill students!" Followed in the toast the Ravenclaws along the others.
"For the surpassing of this crisis!" Toasted the Slytherins, joined by the other three tables in it.
"For Hogwarts!" Shouted the Hufflepuffs. This toast was welcomed by the four tables who did it as one in the shout.
Dumbledore and the rest of the staff saw this with a smile. What had started with Rita's article and the change in the mind of many students, now was beginning to come true: the union of the four Houses in a common goal, the surpassing of every crisis, including the most important and hard of all of them: the final defeat of Voldemort.
They knew that it was just a matter of time before the old hates among the Houses ended forever and they became just a memory buried in the history of the School. And that it was a dream shared by every member of the staff.
****
Dean and the other students returned to the School's life the next day for the Breakfast. When they entered, everyone clapped and burst out in cheers till they took their usual seats in their Tables. All of them smiled to the others and started to eat with their smiles never leaving them.
Sprout and Snape returned to the Hall 2 days after the finding of the cure. Both of them were received like the students had been the previous day. The two Professors were shocked and surprised at the beginning for this but they couldn't help but smile after a few minutes when they joined the other teachers in the High Table.
"Where are Potter, Longbottom and Granger?" Asked Severus to Albus after scanning the Gryffindor's Table looking for the three students. "Sleeping. I checked them with Poppy a few minutes ago and she told me that they wouldn't wake at least for another two or three days." Chuckled the Headmaster with his eyes full of joy.
"They deserve the rest more than anyone else." Said Minerva with one of her rare smiles toward the Headmaster and the Head of Slytherin.
"Before I forget, Minerva. In their files, put the Advanced O.W.L. for my subject. They won it." Said Sprout to the Head of Gryffindor with a smile.
"They'll be happy to hear that they have one less to worry about." Laughed Arabella listening Sprout's words.
"Very true." Chuckled Albus while the other teachers laughed softly nodding in agreement to the DADA teacher's statement.
****
When Harry woke up, it was almost dinner time. He checked the room and saw that Hermione and Neville were still sleeping. Deciding to not wake them yet, he contacted Dumbledore and McGonagall through the Order's link to let them know that he was awake.
"Good night, sleeping beauty." Laughed softly his Godmother through the link, relieved to hear his voice.
"How long have we been sleeping?" Asked Harry ignoring his Godmother's last words.
"Almost a week. You've been there for six days." Said Albus while Hermione joined the chat.
"WE'VE BEEN SLEEPING FOR 6 DAYS???" Asked the Prefect with a shout of shock and surprise.
"Yes, Miss Granger. You've got the rest that you deserved and needed. Desperately, I should say." Chuckled Minerva.
"I needed that." Laughed Harry while Neville woke up.
"Hey guys." Said Neville yawning and rubbing his eyes getting up from the bed.
"Hey Neville." Said Hermione before she began to change her robes.
"Is there something to eat?" Asked the boy with a noise of his stomach that sent Harry and Hermione in a little laughter, soon joined by him.
"Can you send us food? We are hungry." Asked Harry to Dumbledore with anxiousness and hunger.
"I'll take it to you in a few minutes." Said Albus with a chuckle cutting the chat.
"Dumbledore will bring it in a few minutes." Informed Harry while he and Neville began to change their robes.
"How long have we been here sleeping?" Asked Neville to his friends while they began to wait for the food and the Headmaster.
"It has been six days, Neville." Said Harry when Albus entered bringing a few trays of food that the teens began to eat eagerly, watched by a very amused Headmaster.
"How are the other students?" Asked worriedly Hermione to the Headmaster when the three had finished eating.
"Very fine. They left the Hospital Wing 2 days after the cure was given to them." Said Dumbledore sitting in an armchair. Hermione and Harry were sharing a sofa and Neville was sitting in another armchair.
"At least a good news." Sighed in relief Harry while Neville and Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I have another one for all of you. None of you will have to worry to get the Advanced O.W.L.s for Herbology. The Professor Sprout has given it to you after the work done by the three of you in this problem." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the three students.
"Cool! We have one before than anyone else!" Laughed Harry sending to the other three in a fit of laughter.
"Mr. Potter, congratulations. You've got the third Prize for Special Services to the School in five years. A big record." Chuckled Albus watching the shocked face of Harry before he added to Hermione and Neville: "Both of you have got one too. Besides the 50 points to Gryffindor for each one."
"Cool! Gran will never believe this when I tell her!" Said Neville a little shocked with the news, while Hermione's face shone in happiness.
"I expect to the three of you tomorrow for breakfast at the Great hall." Said Dumbledore going to the exit.
"We'll be there, Professor." Said the three teens at the same time watching him leaving.
"I'll return to sleep a while more." Said Harry going back to his bed.
"I'll do the same." Said Hermione and Neville following his example.
**** When the three Gryffindors entered in the Great Hall the next morning for the Breakfast, they got the same welcome than the students that had been in the Hospital and the Professors had got when they returned to the activities.
"Welcome back!" Said Fred when the three sat down to eat in their usual seats.
"Thanks. It's great to be here again." Said Harry with a grin.
"When did you wake up?" Asked Katie while all the Gryffindors started to eat normally.
"Last night. We slept for six days." Answered Hermione eating a fruit.
"6 DAYS??!!" Asked many of the students sat near them in shock with Hermione's words.
"Yes. We found the cure the last Wednesday at 4.30 in the morning. We went to sleep at 6.00 and we woke up last night. We have had 6 days of undisturbed sleep and rest. Something that we won't get again in a long time with the O.W.L.s this year." Said Harry with a groan when he thought in the exams.
"Well, now we have one less O.W.L. to worry about." Said Neville with a grin.
"Right, we have to worry about the others now." Laughed Harry and Hermione.
"What do you mean?" Asked Ron confused with their words, like everyone else in the Table.
"Sprout gave to the three of us, the Advanced O.W.L. in her subject for our work and the finding of the cure." Explained Harry to the others.
"You were the ones who found it??" Asked many of the students shocked with Harry's words.
"The three of us." Said Harry pointing to Hermione and Neville, who nodded with a wide grin.
"Cool!" Exclaimed Katie clapping their backs with a big grin.
"How many teams were working in finding it? We were said that some people were on it, but not who." Asked a friend of Ginny that was in third year.
"There were four teams. In ours, we were the three of us, Sprout and Firenze, a Centaur of the Forest. Snape was another one. Madame Pomfrey and the Medi Witches from St. Mungo were the third. The Centaurs of the Forest was the last team." Explained Harry to the others.
"How did you get the help of the Centaurs?" Asked shocked some students.
"They don't like to deal with humans very much!" Added one of the boys of sixth year.
"Firenze is an old friend of mine and they owe me a big favor. They were paying a part of it." Explained Harry while everyone stood and taking their bags went to the first class of the day.
"What have you been doing during the last 10 days?" Asked Hermione to Ron with a worried look thinking about everything that the Professors had taught and they hadn't seen in classes.
"With Snape, we've been doing healing Potions. Sprout has taught us more healing plants. Flitwick started with the basics healing charms. In Defense we continue with the Patronus. In History, you'll have to ask someone who stayed awake on classes because I haven't. In Care of Magical Creatures we are still with the Heat Wolves. In Astronomy nothing new. With McGonagall we are still beginning with the Animagus Transformation. Nothing else." Explained the redhead to his two best friends reaching to McGonagall's classroom.
All the Gryffindor of fifth year sat down and waited till their Head of House began to teach the class. Harry had a big smile on his lips that everyone understood. The crisis had been surpassed and the School returned to the normalcy. Voldemort had failed in this new attack and he was once more responsible of this failure. Everything seemed ok and Harry was happy for it, though he knew that the problems would return in any moment.