I Thought It Was the Flu
Chapter 4
by sherdelune and goldenpaw72
Albus was close on Hagrid's heels as the half-giant led the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, who was lagging several steps behind, to where he had found Harry. Hagrid tried to keep a brisk, steady pace that wouldn't tire the older wizards, but he knew that making haste was required. Finally, after what felt like forever to the three, they arrived at where Hagrid had left Harry in the woods.
Albus knelt down beside Harry at his head and felt for a pulse along his throat; it was weak, but thankfully still present. He turned to Hagrid and commanded, "Hagrid, alert Madame Pomfrey and bring her to this location as quickly as you can!"
"A'righ' Professor... I'll be righ' back wi' her." Hagrid lumbered off out of the forest and headed for the school's infirmary.
"Albus, is Harry alright? What do you think happened?" Minerva asked nervously. She fidgeted with the collar of her robe as she stood there feeling helpless.
"I'm not sure, Minerva, and I fear the only way we will find out is from Harry himself. As to his health, we'll have to wait and see what Poppy has to say about his condition." Albus thought for a moment. "I think it best not to let the rest of the school know of our discovery tonight. I know his friends have been waiting anxiously these last few days, since Harry went off to fight Tom, for news about him. However, we can't risk the knowledge that Harry is unwell to get out. Tom still has pockets of loyal Death Eaters out there who may want revenge on the young wizard who destroyed their master."
"If we can't take him back to the school, where do you suggest we put him then?"
"I have a cottage near Aberdeen. I'll make a portkey and take him there. I fear that Hagrid may not be able to contain his happiness at finding Harry alive, Minerva, and I must ask that after Harry, Poppy and I depart, you obliviate him. I hate to have to do that to him, but it is for Harry's safety. You can then fire-call me at the Lair after that."
"Very well, Albus. I'll do as you ask, though I have no great liking for that particular task either." Minerva started when she heard footsteps coming up behind her and they both turned to see Hagrid leading Poppy to them.
"Poppy, I want to take Harry someplace safe immediately. Is it okay for us to portkey him?"
Poppy rushed to Harry's side to give him a quick, cursory examination. "Yes, he is fit enough to travel by portkey, but you must be gentle with him."
"Alright then, Minerva is staying behind in my stead for the next few hours, Poppy you will come with us, so grab a hold of Harry." Dumbledore quickly fashioned a portkey out of a stick, and grasping Harry's hand in his, they vanished from the forest.
Minerva turned to Hagrid and told him not to worry, things would be all right and she was sure Harry would be fine.
"Iffin yer sure, Professor, I'll believe ya."
Professor McGonagall walked Hagrid back to his hut and before she could draw her wand, Hagrid asked, "Would ya like to come in fer a cuppa tea and treacle fudge, Professor?"
"Why thank you, Hagrid, that is most kind. I'm sure a cup of tea would do wonders for my nerves at this point."
The pair stepped into Hagrid's hut, and the half-giant began to lay out the cups and saucers for tea. From the pantry he removed a tin filled with what sounded like rocks, but was, in fact, treacle fudge.
"Cream or sugar, Professor?" he asked, as the kettle began to whistle. Minerva looked at the man fondly, she hated what she was going to do, but she agreed that for Harry's safety, it must be done.
"I'm so sorry Hagrid..." she held her wand out of sight and whispered the spell, "Obliviate.."
Before Hagrid could finish turning around, Minerva slipped out the door and headed straight for the Headmaster's office. Minerva took a seat behind the headmasters desk. Pinching a bit of floo powder, she tossed it into the fireplace.
"Albus Dumbledore at the Lair."
Albus' head appears in the fire. "Yes, my dear?"
"How are things, Albus, did the package arrive safe and sound?"
"Yes, it arrived in one piece, and Poppy is making sure that everything is in it's right place."
"Good, everything at my end has been taken care of as we discussed."
Albus sighed, disliking what that 'everything' entailed. "It had to be done, Minerva. We must go on as if things are fine, even if the package hadn't fared well in transit."
"How long do you suggest we keep the contents a secret from the rest of the school, especially our new school mascot? You know how he's been since..." Minerva let the last question go unfinished.
"I understand completely, Minerva. Say no more. I'd like to take a wait-and-see approach on this matter. However, I do think that a month might be a sufficient amount of time for things to work themselves out."
"So we tell no one else about the package?"
"Correct. You, Poppy and myself are the only ones who will know."
In the midst of their conversation, there was a knock upon the door. Before Minerva could ask the person to wait, the door flew open and Severus sailed in.
Snape came to an abrupt halt when he saw Minerva sitting in Albus' chair and Albus' head floating in the fire.
"What's going on here, Albus?" Snape questioned.
"I've been called away unexpectedly, Severus. Nothing to worry about."
"But Albus, Mr. Potter is missing and you should be here in case there is any word! Has there been any word?" The Potions Master seemed almost frantic in his quest for information on the whereabouts of Harry Potter.
"I'm afraid there has been nothing, so far, my boy. We all just have to be patient and hope that he is well."
Severus hung his head and sighed with unease. "Very well. I'll be in the dungeons if you hear anything." Before leaving, he turned back. "You will let me know if there is any word?" It was more like a command than a request.
Minerva gave him an odd look. "Of course, Severus."
After Severus left, Minerva turned back to Albus to continue their discussion. "I wonder what that was all about?"
"Ahh, Minerva, Severus is a passionate and mysterious man. Who knows what might be going on in his mind?" He chuckled softly.
"I don't even want to try to guess what his sudden interest in Harry is," said Minerva, still slightly puzzled by her colleague's sudden change in behaviour where this particular student was concerned. "I'll look forward to the next update when you return, Albus. How much longer will you be away?"
"I'll be away for as long as it takes to get the package to it's rightful destination. So I will fire-call you again in a week. And Poppy can give you more immediate updates after each visit."
"Can Hogwarts do without your presence for that long?"
"You know I just can't leave it here alone, Minerva. Do you have any suggestions on how we might handle it?"
"None that immediately come to mind, unless we alternate, each take a week here and there. Because your being away for that long a time is bound to raise questions."
"That sounds fine, my dear. I will contact you in a week then. Take care of things for me and thank you, Minerva."
"All right, then. I'll send you an owl mid-week so we can decide what to do next. And don't thank me, yet, Albus. We will see how things go first."
"Take care," Albus said as the fire-call ended. Albus stepped back from the fire and turned, only to run straight into Poppy. "Ahem, I take it, you heard everything?"
"Yes, Headmaster, I did. A month in hiding for Mr. Potter and no one is to know. Are you sure that is wise? He would do much better if he were taken to St. Mungo's."
"I'm sure he would, Poppy, but we cannot risk his safety at this time. There are still too many loose ends not yet tied up. Minerva and I will look after his daily care, while you will visit everyday for a half an hour, when no one would miss your absence."
"Very well, Albus." Here Poppy went back to look over Harry once more and when she sat down next to him, she pondered, "My word, Mr. Potter, your absence certainly has the Potions Master in a tither. I wonder why he needs to hear of your whereabouts so badly?"
Harry stirred briefly at the mention of the Potions master and mumbled incoherently, "Sev'rus?" before darkness claimed him again.
