A/N :
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Hi there. I have finally managed to update the story. I know that I am taking too long to Wright this story, but it's not something I am abele to control. A month or so after I started this story a huge lode of work came up, and till now am barley abele to sleep. I still wonted to Wright this though. I know that my story is nothing special or long enough for making you wait so long, But pleas try to understand my position. Hopefully soon I will be abele to write sooner that I am now, and I would have a long awaited brake from all the work. Pleas revue and tell me what you think about this story, that way I know that some one is actually reading this. Not forgetting those who did, a big : THANKS
Any way hope you like this part, well at least those who won't to give me a chance (
A big thanks to Michael for editing this chapter:
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE BLACK CRYSTAL
Harry's unconscious body was immediately taken to the infirmary by the four head of house and the headmaster, where madam Pomfrey started a fight against time to save the boy's life.
"The poison is spreading fast," said the matron after taking the boys clothes off, and magically taking Aescul from his neck and placing it on the bed next to Harry's. "We need an antidote quickly," she continued purring few drops of some green liquid in the boy mouth.
His body was twitching in pain and sweat was covering his flash were madam Pomfrey head taken his clothes off.
"Did you determine what type of poison is it?" asked the potion master calmly as he sat on one of the chairs next to the beds in the infirmary. "It won't take long to go to my office and get the antidote he needs," he continued after making himself comfortable.
Professor Mcgonagall looked angrily at the potion master for his calm reactions to the event
"I don't know this type of poison," replayed madam Pomfrey desperately
"At lest you can tell me the symptoms. So I can figure it out for you" said the potion master.
"The poison is slowly destroying his blood, his hart and lungs were expending in his chest suffocating him" started madam Pomfrey "I've never seen a poison doing these symptoms or act as fast. The boy may have a strong body due to his new gift, but his system still can't fight it"
The potion master paled at this and jumped to his feet "impossible" he gasped, "It can't be the Cruentus Leto potion"
"Do you have the antidote Severus?" asked the headmaster
Snape looked at the headmaster horrified and shook his head "I never thought I would be needing it agene.how did a death-eater managed to get in hear"
"We don't have time to question ourselves how did they manage to poison the boy," said the headmaster "can you brew the antidote Severus?"
"By the time it will be finished it will be too late. At least with the ingredients I have in my store" said the potion master.
"Explain yourself Severus," asked the headmaster
"This potion can be brewed in two ways" started the potion master "one is composed of several rare ingredients such as: assassin vine, fangs from a chimera, an arrowhawk father, and a hair given from a nymph.The other is made up from several potions which replace these ingredients."
"But it would take too long" interrupted Mcgonagall
"A month" said the potion master "and potter only have an hour"
"An hour?" asked professor Sprout
"Is there another way to save him?" asked professor Mcgonagall
The potion master shook his head "no there." he stopped what he was saying and looked at the headmaster hopefully "Fawkes" he said
"What about the headmaster's phoenix?" asked madam Pomfrey as she was giving Harry another potion trying to slow down the poison effects on him.
Snape looked annoyingly at the matron "a phoenix tear is the weak point of this type of poison. It won't be enough to cure him completely but it will give us time to brew the antidote" he explained. "He will have to take a tear every four hours until the potion would be ready"
"Alas.my phoenix is not available at the moment" said the headmaster sadly
"What??" shouted professor Mcgonagall "there must be something we can do. We can't leave him to die like this," she continued with tearful eyes
Every one stayed silent until the headmaster burst in to laughter. The four professors and the matron looked at him strangely. Thinking that the old man head finally gone mad, not that he had ever been completely sane.
"Harry's snake" he said finally after calming a bit "quickly, Severus go get an infusion of bloodroot. There is not much time left"
The potion professor, confused, left the hospital wing on the intent of carrying the headmaster's request. It was never a good thing to argue with a mad person.
The teachers that remained were still looking at the old man in a staring way. The headmaster seeing there looks took a goblet from Harry's bedside table and went to where the snake was. The snake seeing the headmaster approach lifted his head and opined his mouth showing his fangs.
"Watch out Albus he may be poisonous" warned Mcgonagall "I will never understand whey you allowed a dangerous creature like that in the school" she said
"ahh Minerva this snake is not as dangerous as you think" said the older men "Quite the contrary.he will help us save one of your students tonight"
"How" asked the small charms professor
"You see, this summer Harry managed to get this very rare magical creature" he started pointing at the snake "it is a Healing Gaboon, and that means that his venom, if mixed with an infusion of bloodroot have the same properties of a phoenix tear"
The headmaster approached the snake that was pleased on a bed next to Harry's. The goblet in the headmaster's hand was only few inches away from the snake.
"If I only mange to take some of his venom we can save the boy" said the old men
In response Aescul hissed and lunched at the goblet in the headmaster's hand, surprising every one. Madam Pomfrey screamed in surprise and closed her eyes, while Mcgonagall covered her mouth thinking the worst had happened. But the snake's intent was to donate some of his venom to save his master, and the old headmaster seemed to realize that in time preventing himself from dropping the goblet.
When the headmaster turned around to face the other teachers holding the goblet looking quite pleased with himself, they sighed in relief. In the goblet there were few drops of yellowish looking venom.
"That was easier then I expected," said the headmaster with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Easier then expected?!? That snake attacked you." Said the assistant headmistress
"Who owns the snake?" asked the headmaster
"Harry only owns that snake only because you gave him permission to keep it," said Mcgonagall angrily
"Yes, and right now it was one of the wisest things I have ever done" replayed the headmaster "and that snake was not attacking me. He wanted to help his young master and wanted to donate some of his venom to help, so he attacked the goblet not me"
In that instant the potion master returned with a small vale containing some clear red liquid in it.
"So headmaster what do you need this for" said the potion master handing the small vale "blood root is quite expensive you know, and it difficult to obtain an infusion from it"
"Well Severus Harry will need more of it if you could provide him with it" said the older men.
The headmaster uncorked the vale and purred few drops in the goblet containing the venom, and mixed it before handing it to madam Pomfrey.
"Give him a drop quickly. It's our only hope," said the old men
Madam Pomfrey nodded and toured on Harry carefully opening his mouth and purring a drop from contents of the goblet in his mouth. Hoping that the headmaster was right.
After few minutes Harry started to give singes of improvement. His body stopped twitching and his breading was more regular. It was evident that Harry was still in pain, but improving none the less.
"It's working" said madam Pomfrey and every one gave a sigh of relief "the poison stopped working, but it still dormant in his system"
"Until we keep giving him a tear every four hours, the poison won't work" said the potion master realizing what type of snake Harry had manage to get "the boy may even come conscious, but very strong pain reducer potions must be given to him. I suggest that he doesn't wake at all until the antidote is complete"
"Good" said Dumbledore "there's still enough potion in the goblet to last the night. Don't waste it; Healing Gaboons are slow in producing their venom"
In that instant the door of the hospital wing burst open and Alan Sylvans the new defense against dark arts teacher entered carrying a goblet in his hands. The potion professor gave him a venomous look before he turned on Dumbledore.
"Well headmaster since we managed to save the boy's life.for now, I'm going to prepare for the antidote he'll need" said the potion professor and turned to go but the old men stopped him.
"Pleas Severus wait" said the headmaster and turned on the other head of house "would you pleas help Severus gather the required ingredients" he said to them "I want the antidote browed as fast as possible"
Snape nodded and turned to leave the hospital wing and the others followed.
"Albeus!" said professor Sylvans at last having the opportunity to talk and Dumbledore acknowledged him with a nod
"Yes Alan? Have you found anything?" asked the old professor
"Sure I did" replayed the doctor "all the goblets on the Gryffindor table head poison in them, but they were enchanted to release it when Harry touched the goblet" he said "Albeus something like this takes time, they must have been hear all day under our very noses"
The old headmaster stayed silent deep in thoughts. This was only a warning from Voldemort. There are faster lethal poisons that could have been used but he didn't. and that he didn't try to poison someone else was some what strange. So why do all of this, and only to the boy? To take away the sense of security they head? No, none of the students did believe that he had returned. He could have even poisoned the teachers table and get rid to the headmaster, but he didn't. why? There must be something more than this.
"Albeus?" said professor Sylvans
Dumbledore was thorn away from his thoughts and looked at the new professor in front of him.
"I will handle this matter personally Alan. Pleas make sure that there aren't any more enchantments on any thing the students may use"
"I will," said professor Sylvans
The headmaster left the hospital wing slowly, once more deep in thoughts looking older then ever.
*
That night for Ron and Hermione was a nightmare. Every one in the Gryffindor common room was asking questions about what happened to Harry, but there answers were not taken seriously.
Most of the Gryffindor like the rest of the school believed what the minister of magic was saying about Harry and the headmaster.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT BELIEVE HIM," shouted Ron at the students around him.
"Because the minister of magic." said one of the seventh year students, but Ron cut him out
"The minister is an old stubborn mule who loves too much the power of his office, and too stupid to take a fifteen year old boy's word. you-know-who has indeed returned" said Ron
"And what proof do you have that what he is saying is not a way he made up to gain more fame than he already have" said another student and the others nodded in agreement. "its all over the paper that he is like that"
"How can you say that?" asked Hermione tears in her eyes "how could you all of you. You've known Harry four years, and can any one say he had done anything to get fame. No you can't because he hates it," she said desperately "you are believing someone that you never knew and that is hiding behind a peace of paper, instead of believing some one that you've known for all this time. Its disgusting"
Every one looked embarrassed after what Hermione had said. All of them know Harry, and that he hated people fusing about him. Knew that he would never do or say something that would hart someone, but instead he would always be there to help someone in time's of need. But the ministers word were more politically effective, and the students refused to believe the truth.
"Alicia, Katie, and you Angelina" said Ron suddenly "you know him more then the others, you played Quidditch together. You spent more time than the others do. You of all people should know better"
"What about the things that Rita Skeeter wrote about him last year?" said some one from behind the crowed surrounding the two friends
At this Ginny head enough, and moved to where Ron and Hermione were.
"And what did Rita Skeeter write about Harry?" she said angrily "did any one believe all that?" continued Ginny advancing dangerously towards the students "if I recall she did write that you-know-who did return, before the minister sent a warrant for her captor. So why would you believe her then, and not now, when one of your friends said the same. I don't care if you believe us or not. We're not gaining any thing if you do. The fact is that YOU-KNOW-WHO DID RETURN and tried to kill Harry to night. If you believe, you may be still in time to save the things you all care about"
With that Ginny stormed up to her dormitory, soon followed by Hermione, Ron and the twins. The rest of the Gryffindors were left to think in silence about what was said that night, before slowly and silently making their way to their beds.
*
"I-it hurts" Harry managed to say trough the pain as he came back to consciousness the next day
He could only feel pain in every inch of his cold body. He couldn't move even if he wonted to, and he was breading with difficulty.
"We know it dose Harry," said a women's voices next to him "but you have to hold on, we are doing all we can to help," she continued
Harry looked around to see who was talking. He saw that it was madam Pomfrey specking.
"Take this it will help with the pain," said the matron helping the boy to drinking the purple potion.
The pain immediately started to ease. It lessened enough to allow him to think and not driving him insane.
"Where is Aescul?" was the first ting Harry asked "is he ok?"
"Calm down Harry" said madam Pomfrey pressing a wet cloth on his forehead "Your snake is on the bed next to yours. He's been helping us to keep you alive"
"And what about silver?" said the boy "is he ok?
"Silver is under your bed," replayed the nurse "no one managed to take him away from your side"
"Ron, Hermione and Ginny. What about my friends?" asked the boy worriedly.
"Every one is fine" said madam Pomfrey annoyed "the only one you should be warred about is yourself. Now drink this and get some sleep," she added helping him drink another potion
Harry immediately felt the unconsciousness over take him in a world of dreamless sleep.
*
The next day after Harry was poisoned the headmaster Albus Dumbledore found himself in the minister of magic's office arguing with the minister himself. The situation at Hogwarts was desperate. Most of the students' had sent letters home informing their relatives about the happenings during the welcome feast. Now Rumors were spreading around like wiled fire. Some said that it was Sirius Black that managed to get in the school and poison Harry. Others said that it was one of the Diggory's trying to take revenge on the boy for killing Cedric. Some went close to the truth saying that it was a death eater, but the ministry soon silenced them.
"You can't ignore the facts any more Fudge," said Dumbledore
"The facts are that you are believing the fantasies of a disturbed boy Dumbledore," replayed the minister "that was only some desperate relative of young Mr. Diggory trying to take justice in their own hands"
"It wasn't any one of the Diggory's," said Dumbledore angrily "they would never."
"They will be punished of course" interrupted the minister like Dumbledore didn't say a word "and the same goes for Mr. Potter. When we'll find proof enough, you will not be abele to protect the boy any more Dumbledore"
"So you are prepared to let all our world be destroyed, just because you're too proud to take the word of a child?" said Dumbledore "as I told you before you love too much the position you hold?"
At this the minister got to his feet looking very angry.
"I tried to be benevolent with you Dumbledore," said the minister angrily "I tried to cover you up, only because you holed a high position in our society, or you would have already been shipped to Azkaban"
"Covered me up? More likely covering your own idiocy Cornelius" replied the angry headmaster
"Don't push my hand Dumbledore, or you'll regret it," said the minister "SAMEL" he cried in the direction of the door.
"To hum will you turn when everything that you hold will crumble in your hands?" said Dumbledore calmly "To me? To the boy? Do you think that people will still follow you when you ignored something like this? Think about it"
In that moment a young men entered the minister's office
"Yes minister? Can I do something for you?" said the young men
"There is nothing that you can bring to my attention Dumbledore," said the minister. Then turned on the young men "Samel would you please escort headmaster Dumbledore to the exit. Our meeting is at an end"
"Certainly sir" said Samel "please follow me professor"
"You're still in time minister. Think about it" said the old professor before turning around and following Samel out of the minister's office
*
Harry passed the last two weeks sleeping trough the pain. He only woke up to be filled with potions, food, and once more being filled with dreamless sleep piton. His energy was getting thin and his system couldn't take the strain much longer. If he would not resave the antidote soon Harry would end up very sick.
All the teachers had been sent in search for the needed ingredients, on the night of the incident. All of them head returned and brought with them all the needed ingredients except for one: a hair given from a nymph.
These creatures are nature's embodiment of physical beauty. They the inhabited tranquil magical forests protected them from any form of evil. They are very rear and hard to find.
Even if you managed to find one you head to deal with its entrancing beauty that would blind or kill at a glance if the creatures felt itself threatened or feeling an evil presence.
Even if the potion master head already started the substitute potion, it was going to take too much time to brew. Time they didn't have to spar, for Harry's condition was worsening fast. And Aescul was getting very weak for the amount to venom he had to produce.
Now there only hope resides on Fawkes the headmaster's phoenix. The beautiful bird had returned few days after Harry was poisoned and head produced few tears for Harry before being sent out once more. This time he was sent in search for nymph, and try to convince the creature to donate one of her hair.
After nearly a week and a half the phoenix had not been seen and every one was starting to loose hope. Until one evening, Harry was in a very bad condition.
"Madam Pomfrey" called Ron from Harry's side "Harry needs your help"
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny head visited Harry every evening after their classis and stayed there until they were allowed. Till that time Harry was always sleeping, still and perfectly calm, but this time he stared sweating and twitching in his sleep.
"What is it" asked the matron as she ran to the boy's side. Her eyes widened and her feathers twisted in horror "what I feared is happening" she said before starting to cast sells on the boy
Hermione, and Ginny were in tears and Ron looked dumbly at his friend.
"Don't just stand there" shouted the matron "go and get the headmaster and professor Snape. Quick"
The three friends ran out of the infirmary as fast as they could to search for the headmaster and the potion professor leaving the nurse to deal with Harry.
The three friends returned few minutes later followed by the headmaster and the piton master to find madam Pomfrey trying to give a potion to the boy.
"what's going on poppy" asked the headmaster
"It is as I feared," said the matron still working on Harry "his body is starting to develop a resistance to the magic of the potions. They are not having any effect on him any more"
"What do you mean" asked the potion master
"The poison is working once more in his system" said the matron
In that moment a beautiful golden bird flew in, from the open window carrying a golden hair in it beak.
"Fawkes" called the headmaster with relief on his feathers "thank Merlin you arrived when you did" he said sowing affection to the bird before turning on to the potion master handing him the golden heir "Severus how long will it take?" he asked finally
"Not more then fifteen minuets, headmaster" said the potion master
"Will he hold that long poppy?" asked the headmaster to the busy matron
"He should professor. I'll do all I can to slow the poison" she said getting several objects from the cupboard next to the boys bed.
"Good I'm on my way headmaster" said Snape running out of the hospital wing
"Will he be ok" asked Ron from where the three friends were watching silently
"I do hope so" said the headmaster "I do hope so"
*
Harry was feeling intents pain in ever inch of his body. It was worst then he remembered it was whenever he woke up. 'What's happening to me? Let me go. I'm tired of this. Please let it end' Harry thought pleadingly. Harry was not awake yet, he could tell by the darkness around him, but He could hear voices around him. When he tried to open his eyes he felt like he was being sucked down in to a vortex of blackness that surrounded him completely.
After the blackness dispersed itself, Harry found out that he was no longer on a bed, but on what looked like an island in the middle of a swamp. All the pain that he felt few minuets ago all disappeared, like it never existed.
'Were am I' he thought 'must be one of my vivid dreams, but how can I be dreaming with all that potion that madam Pomfrey made me drink'
Harry looked around, but all he could see was the swamp that starched for miles strait on to the horizon where a blood red moon was rising. On the middle of the island surrounding a large black crystal, there were four old stone pillars covered with thick vegetation. On top of each pillar there was a statue of a clocked and hooded figure. From under their clocks Harry could see a hand pointing at the middle of the island were the large black crystal was positioned on a small marble pedestal. It had something swirling in it like a vortex of darkness, the same one that broth him here.
Harry looked around once more and slowly made his way in front of the black crystal. When he was only few feet away from the crystal Harry looked up to the statues around him. What he saw make him shiver. Under the hood of each statue there was a pear of red eyes following his every step.
Everything in this place was giving him the creeps. The, ere noises of the creatures that leaved in this swamp, the Redness of the moon on the horizon, the feeling that he was being watched by some one or something in the distance and the blackness of the water around the swamp.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he forced himself to walk in front to the crystal ignoring all his fears and good judgment.
When he reached the crystal and looked in the depths Harry could see faces of people he didn't know. There were Men, women, and small children, all with the same expression of terror on their faces.
Suddenly inside the crystal the vortex sucked the faces in to its depths leaving only darkness for few seconds until a new image appeared.
"Sirius?" gasped Harry
Harry was shocked by what he was seeing. In the crystal there was Sirius laying in the grass unmoving, and himself was crying desperately on his godfather's chest. Around him there were all the teachers of Hogwarts and the headmaster.
The seen swirled in to the depths once more and was replaced by another one. Faces of an old man with dark gray hair and blue eyes appeared in the vortex. Soon two more faces joined him. A woman around her thirties, and a man with the same age, both very close to each other. The men had dark blond hair and brown eyes and the women had black hair and bright blue eyes.
After that more faces joined until all Harry could see were faces covering the entire surface of the crystal.
Once more the swirling stared and the seen changed. This time it was in to his friends, Ron and Hermione. Both looked angry and disgust on their feature.
Harry didn't know why but he didn't want to see this. Some how Harry knew that whatever he was going to see, he will not like it. And he was right.
His friends were looking directly at him angrier then ever he had seen them. He felt himself crumble under their furious gaze, and his hart being squeezed in pain for what he was seeing.
"Ron? Hermione?" he said knowing that his friends couldn't hear him.
Ron was opining and closing his mouth, but no sound was coming out, but Harry could still make some of the words he was saying, and he didn't like it at all.
For the last time the swirling started once more and the seen changed to revile the person he didn't want to see in this crystal.
"No Ginny not you" said Harry with tears blurring his vision.
The expression on Ginny's beautiful feathers made Harry feel like he wonted to hide under a rock and die a thousand of deaths. She was angry at him and disgusted of him. He could feel these emotions from the crystal.
Like her brother head done Ginny was speaking to him but no sound was coming out of her mouth. Like with her brother Harry could make some words from her mouth.
Tears started to flow from Ginny's eyes and said the last two words that would change Harry for ever
"I hate you" she had said and the crystal exploded surrounding him in to darkness once more.
Ters: sorry for taking so long I'm trying to do my best.
Kaye: I'm happy that you like it. As for my speed and spelling I'm trying.
wowsergirl: I'm happy that you like my story so much. And this chapter has no cliffie, you may be pleased with that
Pakerin Pyros: 1st thanks for your revue. Now all I can tell you is that it was not a blond Slytherin that did it. As for his lycanthropy, Harry is not a werewolf. A werewolf is a cursed type of lycanthropy Harry's is a gift. So Harry isn't immortal like werewolf and silver is not poisonous to him. All Harry got from that binding were some wolf like abilities and a loyal friend.
the counter: it has some romance in it, and this may drive Harry to do cretin tings, but it is more an action, I think.
Anja10: thanks for your support
star estrella: happy that you like it
Iniysa: hope you like this ending (
MiruSedna: there you go, its finaly here
LaterosevBlack: yeh I love wolfs. I find some nobility in them, and wonted to put that in Harry. Gled you like it though
Cristine: thanks for that. Don't worry I don't plan on abandoning this one, even if I am strangled by work.
Kaye: pleas don't be so angry at me( I am trying, I'm really am
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Hi there. I have finally managed to update the story. I know that I am taking too long to Wright this story, but it's not something I am abele to control. A month or so after I started this story a huge lode of work came up, and till now am barley abele to sleep. I still wonted to Wright this though. I know that my story is nothing special or long enough for making you wait so long, But pleas try to understand my position. Hopefully soon I will be abele to write sooner that I am now, and I would have a long awaited brake from all the work. Pleas revue and tell me what you think about this story, that way I know that some one is actually reading this. Not forgetting those who did, a big : THANKS
Any way hope you like this part, well at least those who won't to give me a chance (
A big thanks to Michael for editing this chapter:
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE BLACK CRYSTAL
Harry's unconscious body was immediately taken to the infirmary by the four head of house and the headmaster, where madam Pomfrey started a fight against time to save the boy's life.
"The poison is spreading fast," said the matron after taking the boys clothes off, and magically taking Aescul from his neck and placing it on the bed next to Harry's. "We need an antidote quickly," she continued purring few drops of some green liquid in the boy mouth.
His body was twitching in pain and sweat was covering his flash were madam Pomfrey head taken his clothes off.
"Did you determine what type of poison is it?" asked the potion master calmly as he sat on one of the chairs next to the beds in the infirmary. "It won't take long to go to my office and get the antidote he needs," he continued after making himself comfortable.
Professor Mcgonagall looked angrily at the potion master for his calm reactions to the event
"I don't know this type of poison," replayed madam Pomfrey desperately
"At lest you can tell me the symptoms. So I can figure it out for you" said the potion master.
"The poison is slowly destroying his blood, his hart and lungs were expending in his chest suffocating him" started madam Pomfrey "I've never seen a poison doing these symptoms or act as fast. The boy may have a strong body due to his new gift, but his system still can't fight it"
The potion master paled at this and jumped to his feet "impossible" he gasped, "It can't be the Cruentus Leto potion"
"Do you have the antidote Severus?" asked the headmaster
Snape looked at the headmaster horrified and shook his head "I never thought I would be needing it agene.how did a death-eater managed to get in hear"
"We don't have time to question ourselves how did they manage to poison the boy," said the headmaster "can you brew the antidote Severus?"
"By the time it will be finished it will be too late. At least with the ingredients I have in my store" said the potion master.
"Explain yourself Severus," asked the headmaster
"This potion can be brewed in two ways" started the potion master "one is composed of several rare ingredients such as: assassin vine, fangs from a chimera, an arrowhawk father, and a hair given from a nymph.The other is made up from several potions which replace these ingredients."
"But it would take too long" interrupted Mcgonagall
"A month" said the potion master "and potter only have an hour"
"An hour?" asked professor Sprout
"Is there another way to save him?" asked professor Mcgonagall
The potion master shook his head "no there." he stopped what he was saying and looked at the headmaster hopefully "Fawkes" he said
"What about the headmaster's phoenix?" asked madam Pomfrey as she was giving Harry another potion trying to slow down the poison effects on him.
Snape looked annoyingly at the matron "a phoenix tear is the weak point of this type of poison. It won't be enough to cure him completely but it will give us time to brew the antidote" he explained. "He will have to take a tear every four hours until the potion would be ready"
"Alas.my phoenix is not available at the moment" said the headmaster sadly
"What??" shouted professor Mcgonagall "there must be something we can do. We can't leave him to die like this," she continued with tearful eyes
Every one stayed silent until the headmaster burst in to laughter. The four professors and the matron looked at him strangely. Thinking that the old man head finally gone mad, not that he had ever been completely sane.
"Harry's snake" he said finally after calming a bit "quickly, Severus go get an infusion of bloodroot. There is not much time left"
The potion professor, confused, left the hospital wing on the intent of carrying the headmaster's request. It was never a good thing to argue with a mad person.
The teachers that remained were still looking at the old man in a staring way. The headmaster seeing there looks took a goblet from Harry's bedside table and went to where the snake was. The snake seeing the headmaster approach lifted his head and opined his mouth showing his fangs.
"Watch out Albus he may be poisonous" warned Mcgonagall "I will never understand whey you allowed a dangerous creature like that in the school" she said
"ahh Minerva this snake is not as dangerous as you think" said the older men "Quite the contrary.he will help us save one of your students tonight"
"How" asked the small charms professor
"You see, this summer Harry managed to get this very rare magical creature" he started pointing at the snake "it is a Healing Gaboon, and that means that his venom, if mixed with an infusion of bloodroot have the same properties of a phoenix tear"
The headmaster approached the snake that was pleased on a bed next to Harry's. The goblet in the headmaster's hand was only few inches away from the snake.
"If I only mange to take some of his venom we can save the boy" said the old men
In response Aescul hissed and lunched at the goblet in the headmaster's hand, surprising every one. Madam Pomfrey screamed in surprise and closed her eyes, while Mcgonagall covered her mouth thinking the worst had happened. But the snake's intent was to donate some of his venom to save his master, and the old headmaster seemed to realize that in time preventing himself from dropping the goblet.
When the headmaster turned around to face the other teachers holding the goblet looking quite pleased with himself, they sighed in relief. In the goblet there were few drops of yellowish looking venom.
"That was easier then I expected," said the headmaster with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Easier then expected?!? That snake attacked you." Said the assistant headmistress
"Who owns the snake?" asked the headmaster
"Harry only owns that snake only because you gave him permission to keep it," said Mcgonagall angrily
"Yes, and right now it was one of the wisest things I have ever done" replayed the headmaster "and that snake was not attacking me. He wanted to help his young master and wanted to donate some of his venom to help, so he attacked the goblet not me"
In that instant the potion master returned with a small vale containing some clear red liquid in it.
"So headmaster what do you need this for" said the potion master handing the small vale "blood root is quite expensive you know, and it difficult to obtain an infusion from it"
"Well Severus Harry will need more of it if you could provide him with it" said the older men.
The headmaster uncorked the vale and purred few drops in the goblet containing the venom, and mixed it before handing it to madam Pomfrey.
"Give him a drop quickly. It's our only hope," said the old men
Madam Pomfrey nodded and toured on Harry carefully opening his mouth and purring a drop from contents of the goblet in his mouth. Hoping that the headmaster was right.
After few minutes Harry started to give singes of improvement. His body stopped twitching and his breading was more regular. It was evident that Harry was still in pain, but improving none the less.
"It's working" said madam Pomfrey and every one gave a sigh of relief "the poison stopped working, but it still dormant in his system"
"Until we keep giving him a tear every four hours, the poison won't work" said the potion master realizing what type of snake Harry had manage to get "the boy may even come conscious, but very strong pain reducer potions must be given to him. I suggest that he doesn't wake at all until the antidote is complete"
"Good" said Dumbledore "there's still enough potion in the goblet to last the night. Don't waste it; Healing Gaboons are slow in producing their venom"
In that instant the door of the hospital wing burst open and Alan Sylvans the new defense against dark arts teacher entered carrying a goblet in his hands. The potion professor gave him a venomous look before he turned on Dumbledore.
"Well headmaster since we managed to save the boy's life.for now, I'm going to prepare for the antidote he'll need" said the potion professor and turned to go but the old men stopped him.
"Pleas Severus wait" said the headmaster and turned on the other head of house "would you pleas help Severus gather the required ingredients" he said to them "I want the antidote browed as fast as possible"
Snape nodded and turned to leave the hospital wing and the others followed.
"Albeus!" said professor Sylvans at last having the opportunity to talk and Dumbledore acknowledged him with a nod
"Yes Alan? Have you found anything?" asked the old professor
"Sure I did" replayed the doctor "all the goblets on the Gryffindor table head poison in them, but they were enchanted to release it when Harry touched the goblet" he said "Albeus something like this takes time, they must have been hear all day under our very noses"
The old headmaster stayed silent deep in thoughts. This was only a warning from Voldemort. There are faster lethal poisons that could have been used but he didn't. and that he didn't try to poison someone else was some what strange. So why do all of this, and only to the boy? To take away the sense of security they head? No, none of the students did believe that he had returned. He could have even poisoned the teachers table and get rid to the headmaster, but he didn't. why? There must be something more than this.
"Albeus?" said professor Sylvans
Dumbledore was thorn away from his thoughts and looked at the new professor in front of him.
"I will handle this matter personally Alan. Pleas make sure that there aren't any more enchantments on any thing the students may use"
"I will," said professor Sylvans
The headmaster left the hospital wing slowly, once more deep in thoughts looking older then ever.
*
That night for Ron and Hermione was a nightmare. Every one in the Gryffindor common room was asking questions about what happened to Harry, but there answers were not taken seriously.
Most of the Gryffindor like the rest of the school believed what the minister of magic was saying about Harry and the headmaster.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT BELIEVE HIM," shouted Ron at the students around him.
"Because the minister of magic." said one of the seventh year students, but Ron cut him out
"The minister is an old stubborn mule who loves too much the power of his office, and too stupid to take a fifteen year old boy's word. you-know-who has indeed returned" said Ron
"And what proof do you have that what he is saying is not a way he made up to gain more fame than he already have" said another student and the others nodded in agreement. "its all over the paper that he is like that"
"How can you say that?" asked Hermione tears in her eyes "how could you all of you. You've known Harry four years, and can any one say he had done anything to get fame. No you can't because he hates it," she said desperately "you are believing someone that you never knew and that is hiding behind a peace of paper, instead of believing some one that you've known for all this time. Its disgusting"
Every one looked embarrassed after what Hermione had said. All of them know Harry, and that he hated people fusing about him. Knew that he would never do or say something that would hart someone, but instead he would always be there to help someone in time's of need. But the ministers word were more politically effective, and the students refused to believe the truth.
"Alicia, Katie, and you Angelina" said Ron suddenly "you know him more then the others, you played Quidditch together. You spent more time than the others do. You of all people should know better"
"What about the things that Rita Skeeter wrote about him last year?" said some one from behind the crowed surrounding the two friends
At this Ginny head enough, and moved to where Ron and Hermione were.
"And what did Rita Skeeter write about Harry?" she said angrily "did any one believe all that?" continued Ginny advancing dangerously towards the students "if I recall she did write that you-know-who did return, before the minister sent a warrant for her captor. So why would you believe her then, and not now, when one of your friends said the same. I don't care if you believe us or not. We're not gaining any thing if you do. The fact is that YOU-KNOW-WHO DID RETURN and tried to kill Harry to night. If you believe, you may be still in time to save the things you all care about"
With that Ginny stormed up to her dormitory, soon followed by Hermione, Ron and the twins. The rest of the Gryffindors were left to think in silence about what was said that night, before slowly and silently making their way to their beds.
*
"I-it hurts" Harry managed to say trough the pain as he came back to consciousness the next day
He could only feel pain in every inch of his cold body. He couldn't move even if he wonted to, and he was breading with difficulty.
"We know it dose Harry," said a women's voices next to him "but you have to hold on, we are doing all we can to help," she continued
Harry looked around to see who was talking. He saw that it was madam Pomfrey specking.
"Take this it will help with the pain," said the matron helping the boy to drinking the purple potion.
The pain immediately started to ease. It lessened enough to allow him to think and not driving him insane.
"Where is Aescul?" was the first ting Harry asked "is he ok?"
"Calm down Harry" said madam Pomfrey pressing a wet cloth on his forehead "Your snake is on the bed next to yours. He's been helping us to keep you alive"
"And what about silver?" said the boy "is he ok?
"Silver is under your bed," replayed the nurse "no one managed to take him away from your side"
"Ron, Hermione and Ginny. What about my friends?" asked the boy worriedly.
"Every one is fine" said madam Pomfrey annoyed "the only one you should be warred about is yourself. Now drink this and get some sleep," she added helping him drink another potion
Harry immediately felt the unconsciousness over take him in a world of dreamless sleep.
*
The next day after Harry was poisoned the headmaster Albus Dumbledore found himself in the minister of magic's office arguing with the minister himself. The situation at Hogwarts was desperate. Most of the students' had sent letters home informing their relatives about the happenings during the welcome feast. Now Rumors were spreading around like wiled fire. Some said that it was Sirius Black that managed to get in the school and poison Harry. Others said that it was one of the Diggory's trying to take revenge on the boy for killing Cedric. Some went close to the truth saying that it was a death eater, but the ministry soon silenced them.
"You can't ignore the facts any more Fudge," said Dumbledore
"The facts are that you are believing the fantasies of a disturbed boy Dumbledore," replayed the minister "that was only some desperate relative of young Mr. Diggory trying to take justice in their own hands"
"It wasn't any one of the Diggory's," said Dumbledore angrily "they would never."
"They will be punished of course" interrupted the minister like Dumbledore didn't say a word "and the same goes for Mr. Potter. When we'll find proof enough, you will not be abele to protect the boy any more Dumbledore"
"So you are prepared to let all our world be destroyed, just because you're too proud to take the word of a child?" said Dumbledore "as I told you before you love too much the position you hold?"
At this the minister got to his feet looking very angry.
"I tried to be benevolent with you Dumbledore," said the minister angrily "I tried to cover you up, only because you holed a high position in our society, or you would have already been shipped to Azkaban"
"Covered me up? More likely covering your own idiocy Cornelius" replied the angry headmaster
"Don't push my hand Dumbledore, or you'll regret it," said the minister "SAMEL" he cried in the direction of the door.
"To hum will you turn when everything that you hold will crumble in your hands?" said Dumbledore calmly "To me? To the boy? Do you think that people will still follow you when you ignored something like this? Think about it"
In that moment a young men entered the minister's office
"Yes minister? Can I do something for you?" said the young men
"There is nothing that you can bring to my attention Dumbledore," said the minister. Then turned on the young men "Samel would you please escort headmaster Dumbledore to the exit. Our meeting is at an end"
"Certainly sir" said Samel "please follow me professor"
"You're still in time minister. Think about it" said the old professor before turning around and following Samel out of the minister's office
*
Harry passed the last two weeks sleeping trough the pain. He only woke up to be filled with potions, food, and once more being filled with dreamless sleep piton. His energy was getting thin and his system couldn't take the strain much longer. If he would not resave the antidote soon Harry would end up very sick.
All the teachers had been sent in search for the needed ingredients, on the night of the incident. All of them head returned and brought with them all the needed ingredients except for one: a hair given from a nymph.
These creatures are nature's embodiment of physical beauty. They the inhabited tranquil magical forests protected them from any form of evil. They are very rear and hard to find.
Even if you managed to find one you head to deal with its entrancing beauty that would blind or kill at a glance if the creatures felt itself threatened or feeling an evil presence.
Even if the potion master head already started the substitute potion, it was going to take too much time to brew. Time they didn't have to spar, for Harry's condition was worsening fast. And Aescul was getting very weak for the amount to venom he had to produce.
Now there only hope resides on Fawkes the headmaster's phoenix. The beautiful bird had returned few days after Harry was poisoned and head produced few tears for Harry before being sent out once more. This time he was sent in search for nymph, and try to convince the creature to donate one of her hair.
After nearly a week and a half the phoenix had not been seen and every one was starting to loose hope. Until one evening, Harry was in a very bad condition.
"Madam Pomfrey" called Ron from Harry's side "Harry needs your help"
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny head visited Harry every evening after their classis and stayed there until they were allowed. Till that time Harry was always sleeping, still and perfectly calm, but this time he stared sweating and twitching in his sleep.
"What is it" asked the matron as she ran to the boy's side. Her eyes widened and her feathers twisted in horror "what I feared is happening" she said before starting to cast sells on the boy
Hermione, and Ginny were in tears and Ron looked dumbly at his friend.
"Don't just stand there" shouted the matron "go and get the headmaster and professor Snape. Quick"
The three friends ran out of the infirmary as fast as they could to search for the headmaster and the potion professor leaving the nurse to deal with Harry.
The three friends returned few minutes later followed by the headmaster and the piton master to find madam Pomfrey trying to give a potion to the boy.
"what's going on poppy" asked the headmaster
"It is as I feared," said the matron still working on Harry "his body is starting to develop a resistance to the magic of the potions. They are not having any effect on him any more"
"What do you mean" asked the potion master
"The poison is working once more in his system" said the matron
In that moment a beautiful golden bird flew in, from the open window carrying a golden hair in it beak.
"Fawkes" called the headmaster with relief on his feathers "thank Merlin you arrived when you did" he said sowing affection to the bird before turning on to the potion master handing him the golden heir "Severus how long will it take?" he asked finally
"Not more then fifteen minuets, headmaster" said the potion master
"Will he hold that long poppy?" asked the headmaster to the busy matron
"He should professor. I'll do all I can to slow the poison" she said getting several objects from the cupboard next to the boys bed.
"Good I'm on my way headmaster" said Snape running out of the hospital wing
"Will he be ok" asked Ron from where the three friends were watching silently
"I do hope so" said the headmaster "I do hope so"
*
Harry was feeling intents pain in ever inch of his body. It was worst then he remembered it was whenever he woke up. 'What's happening to me? Let me go. I'm tired of this. Please let it end' Harry thought pleadingly. Harry was not awake yet, he could tell by the darkness around him, but He could hear voices around him. When he tried to open his eyes he felt like he was being sucked down in to a vortex of blackness that surrounded him completely.
After the blackness dispersed itself, Harry found out that he was no longer on a bed, but on what looked like an island in the middle of a swamp. All the pain that he felt few minuets ago all disappeared, like it never existed.
'Were am I' he thought 'must be one of my vivid dreams, but how can I be dreaming with all that potion that madam Pomfrey made me drink'
Harry looked around, but all he could see was the swamp that starched for miles strait on to the horizon where a blood red moon was rising. On the middle of the island surrounding a large black crystal, there were four old stone pillars covered with thick vegetation. On top of each pillar there was a statue of a clocked and hooded figure. From under their clocks Harry could see a hand pointing at the middle of the island were the large black crystal was positioned on a small marble pedestal. It had something swirling in it like a vortex of darkness, the same one that broth him here.
Harry looked around once more and slowly made his way in front of the black crystal. When he was only few feet away from the crystal Harry looked up to the statues around him. What he saw make him shiver. Under the hood of each statue there was a pear of red eyes following his every step.
Everything in this place was giving him the creeps. The, ere noises of the creatures that leaved in this swamp, the Redness of the moon on the horizon, the feeling that he was being watched by some one or something in the distance and the blackness of the water around the swamp.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he forced himself to walk in front to the crystal ignoring all his fears and good judgment.
When he reached the crystal and looked in the depths Harry could see faces of people he didn't know. There were Men, women, and small children, all with the same expression of terror on their faces.
Suddenly inside the crystal the vortex sucked the faces in to its depths leaving only darkness for few seconds until a new image appeared.
"Sirius?" gasped Harry
Harry was shocked by what he was seeing. In the crystal there was Sirius laying in the grass unmoving, and himself was crying desperately on his godfather's chest. Around him there were all the teachers of Hogwarts and the headmaster.
The seen swirled in to the depths once more and was replaced by another one. Faces of an old man with dark gray hair and blue eyes appeared in the vortex. Soon two more faces joined him. A woman around her thirties, and a man with the same age, both very close to each other. The men had dark blond hair and brown eyes and the women had black hair and bright blue eyes.
After that more faces joined until all Harry could see were faces covering the entire surface of the crystal.
Once more the swirling stared and the seen changed. This time it was in to his friends, Ron and Hermione. Both looked angry and disgust on their feature.
Harry didn't know why but he didn't want to see this. Some how Harry knew that whatever he was going to see, he will not like it. And he was right.
His friends were looking directly at him angrier then ever he had seen them. He felt himself crumble under their furious gaze, and his hart being squeezed in pain for what he was seeing.
"Ron? Hermione?" he said knowing that his friends couldn't hear him.
Ron was opining and closing his mouth, but no sound was coming out, but Harry could still make some of the words he was saying, and he didn't like it at all.
For the last time the swirling started once more and the seen changed to revile the person he didn't want to see in this crystal.
"No Ginny not you" said Harry with tears blurring his vision.
The expression on Ginny's beautiful feathers made Harry feel like he wonted to hide under a rock and die a thousand of deaths. She was angry at him and disgusted of him. He could feel these emotions from the crystal.
Like her brother head done Ginny was speaking to him but no sound was coming out of her mouth. Like with her brother Harry could make some words from her mouth.
Tears started to flow from Ginny's eyes and said the last two words that would change Harry for ever
"I hate you" she had said and the crystal exploded surrounding him in to darkness once more.
Ters: sorry for taking so long I'm trying to do my best.
Kaye: I'm happy that you like it. As for my speed and spelling I'm trying.
wowsergirl: I'm happy that you like my story so much. And this chapter has no cliffie, you may be pleased with that
Pakerin Pyros: 1st thanks for your revue. Now all I can tell you is that it was not a blond Slytherin that did it. As for his lycanthropy, Harry is not a werewolf. A werewolf is a cursed type of lycanthropy Harry's is a gift. So Harry isn't immortal like werewolf and silver is not poisonous to him. All Harry got from that binding were some wolf like abilities and a loyal friend.
the counter: it has some romance in it, and this may drive Harry to do cretin tings, but it is more an action, I think.
Anja10: thanks for your support
star estrella: happy that you like it
Iniysa: hope you like this ending (
MiruSedna: there you go, its finaly here
LaterosevBlack: yeh I love wolfs. I find some nobility in them, and wonted to put that in Harry. Gled you like it though
Cristine: thanks for that. Don't worry I don't plan on abandoning this one, even if I am strangled by work.
Kaye: pleas don't be so angry at me( I am trying, I'm really am
