Silver Blood
Chapter 17: The Problems Begin
Happy. That was the only thought able to come to his mind. The memories, the nightmares he went through that had been swarming so close in the dark were long forgotten. It was comforting, warm and inviting, like an endless bliss floating through his veins...
Harry scrunched his eyes though they were still shut. He could suddenly feel hot and cold flashes running throughout his body. The feeling of weightlessness left as he felt the feeling in his fingers coming back, then his legs and slowly everywhere else. He moved his fingers, bending and flexing them to make sure he wasn't imagining it.
His eyes were still shut but he listened closely for any noises. He thought he could hear a faint sound close by. Carefully Harry rose his hand to touch his face. He felt a bit cool but he was no longer numb. He could feel...everything. His lips stretched as a smile overcame his face. It felt like so long since he had felt anything.
Harry realized his eyes were still closed. His eyelids felt heavier than they had even in the dark place that was so cold and lonely. At first Harry couldn't see anything, like his pupils had just disappeared even though his eyes had now opened. He blinked and soon a blurry vision of the Hospital Wing came into view.
Harry reached over to the small bureau next to the bed for his glasses, but they weren't there. Harry pushed himself into a sitting position to get a better look on the table and held his breath at the sight that greeted him. Sirius had his head on the end of the bed snoring softly. That explained the sound Harry had heard. Across from Sirius was Hermione who also had her head on the bed with her arms sprawled beside her. Harry could feel his eyes watering as he saw Ron snoring, a little more loudly than Sirius, in the chair beside Hermione, with his head resting on his arm. Remus was there too resting quietly in the chair beside Ron's.
Harry barely noticed the large smile on his face as he carefully crawled out of the bed. They had stood beside the bed, probably getting barely any sleep, waiting for Harry to wake up. They all cared about him just as much as he cared for them. That voice hissing to him in the darkness lied to him, and now everything was clear again. Harry remembered what happened in the Ministry, how he had been tricked into seeing illusions of his worst fears.
Voldemort...
Harry's eyes widened. How long had he been like that? Had Sirius seen Voldemort when he went to get Harry? Suddenly, all the good feelings vanished as reality hit him. Voldemort had done that for a reason, he always had a reason for his actions. He needed Harry out of the way, but what could he possibly be planning this time around? He didn't have his wand and all of the Death Eaters who stood beside him a few years back were all in Azkaban. Now Fudge was dead too, so unless there were some other Death Eaters the Ministry and Dumbledore didn't know about, Voldemort was working alone this time.
Even if he somehow could do whatever he's planning alone, I survived whatever curse he used against me. Does he know I'm alive? Will that ruin his plans?
Harry paused in his thinking replaying past events when Voldemort had been coming to power. Most of the time it was Harry who was his main target since he usually stood in the way of Voldemort's goals. He was always at the top of the list...
But was this time the same? Harry hadn't felt Voldemort's presence, which was very strange. After his fifth year he could always feel Voldemort's emotions so he knew how powerful he was. He defeated Voldemort again last year and then he couldn't feel anything, it was like his scar went numb. He couldn't even feel Voldemort's presence in Mr. Weasley's office at the Ministry, but what did that mean?
Perhaps Voldemort was dead and he was just a spirit trying to finish off Harry, maybe that's why Harry couldn't sense him. But then again, Voldemort had eternal life, he couldn't die. And once again, Voldemort had failed to kill Harry, so his plans were most likely ruined. But why did Harry feel it was too easy? He still couldn't feel anything in his scar, no sign if Voldemort was still alive or around planning something. He needed to speak with Dumbledore as soon as possible.
Harry rubbed his eyes to try and clear the blurriness even though he knew it wouldn't help. Where were his glasses? Did they take them away because they thought he really wouldn't wake up? Had they thought he was...
A soft grumbling caught Harry's attention. He turned and looked down past all the hospital beds and noticed that a small cushioned chair had been placed in the corner at the end of the room. No doubt someone had magically summoned it there. Harry could just make out a figure snoozing calmly in it. He approached it, getting closer until he could've reached out and touched it. He squinted, trying to make out who it was. He saw a white hat on the top of the person's head and knew right away it was Madam Pomprey. Even she had probably exhausted herself trying to help save him.
Another small smile crossed Harry's lips. Because of his lack of vision he didn't notice a slight stir of movement behind him. A head of bushy hair rose up slightly making no sound. The figure rubbed her eyes and pushed her hair back out of her face. She glanced at Sirius who was dead asleep and then at Ron who was snoring softly. She stopped herself from rolling her eyes, remembering why they were there. She turned ready to stay put for endless hours holding Harry's hand and...
She realized there was no hand. Harry was gone. Did they take him away? Was he really...
No, it can't be. Harry's too strong, he'd make it. Oh please, please, let me be dreaming!
Hermione jumped up as fresh tears welled in her eyes. She could feel her body shaking with fear at the thought that one of her best friends was gone. If there had been a mirror around she probably would've looked deathly pale and sick, but it was the stress of watching Harry on his death bed then waking to find she couldn't even say goodbye.
Panicking won't help, a strong voice in the back of her mind told her. If I find Madam Pomprey she'll know what happened to Harry.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself, feeling the color come back to her face. She was glad she had a voice of reason. Madam Pomprey surely wouldn't have given up on Harry so quickly. She might've even taken Harry down into the dungeons to see if Snape had more of that potion he had made. Hermione momentarily wondered how long Snape had worked on that potion, brewing it and mixing just the right amount and the right ingredients until he was sure it would help Harry. So far it hadn't shown any signs of improvement, but Hermione knew if there was anyone in the world who knew potions like the back of their hand, it'd be Professor Snape.
Hermione nodded to herself as a reassurance, trying to think where Madam Pomprey could be. Then she remembered the last time she had seen her, before she had fallen asleep on the bed, she had been summoning a small blue cushioned chair to take a rest. Hermione had also been thinking of doing that but she wanted to be able to hold Harry's hand. For some reason, she felt if Harry could somehow unconsciously feel her, it would help him to hear them calling out to him.
Sighing again, Hermione turned around in the direction where she had seen Madam Pomprey summoning the chair. Her heart felt like it stopped in mid beat as her eyes locked with the back of a familiar form standing before the chair. Harry's hair was more messy than usual, but his expression was peaceful as he smiled down at Madam Pomprey, almost as if nothing had happened to him. Hermione's lip quivered as she felt all her worry disappear, relief, happiness, and gratefulness washing over her. All the endless hours of crying suddenly forgotten.
Without warning Hermione had ran toward him, tears streaming down her face and her hair flying wildly about her shoulders. She tackled into him from behind, a part of her wanting to make sure he was real.
Harry had been lost in old memories when he suddenly felt a harsh squeeze before he found himself plummeting to the floor. Harry didn't even have time to react so instead the weight fell on top of him. He could barely breathe between being suffocated by the arms squeezing him from behind and his face crushed against the floor. He heard the sobs before a familiar voice rang in his ear.
"Harry! Oh Harry, you're alive! I knew it, I knew you'd make it!"
Harry blinked trying not to pass out from lack of oxygen, as the figure continued to sob on his back.
"Hermione?" he croaked.
He felt the weight lift off of him so he could finally breathe. He gasped for breath before sitting up and turning to face her. Hermione appeared the same, though she looked like she could do with a bit of sleep. Her face was covered with tears, though half of them were soaked onto his robe. He couldn't see her clearly because his vision was still blurry, but she was close enough so he could see bits and pieces. Hermione was still sobbing lightly staring at him. She opened and closed her mouth a couple times before she swung her arms tightly around him sobbing on his shoulder. Harry patted her back a bit awkwardly, knowing Hermione had a very sensitive side which she only showed to him and Ron.
Hermione's sobs had grown loud enough that other figures were stirring. Sirius was the first to wake up. He jumped up out of a dead sleep so fast he almost tipped over. Remus calmly rubbed his eyes. It only took them a minute before they realized the sound that woke them was Hermione crying.
"Hermione?" Sirius whispered looking at the spot where she was laying.
"Sirius!" Remus exclaimed.
Sirius turned to where he was looking and saw that Harry wasn't laying in bed anymore.
"No," he shook his head. "NO!"
He threw himself in the spot Harry was laying shaking his head back and forth and pounding his first into the pillow.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" he exclaimed, finally letting his long awaited tears slide down his face.
He had wanted to be strong for Harry, but now all he could do was lay where Harry had been on his death bed.
Remus too had a grief-stricken expression on his face until he turned and saw the sight behind them. A large grin spread across his face.
"Actually Sirius, this was supposed to happen."
"What?" Sirius looked up shocked. "How could you..."
It was then he saw Harry kneeling on the floor looking anything but dead, holding Hermione who was crying hysterically. Before Remus could blink Sirius had jumped out of his chair and run to Harry, smothering both him and Hermione into a giant hug.
"You're alive! Oh God, Harry, we were all so worried!"
Harry mumbled something incoherent since his face was buried in Sirius' robe. Sirius released his grip somewhat so Harry could lift his head. Sirius was about to say more about how he was scared he would fail Lily and James, and how he wanted to know exactly what happened, but the expression on Harry's face stopped him. Harry was pale and his eyes were wide, looking tired and very large especially without his glasses.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Sirius asked concerned.
"I...can't...breathe," Harry sputtered.
Sirius quickly let him go and Harry gasped for breath, the color in his face returning to a healthy shade. Sirius felt Harry's forehead, sighing with relief when he felt he was back to normal. Suddenly Sirius' expression grew stern. He pointed a finger at him.
"You're grounded."
Harry's mouth fell opened at his Godfather's words.
"What? But...why?"
"For almost dying! You scared us all half to death!" Sirius said, his tone still stern.
Harry opened his mouth looking both shocked and appalled.
"But...it wasn't my fault...," Harry began.
Sirius' lips curled into a smile and he pulled him into another, but not as suffocating, hug. Remus walked up behind Sirius smiling the entire time. Madam Pomprey had heard the commotion and woken to see a sight she never thought she'd see again. Remus was smiling cheerfully like old times watching Sirius and Harry, who were currently embracing. Hermione looked sweet and just as happy smiling with tears sliding down her cheeks. And Ron...well, he was still snoring.
"Bless my soul," Madam Pomprey said standing up.
Harry and Sirius broke apart as Madam Pomprey approached Harry and gave him a quick check-over to make sure he was all right.
"Well, it appears Professor Snape's potion worked after all," she smiled, sighing with relief.
"What? Professor Snape was here?" Harry asked surprised.
"Here? He saved your life, Harry," Hermione said grasping his arm.
"He did?"
Madam Pomprey nodded, "Yes, you were truly a goner Mr. Potter. Your condition was out of my hands. Even my best healing potion didn't work on you. I figured out later that the extra bottle of it I had in my old cupboard was gone. I was going to save it for you, in case the first batch wasn't enough," she explained. "It's rare nowadays. It makes sense though, Severus must've taken it to help brew a very rare and potent potion. I can't believe he finished it all in one night. That would take any potion maker a couple weeks to a month."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Professor Snape had again gone out of his way to save him, even after giving him and Ron such a miserable time last year.
"Madam Pomprey, what was it that Professor Snape made? I thought that the potion didn't work," Hermione said, all ready in her study mode.
Madam Pomprey smiled, "Well, that's what makes him an expert at potion making, one of the best in all of Europe I would say after making that potion. What he did was something so complicated that he wouldn't even teach the seventh years that chapter. It's called Potion Synthesis Making."
Hermione gasped, "No way, that's...that's genius work material."
Harry turned to Hermione utterly confused, "What is?"
"Synthesis are extremely difficult to do, Harry. It's where you take the base of the potion you want to work with and create another synthesis, which is another variation of that potion only usually much more potent than the original. Trying to figure out the right ingredients to add to keep it the same potion so it's use doesn't change, and having it be a stronger variation of that potion, especially with such a rare potion in the first place, is beyond comprehensible to even Dumbledore!"
Harry didn't understand everything she said, but got the point across. Snape had worked more than hard just to keep Harry alive, probably getting no sleep at all slaving over the potion. He swallowed the lump in his throat. It would be hard to hate Snape and glare at him when he took points away coming seventh year. No matter how much he hated Snape, or how cruel Snape was to him, that couldn't compare with saving his life once again, especially since Madam Pomprey couldn't do anything for him.
"I believe that's why Dumbledore chose him for that job in the first place," Remus added.
Sirius made a noise but didn't say anything. He obviously didn't want to believe Snape had a soft side, no matter how small that side was.
"Where are my glasses?" Harry asked, remembering he couldn't see much at all.
That question seemed to surprise Madam Pomprey.
"Well...I don't know, you didn't have them on when you were brought to me."
Sirius looked grimly at them, "He didn't have them on when we found him at the Ministry either."
Harry decided it best not to look Sirius in the eye at the moment. He didn't want to replay what had happened just yet, not until everything was clear and he had some rest.
"When was the last time you had them?" Remus asked in his calm, authoritative voice.
Harry's eyebrows scrunched together as he thought hard. The last time he had his glasses was in the Minister's office, where Voldemort had...
Harry looked up at them as they waited for his answer.
"The last time I had them was when Voldemort was putting that curse on me," Harry answered, not beating around the bush this time.
It had been too many years that Voldemort had caused a disturbance. The world all ready knew Voldemort had come back to power, only they thought he had died after the last time Harry defeated him.
"He's alive?!" Sirius shouted, causing Ron to grunt in his sleep.
All the smiles disappeared as the seriousness of the situation took effect. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, he's alive. He kept trying to convince me everyone had betrayed me, then he must've taken my glasses."
"Why would he take your glasses?" Madam Pomprey asked.
Madam Pomprey was also used to hearing about Voldemort since Harry had been in her hands more than enough times and talking about it with Sirius, Remus, Hermione and the Weasleys. She even knew all about the Order of the Phoenix and how Dumbledore often helped Harry prepare.
"Wait!" Hermione's eyes lit up with concern. "What about your wand?"
Harry quickly dove his hand into his pocket and found that his wand was missing.
"He took it!" He exclaimed, half angry and half fearful of what he was planning to do with it.
"This is not good," Sirius muttered, rubbing his temples.
Madam Pomprey glanced around worriedly, deciding whether or not to voice anything. Finally, she figured it best to get everything out there in case it was important.
"Would it have anything to do with the creatures getting out of hand?"
They all looked up at her taken aback.
"Maybe they can sense his power growing," Hermione suggested.
"But he doesn't have his wand," Harry said aloud. "It doesn't make sense, why would he take all that time to put that curse on me instead of trying to take my wand from me and killing me with one shot?"
Remus stared at Harry grimly, "There has to be a reason for everything he does."
"Yeah, but what's the reason?" Harry asked, knowing they all knew just as little as he did.
"It must be something big, otherwise why would he keep quiet instead of trying to free his old followers?" Sirius said.
"Maybe he doesn't need his old followers," Hermione suggested.
Sirius turned to her looking both confused and annoyed.
"What do you mean?"
Hermione paused to think carefully about what she was going to say before continuing.
"Well...Vol...I mean, Tom Riddle was a very intelligent student here. He probably excelled greatly in every course, so naturally, now as the Dark Lord he probably has all that training and hard work stored up inside of him. Each year Harry has fought him it was a different strategy, each becoming more difficult to catch and prevent, but they all had something in common."
"The prophecy," Harry said.
Hermione nodded, "Exactly."
"You mean the one that was locked up in the Ministry?" Sirius asked.
"The first years that Harry came here he was trying to get his body back. After he finally did all the years after he needed to kill Harry, but what better way than the prophecy which he thought would tell him Harry's weakness, but Harry got there before him and destroyed it, then later defeated him again," Hermione explained. "This time though, he waited for Harry to come to him, instead of trying to get Harry himself, or by means of his Death Eaters."
"So what does that mean?" Harry asked after she finished.
Hermione took a deep breath, "It means that it wasn't something he had to plan with his Death Eaters, or even where he had to retrieve something. He no longer has to try and destroy the Ministry or Hogwarts, or even Dumbledore. Nor does he have to destroy you, Harry, not if somehow he could use something else to destroy everyone."
"What are you saying, that there's some secret weapon that we don't know of?" Sirius asked.
"But we do know of it, or at least I've heard of it. I just remembered when Harry said Voldemort confronted him inside the Ministry. Even though Harry defeated him, the Ministry members did a very foolish thing by bringing Voldemort into the Ministry chambers. From the inside, he could do things unimaginable, especially since all the Ministry members are gone and Harry was the one there. The creatures must be a diversion to keep the Ministry members away from the Ministry," Hermione explained with a worried expression on her face.
Her expression soon spread to everyone else. They all were thinking the same thing: they were in deep trouble.
Madam Pomprey gasped, "Hermione, are you referring to the Orb room?"
"It can't be," Remus said before Hermione could reply. "Barely anyone knows about that, and even those that do have no idea how to get into it."
"Yes, but Voldemort studied at least five times harder than any student," Hermione replied. "He could very well have an idea of how to get into the Orb room, so all he'd need is an easy ticket into the Ministry, which he all ready got."
Sirius scowled angrily, "Why did he go after Harry then? Why didn't he just go to the Orb room?"
Hermione felt pressured under Sirius' glare but she was used to seeing his temper. Even if she was completely calm she wouldn't know the answer to that.
"He must've needed Harry for another reason," Remus said quietly.
Harry, who had been sitting in silence listening to them, finally looked up.
"Hermione, what does the Orb room do?"
"No body knows, not even I do," Hermione answered apologetically. "I've only heard that the Orb room holds many rare things like rare potions, ingredients, ancient scriptures and spellbooks, even staffs. But the reason why they keep the Orb room a secret is not because of all those, but rather that it has a special...use. I'm not sure what, but it's said to be so powerful that it takes many powerful wizards to keep it under control. From what I've also read it hasn't been used, well, something like it was used back in the days where sorcerers were the only magically beings that roamed, but I also heard the Ministry was thinking of using it after the word got out that Voldemort was back again."
"What happened?" Harry asked curiously.
"They didn't use it."
"Dumbledore stopped them," Madam Pomprey added. "Said it was too dangerous, and it was. It should not be in the Dark Lord's hands, whatever it is. I've heard stories about it, when I was little. It's said to a power so strong it controls the wizarding world, though I can't imagine anything that powerful."
"Great," Harry muttered, "and Voldemort's got his hands on it."
"He still has to figure out how to use it, and get enough power to do so," Hermione said, trying to comfort them all.
"This is the Ministry's fault," Sirius snapped angrily.
Harry turned to him.
"Sirius, don't blame Mr. Weasley for this, it's not his fault."
Sirius snorted, "He went on vacation so the amateurs took over. They did a very stupid thing by sending all the best aurors to help find a place for Fudge when the real problem is here. Someone should've been guarding the Ministry."
"That's my fault, Sirius," Harry interjected. "They thought since I've defeated Voldemort numerous times I would be enough to protect the Ministry, and I should have. I should have killed Voldemort the moment I saw his face, but I didn't..."
Hermione moved over to grip his shoulder, "Harry, don't blame yourself, you're not a killer that's why you couldn't go through with it. Besides, he was supposed to be dead, remember?"
"Yeah, well he's not!" Harry snapped. "He's probably using my wand to work the secret in the Orb room."
"That makes sense, since everyone knows you're the only one to survive Voldemort's wrath, not to mention destroying him," Hermione said.
"Would your power be enough?" Madam Pomprey looked down at Harry.
He shrugged in response. He honestly didn't think his power was that much more advanced than anyone else's in the school, nor did he think his power could be enough for the Orb room when many wizards had to work together. Then again, why would Voldemort be so desperate to kill him that he would go through all the lengths to get the prophecy? Or why would he take such great time planning how to trick Harry?
There were some pieces missing that Harry didn't understand, but one thing was sure: The world was in great danger, possibly greater danger than even before Harry's birth, when Voldemort had first rose to power destroying cities after cities. Harry wanted to know what was in the Orb room, but he couldn't without going to the Ministry. And if Voldemort was still alive, which Harry no doubt thought he was, there would be protections and alarms surrounding the Ministry.
"We need Dumbledore," Harry blurted out.
Sirius nodded in agreement.
"I'll go tell Severus to go to him at once and demand his return."
"Let him know Voldemort is back," Remus said.
She nodded and quickly left the room. They all sat in a silence that wasn't pleasant. Suddenly, the sound of movement broke the silence as Ron moved, slowly waking up. At first he was confused why no body, including Harry, was there. Then he turned and saw them all sitting there staring at him.
"Harry, you're alive!" he smiled.
"Yeah," Harry muttered.
"Well gee mate, I'd be more happy than you're acting," Ron said, a bit puzzled by Harry's mood.
"Ron, what took you so long to wake up? You sleep deeper than the dead!" Hermione criticized.
Ron glared at her, "What's your problem?"
Hermione lifted her chin in the air, glaring back at him. "If you must know, the world is in great danger because the Orb room has been accessed and the Ministry members are off on a goose chase."
Ron's eyebrows rose, "What?"
Harry stared at Ron seriously, "Voldemort's back."
TO BE CONTINUED...