Camelot's Resurrection
Chapter 1
Am I ever going to make it through this day? thought Harry Potter as he sat in his history class on a gray, dull late autumn morning. He rubbed his sore temples as if though he could heal the massive painful headache that was bothering him and shivered uncomfortably as it seemed to get colder.
Professor Binns, as usual, was lecturing in a near monotone and was asking questions of the class. "Can someone name Griffindor's role in the ..."
Harry zoned out sleepily and lost track of everything going on around him. At least it isn't my scar this time he was blissfully reminding himself. Harry could feel the air around him move to his right as Hermione Granger shot her hand in the air. As he was ready to complain to Hermione about the effect her hand had on his headache, another headache took its place.
"Happy Porrer. What is your answer?"
This is not what Harry was expecting. He had expected someone else to be called, and this was going to get especially ugly, especially since he didn't hear the question.
"Uh... Er... "
Professor Binns glared at Harry. "I expected as much. 10 points from Griffindor."
Harry groaned.
"I would also like to have your undivided attention, if at least for the next 15 minutes." Professor Binns continued. "Is that too much to ask?" And just as quickly as that was said, the professor directed his attention to another sixth year.
Harry started to feel much worse. So far this school year, he'd managed not to lose any points for Griffindor, even in Potions. He wanted to really make a concerted effort in all of his classes this year now that his O.W.L.S. had indicated that he qualified (barely) for Auror training. Even Ron Weasley was even cracking down on his studies, much to Harry and Hermione's surprise.
Normally on any given day, Harry would have been able to answer any particular question. But today was just a putrid, yucky day and his body was betraying him.
Hermione and Ron looked at Harry from either side of him. Both of them seemed to ask the very same question at the very same time, causing a stereo effect which made Harry's head pound even harder.
"Why don't you go and see the nurse?"
Harry sighed deeply. Normally, he wouldn't have worried about it so much. But, with all of the distractions surrounding the first five years, Harry felt that he was extremely far behind and needed the extra effort to catch up.
"I will later." Harry muttered, softly enough to be barely heard.
Ron turned and said, "You might want to do it after lunch. I imagine we can prevent you from upsetting Professor Snape too much."
Harry gave a weak smile. "You're probably right. It was really cold and wet at Quidditch practice last night, and I thought I had shaken this off."
Hermione gave one of her looks to Harry. "Just because you get cold and wet doesn't mean you are going to get sick. Somebody gave you this days ago and whatever you have has had time to incubate. Just go to Madam Pomfrey and see what she can do for you."
Harry nodded somberly to Hermione as they listened to Professor Binns continue to talk glowingly about the founders of Hogwarts.
* * *
The sky seen through the roof of the great hall was darker than it was in the morning and leaves were held up like birds as they were blowing briskly through the air. Harry and Ron went to their usual spot at the Gryffindor table and started loading up their plates with Shepards Pie and Yorkshire Pudding.
"Well, at least I feel like I can eat" stated Harry flatly as he took a bite.
"That's good. Hermione should be eating as well, but she just HAD to go to the library... For what, I don't know."
Harry responded to Ron "Arithmancy. There is a special project that she's working on."
Ron hissed. "That's right, mate. Like she couldn't wait until tonight."
Harry and Ron continued to eat and started talking about the next Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin when Neville sat down next to Ron and began filling his plate. "I don' kno what is goin' on at the Slytherin table, but it don' look good..."
Harry and Ron looked over. Draco was looking especially vicious as Crabbe and Goyle sniggered at everything Draco was saying. Harry and Ron then noticed that the three Slytherins were looking in their general direction, and Ron surmised what they were talking about.
"Harry, you might want to do something about your nose."
"Why, Ron? What's wrong with it?"
"It looks pretty red to me, and Draco looks especially fond of it."
Harry gave Ron a light poke in the ribs with his elbow. "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it." Ron grinned, while he feigned falling over from the pain of his injury.
It was then that Draco got up and started walking towards the pair, with his shadows close behind.
Ron muttered under his breath as he sat upright. "As I was saying..."
Just as Draco reached the Gryffindor table and was about to open his mouth to say something, Professor Severus Snape showed up behind Harry. Glaring at Draco, Snape asked "Is there something you would like to say, Malfoy?"
Draco flushed, did his best not to stammer, backed up and headed out of the dining hall with his cronies.
Snape watched over at them as they left, then turned his attention to Harry. "I'm assuming, with that red and swollen nose, that you'll be skipping my class today?"
Harry gulped. "I was planning on visiting the infirmary after lunch."
"Good. Can you take these items to Madam Pomfrey?" Snape handed over three parchments and a small jar of powder to Harry.
Harry took possession of the items and asked "Is this all?"
"Yes. And whatever you do, please make sure you don't shake or drop the jar near any of the parchments."
"Yes, Professor."
"Good. I'll see you in Potions for the second hour?" Snape sneered and walked away.
Harry looked after Snape quizzically. It's the first time that Snape had asked him to do anything of this nature, and thought that it was presumptuous of Snape that Harry would be in class that afternoon.
He shrugged over at Ron. "Guess I'll see you later."
"Sounds like you are going to feel much better much sooner." Ron stated flatly.
"I sincerely hope so. I'm about ready to bring lunch back up for another discussion."
Ron winced. "Please don't."
Harry nodded. "I agree with you. It didn't taste that good to me the first time."
* * *
Peeves was fancying about, thinking which of his usual brands of troublemaking would work most effective this afternoon. Looking for an unsuspecting student to become his first victim, he spotted Harry Potter walking up towards the infirmary.
Peeves trailed behind Harry for a couple of minutes, waiting for the noise from the lower floors die down a tad. When Peeves thought the time was right, he swung out in front of Harry and shouted loudly "HELLO, SOTTY POTTY!!"
Harry was startled and began to drop most of what he was carrying. Harry remembered Snape's instructions nearly too late and reacted extremely quickly. Following the jar of powder out of the corner of his eye, he snatched it out of midair like a snitch as it was plummeting to the floor.
After saving the jar, Harry turned towards the poltergeist and yelled "PEEVES!!!!!"
Peeves howled loudly and vacated the hallway.
Harry set about to pickup his book bag and the parchments. Things were easier to carry when they were organized, but Peeves ruined that. Harry picked up his book bag, then picked up the three parchments and walked off towards the infirmary.
* * *
"Can I help you with something, Harry?" asked Madam Pomfrey as he walked into the infirmary.
"Well, I haven't felt very well today and Hermione and Ron felt that I should come up this afternoon. Oh, I almost forgot! Professor Snape wanted me to give these to yo..." Harry struggled with giving Madam Pomfrey the jar and the three parchments.
As Madam Pomfrey took possession of the parchments, she gasped in pain and dropped everything. It was the second time in ten minutes that Harry had to rescue the falling jar. He noticed that one of the parchments was glowing the color of fluorescent green algae. Harry then glanced over and saw Madam Pomfrey holding the hand that had touched the parchment blistering and swollen red.
Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry and said, "My, my... And I'm supposed to be helping you..."
Harry stated quickly "Don't worry about that right now. Let me find Professor Snape." Harry dashed out and ran towards the dungeons at top speed.
* * *
"Professor Snape!!!" Harry shouted before he got to the Potions classroom.
As Harry opened the door, Snape nearly fell out of the doorway. "What is all this infernal racket about?? What on earth is wrong and why are you shouting?"
"It's Madame Pomfrey! One of the parchments has done something to her!"
"What?"
"It's glowing green and she's holding her hand like it's been burned."
Snape opened his mouth to utter a curse, thought better of it, and looked at Harry. "Potter, go and get Professor McGonagall. We are going to need her help on this one."
"Yes, Professor." Harry dashed off for the stairs.
As Harry departed, he heard Snape starting to brief the remaining students, "I need you all to spread out into the school and watch for..."
* * *
While Harry was running up the stairs, he ran into Colin Creevy, causing him to fall and hit his elbow on the floor. "OH!! I'm so sorry, Colin..."
"That's OK. It'll stop hurting in a couple of weeks."
Harry winced at the sound of that.
"How have you been?" Colin continued.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out..." Harry continued off at full speed while Colin continued on his way.
* * *
Professor Minerva McGonagall didn't seem to be surprised at Harry's arrival as the roomful of second years started twittering to themselves. "Yes, Potter?"
Harry told her of Snape's request. McGonagall looked over the classroom and stated "Mr. Potter is going to escort you to the great hall as I attend to an urgent matter. Come now. Let's go."
As Harry lined up the group, he noticed that McGonagall had changed into her now familiar cat animagus form and was trotting quickly towards the infirmary.
Harry lead the second years to the great hall while a flurry of activity began with most classrooms being dismissed. As he waited with them, he noticed a buzz of activity outside the hall. He watched as sixth year and seventh year students ran about with their wands at the ready and most of the rest of the school entering the hall. Ron and Hermione rushed in and, when they found Harry, ran up to him.
Hermione stated "Harry... Snape wants you in the infirmary right now!"
"Why?"
"He didn't say... But he wasn't in a good mood."
Harry sighed deeply. "Alright... See you... whenever..."
* * *
Harry ran quickly towards the infirmary, dodging near collisions with some of the older students. As he reached the infirmary, a roar was heard coming from inside the doors. Fearful of what he might see, he hesitated outside the door.
Snape burst out of the infirmary, saw Harry standing at the doorway, and motioned for Harry to step inside. "Inside... NOW!!!"
Chapter 1
Am I ever going to make it through this day? thought Harry Potter as he sat in his history class on a gray, dull late autumn morning. He rubbed his sore temples as if though he could heal the massive painful headache that was bothering him and shivered uncomfortably as it seemed to get colder.
Professor Binns, as usual, was lecturing in a near monotone and was asking questions of the class. "Can someone name Griffindor's role in the ..."
Harry zoned out sleepily and lost track of everything going on around him. At least it isn't my scar this time he was blissfully reminding himself. Harry could feel the air around him move to his right as Hermione Granger shot her hand in the air. As he was ready to complain to Hermione about the effect her hand had on his headache, another headache took its place.
"Happy Porrer. What is your answer?"
This is not what Harry was expecting. He had expected someone else to be called, and this was going to get especially ugly, especially since he didn't hear the question.
"Uh... Er... "
Professor Binns glared at Harry. "I expected as much. 10 points from Griffindor."
Harry groaned.
"I would also like to have your undivided attention, if at least for the next 15 minutes." Professor Binns continued. "Is that too much to ask?" And just as quickly as that was said, the professor directed his attention to another sixth year.
Harry started to feel much worse. So far this school year, he'd managed not to lose any points for Griffindor, even in Potions. He wanted to really make a concerted effort in all of his classes this year now that his O.W.L.S. had indicated that he qualified (barely) for Auror training. Even Ron Weasley was even cracking down on his studies, much to Harry and Hermione's surprise.
Normally on any given day, Harry would have been able to answer any particular question. But today was just a putrid, yucky day and his body was betraying him.
Hermione and Ron looked at Harry from either side of him. Both of them seemed to ask the very same question at the very same time, causing a stereo effect which made Harry's head pound even harder.
"Why don't you go and see the nurse?"
Harry sighed deeply. Normally, he wouldn't have worried about it so much. But, with all of the distractions surrounding the first five years, Harry felt that he was extremely far behind and needed the extra effort to catch up.
"I will later." Harry muttered, softly enough to be barely heard.
Ron turned and said, "You might want to do it after lunch. I imagine we can prevent you from upsetting Professor Snape too much."
Harry gave a weak smile. "You're probably right. It was really cold and wet at Quidditch practice last night, and I thought I had shaken this off."
Hermione gave one of her looks to Harry. "Just because you get cold and wet doesn't mean you are going to get sick. Somebody gave you this days ago and whatever you have has had time to incubate. Just go to Madam Pomfrey and see what she can do for you."
Harry nodded somberly to Hermione as they listened to Professor Binns continue to talk glowingly about the founders of Hogwarts.
* * *
The sky seen through the roof of the great hall was darker than it was in the morning and leaves were held up like birds as they were blowing briskly through the air. Harry and Ron went to their usual spot at the Gryffindor table and started loading up their plates with Shepards Pie and Yorkshire Pudding.
"Well, at least I feel like I can eat" stated Harry flatly as he took a bite.
"That's good. Hermione should be eating as well, but she just HAD to go to the library... For what, I don't know."
Harry responded to Ron "Arithmancy. There is a special project that she's working on."
Ron hissed. "That's right, mate. Like she couldn't wait until tonight."
Harry and Ron continued to eat and started talking about the next Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin when Neville sat down next to Ron and began filling his plate. "I don' kno what is goin' on at the Slytherin table, but it don' look good..."
Harry and Ron looked over. Draco was looking especially vicious as Crabbe and Goyle sniggered at everything Draco was saying. Harry and Ron then noticed that the three Slytherins were looking in their general direction, and Ron surmised what they were talking about.
"Harry, you might want to do something about your nose."
"Why, Ron? What's wrong with it?"
"It looks pretty red to me, and Draco looks especially fond of it."
Harry gave Ron a light poke in the ribs with his elbow. "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it." Ron grinned, while he feigned falling over from the pain of his injury.
It was then that Draco got up and started walking towards the pair, with his shadows close behind.
Ron muttered under his breath as he sat upright. "As I was saying..."
Just as Draco reached the Gryffindor table and was about to open his mouth to say something, Professor Severus Snape showed up behind Harry. Glaring at Draco, Snape asked "Is there something you would like to say, Malfoy?"
Draco flushed, did his best not to stammer, backed up and headed out of the dining hall with his cronies.
Snape watched over at them as they left, then turned his attention to Harry. "I'm assuming, with that red and swollen nose, that you'll be skipping my class today?"
Harry gulped. "I was planning on visiting the infirmary after lunch."
"Good. Can you take these items to Madam Pomfrey?" Snape handed over three parchments and a small jar of powder to Harry.
Harry took possession of the items and asked "Is this all?"
"Yes. And whatever you do, please make sure you don't shake or drop the jar near any of the parchments."
"Yes, Professor."
"Good. I'll see you in Potions for the second hour?" Snape sneered and walked away.
Harry looked after Snape quizzically. It's the first time that Snape had asked him to do anything of this nature, and thought that it was presumptuous of Snape that Harry would be in class that afternoon.
He shrugged over at Ron. "Guess I'll see you later."
"Sounds like you are going to feel much better much sooner." Ron stated flatly.
"I sincerely hope so. I'm about ready to bring lunch back up for another discussion."
Ron winced. "Please don't."
Harry nodded. "I agree with you. It didn't taste that good to me the first time."
* * *
Peeves was fancying about, thinking which of his usual brands of troublemaking would work most effective this afternoon. Looking for an unsuspecting student to become his first victim, he spotted Harry Potter walking up towards the infirmary.
Peeves trailed behind Harry for a couple of minutes, waiting for the noise from the lower floors die down a tad. When Peeves thought the time was right, he swung out in front of Harry and shouted loudly "HELLO, SOTTY POTTY!!"
Harry was startled and began to drop most of what he was carrying. Harry remembered Snape's instructions nearly too late and reacted extremely quickly. Following the jar of powder out of the corner of his eye, he snatched it out of midair like a snitch as it was plummeting to the floor.
After saving the jar, Harry turned towards the poltergeist and yelled "PEEVES!!!!!"
Peeves howled loudly and vacated the hallway.
Harry set about to pickup his book bag and the parchments. Things were easier to carry when they were organized, but Peeves ruined that. Harry picked up his book bag, then picked up the three parchments and walked off towards the infirmary.
* * *
"Can I help you with something, Harry?" asked Madam Pomfrey as he walked into the infirmary.
"Well, I haven't felt very well today and Hermione and Ron felt that I should come up this afternoon. Oh, I almost forgot! Professor Snape wanted me to give these to yo..." Harry struggled with giving Madam Pomfrey the jar and the three parchments.
As Madam Pomfrey took possession of the parchments, she gasped in pain and dropped everything. It was the second time in ten minutes that Harry had to rescue the falling jar. He noticed that one of the parchments was glowing the color of fluorescent green algae. Harry then glanced over and saw Madam Pomfrey holding the hand that had touched the parchment blistering and swollen red.
Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry and said, "My, my... And I'm supposed to be helping you..."
Harry stated quickly "Don't worry about that right now. Let me find Professor Snape." Harry dashed out and ran towards the dungeons at top speed.
* * *
"Professor Snape!!!" Harry shouted before he got to the Potions classroom.
As Harry opened the door, Snape nearly fell out of the doorway. "What is all this infernal racket about?? What on earth is wrong and why are you shouting?"
"It's Madame Pomfrey! One of the parchments has done something to her!"
"What?"
"It's glowing green and she's holding her hand like it's been burned."
Snape opened his mouth to utter a curse, thought better of it, and looked at Harry. "Potter, go and get Professor McGonagall. We are going to need her help on this one."
"Yes, Professor." Harry dashed off for the stairs.
As Harry departed, he heard Snape starting to brief the remaining students, "I need you all to spread out into the school and watch for..."
* * *
While Harry was running up the stairs, he ran into Colin Creevy, causing him to fall and hit his elbow on the floor. "OH!! I'm so sorry, Colin..."
"That's OK. It'll stop hurting in a couple of weeks."
Harry winced at the sound of that.
"How have you been?" Colin continued.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out..." Harry continued off at full speed while Colin continued on his way.
* * *
Professor Minerva McGonagall didn't seem to be surprised at Harry's arrival as the roomful of second years started twittering to themselves. "Yes, Potter?"
Harry told her of Snape's request. McGonagall looked over the classroom and stated "Mr. Potter is going to escort you to the great hall as I attend to an urgent matter. Come now. Let's go."
As Harry lined up the group, he noticed that McGonagall had changed into her now familiar cat animagus form and was trotting quickly towards the infirmary.
Harry lead the second years to the great hall while a flurry of activity began with most classrooms being dismissed. As he waited with them, he noticed a buzz of activity outside the hall. He watched as sixth year and seventh year students ran about with their wands at the ready and most of the rest of the school entering the hall. Ron and Hermione rushed in and, when they found Harry, ran up to him.
Hermione stated "Harry... Snape wants you in the infirmary right now!"
"Why?"
"He didn't say... But he wasn't in a good mood."
Harry sighed deeply. "Alright... See you... whenever..."
* * *
Harry ran quickly towards the infirmary, dodging near collisions with some of the older students. As he reached the infirmary, a roar was heard coming from inside the doors. Fearful of what he might see, he hesitated outside the door.
Snape burst out of the infirmary, saw Harry standing at the doorway, and motioned for Harry to step inside. "Inside... NOW!!!"