DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: A present for the holidays…. Enjoy.
Chapter 30
Catching One's Breath
Tonks and Remus sat uneasily in the self imposed silence. The boy lay still on the bed, breathing soft and shallow. Remus was clinging to Harry's hand, the pent up frustration, a combination of all of the things that had happened in the past few days and the helplessness he felt at the moment clearly written on the weathered lines of his face. Tonks sat next to the nearly distraught werewolf offering what little comfort she could by gently stroking his back while he gazed down at Harry.
The Boy-Who-Lived fluttered his eyes after about fifteen minutes. They took I Moony and Tonks watching him intently. Harry offered a half-hearted smile, touched by their concern. He tied several times to speak but the screams that had torn from his throat had left him raw and barely able to speak. He took the offered glass of water and it allowed him to gasp out, "You guys worry too much. I'm okay … just tired."
Harry then drifted back to unconsciousness the glass of water still grasped in his hand. Remus breathed a sigh of relief, gently removed the glass, unnecessarily rearranged the blankets to cover Harry and motioned to Tonks to follow him from the room. They both drifted to the couch lost amid their own thoughts.
"Is he going to be okay?" Tonks whispered with a quiver in her voice.
Remus sighed. "I believe so, Dora. I take it you've never seen one of his … spells?"
Tonks shook her head not trusting her voice.
"Something isn't it?" Remus spat out unable to contain the bitterness in his voice. "I think all the stress of the last few days caught up with him and helped to lower his shielding. I suppose it doesn't help that he says that Voldemort is angry…" He trailed off unsure of what to say next.
Tonks took a good look at Remus and tentatively asked, "And you? How are you doing?"
Remus heaved a heavy breath. "Good question."
Tonks giggled softly. "And the answer?" She prodded.
"I don't know, Dora. I really don't know.
Albus Dumbledore was beginning to hypothesize that he had wandered into a hell dimension. This was the fifteenth owl he had received in the past day and a half from Order members regarding the Dursleys. Three Order members adamantly refused to return to headquarters until the muggles were gone. They were not phrased as delightfully, however. He stared at all of the past headmasters portraits that were sitting in his office contemplating what to do next. It seemed that lately every time he thought he had a grasp on the situation things spiraled quickly out of control. He couldn't help but wonder if perhaps fate, destiny, or whatever god or goddess you believed in had written a different path and refused to even give him a clue.
Albus sighed heavily. He knew it was his agitation and frustration at the helplessness he felt causing this line of thinking. However, this morose thinking was getting him nowhere and there were things to be done. He had to find a safe haven for the Dursleys away from Order headquarters. He had less then a month to find an adequate potions assistant. Yet, most importantly he needed to find Harry Potter and talk some sense into the boy.
Mikhail had returned to the cabin shortly after Harry had returned to sleep. He was able to retrieve the mail for Harry from the new post box, without any further difficulties – no 300 letters, no disappearing clerks. There was only one letter, a letter from Dumbledore. It sat on the center of the table Mikhail, Remus, and Tonks all having to struggle to resist the temptation of opening the letter. Remus paced the entire length of the cabin back and forth, while they half-heartedly discussed the events of the last few days.
The solutions to most of their problems were not apparent. In spite of this, the disappearance of the clerk seemed to be Dumbledore's doing. Tonks reported that it coincided with a strange manifestation of George Shunpike who was wedged in the wards at Order Headquarters. Mikhail could not confirm the identity of the clerk, not having known him, but it seemed to be self-evident.
There was no word from the Ministry public or private regarding Harry's use of magic while being underage. The group debated the meaning of this, but Mikhail's theory seemed most likely. They were caving to public pressure, without actually repealing the underage magic law. Therefore, they had taken no action which would force the issue. There was nothing else to be done at the moment about this issue. It was simply wait and see.
The press had still not left the poor family they had visited alone. If fact, there was scattered rumors that Harry had appeared at the hospital to heal the girl. Mikhail and Remus were grateful at the added security for the family provided both by St. Mungo's and the Order. It seemed that Mad Eye had not told the Order that Hedwig made an appearance at the hospital to bring the letter of apology and some candy to the girls. At least Tonks had not been made aware of it.
Mikhail expressed his concern about the break though of the vision. He agreed that the stress of the last few days probably contributed to the fracturing of Harry's shields. Albeit a reasonable response, he still felt Harry would need to increase his training time. After all, it seemed unlikely that Harry's stress level would be lessening any time soon.
Suddenly Remus and Mikhail took off for the bedroom. Tonks glanced around the now empty room for a moment and then followed their trail. When she arrived at the door she smiled. Finally Harry had awaked. He was also being tortured by the vigilant care the two men were fawning over him. He shooed them away so he could rise and promised he was okay to walk and would meet them in the kitchen.
Harry entered the kitchen a bit groggy but otherwise fine. The silence echoed as no one was quite sure what to say. Finally, Harry laughed hollowly, "Talking about me or something?"
Remus answered softly. "No cub, not really … just been waiting for you to take a look at this."
He handed her the envelope with the familiar emerald green writing and loopy handwriting. Harry unconsciously held his breath as he opened the letter.
