Experiment chapter 3:
Harry sat down in an armchair opposite the headmaster, nervously twisting his sleeve in this fingers. The headmaster looked very sombre.
"harry, I need to inform you of what you missed while you were at the hospital."
Harry nodded.
"Did I miss much?"
"there hasn't been much activity from voldemort, although his deatheaters have been relatively active. There have been some attacks on muggles and aurors."
"Have many people been hurt Sir?"
"Yes. That is not however what I wish to discuss with you." Albus said slowly.
"What's wrong?"
Cornelius fudge may be launching a battle against Voldemort now from the ministry, but his relationship with me and you is as bad as ever."
Harry frowned, what could the man's problem be this time.
"Our esteemed minister seems to be under the impression that I will use you to somehow bring the ministry down while they are focusing on voldemort."
"How?"
"You survived against Voldemort 15 years ago, Fudge believes that you must possess a very dark power in order to accomplish this, which only I know about. He wants you out of Hogwarts."
Anger rushed through Harry, WHY couldn't people just leave him alone? Just for once?!
"I want you to avoid at all costs interaction with any members of the ministry that are not in the order." Fudge is desparate to arrest you. Harry, I must ask you to avoid Hogsmead this year, lay low and give him NO grounds to get to you."
"Alright." Harry felt some gloom settle. "I'll try."
"Meanwhile Harry, although fudge knows not of the prophecy we do. While you were at the hospital you began showing some signs of unusual magical ability. I am reliably informed that you had several magical outbursts when you were distressed."
"Outbursts?"
"Just like releases of magical power, similar in a sense to an electrical charge. It accomplished nothing, but reveals a huge potential within you that is untapped, related to strong emotions."
"It happened before." Harry said, suddenly remembering.
"When?" Dumbledore said sharply
"Last summer, a year ago. I felt a charge run through me."
"Tell me what you remember about what triggered it." Albus requested gently
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Me and my uncle were arguing. He…."
"Go on." The headmaster prompted
"He had his hands around my neck. I couldn't breathe. Suddenly I felt this power run through me and he let go – like he was burnt or received a shock or something."
"I see." Albus nodded.
Harry looked down.
"I'm sorry that you ever had to live with them I really am. You understand why I had no
choice?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders "I guess so."
Harry decided to change the topic "What was wrong with me? Why am I covered in bruises and things?"
"You were suffering from Illithid fever." Dumbledore's mouth moved into a thin line reminiscent of MCGonnagall's "I have has strong words with the healers about their gross negligence in caring for you. The ones responsible have been disciplined."
Harry nodded.
"I will come and speak to you again soon Harry."
At that he stood and left the room.
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A few days passed, Harry felt more settled into life at Grimmauld place. He had spent the last few days resting and eating at the insistence of Mrs Weasley. He was gaining weight again.
Harry had been shocked when Remus had sat Harry down and told him that the large house had been left to him by Sirius. Apparantly, Sirius had always believed the Dursleys unsuitable and Sirius had wanted Harry to have somewhere to go as soon as the war was over or that he came of age.
Remus and the Weasleys had embarked on a project 'home sweet home' and every one was pitching in to make the house feel less like a derelict slum and more like a house. They were starting with the kitchen. Remus handed Harry, Ron and Ginny a brush each and a bucket of white paint. They had to do it the muggle way as they were to young for charming the brush to do it itself. Besides, Molly was getting annoyed with them all sitting around doing nothing.
Harry dipped the brush in the paint and began spreading the stuff smoothly over the old chipped brownish paint that had clearly been up for centuries. Next to Harry was Ginny, then there was Ron. Remus and Molly were cleaning decades of filth from the ornate tiled floor.
Harry was in a world of his own as he painted unitl he felt a nudge in the ribs from Ginny. Ron was dipping his brush into the paint and ginny was putting a large fake spider on Ron's bit of wall. She winked at Harry and continued with her brushing. Harry smiled wryly, clearly Fred and George were not the only pranksters in the family.
Ron turned back to the wall and a scream penetrated the comfortable silence of the kitchen.
Harry screamed as a needle pierced the skin on his arm.
A man was standing over him "No! Please! Please don't do this!"
Harry thrashed in his restraints
"Tighten those" The man said. The bonds constricted painfully. The man connected a potion to drip slowly through the needle.
"No!" Harry screamed as the fluid began to burn its way up his veins.
"Harry!" Hands gripped each of his upper arms gently. Harry opened his eyes. He was sitting in the floor leaning aginst the wall, with his arms hugging his knees.
Remus repeated "Harry! It's ok, you're safe here."
Harry stood up shakily with Remus's help
"I was scared." Harry whispered "They wanted to hurt me! I tried to escape! The bonds were too tight!" By the end he was shouting.
Remus hugged Harry to him, trying to provide some comfort.
"I don't understand." Harry said "Did that really happen or was that a hallucination?"
"I'll contact Dumbledore Harry. He might be able to explain."
Harry nodded. "Go and get changed. You're covered in paint."
Harry went up the stairs towards the bathroom. As he walked he passed the Black family library. He paused and then entered "What the hell was illithid fever anyway?"
Finding a book on magical ailments, Harry began to read.
'Illithid fever is an illness that affects the brain. It is normally triggered by a virus, but can also occur as a result of a failed attempt at mind control.
The main symptoms include, hallucinations, paranoia, memory loss, confusion and in severe cases paralysis'
"Seems to fit so far, apart from the paralysis" Harry muttered to himself
'Treatment usually takes two weeks after initial diagnosis. Healers are advised to keep the patients in a calm relaxing environment, away from stressful stimuli, and the 'illithid' potion is to be drunk 3 times a day until symptoms stop.'
"Ah." Harry thought. Unless the Hospital was filled with incompetent fools, then he had been lied to again. Harry sighed and made his way to his bedroom, kicking things in his path. He pulled on a new set of robes and marched into Ron's bedroom. Ron was trying to get paint off of his fingers with cleaning potion.
"Tell me everything you know about what happened to me." Harry demanded of his best friend.