If you have not already, go back and read that last chapter. I changed the last paragraph, concerning the Poison Ivy/Oak scene. * evil grin *

*~*~*~*~*

Out of the inky blackness, Harry was vaguely aware of something pouring down his throat. It tasted bitter; reminding him of the blood that trickled into his mouth when he had bit his bottom lip to hard. A pair of strong arms lifted him from his resting-place, caring him somewhere. Just before slipping back into unconsciousness he thought he could feel the wind on his face, like it did when he was racing for the snitch, moments before snatching it out of the air. As if he was flying…free.

*~*~*~*~*

"What did you give him?" Mad-Eye asked, suddenly remembering the glass vial.

"A type of serum that Severus concocted for the members of the Order, I have yours at home"

"What does it do?"

"It is a mixture of various healing potions that, if concocted correctly, have similar affect to the famed Living Water. It brings the person or creature out of death's grip, but only temporarily, giving them several hours before returning to the state they were in at the time of consumption"

Mad-Eye nodded to himself before finally asking.

"Is he OK? Should we take him to St. Mungo's?" Lupin thought about it for a moment, before shaking his head.

"The sooner we can get him to Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts, the better. If anyone is more capable at handling this better than her, I'm a Death Eater!"

"Ware your words Remus, remember Severus" Mad-Eye stated darkly.

Lupin veered the broom slightly to the left, following a course he had obviously taken many times before. After what seemed like hours of flying (it had taken almost exactly thirty minutes in reality) they finally saw the familiar towers looming just ahead.

When they landed, Remus immediately whisked Harry to the hospital wing, while Moody swiftly set off for the Headmasters' office, not pausing to consider the late hour.

"Good and Plenty" he muttered, dashing up the stairs, again ignoring the ingeniousness of knocking, he burst through the door to see the headmaster holding at tea cup in one had and petting an almost fully grown Fawkes with the other.

He wore deep blue robes covered with small silver stars that magically raced each other around, twinkling brightly. Looking up he smiled, as if he was meeting an old friend for lunch, instead of someone at half past midnight to discuss a most grave matter.

"Ah, Alastor, how is Harry?"

"Lupin is taking him to Hospital wing to see Madam Pomfrey, what were you thinking!" Moody's usual sinister face was livid.

Unfazed by the younger wizard's rising voice he calmly took a sip of his tea, something flickering behind his eyes, the usual sparkle temporarily dimmed. But as soon as it was gone, it was back again. The look that smiled, acting as if, for the entire world, nothing was wrong.

"His utmost protection, I assure you, sit down, Alastor. Lemon drop?" Mad-Eye looked as if he didn't know whether to chuck the old wizard before him out the window, or do as he was told. He chose the latter. Stiffly sitting down he declined the sweet and glared for all he was worth at the aged wizard before him, fully intending to get some answers. He was sorely disappointed.

"Why did you let him go back? He doesn't deserve…it was…how could you!"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer those questions, Alastor, only Harry has the right. He has put his faith and trust in me, I will not break that"

Moody stared at the calm face for a moment, visibly relaxing at the soft-spoken words. "And I would not ask, that you break that trust" Moody said resignedly.

Albus Dumbledore nodded his head and the two sat there for a few moments, listening to the silence, occasionally broken by Fawkes' chirping.

"I hope you didn't do anything extremely terrible to them" Moody looked up from his inspection of his interlaced fingers and gave a reassuring, if not quite innocent, smile.

"Nothing a little magic could not fix"

Albus nodded his head, chuckling, before taking another sip of tea. "You, and Remus, may stay to watch over Harry. I'll send Nymphadora to fetch his things after I tell Kingsley what has happened at the ministry. I gather he shall be here for quite some time, as I suspect he will not be able to return to his previous residence. Not even a howler could sway Harry's Aunt or Uncle now."

Mad-Eye looked up and saw the flicker of sadness in the Headmaster's eyes once again, before it disappeared. Nodding his head he stood up, and turned to leave.

"Sure you won't have a Lemon Drop, Alastor? I daresay they are quite good. Always carry a bag about in my robes myself. Like to keep them on hand you know?" Moody half-turned to regard the old wizard before turning, shaking his head and muttering.

"...Of all the…muggle sweets…senile, old…" Albus chuckled, popping a lemon drop into his mouth as he did so.