Disclaimer – Harry Potter is not ours. We just let our imagination play in JK Rowlings world.

Chapter 11 The Phoenix Escape

Harry slowly woke. He kept his eyes closed. He knew something must have happened. He needed to figure out what. He could hear his friends hovering over him.

Hermione was panicking. "Harry? Harry! Wake up! Are you all right? Please be alright. Please don't make me be responsible for putting you in a coma or something."

Ron was torn between trying to help Harry and trying to calm Hermione. "Harry? He'll be fine, Hermione. You'll see. Harry? You there, mate?"

Harry could feel someone rubbing his hand. Ginny's soft voice came from his left. She was the one holding his hand. "Come on, Harry. Come back to us. It's all right. Everything's fine. Just open your eyes."

He opened his eyes and saw his three friends take deep breaths of relief at the same time. "What happened?"

Hermione frowned. "Don't you remember? We were doing the animagus trance. You saw a phoenix. It was going great. Then all of a sudden you tensed and let out a scream. Do you remember at all?"

Memories started to trickle back. He remembered his awe seeing the golden-scarlet phoenix. He remembered the shadows in the background and how suddenly one shadow seemed to detach and launch itself at Harry. "There was another animal."

Hermione stiffened. "But that's impossible! All the books we looked at said that a wizard has only one animal inside."

"Well, maybe it wasn't an animal I could change into, but there was definitely another animal." Harry gave a shudder.

Ginny moved her hand to his shoulder. "What did it look like?"

"I didn't see it at first. It seemed to blend perfectly with the shadows that surrounded the area. It was…I don't know…something like a black wolf, maybe, but different. I don't know how to explain it. I've never seen anything like it before. It had these huge fangs."

"Why'dya shout, though, mate?" Ron seemed perplexed by that.

Harry gave an impatient look at his best friend. "What would you do if something you hadn't known was there suddenly leapt out from the shadows with a snarl and tried to rip your throat out?"

Ron looked a little sick. "I suppose I would have shouted, too."

Harry ran a hand through his hair with frustration. Doing so pushed up the fringe on his forehead and revealed his scar. Hermione tilted her head to one side with a thoughtful expression on her face looking at it.

"Maybe…" Everyone looked up at her, waiting for her to continue. "Maybe it's like the Parseltongue. Maybe, somehow, a second form was transferred to you when you were a baby."

Harry shrugged. He was still a little antsy thinking about what he'd seen. "But what do you think it is? Do you think it would stop me from turning into the phoenix?"

Hermione frowned. "I don't know. Are you willing to keep going to try to find out?"

Harry had to pause to think about it for a minute. There was a possibility that whatever it was that leapt out at him could interfere somehow. What if he changed into a half-phoenix/half-whatever-that-was? Could a partial animal like that survive? Harry knew that partial transformations were the biggest danger. If a wizard couldn't transform completely, the part that did might not be able to support that part that didn't. A bird's heart could not pump enough blood if it had human legs.

Ginny spoke up. "I think you can do it. The spell requires total concentration on the animal you're transforming into. You just can't let thoughts of that other shadow-thing enter your mind. You could do it, Harry. You're Occlumency already has you practicing to focus on phoenix song. You're used to it. It should be no problem!"

Harry slowly nodded. "I think I will keep going." He glanced around somewhat nervously. "You'll all stay here. Right?"

"Of course, Harry." Hermione assured him.

Harry gave a tentative smile at the other three. He really was lucky to have such good friends and he knew that if anything did go wrong, they would be right there to help him out. No matter what.

Harry took a deep breath and set his wand by his feet. He stood and took a step back. "Here I go. Wish me luck." He closed his eyes and focused on the phoenix he had seen during his trance. He brought back every detail he could remember. The scarlet on the back and neck. The gold on the chest, wings and tail. Even the black around the eyes and mixed in the with scarlet on the crest along the back of the head. When the image was clear he recited the spell only in his mind that he had learned so well but had never tried. 'Bestia mutation corpus et animus magus'.

Harry could feel the magic starting to transform his body. It started as a slow tingle that seemed to wash over him. Then he felt a compacting sensation. The pressure was starting to build at an enormous pace until suddenly he felt a bone give way. Then another and another. Harry cried out in pain. He fell to the floor. Just when Harry didn't think he could take any more pain, it changed. The new feeling in his bones was a burning heat. He could now feel what his father described as a melting of his bones. Harry still determinedly kept the image of the phoenix in front of him, hoping that his concentration on the form was blocking some of the pain. Finally the pain just stopped.

Harry lay still for a while trying to get orientated. He felt like he'd been run over by a herd of hippogriffs. Finally he opened his eyes and looked up. He looked way up. "Guys?" Harry tried to talk but it came out as a chirp. He blinked. He dragged himself up to a sitting position. He cocked his head and viewed his friends. They were all standing, staring at him. Harry slowly got to his feet and tried to take a step towards them but overbalanced and fell flat on his face. Suddenly he heard laughter.

"Yep. It's you, mate. Wondered there for a second. Looked rather too refined there and started to doubt. But it's definitely you." Harry shook his head at Ron's comment.

Ginny knelt down by him, her face still reflecting her awe. She tentatively held out a hand to touch him. "May I?"

Harry butted his head underneath her palm and she started to run her hand over his feathers.

Hermione knelt down as well. Her gaze was much more assessing. "You still have green eyes," Her mouth quirked up at the corner. "and your crest feathers tend to stick up on the top of your head instead of lying back like Fawkes' do."

Harry tried to look at her indignantly. Then Ginny started laughing. "Oh, Harry, I hate to tell you but you still have your scar." She point at his head and looked at the other two. "See how these little black feathers seem at bit misshapen? They form the famous 'lightning bolt'."

Harry gave a squawk. He wanted to see. He started to turn his head. The pain was still intense, but he was curious. He was able to bend his neck in all sorts of angles. He looked down and saw the gold on his chest. He looked over his shoulder and was amazed that his head kept going back. He could see the long gold and scarlet plumes of his tail. He spread it out. It was pretty cool. He wasn't sure how he knew how to do that, but if he didn't think about it, it happened. He decided to take a closer look at his wings. He started to spread them wide. That may have been a mistake. He was quite sore. It felt like all his muscles were stretched out of shape, which he supposed they had, and he ached in every joint. He tentatively extended his wings and was surprised at how far they reached. He thought they reached out about five feet across. Finally Hermione brought out a mirror and held it in front of him.

Harry could see that his friends were right about his facial features. The feathers above the black mask around his eyes were scarlet, but had a few feathers pointing awkwardly which formed a lightning bolt design. His eyes were still the same green and his 'hair' still wouldn't lay flat. Harry sighed.

Hermione lifted the mirror away. "Why don't you see what you can do? Do you think you could fly?"

Harry tried to flap his wings and couldn't hold back a cry of pain. Suddenly he felt a hot fiery sensation that burned deep inside of him. He started to see flames. The he heard a loud shriek and distantly knew it came from himself. Then it was over. Everything was dark. He felt like everything was muffled, almost like he was covered by something.

Once again he could hear frantic calling from his friends.

"Harry! Harry, where'd ya go, mate?"

"Harry? Harry!"

Suddenly Harry could feel a light brushing sensation above his head and light showed in his cocoon of darkness. A monstrously large Ginny was looking down at him. She reached down and gently scooped him up in her hands. He was a little surprised that he fit there. He must have shrunk again.

"Here he is. Harry?"

Harry was dismayed to find he couldn't move at all. The most he could manage was an undignified flop. He couldn't even talk. Not that they could hear him anyway.

A large Hermione face peered into Ginny's hands down at him. "He must have burned and regenerated. I should have expected that. If the transformation is as bad as Harry's dad's journal says, he probably was in a lot of pain. If a phoenix's level of stress gets too high, they regenerate and start again as a chick."

"Not too good-looking now, is he?" There was Ron, as encouraging as ever, taking in the bald, wrinkled form of his friend.

Harry had had enough of this helpless feeling. He wanted to be back to normal. He closed his eyes and focused intently on the spell to reverse the change. Once again he felt a wash of magic and then the shifting began in his body. The pain intensified and he felt himself on the verge of blacking out as muscles re-routed themselves and bones cracked and reformed. He could feel himself changing.

Harry could feel that he was lying down. He had absolutely no energy and pain once again screamed in every muscle and joint. He also was simply exhausted. He heard a soft moan underneath him. At least he didn't think it was his own.

A soft chuckle was heard off to the side. "You want to get off of my sister? I think she's having a hard time breathing."

Harry finally took notice of where he was lying. Or to be more specific, on whom he was lying on. His head was very comfortably pillowed against a soft stomach. Under his torso was a pair of legs. He gingerly lifted his head and looked up to see Ginny trying to catch her breath.

Harry gathered his strength and rolled away from her. He just stayed lying back on the floor looking up at the ceiling. He thought he could probably stay here all weekend. He heard Ginny moving to sit up. "Sorry, Ginny."

"No problem, Harry. Just next time give a little warning if I'm carrying you and you decide to change back."

"Will do. By the way, a word to the wise, don't try to do anything the first time you change. Not a good idea."

Hermione leaned over him. "Harry, that really was amazing. You burned! I've never seen a phoenix burn. We didn't know what had happened to you. Then when Ginny found you in that pile of ashes…" Hermione's eyes were sparkling with excitement.

Ron came over dragging a beanbag. "Here, mate. Instead of lying on the floor, why don't you use this? Should be a bit more comfortable."

Harry just looked how tall the beanbag looked from his point of view. He wasn't sure he could muster the energy to get up even that far. His friends decided to help him and started to pull and push him into the beanbag. Finally he was lying comfortably in the form-fitting chair.

Ron pulled a chair near him and leaned forward expectantly. "So what was it like?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Painful."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but other than that. What'd it feel like? I mean, first you're a phoenix, then you're on fire, for Merlin's sake, and then a baby chick! What'd it feel like?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Well, I was always me, mentally anyway. You know what I mean? The phoenix form felt powerful and pretty great, except for the pain. I think I will have a lot fun exploring what it's like in that form. The burning…that hurt again. That felt like real fire. Then as a chick…I couldn't do anything. I didn't like that feeling at all. It was like I was helpless."

Hermione was almost bouncing in her seat. "This is so interesting. Your mind never changed as you changed forms?"

"No. I think when you change forms you get some of the animals instincts, but you still have your mind and memories. Like I was able to spread my tail feathers. I don't know how I knew how to do that, but I could. I hope it will work the same way with flying; that some of the animals' instincts will help guide us in learning how to adapt to their forms and abilities."

Ginny stood. "Well, I'm getting hungry and it's almost lunch time." She looked at Harry. "I don't suppose you feel up to going to the Great Hall. At least you sure don't look like it."

Harry shook his head. "Do we have any food left down here? A small sandwich is probably all I could eat right now. What I'd really like is to soak in the tub for a while and then just sleep the day away."

Ginny got up and took a look in the cupboards in the kitchen area. "I'm afraid not. Anything in here is questionable to say the least. We can bring you back something from the Great Hall, though." She turned to her brother. "Ron, why don't you help Harry to the loo and get him in the tub. We'll let him soak for a while and then when we're done eating you can get him out and he can have his lunch. Sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan."

The bath helped Harry's sore muscles immensely. He was as good as his word and basically slept the entire weekend away. Even Monday he was still on the sore side.

Harry found an interesting side effect to the animagus spell. He only had to focus on the phoenix form, 'Flame' they've started calling it, to be able to tell at what stage it was in growing. It was still a chick, so he had no interest in changing into it.

One evening Ron and Harry were playing chess. Harry was losing, as normal, when Ron suddenly asked, "So, if Harry's a phoenix animagus, does that mean he's immortal? Is that why you didn't die when you were a baby?"

Harry didn't know, but Hermione looked up from the book she was reading. "No, Ron. A phoenix isn't immortal; they just live such a long time that it almost seems that way. When a phoenix body starts to fail, he burns and regenerates, like Harry did." She obviously had done some research. "If a phoenix is left alone, it can live for hundreds of years, maybe thousands, but they can have accidents or be killed before that."

Harry thought for a moment. "I saw Fawkes survive a killing curse. He swallowed it and turned back into a chick."

Hermione frowned. "They shouldn't be able to survive that. Who cast it?"

"Voldemort."

"That is very strange." She looked pensieve. She started to ask Harry a question in a very tentative manner, almost as if she was afraid he'd blow up at her, "Harry, you and V-Voldemort share wand cores, right? At the end of Fourth year you mentioned you had brother wands. What is the core of your wand?"

Harry looked down. "A tail feather from Fawkes."

Hermione looked triumphant. "That's why it didn't kill him. Just as the wands wouldn't work properly against each other, they wouldn't work properly against the source of the core, either."

"So otherwise Fawkes would've died?"

"Yes. A phoenix can burn when their body becomes stressed, but such a sudden attack would give it no time to complete the burning. Also a phoenix is very vulnerable when a chick. If they don't have proper guarding, they can be easily killed at that time." She turned to Ron. "So Harry isn't immortal and could be in danger even as 'Flame'. He still needs to avoid the Avada Kedavra curse as anyone would."

After a few more days passed, Harry could sense that 'Flame' was again full-sized. As it was Saturday again, Harry decided to start to explore his new form. All he had to do now was focus on Flame and will him to come him. He didn't need to go through all the spellwork anymore. He was also happy to see he didn't have any uncomfortable pain while transforming.

Flying was the first thing Harry learned. It was wonderful. He loved the freedom he felt just flitting around the room. He couldn't wait to try it outside. Ron and Hermione were in the trunk with him. Hermione had a book open to a section on the phoenix. "Okay. It says that a phoenix can lift immense weights." She looked up. "Can you?"

In reply, Harry flew over to Ron. He turned his back to him and waved his tail feathers. Ron's face lit up with recognition. "I know this one. Come here, Hermione, and hold my hand." She gave him a funny little look, but did as he said. Ron reached out to Harry's tail and grabbed hold. "They're warm! I didn't expect that." Back in their second year, Harry had been the one to hold on to Fawkes tail. Suddenly Hermione gave a brief shriek. Harry remembered the feeling of sudden lightness and thought maybe they were feeling the same. He started to hover above the ground and pulled Ron and Hermione up with him. He held them there for a few seconds and then lowered back to the floor.

Hermione's eyes were wide. "I guess that's a yes. How about teleporting? It says that a phoenix can disappear in a flash of fire and reappear elsewhere."

Harry had no reference on how to do this. He tried to clear his mind and see if any instinct came through on how to work it. He thought of the kitchen area. Some sunflower seeds sounded good right now. He thought there may be a few left from last summer. He closed his eyes and thought of the counter in the kitchen area. He felt a warm tingle flash over him. When he opened them again, he found himself on the counter. He looked back across at his friends. Hermione was beaming and even Ron had a wide smile on his face. Suddenly he spoke, "Stay here, a minute. I'll be right back." Ron scampered up the ladder to the boy's dorm and closed the trunk lid. In a moment he came back down. He carried the Marauder's Map in his hand. "Ginny said she was going to study in the library. See if you can get all the way over there and back."

"Ron, there are too many people about to do that!"

"No, Hermione. See? That's why I wanted the map. She's alone in the back at one of the study desks. Harry shouldn't be seen by anyone."

Harry flew over to the map to take a look. Sure enough, Ginny was sitting alone at the moment at a study desk. Harry closed his eyes and thought about being by Ginny in the Library. The warm tingle washed over him again. He opened his eyes to see a very startled girl looking at him.

"Harry?" Harry gave a laughing little chirping sound. Ginny's eyes started to twinkle. "Playing, are you? Well, you'd better get back. Colin's just gone to get another book, but he'll be back soon."

Harry bobbed his head and flashed back to the trunk. Ron and Hermione were huddled over the map. "You did it! We could see you on the map. It still labels you as 'Harry Potter'. This is so cool!"

"The last thing this book mentions is healing tears."

"Hey, my elbow has a scrape on it. Think you could fix it, mate?"

Harry flew over to Ron who lifted his robe past his elbow. Harry thought of how Fawkes had cried for him twice before. He tried to let tears come to his eyes. Nothing happened. How did one go about crying anyhow? Cho seemed to be able to cry at a drop of a hat, but Harry never had cried much in his life and certainly not on demand. The Dursley's would only treat him worse if he did and he actually could only think of one time in recent years when he did cry in front of anyone else. That was that day Remus came to visit him at the Dursleys early in the summer.

Eventually Harry looked up at Ron who seemed to understand that Harry couldn't cry at least not in public like this. He looked over to Hermione. She looked ready to cry. Harry had a feeling that Hermione also realized why he couldn't. He hated to see his friends sad on his behalf. He thought of how phoenix song always helped him. He knew he, as Harry, was no singer, but maybe as Flame the song could work. Harry started to pipe a strangely unearthly melody. Hermione and Ron both froze in place to listen. Harry kept it up for a short while then stopped and changed into himself.

"You forgot the song, Hermione. Makes you feel better or more brave if you're a good person, but awful if you're not."

Hermione snapped out of the trance she had fallen into while listening. She whispered, "That was incredible! I've never felt that before."

"I think we'll stop here for today. I'll try to think of other things I've seen Fawkes do. I've seen him do that flash thing with Dumbledore along. Um…he's left a tail feather as a warning message…. I'll try to think of other things, too. Maybe see if I can figure out how he did them all. I still have almost two weeks to figure everything out before the Ministry meeting. Hopefully I won't need any of it."

Hermione met his gaze. "You don't really believe that, though. Do you?"

Harry let out a small snort. "No."

Harry practiced on and off in the time remaining before the Ministry interview. He had talked to Remus via mirror and told him about the meeting and their concerns. Remus felt the same. He thought there would be no good reason for their Interim Minister to want to talk to Harry, especially with their unfriendly past. He made Harry promise to keep the mirror with him at all times. Just in case.

The Ministry visit happened to coincide with the last day of classes before Christmas Break. None of the classes were doing anything but review, so it didn't matter that Harry couldn't keep his concentration at all. If all went well, Harry would be back at Hogwarts in time to catch the train to London to spend his time at Grimmauld Place. He just couldn't help but feel things weren't going to work out that way.

Finally it was time for Harry to meet Professor McGonagall. She was going to be his escort for this visit. Harry was nervous. He knew Professor McGonagall was as well as her expression was very tight. "Mr. Potter, the Ministry has authorized a Portkey for our use. It will activate in just two minutes."

Harry groaned. This made it definite. Something bad was going to happen. He looked up at his Professor (he briefly wondered if he would ever get taller than her). "Professor, if something bad should happen, could you make sure that Umbridge's wand gets checked for spells?"

His Professor looked sharply at him. "Nothing is going to happen to you, Mr. Potter. Several people will be watching out for you today. Nothing is going to happen." Harry wondered if she was trying to convince him or herself.

"Something will happen. I just don't know what or to whom." Harry muttered darkly.

His professor looked at him curiously. "What makes you so sure?"

Harry looked at her. "What makes me suspect is that I'm being called to see a Minister that hates me. What makes me know is that we're taking a Portkey. You can ask Remus about that."

McGonagall's eyebrow rose even higher. "I know you don't get along with our Interim Minister, hardly anyone does, but surely you don't think she hates you? Dislike, yes, but hate?"

"Fudge dislikes me. Umbridge hates me. I know the difference." Harry heard a noise in the doorway and saw the Headmaster standing there. There was concern in his eyes.

"Take care, Harry. Try to stay around other people as much as possible."

Harry tried to smile at the old Headmaster. "I will, sir."

McGonagall shifted and looked at her watch. "It's time, Potter. Hang on and …three…two…one." They were gone.

They landed at the Ministry receiving area, just to the left of the main lobby. Harry saw the same numbers and symbols flashing across the ceiling as he saw last year at his trial. The fountain of magical brethren had just become an ordinary fountain, although there was a small model of what was to be placed there eventually, a wizard and witch with their hands spread outwards. Kneeling in front of them were goblins, house elves, centaurs, werewolves and several other creatures. Harry thought that Umbridge definitely had some power issues.

Harry and Professor McGonagall got in line to have their wands checked. As they had left the receiving area they had received visitor badges. Harry's read 'Visitor to the Minister' and his professor's read 'Escort of Visitor to the Minister'. Harry, with a shade of black humor, decided it could just have well read 'Off to meet his doom' and the feeling he carried in his gut wouldn't be out of place. They finally reached the front of the line and had their wands duly recorded.

They made their way to the elevators and eventually reached the Minister's offices. Harry was happy to see that one of the aurors standing guard outside of the office was Kingsley Shacklebolt. Harry followed Professor McGonagall's lead and did not show outward sign of recognition beyond a polite nod. The second auror was Dawlish. Harry wasn't so pleased to see him and imagined that his professor wasn't either. He was one of them that attacked her last year. He could sense her stiffening at the sight of him.

Professor McGonagall introduced herself and Harry to the secretary who in turn, buzzed through to let Interim Madam Minister Umbridge know they were there. They took a seat while they waited for the Minister to make time for them. Harry knew it was a game. He guessed they would be forced to wait about fifteen minutes past the time of their appointment. Not because Umbridge was busy, but because she could make them wait so she would so.

It was actually twenty minutes before the secretary said that Harry could go through to see Madam Umbridge. Professor McGonagall followed but was stopped at the door by Dawlish. "Only Mr. Potter has authorization to enter."

"I am his escort. He is an underage student. I need to stay with him as an adult representative." McGonagall was trying to stay calm and state her position as if it was an obvious fact.

Umbridge came to the doorway. She was looking particularly nauseating in a bright orange dress that emphasized her wide girth. "Hem, hem. What is the delay?" She asked in her falsely sweet voice while she smiled her wide, toad-like smile.

"This woman says she needs to stay with Potter." Dawlish replied.

Umbridge's smile widened. "You think he is on trial? You think he needs protection from me? Don't be silly, Minerva. You will be called when it is time for him to return to Hogwarts." When Professor McGonagall didn't move, she gave shooing motions with her hands. "You may go. Dismissed. Come, Mr. Potter."

Professor McGonagall gave a despairing look to Harry. Dawlish took her arm to escort her from the office. Harry had a panicked moment and thought hard.

"Wait a moment! Just one thing before you go…" He saw Umbridge glaring at him. "I just need to tell her something before she leaves. Won't be a moment." He turned to his Professor and shoved his wand in her hand. In a low voice he said, "Give this to Ginny Weasley. Tell her to put it in her trunk."

Professor McGonagall was shocked. "Mr. Potter, you need to keep your wand with you. Now more than ever!"

"Professor, the only way I can use it is for defense and who's going to believe I needed defense against the Minister? When Fudge was attacked, Umbridge's wand was checked, but I don't think his was. I actually think I will be safer without it. Please! Kingsley is still here. I should be fine."

Harry could tell his professor was reluctant, but she did agree and Harry turned back to enter the Minister's office. He had a feeling of doom when he heard the door slam shut behind him.

Harry took a look around the office. He imagined it looked quite different from when Fudge resided here. There were the same plates on the walls with kittens tumbling back and forth as she had when she was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He also saw a terrarium which held several orange toads. He thought they were quite appropriate pets for her. They say pets resemble their owners, well this owner resembled her pets.

Percy Weasley was sitting to one side of the desk with a notepad open on his lap and a quill at the ready. Madam Umbridge seemed unaware he was sitting there.

"Have a seat, Mr. Potter. Shall we start with a spot of tea?" She was looking at him with anticipation.

Percy jumped up. "Shall I pour?" he asked brightly.

Umbridge scowled. "I think not. You may go, Mr. Weasley."

"But I can take notes. Keep a record of what goes on here." Percy seemed anxious to stay.

Madam Umbridge scowled more darkly before she plastered an insincere smile on her face. "Hem Hem. That will not be necessary. This is just an informal chat. Nothing for the record. You may leave, Mr. Weasley."

Percy looked uncomfortably at Harry. "But…"

"Mr. Weasley, you will either leave this office willingly or you will be dragged out and never work again. I shall see to that!" Her voice rose to a higher and higher pitch as she spoke.

Percy gave a resigned look at Harry and left the room. Umbridge turned back to Harry. "Now where was I? Oh yes, tea."

With 'constant vigilance' ringing through his brain, Harry tried to decline. "I'm not terribly thirsty, thank you. What did you want to see me about?"

"I wish you to have a drink with me," she said, her voice becoming even more sinisterly girlish. "Your preference is tea, yes? See? I remember." She set a cup in front of him. "Drink up, Mr. Potter, before it gets cold."

Harry could feel pressure building inside his chest. He knew he couldn't drink whatever was in that cup. There was no Professor Snape here putting water in it instead of whatever vile concoction she wanted him to ingest. But he also had to do something with it. Whatever it was, he bet it was the same thing that did in Fudge. Fudge was now in the mental ward at St. Mungo's. Harry wondered what was supposed to happen when he drank. Harry glanced around for something to pour the liquid into. He didn't see anything obvious. There weren't even any plants around for him to dump it into. Harry decided he would have to wandlessly transfigure something.

Harry sent a wordless spell to a plate hanging on the wall, making it fall. Umbridge turned at the noise and Harry quickly slipped a doily out from under a revolting figurine of a cat doing a handstand. He transfigured it into a waterproof bladder canteen and poured some of his tea into it. He quickly hid it up his left arm sleeve. He pretended to take a sip, firmly keeping his mouth closed.

Harry could feel even the small bit that touched his lips affect his mind. He had a sudden feeling of being in a tunnel and felt an urge to start coughing so he exaggerated it and pretended to have a coughing fit. Umbridge abruptly turned and Harry could see her false smile widen to a genuine one.

"Very good, Mr. Potter." She took the cup away from him and vanished it, getting rid of the evidence. "Soon you will be joining Former Minister Fudge at St. Mungo's. Every week you'll get some more 'treatment'. You're just too big a threat to me, you see. People listen to what you have to say. I could see it when that silly article came out last year. Even though it was in the Quibbler, for Merlin's sake, people believed it just because it was you. I know you don't support me for Minister, so something had to be done. Now we need to take a little trip, Mr. Potter."

Harry wanted desperately to shake his head or blink his eyes to clear the fog in his head, but didn't think he should. He took the meaning of that little dialog to signify that he should try to pretend to be blank. He pictured how Neville's mother had been. He imagined he needed to clear his mind somehow. 'Clear his mind'? Maybe Occlumency would help.

Umbridge came around the desk and grabbed his arm to start to push him to the fireplace. She threw floo powder in and said, "Knollbrook Warehouse". She pushed him roughly into the green flames and stood beside him for only a short moment when they landed in a large empty building. Harry made his usual graceful exit by falling flat on his face. He let himself fall and stayed on the ground, wondering what was going to come next. Harry wondered if he should just transform and flash away. He thought about the story that had been told of the former Minister. He wondered if she was going to put the Cruciatus curse on him. If he did transform, she would know he was an illegal animagus, but if she was going to curse him…

She was leaning over him. She pushed him onto his back. Harry kept his gaze blankly staring up at the ceiling. "Now where is your wand, hmmm?" She searched his pockets and when she didn't find anything, pushed up his right arm sleeve and found his empty wand holster. "Drat. Is that what you gave to Minerva? Well, that makes things a little more difficult." She seemed to like talking to herself. Harry remembered she did that the year before as well when she was talking herself into cursing him to find out where Dumbledore was. "If I can't use your wand to curse you and send the Dark Mark up into the air I'll just have to say that the Death Eaters must have been interrupted before they sent up their signal. Yes. That should work. I'll have to make sure none of the other Healers see you, though. I'll have to contact Blythefield to make sure he gets to you first."

Umbridge wandered back to the fireplace and made a floo call to Healer Blythefield. Harry still debated about transforming, but thought maybe he should follow this through. He would have to make sure his Occlumency shields were as high as he could get them and hope it was enough to fool this Blythefield person. If it wasn't, he was going to have to make a fast exit.

Umbridge finished her call and returned to Harry. "Well, Mr. Potter, this is good-bye. You have been a thorn in my side for over a year now. It was past time to pluck you out." She pulled an amulet out from around her neck and spoke into it. "Alert! Alert! There has been an attack! Send help immediately. Also send a Healer. Mr. Potter has been injured."

Instantly aurors and a Healer apparated to their location. Now Harry definitely wasn't going to change in front of all these people. He'd have to hope for the best. Kingsley Shacklebolt quickly made for Harry and leaned over him with deep concern in his face. Harry wished he could give him some sort of sign that he really was alright, but there was another stranger also leaning over him and ordering Kingsley away from his patient. Harry assumed he was the crooked Healer, Blythefield.

Blythefield started holding a wand over Harry. Harry pulled up the phoenix song and blanked his mind. He could feel the magic poking at his barrier, but it didn't penetrate. Blythefield started muttering words loud enough for his audience to hear. "Indications of multiple cruciatus curses. Too many for the mind to bear. Pity. I'll transport him to St. Mungo's immediately." He set something on Harry's chest and said some password and Harry took his second Portkey trip for the day.

Harry landed on a bed. That was the best Portkey landing he'd ever had. Harry shut the thoughts out of his mind again and concentrated on his Occlumency. The Healer returned to his side and started his probing again, a little harder this time. Harry's shield still held. "She must have given you quite a bit of the drug. There is absolutely nothing there right now."

He turned away and got some hospital robes for Harry to wear. He used his wand to remove Harry's clothes. The bladder of tea went with them. They folded themselves neatly and lodged on a low shelf of a nearby nightstand. The hospital robes formed themselves to fit Harry's frame. "Get used to your new robes. You'll be here for a long time."

The Healer turned away and walked across the room. "And how are you, Cornelius? We've brought you a new roommate." Fudge was watching with wide eyes. Harry thought that there was something still there, but it was frightening to see how empty his eyes looked. Fudge made a moaning noise. "Coming to again? Must be getting close to needing another dose." The Healer checked the chart on the end of the bed. "Yes. I'll go get it ready now."

The Healer left the room. Harry tentatively called out, "Minister? Can you understand me?" The only answer was another moan. Harry knew he wasn't going to be able to communicate with the Minister. He quietly got out of his bed and reached down for his robe. He pulled his communication mirror out of the pocket. He was glad it hadn't been taken away from him. He quickly got back into his bed and tried to smooth out his covers so it couldn't be seen that he had been out. He hid the mirror under his pillow and positioned himself how he had been sitting earlier.

About ten minutes later the Healer returned with the Minister's dose. Harry surreptitiously watched how the Minister reacted. Fudge didn't have the motor control to keep from drooling quite a bit out. Harry wondered if he was trying to fight swallowing it or if it was just a physical reaction he couldn't help. Eventually the Healer pulled the vial away and cleaned him up with a scourgify. Harry saw that now there seemed to be no spark of intelligence in his eyes.

"I think that's enough to last a few days. Your doses are getting closer together. I'll have to make a note to myself to get more poison from our new Minister. I'll let Healer-in-Training Bosworth in now to take care of any physical needs." Harry's ears perked up. He recognized that name as one Neville had said was very helpful to his parents and thought she could be trusted. Harry hoped she could be trusted with the secret that he wasn't crazy. The Healer left and Harry heard locks click in the door.

Harry didn't dare try to contact Remus when he knew someone would be coming in soon. He would just have to be patient. He heard the locks click open and Healer Blythefield opened the door for a petite young woman with strawberry blonde hair. He closed and locked the door after her. The young woman went to the Minister's side first and Harry heard the spell Madam Pomfrey used when her patients were unconscious to remove bodily waste. She also performed a shaving charm and a cleansing charm. When she was finished, she turned towards Harry.

Harry cast a wandless silencing charm on the room. He turned towards the young witch. She screamed.

"That's why I just put a silencing charm up. Can you calm down, please?"

"You…you're awake! I need to get the Healer! This is amazing!" The witch turned to run to the door.

"Wait! Just hear me out, please!" She slowly turned back to him, confusion in her eyes. "He's in cahoots with Madam Umbridge. She did something to my tea and I pretended to drink it. Then I acted like I lost my mind because I had suspected that's what happened to Minister Fudge. I was right. That Healer just gave Fudge another dose of whatever it is which made him go catatonic again. He was becoming aware until then."

"Healer Blythefield? But he's worked here for years. He's one of the top Healers. He wouldn't condone something like that!" The witch seemed to be in shock, but wasn't running for the door anymore.

"I don't know why he's helping her. All I know is that Umbridge called for him to be on hand when she arranged the scene for me to be found. He pretended that I had multiple cruciatus damage to my brain. I haven't been hit with that at all today."

The witch took out her wand and ran a scan over Harry. "No…you haven't. You say he reported you had?"

"Yes. He made everybody leave me and then had me transported directly to this room before anyone else could find out differently."

"But that just doesn't make sense. That's not the correct protocol."

"Look, Neville Longbottom thinks you can be trusted. Can I trust you to keep my sanity a secret?" Harry hoped he could.

"I'll keep it secret for now…until I find out more. I'll check to see what report is filed on you and see if you're telling the truth. If you're not, I'll contact Healer Blythefield about this story. Maybe he would know why you're having these delusions." She obviously still didn't believe him, but Harry was glad she would keep quiet for now.

"When can you come back?"

"Only Healer Blythefield has access to this room. It is top security clearance only and he has final say-so on who can enter. Minister Fudge's family hasn't even been allowed to visit." This last bit was said with some disapproval. "But he doesn't like the day to day caring of the patients so I'll be allowed back in two hours at mealtime. I hope you like porridge."

"Porridge will be fine. I'll see you then."

"Oh…I'll have to…ah…" She gestured towards Harry's lower half with an abstract wave of her hand. Harry understood. She had to perform her spells. He blushed.

"Okay. Do what you have to do." He hated this.

After performing her spells, Harry removed the silencing charm and the Healer-in-Training walked back to the door and placed her hand on a pad near the door. "I have to wait for him to let me out." she explained.

After Healer-in-Training Bosworth left Harry reached under his pillow and pulled out his mirror. "Remus Lupin".

"Harry? Are you okay? Where are you?"

"Shhh. You have to keep quiet. I'm in St. Mungo's. Some high security room with Minister Fudge. I'm fine, but I can't let the Healer know, because he's in with Umbridge. They tried to poison me somehow with some kind of mind drug. That's what happened to Fudge, too."

"Harry, everyone's been frantic. They wouldn't even tell Dumbledore where you were. Umbridge tried telling everyone that you insisted on holding your meeting at some restaurant and were attacked by Death Eaters. Of course, we didn't believe her, but what could we do? Her wand was tested and there were no dark curses cast from it. Were you attacked?"

"No. She put something in my tea and tried to make me drink it. After I pretended to she brought me to some warehouse. She looked for my wand and was going to curse me with it, but I had given it to Professor McGonagall so she couldn't. She then called Healer Blythefield so he could be on hand when she raised an alarm. He pretended he saw signs of the cruciatus, but I hadn't been hit with it at all."

"Well, thank Merlin for that. I'll have to let Professor Dumbledore know right away. We can try to figure out how to get you out of there." Remus was sounding a little calmer now.

Harry asked, "What do you know about Healer-In-Training Bosworth? She knows I'm not insane. She's checking out the report before she says anything, though. I have some of the tea that Umbridge gave me. Would it be safe to give it to her for testing?"

"I don't know her myself. I'll ask Dumbledore right away. Should I call you when I find out?"

"No. Let me call you. I'm not sure how often the Healer comes in here. I don't want this discovered. Healer-In-Training Bosworth will be coming back in two hours. I call you in an hour and a half. All right?"

"Sounds good. I'll contact Professor Dumbledore right away."

"I told you Portkeys were bad."

Remus gave a tense burst of laughter. "So you did. Out."

Harry signed off, too.

The next hour and a half seemed to last an eternity. There was absolutely nothing to do. Catatonic people didn't need entertainment so there was none to be had. It was an utterly bland room with nothing of interest in it. Harry passed the time staring at his watch and practicing some wandless charms and hexes. Nothing noticeable and easily vanished if he should hear any sound at the door. Finally the time was up. He pulled out his mirror again and called Remus.

"Harry! I'm glad you called. I'm with the Headmaster now. I'll let you talk to him." Harry could see ceiling as Remus' face disappeared until the Headmaster's face filled the mirror.

"Harry, my boy, are you all right?" Dumbledore's face looked anxiously into the mirror.

Harry gave a half grin and said, "I'm fine. It's a bit boring here, but I'll be okay. Anything on Healer-In-Training Bosworth? Can we trust her?"

"I'm afraid we may have to. What can you tell me of what happened and your current situation? Remus told me what you reported to him. Is there anything more you can add? Do you think this young Healer would help you escape?"

"I don't think she could. Healer Blythefield is the only one who has access to this room. Bosworth said that not even Fudge's family was allowed to visit him. She's only allowed in to take care of basic needs." Harry rolled his eyes at this and thought he heard Remus snicker in the background. "Fudge had seemed to be coming around until Blythefield made him take another dose of something. Then Fudge sort of blanked out. Apparently he gets a dose every few days. They figure I've had mine already so I should be safe for a while." Harry brightened. "I used Occlumency to keep him out of my mind. That's why he thinks I'm brain dead!"

Professor Dumbledore finally smiled at Harry's pride. "That's very good, Harry. But be careful. You wouldn't want him to really make you take whatever that potion is. We will work on finding some way to get you out of there."

"That'd be fine, but if I do have to escape somehow, it'd be best if you were all very visible. You know Umbridge would try to blame it on you. I'd probably have to take Fudge with me, too. I can't leave him here. I think his mind would come back if he was off the potions long enough." Harry was trying to plan ahead.

The Headmaster's eyes started to twinkle. "Do you have a plan already?"

"Not a plan, no, but there's not much to do here except think. I won't do anything unless I have to, but I want to have something in mind if I have to. I'd better sign off. She should be coming soon." The Headmaster agreed and the mirror went blank.

Soon the door locks were opened and Healer-In-Training Bosworth entered the room. She seemed quite a bit more nervous than before. She was floating two dinner trays in front of her and jumped when the door closed behind her.

Harry cast another silencing charm wandlessly. The Healer jumped again. She floated the trays to the two bedside nightstands.

"You were right. They're reporting you were hit by numerous curses. Healer Blythefield must be part of some cover up. What are you going to do? You won't be able to keep up the charade forever. How are you going to get out of here?"

"Don't worry about that. It's been said that 'I'm good at escaping'. Hopefully that will continue to prove true. I need to ask you something."

She got very nervous. "I can't let you out of here."

Harry smiled. "I wasn't going to ask you to. I was wondering how good you are at discovering what's in a potion? Or do you know someone you trust who could? I have some of the tea that Umbridge tried to make me drink. Do you think you could find out what's in it? Maybe we could find a way to help Minister Fudge regain his mind."

She brightened. "That's my specialty. I'll be finished with my training in one more month, and then I hope to get a permanent job in the Research Department."

"Great! The tea is in the sleeve of my robe." The witch knelt down by Harry's clothes and searched through his robe. She found the bladder and held it up. Harry nodded. "That's it. If I have to make a break for it, I plan to take Fudge, too. I think he would recover somewhat if he wasn't always fed that potion. If you find anything that might help, let Neville Longbottom know. He would be able to contact me."

The witch's face showed surprise. "Timid Neville Longbottom?"

"He's a lot braver than you think. He's helped me out before."

The Healer slipped the bladder into a pocket of her robes. She toyed with it nervously and kept glancing at the door as if Healer Blythefield was going to come in at any moment. Finally she settled down enough to realize that time was passing and she hadn't started feeding them yet. Harry pointed out he could feed himself and she went to help Fudge swallow down some food.

The porridge was tasteless but filling and after Harry finished his she came back over. "Oh, dear. You ate it all. Patients never finish it all. I'll put some of the Minister's leftover's into your bowl." After arranging the two bowls to look like they both had scraps left, she placed her hand on the pad near the door again as a signal to be let out. Harry schooled his gaze to look blank again as she nervously glanced back at him. Soon the locks clicked open and she left the room.

Harry and Fudge were left alone for the night. In the early morning hours Harry started feeling a prickling in his scar. Voldemort's feelings were confused again. He was triumphant, but disappointed and angry. Harry imagined he was triumphant that Harry was out of the way, but disappointed that he didn't get to kill a sane Harry himself. He would also be angry that someone credited him and his Death Eaters again with something they didn't do, but something he would have wanted to do.

Trying to block those sensations kept Harry awake for quite a while in the night. That made Harry oversleep in the morning. He had a rude awakening as Healer Blythefield started probing his mind again. Harry jerked and tried to shove the probe from him mind. Too late he realized the Healer had seen him alert.

"You're coming out of it already. You either have a high tolerance or she didn't give you enough. I'll have to get a dose for you right away." Harry heard the Healer stride away from him and knew he had run out of time. As soon as the doors locked behind him, Harry jumped out of bed. He grabbed his mirror and called for Remus urgently.

"What's the matter, Harry?"

"My time's up. You and Dumbledore need to get visible. I think I can make it and I'll contact you later, but make sure you two can't be connected to my leaving. I've gotta go. Out."

Harry quickly dressed and turned into Flame. He flew to the Minister and grabbed hold of him with his talons. He hoped this worked. He never tried to flash with someone before, but he'd seen Fawkes do it.

He visualized Potter Place and concentrated. He felt a wave of fire trickle over him briefly and opened his eyes. He was sitting on Fudge in his Entrance Hall. He hopped off and turned back into himself.

He heard an exclamation of surprise from the portrait of his Grandparents. "You've become a magical animagus? That's terrific!" His grandfather was happy at least.

"What are you doing here? You should be in school!" His grandmother wasn't as easily impressed.

Tubow appeared. "Harry Potter, sir! I heard you were injured and in St. Mungo's." Harry's grandparents gasped.

"Long story. Minister Fudge needs a bed and to be taken care of. Would Tiz know how to do that?"

"She knows some, Master Harry. I will call her after I get him settled." With a snap of his fingers Tubow floated the Minister up the stairs to a spare bedroom. Harry had one more thing he wanted to do before he could relax.

"Winky?"

A loud crack was heard and Winky popped into the room. "Master Harry! Winky is so glad to see you! I's heard you was sick. People is being scared in your home. Winky is being scared, too." She started to sob.

Harry patted her. "I'm fine. I need you to do something for me. I need you to get my trunk from Hogwarts and bring it here. Can you do that for me without being seen?"

"Of course, Harry Potter, sir. Winky will be doing it right away." She snapped her fingers and popped away. After a few moments she returned. "I put Harry Potter's trunk in Masters bedroom here."

Harry smiled at her. "Thank you, Winky. That will help a lot."

She smiled back at him, then grabbed his waist in a hug. "Winky is so glad you is okay." Her eyes were leaking tears of happiness. She sniffed a few times then returned to Grimmauld Place.

Harry finally relaxed.

He sat in a chair opposite his grandparents picture and started to explain everything that happened. Eventually he was all talked out and decided to take a bath. One of the house elves he'd hired earlier, Fossa, popped to say he would get it ready for him. Harry made his way up to the master bedroom and got ready for a nice long bath. The bath was even nicer than the one in the trunk. He saw a Wizarding Wireless on the side and turned it on to hear the WWN. About half an hour into his bath he heard breaking news.

Former Minister Fudge and Harry Potter have been kidnapped from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. It is unclear how the kidnappers removed them from their high security room, but everyone is asked to be alert. Head Healer Blythefield reports that they may get periods of delusion with persecution complexes. If anyone sees any sign of our beloved Boy Who Lived and former Minister of Magic, they are requested to report directly to Interim Madam Minister Umbridge herself or Healer Blythefield immediately.

So he was a 'beloved delusional crazy person' this year. Well, the 'beloved' was a step up from last years 'delusional crazy person'. Harry got out of his bath and tried to think of what would be happening at Hogwarts right now. It was still morning. It was the beginning of Christmas Break. Students would be getting ready to leave for home. Harry decided to check to see if Ginny had gotten the message about his wand. He got dressed and headed for his trunk.

Harry climbed into the dimensional room and saw his wand lying on the counter. He smiled. He glanced up at Ginny's entrance and saw it was small. She must be packed for traveling. Harry left the trunk and called to the house elf Fossa.

"At some point, probably early tonight several people are going to want to see me inside this room in this trunk. Would you be able to listen for them and let me know when they arrive?"

"Of course, Harry Potter, sir."

"Good. Then I won't have to sit in there all day. Thanks."

Harry decided to check on how Fudge was doing. He went down the hall and found him just as he had been in the hospital room. Tiz was feeding him. Much of the food ended up on the front of his robes. When Harry walked in, Tiz jumped and the bowl landed with a crash on the floor. "Tiz is so sorry, Harry Potter, sir. Tiz will clean it up!"

"Calm down, Tiz. I'm sorry for startling you." She jumped again when she heard her master apologize to her. "I'm glad to see you're taking care of our guest. We can always get more porridge. Is there any taste to this one? There wasn't last night at the hospital." Harry grinned at her. She started to relax as she realized she wasn't going to lose her place.

"Kreelo is adding a bit of brown sugar to it." She snapped her fingers and a second bowl appeared. Tiz looked a little shamefacedly at Harry. "Kreelo always makes second bowls just in case Tiz spills."

"Smart thinking. Nothing wrong with having a back up plan. I think I'll go get something for my breakfast, too."

"Harry Potter should go to Breakfast Room just up the hall. Kreelo is ready to serve Harry Potter, sir." Tiz gestured out the room and started to shoo Harry out.

Harry laughed and allowed her to bully him away. He meandered up the hall to find the Breakfast Room. It had been several months since he had been here and it looked a lot different than he remembered. Everything was clean. He had never used the Breakfast Room for its intended purpose before and curious as to how it would feel.

When he entered, Kreelo popped in and said he had a selection of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage and toast. There were carafes of pumpkin juice, orange juice and water on the table. He wondered if Harry wanted anything else. Harry said everything looked great and sat down to eat.

Tubow appeared next to him with a selection of newspapers and even a Quidditch magazine. Harry picked up the Daily Prophet. The news of Harry's escape was too new to have made the headlines yet. Harry just idly flipped through the other articles. He decided to contact Remus again.

He wasn't sure where Remus would be so he softly called, "Remus Lupin."

He heard Remus' voice through his mirror talking with some people. "…Harry Potter. I do not know where is. I hope he stays safe, but while you are all holding me here, I can't help look for him. I wish I could talk to him, but I guess it's just not a good time now."

Harry got the hint. "Out." He would have to wait for Remus to contact him.

Harry spent most of the day reacquainting himself with this property. There were three new house elves to go through the ritual with. He spent a couple hours chatting with Gilly. The old house elf had a wealth of stories of the Potter's who had lived here before. Harry also spent some time flying out over the cliffs in the cold winter air. He imagined Ginny's reaction to the sounds of the sea that drifted up from the rocks below.

A little after lunch Harry was notified by Fossa that there was someone in the trunk. Harry hurried to his room and looked down. Ron and Hermione were down there. Harry grinned. "Ron! Hermione! Great to see you. I didn't expect to see anyone until tonight, if then."

Hermione gave him a hug as he got off his ladder. "We couldn't wait. We had to know you were all right. It's just been crazy."

"Yeah, mate. This is the first chance we've been able to keep people away from the compartment long enough to open the trunk. Ginny, Luna and Neville are standing guard up top. Glad you don't seem to be a nutter like the Aurors made out. Were you really attacked by Death Eaters right in front of Umbridge?"

"No. I was attacked by Umbridge right in front of Umbridge. She also has a Healer making sure people stay attacked working for her at St. Mungo's. I had to take Fudge out, too. Hey! I need to talk Neville. Could you send him down?"

"Sure, Harry. I'll go get him. I'll see you later, huh?" Ron turned after Harry's nod and went to find Neville.

"I wish I wasn't going to my parents first thing. Who's going to keep you out of trouble?" Hermione looked worried.

"Enjoy your parents. I'll be fine. And I don't get into trouble on purpose!"

Hermione looked at him in disbelief. "Kidnapping the Minister of Magic isn't getting into trouble on purpose?"

"They would have been after me either way, right? Besides, I couldn't leave him there to keep getting re-poisoned. I think we'll be safe enough for now. I'm just hoping he gets better quickly so he can stop all of this. I'm not sure I can this time."

"I'll be at the Weasley's with my parents in another week. Hang on until then alright?" Hermione looked at Harry seriously.

"I will, Hermione. I promise." Harry looked up as he heard the lid open up again. Neville started climbing down.

"Hey, Neville! I've got to ask you to do something for me."

Neville reached the bottom and turned. "Anything."

"Before I left I managed to give the poisoned tea I hid to Healer-In-Training Bosworth. She was going to try to figure out what was in it. I told her if she finds anything, or figures out anything to help Minister Fudge to let you know. So when you visit your parents, could you keep a look out for her? If she does find anything, somehow get it to Ron and Ginny. They'll be able to get it to me. Don't trust the owl post. It's being watched again."

Neville straightened up. "I will." He paused, then said, "We'd better be getting back up there. Don't want anyone to find out about this." He paused a bit longer. "I'm glad I won't need to be visiting you, too, Harry."

Harry clapped a hand on Neville's shoulder and said with meaning, "Me too, Neville. Me too."

The next few days passed quickly. Harry spent some time with Ginny and Ron in the trunk. They told him that Dumbledore and Remus were being watched very closely and even the Burrow was being watched from afar. There were many rumors about how Harry and Minister Fudge had escaped. One was that the Healer in Charge had left the door unlocked and Harry and Fudge had just wandered out. Other rumors stated that they had been kidnapped by Death Eaters.

Harry found himself spending more and more time sitting in with the Minister. He had some books from the library to help pass the time, but he was becoming concerned.

On Tuesday, the Minister started moaning. His eyes were more aware, but he seemed to almost be in pain. Tiz didn't have any idea what might be wrong with him. It got progressively worse during the day. His eyes seemed to be pleading for something. Harry didn't know what. Eventually in desperation he changed into Flame and started to croon a phoenix song. It seemed to help a bit and the Minister fell back into a restless sleep.

Harry finally stopped and changed back to himself. As he stared worriedly at the restless Minister he felt a small tug on his robes near his waist. He looked down to see a small house elf. Fossa whispered that there were people in the trunk looking for him. Harry nodded and they quietly left the room.

He made his way to his trunk and climbed down. He was surprised to see not only Ron and Ginny, but Neville there as well. Neville was pacing back and forth agitatedly.

"Hi, Harry. I went to St. Mungo's today and saw Healer-In-Training Bosworth. She passed on a message that she found the stuff in the tea to be highly addictive. She's afraid that if the Minister is already on doses given every few days that he will have built up such a need that he could go into shock if he doesn't get proper treatment."

Harry was flabbergasted. "You mean that my taking him away from them…could kill him?" He threw up his hands and turned away from them. He started talking in a disgusted tone. "I did it again. Me and my 'saving people thing'! I try to do the right thing and it's killing him!"

Ginny reached forward and put a hand on his back. "No! You did the right thing. You couldn't know…"

Harry whirled around. "Yes. I couldn't know. I just tried to mess with people's lives again and it's hurting him. He's starting to come out of it and he's in pain. It just started today. Tiz doesn't know what to do and I sure don't. I'll have to bring him back to St. Mungo's…"

"You can't!" Neville broke in with a strong voice. Harry looked up at him in surprise. Neville continued. "You can't bring him to St. Mungo's. He'd fall right back into Healer Blythefield's hands. They were killing him, Harry. Healer Bosworth said that the poison would have eventually built up to such a level that it would start shutting down his other organs as well as his mind. Healer Bosworth has come up with a bit of a detoxifying solution based on the rest of the tea but couldn't get it to me today. She said if I came back tomorrow she would meet me near the cafeteria and give it to me. The only problem is I don't usually go two days in a row and everyone is being watched. It will look suspicious if I meet with her again that soon."

"You won't have to meet her. Tell me exactly where you were to meet and what time. Is the cafeteria on the fifth floor?" Harry tried to remember the walk up from Mr. Weasley's ward the previous Christmas.

Neville looked horrified. "You can't go. You'd get caught!"

"I won't be…me." Harry looked at Ron and Ginny silently asking what they thought about him sharing their secret plans. He received small nods in return. He focused back on Neville. "One of the reasons I've had us studying wandless and wordless magic is so I could become an animagus."

Neville didn't say anything for a moment but his eyes grew wide. Finally he stuttered out, "Wh...what are you?"

Harry closed his eyes and changed into Flame. He looked up and saw Neville turn extremely pale. He sang a few notes of phoenix song and took a short flight around the trunk. Neville seemed to have calmed somewhat and Harry landed and changed back to himself. "That's how I got out of St. Mungo's. No one else besides Hermione and us in here knows about this. If you're interested, you could probably become one yourself. We would help you."

Neville looked at Ginny and Ron. "You are animagi, too?"

Ginny answered. "Not yet, but we're working on it. Hopefully sometime soon after Christmas."

Neville thought for a moment. "No offense, but that really doesn't appeal to me to turn myself into some animal. Isn't it painful?"

Harry grimaced. "The first time is really bad but after that it's okay."

Neville just kind of made a squeamish shrug. "I'll pass. I think it's really cool for you, but I think I'll pass."

After that they got down to figuring out where Harry was to meet the Healer. Neville even went so far as to draw a map for Harry. Then they got together on what kind of note Flame would deliver to Healer-In-Training Bosworth.

The next morning at 10:30 a.m. Harry flashed to St. Mungo's with a note carried in his talon. He went directly to where Neville said to meet the Healer. She was there pacing nervously in a cloakroom off the main dining area. He was just about to fly out of the dark corner he'd appeared in when he paused for a moment. Someone was coming up behind her. Healer Blythefield put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around.

"Convenient out-of-the-way place here. Are you waiting for something? What is that you have in your pocket?"

The young witch looked petrified. She put a hand protectively over her robe pocket. The older Healer continued. "I just happened to go through the Research Lab today and found some interesting items in there. I saw some notes on a strange poison and detoxifier. They were notes you had made. May I ask what your interest is in that subject?" His voice was a threatening growl and his wand was out and pointed at her.

Harry decided to act. He silently flew towards Blythefield low to the ground and when he reached him swerved so he was flying straight up. He knocked his wand away and tipped the man off balance by flying straight into his face. The wizard never even saw him coming or got a clear look at what he was. As soon as he hit the ground Harry whirled in mid-air and presented tail feathers for the terrified young trainee to grab on to. In her panic she did almost automatically. Harry flashed them away in an instant.

They reappeared inside the Minister's bedroom. The Minister was tossing back and forth fitfully and moaning loudly. The Healer-in-training was still standing there in shock. Harry had to calm them both down. He started his phoenix song. After a couple of minutes the Minister had finally relaxed again for a short while. When Harry stopped, the Healer snapped out of her daze and finally took a look around and noticed the Minister. She instantly had her wand out and hovered it over him, taking in his condition. She frowned and pulled the detoxifier mixture out of her pocket. She gave the small dose to the Minister and he seemed to sigh and relax on the bed. His eyes seemed to go unfocused but didn't go blank and the pain seemed to lessen.

Harry flew out into the hallway and turned back into himself. He picked up the note from the floor and shoved it into his pocket. He re-entered the room. The Healer looked up.

"Mister Potter! I'm glad Neville was able to get a message to you. Is Neville here?" She paused and looked around. "Where exactly are we?"

"Neville's not here, but he was able to contact me last night. This is where I've been hiding." Harry paused and bit his lip. He wasn't sure how to say this next part. "It might be a good idea for you to stay here too for a while until we can get this cleared up."

Healer Bosworth looked stunned for a moment until acceptance slowly entered her face. "I suppose you are right. He wasn't about to let me just leave. I suppose that bird save my life, or at least my sanity. I'll have to remember to thank Professor Dumbledore."

Harry was confused why she was going to thank Professor Dumbledore, but let it go. He nodded towards Fudge. "Will he get better now?"

The young witch immediately frowned. "I'm afraid that was only a temporary measure. We've bought ourselves some time. He's going to need another dose." She suddenly had a horrified look on her face. "Now I definitely can't make any more! I don't have access to the lab."

"Do you remember what was in it?" Harry was concerned. He didn't want the Minister dying. He started to lead her out of the bedroom over to the breakfast room.

"Oh yes. In fact I made a copy of the potion recipe to keep with the detoxifier for you." She sat down at the table. A brunch appeared on it and she idly picked up a roll and started to eat it.

"Then maybe we can create it here. Tubow?" Harry called for his head house elf.

"Harry Potter, sir. What can Tubow be doing for you?"

"Do you know of any Potions Lab or other room that could be used for that here?"

"There is a reinforced room in the tunnels under the house. There is plenty of ventilation and light."

"Tunnels?"

"Oh yes, Harry Potter. There are some tunnels that lead all the way down to the shore. Even an underground dock. There is no boat, however, that we have found yet."

"Oh. Well, we can see if that would work out as a laboratory."

The witch looked slightly confused. "What is this place? I was assuming it belonged to you somehow, but you don't seem very familiar with it."

"It is mine. I just found it this past summer, but I've never lived here before now. That's why I don't know much about it. Fortunately, no one else seems to remember it belongs to me either. That and it's got a few safeguards against being found. Apparently my relatives were private people." Harry stood up and so did the young Healer.

"Let me check on Minister Fudge again before we go. I want to make sure he is still sleeping." They headed back up the hallway and peeked into the room. The Minister seemed to be sleeping comfortably for the first time in over twenty-four hours. "I don't suppose you have a monitoring device here?"

"No, but Tiz was watching him for me earlier. Tiz?" The small house elf appeared near him. "Could you watch over the Minister again for a little bit while we check out a possible potions room? If there is any trouble could you find Healer-In-Training Bosworth?"

"You can call me Justina." The Healer broke in.

Harry looked at her and smiled. "And I'm Harry."

Justina blushed. "I know. I was in my fifth year at Hogwarts when you started. I was in Ravenclaw."

Tiz looked between the two. "Tiz can do that Harry Potter, sir."

"Great. Thanks, Tiz. Shall we go?"

Tubow led the way downstairs to the Games/Weapons room. There was a decorative door which he opened to a descending staircase. As they entered, torches lit along the wall. They had to descend quite a ways before they reached a landing and another door. Tubow opened it and stepped inside.

As the torches flared to life inside the room, Harry saw it seemed to be a large empty room. There were wide stone tables built into the wall. There were built in cupboards along another wall. Harry walked over and opened one up. It was empty. The walls, ceiling and floor were all stone. It was a little cool. It reminded Harry of the dungeons at Hogwarts.

Harry turned to Justina. "Do you think this will do? What all do you need?"

She also was looking around curiously, poking through empty cupboards. "This should be fine. There's plenty of light. I can feel there is air movement. Now all we need are the ingredients and everything would be all right." She pulled the list out of her pocket.

Harry leaned over her shoulder to read what was on the list.

A bronze cauldron

A bezoar

phoenix tears

dried nettles

stewed horned slugs

diluted Bundimun secretion

mystery poison.

The instructions on how to brew it were listed below. There wouldn't be any problem buying any of this stuff. He thought he still had supply catalogs at Grimmauld Place. Harry took a moment to call for Winky. She came and he asked her to bring his mail order catalogs to Potter Place. She returned within a minute with them.

Harry found the one for the apothecary. He went to an order form and started to fill it out with Justina's help. When he came to the last item, he paused. "What do you mean 'mystery poison'?"

"I mean that I could tell that the poison used was an amphibian poison, but I don't know which one. I could make the detoxifier using the remains of the tea which had the poison in it. But to make more, we need to obtain more poison. We shouldn't need much, and as time goes by it should dwindle to none, but we do need to find some or all this is wasted and the Minister could go into shock."

Harry reached up and dug his fingers into his hair. How in the world were they supposed find some unknown poison? "Let's just get this other stuff ordered and started and hopefully we can come up with a solution when it's time."

After they placed the order for supplies, Harry led her back to Fudge's room. Justina had thought they could save some money by having the phoenix come and fill a vial with tears. Harry vetoed that idea and said they could just buy some. When she was satisfied with how the Minister was sleeping Harry offered to show her around. Even with hardly anybody there except the house elves, the place was pretty impressive, especially with the furniture cleaned and covers removed. He also let her pick out a bedroom of her choice. Unsurprisingly she chose one near her patient.

Thursday and Friday Harry spent trying to research what kind of amphibian's had poisons that affected the mind. He even ordered some books from Flourish and Blotts. He wasn't finding anything native to England so he figured he would have to look at foreign amphibians. He wandered through his library and looked at all the books he thought might be even remotely related, but so far nothing was helpful.

Ron and Ginny were trying to help as much as they could, but their resources were limited. They were being watched more by their mother as well and couldn't spend time with him like they had in the summer. Harry was glad to hear that Hermione would arrive Saturday morning. If anyone could pull off a miracle, it would be her.

Saturday came with clear skies. The night before heavy snow had fallen, but now the sun was shining on a crisp new layer of snow. Harry was pacing back and forth anxiously in the trunk. Fossa had told him that he would tell Harry when they came but Harry couldn't settle to anything anyway and said he would wait for them himself. Finally, the door opened from Ginny's room. His three friends came down the ladder. Hermione ran and gave Harry a hug.

"Finally. I see that you've survived so far. What's been happening? I've been hearing nothing in the muggle world."

Ron said, "Hey, mate, we've finally got some time to spend with you. Hermione's parents and ours are planning on a nice long 'get-to-know-you' talk and said we had time to catch up with each other. So can you finally show us where you're hiding out?"

Hermione and Ginny added their persuasion to the request and Harry agreed. "I'll show you my Grandparents place, but then we've got to sit down and figure out our problem. We're running out of time." Hermione looked questioningly, but Ginny and Ron nodded.

Harry led them up his stairs. He had already added them to the approved visitors list so they had no problem exiting his trunk. Just seeing the Master bedroom gave them warning of what the rest of the house was like.

Ron kept saying, "You could have grown up here?"

Harry gave a short laugh. "Yeah. Quite a difference from how I lived with the Dursley's."

Harry led them past the bedrooms. He let them look in the unoccupied rooms briefly. He pointed out where the Minister was staying as well as Justina. Hermione and Ginny both raised eyebrows at the use of the first name, but Harry explained that Healer-In-Training Bosworth was just too much of a mouthful to keep saying over and over. They seemed to see the sense in that.

As they approached the third floor balcony that was open to the entryway, Harry made Ginny stop. "Close your eyes." He had a devilish grin on his face. She gave him a suspicious look. "Go on. Close your eyes. I have something to show you and I want you to get the full effect."

Ginny gave him one more look, but then closed her eyes. Harry took her hand and led her and the others to the third floor balcony that formed the pathway between each side of the third floor. The view from the balcony was just as impressive as from the front doors. Hermione gave a gasp when she saw the view of the cliffs and sea out of the windows. Ron got a grin and turned to watch Ginny's reaction, too. He knew of Ginny's love of the sea.

Finally Harry had her positioned right in the middle and turned towards the windows. "Okay. Open your eyes."

Ginny's eyes opened and then they opened wider. She moved right to the railing as if drawn by the view. "This is marvelous! Is it enchanted?"

"No. That's what it really looks like outside. There's even some tunnels leading down to the water. I haven't been down there yet, so I'm not sure what it looks like down there."

It took a while, but eventually they dragged Ginny away from the view. They proceeded on their tour going down a floor. They almost lost Hermione in the Library, then another floor down Ron had trouble leaving the Game/Weapons Room. Harry showed the entrance to the tunnel. On each floor, Ginny was always captivated by the wall of windows. Harry finally gave a brief introduction to his grandparents' portrait and then led them back up the stairs to the breakfast area on the bedroom floor. Scones and various fruits appeared on the table.

They seated themselves around the table and Ron, of course, reached for a scone and started spreading marmalade on it. Harry briefly gave a history of what happened while Hermione was home and ended with the mystery poison they needed to find. Hermione frowned.

Ginny asked, "Do you think you could do your flash thing back to St. Mungo's and steal some from Healer Blythefield?"

Hermione nixed that idea right away. "He shouldn't go out, even as Flame. People are looking for him and we're not sure how much Healer Blythefield saw when he brought Justina Bosworth here."

Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure he has any left, anyway. He had said he needed to get more from Umbridge."

Hermione's attention was caught. "From Umbridge?"

"Yeah. He said he was running low and needed to get more from her." Harry gave a snort of laughter. "You should have seen her. She was dressed in this awful orange thing and had matching accessories in her office."

"Matching accessories?"

"Yeah. She had this terrarium that had these orange toads that matched her exactly…." Harry trailed off as realization hit them all.

"That must be your mystery poison source. Maybe. Do you think you could find their picture in a book to tell what type they were?"

Harry frowned and thought back. He'd been looking at all types of books, but couldn't recall ever seeing orange toads. He was sure he would have remembered them. "I haven't seen them in any book I've looked through in the past couple of days. I would remember that shade of orange. It was awful."

Ron piped up. "So how are we going to steal a toad from the Minister's office? If we don't think it's a good idea for Harry to be seen at St. Mungo's it's surely not a good idea for him to go right to Umbridge!"

They sat in silence for a minute until Ginny softly offered, "Percy."

The others all turned to her in astonishment. Ron scowled. "Percy? That git? You think he'd do anything for us?"

Ginny defended her choice. "He did warn us about the owls and he did try to protect Harry at the Ministry. It just didn't work."

Ron shook his head, but Hermione seemed to think it over. "Ginny's got a point. The least we could do is try to see if he would help. He does think a lot of Fudge. Maybe he would help just because of him. What do you think Harry? This mostly affects you."

"I think he's probably our best hope. Ginny, Ron, do you think you could invite him to the Burrow to talk? We'll use the trunks to bring him here to see Fudge. Fudge will be starting withdrawal again soon. Maybe that will bring home how urgently we need his help."