Disclaimer: I own nothing; it all belongs to J.K.Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters to play with for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"Santos!" Harry happily exclaimed.
"Harry!" Healer Halper replied with equal fervor.
"How are you doing? Life treating you well?" Harry asked leaning forward to hug the man in greeting.
Healer Halper returned the hug a little uncomfortably, "Yeah, well enough. Yourself?"
"Can't complain." Harry replied before letting an awkward silence settle. He added, "You know, Santos, I really don't know you that well."
Santos relaxed and looked relieved. "Oh good. Because even I thought that hug was a bit unwarranted."
"Exactly! I've been spending too much time around women these days." Harry agreed with a mirthful shake of his head. "I mean there's friendly, and then there's arguably homoerotic. It'd be so much easier if we could just greet people with a rabbled grunt or if absolutely necessary a handshake."
Healer Halper was nodding vigorously. "All of my wife's friends greet me with hugs and kisses on my cheek. If I smile, my wife sends me to the couch. If I don't, I get called cold and rude and sometimes get sent to the couch."
"Women are completely nutters."
Santos frowned. "Harry, I'm a healer. The official term is bonkers."
Harry was chuckling until Minerva cleared her throat a bit insistently. "Oh right, I'm sorry. You're not nutters of course, Minnie. Professor Minerva McGonagall, I'd like you to meet Healer Santos Halper. Santos, this is Minerva."
"Pleasure to meet you, Professor."
"And you as well, Healer Halper." Minnie replied with a stern look.
"Right." Santos added. "Well, Harry, Simon is making leaps and bounds. I expect he will be healthy enough to leave within a week. Probably two weeks after that we'll be placing him at St. Olaf's Home for Unwanted Children and Competitively Priced Insurance if he hasn't a home by then." Healer Halper started making a sad face. "It's just so sad to see an orphan get something so wonderful and at the same time so horri-"
"Relax, Santos," Harry interrupted. "Minnie's already considering taking him in, and she can't hide the smile each time I bring it up. And Simon hasn't even appealed to her instincts yet."
Minerva frowned at Harry. "You are not used car salesmen trying to move a lemon off the lot. It is despicable how manipulative you two are when we are talking about a child's welfare."
Harry rolled his eyes. "So says Albus' longtime Deputy." That shut Minnie up pretty quick. "So come on, Minnie. Let's go see Simon."
The three of them walked towards Simon's room. Harry paused, "Err, Santos, you might want to wait outside. Just for the sake of plausible deniability."
Santos rolled his eyes. "As you wish."
Harry and Minnie walked in and found Simon once again playing with his two Harry Potter action figures. Apparently they were fighting each other viciously. With their only weapons at the moment their tongues and angry kissing noises.
Harry cleared his throat. "Hiya Simon."
Simon dropped his action figures, though Minerva would still insist that they're dolls, and jumped up. "Uncle Poncy!" He embraced his Uncle Poncy with a hug. "You fixed me! Just like you said you would!"
Minerva observed the young boy she had taken an immediate liking too, though she was unsure whether living with her at Hogwarts would be a good idea. She was a bit curious about what Harry had mentioned about appealing to her instincts.
Harry smiled. "I just helped you out with a trick. You had to do all the work."
Simon's smile left quickly. "The Healers say I may have to go to a muggle place called St. Olaf's."
Harry smiled at Simon. "Oh don't worry, Simon. It won't be so bad. You'll get to play with other kids your own age, in a more normal place than a hospital, and then you'll be off to Hogwarts in less than two years."
Simon was still frowning. "I know. I just doubt I'll get to…" he paused and looked at the stern faced Professor McGonagall. "Err… do that thing that I like to do."
Harry looked over at Minnie and smiled brightly enough to worry Minerva. "Actually, Simon. You know how I made you promise not to do it in front of anyone?"
Simon nodded.
"Well," Harry began. "I'd like for you to do it for Professor McGonagall, if you don't mind."
Simon smiled brightly. "Sure!" And with only a slight pop, Simon was replaced by an adorable cute little kitten.
Minerva's stone-faced sternness melted away instantly and she gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes were tearing up quickly as she whispered out, "Oh my kitty!" Reacting only on instinct Minerva immediately popped into her animgus form and ran over to Simon. Before Simon could even turn or try to play, Minnie, in her cat form began licking and cleaning the little kitten quite thoroughly. Minnie flopped to the floor and Simon relaxed and flopped right up next to her. Both felines were purring loudly, and Minnie continued to bathe the kitten.
Harry thought they'd hit it off, but this was ridiculous. Simon, it appeared had fallen asleep already, and Minnie's eyes were closed while she relentlessly licked all of Simon's head, neck, and back clean. Harry decided to give them some time and went out into the hall.
Santos was waiting for him, looking hopeful and awaiting an answer to the unasked question.
Harry smiled. "I think Simon's got a new mom."
Santos face split into a grin. "Wonderful! That didn't take long."
Harry shrugged. "I think they might have fallen asleep already."
Santos peeked into the room and saw the kitten, sleeping peacefully with his head rested across the older cat's abdomen. "Of course!" he exclaimed. "I had completely forgotten Professor McGonagall's animagus form. I think the animal inside is making this decision for her."
Harry agreed. The two men watched the cat and kitten resting peacefully.
Santos broke the silence. "I don't suppose you'll share what you did with Simon, will you?"
Harry grinned at the Healer. "Is this professional curiosity or an official inquiry?"
Santos shook his head. "Merely curiosity. I've already had a deposition with my colleagues questioning my alternative healing methods. As soon as I mentioned that you seemed to have been involved in an unknown capacity they all dropped any formal questioning."
Harry frowned a bit.
Santos saw the look and said, "Not sure if it was because they're afraid of you, or just know there won't be any historical basis or explanation for occurrences once you are involved."
Harry accepted that and answered Santos' question. "I know of a way to take magic from one place and imbue it purposefully into another. Including magical cores or conduits."
Santos raised an eyebrow. "That shouldn't be possible."
Harry smiled and tapped his forehead where his famous scar was. "Because of the connection in this, if I hadn't found a way, then the only way to kill Voldemort would have included dying myself."
Santos nodded. "I can see how that might inspire you to devise a way to break the rules of magic."
"Yup. Even if it means having to live the rest of my years with a healthy amount of Voldemort's former magic within myself."
"Oh good. I was worried you weren't powerful enough before." Santos mockingly replied.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Anyways, one of the things about imbuing foreign magic into another is that it needs to be catered specifically to that person, or be a specific action exclusive to the receiving individual."
"Ahh, of course. And animagus transformations are unique to each person. But how on earth did you train him? The understanding necessary still shouldn't have been possible."
Harry nodded. "I kind of put that into the magic already for him. It's like a master after years of training. A single simple thought triggers it for him. And as long as he only used the magic I put there for it, he wasn't ever even touching his own reserves."
Santos shook his head. "Fascinating. And could you do this for others?"
Harry winced. "I'd rather not, as giving away a piece of magic means I'm losing that piece of magic, but if a situation warranted it, I'd be happy to."
Santos paled. "Never mind. Forget I asked. I didn't realize giving away your magic actually meant losing some of your own."
Harry nodded. "If there's no other options, do let me know, as I could probably give away a fair amount of magic and still be alright, but I'd appreciate it being a last resort."
Santos was beginning to see signs of the caring mature man hiding behind the childish façade he showed the world.
"Anyways, I'm going to say goodbye to Minnie, as I suspect she may stay for a bit longer and I have to help a friend who's been possessed for a little while."
Santos looked at the young man and saw he was completely serious. "Very well, Harry. Thank you for sharing, I won't tell a soul. And if you ever need private healing assistance, you only need ask."
Harry and Santos shook hands in a much less awkward manner, and Harry went back into Simon's room.
Simon, the kitten, continued to nap, though Minnie, the cat, looked up at the newcomer.
"I get the feeling you're going to be here a little while longer, Minnie. That about right?"
The cat was smiling and nodded her head.
"Alright, I need to head back to the castle. I'll see you back there when you get there. Tell Simon I said goodbye."
The cat nodded again, and with a pop, Harry disappeared from St. Mungo's. Minnie's eyes widened comically and she started twitching, as she saw in his wake, Harry had left behind a rather large open bag of catnip.
Harry and Albus were waiting there in the Headmaster's office. A somber Draco Malfoy entered carrying his magical diary.
Albus saw his look and asked, "Why the long face?"
"What?" Draco haughtily exclaimed. He began feeling his head to see if someone had slipped him an engorgement potion.
Harry snickered. "It's an expression. He's asking 'why do you look so sad?'"
Draco sighed. "Well, there's a fifty-fifty shot I'm going to die, right? You expect me to be jumping for joy?"
Albus frowned and Harry shook his head. "You won't be in any danger of getting killed. We're going to try to fuse your soul back together."
"Well yeah, but there's two different Dracos right now, and pretty soon there will be just one. Either one of us is gone and the other continues, or both of us are gone and we're merged into one consciousness."
Harry pointed out, "If you believe that, then your odds are more like 75-25 against you."
Albus scolded when Draco looked sadder. "Harry. You're not helping."
"Wait, so which Draco is in control right now?" Harry asked.
Draco sighed and said, "I'm the newer one I think. I've not lost control since I got here. Though I do sense something on the other side of my Occlumency shields. I take it that's probably the older me?"
Harry looked at Albus and neither seemed to be too sure. "Yeah, probably." Harry replied. "So tell me, Albus. What genius ways have you determined for reuniting a split soul?"
"Me?" Albus indignantly replied. "I thought it was up to you to figure it out."
Harry sighed loudly. "Crap. So you couldn't come up with anything either."
Albus shook his head. "If this second piece of his soul is strong enough to hold off the original's control of his own body, then I cannot see how the two can be reunited."
Draco smiled weakly. "So you're not going to kill me?"
Harry frowned and explained. "Hold on Draco, we may just kill you yet. So Albus, would you agree though, that the further the pieces get from each other, the more twisted and susceptible to evil persuasion they will become?"
Albus nodded. "Oh most definitely. The split soul means he's something of a half-entity. It could potentially drain his magic even. Of course the darkness would take over and use some evil rituals to try and salvage itself, and corrupt him even further, as any part of Draco Malfoy would refuse becoming a squib or a muggle."
Draco paled dramatically, not liking the directions this conversation was headed in.
Harry thought about it. "I'm pretty sure I can put the newer Draco back into the diary, but it will still exist there. We don't want to actually destroy any part of his soul."
"No we don't, but as a last resort destroying it separately in the diary, would mean there isn't any further risk to his magic." Albus explained. "Of course he'd still only be a half-entity and extremely susceptible to corruption then."
Harry was brainstorming, while Draco just sat there completely clueless as to what was going on. "Albus, what if we tied the separate soul into his own magical core through an outside link…"
"Well, he would have all of his soul then, it just wouldn't be united. But to tie it into his magical core would require…oh of course!" Albus explained. "I think that could work, Harry! He would have his entire soul, it just would manifest itself as a separate entity living inside of himself!"
Harry turned to Draco, "What about that option? Both of you would still exist, it's just you'd have a terribly annoying voice in your head."
"And my magic?" Draco asked.
"Won't be affected, as there isn't any outside drain on it." Harry replied. "But it may mean that I will have some control over the voice in your head."
Draco furrowed his brow. "And why is that?"
Harry smiled. "Because right now, a piece of your soul has split off through the diary. Since we don't know anyway to reunite it with the other piece of your soul, and it's a significant piece, as it's strong enough to exist on its own outside of the diary, and possess your body, we're going to tie it into your body. And in order to remain a part of you, we're going to attach it to the already active soul magic you have."
Draco was nodding but processing none of this. "What was that again?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Instead of your soul being in the diary, I'm going to put it into Tibbles, as Tibbles is a part of you, linked to your proper soul."
"Tibbles is going to die?" Draco asked with a frown.
Albus was getting tired of this. "Oh for Merlin's sake! Yes, Tibbles is going to die a bloody, visceral, screaming death! Gone! Kaput! Toasty! But this is the best way to keep your soul in nearly one piece."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Tibbles isn't really alive Draco. I just felt like animating the tattoo for you. But you, Mr. Diary Draco, will get to become Tibbles."
"Awesome! I get to be a dragon?" Draco asked.
Harry looked at Albus and neither seemed to know. "Umm… perhaps."
"What will I be, if not a dragon?" Draco asked.
Harry shrugged. "No idea. You might have complete control over your appearance and existence, or you might live the rest of your life as a Dark Mark that looks like Argus Filch with a nosebleed."
Draco paled. "And if I refuse to do this?"
Harry leveled a look at Draco. "You can't refuse this."
Draco sighed, and realized that the Dark Mark turned Tibbles made it impossible for him to refuse Harry.
"Draco, if you did, it would more than likely corrupt you completely within a few years. You would have aspirations of power and evil, and would certainly not be safe to be around children at first, which would mean your job, eventually wizards and witches then, and finally at some point, I would be forced to kill you. If you're that worried about what the Mark is going to look like, I'm sure I can figure out a way to change it after the fact."
Draco grudgingly agreed.
Harry pointed out, "The fact that you're so reluctant to do this in the first place, may already be an indication that your split soul is getting corrupted."
Draco scowled at Harry both because there was no way to respond to that, and because Harry might be right. "Fine. Let's do this."
Harry smiled and said. "Lovely. Stupefy." And Draco knew only blackness.
When Draco woke again memories of his bad dream flooded into his mind. He could picture the Headmaster without his shirt on, yelling out "The Power of Potter Compels You! The Power of Potter Compels You! Be gone from this creature!" Draco felt like he'd been chasing after Nifflers for hours. He slowly began listening to the voices in the room.
"I've no idea! The nearest I can figure is that my 'animating' the Mark must have added in complications." An unfortunately familiar voice argued.
"Complications! Hah! You are an idiot!" a snarky and slightly distortedly familiar voice, that sent tingles down Draco's spine, replied punctuating each word.
"Your arguing will most likely just irritate the headache, Tibbles is no doubt going to have." An aged and warm voice interrupted.
Draco's heart warmed immensely as he thought, 'Tibbles is going to live!' He quietly moaned as he body protested sitting up. He rasped out, "Arrggh. Why do I feel so sore?"
"Tibbles!" The snarky yet unidentifiable voice replied.
Draco slowly opened his eyes, and looked at the man who had rushed to his side. The light was harsh, but it would be impossible not to recognize his gorgeous skin tone, his beautiful hair, his soft manicured hands. He looked up into the man's eyes. "Man, are you good looking."
His twin smiled and winked. "Oh Tibbles. Who knew this kind of beauty could be replicated?"
Draco seemingly only now realized he was Tibbles. He looked over and saw Albus watching him curiously. He looked over and saw Harry making a sheepish shrug. "Oh sheesh. You really Pottered this one, didn't you?"
Harry, as per usual, sent a flare of pleasure along his connection to the Mark, but rather than the usual response, Tibbles felt the harsh sensation of something similar to portkey travel and he disappeared from the Headmaster's office. Only to realize, that he had turned into the former Dark Mark tattoo on his twin's body.
The still standing Draco knew immediately what had happened and lifted up his sleeve. There, on his arm, was a perfect tattoo of himself. "Great Merlin!"
Harry looked over at Albus and acted like he meant to do that. Albus wasn't buying it.
The two others went to inspect the tattoo and saw a slightly disoriented, but apparently alive magical tattoo of Draco, on Draco. "Can Tibbles, communicate with you Draco?"
And through his connection, Harry heard 'Screw you, Potter.' Harry smiled. "Well, Tibbles can communicate with me at least."
Draco nodded, "Yeah, I can hear him in my head."
Harry asked, "Can you make him corporeal on your own?"
Draco squinted his face and was trying with all his magic to do just that. The voice in his head warning him that if he pushed any harder he was going to pass gas, made Draco stop and shake his head.
Harry sent a burst of magic down the link, and once again, Tibbles seemed to jump out of Draco's body, and there were two identical Draco Malfoy's in the room. Harry summarized the situation and said, "Well, this is definitely interesting."
Albus just laughed. "Oh Harry."
Tibbles and Draco were eyeing each other up and down.
Harry made a face. "Tibbles, you realize that since you are the Mark, I can hear everything you're thinking."
Tibbles and Draco both blushed deeply.
Albus quirked his mouth in a smile. "Now Harry, a bitter, sarcastic, angry ass seems like a much more pleasing pet reform project, doesn't it?"
Harry grumbled and shook his head, while Draco and Tibbles seemed to be lost in each other's eyes. "Albus, do you think the connection would be strengthened if the two separate pieces of his soul became soul-bonded?"
Albus briefly considered it. "Well, of course, their 'souls' would be extremely compatible, but the only way for them to bond would be if they are in… love… and… they… would have to… consummate… oh lord, that's just not right."
