Chapter 24

Leglimens

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The very night Dumbledore was waiting for came sooner than the headmaster had expected. It had been three days since Harry's outburst and he wasn't feeling fully back to himself. He had been feeling queasy all day, his scar was prickling but the dizzy feeling had passed. He desperately wanted to see Cho but she had been busy with Quidditch training and she had sent an owl to Harry saying he needed rest and that they would meet up before the Valentine's Ball the following week.

Harry had felt ill in Potions but had put it down to the horrible smell coming from Neville's cauldron. Herbology wasn't much better he felt that Sprout had been watching him constantly. He desperately tried to get his plant to act the way it was meant to but it just would not behave. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and he thought he would pass out from concentrating so hard. Finally he got the plant to sit still while he collected the seeds he needed.

"Not bad Mr Potter, you just need to try harder, concentrate" Sprout called from the top of the class.

"Concentrate" he sighed, he couldn't do anymore or he'd fall over.

Charms was just as bad Professor Flitwick wanted everyone to charm a number of different items. If he was happy then you moved on to the next item, which was heavier and harder. By the third item Harry had to give up, he didn't have the energy to continue. His body ached and he felt completely drained.

"Tut, tut, Mr Potter, that's not very good, you will have to do at least six items for your O.W.Ls in June. Take a seat. Mr Finnegan your turn."

Harry slumped down into his seat and rested his head in his hands; he could see spots before his eyes. Hermione asked him if he was feeling alright and he just replied that he was tired.

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"POTTER" Harry snapped his head up when he heard his name being called. He hadn't realised he had been staring out the window for long. "When you are ready to listen, we will continue with the class. Would it be too much to ask you to open your book on to the same page as the rest of the class?"

"Sorry Professor" Harry whispered.

As McGonagall walked back up to the top of the classroom Harry nudged Ron.

"Why didn't you warn me? Next time elbow me"

Ron reddened. When the bell went Harry made a grab for his bag and headed for the door, until he heard,

"Mr Potter, can you wait behind for a few minutes?"

Harry sighed and slumped his shoulders; he didn't have the energy for a lecture.

"But Professor, I'll be late for my next class" Harry protested.

"Oh! And you think it is okay to give your full attention in your next class but not mine?"

Harry waited behind; he nodded goodbyes to his classmates as he got "good luck's" from them when they passed. When the class had emptied McGonagall softened her tone of voice.

"Take a seat Harry" she offered.

He took the nearest one in front of her desk. He was a little shocked by the sudden calmness in his Professor's voice.

She continued, "Harry, why didn't you tell me about the dizzy spells? I know about what happened in Professor Fox's class."

Harry raised his eyebrow suspiciously.

"Who told you, Ron, Hermione?"

"Now before you start blaming your housemates, they came to me because they are concerned and before you ask it doesn't matter who the "They" are. I was also informed about the Yule Ball."

Harry sighed and slumped in his chair, before he could reply McGonagall said,

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to see if you were okay that night. As a Head of House I am meant to be available for my students."

Feeling guilty Harry replied, "I didn't want to make a big deal of it Professor, and at Christmas I was just tired. It's really nothing to worry about."

"Can you explain to me what happened in Professor Fox's class?"

Harry had been avoiding this; he didn't want to talk about it. Images of that class ran through his mind and also the way he felt at the Quidditch match came back to haunt him also.

"I don't know Professor" Harry answered looking at his shoes.

He didn't want his teacher to know that Malfoy scared him that day. The "hero" everyone called him was afraid of Draco Malfoy. How was he expected to defeat Voldemort when he can't face a little supervised duel without becoming scared? He didn't want anyone to know his wand scared him, flying scared him. At this moment in time the great Harry Potter, the Boy-who-lived felt more muggle that wizard and that scared him the most.

He hadn't even noticed that once more his Professor was snapping him out of a trance and bringing him back to reality.

"Mr Potter" she said firmly using his full title. "It's time to grow up, you have O.W.Ls at the end of the year and I expect you to be alert in my class at all times. I will leave you this time on a warning. Harry," she stopped again as he reached the door, "If you need help, so you can manage everything, all you have to do is ask anyone. Maybe a few early nights wouldn't be too bad either, there will be plenty of time for girlfriends" she smiled. "Now as your last class is almost over I'd suggest returning to your common room and relaxing before your house-mates return."

"Thank you Professor" Harry said and nodding goodbye he left a very concerned McGonagall standing in her classroom. She had been around long enough to know when someone was holding a lot back.

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Harry returned to his dorm and lying on his bed he started to think about the last few months and why suddenly his magic wasn't working like it used to. He decided to try some basic charms and picking up his wand he sat up on the bed and looked for something to practice on. He decided to try the levitating spell.

Picking up a piece of parchment that he knew was very light and easy to levitate; he placed the parchment on the bed. Waving his wand in a swish and flick movement as he was taught in First Year he said,

"Wingardium Leviosa"

The parchment moved slightly and rose a few inches off the bed.

"Come on I can do better that this."

As soon as he stopped concentrating the parchment fell back down on the bed. Trying again he raised his wand and clearly said,

"Wingardium Leviosa"

This time the parchment rose much higher. Harry smiled and with a cheer he brought the floating sheet back down.

"I'm overreacting" he said to himself, "My magic is fine"

Harry tried other items that were scattered around his bed from his pillow to heavier objects like his shoe. As he brought his shoe back to the ground he heard voices coming from the common room, classes must have finished for the day.

Getting off the bed Harry went to stand but the room started to spin.

"Whoa! Not again" he said holding his head. "I must have used more energy than I realised levitating those small few items."

Hearing voices coming up to the dorm Harry lay back on the bed, closed the curtains around him and pretended to be asleep. He was sweating not but felt cold and shivery at the same time. The room was spinning and Harry's heart was pounding in his chest. The more he panicked the worse he got.

"I'm going mad" he thought to himself, and closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on his breathing.

"Shh!" he heard Dean's voice, "I didn't realise Harry was in here."

"Harry's here?" Seamus whispered

"Yeah, look his curtains are closed"

"Is he sick?"

"Well he was daydreaming in Transfiguration" Ron's voice whispered through, "He's been looking pale the last few days. Maybe he's just fallen asleep. Let's leave him. I'm starving anyway let's go to dinner."

As the voices faded away from the dorm, Harry opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. He was grateful that no-one had moved the curtain back to check if he was there. If they had they would have seen a frightened boy, sweating and shivering at the same time and not having a clue why he was acting like this. He held Cho's chain in his hand and wished she was there. His neck ached and he gently rubbed it with his free hand. He didn't feel hungry he was just so tired.

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He decided that as the dorm was empty he would go to bed properly. He changed into his pyjamas and thought about sending Lupin an Owl explaining his worries. He found the piece of parchment he had been playing with earlier and started,

"Dear Lupin,

I haven't been feeling well lately and I don't know what's causing it"

Harry's eyes stung and his head felt heavy, without realising it he dropped the letter out of his hand, turned over and fell asleep. It was a good few hours later and the boys Fifth Year dormitory was filled with the sounds of four different types of snoring and one sound of someone having a terrible nightmare.

Ron immediately woke up and knew he had to contact Dumbledore. Finding the enchanted quill that Dumbledore had given him, he contacted his Headmaster. Dumbledore's voice was heard softly in the room,

"How is he Mr Weasley?"

"He's thrashing about and sounds like he's in pain Sir, he keeps saying no over and over"

"Thank you Mr Weasley, don't wake Harry just yet, but go over and keep an eye on him. I'll do what I've planned from here."

The voice disappeared and Ron got out of his bed and went to Harry's side. He wanted to help his friend and wake him up from the terrible nightmare but he knew Dumbledore was going to try and find some answers.

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Snape was in Dumbledore's office pacing the floor.

"Do you think this will work?"

"Yes, we must try, even though I'm not in the same room as Harry I think I can make the link."

"Please be careful Headmaster"

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Leglimens Harry Potter"

Dumbledore's office vanished and he found himself in a cold dark chamber. He saw Voldemort and before him a small boy was curled up in a ball breathing heavily.

"Get up Harry" Voldemort's voice was heard.

Slowly Harry stood, he staggered slightly and Dumbledore guessed that Voldemort had used the cruciatus curse. Voldemort walked over to Harry and whispered something to him that Dumbledore couldn't make out. His eye caught a hooded figure standing in the far corner. He couldn't tell what the young man was up to but the Death Eater was rubbing his hands together.

The Death Eater walked over to Harry. Dumbledore saw the boy begin to shake slightly. Whatever Voldemort had said to him, Harry was visibly upset by it. The hooded figure gently touched Harry's scar, while Voldemort held Harry's face. Dumbledore couldn't see what was happening because the two men blocked his view but he heard Harry scream.

"Headmaster" Snape's voice came through to Dumbledore's thoughts. "Headmaster, come back to me"

Dumbledore opened his eyes and feeling very weak he reached for the link to the enchanted quill.

"Mr Weasley"

"Professor, hurry its Harry. His scar is bleeding"

"I know Mr Weasley, please try and wake Harry up before we lose him"

"Come on Harry" Ron said gently shaking Harry to wake up. "Come on you've been like this for too long now"

Snape and Dumbledore walked into the room. Having witnessed what Harry was going through Dumbledore desperately wanted to release the boy from danger. He placed a hand on the boy's chest and a bright glow came from it. A wave of peace fell over Harry. The scar stopped bleeding and he gave a slight sigh of relief. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the three people standing around his bed.

"Thank you Professor" Harry whispered. "I thought I would never wake up. I was so scared."

"I know, I saw" Dumbledore replied.

"You saw Professor, but how?"

"I was only there in spirit Harry. I could only watch but not take part. If Voldemort had known I was there Harry I dread to think of the consequences"

"How much did you see?"

"Not very much, but I saw the hooded figure approach you. Can you remember what he said before he touched your scar?"

Dumbledore noticed Harry wincing and placed a supportive hand on Harry's shoulder.

"They spoke a different language some old type of incantation. I've never heard it before."

"Do you know who this Death Eater is?"

"I couldn't see their face and the pain in my head was getting worse but for some reason again like before I felt like I knew the person. I felt so weak I thought my head would split open. All I wanted to do was sleep, I feel drained. Am I going mad Professor?"

"No Harry I definitely don't think you are going mad, but I am unaware of this type of magic"

"Potter" Snape said, "Fetch your wand and try to disarm me"

"What now Professor?" Ron interrupted, "Harry doesn't have the strength"

"Silence Weasley, Potter your wand"

Snape stepped back away from the bed. The room was empty Professor McGonagall had arranged for Harry's room mates to sleep in another room as soon as Ron had contacted Dumbledore.

"Now Potter, try to disarm me" Snape repeated

Harry got his wand. He felt the magic flowing through it but not as strong as he would have liked.

"Expelliarmus" Harry said

Snape's wand flew out of his hand but the Professor remained firmly in the same place.

"Why didn't you fall back, I put all my energy into that"

"It seems Potter your magic is very weak, can you remember what the Dark Lord did to you?"

"He whispered some incantation I've never heard before but then I don't remember anything else after that"

"Whatever he did to you tonight it has weakened your magic"

"You will need to rest and try to get your magic levels back up" Dumbledore interrupted. "Severus have you any dreamless sleep potion? Take it and sleep Harry, the rest will help your magic."

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Back in Dumbledore's office Snape was pacing back and forth in front of the Headmaster's desk.

"And you say the unidentified person touched Potter's scar?"

"Yes Severus, he rubbed something into his hands beforehand"

"So you think Potter has been drugged or whatever he used, it drained Potter's magic. I am not aware of such old Dark Magic. I will have a look through some books I have and I may also check with Fox. Where is Lupin these days, he may be able to get more out of Potter, the boy trusts him. How are you feeling Headmaster?"

"I have to admit I am tired. I will contact Remus tomorrow and see if he knows anything. I think I will rest now, see you in a few hours."

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End of chapter