CHAPTER SEVEN: Transformation

As noon passed in Diagon Alley on August 8th, 2011, six friends could be seen walking together, three men and three women. One of the women, who sported sensational pink hair, seemed to be supporting one of the men, who looked extremely world-weary despite his otherwise youthful appearance. The pink-haired woman turned to one of her friends, who wore spectacles and sported a lighting bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. "So how do we recognize the clergy of this Healer?"

Harry Potter responded to Tonks, "The clergy wear a white armband on their right arm. Some are pure white; others have any of four stripes: red, blue, silver, and green. I'm not sure if the pure white ones or the ones with all four stripes are better placed in the hierarchy."

Indeed, Harry noted, there were a good many of clergy in the streets today. What qualified one to rise to such a position, he wondered. Finally working up enough courage, Harry approached a middle-aged man sporting a silver and green striped white armband. "Excuse me, good sir, but might I distract you from your activities for a moment? I have a companion who is suffering from a terrible illness. We've taken him to St. Mungo's but they say there is no cure for him. Can your Great Healer not help him?" Harry pleaded as convincingly as he could.

The almost-bald priest smiled at Harry benevolently. "Of course, I shall do my best to heal your companion. Our most revered Great Healer has many responsibilities across the globe, however, and while I wish only the best for you and yours, I cannot guarantee that the Healer will make a presence. However, if I or any of colleagues can help, we shall be most glad."

Harry bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, good priest." Calling over to his friends, he yelled, "Over here! We may have some help for you, Professor Lupin!" As Harry's companions came over to him, Harry said, "This is Professor Remus Lupin, Father…?"

"Michael," supplied the priest merrily. "Now then, good professor, what ails you so terribly?"

Lupin looked at the ground, apparently shy, at which Tonks patted him on the shoulder consolingly. "It's hard for him to talk about, Father Michael, but my partner (who refuses to marry me unless he can be cured, it should be noted)," Tonks leaned close and lowered her voice, "was bitten by a werewolf when he was just a boy."

Father Michael put his hand to his mouth in shock. "I am so sorry, good professor. I am afraid that my meager talents are simply not up to the task of healing lycanthropy. Only The Great Healer might be able to cure such an ailment." Standing up a bit straighter, Father Michael said, "Good professor, your partner says you refuse to marry her unless you can be cured. It would take a miracle indeed to allow such a blessing, I will admit. How long have you been together, yet not together?"

Lupin smiled meekly. "Please, good Father, there is no need to call me 'professor.' I haven't taught for many years. However, my dearest partner and I have been together for about ten years now."

"Ten years!" exclaimed the priest. "You poor souls," he said sympathetically. "Excuse me a moment. I must confer with some of my colleagues as how best to help you." Waving his arms, he called to him five other priests, each wearing a different combination of two stripes on their armbands.

Huddling with his friends, Harry sounded nervous, "What do you think they're going to do? They can't have a cure, can they?"

Ginny shrugged. "Got me. Maybe their planning to take you somewhere, Professor."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "You don't think," said Ron, "that they're actually going to take him to the Great Healer, do you?"

"Anything's possible," Hermione supplied. "We just have to wait, right now. At least they haven't tried any mind-altering magic … yet."

But they were interrupted by Father Michael, who said with a smile. "It has been decided!" he said gleefully. "You shall see The Great Healer, and with all luck, you may yet be cured, good sir," he said to Lupin with a bow. "All we need is to find the proper avatar, and your audience will begin."

Lupin looked alarmed. "Avatar? Audience? What do you mean?"

Father Michael smiled benignly. "The Great Healer will need an avatar here in Diagon Alley to address you, and seeing our divine savior is a great honor, though we of Healing Hands do see it as a responsibility to help all in need, from the richest noble to the poorest beggar." Looking over their heads, he said, "Ah! Here come my fellows with the avatar-to-be."

Heads turned as the other five priests were dragging a kicking and screaming Professor Rowanda Lanskey over to where Harry, Lupin, and the rest were waiting. Harry tensed and clasped hands with Ginny as he thought in fear that their undercover aid had probably been found out. But how!

At least Lanskey was putting up a good fight. "Let go of me! Get your filthy hands off me! What are you doing, you freakish nut jobs!"

But the six priests ignored her protests and each placed their hands on her, though not in any obscene fashion, and began to chant as one. Lanskey's eyes widened in fear, but then they began to glow white. Her screaming subsided, and an odd, serene expression came over her face.

A crowd seemed to be forming, wondering what six priests of the Holy Order were doing to this woman. "What are you doing!" Ron shouted. "Let her go!"

But his words fell upon deaf ears as Lanskey started to hover a few inches above the ground, no longer supported by the priests, who had stopped chanting. Every few seconds, part of her would burst into a flashing white glow. Soon, these bursts sped up, and she was now screaming in ecstasy and delight. Finally, a brilliant, blinding white burst of light issued forth from her, and the crowd diverted its gaze, so bright was the light. When they turned back to face Professor Lanskey, she was no longer Professor Lanskey, but now a glowing white figure, distinctly human in shape, but without any discernable features to distinguish from any other person. The Great Healer was now among them.