Harry Potter and the Curse of V'Ardian

Chapter 8

Of Illness and Innocence

Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated for a few days because I've been away. Thankyou so much to Dark Syaoran! I don't want to give anything away but some of your ideas may be correct. As to your question about the creatures in the forest...well, I hadn't originally planned on Hagrid dying and if he hadn't you would have met them. But I'll work it in somehow :)

oOoOo

Harry felt like crap.

There were no other words to describe the feeling of complete and utter exhaustion and fatigue. He wouldn't even bother going into the emotional aspects of what he was feeling. Slowly, as though he would rather not, Harry opened his eyes to see the real world. Surprisingly, the first thing he saw was Hermione.

Groaning in annoyance he rolled over and found his glasses, and the world came into focus. What he saw made him grin. It wasn't just Hermione. Ron was there, too. They were both asleep, Hermione's head lolling on Ron's shoulder.

Harry looked out the window and saw that it was night. He wondered how long he had been out of it, and when Hermione had gotten back. With a sigh he tried sit up and swing his legs over the edge of the bed, intent on finding Madam Pomfrey. And found he couldn't move.

He tried again, but his limbs refused to obey his brain. He felt a pressure on his legs and arms and looked down to see thick white straps holding him to the bed. Suddenly he became alarmed. He began struggling, but the straps wouldn't budge.

"Ron, Hermione!" he gasped, fighting to dislodge himself from the restraints. Why had they done this to him?

But it was okay, because Ron and Hermione had woken up now. They would help him. But when they turned to him, there faces were full of sadness.

"Guys, what's going on? Help me!"

But Hermione slowly shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but we're not allowed."

"What? Why not?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"There's something wrong with you, mate," said Ron, looking almost fearfully at Harry.

"No there's not!" said Harry, becoming frustrated. He began to yell. "There's nothing wrong with me! Let me out of here!"

Harry was silenced by the arrival of Madam Pomfrey, who had a cross look on her face.

"Now, now, Mr Potter. Do you want to wake everyone up?" she fussed.

"I want to see Dumbledore!" Harry requested.

"I am here, Harry," came the headmaster's weary voice. Harry snapped his head around to see Dumbledore sitting in a chair on the opposite side of his bed, Snape standing behind him.

"Sir? What's happening? Why can't I go?" Harry asked.

"Because you are evil."

"Evil," repeated Snape.

"You're killing me, Harry!" said Dumbledore. "I'm dying because of you! Because of evil!"

Harry looked beseechingly at his friends.

"Ron? Hermione? I'm not evil! Please, you have to believe me!"

Bu they looked away and someone forced Harry's head towards them. Snape was standing over him, a flask of dark, red liquid suspended over him. He forced Harry's jaw open and began to pour it in. It was thick, metallic tasting, and Harry suddenly knew what it was. He coughed, choking as he tried to prevent it going down his throat. He thrashed his head wildly out of Snape's grasp, causing the red liquid to pour over his neck and onto the sheets. He heard Madam Pomfrey mutter about the mess.

"No! I don't want it!"

Harry choked and spluttered as the potion slid greasily down his throat. He opened his eyes to see Snape standing over him. Then he realised there was no one else there except Madam Pomfey. He coughed again and sat up, trying to clear his throat. It had all been a dream. He looked frantically around but found that he could move freely, and he relaxed.

Snape looked sourly on, wiping his hands free of a green potion with a cloth, as Madam Pomfrey cleaned the mess on Harry's face and bed.

"What time is it?" Harry asked, looking at Snape.

"It is nearly midnight," Snape replied.

"What happened?" Harry frowned. He couldn't remember. Images from the nightmare still filled his head.

"You collapsed while I was bringing you here. You have been unconscious since then."

"I feel fine now," said Harry, looking at Madam Pomfrey.

"You can leave in the morning," she said firmly, tucking the sheets in. Harry grimaced.

"Is that all you require, Poppy?" asked Snape.

"Yes, thankyou, Severus," she replied, smiling warmly at him.

Snape swept from the room and Madam Pomfrey gave him another potion. He drank it down quickly and seconds later, fell asleep.

oOoOo

When Harry woke up, the first thing he did was check that the restraints were really a figment of his imagination. With relief, he found that he could move, and opened his eyes. Only to see Hermione, her head lolling on Ron's shoulder. Harry froze, his eyes darting around the room. No Snape. No Dumbledore. He sat up and reached for his glasses.

"Ron? Hermione?"

Hermione darted awake, staring at Harry.

"Oh, Harry! I'm so glad you're alright!" she enthused. She enveloped him in a warm hug.

"When did you get back?" Harry asked, checking her for signs of injury. There were none.

"Last night. We weren't allowed to come and see you until this morning. What happened?"

Harry shrugged.

"Nothing really. I just felt sick, that's all. How about you? What did Malfoy do to you?"

Hermione's face grew stony and she shook her head.

"I don't want to talk about it."

oOoOo

Over the next few days, Harry began to get steadily worse. He had bags under his eyes and Hermione said he was looking pale. He had taken to wearing glamour, if only to avoid questions about how he was feeling.

It was on Wednesday night, just before he was due for his Occlumency lesson with Snape that the letter came. It was written by the same person, but again it had no signature. He unrolled it slowly, hoping to be proven wrong, but it was addressed to the same person.

Lord V'Ardian,

I regret that you did not reply sooner. It is imperative that I speak with you urgently. Reply by this owl with your name, so that I may visit you.

But Harry would do no such thing. Tucking the letter in his pocket, he headed off in the direction of the dungeons. He entered the Potions classroom to find that Snape was not there, so he took a seat and pulled out the letter. It showed no clue as to who it was from. It was written on standard parchment, like the type they used at Hogwarts, with plain black ink.

Harry considered the words. Why was it so important for this person to speak to him? Or was the whole thing just a big joke?

Harry jerked his head up as the door banged opened and Snape stormed in. he stopped, looking down at Harry, who quickly his the letter under the table.

"What is that, Potter?" he snarled.

"Nothing."

"Do not lie to me!" Snape sneered. "Show it to me!"

"It's a letter. It's private" said Harry angrily.

Snape scowled and raised his wand.

"Accio!"

The letter flew out of Harry's hand.

"No!" he yelled. He stretched out his hand after it.

Just as it touched Snape's fingers, the letter burst into flame, reduced to a pile of ashes that fluttered slowly to the floor.

Snape looked at his hand and swore, looking at Harry in astonishment.

"You did that?" he asked.

Harry shrugged. In all honesty, he wasn't sure he had. He supposed he could have, because he's done wandless magic before when he was particularly desperate or emotional.

Snape frowned and turned away.

"In my office, Potter."

The lesson wasn't as big a disaster as Harry had thought it might be. He successfully avoided Snape's attempts to break into his mind twice, though on other tries he failed spectacularly. When he left he was tired and worn out. He slowly made his way back to Gryffindor tower, taking the lesser travelled routes to avoid people.

He jumped when a figure stepped out of the shadows ahead of him.

"Hello, Katherine."

"Harry."

"I'm sorry about the other day. In Defence. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't. You're a very good duellist."

"I have to be," Harry replied.

She didn't reply, and an awkward silence followed.

"How do you like Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"I like it very much," Katherine smiled.

Harry nodded.

"It was the first place I ever really felt comfortable," he said. "My relatives didn't exactly want me around."

"The innocent are always the first to suffer," Katherine said quietly.

"Yes," said Harry. And how have you suffered? He desperately wanted to know about her, about her history, but he knew if he asked, she wouldn't reply.

"Well, I'll see you around, I guess," said Harry.

"Goodbye, Harry," said Katherine.

Harry passed her and continued on his way, only to hear another set of voices up ahead. To his surprise, it was Professors Snape and McGonagall, whispering hurriedly.

"We can't ignore this, Severus. Albus may not be here much longer. We need to make preparations."

"Minerva, you are over reacting-"

"Albus is sick, Severus. He is old. He has many enemies. None of those encourage a longer life," McGonagall said.

Harry froze. Was it true? Was Dumbledore dying? Harry remembered his dream. The coincidence was unnerving. Deciding to take his chances, he stepped out into the corridor and stopped.

Snape and McGonagall stopped talking, looking up in alarm, guilty expressions on their faces.

"Potter," said Snape.

"Mr Potter, what are you doing here?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"I was going back to Gryffindor tower," said Harry.

Professor McGonagall fixed him with a beady eye.

"Well, off you go then, Mr Potter." She turned to Snape. "Good day, Severus."

With that, professor McGonagall turned and left. Harry quickly followed her.

oOoOo

On the notice board in the common room, Harry saw something that made him feel good, for the first time in a long while.

Quidditch trials were on tomorrow. Harry grinned at Ginny as she walked up to him.

"Are you going to try out for seeker?" she asked.

"Well, I suppose if you aren't…" replied Harry.

"Of course not, Harry. I was only filling in for you." She shook her head. "That foul Umbridge woman. No, I'm going to try out for chaser."

Then Harry grinned.

"Of course, even if you wanted to be seeker, I could just kick you off the team."

Gonny looked confused.

"What do you mean, Harry?" she asked. Then her face split into a huge grin.

"You're the captain!" she almost squealed and Harry grinned widely.

"Sure am, but don't tell Ron. I want it to be a surprise."

Ginny dashed forward and hugged him.

"We've all been wondering who it was!" she said, beaming.

"Well, don't tell anyone just yet. They can wait till tomorrow to find out."

Ginny nodded vigorously.

"Of course."

She turned to go, but then remembered something.

"Are you going to start the DA up again, Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry frowned. He hadn't thought about that at all. He had just assumed it would all be over after Umbridge left, but now he seriously considered it. It would be a good idea.

"You think I should?" he asked.

Ginny nodded enthusiastically.

"Definitely!"

"All right, then. Do you still have the coin Hermione gave you?"

"Yep, kept it just in case."

"Well I guess I'll do it then. I'll see you around."

"Sure, see you, Harry!"

Harry smiled and turned to finish reading the notices on the board. As he read however, his thoughts drifted back to what he had heard about Dumbledore. He didn't want to think about what would happen if Dumbledore died.

Harry knew then that he had to go and see him. He had to find a way to save him.

oOoOo

A/N: A short chapter with a lot of important things! REVIEW! Keep reading! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!

Chapter 9: Of Death and Deception