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Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

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Chapter 2

Helping

He had been here for six months now and he really loved this place with its rolling hills and friendly people. He was nothing but Harry Potter to these people and he loved that. He had finally settled in this small town and he had rented an apartment. He had plenty of money but he was getting restless. He had made the decision today to find a job, one that he was qualified for. He was only qualified to kill evil Dark Lords attempting to take over the world so, he really had no idea what kind of job he would get but anything was better than laying in bed all day.

He had spent eight years at Hogwarts. The last three of those eight in love with none other than Draco Malfoy. The last year of the eight as the Flying Instructor where he had taken the job right after graduation. He had been thankful to Albus for giving him the chance to stay in the only place he had ever considered home. The last battle had been ten months ago. And he had spent one month in a self induced healing come and three months trying like hell to get back some semblance of a life. He had been here for six lonely months but it had been six months of personal healing for him as well.

As he walked down the quiet street he was startled when the quite was broken by a horrible screech and then the sounds of crashing and then silence. Even the birds that had been chirping seconds before were now quiet. Harry ran to the other street with the other two people that had been walking and the sight that met his eyes caused him to gasp out in shock.

A small red Explorer had lost control and had crashed into the side of a school bus. The school bus had been pushed over by the force of the collision and Harry could see that the driver of the bus was obviously dead having been thrown halfway out of the window on the driver's side. When the bus had rolled he had been caught half out of the bus resulting in the top part of his body falling under the bus as it rolled. Harry heard retching beside him and glanced at the other man that had run with him to the accident.

Some part of his mind wanted to join the man but the other, more in control part, was yelling at him to stop standing there with his thumb up his arse and do something. Harry ran to the bus and climbing up the wheel fought his way to the door. Pushing on the door would not open it and Harry could hear the frantic cries of the children trapped inside. Looking around frantically Harry saw nothing that would help him open the door. Growling in frustration he looked around and not seeing anyone looking at him he muttered 'shatterius' and as he did he slammed his hand down making it look as if he had punched the glass out.

He forced his way into the bus. The frantic cries of the children slowed as they saw help arrive, of course, the several calming spells Harry muttered helped a lot. Bracing himself against the dash and the drivers seat, effectively blocking their view of the dead driver, he surveyed the crying children. He smiled at them softly. He pushed the sounds of the chaos outside to the back of his mind and concentrated on the children.

"Please stop crying. I am here to help you. Now, is any of you seriously hurt?" He asked quietly.

The children were staring at him in awe but soon an older child stood up. She wiped the tears from her face and said somewhat calmly, "I think that Sherry here has a broken arm." As soon as she was done speaking more children spoke up telling Harry who had what injury.

"Good." Harry said softly when he found out that no one was in serious condition. "Now shall we leave?" He questioned with a small smile and the children giggled in return.

"Come up here one at a time and I will help you out." By this time Harry had been conversing with the rescue personnel on the outside of the bus as well as with the children in the bus. As each child came to him he would tell the man sitting on the top of the bus what was wrong with them. As he handed each child up to the man Harry would smile gently at them and whisper that they were going to be just fine.

As the last child was handed up to the waiting arms of the man above him Harry felt a sense of calm overcome him. He had helped others. Something he had not done in a long time and Harry was humbled by the experience. A hand thrust into his field of vision interrupted his thoughts and Harry looked up into the grateful eyes of the man who had been there the whole time Harry had been getting the kids out.

He grabbed the hand and let himself be pulled out of the wreckage. As soon as his feet hit the ground he was surrounded by all the children that he had helped. Through their cries of thanks and their tears Harry came to realize something about himself, he didn't have to give up everything that he himself was in order to help others. He had done that here without losing even the smallest part of himself.

A police officer approached the group and said he need to ask Harry a few questions. Harry nodded and signaling to the children the officer nodded and walked a few feet away to give them space.

"You all did well and will be fine." Harry said softly his accent more pronounced now that they were all out of danger.

The girl that had first spoken walked to him and grabbing him in a hug whispered "thank you". As she stepped back she was soon replaced by each of the children that was able to still be there. Harry watched as each child was then taken away by the rescue personnel there. He turned to the police officer and set about answering his questions until they were interrupted by the fire chief who came over to thank Harry.

"Thank you, sir. I am not sure how many we would have been able to save if you had not been here." Chief Daughtry said gruffly.

"I..." Harry started to say but stopped. There was nothing that he could say so he just nodded and kept quiet.

The Chief shook his hand again and turned to leave, he had only taken a few steps before he turned to give Harry a questioning look. "Are you a doctor, Mr. Potter?" he asked.

"No." he said softly.

"Then how did you know what was wrong with those children?" He questioned suspiciously.

Harry shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, "I just did," he said quietly.

"Whatever the reason I again thank you Mr. Potter. Some of them would not have survived without your help." The Fire Chief shook his hand in gratitude.

Harry smiled at the man as he turned back to the chaos. Harry felt peace, something he had not felt in a very long time.

"Mr. Potter?" Came the voice of the police officer Harry had forgot was still standing there.

"Yes, I am sorry. What did you need to know?" He asked softly.

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The questions he had to answer had left him drained more than the adrenaline rush he had gotten when he had climbed into that bus. He hadn't answered the Fire Chief correctly though. Harry was a Level Nine Medi-Wizard but he didn't think that information would be well received in the muggle world. He sighed tiredly as he opened the door to his empty apartment. He saw that Hedwig was back from her trip across seas. He had sent her a with a letter to Ron letting him know that he was fine and had finally settled down in a small town in Alabama.

He ran his hand over Hedwig's feathers as he removed Ron's letter from her leg. He put out food for her before sitting on his couch and opening the letter he sat down to read about what was going on at home.

Dear Harry,

Alabama? Where the bloody hell is that? Living with Muggles? Have you gone mad? Now I know father is fascinated by them but Harry considering how you grew up I would have thought that you would have never lived among muggles again. Speaking of muggles, Sally sends her love.

There was a big spot of ink and Harry laughed at that. He knew what that meant.

She hit me! I am being abused! THERE SEE SHE HIT ME AGAIN! And quit your grinning she is my wife and you can't have her. Not that she is your type mind you, but even you, in your infinite wisdom, will agree that she is the best. She sends her love.

I saw Hagrid today in Diagon Alley. He sends his love as well.

He also told me something that I thought would interest you. Now Harry don't panic. I won't tell you if you can't promise me you won't go off and do something stupid. Promise? Well....you see it's like this Harry. There has been an accident. Damn, I don't know how to tell you this.

Here the writing changed and Harry knew that Sally was the one writing now.

Harry, Sally here, what my darling clueless husband is trying to tell you is that there was an accident at that school of yours. Something about a potion that someone called Snape was experimenting with. Apparently he was wrong about one of the ingredients and...well...there was an explosion. Most of the lab, classroom, and dungeons collapsed.

Harry felt a chill go through him. Oh my god. He hoped no one had been in the classroom or in the Slytherin common room. They may not have made it if they were. The writing changed again and Harry knew Ron was the one writing this time.

Mate, I hate to tell you this but...people got hurt. Real bad. Snape had to be sent to St. Mungo's and they don't expect him to recover soon. A few of the students were seriously hurt. But they will survive. Harry, damn I don't know how to say this. Harry, Malfoy...Draco, he was in the lab with Snape. They don't expect him to make it either. He is still at Hogwarts because they are afraid to move him. They say that if they do then he will die.

Harry dropped the letter to his lap in shock. He stared blindly at the television not wanting to believe what he was reading. No, he had to be all right. He had to be. Harry swallowed the sob that threatened to come out. The calm that he had gotten from this afternoons experience was long gone and Harry felt the familiar panic trying to gain control of his mind.

You'll probably be getting an owl from Madam Pomfrey in about an hour asking you to come back. I understand why you left Harry, really I do. But she needs your help. I don't think she can do this alone. Mate, you need to come home. I know that this will be hard for you Harry but they really need your help here.

Let me know what you decide.

Love,

Ron and Sally

P.S. Some good news for you mate. Sally is pregnant, we have already decided to name it Hermione if it is a girl. We haven't picked out a name for a boy yet but we were thinking of Albus. What do you think?

Harry smiled at the last part of the letter. He was happy for Ron and Sally. His thoughts were interrupted by a noise at the window and just as Ron had predicted there stood a school owl. Harry slowly took the letter from its leg and motioned it towards Hedwig's food and water. The owl hooted softly and seconds after finishing was asleep on the owl perch.

Breaking the seal on the letter Harry opened it to the familiar writing of Madam Pomfrey, or Pom, as Harry had taken to calling her years ago. They were the best of friends and the worst of colleagues. Always going on and on at each other about the different methods they used when working. Harry loved her like he would have loved his mother had she been alive. It had been hardest on her when he had left and he missed her so much.

She knew why he had left and like Ron, she didn't agree with Harry just walking away like he had. But she had never said anything after he had asked her not too that first time. He respected her greatly but he would not have let her say anything else.

My Dearest Harry,

My son, I know this will be hard for you to do but I need your help. I am sure young Mr. Weasley has already informed you of the tragic circumstances in which we are communicating today. I know this will be hard for you but I need your help, Harry. I can not do this on my own. Please come home.

Pom

He didn't bother with sending a reply to either letter. When Hedwig got to Ron's house he knew that Ron would inform them that he was on his way. That's how well they knew each other. He also knew that both Ron and Sally would be waiting at the airport for the first flight coming in from the America's. And that both of them would be there for him on his trip back to Hogwarts. He didn't want to go but he knew that he couldn't stay away.

Opening the window so that the owls could leave when they woke up Harry went to his bedroom and packed the few things he was taking with him. Within an hour of receiving the letters he walked out of his apartment on his way back to the one place he called home, Hogwarts. The panic rolling just under the surface of his control scaring him greatly.

But he would go back. And he would help. And then he would leave again.

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Ok second bit. If anyone needs more of an explanation for timeframe, well I aint got one. Not in this chapter but things will become clearer. I promise.

ENJOY!

LMG