Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
After dinner, Harry, Severus and Lucy spent a while sitting in their living room. While Harry cuddled with Lucy on the sofa, Severus explained about the herbs, which he had been able to sense in his garden earlier. He told him that there were magical and non-magical herbs and what the difference was. "I probably don't have to explain to you how to distinguish them, as I suppose that you will only be able to sense the magical herbs because of their magic, however, if you're interested, we can try it out some time."
Harry nodded, eagerly.
"Some herbs, we can harvest at any time, however, there are several herbs, which become more powerful if harvested during the night of the full moon."
Harry did not know what the full moon was; however, he knew better than to ask questions.
HP
Somehow, talking about the full moon to his former archenemy's son brought back memories – some of his worst memories. 'Lupin,' he suddenly thought. 'Perhaps, he would be able to assist teaching Harry. As a werewolf, he probably doesn't have a proper job anyway, and I could brew the Wolfsbane for him, so that he wouldn't endanger us.' He dismissed the idea for the time being, resolving to speak with Minerva and Poppy about it later on.
"Harry, since we don't know each other well, I wish to find out what is interesting for you," he said in a soft voice. "I work a lot with herbs and make potions from them. Do you know what potions are?" He gave the boy a questioning look, knowing that he mostly replied by small gestures of his head instead of thinking to him.
Harry lightly shook his head. "Potions are the equivalent to muggle medicine. Muggle means non-magical," he explained as an afterthought, realising that Harry had probably never heard about it. "You told me that the Dursleys had you cook their meals in spite of not being able to see. Is that correct?"
Harry nodded.
"Very well. The brewing of potions differs in so far, as the preparation method and the amount of each ingredient are very important. Since your mother was very adept at brewing, you might have inherited it from her, and I wish to try teaching you, provided that you're interested."
'Yes sir, please teach me,' the child's faint thought penetrated his mind.
"Very well. For now, however, I believe that you and your doggy need to go to bed. Please take Lucy out into the garden, before you do your own business in the bathroom. If you need any help, please call me."
Twenty minutes later, Severus helped the child to take off the robes, which Minerva had conjured for him before going to the Great Hall at dinner time. He transfigured the boy's rags into soft silk pyjamas and reassured him a few times that he was allowed and even supposed to sleep in the large bed in his room. "Tomorrow, we will go to Hogsmeade and buy proper clothes for you," he said in a soft voice, noticing that Lucy jumped onto the bed and swiftly curled up against the boy's back, as soon as he lay down. A small smile played on his lips, as he gently tucked the child and his dog in. "Good night, Harry and Lucy."
'Good night, Severus, and thank you very much for everything.'
The canine turned around and craned her neck to gently lick his hand in apparent gratitude.
"If you need me during the night, just think to me," he instructed the child, before he left the room, slightly leaving the door ajar.
HP
Back in his living room, Severus leaned into the fireplace and invited Minerva, Poppy and – after slight hesitation – the headmaster into his quarters.
Gratefully accepting the refreshments that Cicero brought for them, his three colleagues looked at him with apparent expectation.
"So far, everything goes well," he informed them. "He seems to be interested in everything that someone is willing to teach him. He was absolutely delighted, when Minerva read to him from Hogwarts: A History, and he seemed equally interested in magical herbs. I have thought about something." He let out a deep sigh. "According to my Slytherins, Miranda O'Neill's teaching has been adequate. To tell the truth, she seems to have been the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we've had in ages, and it would be a pity to lose her to the curse."
His three colleagues nodded in understanding. "Albus, why don't you hire Remus Lupin in addition, and Lupin and O'Neill could take turns teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts and teaching Harry? They have both been good friends with Lily and would certainly be able to get through to him."
"Even if having Remus and Miranda share the Defence position between them would be a good idea, provided that we'll be able to overcome the curse by doing so, do you think it's wise to have a werewolf teach Harry?" The headmaster cast him a look of apparent concern.
"Albus, that's gross coming from you." Minerva glared at the headmaster, "considering whose fault it is that he was abused so badly."
Albus let out a deep sigh. "Yes Minerva, and believe me that I regret sending him to the Dursleys. I had hoped that they'd treat him as their own son. The blood wards were supposed to keep him safe."
Minerva let out a scoff. "And you still wanted to send him back to that hellhole."
"I am sorry." Severus cast the headmaster a surprised look. 'He really seems to regret it,' he thought, smirking.
"If Remus was responsible enough to attend Hogwarts as a student, he'll surely be responsible enough to not endanger anyone as an adult." Minerva glared at the headmaster.
Severus nodded his agreement. "There is one difference between now and then. I could brew the Wolfsbane potion for him once a month." Turning to Minerva, he explained, "The Wolfsbane allows the werewolf to keep his mind during the full moon."
"Oh, that's fantastic. Should I ask Remus and Miranda if they are free and willing to take turns teaching Harry one year and classes the next?"
Everyone nodded their agreement. "Minerva, please do so." The headmaster let out a deep sigh. "I hope Harry will allow me to make up for my mistakes in the past."
Severus quirked an eyebrow in surprise. "Tomorrow morning, I need to take Harry to Hogsmeade to buy proper clothes for him. Would anyone like to join us?"
"I'd love to come with you." Minerva smiled. "I hope I'll be able to get Harry to trust me enough to think to me, too."
Severus smirked. "It's only a matter of time. When I returned to our rooms after you read to him, he was so excited that he told me everything about it, as soon as he could sense me. Usually, he only replies when asked, and even then only as much as necessary."
"Oh, all right. I was wondering about that. You hadn't even said a word, before you already told me about his reaction," Minerva agreed, smiling.
Poppy cleared her throat. "I'd like to do a thorough check-up on him in the near future, preferably after you get the guardianship over him from the Dursleys."
Severus nodded in understanding. "I shall go to see them, as soon as they'll be back tomorrow evening. I'll need one of you to remain with him for an hour after dinner."
"No problem." Minerva was the first to reply. "Outside of class, I'll always be ready to stay with him, especially as I know that I can make him happy by reading to him."
The headmaster thoughtfully let his hand wander over his beard. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand. I thought that he was unable to hear?"
"Apparently, he can hear." Minerva sounded strangely excited.
"However, he does not wish people to know. I am sure this is because of the abuse he suffered, and I fully intend to abide by his wishes, at least for the time being. I believe that it's only a matter of time, considering how quickly he adapted to the situation here."
"Let's hope for the best." Albus stood from his seat and excused himself, whishing them a good night.
HP
In the morning, Harry woke up feeling something wet in his face.
'Good morning, lazybones. It's time to get up. The professor is already in his lab brewing potions.'
'Oh, I need to make breakfast,' Harry thought back, happily accepting that the canine gently licked his face.
'No, you don't have to make breakfast. Severus told you yesterday that you don't have to cook meals, because the house-elves do all the work. He will want you to join him for breakfast in the Great Hall, where we had dinner last night though.'
'Ah all right.' As soon as Lucy jumped out of his bed to give him some space, he got up, wondering where his clothes were. To his surprise, Lucy showed him an image of his room with a pile of clothes lying on a chair next to his bed.
'Thanks Lucy. Are these my clothes?' he asked in disbelief, as he carefully fingered the soft fabric. From the feeling of his overlarge sweatshirt that he had been wearing for a long time, he knew that these clothes were different.
'Sure. Just try them on. Do you need help?'
'No, thanks.' Harry smiled at the canine's helpfulness and as fast as he could dressed himself, when suddenly a female voice penetrated his mind.
"Oh my, that looks much better than the rags you were wearing yesterday."
'Lucy, who is that?' Harry thought to the canine, panicking at the thought of some unknown person in his room.
'That's the mirror talking to you,' Lucy replied and sent him an image of the mirror on the opposite wall. 'Come with me, step in front of it.'
Led by Lucy's magic, Harry stepped in front of the mirror, glad that the canine relayed another image, when the mirror again talked to him. To his surprise, he saw what had to be himself in the mirror along with… 'Lucy, is that you and me that I can see?'
'Yes.'
Harry felt that she waggled her tail. 'Waggling means happiness,' she informed him, causing him to smile in equal pleasure.
HP
A few minutes later, they exited their room in search for the professor. Harry realised in relief that the older wizard just stepped out from his lab, of which he had told him on the previous day that he was never to set foot into it, uninvited.
"Good morning, Harry and Lucy," Severus greeted them, sounding very friendly.
'He probably still hasn't noticed how much of a freak and a burden I am,' Harry thought, uncertainly stepping from one foot onto the other.
"Are you feeling up to having breakfast in the Great Hall?"
Harry felt that Lucy eagerly waggled her tail, slapping it against his leg. 'Sir, is it really all right for me to not cook but eat the meals with you?' Harry hesitantly thought to his guardian, hoping that he would not be upset at his many questions. 'Freaks are not to ask anything.'
"Of course, Harry. We covered that yesterday. You're a child, and apart from your studies, you're not supposed to do any work, although my colleagues and I might ask you for a favour from time to time. The house-elves prepare the meals at Hogwarts and they also clean our rooms. Nevertheless, I'd like to ask you to keep your own room tidy at all times. If you need help doing that, Cicero or I will always be ready to assist."
'Thank you, sir,' Harry replied, as he quietly took the empty seat between Severus and Minerva, inwardly smiling happily, when Lucy lay down on his feet. 'I am so happy to have her,' he thought, feeling absolutely delighted with his new life.
HP
After breakfast, Severus and Minerva took him to Hogsmeade, as they explained the nearby town was called, to buy clothes for him. 'For me?' Harry wondered in surprise, as he walked next to Lucy, lead by the professors' magic. He felt extremely uncomfortable at the thought that his new guardian had to spend money to buy clothes for him. Uncle Vernon had always complained that he cost a fortune, in spite of the fact that he used to wear Dudley's hand-me-downs.
He followed the adults into a shop, feeling very much reassured upon seeing Lucy's image of what the shop looked like. 'Thanks,' he thought, gratefully.
'Any time,' Lucy replied, pleasantly waggling her tail against his legs.
"Hello sweetie, I'm going to take your measurements now," a woman informed him, and Harry felt someone's magic nearby.
He flinched back badly, however, when something suddenly touched his shoulder.
"Easy Harry," Severus reassured him in a soft voice. "That's only the measurement tape."
'Sorry,' Harry thought back, feeling bad to have shown such a reaction.
'Nothing to be sorry about,' Severus reassured him, telepathically. 'You're doing fine.'
To Harry's relief, the adults chose everything he needed without asking him any questions, which he would not have been able to answer anyway, and after a short time, they left the shop. Unfortunately, they entered another shop, explaining that he also needed shoes. He had to try on two pairs of shoes; however, they were extremely comfortable, and Harry felt happy, when the professors decided to buy them both.
"Now Harry, you did that very well," Minerva addressed him in a soft voice, when they finally left the shop. "Shall we go and eat an ice-cream?"
'What is ice-cream?' Harry wondered. He had never tasted it; he only from Dudley's wailing about wanting ice-cream that it had to be good.
"Harry probably doesn't know ice-cream," Severus spoke up, gently. "I am certain that he'll like it though."
Harry absolutely loved the ice-cream as well as the fresh fruit that came along with it. It just tasted wonderfully, and the owner of the shop was extremely friendly and put a small bowl with fruits next to his ice-cream. "For your doggy," he said.
'Please tell him thank you,' he quickly thought to Severus, who profusely thanked the other wizard on his behalf.
Back at Hogwarts, Minerva helped him put his new clothes into the wardrobe, while Severus headed into his lab to do some work. She gently told him what to put where, and Harry did his best to follow her instructions, smiling, when she commended him greatly upon finishing the task.
'It wasn't so difficult, because Lucy sent me an image of what the wardrobe looks like,' Harry thought, nevertheless felt proud by the professor's praise.
"Now, we still have thirty minutes left, before we'll have to leave for lunch in the Great Hall. Do you want me to read you from Hogwarts: A History again?"
Harry nodded, eagerly. He quickly made himself comfortable on the spot on the sofa that had already become his spot, smiling, when Lucy cuddled close to him. He listened with interest and was almost disappointed, when Severus joined them and informed them that they had to leave for the Great Hall.
'Severus, will you please tell Minerva thank you for reading to me? It was so very interesting.'
"I will tell her, but I believe that Minerva would be much happier if you told her yourself." Severus' voice was gentle and sounded honest.
"Yes, that would make me very happy."
Lucy shot him an image of the professors smiling at him, and Harry felt extremely happy at the sight.
'Thank you,' Harry hesitantly thought to Minerva, who instantly voiced her happiness.
HP
Harry, Lucy and Severus spent the afternoon in the herb garden, where Severus showed Harry several herbs. He let him feel the plants, however, instructed him to not touch any plant if he was not with him to tell him if it was all right to touch. "There are dangerous plants, which might hurt you badly if you touch them," he informed him in a no-nonsense voice. "Do you understand me?"
'Yes sir.'
Severus introduced Harry to five different plants, had him feel the leaves, sense its magic and asked Lucy to show him an image. "Tonight, we will speak about these five plants and see what you remember."
'Oh cool, thank you so much,' Harry thought back, feeling very happy to be taught something so interesting. Before he knew what happened, it was dinner time.
'Do people at Hogwarts always eat so often?' he asked, almost feeling disappointed.
"Everyone needs to eat a proper meal three times a day," his guardian informed him. "I know that the Dursleys barely fed you, but you should try to eat as much as you can now, so your body will be able to make up for years of malnourishment. That reminds me of something. Poppy would like to do a thorough check-up on you to see if you have any other problems apart from the Epiales disease. She will not hurt you, and she only wants to help you. Will that be all right with you?"
Harry felt uncomfortable at the idea; however, considering how nice his guardian and everyone else at Hogwarts had been to him so far, he hesitantly agreed, thinking a small 'All right' to his guardian.
"Fine, we'll go by the hospital wing right after dinner then," Severus decided. "Afterwards, I am going to pay the Dursleys a visit to get the guardianship from them."
'I hope that will go well and Uncle Vernon won't hurt Severus,' Harry thought in concern.
HP
"Apart from the Epiales disease, I can't find anything wrong with him, which is extremely strange." Poppy let her wand sink in apparent confusion.
"Because it's a result of abuse, which would let one suspect that there should several other injuries," Severus agreed. "Could it be a concealment charm of some sort?"
"That wouldn't fool my diagnostic spells. Harry," she turned to his ward, "do you know if there is anything wrong apart from the fact that you can't speak and see?"
'As if he would tell us,' Severus thought, inwardly rolling his eyes in annoyance. He was not surprised, when Harry lightly shook his head. 'It's definitely strange, but only time will tell,' he thought, remembering another small boy, who had been abused by his father. 'Harry is much worse off than I was though,' he realised, sighing.
Mere minutes later, the mystery was going to be resolved, however, when the Gryffindor Quidditch team entered the hospital wing.
tbc...?
Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please tell me what you liked or disliked in this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas are welcome, and my muse appreciates any constructive feedback.
