Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.


'Ah, perhaps you're now the heir, since you defeated me eight years ago,' the other thought back, seemingly pensive. 'Oh well, we're both descendants of him in any case. Are you able to speak Parseltongue by the way?'

'Yes. You too?' Harry enquired.

'Yes. As I said, I have now reached Germany, but as a spirit, I can only move slowly. When I'll be back in Britain, I will speak with you more frequently and inform you of my plans.'

'What is Germany?' Harry was not sure why he felt that he was allowed to ask questions; however, his mind friend seemed kind enough, and he patiently explained that it was a country on the main land, and that it would take him at least a week, before he would be back home in Britain.

'All right,' Harry replied, before letting out a huge yawn.

'Now, I will let you sleep. Sorry for calling so late. I did not consider that it was already sleeping time for little boys. I shall contact you again soon.'

'All right. Good night,' Harry replied, already drifting off to sleep.

HP

When Harry woke up in the morning, his conversation with Marvolo was still at the front of his mind. He had many questions; however, he was uncertain if it would be all right to speak with Severus or any other adult about his mind friend. 'They will only think that I'm nuts, even Regina. I don't think anyone else has mind friends,' he thought and quickly dismissed the idea of confiding in the two adults who were closest to him. 'I can't tell the elves either,' he thought, 'especially as Misty will have a lot of work to do to catch up after giving birth to Teddy.' During his morning classes with Miranda, he even considered talking to his godparents about it, however, quickly dismissed the idea as impossible, too. Instead, he decided to ask Marvolo himself, whenever he spoke to him the next time.

'I wonder if I'd be able to contact him from my side,' he thought, just when Miranda lightly scolded him for not paying attention to what she was trying to teach him about Maths.

"Excuse me, Miranda, but will I ever need this?" he asked in a small voice. "At Hogwarts, they don't even have Maths classes," he added as an afterthought.

Miranda smiled. "Harry, I understand that this is not interesting; however, you should have at least a certain background about the most important subjects that are taught at muggle primary schools. I'm sorry, sweetie."

Harry nodded in understanding and during the rest of the morning tried to concentrate as much as possible. 'I wonder if other magical children study these things before coming to Hogwarts,' he thought, resolving to ask the twins about it.

HP

Unbeknownst to Harry, who was sitting between the twins at the Slytherin table during lunch, Miranda commended him greatly.

"Harry has made enormous progress," she told her colleagues. "This morning, he even felt confident enough to question the content of our classes."

Severus frowned at the implication. "He is not supposed to…"

"Severus, let him be." Minerva calmingly laid her hand on his arm. "It's wonderful that he's slowly beginning to behave like a normal child."

Poppy chuckled. "I'm just waiting for him to join the Weasley twins in playing pranks on the whole school. Don't be too strict with him, Severus."

Severus cast his meddling older colleagues a glare that would make any first-year's blood coil. "He is my son, and I expect him to behave. Yes, I admit that he has made progress, but still…" He slowly trailed off, looking over to his house table, where Harry, the twins and everyone sitting around them were laughing about something.

'If they do as much as prank the whole school, at least they should be subtle about it,' he thought with a combination of annoyance and pride at his son and his student assistants. 'At least, he seems outright happy now, and with Regina joining our family soon we will be a proper family. Perhaps, he'll even have younger siblings in the future,' he thought, before he was brought back to reality, when Minerva alerted him to the fact that lunch was over and almost everyone had already left.

"Thank you," he uttered, lightly inclining his head.

"Being a father really suits you well," Minerva commented, smiling. "How are things with Regina by the way?"

"She agreed to become my wife," Severus admitted, smiling happily.

"Is that true?" Minerva smiled, broadly. "Congratulations Severus. I am really happy for you, and I suppose that Harry is delighted, too."

"Oh, speaking of him, did he tell you that he managed the complete Animagus transformation? I believe that he somehow thought that he was in our way and thus managed to transform only to run off with his familiar."

Minerva shook her head in apparent annoyance, although she was still grinning broadly. "That child never ceases to surprise me, honestly, being an Animagus at the age of nine is unheard of. He showed me his form on Saturday, when we spent the evening together in your rooms."

HP

Harry felt extremely amused. While the younger professors had gone to Hogsmeade on Saturday evening, the twins had used the Potions classroom to brew a prank potion, which they had handed to one of the kitchen elves and asked them to put it into the drinks at the high table at lunchtime on Monday. The professors would not notice that anything was amiss, before they tried to cast any kind of magic. Only then, they would realise that nothing but colourful bubbles came out of the tip of their wands.

'Thank Merlin Potions is only in the second afternoon class, and by then, the effects will have worn off,' Harry thought, as he walked through the elf quarters in search for Misty. 'On the other hand, it's sad that I can't observe the effects, for example, on Minerva, although I wouldn't want to be near her, when she realises that she has been pranked.'

"Hi Misty, hi Teddy," he happily greeted his favourite elf and his elf familiar.

"Hello Harry, hello Lucy," Misty replied, smiling, while Teddy toddled over to hug first him and then Lucy. "Harry, I have thought about something." Misty seemed pensive, as she continued. "You were able to cure the werewolves, because you could sense that Professor Lupin was missing a certain ingredient. Is that correct?"

"Yes." Harry nodded in confirmation.

"Is there perhaps any way to find out what your father's fiancée may be missing that makes her a Squib?" Wide eyes looked at him, enquiringly.

Harry let out a deep sigh. In fact, he had already wondered if he would somehow be able to heal Regina from the insufficiency of magic, but he did not have a clue how to do such a thing.

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea how to do that," he admitted. "I'd love to heal her though."

Misty nodded. "That's what I thought. Otherwise, you'd have long done that."

'Harry!' Severus suddenly contacted him. 'Do you perhaps know what these infernal twins did to my wand?'

While Harry had found the prank funny earlier, hearing Severus' strict thought, it did not seem such a good idea anymore.

'You need to cast magic five times for the effect of the potion to wear off,' he quickly informed the older wizard.

'Thank you, Harry. I trust that you did not assist in the brewing of said potion?'

'No, I didn't.'

'All right. While this might be funny, I do not wish my son to become known as someone who plays pranks on others.'

'I won't,' Harry promised, inwardly sighing in relief knowing that Severus did not seem to be angry at him.

HP

After dinner, Harry joined the twins in the Potions classroom. While Lucy showed him his surroundings, so that he could take his usual spot between the twins, he had not seen Severus, as the Potions master was busying himself at the other end of the classroom. He looked up in shock, when the professor spoke up in a strict voice, which he usually only displayed in front of his most annoying Gryffindor students.

"Weasley and Weasley, I cannot have my student assistants prank the whole school using potions above everything. If you have to prank everyone, at least be subtle about it and use some kind of transfiguration or charm instead of undermining my authority. Tonight, you will not assist but serve detention." He pointed to the sinks at the back of the classroom. "Hand over your wands to me and clean these cauldrons without using magic. I expect you to be finished by the beginning of curfew."

"Excuse me, sir…"

"… Could you perhaps teach us…"

"… some kind of transfiguration or charm…"

"… to prank everyone?"

Harry held his breath. 'How dare they contradict?' he thought in disbelief, preparing himself for an outburst of anger from his guardian.

However, the professor merely gave them a blood-curling glare and silently pointed at the sinks.

Completely shocked, Harry instinctively followed the twins readying himself for the most tedious task ahead. 'At least, I have much experience cleaning things,' he thought, recalling his time at the Dursleys' house, when Severus called him over.

"Mr. Prince, you told me that you were not involved in brewing said potion."

"He wasn't." The twins' response was prompt and simultaneous.

"Messrs. Weasley, I cannot recall asking for your opinion. Anyway, Mr. Prince, in that case, you are exempt from the detention of course. Please follow me."

To Harry's relief, Severus merely led him through the connecting door into their living room.

"You must understand that I had to punish them. They can't go and prank everyone at every opportunity, even if I can imagine that it had to be much fun. They're the only students currently at Hogwarts who would be able to brew such a potion, so that it was not difficult to find the culprits. Oh, by the way, ten points each to Slytherin for standing up for Harry," he uttered, seemingly more to himself than to Harry.

"That's why you told them to not use potions but other means?" Harry chuckled, hoping that the twins would come up with something funny soon.

"Indeed." The professor called Cicero and asked for some tea and biscuits as well as hot chocolate for Harry and a few dog treats, before he visibly relaxed in his seat. "This gives me the opportunity to speak with you about something. In fact, there are several matters I wish to discuss with you."

He waited, before Harry had taken a few sips of his beverage, while Lucy devoured her treats and laid down to sleep with her head perched on Harry's lap, before he began to speak.

"Regina and I have decided to have our wedding during the first week of the summer holidays. Afterwards, we wish to go on a honeymoon together with you and Lucy. I am telling you this now, so that you will have months to adjust to the fact that you belong to us. You are my son, and whenever you are ready, Regina will adopt you making you her son as well."

Harry was still following his guardian's thought, when Salazar suddenly spoke up from his portrait.

"No."

"Excuse me?" Severus' voice was sharp, and without being able to see the older wizard, Harry knew that he raised an eyebrow at the founder in silent question.

"Right now, she cannot adopt Harry."

"And why might that be?" Harry nodded gratefully, when Severus voiced what was on the forefront of his mind, too.

"Perhaps, one of you remembers what I told you, when you first introduced Regina. I pointed out that under certain conditions, it would be possible to give her magic."

"Right, there was something. Salazar, please teach us how to do this." Harry was so excited that he beat Severus to a response.

"A healthy wizard or witch can give another person magic through a blood donation, however, under certain conditions."

"And what might these be?" Severus enquired, sounding as agitated as Harry felt.

"They must not have a blood relationship or be direct descendants; however, have a close family connection, such as being parents or siblings through a marriage bond…"

"In-laws," Severus muttered.

"As soon as you and Regina marry," Salazar continued, "the condition would be fulfilled for Harry to donate magic to her; however, she may not adopt him beforehand."

"I understand." Severus and Harry both remained pensive for a moment, before the Potions master continued, "Does it have to be a marriage connection? Would the condition not be fulfilled by the betrothal?"

Salazar let out a deep sigh. "That I do not know. Is it a magical bond?"

Severus scoffed. "If Regina had magic, it certainly would be, but..." He slowly trailed off, only to add, "When I placed the promise ring onto her finger, there was a very weak golden glow. Does that mean…?"

"Yes." Salazar sounded strangely pleased. "I suggest that you ask either Poppy or Misty to perform the blood donation process for Harry and Regina."

"Harry, will that be all right for you? Would you be willing to donate blood to give Regina magic?"

"Of course," Harry replied, enthusiastically. "Yes please."

"Afterwards, naturally, there will be no need for her to blood adopt Harry, as she will share Harry's blood anyway. She will merely need to sign the adoption parchments, provided that Harry wants it."

"Of course, I want it, provided that Regina will be all right with it."

"Yes, she would like to become your mother. We already talked about the matter. Misty!"

An instant later, Harry felt his favourite elf's magic pop up.

"Professor Snape called? Is something wrong with Harry?"

"No, Harry is fine," Severus replied, sounding impatient, "but we have a request for either you or Poppy. Would you perhaps be willing to fetch Poppy for the conversation?"

"Of course, sir," Misty replied and popped away only to reappear shortly later, announcing that Poppy would arrive shortly.

An instant later, Harry heard the fireplace flare, before he could sense the healer's magic. He eagerly listened how the adults discussed the matter at hand and decided to pull through with it on Saturday afternoon, provided that Regina would be all right with it.

'She'll surely want it,' Harry thought, smiling, recalling that Regina had once admitted to him that she would be ready to do anything to gain magic.

HP

The rest of the week passed in a blur for Harry, as he could not wait for Saturday to come. They had decided to only suggest the matter to Regina on Friday evening to not make her worry if it was going to work during the whole week.

"Remember, we are not one hundred percent certain that it will work, as we don't have any experience with this," Severus warned her, causing Salazar to scoff.

"I will let you know that Helga and I have overseen this process at least a dozen times. Do not question neither my inventions nor my experience."

"Salazar, please accept my apologies. We certainly believe in your know-how; otherwise, we would not even try to undergo this process," Severus replied, sounding sincere.

"Professor Slytherin, thank you so much for informing us about your invention and suggesting to Harry to do this for my sake. I appreciate it very much," Regina added, smiling happily. She walked around the table to where Harry and Lucy were sitting and carefully hugged him.

'It feels good,' Harry thought and instinctively leaned into the embrace, unaware that it made Severus and Regina realise that he had taken another big step forward.

HP

Harry was so excited that sleep did not come easily. Lucy was fast asleep, cuddled against his stomach, and he could hear that Severus and Regina were still quietly talking in the living room. He knew better than to disturb them though. 'Perhaps, I can talk to Marvolo for a while,' he thought and tried to direct his thoughts to the part of his mind, where he could sense the connection to his mind friend.

'Marvolo, can you hear me?'

'Harry?'

'Yes, hi Marvolo,' he thought back, feeling very happy at succeeding to contact his friend. 'I'm very excited. Tomorrow, I'm going to give Regina magic. Oh well, I hope that it'll work.'

'What exactly are you talking about?' His friend sounded bewildered.

Harry quickly explained about Regina and that he was supposed to give her magic.

'I haven't heard of this specific ritual. I did not even know that it was possible to give a Squib magic; when are you going to do it?'

'Tomorrow.'

'Is that a special day?'

'Saturday.'

'No, I mean if it's Samhain or any other special day.' When Harry remained quiet, uncertain what Marvolo meant, his friend enquired, 'Do you know what date we have?'

Harry shrugged. 'Tuesday last week was the ninth of January, Severus' birthday.'

'That means that tomorrow will be the twentieth. However, I believe that it would be a better timing to do this on Imbolc, which is one of the four important Celtic holidays. It's on the first of February. On that date, magic would enhance the ritual.'

Harry let out a deep sigh. 'Do you think it won't work tomorrow?'

'It will probably work, but the effect would be stronger for a ritual to do it on Imbolc. Have you told Severus about our connection?'

'No. Should I?'

'Maybe not yet. Better wait until I can tell you more. Please give me some more time to get home and settle down as far as I even can as a spirit.'

'All right,' Harry agreed, slowly feeling tired enough to sleep.

tbc...

Are you still interested in this story? I intend to make this a long story, but for that, my muse really needs your feedback. Thanks to all those who always review and motivate my muse. I appreciate it very much.

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.