Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Harry felt Hermione's eyes stare at him, as he accepted an envelope from the strangely looking owl.
"That's from the high court," she whispered from where she was sitting behind him and next to Teddy at the Ravenclaw table. "What have you done? Did you do anything in the muggle world?"
Harry turned around and glared at his friend. "I haven't even been in the muggle world for ages, and my father received a letter from a similar owl."
"Oh, that's true. Go on, open it then." Hermione eagerly observed, as he opened the muggle envelope just a little slower than necessary.
Glancing at his father, he noticed that he was sitting there with the unfolded letter in his hands, smirking.
'Well, then it can't be bad news,' he thought, as he completely unfolded the letter, only to become distracted, when Hermione let out a huge gasp.
'Dear Mr. Prince-Potter,
you might not know this, but our Queen is a witch and even in the magical world of Britain stands above the Minister of Magic. Every new Minister of Magic has to present himself or herself in front of her Majesty within thirty days of their election. On this occasion, we have received the information that you, together with your adoptive father, developed a cure for lycanthropy.
While we wish to congratulate you on this wonderful achievement, we ask if you would be willing to provide us with some doses of the cure as well. Even in the muggle world, we have roughly one hundred known werewolves in Britain, and it would be a great relief if we could heal them all.
Please note that we have sent the same letter to your father, Professor Lord Prince, and await your positive response at your earliest convenience.
Best regards
Zacharias O'Mahony
Her Majesty's advisor for Britain's magical world'
"How cool is that?" Hermione grinned, broadly.
Harry shrugged. "That simply means more work."
"Harry!"
"The muggle Queen is a witch?" Draco blurted out, as he was leaning over George to get a close look at Harry's letter.
Harry inwardly sighed in relief, when Severus strode by the Slytherin table.
"Mr. Prince, I believe that we have work to do. Messrs. Weasley, your assistance would be highly appreciated as well."
"Yes sir. Come, Lucy." Together with the canine, Harry hurried after Severus, closely followed by the twins.
HP
Sirius let himself sink onto the sofa next to Amelia, letting out a deep sigh.
"You know, I can't get over the thought that it was that Lord Gaunt who tried to free his followers from Azkaban. I just wished we had something to prove it."
Amelia shook her head in annoyance. "Siri, first of all, we don't have anything, and secondly, I really don't think it was him. Remember that we questioned him under Veritaserum and that he wasn't Rosier's only victim."
"He could have taken the antidote to the Veritaserum." Sirius cast her a defiant look.
"And how would he have been able to get the antidote? It's not as if one could easily buy it at the apothecary."
"Snivellus of course, nowadays Lord Prince."
"Nonsense."
"I wonder how he could have been allowed to adopt Harry, considering that he's a former Death Eater."
"Sirius." Amelia gently placed a hand onto his arm. "Please, let's change the topic. What do you think of Umbridge as the new undersecretary?"
Sirius let out a snort. "I can't decide if she's the most stupid or the most evil bitch at the ministry."
Amelia nodded, grimly. "That about sums it up in any case. I really have to be careful to at least be civil to her."
Sirius mumbled something like "Stupid bitch," before he leaned over and carefully took one-year-old Lily from her. "Now Lily, I have a job for you," he cooed to the baby. "Tell your mummy that you want a sibling as soon as possible."
HP
"What are your thoughts about half-bloods and muggleborns if I may ask?" Lucius looked at Dolores in expectation.
The witch, who was dressed in what seemed to be her favourite pink robes, shook her head. "The magical world would be better off without them."
Lucius nodded in understanding. "That matches my opinion and that of many Death Eaters. I wished that whoever tried to free our allies from Azkaban had succeeded."
Dolores cast him a thoughtful look, and Lucius already toyed with the idea of obliviating her, when she replied.
"I have an idea how to free them. You must know that during the last couple of years, I was responsible for everything concerning the prison. Only with my permission were people apart from Aurors allowed to visit someone, send letters or such. I was even responsible for the food for the Aurors and many other things."
"Oh, that's interesting."
The witch giggled. "Anyway, during that time, I have built up a mental connection with the Dementors."
Lucius' eyes narrowed. "What exactly does this imply?"
Smiling broadly, she replied, "I can control the Dementors. Do you know of a safe house, where they could go upon their return?"
Lucius could not believe his luck; however, during the following days, he planned his second attempt of freeing the Death Eaters together with his new girlfriend, Dolores Umbridge.
HP
A few days before Felix' first birthday, Harry finally managed the complete transformation into a majaroo.
"Ah, lucky you!" Hermione stared at him in obvious amazement.
"Hermione," Regina replied in a soft voice. "For Harry, it is easier than for you and me, because his magic is extremely strong, and because he already has the experience from his first Animagus form. Don't worry. You'll get to it sooner or later. Considering that you already managed to transform your left hand, you'll at least be able to complete the transformation at some time."
"But you already managed to change both hands."
"That doesn't matter, dear. We're not having a competition. You can do it in your own pace."
"I also only managed to transform my left hand," Teddy spoke up in a soothing voice. "That's fine. We'll practise together until we'll all be finished."
"And then, we'll head out onto the grounds together and play." Harry grinned broadly, once he transformed back into his human form.
HP
In the morning of Felix' birthday, Regina, Severus and Harry decided to have breakfast at home for once. When the post owl from the Daily Prophet delivered this morning's newspaper, Harry could already see the red headline scream from far.
'Dementors and prisoners missing from Azkaban'
HP
On the shore of the coast that was closest to the island of Azkaban, Lucius and Dolores greeted the prisoners, whom the Dementors had taken to the spot just like Dolores had instructed them. Most of the refugees were in a bad shape and not up to any conversation whatsoever, which was why Dolores simply equipped them with Portkeys intending to send them to her own house.
"They can stay at my home at least for a few days," she told Lucius, who nodded his agreement, wondering if it would be wiser to take them to Malfoy manor.
"Dolores, no, let us take them to Malfoy Manor," he decided and quickly summoned the Portkeys back from his much too weak friends. He changed the destination of the small plastic cats that were the Portkeys to the wing with the guest rooms at his own house.
'There, they will have some comfort, and the house-elves can look after them, but we'll still have our privacy,' he thought, before he readied himself to follow his guests together with his girlfriend.
HP
During lunch in the Great Hall, the headmaster rose from his chair and addressed the students. "As you have probably read in the Daily Prophet this morning, somehow, the Dementors who have so far guarded the wizarding prison, Azkaban, have been set free. We don't know where they are and who controls them. However, they are very dangerous beings. Therefore, Professors Lupin have offered to teach you all the Patronus charm tonight."
With that, Remus and Miranda stood up. "For everyone from fifth-year onwards, this practice is mandatory. Younger students may participate, however, please note that this charm is extremely difficult and most of you won't be able to cast it yet."
"Harry, will your father give us the evening off…"
"… to practise the Patronus charm?"
'Dad, may the twins and I participate in the practice for the Patronus charm?'
To his relief, his father turned his head and gave him an unobtrusive nod.
"I will practise with you."
"Then I will participate, too." Ginny looked at them in apparent determination.
"That's our Harry…"
"… and Ginny…"
"… practising the Patronus charm…"
"… as first-years."
HP
When Harry and his first-year friends, who had naturally joined him in the Great Hall after dinner, began to practise, they noticed instantly that it was more difficult than anticipated.
For Harry, the first problem was to find an adequate memory. 'I have so many happy memories from since I came to Hogwarts almost three years ago,' he thought, 'but which is the happiest?' Memories of healing Remus from lycanthropy, having Severus adopt him, having Lucy bond with him and observing Regina happily cast magic for the first time up to his new parents' wedding crossed his mind, before he remembered something and could not help smiling.
Just a few days ago, Felix had spoken his first word, when he had reached out to be picked up by his big brother. "Haha." Knowing that his parents had wondered for weeks what the baby's first word was going to be, he had felt extremely happy, when Felix said what was supposed to be his name.
Thinking of that specific memory and the happiness he had felt at that time, he cast the charm, only to stare at the white mist that appeared from the tip of his wand in disbelief.
"Very well done, Harry." Miranda came over to him. "Just practise, and knowing how powerful you are, you'll eventually manage to cast a corporeal Patronus."
"Can I choose the form it's going to take?"
"No, magic will decide for you."
'Ah, I hope it's going to be a doggy,' Harry thought, as he tried again and again; however, during that evening, he could not manage anything but a white mist.
"Harry, be happy that you got a white mist. I couldn't get anything." Hermione glared at him.
"Is your memory happy enough?" Miranda cast the girl a questioning look.
"It's the memory from when I received my Hogwarts letter."
"Is that the happiest memory you have?" Harry quirked an eyebrow, looking at his friend in concern, causing her to smile and shake her head.
"Let me try again." She waved her wand, and an instant later, a white mist, similar to Harry's, came out of the tip of her wand.
"What memory did you choose?" Teddy happily waved his wand around in apparent excitement.
"The memory of becoming friends with you all." Hermione smiled, seemingly happy.
"My memory was when we played on the beach together with all the other elf children on the Isle of Elves."
Harry cast his best friend a concerned look. "Teddy, don't you have any happier memories? When Lucky was born or such?" Seeing that the elf seemed pensive, he explained what his own memory was.
"Felix can talk already?" Hermione stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Magical babies can talk sooner than muggle babies, and he cannot talk yet. He only said something that was supposed to be my name."
"Oh, all right. I wished Professor Black had already been teaching her class last year. I surely had wanted to take the course." Hermione let out a deep sigh.
Harry shrugged. "I'm sorry. I only had the idea, after you came to Hogwarts. Perhaps, I can ask if she'll be willing to teach an additional course during the summer holidays for students who did not have the opportunity to attend her class."
"Oh yes please."
"Harry, I'd love to attend that, too." Ginny cast him a look of pure excitement. "It'll be so interesting to learn about the differences between both worlds."
"I believe that it's time for the first-years to go to bed. If I have seen it correctly, none of you has tried to cast any charm for at least five minutes." Remus cast them a questioning look.
"We were discussing our memories. We can only get a white mist and nothing more and were wondering if our memories were good enough."
Before Hermione could explain any further details, Remus cast them a challenging look.
"Show me. Only one at a time please."
During the evening, only a handful of the older students managed the corporeal Patronus, and Remus and Miranda promised that they could practise again on Saturday evening.
HP
At the same time, Marvolo visited the Auror division at the Ministry of Magic and informed them of the locations of former safe houses, which the Death Eaters had used during the war.
"Why would you tell us such things? Don't tell me you don't know exactly where your friends are hiding."
"Auror Black, may I ask that you deal with this on a more professional basis? First of all, they are not my friends. They were my followers, while I was a Dark Lord against my own wishes. Secondly, I have nothing to do with the Azkaban outbreak, let alone hiding them anywhere."
"Sorry, Lord Gaunt. We know that, and we appreciate that you inform us about the safe houses."
"Thank you, Auror Shacklebolt," Marvolo replied, noticing that Shacklebolt cast Black a warning look.
'On Saturday night, I'm going to find out who caused such trouble,' he resolved, when he returned home after a tedious meeting with the Aurors.
HP
Later the same evening, Albus Dumbledore gathered the Order of the Phoenix at the old Black house for an urgent meeting. Nodding in apparent contentedness, as a sufficient number of friends had followed his invitation, he took a seat at the head of the table, smiling, when Molly Weasley served tea and home-made muffins. Severus inwardly groaned in annoyance; however, kept his face void of any emotion.
"As you probably all know from the Daily Prophet, someone has let the Dementors lose and freed the prisoners from Azkaban, among them several dangerous Death Eaters, such as Peter Pettigrew or the Lestrange brothers."
Sirius Black nodded, grimly. "The bastard had the gall to talk to the Aurors and give out addresses of their so-called safe houses." He let out a snort. "The Aurors from the night shift have been sent out to search these addresses. I bet they won't find anyone."
Dumbledore nodded, gravely. "That might be true, my boy. Do you agree that it probably was his doing then?"
Sirius shrugged. "Who else would do such a thing?"
'Why would he do such a thing?' Severus thought in annoyance, however, knew better than to voice his opinion. 'They're too biased to believe anything but what Albus says anyway,' he thought in resignation.
"Severus, is everything all right?" Minerva whispered from his left side, while Remus cast him a concerned look from his right.
"Of course."
"Severus, my boy, do you know anything? Has Voldemort informed his followers about his move?"
"No sir. He has not called me for a few weeks now. Therefore, I have nothing to report, but I suppose that I'm going to be summoned on Saturday night, considering these events."
Dumbledore nodded, giving him a small smile.
"Excuse me, Albus, Sirius, does the ministry have a clue where the Dementors have gone? I mean I have several children at Hogwarts. Are they safe? My Ginny…" She slowly trailed off.
Dumbledore shook his head, looking at Black.
"I suppose that he controls them. At least, the ministry has completely lost control over them."
"Earlier tonight, Remus here and his wife Miranda have begun to teach the students the Patronus charm, and we hope that as many students as possible manage to cast it, before we encounter as much as one Dementor on our grounds." Minerva looked at Remus in apparent appreciation.
Amelia, who had kept quiet so far, let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, Remus," she said, warmly. "If anyone encounters as many as one Dementor, please let any of the Aurors, myself or the minister know immediately. If we have just one, the ministry will be able to regain control over them."
Everyone nodded in apparent understanding, and to Severus' relief, the meeting was adjourned. 'Thank Merlin,' he thought, as he returned home through the fireplace.
"I'm sorry dear." He cast his wife an apologetic look. "Felix' birthday was not much of a party I'm afraid."
Regina nodded, returning his smile. "At least, he's only one and didn't realise it. Any sightings of my brothers yet?"
Severus shook his head. "No dear, I suppose that they're hiding and recovering from the influence of the Dementors for the time being. I have asked Minerva, Remus and a few others to help us strengthen the wards around Hogwarts on Saturday morning, when we don't have classes to teach and Harry will be available as well, considering that he's the one who controls the wards now. I will also speak with Harry about asking the goblins for their special wards, which they already applied to Lestrange manor."
'I should ask Marvolo if he can take off my Dark Mark. If that's possible, we could ask them to ward Hogwarts against anyone who bears the Dark Mark,' he thought.
"A knut for your thoughts?" Regina smiled, making him share his idea with her.
"Why don't you call him over? Now that the wards report to Harry, he can easily come through the fireplace."
Severus nodded in understanding. "I'll ask him. I wish to get this fixed as soon as possible." 'Marvolo, I'd like to talk with you about something. Could you perhaps come over for a moment?"
A few minutes later, Marvolo stepped out of the fireplace. "Regina, Severus." He sounded pleasant, and Severus motioned him to take a seat on the sofa.
"Thank you for coming so quickly." Severus asked Cicero for fire whiskey for Marvolo and himself as well as lemon squash for Regina, before he explained to Marvolo what the problem was.
Marvolo nodded in apparent understanding. "I'll be able to take off the Dark Mark. Who do you suspect did this? Freeing them?"
Severus shrugged. "Lucius."
Marvolo nodded, grimly, just when Harry dashed into the room together with Lucy. "Marvolo!"
HP
The older wizard grinned broadly, as he gently petted Lucy's head. "Hello Harry, nice to see you, too. I thought you were asleep."
Harry grinned broadly. "I woke up, because Lucy jumped up, when the fireplace flared."
Marvolo quickly explained to Harry what he intended to do, before he enquired, "Harry, could you perhaps try if you were able to remove the Dark Mark from your father's arm using healing magic? If I take it off, it might hurt a lot worse."
"Of course." Harry nodded, already stepping over to Severus. "Dad, may I?" He cast his father a questioning look.
"Yes please." Severus rolled his left sleeve up, where an ugly mark darkened his arm.
Harry placed both hands on the edges of the mark, sensing the very dark magic it was laced with. 'I can heal his arm,' he realised, letting his healing magic flow, just when the serpent within the mark began to hiss.
"What do you ssink you're doingssss?"
"My father doessssn't need you on hisss arm," he replied, absentmindedly, as he concentrated on healing his father's arm from evil. He noticed that the snake was fighting him; however, he fought back using his healing magic.
Five minutes later, he let his hands sink and collapsed into Regina's embrace in exhaustion, while he felt waves of gratitude and concern coming from the older wizards.
"Thank you very much." Marvolo smiled in apparent relief, while Severus stared at his now completely clean arm in obvious disbelief.
Harry returned a smile, which intensified, when a large cup of hot chocolate manifested on the table in front of him, accompanied by a small bowl with dog treats. While he and Lucy enjoyed the unexpected treat, Marvolo talked to his father.
"I intend to call everyone to Nott manor again on Saturday evening. As you don't have my mark anymore, you'll have to just take the floo, perhaps around seven o'clock."
Severus nodded in confirmation.
"I'm thinking about unobtrusively questioning everyone under Veritaserum to find out who freed the prisoners. I don't think people like Lucius would willingly admit to it, especially as everyone knows that they went against my wishes."
"I believe that you're fully right." Severus held out a hand and summoned a small phial of Veritaserum from his private lab. "Draht should be able to unobtrusively add it to whatever beverage the Nott elves are going to serve."
"Thank you, my friend. Do you have any news from Dumbledore, by the way?"
Severus shook his head. "Apart from the fact that he and Black both believe that you freed the prisoners and control the Dementors, nothing."
Marvolo let out a scoff. "I wonder who in the world is in control of the Dementors. I don't deem Lucius clever enough."
Apparently realising that Harry looked at Marvolo in open amusement, his father quirked an eyebrow. "I believe that curfew has long passed, and first-years should take their doggy and go to bed. Thanks for your help, son."
Harry obediently rose from the sofa, said good-night and returned to his room to dream about Dark Marks and white mists that suddenly formed to doggies.
