Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

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


"We intend to go to Bally Sideways on Inis Rún, a small island between Scotland and Ireland," Regina informed him.

"The most interesting about this island is that there is an ingredient, which only grows there: Jellygrapes. They grow similar to sea weed; however, they look like small grapes made from jelly. Their juice can be used as an ingredient and gives any potion an enormous healing power. Apparently, it can be added to any potion to double the effect."

Harry's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh, that sounds interesting."

"Have you ever been to the seaside?" Severus quirked an eyebrow.

"Not here. Only on the Isle of Elves."

"Are you able to swim?" Regina enquired.

Harry nodded. "The elves taught me, when we were on the Isle of Elves the first time."

"That's good." Regina nodded in apparent relief. "Now, I only need to complete my Animagus transformation."

"Show me?" Harry smiled, before he invitingly transformed into his own majaroo form. He playfully did a few jumps of excitement upon realising that his mother managed to transform everything but her head.

=That's cool, Mum. Now, you will get the rest soon.=

"Sorry, Son, I am not able to understand you." Regina transformed back, letting out a deep sigh.

"It's still at least four weeks, before we'll able to leave for Inis Rún. By then, you'll probably be able to complete your form. Poor me, the sole lynx running along the beach after two jumping majaroos."

"Ah, poor Dad. Why don't you try for a second Animagus form, too? If you hurry, we could all go as majaroos."

Severus returned a glare. "Just because your magic is exceptional, you can't expect everyone else to be able to do things just because you can. Your mother and even Felix might be able to have multiple forms, considering that Regina received your magic along with your blood, but not me."

"Oh, all right." Turning to Regina, he suggested, "Shall we try for phoenixes next?"

"I'd rather try for a lynx next."

"Oh, right, I'm in." Harry grinned, broadly, resolving to work on both forms. "Dad," he added, thoughtfully, "you could at least try. Perhaps, even more people would be able to have more than one form if they only tried."

"I agree." Harry turned around to see Salazar in his painting nod, encouragingly.

Severus let out a deep sigh. "Well, you won. I will try, but don't get your expectations up. I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon."

Regina smiled. "Believe in yourself, dear. Your magic is strong enough."

HP

While it was only four weeks before the end of Harry's first Hogwarts year and the beginning of the summer holidays, several things happened.

One evening, the four heads of houses were assembled in the headmaster's office for a meeting with the headmaster, when Healer O'Brian, the head healer of St. Mungo's, stepped out of the fireplace.

"Good evening, Professors. My I disturb you just for a minute?"

"Of course." The headmaster nodded, encouragingly. "How can we be of help?"

"As you probably know, Lucius Malfoy and Dolores Umbridge are in the care of St. Mungo's." When everyone nodded, he continued, "They are in a situation comparable to that of the Longbottoms, before young Harry Prince healed them."

'Don't you dare involve my son in healing evil people,' Severus thought in trepidation, setting up the deadliest glare he could muster.

"We were wondering," the healer continued, slightly hesitant, probably having noticed his expression, "if young Harry would be willing to heal them as well, so that they would be able to undergo a trial and have themselves be sent to Azkaban."

Before Severus could even protest, Albus replied. "I am sure that Harry will be able to help."

"No." Severus glared at the headmaster. "I will not have my son use his valuable healing magic for Death Eaters. Even if they'd be sent to Azkaban, they might be able to break out, which is not far-fetched considering recent events. No, and as Harry's guardian, this is my last word."

"But Severus…"

"Albus, you've heard Severus, and I fully agree with him. Healer O'Brian, I am very sorry, but I'm afraid that we can't help with this."

Severus cast Minerva a grateful look, when Albus had the gall to insist. "But Harry will surely wish to help. It is important to give everyone a second chance, and as a natural healer, it is his obligation to help people."

Severus let out a snort. "Obligation? The only obligation Harry has is finishing his first Hogwarts year. Nothing else. Where was everyone, when he was abused and mistreated by the family you sent him to?"

"Exactly." Minerva added a second glare towards the headmaster.

"Please contact me if you decide otherwise." With that, the head healer took his leave.

"Albus, do not speak about this with Harry." Severus' voice was firm, and everyone who knew him better should have recognised the warning in his words.

HP

Nevertheless, as soon as the following evening, when Severus did not have a chance to speak with Harry yet, Dumbledore cornered him, when he was walking through the corridors just by himself on his way from Severus' private lab to the first-year study room.

Usually, he simply popped himself, but on this evening, he needed just a few minutes for himself to think. 'I urgently need to discuss the summer course for the new first-years and the muggleborns of our class with Narcissa,' he thought, when the headmaster suddenly stepped into his way.

"Harry, my boy, how nice to see you here. May I have a quick word?"

"Sure." Harry shrugged, feeling annoyed, but not worried, knowing that he could simply pop away at any time.

"You are a natural healer, my boy, is that correct?"

"Yes sir." Somehow, he felt uncomfortable at the approach.

"If there are two people at St. Mungo's in a similar state as the Longbottoms were, would you be willing to help them?"

"Of course."

Dumbledore smiled. "That's what I thought. Would you be willing to accompany me right away?"

Harry glanced at his wrist watch. "All right, but I'll have to be back at home in an hour at the latest."

"How long did it take you to heal the Longbottoms?"

Harry shrugged. "Perhaps five minutes per person."

"Then we'll be back on time. Let's go to my office and use the fireplace."

Harry followed Dumbledore and the head healer through St. Mungo's. Somehow, the situation was strange. 'Why did Dumbledore search me out in the halls instead of contacting me through Dad?' he wondered. 'I really don't trust him. On the other hand, I really should help people if I can.'

He followed the older wizards into a hospital room, glad when the healer immediately lit the torches, so that he could see his patients.

'Malfoy,' he recognised the wizard in the bed in front of him, sensing that the man was evil, independently of the Dark Mark he still seemed to be wearing. 'Dad, Dumbledore brought me to St. Mungo's to heal Malfoy. Should I heal him? I can sense evil magic from him.'

'No, son, please don't heal him, and don't heal Umbridge either. I already told Dumbledore as much.'

'Thanks Dad. I won't.'

Turning to the healer and the headmaster, he shook his head. "I am sorry, but I can sense evil magic, and I will not help people who in return kill others. I am sorry." With that, he simply popped away, not caring that the two wizards would wonder what he had done to vanish from the spot.

HP

When he returned home, his parents were sitting in the living room, and he had the impression as if they had been waiting for him.

"Harry, please tell me exactly what happened." Severus looked at him in apparent concern.

"I met Dumbledore in the halls, and he asked if I was willing to heal someone at St. Mungo's."

"That's what I thought." Regina cast him a loving smile. "And of course, kind as you are, you went with him."

Harry returned a sheepish look. "I'm sorry, I should have asked Dad beforehand."

Severus nodded, grimly. "Yes, you should. In any case, you willingly went with him." Seeing Harry nod, he added, "Otherwise, we could accuse him of child abduction."

Harry shook his head. "No, Dad, I was so stupid as to go with him."

"What are we going to do? Harry, you know that you could fire him at any time." Severus quirked an eyebrow.

Harry let out a deep sigh. "No, Dad. Leave him be. I won't do as much as speak with him the next time I meet him in the halls."

"He shouldn't be the headmaster any longer." Regina shook her head in apparent annoyance.

"Do you know anyone who wants to be headmaster or headmistress?" Harry looked at his mother in expectation.

His parents exchanged a look. "No, not really."

Harry shrugged. "Well, that's it then. Nothing happened, anyway."

Severus shook his head. "Harry, you're too nice for your own good."

Harry looked up, startled, when Lucy suddenly nudged him. "What is it, sweetie? Do you want to go to bed?"

He smiled seeing the canine waggle her tail in apparent consent. "Oh well, good night, Mum and Dad."

"Good night, Harry, Lucy."

Ten minutes later, Lucy was already snoring and Harry was waiting for Regina to come and tuck them in like every evening. He reflected the evening's occurrences, unaware of the consequences his refusal was going to have in the future.

HP

A few days later, Marcus Flint, a fifth-year Slytherin and Quidditch captain of the house team approached Harry, when he was having dinner together with Draco at the Gryffindor table.

"Harry, would you be willing to play for Slytherin tomorrow morning?"

Harry's eyes lit in excitement. "Of course. Is Balthazar sick?"

Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor captain and equally fifth-year, glared at his classmate. "Balthazar looked very healthy to me during Transfiguration this afternoon."

"Yeah, but now he's in the hospital wing with a high fever, and Pomfrey said that he would most likely be unable to play tomorrow."

'A prank potion by the twins?' Harry thought to Marcus, who returned an unobtrusive nod. 'No wonder,' Harry thought, 'if Slytherin wins the match, they're going to win the Quidditch cup, but if Hufflepuff wins, the Gryffindors get the cup.'

"Well, Lucy and I will be happy to play."

"Thanks." With that, Marcus all but fled from the Gryffindor table, causing Harry to inwardly shake his head. 'I thought everyone would get along better now that we have the study rooms for each year,' he thought, wondering what else could be done to improve the older students' interhouse relationships. 'Perhaps, I should ask Hogwarts or the founders if they have an advice,' he resolved.

HP

Later in Severus' private lab, the twins informed Harry that Slytherin had to get one hundred points more than Hufflepuff to win the Quidditch cup.

"Please be careful…"

"… to catch the Snitch on time."

Harry shrugged. "I'll do my best." 'I hope neither Minerva nor Severus will be upset if their house loses due to my catching or not catching the Snitch.'

"That's all we can hope for." Severus smirked.

HP

Saturday morning was bright and sunny, and the air already felt warm, when the Quidditch teams gathered on the pitch.

Rolanda Hooch announced the players, listing Harry as the reserve Seeker for the Slytherin team.

With Lucy perched in front of him as usual, Harry took into the air. He did not bother following the game further down but concentrated on finding the Snitch. From time to time, he glanced at the scores, realising that he was not in a hurry, considering that Slytherin only needed one hundred points more than Hufflepuff. He knew, however, that Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker, was a good flier, although he had the impression as if the other boy followed his every move.

It was in the fifty-second minute that Harry suddenly spotted the Snitch behind one of the goal posts near the Gryffindor stands. He immediately went into a big dive and, shortly before he would have crashed into the grounds, caught the Snitch only to pull up again immediately. He had just turned his broom upwards again, when he heard something sounding like brooms crashing into each other, quickly followed by shouts and screams.

Horrified, he looked around, only to realise in shock that Cedric and one of the twins were lying on the ground just beside the spot, where he had caught the Snitch. In a blink, he was on the ground, pressing the Snitch into Lucy's snout, before he let his broom fall down onto the ground and knelt next to Fred, sensing that he was much worse off than Cedric.

"What happened?" he hissed at George, already laying both hands on his friend's stomach. He absentmindedly listened, when George explained how Cedric had suddenly come from further up and crashed into Fred.

"Will he be all right?"

Harry nodded, concentrating on the many injuries of his friend.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione's irate voice caught his attention, causing Lucy to bark and growl to give him and the twins space.

He concentrated on slowly mending the injuries, tuning out all sounds and other possible distractions from behind Lucy. He did not know how long it took him, but after what seemed an infinite time, he released Fred, allowing him to sit up. Before he knew what happened, George pulled him into a bear hug.

"Thank you so much for saving Fred." George seemed close to sobbing. "I can't imagine what I'd do if something happened to him."

"I'm glad I could help." Harry smiled, before he turned around, seeing Poppy stand next to Cedric.

"Harry, are you feeling up to mending a broken leg and a concussion?"

Harry nodded, knowing that it did not afford much magic to heal the listed injuries. Two minutes later, Cedric was up and about and profusely apologized to Fred.

"Neither of the three of you will continue playing now." The healer's voice was strict.

Harry was just about to protest, when he recalled the earlier happenings. "Oh, right, I caught the Snitch. Lucy has it."

HP

"Well done, Harry. I really wouldn't want to have the Quidditch cup stare at me, whenever I visit Minerva's office. I'd rather like to display it in my own office." A smile crossed Severus' face, as he looked at the trophy in his hands.

"You're welcome, Dad." Harry grinned broadly.

HP

The test week passed uneventfully, and Harry felt relieved at the thought that he would not have any more tasks before the beginning of the holidays. He had organised everything well, at least that was what he hoped. During the first two weeks, he would travel to the Isle of Elves together with his elf family. The following two weeks were going to be spent on Inis Rún together with his parents, Felix and Lucy.

When they returned, he was going to have a few free days, which he was going to use to visit Marvolo as well as Sirius and his family, before on August first, Narcissa's summer course was going to begin. Hermione and Dean from his year along with eleven soon-to-be first-years had signed up for the course, and Harry was looking forward to get to know the new students. Together with Teddy, Ginny and Neville, he was going to attend the course out of curiosity.

During the last two weeks of the holidays, he intended to spend his time in the potions lab studying for the mastery together with the twins.

HP

It was in the morning of the day of the leaving feast that he received two letters. One of them was delivered by the distinctive owls wearing purple ribbons, the other in an extremely colourful envelope.

'What is it now?' he thought in annoyance, knowing that people mostly sent him letters if they wanted him to do something. However, glancing at the twins who were making some kind of ruckus at his right side, he realised that they were holding identical letters in their hands.

"We're invited to Buckingham Palace…"

"… for a party with the head of the magical world…"

"… and we may bring a guest each…"

"… Now, seeing that Harrykins received the same letter…"

"… would you like to accompany us, Ginny?"

"I'd love that."

Harry glanced at the parchment in his hand and quickly unfolded it, only to realise that he was also invited for the same party on August 30.

'Who could I take with me?' he wondered, looking at his parents, only to realise that his father was just handing a similar letter to his mother.

'Dad, are you going to take Mum?'

'Of course.' The reply was prompt.

'What about Felix? Could I take him?'

'Harry, I believe that it is only natural that we take him with us, even if it means that I will bring two guests. Why don't you bring Teddy or at least list him as your guest? If they refuse an elf to take part of the party, you can still think of someone else. Perhaps, don't ask him yet, just list him. If they agree for you to bring an elf, you can still ask him. He'll agree anyway.'

'That's true.' Harry grinned. 'All right. Thanks, Dad.'

"Now Ginnykins, tell us…"

"… who else shall we invite to accompany us?"

Ginny shrugged. "My classmates are all nice, but perhaps Luna? I haven't seen her for ages, and I'd love to meet her again, before she'll come to Hogwarts in September."

"Send her an invitation…"

"… and ask her then."

'It's probably a thank you for brewing the wolvescure for them,' he thought, recalling that there had been a party at the Ministry of Magic a few years ago.

Finally, he curiously opened the other letter.

'Dear Harry,
we had much fun playing together with you, and we'd like to ask you for assistance again.
On August 30, we are going to perform at the magical part of Buckingham Palace, and we'd love to play as BAHBA. Would that be agreeable for you?
We are looking forward to your positive response.
BABA'

'Is that the same party?' Harry wondered in bewilderment, before he realised that, yes, it had to be the same event.

'Oh well, playing the Suikan with them was so much fun that it'll be better than simply attending a party anyway,' he thought, feeling very happy at the idea.

HP

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. 'Oh no, I completely forgot about the elves' holidays,' he realised. 'Perhaps, I should send them on holidays in two shifts, so that we have a few elves available at any time.'

He swiftly excused himself and left the Great Hall to pop into the elves' quarters.

"Barney."

The elf appeared in a blink. "Harry?"

"Sorry, for calling you all of a sudden. I'd like to discuss the elves' holidays."

Barney immediately agreed to his suggestion and promised to organise the elves' holidays, so that everyone would take turns leaving the castle for two weeks each.

"If they don't wish to go, of course they don't have to."

Barney nodded. "Thank you for being so understanding."

Harry shook his head. "No, thank you for the organisation, as I am going to leave for the Isle of Elves tomorrow afternoon. If anyone gives you trouble, please call me at any time."

'All right, that's done, too,' Harry thought, as he made his way to the first-year study room to spend the last day before the beginning of the holidays with his friends.

HP

At the same time at the Ministry of Magic, the head healer of St. Mungo's was giving his report to the minister of magic in the presence of his temporary undersecretary, Bellatrix Black.

"Harry Prince refused to heal Malfoy and Umbridge?" Fudge repeated, his eyes narrowing. "Is there nothing you can do about that? Is he not responsible to heal people if he's able to do so?"

Bella inwardly groaned. 'Of course not, you mongrel, and I hope he won't heal Lucius anyway.'

"No sir. He doesn't have any obligations."

"That's too bad. Perhaps, we need to think of something, even if we'd have to change the laws."

The head healer chuckled. "Good luck with that, Minister. The Wizengamot is the slowest party to make any decisions whatsoever it seems."

"I will think about it. I need both Malfoy and Umbridge back as soon as possible."

'Is that a threat?' Bella wondered, resolving to speak with Marvolo about the matter. 'Fudge is an idiot anyway. He didn't even make me swear a witch's oath to keep his secrets,' she thought, inwardly grinning.