Chapter four

Neville's head snapped around, 'Harry.'

'Yeah, what happened?'

'You were poisoned, but it's okay, you'll be fine. Madam Pomfrey is down with the champions, it started hours ago.'

'But my magic…' Harry said but Neville cut him off.

'It's fine, Poppy Pomfrey is a med-witch and you're her patient. Since she said you can't compete due to health issues it cancelled the contract.'

'Okay, that's a relief, but why can't I move?'

'The poison drained your strength and magic, but it will return, it will just take time. Now how did you know the champions were facing dragons?'

'I dreamt it then I heard that sound, it just made sense, especially when charlie Weasley said he was hanging around. He works with dragons so he must be one of the handlers.'

'Well, it sounds terrible, hearing the screams, you don't think anyone was hurt, do you?'

'They will make sure no one is. So why aren't you down there watching?'

'I've been acting as your bodyguard, mainly of a night but I decided to stay here today since Pomfrey has to be down there, in case of injuries.'

'Bodyguard, why?'

'Well, you were poisoned, we have no idea who or why. I wasn't going to take the chance that someone could sneak in while you were asleep. Dumbledore and McGonagall agreed. Now are you hungry?'

'Thanks mate, I appreciate it. And yeah, I am, thirsty as well, but I can't move.'

'I'll feed you mate, it's fine. So something like soup or more solid?'

'Soup and juice.'

Harry watched as Neville spoke to the house elf before the food arrived on the table at the end of his bed.

He sighed as Neville brought the goblet of juice to his mouth, but he loved the juice and how it quenched his dry throat.

'Thanks mate.'

'Anytime, but I'm sure you'd do the same for me if I was like this.'

'I would,' Harry smiled then opened his mouth as Neville brought the spoon closer, 'It might be a bit embarrassing but the soups delicious.'

Neville grinned then gave Harry more, 'You would be hungry. Oh but the poison was in your chocolate frogs, Snape tested it and your blood. He said it will be expelled from your system naturally but your magic and strength will take time to be restored,' Neville kept feeding Harry his soup while they talked.

'Snape is good, I give him that. I'm just surprised he helped, unless Dumbledore ordered him to.'

'I volunteered,' Snape said as he stepped in to the hospital, 'A promise was made, I am fulfilling it. Now how do you feel Potter?'

'Good, I just can't lift my hands or move. Um, thank you Professor.'

'You're welcome. Now as Longbottom told you, the poison will leave your system naturally, it will take a few days before it's gone completely then it will take a week or so before your strength will start to return yet it could take up to a month before your magic is fully restored. I should tell you though, the poison was not meant to harm you. What I believe is that someone wished to get you out of competing; the only way that can happen is if you are seriously ill. Did you leave those chocolates out in the open after buying them?'

'Um, yeah, just after buying them Neville and I went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. I had to use the bathroom so they were left on the table.'

'That's right, they were, but I never left the table.'

'Did anyone join you Longbottom?'

'The twins and Lee sat down for about five minutes. Hermione asked where Harry was then she joined Ron and Ginny. Seamus and Dean said hello but they just walked past, no one else though.'

'The twins,' Harry said softly, 'they know how to work this type of stuff, it's all to do with their joke products but they said they will do more serious stuff. They won't get in trouble if it was them, will they Professor? I'm sure they were just trying to help keep me from competing.'

'I will not reveal the truth, but I may speak with them about their products. Madam Pomfrey will be back in about an hour. That should give Longbottom time to get you to the bathroom, again, use a levitation charm.'

'Yes Professor, I will, thanks,' Neville waited until Snape left then looked at Harry, 'Why was he acting like that? Do you think it was the real Snape?'

'I don't know Neville, he's never been nice to either of us. But I wonder who he made a promise to. That's got me curious.'

'Me too, but sorry mate, time to get embarrassed again, I'll close my eyes while you…you know.'

Harry sighed but he realised he would rather have Neville helping him than Madam Pomfrey. Now that would be embarrassing.

Neville got Harry back into bed just as the matron entered the hospital, the two boys noticed she didn't look happy at all and kept muttering about dragons.

'Ah Potter, you're awake.'

'Yeah, Neville filled me in, Professor Snape was here as well, he explained.'

'I'm sure he left the information on my desk. Do you need anything?'

'No Ma'am. Neville had a house elf bring me some soup and juice, then helped me to the bathroom.'

'Very good Mr. Longbottom, you would make a fine healer. Now I think you should get some fresh air. I will be here so no one will harm Mr. Potter.'

'You should Neville, get out of here for a while.'

'okay, I'll come back later and read you the letters I got from…Gran,' Neville raised his eyebrows, Harry nodded.

It was an hour later that Snape returned, 'I need to test fresh blood Potter, it will tell me how long before the poisoned will take before you're strength and magic should return.'

'Um, yeah, sure,' Harry watched as Snape moved closer to the bed.

'We need to talk in private,' Severus whispered, 'I found something disturbing when I tested your blood. I will return at midnight, if you are asleep I will wake you.'

Harry nodded but his stomach felt like there was something heavy sitting in it, something like a heavy stone. He watched as Snape took more blood then walked away to speak with Pomfrey.

'What is going on?' Harry was worried, but it seems someone was out to either hurt him or kill him. One thing Harry did realise, Snape didn't hate him like he thought.

'Are you okay mate?' Neville asked when he joined Harry later that afternoon.

Harry glanced at Pomfrey who was in her office, then lowered his voice 'I'm not sure, Snape came back for more blood, but he bent over me and whispered, said he found something in my blood that is disturbing. He's going to return at midnight so we can talk in private.'

'Blimey, he must have really cared about this person who he made the promise to.'

'Sirius told me that they went to school together, they hated each other, my dad as well. He said that they used to hex Snape a lot. Do you think it could be my mother? If Snape knew Sirius and my dad as kids then he might have known my mother.'

'It could be her, maybe we can find some information about the time your parents were students. Anyway, I wrote to Gran, Mr. Grenich and Sirius to let them know what is going on, but I told Sirius that you're fine just asleep, that you wouldn't want him in danger when everything is okay. He never turned up so he probably spoke with Dumbledore or Mr. Grenich.'

'Good, I'm glad he didn't leave where someone could see him. Mr. Grenich is working on his freedom, hopefully it won't be long,' Harry looked down at his hand, 'Hey, I can lift my fingers.'

'It seems when you went to the toilet before some of the poison came out.'

'Yeah, maybe if I drink a lot and keep going it will expel quicker.'

'You never did have any patients Harry, I'm sure it will piss out of you naturally. So, we'll wait until dinner then you can have juice and a cup of tea, which will help.'

'Alright, I'll wait. Do you know what happened with the first task?'

'Cedric got through it fastest so he's in first place. I know all three got hurt, nothing serious though. I did find out that the champions had to reach into a bag and pull out a small copy of the dragon they would face, there were different types. Well, the one that was left, which would have been yours was a Hungarian horntail and from what I found out they are the worst and meanest dragons alive, the biggest as well. Their tails are just as lethal as their mouths. Do you really think it was the twins?'

'Since this just drained me a bit then put me to sleep, yeah, I do, otherwise why go to all the trouble. The twins spoke to me a few days after my name came out. They said I should fall down the stairs and break my leg or they could hex me to break it, to get out of competing.'

'Sounds like they wanted to help. If I can I might speak with them tomorrow.'

'No need, look,' Harry nodded towards the doors as Fred, George and Lee stepped in, all three were grinned, 'It was you lot, wasn't it?'

The three nodded then sat on the bed beside Harry's, 'To make it look good, we didn't tell you or Neville,' Fred said.

'Yeah, it worked great, Neville looked really scared, sorry mate,' George said.

'it's fine now I know someone isn't trying to kill Harry.'

'Don't know about that, someone still put his name in the cup. After seeing those dragons and speaking with Charlie about the other one that Harry would have faced, he could have easily been killed,' Lee said.

'Yeah, charlie said if you, who is only fourteen and don't know advanced spells then you could have easily been eaten,' George said.

'The Horntails are vicious, especially when they are guarding their eggs,' Fred said.

'So, someone still could wants me dead, who and why?'

'We've been trying to work it out. We did think of Snape until he spoke to us about all this,' Fred said.

'Yeah, so we know it's not him,' George said.

'Has anyone been acting suspicious, maybe giving you advice or more attention?' Lee asked.

'Well, Moody told me to play to my strengths and when I said I didn't have any he made me think, flying. It was the only thing I could think of was using my broom in the hope I could get the egg. Now Bagman kept offering to give him advice and hints on how to win, but I remember when we were at the world cup, how he likes a bet. I figured he might be just making sure he won some bet or something. I don't know, I have no idea, but if I think of anything I will let you know. You got me out of competing, I owe you blokes.'

'No you don't Harry, you're our little brother even if our other brother is being a prat,' Fred said.

'Yeah, that won't change how we feel about you,' George said.

'You know this joke shop you want to open?'

'Yeah,' Fred and George said together.

'Could I invest in it that way it could help you open it without waiting years?'

'Harry, from what Ron said, what you have in your vault will need to keep you going until you leave Hogwarts,' Fred said.

'You wouldn't want to stay with the muggles so you'll need money to get your own place,' George said.

Neville chuckled as he looked at Harry who grinned, 'What two you do know?' Lee asked.

'I found out that I happen to have another five vaults. It seems I'm rich, my great grandfather, on the Potter side naturally, he invested in lots of stuff, businesses that did really well. I found out I've got more money than the Malfoy's, than a lot of those snotty pure-bloods. So, you see, I can afford to help you blokes out and it would get you your shop sooner. Even if you have to wait until you finish here, you can start making and storing your joke products. I don't want anything, I just want to help.'

'Then we'll talk about this after your jailer lets you go. We will need to get a lawyer to make sure everything is legal,' Fred said.

'Yeah, that way when we do start making profits, you'll get your share,' George said.

'Deal, but let me know how much you would need to kick it all off and just so you know, I have an attorney. He's been working on a few problems for me, like Snuffles and some other stuff.'

'Cool, if Snuffles ends up free then he can give us some great ideas,' Fred said.

'How can this Snuffle help with jokes?' Lee asked.

'You didn't tell him about Snuffles?' Harry grinned.

'It wasn't our place,' George said.

'Or our secret mate,' Fred said.

'I trust Lee, there may not be many people I trust, especially in this place but I do trust you four with my life.'

'He makes us feel all weepy when he says things like that Gred,' George sniffed and wiped a fake tear from his eye.

'Yeah Forge, you just want to cuddle him and never let go,' Fred also wiped a tear from his eye.

'Okay, knock it off or I'll change my mind.'

'We love ya mate, so you tell Lee about Snuffles,' Fred grinned.

'Well, you know the map and the names that were on it, right?'

'Right, Fred and George explained that your dad was Prongs.'

'Well, Snuffles is another name of one of those, he was or still is a Marauder, the worst one,' Harry chuckled with the twins, 'He is my godfather, an innocent man I might add and better known by his closest friends as Padfoot, or Sirius Black. I'll let the twins fill you in on why he slashed the portrait of the fat lady and who else is involved. My attorney believes he will have Snuffles free very soon. We're just keeping this from everyone until the last minute.'

'You see Lee, we have one of the Marauders right here who would love to help with our pranks,' George grinned.

'You're a son of a Marauder and the godson of one. Damn Harry, if you end up like them then everyone better watch out.'

The five boys all laughed before Madam Pomfrey made Fred, George and Lee leave, for disturbing her patient.