Chapter six

It was an hour later Dean and Seamus stepped into the room, 'Hey, you're out of jail,' Seamus said.

Harry, Neville and Dean laughed, 'Yeah, finally, but I'm still weak so I have to rest for a couple more days.

'Whoever poisoned you mate did you a favour,' Dean said, 'Dragons, vicious fire breathing dragons.'

'Yeah, Neville told me, I'm glad that I didn't have to face that. All the spells I was learning would have been hopeless against one of those. I bet it was spectacular though.'

'It was, scary but brilliant at the same time. So did Dumbledore work out who poisoned you?'

'No, he has no idea, all we found out was that my chocolate had been tampered with. Anyway, it's slowly leaving my system. I can move and walk but I can't really do any magic at the moment, lumos, that's about it. Madam Pomfrey and Snape explained it will take up to a month before my magic is restored. I'll use this time to study up on what spells we'll be learning over the coming months.'

'Okay, do you know why when it wasn't meant to kill you? Sorry mate but this doesn't make sense.'

'Don't be sorry Seamus, we thought the same thing and we can't work it out either.'

'Do you think someone wanted you out of the way, so you couldn't compete?' Dean asked.

'It's an idea we've talked about, but with no proof there isn't anything we can do. I would thank them if I could. The thing is someone still stuck my name in that cup, that's worrying. Do they want me injured, harassed or and I hate thinking this but someone could want me dead.'

'Yeah, especially seeing those monsters. Well, if we're about we'll watch your back,' Seamus said.

'Thanks, I appreciate that.'

'So that means back to doing your tests, that sucks,' Dean said as he began to change.

'And you probably have a lot of homework,' Seamus said.

'That's why I'm doing Snape's first, I'm sure the others will let me have time but he won't.'

'Even if you were dying he would make you do the work,' Seamus said, 'Anyway, we're heading down to dinner. Are you two coming?'

'That's the only time I'm allowed to leave my bed and as long as Neville stays beside me.'

'So you've got Neville acting as your nurse. He might need a sexy uniform to wear while he's tending you,' Seamus chuckled then ran from the room as a book soared towards him, Dean hurrying to catch up but he was laughing as well.

'I'd watch them, they might try to transfigure your clothes. They were both raised around muggles, so they would know about the woman who dress up like nurses to strip for men, the uniforms are revealing.'

'Blimey, why would they strip for men?'

'A lot of muggles do it, there are all sorts of strippers, some at clubs and others get hired for parties. You can get big rugged looking blokes to dress up as firemen or a policeman and do a slow strip. They do it for money and a lot of muggles use that for parties. I remember hearing about this woman who was about to get married, her friends got her a stripper, this muscly bloke was dressed like a fireman, they dance as they strip. From what I heard, most only go as far as a small g-string type of underwear, there are some that go all the way though. You pay more for that. It's very popular in the muggle world, so you see, a short revealing nurses uniform is something those two might transfigure your clothes into.'

'They do and I'll hex them so they end up naked. I like the fact that you learned all those spells then told me, it'll help with people like Malfoy. I still owe him for the leg locker curse.'

'Good, it's time they realise that we're not easy pushovers. They want to start something then they will end up embarrassed. Anyway, let's go eat, I'm starving.'

Harry and Neville walked slowly down through the castle, 'Sometimes I hate that Gryffindor is in a tower. But I would rather a tower than the dungeons.'

'At least we get the sun shinning through our windows and we can open the windows. The Slytherin rooms do have windows, it looks out under the lake, no sun at all. That would be really dreary.'

'Yeah, it would. I like being able to open a window on a warm day.'

As Harry and Neville entered the great hall, Harry headed towards the Hufflepuff table and not Gryffindor table.

'Congratulations Cedric, I heard you were brilliant.'

'thanks Harry and I made sure those badges are gone now.'

'Thanks, good luck with the next task,' Harry shook Cedric's hand before sitting at the Gryffindor table, 'That burn Cedric got might scar.'

'It probably will since it was done by a magical creature.'

'Oh, so it's like my scar, done by dark magic leaves traces, done by a magical creature leaves marks as well.'

'Yeah, some of those burns are healed but they will leave a faint scar. Yours in unusual though and I don't mean anything about the-boy-who-lived.'

'What do you mean?'

'Well, it's never faded like scars do, it looks exactly the same as the night you got it. There were pictures taken of you right after, it's as dark as always.'

'That is strange, I wonder if…anyone we could speak with would know why.'

'I would say the one we gave our word to, it seems to be that way.'

'Yeah, your right,' Harry nodded then dished up some food but he noticed a few people all looked at him with curiosity on their faces. He didn't care, Harry hardly trusted anyone inside the castle, apart from Neville, the twins, Lee, the girls from the quidditch team and now Snape, so he knew he had to be careful what he said in front of others.

'How are you feeling Harry?'

Harry turned, 'Fine.'

'I'm sorry, but I was trying to…' Hermione was cut off by Harry's raised hand.

'Again you don't listen, just go away Hermione. I don't want to know you anymore, I don't want to know most people anymore,' Harry turned so his back was to her then started eating.

'She's gone to sit beside Ginny and Ron, Ginny looks upset though.'

'it's her own fault as well, she kept sticking to her brother. Not surprising really, they are family.'

'I wonder why she did that when everyone knows she likes you.'

'No idea, but she's not my type anyway.'

'Oh and what is your type Mr. Potter?'

Harry chuckled then glanced over at the Ravenclaw table, 'See the blond that is reading the magazine upside down.'

'Luna Lovegood.'

'Yeah, I think she's pretty, I like her blond hair.'

'Most people call her loony.'

'That's mean, just because she's different doesn't give everyone the right to pick on her.'

'Do you want to go say hello to her?'

'Sure, we might share desert.'

Neville stayed beside Harry until he got to the Ravenclaw table, 'Hello Luna, I'm Harry and this is Neville.'

'Hello Harry, hello Neville.'

'Can we join you?'

'If you like but most people do not want to sit with me.'

'We're not most people,' Harry sat beside luna, Neville on her other side, 'So what desert would you recommend for someone just out of the hospital?'

'The apple pie is nice and don't parents always give their children soup and apple pie when they are sick?'

'I wouldn't know.'

'Neither would I,' Neville said.

'No, me either, well, how about the three of us have some apple pie.'

'I like your decision,' Harry smiled at Luna then dished her up some pie then himself while Neville dished up his own. The three friends didn't notice they had the whole school watching them, especially Ginny who was glaring at Luna Lovegood.

On the Hogsmeade weekend, Harry and Neville slipped on the invisibility cloak so they could sneak down to Snape's office. The door was opened, so they gave a very quiet knock then stepped in. They closed the door before Harry pulled the cloak off.

'The famous Potter invisibility cloak, I'm sure you've used that after hours.'

'Mainly when I have nightmares and can't get back to sleep, walking helps.'

'Yes, I'm sure you're nightmares are worse than others. Now these antidotes will work instantly but as I said, you will notice the change. You will be weak, it's your magic I am unsure of. The first is to restore your gifts,' Severus handed Harry a bottle with thick blue liquid in it, 'Drink it in one go, but I would suggest you sit.'

Harry took the vial then sat on the sofa Snape had conjured, he downed the potion in one go.

'Blimey,' Harry swayed, 'It's sort of buzzing through me, strange.'

'You have blue hair mate.'

'I change my teachers hair blue once, I didn't know I did it,' Harry closed his eyes for a minute, 'It's like when I haven't eaten in a while, sort of light headed,' he concentrated on his hair.

'It's dark red now.'

'It's the same colour as your mother's hair.'

'I was trying to make it return to normal.'

'Maybe blocking your gifts also changed your hair from red, your mother's, to black, your father's.'

'Petunia is always going on about looking like my father, she blames him for taking her sister away. Then she blames me,' Harry shrugged, 'So how will I know if this is my real hair or not?'

'Keep concentrating, you don't have to now since you still have two potions to take. Tonight, concentrate on the way you used to look but also try to think of your real looks, if your hair changes then your black hair is real. If it doesn't then I would say your natural colour is red, like Lily's. Now it's time for the one to remove the loyalty potion. It may be expelling from your body but if it was re-administered then it would not take long for it to work. This potion will stop that potion from working if it is slipped to you.'

Harry took the next vial, this time a deep thin green liquid, he down that in one go, 'So far I don't feel anything, well, except for extreme dislike for the headmaster, sorry sir.'

'No need to apologise for telling the truth. I would be careful that others do not hear you though,' Severus took the two vials from Harry then handed him the last, 'That one is the one to restore your full powers. Wait until I shield Mr. Longbottom and myself before you drink it, there may be a backlash of magic.'

Harry watched while Neville stood beside Snape then he saw the shimmer go around them. He looked at the potion then quickly drank. It was instant, Harry's whole body began to radiate magic, it sparked and sizzled, then it began to shoot off in different directions, hitting walls, ceilings and the shield. A few chairs and tables shattered into tiny bits before it stopped, with Harry glowing a bright silver and his eyes bright white. Harry felt like he had been running, he lent back against the sofa and closed his eyes.

'Are you okay Harry?' Neville asked nervously.

'Yeah, just spent,' Harry slowly opened his eyes, 'Wow.'