Chapter 41 – The Price of Guilt

Harry ignored the gaping idiots at the doorway and focused on the sight before him as he guided a softly sobbing Ezra to her bonded. The first thing he did was form a solid, clear grey barrier around the room that propelled all bar two humans backwards.

"Draco, I need you to get Lady Evangeline and the Heads of the Healers Guild here. Tell them to bring some people – preferably submissive or those like Hermione and Blaise. Go to Remi and ask him to open one of my houses where we can house everyone until we find their families, or – if their families refuse to take them – where they can stay. Also ask Blaise to write Willa to ask if she would mind me visiting tomorrow to ask a favour."

"I can do that," he agreed, "Is there anything else I can do?"

"When you speak to Lady Evangeline," he said grimly, "tell her I think we just found some of the missing elflings."

Draco nodded and quickly vanished.

"Can you remove the humans?" Harry asked, turning to Sephtis and Alastair, "Or at least move them away? This no longer concerns them."

"No longer concerns us?" one of the unknown females spluttered, "of course it concerns us! We can get Healers here and get them out of there and …"

"Look," Harry interrupted, "who in the name of Bastet are you five? It is obvious that there is more than what appears to be going on here and you are going against the rules of the presiding Healer -which is me – and even if you bought in your own Healers, I would have to order them away due to events that none of you seem to have any interest in."

Ignoring the stunned group, Harry spun and went back down the stairs.

"Go and get a group of Healers from St Mungo's," Cornelius stated. "I'm not going to allow some uppity child tell me what to do."

One of the robed figures left to do as he said, not know what he or she would be unleashing when they returned.

~~~linebreak~~~

Harry looked at the scene before him and sighed in resignation. He knew that the idiots would ignore his words, but he had more important things to deal with; starting with releasing those that were being held prisoner in the room he was currently in. With another sigh, he walked to the first cage/cell and forced his magic into the lock.

"My name is Harry James," he said soothingly as he walked into the small cell-like space that held four youngsters of varying heritages and ages. "I am a shadow-cat demon submissive; age sixteen and a Master Healer."

He slowly approached the oldest person and placed his hand on the cuff keeping her in the room.

"This may feel slightly odd and I ask that you not leave right away. I wish to give a medical check on you and get you to talk to some people who my mate is getting."

When the girl nodded her understanding, he focused his attention on the cuff and destroyed the magic that was keeping it on her. He quickly reached for her as she sank to the ground in relief.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked as he frantically searched for any sign of his magic having harmed her.

"N-no," she rasped, "you didn't hurt me. It's just … I had long given up hope that I would be rid of that horrible thing and now it has gone …"

Harry nodded and gently ran his hand through her hair.

"I understand," he cooed softly, "Will you be okay here for a bit while I get the others down? I will need some help later with the younger kittens."

The girl nodded and Harry once again gave an encouraging smile and moved to the next person.

It was as he entered the forth cell that he became aware of someone, or something, attempting to enter though the barrier he had set up. With a hiss of disgust, he removed his hand from the cuff of the little boy he was working on.

"I'm sorry Little One," he cooed as he ran his fingers thought the boys' hair, "Some very silly people are playing with my barrier to prevent anyone else from coming through and if I was to try removing your chain while they are doing so, I might hurt you. I'll get one of the others to come in here to talk with you while I deal with them so I can get you free."

At the boy's tear-filled nod, Harry left the cell. After talking to the girls that were in the first cell and watching them spread out among the others, Harry stalked into the shadows and reappeared on the other side of the barrier from the shade of a tree.

"What," he bit out, "exactly do you think you are doing?" You should have been told during your apprenticeship that this form of barrier is used in events where delicate magic is being worked!"

The healers from St Mungo's – who had paled when they saw who it was that they had disturbed – looked down in shame. They had indeed been taught that, but had ignored it on the word of the Minister.

"Well?"

"The Minister told us that some uppity child was playing with magic they didn't understand and was endangering lives by preventing those who could help them from getting to them," one of them stated, still looking down. "We didn't know that it was you he was referring too."

The rest of the healers winced at the look that comment earned the speaker.

"As thrilled as I am at the insinuation of me being 'some uppity child'," Harry continued bitingly, "I find myself more and more convinced that magical Britain is all the proof anyone needs that stupidity and idiocy are contagious and the power of individual thought is supressed by people in positions of power to prolong their terms of destroying everyone's lives."

Harry crossed his arms and glared at everyone who had made to talk, causing them to snap their jaws shut with an audible snap.

"As proof, did none of you notice the four individuals of non-human heritage calmly seated several meters away from us? It is common knowledge that members of the ICMB do not involve themselves in matters concerning humans unless those with creature inheritances are somehow involved and NEVER are they as calm as they are now if anyone; human or not, are in life threatening danger."

"Another thing you ignored was the shield itself!" Harry continued, not caring that the healers – who were all older than him by at least twenty-five years – were shrinking away from him and turning a pale shade of green, "I would like to see anyone; child or not, create that shield without the amount of training you need to get the first stage of it correct, let alone all of it."

It was at this time that a group appeared in a flair of flame that went unnoticed by everyone else.

"You were lucky you interfered with the barrier when you did because if it had been a minute before or a minute after, you would have cause me to badly injure, if not kill, one of two seven-year-olds."

"And if that had happened," a deep, familiar voice stated, "It would have been you who were under investigation and in danger of losing your healing licence, not Master Healer Harry."

The group of healers jumped in shock

"Master Healer Emelaine," they chorused.

Harry spun around and blinked. There before him stood Hermione, Blaise, Severus, Lady Evangeline, the three heads of the Healer's Guild and two members of the Higher Elven Council. A loud POP! To the left of the group revealed the newly arrived presence of Draco and Willa.

"Good afternoon Harry," Blake said, "you can go back to your previous activity. We will take over here."

"Thank you Master Healer Emelaine," Harry stated. "Rinie? Can you help? They are all wearing a cuff of some kind that has to be removed without damaging the individual they are on."

"That is what I am here for sweetie. I picked up your frustration which is why I'm here."

Harry smiled thankfully at her and vanished the both of them onto the other side of the barrier.

After the two of them successfully vanished to the other side of the barrier, the three guild heads returned their attention to the group before them.

"What in the bleeding, buggering Hell do you think you are doing?" Emma exploded. "Has everyone attached to the Guild become complacent and self-important since we haven't been holding their hands?"

"What our lovely Head Healer is trying to say," Jacob Yanize said as he covered the mouth of his fellow Guild Head, "is that this barrier before you is found in one place and one place only: In the minds of the Heads of the Healer's Guild. This information is placed into the minds of these individuals when they make their oaths. The same magic is responsible for locking the information away to prevent it being forcefully removed and once again, when the Heads retire or die. Everyone in the Guild is taught this during their first year of Apprenticeship and it is re-iterated every year after since all healers need this knowledge but only the individual Heads can teach it."

"So why did you do what you did on the word of someone who knows nothing about what we teach?" Emma, who had claimed enough for her mouth to be uncovered, asked.

"We will lose our Healing License if we ignore someone in need of Healing," one of the healers stated. "If we hadn't done something, we would have been jobless and up for dereliction of duty."

"No, you wouldn't have," Blake stated. "No one has ever lost their Healer's privileges by doing the correct thing and waiting for the Healer-in-charge to do what is necessary. The Healer's Guild, no matter its name or who runs it – is better than that."

"That doesn't stop the Ministry form doing so," one of the oldest healers stated.

"And what exactly," Emma snapped, "does the Ministry have to do with this?"

"The Ministry has the authority to give and remove healer's licenses," one of the robed figures stated factually, "everyone knows that."

"Over our dead and decaying bodies it does," Emma responded, turning her fury onto the Ministerial group. "It is one of the Laws from the time before Merlin that Healers are outside the rule of any Ministry. We are perpetually neutral and therefore, have our own laws to obey."

"If that is beyond your understanding," Blake stated as Jacob tried to calm their female co-worker from her rage, "That means that the only people who can judge you and remove your license is one of us three here."

"The three of us are also the only people who can grant a license," Jacob stated. "Due to several communities conveniently forgetting this fact, we have been required to start investigations. We may as well just investigate everyone who has ever worked as a healer and take each government to court over medical malpractice, abuse of power and disregarding the laws of balance."

"Now see here!" Cornelius yelled, "You can't do that!"

"Oh, we can and we will," Emma hissed. "The Healer's Guild was set outside normal laws for the protection of us and our clients. Since investigating due to several government's interference, we have uncovered several people who only treat those with money, three who test experimental potions on unwilling clients, eighteen who have kidnapped and sold children to anyone who pays them the right amount and over eight hundred and fifty-six counts of abduction with the intent of sale into prostitution. Not one of the Healers involved received their credentials from the Healer's Guild."

"This means," Blake continued smoothly, "That the individuals in question were NOT bound by their oaths. So, in short …"

The Head Master Healer of the Healer's Guild was interrupted by the unexpected appearance of both Harry and Hermione.

"Sorry to interrupt," Hermione stated, "but we are ready to transport all those imprisoned to their new quarters. All of them have been released from the bonds and have been accessed as fit for moving."

"More in-depth healing will be provided once everyone is clean, full and settled," Harry stated. "Severus, will you be willing to provide us with the potions that are required? For now, we will need the chaffing potion and dreamless sleep."

"After that, we will need the members of the ICMB, Willa and those of the Elven Council to be present. Many of those found are of Ancient Clan blood and are either female or submissive … and there are some that may find themselves to be expecting."

Harry rubbed his face in exhaustion before facing Draco.

"Did you talk to Remi about opening one of the Potter properties?"

Taking that as permission, Draco strode towards his mate until he could envelope the smaller male in a hug.

"I did," he smirked. "The old wolf decided that if you were going to open one of your properties for this, then Sirius could as well. When I left Remus, Bella and Mother were making Sirius go through his properties."

"Excuse me?" one of the healers called by the Minister interrupted when the barrier refused to allow them past, "Why can't we get through to help?"

Emma, who was about to follow Jacob through, stopped to witness what was happening.

"It's rather easy to explain," Harry stated as he pulled away from the comfort of his mate in order to be the voice of authority. "You cannot enter because I do not want you to enter."

Once again, he turned to Draco.

"Would you mind helping Severus with the brewing and distributing of potions once I get them all checked?"

Instead of answering verbally, Draco wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and guided him through the barrier.

"Oh yes," he stated as he paused before allowing Draco to guide him through. He turned and faced the British wizards and witches.

"I really much compliment you all on your incompetence," he smiled, "after all, you have a family of red-heads to find for us to question, yet you are still just standing there doing nothing. Maybe I should send Draco or Blaise to do it in your stead?"

"That will not be necessary," the gruff voice of Alistair stated from the tree he was standing beside. "As the ICMB and the Healer's Guild is involved – as well as the belief the people who own this property may be connected to an Elven Council criminal investigation, I and a small team of investigators will be finding them. The humans may go about their day as usual now everything is in capable hands."

Harry bowed to the tall male and left, once again ignoring the useless spluttering that was coming from the equally useless man.

~~~linebreak~~~

Harry collapsed in the only empty armchair available in the room with a sigh of relief. It had taken them just under five hours to transport and settle the thirty-six beings that had been found in the cellar room of the Weasley House-of-Horrors. Overall the operation had gone smoothly with only a few small hiccoughs upsetting everything. He had to admit that it wasn't easy to try to convince the oldest of the group that they weren't just placing them into another – though nicer – prison.

A large mass settled onto the arm of the chair he was sitting on and he relaxed into the hand that started to card through his hair.

"Thirty-six," he whispered brokenly. "Thirty-six individuals who have all had their lives changed irreversibly. Eight five years and younger, twelve six through elven year old's, ten twelve to fifteen-year old's, five aged between sixteen and nineteen and one in her late twenties."

He turned tear-filled eyes to his companion and whimpered.

"What is wrong with these people Siri? What causes them to do things like this to people who haven't – and for the most part CANNOT – do anything to them?"

"I wish I could answer you Kitten," Sirius responded, "I really wish I could, but I don't know. It could be greed, or jealousy and malicious magic at work."

"But it could equally be mental illness, potion derived or desperation," Remus continued for the other man.

"Anyone who can harm a child is sick as far as I'm concerned," an unknown voice stated.

Harry blinked and moved to look at the new comer, revealing her to be the oldest of their guests. She was an inch or two shorter than Severus, had black-streaked white hair and burning amber-yellow eyes. She also had talons on her fingers, feathers scattered in her hair and feather-like tattoos surrounding her eyes, wrists and ankles.

"I agree with you one hundred percent," he stated without breaking her gaze. "Kittens are a blessing, and anyone who even thinks of harming one purposefully should be shot."

The new female inspected the younger male intensely before she smiled and seated herself on the opposite chair arm to Sirius.

"I think you and I will get along fabulously youngster," she stated. "Did I hear correctly when you said there are several people preparing potions?"

Harry nodded seriously.

"At the moment my mate, my sister, her mate and Potions Master Snape are focusing on stomach soothers, nutrient potions, bruise, cut and graze balms and bone strengthening potions," he explained. "Between the three of us, Rinie, Potions Master Snape and I had all the required dreamless sleep that will be need for tonight and as soon as the graze balm is ready and cooled – which should be tomorrow morning – it will be distributed to everyone for use."

"After I have recovered some of my strength from earlier, I will be doing an in-depth check on all of you to ensure you all get what you need," he finished while his eyes slowly began to droop.

"What about the fixing of those things?" she asked.

"They are included," Harry stated, shaking his head slightly in a bid to wake himself up a bit. "I am a Master Healer who specialises in family care and child mental health. Rinie, that is Hermione, my sister – is a mind Healer who doesn't specialise."

"What he didn't mention," Hermione stated from the door, "is that anyone who we believe to have lived through a traumatic event is directed to him."

"And that somehow these two share a mind link that allows them to share information," Remus added.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Harry exclaimed. "I forgot introductions! I'm Harry. The man beside me is Sirius and the one across from us is Remus. The couple on the love seat are Willa and Nicholas. Hermione is in the doorway …"

Hermione blushed lightly and quickly moved into the room, followed by the other three potion makers.

"The darker skinned one with obvious Elven features is Blaise, the blonde is Draco and the oldest one is Potions Master Severus Snape."

"It is lovely to meet you all. My name is Hedwig."

Severus, who was walking past the seat absent-mindedly shook the hand that appeared before him and froze as he felt foreign magic flood his system as his own magic flared.

Both Severus and Hedwig stared at the other in shock, oblivious to the knowing and amused looks most of their companions were exchanging around them.

Harry smugly took a mouthful of his overly sweetened tea. Things were looking to get interesting very soon.