Regarding Harry

by Tsujton

Disclaimer: Anything recognizable from the Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling et al. I make no profit (story of my life…).

Summary: Harry destroys the last Horcrux and defeats Voldemort – but in doing so, winds up back where he started the night he got his scar: with the mind of a fifteen month old – big baby!Harry. But the Death Eaters are out for revenge… Slightly slashy. Some abuse and violence, so rated: M

A/N: 1. Rose is 'movie Cho's' mom so, I tried to convey that she has a thicker version of Cho's accent.

2. I now have a beta! Thanks to the fabulous katzeboston!

Chapter 9: Unspeakable

Healer Chang had determined that the basilisk tooth – which she believed still contained traces of poison that would have killed most witches and wizards – partially severed Harry's brain hemispheres and should have caused permanent damage: rendering Harry's left side not paralyzed, but incapable of independent movement. Chang theorized that the poison from the tooth had fortuitously (and inexplicably) gone only into the Horcrux. In addition, she found a small but steady outpouring of unidentified magic emanating from Harry – a phenomenon she was at a loss to account for. Further, of its own accord, Harry's brain seemed to be re-fusing together.

"I'm sorry. I don' understand what this is or how i' relates to 'is regressive behavior, an I don' have the authority to do what's necessary to get the facts. As I said, mine's but a theory." She met her mentor's eyes with a look of foreboding, then drew in a breath. "Are the Unspeakables still here? We need t'get one up here." This was a decision Rose Chang did not come to lightly, for it went against the Witch's Oath she took when she became a Sensing Healer: Harm None, Do What Ye Will.

Harry was so mesmerized by the moving pictures in the comic that he didn't notice when the Unspeakable arrived or that Healer Chang had transfigured and charmed a speckled sugar cube, which she handed to Ginny for him.

"Give 'im this," instructed Healer Chang. "It'll help 'im relax," she reassured Ginny, who was looking at the cube suspiciously.

After getting a nod of encouragement from Madam Pomfrey, Ginny took the proffered treatment. "Open for more sugar, Harry," she cooed in his ear, and he did, absently sucking on it till it was gone. He barely registered that it tasted odd. Soon Harry became quite drowsy and his eyelids drooped uncontrollably. "Nigh-nigh, Umba," he murmured to the wizard in the book, but he did not fall asleep. Instead, his eyes glazed and remained half closed as his head lolled to the side.

Ginny eyed the Unspeakable. She found him to be surprisingly average looking, of medium build and height, dark skin, graying hair, dark eyes and pale gray robes. Madam Pomfrey put a hand on Ginny's shoulder and said kindly, "Ginerva, you need to go now." Ginny found that this gentle command was more frightening than any of the Nurse's threats and admonitions ever had been.

"Wait," said Ginny, her voice panicked. "What's he going to do to Harry?" She now looked at the Unspeakable with dread.

"'Unspeakable' dearie," said Healer Chang by way of explanation, but not unkindly. "Now why don' you be a good lass and wait outside?"

"No, I'm staying with Harry –"

"M'sorry, but y'canna do that," said Healer Chang.

"I have to!" Ginny blurted out. "I took a Witch's oath," she lied in desperation.

The Unspeakable raised a skeptical eyebrow at the forlorn-looking young witch, but he nodded in consent.

Harry felt very strange, like the cot was spinning him around. "Nee-Nee," he said, groping about feebly for Ginny's hand.

"I'm here, Harry. It's okay." She clasped his hand in both of hers.

"You are not going to interfere, Ms. …?"

Ginny was caught off guard by the Unspeakable addressing her. She had mistakenly assumed they didn't talk.

"Weasley," provided Poppy.

"Ms. Weasley, then. You will take a Witch's Oath now –" his tone clearly indicated that Ginny's lie was understood, "– not to interfere in any way, and I will be putting a Silencio charm on all who are witnesses. Do you agree to these terms?"

Ginny nodded.

"Silencio!"

"Nee-Nee," murmured Harry again. Ginny squeezed his hand gently and pressed her lips to it in a soundless kiss. Harry sighed and half-smiled.

The Unspeakable gently but firmly took Harry's hand from Ginny's and tucked it back under the covers. He next laid one hand on Harry's forehead over the scabbed wound, reached his other hand inside Harry's pajama top, pressing it over Harry's heart as he closed his eyes.

Harry moaned softly in protest and soon began mumbling sounds and slurred words. "Gick… Uppy-moh…" After a time he began crying, "Bye-bye, P- Pih… Ahgi, uppys…"

And then Ginny knew. And it was 'unspeakable'. she could only watch in silent horror as Harry slowly began to relive the events of the morning in backwards succession. She had tears streaming from her eyes and she watched him weakly try to turn his head under the Unspeakable's hold. Harry was going back. back…back to it. And Ginny could do nothing to stop it.

"Ahgi, Ahgi," Now Harry was crying in relief at seeing his parents' old friend. After a time he murmured a petulant "No," adding softly "Nigh-nigh, Pih-ee-Bo."

Ginny watched helplessly as Harry's breath quickened. He was fussing and hunching his shoulders up. He started to cough and then he was crying in desolation for his parents and Ginny felt her heart aching. She was shaking now as she listened to him. Madam Pomfrey put a hand of comfort on her shoulder but Ginny didn't even notice. Harry was wheezing in great, ragged breaths and cried out a strangled "No-"

Ginny instinctively rose from her seat, but Madam Pomfrey's surprisingly strong hand on her shoulder pressed her back down. She jerked her head up angrily at the Nurse, who just shook her own head gravely in reply. Ginny relented. She had taken an oath not to interfere, but she would do anything to take it back. She believed Harry was now remembering his abduction by Lucius Malfoy and she could only wonder woefully at what pain the Death Eater had caused Harry. He was again choking and then his breath quickened and his arms flew up pulling out the bedcovers. His hands clutched feebly at the Unspeakable's wrist pressed on his forehead and Harry tried vainly to raise his head. His breath caught; his mouth gaped soundlessly with the effort and his eyes were wild and unseeing.

Eventually, Harry's panting lessened. His eyes appeared to be trying to focus, then he relaxed back into the pillow and his hands fell lax on either side of his head. Ginny released her own silent breath. She hadn't been aware that she'd been holding it in. Was it over? She slumped back in her chair and wiped her eyes and nose with the back of her sleeve. But, as she had feared, it wasn't over.

"Mmph, mmph!" Suddenly, Harry was huffing through his nose and he began to whine piteously trying to shake his head from side to side. At last he inhaled – a deep wheeze – and let it out with a burst of tears. Harry's sobs grew farther apart, until there were only intermittent shuddering gasps. Ginny felt a wave of guilt at how she and Hermione had contributed to Harry's suffering by forcing him to swallow the bitter potions, and fresh tears fell as she listened to his miserable whimpering.

Harry's left hand jerked out and a few moments later, Ginny heard his spluttering coughs and his first wretched "no" of protest as her guilt was renewed. And she felt it was right to be caught, just as Harry was, reliving those terrible events, for it seemed somehow a penance.

Harry's face was screwed up and he was sticking his tongue out unhappily. Hagrid's damn rock cakes mused Ginny, and she realized she was actually looking forward to the next bit: sugar cubes. And she was not disappointed. "Mmm Moh," Harry laughed in delight and the sound was an elixir to Ginny. But the feeling was short-lived –­ as Ginny knew it would be – and soon Harry was crying again for his Mum, steadily louder and more frantically, and Ginny felt the pounding of her heart matching the pace of his sobs.

There was another brief respite, wherein Harry mumbled drowsily, "Mmm," and formed a slight smile on his lips. But this peaceful moment, too, was cut short as harry's body convulsed violently and he arched his back letting out a gut-wrenching cry. Again he fell limp but seemed half-aware and Ginny wished she could will it to stop, because she knew what was coming and it scared her as much as anything ever had. That she could not – even swore an oath that she would not – protect her Harry from this was unbearable. Did the Unspeakable know what was coming? How could he? Ginny looked up at him for the first time since he had begun. His face was flushed and his hair was plastered against his forehead. His gray robe was drenched with sweat and his arms were shaking – but still he held onto Harry.

Ginny looked back at Harry. She found herself unwilling – and frankly unable – to stop from replaying the loathsome events as she understood them. Harry had settled to shallow breathing for a time. Was he traveling unconsciously backwards from Hagrid's hut? All at once his face twisted in a grimace of pain and his arms came to life. One pointed up, a phantom wand held in his hand, the other grasped the Unspeakable's wrist again. He opened his mouth and Ginny froze. She had not been conscious when Harry destroyed the Dark Lord, but Hermione had told her exactly what had happened. Harry spoke in a clear voice now. His old voice, she knew. But the word he spoke sickened her, even though she knew at whom – or what – it was directed.

"Avada–" With the speed of a Seeker, Healer Chang launched herself at the Unspeakable and wrenched him off of Harry before he finished uttering the Unforgivable Curse.

"– Kedavra." Harry gave out a last scream of pain as he mimed jabbing the basilisk tooth brutally into his forehead. Then he fell back, silent and still.

Healer Chang was struggling to support the Unspeakable; he rested heavily in her arms. Then he blinked and, amazingly, smiled. "He…he did it," was all he said before passing out.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Madam Pomfrey shouted, before the two fell to the floor. She levitated the Unspeakable to a cot and went to help Chang up.

Not daring to believe, Chang asked, "Wha' can he mean?" and she looked at Harry in awe.

When the Unspeakable lost consciousness his Silencio spell was lifted. Still, Ginny said nothing. She felt her heart pounding in her throat and she fought to calm herself. Harry needed her. She had to be strong. On shaky legs Ginny rose from her seat. She was relieved to see that his eyes were half open. His mouth was slack but his breathing was even and that helped to calm Ginny some.

"Harry?" She called to him softly. His eyes opened fully and he blinked, slowly shifting his gaze to take in his surroundings. His lips were now moving slightly and Ginny leaned in closer to try to hear him.

In a barely audible whisper he was pleading, "Mumma? Mum…?" The hope in his voice made Ginny's heart ache.

"Harry? It's me, Ginny," she whispered. His eyes shifted in her direction and he slowly turned his head to better view her. The look of disappointment on his face when his eyes met hers was like a physical blow to Ginny.

"Nee-nee," he said, frowning and his eyes welled up with tears. He turned away from her and curled up. Ginny could hear him snuffling and sucking his thumb. He began to rock his body slightly back and forth. Ginny put a hand on his shoulder, following his rocking motion gently. With her other hand she stroked his hair. Then, she hummed softly as her mother had done for her when she was young.

Soon, Harry's own rocking slowed and his eyes drooped and closed. His thumb slid out of his mouth as he eased into a deep sleep.

Ginny had been so focused on Harry that she'd been oblivious to what was going on around her. Now she looked up and saw Healer Chang giving a potion to the Unspeakable. Madam Pomfrey was just coming out of her office at the end of the ward.

"They'll be here shortly, Rose. They're just waiting for the Minister to meet them," she said, and then went to the door mumbling under her breath. "I'll not have any sort of ruckus in here. They'd better maintain their decorum or I'll Levicorpus them out of here so fast…"

Ginny sat back down heavily but kept a hand on Harry's shoulder – as much for her comfort as for his. She started a mental list of who exactly she thought would be coming besides the Minister of Magic: Professor McGonagall, Hermione, Ron – but that was as far as she got for just then the doors swung open. Madam Pomfrey raised herself up – she looked like a mother badger protecting her young. She stood in the entrance blocking the way and said crisply to the new arrivals, "Headmistress, Minister, there will be absolutely no raising of voices in this ward. Is that understood?"

"Of course, Poppy," said McGonagall, looking meaningfully at Minister Scrimgeour, who nodded solemnly. Madam Pomfrey stepped aside and Healer Chang motioned the assemblage over to the Unspeakable's bedside. He was sitting up on several plump pillows, a look of dazed delirium on his face.

Ginny smiled wanly at Ron and Hermione as they entered the ward after the Minister. Mr. Croaker and Ms. Portman brought up the rear and Ginny wondered if Draco was on his way to Azkaban. She hoped so, but then felt a twinge of regret, thinking of Harry's odd new attachment to his former enemy. She didn't have time to dwell on this though, for the Minister's gruff voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I want a full and detailed report, young man. State your name and begin," he said to the Unspeakable simply and waved his wand. A white Quick Quotes quill and a large roll of parchment appeared in the air beside him, and Ginny wondered why her estranged brother, Percy, wasn't here taking notes. She was glad he wasn't. More tension she did not need.

The Unspeakable had an awed look on his face as he began. "I am Bertrand Singh, Ministry Unspeakable, Third Class Order of Merlin," he stopped there. Mr. Singh could hardly believe himself what he was about to tell them. It didn't seem possible that Harry Potter, at the tender age of seventeen, had done what no other wizard – save his infant self – had been able to do. But he had succeeded, and paid a terrible price for this success. "The rumours of multiple Horcruxes were true: there were seven. But He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is no more and can never be resurrected," he said simply. This pronouncement drew a barely concealed gasp from the usually stolid Minister. He looked from Hermione to Ron, but said nothing and nodded for Singh to proceed.

"Harry Potter and his followers finished what Albus Dumbledore had begun, finding and destroying the Dark Lord's Horcruxes. The sixth Horcrux was created with the murder of Harry Potter's mother, and it was sealed within The-Boy-Who-Lived beneath his lightning bolt scar. He, he nearly killed himself destroying the final Horcrux." A sheen of sweat was forming on the man's brow, but he continued, "This boy is a more powerful wizard than even Dumbledore believed. An enormous amount of his magical potential was being used to 'contain' the Horcrux – to keep it from doing the boy harm. Now, that same energy is being directed outward in the form of one of the most powerful self-protection spells I have ever encountered."

Singh himself had fallen under that spell. Gazing into Harry Potter's eyes had left him with a fervent need to keep the boy from harm. Singh was fully aware of this, yet was still compelled by the magic to act accordingly. For this reason he was hesitant to share this information with the Minister, lest doing so might cause some detriment to the boy. Singh knew Rufus Scrimgeour well enough to realize he would be threatened by the news that looking into the eyes of The-Boy-Who-Lived would cause him to act in ways that might not be best for his political career, so he proceeded with care.

"I believe it was this spell that disintegrated all the wands in the immediate vicinity and that temporarily incapacitated all the wands at a wider range." He took a deep breath and made to continue, but Healer Chang had other ideas for her patient.

"Tha's enough for now. This man needs 'is rest. 'E's just performed a very complex form of Legilimency an i' will take several days at least for 'im to regain 'is strength." Chang – for the same reasons as Singh – did not wish to reveal the specifics of Harry's spell to the Minister. But Scrimgeour was not easily thwarted.

"I need to hear more. I don't like the implications of such power," Scrimgeour said cagily.

"Yes, well I'm sure you don't Minister" agreed Pomfrey. "We can go into my office and Healer Chang can fill you in on some more of the details." She gestured to her door and McGonagall led the way. Scrimgeour followed the Headmistress into the office.

"Ginny?" asked Hermione, "Will you stay with Harry?"

Ginny just nodded dumbly as she watched the rest of the party, including a now deathly pale Chang go in and the door was shut, leaving just Ginny, Harry and the Unspeakable in the ward. Ginny looked ambivalently at the door. Though she wanted to hear what they were saying, she wanted to be there if Harry woke up more. She pulled his covers up a bit and smoothed them out unnecessarily as she blinked back tears.

"You needn't worry, Miss," Mr. Singh's voice was fraught with fatigue. "I'm sure the Healer would rather I rest, but I'll tell you what you want to know."

Ginny sniffed. "How do you know what I want?" she asked dully.

Mr. Singh smiled in reply and tapped his head with a knowing look. "Why don't you ask me anyways."

Ginny blushed but did not avert her eyes from his. She didn't understand fully what Unspeakables did (Hence the name, she mused), but this man had been in Harry's mind, so she nodded slowly and ventured to ask a question. "How could a Horcrux have been inside Harry all this time without corrupting him – or killing him?"

"V-Voldemort," Singh tried out the name for the first time and found he could say it without fear. "Yes, Voldemort had intended to create an unprecedented sixth Horcrux with the murder of the infant Harry Potter, but things went…awry. The Dark Lord's soul did split again when he killed Harry's mother, and when the killing curse next hit Harry, it somehow imbedded a piece of Voldemort's soul in his head, rendering the Dark Lord nearly bodiless. The soul can only take so much destruction before the body follows. The Horcrux was the reason why Harry Potter's scar could never be healed. It had a part of a deeply disturbed soul beneath it."

Ginny wondered if that was the cause of Harry's poor vision and if he could now see clearly without the aid of glasses. His glasses were long gone and she hadn't noticed him squinting.

"That's highly possible," Singh answered, as though Ginny had voiced her thoughts aloud.

Ginny asked her next two questions quickly, before the Unspeakable could read her mind again. She found Legilimency highly disconcerting. "What is the Minister so afraid of? What 'implications' is he talking about?"

Singh explained the true workings of Harry's self-protection spell and cautioned Ginny, "The Minister of Magic will take issue with this power over others that your friend possesses. While his physical and spiritual wounds heal, Harry Potter will need staunch allies to keep him free of the Minister's political machine. Unfortunately, the Legilimency I used was extremely draining and it will no doubt add to his recovery time."

"I don't feel any different around Harry. Why isn't his spell affecting me?" As she said this, Ginny thought back to how she felt calmed by Harry's steady breathing. But wasn't that just simply a natural reaction?

"The spell he is radiating imbues those who meet his gaze with the inexorable desire to protect him from harm – as he perceives it. Perhaps, those who love Mr. Potter unconditionally are somewhat immune to this spell," explained Sing, "owing to the fact that you already have his best interests at heart."

Before Ginny could ask anything more, the office door opened and the Minister strode into the ward towards them, his brow furrowed. Apparently he had just received the same information as Ginny and he was not at all pleased. Scrimgeour held his wand out towards Harry's sleeping form muttering a spell. A black blindfold appeared above Harry and slid over his head. Ginny gasped in outrage but Harry barely stirred.

"Take that off!" hissed Ginny. She was not at all intimidated by the leonine Minister.

"Young lady," Rufus Scrimgeour said in his most placating voice, "The blindfold is as much for his protection as ours. He is in no condition to adequately assess what may do him 'harm', therefore we must protect his caretakers from the undue influence of his uncontrolled spellwork."

"That's bunk," Ginny said through gritted teeth. "The people who really care about him are immune to the spell." The rest of the group had filed out of the office in time to hear Ginny's retort.

"Ms. Weasly, is it? I don't appreciate your implication that I do not care for Harry Potter's welfare. I assure you that I, of all people, wish to ensure that he gets the very best of care. He is the saviour of the wizarding world and deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. It is my responsibility as spokesperson for Britain's wizardkind to see that Harry Potter gets exactly that. While you may or may not be immune to this particular spell, your hotheadedness is testimony that you are not able to discern what is best for The Boy Who Lived. You, young lady, are but a child with a schoolgirl crush on our greatest hero, and I will not have you disrespect me again, or you will be removed."

Ginny's eyes flashed in anger but she held back her retort. She looked to the others for support and wasn't disappointed. The Headmistress gave Ginny a knowing look and a pursed smile. "Ms. Weasley, would you excuse us please? Why don't you wait in Madam Pomfrey's office and calm yourself." Ginny hesitated for a moment, meeting McGonagall's eyes, and then bowed her head and trudged to the office. She left the door open a crack so she could hear what was going on.

"Minister, with all due respect," began McGonagall in a voice completely devoid of respect, "Mr. Potter's self-protection spell poses no danger to those of us caring for him at Hogwarts. The blindfold is unnecessary here. If you wish to avoid being influenced by the spell, you need merely avoid Mr. Potter's gaze. Please remove the blindfold before you leave."

For a moment, Scrimgeour looked as though he might deliver a scathing retort, but then he thought better of it. He let out a slow breath between his teeth and smiled mirthlessly. "As you wish, Minerva. Finite Incantatem." Scrimgeour waved his wand at Harry and the blindfold disappeared. "While Mr. Potter is quarantined in this ward he need not cover his eyes. However, there is the matter of his custody to decide. When he comes to the Ministry for the hearing, I expect proper precautions to be in place so this spell does not influence the outcome. Is that understood, Headmistress?"

"Perfectly, Rufus."

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Chapter 9: Draco

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