Somehow Godric had managed to usher Harry, Tony, and Arig around Healer Jordan's shield charm, the irate Mrs. Montague, and the inquisitive Rita Skeeter through to the herb garden. It was a relief to have the garden door shut out the angry shouts and explosive tension. Harry sucked in a deep breath of the mingled herb scents contained in the garden in an attempt to steady his fluttering heart.

He was glad that he was able to use his staff again and was still marveling at having the use of his hands back. He had a moment of empathy for Tony.

"Godric, did you really summon the Ministry of Magic? Are they going to arrest my mum?" Tony asked.

"I don't think they'll arrest her—but she did violate our privacy code and it is a serious breach bringing in a reporter. I think the reporter will get arrested. But I'm really not sure what will happen. I just hope we can keep it out of the papers. But we shouldn't be discussing this. Privacy and all that," Godric said as he pushed through another door that led to the corridor.

"I can't believe she brought that Skeeter witch here!" Tony moaned.

"Yeah, it's pretty awful, mate," Arig agreed.

"I thought she knew how much that piece she wrote about me tore me up! I can't believe she'd do that…"

They walked in silence for a bit.

When Arig's stomach rumbled loudly he asked, "is breakfast still open?"

"Er, no. But how about we head to the dining hall? I'll see what we can conjure," Godric said.

"I thought food couldn't be conjured," Tony said. "Gamp's law and all that."

"Right—just a figure of speech," Godric said as his staff tapped along in front of the group, leading them through the great doors into the dining hall.

"I've been meaning to ask—who prepares the food at the Center?" Arig asked.

"The Center has a mission to serve underserved populations and one way it does that is by providing employment to wixen as well as non-magical people and creatures who have difficulty finding employment," Godric explained, though there was something in his voice that made Harry feel as though it was a difficult topic for him. "It's not charity, rather it is an attempt to provide opportunity when other avenues are closed because of ignorance or prejudice."

"Oh, I just figured you used house elves," Tony said.

"House elves? Really?" Harry blurted out.

"You know, like Hogwarts," Tony said. "And most wizarding institutions."

"Oh, I thought it was just old wixen families that had house elves," Harry said.

"I keep forgetting that you were raised by muggles!" Tony said. "That must be so weird!"

Harry grimaced.

"Hey," Godric countered.

"Oh, right, sorry, Mr. Burbage. No disrespect," Tony backpedaled.

"Thank you, Tony," Godric said in a tight voice.

"Wait here, and I'll see what the options are," Godric said and he walked across the dining hall away from them.

Harry heard Arig scooting a chair out a little at a time and found a seat next to him. He pulled it out.

"You want to sit here, Tony?" Harry asked then pulled out the next one for himself.

"Thanks, mate," Tony said settling into the chair. "Oh, Merlin's pants! I don't have my arms. I hate this. I don't even know if they still work! I mean, I'm healed, but what happened to my arms? Last time I saw them they were fried."

"Maybe Godric knows?" Arig said.

"I can help you eat," Harry offered.

"Me, too," Arig said.

"Thanks, it's … well, it's just so… embarrassing."

"Well, don't be embarrassed on my account, mate," Arig said. "I don't care. So you don't have arms—so you need some help eating… no biggie. I need help, too. We just have to get used to it. Everyone needs help at some point and for different reasons. We're social creatures. We don't do things on our own."

"Yeah," Harry said, though he could understand Tony's embarrassment remembering how mortified he'd been when he fainted on the beach and had to be carried.

"… and really, you could just put your face in your plate," Arig continued. "It's not like you can't eat independently—you just have preconceived ideas about how eating should occur that don't really match your circumstances anymore."

"Right! Oh, Merlin! If my mum came in here and saw me licking my plate like a dog—she'd really be busting out the hexes," Tony hooted.

"Oh, here comes Godric with floating trays of food," Arig announced.

Harry could smell sausage and eggs before they reached the table and his mouth started watering.

"Arig, can you help guide the trays where they need to go?" Godric asked as he approached the table.

"Sure—no problem," Arig said, hopping up. "Here you go, Harry, Tony."

"Thanks, Godric," the three boys muttered obviously distracted by the food.

"Arig—Harry's plate has the toast at the top, right?"

"Yep."

"Thanks. All right, Harry, you've got eggs at 6 o'clock, sausage at 9 o'clock, two pieces of toast at noon, and tomatoes at 3 o'clock," Godric informed him. "Also, Healer Jordan wants you to have this Nutrition potion."

"Thanks," Harry said accepting the small, heavy bottle that Godric clinked against the table and then was surprised to hear Godric pulling out a chair and settling a plate of food in front of himself.

"You missed breakfast, too?" Tony asked.

"Oi, it was quite the morning!" Godric said as Arig asked Tony if he wanted to start with the sausages.

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

After breakfast, Harry checked his schedule to figure out where he needed to be. He noticed that the Council's location had been changed—they were to meet in Healer Jordan's office instead of the Mont Blanc room. The schedule had been updated.

Ah. Mei. Her—their—time to tell everyone. I bet that's why they were so upset. How are we all going to fit in Healer Jordan's office? Is she going to cast an expansion charm on it? Harry wondered.

Harry had a bit of time before the O&M session with Godric started—so he excused himself and headed to the library to work on a response to Ron's letter with his Quick Quotes Quill. There was something about the Weasleys leaving the country that made him feel really alone, which made it really hard to compose the short note to Ron. He kept dictating it, listening to it, and then vanishing it and starting over. Finally what helped was to remember that Hermione and Neville were going to visit that evening and he was able to finish the letter, roll it up and stick it into his staff to send with Hedwig later.

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

When Harry arrived at the Egress for his O&M lesson with Godric, he was surprised to find that the room was not configured for the usual Gym that led to the park in Old Ellerby, but rather as a modest country cottage.

Harry went through the Egress and thought it might not be so bad to spend the hour or so that they had here. There was a fresh breeze wafting through the room he'd entered and the cottage was full of the aroma of freshly baked scones. As he walked forward swinging his staff in front of him, he noticed that the vibrations had stopped.

This can't be a completely empty room! I think there's something like a wall to my right.

He squeezed his staff to get a description of the room, but nothing happened. No voice in his aftí giving him a brief description of the layout. He walked forward a few more steps and his staff tapped against something firm but soft—maybe a sofa?

"Hullo?" someone asked from across the room.

"Hi, it's me, Harry," Harry provided.

"Oh, hi, Harry. Godric was here earlier—he said that today we're learning how to navigate without our magical tools," Fitz said. "He's put a charm on the room that suppresses our magic."

"Oh, blimey. Well, that's going to be odd. I already tried to get a description, but nothing happened."

Harry heard someone enter the room.

"Hello, is that you Harry?" Godric asked.

"Yes, this is kind of weird—to not have our magic for navigation," Harry said, a bit more unsettled than he cared to admit. "But I guess we've done it before."

"Yes—you have—of course, it was in a completely different setting—so this will be good for learning how to get around in a more confined space. It is a good skill to develop because this kind of magical suppression charm is obviously possible and if you're completely reliant on magic for getting around, you could be put at more of a disadvantage than your magical peers… but I should wait until everyone gets here before I get going on my full spiel," Godric laughed.

Harry tried to laugh along with Godric, but found that he didn't think it was that funny. It was a bit alarming. He'd actually been feeling like he was getting the hang of getting around without sight and this felt like a jarring setback. Especially after the morning he'd had.

He ran his knuckles against the back of the sofa (it was big enough to be a sofa—he decided) and when he reached the end, followed it around the corner, where he found another end and then found a seat. There was a big pillow that he pushed behind him so that he could sit down. It took longer and involved more mystery than when he had his staff that provided vibrations that gave him a sense of what was around him—not just at the tip of his staff, but throughout the room, and then audio descriptions of room including the names of the pieces of furniture he was encountering… some furniture he'd learned the names of since he started using his staff—such as a credenza—he had never known that there was a specific name for that kind of cupboard.

As he was finding his seat on the sofa, the door he had just come through opened again and Godric was greeting Aminah and Peter and his interpreter. Peter and his interpreter sat down on the sofa next to Harry and Harry reached out and found Peter's knee. He greeted him protactily and Peter introduced him briefly to his interpreter.

"Okay, I'll get started. First, allow me to introduce Gauis Luxor who is interpreting for Peter (thank you, Gauis).

Godric launched into an explanation of what they'd be doing during that lesson—which was what he had already mentioned briefly to Harry and Fitz. He went on to explain that they'd be first exploring the cottage and then engaging in some simple household tasks such as doing laundry, preparing some food, tidying up rooms, and locating items.

Harry sighed remembering his first few weeks, newly blinded and at the Dursleys. He wouldn't have Little Friend to help him, but he would not have to dodge the frying pan or Dudley's foot.

I suppose I can manage an hour or so of this.

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

During lunch, Harry and Aminah were comparing notes as they ate toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato bisque soup.

"I spent a good half hour trying to find my trainers in that bedroom!" Harry laughed—though at the time he had been completely irritated that Godric had asked for his shoes, placed them in the room, and then told him how to search for them.

"That could totally happen!" Aminah laughed. "My mother did that exact same thing to me, though, before I had my staff and when I was too nervous to try to use my wand. She thought she was helping me by tidying up my room, but instead, I couldn't find my shoes and I was alone at home. I think I still have a splinter in my big toe from when I went out on the deck without my shoes that day."

"I think all of that was to get us to appreciate how awesome the summoning charm is!" Harry said. "It was probably sponsored by the inventor of Accio! Gluteus Maximus, himself!"

Aminah laughed so hard she sprayed pumpkin juice out of her nose. Harry helped her find some more serviettes.

Gemma tapped Harry's arm to get his attention and he turned toward her still laughing and wiping pumpkin juice off his face. He offered his upturned palm to her.

Gemma signed protacily on his hand and arm and Harry was pleased that he could understand it—mostly. What he didn't know, he was able to figure out by the context.

"How was class? Did Peter do okay?" Gemma asked.

"Yeah—it was good. Hard, but good. Peter was a star, actually," Harry answered, listening to the paper fluttering by his lips. "He was the first one to find his shoes!"

Aminah dissolved into giggles again and Harry had to explain his joke—it wasn't quite so funny the second time around, but Gemma made the laughing sign across his back appreciatively.

Someone approached the table and slammed down their tray. The three of them were quiet as they tried to figure out what was going on.

"Trolls bullocks! I can't believe that I have to meet with my mum and Healer Jordan after lunch instead of working on my wand work!" Tony grumped as he pulled out his chair and sat down heavily.

"Hey, your arms work!" Harry said.

"Yeah—Healer Jordan was able to fix them. They weren't as fried as they looked," Tony said.

"Your mom's still here?" Harry asked.

"Oi. I can't believe it. We have to do some sort of mediation thing," Tony sounded like his head was just inches from his plate.

"Sorry, mate," Harry commiserated. "Maybe it'll be quick?"

"Naw. Not with my mum—she lives to talk."

"Aw. Well. Sorry."

"Yeah."

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

Harry's fingers were tingling as he rubbed them against the muscles at the base of his neck after an intense braille session, but he felt a little lighter with the knowledge that he was starting to actually make some progress. Madam Flamel seemed pleased, too.

He knew he still had a long way to go, but even the little steps in the direction of mastering braille made him feel more secure about being able to return to Hogwarts.

He kept having dreams about showing up to Potions class in only his y-fronts and everyone laughing at him. In another recurring dream, Professor McGonagall asked him to read from the Transfiguration text, but when he opened his book, all the pages were blank … page after page of nothing. He'd look at the books of the students around him, and he could see squiggly lines, but couldn't make them out. He'd try to sneak a peak over Hermione's shoulder, but she'd hunch over her book, shielding it from him.

He'd turn to Ron and he'd have an incredulous look on his face, "What do you mean you can't read it? Are you daft?"

Behind him Draco would be mocking him, questioning, "Do you even belong here?"

The dream often ended with Professor Snape shutting the great doors on his face as he spat out that Harry had to return to the Dursleys.

Harry stretched his neck from side to side, trying to loosen the muscles that had tightened as he'd sat with his fingers lightly touching the raised dots. He wished that he was headed to a stretching session with Ms. Midgeon instead of Defense with Professor Lupin or better yet that he had time to hop on his broom for another flight around the lake.

Footsteps were approaching him down the corridor at a quick pace—like someone was jogging.

"Oi, Harry!" Tony called out as he got closer.

"All right?"

"Healer Jordan thought you might be on your way to the O&M room." Tony sounded a little winded. "I was wondering … well, my mum wants to say something to you. It won't take long."

"Oh, well. Yeah, sure. Let me just pop in and let Professor Lupin know where I am," Harry said as he found the handle to the O&M room and opened the door.

"Is that Hogwarts? That looks like the corridor on the second floor."

"Yep."

"Can I go with you?"

"I don't see why not…"

"Very funny…" Tony muttered as he followed Harry through the Egress.

Harry pushed on Professor Lupin's door, then rapped on the grooved wood.

"Hullo? Professor?" he asked.

"Over here, Harry," Professor Lupin answered.

Harry walked closer, "Professor, Tony's asked me to speak to his mum briefly before our session today—so I might be a little late."

"Oh. Right. So you must be Tony?" Professor Lupin said.

"Yes, sir. Tony Montague. Say, is that a grindylow?"

"Well-spotted! Yes—captured from the Lake as it was trying to drag me under. I'll let it go, of course, after lessons this Fall. Will you be at Hogwarts, too, Tony?"

"Wicked. Um, er, yes, sir, I'll be a 7th year," Tony said.

A piercing, high pitched scratching noise—the one Harry had heard earlier in this office made Harry try to cover his ears, though his staff made it awkward.

"Oh, that malicious thing. It knows I hate that," Professor Lupin groaned.

"Is that the grindylow making that noise?" Harry asked, his face scrunched up and his hands over his ears.

"Yes—no doubt wanting to drive me to distraction."

"We'd better go, Harry,"

"Yeah. Okay, thanks, Professor," Harry said. "I'll come back straight away."

"Right. Aminah and I will be working on dueling stances in the meantime," Professor Lupin said. "We'll catch you up when you get back."

"Er, do you want to hold my arm, Harry?" Tony asked as he tapped the back of Harry's hand a little forcefully with his prosthetic arm.

"Oh, all right," Harry said and they left Professor Lupin's office.

Harry was half expecting Professor Snape to be lurking in the Hogwarts corridor—it seemed like he was always around when he had lessons with Professor Lupin, but they made it back to the Center without incident.

"Do you know if that reporter is still here?"

"No. The witch got away. Healer Jordan was madder than a hobgoblin. When I went back to her office for the mediation with my mum, she was talking to the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic. Said Skeeter had gone to the toilet and then given them the slip. I guess Skeeter's violated some agreement they have with the Daily Prophet by coming into the Center—but since she hasn't written anything there isn't anything they can do right now. At least that's what it sounded like."

"Gah. I hope Healer Jordan can keep them from writing anything. It could be so bad for Arig, right? And Mei. Just imagine if something about Mei was in the paper."

"Yeah. That could really send her over the edge. That healing thing in the ocean… wow—I… I've never felt anything like that," Tony said.

"Me, too. Like we were part of the sea itself—both the tiniest spray of mist and the deepest, widest ocean."

"Wow. Yeah. That's exactly it. Merlin. Too bad my mum had to ruin it all by bringing in Skeeter. But I think she kind of understands now. You'll see. She was just trying to protect me. This hit her pretty hard," Tony said, shaking his arm a bit under Harry's hand.

"Yeah."

They'd reached Healer Jordan's office and Tony knocked. Healer Jordan greeted them when she opened the door and led them to the chairs by her desk where Harry had had so many hard conversations already. He tried not to let his shoulders sag too much.

"I'll go get Arig, then, all right?" Tony said.

"Yes—thank you, Tony."

"Harry, thanks so much for joining us. You've met Mrs. Montague, correct?" Healer Jordan said.

Harry paused a second before he answered. There was something about Healer Jordan's voice that Harry was having a hard time sussing out. He'd been around her enough to know that she was skilled at mastering her emotions, but he never felt like she was trying to hide them from him.

It's why I trust her.

Healer Jordan was able to get her emotions under control without denying that they existed. And right now, he felt that she was not as angry as she'd been earlier when they had first emerged from the Egress to the ritual. She seemed calm and… sad wasn't the right word… there was compassion there, too.

"Yes, ma'am."

There was a rustling of robes and then Harry's hand was being grasped by a strong hand and he was enveloped by a sweet aroma that made him think of orchids and powdered sugar.

"Harry Potter. I owe you an apology," Mrs. Montague started with a trembly voice and then released his hand. "I am … well, embarrassed about the commotion I caused…"

She paused and seemed to be trying to gather herself. Harry was surprised… this wasn't what he was expecting.

"I… well, what must you think? This is hard. I … I'm sorry that I brought that reporter here. Please. You must believe me. I didn't mean to endanger you. Or any other resident at the Center. I just was so worried about Tony and I didn't think it through."

There was another pause and Harry wasn't sure if she was waiting for some kind of response for him. He had no idea what he should say.

Yeah—that was stupid? His eyebrows knitted together as he tried to form words, but she continued.

"I… sorry… I… er … I feel as though I should explain how this happened. Er… Rita Skeeter had come around to apologize about the story she wrote about Tony and she seemed sincerely sorry."

She finally was able to get the words out and rushed on.

"… and she was asking all these questions about the Center that made me really worried and then in the middle of the interview I got the floo call from Mr. Burbage that Tony had been hurt and I didn't think. I just panicked. And she seemed like she was concerned and wanted to help me, I just invited her along. And now, after talking with Healer Jordan …"

She paused and Harry imagined she was looking at Healer Jordan who was standing near them and breathing steadily. There was an intense energy in the room—like waves of emotion rolling over them.

"… and Tony, I see what a mess I made of things." Mrs. Montague said. "I wanted to apologize to you in person."

"Thank you, Mrs. Montague," Harry said taking a step back—not sure he could endure much more of this.

"I understand that you were burned as well—are you completely healed?" Mrs. Montague asked.

"Yes, the ritual was pretty amazing actually," Harry said relieved to be able to talk about something else.

"Well, I'm glad," she said as she placed her hand on his arm. "I really am very sorry."

"And, Harry, I wanted to let you know that we have the full support from the Ministry of Magic and the Editors of the Daily Prophet that your privacy here as a resident of the Center will be protected, " Healer Jordan assured. "The same is true for all of our residents."

"That's really good to hear," Harry said. "So, can I go back to my lesson now?"

"Yes, thank you for taking the time to come down here," Healer Jordan said as she led Harry to the door.

"What about the reporter?" Harry asked, feeling a little sly as he'd already heard some of it from Tony, but he was curious about what Healer Jordan would say to him.

She sighed and he felt her arm tremble a little under his hand.

"Unfortunately, and we don't know how she managed this, she was able to get away before the Ministry of Magic arrived."

"Oh," Harry said.

"The Ministry is investigating. I'm sure they will be able to ensure that she and the Daily Prophet abide by the laws."

Harry thought he detected a bit of uncertainty in Healer Jordan's response and he mulled it over the whole time he was walking back to the O&M room.