...GOoHS...

Chapter 3

A Turn In The Right Direction

The air around the Potter family was heavy as they gathered around Harry's hospital room. James had requested a private room upon their arrival at the wizard hospital hours ago. Despite being the best and biggest private room that they could offer, it felt a bit small with him, Lily, Lucas, two healers, and the chief healer crammed inside it.

Harry had yet to wake, so the healers' explanations were done in hushed whispers. Lily had glued herself to Harry's side, sweeping hairs away from his face and holding his hand tightly in hers. Lucas sat next to her, not sure how to act, especially after seeing his brother on the bed. James was left with the task of listening to the healers.

"We will discuss further plans on treatment at a later date, Mr. Potter. We will have to consult with other specialists for the time being. For now, you will have to stick with the precautions we have set earlier," said one of the healers. The chief nodded approvingly behind him.

"How soon can he be released? It's just… Harry doesn't like new places. He might want to go home." James said and glanced worriedly at his son's small form that lay unconscious on the hospital bed.

It was the director that answered James' concerns this time. "He may be discharged as soon as he wakes up, Mr. Potter, if that's what you wish. As of now, there is nothing we can do for him."

James took off his glasses and wiped his hand down his face. "Alright," he sighed. "we'll have him discharged when he wakes up."

The healers nodded. "Very well, Mr. Potter. We'll have the discharge papers prepared immediately."

"Thank you."

With that, the three healers left the room. James released a heavy sigh and joined his family around Harry's bed. Lily and Lucas had settled on Harry's right side so he made his way to the left side of the bed. Lucas, seeing that his father was done talking with the healers, hopped down from the stool he was sitting on and latched himself onto James. James smiled at him and picked him up and then placed him on his lap when he sat down.

Lily looked at them briefly but soon turned her attention back to Harry. Her eyes were glassy with tears that she refused to let fall in the presence of other people. She sniffled once and then addressed James with her attention still on Harry. "What did they healers say?"

"They're looking for a way to treat him, Lily. They'll have to discuss it further with experts first. For now, we'll have to take him back home."

Lily exhaled a long shuddering breath. "That's the best they can come up with?"

"I don't like it any more than you do, Lily. It doesn't feel right, doing nothing when our son is suffering." James reached out a hand to stroke Harry's left arm.

Lucas looked between his parents and then at his unconscious brother. His brow knitted in confusion at the sickly pallor of his skin. He reached out to tug the collar of James' robes.

"Dad, what's happened to Harry?"

James and Lily turned to look at the boy, both wearing unreadable expressions on their faces. James ruffled Lucas' red hair gently. "He's very sick, Lucas. We have to be very careful around Harry from now on, alright?"

"But why is he sick? Why don't they just give him potions like mum does when we're sick?" Lucas said, tugging at James' collar again.

James and Lily exchanged a look, both not quite sure what to tell the boy. After a long pause, Lily decided to answer her son's question.

"Lucas, love, they can't give him potions because they won't work on Harry's condition. They… they don't know what to do or how to treat him yet."

Lucas still looked like he had more counter questions but he didn't ask any of them. He just sat there on James' lap, deep in thought. James pulled him closer and hugged him.

"I know you and Harry have your little competitions but please promise me that you won't let him do anything too tiring, Lucas. He isn't allowed a lot of things from now on. We have to be careful so that his condition doesn't get worse. You mustn't egg him on." James said, hoping that his son would understand.

"Yes, dad. He doesn't do much to begin with anyway." Lucas said in reply.

James chuckled. "Even so, we would appreciate your help in looking out for him."

Lucas had given his father his word that he would look out for Harry but his brother was really testing his patience. At first, Lucas was worried like his parents had been. Who wouldn't, especially after seeing him so pale on that hospital bed? He had been very scared that day. At first, he thought Harry had just caught a stomach bug again. He had been known to have a weak immune system.

It was definitely not a simple stomach bug. He had never seen his parents that panicked and that sad. His dad never said that the healers told them that Harry was going to die but his parents acted like that was what was going to happen. They hovered over Harry like he was helpless but even Lucas could see that Harry was getting annoyed. He didn't even mind that his parents' attention had mostly been on Harry ever since they came home from St. Mungo's. He was that worried.

He even tried to engage Harry in some not so taxing games but he would rather read, something that Lucas didn't like to do if he could help it. His parents' constant reminders to be nice to Harry and to try and keep him company had started to annoy him as much as their constant hovering over Harry annoyed his brother.

That was why, when Harry walked into the unused study of their grandfather, the place Lucas had come to hide from the rest of his family, something inside him snapped.

"What do you want? Want me to help wipe the drool off your chin too?" he sent a glare in Harry's direction.

Harry stumbled back in surprise. As far as he knew, he was the only frequent visitor in his grandfather's old study. He usually found very interesting books here and he enjoyed borrowing some every now and then. He didn't expect his brother, who had an aversion to books so intense he might as well be allergic to them, to be here.

"No, I…" Harry scratched his head. "I didn't know you were here too."

Lucas gave a grunt which Harry interpreted as 'piss off'. Harry smiled despite it. Seeing the smile on his face confused Lucas.

"Don't tell me you've gone crazy as well?" Lucas asked, eyes widening.

Harry burst out laughing at that. "No, but for a while, I thought you had."

Lucas scowled. "What does that mean?"

Harry, still giggling, answered. "You haven't been yourself these past few days. Seeing you walk on eggshells around me was bizarre. I'm not used to seeing you be so nice. Come to think of it, I'm not used to seeing you at all. You and mum and dad."

Lucas' scowl disappeared and confusion wormed its way to his features. "Why? You see us all the time. We live in the same house, idiot."

Harry placed the book he was carrying on top of a nearby table and sat down on the couch. "It doesn't feel like we live in the same house sometimes."

Lucas raised an eyebrow at that, now genuinely confused. "What does that mean?"

Harry looked at him. "You guys aren't at home most of the time. You guys are usually off at some event."

Lucas' face showed his realization so clearly that Harry had to keep himself from snickering. He could see the lights come on inside his head.

"You're right, we are usually at events. I didn't even realize," Lucas said, getting up from the desk and coming over to sit next to Harry. His anger at him, apparently forgotten. "Blimey, Harry how did I not notice?"

Harry laughed. "You, dad, and mum are busy, I get that. These past few days have actually been quite nice. You guys have stayed at home for almost a week. That has got to be some sort of record."

"Staying home is nice and all," said Lucas, turning his body to lean on the backrest of the couch. "but I've reached my limit. What fun is there to do inside? I miss my broom."

It was Harry's turn to be confused. "So…? Go and fly?"

Lucas scoffed. "Oh yeah, sure, why didn't I think of that?"

The look on Harry's face showed that he didn't find the sarcasm amusing. A look, Lucas realized, was eerily similar to their mother's. He coughed awkwardly.

"Mum locked up the brooms. She didn't want you getting any ideas."

Harry's face contorted at that. "Me? Flying? When they're all anxious like that?"

"Right?!" Lucas exclaimed, airing out his frustrations. "We both know you can't fly in your condition but she didn't have to take away my broom too!"

Said broom was an old toy James had from his childhood. It still flew well despite its age and was still in good condition. It only hovered 6 feet off the ground but Lucas enjoyed riding it anyway. Harry did too, but since they only had one broom between them, Lucas mostly hogged it. He didn't mind though, since he had his books. Still, he felt sorry for Lucas who had been patient with his parents these past few days. Gone was the image of the bully who tormented him at least, Harry thought, for the time being. He deserved to fly and be free for a bit.

"You really want to fly?" Harry asked, although he could already predict his brother's answer. Lucas nearly fell from trying to sit up quickly.

"Yes! So sooo badly!" Lucas said loudly.

Harry grinned. "Let's go."

Lucas choked. "With you? You're trying to get back at me for all those things I pulled on you aren't you? I'd just get in trouble if I go out there with you. Forget it!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to fly on a broom, dimwit. I'm staying on the ground with a book."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. He couldn't possibly believe a book a was more tempting than a broomstick. Harry shrugged as if telling him, 'fine, go back to being bored then'. Lucas sorely wanted to fly again but the risk of incurring their mother's wrath was far too terrifying.

"This is too risky, Harry."

"Mum's out meeting with the healers again. Dad and Sirius are at his study downstairs. I told them I was going to read in the library. They won't notice for at least a half hour."

Lucas contemplated what he just said. He rubbed his head in frustration. "Gaaaarrgghhh you're a bad influence, you know that?"

Harry smirked. "I'm only being a good brother."

The two of them made their way to the broom shed. Lily had locked it using a muggle padlock. Lucas' face fell when he saw it.

"I don't know where she put the key," he said, scratching his head.

"Do you have your wand with you?" Harry asked him, inspecting the lock.

"My training wand? Yeah, I always have it on me these days. Dumbledore told me I should." Lucas said as he fished out the wand from his back pocket.

Harry gave him his book to hold as he took the wand from his brother. Lucas gave him a quizzical look, silently asking him what he was about to do. Harry didn't tell him anything. He just kept on examining the padlock over and over. For a minute, Lucas thought he was going to stick the wand inside the keyhole and start twisting. After about a minute of doing so, he stepped back and raised Lucas' training wand.

Lucas' eyes widened. "Harry, stop! You don't know how to—"

"Alohomora"

A bright light shone briefly from within the padlock and it unlocked itself a second later. Lucas' mouth fell open. Harry didn't notice him gaping at him as he searched for Lucas' (and technically his too) broom.

"Harry… what the hell? How did you learn to use a wand? How did you know that spell?" Lucas asked.

Harry emerged from the broom shed carrying the old practice broom and held it out to his brother. Lucas absent-mindedly took it and gave Harry his book back as well.

"I mean, I've only just been practicing how to make feathers float with Dumbledore. You even did that on your first try!"

Harry wordlessly gave him back his wand (which Lucas took without thinking) and waved the book in front of Lucas' face.

"I read, remember?"

Harry walked ahead to the back garden, which was on the opposite side of the part of the manor where James' study was. He sat down on a bench under a tree and started flicking through his book's pages. Lucas was still babbling as he walked after him.

"Lucas, it's not a big deal. I just read a lot so I know stuff, alright? Just… just get on your broom before dad and Sirius start looking for us. Or even worse, before mum arrives."

That stopped Lucas' rambling and he scrambled to get on the broom. Harry laughed at that. Lucas, hearing him laugh, turned to look at him.

"Thanks, Harry. For this. You're brilliant," he gave him a wide grin and kicked off.

As Harry watch him zoom around gleefully, he whispered. "You too, Lucas."

Two weeks later, Albus Dumbledore made his regular monthly visit to the Potter household to continue his lessons with Lucas. Instead of being greeted in the usual way, which was Lucas running up to him looking very excited, and one of his parents following behind him, no one was there to meet him in the foyer.

"James? Lily?" he called out.

A house elf appeared with a pop in front of him and said, "Master Dumbledore, sir, the family is upstairs, in Master James' study."

"Thank you," said Dumbledore, giving the elf a small bow.

The house elf squeaked excitedly and started to escort the old wizard up to James Potter's study. Dumbledore dismissed the elf, telling him that he knew the way and started walking away before the elf would start insisting. It wasn't that he didn't like house elves, he just didn't seem the point in escorting him like some sort of esteemed guest. He had already been inside the manor more times than he could care to remember.

He heard the laughter before he saw the family of four inside the study. The sight that greeted him momentarily stunned him.

James and Lucas were wrestling on the floor, laughing and roaring with pretend anger. Harry cheered them on from the couch with his mother. He was curled up in a blanket, looking very sick. Lily held him close, running her hand through his hair, and chuckling at James' and Lucas' actions.

Dumbledore suddenly found himself smiling, his blue eyes twinkling madly behind his half-moon spectacles. It had been so long since he saw all four of the Potters together in one room like this. It made him very happy to see that the fame Lucas was getting, as well as Lily and James', hadn't brought a wedge between them and young Harry.

Lily noticed him first and she gasped. She almost stood up to greet him but then she remembered Harry was curled up beside her. "P-Professor! We're so sorry, we couldn't greet you. We lost track of time—"

Dumbledore chuckled and stopped her. "No need to apologize, my dear. I wouldn't dream of you stopping this precious moment just to greet an old man like me. It warms my heart to see you all like this, truly."

James and Lucas stopped wrestling and composed themselves before greeting Dumbledore with identical apologetic grins.

"I'm going to get my things, Professor," Lucas said and bolted out of the room.

James shook his head in amusement before turning his attention to Dumbledore. He offered the old man a seat and they all settled around the sitting area in his office. Dumbledore looked at Harry and frowned slightly at his state. He had already drifted off to sleep. He looked as miserable as Remus Lupin after the full moon.

"I had heard that he fell ill, not too long ago. Is he ill again?" he asked the boy's parents.

Lily nodded, adjusted Harry so he could sleep peacefully. "Poor thing's been throwing up all night and fighting a very high fever."

"I see," said Dumbledore. "Is this related to him being ill not a few days ago?"

James nodded. "It's… it's his health. It's being affected by residue from Voldemort's magic."

Dumbledore was startled at that. "Tom's magic? After seven years?"

James took a deep breath. "Professor, when you told us that Harry contained heavy traces of dark magic around him when we found them after the attack, you said it was just because of the explosion after the Dark Lord's defeat. You said it would go away given time and isolation and cleansing but…"

"But it hasn't," Dumbledore finished for him, dreading where this was going and what it meant for the young boy's health. "What did the healers say?"

"There's still some of his magic clinging to Harry. Deep inside him. And they don't want to risk exorcising it out of him because it might endanger his life."

Dumbledore looked at Harry. Harry dozed away, unaware that he was being talked about by the adults in the room.

"There's one more thing, Professor." Lily said, turning away from Harry and looking eyes with the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Harry's scar. It may not be as ordinary as we thought it to be."

Dumbledore's stomach suddenly seemed to be filling up with lead. "Is it magical?"

Lily nodded. "A curse mark, the healers said. But… but it's different from Lucas'. It's… it looks different than the mark that was caused by… by a killing—" her voice shook and a lump caught inside her throat, making her unable to continue.

"The… the healers," James continued for her. "The healers think it may be caused by the magic from the explosion and served as an opening for Voldemort's dark magic to seep in."

Dumbledore sat there, dumbfounded at the new revelations that came to light. When he had examined young Harry that night, there was no reason to believe that the cut on his forehead was anything more than ordinary. After all, he had been found almost crushed with a wooden beam over him and several splinters and broken glass around his crib. It was a miracle that he was even alive and largely unscathed except for the cut on his forehead.

"W-What does it mean, Professor?" Lily asked shakily. "This new discovery means that both Harry and Lucas have been marked by Voldemort that night. Who… who's the child of prophecy?"

Dumbledore pondered over her question, not knowing how to answer it. He thought back to that Halloween night seven years ago and scoured his brain for anything that might help him identify which of the boys was the true child of prophecy. Unfortunately, his knowledge offered no answers for him.

"I don't know…" the old wizard said slowly.

Lily and James looked at each other in panic.

"What do you mean, 'you don't know'?" asked James, his voice rising in his alarm. "You don't mean to train both of them, Dumbledore? That's madness!"

"No!" said Lily, clutching Harry a little tighter in her arms. "Dumbledore, he's ill! He can't even get out of the bed on some days! And you want to train him to fight Voldemort? I won't allow it!"

"Lily, it won't come to that," Dumbledore said, hoping to calm her. "Harry may not be the child of prophecy. When Tom Riddle attacked you at Godric's Hollow, he cast the killing curse on Lucas. This might mean that he made the choice for us. He was defeated when Lucas Potter somehow rebounded the curse back at him. This may be the power that he knows not according to the prophecy. It is still very plausible that Lucas is the chosen one while Harry… Harry was marked without Voldemort's knowledge. Harry may yet have a part to play in the future but as you said, he is in no fit state to fight. For the time being, let us put our trust in Lucas."

A/N: IT'S BEEN DONE! I HAVE EDITED IT AND ADDED AN EXTRA SCENE further exploring the dilemma of who is the chosen one.