"Our last stop for the day is to a dear friend of mine." Minerva said as they headed down the cobbled pathway. "As confident as I am that you have recovered from your illness, I would like you to have a proper check-up. Have you ever been to the doctors before?"
Harry shook his head as Minerva peered down at him. He had Mallow tucked under his cloak - the extra warmth was proving to be exceedingly helpful against the building gales of wind. She let out a string of Scottish which Harry was certain were very colorful words not meant for a child's ears if her angry countenance was anything to go by. He was certain if she had the same proclivity to changing shades as his uncle her face would be a blotchy shade of puce.
"I thought as much." Minerva's lips pressed into a thin line. She drew out her wand and a wispy looking cat lept forth before bounding out ahead of them. Harry looked at the ghostly cat curiously. "That is a patronus." She explained. "It's a spell that is used to ward off dark creatures, but a modified form of the charm allows the caster to use the guardian to send messages."
"Are they always cats?" Harry questioned and Minerva smiled at him before slipping into her professor mode.
"Each person's patronus is unique to them." She lectured as they walked along. "It is said that the guardian will take the shape of the animal most suited to the caster. It is similar to the animagus transformation in which the personality traits of the person have influence on the outward manifestation. However unlike the animagus transformation, the charm is only able to be cast by thinking of your most treasured, happy memories; if a particular individual is heavily influencing those happy moments the charm may reflect that individual rather than the caster themselves."
"The animagus transformation is how you turn into the cat form, right?" Harry asked in confusion. The terms were all new to him and it was difficult to follow.
"Exactly and therefore my patronus is also a tabby cat as it is at the core of who I am." Minerva said with a small smile. "A cat form is one of the most common animagi and patroni forms as many witches and wizards are well acquainted with the animals. Domestic species such as dogs and horses aren't far behind. Magical creatures tend to be rarer and favor more eccentric or unique witches and wizards."
"Do you think I'll be able to cast a patronus or become an animagus?" Harry wondered aloud. The animagus transformation seemed rather complex and if it had been common he was sure there would be a lot more animals roaming around the village or the castle. The patronus charm seemed to be just as complicated and Harry wasn't sure he even had a strong enough memory to make a guardian appear. There were very few happy memories that Harry could even recall and most of them had happened within the last week.
"Animagi are exceptionally rare although it's hard to know the true number of them as many prefer to stay unregistered despite the law." Minerva said with a small frown. "Many witches and wizards lack the dedication it requires to achieve the form. Transfiguration is one of the most complex branches of magic and it takes many years of study to truly master the art. However, I am sure with time and a guardian who is a Transfiguration Mistress that you would be able to begin to pursue the activity once you are in your third year of study; although, it may take until graduation for you to be successful. It took me nearly two years to achieve the full transformation." She stopped walking and Harry looked at the small cottage they had come to stop at.
It was an old looking plaster building with dark, thick wooden beams. Ivy crawled up the side in stubborn patches and the outside garden was filled with a variety of carefully cultivated plants. Harry couldn't make out any evidence of a sign or a marker to signify whose home they had come upon, but it didn't seem to bother Minerva. She had gone up to the door and rapt her knuckles against the dark wooden surface before Harry could catch up to her long strides.
"Minnie!" A witch exclaimed as she pried open the door. "I just got your patronus. This must be little Harry here. I haven't set eyes on you since your mother sent out the birth announcement."
Harry stepped behind Minerva shyly - his thoughts of patroni and animagi wiped from his new found fear. He had met more people today than he had in his whole life and it was unnerving how they all knew him. He hugged Mallow to him more closely and the owl plush gave a small, reassuring hoot.
"Come in, come in." The witch welcomed in the pair into her lounge which was warm and inviting with worn-in looking sofas and a blazing fireplace. Harry stood beside his guardian as closely as he could without treading on the witch's robes.
"Thank you for seeing us Madam Pomfrey." Minerva said politely and turned down to Harry. "This is Agora Pomfrey, she is the healer at Hogwarts' mother and a classmate of mine."
"Minnie, you'll make the lad think I'm old." The woman chided lightheartedly and winked at him.
Harry blushed, "I don't think you're old." he blurted out and it was true. The grey haired woman was robust looking in her yellow robes and her bright smile smoothed out the few wrinkles she had crowning around her eyes and cheeks.
"Ah, what a charmer." Madam Pomfrey cooed. "You can call me Agora, if you'd like. Please, both of you take a seat. You both look like the September air has nipped your noses raw. I'll get us some tea."
The witch bustled out and fetched a tea tray that was laden with chocolatey looking biscuits and three porcelain cups. She poured out a serving for each of them and handed out the cups and a biscuit.
Minerva settled into the plush settee and Harry sat beside her gingerly trying not to spill the tea.
"My daughter tells me you've left your post." Agora said in between sips. "She was in quite a tizzy about it. She implored that I write to you and check in on your health as she was certain you must have taken ill with something to have done such a thing." Minerva snorted and shook her head.
"Poppy frets too much." Minerva commented and Agora sighed.
"She always has been a worrywort." Agora agreed with a small frown. "It's no wonder she went grey as soon as she did. However, her heart is always in the right place."
"Too true, the castle would be lost without her at its helm tending to the students and staff." Minerva added and set her teacup down. "I was hoping you may be able to do a scan on Harry. He's never seen a physician and is coming off a case of Black Cat Flu."
Agora frowned more deeply and Harry shrunk at her calculating gaze. "Why I never!" She exclaimed. "I've never seen a seven year old go without a healer visit in all my years. No wonder the poor dear caught something."
She stood and headed for him, wand in hand. "I'm going to cast a few spells on you, Harry. Just to see where your health is at and if we need to treat you any further for your illness. They should not hurt and it will only take a moment."
He looked at Minerva with uncertainty, but she nodded and took the cup of tea from his hands. Harry gave a shaky nod and the witch began to cast a series of complicated wand movements over his body. He could feel a warm tingling as the magic passed over him and a piece of parchment floated overhead as the healer continued her ministrations. Agora tutted as she read over the parchment and handed it over to Minerva who paled considerably.
"Thank you, Agora." She said simply and folded the parchment and tucked it into her robes.
"I would start him on a nutrition potion right away." She said as she settled back down into her arm chair. "Those gorgeous green eyes of his are going to need glasses if he doesn't see an occulist within the year to get corrections made."
Harry glanced between the two formidable looking witches and gulped. "Is there something wrong with me?" He asked quietly. He was afraid to know the answer, but Agora smiled pleasantly at him.
"Nothing that can't be fixed, dear." She said warmly, "You needn't worry yourself with the details. Minnie will handle the arrangements and you'll be right as rain."
Minerva looked down at him and placed a soft hand on his. "It's nothing you have done wrong." She said reassuringly, "In fact, there are many things you have done right and that your magic has seen fit to correct. It will just need a little help to get you on par with your peers."
Harry looked at her skeptically, but nodded. There was more that they weren't telling him, he was sure of it. Part of him wanted to interrogate the pair and find out everything they had discovered about his health. However, the greater part of him didn't want to know. If it was as grave as they made it seem judging by their reactions, he was certain it couldn't be good news and Harry wasn't sure he could handle learning that he was truly as defunct as his aunt and uncle had made him believe.
A/N: Thank you all for the outpouring of support and kind words. I'm very humbled to know so many of you are enjoying my writing.