The Rod of Asclepius
Chapter III
Harry was glad that his first class of the day was an easy one. Filius Flitwick's charms class was practically a guaranteed 'B' grade so long as you showed up for class and appeared to be awake. If you took the effort to participate in the class once in a while you were sure to get an 'A' grade. The classwork was easy, and the professor taught the material in an uplifting maner.
Once he left the charms class, Harry dreaded what came next. First, an hour break between classes and then Professor Snape's potions lecture. Harry now headed to the headmaster's study to report on his lack of progress with the research he had been asked to perform.
Potter was greeted at the door to Dumbledore's study by the sight of the headmaster's phoenix perched on the coat rack by the entrance.
"Ah, right on time Harry!" the headmaster said, looking up from his work. "How goes the research?"
"Not very well, I'm afraid." Harry answered, looking down toward the floor. "Most of the leads were dead ends."
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said. "But do keep plugging away at it. I will give you another list of books and scrolls to look through."
"I don't understand, sir." Harry said. "I just told you I didn't find anything useful."
"Yes, I heard you. However that in itself is extremely useful information!"
"I don't get it?" Potter said.
"Harry, it's very simple." the headmaster explained. "You really can't prove a negative fact, the best you can do is to repeatedly fail to prove that it is true, and then know when to give up trying. Now here is the new bibliography list for you to examine. Oh and do you still have the copy of 'Monographs on Dark Medicine, spells and potions'?"
"Yes sir, but I'm afraid that the book was damaged while in my custody."
"I'm already aware of that, don't worry about it."
Dumbledore took the book from Harry Potter's hands and laid it down on his desk.
"You may return the rest of the volumes when you start work on the new list." He said. "I'll take care of this one."
"It's been several weeks since your last surgery." Dr. Black Jack said. "The treatments I've been giving you, along with the ones that you have provided seem to have effectively cured you. I'm still at a loss to understand how your lungs and stomach have actually regenerated on their own after I removed the cancerous tissues from them. Normally, only the liver has the power to do that."
"As you are probably surmising, that is due to one of the medical potions whose recipe and a few of the ingredients I provided." Augustus answered. "Though without your surgical skills they would not have been effective. I owe you my life. I know you have a ton of questions, and I hope that one day you will discover the answers to them. Suffice to say that I was once a healer in my own right, in a community that you have never heard of."
"Which explains the design of that walking stick of yours," the doctor replied, "It does carry the emblem of a physician."
"Not a physician, but a healer." Augustus answered. "A subtle, but important difference from the point of view where my family comes from."
"You may consider yourself discharged from my care." the doctor told his patient, "but you should be examined regularly to make sure that the remission is permanent."
"A sound suggestion." Augustus replied. "In any event, I think we shall be in touch with you again."
Ellen wheeled the elder Slytherin out of the clinic and helped him into the back seat of the classic Rolls Royce that was waiting in the driveway. As Pinoko and Black Jack watched the car disappear into the distance, Pinoko tugged on the sleeve of the doctor's trousers to get his attention.
"He's a warlock, you know," she said.
"What?" the doctor said with some surprise.
"You know, a person that has magical powers."
"What makes you say that?"
"You mean you didn't notice? Oh and that woman Ellen is a witch." she added. "My woman's intuwishion tells me so."
Horace Slughorn returned to his home to find a Rolls Royce motor car sitting in the front yard.
"I've been waiting for you, my dear great nephew," Augustus Slytherin said from the back seat of the large car.
"I see you have taken a liking to Muggle means of transport, great uncle!" Horace said as he approached the vehicle. "Let me give you a hug, it's been too long since we've had the pleasure of each other's company."
Ellen opened the trunk of the automobile, and removed the wheel chair that had been stowed there. She helped the old man into the chair, and Horace grabbed onto the handles and proceeded to push his uncle through the front door of his home.
"I'll be just fine now, Ellen dear," Augustus called to his companion. "You take your leave now, and go return the Rolls to the garage."
"Very well, sir." the woman replied. She got into the driver's seat and drove off. Once the car was a few hundred feet away, it disapparitioned with a loud crack.
"I take it that you've been cured by that Muggle doctor you've been seeing." Horace questioned his uncle.
"Quite so." Augustus replied. "My magical abilities have begun to return, though I am quite badly out of practice. Tell me, are the disturbing stories I've been hearing true?"
"I'm afraid so." Slughorn replied. "You-know-who's presence has been reported several times inside of, and in the area surrounding Hogwarts. It may not be very much longer before he manages to regain his physical body and return to life."
"Is the house of my ancestors involved again?"
"There are rumors." Slughorn sighed. "Lucius Malfoy may very well be involved, and yet his son Draco has currently taken ill and has fallen into what appears to be a self induced coma caused by his own meadling with the dark arts."
"You sound like you don't really believe that" Augustus asked, rhetorically.
"No, I don't." Horace replied. "Something else is going on here. We are going to need outside help. About this muggle 'doctor' you've been seeing?"
"There is a lot more to him than meets the eye." Augustus smiled, "Though he doesn't have the slightest inkling of his latent abilities."
"You're sure about this?"
"I had Ellen do some research, genealogy is her hobby after all. She was able to trace the doctor's family tree back quite some ways. There is a good possibility that his bloodline includes members of some of the most pure blooded families."
"Then we need to get him here to confirm this." Horace said.
"You can't involve Lucius, in fact he must not be aware of it until it is too late."
"Obviously!" Horace agreed. "I will have to get the headmaster's help on this."
"Yes, Dumbledore will be your best resource." Augustus said. "After all, he came to Potter's aid during the previous dark times. One more thing. I must be present when Dr. Black Jack is brought into the headmaster's study. A lot will depend on that."
Albus Dumbledore was busy reading though several scrolls and old manuscripts when Horace Slughorn entered his study and closed the door behind him.
"Albus, we must talk!" he said in a low voice.
"What's on your mind, Horace?" Albus asked.
"I'm worried about the matter of Draco Malfoy." Horace said. "Except for being able to swallow liquids by reflex, the boy is showing no signs of alertness. He's been in a near coma like state now for days. His illness disturbs me greatly."
"I'm aware of that, Horace." Albus answered. "Madam Pomfrey and her staff are keeping me appraised on the boy's condition. As of yet they have not made any decision about transferring him to St. Mungo's."
"I'm concerned that this may only be the start of a general plague here at Hogwarts." Slughorn came back. "I know that you and Snape are of the opinion that Malfoy infected himself, and that may actually be the case, but I fear that it won't be long before other students fall ill to this infection."
"I'm afraid that has already happened." the headmaster said. "Just today it was discovered that a student in house Hufflepuff has been affected with a similar aliment to the one that still has Draco Malfoy in a near coma state."
"I knew it!" Horace cried out sternly, slapping his hands down on the desk.
"Think Albus, this has happened before! Only last time it was Riddle who was in the middle of it all! And under my watch! We need to bring in a healer from outside, someone who is not involved in the political turmoil inside of this school and the surrounding community. Someone who can look beyond the end of a wand for a solution to the problem, even if it does not involve magic. In any case, it is my opinion that the plague that we may be about to be overcome by isn't totally the result of Voldermort's eminent return. I do think that his hand may have indirectly released the infection, and that Draco Malfoy was an innocent pawn and a victim."
"I rather find it hard to think of Master Malfoy as innocent in anything," Albus laughed, "but it actually makes some sense. So you are thinking that magic alone isn't going to be able to defend us against this pestilence?"
"Exactly." Horace said. "In this case magic opened a door that may take Muggle science to close."
"I've heard that your great great uncle Augustus has come home after being healed by a Muggle doctor." Albus said. "Is this the healer you'd bring to help?"
"You knew?"
"I am well connected." Dumbledore laughed. "It will be difficult of course. However, I know of someone that could help."
"Hagrid?" Horace asked.
"Of course." Albus replied. "He was the logical one when we had to secret young Harry to a safe house. He will be able to secret your muggle healer into Hogwarts as well. I just hope that this muggle is up to the challenge."
"That's the thing." Horace said. "The reason that Dr. Black Jack has been so successful in the muggle world as a doctor, may be because he has healer's blood coursing though him. But we won't know unless we bring him here."
"Yes, but if he isn't up to the task, it might be fatal for him." Albus said. "He must be made aware of the facts before he agrees to this."
It was late in the evening as Dr. Black Jack sat in a well padded comfortable chair in front of the fireplace, with his pipe in hand. Pinoko was lying on the floor near the front door, slowly falling asleep while reading her favorite Tetsuwan Atomu manga.
A large BSA touring motorcycle with an attached sidecar descended upon the driveway, and made its way up to the end of the driveway by the front door of the house. A large man with a full head of hair and a heavy beard and mustache dismounted from the motorcycle and made his way up toward the front door. He carried a large bumbershoot in his right hand. The steps creaked from his weight as the man walked up them. He knocked on the door and waited for a response.
Pinoko was startled by the knock on the door. She got to her feet and carefully opened the the front door a crack to see who was there. Just as she did a bolt of lighting flashed between two clouds across the sky and the silhouette of the visitor became apparent. Upon seeing the large hairy man in the doorway, Pinoko screamed and slammed the door shut in fear.
"ACCHONBURIKE!" she yelled. "There's a GIANT outside!"
The doctor turned his head to see what was going on as Pinoko ran toward him. "Don't answer the door!" She cried, "There's a monster there!"
Black Jack pushed Pinoko aside and made his way to the door. He unlocked it and slowly opened it. Towering a good head and a half above him stood a mountain of a man, who smiled down at him.
"You are doctor Black Jack, are you not? Hagrid asked. "I'm sorry if I frightened your daughter."
"I'M THE WIFE!, NOT THE DAUGHTER!" Pinoko yelled, running forward to pound her fists on Hagrid's knees in her anger to the insult.
"Pardon me!" Hagrid said, "May I come in doctor? It's about an urgent matter."
Black Jack motioned for the visitor to enter. Hagrid had to bend down low to walk through the doorway without bumping his head. Once inside the house, he needed to stoop a bit low to avoid bumping into the ceiling.
"Perhaps you should sit down." the doctor said, offering the huge man his chair.
"Thank you." Hagrid said as he sat down, his gigantic frame barely fitting into the large, overstuffed chair. Black Jack pulled up a smaller chair and sat down next to his guest.
"You were recommended by a recent patient of yours, one Augustus Slytherin." Hagrid began. "It appears that a terrible plague is on the verge of spreading though out the countryside where I come from, and Augustus is certain that you possess the abilities required to prevent this catastrophe. I was asked to come and fetch you."
"Where is this place?" the doctor asked.
"It is in a land that you have never heard of, in fact very few Muggles know of its existence, even though it is close by." Hagrid answered.
"Muggles?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, people who do not have the gift of magic."
"I told you he was a Warlock!" Pinoko said. "I bet you are also!" she added pointing at the man mountain.
"True enough." Hagrid smiled. "Will you agree to help us, doctor? I must warn you however, that there may be some danger involved, though we will try to arrange for your protection."
"I've been in dangerous spots before in my profession." Black Jack replied. "I'm willing to help, for the right fee, of course."
"That isn't any problem, you can name your price and it will be paid." Hagrid said, "Though you may find yourself returning with a greater reward than you had imagined possible."
"I assume you want me to leave with you immediately." the doctor asked. "In that case, I'll need to pack my equipment."
"That won't be necessary." Hagrid said. "I see you have a fireplace in this house. You will be able to return later to get whatever you need. First, we must test you to know if you actually have the gift."
"Very well." Black Jack said. He picked up his cloak from the rack and put it own. Hagrid opened the front door and stepped outside, followed by the doctor and Pinoko.
"I'm sorry, you can't come with us, Pinoko" Hagrid said.
"But I'm the doctor's assistant!" she cried.
"I'll return for you later." Black Jack said.
"You better!" Pinoko yelled, as she entered the house and slammed the front door behind her.
Hagrid helped the doctor into the sidecar and buckled him in.
"Hold on tight, this is going to be a bit of a wild ride." Hagrid told him as he mounted the motorcycle and kicked the starter.
The large touring cycle roared down the driveway, and slowly rose into the air. The doctor was astonished to see the ground drop out below him as they flew into a cloud.
"Sure beats a broom any day, don't you think? Hagrid asked.
"I guess so." Black Jack said. "Though I only flew on a broom but once before."
note: Black Jack did fly on a broom in the 1980 Astro Boy anime 'time machine' episode.