"What do you mean Lord Voldemort?" asked Alex, as Andry flinched again at the name. "He's…diminished and Harry hasn't had contact with him for years since that night."
"But that night was enough," said Dumbledore. Dumbledore glanced at Harry. "What makes him so recognizable throughout the wizarding community?" he asked.
"His scar, of course," said Andry. She was about to say how she didn't understand what that had to do with anything, but Alex had silenced her with a wave of his hand.
"It's the connection between the two," he said, looking at Harry's scar now. "That night, Voldemort must've transferred some of his power over to Harry." Alex frowned as he came to this conclusion.
Dumbledore nodded. "It was something that I suspected, but I'm certain of now. Harry's own magic wouldn't have been able to stand up to a Magical Suppression Spell on its own. The only other explanation could be Voldemort's own powers."
"But You-Know-Who was extremely powerful," said Andry. "If his power is in Harry, Harry's body should be able to fight off the spell with little side-effects."
That makes sense, thought Alex. It shouldn't be having the effect it is having on Harry.
"Except," said Dumbledore, "for the fact that Harry's magic is light and Voldemort's is dark. So not only is Voldemort's magic fighting off the spell, but it is also combating Harry's own magic."
"So it should be able to fend it off easily," said Alex, "considering how underdeveloped Harry's own magic is."
Andry gasped. "That's what's wrong," she said softly. "Harry's own magic is being diminished by You-Know-Who's. Despite what you said headmaster, Harry's body still can't function without its magic. And the little bit there is of You-Know-Who within him isn't enough to sustain him. Not until he's old enough to receive magic himself."
"Which means Harry will die," Alex said.
"Or something worse," said Dumbledore. Alex and Andry stared at him as if he was crazy. Harry's life was at stake, what could be worse than that?
"I'm afraid that it's much more serious than that."
"Headmaster Dumbledore?" said Ted confusedly as he set two sandwiches in front of Tasha and Hermione.
Tasha bit into the ham and turkey and nodded.
"He said it was urgent, whatever the reason was they left," Hermione confirmed. "Andry wanted to take us with her, but the headmaster didn't think it would be safe for us."
Ted stared at the wall, contemplating what the girls had just told him. He knew it was serious when Andry had left the children home alone, something she would never do under any circumstances. Obviously whatever Dumbledore had called her away for had been life-threatening. He just wondered what it was. Andry seemed to be keeping more secrets than usual lately.
But this is one that won't remain in the dark.
Sirius had been trying to come up with a plan since he had read the paper two days ago. Harry could've been found by then, he wouldn't know, he didn't have a paper, but he didn't care. He had to find Harry and make sure he was alright.
Peter could've gotten a hold of him. And if he did, I'll make sure to wring his head off.
The thought of the man who had put him in Azkaban made Sirius hit the wall with a resounding thud. Some of the inmates looked up at the sound of the noise, but most were too engrossed in their own thoughts to pay attention to Sirius Black.
The Auror had left the day before and the dementors were swarming the prison again, hungrily zapping any hope and warmth from the cells. It had been difficult for Sirius to focus on what his plan, since he had lost determination every time one of the dementors approached his cell.
He had retreated as far away from his door as possible so to keep his plan in mind. He had to get to Harry. That was the idea he kept firmly in his head.
"Magic," began Dumbledore, "is overall important to development, just as Andromeda said. The type it is will overall determine the personality of a witch or wizard."
"So in this case," said Alex, "Harry would take over the personality of Voldemort?"
"It wouldn't make a difference," said Andry quickly. "The magic would run out in a couple of days and Harry would die."
"It does make a difference," said Alex fiercely, turning to her. "I'd rather see Harry die first than become like Voldemort."
Dumbledore coughed and the two looked back at him. "I wasn't quite finished. Andromeda, you learned, I assume, that magic has properties that allow it to absorb easily. Even if what it is trying to absorb is the complete opposite of itself."
It took a moment for what Dumbledore had said for the two to comprehend. "So, the dark magic isn't destroying Harry's," said Andry, "but absorbing it. I can't believe I didn't realize it before."
With more strength from Harry's magic, Voldemort's magic will be able to take over his body and throw off the Suppression Spell. And then…
Alex dropped his hand in his hands, moaning. "Oh no," he said. "No, no, no, no."
Andry had collapsed onto the bed, looking stricken. Dumbledore looked over at Harry, who was still muttering incoherently.
"I didn't call you here for you to despair," said Dumbledore. "Andry, you are the greatest Healer of this age. And I'm certain that you will be able to combat this force within Harry."
Alex looked up at Andry, praying to see the tiniest bit of hope in Andry's face, but not expecting it. He was surprised to see Andry deep in thought. She seemed to be having an internal battle with herself.
"I can do something," she said slowly. "But there's no guarantee that it would work. What I could do could end up killing Harry anyway…" she trailed off, her eyes glazing over.
"Well, what is it?" Alex burst out angrily. They didn't have time for sentimentality; Harry was slipping away with every second!
Sirius waited until the dementors served dinner to make his escape. He had been practicing his Animagus transformation in the back of his cell all day, testing it on the dementors. They usually stood around his cell, considering he was saner than the rest of the inmates.
When Sirius turned into his Animagus form, Padfoot, however, most of the dementors wandered away to bother the other inmates. Sirius supposed that his dog feelings weren't as strong as his human ones and the dementors didn't want to be bothered.
So if I slip away as Padfoot, he had thought, they won't be able to find me. At least, not right away.
Sirius knew he had to be quick about it. As soon as the dementors approached, the plate of food in its hand, Sirius transformed and slipped through the bars. He had become thin during his stay in Azkaban.
And it's time to say good-bye to this hellhole.
He broke into a quick run as soon as he had passed the dementor. He avoided all the dementors he met on his way out. He came to what he hoped was the exit and pushed his body against the door. It barely budged. He pushed again. Nothing.
Damn. I was hoping I could stay like this awhile longer.
Sirius turned back into a man and instantly felt the chill of the dementors behind him and heard their rattling breath. Knowing this would be his last chance, Sirius pushed on the door again.
At first, it didn't budge as he pressed his weight upon it. Then, the door slowly started to crack. Sirius pushed harder, opening the door a little wider. Rain splattered onto his face, along with a breeze of fresh air.
Sirius slipped outside onto the desolate rock, transforming into his dog form. He wanted to enjoy his first breath of fresh air in six years, but knew he didn't have enough time.
He leaped into the water and started swimming as fast as he could, without another look at the dementors. If he had, he probably would've laughed to see the dementors wandering the rock, looking lost as they searched for the escaped prisoner.
When a novice was finally initiated as a Healer, they had to take an oath. A part was that if it was your life or the patient's, the patient's life came first. Andry knew she was faced with this decision now.
"Well, what is it?"
Alex's voice burst angrily into her thoughts. She turned to look at him, though she didn't really see him.
"I could always try to purify You-Know-Who's magic," she started to say.
"No," said Dumbledore. "I'm afraid that is impossible. Voldemort took many steps years ago to make sure that his magic was of the darkest kind. I'm afraid any purification rituals would kill you and Harry Andromeda."
Andry bit her lip. Yes, she had thought as much. However, this left her with one option.
"We'd have to remove the Suppression Spell then, and combat You-Know-Who's magic with that of someone else's. It means that we'd have to send someone's entire magical core to Harry's body."
"Is that even possible?"
"Under the right circumstances. It would drain the person's body, and may be too much for Harry's body to handle. His body is already facing a lot of stress with the Suppression Spell and You-Know-Who trying to absorb his magic. He's obviously already beyond his limit."
"So would it kill him?" asked Alex.
"Possibly. There's only a certain amount of time a foreign object can spend in someone else's body before the body rejects it. We would be working with maybe an hour at best."
"Then why is Voldemort's power still in Harry? If foreign objects are eventually rejected by the body, then Voldemort's power should have been released a long time ago."
"Keep in mind," said Dumbledore, "that the bit of Voldemort inside Harry's body is a seed. Think of it as being dormant. Since it was causing Harry no harm, the body saw no reason to reject it."
"The Suppression Spell was a trigger to the seed," Andry continued. "It is now active and working against Harry's body. His body is trying to reject it, but now, it is simulating with the rest of his magic."
"So if you sent in other foreign magic, wouldn't it eventually be assimilated?" asked Alex.
"Only if You-Know-Who's magic decided to take it for himself. Or if Harry's body decided to use it as an energy source. If that was the case, Harry might be able to fight off You-Know-Who's magic, but…" Andry trailed off, looking uncertain.
"But what?"
"But the other person would be left without any magic. They would become a Muggle," she finished quietly.
A thick silence hung in the air after this statement. Andry knew few wizards could live without magic, and she didn't doubt that Alex was one of them. She was certain he wouldn't know how to function without it. She was willing to do it, of course, but she was certain she was the only person that knew how to perform the charm that would place her magical core in Harry's body, and after that, her power would be considerably weakened. She doubted she had enough power to fend off You-Know-Who.
"Well," said Dumbledore, "what do you need to perform this spell Andromeda?"
Andry blinked a few times before answering. "A volunteer, for starters," she began.
"And I'm certainly willing," said Dumbledore. "I'm sure I have enough power to eject Voldemort from Harry's body myself."
"NO!"
Both Andry and Alex had spoke at the same time, each jumping up.
"You're way too important-" started Alex.
"Your body wouldn't be able to handle the strain," said Andry. "It's far too risky."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" asked Dumbledore. "Andry, you are knowledgeable enough of the charm, but I'm sure you already know your magic would already be drained and would hardly be in a position to help Harry."
"But I wouldn't have that problem," said Alex. "I have plenty enough magic to help Harry."
"But what if you used all of it?" asked Dumbledore. "You would be left…powerless."
"A chance I'm willing to take," said Alex firmly. "It's my fault that Harry's like this in the first place. The least I can do is save his life. If that means that I have to lose my magic, then I'll have to live with it. As long as Harry survives."
Andry looked at Alex, quite surprised. The man she had known so many years ago would've never risked something like this. He had changed a lot. There was fear in his eyes, that was evident, but determination as well to save the child he had risked everything for.
Andry glanced at Dumbledore, who was looking a little worried, to Alex, who had a fiery determination about him.
She sighed, wondering if she was going to regret this before saying, "Alex, we need to run a few tests before I start the charm. It won't take long," she said as he opened his mouth to protest. "They're just to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with your magic."
Alex shut his mouth and nodded. "Good. Follow me."
A/N: Coming in the next chapter: Alex wanders into Harry's body to help his battle with Voldemort, Ted becomes worried when Andry still isn't home and decides to investigate, and Sirius continues his search for Harry in The Rush.