Chapter 9
Reappearing in the kitchen, the pair found themselves at wandpoint.
"It's just us," croaked Harry. His eyesight was practically useless without his glasses. He couldn't even tell who was holding the wands. The spinning sensation of the portkey, and the building headache was disorientating, and he clutched at Severus for support.
"Someone floo Poppy," ordered Severus. "He needs medical attention."
Harry could hear the people scurrying to obey his godfather's orders. He smiled inwardly. Severus could intimidate everyone, not just first years. The man picked him up and carried him up the stairs, laying him down gently on a bed. The upper rooms of the house had been transformed into a hospital wing. The shelves were well stocked with potions, all brewed by Severus' capable hands. Harry winced softly as his lacerated back made contact with the sheets. The numbing charms were wearing off. Closing his eyes against the pain, he heard Madam Pomfrey's welcome arrival.
The familiar feeling of a diagnostic charm washed over him, and the mediwitch tutted softly at the results.
"Bruises, broken ribs, quite a bad concussion; looks like blunt trauma, significant lacerations covering the torso…surely this can't all be from the attack?" said Pomfrey incredulously, directing the question at Severus.
"A muggle beating beforehand, I believe. I will discuss the issue later. I reversed several jinxes and he was hit by several cutting curses. The bleeding has slowed." His voice was to the point and businesslike.
"Yes," agreed the witch, "you can see evidence of that. I've closed the cuts, the ones caused by the curse are clean but the wounds on his back may leave some scarring; the flesh has been torn. The ribs have healed up nicely. A few blood replenishers would be helpful."
Severus immediately found the required potions, inspecting each with his trained eye before coaxing the potions down Harry's throat.
Poppy was continuing her scan as she closed cuts, and removed shards of glass from Harry's arms.
"There is a large amount of nerve and muscle damage, and an unknown magical impact…"
"He took several cruciatus curses during the battle but has experienced significant exposure to curse previous to the attack. Three days ago I administered a triple strength dose of post cruciatus potion, and I assume that Harry has continued to take normal strength doses. The anonymous reading is most likely the result of an Avada Kedavra curse combining with a magic spike," replied the potions master evenly.
Poppy was flustered by this new information.
"Another killing curse! By Merlin! Is there anything that Mr. Potter cannot survive?"
Harry ignored the exclamations. His headache had retreated to a dull throb in the back of his head, but the effects of the sustained cruciatus curses made him ache fiercely everywhere. He drank all the potions his godfather gave him obediently, not even bothering to pull a face at the taste as he would normally have done.
At that moment, the Headmaster swept into the room.
"Poppy, there are several others that may need your help downstairs, although all the injuries are minor. How is Harry?" he asked, concern evident as he walked over to the bedside.
"Mr. Potter has been seriously injured and managed to survive insurmountable odds…" Poppy choked slightly on the last words, still shocked by the curse Harry had survived.
"There is evidence of a physical beating as well as magical attacks, but with plenty of bed rest and a cycle of potions, he should make a full recovery. I will attend to the others downstairs, Severus is quite capable of administering his own potions," she said with a slight smile towards the younger man. Harry was surprised. It seemed that he wasn't the only person Madam Pomfrey had a soft spot for.
"Do try to stay in one piece Mr Potter," teased the mediwitch as she packed her kit, and promptly left the room. In her absence, all three males echoed a sigh of relief.
"Are there any other potions you would like Harry?" asked Severus, lingering next to the potion shelves.
"Mmm, an energy replenisher would be highly welcomed," replied Harry.
He gratefully swallowed the potion, and relaxed as its effects were felt. He sighed, looking a little more alert, and pulled himself into a sitting position, propped up by pillows.
"Does someone have my glasses?" he asked, frustrated by his blurry vision.
The bright blue blob on the left answered him, identifying it as Albus.
"I'm afraid the glasses were smashed beyond repair. However, we could try…"
There was a murmured incantation and suddenly the world came into focus.
"What was that?" asked Harry, momentarily blinded by the sudden change in vision.
"An old spell, unfortunately it isn't permanent," apologised Dumbledore. "I am pleased to see you survived."
Although the words seemed cold, Harry could hear the catch in the man's voice. He knew the Headmaster truly cared about him. He reached out a hand to the old man, who immediately took it, sitting down on the bed next to him.
"I'm so sorry we couldn't prevent the deaths tonight, Harry," he said softly, caressing Harry's cheek with one hand. "We'll take care of you, don't worry about that."
The teen was surprised for a brief time. With all the events of the night, the deaths of the Dursleys had slipped his mind. He looked towards his godfather for guidance.
"Albus…during the course of events, there was some…new information brought to light," Severus interrupted Albus' musings. The potions master nudged his godson as a prompt.
"Papa Severus is my godfather," said Harry happily.
With those words, surprise flashed across Albus' face, quickly followed by a myriad of other emotions as he, like Severus earlier, relieved man old memories. Finally he smiled, looking at the pair in happiness.
"I am glad there is still someone for you Harry. I know Severus will be a wonderful godfather. Remember Harry, even if Severus was not your godfather, you have many friends that consider you family, and will support you in your grieving."
Unable to contain himself any longer, Severus reached for the teen, stroking the messy mop of hair. Harry's only reaction was to shift closer to his godfather, resting his head against Severus' shoulder. Unnoticed by both, Albus discreetly conjured a camera to take a photo, slipping it inside his periwinkle blue robes.
"What about Uncle Lucius?" asked Harry absently.
There was another silence as Severus and Albus remembered more old memories. Harry looked at them with a sheepish expression. He hadn't meant to accidentally trigger the spell again.
"I know Lucius is discontented with his role as a Death Eater," Severus was thinking allowed. "Draco too does not wish to become a follower…"
"I have already offered the Malfoys our help," added Dumbledore. "Lucius told me that when there was a need, he would accept sanctuary at Hogwarts. At present he is not truly on the side of the light, more neutral. However, Voldemort may very easily force him over to our side."
"He doesn't want his son marked," agreed Harry, pausing when both men looked at him. "What? It was in the letter I sent you!"
'Yes, but only I could read it,' Severus told him mentally. The teen simply looked sheepish again.
"I think the information that Lucius is your godfather will bring him to our side Albus," noted Severus. "In the meantime, we should focus on Harry, and particularly how in Merlin's name, did you survive another Avada Kedavra?!" The last part ended in a near shout. Albus quickly intervened.
"Harry, do you think you could tall me what happened tonight? If you're too tired, you can tell Severus mentally…"
"No, it's ok," Harry said wearily. He had been expecting this. "Earlier in the afternoon, I was helping Aunt Petunia with some chores…" Harry's voice was devoid of any emotion as he described the lead up to Vernon's return home. He had locked any emotions relating to the night deep in his mental fortress, to be dealt with at a more convenient time.
When he reached the part where Vernon had knocked him unconscious, both Severus and Albus made dismayed sounds, although both had already suspected the truth. Unshed tears glistened in pale blue eyes as Harry's continued, detailing his suspicions about Vernon, and the entry of Bellatrix.
Harry was explaining how Vernon has died when he broke off mid-sentence, gasping in pain. A familiar burning centred around his scar began, and with a feeling of dread, Harry realised this was no ordinary scar vision.
"Scar…" he gasped, "he's angry…"
"He must have discovered tonight's failure," said Albus gravely.
"Occlude Harry!" ordered Severus as he sank into their mental link, offering his strength.
Harry clutched to his lifeline. His fortress was being battered by a storm of inconceivable fury. Severus quickly realised that Harry's shields would collapse at any minute.
"Anchor us, Albus!" he exclaimed, diving deeper within to draw on his magical reserves.
The moment Albus secured the pair, both of them relaxed slightly. Although they were still being buffeted by Voldemort's fury, the headmaster was a warm beacon of strength and light in the midst of the ever darkening storm. Taking control, Severus directed their energy to defence rather than containment, locking away all important information behind dense protections. Pain began to overwhelm Harry's physical body, and his mental self was drawn into a vision that no others could enter.
Helplessly, Severus watched as his godson disappeared before his eyes…
In the physical world, Albus was guarding his two protégés. He had called Poppy as soon as Harry had become unresponsive. Shortly after, Severus had followed Harry into a deep trance. He could sense Severus' anxiety, and knew that somehow, things had gone very wrong indeed.
Suddenly Harry began to twitch in a very familiar manner. Albus muttered a curse that made the mediwitch stare at him in shock. She had never seen Albus Dumbledore lose control like this before.
"Cruciatus curse Poppy, be prepared," he warned the woman.
Harry appeared on a desolate plain facing Voldemort, his scar immediately exploding in pain.
"You are a fool Potter," sneered the snake like man. "I shall take great delight in destroying you, and all your little friends."
"You're too weak! Do you mean to destroy me like when I was a baby? Or in my first year? Or maybe you mean destroying me like you did in fourth year? Excuse me for not believing you, but you don't seem to have a very good track record!" retorted Harry.
"But that will change," promised Voldemort darkly. "You will tell me the prophecy…eventually."
"Never!"
"Then we shall do it the hard way! Crucio!"
Harry collapsed in agony, trying to hold back his screams. Dimly he could feel his godfather feeding him energy along their link.
"Tell me the prophecy!" demanded Voldemort
"No," Harry answered, defiant.
The curse came again, this time longer and harder.
"Do you know the beauty of this setup Harry? You cannot lose your mind like those pathetic Longbottoms because you are already in your mind! Shall I continue amusing myself? We can do this for a very long time…"
Harry shook his head, preparing himself for a long and painful night.
A/N: Many thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! I am greatly encouraged by your positive responses. Once again, this chapter is betaread by RavensCave. Please review!