Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 2:
Monday, Harry reported to the room near the Transport Bay, where they had always gathered, and was delighted to find his friends, Anthony and Malcolm there. There was also Franz, in whom he had a bit more confidence now, and a newly qualified young man called Alex. To his surprise, both Percy and Emil were also going.
Catherine arrived last, striding into the room carrying her bag. Officially, the role of the mediwizard on the team had always been to supervise the cures, as Harry was not a qualified mediwizard. There was very little to do in that role, but the healer had been invaluable in the past, to treat the minor illnesses and injuries of the aurors, as well as the occasional major worries caused by Harry.
They again had the private aeroplane that had served them so well in the past, and Percy joined him and chatted. Percy was relishing this opportunity to show off the prestige of British Wizardry, and Harry was their prize possession. He had apparently forgotten that Harry was an unpunished murderer, and was happy to be seen to be on the best of terms with the great wizard.
It was a matter of survival to be on good terms with the Minister for Magic, but Harry never had liked Percy, and only endured his company for as long as he thought wise before saying that he wanted to go talk to the pilot, Cliff. Almost alone among the company, Harry had years ago made friends with the muggle pilot. For the rest of the short trip, Harry sat in the co-pilot's seat, and listened to concerns about the cost of university for Cliff's children.
Germany, and Sarah had remembered, and their hotel was right next to the beach. Harry was delighted, and would have gone straight off for a swim before lunch, except that there was some sort of an official delegation making speeches, with Percy Weasley lapping up all the attention they were paid.
Harry was impatient, he hated speeches, but he watched Percy and his pleasure, and put up with it. Percy would be less likely to turn on him if Harry's abilities helped Percy feel his own importance.
More ceremonial at lunch time, and now Harry was really getting fed up. He was trying to be good, but his eyes kept going to the window as he thought about escape. He was taken by surprise when he was suddenly nudged by Emil sitting next to him. "What?" he asked, clearly audible in a sudden silence, and betraying completely how little attention he'd been paying to the lengthy speech just completed.
Yarns were told about the eccentricities of the great wizard these days, and several there were amused, but the German Minister for Magic was as great a stickler for ceremonial and rules as Percy Weasley, and was irritated. When people were presented with prestigious awards, they were at least supposed to pay attention. In his precise English, the German repeated his request that Harry Potter join him, and Harry cast his eyes around, gathered immediately what it was all about, and was ready with a courteous and totally insincere few sentences of appreciation. It was apparently for his work of several years ago, as he hadn't even done anything yet for this trip.
That was soon to change, and he spent the afternoon sorting out the problems that duelling wizards had brought on themselves, before finally doing what he wanted, and going for a long swim. Anthony and Malcolm were with him, and Franz casually chatted with a couple of German aurors on the shore. They'd put Alex on night duty as the youngest and most junior, although the official reason was that younger men tolerate night duty better than older ones. But Anthony, Malcolm and Franz were all only about thirty, and it was more that they didn't like night duty.
By Wednesday, Harry found himself doing wizards and a few witches from neighbouring countries including a young woman pumpkin-head from Italy. She was dead.
There had been a wide-spread change in the treatment of pumpkin-heads since Harry Potter was on the scene. Until he found a way, no pumpkin-head had been rescued, and now they knew from Harry that they mostly died within a few months, some a lot quicker, but the vegetable lived on for years. Now, when Harry pronounced a pumpkin-head dead, the living zombie/vegetable was almost always put down by the mediwizard, and the remains could be buried, to the relief of relatives.
Thursday was apparently devoted to ancient cases from institutions that were often very difficult. Harry had asked before that such cases should be spread out over the week, but, as usual, that request had been overlooked.
After the first patient had required the strong magic that Harry could call up, Franz had a word with Emil, and before long both Emil and Percy had joined the group of observers that always seemed to be present when he worked his cures, a few mediwizards mostly, with any others who were curious and had the influence to wangle the privilege.
Harry mostly ignored them, although they would be warned if he was going to need the strong magic that sometimes had people bolting for the door. It was the first experience for both Catherine and Franz, but they stayed apparently unmoved. Such power resonating in the air was both frightening and impressive. Therese had fainted once.
But when Percy and Emil joined the observers, Harry switched methods, and used the telepathic method for the next few difficult patients, until a fist knocked him flying. Many witches and wizards bitterly resented the feeling of another mind in their own, but it was not as tiring for Harry, and did not fill the minds of the observers with awe and fear.
The angry patient was being firmly held by Franz as Harry picked himself up, and used his fluent German to soothe the patient, and assure him that he would not do that again.
The German Minister for Magic came in then, and joined the observers, an obsequious assistant hovering around.
Harry was frowning at them. He thought there were too many, that each extra observer added to the risk of interruptions when he was calling up his power. The last time he had been interrupted, he had fitted, and his head hadn't stopped aching for days.
Again he tried to persuade at least some of the observers to leave, but only two did.
Percy was afraid of losing face, and while the German Minister was there, he planned to stay.
Harry looked at them dubiously. He didn't think that Percy had a great deal of courage, and stressed again that if they had to leave the room, they should avoid him and not interrupt. This time when he called up the strong magic, he made the extra effort to weave a spell of calm over the observers, especially with Percy in mind. He also kept the patient calm, as he stood, wand raised, and the frightening feel of his power filled the air.
Ten years ago, he would not have been able to do this. Ten years ago, he would have already exhausted himself with the first difficult patient. His power had grown.
Afterward, though, he called a break, an early morning tea. They were behind, but he needed a rest and something to eat. He looked suspiciously at Catherine. Therese or Jodie would have been fussing over him, monitor in hand, but Catherine was only talking to Percy. And no-one took the slightest notice when he ate more than usual. He thought Catherine was great.
Percy and the German Minister went off together to Harry's relief, and he felt Percy's conceit with himself. Percy thought himself a very brave fellow, being able to sit unmoved while the air thrummed with a power that almost, but not quite, hurt his head.
Until lunch there were no more difficult patients, and he swiftly caught up with the schedule. Afterward again, more tough ones. And again, he tried the telepathic method first, intending to resort to raw power only if necessary.
Three were about the limit he could do of these in a day, and when he struck the third, he directed that the patient should be put back to last. And then there was a fourth and a fifth. He thought he had never had a tougher day, and those last two, he said had to wait until the following day.
Catherine was looking at him with narrowed eyes now, especially when she noticed him depending on his cane more than usual, and a fit of trembling that lasted longer than usual. But she had promised herself that she would not fuss over him, and still left him alone.
Anthony had been intending to suggest a visit to a gymnasium that he had found, but when Harry finally emerged looking very weary, he only went to his left hand side, and walked with him back to the hotel.
Aside from Harry's weariness, there were other results of that day. There had been no failures, and twice Emil had felt the great power that Harry could call up, and he wondered with whose contrivance the file on him had been so greatly reduced, his power downplayed. He had also seen his vulnerability, and wondered what would happen if he were interrupted when he was generating such great power.
Friday morning, there were a few routine patients, plus the two that had been put off from the previous day. Only when they were on the plane did Catherine annoy Harry by finally making the check that Therese, Jodie or Hermione would have been wanting a lot earlier and a lot more frequently. But she only did the Niscos and the weight, and noted them down without saying anything, thereafter ignoring him as he dozed.
They were doing alternate weeks, and as the team now did trips over a large part of the world, rather than just Europe, there was a constant supply of work.
Emil left Harry with the same team, trip after trip - Anthony, Malcolm, Franz and Alex, with only an occasional change due to leave or illness. Harry felt comfortable, mostly enjoyed himself, and Franz and Alex became as accustomed to his ways as Anthony and Malcolm.
Franz did his job well, but had not become a friend.
There was only one major difference in that often, especially on the last night, there would be functions arranged, and the Minister for Magic, Percival Weasley, would attend, enjoying the importance of being an honoured guest in dozens of different countries. Harry had previously discouraged these functions by the simple expedient of avoiding them, but now he went along with them, to the surprise of Anthony and Malcolm. He was giving Percy what he wanted. It was a matter of his own survival, and sometimes there would be interesting people invited which made it all a lot more enjoyable.
He was given more medals and awards, too, and once joked with Anthony that it was a fashion, obviously - sometimes everyone wanted to give him medals, sometimes everyone wanted to kill him or to take him prisoner. Just a fashion.
He never valued these awards, and they were usually lost quite quickly, until Chrissy and Margaret quietly took charge of them, and kept them safe.
Catherine continued not to fuss, although she began taking Niscos and weight measures at the beginning and end of every week as a matter of routine. She never discussed her findings with him, only noted them down and left him alone, not even nagging him that he was too thin.
He thought she was great, and he even started doing as the others did, and going to her voluntarily for treatment when there were minor ailments or injuries. He had no particular desire to get into fights these days, but he still enjoyed vigorous and sometimes risky activities, especially with Anthony, and all of them sometimes had bruises and scrapes to treat, and Anthony broke a leg and a couple of ribs once.
Franz was always in charge, and a couple of times another of the German recruits when Franz was on leave.
Twice, they made a special quick trip to Italy to try and rescue pumpkin-heads. Each time it had been a young woman, and each time, it was thought that she had been on a date, and each time, the victim had been dead, even though Harry had come within days.
**x**
It was the beginning of December, and Harry was home reading a letter from Beth. Chrissy's enormous dog, Jimbo, sprawled on the floor in front of the fire, taking up most of the floor space. Tabitha and Half-Tail, Harry's cats, were curled up together at the dog's flank, enjoying his warmth.
Beth's letter was long and informative, as his were to her. They never communicated telepathically these days, but Harry knew that Beth was very happy. They had made a good life for themselves, Beth and Jeremiah, in the Pacific Islands where magic was a long standing tradition. Muggles as well as witches and wizards went to Beth for help, while big, black Jeremiah usually sat in a chair nearby and looked impressive. Beth had a great understanding and was a gifted counsellor. She was well known among the wizarding population, and sometimes there were spells she could break for witches and wizards.
The baby was due at the end of December, and Beth told him that they already had an experienced healer waiting. Beth would probably not have bothered with a healer, relying on muggle doctors, but Harry insisted, threatening to bring one himself if she did not do as he said. Beth went her own way mostly, but had done as Harry wished when something else occurred to her. The healer was of the world of wizardry, and news of a brown baby would scotch those rumours that Harry was the father of his daughter's baby.
Harry still did fortnightly stints at Ben's practice, keeping up with demand, with an occasional overseas client as well. Hermione attended whenever she thought that he should have an examination. He mostly obeyed these days, Hermione had saved his life too many times. He thought that if it made her happy...
There was something new. Often outside Ben's rooms, there would be demonstrations. Chanting wizards and witches carrying placards - their message was that Harry Potter was a monster, and that people should put up with their problems rather than going near the monster.
One day, a client came in panting, his clothing torn and disarranged. Harry asked him what had happened.
"I had to force my way through the demonstrators," said the man with a shrug. "Idiots!" he added.
But Harry was annoyed, and when he finished his clients for that day, rather than disapparating from within as usual, he went out the door, looking frowningly at the group. Most of them middle-aged or older, most of them of meagre talent and even less intelligence. The aurors, young Simon and experienced Beryl stayed close as he confronted them. He said clearly, "They're annoying me, Beryl - What do you think I should do to them?"
Beryl shrugged, but the group were huddling together a bit closer.
"How about if I turn them all inside out? Would I get into trouble for that, do you think?"
Simon, not knowing Harry very well, was alarmed, and said urgently, "No, Harry, leave them alone!"
Harry was smiling, and the group took another step back. "Or I could burn them - slowly."
He deliberately drew his wand, and when the ground in front of them started glowing, with one mind, they dropped their placards and fled.
Harry strolled to Fortescues and had an ice-cream.
The demonstrators took care never to appear again where the monster might confront them. There were still rumours. Not only an unnatural monster, but one who had taken wicked advantage of his own daughter.
**x**
The following week, Italy. Same team, same routine.
On Monday, three pumpkin-heads awaited attention. They were all young women. Harry touched their hands, and pronounced two of them dead. They had been cursed six and eight weeks ago, respectively. Harry was angry, and turned to the Italian Coordinator, demanding to know why he had not been called earlier. He might have been able to rescue them.
But the Italian stated that the previous three had all been dead, even though he had been called in within days, and Harry remembered that they had indeed been called a couple of times to Italy, and it was like he said. They had been dead. He apologised, but said again to please call him. Mostly, if it was recent, they could be rescued.
An ambulance team was quickly arranged, and Harry pulled out the remaining woman from the monster. Instead of going berserk and trying to attack him, this one screamed non-stop before collapsing in hysterics. Harry thought that she'd probably recover quite quickly, and left her in the hands of the Italian mediwizard.
Catherine was looking at him differently these days, although it was not obvious. Except for the routine checks at the beginnings and ends of the weeks, she treated him the same as the others, and her awe at his powers was well concealed. She'd even raked him down when he'd turned up battered from a muggle fist fight one day.
But for Harry, the pumpkin-head was nothing unusual. He'd done a lot of those by now, although he wondered what sort of sick pervert was doing it to young women. It appeared the Italians were no closer to discovering the culprit, in spite of the obvious pattern.
There were a few more routine cases, and the group adjourned for lunch. A couple of Italian aurors kept an eye on the crowd, and Alex was at Harry's side.
Harry paused in his stride as he started to tremble. The shaking attack was a bit more severe than normal, and he was waiting for it to subside before continuing. Alex knew not to comment, and just waited with him.
In an instant, Harry lost vision, lost smell, lost hearing, lost sensation. And like every other pumpkin-head, he screamed in panic inside his own head.
There were screams and panic outside as well, as people registered the sudden change. Alex and Catherine were looking at him, appalled.
Harry's trembling ceased as the bodily placidity of the pumpkin-head took over. The cane was dropped.
Alex had stepped back, staring at him in horror, and Anthony came instead to take the arm of the man/vegetable. All of the other aurors, English and Italian, furious, now had their wands out, and were looking for the culprit.
Harry was not a normal person. He knew what had happened, fought off the panic, delved inside his own head, and he was back. But like every other rescued pumpkin-head, he knew an overwhelming anger, and he looked around him, white-faced, quivering with fury and with magical power.
He ignored the aurors as he clamped an anti-disapparation charm over the whole area, strode toward the crowd, teeth actually bared in a primitive expression of pure rage as he scanned the faces that stared. A goodlooking man of thirty was singled out, those around him scattered, and a low ring of fire surrounded the man, at a distance of a few yards.
Harry was still, his expression unchanged, himself reeking with power so that no-one approached. The flames leapt higher, and started to burn toward the man. The man was terrified, tried to disapparate, but could not, and drew his wand again. The wand turned to flame, and was flung away, and the man started to scream.
Anthony and Franz were calling to Harry, trying to bring some sense to the berserk man. Anthony tried to approach again, but there was an invisible barrier, and he could not come close. It appeared that Harry was going to burn the man to death, slowly, the flames getting higher, hotter, and closer. The man spun around, searching for an escape, and continued his high pitched screaming.
Harry stood quivering with rage, his eyes fixed on the man. His teeth were bared with fury, his eyes narrowed, face white. They tried to tell him, calling to him urgently, "There's no proof! You'll be in trouble. Don't do it!"
Franz made a decision, drew his wand, and tried to stun him. But a magical glow of power surrounded Harry, and the stun spell bounced off. Harry didn't appear to even notice it.
Again, Anthony tried to penetrate the invisible barrier that surrounded him, looking his despair at Franz. How could they stop him?
But suddenly the man in the middle of the ring of fire dropped to the ground, stunned, but untouched by flame, and the fire vanished, as Harry wheeled away, and was violently ill. He was white, shuddering in violent tremors that shook his body. Catherine and Anthony were by his side, and Catherine showed a different side to her character, murmuring to him soothingly, and as the retching died away, taking him in her arms, and just holding him.
They got him back to the hotel, and Catherine stayed with him all that afternoon as he continued to shake, in spite of the steaming potion that he drank at the gentle coaxing of Catherine. The potion made him sleep a little, and she sat by his side, stroking his forehead now and then, and keeping away the terrors that shook him.
The man whom Harry had threatened with incineration was taken off, and questioned in the way wizards can use. It was soon known that he had been responsible for all the attacks on young women. He would not tolerate a refusal from the women, and wound up having them anyway, even when some of the heads had been turned to vegetable. It was a pity that people were too polite to point out that a man who reeks of garlic is often going to be rejected. It might have saved some lives... After the questioning, they let him change his pants.
Catherine may have resolved not to fuss over Harry, but she stayed with him through the night as he slept fitfully, Malcolm on guard outside the door. And she was there when he woke screaming and she took him in her arms and held him as he sobbed. It was like she said, Harry Potter was high strung.
Franz was reassured at the outcome of the incident. Harry had been berserk with rage, no-one was able to do anything to stop him, but he had come to his senses himself. He had not killed.
The following day, Harry was a bit better, and apologised uncomfortably for being such a nuisance. The day's work had been cancelled, and he went for a long walk, Anthony by his side, and Italian aurors also watching, but having some trouble keeping up.
As soon as he returned to the hotel, the trembling started again, and when Catherine came to him with yet another glass of steaming potion, he asked if she had her Nisco on her. There was no indication of the spiking of the readings that had been a warning of nervous attacks in the past, and he thanked her, and handed it back without comment, but with some considerable relief.
But for the first time, Catherine insisted on doing a more thorough examination, including the use of a fit monitor. She knew that he had a history of fits. Harry made no objection, and thanked her awkwardly for sitting with him the previous night. He was blushing, too, to Catherine's amusement. She thought he had a good excuse for his state, and only thought it amazing that he had been able to pull himself out of the spell. That was another thing unprecedented.
Emil turned up soon after lunch. He wanted to get a detailed account of events, but when he looked at Harry, Catherine said firmly that he was not to be bothered, and Harry was left with David, an extra auror whom Emil had brought with him.
The discussion excluded Harry, but Emil got a detailed account of the events from the aurors, all of whom had been present except for Malcolm, on night duty. It seemed that when Harry was bent on an action, no-one had been able to control him. A stunner aimed at his back had not even touched him. On the other hand, in spite of his fury, his actions had been controlled, and he had wound up merely stunning his attacker.
Emil left afterward to report to Percy, but David stayed as additional help.
No-one had referred to the attack to Harry, but he brought it up himself at dinner. "That man yesterday, Franz - they haven't let him go, have they?"
Franz answered, "Of course not! There were about six pumpkin-heads before yesterday - he'll be in prison for a long time."
"Am I in trouble for giving him a scare?"
Some of those present smiled at the understatement, but he was assured that he was not in trouble.
"I'll be fine for work tomorrow then - we'll need to catch up."
That night he told Franz quite casually that he'd be out all night, refusing to say where, and took himself to the French brothel, where he had a romp with Yvette and Katria, and then paid to spend the night with Katria. He thought he hardly ever had nightmares when he slept with a woman, but it was more that the woman would be roused by his fidgeting and moaning, and soothe him with female voice, and a caress.
Katria had a disturbed night, as Harry continually started into nightmares, but was each time pacified by Katria. The tiny woman worked hard for her money that night. She didn't begrudge it. Many of them had been sent early bequests a few years before, when Harry had fully expected to die, but hadn't quite. He'd sent them the assigned gifts anyway. And then Lolita discovered her diamond necklace to be real...
Harry had been popular in that establishment for years before those gifts, now he could do no wrong.
Two aurors unknown to Harry, were on guard outside in the cold. They knew where he went these days. Harry gave a glance in their direction when he emerged early in the morning, but only stepped out of sight and disapparated.
He was a lot better in the morning, and was back in his room doing his customary hour's meditation before joining the rest of the team for breakfast.
It was Wednesday, and the team had expected to be finished by Wednesday afternoon, but were well and truly behind. Harry seemed to have almost thrown off the effects of his brief incarceration, only his fits of trembling more frequent, and more sustained than normal. He needed his strong magic that day, and although everyone else disliked the feeling in the air, to Harry it felt good, like it felt good to extend muscles.
There was a request relayed from the Italians, and Harry removed the anti-disapparation charm that he had laid. He had forgotten doing it, and as his spells could not be broken by others, it had already become an inconvenience.
That evening, he slipped his bodyguards, and walked the streets for a long time. He was followed, the location devices on his shoes and on his glasses helping them track him down. Harry knew, but the bodyguards never approached him when they were pretending not to be there, and so he put up with it. If he really needed to be alone, he could soon vanish the devices that he was not supposed to know about.
He came home late and slept through the night, to Malcolm and David's relief, both of them, this time, guarding his door.
At breakfast the following morning, he mentioned that he may be fine for work, but was definitely too sick for any of Percy's ghastly formal dinners. But the dinner had already been cancelled. The aurors enjoyed the way he referred to pompous Mr. Weasley as 'Perce,' or 'Percy,' and assured him that he would not be expected to go to a formal dinner this time.
It was not until they were returning on the aeroplane that Franz spoke to Harry about what had happened, asking Harry what he had intended to do to the man.
"I would have thought it obvious," Harry answered. "I was going to burn him." And added, "I'm rather surprised you didn't try and stop me."
Franz said, startled, "But we did try! We were shouting, but you didn't appear to hear, and there was some sort of a barrier, and we couldn't get near. What could we do?"
Harry was looking at him. He didn't remember them shouting, and he didn't remember erecting a barrier. He heard what Franz was thinking, too, that Franz had tried to stun him, but that it hadn't connected. At length he just shook his head, "I don't know, and anyway, I changed my mind, so there's no harm done."
Franz asked him, "What made you change your mind? Fear of consequences?"
"I wasn't thinking about consequences at that stage, I just got a bit disgusted with myself. I'm not a killer, and when I've had to kill anyway, it's never been painful."
Franz remembered what he knew of Harry's history. Like all the aurors, he had seen film of him killing, but, as he said, he had not killed painfully. Ruthlessly maybe, coldly certainly, and he'd never shown the slightest sign of contrition - but his victims died happy.
Emil Schultz and Percy Weasley had some long discussions about Harry. Emil was very concerned that he'd been surrounded by aurors, and the aurors had been entirely helpless to prevent Harry Potter from doing exactly what he chose to do. Percy thought that Harry Potter was arrogant and out of control.
They tried to work out exactly what had happened, too, that Harry had appeared to be immune from interference. They finally came up with the theory that he had called up the strong magic that he used sometimes when doing his cures, but this time it had protected him from interference as he punished the man who had hurt him.
***chapter end***