Harry Potter and the Power of the Mind.

Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and I do not write this story for any financial gain.

Sorry for the many time skips, I had to move faster through this. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

"Talking"
'Thinking'
Written Knowledge
~Parseltongue~
Spells

Chapter Fourteen - A Christmas Present - Part Two

The silence that followed the ruckus held for a few seconds, until Arthur took out his wand.

"What are you talking about, Harry?"

"That rat is an Animagus. Ivy can feel it, she can identify the Animagus' magic, and she felt it on him the first time on the train to Hogwarts, but she didn't know what it was, but now she does."

They all turned to the table, where the rat was firmly wrapped around the two snakes, Ivy's poison dripping from her fangs.

"Peter Pettigrew? The wizard Sirius Black killed?" Charlie asked and Arthur answered:

"I told you they judged Sirius Black again and found him innocent. Pettigrew is alive."

"And he's an unlicensed Animagus, you heard that, didn't you, sir?" Harry asked Arthur, and he nodded, looking at the rat.

"Sirius said under veritaserum that Pettigrew was an unlicensed Animagus." Arthur said while nodding.

"And that he could become a rat." Harry gestured, and the man nodded again.

"There's a way to find out." He said and looked at William and Charlie, who nodded.

And the three of them moved their wands towards the rat at the same time Harry hissed for Ivy to let it go, and three blue spells hit the rat at the same time, with no incantation, and at that moment, they all saw horrified, the rat's body contort and grow, stretching into the body of a round man, who appeared lying down on top of the table.

"By the beard of merlin-"

"You weren't kidding." Charlie said while pointing his wand, but Harry saw the man's hand going to the inside of his vests.

"Petrificus Tottalus."

And Harry's spell hit Pettigrew, making him stiffen on the table, giving time for Harry to move in, opening his clothes to retrieve two wands that he had stashed. When he touched a weird white wand, he felt a buzzing sensation, the same he felt when he was chosen by his wand, and frowned. He stashed the wands in his jacket and left that for later.

Harry saw that from up close, he was dreadful, pieces of hair missing, his skin full of rashes, his eyes with dark markings around, eyes that were the only thing moving, staring at Harry.

"Hello, Mr. Pettigrew, I've been dying to meet you." Harry said with a crazy smile, making Ivy and Ash climb the man, who looked terrified.

Harry hissed something in parseltongue and turned to the man again.

"I don't know if you can revert to your rat form without your wand, but if you do, I've instructed my snakes to bite you, and you know what that means, right? Try to escape and you'll be dead in one minute." Harry hissed, while Arthur was by the window, using his wand to throw something towards the sky, also sending an owl out of the window.

"Oh, my god- Oh, my god-" That was all Percy was mumbling to himself, walking up and down, while Ginny was with her back against a wall, shaking.

"I let him sleep in my bed-" Ronald said horrified towards the table, and Pettigrew moved his eyes, trying to see around, his gaze full of fear.

And then, there was a knock on the door, and when Arthur opened, Sirius looked at the insides of the house, seeing the full picture with a frown, turning his gaze from Harry who had his wand up, to the man on top of the table, lying on his back, his eyes widening at the moment he recognized who it was, taking out his wand, shoving Arthur aside to raise it.

"Avada-"

"Stupefy!" Mrs. Weasley almost shouted, her spell going to Sirius, who stopped mid-sentence and turned his wand, raising his Protego that got shattered, and Harry jumped forward.

"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! CALM DOWN! EVERYONE CALM DOWN."

"HARRY, GET OUT OF THE WAY! HE'S MINE-" Sirius shouted, looking at the table, his eyes crazy, his breathing irregular, and Harry pushed him with all his strength against the wall, making him look down.

"Calm down, Sirius! He's not going anywhere!"

"What?! How?! What is going on- Why is he here?!" Sirius asked confused and William and Charlie were there as well, positioning themselves to stay between Sirius and Pettigrew, who was white at this point.

"He was disguised as Rony's pet. Ah, the Aurors are coming." Arthur said while looking at Sirius and he looked at Pettigrew again. Harry felt his curse vanishing from Pettigrew, turning to the man.

"Incarcerous."

And invisible ties surrounded his body, making his hands glue together, the same as his ankles, his mouth covered by the spell as well, as he mumbled something.

Arthur asked for help in moving him from the table to the corner, where he was sitting, and Ivy and Ash instantly moved after him, stopping by the side of his face, their fangs in view, making him shake.

"Harry- What the hell is going on?" Sirius hissed, his eyes still glued on Pettigrew.

"He was below our noses this whole time- Ivy found him because she learned how to spot Animagus' magic. She noticed the same thing around you, so she pointed to me that Ronald's rat was an Animagus, so I was just thinking of telling him his rat was a weird dude playing his pet, but I saw-"

Sirius looked at Harry's hand where he was gesturing with his pinky finger.

"The rat was missing its pinky finger. A rat. The rat. I remembered what you told me back at the trial, and you said he would transform into a rat. It was too good to be a coincidence, and if it was, I'd apologize, so I just told Ivy and Ash to capture him, and here we are."

"You piece of shit! This whole time you've been living in your rat form? You fucking vermin... after what you did to James and Lily-"

"Language." Mrs. Weasley came closer, staring at Sirius, but he was blind to anything except Pettigrew.

Pettigrew tried to speak, but the invisible restraints over his mouth didn't allow him to make words.

"Let him speak, I want to hear him before I kill him- Oh, don't kid yourself, I'm going to kill him!"

"Not at my house, behave yourself!" Mrs. Weasley hissed.

Sirius glared at the woman, but she didn't look intimidated in the slightest, her wand still in her hand, and Harry frowned at the fact that she was the first to react to Sirius's curse.

And then Harry snapped back to reality, remembering Sirius was casting the death curse. He was really going to murder Pettigrew, and that made Harry gasp.

"Sirius, you can't kill him." Harry hissed.

"WHY NOT?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH BECAUSE OF HIM? YOU'D STILL HAVE PARENTS IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM, HARRY! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM WHEN YOU JUST FOUND THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING YOUR FAMILY?!"

"Because there's no point in killing him now. If killing him would bring back my parents, I would've told Ivy to kill him, but it won't change the past, so there's no point."

Sirius was looking around with despair on his face, groaning, and having difficulty breathing.

"Let's go outside, you need fresh air."

"NO! HE'S NOT GETTING OUT OF MY SIGHT."

"Ivy and Ash got him, and he's restrained, even if for a miracle he's able to move, he dies. He knows that." Harry said and stared right at the man, who looked at him with tears washing his face.

"No-" Sirius started, but Harry was already pulling him out, helped by William, George, and Fred, who kept moving altogether, pushing Sirius outside with their bodies.

"Don't be stubborn, we got him." Harry hissed, and he turned and left.

After a few minutes, where Sirius calmed down a little, he finally turned and spoke.

"He deserves to die. If there's someone who deserves to die, is him."

Harry, who was leaning against the house, nodded.

"Then we push for the kiss, don't worry, but you can't be the one killing him. You want to go back to Azkaban?" Harry asked the last part in a hiss and Sirius stopped his pacing, looking at the ground with his face enraged.

"If I get to be the one doing it, sure."

"What about me?" Harry asked low.

"What about you?" Sirius turned with a frown.

Harry raised his eyebrows when their eyes met and Sirius understood.

"Ah- you mean-"

"You're my guardian, so if you're in prison, I have no one else."

That seemed to do the trick, and Sirius sighed, turning and screaming from the top of his lungs towards the sky, letting his frustration out.

"What in the world is going on out there?!" Mrs. Weasley asked and George ran inside to explain, and they all heard and saw people arriving. Harry saw Aurors with their wands drawn, moving towards the house.

"Arthur! We came as soon as we've heard."

"It's all right, Williamson, Harry captured him already." Arthur said, and they looked at Harry as if saying you again?

"I guess I won't make it to the Longbottom's party, what a shame."

Harry arrived at the Ministry with all the Weasleys by midnight, following the Aurors who had Pettigrew levitating with them.

They were interviewed separately and Harry explained in detail how he found out, also taking the opportunity to handle Pettigrew's wand, but when he touched the white wand, he felt it again, and for some weird reason, decided to not turn it in.

When he left the room, he saw all the Weasleys sitting in one of the waiting rooms, walking to them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I forgot to apologize to you two, I'm so sorry for destroying your Christmas party." Harry said sadly, but Mrs. Weasley shook her head, getting up to place her hands on Harry's shoulders.

"No need to apologize, dear, we should be thanking you for finding that out. Who'd know what he could do to Ronald or any of us... no, we should be thanking you, dear."

Harry just smiled and sat, waiting for the Aurors to come and instruct them.

Sirius was also brought to be interrogated, and when he sat a few feet away from the Weasleys, Harry heard Mrs. Weasley whispering toward him.

"Are you ok?"

Sirius looked up at her and nodded.

Harry turned to Ronald who was still in shock, to ask.

"Has anything weird ever happened?"

"Huh? Oh, no... never. He was just a normal rat-" He shook his head, looking down.

"It's not your fault, Ronald, don't sweat it." George tried to cheer him up.

"So what now?" Fred asked.

"Now he goes to Azkaban to pay for his crimes." Arthur said, but Harry chuckled.

"I wouldn't be that sure."

"What?" William asked, but before Harry could answer, the Aurors appeared, coming to them, following one Auror that Harry never saw before.

"Good evening, I'm Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of Auror Office."

Harry nodded, and the man turned to him, his eyes hard and his face serious.

"I've come to inform you that Mr. Pettigrew has been taken into custody. Tomorrow, we'll handle the press, so I urge your discretion. We also just came from the Misuse Ward and they are not going to even push for sanctions about you using spells outside Hogwarts, Mr. Potter. They understood that both situations you were in tonight were extreme, and I made sure that they won't pursue any punishment."

Harry nodded, noticing the Weasleys frowning when Scrimgeour said both situations, wondering why he was talking directly to Harry when there were a lot of adults around.

"Thank you very much, sir." Harry said with a nod.

"Well, they said that they would trust the Ministry's Sentinel in that regard, but they asked me to remind you that you're still not allowed to do magic outside Hogwarts' grounds."

"Understood." Harry nodded again, and the man turned to Arthur.

"As far as we can tell from his early confession, he's been using his Animagus form to hide for the past 11 years, and we'll know more tomorrow with some veritaserum, so we'll keep you informed because this is related to you and your family, Arthur."

"Appreciate it, sir."

"You are all free to leave, but I'd like a word with Mr. Potter before that."

Harry nodded, and the man gestured with his hand for him to walk along, and Harry nodded to the Weasleys, going with Scrimgeour, and a few moments after they started walking, he started speaking.

"You are a remarkable individual, Mr. Potter."

"Er... thank you?"

"I wanted to discuss with you the possibility of you joining the Auror office once your studies are done."

Harry raised his eyebrows to that.

"Mr. Scrimgeour, I still don't know if that's what I'm going for, but I have to ask... Have you talked to Fudge about-" Harry stopped and the man stopped walking, looking at him with wary eyes.

"Yes, I'm aware of your deeds and what happened in Hogwarts between you and the One-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, and that's one of the reasons I want to invite you to join our office."

"Well, I'm interested in being part of the decision-making, but I'm not old enough to work yet."

"That is true, but as I've been informed, you're the one responsible for our plans, and in my opinion, you are already part of our decision-making."

Harry noticed his gaze full of meaning.

"Meaning you want me to continue doing what I'm doing."

"Yes, but now with a direct connection to our office, through me."

Harry nodded, trying to see the real meaning of this request.

"We are the first and only defense against the dark arts, Mr. Potter, so we need to stay strong at all times. Fudge is too soft, and so we need leaders for the times to come, and by what I was told, you're already one of those leaders that can help guide the country through dark times."

Harry noticed their walk was actually a stroll, noticing they were arriving at the same place they left, seeing the Weasleys still waiting for him, Sirius as well.

"But I'm only twelve."

"And by what I can see and what I was told, your age means nothing. You are collected, calm, and analytical, rival to any of our brightest minds."

Harry looked down.

"As I just said, dark times are coming, Mr. Potter, and we need those who can lead, to do so."

Harry looked up nodding, and then he smiled.

"You know, there's a muggle saying that goes like this: Hard times create strong men, and strong men create good times, but good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times."

Scrimgeour stopped a few feet away from the Weasleys to nod at Harry.

"You knowing these kinds of things is my point exactly. We need you Mr. Potter, and you need us. Keep my proposition in mind and take this."

Harry saw the man giving him a strange parchment.

"This is a direct bridge to me. Write in this, and I'll be able to see, the same way you'll be able to see what I'm writing."

Harry nodded, stashing the parchment.

"Thank you for the vouch of trust." Harry nodded, and the man nodded back, his face serious.

"Trust is earned, and you sure earned yours when you raised your wand against the Darkest wizard in our history, Mr. Potter. I will wait for word from you." And with another nod, he turned and walked away.

Sirius came to Harry's side and whispered.

"What did he want?"

"Allies." Harry whispered, seeing the man walking away.

Sirius frowned, and they both turned to the Weasleys.

"Well, our party was interrupted, but what do you say we go back and eat the desert?" Mrs. Weasley smiled and Harry nodded, seeing an owl coming toward the group from afar.

After the Weasleys repaired the table and chairs that were slightly bent by the ruckus, they sat and ate a few deserts, and Harry noticed Ginny staring at him with wide eyes, and he tried smiling at her, but she looked away.

"I guess it's way past bedtime, but today was strange, to say the least." Arthur said, and Fred nodded.

"You tell me." George said while leaning back in his chair and Mrs. Weasley threw a piece of cloth at him.

"Out, it's time for children to go to bed. All of you."

"Woman, we're fifteen, how dare you?" Fred said, and she threw another cloth at him."

"NOW!"

And they all started walking upstairs, except William, Charlie, Sirius, Harry, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley came with a bottle containing some red liquor, poured it into glasses, and handled it around, stopping in front of Harry.

"No, too young."

Harry smiled and drank his juice again.

"I must say, this was unexpected in so many ways. That's now how I imagined Christmas eve." William said.

"You tell me. If someone told me my brother was walking around carrying a wanted murderer Animagus, I'd have laughed at them." Charlie said before drinking.

"Thank you again, Harry." William said and Harry raised his cup with juice, making them smile.

"Cheers."

And then Harry looked at the clock.

"Somewhere you need to be?" Charlie asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yea, remember the owl I received before leaving the ministry?"

"Yes." Charlie said, and they all looked at Harry.

"Well, Augusta Longbottom took it personally that I wasn't able to attend her party, so she's waiting for me for a chat."

"But it's almost 2:00 AM." Mrs. Weasley said and Harry nodded.

"I have the impression she was about to use the party to talk to me about something, so it must be important, so I have to go." Harry said while getting up, and they all got up, moving to shake Harry's hand.

"It was... interesting to meet you, Harry." Charlie said, trying not to laugh.

"Sorry." Harry giggled, and William laughed.

"Be sure to visit us again." Mrs. Weasley said before giving him a tight hug.

"Thank you, dear." She whispered in his ear and he smiled.

"Sirius." She nodded to the man who nodded back, walking out with Harry.

And they apparated away.

When they arrived in front of the Longbottom state, Sirius had a weird expression, and Harry sighed.

"Wanna go back to the ministry to check on him?"

Sirius turned and stared Harry in the eyes.

"No, I left you for an hour and you found one of the most wanted wizards in the country. If I leave you to go in there alone, you may find Voldemort having some cake."

Harry laughed and started walking towards the mansion.

When they approached the gates, they simply opened and Harry frowned, walking until he was by the door.

Before Harry could even knock, the door went open and Harry's expression went from shock to confusion, to hysteria in a heartbeat.

The woman in front of him was wearing a green dress with a scarf made of a grotesque fox that had been probably taxidermist by a five-year-old. A green hat on top of her head that was made with some weird bird in it, as if they took a bird and stitch a hat from its body. Harry didn't know if he stared or if he started laughing.

"Late! Twice!" She hissed, walking back inside, and Harry looked back at Sirius, who had a similar expression.

They followed her inside, noticing the mansion they were entering was empty, full of tables with food leftovers, family portraits around, and the tapestry in red colors. They walked for a few seconds until she entered a room, and they found themselves in an office.

"Take a seat." She pointed to chairs and Harry saw Neville in the room, wearing party clothes, sitting behind her table. Harry smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Harry, how are you? Merry Christmas."

"Hey, Neville, Merry Christmas. I'm good."

"Is it true that- Granny just told me that you-" He looked around and whispered: "That you caught Pettigrew."

"I did, well, Ivy did."

"Ahem." Neville's grandmother cleared her throat and Neville became quiet.

"It's been some time since I last saw you, Sirius." The woman said to Sirius who had taken his chair and sat at the corner.

"Augusta." He nodded, acknowledging her.

"You two know each other?" Harry asked, and the woman took off her hat, staring at Harry seriously.

"We are all a big family." Harry frowned and remembered that the Longbottoms and the Blacks were part of the Twenty-eight too.

"So..." Harry said while looking around and the woman crossed her legs.

"First, I'd like to personally thank you for saving my grandchild. He can be a disaster sometimes, so the Longbottoms have a debt to you for saving his life."

Harry frowned and looked at Neville who was red.

"You didn't tell her?" Harry asked, and Neville looked up, shaking his head.

"Told me what?"

"The accident wasn't Neville's fault, the school's broom was defective."

The woman turned and looked at Neville, who instantly looked down.

"We'll talk about that later. Now, Mr. Potter, I'd like to talk to you about an important matter."

Harry nodded, and she leaned forward.

"I've been hearing you're on your way to becoming a master of potions like no one else before, better than Severus Snape, and because of that, I want your help."

Harry remained silent, waiting for the rest.

"I'm sure you know about my son and his wife." The moment Augusta said that Neville's face became pale white, and he got up, walking away without a word. She sighed before continuing.

"He can't face it yet, well, I'm sure you know about them."

"I do." Harry nodded, and she nodded back.

"And that is the reason I asked you to come-"

"It can't be done." Harry cut her short, and she tilted her head.

"When I read about Neville's parents the first thing I did was to research about them, so I know they're beyond catatonic. The pain they suffered damaged their brains to a point they can barely function."

"How do you know there's nothing you can do? You didn't even meet them."

"I know my limitations. I can't do anything about their condition because it's not that simple."

"What is not that simple?"

"I'd have to put them through many layers of treatment just to understand what's wrong, and even if by a miracle there is an answer, it could be even more damaging to try and help them."

"What are these layers?"

"Muggles. The wizardry medical knowledge won't help in this matter- We need MRIs, blood tests, drugs-"

"I can provide money to fund any of that, as long as you're willing to try and help them."

Harry shook his head.

"That would mean involving muggles in the matter, are you willing to break the law?" Harry tried not to let it transpire that he had done the same thing just tonight.

Her gaze was so cold that Harry recoiled. She looked like she could murder someone to help her family.

"Very well, I'm telling you it can't be done, but you still want to try."

"I do."

"All right, but I'll agree to help on one condition."

"Name it."

"Neville has to agree with it."

"Why?"

"Because he's the one who has to decide this."

Augusta narrowed her eyes.

"He's my son."

"And he's Neville's father, and she's his mother."

She sighed.

"You can't expect Neville to-"

"I can, and I do. I trust his judgment." Harry cut her short, and she frowned.

"Neville!" She almost shouted, and just a few seconds later, Neville got in.

"I'm sure you were eavesdropping, so go ahead and tell him."

Harry turned in his chair to face Neville, and he kept sneaking glances at his grandmother.

"Neville, look at me. Remember what I told you?" Harry whispered and Neville's fearful expression started to fade away, giving place to something else.

"Talk to me." Harry whispered again, and he asked low.

"Can you really heal them?"

"I don't think so, but I can start trying."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"I don't know, but it could somehow worsen their conditions."

"It will work." Augusta said and Harry looked at her with hard eyes.

"It's up to you, Neville." Harry said, and the boy looked down.

"Will it hurt them again if it goes wrong?"

Harry nodded, thinking that was exactly what he'd be worried about.

"I can't tell."

Neville bit his lip, frowning, and Harry felt pity seeing him struggle to decide that. He could only imagine what the Longbottoms went through, but this was something Neville had to do in order to grow up.

"Is there a way to know in the last moment if... it will hurt them again?"

"Maybe."

"Then if you can find a way to help them without hurting them again, I agree."

"Neville-" Augusta started, but with Harry's nods of approval, Neville turned and stared his grandmother in the eyes, making her raise her eyebrows.

"I won't be the one making them suffer again- Not again."

And Harry saw the surprise on Augusta's face, nodding to himself, thinking he was right about the approach. Neville needed a little validation, just that. He just needed to be allowed to be himself.

"Well, will you try now?" She turned to Harry who smiled.

"Sure, I'll try to find something, but I can't promise you it will work."

"All I need is you trying."

Harry nodded and yawned involuntarily.

"Sorry for keeping you up this late, but I had to talk to you before you went back to Hogwarts."

"It's fine. Well, I'll write you to let you know the next steps. I need to deal with a few things, so in... two weeks I'd like to go visit them, if possible."

"Just you?"

"No, I'll bring a muggle doctor with me."

She nodded and Harry got up.

1 week later.

"Harry, what you want?" Chloe asked with irritation in her tone.

"I need your help, please, take a seat."

She sat in the cafe they once went to, looking around.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Take a guess." She asked annoyed, and Harry sighed.

"It's like it never happened. Everything we worked for, all memories they had- Everything is gone, and to make matters worse, there are some weird people around that I have never seen before, and everyone acts as if they were childhood friends. I think I'm being followed, too."

"They are planted agents, I told you in the texts. Did you take the route I told you?"

She nodded, and Harry stopped talking when the server came to deliver snacks and tea.

"Now, do you need anything?" Harry asked, and she snorted.

"Sure, I need for everything to go back to normal... I need my life to go back on track- I need-"

She stopped when she saw Harry's pitiful gaze, shaking her head.

"Why did you call me? What do you need me for?"

"This will sound weird, but I need a capable neurologist that is willing to do a few tests for me. I'm gonna need a hospital as well, but everything needs to be done under the radar."

"Hold up, what do you think I am? I'm an officer of the law, not some broker."

"I'm just asking for you to make the calls. Neurologists are very curious, so just tell one of them that you have something they never saw before and that the pay is good."

Chloe shook her head, drinking tea.

"And if I say no?"

Harry shrugged.

"It will take me more time, but I'll try finding one on my own. This is not me ordering you around, Ms. Chloe, this is me asking you for help, and if you ever need any help, you can call me."

She narrowed her eyes and got up.

"Fine, I'll see what I can do, but in return, I'm gonna need a few answers next time we meet."

"Weekends only." Harry nodded, and she left.

1 week later.

Harry never visited this place before, looking around interested, seeing the wards for injured people. He kept following Augusta and Neville until they arrived at the ward reserved for intensive care, and Harry saw Neville's hands closing into fists.

"Is this really necessary?!" The woman that was following Harry while wearing a blindfold hissed, and he pressed her hand harder.

"You know it is, please, behave."

"Oh, for god's sake."

When they arrived at their destination, Harry saw two people in a room, one sitting in a wheelchair, looking outside a window, while the other was lying down on a bed.

"Frank, you have visitors." Augusta announced, but both didn't react at all, staring at nothing with blank stares.

Harry jumped to pull the blindfold from the doctor's eyes and she looked around, trying to adjust to the lighting.

"Right, so much for secrecy. Are they my patients?" She asked while looking around, taking a box of gloves out of her case to grab a pair.

"They are." Harry said, and the woman walked to them, instantly pulling their heads back, flashing a small light in their eyes, taking a tiny hammer and trying their reflexes.

"What happened?" She asked.

Harry looked at Neville who had a painful expression.

"They were tortured to this condition."

The woman turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Tortured? I don't see any healed contusions."

"Remember when I told you there's a way to cause pain to the brain?" Harry asked.

"Directly?"

"Yes."

"So you're saying these people received so much pain to their brain that it shut down?"

Harry nodded and Neville walked out of the room, but Harry saw something that made his heart skip a beat.

His mother, Alice, who was staring at the wall, snuck a glance at him while he walked out, and then, her gaze slowly went back to the wall.

"I need to do tests, I can't simply look at them and give you a prognostic."

"Try it." Augusta hissed low.

"Sigh... I never heard about this pain you're talking about, because with enough pain, your body breaks. Your brain overheats and your body collapses. Your heart can't take it, so if I entertain the idea of this... mental pain existing, and the fact that they were subjected to it for hours as you said, their brain synapses must be gone. They must be bent and twisted because of the pain, so I can't really think of a way to get them back to normal."

"You can't, or you won't?"

The woman smiled at Harry.

"I have my career on the line here, lad, so don't talk to me like that. One more strike and I'm gone from the best Neuroscience center in the UK."

"We'll protect you." Harry sighed, and she shook her head.

"Look, I didn't ask about any of this, but forgive me if I don't believe in a lad and a woman wearing... that!" She pointed to Augusta who rolled her eyes, taking out her wand.

"Mrs. Longbottom?" Harry asked worried, and she gave him a cold glare.

"Quietus." She said while pointing to the door and the doctor frowned.

"Have you read tales about magic, Dr. Katherine?" She asked low.

"Magic?"

"Imperio."

Harry's eyes went wide when he saw Dr. Katherine's eyes lose focus, seeing an unforgivable curse being cast for the first time in his life.

After a few seconds, Augusta stopped, and the doctor fell, gasping.

"Can you understand what just happened?"

She looked up and snuck a glance at Harry.

"What the hell was that?"

"Take a seat." Harry instructed, seeing this was going to take some time.

"Right, I get it... this is not how I imagined my afternoon to go." Dr. Katherine said after Harry and Augusta explained everything she needed to know.

"So this is a secret- Why are you telling me?"

"Because I want you to help them." Augusta pointed.

"And if I can't?"

Augusta simply stared before answering.

"Harry told me how the muggle's knowledge of sciences has evolved... They can't do anything in here, but I can feel it that you muggles can."

Harry saw something then.

He saw that in Dr. Katherine's clothes, there were two snakes enveloping some kind of staff, or wand, and Harry frowned at that.

"Ms. Katherine?" Harry called.

"Doctor." She corrected him and he sighed.

"Can you tell me what is that?"

She looked to the symbol Harry was pointing at and frowned.

"The Caduceus?"

"Caduceus?"

"It's the medicine symbol, it's some old symbol that was carried by Hermes in Greek mythology."

Harry frowned at that again, wondering why in the world a wand with two snakes was the symbol of medicine.

"We're getting sidetracked, will you do it or not?" Augusta asked irritated.

"Well, you can just order me around, can't you?" Dr. Katherine hissed, and Augusta smiled.

"Yes, but I'd like your willing help."

The doctor looked at the two again, thinking for some time, while Harry was absorbed in thinking.

"Fine, but you have to protect me back in the hospital."

"If you manage to help them, I'm going to do so much more than protect you."

Dr. Katherine raised her eyebrows and Augusta looked at her son.

"Help them, and I'll give anything you dream of."

The doctor smiled and Harry walked away without a word.

1 week later.

It was near the end of January, and Harry was inside the reserved section, pulling books that started screaming at him, throwing those aside, going to books that tried to bite him, throwing them aside as well, until he found a promising one, but it just burst into flames, and he sighed, looking for another.

"Mr. Potter- How did you get in here?"

"Oh, hello there, Madam Pince."

"Don't hello me, how did you get in here?" The librarian asked irritated, looking at the doors open.

"Magic?" Harry gave her a tiny smile while tucking his invisibility cape deeper into his pockets, and her face became furious.

"Out!"

"Madam Pince, I'm doing research on something important-"

"I don't care! Without proper allowance, you can't-"

"It's to help the Longbottoms." Harry cut her short, and she stopped ranting, narrowing her eyes.

"What did you say?"

"Frank and Alice Longbottom, you know them, right?"

The librarian walked closer and stared at Harry for a few moments.

"What do you mean by helping them?"

Harry took a book he had separated and showed it to her.

"Read this, please."

Madam Pince took the book and read in a whisper.

"Parselmagic, the origin of medicine."

Harry leaned in his chair while she continued.

"Parselmagic is known as one of the oldest schools of magic that existed in our world, a school that goes centuries before Salazar Slytherin. Parselmagic manifested in a few individuals, who used their gifts to create ways to use its primary trait, this being healing through serpents. Parselmagic was the ancestor of medicine, where the predecessors of wizards would use their connections to serpents to feel things and create magic that would be able to meddle with their beings."

She paused and looked at Harry who was nodding, returning to the book.

"Inside those serpents, dormant magic resided, allowing those majestic creatures to feel things other animals could not. Their venom was also part of this ancient magic, just like its eyes, tongue, and body."

She stopped and pulled a chair.

"What are you trying to do, exactly?"

Harry smiled.

"I'm trying to find anything related to spells, enchantments, or potions that would help me use this Parselmagic through Ash and Ivy."

She nodded and got up, walking away without a word, returning after a few seconds with at least ten books floating beside her.

"Try these, I'll help." She sat again, opening a book, and Harry smirked.

"Changed your mind?"

She glared at him and whispered:

"What Alice and Frank endured for all of us- If you're telling me there's a small chance this could help them somehow, I owe to them trying."

Harry just stared, and after a few moments, took one of the new books, diving into old tales and new knowledge.

2 weeks later.

February came in and Harry found himself walking the hallways of a big hospital, arriving at the room he was told, seeing a lot of people waiting for him. They were all wearing muggles clothes, but Harry knew they were all wizards and witches.

"Took you long enough." Dr. Katherine said, and Harry smiled.

"So?" Harry asked while taking a seat beside Neville.

"Right, there's no way to sugarcoat this. After testing them for the past two weeks, I can say for sure that our medicine can't bring them back to normal."

Gasps and a few people started crying, but Harry was serene.

"What do you mean?" Augusta asked while hugging a woman.

"Look at this." She lit up a panel and they could see slices of their brains' scans. She started pointing while explaining.

"You see this? This area right here? Look at this other slice, this one belongs to a normal patient. See the differences?"

They could all see. There were parts in the Longbottom's brains that should be lighter, but they were completely black.

"Their brains really shut off. I never saw anything like it. I can only deduce that the pain was so great, that their brains tried to protect themselves by shutting down everything. No motor system, no pain receptor, no consciousness. The brain shut off all input signs to protect itself, and this right here." She pointed with a pen.

"It's the scarring I was telling you about. Even after shutting off, their brain was still hit with more pain- Just imagined you're being burned, and then the pain is unbearable, so your brain makes you faint so you don't feel pain, but your body is still burning. Even if by a miracle, you're able to wake up, your body is nothing but a numb burnt mass. I can't repair these connections, and I've been trying experimental drugs and treatments- Nothing was able to break the blockade."

"Meaning that if the scarring is gone, there's a chance for them to regain consciousness?" Harry asked, and she turned.

"Possibly. We have a few TBI drugs that may help their recovery, but no promises."

"Harry?" Neville asked low and Harry turned to him.

"Neville, I think I found a way."

"Huh?"

"But it will hurt them, shortly, but it will." Harry explained in a whisper, and Neville became white like a ghost.

"I- I need to ask granny."

"No, you need to decide." Harry whispered closer, holding his arm.

"I can't- Harry, I can't. They were tortured for hours- I can't put them through it again-"

"I know, but they are not alive, Neville. You can feel it, can't you? You can feel they're still in there, trapped inside their own minds."

Neville started shaking, tears falling, and Harry pressed his arm harder.

"You have to decide, Neville. What will it be?"

Neville started hyperventilating and Augusta noticed, getting up.

"What's going on?" She came toward the two, but Harry raised his hand for her to stop, while Neville was having a mental breakdown, but Harry kept holding his arm. It took almost a minute for him to calm down, looking up at Harry's eyes with regret on his face.

"Do it."

And Harry got up, opened his jacket, taking two black snakes, their scales full of bruises, their faces full of blisters and one of them was blind.

"Harry?!" Augusta asked when she saw the weird snakes, but Harry simply whispered to her.

"Quietus at the door, please."

Augusta widened her eyes but obeyed, moving her wand.

"Quietus."

And everyone eyed Harry positioning the snakes on top of Alice's chest, the same with Frank, hissing:

~Thank you again for doing this.~

The snake on top of Alice hissed slowly.

~We are grateful... for your invitation... thank you, wizard... for giving us purpose in death.~

And Harry raised his wand, hissing, making the snakes move to entangle themselves around their heads, and with another hiss, Harry moved his wand twice.

~Vipera Animahostia. Vipera Animahostia.~

And a flash of dark green light hit the snakes, which started assuming an ethereal form of themselves, as if it disintegrating, leaving only a green ghostly version of themselves, floating around Alice's and Frank's heads. And then, Harry heard their last hisses.

~Thank you.~

~Ah, I can see again.~

And they moved as if going inside their heads, but when their ethereal bodies touched their skin, they all heard a hissing sound, and for a moment, it looked like their bodies were being imprinted around their foreheads, and the markings faded, diving the room into silence. For at least a minute, nothing happened, until the screams made everyone jump, even Harry. They all saw Frank with his hands on his head, screaming from the top of his lungs, his eyes wide with terror, while Alice had her hands flaccid on the bed, screaming as well.

"WHAT THE HELL- HELP ME RESTRAIN THEM!" Dr. Katherine shouted while grabbing something from the insides of a drawer and the whole family ran to them, except Neville, who was simply staring blankly, his body shaking.

They pushed Frank down and held Alice's arms until Dr. Katherine applied something to their IV and the screams started to stop, becoming growls, and then, they dove into silence, their beds dirty.

"What did you do?!" Augusta turned to Harry who was staring at Katherine.

"You can help them now."

And then, Harry fainted.

When Harry regained consciousness, he frowned at the headache he had, trying to look around until he saw he was in a wide room, and besides him, was Sirius.

"Sirius?"

The man that was reading a paper got up in a rush, looking at Harry with worried eyes.

"Oh, my god- How are you feeling?" He asked in a rush, and Harry frowned.

"I'm ok... I guess- I just fainted, why are you so worried-"

Sirius looked at Harry for a few moments before whispering.

"Harry, you've been out for a week."

Harry frowned while trying to sit, but there was an IV in his arm, and he looked around, feeling really thirsty.

"What-"

"That doctor- Katherine, she said that you went into a coma- She couldn't tell why, but something was wrong with you."

Harry looked down and thought about what he read, remembering the definition of light collateral.

'How's this light collateral? Shit!'

Harry looked aside and saw that this room also had more patients in it, seeing Frank and Alice there as well. A family member sitting in a chair, looking at him with worried eyes.

And then the door went open and Dr. Katherine entered.

"You're awake- How are you feeling?" She asked while coming closer, looking at his chart.

"Hungry?" Harry said while trying to sit straight.

"Easy there, one week out is not to be taken kindly. You scared us, you know that?"

"Sorry."

"What did you do to them?" Dr. Katherine asked in a whisper and Harry frowned, looking at the couple again.

"What you mean?"

She moved and grabbed a folder, taking slices from it, and showed them to Harry against the light.

"Notice something different?"

And Harry could see that the parts that were dark were slightly lighter.

"They woke up?"

"No, I'm keeping them into an induced coma until I can be sure they are ready to wake up, but their brains' condition is improving day by day with the drugs."

Harry nodded, looking for his phone.

"Looking for this?" Sirius asked while talking out his phone, waving it.

"Yea, what day is it?"

"Saturday."

Harry took the phone and looked at the number of messages it had from Chloe, sighing.

"So, are you going to share?" The doctor pushed and Harry nodded, regretting it when his head hurt like hell.

"It's called Parselmagic."

"Of course." She smiled and Harry continued.

"It's an old kind of magic that I found- See that symbol you have in your coat? That's not from Greek mythology. That came from the Parselmagic school. That's a wand, and the snakes around it represent the old way of healing." He pointed, and the woman looked down at her coat, nodding.

"At first, I thought this magic was simple, just like most of our spells are, but this one is not the same. For starters, it's not a spell... it's a sacrifice."

"Sacrifice of what?" Sirius asked.

"Of lives. You sacrifice your snakes for the gift of healing. You take their magic away to shape it into the healing you need, so in order to use it, you have to kill your snakes."

"That's why you didn't use Ivy and Ash?" Sirius asked and Harry nodded again, groaning.

"Damn it- Yes. I couldn't bring myself to kill my snakes- I mean, I couldn't even kill normal snakes- They are not just animals to me... they are beings with voices, minds, pasts-"

"But you did it anyway." Katherine said, and Harry sighed.

"I found two who were... close to death, and I asked them if they would help me."

The two just stared at Harry, who had a sad expression, remembering their talk, their will to help, and their happy hisses when they were disappearing. Harry nodded to himself, feeling a sadness without precedent, blinking repeatedly, but the tears were there, and he used his free hand to wipe them.

"Ah- I read that the Parselmagic is strong and that it would take its toll on me, but I didn't know to what extent- I guess this is made only for adults to use."

"And you didn't think about asking for opinions before gambling with your life?" Sirius hissed, getting up to walk around.

"Sorry."

"Argh-"

"But what about them?" Harry asked while looking to the side again.

"Well, their vitals are the best they have ever been. I was thinking about waking them up tomorrow to check how they're doing."

Harry nodded, lying down again because his head spun.

"Could you wake me when you do? I'm taking a nap."

The two smiled, and Harry closed his eyes again.

The next day, Harry was finishing eating a sandwich while waiting, seeing a known face approaching the cafeteria.

"Hey."

"Ms. Chloe." Harry nodded, and she sat.

"I heard from Kath about what happened- Are you ok?"

"Relatively."

They stood in silence for a few moments until she asked.

"So this whole thing is being done so you can help your friend's parents?"

Harry stopped mid-bite, looking at the table before looking up at her.

"It's more than that. I'm not doing this just because he's my friend, I'm doing it because they deserve help for what they suffered."

"If they are heroes like Kath told me, why has nobody tried to help them before?"

"They did, but they only used the magical way. Wizards and Witches don't trust muggles, so they would never ask them for help unless they really needed it."

"And you're the same?"

Harry bit his food again, chewing before answering.

"I lived all my life as a muggle, and I've been a wizard for 5 months, so I consider myself more of one of you than one of them."

They went quiet again, and Harry looked at her face, seeing something in there.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed before answering.

"Your friends back in the Scotland Yard are asking me questions. I think it's a matter of time until- I think they know something."

Harry sighed as well, leaning back in his chair.

"What did they say?"

"They asked where I was that night because I had clocked in. They asked about my investigation and when I answered I didn't know about any investigation they bought it, but then, they came asking questions again."

Harry nodded, thinking about the situation. He really needed a connection to the muggle world, and this woman was his best option, a high-ranked officer of the law was too valuable to let go, so he took a piece of parchment and started writing.

"What are you doing?" She asked with a frown.

"Handling it. I told you I'd protect you, didn't I?"

She just remained quiet while Harry kept writing.

"Psst! Harry!" A voice called, and they both turned to see Neville calling Harry.

"What's up?"

"It's time." Neville said and Harry got up.

"Let's go."

The room was big enough for all Longbottoms to be there and still have space to spare, and Harry got close, seeing Frank and Alice lying down while a machine beeped.

"Right, I must warn you that the thing that happened last time may happen again, so be prepared." Katherine said and moved closer, pushing something from a syringe into their tubes.

Harry crossed his fingers, sneaking glances at Neville who was pale white.

The minutes passed by after the medicine was administered, and they started thinking it didn't work until they saw it. Alice opened her eyes slowly and Harry flinched, waiting for the screams, but she just kept still, looking at the ceiling, until Katherine moved forward, asking for help from a nurse, gently pulling her up, fixing the bed so she was sitting.

Harry moved closer without meaning, seeing a faint mark on her forehead where the snakes were absorbed, seeing her empty gaze.

"Right, this is good." Katherine said while flashing a light in her eyes, touching her arms.

And then, Harry saw Neville moving slowly, until he was by her side, crawling up her bed until their faces were close.

"Mom? Can you hear me?" He whispered and Harry held his breath, looking for a signal, and then, he saw her eyes moving slowly to his face, staring at him, who sobbed and hugged her.

"Careful there-" Katherine started, but then something happened.

A miracle.

They all saw Alice's right hand trembling before it started shaking, and then, her arm moved slowly until it was around Neville, making everyone unable to even speak, just watching incredulously as it happened, and then Harry saw. Harry saw tears falling down her face, feeling a shiver running through his body, and at that moment, he felt something, a touch on his shoulder, turning to see who it was, but there was no one there.

After Pettigrew's incident and Longbottom's recovery, Harry was the star of the moment again, receiving daily letters with presents and praises. It was the middle of February when Harry was finally able to focus on Hogwarts again, still thinking about Chloe and Katherine and their roles from now on. Augusta wanted to obliviate Katherine, but Harry thought that to be the most disrespectful thing one could do to someone who helped you, so instead, he tried haggling with her, offering her money and new status in her hospital. It took only a talk with the president and the willingness to donate a few million pounds for him to handle the Neuro ward to her. Chloe was also protected, because Harry made sure to put Scrimgeour's word to prove, giving him the first request, explaining he needed Chloe, not telling why or what she knew, but the next day, he received a text from her saying that the Aurors had moved out of Scotland Yard.

His two new assets were in the clear for now, so it was time to turn his attention to other matters.

Parselmagic.

Harry read the old journal Madam Pince found for him so many times it started tearing the pages, but there was nothing about a way to use Parselmagic as an infant. He sighed and stashed the journal again, leaving that aside for the moment.

After a third-year class, Harry had the afternoon off, so he went outside the castle, sitting below a shadow in the garden, taking his small notebook, but before he could write anything, he felt a presence and looked up to see Daphne.

"Sorry to bother you in your free time." She said low and Harry shook his head.

"It's not a bother. What's going on?"

"Have you talked to Neville?"

"No? What happened?"

"It's the talk of the moment, the Longbottoms are awake." Daphne said while sitting beside Harry.

"Well, last time I saw them they were already awake-"

"No, they are awake." She put emphasis on the last word, and Harry's eyes widened.

"Where's Neville?"

"Gone. I bet he's with them right now."

Harry nodded, smiling without meaning to, and then, he heard Daphne chuckling.

"It was really you, wasn't it? The muggle doctor they were brought to. No one would think of bringing muggles into the matter."

Harry smiled and lay on his back again, smiling.

"Maybe."

"What have you done, Harry?"

Harry looked at her and she was serious.

"I got new pieces for our board."

"Oh, so now we're pieces?" Daphne asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Aw, don't be offended, I'm not saying you're pawns, that's something, right?"

She giggled.

"What's the next step?"

"For now? Studying and training. I got my hands on so much that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. These moments of peace are becoming rarer by the days, so for now the next step is to use the calmness before the storm to become strong."

She smiled, but her smile was not genuine, and Harry narrowed his eyes.

"What's troubling you?"

"While you were away I talked to the Baron."

"Oh- What you found?" Harry sat in a heartbeat, his eyes eager.

"It took a few days to make him... answer, but when he did, he was very enigmatic. I asked about the blood and he only said it was a sin of love. I asked how he died and he didn't answer, and all the times that I started a conversation he simply flew away.

Harry placed his chin in his hands, frowning, trying to understand.

"And then, the weirdest thing happened."

Harry looked at her and she had a broad smile.

"The Grey Lady talked to me."

Harry frowned and leaned closer.

"What did she say?"

"For me to quote, stop prying into matters of the past, end quote."

Harry laughed out loud at that, getting up and raising his arms up.

"I told you! They are hiding something, oh my god, this is so good."

"So I guess we're back on ghost duty?" Daphne asked while pouting, but Harry shook his head.

"No, we have more important things, for now, so I'll let them be for the moment. Thank you for talking to them for me."

"You're very welcome."

"I'll take the afternoon off and go see Neville, you wanna come?"

"I can't. I asked professor Snape and you're the only student that can leave on their own because you're also a teacher."

"Well, this teacher is inviting you to join, so?" He asked with a smile and Daphne smiled back.

"Fine."

And they got up, unaware of the person watching them from afar.

AN: Review?