Chances To Come
Chapter Eleven
Relapse and Riddles
Draco and Harry somewhat enjoyed the summer, they teased Dudley when they could and Draco was glad that he at least didn't have to stay in the bushes. But after about a month, Draco started to regress and Harry noticed he wasn't as energetic as usual, but Draco wouldn't admit it.
One day, the Dursleys went out and left Harry and Draco with Mrs. Figg. She let them stay in the backyard mostly and Harry took more enjoyment than he might have expected making Draco fetch. He could hear soft growls coming from his friend every time he grinned and threw the stick again.
As Draco spat the stick back onto Harry's feet, he felt himself changing back into a human, though he tried to stop it.
Harry raised his eyebrows and glanced at the window to make sure Mrs. Figg wasn't watching them. "Draco, what are you doing?"
"I can't help it, Harry," said Draco, only succeeding in keeping his tail and at that point he gave in and the tail disappeared. "Something's wrong… I don't know why I changed back."
While thinking about this for a moment, Harry's head snapped up. "I hear movement inside of the house, Mrs. Figg is probably coming to check on us, quick, get into the bushes!"
Draco disappeared from sight seconds before Mrs. Figg opened the door. "Harry dear, is everything okay out here?" she asked kindly, smiling at Harry briefly before frowning. "Where's Dragon?"
"Oh, we got tired of fetch so we decided to play hide and seek," Harry said, quickly making up something and almost cursing to himself at how ridiculous he sounded.
"I see…" said Mrs. Figg slowly. "Well, make sure you find him before he runs off, it wouldn't do if he got caught by some lousy dog catcher."
Harry nodded quickly. "I will, Mrs. Figg."
"Well, I'll come check on you two later, have fun," she turned to go back inside but a sudden noise from the bushes caught her attention. It didn't sound like a dog, she knew and she saw Harry looking anxious. He slowly started towards the bushes and peeked through them. He turned his head away, closing his eyes. Mrs. Figg was growing rather curious.
"Harry dear, is something wrong?"
Harry glanced back into the bushes and racked his mind for another lie. "No, it just looks like you haven't cleaned back here in a while. Whatever made the noise must be gone by now."
Mrs. Figg had seen right through it he knew he could tell by looking at her and she walked over to him. "Harry, you don't have to be afraid to tell me the truth. Now let me see." She moved him aside gently and he reached out to stop her but she'd seen Draco already.
"Oh dear… Come on; let's get inside and talk. I think you two have some explaining to do."
Draco gulped but Harry looked at the kind old lady and suddenly didn't feel afraid anymore.
Seated on one of the couches with Mrs. Figg sitting across from them – each of them also with drinks in front of them -, they related their story best they could. They were sure to cover up Hogwarts with a prep school and other various small things to make sure it would sound completely natural. When they'd finished, Mrs. Figg smiled at them.
"Good job, boys."
Harry blinked and looked at Draco who was as confused as he was.
"I'm glad to see you have enough common sense to fabricate a story together without contradicting each other. Very impressive."
"We're not lying," said Draco.
"Dears, I know about Hogwarts," she said simply then looked at Draco, "and we best get you back there to get you checked up on, child, you're a mess."
"You… you know? How?" said Harry, relieved, hopeful, and a little scared all at the same time.
"My parents went there when they were your age, but me… I didn't quite have the talent for it." As she spoke, Mrs. Figg picked up her glass of tea and sipped it. "Anyway, I do have some Floo Powder and I think it's about time you went back. You're welcome to stay here if you want, but I must say, I'm not all that gifted in Healing."
Harry stood and crossed the room to take Mrs. Figg's hand, speaking two simple words very softly.
"Thank you."
It took all the strength Draco had not to empty his stomach when he tumbled out of the fireplace into the Great Hall. Harry helped him up and turned around only to see Dumbledore waiting for them with a small smile on his face.
"Dumbledore!" Harry gasped.
"I knew it would not be long until you two found your way back here, and Arabella was kind enough to let me know ahead of time also."
"Sir, Draco may be having a relapse, we've got to get him to Madam Pomfrey."
At those words, Draco started grumbling. He knew it was coming, but he didn't like it.
Dumbledore nodded. "You know the way. I'll be in my office, so if you need to reach me, just ask Poppy."
It took Harry a second to remember Poppy was Madam Pomfrey's first name and he nodded then Dumbledore left.
"Guess it wasn't a small virus, huh?" Draco mumbled as they headed up to the hospital wing.
"Guess so. I wish it had been though."
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think it could be this Sidus Morbus thing?"
"I don't know, Draco, it could be a number of things."
Draco nodded slightly, but he didn't like that answer, because to him it sounded like a cushioned "yes."
Madam Pomfrey was smoothing out some of the bed linens when they walked in. She turned and immediately she knew what must have happened. She gave Draco a sad smile and drew back the blankets on one of the beds. Obediently he took his place on it and sighed softly as she did a few tests then retreated to her office for a minute before coming out with a small bottle.
"What's this?" he asked, uncorking it and swallowing it in three gulps.
"It's a Compescor Potion. It should help at least a little. Now Harry, come into my office for a minute, I want to show you something."
Harry glanced at Draco who shrugged, and then he followed Madam Pomfrey into her office.
She searched through her bookshelf then brought out an old-looking one that was about as dog-eared as it could get and the pages were an almost unnatural shade of yellow. She opened it carefully then removed two pages and handed them to him. He glanced at her before he started to read.
Of all the deadly diseases,
Sidus Morbus rules them all,
For it deceives and teases
Before taking it's deadly toll.
No one thus far has survived it
Once it has chosen its prey,
But find the Sano Sidus and you might
Lengthen your living days.
One piece hides amongst those
Who know not of us,
Find it behind the White Rose –
The pure you can trust.
Another piece you may find
In a most unexpected way,
For it comes from one who is kind
Who can turn night into day.
And yet another piece
That connects the other two
You won't find at ease,
Best let it come to you.
Harry frowned at the poem and looked up at Madam Pomfrey.
"It is an old, old riddle who few to none pay any mind to – no one knows how finding three pieces that fit together could help, but I leave it up to you if you want to look for them."
Harry nodded slightly then looked at the other page in his hand.
No greater love is this
Than who gives his life for a friend,
To save from Death's gentle kiss,
To delay a bitter end.
Out of all the things that come,
Out of all the things that may,
You may give your life to whom
Would need the Delego Vita.
"Far more simple, is it not?" said Madam Pomfrey.
Harry nodded. "Far more tragic too."
"Well, nothing is for certain yet, but I knew that if you were going to look for those pieces you'd need an early start, and that second poem is like a plan B if all else fails."
Harry nodded again, folded up the papers gently and put them into his pocket. "Will you excuse me, Madam Pomfrey?"
"Of course, child."
Harry got up and left the office. He took his seat next to Draco's bed, completely silent, and contemplating all he'd just read.
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A/N: Short, I know, sorry! And I don't know how long it'll be until I update again either.
Yes, I actually did write those poems. I kind of cheated though, 'cause the first part of the second poem is from the Bible.
John 15:13 reads "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." The context is different, but the verse still helped with the poem. Please no one kill me for using the Bible with Harry Potter! :: Hides ::
I suppose in my own way it could be considered a "so there" for all these "Christian" book-burners. Yep, I feel mature now.
Anyway… time for me to respond to my reviewers then shut up 'til next chapter.
sak: Thanks.
DreamingToThis: Lol, it was four years. And I think I'll leave the Harry angst to Draco's disease. Also, I have no idea how I came up with Harry turning into a horse lol. It just kinda clicked, so… yeah. Thanks, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Oh, and hope your job is going well.
Kaaera: There you go. ^.^ Thanks for your review!
Kage Miko: Sorry, no details as to the Dudley-torturing, but I may come back and add some later.
Just-some-girl1: Thanks for you review. Glad you enjoy my little story.
:: Hands out cookies, as always :: Thanks a bundle everyone!
~Sabre Black.