Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters. =/

Chapter 82

Harry started waking up. He automatically reached for his glasses only to hit something soft. When he opened his eyes, he saw Gabriella rubbing her arm.

Yesterday came flooding back to him as well as a wave a nausea. He turned his head the other direction and threw up. He was doing that way too much lately.

Madam Pomphrey came in the room and waved her wand at the vomit to make it vanish.

"Sorry," he managed to croak out. His throat was sore. Had he been screaming?

"How are you feeling, Mr. Potter?"

Harry sat up in bed while Gabby moved to one of the empty chairs. "Like I've been run over by the Knight Bus."

"You're going to be in here for a few days, just so you know."

Harry nodded. "Does anyone have any extra glasses lying around? Merlin only knows where I lost mine at."

"I can perform the eye sight repairing charm on your eyes but it only lasts 24 hours. I'll see about getting you another set of glasses made. Do you know your eye prescription?"

Harry shook his head. "When my first grade teacher told the Dursley's I needed glasses, they took me to a Goodwill Store and let me pick a pair out of the bin."

"You've never seen an eye doctor?"

Harry shrugged. "No."

Madam Pomphrey muttered under her breath while she cast the charm on Harry's eyes.

"Woah."

"What is it?" asked Gabby.

"Is this how you all see all the time? Everything's so sharp ... and clear."

Gabriella laughed. "Well never have another shot at that Quidditch Cup again if you can see better now than you could before."

"Miss Nott, you'll need to step outside so I can examine Mr. Potter. Tell Professor Lupin that he's awake but not to come in just yet."

"Yes ma'am."

As soon as Gabriella left, Madam Pomphrey started scanning him. "Your leg will need to be in the brace for a couple more days. The bone is mended but we need to give the muscles and joints time to heal as well."

Harry nodded. "What time is it?"

"Five in the morning."

"Did you make everyone leave?"

"I tried around 2 am when I came in to check on you but they insisted on staying. They're in the beds out in the main part of the infirmary. Ms. Nott, Padfoot, and Remus stayed in here."

Harry was surprised she had let Gabriella stay in the room over night with him but realized that it probably wasn't such a big deal since they hadn't been left alone, plus she had probably slept in the chair.

"I need you to take a couple more potions while I work on the cut across your chest."

"Why hasn't it healed yet?" he asked curiously.

"Because it's not a normal cut."

Harry frowned but downed the potions anyway. "I feel dizzy," he said suddenly.

Madam Pomphrey looked at Harry as his eyes rolled back into his head. She cursed and started working on him again.

At 6am, the Headmaster came into the infirmary. "You kids need to go get cleaned up. I'm holding a mandatory assembly this morning at breakfast. Ms. Nott, hold on for a second."

After the Gryffindors left, the Headmaster turned towards Gabriella. "Harry told you Voldemort was back right?"

She nodded.

"Do you feel safe going back to the Slytherin dorms?"

"I'll be fine sir. I may not always act like I belong in Slytherin, but there's a reason I'm there. I'll find a way to spin this."

The Headmaster chuckled. "If you ever feel unsafe, for any reason, come to me or any of the other professors. Arrangements can be made."

"Thank you sir." Gabriella then left the infirmary.

The Headmaster headed towards the private room where Harry was being kept.

"I thought he was better?" he asked as he entered the room.

"He's better than he was last night but it's still going to be a tough couple of days."

Albus nodded.

"Any word from Severus?" she asked as she cast a spell to change Harry's sheets.

"No and I'm seriously concerned."

"You needn't be Headmaster. I'm alright."

Everyone turned towards the door.

"Severus. Thank God," said Albus. He pulled the man into a hug.

Severus bore the hug patiently and even patted the Headmaster on the back before walking further into the room and shutting the door. Albus shot a spell at it so no one would open it.

"How is Harry?"

Sirius turned back into himself and glared at Snape, no doubt for using the boy's first name.

"He's had better days. Severus, can you reverse any of these? They're the only ones I've not been able to find a reversal to yet."

Severus took the list and looked it over. He saw a line drawn through the withering curse. His head shot up, eyes filled with alarm.

"It was caught in time," she said.

He nodded then resumed scanning the list. "Where was he hit with 'Sectumsempra'?

"His chest. I don't know a counter to it and I've been changing the bandages often and giving him blood replenishing potions to counter balance what he's lost."

Severus went to Potter's bedside and removed the bandage on his chest with deft fingers. He berated himself for not recognizing the spell last night as he murmured some Latin under his breath while he traced his wand along side of the wound.

Everyone watched as the wound knitted itself closed.

"How did you know to do that?" demanded Sirius after making sure that Harry didn't wake up.

Severus stood back up. "Because that curse is one I invented myself when I was in school. Poppy, I'll write down the counter for you."

"You invented that?" demanded Sirius.

"I did."

"I outta -"

"Gentlemen, cease the hostilities."

"I brought a copy of the Daily Prophet with me. I had assumed it would be good news to you Black. I don't think I'll show it to you now."

"Let me see Severus. It hadn't been delivered yet when I came down this morning."

Albus took the paper and unfolded it.

On the front page, in huge letters was the rotating headline:

'Sirius Black Innocent!'

'Proof of Peter Pettigrew Alive!'

'You-Know-Who's Possible Return!'

'Last night, at the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory claimed simultaneous victory by retrieving the Tri-Wizard Cup together. However, that victory was short lived. When the boys touched the cup, they discovered that it had been turned into an illegal port key.

There had been a viewing screen set up so everyone watched as the boys were ambushed. Sadly, Cedric Diggory was killed by the illegal killing curse. Hogwarts will mourn that students' loss greatly. Harry Potter, however, appeared to be the real target. He was tied to the Headstone by none other than long believed dead, Peter Pettigrew.

Mr. Potter, known for defeating You-Know-Who at the age of 15 months, pleaded with Pettigrew to not go through with the plan to bring You-Know-Who back to his body. However, the spectators of the third task was disrupted of viewing the rest of the events due to an imposter disguised as Alastor Moody destroying the viewer.

An hour and a half after Mr. Potter was taken, he arrived back at Hogwarts near death. Evidence was then gathered, showing proof that it was indeed the real Peter Pettigrew.

Madam Bones pulled Sirius Black's old trial records and found that there wasn't any old trial record. There was just a single piece of parchment that had Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts, saying that to his knowledge, Sirius Black had been the Potter's secret keeper but that he had no proof. There had also been an auror report of the day Pettigrew had been supposedly killed.

It is summarized as saying that Black did not resist arrest and that as he was led away, all he said in his defense was, "There was no way he thought of that on his own."

Albus Dumbledore (defeater of the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald) talked with Madam Bones and said that he has since learned that Peter Pettigrew had been the Potter's secret keeper and offered proof. She called an emergency hearing of the Wizengamot last night and they declared Sirius Black innocent of all charges.

The Aurors are currently looking for Peter Pettigrew to question him in regards to the Potter's deaths and also in regards to the events last evening that left one student dead and another badly injured.

Albus Dumbledore commented on the fact that Harry Potter did wake up long enough to say that You-Know-Who is back. The Headmaster believes him and encourages everyone to take caution as you go about your everyday life.

Minister Fudge denies You-Know-Who being back. "He's dead and I will not disrupt the peace that we've strived 13 years to achieve. Now go away!"

The door was then slammed in this reporter's face. The Minister would not even comment on the now known innocence of Sirius Black.

"It goes on for at least another two pages," the Headmaster said as he finished reading part of the article out loud.

Sirius had a hopeful look on his face. "Is it true Albus? Am I free? Honest to goodness free?"

Albus smiled. "You are. I returned from the Wizengamot at dawn. I was going to let Harry tell you."

Sirius hugged Albus. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me Sirius. I'm not the one that offered up the proof."

"Who?"

"I'm not at liberty to say. All Madam Bones needed to see was physical proof of Peter Pettigrew to finish clearing your name. We've been working on it since last year. Some of the blood on Harry's robes belonged to Pettigrew. Since blood can't be faked, it was the last thing she needed."

"Please tell me my rights as Harry's godfather were reinstated."

Albus reached into his robes and handed over the paperwork stating that he was free. "They were. And just so you know, I registered your animagus form quietly."

Sirius nodded. "I can't wait to tell him," he said as he looked at Harry's still pale but sleeping form. Sirius was so engrossed at the possibility of telling Harry he was free, that he missed the pained look on Severus' face. Remus and Albus, however, both saw it.

"Severus, I've called a mandatory assembly of all the houses this morning. I imagine you're more tired than I am but you need to attend."

"Where is Ms. Nott?"

"I talked to her and told her that if she ever felt unsafe, she was to tell a professor. She assured me that she'd be fine, that she was in Slytherin for a reason."

Severus nodded.

"We'll be back gentlemen."

"Albus, I need to stay here. Between Potter and Alastor, my hands are full."

The Headmaster nodded.

"They're all accounted for and present," told each head of house to the Headmaster. "All of the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton students are here as well," added Flitwick.

Albus then stood up to get everyone's attention.

"Last night Cedric Diggory was killed by the Killing Curse. Hogwarts lost a brilliant student and a brave and kind young man. We will be holding a memorial service for him in three days.

"What most of you may, or may not know, is that last night, the man that calls himself Lord Voldemort was reborn. I sent the majority of everyone away before the imposter disguised as Alastor Moody destroyed the viewer, which made you miss some of the events that occurred.

"The imposter was the one that entered Harry Potter into the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He was the one that turned the cup into a port key that took Cedric and Harry away from the school.

"Last night, Voldemort and Harry fought and Harry did indeed manage to return back to the castle. He was very badly injured. As a result, he will be in the hospital wing at least until the end of the semester.

"There will be no descending upon the hospital wing to see him or talk to him. If he is released sooner, you all are not to ask him any questions. He fought and survived through a harrowing ordeal. If he chooses to talk about it, then that will be on him, but you are not to press the issue if he chooses to stay silent.

"Now, with Voldemort returned, everyone needs to be on their guard. No matter who you are, where you are from, who your parents are, or what your past is, if you need sanctuary or protection come to me or to another professor. You will not be judged.

"One last thing before you resume your breakfast. Your parents will most likely be horrified of everything I just told you but I will not lie to you. There is no reason to do so in my position. I am charged with your safety and I take it very seriously. When you read today's prophet, you will see that the Minister does not agree that Voldemort is back. I'm sure he has he reasons for that, whatever they may be.

"Now, I've spoken long enough. If you have any questions about anything, you may ask one of your teachers or even myself if I am available. Go back to your breakfast."

Albus re-took his seat. Slowly the noise level in the Great Hall resumed it's normal level.

Albus sat down in the chair behind his desk. He blindly downed a pepper up potion. He was exhausted.

Severus wasn't looking much better.

"Severus are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm just tired. I wasn't tortured."

"Did he question you?"

"All night long with veritaserum."

Albus head snapped up. "Severus?"

Severus sighed. It was time to come clean. "Six years ago, I developed a form of ... half-immunity to it."

"And how did you develop that?"

"I brewed a variation of the antidote and I injected it straight into my veins. I knew that when the Dark Lord did return, there was a possibility that I would not get to drink it before I was interrogated." Severus reached into his robes to pull out his personal potions grimoire. He flipped to the appropriate page and slid it across the Headmaster's desk. "I never told you because I knew that you would be obliged to report it. I've never told anyone about it actually. I couldn't risk it falling into the wrong hands that I could do this."

"I wouldn't have told anyone Severus," said Albus. He didn't need to see Severus' notes so he closed the book. "And I understand you not telling me. How does it work?"

"When I'm given veritaserum, I answer questions in a monotone voice and I do have to tell the truth, but only the version of the truth I want known. Even if it's slipped unknowingly to me, I'd be able to tell I ingested it and the result would be the same." Severus put the book back in his robes. "I was questioned the entire time I was gone with it. I was actually afraid he was going to overdose me."

"Did he say anything?"

"He was hoping to keep his return a secret. I imagine he's not going to be pleased with Pettigrew being revealed either."

"Did you see any other Death Eaters?"

"Just the Dark Lord and Nagini. He said he had Pettigrew off preparing his new base of operations. Merlin only knows where that will be."

Albus stroked his beard. "Is Riddle aware of his connection with Harry yet?"

"What connection? You've never fully explained this to me." Severus' voice was laced with annoyance.

"That's because I'm not sure how it works, I just know it's there."

"Just tell me what you know. Maybe I can help you figure it out."

Albus sighed. Perhaps it was time to tell Severus some of what he suspected. "All I know is that Harry's scar is more than a scar. As Tom grew stronger this past year, so did Harry's connection with him. Harry's first vision was before the Quidditch World Cup. He wrote to Sirius, who in turn, told me."

"And you still let him go to the game?"

Albus nodded. "He cannot quit living his life and he was protected there, more so than I'm sure he realizes. Later visions came with Tom's mood swings. Harry wrote me a note telling me each vision he had."

The Headmaster reached into a drawer and pulled out a box. "They're in this."

"So that day I came across Potter having a vision, he was really seeing through the Dark Lord's eyes?"

"He was."

"Does this hurt him?" asked Severus.

"Harry said that he gets dizzy and nauseous each time it happens. His scar sometimes bleeds and it hurts him. After a couple of hours, the symptoms normally go away. It's definitely not a pleasant sensation."

Severus frowned. "Would occlumency help him?"

Albus raised a brow. "It should. I've been giving it some serious consideration. I'm worried that Tom can exploit the connection once he realizes that it's there. He might plant images in Harry's mind. It wouldn't take much for him to go blindly rushing off to save someone."

"I fully expect him to give me a heart attack, just so you know," Severus said wryly. "Were you planning on teaching him occlumency when you give him lessons on how to manage his power level?"

"I'm not going to be giving him lessons on how to manage his power levels unless he asks me for them."

"Why?" demanded Severus, shocked.

"Because he appears to be a natural at managing his power already. The only reason that he went to Poppy was because he couldn't find any books that described the glow he was seeing. He thought his power level was perfectly normal."

"Albus, you can teach him how to embrace his power and how to use it to his fullest extent."

"And in doing so, I would feel like -" Albus cut off when an elf suddenly appeared in the room.

"Sir, Minister Fudge and 3 auror's is being here to see you and Harry Potter. The minister is looking very upset."

Albus sighed. Clearly he wasn't going to get any sleep any time soon. "Take them to the hospital wing, the long way."

The elf grinned. "Yes sir. The stairs might accidently take us to the wrong floor too!"

After the elf vanished, Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a potion. He downed it quickly and became invisible. They then floo'd to the infirmary.

"Poppy, Fudge is on his way up here. I have no idea what he wants but it can't be good." The Headmaster walked into the private room. "Sirius, change into Padfoot. The minister is on his way up here and even though you are free, I'd rather not push his buttons today."

He nodded and changed.

Severus went and stood in the corner so he wouldn't be accidently hit.

Fifteen minutes later, Fudge and 3 aurors entered the room.

"We're here to question Mr. Potter under veritaserum. You are to wake him up now."

"Minister, the boy needs his rest. He is still healing."

"Wake him up! Now!"

"Oy! There's no need to yell Ron, I'm awake," muttered Harry. "Keep Hermione away from the cold water."

Albus couldn't help but chuckle. "Harry. Minister Fudge is here to see you."

To everyone's disbelief, Fudge shoved Albus out of the way and went to the bedside, jerked Harry's jaw open and dumped an entire vial of Veritaserum into his mouth before anyone could react.

That woke Harry up in a flash and he responded with a wave of accidental magic that sent Fudge flying across the room and into the wall with a sickening crunch.

"Cornelius! I'll report you for that," said Albus. He had such a fire in his eyes that it made even the Auror's back up.

"What did he do to me?" coughed out Harry.

Fudge tried to get up from the floor holding his now broken arm. "I gave you veritaserum, boy!"

Harry flinched at the word boy. A nearby chair started to rattle.

Remus carefully put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Calm down Harry."

Harry took a deep breath. He started sweating and got really dizzy. "Remus..."

Madam Pomphrey put a rag on Harry's forehead after pushing him back down. "Minister, you need to leave. That much veritaserum with all the other potions in him can poison him."

"Not until I get the truth. Is You-Know-Who back?"

Harry opened his eyes and truly glanced around the room for the first time. It was spinning.

"Is You-Know-Who truly back?" he asked again.

Harry looked at Fudge. "Yes, Voldemort is back and if you don't believe me, ask Auror O'Bannen. He was there after his rebirth," Harry said as he shifted his gaze from Fudge to the Auror standing in the doorway.

To everyone's horror, the auror pulled an object out of his robes and tossed it at Harry.

It was like one of those moments where about 10 things happened at once - seemingly in slow motion.

Sirius resumed his normal self and made to grab for the object, only to miss.

Remus shot a stunning spell at the same time another Auror shot a binding spell at Auror O'Bannen.

Auror Shacklebolt (who was accompanying the Minister as well) shot a binding spell at Fudge.

Albus had shot a blasting charm at the object, which hit it's mark.

Severus, who had picked up the veritaserum bottle when Harry had flung Fudge across the room, sniffed it. An alarmed expression came over his face, not that anyone could see it since he was invisible.

And Harry, as soon as he had outed Auror O'Bannen as a Death Eater, he started convulsing.

Then within the next second, everyone was talking at once.

Remus dragged the bound auror and Fudge out of the room.

Suddenly there was a shrill whistle. Everyone saw the bottle Snape had in his hand float in the air. "Albus, it's not veritaserum," came the invisible voice of Severus. "It's Fervenus*."

"Severus, are you sure?"

"I am. It has a distinct smell."

"We need to take him to St. Mungo's," said Sirius.

"No," said Snape. "I'll return in 2 minutes. Poppy, put a bezoar in his mouth and a calming draught in his stomach, as well as one to prevent nausea."

When Severus returned 2 minutes later (invisible by charm and not potion this time), he saw Shacklebolt and the other Auror standing guard over the stunned Death Eater and obviously insane Fudge. If he had his way, he'd kill Fudge himself after this.

Severus entered the room and closed the door. He then turned himself visible again. He handed Poppy 5 potion vials and a piece of paper. "If this is followed to the letter, the potion won't hurt him."

"I want to take him to St. Mungo's," hissed Sirius.

"No Black," snarled Severus right back.

"He's right Sirius. We can ask a healer to come here but Harry will be too exposed in St. Mungo's."

Poppy spelled the first potion into Harry.

"What do we do now?" asked Remus.

"Now. Now we wait and we pray," replied Albus solemnly.

*Fervenus is very very very loosely translated as Liquid Fire. Very loosely. =)

A/N: *whistles innocently* Would ya look at that? Man, it's another cliff-hanger! *grins and ducks the flying objects*

So, I played around with how Snape could withstand so much Veritaserum, and while I wasn't originally keen on the idea of him having injected it straight into his veins, I figured it was the best way to go. Voldemort could have known if he had taken a pre-antidote before hand, plus it would have eventually worn off. If you don't like it, I'm sorry. =/

I'm sure a few of you are wondering if I am going to give everyone a happy ending. I will say that I'm a big fan of them myself, but that main reason I freed Sirius now was that I needed him free for a major plot early in the 5th book. Besides, what a better time than to do it now? Most everyone had seen Pettigrew on the viewer. Plus, I'm going on the assumption that the wizarding world has way's of detecting if blood had been falsified or randomly planted a lot easier than in the muggle world. It's magic after all! *grins*

And also, I'm going out of town to visit relatives this week. I'm actually supposed to be leaving in 6 hours. I should be sleeping but wanted to get this out. My dad and step-mom do not have internet (it's ghastly!) so unless I can find someplace to connect, I won't be able to get another chapter up until this weekend. I am taking my netbook and all of my notes in order to keep working on it though. Hopefully as a reward for everyone's patience, I'll be able to post a couple chapter's fairly quickly when I return.

Have a safe week! *set's out lots of treat's to lure review's while I'm gone this week*