November
Friday 1 November, 1991 Breakfast, Great Hall
Harry was sitting dejectedly at the Hufflepuff table, mindlessly pushing his food around. He kept going over in his mind the events of last night trying to understand the Headmaster's motives, if there were any. Susan slid into the seat next to him and pushed the bowl away from him, causing him to look up.
"Harry, you shouldn't be beating yourself up about this. Whatever caused the Headmaster to react like that isn't your fault."
Harry let out a worried sigh, "I know… I just can't help wondering what it was that set him off like that? Professor Sprout was here last night and I know that…"
"Harry, shhhh…stop. It'll all work out. You did the right thing immobilizing the Headmaster and demanding the Aurors." Harry just bobbed his head in acquiescence.
The post owls arrived and Hedwig landed in front of him. She looked her 'pet' over and determined that he needed her care. She hopped over and began preening his hair and nuzzled her head into his while making gentle cooing noises. Harry gave her a weak smile and stroked her feathers. Another owl landed in front of them with a package attached to its leg. Susan reached over and untied it and offered the bird a strip of bacon. The owl took the offered bacon and flew away.
"So what magazine is that Harry?" she inquired as he unwrapped the package.
"Hmmm? Oh, it's my subscription to Potioneer's Monthly." He responded. Just then there was a shriek of excitement from the Ravenclaw table. The two of them looked up and saw Hermione dancing around in joy clutching her copy of the magazine in hand. She spotted Harry and rushed over babbling like mad.
"Harry! Harry! Harry!" she gushed.
"What is it Hermione?" He drawled with a smirk dancing on his lips. He had an inkling of an idea as to what set her off but let her have her fun.
"Our article was published! I'm a published author!" she squealed and bounced up and down.
"Congratulations Hermione!" exclaimed Susan, "Quite the accomplishment for a First year student." Hermione hopped excitedly up and down on her feet and squealed again. She reached over and grapple-hugged Harry before releasing him and bounced her way up to Professor Snape who had just entered the Hall.
Harry glanced over at Susan; "You know that she'll be quite perky for a while."
Susan just grinned back, "Ah, let her have her fun. That was a lot of work I saw the two of you put in. You're already famous for the Potioneer's Assistant and that whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing." Harry just snorted in amusement and went back to his gentle petting Hedwig's feathers while she continued to groom his hair.
In the Greenhouses…
Harry arrived in Greenhouse One for that week's practical. Today they were going to be working with mundane flowers that had medicinal and magical properties. He was busy repotting marigold seedlings into larger pots when Hermione moved up next to him still sporting a huge Cheshire grin on her face.
"Still over the moon from this morning's excitement, are we?" he asked with a grin of his own.
Hermione just giggled, "I imagine you were the same way when you had your first article published."
Harry just nodded, "Have you written your parents yet? You can borrow Hedwig if you'd like."
"Oooh! Thank you Harry. I have written the letter but haven't had the opportunity to get to the Owlery."
"No problem. Could you hand me that watering can?"
After Herbology came Potions and Hermione was still riding on cloud nine. Severus indulged her briefly before making her pay attention to her work. When they finished the class, Hermione ran off to the Owlery while Harry returned to his dorm to shower and get ready for dinner.
Monday 4 November, 1991 Hogwarts Courtyard
"Hoot!"
"I did not!"
"Prek, huff, hoot!"
"Liar, you know I would never do such a thing. You're just a grumpy goose in the morning."
"Harry? Hedwig? What the heck is going on?" exclaimed Hermione. She and a couple of others had heard the screeching and yelling going on and ran to investigate.
"Hoot!"
"Stop it, I'll explain," Harry grumped, "Hedwig here, thinks I snuck into the Owlery very early this morning and…harvested some of her flight feathers. Which. I. Did. NOT!"
Hermione calmly turned to the owl in question, "Hedwig? What made you so sure that it was Harry that took those feathers?"
"Hoot! Prek! Hoot, hoot, hoot."
The other assembled students glanced at one another in confusion. Could Hermione really understand what Hedwig was saying?
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, "Ok, I think I see the problem here. Hedwig, just take a deep breath and calm down. First off, Harry doesn't need to slip into the Owlery at any time to get your feathers, as he would've just asked. Second, there are a lot of dark-haired boys in robes walking around this castle. Third and most important, this is Harry we're talking about. He couldn't lie to save his life. He's your chick and I think you were just surprised and lashed out.
Hedwig just glared at Hermione for a moment before bowing her head in shame that she could've ever thought that her chick would ever do something so heinous. She looked up at Harry and saw the anguish that splashed across his face and gave a sorrowful hoot in response.
Harry just shook his head and gave her a gentle hug, "I'm sorry too, Hedwig. I'm sorry for yelling at you."
Justin moved up alongside of Hermione, "How in the world did you understand what the owl was saying, Hermione? I've never seen anything like that!"
Hermione gave a small, wry smile, "I've wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little and always had the ability to understand an animal's speech. I can't speak the language they do, just understand it as well as I'm listening to you. I guess it's a magical ability? I don't know. Came in handy, don't you think?" Justin just laughed.
Tuesday 5 November, 1991 Infirmary
DADA was a nuisance in Harry's opinion. The teacher could barely teach for the horrible stutter he had. On top of that, Harry always developed a headache whenever the teacher, Professor Quirrel was looking away from him. He reached into his bag and pulled out a vial of a strong Headache Remedy potion and swallowed it. The pain went away fairly quickly but there were still pinpricks of it occurring. He resolved to see the school nurse when class let out.
He entered the Infirmary and called out for Madam Pomfrey.
"Yes, Mr. Potter? What seems to be wrong?"
"I've been developing severe headaches again in my DADA class. As you suggested, I've been keeping track of each and every occurrence. I've already had a dose of a Headache Remedy but there are still pinpricks of pain whenever the teacher turns around. I don't understand what's causing it; it never happens around any of the other professors, staff or students. I've asked him if he wears any cologne or something that might be a potential trigger but he said no, aside from the heavy stench of garlic coming from that turban of his."
"Do you know where the pain is centralized, Mr. Potter?" Poppy asked.
"Right over my scar and when I lightly touch it, I can feel a slightly sticky residue on my fingers."
That got her attention and curiosity piqued, "Well, let's take a look shall we?" Poppy waved her wand over his scar while performing a diagnostic charm, "I'm not picking up anything dangerous but I think that we should contact a Specialist Healer from Saint Mungo's and hear what they have to say."
Poppy activated the floo and contacted someone over at the magical hospital in London. A few moments later, a person stepped out of the green flames and dusted himself off.
"Poppy? It's good to see you again. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Jeremy. It's my patient whom I'm concerned about."
The two healers moved up alongside Harry's bed and Poppy introduced him to Specialist Healer Jeremy Brenner who was the foremost expert in Cursed Wounds.
"Well, Mr. Potter, let's take a closer look at that scar shall we?" Healer Brenner asked while pulling out his wand and conjured up a quill and roll of parchment. He ran a series of scans and frowned as he read the results on the parchment. Next he muttered something while gesturing with the wand. Harry's scar lit up like a Christmas tree and excruciating pain lanced through his head.
"I'm sorry for the pain Mr. Potter. It'll be just a moment longer…" said the healer.
Finally, Healer Brenner stopped his ministrations and Harry flopped back onto the bed panting from the effort and pain. Poppy handed him a Pain Reliever potion and a glass of water. She then turned to the specialist and asked what it was he found.
"Something I've only heard about once before and it's not good news." He replied, "I think Mr. Potter's best bet would be for me to contact the Department of Mysteries and talk with one of the Unspeakables. This is way out of my league."
Saturday 9 November, 1991 Hufflepuff Common Room
The door to the Puff's Common Room opened up and a weary Harry Potter stumbled slowly through. There were a lot of exclamations and yells of concern when the others caught a glimpse of him. Professor Sprout followed him in and gestured for everyone to calm down. She then sent Harry back to his dorm room and told him to get some sleep. Once he trudged off, she turned and addressed the curious crowd.
"Okay everyone, listen up. Mr. Potter has just returned from an arduous ordeal and he doesn't need anyone pressuring him for information. Just give him some space and time and I'm sure that he'll eventually open up about what happened this past week."
With that and nothing else to discuss other than rumors and speculation, Pomona left the room and headed back to her office. She had just closed the door when there was a knock on it. Reopening it, she found Minerva waiting and looking expectantly at her.
"How is he, Pomona?"
"Well, the healers and the Unspeakables say he will be physically fine soon enough. Mentally and emotionally, it'll probably take at least a week before his mind will recover from…whatever they did to him. I'm still sketchy on the details; all I know is that it had something to do with his scar." Pomona explained as she settled into her chair and motioned for Minerva to take a seat on another.
Minerva just shook her head sadly, "The poor, wee bairn…"
Pomona looked up at her friend, "Any word from the DMLE regarding Albus?"
Minerva gave an unlady-like snort, "Aye, according to Amelia Bones he's suffering from 'stress and overwork.' I can't say that I don't believe that with all of his titles and positions. According to her, Albus reacted like any senior adult would when a child decided on their own to disregard their instructions. Never mind the fact that Harry had permission from you, Albus has it stuck in his head that his word is law and that everyone should be bending over backwards to kowtow to his every wish and demand."
The two women just sat quietly together contemplating the events of the past week before Pomona turned back with a sly smile on her face.
"Minerva? Do you suppose that Albus was… should we say, 'less than truthful' about his responses to Amelia? We've known him for a long time and that answer of his just didn't seem to be honest."
Minerva's eyebrow rose in inquiry, "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting that we introduce Amelia to the delights of the Junior Veritiserum…" Minerva's lips twitched as an equally sly smirk stole across her face.
"I'll get right on it."
An hour later in the Infirmary…
"Minerva? Are you here?" called out Amelia Bones as she strode into the Infirmary.
Minerva stepped out of Poppy's stockroom and motioned the other woman over.
"I'm glad you're here. I have something that will aid you in getting the truth out of Albus. It's similar in composition and usage as normal Veritiserum but instead of compelling a person to tell the truth, merely turns the person's hair to a blinding and embarrassing shade of neon pink."
Amelia laughed at the description to the results of the potion, "How come I've never heard of this before? It sounds like it could be very useful."
Minerva chuckled, "It was developed here by none other than two of our First years, Ravenclaw House Miss Hermione Granger and Hufflepuff House Mr. Harry Potter."
Amelia's monocle nearly fell out of her eye when she heard the last name said, "Truly? What prompted them to create that and how?"
Minerva told her the tale and Amelia could only shake her head in mirth, the Weasley Twins were already quite legendary outside of Hogwarts. According to Minerva, there was an article in Potioneer's Monthly that she would have to read to fully understand the history and development.
"Here, I've signed out a vial of what we've started calling 'Junior Veritiserum' for you to take with you and use on Albus. Just remember, unlike normal Veritiserum, it won't compel him to answer and cannot be blocked using Occulumency." Amelia accepted the vial and slipped it into her pocket.
"Now, how do you like that Memory Sphere that you received from Mr. Potter?" asked Minerva, "I was told by him that it's similar to one of his other inventions, the Student's Helper."
"Student's Helper?"
"Oh, he didn't tell you about his other creations?" Amelia just shook her head no.
"Well, I must say that Mr. Potter is quite the talented inventor of many labor saving and teaching devices. He's created, amongst other things, the Potioneer's Assistant, the Teacher's Assistant, the Memory Sphere, various potions and co-authored several articles."
"And he's just a First year?" Amelia inquired in shock to which Minerva just nodded.
Minerva paused for a moment, "Now that I think about it, all of Mr. Potter's accomplishments at such a young age could be a contributing reason for Albus' actions towards the boy. I think the man is jealous of the boy's rising star."
"You think Albus would be that petty to be jealous of the accomplishments of an eleven-year old boy?"
"Aye, Albus has had everyone venerating him for so long that the idea of someone else coming up with answers and solutions to everyday problems probably scares him. Whatever the reason may be, it's something to keep in mind."
With that, the two women bade each other goodbye and went back to their respective jobs.
Meanwhile at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement…
Albus jerked awake at the sudden sound of someone banging on the door to his cell. He had recovered from his petrification nearly ten days prior and had a splitting headache the next morning. Now though, it was mostly just the indignity of being in this cramped room with none of his usual stress-relievers.
"All right Dumbledore, time to wake up and face the music!" yelled the jailer.
Grumbling under his breath, Albus shifted himself to a sitting position and put his hands through the opening in the door. The jailer attached the magic-suppressing cuffs and then opened the door to pull him out. He was led to a windowless room and sat down in the chair. Waiting for him was Amelia Bones and another Auror.
"Sleep well, Headmaster?" Amelia asked with a fake smile, "I think it's time we had another chat regarding your behavior of late of a certain student of yours."
Albus gave a patronizing smile and a 'disappointed grandfatherly sigh,' "Now Amelia, I assure you that there's nothing wrong with me. Just a bit of overwork is all."
"Uh-huh. Now let's begin…" Amelia began asking questions to which Albus tried to lie his way out of. Every time he tried though, his hair would change to a neon pink. He quickly realized that his 'breakfast' had been spiked with that Junior Veritiserum that the Potter brat had concocted. Amelia just gave an evil smirk every time he lied and applied more pressure to get him to fess up.