This chapter may contain material sensitive to some people, as it goes in depth with talk of an individual who's suffering from the Dementors kiss, as well as some ethical concerns that are brought up in regards to the individual. I'll put a warning before the hospital visit, surrounded by eight asterisks and in all caps. The concerned material will be during the hospital visit, so if such things aren't something you want to read, don't read it. If you don't like what you read beyond that point, don't blame me. You've been warned.
READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY!
Chapter 32 Rising Tensions, the Soulless Life, and Ethical Concerns
Harry woke Friday morning after a surprisingly nice and peaceful dream of flying on his broom, and strangely enough, catching the Snitch. He remembered Quidditch tryouts were the next day, for Gryffindor, anyway. He wondered how the team would greet him, if they'd think he wouldn't be able to fly well, or would accept him without a thought. He also wondered if the Snitch was the same as it had been in his dream, a tiny metal ball with fluttering wings that allowed it to fly. He thought it was probably the same, as he knew that's what it was through Magic's knowledge of the first, and only Quidditch match he'd seen, which had happened almost two years prior.
Harry entered the common room, and as he walked over to Magic, heard her stand. Her arms wrapped around him in a firm hug which sent a swooping sensation through his stomach despite its emotionlessness. He returned the embrace, and while he'd known how tall Magic was before, he felt like he was noticing it again. His chin was resting against Magic's shoulder rather than on it as usual, and he realized her height was taller than him than it usually was, though it made sense, as she had a growing, physical body. Magic lifted him up and his feet left the floor, and he realized how nice it felt to be in her strong arms.
"Hi." Harry said.
"Hello." Magic stated. "You like this."
"Yeah." Harry said. "But let go for now."
"I do as you wish, and you don't wish me to release you." Magic stated.
Harry let out a sigh, and as no one else was in the common room, let Magic continue to hug him. Her left cheek pressed against his cheek gently, which reminded him of the dream he'd had with her in it, where she'd kissed him. He knew he wasn't dreaming now, though, and blushed, pushing himself free of Magic, who released him.
"I don't understand. I'm doing as you wish." Magic stated.
"Yeah." Harry replied. "And we're in a place that everyone can see me. And more than that, I'm not all that sure I want to..." He trailed off.
"Be intimate with me." Magic completed his sentence.
"Yeah." Harry said. "I grew up with you, created you. And I know exactly why you're getting a bit frisky with me. All my hormones and such."
"I'm not getting frisky. I'm doing as you wish." Magic stated.
"And you're acting... You're acting like I think in my mind, I guess." Harry blushed. "With your responses to me lately."
"I do as you wish." Magic stated. "You wished me to hug you and lift you, to press my cheek to yours. You wished to feel that."
"Yeah." Harry said, and while he wasn't uncomfortable talking with her about the matter, he was uncomfortable about anyone that might listen in.
"No one is awake." Magic responded.
"Good." Harry replied. "Want to eat, then?"
"Yes." Magic stated, firmly taking his left hand in her right. "I'll lead you as you wish."
"Magic, one thing I don't get." Harry said. "You've... You've changed in various ways, with your body and all. So why didn't Sharen notice that you're changing in more ways than just growing taller?"
"My robe hid my physical changes." Magic stated. "We are nearing the portrait hole."
"Let's talk about this later, then." Harry said, and simply found himself enjoying the grasp of Magic's hand, the feeling of pleasure that seemed to pour from his stomach and chest, and swoop throughout his body as she gripped his hand firmly in hers, leading him in silence. It was rather nice, Harry thought, and decided to enjoy the sensation longer rather than pull away from her.
"Good morning, Harry!" Tracey's voice called across the entrance hall as he began making his way through it.
"Hi!" Harry called back, walking a bit faster. "I didn't know anyone else got up this early."
"I do sometimes." Tracey responded. "And I know other students do, though they don't all leave the dormitory. Anyway, you going to have breakfast, too?"
"Yeah." Harry replied.
"Well, I'll sit with you. How's that?" She asked, sounding like a grin was in her voice.
"Sure." Harry said, feeling something strange within him, though he was looking forward to sitting next to Tracey. "Want to lead me?"
"If you want, I suppose I'll do that." Tracey said.
Magic released his hand, and Tracey took his. Her hand was smaller than Magic's was, perhaps closer to the size of his own. Her skin was cooler than hers, but still smooth. The feeling was still nice, Harry noted, and not quite as exacting as Magic's grasp was. Her grip was warmer in an emotional sort of way, which made sense to him, as Magic was emotionless. Tracey, firmly grasping his hand, led him into the great hall as Harry secretly enjoyed the feeling of her hand holding his own. It wasn't long until they were at the Gryffindor table and sat down, with Tracey on his left and Magic on his right.
"So, how you both doing?" Tracey asked.
"Doing good." Harry responded casually, his heart beating a bit quicker. "Wondering what Potions is going to be like today."
"Probably just an introductory lecture or something." Tracey said. "Do you want my help with anything?"
"No, should be okay." Harry responded. "I'm just going to go with some toast and sausage and eggs this morning."
"That sounds great. I think I'll try that." Tracey said.
"By the way, how's Malfoy doing?" Harry asked.
"Seething with rage toward you." Tracey responded. "I wouldn't be surprised if he tries something, so be ready."
"I am." Harry replied. "But, what do you think the best way would be to defend myself against him?"
"Anything you can think of would be fine." Tracey said. "But I'd love to see him humiliated when one of his spells comes right back at him." Harry heard her giggle a bit, probably from thinking about it, and decided that doing what Tracey wanted sounded rather nice. He had Magic modify his magical shield to send attacks back at the person who made them, feeling a bit more content, and almost hopeful that Malfoy would attack him. Maybe then he could be impressive, he thought.
Thoughts of Tracey remained with him until the door to the potions classroom slammed shut. Harry, sitting with Magic and Tracey, who had led him to the dungeon, listened to silence fall on the class of students. Professor Snape began by calling roll, and once finished, his quiet, but intent voice passed effortlessly over the silent classroom.
"In your third year potions class, you shall be learning to deal with more intricate potions than we have studied for your first two years of class. Think of your prior years as an introduction to what we are doing now, and I shall expect each of you to better your performance from previous classes." Professor Snape's voice was almost cold, Harry thought. "We shall begin with the strengthening solution on page ten of your books, and I expect you all remember how to properly brew a potion. I will not be pandering to any foolish whims or teenage silliness. You will all focus on your work, or suffer the consequences. Potter."
"Yes, sir?" Harry asked politely.
"Magic will not be required in my classroom from this moment forward. We shall see how apt you have become in your own skills." Professor Snape stated coolly. "As there is no silly wand waving in my class, she may stay outside."
"I don't wave a wa..." Magic began.
"I am very much aware of how you perform magic, Magic." Professor Snape stated coolly. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter."
"But she was the..." Harry began.
"Shall I make it fifty, Mr. Potter, or will you keep your magic under your control?" Professor Snape asked firmly.
Harry didn't understand exactly why Professor Snape was wishing Magic to remain outside. She wouldn't be able to help him should he need it, but that seemed to be his reasoning. Resigned to that, Harry heard Magic walk from the classroom, felt her distance to him remain short as she waited for him outside the room.
"Now that you will be working on your own, Potter, we shall see how well you are able to make a potion. Or, as I suspect you will be, how inept you are." Professor Snape stated coolly.
Where was the progress he'd made with him, Harry wondered, and why was he being so unkind to him? Curious, Harry reached out with his magic, intending to feel the Professor's magic more closely, but was met with Snape's magic that lashed out like a snare and almost captured his own tendril of magic he used to feel other magic more closely. He quickly pulled it back, heart pounding from the close call.
"Begin." Professor Snape stated coolly.
Harry gathered everything he'd need to brew the potion, then set to work attentively. As he did so, he remembered how Professor Snape had once told him, indirectly, that he'd hated his father. Perhaps Harry was looking more like him as he grew older, he thought, which might explain exactly why Professor Snape seemed to be treating him more viciously. Perhaps, though, it was something else. Sirius had told him that Professor Snape might be angry, as he'd helped him gain his freedom. Perhaps there was tension between he and Sirius, though he couldn't be sure. Whatever the reason was, Harry decided to set it aside for now as he began to work.
*** Snape POV ***
Professor Snape sneered as he walked among his class, though only showed his sneer to the Gryffindor dunderheads that graced his dungeon. He had, for a time, thought Potter to be more like Lily than his father, given his views. But he showed that ridiculous Gryffindor bravery and foolishness, putting himself on the front page and rescuing Black, someone whom he still loathed to this day. Had he known that Potter was going to begin showing the traits of his father, supporting the foolish and hated Black, he wouldn't have supported him before. But he'd been wrong about Potter, wrong to think he was at all like Lily, though he had her eyes. No, Snape thought. Potter was just like his father, both arrogant, both supporting Black, who would undoubtedly attempt to haunt him, and, had undoubtedly told Potter to prank him, attempting, no doubt, to engender loyalty to that stupid pact of the marauders within the spawn of James Potter. He'd been right from the beginning, and shouldn't have allowed Potter's foolish ideals to sway him in the first place. Then, there was Potter trying to feel his magic, to invade his mind, and the only reason he'd not done anything about that was due to his lack of reasons to determine what, precisely, to punish him with that everyone would know. Soon enough, Potter would fail, and Snape would have his reason. No, Potter wouldn't receive anymore exceptions in his class. He would work like all the other students, without the assistance of Magic, or he wouldn't work at all, and would fail his class. With an aggressive viciousness, Snape hoped he would require Magic's help so he could punish Potter for failing to follow directions, and punish him severely.
*** Harry POV ***
Compared to the potions Harry worked with in his second year, these were more complicated, requiring observations of color changes, not necessarily perfect timing. Harry felt a bit hopeless as he read the directions, and didn't think he'd be receiving any advice from the Professor. When he'd lost the use of his magic, he remembered how Professor Snape, while still terse with him, had told him what to time in his potion brewing. While Harry could measure, cut, and put the ingredients in the cauldron, and could even stir it the appropriate number of times, he wouldn't be aware of color changes without Magic helping him.
'Remember sending your magic ahead of you.' Magic's voice stated from within his mind.
Harry could remember the memory from the previous night, how he'd gathered data about the room around him. Carefully, he sent his magic out to examine the cauldron and the potion within, feeling his magic touching the liquid, gathering knowledge about it. He grinned, receiving data on what color the potion was, but he soon realized his own magic was reacting in a rather unanticipated way with the potion. Through the knowledge he was gathering, he realized the potion was growing brighter, absorbing the magic that was touching it. He pulled his magic back as he heard what sounded like sparks, felt some heat against his face.
"Well, well, well, Potter." Professor Snape stated coldly as Harry heard him walking over, then felt his magic vanish the potion within. "Thirty points from Gryffindor for failing to follow my instructions, Potter. I clearly told you not to use magic, and here you are."
"You told him not to have Magic in the..." Ron began indignantly.
"Silence, Weasley." Professor Snape stated, his voice like a whip. "You will be serving detention with me here tonight at seven, Potter, and you will not be using magic, nor will you bring Magic. Until then, you are dismissed."
Harry felt a wave of anger, but didn't react to it. Instead, he packed up his items, then unfolded his cane and started walking from the room.
"I knew you're worthless, Potter." Malfoy whispered quietly. "Mudblood mother couldn't birth a normal child. You're nothing but a freak, Potter."
Harry was about to turn toward Malfoy and deliver a scathing reply, his anger that he'd previously ignored, rising again. Magic's placid voice slipped into his mind again.
'Inadvisable. I recommend you allow me to calm you before you act. You don't want to get into deeper trouble.'
Harry knew she was right, despite his anger. He listened to her as he exited the Potions class and walked straight into her arms. She unemotionally hugged him and he put his free arm around her, his heart pounding as the door closed behind them.
"Why am I so angry?" Harry asked after a few seconds as he pulled from her, then began walking up the passage with her next to him.
"You're emotional stability is currently questionable due to the effects of maturation." Magic replied.
"I wish I didn't feel anything, like you." Harry said.
"Not recommended." Magic stated.
"I know." Harry said. "I know that would cause problems. I'll just have to bear with it, then."
"Yes." Magic responded sedately.
"Thanks for helping me, too. I... I would have gotten into more trouble if I'd insulted Malfoy, gone down to his level." Harry said.
"You know what the reactions of those who don't think do, and how they make you feel." Magic stated. "You don't want to do that to others, and that's still your wish even if you aren't aware of it."
"Yes, I suppose that's true." Harry said. "And you do what I want."
"Yes." Magic stated. Harry felt a flash of her thoughts again as she read his own, and calculated that walking next to him in silence was what he wanted based on everything she was reading, and knew it was true even though he'd initially wanted to continue talking with her, though didn't know quite what to say. He walked next to her in silence, and after a moment, took her hand in his, feeling her strong grip as she returned his. The pleasure from before wasn't there, only the comfort of walking with his close friend. Harry felt himself calming as he took deep breaths, felt content as Magic remained next to him, not leading but simply walking with him. He let out his breath as he entered the entrance hall, listening to the silence around him.
******** WARNING! POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE MATERIAL COMING UP! ********
At six o'clock that evening, Harry, having been walking through a deserted corridor with Magic, felt a warning from his magic similar to the warnings he'd received before when experimenting with magic, or thinking about what types of magic to perform. The warning was that of teleporting, so he did so immediately, appearing outside the Hogwart's gates with Magic. He could feel Rose's concealing magic there, recognizing it, as it was distinct. He placed similar magic over himself, and with a thought, made Magic hidden, even as he became faintly aware of something very powerful within Hogwarts that he'd never felt before. After a moment, he realized it was himself, that he was feeling his own magic from an outside perspective, and realized how he and Magic were blended, felt like a single magical being, but also two unique ones at the same time. He'd never before noticed that about himself, though he'd never before felt anything from an outside perspective as he was doing now. He was like a beacon to anyone who could sense magic, he realized, and curiously, felt Magic next to him with his magic. As usual, she simply felt like his own magic, as feeling her was feeling the flame of magic within his chest. They were, as always, directly linked.
"Hello Harry, Magic, nice to see both of you, and well done on concealing yourselves. I'm focused on the area we're to appear in." Rose said. "You can enter my thoughts, Magic."
Harry felt Magic reach out with his magic, touch Rose's mind, read the thoughts of where to appear. He felt Magic's thoughts again as she calculated how to best appear in the apparation point, then in moments, Harry found himself standing in the hospital. He opened his link of knowledge and was aware of Rose beginning to walk. Having his cane in its holder and relying completely on Magic's knowledge, Harry walked behind her, making himself appear as Rose did with his magic, checking to ensure he was appropriately concealed. Since he didn't have the emotionless de meaner down, he had his own magic cast that illusion, and also concealed just how powerful his own magic was by cloaking its presence invisibly, similar to how his invisibility cloak worked, but on the feel of his magic itself. It was complex, and Magic responded to his thoughts about it as he struggled to work out how he wanted to hide himself and what illusion he wanted to cast on himself to conceal his identity. Within moments, Rose approached a set of stairs and they walked up them.
They entered the hospital's long term ward, and Harry was aware of rows of beds, most of which were curtained off. They approached one in the middle of the room, and Rose stated in her emotionless voice, "Nurse Catell."
"Unspeakable!" The woman sounded surprised.
"We shall be undisturbed here." Rose stated. "When we leave, you may return to this patient."
"Of course." The nurse said, though she sounded a bit curious to know exactly what they were up to. Harry was curious himself, though he didn't express himself yet. He stepped into the curtained area with Rose, who waved her wand and placed some rather powerful privacy wards around the area, which cut off all visual information and sound from entering or exiting the area, as well as directed people around the area. Harry then saw Rose turn toward him through Magic's knowledge as he sensed the magic of the person on the bed.
"We can talk freely." Rose said.
"It's down to business today, then?" Harry asked.
"We can talk while we work if you'd like." Rose responded. "You seemed bothered by something."
"More thoughtful, really." Harry said as he moved closer to the bed.
"I see." Rose said. "The person in front of you, Harry, is Sally Rennalds. She's thirty-four, and sixteen years ago, she was attacked when Lord Voldemort, who had acquired control of one of the Dementors, made it kiss her. From what I understand, Sally's family hadn't wanted to join his cause, and were rather powerful pure-bloods. As punishment for their defiance, Voldemort had their daughter kissed. They've wanted her cared for, and here she is."
"What should I do?" Harry asked.
"I want you to feel her magic. See how it's different from any other person's magic, and tell me what you find." Rose said.
Harry touched Sally's magic, felt its stability, but also felt how inactive it was.
"It lacks a... Life." Harry said.
"Very good." Rose responded. "I observe that, too. Don't use Magic for now, I want you to keep interpreting the data you feel. Go deeper. What more can you tell me?"
"I don't know yet." Harry said. "It might take a bit."
"Can you focus on that while we talk, then? Or would you rather work in silence?" Rose asked.
"I'll be okay to work in silence." Harry responded, not wanting to tell her about his issues with Professor Snape or Malfoy.
"Okay, then." Rose replied. "But, given that you're still growing up, I may just want to talk with you if I don't think you're ready to work."
"I understand that." Harry said as he felt Sally's magic deeper.
Like anyone else, Sally's magic was a spark within her, something powerful enough to do anything she needed it for. Unlike anyone else, her magic wasn't active, was simply there. Through Magic's knowledge, Harry was aware of Sally's body, which was surprisingly healthy considering that she was laying in a bed all day and night. She wasn't thin like Sirius was due to his time in Azkaban, which he found a bit surprising, considering the fact that she was laying in the bed and performing no physical activity. Her face was expressionless, and her head was turned to the left, her eyes open and staring blankly at nothing. She breathed, but she didn't swallow, and he noted that some drool had gathered on the pillow. It was a sad sight, and given that they were alone, Harry closed his link of knowledge with Magic, simply feeling the magic within the soulless woman.
"It feels like she's been given potions." Harry said.
"She has." Rose responded. "There are potions to maintain a soulless bodies physical health, as if they're active and moving. They don't work on people with souls, though. Can you guess why?"
"It feels like her magic's been shaped, molded to sustain her body." Harry said. "But it's done so without resisting anything. If my magic was shaped against my will, I think it would react badly."
"You're right." Rose said. "The potions used on Sally are poison to you or me, or anyone with a soul. Without a soul, there's no will, no resistance to anything."
"No instincts, either." Harry said. "Someone could cause Sally's body physical pain and she'd just lay there."
Harry shuddered at the horrible existence Sally was experiencing, but realized she lacked awareness. In fact, as he felt deeper, he realized that while her mind contained all the memories of the life of a normal person, it didn't contain any memories after the point at which she'd lost her soul, and seemed to lack a sense of any awareness that he or Rose, or even Magic had. Sally was gone, Harry realized, and this was simply a physical body. He felt a bit of relief at that.
"Sally's gone." Harry said. "She doesn't exist, and she doesn't have any memories or awareness after the point when her soul was taken. So, when people describe the Dementors kiss as a person existing as a shell, they're wrong. Only the body exists, the person doesn't."
"Interesting." Rose said curiously. "When I attempt to enter a mind such as this, I feel an empty void, but you can feel her existing memories?"
"Yeah." Harry said. "Why an empty void?"
"Well, the art of Legilimency is looking through the mind, an active mind. So, you look through its many layers. Compared to what I'm feeling that you do, Legilimency is crude. You feel more like you're able to access the mind directly, its neural pathways rather than accessing its active consciousness. With no active consciousness of any kind, Legilimency won't be able to access anything but an empty nothing, since no consciousness or awareness of any kind exists without a soul." Rose explained.
"Then does Magic have a soul?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, you'd have to ask her, I suppose. I think it's probably more accurate to say that Magic's soul is yours. You probably share that like you share magic." Rose replied.
"I'm a distinct individual in the manner of possessing my own soul." Magic responded.
"There you are, then." Harry said. "And how did that form, Magic? Or did you always have a soul?"
"Unknown." Magic stated.
"Then how do you know you have a soul now?" Harry asked.
"I touched it as you touched yours the previous night." Magic responded. "You wished to know the answer to the question, and I do as you wish. The answer was obtained."
"You and Magic's discussions continue to surprise and fascinate me." Rose said after a moment. "But, perhaps we can visit this topic at a later date. Let's focus on Sally, here. Can you tell me anything more about her? Can you, perhaps, give her a soul?"
"No, I can't give her a soul." Harry said. "I don't have that to give. Not that I know of, anyway. I can feel beyond her unresisting magic, though, and where her soul should be is blank. Nothing."
"Can you feel beyond my own magic, touch my soul?" Rose asked curiously. "I won't resist."
"Why do you want me to try that?" Harry asked.
"Because, it's something I haven't been able to do before. In general, feeling ones soul isn't an advised practice. I've heard of people who's souls have driven them insane because of their purity, or those like Voldemort who dilute their soul, and can then feel it without any damage except losing morality because they've killed and ripped it apart." Rose said. "I'm curious to know what mine will feel like to you, assuming you can get that far."
"When I touched mine, I couldn't do it for long at all." Harry said. "My magic forced me out, or brought me out."
"I expected that, which is why I didn't stop you last night." Rose said. "I thought the glimpse into your own soul might help you deal with Voldemort's soul."
"I've noticed you say Voldemort without fear. Most people don't." Harry said.
"Voldemort's only a name. It's the man's actions that have caused terror, not the name itself." Rose responded. "So, Harry, back to business. Try, if you will, to touch my soul. I'll try not to resist."
Harry reached out his magic, felt Rose's magic, went deeper. Her magic was open to him, but he could feel its activity, could sense Rose's will. He went deeper, beyond the magic, and felt himself pushed out as Rose gasped. He sensed a powerful emotion of a deep violation, and quickly, backed out of her mind.
"I'm sorry." Harry said.
Rose let out her breath, then took a deep one, then let it out again.
"Rose, Harry won't hurt you." Magic stated. "Don't move, Harry."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Harry, look down. Step back." Magic instructed. "Rose, lower your wand."
Harry quickly stepped back and lowered his head and shoulders, trying to appear submissive. He could hear Rose breathing through what sounded like gritted teeth.
"Rose, your emotional reaction of fury is a result of what you directly asked Harry to do." Magic stated.
"I don't think that's helping." Harry said, feeling guilty for having caused such a reaction in Rose. It just went to show him that playing around with any type of soul magic was a very bad idea.
Harry heard Magic walking slowly toward Rose, and as she did so, heard a pure note of phoenix song, which filled Harry with hope, with a sense of deep purity. It was better than Fawkes or Athis had given him, and he couldn't help but grin. He could hear Rose let out a gasp, then heard her letting out her breath in a sigh.
"Oh." She said, sounding rather relaxed as he heard clothes rustling, which probably meant Magic was hugging her.
"You're safe." Magic stated.
"Oh." Rose repeated, then said calmly, "You can let me go. That, was a bad idea, I guess."
"Are you okay now?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Rose replied. "I... Felt very violated, felt a deep rage. I wasn't even aware of anything but you, the need to protect myself against you until Magic... What did you do, anyway?"
"Released a pure phoenix note, and as you're aware of, hugged you." Magic responded. "This calmed you."
"It did." Rose said. "Okay, no more playing with magic like that, then."
"Hasn't there ever been anyone who's touched a soul before?" Harry asked.
"No. No one can access another's soul. You didn't get to mine, I don't think." Rose responded. "The only exception to someone else accessing another's soul would possibly be in soul bonded couples."
"Oh." Harry responded. "So, anything more you'd like me to find out about Sally? Or are we done here?"
"You've discovered all we can discover, I believe." Rose replied. "Unless you can give her a will and awareness, then we're done here."
"Will and awareness can be given, and the body can live actively." Magic stated. "But she would have no soul, and therefore, may experience extreme depression, emptiness, or no emotion. The end result is unknown, as this hasn't been attempted."
"That wouldn't be living." Harry replied. "That would be like programming a computer. That would probably be worse than what she's experiencing now, for her family."
"I'd agree." Rose said with a deep sigh. "Unfortunately, her parents have explicitly requested that, if there's any way she can live her life, to give it to her."
"Are they crazy?" Harry asked. "Sally's dead. This is just a body. Sure, I could make it live based on everything that Sally's done in her life, but it wouldn't be sally anymore, it would be a body living based on memories and experiences of a life that's gone. I'll do that if they really want it, but I don't think they'll appreciate it."
"That's what they wanted." Rose said, though to his surprise, she sounded more uncomfortable with the idea than Harry was. Harry guessed he understood more about the situation, having felt more of Sally's mind and where her soul should be. He knew Sally had died when her soul had been taken, knew that this was an unresisting body with unresisting magic, blank, with nothing to do. He felt no guilt about giving it an existence, like he'd feel no guilt about placing files on a blank disk.
"You're more uncomfortable with this than I am." Harry said. "Why?"
"Because it's... It's like... Necromancy, raising the dead." Rose said.
"No, it's not." Harry responded. "It's more like programming a computer, giving it instructions. I feel more discomfort with what Sally's family will think, how they'll react. But there's no person's life here. There's no resisting will. There's everything else, just no soul."
"Exactly." Rose said. "And giving Sally... This body, any type of life... Seems something very dark and unnatural."
"Not really unnatural, just unknown." Harry said. "Do I do this now, or wait?"
"One moment." Rose said flatly. "I'll contact them. Wait for now, I'll come back with them."
Harry stood next to Sally's body as Rose left the warded area, checking to make sure he was properly concealed from everyone but her. He absently touched Sally's hand, felt her body feel the touch, but it did nothing. Her hand was limp, held no life, only the life of a beating heart and a warm body. He started to feel uncomfortable about it as he touched her, feeling almost like he was touching someone who was dead or in a coma. He wasn't quite so sure he wanted to go through with it anymore, feeling a bit sick to his stomach as he straightened up. But he'd told Rose that he would. Harry let out a deep sigh and wondered to himself exactly what the moral implications of this were. Clearly, there was no soul, no living will within Sally, even though her physical body lived and held all her memories. He wasn't tampering with a person since there was no person anymore. It felt more like manipulating a puppet than anything. He swallowed, knowing that this woman's body had once been a person, a living being, but he could give her nothing more than the simulation of a living being, and she wouldn't truly have a will of her own, not an active resisting will, anyway. The only resistance she might give to anything, or actions she'd perform, would all be based on everything Sally had ever done in her life previously. Harry sighed again, feeling Rose approaching with who he assumed were Sally's parents. Here we go, then, Harry thought to himself.
"You're the Unspeakable that can save our daughter?" Harry heard the voice of Sally's mother as he felt her enter the warded area with Rose and her father. With his current emotions, it was easier for him to act emotionless. Harry swallowed.
"No." He responded, deciding that the direct, honest approach was the truth. "Sally is dead, and she has been dead since her soul was removed. I can allow her to live a life based on the experiences that she's received as who was once Sally, but I can't fully predict if she'll be who you want. I can't fully predict what will happen."
"We want her to live again." Sally's father said. "Please, do what you have to do."
"Sally can't live again." Harry said. He decided he'd do his best to explain the situation to them, to try and get them to understand completely what was happening. "Sally's dead."
"But you just said you could make her live her life!" Sally's mother cried.
"Her body will perform actions based on the experiences of who was once Sally." Harry responded. "Her soul is forever gone, and thus, Sally is gone."
"But she'll be alive if her body's doing things, moving on its own." Sally's father said firmly.
"That's right." Her mother added. "So do this for us, please."
They were firm in their wishes, Harry realized, and he couldn't change their minds. He thought to Magic, as she could do this quicker and better than he could. He felt his flame of magic weave through the bodies mind, construct a will and awareness, a type of consciousness that would be maintained by her magic, which was shaped to keep the illusion alive, as that was all it really would be. Her body and magic resisted nothing, the magic effortlessly forming into its shape to do what Sally's parents desired. He felt the mind, far closer to Magic's emotionless mind than a living person's mind with emotion. It knew all of its experiences and the life it had once lived, and was rapidly calculating each action to perform. Memories were once again being stored, but it was a cold, emotionless thing that was only acting, going through motions, simulating the appearance of each emotion and not really feeling anything.
"What happened?" The voice of the female body asked, as Harry couldn't really think of her as Sally. Sally, as he knew, was gone.
Despite her disagreement with what Sally's parents wanted, and her discomfort with the process Harry had described, Rose couldn't help but stair in awe as Sally spoke for the first time since her soul had been removed. She was looking around in confusion, her eyes settling on everyone she could see. As far as Rose could tell, she was alive again, though she trusted what Harry had told her. She saw Sally push herself into a sitting position, and could tell her movements were more precise than her life lived previously had been. Sally's blue eyes met Rose's, and deep within them if she looked closely, past the emotions displayed there, she saw something cold, calculating.
"Sally!" Her mother shouted with sheer joy and happiness.
Rose watched Sally's face break into a smile, her eyes sparkle with happiness, but each move was calculated based entirely on Sally's experiences, from what Harry said. If she didn't look too closely, she wouldn't have known it. As Sally's mother hugged her, Sally returned the embrace as her parents both cried with the overwhelming joy.
"What's wrong?" Sally asked. "Linda, mother, what happened? How long have I been in St Mungo's, the long term ward? What happened to me?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, dear." Her mother responded.
Rose saw Sally's anger, saw her sweep her gaze around her surroundings.
"What's happened to me, mom, dad?" Sally asked.
Rose heard someone else enter the warded area, and as it was only Sally's family members allowed in, she looked over and saw Lisa, Sally's identical twin sister, who was staring at Sally with pure shock.
"Sally?" Lisa asked. "They told me you'd be... That you'd be alive again, but..."
Lisa grabbed her sister in a hug, and Sally hesitantly returned it, though only for a moment.
"Lisa, maybe you'll tell me what happened." Sally said.
"I..." Lisa trailed off, sounding and looking rather awkward. "Um..."
"Lisa." Sally said, gripping her twin by the shoulders. "What's happened to me? We've never hidden anything from the other, well, except that time when you accidentally kissed Jason on the lips when you meant..."
"Oh, okay, that's good enough." Lisa blushed and Sally grinned, chuckling a bit, though her face soon changed to a bit of a frown and furrowed concentration. She looked into Lisa's eyes, the twins locking gazes. Lisa shivered, and Rose realized she looked a bit terrified.
"You've never done that before." Sally said softly, looking curious. "Lisa, what is it?"
"You have your life back now, Sally, and that's all that..." Her mother began.
"Exactly what is this?" Lisa asked, looking furious. "You can't just give Sally back her soul! I want to know what's happened!"
"I remember that." Sally said, shivering in fear. "The Dementor... How it..." Sally gasped and let out a bit of a whimper.
"Sally, you look... Deep in your eyes, it's like you're a mindless robot or something, it's so cold." Lisa said coolly. "Whatever this is, it's not my sister. I want to know exactly what happened, and I want to know now."
"Yes..." Sally said, her voice trailing off. "I can feel something different in me, something empty, off..."
"Will someone tell me what's going on!" Lisa shouted.
"Yes." Harry stated uncomfortably. Rose saw Lisa furiously glare at him. "At the request of Sally's parents, I've given a will and awareness to what was once Sally's mind, allowing it to live based on the life experience of Sally. However, Sally is dead, as there's no soul and no true will."
"Yes, I can feel that." Sally said, and Rose saw her expression become cold, emotionless, her gaze like a machine. Her voice was flat and robotic. "I feel nothing. My life is a simulation. I'm not Sally."
"I warned you of this before I proceeded." Harry stated, feeling deeply angered that her parents hadn't listened, and now, from the sound of their crying, were experiencing more grief, more pain than ever before.
"Sally's soul is gone." The female body that was once Sally stated robotically, lacking even the warmth Magic's placid, emotionless voice held. "I'm a simulated construct, a thing. I have no soul. Sally would have eventually determined this truth, and lived by what she truly is. I await instructions."
"Go back to living life like you were!" Sally's mother shouted. Harry blinked hard, trying to hold back tears. This was far worse than seeing Sally as a soulless being ever was. He wanted to take away what he'd done, wanted to go back and change it, but he couldn't.
"I can't live life like Sally, because I'm not sally. I'm a female body." The woman stated in the same cold, robotic voice.
"You did this." Lisa stated, and Harry heard her storming toward him. Her voice was cold with fury. "You made her what she is now. You could have said no!" Her hands grabbed his shoulders and she screamed, "That thing isn't my sister!"
It had been a mistake to even do this at all, Harry thought to himself, feeling a terrible guilt, a grief for her family, for what they were going through. He also felt a need to reveal the truth of who he was to someone, to tell them of his emotions that he couldn't hold back any longer. With a thought, he accelerated he, Magic, and Lisa's passage through time so much that everyone else would appear frozen, dropped the concealment on himself, and stumbled, the emotions overwhelming him. He gasped, tears streaming down his face as he fell to his knees, his hands pressed over his chest. He let out a cry as the pain of the grief he felt, the terrible guilt and remorse, the regret, poured through him. For once, he didn't want Magic's comfort, he wanted whatever he'd get from Lisa, because whatever it was, he deserved it. He expected her to send spells at him, to hit him in anger, even to scream at him. What he didn't expect was her to fall to her knees and hug him, and along with him, cry hard.
He didn't know how long both of them had knelt on the floor crying into each other's shoulders, but eventually, both of them had calmed down. Harry didn't feel quite so much regret now, not quite as much remorse. It was almost as if he dealt with his emotions completely when he released them. He felt a vague thought from Magic, a theory that this was due to the phoenix magic having effected his soul and himself permanently, perhaps making him able to deal with such things better than others. Harry set the thought aside for the moment as Lisa helped him to stand up, sniffing.
"What's happened to everyone?" She asked, her voice still trembling.
"We're moving quickly through time, so they're appearing frozen." Harry responded. "I can reverse it, don't worry. But... I, I had to tell someone, to show you who I was. I shouldn't being an Unspeakable, but I..." He trailed off, not sure how to continue.
"You're just a child." Lisa said softly. "You shouldn't even be doing this kind of work. Why? Why are you..." Her questions sounded a bit angry, but she mostly sounded drained and almost empty.
"I'm a very advanced magical user." Harry said. "And, I caught their attention. So I'm given assignments like this, but after what I've done here, I'm thinking it might have been a mistake to even start getting into this line of work." His voice was cold with anger at the end, and he felt his heart pounding.
"Don't blame yourself." Lisa said. "You didn't know what you were getting into. And, you didn't know quite what to do when my parents insisted. I don't blame you, Harry."
Harry was about to ask how she'd known his name, but realized that everyone in the wizarding world knew it, practically. He simply sighed, feeling his anger draining from him.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I'm really, really sorry."
"No." Lisa replied. "No, don't you dare apologize. You just did what you were asked to do."
"I don't know what to do now. What should I do?" Harry asked.
"Nothing." Lisa said in response. "Don't do anything more. Unfreeze time or whatever you've got to do."
"I've got to make sure you can't reveal me, first." Harry said after a long moment. "Is that okay?"
"Don't remove my memories." Lisa replied.
"I won't." Harry said.
With a thought to Magic, Harry hid the knowledge within Lisa, almost like his own modified Fidelius Charm, ensuring she couldn't talk about him to anyone who didn't already know about his being an Unspeakable. She'd remember it, though, but couldn't reveal it under any circumstances to anyone else, and to anyone else, she wouldn't know the information, would only seem to have been talking with an Unspeakable. He then recast his concealment magic around himself, though Lisa was included in recognizing who he was. He then returned their passage through time to normal, and the sounds and movement of people around him resumed, removing the unnatural silence that he'd heard when their passage through time had been accelerated.
Magic observed Lisa's furious expression, noted how it was nearly identical to what it had been before. She mentally sent Harry the impression and a response. Harry felt it, and knew, to avoid any suspicion even from Rose, he had to act. His response needed to be related to Lisa's shout at him that he could have said no, could have not done what he did. Lisa was quite the actor, he thought to himself, feeling a bit curious about how she'd gained such talent. Just as they'd been before, Lisa's hands were tightly grasping his shoulders.
"I was informed that your parents wished this." Harry stated flatly, emotionlessly.
"Well I don't!" Lisa shouted, then shook him. He knew her anger was just acting, though, and found he was glad she wasn't actually angry with him. From Magic, he felt that Rose wasn't suspicious of him for doing anything he shouldn't have done, and knew she probably hadn't felt his magic, as it would have been extremely brief to her senses.
"Sally, stop looking so cold, so emotionless!" Lisa's mother shouted desperately.
"Tell me how to look and what to do." The female body stated.
"Be true to who you are, then." Lisa said, sounding enraged as she released Harry and spun around. "And this is it, a simulated, emotionless thing that isn't my sister! And you wanted this, did you, mother, father? This is what you wanted?"
"We... We wanted our daughter back... We wanted her to live..." Lisa's father choked out desperately.
"Sally died when the Dementor took her soul! I accepted it, you held on to some vain hope that she'd be back! Well? This is it!" Lisa screamed. If Harry didn't know better, he'd have thought her anger was real.
"Lisa, how dare you talk to me..." Her mother began, also furious.
"Lisa, that is enough!" Her father shouted furiously. "You will address your mother with the appropriate amount of respect!"
"All the respect she deserves!" Lisa shouted viciously. "You wanted to bring back an empty thing to life! Well, mother, father? Are you happy?"
"We..." Her mother began.
"Get out." Lisa stated in a voice of pure ice.
"Lisa..." Her father began, his voice also cold.
"No!" Lisa shouted. "Out! Now!"
Harry heard Lisa's parents crying as they slowly turned around, then their sound vanished as they left the warded area. Lisa let out a sigh that sounded exhausted. Harry felt Magic observe Lisa looking at Rose, felt her calculate many possible actions including silence, and decide on silence.
"I know exactly what's happened." Lisa said quietly. "I'm not really angry."
"Explain." Rose stated emotionlessly.
"You're the Unspeakable who recruited Harry Potter." Lisa stated.
Harry felt Rose's concealment magic drop, and said, "Lisa, I've got to modify the magic I placed on you, now, to include Rose in the hidden knowledge."
"Go ahead, then." Lisa said, and with a thought, Harry did so. With another thought, he extended the magic to include the simulated mind of Sally, which resisted nothing and was staring on at them, simply taking in the memories and the knowledge, though with more cold calculation than Magic had ever done.
"Harry... I'm, so, sorry." Rose sounded terrible, Harry realized, very guilty. "I... Should have spoken with you... I shouldn't have even taken you here... I just get so wrapped up in what can be discovered sometimes, I don't see the bigger picture..."
Rose was crying, Harry realized, but he didn't go to comfort her, and didn't send Magic to do so, either.
"I'm terrible." Rose continued. "I'm a horrible person for doing this... You had no idea how tough the Unspeakable job can be and I just put you right into it without even thinking..."
"Hey." Lisa said gently, which Harry found surprising. "We all make mistakes. Everyone has their flaws."
"Even me." Harry said with a slight grin, trying to lighten things a bit.
"How can you smile after this?" Rose asked, sounding angry. "After what's just happened? How can you feel joy!"
"Because I've cried, and I've dealt with it." Harry said. "What's done is done. It's... It doesn't hurt so much anymore. Magic thinks I can deal with emotional trauma better than most people because of the phoenix magic that became a part of me. She thinks it might have changed me, and hopefully it changed me for the better. Once I've dealt with something completely, it seems like it's not so bad. And this, well, I did what I did, I told Lisa who I was, I cried with her, and I've... I feel like I've grieved. Though I think more of Magic's thoughts and conclusions are entering my mind, and what's done is done. No sense in feeling regret over the past that can't be changed."
"Well I haven't dealt with it, can't, not like that." Rose stated viciously. "I... I shouldn't have even let you do this, I should have left it at the discoveries you'd made and that would have been just fine. But I had to say the, if you can give her awareness words, didn't I? I just had to say it!"
"Rose, if anyone's to blame, it isn't you. It's me." Harry said. "I could have firmly refused, but I didn't."
"No, it's my parents." Lisa said. "They were the ones who wanted what you gave Sally... Sally's body."
"Lisa told me to do nothing." Harry said. "But, I'll ask you, who was once Sally. You know now, everything. What do you want?"
"I'm a programmed female body." Sally stated, her voice coldly robotic. "I have no will, no soul, no wants, no desires, no emotions."
"Sally's dead." Lisa said, and Harry realized her voice was calm. "She's been dead since her soul was removed. This, holding on to this vain hope... It's been hard on my parents. I've already grieved."
"And I've already dealt with this." Harry said. "Rose, it's up to you, I suppose, and up to your parents, Lisa. But, after what they saw, I don't think they'd want Sally's body to live a life of nothing."
"Okay, then." Rose stated, and Harry shivered at the coldness in her voice. "That's it. I'm going to end this right here, right now."
Harry felt a piece of magic heading for Sally's body, and oddly enough, felt Sally's body and the magic within respond with the simulated will and awareness he'd given it. Her wand had been on the bedside table, and Harry assumed she'd grabbed it, as he heard a deep gong as Rose's spell impacted a magical shield that Sally's body had put up to protect itself with its simulated will and awareness.
"Stop it." Rose stated coldly.
"I'm performing my function." Sally's body responded, her voice still robotic. "Primary is to survive."
"Okay, stop." Lisa stated coolly. "You don't want to kill her. So, we'll just reverse what you did, then, Harry. Okay? Sally, for want of a better name, put your wand back where you got it."
Harry heard the wand set down.
"Now, lay down, in the position you were in before you started moving." Lisa stated.
Harry heard movement in the bed, and through Magic's thoughts, was aware of Sally laying down.
"Now." Lisa said with utter calm and acceptance. "Harry, remove everything you've done."
Harry felt a strange sort of relief as he reached out with his magic, dismantling the simulation within the mind of the body. He reshaped the magic to what it had been before, and aside from the new memories within the mind, Sally's body was exactly what it had been before. It was lifeless and stored no memories, didn't act at all.
"Right." Lisa said, her voice still calm, but Harry thought she sounded relieved. "Harry, I think you're done here. Okay?"
"Okay." Harry responded. "And Lisa... Thanks. I really didn't want to deal with remembering what I'd left behind, a robot."
"I know." Lisa said. "You and I, whoever you are, are going to have a chat after Harry leaves."
Harry heard Rose sigh, then she said, "Go on, Harry. And if I'm not in the room on the seventh floor tomorrow, you know that I'm not going to keep teaching you, taking you places."
"Okay, Rose." Harry said quietly. "See you, then, maybe." The next moment, Harry had thought his instructions to Magic, and appeared in the empty corridor he'd been walking down, only an instant after he'd teleported to the gates of Hogwarts, having not only teleported in space, but in time as well, appearing in the past. He walked as he had been doing, no longer concealed, either, and appearing as if he'd never left the corridor, though he knew better. After a moment, he reached out and grasped Magic's hand, taking comfort in her presence by his side. After the emotions he'd dealt with, he needed it.