Chapter 13 – The Essence of Him
The sterile scent of St Mungo's Hospital greeted Hermione and Daphne as they stepped into the reception area. The air was charged with an undercurrent of urgency, the kind that hangs heavy in places of healing when the usual remedies fall short.
They made their way through the complex halls, as a sense of foreboding hung over them, both knowing that their visit was marked by the uncertainty surrounding Harry's condition.
Healer Eltington greeted them in a small consulting room. Her demeanour, usually poised and assured, carried a visible hint of concern today.
"Miss Granger, Miss Greengrass, thank you for coming. I wish the circumstances were different," the Healer began, her voice tinged with a mix of professional composure and worry.
"Harry's situation is... unprecedented. Despite our efforts, we have made no progress. The magical expansion has halted, but he remains unresponsive even after the stasis was removed."
The gravity of her words hung in the air, heavier than the silence that followed. Hermione glanced at Daphne, the worry evident in her eyes.
"We've attempted every restorative spell we know, even delved into ancient texts. Unfortunately, this case is beyond our known boundaries," Healer Eltington continued.
"We've reached an impasse. Research is ongoing, but we've hit a dead end, for now."
Hermione took a steadying breath. "Is there any hope? Anything else we can try?"
The Healer hesitated, her expression a mix of regret and helplessness. "There's a theory buried in ancient writings—about the post-expansion normalization process. It suggests that the body might reset itself but that could take an extended period, even months, or years in some cases."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Daphne's mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and desperation.
"There may be other methods," the Healer continued, "uncertain and rarely practiced methods. The risk involved…"
Hermione's eyes widened. "We need to do something."
"I agree," Daphne interjected, her voice determined. "But what?"
==/==\==
Hours later, in the dimly lit library of Grimmauld Place, Hermione and Daphne pored over ancient tomes, flipping through centuries-old pages with the anticipation of finding a clue, a solution—anything.
Amidst the dust and the musty scent of old parchment, they stumbled upon a weathered text, its pages almost crumbling with age. In faded ink lay the mention of magical expansion and its aftermath.
"This text… it talks about the effects of magical expansion," Hermione murmured, her eyes scanning the fragile pages.
"It suggests that the body could reset itself post-expansion, but the process might take an extended period. This is what Healer Eltington was talking about."
Daphne leaned in closer, her eyes scanning the faded text. "So that's a possibility, but it's vague, and the time frame is unclear."
"And then there's this," Hermione pointed to the section mentioning healing rituals involving a parent's blood and tears. "But this method...it won't work for Harry. His parents are..."
"Dead," Daphne finished, the realization hitting hard. "That avenue is closed to us."
Hermione nodded solemnly, disappointment evident in her expression. "We need something else. Wait! There is a mention of connecting through a person's magical essence. It says that wizards used to imbue artefacts with their essence, marking it as theirs. An artefact imbued with wizards magic can be used to connect to their magical essence and act as a trigger to revive them"
"Really," Daphne said, her mind racing through possibilities. "But finding an artefact that Harry might have imbued with his essence… It's like finding a needle in a haystack."
Silence followed as they scoured the pages, tracing through the ancient wizarding practices, but the solution remained elusive. Hours ticked by, the old tomes offering glimpses into forgotten knowledge but failing to provide a concrete path forward. It was not a surprise that both fell asleep in the library, books and parchments spread in front of them.
==/==\==
The following day, armed with their newfound knowledge and a glimmer of hope, Hermione and Daphne returned to St Mungo's, seeking an audience with Healer Eltington once more.
"We've found something," Hermione began, a mix of urgency and determination in her voice.
Daphne stepped forward, her resolve palpable. "There's a mention of post-expansion normalization in the old texts, suggesting the body resets itself, though it could take a long time as you highlighted yesterday."
Healer Eltington listened intently, her expression a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism.
"And while there's mention of healing rituals involving a parent's blood and tears, it's not applicable to Harry," Hermione added, her words measured.
Daphne continued, "However, there's a reference to connecting to a wizard's magical essence through an artefact imbued with their magic."
The Healer regarded them thoughtfully. "Connecting through magical essence... It's a plausible approach, but finding an artefact imbued with Harry's essence might be a daunting task."
"We scoured the old tomes but found no leads," Hermione admitted, her tone laced with concern. "We'll continue searching, but…"
"We must act," Daphne finished, the weight of the situation pressing upon her.
The Healer nodded understandingly. "I'll consult further, but be prepared for the uncertainties in this method. It's uncharted territory, and the path forward remains obscured."
As they concluded the meeting, Hermione turned to Daphne, determination etched across her features. "We must find something, anything that could connect us to Harry's essence."
Daphne nodded, her determination mirroring Hermione's. "We have work to do."
==/==\==
The dimly lit room within Grimmauld Place was filled with an air of unease as Hermione poured over the texts, her brow furrowed in concern. Daphne sat nearby, flipping through old tomes, her mind occupied with thoughts about Harry and the Greengrass family's unique magical legacy.
Activity around the floo caught their ears, as Ron worked into the library a few moments later. Curiosity and surprise etched on his face when he saw Hermione and Daphne buried into books.
"Hermione, what is it.? Your Patronus sounded urgent. Is everything okay?" Ron asked
Hermione sighed deeply and looked up, meeting Ron's worried gaze. "Ron, there's something I need to tell you." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "It's about Harry."
Ron's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "What's wrong with Harry?"
"It's... it's serious," Hermione replied, her voice tinged with worry. "He's at St. Mungo's. There's been an issue... he's not waking up."
Ron's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I didn't want to alarm anyone until we had more information," Hermione explained, trying to calm him. "We're doing everything we can to find a solution."
Before Ron could respond, Daphne interjected, "Hermione, we are way in over our head. We need some expertise and a fresh perspective." Daphne hesitated for a moment, contemplating her words before continuing.
"Tracey's training to become a healer. She knows quite a lot about healing magic. Also, the Greengrass family's magic has always revolved around healing. There might be resources we can use in the Greengrass Library."
Hermione glanced at Daphne, a mixture of surprise and gratitude crossing her face. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I didn't think it would come to this, honestly," Daphne replied, her voice edged with concern. "But I've seen the kind of magic my family practices, especially in healing. It might hold some answers."
Feeling the weight of the situation, Hermione added, "We need to handle this carefully. We can't risk word getting out about Harry's condition. There are still those with malicious intent."
Daphne nodded in agreement. "We can take an oath of secrecy. My family will understand the urgency once they know the situation."
Ron looked at Daphne with a newfound respect. "You would do that for Harry?"
Daphne nodded. The thoughts in her mind of the extent she could go for Harry was surprising to her as well. Alas those thoughts were not voiced.
==/==\==
The decision wasn't easy, but eventually, they found themselves on the doorstep of the Greengrass Manor. Daphne's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass, received them warmly.
Surprisingly, the Greengrass family didn't hesitate. They understood the urgency and the debt they owed to Harry for saving Daphne's life. Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass not only granted permission but also offered their expertise and resources to aid in the search for a solution.
Astoria and Tracey, initially surprised, nodded in agreement after Hermione's heartfelt explanation. "We'll help in any way we can," Astoria assured them, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Tracey added, "I'll dig into my training and resources. There might be something there that could help."
As they delved into the Greengrass library, the atmosphere was filled with determination and hope. Pages were turned, spells analysed, and ancient texts translated in the relentless pursuit of a solution.
A few hours later Tracey called everyone over. "Listen to this. Rather than focusing on magical core expansion and normalization, I thought to look into the process of imbuing items with magic. I seriously believe that if we are able to find an item imbued with Harry's magic, we can get through to him. This is what I have found"
She held open the text with 5 pairs of eyes scanning the information provided.
Imbuing an artefact with magic was a practice prevalent among ancient wizards, one that stemmed from their desire to leave a lasting mark or connection with their magical essence. The process itself was a complex and intricate art that required a deep understanding of magical manipulation and craftsmanship.
Wizards sought to leave behind a trace of their magical essence, akin to a signature, within an object. It acted as a unique identifier, designating ownership or linking an object intimately to a specific individual.
Imbuing magic into artefacts wasn't solely about leaving a mark; it often enhanced the object's inherent qualities. A sword might become sharper, a pendant could bestow protection, or a piece of parchment could preserve writings for centuries.
It was a way for wizards to extend their influence beyond their lifetimes. Imbued artefacts could carry the magical prowess of the creator, earning reverence or fear from those who encountered them.
The wizard had to imbue their intent and magical essence into the object. This involved intense concentration, focused intention, and channelling one's magical power into the artefact.
The process often involved elaborate rituals, incantations, and the use of specific magical instruments or runes. These rituals were personalized and unique to the wizard imbuing the object.
The connection through the artefact was often limited in range. It might not allow direct communication or control, but it could serve as a beacon or tether between the object and the creator.
The process was complex and required a high level of magical mastery. Not all wizards could perform this feat effectively or without consequences.
Imbuing an object with magic had its unpredictable aspects. Sometimes, the object could react unexpectedly or exhibit unforeseen properties, making it challenging to predict its behaviour.
Powerful wizards, especially those who possess an immense and uncontrolled reservoir of magical energy, might inadvertently infuse objects with their magic without realizing it. This occurrence is often a result of intense emotions, concentrated magical outbursts, or prolonged proximity to the object in question.
During moments of intense emotion, like anger, grief, or joy, powerful wizards might involuntarily release bursts of magical energy. If they are in close proximity to an object during these moments, that energy can be absorbed by the object, imbuing it with their magic.
Continuous interaction or prolonged use of an object by a powerful wizard could also result in the object absorbing traces of their magical essence. This can happen with items that are frequently handled or used during intense magical activities.
Wizards with immense power might unconsciously cast spells or enchantments on objects without intending to do so. This might occur during moments of deep concentration or even in dreams if their magical prowess is exceptionally strong.
When performing highly potent magic, residue or traces of magic might linger around the wizard. This residue can inadvertently transfer to nearby objects, imbuing them with magical properties.
However, these imbued objects might not possess the same intentional and controlled magic as items that have been deliberately imbued through a purposeful magical ritual. The accidental imbuing might result in subtle, unforeseen, or unpredictable magical effects rather than being a fully conscious and controlled process by the wizard.
Everyone around the table digested the information trying to make sense of what Tracey was indicating. Hermione and Daphne seemed to be contemplating the information. However, Astoria was lost in thought as if the information triggered something in her memory.
"Here is the interesting part." Tracey said flipping over to the next page.
Although it is unprecedented, some magical researchers are of the opinion that there is a hypothetical scenario where accidental instances of people instead of objects being imbued with a wizard's magic might occur. This would likely be during extraordinary, uncontrolled bursts of magical energy or exposure to immensely powerful spells.
The intertwining of one wizard's magical essence with another's is a phenomenon shrouded in mystery. This extraordinary event can arise from a profound emotional or magical outburst, often with monumental consequences for the individuals involved.
As they group finished reading, looks were exchanged. Ron had a look of confusion as to how this was supposed to help Harry. Daphne and Hermione were contemplating the occurrence of such an incident. However, it was the look shared between Astoria and Tracey which held the most significance. Understanding dawned on Astoria as she looked at Tracey. She had after all shared the events that transpired in the Hospital after the battle of Hogwarts with Tracey. It was during one of those moments they had spent discussing Daphne and her traumatic experience when Tracey had returned.
The significance of what Harry had done fully dawned on both Tracey and Astoria. In his emotional state and his resolve to save Daphne he may have unintentionally imbued her with his essence, or did he?
Tracey for one was eager to find that out.