A/N I started to write this quite shortly after writing Problem with Food, but for some reason decided that I wasn't going to publish it until I had written it all. Then life got in the way and I forgot about it. Recently I have read the reviews to my previous stories again and I realised that I had never given the sequel that so many of you had asked for. It sits after Problem with Food, but before Problem with Voldemort.
So it maybe 4 years late, and it is entirely un-beta'd, but here it is: Harry Potter and the Problem with Healers
Chapter 1
"Harry, this is Healer Jeff McLaren. Jeff, Harry Potter." Andrew handled the introductions. He'd had Harry living with him for two months now but with all the fuss that surrounded Harry's start at Hogwarts, the usual first year procedures had been missed.
"Hiya Harry. Good to see you alive!"
"Don't remind me Jeff. That was the worst hour I've had in a long while." Andrew grimaced.
Jeff patted Andrew on the shoulder and turned back to Harry. "So you've not had any of the usual first year stuff, what about other vaccinations?"
"Aunt Petunia said that freaks didn't deserve anything like that. Only normal people got them" Harry replied, swinging his legs off the side of the big bed he was sitting on.
Jeff inhaled sharply. "Right. I see. Well we'll get you everything you need don't worry. I'll be right back."
Outside of Harry's hearing range, Jeff turned to Andrew. "Full complement of vaccines plus medical history I think. Don't want to be missing anything."
"Thanks Jeff. Harry's take on magic is rather unique so if anything comes up you don't recognise, we'll see if we can explain."
"Might take a day or two to get the results. Are you alright observing him or should I keep him in?"
"I'll be fine Jeff, just do what you have to."
Jeff nodded and the pair headed back over to Harry.
"I'm just going to check you over and see that you're healthy now and then I'm going to cast a spell that looks back in time to see if there's anything else we need to know. Is that ok?"
Harry nodded shakily.
"Harry, I think the question Jeff is trying to ask is "may he?" "
Harry relaxed. "Oh yeah, that's fine."
Jeff sent a questioning glance at Andrew but got on with the diagnostic.
"Harry could you lie down for me?" Jeff asked.
Harry sent a fearful glance at Andrew as he swung his legs onto the bed.
"It's just the history spell Harry, it needs everything to be straightened out to work. It doesn't hurt at all, it just tickles."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes, leaning back onto the pillow. He felt the spell wash over him and start moving upwards from his feet. A few minutes later he gasped and slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Harry?" Andrew queried in concern. "What's the matter?"
"Head hurts" he gasped out.
Jeff passed him a pain relief potion which Andrew fed slowly to Harry.
"Does that feel better?" Andrew asked.
Harry began to nod but Andrew stopped him.
"Try not to move your head" he said.
Jeff turned his attention to Harry's head but his diagnostic could find no problem.
"Whatever it was seems to have gone away" he said. "Let's do the vaccines and then you can take him home. Keep a close eye on him and if you notice anything else bring him straight back."
"Thanks Jeff" Andrew said with a smile.
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Back at home Harry was trying to persuade Andrew to let him play with the twins. Andrew was having none of it.
"Harry Jeff asked me to keep a close eye on you. I can't do that if you're not here."
"But I feel fine" Harry complained.
"No Harry."
"Is this all because my head hurt?"
"Not entirely. Even without that I would be asking you to rest."
"But because of that you're demanding it. I see." Harry turned his back.
"Harry, before we started Jeff asked if I would be happy to observe you or if he should keep you in the hospital. That sort of scan plus vaccines should have resulted in an overnight stay. I thought you might like it more to be at home rather than in hospital, but I can tell Jeff that I've changed my mind if you'd prefer?"
"You want to look after me?"
"Yes Harry. I do. I've told you before and I'll tell you again. I want to help you. No-one is making me care for you, no-one made me become your guardian and no-one will ever convince me that you don't deserve it. I just want what's best for you. How about you go on up to your room and I'll come up in a few minutes."
"Ok."
After Harry was settled under a monitoring charm, Andrew went to talk to Jeff. A simple history spell should not have caused pain like that and he was worried what it might mean for his child.
"Andrew" Jeff greeted through the floo. "Back so soon?"
"You knew I would be Jeff, stop kidding yourself. Do you have any idea on what could have caused that episode with Harry's head?"
"You saw me cast the diagnostic and you saw its results. There was nothing wrong with his head. I'm as lost as you are I'm afraid."
"It was a history spell, so it might be triggering something from his history perhaps?"
"No-one but him has ever survived an AK Andrew, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if that was the case. Doesn't help us with what we can do about it though."
"Hmmmmmm. Let me know when the results are in and I'll come and pick them up. Until then I'm going to stay with him in case he needs me."
"Of course Andrew, goodnight."
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Harry had soon realised that living with a Healer such as Andrew Cokeworth meant he was never going to get any peace on the matter of his wellbeing. Any cough, sneeze or expression of pain was immediately given a questioning glance and if he didn't receive an appropriate answer, Andrew would follow it up with a verbal query. Andrew did allow Harry to spar with the twins without his presence, but his eyes always raked over the boy on his return, as if looking for anything he might have done to himself.
One morning Harry decided to see how far Andrew would go with this, he was feeling in a mischievous mood and the twins weren't around.
"Morning" Harry said as he came down to breakfast.
"Good morning Harry. How are you today?"
"Alright thanks" Harry replied with a smile.
Andrew said nothing but made a note to keep a closer eye on his charge over the next couple of days. Harry seemed far too flushed for first thing in the morning. Over the course of breakfast he noticed little sniffles coming from opposite him, so slight that Andrew imagined Harry didn't even know they were happening. It could be hayfever, it could be a summer cold, it could be something more serious. If he broached it now though, Harry would probably close up like he had done several times before and Andrew didn't want to be relying on diagnostic charms too much. Harry needed to learn to come to him.
As the day progressed Andrew kept a close eye on Harry, especially whenever he went in or out. A gentle cough, as if trying to cough silently, followed an afternoon flight and Harry went into the living room a few minutes later with one of his Weasley jumpers on. Andrew went in and sat down on the sofa next to Harry, actively preventing himself from laying the back of his hand on Harry's forehead.
"Did you see me fly?" Harry asked.
"Yes. You nearly scared me half to death with some of those stunts!"
Harry shivered a little.
"Are you alright Harry?" Andrew asked.
"It was a bit cold up there that's all."
Andrew nodded. "You know to tell me if you ever don't feel well don't you?"
"Yes Andrew."
"I'll go make us some hot chocolate see if we can't warm you up that way, hey?"
Harry smiled as he shivered again. As soon as Andrew was out of the room, he let out a string of soft sneezes, just loud enough to be heard in the kitchen. When Andrew came back Harry acted like nothing had happened.
"Are you sure you're ok Harry?" Andrew asked after a few minutes.
"Yeah this chocolate is really hitting the spot. Thanks."
They sat for a while in silence until Harry put his mug down to remove his jumper. As soon as he did so, Andrew's arm grasped Harry's.
"When did you do this?" Andrew demanded, pointing at the raised bumps and welts covering Harry's arms.
"Do what?" Harry asked.
"This!" Andrew exclaimed, shoving Harry's arm into his face.
"Andrew what are you on about? I haven't done anything to my arm! I grazed the other one on a branch because I flew too close to it, but that's it."
"Harry this isn't the time for being funny. These look infected and I'm sure you're running a fever as well. I knew you were ill at breakfast, I should never have let you go outside! We're going to the hospital, come on."
In Andrew's office, Andrew turned his back to floocall Jeff and that was all Harry needed. When Jeff stepped through into the office Harry had removed the injuries and lowered his sleeves again.
"So Andrew says you've got yourself into a bit of a state. Let's have a look" Jeff started.
"Roll your sleeves up Harry" Andrew ordered.
Harry complied and revealed his bare arms.
"Erm... There's nothing there Andrew. I hate to ask if you're sure, because I know you wouldn't call without good reason, but I can't see what you described. May I?" he added to Harry.
Harry tried to hide a smirk as he nodded.
"He's in excellent health Andrew. I don't know what you saw, but judging by the reaction of young Harry here, he might" Jeff replied with a smirk of his own. "Let me guess, you get interrogated about every sign of discomfort, so you thought you'd try for payback?"
Andrew moved his gaze slowly to look Harry in the eye.
"Harry, you can prank me as much as you like. Funny hair, funny clothes, sweets that turn my outward appearance to a big fluffy yellow chicken, you name it. But please never, ever pretend to be injured as payback. Your health means too much to me to play with it. We've been lucky so far, being able to cover everything up, but next time we might not be able to. Can you imagine if everyone could do what you do? Mysteriously disappearing injuries, curses that don't affect people, it would make a mockery of the whole medical system. You can do incredible things, but you need to learn to be responsible with it. I won't stop asking you about your wellbeing and I won't stop pushing if I think you're hiding something. If you try this again I'll go ahead with all the testing to distinguish the cause of your illness and it isn't all as pleasant once you get into deep diagnostics."
"Sorry Andrew" Harry mumbled.
"I hope you're listening to what Andrew's saying Harry" Jeff continued. "He is one of the best paediatric healers around because he truly cares about his patients. You did not see him after he had to call your death that time, he was an emotional wreck. If something like that happened again, I would have to remove him from the room, his worry would distract me. Keep playing and keep learning, even keep duelling, but respect your health and please respect the people who make it their purpose to keep you healthy."
"Yes Jeff. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"As long as you learn from it Harry and don't do it again, we'll call it quits alright?" Andrew asked with a smile. Harry nodded. "And Jeff, if Harry pulled another stunt like that again, worry wouldn't even get close. I worry every time he goes to see the Weasley twins and he's come back from those unhurt! It would be absolute gut-wrenching agony. I would put a hole in the corridor carpet in no time. Harry, if you have any feelings for me at all don't ever pull a stunt like that again."
"I'm really sorry about that Andrew, you know I am. I'm glad it works but I didn't enjoy it either. It hurt like hell. I've promised I'll never use that spell again unless I have to. I won't."
"Unless you have to?" Jeff queried.
"Less likely to get hurt more if you appear dead. Dead people get ignored" Harry replied simply.
"Hmmmmmmm. Well seeing as you don't need me anymore I'll be off. See you around Andrew, Harry."
"Bye Jeff."
"Bye Jeff."
A swoosh of flames later he was gone, leaving the two in the office alone.
"I want to see you grow up Harry. I need to see it. I'm sorry if my concern annoys you sometimes but with all you've been through I don't want you to suffer with anything anymore. Shout, scream, slam doors, even physically hit me if you're angry - I can deal with that, just leave your wellbeing alone. Understand?" Andrew's eyes were boring into Harry's, the intensity within burning like a flame.
"Yes Andrew."
"Come on then, let's go home."
Another swoosh of flames and the office was empty.
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Now that they had settled into some sort of routine, Andrew decided he should bring up the issue of Harry's eating habits. He knew it would be slow going and he stood by his promise not to push too hard but it was going to be an awfully lonely life for Harry if he refused to eat anyone else's cooking. Either that or he would have to play host every time.
"What would you like for dinner Harry?" Andrew asked.
"I'll make bolognese a bit later on if that's alright? Can I visit the twins first?"
"If you wish. I can have dinner ready for when you get back."
Harry stared at his guardian. He was the one that made the food. Andrew insisted that he ate, so Harry insisted that he cooked. Andrew had helped him a few times or at least been in the kitchen with him, but it was still Harry's food. Andrew knew this so why was he asking now?
"Erm, thanks but I'd prefer to make it" Harry said awkwardly.
"Ok we can make it together, how does that sound?" Andrew backed down quickly. Maybe if they cooked together a bit first then Harry should come to accept his cooking as he had the twins.
"Ok. Can I go now?"
"Yes. Have a good time and don't come back injured!"
"I won't" Harry replied with a grin.
That evening when Harry returned, uninjured, the two started cooking dinner. Andrew started conversation as they worked.
"You look exhausted Harry. Did you find it tough today?"
"Yeah the twins are so much more ruthless than they used to be. They don't actually want to hurt me so it's all imitation stuff but it doesn't half look bad when you see it! I'm glad you're not there to be honest, you'd have a fit!" Harry chuckled to himself. "They've learnt to sense magic too now so when we go two on one it's much harder to avoid everything because they don't stick to just standard spells anymore. Or even any of our made up spells. They invent stuff on the fly, it's great to watch!"
"I hope you're not doing too much again. Remember about your magical core?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes Andrew. I know where my limits are."
"Good. How about I finish this for us?" Andrew gestured to the wok full of meaty bolognese.
Harry looked at his guardian strangely. What an odd question! "Erm thanks but no thanks. There's no tomatoes in there yet and it's got at least another ten minutes to go. You could do anything to it at this stage! I'd rather finish it myself."
Andrew conceded defeat. He would have to try again another day.
Throughout the following week Andrew kept trying, every day getting the same results. At last he decided to take the bull by its horns and just make dinner without telling Harry. It was jacket potato with beans, Harry's favourite. Even if the boy didn't eat it, and just watched whilst he did, it would be an improvement. That evening Harry tumbled through the floo as usual, saw Andrew sitting at the kitchen table, smiling, with two plates of food served and sprinted from the room.
Andrew's own appetite vanished. He hurried into the hallway as well but couldn't see or hear any sign of Harry. He wasn't in his room, or in any of the other rooms in fact. He'd vanished completely. Even Point-Me spells were no use. Andrew berated himself. He knew Harry had extreme reactions to food, that was how he'd got involved with the boy in the first place after all. He knew that Harry only ate if he'd made it and Andrew also knew that he had promised not to push his ward about it, especially whilst he was still underweight. Harry had chosen him as his guardian and he had screwed up. He was glad that he was no longer Harry's healer, he couldn't even feed the boy right, let alone have any control over his health. Harry was missing and it was all his fault.
Andrew threw in some floo powder to talk to Jeff when a loud crack made him turn around. A very familiar house elf was standing behind him with its eyes wide and frantic.
"Sir needs to come" Sweep almost squeaked. "Master Harry-"
Andrew didn't let Sweep finish what he was going to say. He grabbed the elf's offered hand without a thought.
The room he landed in was full of devastation. There was debris everywhere and he couldn't see Harry. Then he noticed the house elf beckoning him frantically. He picked his way through the room and his heart almost stopped. Harry was lying, unconscious, in the middle of a pile of rubble. The way he had fallen, he had become trapped underneath bits of timber, stone and cement. His head was free but if the blood was anything to go by, he'd hit it rather badly. There was no-one else around.
"Sweep!" he yelled.
The elf appeared with a crack.
"Go get Jeff McLaren from St Mungo's Hospital. Tell him it's to do with Harry."
The elf sensed the urgency in the request and left with another loud crack.
Andrew's gaze turned back to Harry. He lifted his wand to cast a diagnostic, but he suddenly noticed a movement. Harry couldn't be conscious, he would be in so much pain he'd just pass out again. Unless... Could it be just an illusion? Harry was really good at those, especially when he wanted to hurt Andrew for something.
Another movement from the floor saw Andrew's hand on Harry's chest before either knew what had happened.
"Harry? Can you hear me?" Andrew asked quietly.
Harry opened his mouth to reply but no noise came out.
"I need you to listen to me and answer honestly." Andrew continued. "Blink once for yes and twice for no. Do you understand?"
Blink.
"Did you do this?"
Blink.
Andrew almost gave a sigh of relief. It was just another temper tantrum from a magically powerful kid.
"Can you remove it?"
Blink. Blink.
"Not... Imi...ta...tion" Harry managed to gasp out.
Andrew swore. He needed Jeff and he needed him now. What was taking that bloody elf so long? Until then however he needed to keep Harry calm.
"Ok Harry, we'll get you out of here as soon as we can. Don't move at all if you can."
No response.
"Harry? Can you hear me Harry?"
No response.
Andrew swore again. Harry had dropped back into unconsciousness. A diagnostic charm didn't give him any respite either. The boy had a huge concussion, multiple compound fractures in his legs and a broken rib that was pressing on a lung. How he had been conscious at all baffled Andrew but he didn't have time to ponder that now. He had to help Harry.
Andrew was creating a clear workspace around Harry when a crack was heard. He jumped which caused the block he was levitating to go flying through the air, fortunately away from Harry.
"Jeff!" Andrew called. "Over here!"
"What's the matt-" Jeff cut himself off at the sight of Harry. "Merlin Andrew what happened? Never mind, tell me later."
"Trapped pelvis down, broken ribs, legs, concussion. Unconscious on my arrival but conscious for a few minutes before losing again. It's not a joke this time Jeff."
"You've done a good job Andrew. Can you cast the containment spell when I lift the rubble?"
Andrew nodded.
"On three. One. Two. Three!"
The two men worked for a few minutes until all the debris had been removed. Jeff then cast a body bind onto Harry and stood up.
"He's clear, he's secure, I've got to go. I'd advise you don't come for a bit. I will throw you out."
Andrew nodded mutely as he watched Jeff and his very important passenger disappear. He couldn't continue on like this.
It was three hours before Andrew received word that he could go and see Harry. He'd gone to his office, unable to stand seeing what was happening if he couldn't help, but he wasn't able to distract himself with anything. The only thing he could see was Harry's face when he'd rasped out that it wasn't an imitation spell. When the summons came he was out of his office and down the hall faster than a blue-arsed fly.
Harry was sleeping when Andrew got there and the first thing he did was run a diagnostic on his charge. Jeff let it go. He knew Andrew wouldn't have it any other way than seeing the results from his own wand.
"He's going to be okay" Andrew breathed. "He's going to be okay."
"Andrew?" asked a soft voice.
"Harry! You're awake!"
Harry winced at the noise.
"Bad head?" Andrew asked. He turned around to find Jeff already there with a pain relief potion. "Here, drink. Then tell us what happened."
Harry squirmed. It seemed like such a childish thing to have done now.
"We had to vanish the bones in your legs and regrow them Harry, not to mention the massive concussion you have. You'll be here at least a week so I would advise you give Andrew the information he wants now if you want any peace at all." Jeff said with a knowing smirk at his friend.
"Can I tell you and you tell him?" Harry asked quietly.
"Ok, if that's what you want Harry" Jeff agreed. "I'll come to your office in a few minutes Andrew."
Andrew opened and closed his mouth a few times before he very reluctantly left.
"So then, what is it?" Jeff asked kindly.
"It's really silly" Harry started. "I shouldn't have done it."
"What shouldn't you have done?"
"I shouldn't have run away like that. He was just trying to be nice by making me dinner and I ran away."
"Why did you run away?"
"He's been on about him cooking a lot this week and then he just made dinner. I know he cares about me and I know he wants me to be normal but I just can't make myself do it! I'm such a freak!"
Jeff could feel the magic circling around them and was thankful for the outburst suppression wards in the paediatric unit. Heightened emotions plus uncontrolled magic did not usually sit well.
"Is this what happened in that room? You got angry at yourself and stuff exploded?"
"Yeah. It all happened so fast I couldn't stop it. I did try. Then I called for Andrew. Then I passed out. I'm sorry Jeff."
"Running away doesn't solve anything Harry, but I know it's your survival mechanism. How about we ask Andrew for a room in your house that you can run away to if ever you need to? "
"Yeah. A safe room. I like that" Harry replied sleepily. Now he'd told his story, the adrenaline was wearing off and the pain potion he'd drunk was making him drowsy.
"Sleep well Harry. We'll come back and see you later." He tucked Harry in but the boy was already asleep.
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The "safe room" was built by the time Harry was released from Jeff's care but Andrew let Harry furnish it how he wanted. Harry kitted it out like his and the twins' training room at Hogwarts and when it was finished he begged Andrew to let him have the twins over for a duelling session. It took another two weeks before Jeff and Andrew decided he was fit enough.
"Can the twins come?" Harry asked excitedly once he'd received the all-clear.
"Alright Harry, but remember what I said" Andrew replied.
"Yep, you'll know if we're not in there and you'll know if anyone's hurt."
"Good. Do you think they'll want to stay for dinner?"
"Don't know but I think George said he'd have cake next time he saw me. George makes the best cakes!"
Andrew wondered again why Harry accepted the twins' cooking but no one else's. It was a puzzle. But outwardly he smiled and ruffled Harry's hair.
"Good to know. We'll make enough for four then."
Harry smiled in return. After that disastrous meal, they had been taking the cooking issue more slowly, but Harry really was trying to let his guardian do more for him. He had even left the room briefly the day before, whilst the chicken was cooking, which Andrew had said was a great step forward. Seeing the twins again would be great. Especially if George had made cake.
Andrew couldn't help himself. He'd not seen Harry duel with the Weasley twins in a long time and now they were doing it under his roof! He just had to go and see. Not just to check on the welfare of the boys but to assuage his curiosity about how these spell sessions had evolved. Harry wielded magic like noone else he knew of and he wanted to see it in action. Approaching the door, Andrew cast a spell at it allowing him to see through the wood. As he watched the boys spar he realised that he could see the amusement in showing it to someone who didn't know it was an illusion. Especially someone medically trained. Someone like Jeff.
"Andrew?" Jeff greeted him quizzically through the flames. The other man was smiling slightly and that worried him. It couldn't be anything really bad otherwise Andrew would have come out with it already, but there was definitely a nervous quality to his smile. Something had happened.
"Afternoon Jeff. Are you busy?"
Smalltalk? Jeff thought. Andrew Cokeworth doesn't do smalltalk unless he's trying to work himself upto something.
"Wading my way through the mountain of paperwork old boy. Is something up?"
"I'm not sure."
"That settles it, I'm coming through."
Jeff's thoughts were whizzing as he called his destination into the fire. Nervous smile, smalltalk and evasive answers. That just didn't fit with everyone's knowledge of his old friend. It just wasn't like him at all. Andrew wore his emotions on his sleeve, but he was always convinced of them. As he spun through the floo he wondered what it would take to get to the bottom of whatever it was. He didn't know enough. He would just have to wing it.
Jeff stepped gracefully out of the fireplace, concern etched on his features.
"What's wrong Andrew, is it Harry?"
"I think you'd best come see."
Andrew led Jeff up to the corridor with its see-through door into the training room and subtly glanced at his watch as they came into viewing range. Jeff's mouth dropped open when he saw the amount of spellfire being flung around and the incredible athleticism of the boys as they dove, twisted and jumped to avoid being hit. His jaw dropped further when suddenly the room went black with only the coloured spell beams providing any light at all in flashes and spurts. Fred happened to be facing the door just as he dodged one spell and got hit in the back by another. The flashes illuminated his body and in the eerie orange light Jeff could make out a plethora of deep injuries and swellings marring the boy's torso. He also thought he saw blood running down the boy's face from his hairline but the flash was over too quickly for him to be sure.
Why hadn't Andrew stopped this already? Was he scared about interrupting? Did he not think it was his place? Whatever the reason was this needed stopping and stopping now before any more permanent damage could be done. He'd have to work out Andrew later, at least HE wasn't suffering from potentially life threatening injuries.
As his hand closed around the doorknob he heard Andrew chuckle behind him. What was so funny? Why was he allowing people to get injured? Andrew Cokeworth would never allow that, Jeff knew that like he knew magic existed. With a sudden clarity of thought Jeff spun round and aimed his wand levelly between Andrew's eyes. This man could not be Andrew Cokeworth.
"Tell me something only Andrew Cokeworth would know" Jeff snarled.
"I called Harry Potter's death after twenty minutes of resuscitation attempts last year and later on you told both me and him that if anything similar happened again you would have to kick me out of the room so you could concentrate. Relax, it's me." Andrew smiled. "And if I'm any judge the boys should be coming out about now."
Sure enough just a minute later the door bounded open and three boys came out, pushing and jostling, with big grins and red faces. George tripped over Andrew's foot as he exited the room and fell to his hands and knees with a thump, right between the two adults.
Everyone stared at each other for a few seconds. Jeff was the first to break it.
"It's alright" he said softly to George. "It's over. I know you must be hurt. Your friends too. You can tell me."
"It's nothing. I was too busy pushing Harry and Fred so I didn't see you and tripped. Sorry about that" George replied.
"I mean in there. Let me see your injuries" Jeff demanded gently.
George looked at Harry and Fred who looked at each other and then Harry looked over at Andrew. Seeing the look of complete confusion on the kids' faces Andrew lost all of his self-control and burst out laughing.
The quartet looked in shock at Andrew laughing his head off pointing from Jeff to George and then back again. The door to the training room shut with a loud clang and noticing its see-through state, Harry realised what was going on.
"Andrew, did you just prank Jeff?!" Harry managed to ask through his own laughter.
Andrew nodded his head vigorously with a wide grin.
Jeff was sure he was going to get whiplash he was whipping his head around so much.
"I hope I might get a sensible answer out of you Harry, because that seems to be beyond your guardian at present. What's going on?"
"Imitation spells" Harry replied simply.
That comment not only set Andrew off again, but the twins as well. It began to dawn on Jeff just who these people were and what they were capable of. This was Harry Potter, the boy who took a supposed AK to the chest and woke up to ask who died. He knew they could create injuries that looked and tested real but didn't hurt too much and could be removed on demand. If this was what Andrew put up with on a daily basis then there was no wonder he was as paranoid about Harry's health as he was! Jeff didn't know if he could deal with it, never knowing whether injuries and illnesses were real or not.
"Jeff?" he suddenly heard, startling him out of his thoughts.
"Huh? Yes Andrew?"
"Are you ok?" Andrew's voice still carried amusement but it contained concern as well now.
"Yeah, I think so. You are a devious, devious man. I'll get you back for that one day!" Jeff finished with a grin.
"I don't doubt you will my friend" Andrew replied with a smirk. "Do you wish to stay for dinner?"
"No, thankyou. I'd best be getting back before the missus misses me! But before I do, just to settle my worries completely, may I boys?"
A few minutes later Jeff went on his way, muttering under his breath about bloody old codgers.