Chapter 18
Albus was waiting for Harrison Potter-Black to wake up. Harley had woken up an hour earlier, but he was barely conscious and kept asking Poppy for coffee ("Absolutely not!"), so he couldn't tell Albus what had happened in the antechamber.
He'd already spoken to Ron Weasley, Malfoy, and Zabini. Weasley and Malfoy hadn't gotten past Minerva's chess set, and Zabini had had to return to them when there wasn't enough potion to move to the next room. None of the boys could tell him what happened between Voldemort and the twins.
Harrison was stirring when he heard shouting behind him.
"MY GODSON IS IN THE HOSPITAL WING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM!"
"Severus?" Albus said in surprise. The door burst open, revealing a furious Severus Snape and a shocked, slightly guilty Minerva McGonagall.
"I want her fired," Severus snarled.
"I'm sure Minerva didn't intend for-"
"She knows Harrison and Harley don't trust any adults except for me!" Severus snapped. "She knows they wouldn't go to anyone else for help!"
"Uncle Severus?" Harrison muttered, blinking awake.
"Foolish boy!" Severus growled, swooping over to him. "What made you think it was a good idea to attack the Dark Lord?"
"Professor McGonagall refused to listen to us," Harrison said with exhaustion, "and you know how hard it is for me to trust any adult."
"You seem to trust Professor Quirrell," Albus coaxed. He suspected Quirrell was the one to help Voldemort.
"Not as much as I trust Uncle Severus, Headmaster," Harrison replied, turning his gaze to Albus' beard. "I couldn't find him last night, anyway."
Madam Pomfrey bustled over. "How do you feel, Mr. Potter-Black?" she asked.
"Tired, but otherwise fine, lady wixen," Harrison said politely as he turned to blink at her. "You might want to cast a Medical History charm anyway, I don't know if my magic has recovered completely yet."
"What do you mean?" Albus asked worriedly as Poppy flicked her wand. A scroll appeared in midair, and she caught it.
"I am not comfortable telling you, Professor," Harrison said quietly, giving Minerva a flat, slightly disappointed look. The woman looked pained, but she left.
Poppy was staring at the scroll with surprise. "Mr. Potter-Black-" she paused and glanced at him.
"You can ask whatever you want in front of Uncle Severus, lady wixen," Harrison responded.
"I'll wait until later, then," Poppy decided, looking concerned and confused. She handed the scroll to Severus, who pocketed it. "Your magic is fine, but I would suggest waiting until tomorrow to cast anything."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Mr. Potter-Black, can you tell me what happened last night, after Mr. Zabini returned to Mr.s Malfoy and Weasley?" Albus asked as the woman went back into her office.
Harrison nodded, but kept his gaze on Severus. "The room was empty other than the Mirror of Desire and a man. Neither Harley nor I recognized him. He had salt-and-pepper hair and gray eyes, was about six foot three, slightly muscular but mostly lithe and slim, lightly tanned skin. He was trying to remove the Stone from the Mirror, but was having difficulties. He tied up Harley, so I had to play along. I got the Stone, and the man didn't realize, but the Dark Lord did."
Severus twitched.
"His face was on the back of the man's head," Harrison said blankly. "He was pale, bald, didn't have a nose or lips, and his eyes were slitted and scarlet, like a snake's. Harley said he was ugly," he added with an eye-roll, causing Severus to sputter in alarm and Albus to sigh in amusement and resignation. "This made the man -- the Dark Lord addressed him as Thomas -- to become incredibly angry and just Stun him."
Albus recognized the name; it belonged to an old follower of Voldemort's, who had retired and gone to live in Albania. Hagrid had played cards against him a few days ago, winning a Fire Crab from him. How had Thomas gotten into the school?
Then Albus remembered that he'd taken them down so Voldemort could enter in the first place; the wards stopped wixen who wanted to hurt children.
(Of course, Albus didn't know that Voldemort had never wanted to hurt children -- the only times he had hurt them were by accident.)
"The Dark Lord tried to get me to join him," Harrison continued, "but the fool didn't realize I have no attachment to my parents, and he is the person I trust the least on the entire planet. I would never join him, and Harley will always remain loyal to me."
"Yeh," Harley grunted.
"So the Dark Lord ordered Thomas to kill me," Harrison continued calmly, making Severus blanch and Harley become completely awake and wildly indignant. "He tried to choke me, but his hands burned and turned to ash. I believe that was because of the Blood Protection Ward our mother cast over us."
Albus was startled. How had Potter-Black known about that?
"When Thomas tried to attack me again," Harrison continued, "I touched his face, which also turned to dust. I believe I fainted after that, but you might just find a pile of ash in the room with the Mirror of Desire." He paused, then rummaged around in his pockets. "Did you touch me without my permission?" Harrison asked in a very quiet, very dark voice, turning a fiery gaze on Albus' beard.
"No, Poppy retrieved the Stone for me," Albus assured him quickly. Merlin, he sounded like Voldemort when he was very angry. Judging by Severus' awed and terrified expression, he agreed. "She said she has blanket permission to touch you, as she is a Healer and you trust her to do that, but I don't have that permission."
"You never will, Headmaster," Harrison said, and he had returned to a blank expression and calm voice. "The Stone is safe now?"
"Yes," Albus agreed, and was about to tell Harrison that the Stone was to be destroyed, but the boy interjected.
"Then I do not care, nor is it my business, what happens to it," Harrison said sleekly. "I'd like to have a word with Uncle Severus, Headmaster. Alone, if you don't mind."
Albus hid a scowl as he stood. "I see you have received many presents from well-wishers," he added, nodding to the gigantic pile of treats between the two boys' beds. "May I?" He gestured to one of the Berty Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans.
"No, Headmaster," Harrison responded, his eyes lighting with mirth when he spotted the toilet seats hidden underneath a pile of Chocolate Frogs.
"I believe that was Fred and George Weasley," Albus said with a smile.
"Idiotic brats," Severus muttered, as Harley began cackling.
Albus left the Hospital Wing, annoyed at the continued lack of trust, but recognizing that Harrison at least told him what happened. Clearly, with time and patience, the boy would come to see him as a grandfather.
Severus cast a Secrecy Ward and a Silencing Charm before pulling out the Medical History scroll. "May I?" he asked his godson.
Harrison nodded as he sat up properly, leaning against his pillow. "Harley, we don't eat sugar for breakfast," he added sharply without looking in his brother's direction. Harley pouted; he'd been about to snag a Chocolate Frog.
"A house-elf will be in with your breakfast in a moment," said Poppy as she returned. "I'd like to cast a Medical History Charm on your brother, as well." She glanced between the two boys.
The raven-haired boy paused for a moment, then agreed, which caused Harley to immediately give his own permission. Poppy flicked her wand at the boy as Severus looked down at the scroll in his hands.
Medical History for Harrison James Potter-Black:
Physical: No Medical Treatment Needed
Ages 0-2: None
Ages 2-3: Bruises (treated by magic), broken wrist (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), burns (treated by magic), cracked rib (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), Malnutrition (treated by own magic and Goblin Magic)
Ages 3-4: Bruises (treated by magic), broken arm (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), burns (treated by magic), two broken ribs (treated by own magic and Goblin magic) Malnutrition (treated by own magic and Goblin magic)
Ages 4-10: None
Age 11-Now: Light scrapes (treated)
Mental: No Medical Treatment Needed
Ages 0-2: None
Ages 2-Now: Sociopath (caused by verbal/physical abuse) (no treatment needed; high-functioning)
Emotional: Medical Treatment Needed (Mind Healer)
Ages 0-2: None
Ages 2-4: Verbal Abuse (untreated)
Ages 4-7: None
Ages 8-9: Words of Pedophile (untreated)
Ages 10-Now: None
Magical: No Medical Treatment Needed
Ages 0-1: None
Ages 1-2: Blocks on Magic (treated by Goblins), Soul-Piece from Tom Marvolo Riddle (no treatment needed; irremovable)
Ages 2-Now: None
"Oh my goodness!" Poppy squawked, staring at Harley's scroll in horror. Harley looked disinterested, bouncing in his bed and staring around at the walls.
"You reached the part of the pedophile," Severus growled protectively.
"He -- he murdered-"
Harrison tensed, and Severus said flatly, "Self-defense."
"'Violent murder' is not self-defense!" Poppy said in a strangled tone.
"It is if the pedophile was too powerful to leave alive," Harrison said coldly. Poppy blanched. "If you have an issue with Harley's method of self-defense, I can ask Uncle Severus to Obliviate you."
"That won't be necessary," Poppy said firmly, although she still looked nauseated. "As a certified Healer, I made a vow not to reveal a patient's secrets, unless I believe the patient might harm himself or others. Self-defense might be a bit of a stretch for one without the Black Madness, but with the Black Madness, it really isn't."
"Yay!" Harley chirped. "I think I traumatized Uncle Vernon and Auntie Petunia and Cousin Dudders, though. There was a lot of blood," he said dreamily.
"Harley," Harrison said sharply when Poppy went green, and Harley shut up.
"May I see?" Severus asked Poppy and Harley cautiously, glancing at Harrison for his permission as well. When the two boys agreed, Poppy gave him the scroll.
Magical Medical History for Harlequin Eli Potter-Black:
Physical: No Treatment Needed
Ages 0-2: None
Ages 2-3: Bruises (treated by magic), broken arm (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), broken leg (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), sprained ankles (treated by magic), bruised/broken ribs (treated by own magic and Goblin magic)
Ages 3-4: Bruises (treated by magic), broken arms (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), broken fingers (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), broken legs (treated by own magic and Goblin magic), bruised/broken ribs (treated by own magic and Goblin magic)
Ages 5-10: None
Ages 11-Now: Light scrapes (treated)
Mental: Treatment Needed (Mind Healer)
Ages 0-7: Black Madness (no treatment possible)
Ages 8-9: Violent Murder of Pedophile (UNTREATED), Black Madness (no treatment possible)
Ages 10-Now: Black Madness (no treatment possible)
Emotional: Treatment Needed (Mind Healer)
Ages 0-2: None
Ages 2-4: Verbal Abuse (untreated)
Ages 5-7: None
Ages 8-9: Words of Pedophile (untreated), Violent Murder of Pedophile (UNTREATED)
Ages 10-Now: None
Magical: No Medical Treatment Needed
Ages 0-1: None
Ages 1-2: Blocks on magic (treated by Goblins)
Ages 3-Now: None
"Might I ask who put blocks on your magic?" Poppy asked, looking darkly furious.
"The magical signature was masked, so the goblins couldn't tell who it was," Harrison replied calmly and smoothly (Severus twitched in discomfort), "but they believe it was the headmaster."
Poppy frowned worriedly. "I might have to get a Magical Aura Test, then, just in case...."
The door to the hospital wing burst open, and the Weasley twins fell into the room. Quirrell/Voldemort stepped in behind them, rolling his eyes.
"Harrikins! Harlikins!" they exclaimed, scrambling to their feet. "You're okay!"
Harley grinned maniacally. "Demons!"
"Chaos!" Fred and George bounced over to the redhead, also smiling madly.
Quirrell blinked, looking confused and worried. Voldemort clearly recognized that moniker, but Quirrell didn't.
Harrison glared at Harley. "What did I say about that code-name?"
"Only you can know about it," Harley said automatically. "They call me that, I didn't tell them about it."
"Code-name?" Poppy asked warily.
"Don't worry about that, ma'am," Harrison told her. It sounded a bit like a command.
Poppy sighed, obviously deciding that she didn't want to know, and said sharply, "Five minutes, and then I want those two brats out of here." She returned to her office.
A house-elf popped in with two plates of toast and eggs. Harrison's had sausage, while Harley's didn't.
"Thank you, Minah," Harrison said calmly to the elf, saying something in sign language. The elf signed something in response. "Could you take this pile of candy to our dorm room, please? And confiscate the bloody toilet seats." He shot the older twins an annoyed look, and was met with innocent expressions.
The elf laughed silently and nodded, snapping her fingers. The mess disappeared, and then the elf did.
"You know sign language?" Quirrell asked Harrison. Voldemort wasn't in charge at that moment, given the change in tones.
"Yes, Professor," Harrison agreed. "I learned as many languages as I could, once the Muggles stopped being idiots." He turned to Fred and George. "'Demons?'" he quoted dryly. They beamed. "I suppose that fits.
"What do you want, Demons?"
The Weasley boys shivered in glee at the name. Harrison's eyes glittered, and Quirrell's eyes widened a little.
"Blaise, Draco, Ron, 'Mia, and Neville are worried about you," one of the twins responded.
"We weren't, you can handle yourselves," the other added.
"Even against Moldywarts!"
Quirrell and Severus sputtered in alarm.
"What did you just call me?" Voldemort's voice drawled, sounding amused.
Fred and George froze, then slowly turned to Quirrell. "We called you Second-Most Esteemed Darkness," one of the twins said quickly.
"Yes, obviously, we would never disrespect you," the other agreed.
"'Second-Most?'" Severus repeated coolly.
"Harrikins," the twins chorused simply. Harrison's lips twitched.
"You have three Bellatrixes now, Harrison," Voldemort said lazily. "Good luck."
"I'm used to Harley, I can handle the Demons," Harrison returned sleekly.
The Weasley twins beamed. "We're your Dark servants now?" they asked gleefully.
"Not yet," Harrison corrected. "I want to learn more about being a Dark Lord before taking followers. You will be among the first, though."
They looked half disappointed, half delighted.
"I can give you a few tips," Voldemort offered. Everyone except Harley looked shocked and awed.
"During the summer," Harrison agreed.
"Am I gonna be your second, like Uncle Sevvie is Tomalongadingdong's?" Harley asked eagerly.
Severus spluttered as the Weasley brats howled with laughter, collapsing on the floor beside Harley's bed. Voldemort choked, and Quirrell looked like he was having a hernia trying not to burst out laughing, too.
"No," Harrison said, rolling his eyes at the nickname. Harley pouted. "I want to wait to pick a second. They need to be calm, patient, cunning, and clever. You definitely aren't the first two."
Harley cackled maniacally. "Don't wanna be!"
"'Tomalongadingdong?'" Voldemort asked in a strangled tone. "Who told you my birth name was 'Tom'?"
"Nagini," Harley chirped. "Do you like your new name?"
"Absolutely not."
"You're no fun," Harley pouted. The older redheads laughed louder.
"Did you or Lord Voldemort need something, Professor?" Harrison asked Quirrell, ignoring the three idiots.
"I was sent by the other teachers to tell you that you need not hand in any homework for this week," Quirrell responded in a slightly reverent tone.
"I've already finished it all," Harrison replied.
"Yay!" Harley cheered at the same time.
Severus snorted. "I still require those essays, Harrison, brat."
Harley pouted. "Yes, Uncle Sevvie."
"Don't call me that!"