Renouncing Magic's Child

Dumbledore stood up ... I take Harry upstairs?"

"To the hospital wing, I should hope," young Poppy said.

"Of course," ... half an hour's time if he needs me."

"I get the feeling they're not going to the hospital wing," young Mrs Weasley muttered.

Snape nodded silently ... swayed again;

Sirius growled. His son should have been in the hospital wing.

the pain in his leg ... full measure.

"It's the adrenaline," Madam Pomfrey said. "It will keep the pain at bay while you're in fight or flight mode."

"Fight or flight?" Ron asked.

"Your body's response to danger."

He also realized that he was shaking.

"Most likely from the shock," Madam Pomfrey said. "Now that you're no longer in danger, the adrenaline rush will end and leave you quite weak. It's most likely that or... Well, it could also be the cruciatius curse. Perhaps a combination of both."

Dumbledore gripped his arm ... "Sirius is waiting for us there."

Sirius frowned. Surely, he could have met them in the hospital wing.

Harry nodded ... flashing across his mind.

No one said anything. They couldn't blame him. They had no idea how they would react in his place.

Mad-Eye Moody, inside the trunk.

Alastor grimaced.

Wormtail, slumped on the ground ... returned to his parents...

Mrs Diggory whimpered.

"Professor," ... knew him best."

Professor Sprout smiled sadly. That single conversation had been the hardest thing she ever did as a teacher at Hogwarts.

They had reached ... what happened?"

Sirius frowned. He promised himself that it would be different this time. He would be healthy. A good parent. He mentally berated himself that the first thing out of his mouth hadn't been to demand if his son was injured.

His hands shook ... think or feel anymore.

The mind healers looked torn. It would do Harry good to talk about his experience. But his physical injuries should most likely be prioritised. It wasn't something they said often.

There was a soft rush ... landed on Harry's knee.

Madam Pomfrey smiled. At least Fawkes would provide some level of treatment for Harry's injuries. It was startlingly worrying that the phoenix thought more for Harry's well being than the adults in his life.

"'Lo, Fawkes," ... his warm weight.

Albus smiled softly. Fawkes was exceptional. He always seemed to know what was needed most.

Dumbledore stopped talking ... Harry relive everything.

Mrs Weasley was glaring at Albus. "He should be in a bed in the hospital wing."

Albus merely nodded.

"I need to know ... Let him rest."

Sirius was nodding in agreement with his older self.

Harry felt a rush of gratitude ... worse when you finally feel it.

The mind healers looked frustrated. On one side, the man was not wrong. But rest could provide healing too. Sleep - preferably with dreams, even bad dreams - was needed to process the information their brains took in during the day. Rest was needed more than ever after a traumatic event.

You have shown bravery ... tell us what happened."

"Manipulating old goat," Abe muttered from beside his brother.

The phoenix let out one soft ... strengthening him.

Charlie considered that. "Phoenix Lament."

Everyone looked at him in bewilderment.

"A phoenix's song is said to be able to touch your soul. Increasing your courage, soothing your grief, striking fear in the hearts of the unworthy."

Young Charlie frowned. "Damn creature luck."

He took a deep breath ... ground beside the cup.

More than one person was crying now.

Once or twice, Sirius made a noise ... poisonous were being extracted from him.

Madam Pomfrey huffed. While that might well have been a description of his emotional state, it was also true of his physical state.  And Acromantula venom while not lethal, was incredibly incapacitating. It didn't sound like Mr Potter had been bitten by the giant spider, its fangs grazing him more than biting down. That had been fortunate. With enough venom in his blood, the young Prince would have been paralyzed, unable to defend himself. Although, that would have prevented him from going to the graveyard.

It was costing him ... Harry started.

Sirius leaned forward. This was the first mention of Harry being hurt in the graveyard. Would his older self and Albus finally send him to the hospital wing?

Dumbledore walked around ... he touched my face."

No one spoke. They wanted to get this book over and done with. It had proven to be quite a traumatic experience.

For a fleeting instant, ... weary as Harry had ever seen him.

Several people shot a look at Albus. But he didn't say anything. This had already been discussed. He couldn't blame his older self for taking joy in the one thing he suspected might save Harry.

"Very well," ... his mother...

Everyone was quiet. Not wanting to disturb the book.

He was glad ... "Why?"

Harry hated this. It had been hard enough reliving this whole thing but to hear himself talking about it, that was almost too much. Now that the book had returned to the wand connection, he wasn't sure he wanted to be in the chamber, surrounded by people. But... He couldn't leave. He needed to know what would be said. He didn't trust them to tell him everything. Not yet.

Harry looked up ... an arrested look.

"How did you know?" Ron asked.

"Obsession," Albus said. "In my youth, I wasted away countless hours researching a particular wand."

Harry, Ron and Hermione automatically looked towards the headmaster's wand. The Elder Wand.

"During that research I came across a few sets of brother wands," Albus continued. "One pair was held by lovers, another a pair of twins. I found no evidence of them being held by enemies. Not that I was looking for it. It was just an intriguing distraction from the frustration of my true search. I did hear rumour of a duel between two brothers where their wands refused to fight. Something similar happened then too. Similar but not the same. Not quite."

"Priori Incantatem," ... perching peacefully on Harry's knee.

"That's incredible!" Charlie said loudly. "To actually meet the phoenix that gave you your wand. Has that ever happened before?"

"Not that I know of," Garrick said. "Except where a custom wand has been crafted and the wand barer provided their own core."

"My wand's feather ... his shop four years ago."

Charlie was shaking his head in disbelief.

"So what happens ... Cedric must have reappeared."

Cedric swallowed.

Harry nodded ... victims of Voldemort's wand..."

Harry's eyes closed as he tried to block out the words.

"An old man," ... "Your parents?" said Dumbledore quietly.

Mrs Weasley was crying again.

"Yes," ... "In reverse order.

"Not just murders," Hermione said. "The hand appeared too."

Ollivander nodded his agreement. It was so similar to how so many wix believe that wands can only transfer loyalties with death. The wands have more personality than that.

More would have appeared ... his face in his hands.

Sirius grimaced. He'd be better this time around. His grip tightened on Harry's hand, trying to show his son that he would support him.

Harry suddenly became aware ... His leg was repaired.

Madam Pomfrey gaped. She was horrified to realise that he hadn't been healed until the end of that god awful conversation.

"I will say it again," ... A Sleeping Potion, and some peace...

Madam Pomfrey huffed. A sleeping potion, some peace and some healing!

Sirius, would you like to stay with him?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. Obviously he would be staying.

Sirius nodded ... the hospital wing.

"Finally," Poppy muttered.

When Dumbledore pushed open ... a kind of muffled scream.

Mrs Weasley jumped slightly. That sounded like Harry found them overwhelming. And she hadn't even noticed.

"Harry! Oh Harry!" ... certainly not this evening."

Several people sighed in relief. They didn't think they'd survive a third rendition of the graveyard.

Mrs. Weasley nodded ... "Did you hear? He needs quiet!"

The Weasleys all rolled their eyes.

"Headmaster," ... he is extremely well trained.

Sirius and Remus both laughed.

Harry - I will wait ... lying on the bedside table.

Moody shuddered slightly.

"Is he okay?" ... either side of him.

Sirius smiled, pleased with just how thoughtful Harry was of others. Even in his worst moments, he still thought of others.

Ron and Hermione ... scared of him.

"That wasn't it," Hermione said. "We were scared that we might..."

"Say the wrong thing," Ron finished when Hermione couldn't. "We didn't know what had happened, but..."

"We thought you were dead," Hermione cried.

Ron nodded. "Yeah, we saw you in front of the maze and we thought you were gone."

"I'm all right," ... "It's a potion for dreamless sleep."

"No diagnostic spells?" Poppy asked.

"I cast them once he was asleep," her older self said. "Mr Potter has never been the most willing of patient."

Harry took the goblet and drank a few mouthfuls.

Severus frowned. "You should have taken the whole thing."

He felt himself ... carried him off to sleep.

Several people sighed in relief. Nothing bad could happen now. Harry was safe. Asleep. In the hospital wing.