Power He Knows Not

Suppositions

Dumbledore watched as Harry slept fitfully, whimpering and shifting, the magically cooled cloth on his forehead barely maintaining its place.

Madam Pomfrey had done all she could, and even Dumbledore himself was at a loss. They could find no source of the fever currently ravaging young Harry, they didn't even know what could have brought it on, as miss Weasley had been unconscious until after he had collapsed, and mr Weasley had been certain that Harry was fine when they and Lockheart had entered the Chamber.

Dumbledore sighed softly. He was glad both Weasley children were alright, he only wished he had been able to stop this sooner. Then Lockheart might still have his memories, and Harry wouldn't be plagued with a dangerously high fever.

Of course, Dumbledore had several theories on what might have happened, but there was no evidence to support or deny his suppositions. Snape had suggested finding out from the boy himself, though Dumbledore was not inclined to agree with the potions master's proposed tactics. When Harry awoke, Dumbledore would ask him as plainly, and gently, as he could. Hopefully, Harry would remember something that could explain his sudden illness.

As Dumbledore watched, Harry's cries began to quiet, and his pained thrashing lessened. His breaths still huffed and hitched, but it was better then before.

Dumbledore wondered at how quickly the fever seemed to be fading now. It had already been nearly a week, without the slightest improvements, but Harry's breathing was easing steadily now. Within a few minutes, Harry was breathing deep and easy, his body relaxing as his sleep became peaceful.

Dumbledore carefully extracted his wand from an inner pocket of his robe, and cast a simple diagnostic charm. As before, the only thing off with the results, was Harry's fever, which had lessened considerably.

It was quite sudden, and near miraculous, how Harry's fever had lessened so rapidly.

Dumbledore had been checking every half hour since he had arrived in the hospital wing, and his last check was only a few minutes before.

Dumbledore couldn't think of anything that would ravage the immune system for days, resisting any form of treatment, only to suddenly fade within minutes. The implications worried him greatly.

It was around a half hour later, that Harry woke, his eyes blinking slowly open.

He looked around the room a moment, before frowning slightly and reaching for his glasses.
Dumbledore waited for Harry to sit up, and place his glasses on his face, before drawing the boy's attention.

"How are you feeling, Harry?"

Harry looked up at him, before quickly glancing away, his frown returning.

There was a silence that seemed to stretch, as Harry frowned at one of the bedposts. Finally, he asked,

"What happened to Ginny? Is she alright? And Ron?"

Dumbledore gave Harry a gentle smile, even as he frowned inwardly.

"They are both well, though quite worried about you. Madam Pomfrey was at a loss as to what afflicted you. Is there anything that you could tell me about what happened in the Chamber, that could explain your sudden illness?"

Harry relaxed when he heard that his friends were fine, leaning back against his pillows, his eyes staring at the far wall vacantly.

He slowly shook his head.

"I don't really remember what happened. We'd figured out where the chamber was, Ron and me, we took Lockheart with us, he got Ron's wand, and tried to... I think he said, 'remove' our memories. The wand... backfired. There was a collapse, so I went ahead to find Ginny."

Here he paused, eyebrows knit together in thought, eyes still unfocused.

"She was unconscious when I found her. She wouldn't wake. I thought... I heard something..."

He fell silent again, still staring at the far wall.

"...but I blacked out. I don't remember anything after that."

Dumbledore watched him closely, blue eyes glimmering in the bright light of the hospital wing. Finally he said,

"It is quite lucky you found the Chamber when you did. Miss Weasley might not have made it were it not for your bravery."

He got to his feet, smiling at Harry as he straightened his robes.

"Rest now, you will need to replenish your strength."

With that rather abrupt end to the conversation, Dumbledore left, his periwinkle robes flaring out behind him slightly.

Something had definitely happened down in the Chamber, the only question was what?