A Potter Secret

Maurader's Map

"Looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?" Ron asks.

"Peaky? What d'you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet," Fred replies.

"Yeah, c'mon, Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking," George replies.

"Probably a right sight better than he normally does," Harry says. Harry opens his eyes and Ron, Fred, George, and Hermione slowly come into focus, standing at the foot of his bed in the hospital wing.

"Harry! How're you feeling?" Hermione asks.

As Harry edges up against his pillow, we see a nurse removing the spokes of an umbrella from a Hufflepuff player's neck. Harry doesn't look so good himself. "Brilliant," Harry replies.

"Gave us a right good scare, mate," Fred replies.

"What happened?" Harry asks.

"You fell off your broom," Ron reminds.

"Really? I meant the match. Who won?" Harry asks.

Silence. Uncomfortable glances. "No one blames you, Harry. The Dementors aren't meant to come on the grounds. Dumbledore was furious. After he saved you, he sent them straight off," Hermione explains.

Harry nods grimly, stares at the rain lashing the window. "There's something else you should know, Harry. Your Nimbus, when it blew away? it sort of landed in the Whomping Willow. And well-" Ron trails off as he tips a bag of splintered wood and twisted twigs onto the bed. As Harry stares, we hear a gentle wind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Harry?" Isabella calls. Harry turns over him the bed and watches as Isabella walks towards him, hesitantly. "How do you feel?"

"I'll be okay," Harry assures. As Isabella gets closer, Harry notices the tears running down her cheek. "I'll be perfectly fine, I just need a good night's sleep. Come here." Isabella crawls into the bed and sets her head on his chest, letting the tears fall. Turning into a kitten, she crawls further onto him. Isabella sets her head over Harry's heart and sits there as he comforts her and she listens to the steady beat. "I'm okay." Harry smiles down at her and pulls the blanket up to cover her a bit. It's strange to see Isabella like this, Harry thinks. She seems so strong, so knowledgeable, that seeing her scared and acting her age is strange.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm sorry about your broom, Harry. There's no chance of fixing it?" Remus asks.

Harry shakes his head in response to Lupin's question, then, Whoosh!, sets Hedwig free of her traces. Isabella crawls up and sits on his shoulder. She hadn't left his side since the game. As Hedwig soars into the sky, Harry and Lupin watch from the lake's edge. "Why do they affect me so, Professor? I mean, more than everyone else," Harry asks.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory, until a person is left with nothing but his worst experiences. You're not weak, Harry. The Dementors affect you most, because there are true horrors in your past. Horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine. You have nothing to be ashamed of," Remus explains.

"I'm scared, Professor," Harry replies.

"I'd consider you a fool if you weren't," Remus replies.

"I need to learn how to fight them. You could teach me, Professor. You made that Dementor on the train go away."

"There was only one that night."

"But you made it go away," Harry replies.

"I don't pretend to be an expert, Harry. But yes, I can teach you. Perhaps after the holiday. For now, though, I need to rest. I'm feeling tired," Remus says. Harry turns, studies Lupin's haggard face. A weary smile appears as Hedwig's reflection glides over Lupin's irises. "Beautiful."