The Gale

~*~The Gale~*~

Black, everything was black around him. Never had he experienced such a deep colour... if it could be called a colour at all. Peace radiated through the place, and wherever he was he was safe. Not knowing who he was, where, or why, he just allowed himself to continue floating, without a body, without feeling, without memories. He just wanted to stay there, in blissful unawareness, forever.

~*~

Anne Granger walked slowly back to the waiting room with two steaming cups of coffee, she was surprised to find Molly sitting with Hermione and Ron on either side of her, all of them looking nothing less than terrified. Quickly putting down the cups on the table she asked what was the matter. Hermione looked up.

"His-his heart stopped... or something... the doctors are in there now... "

~*~

A sudden feeling came over him and he managed to open the eyes he didn't know he had.

Thousands of stars met him, lovingly twinkling the same colour as his eyes. He felt complete just watching them, winking in and out of existence, shining greener with every passing moment. It just felt so right, being there, without memories or feelings... just peace and quiet.

~*~

Anne stared worriedly at the children. She had never really known Harry as they did, and it surprised her how genuinely horrified they were at the prospect of losing him. She sat down next to Hermione and put a comforting arm around her, which Hermione returned with a hug. "Oh mum... what if he dies?!" she sobbed. Anne didn't answer. What could she say?

~*~

He blinked, and was surprised to see the stars fade into a duller green, almost black like the space around him. He frowned, an expression he never knew he could muster and suddenly became aware of something... he had a body. Suddenly a shock ran through him, and he could see the stars go an even darker shade, another shock had him doubled over, and when he looked up again, only one single star remained, he tried to reach for it, not wanting to leave, wanting to continue on his journey through the stars until he reached his destination, but a third shock had him falling farther and farther away, he could feel a beating in his chest, painful at first and then familiar. Somewhere above him a voice cried his name:

"Be at peace, Harry Potter, like so many, thou hast a life."

As his name was spoken, memories came unbidden to his mind, his life flashed before him and he relived everything in a split second.

Pain centred around the wounds he had gained in the storm and he gave into unconsciousness, still falling

~*~

Ron stood and started pacing fervently back and forth; the others followed him with their eyes, having nothing else to do until Harry's condition was made clear to them.

Doctor Charlseen entered the waiting room, pulling her stethoscope around her neck and wiping sweat from her forehead.

"He's stable again, but this worsens the situation, let's just hope and pray that he has enough strength left in him. There's not much else I can do for him now, it's really up to him.

I would ask that his family be around him during these trying times, something to keep him fighting... is there anyone I could contact?"

"His parents were killed when he was little, since then he's been staying with his relatives, the Dursleys... " Hermione said softly, she would have continued, had Doctor Charlseen not stopped her.

"Dursleys? Vernon, Petunia and... " she flipped through a few papers on the clip board "Dudley Dursley?" from the shocked expressions on their faces, she gathered that she had been right.

"Oh dear... yes, I know who they are, brought in an hour or so before young Harry. Vernon died instantly, as did the son, Dudley, he fell on his mothers legs, breaking them somehow, but Petunia Dursley is still living, she suffered a spinal chord injury and may never walk again... apparently she refuses to have visitors. Is there anyone else? Anyone at all?"

Ron turned to his mother suddenly, eyes lighting up "there's always his godfather... "

~*~

"Albus, you cant possibly mean that? The ministry has done everything within its power to ensure the safety of wizards and witches alike! I will not tolerate this!"

Albus Dumbledore eyed the minister warily, his eyes betraying his feeling that this was a hopeless case.

"Cornelius, an evil so great it can change the weather with a whisper is brewing, and if you insist on being blinded by your pride, then none shall be safe. You refuse to let anyone near Surrey, and as far as our sources can tell we may very well have lost two powerful allies, you have one last chance, take it now Cornelius, and stay on the right path"

The minister made a small sound, almost as if he was hiding a laugh. With his nose held high, he stalked away, and out of Hogwarts.

Dumbledore sighed heavily and turned to go back to his office, but not a step was taken before a large black dog came bounding towards him, an opened envelope in his mouth.

"What have we here then, Sirius?" Dumbledore knelt, and took the envelope, freeing the letter from its depths.

~

Dear Sirius,

I suppose you know about the storm that struck down in Surrey. Harry did survive but he's in a muggle hospital now, called Saint Andrews. I don't know why muggles got to him first, but they did and now he's here... but as you know, there is only so much that muggle medicine can handle, and Harry is fighting to survive, his heart stopped once, and the doctors are asking if is family can be with him. Not knowing what to do, we decided to write to you, in hope that Albus Dumbledore may view this letter.

We hope to see you soon,

Hermione Granger.

~*~

Ron jerked his head up from a fitful slumber when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It took a while for him to take in his surroundings, his back ached and he realised that he must have fallen asleep in the chair. After a jaw-breaking yawn he turned to the person standing next to him.

"Oh, hi Sirius" It took maybe a moment for him to realise who he was speaking to, but as soon as it clicked he jumped out of the chair. "Sirius! How did you get in?! Why aren't you in your animagus form?! You could be seen!"

Sirius raised an eyebrow at the sudden flow of questions. "Dumbledore let Remus and I go after some minor persuasion. Remus is getting some coffee, and I'm hiding. Those security guards aren't too fond of me... " he smiled slightly, remembering the panic he had spread through reception. He glanced around the waiting room curiously. "where's Hermione?"

Ron shrugged "She went to talk to the doctor... or something... she should be back any minute now... "

"How's Harry? Any change?" As much as he had longed to ask that question, he still dreaded the answer, Ron sighed, shoulders slumped.

"It's up to him now, apparently. Either he wakes up, or he doesn't" Sirius sagged very visibly, he didn't know what to do, he felt so very helpless.

"I should have seen it coming!" he whispered harshly, more to himself than Ron. "The dark lord wouldn't just give up!"

Ron frowned "The dark lord? You-Know-Who? What does he have to do with this? It was just a normal Gale... wasn't it?"

Sirius sighed and sank into the chair that was previously occupied by Ron. "Dumbledore seems to think otherwise... "

~*~

Somewhere in the back of his mind he was sure he could hear something bleeping in the same rhythm as his heart, but he couldn't be sure. Normally he would have been clawing his way back to consciousness, but he just felt too tired. It hurt to move and he was momentarily grateful for the bandages. He could feel a soft mattress underneath him and something on his face. Knowing he was alive was enough for the time being, so he started fighting the battle of staying that way.

~*~

Ron yawned again and stretched, checking his watch. It was very late; roughly five hours after Mrs Weasley and Mrs Granger had left for home. Hermione had been gone for more than five minutes now and he was getting a bit worried. But then again, time just seemed to creep by when you were worried.

"Tired?" Ron jumped before remembering that Sirius was still there. He turned to his best friend's godfather.

"Yeah, just a bit... where was Remus again?"

"He went to get coffee... honestly, I don't know how you can survive without the stuff"

Ron smiled tiredly "I'm young and innocent... you're old and strange... only caffeine can tell us appart"

"Hey! I'm not strange... I'm Sirius!"

"And the difference is... ?" A new voice asked. Ron and Sirius turned to stare at Remus Lupin, who gave Sirius one of the two cups of coffee he was holding.

"I think I saw Hermione down the hall, she should be here any second now"

~*~

This was it. It was now or never. The voice had told him he needed to live, but for all he knew it could have been a drug induced illusion... he needed to fight, and win... soon. For time was truly running out for Harry Potter.

~*~

Hermione walked back towards the waiting room, trying to digest all she had just heard from the doctors. The door to the waiting room stood open and she crept in curiously.

"Sirius! Remus! You got my letter then?" she whispered franticly, closing the door behind her and flicking on the light switch, making Ron cover his eyes in mock pain. Sirius nodded shortly, sipping his coffee. But Hermione wasn't done with him yet. "How on earth did you get in here?" she hissed, looking around franticly, as if expecting Albus Dumbledore to pop out of thin air in front of her. Sirius sighed and put his cup down.

"Well, we finally persuaded Dumbledore to let us go... he almost went himself, but couldn't... something to do with the ministry I think... I had to change into my animagus form and for some stupid and unnecessary reason, Remus just had to have a leash with him! The Muggles refused to let me in, of course, so I started snapping playfully at them, biting a few imaginary legs off and getting myself thrown out... In the end, Remus had to shrink me and carry me in his pocket past the receptionist... we tried to go and see Harry straight away, but they wouldn't let us in at all. Apparently he wasn't allowed visitors at that time... " here he let out a low growl of irritation, but shook away all the thoughts of murder washing through his mind, he would stay calm... he had to stay calm...

Ron cleared his throat. "What did the doctors say, Hermione?"

Hermione took a slight step back under the attention that was suddenly thrown on her. "W-we can't see him until they're sure he's stable and staying that way... to put it lightly" she added, a little louder than first intended.

Remus stood from the chair he had been sitting in and smiled kindly. "Why don't the lot of you get some sleep? I'll go and owl Dumbledore, as Sirius promised I would" he frowned at his friend, as if reprimanding him for deciding things without permission, Sirius held up his hands in surrender.

"I only said that 'coz I knew you'd owl him anyway... " Remus rolled his eyes skywards and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

~*~

Sunlight seeped through a small gap in the curtains, allowing a narrow beam rest over the closed eyes of an unconscious boy. There were no signs of the struggle he had undergone only minutes before, nor where there any visible signs of life... yet still, the boy stirred.

~*~

Hermione was the first one to wake up the next morning, though it could have been due to the fact that she seemed to get the most uncomfortable place of them all; the floor. Glancing around, she blinked away the sleep from her eyes and stood, her neck creaking in protest as she rolled her head on her shoulders.

Sirius had been forced to change into his animagus form as soon as it became apparent that the doctor could turn up any moment. He now lay, curled up tightly, on a chair in the darkest corner, almost hidden in the sharp shadows left from the curtains that had been pulled over the window the night before.

Hermione turned her gaze to Ron, who was slumbering peacefully on the lumpy couch, but from his cramped form, Hermione could only guess how uncomfortably that had to be. A soft knock on the door, averted her attention, she turned to see Harry's doctor peeking her head in curiously. After spotting Hermione, she made a small notion with her hand for her to follow. As soon as the door was closed again, doctor Charlseen let a smile grace her features.

"It's a miracle... not only did he survive the night, but his breathing is controlled and in no need of help... I don't know how this could have happened... it's just like-like... " she waved her hand around, trying to find the right word.

"Magic?" Hermione suggested innocently.

"Yes! Like magic!" doctor Charlseen said dreamily. She shook her head once and blinked, not knowing how much her words had meant to the brown-eyed girl before her. "I have consulted with some of the nurses, and it should be all right for you to visit him soon, if anything should happen you will be informed... I'll be back to escort you within the hour"

~*~

He could have sworn he heard voices... very distant and familiar voices. He tried to listen to them and hear what they were saying, but his senses wouldn't co-operate... he just couldn't move. It was as if he was trapped in his body, in a silent prison. He tried to focus on regaining control of his arms, but they seemed so heavy... so next he tried his eyes, but it was as if someone had poured cement on his face. All in all, it was a horrible feeling.

~*~

Albus Dumbledore paced the length of his office in thought, every time he reached his desk, he would put his wand to his temple and extract a silvery thought. Absentmindedly, he'd then put that thought into the glowing pensive that had conveniently been placed over the latest letter from the minister of magic

He frowned deeply, tapping his foot impatiently. There was something bothering him, but for the life of him, he didn't know what. Curse this age I have become! He thought to himself, throwing his wand to the desk in frustration.

Sighing heavily, he retrieved his wand from the ground, after it had rolled off the desk, and examined it. No damage seemed to have been done, but a glint of red shone at its tip. As he beheld the glow, Albus Dumbledore finally understood.

~*~

Ron stepped away from the window he had been staring out of. He just didn't seem able to sort out all his thoughts. So many things were happening and he felt like he was the only one to notice. His eyes wandered over the room to his best friend. Still unconscious...

They had been allowed in to see Harry only after explaining that Sirius wasn't really dangerous, just concerned for his master. It had taken a very cheery nurse and five staff members to finally get them permission.

When at last they had entered the room, they were glad to see that there were no longer any machines hooked onto Harry's body. In fact, the only things that suggested him not to be perfectly healthy were the bandages.

The waiting was awful... for they couldn't hear Harry breathing, even though the steady rise and fall of his chest suggested otherwise, as soon as someone yawned or coughed, everyone else would jump.

Sirius sat patiently in a chair by Harry's bed, staring intently at his godson's face, trying to discern any emotion at all. His trance like state didn't go unnoticed by the other two, but they could only guess what dark thoughts flooded the escaped convict's mind.

~*~

He should have known, he should have guessed it! It was so simple, and yet so brilliant... He sped up his pace, taking great strides down the long corridors of Hogwarts.

"Good afternoon, Albus" Severus Snape said as their paths crossed. Dumbledore merely nodded in response and continued on his journey. At last he reached the library. Quickly locating the book he was searching for, he blew away the dust from the cover and opened it to exactly the page he was looking for. In bold, red letters, the title of the curse was set on the page;

Tempestas Margarita

=The weather pearl

~*~

The hospital was fairly quiet, there hadn't been many casualties, and for that, the staff were very grateful. The day proceeded with barely any need of panic or rush. It must have been the most peaceful day in the history of Saint Andrews.

Even as the doctors checked out to go home, the ones that checked in for night shifts were surprised.

Many nurses arranged coffee meetings, and as night fell swiftly, many of the staff joined in... none of them aware that down the hall, to right and up, in room number nine, two emerald green eyes had just blinked open

~*~