Harry Potter and the Unknown Power

Harry woke the next morning feeling refreshed and quickly got ready for his day. "Ron! Wake up! Breakfast!"

"Wha-? Bloody hell, Harry! It's still early, I was having the best dre-... wait, did you say breakfast?" Ron leapt out of bed, pulling on his clothes and raced for the door, with Harry on his heels. Harry skidded to a halt as he and Ron came down the dormitory stairs; Hermione was already dressed and sitting in the common room with her new Arithmancy book propped open on her lap.

"Oi! Hermione! Breakfast!" shouted Ron as he hurried past her to the portrait hole. Harry shrugged as Hermione rolled her eyes; they then proceeded to follow Ron to the Great Hall where a number of their classmates were already enjoying their breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast and icy pumpkin juice. Harry grabbed several sausages and a stack of toast, buttering it lavishly before devouring it. Ron had shoveled half a platter of scrambled eggs onto his plate and had taken a great swig from his goblet. Hermione watched in fascination and horror as they proceeded to inhale their food.

"Ronald, I have half a mind to write to your mother! Look at yourself; and you, too, Harry. I think maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey, I've never seen you eat like that!" said Hermione, smiling. Hermione's sharp eyes then rested on Harry's badge which was still pinned prominently on his robes, a small smile of pride stole over her face. "Harry, is that a Captain's badge? Good on you!"

"Sowwy, 'Erminee, we ahgwoin' boys!" Said Ron around a mouthful of bacon, "Congwatulashuns, Hawwy." He swallowed with some difficulty, "So when are we holding tryouts?"

Harry simply nodded and kept eating. "Tak to Maggonagall wayter," he managed with some difficulty.

"My word, what is going on here?" asked Professor McGonagall, "Mr. Potter, are you feeling all right? You're both eating like there is no tomorrow. I assure you, the house elves will still be here to prepare lunch," handing their class schedules instead to Hermione.

Both boys nodded and kept cramming their mouths full. Professor McGonagall closed her eyes briefly, as if trying to find some state of reason and sanity within herself since none existed among her students, and then made her way down the table, handing out sheaves of parchment.

"Oh good, outside all morning! Care of Magical Creatures, and Herbology," said Hermione, "Then I have Ancient Runes and meet you back in the dungeons for Potions. Looks like you both have a free period after lunch. Make sure you have everything you need. Snape is going to be in a right state if you aren't prepared. I wonder what McGonagall promised him in order to let you two in his class?"

It had come to as much of a shock to Harry and Ron as it did to anyone else that there had been several exceptions to Professor Snape's NEWT Potions class. Harry suspected the Headmaster had convinced Snape into letting students who were interested in becoming Aurors into his class. At first, Harry was confused. He dreaded the idea of spending time with Snape, but on the other hand, he was relieved. He just couldn't think of any other career he wanted more than being an Auror. Then, he felt irritated, I'm not a child, I could have found another job. Being an Auror isn't everything! In the end, he decided to accept it. He had a nasty feeling that Snape would find a way to make the "unworthy" pay the class in the end.

"Come on, we don't want to be late for Hagrid on the first day. I wonder what he brought for class?" She asked thoughtfully. "I wonder how Grawp is doing? It must have been lonely for him this last year, with just Hagrid for company."

"I asked Hagrid about that at the station, he said Grawp was well, and invited us to tea on Saturday," said Harry remembering.

They picked their way across the grounds, and arrived to find Hagrid sitting on the step of his hut, "Hullo, alrigh' you lot, let's get started. I've some fairly normal creatures fer yeh today. Nothing too worrisome, on'y make sure nuthin' bites yeh. I've some antidotes here from Professor Snape, though, so yeh should be alrigh'. In this box, I've some doxies.

"And in this cage some Cornish pixies. Now, I know yeh've had some experience with the pixies, so just jot down some notes on what they can do, and how to keep 'em under control. The doxies are a common household pest, so turn in, oh, lessee, eight inches o' parchment on doxies, their venom, the eggs, what damage they do, and how to stop them." Hagrid seemed restless and a bit bored by these creatures since they didn't have any noticeably murderous traits. Harry suspected that the Ministry still had its hand in the curriculum, and wondered what other surprises were in store for them.

"This here box holds gnomes, not those yard ornaments that some o' yeh might be thinking of, but real gnomes. Just jot down a few notes on them, too. If some o' yeh still have yer Lockhart books, then you are a step ahead, library has a few copies left, I imagine, I imagine the Ministry still approves of those."

Harry spent the next hour jotting a few notes down about the various creatures, and trying to sidle up to Hagrid. He had never seen Hagrid this dejected and down.

"What a nightmare!" Ron said as he trudged back up the hill towards the castle, "Honestly, Harry, I love Hagrid, too, but he was worse than Lockhart today. What is he playing at, bringing gnomes and doxies for class?"

"He looked off, too, did you notice?" asked Harry.

"He did seem off. Though, I imagine that he realized that some of us might not have ever seen them before. I hadn't before we started cleaning headquarters, or going to the Burrow for the holidays. I think it was a good introduction to household pests," said Hermione, "besides, none of those things are lethal. Would you rather have the Skrewts back? Though, I do wonder what the Ministry has to do with it. With Umbridge gone, I would have expected thing to have gone back to normal."

Ron scowled at her, and hitched his bag higher on his shoulder. Harry looked at her sympathetically as he held the greenhouse door open for her.

"Good morning class," said Professor Sprout, "today we work with the Venomous Tentacula. Mind the fangs, the venom will paralyze you if you are bitten. Wear your dragonhide gloves, please. Today we will be brushing the teeth, and cleaning the tentacles. On your tray are several Muggle implements that I find work better than anything magical."

"Ergh," said Hermione, "My parents would be pleased; they always wanted me to become a dentist."

Harry held the mouth of his plant open while Ron began scraping the teeth and fangs in a haphazard way, he dodged as a tentacle swung at him in self defense. "Gently, Mr. Weasley, their gums are quite sensitive and require a light touch. Good, Mr. MacMillan, take five points for Hufflepuff. Mr. Longbottom, excellent, five points." Professor Sprout continued walking through the work tables awarding points, and offering helpful suggestions when a scream tore through the greenhouse.

Harry whipped around and saw Hermione lying on the ground, one hand clutched around her left wrist, looking frantically in every direction. He was reminded of Neville in his first year hexed with a Full Body Bind.

"Let me through, please. Oh, dear, Miss Abbott, was she bitten? Ah, alright, clear away your things; I will take Miss Granger to hospital so Madame Pomfrey can sort her out."

Harry and Ron grabbed Hermione's things and followed Professor Sprout as she levitated Hermione to the hospital wing. "Pomona, what's this?"

"She got bitten by a Venomous Tentacula, approximately three years old. The students were cleaning their teeth."

Harry and Ron watched as the two professors tried to pry Hermione's right hand from her left wrist. Ron, who had been watching with an odd expression on his face, jumped up suddenly, and asked, "Professor, can you magic her hand off?"

"No, there isn't a spell that can force her to release her arm, she is paralyzed until we can get to the bite," said Professor Sprout.

"No, I just got this odd feeling that if we Vanish her hand or something, then we can treat her bite, then bring her hand back," said Ron. Harry stared at him... take away her hand? Had Ron gone mad? Hermione, clearly still able to hear, looked frantic at the prospect of losing her hand.

"Mr. Weasley, it is very risky, not to mention dangerous," said Professor Sprout. Meanwhile, Madame Pomfrey looked pensive.

"It could work," she strode to her fireplace and threw a handful of glittering green powder into the flames. "Professor McGonagall? Professor Snape? A word, please?"

Both professors stepped through the fire, and walked over to the bed where Hermione was laying. Madame Pomfrey quickly laid out the situation and their thoughts to help her.

"It could work," said Professor McGonagall, "but rather it is risky to be sure. Still, we should be able to sort her out. How much longer do we have before the venom is permanent?"

"Another hour at most," said Snape in a quiet voice.

"Mr. Weasley, what made you think of Vanishing her hand?" asked Professor McGonagall, turning to Ron, who had gone pale under his freckles.

"It's just a thought, I'm not sure if it was mine or someone else's, though, but I am certain it will work," he said, rubbing the welts on his arms through his sleeve.

Professor McGonagall did a tricky little flick of her wand and murmured a spell, while Ron and Harry watched fascinated as a cloud of light blue vapor engulfed her hand and watched as it slowly faded from view. Hermione's arm seemed to end in her wrist. Madame Pomfrey poured an orange solution into the bite and poked it with her wand. Immediately, Hermione's body seemed to go limp. Professor Snape pulled a tiny bottle from his robes and was surprisingly gentle as he tilted the contents into Hermione's mouth. Professor McGonagall whispered, "Finite Incantatum," over Hermione's arm. Slowly, her hand appeared, still grasping her wrist.

This time Madame Pomfrey was able to position Hermione more comfortably and tuck the bedclothes over her. "Thank you for staying with her, gentlemen, I am sure she was glad to have you here for support, but lunch is nearly over and I am sure you both have classes this afternoon. You may visit her after dinner this evening, and she should be fine to leave in the morning."

Harry picked up his bag and began walking out, but turned to see Ron standing over Hermione, carefully pushing her unruly hair from her face. Harry smiled to himself, as Ron caught up to him.

They had thought to catch lunch before it disappeared, but finding The Great Hall empty, they made their way to the kitchens. Harry jumped as he heard a high voice calling, "Mister Harry Potter! Mister Harry Potter!"

"Dobby! It's good to see you," Harry said, patting the elf on the back awkwardly as Dobby hugged his leg hard. "How is Winky?"

"Better, sir, she is finding a family to look after. I will miss her, but she will be happier serving a family."

"I just hope they treat her right," he sighed.

"Oh, they is, Harry Potter, sir, Winky has gone to Weezy's house. She is liking Missus Weezy very much!"

Ron's mouth gaped open as he realized where Winky had gone, he whispered, "Mum has always wanted a house elf. She won't know what to do with herself, especially since none of us are at home."

"Winky says that the Weezys are good wizards, so she is happy to help. What can I help Mister Harry Potter and his Weezy with?" asked Dobby.

"We could do with a bit of food, actually, Hermione got hurt and we spent lunch in the hospital wing," said Ron, pulling his most pitiful face and rubbing his stomach.

Dobby clapped his hands, and in an instant the elves had set a small table loaded with sandwiches and crisps, along with brimming goblets of ice-cold pumpkin juice. Harry and Ron sat and ate with relish.

"Reckon we take something to Hermione?" Asked Ron. Harry looked at his watch; they wouldn't have much time to take food to the infirmary and still make it to Snape's class on time.

Dobby, who had been standing there, smiled. "I will do it! I will take Miss Hermy some food; Dobby is knowing all her favorites!"

"Thanks, Dobby, you are the best!" said Harry enthusiastically.

As it turned out, it was the best they could do just to make it to the dungeons with just enough time to spare.

"Today," said Professor Snape in his softest voice, "we will be working as a class to produce Edurus Antidote. Does anyone know what this is? Mr. Malfoy?

"It's a paralysis antidote. Anyone who has been paralyzed can be cured if it is taken within three hours of the accident," said Malfoy with a gleam in his eye.

"Excellent, twenty points to Slytherin. It is difficult to brew, and though it requires many ingredients, the resulting potion will fit in this bottle," he said, holding the same tiny bottle that Harry had seen in the infirmary. "Directions and ingredients are on the board. Do be careful that you pay attention; this is an extremely expensive potion to make. You will use this cauldron on my desk. Miss Parkinson, you will take the lead."

For the next hour each student carefully trimmed, chopped or stewed their ingredient before handing it over to Pansy for inspection. She checked each one carefully, before putting it in the cauldron and stirring the requisite number of times. She sneered at Harry as she took his bowlful of shaved mandrake root, but could find no fault with it. Ron's pounded willow bark looked fine, too.

They all stood around the desk as Pansy stirred it first in one direction then the other, slowly so the brimming cauldron wouldn't spill over. In an eye blink the nearly overflowing cauldron of thick purple liquid seemed to be absorbed by the cauldron, until it was nearly empty. The remaining residue pooled at the bottom was very light pink. Snape tilted the cauldron and poured it into the tiny bottle, scraping the sides carefully. He stoppered the bottle and put it back into his pocket.

"Dismissed."

As they picked up their things and walked out of the dungeons, Ron remarked, "Hermione will blow a gasket when she finds out we made that potion and she wasn't here for it. Odd, Snape didn't insult us once. I thought he would make some snarky comment about us not having Os and being in his class."

Harry nodded, adding, "He didn't take any points away, either... very strange. Let's go drop our things off before dinner, so we don't have to lug them to the hospital wing afterwards."

Dinner was magnificent; Harry couldn't remember ever feeling as hungry as he did and now matched Ron with four helpings of pork chops, applesauce, fried cabbage, onions, and fried bread. They pushed back from the table after most had left and trudged, feeling sleepy and full, to the hospital wing.

Hermione was sitting up in her bed, with a thick book propped over her lap, making notes in her neat script. "How was class? I can't believe I missed the first Ancient Runes and Potions classes of the term!"

"It was alright," said Harry, "We made the Erudus Antidote. I think that's what Snape gave you after you were bitten."

"Oh, no," moaned Hermione, "I just know that is going to be on our NEWTs next year! It's a fascinating potion. I do hope you took good notes."

"How did you get bitten, anyway, Hermione, you are generally so careful," asked Ron.

Hermione thought carefully, "You know, I don't remember very much about it, I had just pulled on my gloves and had picked up the dental pick. I think Hannah may have been a tad distracted when she pulled its mouth open. I reached in and the next thing I knew I was on the ground and I couldn't move. What was brilliantly frustrating was being able to hear people talk about removing my hand! Honestly, Ron!"

"What? It worked, didn't it? Would you rather I sat back and watched you become permanently paralyzed?"

"There are other ways, you know! They could have done anything. They could have permanently removed my hand! What were you playing at, suggesting such a thing?"

"What was I playing at? I was trying to save you!" Said Ron in an exasperated tone. The back of his neck was flushing and Harry found himself edging away quietly.

"Why? So you could sit there all smug because you thought you were saving me?"

"No, because I love you, you stupid, brilliant, irritating slip of a girl!" Ron raged, his face deep red. Harry watched dumbfounded as Ron whirled on his heel and stormed out of the infirmary, banging the door open. Before Harry could say anything, Hermione's face blushed scarlet as she realized what Ron had said. The door banged open again, as Ron charged back up the ward, grabbed Hermione roughly by the shoulders and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Hermione struggled against him for a second, but he was too strong. She soon melted into him and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Harry smiled to himself, It's certainly about time! He checked the ward for any signs of Madame Pomfrey, and then slipped out, closing the door gently behind him.