Winter's Breath

I'm finding my way back to sanity again

Though I don't know what

I am gonna do when I get there

Take a breath and hold on tight

Spin around one more time

And gracefully fall back into the arms of grace

--Lifehouse "Breathing"

***

Breathe. Focus... Keep breathing...Harry forced air into his lungs. He heard voices, muffled and unclear. He wondered why it hurt so much, why he couldn't see anything. He wanted to move, to get up and walk away from the pain.

He felt a loosening in his chest and struggled against it. It pulled back in and he felt complete again.

I'm aware, he thought, I hurt.

He tried to open his eyes as another thought came to him.

Why can't I wake up?

***

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger huddled by their friend's bedside in the hospital wing of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Dumbledore entered and joined the small group. They watched as Harry struggled to breath.

"Any change in Mr. Potter?" he asked.

Hermione looked dazed. "No Professor. Not even Madame Pomfrey knows what to do for him. I wish I knew why he left Gryffindor Tower alone last night."

"He wasn't in his bed this morning. He had been acting oddly at dinner last night. I should've known something was going on with him," Ron smacked his hand against the bed's footboard in frustration. "Ever since he came back from those horrible Muggles, he has been acting strangely. His mind was somewhere else. Mum nearly owled you but he seemed to snap out of it the closer it came to coming back here."

Dumbledore gazed at his injured student and silently wondered.

***

He struggled to open his eyes. They felt like they had lead weights on them. He struggled to make some sort of movement. He gave up after a few minutes of internal struggle.

Harry began to dream/remember.

The Dursleys had made Harry weed the garden for the millionth time that month. By now Harry knew every crumble of dirt and every rock or twig in the garden by heart. He brushed the sweat off his brow; it had been unusually hot this past June and going into July it didn't seem to be getting any better.

He slipped into the kitchen and told his Aunt that he was done. She wrinkled her nose at his odor and pointed up the stairs. Dudley smirked at him. He was at the kitchen table chewing on some confection or another. The Dursleys refused to put their Duddikins on a diet this summer stating that he was a growing boy and the diet didn't work last summer anyhow, why would it work now?

Harry trudged up the stairs and into the bathroom to shower off the sweat and dirt accumulated on his body. He thought about Hogwarts as warm water pounded on his aching muscles. Would they look at him differently when he returned? Would they shun him, blame him for the death of one of their own? Cedric Diggory was only another failure on top of others to stop Voldemort.

He went to his room and pulled on some clean--if over-large--clothing. As he was pulling on his T-shirt, he heard a tapping on the window.

He was startled, his breath caught for a moment. He had warned Ron and Hermione not to owl him this summer until it was time to go to the Burrow. He didn't want the Dursleys upset at him for any "funny stuff."

He went to the window and opened it. (Unknown to Harry, the Dursleys had been visited by the Headmaster himself before Harry came back and persuaded the Dursleys to remove the bars from his window.) A very large, grey owl swooped into his room and dropped a letter onto his bed and flew back out again. Hedwig hooted quietly, disturbed by the strange presence. Strange, thought Harry, I don't know anyone who owns an owl like that. He opened the wax seal cautiously.

Harry Potter,

Hogwarts will have eyes and ears this year and they'll be working

against you. We think it's only fair to warn you that you will

meet an untimely demise during the school term. This is not

a joke. Tell no one of this letter. These words are enchanted

and we will know if you have told anyone. The Master sends

his regards and thanks you for helping him regain his

body.

It was signed with the Dark Mark. Harry was flummoxed. How could anything having to do with Voldemort get to him here? He thought he was protected, practically invisible to Death Eater's eyes at the Dursleys.

He inhaled noisily through his nose. Well, there's one way to test the letters truthfulness, Harry mused. He went to his open window and looked out. A lizard was crawling up the wall by his window. He murmured the letter's news to the ignorant lizard and watched in horror writhed in agony and fell off the side of the house, dead.

July passed and he was able to leave the Dursleys and journey to the Burrow with Hermione and her parents, who had journeyed to Little Whinging to pick him up. The Dursleys didn't utter a word as he dragged his things to the Granger's car and then slammed the door behind him.

As they drove away from Number 4, his scar began to burn.

***

Ron sighed. It had been two days with no change in Harry, Hermione was busy doing what she did best: research.

"I just know there has to be an explanation in Magical Maladies of Underage Wizards, or, at the very least, in Wartman's Guide to Wizards and Witches Syndromes!" she told him that morning at breakfast.

Ron didn't have the heart to tell he doubted very much this was some physical ailment that had brought down the Boy Who Lived. Ron was dead certain that You-Know-Who or someone on his side had done something to Harry.

Madame Pomfrey bustled over to the bed.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Transfiguration, dear?" she asked Ron.

Ron nodded and said, "Professor Dumbledore has given me and Hermione permission to stay with Harry. She'll tell me what happens in Transfiguration and I'll tell her what happens in Care of Magical Creatures. But we'll both be going to Defense

Against the Dark Arts and Potions." Ron cringed at the last one. At least Hermione would be there, too.

Madame Pomfrey smiled, "I see. It is best for one who is ill to have those familiar with him or her around them; it helps the body remember who they are."

She waved her wand over Harry as she checked his vitals and proclaimed they were holding steady. She bustled over to another bed to treat Neville's Potions-accident burns.

Ron scooted his chair back and rested his head on his folded arms.

"What couldn't you tell me Harry? What was so important, so dangerous that you had to do it alone? We have always been there for you. Hermione doesn't know what to do. Research is not helping her cope this time because the answers aren't going to be found in a book, I'm certain. Mum owled me yesterday after I owled her. She had made me swear to keep an eye on you before we left the Burrow and then this happens. She's very upset and I think a more than a little disappointed in you." He crinkled his brow in thought.

Ron thought he saw Harry try to open his eyes but shrugged it off as a trick of the light. He hated to have a fatalistic attitude, but Harry had survived so much worse that this. How could an unknown illness take him down now?

***

"...disappointedinyou..."

Harry heard this sound and struggled to open his eyes, but his body did not obey. He wanted to open his eyes and see his friend more than anything in the world. He felt as if he were breathing in air heated from a hundred suns. He felt as if he were in the lake again, the gillyweed wearing off. His eyes flitted beneath his eyelids and an image of Cedric Diggory appeared.

What did he want? Ghosts did not frighten him; Hogwarts was host to too many. The image of his co-Champion wavered.

The image reached a hand into his own chest and pulled out his lungs. It grinned macabre. Harry was puzzled. Even to his unfocused mind and un-responsive body, he knew Diggory would never haunt him.

The image faded away and Harry dreamed/remembered some more.

"...so I think Care of Magical Creatures will so fascinating this year! Harry, are you listening? Harry!"

Harry jolted out of his reverie and blinked at Hermione. How long had she been going on?

Her parents were in the front seat talking about some new orthodontic procedure that was sure to revolutionize the dental industry when Mr. Granger let out a cry of delight. They had passed a sign announcing they were in Ottery St. Catchpole.

"Sorry Hermione, didn't get much sleep last night," Harry lied. "I wonder how Ron's summer was?"

When Harry had first gotten into the Granger's car, Hermione had regaled Harry with tales of he brief stay in Bulgaria with Viktor Krum's family.

"It was summer there, but still woke up covered in frost every morning. I don't know how they could live like that, honestly!" She was also disappointed in their lack of courtesies. "Viktor was the only one who was nice to me! I'm glad I only stayed a week!"

After that was said and done she had started on what classes she was taking. That must be where I dazed out, thought Harry.

They drove up to the Burrow and the Weasley family, including Charlie and Bill, spilled out the front door. They all gave Harry and Hermione big hugs. Mr. Weasley grabbed Mr. Granger's arm and began to wax poetic over his car and issued an invitation to view his plug collection. Mrs. Weasley ushered the bewildered Mrs. Granger into the kitchen saying, "Let's leave the kids alone so they can talk about their summer!"

"Oi, Harry!" Ron clapped a hand on his back, "I never thought you'd get here! I was right glad when Dumbledore owled us and said that Hermione and her parents were bringing you." He squinted at his friend, " You look a bit pale. The Dursleys treating you horrid?"

"He just didn't get much sleep last night, no doubt worried about how he was going to get here," Hermione answered for him.

Harry nodded in false agreement.

He itched to tell them about the anonymous letter. He wanted them to work together to discover what it meant, like they always had. The thing burned in his jeans pocket. He could feel the heat of it spread all over his body.

They entered the Burrow and he followed Ron to his orange room and Hermione put her things in Ginny's room. The twins were also bunking with Ron again because their older brothers were on holiday and staying at the Burrow.

The rest of the summer passed with games of Exploding Snap, Wizard's Chess, Chocolate Frog card trading, Quidditch, the reading of The Adventures of Marvin Miggs, the Mad Muggle's issues 141-150,Quiddich, discussion of the forthcoming school term, and, of course, Quidditch (which Hermione declined playing).

No more threatening letters were received and Harry almost breathed freely. Then they climbed aboard the Express and Harry opened his first Chocolate Frog.

***

" 'You're dying that's all; don't be a fool. Don't you have any oil lamps? All this money and you can't even afford whale oil except for that lantern. Bring me that lantern.' I can't believe they're reading this claptrap in Muggle Studies this year! I'm sure it's fascinating to read about how muggles view vampires, but does it have to be so inaccurate!?" Hermione put the barely started book on the bedside table and look at her unresponsive friend.

"I should have known something was going on with you on the trip to the Weasley's, Harry. How could I have been such a fool? I think I get too wrapped up in myself sometimes and need a light to shine my way out again," she unconsciously echoed some of the words from the book.

"There has to be something we can do for you Harry. It has to be obvious," Hermione blinked back tears. "It has to be. I think I've read every book in the library--Dumbledore gave me permission to look in the Restricted Section--but I cannot find your symptoms listed anywhere. Maybe they're new Dark curses. I do hope there isn't a spy in Hogwarts," she chewed her bottom lip nervously.

"Ron says that Hagrid has them caring for Murtlaps in Care of Magical Creatures. I knew it would be fascinating! He has them harvesting their growths for Professor Snape to use in potions. Hagrid ate some pickled ones in front of the class and his ear hair grew purple!"

No grin. Nothing. She drifted into silence and drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair, sighing. She really did not feel very clever these days.

***

Hermione's frustration pushed onto Harry even though her tone was cheerful. He was becoming rather good at staying aware. He hated being trapped in his own body and he felt every breath was his last. He estimated that it had been three days since he came to the Infirmary. Three days since he tried to help them all. Three days....

Soon it will be too late.

His concentration shattered and he drifted back to the ride aboard the Express.

The Chocolate Frog card held a black void, no wizard or witch looked up at him. Written on the back was a warning:

Clever of you to test my words with the lizard.

Don't try it again. Your friends may disappear.

He quickly stuffed the card into his pocket.

"What did you get, Harry? Something really rare?" Ron inquired.

"No, it was just another Dumbledore to add to my collection. Which one did you get?" Harry asked Ron.

He held up a card that showed Celestina Warbeck, the famous witch singer. "She's new this year. And it can sing!" A few words warbled from the card and went silent as Hermione guffawed. "You made her leave!" Ron accused, scowling at her.

"She really has an awful voice. I wonder how she got so famous?" Hermione snatched the card from Ron and read the back. "She really does get offended easily, doesn't she?" She rubbed Crookshanks' chin and murmured to him; the cat was spread over her lap like a blanket.

Harry heard their conversation and grinned. He turned to look out the window, at the passing countryside. The world was so beautiful and surprising, why did there have to be darkness in it?

He thought of his friends. What would they do if they knew he was keeping this threat to himself? But he could put them in harm's way; they mean too much to him.

Besides, he was curious. Who was sending these threats? (Or, rather, he wondered what lackey Voldemort had gotten to fill the Threaten Harry Potter position) Why now? Why only notes and no action? There had been no Death Eater attacks over the summer but Harry had had nightmares. Voldemort was rallying his supporters and biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. He knew his friends would pressure him to see Dumbledore and to write Sirius, if they knew about this. He didn't want to put them in danger either.

He excused himself and left the compartment and ran into a wizard he had never seen before. He was so pale he was nearly translucent. His cloak had grey feathers scattered about the collar and he smelled faintly musty. Harry would've though him a ghost, but he was solid. The wizard glared at Harry and pushed him against the wall, out of the way. Harry was too shocked to utter a sound. He considered telling the others about this incident but instinct stopped him.

Instead, he went back to his compartment and described the wizard to Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, that's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. His name is Nieve or something; he's from Spain." Trust Hermione to be on top of everything.

The Express rolled into the station and Harry climbed into a horseless carriage with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, all their animals making various noises. Pigwidgeon zoomed around in his cage, making it vibrate. Harry greeted Neville and his friend smiled at him as Trevor croaked from within his pocket. Hedwig, who was above all things, glanced imperiously about the carriage and settled on Harry's shoulder, hooting softly. Crookshanks rumbled from within his wicker basket.

They were soon settled in their dormitories after the Sorting Ceremony and feast. The new DADA professor stared at Harry hungrily during the feast. Harry fell asleep to nightmares.

***

Ron and Hermione were at Harry's bedside again on the morning of his fourth day in the infirmary.

"This is ridiculous. We know he's having trouble breathing, but why won't he wake up? He had no injuries on him that would keep him unconscious! We must look at this logically." Hermione's nose was buried in Professor Nimrodmeyer's Magical Curatives as she spoke to Ron.

"Hermione, maybe he doesn't want to wake up," Ron said softly.

"Don't be silly, Ron." She snapped her book shut, "I still think there is a plain answer to what is happening to him. I mean, nothing too bad can happen in Hogwarts without Dumbledore knowing about it," she gasped, "that's it!"

She called for Madame Pomfrey. "Do you know how to read spells?" Hermione said archly.

"How can you know about that? You're only Fifth Years!" the witch was surprised.

"When Hermione says she read every book in the library, she really means it," Ron said with a trace of pride in his voice.

Hermione didn't waste anymore time. She whipped out her wand and said "Retegantur cantamines quae tibi egi!"

Nothing happened.

"I don't understand; I've read about revealing spells. It should work!" Hermione looked non-plussed.

Ron patted her on the shoulder and sniggered.

Hermione glared at him. "What are you on about?"

"It just sounded funny, the 'tibby eggy' part." He tried to look contrite without any success.

Hermione sniffed and crossed her arms. She looked to Madame Pomfrey.

"I think you said it a bit off, dear," she said

Hermione's eyes widened with understanding and she gasped with excitement. "Right!" She took out her wand again and pointed it at Harry. "Retegantur cantamines huic corpori acta!" she cried.

***

Harry heard Hermione utter the spell and felt light enter him. He once again tried to open his eyes and failed. What was it that wizard said to him?

He once again tried to will himself to move or open his eyes. He desperately wanted to give a sign that he was still here, still with them. His lungs burned. He was breathing in desert wind and he was falling once more ...

Harry awoke the next day and discovered a letter of yellowed, fragile parchment next to him on his pillow. Thank god he covered his bed with the curtains before sleep. He pried the wax seal open gently, not making a noise. He unrolled the parchment and began to read.

You have no doubt begun to wonder at the lack of

action by the Master. You will be answered. Go

to the Astronomy Tower at midnight. I don't think

you need to be reminded of the consequences of

telling anyone about this letter.

It was again signed with the Dark Mark. He balled it up and conjured a fire to burn it. Harry was very frustrated.

"Hey Harry, planning on joining us for breakfast?" Seamus' voice filtered in through his bed curtains.

"In a minute!" he said as he heard Ron grumble about having to wait to fill his stomach, "I'll meet you in the common room."

He quickly dressed and joined the group heading for the great hall.

After eating he went through the motions of attending his classes. Divination was bearable only because Ron was there making up truly horrible ways to die, rivaling even Professor Trelawney's predictions. He went to Defense Against the Dark Arts with trepidation. Professor Nieve told the class to read five chapters of DADA: Not Just Another Silly Acronym and ignored them during the whole class. Harry was relived the Professor didn't act oddly towards him this time. Ron was grateful that there was no homework. Hermione complained about the lesson or lack thereof. Ron pointed out it was only the first day of class, after all. Hermione thought practical lessons should've started immediately since You-Know-Who was back. Harry wandered silently behind his bickering friends.

As the clock moved closer to midnight, the sicker he felt. Ron and Hermione kept glancing worriedly in his direction at the dinner table.

They trooped up the tower in a group after dinner and Harry, feigning sleepiness, went up to the dormitories alone. He lay on his bed and waited as the hours passed. He heard his dorm-mates enter the room and get into bed. The clock inched forward until it was a quarter till. He put on his invisibility cloak and crept out of Gryffindor Tower, alone.

He approached the Astronomy Tower with leaden feet; he did not know what to expect. Was it a trap? Of course it was a trap! he thought stupidly, I'm walking towards my death and all I can think are silly thoughts. At least no one else will get hurt once I'm gone.

He stopped at the door leading to the stairs, his cloak fluttering about him.

"Take of that silly cloak."

Harry turned towards the wintry voice as his cloak slipped and his head appeared, bodiless. He stared the figure in front of him. Professor Nieve seemed to wink in and out of existence in front of him. Harry swore he saw the wall and torched behind the Professor because he could see through him. Why does it seem like most DADA professors want to kill me? Really, I should be able to anticipate this by now; this is so tiring, he thought.

"I suppose Voldemort was too cowardly to come and try to finish me off himself, then? Why must he send his servants? It never works out. I'm still here and I'm sure you'll fail abysmally when you attempt to curse me. Why don't we forget this happened and go back to bed? This will be our little secret," Harry said this with far more bravado than he was actually feeling.

"My master choose me for a purpose. I have a destiny, he taught me that. I must destroy the Boy who Lived. Only then can I be restored by my Master's will." Nieve's voice chilled the air and Harry shivered.

Nieve took out his wand and muttered "Spiritus relego."

All the air was sucked out of Harry's lungs.

"He told me to make you suffer and I will do it gladly. Your friend will have five days to save you after I'm done with you. What are spells other than words with a little magic to make work? The simplicity of what I do to you will be found in to book, so your little bookish friend won't help you. The other will be frustrated and think what can he do? After all, you have survived worse than a 'simple sickness.'

Harry knew he was turning blue. Black dots formed in front of his eyes and he fought to stay conscious. He got out his wand but could form no words. This is worse than when I took the gillyweed and had to go into the lake, was his first and only coherent thought.

Nieve ended the spell and Harry sucked in great lungfuls of air.

"Spiritus saucius facio." Nieve did not give Harry a chance to defend himself.

Harry felt fire enter his lungs. He tried to cry out but couldn't. This isn't fair! What makes me so 'special'!

"Remember you have five days until this spell kills you, the pain will be too much for your body. One more to make it more difficult, I think. You may have time to get back to your dormitory but I cannot know," Nieve scratched his chin ponderously and pointed his wand at Harry a final time: "Dormi dumte surrexero."

Harry immediately felt his eyelids droop and his limbs grow heavy. A sleeping spell!, he thought, Hermione told me they mimic comas and are very hard to detect. I've got to get back to Gryffindor tower! With burning lungs and an overwhelming urge to sleep he hurried as fast as he could to salvation. He felt wetness on his face and realized he was crying. They'll save me; they'll figure it out... He saw the pink dress of the fat lady's portrait through blurry eyes. "Puuhh..." he tried to say the password. Soon he couldn't say anything. He was crumpled on the ground asleep and wheezing for every breath.

***

Hermione gasped in surprise. "It worked!" she clapped he hands with glee. Harry was surrounded by dancing lights. "Please Madame Pomfrey, what do you see?" She looked beseechingly at the nurse.

She squinted at the lights. "I have never seen a signature like this. It's almost as if whoever cast the spell --or I should say two spells working in tandem-- isn't even here. I recognize the signature of distance and I recognize the signature of pain." Hermione and Ron gasped at this. "I need to consult with the Headmaster on this. She went over to the fireplace to contact Dumbledore.

Ron murmured softly to Hermione: "I had to know he was in pain somehow. I mean, how can he breath like that and not be with the way he was breathing? I wish I could do something instead of just hanging round here like a stupid git!" He clenched his fists at his sides in anger.

Hermione was about to reply when Dumbledore entered the room, he immediately went over to Harry and muttered a pain-killing charm on him. It didn't work. The lights around Harry zinged and grew more frequent.

"Sir, why couldn't your charm work?" asked Hermione.

"Miss Granger," replied the professor, "this is the work of Dark and unfamiliar magic. If I'm reading the lights right, this magic comes from Moorish influences and cannot be dissuaded by a charm from another heritage. This is why Poppy is having trouble curing him. Though we can use our phrases if we know the correct terms. In fact, whoever did this to Mr. Potter spoke in Latin like we do." He paused a moment. "Tell me Miss Granger, what can one do if we know not the counter curse or charm?"

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and tried to ignore Ron's hopeful expression.

"We must work with the curse. But how can we know what curse it is?" Hermione glanced curiously at the Headmaster.

"What if I told you it was a variant of the Sleep of Death? The dormi dum surrectus eris. It is basically telling Mr. Potter to stay asleep."

Hermione smiled brilliantly at Dumbledore. "We just have to tell him to wake up! Surge!" She pointed her wand at Harry. The spell absorbed by the lights around Harry as it whirled around; they watched as Harry appeared to rise off the bed and his mouth opened to groan.

Dumbledore muttered finite incantum as the lights around Harry vanished.

"What happened?" asked Ron.

"That revealing spell has the unfortunate effect of draining the person every time a 'wrong' spell is put on the person who is already under that spell. Miss Granger, in her haste to help her friend and Madame Pomfrey, must have failed to note this in her studies." Dumdledore's eyes glittered, "No harm done."

Hermione flushed guiltily. Ron looked amazed that she did a spell incorrectly.

Dumbledore continued, "Why don't the two of you try the spell together? Perhaps the combination of two friends can breach the barrier the sleeping spell has around Harry."

"We'll try anything to get Harry back, sir," Ron said as he reached for Hermione's hand. The headmaster saw conflicting emotions on the student's faces: hope, fear, and apprehension. They both pointed their wands at Harry and said surge.

***

Warmth. Followed by a cold splash. His eyes pop open and Harry sees light for the first time in what seems like forever. Ron and Hermione are jumping up and down like crazy people while hugging each other tight. Dumbledore is standing next to the boy's friends with a contented smile on his face.

It still hurt to breathe.

Harry struggles to sit up against the headboard now that he can properly move. Ron calls for Madame Pomfrey.

"Oh dear, oh dear," Madame Pomfrey rushes back. "You need to lean against he headboard so you can breath somewhat suitably."

Harry wanted none of her soothing. He needed to tell his friends and Dumbledore what he knew. About the spy. About Nieve.

"Professerrrrr," he wheezed, his attention on Dumbledoree, "Ne, Need t- -"

"Harry, I'm sure whatever you need to say is the utmost importance; but until we can figure out what is going on with you, you need to stay quiet. You're beginning to turn blue."

Dumbledore reached up into the wide sleeves of his robes and produced a quill and parchment. Harry blinked. The headmaster's eyes twinkled.

"Pockets in unsuspecting places are useful things. Now, Harry, write down what you need to tell us. We can proceed from there. I have an errand to run and shall return in one hour's time."

Ron jumped onto the bed and Hermione sat on the chair next to the bed.

Ron's ears were red and Harry could tell he was in a temper and Harry swore he could faintly see steam rising out of them.

"Harry, how could you do this to us? You were dying, mate!"

Hermione admonished him, "Really, Harry, haven't we been through too much together already? You should know that you could trust us."

Harry held up his hand and gestured at hem to be quiet. He thought a moment. The letter said they would die if I told anyone about it. I think I've found a way to tell them! He grabbed the parchment from Dumbledore and began scribbling madly on it. When he was finished he gave it to the Professor and his friends to read together. Harry held his breath. No one dropped dead.

Dumbledore hastily excused himself.

Hermione grew pale and looked like she was about to faint.

Harry shifted over to her and laid his hand in hers. Ron rubbed her shoulders.

She grasped Harry's hand hard, lest is disappear.

"We could have lost you for real this time," she whispered.

Ron, who was feeling every bit as uneasy as Hermione was, said "Who's the cleverest witch at Hogwarts? Who brewed Polyjuice potion when she was only a 2^nd Year? Who has saved our arses more times that we can count with her brains? Hermione, you saved Harry.! Let's not beat ourselves up over this and lay the blame where it belongs," with this said he mockingly glared at Harry who had been nodding along with Ron's litany. He went on: "You-Know-Who. He knew just what to say to get Harry to protect us and in return leave us in the dark."

Hermione sniffled and grabbed Ron's hand with her free hand.

Suddenly the doors to the hospital wing banged open and Professor Snape came swooping in like a rain cloud. He carried a fizzing goblet.

"What a touching scene. I see we're once again the center of everyone's attention, Potter," he sneered, "I was told by the Headmaster to brew this and bring it to you. And make sure you drink every drop." He walked past Ron and Hermione and thrust the goblet towards Harry.

Harry took it and sniffed it. He wrinkled his nose; it smelled like onions and dirty socks.

"Get on with it," Snape seethed.

Ron took this opportunity to roll his eyes and stick out his tongue at the Professor. Hermione giggled silently into her hands.

Harry raised the goblet in a 'cheers' motion and drank it down. It actually tasted quite pleasant, like chocolate and cinnamon. He felt warmth soothe his throat and tendrils entered his lungs like steam and smothered the fire there.

He cleared his throat and tried his voice. "Mmm. Uuuhh. Errrr."

"Is he wanting to join a choir?" Ron wondered aloud.

"Ron! I do not want to join a choir!"

"Harry! Your voice is back!" Hermione chirped and jumped up to hug Professor Snape. "Thank you sir!"

Professor Snape stiffened and raised an eyebrow at the trio. "Well, yes. I shall go and tell Dumbledore the potion worked."

He banged out of the hospital wing.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry burst out laughing.

"Wha-What made you touch him, Hermione? It's Snape!" Harry wiped tears of mirth from his eyes.

"I wish Creevey were here! I'd like to have that moment framed in a picture!" Ron howled.

"I wa- wasn't th-thinking! I was g-glad Harry was c-cured!" Hermione gasped out.

"I'm afraid that he's not cured yet, Miss Granger."

They stopped and immediately sobered.

Dumbledore had entered the room in the midst of their laughing fit.

"What do you mean, Professor? I feel fine." Harry asked.

"The potion Professor Snape gave you was merely a means to end your pain. The curse is still on you and until we find a counter curse it will remain on you. The pain is what would have killed you, this much is known."

Hermione fidgeted in her seat. "Professor, what about Professor Nieve? Did you find him? Did you give him to the Aurors?"

"Ramirio Nieve was not in his office when I went to get him, nor was he on Hogwarts os Hogsmeade grounds. I had a fire-chat with his family in spain and heard most distressing news. It seems Professor Nieve died last spring while defending his country's equivalent to a Minister of Magic. I do not understand how an imposter came into our grounds after all the precautions we took after last year's incident. There is truly some evil magic at work here." Dumbledore's face seemed to sink in on itsself. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'll send Poppy in to check on you, Mr. Potter."

Ron blanched and mumbled, "Blimey."

Hermione's eyes grew wide with fear but soon a recognizable gleam could be seen in them.

"What are you thinking, Hermione? How much better of you guys would be without me as a friend?" Harry asked hollowly.

"No, silly. I'm thinking that we'll get through this like we always have." Hermione said with a smile.

"How's that? With more near death experiences?" muttered Ron.

Hermione sighed. "Honestly, Ron. You don't nearly die every time Vol--, er, You-Know-Who comes round." She glanced at Harry's pale face. "We'll get through this together," she paused for a moment, "and with research in the library!"

Harry moaned and fell back against his pillows.

Ron groaned.