Chapter 17: Bloody Sunday or Healer's Hell
AN: There are two more paragraphs in the previous chapter that was updated after Ch16 was first published. The paragraphs just fit better in the previous chapter. Thank you.
The waiting was excruciatingly painful for the four healers. They continued to wait for news about the attack and Professor McGonagall entered.
"Poppy," Minerva said, as she entered the hospital wing. "I just got word that the Ministry has been hit hard, along with St. Mungos."
"St. Mungos, again," Harry muttered.
"Yes," Minerva said. "Sirius said that all hands are being called to action, as the hospital has partially collapsed and no casualties are entering or leaving."
"Shit," Harry muttered.
"Quite," Madam Pomfrey said. "Let's get the full set up going, Minerva," the Healer said. "I'll need the older students on stand by to act as stretcher bearers, messengers, and to brew potions."
"Unfortunately, Professor Sutherland had gone to St. Mungos to see his mother," Minerva said. "I shall get the older students brewing potions right away."
"Dobby," Harry said.
The house elf appeared.
"Master Harry," The elf asked, looking at him for guidance.
"I need you to go and bring me the trunk that is sitting in the corner of the study," Harry said. "Bring it at once."
The elf popped out and returned with the trunk.
"What's that?"
"Our supply of potions," Daphne said. "Harry and I have created a few new potions that you will find useful."
"Now is not the time to be looking at new potions," McGonagall said, as they waited for the first patients.
"It is if you want the healing power of phoenix tears," Harry said. "We have modified potions so that they are much stronger and require a lower dose," He added, as he opened the trunk with a tap of his wand.
A short incantation later, and the trunk had turned into a large cabinet. Harry opened the doors of the cabinet to reveal a large shelf filled with small vials with various colored potions in the vials. One side of the cabinet contained various pastes that were labeled as well as color coded.
"Each of the vials is one individual dose," Harry said, as he motioned for the others to look. "This automatic list shows how many doses we have available of each potion."
Madam Pomfrey skimmed the list and was shocked at the sheer numbers.
"How long did it take to make all of these?"
"Not long, considering," Daphne replied. "The hardest part was collecting enough phoenix tears from Harry's animagus form and several other phoenixes."
"You have three thousand doses of blood replenishing potion?"
"You know that one normal batch has about ten doses?"
Madam Pomfrey nodded.
"Well, one batch with the phoenix tears of an equivalent volume has three hundred doses. The ratio differs per potion, but these tiny vials are all you need for one dose. Each dose has the equivalent of two phoenix tears in it as well. The stasis charm allows the potions to remain ready for about ten years," Harry said.
"How long have these been here?"
"We brewed them in our last year of training," Daphne said. "It took quite a while to test the potions and get them approved, but the American Department of Magical Affairs has fully certified the potions for human use."
"Blood-replenishing potions, pepper up potion, dreamless sleep draught, Skele-Gro, boil cure, calming draught, Bruise-healing paste, burn-healing paste, and quite a few others," Harry said. "In all, one hundred and four different healing potions, elixirs, and pastes, including a general antidote that is primarily phoenix tears with ground bezoar."
"How do you administer the pastes? They're in funny tubes," Fleur asked.
Harry picked up a burn paste and unscrewed the tube. Then he squeezed it to bring a little of the paste out.
"This paste won't require as much to heal a wound," Harry said. "A thin layer on the wound is sufficient, and, to apply the paste, there are these cloths that have been soaked in a phoenix tear solution. The clothes can also be used to drop the tears into wounds by squeezing," Harry said, demonstrating with a small piece of a cloth.
"Or you can use one of these vials with the dropper," Daphne said. "These contain undiluted phoenix tears under a special stasis charm that Harry invented just for potions."
"Now where are the patients," McGonagall mused. "They said they would be coming here."
"Professor McGonagall," Flitwick said, as he entered the Hospital Wing. "The Floo Network is compromised and has been shut down. The Aurors are portkeying patients in to be brought in from Hogsmeade Station."
"I'll go and triage them," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Madam Pomfrey," a breathless Auror said. "You're needed at St. Mungos. We only have two healers there, and they're having to triage a lot of injured from three Quidditch stadiums that were hit and people sent to St. Mungos."
"We have patients incoming here as well," the woman snapped.
"The Healer Service has conscripted you again, Madam Pomfrey," The Auror said, officiously. "You are ordered to appear at the area of St. Mungos in order to set up a triage to treat patients to be sent here."
Madam Pomfrey felt the orders take place, and she nodded.
"Fleur, you're coming with me," she said. "Harry, Daphne," she added, before pausing. "I'll take all of my normal potions and a few vials of phoenix tears. You can use those you created and brewed."
The two nodded.
The woman stopped at her desk before she grabbed her field kit. She picked up a piece of parchment and scribbled on it.
"When I get back, we will arrange for the official award ceremony," She added, as she handed Daphne a sheet of parchment. "Congratulations Expert Field Healer Greengrass, Expert Field Healer Potter."
"But…" Harry started.
"By redoing these healing potions, you have shown you have what it takes," The Hospital Wing Matron said, as she motioned for Fleur to start packing things. "To make a healing potion, you must understand how to heal an injury, and the two of you together know as much as I do about healing, though you may not know a lot about the esoteric curses and things."
"Madam Pomfrey, you're needed now!" the Auror about yelled. "There's no time to chat."
"I'm leaving orders for my people," Madam Pomfrey said, snapping at the Auror. "I'm warning you now, I will not put up with you tone, Williamson. I delivered you when you were a babe, and I will not have you talking to me like that, Auror or not."
The chastised man reached for his wand, but Harry had his first.
"You do and you will be placed in the hospital wing to heal the muggle way," Harry said, in a dangerous tone. "With a bunch of bone injuries that take weeks to heal."
The Auror looked at Harry and gulped. He nodded his agreement and left his wand where it was.
"I will have you arrested…"
Harry held out a Hit Wizard Badge.
"Technically, I outrank you, Auror," Harry said.
"Yes sir," The Auror said, gulping as he saw the Hit Wizard badge.
"You leave and wait outside. Madam Pomfrey will need to pack medical supplies to help treat the wounded," he added, as the first stretcher bearers entered the hospital wing.
Harry immediately turned his attention to the second patient to come through the door, a man who was bleeding profusely where his left arm used to be.
Harry sighed and went to work.
Madam Pomfrey rushed out after she saw a few lighter injured people were being brought up first.
"Place these two in the Great Hall," McGonagall said, pointing at those who lower injuries. "In fact, only a healer may order someone to be brought into the Hospital Wing," she commanded, imperiously. "House Elves of Hogwarts, to me."
The house elves appeared at the professor.
"An emergency has been declared. Hogwarts is an emergency evacuation center and the Great Hall needs to be made into a hospital."
The elves disappeared immediately, as they had standing orders to complete during emergencies.
"Professor," Harry said, as he stood over a patient. "Can you watch me for a moment? I'll teach you how to teach others to use the phoenix tears to stop bleeding."
McGonagall nodded and walked over quickly.
"First," Harry said, you place a soaked cloth over the wound." He demonstrated. "Then you take the vial and place a drop every inch or so along the wound on top of the cloth."
Harry did as he said, putting three drops in the four inch gash. The bleeding slowed immediately, even from a major wound.
"This is a major wound, and two or three drops will be more than enough to close a smaller wound. But this one will require more," he added, as he placed two more drops. "These tears should be used sparingly, but enough to heal the patient totally. We have about two hundred of these vials, and each vial contains about a thousand drops. The cloths can also be used to heal minor scratches and bruises by themselves, but let's save them for anything that is bleeding profusely."
After the wound had stopped bleeding, Harry spoke again.
"When this happens, wrap the wound with a bandage and leave the cloth over it. Later, someone will fully heal the wound with a spell if needed."
McGonagall nodded.
Harry then spoke.
"Dobby!"
"Master Harry?"
"Go to my room and bring back the other trunk that is in my closet."
The elf appeared a moment later.
"This contains cloths and more vials of phoenix tears," Harry said. "You should get the students and other adults who are able and willing to help stop the bleeding."
McGonagall took the box that Dobby had and left the Hospital Wing as Harry turned to another patient. He continued with the same procedure to stop the bleeding, and, a short spell later, the wound was fully healed and the patient was sleeping. He summoned a blood replenishing potion and gave it to the patient and checked him again. Satisfied with his work, Harry turned to the next patient that was in danger of dying.
In the Great Hall, more and more wounded were being brought in. McGonagall didn't know what to do, so she sent Dobby to get Harry while Hermione looked on.
"This is what you do to help stop bleeding," McGonagall said. She went on to demonstrate what Harry had done to stop the bleeding, and then handed out containers of cloth and bottles of phoenix tears to the volunteers. Some of the civilians who had brought injured in started to help as well as they followed the demonstrations.
Harry ran into the Great Hall and his eyes went wide with the sheer number of injured. Without a further word, he sent Dobby for another trunk. This one was like the first trunk and contained three thousand doses of most potions, and then he opened it and got to work, using Luna Lovegood and other students as couriers to bring and administer potions and pastes as he diagnosed and treated patients with spells.
"I NEED A HEALER!"
Harry ran over to a bleeding man.
"I need a healer, not a student," The Auror hissed at Harry.
"I'm all you got," Harry replied, in a cool tone. "Madam Pomfrey is at St. Mungos and do you see these green robes?"
The woman nodded.
"Look for more of them in the crowd."
She looked around and the only healer robes she saw other than Harry's were on patients who were being treated by civilians.
With that, Harry looked at the patient and cast two spells.
"Stop this bleeding," Harry said, instructing a passing student. "Once you do that and give him a single dose of blood replenishing potion, he'll be stable for a while," Harry added, before bustling off to another patient who needed his help more, leaving a shocked Auror behind.
Over the next hours, Harry worked tirelessly alongside Daphne and as many people they had. One of his patients he saw was Sirius, and he rushed over to check on him, concerned about his 'guardian' and his friend. A few spells later, and Harry had Sirius awakened.
"Harry, where am I?"
"Hogwarts," Harry said. "Listen, we need help, and lots of it," he said. "St. Mungos, the Ministry, and Diagon Alley are all knee deep in casualties. The Aurors are down a lot of people, and I am going to do something I normally wouldn't."
"What is that?"
Harry waved his hand and Sirius grimaced in pain.
"I'm doing a fighter's healing spell on your leg and letting you get back to work," Harry said. "When things calm down, that leg will have the bones removed and regrown. Until then, your wand is sorely needed."
Sirius nodded and Harry handed him a potion.
"What's this tiny thing?"
"It's a kick ass potion that Daphne and I developed. That's all you need to know for now. Drink it and get back to me later."
Sirius watched Harry run off to a patient and then drank the potion. He felt it work immediately, and felt like a new man. He smirked and then stood up from the bed, to the surprise of someone else.
"Why are you up," McGonagall asked.
"Harry told me that my wand was needed," Sirius said. "Where's the Minister?"
"She's in the Charms Classroom with a few aides," McGonagall said. "The bastards took the Ministry building, and the Minister and her staff evacuated to Hogwarts via portkey."
Sirius nodded grimly and limped off to find his boss.
"POTTER YOU GET OVER HERE AND HEAL MY BROTHER!" Ginny Weasley yelled.
Harry glanced over at the redhead, who was standing by the bed of Charlie Weasley. He was bleeding, and Harry shook his head. It didn't seem dire enough for him to be needed as of yet.
"MacMillan, go heal Weasley and get him a dose of blood replenishing potion," Harry ordered a passing Hufflepuff student.
"Yes sir," the student said, and scurried off.
"POTTER!"
Harry felt himself being dragged around as he cast a spell on a patient. He wheeled in anger to face Molly Weasley.
"Get away from me, you crazy bitch!" Harry hissed at her, finally losing his temper with her. "AURORS! REMOVE THIS WOMAN IMMEDIATELY!"
Two wounded but capable Aurors ran over.
"What's the problem?"
"She pulled me away from a patient," Harry said, as he turned his face back to a patient to cast a healing spell. "If I hit the patient with a miscast spell, he could die," Harry added. "Molly Weasley, I don't want you in my hospital again."
"Come along, Mrs. Weasley," Auror Tonks said, in an angry tone.
"But my son…"
"Is being cared for," Harry hissed, as he fed the unconscious patient a blood replenishing potion from his pocket. He checked the patient again and frowned. Molly had made him miscast the spell and it had hit the patient. He closed his eyes for a brief second and then opened them again.
"Elves, take this man to Ward D." Two house elves appeared and moved the dying man. He was beyond Harry's help becuase of Molly Bloody Weasley and Harry didn't have time to study the case carefully. In emergency situations, choices had to be made, and there were lives to save.
Harry nodded at the patient and then scurried off to find another that needed his help. It wasn't hard to do, as the Great Hall was filled with patients with varying injuries. And it made Harry's choice to stop care on a man beyond help much easier for him to take in the long run.
"Harry," Daphne said. "I need you to take this patient. Curse."
Harry nodded and swapped with Daphne seamlessly, using his wand to clean some of blood off of his uniform. He examined this patient and realized what the curse was. It was a miscast blood boiling hex that had the blood at a higher temperature than normal and damaging the circulatory system. He concentrated for a moment on what to do and then pulled his wand up to cast the counter-charm.
Right as he prepared to cast it, he was pulled around again.
"Get the fuck away from me," Harry growled, as he looked into the face of a bloody Charlie Weasley, who was up from his bed.
"It's Fleur," Charlie said. "She's not breathing well."
"Shit," Harry said. "Let me finish this right up or this patient will die."
Charlie nodded and then watched as Harry removed the curse in a hurry.
"Where is she?"
Charlie motioned to where a frantic Hermione Granger was trying to get the blonde Veela to breathe using CPR. Harry ran over that way, as he had to care for Fleur.
"Out of the way!" Harry yelled. Hermione jumped off at Harry's voice, and Harry cast a resuscitation spell on Fleur. Her chest rose a couple times and then stopped again. He did it two more times before he had an irregular heartbeat that was good enough. Knowing she wasn't stable and was in a serious condition, Harry continued to diagnose to find the true problem. His instinct told him the lack of breathign was just a symptom.
He cast a few spells and found what was wrong: she'd been hexed with a suffocation curse. He countered the curse immediately, and her color and heartbeat returned to normal. He then gave her a sleeping draught, as she would need rest.
"Take her to the staffed recovery room," Harry said to Hermione. "She should be good for now."
Hermione nodded and snapped her fingers. Two house elves immediately appeared and Hermione spoke, giving them their instructions on where to place the patient. Their destination, the staffed recovery room, had a couple of volunteers watching over the patients to make sure they didn't revert back to a dangerous condition.
Harry sighed with relief and then found another patient.
Madam Pomfrey was Harry's next patient. She, too, was unconscious.
"Weasley!"
Charlie ran over.
"I need to know what happened. Both Madam Pomfrey and Fleur were supposed to be at a medical treatment area under Auror guard. If you can't find out, I want you with your wand at the door. No one with the Dark Mark enters this castle. Understand?"
"I understand," Charlie said, a serious look on his face.
Fred and George ran by.
"Twins," Harry said, stopping them. "Up to something?"
"Going to fetch more ingredients for potions," Fred said.
"Good. If you need something to do, start helping Charlie check for the mark. If the person has a mark, stun them and I don't give a fuck if they are injured are not. Place them in a stasis charm and we'll get to them last."
The two gave Harry a serious nod and then bustled off, as busy as everyone else. Harry turned to the patient near him, and it was Madam Pomfrey. He cast a few spells on her and found she was in a coma. There was nothing he could do until she came out of it. But as he was about to order her to be taken to a monitored room, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. It was a bit of red-tinged sputum. She was coughing up blood, never a good sign.
He cast a few more diagnostic spells and then found out the problem: she'd been hit with a lung hemorrhaging curse. He growled angrily, and his magic flared dangerously and startled people until he got it reigned in. He checked her two more times and then cast the intricate series of counter charms. Five minutes later, he breathed a sigh of relief as his scan brought up nothing.
He was damn glad that he had studied the esoteric curses that could affect people. Else Madam Pomfrey, and Fleur, would have died a few hours from now.
"This man is convulsing," Harry heard nearing the evening hours. He ran over to check on the patient and gasped when he saw who it was. It was Remus Lupin. A moment later, he stood with his wand out.
"BACK UP!" Harry shouted, and the people trying to hold Remus down did. He cast a quick containment spell and shouted.
"FULL MOON!" as he lifted Remus up with his wand. The werewolf started to change and convulse wildly as it fought Harry's magic.
Immediately, six Aurors converged on the werewolf, wands raised to take it out.
"Do not harm my patient," Harry said, in a strained voice. "Clear the route."
Harry held Remus up in the air above any patient, and a quick thinking Hermione Granger magically held a tub to catch any saliva to keep it from getting on the wounded patients.
A moment later, Harry opened the anteroom to the Great Hall and found McGonagall had transfigured a cage out of a table. Harry levitated Remus into the cage, and he completed the transformation right as Harry's magic gave out. McGonagall quickly shut the cage door as the werewolf jumped at Harry. Moony hit the cage door and growled menacingly at Harry, who knew the cage would hold up, as McGonagall was very good at what she did.
Harry fell to one knee.
"Are you ok, Mr. Potter? Harry?" McGonagall asked, concerned.
"Tired," Harry said.
"Then take a break."
"I can't," Harry said. "They need me."
Harry reached into his pocket and took out a vial of a strengthening and endurance potion. He gulped down the contents and wiped his mouth clean. He felt the potion take hold and felt better.
"What was that?"
"Strengthening and Endurance Potion," Harry replied.
The teen stood and headed back out to treat patients, acting as if he hadn't saved a lot of people from being ravaged by a werewolf.
"What about the wolf?" An Auror asked.
"Leave it, Dawlish," McGonagall ordered, as Harry left. "The werewolf is a friend of Mr. Potter's and you do not want him angry at you."
The Aurors nodded, having sensed Harry's great amount of magic. They knew they wouldn't have been able to stop a rampaging werewolf with the levitation charm like the Healer had done.
As the patients needing treatment seemed to be harder to find after about two days, Harry saw a green-robed figure enter the Great Hall, shocked at the sheer number of patients here. He moved to another patient, ignoring the healer. After all, he had to continue or he'd fall asleep.
"How many are here, Professor McGonagall," The stern woman asked.
"Somewhere over three thousand at last count," McGonagall said.
"How many healers?"
"Two," she said. "The rest are patients."
The woman's jaw dropped.
"And those healers handled that many patients?"
"They had help from others, but yes," Minerva said, with a smile.
"Where are the healers?"
Minerva pointed to where Harry and Daphne were treating two patients near the entrance of the Great Hall.
"They're just students!"
"That's Expert Field Healer Potter and Expert Field Healer Greengrass-Potter," McGonagall said, a smile on her face. "They were trained in healing, and Mr. Potter is a Spell Damage Specialist."
"How?"
"It's not my story, Rebecca," McGonagall said. "When did you get back from America?"
"I just got back," She said. "I had to enter in France and then take Muggle transportation into England before I could disapparate. If you'll excuse me, let me pitch in."
McGonagall nodded and watched as the third healer entered the area. She watched as they spoke to the other two, and Rebecca Danielson, the Head Healer of St. Mungos, seem to be in shock at what they were doing. McGonagall smiled, as she recognized Harry using phoenix tears to heal the wounds of a patient.
"Headmistress," Minister Bones said. "What's the situation?"
"Healer Potter and Healer Greengrass-Potter have it under control," she said, with a smile. "Healer Danielson just returned from her trip, and she's probably going to relieve those two so they can rest."
"What's the final tally?"
Minerva checked a sheet that an elf handed her, having heard the Minister's question.
"Three thousand four hundred and six patients were brought in. Twenty-three died of their injuries before they could see a Healer. Forty-one more died after treatment. And only one died because of treatment. And that was because Molly Weasley catastrophically interrupted Mr. Potter's healing spell."
Minister Bones nodded.
"And for each Healer?"
"Mr. Potter saw one thousand eight hundred and four patients. Miss Greengrass saw the remainder."
"In two days?"
"Yes," McGonagall said. "In forty-eight hours, they each treated over a thousand patients with the help of quite a few others."
"No help?" a shocked Minister of Magic asked.
"None but other students," McGonagall said. "And to top it off, Mr. Potter prevented a catastrophe when he moved a transforming werewolf to a safe place away from the patients when the moon rose."
"He ran with the werewolf while levitating it?"
"Yes. And several of your Aurors wanted to kill it."
Madam Bones nodded. She would have not expected any less in a room filled with this many people with a transforming werewolf.
"If the werewolf would have gotten down, they would have been right to kill it."
McGonagall nodded.
"I'm just thankful Mr. Potter realized that it was a full moon."
"I am too," Minister Bones said. "Did they rest?"
"They used potions," McGonagall said, sadly. "I got to sleep a bit, but they did not rest at all as far as I know."
Minister Bones paused in her thoughts and saw the two shake hands with Healer Danielson.
"Let's go see what we can do, Minerva. I've sent an envoy to France to ask for help, but I haven't gotten any word about his status."
The Transfiguration Professor nodded.
"Mr. Potter, why don't you go with your wife and rest," McGonagall said.
"Wife," Healer Danielson asked.
"Mr. Potter and Mrs. Greengrass-Potter were bound magically over the summer," McGonagall said.
"Professor but…"
"You can rest," Minister Bones said. "We can awaken you if we need to."
Harry nodded and walked toward the exit of the Great Hall. As he and Daphne walked by, they were not aware of the looks that the people gave them. They weren't looks of shame or anything, but looks of awe. An informal tally of their patients had been kept in the public's eye to see how many patients had been treated by each healer.
"Dobby?"
"Yes Headmistress?" the elf asked, after popping in front of the Headmistress.
"I want you to make sure that no one bothers Harry and Daphne," She said, fondly. "No one is to be let in their rooms, and you are to let them sleep unless Healer Danielson orders you to get her help to treat patients."
"Yes Headmistress," the elf said, before he popped out.
"Amelia, I think you should see these potions," Minerva said, nodding in satisfaction that things were well in hand here.
"What are they," Amelia asked. "They don't look like the vials contain enough."
"These potions saved many lives in the past two days," McGonagall said. "If it weren't for the preparation and study that Mr. Potter and his wife had done, these potions would not have been available.
"Winky?"
"Yes Headmistress?"
"Can you bring the other potions cabinet from the hospital wing?"
"It's empty, Headmistress," The elf replied. "Healer Potter ordered us to place the potions in here. This is all that's left."
"My word," McGonagall said, as she looked at the tally.
"How many potions were used?"
"This is what's left out of about six thousand doses of the liquid potions," McGonagall said. "And about five hundred tubes of each paste."
Minister Bones and Healer Danielson looked over the numbers listed. Most potions were numbered below two thousand, with few exceptions. The potions to cure boils and the like were about full, and now took up more shelf space in this cabinet.
"Any word on my potions master?"
"He was killed, Minerva," Minister Bones said. "I'll have some of my people brewing potions, as it seems that we need them. Or we will need them if the past few weeks are any indication of what we should expect."
McGonagall nodded.
"When will this end, Minister," Sirius asked, as he walked up to join them.
"I don't know, Mr. Black," Minister Bones said. "Mr. Potter did a great job today, along with his wife."
"Indeed they did," Sirius said, as he examined the potions. "Where did these come from? Their version of Skele-Gro healed my leg in about four hours versus eight. It wasn't quite as annoying or painful either."
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter brewed them," McGonagall said, proudly. "I think that deserves a potions Mastery for both of them, don't you?"
Minister Bones nodded her agreement.
"I'll have one of my people look at them and check them out," she said. "Then we can question them on the potions and who did what."
"What is the main ingredient in these potions," Healer Danielson asked.
"Phoenix tears," Minerva said, with a smile. "They all contain phoenix tears. Don't ask me how they got them, as I don't know how they go so many."
"They must have used millions of galleons worth of phoenix tears," the healer said. "One vial alone," She added, holding up a fill vial of pure tears. "Costs about ten thousand galleons, which is the reason why we can't make potions like this. Or the reason we couldn't make potions," she added, after remembering her hospital was all but destroyed and would have to be rebuilt.
"If I know them, they knew what they were preparing for and were able to cheaply procure most ingredients," McGonagall said, proudly.
"Minerva, Harry's parents would be so proud of him right now."
"I think everyone would be proud of Mr. Potter right now. How's Remus doing?"
"He's upset that he almost killed a lot of people. The last thing he remembers is Harry yelling for everyone to step back and being lifted into the air."
"Harry moved him to the cage," McGonagall said.
"How did he do that," Professor Flitwick asked, joining the group. "It's almost impossible to use magic such as a levitation charm on a transformed or transforming werewolf."
"I have no idea, Filius, but he was exhausted about twenty four hours ago when he did it. And he lasted over ten more hours using a lot of magic to remove curses and heal patients."
Sirius looked around the Great Hall and shook his head. He didn't know how many people owed their lives to Harry and Daphne, but he was sure it was a large portion of the Wizarding World.
"Minister, the Aurors are on patrol, and the Unspeakables have set up the perimeter wards and check points."
"Very well," Minister Bones said. "And where's Alastor?"
"He's tied down in a bed," Sirius said, amused. "It seems that Miss Greengrass was not amused with his attempts to get up and move around after he lost a chunk out of his good leg. She placed a password spell to hold him down."
McGonagall chuckled.
"Leave it to Alastor," she said. "Anyway, let's see what we can do to start the clean up," McGonagall said. "And then we can discuss how to reward Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass."
"From what I saw on the patients," Healer Danielson said. "I can easily award them status as full Healers. Not many of my healers, most of whom are healing from their injuries themselves, would have been able to do this with ten others, much less just one other."
"What about the Mungo Bunham award in Healing? It hasn't been awarded in a few years," Minerva asked.
Healer Danielson nodded. That was a good idea. And in a case like this, it was obvious that their contributions to healing were highly commendable. Not to mention their dedication to healing. Just looking at the sheer number of patients they treated in less than two days showed that.
"We'll start the paperwork right away," she said. "I'm sure after this, the Wizengamot will unanimously approve it."
Twenty minutes after Harry and Daphne went to sleep, reinforcements from the Veela Nation arrived at Hogwarts, with a contingent consisting of forty healers, ten potions mistresses, ten Dark Magic Experts, and thirty Veela Warriors.
"Minister Bones, I am Adrianna Richards, of the Veela Matriarch Council. And this is Annabelle Anderson, Vice Commander of the Veela Security Forces. We are here to assist you in the fight against the Dark Lord at the request of Harry Potter, our protector and consort."
"Consort?"
Annabelle smiled before speaking.
"He allowed us to come to your country under his protection in a legally binding, but voluntarily cancelled consort contract. This is to prevent some of your less scrupulous people from claiming us as sex slaves under your laws."
Minister Bones gave a frown.
"We will see about that law," she said, with a determined look on her face. "But now, Master Healer Danielson should direct your Healers and their support staff. Senior Hit Wizard Black is in charge of security around Hogwarts. Your people should consult with them to discuss assignments."
"Minister, who treated these patients?"
"Expert Field Healer Potter and Expert Field Healer Greengrass."
"And soon to be Senior Healers," Healer Danielson said. "Together, they treated or saw all of the patients who came through here in the past two days. And this is their potions cache."
"Interesting," one of the potions mistresses said, examining them. "This is what Harry was working on."
"It was," Annabelle said, with a nod. "He and Daphne sent us letters when they returned. Let's get out and get sorted, ladies," Annabelle said. "We have patients to protect and heal."
"Where are our friends," Adrianna asked.
"They're gaining some well deserved rest."
"And Fleur?"
"She's in a bed healing from a suffocation curse," McGonagall said. "If Mr. Potter hadn't gotten to her when he did, she would be dead."
"Who did this to our cousin," Annabelle demanded to know, her eyes showing anger. "Who dares attack a healer?"
Chapter 18: Mr Smith gains a hunting permit
When Harry awoke after about two days of sleeping, he looked around until he saw the angelic smile of his sweet wife next to him. He gently nudged her, and she opened her eyes.
"Good morning, luv," She said, kissing him.
He returned her kiss passionately, and reached to pull her closer to him.
"Sorry, luv," Daphne said. "We have patients to tend to," she reminded him.
"What time is it?"
Daphne cast the tempus spell and she was shocked.
"We slept for two days."
"Well, darling," Harry said. "I wouldn't expect any less because we took a couple doses of the Phoenix Power Potion."
Daphne nodded.
"Of course," She said. "I remember the last time we took it. We were out for quite a few hours after a single dose as well. Let's get a shower, together, and check on the patients. I'm sure they'll need our help."
When the couple got to the Great Hall, they were shocked to see dozens of green-robed healers working. Fleur was one of them, and she grinned at the pair before walking over to Harry, whom she hugged.
"Thank you, Harry," Fleur said. "You saved my life."
"What did he do?" Daphne asked.
"She was hit by a suffocation curse," Harry said, darkly. "How do you feel?"
"Great," Fleur said.
"I notice many of these Healers are Veela," Harry commented.
"Of course, Harry," another voice said.
Harry and Daphne turned around and it took them a moment to place their friend, Annabelle.
"Annabelle, it's nice to see you again," Daphne said, giving her a hug.
"It's been several weeks for me, but ten years for the two of you," she whispered. "We arrived not a half-hour after you two left to rest."
"I'm glad to see the help," Harry said. "Where can we pitch in?"
"We want your help with a few of the patients we just got from the hospital," Healer Danielson said, as she approached. "We think that some of your potions might do the trick, but we didn't want to take your potions to use."
"We have one more case of them," Daphne said, shrugging her shoulders. "And we made them with the war in mind, just in case. Good thing we did, as I don't think we would have saved as many people."
"Yes, I agree," Healer Danielson said. "Please follow me, Healer Potter, Healer Greengrass."
The lovers shared a look, one that Fleur and Annabelle caught and smirked at.
"You'll find out later," Annabelle said. "You need to go."
A few minutes later, they were in the hospital wing, where the newly arrived patients were settled in.
"The Longbottoms," Harry said, noting two patients who looked somewhat familiar.
"Indeed, Mr. Potter," Healer Danielson said. "They were trapped with no help for about four days now. We've taken care of their primary needs, but we want to know if some of your potions may help them. Your potion did help Albus stay alive longer too."
Daphne nodded and Harry cast a few diagnostic spells. After a few minutes, he frowned, and cast some spells again.
"What is it," Daphne asked, noting Harry's look on his face.
"Sadly, I think Mr. Longbottom is too far gone to help," Harry said. "But a couple of our potions could make the remainder of his life more bearable. At least for his family."
"You're talking about the Rejuvenation Potion?"
"Yes," Harry said, confirming it to his wife. Daphne walked over to the cabinet, which had been moved in here by a helpful house elf, and picked up the potion that had been in a password-protected area of the cabinet.
"What are those potions?"
"Those are the potions that are the most expensive and have the least common use," Daphne explained. "We made a few of them with some situations in mind, but this wasn't one of them. This potion has been proven to help people regain lost memories and mental functioning, and it is reserved for the most needy of cases. It isn't used just to restore an obliviated person's memories."
"And you think it will work for the Longbottoms?"
"It may make them able to recognize people and respond stimuli," Harry said, softly. "Mrs. Longbottom is not as far gone as her husband, so I can't guarantee that it will work at all."
"Anything is better than nothing," Healer Danielson said. "Mrs. Longbottom and her grandson, Neville, were here earlier to visit them. I would like to help them a little if we could."
Harry placed the potion in the hands of Healer Danielson.
"Please talk to Mrs. Longbottom and Neville first," Harry suggested. "Tell them that the potion has been known to help those who have had traumatic head injuries, including long exposures to torture curses. But make it their decision. Mr. Longbottom will pass away in the next two years or so, and his wife will follow within ten without the potions. The potions will extend their lives for ten or more years even if it doesn't make them better."
"I understand. This is a decision we cannot make," Healer Danielson said. "I will speak to the Longbottoms about this and then let them decide what to do. How does it need to be administered?"
"You can have one of the Longbottoms give a dose to each of them," Harry said. "We'll wait to see how a single dose works, and, if they improve over the next week after getting a dose, we can then consider another dose of the potion. It wouldn't do to waste resources if we can't help them beyond a certain point."
"I understand. It is a hard choice to make."
"I had to tell the elves to transport several patients to Ward D," Harry said, softly. "So I learned a lot about making those tough decisions."
When Harry realized that he wasn't needed as a healer, he sat down in a private corner to brood about what he had done and what had happened over the past few days. The war was getting worse, and here he was playing nurse to a lot of people he could have saved by killing Death Eaters.
"What's wrong, Harry," Annabelle asked, as she came upon him.
"Why am I stuck in a hospital wing healing people when I should be hunting down Death Eaters and destroying them?"
Annabelle smiled.
"We never know why we do things until the future," Annabelle said. "For instance, if Daphne hadn't caused your goblin time turner to return to them, then we wouldn't have had so much fun, and you wouldn't be married to her and planning a legal wedding. And you wouldn't be the man you are today?"
"Who am I," Harry asked, looking at the woman who had taught him so much.
"You are a chevalier. You are doing what you feel is right at the moment. Your time for healing and studying has come to an end. Now is time for action."
"But what if they need me to heal?"
"You can prevent injuries by taking those rabid dogs off of the street," the Veela said firmly. "You leave the healing to us women-folk and you can go hunt down the Death Eaters."
"Maybe I should have a chat with the Minister."
"Yes, you should. I think she has realized that her way of viewing the law strictly and holding back her forces from using certain spells cost a lot of lives. We all learn as we live, and you wouldn't be living if you didn't."
"What could I do with this healing?"
"Even if you never work in a hospital, you will have the knowledge. This knowledge will help you save the lives of people in the field, and, if necessary, make the deaths of evil ones quick and painless. That's why all Veela Warriors are required to be field healers at the basic level. Not only does it help you keep your fighting force in top shape, but it helps you make better decisions.
"Think about it. You treated or ordered treatment for over a thousand casualties in forty hours. That is a tremendous strain for anyone, but you did it and did the best job anyone could ask for. Statistically speaking, with only two trained healers, more people should have died. But they didn't. You and Daphne did the best job you could do. And you helped prepare for war by making potions.
"Yes, you should stockpile the potions again, and I will help you make them, along with my cousins. But you are the warrior, Harry. You learned to make hard decisions that one must make in a war time situation. There will come a time where you may have to leave someone to die in order to protect more lives or take out your enemy to prevent him killing more people."
Harry nodded and looked at his friend.
"Annabelle, you are a good friend."
"Thank you, Harry," she said, with a smile. "Now let's get you to meet with the Minister, Mr. Hit Wizard."
Harry smiled and then stood up. He looked down at his robes, which were healer-green. He shook his head and waved his wand at them. They changed from Healer Green to Hit Wizard Blue. He removed the band that marked him as a healer.
It was time for the Phoenix Warrior to return.
When Daphne saw Harry wearing a dark blue assault outfit, she knew that he was done healing. He exhibited an aura about him that had people moving out of his way and not quite understanding why they did it. Several people who wanted to speak with him held their tongues, including Madam Pomfrey, who watched one of the best Dark Magic healers she had ever seen walk by.
More than one person shivered as they realized that the Death Eaters were in for it now.
"The Phoenix Warrior has returned," Daphne whispered, watching Harry strode into the corridor heading toward the Charms classroom, where Minister Bones had made her temporary office.
"Phoenix Warrior?" Fleur asked.
"Harry's nickname in America. Criminals feared the Phoenix Warrior because of his lack of empathy for their lives when they threatened innocent lives. Just like a phoenix."
Fleur smiled.
"Our Harry is not going to stay on the sidelines anymore," Fleur added.
"No, he is not," Daphne said. "So, how did your date with the dragon handler go last night?"
Minister Bones looked up from her work.
"Minister, Mr. Potter wishes to speak with you."
"Send him in," Amelia said to her guard. She was about to speak when she saw Harry's mode of dress and his demeanor. "What can I do for you, Mr. Potter," she asked, after a moment of contemplation.
"Would it be a problem for you if I went hunting Death Eaters? Just for intelligence purposes and to take a few rabid dogs off of the street?"
The woman arched an eyebrow.
"Mr. Potter, are you saying that you are willing to kill the Death Eaters?"
"Look at what they did to a hospital. They attacked healers trying to save the lives of women and children. Voldemort has taken off the gloves, and its time we do the same."
"Mr. Potter, I don't have the people to do this kind of work."
"I'll just need Moody, Tonks, and Shacklebolt," Harry said. "And the rest of your people can clean up after us."
"What do you want with them?"
"I want to form a strike force that will actively search for the Death Eaters and attack them where they lay in their beds at night. Our people do not feel safe even in places where Death Eaters had feared to tread before. That is no longer the case, and the Ministry of Magic building was taken over. We lost St. Mungos, and they wouldn't mind slaughtering the vast majority of the people in Hogwarts at this moment.
"So I don't think we should be showing them any quarter. We should raise the Jolly Roger and declare no quarter will be given."
"Mr. Potter, I should reprimand you for this kind of comment," She said, as she reached for a document on the bottom of a stack. She glanced at it to see if it was the right one before writing something on it. She handed it to Harry, who glanced at it.
"This is your hunting license, Mr. Potter. There is no bag limit. Dead or alive."
"Yes ma'am," Harry said, his face as serious as he can be.
"I know that your wife will wish to discuss a few things with you, but I have a few more things. Later, we're going to award you for your actions in the past few days to heal so many people."
Harry nodded.
"If the award is going to be money, donate it to St. Mungos. They need a lot of money to rebuild."
The Minister smiled.
"Now, what do you plan on doing with this permission, Mr. Potter?"
Harry grinned evilly.
"Let's just say that I will show them why you do not piss off a Master Curse-breaker, Master Ward Crafter, Master Combat Magic Specialist, Senior Healer, and a Potions Journeyman."
"A Potions Master, Mr. Potter," the woman said, handing him another document. "You have another qualification to your impressive list. You shouldn't have to ask what this is for. Your wife provided all of the evidence we needed."
Harry nodded and smiled as he rolled up the certificate. Snivellus would sure be steaming right about now if he knew.
"Minister, does this give me the right to brew things like veritaserum and then use it on the Death Eaters?"
"If I don't hear about it, then it is not illegal, is it?"
"No ma'am," Harry said. "Just so you know, I have extra veritaserum handy if you need any."
Minister Bones grinned evilly herself as she spoke loudly after tapping a rune with her wand.
"Dawlish, go and bring me Shacklebolt, Tonks, and Moody. I have an assignment for them."
"Potter," Moody said. "What are you planning on doing?"
"I want to snatch and grab a few marked monkeys," Harry said. "The Monkeys will lead us to the intelligent ones, and then the intelligent ones will lead to the big boss."
"Marked monkeys," Tonks asked, sniggering.
"Enough funny stuff," Moody said. "The idea is sound, but how do you expect to snatch them when they sleep under some of the strongest wards we know?"
"Let's just say that I have a way around wards."
"What way is that?"
"I can't really tell you, but I can promise the wards will have a nice hole we can get through to snatch a couple for intelligence."
"After you snatch them, what are you going to do?"
"That's where we dose them with truth serum and wring their necks for every tidbit they know about the other DEs," Harry said. "After that, a nice memory charm ensures they don't know who got them, and then they end up as an early Christmas Present to the Dementors of Azkaban."
"I like it," Shacklebolt said. "But how do you expect to get away with all of this?"
"Out of sight, out of mind," Harry said. "This isn't overt warfare. We are going to make it black for a while. I want them to feel insecure in their homes and their hideouts. I want to go into a DE safe house and snatch everyone but a flunky to report back to Voldemort. I want to place spells on Voldemort's throne room so we know what kind of magazines he reads while he's taking a shit."
Moody fixed Harry with a stare before he gave him a grin.
"You have a difficult plan, Potter," he said. "So when do we begin?"
Harry smiled and spoke.
"Tonight. I happen to have the identity of a Death Eater who likes to visit local brothels. I want to go in and remove him while leaving a calling card for the others. I want the women to know that some masked man or two took their client and left without harming the others. It will help us later when the people realize we aren't out to harm them, but to harm the Death Eaters."
"And if they resist?"
"Voldemort get's a DE's head delivered to him the next morning," Harry replied, without stopping to consider what's going on. "They've taken the gloves off, and it's time we do so as well. They've attacked our hospital, our Ministry, and the people are scared shitless. I want the Death Eaters to know what it's like to have someone to fight back. Most of them don't know how to fight one on one, but in four or five to one in their favor."
"Eventually, if we do our jobs right, he will run out of Death Eater recruits and then they will start to panic. It's when they panic that we take advantage of it and …"
Harry slammed his hand on the table, causing Tonks and Shacklebolt to jump.
"Put them in Azkaban or a grave," Moody said, finishing the statement Harry gave.
"Exactly."
"So, what time do we leave?"
"First, I have some nifty toys for you that I enchanted over the years of my training."
Harry opened a trunk and tapped it with his wand. A wardrobe appeared from the trunk.
"What is that?"
"This is an enchanted wardrobe," Harry replied, as he opened the door to reveal leather boots, a body suit, harness, and a few other things such as a vest.
"What is that thing for?"
"This is our uniform for these jobs," Harry said. "The boots are made of black leather, and are enchanted to be silent, leave no footprints, to grip any surface, and to leave us comfortable. The suit is charmed for all environments, to be silent, and to suppress our magical signature and noises. The mask is charmed to silence our breathing while enhancing our hearing and vision, much like your eye, Moody.
"The vest will contain emergency potions, a blade of your choice, a throwing weapon of your choice, and various other tools I will eventually teach you to use. Everything here is the same gear that the Muggle Special Operations Forces use. The only difference is that I have modified it slightly to meet our needs in magical combat."
"Potter, I can't wear both boots," Moody said. "I've got a peg leg you know."
"Don't worry," Harry said. "We can come up with something to fix it. But for tonight, it will suffice that you wear everything you can. I won't say this will be easy, as I know a pissed off woman is a very bad thing no man wants to see."
"You've got that right, Potter," Tonks said. "And don't you forget it."
Harry gave her a lopsided grin and started tossing things in a black bag. He tossed the first filled back to Tonks, and then did the same for Moody and Shacklebolt.
"Now try on your new duds and we'll finish the brief."
When the sun went down, four masked individuals appeared in Knockturn Alley without a sound. The one in front, who crouched to see what was going on, gave a hand signal to the others. One of them slowly walked toward their target building, but did not enter. Instead, the person knelt by the wall and waved his wand.
He turned and held his index fingers together, and, though the fingers were covered in black gloves, his companions were guaranteed to see the fingers and hand signal due to their charmed masks and gloves. Two more of the group spread out to act as sentries. One of these two had a slight limp to his walk. The other, a taller man, moved slowly and silently toward his place.
When they reached their spots, both of them found a place to hide and a quick charm made them hard for anyone to see. The fourth member of the group gave the first a thumbs up and then turned to watch the building for any signs of life.
The first waved the wand and a brief blue glow encompassed the entire building. A moment later, he held his hand out, palm up. The fourth member, the smallest and with a feminine build, made her way to the first.
"Go," the first whispered, as he held out his hands to give her a boost to the second floor window. With her full weight on his shoulders, he didn't make a sound as she glanced in.
Her right foot tapped twice. I'm going in. He replied by tapping her right foot with his fingers twice. Go.
She silently waved her wand and the window slowly opened marginally. Reaching into the vest, she pulled out a small ball and slid it through the window. A silent spell later, and the ball hand impacted against the wall. A gas escaped the ball and soon was blown through the other rooms by a carefully aimed spell.
The first floor had already been gassed, and the woman entered as the first man entered through the other window after casting a charm. A moment later, the window was shut, and a brief glow indicated that the window was now charmed.
Five minutes after going in, the two entry people came out quickly. The first, the smaller of the two, placed her hands over her heart, and the two sentries reached into their pockets. A moment later, there was no sign that the four had ever been there.
Upon landing, the first ripped off his mask and had a huge grin on his face.
"Good one, Tonks," Harry said.
"What did she do?" the black man said, removing his own mask.
"Well, he was in the middle of doing it when they were gassed," Harry informed Shacklebolt. "This wench decided she would ensure that he would never forget it, so she let them finish a moment before we stunned them. But of course, little did he know that we had just charmed his partner to look like a hag."
Moody gave a gruff chuckle.
"And where is our boy?"
"Flint is in the cell we prepared," Harry said. "Let's wake him up and talk to him."
Harry led the way and put his mask back on. He looked at his captive, who was obviously a marked Death Eater. Now, he was tied up and had his nakedness hidden by a robe draped over him.
Harry took out his wand and cast a spell to wake him up.
Flint awoke wide eyed but couldn't speak for a moment.
"Listen here, Flint," Harry said, in his most menacing voice. "You have information I want."
"I don't have anything."
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."
"What's the hard way," Flint asked.
Harry picked up a muggle hammer and placed a walnut on the table. He smashed it down with a bang, which shattered the nut and sent the pieces flying throughout the room.
"Now, what do you think your bits will do when I hit them that hard?"
Flint paled as he stared at the indention left on the wooden table. He then started to quickly talk as if his life depended on it.
When Harry left the interrogation room, he was all smiles. Shacklebolt looked at him with wide eyes.
"If I ever anger you, just go ahead and kill me," he said.
Harry grinned.
"Well, he had more information that we expected," Moody said. "I never thought that he'd be the secret keeper of a safe house."
"Then again, we wouldn't be interrogating him for that kind of information? He's a thug, right?"
"Right," Moody said. "So they're trying to out think us."
"Exactly. So that just means we interrogate everyone we get our hands on before we obliviate them."
'Why did you obliviate him?"
"So he would not remember what he told someone just in case he was rescued from prison. But I fixed that."
"How?"
"I put an untraceable tracing charm on him."
"An untraceable tracing charm?"
"It's a tracking charm of my own invention," Harry said, smugly. "The only person to be able to detect or use the charm is the person who cast it."
"Then how can you be sure that the Death Eaters don't have them on them?"
Harry smiled.
"I took care of that too. The portkey we used on him placed a shielding charm around him so he would disappear from any magical tracing net, including my tracking charm. That's a drawback of the tracking charms, but it is one we will have to deal with if he ever escapes."
"Where do we go from here with the information," Moody asked.
"We catch another one tomorrow night and see what else we can find. But I don't know if we should hit the safe house or not."
"Let's hit it," Shacklebolt said. "If they find he's gone and figure out he didn't do a runner, then they will clear out of there."
"Then why not go now," Harry asked. "We have plenty of darkness left, and the safe house is in an unpopulated area."
"Let's go," Moody said.
The next morning, the Minister would wake up to find four living and fifteen dead Death Eaters had been turned over to the DMLE. A note was found on them by Senior Auror Shacklebolt, who, while returning to his duties after a night of rest, found them gagged and tied up in a room along his patrol path he checked.
Dear Ministry, I hope you enjoy your new friends. Mr. Smith.
None of the Death Eaters had a wand on them and all did not know who had captured them or how it happened. All they knew was they went to sleep the night before and woke up when they were forced to wake up by Aurors.
None the Death Eaters had any type of spell residue on them, but it was obvious that some of them were killed magically by the way their injuries presented. It was quite a vexing turn of events for the Ministry's Aurors.
While the Death Eaters were being interrogated, Harry was making love to his wife, who loved it when he had a good night doing manly things, as she called his excursions with the Hit Wizards.
"So, Mr. Potter," Daphne asked. "How did it go last night?"
"Well, we bagged four live ones and fifteen dead ones," he said.
"Anyone big one?"
"Yes. I caught a rat."
"A rat with a silver paw?"
"Yes," Harry said. "And he didn't survive the night."
"Pity," Daphne said. "He might have made a good source of information."
"Who said he wasn't a good one," Harry asked, his eyes flirting over to an enchanted notebook that contained all of the intelligence he had gathered the night before.
Daphne gave him a winning grin and then pounced on her husband again.
When Harry met with Minister Bones to discuss his new role in the conflict as an active duty Hit Wizard, she asked him a question.
"Peter Pettigrew was among the dead," she said. "Don't you regret we weren't able to interrogate him?"
"He would have been quite the intelligence source as Voldemort's right hand rat. He might have ratted out a few safe houses if we did have a chance to talk to him. Pity the Ministry didn't get a chance before he escaped the Aurors escorting him to Azkaban."
"And that Auror who let him escape took his place in Azkaban," Minister Bones said. "Do you think Mr. Smith will be going after more Death Eaters?"
"I don't know. But he seemed quite angry with them from the looks of them," Harry said. "Most looked like they had been beaten quite badly before they were brought here."
"Indeed," Minister Bones said. "What are your plans for today?"
"I had hoped to spend some time practicing a few spells," Harry said. "A few legal combat spells."
"I see. Where will you practice them?"
"The Headmistress kindly let me set up a dueling classroom for this purpose," Harry said. "Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that you're welcome to use it."
Minister Bones gave Harry a small smile and then she ushered him out of her office. After all, she was a busy woman.