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Manipulations to War
By Mutt N Feathers

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Category: Pre-OotP
Characters:Sirius Black
Genres: Drama
Warnings: Death
Story is Complete
Rating: R
Reviews: 19
Summary: Sequel to Harry's second Christmas. James and Lily are dead, and Sirius, Remus and Anwen are living in the Potter keep with Harry. They want him to have a well balanced childhood, but the need to keep him safe is greater. Sirius is working to unravel where the Potter money went while Anwen wants to discover why they were in Godric's Hollow and not safely in the Potter's home.
Hitcount: Story Total: 18819; Chapter Total: 521







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Chapter 24:
Unspoken


Sirius returned home to find chaos in the sitting room. Harry was holding onto his scar, laying across Anwen’s lap and screaming, blood streaming out from between his fingers. His wife was sprawled on the floor, her chest barely covered by the thin blouse she had on, as she’d been feeding their youngest son. Caelum was crying in his Moses basket, having been hastily dumped there when whatever happened to Harry had occurred. Ginny was standing next to Harry, staring at him as if she were concentrating intensely. Lizzy was off to the side crying and holding onto Julie Longbottom. Ron, Susan, and Neville were just looking at their friend, wondering what to do.

"He says it hurts, Mrs Anwen," Ginny said. "But there's yelling in his head." Sirius was about to ask what she meant when Remus, Emme, and the elves appeared. Without being asked, Remus picked up Lizzy while Emme took Caelum and asked the elves to take the other children into the ballroom. Peng asked if Lizzy wanted to come with her and draw pictures, but she wanted to stay with her Uncle Remus. These conversations were barely noticed by Harry’s parents. Sirius had come to crouch next to his wife.

“What sort of yelling, Ginny,” Anwen asked patiently, although her rapid breathing and facial features were those of a woman holding panic at bay.

"The voice is," Ginny paused. "It sounds a bit like when Lizzy is too tired, and she starts whinging, but more like a man. He’s angry.”

“Can you hear Harry still?”

“Yes, but the other voice is much louder.” Ginny put her hands to her ears. Anwen summoned the house medical kit and some flannels from the linen cupboard to blot Harry's scar.

“Make it stop,” Harry complained softly.

“I’m doing what I can, sweetheart," Anwen said, trying to sound calm. The items she wanted landed at her feet, and she lifted a flannel. “Here, let me see your scar.”

Harry removed his hand, and Sirius leaned over to see and simultaneously took the bloody hand in his. Anwen surveyed the damage, although was surprised to find only a tiny break in the skin.

"The other voice is gone," Ginny stated flatly. Suddenly Harry's eyes rolled into his head, and the child went limp. "Harry, Harry," the little girl yelled, panicked.

“I think he just passed out,” Anwen said with growing fright. “Sirius, there are smelling salts taped to the top of the box. Can I have them please?” The words weren’t entirely out of Anwen's mouth when Sirius lifted his wand, summoned the capsule, and it flew to his hand. He crushed the material inside, and the pungent odour was released. He waved the object under Harry's nose, and he immediately roused.

“Mum, Dad,” Harry said weakly. “What happened?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Sirius said firmly. “It would seem your scar opened, and you passed out.”

"It felt like my head exploded, and the mean voice was screaming in my mind," the nearly five-year-old explained. The four adults looked at each other, all noting how Anwen's face blanched.

“Is the voice still there?” Anwen asked hesitantly.

“No, but my scar still feels odd.” Anwen and Sirius nodded.

“I think we should take him to St. Mungo’s,” Harry’s dad said.

“I agree,” Anwen said with terror lacing her words and features. “Remus, Emme, would you mind staying with the kids. We should send the others home even though you haven't finished your lessons. Alice might be able to take Susan if she can't go to the daycare.” Anwen rarely yammered anymore, but she was now.

"Anwen, take care of Harry; we will take care of the rest," Remus said calmly.

“Caelum is going to want to eat in another hour. Do I take him with us?” she asked, sounding somewhat confused herself.

“I’ll bring him by when he wakes up again,” Emme said. “For now, go with Harry." Anwen nodded and Banished the blood from Harry's head and clothes, unconcerned about the pool which had seeped into her dress. Sirius lifted his nearly unconscious son, and Anwen followed. They Flooed to the hospital. Ginny watched them leave before she started to cry.

***

There was panic at the hospital as well, as Harry looked as pale as snow, his skin having an odd translucent quality to it, and he was again unconscious. The medi-witch on duty immediately called the paediatric ward to ask for his healer. They did some diagnostic spells on Harry, gave him a fluids potion and then a potion to wake him up, which it did. He still looked unnaturally pale, but then again, his mother did as well. Anwen was relieved when Claire Nighman and Alice Longbottom came through the door to their room. Both women hugged Anwen and Sirius and then kissed Harry on his cheek.

At Claire’s insistence, Anwen was brought a strengthening potion. They knew she’d not been sleeping well since Caelum’s arrival, and this episode looked to be what might send the young mother into a tailspin.

Healer Crispin was a brilliant paediatric Healer and had been taking care of Harry since he’d been born. His scar had been examined shortly after he received it at fifteen months, and again when he was there for his three-year-old check-up. The Healer performed the spells to study it again and clucked her tongue at the results.

"What's happened?" Anwen asked hesitantly. A mother gets to know the noises her children's healers make, and Anwen knew this wasn't a good one. Healer Crispin had done the same when Lizzy had a tooth growing in sideways rather than upwards.

"There appears to be some bleeding into Harry's brain, not much, and I'll be able to close it without complications, but he'll need to be in bed for a few days.

“But, today is Mummy’s birthday,” Harry said. “We were planning her a surprise after class.”

“Oh, Harry, that’s sweet,” Anwen said gently. “We can do it next week. I’m sure your friends will understand.”

“But, today is your birthday,” Harry whinged.

"Yes, but if we do it next week, I can spread the fun over more days. I don't get a birthday; I get a birth week!”

“Alright,” he said quietly. “I love you, Mummy.”

“I love you, too, Harry.”

The healer set about doing the spells, and when she was done, Harry drifted off to sleep. Naturally, this caused Sirius much consternation.

“What happened? Did he pass out again?”

"No, but growing tissue is arduous work, and with all the excitement of this afternoon, he just needs a nap," the healer explained. "I'm going to consult with a mind healer on this case since Harry said he heard someone's voice in his head. Do you know Healer Weston?”

“Bev and I are old friends,” Anwen said softly. “She already knows the basics of what we think is happening with Harry.”

“Oh?”

Anwen hesitated briefly, so Sirius spoke up. “You must already know Harry’s story, right?” Healer Crispin nodded. “We think the memory of that night haunts Harry. He knows more than any child should about how his birth parents died. Sometimes when his scar hurts, we think he’s reliving that night.”

"That's a heavy load for a youngster," the healer said respectfully. "I'm glad you're amenable to having Bev work with you. Let me speak with the medi-witches, and I want to observe Harry for several hours, so make yourselves comfortable. Mrs Black, I suggest you eat something. You look like you’re ready to pass out. Caelum is a big boy, eats frequently, and you're a slip of a woman. You’re no good to any of your children if you don’t keep your strength up.”

“I’ll go get her some chocolate ice cream,” Alice volunteered, “and a packet of crisps to go with it. Do you want tea or one of those Muggle fizzy drinks you like so much?”

“Tea, but “”

“No caffeine,” both Anwen and the healer said at the same time.

"I know, I'm nursing my third as well," Alice said with a shake of her head before she disappeared from the room to go to the canteen.

“I’ll get you home as quickly as I can,” Healer Crispin added before leaving too.

***

Later that night, Anwen and Sirius had a quiet conversation, only Caelum hearing but, thankfully, not understanding.

“Anwen, when did Harry’s scar start hurting? What time specifically?”

“Er, the clock had struck eleven, but I didn’t hear the quarter-past chime. Why?”

"Winnie, Luv, mother, and I were destroying a Horcrux then," Sirius said with fear making his words sound strange.

“You were what?”

"I was researching them at the library in Grimmauld Place. Mother came in, and…I hadn't planned on telling her about them, but I'm glad I did. There was one at Grimmauld. So, it would seem my brother was working against Tom from the inside."

“Wh-wh-what?”

Sirius went on to share Reg’s tale with his wife. He told her everything, even how the attack on her was the impetus for his change.”

“Mother had the information right there to get rid of the thing, and I thought it would be a promising idea to have it gone. Are you sure about the time?" he asked.

"Positive," Anwen said. "I thought that the children's break should be over soon since Remus tends to take a break from ten-fifty to eleven-fifteen. Loo, elevenses, run a bit of energy off. Harry and Ginny wanted to check on the baby. Julie and Lizzy had been playing upstairs but came down for elevenses.” Sirius nodded and snuggled his wife closer. Neither said a word for several minutes.

“We need to talk with Remus,” Anwen said softly. “He’s always been the best at solving riddles.”

“We can tell him tomorrow,” Sirius said quietly but with less uncertainly than his wife. “We should talk with the portraits and mother too.” They were quiet again, although Anwen had begun to tremble.

“Sirius, is Harry’s scar linked to the Horcrux? Is his scar linked to…HIM?” It was the question neither wanted to ask but had undoubtedly been passing through their brains.

"I don't know, Winnie," Sirius said, his speech shuddering. "Our boy" came out more like a whisper than anything else.

“We have to find out what’s behind that scar,” Anwen said no louder than a breath.


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