Otherworldly Interference

As Dumbledore left, Harry settled back into his bed, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over him.

Shortly after, the familiar voices of Ron and Hermione filled the hospital wing.

"Hey mate, how are you feeling?" Ron asked, his concern evident as he approached Harry's bedside.

"I've been better," Harry admitted with a weak smile. "But I'll survive."

Hermione, ever the pragmatic one, wasted no time in launching into a lecture about the dangers of being reckless.

"Harry James Potter, what were you thinking?" she scolded, her hands on her hips. "You could have seriously hurt yourself!"

Harry simply smiled and assured her that he would try to be more careful in the future.

"Yeah, Harry, you really scared us there," Ron chimed in, offering a sympathetic look. "But don't worry, we brought you some treacle tart from lunch to cheer you up."

Despite his exhaustion, Harry couldn't help but feel touched by his friends' concern.

"Thanks, Ron," he said gratefully, accepting the sweet treat. "And thanks, Hermione, for looking out for me."

As Ron and Hermione settled in to visit, Harry recounted the events of the day, carefully omitting the true cause of his collapse.

"Must have been rough, collapsing out of nowhere like that," Ron remarked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah, it was a bit unexpected," Harry replied vaguely, not wanting to worry his friends with the details of his reckless experiment with magic.

After talking for a while, Ron and Hermione rose to leave, their expressions still tinged with concern.

But just as they were about to depart, Harry's memory sparked with a sudden realization.

"Wait," Harry called out, stopping his friends in their tracks. "I need to tell Dumbledore something."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What is it, Harry?"

Harry quickly glanced around, searching for a spare piece of parchment.

With a sense of urgency, he scribbled down a brief message, his hand moving quickly as he wrote.

"Maybe someone who wants it but not use it will be able to get it out of the mirror," he wrote, hoping that Dumbledore would understand the cryptic message.

Handing the parchment back to Hermione, Harry instructed her to pass it along to Dumbledore as soon as possible.

With a nod of understanding, Hermione tucked the parchment safely away, her expression solemn as she promised to deliver the message.

As Ron and Hermione bid Harry farewell and left the hospital wing, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing that he had taken steps to rectify his oversight. Well at least he won't have to learn anything more. Now that he had so much knowledge inside his mind, time to put it to use. He relaxed back on his bed and browsed through his mind library. 

As Harry delved into the depths of his mind library, he reached for the familiar spine of "Hogwarts Wards," a book he had scanned earlier at the Room of Requirement library. He recalled all the information in the book, as if he was reading it. There were everything from how the Hogwarts wards were erected to how they were strengthened each summer by the entire faculty. There was also the weaknesses listed for each ward that covered the Hogwarts grounds. Harry browsed through them, only interested in the Anti-Apparition Wards. 

The book had a detailed information of how the wards covered the entire Hogwarts Ground. The first thing that struck him was the sheer scale of the Anti-Apparition Wards at Hogwarts. Unlike the simple spells he had encountered in his magical education, these wards covered the entire expanse of the school grounds, stretching across the castle, the Forbidden Forest, and beyond. As expected Hogwarts itself was cocooned in a web of magical protection, impenetrable to all but the most determined intruders.

But it wasn't just the size of the wards that impressed Harry; it was their complexity. Each layer of defense seemed to be woven together with painstaking precision, like threads in a tapestry. As he recalled more, his mind showed him the intricate rituals and incantations performed by the Hogwarts faculty each summer to reinforce the wards, infusing them with magic.

"That's quite interesting magic I must say", Harry smirked.

What truly fascinated Harry, however, was the wards' integration with the very essence of Hogwarts itself. It was as if the castle and its grounds were alive with magic, pulsing with energy and vitality. The wards drew upon this inherent magic, tapping into its power to strengthen their defenses and repel any who dared to trespass.

The Anti-Apparition Wards at Hogwarts were not just spells; they were a testament to the ingenuity and skill of generations of witches and wizards who had dedicated themselves to the protection of their school. And now, armed with this knowledge, Harry felt a newfound sense of determination. He may be able to modify the wards themselves, but he could certainly find a way to exploit their weaknesses which will save him a lot of work. 

"Ok, I think I can complete this work by tomorrow...", Harry smirked to himself. "Now for the potions, I remember there being a advanced version of Wolfsbane potion that was supposed to be brewed by Merlin."

Harry once again delved into his mind to find the potion. As he skimmed through all the potions that were related to werewolves, he found many which claimed to completely exterminate the lycanthropy genes from the body, but he rather not take the risks right now. As he skimmed more, he found the potion he was looking for, Moonsbane Elixir.

The Moonsbane Elixir that is more advanced version of the current Wolfsbane Potion, helps to not only reduce the aggression of the werewolf after transformation but also allows the person to retain his mind so he is not harmful even in the presence of humans. It also protects the user from silver to certain degree. 

"Great with this Remus will have a much easier time.", Harry smiled. 

Madam Pomfrey bustled into the hospital wing, a vial of potion in her hand. Harry recognized the familiar scent of Pepper-up Potion as she approached.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, you're looking much better," she said briskly, her eyes assessing him with a practiced gaze. "Time for a pick-me-up, I believe."

Harry nodded gratefully as he took the potion from her. He downed it in one gulp, feeling a rush of warmth spread through his body.

"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey," he said with a smile, handing back the empty vial.

"You're welcome, dear. You're free to return to your dormitory now, but remember to take it easy," she advised before bustling off to her office.

With a sense of relief, Harry swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, feeling much stronger than before. He bid farewell to the hospital wing and made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Upon entering the common room, he was greeted by the sight of the Weasley twins, Fred and George, lounging on one of the couches.

"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?" Fred asked, looking up from the parchment he was scribbling on.

"Better, thanks," Harry replied with a smile. "Just glad to be out of the hospital wing."

George grinned. "Well, we've got some good news to cheer you up even more."

"What's that?" Harry asked, intrigued.

"We've started selling the Chromatic Chews," Fred announced proudly.

Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Already? That was fast."

"Yeah, and let me tell you, they're a hit," George added, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "People are going crazy for them."

Fred nodded enthusiastically. "We sold out all six batches within a day, and we've got orders pouring in for more."

Harry couldn't help but be impressed. "Wow, that's amazing. How much did you make?"

Grinning from ear to ear, George reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. "A whopping 117 galleons, Harry!"

Harry's eyes widened in surprise, and a wide smile spread across his face. "That's incredible! Congratulations, you two."

Fred and George beamed at each other, their pride evident. "Thanks, Harry," Fred said, clapping Harry on the back. "We couldn't have done it without you."

Harry felt a surge of warmth at the mention of their partnership. To him, Fred and George weren't just friends; they were like brothers. And seeing them succeed brought him immense joy, although he already knew that they would.

As they chatted excitedly about their plans for the future, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. With the twins' business booming, the Weasley family would surely have more financial stability, something Harry knew was important to them.

But more than that, he was proud to see his friends chasing their dreams and making them a reality. The twins exchanged a glance before Fred pulled out a small pouch and began counting out galleons.

"Here you go, Harry," Fred said, handing him a pouch filled with coins. "Your share."

Harry shook his head, pushing the pouch back towards them. "No, I don't want it. Invest it back into the business."

The twins looked surprised, but then grinned at each other.

"Alright, if you say so, Harry," George said, tucking the pouch away. "But thanks anyway."

Harry smiled, feeling a sense of pride in his friends' success. "No problem. I can't wait to see where this goes."

Harry leaned back against the couch, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know, with all this money you're making, you could really make a difference for your family."

The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions sobering slightly. They knew exactly what Harry was hinting at – the financial struggles their family faced, especially with so many siblings to take care of.

Fred nodded solemnly. "You're right, Harry. We've been so focused on building our business that we haven't thought much about helping out at home."

George nodded in agreement. "But you have our word, Harry. We'll do everything we can to ease the burden on Mum and Dad."

Harry smiled, feeling a swell of pride for his friends. "I know you will, you two. And I'll be here to help however I can."

They chatted for some time before the twins excused themselves saying that they needed to get back to their experiments. As there was nothing better to do Harry decided to attend his classes. He looked up at the clock and saw that he could only attend half of the last class on the time table today. As Harry hurried to his class, he glanced at his timetable and realized he could only make it to the tail end of Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA). With a sigh, he quickened his pace, determined not to miss out on any more lessons. Not that he was particularly interested in the contents of the classes, but if he missed, he had to catch up with the classes with the teachers and he wasn't very particular about being with Quirrell alone.

On his way to the classroom, he saw quite a few students here and there with bright colored hair talking excitedly with their friends, causing Harry to smile.

Pushing open the door to the classroom, Harry found Professor Quirrell nervously pacing at the front, muttering to the class. Catching sight of Harry, Quirrell jumped, his turban askew.

"H-harry P-potter! W-why are you late?" Quirrell stammered, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

"I just got out of the hospital wing, Professor," Harry replied calmly, trying to suppress a smirk at Quirrell's exaggerated reaction. "I thought I'd better not miss any more classes."

Quirrell nodded, seeming to relax slightly. "V-very well, Mr. Potter. Please, take a seat."

Harry scanned the room for an empty desk and spotted one beside Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin student known for his cool demeanor. Making his way over, Harry greeted Blaise with a nod.

"Hey, Blaise. Mind if I sit here?" Harry asked politely.

Blaise raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded in response. "Sure, Potter. Take a seat."

As Harry settled into his chair, he couldn't help but notice the amused glint in Blaise's eyes. It seemed even the Slytherin was finding Quirrell's nervous antics entertaining.

Quirrell continued to stutter and fumble his way through the lesson, much to Harry's amusement. Despite his outward appearance of fear, Harry knew what Quirrell was hiding. All the students here would faint if they knew that Voldemort was in the class with them.

As the class came to an end, Harry gathered his belongings and prepared to leave. Glancing back at Quirrell, he couldn't help but wonder if he should kill him right now or should he leave the situation to go through the natural course. But for now, Harry had other matters to attend to – like having an evening snack. 

As Harry made his way out of the class, Ron and Hermione caught up with him, their concern evident on their faces.

"Hey mate, how are you feeling?" Ron asked, falling into step beside him.

"Yeah, Harry, we didn't expect to see you out of the hospital wing so soon," Hermione added, her brow furrowed with worry.

Harry smiled reassuringly at his friends. "I'm feeling much better, thanks. Madam Pomfrey said I could leave, so here I am."

Ron frowned. "We would've saved you a seat if we knew you were coming!"

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, we didn't think you'd be back in class so quickly."

Harry waved off their concern. "It's fine, really. I didn't even know I'd be out this soon."

Together, the trio made their way out of the classroom and began the familiar journey back to the Gryffindor common room. 

"So, what did I miss while I were in the hospital wing?" Harry asked, breaking the silence.

Hermione shrugged. "Not much, just some boring lectures and homework assignments."

Ron grinned. "Well, you didn't miss much excitement either. Though I did hear Neville accidentally turned his rat into a tea cozy during Transfiguration."

Harry chuckled at the thought. "Poor Neville, always having a bit of trouble with magic."

"You guys want to come with me to the kitchen?" Harry asked "We could grab some snacks for the evening", he added.

Ron and Hermione chuckled at the mention of visiting the kitchen, as Harry was always visiting the kitchen now and then.

"The kitchen? Are we allowed in there?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.

Harry grinned mischievously. "Of course we are! I'll show you."

As they made their way through the castle, Harry led Ron and Hermione to the portrait of the fruit bowl, tickling the pear in the center. The portrait swung open to reveal the entrance to the bustling kitchen, much to the amazement of his friends.

"Wow, I never knew this was here!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes widening with wonder.

Hermione nodded in agreement, her curiosity piqued. "It's like a hidden world right beneath our feet."

As they stepped inside the kitchen, the warmth and delicious aromas enveloped them. Tinsel, one of the house-elves, came bustling over, greeting Harry with a bow.

"Master Harry Potter, how can Tinsel be of service?" the elf asked eagerly.

Harry smiled and gestured to Ron and Hermione. "Tinsel, these are my friends Ron and Hermione. We were hoping you could help us with some snacks."

Tinsel bowed low to Ron and Hermione before scurrying off to gather the requested snacks. As they waited, another elf appeared, carrying a tray laden with an assortment of treats.

"Here you go, Master Harry," the elf said, presenting the tray with a flourish.

"Thank you! Can I ask you for your name?", Harry asked.

"I is Dinky, sir", the elf replied with a bow.

"Well Dinky thank you very much for helping me with the snacks.", Harry said with a smile. Dinky bowed to Harry and returned to her station.

Harry thanked the elves profusely before taking the tray of snacks. As they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower, Ron and Hermione couldn't stop marveling at the magic of the hidden kitchen and the kindness of the house-elves.

"That was amazing, Harry," Hermione said. "Though I can't help but feel uneasy about the idea of house-elves serving us like this."

Harry nodded, understanding her concern. "I get where you're coming from, Hermione. But it's important to remember that house-elves see their service as an honor, not a burden."

Hermione frowned, her disappointment evident. "But don't you think they deserve to be free? To have the same rights and freedoms as wizards and witches?"

Harry sighed inwardly, knowing where this conversation was heading. "It's not that simple, Hermione. House-elves have a different perspective on freedom. To them, serving a wizarding family is their purpose in life."

"But that's just it, Harry!" Hermione interjected, her voice rising with passion. "They should have the right to choose their own path, to live freely without being bound by servitude."

Harry gently placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "I understand your intentions, Hermione, but it's not as black and white as you think. House-elves are magical beings with a unique bond to their masters. If they were suddenly freed, it could have serious consequences for them."

Hermione's expression softened as she listened to Harry's explanation. "What do you mean?"

"Well, house-elves draw their magical power from the bond they share with their masters," Harry explained, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity. "If they were set free, they would lose that connection and essentially lose their source of magic. It would result in their death."

Hermione's brow furrowed as she processed Harry's words, her mind grappling with the implications. "So, their very existence is tied to their servitude?"

Harry nodded, his expression somber. "Yes, Hermione. It's a complex and deeply ingrained aspect of their magical nature. The bond they share with their masters sustains them in more ways than one."

Ron, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but interject. "Blimey, Harry. That's heavy stuff. I never knew house-elves were so... bound up in all this."

Harry offered a sympathetic smile to Ron. "It's understandable, mate. House-elves are often overlooked or misunderstood in the wizarding world. But their loyalty and dedication are undeniable."

Hermione's mind raced with questions, her curiosity driving her to seek further understanding. "But Harry, if house-elves are essentially dependent on their masters for survival, how do we reconcile that with the idea of freedom and autonomy?"

Harry's gaze softened as he met Hermione's earnest gaze. "That's the crux of the dilemma, Hermione. It's a delicate balance between respecting their autonomy and ensuring their well-being. We have to approach the issue with sensitivity and empathy."

Ron scratched his head, trying to wrap his mind around the complexities of the situation. "So, what can we do to help house-elves without putting them in danger?"

Harry pondered Ron's question for a moment before responding. "As I said Ron, we can't do anything. Except for maybe owners to treat them better."

"As I said before, everything is not black and white...certain concepts like freedom and right to choose don't apply to certain things in the Wizarding world like it does in the Muggle World"

"You're right, Harry," Hermione admitted, her voice tinged with humility. "I've always been passionate about fighting injustice, but perhaps I need to be more open-minded in my approach."

Harry nodded in agreement. "It's not about abandoning your principles, Hermione. It's about being flexible and willing to consider different viewpoints. That's how we grow and learn."

Hermione smiled gratefully, appreciating Harry's wisdom. "Thank you, Harry. I'll try to keep that in mind moving forward."

As they reached the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Ron chimed in with a grin. "Well, if Hermione's going to be more open-minded, maybe I'll finally get her to try a chocolate frog."

Hermione rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't suppress a small laugh. "Maybe, Ron. Maybe."

The trio sat down in the common room to enjoy their snacks while Ron and Hermione filled Harry on the happenings of the morning. Apparently Harry had gotten a letter but Hedwig had refused to let either Ron or Hermione to take it and had flown away to the owlery. 

Harry frowned as he listened to Ron and Hermione recount the events of the morning. "That's strange," he mused, leaning back against the couch. "Hedwig usually doesn't act like that."

Ron nodded in agreement, munching on a biscuit. "Yeah, she's usually pretty obedient. Wonder what got into her."

Hermione furrowed her brow in thought. "Perhaps she's trying to tell you something, Harry. Maybe there's something important in that letter."

Harry considered her words, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of his stomach. Hedwig's behavior was indeed unusual, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than meets the eye.

"I'll have to go to the owlery and check on her," Harry decided, setting aside his plate of snacks. "Maybe she's waiting for me there."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance, their concern evident. "Do you want us to come with you?" Ron asked, already rising from his seat.

Harry shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, it's alright. I can handle it on my own. You two stay here and enjoy the snacks."

Hermione nodded, though her expression was still worried. "Just be careful, Harry. We don't know what could be going on."

Harry waved off her concern, though inwardly he couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that lingered in his mind. With a determined nod, he bid his friends farewell and made his way out of the common room, his thoughts consumed by the mystery of Hedwig's strange behavior.

As he made his way through the castle corridors, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency gnawing at him. He quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls as he headed towards the owlery.

Upon reaching the owlery, Harry pushed open the door and stepped inside, scanning the room for any sign of Hedwig. His heart sank as he realized that she wasn't there.

"Hedwig?" Harry called out, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Where are you, girl?"

There was no response, only the rustling of feathers as the owls perched here and there, watched him with curious eyes. Harry felt a pang of worry gnaw at him, wondering where his loyal companion could have gone.

Just then, he caught sight of a flash of white feathers outside the window. Hurrying over to the window and peered outside, his heart skipping a beat when he spotted Hedwig perched on a nearby branch.

"Hedwig, what are you doing out here?" Harry exclaimed, relief flooding through him as he reached out to stroke her feathers. "You had me worried, girl."

Hedwig jumped onto Harry's shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately. Harry chuckled, "Yes Yes I am glad to see you too". He carefully took the letter attached to Hedwig's feet. It was addressed to him. Opening it cautiously he started reading. Once he read it he couldn't stop laughing. The letter was from Ginny.

Dear Harry,

So, I see you've been up to your usual antics on the Quidditch pitch. I must say, watching you plummet through the air like a madman was both exhilarating and utterly terrifying. Merlin's beard, Harry, do you have a death wish or something?

Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed by your daredevilry – you've got some serious guts. But please, for the love of all things magical, try not to give me a heart attack next time, okay? I'd like to make it to Hogwarts without dying from a hear attack.

On a more serious note, how did you get that memory to play like that? I asked dad, he said that memories can only be seen with a pensieve. So how did you make this memory play out like a picture in the air without the help of a pensieve? I mean I know asking this is stupid since I have seen you magic first hand, but still.

Anyway, enough nagging from me. Just know that I'll be watching you from the stands, cheering you on with every heart-stopping maneuver you pull off next year. Just try not to give me any more gray hairs, okay?

Take care, Harry, and write again.

All the best,

Ginny