Chapter Two

Finding Magic: Chapter 2

Panting heavily, a short, stout wizard bounded up the stairs. Pausing momentarily to catch his breath and straighten his robes, his eyes rose to the wisps of fluffy white hair falling into his face. Distractedly, he raked a hand through them, took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the infirmary. Inside, all was quiet – too quiet.

Hesitantly, he stepped inside, his shoes clacking on the stone floor, then stopped, listening for any sound. Creeping further into the room, he spotted Professor Sprout sitting on the cot nearest to the door, looking forlorn. Slumping sideways slightly, she stared out the window on the far side of the room.

He cautiously approached her. "Pomona?" he murmured, stepping closer and placing his hand over hers.

At the sound of his voice, Pomona's gaze shifted to his, and she straightened. Drawing in a deep breath, sudden tears shone in her eyes. "Oh, Filius..."

"Sh, sh, my dear, I am here. I am so sorry I was not here sooner. Poppy just..."

Gasping, Pomona pulled her hand from his. "She told you?"

Instantly, Pomona's thoughts ran to the conversation she had had with both Poppy and Albus before they went down to dinner. They had assured her no mention would be made of her condition for the time being. In the meantime, Albus would assist her with the Herbology classes for the older students while Neville would assist her with the younger ones. When they had mentioned dinner, Pomona had begged off. She really had no desire to face the students or staff just yet, even if they didn't know something was wrong with her.

Filius then replied with a frown. "I was looking for you at dinner. Poppy told me you were in the hospital wing when I asked if she had seen you. She just said you didn't feel like coming down to the Great Hall. Of course, there was talk among the students about what happened today in the greenhouse, which I had not known about until then," he interjected. "I got here as soon as I found out. Are you all right? Poppy didn't indicate that you were injured, but I wanted to see for myself." Stepping back, his gaze slid up her body, looking for damage.

Blushing, Pomona momentarily forgot her dilemma under his blatant stare. "Physically, I am fine," she informed, looking away.

"But," he prodded, nudging her chin up with his finger.

Hazel eyes met deep brown, and Pomona found she could not look away. Swallowing slowly, she clenched her jaw. Should I tell him? Their relationship was so new, so fresh. If it hadn't been for Umbridge, it may not have started at all. Grimacing, she swallowed again. She needed to know if he would still desire her if she were no better than a Squib – or a Muggle. Some wizards could be very fickle.

Sighing, Pomona clasped his hand, gently tugging it away from her chin and gazed at the floor. "Filius... my magic is gone."

His sharp intake of breath drew her eyes back to his, and his hand in hers shook slightly.

"Gone?"

Silently, she nodded. As she watched, tears rose in his eyes, and his throat bobbed.

Closing his eyes, Filius breathed deeply. Looking back at her, his tears gone, he asked gently, "How? How did this happen?"

"I'm not quite sure. One moment I was helping Neville, and the next, I woke up in the infirmary with a terrible headache." She studied him briefly. "Poppy and Albus said they would help me find out what happened, but I can tell they have doubts as to whether it will recover my magic." She glanced away again, not wanting him to see her tears, her weakness.

"Pomona, I will help you, too."

Sucking in her breath, she swiveled her head back around. "You will?"

Raising his eyebrows, Filius exclaimed, "Of course, my dear! Why ever would you think I wouldn't?" He studied her, but she wouldn't look at him. Grasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he gently tugged her face up and murmured, "Pomona, I thought you understood how I felt about you? Let's get this straight right now: the way I feel won't change, whether you have magic or not." Leaning up slightly, he covered her lips with his.

Pomona's eyes fluttered closed at the first touch of his mouth upon hers. His tender exploration of her mouth undid the tension that had been building within her, and her heart surged in her chest. She had her answer: it didn't matter that her magic was gone, and she adored him more because it didn't.

Pulling back, Filius left Pomona in a slight daze. "Understand?"

Nodding bemusedly, Pomona sighed with content.

Chuckling lightly, Filius gathered Pomona's cloak from the chair. "Do you have to stay here tonight?"

Collecting her thoughts, Pomona shook her head. "No. Poppy said I could return to my chambers, and she would check on me in the morning. I am grateful for that. I think I might sleep better in my own bed, at least."

"Well, do you mind if I escort you?"

"Oh, no, not at all, in fact, I would have to insist if you didn't offer." She beamed at him, her plight forgotten for the moment.

Strolling through the empty corridors arm in arm with Filius, the sound of laughter and the clink of silverware and plates rose to Pomona's ears from below. She was pleased that they had the time to enjoy a stroll to her quarters without worrying about onlookers. Pensively, Pomona's mind floated to the first date she and Filius had shared. It had started out as a meeting of the minds on how to cope with Dolores, but had quickly turned into a burgeoning awareness of how they felt about each other. Smiling to herself, Pomona recalled how angry Filius had been at the witch.

Looking up at Pomona at that moment, Filius' eyes lit. "Knut for your thoughts, love?"

"I was just thinking about the night we finally realized our feelings for each other, how cross you were." She smiled brightly down at him.

Chuckling, he squeezed her hand. "Yes, I was, wasn't I? It's a good thing Umbridge is such an overbearing witch. Someday I shall have to thank her. Of course, I won't tell her what I am thanking her for. That should go over very well, don't you think?"

"Well, that would still be more information than she ever gave willingly," Pomona replied dryly.

"True. Ah, here we are, my dear. Home safe at last," Filius chirped.

Stepping closer to her door, Pomona turned to Filius. "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure, my dear, if only to make sure you are all right."

Smiling back at him, Pomona turned to her door, drawing her wand. Absentmindedly, she flicked it in an arc, but nothing happened. Flushing profusely, she covered her face with her hand; she had forgotten her limitation already.

"Is it your usual wards, love?"

Nodding hesitantly, she clenched her hands and moved aside, giving Filius room to open her door.

"How can I fulfill my duties if I have no magic, Filius? I can't even get into my own chambers, let alone care for the students in my house," Pomona wailed.

"Sh, Pomona, sweet, I can have the Headmaster reroute the students alarm to my suite until we recover your magic..."

"And if we never do?" she snapped.

"Don't say that. I can see what this means to you. But we will cross that bridge when we come to it, all right?" He searched her face, his concern softening her.

Letting out a pent-up breath, Pomona's shoulders sagged in defeat as Filius nudged her through her door. "All right. Good night, Filius."

"Good night, Pomona. Do try to get some sleep."

"I'll try," she whispered, shutting the door. Leaning against it, Pomona closed her eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek. How am I going to survive if I never find my magic again?

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Thump, thump, thump.

Apprehensively, Pomona stood outside Filius' door, feeling incredibly tired after a near sleepless night. She had finally managed to fall asleep at three, only to be awakened at five by a nightmare. For the last hour she had paced, waiting for a more reasonable time to interrupt Filius in his rooms and see how the night had gone for him, having both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students to contend with.

With a slight creak, the door to Filius' chambers opened. Groggily, Filius blinked at her, still in his dressing robe and slippers, his hair a haphazard array on his head.

"Pomona?" he asked with some surprise.

"Filius, I am so sorry to bother you at such an early hour, but I..." Pomona didn't know what to say.

A reassuring smile touched Filius' lips. "Come in, come in, love." Reaching out, he took her hand lightly, coaxing her inside and shutting the door with a wave of his other hand. "No, no bother at all. I can understand your distress. I don't know what I would do in a situation such as yours. But I do believe it must be frustrating and worrying as well."

Wringing her hands, Pomona followed him into his sitting room. "I... I wanted to make sure you didn't have any problems with the care of my students last night."

"None at all, my dear." Studying her briefly, Flitwick crossed the room, taking her hands in his once more. "Pomona, love, please sit down. I know you are worried, you have every right to be, but fretting is not going to find the answers. Let me get dressed, and we can go see the Headmaster..."

"And what is Albus going to do? I realize he is powerful, but I believe recovering magic is even beyond him. If it wasn't, I would be back to normal already. I just don't understand it, Filius; the research Neville and I are doing should not have caused such a reaction. According to my research, the bellapods have no outward effects unless mixed with the proper ingredients in a potion." Pomona's face scrunched in thought.

Lowering himself to the sofa beside her, Filius rubbed her knee gently. "Well, what do you remember? Maybe something else happened, resulting in your current state."

Frowning, Pomona was quiet a moment. "Well, I remember picking up one of the bellapods. The pots are a good size and weight, but not too heavy to move yet. I had called Neville over to help with the pruning as I moved one to the table so we could work. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital wing. But I think you are right – the answer may be in the missing part of my memory. Doesn't Albus have a Pensieve?"

Nodding, Filius stood up. "Yes, he does, and I am sure he would let you use it. I will be back in a flash, my dear Mona; just make yourself at home." Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips, brushing her knuckles lightly.

Blushing profusely at the endearing use of her name, Pomona slowly brought her hand to her mouth, watching him retreat into his bedroom. Sighing with pleasure, she laid her head back and smiled. Filius was such a gentleman. She hadn't come only to check on how his night had gone, she had known he would reassure her, make sense of the way she was feeling.

Raising her head once more, Pomona's gaze landed on a stack of books resting on the table in front of her. Tilting her head to one side, she scanned the titles. Most had to do with Charms, but next to the stack lay a book about fastening. Brow furrowed, Pomona leant forward, plucking the book from the table. The binding was well-worn and coming apart in places, and the pages were yellowed with age. Opening it carefully, Pomona scanned a few pages, her brows rising when she came across a spell that allowed a woman's lover to absorb her magic, resulting in the eventual complete absorption of all her magic.

Swallowing hard, Pomona's hands trembled and she bit her lower lip. Could Filius have done this to me? Shaking her head slightly, she snorted. That was impossible as their relationship was not quite to that stage yet.

Hearing the bedroom door open, Pomona jerked forward, replacing the volume where she had found it.

"Ah, sorry for the delay, my dear, I hope you found something interesting to occupy your time." Filius paced around the settee, taking her hand in his.

Eyeing the worn book, Pomona's cheeks reddened, and her eyes darted back to his. "I – I was just admiring your books on Charms...."

His gaze traveled to the undisturbed stack of books on the table. "I see. Just a little project I am working on for the Deputy Headmistress. Shall we go see the Headmaster?"

Pomona rose unsteadily from the chaise. "Yes, thank you, Filius," she croaked.

Shuffling toward the door, Pomona let Filius lead her out of his rooms. Looking behind her at the suspicious book before he closed the door, she wondered, What does magic absorption have to do with Charms and Transfiguration? Do I really know Filius as well as I think I do?