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Witch Hunt: Reincarnated as Petunia Evans

Chapter 45

Summary:

˚    ✦   .  .   ˚ .      . ✦     ˚     . ★⋆.   .    ✦ ˚    .   ✦ ˚   .   ˚ . ⋆
.     ˚     *     ✦   .  .   ✦ ˚      ˚ .˚      .  .   ˚ .  ✦    ˚ .˚ ⋆  ✦   .  .  ✦

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text


Alastor Moody limped very slowly down the hall, having just come from seeing Eileen’s Healer. It was magical rejection, as he suspected. He’d seen it a few times before, though this was the most sever case.

When an adult witch or wizard abandoned their magic for too long their body would start to reject it. The body turned inwards, attacking the flow of magic. The Magic fights back, attacking the body with a vengeance. Magic literally flows through a wix’s blood, bone, and soul. To abandon it is to abandon themselves. If the patient does nothing, their body and magic fight to survive by attempting to destroy the other. Death comes as a mercy to them. Without treatment, Eileen only had five years to live... maybe six.

Alastor wiped the water from his un-bandaged eye, forcing out a haggard breath.

It was close… Another few months and it might have been to late to help the witch. Her magic and body would have been locked in an internal war till the day she died. Luckily it wasn’t too late.

Eileen could get treatment, and would most likely recover full use of her body and magic.

The Healer was incredibly optimistic about her recovery. According to him, using ones magic is the cure, but it needs to be done in small increments. Using a large amount of magic scares the body. That’s why Eileen collapsed, she used too much magic triggering her bodies defensive response.

Small bursts of magic help the body become re-acclimatized, however it is better for that person to find a lay line to recover near. The ambient magic there was more pure and less intrusive to the healing body. The pure magic would reset Eileen’s core, and heal her body at the same time. Depending on how large the magic vein was, it could help speed up the recovery process quite a bit.

The Auror would need to look into that.

Finding a pure lay line that wasn’t claimed by a pure-blood family was going to be nearly impossible. He’d cross that road when the time came. For now, they were treating Eileen’s other ailments and finalizing a treatment plan.

Alastor couldn’t help but wonder if Petunia knew about this. If she’d set things up so the woman could get treatment in a timely manner? But Seer’s didn’t recall their visions, it was a miracle the girl was able to write hers down and read them later.

No, he doubted the little girl planned this… but she’d still managed a great feat. Not only had she saved his life, she saved the life of the woman he loved…

The Auror continued down the hall, heading to the kids examination room. He’d heard about the scuffle earlier, one of his own healers came to spread the gossip. Good thing Euphemia Potter had been on shift today, nobody else would have handled those unsavory gits properly. It was reassuring, knowing those rotten scoundrels wouldn’t be on the Aurors’ Private Healer Team anymore. They always felt off to Alastor.

Soon the man reached the right room, knocking twice. Slowly the door cracked open, Euphemia Potter peeking out with a firm expression.

“Relax.” The wizard nodded, checking his surroundings with a quick glance. “Just me.”

The woman pursed her lips, nodding to man. She turned back, muttering something about being right back, to the children no doubt. Then she stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her as she did.

“What are you doing out of bed?” Euphemia scolded, crossing her arms over her chest.

The auror shrugged, looking away from the witch.

“It’s fine.” He dismissed.

The woman bristled, glaring at him.

“Do not give me that young man.” She narrowed her eyes, waving her wand over him with out hesitation. “You shouldn’t be up and about, I saw how much blood you lost.” Healer Potter frowned as she continued examining him. “How did you manage such a thing Alastor? You’re all bruised up, on top of being splinched in not one but two places!”

“Got distracted while Aparating here. Didn’t notice the kids were with me till I was on my way. The boy was holding his Mother’s hand, and the girl was holding his. Formed a daisy chain of sorts, not the safest for Aparation.” The wizard pushed the healer’s wand away, shaking his head at her endless fretting. “I was only just able to keep them with me, nearly lost them along the way. Had to shift my landing a bit, but we made it.”

Lady Potter looked frustrated, tucking her wand away with a small huff.

“Good thing too.” The witch began, her shoulders sinking slightly. “Those children needed to be seen by a healer.”

...

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alastor stared at the woman with confusion.

Euphemia let out a long pained sigh, the sort she gave before telling someone the most terrible news.

“I understand wanting to protect your family, but you’ve handled this in most unsavory way Alastor. Not seeing him before today even once? That’s negligence, especially considering the state of that boy’s body.” The witch frowned. “He’s been treated terribly till only a short while ago. Judging by the way he turns to that young lady, she’s the one who’s been helping him.”

The Auror listened to the woman intently, his jaw going rigid as she continued to recounted Severus malnutrition and several old broken bones. His magic had healed them properly, but the boy had no doubt been abused physically. The thought made Alastor’s blood boil, hands clenched white at his sides.

“When were you going to tell me you had a son Alastor?” Lady Potter whispered.

Even she could see it… The resemblance. It was uncanny, seeing someone who looked so much like his younger self, but so different at the same time. As the day had gone on, he was left with less and less doubt about it. Severus was his son… But why hadn’t Eileen told him? Why had she stayed with such a terrible Muggle man all these years? Hadn’t she claimed to be marrying a wizard her family had chosen?

The man forced himself to stop. He’d been asking the same questions all night, to no avail. He’d just need to talk with Eileen… once she was more stable.

“If I knew, I would have told you Euphemia.” He gave the woman an almost accusing look. “You always seem to pry the darkest secrets from people’s lips, you’re just so unsuspecting for a Snake.”

It was only because the Auror knew the witch so well that he saw her clever Slytherin scales. She’d been healing him up since his first day as an Auror Trainee. If you asked anyone, they would say Lady Potter was incredibly kind and sweet. That made people more likely to let their guard down around her. The real trick was that the witch was genuine to a fault in her kindness, but would strike you where it hurt should you cross her. She was not to be underestimated in skill nor power.

“It is hardly my fault.” Euphemia rolled her eyes, giving him a pointed look. “People confide in me, like you did.”

“Aye. I was young back then. Not nearly as clever as I thought I was.”

The woman nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips as she undoubtedly recalled Alastor’s first year as an Auror. Suddenly, her smile dimmed, replaced with a pained sad frown.

“That… That young lady.” The witch began, her shoulders sagging as she spoke. “Petunia. How long had she known about the curse?”

Alastor’s eyes went wide, his lips parting. He’d know Healer Potter for over a decade. He knew when she was jesting… this wasn’t such a time. The wizard took a step closer to her.

“What curse?” The quiet question hung in the air like a dangling ax.

Euphemia looked more heartbroken at his question, a hand moving up to grip the pendant round her neck in a self soothing manner.

“She didn’t tell you?” The woman blinked away the water in her eyes, shaking her head. “The young lady carries curse, a family curse one probably. It’s restraining her magic core, leaving her with less magic ability than a muggle.”

That… But that made no sense. How was she seeing visions if that was the case?

“I saw the binding on her, I didn’t realize it was to that extent…” The wizard frowned, holding his chin while he thought. That might complicate things. “We should look into what sort of curse it is, I’ll ask my people to start digging. Would you do the same?”

“She… She said she doesn’t want treatment.” The witch looked heartbroken, eyes shining with true sorrow. “Said it was fine...”

Alastor’s brow furrowed, the memory of his past conversation with the girl coming to mind. Why was the girl so against having magic? It made no sense, any child would be filled with glee at the prospect of something like that… unless...

“She doesn’t think it’s possible to break the curse.” He stated in shock. “The young lass has given up on using magic.”

Euphemia nodded, her eyes dancing with concern.

“It’s like… like she doesn’t want to be disappointed, so she’s refusing to even try and break the curse.”

The two magical adults mulled over the situation, their own thoughts swirling with idea’s and ways to help the young witch. Both were filled with a determination to help the Petunia break whatever bonds had entrapped her magic.

“Well… Sounds like we’ve got some work to do then Mia.” Then Auror gave the woman a nod.

“Indeed.” Lady Potter hummed, glancing back at the door behind her. “I just hope we can actually help her.”

The Auror paused, letting his mind churn with idea’s about what might be happening with the young girl.

“You know… she has a sister, younger one who’s brimming with magic.”

Euphemia’s gaze turned sharply at him, brows raising high.

“Are you sure?” She pressed.

“More than,” Alastor nodded. “The little thing was practically buzzing with magic, could sense it with out using my wand. The little girl is going to be a very powerful witch.”

Healer Potter listened intently. It was clear to see how fast the woman’s thoughts were flying by.

“If it’s only affecting Petunia, it might only effect the eldest child. A lineage curse then?”

The wizard grimaced.

“If that’s the case, one her parents should carry the curse too.” The wizard frowned. Those were notoriously hard curses to dispel. They targeted the next heir, flowing down to every first born child.

“We’ll need to have them in for testing.” The witch nodded eagerly. “We might not be able to help them the curse, but Petunia is still young.”

Alastor’s thoughts drifted, something still not making sense to him. He knew Petunia was seeing visions, with out a doubt. But she shouldn’t be able to do any magic if that was the case. Even regular Muggles had a hair of magic in them, all living things did. Muggle seers used a small amount of magic when they saw the future, but couldn't wield it like a proper wix.

How was she using her magic to see the future if her core was bound as tightly as Euphemia was suggesting?

 

Click

 

The door swung open, a startled Severus standing in the door way.

 “It’s Petunia!” He grabbed hold of Healer Potter’s sleeve dragging her back into the room. "Somethings wrong with her."

The two adults didn’t hesitate, rushing into the room.

“She was still asleep on the chair, but then…” The boy’s words petered off.

Alastor stared at the sight, his mouth going dry for some reason. The room hung densely with magic, having an almost eery feel to it.

Petunia was sitting on one of the chairs in the room. Her hair cascaded down her face, making it impossible to see her face.

Euphemia patted the boy’s shoulder comfortingly.

“You made the correct decision Severus, something’s not right about this.”

Before the witch could move, Alastor acted.

“Petunia?” The Auror called, taking a step towards the girl.

He stopped.

A chill ran down his spine, his shoulder stiffened. The wizard’s magic reared up, acting defensively. Not one to ignore his insticts, he simply watched the girl with a furrowed brow.

Slowly the girl lifted her head to look at him, her eyes alight with blue light.

The wizard had never seen anything like it. An almost ethereal ghostly glow shone from the girl’s eyes, like bight burning stars in the night sky.

Alastor…” The girl whispered, her voice resonating through his whole body. “Alastor Mad-Eye Moody.... Date of Birth: Unknown.... Date of Death: 27 July, 1997...”

The wizard’s heart nearly stopped. His words failed him, his mind repeating the same thing over and over and over.

 

Date of Death: 27 July, 1997.

 


Notes:

ฅ^>⩊<^ ฅ Hello there! Hope you enjoyed this lil blerb!

So glad Eileen will be alright! I'm sure Petunia will freak when she finds out the details, probably thinking about how that explains why she died in cannon. (˚˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )

The Alastor/Eileen+Severus family need to have a looooong chat... but not today (¬⤙¬ )

I do think it's funny how Euphemia and Alastor are kinda getting the wrong idea, thanks to Petunia's lack of communication. They're not entirely wrong, but not entirely write about her situation either. (·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )

And last but not least, we get to see Petunia make a verbal prediction! The first of many I'm sure ✧~(ゝᴗ ∂ )

So much fun! ✧ ৻(•̀ ᗜ •́ ৻)⊹。₊*⊹.˚