The group landed not far from the house. Instinctively wands-and for John, his pistol-were drawn.
"Lights are off," Travis noted.
"Fuck, so wish Cameron was here."
"Why?" questioned Bill.
"She could scan the place."
"Bill and Susan, come with me. We'll check the barn. You guys check the house."
"I'll use the floo and call in the Aurors," Harry offered. Travis nodded, as the group separated.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and John slipped into the house through the patio door.
"Why are we-"
"Ron!" Hermione hissed.
"Keep your voices down," Harry whispered, "Lumos." The tip of his wand lit up, casting a glow on the dining room. He suppressed a gasp, as the state of the room was revealed. Everything had been destroyed, quite violently.
"Um guys…" John whispered, "I don't think this was magic."
"Why?" Harry questioned.
"Travis… a few days ago… he showed me something at the cottage-"
"What was that?" questioned Ron, glancing at the doorway to the rest of the house.
"I heard it too." Harry pointed his lit wand toward the opening, while Hermione also lit the tip of her wand.
"Guys… we need to go… NOW!" John practically shouted, only a fraction of a second before a spray of bullets shattered the silence. The wall seemed to explode, as everyone hit the floor, and a figure burst through the opening, brandishing an MP-5.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Ron shouted, from the floor, wand aimed at the attacker. The spell struck, but had no effect. The attacker's response was to spray the room again with gunfire, narrowly missing the teen.
"Ron! It won't work-IMMOBILUS!!" Harry shouted. This time, the attacker dodged the spell, smiling as he did so. John, who had ducked into the corner, opened fire, but only drew the attacker's attention. "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" Harry snapped, again thrusting his wand at the attacker, as he began to advance on John.
"Harry, what is it?!"
"Terminator," John shouted, as the attacker turned its attention back to Harry.
"It's a machine, right? Harry, Patronus charm!" Hermione shouted, as they were again forced to dodge a volley of gunfire. The machine again turned its attention to John.

The machine was very much aware of the energy being sent its way by the companions to his target. It had easily identified John the second it focused on the boy. It now ignored the energy; for it would only take a second to complete its primary objective. It raised the MP-5, the boy clearly framed in his HUD. Its finger closed on the trigger, as he heard the words, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!!" bellowed one of the other boys.

John knew he was in trouble. He had emptied the only clip he had into the machine, with absolutely no effect, other than to attract its attention. He should have known better, but perhaps it was the reassurance there were three wizards with him more than capable of taking care of it. Of course, in a twist of fate, it seemed the machine was unfazed by magic. It advanced on him, brandishing its weapon. He was cornered, there was nowhere to go. He heard Harry's cry, perhaps the last he would ever hear, as the machine pulled the trigger.

The room was suddenly bathed in a silvery light, as an enormous stag burst from the end of Harry's wand. It caused the machine to fire erratically, spraying up and to the right. The machine kept firing, an arc of bullets climbing the wall and ceiling.
"REDUCTO!" both Ron and Hermione shouted, and both curses found their mark on the machine, blasting it into a wall.
"Get it!" Harry hissed, directing the stag on the machine. It stampeded across the short distance, and promptly sent it through said wall, into the next room(1).
"Harry?! John! What-" Travis gasped, as he and the others stormed into the room. The hole in the wall, and the silvery Patronus, battering away at someone-or-a terminator? But how?
"It… was a machine…" John managed, clutching his upper chest.
"Lumos!" Travis commanded, kneeling beside John. Harry was still directing his Patronus at the machine.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Hermione commanded, and quickly directed her Patronus, an otter, to join Harry's stag.
"We need a healer right away," Travis said.
"Madam Pomfrey will help," Harry decided.
"I found dad… this… he… it killed him…"
"It lured us here… it… it used you… to get to me," John wheezed, and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Shit," Travis swore, at last getting a good look at the damage. The machine had managed to put three bullets into John's upper body and right arm, just as Harry's Patronus had materialized. His arm was hanging limp, a splotch of blood soaking through the sleeve of his shirt.
"I'll get a message to Dumbledore," said Bill, summoning a Patronus of his own. It did not take form, but vanished only a second later. "He'll get Madam Pomfrey."
"Won't do any good unless you add her to the floo," said Travis.
"Which is why we're leaving. Gather around," said Travis.
"What about that?" Ron gestured to the machine that had by now lost most of its skin.
"That?" Travis gestured with his wand and summoned it, quickly miniaturized it, and stuffed it into a pocket. "Let's go."

Landing back at the cottage, they found it busy with concerned witches and wizards.
"What the hell were you thinking?" was Sarah's immediate reaction, but she immediately grew concerned, seeing the injuries.
"I'll add Madam Pomfrey to the floo," said Bill, and disappeared inside.
"What happened, Harry?" questioned Albus. Clearly, he had been woken up, for he had not even bothered to change out of his bedclothes.
"Sorry sir," said Travis, "We…"
"We were hoodwinked by a bloody machine!" Ron swore, glancing uncomfortably at John, then back at Travis.
"That's what they do, Mr. Weasley," said Sarah, robotically, kneeling beside her son, "That's all they do."
"My dad… it killed my dad… we found him in the barn," Travis said, the last bit coming out barely above a whisper.
"Was anyone else hurt?" questioned Albus, seeming to look Harry over before anyone else.
"No, it just… it only targeted John," said Harry, also kneeling beside John.
"You can help him?" questioned Sarah, looking up at Albus. He only nodded with a smile, saying, "Our medi-witch will be able to make him good as new. Ah, and that would be her." He gestured to the door of the cottage, just as Madam Pomfrey stepped out.
"Mr. Potter… don't tell me-oh dear," she said, quickly zeroing in on who the patient actually was. "Attacked by Muggle firearms?" John only nodded, as it was at this time difficult to speak.
"Right then." Madam Pomfrey drew her wand, and levitated the boy. "Where is his room?"
"This way," Harry said, scrambling to his feet.

Madam Pomfrey quickly laid John on his bed, and with a swish of her wand, banished his shirt. Two bullets had lodged in his upper chest, while a third had shattered the bones in his upper arm. "I'll need Skele-Gro for those," she gestured at his arm. "I will need the assistance of Severus for this, I'm afraid."
"NO!" Harry practically shouted, "He can't EVER come here!"
"Harry…"
"I said NO! AND I FUCKING MEAN IT!"
"Mr. Potter, it's either that, or your friend here will need to be moved to Hogwarts or St. Mungo's," Madam Pomfrey declared, running several more diagnostic charms over the boy. "Who are you, dear?"
"John. John Baum." He managed.
"I'm his mother, Sarah." Madam Pomfrey nodded at her, then turned back to John. "Well, Mr. Baum. I do have a few potions you will need to at least stabilize you." John only nodded, and Madam Pomfrey drew out several small vials. "All of these, one of which will make you sleep."
"I don't want…"
"John. Trust her, she's patched me up enough times," said Harry, drawing up a chair. John nodded, and reluctantly accepted the potions. He quickly downed each of them, grimacing with all but one of them. "Tastes like shit."
"It's medicine, what do you expect?" Travis said, trying to keep it light, although in reality, he was shaking inside. He too, drew up a chair from his desk.
"What happened?" questioned Remus.
"This." Travis pulled the miniaturized terminator from his pocket.
"We went into the dining room at Travis' house… and it ambushed us from the hallway," said Harry, just barely keeping his voice even. It was one thing to be attacked by Death Eaters. Now, on several occasions, he had been attacked by an artificially intelligent machine.
"This thing," Harry said, "It… it was resistant to magic this time. We tried the tactic we used last time, and it just… I swear it just grinned at us, as if it KNEW what we were doing!"
"Of course it did." Everyone turned to see Derek standing in the doorway. "That's what they do. They learn, they adapt."
"Thing is, HOW? We only encountered one at a time-"
"Cromartie," said Sarah, "It must've… waited… found out where we went… and waited."
"They can do that?" questioned Hermione.
"That's what they do."
"So SkyNET has adapted to us, then," Harry guessed.
"But no they haven't, Harry. You disabled it with your Patronus," Hermione pointed out.
"Thing is, last time we didn't need something that strong. No, they're more resistant." He gestured to the miniaturized machine.
"Would you oblige an old man's curiosity?" questioned Albus. Travis nodded, gestured at the machine with his wand, and re-enlarged it.
"Amazing," said the aged wizard, poking the metal skeleton, from which most of the flesh had been blasted away. "This thing attacked you?"
"Yes!" Harry said, irritated, "Bloody hell, it would have killed us!"
"It killed my dad," Travis repeated, "I… I didn't get along with him… but…" He shook his head, as he looked back to the bed. John was then sleeping, while Madam Pomfrey worked to clean the wounds.
"Harry, you do need to make a decision," said Albus, gesturing again to John. "Either way, professor Snape must be involved."
"Harry, we've got ready access to most things here-I can bring the rest of the potion lab from home-if that thing didn't destroy it-it's safer here," Travis pointed out.
"It's best if you go back to the house with several Order members this time," said Remus, cautiously.
"No, that won't be necessary," said Harry, "It wasn't Death Eaters anyway."
"And what if it was, Harry?" Sirius pointed out. He was also standing by the door, opposite Derek. "What would we have done then? Do you have any idea how absolutely ludicrous your actions were?"
"I did go with them, Sirius," Bill reminded.
"Yes, thank Merlin you did, but I still point out, it was ill thought out for you to go off half-cocked like that. Next time, consult with us before going off like that. I think the state of your friend here is more than enough of a reminder."

Harry bowed his head. He knew Sirius was right. It was as if he were hearing a ghost. It was exactly the same thing he had done only weeks before, dragging his friends off to the Ministry of Magic. That had indeed got someone killed. It hit him like a herd of stampeding hippogriffs. He could have lost John. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, his eyes getting shiny with tears that threatened to fall.
"NO! Harry, it's not your fault, it's mine! I should have thought before we took off like that!" Travis got up, swooped around the bed, and wrapped Harry in a hug. "DON'T blame yourself, you only went along with us, man!" He looked up at Bill. "Add professor Snape to the floo."
"NO!" Harry shouted again.
"Harry, John needs potions to get better, right?" said Travis. Harry nodded. "Madam Pomfrey. Why do you need professor Snape?"
"He is a Muggle, correct?" Madam Pomfrey gestured at John. Harry nodded.
"I've had issues with standard Skele-Gro working on Muggles. Severus will be able to come up with something that's a little more readily accepted," Madam Pomfrey explained.
"Fine. Let Snape through," Harry sighed.
"Let's get one thing straight," Travis vowed, "I won't take any bullshit from him. If he causes any trouble here, so help me, I'll curse him to hell and back."
"I can assure you, he won't be an issue," Albus promised. That got a dark look from Harry, who said, "Just… let him do what he's got to do, and get out."
"Harry, you do still need to learn Occlumency…"
"Not right now, and absolutely NOT from him," Harry answered, giving Albus another dark look. Bill, meanwhile, left the room, and Albus dispatched his Patronus. "Great. Not only will he be a git, but cranky as well." Harry gestured at the clock. 11:50 pm, it read.
"But Harry, he's ALWAYS cranky," Ron pointed out. He had stretched out on his own bed.
"Harry, here." Travis summoned a vial from the shelf full of potions, and passed it to him. "Calming draught. Anyone else?"
"Please," said Hermione. Travis summoned another vial.
"I must say, that's quite a collection of potions you have, Mr. Fisher," said Albus, noticing for the first time.
"Yeah, I don't do too badly with potions and chemistry. I see it sort of like cooking," answered Travis. Madam Pomfrey had stopped checking John over, and gave the collection a once-over.
"I don't have much in terms of major healing potions there," said Travis, "Minor healing salves and so on, but anything serious, I call a healer."
"Indeed, wise to leave it to those who know what they're doing," Madam Pomfrey agreed, turning her attention back to her sleeping patient. At this point there was not much else she could do, having already administered several healing potions, and banished the shattered bones from John's arm. She had quickly deduced it would be easier to re-grow them than to mend them.

A few minutes later-ironically, as the clock read 12:01 am, Bill returned, with a wizard in dark robes following. Harry groaned, as the potions master stepped into the room, sneering at everyone.
"What in blazes was so urgent I was dragged out of my warm bed at this hour?" he demanded.
"My apologies, Severus, but we do have the need for a special batch of Skele-Gro," said Albus.
"Surely, this could have waited until the sun rose."
"He's a Muggle," said Madam Pomfrey.
"I see." Severus rounded in on the boy, producing his wand, and sneering at Harry all the while.
"Pepper up potion, professor?" offered Travis. Sure, he had a low opinion of the professor, yet, he would attempt to be civil. Severus nodded, and Travis summoned one of the vials. "Fresh batch made a couple days ago." Severus inclined his head, and downed the potion. A moment of surprise seemed to reflect in his dark eyes, before the blank mask resettled itself on the potions professor's face. "What year are you in?"
"Sixth, sir," answered Travis. Severus only nodded, and turned back to the current concern, being John.
"Professor, would you like a cup of coffee, perhaps?" offered Lisa. She had been relatively quiet since the group had returned. Severus only nodded, and Lisa slipped from the room.
"I'll need to return to Hogwarts for my potions stores. You stock a potions lab, I assume."
"Yes sir," answered Travis, "I'll need to go back to the house. Harry, you mind giving me a hand?"
"I want…" Harry began, looking back at John.
"There's nothing you can do right now, Harry, and I really need a hand with things. 'sides, I don't think it's safe at the house anymore anyway. There's stuff that I need to bring here."
"Fine."
"I'll leave you, then, Harry," said Albus, "And by the way, Happy birthday, Harry." Harry looked up at the clock, and let out a sigh. He had been sixteen for just over three minutes.
"Sir," said Travis. He scribbled out a note on a piece of paper. "You'll need to know that."
"Indeed." Severus quickly read the note, then incinerated it with a gesture from his wand.
"You guys always burn stuff like that?" Derek asked.
"Anyone can read it," said Travis, "So it's best to destroy the note immediately after it's read." Derek only nodded in understanding. As concerned as he was for John, he still kept his distance.
"Harry… coming?"

They spent the minimum amount of time at Travis' house in Penetanguishene, although once again backed by several adult wizards. It also involved retrieving a stack of letters from the ministry. He groaned seeing those. "I'll take care of them when we get back to the cottage. A benefit of the Fidelius charm."
"What do you need?"
"Well, just about everything," answered Travis, as he started gesturing at things with his wand. "What, don't you know how to use the packing charm?"
"Impressive," said Remus, watching as numerous items seemed to fold themselves, and fly into several trunks. Other things seemed to shrink before vanishing into said trunks.
"Oh, careful with those," Travis warned, as Harry was about to miniaturize one of the boxes, "Potions ingredients."
"Right."

Ten minutes later, the small contingent returned to the cottage. They went back up to the dorm, where Travis at once began magically cutting a hole in the wall.
"What… why are you putting a hole in the wall?" inquired Derek.
"Making another room," said Travis, as he poured more energy into the spell, "Just watch."
"I've watched professor McGonagall do some wicked things, but… never seen a room made before."
"Magical expansion. You've seen magically expanded rooms before, right? This is how it's done. The more experienced a witch or wizard is, the longer it stays intact. Some can make permanent transfigurations."
"What happens if it decides to change back while you're in there?" questioned Derek.
"Um… bad things. Very bad things. Which is why I periodically check things to make sure it's still holding, and if I need to, I renew it," Travis explained, as he continued to shape the new room.
"Better hurry it, Snape doesn't like to be kept waiting," Harry warned.
"Just about there… okay, done." He then began unpacking a number of items, setting up several tables with supplies.
"No window?" Derek said.
"Nope. It's better to brew potions in a dim place, some things don't react well to the light and shit like that."
"Indeed." They turned to see Severus striding into the room, with several bags. "You should take notes, Potter," he sneered.
"Sir, please."
"Professor, look. Just, I don't know what you have against Harry, but that's not the problem here. We need your help," said Travis. Severus sneered again, but looked in the room Travis had created. "Most fitting."
"I score mostly 'E's in potions, sir." That got another nod from Severus, as he began unpacking the various items he had brought with him. "Anything I can do?"
"I strongly doubt-"
"He can brew veritaserum," Bill pointed out. Severus arched an eyebrow. "Indeed? Tell me, where would you find a Bezoar?"
"In a goat's stomach, sir. It will save you against most poisons," answered Travis. Severus sneered, then said, "What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're from the same plant, sir, although I know it as aconite. We have a slightly more potent offshoot of it here in North America. It's a very poisonous plant if ingested." Severus nodded, momentarily impressed by the additional commentary. "Asphodel in an infusion of wormwood, valerian roots, and sopophorous bean."
"The draught of living death, sir," Travis responded, "I find if you crush the sopophorous bean with the flat edge of the blade, it makes for a better potion. A person who drinks it would pretty much look like they're dead."
"If you were in my potions class, I would have to assign points, I think."
"Thanks, I think. Look, let's just get to work," Travis prompted. Severus only nodded, and began setting up a cauldron.

Harry, meanwhile, retreated to his seat beside John's bed, still very much concerned for his friend. The machine that had caused all the chaos less than an hour prior had been bound in heavy magical bindings, and shoved into a corner, along with the first terminator they had encountered. With the events of that evening, the machines now presented a much bigger threat to the wizard world than first thought.

"Harry, what if the machines are becoming resistant to magic," questioned Derek. He had at last pulled up a chair beside Sarah at the foot of John's bed, and several long hours had passed since the incident.
"I don't think that will happen," answered Harry, "It's a Muggle machine. There's always magic that can do damage to it."
"What did you do to it this time?" questioned Sarah.
"Patronus charm. It uses a lot of magical energy-Hermione was brilliant thinking of that one. The machine started going haywire when I cast it. Then Ron and Hermione hit it with two blasting curses."
"Jesus, looks like that blew all the skin off." Derek nodded toward the severely damaged machine.
"No, that was my Patronus."
"Damn."
"I wasn't sure if it could, but…"
"But Harry, you ARE a powerful wizard," Hermione pointed out. She had stretched out on Bill's bed-he wasn't using it that much these days-in fact, at the moment, he was helping Severus and Travis make potions.
"I still didn't know if it would work-I mean, honestly, I thought it only worked against Dementors and Lethifolds."
"The thing is, you saved my son," said Sarah.
"It wouldn't have been necessary, if we were more careful, though!" Harry lamented, "It was the department of mysteries all over again!"
"No, if anyone's to blame, it was me," said Travis, stepping into the room. "All I could think of, was that dad was in danger. I thought if there was enough of us, we could deal with them. Didn't count on a fucking terminator."
"John noticed something was off practically as soon as we stepped into the dining room. He said it wasn't magic that caused the damage," said Harry, "Then we were just attacked. It opened fire on us."
"Do tell, exactly WHAT is that," Severus questioned, gesturing toward the incapacitated machines in the corner.
"They're terminators," answered Sarah, "Machines sent from the future to attack me and my son."
"A Muggle machine?" Severus sneered.
"Yes."
"Sir, please," Harry pleaded, "They are just as much of a threat to us as they are Muggles!"
"I strongly doubt that, Potter."
"Voldemort CAUSES them!" Harry shouted, "He'll destroy the world, JUST like he does in theirs!"
"The Dark Lord, meddling with Muggle machines?" Severus deadpanned, "VERY unlikely."
"Sir, Harry's telling the truth," said Travis, "I've seen several pensieve memories from Derek-" he gestured to Derek, continuing, "They destroyed every Muggle population centre on the planet, then started rounding up the survivors. John-" he indicated the sleeping patient, "Leads a few survivors against them. That's why he's important."
"So the machines keep sending these things back to kill us," Sarah finished.
"Sir, you understand, if there aren't enough of us left, we will die of extinction," Travis pointed out, "The shit that John and his family have told me, we were on the brink-ALL of us, not just Muggles."

Severus pondered this information, as he looked over the two machines. One was completely intact, while the other was only a skeleton. Could it really be true, that the Dark Lord would cause this? It was well known, the Dark Lord despised Muggles in every way, shape, and form. So it wouldn't be a far stretch of the imagination for him to come up with such a concept. Then again, perhaps it wasn't the Dark Lord who came up with the idea, but a Death Eater or sympathiser. The Dark Lord would reward someone quite handily for laying out such a plan. 'No,' Severus thought, 'Most definitely possible. If the Dark Lord wins, there won't BE a world left.'

He glanced over at Harry, noting how close he was sitting to John's bed. 'Ah, seen that before,' he thought, 'The brat's found love again.' He knew how important Harry was, yet, he still could not separate him from his father. There was just too much hate for James. It simply blinded him to the fact this was also Lily's son, and made it near impossible for him to be anything other than cold and just plain nasty.

His thought moved on to this new friend Harry had met. Travis, was it? The boy was no 'O' student, but he certainly knew what he was doing in a potions lab. He knew he would have difficulty not accepting him into his NEWT level class (Severus never accepted anyone without an 'Outstanding' on their potions OWL), had he been a student at Hogwarts.

He had met the potions professor from Nipigon on several occasions. Tim Dorsett didn't have his master papers yet, but was one exam away. He was most definitely qualified to teach the subject.

A slight POP brought him out of his thoughts. "Dobby is wondering if any of yous would like a snack."
"That would be great," said Harry. That got nods from the others still awake.
"Dobby will be right back!" The elf vanished with another POP.
"Since you have one annoying elf, how about taking the other as well," Severus sneered.
"Who-Winky?" Harry guessed. Severus sneered again. "Forgot about her."
"Harry, why don't you bond with them?" That got a sour look from Hermione. "They obviously get along with you."
"I don't know how."
"Of course he wouldn't," Severus drawled, "He's-"
"It would have helped if people had informed me, rather than ASSUME I bloody know everything!" Harry shouted, "You're one of the WORST at that, sir! You asked me some of the same fucking questions in FIRST YEAR! First bloody class we had with you!"
"Fifty points from Gryffindor, for your language, and disrespecting a teacher, Potter."
"You can't!" Hermione blurted, "We're out of school for the summer!"
"And an additional twenty points for being an insufferable know-it-all, Miss Granger. You will find your house minus seventy points at the welcome feast in September, I believe," Severus deadpanned.
"I haven't decided whether I'll be returning or not," Harry snapped, "Your ATTITUDE toward ME is ONE of those reasons!"
"That'll be another ten points, for being rude to a professor."
"Rude?! No, sir, you've been nothing but a snarky, greasy, prat toward me since the first day we've met! I've had just about ENOUGH of your shit! I'm not your whelp, your kicking dog, or anything ELSE that might fit that description!" Harry erupted, leaping to his feet. Severus reacted by drawing his wand. "That will be quite-"
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Travis shouted, and Severus was sent flying across the room, his wand clattering over into the corner by the bound machines.
"Bloody hell, Travis!" Ron swore. Hermione's jaw seemed to hit the floor, at what Travis had just done.
"I curse first, ask questions later. I'll say this once, and only once," Travis hissed, "Harry's my friend. This is my house. Check your shit at the door, or get out."

Severus and Travis glared at each other for what seemed like a minute. Severus had to admit to himself, Travis' curse had a load of power in it. This was not a boy to mess around with. Even his godson couldn't put out that kind of power with his disarming curse.

At that time, Dobby popped back into the room, bringing a tray of snacks, and bottles of Butterbeer. He glanced over at where Travis and Severus were, but seemed to ignore them, setting up a small table, and placing said tray upon it.
"Is there anything else yous be needing?"
"No, that's great, Dobby," said Harry. The elf popped away.
"Professor, I think the Skele-Gro should be ready," said Bill. He had been standing in the entrance to the potions lab.
"Indeed," said Severus. Travis offered him a hand, but he only sneered and got to his feet on his own.
"I mean it," Travis vowed, "No more bullshit." Severus scowled, retrieved his wand, and stormed back into the lab.
"And he's always like this?" questioned Derek, "The man's got one hell of a chip on his shoulder."
"Yeah, you can say that again," said Harry.
"An asshole, more like it," said Sarah, taking a bottle of Butterbeer. Harry nodded, saying, "He's been like that since the day I met him. My dad teased him a lot when they went to Hogwarts together."
"So he blames you for what your father did?"
"Yeah, something like that. I mean, my dad was a prat sometimes, but what right does he have to blame me for that? The questions he asked you earlier, Travis… he asked me those same questions the first class I ever had with him. Those are NEWT level potions, how the HELL was I supposed to know that? How's THAT preparing me to face Voldemort?! I shouldn't have agreed to let him come here!"
"Thing is, what's done is done, Harry. No sense in beating a dead horse," said Travis, taking a swig of his Butterbeer. He also grabbed a handful of chips.
"But he's still doing it! That's the whole point, why I don't want to go back to Hogwarts!"
"You would truly be doing me a favour," Severus drawled, reappearing from the lab, bringing two vials, "If Granger and Weasley would follow, all the better."
"What right do you have, using that kind of attitude toward your students?" Sarah questioned, pointedly.
"All the right in the world," Severus sneered, "If a student can't handle the way I teach… then perhaps… they might want to study else… where." He glared at Harry as he finished.
"Just drop it," Travis hissed, "Fucking Christ! Just both of you shut it!" Severus glared at the teen, then went to the bed. "Move." It was Harry's turn to glare, as he got up. Of course, Severus could have administered the potions from the opposite side of the bed, but he would have missed an opportunity to further provoke Harry.

As Severus administered the Skele-Gro, Albus again entered, along with Madam Pomfrey. "How is the patient doing?" she inquired.
"Just administering the Skele-Gro now," Severus informed, "There is enough for three more doses."
"Thank you, Severus, I think I can handle it from here," said Madam Pomfrey.
"Good, I may then return to Hogwarts. I daresay, I wish not to return," Severus scowled.
"I do need you to stay a moment," said Albus, "We do need to discuss your continuing to give Harry lessons in Occlumency."
"Over my dead body," Harry vowed.
"I think that answers that," said Severus.
"Harry, it's important you learn-"
"Professor, you know we hate each other, and that's just not gonna change. Get someone else!"
"Harry, what if we all learned it?" Travis suggested, "I mean, Voldemort will target me just as much as he will you, right?"
"There is no way-"
"Severus, I think that might be an excellent idea. Perhaps, Miss Granger and Mister Weasley should also sit in on those lessons as well."
"Lovely, as if I don't have to deal with these dunderheads ten months of the year as it is."
"Fine. I'll agree to that, then. John, too," said Harry.
"I strongly doubt a Muggle will understand the intricacies of occluding the mind," Severus drawled, "But we will see, then."
"Not today," said Harry, firmly.
"No, it won't be today. God forbid, we wouldn't want to disrupt the golden boy's birthday."
"Look, the day's already FUCKED as it is, but if I'm gonna have my mind raped, I would like to prepare for it," said Harry.
"Another twenty points, I think, for your language, Potter."
"Fuck you."
"Another twenty points. We can go on all night, Potter."

SMASH! Several windows exploded, as did several jars sitting on Travis' desk. The room was actually vibrating, from the angry energy radiating from Harry. Harry only glared at the potions professor, and stormed out of the room, at which the room stopped shaking.
"Jesus Christ, is it really TOO much to ask, for you to try and be civil? Or is your mind really that small, professor?" Travis snarled, "One of these days, he's gonna kill you, and trust me, he CAN. The shit he's shared with me, I'm surprised he hasn't gone off on someone."
"One of the reasons he must be protected and watched, Mr. Fisher," noted Albus. That got a feral look from Travis. "No, professor, he needs to be loved, cared for… and most importantly, he needs someone to help him deal with his anger. Sure, he's got a ton of love, but equally, he's pissed right now. I know it because I've been there. Continuously provoking him, he's gonna go off one day, and punch a one way ticket to Azkaban."
"He's right, Albus," said Bill, "Keeping him in the dark has done nothing to prepare him. Any kid in the position he's in… would react the same way. Why do you think he's run off?"
"So you would allow him to bask in his fame and glory?" Severus sneered.
"No, but he did have a right to know who he is. Hell, I knew who he was the first day I started at Nipigon. You should have been helping him, not keeping him back."
"You mean we should be coddling him?"
"NO! Holy shit, you're dumb, man. That's exactly what's being done now! NO, I mean, explaining shit to him. Teaching the more advanced stuff… I mean, professor Dumbledore, you're one of the most powerful wizards in the world… so why aren't you sharing what you know with him? Professor Snape. Again, you should be teaching him the advanced stuff-and drop your fucking attitude with him. That just pisses him off, and like I said, he's already got some sharp knives lined up for his relatives, I'm sure."
"I'm not afraid of an over-emotional teenager with an axe to grind."
"Oh, trust me, Snape. You saw what he just did. I would hate to be the one he focuses that kind of raw power on. He made my dad piss himself first time he met him. Didn't use a single spell or curse. Just his radiating power alone."

Albus only nodded at this information. Everything he had known about Harry up to this point, was clearly wrong. Sure, the aged wizard had some sort of insight into the kind of power the boy had. Yet, here and now, he had witnessed in black and white, a minor bout of accidental magic. No, the current plan he had would no longer work. Harry was extraordinarily powerful. Locking him away and keeping him in the dark about things was no longer appropriate.
"I do believe, Travis is right, Severus," Albus finally said, "We will need to have a meeting with the Order, I believe." He gestured with his wand, and a ghostly bird wafted from its tip.
"We're meeting back at Hogwarts?" questioned Bill. Albus nodded. "I'll collect those downstairs and we'll head over through the floo."
"Just to be clear," said Travis, "No more secrets from Harry."
"I promise you, there won't. I plan on bringing all of you into the Order, I believe that would be the best course of action immediately."
"If you stick to that promise, that will be the best birthday present Harry can get."
"Indeed," said Albus, the twinkle seeming to return to his eyes.
"What is the Order?" questioned Sarah.
"Order of the Phoenix," answered Albus, "It's an organization that deals with the threat Voldemort presents to the British magical community. It will be one of the few times a foreign wizard has been inducted into its membership, and the first time ever for a Muggle. I'm not blind to the fact your son has a bearing on events concerning Voldemort, Miss Connor." That got a curious glance from Madam Pomfrey. "Your son said his last name was Baum."
"He didn't know if he could trust you," answered Sarah. Madam Pomfrey only nodded in understanding.
"When will he wake up?"
"Not until much later this morning, I'm afraid. The Skele-Gro works best when the patient is asleep," explained the medi-witch, "It will be best if he gets lots of rest for the next day or so."
"In our world… he would have lost his arm," said Derek, darkly.
"There are still occasions where the limb cannot be saved," said Madam Pomfrey, "Albus' friend Alastor has suffered such a fate."
"I do believe we should be going," said Albus.
"Professor, I'm curious. I thought Skele-Gro was patented," said Travis.
"Indeed it is, but it doesn't mean it can't be duplicated by someone adept at the art," Severus drawled, "And in the case of Muggles, a variant has to be prepared."
"Oh. Right."
"Make no mistake, Fisher. You've crossed a dangerous line here. I will not forget," Severus said, coldly, "Do realize who has marked me."
"You don't scare me, sir," Travis answered calmly, "I've met and dealt with people like you before, it's nothing new. Harry's put up with your bullshit because he didn't know differently. I, on the other hand, WON'T. like I said, I'm not afraid of you."
"Severus…" Albus stated. Severus only sneered, and the two professors walked out of the room. At just the same time, Harry returned. "Where are they going?"
"Back to Hogwarts," answered Travis, "With luck, I may have just made things easier for you."
"How is he?"
"Still asleep, and he'll remain that way for the next while," answered Madam Pomfrey, "In a few hours, he'll need another one of these…" she gestured to a vial on the table on the left side of the bed.
"More Skele-Gro?" Harry guessed. Madam Pomfrey nodded. "I do have to return to the school myself, but do floo me if you need me."
"What's the floo address?"
"Hogwarts infirmary."
"Easy enough," said Travis, "And you'll need this." He handed her a slip of paper.

They watched, as the medi-witch also left the room. "What happened while I was gone?"
"The professors and I had a little chat," answered Travis, "I think there's gonna be a few changes in how they deal with you. We're being invited into the Order."
"What?" Harry was surprised.
"And I think professor Dumbledore might be taking a closer interest in your education," Hermione added.
"Happy birthday, Harry," Travis smiled. He wrapped the boy in a tight hug, then planted a kiss on his forehead.
"Not just anyone gets away with that, mate," Ron smirked, as they separated.
"Well, I mean, his mom isn't exactly here to do it, right?" Travis smirked right back. That got a poke in the ribs from Harry. "Hey!"
"Well, that's what 'ya get for bringing up my parents."
"Harry, I do hope you plan on getting some sleep," said Hermione, "It's the wee hours of the morning."
"Yeah, guess it is." Harry shrugged, and moved around to the left side of John's bed.
"Um, I don't think Madam Pomfrey would approve of that."
"She can't object if she doesn't know, right?" He carefully sat down on the bed.
"And what exactly is your relationship with my son?" Sarah frowned.
"I don't know," Harry answered, "But he needs us… and I guess… I need him too. Just like I need Travis… and Ron and Hermione."
"Although I think Harry might need John just a little more," Travis smirked.
"John's gay?" questioned Derek, sounding uncomfortable himself.
"I don't think he knows," answered Travis, "Confused… but I know he cares a lot for Harry."
"But I mean, think of it this way… those things…" Hermione gestured to the disabled terminators in the corner, "They're machines, and if I understand it correctly, he did start to have feelings for Cameron."
"So?" questioned Derek, "As weird as that is…"
"Well, I did hear Cameron mimic a guy before," Ron remembered. Sarah only nodded at the point, saying, "I guess as long as my son is happy… hell, since he's been around you all, I've not seen him this happy."
"They've both got roles to fill, but you can't keep them locked up and rigid. Keep their wings clipped, they rebel."
"True," Sarah agreed. She had to agree, Travis did have a point. Her boy was growing a bit of a spine, as was Harry. 'Powerful allies,' she thought, 'Just maybe, everything would be okay in the end.'
"And I mean, come on, Miss Connor, better him falling in love with Harry than a killer can-opener." Harry grinned at Travis' logic, as he stretched out, careful not to disturb John (not that he really could, considering the powerful sleeping potion he had been given). Derek burst out laughing at the reference, while Harry again rolled his eyes.
"Okay, after this stressful night… gonna need something a little stronger than a cigarette, I think…"
"Oh Merlin, not that dragon shit again."
"What, you don't like my weed?"
"That stuff stinks like burnt tea bags and it gives me a headache," Hermione groaned.
"Fine, I'll take it outside. Anyone want to join me?"
"If you're offering," said Derek, standing, while Travis retrieved a small box from his collection of potions ingredients. "Great fun pranking the purebloods with this stuff. They have no concept of what Marijuana is. Professor Benoit-our Herbology professor, on the other hand… he nailed me with a weeks' detentions when he caught me with it. Said it was a most inappropriate item to be growing in the school greenhouse."
"No shit… kind of illegal no matter WHERE you grow it," said Sarah.
"Well, the wizard world frowns on it-Muggle drug, right? But it's not illegal for us," said Travis, as he rolled a joint. "Not to mention, the kinds of magical fertilizer we've got… dragon dung… makes many plants do really well, and pretty fast, too. All right… let's go."

Sarah only shook her head, as Derek and Travis left the room. She turned back to the bed, and found Harry had closed his eyes, and turned on his side, facing her son. She blew out a breath, still not exactly comfortable with the idea, but what could she do? It was John's right to fall in love with another boy, wasn't it? Besides, his sexuality was the least of her concerns. Making sure he had the tools he needed to fight SkyNET, on the other hand, certainly trumped that in any way, shape, or form. Equally important, was for him to have a strong group of people around him, equally prepared, and ready to stand with him. It looked very much like Harry and his friends would do EXACTLY that.

No one noticed, as the eyes of the bound endoskeleton glowed red. However, when it tried to move, Sarah noticed it. She let out a gasp, and sprang to her feet, weapon drawn. Of course, it would have no effect, but it was still some comfort she was armed.
"Sarah?" questioned Ron, opening his eyes.
"That machine… it's rebooted itself!"
"What?!" Harry also sprang out of the bed, to stand beside John's mother, wand at the ready. The machine was obviously struggling against the magical bindings. Harry stored his wand, and only grinned. "It can't go anywhere. Say, Miss Connor, have you ever interrogated one of these things?"
"No… we were too busy running from them," was her dry answer.
"Well, first time for everything, right?" Harry grinned again.
"Mr. Potter, you can't take these things lightly!" Sarah blurted, "They're dangerous no matter HOW well you think you've trapped them!"
"Oh, I strongly doubt they're going anywhere." Both turned around to find Travis and Derek standing in the doorway. Travis had the joint in his fingers, as Derek exhaled a cloud of smoke. "One of them woke up?"
"Yeah, just a few seconds ago," answered Sarah. She still brandished her pistol.
"I'll put a silencing charm around it so it can't hear what we're doing," Harry decided.
"But we won't hear it," said Sarah.
"No, we will."
"Better idea-here, have the rest," said Travis, passing the rest of the joint to Derek, "I'll put an invisible cage around it. Unbreakable, of course. So even if it DOES somehow get out of those bindings, it ain't getting out of the cage." Sarah nodded, and Travis set to work, grinning as he did so. "When John wakes up, you can all question it," he finished.
"I'm sure John might like that," said Harry, returning to the bed, "Just as long as it can't hear what we're doing or whatever." He lay down again beside John, but watched for a few minutes, as the machine continued to struggle against the magical bindings.
"I'll keep an eye on it," Derek decided, "Don't trust these things as far as I can throw 'em."
"Hey, I wonder what would happen if we obliviated it," Travis smirked.
"Memory charm? Doubt it would really do anything, other than make it go haywire again," Harry guessed. Travis only nodded, as he retreated to his own bed. He frowned as he climbed into it. It would be the first night in a few he slept alone.

The last thing Harry remembered, as sleep at last came for him, was Sarah and Derek talking in low tones… and the sounds the machine made as it fought unsuccessfully against the magical binds.