"Then there's not much I can do about it," she said. "Nor, I think, do I want to.
"The basilisk poison, neutralised by phoenix tears, has now provided you a significant level of protection against most poisons which are a venom or contain a venom of some form - snake, dragon bite, spider, doxie, you name it. However, for that protection you'll have to put up with the scar."
Harry nodded and said, "Then I'll keep the scar; it doesn't bother me. Next?"
"I also need to update your medical files to include how you're now protected against such. There are some healing potions that contain a venom of some form; which means those potions will either not work, will be diluted or will be contra-indicative... will work against... your health."
"Fair enough," he said. "Next?"
And they worked through it.
Andi had initially thought they'd only need a half hour. In the end, they spent over an hour, closer to an hour and half, on Harry's medical issues before returning back downstairs.
_β_
β==(oIo)==β
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When they came back down, Wendell asked, "That bad, huh?"
Harry shrugged and smiled back. "It looks like I'm going to be on quite a few potions for a while."
"Quite a few?" asked Sirius. "Harry's going to be carrying around his own mini-apothecary for a while. Then reached out and ruffled his hair.
Harry sheepishly grinned back.
Hermione, no longer able to contain herself, asked, "What was all that about earlier?"
"Hermione!" her mother instantly scolded her, but the girl appeared defiant.
"There's some dark magic associated with my scar that Dumbledore should have had removed immediately after he had Hagrid pick me up from Godric's Hollow," he replied. "I'm lucky in that it's remained contained there."
Indicating Andi, he continued, "Andi got upset because it might well have not. And, if that was the case, it might have caused me great harm."
Andi gave a snort and muttered, "Damn that goat-raping buggerer, Dumbledore."
That's when Harry noticed Nymphadora Tonks was there, too. He hadn't noticed her before because she was in auror uniform.
"Tonks!" he exclaimed. before he noticed Ted and Andi also look at him. "I-I mean... Nymph-"
"Don't you dare say it, Lord Potter!" she barked.
Harry heard Andromeda sigh and exasperatedly say, "Really, Nymphadora!"
The girl appeared to sulk a bit, but glared back. Harry was instantly reminded of Hermione. It was the same look Hermione had just given when she was being defiant with her own mother.
"Well, I just can't call you 'Tonks'," he replied. "Not considering the company we're in. Nym or Dora?"
"Dora," she sullenly muttered back.
"Dora, it is!" he declared. "So, what brings you here? Are you one of our on-site aurors, this evening?"
Before she could respond, Monica replied, "No, Harry. You miscounted."
Turning to her he asked, "Hunh?"
"You said eight for dinner?" she smirked. "Try counting."
Harry immediately counted heads and realised his mistake - three Grangers, him, the two Tonks adults and Sirius; that made seven.
"Oops!" he sheepishly returned. "I overcooked again, didn't I?"
"When we found out Andi and Ted's daughter would be home on her own - and being reminded of just how fast magicals can get about the place - I invited her," she explained.
"I've heard about your cooking," said an eager Tonks. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Well, we're late to sit to eat," said Harry. "If everyone can move into the dining room I'll go to the kitchen...
Dobby suddenly popped in, looking at Harry. "Dobby already be serving, Master Harry."
Harry looked at him for a moment before he turned back and said, "As I was saying, if we can all move into the dining room..."
That had people chuckling.
And Dobby popped away again, with a satisfied smirk on his little lips.
.....
With eight sitting down to eat, the table didn't need to be stretched or chairs be conjured. So seating was comfortable.
Seating went clockwise: Wendell, Andromeda, Harry, Tonks, Monica, Sirius, Hermione and with Ted on Wendell's right.
"Alright, Harry," said Wendell, as they all sat. "Tell us what we've got."
Indicating the dishes, Harry replied, "Slow-cooked roast lamb in a water-based herb sauce; roasted potato, sweet potato, carrots and brown onion sprayed before final baking with a very light cannola oil to give them crisp; steamed shucked corn and peas; with lamb gravy. For dessert, it's my own invention; pear cobbler in a pie flan with a rolled oats crumble, with your choice of thickened unsweetened cream or vanilla ice-cream dollops on top to cut through the sweetness for those who prefer their desserts with less of a sugary bite."
Tonks turned to look at him in awe and asked, "You cooked this?"
"Yep," he smiled. "I found that I'm pretty good at it. Before I got my Hogwarts letter I was going to see if I could apply for an apprenticeship as a chef when I got older."
"Please, help yourselves," smiled Wendell remembering the wizarding custom, while also reaching for one of the serving tureens.
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