The elven gift

This is going to be ruff, ruff ruff. Strap yourselves tight.

Harry, 'arry? Can you 'ear us mate? Soft muffled sounds from nowhere. Bright white blurry room and three grey blobs. And darkness.

Harry awoke with a terrible ache on his temples. His brain was thumping thumping throbbing as if attempting to escape his hard skull. He groaned. Harry covered his face with a pillow and shouted into it. Whatever caused him to end up here couldn't have been good. The last thing that he remembered, he was.. he was... He didn't recall. Oh crap. If he ended up unconscious and with no control of his memories, his friends could be in worse situation. Ron! Hermione! He needed to find where they were, make sure they were alright. Pain be damned!

Sharp stabbing pain on the neck. He shrieked into his pillow. One step at a time, he'd try to sit up first.

Oh good, you're awake. Your friends have been losing their minds worrying about you came to see you earlier this morning they did. The headmaster has asked me to send him a post as soon as you were up, but that can wait, Madam Promprey said, as she muttered check-up charms, waving her light want airily at him.

Hmmm everything's perfect, almost, I'll keep you here for another day and then you can check with me in the morning after breakfast every other day. Until then, the elves have lovingly prepared you some...Madam Promprey looked at the copper cauldron on the table...imaginative stew, specially for Master Potter they said. She shrugged. Was that a hint of sarcasm in her voice, or is my brain fried still. Can I see my friends, Harry blurted out, unsure if he was capable of producing any sound.

They said they'd be back this evening, and you are more than welcome to talk to them I have put in protection charms on you, anything that's affecting you won't be able to jump to them, but make sure you don't tire yourself out. If you're not back to your proper form I won't be able to release you tomorrow evening, Madam Promprey said as she rolled away two large rolling cauldrons.

Harry looked at the stew the elves had sent him. Rainbow. The only word he could think to describe it. As if they'd stewed a live bright rainbow...with small chunks of gold...something... in there. He dipped the silver spoon into the cauldron, half expecting it to bubble away and disappear. Grumble. Deep within his bowels, echoing and vibrating. It had been inspected by Madam Proprey, it couldn't be too bad.

Harry dipped the spoon into the stew and licked it. He felt warm all over. It didn't taste like anything.