but it still creaked. "Thank Merlin, you're awake!" He walked over to Tom and began fussing over him. "You must be thirsty. Aguamenti!" The spell streamed water from Tobo's wand to Tom's mouth, and as the spell basically drew pure water from air, Tom had no compunctions in drinking it. Besides, he was rather thirsty.

"Are you quite comfortable? Do you need any more pillows? I've got tea and soup on the boil. Can you sit up?"

Tom frowned at him and did so. "Where's my wand?"

Tobo lifted the edge of his left sleeve, his off-arm, to show an extra wand and holster that Tom instantly recognized. "Didn't think it'd be safe for you to cast anything after you'd been drained."

Tom addressed the issue that would be bothering Tobo theeffects; you may never be as strong as you were."

Not only will I reach that peak again, but I will surpass it by miles.

Tobo looked away. "Hell, I knew a man who was struck by a powerful dark curse once…"

"What happened to him?" Tom prompted.

"Nothing happened immediately. I mean, the sky turned purple, and a streak of black light broke from a cloud, it seemed to pierce his heart. Yet he still struck down his foe and walked away just fine. In fact, he seemed fine for the next several years, until he started hearing voices in his head commanding him to do things, like he was under Imperius." Tobo shuddered. "Anyone who listened, he'd say, 'They told me to drown my wife! They told me to burn