09.05.1998 – 7 days after the events that unfolded during the Battle of Hogwarts. St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
The room slowly flickers into view as the young hero tries opening his eyes. Lifting his head of the uncomfortable pillow, Harry Potter tries to take in his surroundings before admitting defeat. Groaning, he closes his eyes and waits for his headache to fade.
"Harry, dear, how are you feeling?" asks a familiar voice. Harry feels a gentle hand stroke his hair.
"Mum. Is he awake?" asks a younger voice, again familiar. 'Ginny' Harry has time to think before he loses consciousness.
Three floors down, Ronald Weasley is huddled in the corner of a crowded cafeteria. As the crowd around him jostles for food and attention, the red haired man stares at the ground, unmoving. An exhaustingly upbeat brunette bounces up to him.
"Ron! There you are! I got you some tea. And some coffee, I wasn't sure what you would want. Do you want me to get you a sandwich? Would you like food?" Hermione Granger stops to take a breath and stares at her best friend. He hasn't moved a muscle. Enthusiasm fading a little, she forges on.
"Would you like to go home? I'm sure there's food at home. Or we can go outside for some air… Ron. Say something. Please. Do you want to go up to see Harry again?" Hermione waits for a response. Defeated, she sighs tiredly. Kneeling down in front of Ron, she rests her elbows on his knees and loos at him imploringly.
"Ron. Please. Try. I can't do this without you…"
Ronald Weasley turns his dull eyes towards her and shakes his head, the first sign of tears already in his eyes.
Outside the cafeteria, at the reception, a young witch is making a lot of noise.
"I demand to see a Healer. He's been asleep for days now! Something's wrong!" Ginevra Weasley demands of the reception nurse. Unflustered, the stern lady directs Ginny to calm down and wait for the healer to visit Mr. Potter. Ginny turns away, fuming, and storms back towards Harry's room.
Fortunately, she walks straight into Healer Singh – Harry's Healer.
"Ms. Weasley! I was just looking for you!" the healer said, frowning at Ginny. "You know you really shouldn't be running in hospitals."
"I'm sorry" Ginny replies, abashed, "is there any news of Harry? He hadn't woken up last time I checked."
"That's what I wanted to talk about. Nurse Beck asked me to speak to you about this. Now… do you mind if we take a seat?" he leads Ginny to the closest set of chairs and continues in a kind voice. "So Ms. Weasley, you must understand that we are keeping Mr. Potter sedated for his own safety. He was brought in after he collapsed from exhaustion since he had not found time to sleep for over five days. You know this, you are the one who informed me of this. I believe Mr. Potter to be going through some sort of psychological damage from the War – which is completely understandable. He is a true hero and has saved countless people through the trials he has suffered. The sedation is forcing him to rest without subjecting him to the discomfort normal sleep might bring him… Do you understand?"
Ginny nods numbly. Thanking the healer quietly, she stands up and makes her way to Harry's room. It is time to resume her vigil, she has barely left his side in the last 2 days.
Disclaimer: Everything recognisable is owned by J.K Rowling. Only the plot is my own.