August 11th 2001 making a promise

Someone was holding my hand. That was the only thing I could physically feel. My mind felt so heavy and tight like someone was squeezing it in a vice. I could hear noises but couldn't comprehend them. They didn't fit together. I squeezed the person's hand. "Harry?" I knew that voice. It was Ginny's. I had to let her know I was okay; she had to know I was okay. I tried moving my other hand, and my leg, and my head. "Harry, calm down" but she wasn't calm. It didn't make sense. I couldn't open my eyes. Please let me open my eyes! "Carrie!" Why was she worried? I didn't want her to be worried. I gripped her hand. "Ouch!" she yelped. White light flooded my vision blinding me. I blinked trying to clear it. Blur after blur of colour surrounded me. My eyes focused on to shocking red. Ginny, slowly things started forming. I sat up and looked around me. I didn't recognise any of my surroundings. I panicked. One thing I hated was not knowing where I was. "Where- am- I" I breathed quickly. Ginny flung her arms around me and I relaxed in her arms.

"You're at St Mungos" she said her voice thick with tears.

"What? Why?" Things still didn't make sense. She released me and stared at me concerned.

"Mr Potter you're awake" a short podgy woman, who obviously must be Carrie, approached me. She had thick square glasses on and bright blond hair pulled into a loose bun.

"What? I don't understand" I muttered.

"You fell unconscious last night Mr Potter; it was exhaustion and stress that did it-"she was cut off however by a small toddler who threw himself viciously into my arms knocking the wind out of me.

"Harry you're alive, I was so scared, you fell over and wouldn't wake up" Teddy cried hanging onto me. I hugged him.

"Of course I'm alive Ted" I said, he nestled into my shoulder and bawled. Ginny picked him up and cradled him.

"Oh poor wee thing he's been so upset he has" Carrie said stroking Teddy's strikingly blue hair.

"Thank you Carrie for everything" Ginny said gratefully.

"No worries Ginny, I'll get you tomorrow off so you can look after Harry" Carrie replied smiling at Teddy who was half hiccupping, half crying.

"Promise me you won't die Harry!" He yelled crawling onto my lap. I raised my right hand in the air

"I Harry James Potter swear I won't die" I said dramatically. Teddy laughed, his tears forgotten.

"You can go home tonight Harry but I don't want you over extending yourself" Carrie said sternly "It's a good excuse to lie in bed all day tomorrow" she smiled at me before getting up and leaving the room, leaving me alone with Ginny and Teddy.

"How long was I out?" I asked looking at Ginny with mild confusion.

"The whole day. I warned you about this Harry" she said as soon as the door closed "You're just so stubborn, and then I hear Teddy screaming, and you're on the floor and-" her voice was slowly becoming higher and higher. I pulled her into a hug quickly not wanting her to burst onto tears.

"I know" I whispered in her ear

"It just reminded me of that night" she cried. I knew what she was talking about. The night Voldemort had bought my 'dead' body back to the castle after I had sacrificed myself. Ginny rushed around for ages trying to find me, finally seeing me dead in Hagrid's arms. I understood her protection of me now.

"I know" I repeated. She let go of me and stared at me sniffing. She got up and headed towards the door.

"I'm going to see Carrie about sending you home" she said quietly before leaving the room. I looked down at Teddy who had fallen asleep and was currently snoring so loud it would have disturbed the whole wing if the door was open.

I was free to go that night. Even though I felt fine, Ginny was insistent on helping me with every little thing. I protested at the start. In the end I let her. It was nice to have someone care for me. Teddy was worse. If I made any move to stand up he would be next to me in a heartbeat. "What is it? I can do it for you" he would ask looking up at me.

"Its fine Teddy, I can do it myself" I replied sharply, starting to become annoyed that I couldn't itch my arm without either Ginny or Teddy asking me if I was okay. He blushed and stared at his shoes, ringing his tiny hands awkwardly. I felt like I had just kicked a puppy. I sighed and picked him up. "I'm sorry Harry" he sobbed "I want to help you lots like Ginny."

"You know what Teddy" I said trying to get him to calm down "Remember that promise I made?" He stopped sobbing and nodded. "The one about you not dying?" he asked timidly.

"That one. I intend to keep it, and if I feel like there is something I couldn't do without challenging that promise, I will ask you for help" I said poking him in the stomach. He giggled and gazed up at me "I love you Daddy" he whispered. I gasped sharply, coughing to cover it up. I looked at Ginny, she shrugged. It felt like someone was squeezing my heart. I didn't know what to say. He had never called me that before, I never thought he would. There would be a time when I explained his parent's death to him, but I couldn't do it tonight. Not when he was staring at me with huge teary eyes.

"I love you to" I said. Ginny sighed quietly to herself

"Teddy it's time you went to bed it's been a big day" she said scooping Teddy into her arms. He was half asleep and his protests were feeble and unheard.

"I'm not tired" he said wearily

"If you say that one more time I'm going to think you've turned into Harry" she said firmly. I glared at her. She gave me a small smile of apology before heading up the stairs. I took the opportunity of being by myself to make a cup of tea when a knock on the door startled me. Visitors now? I thought, putting down my cup a bit too viciously. The knock came again. I walked down the hallway hearing two familiar voices bickering about it being too late for visitors. I opened the door. Ron had his hand up ready to knock again. A huge grin spread across Hermione's face. She pushed past Ron and hugged me before I had time to greet them. "Harry I'm so glad you're okay" she said letting go and looking me up and down. "You look a bit ill" she turned to Ron who hadn't had a chance to say anything yet "See I told you it was the wrong time to come!" Ron shrugged and looked at his feet.

"No it's fine, it's great actually, come in" I said ushering them inside. "Ginny's upstairs putting Teddy to bed."