Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I may occasionally use spoken quotes from the books.
Harry was seated at a table in an isolated corner of the common area beside the board games and the coloring books when James Potter stops by after work on Tuesday morning. James works for the Police Department and spends most of his nights patrolling the streets. After checking in with the nurse on duty, James walked over to where Harry was writing something on a piece of paper from a coloring book and sat down in the chair beside him.
"Hello Harry. What are you working on?"
Despite his father sitting directly across from him, Harry makes no indication that he has heard anything at all. James attempts to ask several other questions to get his son to communicate with him but he still remains unacknowledged. James knows that every time he visit's Harry he will most likely leave upset, but he simply cannot accept that Harry may never be what is considered anything close to "normal." James really doesn't even want Harry to be normal anyway. He just wants his son to grow, thrive and be happy. It's the same as he wants for all three of his children. "Normal" is just a setting on a washing machine, or so he's heard. You can't use the term to describe people, despite what Lily's sister and her husband says.
Thoughts of Petunia lead James' mind to other more unpleasant things.
James hates to see Harry locked in a hospital but he knows it is impossible to watch a child every second of the day. Harry needs very close supervision because he tends to act out scenes from his alternate reality in the real world. In the controlled environment of the hospital Harry is always supervised and has little opportunity to harm himself, but at home, the situation is entirely different. The final event that landed Harry at this particular institution happened one day at Kings Cross station when the family was preparing to board a train to meet Lily's family at her brother-in-law's sister's house in the country before the start of school. Harry's Hogwarts delusions had just begun then and they had been told by his psychiatrist just to monitor him for any worsening or new symptoms. Harry had been holding his mother's hand as James purchased the tickets. Their youngest, David, had gotten upset because he had left his camera at home and it was too late to return. Lily had let go of Harry for less than a minute before he ran head first into the brick wall between stations nine and ten.
Harry was badly injured and had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He later claimed he had gone through the barrier at station nine and three-quarters in order to get to the train to go to Hogwarts. Of course, it is always better to take it at a run if you're scared. By the time Harry had regained consciousness he had already met a few ghosts and attended the sorting feast.
Because this was not the first time Harry had harmed himself severely when acting out his delusions, it was recommended for him to be hospitalized until a better solution could be found.
They visit him as much as possible but James feels that it still isn't enough.
"I brought you something Harry."
James reached around to get a plain white plastic bag that he had laid on the floor beside his chair and handed it to his son. Harry opens the bag and pulled out a black stuffed dog toy. James had seen it at the store the day before and it had reminded him of Harry and his description of Sirius Black in animal form.
"It looks just like Snuffles!"
Harry hugged the toy for a moment and James wished that it was him that Harry wanted to hug. He knows that if he were to try to embrace his son that most likely Harry would become frightened and try to pull away. To see fear in your child's eyes directed at you is far worse than not being able to hold them.
"Thank you Sir!" Harry exclaims, "What did you say your name was again officer?"
James winced and closed his eyes for a moment. The reminder that his little boy thinks he is dead hurts him deeply every single time he hears it, no matter how many times he hears it. He can feel his eyes start to burn and knows that this visit should probably end soon.
"My name is James Potter. Some people call me dad."
"That was my dad's name!" Harry seemed excited for a moment before his face becomes solemn. "I never got to meet him though."
"I have to go now Harry." James can feel a sob building in his throat and he wants to get out of there before he becomes too emotional. "I may see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Thank you again for the dog Officer Potter."
Harry starts writing on his scrap paper again as if there had been no interruption at all.
James Potter rose from his chair and began to walk back towards the entrance to the children's unit.
Dr. Albus Dumbledore see's him about to leave the hospital and hurried to catch up with him in order to discuss something Harry's treatment team had been debating over for the past month.
"Mr. Potter. Could have a moment of your time to talk to you about a possible new treatment option for Harry? I would like to inform you of our future plans for Harry as soon as possible so that you can discuss it with your wife before we meet formally."
"I have plenty of time." James sighs. His other two children are in school and his wife at work. At least this way he has something constructive to keep him from sleep besides his own thoughts and worries.
"Wonderful. If you could just follow me to my office so we can talk privately."
The doctor turned and begins to walk, seemingly far too briskly for a man of his age, to the elevator so they could get to his office on the top floor of the building.
Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I really didn't think anyone would actually read this to tell you the truth. I made some small grammar changes to the first chapter. It doesn't change the story any.
