Harry Potter & Loss Of Faith
Chapter 3
"How did you sleep?" asked Poppy softly, even though she already knew. She had lay beside him all night. Even when she knew he had a dreamless sleeping potion, the worry wouldn't leave. She decided she didn't want him to wake up alone, so here she was sitting on the chair next to Harry's bed the same apron she had on yesterday.
"Poppy have you been there all night?" asked Harry looking shocked.
"I have" smiled Poppy, she would have lied but she couldn't bring herself to lie to him.
"You shouldn't have" mumbled Harry embarrassed.
"I just wanted to make sure you got a decent nights sleep…now potions time" said Poppy, who went straight into nurse mode.
Harry groaned but didn't say anything he was used to them now….six years of taking them. That didn't stop him being glad when they were all swallowed, he almost drank a gallon of Pumpkin Juice trying to get the taste away.
"Calm down! You need to leave some room for you're breakfast!" admonished Poppy.
"I know," grinned Harry, Harry couldn't help but wonder why he was taking what happened to him so well. It was surprising to even himself that he was holding up, could family really be the thing that helped people get over attacks? It seemed to be that way because Harry had hardly any time to think about it. Now and again the horrible thoughts would creep in but he would bat them away. Now that he thought of it he could barely remember what happened, after the first dozen crucio's everything seemed blank after that. He remembered what the vampire had done, how could he forget? He was the worst of them all, Voldemort had been the only one laughing in the end. Even the Death Eaters as weird as it sounds were totally disgusted everyone must have their standards he guessed.
"Don't think on it too much" said Poppy softly, putting a tray of all kinds of foods Harry could eat. Fresh fruit - Pineapple, Apples, grapes, Melon, Orange, Banana's and Peaches. Toast, Sausage, Egg, Bacon, Harsh Browns, cooked tomatoes, with a side of pancakes and plenty sauces to choose from.
"I wasn't" said Harry honestly.
Poppy just 'hmmed' at him before adding his pumpkin juice to the pile.
"There try and eat as much as you can" said Poppy "I'm going to go and get a shower and change".
"Ok Poppy" said Harry eating the grapes first they were rather delicious.
Eating the food wasn't as hard as Harry thought it was going to be, the food he had eaten was sometimes more than he got in a week. Shrugging it off as he usually ate more when returning from the Dursley's anyway, so he didn't think much off it. Same couldn't be said for Madam Pomfrey.
"Where is it all?" said Poppy looking intimidating with her hands on her hips and lips pursed.
"I ate it" frowned Harry looking confused.
"You couldn't possibly have! Where did you put it Harry?" demanded Poppy.
"I ate it honestly Madam Pomfrey!" Harry said defending himself.
"You promise?" asked Pomfrey.
"I promise" said Harry quietly wondering what the outburst had been all about.
"I've never seen you eating so much before in my life" said Poppy which was true Harry never ever ate much.
"I always eat a lot when I come back from the Dursley's or well when I've hardly had anything to eat" admitted Harry.
"I see" said Poppy looking much more at ease now, Harry never did have the guile to lie to him for so long without smiling. He was like James Potter in that regard he couldn't lie for long to save himself.
"I needed to be sure because I need to know you are eating properly before I release you from the Hospital Wing" explained Poppy softly.
"It's ok Madam Pomfrey" grinned Harry.
"Are you up for visitors today?" asked Poppy.
"Might as well let the shit hit the fan" said a resigned Harry.
"Language! Harry!" said Poppy sternly she wouldn't let that language continue even Severus didn't get away with it in her Hospital Wing.
Harry's face went blank in surprise, that was a first being told to watch his language, if Harry hadn't been so intimidated by that look he would have laughed and smiled at the fact he was being told off. Only once she was away did he let the grin through, sighing softly he let himself relax. No doubt Dumbledore will not stop nagging him until he had every single detail out of him. He was tempted to just tell him to bugger off and leave him alone, its not like they will ever really be arrested anyway. Even if they could catch the bloody vampire, it would just get out of Azkaban one way or another. Voldemort would make sure of it he seemed to like the vampires better than his own followers.
Harry was just lying there enjoying having nothing to do and relishing the silence when the door of the Hospital Wing opened. Poppy heard the door opening and came into the Wing and stayed near Harry's bed this caused Harry to grin at her. She really was a mothers hen, he silently wondered if she had any children of her own. She would be a great mother, he would have to ask her some time.
"Ah Harry My Boy! How are you feeling? It's nice too see you" beamed Dumbledore when he saw Harry awake and aware.
"I'm sure it is" muttered Harry, Poppy tutted at him but said nothing further. She would find out sooner or later what her problem was with Albus.
Dumbledore frowned but drew closer and sat down on the hospital chair.
"How are you feeling?" asked Dumbledore, feeling that was a safe place to start.
"Fine" said Harry.
Dumbledore's twinkle left his eyes usually when Harry said he was fine he wasn't.
"Can you remember what happened?" asked Dumbledore, Harry could detect the hope thick in his voice.
"Yes" said Harry his eyes going hard but refused to look Dumbledore in the eye he wasn't letting the old man into his head.
"Can you tell me who you recognized?" asked Dumbledore softly as if he was afraid of upsetting him. Harry knew that couldn't be further from the truth, as he remembered his forth year, in pain Dumbledore forced him to go to his office and got the truth out of him before he let him go anywhere near the Hospital Wing.
"Why? It's not like you can arrest them, you would need to catch them first and that isn't going to happen…they will just buy themselves out or be rescued by Voldemort" said Harry plainly.
Dumbledore looked stumped for once in Harry's life he had Dumbledore stumped and speechless a sight he wasn't going to soon forget.
"As much as I hate to admit it Albus the boy has a point" said Severus coming into the Hospital Wing with his usual grace.
"We still need to know…may I have the memories of what happened? I would like to investigate them" said Dumbledore as if he wasn't asking for very private memories.
"No way, no one is getting them not now not ever" spat Harry, furious with Dumbledore, how dare he ask for his private memories without a care in the world. There hadn't even been a please at the end of his sentence, he couldn't help but be angry.
"Then tell me what you can remember" said Dumbledore his eyes hardening slightly.
"No, ask and you will get the same answer over and over again!" snapped Harry angrily crossing his arms over his chest.
"Poppy it might help him heal if those who did it were caught" said Dumbledore as if trying to convince Poppy would miraculously get him the memories.
"He has said no Albus now please leave you are upsetting my patient" snapped Poppy pointing at the door a look of thunder on her face. Even Severus cowered, Dumbledore sighed softly with effort and walked away fuming all the way back to his office.
"You do realize he wont give up" said Severus his voice changing the second he felt Poppy's silencing charm cover the Hospital Wing.
"I know" said Harry his anger wearing thin leaving him feeling empty.
"Don't worry about him, he wont dare do anything illegal" said Poppy.
Unfortunately both Severus and Harry didn't share her sentiments on that.
"Anyway here is the potions I best get going I shall see you later on after classes are over" promised Severus.
"That would be nice" grinned the sixteen year old, who couldn't help but think 'I could get used to this'.
"Goodbye Poppy" said Severus before walking out of the hospital wing with a more stiff posture but the same elegance as usual.
"How does he do that?" asked Harry watching his Potions Professor go.
Poppy smiled obviously amused by that question "I ask myself that every single day".
It wasn't five minutes later Severus came back in his face one of utter anger.
"Severus what is the matter? I haven't seen you so angry since Lily…" she trailed off realizing who was in the room.
"What about my mum?" asked Harry alarmed.
"I was her best friend" admitted Severus.
Harry laughed nervously "I can see how you may feel….Mums best friend and dads worst enemy". Trying not to think of Hermione with the likes of Draco Malfoy or something along the lines.
"You have no idea" sighed Severus.
"What happened?" repeated Poppy her face demanding an answer.
"Dumbledore want's me to resume Occlumency lessons…can you see where we are going with this?" hissed Severus in anger.
"He want's the memories" swallowed Harry dryly.
"Indeed" said Severus.
"Then they will take place here, and you Severus will ready everything you can about how to teach someone Occlumency and Harry will read about practicing it. I will go up to the Library and get everything I can on Mind Blocking" said Poppy.
Severus nodded it seemed to be the best way to go about this right now.
"Mr. Potter do you want to do this again?" asked Severus.
"I stopped Voldemort getting the prophecy, because I knew once he had it then I would be killed, so I don't think I'm as incompetent as you thought" said Harry.
Shock and surprise registered on Severus face, then came determination, he would teach the boy the right way. He wasn't going to risk the new attentive relationship that had been formed.