Chapter three

Amelia and Kingsley were on either side of Harry who had his head lowered as they walked into the secure ward at St Mungo's.

'Harry, this is Chief Healer Jenkins, she's going to take care of you.'

Harry slowly lifted his head, 'Thank you Ma'am.'

'You're welcome. Now apart from having the fidelius charm done, we are not going to use your name. We figured we could come up with another name for you in case the medi-witch and I are discussing your treatment.'

'Um, well, Grim as my last name and Evan as my first.'

'Evan Grim, I doubt anyone would pick up on the fact that this was you. Do you mind me asking how you came up with the name?'

'Well, my mother's name was Lily Evans before she married my father,' Harry looked up at the two aurors, 'A friend of my father can change into a dog, it sort of looks like a grim. He uses that name sometimes, he said I can if I ever need to.'

'That is also confidential Kathy. The man in question is innocent yet many believe he is a murderer. I am working on clearing his name.'

'Anything discussed here will be confidential. Now let's get you settled into your room then I can explain the procedure.'

'We'll leave you in Healer Jenkins capable hands,' Amelia smiled down at Harry, 'Everything will be alright, all you have to do is trust us.'

'I do, and thank you Madam Bones.'

'You're welcome,' Amelia smiled then left with her auror.

Harry followed the healer into the room, it was a good size with one bed, a table with two chairs, and it's own bathroom.

'These wards are restricted, only the healers who have patients here can enter. Now another healer can walk down the halls, but they cannot enter this room. I know it means being confined to this room for four weeks, I hope you won't be bored.'

'I have my work Ma'am, plus I can get a chance to read more than just what we're learning in class. I never get time, usually I'm in detention with Snape, um, Professor Snape. I never got to read at the house since they locked my trunk in the cupboard.'

'Then I will make sure to drop some other books off to you. Now I'll be back in half an hour with your first lot of potions, which is needed before we begin to heal those scars. Because your scars cover your back, backside and legs, you will be naked. So it's best if you just get into bed without anything on. Have you got a bathrobe?'

'Yeah, it's a bit small but it'll be fine.'

'Then I'll leave you to get ready, I will examine you when I return.'

Harry waited until the healer left before he took his small trunk out of his pocket, resized it then pulled out his old bathrobe. He stripped off, put his clothes and shoes into his trunk then went to wash up.

Harry got a few books out of his trunk along with parchment, quills and a notebook. He placed them on the small side table along with his wand.

Kathy stepped into the room to see Harry Potter sitting up in bed, a book opened, but he was making notes in a book.

'You are way too thin Mr. Grim.' Harry sighed as he nodded, 'Now tell me why you are underweight?'

'My stomach can't seem to take much, since I've never been given a lot. When I started at Hogwarts I stuffed myself until I was sick. I thought it would get better but it doesn't, so I just eat enough.'

'I will give you another potion after we have finished healing your scars. I need you to take these two potions now, then I will examine you. Tomorrow I will start on the first lot of scars. Do you have a preference?'

'The ones on my back, I can never take my shirt off even when it's hot.'

'Then we'll do them first. But I noticed a scar on the inside of your forearm. How did you receive that?'

'A basilisk, the monster in the chamber of secrets was a basilisk. My friend Ron Weasley, his little sister was taken. She was being possessed by Voldemort's memory that was in a diary. I'm a parselmouth so I was able to open the chamber. There was a lot going on but I stabbed the basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor, its fang pierced my arm.'

'Then explain how you survived one of the most deadly poisons in our world?'

'Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix used his tears.'

'I have never heard of a phoenix going to the aide of someone other than the person he has bonded with.'

'Dumbledore said it was because I showed him great loyalty. I was yelling at Voldemort that he wasn't the greatest wizard in the world, Dumbledore was. I used to believe that, now I'm not so sure.'

'Yes, I was filled in on how he was part of this. I will see if that scar can be removed as well. Now if you will take the potions then turn onto your stomach so I can examine your scars.'

Harry drank the potions, grimacing with both. He remove his bathroom then turned over but kept his head turned away. He didn't want to think about someone, even a healer, seeing his scars.

Kathy has seen her fair share of abused children, even scars caused by the abuse. But she had never seen one child with so many. She began casting her diagnostic spells, she started with his back then continued down.

'You may be in luck Harry, I should be able to remove these within two to three weeks. You can turn over now and put your bathrobe back on.'

Harry turned then pushed himself up, then put his bathroom on, 'So there not that bad?'

'Oh, they are, but being done by a muggle method makes my job easier. Now I will not lie to you in anyway, but this will be painful. After each session I will give you a stronger pain potion. I cannot give that to you beforehand. I will numb the area during the procedure but that will wear off the moment I'm done. I wish it could keep the charm on, but it's not possible.'

'It's fine Ma'am, I seem to have a very strong threshold for pain. I suppose it's because of them and how often they hit…or whipped.'

'Yes, I can tell that some of these scars were done when you were quite young. Your mind and body allowed you to tolerate those painful episodes. Now, is there anything you wish to ask?'

'Um, no, not really, oh yeah, eyesight, is there anything in the magical world that can help?'

'There is a potion that needs to be taken every day. It's quite expensive at the moment, but our potion masters are hoping they can make it a full cure. I spoke with one a few months back, they believe they will have a monthly potion ready in the next few months.'

'Then I might wait, but can I donate to them to help with their work?'

'Yes, anyone can donate if they wish. Sadly, not many do.'

'Then I'll work that during the next holidays. I might see about muggle contact lenses until the other potion is ready. I wish the scar on my head could be healed.'

'I will examine it, but any scar caused by dark magic can never be fully healed. I may be able to make it less noticeable, but that's as far as I could do, if I can at all.'

'That's fine Ma'am, I might not like it but I'm used to it. The hardest part is how everyone stares at it when they talk to me, if they talk to me.'

'Can you explain what you mean by that?'

'The-boy-who-lived, many are intimidated, some seemed scared. I have no idea why, I mean I never did anything, my mother did, I just survived. I get people, kids older than me calling me Mr. Potter.'

'Ah, well, I am intrigued by the-boy-who-lived, but I am of the same opinion. I believe your parent's are the reason you survived the killing curse. Now before I leave you to it, there will be a medi-witch named Bertha Harrison and a medi-wizard named George Cornwell who will bring you food, potions or anything else you might need. The three of us are the only ones that can enter this room. They will know who you really are but they will address you as Evan Grim.'

'Okay, thank you Ma'am.'

'I'll see you first thing in the morning, just after nine,' Kathy gave her famous patient a smile then left the room.

Harry might not trust many adults, but he could tell the healer was doing all she could to make him feel comfortable. But Harry also knew she wasn't hiding anything either, she was telling him what he needed to know. He liked that about the healer. It made him think of healers and if maybe that was the type of job he could do when he was older.

Harry figured since it was still early, he would get one of his assignments done, then he might read some of the spells he would be learning if he was at Hogwarts. He knew he would miss the goblet of fire picking the champions. But he would rather be here so he can have the scars removed than there just to watch the start of the triwizard tournament. He was curious if Ron or the twins would manage to enter their names.