Chapter 4

Harry was sedated through all of that week and most of the next. It was nicer for him than a body bind and it had the advantage of being variable. Towards the end of the second week, the sedation got lowered gradually and eventually reached a point where Harry could sit up, if he wasn't asleep at the time. His head was still held straight and it was covered in a white bandage, but it was healing nicely.

Harry woke that morning and as was habit, stretched. This time his arms moved. Harry was ecstatic and stretched out his legs as well. It was the best feeling in the world to him right then.

"Good morning" Poppy came up to his bed. "I see you've gathered your sedation level has been lowered."

"Yes ma'am! It's fantastic!"

"I'll just check you are safe to sit and then you can have breakfast." Poppy's wand went over him and over his head before she nodded approvingly. "It's healing nicely. Enjoy your breakfast Mr Potter."

After breakfast Hermione and Ron were allowed to visit him. Hermione came back at lunch with a pack of cards.

"Have you ever played pairs Harry?" Hermione asked.

"No, I've never played any card games. How do you play?"

Hermione explained the rules and then the two played. Harry did not notice Madam Pomfrey watching over him as he did. Memory recall was one of the things she had to check after an injury such as Harry's.

Hermione was shooed out when the bell went for afternoon lessons and Harry was told to rest. He'd been confined to this bed for weeks and now he could move, he didn't want to be lying down.

Two hours later the Healer came and checked on him.

"Have you slept at all Mr Potter?" she asked.

"No ma'am. I don't want to sleep now that I can move."

"Very well. Can you fill in this sheet for me?" She handed him a sheet with some easy questions and sums on.

"I'm sorry ma'am do you have a pen?"

"There's a quill on the table Harry. Here" she passed it to him.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand ma'am. What do I do with this?" Harry looked at the feather stupidly.

"Mr Potter, where are you?"

Harry looked surprised. What did that have to do with him wanting a pen? Seeing she was still wanting an answer, he replied "At school ma'am."

"Who am I?"

"You're the school nurse ma'am." What ridiculous questions he thought.

"What's my name Harry?" she asked

"Madame... Madame P... P... P..." Sweat started appearing on his head as he frowned in concentration "P... Pomf... Pomfrey! You're Madam Pomfrey aren't you?" Harry looked exhausted.

"Yes I am Harry. Do you know what the school is called?"

"Hoggie or something isn't it?"

"Not quite Mr Potter. But close. You really need to rest now." Harry felt something settle into his stomach and before he knew it, he was asleep.

He woke later on to find that it was dark. It must be night, he thought. He stretched once and sighed. Then all of a sudden he felt pain. Pain so great that he couldn't help but cry out. It wasn't in his head but in his chest. There were no pain relief potions around and there was no light in Madam Pomfrey's office.

"Help" he gasped to the room. "Help."

"Mr Potter?"

"Can't... Breathe... Chest... Pain" he managed to gasp out before going limp.

Another week passed. Harry showed no sign of regaining consciousness. He was in his own little world where nothing hurt and he could do what he liked, when he liked. His parents were alive and in his opinion, it was perfect. Why would he want to go back to pain and fame and neglect when he could have everything he wanted here?

But yet there it was. A little voice. It was soft and smooth but yet had a command in it. It was telling him to come back, to wake up, that it could make the pain go away. It started telling him about how it had lost so much when his parents had died. That it couldn't lose him as well. Harry started paying more attention to the voice, unwittingly getting closer to it. It was telling him now that if he wanted, he could leave the Dursleys. They could live together. Harry could hear the tears in the voice and got closer still, wanting to comfort it, wanting to stop the tears, stop the hurt it was feeling.

"Please Harry. Please. Just wake up for me. All you've got to do is grip my hand and I promise you Moony will be the best guardian he can be." Remus choked out. "I can't lose you too Harry! I just can't!"

Harry felt the man lie over his legs and heard the great heaving sobs. He felt someone else take hold of his hand in theirs. Grip his hand back? Was that all it would take to stop the man's suffering? Slowly Harry squeezed the other hand gently.

"Harry? Harry was that you? Squeeze my hand again. Please Harry."

Well if it means so much to him, Harry thought. So he did it again.

"Harry!" Remus' grin was ear splitting. "Harry can you open your eyes? Please cub, please. You don't know how much this would mean to me. I know you can hear me, come on cub. Please."

Harry really didn't want to leave his place of peace but it was already slipping beneath him. His parents had gone and the landscape was fading away. He could feel sheets under his back, not grass under his feet and something really annoying on his face. He raised his other hand to get rid of it but found his way blocked.

"Harry you have to leave that on cub" he heard.

Oh alright, Harry thought. His peace had gone and he had to face this world. He slowly cracked open his green eyes to look directly into his Professor's hazel ones.

"Harry! Poppy he's awake!" Remus yelled.