Disclaimer: Harry Potter, most characters and the magical world as depicted belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 6:
For a week Harry lay still deeply unconscious. That state changed, but it was not to become aware. Instead, he was living in nightmares. He didn't seem to know what was happening, and fought when they tried to feed him potions or food. His weight was monitored with a device that only had to be touched to his skin, and it showed a continuing deterioration. It became increasingly important that he should be persuaded to eat, but he would take only a little water.
Hedwig was often perched on his bedhead, but she became too upset, once even flying into the face of John, who was trying to get a potion into Harry. She was banished from the ward.
Ginny, although unwell herself, was with him constantly, and was able to explain to Madam Pomfrey and Hermione what was happening. She had been married to Harry for several years now, and knew the symptoms of his nightmares. He had told her once that it was always about confinement and helplessness. He was terrified of being drugged and imprisoned, and when he violently knocked aside a helping hand that was trying to feed him some soup, she was sure that in his confused state, he had become convinced that he was surrounded by enemies. He didn't work any magic, though, for which everyone was profoundly grateful. Harry Potter could have been terribly dangerous with his powers still intact, but his mind confused.
Ginny's voice was the only one to whom he sometimes paid attention, but they didn't allow her to try and feed him, or even to get too close, as he was too likely to hurt her. Ginny was pregnant and not at all well, but she stayed with him, trying to soothe him with her voice.
Sometimes it worked, and he would fall into a deeper, more peaceful sleep when she succeeded.
Julia's role in her father's illness was not known to his carers. She had been sent home for a couple of weeks, as she was in such deep distress. Dumbledore, mindful of Harry's words, had a serious talk with her there. He soon saw that her parents were frightened of the girl, and concluded that it might be best to keep her at Hogwarts under his eye.
Once returned to Hogwarts, she begged Madam Pomfrey to help care for Harry, or, humbly, even just to help around the ward. Madam Pomfrey saw her hurt, and allowed her a role in the hospital.
Another two weeks went by, and matters were getting desperate. Harry was starving himself to death, and would really have done better in a muggle hospital, with their different philosophies on invasive medicine.
Julia, after repeated begging, was finally allowed to try feeding Harry some soup. At first, he blocked her with an arm across his face, but Julia grabbed his arm, restraining him. Madam Pomfrey had not tried direct force before, and she waited and watched as Julia persevered, continuing to speak to him firmly, pushing aside his attempts to block her, and persistently pushing the spoon between his lips.
Harry became increasingly frantic, and finally wrenched himself right out of bed, ending up in a corner, looking a lot like a wild animal at bay.
Ginny screamed at Julia, "Enough!" and went herself to Harry, risking being hurt. She put an arm around his trembling body, now so thin. His eyes were open, but he did not seem to see. He offered her no hurt. Instead his violent trembling began to calm, and when she told him that he was to be lifted back into bed, he did not resist. She stayed next to him, holding him close. His head turned to her, and he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
When Harry woke next with the usual jumble of muttered words, she was still close, holding him. When he was gently raised, and she fed him some ice-cream, he took the first food he had had for weeks, before going back to sleep.
It seemed that Ginny was the only one who could penetrate his confusion, but she was getting very tired, not well enough for the strain. Neither Hermione nor Madam Pomfrey, nor even Dumbledore had any influence with Harry, who still fought against being fed or being handled by anyone but Ginny.
Dumbledore finally noticed that Julia was spending a lot of time in the hospital and banned her, thinking that it was bound to disturb Harry, whether in his right mind or not. So Ginny stayed with him, feeding him soups and gruels and ice-cream. Even for his wife, he would sometimes resist the soups and gruels, and he wouldn't tolerate any potions, but she could always persuade him to take the ice-cream.
In the next few days, he became quieter and more docile, until Hermione, talking to him gently all the while, tried to feed him some ice-cream. This time, he took it without demur.
Now that Harry was easier to manage, Hermione and Madam Pomfrey were able to take some of the load off Ginny. Hermione put her foot down, and said that she had to go home, to look after herself and the unborn child. Ginny was very weary, and she, too, worried about this new little son or daughter, and agreed.
Harry became even quieter over the next few days. He still did not appear to be aware of what was happening around him, though often his eyes were open and wandering.
Dumbledore called in his old friend, Healer John Rutledge, who had seen Harry before, although many years ago now. Rutledge was an old man, and retired from his practice, but his knowledge and experience were immense, and Hermione, who had begun to despair, was glad to have the opportunity to talk to him.
Rutledge gave Harry a thorough physical examination, which he gave no indication of even noticing. Afterwards, the healer brought out his Nisco Monitor, but looked at the readings with shock and then resignation. The LV reading was extremely low, as was the energy reading. He thought Harry was dying, although to Hermione, it seemed that he was a bit better than he had been.
The ensuing discussion was grave, but then Harry did something unexpected. He raised a hand to his face, a frown of displeasure appeared, and he raised both hands to his cheeks and the beard growth vanished. His carers stared blankly, and Hermione finally approached him, calling to him, trying to rouse him, but he was deeply asleep again.
Hermione turned to Rutledge, saying, "Well, I think he's going to get better, whatever your monitor says," and Rutledge, still staring at Harry in blank bemusement, said, "Maybe you're right!"
Hermione had been away from her practice for over a month, now, with a locum covering for her, and had no intention of returning yet. She wanted Harry better, and was willing to put a lot of effort into that. She bought herself her own Nisco monitor, like the one that Rutledge had. It was expensive and rather hard to procure, but it was supposed to be a very accurate way of measuring underlying vigour, while other signs could be ambiguous. She wasn't sure how useful it was, though. According to the leaflet on interpreting the readings, an LV reading of 20 or less indicated a strong likelihood of imminent death, and a reading of less than 10 should have meant no possibility of recovery. But Harry's reading appeared fairly consistent at just 3 or 4, and he was, at least, not getting any worse.
He was making little trouble now, and had ceased to fight when they tried to feed him, although he refused to take potions. He was still living in a world of dreams, his eyes open, but wandering. There was no recognition for his carers, and he never spoke. Hedwig was allowed back in, and once Poppy saw him gently stroking her as she nudged his hand.
His heartbeat still showed a sinister irregularity, and he was extremely thin. But three days after he had suddenly removed weeks of beard growth, apparently in his sleep, John, the hospital assistant, noticed his eyes open, glittering from the haggard face, as he watched him sweep the floor.
John crossed to him, and said, "Hello, Harry," and Harry answered, "John."
He finally knew where he was, and his nightmarish dream world ceased to plague him. But even in the time John took to fetch Madam Pomfrey, who was alternating shifts with Hermione, he had gone back to sleep. Another nurse had been hired, who looked after the sick or injured students accommodated from time to time.
Harry's delirium had been very upsetting for some of these students to witness, but Dumbledore would not consider allowing him to go to St. Mungo's, where he probably would have been worse, thinking himself a prisoner. He might well have been in danger from his persistent attackers, too.
More often and for longer intervals, his eyes would be open, glittering in the painfully thin face. He was looking for Ginny, worried that she had been hurt or was sick, but somehow frightened to ask. At last, Dumbledore guessed what he needed to know, and told him that Ginny was at home, not very well, but not severely sick. The baby was due in a few months, and she had to be looked after.
Harry gave a sigh of relief and lines of tension on his face relaxed.
Dumbledore asked him. "Why didn't you ask, Harry, if you were worried?"
Harry dropped his eyes, ashamed. "I thought I hurt her."
Dumbledore answered him gently, "You were delirious for a time, but you hurt nobody and worked no magic."
Harry continued very weak. He was piteously thin, and could not seem to gain any weight, although he was eating most of what he was given. One day, Julia entered the hospital on the pretext of visiting a friend, but she immediately approached Harry, especially when she saw that he was awake.
Harry was shaking, he was not even sure himself whether it was with fury or with fear. But he snarled at his beautiful daughter, to the shock of Hermione, who was close, "Get away from me," and Julia flinched and ran. And he gave firm instructions to Hermione and to Madam Pomfrey, that Julia was to be kept right away from him.
They thought at first that he was being unwarrantably cruel, until Dumbledore backed him up. It was only then that they started to wonder if the Hex he'd been hit with was other than the accident it was supposed to have been.
Julia was very subdued these days. Her followers found that she was no longer interested in them, and she devoted herself to her studies, to the exclusion of most other pursuits. She didn't give up sex, but she only used one boy at a time, and left her dorm mates alone.
The Nisco Monitor quickly became Hermione's favourite new toy, and she used it constantly until Harry wished it at Kingdom Come. The LV reading remained very low, but she was surprised at the sensitivity of the energy readings, which fluctuated with Harry's activity level. After a time, she knew before Harry did when he was ready to collapse, and when he had a little spare energy for talking.
More weeks passed, and Hermione now spent as much time with Ginny as she did with Harry. Ginny was not at all well, complaining of feeling tired and sick, until Hermione became convinced that Ginny was pining for Harry, as Harry was pining for Ginny.
Harry was a little stronger, at least able to go to the bathroom by himself, even though he used a cane to help with his balance, so she suggested to Madam Pomfrey and to Dumbledore that he should be sent home to be with Ginny. She would stay there for a time herself, as long as needed. Dumbledore agreed, only suggesting that one of the hospital assistants might be able to be spared to help look after Harry for at least the first couple of weeks. While he was a touch stronger, his heartbeat continued irregular, and Hermione had given up expecting it to normalise.
Rumours had spread that Harry was being sent home to die, and looking at the wasted figure with the glittering eyes, it was easy to see why. Harry was not sure himself whether he was going to be able to recover. There was a problem, he knew. As long as the heart was not working as it should, it was going to be very difficult to make much progress.
The trip was a risk. Hermione thought that Harry was still unstable - that any shock might be fatal, but the potential benefits to his overall wellbeing, as well as to Ginny's, warranted the risk. Apparation was thought to be the safest, and certainly the quickest of the methods of travel open to them.
John, quite illogically, was flattered that he had been the first person that Harry spoke to when he woke, and was pleased to volunteer to help with his care. So he was sent on ahead, and Ron came to apparate with Harry as the passenger. Hedwig, too, was sent home.
Harry was helped into a wheelchair, having refused to be stretchered out of Hogwarts. To his surprise, Mark and Bedwin, two aurors whom he knew, arrived also, to act as bodyguards. But the planned move had been reported in the newspaper, and there was always the possibility of potential killers seizing the opportunity of an ambush.
Even the short trip in the wheelchair over the bumpy ground taxed his strength, and his head was drooping when they went out through the main gates. There was a small group of people waiting to see him, a reporter, two photographers, and several others. It was one of these others that called out to him, taunting him, "Going home to die, I hear, Potter!"
Harry raised his head, his eyes very much alive. "You'd better hope that I do die - I have an excellent memory for faces," and he lifted his hand, still looking at the man, who recoiled with a look of sick fear, spun on his heel, and fled.
Harry continued the movement but only scratched his nose as his thin frame shook with laughter. Mark and Bedwin had their wands out and ready, but it appeared that there were to be no threats today, except that photographs were taken that showed the haggard face of Harry Potter and the glittering eyes that proved the spirit still alive and well.
Another of the spectators was a man called Andrew Smith-Burton, who added a print of the scarecrow with the glittering eyes to his growing collection of photographs and books on Harry Potter.
Ron helped him out of his chair, and reminded him of what he had to do, to be an apparation passenger - just make sure and not think of directions, or apparation, or destinations, or it could go wrong.
Harry obeyed, and was instantly conveyed to the apparation zone in the grounds of his own home, where he staggered violently, nearly bringing Ron down with him. John was waiting with another wheelchair, and they helped him into it. Hermione appeared, and instantly went to him. He had become even more pale now, and she took his pulse. There was no real change - it was always rather feeble and erratic these days.
They took him back across the grounds, and his head drooped lower. Ginny waited for him, herself looking tired and haggard. The wheelchair would not go up the steps, and Ron took the easy way, picking up his half fainting friend, and carrying him to the large bed in a newly prepared bedroom on the ground floor, modified for the invalid. And so Harry was tucked up in his own bed, and Hermione, with one glance at Ginny, ordered her to bed, too.
When she checked on the pair, not long later, she looked with satisfaction at them fast asleep in each other's arms, each looking happier than they had for a long time.
Ron and Hermione established themselves in a guest room upstairs, and John also had a bedroom in the large house. The rambunctious twins were staying with Molly Weasley for a time, although responsible ten year old Adam was still home.
Harry slept contentedly for some hours, although Ginny woke for lunch.
Hermione checked Harry, when Ginny rose, although not waking him. She checked his pulse, and used her monitor, surprised and pleased to find that while the energy levels were still very low, the more significant LV reading was suddenly higher, not much maybe, but it was still a significant improvement. She congratulated herself that she had given him the best medicine possible, his own home and his own beloved mate.
Ginny improved in health almost straightaway now that Harry was home, and although Harry continued very thin, he was happy to be home, and got himself around with a bit more strength and confidence. Hedwig visited him frequently, but Hermione and Ginny thought it a good sign that the owl apparently did not feel it necessary to keep a constant watch.
It was only a couple of days later, and Ginny had made sure that no-one was in earshot. Rather pink, Ginny raised a question with Hermione. She was asking if sex would be bad for Harry.
Hermione was a bit surprised, saying that it would be months yet before that question was likely to arise, thinking privately that maybe it never would, with that heartbeat continuing so abnormal.
Ginny's colour deepened further, "You think I should have refused him then?"
Hermione looked at her in amazement. "You don't say..."
Ginny nodded - "This morning."
Hermione was flabbergasted, and then suddenly went into peals of laughter, "Only Harry," she choked, "Only Harry," and finally said that as long as it made him happy, it would do him no harm.
Ginny was smiling now, and said, "Oh, yes, it made him happy," and when Harry woke after having slept late, Hermione found a new rise in the LV readings on her beloved monitor. According to the pamphlet that came with the monitor, the readings were still so low that they meant imminent death, but it seemed that Harry hadn't read the literature, and continued a slow improvement, although still little more than a walking skeleton
Hermione and Ron stayed for several more nights, mostly because Hermione worried that he would suddenly die in the night, upsetting Ginny. But Harry didn't die, and they returned to their own home. Hermione continued to make twice daily trips to check on him, and Ron looked in frequently, too.
Harry was still very weak, but was no longer spending a lot of time sleeping. He tried the best way he knew to regain strength, but was apt to push himself too far, and more than once had to be picked up off the floor and taken back to bed. John stayed on, and kept a close watch on his charge.
A surprise came at this time. Harry Potter, (Order of Merlin, First Class) was invited to join the Wizemgamot, the Wizard High Court. Harry was astounded. He had thought that he had too many enemies within the Ministry to ever be granted this sign of ultimate acceptance, although normally any person with an Order of Merlin would have received such an invitation long since. He immediately had his secretary send an acceptance, to be taken up as soon as his health permitted. He wondered if he would ever have received that invitation if it was not widely assumed that he was going to die. Any mention of him in newspapers these days, was apt to mention that he was now 'broken in health.'
Harry was right in his surmise. Madam Bones had only had her way when certain powerful wizards dropped their opposition because it looked like his death was imminent.
Christmas came and went. Ginny was now eight months pregnant, but feeling a lot better than she'd been. Harry was happier when the children were about, although sometimes they tired him, and Ginny would have to send them away.
Julia had asked to come, but Ginny stated, "She's not coming, of course," and Harry was relieved. Julia was not wanted at her own home, either, and so spent a Christmas at Hogwarts, where Dumbledore kept as close a watch on her as he could.
Harry was becoming tired of his invalid life. Adam and the girls often kept him amused, but the holidays were over, and they spent most of their days at the local primary school. They were all bright children, and even the six year old twins showed sufficient sense not to talk to muggles about things that muggles were not supposed to know. He couldn't even read these days, his eyes refused to focus, although he hadn't mentioned it to anyone.
Unusually for a wizard, his magic never seemed to deteriorate just because he was ill, and while he might be too weak to cross the room without a cane, he could probably have destroyed that same room with a thought if he had chosen. He never made a display of it, and even Ginny did not know how much he could do, and how easily. Once, when he thought he was alone, he started to stagger to the left, as he often did. Unable to regain his balance, suddenly a newly conjured cane was in his hand in time to retrieve the situation. But Ginny, behind him, was staring.
**x**
Harry and Ginny were known to the neighbours, although they had not widely socialised among the muggles. Max, their immediate neighbour, had a soft spot for Ginny, and knew that her husband was very ill. So when he dropped in, the diversion was welcome. Harry was sitting just outside the front door on a park bench he had conjured. John was not far away, making sure that he was not getting over tired.
Harry welcomed Max, and Max was pleased to see him up. Harry was still pitifully thin, but Max was a sensible man, and didn't waste time on useless pity, but instead amused him for an hour with talk about stock prices, cultivation of the land, and his horse breeding. It might appear that the wizard and the farmer would have had little in common, but Harry enjoyed the company of Max, and even if Max sometimes found him a little ignorant for a land owner, he did not hold that too much against him.
Ginny walked back up the long drive way with Max, during which time he quizzed her about her husband's chances of recovery, learning that his current chief problem was boredom. An idea was hatched between them. Ginny was heavily pregnant now, and was a little tired when she returned to Harry's side, but pleased with herself.
The following day, Max returned with a box carried under one arm and a bag in the other. He was shown into the lounge room where Harry was sitting watching a ridiculous serial on TV, which he didn't hesitate to turn off when he saw he had a visitor. He was a little surprised to see Max back so soon, but his company was undoubtedly better than a daytime soapie.
Max put down his bag, and then the box more carefully. He greeted Harry as he opened the box, and picked out an eight week old female Border Collie Pup, which he placed in Harry's lap. Harry, surprised, picked up the pup, studied the bright eyes, and stroked the soft body.
He looked at Max with a question on his face. "It's for you," said Max. "Ginny thought that you'd like it."
A smile lit up his face, and he held the squirming puppy close for a moment. Max was very pleased, although Harry had not even thanked him yet. Harry's head was down, but Max thought that he could see wet eyes. Harry was still very weak. But when he looked back at him and thanked him properly, there were no signs of anything on his face except pleasure and gratitude. Max took himself off, leaving the bag of puppy requirements in the room, and leaving Harry to make friends with the intelligent little animal.
Harry named the little creature Tammy, after a very old movie he'd seen once. Straight away, they formed a close bond. Tammy spent a lot of time at Harry's feet after that, nudging his hand when she wanted attention. Hedwig looked at the pup with a little jealousy, and sometimes flew down to put herself between Harry and the dog. The children soon discovered the joys of having a puppy, and Tammy spent a lot of time with them when they were home. The little dog may have adored Harry, but an invalid is less fun to play with than active children.
***chapter end***