Chapter seven

Harry had managed to dodge his examination over the next week. When the Weasley boys returned Harry wanted to stay close. Ron was quiet so he mainly stayed in the dorm room, Harry stayed with him. He would try to get Ron's mind off his sister so he would sit on Ron's bed and pull out the chess set. He kept telling Ron that he really wanted to get good at chess, that wasn't true but he thought it might help Ron.

When Harry first realised that Ron got a little jealous of Harry, because of the-boy-who-lived he told his friend that there was nothing to be jealous about. Harry was just like any other boy, he also said that Ron had things and talent that he, Harry, would never have, one was his brilliant chess mind, but his family was the most important. It was right now that Ron did realise what he had, family. He lost a sister but he still had his parents and brothers, something Harry didn't have.

So they sat together on Ron's bed, playing chess. Hermione sat on Harry's bed, occasionally watching them while she read one of her books. Neville would sit on a chair beside the two boys to watch the game. He could play, he was about as good as Harry so it wasn't like he could really offer advice, so he mainly watched. Seamus and Dean were also in the room a lot, so even if they weren't really close to Ron they did want to help, they just weren't sure how.

Harry only had a few pieces left on the board and was just about to move one of his few pieces when he felt his body go still, it froze so all he could do was move his eyes.

'You should know you would not get out of your examination Mr. Potter,' Minerva had her wand pointed at him, 'He will finish the game after he returns from the hospital Mr. Weasley.'

Ron, Neville, Hermione, Seamus and Dean could see Harry trying to fight off the spell, they weren't sure why but they weren't going to help him even if they wanted to. After Ginny and the little Ravenclaw girl, they wanted to make sure they wouldn't lose anyone else.

No matter what Harry did he found himself placed onto one of the beds in the hospital wing. He could see Pomfrey, McGonagall, some woman he figured was a healer from St Mungo's, but Snape and Dumbledore was there as well. He figured Snape was because he made all the potions for the hospital but he had no idea why the headmaster was there. Within seconds of being forced to drink the potion he felt himself go drowsy. He remembered Hermione saying he wouldn't fall asleep, but he would feel like he wanted to and he would feel relaxed, like he had been given a calming draught. He tried to fight it, but nothing he did worked and could feel himself drifting.

Harry blinked a few times before he slowly opened his eyes. He wasn't wearing his glasses but he could tell by the echoes in the room, the white roof and the smell that he was in the hospital yet he had no idea why.

'He's waking Poppy.'

'Mr. Potter, you're fine, you are in the hospital wing.'

'Hospital, was I hurt?' Harry mumbled sleepily.

'No.'

Harry heard a small growl type of noise and a scoff, he slowly opened his eyes to find that someone was placing his glasses onto his face. He could see McGonagall who looked a little pale, he saw Snape who wasn't sneering at him like he usually did, Pomfrey was giving him a kind type of smile and Lupin was sitting beside the bed, he also looked pale.

'Why…' Harry cleared his throat then found a glass pressed against his lips, he drank the water which to Harry felt wonderful, 'Why am I here?'

'I brought you here for your examination Mr. Potter.'

Harry finally remembered, 'Oh,' he growled low in his throat then forced himself onto his side, facing away from everyone, 'You had no right.'

'We had every right Mr. Potter and it's lucky we did, we found many old injuries that we could not account for. So apart from the normal scans we went deeper which told us when you received those injuries, it also told us what type of life you've had since you were born.'

Harry didn't answer, nor did he turn back over, he kept facing away from everyone. He knew what they meant, he knew they had found out. Even though Hermione told him a bit about the examination he had done a little bit of research, using his cloak so no one would know. But he found that healers could do certain charms that would reveal every little injury someone had. He never knew magic could do that, but he had been finding out that magic can do the impossible.

'You may not wish to speak with us, but you will speak with a mind healer. You are also staying right here for the next few days while you're old injuries which were never healed, are finally taken care of. There is not much we can do about the old scarring you caused when you cut yourself, but they will fade. The only ones that will vanish completely are the recent ones. Professor Snape has been able to modify his healing ointment that will need to be applied twice a day.'

Still Harry never spoke, 'Harry, why did you never tell anyone that you were being abused?' the only answer to Lupin's question was another growl.

'Leave me alone,' Harry's voice was low and angry, when he felt a hand on his shoulder he flinched and pulled away, 'Don't touch me,' he pulled himself into a tight ball practically making sure the blanket was covering every part of him.

The adults, apart from Remus moved away, 'He has been wary of the teachers since he arrived, I doubt he will speak with a stranger even if they are a healer. If he didn't trust Poppy who has taken care of him over the last two years he will never speak with someone he doesn't know,' Severus said.

'I always knew those muggles were the worst kind of people,' Minerva growled, 'If he doesn't speak with a healer is there anyone he may confide in, an adult that could help?'

'He did ask Arthur and Molly if they would be his guardian, maybe once the school year is over they may take Harry. Arthur has a very calm nature, he may be able to get Harry to talk,' Albus looked towards the bed where Harry Potter was still facing the other way, 'I never believe Petunia would do that, Harry is her blood.'

'Blood means nothing Albus, after my life as a child surely you know this,' Severus said then turned and went into the office.

'It's time you begin taking advice instead of believing you are always right. The boy refuses to have anything to do with me and part of the reason is because of your decisions,' Minerva sighed, glanced once more at Harry before leaving the hospital.

Minerva walked back towards Gryffindor tower, she had to tell her lions something about Harry without giving out details. Something she was not looking forward to.

Minerva stepped through the portrait hole then flicked her way. She waited until every student in her house were standing around the common room.

'No one else has died, have they?' Angelina asked sounding scared.

'No, I am sorry I scared you,' Minerva sighed, 'We have found more students who have been mistreated or abused by someone in their family. We have found many that have been cursed or hexed with some nasty spells. The headmaster spoke with the governors and the minister, the examinations will continue from now on. I have one more thing to say but I cannot give out details. As some of you know, I had to use the petrifying charm on Mr. Potter as he kept missing his appointment, on purpose. Yes we found he has some problems, all caused by his relatives, but I cannot say more than that.'

'We rescued Harry last year, we told you that, no one believed us,' Ron glared.

'After you and Dumbledore were told, nothing was ever done about it, Harry asked us to forget it happened and never talk about it again,' Fred said.

'We got a letter from mum and dad a few days after the beginning of term. Harry asked them to be his guardian but the headmaster talked them out of it, saying he was better protected with the muggles,' George said.

'He wasn't,' Ron said.

'No, he wasn't, hopefully now he will be. He will have to remain in hospital for a few days so madam Pomfrey can heal a few problems he has. Miss Granger, if you could make sure he has your notes, I will make sure he has some works sheets from every class,' Minerva turned ready to leave.

'Did you really leave him on a doorstep when he was a baby, after his parents were murdered?' Lee asked.

Minerva closed her eyes, took a couple of deep breaths before turning around, 'I was with the headmaster when he left Mr. Potter…on the doorstep. Charms were placed around him to keep him safe and warm. I did not want this, but I could not overrule the headmaster.'

'Charms to protect him against magical people,' Hermione said.

'Yes.'

'What about wild dogs, or to stop him walking off, he was walking at that age. What about perverts who liked little boys. The magical world might not have paedophiles, but the muggle world is full of them,' Hermione sobbed before she turned away, Neville put his arms around her.

'It seems we made many mistakes in regards to Mr. Potter. We cannot undo those mistakes but we can make sure we do not make more. Just know he will be fine and will be back with you in a few days.'

All the Gryffindor's watched McGonagall leave before they glanced at each other. Some didn't know what to say, but they didn't know what exactly those people did to Harry. They might never know but they would try to be better friends to him. They do not want to take the chance that if Harry was having a hard time that he might do what Ginny Weasley did. They were all determined to be there for everyone from now on, but more for Harry since he was one that was as of right now, in the hospital wing.