Oh my goodness! You have no idea how sorry I am that I completely forgot to post! I have been having a bit of trouble writing, as I finish up working, make sure I have everything ready to leave in a week, and ordering my textbooks. I can't say my anxiety and stress levels are elevated because of school though. I was in an accident coming home from school, and let me tell you, I am not looking forward to the drive back. There won't be ice on the roads this time, but that doesn't truly help my mind. I'm afraid I can only see me at the bottom of the canyon again, and that makes it hard for me to write when I'm worried. Hopefully the next update won't take me so long, but unfortunately, even I don't know.
In any case, keep reminding me it's still here!
"Broken leg in three places! Not to mention those that are already healed! Two places healing! Arm was broken, but healed wrong! Spiral fractures in her right arm! Sprains and strains in her back! Broken nose! Concussion! The bones in her hands tell me they've been possibly stomped on multipule times throughout years! Not to mention the numerous bruises and lacerations! If you even think about sending her back to that-that…place! I will personally make sure that the greatest wizard in the world is nothing but a goldfish, you impertinent, motley-minded, varlot!"
The older boys were watching as Madam Pomfrey mouthed angrily at Mr. Dumbledore. Her face wasn't red like Uncle's sometimes became when he showed the same signs of hostility. I was huddled on one of the beds lining the walls, Draco was in the chair to the left of the bed, Mr. Flint standing above him, and Gabriel on my other side. Draco didn't watch the adults as the older boys did, his eyes darted between me, both older boys, and the adults.
I couldn't help a fearful shiver, to which Mr. Flint noticed. I tried to become smaller, hoping I wasn't in too much trouble for being noticed. He watched me for a second, which gave me a flicker of hope that I wasn't in too much trouble, Uncle would have slapped me and sent me to my cupboard by now. Maybe I would just be sent to my cupboard without dinner.
"Don't worry, Ms. Potter, Madam Pomfrey is only so terrifying with the Headmaster." Mr. Flint gave a small smile, though it looked off on his face, like he didn't smile very often. At least it wasn't Auntie's fake smile whenever guests were over. I tried to smile back, but I didn't feel like it was as convincing as usual.
Madam Pomfrey bustled over muttering incoherently. "Don't you worry Ms. Potter; you'll be right as rain wen I'm through with you. But that, unfortunately, won't be for a while. So, we'll keep you on a rather hefty potions regime for about three weeks and see how well that goes. For now, take this." She had been moving around as she spoke, and then she handed me a vial she had grabbed off the shelf near the bed. It was a command, and no matter how bad it smelled, I had to drink it. I got it down in one gulp, only choking a small amount on the taste. She frowned, and I knew I had done it wrong. I was probably supposed to show discomfort by gaging like Dudley wanted when he would make me eat mud when we were younger. But could I even do it now? She would know that I was faking it now.
"The first time I had a Skelligrow potion I spat it back out immediately." Draco commented.
"So I'm not 'good as new'?" I asked sadly. I was still a freak; I still couldn't be like the other normal children.
"Not yet, but you will be, I promise." Gabriel comforted, placing his hand gently on my shoulder.
"I'm going to keep her hear for observation tonight. I'll let her go to breakfast in the great hall tomorrow morning." Madam Pomfrey said, "The rest of you, off to bed."
"But Madam Pomfrey," Gabriel gave me a side-look before waving his wand and continued talking, though no sound came out of his mouth. He seemed to be arguing with her, the agitation showed in his pinched-up face, though he was still respectful to the older woman, unlike Dudley.
"Well, Goodnight, Harriet. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow." Draco stood up and patted my hand comfortingly.
"It was good to meet you, Ms. Potter, I will likely see you often this coming year." Mr. Flint nodded to me, and then nodded to Gabriel before leading Draco out of the Hospital Wing. Gabriel seemed resigned to an unhappy fate as he walked back over to the bedside.
"I unfortunately am not allowed to stay the night in the Hospital Wing unless I am injured in some way." His eyes widened as though he just thought of the perfect plan. He turned to Madam Pomfrey and gestured to one of the other beds, to which she looked and nodded confirmation. To my confusion, he grabbed a pillow from off the bed, said something in a strange language, and the pillow morphed into a teddy bear. "Here, so you won't be all alone tonight."
It couldn't be for me. It looked brand new, and freaks don't deserve new things. Freaks don't deserve the old things nobody wants anymore, but they most especially don't deserve anything new. I looked Gabriel in the face, and he held the bear closer to me, encouraging me to take it. My eyes darted between his face and the bear a few times, and he just stood there, waiting patiently, his smile never waning. I hesitantly reached out, awaiting his imminent pull back. It was just how it was, I couldn't let my hopes up only to have them trashed again. Dudley would do it all the time, he would offer me something nice, and then either pull away and laugh, or tell Auntie and Uncle that I stole it. But the teddy bear looked so soft and cuddly, and I just wanted to touch it, if only for a second.
When my hand was only inches away, Gabriel pushed the teddy bear against my hand, and I couldn't help my reaction to grabbing it and pulling it to my chest. I would probably be punished for taking something that wasn't mine, but the comforting feeling that came from the bear eased that thought in a strange way. Like it simply wasn't an issue. Nothing was.
"It has a Calming Charm on it." Gabriel explained, "Some of the other Hufflepuff Prefects and I created it. This is your bear, now. Take care of him, or her, whichever you decide." He smiled, and I gave a small one back as I clutched the bear. He gently laid me down, and put the blankets over me, it was almost like parents in book tucking in their child. But I wasn't his child, and I was a freak; but it was almost like it.
I closed my eyes, but couldn't help overhearing Gabriel talking to both Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore. "I won't let her be hurt anymore. I promise you that. She's a Hufflepuff, and all us Hufflepuffs are going to protect her."
"She won't be going back there ever again, Albus. I assure you of that! The Ministry will be getting my report, and you can bet they won't take kindly to any of it!" Madam Pomfrey's voice came.
"My actions have been extremely poor concerning Ms. Potter thus far, but I will find a way to make amends. That I promise you."
I didn't understand anything being said, but let myself drift into dreamland where I had a beautiful mom, and funny dad, a crazy uncle, and an amazing older brother. Freaks don't deserve those things, but a freak can dream.