"That's it, Harry, steady now. Don't push yourself too far, love." Harry gripped Dawson's arm tightly as he moved forward, keeping his eyes on Nurse Hanley as she slowly walked backwards, beckoning Harry forward.
"No more." Harry grounded out, his teeth clenched tightly together from the intense pain radiating from his entire body.
Dawson pushed him down into a wheelchair, giving Harry a wide, toothy grin. "This is amazing, Harry, your progress is even better than last time. Think you're up for another memory test?"
Harry sighed, closing his eyes to rest for a brief moment. "Yeah, can I pick someone this time?"
Dawson nodded, pushing Harry down the hall with Nurse Hanley trailing behind him. "Who would you like?"
"Ah, how about Jet? I haven't seen him since my last stay here. He never did tell me how the engine of a helicopter worked."
Burns chuckled, glancing down at his watch. "I believe Jet will have a moment to spare us."
Harry nodded to every passing person, all of them grinning at his presence. Nurse Hanley had burst into tears and held him for a solid five minutes when he had permanently regained consciousness. It had been nearly a week since he had awoken and he was going through what felt like the slowest recovery process ever.
Burns was technically on leave from work, but he was still Harry's personal Healer inside St. Mungo's. He claimed he enjoyed it more because he could wear jeans to work without being penalized for it. He was beyond cautious this time around with Harry, doing everything by the book and listening to Harry's needs and desires attentively. One of those being that he didn't want anyone coming to visit him or to even know he was in recovery. This shocked everyone, but Dawson made it happen, having to call in Judy Ferral to help explain to the Weasley family that Harry's condition was worsening and that visitors needed to be banned. Harry felt bad that now the Weasleys were even more concerned for him, but he wanted it this way.
"Harry! I heard you were back, how are you doing, mate?" Jet had been seated behind a nurses' station and rolled out on his chair to Harry's side, immediately lighting his wand and giving Harry the quick once-over examination he was accustomed to receiving every time a nurse of healer passed him.
"We're doing a little memory test today." Burns supplied, crossing his arms in a professional manner.
"All right, Harry, when mixing an antidote for the bite of a magically bred cobra, what do you need to do?" Jet asked pointedly.
"Once the brew comes to a boil you have to add in four unicorn hairs as you pour in five millimeters of the venom, if you don't do it simultaneously the potion could blow up."
Jet grinned, his dark eyes gleaming. "And who's the greatest musical genius of all time?"
"Michael Jackson." Harry grinned, earning a pat on the shoulder from Jet.
"Who?" Burns shot a confused look at Jet who shook his head in shame.
"And you were a muggleborn, that's the sad part. I'd say Harry remembers everything okay, Burns, I'd actually recommend testing to see if he still absorbs information like a sponge. That's what I'd be interested in."
"One step at a time, Jet, we're going to try and get him to walk again first."
Jet grimaced. "Coma'll do that to you."
"Gee, I wouldn't have know that, thanks Jet." Harry shook his head, laughing.
"You know, Healer Green is right, we should test the expanse of his mind." Nurse Hanley said as they were moving toward the lift.
"Think you're up for it, Harry?"
"What do you think?" Harry scoffed.
"Still a pain in the arse, I see." Dawson stepped onto the lift, pushing Harry along.
"Yeah, I feel like those poor nutters with split personalities."
They were silent the rest of the way back to Harry's room where he had pulled out all the old toys and posters from his previous stay to brighten the dull room up. Shifting around the bed to get more comfortable, Harry swiped up his old dart gun and fiddled with it for a few moments.
"Still can't believe it's been almost a year." He mused, gazing around the room.
"I can. So, when are you going to talk to Ginny?" Burns dragged up his normal chair, leaning back with his feet kicked up on Harry's bed.
"When I can make everything better." He answered. "The moment I get out of here, I want to go buy her that ring I promised her."
Dawson studied the man he considered to be a brother for a few moments. "You're a good man, Harry."
Harry didn't answer, just nodded, his thoughts clearly on a certain red-head…
***
Ginny threw her hair back in a ponytail, sniffing loudly. She was a wreck. She had made it all year without crumbling to pieces, but she was now at her end. She washed her face in the sink, breathing deep gulps of air.
He was back, he was home, finally.
But not really. He was still in a coma, even though Burns claimed he had awoken briefly nearly a week ago. Her mother had owled her the day after she had sent her word that Harry had briefly awoken, saying his condition had taken a turn for a worse and they were unsure if he would ever wake up.
And to make it worse, Dawson had stopped writing her updates. She figured he was in a bad state over the matter as well, too distraught to write letters to her. But was it really so hard to scribble down a short note to say if she should start planning Harry's return or prepare for a funeral?
She collected herself, applying make-up to disguise the fact she had been crying, and marched out of the bathroom. Her mum was in the kitchen, the table covered with covered dishes of food, all with labels for who they were to go to.
"Hi, Mum." Ginny glanced down at the dishes; some of the food was for people they barely even knew.
"How are you, dear?"
"I'm fine." Ginny shrugged.
"Charlie should be arriving on Friday so there's no reason for him to be late Saturday."
Ginny smiled slightly, nodding. The entire family was focusing on her graduation to ignore the fact Harry was still gone.
"Do you want me to take some of this stuff to these people, Mum?"
"No, dear, why don't you go on upstairs and get some rest, you look a bit weary."
Sighing, Ginny walked back up the stairs to her old room, sitting down on the bed and looking out the window. Her mum had her staying at home as often as she could, wanting to keep The Burrow full of her children.
"Please come back to me, Harry."
***
Dawson grinned widely as Harry's fingers danced along the keys of the piano. Visitors and patients alike stopped to admire his playing. Burns wasn't really sure what to make of Harry's recovery. It was as though he was trying to meld two people together: the regular Harry Potter and the Harry Potter that had run away with his gang of buddies, traipsing across the globe.
"Hey, Burns, I think I'm ready to leave. Just for a visit, please? I really need to do something." He asked, breaking Burns out of his reverie. He hadn't even realized Harry had stopped playing.
"Well, it's been nearly two weeks and you can walk for the most part…I don't see why not. I'll get you some clothes to change into."
Harry nodded gratefully, standing up. He had been spending his days trying to recover as swiftly as possible with extensive physical therapy and tests on his mind. In order to walk he relied heavily on a cane, though each day Dawson noted he wobbled less and less.
"Hey, how about we get you a lady friend while we're at it?" Harry smirked as they walked to his room.
"Nearly nineteen and still a smart mouthed teenager."
Harry shrugged, walking to the bag of clothes Dawson had retrieved from Harry's flat. "Can we stop in on Maddi and the guys? I haven't seen them since I first woke up."
"Perhaps, we still have to be careful about how much activity you have."
Harry sighed, pulling on a shirt. "Fine, fine, whatever you say, Mummy."
Burns rolled his eyes, opening the door. "Let's go get that ring, shall we?"
"Can I drive?"
"No."
"You take the fun out of everything."
"So I've been told."
Harry shook his head as they stepped out of the hospital a gust of wind blowing in their face. "Where's this shop?"
Harry bit down on his bottom lip, looking down the street both ways before marching right across the road, dodging the cars passing by. Burns chased after him, shouting pointless reprimands that Harry pointedly ignored. He had a serious expression on his face as he hobbled down the sidewalk, ignoring the looks he was receiving by passer-bys who were curious why a man his age would be in need of a cane.
Harry came to an abrupt stop several blocks later and gazed at the tiny store. "This is it."
Burns opened the door for him still a bit taken aback by Harry's serious, mature demeanor. He had forgotten that he had never known the true Harry Potter, the one who had seen things few men had seen.
"You all right, Dawson?" Harry questioned.
Burns nodded, realizing he hadn't moved from the doorway. "Just getting to know Harry Potter."
Harry cracked a small smile, gesturing for him to come inside. The shop was small, a long glass case lining the room. No one was present, but Harry immediately went for the section of the case at the back of the shop, by the door leading to what Dawson guessed to be the back room.
Harry placed his finger on the case, smiling down at it. "That's the one."
"Wow." Burns leaned forward, looking at the ring Harry was pointing at. It was magnificent, yet not too much. The band was white gold and the diamond was large and round, nothing to laugh at; it was probably worth a year of Burns' salary, which was a lot.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, pleasure to see you again!"
Dawson's head whipped up to see a frail, old man standing behind the counter. His face was saggy and wrinkled and he looked as if he were several hundred years old. He wore large glasses with lenses so thick they magnified his black eyes.
"You recognize me?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Of course, Mr. Potter, I remember all of my customers, even when they dye their hair, shape up a bit and get rid of their glasses." The man smiled. "I see you brought a friend with you?"
"Dawson Burns."
The old man shook his hand, grinning and revealing his large yellowed teeth. "Edgar Williams."
He turned to Harry. "So, are you ready to buy that beauty yet? You looked ready to buy it last time, but it's been nearly a year. I assumed something must have come up because you, young man, are not the type to get cold feet, especially with that lovesick grin you were wearing last time."
Harry smiled, nodding. "I'm just as lovesick as before, that's for sure." He murmured.
Mr. Williams delicately slid open the door to the case and pulled out the ring. Harry held it for several long minutes, just staring at it in awe before he finally handed it back. "How much?"
Mr. Williams placed it in the box and handed it over once Harry paid him. Burns was reeling at the price, but he knew Harry could care less, plus the ring was most definitely worth its price, in fact he had a feeling Mr. Williams had even given Harry a good deal.
***
With the ring now secure in his pocket, Harry felt a surge of joy and contentment rising up inside him. He glanced over at Burns who was watching him closely. "Burns?"
"Hm?"
"I'm still the Harry you know, I just have my memory back…and my maturity."
"Now I know what the Weasley family had felt when they had seen you before. You really are beyond your years, aren't you?"
"Fighting an evil wizard and raising yourself can do that to you." Harry told him passively. "You know, it feels strange because this last year has been even more eventful than the last."
"Really?"
Harry smirked. "No, I doubt any year will ever top that one, but it has been pretty extraordinary, even by my standards."
They took a cab to the familiar building Harry considered a home. He walked up to the door, not bothering to knock as he stepped inside.
"Harry!" He was tackled immediately by a crying black haired woman. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too, Maddi." He let go of her and smiled down at Casen and Tyson who were looking up at him with small smiles.
"Hi, guys."
"How are you, Harry?" Tyson's smile grew a bit wider.
"I'm doing pretty good. How're the legs, Case?"
"Not too bad." He glanced down at them, patting his knee softly. "I must say you people's pain killers are much better than ours."
Harry chuckled. "Yes, they tend to be a bit stronger."
Burns walked up beside Harry, receiving welcoming smiles from the others.
"Hey, Doc." Case grinned.
"Listen, Harry, we're having a little…sort of ceremony for the guys…just us and some of the other crews around here. It's Saturday night, at ten."
"I'll be there." Harry nodded firmly. "I know this whole magic thing is a lot for you guys, but I'm still Harry."
Tyson stood up. "We know that, mate." With that he hugged Harry tightly, patting his back.
Casen stood up shakily. "If it weren't for you Harry, Maddi may not have lived and I wouldn't have any legs right now."
"I just wish…" Harry sighed. He felt Maddi grab his hand and press a kiss to it.
She stood up, her eyes wet with tears. "You are always our friend, Harry, no matter what. There's nothing we can do about what happened that night except smoke some pot and get pissed in celebration of a couple of amazing friends."
Harry couldn't help but let out a watery laugh, tears welling up in his eyes. He wiped them away before they could fall down his cheeks. "I got to get going…actually, why don't you all come with me?" He smiled. "There's something I want to do and I think you might want to be there with me."
***
"That's perfect, Harry." Maddi beamed at him as he examined the new tattoo in the mirror. On his right forearm, near his elbow, was a black Aztec sun only instead of a face in the center, the names Kyle Myers and Dave Lawrence were written in neat calligraphy above one another.
"I want one." Tyson rolled up his shirt sleeve suddenly and sat down in the chair.
"Are you sure?" The artist asked, knowing them all personally, having done most of their tattoos in the past.
Tyson smiled up at Harry. "I'm positive."
"And I'm after him." Casen announced.
"Then me." Maddi nodded, wrapping an arm around Harry.
"I'd like one too."
Everyone looked up at Burns, surprised. "Dawson…?"
"This is important to remember. And this is a good way to do it." Burns smiled.
Once Maddi was done and he artist was working on Dawson's, a new thought entered Harry's mind. He had given a tribute to Remus and Cedric. He knew he wanted to tribute his parents and Sirius in other ways, but he had forgotten something very important to him…In fact, he also remembered that he owed a certain someone a toy broom.
"There's one more thing." Harry said, a smile playing at his lips.
When they were walking out of the shop, Maddi peeled back the bandages of Harry's last tattoo, smiling at the name printed neatly on his wrist. "He's your godson, isn't he?"
Harry nodded. "And I missed the first year of his life, so I have a lot to make up for."
"We'll see you Saturday?" Case asked once they were about to part ways.
Harry nodded solemnly. "Won't miss it for the world."
Burns looked at Harry as they walked down the sidewalk, looking for a cab. "So, anything else we need done?"
"Yeah, I need to pick up my black suit from my flat. I believe I only have two days until a certain graduation ceremony that I would hate to miss."
A/N: There will only be one more chapter after this, unless popular demand changes that ;)