Chapter 10
"Harry" Poppy said softly as she entered his room the next morning "there's someone I'd like you to meet. Properly this time."

Harry looked up and saw the scary black robed man stood next to Poppy, that had been in the day before. He flinched backwards so far that he was sat on top of his pillows, tangled in the sheets, staring at the opposite wall.

Poppy approached the boy slowly. She had been expecting a response like this but she had been hoping that he would hold himself together if she was there with him. It appeared that this was not the case.

"Harry, this is Professor Snape." she continued in the soft voice she had used before, hoping it would calm her nephew enough that he would at least look at Severus. "He teaches Potions here and so has to be stern to prevent accidents which can happen very easily. He forgets when he's not in a classroom sometimes. Severus?"

"Sorry Potter" Snape said shortly, but without any of the malice that the name usually came with. It was a bizarre sight, Severus Snape normally so graceful and controlled was uncomfortable and awkward. He was stood stiffly as if he would like to be anywhere but there. "I had forgotten that you would not be used to my manner and you remind someone of I'd rather you didn't so I was somewhat shorter with you than I needed to be."

Harry was bemused. He had only seen this man twice so how could he remind him of someone? His confused look must have shown on his face because Poppy immediately started explaining.

"You look very like your father Harry" she said "but Severus and he didn't like each other. You also have a lot of Lily in you, and your eyes are exactly hers"

"You knew my mummy?" Harry asked, slowly turning his head to Poppy and disentangling himself from the sheets.

"Yes. She came to school here. We stayed friends once she left."

Here Poppy looked over at Snape and he nodded. It was time the boy learnt the truth.

"Lily and James were murdered by an evil wizard. Your mum sacrificed herself in an attempt to save you, so to continue her protection you had to live with someone related to her. This is why you had to live in Surrey. However it was recently found out that your mother had another sister, so you can live with her." Poppy had her hand on top of his by the end and was still talking in her soft, calming voice

Harry was internally berating himself listening to this. How many times had his uncle told him that nobody wanted him? Here it was again, this lady said she would look after him, said he could live with her but she had managed to find someone else that she could give him to. He had started to hope that she might even like him, but of course it was foolish to hope. It only made the disappointment worse.

Poppy could see Harry change from confusion at Severus' remarks to interested as she told him about his parents, but that faded to resignation as she got to the end. She was confused herself as to why he would go through so many emotions and when she eventually realised what she had said and how he would have interpreted it she kicked herself. Of course he felt rejected, anyone would with his background.

"Harry, you are still going to be living with me." she said "I'm your Auntie Poppy"

Harry grinned. Maybe, just maybe hope wasn't too bad after all.

xxxxxxxxx

As Minerva entered the Hospital Wing she almost walked into the woman she had come to see. Poppy was carrying a tray of potions towards one of the private rooms and had to step back quickly to avoid bumping into the entering Deputy Headmistress, causing the glass bottles and vials to clink together loudly.

"Sorry Poppy! You would have thought I would know to check before walking in here by now!" She smiled apologetically "Are those for Harry?"

"You've talked to Albus then? Yes these are his last set. I'm hoping that he might be well enough to get up today. You can meet him later, he's only just recovered from shock and I don't want to send him there again. Due to his injuries he will be here for quite a few weeks yet. If you would like to wait in my office I will come to you when I have given Harry these."

"Thankyou Poppy, I will do that." The two witches parted ways, Poppy continuing on to attend to Harry and Minerva to wait in the Healer's office.

xxxxxxxx

Poppy returned to her office and Minerva about ten minutes later, walking slowly with Harry beside her. She had decided that it was best to get it over with soon rather than wait and as long as Minerva didn't say anything untoward they would be fine.

"Harry could you just sit on this bed for a moment please?" she asked, indicating a bed close to the office door "I'll be back in a minute."

Harry did as he was told, completely in awe. His Auntie Poppy was asking him to do things rather than just giving him orders, praising him for doing things well and only gently rebuking him if he did something wrong. She had made him feel better and had comforted him when he was scared. He felt wanted, he felt happy, he didn't feel like an ungrateful freak even if that was what he was and he never wanted it to end. He knew it would end, that she would see through to the real him eventually but he wasn't going to make that happen any quicker by not doing what she asked. He started to unconsciously swing his legs off the side of the bed.

Poppy saw this and smiled warmly. It showed just how safe he felt with her that he would relax enough to start such an action. "Harry" she called gently "can you come here?" She wanted to assess his walking to see how much he had recovered.

Harry stopped swinging his legs and climbed off the bed. Slowly he walked over, it clearly being an effort for each step. "Well done." she praised him with her warm smile. "I've got someone else for you to meet, someone who knew your parents better than I did." She gestured to the witch sat behind her. "This is Professor McGonagall, she is Head of Gryffindor, the house which your parents were in so she knew them well."

Minerva looked at the boy stood carefully upright in Hospital Wing pyjamas, looking the spitting image of James and it was all she could do not to cry. She stepped up to Harry and hugged him tightly. He initially flinched back, but the longer the contact was made, the more he relaxed.

"Thankyou Harry" she said finally, breaking the hug but keeping her hands on his shoulders so she could look at his face. "I miss your parents a lot. They were great friends of mine and I am honoured that I have got to meet their son after so many years." There were tears in her eyes by the end of her little speech and although Harry was confused by some of the big words, he understood the meaning behind them and knew that this woman was like his auntie and he could trust her. With this thought most of the tension left his shoulders and he smiled at the teary professor.

Poppy was delighted to see Harry take comfort from someone else. It meant that when she couldn't be there, Harry had someone else to go to. However she could also see Harry struggling to stay upright and the Healer part of herself came back to the forefront of her mind. After all it had only been 3 days since he was injured.

"Minerva, Harry needs to return to bed now. He isn't yet fit for long excursions on his feet. However as he seems comfortable with you could you carry him back to his room please?"

Minerva did so, more than happy that the son of her great friends trusted her as she could he trusted Poppy, especially after what she had heard about his injuries. Once he was settled, the two witches returned to Poppy's office. Upon entering they saw the golden plumage of Fawkes there, and gripped in his talons, a note. The phoenix dropped his note on the desk and disappeared with a flash of fire. Poppy approached the desk and cautiously unfolded the parchment. It was written in bright blue ink and had the distinct cursive script of the Headmaster.

"Poppy" it said "Voldemort has not gone completely and Harry must play a big part in the fight against him when he returns. Care for him well but remember that the wizarding world needs him or else we will be swallowed by the darkness.

Albus"

"What in Merlin's name does that mean?" Poppy asked, handing over the note.

Minerva quickly read it and replied "Albus being his cryptic self but I believe it means he's not going to interfere with you bringing up your nephew."

Poppy smiled a relieved smile and then summoned a tea set for two.