Chapter Ten

Mr. Weasley sat up. He looked around. His wife wasn't in the room. From the smell coming from downstairs, it appeared that she was down there, making breakfast. Harry was still lying down in the bed next to him, fast asleep. He smiled, Harry looked so peaceful. He watched Harry's chest slowly rise up and down for a while before he got up to get dressed. He then sat down on the bed, pulled out a book and chilled while he waited for Harry to wake up.

A half hour later, Harry began to stir. Mr. Weasley looked up and then put his book down. He sat back against the headboard and watched as Harry sat up and attempted to gain his bearings. Harry looked around, not seeming to taking anything in. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. This time he seemed to notice the lack of Mrs. Weasley. He turned around and saw Mr. Weasley looking at him.

"Good morning Harry. Did you sleep alright?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Mhm," Harry mumbled. Mr. Weasley chuckled.

"Come on bud, let's get ready for the day." Mr. Weasley pulled a half asleep Harry out of the bed and gave him his clothes so he could get dressed. When Harry was ready, Mr. Weasley took him to the bathroom.

They went downstairs to find most of the house up already. Mrs. Weasley stood up and came over to Harry.

"What would you like for breakfast, dear?" Mrs. Weasley inquired.

"Can I have a bacon sandwich?" Harry asked. Mrs. Weasley nodded and went to make it. Harry sat down at the table next to Ginny.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Ginny asked, putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Ya."

"Are you sure?" she asked, lovingly brushing the hair out of Harry's eyes.

"I'm alright now, Gin." Just then, Mrs. Weasley walked over with Harry's breakfast and placed it on the table in front of him. She then sat down on his other side.

"How you doing?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Harry responded around a mouthful of bacon. Mrs. Weasley watched him for a minute before deciding that he was alright for the moment. She then went to talk to Arthur about the paper, which he was currently reading.

When everyone was finished breakfast, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Bill, and Charlie proceeded to occupy the living room. Harry sat down on the couch with Hermione and Ginny while Ron, Bill, and Charlie discussed the Chudley Cannon's latest game.

Harry," Ginny began tentatively, "how were you last night when we all left?" Hermione turned to them, curious as to the answer too.

"Ah-well-um," Harry began gracefully. "I just….sorta….you know…." he finished cryptically. Ginny gave him a look and he looked down at his hands. "Well this is going to sounds childish, but Mrs. Weasley offered for me to climb into bed with her and Mr. Weasley, and so I did." Harry looked up, expecting to find scorn in their faces, but seeing only understanding.

"Needed someone close, huh," Hermione asked quietly.

"Ya."

"That's not childish Harry," Ginny said. "I would have done the same thing. It looked like you had a pretty bad nightmare. It's alright." Harry looked at her gratefully.

So that's how it was for the next couple of weeks. Harry was never left alone and everyone did their best to make sure that he was eating enough and that he was engaged. He would climb into bed with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley after a nightmare, or sometimes just starting out the night in their arms. Jason came regularly to have sessions with Harry. They were working through the treatment he suffered at the hands of his relatives.

"Harry, I would like you to tell me how they treated you." Once again, Harry shook his head. Jason had spent a couple sessions trying to get him to open up. "Harry, it's okay. You're safe here. It's alright." Still, Harry shook his head. Jason sighed. "What would make it easier for you to tell me?"

Harry thought for a minute. "I don't know. Maybe….I dunno." Now Jason thought for a minute. He then told Harry to lie down. When he did, Jason draped the blankets over him and surrounded his head with pillows. He made Harry as comfortable as possible. He knew that if Harry was going to talk about the horrid treatment he got, he was going to need to be warm, comfortable, and feel safe. It would make it easier for him.

"Is there anyone you would like to be here, Harry?" Jason asked gently.

"Ginny." Jason stood up and stepped outside the door, still able to see Harry, and called downstairs for Ginny. She came up with a questioning look on her face.

"What's up Healer Sanders?"

"I'm trying to get Harry to talk about his home life with the Dursleys. I asked him if he would like anyone here and he wanted you." Ginny nodded and walked into Harry's bedroom. She found Harry cocooned in blankets in pillows. He looked comfortable. She laid down next to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Hey, baby. I'm here," she whispered in his ear. Harry turned to face he rand buried his face into her breast. Ginny stroked his head.

"Okay, Harry," Jason started. Harry looked over to him. "Start from the beginning. And take it at your own pace. If you need to stop, stop." Nodding, Harry began.

"Well, they didn't like me very much. From the day I got there, Dudley made fun of me and did things to hurt me on purpose. I was his personal punching bag when I was younger. He wouldn't allow me to have friends. He made sure that nobody liked me. My aunt and uncle hated me. They always taunted me about how I was an orphan and how I was a freak. My bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs until I was eleven. They would lock me in there for days or even weeks at a time as a punishment. They made me cook and clean everything since I was four. I could barely reach anything. Uncle Vernon would beat me with a belt or a cane if he was mad at me or if he was bored. I wasn't allowed to cry or feel anything besides the proper fear and respect of the Dursleys. They would ignore me and not talk to me for days on end sometimes. I hardly ever got any food. I wasn't allowed to do better in school than Dudley, and if I did, I would get beaten. Although one time I did my best in school because I wanted the satisfaction of good grades. I got straight A's. I got in so much trouble, but it was worth it. They never put anything I did on the fridge. I know that sounds childish, but it broke my heart when I was little when everything Dudley did was on the fridge and all they did with stuff I made was thrown in the fire. When I was really little, before I realized that they didn't love me. I would make them cards and stuff for their birthdays or Christmas. They would always rip them up in front of me and thrown them in the fire. It made me so upset. I could never understand what I did wrong or why they always hurt me. I still don't understand. What did I do wrong? Why do they always hurt me? Why don't they love me? Am I not allowed to be loved?" By this time, Harry was sobbing. He buried his face in Ginny's shirt. Ginny pulled the blankets snug around him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She tried her hardest not to cry. They treated him terrible. But she needed to be strong for Harry.

Jason watched on as Ginny comforted Harry. He was very troubled by what he heard. From staying with Harry while he changed, he saw many scars. He knew some were from the war, but some looked too old to be from the war. They must have come from the beatings.

Jason stood up and sat on Harry's other side. He leaned over Harry and whispered in his ear, "It's okay Harry. We're here. You're never going back there again. We'll keep you safe."

Harry looked up at him, his face covered in tears. "I wa-wasn't supposed t-to t-tell you. They said th-that if I t-told anyone, th-they'd kill me. Uncle Ver-Vernon showed me th-the knife." Jason gasped. Harry once again buried his face in Ginny's shirt. Now, Ginny couldn't control her tears. She cried silently as she watched Harry sob. She rubbed her hand up and down his back, attempting to comfort him. She couldn't trust her voice. Jason pulled the blankets up around Harry, making sure that he was enclosed in them. He knew that warmth was important after such an ordeal. He sat there, making shushing noises and muttering comforting words to Harry. Eventually, Harry calmed down. He took deep breathes until his breathing was steady. Harry burrowed into his blankets until Jason could hardly see his head. Ginny patted the blankets, making sure that he was comfortable. She then sung a lullaby to Harry until he fell asleep.

Jason looked curiously at Ginny. "Where did you learn that?" he asked.

"My mum used to sing it me and my siblings when we were little to help us fall asleep."

"It looks like it works. Can you watch Harry? I want to go tell everyone about the new information."

"Ya, I'll stay." Ginny then laid down next to Harry's blanket covered figure and wrapped her arms around him, stroking his head and making cooing noises to keep him asleep. Jason stood up and walked downstairs. He found the Weasley parents in the kitchen, having a casual chat.
"If you don't mind, I would like to tell you all some information that I have learned from Harry."

"No, it's fine Healer Sanders," Mr. Weasley said. He walked outside and called everyone in. Once they were all seated and settled, he began.

"Today I managed to get Harry to tell me about his home life. He was neglected and abused. He had been since the day he appeared on their doorstep." He waited while everyone gasped. He then proceeded to tell everyone what Harry had told him. By the time he was finished, the girls were crying and the guys looked close to it.

"All this time, all this time," Mrs. Weasley sobbed. "I had no idea."

"Where's Ginny?" Mr. Weasley asked. "She'll want to know this."

"Ginny is upstairs with Harry right now. She knows it all already. She was with me when Harry opened up. She helped him to talk. And please be quiet. Harry is asleep right now. The stress of telling us this tired him out." Everyone nodded their consent, understanding that Harry needed to rest. "You guys are going to have to be there for Harry. After this, he is going to be very vulnerable for a while. He will be scared that his uncle will get him. He will be upset from having to relive it all. He may randomly burst into tears. He will be very susceptible to suicidal feelings. If you can, have as many people around him as possible. He cannot be alone for anything. He will more than likely go for a knife the first chance he gets. Don't give him that chance. He really needs you guys right no. His emotions will be all over the place. Be ready."

"We'll be there for him. Don't worry," Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes burning with fiery passion for her youngest son.

"Can we go see him?" Hermione asked.

"Of course, but be quiet. He's asleep," Jason replied. Quietly, they walked upstairs and into Harry's bedroom. There they saw Harry curled up in bed, covered in blankets and pillows, Ginny's arms wrapped around him. Every time he moved or whimpered, she would hold him tighter and whisper comforting words in his ear. They all filed in and sat around the bed, watching Harry as he slept.