Harry Potter and A Son's Love by Tansy1354

A/N: As always my thanks to Jessara, Bronte's Mum and Anthot Formient.

The winner of the Honeyduke's finest chocolate for Darvin's first name is harryptaxd204. Thanks to everyone who suggested a name.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and his world, they belong to J. K. Rowling and I thank her for them every day. Healer Darvin, however is all my own creation

Chapter 12. Reflections and Dreams

"Vernon, I told you in my letter……No, you don't know her, her name is Rosemary Granger……No, I am sorry, I can't give you her number as she doesn't have a phone. I'm calling from a phone box down the street……Well that is why someone has to be here with her…… But Vernon, I have already arranged for Dudley to stay at Piers' house overnight. Of course, if you prefer him to be home at night that's fine! You can collect him on your way home from work……Vernon, I really have to go now as I am almost out of change and I promised not to be away long ……NO! I don't know how long I'll be here for! Look, I'll phone you again at the same time tomorrow night! All right! Goodbye Vernon!"

Petunia Dursley almost slammed down the Granger's telephone. She made her way back to the dining room slowly but as she reached the door she stopped. Phillip Granger's voice drifted through the slightly open door.

"I'd better go in tomorrow and help out the locum, she can't be expected to handle all of our patients on her own."

"No, Phillip, I will do that, you should be the one to stay home. Hermione will need some help and there are some things only you can help Harry with. He hasn't got a father and he really needs one now." Rosemary replied over the clinking of a cup.

"I know! Doctor Darvin has already explained what is needed, but I suppose I didn't expect looking after Harry to become my full time job," he sighed.

Rosemary quipped back "Phillip, parenting is usually a full time job."

Hermione laughed and added "You've just been spoilt Dad, I am so good that you haven't needed to parent me all the time. Anyway speaking of Harry, I'd better say goodnight, as I want to get upstairs to start writing up my journal for Doctor Darvin."

In the hallway, Petunia reflected on this conversation, Vernon would consider his work far too important to give up any time to help his own son, if it had been Dudley who was in this state. It would never even cross his mind to want to help someone else's son.

She also had to admit that Hermione seemed to be well brought up and able to talk to her parents very easily. This was something Petunia had never had with her own parents. Then perhaps, it was because Hermione had no sister who could compete for her parents' affection.

Stifling these thoughts as she realized Hermione, may run into her listening in the hallway, she pushed the door wide open and entered. As she did so she noticed Hermione was kissing and hugging her mother goodnight.

They all looked up as she entered, but it was Phillip Granger that addressed her. " Finished your call, Mrs. Dursley? Well, Harry's is ready for bed and asked if you were going to say goodnight to him!"

It had been a simple request, but Petunia bristled as all three Grangers looked at her expectantly. She stalked back out of the room; the idea of even saying goodnight to Harry was totally foreign to her. Well the sooner he was better the sooner she could leave.

When she reached the door of Harry's room, she took a deep breath then entered. Harry was sitting up in bed peering anxiously at the door when she came in; at once his face broke into a relieved smile, "I thought you had forgotten me."

Again she found his smiling at her like that, quite disconcerting. "I don't think there is any chance of that," she replied stiffly.

"Mum, I can't kiss you goodnight from over there," he grinned.

Strange she thought, no one including Vernon and Dudley had wanted to kiss her goodnight for years. She'd forgotten that other people still did that. Despite her reservations, she came over and leaned her face towards him; he kissed her gently on the cheek and said quietly "Goodnight." Somewhere on the icecap that was Petunia Dursley's heart, a small fragment of ice fell away.

As she straightened up, " Mum, can you lay me down so I can go to sleep and, please, don't forget to wake me up earlier tomorrow."

She muttered something about trying to remember as she eased him down on the bed, then she said goodnight quickly and left the room. She walked to her own room in a daze, bewildered by the strange hold that Harry was now starting to have over her thoughts and feelings.

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Meanwhile, Harry lay in his bed at Hermione's house thinking over the day's events.

He had woken this morning expecting to spend the day like most days when he was on holidays from his special day school. He hated them because that's when Dudley came home and he had to share his mum.

Today had begun badly, with his mum forgetting to wake him in time to prevent his little accident in bed. Next there had been that awful phone call. The one bright spot had been the arrival of the beautiful white owl at breakfast. He had forgotten to ask his mum if she had kindly bought it for him to keep him company when she was busy.

The rest of the morning had been routine, while his mum had cleaned the house, he had been in his usual spot by the open window in his room. He loved watching what was going on in the neighbourhood below, listening to the sounds of summer and enjoying the occasional scents that drifted in to him.

Then while he and his mum had lunch together, she gave him the unwelcome news of the visit from the authorities. He had nearly choked on a piece of apple, when told the reason for the visit. Him mistreated, they must have him mixed up with someone else. He couldn't understand this, as he got along well enough with his stepfather Vernon Dursley, and his stepbrother Dudley. Of course, he only saw them in the evenings and on weekends. All in all, he didn't know anyone who would be nasty enough to go to the authorities with this type of story.

So it was quite a shock not long after, when Rosemary Granger informed him that, it was he himself who had written asking them to visit him. Now he knew it was a mistake, someone else must have used his name, how on earth could he write to anyone, when he'd been paralyzed since he was very small?

They also seemed to think that he was sick and insisted he see a doctor, his protestations of feeling fine falling on deaf ears.

Then he had met Hermione Granger, whom he had instantly liked a lot, definitely someone worth knowing. She was so warm and friendly; in fact she had been one of the reasons he had finally agreed to leave the house.

He had enjoyed the drive from Surrey to the mall near the Grangers home, and had been really pleased when they had got him the wheelchair. Mr. Granger had pushed him all around the mall so he could look in the shops, while his mum, Hermione and Mrs. Granger had gone grocery shopping.

Hermione's home was larger than his own at Privet Drive and Hermione had been right about the backyard which was full of scented roses, lavender, lilies, petunias, pansies, as well as all sorts of herbs. She had also been right about Crookshanks who rushed out to meet him as soon as he had been taken outside. That was not the only surprise however, because the white owl had flown into the backyard as well.

It had been so pleasant in their yard with the sun warming his face and finally having his mum to himself even if it had been only for a very short while. He knew she was worried and kept trying to reassure her that he wouldn't let them take him away.

That's when Hermione had arrived and introduced him to Doctor Seth Darvin, who had said Hello to him, then gone inside with his mum. Harry didn't mind as Hermione's Dad had brought out two tall glasses of orange juice with straws. They had been engaged in a contest to see who could slurp the loudest (Harry was just ahead) when his mother had come back with the doctor. Mr. Granger had given Harry a sheepish grin, quickly handed the glass to his mum, before muttering something about getting two more glasses and retreating inside.

The doctor had asked Harry all sorts of strange questions including how long he had been paralyzed, how he was feeling and about his life in general. He had even asked him if he was hungry. Harry, who was feeling hungry anyway had grinned and said always.

Then the doctor had taken out a small thin stick and moved it over Harry's body and when he had asked what it was for, the doctor had just shrugged and said it was the latest technology for finding out what was wrong with someone. Doctor Darvin had disappeared back inside, apparently to report to Hermione's parents.

How could he forget the excellent dinner? It had included trout, salad, and new potatoes, and for dessert treacle pudding (which he found he really liked). It was only spoiled when Hermione, mentioned that Doctor Darvin would be back the next day.

After dinner Mr. Granger had shown Harry and his mum the rooms downstairs where they were going to sleep. Hermione had offered to read him something from one of her many books, but for some reason he had felt a little self-conscious and said that he was tired after all the events of the day. Besides he got the impression they had wanted to get him out of the way.

He yawned and closed his eyes; yes it had been an exciting day all right.

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He felt a soft hand squeeze his own. As his legs began to give way under him, he suddenly felt as though he had been lifted off his feet and was now lying down, but he couldn't feel anything supporting him.

The voice inside his head said softly, "Rest here a minute while I prepare somewhere more comfortable." He tried to open his eyes but a wave of dizziness washed over him. Luckily, it didn't last long and he became aware of the sound of water gently lapping on rocks close by. There was a slight breeze lazily playing with his hair and the air around him was warm and forest scented.

The woman's melodic voice spoke from beside him now, "Why don't you try to sit up?" He pushed himself up from the soft springy ground and finally opened his eyes. He looked around, it was nighttime and the stars were out. He was sitting in a clearing next to a lake. Then he focused on the figure next to him, she was wearing a voluminous hooded cloak that seemed to be made of the stars themselves, but her face was completely hidden.

She spoke again in hushed tones as though trying not to alarm him, "Come, you are still exhausted, I know you have many questions, but you must rest now." She helped him to his feet and turned him around slowly. Behind them was a large wooden rotunda made from an entire tree. As they moved closer, inside the rotunda he could make out a four-poster bed, a small table containing a tray and mug and, on the other side, an intricately carved rocking chair.

She led him up the steps to the bed and sat him down. With a wave of her hand, he was instantly dressed in an old-fashioned nightshirt, in hues of indigo, and covered with shimmering stars and moons. She held the mug to his lips and he drank the contents. The liquid was very pleasant tasting like warm milk with something exotic added.

"I'll be right here, if you need me." She indicated the rocking chair as she sat down in it. "Now lie down and sleep," she almost whispered. The young man obeyed her without question.

The last thing he remembered was the woman holding his hand and the sound of singing. He didn't understand the words, but they were strangely comforting as he closed his eyes once more.

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A/N 2: I know this is going a little slow, but hope to liven it up next chapter. So PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW, even if you don't like it. Just remember, it took Harry a long time to get this point, so it can't be fixed overnight.