After the Second Rise

By: Red

Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the story or characters of Harry Potter.

Warmth Comes in Company

Harry awoke never having realized he'd ever actually fallen asleep on the couch in the parlor. A most delicious smell was coming from the kitchen pulling Harry out of his thankfully dreamless slumber to wonder just how he'd gotten on the couch in the first place. He must've moved down stairs after realizing sleep wouldn't grip him easily with a room full of Weasley's and fallen asleep while he'd contemplated all that had happened.

He sat up and rubbed a hand through his ridiculously unruly hair moving most of it out of his face so he could see the sunlight peaking through the curtains. The blanket he didn't remember pulling onto himself slid off onto the cushion causing chills to run down his spine as a difference of temperature invaded his bare chest. He stretched and warmth found its way back into his limbs banishing the chills and bringing him back to his overly warm normal temperature.

Merlin he was stiff! Harry stretched his legs giving out a soft moan as he did so. The crippled limbs didn't want to cooperate with him that morning. A result, Harry assumed, of sleeping on a who-knew-how-old couch with little to no "cushion" left in its springs.

Laughter coming from the Kitchen roused him still further and piqued his curiosity. That had sounded like Mrs. Weasley but he couldn't entirely be sure.

"Yes, yes, Jane," Mrs. Weasley said, "I know I'll tell him when I get back to the Hospital."

Harry grabbed his cane and forced himself to stand taking a few steps forward slowly allowing his stiff muscles to adjust to movement. He walked down the hallway passing Mrs. Black's silent portrait on the way into the Kitchen. A ragged and old looking house-elf glared at Harry through the shadows of the curtains hiding the portrait from view its yellow eyes embittered and sour. Harry reached out with his senses memorizing the sick aura of the creature and mentally vowed to watch the elf while he resided in the house.

"Harry!" Ed Granger grinned at Harry as he entered the room, "You're up early."

"I'd expect that couch wasn't very comfortable," Sirius grinned, "I'd get up early too."

Harry glared suspiciously at his godfather, "Since when are you a morning person?" He asked having found out Sirius was anything but when he'd been cooped in the hospital.

Sirius shrugged, "Never went to sleep," He said as explanation, "Thant and I've had far more coffee then is healthy for an old man like myself."

"Uh-huh," Harry nodded, "That explains more then it doesn't."

"Hey pup," Sirius frowned, "Aren't you supposed to deny it when I say I'm old?"

"No point if it isn't the truth," Harry grinned and dodged a bread crumb.

"Now really Sirius," Mrs. Weasley huffed, "Who's the child here?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "I thought he was but I may be mistaken."

Harry snickered as Mrs. Weasley gave Sirius a disapproving frown. Her frown vanished relatively quickly however as she maneuvered herself around the table to hug Harry.

"Thank you Harry," She said.

Harry's jerked away from her with confusion at the sudden increase of emotion radiating off the plump woman, "For what?" He asked.

"For warning Dumbledore," Mrs. Weasley said her fingers trembling, "You saved my husband Harry. Any longer in the state he'd been and the healers may not have been able to stabilize him."

"Oh," Harry said feeling undeserving of her thanks as he'd had a hand in hurting Mr. Weasley in his dream, "So…he is stable then?" He asked moving the topic of conversation away from him and towards the man in danger.

"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said with a large beaming smile, "The Healers said he will be ready for visitors this afternoon. The kids are coming, of course, but you'll join us too right? Arthur will want to give you his gratitude."

Harry nodded forcing a smile to his lips, "Thanks aren't necessary Molly, but I'll come."

"Oh you," Molly Weasley sighed, "Accept it when people give you thanks. Especially when you deserve it."

Harry smiled feeling as though he didn't deserve any gratitude at all, "All right Mrs. Weasley."

Mrs. Weasley smiled at him.

"Well are you going to sit so I can give you breakfast?" Jane granger asked waving a spatula at the table.

Harry nodded, "Thank you Mrs. Granger."

Jane Granger placed a plate of Sausages and potatoes with two eggs in front of him. Harry grabbed a fork and spoon and dug in. It didn't matter that he felt worried and guilty for something he may or may not have done, food was food. Harry would never let another morsel go to waste ever again if he could help it.

Thanking the adults again Harry walked upstairs to the room he shared with Ron and opened the door quietly. Their trunks sat magically at the ends of their beds where Harry assumed they had been brought over from Hogwarts sometime within the night. Ron was sleeping the same dead sleep Harry had been sleeping before the smell of sausage had awoken him. He moved as quietly as he could through the room feeling Ron, like the other Weasley children, deserved his hard-earned sleep.

He grabbed some clothes from his trunk using wandless magic to open the box silently and left the room in search of a bath room. He didn't have to walk far to find the restroom, gratefully, so it didn't take him long to relieve himself, shower and change into Muggle clothing.

When he got out of the restroom he passed a yawning Hermione who smiled at him half asleep and entered the room he'd just left. Harry grinned to himself, Hermione really wasn't awake until after she'd showered.

"Harry," Sirius grinned at him as he came up the stairs, "Come down here for a bit, I want to talk to you."

Harry nodded and dropping his stuff off in his room he followed Sirius down the stairs.

"All right pup," Sirius said sitting down in a chair in the study where they'd all come out of the floo that past night, "What's wrong. I think I know you well enough by now to be able to tell when you're not cheerful."

"How can I be cheerful with my foster father in St. Mungos?" Harry asked incredulously, "How can you?"

"I'm not," Sirius said, "What happened last night was a very grave thing indeed and its confirmed some of the orders fears about Voldemort's movements."

"What fears?" Harry asked, "Where was that place Mr. Weasley was hiding in with an invisibility cloak? What fears has it confirmed other then my own?"

"Hold on, hold on," Sirius raised a hand and shook his head, "How do you know about the place Arthur was hiding and how he was hiding? What do you mean your own fears?"

Harry crossed his arms in front of his chest, "You first." He said.

Sirius sighed, "I've been told not to tell you everything, there are those in the order who don't want me to tell you anything. They argue your too young…"

"Too young to have been on the run for my life for nearly three months? Too young to know what it feels like to be hunted? Tortured?" Harry shook his head, "I only act young because I don't want to face how freaking old I've become. I'm no stranger to dangerous situations Sirius. I may wish it, but I'm not really an innocent child any longer."

"I know that Pup," Sirius sighed, "Our eyes mirror each other to bloody much. We've seen bad things you and I. You have seen worse probably than me even and that's saying something."

"So?" Harry demanded.

Sirius sighed, "Sit down Harry, I know that couch you slept on so I know how sore your legs must be."

Harry sat, "Their better after the shower," He mumbled.

The edge of Sirius's lips quirked up, "All right listen," He began, "Voldemort is after something in the department of Mysteries in the Ministry. And how do you think ol'Fudge reacted when Dumbledore mentioned the department of Mysteries might need tighter security?"

"I imagine he threw a fit." Harry sighed.

"That he did," Sirius nodded, "He insisted that the D. have everything under control. Now, they probably do. Those blokes are more secretive then a corpse. They keep their secrets locked up tight. But Dumbledore feared, as he was right to, that they weren't as protective of the object Voldemort is after as they should be."

"That's what Mr. Weasley was doing," Harry said with dawning understanding, "He was guarding that door. That's why he hid himself in an invisibility cloak." Harry frowned, "But what is it Voldemort is after?"

"I'll ask how you know that again in a minute," Sirius said, "As for your question it's a weapon. One only two people in the world have access to."

Harry frowned, "What kind of weapon?"

"A kind of knowledge," Sirius said fidgeting in his seat.

"What kind of knowledge can only be accessed by two people in the entire world?" Harry asked.

"You're not asking the right question," Sirius said shaking his head, "You should be asking who not what."

"Well Voldemort is the one trying to get it right?" Harry asked, "Why are you dodging my questions anyways?"

"Because isn't it better to learn things for yourself then hear it from an elder?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Only if I get to shove a porcupine up said elder's arse," Harry growled.

Sirius barked out laughing, "Don't worry pup," He grinned, "I'm sure you'll tell Hermione all about this conversation and then she'll be able to help you decipher my cryptic words."

"You can't tell me what the weapon is can you?" Harry deadpanned.

"Nope," Sirius grinned.

"Figures," Harry sighed.

"All I can tell you is that Voldemort feels this knowledge can somehow push this impending war in his favor in a drastic manner," Sirius said, "Hence why Dumbledore feels it's important we put up more guards then the Ministry has ready."

"Well that makes sense then, even if you aren't going to tell me exactly what the weapon is…" Harry sighed and stood pushing himself up by pushing down on his knees, "Well I guess that's it then," He said, "Looks like all I'm gonna be able to do is wait for more news."

"Hold it pup," Sirius said holding up a hand, "You haven't answered any of my questions have you?"

Harry sighed and sat back down with a huff, "No," He said honestly, "I haven't. All right." He breathed in slowly calming his nerves using the breathing techniques from meditation, "I've been having some…weird dreams lately. Well no weirder then my normal nightmares and I guess that's why I didn't recognize it at first. I've somehow been going into Voldemort's mind subconsciously. I didn't actually know I could, and I really don't like it. But he's been obsessed with this door in a purely white corridor."

"The Department of Mysteries," Sirius nodded, "That explains how you knew about it."

"Yeah," Harry chuckled darkly, "I guess so. It's not a very pleasant realization. But last night I had one of the weirdest I've ever had and it consisted of a snake. I was a snake serious, scouting that damned door. I could smell Mr. Weasley through the invisibility cloak. I even knew he was there to prevent me from getting past him and into that door. I—watched as I bit him Sirius, felt my fangs sink into his flesh. It was…sickening. But it was him, I know it."

Sirius nodded, "Hmmm," He said, "So that means your connection is open again."

"Yeah," Harry nodded but didn't look at Sirius, "But it's never really gone both ways before. It was always Him, getting into my head, and me avoiding thinking about it."

"So either the connections gotten stronger or it's changed somehow," Sirius nodded contemplatively.

"Either or," Harry agreed, "and here I was no hoping it had simply broken and disappeared…"

"I know kiddo," Sirius sighed, "I was hoping that too."

Harry smiled sadly at his godfather. The room became quiet the dust particles danced circles around the magic that permeated the building. Old magic, some of it dark and twisted gave the room to Harry a shadowed and foreboding edge. He closed his eyes feeling a left over exhaustion from the night before and another exhaustion that was deeper and had little to do with physical sleep.

Sirius stood the fabric of his robes swished together loudly against the quiet din of the study. He placed a warm hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry looked up at his godfather. The older man gently brushed Harry's long messy bangs from his face his fingers lingering against his scabbed over scar sorrow and compassion mixed in his eyes.

"Listen Kid," He said quietly, "I may not be good at the comforting crap but I want you to know…no matter what happens, you're my Godson. And as your Godfather I will be here to help you figure this stuff out ok?"

Harry nodded a small smile lifting years from his face, "Thank you Sirius," He said sincerely.

Sirius ruffled Harry's hair, "We're what's left Pup," He said, "You, me, and Remus are all that's left of our family. It's the least I can do."

Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around his Godfather gratefully. Sirius patted the back of his head and held him close. The boy really was far too much like him after all.

***

When Harry and Sirius joined the rest of the Weasleys and Grangers Harry had a much larger smile on his face then he had all morning. He took it upon himself to make sure Ron wasn't letting his fear for his father guide his emotions. He joined Ron and Hermione at the table where most of the Weasleys sat eating a late breakfast. His confident attitude and large mischievous grin lifted Ron and Ginny's attitude. It helped that Mrs. Weasley refused to let her children see her worry and that the Grangers continued to talk in fair spirits.

They decided to walk to St. Mungos. All of the Weasley children and their mother with Harry and Hermione walked the several block length to an old clothing shop with mannequins sporting clothing from the eighties with big bushy wigs. Harry and Hermione shared amused glances as the troupe spoke to the mannequins before walking in to the busy waiting room at St. Mungos.

Harry kept his head down as he watched other patients in the office watching him with curious and even alarmed glances. He pushed a hand into one of his pockets wishing he had worn long sleeves instead of the short sleeved t-shirt he was wearing. He may be shaped like an ordinary teenage boy but the scars on his skin were grotesque. Ron was wearing long sleeves, well so was the rest of the well wishing party. It was December…but when Ron wasn't wearing long sleeves half his arm was wrapped up covering the evidence of abuse by Umbridge's hand. Harry could empathize.

After talking to the most bored witch Harry had ever seen they walked up several stairs to the ward Mr. Weasley was located in. The nurses there ushered the crowd into a large room with several people all ready in it. Dumbledore stood beside Mr. Weasley's bed, so did Remus and Tonks.

Mr. Weasley beamed at them all from his bed hugging each of his children as he talked about what the healers were doing. His face was all bandaged up as well as his shoulder and right arm. Harry flinched when he looked at each bandage remembering his fangs sinking into each one. He took a step back instinctually and Mr. Weasley caught his eye.

"Harry!" He said happily, "Get over here I want to thank you for saving my life!"

Hermione pushed Harry forward so that Mr. Wealsey could embrace Harry. Harry awkwardly leaned over the bed wrapping his arms around the Weasley patriarch.

"If it weren't for you Harry," Mr. Weasley said with a large kind smile that made the knot in Harry's stomach tighten, "I wouldn't be here right now."

Harry blushed scarlet feeling embarrassed, "I'm-er, glad I had that dream then." He muttered.

Mr. Weasley laughed, "Kind of strange isn't it?" He asked jovially, "For you to be beside the hospital bed and me in it?"

Harry forced a smile, "Yeah," He agreed, "It is strange."

Mr. Weasley clapped him on the shoulder and Mrs. Weasley frowned.

"Why are you still bleeding?" She asked, "Shouldn't your bandages be taking care of that?"

"Well yes," Mr. Weasley said, "They would but…Did you know I met one of the healers that used to work with Harry in the muggle hospital?"

Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes, "Why are you changing the subject?" She asked carefully.

"I'm not Love, listen," Mr. Weasley smiled beseechingly at his wife, "Remember how they combined Muggle and Magical techniques to cure Harry? Well this Healer learned about a technique called 'Stich-ess'. It works really well for muggles and minor cuts so we thought maybe…"

Mrs. Weasley's face was turning red as she listened to her husband. Harry looked at Hermione with an amused expression. She rolled her eyes and shrugged in exasperation. When Mrs. Weasley exploded the children decided it was a good time to get out of the room. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins practically raced out of the room.

"It was Voldemort," Hermione said as soon as they were out of earshot of any eavesdroppers, "Wasn't it? The connection is open again."

Harry sighed and nodded, "Yeah."

"Connection?" Fred ased.

"Voldymort?" George said.

Harry looked at the twins and Ginny's expectant face. They all craved knowledge about what happened last night, why Harry had somehow saved their father while being miles away from him. They deserved to know but it was…personal.

"Last Summer when Harry was on the run he said Voldemort could read his mind or something," Ron said leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, "His scar, it has something to do with it."

Harry smiled at Ron gratefully.

"So what," Fred frowned, "Your like, possessed?"

"No," Harry shook his head, "At least I don't think so. I can feel him, his emotions, thought not his thoughts. He can feel mine too only he goes into my head."

Fred, George, and Ginny stared at him. Harry had to look away from them their expressions scared him more then he wanted to admit. The three looked at each other when Ron and Hermione unconsciously moved closer to Harry glaring at the three Weasleys.

"You could be the weapon," George said before he thought about it, "The one the Order keeps talking about."

Harry's face drained of color, "No," He said, "I've been working with Dumbledore to prevent that. I'm not the weapon. Your father was guarding the weapon last night when I—Voldemort's snake got him."

Ginny elbowed her brother hard in the ribs, "We know you aren't the weapon Harry," She said, "You can't posses someone unless they have no body. I should know."

Harry nodded and their eyes met with a mutual understanding between them. She understood what it was like, to have Voldemort's sick, tainted presence in her head. It was comforting in a way to know that someone understood.

"Thanks Ginny," Harry said.

"You're welcome." She nodded.

The Twins went back to the room while Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to wander around the hospital. In the psyche ward Harry was practically attacked by a man claiming Harry to be some sort of demon while a nurse calmly sedated the man with her wand. They ran into Gildoroy Lockheart much to Ron's dismay and were ushered into the room taking unwanted autographs from the former celebrity. They Ran into Neville while Lockhart was taking his meds and forced into sleep and learned firsthand the sad hard truth of the cruelty of the Cruciatus curse. Ron watched Neville's mother with a white face while he and his Grandmother explained what had happened. The quartet were silent after they bid the psyche ward goodbye.

"You did that to Lockheart with a broken wand," Ginny deadpanned in shock.

"And if he ever gets his memory back I'm screwed," Ron nodded just as in shock as she was.

"It's rather sad," Hermione commented, "He was the most popular Wizard for an entire year, and we're the only ones to ever visit him?"

"What about Neville?" Ginny asked quietly, "I never knew, did you guys…?"

Harry looked at the floor guiltily, "I learned about it from Dumbledore."

"We didn't know," Hermione said shaking her head.

Ginny frowned and looked back at the psyche ward, "You know what guys? Go without me. I'll catch up."

The trio nodded watching Ginny turn back to the psyche ward no doubt to talk to Neville. When they reached Mr. Weasley's room they found Remus and Tonks sitting and talking to another very upset patient and a couple of Healers surrounding Mr. Weasley's bed.

"It's tough with this particular wound," One said to Mrs. Weasley, "The venom will make it take twice as long as normal to close properly. But putting stitches in…" She glared at one of her colleagues, "Was not approved by the Warden so we'll have to re-close the wound all over again. He should be able to go home tomorrow."

Mrs. Weasley still had a dark frown on her face when her husband smiled at her but the Twins were grinning from amusement. They all left the ward, Minus Dumbledore, with Tonks and Remus keeping watch. Remus spoke quietly to Harry about the man they'd been talking too. He'd been bitten by a werewolf and so was infected with lycanthrope. Harry listened sympathetically and put a hand on Remus's shoulder in quiet support even if he didn't totally understand.

When they reached the Burrow Madam Pomfrey was there to make sure she could check his healing progress on schedule. Mrs. Weasley walked off to rant to the Grangers about Mr. Weasley's little 'experiment' in Muggle healing methods. They helped her calm down as the told her about what stitches were and the fact that they did work for Muggles but maybe not for magical venom.

The other children feeling happier then that previous night played an exciting game of Exploding Snap in the kitchen while Madam Pomfrey poked and prodded Harry legs. She made him stand without his cane and walk a few inches without support. She caught him when he cried out in pain and fell. The game stopped as the others in the room looked at him in alarm.

"You haven't been practicing your exercises," Madam Pomfrey accused as she helped him sit down.

"I've been busy," Harry said with a wince.

Madam Pomfrey's expression darkened, "Mr. Potter, busy or not you need to be continuing your physical exercises to continue to improve the movement and strength in your legs. By all accounts your legs should have healed months ago! It is almost as if you feel you don't deserve to heal! The mind is half the battle in healing if you don't want to become fully healthy your magic won't let you become a hundred percent cured!"

Harry's jaw snapped shut and he frowned, "What do you mean my magic won't let me?" He asked.

Madam Pomfrey sighed, "Healing for wizards is very different from healing with Muggles. We have a different energy or life-force that protects us and plays a major role in healing us and allowing us to age so much more slowly than Muggles. Our minds and our emotions guide that ability. Your legs show a lot more progress than you're experiencing which is contradictory and makes very little medical sense!" She placed her hands on her hips, "So I must conclude that there is either something blocking your healing in your magic or that you simply feel on a subconscious level that you don't deserve to be cured."

"Maybe it isn't subconscious," Harry said quietly.

Madam Pomfrey's mouth dropped open in shock, "Mr. Potter--!"

Harry glared at her, "Maybe I have done things that don't deserve redemption! Maybe I deserve the punishment that my legs force on me. Maybe I'll never be cured!" He snapped fear and anger mixed in his emotions as he stood grabbing his cane and walking with it out of the room as quickly as his legs allowed.

The room was silent and Madam Pomfrey sat down, "Oh dear," She said with worry, "Maybe I said that wrong."

The children looked at each other, Ron and Hermione stared at the door in worry. Hermione detached herself from the group touching Ron's shoulder and looking at him pleadingly. He nodded and sat down pulling his family back to the game reluctantly while Madam Pomfrey sat and thought about what she may or may not have said.

Hermione found Harry on the ground in the study his chest heaving as he supported himself with his arms. The cane lay beside him untouched as his shoulders rose and shook. His body rose a few inches his legs shaking uncontrollably. He gasped in pain and fell with an angered and desperate cry.

"Damnit!" He snarled, "God damnit!"

His arms tensed again as he tried to push himself to his feet a second time. Hermione was frozen in her spot in the doorway as she watched a lump forming in her throat. He fell a second time and yelled in pain.

She was across the floor in seconds kneeling next to him and pulling him into her arms.

"Fuck," Harry gasped grabbing Hermione and digging his fingers into the back of her shirt clutching her too him tightly, "Damnit. She's right," He sobbed, "She's fucking right."

Hermione closed her eyes as she held him.

"I deserve this," Harry gabbled on, "I deserve to feel pain for all the crimes I committed. I deserve this. I don't want to be crippled."

"You don't," Hermione said burying her fingers in the back of his hair, "It was self defense."

"It wasn't," Harry cried, "I hunted them, as they hunted me. I hunted down my pursuers, I killed them, brutally! Burning them alive. Like witches at the stake!" He spat disgustedly, "I hate them, all of them for what they did to me. For what they live to do. I'm just as bad as him."

"Stop it," Hermione cried, "This is pointless! What happened over the summer…" She pulled away from him so she could look at him at arm's length, "You did what you had to do! You're not a monster Harry; you never could be. Your self-hatred is proof of that!"

"I should have died Hermione," Harry said quietly, "So many times, I should have died."

"But you didn't." Hermione said quietly, "and I--," She looked away from him dropping her hands to her sides and slumped, "I never would have forgiven you if you died. If you…left me."

"Hermione…?" Harry asked.

Her head shot up and pure determined fire lit her eyes, "You don't deserve this. So don't you dare believe that."

"Then why aren't I--?" Harry began.

"Healing?" Hermione asked, "I don't know. But I know it's not because of that."

"Even if you say it Hermione, doesn't change the guilt I feel the memory…or the blood on my hands," He chuckled darkly, "I'm fifteen. This is wrong and I know it. It's all fucked up."

"Yeah," Hermione sighed looking up at the doorway where Ron stood uncertainly watching, "It all is. I wish we could be eleven again. But we can't can we?"

Ron turned away and walked away from the door silently deciding not to enter and not to acknowledge he'd just seen Harry at one of his weakest moments. The vision of him trying to rise and blaming himself would haunt the redhead for a while.

"Innocence," Harry sighed, "I miss it."

"Come here then," Hermione held out her arms and Harry gratefully fell back into her embrace, "Let's try to stay children, while we still can."

Harry nodded closing his eyes. She stroked her fingers through his air and leaned her head against his own. There had been a lot of stress that day. A lot of fear and uncertainty. The boy in her arms always took everything upon himself as though all the wrong in the world was his responsibility. He must have been tired. She let him drift away from her arms to her lap lying on the cold grey wood floor of the Grimmuald manor.

She waited for Ron and he didn't disappoint entering the room when he sensed Harry was asleep. He sat down next to her and took her hand in his own with a tired sigh.

"You always do this," He said quietly, "Look after us."

"You two give me no choice the way you attract trouble," Hermione said quietly.

"Thank you," Ron said quietly.

"I expect good Christmas presents from both of you," Hermione grinned, "Nothing useless you hear me?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "Of course 'Mione."

"Good," Hermione smiled, "I hope there's a library in this place."

Ron rolled his eyes, "What is it with you and libraries?"

"I need to start researching Wizard injuries, for my own piece of mind," She said quietly, "What Madam Pomfrey said disturbs me."

Ron nodded, "Yeah, it disturbs me too." He looked at Harry, "He's a frustrating one."

"Yeah," Hermione smiled and squeezed Ron's hand, "But he's our best friend and we love him right?"

"Yeah," Ron sighed, "We do."

"We love you too you know," Hermione said tipping her head so that she could get a better look into his eyes.

Ron blushed and looked away embarrassed, "Yeah, I know that too."

"Good," Hermione said.

The smiled a little at each other and settled for a wait. Sirius Black found the three later that evening. All of them were asleep with Hermione sitting leaning against the wall, Ron leaning his head on Hermione's shoulder his arms around her shoulders and Harry sleeping in Hermione's lap. All in all Sirius dearly wished he had a camera for blackmail purposes only and laid a dusty blanket over the trio deciding to tell Molly to leave some food in the cold box for them to re-heat later. They deserved the rest.

So a bit of Fluff at the end I suppose. Didn't mean to do it, just happened. I love how the character development has taken a life of its own in this story despite my initial plans for it. The type of relationships that are developing between the characters is not where I first wanted to go but I can accept it based on how they have developed. Hermione and Harry in particular. I know I sort of sped up the whole Hospital experiance but I really felt it needed to be done as such and hope I can again be forgiven. The reason for the legs being as they are will be explained very soon, thank you all for your paitience. Hope you enjoyed it!

-Red