The next week passed almost like a dream to Harry. He spent most of it in thought and was incredibly pleased that Andrew didn't bother him all that much. Remus must have said something he thought. He relived every minute of the battle as well as nearly all of the year previous to it. It was painful, but he did feel better for it, better than he had done in ages. The raw, gripping agony over each individual death had faded now and although he could never forget it, nor could he yet forgive Andrew for denying him the memorial, he felt as if he could possibly let go of the grief.

Having sorted that his thoughts turned towards Remus's comment. The man was right, he needed some time at home and to see the school and its workers before it opened. If he wanted to open it in September, he needed to be out of here, really, at the beginning of August. It was now into June. That gave him two months. Challenge accepted.

When Andrew came for evening checks that night, Harry asked if he could have Remus visit. This request coming after a week of refusals meant that Andrew complied happily.

"Hiya cub" Remus greeted him the next day.

"You're on Remus" Harry replied with a grin.

Remus smiled. "You do know I wasn't referring to a day visit don't you? You need to be fully released, not to come back, with Andrew's permission."

"I guessed as much. Not going to be easy though! He's as bad as Poppy!"

"As all good Healers are. You've got two months and three weeks-"

"Make that two months" Harry interrupted. "I need to be home at the beginning of August."

"If you say so Harry. Two months it is. Shall I tell Andrew that's your deadline?"

"No. I want to do this properly. He might act differently if you tell him. I have to get him to release me because I'm fit to go not because he feels guilty about something."

"That's my boy Harry. Ginny thought it was a wonderful idea by the way, she's mentally rooting for you I'm sure!"

"You didn't tell anyone else?"

"Minerva overheard me, but I've sworn her to secrecy. Poppy won't know if that's what's bothering you."

Harry relaxed. He could tell everyone afterwards but now they'd all try and stop him. He felt like he hadn't for months right now: full of energy and determined. People would think he was mad and try and stop him.

"What's been going on at the school? I feel very left out of it nowadays!"

"Classrooms are all built and each professor is putting the finishing touches to the inside decoration I think. Neville's about half way through stocking the greenhouses and I believe they were going to start on the inside of the accommodation blocks today or tomorrow" Remus replied cheerfully.

"I'll be able to see it soon. I can't wait!"

"That you will Harry, that you will. Ginny mentioned that Bill was looking for another job. Apparently he wants to be nearer his family now and settle down. I know you hadn't said this before but what about adding Arithmancy or Runes as OWL courses? We'll have plenty of space in the main block."

"Bill's giving up curse-breaking?"

"Yes. I found that out a while ago when I went to visit Fred soon after you came here but I'd forgotten about it until Ginny mentioned it. He'd make a great teacher I'm sure."

"He would. Does he want to teach?"

"Why don't you ask him? Challenge one: get Andrew to allow a near stranger to visit you. I'll sort the Weasley end."

"Remus that would be fantastic!"

"Don't thank me yet, I'm not the one with a protective Healer to convince!"

Harry thought hard about the best course of action once Remus had left but he still wasn't sure. Go like a bull in a china shop and ask Andrew for Bill to visit right out or go a bit slower and start with more people known to him and work his way out? Perhaps if he asked for Poppy today and Minerva tomorrow, both people that Andrew knew, he could move onto Hermione on Thursday and then Neville, claiming they were good friends of his he hadn't seen in ages. Perhaps after that he could try Luna and then Fred and Bill would be the obvious choice. He could say that now he'd sorted out the war in his mind he needed to talk to certain people. Luna had lost her father and Bill and Fred their brother. Plan decided he spent the rest of the afternoon reading a book that Remus had left him.

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When Andrew turned up for evening checks he found that again Harry had apparently eaten his dinner, as he had been doing for the last couple of days. Harry had fairly politely requested that he be left alone to eat the first day and much as he wished to stay and make sure Harry ate properly, Andrew had reluctantly agreed. He had added on another spell onto his checks though to make sure the food was eaten.

There must have some reason for Harry's attitude to have done such an abrupt u-turn and Andrew didn't know what it was. Given the length of time Harry had been uncooperative he didn't feel like he could trust Harry fully not to be pretending just to get Andrew off his back. So far though, everything showed up properly.

Once Harry had taken his potions he turned to Andrew before he could leave.

"What time is Remus coming tomorrow?" he asked.

"About two he said. Why do you ask?"

"Could he bring Poppy with him?"

"You want Poppy to visit?"

Harry nodded and Andrew could see no reason to deny the request. He did however realise this was a perfect opening for a question he'd been wanting to ask.

"Maybe. Why the sudden change in attitude? You've gone from ignoring everyone to telling Remus not to come to wanting Poppy. That's a bit of a shift."

Harry considered his answer carefully. No way was he telling Andrew about the bet. Suddenly a comment from Remus last week sprang to mind and it was perfect.

"Remus said something to me last week. He said if I wanted to get control of my life, I needed to get out of hospital first. I know Poppy really wants to see me and I feel bad for making her wait for so long. You know she'll be good. Please?"

"I don't see a problem with a short visit."

"Yay! Thanks!"

"You're welcome Harry. Don't make me regret allowing it. Now you should get some sleep, you'll need to be well rested if you're entertaining tomorrow!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes Andrew."

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The following day when Poppy arrived with Remus, the first thing she did was to give Harry a huge hug.

"Oh Harry it's so good to see you! How are you doing?"

"I'm alright, all things considered" Harry replied with a smile.

"All things considered? What do you mean by that?" Poppy asked sharply.

"Well in case you hadn't noticed I'm still in the intensive care ward of a hospital, which by its very definition must mean I'm far from doing well! But I feel great. I don't know why I'm still here if I'm honest."

Remus let out a snort but Poppy was studying Harry's medical chart.

"As you so rightly put it Harry you're here because of the extent of your injuries. One of these potions can only be prescribed to ICU patients, that's why you're here."

"Trust Poppy to come visiting and end up in Healer mode" Remus threw in. "Did you want anything specific with her?"

"I thought she might want to see how I was doing. But since you're holding that chart, would you be able to translate it into simple English for me? I've been too afraid to ask Andrew!"

"Andrew's a big softie really. But yes I can do. Is there anything particular you want to know?"

"The thing that's keeping me here mainly. I'm getting bored just lying in bed all the time, I want to be out doing things and I don't see why I can't. I might not be able to walk but that's what the chair's for! I should be out and doing things."

"Harry Potter don't let me ever catch you saying that again! What you should be doing is whatever Andrew tells you to, and that is certainly not being out and about! This is your potion schedule, you can see they get marked off when each batch is taken along with notes where any extra have been added or changes made. You see that one?" She pointed to a column labelled "Circ T". "That's the watery blue one you always have to take first. It stands for Circulation Thickener and it's the one that stops the crystals in your bloodstream doing you any further harm. Throughout the day, the crystals can chip away at your internal cell walls leaving gaps where they and other things can get in and out. Cuts in your blood vessel walls can lead to internal bleeding and very bad things. This potion builds a sort of extra wall that the crystals can't get through as easily."

"I'm always going to have these crystals right? So I'm always going to have to take this?" Harry asked.

"Yes and no. Over time, your body learns how to create this itself, the potion kind of merges with your core. But it can't do it indefinitely so you will need to return for boosters every so often."

"And this is the reason why I'm still in intensive care even though I'm fine?"

"Yes. Just missing one round of it could make you very ill Harry. There might not be time to get you from another ward to here."

"Oh. And the others?"

"Core recovery and nerve repair. You've only got a few more rounds of nerve repair according to this. You should be off that by the end of the week. The core recovery you should have recognised from when Remus was on it for all of those months, weren't you?" She turned to her left but there was no one there. "He's probably just nipped out somewhere, he'll be back don't worry."

"Yeah, we were having a pretty intense conversation which I'm sure he's already had. How's work going?"

"With the school? Hardest thing at the moment is keeping Remus from doing too much! He wants everything doing perfectly and everything doing by yesterday. We tend to keep him busy with little tasks all day do Minerva and I! It allows the others some breathing space." Poppy chuckled.

"I can imagine! Tell me more!"

When Andrew came in two hours later to ensure Harry got some rest Harry had had what he considered to be the best afternoon in recent memory.

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The next few days fell into a rhythm for Harry with reading in the morning, Remus turning up just after lunch and then different friends turning up in the afternoon and staying until Andrew kicked them out and made Harry rest again until dinner where Harry would request his following day's visitor. It had all gone well so far but it was all going to be put to the test soon. Harry wanted to invite Bill tomorrow.

"Bill Weasley? I've not heard you talk of him" Andrew asked when he queried it.

"I know his family well and I want to get to know him. He's been working in Egypt but is back now. Why would he be any different to Luna or Neville? Please?"

Sometimes Andrew cursed Harry's logic. "Alright, but I'll need to talk to him first. It's not as if he knows you."

"Thanks a lot Andrew."

Challenge one complete.