Hey everyone,

so here is another chapter. :) I've got at least another one coming for you in the next few hours..

Thanks to 112Charlie112 for the review.


Chapter 52:

James had always hated St Mungo's. He had spent too much of his childhood within these walls. He made his way to his father's ward. It was always his father. He was always getting himself injured at work. One of the healers smiled at him, "who are you here to see, love?"

"Charlus Potter," James replied to the kind looking witch.

"This way…" The witch led him through the ward, "be prepared, he's looking slightly worse for wear."

James nodded. He'd heard it before. Mr Potter had a private room on the ward. James walked in to find his mother sat at the side of the bed, holding Charlus' hand. Charlus was asleep. He was a pale grey colour and there were dark bruises under his eyes. "Ah James, you're here," Mrs Potter smiled.

James nodded, "how is he mum?"

"He's… he's recovering. We won't know much until he wakes up." Mrs Potter's eyes were full of tears and her face was red from the tears she had already cried.

"Is there anything you need? Anything I can do?" James asked.

"Could you… could you send an owl to Lucretia and ask if she could look after the girls for a few days?" Mrs Potter cried.

James nodded, poor Doreen and Thia. "This will be very hard for them after their parents' deaths."

"Indeed. I don't… I don't want them to see him like this," Mrs Potter worried.

James nodded, understanding completely.

James made his way out of the private room to find a healer. "Excuse me, where can I find an owl?"

"Erm, downstairs at main reception. The witch there will take your message to be sent for you."

"Thanks," James replied.


Downstairs the main reception was incredibly busy. James paid no attention to all the people around the atrium. "Excuse me, could you send a letter for me?"

"Yes of course my dear," the old witch replied, handing him parchment and quill.

James quickly wrote;

Dear Aunt Lucretia,

Father is at St Mungo's. His condition isn't good. I'll let you know when he wakes up. Mother has asked that I ask you to look after the girls for a few days. She doesn't want to worry them.

Lots of Love,

James. X

He sealed the letter and filled in his aunt's address on the front. "Which patient's name is it under?"

"Mr Charlus Potter," James replied.

At the mention of Mr Potter's name the atrium became chaotic. James quickly realised that all the random people stood around were in fact reporters. They quickly began snapping photographs of him on their cameras and asking him questions. "You must be James Potter, Charlus Potter's son. Do you have anything you'd like to say to those responsible?"

"Is your father ok?"

"How's his condition?"

"There are rumours he is deteriorating. Any comment?"

"Are you worried?"

James sighed, "I have no comment at this time…" He went to walk away but then decided to say, "this is a hospital, where sick people come to get better. There are people saying goodbye for the last time in this building… there are people worried sick in this building… you will have your story. That is inevitable. But please show some respect and causing such a scene. These people don't need this." James walked away. His father would be disappointed. Rule number one – never talk to the press.


James spent several days at his father's bedside. Charlus had received flowers and get well cards from so many different people that James and Dorea had lost count. Two days following the incident with the reporters, a healer came into the small, private room, "I'm sorry to bother you Mrs Potter, but the press they… they're causing something of a disturbance downstairs and we don't really know what to do."

Mrs Potter sighed. She went to stand up but James lay a hand on her shoulder, "I'll go."

James followed the witch out of the door and through the hospital until they were in the atrium, "Excuse me, if you would please follow me into the courtyard I will inform you about my father's condition." The press quickly followed him into the courtyard, "I will not take any questions at this time but I will tell you what I know."

The reporters nodded eagerly, "very well."

"Mr Charlus Potter, my father, organised a raid several nights ago as you well know. Seven of his team died and will be greatly missed. My father along with another eight aurors were admitted to St Mungo's in critical conditions. My father had been hit with a curse that the healers had no prior knowledge of and as such this has proved very challenging for them. My mother and I are very grateful to the healers of this hospital for their hard work. My father appears to be gradually recovering, although we will not know the extent of his injuries until he wakes up. We are hoping that he will wake soon but the healers cannot give us an expected time. I will keep you informed of any changes in his condition, I promise."

One reporter asked a quick question, "is there any chance of a photo of Mr Potter for the prophet?"

"My mother is with him and is very emotional. This is a very turbulent time for my family. You will understand that I mean no disrespect when I say that my father's room, his person and my mother's pain must be kept private."

The reporter merely nodded before asking, "What about a picture of yourself, sir?"

"Well you've already had several of those," James laughed. "If you wish it, you may have one. Although I don't understand why you'd want one."


James knew that soon he would have to return to school. His quidditch match was at the end of the week. It had already been postponed several times due to bad weather. The healer was checking his father's condition. James looked up and saw a copy of the prophet in his hand. "Mother, I'm just going to go get a copy of the paper." James made his way down to the hospital shop and quickly bought a paper. He refused to look at it until he was sat in the privacy of his father's room.

He sat in the large armchair that he had slept in over the last few nights and began reading the front cover;

Everyone's Talking About Mr James Potter…

Charlus Potter's son, James (age 12) has taken the role of the head of the family without much difficulty whilst his father has been recovering in St Mungo's hospital. On Charlus' first day at the hospital, Mr James Potter, reprimanded reporters for their lack of consideration saying, "this is a hospital, where sick people come to get better. There are people saying goodbye for the last time in this building… there are people worried sick in this building… you will have your story. That is inevitable. But please show some respect and causing such a scene. These people don't need this." As if this was not authoritive enough, James spoke to the reporters yesterday on his family's behalf. He told us that his father's condition appeared to be improving, although nothing would really be known until Mr Potter awakes. When asked if it would be possible to get a picture of Mr C. Potter, James kindly yet strongly replied, "My mother is with him and is very emotional. This is a very turbulent time for my family. You will understand that I mean no disrespect when I say that my father's room, his person and my mother's pain must be kept private." With Mr Charlus Potter ageing gracefully, it is interesting to see the younger Mr Potter step so comfortably into his father's footsteps. "He is incredibly mature for a boy of twelve," said one healer. If Charlus Potter were awake today, undoubtedly he would be very proud of his son.

James laughed at the picture of himself stood awkwardly in the hospital courtyard.


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