Disclaimer: I own nothing.

~~~

"Hi, Draco," Kayla greeted the blond boy as she and Remus came into the hospital wing. Kayla had brought Peachy, who she placed on Harry's bed. Then she gave Draco a hug, and he let her, as she was one of the few people whom he would trust not to hurt him or Harry. The adults had been explaining to him, a little bit at a time, what had gone on while Draco and Harry were away, but Draco had not yet come to trust them fully again, and he had not yet told them anything of his and Harry's experiences.

"Hi, Kayla," Draco said, sitting up a little on his bed. He'd taken to moving more slowly since he'd awoken from his coma. The smallest, quickest of movements usually caused the most pain. "Remus."

"Hello," Remus said, nodding at Draco. He wasn't quite sure how to act around the boy because one minute, Draco would be calm, and then the next, he would lash out at somebody. "How are you doing, Draco?"

"Alive. Awake." Draco glanced at Harry, who lay still on his bed. "He was moving his hands a little earlier." He looked at Kayla. "Maybe if you put Peachy under his hand, he'll pet her." Kayla's eyes brightened, and she lifted Harry's hand, putting the cat under it. After a few seconds, Harry's fingers unconsciously grazed across Peachy's fur.

"Daddy! Did you see?" Kayla shrieked, excitedly, tugging on Remus's robes. Remus chuckled a little. "Is he going to wake up now, Daddy?"

"We'll just have to see, sweetie," Remus replied, lowering himself to a chair. Kayla climbed into his lap, laying her head on his shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want to go home and stay with Dad and Sean? There's not much for you to do here."

"But Daddy," Kayla whined. "What if Harry wakes up? He likes seeing me after he wakes up!"

"I know he does, Kay." Remus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just don't want you to get bored." And I doubt he'll wake up while we're here, he thought. Especially if he hears her complaining about not having anything to do.

"I won't get bored. Can I have my coloring book?" Remus removed a shrunken book and box of crayons from his robes, and he returned them to their normal size before giving them to Kayla. "Draco? Want to color with me?"

"Not now, Kayla, maybe later," Draco mumbled, laying back down on his bed and closing his eyes.

Kayla sat down on the floor and began to color a picture. Remus moved his chair closer to the bed and conjured up a book to read. Peachy rested on the bed, next to Harry's hand.

Madam Pomfrey soon came in to check on the boys. She went over to Draco, who lay still on his bed, though not quite asleep.

"Do you want anything for the pain?" Madam Pomfrey asked, softly, as she checked Draco's vitals. The blond boy shook his head, sleepily.

Suddenly, they heard a quiet moan. Everyone's heads snapped up to look at Harry, and Draco bolted upright in his bed, ignoring the pain. Harry lay motionless on his bed, except that he was turning his head a little and flexing his fingers. His eyes were open, also, but they had an empty look to them. Madam Pomfrey hurried over to the raven-haired boy and quickly checked his vitals, all the while asking him questions.

"Dear, can you hear me?" she asked. Harry nodded his head. "Can you tell me your name?" Harry opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

Harry Potter, he told himself. I know my name. Why can't I say it?

"Oh, my¼" Madam Pomfrey's face showed an expression of surprise, and she hurried to ask more 'yes or no' questions. "Are you in a lot of pain?" Harry nodded. "Can you move your arms and legs?" He experimented a little, and they found that he could move his left arm and his left leg, but not his right. "Mmm-hmm¼ All right, do you know who you are?" Harry nodded. "Good¼ Harry, I'm going to give you a potion for your pain, all right? It may make you a little drowsy." She poured a few drops of liquid into Harry's mouth.

"Poppy, what's going on?" Remus wondered, curiously. The matron made sure that Harry was comfortable, and she made Draco lay back down (against his will, he immediately fell asleep). Then she went over to where Remus sat with Kayla in his lap.

"Remus, I believe that you, Sirius, Albus, Severus, and I must discuss this together." Remus nodded.

~~~

Half an hour later, Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, and Severus all sat in the headmaster's office, to discuss Harry's condition. Sean and Kayla were downstairs in the dungeons, with Katie.

"When Harry awoke this afternoon, he was unable to speak," Madam Pomfrey explained to everyone. "He was in a lot of pain, of course. I asked him some questions and found that he couldn't move his right arm and leg." Sirius's eyes widened, and he subconsciously clutched Remus's hand tightly.

"But he wasn't disoriented?" Severus asked. "He seemed like he knew what was going on?"

"Yes." Madam Pomfrey and Severus shared a look of understanding.

"What is it?" Remus asked, worriedly. The matron looked at him and Sirius.

"Harry has had a magical stroke. That happens when a wizard is completely drained of their magical energy, though why he was drained, we still don't know. I expect that it has something to do with how he and Draco escaped.

"A magical stroke is, in some aspects, the same as a physical stroke in the Muggle world. Some of the brain cells die, and this can cause loss of movement in various parts of the body; in Harry's case, his arm and leg. It can also cause speech loss, meaning that the victim of the stroke must learn to speak again. This isn't the case with Harry. No, he can't speak right now, but I think it is more of a problem with his vocal chords than anything else. When he tried to speak, no sound came from his mouth.

"Unlike a physical stroke, magical strokes are usually cured quickly. Within a few weeks, or even days, he should regain the use of his arm and leg. With his voice, I won't know until I test him more thoroughly. Aside from that, he is extremely fatigued and weak. Because of the stroke, he may not be able to do some magic until his energy has been fully regained."

"But he'll be all right?" Sirius asked, hopefully. The nurse nodded.

"Physically, at least. Mentally¼ We'll know, in time."