Chapter 25: Scars Recover
Harry's head felt heavy as he blinked his eyes open. His vision was blurry and the light from the lamps hurt his head. He could feel someone's hand holding his own. He turned to see a sleeping redhead. She sat in a chair with her head on his bed. A few red strands crossed her face. Even in her sleep she looked stressed. Harry lifted his hand to push the strands away, but immediately felt a sharp pain stretch throughout his body. He couldn't help it, he flinched in pain. Ginny jumped awake.
"Harry!" Ginny reached for his face. Harry could see the worry in her face as she reached for him.
"What happened?" His eyes grew wide as he noted blood on the side of her head and shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"It's not my blood." Harry felt a sense of relief. "Do you remember what happened?" Ginny held Harry's hand tight.
"Kind of. We were in London. Someone screamed and… and I… I don't remember after that." Harry turned to Ginny, she was holding back tears.
"Someone shot you." Ginny whispered, holding his hand tighter. Her words didn't make sense. Shot? "A muggle recognized you and shot you. Ron blasted him back. Then the aurors jumped in. I don't know what happened next. Ron appreviated you here, and Hermione took me." Ginny stroked the back of Harry's hand with her thumb. Harry looked towards the ceiling. He was shot, actually shot. That was the last thing he'd expect.
"Madame Pomfrey said she could heal it, but you'd feel awful for a little bit. She also said she's never had to heal a bullet wound before." Ginny paused. Harry felt her thumb stop moving across his hand. "She also noticed your scar. The one from the Battle of Hogwarts." Harry automatically looked down to his chest. For the first time he noticed he was shirtless, covered with nothing but bandages on his left shoulder that moved across his chest. He couldn't see his lightning scar under the bandages, but he knew it was still there from when Voldemort killed him in the Forbidden Forest.
"I asked her not to tell. She promised she wouldn't say a word and that if you wanted, she thinks she can heal it - or at least make it disappear." Harry listened to Ginny as he silently looked down at his chest. The bandages around his chest had a slight ting of red showing from underneath. He nodded without looking at Ginny.
"I'd like that."
"Ok, I'll let her know." Ginny went to leave, but Harry grabbed her hand. A pain went through his chest at the extension, but he ignored it.
"Not yet. Stay." Ginny sat back down. "Do me a favor?"
"Sure." Ginny squeezed his hand.
"Get my jacket." Ginny gave him a puzzled look but complied. Harry's jacket was ripped apart and covered in his blood, but someone had folded it and left it on a chair by his bed. Ginny draped the jacket over Harry.
"My parents are here. They're with Ron and Hermione. Madam Pomfrey made them leave until you woke up. But Ron asked if I could stay." Harry reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the little paper bag. Harry tried to open the bag, but another sharp pain went up his left side.
"Let me get Madame Pomfrey." Ginny stood up, noticing his wince. "She said as soon as you were up to get her."
"Wait. First open." Harry held the bag in his hand and smiled up at Ginny.
"Can't it wait. I really think –" Ginny stopped as Harry slowly shook his head.
"No. I almost didn't get to give you this." Ginny's face hardened.
"Don't say that." Somehow her voice was soft, but harsh at the same time. "You are not allowed to die on me. Not now, not ever." Harry couldn't help but give her a little smile.
"I won't if you won't. Open it please." Ginny sighed before opening the bag.
"It's beautiful." She smiled pulling the bracelet out, letting the charm dangle. "Thank you." Ginny stood and leaned forward to kiss Harry. "I'd punch you if you weren't already hurt."
"Harry smiled and grabbed Ginny's hand. "I love you." Ginny smiled.
"I love you too. Now I'm getting Pomfrey, no arguing." Harry nodded and watched Ginny leave the Hospital Wing.
A few minutes later, Harry could hear multiple footsteps walking towards him. As the doors opened, Harry realized he was practically naked from the waist up and tried to lift the blanket up, but again felt the sharp pain. Ginny was the first to reach his bed. She quickly lifted the blanket up, covering most of his chest. She winked at him as she stepped back to let Madame Pomfrey in. Harry loved that without saying a word, she knew what he was thinking.
"Harry dear!" Mrs. Weasley reached the other side of his bed, followed by Mr. Weasley. "Thank goodness you're alright."
"I need space." Madame Pomfrey ushered the Weasleys and Hermione back. She waved her wand over Harry's chest. "How's the pain?"
"Constant but gets worse when I move my arm." Madame Pomfrey nodded before walking to her cabinet. When she returned, she gave him two potions, one for the pain and one to help his body heal. After he drank both, she ushered the Weasleys and Hermione behind a curtain so she could treat Harry's wound. As she pulled his bandages off, Harry could feel the pain slowly vanishing through his chest. Once the bandages were off, Harry could see a bright red six point star wound. The new wound was an inch from his new lightning scar. He could feel Madame Pomfrey's cold hands as she analyzed the wound.
"Healing quite nicely. I don't anticipate any scarring or additional issues. I'm just going to redress it and put more of my salve on it." Madame Pomfrey's voice dropped to a whisper. "Did Miss Weasley mention our conversation from earlier?" Harry smiled. He was grateful for her silence. While Ginny, Ron and Hermione all knew about his scar, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley did not.
"She did. And I'd really appreciate it if you could make it disappear." Madame Pomfrey nodded.
"No promises, but we can always try." With that she walked away and returned with a jar with a green goo. As she opened it, Harry could smell it. It was an awful smell. He could only compare it to a mix of sulfur and the locker room after a long, hard practice. Once both salve and goo were placed, she asked Harry to sit up so she could wrap him. Harry was still in pain as the bandages wrapped themselves around his torso. With a flick of her wand, the curtain disappeared. "
"Visiting hours end at 8 o'clock. No exceptions. Mr. Potter will need his rest."
The Weasleys and Hermione stayed with Harry until 8. Ginny had left for a few minutes after her mother made her leave to shower. She returned less than a half hour later, her hair still soaking wet. So much so, her shirt was becoming damp where the two touched. Hermione took pity on her and dried her hair with her wand as she sat next to Harry. A few hours later, Madame Pomfrey ushered them out. It wasn't long after they left that Harry fell asleep.
The next morning Ginny lay on the right side of Harry's hospital bed. She was snuggled up against him as he read the Daily Prophet. The headline
"Potter Shot". The article continued down to explain the events in London and even had a paragraph explaining what a gun was and how it was fired. The last sentence stated that Harry was "expected to make a full recovery, but the extent of his injuries and location are currently unknown." As Harry turned the page his stomach rumbled.
"I can go get you something more to eat." Ginny looked up towards Harry, half expecting him to decline her offer.
"I can wait for lunch." Ginny nodded and lowered her head back down.
"When is Madame Pomfrey letting you out." Harry folded the newspaper and threw it to the empty chair.
"Monday afternoon. She thinks with a few more treatments, my scar will be gone too. But I don't have to stay here for that."
"Good." Ginny smiled as she twirled the charm bracelet around her wrist. "Ron didn't actually know about the birthstone, did he?" Harry chuckled.
"No. The cashier mentioned it."
"I knew it." Ginny laughed as she wrapped her arm carefully around Harry's waist. As she did the Hospital Wing door opened. Ginny sat up immediately and moved to the edge of the bed. She knew Madame Pomfrey would not approve of her and Harry's previous position. But it wasn't Madame Pomfrey, but Dudley Dursley.
"Dudley?" Harry sat up straight in his hospital bed. "What are you doing here?" Dudley shuffled in awkwardly as he looked around.
"Well…I know how bad hospital food can be, so I thought I'd bring you something from the Great Hall." Dudley lifted his arms to show a plate covered in a napkin. He brought it to Harry who couldn't help but hesitantly take it. "It's not much just a few muffins and such from breakfast."
"Thank you." Harry lifted the napkin to review four muffins, a handful of sausages and two waffles. In Harry's memory he could not remember a time that Dudley had willingly given him food. The last food he could remember Dudley giving him was his half eaten ice cream at the zoo. That was before Hogwarts, before Harry even knew he was a wizard. Dudley had only given him it because he was getting a brand new one.
"Welcome. I'll let you rest. Bye." Dudley left quickly after that.
"That was nice of him." Ginny stood up to come closer to Harry. Harry just stared at the plate in front of him. "But was it just me or was he being a little awkward."
"Yea, he was. But he's never given me food ever. Only taken it. Maybe he felt guilty." Harry took a bite of one of the muffins before offering the plate to Ginny.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, especially after the last chapter, but life gets crazy busy sometimes. Please leave me a review! Especially as we are nearing the end of the story. Thank you.