AN – this is just a little note saying thank you to my reviewers, there are only two of you so far, but I really enjoy the encouragement.  This is also my disclaimer – I don't own anything except for Angela Dumbledore.  The rest of the characters belong to people wiser than I.  On with the story à

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Remus and Ginny made their way to the infirmary. "Madame Promphrey!" Ginny shouted, seeing the familiar nurse tending to Petunia. 

"Oh my. The poor dear…"

"He has a broken arm, wrist and several ribs.  Cuts and bruises everywhere and a concussion. I stopped the bleeding, but he has lost so much… I set the arm the best I could. I didn't put a numbing charm on him because of his concussion – I wasn't sure if I could…." Ginny said filling in the nurse as clearly as she could without letting the tears fall again.  Right now she had to fix Harry – she could cry later. She helped settle Harry and began to put salve on the lash marks covering his back.  The marks looked like they had started to heal before they were reopened up and several were severally infected.  "Mrs. Dursley, Harry's aunt, has some severe bruising on her face.  She was unconscious when Ron found her. 

"Alright.  You've did a good job dear," Poppy told Ginny.  She looked at her and then back at the young man who had "visited" her infirmary so many times.  "Everyone OUT! Out! I can't fix these two with so many people pacing about.  Madame Pomphrey escorted everyone out, gathered her potions and things, and then closed the curtains around her, her two patients, and the young women whom she knew would never leave short of the apocalypse (and maybe even then would move the heavens to stay beside Harry.)

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"What's taking so long?" Ron mumbled. "I hope he's okay. Please be okay…" he repeated as he paced about the floor.  His best friend was in there dying.  But he knew that Ginny wouldn't let him die.  Ron had to stay here for not only is friend, but for Gin as well.  Oh she was in control now – only because of the adrenaline pumping, as soon as she stopped she would need her brother.  Ron would also need to send an owl to his family and Hermione soon – they deserved to be here as well.

"I'm sure Potter will be fine.  He has the uncanny ability of getting out of trouble," Snape replied, "I will be in my chambers. No doubt Poppy will be needing more healing potions." As Snape left, Dumbledore walked in.

"How are they?"

"Poppy is in with them now," came the reply from the corner.  Remus was in a chair, had been since getting kicked out.  Harry had looked so completely helpless and scared. Remus had to remind himself that he had to stay there for Harry and NOT go blast that monster of a human being into a million pieces.  Remus and Harry were all each other had left now.

"Alright. Ron I took the liberty of owling your family and Miss Granger," the headmaster said while glancing at the slightly gray-haired man who was sitting in the corner.  Ron simply nodded and continued pacing

Sirius' death had hit Remus hard – his last friend, the last person he had trusted with his very life was gone. Every single person Remus had ever loved was dead or missing (even Peter – for the Peter that Remus had known was lost somewhere within the traitorous Wormtail.)  Remus' life had taken a definite turn for the better when Dumbledore accepted into Hogwarts.  He had meet James, Sirius and Peter. The four Marauders – always together looking for fun.  They had vowed to always stay friends.  As with all teenagers, they had had fights and gone through some rough stages; but they were always loyal to each other and their ideals.  Most of their "teenage moodiness" had died completely gone by the last part of their fifth year.  Remus had had a girlfriend for most of the summer and still going strong.  Her name was Emma; she was a smart Gryffindor with blond curly hair and a smile that befriended anyone and everyone.  Her best friend was Lily Evans.  Ever since Remus had started going out with Emma, James had started to notice Lily (more than normal.) Lily thought James was conceited, stuck-up and egotistical – and had told him so.  Ever since that day James had really changed – no one had ever been that completely honest with him.  He had changed from the heart -throb jerk to the heart-throb nice guy, with eyes only for Lily.  Soon after Lily had deemed James a changed man, the group grew to include Angela. Also a fifth year Gryffindor, the group had saved the mysterious young girl from being raped by a group of Slytherins, that included everyone's favorite, Lucius Malfoy.  This mysterious American with long straight brown hair and eyes that changed color had captured Sirius' heart.  It didn't take long 'till she had him wrapped around her little finger – just like Lily and James and Emma and Remus.  Later on it was revealed that Angela was Dumbledore's granddaughter and that after her parents had been killed, she and her younger sister had moved into the castle.  Life was almost perfect.  But everyone felt the growing presence of evil outside the castle. Peter became more and more reserved and distant.  In seventh year Angela had seemed a quiet at times, almost sad, but the group didn't find out why 'till later.  Graduation was the last time any of us saw her. She had left a letter for each of us, explaining that she had had to leave.  Sirius was devastated – he never loved anyone after that. Voldemort had killed Emma a few months later.  Peter had become closer to us again and when Lily and James learned about Harry every one was ecstatic.  But a year later life was turned upside down.  Lily, James and supposedly Peter dead and Sirius imprisoned for betraying them all.  In between then and Harry's third year, Remus had lived in a surreal nightmare.  He had closed himself off to all feeling, just simply living in a remote part of Germany.  It wasn't until Harry's third year that Remus had felt something other than empty; he felt sad, anger and guilt.

Remus was the last of the faithful marauders, he had to take care of Harry and what had he done… he had let him go back to the very people who hated him as much as Voldemort did. Remus felt like he had failed horribly.  He went on with these thoughts until Pomphrey came out. He noticed that sometime during his musings Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Hermione, along with Professor McGonagall had appeared.

"Harry will be okay, physically at least. Mentally… it'll be a long road back. He is unconscious for now – I'm not sure when he'll wake.  But since I know you all will be sneaking in here to be with him, you are all welcome to stay. But there will be ABSOLUTE QUIET! Mrs. Dursley – who will also be just fine – needs her rest.

The relief that had been evident in the small group of people was quickly overturned with concern for the boy. One by one they went into the infirmary to see Harry.  Ginny was already seated in a small but comfortable chair beside Harry; who noticing her brother, stood up.  Ron went to his sister's side and hugged her. It was then that Ginny let go of the tears she had been holding.  They rained down in a torrent and were joined on the floor with the tears coming from Ron and Hermione.  They then sat down together in the chair, offering comfort to each other as only a brother and sister could.  Ginny never letting go of Harry's hand.  Hermione sat in a chair next to them holding Ron's hand, also offering and taking silent comfort in both. Remus and the others followed pulling up chairs, settling in for the long night.

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            The morning found Ron, Ginny and Hermione in an unintelligible heap of arms and legs sleeping on each other.  The adults were also in various positions of sleep and lounging.  Madame Promphrey – seeing it was time to check Harry's bandages and such - gently woke Ginny.  As they reapplied the bandages, others slowly woke up.  Sometime during the night Harry had regained consciousness, but had lapsed into a deep sleep. Pomphrey went to go check on Mrs. Dursley.  The professors went to gather breakfast for the group, the adult Weasleys flooed to Grimauld Place to get clothes and things for the children.  The trio just repositioned themselves and waited for Harry to wake.  Ginny told the other two that Harry said he loved her.  Ron knew this was not much comfort to Gin – Harry was still asleep and in danger; Hermione had hugged Ginny and told her Harry would wake up soon.

            "Is he okay?" came a voice from the bed next to Harry's.

            "Mrs. Dursley? He will be, but right now he is in a very deep sleep," explained Poppy.  "I'm not sure when he will awaken.

            "Ohhh. Where am I?" she asked.  Looking around she didn't recognize any of the people in the room, although.  She noticed that Ron and Hermione looked at each other, at that moment Remus entered the conversation.

            "Mrs. Dursley, do you recognize me? Well, I'm an old friend of your sisters."

            "Okay."

            "Now please don't freak out when I tell you this, but… you're at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The place where Harry goes to school.  These are his friends Ron, Hermione and Ginny."  They all braced themselves for the explosion that was sure to follow, but it never came.

            Petunia just looked at the people standing in the room (the professors and other adults had gotten back with their respective tasks completed.)  They looked normal enough and she could tell that they were very worried about Harry. But if they knew Harry that means that they knew how she had treated him these past few years and were probably very upset with her.  "So I'm in the wizarding world? And all of you are…"

            "Yes we're all witches and wizards," said Remus.

            "I suppose you're all mad at me huh? I haven't exactly been the greatest person when it comes to you…" Petunia said nervously. 

            "That's alright.  Everyone makes mistakes, but you're right. You haven't been the best aunt to Harry – but you tried to help him and in the process you put yourself in danger.  We will have a long talk later, but right now you need to rest," said Ginny.  Ginny looked at the older woman, trying o convince her to sleep. 

            "Mrs. Dursley, please drink this, it'll help you sleep," Madame Pomphrey gave her a dreamless sleep potion.

            "Please, I don't want to be Mrs. Dursley anymore – it's Evans now," she said, "What is it?" she asked looking down at the potion.

            "Do you really want to know?" Ginny asked slyly.  Petunia decided not really and drank the potion.  She fell asleep again.