Please forgive me for taking so long to get this new chapter out, I realize it has been a month, but a combination of writer's block, schoolwork and job kept me from writing, well that and inspiration for my original stories that may someday make it onto ff.net if I can ever get them past the beginning.
Psycochick I would love for you to beta read for me but this is the only way that I could get hold of you, that and lack of time.
Just a reminder that I own nothing.
Family Chapter Four
Harry opened his eyes, why hadn't his Aunt's shrill shriek woken him yet; surly she wouldn't let him sleep this late into the morning would she? More importantly, why didn't he recognize this room at all! Granted he didn't have his glasses on, but even the blur was unfamiliar.
There was a slight stirring beside him, curious, Harry turned his head, was that bushy brown hair? Or was his eyesight even blurrier than usual? But bushy brown hair means Hermione and why would she be by his bed? This wasn't anywhere he knew from Hogwarts or the Burrow. Then it all came flooding back to him, the Dursley's, no food, the beatings, the blood, the pain, being sold, the blond girl reading Hogwarts: A History, Charlie Weasley waiting out at the limo for him, and Padfoot carrying him into a house he had never seen before. That must mean that that was Hermione's bushy brown mane beside him. "Hhhermione," Harry slurred as he moved to stroke the bushy brown hair resting on the bed by his hand.
"Huh," Hermione lifted her head when she felt a hand on her hair. Her warm cinnamon eyes met confused pain filled emerald eyes. "Harry? Your awake!" Hermione's outburst brought movement to his other side.
"Huh, Hermione wha you mean?" A familiar, sleepy voice was heard form his other side.
"Ron, wake up and go get your Mum, Harry's awake," Hermione smiled, then repeated "Harry's awake," as if to reassure herself it was true.
"How long," Harry stammered, trying to organize his thoughts into some semblance of order, "how long have I been here?"
"About two weeks, you were in pretty bad shape when we got to you. Oh Harry Madame Pomphrey and Mrs. Weasley neither one were really sure if you were really going to pull through, especially this last week. The only thing keeping Padfoot, Moony, and the Weasleys from going and cursing the Dursley's is the thought that something might happen when he wasn't here. Well, you never have to go back there again Percy took care of that. Here and the Burrow are both your homes now. Oh, Harry it is so good to see you awake, I've been so scared."
"Hermione, where is here?" Harry whispered.
"Oh, here is my house. I hope you don't mind, Dumbledore thought it would be safer because he put up the same wards here as were at the Dursley's. He never would have left you there if he knew how bad it was, I know he wouldn't have. I've never seen the Headmaster so furious as when he came and saw you the day that we got you out of there. Harry, I hope you aren't too mad at us for buying you away from the Dursley's but it was the only way to legally get you away from there forever."
"Miss Granger, why don't you go wait in the hall with Mr. Weasley while I examine Mr. Potter," Madame Pomphrey came bustling into the room. "No Mr. Potter, how do you feel? Are you in any pain?" the mediwitch continued without waiting for any response from Hermione. "Well Mr. Potter, I must say that you are looking significantly better than the you have been, and I'm sure that you are curious as to just what has been wrong with you."
"Yes Ma'am, oh, my side hurts and so does just about everywhere else, But my side the worst."
"Yes well, we had to remove you appendix when you got here," Madame Pomphrey stated working a few spells, "Now, most of your wounds and bruises have healed, only the worst are still healing, I couldn't cure them all the way by magic because of the appendicitis, and the severe mal-nutrition. You are still suffering from mal-nutrition so you will be feeling extremely weak and tired for a while yet. Now I want you to stay in bed for at least two more days, I'll be back then to check on you. Right now, I'm going to go get you something to eat nothing solid yet, but after you eat you need to sleep. You are still healing. I'll send in your friends and they can stay with you until you go to sleep then they need to leave you to your sleep. Here is a potion for your pain." Madam Pomphrey glided out of the room.
"Harry, how you feeling mate, you've had us worried. You slept longer than Mum and Madame Pomphrey were expected; even the twins have stopped pulling tricks because they were so worried about you. And they just found out who the marauders really are!" Ron fairly flew into the room as soon as he was given permission.
"Hey Ron, how you doing?" Harry whispered, his eyes drooping with exhaustion.
"Better now that we know that your going to be o.k." Ron laughed. "So how long they going to keep you in bed, mate?"
"Madame Pomphrey said at least two more days but I think I'll be longer, I am so tired and I really hurt." Harry whispered.
"Ron, quite down, Harry doesn't need all your noise, he needs peace and quite so that he can rest and heal," Hermione tossed her hair, "Harry, Madame Pomphrey is on her way with some broth as soon as you drink some of that you can get some more sleep. Oh, I'm so happy that your getting better." Hermione gave Harry a gentle hug and a quick kiss on the cheek, "I don't know what I would do without you, either one of my best friends."
Madame Pomphrey returned with a small bowl of broth, drink some this and then I'll give you a potion to help you sleep." Harry nodded his head and struggled to sit up, Ron reached over and helped him and was rewarded by a quarter of a smile. Harry drank a little of the broth and managed to drink the sleep potion before Ron had to help him lie down as he was to exhausted to move on his own, as soon as his head was back on the pillow Harry was asleep.
"Madame Pomphrey, how is Harry really? Is he going to be alright?" Hermione asked softly as she smoothed Harry's unruly ebony hair on his forehead.
"I won't lye to you children, Mr. Potter isn't well, but he has improved greatly since we got him here. Only time will truly tell, only so many wounds can be cured by potions, and spells, some are much deeper and can't be detected with spell or potion and those take much longer to heal. Unless I'm mistaken, Mr. Potter has a great number of those psychological wounds and he's going to need his friends to stand by him and support him. It won't be easy."
"We know that Madame, and both of us will help Harry any way that we can." Ron sighed for once serious.
Well, that chapter is done, I know it was very short, but like I said before I haven't had a lot of time to write. I'm not saying when the next chapter will be out because I don't know, I really don't even know what it will be about, yes I am one of those crazy writers who writes as I go along without planning anything out. It has always driven my teachers crazy. Well, please review, tell me what you thought. Just please if you are going to trash my writing forget about, criticism is all well and even good if there is a point behind it, if you are just wanting to insult, please don't waste my time or yours.