Birthday Surprises Chapter Five
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only… Lolly, xxx.
"Ah, Mr Potter - the headmaster told me to expect you. I must say, this is very sudden though - are you having trouble looking after the babies?"
"No - a Deatheater turned up. My relatives and I are staying here overnight."
"I see." Madam Pomfrey said, her lips pursed. Harry heard her muttering about how the headmaster never should have put the babies in the care of such a young person - not to mention one that drew trouble like no one else she had ever met. Harry felt a surge of indignation as he unpacked the backpack. He carefully placed the triplets into their cot, tucking blankets in around them as Madam Pomfrey bustled back in. She watched him critically.
"Is this the first time you have ever looked after a baby, Mr Potter?" She asked.
"Yes." Harry replied truthfully.
"I see - have they been behaving?"
"Yeah - they do have a tendency to wake up at three in the morning, but apart from that." Harry watched Leah fret in the cot, and reached down to reassure her. He was aware of the fact that the nurse's eyes followed his every move, but carefully ignored her - he had been ok with the babies for five days, looking after all three of them single handedly - he wasn't about to stop just because the nurse judged him by his age and reputation.
"You should go up and get some sleep - I see enough of you during term-time." Madam Pomfrey said. She could see that the boy cared deeply for the babies, but really, he looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks. Suddenly, she thought that he might not have. "Harry - have you been sleeping all right?" She asked softly.
"Yeah. I've been sleeping fine." The boy replied, though he didn't quite meet her eyes as he said this. "It's nothing." He promised. Poppy shook her head - he always had been stubborn.
"Go on - get some sleep." She said, practically shoving him from the infirmary.
Harry found Dobby a short distance from the hospital wing - he was snoozing when Harry passed, but quickly woke up. "Harry Potter Sir!" The small elf squealed.
"Hello Dobby." Harry grinned. The elf had been coming to visit Harry all through his sixth year, and Harry wondered whether he was beginning to think that Harry was his master. The elf was certainly very loyal to Harry, and always seemed willing to help in any way he could - he even willingly took orders from Harry. It would be interesting to see what he did when Harry left Hogwarts, he decided.
"Why was Harry potter Sir in the Hospital Wing?" Dobby asked, his eyes round with concern.
"I was just delivering three little ones - Madam Pomfrey is going to look after them."
"Three little ones?"
"Three babies - triplets. I've been looking after them since my birthday."
"Oh yes, there has been talk in the kitchen of babies here at Hogwarts - Dobby thought it was just rumours."
"Yeah. It's not though."
"Why has Harry Potter Sir been looking after them?"
"I'm not sure, Dobby. Professor Dumbledore said he thought I was the best person for the job."
"Oh. Dobby agrees Sir, Harry Potter is a noble wizard and the babies will be most safe with him!" Dobby exclaimed, nodding fervently.
"Thanks Dobby - I just wish everyone had as much faith in me."
"Has anyone been troubling Harry Potter, Sir?"
"No, Dobby, it's all right, really. I just don't think that Madame Pomfrey was very pleased that I was looking after them." Harry sighed before changing the subject - the truth was, he couldn't blame the nurse for feeling that way, after all, he had felt the same way when he first took on the role of babysitter.
"So, what have you been up to, Dobby?"
"Dobby has been helping to fix up a room in Gryffindor Tower." Dobby said proudly.
"Oh?"
"Yes, Harry Potter Sir, we have been very busy over the summer, getting everything ready…"
"Ready for what?"
"Dobby cannot say, Harry Potter Sir. It is most secret."
"I see. Never mind. How's it coming along?"
"Oh very well, Sir. Very well indeed."
"Good." Harry glanced back at the infirmary as he heard a small wail, accompanied by a small twinge from the monitor. It stopped moments later, and Harry slowly headed up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Heroics." Harry said dully. The Fat Lady beamed at him.
"Yes indeed! I hear you've had your share of those tonight."
"Yeah." Harry agreed, having not really listened to the question. He climbed into the common room, expecting peace and quiet. What he got was the Dursleys sitting on one of the sofas, as Dudley had a tantrum.
"Great Merlin." Harry sighed in exasperation.
"Boy! This is all your fault!" Vernon hollered, turning on him.
"Hardly." Harry replied. He didn't want to argue with anyone - not tonight. He wanted to know why there had only been one Deatheater…..
"Are you listening boy?" Harry turned to his Uncle, who had apparently been speaking to him.
"What? No, I was imaging how lost you might get on the way to breakfast in the morning." Harry said dreamily. Uncle Vernon's eyes bugged out of his head as he stared.
"Lost? Of course we won't get lost - you know your way around, we'll just follow you."
"Then I suggest," Harry replied coolly, "That you don't annoy me." With that, he turned and headed up to his dorm.
Harry woke up in the middle of the night, trying to figure what was wrong - everything seemed so quiet, no owls, no Dursleys, and no babies - that was it! Harry sat bolt upright, his eyes searching the dark room. Then he relaxed, remembering where he was. The babies would be fine - they were with the Nurse. She would look after them. Still…Harry found himself absently rubbing his wrist - the monitor was beginning to get painful…maybe he would just go down and check…No one would know if he sneaked down under his invisibility cloak, he reasoned.
Five minutes later, he was creeping down the hallway and heading for the hospital wing. As he got closer, he became aware of a steady screaming coming from up ahead - clearly, one of the triplets wasn't happy. He sped up without a second thought, horrible possibilities running through his mind as he went. When he reached the hospital wing, he found Madam Pomfrey walking up and down the hospital wing, trying to calm an inconsolable baby. She looked extremely harassed, but Harry imagined that she would be, getting up at three o'clock when she obviously wasn't used to it. Creeping forward, Harry saw that it was Andrew who was bawling, though the other two didn't look far from it. Sure enough, as if on cue, Sam started to cry too, steadily gaining volume. It wasn't long before Leah followed suit. Harry abandoned his plan to stay hidden, and took off the cloak to calm the babies. He didn't even see the Nurse stare indignantly at him. "Mr Potter!"
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey?" Harry said, picking up the other two and gently rocking them.
"Hey, shush, it's ok." He whispered.
"You are supposed to be back in Gryffindor Tower asleep!"
"Yeah, I know. I was awake though, so I just thought I'd come down."
"Do you believe I cannot look after three infants better than you can?" The nurse roared.
"I never said that. I just…missed them. Besides, I have managed for the past five days."
"I appreciate that, Mr Potter, and I know that it is more than most young boys could, but you need your sleep too!"
"I know. But I wasn't going to get any before I came down." Harry confessed, he sensed rather than saw the older woman softening, particularly as he was tickling Sam to get him to calm down. His cries had become less deafening, and eventually subsided. Leah took a little more convincing, but she was soon reassured, though she threatened to start again when Harry was about to put her back into the cot. Sam, who had fallen straight back to sleep, didn't object to being back in his bed, leaving Harry a free hand to receive Andrew from Madam Pomfrey, who had all but given up to get him to cease crying. "Aren't you the noisy little one?" Harry said. Andrew's eyes, which had been screwed up, popped open and watched the green eyes hovering above him. His screams turned to cries, which deflated to sniffles before stopping altogether. "There, see that wasn't so hard, was it?" Harry sat down on a bed as both Leah and Andrew began to slip into sleep once more.
Madam Pomfrey had watched the whole thing with mixed emotions - the boy obviously cared greatly for the three babies, but he was still a child himself - well, if not in the eyes of the ministry, then in her own eyes. She once again pondered the headmaster's decision to put them into the care of Harry Potter. She had argued against it then, but her sole argument had been based upon his complete lack of experience. Now she was more worried that he was going to be heartbroken when the babies were returned to wherever they had come from. She decided to take it up with the headmaster in the morning - for now, she would allow him to stay with the babies. Heavens knew she would get no peace until he did.
Harry fell asleep with Leah and Andrew still cradled in his arms. When Sam started crying, Madam Pomfrey decided to put him next to his brother and sister, both of whom were snuggled against the young boy's chest. Despite herself, Poppy snapped a picture of this endearing scene, before heading back to her bed.
