Chapter Sixteen – Letting Go
And now my story ends. Through my experience at Silverwater, I am now older, wiser and happier than before. Well, as happy as I could be anyway.
Vasco was discharged from Silverwater two days after the huge fight. All the patients in every ward in Silverwater knew about our little spat as soon as the next morning, in which I confessed to them that I had dwelled in dark magic and tried to raise Ginny from the dead.
Fortunately, I had smoothed things over with everyone who was involved in the ordeal. Regan and I were back on speaking terms within three days. We still had 'morning after' jitters but other than that we were fine. The thing was, our 'morning after awkwardness' came a little too late. Even Malfoy and I were able to tolerate each other. We didn't become the best of friends straight away but we were able to carry out a small conversation without burying each other alive.
I had to admit, when Vasco was being discharged finally, I couldn't help but feel extremely depressed. He had gone through this tumultuous journey with me and was supportive all the way. In fact, his parting message was memorable to me.
"Take care, Harry," he said as he gave me a rib-cracking hug. "Remember what I said to you before, when you get out of this place I'll be there to look out for you."
"Thanks Vasco," I said as I clapped him on the back.
"And I intend to start looking out for you, you know," he grinned. He laughed slightly and dug into his pocket and fished out a condom. A condom?
"Here," he said as he placed it in my hand. "You're a big boy now so I thought you'd need this."
I chuckled quietly and gave Vasco another hug. "I'll miss you," I said as my eyes misted over. So I was acting like a woman, big deal.
"Likewise, Pal," Vasco replied. "Likewise."
I threw the condom away shortly afterwards, figuring that I didn't need it. I had every intention to stay celibate until my wedding night. I owed it to Ginny, for it was our promise to each other. However, I didn't keep my oath but that was a totally different story. Later on I fished it out of the bin and gave it to Regan as an inside joke. She was a'whore' after all.
Finally, it was my turn to leave Silverwater. By then a new stream of patients were admitted into the Joseph Heller Ward. Debbie Morgan was a seventh year Ravenclaw who liked to bop up and down on her seat singing, "Badger badger badger badger mushroom mushroom[1] …" There was also Cho Chang's cousin Hitomi. I didn't know what was wrong with her exactly but I noticed that whenever she walked passed the Common Room she had to have a sheet of cardboard cover her face for she was terrified of our new Muggle television set. [2]
Throughout the rest of my stay in Silverwater up until my discharge date I told Dr Bell all there was to know about me. I felt that it was about time I did this. If I were to stay a reclusive alien I would never have a life. I told her about my life with the Dursleys, my re-introduction into the wizard world, the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, Sirius and Wormtail, The Triwizard Tournament, the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries … everything. As I did this, I felt much better.
Ron and Hermione were expected to pick me up the day I was discharged but that was after I was to have my final one-to-one session with Dr Bell and I was eager to participate. It was the last session after all.
"How are you, Mr Potter?" she asked.
"Alright," I replied nochalantly. "I couldn't be any better."
"You should be ecstatic," she said as she gave me a heart-warming smile. "You're going to be discharged today."
In contrary to her expectations, I did not jump for joy. I merely sighed and glanced at the floor. "I will miss this place," I said.
Dr Bell raised his eyebrows at me in disbelief. "Really?" she asked sceptically.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Well, without further ado, let's start shall we?" she cleared her throat audibly and began; "You've been here for a period of two months now …"
"And …"
"I've learnt so much about you that I could write a novel ... or seven."
"Do you really think so?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "So I felt that there was nothing left to do but give you this." She rummaged around her drawer and pulled out a single ball-point pen.
"What's that for?" I asked.
"It's an authorised Portkey," Dr Bell replied. "I'm taking you to a place where you refused to visit for two months. It will activate in ten seconds. Quick, take it."
I latched onto the Portkey and ten seconds later I felt the familiar pull of the navel. In an instant I was transported out of Silverwater.
I fell to the ground with one bug thud. Feeling nauseated and worn out, I scanned my surroundings and soon realised that I was taken to the graveyard in Ottery St, Catchpole – Ginny's grave.
Anger licked my insides but I managed to control them this time. Dr Bell was just doing her job and this was one way of curing me. It took me a long time to learn that she was just doing her job all along.
"Miss Hunter was also buried here," Dr Bell informed me.
My face contorted in puzzlement. "I thought she lived somewhere else."
"She did," Dr Bell replied, "but she was born here and her mother wanted her to be buried here."
That was another thing that Ginny and Liv shared in common other than looks. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
We weren't transported to Ginny's grave directly. Rather we were taken by the Portkey to the outskirts. The sight of all the tombstones lined up together was eerie and I thanked the lords that Dr Bell decided to take me there during the day time. The grass was so green against the sun that it provided me with a relaxing atmosphere. It seemed like a peaceful place to finally rest in peace.
"I don't want you to see Miss Hunter's grave yet," said Dr Bell, "I don't think you're ready for that. Instead, I want you to visit another. I think you're going to have to see it."
Dr Bell wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me to Ginny's grave. My insides flew around violently like they were in a blender. My hands became clammy and I began to sweat profusely … I was really nervous.
"I'm not expecting you to do much," said Dr Bell, "but I DO want you to see it now, go before you change your mind. I'll be waiting by the tree over there."
Dr Bell and I parted ways as she trekked over to the big shady tree in the distance and watched me. I inhaled deeply and edged towards the source of my worse nightmares.
I towered over it and examined it very carefully. The tombstone was rather vulgar, for the Weasleys were a simple family that didn't have a lot of money. I thought the tombstone rather suited her personality rather effectively: it was a symbol of her innocence as a young girl as well as her pristine beauty.
On the tombstone it read: "Here lies Ginnifer 'Ginny' Weasley, born into eternal life upon death." Following this was her date of birth and by her date of death: "21st January 1981-29th August 1998".
Running lengthwise along the grave was a long crack, made by me by means of Azarusley. At the time I went through anything just to bring Ginny back to life. I didn't take into consideration the fact that a Ginny Weasley raised from the dead would be zombie-like and cursed. Now that I thought about it, I was glad it failed.
Words could not explain how sorry I was to both Liv and Ginny and I hoped that they could forgive me. I sat myself down on Ginny's grave and ran my hand through the grass. I let the tears fall as I thought about what I had put the two of them through. Dr Bell was right, I couldn't visit Liv's grave but I promised myself that I would one day, when I was ready.
I wanted to give Ginny a long-winded speech but I was afraid that I would be there until the cows came home, so instead I patted her tombstone and said, "I'm sorry – terribly sorry. Rest in peace Ginny. Always remember that I'll always love you."
Suddenly when I got up and walked slowly towards Dr Bell, I felt a cool, balmy breeze blow against my face and I could have sworn that I felt somebody kiss my cheek. I immediately froze on the spot and rose a trembling had to my cheek.
"Is anything the matter, Mr Potter?" asked Dr Bell.
Thinking that she would have declared me insane once again and postpone my date of discharge, I did not tell her. "Nothing," I said indifferently. "We should go." That was a secret that I intended to take to my own grave and as Dr Bell and I waited for the Portkey to reactivate, I silently thanked Ginny for the kiss. In the magical world, anything was possible, even raising the dead, so I had no doubt that it was her.
As soon as we returned to Dr Bell's office, I sat in the recliner while Dr Bell resumed her position in her usual chair. "Congratulations Harry Potter," she said abruptly. "As soon as Mr Weasley and Miss Granger and maybe Mr Lupin sign the release papers, you are officially a free man."
"Really?" I asked. "You're not going to pull some strings or something, which would mean that I'm here for one more month?"
"No," Dr Bell replied. "Now, if you excuse me I must attend to Mr Nagy's needs. Apparently the poor boy won't step out of his room now … he said something about micro-organisms."
Dr Bell and I chuckled haughtily together. She gave me another heart-warming smile before she rose from her seat. "Shut the door on your way out, please. And Mr Weasley and Miss Granger are waiting for you in the main foyer."
Her eyes glistened as tears welled in them only slightly, "I will miss you Mr Potter, and I give my best to you. Feel free to drop around for a visit if you want to."
"I'll do that," I replied. "But can I ask you one question?"
Dr Bell cocked her head to one side and listened intently.
"Why don't you get that fixed?" I pointed at the hole in the wall that I made with Malfoy's fat head.
Dr Bell merely laughed at me like I was an innocent and naïve three-year-old kid. "I wanted a memento of the most intriguing patient that's ever set foot inside Silverwater." She smiled at me once more and left.
Before I stepped outside her office, I managed to find a little piece of parchment poking out of a Muggle manila folder so I took it out. It was a record of all the current and former patients in the Joseph Heller Ward. I skimmed through the names of all those I recognised. I noticed that it said that Vasco was a self-mutilator; Regan was here for intense anger-management therapy; Jai was an extreme germ-phobic, Amelie was obsessive compulsive; that Liv was bipolar and I was here for intense nervous breakdown recovery. However, I noticed that next to Malfoy's name it read 'Compulsive Liar'. I couldn't believe it.
"In a way, I'm glad you're leaving," said a voice.
I turned around and stared at Malfoy, who was leaning casually up against the doorframe.
"Why?" I asked in a low voice.
"Because now with Vasconcelos gone too," he replied, "I get to move into your room. Now I can get away from the freak that's supposed to be my roommate." His malevolently grey eyes travelled over to the piece of paper I was reading. "You've discovered my little secret, I see."
"And so I have," I added smugly. "So you didn't really bash your father to death then?"
"No," Malfoy replied. "He's back in Azkaban."
I looked at him sceptically. "Should I believe you?" I asked.
"It's your choice," said Malfoy as he stepped out of the room. "But what is the truth? Some crazed Muggle said that 'the truth is never pure and rarely simple'."
Goodness me, Malfoy WAS loony. He, a notorious Muggle-hater was quoting from Oscar Wilde.
"Until next time Potter," he said as he gave me a two fingered salute. Seconds later he was gone. I didn't know when I was to see him again but I had a feeling it would be soon.
Anxious to meet Ron and Hermione again, I raced to my room, picked up my suitcase and headed towards the main foyer before I was stopped.
"Mr Potter."
I turned around and saw a nurse rush to me, armed with a long wooden stick that was all too familiar to me.
"Dr Bell almost forgot to give you this," she said as she placed it in my hand. "You don't want to step out into the real world again without this, don't you?"
"Thanks," I said gratefully as I pocketed it. "Well, goodbye then."
"Goodbye Mr Potter."
"Harry!"
I craned my neck to my right and saw Regan Zabini walk hurriedly towards me. I hoped and prayed that she wouldn't tell me she was pregnant. I had already said my farewells to her before, what could she want?
"I had to see you one more time," she declared. She patted my back like Vasco would have done. "Take care Harry," she said.
"You too," I said. Echoing Vasco's words I added, "When you get out into the big bad world again, I'll look out for you."
"Thanks Harry," said Regan, flashing me a smile. "Stay the nice boy you are."
"It's no wonder you're taking too long!" called a familiar male voice. "I see you're popular with the ladies here. Makes me wonder why you wanted to leave Silverwater in the first place."
Ron and Hermione came into the hallway from the main foyer and marched over to the two of us as Regan broke away and cast her eyes to the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione cried. She walked towards me, wrap an arm around my waist and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Uh, I would kiss you but I don't want you to think I'm queer," said Ron. Hermione and I merely laughed in response. Typical Ron. "Who are you?" Ron asked Regan.
"Uh … Regan Zabini," Regan replied sheepishly. She turned shy all of a sudden. "I give my condolences to you in regards to Ginny's death."
"Thankyou," Ron eyed Regan suspiciously, "Why do you sound familiar?" he asked.
"We – er -," I stammered.
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione interjected. She stepped forward and stuck out her hand for it to be shaken. "And this is Ron Weasley. We're Harry's friends."
"Harry speaks of you a lot," Regan said to Hermione and it was true. During my first few weeks here they were all I ever spoke about. "He speaks very highly of you."
"I know why you sound familiar!" Ron cried. "You're the one that deflowered Harry!"
Thankfully, Ron took this all light-heartedly and shook Regan's hand enthusiastically. "I congratulate you," he laughed. "Harry's always been a bit of a prude-."
"Hey!" I cried. "That's not true." Well, it was true but I wasn't going to tell him that.
A look of relief washed over Regan's face. "Yeah, well … it wasn't that hard."
"Anyway," said Hermione, "we better get going. Harry, Lupin and the others are waiting for us at The Burrow. We're throwing a party for you. They're all excited to see you at last!"
"I'm looking forward to it," I said and I meant it from the bottom of my heart. "Will I get to meet this Ross of yours?"
"No," said Ron. "Because he's a git."
Hermione laughed and locked her arm with mine. "We broke it off three days ago," she said.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Hermione replied. "He was cheating on me, but I'm not upset. We didn't have much to begin with anyway."
"Because he's a prick," Ron added.
"Ron!" said Hermione reproachfully. "Just because we broke if off doesn't mean you can slag him for all it was worth!"
"I'm just voicing my-."
Their argument was broken off by my laughing. Ron and Hermione stopped and glanced at me.
"What's the deal?" Ron asked.
"It's alright," I said through gales of laughter. "You guys do not know how much I missed that."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other bewilderedly before they shrugged simultaneously.
"Let's get you out of here," said Ron as he picked up my suitcase. He turned to Regan and smiled jovially. "It was a pleasure to meet the girl that finally screwed-."
"That's enough!" I said hotly as I pushed both Ron and Hermione out of the door. "Until next time Regan!"
"Yeah," I heard Regan reply. "Until next time."
Suddenly, Dr Bell walked into the hallway from the main foyer. She was being followed by a grim looking man as well as a young girl with waist-length dirty blonde hair and protuberant eyes. She looked as though she drifted in there by accident. She looked indifferent to the situation, like she didn't care that she was going to be admitted a mental institution – wait, correctional facility asylum, or whatever it was.
"Luna Lovegood," said Ron. "Well, it's about time. I always thought she was a little … well, loony."
The three of us watched as Dr Bell told Luna and the man (presumably her father) that she was going to be sharing a room with Amelie Vega. I didn't know what to think. I felt genuinely sorry for Luna but at the same time I knew that this was for her own good. Besides, she didn't seem to want to protest. Why was she here for in the first place? I was anxious to know but I was also anxious to leave.
"Harry," Hermione piped up out of the blue. "May I ask you a question?"
"You may," I replied.
"If you were to look into the Mirror of Erised, what would you see?"
"You know, Dr Bell asked me that same question a couple of weeks ago," I told her.
"Really?" Hermione asked "Well, what would you see?"
I thought back to what had happened in the past few months and how it changed my life. Throughout my life since I was eleven I had developed a disciplined heart through encounters with distress and misfortune and it had changed me forever. Also, I realised how lucky I really was. Despite the issue with Voldmort, the untimely deaths, I still had friends in Ron, Hermione, the whole Weasley family and many others and most of all I had the will to live. So I was confident in my answer when I said:
"I would merely see my reflection."
THE END
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
So how was that for a first go? It took a year to get out of my system although lengthwise it doesn't seem like it. I hope you guys liked it and please, feel free to leave a review.
If you guys are interested, I'm working on a sequel (or companion piece, depending on how you would look at it) called The Plague of the Moonflowers. I'm in the process of writing the first chapter and it will be radically different to Silverwater. For instance, it would be a little bit more fantasy and mystery than just pure angst, which is a refreshing change. I don't know when Plague, will be posted up here. I'm about to start Uni soon. It's set nine years after Silverwater and centres around Harry (well, duh!) as well as the whole concept of Azarusley.
I just wanted to say that the names of the mental institutions; Silverwater and Burwood are actually suburbs in Sydney, Australia. I'm not saying that the people who live there are mental. They just sounded like cool names.
If you're wondering why Voldemort wasn't carted off to Burwood or Silverwater himself ... well, would you try to convince the most powerful dark wizard ever that he needed to spend time in a mental asylum? We'd all be dead, don't you think? I think he's a special case.
I just thought I'd share this with you: I went house hunting today and I found a house with a cupboard under the stairs. I mean I KNOW they existed but I had never seen one until today. I was so excited over something small. I actually went inside the cupboard, shut the door and said, "Well, it ain't THAT small." I was just so excited! If we do move into that house I have claims on the cupboard under the stairs! That will be my bedroom. If you're reviewing, let me know your thoughts on this as well as your thoughts on the story.
Now, REVIEW! Oh, and thanks to my reviewers and people who have read this so far. I didn't care if I was writing this for nobody, but thanks a lot. A whole lot. If you have been reading but haven't reviewed, please do so.
And this is Zmedlebum signing off for now.
[1] badgerbadgerbadger.com
[2[ The Ring 2
And now my story ends. Through my experience at Silverwater, I am now older, wiser and happier than before. Well, as happy as I could be anyway.
Vasco was discharged from Silverwater two days after the huge fight. All the patients in every ward in Silverwater knew about our little spat as soon as the next morning, in which I confessed to them that I had dwelled in dark magic and tried to raise Ginny from the dead.
Fortunately, I had smoothed things over with everyone who was involved in the ordeal. Regan and I were back on speaking terms within three days. We still had 'morning after' jitters but other than that we were fine. The thing was, our 'morning after awkwardness' came a little too late. Even Malfoy and I were able to tolerate each other. We didn't become the best of friends straight away but we were able to carry out a small conversation without burying each other alive.
I had to admit, when Vasco was being discharged finally, I couldn't help but feel extremely depressed. He had gone through this tumultuous journey with me and was supportive all the way. In fact, his parting message was memorable to me.
"Take care, Harry," he said as he gave me a rib-cracking hug. "Remember what I said to you before, when you get out of this place I'll be there to look out for you."
"Thanks Vasco," I said as I clapped him on the back.
"And I intend to start looking out for you, you know," he grinned. He laughed slightly and dug into his pocket and fished out a condom. A condom?
"Here," he said as he placed it in my hand. "You're a big boy now so I thought you'd need this."
I chuckled quietly and gave Vasco another hug. "I'll miss you," I said as my eyes misted over. So I was acting like a woman, big deal.
"Likewise, Pal," Vasco replied. "Likewise."
I threw the condom away shortly afterwards, figuring that I didn't need it. I had every intention to stay celibate until my wedding night. I owed it to Ginny, for it was our promise to each other. However, I didn't keep my oath but that was a totally different story. Later on I fished it out of the bin and gave it to Regan as an inside joke. She was a'whore' after all.
Finally, it was my turn to leave Silverwater. By then a new stream of patients were admitted into the Joseph Heller Ward. Debbie Morgan was a seventh year Ravenclaw who liked to bop up and down on her seat singing, "Badger badger badger badger mushroom mushroom[1] …" There was also Cho Chang's cousin Hitomi. I didn't know what was wrong with her exactly but I noticed that whenever she walked passed the Common Room she had to have a sheet of cardboard cover her face for she was terrified of our new Muggle television set. [2]
Throughout the rest of my stay in Silverwater up until my discharge date I told Dr Bell all there was to know about me. I felt that it was about time I did this. If I were to stay a reclusive alien I would never have a life. I told her about my life with the Dursleys, my re-introduction into the wizard world, the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, Sirius and Wormtail, The Triwizard Tournament, the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries … everything. As I did this, I felt much better.
Ron and Hermione were expected to pick me up the day I was discharged but that was after I was to have my final one-to-one session with Dr Bell and I was eager to participate. It was the last session after all.
"How are you, Mr Potter?" she asked.
"Alright," I replied nochalantly. "I couldn't be any better."
"You should be ecstatic," she said as she gave me a heart-warming smile. "You're going to be discharged today."
In contrary to her expectations, I did not jump for joy. I merely sighed and glanced at the floor. "I will miss this place," I said.
Dr Bell raised his eyebrows at me in disbelief. "Really?" she asked sceptically.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Well, without further ado, let's start shall we?" she cleared her throat audibly and began; "You've been here for a period of two months now …"
"And …"
"I've learnt so much about you that I could write a novel ... or seven."
"Do you really think so?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "So I felt that there was nothing left to do but give you this." She rummaged around her drawer and pulled out a single ball-point pen.
"What's that for?" I asked.
"It's an authorised Portkey," Dr Bell replied. "I'm taking you to a place where you refused to visit for two months. It will activate in ten seconds. Quick, take it."
I latched onto the Portkey and ten seconds later I felt the familiar pull of the navel. In an instant I was transported out of Silverwater.
I fell to the ground with one bug thud. Feeling nauseated and worn out, I scanned my surroundings and soon realised that I was taken to the graveyard in Ottery St, Catchpole – Ginny's grave.
Anger licked my insides but I managed to control them this time. Dr Bell was just doing her job and this was one way of curing me. It took me a long time to learn that she was just doing her job all along.
"Miss Hunter was also buried here," Dr Bell informed me.
My face contorted in puzzlement. "I thought she lived somewhere else."
"She did," Dr Bell replied, "but she was born here and her mother wanted her to be buried here."
That was another thing that Ginny and Liv shared in common other than looks. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
We weren't transported to Ginny's grave directly. Rather we were taken by the Portkey to the outskirts. The sight of all the tombstones lined up together was eerie and I thanked the lords that Dr Bell decided to take me there during the day time. The grass was so green against the sun that it provided me with a relaxing atmosphere. It seemed like a peaceful place to finally rest in peace.
"I don't want you to see Miss Hunter's grave yet," said Dr Bell, "I don't think you're ready for that. Instead, I want you to visit another. I think you're going to have to see it."
Dr Bell wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me to Ginny's grave. My insides flew around violently like they were in a blender. My hands became clammy and I began to sweat profusely … I was really nervous.
"I'm not expecting you to do much," said Dr Bell, "but I DO want you to see it now, go before you change your mind. I'll be waiting by the tree over there."
Dr Bell and I parted ways as she trekked over to the big shady tree in the distance and watched me. I inhaled deeply and edged towards the source of my worse nightmares.
I towered over it and examined it very carefully. The tombstone was rather vulgar, for the Weasleys were a simple family that didn't have a lot of money. I thought the tombstone rather suited her personality rather effectively: it was a symbol of her innocence as a young girl as well as her pristine beauty.
On the tombstone it read: "Here lies Ginnifer 'Ginny' Weasley, born into eternal life upon death." Following this was her date of birth and by her date of death: "21st January 1981-29th August 1998".
Running lengthwise along the grave was a long crack, made by me by means of Azarusley. At the time I went through anything just to bring Ginny back to life. I didn't take into consideration the fact that a Ginny Weasley raised from the dead would be zombie-like and cursed. Now that I thought about it, I was glad it failed.
Words could not explain how sorry I was to both Liv and Ginny and I hoped that they could forgive me. I sat myself down on Ginny's grave and ran my hand through the grass. I let the tears fall as I thought about what I had put the two of them through. Dr Bell was right, I couldn't visit Liv's grave but I promised myself that I would one day, when I was ready.
I wanted to give Ginny a long-winded speech but I was afraid that I would be there until the cows came home, so instead I patted her tombstone and said, "I'm sorry – terribly sorry. Rest in peace Ginny. Always remember that I'll always love you."
Suddenly when I got up and walked slowly towards Dr Bell, I felt a cool, balmy breeze blow against my face and I could have sworn that I felt somebody kiss my cheek. I immediately froze on the spot and rose a trembling had to my cheek.
"Is anything the matter, Mr Potter?" asked Dr Bell.
Thinking that she would have declared me insane once again and postpone my date of discharge, I did not tell her. "Nothing," I said indifferently. "We should go." That was a secret that I intended to take to my own grave and as Dr Bell and I waited for the Portkey to reactivate, I silently thanked Ginny for the kiss. In the magical world, anything was possible, even raising the dead, so I had no doubt that it was her.
As soon as we returned to Dr Bell's office, I sat in the recliner while Dr Bell resumed her position in her usual chair. "Congratulations Harry Potter," she said abruptly. "As soon as Mr Weasley and Miss Granger and maybe Mr Lupin sign the release papers, you are officially a free man."
"Really?" I asked. "You're not going to pull some strings or something, which would mean that I'm here for one more month?"
"No," Dr Bell replied. "Now, if you excuse me I must attend to Mr Nagy's needs. Apparently the poor boy won't step out of his room now … he said something about micro-organisms."
Dr Bell and I chuckled haughtily together. She gave me another heart-warming smile before she rose from her seat. "Shut the door on your way out, please. And Mr Weasley and Miss Granger are waiting for you in the main foyer."
Her eyes glistened as tears welled in them only slightly, "I will miss you Mr Potter, and I give my best to you. Feel free to drop around for a visit if you want to."
"I'll do that," I replied. "But can I ask you one question?"
Dr Bell cocked her head to one side and listened intently.
"Why don't you get that fixed?" I pointed at the hole in the wall that I made with Malfoy's fat head.
Dr Bell merely laughed at me like I was an innocent and naïve three-year-old kid. "I wanted a memento of the most intriguing patient that's ever set foot inside Silverwater." She smiled at me once more and left.
Before I stepped outside her office, I managed to find a little piece of parchment poking out of a Muggle manila folder so I took it out. It was a record of all the current and former patients in the Joseph Heller Ward. I skimmed through the names of all those I recognised. I noticed that it said that Vasco was a self-mutilator; Regan was here for intense anger-management therapy; Jai was an extreme germ-phobic, Amelie was obsessive compulsive; that Liv was bipolar and I was here for intense nervous breakdown recovery. However, I noticed that next to Malfoy's name it read 'Compulsive Liar'. I couldn't believe it.
"In a way, I'm glad you're leaving," said a voice.
I turned around and stared at Malfoy, who was leaning casually up against the doorframe.
"Why?" I asked in a low voice.
"Because now with Vasconcelos gone too," he replied, "I get to move into your room. Now I can get away from the freak that's supposed to be my roommate." His malevolently grey eyes travelled over to the piece of paper I was reading. "You've discovered my little secret, I see."
"And so I have," I added smugly. "So you didn't really bash your father to death then?"
"No," Malfoy replied. "He's back in Azkaban."
I looked at him sceptically. "Should I believe you?" I asked.
"It's your choice," said Malfoy as he stepped out of the room. "But what is the truth? Some crazed Muggle said that 'the truth is never pure and rarely simple'."
Goodness me, Malfoy WAS loony. He, a notorious Muggle-hater was quoting from Oscar Wilde.
"Until next time Potter," he said as he gave me a two fingered salute. Seconds later he was gone. I didn't know when I was to see him again but I had a feeling it would be soon.
Anxious to meet Ron and Hermione again, I raced to my room, picked up my suitcase and headed towards the main foyer before I was stopped.
"Mr Potter."
I turned around and saw a nurse rush to me, armed with a long wooden stick that was all too familiar to me.
"Dr Bell almost forgot to give you this," she said as she placed it in my hand. "You don't want to step out into the real world again without this, don't you?"
"Thanks," I said gratefully as I pocketed it. "Well, goodbye then."
"Goodbye Mr Potter."
"Harry!"
I craned my neck to my right and saw Regan Zabini walk hurriedly towards me. I hoped and prayed that she wouldn't tell me she was pregnant. I had already said my farewells to her before, what could she want?
"I had to see you one more time," she declared. She patted my back like Vasco would have done. "Take care Harry," she said.
"You too," I said. Echoing Vasco's words I added, "When you get out into the big bad world again, I'll look out for you."
"Thanks Harry," said Regan, flashing me a smile. "Stay the nice boy you are."
"It's no wonder you're taking too long!" called a familiar male voice. "I see you're popular with the ladies here. Makes me wonder why you wanted to leave Silverwater in the first place."
Ron and Hermione came into the hallway from the main foyer and marched over to the two of us as Regan broke away and cast her eyes to the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione cried. She walked towards me, wrap an arm around my waist and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Uh, I would kiss you but I don't want you to think I'm queer," said Ron. Hermione and I merely laughed in response. Typical Ron. "Who are you?" Ron asked Regan.
"Uh … Regan Zabini," Regan replied sheepishly. She turned shy all of a sudden. "I give my condolences to you in regards to Ginny's death."
"Thankyou," Ron eyed Regan suspiciously, "Why do you sound familiar?" he asked.
"We – er -," I stammered.
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione interjected. She stepped forward and stuck out her hand for it to be shaken. "And this is Ron Weasley. We're Harry's friends."
"Harry speaks of you a lot," Regan said to Hermione and it was true. During my first few weeks here they were all I ever spoke about. "He speaks very highly of you."
"I know why you sound familiar!" Ron cried. "You're the one that deflowered Harry!"
Thankfully, Ron took this all light-heartedly and shook Regan's hand enthusiastically. "I congratulate you," he laughed. "Harry's always been a bit of a prude-."
"Hey!" I cried. "That's not true." Well, it was true but I wasn't going to tell him that.
A look of relief washed over Regan's face. "Yeah, well … it wasn't that hard."
"Anyway," said Hermione, "we better get going. Harry, Lupin and the others are waiting for us at The Burrow. We're throwing a party for you. They're all excited to see you at last!"
"I'm looking forward to it," I said and I meant it from the bottom of my heart. "Will I get to meet this Ross of yours?"
"No," said Ron. "Because he's a git."
Hermione laughed and locked her arm with mine. "We broke it off three days ago," she said.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Hermione replied. "He was cheating on me, but I'm not upset. We didn't have much to begin with anyway."
"Because he's a prick," Ron added.
"Ron!" said Hermione reproachfully. "Just because we broke if off doesn't mean you can slag him for all it was worth!"
"I'm just voicing my-."
Their argument was broken off by my laughing. Ron and Hermione stopped and glanced at me.
"What's the deal?" Ron asked.
"It's alright," I said through gales of laughter. "You guys do not know how much I missed that."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other bewilderedly before they shrugged simultaneously.
"Let's get you out of here," said Ron as he picked up my suitcase. He turned to Regan and smiled jovially. "It was a pleasure to meet the girl that finally screwed-."
"That's enough!" I said hotly as I pushed both Ron and Hermione out of the door. "Until next time Regan!"
"Yeah," I heard Regan reply. "Until next time."
Suddenly, Dr Bell walked into the hallway from the main foyer. She was being followed by a grim looking man as well as a young girl with waist-length dirty blonde hair and protuberant eyes. She looked as though she drifted in there by accident. She looked indifferent to the situation, like she didn't care that she was going to be admitted a mental institution – wait, correctional facility asylum, or whatever it was.
"Luna Lovegood," said Ron. "Well, it's about time. I always thought she was a little … well, loony."
The three of us watched as Dr Bell told Luna and the man (presumably her father) that she was going to be sharing a room with Amelie Vega. I didn't know what to think. I felt genuinely sorry for Luna but at the same time I knew that this was for her own good. Besides, she didn't seem to want to protest. Why was she here for in the first place? I was anxious to know but I was also anxious to leave.
"Harry," Hermione piped up out of the blue. "May I ask you a question?"
"You may," I replied.
"If you were to look into the Mirror of Erised, what would you see?"
"You know, Dr Bell asked me that same question a couple of weeks ago," I told her.
"Really?" Hermione asked "Well, what would you see?"
I thought back to what had happened in the past few months and how it changed my life. Throughout my life since I was eleven I had developed a disciplined heart through encounters with distress and misfortune and it had changed me forever. Also, I realised how lucky I really was. Despite the issue with Voldmort, the untimely deaths, I still had friends in Ron, Hermione, the whole Weasley family and many others and most of all I had the will to live. So I was confident in my answer when I said:
"I would merely see my reflection."
THE END
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
So how was that for a first go? It took a year to get out of my system although lengthwise it doesn't seem like it. I hope you guys liked it and please, feel free to leave a review.
If you guys are interested, I'm working on a sequel (or companion piece, depending on how you would look at it) called The Plague of the Moonflowers. I'm in the process of writing the first chapter and it will be radically different to Silverwater. For instance, it would be a little bit more fantasy and mystery than just pure angst, which is a refreshing change. I don't know when Plague, will be posted up here. I'm about to start Uni soon. It's set nine years after Silverwater and centres around Harry (well, duh!) as well as the whole concept of Azarusley.
I just wanted to say that the names of the mental institutions; Silverwater and Burwood are actually suburbs in Sydney, Australia. I'm not saying that the people who live there are mental. They just sounded like cool names.
If you're wondering why Voldemort wasn't carted off to Burwood or Silverwater himself ... well, would you try to convince the most powerful dark wizard ever that he needed to spend time in a mental asylum? We'd all be dead, don't you think? I think he's a special case.
I just thought I'd share this with you: I went house hunting today and I found a house with a cupboard under the stairs. I mean I KNOW they existed but I had never seen one until today. I was so excited over something small. I actually went inside the cupboard, shut the door and said, "Well, it ain't THAT small." I was just so excited! If we do move into that house I have claims on the cupboard under the stairs! That will be my bedroom. If you're reviewing, let me know your thoughts on this as well as your thoughts on the story.
Now, REVIEW! Oh, and thanks to my reviewers and people who have read this so far. I didn't care if I was writing this for nobody, but thanks a lot. A whole lot. If you have been reading but haven't reviewed, please do so.
And this is Zmedlebum signing off for now.
[1] badgerbadgerbadger.com
[2[ The Ring 2
