Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter (obviously)

Experiment chapter 2

When Harry next awoke, he was so sleepy he was tempted to turn over and go back to sleep. However he was prevented from doing that as somebody was holding his hand.

He sleepily looked towards the person grasping him and his eyes fell upon Mrs Weasley. "Mrs Weasley?"

"Good morning Harry! How are you feeling?"

Harry did a quick self assessment "A lot better thanks."

"That's good. You've been asleep for 3 days."

"Am I cured?"

Molly smiled. "Yes you are."

Harry sat up and was pleased to note that the flimsy hospital robe had been replaced by pyjamas.

"I imagine you're hungry?"

"Starving." Harry replied as his stomach gave a loud rumble.

Molly handed Harry a dressing gown and helped him down the stairs into the kitchen.

Ron and Ginny were chatting at the end of the table. Lupin and Arthur were examining a muggle firearm and Tonks was reading the Daily Prophet.

They all looked up as Harry was led in. he felt his face grow hot with embarrassment. Lupin smiled warmly as Harry sat down near Ron. "Hi Harry! Glad to see you're up mate!"

"Hi." Harry said to Ron and Ginny. He felt slightly awkward as he had lost a whole months memory. He was at a bit of a loss over what to talk about.

Remus left Arthur and and moved next to Harry. "Feeling better now then?"

"Yeah" Harry nodded "Its weird not remembering."

"I'll bet it is." Remus said in agreement. "You missed your birthday."He added after a few moments.

Harry furrowed his brow. "I probably didn't miss much."

"We saved your presents for you." Ron said.

At that moment Molly bustled up to Harry and plonked a plate of breakfast in front of him. "Harry, you did really well in your OWLs" Arthur said, handing Harry a list of Griffindor results.

"I can get into the auror classes!" Harry said in surprise. Everyone congratulated him, and they went back to eating.

When Harry was finished he put his fork down and said "I really need a shower, can I go?"

"Of course. I'll help you up the stairs." Lupin said.

Harry entered the bathroom, locking the door behind him. His eyes caught sight of a full length mirror. He was ghostly pale and his hair even more unkempt than usual. He was also sporting dark circles under his eyes.

As he undid his pyjama top and let it fall to the ground he gasped in surprise. "What happened to you!?" The mirror piped up in horror. To say Harry had lost weight was an understatement. You could count all of his ribs as they stuck out sharply. Didn't they feed him at the hospital?

Harry saw many red marks where the machines had been attached, and small bruises littered his form randomly. Around each wrist was a bandage that smelled faintly of healing potion. Tentatively, he unwound the one around his left wrist. There was a dark red line beneath the bandage, with large healing scabs where the bonds had obviously chafed to the point of drawing blood.

Just how violent had his hallucinations been, and why hadn't his arms been cared for properly?

Sighing in frustration Harry unwound the rest of the bandages and taking of his remaining clothes got into the shower. The red lines were around both wrists and ankles. Harry washed the dirt and grease from his hair with warm soapy water.

When he was clean, Harry wrapped a towel around himself and walked shakily back to the room he had woken up in. Someone had left a set of clothes at the end of the bed for him. As Harry pulled them on he looked around the room. So, this was Sirius's room.

Harry noticed with a shudder that some of his godfather's things were still lying around. Harry picked up a photograph that had been sitting on the bedside table. It was the four marauders. James and Remus waved merrily up at him. Pettigrew was sitting on the ground staring at the ground. Sirius was smiling sadly up at Harry, almost frozen in place like in a muggle photograph.

Harry choked back a tide of sadness and made his way out of the room. He approached the stairs and began to make his way down. About halfway he realised his mistake. Harry gripped the banister tightly as his knees threatened to give way. He may be cured but he still felt very weak.

The front door opened quietly. Harry looked down the stairs to see who entered. Severus Snape walked in and froze at the sight of Harry swaying on the stairs.

"Bitten off more than you can chew potter?" Snape asked with a smirk.

Harry glared and tried to continue his descent of the stairs. As he put his foot on the next step down, he felt the leg holding his weight buckle. Snape dashed up the stairs and caught him before he could fall.

"Come on." Snape said coldly and helped the teenager down the stairs and into the kitchen. Harry sat down at the table.

"Are you alright Harry? I was just about to come and get you." Lupin said.

"Just a bit shaky." Harry said

"Poppy is coming by in a short while to give you a strengthening potion. You should feel a lot better after that."

Harry smiled gratefully. Ron came over to Harry's seat with a large bag full of gifts.

Harry's eyes widened. "I've never had this many presents before." Harry said in surprise.

"You were ill." Remus commented

"The sympathy vote." Ron said with a smile. I think Moody even got you something!"

Harry sat and undid his gifts. The adult members of the order obviously didn't go much on his fashion sense as Harry had been bought lots of clothes and casual robes. As Harry unwrapped Moody's gift he gasped. Moody had given him a little knife that he could conceal in a shoe "in case of capture" The note had said.

Ron and the other weasley children had bought him mountains of sweets and Hermione had got him wand polish and a guide to wand care.

Professor Dumbledore entered the room in the middle of the present opening and stood there smiling. "Feeling better Harry?" he asked

"Yes thank you" Harry replied.

Dumbledore approached the table and gave harry a key. "This will unlock your broomstick. Consider you quidditch ban lifted."

"Thank you sir."

Dumbledore gave Harry the strengthening potion, which Harry drank, immediately feeling stronger. "Harry, I would like a word in private. Perhaps we could go to the drawing room?"

Harry nodded and followed the headmaster from the kitchen.