Chapter Three: Day Three at St.Mungos

Warning(s): little hint at child abuse

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Harry was sitting on his bed, playing with the bouncy-paddle Nevans had given him. The old muggle toy had been charmed so there was no rubber band that connected the ball to the paddle. Apparently he wasn't to be trusted around potentially lethal objects. He was sure that the paddle had a cushioning charm too.

"Okay Harry." Nevans spoke up. Harry set the paddle down and looked at his doctor. "I know it's a touchy subject but we have to talk about the Dursleys."

"Why?"

"Because that's where the main problem lies, Harry. And don't you want justice?" Harry shrugged. "They hurt you Harry."

"So?"

"So they deserve to be punished." Harry snorted.

"They don't deserve to be punished…for punishing me." Harry said in an odd voice. "See I was bad and I needed to be punished."

"Bad, how?" Nevans asked gently.

"I was always bad. Doing freaky things, stealing…." Harry shuddered.

"Harry, those freaky things were magic, and they were good. And you probably had to steal to survive, right?"

"I know that now. But back then…."

"How long?"

"Since I can remember." Harry whispered. Nevans nodded and scribbled in his notepad.

"Harry, did Vernon or Dudley ever touch you?" Harry looked up quizzically.

"They had to punish me. Of course they did." Harry began to fiddle with the paddle.

"No Harry, I mean touch you in inappropriate places." Harry's grip on the paddle stiffened and he frowned. "Did he ever touch your…"

"NO!" Harry cried. The paddle in his hand burst and shards of the wood were buried into his hand. Nevans closed his pad and rushed to pull the splinters out. Harry shook as he worked.

"It's okay, we're done for today. How about I take you to the cafeteria and get some ice cream?" Nevans asked once Harry's hand was wrapped in gauze. Harry shrugged.

"Sorry." He said. Nevans shook his head and strode over to the door.

"No apologies needed. Now are you coming?" Harry nodded and hopped off the bed. He followed Nevans out the door and down a long, white hallway. They walked down some stairs until they came to a door marked 'Cafeteria'. Nevans pushed the door open and led Harry inside.

"Hey Doc!" A voice called out. Harry flinched as another teen came running up. The blue haired boy glanced at Harry before shaking the doctors hand.

"Gem. Good to see you up and about."

"Feels great Doc. I'll see you around." Gem loped off and Harry stared at him blankly. Nevans chuckled and led Harry over to the ice cream counter.

"Pick something." He said as he rummaged through the bin. Harry tentatively picked out an ice cream sandwich and Nevans led him over to a table. They sat down to eat their ice cream and Nevans began to speak. "I got something for you back at my office."

"Huh?" Harry asked dumbly as he took a small bite of his ice cream. "A gift? For me?"

"Sure. It might actually help you too." Harry frowned. A gift that helped? He was pulled out of his musings by Nevans chuckled and a cold wetness on his fingers. His ice cream was melting.

"Oops." He grinned sheepishly and licked the melted ice cream off his fingers. Nevans downed his cone in one last giant gulp and threw is wrapper into a bin. Harry followed suit minutes later and they stood.

They ran into Gem again on their way out and Harry was introduced to the energetic boy, who was only there to work on his hyper activeness. Harry laughed as Gem bounced away, calling over his shoulder about something that had to do with hair dye. "He's a good kid, if not a little hyper."

"A little? He's worse than my bes…." Harry trailed off. Nevans raised an eyebrow in encouragement but Harry shook his head. "Nothing. I was just comparing him to someone I used to know."

"I see. Well, let's head down to my office shall we? I have to give you that gift." Harry nodded and followed the whistling man down the hallways.

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A journal. Harry turned his gift over in his hands, letting the light catch on the silver bindings and locks. It was beautiful, Harry admitted to himself. Very beautiful. It was a deep blue color, with the silver locks, bindings, and writing on the front.

"The Property of Harry J. Potter." Harry read out loud for the tenth time. "This must have cost a fortune." He mused. He opened it with a wave of his hand and ran a finger down one of the white pages. "Maybe I'll write something."

He grabbed a silver quill from his desk, a new addition to his room, and scratched out the date on the top of the page.

I've never had a journal, so I don't know what to write. I guess I'll start out with who I am. My name is Harry James Potter, and I'm sixteen years old. I used to live with my aunt and uncle but circumstances have forced me to a hospital called St. Mungos.

My doctor's name is Damian Nevans, and he's the one who gave this journal to me. He said it would help sort out my feelings, since I don't feel comfortable talking to him just yet.

Let's see. My parents died when I was a baby, leaving me famous and bearing a scar to show off my fame. I don't want it though, really. I could care less about the madman that is after me. I just want a normal family, with normal friends, and a normal house.

Harry closed the journal with a sigh and stuffed it in a drawer, just as his door opened to admit Nevans. He was carrying a tray with his pills. "Hello Harry. Have you used the journal yet?"

"A little." Nevans nodded.

"Are you up for a session or would you rather put it off for tomorrow?" Harry frowned. "I'll be asked about your friends…"

"Tomorrow then." Harry interrupted. "I want to think first." Nevans nodded and gave Harry his meds before leaving the room. Harry took out his journal and noted a change in time from the first entry.

Nevans wants me to talk about my ex-friends. I don't think I can just now. It's still too fresh in my head. I could always tell him a little about my home life to keep him busy, but I don't want anyone to know about that yet either. I don't think he'll stop bothering me about it though.

Well, I guess I'm done writing for today. I need to think things over carefully before decided what I want to do,

TBC

Nice ending? Sorry I didn't get this out sooner but my dad dragged me out for a ride in his new boat. sigh He's such a kid sometimes. Add to that I couldn't login to don't expect too many updates for a while. I have my SAT's this Saturday, I'm watching my aunt's dog Thursday through Saturday (he's a total psycho btw…. needs lots of attention from me because he's afraid of my parents heh), then I have finals and Regents exams in another two weeks. Full schedule but I'll try to get a few more chappies out soon.