Chapter Six

Later in the day, Harry, who was once again snug in a bed in the hospital wing of Hogwarts, was still pondering whether or not this was a delusion. It had to be after all, there was no way Fudge would ever let him out of Azkaban, but then again, didn't Harry witnessed Fudge being sentenced to Azkaban himself? Had that part been real also? Had that red-headed woman been his mum? She acted like one towards him, maybe she was. Harry was very confused. Harry rolled over and tried to get some sleep. He liked it best when he was asleep, that's when he didn't have to think about anything.

Harry had been asleep only a short time when he felt someone shaking his shoulder trying to wake him up.

"Harry."

Once again Harry tried to ignore the person speaking to him and rolled over in his bed.

"Harry," the voice said again kindly. "I need you to wake up for me."

Harry blinked open his eye blearily as he sat up in bed to see that the delusion of Professor Dumbledore was there smiling at him. Was it a delusion or was he real? Over his shoulder he saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape standing behind the headmaster. The witch looked at him with concern in her eyes and the greasy haired man was smirking at him as if ready with several scathing remarks.

"Harry, do you remember what happened earlier today?"

"Real?"

"Yes, Potter," drawled the greasy haired man still smirking. "This is definitely real."

Harry frowned and lay back down and pulled the covers up over his head. This had to be a delusion because there was no way in hell he would allow that man to know about the trade he had with Benson.

"Severus!" scolded the witch Harry thought might be his housekeeper. "Try to not be a complete bastard today if you please."

"You're all coddling the boy too much," he replied. "What he needs is to be dragged out of that bed and given a good dose of electro-shock spells. That will give him the incentive to understand that he is not in a delusion."

"That is enough Severus," Dumbledore said commandingly.

Harry had listened to this from under his covers. Why wouldn't they all just go away and let him sleep? It wasn't like he was doing anything wrong. He was sleepy and wanted to sleep. Well, that's what he told himself anyway.

"Harry, I would very much like it if you came out from under the covers so I could speak with you."

Harry shook his head 'no,' there was no way he was going to come out if this was real. A delusion of Snape was bad enough, but the real one was not be dealt with.

"Enough of this," smirked the potions master and unknown to Harry, drew out his wand and said, "Evanesco." This caused Harry's warm and snug blanket to disappear.

"Severus!" barked Professor McGonagall.

Harry lay there feeling very naked and exposed, even though he still had his hospital pajamas on.

"Severus was that really necessary?" asked the Headmaster.

"Apparently," said Snape, "since Potter refused to act his age."

"You didn't give him a chance," McGonagall said to him.

"Perhaps it would be best if the two of you left us alone, so we can talk privately," Dumbledore said diplomatically and Harry was happy to see the greasy teacher leave the room.

"Albus?"

Sighing, the delusion of Dumbledore replied, "We'll be fine Minerva, I promise you."

With a nod the witch followed the greasy haired man out of the ward.

"Now that we have some privacy, I do want to talk to you Harry."

Harry rolled over again and covered his face with his hands and shook his head 'no.'

Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the older wizard say, "There is no shame in what you did. You did what you had to in order to survive. You succeeded where many others would have failed and perished, but you did not and for that I am eternally grateful."

"Not real."

"Yes, I am afraid that this is indeed real Harry."

"Elf not real," Harry said from behind his hands.

With a chuckle in his voice, the Headmaster replied, "Yes, I will agree with you there. That house-elf was not what you would call a typical servant. However, she did seem genuinely concerned for your well being."

"Not real."

"Well, real or not, the warden of Azkaban just fire called me before I came down here. They were finally able to open that door to the room…"

Harry shuddered at the mention of where they found him and felt shame at being discovered.

"…where Mr. Benson had taken you. It seems they found him hanging naked with several whip marks on his back and seemed to have had a Muggle devise known as a neck massager wedged firmly in his anus. One does wonder how that managed to get there."

"Elf not real, this not real."

"Yes, Harry this is real and I assure you that elf was real also. If it hadn't been for her, I don't know what I would have done to Mr. Benson myself," admitted Dumbledore, who was smoothing Harry's hair gently.

Harry seemed to relax a little under Dumbledore's gentle touch.

"That's it my boy, come back to us. We need you to come back. We all miss you terribly."

Harry felt tears welling up in his eyes. This can not be real! It just couldn't. He didn't want anyone to know his shame. He didn't want everyone to look at him differently for allowing himself to bargain that way to gain more food, when he was so hungry.

"No one will blame you for what you did Harry."

"Snape."

"Severus does not blame you."

Harry moved his fingers and allowed one of his eyes to peer out at the Headmaster and snorted.

"He doesn't blame you, though I will admit that he would more than happy to announce it to the public at large."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut and felt the tears fall down his cheeks under his hands.

"It will get better Harry, I promise you that."

Harry didn't respond. Why couldn't this have all been a delusion after all?

Dumbledore stood from his chair and conjured another warm and snuggly blanket for Harry to cover up with. This one was scarlet and had little golden snitches that moved all over the surface.

"No."

"Harry?"

"Never better. Should be dead."

"No, Harry, you should be alive. You will get better I promise you. I'll help and I know that the Weasleys are dying to see you again."

"Susie?"

"I don't know who Susie is Harry."

"Herman?"

"Herman," Dumbledore muttered trying to figure out who that was. "By chance do you mean Miss Granger?"

Harry just gave Dumbledore an odd look from behind his hands.

"Is Herman a young lady with bushy brown hair who is quite intelligent?"

Harry nodded 'yes.'

The twinkle returned to the Headmaster's eyes, "I think I'll allow her to help you pronounce her name again."

With that Dumbledore turned and left the hospital wing as well.

x-x-x-x-x

Several hours later as Harry was sleeping in the darkened ward, he was slightly aroused when a little creature popped into the room and walked over to him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Or perhaps it was a dream of some kind.

Which ever it was he knew he heard the words, "Eppy is loving you Master Harry."

Either way Harry fell into a deep and comforting sleep. The first one he had since going to Azkaban.

To Be Continued … Please Read and Review