A/N-Do not own. So, this chapter is full of stuff. X's are scene breaks and there are quite a few of those. Please note that I am not a doctor nor a medical person, so any medical terms that I got wrong, just correct me or ignore them. The last scene was written purely to show the average every day and I hope ya'll enjoy it. Italics are thoughts. Enjoy. And as always, use your words.
~Case
-x-
She groaned, running a hand over her face and gazing blearily at the parchment she had just set down. This forth coming shopping trip was a logistics nightmare. And the trip was tomorrow. She had decided, when Jake had brought the clothing issue to her attention, that they would need two shopping trips. One for school supplies in August, if her teachers ever finalized their book lists, and one much sooner for basic clothing and necessities. So she was taking nearly fifty children to a non-magical shopping centre to get clothing, books and toys, although the children weren't aware of that last two. It had been a week since the clothing checks and she had gotten the camp counselors to go through and write down exactly what each child was missing. Some of them needed entire wardrobes. Most of them, actually. But that was alright, it wasn't like they couldn't afford it. No, money wasn't the issue here. The issue was making sure forty-nine children were safe in a shopping centre without the help of magic. Every single counselor was going on this trip as was all the current teachers in residence. Getting there would involve a mass portkey and two buses. It was a headache, but a necessary one. She knew that, even if she didn't like that it was necessary. Alexis grunted, picking up the sheet of names to return to pairing children with adults.
Tim glanced up from his work, gazing at the younger woman for a moment. He placed the finished band in the basket, picking up a new one to link to the master bands. They would put a band on each child's wrist which would be linked to the four master bands, so that if any child wandered off or if something happened, they could get to them quickly. The bands themselves would bond with the child's magic, making it so that they could identify who needed them or find a specific child easily. The master bands, which Alexis had crafted, would bond with the mage wearing them, adding a direct line to the children. He would have one, as would Alexis. Severus and Eric, as the deputy Headmaster and the Head Healer, well for physical wellness at least, would have the remaining two. The four of them would roam freely amongst the children and Filius would handle the money pouch, while the rest of the adults handled three or four children a piece. It would be an interesting adventure, but they were going on a Tuesday morning, so hopefully it wouldn't be terribly crowded. He wasn't sure how some of these children would handle crowds and they would be in the muggle world, although not near where any of the children originated from, so some of the non-magical raised and born would be nervous or scared, especially if they saw someone they knew. Or god forbid, their abuser. That would be...disastrous. He frowned when the floo flashed and Filius stepped out. The man was doing visits to muggleborn and raised first years today, and while he knew that they might gain a few more campers, he was hoping this wasn't the case. Filius didn't look worried or angry, just thoughtful.
"Filius?" Alexis questioned, raising an eyebrow and looking up from her paperwork. "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head slightly, still mulling over the child he had just met and what they could do to help her. "The first year I was visiting, her parents gave permission for a temporary floo connection. I think it would be wise if you and Eric went to visit her. "He replied finally, shaking his head as if to clear it. "She isn't being abused." He added hastily, seeing the look in his child's eyes.
"Then why Eric and I?" Alexis frowned, leaning forward slightly. The smaller man was acting much like he did when he was pondering a particularly complex bit of charms work or crafting a spell. Like he was running fifty different scenarios in his mind and coming up with the same answer each time.
"Mia is paralyzed from the waist down. Her spinal cord was severed when she was hit by a car, five years ago. She feels pain in her legs, nearly constant in the last year or two. The simple scan I did shows...I believe her magic might be repairing the nerves and muscles, reconnecting the pathways from her spine to her legs. Eric is the best at pediatric medicine and you are a healer in your own right. I would say Tim as well, but let's not overwhelm the child on our first visit." He explained quietly, watching as her eyes became thoughtful and Tim sat up straighter.
Alexis touched her pendant, summoning Eric with a thought. The man would be there momentarily and they would go see if there was a way to help a young girl walk again. If nothing else, they could find a magical wheelchair for the girl, so that if her parents let her attend Hogwarts she would be able to get around. But she also knew that was a big if. The child's parents were quite likely to not want their daughter going to a boarding school, not with her being disabled. And if they did agree, the girl wouldn't walk over night. Even if the parents didn't, if they could help the child's body heal, they would. Because that was her goal, her job, her dream; to heal these children, physically and mentally. And she would do so to the best of her abilities.
-x-
"Stop fidgeting, Derek." Severus admonished quietly, frowning at the boy for a moment before surveying the rest of the group of teenagers surrounding him. The worst tempers in the school were spread across the carpet, most of them with eyes glaring at their laps. But the few, the ones who trusted him to keep them safe, with closed eyes and calm minds, breathing deeply and actually getting something from this exercise. He often ran a meditation group for his Slytherins during the school year and he knew how much it helped them. Hopefully, these teenagers would also take something from it. He bit back a sigh, watching as others started to fidget as well. They had been at it for nearly an hour, though, so he did understand. "Alright. Enough for today. We will try again tomorrow on centering ourselves and finding a calm place." He ordered finally, causing agitated, restless teenagers to groan. "I know. It's hard and it's boring and you don't get it. I understand, I was once a student as well. But wouldn't it be nice to control your tempers, so that they didn't control you? Wouldn't it be nice to stop finding yourselves in trouble for those tempers? I can teach you control but you have to work with me. All of you. Come ready to try again tomorrow evening." He added briskly, raising an eyebrow at the teenagers. It took half a second for them to force stiff bodies to their feet and start rushing out the door. "Bain, Elijah. A moment please." The two boys in questioned turned, the younger one groaning. Bain had been one of the few not trying to run from this lesson. Although the red-head didn't need to learn the basics, he did need to mediate more and hopefully this anger management group that he had been talked into starting would help the teenager gain more control.
"Sir?" Bain questioned quietly, frowning slightly. He had wanted to go to the lab, after all he had been ungrounded for nearly a week and he wanted to experiment. But he also needed to check in with Charlie and see if the older man needed him to do anything. After all, they had a shopping trip the next morning and the counselors were trying to finalize details while still running groups and activities.
"Alexis had to make a sudden trip to Wales, Bain. She asked that you keep an eye on Teddy." Severus remarked, focusing on the older teenager first. Alexis' last message had said that they would be back in a few hours and although Charlie would keep an eye on Teddy, he had ten other boys as well, not counting the kids in the 'E' group. Even though he was thirteen, Teddy was young and recently diabetic. He had also not had a very good weekend. And one of his counselors, or Bain, would be watching him at all times for a little while. He also knew that by asking Bain to watch Teddy, he would keep an eye on Karrie and Harry as well. The three were nearly always together, after all. Two weeks, and it was like they had spent years together. By the time school started back, he knew they would be completely inseparable.
He furrowed his brow, tilting his head to the side. "Wales?" He questioned quietly, knowing the his Master would tell him if he could. He would keep an eye of the trio, then, instead of brewing. He could always brew when Alexis got back home and Teddy was back in their chambers for the evening. He shivered, remembering the feeling of finding the child covered in his own blood...that had been a bad day all around.
"Yes, Wales. There is an incoming first year she needed to see to." Severus sighed, shaking his head when both boys grimaced. "Not like that. The child has a serious medical condition, something that the Headmistress needed to know and speak to her parents about." That was true, of course. Partly, at least. The child would hopefully be attending Hogwarts, her parents weren't decisive yet. But, according to Filius, they were very excited by the prospect of being able to heal some of the damage to the child's nervous system. Alexis and Eric had a few more tests to run and then he would have a complex potion to brew and administer; hopefully, it would work and the child's magic would do the rest. It would take months of physical therapy and treatments of the potion and the spells, but there was a chance that the child could at least move her lower half. Walking was a long shot but if the parents and the girl were prepared to take it, then they would do their very best to make it happen.
Bain nodded, relaxing slightly. At least it wasn't another abuse case. They had too many of those and he feared that they would gain more with the first year visits. They still might, actually. He turned, heading upstairs to help Charlie and Phil with their group and to be able to do as Alexis asked, to watch out for one of his younger brothers. Because to him, and his magic, that's what they were becoming, Teddy and Elijah. His brothers.
Elijah shifted from foot to foot uneasily, glancing up at Severus through a curtain of his hair. He had an idea about what the man wanted and he really didn't want to be fussed at.
He shifted dark eyes to the younger boy, shaking his head slightly. Alexis had been teaching the child to mediate, there was no reason he should had spent the class glaring at another child. The teen had also been broadcasting his thoughts, something that any Legilimens would have picked up on. And they were not pleasant thoughts. "Would you like to tell me what that was all about?" He questioned dryly, arching a brow at the fidgeting boy.
"Sir?" Elijah questioned, tilting his head slightly and raising his eyes to meet the older man's for a moment before dropping them once more.
"You did not focus on the lesson, even though Alexis mentioned that you have taken to mediation easily. Instead, you chose to spend the entire hour boring holes into Derek's side." Severus drawled, leaning back slightly. The teenager's projected thoughts about the other boy had been...concerning.
"I don't trust him." He shrugged, glancing up quickly. He didn't trust the slightly older boy and he didn't like him. He also wanted to make him suffer for the damage Derek had done to both Teddy and Robert. But Severus didn't have to know that.
He sighed, running a hand across his face for a moment. "That is understandable. However, it doesn't explain why you are planning to harm him." He purred silkily, dangerously. The child grimaced and he watched emotions flash through the boy's eyes for a moment before they settled on anger.
"Stay out of my head!" Elijah snapped, spinning around and storming toward the door. He froze when the door swung shut, biting his lip to stop a hiss of pain when a stinging spell made contact with his bottom. Damn man. He had no right! He was allowed to think what he wanted! He shouldn't have been in his head.
"You were broadcasting." Severus stated simply, hiding his concern for the child behind a neutral mask. It wasn't so much that the child was thinking about revenge, but that he was planning to do deliberate harm to another teenager that was concerning. What had the bully done to make Elijah feel such hate for him? What did Elijah know that he didn't? That Alexis didn't? Or it could just be a teenage squabble. But if the boy's first response was to harm someone, they would have a serious problem on their hands.
He grimaced, biting the inside of his cheek for a moment. He hadn't actually been planning to do it, he had just been thinking about how to avenge his friend and little brother. And maybe he wanted to take his confusion and frustration about Robert out on Derek, even if it wasn't totally the bully's fault. He could still blame it on the bully. But he wouldn't actually harm Derek. For one, he remembered what Alexis had said about casting those curses. He also didn't want to cause any more problems for her right now. And, he didn't like hurting people. Because he was not his parents and he did not want to become them; he did not want to be cruel and hurt others. "I wasn't really going to harm him. Thinking shouldn't be a crime!" He snapped, sneering at the older man. He shouldn't be punished for thoughts but for actions. After all, everyone had plotted revenge before, that didn't mean they acted upon it. And he'd rather believe that he wouldn't act on those thoughts, no matter how appealing they seemed at times.
"It isn't, Elijah. You are not, currently, in trouble." Severus growled, letting the subtle threat hang in the air for a moment. The boy dropped his glare to his trainers, flinching slightly. "Could you tell me why you were thinking of harming Derek?" He questioned gentler, softer. He wanted the child to trust him, to feel safe talking to him. Hopefully, with time, trust would come. But like respect, at least with these children, he had to prove himself worthy of that trust.
"He's a bully." Elijah stated, rolling his eyes. That was a stupid question. Why did adults always ask stupid questions?
"Yes. But he has never bullied you and since you tried to curse him, he has stayed away from you. So what makes you want to harm him?" Severus replied dryly, shaking his head. Typical teenaged answer, like it was really that simple. Who knows, it might be. I never liked bullies either, but nor did I plan to torture them. He pulled himself from his thoughts at the child's scoff, narrowing his eyes at the teenager.
"He is a bully, sir. He picks on smaller kids and those different from himself. He put doubt in Teddy's mind and the kid hurt himself real bad. He makes Robert feel bad with his words, cause he's too cowardly to hit him, since Robert's so much bigger." He shrugged, raising his eyes to meet the older man's once more. He knew that Derek had not made Teddy do that but he had said something nasty to the boy, earlier that day. Elijah remembered when Harry had tried to shove the bigger boy and he had intervened, getting between the three children and the bastard bully. Derek had left right after that and Teddy had turned emotionless, locking down. The boy had said he was fine but then that night...he hadn't been so fine.
The child was planning ways to torture another child to avenge his friends? And he did mean torture. Some of those spells...a boy of fifteen should not even know of those spells. Let alone plan to use them on another person. "That may be but does that give you the right to harm him?" He inquired quietly, raising an eyebrow when the boy merely shrugged. "Elijah, I understand wanting someone to suffer for harming someone you care about. But acting on those thoughts is different. Magic is about intent. You could do serious harm to him without meaning to and that is not acceptable. What is the most important rule of magic?" Severus sighed. Merlin grant him patience.
"Harm none." He mumbled, not meeting the older man's eyes. But if it was to harm none, weren't stinging spells harm? They did hurt after all. A lot. And he hated them. So wasn't the man bringing his own rule? Or was it different, because the professor was an adult? "But you do harm." He protested finally, glaring back up at the man.
"How do you mean?"
Elijah hesitated, green eyes uncertain for a moment. "Well, isn't those stinging spells harm? They do hurt." He responded slowly, flushing slightly.
Severus blinked, staring at the child for a moment before giving a bark of laughter. He chuckled deep from his stomach, smirking at the child's shocked face when he finally collected himself once more. "I apologized. I once said much the same to my Master." He drawled causally, shaking his head and fighting to keep his laughter under control. Wait until Remus and Alexis heard this one! "His answer, as well as mine, of course, is no. It is not the same."
"But, they hurt!" Elijah objected, blushing deeply and biting his lip again. He was quite aware that the professor hadn't been laughing at him, not completely, but his question. He did make the dour man laugh. No one would ever believe him, at least none who weren't at the camp.
"Yes, as they are meant to. Stinging spells, as well as deserved smackings, are suppose to hurt. Do they actually harm you? No. Momentary discomfort is different from torturing and beating someone. Nor is a smacking the same as abuse. Abuse harms you, it not only leaves marks but it can damage your magical core. It hurts you. Stinging spells do not." He explained quietly, sighing at the child's blank stare. "There has been research done on this, Elijah. Disciplining and correcting someone is not harmful; rather it does more good than bad. It may not seem like it at the moment, but it does. Using magic to do purposeful harm to someone, or using your fists to cause them damage, is harmful. Magic, and life, is all about intent. Did I mean for the stinging spell to hurt? Yes, otherwise it is not affective. But did I want to harm you? No. My intent is never to do you harm. I may make it uncomfortable for you to sit for awhile or ground you until you are forty, but I do not intent to harm you. Rather, I wish to help you. Does that make sense?" He added quietly, watching the flash of knowledge in green eyes for a moment.
He hesitated, turning it over in his mind for a moment. So the intent to discipline him wasn't harmful but his father's intent to beat the magic out of him was. That made...sense, actually. But then..when Teddy harmed himself, was that the same as if he had intended to harm someone else? Or was it different? That was something to think about, then. Him wanted to harm Derek, to curse Derek so that the older boy knew pain and suffering, was the same as his father beating him. It was harmful, because his intent was to hurt Derek and make him suffer. Which was bad. But he wasn't bad, was he? He just sometimes wanted to hurt him. He could never actually harm someone, Elijah knew that. Because he had once swore that he would never be his father. And he wouldn't. "Yes sir. I understand now. Sorry."
"For? There is not reason to apologize child. None at all. Now, hurting Derek will not make you feel better nor will it make your friends better. Revenge never does." He stated firmly, onyx eyes glinting briefly with the smallest bit of guilt. He had once thought revenge was fine, but then he had been young and foolish back then as well. And he have had few adults in his life to tell him otherwise when he was Elijah's age. The child would not learn these lessons the hard way, not like he had. "Where did you learn those spells, Elijah?"
He nodded solemnly, blinking rapidly for a moment. He knew revenge would hurt more in the end but it had seemed like a good thought at the time. And just because he thought something, didn't mean he would do it. But he had a feeling that the older man did know that fact. "Books, sir." Elijah shrugged, finally meeting his eyes once more. He had learned the spells from books, and older boys, but mostly books.
"Those are torture spells. No book in Hogwarts should contain them." Severus replied quietly, narrowing his eyes in thought. What would a child need torture spells for? And what books would he learn them from?
Elijah grimaced, looking away quickly. He knew that, of course. "I wasn't going to use them sir. I don't like hurting people. Only to scare him." He answered honestly, shifting uncomfortable for a moment. He flinched when a hand rested on his shoulder but didn't pull away.
"But accidents do happen." He responded gently, squeezing the child's shoulder. That was the only answer he would get from the boy, but that was alright. Elijah was from a bad home, he had probably learned those spells for the same reason that he, Severus, had once studied 'dark', dangerous spells. To protect himself. He waited until the child nodded in acknowledgment before smirking at the boy. "Now, unless there is anything you would like to speak about, you may go." He offered, knowing quite well that the boy would probably just take off.
He hesitated, green eyes unsure. There was something he wanted to ask the professor, but he was reluctant to have that conversation with a teacher. He thought about asking Bain but he knew the older boy would laugh at him. Severus might too, actually. But he trusted the man; he didn't know why, he just did. Alexis trusted him, so he did too. And the man had never been cruel to him, even when he had blown up cauldrons out of anger. "Sir? May I ask you something?" He ventured nervously, meeting onyx eyes hesitantly.
"Of course, Elijah. You may come to me with anything." He reassured, hiding concern quickly. Nervousness was rolling off the child, like he was afraid of what he would say. Or perhaps, what he wouldn't say.
"I- well, I...that is to say..erm." He blushed, looking down quickly.
"Calm, child." Severus murmured, patting the boy's shoulder gently. " I won't harm you, hex you, nor laugh. So take a deep breath and try again." He encouraged, giving the boy a half smile.
He grimaced, nodded, and took a deep breath. He knew Severus wouldn't hurt him. But the things tumbling through his head were embarrassing. "How'd you know you liked Remus?" He blurted in one breath, biting his lip and dropping his eyes.
He smiled, placing a finger under the child's chin and lifting it up so that he had to look at him. He had been expecting a question like this eventually, although he had also expected the child to seek out someone closer to his age. "He made my stomach flutter, made me feel queasy and sweaty whenever I was around him. He made me nervous and I wanted to impress him so badly. I also would defend him and fight for him, I hated it when others spoke ill of him. Even in a room of the most beautiful people, my eyes never strayed from him. If you meant how did I know I liked boys and not girls, that is quite simple. I was never attracted to girls, never interested in them as more than friends. Although I could see myself with a girl, I also could not see myself happy if I dated a girl." He replied, eyes going distant for a moment. Eight years. He had been dating Remus for eight years. They both had to grow up a little before that but they fell madly in love. He didn't even mind when his partner became displeased because he lost his temper once more. Albus had rules about partners living at Hogwarts, and so Remus never could live with him, even if he spent the occasional night. But now, he could. They could be together, openly and without doubting each other. Because they truly loved each other.
Elijah looked up at the older man in wonder, hearing the passion in the man's voice. That had been exactly what he was asking. Because he didn't know if he truly liked Robert or if it was just his hormones talking. If maybe he could like girls, even though he wasn't attracted to them. At all. He knew he would not be happy dating a girl but did Robert like him as more than a friend? That he didn't know. "Thank you, Severus." He grinned, using the man's given name for the first time. He had asked them to call him that, after all.
"Elijah...you are young. Too young for anything serious. And the boy you like is of age. You are not. Nor is he ready for a relationship of any kind. Take your time. Don't rush into it. And talk to him. You won't lose him as a friend." He advised softly, watching the teenager for a moment. Robert had spoken to him about his feelings for boys last year, when he had come to him, as his Head of House, for advice. He had also seen how the older boy looked at the younger; there were feelings there. But it was too soon, nothing would happen between them. Hopefully.
He looked away with a nod, biting his lip. He knew he was too young for it to be serious, he didn't expect to find his lifelong partner at school, but he wasn't too young for Robert. And he hadn't know that the older man had known about his feelings. He supposed that it was a bit obvious, the way he acted around the other boy. "I understand sir. Thanks." He responded finally, looking back at him.
"What happened to Severus?" He teased, squeezing the boy's shoulder before letting him go. The teenager grinned at him, stuck out his tongue and was off. Hopefully, he listened to him and realized that his feelings were not wrong. He was just too young to move anywhere past kissing. Too young to have to deal with his own trauma, too young to think of torturing someone. He was just too much of an adult for someone so young. He hoped he would not forget to be a child, even for just a little bit longer. And that he would still come to him with his questions in the future.
-x-
Harry grumbled, kicking his feet restlessly. He hated this sessions. It was pointless, there was nothing wrong with him and he wasn't going to talk about it. But they were required, for all campers. Even Bain met with a counselor. But Teddy had said that he had heard Bain swearing angrily when Alexis had informed him to stop skipping the stupid sessions. He would have sworn too. He didn't want to be sitting here! He would rather be with Teddy and Karrie. Teddy had been so quiet lately, and he had seen the bandage on the other boy's leg. He didn't want him to be hurting. And Karrie...well Karrie was sad but she kept pretending not to be. She was also scared that Remus and Severus would decide that they didn't want her. He was scared of that too. He knew it was only a matter of time before they tired of him. His eyes snapped up toward the healer, frowning at the man who had called his name. "Huh?"
Tim forced back a sigh, shaking his head slightly. He had called the boy three times before he had finally answered him. Twenty minutes of silence. That was new record for Harry. "What is going through that head of yours?" He inquired softly, knowing that he was not likely to get an actual answer.
He shrugged, turning his eyes back to his trainers. "Can I go now?" Harry asked finally, not bothering to look up or to stop kicking his feet.
"Not yet. We have at least twenty more minutes, Harry. Would you like to play a game?"Tim suggested, raising an eyebrow at the boy. The child wouldn't be so bored if he actually spoke to him, instead of staring into space. Although, he could understand the reluctance to speak.
He hesitated, tilting his head slightly. Uncle had always been against him playing, but Severus and Remus encouraged it. It was a bit confusing sometimes, cause he had trouble remembering which rules he should be following. Uncle had so many rules but Remus and Severus had different rules. Fewer rules. Stupid rules. Finally, he just shrugged, giving the smallest of nods.
"Checkers alright?" Tim summoned the game and small table, setting it up at the child's nod. Hopefully, the boy would start talking to him while they played but he wouldn't count on it. Harry rarely spoke in this sessions. One day, the child would trust him enough to open up. He could only hope.
He slowly moved the red piece, not quite remembering the rules to this game. He had only played it twice, both times in the evening after group meetings. Karrie liked it and so they played it. Granted, Karrie also like the princess game, but she was reluctant to play it, cause she never had it before and she didn't think she would be allow. Cause Karrie thought she was dirty. But she wasn't. She couldn't be. Neither was Teddy. Neither of them were dirty. He was the only bad one, right? "Tim?"
"Hm?" He responded, gazing at the child's slow, unsure movements before moving his own pieces.
"Why do they think they are dirty for something they couldn't control?" Harry questioned slowly, curious green eyes glancing up at the man.
Tim blinked, turning his full attention on the pre-teen. He didn't have to ask who the child meant, he could easily guess that answer. It had to be one of the children Harry spent a lot of time with. Bain and Elijah watched out for the trio, but neither would tell such a thing to the kids. Teddy and Karrie both had told him that they were 'dirty' so there was a good chance Harry meant one or both of them. "Because they blame themselves for it. They have been hurt and violated, told that they were dirty and tainted. They aren't, but it is a belief they hold that has to be changed. It takes a lot of work to change that view of themselves, a view that has been forced on them for quite a while. But it can be done. Just like you blame yourself for the things that happened to you, your friends do the same." He replied briskly, firmly. The boy met his eyes for a brief second before looking away quickly.
That made a bit of sense, but it didn't mean he had to agree with it. He didn't, after all, blame himself for things that weren't his fault. He had deserved what had happened to him. But Karrie and Teddy had not deserved it, not at all. And they weren't dirty. But he, he was bad. Tim was just mistaken there. He moved his checkers piece, scowling at the board. He wasn't so good at strategy games, Remus had commented that it was because he was hyper-aware of his surroundings. He wasn't so sure what that meant but Harry did know that he couldn't focus on the board for too long, he was always fidgeting and glancing around, looking for the next sign of danger. But adults didn't understand that. Because danger was everywhere. And he had to always watch out for it, or someone would hurt him. Or worse, something bad would happen to someone he cared about. Bad things always happened when he was around. Perhaps it would be better if he wasn't? If he just disappeared.
"Harry?" Tim asked, concerned. The boy had paled, his eyes unfocused, staring blankly at the table. He was trembling slightly and emotions were flitting across the normally closed face. He wasn't so sure exactly what had occurred to cause the child to shut down like this. "Harry? Look at me please." He called again, leaning forward slightly. His only answer was silence.
He was bad, dangerous. He couldn't stay. 'Cause people would get hurt and it'd be his fault and no one would love him ever anyway and he was a waste of space and uncle had been right and he just-
"Harry!" He grabbed the child's small hand, keeping it from tearing at pale skin. He grasped it gently, furrowing his brows when the boy blinked and stared at him in confusion for a moment. "You are at Hogwarts, in my office. We were playing checkers. You are safe here." He stated firmly, hoping to ground the boy in the moment. A hesitant nod was all that answer he needed. The child was back with him, having been drawn into a flashback or his thoughts; he wasn't quite sure which. "Tell me what was going through your mind, please?"
Harry hesitated, biting his lip hard. The healer had yet to release his wrist, he probably thought he would harm himself. And he might, to be honest. Because he deserved pain and no one else would punish him here. So he had to punish himself. But later, when he was alone. He knew that he couldn't tell Tim about the need to disappear, couldn't tell any adult. They just wouldn't understand. "It was nothing sir. Sorry." He murmured, looked away quickly.
Tim raised an eyebrow but he knew that he would get nothing else. He forced back a sigh, turning his attention back to the board. The child had gone back to silence, to being a closed book. But he would learn about it eventually, it just took time. And trust. Hopefully, the child would learn to trust him before he did something stupid.
-x-
He wiggled, taping his free hand restlessly on his leg. He hated these tests. The magical blood tests were fine but Eric had asked to take a sample of his blood, just so he could see an extremely accurate sugar count. He hated needles, even if the small prick in his elbow hadn't hurt that much. He still hated them. They looked all alien and strange, like something out of one of the horror books Draco liked. Teddy sighed, scowling at the the white bandage on his free arm. It was the only visible sign of his breakdown late Friday night. Well that and his babysitter. But Bain was cool and he was also family now. So his company wasn't completely unwanted. And the bigger kids didn't mess with his group when Bain and Elijah hung around. But Elijah was no where to be seen and Bain was sitting in a chair nearby, book in hand. The infirmary was just so...boring.
Eric chuckled, setting aside the file he was writing in and turning back to the impatient child. All children, he had found, were impatient during checkups and healer's visits. He had dealt with many patients who had diabetes and he knew that the process was boring for the children. Most of them hated having blood drawn, especially those raised in pure-blood families who knew that blood could be used for negative purposes. "Alright Teddy. Your counts are a bit lower than I would like but if we change the dosage on your potion, that should help a bit. Remember to write down all of your counts in the logbook I gave you. They will appear in my copy of the book, so that if there is a problem, we can fix it sooner rather than later." He stated causally, knowing quite well that the child would respond better to him this way. Many doctors, he had found, talked down to the children in their care, instead of speaking to them like they could understand and treating them like people in their own rights. They were people, after all, just little people.
Teddy nodded, meeting the dark-skinned man's warm eyes. Eric had quickly become his favourite healer, besides Alexis. Because Pomfery prodded too much and Jemma treated him like a little kid. Tim was a good healer as well, but he was also primarily a mind healer and that meant he wanted him to talk. Which he often didn't want to talk. But then again, very few of the kids at the camp actually wanted to speak with any of the counselors. He knew it helped some of them but the rest..well they just weren't ready yet. "Am I done?" He questioned, tilting his head to the side, glancing briefly toward Bain.
"Nearly. I would like to check your arm, if that is alright." Eric replied calmly, nodding toward the arm in question. The child grimaced but nodded, holding the limb out to him. He tapped his wand softly to the bandage, removing the spell that kept the child from picking at it. Or getting it wet, or the bandage itching. Really, it was an amazing spell.
Bain glanced up from his book, grimacing at the slash down the younger boy's forearm and part of his upper arm, before looking back at his potions text. He flexed his fingers, biting back a groan at the pain in his hand. He didn't want to draw attention to it, after all.
Teddy held still, watching with fascination as the man placed a hand beside the wound, sending his magic into his arm by touch. He loved this kind of magic, it almost made him feel safe. It also reminded him of Alexis and the first time he really interacted with the woman, and she did make him feel safe. As proven by the number of times he had fallen asleep sprawled across her lap but she never seemed to mind.
"So I never heard, what inspired this?" Eric inquired causally, scouring the latest bit of infection from the child's ar
m. He knew for a fact that the child would not speak to anyone about that night, not even Alexis. He caught Bain's head snapping up out of the corner of his eye and sighed softly. The teenager had been the one to find the child, passed out on the floor of the cabin bathroom. The boy had technically not left his cabin, so the alarm hadn't sounded. Why the self-harm wards hadn't worked and why that alarm hadn't sounded was an entirely different matter. He was aware that both wards had been replaced and strengthen since the incident. Nearly an accident really, for all the child had said was that he hadn't meant to cut that deep.
He hesitated, fidgeting slightly before shrugging. He trusted Eric and the man wasn't being nosy about it. He just sounded curious, like he actually cared. Logically, he knew Alexis, Tim, and Charlie all cared as well and perhaps he would tell Alexis soon, but he didn't want to upset any of them. "A lot of things. I had a... bad dream. Father and Derek...And I just, I couldn't. You know?" Teddy looked up slowly, meeting those comforting eyes. Unlike his Headmistress', whose eyes went from hard as stones to warm silver, Eric's eyes were always warm, comforting, welcoming even. He was sure that his eyes probably still looked welcoming when he was angry, although he had never seen the healer angry.
"I do know. That must have been difficult, huh? Having your bully and your father in the same dream. Did they hurt you? Or was it their words that got to you?" He questioned softly, spreading a salve on the child's arm to minimize scarring. It would take a few more days to heal completely; hopefully, it would not leave an awful scar.
"Both. Words, mostly though. They both kept repeating what Derek had said earlier and it hurt. I didn't want to believe them but when I woke up...it felt so real. I needed the pain to drown away their words." Teddy shrugged, staring down at his hand for a moment. He glanced up when Bain growled, grimacing slightly. Elijah had heard what Derek had said, he must have told Bain.
"He was wrong." Bain muttered, catching brown eyes with blue. "You are not some worthless freak who can't be loved. And she wouldn't turn you away or get rid of you. Hell, if she puts up with Elijah, you and me should be a walk in the park. Right?"
"Ah. Alexis could never 'get rid of' any of you. She is quite attached, as is her magic. It would literally hurt her to lose you. Just as it hurts you to think about losing the sense of stability that you are coming to find with her. Although, I do not think Elijah is as bad as you make him seem, Bain." Eric commented quietly, catching both of the boys attention. The two snickers weren't surprising, although he did raise an eyebrow at them. "What did he do now?" He asked in mock exasperation. He had heard many tales of Elijah in the last week and a half, most of them were funny mischief but some were quite serious.
"Before or after he dipped Derek's hand in water while he was sleeping?" Teddy giggled, smirking. He glanced back at his arm as the Healer wrapped it up in a new bandage, biting his lip slightly. "Do you have to put the spell on it?" He asked cautiously, shifting uncomfortably.
"Unless you can promise to keep it dry, clean, and not to mess with it, I do. And, the spell keeps it from itching. I know how much they can itch and it is quite annoying, isn't it?" Eric replied briskly, shaking his head at Elijah's antics.
"Yeah, I guess it's okay then." Teddy shrugged. He knew there was no way he could keep it clean. He seemed to attracted messes. "Can I have my cookie now?" He added, grinning up at the man.
Eric snorted, tapping the bandage with his wand to place the spell on it before summoning a specific jar of cookies. These low sugar cookies were actually alright for Teddy to have and word seemed to spread that he kept cookies and candy for the well-behaved patients. Most of the younger ones were willing to let him check them over for a promised treat. "You may have two and take Bain's chair. I would like to look at his hand before you two leave." He held a hand out to the child, offering him a steady hand as he jumped down from the table. Teddy released his hand and dipped his own into the cookie jar, fishing around for a moment. With a smirk, the child bounded over to Bain, already chomping on one of the cookies.
"You and oatmeal raisin." Bain teased, standing and glaring at Eric. His hand was perfectly fine, thank you very much. It was sore but fine.
Eric pointed to the table, watching the young man as he hopped up, using his left hand primarily. He held his hand out, raising an eyebrow when his only response was a scowl. "Let me see your hand, Bain." He ordered quietly. He gave the child a pointed look when he offered his left hand, shaking his head. "Your right hand."
Bain growled but obeyed, letting the man take his tender wrist in his hand. He flinched when the man tapped it with his wand, removing the glamour he had placed on it. Alexis hadn't seen him this afternoon and Severus had been busy fussing at Elijah, so neither had noticed yet. But he knew they, too, would have seen through that glamour.
Eric studied the swollen hand for a moment, frowning at the tears on the knuckles and the visible splinters he could see. He sent his magic into the child's hand, furrowing his brow in concentration. "What did you hit, exactly? A wall? A tree?" He questioned, turning the hand over carefully.
He hissed in pain, biting his lip hard. "A tree." He snapped, flinching as the man slowly straighten each of his fingers. The magic running through his hand relaxed it slightly, but it still hurt.
"Was it a tree that hit back?" He picked up his wand again, running it across the boy's carpals. His wrist was not broken, just a hairline fracture. His fingers were bruised and cut, and there were a few splinters he needed to remove, but it wasn't the worst he had ever seen. Someone needed to teach this child how to hit, and hopefully not trees.
He grunted, shaking his head. He wasn't that stupid. He just hit the damn thing a dozen or so times. His left hand was fine, with only a small bruise on his knuckle, but he had managed to tear up his right. Damn tree.
"Next time you need to take your anger out on something, try a punching bag. With gloved or wrapped hands. Or, trying talking about it. I'm here if you, either of you, ever need just a listening ear." Eric remarked quietly, summoning a pair of tweezers. The teenager pulled back instinctively but he gently held his wrist, carefully pulling splinters out of his fingers. He then carefully rubbed a salve onto the hand, nodding to himself as the swelling started to go down. With the bones back in place, he wrapped the child's hand and wrist gently, although the boy still flinched. He tapped the bandage with his wand, applying the same spell he did to Teddy's, before summoning a pain potion. "Drink this and you may have a cookie."
He grunted, taking the potion and downing the nasty tasting liquid quickly before reaching toward the cookie jar. "But Teddy got two!" He grinned at the child, who stuck his tongue out, before sliding off the table. He was so tall that it wasn't that far down now. Had he ever been as small as Teddy? He didn't think so.
"Yes, well you may have two as well." Eric smirked at the boy, understanding his tactics quite clearly. Anything to get Teddy to act like the child he was. "Off with you two. I will see you at dinner. Do try to eat well tonight, Teddy." He ordered finally, squeezing the younger boy's shoulder for a brief second and giving the older boy a brisk pat on the back. He watched them leave, both smirking at him first, as Bain easily looped an arm around Teddy's shoulder and chatter filled the hallway as they left the infirmary wing. He would have to make a note of Bain's anger and to let both his Master and Alexis know. He had faith that both children would, in time, be alright. It would just take time.
-x-
"Tables are for glasses, not asses Marko." She raised an eyebrow at the boy pointedly, nodding to the bench. He grumbled but obeyed, sliding easily from sitting on the tabletop to sitting on the bench, and she kept moving down the aisle, shaking her head at one of the younger boys, causing him to remove the toy spider he had been placing in a girl's hair. "Hands to yourselves Milo, Benjamin." She ordered firmly. The two teenage boys dropped their hands to their sides, temporarily stopping their pestering of a teenage girl. The girl quickly moved from near them to down the table, among fellow girls. Alexis shook her head, finally reaching her place at the head of the table. Two long tables was enough to fit both staff and students, and they intermixed easily now. It had been difficult the first few days for both groups, but in their third week they interacted much more comfortably with each other. Severus headed the other table, with Tim easily taking up the other end. Filius ended her own table, with Eric settling comfortably on her right. From here she could keep her eyes on all of the children, stopping trouble if necessary and making sure they all managed to eat enough to help too small bodies grow. Of course, not all of the children were malnourished but a good portion were.
"So good news or bad news?" Eric asked quietly, eyes roaming up and down the table. "Hannah, food goes in your mouth, not in your lap." He called sternly, catching the named girl's eyes for a moment. She scowled at him and then her plate, before finally shoveling a forkful in. He watched her for another minute as food was chewed repeatedly and then finally, reluctantly, swallowed. If she just wasn't hungry, she wouldn't have been hiding the food by dropping it into her lap. Did she think the elves never swept the floor? Nor that they would report if there seemed to be a larger amount of food than necessary on the floor? He would have to look into it soon, perhaps tomorrow afternoon.
"Hmm. Bad." Alexis murmured back quietly, frowning at Travis. The child thought he was being sneaky but if she had saw it...yes, Phil noticed and caught the boy's hand before he could dump salt onto the entire dish of potatoes. Her eyes flew toward the other table, her frown deepening at the sparks flying up.
"Do that again and you will lose your wand for the rest of the day, Jim!" Severus rebuked, sighing in exasperation. That child would be the death of him, using spells so irresponsibly like that.
Yes, a typical meal it would be. Bad news first then. "I will fill you in on details and results tonight. I have finished running his blood-work and the results aren't good. But, most of it is fixable with time and we can stabilize his sugar levels." He murmured, knowing that he could give her the detailed reports on his exams of some of the students later, in private. There was too much of a chance to be overheard her. "Destiny, not so much sugar." He added a bit louder, causing the girl to stick her tongue out at him. But she did stop putting sugar in her tea. Six spoonfuls! The child would be awake all night. At least he didn't have to handle getting a hyper twelve year old in bed. Thank the gods!
"Mm. You did other exams today, yes? Were any of them...life-threatening?" She questioned, watching her half of the table with hawk eyes. The counselors and other teachers were spread out amongst them, often sitting in little clumps of twos and threes, but they couldn't see everything from where they sat. She had an advantage sitting here, a necessary one. She glanced at the older man, relaxing slightly when he shook his head. "And the good news?"
"Her blood-work shows hope. Her nerves are already regenerating, but slowly. We need to run a lab test on a sample, first, but if it works out correctly, we should be able to repair the majority of the damage done to her spine. Her magic made a path through the damage so that it can flow easier throughout her body. We can use that path to help her. If it works, and the chance is still about sixty percent here, she might be able to walk again. Even if she never walks, it should stop the constant pain and she will have some mobility." He murmured softly, watching as the younger woman's eyes lit up. To help this child walk again...that would be amazing.
"I will write your findings to her parents tonight. They agreed to try this method, although I warned them that it might cause he pain at first. The potions and spells will need to be just right and Severus has agreed to start brewing them as soon as we get back tomorrow. I will also work on the design for a magic-powered wheelchair for her. The one we have is not good enough for full-time use." Alexis nodded, already running through the list of things that needed to be done tonight. It was a long list. But she had faith that it could all be done. They had a trip to make tomorrow and a child to help, first year visits to finish and book-lists that needed to be finalized. But everything would turn out alright. Well...she might strangle her teachers first but other than that, she knew that it was a journey they could manage. Gods willing.
-x-