Harry was feeling quite bleary when he woke up. He noticed he wasn't in pain anymore and wondered if his magic had finally healed all the damage heaped on him after Dobby had dropped the cake on the Masons. His Uncle, having lost out on quite a lucrative business deal, had given him the most vicious beating to date, it didn't help that Dudley had joined in on the fun.
Looking around, he noticed that he seemed to be in a hospital. Had Vernon really drove him to a hospital? It didn't seem likely, but the sterile air and crisp white surfaces said otherwise. He wondered what excuse Vernon had come up with for his injuries. Sitting up he clutched at his ribs, they were still a bit tender but hardly unmanageable. He put on his glasses that were on the bedside table and the hospital room came a bit more in focus. He noticed he was in a private room, and his bedside table held a small mound of gifts and cards. Curious he opened one up and found it to be from Ron, inside was a chocolate frog. He smiled slightly and set it back on the table.
He knew Vernon wouldn't have gone to the trouble of getting Harry a private room, and he doubted his friends, bar Hermione, would have known how to even send him gifts while in Hospital. These questions continued to run through his head as he settled back against the pillows. The sound of a door opening brought him out of his thoughts, and a man who Harry assumed was the doctor walked in. He was wearing a ¾ length white robe, that split at his hip, showing black trousers underneath, and a high collar, with 3 buttons securing it at the neck. The doctor didn't seem to be surprised he was up and came to the end of the bed to review the clipboard sitting at the end of it.
"How are you feeling Mr Potter?"
"A little sore," Harry rasped, "But mostly I'm fine."
The doctor nodded before taking Harry's chin delicately in his hand, turning it from side to side.
"No dizziness? Nausea? Headaches?" The doctor asked.
"No sir," Harry emphasised by shaking his head once the doctor released him.
"Good," the doctor seemed to relax from his previously tense position. "I am Gareth Magnus; I have been your primary healer during your stay at St. Mungo's."
'Healer? St. Mungo's?' Harry thought. "St. Mungo's?"
"Yes, it's the main wizarding hospital in Britain," Magnus replied. "Mr Potter, your injuries were quite extensive, and an investigation has been made."
Magnus watched as Harry seemed to freeze at his words.
"While the Auror's are investigating this incident and your home life, they will also be coming here to interview you. Do you understand Mr Potter?"
Harry's tongue felt heavy in his mouth when he replied in the affirmative. As the conversation continued between Harry and Healer Magnus, he discovered that he had been unconscious for a week while they had healed him. Healer Magnus continued on this thread and mentioned how for the foreseeable future he would be on a very strict regimen of nutrient potions in an effort to reverse his severe malnutrition.
When Healer Magnus mentioned that Harry would probably go through quite a few growth spurts as a result of healing the long-time damage his relatives caused, he was all for it. He'd always been the smallest boy in his year, and the prospect of being the same height and maybe even taller than his classmates was exciting. What had really caught his attention though was the opportunity of fixing his eyesight.
"You mean I won't need to wear glasses anymore?"
"No, Mr Potter" Healer Magnus explained with a smile, "Although the potion is a complicated brew, we can have the potion for you to take the day after tomorrow, that is if you want it?"
Harry thought about it, he was a bit sad that he might not look like his Dad so much anymore but upon thinking on how many times the Dursley's, particularly Dudley, had broken his glasses or stolen them from him, his decision was made.
"I'd like the eyesight potion too please."
Healer Magnus nodded once, "Excellent, I'll start the process for you to receive the eyesight correcting potion. Now Mr Potter, although Hogwarts has started, we will continue to hold you another week to make sure you are healing correctly, and everything is progressing normally. After that, you can begin going to Hogwarts as usual although I would ask that you visit the school's medicentre once a week, so they update us on your progress. Is that alright with you, Mr Potter?"
"Yes – but Healer Magnus, how will I catch up on school?" Harry asked.
Healer Magnus smiled, "Don't worry about that Mr Potter, a particularly persistent witch should be here tomorrow with all the work you missed, as well as your other friends."
Harry smiled brightly at that, he hadn't received any of their mail during the summer due to Dobby and he was looking forward to seeing them.
Harry's smile fell as a thought occurred to him, "Healer Magnus, do people know why I'm here?"
Healer Magnus pursed his lips in displeasure, "Unfortunately Mr Potter, it appears that someone at St. Mungo's leaked your state and the reasoning behind it to the press. Miss Skeeter wrote an extremely detailed article in the Daily Prophet," Magnus hissed. "You'll be pleased to know Mr Potter that we take our patient's security very seriously here, the persons reasonable have been fired and stripped of their medical licenses. I'm sorry this happened to you, Mr Potter." He said apologetically.
Harry clenched his fists, trying to reign in the rage and hopelessness he felt. He could feel his magic roiling under his skin before sparking out, causing him to fall back onto the bed in exhaustion.
Looking up he noticed Healer Magnus eyeing him wearily, "Is everything okay, sir?" Harry asked, a quizzical expression on his face.
Healer Magnus gave a tight smile to Harry, "Yes, Mr Potter. Now Mr Potter, is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Well sir, my ribs are a bit tender" Harry nervously mentioned.
A dark expression came over Magnus' face briefly before clearing, making Harry wonder if he had imagined it.
"Of course, Mr Potter. Here is a pain potion for you, it's only medium grade but it should do the trick. Let me know if you need anymore."
"Thank you, sir."
Magnus' smile curved amusedly, "No need to call me sir Mr Potter, Magnus is fine. Now the Auror's are outside of the door wanting to speak with you. Are you feeling up to it? It's completely fine if you need time, Mr Potter."
"No Magnus, I'd like to do it now if that's alright. Also, you can call me Harry if you like," Harry tacked on shyly.
"Thank you, Harry, I'll go let them know they can come in. Let me know if you need anything else Harry, we'll be more than happy to help" Magnus gave Harry nod before leaving the room.
As Harry sat in his Hospital bed his only thought of was, what now?