Thank you to the beta of this chapter, Willofhounds.

Chapter Two - The Child Minerva Never Had

Minerva's heart sank when she saw Harry. It was clear that the child hadn't done well during the past month he was here. She wanted to curse the Healers into next week. It was obvious that Harry was back in diapers and not his usual pull-ups Minerva suspected that the Healers didn't have time to take Harry to the bathroom. It was even more upsetting to see that Harry was double diapered. Another sign that the Healers were only changing Harry once per day or so, not having the time to deal with the child.

Harry also hasn't been using his leg braces or the Healers haven't been putting them on. From the state of Harry's knees it appears that the child has been crawling around. Minerva was no Healer but she did know that crawling around all the time wouldn't be good for Harry's knees or hips. For that matter since Minerva suspected that Harry would be dragging his legs behind.

But what upset Minerva the most was the NG tube, the Healers told her that Harry stopped eating and that they couldn't get the child to eat anything and had no choice in the matter. She was also told if Harry didn't eat soon they would have to put in a PEG tube. This is why Minerva was trying to get Harry to eat a little bit of the mac and cheese that everyone had for lunch and failing at it.

"Come on Harry, just a little bit," Minerva begged only for Harry to push the spoon away with a moan, covering his face with his hands as he turned his body away from Minerva a little.

That was another thing that Minerva hated, Harry hadn't spoken for the past three weeks and when he did speak for the first week all he asked for was his daddy, and the rest of the time he would scream. Because of this the Healers placed him on potions to keep him calm.

"Come on Harry, what if I have some?" Minerva asks, placing a spoon full of mac and cheese in her mouth before trying again with Harry.

Harry only screamed, pushing the spoon away once again and kicking the bowl over before grabbing at his hair and pulling.

"Hey, hey, hey…" Minerva soothed, picking Harry up and placing him on her lap, pulling his hands away, noticing the bald patches that Harry had.

Minerva heart filled with rage, Harry has been pulling out his hair and the Healers haven't been doing anything about it, it even appeared that some of the bald patches were infected, with Harry using his nails to scratch at his skin.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. I promise that I and your daddy are doing everything we can to bring you home," Minerva spoke, trying her hardest not to cry as she cuddled the child in her arms.

"Your daddy will get you home but you have to eat Harry, please, you need to eat," Minerva pleaded, running her fingers through the child's hair, pulling his bangs back a little.

Harry only moaned, leaning up against Minerva before bringing his hand up and chewing on his fingers.

"I see you haven't been using your sensory chews," Minerva sighs, blaming the Healers once again. It was obvious that the Healers didn't have the skill or the time that was needed to look after Harry.

"When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm, is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of the lark. Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain," Minerva started to sing, rocking Harry to sleep in her arms.

Minerva sat on the bed with a sleeping Harry in her arms for the next hour. Enjoying the time she got to spend with the child. For the past month she was doing her best to hold it together that she didn't realize how much she actually missed the child.

Minerva never had a chance to have any children of her own and she always told herself that she was ok with it. That she was happy with being a professor, teaching everyone else's children. It wasn't until Harry entered her life she realized she was wrong, that she missed out on a big part of her life.

Minerva didn't dare talk to the Healers on her way out, not with the risk of not seeing Harry again. Minerva decided it would be best if she played nice for the time being. She did bring Harry some of his toys, hopefully, it would keep the child busy until her next visit.