Thank you to the betas of this chapter, icedawn12193, and Willofhounds.
Chapter Eleven - Dinner Time can be Hard
"I can't believe this!" Poppy shouted for the third time that morning.
"I am a professional, I worked at the emergency ward at St. Mungos for seven years before I came here…I know how to do my job." Poppy spoke, pacing back and forth in the kitchen as Harry spent time in the living room, looking up every now and again to make sure Severus was still in the room.
It has been a few days since Harry been home and in those few days, Severus couldn't leave the boys sight. Or Harry would scream bloody murder until he could see Severus again. It has only been two days since they were able to detach Harry from Severus' side.
"Poppy this has nothing to do with you," Severus spoke feeling like it was the hundredth time as he got dinner ready for the three of them.
This morning, Severus got a letter from the Ministry of Magic, saying that they wanted Harry to go to St. Mungo's and see a pediatrician and have a full exam. Wanting a full diagnostic since the child's birth.
"Yes, it does…I can do a diagnostic charm just as well as anyone else but they are choosing…It's not like I can lie on the diagnostic charm, I can't change the results." Poppy spoke, getting more frustrated with the Ministry.
"It's protocol." Severus tried to explain but it only seemed to anger the woman more.
"It's not like I'm happy about this and Harry differently won't be happy but if it means I get Harry back then I'm willing to do it…I'm willing to do anything," Severus spoke softly.
"You know they will be checking for abuse? That's why they are sending you to St Mungo's and not having me do it." Poppy explained angrily.
"I am aware of their intentions and they won't find any abuse from me," Severus spoke.
"And what do you plan on telling them?" Poppy questioned, "Harry's hair pulling only gotten worse, he's at risk for infections if he keeps it up, he won't wear his leg braces anymore, not to mention he doesn't wear his glasses which he needs. That will all be pinned on you."
"I will figure something out. Harry isn't in desperate need for his glasses, it's the hair-pulling I'm more worried about. Like you said he's at risk for infections if he keeps it up." Severus said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I don't know what to do, every time I stop him the child goes into a meltdown and I have to restrain him. Harry won't sleep on his own, bath time has become a nightmare along with mealtime, Harry has taken several steps back and I don't know what to do." Severus confessed.
"The same thing you have been doing, being there for the child…what are you planning on doing about this?" Poppy asks, picking up the letter that Molly sent yesterday, asking if she could see Harry.
"I'm not planning on doing anything about it," Severus muttered.
"I don't want Harry hanging around with the Weasley's. I'm dreading when the twins get to come to Hogwarts." Severus muttered, plating the food and setting it down on the table.
"They aren't that bad plus Harry needs to interact with other children. Molly became good friends with Lily during her pregnancy with the youngest boy." Poppy said with a small smile, hoping she could get Severus to believe it was a good idea.
"I know, I know," Severus said with a moan.
"Fine I will write her back, but only the two youngest. I don't need the twins over here and if Harry picks up one bad habit from those two it's over." Severus said quickly, laying down the line.
He really didn't want the Weasley's at his house but Poppy was right, Harry needed to socialize more with people his own age.
"It's time for dinner," Severus announced before walking over to Harry and picking him up, bringing him over to the table and seating him down at the table.
"We are going to try something new tonight Harry," Severus spoke softly as Harry started to whine, placing his hands over his neck as he started to rock back and forth.
"If you finish your meal you get to have a sticker," Severus spoke, making it sound exciting.
Minerva picked up a pack of sticks yesterday. Quidditch players that flew around along with the snitch. The pack even had some animals that moved around.
"Wouldn't you like to have a sticker?"
Harry let out a small moan as he looked at the stickers.
"Buckbeak…" Harry muttered noticing the hippogriff sticker that pranced around.
"You can have Buckbeak but you have to eat your dinner," Severus said, pushing the plate of small chicken bites, rice, and a few vegetables.
"Do you want anything to dip your chicken into?" Severus softly spoke. Harry shook his head.
"…Juice" Harry whispered before pulling his shirt over his eyes as Poppy placed the sticker in front of Harry's plate so he could see what he was working towards.
"I can get you juice. Thank you for asking me." Severus said before getting Harry his juice and placing it on the table before sitting next to the child.
"Remember you have to eat your dinner." Severus reminded the child, pulling his shirt down.
"….Yucky," Harry whined before pushing the plate away.
"Harry," Severus warned before pushing the plate back.
"It's not yucky," Severus said as he watched tears fall down the child's face.
"….Hurt.." Harry cried, rubbing his throat.
"It's not going to hurt Harry." Poppy charmed in, rubbing Harry's back a little.
"You can take your time, no one is going to force you," Poppy spoke knowing that the Healers forced fed Harry when he was there.
It took Harry ten minutes before he slowly reached out and picked up one of the chicken bites and popped it in his mouth.
"Good job Harry, I am so proud of you." Severus and Poppy cheered.
"Buckbeak?" Harry asked, pointing to the sticker that was in front of him.
"You need to eat more for the sticker Harry," Severus informed the child.
It took an hour for Harry to eat five pieces of chicken, two spoons full of rice with the help of Severus, and three pieces of vegetables which was normal for the child.
"Good job Harry." Severus cheered. This was the most Harry has eaten since he was home and to Severus, it was a big improvement.
"You can have your sticker," Severus said, giving Harry the sticker that he deeply wanted.
"Poppy going to play with you while I clean up and get your bath ready," Severus said hoping Harry would believe that physical therapy would be playing.
This would be the first therapy night since he has been home and Severus hoped it goes well, Severus was even going to put a muscle relaxer into the bathwater to help with the soreness after.
"No…bath," Harry whined as his breathing spread up a little."
"It's going to be alright Harry, go and play with Poppy for a bit," Severus said as Poppy picked the child back up and brought him back over to the living room. Then she set him on the floor with Harry holding the sticker in his hands.