Harry sat in the Great Hall, the feast nearly over, still feeling the elation of the rest of the Gryffindors. He had directly contributed to their impressive steal of the House Cup from the Slytherins, thanks to his escapade in the chambers beneath the trap door. Truth be told, he wasn't as elated as the rest of his house. No other students knew about what really transpired between Harry and Quirrel, as it was believed that Voldemort had died almost ten years ago. Hermione and Ron had both asked Harry about what happened in the chamber, but Harry wasn't ready to talk about it with anyone.

Standing in front of the Mirror of Erised facing down a mad man and his servant had made Harry realize exactly how much of a fool he was to believe he could stop a full grown adult wizard on his own. He had arrogantly thought that he would be able to protect the stone when his professors had failed.

Harry looked at the feast in front of him, and picked up his fork again. While his appetite had fled, he forced himself to finish his plate, knowing that everything he could eat in the next twelve hours may be the only food he had for the next few days.

The next morning, Harry packed his trunk, taking as much time as he could as he didn't want to leave the place he had come to love with all his heart. He sighed, and looked at his best friend as the redhead was haphazardly throwing his belongings into his trunk, eager to get down to breakfast. Harry watched, very used to Ron's disregard for the safety of his belongings. "All my things are hand me downs, and if anything happens, I have 5 older brothers who are constantly creating more hand me downs with no more Weasley boys for them to get passed down to" Ron had once told him, while using his sleeve to wipe crumbs off his face. "Plus, I take care of what's really important" he continued, as he wrapped an old pair of socks around a Chudley Cannons figurine he had received for a birthday from his eldest brother Bill.

Suddenly, Hedwig flew in through the open dormitory window with a small scroll tied on her leg. Harry smiled as his first friend in the wizarding world settled on his bed and hooted gently at him. Unrolling the message from the snowy owl, Harry read the missive.

Mr. Potter,

Please make your way to the Hospital Wing to have your bandages removed and healing assessed. Breakfast will be provided. Leave your trunk in your dormitory, it will be taken to the train for you.

Madame P. Pomfrey

Harry sighed again 'I must really stop sighing' as he was loathe to miss out on one last meal in the Great Hall with all of his friends, with no one asking about the amount he ate.

"I'll see you after breakfast Ron, I have to go see Madame Pomfrey one last time before the train, save me a compartment, yeah?"

"Sure mate, get healthy." Said Ron absentmindedly from half under his bed looking for anything else me may have missed.

In the hospital wing, Minerva and Poppy were quietly talking about what they were going to do for the Boy-Who-Lived's future. The more in depth physical scans (as opposed to magical scans) that Minerva had requested had shown a myriad of troubling previous injuries, dating back from before he was enrolled in Hogwarts.

"If the tests are any indication of his home life, he can not go back Minerva! You know this! You are condemning him to more suffering!" Poppy growled, the use of McGonagall's full first name showing exactly what she thought of the situation.

Minerva hissed back "We must move subtly Poppy, Albus can not know. He was adamant that this was the best place for Harry, and after your report on his health, he knows what Harry has gone through, but insists that he be returned. If we stop him from returning to that vile place now, Albus will immediately know it was you. He still thinks me to be blindly loyal, he would not expect a counter move from me."

Harry chose that moment to walk through the door, and froze upon seeing the tension between the two women. Both turned to stare at Harry, who, for lack of anything better to do, looked at the floor and muttered "I'm sorry for interrupting Professor, Madame".

"It's alright Mr. Potter. Please, have a seat on the bed so we can get these bandages off, I'm sure you're tired of them" Poppy said kindly.

Minerva took a calming breath and said "While Madame Pomfrey takes care of your bandages, I would like to talk to you about important matters if that is all right with you Mr. Potter."

"Um, sure, I mean, yes professor, that is fine."

Minerva took another deep breath, and began. "It has come to our attention from your medical scans that your home life is less than ideal, is that correct?"

Harry looked at her with a blank expression, wondering how they had figured that out. "I don't know what you mean professor, its completely normal"

Minerva looked up from watching Poppy carefully unwinding his bandages, and said sharply "Do not lie to us Mr. Potter, no normal childhood includes over 20 fractured or broken bones, along with a whole horde of other injuries that most wouldn't ever acquire through a "normal" home life."

Harry turned away from his professor's angry gaze, not knowing what to do now that his secret was out. "It was completely normal for me." he said quietly.

Minerva looked at him hard, her gaze piercing through his thoughts.

"Did you tell Headmaster Dumbledore about your home life? As head of the Wizengamot he has the connections to remove you from your situation and place you in a better home."

"He said I had to return. Something about a protection through my mother's blood that will protect me from harm."

Minerva hissed, her animagus side showing, while Poppy's hands faltered in removing Harry's bandages. Minerva drew herself up, and mentally shook herself for losing control in front of a student.

"Well, they failed. You were harmed. I know about the style of wards that he set up, because I was there when you were left with your relatives, and I know that they only protect and hide you from You-Know-Who or any of his marked followers, any persons with creature blood, and dark artifacts. They are strong wards, that is for certain, but they failed if they can not protect you from internal harm such as that which you have faced. I need to think on your predicament and inform you via owl post when we have come up with a viable solution for your living situation" Minerva said, having regained some of her composure. "Have a good train ride Mr. Potter, I will contact you as soon as I have an answer to your living situation." Minerva then walked quickly away, planning on talking some sense into the headmaster.

Poppy listened to Minerva, watching the other witch as she finished her examination of the wound on Harry's wrist, now faded to a faint redness. "Harry, I know what you must be thinking, but nothing is your fault. Your relatives treated you cruelly, but it was not because of any fault of your own, only their own inability to treat a child properly. You are a wonderful boy, and we want to help you in whatever way we can, which is why I want to see a mind healer. You have undergone a traumatic life thus far, and more recently an event that you should not have lived. It is my conclusion that you should talk to someone trained in helping people overcome adversities. You may think you are fine today, but such an event will have an impact on how you see the world as you continue to grow. Professor McGonagall and I both want to help you achieve your full potential, but you can not if you are conflicted."

"You think I should see a shrink." Harry stated flatly.

"I don't know what a "shrink" is, but I do believe a mind healer and therapist would benefit you immensely."

"Well, if you can get my relatives to agree, then I will see a mind healer. You are, after all, the professional." Harry said with a halfhearted smirk, attempting to lighten the situation. He was uncomfortable, not used to having adults care about him, and wanted to escape from the hospital wing.

"Is there anything else you need me to do or need from me?" he asked.

"Yes Mr. Potter, your breakfast, wrapped to go, and for the next week one of these nutrient potion before breakfast, and one before dinner. Do not forget them."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you for everything" and with that, Harry hurried out of the hospital wing.