A New Life
5. He ain't heavy, he's my brother. He's Harry
James POV
Sirius drags me through the floo as I stare into space. I stare at nothingness as mum puts me to bed. I dream of Harry, he's running in darkness, lost and I'm trying to reach him but he can't see me. I'm crying out and he's trying to see what direction my voice is coming from. Several times he runs straight through me. Then a screen plays all of our memories together until we are 11 where then it is just me. At graduation it is just me and Sirius. Then another 'memory' shows me in the hospital next to Harry, I look around, then sit by him as the beeping of his heart rate slowly goes flat. Then another 'memory' of Sirius at my funeral, next to me is a gravestone marked
'Harrison (Harry) Jameson Potter
Born: 1960, March 27
Died: 1977, June 3
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
One half of a whole
My own says
'Jameson (James) Harrison Potter
Born: 1960, March 27
Died: 1988, June 4
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
One half of a whole
I'm pulled out of the dream abruptly as I wake up, though the remnants of the nightmare cling to me. I lie there motionless staring at the ceiling for what seems like days but I know only a few hours have passed. I continue this routine each day. Pull myself out of a nightmare to find there's no relief in waking up. I hear Harry's voice in my head. Crying out in pain, I cant answer him.
I stay there for what seems like years but when one day I finally turn my head I see 2 months have passed. This is the day I am transferred to hospital. I overheard mum, dad and Sirius talking earlier. They don't know what's wrong with me. Sirius doesn't feel Harry's pain the way I do. His telepathic connection only works when all 3 of us are in healthy condition. Though Harry and me always have it. I watch Harry and Kat everyday. I tune out the nurses and doctors that come in and out. I only catch glimpses of them talking.
" What should we do?" "I don't know. What can we do?" "Why is he like this?" "He's lost his twin. When you lose your twin, you lose that part of your soul you share with them. Jameson hasn't technically lost Harrison but it's close enough. Though usually the bond isn't as strong as this, it's a very special case. They also share a telepathic bond, they can sense each others movements, emotions, feelings and thoughts when they broadcast them. Since Harrison can't protect them… Jameson is feeling all Harrison feels, all his thoughts and emotions. It must be terrible on the lad. Though I must say I've never seen a case this strong." "poor kid and Harrison has shown no signs of improving"
It's another 2 months when I finally hear something other than Harry begging for someone to help him, save him, to stop his pain. I hear him ask me to simply hold his hand. So I do. I shock the nurses with the first movement I make in months. I am unsteady on my feet to make it across the few metres it is to Harry's bed in the same room as mine. I sit myself down in the hard orange seat next to him and clutch his hand. As my fingers make contact, his own twitch. I squeeze it tighter and a request from him floats through my mind. "Harry… I… I can't sing. I haven't sung in months" I reply, out loud, my voice hoarse from months of disuse. His reply pleads with me. "fine okay, our favourite then?" After an affirmitive I start, not caring about the doctor and nurse in the room.
"The road is long
With many a winding turns
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother
He's my brother
He ain't heavy; he's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother"
I smile, the tears running down my cheeks. That has always been our favourite song. We would do it for each other. We made a pact when we were 5.
*Flashback*
"Jamesie?" "Yeah Ry?" "Promise you wont leave?" James lay next to his brother on the king size bed their mum had transfigured for the two sick children. "I promise if you promise" " I promise Jamesie. I, Harrison Jameson Potter, promise to stay by Jameson Harrison Potter, my whole life, I will never abandon him, never betray him and never stop loving him." "I Jameson Harrison Potter promise to stay by Harrison Jameson Potter my whole life, I will never abandon him, never betray him and never stop loving him" "So mote it be" They said together and a golden light swirled around the room as the magical oath bonded, neither would be able to do any of that even if they wanted to. They would physically not be able to do it. Even under the imperious or veritaserum.
*End Flashback*
I watch on as Harry's fingers move and interlace with my own, the doctors try to pull me away so they can examine him but his grip tightens and I place a hand on his arm to show I'm not going anywhere. I incline my head to see mum, dad, Sirius and Keira watching at the door, with a sob, mum takes Harry's other hand, dad at her side and Sirius and Keira stood behind me. I smile wearily, Harry will be okay, I know it.
I stay by Harry's side for days. Each day he has made an improvement. The day after his fingers moved he sighed, next day his whole body shifted, two days ago then he moved his head and yesterday he made another noise. Today I'm hoping he will open his eyes and wake up. I feel him stir and grip his hand tighter. I see his eyelids flicker, his eyes moving frantically beneath them. I can hear him talking to himself.
'I'm almost there. Almost there, c'mon Harry, do it for James, do it for your twin, do it for yourself' Finally his eyelids part and I see a sliver of the warm hazel eyes we share, unhindered with glasses like dad. His eyes open fully and focus on me. I call out in my mind to Sirius that Harry's awake. I hear a quick we'll be there in 10 minutes back and refocus on Harry. "James" he croaks out and I smile, reaching for the glass of water of the bedside stand. Slowly I lift it to his lips and help him drink. He pushes it away after a few gulps and I put it back. He sits up and frowns. "How long was I out?"
"4 months 3 weeks and 4 days. Our birthday is in 1 month 3 days." He smiles, "I haven't missed it then?" I shake my head as Siri comes running through the door and jumps on Ry. I laugh with Keira as mum and dad pull Siri off and hug Harry. Keira gets her turn when mum and dad leave to discharge us. I dont need St. Mungo's now. I have my twin back.