Dereliction
of Duty
Chapter
7 – Poppy Pomfrey
I saw the scars.
And first of all, do no harm. That's the tenet I swore when I became a mediwitch. All healers swear it – in the Muggle and wizarding world both. Do no harm.
That's a hard creed to live by.
I haven't managed it.
I have done harm.
I saw the scars. The first time the boy was in my care – when he was in that hospital bed, within my grasp for the first time, I saw the scars. I saw all of the red, protruding lines on his fragile skin, counted every rib, saw every trace injury that remained –
– he was so delicate. So battered.
Of course, telling him that to his face was a mistake, as I did at the beginning of the poor boy's first year. I understand that. And he has such a strong spirit, such a valiant soul –
– but his body had already been pushed nearly to the breaking point, long before he stepped through my doors.
I saw the scars.
And when Dumbledore said he was to return to the Dursleys' tender loving care, I said not a word.
Not a single word.
And first of all, do no harm.
I remember having him in this hospital wing after the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament. He was so tired, so very tired, and in more ways than one. And yet he stood up, and he told Fudge the truth – forced the man to look the truth in the eye, and despaired when the Minister continued to deny it. And it was only when he had been pushed that far that he let himself be comforted.
I nearly wept when Molly Weasley took him in her arms.
Nobody knows I saw that.
But then, nobody seems to realize that I have seen the scars.
And first of all, do no harm.
I saw the scars.
And I did nothing.
Review if you have something to say, as usual.
Cheers,
LIZ