Chapter Three

Harry sat across from Dr. Lockhart, watching him look over the notes he had taken from their session, comparing it to his earlier sessions. Lockhart smiled, and looked up at Harry.

"Well I do say Mister Potter you have made wonderful progress, I will be going over these with your doctor and we'll give you the verdict this evening."

"Thank you, Doctor." Harry said trying to smile over his nerves, which were twisting his stomach and chilling his blood. "Do you think I could be excused, I'm meeting a friend in a few minutes? So..."

"Yes. Yes of course. Go on Harry I'll see you this evening."

Harry thanked him again before leaving the officer. He leaned against the breathing as slowly as he could, he wasn't sure what was making his so edgy but it was affecting him a lot worse then normal.

Harry made his way along the dim corridors to the dinning hall, were he'd be meeting Draco later. It was still a shock that he and Draco could even be remotely friendly to each other, but since he first met him in this strange twisted reality it had been like they'd always been friends.

Draco was early. He was sitting by the window looking out at the ominous forest that encircled the Hogwarts ground. Harry had to admit that not everything was what it had been when he was going to school, like the forest and the lake—which was a pond here—also the castle was no where near as large as it should be. Harry knew that these where the reasons that no one would ever believe that it wasn't the real Hogwarts, because it was different from what he knew.

Draco looked up then and waved Harry over. Draco's face lit up in a rare warm smile as he approached. "I passed my exams; which means that you owe me dinner."

Harry chuckled sliding into the seat across from him. "Well you have to make do with hospital food for now."

"Ah ha! But I heard you'll be getting out soon, so you just have to take me along for you 'freedom at last dinner'."

Harry shook his truly marveling at how comfortable he had become with someone who had been his enemy for seven years, and it had happened so fast. Draco had come in a few months ago to deliver something to his father, when he bumped into Harry. While Harry had been hoping for that he would just leave him alone, he'd been surprised when Draco had been openly friendly towards him.

After that Draco had made a point of finding Harry and spending time with him every visit he made. Creepy as it first was to Harry; Draco had become a good friend, Harry had even confined in him about his 'delusions' a time or two.

"That might be sooner then you think."

"Yeah I heard you went in to see Dr. Lockhart this morning. How do you think it went?" Draco asked leaning over his tray of different puddings.

"I don't know. He was being very cryptic. But I'm still hoping for the best."

"You and me both."

"So did you cheat?"

"W-what?" Draco's face clouded over as he glared at Harry. "Of course I didn't cheat! I studies like crazy for those exams!"

Harry held up his hands smiling. "I know. I know! No need to defend yourself."

Draco huffed.

"So, how's the girlfriend doing?" Harry asked knowing that the subject would help Draco to forget about his ill timed joke.

"Oh don't get me started." Draco groaned. "We broke up again, but she keeps calling me to go see her. And when I told her that I wanted to see other people she asked me if I was gay. How dose that even make sense? And then I have to explain that I meant girls, and she starts crying and tell me that she doesn't want me to see other girls."

"What about guys?" Harry asked trying his best to keep a serious face.

Draco looked at him and smirked. "Why? You interested?"

Harry gagged, turning a fine shade of green. "Definitely not, but I know a few girls who think their guys, maybe one of them would be interested."

"Nah, I already have a crazy girlfriend."

They laughed for a while about stupid things that Draco's girl friend Hanna had said. And after a while and too many puddings Draco turned serious and asked.

"You still hearing voices?" it was whispered but Harry was sure that the nurse at the door had turned to listen.

"Nope, I haven't heard anything in months."

Draco looked around before leaning closer. "Harry, what about Lily?"

Harry startled looked at his friend and asked feeling a cold thump forming in his stomach. "I never told you about Lily."

"Yes you did, she your little girl, the only one of your kids not going to boarding school."

"What about her?"

"When are you going to forget about her?" Draco asked. "You know they won't let you out until you do."

Harry swallowed. "I know she's not real."

"Do you really? Because the last time we talk you were having trouble forgetting about your 'family', so I'm concerned about it now, it's only been a month since then, are you sure your ready?"

Harry couldn't answer. He knew what he should say, but Draco seemed to have a knack for telling when Harry was lying. So there was no point. Harry wasn't ready to forget about his family because he knew that they where out there, in the real world.

Their conversation was still ringing around in his head while he walked back to his room. Draco's visit had ended a little while after his strange question, and it had left Harry feeling empty and lonelier than he had been for a long time.

He felt cold, lifeless.

Harry stopped by a barred window and stared out into the slow rain, he needed out.

He continued to walk hoping that he would meet someone who could tell him how to get to the inner garden. Harry couldn't seem to remember the last time that he had been outside, and it made his lungs ache for fresh air. He needed to get out of the hospital, to feel that rain on his face, hear the wind in his ear.

It bothered him more then he would ever be able to admit that he wanted to go flying, to feel free of this retched place once and for all. He knew that going outside would start his freedom.

'When was the last time I was outside? Have I even been out since I woke up here?'

"...Daddy..." Lily's voice sounded small now, far away and horrible sad. A flash of Lily standing over him filled his mind making him stagger. He caught himself on the wall railing that lined all the halls of the hospital. He was still trying to clear his head, and make sense of what he just saw when Ginny came out of the office and saw him.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Ginny asked touching his shoulder.

Harry jolted out of his thoughts laughed apologetically, rubbing his shoulder nervously. "Yeah... I'm fine hon—Ginny. " Harry sighed; he kept having to remind himself that she wasn't his wife; she was just someone who looked like her.

Ginny smiled. "Good, I was a little worried about you for a minute there."

"Really...why?"

"Well you didn't mention your section with Dr. Lockhart this morning so I thought that something might had happened to make you up set or—"

"No, no nothing like that, it went great."

"Really?" Ginny said relived. "I'm so glad."

"Ginny I want to go outside." At her looked he added. "Just in the Inner garden. I just really free to get some fresh air. I feel suffocated, I need to get outside for a while do you think that you could do that for me?" Harry felt uncomfortable asking, and it only made it worst that Ginny wouldn't look at him.

"Ginny—"

"I'm sorry Harry. I can't do that." Harry stop to look at her, and found she'd gone white. 'Is she sick?'

"What do you mean?"

"Only the Doctors have the keys to the gardens. So I can't open the doors."

"Really, that is just—"

"Stupid, I know." Ginny sighed. "I can promise you that if I could, I would."

"I know it's alright Gin." Harry stopped hoping that she didn't noticed the pet name, and watched for any signs that she didn't like it. But Ginny just smiled, happy that Harry had slipped up again.

Ginny knew well that in his delusions he thought that she was his wife. Which had flattered her very much, and strangely made he feel at home when she had first started this job. So it was nice to hear him slip up every now and then. The doctor said it wasn't that he was having a relapse it was just a habit that he'd break with time.

"Well, I guess I'll go lay down for a while." Harry announced stretching his arms with a small yawn. "Could you have someone wake me up for dinner?"

"Of course."

"Thanks." Harry said flashing a winning smile before turning down a side corridor and disappearing into his room.

Ginny sighed; she wasn't looking forward to when he left. It's not that she didn't want him to get better it was just that she didn't want him to leave, she liked seeing him every day like this, it made her happy.

Harry was running. He knew he shouldn't be trying this, not when he was about to be released, but that wasn't enough to stop him anymore. He'd heard her again and he'd heard her loud and clear. Lily wanted him to wake up.

And he was sure now that he just needed to get outside, outside was how to wake up. The bars in his window had been to strong and he could go banging against them, someone would hear and then he would be strapped to his bed and put on more drugs.

So he was sneaking around, heading to Dr. Lockhart's office, he'd seen keys hanging on the wall in his office, and one hand 'gardens' written on it.

He was picking the lock when Dumbledore came around the corner holding the picture of the goat that he had named Aberforth, his younger brother.

Dumbledore stopped and stared at Harry.

Harry waited for him to do something.

"You know dear boy, if you twist the other way it with open much faster."

"Really."

"Yes, definitely."

Harry smiled, twisted it to the right and nearly jumped for joy when the door opened. "Thanks Albus."

"Any time Harry." With that said he walked off mumbling to his "brother" about Harry and how nice he was.

Harry slipped into the office and stopped dead. Lockhart was sitting in his chair, head resting against his chest, sound asleep, but that wasn't the bad news, Lockhart was facing the key rack.

It would be hard enough not to wake him up as it was but now Harry would have to reach over him to get at them. The office wasn't that big to begin with; just enough chairs for a patient and their parents. Four chairs, one desk and a large window looking out over the lake.

He took a deep breath, walking slowly and as quietly as possible towards the desk. He leaned over Lockhart and grabbed the big brass key, placing his left hand over the other keys so they wouldn't jingle.

Harry smiled walking back around the room, 'that was easy...'

Lockhart shifted in his seat his hand falling off the armrest; he woke up with a start and looked around the room to see what had woken him. Harry slid along the wall towards the door creaking it opened and sliding out.

"Daddy..." Harry staggered in the hall pulling the door shut with a slam behind him. His eyes were still clearing when Lockhart burst out of his office behind him.

"Harry what are you doing here?"

Harry shook his head, dropped the brass key into his pocket and turned trying to look sheepish. "I wanted to see if the results had come in yet but you were sleeping, sorry I woke you I got dizzy." He said grabbing his head to add emphasis to his statement.

"Oh, well it's alright. I was going to miss dinner if I slept any longer." He said laughing it off.

'Good thing he's still just as stupid as before.' "Well I'm going to head back to my room for a bit Doctor." Harry smiled hoping that he could slip away from him, but he grabbed his arm.

"Harry you should eat something to, you seem to be getting anemia." Dr. Lockhart said concerned.

"No, I think I just need rest for a while. I'm not hungry I have a big lunch only an hour ago so."

"Harry." Harry stopped walking and turned. "Yes?"

"Have you been having a lot of dizzy spells lately?"

"No, not really I have a couple last week, but I've only had that one." Which was down right lie Harry had been suffering from the dizzy spells and black out since he'd heard Lily's voice. And it was getting worse.

"Well if anything changes don't hesitate to tell someone, we're all here to help you Harry. We want you to get better, but we can't let you leave before you're sure that you are doing better. Remember that."

"Yes thank you."

Harry was tried he realized, tried and worn. He wanted nothing more then to crawl into his bed and fall asleep pretend that he was insane and just go with it. He'd been looking all evening for the door, and he hadn't found even a sign for it. He was starting to believe that there was no way out of this place.

Harry knew Hogwarts like that back of his hand, but this place. It was nothing like it should be. He was turned around and around and he always seemed to fine his way back to his bedroom, warm and inviting.

Harry groaned as his bedroom's door came into view around the corner. He walked into it and slumped down onto the bed. Head in his hands, he let the tears of frustration and anger flow now that he was alone.

'Daddy!"

Harry sat up straight. "Lily, I'm trying. I don't know how to get out."

'...stop giving up Harry...'

"Ginny?" Harry jumped up off the bed and went to close his door. "Ginny? How do I get out?"

'Listen to Lily..." Harry's body felt weak with relief at the sound of his wife's voice, it was older and more caring then the Ginny in this place, and he knew it very well, they had been married sixteen years after all. "Alright, I will."

'Get off the couch Daddy.'

The couch? Then it hit him, like a ton of super obvious bricks. The couch, they'd just bough it, they had just got as a gift from some unknown person. 'I must have fallen asleep on it. The couch is cursed? I should've known.' Cursed objects had been floating around for years now, bored kids or even angry relatives had been sending them to each other for the past three years before it was banded. But there were still some unaccounted for.

Harry hit his head against the door. "How could I be so stupid?"

'Daddy.' Lily whined in his head.

Harry smiled, "I'm coming sweetie." He picked up the bedside table and throw it are hard as he could at the barred windows. It bounced off with a loud thud but did little to loosen the bars.

"Right." Harry fished around in his pockets for something to unlock the bars with; he pulled out the large brass key. He stared at it for a while before deciding that it wasn't that hard to believe. Sure enough the key fit perfectly into the lock on the bars on his window.

It swung opened with a thud. He picked the table back up just as Ginny walked into the room.

"Harry! What are you doing?" she asked dropping the tray of dinner she had been bringing too him.

"Sorry Ginny, but I'm getting out of here."

"Harry don't!"

But it was too late to stop him now, he smash the window and jumped the sill, hearing Ginny's screams for help all the while.

(A/N. Well did he get out? Or is he really just insane? Well you have to find out in the next chapter. DON"T FORGET TO REVIWE! (=3=)/