Chapter 13: spinning

The next morning at breakfast, Harry sat at the table moving the food around his plate, deep in thought. He had wanted to go into the Ministry today and speak with Kingsley about Snape, but when he got out of bed that morning he had another dizzy spell. He knew that he promised Ron and Hermione he would go back to St. Mungo's if he didn't feel any better, but he wasn't looking forward to returning to the hospital.

'Is there anything wrong, dear', asked Mrs. Weasley.

'Huh? Oh, no, Mrs. Weasley. I'm just not really hungry', said Harry, looking up from his plate.

'You feeling all right Harry?', asked Ginny.

'Yea . . . actually no, I'm not. I think I'm going to go into St. Mungo's today', said Harry. He didn't want to worry her but he had decided that he couldn't lie to her either.

'What's wrong?', she asked, concern evident on her face.

'I'm sure it's nothing. I'm just still getting dizzy spells', he said, looking back down at his plate.

'I'll go with you', she said, standing up from the table and taking her plate to the sink.

'Let me just go get my things', said Harry. He tried to stand from the table but was overcome by yet another dizzy spell and sank back into his chair. 'On second thought, I think we should just go ahead and go.'

Ginny walked over to Harry and helped him out of his seat and led him to the back garden. Gripping his arm, she turned on the spot and apparated into the waiting area at St. Mungo's. She eased Harry into one of the chairs in the waiting area and made her way to the Welcome Witch.

'I'm here with Auror Harry Potter. He was in about a week ago in the Spell Damage ward', she said.

The Welcome Witch nodded and said, 'I'll have a healer down in a moment to take him up.'

Ginny thanked the witch and moved back over to where Harry was slumped in a chair and took a seat next to him. A moment later, a young trainee came into the waiting room and called Harry's name. 'Can you walk?', she asked Harry who nodded and stood up slowly.

Once on the fourth floor, Harry was taken into an examination room while Ginny sat in the hall. When the young trainee came out about a half an hour later, he walked over to where she sat with her head buried in her hands.

'Miss, Weasley?', he asked tentatively.

Ginny's head jerked up.

'We're going to keep him overnight for observation. It seems as if he's had an adverse reaction to one of the potions he was taking', he said. Noticing the worried look on Ginny's face he added, 'he's going to be just fine. We just want to keep him here to make sure he doesn't have any of the same reactions to the new potion.'

'Can I see him?', she asked, standing.

'Yes. Of course. He's in the last room on the right', he said before walking away down the hall.

When Ginny entered the room, Harry was sitting up in the bed, toying with a loose thread on the sheets. He looked up at the sound of her approaching.

'Gin, I . . . I'm sorry', he said. To his surprise, Ginny started to laugh.

'Don't apologize Harry', she said. 'This one really wasn't your fault. The healer's already told me you just had a bad reaction to the potion. It's nothing to worry about.'

'So . . . you're not mad at me for not telling you sooner?', he asked in disbelief.

'Oh, no. I'm mad you didn't tell me about it days ago. But I understand why you did it', she said, flopping down in the chair next to his bed and crossing her arms. 'You just didn't want me to worry.'

'I guess that didn't really work out real well, did it?', said Harry.

'Just promise me that the next time this happens, you tell me', said Ginny.

'I promise', said Harry. 'You should probably go let your mum know that I'm all right. I know she's worried', he added.

Ginny sighed. 'I guess you're right. She's probably in a right state', she said. 'I'll stop in later tonight and bring you some dinner. The food here's terrible', she added.

'You could say that again', said Harry grinning up at her. She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss before turning to leave. When the door shut behind her, Harry leaned back into his pillow and closed his eyes. 'Why does this always happen to me?', he said to himself before drifting to sleep.

A few hours later he was awoken by a knock on the door. His eyes shot open as Rhodes walked into his room and approached his bed.

'What are you doing here?', asked Harry, sitting up.

Rhodes stood uncertainly at the foot of Harry's bed, concentrating on the laces of his trainers.

'I . . . I just wanted to apologize, Potter', said Rhodes, not meeting Harry's gaze.

'For what?', asked Harry.

'I was supposed to have your back and I let Avery sneak by', said Rhodes.

'It's not your fault', said Harry. 'I should have been paying more attention. I actually wanted to thank you for what you did.'

'Thank me?', asked Rhodes, finally looking Harry in the eye. 'Thank me for what? If I had been paying more attention in the first place, you wouldn't be in here.'

Harry gave an audible sigh. 'That may be true', he said. 'But if you wouldn't have reacted as quickly as you did when you saw me go down, I might be dead.'

'Yea, well . . . anyone would have done the same thing', said Rhodes, dropping his gaze back down at his trainers.

'No, I don't think so', said Harry. 'Come over and have a seat', he added, gesturing to the chair next to the bed and sitting up straighter.

When Rhodes sat down Harry said, 'I know what you were saying about me. I know you thought that I was using my so-called fame to get ahead.'

Rhodes flushed. 'I'm . . .'

'I can't say I wouldn't have thought the same thing if I was in your position', said Harry, cutting across him. 'I just hope you know that it's not true.' Rhodes said nothing so Harry continued, 'You have no idea what it was like. Did you know I was only eleven the first time I remember facing Voldemort?'

Shock registered across Rhodes' face. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't form words.

'That's what I thought', said Harry, looking at him over the rims of his glasses. 'And don't worry about what happened a week ago', he added. 'I've had worse.'

'I am really sorry about what I said, Potter. Maybe we can just start over?', said Rhodes.

Harry nodded and held out his hand. 'I'd like that', he said. Rhodes stood and grasped Harry's hand.

'Am I interrupting anything?', came a voice from the doorway. Both Harry and Rhodes turned to find Mrs. Weasley standing uncertainly in the doorway with a basket in her arms.

'I'll see you in a few weeks, Potter', said Rhodes before he strode out the door, inclining his head at Mrs. Weasley.

'Mrs. Weasley. What are you doing here?', asked Harry.

'Thought you could use some real food', she said, holding up the basket she had in her arms. Harry smiled. 'You have no idea', he said.

Mrs. Weasley moved over to the small table by Harry's bedside and started to unpack the basket.

'Are you feeling any better, dear?', she asked, handing him a container of steak and kidney pie.

'Loads', said Harry around a mouthful of Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking.

'Ginny told me what happened with the potions you were taking', said Mrs. Weasley, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed.

'Yea, it always seems to happen to me, doesn't it', said Harry. Mrs. Weasley chuckled. 'It certainly does dear.'

'Where's Ginny?', he asked. 'I thought she was going to stop in again tonight.'

'Oh. She had a few things to take care of tonight', said Mrs. Weasley. Harry gave her a questioning look but she just smiled.

'You'll see', she said.

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The next morning, there was a knock on the door and the healer came bustling into the room. Harry was sitting on his bed working on a muggle crossword puzzle that Hermione had packed in the basket Mrs. Weasley had brought by the previous night.

'Well, Mr. Potter. You seem to be doing much better', he announced. 'Any dizzy spells this morning?'

'No', said Harry, relieved. 'I feel loads better.'

The healer made a few notes on his chart and moved over to the side of his bed to check his vitals. 'We're going to release you', he said. 'Same as last time though. Any dizzy spells at all and we want you to come back in.'

'When can I go back to work?', asked Harry, setting the crossword puzzle on the small table next to his bed.

'I want you to stay home for the next week', said the healer.

Harry nodded. 'When can I leave?', he asked.

'I'll just go get your release paperwork ready now. I don't want you apparating by yourself for a few days, and no floo', said the healer. 'I'll be back in a moment.'

Harry stood from his bed and made his way around the room, packing the few belongings he had brought with him.

'Hey mate', said Ron from behind him.

'Hey', said Harry.

'Mum sent me here to side-along you back to the burrow', he said, helping Harry with his things. 'You ready to go?', he asked.

'The healer said he'd be right back with my release papers', said Harry, sitting on the edge of the bed to put on his trainers.

'No offense mate, but I thought Ginny was going to come get me today', said Harry.

'She was going to, but she has a bit of a surprise for you back at the house', said Ron.

When the healer finally returned with Harry's release paperwork, he and Ron made their way down the hall to the designated apparition point. 'What's the surprise?', asked Harry, turning to Ron before he had the chance to apparate. 'I can't tell you mate', said Ron. 'Ginny threatened to hex me if I did', he added, gripping Harry's arm firmly. Harry allowed him to turn on the spot, and with an audible 'crack', they were gone.