Thanks a lot to my beta-reader, Emma, for correcting my mistakes.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

A great thank you to my moti-betas as well.

I'm not a native speaker of English!

Dear readers,

There had been a little communication problem between me and my beta. Therefore the update took so long. Please forgive me.

Sunny

Chapter 3 - Healing

-II-

Harry's jaw dropped open. Scared he waited tensed for the adult to erupt in screams but nothing happened. "But then you are a freak too, Emily," Harry whispered scared and looked emphatically at the small girl.

"No, Harry, Emily is a witch and you are a wizard. That's why things like this happen around you or with you. You have magic you just can't control it now. When you are old enough you will be allowed a wand and will learn to use your magic correctly," James explained calmly to not frighten Harry with this news. "We adults can already control our magic. See!" James pulled his wand out and made Emily's hair stand up.

Harry was shocked but the happy giggles of Emily, the warm embrace of Clara and the calming draught in his veins made it impossible for him to panic.

"Yes, Harry, we are all witches and wizards," Clara spoke softly in his ear.

Harry let his eyes roam over all the people in the room until he finally understood. "I'm a wizard."

-II-

"The hot chocolate was good wasn't it?" Clara asked Harry after he had calmed down during exchanging stories of accidental magic with her two children. The relief that he wasn't alone in his 'freakishness' was written all over Harry's face. "Harry, James and I have to examine you now."

Harry looked scared at Clara, but they had all been so kind to him, so how could he fight them now?

"I think it is best you sleep together with Taylor in his room for this night. After that we will see if you would prefer a room on you own, okay?"

Harry's jaw dropped open. "I haven't ever had a room for—" He bit his bottom lip, why was he spilling secrets like this so openly? What was wrong with him? Maybe the poison made him do it.

"You never had a room, Harry? Where did you sleep?" Clara asked as if she was just interested and it wouldn't be very freakish.

"In the cupboard under the stairs. They say freaks like me don't deserve rooms."

"Oh, Harry." Clara pulled him tightly against her chest again, so Harry couldn't see her sad look at her husband. It was hard for her to keep her tears at bay. Who could be so horrible to a child? "We already cleared that you are no freak, Harry. So here you will get your own room if you want one. We just want you to sleep in Taylor's room for the first night so he can alarm us if you are not feeling well."

"But the doctor said he will bring me back to my relatives tomorrow," Harry said miserably in Clara's shoulder. He never wanted to leave this place and Clara's shoulder again.

"Harry," James said and laid his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Please look at me."

Harry obeyed.

"I just said that to be able to get you out of your relatives house without causing an uproar. You will never go back to them."

"But I have nowhere else to go. Nobody wants someone like me."

James closed his eyes in despair.

"Anyone with a right mind would love to have a boy like you, Harry," Clara said and kissed his cheek. She looked at James and then said, "We would love to have a boy like you."

"Yeah," Emily screamed and jumped down from Taylor's lap. "You can sleep in my room, Harry. I can tell Mummy and Daddy as well if you don't feel all right in the night."

James scooped her up in his lap. "Remember, poppet. Boys like to sleep in the same room with boys, like at Hogwarts."

"But Harry is small, he isn't going to Hogwarts, so he can sleep in my room."

"Your logic is amazing, Em," Taylor said, laughing. He went over to his father, knowing his parents need to get Harry to agree to the examination. He held his hand out for his sister. "Come on, Em. We go looking if some of your dolls want to have some tea with us, and next weekend I will have a sleep over in your room."

"Really?" Emily looked at her big brother with big, hopeful eyes.

"Really." Taylor smiled down at her. This summer holiday seemed to be more fun than he had thought with all his homework.

X-X

Harry sat shivering on the bed James had transformed out of the air. The room was amazing, as Harry always had imagined a big boy room. On the walls were many posters of some people who were holding brooms which looked odd and they wore colorful uniforms. The most shocking thing was that the people on the posters were moving, One poster especially caught Harry's attention. It was one where people flew on those brooms and were throwing something like a squared ball around.

"Harry, I know this is all very fascinating for you but we are really worried and would like to see how badly you are hurt," Clara said while she gently pulled Harry's chin in her direction.

"The poison hurt me?"

Clara sighed. "No, Harry, your relatives hurt you."

Harry's jaw drop open, and he quickly lifted his shirt to see if his wounds had come back. To his surprise they weren't visible. Harry felt tricked and looked accusingly at Clara and James.

"We don't need to see your wounds to know that they are there, Harry. James and I are healers. They are doctors for wizards and witches, and we don't always need medical instruments to examine or heal a patient."

"How then?"

Clara smiled. Harry had forgiven them so quickly and looked more interested than scared now. "With our hands. When James examined you at your relatives, he used his hand on you, and so he knows as much about your wounds as I know because I scanned you magically while I held your hand in the living room."

"So you... you did this just to scan me?" Of course they didn't want to touch him out of... out of what? No, they just wanted to do their work the tricky way.

"Of course I didn't just do it to examine you, but I was very worried and so I used the chance when you allowed me to comfort you a bit. I really liked to cuddle you, Harry. In our family we cuddle a lot as that is a good way to show someone that he is loved and wanted."

"But nobody loves me. I'm a—"

Clara placed her finger over Harry's mouth. "Wizard, Harry. You are a wizard and that is nothing to be ashamed of." When Harry didn't protest Clara stroke over his hair in affection and pulled Harry against her shoulder as she sat beside him on the bed.

James had placed a chair in front of Harry and sat down. "Would you please undress for me, Harry? You can leave you underwear on."

Harry bit his bottom lip while he let Clara help him to undress. When he was just in his old briefs, he looked scared at James.

"Now, just relax, Harry. I won't hurt you," James said, laying his hand on Harry's shoulder to calm him. "Would you please drop the glamor now?"

"Glamor?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"What you used to hide your wounds from us."

"They are just gone. It happened when you came."

"It's accidental then," Clara stated, taking Harry's sweaty hand.

"Okay, Harry, I will make your body drop the glamor now," James explained, squeezing Harry's shoulder. "This could feel a bit weird, but you don't need to panic. We are here with you, okay?"

Harry nodded nervously.

"Maybe you should lay down as you could get a bit dizzy." James and Clara changed positions and helped Harry to lie down. Clara was now sitting on the chair close to Harry's head and stroked through his raven hair. James had sat down on the bed beside Harry's hip.

"I will lay my hand flat on your chest now and my other hand I will lay against your forehead. You can trust me, Harry. Nothing bad will happen," James explained calmly.

Harry was scared when a very odd feeling went through his body. He even had the feeling he needed to relief himself and tried hard to not have an accident.

"It's over, Harry. I also scanned you for other problems so the main work is finished. Now I have to feel your belly and examine and heal your back." After James had prodded a few times on Harry's belly, he said, "Okay, Harry, now please turn on your stomach."

Harry did what James told him. Those people were so nice to him. He really wished they would like him to at least let him stay for a few days. That could have been his holiday, his first holiday from the Dursleys. He yelped surprised when his briefs were pulled down. He tried to grab behind him, but James caught his hand. "I need to heal all the wounds, Harry. Please let me help you. It will be over soon."

A hot pain made him stop his protest and stream of thought. He winced and whimpered.

"I know, Harry, I'm just cleaning the open cuts. It's necessary and it will be over soon."

"Take my hand, Harry. You can squeeze it as hard as you need," Clara offered, and Harry took it gladly. The pain was really bad, almost as bad as when Uncle Vernon beat him. The different was that Harry knew James didn't want to hurt him; he just did it to make him heal.

"You are very brave. I'm almost done," James stated, and Harry found new hope that the pain would vanish soon. "That was it, Harry. I will heal the open wounds now. That should just tickle a bit."

It did and in an uncomfortable way. Clara had to instruct him to breath a few times as Harry held his breath for too long. "What a big boy," James praised. "I will apply the healing salve and then you are finished."

Soon Harry was relaxing under James hands as the salve had a painkilling and cooling effect.

"Harry."

"Harry," someone spoke softly in Harry's ear, and he groggily woke up completely. It was Clara. The kind woman smiled down at Harry. "I know you are tired, but you are very thin and we would like to start getting some meat over those bones as soon as possible." She tickled his side, and Harry had to giggle. When she let go, Harry realized he had his briefs on again but otherwise was still naked.

"Can I dress again?"

"I thought you maybe would like to take a shower or have a bath. You can have some of Taylor's old clothes. I kept them for the case we would get another boy."

"And my back?" Harry asked, worried.

"The salve is water proof. You don't need to worry. If you want, I can help you in the bathroom or we could ask Taylor."

"I can do it alone. I'm used to it."

"All right, but if you feel dizzy or otherwise need help, please call for us," Clara said, obviously not very happy to let Harry bath alone.

Harry nodded and let Clara show him the bathroom.

"I will let Taylor bring you the clothes. Is that all right?"

Harry nodded and waited for Clara to leave the bathroom to slip out of his worn briefs and step into the shower. He had shortly eyed the tub. At the Dursleys he never was allowed to bath in the tub and only was allowed to use the shower for two minutes. He would have loved to try out the tub, but he didn't want to look greedy, so he used the shower.

Harry hadn't heard the bathroom door open, but when he stepped out of the shower, he found a big towel and new clothes were his brief had been. He blushed thinking about Taylor putting away his old briefs.

Carefully Harry peeked out into the hall, not knowing if he was allowed to leave the bathroom.

"Finished?" Taylor asked and pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against.

Harry nodded. He knew that some boys only were kind while their parents were around and otherwise could be very mean. Especially Dudley's friends. They often played Harry-Hunt, and when they caught him, they beat and kicked him or mocked him. One day they even had stripped him down to nothing and he had to run through the town naked. That had been one of the worst days in his life.

"Then come. Mum and Dad are in the living room and wait for us for supper." Taylor smiled at Harry.

So Taylor wasn't one of the bad boys, Harry realized relieved but nevertheless remained cautious should this be a trick.

"What's wrong? Are you scared of me?" Taylor asked, surprised.

Harry blushed and looked down.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you or whatever you think I could do to you. Mum and Dad often bring some kids home who need help or ran away from their relatives. They speak with them and then arrange meetings with the parents to clear things up. The kids mostly go home after a few days."

"And when they have nowhere to go?"

Taylor shrugged. "Then they are placed in foster families."

"My relatives said my parents wanted to give me to foster parents but nobody would want a freak like me. Then they died in a car crash and my relatives had to take me in because nobody else wanted me."

Taylor looked as shocked as when Harry had said his name. "Ehm... I think we should go to the living room."

Harry let his head hang. What would happen with him now? Foster parents wouldn't want him, and James had said he would never go back to his relatives. Maybe James would send him back to the Dursleys when he finds out that no foster family will take him in. "Do you know what happened with my clothes? I will need them when I go back to my uncle and his family. I'm not allowed to wear new clothes."

"First, they are not new clothes. They are my old ones. Second, your uncle is an arsehole and you will never go back to him."

Harry stooped and gaped at Taylor. "Are you allowed to talk like this?"

"Around Mum and Dad, of course not, but around you, who cares."

"I need my clothes, Taylor. Please make sure they don't throw them away. My uncle will be mad."

Taylor shook his head. "What of 'you are not going back to him' didn't you understand?"

Harry sighed. "I already told you, no foster family will take me. I need my clothes to go back to my uncle."

Taylor rolled his eyes. "I told you the other kids were going to foster families when they couldn't or didn't want to go back to their families. You, Harry Potter, will stay. You already found your foster family."

Harry frowned. "That's not funny, Taylor."

Taylor snorted. "No, it isn't. Didn't you listen? They offered you a room for yourself. You will live here."

"Really?" Harry asked in hope. That would be too good to be true.

"Really. Now let's go before Mum sends a search party." Taylor threw his arm over Harry's shoulder. When Harry jerked away, Taylor stopped shocked. "Did I hurt you? I thought Dad had already healed you."

Harry blushed. "I'm sorry. I..."

"Not used to it, right?"

Harry shook his head.

"No, problem, but I fear you will have to get used to it now." Taylor stepped closer to Harry again. "Ready to learn?"

Harry breathed deeply and nodded.

Taylor slowly laid his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Okay, little brother. Time for supper."

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