Rejuvenation
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any profits from posting this fanfiction.
Summary: Epilogue compliant. Set 2019. Harry and Ron fall into the hands of a mad 'scientist' hell bent on eternal youth. Naturally, something goes wrong in the experimental stage. His test subjects weren't too pleased about their new roles as guinea pigs. Unfortunately for all involved, there were many casualties along the way; the most important of which being the death of their former lives.
Warnings: Gender change. OC character deaths. Kidnapping. Experimentation on human; adults and children. Swearing.
Pairings: HP/OC, RW/?
Authors note: This chapter should have been uploaded a few hours after chapter 8, and I apologise that I didn't. Unfortunately I didn't anticipate the hotel having no wifi, and since we attended a three day wedding celebration over Easter Weekend in a place with no wifi I couldn't upload anything else. Not that I truly wanted to think about stories when I was at my cousin's wedding mind you. The best weekend I've had in ages! I'm not the kind of person who parties much, in fact I actually have a social anxiety so being around so many people is truly a very difficult thing for me, but the weekend was amazing and I had so much fun!
This chapter continues to deal with the emotions Mafalda faces now she is rescued and coping with her new role. Last chapter, while horrible, lead us up to a point where Harry accepted life as Mafalda. I don't know if you noticed but the pronoun changed from 'he' to 'she'. That is important. And it was necessary. Unfortunately something truly horrible has to happen to have such a paradigm shift and the tremendous increase of loss and grief was one way to do that.
Rejuvenation - Chapter 9
"Please eat something Mafalda dear."
Mafalda didn't move. She just lay there. She curled her knees in tighter against her chest. She stared.
They had moved the bodies away. There had been a funeral.
She couldn't go.
"Mafalda? It's time for your shower!"
Mafalda shook her head. She curled tighter.
"Alright dear, I'll come back later."
"Treasure?" That was healer Franklin. "I need you to sit up for me."
Mafalda shook her head.
Warm hands stroked her head.
"That wasn't a request sweet heart. I need you to sit up."
"No."
"I'm afraid you have no choice dearest."
Those warm hands gripped her under the armpits and dragged her up.
She struggled. The hands were unflinching and unwavering. They pulled her up and forced her upright.
Mafalda struggled again then felt absolutely exhausted.
"Oh dear. You've worn yourself out. That's what you get when you don't eat anything."
"No." She moaned. A warm hand cupped her cheek and encouraged her to look up.
Healer Franklin smiled with sparkly lips. The corners of her eyes crinkled up making the glittery purple shading there catch the light more. The healer wore a large sparkly butterfly clip in her hair which just added loads and loads of shimmering and glittering colour to the already glitzy, and slightly humorous, look.
"We will eat a bit together, and then clean you up a bit. Afterwards I will let you go back to bed okay?" Mafalda didn't respond, too busy looking at the butterfly clip which had suddenly light up and seemed to explode making glittering butterflies shimmer in the air around it before turning back into a dull but glittering clip.
A spoon was placed at her lips and Mafalda opened her mouth automatically when the warm rich smell of tomato and herb soup reached her nostrils. The soup was warm and creamy on her tongue then extra warmth seemed to explode from inside the soup and Mafalda blinked, swallowing quickly.
"What is it?"
"Oh just a tomato soup." Healer Franklin avoided answering. Mafalda allowed the next spoonful into her mouth and licked her lips after swallowing to savour the taste and the warmth. Healer Franklin smiled and got her another spoonful. "Do you like my clip?"
"Your clip?" Mafalda echoed and looked back at the butterfly clip that once again seemed to explode into dozens of fluttering butterflies around Healer Franklin's head.
"Yes. It's new." Healer Franklin explained. "One of the toddlers I look after loves butterflies. She's really not very well, bless her, and I thought she might like to see some butterflies. So I bought the clip. It's pretty isn't it?"
"Yes." Mafalda agreed quietly and with very little feeling. Healer Franklin just smiled happily and gave her more soup.
Halfway through the soup Mafalda couldn't stomach any more. Healer Franklin didn't push, oddly, she just accepted that and with a flick of her wand had disposed of soup, spoon and bowl.
"Alright then. Up you get sweet pea. I'll help you to the shower then afterwards you can go to bed." Healer Franklin's hands were firm but gentle and they steered Mafalda into the wash room. Once there Mafalda was deposited onto the closed lid of the toilet and handed a toothbrush with toothpaste on it. With a brief instruction to 'brush' Mafalda was left to it while Healer Franklin ran the shower to the correct temperature.
The water was warm. Very warm.
It felt nice.
Mafalda stood under the spray for a while just…just standing there. The water washed over her, soaking her thoroughly, and warming her. She was left like that for a few moments and it was only the door to the washroom closing that had her startling out of her daze for a moment. She stared at the door then around the room. Then she picked up the shampoo and washed her long, long hair. The body wash smelt like mint and something tangy…apples? Wasn't that weird? Well it was the wizarding world.
The door swung open and Healer Franklin walked back in holding a pile of towels and clothes. The healer smiled at her then went about organising what she had brought into different piles. Mafalda finished washing the soap suds off her body then made to climb out of the shower.
"There's no rush poppet." Healer Franklin said with that sunshine bright smile, her yellow-blonde hair bouncing happily.
"I'm finished." Mafalda whispered and the healer nodded.
"Okay then. You washed your hair?" Mafalda nodded. "And conditioned it? Hair this long needs lots of conditioner."
"Um…" Mafalda hummed and shifted from foot to foot. Healer Franklin just smiled merrily.
"Well, the shower is still running. Would you like to pop back in and condition your hair? Or would you like me the try and find some spray in conditioner just for today?"
Mafalda looked between the shower and Healer Franklin unable to decide. Shower again or spray something in her hair?
The memory of being told to stand absolutely still while somebody sprayed a cloud of horrible tasting and smelling stuff all over her hair made the decision for her.
"Shower."
"Good choice." Healer Franklin held open the shower door for her. Mafalda had the feeling that Healer Franklin would have complimented her choice regardless but never mind. Mafalda hopped back in the shower, luxuriating in the wonderful warm water. She picked up the bottle of conditioner and poured a small amount into her hand. "Now don't put that right onto your scalp. Just put it on the longer bits of hair."
Mafalda followed instructions rubbing the conditioner in thoroughly. It didn't lather up like the shampoo had but, strangely, glowed blue instead where it touched her hair.
"Don't worry about that lovely. That's just it working. Wash it off and the glowing will stop." Those chirpy words of encouragement and reassurance helped and Mafalda washed the slick conditioner from her hair then stepped out of the shower again.
Healer Franklin already had a towel waiting for her and as soon as Mafalda was out of the shower the healer wrapped her up in it.
"There now. I'll let you dry off a moment." The healer said happily then stepped over to the two piles of clothes she had laid out. "Now I wasn't sure what you would like to wear so I brought you one of your night dresses and a skirt and t-shirt set so it's up to you. I also brought you some clean underwear but I'll let you chose that too."
Mafalda nodded and dried off carefully. Clothes or bed clothes?
Mafalda picked up her night dress. She might not like it but it was good enough for bed and that was where she was going. Healer Franklin nodded.
"Good plan. I was worried that the skirt I brought you would dig in too if you lay down in it. Never mind, I'll chose better next time."
Healer Franklin was strange. Mafalda was almost certain she was lying but…but with that happy tone it was almost impossible to tell.
Mafalda got dressed then Healer Franklin combed through her hair. Then Mafalda was helped back up into bed and tucked in. Healer Franklin stroked her hair once then left with a skip in her step to go and organise the potions rounds.
Mafalda pulled her pillow down the bed so he could curl around it, cuddling it tightly and sighed.
They had changed the blankets on the bed opposite.
Soggy, bland, disgusting vomit looking cottage pie. Bleh. Mafalda took two bite of it then pushed it away. She didn't feel like eating and that didn't look like food.
She did take the jelly though. That wasn't too bad. Even though it was yellow.
Mafalda huffed as she tried to get her stupidly long hair to stay behind her. She wished she had a hair band or something but she didn't.
At least her hair was clean.
That was only because Healer Franklin was on duty. The brightly coloured, fluffy unicorns and rainbows, healer had not taken no for an answer and forced Mafalda to eat something then shower. The healer ad then brushed her hair for her and left her to it. Mafalda half dreaded and half liked the eccentrically coloured Healer. Either way it meant she was clean.
Mafalda huffed again as her hair tickled her elbows annoyingly. She pushed herself out of bed and padded over towards the office area at the end of the ward. Luckily nobody stopped her, even though it was very late at night and there were no lights on. Mafalda could only see because she had been awake for hours and her eyes had accustomed to the light.
Pulling open one of the top drawers Mafalda rummaged around for a pair of scissors. She knew there were some in there, the nurses used them to open packets and sharpen quills. Mafalda rummaged a little longer and eventually found a pair amongst the hundred or so quills and inkwells. Taking them she ran over to the washroom, turned on the light and shut the door firmly.
It took a moment before her eyes were accustomed to the light but once that was done she grabbed the small step stool and dragged it to the sink so that she could see in the mirror better.
Right. Time to do something about the ridiculously long hair.
Mafalda didn't even care that her mummy liked it long. Mummy was dead…and so was Mum. Neither Griselda or Lily could have any say over Mafalda's hair now. Mafalda grabbed a bunch of it and sliced it off.
Mafalda's eyes hurt. So did her heart. And her throat.
She had spent the day crying. The healers and medi-witches hadn't liked her chopping off her hair. She had been lectured and told off by almost all of them. Even healer Franklin had looked disapprovingly at her. They had even had to cut her hair again to correct the damage. There had been talk about a hair growth potion but they decided against it and instead gave her some hairbands.
Still, everything had upset her. They didn't understand. How could they? They might know she used to be Harry Potter, at least some of them knew. But to them it was just an idea.
They weren't living it.
She was.
And she hadn't needed an adults permission to do anything in years.
It was only hair anyway.
It wasn't like she had cut off a life…not like they had.
It was night time again.
Everywhere was black. Everything was silent.
Mafalda slipped out of bed. She had been waiting and waiting and now it was the right time. She knew she only had moments after her feet had hit the floor to make a run for it but she had it all planned out.
She was leaving the ward.
She would come right back later. But for now she was getting out. It was summer time and St Mungo's had a little flower garden on the roof during summer. That was where she was going. She hadn't been outside in weeks…months.
It was like swapping one prison for another…and one prison inside of that one.
Mafalda's feet hit the floor and she ran for the main door. She yanked it open just as she heard a light go on in the back office. She didn't chance a look back, she hoped the pillow she had put under her blanket would buy her time.
She slipped through the door, pulling it closed behind her and holding her night dress back so it wouldn't get caught in the door like it was trying to.
Then she ran for the stair case. She had been at St Mungo's long enough to know where things were because of all the times she had needed to visit Mungo's for check-ups, healing after an op gone wrong, or even just to interview people. And then there were the visits with the kids and with Ginny, and visiting friends and colleagues. Harry had been to the hospital a lot, Mafalda had too…by default.
Running wasn't easy because she got tired easily and the limited food she had been eating hadn't helped. But she could at least rush. And the stairs had banisters so when she started getting really tired she dragged herself up on them. By the very top, at the flower garden, she was crawling. IT was embarrassing but…but at the very least she was technically a kid so she could get away with it. And nobody who knew who she really was would know.
Mafalda slipped through the door to the roof space and slid carefully around tables and benches to the very back of the garden. It wasn't because it was a better view, or because it had nicer flowers. It was just because being the furthest you could get from the door meant you were more isolated…and it would take people longer to reach you.
Mafalda leaned against the rail, resting her chin on the top rail and looking out over London. London was London. Muggle London was oddly dark but there were a few street lights on. Mafalda could see some foxes prowling here and there, the occasional person lingering on the streets. Some houses had lights on. From where she stood she could see there was a TV on in one house, the screen a slightly blue colour but other than that there was no definition to the picture because Mafalda was too far away from it. Many streets away some flashing blue lights were moving around. Police.
Perhaps the best bit of the flower garden was that it gave the best view of the stars and Mafalda was so high that there were no lights disturbing her. Not even the lights of the floating flames in glass jars littering the roof garden.
Ursa Major and minor were visible. Draco was there too. Mafalda thought she could see Jupiter but she couldn't be sure. Besides which she didn't really like astrology much at Hogwarts. It was a bit boring. The only thing that was interesting that happened during astrology was when Umbridge and her gang attacked McGonegall with stunners and caused an uproar.
Still. The stars were pretty anyway. Mafalda used to watch them sometimes when she was hiding from her parents because she didn't want to have mummy see that she had got mud on her clothes again.
Harry used to watch the stars with Albus and Lily. James was never interested. But Lily and Albus liked to watch. They hadn't even cared that Harry couldn't name many of the things they were seeing. They had at least connected the stars to form constellations. Albus liked Pegasus. Lily's favourite was Hercules which wasn't visible yet because it wasn't autumn.
Mafalda hid behind the table in the café and slid down low in her seat so she wouldn't be found straight away. She had gone off for a walk, carefully timing it to perfection to slip out while the door was still open from Cameron leaving with the mind healer for their twice daily sessions. If the door closed she would be stuck in because the healers, medi-witches, mind healer, Unspeakables and aurors didn't want her wandering around.
Well tough. Mafalda didn't want to be stuck in one place anymore. Especially not with people who kept asking her questions about her feelings. 'How are you feeling today Mafalda?', 'are you still feeling sad Mafalda?', 'cheer up Mafalda', 'do you feel you are dealing well with your grief?'.
What did they think her answer was going to be?! Both Harry and Mafalda both agreed they needed to leave her alone and give her some space.
Harry had never dealt with loss well. Usually he got angry and sullen, quick to lose his temper and he kept everyone at arms length when he was like that.
Mafalda was the same. She didn't keep people away so much as kept herself away from people. She always got quiet, despondent. She had done it when a foal on the farm had died, she did it when mummy was killed, she did it when Sigmund was murdered, she did it when she expected to die herself very shortly and she did it now.
"…again! It's the fifth time this week! She disappeared twice yesterday. I'm fed up of running around the hospital trying to find her." One healer on the table behind her complained to her friend.
"Sounds to me like she's trying to tell you something." The other healer pointed out but the first healer just scoffed.
"What?! That's she's a misbehaving little brat? Yeah, thanks. I got the message."
"No. It sounds to me that the little girl just needs some space to get out. I know I would if I had been imprisoned by a murderer and experimented on and then thrown into a hospital ward and imprisoned there too. I read the articles on it in Daily Prophet. That bastard experimented with their memories! They took memories from one person and forced them into another! How horrible must that be? Living with memories that aren't yours. And then on top of that the article pointed out that the kid's families still haven't been able to visit them. It's been what, three or four weeks now?"
"Yeah I do admit that I think that's bang out of order. But there are a lot of people that are saying that can't happen yet. The children aren't stable for a lot of reasons. One is seeing a mind healer twice a day for anger issues. That other one keeps running away. Only one of the girls is being good and that's just because she's too scared I think."
"Yeah well if you ask me those children aren't being looked after properly. Hey now don't get all uppity! I don't mean you! I mean in general. I think they've been wronged a lot."
Mafalda crossed her arms over her chest. Yeah, they could say that. Didn't change anything. There was saying and there was doing. And nobody was doing.
Oh crap…maybe they were.
"Mafalda! I have been looking high and low for you!" The medi-witch from the ward said with a scowl. She had her hands on her very wide hips and loomed over Mafalda.
Back to the ward.
Mafalda lay very still just staring at the bed opposite her.
It was full.
But not with Harry. Obviously. Because Harry was dead now. So was Ron.
And as of yesterday so was Honora.
Having no family the only person the people in charge could turn to concerning Honora's life support was Honora herself, inside Winnifred's body. Winnifred had agreed, sadly. Then spent the last two days weeping.
Hatefully Mafalda thought that now Winnifred could understand why seeing themselves dead had effected them so much. Now maybe she wouldn't judge Mafalda and Cameron.
But that was mean, and Mafalda crossly told herself off for thinking it. She tried offering comfort to Winnifred but that had just meant they had ended up curled on the bed crying together and then she felt even worse.
And now there were other people across the room. All teenagers, two were boys and one was a girl. Apparently they had been involved in a bit of an accident involving a magic carpet, two brooms and a bludger gone wild. Mafalda didn't know the details and she didn't care to. She kept away. Oddly the arrival of the other teens had proved helpful to Cameron. Cameron, having attended Hogwarts previous to capture, had been friends with two out of three of the teens. Asher Stone and Malachi Predergast were on the Quidditch team with Cameron Wood so they knew each other from that, the third person in the group was Sinead Fitzpatrick who played for Hufflepuff as a chaser. Quidditch was apparently the main topic of conversation between the four of them. Cameron had settled into it perfectly, the knowledge of being Ron helping a lot it seemed.
Mafalda was glad Cameron was feeling more at ease. She really was.
But it just made her feel even more alone and sad than before.
She slipped off the bed and carefully made her way around the edge of the room to hide in the curtain bunched conveniently close to the door. It took a while of waiting but eventually somebody came into the room. Mafalda slid from her hiding place and out of the room as quickly as she could then took the short corridor along to the stairs.
It was late evening and reasonably busy in the hospital. While that wasn't great because there were witnesses and people who could see her and report her, there was also the chance that somebody would mistake her for an ordinary child. Since she was wearing everyday clothes, a lilac and very dark purple dress, she hoped they would over look her.
She made her way up the stairs then along the little corridor to the last flight of stairs going up that last little bit to the roof and the flower garden. It was still buzzing, lively and bright. Since it was late July it was only to be expected that the beautiful sunshine hadn't ended yet. That just made it so much more of a shame that they were cooped up indoors.
Mafalda loved being outside. Harry didn't care much either way as long as he wasn't isolated or stuck in one room. Mafalda didn't mind isolation but only when she sought it herself, and only in large open spaces.
Mafalda stroked her finger along one of the large petals of a white lily. Beautiful. Going to stand by the railing at the back she was surrounded by roses and she could look out over the streets below. They were more lively too now, more so than they had been late at night that one time. Mafalda didn't know what she preferred though; a woman dragging a screaming child along all the while doing some ranting and raving of her own, or a fox scavenging for its dinner and getting into fights with other foxes.
Time moved on. Mafalda stayed watching and getting lost in her thoughts. It was only when she started getting tired and very thirsty that she decided to leave the flower garden. She wiped her face, rubbing her eyes to get rid of the last bits of her tears, and turned away from the railings right into somebody wearing a whole lot of white.
"Oh. Sorry." Mafalda muttered and looked up at the person's face to gauge whether they were angry or not. And there, looking down at her with fresh light pink lips was Healer Franklin. Her eyes were decorated with a whole heap of fresh light green topped with a flushed pink and crinkled with a smile. Mafalda gaped for a second then huffed out a sigh and looked away. "Hi."
"Hello. The roses are nice today aren't they?" Healer Franklin asked with a chirp.
"I suppose so?" Huh? No telling off? No disapproval? No badly veiled snide comments? Not that Healer Franklin ever did that, she only got these sad disappointed looks that made you feel terrible. Even though Mafalda had no right feeling terrible about wanting to be outside.
"Mm. Yes well, I prefer hibiscus flower to be honest. I think their colours are far nicer than roses though nothing says I love you better than a rose. Or several roses." Healer Franklin voiced her thoughts with a strange faraway look on her face and a smile on her lips.
"Um…I like lilies." Mafalda offered and Healer Franklin snapped out of it and gave Mafalda a bright glowing look.
"Oh good choice. Lilies are beautiful! What else do you like? And please don't say buttercups."
"Umm…" What flowers did she like? Harry didn't like flowers. And Ginny wasn't bothered really so Harry never bothered. But Mafalda did like seeing the wild flowers. She especially loved it in very early spring, before you even knew the season had changed, because of one particular flower. "Snow drops."
"Oooh! Now that is absolutely, most definitely, a good choice. Snow drops are so perfect!" The healer's smile was so wide it looked almost painful except Healer Franklin's whole demeanor was sparkly, happy and…and something else. She always looked glowing. Like something big just made her happy all the time.
"Why are you always happy?" Oh! Oops! Mafalda hadn't meant to say that! She looked down quickly and studied the floor. She scrunched up her bare toes a little and hoped to avoid looking at Healer Franklin. She thought she had grown out of randomly blurting questions out! It had certainly been a lesson well learned growing up in the Dursley's house! And Harry had known when to ask questions, when to demand answers and when to keep his questions to himself and do some research later. Mafalda's cheeks flamed a hot red. How embarrassing! And to ask such a personal question as well.
"I suppose it's because I do lots of little things each day that make me happy."
Having her embarrassingly personal question answered was a little shocking. Mafalda peeked up. Healer Franklin was tapping her chin and frowning a little in thought.
"Yes. I suppose that's it. I do little things each day that make me happy. I try to make other people happy too which makes me even happier. And for the rest of it I suppose that I just enjoy everything I do! And that's important you know. If work becomes a chore then you get depressed and that's terribly unhealthy. But if you can think of work as a fun thing, a game if you like, then you can be a whole lot happier!"
"What little things do you do that make you happy?" Mafalda asked tentatively. Since her first question had been asked maybe this one would too.
"Oh well let me see…" Healer Franklin tapped her chin three more times thinking, then she leaned down and pointed to her eyes. "Everyday I try to think of a new way to put my make up on! I try to find silly things for the days that I'm working. This week I've been trying to use the colours of fruits to inspire my make-up. Can you tell? I've got watermelon eyes today! Tomorrow I am absolutely being a strawberry." Healer Franklin giggled and as Mafalda imagined the healer as a strawberry she had to laugh too. "And then I always get to help you brush your hair, that cheers me up. It's so relaxing brushing somebody's hair. And what else…let me see…I pull funny faces with the little ones, they love it and hearing them laugh makes me happy. At the end of every day I have a long bath with lots of bubbles because it's one of my favourite things ever to do."
"Oh."
"Yes well, that's just me. What do you do to make you happy Mafalda?"
Happy? Mafalda hadn't felt happy for a long time. Healer Franklin was looking curious and patient though. Since the healer had answered all Mafalda's questioned she supposed she should answer too. Like a deal.
"I go for walks. I fly. I…I play with my…" Mafalda paused and sniffed as she stopped that trail of thought. She couldn't stop it entirely though. "…my family."
"Hmm. Walks are good aren't they? You got to go and see so many wonderful things! Like animals in trees. Like muggle hot air balloons floating in the sky." Healer Franklin said then turned and arched her brow at Mafalda. "Like flowers up on roofs, and runaway children who had you worried sick but you've now managed to find."
Ah. The disappointed look. Mafalda looked away. She wouldn't apologise. She wouldn't.
"I am glad you are safe and that I found you. I stayed with you up here for a long while you know." Healer Franklin continued with a quieter voice, soft like she was telling a secret. Mafalda looked at her. She looked so earnest and honest. "You should be allowed time up here, time away from that room. And I understand why they didn't let you, but that doesn't mean it is right. You needed the time here to relax a little, to cheer you up. Although, I notice you haven't been entirely happy up here."
Healer Franklin reached out and with the pad of her thumb wiped away something on Mafalda's cheek.
"You've been crying Mafalda. I'm so sorry you have been so sad."
Mafalda sniffled and lowered her head again. Warm arms enveloped her, pulling her in for a comforting and loving hug. Mafalda leaned into it, barely holding back more tears and another sniffle.
"I know what you've been through. And I know what you are facing." Healer Franklin pulled back and smoothed the skin beneath Mafalda's eyes again giving her a hopeful smile. "I don't pretend to comprehend how hard everything must be for you now, knowing what you know but being who you are now. Just know that even with everything you think you have lost, something amazingly good is going to happen soon. Okay? Remember that for me, even if you don't believe it."
Mafalda nodded silently. She didn't really know what to say. She didn't believe those words at all, she couldn't. The world wasn't like some big trade off; suffer more to get greater rewards! It didn't work like that. But still she nodded. Healer Franklin lowered her chin and stood up straight again.
"Anyway. Come on." She wrapped an arm around Mafalda's shoulders. "There's something waiting for you back on the ward."
"What is it?"
"Now, now, that would be telling."
They walked back to the ward with Healer Franklin's arm securely but comfortingly around her shoulder. Mafalda didn't feel like she was being frogmarched or steered. She didn't feel like she was being forced to walk either. The arm around her shoulder was almost draped there. It was caring, it was nurturing and it was guiding. Oddly, never once did Mafalda feel like Healer Franklin was patronising her or being condescending with her actions. It was nice…just that little bit of love after a whole hatful of hate.
Healer Franklin nodded, smiled and greeted various people as they walked. Some healers made a comment which Healer Franklin somehow batted away with her air of joy and love for the world. An arched eyebrow was what some disparaging remarks earned but other than that Healer Franklin just greeted people and all but floated down the stairs and corridors.
At the ward doors another healer, a young man, quickly jumped forwards and opened the door for them with a shy smile. When Healer Franklin smiled and merrily thanked him he blushed with pride and humility, smiling back and stammering out a 'not at all'. Healer Franklin steered Mafalda around the open door and back over towards her bed.
And there on the chair next to her bed was a man. A man she knew. She froze.
Tall, with the same square face she saw whenever she looked in the mirror, the man had slightly dirty cream trousers and dark brown boots. His shirt was clean, but his waist coat wasn't with a bit of straw sticking out of one shoulder. His skin was pale, hair unkempt, and facial hair more unkempt than she had ever seen it before.
"Daddy." Her mouth whispered. Memories fogged up her brain as tears welled up inside her eyes. As Harry she knew it was Mafalda's Daddy and not hers…but…but she and Harry were one in the same and Harry was gone. Gone, gone, gone. He was dead. They had killed him. He was a her now, and her name was Mafalda. And that was her daddy. "My daddy."
"Mafalda!" The man sat up with astonishment and excitement. He unfolded from the chair, uncrossing his legs, and standing upright as quickly as he could. He took a step forwards, eyes glowing with excitement, relief, love and so many other things. Mafalda felt tears well up in her eyes.
Then he paused and the look in his eyes became guarded. He looked over her frantically but reservedly.
"Mafalda?"
Mafalda's breath caught.
There was a twitch in the man's left hand like he wanted to reach out. His body was jerking forwards and backwards a little like he was restraining himself. He looked so worried…so guarded like he suddenly wasn't sure of the situation.
But it was her daddy. Mafalda's daddy. Her Daddy!
And all she wanted was a hug.
"Daddy…" She blubbered, voice and mouth thick with tears, eyes completely blurred and heard thumping like wild horses. She stumbled forwards a step wanting to be closer. Needing to be closer.
Her daddy's face crumbled. He took a huge stride forwards, then another. "Oh my precious girl!"
Mafalda gasped out a cry, tears falling from her eyes now. Her heart hurt. It hurt so much. It ached! She wanted a hug. That was all she wanted in the world. She had lost so much! SO MUCH! All of it gone! She was in a strange body, strange memories that weren't hers but felt like it, feelings for people she had never even met as Harry, Harry being dead…but right now…right at that very second the only thing Mafalda could think of was how happy she felt just having a hug with her daddy.
Just a hug.
She toppled forwards and broke into a run.
Just a hug. That was all she wanted.
And she could have it if she could get to her Daddy.
She couldn't run fast enough.
Her daddy fell to his knees.
She ran harder, pumping her arms in time with her legs. Her dress flapped around her legs, her bare feet hammered on the ground.
His arms opened just in time to catch her. She crashed into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into them.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her back, gripping her so tightly with his strong arms she thought her bones would shatter under the pressure. But she didn't want it to go away. Not again. She didn't want her daddy to go away again. She didn't want anything or anyone to ever go away again.
She stifled a sob.
"Oh my gorgeous Mafalda. I've missed you so much baby girl! So much!" Her daddy said and a hand ran through her hair then went back to hugging her tightly.
Mafalda coughed out a sob then couldn't stop the tears and the hysterical crying.
Her daddy hugged her as tightly as he could and she tightened her arms around his neck.
"It's okay, it's alright. It will all be okay now Mafalda. I am here. Daddy's here. I've got you. It will all be okay."
Author's note: I hope I managed to convey how despondent and isolated Mafalda feels. Depression and grief are terrible things and very hard to deal with. I truly believe that a person cannot truly comprehend the magnitude and the incredible effects something like depression unless they have actually suffered with it. Therefore it is a very difficult thing to convey in writing, expressing a depression so deep and dark and yet not one that only leads to suicide because many depressions don't. I hope I managed that successfully. And now, at long last, the sun has broken through the oppressive black clouds and let some light back into Mafalda's life.