Two days later, Lilah had received a note from one of the school owls while enjoying breakfast with Susan, Megan, and Hannah.
It's from Professor McGonagall, thought Lilah as she unfolded the note.
"Miss Darling,
I want to thank you for your continued concern and empathy for Mister Potter. I have spoken with Harry earlier in the week and he has confirmed your suspicions about his past. I did not reveal any details regarding your participation, but we are currently discussing the appropriate next steps to help the young man cope with his past and heal. He is a terrific young wizard, one that certainly deserved a much better childhood than the one he got. I am truly sorry that the two of you were not sorted together, but it does my soul a lot of good knowing that inter-house friendships can be just as strong as in-house ones. Please continue to be his rock, he trusts you with his life.
In other news, earlier this week, I owled my Australian counterpart, Professor Hudgens concerning this Dawn Finn friend of yours. I have not heard from his end yet, but I at least wanted to let you know that I have upheld my end of the deal so far, and will update you once I hear from our Snakebinder friends.
Sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall"
"What was that about, if you don't mind my asking?" Susan inquired.
"She offered to help me find an old friend of mine that moved to Australia a few years ago. Her name's Dawn, and I have this hunch that she might be a witch. She let me know that she owled her Australian counterpart to see if Dawn's enrolled at the Snakebinder Academy. She hasn't heard anything yet, but she at least was kind enough to let me know that she started the process."
Susan smiled broadly. "Wouldn't that be something? What makes you think that she might be a witch?"
"Nothing but a gut feeling," Lilah replied. "She was my very first friend – we met in primary school as six year olds – but I think there was a connection that was, well… magical in nature. I'm not sure if I can explain it, but I really think she's a witch. I do hope that Professor McGonagall can confirm my hunch."
"Australia is a very long distance from here," Megan replied. "It may be weeks before you hear back."
"I understand," nodded Lilah. "Either way, it'll be worth the wait."
"Well, I hope it's true," Hannah added. "Even if she turns out to be a Muggle, perhaps you can still find a way to reconnect. It's possible for those in the magical world and those not gifted with magic to have positive relationships."
"You're very talented, Lilah," Susan admitted. "I'd actually be shocked if your old friend's a Muggle. You're rarely wrong about these sorts of things… you're rarely wrong about anything, really."
Lilah smiled at her friend. "Thank you for your confidence, Susan. I suppose all I can do is wait for further news from Professor McGonagall."
Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor table, Harry had a slightly nervous expression on his face all morning long.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked as sweetly as she could.
Harry kept his voice barely above a whisper. "Remember the other night? I told Professor McGonagall that I'd see her again today, and Madam Pomfrey would take a look at my back. I know it needs to be done, but I'm still a bit nervous about it."
Hermione smiled at Harry as she grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Would you feel better if I went with you?"
Harry paused to think for a moment before responding. "I'd like that, yes… it's just that it might be a bit unfair to bring you, and not invite Lilah as well…"
Hermione nodded. "I understand completely, but if it makes you feel any better, I believe that she has class while we have our free period this afternoon, so it's not really an issue of it being fair or not… more of an issue of availability."
Harry grinned like the schoolboy he was. "Well, since you put it that way, I would feel better if you came with me."
Hermione hugged Harry gently. "I love you, Harry Potter," she whispered in his ear. "I love you like family."
"And I love you like family, Hermione," Harry whispered back.
After lunch, Harry and Hermione went to Professor McGonagall's office during their free period.
"Good afternoon, Mister Potter," Professor McGonagall said. "And good afternoon, Miss Granger. I half expected Miss Darling to be his companion if he was to bring one, but I suddenly remembered that she has class at the moment."
Her warm expression faded somewhat. "Now, I must warn you, Miss Granger, what we're about to do is not for the faint of heart. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm just here to help Harry."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "I know you are, my child. I just don't want you to break down and lose your composure, because there's a good chance that what we might find will be quite painful to see."
"I'm not afraid to see his scars, nor am I afraid to shed a few tears, Professor," Hermione replied bravely. "Harry needs a source of comfort, and I promised him I'd be there as Lilah is busy with class."
"Very well then, Miss Granger. If you're absolutely sure you want to proceed, then please follow me to the infirmary." The three promptly marched to the medical wing where Madam Pomfrey awaited them.
"Mister Potter," Madam Pomfrey said. "Thank you for agreeing to visit me this afternoon. There is a changing area on the other side of the infirmary, we'll meet you there in a couple of minutes. As we only need to see your back, only your robes and shirt need to be removed. You may face the wall while Professor McGonagall and I make our observations. It should only take a minute or so."
Harry nodded. "I'll go and change now," he said quietly. He headed toward the opposite side of the infirmary and entered an exam room that had a privacy screen for changing.
When he was finished, he turned to face the wall, and waited for Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, and Hermione to join him in the room. He knew it wasn't good when he heard Professor McGonagall audibly gasp, and Hermione started to sniffle.
He felt a cold, metallic instrument of sorts on his back – Madam Pomfrey must have been counting the number of welts and scars he had. Hermione's sniffling gave way to whimpering, which then gave way to full-on sobbing.
"I've counted sixty seven visible marks indicating blunt-force trauma," Madam Pomfrey finally said. "Most were small, but some were large and must have cut quite deeply. I am so sorry, young man."
Professor McGonagall offered a handkerchief to Hermione, who was helpless to control her tears. "I'm… so… so… sorry, Harry," she gasped in between sobs. "You deserve… so much better."
"You don't regret accompanying Mister Potter, do you?" Professor McGonagall asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "Not at all, Professor," she said softly.
"So, am I allowed to put my shirt and robes back on?" Harry asked.
"From my standpoint, yes, Mister Potter," replied Professor McGonagall, who somehow maintained a stoic exterior, even though she felt deeply anguished inside. "Unless Madam Pomfrey needs anything else, you can put your shirt and robes back on."
"I'm finished," confirmed Madam Pomfrey. "When you're fully clothed, I'd like for you to sit in one of the chairs along the wall, I have a few questions for you.
Harry went behind the privacy screen to put his shirt and robes back on, and then sat down as instructed. There was another chair next to him, so he motioned for Hermione to sit next to him with his head. She managed a faint smile, even though her eyes were still red and puffy from all the tears she had shed after seeing how horrible Harry's back must have looked.
She surreptitiously held out her hand for Harry to hold, which he slowly accepted. She gave his hand a little squeeze. Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall were deep in discussion regarding their observations, so Hermione leaned over and gave Harry a kiss on the forehead. Harry's cheeks turned deep scarlet.
A minute later, both Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey turned around to address Harry.
"First of all, Harry, I am so sorry for the abuse at the hands of your relatives," Professor McGonagall said. "Although the damage has been done, we at least have sufficient evidence that your time with the Dursleys was hardly in your best interest. As they are Muggles, they lie outside our jurisdiction and there is nothing we can legally do to demand reparations for this mistreatment."
"I'm not interested in revenge," Harry replied with candor. "I just want you to promise me that I will never go back there ever again." His eyes started to well with tears. "Please, Professor. I beg you. That's all I ask."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "That can certainly be arranged. We will need a suitable family to act as your guardian, however, and that may take some time to finalize. While I can assure you that you won't be returning to Surrey in the summer, you may have to spend Christmas at the castle unless you're explicitly invited. Is that acceptable?
"That's fine, Professor," said Harry.
"You can spend Christmas with us, if you'd like," Hermione offered. "I promise my family would be thrilled to have you."
Harry smiled at his friend. "That would be delightful," he replied.
"Miss Granger, I am taking your family into consideration regarding Mister Potter's stewardship," Professor McGonagall trilled. "However, based on equal amounts of personal research and intuition, I feel Miss Darling's family may be a slightly better fit as a permanent home."
Hermione looked like she was about to tear up again, but nodded. "I can see why you'd think that. Mrs. Darling has experience working with children like Harry. She has to be incredibly compassionate for that kind of work."
"That is correct, but that is not the only reason, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall replied. "I am also wanting to make more of an effort to encourage inter-house friendships. Having two different Hogwarts houses represented in the same household is quite rare, and this could be a valuable example for students to learn from in the future."
"But he can still spend Christmas with us this year, can't he?" Hermione asked. "I really want him to meet my family at least once."
"As long as your parents give us explicit permission, he may absolutely stay with your family for the holidays," Professor McGonagall answered with a friendly smile. "And of course, Mister Potter will have to agree to it."
Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat. "All right, Mister Potter," she announced. "Like I said, I have some questions for you as well… some of these might be a little uncomfortable, but you must answer them as completely and honestly as you can. I hope you understand."
Harry looked at Hermione for comfort. Her warm, light brown eyes looked into his bright green ones, and she gave his hand another gentle squeeze. She didn't have to say a word to reassure him.
"Ask what you must," Harry replied. "I know you're only trying to help."
"That's right, Mister Potter," Madam Pomfrey confirmed. "Before I begin, as a formality, I'll need both Professor McGonagall and Miss Granger to step outside for just a moment. These questions will be quite personal. I will relay this information to the therapist later on." Both Professor McGonagall and Hermione stepped outside the room and closed the door behind them.
"Are you ready now, Mister Potter?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," replied Harry.
"Very good," said Madam Pomfrey. "First off… do you remember the first time you received corporal punishment? You can guess if you don't know exactly."
"I'm not completely sure," replied Harry. "I want to say I the first time I remember being struck with a belt was when I was five or six. That's just a guess, it might have been earlier. Those are just my earliest known memories."
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Do you still experience bodily pain or discomfort from these episodes?"
Harry nodded. "A little bit, yes. My back can be very tender at times."
Madam Pomfrey smiled. "I may be able to help with that. I can't promise a complete recovery, but I can at least improve your back's condition, and any other part of your body that might have been subject to corporal punishment."
"I guess that will be helpful…" Harry said softly.
"And do you have any irrational fears, or perhaps any nightmares related to your punishments?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Not to my knowledge," replied Harry. "However, some nights it was hard for me to fall asleep though."
"I see," replied Madam Pomfrey. "Have you had trouble falling asleep since you came to Hogwarts?"
"A couple of times," replied Harry. "But that was closer to the beginning of term, I haven't had as much trouble over the past few weeks."
"Thank you," said Madam Pomfrey. "If that changes, please let either myself or Professor McGonagall know. We can treat your insomnia should it recur. That should be all for now, and as I mentioned before, I will provide this information to Madam Peel." She then opened the door and invited both Professor McGonagall and Miss Granger back in.
"Now that we have this out of the way, would you like to begin biweekly therapy sessions with Madam Peel? They will start sometime next month most likely," Professor McGonagall asked Harry.
"I suppose so," replied Harry. "Will I be able to bring a friend like Lilah or Hermione, or will it be just the therapist and myself?"
Professor McGonagall smiled. "By nature, therapy sessions are quite confidential, so Miss Darling and Miss Granger will not be able to attend. I'm sorry, Harry."
"Oh," Harry replied in disappointment. "I've never met Madam Peel, and I would feel a little better having a familiar face in the room with me."
"I'm quite familiar with Madam Peel," replied Madam Pomfrey. "She is very kind and patient, and easy to talk to. She'll put you at ease in no time. Knowing her, she'll probably offer you some pumpkin juice and a chocolate frog."
Harry's lips curled into a bit of a smile. "She doesn't sound so bad, then.""
"I will owl you when we have the first appointment scheduled, Harry," said Professor McGonagall. "And if you would like to take the rest of the afternoon off with Miss Granger and unwind in the common room, I'll allow it today," she said with a smile. "I know it's been quite stressful for the both of you. Thank you so much for agreeing to come here – both of you."
"What about making up this afternoon's assignments?" Hermione asked.
Professor McGonagall smiled. "I'll owl you in the morning. Your only assignment for the rest of the day is to relax."
"Thank you, Professor," replied Harry. "We'll see you later, then."
Harry and Hermione made their way to the Gryffindor common room. They plopped down next to each other on a sofa.
"Harry," Hermione said. "I'm so sorry… for everything, but I'm glad I went with you. I know you didn't want to be alone."
"Thank you for going with me… and I felt less alone with you being there with me," replied Harry. He looked at her with a rather puzzled expression on his face. "Was it… bad? I've never seen my own back…"
Hermione looked at Harry with eyes that looked like they were going to spill countless tears. She nodded, as a tear streamed down her cheek. "I've never seen anything like that," she said softly. "I'm so, so sorry."
Harry wrapped his arms around his friend. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he replied. "Oh, and please do me a favor – don't tell Lilah. I think her even thinking about my back like that would devastate her. I'm not sure how she would have handled seeing my back in person, because she cried worse than you did when I simply told her my history with the Dursleys."
"She's a strong girl, Harry," Hermione replied with some reassurance. "I think she'd handle it better than you'd think. I'm sure she'd get just as emotional as I did, but she won't leave the room an emotional wreck." She smiled at Harry. "She wouldn't abandon you even if things get tough to watch. I didn't leave you either, did I?"
Harry grinned. "Thank you for sticking around. I'm sure it wasn't easy to see."
"You saw and heard me boo-hooing," Hermione replied with a silly grin. "It was very hard to see. And don't worry, I won't tell Lilah."
"Thank you," replied Harry.
A/N: I promise I'm not forgetting about Lilah. Bear with me please. She'll be back with a vengeance.